Weirdly interesting and fun 1st half but poor writing in the 2nd half.
While “I am Nobody” was airing, I read good things about it. Little did I know I’ve stumbled onto one of the wackiest C-dramas I’ve ever watched. I really did not have much expectations and I never read the comics. I’ve seen some live action Japanese adaptations of anime and manga, and am not always a big fan of the comedy. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the first half of the drama, despite its weird comedy. But, I was also disappointed in the second half when the writing got sloppy and they seemed to run out of money.What I Enjoy:
1. Bao Bao - One of my favorite characters in the drama and also in all of C-drama comedies. She is hilarious!!! Wang Ying Lu did a fantastic job portraying the emotionless, naive, crazy, violent and just pure wacky character. I look forward to funny things that come out of her mouth and how she reacts to different situations.
2. Peng Yu Chang - This is my first time watching him and I’m surprised to find out that he’s been in the industry for quite some time. His acting is probably the best of the bunch amongst the younger cast members of the drama. He really does stand out in his portrayal of the protagonist, Zhang Chu Lan. The success of the show rests on his shoulders and he does an admirable job.
3. Veteran Supporting Cast - “I am Nobody” is one of those dramas where the more experienced, veteran actors really outshine the younger generation. There are so many great actors, especially Old Taoist Lao Tian Shi/Zhang Zhi Wei, Grandpa Zhang Huai Yi, Taoist Tian Jin Zhong and Elder Lu Jin. I’ve enjoyed every single one of their scenes, serious, emotional and comedic ones.
4. Action Scenes - There are some pretty great fight scenes in the first half of the drama and during the competition. This is also one of the reasons I want to watch this drama as early comments praised some of its fight scenes. There are quite a few memorable fights during the competition.
5. Comedy - I normally don’t quite over-the-top comedy and shy away from pure comedies. But I thoroughly enjoy all the jokes, second-hand embarrassment, especially when the jokes happen with the veterans. Their deadpan expression while speaking some of these funny lines, make the scenes even more funny. BaoBao’s Sichuan accent also adds to her strange but unique personality.
What I have Mixed Feelings about or Don’t Like:
1. Second Half - I did not read the comics, so I am not sure if the drama follows the plot faithfully or loosely. However, I was very disappointed that after the competition, I did not see more camaraderie between the younger main cast and/or their adventures in continuing the quest to find out about the truth. Instead, we got an unimportant detour of Wang Ye’s family story and barely got Zhang Chu Lan, Wang Ye, Feng Bao Bao and Zhu Ge Qing back together. Zhang Lin Yu got his own side plot of accepting himself and continuation of the ill-developed romance. We spent so much time in Lao Tian Shi’s ‘revenge’ and another character’s search for their sister. I am not saying these side plots are not important to the development of the main plot, but screentime is not distributed appropriately. Maybe the drama should not have focused so many episodes on the competition, so it leaves enough time to develop all the other subplots afterwards. But then, the competition episodes are the most fun! If you spend so much time for viewers to get to know the main characters, then give me more of them together!
2. Inconsistent acting - This drama has a very big supporting cast of young actors and actresses. Some of them I’ve seen in other dramas and they did fine. But aside from Peng Yu Chang and Wang Ying Lu, the others don’t really stand out or exceed my expectations. I’m glad Neo Hou is not in another cold-on-the-outside role (can’t say the same for Bi Wen Jun) and he definitely acts better when he’s given more. Even so, he has room for improvement. A few other minor supporting actors are below average. No one is horrible, just inconsistent.
3. CGI - I wonder if the drama spends all their money on the special effects in the first half of the drama. Maybe the competition episodes use up all their budget, because in the second half, there are some pretty bad special effects. You can tell the green screen is right behind the actors.
4. Words Disappear - This is very personal and might only bother me. The drama did not give me a chance to fully read all the Chinese characters/sentences on the screen. And this happens not just once or twice. Instead of using a narrator to give an update or epilogue of what happened, the drama flashes these words on the screen so quickly. I tried to pause and read, but that gets annoying and doesn’t always work. I guess I should have turned on English subtitles, because I can read English a lot faster than Chinese.
5. Product Placement - It’s been a while since I watched a C-drama with so much in-your-face product placements. It was funny when they worked it into the advertising of the event, but after a while, these products are just everywhere. I thought I would only come across this level of product placement in a Thai BL.
Overall, this is an interesting drama and I had a pretty good time for most part. But this is definitely not for everyone and I can see many get put off by its humor. I would have given the first half an 8.5 and the second half 7.5 for a lower budget drama. So, an average of 8.0 would be my final rating. I am not sure if season 2 is going to happen, but I don’t think I’ll watch it. I am quite disappointed in the second half and really wish the writing is better.
Other Random Observations:
1. There are times I got confused if I am watching a wuxia drama (historical) or a modern drama.
2. This drama has a very eclectic soundtrack.
3. Peng Yu Chang/Zhang Chu Lan cries a lot!
4. Neo Hou looks so pretty! He can pass for a pretty girl with a nice, long ponytail.
5. So many characters and their signature moves that I get confused sometimes.
Completed: 9/26/2023 - Review #359
Was this review helpful to you?
An uninspired change
The first season of the show was praised not because it had a good story or because of phenomenal acting - because it did not have either- but because the show was simply enjoyable. It was a pure, innocent, light-hearted romantic comedy. The second season, however, tries to make a 180° change and turn this into something resembling a drama. While I often laughed during the first season, during this second season I never even smiled, let alone laugh. The show wants to now rely on the story rather than an "enjoyable feeling", and it fails miserably.Firstly, the show introduces new "turns" every episode but they end never being fully developed . Some of them are simply forgotten and never mentioned again, while others are solved in a matter of minutes.
Secondly, the pacing is terrible : small issues who could be easily solved take up 80% of the show, while big issues that could make up a drama of their own and should strongly affect our characters are simply brushed off after 2-3 minutes. A lot of things are simply left unresolved.
Thirdly, the show becomes way too melodramatic. Every single character in this show has some amazingly overdramatic backstory regarding his/her parents. Not only that but once a character's "parents storyline" has finished, it's like they completely forget what they went through and when their friend/girlfriend/boyfriend has more or less the same problem, they act like idiots, like they have never gone through something similar before. They criticize other characters for doing the exact thing they did a week ago.
Fourthly, the plot is so predictable it hurts. Everything you predict is gonna happen, will 100% happen. And lastly, the ending is terrible - all problems in the show, some of which lasted for the entirety of the 16 episodes are immediately solved with no resistance, without any explination. We are just left to assume it is magic.
To sum the story up : it was so stupid, I simply couldn't care less about what happened to the characters.
And if all of this was not bad enough, by transforming this show in a drama, you also realize how meh (to put it mildy) is the acting. You clearly feel that with the exception of Ji Soo all the actors are either idols or novices - they completely lack emotion during emotional scenes and it is very clear they are reciting a script - it isn't a tiny bit natural. The only good acting in this show comes from Ji Soo.
The soundtrack is decent.
To conclude : the show should have continued with the feeling of the first season. But it did not.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
“There's no need to be perfect to inspire others.”
I recommend watching this if you wanna watch something nice in a short amount of time.All, I could say is that it was good for me.
{Spoiler ahead}
Story:
I though at first, how are they going to make this good with just 4 episodes with the duration of 18 min (maximum)? But it was good. I really like this trope where they have a fake relationship but actually one of them likes the partner or they both like each other but hides it (not for the viewers though) and after some episodes (usually the last), they confess their feelings to each other and founds out that they like each other. I also liked the ending!
Acting/cast or the characters:
I loved Rahee and Howon's insane chemistry and Rahee and Minyeong's friendship. It was good. Rahee's character is annoying at first but at the end, I realized and understand why she is like that. Howon's character was good too, I like it when the ML saves the FL. For Minyeong, I love her, she's always been there for Rahee. I wish I had a friend like her.
Rewatch Value:
You can rewatch this anytime since it is a short length series with just 4 episodes!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So I finally finished You are My Destiny. As most know by now, this was a remake of the 2008 TW drama "Fated to Love You" (also had a 2014 Kdrama remake and apparently a japanese one as well). I personally haven't seen the other remakes, so I can't speak for them. This review will honestly be a lot of comparisons to the original because FTLY honestly is one of my favorite TW classics, so it's really hard for me to not do constant comparing.STORY:
I think personally, I prefer the original story. The story was honestly classic TW drama. Over the top and dramatic, a bit ridiculous at times, and fairly unrealistic even for 2008. BUT all of that said and done, this drama had a charm to it that made me remember it even 12 years later. This remake modernized the story a lot and made it much more realistic and down to earth than the original, but honestly it took away that magic charm that the original had and turned it into basically another standard modern drama.
****SPOILERS****
Main story changes:
THE PREGNANCY:
FTLY was an accidental pregnancy. The leads had no idea who the other was until after the slept together and their getting together was essentially a plot against the male lead.
YMD the two leads accidentally sleep together after a drunken night on a cruise ship. This is one of the biggest changes that I honestly didn't agree with. Obviously it was more realistic, but now you have an accidental situation turned into a guy cheating on his girlfriend and a girl who drunkenly sleeps with a guy she barely knows and becomes a third party in a relationship. Obviously the intention wasn't to harm anyone, but regardless, these two technically had an affair and even though they are both good people, this isn't anything that can be "redeemed" in any way.
-- this change to the story was the hardest for me to accept because in FTLY the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy were completely unwarranted and it was truly no one's fault. In this version, the FL just spends the entire drama feeling guilty - and rightfully so - and it really just made it hard for me to feel sorry for her at some points.
"STICKY NOTE GIRL":
FTLY this was the overall theme of the FL pre-miscarriage. She was basically used and forgotten by everyone in her life. She lived her days doing things and helping others and got NOTHING for it. This was not only in her work life, but also in her family where she was the least appreciated and cared for by her mother. This detail is really what made the ML so important in helping her become stronger and more confident. It also really pushes that change in personality where you see her become a completely different person post-miscarriage.
YMD: The FL is well loved by her mother, she has a great best friend/coworker who stands up for her at work, but yet she's still a "Sticky note" (only for the very beginning and only at work). There was honestly not as much reason for her to be this "sticky note" personality and it again, only really showed in the work place. This really broke down that character development for the FL as in this version, you already see her becoming stronger and more confident (after she joins the ML's company as the assistant to the Director). Then post-miscarriage, she's supposedly changed so much even though really she had already begun changing before she went to Hungary. Meh.
"THE REVEAL (of the truth)"
FTLY - They had this whole set up where the FL talks about what "happened" that day and it's accidentally recorded on camera, which is how the ML finds out about the real truth. It was such an important moment as you really saw everything just click for the ML and he finally understands why the FL ran away from him and was so afraid to be near hin that day. He confronts Anna and then is able to really love the FL without the feeling that he did anything to hurt her back then.
YMD - The "reveal" is just so downplayed. It felt super rushed to me, and then there's really no ending for it. Dylan "tells" Xin Yi the "truth", but XY knows what really happens from Anna's expressions. But he just runs to the airport, where he just so happened to have a copy of the real divorce papers waiting for Jia Xin? Meh. Anna honestly gets no form of retribution for what she did and then the story just ends.
Overall when it comes to the story, again, it is modernized and it's definitely more realistic - but honestly, there are so many modern dramas that are basically the same set up, and now this show becomes one of many.
ACTING:
Most people know that the leads of this show were the OTP in The Eternal Love and that was a huge selling point for this drama. I think honestly everyone loved this pairing so much because the Eternal Love was basically 75% cute romantic moments. This drama was NOT that. It was more focused on the real lives between the two and so it required a lot of actual acting and portraying of emotions. Personally, I think that even though these two have cute chemistry, they are still really young actors, and this drama showed that there's room for improvement.
Shoutout to the side family characters though. The FL's mom, the ML's grandma and aunt, I think were honestly all really good.
******************************
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This drama was ok. It is not my favorite of 2020 and it honestly isn't very memorable to me. But again, I think I had low expectations knowing that it was a remake of one of my favorite TW dramas. If I had never seen the original and watched this one, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more, but again, when you want to remake a famous and classic TV show, you need to be prepared for comparisons to the original.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Love Zeng Hui but this one is a "no thank you"
I am going through all of Zeng Hui's dramas as he is really talented, this is the 4th one I've completed of his.This one unfortunately, is my least favorite so far in regards to the storyline.
Pros: Zeng Hui is of course giving a spectacular performance as usual, he really needs to be casted in proper horizontal dramas as his acting is really amazing.
Cons: (here we go). The storyline is incomplete, I didn't realize this until I watched and I was like "what happened?" I hope they release a part 2 so we can clear everything up and get a happy ending (for a mini vertical series, there shouldn't be a reason to leave the audience hanging). The characters are really subpar. This is the first time I did not like Zeng Hui's ML character. Wanting to be with the FL, expecting her to stay but not being able to give her a future - that be-together-until-bored is not acceptable and I am glad she turned him down at that point. The FL's character is very weak, which makes her prone to getting used and abused. The 2ML was very mysterious so his progression to a villain while expected was very abrupt.
Not a stellar watch, wouldn't recommend this one, but again here for Zeng Hui so plowed through.
Was this review helpful to you?
No, this drama is not a comedy. Is not remotely funny. It's sad. It's beautiful. Makes you feel kindness, and makes you feel hate. Makes you think, more than anything. Because the story makes me so mad! Children, who have hopes and dreams live in a institution without knowing the world beside those walls. And if this sounds awful to start with, we can see that they don't care. Of course they are curious about what is over the walls. But they can be happy, they can smile, they can cry, and they can love. And we think "How can they be happy". Well, they are. And it's amazing to see how cute they all are. They are perfectly normal children, so kind, so human. Suddenly they are told that they are clones, created to be donors. This is awful. This is truly nonhuman. How can we create people so that they would live their entire life surrounded with death and sadness? Because they can't only donate. Before that they will take care of those who already start the donations. This is awful. This is truly, truly horrifying.
I think that this story has so much more than most of people can see. I could see so much beyond the love triangle. AlI of the situations that those 3 have lived were really life lessons. I can see the awful path that humanity is taking (I would not be surprised if this is actually going on somewhere in the world). I could see the moral dilemma and the gratitude that the normal people have for them. I could see that, even after a life knowing that you must do that, you can still be afraid, you can still feel love, you can still scream for help. I could see Kyouko growing up with a tender heart, full of intelligence and kindness. Because in all the bad times she had a positive message to take. She was a great person, so human, so gentle. Because even though you wish to kill Miwa, and you think she was an awful person... Kyouko can see behind that, and made her really happy. You know the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness"? This drama is like that: Everytime you think they will finally be happy... Something breakes your heart a little more.
Manami was more than we knew. She was great character, I would love to see some more episodes with her and the rebels but... This drama is not about it. This is not a happy drama. They don't know what is a happy end.
About the rewatch value... I think that this drama has so much details that we can't see for the first time. I think I will totally watch it again. It's worth it. But not just now.
It's not and easy drama to watch. It's not to "only pass some time" and "just get my mind of my work". Makes you think a lot, feel a lot. It's not only a love story. It's the love story of people who are doomed, and, like any other human, fight with themselves over a doomed life.
I totally recommend it. Hope you enjoy it! :)
Was this review helpful to you?
decent, but needed some serious trimming
give this drama a try if you’re looking for an easy watch. it has a fairly predictable premise, with a girl cross-dressing to keep her life safe. however, the cast did a great job with what they had. i really liked the chemistry between the main four characters, which made their interactions enjoyable. the pacing would've been fine if this series was 12 episodes long. even though the plot wasn’t groundbreaking, it had enough charm to keep me entertained. if you enjoy historical dramas, this one might be worth watching.Was this review helpful to you?
I was honestly just looking for another drama to binge, something simple and light with no dramatic storyline that was difficult to follow, and this drama did an excellent job of fulfilling that. Although (to my pleasant surprise) it was also so much more than that.
Right off the bat you are introduced to Deok Mi, a strong and independent female lead living a double life; part time fan page manager and part time gallery curator. I loved this unique combination and fell deeply in love with her. Park Min-Young does an exceptional job delivering the excitable emotions of a devoted fan, while not playing up the stereotype of fanatic idol fans. One thing that many other reviews have complemented is the chemistry, and I have to agree. The chemistry was AMAZING. I was smiling like an idiot for Doek Mi and Ryan's relationship because it so effortless, natural and hot.
This drama is a great watch for idol fans, you are able to connect to the main lead instantly and are able to understand the happiness she feels when she gets to take a selfie with her bias.
I have to compliment the friendship goals between Seon Joo and Deok Mi. I LOVED ALL OF THEIR SCENES TOGETHER. I also liked Seon Joo's side story that was happening, it showed a different situation in terms of romance as she had a family and I gotta say, I genuinely learned some stuff from her.
Unfortunately, one thing I REALLY wish they didn't do in this drama is have the fate trope. It was only revealed in the last 2 episodes, though foreshadowing via dreams was included in earlier episodes. When the two leads already have amazing chemistry and the audience is already sold on the fact that this is the perfect couple, shoving the fate trope down our throats felt so unnecessary and incredibly boring to watch, especially if you've seen the same thing in multiple other dramas. The only positive thing I can say is that it definitely hits you in the feels (but like in a 'you may almost cry' kinda way) and you get to see the relationship begin to form between Ryan and Deok Mi's moms, as well as the anticipated art exhibition. ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND WATCHING THE LAST 2 EPS UNLESS YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW THE LOOSE STRINGS GET TIED UP.
Another thing I personally dislike in dramas is when a brother-like figure is the second male lead. It feels uncomfortable and you have to watch a period of time when the main female lead and "brother" have an awkward relationship with each other until they sort it out. Luckily the whole second male lead thing wasn't played up too much here and they fairly quickly resolve the awkwardness. Although it did feel very unnecessary (especially because as I mentioned, the chemistry between the Deok Mi and Ryan was so undeniable).
It also gave off a few of "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" Vibes but I wouldn't let that stop you from watching it, in fact I would use that as a reason to watch it. Kinda like secretary kim upgraded?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This show has become one of my favorites and I highly recommend it. There was so much to like. Good story line, the interaction between the characters and a good ending (though a wedding would of been nice) rather then the soft endings seen in many Kdramas where the viewer is left hanging, meaning the viewer isn’t given closure. The supporting cast was good. I’ve become a fan of Kim Mi-Kyung who plays Sung Deok-Mi’s mother.I like how the male and female lead characters stayed with each other throughout the entire show. No painful brake ups and separations.
Was this review helpful to you?
2-Storyline/Plot : At first i thought that the story of the movie is going to make me love it since it have 5 diffrent love stories in summer but i was wrong i end up hating it, i usually fall for movies with numerous stories but this movie's story wasn't that good it was fair not the kind of story that will grasp your attention from the first moment.
3-Acting/Cast : the only strength point in this movie; it got some great actors that knows how to deliver feelings.
4-Music : i don't actually remember it so it got to be that bad.
5-Rewatch value : i couldn't stand watching it once and kept skipping some parts how about rewatching it i must be crazy if i do so.
6-The ending : the kind of ending that everyone want to see, i was expecting it anyway so there isn't much to tell about it because i hate it when i expect the ending and it turn out to be the same as my expectations. I was hoping that they will surprise me or something yet what i was anticipating actually happened.
7-Overall : i won't say watch it or not because that's up to you but if you're bored and looking for a movie to cheer up please avoid this movie, i really regret wasting my time on; it so not worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Divide and conquer.
Qin Empire 2 or Qin Alliance on Netflix is about Ying Si or King Huiwen of Qin who reigned from 338-311 BC. More than a century later, Ying Zheng or Qin Shihuangdi succeeded in unifying the Warring States(221 BC). In an interesting parallel, Ying Si was the first of the Dukes of Qin to name himself 王/Wang or King. His more well known descendent subsequently declared himself 皇帝/Huangdi or Emperor. I watched this out of order after completing Qin Dynasty Epic, which is Ying Zheng's story and the final installation of this four part series that doesn't have to be watched in order. This review is going to be short as there is an excellent comprehensive review by @Skibbies. I will try to avoid repetition and focus on incremental observations, especially on how this differs from the final season.What is most striking is that Ying Si really had it hard. When he came into power at eighteen, his father's clan and advisors were not fully behind him. And the Qin state was not especially powerful and existed in imminent danger of being swallowed by one of the other Warring States. Survival, much less ascendency was by no means a foregone conclusion. But Ying Si was a true conqueror - cunning, shrewd and utterly ferocious. Fu Dalong's masterful performance captures the remarkable indomitable spirit of the character and the sheer enormity and necessity of the task in front of him. This makes Ying Zheng, though so much more renown in history, seem like a lesser conqueror by comparison. For by then, Qin was already a superpower where the outcome was already inevitable.
The best parts of this drama are about how with the aid of his advisor and lifelong friend Zhang Yi, Ying Si was able to prevent five states from forming an alliance against Qin. They did this by some brilliantly crafted divide and conquer strategies that involved trickery, diplomacy and outright brutal and bloody warfare. Even though I was moved by Ying Si's deep relationship with Zhang Yi, I detested all of the so called genius strategists in this show, including Zhang Yi. I just could not stand their arrogance and sense of intellectual snobbery and how vile and evil these turds of history were. Their loyalty is not to king and country but can be bought by whoever could give them the most chess pieces to play with with little respect for the sanctity of life. To them, war is just a giant chess board where they can showcase their talent to the world. In the end Ying Si prevailed over all of them not because Zhang Yi was smarter or more loyal but because for Ying Si it was a battle for survival won by blood and sacrifice. His army would have gone to the ends of the earth for him because even while he took them to victory and glory, he truly felt the loss of and grieved for his fallen soldiers.
Even though I am sure it is heavily romanticized, I loved the portrayal of Ying Si's passionate and tempestuous relationship with the wild and wanton Empress Mi. What a woman! She lived life large, loved and hated and was at the end the bravest most loyal custodian of Ying Si's legacy. The drama lost momentum for me after Ying Si's death but the final two episodes where Empress Mi was both ruthless and compassionate at the same time ends this on a strong note.
While this production looks dated and lacks the aesthetic and cinematic appeal compared to more recent historical dramas, the acting of the main characters is top notch. The telling of the story overall, especially in the art of war is well done, not overly complex or difficult to follow. I could have done without knowing so much about Zhang Yi's personal life but there were some decent moments. This an 8.5 for me largely because I cannot praise enough how Fu Dalong's Ying Si is unforgettable and everything a Qin conqueror should be.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
One big problem I stepped on was the repetitiveness and slow progress of the story.
Was this review helpful to you?
Temptation of the Wife of Heirs Over Flowers
12 people found this review helpful
Yes waiter, I'd like every single dramaland cliché on my plate please...
I'm shocked that no one wrote a review for this absolutely amazing, show-stopping, one of a kind, beautiful masterpiece. It is an utter disgrace.My overdramatic self aside, I do believe everyone who has seen any of the titles that comprise of the name and plot for this one NEEDS to see this! Even if you haven't seen any of the titles this drama (yes, I believe this has earned the right to be considered that) parodies, you should still definitely check it out. Whether you're a fan of Monsta X or not, you will definitely find yourself laughing to no end.
STORY: I personally think it's genius how despite parodying the living heck out of multiple dramas, the story and characters still seem to have some individuality of their own, which is huge considering how quite a few proper dramas lack in this aspect. The ladies especially, take the cake here.
ACTING/CAST: Yoo Kihyun shines and is absolutely gorgeous as the naive, yet well meaning female lead Yeo Joo. He looks stunning in dresses and I really want him to act in the future. Im Changkyun (I.M) however, takes the cake in terms of acting. Portraying the evil mother of our bumbling yet somehow super cool male lead Nam Joo (Shownu), I.M shines and steals every single scene he's in. Definitely deserves a lot more recognition. Of course the rest of our cast, Joo Heon, Min Hyuk, Won Ho, and Hyung Won did well with their respective roles too.
MUSIC: There was tons of music, from classics to Monsta X's own discography, and it was cleverly placed, adding to the comedy.
Rewatch Value: I never really rewatch anything. But this I definitely will, anytime, anywhere.
Overall: I treated this like a parody of a serious review because this deserves that much attention and more! Definitely watch it if you have 30 minutes to spare. You will surely not regret this!
Was this review helpful to you?
