Loved it, and I’ll miss my weekly dose of these adorable idiots
I really enjoyed this drama. Yes, there are cliches. Yes, there are some issues with plot and logic here and there. But not enough to detract from the hilarious moments, the sweetness and the spectacular chemistry between the leads. I really loved their relationship.Will this drama deepen your philosophical understanding of the universe? Probably not. If you are looking for cognitive enhancement and to ponder deep themes and archetypes, this is not the drama for you. But it doesn’t pretend to be what it’s not.
Will it deliver on what it promises— joyful and (mostly) relaxing viewing? Absolutely. The writing is pretty good, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is the drama for when you want to escape the stressors of life and enjoy something both light and earnest, a combination that often falls flat, but does not do so here.
For what it is, it’s a 10/10.
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My rating: 9.0
In Short: The first half of this drama was absolutely hysterical. As soon as the angst hit, the drama was a bit more middling, but still enjoyable. The Jang-couple chemistry was great.
Pros: A great cast, and a wonderful set of side characters. I particularly enjoyed Mi Young's mom, Secretary Tak and Dragon. I also quite liked the music.
Cons: Could have been trimmed down to 16 episodes with great effect. The noble idiocy was a bit too drawn out.
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This is the last straw, I m done with Chinese gay dramas unless the entire movie is completed and available.
Such a waste of time, not just for me watching, but everyone involved in making them.
And let me add one more thing... enough with the gay shaming, movie after movie of mothers and fathers falling ill because of their homophobic points of view, enough of the shaming of being gay, by family and so called friends, and classmates.
Though being gay, anywhere in the world can be difficult, there are equally as many men and women who have wonderfully accepting families, friends and communities.
Stop the shame!
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This review may contain spoilers
I do not like trashy soap opera style BLs....
This series has the same problem as "Love in the Moonlight", with the exception that it was not painful to watch, just cringe. The overdramatized bad guys/gals and the excessive pathos was still the same. And what also obvious, they can't do action right. While it looks nicely coreographed especially in the beginning, you see that the punches do not connect in the slightest. I won't write about the shooting scenes which were just embarrassing.The only positive I have to say is that DaouOffroad are very good when they act alone or in a serious setting, their chemistry just works. Also the other actors were not bad, but I don't like the overacting and over-dramatization. They could have done this in a serious more thriller-like setting and then the story would have had much more impact, But no, they went the thai way which in this case is bad way.
Spoiler:
The finale was also bad: Pheen has a plan and of course he does not tell his husband. We all know, he can't die, because a BL has to have a happy end (very few exeptions), so he left for a long time, hurting Than again (and again). The reason: Because he needed to change his name, so he can disappear. WTF? Is that, because he don't want to face the consequences of his actions? And he was already married, so he could have taken the name of his husband. And of course everyone dies, so there are no real consquences, no court session to exploit all the bad things the characters did. It's a lazy and cheap way of story-telling.
Edit: Of course the whole inheritance arc did not make any sense, because: if Pheem was decleared dead Than would have inherited the whole company with all the hospitals. Because he was the last legal heir before any uncles and cousins. So Pheem changing his name would not let him get away from his family background because his man would own EVERYTHING. And would be richer than he alone was. And because Than would then be famous Pheem could not be with him. So the writers had no clue what they wrote about and this makes no sense whatsoever.
End of Spoiler
So considering everything, this is not even a medicore show and I know many will hate me because I think so. But that's what I felt when I watched this and sadly this is also one of the shows I will never watch again, because it's a waste of my time.
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The first half is immersive. The secret trick is also reminiscent, the nervous breakdown is the mind of the person, and it is difficult to take what is reality and what is fantasy. Above all, the expression and acting of the character that changes moment by moment is the highest point. In short "Jang Hang Joon" is a medium movie for more, since the elemental composition that compose it contributes significantly in conjunction than individually.
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Glorifies dysfunction, abuse, and harassment.
This was the most dysfunctional, twisted, depressing “romance” that I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching. I should have dropped it but I kept holding out hope that it would improve. It didn’t.I know I’m in the vast minority but I honestly don’t care. The more I watched this, the more depressed and angry I became. Not a single couple in here had true love. Every single one is going to continue in their dysfunction. The “happy endings” are an illusion. None of those couples are going to stay happy or stay together. It’s impossible given their immense character flaws.
Characters should have flaws, and they can even have horrible ones, but they should improve over the course of the story and none of these characters did. They were all either abusive or abused and fully intended to stay that way. Not one of them knew how to respect the other’s wishes or accept “no” for an answer.
CHARACTERS
Eun Chan
She was immature and selfish. Yes, she worked hard, but she also quit the moment it got emotionally difficult. She got angry over the stupidest “offenses,” and demanded respect that she hadn’t earned. She had no thought for how she made the people around her feel. That’s not carefree - it’s thoughtless and disrespectful.
Childish and child-like are not the same thing. Childish is thinking and behaving like a child. It’s not something an adult should do. She had no filter. That’s childish. She threw tantrums and couldn’t control her emotions. That’s childish. Those are not admirable qualities in an adult. Her perpetual optimism, her innocence, and her ability to take joy from the small things in life - that’s childlike and those are good qualities.
I was fine with gender bending at first but she took it way too far for entirely selfish reasons, but at least the show acknowledged that. I give it points for that. What she did was not okay. But I won’t harp on this since it’s the one thing they got right in the show.
Then she was happy that Han Gyul gave up his dream for her but she was unwilling to return the favor. This sort of reverse sexism is not okay either. There’s absolutely no reason she couldn’t study and become a barista while also getting married. There’s nothing bad about relying on someone else, especially in today’s economy. No, she shouldn’t become a princess and sit back and let him do and pay for everything, but she doesn’t have to be completely independent either. She only wanted to be independent for herself, for her own selfish reasons. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to be a burden to him, it was because she wanted the security of being self-sufficient. She didn’t want to feel scared or guilty again like she did after her father died. Being independent for those reasons wouldn’t be bad except that she did it with no regard for Han Gyul’s feelings.
Her complete cluelessness about sexuality and the sexual desires of men is, unfortunately, a common theme in Asian dramas. Are Asian women really that clueless? Do they really have no idea what they’re doing to men when they refuse a man’s advances so vehemently? Do they really feel no sexual desire themselves? I can’t believe that’s true and I really hate that women are depicted that way in nearly every drama. I can forgive it in the historical dramas but not the modern ones.
Han Gyul
He was abusive - physically and verbally. Only fourth-graders tease and belittle their crushes. Emotionally mature adults don’t. It’s completely inexcusable that he verbally abused her in front of other employees and customers. Not only was it disrespectful toward her, it was a poor example for his employees, and thoughtless toward the customers and how it might make them feel hearing that.
It’s commendable that he was willing to love Eun Chan despite the fact that he thought she was a guy, but if he’s not genuinely gay, then that probably would have lasted only until the clothes came off. Sexuality isn’t something you change just because you decide to. Making it seem like he could is belittling to homosexuals who genuinely struggle with being unable to change their sexuality even if they want to.
That he kept hitting on a girl who was a) taken, and b) had sort of made her feelings clear, was not okay. It was another instance of a character not taking “no” for an answer.
I give him props for not giving into his grandmother’s unreasonable demand that he break up with Eun Chan. I also like that he didn’t act like a typical rich brat-prince. He didn’t understand the value of money to those who don’t have it, but he also didn’t flaunt his wealth or act like poor people were lesser beings. He was clueless about the personal lives of his employees but this is a flaw that he did seem to correct over time. He worked hard at the cafe and didn’t sit back doing nothing just because he was the rich owner.
He probably grew more than any other character in the show.
Yoo Joo
Ugh, what a hot mess. She couldn’t decide wtf she wanted. She walked in the gray with Han Gyul, knowingly toying with both Han Gyul’s and Han Sung’s feelings, and unwittingly with Eun Chan’s. She had left Han Sung for DK, then left DK for Han Sung, but stayed friends with DK despite the obvious insecurity this caused Han Sung. She did only what she wanted with no regard for others’ feelings whatsoever.
She was materialistic and admittedly selfish. She was also childish and annoying. But, she was kind to Eun Chan most of the time, even after Han Sung “cheated” on her with Eun Chan, which was admirable.
But, she stayed confused throughout the entire series. When it seemed she’d figured herself out and proposed to Han Sung, then she started resenting the restrictions of the relationship and the pregnancy, and went on an all-night binge with her friends, again, with no regard for Han Sung’s feelings or the welfare of her unborn child. She made no progress as a character whatsoever.
Han Sung
He was as much a hot mess as his girlfriend and only changed because he was forced to. He didn’t really get over Eun Chan. She rejected him. Threatened with losing Yoo Joo on the heels of losing Eun Chan was too much for him. It wasn’t that he loved Yoo Joo that much, but more than he just couldn’t handle being alone. He couldn’t fully accept Yoo Joo as she was, but couldn’t live without her. That’s not love. That’s codependence.
Min Yeop
He was a doormat that couldn’t take “no” for an answer. He was also manipulative, but that’s because Ha Rim taught him to be that way. “Angel” treated Min Yeop like sh*t and while he stood up for himself briefly, it was only to get her back and then he went back to putting up with her crap.
I don’t like to disparage other cultures but the trend of playing hard-to-get in Asian cultures is detrimental and dangerous. “Angel” made it very clear that Min Yeop’s advances were unwanted but he didn’t stop. Having him succeed in getting her through such methods only perpetuates this harmful trend. Because of this, men don’t know when “no” really means “no.”
Sun Gi
Hot af and I loved that he spoke Japanese when he was angry, but he also didn’t know how to take “no” for an answer to such a stalker degree that he drove his ex into hiding. Twice! That’s restraining order level of harassment. It is not okay.
“Angel”
She was a straight up bratty b*tch and everyone let her be that way. She cared for absolutely no one but herself and saw others for only what they could do for her. She “fell for” Min Yeop only after he stopped pursuing her and once she wrapped him around her finger again, she proceeded to continue to treat him like sh*t. She was a despicable human being.
Grandmother
One of the only characters to have a redemption arc. She started out as a horrible person, despising Eun Chan because of her social status and her appearance. Thankfully, she was able to eventually see past that and respect and like Eun Chan for who she really was.
Eun Chan’s Mother
By far, the most grounded and balanced of the characters. She knew her flaws and worked to fix them. She knew her limitations and stayed with them. She knew her responsibilities and performed them. She kept her priorities straight.
STORY
This is a true slice-of-life series. There was no plot or throughline whatsoever. All the tension came from petty arguments between the characters. It was depressing and infuriating.
OVERALL
Yes, it had a happy ending but it was anticlimactic and for me, unrealistic. Or rather, too realistic. All of these relationships are ones that we often encounter in real life and maybe that’s what most people like about it but it’s precisely what I hate about it. If I wanted the crap of real life, I’d walk out my front door. When I engage in fiction, I want something better than real life. It doesn’t have to be Disney perfect but this was just a futile story. Like I said at the beginning - all of these couples are going to continue to have problems. They’re not going to be happy.
I did not enjoy watching this. I don’t recommend it. It glorifies dysfunction, abuse, and harassment.
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1
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1This review may contain spoilers
Beyond the Bar might not win any awards for originality but it still stands out as one of the better KDramas of 2025 and a solid addition to the legal drama list.. This could easily be called one of the most fine dramas to be made.. The acting and storytelling are fine.. The directing, cinematography, editing and music are all fine.. The drama maintains a smooth, steady pace right up until the end.. While Beyond the Bar doesn’t pack a lot of surprises, it’s still an enjoyable and heartwarming legal drama.. The cases themselves provide a solid structure that elevates the overall quality of the show..Before anything else, I have to talk about the main leads.. Yun Seok Hun and Kang Hyo Min are among the most rational and level headed characters I have seen in a drama.. Yes the ML lost it a couple of times, but it was obviously justified.. What stood out to me most was how restrained their romance was.. They were never going to share the kind of romantic moments the other couples had because that’s not who they are.. They are reserved, introspective people carrying painful pasts.. In the final moments of the drama, they reflected on what love truly means but never reached a clear answer.. Much like their own relationship.. That’s exactly why I appreciated the ending.. It felt like they were quietly considering the possibility of a romance without facing the full personal and professional implications... They started as unhappy individuals but finished the story side by side, having resolved most of their struggles..
I read people say the FL can’t be shipped with ML, but did they miss the slow burn?? Their bond began with admiration, grew through mutual respect and deepened as they spent time truly understanding each other.. It wasn’t loud or flashy but it was mature and undeniable.. Even their eye contact carried more weight than what many romance dramas manage to deliver..
Apart from the leads, my favorite character was Heo Min Jeong.. One of my favorite moments in the drama was when she stood up to her ex-in laws without backing down.. She was really cool. Her chemistry with Lee Jin U was good, though they didn’t get enough screen time.. I also liked the FL’s two friends and their dynamic, but honestly they didn’t add much to the overall story.. Loved the Yullim Litigation Squad, I first thought one of them might be a malicious individual, but so glad that was not the case.. They were all so good to each other..
Bit curious about the bar scene in ep 6.. A stranger touches the FL and her friends go all “awww”.. But it made me wonder, if he hadn’t been a rich, handsome man but instead someone poor, plain or not so good looking, would they still have reacted the same way??
I liked all the cases that were presented in the drama.. They didn’t go overboard but kept things simple and engaging.. My favorite was the Doctor’s case.. I liked how the drama didn't portray prosecutors as power hungry individuals always at odds with lawyers.. That episode really highlighted the goodness in people, helping one another not out of obligation or familiarity or for recognition, but simply because it was the right thing to do..
Three things that irked me.. First, the last divorce case.. I think it was just absurd.. The only case where I wanted them to lose and I was glad the verdict went the way it did.. Nowadays people really seem to be making a mockery of marriage.. Second, I don’t understand why every opposing legal team is always Lee and Seo and why it’s always her ex.. I mean, aren’t there any other law firms or lawyers?? Third, the ads.. Way too many of them.. Seriously, tone it down a bit..
Overall, I genuinely liked Beyond the Bar.. I enjoyed it from start to finish.. Even though it didn’t provide a fully wrapped up ending for the main leads story, I feel it's the beginning of their love story.. I think the drama may have lost a little, perhaps 0.3 points in ratings because of viewers who were just upset with the ML and another 0.1 from those bothered by the open ending.. I would say an 8.6–8.7 rating feels about right for this drama.. There is positive talks ongoing about another season and I hope it happens.. I would love to see how their romance develops and how it affects both their professional and personal lives.. There’s clearly more to explore in this story.. And also, what happens to Hash??
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There was food and whole lotta good shots of it which is basically catnip for every foodie out there and me being one, I did a happy dance inside every time I saw someone eating or cooking- which was A LOT.
There was some bromance, sismance, amazing chemistry between the leads and family bonding sprinkled all over it and last but not the least; the message it went out to portray was brilliant.
Despite the inevitablity of death, people can still find moments of happiness. It was beautiful and heart-warming to watch.
In the beginning, that is.
Despite being a slow burn in every sense of the word, the show did go pretty fast for me up to about 7 episodes. I was really really into it but then the monotony started setting in. It's the same K-drama tropes over and over again and soon enough you realize that there isn't much of a unique spin on it.
Call me heartless but when you show me the same sentimental shit and corny deep dialogues in literally every episode, I'll go from being touched to annoyed real fast. That's because over-doing emotion takes the sincerity out of it. Every case was more or less the same and that irked me a lot.
A lot of things were added as useless plot devices and left unexplored. It was almost criminal how little screentime the main couple got. You barely get to see them together till around 12th episodes and even then it's scarce and underwhelming.
I feel like the show dabbled in a lot of things but didn't truly go into depth for even one. And it's a shame truly, given the immense potential.
Towards the end, I just had to fast forward stuff- an urge I was physically restraining for about 14 episodes.
A reviewer said that it's a great drama for new watchers and I agree but if you have already seen these tropes a billion times and in their most basic form, this drama will end up being quite mediocre for you.
I'd rather watch 'Just Between Lovers' that took one of the issues also mentioned in this drama, went in depth with it and actually managed to portray sadness, heartbreak and loss in a way that was never over the top and yet, extremely impactful.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love as vast as the Milky Way
Love Like The Galaxy was one of my most anticipated c-dramas of 2022. Because of China's new rule that dramas cannot exceed 40 episodes, the drama is divided into two parts with 27 and 29 episodes each. I had high hopes for this drama because of its star-studded cast and intriguing storyline, and it did not disappoint!STORY AND CHARACTERS
Love Like The Galaxy is based on the novel 'The Stars are Brilliant, Fortunately Even Wow,' written by an author going by the pen name 'Guan Xin Le Luan,' who also wrote the novel that was adapted into the popular historical C-drama 'The Story of Minglan.'
Love Like The Galaxy is a story about love and its importance in all aspects of life. Insecurity and vulnerability can result from a lack of love. This was the case with Cheng Shao Shang.
Cheng Shao Shang is the daughter of Colonel Cheng Shi and Xiao Yun Xi. Her parents left her behind after her birth to fight in the war. She was raised by her grandmother and her scheming aunt into what was supposedly a good-for-nothing. However, she is not a useless person. She pretended to be ridiculous and absurd but was extra cautious and meticulous to protect herself. The lack of parental love, as well as lack of love from those who raised her, made her think that there were more people who despised her than loved her, and this made her feel unsafe. She does, however, have an amazing brain and enjoys building things. She is not at all ladylike. This adds to the intrigue of her character. She longed for her parents to return from the war so she could live a happy and carefree life, but she had no idea that they would never be a family again because of their estrangement from one another. Despite the fact that her brothers and father immediately loved her, her mother, Xiao Yun Xi, was slightly annoyed by her un-ladylike behaviour and took to regulating her. This did not sit well with Shao Shang. She was obstinate, just like her mother. She despised being regulated or mocked and seeing others bullied. With her amazing wits, she is always ready to fight back against anyone. She is always willing to harm herself in order to help others. She is honest and admits her mistakes, even if it means getting punished. However, this does not mean she did not attempt to avoid punishment. Once, she even ran away from her home to avoid punishment!
This drama also shows the importance of expressing our feelings honestly and openly, because you may not get another chance if you don't seize the one you have. This was the case with Ling Bu Yi.
Ling Bu Yi is the emperor's adopted son. Ling Zi Sheng is his courtesy name. He is a General who is attempting to uncover the conspiracy behind what happened in the past. Ling Bu Yi is an efficient officer with a strong sense of duty. He is both passionate and menacing. He also has sharp wits and is not easily fooled. In some ways, the female and male leads are similar: they are both extremely stubborn and witty. He is cold and ruthless, and he rarely smiles. He regretted not expressing his feelings for Shao Shang because of his introverted and commanding personality. He was unable to express his feelings for Shao Shang because of his introverted and imposing personality. He did not seize his opportunity, instead allowed others to do so. Bu he is not like this when it comes to his job. He never leaves a coin unturned and alway seizes all evidences he can get.
CAST AND THEIR CHEMISTRY
This drama reunites Leo Wu and Zhao Lusi, who previously worked together on the drama 'The Long Ballad,' though not as a CP. Zhao Lusi and Leo Wu did an excellent job portraying the characters they were given in this drama. They convey the characters' complex emotions beautifully and sincerely, taking great care not to leave anything out.
It is common knowledge that Zhao Lusi has incredibe chemistry with who ever she is paired with. But, this drama is evidently a slow-burn and therr isn't much progress between Cheng Shao Shang and Ling Bu Yi in this part 1. But, even though they didn't have many interactions in the first few episodes, we can still sense their chemistry. And it grows even more with each episode. Furthermore, their interaction appears to be natural and realistic and the tension between them is interesting to watch.
WHAT I LIKED:
We are promised a very entertaining and enjoyable show from the beginning of the drama. One of its strengths is the occasional comedic scene. At times, it may appear that this show is even more comedic than a true comedy drama!
The drama begins on a lighter note and stays that way until episode 10. This helps the audience in understanding the flow of the story and getting to know the characters well. Unlike in other historical c-dramas, the numerous characters are not introduced right away. On the contrary, this drama introduces the characters at a slow but not too slow pace. As a result, there is little to no chance of the audience becoming confused.
Each role is meticulously portrayed so that the audience can visualise them alive. The characters are three-dimensional and multi-faceted. The screenwriters have done an incredibly good job.
The drama's cinematography and costumes are both fantastic. The colour grading in scenes such as the lantern festival and the aftermath of the battle with the bandits leaves a lasting imprint on the viewers.
The music in this drama is fantastic! The music scoring used corresponds to the situation and atmosphere of the scene in which it is played. The final theme song, 'Splendid Stars,' is very soothing and pleasant. The music and songs help the audience get into the mood and feel of the drama.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
There are not much things I disliked. But, here are the two things that annoys me the most:
The lack of interaction between the main characters and some of the other characters causes the characters to feel distant at times. The main characters require more interaction because that is what we as viewers expect from a drama. Hopefully, we'll see more of it in the 2nd part of the drama. There are another 29 spisodes to quench our thirst!
There are too many irritating characters in this drama, such as Cheng Shao Shang's aunt and grandmother, as well as some other female characters who constantly irritate Shao Shang or who have feelings for Ling Bu Yi. Even though these characters are common in dramas, they are abundant here! Even Cheng Shao Shang's mother can be annoying at times! Thankfully, they only little screen time! However, we are indebted to them in some ways because they were the source of some sweet moments between Shao Shang and Ling Bu Yi that almost made me swoon.
OVERALL
With its occasional comedic scenes and small twists and turns, as well as its star-studded and talented cast, their wonderful chemistry, and amazing cinematography and music, this drama sure can keep you fully immersed in it, making one unable to escape. I can give this drama a strong 9 out of 10, taking everything in accordance. The only reason I knocked off a point from it's rating is indeed because of the lack of interaction between the leads. Hopefully, it get better in the next part!
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Imugi and I deserved better.
I went in thinking I’d love it — and honestly, I kind of did. At least in the beginning. But by the end? I don’t even know where to start.There are five things I really like:
Strawberries.
Climbing walls ( I want to be like Janja Garnbret)
Playing in the sea all day like an overcaffeinated dolphin
Angel Fruity Fair by Mugler (smells like happy)
Ghost stories
This is how little I need to be happy.
I like romance movies. I love stupid and fluffy romance movies that make me have teary eyes or even bawling my eyes (The notebook) out and rom coms are also Okey.
So by all logic, I should’ve adored this series.
But… yeah. About that.
The Short Version:
Overall, it wasn’t bad — there’s definitely an interesting story here — but I’m still a bit disappointed. The pacing dragged. It felt boring — unnecessarily stretched — and could’ve wrapped up in 10 episodes without losing anything important. I sound like a hater but I was really enjoying it at first the premise was nice and I liked the ghost and shamanic aspect but the execution was a bit weak and sadly there was just something missing — maybe the pull that connects you with the world and characters.
The Long Version:
It watching like your typical run-of-the-mill romance, but with fantasy elements as Imugi and ghosts. Reading the summary, I honestly thought this was going to be fantasy adventure with a shaman, magic, dragons etc. And honestly? The series had me in a chokehold during the first half. I was completely captivated by the setting and the characters. It was imaginative, fun, and pulled me in right away. I loved how we got to learn their backstories — it gave the world more depth and made it feel alive. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between the two leads — it had that "reluctant allies to lovers" vibe, which I’m always a sucker for.
But then… the second half happened.
The pacing slowed a lot (like… snail-on-vacation levels of slow), and the events started to feel repetitive.
Unfortunately, encounters with ghosts—one of the story's selling points—didn’t live up to expectations. They lacked tension which made them feel like a chore to get through a trial began, I found myself wishing it would end quickly. It’s a shame because they had so much potential to bring excitement to the story. It wasn't scary, it wasn't exciting, and it wasn't worrying. Worse than that though, the plot took a predictable turn—the exact one I hoped it wouldn’t—which made the final twist feel underwhelming and, honestly, pretty eye roll worthy. Lots of eye rolling.
Okay.
That didn't work out as long as I wanted. Anyways.
I cannot deny that it is beautifully filmed, and this is perhaps why I stayed with it for as long as I did despite feeling a bored by it. I was seduced by the cinematography. I think if the plot had been tightened, and so wasn't quite so long, it could have really worked better for me.
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Rom-com 101 with an extra spoonful of aspartame
If there is a cheat sheet for a DIY rom-com script writing then it might look like this;FL is young but ambitious. She just started her dream job as a baker/banker/brain surgeon but she faced a lot of challenges and prejudice. ML is the chef/CEO/civil engineer who took the FL under his wings and guided her to her destiny. OBTW, they fell madly in love and have X kids (kids optional, check current trend). Add extra CP to pad out screen time. Add antagonist just because.
Without too much deviation, that's just about summed up this show. Dial up the artificial sweetener dosage, downgrade the antagonist to mostly harmless and add a couple of extra CP from central casting and voila, it is done!
To be fair, using dubbing as a backdrop was interesting. It worked for half the show but it pretty much faded away and the usual business/relationship shenanigans took over. Thank goodness the dubbing here is for anime and not dramas. Don't get me started about the overuse and patchy quality of c-drama dubbing!
All the leads are good looking. There were some skinship and one CP was hot and sexy from the get-go while another CP had the worse case of the fishy kiss this year. The chemistry goes from ok to weak amongst the CP's. You know they are pre-ordained anyway. Ditto with swoon worthy moments. They are there but your mileage will differ. I do like the ML in several of his other shows but this time round he just felt too scripted.
It was interesting to see the show pushed tentatively at a few tropey boundaries but pull back timidly. Age gap love, toxic fandom, etc all had an airing but nothing much came of them. Evil schemes had little teeth. Antagonists were grey blobs. Relationship problems were passing storms, a "heartfelt" apology and it is back to kisses and cuddles, stat. The flip side to this angst aversion is that most of the typical angsty tropes have been banished and I am not too sad about that.
A few societal issues did make an appearance but all beat a hasty retreat as the Goddess of romantic comedy does not allow such impurities to pollute her temple. I'm not even sure what to make of their version of dementia. It was definitely used to milk the soppy angle to good effect. Dementia is a serious medical condition but it was given a very off-handed treatment here.
This show is actually not bad. Manufactured fluff this was but it is a perfect filler with a decent cast and mildly interesting story. If you are new to c-dramas or wanted the extra sugar hit then add an extra point to the score. If you are suffering from diabetes and groan every time you see that plot summary then subtract one point.
This is one of the most subjective score I have given in a long time. This is due in part to a sense of frustration/disappointment of the state of Chinese rom-com's. To reward mediocrity is to hasten the heat death of the genre.
Maybe this is why so many similar shows are being churned out by the mighty c-drama machine lately because it fill the gaps in programming schedules, relatively cheap and quick to produce and will sail past censors.
One time watch, one time listen and peace out.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fear of the unknown
This drama tells the story of Li Jia, a young man whose family is afflicted with a genetic mental health disorder that has caused the deaths of his mother and brother. Although this condition is hereditary, he searches desperately for a cure that will save him from suffering the same tragic end. His search takes him to Hong Kong where his idol, a renowned expert in the field of psychiatry, seemingly has a way to treat his affliction…Thus begins Li Jia’s journey of healing and hope. Along the way, he forms strong bonds of friendship. He even experiences love for the first time in his life. Together with his new found friends, they repeatedly encounter strange and unusual occurrences that seem to intertwine with each of their lives.
The Journey Across the Night’s very intriguing premise plays out very slowly but surely, with some dramatic and thrilling moments at the conclusion of multiple story arcs or chapters throughout the 26 episodes. These chapters are “mini-mysteries” that focuses on unexpected incidents affecting various peculiar characters and gets resolved within 4 to 5 episodes, while the overarching plot concerning Li Jia and his affliction eventually reaches its zenith in the final episode.
The screenplay is generally quite good. The major and supporting characters were well written while the main plot and the various sub plots were neatly interwoven. The way that they intersected with the various characters were smoothly transitioned without appearing awkward or contrived. The mini story arcs were particularly engaging and very creative, especially the one about heterochromia and red velvet. That plot twist at the end wasn’t exactly unexpected but it somehow fits with Li Jia’s narrative in the whole show, so kudos to the writers for not being predictable.
The main cast did a fine job with their portrayal where the friendship as well as romantic themes were fully depicted. I particularly enjoyed the bromance between Li Jia and Shi Cheng played by Joseph Zeng and Zhou Cheng Ao respectively. Cherrie Ngan’s Zhang Cha Cha experienced tremendous character growth as well, which is fortunate as I was initially a little annoyed with her immaturity. Having seen Joseph Zeng in Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre last year, I thought his acting range has improved immensely in this drama where he had to portray “more than one role”. The most interesting character for me is actually Xiao Si, brilliantly acted by Feng Jian Yu. Even as a support role with diminished screen time and totally no dialogue at all, Xiao Si aroused the most curiosity and that dramatically poignant scene undoubtedly evoked a whole myriad of emotions. The HK veteran Lawrence Ng did a decent but unremarkable job of portraying the show’s “mild antagonist”, Chen Ming Xuan.
I really enjoyed the entire OST (track listing in the comments board) and felt that the music really is appropriate for the rather dark subject matter that the show dealt with. The opening theme Dark Night Rose (Joseph Zeng) projected the essence of the show while during the funeral scene where the Cantonese song Listen to the Wind (Rao Wei) was played captured the mood of the moment perfectly. My personal favourite is actually the hauntingly beautiful ending theme sung by Feng Jian Yu (who plays Xiao Si).
26 episodes for a modern C-drama is usually about right. However, there were noticeable pacing issues at certain points. I felt that the chapter on green nails was a tad overlong, while the Halloween sequence dragged on for a bit. But probably what irked me the most was the rushed ending. The most important part of any drama, aside from a strong beginning, and the writers didn’t do justice to the entire show with that dissatisfying ending.
Overall, this drama is an acquired taste. Not everyone is into this theme and genre, especially with such slowburn evolution, no less. I would say that I savoured certain moments in this drama and appreciated the premise of the story as well as the way the cast acted out their roles. This is most definitely not a light and easy watch, and probably not the kind of show meant for binge watching. It’s thoughtfully written and induces some form of introspection at various stages. I would recommend that you watch the first episode to see if this fits your current viewing mood.
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The story line of the movie is interesting and will made. This movie will make you laugh, smile, cry....
it's a good movie if you love watching family drama.
The cast and the acting in this movie is the best. i was shocked whit the cast, everyone did a great job.
"sorry for the short review, i love it simple ^^' "
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This drama would have worked better as a movie
I chose this drama based solely on the poster, thinking I would get some suspense/horror/mystery drama…but I didn’tThe first three episodes were so slow, I almost drop it.
Nearly every character is so one-dimensional, it’s painful to watch: the plucky FL is plucky to the end, the suffering but righteous SML is righteous to the end.
The only character that I liked was the antagonist, but his only saving grace was the charisma of the actor who played him .
Chris Wu is another bright spot, but sadly after being used as a comic relief for the first few episodes, I wrote him off as a viable love interest, so when hints of a romance with the FL appeared, it felt forced and unnatural.
Practically the only characters that have a hint of complexity are the mother of the antagonist and her daughter, their confrontation in ep 5 was a breath of fresh air, unfortunately the emotional layers of these characters appeared too late for me to really care.
Finally, the "big revelation" comes and goes so quick that it leaves no impact whatsoever, and neither does the defeat of the antagonist. After all the built up of the mystery, the real killer basically outs themselfs in such a head-desk moment... and the last trace of goodwill I had for this drama went up in flames.
This is the classic case of a drama that doesn't know what it wants to be, it doesn't have enough horror elements for the genre, the mystery was mediocre at best, the comedy fell flat, and the romance just wasn't there.
The soundtrack made me want to fight whoever was in charge.
In short, a good drama to binge if you're reeeeeeally bored.
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