This review may contain spoilers
Profoundly brilliant - what manner of man is this ɿ(･ه･)ɾ
WOW ... . this was a deep and mind blowingly good movie!! It reminded me a little of Blank 13. I thought I was going to watch a bit of a mystery but it turned out to be so much more than the mystery of a dead man's back story. It literally was an existential 'man hunt' ... a hunt for what it is that defines a man ... a person ... a hunt for identity.This was not apparent to me at first. The movie moved slowly and I wondered why are they going so slow ... hurry up and get to the juicy mystery bits. Then it jumped some years ... and then there were flashbacks ... and I was wondering what the point of it all was ... and then it hit me ... this was not just about "a" man hunt ... but a multiple man hunt and not just for the men but for their identities, both from an external point of view and an internal point of view. The movie then became entirely fascinating for me ... nothing was irrelevant ... the script was so good it allowed a gloriously deep dive into the existential ﾟ:･*･:◝(ᵔ‿ᵔ)◜:*:･ﾟ.
"Identity' ... in one sense it is such a concrete thing and yet in another sense, it is elusive and ever evolving ... before we are even born we are automatically assigned an identity:
▪ identity from genetics of your biological parents
▪ identify from the time of your birth e.g. before/after marriage; the year / month / day
▪ identity from the order of your birth compared to your siblings ... even the order of birth of your parents in the broader family context
▪ identity from the geographical place of birth ... even the place of birth of your ancestors e.g. born in Japan but your great grandparents were Korean ...
▪ identity from race
▪ identify from culture
▪ identity from your gender
▪ identity from social institutions e.g. the school you went to, the religion you have, the occupation you have; the clubs you belong to; the music you listen to; the hobbies you have
▪ identity from your physical body - the 'perfectness' of it or the 'imperfectness' of it; who/what you look like ... I am the splitting image of my father ... you look like a Korean etc
▪ identity from your state of mind - sane / not sane; smart; stupid;
▪ identity from what your parents do/are - son of a murderer, daughter of a prostitute, son of a doctor etc
▪ identity from where you live, what you wear, the food you eat
▪ identity from your experiences - parenthood; singleness; military service etc
▪ the identity that others assign to you - "hurry up and go back to your 'old self'"
▪ the identity that you think you are ... or should be ... or want to be ...
"Identity" ... so abstract and yet it is such a very heavy thing ... a blessing in its inclusiveness and yet also a weapon of separation and destruction ... something innate and yet something thrust upon you without consent ... what choice do you have with it ... how much of it can you mold and how much of it do you just have to accept as is ... can you escape from it and thereby escape to a different way of life, a different way of being ... how many times have we modified our personality throughout our lives without even knowing ... how did we do that ... is it necessarily a bad thing (˙_˙)ゞ.
I loved the scripting ... as well as the symbolic imagery used throughout ... and the clues that were set up right from the beginning. I liked the different perspectives of a person's identity given from the children to the adults, to friends and family of the main characters ... even to that of strangers. It was very nicely done and the actors did it credit. The scripting was so loaded ... so mind blowingly good. For me this movie is definitely rewatchable. As for the score ... I got so consumed with the story line and all the thoughts that that generated in my mind, I don't even remember the score of the movie ... but I gave it a 10 anyway because whatever it was, it did not detract from the story line at all.
The final scene showing Kido's back as he looked at that painting ... profound. A brilliant movie ... I loved it.
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This review may contain spoilers
A muddled message weighed down by K-drama traps; yet, it still manages to stay strong
It seems the world of the anti-hero is here to stay. In K-dramas, 2021 has served up a cornucopia of Batmanesque stories with some of the big splashes being Vincenzo, Taxi Driver, and now The Devil Judge. Out of them, The Devil Judge is very much the winner, even if Vincenzo is more pure in its anti-heroism. Both Taxi Driver and The Devil Judge are honestly just revenge stories, which of course have been churned out non-stop by Hollywood lately. While Vincenzo is the story of a man who slowly gets pulled into other characters plights, until he takes up the mantle of responsibility, thus actually following the classic hero's journey. Oddly, The Devil Judge does have this same journey, it's just not the tale of whom the show calls the Devil.Quickly, the BASIC synopsis of The Devil Judge:
A newly appointed judge ( attractive every-man Park Jin Young) is placed as one of a triumvirate panel on a live broadcast, viewers vote in, major crime trials television show in an alternate modern day Korea. Once there, he finds himself caught in a political cat and mouse game being played by the charismatic and enigmatic central judge (Ji Sung showing how to be thrilling in a role while not going overboard). As plots unfold and more light is shown on the world around our new appointee, he finds himself confronted with traumas from his past that threaten his ideologies on what makes one a good man and if the law is truly just.
Yet, even though this is the synopsis, it is the central judge character that leads the show as if he is Gatsby to our protagonists Nick. The revenge plot of TDJ begins with Ji Sung and only pulls Park Jin Young in later and, I argue, is what ultimately causes the story to come-up short. While some heavy themes are layered into the 16 episodes covering current day crises such as virus outbreaks, vaccine practices, isolationist political leaders, racism, ethnocentrism, government corruption, fearmongering and wealth elitism, the story only deals with these issues because they are perpetrated by the same group of evil doers that our judges are seeking revenge against.
That is, the show seems to want to cover lofty ideas like changing the system, cleaning house, and bettering the world. All things we can get behind as viewers. But, it only brings them up and uses them as means of blackmailing or trapping those that selfishly escaped a fire ten years prior. The fire being the true evil act and not the long list of atrocities above. It makes TDJ come off as small. While we are dealing with presidents, ministers, and conglomerate owning villains who align in an almost Illuminati type power group, we are only after them cause they hurt the judge's family.
Also, as the TDJ makes these societal moral judgements it does so while allowing homophobia. In a scene where a punishment is handed down to a sex offender, the society-which votes for castration (Yep), is appeased when our Judge instead shows video inside of a Texas Prison for sex offenders and slides down a cell block where all the men make sexually suggestive remarks, kisses, and say they can't wait for the convicted to come join them. The courtroom erupts with applause and you hear people shout they knew the court wouldn't let them down when it came to a punishment, and our criminal all but faints saying he won't go.
Because yes, going to a prison with gay people is as bad if not worse than being castrated. Really? Note it wasn't a South Korean Prison because Koreans don't do the gay stuff that's over in the west....it was quite distasteful and caused me to pause. Remember this was done by our heroes and not the villains.
As for these villains, for a K-Drama, most are actually well portrayed. The two female villains steal the evil throne. Both being vicious, powerful, and one of which is the only evil doer of the bunch who gets their hands dirty. The male villains are much more average and mostly forgettable. That is except our good o'l Mr. President played by Baek Hyun Jin. Mr. Baek ends up falling into cartoon over-the-top territory. He chews up every scene he is in with eye roll worthy antics, that yes are based on the USA 's Donald Trump, and are just as grating. While one could argue, that was what he was supposed to do, IF you have seen Taxi Driver, you will find this EXACT SAME VILLAIN there just as a CEO instead of a PRESIDENT. Range and nuance are not on display here, which is a true pity, considering The President's character is written in a way that could have made him a truly terrifying enemy. His lust for stardom and power sends us and him on a totalitarian power grab that includes a bit of genocide. But the show always turns him into a clown instead of letting us actually fear him.
Now as I have mentioned, two of the villains are women, and they make up half of the females on display that matter. Here the program, like most K-Dramas fails its females. While, yes the BEST of the evil doers are women, that is just it, powerful women have always been portrayed in media BUT always as the villains. When we move to our two counterparts on the good side, they fair little more than a sacrificial love interest and a sidelined judge who quickly becomes the "softer side of Sears" for the televised trial program. Her role is to cry, look pretty, and be liked. Something she is happy to do as long as she is a judge fighting along side the dreamy (picture on her desk) Ji Sung.
As for our love interest, she only shows up when she needs to be there for our main male lead. Her life has been about following him around and taking care of him and even asking him to be her guy 5 times over and all 5 times him turning her down. But she still always shows up vigilant as ever in waiting. She does get the most rewarding slap to someone's face and gets to utter "Don't ever show your face to me again," in one of the strongest scenes of the series, but this strength comes with a steep price paid very soon after.
As for our male leads, the show mostly shines. From the get go Ji Sung's Yo Han is mesmerizing and terrifying. Intense, forceful, relentless, and yes beautiful, the interest he shows in our protagonist is intoxicating. That is as long as he is not theatrically grand standing in the televised trail room. Yo Han quickly establishes that he is not a good guy, but he is fighting the good fight. Flat out stating he does and will continue to do illegal acts to get what he wants because he has a goal and plan and everyone is either part of his solution or part of his problem. The character is layered with his own childhood trauma, that is further exacerbated by the aforementioned Great Church fire of 10 years past, and then burned in his skin (crucifix style) by the hate of the only people today that he has any inkling of caring. Yet, the greatest side of his character is the relationship that blooms between Yo Han and Ga On.
This relationship quickly becomes a homoerotic bromance with brotherly trimmings. Any novice YouTuber could make one of those 2 min BL videos to music without even trying with the scenes the show delivers. From staring longingly out of windows as the other frolics in the sun, redressing of wounds as one cowers over being topless, intense stares and shoulder crumpling embraces...yeah its all there. Except its all because Ga On looks like his dead older brother, which is never explained except for mere coincidence. Remember the homophobia I talked about earlier, just bringing it up again cause the show has let us know where it stands here. So now lets go back and basically have these two fall in love with each other....no homo.
Park Jin Young's Ga On is a bit more to chew on. The character is written extremely flawed, and honestly if I were asked to pick which one is the Devil, I would actually pick Ga On. You see, the Devil thinks he is right, and righteous, and is actually liberating heaven and the world from a tyrannical God. The Devil doesn't see the evil in himself. This is Ga On.
Yo Han sees his evil and knows his evil but honestly believes the means justify the end. Ga On is given to the audience as a noble bright eyed moral judge, and he believes himself this. When he begins questioning the world and himself after he falls under the thrall of Yo Han, he always comes out on the pious end. Yet, as we go through the series we learn that as a teen he was troubled, attempting to kill a man. He attempts to kill that same man again within the first half the series. He also attempts to kill two others during the show and also attempts to kill himself. He commits crimes as a judge, but somehow remains morally superior to Yo Han, and is only brought back to earth by the earnestness of his lady love. He has remorse, but then turns right around and repeats his crimes. By the shows finale Ga On has done just as many criminal and heinous acts as Yo Han, but the show tells us hes the better man. He still believes he is the better man. We are supposed to accept him being the better man. But he isn't.
This brings us to final muddled message of the show. Society and justice are a game with no true good or evil and no true right or wrong. Whoever plays the game the best decides who and what was truly just. Wealth is all that matters as it has the most influence.
Now, this isn't wrong perse, its just isn't right either. A society cannot function and operate if this is honestly what the people think of their own world.
Yet, the ending of TDJ reinforces these ideas in a final show of anarchy and nihilism. Just like Vincenzo and Taxi Driver before it, the only place for true justice is at the end of your fist. What a sad world we live in that the public, as in the show, cheers this message forward. But there is a bit of light in all the dust, and I assure you that there is entertainment and fun to be had along the path to reaching this climax whether you agree with its message or not.
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An Underrated Gem
I love this drama. It is a gem under the radar. It has a great plot with unusual and interesting criminal cases filled with man-made supernatural phenomena, magic and mysteries. Each case is different with unpredictable outcomes. The main characters are intelligent and lovable. The pace is good, the story telling is excellent and logical. All these are built upon a real historical background which is authentic and fascinating, albeit violent and stormy. Most of all, it’s a page turner and very addictive.Set in the Tang Dynasty during the tumultuous second reign of Emperor Ruizong (r. 684-690, 710-712) (not explicitly stated) who was one of the sons of the infamous female Emperor Wu Zetian, the era saw the Dynasty as the center of the world with exquisite material life and fusion of diverse cultures. Consistently behind the scene is the power struggle, which is historically recorded, between the Emperor’s younger sister, Princess Taiping (youngest daughter of Wu Zetian) and the Crown Prince, Li Longji. It was said the Princess was the real power behind the throne. Many court officials and military personnel flattered to join her camp, and her power exceeded even that of the emperor’s. In this drama, we see deadly political conflicts and manifestation of conspiracy between the Crown Prince and the Elder Princess. And both of our main leads are embroiled in the conflicts which are linked to the cases they have to solve.
Yang Xuwen as Lu Lingfeng is convincing as the proud general who is not too flexible but very good in martial art fighting especially with his long spear. He is upstanding and will do anything to uphold justice. He is loyal to the Crown Prince but is warned to hands off from his investigation of the Chang'an Tea mystery which he's deeply involved and couldn't withdraw himself. So after the mystery is being solved, Lu Lingfeng is stripped of his title and ordered to leave the capital. Behind his background, he has a secret which he doesn’t know himself. Yang Xuwen has a rather rigid look and his portrayal of Lu Lingfeng is very believable.
Su Wuming (Yang Zhigang) is a student of the genius investigative judge Di Renjie. He is humble and resourceful, and is appreciated by the Princess. Su Wuming doesn’t want to be involved in the royal court disputes and is sent away from the capital to the regional office. He is meticulous and observant of the tiniest details, and he is wise but often underestimated by his enemies. Yang Zhigang’s portrayal is very authentic with his suave demeanor, bringing the character alive and loved by viewers.
On their way out of Chang'an, Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming meet again. Lu Lingfeng initially has a grudge against Su Wuming over some personal issues. After solving their first case together, they become rather fond of each other and the two become good partners, and from thereon, jointly solving cases after cases. Both characters have opposite personalities and strengths, complimenting each other in their investigative work. The bromance between the two is funny and lovable. Their formidable team later includes a talented artist who is in love with Lu Lingfeng, a brilliant doctor disguised as a beggar who loves to eat chicken, and a boy who is talented in martial arts and later becomes Lu Lingfeng’s disciple. I really enjoy watching all of them working together, fending off enemies and solving cases.
My Verdict
If you love The Imperial Coroner, The Detective, Ancient Detective, or Miss Truth, you may love this drama as well. Though with less romance than the other aforementioned, this drama has, among others, few plot holes, good storytelling, and high quality plops. The cases are intriguing and complicated, and the characters are equally lovable and intelligent.
The drama showcases phantoms, illusions, legendary beasts with the ample use of CGIs, some very good as (such as those with the giant crocodiles, phantoms), some less so (such as those with the giant bear). Every seemingly unimportant detail is a clue. Each case is different like an adventure. The case solving techniques involve new way of thinking, understanding of human psychology and most of all, common sense. The culprit in each case has compelling human reasons for committing crimes. A lot of the plots and dialogs are oxymoronic and comical without brazenly admitting so.
Romance is not the focus here as both men are tsunderes and practically run away from romantic relationships despite both men so have love interest with two women. For me, no romance is better than bad romance.
A great watch for thriller buffs.
TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!
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A light hearted drama for in between with great cinematic elements and beautiful cast
Story/plot: ★★★The drama is about a 4 people insurance investigation agency specializing in solving insurance fraud cases; eventually, the cases lead to revealing of the mastermind villain behind all the evil doings.
I must admit I was not a big fan of the story. Though the cases themselves did have interesting outcomes and twists in-between a lot of the details seem a bit out of this world and felt rather artificial in order to create the surprise effect. The cases also do not build well towards the climax so that even before the final reveal at the end, I did not have an urge to find out who was behind all this. The villain himself was also not big of a surprise to me. And worst of all, they left the ending sort of open but nowhere a second season was mentioned.
What I did like a lot is the relationship between the leads. First, their specialties and characters complement each other very well. The viewers can clearly see how all the main characters started off not trusting each other but solely worked together for their own benefits. But slowly through their teamwork and even life-death situations they grew trusting, caring for and relying on each other, eventually not wanting to continue without one another. This was well depicted in the final case. Though this drama is not at all a BL drama there are some really beautiful shot scenes between the two male leads which satisfy the female viewers’ craving.
Acting and cast: ★★★★
I really liked the cast and found their acting is pretty decent. Gao Ren playing the team lead Fang Yuan did a fantastic job. He is the more mature actor from the crew. Fang Yuan's character has a lot of depth as he went through a lot and this was well demonstrated by Gao Ren’s great acting skills.
The second lead Mi Ruo, played by Xiao Yu Liang, was younger and had still a bit more room to grow in terms of his acting. However, I think he was able to showcase good acting skills in quite a number of scenes (one of my favorite being the refrigerated truck scene in ep. 12). On top of that Xiao Yu Liang is sooo cute (which is one of the main reasons why this not so famous drama caught my attention). I think I haven’t seen such an angel-liked face in Chinese drama land for a while. My husband says that he even looked prettier than the female lead Fan Meng which I totally agree with. I would really love to see him appearing in more dramas going forward (my dream would him playing in a proper BL-adopted drama...he would be such a fit!!)
Fan Meng, playing Luo Xing, the computer geek did also a good job. I rate her in a similar stage as Xiao Yu Liang: a very talented young actress with room to grow. Her character is very like likable: an independent, smart girl who does not obey to anyone, a more refreshing type of character compared to a lot of “proper female lady type of lead characters” in C-drama land.
Cinematography and music: ★★★★★
This is the major selling point of this drama. Most scenes are beautifully shot; they use well-positioned perspectives and angels, zoom-in and outs and frame and rendering techniques. A lot of the scenes remind me of a movie rather than a drama. The drama has almost no action scenes but the dramatic scenes are well depicted. The music was also top-notch: a lot of various combinations that successfully created intended emotions with the viewer. Sometimes they could have turned it down a little bit as some scenes were accomplices by really dramatic music thought the scenes themselves were not all that dramatic; as if they were trying to compensate the missing suspense from the plot.
Summary: ★★★★
All in all, I would say that if you are into detective type of mysteries with a nice touch of brotherhood, you will like this drama. It would not blow your mind or deprive your sleep but it is nice in-between drama with beautiful cinematography and good looking and talented actors.
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A dark trip to nowhere
I am not going to give any spoilers -- just want to advise any watchers that this is a risky investment of viewer time. What starts out with potential quickly falls off the cliff in a fog of poor decisions by the writers. The word "Artificial" is the first clue to the problems with the direction this drama takes. Nothing seems real or feasible and the responses of so many people in positions of power seem a little "off the human chart." Korean dramas often portray a "slice of life" for the country -- this drama neither represents family, values, morals, accountability, normal human reactions, or consequential damage. It almost becomes a fairy tale fantasy drama when you compare it to the reality of many who hold positions of power or have star power popularity. The voices of social media and the netizen factor in this country reign supreme. So I am warning any potential viewer - the acting is good -- but just don't count on any feelings of satisfaction at the end. Just read most of the comments of those that have finished the drama. If I wanted to be in a hopeless dark place I would pick this drama to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
I am little unhappy
awww.... the day I got the news there will be 2nd season for yumi's cells in 3 days I completed season 1 and started 2nd season. starting till they broke up I had so much fun. when they reunion I was so so happy but I am so sad they didn't ended up together. I loved their chemistry, the drama, the issues they both faced. I loved Ba Bi part, he was so so supportive in the end he lost because of 3rd person. when you love someone you should trust them that was missing in their relationship. If their is 3rd season please end them together and let them trust each other.Good work Yumi's cells Team and all characters. Congratulations on completing Drama.
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Featured story
If elder abuse is a taboo subject that is rarely afforded the serious consideration and action that such horrors demand, then elder sexual abuse is even more so. Playing at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival as a Private Screening, with her film An Old Lady, South Korean filmmaker Lim Sun-ae tackles an extraordinarily challenging subject with such enormous grace, delicacy, compassion and thoughtfulness that it renders this close-to-perfect film as one of the year’s most easily missed cinema highlights.The film follows Hyo-jeong (Ye Soo-jung), who we first meet in the film’s opening moments in total darkness. Over a black screen, we hear her politely chat to a male nurse during a physical therapy session, his flattery increasing until a narrative ellipses and a dramatic cut to the abstracted, empty hospital itself implies without relying on sensationalized explicitness that something has clearly happened. As the title suggests, Hyo-jeong is very much a “lady” in the most traditional sense of the word; she is polite, reserved, and clearly does not like to make a fuss. How a 69 year old woman who has been raped in a hospital by a care giver responds to this situation is largely the question around which An Old Lady spins.
While there are numerous factors that render An Old Lady such an important film, the combined performance of Ye Soo-jung with Lim Sun-ae – the latter of whom also wrote the screenplay – is very much the engine that drives the film to its gentle but authentic conclusion. Making a film about rape is already a ethically challenging terrain, but by so fearlessly deciding to add the element of elder abuse to the equation, Lim Sun-ae proves herself to be braver than most.
Even more importantly, of course, is how well she succeeds: Hyo-jeong is never reduced to a pathetic victim, but neither is she patronizingly rendered as an unbelievable superhero. Her challenges feel real and are handled with great sensitivity: was the encounter consensual and did Hyo-jeong merely forget, possibly suffering from the first stages of dementia? The questions Lim Sun-ae knows the audience are, in our most shameful moments, asking ourselves are made explicit in the film by Hyo-jeong herself as she struggles to deal not only with the trauma of what happened to her, but her lack of faith in her own capacity to remember it with clarity.
There’s a sense of sadness with a film this courageous and well executed about such a difficult subject that it will go largely unseen, the taboo nature of the subject matter alone turning an audience off. But that alone is precisely what makes this film so urgent; An Old Lady tells us something we don’t really want to hear in a way that makes us forget why we refused to listen for so long.
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A charming and delightful film based on a manga and about manga
BL Metamorphosis is the story of Urara and Yuki (Sunshine and Snow) who build a cross-generational friendship based on their mutual enjoyment of BL manga. Urara (Ashida Mana) is in her second to last year of high school and facing the choice of what college programs to apply for next year. She's working at a local bookstore when a recently widowed calligraphy teacher Yuki (Miyamoto Nobuko) wanders in to escape the summer heat and a finds a popular BL which catches her eye. Urara is an embarrassed secret fan of the genre, and Yuki had no idea such a thing existed but quickly finds that she loves it and seeks out Urara's advice to learn more about it and get her recommendations.Acting is reacting, and, as ever, Ashida's reactions are on point, expressing all the embarrassment and social awkwardness of a young woman who has not found herself yet. Yes, she has a crush. But he's already dating the tall, popular, beautiful Eri, and what would happen if he or, worse, THEY ever found out she's into BL? Nevertheless, Urara guides Yuki into the world of BL fandom, and Yuki encourages Urara to try making a manga of her own.
The film is quite smart with lovely parallels drawn between the manga that the two are reading, and the other things happening in their lives. The score and song choices help to propel the story along and as whole the film feels much shorter than its two hour runtime.
It is, indeed, rare for a film to center on a friendship between two people with an age difference of over 60 years, and this film does so lovingly and well. Ashida, if she chooses to, will be Japan's breakout star in the coming years and Miyamoto is a good solid veteran actor. Together their scene work provides all the warm-fuzzies you could want.
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So Far The Best Mini Series Out There
Out of all the miniseries I've watched, this is hands down one of the best. It's not cringey or very stereotypical; it's very concise, straightforward, and the actors are excellent. Both are very good looking, and I see a lot of chemistry between them. There are some flaws in the acting, but compared to other minidramas, these actors can truly act. The second couple is also amazing; I didn't skip their scenes at all. I like how it's just 13 minutes per episode because it made it so easy to watch. It's definitely worth binging.I watched it on kisskh.co just in case someone wants to know where to watch.
Don’t be discouraged by the ratings; this one is really good.
Also, it has a happy ending and lots and lots of kisses too, if that will encourage you to watch this. 🤭
Acting: it's really good
Chemistry: i really like them
Storyline: typical but honestly not cringe
OST: I WANT TO FIND ALL OF THEM COZ IT'S REALLY GOOD TOO
Rewatch Value: i definitely would want to watch it again.
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It really makes one thing about life, illnesses, death and the impact it can have on others.
One particular part hit home: "-Will you remember me? -How can I forget you... -I mean, the good times". It is easy when you lose someone to remember the bad and difficult times, which are often the immediate past. We tend to forget all of the beautiful moments because they're further in our memories. One Day was a good reminder as I am guilty of that.
I also loved that there was no romance involved, though we can easily imagine there was. This fine line between love and care was just perfect, and I like that Kang Soo took the time to appreciate her for what she was, and not only because he was reminded of his wife.
It is a masterpiece in my book (do I have to mention how it can start a debate on euthanasia? and the way to address the visually impaired?) and great if you're looking for some heart-warming human interaction.
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Messy Execution!
The only reason I finished the drama was Li Ji Ah's character, Shim Soo Ryun, and her quest to avenge the death of her daughter. I wanted to watch her journey and I was rewarded when she achieved her goal. The rest...sadly were just fluff, full of over-the top vile, despicable characters from the bullying teens, to the screeching like banshees parents who lacked class, finesse and intelligence. I don't know if this is a culture in Korea but the truly wealthy people do not behave like them. So many unnecessary filler scenes with continuous bullying by the kids as well as the adults that I, like some of the viewers here, constantly rolled my eyes. The exhibited behaviour from most of the characters was so infantile that I was wondering if the writer is a fan of reality TV "real housewives" where people pull each other's hair.It's almost comical that these rich families are figuratively cutting each other's throat so their children can be the best opera singer. To be a great singer like Maria Callas and Kiri Te Kanawa requires real talent and the truly best diva sopranos in the world are so few that you can count them with your fingers. Children of the wealthy are normally groomed to be the heir of their family's fortunes. So the idea that these families, residing in one building, all obsessed with their children's singing is not only silly and ridiculous but unrealistic.
The breath of fresh air in this drama was Li Ji Ah. Her acting was perfect and she was so classy as Shim So Ryun. Even the way she carried herself, the way she talked , her mannerisms, her clothes reeked with elegance, sophistication and high class. I'll only watch the succeeding seasons 2 and 3 if she's in it.
Season ending sucks!
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Even Jasper's smile can't save this one.....
When you start a drama with zero expectations and even then end up disappointed then it has to be some out of the world mess ....I won’t be exaggerating…. it wasn’t actually supposed to be that bad, but it is.... There are serious issues with the storyline as a whole ….that drag it down to the point that no matter who’s a part of the cast it just doesn’t make a difference ...or maybe it does ...I count is a failure in selection of script by actors !!The story line in itself is the main problem with the show ...okay I am not talking about cliches and all ...I know they are a part of every other drama ...so I won’t bother complaining about that
But the whole storyline (I am hoping you’ve read the synopsis and I can safely skip the brief about story) ...like it began well ...I was okay with the fact that ML hid his identity because of course you can’t just go and say I am that ass you were talking to...for like 6 years, after messing her thesis defense …(but man they just dragged it for like infinite time ...if there was something like a patience test then this would be the show they’d ask the applicants to watch as the test.)
And as if this wasn’t enough they even went like ...okay you got to control her life too ...from what job she does to what she’d eat ...freaking everything ..cuz Mr. Penpal knows her better than herself ...great !! Oh well let me not blame all of this on ML’s character when clearly FL is to be blamed equally ...if life decisions are that easily influenced then... I am sorry I have no words.
The first half (more like initial eps and not exactly 12 eps) was still a bit on the fun side and maybe actually likable but the second half ....
(For a show that tries to romanticize lying …I really don’t want to comment on how mediocre acting was ...or how bad things actually went ...but then you see I have to vent somewhere ....so I decided to write a review ...and actually talk about all this)
Moving to other things ...like second leads ...they are no better ….does the writer seriously think that controlling is love. No female character in this show has even the basic amount of self respect….like forget everything else they are just doing whatever their love says or for the sake of some imaginary "bs" that they, in their head, assume... is love …
A rant with a few scattered " SPOILERS" begins now (you’ll be fine if you know the general drama trend of c-romances …cuz there’s not a lot in the show... to actually spoil) ...but still read at your own risk !!
One that assistant in the lab ...a cheerful bubbly girl pretending to be a stone just because of her one sided crush ...oh wait to justify this ...of course he likes her back ...the question is does he even know that she’s a cheerful bubbly girl by nature ...oh heck
And the main point is…. Does she think she can pretend to be a stone for the rest of the time even if he does like her back for being a stone ...what about yourself ...aren’t you more important ?
Another one FL’s friend ...I guess she’s the best in the slot for viewers (more like best of the worst) ...of course even that won’t be tolerated ...they have to mess every character in every possible way ..so yes they did it …
Being honest by the end of the show where everything dragged like anything I couldn’t really care about any experiment or any cliche trope (childhood connection and all) ...only one emotion throughout...anger ...sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself ..but maybe I enjoyed being angry..... enough, to actually finish this …
The only consistency in FL’s character is liking her online boyfriend other than that I really can’t find anything ...at first she wanted to earn money ...all well till there ...suddenly she wants to become a better scientist ...okay still fine ….now she won’t even try to do that properly ...like what the heck ….she’s really unlikable ...the way she is written is as if someone forced the writer to doll up a spineless character to make it look like a really good one ...well according to me it’s a failed attempt at that …(ML will be considered as an example of successful doll-up….but that too unfortunately or fortunately is still doll-up)
I know I already said she has no self respect ...but even I was shocked to see how easily she forgave him....
....hell, they even forgot that some sort of chemistry was supposed to be there ....trust me the moment they officially became a couple I was like ...finally ….but no ...from that point on they had absolutely no chemistry ...or at least I with my own 2 eyes (both working well) couldn’t see it.
Also who came up with that “Forever is for ever” ....that’s the level of creativity that I am gonna mark as my limit of expectation from drama land ...I don’t think anything can surpass this.
This show also marks the limit of fiction for me ...well she doesn’t even know his name and they’re dating ...well trust me even this can’t be surpassed !!
And before I end this review of course I need to mention the highlight of the show ….ouyang’s makeup ...trust me nothing stands out in the show more than his makeup ...okay I get he’s an idol and all, but seriously ...ain’t this too much.
…. I won’t call this a waste of time …(just for the sake of cast) ...cuz I guess it’s okay to lie that much, ain’t it …?
Have a good time if you watch this ...you have my wholehearted best wishes, you’ll need it !!
And anyone who liked the show ...pls take no offence I am just expressing myself ...maybe in a bit harsh manner ..but can’t really help ...I just want to vent my anger ...and I believe this is a good place !
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This review may contain spoilers
Well, this is a good comedy drama to pass the time, but I won't say it was impressive, and I probably forget it soon.If you're in for the "summer readings" then give it a try.
I liked that they tried to put more depth to the prosopagnosia trope (now, this desease is a trend in dramaland and it seem to affect a lot of young ceos LOL can you please not be so obvious when you take inspiration?) by comparing Min Ik to her blind brother (even tho it was a very weak and short moment) and describing it as something scary and anxious. I mean you can't recognize people around you, that could be a setback, especially for someone who needs to recognize friends from foes.
I also liked the fact they talked about how some workplaces are a real hell (this thing was also treated in "Jugglers") for employees as maids, secretaries, drivers and so on, and they have a sort of will of change it.
But they kinda didn't handle it very well, the whole plot about the "robin hood secretary fight club" who sell the bribes their boss get from other people and use that money to cover employees issues is a bit boring, moreover because it doesn't concern the two leads or second leads, at least not entirely.
I liked a lot Veronica Park. I was scared when she was introduced because I thought she would be THAT annoying second female lead character, but her being too extra is, in fact, refreshing and amusing. I liked how she was somehow "naive" (not with love relationships LOL) but supporting towards the female protagonist AND her sister.
Well, what I didn't really liked was how much episodes and focus was spent for the whole "I pretend to be someone else" thing, it's something we saw a lot of time, also in western shows and movies, so I don't think it was needed...the show could've take another road without it and it would have been fine.
I find it hard to cheer for the protagonist if she pretend to be someone else, taking advantage of his illness, in order to obtain his love. It's lame and honestly if you think about it, it never ends well. I especially despise her sharade because she knew he had issues with his family and trust issues...she was too greedy, Our fictional characters are lucky their partner are sooo in love and understanding they come to forgive them, but in real life...well suing is the very least imo.
And the plot was pretty much stark...there are some evident plot holes, especially about the disguise and the assault thing that made me wonder if they thought I was too stupid to realize it.
I mean why in the world the driver would change a lightbulb in his boss office at night and why, when Min Ik finds out, he attacks him instead of saying "I'm your driver" . This doesn't make sense at all.
Also I wont' even try to analyse the medical aspect of it: his illness can be "cured" if he has high pressure or if he sees the one he loves....even sticking to it, there were moments were he was supposed to be excited or nervous (like when he confessed to Gal Hee, when they almost made sex and so on) but nothing happened. Conveniently at the end he has a scare in the elevator and his illness just goes away. I'd rather use the fantasy elements than this.
The last thing got me a bit annoyed it's an aspect of their romance. They were cute yes, but a bit too teenage-style to be 30 something. Min Ik hinted he had other relationships in that "stocking moment" (LOL) but they were awkward just by holding their hands or hugging (while in the first episode, when she was just the secretary I thought they were more chill about touching). I'm not saying I wanted hot stuff or whatever, it's just a bit surreal to see them being too much naive for their actual age.
I would rewatch this? I don't know, honestly. I was annoyed at her lies and I don't know if I want to face that again...but overall was cute and not to dramatic, LOL in the first episode Gal Hee's mother death was comic instead of sad.
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1"Desire" to rewrite the second half again! A mess but a hot one!
I will keep this simple. Starting with positives-✅ The Concept: My first proper dive into the ABO universe, and I will give credit where it’s due... it’s ambitious and intresting. A world ruled by pheromones, hierarchy and biological destiny isn’t an easy thing to pull off, especially in a Chinese production where censorship is a constant obstacle. The setup promised layers of politics, biology, identity, control and even if it didn’t deliver all of it, the foundation was fascinating enough to keep me curious.
✅ Hua Yong: Easily the most consistently written character in the drama. If I have to describe HY it would be manipulative , psychopath and effortlessly cunning! He doesn't chase control, but he is the control. He was the type who smiles while calculating outcomes, who comforts you just to see how easily you fall apart. Everyone else gets lost in their emotions, but not him. Somehow the little black flag was always one step ahead and disturbingly steady.
All this may sound like I don't like him, but I love him! Haha he was most consistent character who stayed true to his nature until the very end!
If the red flags of the BL world had a conference, Hua Yong would be the keynote speaker and Jaemin from secret relationships , Ming from My Stand In and Vegas from Kinnporche would be in the audience!
✅ OST
Now for what didn’t work (oh boy!)
❌ The Second Couple: This was the Achilles' heel. A colossal waste of potential. Gao Tu and Shen Wen Lang had a setup that could have explored prejudice, deception and redemption. Instead, we got a subplot that felt like deleted footage stitched together. Their chemistry was barely developed and the emotional moments were rushed.
I do get they were the second couple and won't get 50-50 screentime but this was 95-5! I would have not complained if they listed them as side characters and not mains! And those 5% felt like dry leftovers. we are watching them chase their own tails in perfect circles...no growth, no progress, just filler vibes.
If the original source material lacked depth and scenes for them, then adaptation SHOULD HAVE filled that gap, not AMPLIFY it. I don't think this should be an excuse for the ending they gave us. Marketing them alongside the main couple was misleading because realistically they didn't even appear in few episodes together.
And Shen WenLang's backstory never saw the light of the day! Years of trauma was fed to us in normal day to day conversation with Hua Yong in barely a minute! His hate for omegas just felt like comical gimmick!
Again to the bed rock of my question, if you didn't want to address it , why introduce it ???!!!
❌ Both the alphas Shen and Sheng as characters were flat and frustrating. Considering S-Class Alphas are top of the food chain, they both were easy to deceive.
While I liked their chemistry with the their opposites, as an individual character i don't think they have any distinctive qualities to be remembered.
❌ Editing & Direction: Lighting choices were baffling. The editing felt choppy in the second half. I am sure censorship has a big role to play in this.
The fighting scenes between the two alphas were plain comical. While I appreciated the use of CGI for pheromones visuals, the balance was off.
❌ Writing & Pacing Issues: The drama started off so strong like peak potential, every scene hitting just right. But halfway through it started dragging or maybe it was a "me" issue. Don't get me wrong, there was so much going but yet it felt like nothing was actually happening. We are circling the same plot but never moving forward! I kept watching out of hope, not hype.
❌ All the business talks were boring and like background noise. Again, could have used that screentime for maybe something better!
⚠️ I understand this was ABO universe where consent doesn't work like human world and that is okay but the aftermath was never properly addressed and it took me out a bit! I have questions about the lore behind the NC scenes and it was never explained on screen.
⚠️ Acting: Not the worst I have seen, but far from great. Huang Xing as Hua Yong carried the drama with subtle menace and Li Pei En as Gao Tu was excellent in playing the damsel role a little too well while the other two alphas were hit and miss, mostly miss. You could feel the effort, but not always the conviction.
Overall, the concept was great but with weak execution. But it was a fascinating mess! I know it paved the way for ABO concept in BL world and it will always be remembered for that. However, the flaws cannot be overlooked.
Will I recommend it? That's a difficult question. For the new concept , definitely but go in with tempered expectations. As they say, it's better to be surprised than being disappointed.
Legend -
✅ : I loved it !
❌ : Better luck next time.
⚠️ : It wasn't entirely bad but could have been better!
Thank you for reading my review! If you liked the drama, please take this review with a grain of salt and one of the many opinions! :))
Please note - none of the criticism is a personal attack or HATE on the actors or the whole Desire team. I applaud the effort but somehow it didn't entirely worked for me. :(
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This review may contain spoilers
Lost in a long long story..
A good script excellent screenplay and a talented cast that's capable of giving you memorable performances on any given day.. But honestly the cast deserved so much better.. The biggest flaw was the overstretched length.. 40 episodes were simply an overkill.. The story felt dragged..You had Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi as the main leads.. Two phenomenal actors with undeniable talent and yet couldnt deliver a truly memorable drama?? That's failure on the biggest level..
If I were to write down everything I feel about this drama it would probably turn into a 10 page letter.. So I am going to focus on the last phase of the story instead which I really didnt like.. The last 10 episodes were probably the biggest reason why I think the drama underperformed.. There were a lot of unnecessary story directions towards the end with the rival store being one of them.. Was that even necessary?? Couldn't they have tied up the loose ends without introducing that subplot??
Then this drama too like many other dramas introduces that character who is after a married woman.. Trying to make her his.. But what's truly baffling is how in one episode he tries to sexually assault the FL and the next moment they are somehow friends?? Then he joins them in the fight?? And after that he gifts her something and she accepts it in front of her husband?? In just a few episodes this bad guy is reformed and asking for another chance.. So she gives him a job at her shop and keeps him close?? What was going on here?? Meanwhile LYX gets another FL who is perfectly fine cozying up to another guy...
Overall.. Watch it for the cast and some comic moments but dont expect anything too grand.. Its just an alright one time watch..
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