Pure boredom.
This review is rather short, because I was most annoyed with myself in the end. Why?? because I took the time to look to the end. I wanted so much all the time that Doona was blowing with her manager. it was so depressing to bear this melancholy, overly decent and pain-distorted lead actor. the story and her messages were not difficult to understand, but why on earth do you have to portray a young guy as if he were a 70-year-old high teacher who only preaches morals.. In the end, I was grateful that there was still room for interpretation..and if I want to dream msl, it was that Doona found someone who loves her unconditionally and does not want to be her father substitute. .. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it.Was this review helpful to you?
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The same old, same old...
When you think you get something like "To My Shore" - no, you don't. It started interesting but then degraded rapidly. We have the same 2D villain fathers and the brother Ken as in many other shows. While not as over the top like in "Wicked Game", it's still not satisfying at all. There is no sophistication in either the script or the villains. It's all very stereotypical. And of course the finale is quite ridicilous as it's typical with thai shows.At least the MLs got to play something different and in most parts they succeeded with the acting. Nobody can deny their chemistry. The NC scenes are the same old, so nothing new or interesting there. I guess that is the second time we got a GL side-couple, this time not stupid or silly as in "Love Sea". Also the action scenes were not as amateurish as in many other shows, so that got them on my good side 🤣. Production value was high. The timejumps made the story not easy to comprehend.
It's an "ok" show for me, it's watchable but of course can't come close to "To My Shore" which had a much more refined script and even more tensions between the MLs. As usual the viewer gets an happy end and the end scene may be a hint of a coming show in the same universe or a special. But beware that some scenes might be very disturbing (psychical abuse, selfharm) and mentally unstable people should not watch it.
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Romance Is A Bonus Book is really well-written K-drama complemented with amazing casts. This one has put me into a state of emotional mess. It had me feel so sad and yet made me laugh. It got me curious, and it gave me answers. It didn't have any unnecessary plot-twists that can potentially lead to a dragging development. It has a rather simple storyline but I think it's how the writers really want it. It is very heartwarming,
The casts are EXCEPTIONAL. All the crying scenes are just daebak! They are also effectively funny (or at least for me). There are many supporting characters given the setting of the story, but the important ones had their time to rightfully shine and have their own stories and character developments. The production did a great job in choosing these casts.
As a bookworm myself, and someone who is also personally related to book publishers to some extent, I just want to express my massive appreciation to the producers for not making the "romance" overshadow everything else. In fact, rather than the romance, I think I paid more attention to the message about books. The will to express the passion of the people behind the books we read, the essence of creating books, the references made about books in correlation to the characters' life experiences. I just love everything! And I learned a lot about the behind the scenes of book publishing — the editorial part, the printing and marketing. Ah, really AMAZING!
Not only that — the way they approached and tackled different sensitive topics like mental illness, marriage and divorce, was stellar! I watched these parts with heavy heart because they felt so real. ALSO, mad props for showing a positive representation of the LGBT community. Although it was rather short, it wasn't forced, it was just there so casually, so subtle, so right!
I haven't gushed over K-drama in a while. Romance is A Bonus Book is definitely going to my "All-time Fave K-drama list". Totally recommending this to my bookish friends!
"The moon is beautiful." — I love this.
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Wasted Potential
The trailer promised too much and the series didn’t deliver. I love Perth and I love Chimon, but them together was not it. We have seen both actors deliver amazing acting previously this year (Home School and Double Savage as examples) so the subpar delivery of the feelings the characters were supposed to feel is weird. The romance is not believable, however the enemies part of the show is really great. Wasted potential to drive up the tension and drama, but it never delivered. Also, the danger felt sprinkled in without direction.The side characters are charicatures with no fleshed out story line or personality. Their actions confusing and strange at times because we do not get enough time to get to know them which made them boring. There were so much potential here to make great side stories but we never got it.
The plot was not plotting in my opinion and the chemistry couldn’t carry a series without drivers in the story. It started off strong, but then bellyflopped from the 4th episode and became meh. It wasn’t so bad that I dropped it, but it definitivly will never be rewatched.
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Contemporary Love Poetry
More than a thousand years and two lifetimes later, our star crossed lovers finally reunite, this time under happier circumstances in modern day China. Or is it really? Without spoiling the fun and suspense, here’s a spoiler-free look at what all the hype is about and whether it’s worth your time to check out…The Narrative
Forever and Ever is the official sequel to One and Only, having premiered two weeks after the latter had ended its airing in late August. The lead actors and characters remain the same, namely Ren Jia Lun and Bai Lu reprising their roles of Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi respectively. Since their epic love story concluded during the Northern and Southern Dynasty era, their second incarnation sees them assuming completely different personas. Zhousheng Chen has become a renowned chemistry professor and scion of a prominent industrialist family while Shi Yi (minus the surname) is now a celebrated voice actress.
This drama primarily features their love story, in a contemporary setting, as well as the trials and tribulations that they both have to overcome before finally achieving their happily ever after ending. The challenges that they face come in the form of Zhousheng Chen’s own family.
The Production Details
Although it is the sequel, Forever and Ever actually completed filming before One and Only. Based on the second (and main) part of the novel, One Life, One Incarnation – Beautiful Bones" (一生一世美人骨) by novelist and screenwriter Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝), who additionally served as the screenwriter. The young director Shen Yang, who was not involved in the prequel, helmed the production. Tan Xuan remains as the music director for both dramas.
Principal photography this time took place in Shanghai, Zhenjiang, the county of Wuzhen and the historic city of Xi’an. This drama is notable for being the 7th and final entry to iQiyi’s Sweet On theatre for 2021 that focuses on premium short format series and romance-centric content. Unlike One and Only, Forever and Ever’s main characters are dubbed by the actors themselves.
What I Loved
This drama shares the same excellent production quality and technical execution as O&O. Aside from the slightly warmer colour palette and softer filters applied, all other aspects remain top-tier. The editing is one of the best you’ll ever see in a C-drama production. Likewise the original score composed by Tan Xuan that complements the various atmospherics of the scenes as well as the exquisite cinematography. Needless to say, the production designs appear as immaculate as the classical structures of the filming locales selected. This is very much apparent at the Zhou family estate in Zhenjiang, the couple’s traditional mansion and the surroundings of the Wuzhen canals.
The performance of the cast is compelling. I’ve already waxed lyrical about Ren Jia Lun and Bai Lu in my review of O&O so without replicating similar superlatives, I’m pleased that their delivery meets my expectations. There are a number of new characters in the story that caught the eye. Ci Sha as the charismatic Mei Xing in his first ever production. Similar to the monk in O&O, he represents the swoon-worthy wingman in the modern setting with his suave and charming characterization. My personal favourite supporting character this time around is Zhou Wen Xing, played by Wang Rui Xin who is another relative newcomer to the industry. She has one of the more significant and emotional character arcs in the story which she portrays with absolute purity and believability.
I love the music for the production, perhaps even more so than O&O due to the outstanding accompaniment of the BGM score in scene transitions as well as the poignant ending and couple theme, Continue Writing by Shan Yichun. Bai Lu provides a rendition of Heartbeat, her character theme while the same opening theme of O&O is used for the title sequence, the hauntingly enthralling instrumental version of Unworried (Wuyu).
Continue Writing 续写 by Shan Yichun 单依纯
Give to You 给你给我 by Buyi Mao 毛不易
Heartbeat 心动 by Bai Lu 白鹿
Freeze Frame 定格 by Yan Renzhong 颜人中
Unworried 无虞 by Mimi Lee 李紫婷, Jing Long 井胧
What I Thought Was Lacking
First, a disclaimer - I haven’t read the literary source so this is purely my thoughts on the drama production and not on the novel itself.
The plot lacked depth or perhaps its essence was not fleshed out by the adaptation. At around the halfway point of the drama, I began to accept that although supposedly based on the main portion of the source content, this sequel actually plays out like a tribute to O&O by virtue of the extended storyline of the main couple. In other words, F&E feels more like a combination of overlong MV scenes, aesthetic travelogue and live-action vignettes that are interwoven into a cinematic and surreal tapestry of vivid dreamy moments. Each frame is gorgeous to look at but you don’t really comprehend the significance of what is happening.
The storytelling leaves much to be desired. Just as it was in O&O, F&E is character driven by the powerful performances of Ren Jia Lun and Bai Lu. However, the premise and plot of O&O were clearly defined to tell viewers what are at stake and for whom. In F&E, aside from a few major characters, there seem to be many other characters just passing through without adding any seemingly tangible value to the plot. The Zhousheng family tree itself is confusing enough with its cousins and second cousins, marriage and remarriage, half-siblings, servants who share the same surname, the so-called elders who appear intermittently to discuss “family affairs” (I’m still not exactly sure what they’re manufacturing or trading, to be perfectly honest). The rather underdeveloped and, at times, perplexing toxic sibling-rivalry that culminates in a bitter contest for control over the family’s business. All these events transpire amidst Peking opera performances in the background and the daily family breakfast at the Zhenjiang family estate that resembles a tour group buffet meal for tourists at a zen retreat.
Controversy in the Adaptation
Debates were raging in the drama page revolving around criticisms of the adaptation and also Ren Jia Lun’s “no-kiss/ intimacy” policy that purportedly resulted in the screenplay being changed to accommodate this policy thus adversely altering the core characterization of the ML, Zhousheng Chen.
Personally I’m perfectly fine with the leads not having enough or any explicit intimate scenes. The romance has to feel right and realistically sync with the conviction of the chemistry, regardless of how often they share deep kisses between them in bed and in public, or not at all. Ren Jia Lun and Bai Lu are adept at selling their romance at an emotional and spiritual level that transcends physical boundaries, which they both did so well in O&O.
Regarding the novel’s iteration of Zhousheng Chen, who is supposedly different in terms of personality and his interactions with Shi Yi, I can’t comment on which one is better since I’m only aware of the drama version. But, I have enjoyed Ren Jia Lun’s interpretation of the role. It’s eccentric and a little quirky, for sure. But I thought it fits his persona of an inexperienced and erudite researcher who eventually undergoes a tremendous growth in his evolution as a man and his affectionate love and respect for Shi Yi.
Final Thoughts
Should one watch O&O before watching this? Not necessarily and even the references from the prequel are extremely vague. However, you would most definitely appreciate F&E much more if you start the journey from O&O, which I did. Forever and Ever is a kind of homage and fan service to One and Only that alleviates the tragic suffering and fulfills its promise of giving viewers the happily-ever-after closure that Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi truly deserves. Enjoying the sweet romantic moments and not losing brain cells over the overarching plot that develops in the background would be my advice going into this one.
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Eww! What is this?
This will be a short one.You don't have to watch this drama, I mean it's always wise not to waste time. Not bcs it's not even slightly average, it's one of the worst that's ever been produced. I am describing the reasons throughout (without spoilers ofc), though only those who have watched will be able relate. But for several reasons, if you haven't started, drop this off, for it's not even worth.
Produced by IWill Media and created by Studio Dragon, "A Superior Day (우월한 하루) [2022]" is an OCN original drama (though it didn't feel like one at all). Written by Lee Ji Hyun and directed by Jo Nam Hyung, the show is a live-action adaptation of the popular webtoon of the same title, authored by Team Getname that include Kim Carnby (Sweet Home) and Aurani (Meloholic).
The story follows Lee Ho Chul (Jin Goo), a responsible fire fighter, who lives with his small family of wife and a daughter. One day his daughter gets kidnapped and soon follows the order from a stranger who wants Ho Chul to investigate and find out out the culprit of a serial killer. The chase leads him to unforeseen situations where he finds himself and his family entangled between the stranger and the culprit.
Detective Choi Jung Hye (Im Hwa Young) plays Ho Chul's wife while Lee Soo A (Cho Yu Ha) is their daughter. Ha Do Kwon plays Bae Tae Jin, an ex-convict whereas Kwon Shi Woo (Lee Wo Keun) is the family's next door neighbour. Some other familiar faces in the show are: Park Min Jung, Song Young Kyu, Na Chul and Lee Seo Joon.
I don't wanna talk about the plot development, for its of no use, but let me bcs everybody needs to know. This could have been a decent chase thriller but the plotline given, however, the screenplay writing was choppy and not up to scratch. It's so bad I can't even cite it as an average show. The introduction didn't create any firm impression but by the end of the 2nd episode, I was looking forward, but then, came the 3rd episode. It suddenly became off, which I took, as momentary inconsistency. However, it never improved further. The kidnapping and taking hostage stuff was so funny lmao, it felt like two table tennis players were tossing the ball against their opponents (I will start crying). It gets extremely frustrating by the 5th episode and then everything just feels duh. I finished it just for the sake of having a closure, ngl, I can't leave anything unfinished, even so I have to watch them at 3x. For this, I watched the 2nd half (5th-8th) at 2x and finished them in one go.
I have always emphasized that it's not always an easy task to turn a book/webtoon into live-action adaptation and it's been many debutants doing an amazing job has been evidenced. However, Kim Ji Hyun jakkanim failed to do so, quite miserably. There are more than dozen of flaws which are unarguably too many for a 8 episode show. The responses to the drama should be a lesson to them for bettering themselves.
Director Jo Nam Hyung PDnim, as well, needs to work more on his skills. The direction was shoddy and substandard for most of the parts. There seemed no space for improvement, nor the efforts to fix what was already been ruined in the initial demo.
What I liked...
There is not a single that that's likeable, so this is it.
What I didn't like...
# The biggest turn off about the show is it's plot development. What didn't feel any impressive in the pilot episode, does pick up interest in the next, but again, it immediately goes downhill midway through the ep 3, and there is no going back; it keeps getting worse worse with each further episode.
# A firefighter, a serial killer, a contract killer, police investigation, full-time chase: all these that might excite you, are elements often seen Kdramas, nevertheless, proper utilisation is what matters, which the show could not do at all.
# The reasoning and the deals made on it were laughable and stupid. The number of times people change their sides makes it nothing less than a dumpping bin.
# There is very little context to the story, telling which, the show should have been a decent 2 hours movie, provided how it turned crap just after 2 episodes. All that they do for the rest of the show is unasked exaggeration and uncontrollable dragging of the tiny plotline.
# The latter half is miserable as a story; the number of times they repeat 2 or 3 events indeed frustrates the viewers and the show ultimately feels useless.
# The acting was bad per se. Obviously, there are actors who are hugely talented, but what nourishes and shapes the acting they do for a particular character, is the direction and the understanding for the roled they are gonna play. I feel it's hugely the direction and editing that reflects in the under-standard acting of the actors. Jingoo has disappointed, and so has Lee Woo Keun (he couldn't play a proper...... not spoiling).
# The police investigation was as useless as a ruptured protection. I mean why make it a part of the show when there was zero significance. I admit, not all show has to have extensive investigation and stuffs but the cops over here were committing absurd deeds and have been portrayed as completely incapable. The team leader, the chief detective & the partner and the new detective aka Jung Hye who was expected to play a major role as thd ML's wife, all of them had zero contribution to the show.
# Why would they indicate another season at the end of the finale? I guess the webtoon has more but provided that this one is awful, another season should be avoided at any cost.
# Lastly, this doesn't even qualify as a chase thriller. I would rather sit at one place than running around idly, like the ML does here.
Final Remarks... Overally, A Superior Day is one of the worst Korean shows ever made with not a single factor to look forward to. So don't watch. Okay bye.
P. S. Was so frustrated after finishing, ended up writing it in 10 mins -_-
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This review may contain spoilers
A very enjoyable drama
First of all, I have to say that i didn't watch JoL before so I'm less biased compared to some of you.This is the first time that i'm giving a review for a drama. It hooked me directly with the first episode. Many of you may not like the ML since he is not the typical beautiful chinese man. He is relatively normal compared to other actors but i think it is what makes this shows original. The ML is really talented and is doing a great job. I have laughted so much with every episode. I have been checking if they was a new episode every single day. Some may say that the ML and FL doesn't have a good chemistry but I disagree with them. I found them very cute and fun, every time their are together, I can't help myself but to have a smile on my face. For me, the first half(18 episode) is a solid 10, very funny, and a good rythm. I have watch those episode a minimum of 3 times already.
But when the the bandit arc start for real, it was still enjoyable but less than the start. It was quite long, and the absence of romantic moment between the FL and ML was a little disapointing for me. Of course, it was not entirely bad, they was some good moment such as the relationship that the ML developed with some people of the sect, the feeling that Liu Shi Gua developed for ML,... Even the death of the bodyguard was interesting for me because since the beginning, the ML can almost resolve everything perfectly but finally, a person can't control everything and sometimes ur friend will die. Some difficult choice have to be made, like the trahison the ML had to do to Liu Shi Gua...
Waiting impatiently for the 2nd season, the cliffhanger is very intriguing. Really want to know if the prince is also a memory keeper.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watched on recommendation from a friend and I noticed this had great reviews. I immediately recognised the main lead from Zhang Yimou's movie and she is a popular choice for many serious movies. She playes the "good student." Jackson Yee is someone I am unfamiliar with - although he is a new-ish actor and an idol, he has that mature aura that does not feel out of place. This is a serious movie that has been explored many times - about the gravity of bullying has on a young person's life in China, while facing these school bullies, it explores the wider society issues, of education, relentless competition between students and exams, this all or nothing state of pressure students live through. And this movie is dramatised as the young pair try to fight for themselves in a world where the adults seem to promise to help but never seem to have much power or follow through with their promises.
As tragic events worsen, they find a will to take matters into their own hands, leading the second half of the events to escalate into uncontrollable circumstances. This movie is a rollercoaster - Zhong Dong Yu plays a similar character from "Under the Hawthorn Tree" as a weak, shy, pitiful, pure character which is not a personal liking from watching Western dramas full of bad-ass strong women which we are used to seeing nowadays, however I've learnt to appreciate the quiet strength from the two leads. A plus from these two having good chemistry, and the casting was good - you really learn to hate the bullies and champion our leads. However for the negatives, I felt it was tad too heavy handed. I wished they explored more about the bullies esp the main girl, we only get a glimpse of her back story however I felt that was the most interesting part. It left it a bit too Good vs Evil.
What I also loved was the conviction these two shared and their hopefulness and naviety of teenagers making their own decisions was portrayed here - when they both made the decision to tell the same story to the police - only showed to prove how much these two have gone through and their bond that is unshattering that was physically represented by that couple Les Mis scene. These people become closer and closer until they share the same fighting spirit that unfortunately, as adults, ultimately will lose. This movie is good as it forces them to face the reality of their situation while downplaying their romantic decisions (as if actions do not have consequences), which is fitting as they transition as teens to adults.
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I want my time back
This started off alright and had so much potential, given both of their backgrounds but the lazy writing and horrific directing made this to be something just not worth anyones time. Add to that the woeful and lacklustre ending makes this entire drama a recipe for disaster. The fact that this is the first ever review I've written should show you how deeply I feel about this dead af drama in hopes of saving some of you who've yet to waste time on this your precious time.Was this review helpful to you?
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It’s a good story and acted well by ZJM and ZLH. One of the things I like about this drama is how Yintao was so loved unconditionally by her parents which made her a sweet, fearless and compassionate person. As for Qiaosi’s story, though he went through so much disappointments in life, lucky him there’s always Yintao who loved him unconditionally making him overcome his insecurities and able to love Yintao in return the way as she deserves to be loved. Was this review helpful to you?
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If you come for the romance, just be patient
The reason why I love this drama is because at the beginning, I didn't come for the romance but end up enjoying it altogether. XDI can see they put so much effort to create every scenes, although I can't justify the technical accuracy because I am not a person from airforce. Yeah.. there are still some scenes that make me question "do people really do it like that in the aircraft?"
After 15 episodes, it actually starts to change the direction into romance and drama.
But I admire the performance of natural reaction and acting from the cast. We don't see much slow mo or those type of kissing by accidents that's usually happening in drama XD. I love how they make the loveline slow burned. Those two make it quite convincing although they dont do much skinship. They just don't choose the easiest way possible to show it and that's what make us always 'wanting more'.
I like the way the main characters keep trying to solve their problems. It's not just done by miracle. Although she was a mess at the beginning and might not always has the perfect solution, CX doesnt give up easily but at the same time, let thing go quickly. I love the fact that the story doesnt push CX much to be the cure for Nan Ting's trauma, like most of other drama would do to create an unspoken fate between them. Nan Ting has figured it out and worked on the problem by himself and he likes her not because she is a replacement. They just unconditionally care for each other.
Not only the main leads, the supporting characters also show quite few development. What I like the most is everyone is always trying. It's not always about coincidence or luck or fate like any other drama would usually do. For example, the character of Yuheng who has a crush on Gu Nan Ting (male lead). This type of second lead really could make me worry that she could snatch him but at the same time admire her effort of not-giving-up-on-him. And that actually quite makes senses because the man is frrrreaking single and she knows him for a long time and also befriend with his family! Of course she would fight until the end.
I also appreciate the amount of focus on the negative attribute in every character. Well, we might see these many male leads that are stoic, handsome, cold and charismatic, but most of the time, it feels like they just exist in drama because the way they react. This time, I don't have that feeling. Gu Nan Ting's character makes me think that someone like him might exist in real life and yeah...he can be boring sometimes? But that's just him being himself.
Overall,you can see how much I end up enjoyin the slow romance part . Lol.
I love this show!
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The Legend of Shen Li
34 people found this review helpful
1The Legend of Shen Li - a sugar hit that doesn't quite fill you up
In a Nutshell:Zhao Li Ying (ZLY) plays the titular character Shen Li, a formidable and fearless General of the Immortal realm army. Her military prowess earned her the title of Lord Bi Cang and she is revered by everyone in the immortal realm. But being still female, she is forced into a political marriage with a playboy from the Heavenly realm. She gets injured while trying to escape and falls to the mortal world as a phoenix, her spirit animal form. She ends up in a marketplace for hungry peasants and is mistakenly sold as a chicken. She is bought by a seemingly carefree and aloof man, Xing Yun, played by Li Geng Xin (LGX), who surprisingly doesn’t turn her into a tasty meal, but instead nurses her back to health. As the most powerful warrior in the immortal realm, she finds her predicament and the doting care by this mere mortal humiliating and embarrassing. However, as Shen Li starts to appreciate his kindness and the simple pleasures of earthly life, she begins to develop feelings for her mortal saviour.
The Highlights:
• I will save you time: Episodes 22 – 29 are the best, followed by episode 1 – 3. Watch the other episodes if you have nothing else productive to do.
• The best executed episodes (see above) involve the mortal realm where Shen Li and Xing Zhi have the freedom to be themselves and just enjoy each other’s company. The cinematography, lighting, costumes, use of natural landscapes, and poignant soundtrack all make their mundane tasks so beautiful and give purpose to the simple surroundings. ZLY and LGX have less dialogue but this is where their acting skills shine, as they are able to sum up Shen Li and Xing Zhi’s raw and organic relationship with each other through simple interactions and subtle facial expressions.
• Beautiful costumes and loved all the outfits Shen Li wears!
• Loved the soundtrack and songs which perfectly captured the grandeur, passion and intensity of Shen Li as the warrior phoenix (the phoenix is the King of all birds in Chinese culture). The “Battle hymn of Bi Cang” will get you fired up to do anything!
• When used judiciously, the special effects/CGI were actually pretty good. Will definitely try and rewatch some of the episodes (especially ep 23 was epic!!) on a big good quality TV screen.
• The script stays faithful to its original novel “Accompanying the Phoenix".
The Lowlights:
• 39 episodes is too long for a drama that is based on a simple and predictable Xianxia story. The result is inconsistent quality where some episodes were well done (see above), some were mediocre, and others just so boring/nonsensical that I tuned out completely.
• We all know that ZLY and LGX can act! But unfortunately, the blinding bright colour palates and ridiculous smoothing filters meant ZLY was stuck in a dead-pan expression and LGX with a permanent look of constipation for most of the immortal / heavenly realm scenes, with only a few sprinkles of brilliance when the script demanded it.
• Some episodes were purely a bombardment of CGI and special effects with not much going on in the plot or character development to warrant such sensory overload. Special effects are meant to support and create the right atmosphere for the story, not serve as a tool to mask the lack of good writing or interesting characters.
• Some of the kissing scenes were really awkward and cringey to watch. I am not sure if it was the ill-placed camera angles or terrible lighting, but one particular "hot and daring" scene (pretty sure you know which one ...) looked like an amateur video cobbled together by a horny teenager in their bedroom.
• I felt like I needed a PhD in Chinese Mythology to understand how all the 3 realms interacted and the concept of rebirth/reincarnation and all the associated mythical animals and spirits. Reading the novel helps a bit. But the lack of world building means some pre-requisite knowledge of the Xianxia genre would help to understand some plotlines. Of course, one can always choose to turn brain off and just watch the show.
• Too much use of internal monologuing. Urgh … might as well read the novel instead!
The verdict:
This drama is like eating nothing but sweets all day - you get a nice big sugar hit, but at the end of the day still feel dissatisfied and rather empty inside. 6.5/10 – watchable but nothing groundbreaking.
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The relationship between Ning Que and Sang Sang is complex due to their unusual circumstances and there are multiple layers to their dynamic. She initially appears to be a maid who happens to be very fond of the person she serves, but it's quickly evident that their power dynamic is not quite that cut-and-dried. When he was a young child, he found her as a baby in a pile of corpses and took her in. They are a few years apart in age, and although he was obviously her caretaker in her younger years, it wasn't too long before she was carrying her own weight. He has made a living by killing bandits, while she has taken care of domestic chores and finances. There are subtle elements of caretaker-dependent and older brother-younger sister to their interactions at times, but overall they seem best described as platonic life partners for the first thirty or so episodes (with occasional, subtle hints of romantic feelings/attraction).
Later in the series, when Ning Que shows up with a love interest after a period of being away from home, they're forced to confront their true feelings and figure out what they really want. It's pretty obvious just by the fact that Sang Sang is the second lead which way Ning Que will lean (or even by the synopsis on this page), so I don't think this could be considered a spoiler. I watched this drama on Viki with comments on, so I know how divisive their relationship is. It is an upsetting development for some viewers who only see one aspect of Ning Que and Sang Sang's dynamic. Some viewers consider Ning Que to be too much of a father figure to Sang Sang to accept the turn their relationship takes, claiming (or implying) that it is incest. I personally don't agree with this viewpoint – but if you think the relationship could be squicky for you based on how I described it, and you believe that would interfere too much with your enjoyment of the series as a whole, you may want to give this one a pass. Just a heads up.
I rated this drama highly in large part because I really enjoyed most of the characters and the main relationship (I can forgive a lot if I become attached to the characters), however I did feel that there were some issues with the plot. The pacing is a bit uneven, and the exposition scenes are quite dull at times. Although there were a couple of exceptions, I felt that the antagonists were much too one-dimensional. The character arc for one of the main antagonists – Long Qing – particularly felt like a waste of time. Most of his scenes could have been left out and the result would have been the same. That was especially irritating given that his scenes were so tedious to watch. The last ten episodes are sluggish and feel like they could have been cut in half (at least). In fact, the same could be said for the series as a whole - but that has been true with almost any Chinese drama I've seen.
Another thing that I found off-putting is that, sometimes, some of the characters would know what's going on in a distant location without any apparent reason - as if they were watching it on television. When it was Fu Zi - who is generally considered the greatest cultivator in the world - I decided to just go with it. It didn't make sense, but whatever. When it was Fu Zi's disciples, I also just accepted it; they learned it from him, I guessed. But when it was still used with characters who had no background in cultivation, it became kind of aggravating. No matter what, it feels like lazy writing, but there really should be some brief explanation given for something like that. Similarly, there were many times when characters received news quicker than really seemed believable. Things like this were just minor annoyances, but they did pull me out of the viewing experience.
I've read some criticisms of Chen Feiyu (Arthur Chen)'s acting, but I didn't think he was a bad Ning Que overall. He was actually pretty expressive, though unevenly so; he was effective at conveying affection/infatuation and anger/aggression, but fell short in scenes that required him to express emotional anguish and physical pain. One thing that I found a bit annoying is that he frequently raises/moves his eyebrows in a way that kind of looks like they're spasming. Sometimes the eyebrow raise is effective, but more often it's not. That aside, I became attached to his character in spite of his considerable shortcomings, and some of that was due to Feiyu's charm and charisma. (Note: He won't be returning to the role in the second season due to scheduling conflicts; he will be replaced by Dylan Wang.)
I felt that Song Yiren (Ireine Song)'s acting was stronger; she was lively, sweet, and adorable as Sang Sang. Whatever the scene called for, she was almost always able to hit the right emotional notes. When I watched the trailer, the only thing I had reservations about was her character, so it's kind of ironic that she ended up being my favorite. I looked forward to her scenes most, and I'm very glad Song Yiren will be returning for a second season. There were many great supporting characters, and the other actors were quite good overall. I enjoyed the fact that several older characters had prominent roles in the story, and they also ended up being among the most interesting characters to watch (most notably Chin Shih Chieh as Yan Se and Ni Dahong as Wei Guangming).
So, tl;dr:
Pros – memorable characters, cute relationship, great action scenes, beautiful cinematography, lovely OST, mostly good CGI
Cons – one-dimensional antagonists, potentially squicky relationship (YMMV)
If you're into action/adventure and fantasy dramas, and you don't think that the main relationship would negatively impact your ability to enjoy the series, then definitely give this one a shot.
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From the first minute of this drama, I was hooked. Phenomenal cinematography alongside amazing actors -- I cannot recommend this drama enough.
STORY;
When it comes to crime and political dramas, I have seriously high expectations, but this drama met them instantly. Hell, it even surpassed them,
It is very different from the usual cliche dramas and does not sugar coat anything. If you want a plot line that will question your morals and have you seriously perplexed with what to think and lookout for (no pun intended); watch this.
Because it is crime and politics, you would think there would be cliche twists and over-used action *cough* The K2 *cough* BUT it is all seamless, well shot and written, with a highly intense story line with really well developed characters who have depth.
I also do not like dramas that shove the romance between the leads down our throats, basically, almost all kdramas, and hence, do not like general romance between characters. BUT because of the characters' well written backgrounds and development, I AM BEGGING FOR SOME ROMANCE TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE LEADS.
But due to the mind blowing twists, you have to inevitably accept the tension and lack of romance between the leads (but still hope for some romance)
This drama has changed my views and thus heightened my expectations for kdramas even more.
CAST;
I honestly was hesitant to watch this when I saw that Key from SHINee was in this, but oh man, he is good.
I am damn impressed with Kim Young Kwang, not to mention his height and demeanor is attractive as fuck. I always look for main leads that are psychologically complex and use their mind to play tricks, and Kim Young Kwang's character is emotionally complex, well executed and hot as fuck. He certainly plays the character well, as well as the character himself (Jang Do Han) is written for him perfectly. He has oozing charisma and makes you think why the hell is he being slept on.
I have a strong dislike for weak female leads which is no wonder that I do not like 90% of kdrama female leads, but the one in this drama is strong willed, determinate, independent and can sure as hell beat up someone. Lee Si Young is the perfect actress for this role.
MUSIC;
The first two are R&B and have a very unique vibe to them, very different from the typical ballads in other dramas that are overplayed at the wrong scenes.
OVERALL;
Watch this drama. Watch it.
I guarantee you that you will be hooked.
From complex characters, intricate questions regarding morale, intense and not over-used action to amazing acting and suitable OSTs and background music; this drama is the whole package.
UPDATE; after completing this drama, my heart's been broken.
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Another electrifying on-screen chemistry is heating up.
This drama has quickly grown in popularity since its release, surprisingly a nodding pair to validate that even an Ahjumma and an Ahjussi can sweep viewers off their feet in their heartwarming workplace love story. At this rate, I respect the person behind the casting for being able to find suitable actors that would capture all the yearning and longing in an unconventional romance genre like this.The story breaks the traditional norms in the office romance where a male boss and female secretary are forming a love adventure. This time it’s an intriguing story about a highly competent male secretary and an alpha female boss in the world of headhunting. They had an ill first meeting experience of each other when entangled in a competition to retain and recruit the same candidate and they both lose at the end. The aftermath of the situation backfired on the position of Lee Jun-hyuk, getting him unfairly dismissed by his company. Through a common friend, he is then recommended to be the Assistant of Han Ji-min who is known for being difficult to work with as someone with strong leadership but is faulty and uncoordinated with things around her. She’s been giving him unwelcoming attitudes but LJH is slowly warming her up.
I am a longtime fan of HJM’s career and can’t complain about her performances as she was acknowledged a few times in the award-giving bodies. Meanwhile, LJH wasn’t spared from the eyes as well of the performing arts experts with his collection of awards and could have a potential follow-up recognition through this drama. This is his first ever starring ML role in a romantic kind and it is such a delight to see it happening and seeing him on screen with outpouring charms. He is the perfect gentleman here and is well-molded in his characterization and incredible styling. I cannot stop thinking about how these two will continue to navigate each other’s lives and make us all feel that irregular love heartbeat with them.
I could tell this drama will be on the list of iconic romantic dramas that have won the hearts of many. While this genre easily resonates with global audiences, television productions are always being challenged to create a unique story that would set it apart from other romances like this one. It has relatable conflicts, a satisfying arc development of characters giving us a perfect romantic tension, and the praise-worthy visual executions that deepens our connection to the pair's emotional play of love. So jump on the bandwagon and have a good time watching.
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