PLOT:
Anyone looking for a fast-paced action packed drama, should look away now. This show really defines slice-of-life. I am sure everyone watching this drama could relate to one of the girls or even just a situation faced by the girls. I was able to relate to different situations and aspects of many of the girls personally and also have seen other friends/family facing similar situations:
- Jin Myungs hardships! I could especially relate to her feeling lost.
- Ji Wons non-existent dating life
- Friends who have faced similar situations as Ye Eun in their relationships/love life
- Eun Jae's hesitation, timidness
- Yi Na questioning herself and her decisions in the last 2 episodes or so
There have definitely other aspects. I just listed some that were especially relatable to me.
I was really glad that the plot focused on the girls the most and not the boys. It didn't take a detour. It was consistent. Each girl's individual storyline and character growth was moving, and the different episodes focused on different stories perfectly. The show shows us how the girls are important as individuals as well as their relationships with each other. It was very apt and moving that throughout, the relationship between the girls, them as a 5, was way way more important then their relationship with any of the guys/ or any one else tbh. They valued each other and nothing came in between them. It was very realistic in portraying their relationship, even though they lived together, and despite the closeness, each individual has their own personal hardships (defo last ep), and you don't share every single detail with everyone. Another point was that they didn't try to force the 5 girls being close to each other equally, it made perfect sense for some girls to be closer to each other then to others - this never undermined their bond as a 5 though. I could ramble on about this but I'll stop.
CAST/ACTING:
I don't have any complaints. I could imagine the actors as their characters perfectly. Never once did I doubt the acting, or imagine anyone else doing a better job. I was immersed in each and every character and that is partly due to the actors job (also story/director etc). The guys played their part really well, and very convincingly. I didn't think the acting was over the top or anything.
MUSIC:
The songs were so perfect! I have been replaying Sogyumo Acacia Band - Butterfly. There is something about the song that makes me just want to reminisce my youth and think about stuff (lol). It fitted the show so perfectly. It was subtle yet it did its job.
REWATCH VALUE:
I gave it a high rewatch value, because I'll probably rewatch this at some point - probably after university finishes and I miss my college days. Though I don't know if I'll be able to handle it. It has already made me feel so much, and taught me a few life lessons, I don't want to rewatch it and make it less impactful on 2nd watch. Its too soon now.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The highlight of this show is definitely the girls. The only negative I have is the shortness, but they sure packed a lot in 12 episodes. I know each girl's story didn't complete (in kdrama completeness - happily ever after sense), esp YE EUN at the end, but in true fashion of this drama and its genre: life isn't start and stop, its ongoing for them, they don;t all need to have a boyfiriend or everything figured out, because thats what life is for. They only showed us a snippet of their life and so we can't expect everything to end completely and perfectly.
[A lot of comments going around earlier about when Jin Myung will develop her backbone. Speaking from life experience, I know someone in similar situation who had and still has many many hardship, but keeps quite and deals with it all. It took her many many years before she finally came to realise that this is her life, and she needs to live it her way, that she need to speak up for herself and not put up with people who hurt her. So people don't just change overnight. It takes a lot of self-realisation and growth. And I'm glad the show touched on this the way it did, for everything to reach a limit before you finally break down]
Age of Youth was definitely one of the best written, acted, and directed kdrama I’ve seen so far this year (this and Signal). And I sincerely pray for a second season!
This is so long.
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I'm a huge fan of the anime version and I have seen both taiwanese and korean drama versions and I gotta say INK Love in Tokyo beats them both. The taiwanese one was way too long and therefore was boring at times and the korean one... well, not so good actors and even though I love the story, I couldn't help but being hella bored while watching Playful Kiss.
INK Love in Tokyo managed to still be interesting to me even though I knew the plot (and its twists) by heart. Now yes, the over the top acting (especially the main actress) was kinda off-putting at first but once I got past it, I really got fond of the characters and the main couple. I loved their chemistry, even if (no) thanks to the author, Irie Naoki's character is difficult to understand (to the point you just want to shake the hell outta him) and Aihara Kotoko's one is way too dumb to not be frustrated with her at some point. Still, loved them both together and individually.
The drama has its fun moments, not to the point where I'd like, laugh out loud or anything but enough to make me smile and feel good when watching them. And again, that was exactly what I expected from it. No more, no less.
I'm really glad it got a second season even if I already know how it's going to end but the drama's amazing characters and its sweet aura will definitely manage to keep me interested throughout its second run.
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The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity
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The Perfect Yin Yang
The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity is a much anticipated movie that went through hell and back, and literally pulled us fans into the same predicament. This production has been plagued by backlash against its director-screenwriter, Guo Jing Ming who lost a plagiarism lawsuit back in 2004 for a novel that he had published and since then, there have been those in the industry calling for a continued boycott of his works. On top of that incident, another accusation of plagiarism was made against him, this time for this movie where certain scenes resembled Marvel’s 2016 release of Doctor Strange. This fresh wave of backlash had resulted in the film being pulled from cinemas less than 2 weeks after its initial release in China on Christmas 2020. There were real fears that Netflix, which acquired the world-wide distribution rights, may pull the plug on this as well. Fortunately, it did not and the movie was released on the streaming platform as originally scheduled on 5 February 2021.Dream of Eternity is adapted from the novel series Onmyōji by Yumemakura Baku, with a fair amount of interpretation through the screenplay (as I understand from various news sources) written and directed by Guo Jing Ming. This is the 3rd incarnation of live-action based on the novel series, the first two were Japanese adaptations in 2001 and 2003, and comes into direct comparison (and probably competition as well, due to the timing) with another movie based on the Onmyōji mobile game (which is also inspired by the original novel series), The Yin Yang Master. To be perfectly honest, I haven’t read the novel series, played the mobile game, and even seen the two Japanese adaptations. So I went into this on a huge wave of anticipation and excitement based on rave reviews by nearly everyone who had seen the movie.
The plot focuses on the adventures of the lead character, cosmologist (Onmyōdō, the traditional Japanese art of esoteric cosmology) Qing Ming as he investigates strange cases linked to an overarching mystery involving the heavenly realm and a mystical artifact. This takes place in a fantasy world where supernatural beings (demons, and others that I’m unsure of how to classify) co-exist. Along the way, he develops a friendship (and bromance with hints of BL) with the Imperial Guard (similar to the Embroidered/ Brocade Jing Yi Wei guards) Bo Ya. Together they form a formidable partnership in tackling the unsavoury otherworldly (super)villains that get in the way of solving mysteries. They also encounter other intriguing supporting characters such as Princess Zhang Ping, Master Long Ye and He Shou Ye.
If the story depicted here is anything like the original source material, I’m severely tempted to start reading the novel series. Exquisitely intricate world building of the highest degree with equally fleshed out major and supporting characters. Little wonder a running time over 2 hours is needed to bring this entirely fantastical setting to life. It certainly did not feel that long at all, as the storytelling progresses at a reasonably engaging and quick pace with perfectly-timed intensity and thrills where it mattered. Perhaps an additional 15 to 20 minutes would have provided more richness and depth to certain scenes and the development of character build-ups and relationship dynamics.
The cast is one of the major reasons for getting excited over this movie. Mark Chao headlines the eclectic ensemble that also comprises the likes of Deng Lun and Olivia Wang. The award-winning Mark Chao is globally renowned for his role of Ye Hua in Eternal Love (TMOPB) as well as numerous other starring roles since he made his debut in the critically-acclaimed Monga a decade ago. Deng Lun is another big name in the xianxia series through his major role in Ashes of Love. Olivia Wang is probably not as universally renowned as the two gentlemen, but she has been no less prolific with a portfolio of works that spans 15 years in the industry.
The characters of Qing Ming and Bo Ya were delectably portrayed by Mark and Deng respectively. Mark invokes a particularly subtle kind of charm and sophistication as the titular Yin-Yang Master that makes him appear genuinely warm and sincere but with a dash of self-assured confidence. Deng’s Bo Ya is seemingly more minimalist with a stoic disposition permanently etched on his entire being. These two make for a great couple, whether as brothers-in-arms or even beyond the usual conventions. Wang was almost unrecognizable as the Princess Zhang Ping, even without the heavy Tang-esque makeup. I felt that although she was probably way out of her comfort zone in this role because it was such a controlled and subdued character to portray, her performance was on point. Her character is arguably one of the most enigmatically intriguing.
The most talked about aspect of this production that garners the highest praise from most viewers, with which I agree wholeheartedly, is its visual representation. This is a big budget production that seamlessly blends top-tier CGI technology, beautiful cinematography, and astounding choreographed sequences with breathtaking set designs and immaculate costumes that embody the world of Onmyōji, supposedly set in the Japanese Heian period. There is absolutely no way to describe how visually stunning this film is - you just have to see it for yourself. Principal photography fully took place at Hengdian World Studios and apparently this film and a sequel were filmed back-to-back in what is a planned series. The impressive visual effects were provided by the well-known Korean animation and motion picture VFX production company, 4th Creative Party which had produced feature films in Asia, Hollywood and Europe, most notably Okja, Snowpiercer, and The Host.
The music in the film is no less exquisite, composed by celebrated Japanese composer Kenji Kawai, famed for his works in Ghost in the Shell, Death Note and Ip Man series, among many others. The BGM for this production is one of the best in the fantasy genre, where traditional sounds blend harmoniously with contemporary tones. The OST lists 2 tracks used in the film, both of which are slow-tempo ballads:
Heart Fallen 心殇人 - Huang Ling 黄龄
Infatuation Tomb (Ending Song) 痴情冢 – Deng Lun 邓伦
Overall, The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity is an exceptionally well-crafted film that is stunning to watch, refreshingly straightforward and uncomplicated (despite the premise), and effortlessly enjoyable as well as fun. It’s a no-brainer, what are you waiting for? (before Netflix actually removes the content because of plagiarism issues...).
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Beautiful and emotional BL. Synopsis is misleading.
As a BL it is a beautiful romance. BOTH ARE ALIVE and human. Don't let the poor synopsis throw you. Think of it as a BL set against the backdrop of here being ghosts. The boys set out to help unravel a mystery about a ghost house in the town. And in the process, fall in love.It doesn't have a lot of the dumb forced dramatic conflict you see in some shows. No pointless trouble for the sake of trouble. There is plenty of drama but it is a lot more grounded and real.
The main actors have chemistry and there is plenty of good skinship. Not a single dead fish kiss! Their handholding alone is more emotional and sexy than most stuff you find in a lot of BLs. (And you get a lot more than handholding - don't worry!)
The side characters are all enjoyable. If anything I am left wanting more of them! I wish the series were longer than 8 episodes.
The supernatural element has a little bit of scare/horror, but it isn't a dark show. If you scare easily, don't worry! Yes, you see ghosts. He's a ghost hunter. But he isn't going around vanquishing evil ghosts. He is hoping to meet then and communicate with them.
The pacing of the show is slow and steady. Some reviewers are frustrated by it. But it isn't constantly hitting you in the face with cheese and cliche. It allows the emotions to breathe. Some viewers just want brainless smut and comedy. Fine. that isn't this.
My only criticism is that it is too short. There are so many things (mysteries, side character relationships, and so on) that are hinted at or touched on that could each have been expanded to a full episode. The show could easily have been double in length. That isn't to say that it is missing something. Just that like with any really truly good story, it leaves you wanting more.
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1This review may contain spoilers
When you think about all of the clues we are given about Yuma, the ending doesn't seem so open ended, after all. Throughout the series we are given a glimpse of his abilities. Bringing on a rain storm. Sending lightening to strike his adversary's water supply. Suspending a bottle in mid air. Not dying after taking a euthanasia pill (right there we are shown that he can perform the impossible). And...Yuma's happy go lucky parting with Ritsu and Masumi, promising that he will see them again. The bond that developed between Meguru and Yuma, gave Yuma a future to look forward to. He found his dead idol in her look alike sibling....almost as though she were resurrected from the dead. The series followed the manga almost exactly. Happy ending in the manga. Yuma sent the meteor away.There is a strong message to this series (and manga). When our own individual world is collapsing around us...when we feel as though there is no longer a reason to live...the entire world could end for all we care. But then...when our lives get back on track...and things look hopeful again...we want the world to go on. And...so it was...with Yuma.
Ritsu and Masumi also had no hope for living....until they reunited and rekindled their love. Ritsu says in the last episode that there was no reason for him to live any longer...but when he found Masumi again, the desire to live was renewed.
This is a lesson for all of us....about despair...and the renewal of hope.
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It has the perfect blend of everything.
Extreme Women Empowerment. Spicy kisses and chemical romances. Badass Women. Charming Men. Excellent acting. Crisp story-telling. Adrenalin rushing fastpaced moments, complimented with slow and emotion-filled scenes. Brilliant OST. Epic Sismance. Bomb fashion sense. Stunning direction. An ending that tied all loose ends...
I mean really, at this point I'm wondering if there's anything this show didn't have?
It maintained quality from start to finish and had me hooked till the very end. There were some mildly annoying things about the main couple and the poorly timed product placement but they could be considered fairly negligible.
I already wrote a detailed article on this drama, so I'll keep this review short and sweet. Bottom line is that this show is excellent and you need to watch it right now!
BYE
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This review may contain spoilers
A story that causes controversial overreaction by viewers without doing anything controversial
This is my first time writing a drama review because I was usually a silent viewer but this drama was so interesting that I ended up feeling the need to write one despite this is not a language I speak.Story:
When I first read the synopsis, I thought that It must be one of those lazy shoujo/BL story that used to be popular with trope like bully x victim cheesy high school romance which usually end with bully kept enjoying the bullying while the victim just submit to them after awhile because they can’t fight back. It started with two kids with troubles of their own who seemed like it will end up in a bad relationship but the story turned out different the more I watched. It was about calling out their deep rooted issues until they are ready to face it together and touched on topics like communication, idolatry, consent and first love. Because of first episode alone I feel like these characters have more behind what they are showing on facade so I chose to look for the source material and found the audio drama adaptation which is close to the original Novel. I LOVE IT. I was anxious and anticipated to see how the drama which only have 2 and half hours run time overall would be able to adapt such complicated story accurately.
Characters:
They started like one of those boring flat characters, an obsessive introvert boy and his crush who’s the opposite. However, what you will realize is that, the story is being told in first person point of view, which mean for the over half of the drama you will hear from this boy Hira about his life and his obsession over his crush. From his point of view, me and the other viewers are sympathized with him and feel the anger toward the crush who seems like bland untouchable character but we are so wrong when the narration switched to Kiyoi, the popular boy, to be the one telling the story from his eyes which to be honest, more realistic view than Hira’s. It told you the complexity of both characters and WHY there was misunderstanding between them because even we, as the third person who watch them, also misunderstood them. Worth noting that this story might not have much of them as romantic partners but more like HOW they became a couple because this is only adapted from 1st book of the novel trilogy.
A lot of people’s reaction to this drama was a shallow view and criticism on the story and characters without looking closer and reflecting. The word “Toxic” and “Abusive” wouldn’t be what I would call their romance, I would say they are two teenagers with their own issue who found comfort in each other but miscommunication happened, loneliness and bad timing didn’t help either.
Rewatch value: HELL YEAH this is the only romance drama that I suggest rewatching because trust me, every rewatch will give you new details you didn’t notice before and that should thank to awesome and attentive production team as well as the young actors who surprisingly are good at portraying complex story and characters with such a short limit of time.
I believe drama-only fans won’t find it anything special but this drama put a lot of effort in including favorite lines and hidden detail from its source material so the rewatch value is MUCH higher for fans who love the novel and audio drama version.
However, I would suggest everyone to give it a try and watch for yourself. This is a good story but probably not for everyone, especially those who refuse to open their mind.
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I heard so many things about I REMEMBER YOU but I was quite hesitant to watch it because it's a crime-based story. No, I don't hate crime series. On the contrary, I love it so much that my expectations are quite high when it comes to this genre. I watched this drama without expecting anything. What I did not know was I was in for a big surprise...
STORY - This reminds me a lot of the American crime drama "The Mentalist". The plot is quite similar but the details are very different.
Being a sucker for stories with genius characters, the first episode had me hooked. I had this strange hunger that was only satiated by watching the next episode, then the next and the next until I reached the end... I tried to look for major holes but the writers had really done a great job in connecting every piece of the puzzle and covering up the tiny mistakes.
This drama really stands out because despite of having Crime as it's main core, the showcasing of violence was a lot less compared to other TV series. In fact, the drama is so rich in morals, brotherly love (oh, you cannot miss this), and friendship. I never thought that a crime drama like this is possible.
If there's anything that I feel somewhat lacking is the ending. I am not saying that it's not good, but rather, I was expecting a closure. After all what the characters have been through, I think they deserved a better ending.
ACTING/ CAST - Korean actors are really good, especially in conveying their emotions through their eyes. The actors in this drama are so 'in character' that you would feel their pain, agony, fear and even happiness. Needless to say Jang Na Ra (Cha Ji An) and Seo In Guk (Lee Hyun) did a wonderful job. A special shout out is not enough for Choi Won Young (Lee Jun Ho) who's acting is so superb that I find him really scary now and Park Bo Gum (Jung Seon Ho) who was hands-down amazing. They both deserved an award.
MUSIC - I enjoyed the music very much especially the intro/title music. It gives you the mysterious detective vibe. I actually find it quite similar with the manga series "Detective Conan's" intro.
REWATCH VALUE - I think this one deserves a rewatch. It's one of the dramas that you think you want to watch from the beginning again because you want to know if you missed any details.
OVERALL: This one deserves a standing ovation.
*SLOW CLAP FADING*
I ended this drama with a heavy heart. Not because it was bad, but because it's so good that I am sure I am going to miss it.
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The concept of the drama was based on Insurance crime and for those who don't know much about it, it might as well be a little complicated to follow. The scenes where all the schemes and cases were explained were dialogue heavy with some technical terms and for watchers who want their shows easy to digest, it could be a bit of a problem.
That's not the case with me though. I don't like my dramas to hand me everything on a platter. I want to be able to think about the events taking place and then have this lightbulb moment of 'Oh, so this was what happened.' I like it when a show makes me replay some scenes to catch a dialogue I missed because this means that I care and a drama has to be good if it makes me care.
I'm not gonna say Mad Dog was perfect. It had some flaws here and there, some plot-holes, some illogical things but when you looked at it as a bigger picture you saw that actually yes, this could've happened in real life too. It wasn't far-fetched from reality and you realized that the plot was indeed very well-connected and backed up by smart characters with brilliant planning who were always trying to one-up each other.
While the show started off slow, focusing more on introducing all the characters and their dilemmas, once it hit the 9th episode mark- it skyrocketed and the real action came out in play.
However, the strength of the show wasn't its plot, rather it was the character development. This was a story about how a team (Mad Dog) of lovable individuals each with their own unique talents joined hands with a lone wolf, scam artist (Kim Min Joon) and how together they grew into one tight knit group that was closer than family.
Every role was beautifully constructed and the moment I felt that a character wasn't getting much attention, the script changed its course and swallowed down all my complaints. Besides our amazing team, there were some very endearing side characters (Nurse Sem and Manager Park) along with intriguing and well-portrayed antagonists that helped the show retain its charisma.
Yoo Ji Tae is an actor that emotes with his eyes and Mr. Choi with his vengeful looks and determined actions gave me so much life, especially because YJT's acting was exceptionally brilliant towards the end. Jo Jae Yun (my all time favorite supporting actor) once again brought forth a memorable character. Cheetah shi was so cute with his matchmaking skills, a softie heart and the gangster ways. Kim Hye Sung with his adorable Pentium; a genius and kind-hearted boy, stole many hearts and Ryu Hwa Young gave life to the badass, headstrong but caring Jang Ha Ri that you couldn't help but adore.
But, despite the presence of the more experienced and brilliant cast members, Woo Do Hwan once again snatched all the spotlights. He should honestly be named 'show-stealer' because whenever he takes a role he owns it so completely that other people are given a deadly run for their money.
Try as I might, I couldn't believe this was just the second show he's starred in because he's just too fucking good. He's the kind of artist, I can imagine in every possible role because of his humongous talent and versatile personality. Without bias, I can say that despite being a newbie he's one of the best actors in dramaworld. I love the way he walks, his charming quirks, his beautiful smile and his amazing voice. (Now, is where the bias is speaking.)
So there was no surprise in the fact that Woo Do Hwan's Kim Min Joo slayed me completely and then went for more. Kim Min Joo with his German adlibs, sneaky personality and fearless swag was truly one of a kind. He was incredibily smart with a talent in annoying people to death. He loved pulling everyone's leg, all the while calmly laughing while doing so. He was a bit arrogant, definitely not one to mess with but ultimately, a huge sweetheart. I loved how realistic his character was. He didn't develop magical super powers when people came to kill him (and they came a lot) nope, he innocently got beaten every time instead, was a huge scaredy cat and couldn't even throw a punch properly. And I loved that. The highlight of the show was seeing him warm up to other people and letting go of his trust issues and finally being given a family that he could rely upon.
The dynamics within the Mad Dog team (Kim Min Joon included) were simply everything. The way they had each other's back was extremely heart touching. These people had so much love for each other that at one point, I was shipping every-one with everyone. I loved their little missions, their secretive and conspiring shared glances, their smart strategies and their protectiveness of one another, so much.
And last but not the least: The romance. Even though it was done as a sub-plot only, it was so so good. Kim Min Joon and Jang Ha Ri were a match made in heaven. The small moments they had with each other were so incredibily sweet and their chemistry was fire. The minor touch of romance in this show was far well-done than some of the wholesome love stories I have seen. I think I've never wished for a kiss scene before in my entire life. But ah, we can't have it all now can we?
While Mad Dog did have some great 'Oh shit, what's going to happen next' scenes, it wasn't a show centered on 'the bext big thing'. The beauty of the show was in the small, intimate moments between the characters, the way they grew on each other and the way they evolved together and as individuals.
If you let it, Mad Dog will make you feel. It will touch your heart deeply and make you feel joy, sadness and love. So much love.
I really enjoyed the OST of the show. From NiiHwa's popping and catchy track to Eric Nam's soulful ballad- the sound track did great things for the mood of the drama.
I loved the cast and their antics, so much so, that I really didn't have the heart to let them go till the very end. Although the ending was a little bit rushed, it left me with a wide smile and some heartfelt happy tears.
So while Mad Dog might not be everybody's cup of tea, it was a steaming mug of delicious cappuccino for me.
Definitely one of the better shows of 2017 and one I surely recommend.
Enjoy!
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"Who's the leading man of my life?" -There is no such person for that role.
Dramas never failed to deliver fairytales... with happily ever after themes, fantasies that could never come true in real life, with the most perfect characters without any flaws, and even upside-down character development that the lead might be a jerk at the beginning but till the 16th episode he's an angel.To think of it, it's really hard to find something in dramaland, that we could relate to.. or even say, "ah this has happened with me." "Oh, I've been in this situation"... "I know how does it feel." This is why Yumi's Cells is different, it never tries to portray something picture-perfect or flawless... rather shows how things-relationships-emotions work in real life, well realistic portrayal? is it sound boring? don't worry we've got a lot of cells to keep you entertained.
It lives up to its name 'Yumi's Cells' is only about her... her cells, her life, her relationship, it never distracts or goes on the wrong path. We see this story from her narrative from her cells narrative. It's almost 50% animation... I never imagined I would love drama with a cocktail of animation, but I did.. way more than what I imagined, Cells are the stars of the show, they are everything. I love how accurately it managed to show how the brain or our emotions work.
Kim Go Eun did an amazing job. Honestly, this role was challenging. Curious, why? Just think of it we're watching a normal drama... any incident happens we get to know how that person feels through his/her reaction-expression, we can never guess what's happening in their head (unless we already getting to know due to storytelling or know their exact thoughts) so at the end of the day, it depends on actor.. and their acting how emotion gonna covey to us. But here it's a different case coz we exactly know how she's feeling... what's her mood and what's happening in her brain (literally). So she has to show every emotion that we do know from her cells with her expressions. And she did it! even a slight change was visible through her micro emotions, she lived Yumi.
I usually talk about characterization in my reviews, but I feel this is insignificant here, leads are just like any normal person... like me, like you, like us. Facing normal real-life problems, real difficulties in the relationship, without any dramatization-cliches-tropes. We don't need something grand to happen to start or end any relationship... it happens with time, with small things. And this is the essence of it. It happens, it's okay! not the end of the world... as loving only one person is not the only purpose of life itself.
For those who might feel some characters are one-dimensional, like Sae-Yi, Ruby, and even Woong sometimes... it's not even the point here, coz we never get to explore any of them in real, we see them from one perspective which is Yumi's so how are we supposed to know every shade of them. This is not lazy writing but it wasn't intended to start with.
The amount of second-hand embarrassment I've got from this drama is insane. It's cute-sweet-cringey-heart fluttering-emotionally heavy-embarrassing-realistic at the same time, that's the specialty of it. And of course, the cells are show-stealer there wasn't a split second where I was bothered by animation... I loved watching them, arguing-fighting with each other. Helping each other while deciding important decisions snd being there for each other... they were like important characters of the show having their own persona. Ah the cameos of different cells were amazing lol
This isn't a conventional and normal drama story that follows the path that every drama has, it's different, it's unique, and quite refreshing.... but watch it to try something new, it never promised of being extraordinary.
Lastly...
Who the heck was the stylist?
It took me forever to get warmed up for their hairstyle -_-
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Poetry in motion
Youth of May is definitely one of the biggest gems of 2021. It's a sweet old-school romance in the backdrop of harsh Gwangju Uprising. If you're aware of the political and social backdrop, you will probably enjoy it even more. But even without it, Youth of May is a soothing love story. It reminds you what it's like to be innocently in love. It's old-fashioned and sincere and gives you a satisfying sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't alive during that time.Lee Do Hyun has proved his versatility as an actor this year. While 18 Again is the crowd-pleaser (and for good reason), I don't know why but none of his characters can steal your heart like Hee Tae. It might be bold of me to say this but Lee Do Hyun outshined everyone on this show.
But that doesn't take away from the fact that this was one of the best cast ensembles we have had in a while. An out and out pool of talent. I have laughed and cried and ached and sympathized with all of their stories and I am going to carry them in my heart for a long time (I guess that's what happens with heavy dramas).
The couple's chemistry was amazing. The sfl nailed it. I really liked her character. The sml also held his own and had some awesome moments, The brothers were AWESOME! The kids stole the show. We had an evil father and an amazing father, both of the actors nailed it. The mums were great too. The friends. The soldiers. The friend-soldiers. It was the perfect cast.
I would say, in conclusion, that even if you're wary of the possible sad ending, go for it because this drama is worth it.
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This review may contain spoilers
The amount of hate that this drama is receiving is astounding to me because in my opinion this has been a stand-out drama among many other dramas that were considered vastly popular this year including Suspicious Partner, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, and others. The other reviews on this site seem to be incoherent and sort of click-bait so I will try to be as analytical and straightforward as I can with my review. My overall thought is that this is a drama that is great to watch once and feel good about the romance, the justice system and the characters.Disclaimer: I am not a Lee Jong Suk or Suzy fanboy (or many other actors to begin with) so I have no personal feelings for any of the actors.
Disclaimer 2: I value storyline/plot and character/character development extremely highly and far above music which is also above replay value, but I will analyze each in their own category.
Storyline/Plot:
This plot is one of the most interesting yet not confounding plots (I’m looking at you ‘W’) that I have seen in a Korean drama in recent memory. Many recent dramas have been historical dramas that are trying to break the past tropes for a fresh feeling or are mundane/ “normal-life” struggles dramas that bring in new and ironically less “normal” characters. This is something different and interesting because it ties together two interesting aspects: fantasy which are essentially seeing the future through dreams and the justice system. Two aspects that are usually very different but through this drama are associated in a fresh way.
Now, onto the actual plot. I think the pacing was done superbly well and the inserts of flashbacks was well timed. My main complaint about the plot was that there were a few plot holes that were never truly covered. Firstly, why is Suzy able to see dreams about random people when the original idea was that whoever saves you will be who you dream about just like all the other characters? How did Suzy start dreaming to begin with? What is the motive for the detective to hide that he does not know Suzy and Lee Jong Suk? These issues are sort of touched upon but glossed over because there is no real answer to them.
Besides plot holes, everything about this was very good. There are people that complain that the flashbacks and past were not impactful enough but the contrast between past and present that the director/producer used was actually well done. I knew that the plot would be interesting and good when the first episode consisted of Suzy killing herself and Lee Jong Suk struggling with what he saw in his dream just as any other person. Secondly, I believe that one of the strongest points of the drama was the incorporation of the premise of the show into the romance and the melodrama portion. There are some dramas that try to be too many things at once and often fail at all of them or are unable to incorporate all of them. This drama does a superb job of incorporating the dreams into the romance, the justice system, everyday life and the conflicts as a whole.
Overall, one of the best plots done in recent history. This drama is logical (including the fantasy of dreaming of course) and also touches upon some key ideas in an interesting way. What do you do if you know the future? Can you change it? Is changing the future the right thing to do? Is the legal system perfect? Morality over personal interest? All decisions have consequences whether you like it or not. All of these aspects are intricately woven into a very well written plot that presents multiple themes throughout.
Characters:
I believe the true strength of the show was in characterization of not only Lee Jong Suk and Suzy but also of the many side characters. Firstly, I believe that characterization must be logical and follow some “set of rules.” What I mean by this is that some dramas have side characters that perform actions for no real reason or their characters exist with only one thought running through their head. However, each of these characters has their own motivations and thoughts which can be perceived just by thinking about it from their perspective and the drama was shot in such a way and with such good pacing that each character seems relatable. Before I talk about Suzy and Lee Jong Suk, I will talk about each of the side characters and give examples of what I mean. There are 3 “side characters” that I must highlight to show why characterization is so strong and important in this drama. I don’t want to touch upon the detective because there were plot holes that I discussed earlier that I am still unsure about.
Suzy’s mom is an eccentric woman but when you get down to her character she is a person that is devoted to her daughter and her daughter’s happiness is the core of her being like many other mothers. Would you want your daughter to date a man that could get her killed? How about giving her false hope or causing her pain? The rating of the men around her daughter is a personification of what mothers actually do. Every action by this character makes sense.
Lee Yoo Beom or the main villain is an intricate character whose end-game is truly highlighted in the last episode. A self-driven, greedy individual who presents a façade of intelligence but struggles to stick with his own morals when gain is in front. This character through flashbacks and actions by Lee Jong Suk is strongly characterized as someone that would take advantage of another person while maintaining that he was simply doing the logical and right thing. The most impactful seems were when he was in the bathroom washing his hands or loosening his tie and cufflinks. These are small things that show a much more in-depth character. The washing of the hands to symbolize washing himself of his guilt. Or loosening his clothing when he is doing things that are morally wrong to symbolize the loosening of his morals. Every action about this character makes sense especially being driven into a corner where he ends up making the decision to kill a person he said knew him better than his parents. Every action made sense.
Han Woo Tak. Many people love this character and for good reason because he is the charming and loyal second lead that many people are supposed to feel bad for due to his unrequited love. However, his actions also make sense. From the beginning Suzy shows no romantic interest in him and it is clear to anyone that Suzy and Lee Jong Suk were more than friends from early on in this drama. Many other second leads in other dramas would do anything to become the love interest including ruining friendships and ignoring the obvious truth. That is the beauty of this character. He knows how to look and read other people. Woo Tak makes decisions based off of other people while still maintaining his outstanding morals. He decides to value his friendship with both main characters over his own love. Many people experience unrequited love in their life and end up just being friends. Sacrificing everything for a love interest that clearly shows no affection back is a sign of terrible character that does not fit with his logical and morally sound characterization.
Lastly, our two main lead characters. Many people say Suzy is just a pretty actress. I would say that this is by far her best performance and she perfectly acted out her character. How do you act out an optimistic yet afraid girl that constantly dreams about other people dying or experiencing death yourself? Suzy perfectly acted out a quirky girl that tries to always keep a smile on her face and not let her fears get to her. This character is very complexly written because it touches upon an interesting aspect of human psych. How do humans deal with pain and tragedy and fear? Some people become depressed, while others hide it. Clearly Suzy’s character was hiding her fears at the beginning while it was also clearly controlling her life ie. short hair and quitting her job. This character indicates that when you hide pain it can be harmful and cause your character to be much more falsely optimistic or pessimistic at times. Her character makes sense.
Lee Jong Suk’s character is also very interesting. His character is someone that has bettered himself from the past but still maintains his resentment for certain things and events ie. regret about his father and hate for Lee Yoo Beom. Many people say that a plot hole in this drama is that for such a smart character he does nothing except rely on dreams and other characters’ help. I would argue this is very realistic. No matter how smart someone is there are obstacles that they can’t pass without help. Do you kill 7 people, or do you get the criminal? Suzy helps him think outside the box. If you believe every character should have all the answers that means you are watching some very poorly written dramas. Do you unleash your anger, or do you allow the legal system that you believe in to work? Lee Jong Suk is not a super hero and that is very clear from this drama. He clearly struggles with the same emotions and understanding that I our other logical viewers would reach. The last key example is that he knows his best friend Woo Tak loves his girlfriend, but he does not outwardly show it. Other dramas would result in him fighting his best friend or going out of his way to disturb their relationship. But his character’s ability to read other people and trust his friends shines through and he does not complete many of the actions other main characters would do.
Lastly, the chemistry. I would say it was okay and cute at times. I do not think it was as great as some viewers claim or as bad as others would say. It was simply a part of the story which I actually prefer. The romance was not overbearing and did not interfere with the story but instead was another key aspect of the story. Suzy and LJS love each other and would do anything for each other but that does not mean that they do or should. It was not the sizzling romance with smoldering eyes and hot kisses that many fans would hope for, but I honestly think this is more realistic. Love does not have to just be passion, it could be walking your girlfriend to work every morning or being jealous she is paying attention to another guy. It does not have to be star-crossed lovers with exaggerated lines that would die for each other at a moment’s notice. Even though there was a bit of that in this drama too.
Music:
I think this music was quite good. There were several songs that stood out to me including “When Night Falls” by Eddy Kim (which was probably the best song), “It’s You” by Henry (meh, I think the song fit but isn’t that great), “I Love You Boy” by Suzy (fits the drama very well and is also very good).
Rewatch value:
I rarely rewatch dramas but there were many good scenes and moments that you could rewatch for the aesthetics and the acting. I would say that of the recent dramas I would like to watch this drama again to think more about the other villains and the detective. They were all well written and correctly paced but I think I may have missed some key points.
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Thin line between love and hate.
In an uncannily similar vein with Maid's Revenge, this mini drama is just a chock full of the worst red flags. So if you are going to be triggered by a toxic alpha male and an intense but abusive love-hate relationship best steer clear of this drama. If however you can suspend moral outrage and present social norms for ~240 minutes then you are in for one helluva hot and wild ride.Plot-wise, Circle of Love must be part of Youku's addictive toxic trilogy which rehashes the dark Republican era Romeo and Juliet revenge trope we saw in both Maid's Revenge and Bride's Revenge. Determined to avenge her family, Gu Meng ambushes her former fiancé, the formidable warlord Xiao Hongye. Her pathetic attack is foiled and she finds herself captured and conscripted as a maid in his household. She conveniently experiences memory loss, allowing herself to fall in love with her nemesis over and over again as he domineeringly uses and abuses her in the most thrilling... ahem..., I mean unacceptable, completely unacceptable ways. What I like about this version is that Gu Meng is smart and she has a plan. She can go toe to toe with Hongye and it is literally tit for tat in terms of these star-crossed lovers' ability to do terrible things to each other. The actors light up the screen with their intense, sensuous chemistry and do an amazing job showing us their gut wrenching internal struggle as they explore the thin line beween love and hate.
I could tell you that I watched this for the tight plot, which is actually well designed and has a nice twist. But that would be a lie. This is all about Li Jiulin's dark, complex and masculine good looks, his amorous smouldering gaze and his taut tanned chest. His steamy portrayal of the controlling, possessive, passionate, cruel and yet oddly vulnerable Hongye had me giggling and cringing at the same time. And the way he manhandles the inflamed and writhing Gu Meng who obviously loves to hate him had me chanting unconvincingly to myself "This is so not ok!!!". If there is any takeaway from this short, dark and titilating tale of love and hate it is that if your enemy is a smoking hot man beast, satiate yourself thoroughly before giving him a few bullets to remember you by. I found the ending a bit mean spirited but ultimately satisfying and appropriate.
This is a classic dark and thrilling bodice ripper romance that comes with all kinds of health warnings over outdated gender norms and inappropriate behavior. This is not the kind of thing to try at home but it can still be enjoyed vicariously with the air con switched on high and a nice glass of wine. Don't judge me for enjoying this enough to rate this 8.0/10.0; the best of the three in my opinion.
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1
1It's liquid crack.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to attempt to explain the genius and the madness which is Affinity... without depriving you of the surprises and twists that await you should you choose to partake in the watching of one of the most insane c-dramas in existence.This belongs to the "batsh*t crazy" sub-genre of c-drama romance, and it definitively goes straight to the top of the pile, contending for the crown with "I Love My President Although He Is A Psycho" and "My Lethal Man", and yet in every way outclassing them both. Affinity has a kickass ost/bgm, top notch acting from the ML and FL, a sexy and stylish aesthetic, relentlessly novel plot twists that assail your logic and senses at every turn, action oriented sequences baked into every bite of every episode, decent special effects, and a spice level that will make your monitor spontaneously combust.
Some people - not you, of course, but SOME people - may have the rather bourgeois and supercilious notion that a good drama has to have "logic" or "coherence" or "realism". And those people will be sorely disappointed. Woe be unto he who demandeth of this drama such repugnant atrocities as "logic" for he shall find his plate empty. Whereas for those who taketh pleasure in the consumption of fine cheeses, verily his cup runneth over and he shall be blessed indeed with the velvety fondue of this absolute cheese fountain.
What is in store for you I cannot say and I will not say, in much the same way as I would not and could not tell you what is in your christmas presents before you open them on christmas. But I can give you a rough outline of it's flavor profile. We are talking something along the lines of [Embrace In the Dark Night] + [Hunger Games] + [Dr. Who] + [Pee Wee's Playhouse] + [Cherry 2000] + [Devil's Line] + [Speed and Love] + [Omegaverse] + [Hanaoni].
Do yourself a favor, and don't even try to let anyone tell you anything about what this drama is actually about. It doesn't even matter anyways and it will just ruin your fun.
This may be the most creative script i've ever come across. Either that or an impressive rainbow of cliche vomit, like the writer ate the entire all you can eat buffet of plot ideas before he sat down and puked up this magical screenplay. Either way, it's genius. Not genius like "Oh Buffy, this Manet painting is clearly the artist's conception of renaissance social constructs in the modern age of individualism." Not genius like "Oh the ML is obviously a commentary on today's disaffected youth". Not genius like "It was a tour de force of emotional realism".
No, this is a level of genius more along the lines of "Look what happens when you stuff a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey, and then deep fry it."... or genius like "Behold, this is for all intents and purposes a normal everyday aerosol can, but when you press the nozzle, cheese comes out!" And it's actually rather astonishing in it's inventiveness, considering it's basically brainless entertainment.
And I'll tell you what else is astonishing: This drama making it past chinese censorship. Because oh my god. It is so loaded with spice it should come with a warning at the beginning of every episode. Inevitably people are going to watch this and then say "can anyone recc me something like this?" Well the answer is NO. I can pretty confidently say that in terms of plot, vibes, or spice.... there is nothing that truly compares to this breathtaking Masterpiece of Cheese.
If you are addicted to dramas like Lighter and Princess, Love Between Lines, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, As Beautiful As You, Love Me Love My Voice, or Life Is Sweet.... then just get out now. There is nothing here for you whatsoever. Just a sheer 1000 foot drop in logic, at the bottom of which is a vast river of cheese sauce running through a mythical spice forest.
I've never seen anything quite like it, and it's everything I want in a c-drama, with nothing I don't. 10/10
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This review may contain spoilers
THE MOST ADORABLE BL COUPLE. :p
I was bored of watching the same school/ university plot for blsso I was initially planning to skip it...
UNTIL I gave it a chance by watching the first 2 episodes and I'm so glad that I did give it a chance
CAUSE this is Heaven for bl fans, This is what we call pure chemistry between leads, A couple you won't get bored of. This duo is simply fantastic, It doesn't seem like it's their first lead role, they are that good at their respective roles. (or maybe I dived in with zero expectations). The emotions they are showcasing here are soo superior to their age and experience. The future of the Thai industry is in the safe hand I guess.
GEMINI AND FOURTH HAVE TAKEN OVER MY WHOLE HEART* (be it My School President or Moonlight Chicken) their diversity in acting is commendable at a such young age, they are now My Fav Couple = NO.1 :)
PLOT:
The plot may seem mediocre but its execution is outstanding, literally, it's the little things that matter and this series proved it.
with the amount of comedy, romance and soo many heart-fluttering moments how can one not fall in love with these two cuties. this series is the definition OF Love and how it heals and motivates, cause love is a power that doesn't let you sink.
I didn't find a single moment of boredom just "BUTTERFLIES" and me not being able to control my emotions (all the joy, nervousness and excitement) I felt while watching this series :D Their chemistry feels so real and genuine, I was literally lost in the world of MY SCHOOL PRESIDENT. Their flirting is highly addictive and I almost died with high sugar level JKJK cause they are soo sweet.
There are soo many moments where Tinn is seen trying to hold back his smile when he is beside Gun (cause he finds gun cute and the sound in his mind goes SO CUTE) and Gemini is soo good at it, I love it whenever he grins from ear to ear while looking at his crush. I can't imagine any other actor replacing anybody in this series (BEST CAST), Not a single boring character or a scene which I would want to skip, instead, I kept rewinding soo many scenes cause this drama is just "AWESOME "
THIS DRAMA IS A WHOLE MOOD AND IM GLAD I STARTED IT WHILE ITS AIRING CAUSE.....
I'M LIKE A PART OF THEIR EARLY FAMILY, EXPERIENCING THEIR LIVES TOGETHER ALL PROMOTIONS AND SOO
GLAD TO BE A *KHUN NOO* (GIGGLES)
{HOW AM I EVER GONNA MOVE ON FROM THIS ONE?}
They literally know how to swoon over their audience
I felt all the emotion along them, I laughed cried smiled sobbed with them.
AND
I'M GONNA MISS
Those night phone calls, the imaginary gun that always motivates Tinn (whenever he is talking to his mother), Their warm consoling hugs, them comforting each other, their locking of the pinky fingers even holding hands at the talking stage or that not so eye contact (cause to shy to look straight into each other's eyes), then openly flirting in front of their friends, that foolishly in love smile (THEIR EXPRESSION ARE SOO TRUE TO THEIR CHARACTERS), everything is just soo PERFECT here...THEY MAKE ME BLUSH SO MUCH...
"OHHH BOYS HAVE MERCY ON MY POOR HEART"
[OSTs]
As the main plot is about Music this series has soo many beautiful songs each and every song is worth listening to, and enjoyable. and I love each and every song to the core of my heart...
[Highlights]
I DONT KNOW HOW TO MAKE ONE WATCH THIS SERIES;
-without any NC this series undoubtedly has the most amazing Cast and Chemistrywhether its between the main leads, lead's BFF or Chinzhilla gang
JUST REMEMBER WITH ANY NC THIS SERIES HAS GRABBED/ ATTRACTED SOO MANY BL FANS TO WATCH IT
-A series with overflowing cuteness:
INTELLIGENT N innocently cute lead TINN
STUPID but adorably cute lead GUN
SMART and cleverly cute THIW
FOOLISH n noisy still cute chinzhilla
-TINN, NO ONE DOES IT like Him, this man turned the PERIODIC TABLE into the MOST FLIRTIOUS LINE of BLs "SODIUM RADIUM POTASSIUM"... ohh HOW CUTE.
IM ON TEAM GEMINIFOURTH FOREVER FROM NOW ONWARDS
-CHINZILLA Band IS COOL AND FUNNY AT THE SAME TIME, I LOVE THEIR GANG SOO MUCH PLUS their secret bbq and hotpot nights
-MARK BEING THE SUPPORTER TO EVERYONE HE'S LIKE THE BACK OF BONE THE SERIES
-The rest and the side couples are just a bonus you get along the main couple 10000/10
-NO BL SCHOOL ROMANCE SERIES CAN BEAT THE CHEMISTRY OF THESE TWO, because not only TinnGun but the whole cast is so fun to watch
-BUT DONT BINGE WATCH IT CAUSE IT MIGHT BE TOO SWEET TO DIGEST IN ONE NIGHT... LOL, what I mean is that when you watch it you should savour it: like try to enjoy it to the fullest...
I LOVE #MY SCHOOL PRESIDENT
[HONOURABLE MENTION]
GEMINI IS EVERYONE'S DREAM GUY
FOURTHS IS A SUNSHINE AND THE WAY HE SMILES IS SUPERRR CUTE :D
EDIT:
initially, I gave it 9.5 after watching the finale this deserves BANG ON 1000... this is how a series should end it's just too perfect, A perfect BL. and I PROUDLY DECLARE MY SCHOOL PRESIDENT AS MY FAV BL DRAMA of all time
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