1This review may contain spoilers
Just Skip the Normal Ver. and Watch the Special Edition! Especially Season 2's!!!
What's the difference?Everything!
Unlike the Special Edition for Season 1, Season 2's Special Edition is worth the money!
I'm not going to list all the differences, but I will say there are a lot of scenes that are extended that add more depth to the story and characters. For example, if you think Yu Zhen Xuan was annoying in the normal version, there are quite a few extended scenes with him that make his character more lovable and you get to understand his character more.
Also, the biggest difference is episode 4. We get 3 extended scenes.
1. Gao Shi De teasing Zhou Shu Yi immediately after they make up. It's a lot longer than the original cut and shows the extent of their relationship.
2. The whole argument between Zhou Shu Yi and his father.
3. In the office where they are talking about Gao Shi De's lost emails we get to hear about Zhou Shu Yi's feelings toward Gao Shi De in Japanese.
(I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get to hear about Gao Shi De's step-sister being the blonde in question since in the deleted scene we get that part during all of this, but at the same time I do understand why they cut it. Gao Shi De and the audience need to know more about Zhou Shu Yi's feelings towards Gao Shi De more than we need to know about the blonde woman. Gao Shi De explains his feelings about Zhou Shu Yi numerous times throughout the season, but we never got to hear Zhou Shu Yi's feels about him at all until the Special Edition.)
Should you watch the Special Edition if you've already seen the normal version?
Absolutely!!! You'd be crazy not to. While the Special Edition for Season 1 isn't drastically different, Special Edition for Season 2 is. There are so many scenes that are extended or added that really change your opinions of certain characters. Not only Yu Zhen Xuan, but the extended scenes made my love for Zhou Shu Yi and Gao Shi De grow 100 times more. They are definitely soulmates and couples goals. I can't get over the chemistry between them when they fight then love in the extended scenes. You'll see why if you watch the Special Edition.
Should you watch the Special Edition first or watch it on the re-watch?
Just skip the normal version of Season 2 and watch the Special Edition. It's like knowingly buying a kid's meal when you know you're going to be hungry for more. Just skip the questions and watch the Special Edition.
But if you want to watch the normal version and Special Editions then... How do I put this... Watch both normal versions of Season 1 and Season 2 then watch the Special Editions on the rewatch.
YES - Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2 (Skipping the Normal version is okay)
YES - Normal Ver. S1 → Normal Ver. S2 → Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2
NO - Normal Ver. S1 → Special Edition S1 → Normal Ver. S2 → Special Edition S2
(You won't understand why they extended some scenes)
NO - Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2 → Normal Ver. S1 → Normal Ver. S2
(The rewatch will be boring. Especially Season 2's rewatch. You'll probably claim that you wasted your time watching the normal version since you watched it the Special Editions first.)
~~~~~~~~~~ We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd Review ~~~~~~~~~~
This is the perfect BL. It encompasses everything that is BL. Season 1 has the whole student/university innocent love story while Season 2 has the adult angsty drama. It's the whole package.
STORY:
You're going to either love it or hate it.
This is a continuation of Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi's story set five years later. While Season 1 was all about the innocent student love story, this season is all angsty. Gone is the innocence and here is the pain. Season 2 does a 180 and is no longer the We Best Love that we know.
This season deals with betrayal and miscommunication. Because it is completely different from the first season I can see why some people may not like this season. Some people just don't like drama, plain and simple. Some people will also that the story is weaker than the first season therefore that this is the weaker of the two seasons, but I disagree. Yes there was a plot hole, who the blonde was, but it didn't take away from the story. (She is his step-sister, it was explained in a deleted scene that isn't even in the Special Edition. Why???? Anyways, you can find the clip on youtube.) The story wasn't focus on who she was or if Gao Shi De cheated. The focus was on the fact that Gao Shi De didn't tell Zhou Shu Yi about his father's interference and flat out left him in the dark. Even with this plot hole the the drama was amazing. This is the season where Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi shine!
If there is an issue with this drama it would be with the secondary couple. They brought back Bing Wei and Zhe Yu from the first season, but our secondary couple was Pei Shou Yi and Yu Zhen Xuan. This second couple got a lot of screen time, but no one was interested. Yes Pei Shou Yi was in the first season, but who is Yu Zhen Xuan? The issue with having them as the secondary couple was that the first season had built up Bing Wei and Zhe Yu was a couple and they were given a decent amount of screen time in the first season, but they barely get any in this one. Pei Shou Yi had his share of screen time in the first season, but there was no mention of Yu Zhen Xuan. It's unfortunate because they had an interesting storyline, but because there was no build up to couple, and because Yu Zhen Xuan's character is either a like him or hate him type of character, this storyline fell flat. Even so I think Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi carried the entire drama on their shoulders without this couple.
Gao Shi De & Zhou Shu Yi
Set fives years after Gao Shi De left for America, Zhou Shu Yi is now helping his father run the company business. He hasn't heard from Gao Shi De in years, and on top of that when he secretly went to America to surprise Gao Shi De, he saw his boyfriend picnicking with a blonde woman and has a baby in his lap. While it's safe to say they are no longer together, Zhou Shu Yi is still bitter about everything. When his company acquires Hua Cing Technology he is shocked to find that Gao Shi De is the CEO of the company. Zhou Shu Yi greets him with a fist to the cheek, but it's not over. They still have to work together.
Meanwhile, Gao Shi De isn't over Zhou Shu Yi. He hasn't been able to contact Zhou Shu Yi in years and is more than happy to see him. He wants to pick up where they left off, but Zhou Shu Yi doesn't want to. He won't give Gao Shi De the time of day and it hurts. It doesn't help that Zhou Shu Yi's father is meddling in their affairs and his family has issues of their own.
As I said earlier, Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi carried the entire drama on their shoulders. Their chemistry from the first season improved in the second. Every time they were on screen you could feel their emotions. While the miscommunication storyline isn't new, how the actors portrayed the angst and longing just overpowered it. Just the way the actors looked at each other and their expressions was so powerful. You could watch it without sound or subtitles and still understand what was happening, it was that powerful. Just looking at Zhou Shu Yi screaming he hates Gao Shi De, but his eyes saying I love you is heart wrenching.
The best part about this couple is that after they get over the miscommunication, you can already see that they are going to be a couple that stands the test of time. If Gao Shi De loves longer, Zhou Shu Yi loves harder.
Pei Shou Yi & Yu Zhen Xuan
Pei Shou Yi is a school doctor that has affective disorder which makes it difficult for him to understand emotions, even his own. Yu Zhen Xuan is the CTO at Hua Chin Technologies with paranoia and aspergers, When Yu Zhen Xuan was in high school, Pei Shou Yi helped in out of a sticky situation after which he fell in love with Pei Shou Yi. Seeing Yu Zhen Xuan's growing attachment towards him, Pei Shou Yi quits his job as a school doctor leaving Yu Zhen Xuan heart broken. Still in love, Yu Zhen Xuan continued to search for Pei Shou Yi for 12 years. Now Pei Shou Yi is stuck because he often thinks about Yu Zhen Xuan, but he doesn't know his own feelings.
With both characters having mental disorders, this is definitely an original and interesting plot. However, it falls flat because Yu Zhen Xuan wasn't introduced in the first season, nor did they outwardly refer to him in the first season. They gave small hints here and there, but the hints were so small it's only barely noticeable when you rewatch it and look for it. For example, in season 1 Pei Shou Yi keeps a ramen pack in his office and gets mad at Gao Shi De for eating it. How would we know it's a remembrance to Yu Zhen Xuan? For all we know it was his emergency food.
Also, let's address the elephant in the room. Having characters with mental disorders is a big risk, especially when they are a couple. Most people are accept that there are people with mental disorders around them, but at the same time they don't want to associate with them. This is the reality. Unfortunate as it is, very few people can accept and understand people that have mental or physical disabilities. Most people turn the other way. One of the main reasons this couple flopped isn't so much that their storyline is terrible, it's more that they don't understand, nor want to see a couple with mental disorders. I can guarantee you that if Yu Zhen Xuan didn't have a mental disorder, then there would be more people talking about this couple instead of skipping it.
Bing Wei & Zhe Yu
I want to write a synopsis for this couple, but I really can't. They are just very minor characters here. They don't have much of a storyline. After college they began to work for Zhou Shu Yi's company. They helped Zhou Shu Yi through thick and thin when Gao Shi De wasn't there and are his best friends. They are still dating and Bing Wei is considering marriage.
Honestly, they should have been the secondary couple. There was so much build up to this couple in the first season it sucks that they are still in the limelight. I think the worst part is that when they finally get their time to shine, it's literally the last 3 minutes of the last episode. Just hand the ring to Gao Shi De and let him propose instead.
Overall:
I prefer the second season to the first. Both seasons are great, but I prefer more adult and angsty storylines. That being said, the actors really shined with their performances in this season. I can't help but rewatch this season over and over again because I can't get Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi's versatile acting out of my head. It's a must watch!
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a must watch series
Overall: this series is unique and beautiful and I hope to see the leads again soon. 10 episodes about 35 minutes each, aired on Viki (cut movie was in theaters in South Korea)Content Warnings: see my comment with a spoiler
What I Liked
- chemistry and tension
- sweet moments
- how Ji Hyun is inexperienced/timid but goes after what he wants/takes risks/stands up for himself
- supportive people: Ji Hyun's roommate (who is oddly not listed on the MDL page), Ae Ri, the restaurant owner, Yoon Won & the therapist
- production style/value
- that we actually see therapy (gone to voluntarily) and medication however, it still felt like a fictional "love cures all" by the end
- characters discussing how respect is earned not deserved due to age (which is only 3 years difference anyway...)
- that the co-writers/co-directors were trying to solve copyright issues with social media posts promoting the series
Room For Improvement
- I wish they had lit the actors' faces a little bit more during the night scenes, sometimes it was so dark that I couldn't see what was happening
- I believe they purposefully went for a choppy vibe but it came across as jarring instead of artistic, one example is the beginning of episode 3 did not pick up where episode 2 left off, they should have re-shown a few seconds of episode 2's ending and then gone from there
- unless it was a translation error misleading the audience for half of episode 7 was not needed and felt like a betrayal instead of a neat plot twist
- Eun Ji was a cliched evil ex character who was not needed at all, they could have cut that character and that other dude and then spent more screentime in other areas
- not everyone deserved a character redemption, sometimes a person does something so bad that no apology can absolve them and they lose friends, two characters should have had this happen to them instead of the happy/ish endings they received
- we actually never got the entire story with Jae Won
- odd things, a bar owner can't speak Korean in Seoul? there wasn't a swim test? odd conversation in ep 3 about kissing and consent (you don't have to ask but it's nice/a good idea to get verbal or non-verbal consent), Ji Hyun says he'll stop prying or leave Jae Won alone but then doesn't do that, the joke about Halloween/Itaewon was in poor taste as was people laughing at the guy cross dressing
- that the production crew still does not have an official release for SE Asia 3 weeks, and that those in South Korea only had access to an apparently a very choppy movie
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A cute fantasy meets mystery meets drama wrapped in a BL with a sense of realism.
Ironic right? How a fantasy can have a degree of realism. I just have one thing to say, you need to watch for you to understand. * wink*
First of all, I would like to put it out here that this is a real lakorn. An hour and a half per episode. with 16 episodes! Slow-paced focusing in each character's emotion and facial expressoin. That's already a day if you have plans to binge watch this. But don't get turn off by that, for someone who has a short attention span like me, the very first episode doesn't feel that it is that long. But I have to admit, there is twice while I was watching it that I have to check how many minutes left in the episode. You know what? It is just too good to drop in the middle and pick it up on a different day. The very first episode is where you get the settings, the characters, and a feel where the story already with depth. This kind of approach is kinda rare for a Thai BL as it slowly builds up either the character or the story. This one, it is already served in one plate. Expect the succeeding episodes, the drama side weighs more than the sweeet, tender, cute moment as the myrtery, or mysteries, builds up more.
If you have the chance to watch the OG "Love of Siam", the same formula was used here. BL story endtangled with a family drama. This as a lakorn, a lot of family drama that is somehow seamlessly integrated with the BL side. And just you thought that everything starts and ends with the family drama, corporate greed is also on a head-on collision against the family and the BL story is smacked in the middle.
But WAIT! Just when you think that everything is going well, a splash of reality will be a rude awakening. This is very rare for BL-themed series as almost all are detached from reality. Don't get me wrong about that, it is good to have a feel good series to watch, but this series also shows how Thailand gone far when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community being shunned, to telorated, and now accepted.
In the preview, it was shown that the Teddy Bear becomes a human, no spoiler about that, or what is written inthe synopsis. Right of the bat your question will be "WHY?". Before getting the answer to that, you will be entangled with a mystery upon another mystery. The first one is Nut's past, and the next is his mother. Being a blood-related, it is not hard to assume that it is all one the same, but could it be that they are independent and shared a part not intertwined?
The next next of mystery is that of Tofu's face and what is the history of the owner with the main lead. How is this connected to the "WHY?" of the miracle? Also, why Tofu's personality resemble someone in Nut's past, the protective, caring one. Or is it something more than resemblance?
If you are keen enough, you will notice that when a person suffers from emotion-pyschological trauma, it induces: anger, mental breakdown that needs medical attention, and revenge by pulling others down. Those 3 results are manifested each of the characters here.
A BL like no other when it comes into complexities of a story, or should I say stories that seemingly independent at first but later you will realize that those are indeed inter-dependent. Started with one family, then branches out to the next, and the third. Three family unit, well you can make it four if you are going to bring in Nut's friend however it is just for a support to one of the families involved, the drama between the three will be heart of the story. Smack right in the middle is Peeranut or Nut.
And this is riddled with mental health issues.
FOR THE ACTING, Tofu the actor behind is In Pintar. His character is pretty simple and straightforward, like a child getting to know the bigger world. Naive, innocent and these two attributes was well delivered by In.
The more complex character is Nut, played by JobThuchapon, he has layers upon layers that you need to peel as the series progress. Do not take his entire character if you just watch several of his scenes. He is more than those. And his temper plus other issue, try to walk in his shoes and if it hurts then you know what Peeranut is going through.
Na, mother of Nut, which role is given to Um Apasiri is the perfect mother image. If you will discount her role in "Bad Benius" becuase that is turn around to what you are used to watching her.
If you are watching BL for so long a common face is Song, played by Tee Thanapon that played Beam in the very first 2 Moon. And I must say, his acting had improve in so manly levels and areas.
To be honest, I know nothing about First Parada so I do not have is character Gen to compare with. However, the character is a great support for Gen that spank the lead into reality when needed.
Also as supports are the more adult actors like Jome that appeared in "Happy Birthday", "Lovely Writer" & recently "Something in My Room" & Kradum as Type's father in "TharnType", definitely proven in the industry you can be assured that they will play their respective roles wonderfully.
THE SONG, is perhaps like any other songs in a BL series. It is flexible enough for you to feel pain if the scene is heartbreaking, and giddy if the moment is sweet, cute and fluffy.
This series will surprise you on how good this is from production to acting to story. Unfortunately this is aired in Channel 3 which is a mainstream media of Thailand and on Netflix, if your account is geo-locked in Asia or South East Asia.
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2
1Who will spy on the spies?
The Wind Blows from Longxi is an intricate ancient spy thriller that is not for instant gratification audiences. Its biggest hurdle are the first three or four episodes that are weighed down by the introduction of too many bearded and murky characters on both sides of the Shu-Wei conflict. Clearly even Lu Yang couldn't resist romance of the Three Kingdoms lore and goes down the rabbit hole of lingering on defining events and larger than life figures of the day that are peripheral to the otherwise tight plot. Past that, the storytelling simply immerses you in the lonely, tangled, nail biting, heartbreaking, cruel and utterly thankless world of ordinary spies, ants who put themselves in harms way to pave the way for great men to be glorified by history.Recent adaptations of Mo Boyang's works have been orgies of high speed chases and thrilling action scenes that fall short on suspense and in delivering satisfying and convincing motives and twists. This is very much the opposite. The production values are movie like in quality but due to the shadowy palette, this is best enjoyed on a big screen. The camera is often very still and at times comes at avant-garde angles in low light that accentuates the clandestine nature of the interactions, of opaque motives and conveys a omnipresent sense of alone-ness, tension, ambiguity and danger. The action scenes are signature Lu Yang - impressively choreographed, blood thirsty, vicious and up close and personal in the critical moments.
This drama is set during Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, a period of stalemate between Shu and Wei where neither side had a clear advantage or scored decisive victories. It is an apt setting for this kind of story because when the margins are narrow, intelligence and counter intelligence can tip the scales in either direction. The drama opens with Zhuge Liang's first (of five) Northern Expeditions, which was unsuccessful. This led to General Ma Su's decapitation for his failure to hold Jieting and Zhuge Liang's demotion. It allowed his political rival General Li Yan who advocated a Southern campaign against Wu instead of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions against Wei, to gain power and influence. The Northern Expeditions took place in rather complex geographic terrain, where the timely delivery of military food provisions was challenging and made the difference between victory and defeat. That is broadly most of the historical background that is needed to understand this story. Of course Three Kingdoms buffs will be thrilled by the "drive-by" of many legendary figures on both sides of the conflict but the important characters in Ma Boyong's stories are always the little people or the ants.
The lines between fact and fiction blur as Siwencao, Shu's intelligence agency, suspects that compromised military intelligence had led to their defeat at Jieting. Siwencao hastily concludes that Chen Gong (Chen Kun), a Shu spy code name Baidi (White Emperor) under deep cover at Tianshui (a Wei stronghold) must have defected and sends Xun Xu (Bai Yu), Deputy Chief of Internal Affairs to deal with him. But Xun Xu is not convinced of Chen Gong's culpability; they are intimate friends, related by marriage. Together, they discover that the highest echelons of Siwencao has been infiltrated by Zhulong (Wax Dragon), a Wei spy. They can trust no one and go rogue with a bold ploy to lure Zhulong out into the open with Shu's crossbow design, long coveted by Wei. They are forced down separate paths that are fraught with danger, under resourced and alone with nothing but their absolute trust in and knowledge of each other. But nothing ever goes completely to plan and everyone has secrets. When the rubber meets the road, will they still have each others' back? How well can one really know someone? This also applies to Chen Gong's relationships with both Mi Chong and Guo Gang, which are as riveting and illuminating has his relationship with Xun Xu. After all, this is about two states at war with each other, there is really no good or bad or right or wrong side. All of the characters on both sides are patriots to their own cause; fascinating, layered, suspicious and disingenuous characters practiced in the art of deception. Were it not for an accident of birth, Guo Gang could well have been a Xun Xu to Chen Gong.
The role of such a cunning, duplicitous and morally ambivalent character such as Chen Gong must have been written with Chen Kun in mind. He dominates the screen in every scene and had my heart in my throat at his ability to turn around dire situations and the glimpses of his ferocious, raw pain and rage that is quickly disguised by indifference or conviviality. The wildness and the violence of his emotions when he takes revenge, where his veins literally popped out of his forehead is frighteningly intense and breathtaking. Bai Yu's Xun Xu is Chen Gong's conscience, a sincere and persistent truth seeker whose bottom line is not flexible. Xun Xu's most consequential mis-calculations are with those he loves best and his regret and unspeakable guilt and sorrow are among the most moving performances I have seen from Bai Yu. While Chen Gong and Xun Xu don't actually get that much screen time together, their screen chemistry is tangible and conveys a bond that transcends dialogue with undercurrents from their body language and their unguarded manner with one another. When Chen Gong starts to play a lone hand, Xun Xu senses it and their dynamics shift and become subtly more stilted, again showcasing the sheer virtuosity of their performances.
The most outstanding aspect of Longxi's storytelling is how masterfully the narrative builds up to the plot twists and the reveals. It is so insidious that by the time the reveals happen it is already sitting on the edges of my mind and thus seems to be organic. This is very compelling because I feel that I am part of the process, and underneath all the surrounding complexity the solutions are rather straightforward and should have been obvious. The characters are so fully actualised that their decisions are characteristic and the outcomes are inexorable. Unlike many other conspiracy heavy plots, this does not succumb to too many twists with overly convoluted or illogical outcomes.
The ending is gut wrenching and yet oddly triumphant and fitting. What is clear from the get go is that Chen Gong and Xun Xu are just expendable pawns caught in a high stakes game where they are besieged by both the enemy within and the enemy outside. As a result of serendipity and his own deviousness, Chen Gong is able for a moment, to seize control of the chess board. He plays the White Emperor's gambit, trading one life for three, empowers a righteous man and writes his own ticket home. His decisions are completely in character and in doing so, he finally articulates his own bottom line. But I won't lie, my first reaction to the ending was ".And that is why those dumb f*cks lost the war!" Because I am not sure the greater good was served. While one traitor is felled, the other villain with equally dishonourable tactics gets off largely unscathed and Siwencao remains a weapon that can be both used and abused. The age old question - "Who will spy on the spies?" remains.
While the start is dense and lacks finesse and the dialogue is on the heavy side, this is a drama that rewards the patient viewer. It is not a masterpiece, indeed many of the criticisms about accessibility and the dialogue that is heavily littered with modern phrases are more than fair. Yet I find the immersive storytelling, the suspenseful plot, the stellar acting and the unconventional camerawork immensely enjoyable. This is not something likely to enjoy mass appeal but for me, I would be surprised if I watch a better drama in 2022. I can happily give this a 9.5/10.
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You'll probably hate it, but then you'll love it!
The show itself is based on an existing Thai novel of the same name that has been, to an extent, successfully adapted for TV. Like the summary suggests, the story starts with love and affection, slowly turns into obsession. and hate BUT that is only the first 4-5 episodes. I know, a lot of the viewers would be straight up frustrated with Paeng (our FL) and would probably wish to drop it. But I implore you to atleast reach till episode 6 before you make a decision. It really does get better. There's a reason for everything and once everything is out in the open, everything will make so much more sense. That's way too many everything's in one line lolThe Story ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
It is not your typical hate turns to love story. It has two people with their own emotional baggage, trying to navigate this world, one day at a time. And it's equal parts beautiful and frustrating to watch as these two absolutely lovable but dense dodo's go about trying to figure out their feelings for each other. The FL has actual reasons behind her actions and is not just a spoiled brat. I'll not say much so as not to give away. But the summary is mostly for the first few episodes. There's so much more to it and it's all worth the watch.
The Characters ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
There so much to unwrap, especially with Paeng. A scared and lost teenager is dropped into a completely unfamiliar environment. She has a lot of emotional baggage of her own and the people around her don't help much to elevate it. She then goes through a beautiful journey in which we see her love to the point of obsession, fall from grace but then she picks up the pieces of her life and slowly rebuilds them back again and comes out stronger. The character development of Paeng is very much visible and you go from hating to loving the girl. And please, believe in our girl! She makes some very sketchy choices that might raise you heckles but power through! It really all works out in the end. Plus, Kao has done a beautiful job in bringing out the intricacies of Paeng too.
I absolutely love to hate Arthit (our ML). Watching his character's development is like watching Sisyphus, he would constantly climb uphill only to then roll back down and start all over again. But Mark Prin manages to make us fall in love with him anyways. His eyes speak. Like literally. He wouldn't need to say a word and you'll know exactly what he's trying to say. And for once, the ML has an actual, legit reason to hate the FL and not some arbitrary 'I don't like her so I'll bully her' kind of thing. And he does redeem himself and falls head over heels (who saw that coming lol). And then we all turn into mush hehe. If you're a fan then you're in for a treat!
We also have our secondary couple in Non and Ling. They're the epitome of cute and you can see their longing for each other, especially Non. They have their own cute story and it makes you wanna cheer them on when they do finally get together. Together with Kot, they form the formidable F3 who are probably the biggest shipper of Arthit and Paeng after us lot hehe.
Like every Thai lakorn, we have our own fair share of snakes and anaconda's (the big bad villain) and they'll probably make your blood boil everytime they appear on screen. But the actors have done a really good job, especially the actor playing Mark (Yes, the big villain is called Mark, not to be confused with Mark the Prin who plays Arthit). His slimey smile, obsessive gaze and grabby hands will make you want to physically shoo him away from Paeng. But have patience for he'll eventually meet his end. Snake mom (ML's mother) is also included in the ranks and all I can say is, will someone ship her to Amazon already?
The Chemistry ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
There's chemistry not just between the main characters but also with the MC's and the cast. Mark and Kao get together like a house on fire. There are scenes when they don't even have lines and we still understand and feel what they're feeling. Ling, Non and Kot's F3 gang gel so well with those two. It's like friends of years getting together, helping their buddy with getting the girl and on the way, making him aware and calling him out on his behavior too. I like that despite everything in the past, the gang seamlessly includes Paeng into their group and never make her feel unwelcome.
The Music ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
Yes to the yes! The OST is amazing and it really matches the characters and their development through out the story. Please, please do have a listen! I never skipped either of the credits because of it. Also, the BGM is love. Like seriously. I was always ready with Shazam hehe. Thai lakorn's usually have high quality music, but this is next level.
Rewatch Value ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
It'll probably take you a few viewings before you can get over it. Also, RIP rewind button. Just saying ^^
Final Thoughts ¯\_(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)_/¯
I, for one, watched it as it was being broadcasted. So I had some really lovely people here at MDL to keep me company. By the time the drama would've finished airing, we'd probably have 10k comments. (EDIT: We do lol) Most of them are just us lot fangirling. But you know what? This is the power of My Forever Sunshine. You'll curse these characters to high heaven but then the very next episode you'll be cheering them on. Some episodes might make you want to pull your hair out, but that's what the skip button is for. All I can say is, use it wisely. At times, you'll really need it. It's a well crafted story (mostly) that comes with some usual lakorn hijinks and should definitely not be missed.
PS: The comment section is riddled with spoilers. So read at you own risk ^^
PPS: Re-reading the review, I feel like the tagline of the lakorn should be "Persevere, because it gets better, eventually" lol.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love of a distant past
One and Only has the distinction of being the first production in 2021 that I’m rating a perfect 10 overall. Personally for me, it is the best C-drama historical of the year and quite possibly one of the best of all time, within the sub-genre of historical romance (non-comedy). To put it simply, and I don’t often use this term, this drama is a MASTERPIECE.The Story
Based on the celebrated novel, One Life, One Incarnation – Beautiful Bones" (一生一世美人骨) by multiple award-winning novelist and screenwriter Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝), who also wrote the screenplay for this drama. As a brief summary, the story revolves around the love between Cui Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen that spans a period of two lifetimes, namely during the ancient era of the fictional Beizhen Empire and contemporary China of the present day. One and Only follows the star-crossed lovers journey during the earlier lifetime, while a sequel that takes place in the modern time period, Forever and Ever, is slated for back-to-back release.
As I understand from readers of the source material, both parts of the story convey vastly contrasting outcomes, notably the earlier backstory ends in tragedy while the sequel, which forms the main component of the novel, has a much happier conclusion.
Although primarily a slow-burn sweeping epic love story, One and Only does explore the sociopolitics and values of a deeply-ingrained Confucian setting which I suspect is modelled on the Northern and Southern Dynasties era, if not earlier, that includes filial piety, obeisance to King and country. Besides the political maneuverings and warfare, relationship dynamics in the form of master and disciples, as well as “sibling camaraderie” is heavily featured.
Production Details
This iQiyi production is helmed by the critically acclaimed Guo Hu, who had previously directed well known productions including The Journey of Flower, Eternal Love (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms), Lost Love in Times, and Love and Destiny. The original score and one of the OSTs is composed by the prolific and highly regarded Tan Xuan, who had served as music producer for numerous productions including Love and Redemption, Princess Agents, The Glory of Tang Dynasty and Eternal Love, among many others. For only a 24-episode serial, principal photography took entirely two months at Hengdian World Studios, the meticulous process of which is magnificently depicted in the end product itself.
Why do I consider this production a masterpiece that deserves a “10” rating?
The Technical Execution
I’m hugely impressed with the technical aspects of direction, art direction, cinematography, and choreography. The post-production editing and overdub, in terms of the voice dubbing process, the voice actors utilised and sound mixing, as well as the visual and special effects employed are exceptionally well rendered. The appropriate levels of colour grading along with countless immersive, overhead and tracking shots amidst the backdrop of grand pastoral views, while even parallax angles are applied to great effect especially during scenes of battles and massed congregations.
The seamless transitions between the various sequences, scenes and shifts in atmospherics are testament to the experience and capabilities of the director as well as the entire production crew. All these components seek to ensure that this production becomes a well crafted aesthetic and cinematic treat indeed.
The Production Values
One and Only is made of big money and it truly shows. Nothing at all looks cheap or out of place. From the wigs, costumes, accessories, set designs, props, horses, snow… the list just goes on. This is a top-tier production through and through. The big names in the production crew and the quality of the casting certainly reflect the overall production values.
In comparison with other C-historicals and despite the fact that Hengdian is a popular and convenient filming venue for many similar productions, it is extremely apparent that extra care and attention to the finer details have been taken for every production stage and its related aspects. I do believe that it could also be partially attributed to the fact that the drama format is shorter, at 24 episodes, thus affording the production more time to perfect the principal photography and post production processes, as opposed to 40 or 50-episode dramas with the same filming schedule, thus resulting in shorter duration for fine-tuning or filming additional takes of each shot. Having fewer episodes also contributes to compact plotlines and significantly reduces the amount of fillers, with the end result of a more engaging and compelling storytelling.
The Cast and Acting
I do think that the narrative for the first part of the novel is rather straightforward while the interweaving sub-plots relating to certain side characters are not overly convoluted. Because of this and also how strongly written the main characters are, I feel that One and Only is largely character-driven. For this type of drama to succeed, the leads would have to give one hell of a performance to breathe life into their characters. Fortunately, this is where the cast well and truly delivers.
I’ve been a fan of both Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun ever since I first saw them in The Legends and Detective Dee respectively. Although some of their roles or choices in certain projects have led to questions in the past, I’ve never doubted their broad potential and talents. I honestly think their performances here are the best that I have ever seen from them and are worthy of wider recognition for their efforts.
Bai Lu imbues her character of Cui Shi Yi with such grace, elegance, nuance and emotional depth that absolutely defines the term masterclass in acting. She portrays a character who is mute and having to use sign language, albeit temporarily, that slowly but surely undergoes immense character growth to mature from being a shy and timid young girl to a confident, independent and resolute woman. There is a massive intensity in her convincing depiction of the sheer torment, anguish and sadness that genuinely touches viewers' hearts (or mine, at least). And that poignant scene in the final episode, where she is dressed in all red, truly is poetry in motion…
Ren Jia Lun plays the noble and warm-hearted Zhousheng Chen, royal Prince of Beizhen, General of the West State and Master of his eleven disciples. I’ve always believed that Ren Jia Lun is at his best when he is cast in profound roles because very few actors are able to genuinely portray stoic and solemn characters as well as he does. There is a powerfully understated quality to his performance in this drama that makes you believe he is completely immersed in the character. Intelligent, calm and heroic, all the traits of a capable leader are put on full display in his depiction right to the bitter end.
Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun, as Cui Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen, share some of the most convincing, irresistible, organic and downright heartbreaking chemistry and emotional connection that deeply touches the soul. No aspect of their relationship development feels rushed, irrational, undercooked or over-the-top. Their love is subtle, meaningful and simply perfect. They are meant for each other.
As far as the supporting cast is concerned, suffice to say everyone delivers a commendable effort in their respective portrayals. The veterans in Fu Jun and Liu Wei Wei, depicting Advisor Xie and Shi Yi’s mother respectively inject a measure of class and finesse to the production. No drama would be complete without the antagonist, Liu Zi Xing who is played by the relative newcomer, Wang Xing Yue. I’m quite surprised he is only 19 years old, but he does give a decent account of himself and succeeds in making me hate his guts. Among the many familiar faces in the production, look out for memorable appearances by Daisy Dai, Yao Yi Chen and the ever amusing Han Cheng Yu.
The Music
Alongside the fittingly sombre and introspective compositions of the original score, there are four OSTs in the soundtrack. Zhang Bichen has established herself as one of the premier soundtrack contributors in recent years and her rendition of the theme song, along with Ren Jia Lun’s character theme, are my personal favourites of the compilation.
张碧晨 Zhang Bichen - 如故 As It Is
任嘉伦 Ren Jialun - 如一 Like One
郑云龙 Zheng Yunlong - 定心 Tranquil
李紫婷 (Mimi Lee), 井胧 (Jing Long) - 无虞 (Unworried)
Final Thoughts
I do not usually favour sad stories, particularly those with tragic outcomes, and almost always avoid such dramas. However, I’m glad I did not because One and Only is indeed a very special production that has been made with such care, effort and passion that it would be remiss of me not to have given this a shot and appreciate the fine work of the entire production crew and the cast. And, I keep telling myself, at least there’s consolation in the form of the upcoming sequel’s more promising narrative and ultimate closure to look forward to.
“Beauty bones are rare in the world.
Those with bones do not have skin, and those with skins do not have bones.
Most people in the world have superficial eyes, only the skin, but no bone.
If in this society, there is someone who has the memory of two lives and loves you deeply. How happy.
Shi Yi was like this to Zhousheng Chen.
And he has forgotten her a long time ago”.
(excerpt from the novel’s introduction)
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What I got, however, was a very real story of broken individuals with difficult family lives who deal with very believable and relatable situations just trying to figure things out as best they can. There is no antagonist in this piece other than life itself.
In the first half of the movie, we see Jeon Do-Yeon playing a very stoic mother of a mentally handicapped boy who we later learn seems to be the glue that is holding her marriage together. Once she is back on home ground, however, we see her in a different light as she is successfully running her family fashion line and seems more confident that she was in Finland. The moral conflict caused by the affair is more apparent in her character and she portrays the hesitation very well.
Gong Yoo’s character is one that pleasantly surprised me here. Granted I am biased with all matters Yoo, however he lost points when choosing to depict an adulterous father of a depressed child and mentally unstable wife. This role portrayed by any other actor would have come across as sleazy and stalker-ish but with him there is an innocence and vulnerability that oddly makes you root for him and the couple.
Finland itself seems to be a character in the movie as it visually depicts the isolation felt by our protagonists as well as the lack of any warmth in their current relationships. I could go on about the symbolic significance of the sauna in the woods, the hotel suites where our couple has their trist or their train ride in the second half of the movie but that would take forever.
If you are looking for a bubbly romance or are watching with boxes of tissue ready at hand, then this may not be the one for you. If however, you want to see the world from an alternative point of view or just really feel something down to your soul, then I highly recommend this movie.
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Relatively normal people learning and stumbling, winning and losing, understanding their own value and especially dreaming a lot, is the best experience this show leaves us.
Story:
It's unusual but energizing to find a drama that focuses on characters struggling for a dream ... or struggling to find it. The only possible result of such a plot is that the characters grow throughout the story. And this is what happens with our precious Fantastic 4. Although they don't advance in a straight line, but with stumbles, as in life itself.
It's incredible how much you identify with the daily adventures of the characters. Some will reach their goals, others will change course.
Acting / Cast:
Both couples had excellent chemistry. Perhaps in the case of Ae Ra and Dong Man the friendship relationship developed better than romance, but I couldn't say that they didn't work well as a duo, in fact it's the first drama where Park Seo Joon has captured my full attention. That aside, frankly the jewel of this drama is Song Ha Yoon as Sul Hee, did anyone else want to hug her with all their strength? Such an excellent performance!
Music:
Wow, how addicting was the OST, especially the songs for comedy moments. They reminded me and my siblings fighting like The three stooges XD
Overall:
Characters that don't give up, strong but not perfect women, burning dreams, genuine friendship. Do I have to say more? On top of all the flaws you think this story may have, it's a valuable drama to watch. Just give it a chance.
Un drama más al año no hace daño!!
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From the scenes of Cuba to South Korea, episode 1 to 16 were well exicuted. Big props to the writer and the cast that brought this lovely story to life. I loved it very much. That ending was everything a Romcom suppose to be in correlation to the plot, so subtle and romantic.
WHAT I LOVED
1.THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
It was very steady and not forced by both Ms Cha and Jin-Hyeok love relationship. I really liked that alot, I've seen many times the love was force and prematurly occurred but in this case it was not. They both got to know each other first hand.
2. EMOTIONS
Showcasing emotions In films plays a big part in how well an individual can act, how well we as the audience/viewers can connect with what is being portrayed in an emotional standpoint. Both Soo-Hyun and Jin-Hyeok did that, as a matter of fact the whole cast did that. I was able to connect with them and to be honest I even shared a tear which is not quite often ????. Big thumps up.
3. CINEMATOGRAPHY
I know the majority of the scenes took place in South Korea but the scenes in Cuba were breathtaking. I don't know if is BEACUSE I'm form the Caribbean so I'm being a bit bias or what but those scenes they captured were supercalifragilisticexpialidocious lol it was wonderful.
4. OST
Easily rated at a 10. So soothing yet catchy. My favorites are the day we met, don't hesitate love and that night. They go so well with each scene.
5.LESSON LEARNED
All dramas give out a different vibe and sometimes the vibe might be similar to another drama that you may have seen. Now this drama I've learned alot of life lessons but there is one that stood out most to me is that sometimes you have to stoop to conquer. Both Jin-Hyeok and Ms Cha could have just gave up on their love for each other because of the obstacles that stood in front of them.
Yes one might say Ms Cha was a bit coward and let go a bit but the most important thing is that she never gave up and her man stood by her all the way and in the end, both hand in hand conquered the obstacles and their love were able to flourish.
WHAT I DISLIKE
There were not so much major things that I could actually say I disliked but there was one thing. Ms Cha took so long to stand up for herself and allowed herself to be battered by family that was no longer family and at times I was becoming upset with her, but in the end it all turned out great. Patience is surely a virtue, something I wish I had lol.
MY RATINGS
As Jin-Hyeok rightfully said "don't be sorry, thank you for being brave"
There is hope in Love so with that being said my rate is ;
10/10.
This was a well put together drama and I highly recommend it to everyone. ????
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A Letter to the Ordinary You and Me
I have so many thoughts about this drama that I am not sure I can even fully express it.This drama takes us on a journey with Su Cheng Cheng, an ordinary woman (but also incredibly strong) who gains this filter bracelet that allows her to learn something new about the world and herself with every transformation. Filter is not just about her transformations; it is also about the filters people have on each other that influences our views of each other. Once we have a bad impression of someone, we tend to only view their behaviors in a negative light and vice versa. This drama showed us what we thought was correct might not be the actual truth. Through these trials, Su Cheng Cheng learned what it means to love herself, the platonic loves she had from the very beginning, and a romantic love that shakes her core over and over again.
On the other side of the story, we have Tang Qi, an incredibly intelligent man who can also be awkward. He too had his own filters on which prevented him from seeing the person who was next to him all along. However, Tang Qi proved over and over again that he has the sincerest heart, and he loves with his entire being. He is able to self-reflect and try to see Su Cheng Cheng's POV on why things escalated the way it did. He is one of the best male leads I have seen in terms of development and viewers can't help but fall for him.
This drama has it all; comedy that you don't even see coming, friendship that is mutual and solid, family that is supportive, sci-fi that adds a layer of mystery, case-solving that actually gets intense, introspection about beauty standards, gender, societal norms, and a romantic love that is so pure and sincere that you can't help but smile every time you see Su Cheng Cheng and Tang Qi on screen. It is a story of misunderstanding and a story of relearning each other again. Thank you to this amazing drama and this excellent cast. I was so happy chasing this drama for the past 2-3 weeks and losing sleep was 543753345% worth it.
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This show is short and sweet, leaving you with a smile on your face. Because Of You almost gives me Long Time No See vibes, just because its something you can sit and watch all in one sitting and not feel tired.
The series itself seems a bit shakily produced, as if they wanted to put in a deeper plotline, but gave up halfway through. It's not exactly bad, but you can definitely tell something's missing there.
I also felt as if three couples was too much for this little series to handle. There's only about two hours of air time, if even that, and yet somehow they expected to fit in three love stories?
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy all three couples, because i did. They each had their own charms and strong points. I just wish perhaps they could've focused on one main couple instead of trying to fit in an hours worth of screentime for a couple into only a few minutes of each episode.
I do admit i favoured one of the couples over the other two (although, i think we all do haha). Jun Cheng and Lin Xun's chemistry is just out of this world, and i hope they're able to do a full-length series together in the future.
All-in-all, i thoroughly enjoyed this drama as a quick watch as i wait for the next episodes of the full-length series I'm watching.
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Most of it is due to the excellent cast. I knew Ueto Aya from Attention Please and loved her there: she was the reason why I watched that drama and the only reason why I completed it. There she was feisty and entertaining, here she plays the role of a disillusioned young woman, wary of men - who can blame her? - and in desperate need of warmth and a sense of belonging. Her acting is outstanding, one can't help falling in love with her fragility, her courage and beauty.
Takenouchi Yutaka is just as awesome. His character is that of an honest man who leads a simple life but is ready to go to any length in order to save his sister. He's so sedate throughout the whole drama, I expected him to burst out at some point. But he didn't, and I realize now this is what makes him into such an endearing character. He expresses a world of meaning via glances and silences: I loved it.
The encounter between Risa and Kengo is poignant and their interaction from that point on is always defined by a sedate fire. Nobody shouts, or desperately cries or have fits of anger, and yet the chemistry is powerful.
I don't think it's accidental that Matsuda Shota speaks in a very sedate and calm way too through the whole show. This is the imprint of Nagareboshi. Just like the beautiful jellyfishes that float around in the aquarium. I never thought I could come to consider jellyfishes such beautiful creatures.
The side cast is just as brilliant, mostly the women.
The photography deserves a mention too. There are some truly outstanding sceneries of Japan shown in this drama. I was captivated by the colours and the general atmosphere. I love it that Japanese can produce wonderful dramas without the pomp and the shine we have been accustomed to with the usual super stars sporting gorgeous outfits or your average hero under the shower. This is a simple yet complicated love story between two very average people. It could be us.
The music is beautiful, although not my genre. I usually prefer instrumental pieces in dramas, so I don't really care much for songs. But it suits the pace and the feel of the drama perfectly.
If you like well acted, slow developing stories without love triangles or squares, played on style more than actual happenings, this drama is for you. I suppose it's for mature viewers - and I'm not referring to age.
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Should We Kiss First?
46 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
A three-dimensional, grown-up love story, sensitively told and spiritedly acted
When people have lived for more than four decades, they are usually disillusioned in many ways. Hope for romance and love has given way to various, quite specific experiences... and these are inevitably paved with disappointment and suffering, too. However, it´s not necessarily too late for a new love. It might be different, though. More grounded. Honest. Upright. Less games. Sincere closeness and warmth become more important than romantic squabble. The time ahead is finite. And you no longer expect a fairy tale full of magic, but rather wish for true moments, a safe place to catch your breath and recharge your batteries. Reliability. Trust and emotional intimacy.The protagonists in "Should we Kiss First" have all been through life for some time. The two main characters have had children and lost them again, have been married and divorced, lived more or less honest but empty lives. SHE has been a stewardess for 20 years and suffers from insomnia. HE is a co-founder of an advertising agency and has cancer. Neither of them want to be alone. Neither of them want a relationship. Hm. Difficult. Their best friends each want to pair them off ... and at last are successful. However - being in makjang KDrama Land - the past of the protagonists gets involved in the present and triggers a lot of turbulence.
"Should we Kiss First" focuses on two adults who (re)experience love in a way they never expected. Love is not primarily supple, sexy and redeeming, but presents itself as irrational, brittle, stubborn and complex. As such, it demands one thing unconditionally: complete surrender to this feeling, which remains in spite of adversities, yet does not solve any problems. However gives the necessary strength to face them.
Does this power come from the love you experience from someone? Or from the love that you give yourself? The beauty of this KDrama is placing the emphasis on the fact that it is your own radiance which makes a difference. The love we open up to and give in to makes the difference how we experience life, or what options we recognize and choose... It's about giving in to your feelings, letting them be (even if you rather not put up with it) and trusting them.
The story is told in different nuances - sometimes humorous, sometimes profound, sometimes tender, sometimes playful, sometimes harsh, even fists are flying at times. Enjoying the moment to the fullest and the pure love of life have just as much space as the desolate moments of emptiness, embarrassment, destructive anger and listless lethargy. The dialogues are carefully chosen down to the last detail. And then there are the subplots, that round the story off.
A three-dimensional, grown-up love story. Yes, once again a story about love, but not cheesy. Instead, the story is sensitively told, spiritedly acted and filled with a love for detail. On top of that, a story full of sometimes subtle, sometimes explicit wisdom. A KDrama that doesn't sugarcoat anything, yet feeds you with a satisfying sigh.
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MALE CEO WHO HATE LIES MEETS MISS LIE
Updated!! watching it in 2023. Romance 10/10 , annoying characters 10/10, last few episode dropped the rating from 9.5 to 8.5. Those side characters are way too annoying, and the fact that the male lead got mad at her...I enjoyed this drama for the most part, up until the end, the end kinda ended abrupt ( will talk about it later)
Story: Male CEO absolutely hates people to lie, so he insist on tell the truth all the time which sometimes truth can hurt. Female lead is the opposite, she likes to tell more white lies. ( male lead had an traumatic encounter with a lie and vow to never lie again) The two meet after the male lead exposed her cheating bf and also made her lose her job. She ends up applying to the male lead company. They start off on the wrong foot, because he is finding that she always lies. The female lead helps the male lead talk and try to get clients for his architect company. Slowly the two fall in love, and his truthfulness starts to change her, and her white lies start to change him. She also helps heal the male lead and second male lead's broken friendship.
The female lead doesn't lie to hurt people , but she does white lies because she doesn't want to hurt her family, but also because she is scared to face the truth. With the help of the male lead, he encourages her to be herself and not to be scared or think she is a small potato. Through her struggles , the male lead sees that not all lies are bad.
Romance: this was one pair that was oozing with chemistry. every kiss was very cute and passionate ;) The way the male lead expresses his love for her is a little too much for my heart to handle. ( heart flutters) Seriously loved all the scenes.
I kinda skipped over the second male/female pairing love story lol not at interesting to me .
Annoying character: there was one lol , the female partner who liked the male ceo. Doing too much tio try to ruin the leads relationship. Please dont be a b....
Ending: not going to spoil it, but i felt like it could of wrapped it up better. I felt there was some unnesscary/ didnt make sense plot development towards the end.
Overall: I really liked the meaning and messages behind the story. its not bad as other review said. Also cute female lead, hot male lead, nice chemistry too.
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