This review may contain spoilers
Having been a huge fan of season 1 of this show, I was extremely excited that there was going to be a season 2. I will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible. Story:
I read the books the show was based on a long time ago and reread book one after I watched season one. I decided to reread book two while I was watching season two whenever I had the time as well, so this review will most likely be compared to season one and book two. The story is a continuation of season one, and continues telling the story of all five women. It followed the book as closely as possible imo, however they made some significant changes in regards to Xie Tong's character and Andy's storyline. Xie Tong was a police officer in the books and not a singer, and Andy actually got pregnant before marriage in the books as well. But I think because XT's police officer character in the books did some bad things, the production team was probably afraid to paint police officers in a negative light so they changed it. Same thing with Andy, having a kid out of wedlock isn't commonly accepted in China so that's probably why they changed it as well. However, some people might think that the storyline's logic got kind of confusing because they didn't reallly clean out these changes that well. Personally, the first half was really really good, but the latter half dragged a bit (however the second book also dragged a bit so I guess it followed the book pretty well). Not all the characters had happy endings, which I think is really nice because that's how real life is. I love how this show portrays life in quite a realistic way, especially coming from a Chinese background, so many things were painfully realistic and relatable. I think all the characters had character development, although some had more than others and some developed but then went back to point one and developed again. But I think that's the beauty of this show, not everyone can develop immediately and even real life people end up going back to their nature sometimes. The last episode is really nice, it feels that everyone made pretty smart decisions in regards to their future. Also I absolutely adored the friendship and support of these ladies!!!
Acting/Cast: Same cast as last season so I'd say the acting was all pretty good! :D Props to Jiang Xin though, her acting for her character was great, even though her character was annoying at certain points haha
Music: This isn't some chinese historical drama so I'm like quite sure they didn't put too much effort on the OSTs lol but it was like okay not too disracting or anything
Rewatch: I think it's rewatchable, however, it might be easier to fast forward through certain parts when rewatching.
Overall: Loved it! I followed this drama the day it aired and watched all the episodes the day they came out. It's a very precious drama in my life XD
Disclaimer: I gave it a 9.5 on my personal ratings, but for the review, I decided to give it a more objective 8.5 as a whole.
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Caveat Emptor!!! buyer beware.
Caveat emptor. When something looks too good to be true, perhaps we should be wary.Was I sold a bag of rotten eggs? And can I only blame myself because I was attracted to the beautiful packaging? I have been watching Royal Betrothal slowly unravel since the second half began, and I kept telling myself, perhaps it will get better. That is usually the danger with these dramas, you invest so much time and emotion that you keep hoping the writers will somehow find their way back.
Unfortunately, by episode 30, I finally gave up. Their version of a Game of Thrones “Red Wedding” was the moment I couldn’t even finish the episode. Everything about it felt wrong. The bait-and-switch, only to be baited and switched again, became exhausting. At some point I had to ask myself: How creative were the writers when they ran out of ideas? The excessive slow-motion sequences became almost comical, the fight scenes defied any sense of realism, and the drama seemed to substitute spectacle for storytelling. With only two episodes left, I finally succumbed to my inner desire to drop the series. Life is simply too short to finish a drama I no longer enjoy.
And that is particularly disappointing because this drama had so much going for it. The production looked beautiful, the cast was attractive, and there were moments early on when I genuinely thought we were getting something special. Wu Jin Yan and Chen Zhe Yuan are both talented actors, and they certainly have the ability to carry a good story. But as a viewer, I also have to hold them accountable not for the writing or directing, but for the choices they make about the projects they take on. As top actors, they have some say in the stories they attach themselves to. After this one, unfortunately, they have lost a little of the goodwill I had as a fan.
I know Chinese dramas are becoming increasingly mainstream and are reaching audiences far beyond China. That is wonderful. But please, don’t mistake international audiences for ignorant fools who will accept anything simply because the costumes are beautiful, the actors are gorgeous and the production looks expensive. We are watching. We are paying attention. If anything, expanding into the international market means the writing has to step up, more credible characters, more intelligent plotting, and storytelling that doesn’t insult the audience’s intelligence. The Chinese drama industry absolutely has the talent and resources to do this. I’ve seen it. And unfortunately, Royal Betrothal is no Pursuit of Jade.
If this becomes a continuing trend, audiences outside China may eventually shift their attention back to Korean dramas and other Asian productions. There is plenty of competition out there, and beautiful packaging can only take you so far.
Having said all that, I realize this is a rather long rant. But sometimes you simply have to get it out of your system. I really don’t like being sold a beautiful bag only to discover that someone forgot to check what was inside.
So, with two episodes remaining, I’m moving on. There are plenty of other dramas waiting for me and perhaps after this disappointment, it’s time for some completely senseless high-school BL nonsense. Sometimes that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.
And next time, please don’t call it Royal Betrothal.
Just call it what it really is:
“Chop Suey: The Movie… Part Deux.”
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A realistic insight into the entertainment industry
[my first time reviewing so please bare with me & also it's been a while since I last watched this]I'm surprised that this drama isn't very popular.
The story is so realistic about how the industry of music and acting works; how people can get in just for their looks and how they change after fame and money and how stars are forced to perform because of contracts. The topics touched upon are deep and for the most part, the drama is able to get that across. It goes through a lot of ups and downs and the main characters do have a change of heart about who they're in love with which I find very unusual to see in a drama. The drama doesn't hit off properly for at least 2 or 3 eps so please bare with it. As far as music is concerned, some of the OSTs we're incredible e.g Hwan Hee.
The actors played their roles really well and the touching scenes definitely made me cry. I recommend this to anyone who's into music, light romance & someone who can watch all the episodes without pulling their hair out (since you'll want to be stabbing certain characters)!
(Oh and it's really hard to find this drama online with good quality... I mean... I bought the DVD).
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« you don’t have to be like everyone »
A beautiful drama about 4 HSP(I think) that have relationship issues. They meet each other, and heal slowly.I could really relate with all the characters. It was as if I’ve met someone who finally understands me and feels the same way I do and think the same way.
A lot of the time I’ve been told that I am a bad person just because of my personality and how I think and I have been feeling bad a lot and hated myself for that. But this drama told me that I am not wrong, and I am not bad. Everyone is different and it is okay that way.
This drama learns you to not judge, criticise, hate someone just beause he/she is different, and has a different opinion and a different way of thinking than you. And to accept them as they are. and to not try to push your ideals to others.
The scripting really beautiful, Ubukata-san always choose the right words really carefully.
The music is perfect and fit the visuals which are so simple yet so beautiful.
There is also a lot of little details that makes this drama even more precious.
Some people might find this drama boring(because of the slow pacing but I liked it and found it peaceful) and might not understand the characters . But that’s okay as everyone is different. But I hope they will watch this all the way through because this is a the end that the message is really conveyed.
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama had me snagged by the end of episode one, and never let go, even at the end I was looking for just a little more! I think like everyone else, I put off this drama for a while, but not because of the political aspect most seemed to, because I actually don't mind that as a plot-line, but because I heard from a friend the Kim Sun Ah's character was annoying and the typical stupid female lead. That was obviously very wrong, especially in later episodes. The story-line was semi-unique and new because it carried that political aspect, and was the cause for all of the main pairs trouble. While couples being separated because of their live's situation or social standing is nothing new at all, the politics made it fresh and something not quite the usual. While the beginning episodes were filled with just a little too much outlandish/slapstick humor, that didn't last long, and the humor developed into something more witty and intelligent. For the most part, the story focused really on the main couple the drama brought from Jo Gook's lies and manipulation and Shin Mi Rae's incorruptible beliefs, and their hesitancy to let themselves love each other. I loved watching Shin Mi Rae become an awesome Mayor and stand her ground and go head to head again the villain even when she knew she was out of her depth. She wasn't afraid to ask for help or admit her short comings, but she equally wasn't afraid to tell them to shut the heck up and fall in line either. Jo Gook was also so darn loveable, even when he was being a jerk, that you can't help but end up head over heels for him. He's sexy, adorable, and hilarious all at once. And when he cries...I seriously think my heart almost stopped during some of those scenes. There's just something so horribly heart wrenching about watching a man that looks so strong and confident shed tears or look so sad. There's so much good about this drama, I could go on forever, but I'm horrible when it comes to spoilers, so I'll move on.
The cast was just AWESOME! I am truly a fan of Kim Sun Ah, and have recently been watching a lot of her dramas. She's such a fantastic actress that no matter what role she plays I believe it whole heartedly and always fall in love with her characters. I was rooting for her from the get go, and I only ended up rooting more as the story progressed. And Cha Seung Won is just awesome. I first found him in The Greatest Love, and I was so surprised by just how much I ended up loving him as an actor, and my awe of him only grew in City Hall. He really played his character well, and the growth and changes he goes through are a true pleasure to watch. Just try and watch this drama and not end up wanting your own Jo Gook! He's the pure form of MAN and he projects that in just the way he walks. The supporting cast was also a blast to watch, and even if their motivations or personal stories weren't expanded on as much as they could have been, it didn't detract from the story. Even the silly side characters that granted comedic relief were well acted and believable.
The music could have been better to be honest, but I don't really think it took too much from the drama. The only thing I thought was during some of the sadder scenes, it would have been nice to have a song that matched the emotional pain that was less...upbeat sounding?
Overall, I'm really glad I watched this drama, and I'll definitely re-watching it (again XD). The chemistry and love between the leading pair was so heartwarming and the politics only added to the drama. If you're unsure if you'll like this style of drama, just give it a shot, stick in for a few episodes, and I promise you'll fall in love. If you don't, send me a strongly worded e-mail. :P
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..is one thing that I've learned and reflect from watching this drama. This is hauntingly beautiful story that brings you to a world of dark mystery of a young woman Egi Touko. There aren't that many mystery or suspense dramas in Japan. Usually, you'll get an episodic drama with a "detective-genius-who-solve-all-case" so when a good one like this, it should deserve a good rating. Well, just because the genre is mystery doesn't mean it's always an episodic. Sometimes, it was to confuse and leaves to audience to think for themselves about the events regarding of what the conclusions will be.
The script was very well-written that gives a chilling feel and yet captivating. The actors did pretty well in portrayal especially Matsushima Nanako. She has this cold and creepy aura in this one that her acting transitions made me "never-to-be-forgotten" of her. Eiki and Touko has a very good chemistry, well.. this is not just an eye candy drama though.
Now, in this drama.. YOU are the Detective! :) I advise you to just go with flow in it or else, you may lose concentration to the story. Do not "overthink". :DD
I recommend you to watch this drama, nothing to lose if you try.. Who knows? You'll never know that you're missing. :)
ENJOY! ^_____^
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Sometimes the simple truths of life are the most riveting. I won't lie and say there weren't some drama tropes present. There were, but isn't life what these tropes are based off of? There was a story line about episode 4 that turned out to be a horribly bad joke, and that's really my only complaint. Because even that bad joke had you reflecting on life.
The power of this storyline is the view from the point of view of the parents and we also get glimpses of what the kids are thinking. The parents understand what the kids are thinking because they've live it all. They've been there. Many truths are revealed on both sides. Parents are aware their children are too busy living their lives. Children can't understand that their parents won't be there forever. Small, but powerful truths make up this story.
The age differences also kept the story fresh, though the youngest person was 40 for one of the main roles. It's not only refreshing to see this type of story on the drama scene, but to actually have older actors having such well developed roles. It can be tiring seeing older actors as nothing but one dimensional parents, or filler roles. You know where an older person is expected to be, or they have a young person play an advanced age.
The focus of the story stays on the older cast even though the 40 year old, daughter is telling it as she writes her book. It's probably why I felt like her love story could have used a little more development and time. Especially in episode 15 (where I felt the pacing was off). However, that means the other character's story lines are amazing. When we finally learn about everyone’s past and present circumstances I loved it. I don't want to spoil anything, but there's many truths that I loved seeing present in this drama. (Yeah, I'm all about truths.) The writing stays on top of all of those lead character's stories and no one is left out. It was perfect.
The cast was everything I had hoped for and more. Of course they're all seasoned veterans to acting, all to their own varying degrees. So it's no surprise that these ladies and gentleman delivered brilliant performances. The chemistry was fabulous and I could believe that these woman have been friends since preschool age. They've stayed in each others' lives.
The music was fantastic! The styles and variety of sounds all fit somehow and were brilliant. From songs for the characters, to a general feel good vibe that brought a smile to my face every time. It was very unique and I appreciated that. I loved that one song had this big bopper tune to fit the resident “playboy”. I have a niggling suspicion that he may have even sang it.
There are so many layers to this drama. It's definitely not a typical one and I hope this inspires better roles for seniors. For writers to realize that older actors are loved, and a great drama would have those characters having pivotal roles. Oh, I'd rewatch this. Just so I could see the amazing friendships and reality of these characters again. I loved how well the writing balanced the fun, humor, and warm hearted nature of the story/characters with the sad truth of age and life. It was beautiful and I thank writer No Hee-Kyung for taking me on it.
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There are so many horror movies that are lacking story, but not this one! It surprised me, kept me on my toes and I kept questioning my self. The story is very well written and not too predictable! I gave it a 9 because there were to many plot twist near the ending, and I would loved it more if it was throughout the whole movie.
You can question yourself if this is really a horror movie, but if you scare me, than to me it's horror and I jumped up one time, so that was enough for me to count this as a horror movie.
The acting was also great! I loved their emotions and some parts were really hard to act, but you can only understand this when you've watched this movie.
The music was also good, it did build up some tension but not to much.
I would rewatch this movie, because it has a good story, and that is what I like. I also recommend this to people who like horror, love plot twist and likes a good story!
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1
1This review may contain spoilers
" Some Feelings are bound to disappear and some Feelings are destined to be Long lasting. "
Hello 👋 Everyone. This is my first review, so first of all thank you for reading this. Shine On Me ✨️ was a cute, fluffy and slow burn drama which I liked so much. Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai did their best in portraying Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang 🎉. Personally I liked Nie Xiguang's positivity and her charmness. I also liked the warmth and gentleness of Lin Yusen.Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang :
They are the light of this drama which kept the drama engaging throughout. Lin Yusen was a top tier neurosurgeon who was unfortunate to mess up with his hands in a accident which kept him away from medicine for two years. He had that accident on the way to meet Xiguang ( it is a misinformation ). Due to this there was a misunderstanding between them for few eps then resolved later. His love was really pure ❤️ which was shown when he chose Nie Xiguang again eventhough he thought that she left him after his accident ( misunderstanding ). And of course, I have to tell for the viewers that he won't have much screentime at the first few eps due to FL's college story but after that we get to see him throughout the drama ☺️.
Nie Xiguang was a Business school student who had a crush on Zhuang Xu, a top student and was the tutor to her cousin. She eventually confessed and turned down but she didn't wanted to give up on him. Later due to a misunderstanding she moved on from him and met our ML. After graduation, she joined Shuangyuan Photovoltaic where she met Lin Yusen and gradually they fell in love. I have to tell that the period where Lin Yusen pursued Xiguang was especially sweet. I loved it.
Guangyu Photovoltaic Co. Ltd ( formerly known as Shuangyuan ):
This is a firm based on the production and distribution of solar panels. This part was so informative about the solar industry such as BAPV [ Building attached Photovoltaic ] and BIPV [ Building Integrated Photovoltaic ]. I really appreciate that they kept this drama realistic with the timeline when solar industry bloomed in China.
After meeting NXG, LYS realized his dreams of the medical field and moved towards it while NXG directed Guangyu towards development. Their personal growth in their fields was really worth watching.
Lin Yusen's Family :
Lin Yusen's mother was a nice character who was supportive with his decisions and his step father who gave space for him and his mother. I actually felt sad for LYS when I heard his father has passed away.
Nie Xiguang's Family :
First of all, when I hear the word NXG's family the first character comes to my mind is Jiang Rui ( Nie Xiguang's cousin ). I liked him very much. He was really supportive and protective of her as a brother. His mother portrayed a wonderful women entrepreneur in the business world and the ultimate shipper of our couple. Absolutely, I am obliged to tell about NXG's mother Jiang Yun who was a second favourite character in her family. After getting divorce from NXG's father Nie Chengyuan, she spent her life carefree but later her realization on the influence of others comments were wonderful. Especially, she was also supportive to our couple. Her bother and Jiang Rui's father was also a nice character. The only character what I disliked in the whole drama was NXG's father for his foolishness to go to the con artist friend ( Qian Fangping ). And the scene where she spoke heartbroken to her father for doubting her without second thought made me cry 😢.
OSTs :
The OSTs of this drama was beautiful 💕. My favourite ones were :
1. You Are The Sun In My Life - Lu Yuanyi
2. Coming For You - Zhang Hao
Conclusion :
This drama was a great drama for me. The only thing I disliked was the abrupt cuts from one scene to another. Overall this drama is a 10/10 for me 🤗. I want to conclude with one of my favourite lines in the drama :
" No, It’s not about choosing. I would always end up with him. "
I want to describe the drama as :
" The Delightful Journey of Sunlight ( Nie Xiguang ) and Forest ( Lin Yusen ). "
Once again Thank you for reading this review 💖.
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Ok, so the choreography was simply STUNNING! I mean, I have never seen a better use of martial arts, ever. Bourne Identity comes close but this was... the economy of movement, the sword play, it was spectacular. I am getting the DVD for no other reason than to slow down the flight scenes to half speed so I can see those fights in all their glory! The fight scenes were STUNNING! The actor was so gritty, damn. You only get a tiny idea of how amazing it is from the preview, let me tell you... I wish I could look up movies by whoever is in charge of fight scenes. Just, dman.
Ok, no one cares how wonderful the fight scenes were (you better, it was something like >50% of the movie) the music... I really liked it. It was a very powerful sound track that worked well with the movie and the era. A mix of traditional Japanese music and instrumental with some classical thrown in there, it made me feel the era. It was an era of transitions and you felt it from the music alone.
Story wise, this covered the fake Battousai and Gatling gun/Megumi arcs. If you are looking for the manga made into a movie... well, this movie was by no means pure but it did a damn good job. Watching Sano fight was comical, he was the comic relief of the movie, where Kenshin was all sex he was all humor.
After my first paycheck, if it is still in theaters, I am SO going. Just an amazing movie people! The costumes, the sets, just damn. If you want to know anything more specific, email me because I feel that if I continue, it is just going to be one large joygasm about how wonderful the sword play was.
I will comment that the ONLY point I was dissappointed in was that Kenshin did not do his 'I'm so badass with my sakabatou I can slice through concrete' thing.
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1
1This review may contain spoilers
Absence of Acceptance 대도시의 사랑법
From the very first scene, you know this show isn't here to play it safe. It hits hard and it tackles the kind of deep topics a lot of people avoid. Go Yeong's story feels painfully real, he is drowning under the expectations of his family, dealing with the constant judgment from society and on top of that struggling with the kind of love that consumes you but might never be enough. And there is also his mom's denial of his sexuality which isn't just a personal issue it's also showing what so many families go through. They love their kids but can't reconcile that love with the traditions they have been brought up to believe. The show doesn't sugarcoat this and it's not here to hand out easy answers. It is messy and uncomfortable, the way it is when you are queer in a world where acceptance is still trying to catch up.And unlike with other shows, Go Yeong's growth isn't that epiphany that comes out of the blue and then suddenly everything just falls in place. It is slow and it is frustrating at times. The pressure of fitting into the mold wanted by society and family does not just disappear and the show keeps the tension alive. It's his story but at the same time it says something many people are feeling right now....the struggle of trying to figure out where you fit when the world is constantly shifting and when who you are is in direct conflict with who everyone expects you to be. And the beauty of it all is in the balance which is great because the show manages to be introspective and deep without tipping into melodrama and there are still these little moments of humor that remind you that even in the darkest times there is still room for joy.
Mi Ae is another key piece of this puzzle. She is proof of how important chosen family is especially in LGBTQ+ narratives. In a country like Korea where traditional family values are so embedded in the culture, acceptance doesn't always come from your biological family. Mi Ae and Go Yeong's relationship is showing that the people who really have your back aren't always the ones you share DNA with, they are the ones who choose to walk alongside you through the mess and the beauty of it all.
I think this show is a gutpunch in the best way possible. Messy love, identity and family are all told so delicately. I also really like how real these characters are: the struggles are real and it doesn't shy away from hard truths with respect to what being queer entails. Heartbreaking at times, hopeful at others and yet another reminder that love in all forms leaves its mark on you, even when the happy ending isn't there. I am STILL not over it!
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Three men, one love.
Kim Nam-gyu : He represents the kind of love that Go Yeong wasn not prepared to face, it was intense, genuine and emotionally demanding. He is everything Go Yeong might have needed but wasn’t ready to reciprocate. Nam-gyu is the "what if" love, the one who could have been a transformative presence in Go Yeong’s life but circumstances, timing and Go Yeong's own hesitations held them back from ever fully realizing that potential. He is the person who stood on the edge of becoming something more, someone who could have brought stability but it never quite happened.
Youngso: He is the love that Go Yeong was finally ready for but the other one wasn’t prepared to meet him at the same place. Unlike the other relationships of his past, with Young-so, Go Yeong had reached a point of emotional maturity where he was willing to invest, to open up and to fully commit. He saw in Young-so the potential for something lasting, something real. But did not get the love he needed in return.
Gyu-ho: His true first love ♡ the one who he genuinely loved and who wholeheartedly loved him in return. There was no pretense in this, Gyu-ho was the love that Go Yeong needed, someone who truly saw him, accepted him and loved him for who he was. I think Yeong found a security that had been missing in his other relationships. It was a love built on understanding and care. He is the one who made him feel safe, seen, and wanted in a way no one else had. He was the anchor Go Yeong needed, the one who grounded him in a world that often felt unstable.
Gyu-ho was that person, the one who embodied everything Go Yeong had been searching for and at last found.
His only Wish.
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On that note, can we just take a moment to appreciate the incredible talent of the actors in this show? they are absolute STARS and they completely brought these characters to life in a way that left me SHOOK! Go Yeong is portrayed so sensible and I am just in awe of how the actor brought all those emotions out. You can literally see the struggles in his eyes, he perfectly shows us the heartache and longing that makes you root for him.
One last thing: as someone who has read the novel, I can confidently say they absolutely nailed it with this adaptation! they managed to keep the essence of the story intact while adding just the right amount of creativity to the characters and their struggles. You can tell the creators really understood the source material and respected the things that make it so impactful.
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This review may contain spoilers
MAME does it again.
I guess I should expect this from the creator of TharnType, but to be honest I didn’t know it was this author until I was 4 episodes in.The actors are okay. I don’t want to say they have no ability simply because they have no reasonable script. I haven’t seen them in anything else, so maybe if they had something better to work with, they could have done well. The music is mediocre. I haven’t found anything great or terrible about the OST. As you may have gathered from the above: the plot is pretty much non existent. Outside of the relationships, there isn’t anything to be said so far. Not really a compelling plot and sometimes the storyline is nonsensical.
I can explain the whole story with some very simple dialogue:
Payu: “Let’s have sex.”
Rain: “No. I’m not gay.”
Payu: “You’re stupid.”
Rain: “I’ll make you love me so you can’t call me stupid.”
Payu: “Let’s have sex.”
Rain: “Okay.”
Pai: *Forces Sky to have sex with him.*
Sky: “What a jerk.”
Pai: “His sex was so good, I think I should make Sky my sex friend or boyfriend, as needed.”
Sky: “Go away..”
Pai: “You’re sick? Let me take care of you.”
Sky: “Okay, maybe we can have sex, but I won’t be happy about it.”
This is the gist of the show to this point (episode 10). It makes little to no sense and has very little plot. As usual for this author, imbalance of power in relationships and forced or non consensual sex that ends in loving relationships. I agree with another reviewer who asked if MAME has ever been in a relationship, cause this is not how people behave. This is soft core porn with very little story. And unfortunately the story you get isn’t worthwhile. We should expect more from our BL series.
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A kiss is just a kiss.
This drama is set in 1949 during the prelude to the Communist Party of China's descent upon Shanghai the most strategic city in China at the time; which the nationalist Kuomintang had vowed to defend. The loss of Shanghai paved the way for the CPC to sweep into power and the rest is history. Given this backdrop, it is no surprise that this drama is often mischaracterized as a spy thriller. And certainly while espionage is a prominent feature, it is not at all what this drama is really about. It is much more a slice of life drama that explores the social economic challenges and shifting political ideologies that affects friends, families and lovers at this great inflection point in modern Chinese history.I normally heartily dislike dramas set in tumultuous times like this because one cannot realistically expect happy outcomes. So I put this off for the longest time even though I am a huge fan of Chen Kun. But to my surprise, I enjoyed this drama almost from start to finish. The drama deftly avoids being melodramatic or maudlin by telling the story as a witty and intelligent dark comedy; effectively masking the sad, somewhat cynical undertone. I laughed my head off at the comical antics of the flighty widow who tries to turn back time with her first true love, a married man who is clumsily both tempted and terrified by her. It was only much later that it struck me what an ironic and cruel trick fate played on them and their families. Beyond Chen Kun, this drama is well cast with actors with excellent comedic timing.
The newly widowed Huang Liwen (Wan Chen) encounters Qiao Zhicai by chance as they both return to Shanghai. Having just lost her husband, a communist agent, Liwen tries to stay connected to him or perhaps give meaning to her loss by embracing his cause. Qiao Zhicai on the other hand is a a street savvy rogue and a bit of the black sheep of his family who ably navigates through the hyperinflation and shortages during those chaotic times. Their antagonistic initial interactions and misunderstandings blossom into a touching friendship and they become increasingly entangled into each other's lives. Together they try to protect the work of Qiao Lijie, Zicai's identical younger twin and a brilliant nuclear physicist. Their activities invite the scrutiny of the brutal secret police, putting them and their families in harm's way.
Where this drama shines is in its satirical portrayal how the main characters respond to provocation, conflict and deprivation. On the one hand, the drama mockingly lays bare the shallower, superficial and baser human traits of many of the characters and then redeems them by actions that also reveals their capacity for good. This darkly humorous depiction of familial bonds, sibling rivalry, love and betrayal as well as loyalty and friendship is vivid, hilarious and wistful. The overarching plot however will not satisfy true spy buffs although there are some thrilling, suspenseful moments and twists. It amounts to little more than a bunch of rather amateur spies pitted against a bunch of equally incompetent villains and making huge sacrifices for a mission that is ultimately of dubious historical significance.
I cannot praise Chen Kun's stellar performance in this drama enough. He pulled off both twins with such different personalities so convincingly I really believed there were two of them. Some of my favorite moments were when the brothers switch places - when Zhicai pretends to be Lijie he gives you the barest glimpse of Zhicai's concealed personality and vice versa. That is incredibly difficult to pull off and I don't believe I have ever seen it done better. I ended up loving both brothers and to me, Qiao Zhicai has become an all time favorite drama character. On the other hand, I found Wan Chen's Huang Liwen somewhat lacking. To be fair, it is a complex, messy role - a widow who is struggling to find meaning in her loss and existence. But she never convinces that her zeal for her cause is grander than love or friendship or even life itself. And she needs saving all the time. She only has three expressions - woebegone, helpless and cold. For her, a kiss is just a kiss; a means to an end with little true passion. I find her feelings for and attitude towards Zhicai unfathomable and frustrating. I don't think that is what the writers intended. Although she almost redeems herself at the end, I still find her unworthy of the sacrifices and risks Zhicai took for her.
For me this is an 8.5 that would have been a 9.0 if a better actress played Liwen. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed the story and dark humor - it is very rare to see it done so well in c-drama. I can highly recommended watching this even though as a consequence, I suffered a major relapse and started cyber stalking Chen Kun again.
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