A Hot Mess
This is a great drama to watch when you're in the mood for a classic cliche, trashy, garbage fire, trainwreck c-drama. Sometimes, after I watch a /really/ good drama, I have to watch a couple trash ones to bring my standards and expectations back down. This was a needed palette cleanser.Here, every character has a room temperature IQ. Logic and reasoning are no where to be found. Not a single attempt was made to incorporate the PPL in a classy or subtle way. The subtitles are in shambles. I spent a significant amount of braincells trying to figure out if Zhang Tian Ai was wearing some sort of wig or not. It's a mess.
But I finished all 24 episodes, so I guess it's my type of mess.
And! Thanks to this drama, I get to say that Qu Chu Xiao has played both my favorite male lead, Zhang Wan Sen :'), and my least favorite male lead, Chen Yan >:(. Wonderful.
PLOT:
The story is told through Hai Tang's omniscient perspective - she's written a memoir/novel that recounts certain events in her life. Its title is "My Friend Miss Chen Bai Lu" (also this drama's native title). As such a title would suggest, the storyline here mostly focuses on Chen Bai Lu and Chen Yan. She is poor (but was once rich) and hardworking, while he's the rich playboy type. Normal stuff. Hai Tang has little narration monologues here and there, but they aren't subtitled on iQiyi so I'm not sure what kind of context they add.
I can't help but wonder if this was adapted from a webcomic or maybe a webnovel. How the scenes flow and the logic (or lack thereof) of storyline really give me this impression. The happenings in this drama are really quite divorced from reality, in that special kind of ridiculous way that you see in cheap c-webcomics/novels.
The basic "story loop" is like - misunderstanding -> fight and separate -> forgive and get back together OR fight some more -> repeat. It's Chen Yan's misunderstanding 99.9% of the time and neither of them will explain themselves properly. Many things just don't make sense - from the ways the characters react to things, to their general behavior, to every single plotline. The makjang/dog's blood levels are very high, but it gets pretty boring in the last few episodes.
There's plenty of kissing scenes though, if you like those.
The ending is.. open I guess. I suppose it's a sad one (nobody dies though...I think?), but I was kinda happy cause I really disliked Chen Yan by that point ahaha.
As far as characters go, Hai Teng is really your typical naive doormat c-drama heroine. Very kind but no backbone. She has an incredibly unbearable and shrill best friend who is an absolute crazy person and a total Karen.. is that redundant? Yang Ku An exists.
Chen Bai Lu is actually kinda refreshing; compared to Hai Tang, she's on the colder, mellower, and more mature side (relative to everyone else). For the most part, I liked her character, though she is just as dumb as the rest.
Chen Yan is a really...greasy, childish character. He's embarrassing and really pissed me off at some points (the sheer audacity this character has omg). He has some cute moments though, and his bulky old person phone amused me (idk why).
ACTING:
Acting is a solid OK from everyone, nothing too offensive aside from Zhang Tian Ai's dubbing.
I watched this because of Qu Chu Xiao. After being both emotionally victimized and impressed by his acting in Shining For One Thing, I wanted to see him in a lighter role. This was his first drama, so he is a bit green and a little uneven here. Likewise with Chen Ya An. Their acting is overall fine (some scenes are very good even), just a little green.
OST:
Bog-standard BGM stuff. Nothing noteworthy. There's just two OST tracks (I think???) and I don't remember how either of them go.
CONCLUSION:
This was a solid hate-watch. Despite the nonsense plot and the occasionally scuffed editing, this was surprisingly watchable for me (though the last couple episodes drag). I don't know how or why. I struggled to rate this because while it is very lacking on a technical level, I was pretty engaged and did have some fun watching.
Can't help but feel like the director was a bit of a perv though...
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This review may contain spoilers
It’s really sloppy writing and directing in my opinion. I mean (you’ll see), just some things are so unrealistic it’s ridiculous. He’s about to look at marriage certificate when phone rings so he doesn’t. I mean you look at it while on phone is probably what ninety nine percent of humans would do. There’s no slow motion in opening a chinese certificate , come on. On and on he gets close to finding out just before something intercepts. I get they’re trying to build the suspense but by the second interruption, it’ll only build your bad vocabulary and brain spasms. Yes, nineteen episodes and she’s still at dodgeball full swing.BUT, it’s not bad. As a commenter said in comments, watch with your smart cells off. It’s a sweet popcorn watch with whole kernels here and there. Leads are eye candy and seriously though, main guy really does have smoldering eyes that are too lovely to skip over. Lots of skinship that some see as aggressive. I know it’s fiction only in my sight so you can say it’s weird that I find it romantic pursuit.
So, don’t be turned off too quickly and give it a try if you’re looking for a fluffy sweet romance. If you’re serious minded and hate overloaded cliches and plot holes, it’s not for you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Gorgeous Couple, Interesting Mystery, Cute Ending
This is a short drama (less than 4 hours total) with two gorgeous characters solving an interesting murder mystery in a detective game. The ending is cute and not cliche either (I will spoil it at the end of my review). I wish it would be subbed soon, but it seems like Tencent prioritizes subbing their romance and dynasty costume dramas over non-romance and Republican-era dramas, especially if the leading actor/actress is not popular. It will be subbed eventually, so you can enjoy it.I would've rated it 8.5 if I completely understood the dialogue details (for me, the crime and Republican-era cultural word terminologies are rather difficult to understand).
STORY:
There is no synopsis on MDL at the moment I wrote this review. So here it is:
The Female Lead Nan Yu (Snow Kong) was originally a player in a matchmaking game to match as many couples to win the game. However, one day, because of a game glitch, she found herself in the Republic of China era, and her character is a forensic examiner. Nan Yu learned that she must solve a mysterious murder case to return to her world. Not only that, she also shared one body with the Male Lead Gao Han (Li Ge Yang), a player from another detective game, to solve the case. With different personalities and strengths/weaknesses, at first, they compete with each other to control the body. But then they work together as a team. But in the end, only one of the two can return to his/her own world.
The mystery murder case, although only one, ends up being interesting and quite complicated with several victims and several suspects, it's only solved in the final episode.
CHARACTER:
First, I thought that Nan Yu was a ditzy Female Lead when she played in the matchmaking game. But she was quite calm when seeing a dead body for the first time, lol, while being guided by Gao Han to do the autopsy. Her bickering with Gao Han is cute, too. I can say Nan Yu has a high EQ while Gao Han high IQ. Smart and mature Male Lead and Female Lead.
VISUAL:
With gorgeous Republican-era costumes, Snow Kong and Li Ge Yang really look good-looking together. Their visual is the reason for me to keep watching the drama. The costumes, props, and sets look well done considering this is a short-length series with a lower budget than mainstream dramas.
OST:
The ending theme is nice and catchy titled "Starlight Is In Your Hand" (星光在你手上) by Ye Xuan Qing (叶炫清)
SOME SPOILERS AND THE ENDING (Scroll down below if you're curious)
- The alternative title "Twins Detective" doesn't mean Nan Yu and Gao Han are twin siblings, but two people share one body.
- At first, Nan Yu and Gao Han share one body, but then Gao Han breaks the game system to enter the game with his own body. Thus, they become a detective couple.
- There is a slight romance blossoming between Nan Yu and Gao Han later in the drama. Cute, but doesn't take over the mystery plot.
- There is a SML (Second Male Lead) but he is a nice one. Unlike tropey jealous SMLs common in romance dramas, who are good first and then turn bad.
- Ending (scroll below):
A cute happy ending. In the beginning, since they shared one body, only one can return to his/her own world. Gao Han hacked the game system to enter the game. He also used a lot of his game energy to save Nan Yu's life. The game designer said only Nan Yu could return to her own world. He needed a lot of time to fix the game because Gao Han hacked the system. Since Nan Yu doesn't want to separate from Gao Han, they end up staying in the current Republican-era world while the designer fixes the game, and they open a detective agency together with homophone (same sound different meaning) of their combo names Yugao (that literally means "fish cake") Detective Agency. SML gave them a congratulatory gift, an item similar to the thing that they investigated before, lol!
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A simple fun show about a family
I came into the show, knowing that it would be a silly little slice of life family drama with the added element of a spy thriller -and that is exactly what I got. I see that the other reviews have called the character interaction is a bit cringe and silly, but that is precisely what I liked about the show. I didn’t go into expecting the most amazing acting and writing, but I still enjoyed what I got. I actually quite liked the spy stuff and in particular I thought the actress for Ms Oh was amazing! I also wanted to appreciate how they handled the foreigners and the many languages spoken! Often I find in kdramas that foreigners are always handled a bit odd especially when you can tell they’re white but you can tell they speak Korean better than they can speak English but I didn’t get that here! Personally I loved the backstory between the husband and wife, and even though I thought the child was a tad annoying at times, I still thought she was adorable and I laughed at her storyline. The only aspect of the show I didn’t care about was the Grandfathers storyline especially since it didn’t have a pay off. Oh and warning it does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger but even if it doesn’t get a season two idk it’s such a small thing that I can pretend it didn’t happen 😌Was this review helpful to you?
I didn't think I'd enjoy this movie as much as I did. I'm not usually a fan of movies with darker themes. This one, though, I really enjoyed. It wasn't too dark, but it certainly wasn't a lighthearted romp. Although comedy is listed under the genres, it's not all THAT funny. It has its moments. Some catch you off guard and may seem out of place while others break up the heaviness of the mood. They're there, but not overly frequent.
This movie isn't for kids. Or, if you're a kid and want to watch it, make sure you wear headphones and your parents don't walk in. There is nudity and there is sex. Each sex scene appropriately conveyed the feelings behind it. Passion and emotions drove one scene while crudeness and vileness drove others.
I would've given the movie a 9 overall, but throughout the movie, the main character annoyed me with the choices he made. I thought he was an idiot. Then again, without his choices there would be no story.
I think it's the mark of a good story when you find yourself, at times, cheering against the good guys, rooting for the bad guys, and having no sympathy for the deceased. The story, overall, isn't mind-blowing. There was also nothing too surprising, but it kept me intrigued.
I thought the acting was really good. I've never been a fan of Park Si Yeon, but her character was my favorite in this movie. Gi-Poong was a delightful addition to the movie. He provided some of the humor. Plus, I'm just a fan of Lee Kwang Soo. And, although the main character annoyed me, I was still rooting for him.
I don't remember music which is why I gave it a 5. I'm sure it was there somewhere, I just can't recall it.
I gave the re-watch value a six because I think I may eventually re-watch, but I'm not sure at the moment.
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm a big fan of Family Dramas, and I have to said that I really like this drama. Even though this drama is not one of the best family drama I had watched, I highly recommended. For me, I feel like the drama was a bit slow in the beginning and rush toward the end, but to even it out, the story line was really good in my point view. Yes, the story line is simple/light and not that dramatic like how other "korean dramas", but there are some funny, cute, and sad moments that I love. SPOILER: The only downside I have for this drama is there was no (romance*) between Moon Sik and Park Hyun Ha :(((
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There were loopholes, like how some supporting characters were just pushed off the screen without much of a excuse. But without paying too much attention to these small details and just focus on the big picture, the story can be romantically heart-wrenching. It's almost like an adaptation of "A Wedding Invitation", which stars Bai Bai He and Eddie Peng. The story lines are very similar. The cast are both just as wonderful. Joseph Chang challenges the role of a man who very much loves his wife (ex-wife, etc) and tries to yield to her every demand. I can never get bored of Bai Bai He because she is simply amazing with her roles, always challenging the opposite sex with her prowess. This was a well directed film.
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Great plot, average execution
What I like.This drama has a great and convincing plot. I was not expecting the plotwist and it was a great surprise. Initially, I thought it was a cliche story about enemies turned lover however there is more to this story than that. It would be a great opportunity if the plot also evolved more around this but the drama focuses more on the romance so it kind-a fell flat.
What I don't like.
The acting and storyline does not live up to expectation. There are so many ways they can approach this movie but they choose to drag the romancy stuff. The banter couple plot was overused and it seemed redundant. If you need a good laugh on how cringy a drama can get, you can start with this one.
Verdict,
Its good entertainment if you have 90 minutes to spare.
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I had seen Ao Rui Peng in 'blood of youth' drama, but the rest of the cast is new to me.
The acting is for the most parts okay. sometimes it's meh but it's not that bad.
The costumes are good.
I have minor complaints on hairstyles though Most of the casts styles looked decent! Some of them didn't really fit in there?! idk how to say it, you'll know when you see them.
I'm not a fan of listening to people's eating and chewing sounds so I couldn't stand FL's eating scenes and that other kid she knew (forgot his name).
The plot and everything is decent enough to me.
This is the first time ever that I'm not annoyed by a love triangle!
They had good chemistry. Be it FLxFu Hong or FLxMurong Chong, I wouldn't be sad. That being said, I prefer the later, Though the sibling pretense makes it awkward to root for it.
Here comes my real issue with this drama: The Ending! it was.... Ah bad? Lazy? idk what to call it.
I do get what they intended to do but this isn't how you do it! I've seen another drama having similar idea but executed very well! So, yes, in the end I am disappointed.
If it wasn't for the ending and the annoying eating sounds, I would've given it 7.5 or 8.
will I rewatch? I don't think so.
Anyways, if you want something to pass time, it's an okay watch.
My advice to those who want to watch this : Do Not watch the last 10 minutes of last episode.
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“Prison is the only place that won’t kick you out no matter how badly you behave.”
“Society today is extremely cruel to people who step off the path. But even those of us who stay on the path aren’t happy. So we’re unforgiving.”How does one find their way back into society when society is doing everything to keep you out of it? What I loved about this movie is the fact that it doesn't just focus on one side. It depicts social issues, such as inequalities, prejudice and how unforgiving society can be. But it also deals with how our protagonist became the person he is now and how your life choices can define who you are.
Mikami is impulsive, easily angered and impatient. He wears his heart on his sleeve, longs to find a place in life and just wants to feel appreciated. I loved him the moment I saw the sadness in his eyes. Mikami might not be in prison anymore, but it would be foolish to call him free.
Directed with emotional depth and empathy, well-acted by the whole cast and refined with a beautiful soundtrack. For some people it might feel slow or even incoherent at times. But for me it was all about those little moments and Yakusho Koji giving the performance of his life.
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There was a few things that bothered me a little, mainly the forcefulness of the lead at times. Though I could understand that he didn't have any intentions, it just prevented me from fully enjoying some of the scenes. With that said, I could accept it more because the female lead stood up to him and didn't stand for it sometimes. The plot was straightforward, the romance was really hot and full of cuteness, and it was all in all an organic development done by a trusted formula of dislike to understanding to acceptance to appreciation and finally to love. One thing I really appreciated about this drama was that there was no misunderstandings. The couple had constant communication and talked things through!
The main leads are new to me but wow their acting is so real like it feels like they're dating, honestly, so props to their acting! Ha Suk Jin does his character so well, transforming between a lovable petulant man-child to a responsible, caring boyfriend. His character growth because of Kim Da Da's influence as a kind teacher and person (Jeon So Min) was a delight to see!
The 'villain' was almost like comedic relief, considering how utterly nonsensical her actions were.
Music was cute and fitting.
I recommend this drama! It's short enough that I want more episodes (~30-45 minutes per episode) At the same time, I feel like this is the perfect length that cut out all the unnecessary angst and filler a longer drama would have. It's short and sweet, literally! A definite watch for rom-com/ romance lovers out there. ?
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I'm a huge fan of So Ji-Sub so that was one of the main reasons I decided to watch this, but I also really loved Son Ye-jin's performance in Something In The Rain, and neither of them disappointed me. They executed their roles perfectly, along with the little boy I was extremely impressed with all of the acting in this movie. The story line was well written, and I definitely didn't expect the plot twist and the end (I guess you will have to go watch the movie to know what the plot twist is). The whole plot was unpredictable but that's what made it so amazing.
In regards to music I don't really remember the sound track, but I really loved the song Some by Bolbbalgan4.
Overall I would highly recommend this movie, I'm going to rewatch it tonight and I don't think anybody should be deprived of the pleasure to watch this, because it was just that amazing.
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The acting was great. Sawajiri Erika, the 'mother', the 'father', the siblings, Nishikido Ryo were great.I actually started to like Nishikido Ryo as an actor because of the way he gave life to Asou Haruto, although, from what I know Haruto was actually an imaginary friend of Aya (the real Aya).
The music is PERFECT! It fist perfectly with the story. Even now, if I listen just the first seconds of 'Only Human' by K, I would start to tear up.
All in all, if a friend of mind who didn't watched even one drama in her/his life I would definitely say "Watch 1 Litre of tears!'.
"1 Litre of Tears' is drama worth of your time! You won't regret watching it.
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Sports here is used as a way to connect people. The outcome of every episode is predictable, but the last bowl always manages to have enough stake to capture your attention. I like that each episode introduces a split, that is generally related to our bowlers' lives, and the way to beat it. The last episode's bowl was the one time I thought, - nah, this time there won't be too much pressure whether the hero wins the match - until they put all the stakes of the world on it, captivating me and having pray with all the rest of the character that he wins.
As for the romance, it started pretty subtly. The leads had this frank beautiful friendship. They bicker a lot, and they don't shy from mentioning the other's fear, forcing each other to not run away and face their problems. Their conversations, especially those they have during the game are most entertaining and engaging. As things started getting more intense later, that friendship, and those frank conversations continue throughout the drama. Those two were people where the presence of one of them makes the other one a better person. As for the affaires here, the drama neither ignores how wrong it is, nor paints those engaged in those relationships are completely bad or evil. I liked the way it is approached.
I have to say what made this drama more enjoyable is the number of different characters making part of the whole bowling center and those visiting on a daily basis. The prostitute and the bar tender had a sweet side story that you can't help route for. The workers grew on me, and the perverted owner was most entertaining. I think my favourite though is Yakuza who challenges them every week. Not only does he help bringing everyone together (against him) but the way he present himself each episode, with a new song sung by him and his lackeys, is exceptional.
All this wouldn't have been that great if we didn't have such an amazing cast. Leading here is the reason behind me watching this drama, Kaneshiro Takeshi. He's so charming here, and beautiful. Every word he utters sends me dancing with excitement. Especially when says french and english words - Oui, Madame - Oh yeah! - Yea baby - Jesus - I melt! As for the female lead, Kuroki Hitomi is 13 years his senior!! She was already 42 when the dorama first aired. However her character was so cute, fun, full of life, and badass when he plays bowling. The chemistry between the two was nothing short of phenomenal. I haven't seen that often in japanese dramas in recent years so I miss it. The rest of the cast were fun and on spot, at worst they were serviceable.
The theme song used is very dramatic but somehow blends well with the drama.
This drama is a must watch for anyone who wants to watch a drama that has engaging characters, sizzling chemistry, fun and smartly written script, directing that merges all the themes seamlessly and Kaneshiro Takeshi fans. I think this type of drama can be entertaining for the majority of people if given the chance.
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1A half truth is a whole lie.
风中的火焰 or Flames in the Wind is a slow paced, Northeastern suspense thriller in a similar vein as 2023's hit The Long Season. It is set in a a desolate mining town in Ningxia where time moves slowly and the future looks bleak. After graduating from high school in 1994, three childhood friends are chomping at the bit to escape from their dead-end town. Both Liu Bai and his girl Mei Wei are university bound, if they can somehow find the funds to make it work. The less academically inclined Lei Fugui means to work his way up in the world. One night, they find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time and become entangled in a secret that changes their lives and sends them down divergent paths.Ten years later, as the town is being relocated, fate draws the three friends back to the town they had tried so hard to leave behind. A burnt corpse is dumped outside the police station. It reminds veteran cop Chu Zhi Qiang of a cold case that shook the town a decade ago. He must convince Zhang Tao, his new captain to relook at the case with new eyes. Their investigation reopens old questions about what exactly happened that one night so long ago. Nobody really knows the full story; everyone's account is some combination of their own version of the truth and speculation. But a half truth is a whole lie and thus narrative skilfully builds a compelling case against each of the suspects based on their half-lies.
While the narrative builds tension masterfully, this is one of those suspense thrillers where there is no criminal mastermind or genius crime busting cop; it is just about bad luck, worse decisions and human tragedy. What makes it superb is the acting; it is so authentic and raw that I deeply empathised with the characters' struggles, motivations and imperfections. Jiang Qiming never disappoints and his portrayal of Liu Bai as an enigmatic, still waters run deep kind of character anchors the narrative. Underneath the surface lurks so many complex emotions; guilt, anger, duplicity, desperation, love-hate, regret; all conveyed with nuance and micro-expressions. I was surprised by Yang Caiyu's Mei Wei. I thought she was just a pretty face playing a pretty face and I disliked Mei Wei's selfishness and sense of self preservation from the get go. But as she reveals her vulnerabilities, I felt terribly sorry for this coal miner's daughter who was born in the wrong town and her thirst for a better life. I also could see why the equally mercenary Fugui preferred a much simpler woman to such a complicated one.
Where this drama stumbles is in the pacing, the overall plot logic and the ending. The storytelling is well paced and riveting until the final 4-6 episodes, where the final denouement is delayed to linger too long on Zhang Tao's boring marital and personal issues. Plot logic is an issue from the start as this drama is helmed by a Taiwanese director that is clearly unfamiliar with China's legal framework. Some of the issues Chinese netizens highlight is that in that kind of town, a security guard is effectively deputised as a policeman when it comes to enforcing the law on premises. The legal framework is also depicted as a very harsh one that doesn't take into account mitigating circumstances including self-defense and hands out inequitable sentences that don't distinguish between murder and manslaughter. After the fillers, the ending felt anti-climatic, incredibly sad and unnecessarily cruel. On some level it doesn't matter because this is really a character story that delivers in spades. On some other level, it left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied because there was no justice or closure, just a legal process. I do highly recommend it for the acting but I cannot rate this better than 8/10 because the plot is unworthy of this cast.
P.S. Leslie Cheung's iconic 1990s Cantopop hit The Wind Blows On 风继续吹 perfectly captures the ethos of this story.
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