Why? As the five characters slowly investigate among themselves the truth behind the death of their gravure idol during her 1 year memorial anniversary, they unfold each other's personal lives and connection with the dead idol. During this time, they are all cooped up in a small apartment formulating reasons as to what really happened before and during the time of their idol's death.
If you think this is a boring film, well watch the movie and think again. This isn't your average film full of talk, mystery and well… more talk. This is one of those films that would make you scratch your head in the beginning, then seat straight-look-forward-to-screen in the middle and finally say "So that's what happened" in the end.
Its very entertaining to watch not that their acting was over the top, it was simply perfect. Every character portrayed themselves so well. The way they analyzed each other, puzzled things together and draw a conclusion to each scenario... it was very smart and witty. There were flashbacks to give a better visual of the scenarios they come up with and that definitely helped in building up the story and make the unfolding of the mystery more fun. I give kudos to the writer of this movie who made everything interesting.
Cinematography wise, it wasn't much since the focus is more on each characters who are talking inside a small room and as for the music I wasn't able to remember it much but it did somehow help as a background to build up the mood of the film.
Recommending this to those who like watching films which are more on the conversation side with mystery and comic relief on the side lines. BTW, there's no other film that I could compare it with since I think… it is one of a kind.
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This review may contain spoilers
ONE OF THE BEST SERIES IN 2021 [MAYBE SO FAR!]
I just completed watching ATOTS yesterday and i was like crying like a baby 😭😭🥺 like it does have a happy ending but still the fact that this series ended made me cry more 🥺 .This was such a beautiful series out there with the reality facing. Cuz love is not all about lust and sex but far more a real love is all about acceptance of each other and being together as far as you can.This series is all about facing the reality not just about lovr but also other problems out there and realising their true self.
Cuz everyone just think that gay/lesbians always look on to making out and not about the reality in front of them. But here they just faced it together and we can see that phu[earth] is a realistic person who tries to wake tian if he is just in a fantasy world.
And coming to the cast EVERYONE each and everyone did a great job like everything was so perfect.Mix as a new actor made such a great acting that actually no one can believe that it is his first acting on the screen. If you guys just go through the official page of GMMTV in YouTube you can see the bts of ATOTS and how much risk did the mix had taken to become the TIAN we see in the screen. He just risked a lot.
And about EARTH as we all knw he is not a starter but to me this series will be the most recognizable role for him as an actor that may just changed his all profile just before.A leading role that got more attention than the water boy role. His character as PHUPHA is not a flirty but such a mature guy [ but changed in front of love in the end😂😍]was a reasonable and perfect guy that anyone could fall for. He did this role so perfect.
And all other cast like khatong,drake,kids, white and all others who lived in pha phan dhao mountain made this story more realistic that even we can feel like we are among them.
And about the OST! It will really give you that cold feel of pha phan dhao mountain whenever you hear it 😍😍. Such a worthy drama and let's wish one day they can make a Season 2😍.
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P.S: I actually dropped this show several times in the first couple of episodes because it was perhaps a bit too goofy for me, though I really started to feel invested around episode 3 when the leads start to connect more.
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What I loved most about Ji Sung's performance is that Dr. Cha is often very poker-faced and hard to read, and when he was emotional it was usually very subtle where just a simple look from him, or tap of his finger, could break my heart, or get me excited. He is matched with Lee Se Young as Dr. Kang Shi Yeong, who is pretty young in comparison, so I wasn't sure if they would match well or have any chemistry. I was definitely wrong about that and she was often great at matching his subtle intensity and definitely held her own in all of their scenes together. This is less of a cute romantic pairing and more about watching two people inspire each other to be better. I really enjoyed how they worked together and complimented each other.
As for the rest of the cast, there are supporting characters that I loved and others that were a little annoying. I absolutely loved the team of doctors in the Pain unit, especially Hwang Hee as Dr. Lee Yoo Joon (aka the poor man's Gong Yoo). It felt as if I was actually watching a team bond and come together. On the flip side, I was much less interested in characters like Nurse Chae and prosecutor Son Suk Ki. I thought their story was interesting and resolved well, and I did empathize with them initially, but eventually, their actions became way too repetitive for me to continue to care. A large part of the "mystery" in this story revolves around them and they became my least favorite part of the story. I did like how the story took its time in revealing what was happening, but I wished some parts weren't dragged out for so long once things were revealed, especially in the later episodes. The last few episodes were definitely the weakest.
What I surprisingly did like a lot were the random stories of patients. They were extremely interesting, and their diagnosis was like solving mini-mysteries. Some moments are a little graphic, but never without reason. Many of them also stuck to the show's main themes about what the role of doctors can/should be and the more controversial topic of euthanasia. All of the stories are handled with respect and without heavy-handed judgment, which I think is what makes this show so thought-provoking. Maybe that's why I liked it more than I usually like other hospital dramas.
Would I watch this again? Yes, I can see myself watching this again, although I may be tempted to just skip past a few parts. Some of the mystery would definitely be gone, but it's still entertaining enough to hold my interest. I also think the soundtrack generally complimented this drama well.
Overall, I think this is a great drama to watch, even if you're not into medically-based stories because the mystery element makes it all more entertaining. The love story feels real, although it may not satisfy fans who like a strong focus on romance. It's at times heartbreaking, and frustrating, but also inspiring. The patient's stories are strong enough to override the weak hospital rivalry stories, but overall the hospital atmosphere also felt very real. I am curious about the book this is loosely based on, but I think this drama definitely stands on its own. I also don't understand why Cha translates to "John" but no matter what you call him Ji Sung nailed the role! This is yet another drama that won't be added to my favorites list, but I can't deny what this drama does well and that I am glad I watched it. By the end, I felt good, without there being an extra cheesy feel-good resolution. If you don't think you have a high threshold for dramas like this, give this one a chance, and you may be surprised like I was. I prescribe at least 4 episodes of Dr. John before making a decision. Just like this drama's themes show repeatedly, you can't always go by your first impression, and Dr, John definitely deserves a chance to really be seen, especially if you are a Ji Sung fan. If you're not, I suspect you'll become one after watching!
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She was responsible and kind but not someone you can easily just step on.
I Just watched The King's Avatar and Go Go Squid and had previously watched Love o2o, although they are different there are certain similarities (well, they mostly have the same themes LOL) I think this perfectly filled the lack of romance from the king's avatar, a better leading lady from go go squid and as sweet as the love story of Xiao Nai and Wei Wei.
The entire drama is cute and a definite "feel good" kind of drama. It'll make you laugh, cry and jump in joy. There were ups and downs but it the time that I spent on watching this was definitely worth it.
This drama introduced Yibo to me so, Kudos!
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This review may contain spoilers
favorite drama
I started Meet Yourself only because of Liu Yi Fei and at first I wasn‘t sure if a Slice of Life drama with 40 Episodes could be good and not turn out super boring but I was totally worried for nothing. This drama is perfect, was everything I could every hoped for, a masterpiece with a good overall plot, many interesting side stories and full of likable characters. This is now my favorite C-Drama I ever watched.Liu Yi Fei she is one of my favorite chinese actresses and I was so expected about her new drama, Hong Dou was made for her, she was amazing and became one of my Top 3 favorite FL.
It was my first drama with Li Xian but surely not my last. Xie Zhi Yao is husband goals, he was sich a caring ML, I loved it.
They are such a perfect couple, healthy relationship with the best Communication!
Favorite side character is Damai, I adored her from the start. I found her story also really interesting, she went from hiding in her room to have a amazing friends group that support each other. The friendship between Hong Dou, Damai and Nana was also my favorite! Loved that trio.
All the grannies were also highlights and made this drama so special.
If this place would be real I would move there myself.
Highly recommend this amazing drama!!
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This gives you the best of Yoom Eun Hye. Actually, it made me huge fan of her. A thin girl, with no makeup and short hair made her the cutest boy on the planet. Though, the girl disguised as a boy plot, is ancient but this drama adds a new charm to it. Gong Yoo did amazing as the lead. His character left an imprint on me. I have not dared to watch him in any other drama due to the only reason that I want him to remember as Manager Choi of Coffee Prince.
The chemistry between the pair is worth dying for. As for music, I was so busy watching Eun Hye, I hardly remember.
Others characters also add to the awesomeness of the drama. You just can't stop after Episode One. It gives you the warmest feeling ever.
P.S. You'll drink twice as much coffee as now, after watching this.
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I started this drama this on a whim and boy, am I glad I did. Ever since I started watching this I couldn't stop; I found myself binge-watching. Spectacularly done. Now let's get into this review.
STORY:
Warning: By no means is this drama full of fluff and such. If that's what you're looking for then find yourself elsewhere. If, however, you are willing to take up the challenge of not breaking your computer/phone/tablet screen due to your anger, then this is the drama for you. This drama is all about ENDURANCE. Yes, endurance. You'll definitely need that for this drama. There are points in this drama where it will be tested. Trust me.
First off, I don't think people should be intimidated by the amount of episodes. It's going to have you so hooked you won't even know how fast the episodes are passing.
There is something I learnt in school when giving critiques about something or someone - 'Sandwich Critiques. You start good, mention the bad in the middle and then end good. That way, overall, it'll sound good and make people feel like they did good. I think this could have also applied to this drama. Give us some good, some bad in the center and then some more good at the end. But No. This drama didn't want to. From the beginning it was throwing stones at ya! BAM! BAM! BAM! One thing after the other. It seemed as though that things were just not meant to go the right way and things just went from bad to worse to 'worse-er' (if you'll allow me :D).
Of course it couldn't be all bad. We had an amazing ball of sunshine: Im Ha-Yoon. What a cupcake. We also had our side couples who would give us some laughs before we went back to the battle feel.
This drama really was a beast in some ways. But be not afraid, there is a nice pot of gold awaiting you at the end of the rainbow :). Satisfying!
P.S This drama will just make you fall head-over-heels for Gun-Woo. This man's devotion is no joke! *Faints* Perfectly perfect (too bad he only exists in a drama)
ACTING
Honestly, I don't think they could have picked a better cast for this drama. This is my first time meeting Lee Yoon Ji and I must say, she made me fall in love with her acting. She did a great job portraying the character. And boy! Can this girl cry or what? Her crying came so naturally for her - it was amazing. I'm sure after she was finished with this drama she had no tears to cry for a year. HAHA! As for our handsome man Son Seung Won - handsome indeed. Another oppa to be added to my already larger-than-life list! He's relatively new to acting and he hasn't had any main roles before this drama, but I think he did pretty good. And this was a long ass drama so yeah, 'pretty good' in an understatement. Kim Mi-Kyung, this ajumma that's everywhere tsk. I love her. I've only ever know her as a good person, so seeing her acting this evil was a punch to the gut for me. BUT she was so amazing in her role. I respect her. GO! Kim Mi-Kyung! This was also my first time seeing Lee Ha Yul in action very handsome. Not my first time with Ha Yun Joo; very pretty. They just had to play the bad role though, didn't they... Nevertheless, very convincing.
Shout out to the supporting roles. Honestly, without them this drama would have been as cheerful as a graveyard, if you get what I'm saying. They provided lots of laughs and peace to soothe the aching hearts of not only the main characters but the audience as well.
All in all, everyone did an amazing job. They made you feel all the suffering, anger and joy along with them.
MUSIC
Honestly, I don't know. Was there any music in this? Hmmm. There was?! Oh, my bad. I was a bit too indulged in the drama to notice it. Yes, that's how bad I was.
Other Notes
Honestly, I really wanted to see more of Myung-Sun and Gwang-Soo. They were my sunshine in this drama. Too funny. ALSO! HOW! How could they not show us Myung-Sun's daughter at the end?! WHY? Why did you do this to me. An interaction with Gwang-soo and his daughter was much need....for me at least. I was so looking forward to that. :(
Also I felt like there were a few loose ends in this drama. But nothing much to worry about. Overall, it was great! Now. On to my next drama. Bye~
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What's better than having Won Bin star in a film? Having him perform alongside Shin Ha Kyun. The two are chameleon actors with a lot of chemistry (no doubt from previously working together on Guns and Talks); they really seemed like brothers despite looking nothing alike. Many viewers will relate to Won Bin's Jong Hyun, especially if they've ever felt their parent has played favorites. He's the more human of the two brothers, delinquent, rude, and jealous...but also loving and inwardly kind. It's a complex part that I lost Won Bin in; I totally forgot it was him for the longest time despite his unique look.
Shin Ha Kyun's Sung Hyun is something of a saint in comparison; he's sweet, smart, perpetually patient, the beloved son. Despite the fact this is also how Jong Hyun jealously sees him, Sung Hyun suffers a lot too. He was born with a harelip and never has an easy time of anything, even establishing a good relationship with his younger brother. Shin is fresh-faced and subtle here, a perfect foil to Won Bin's dynamic performance.
Unfortunately, My Brother will not be to everyone's tastes. The music was nothing special and, as mentioned before, the story is slow. So this is not a re-watch friendly movie; once you've seen it, there's nothing to go back for unless the interaction between the leads impressed you. The one time you do see it is definitely worth it though.
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Perfect Summer Film
I was so happy when I heard about this film being part of the Nippon Connection line-up. Honestly, everything about this film is so much fun. I love the pace, the acting, the music and I adore the passion these kids have. The dialogues are natural and fun. This is the perfect summer film with quite an unconventional ending. I'm looking forward to the future projects of the director and the cast too. Something that really surprised me is how the director could mix a lot of genres without making it a chaotic mess. This is truly a film for everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Wholesome fluff, top-tier chemistry, and the destiny trope done right.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the destiny trope Apple My Love gave us. Another unique GL trope in the bag.From Kris's horrendous self expression skills, the show dives into sweet, simple moments that do exactly what they’re supposed to: make you smile and feel warm.
Kris’s friends? Absolute gems. They’re supportive, adorable, and might just be the best friend group in any GL ever. And let’s give props to OrmFolk because they are straight-up masters of fluff. The sweet and flirty scenes were so good they carried the show, making the simple plot feel exciting and fun. Kris and Karn’s chemistry was top-tier in every soft moment. Even the love scenes were a pleasant surprise.
Kris’s character development was a slow burn, but it worked. You could see her putting in real effort to grow, not just for herself but for Karn too. And the guys in this show? Surprisingly great. Except for that one jerk (looking at you, Toy), the men were actually helpful and even funny, making the show even more entertaining. They represented healthy, supportive relationships which is refreshing.
At its core, this show isn’t about big, dramatic conflicts (except for the last episode). Instead, it’s about Kris and Karn facing hurdles in their relationship and helping each other grow, both as people and in their careers. The communication and understanding between them are what really stand out.
So, if you’re looking for a show with minimal drama, tons of fluff, cares about its side characters, and a genuinely healthy relationship, this is your go-to. It’s a feel-good, stress-free, easy watch that will leave you smiling.
The downside? Six episodes weren’t enough. Budget restrictions led to rushed pacing of the most interesting and lovable details in this series in the last two episodes. With more time, this could’ve been even better.
Trigger warnings: Hetero sex scenes.
2024 GL Ranking: https://mydramalist.com/list/Ln8MOBO4
My Top 10 GLs of All Time: https://mydramalist.com/list/4vGQqnb1
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Deng Kai are you being forced to act against your will. If you need help, wear a yellow shirt.
Hello once again, sexy.I think many of you would agree, that a spiceless Deng Kai drama is a travesty of justice. Maybe some of you are not here for Deng Kai, you are here to watch something whimsical and cute. If so, then I love that for you, and maybe you should watch this.
But I am not here to watch something whimsical and cute. No. I am here because I watched Qi Min *literally chain his woman to himself*, and it fried my motherboard. I used to have a functioning brain. But not anymore. Maybe you think people with this level of brain damage should not be reviewing shows. Yet here we are.
I am not alone. Millions of us have Deng Kai brain damage. And if you also suffer from the same debilitating condition that I suffer from, then this review is for you.
Maybe you don't think it's reasonable to harbor deep-seated resentment and bitterness at a producer who, when blessed by the heavens for actually managing to book Deng Kai as the ML for your show, then proceeds to squander his talent and sexiness with goofy sound effects and poorly executed kiss scenes. But I do. And as such, I shall now channel that bitterness into mercilessly ripping apart this drama. Because this is NOT how you treat a gorgeous Deng Kai. It was blatant Deng Kai abuse. And I must vent my anger.
So once again, we have a bad stylist who covered him in BB cream and face powder, and smeared purple eyeshadow under his eyes and gave him a dark berry shade of lip color. Don't get me wrong, I like the vampy vibes it gives. But come ON, stylist. Dear stylist. Are you really that disrespectful, that you made up one of the hottest stars in China without even looking at his other shows. ***Too much powder ages Deng Kai by 10 years on the screen!!!*** I thought we all knew this by now. You have to go LIGHT on his powder. His skin is flawless and delicate, and he works long hours. He needs to be hydrated and his skin's oil balance needs to be RESPECTED. And yet you caked him in powder, that's a desiccant! Why don't you just wrap him in parcel paper and sand between episodes while you're at it! At this point I don't understand why overpowdering Deng Kai is not an arrestable offense.
The kissing. Is just not there. Now on this one, I give it somewhat of a pass. Because it's nice to think that Deng Kai isn't some cheap thrill like Jesse Ren, or some playa like Yan Zi Xian, and he can't summon that fire energy for just any FL he happens to be in front of. So let's just say this FL is no Snow Kong, and leave it at that. But it was also a fail on the part of the producers who apparently were dead set on making this one of those "clown-honking, rubber ducky squeaking, cartoon sound effect" dramas. JUST WHY. And don't even get me started on the dubbing. Everyone on the sound team should have been pre-fired before the show even started filming. Is that on the sound team for being inept? NO, that's on the producer for not stopping it from happening.
The script. Are we REALLY turning this in the last episodes into Confession Followed By Random Fireworks, and Running Barefoot On The Beach Holding Hands And Laughing. Really. Oh, and you want kisses in the back half of the drama? Aaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, that's a good one. Yeah no that's not happening. No, they just gonna continue to shove bad plot down your throat like dry toast with no butter.
Short-length supporting cast is short-length supporting cast. No surprises here. Nothing but mid as far as the eye can see. Great job, casting director, you've really outdone yourself.
But honestly... props to the evil father's mistress who still showed up to the set every day despite that nasty case of conjunctivitis.
And that's all I have to say about THAT.
6.5/10
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Story: First, everything about the drama after the first sentence of the synopsis is misleading. In fact it just gives a summary of the main female characters background (everything that happens to her before the time that the drama takes place). Everything that happened during the dramas run was so unpredictable, which I never expect from family themes dramas. I don’t want to give anything away but be prepared for a ton of drama. What I liked most about it though was the fact that the writers balanced the funny scenes with the emotional stuff really well. I laughed a lot in the beginning but by the last few episodes towards the end it gets pretty heavy making me shed many tears. I just wanted to add that there is romance in this but its very subtle and not the focal point of the story. The ending is sad, happy, and hopeful all in one if that makes sense.
Actors/Cast: This was an ensemble cast where all the characters get a chance to shine even if they only had small roles. When it comes to the 2 female leads, I had never seen anything they had acted in before but wow you can tell they are veterans. They gave powerful performances. Anyone who has ever heard of Shin Hyun Joon (Stairway to Heaven, Cain and Abel, Bridal Mask) will know what an amazing (and underrated in my opinion) actor he is but wow his character in this was so unexpectedly different than any of his characters. As for the supporting cast, they made their characters memorable and the villains did a tremendous job of me hating them but also feeling pity for them by the end.
Music: They did a pretty good job with matching the changing tone of the show.
Rewatch: I will rewatch this one day sometime soon but not right away cause this drama is pretty heavy.
Overall Dummy Mommy is an unexpected but heartwarming and enjoyable must watch family drama.
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3 Friends dealing with life and death
Made me cry almost as much as crash landing on you! It’s a really touching, light, but heavy at the same time story of three best friends dealing with friendships, family, love, life and death. They did such a beautiful job writing the scenes, from beginning to end, it was very emotional in both good and bad ways. The character of Mi Jo might make other feel like it was written too dramatic and unrealistic. And I agree, she cried A LOT. But I feel like they portraid her anxiety fairly well (I can say this, having ptsd and anxiety myself). The character of Chan Young was written beautifully! The character of Joo Hee was balanced but felt a bit lacking in the story. It was focused a bit more on Mi Jo and Chan Young. I do recommend for everyone wanting to watch a kdrama.Was this review helpful to you?
