A Realistic Drama About Growing Up
This drama is not for those who were looking for a perfect and flawless ML. The ML grew up being loved by his parents and tolerated in the household. He is a reckless and opinionated character who will stand up for what he thinks is right. The character is realistic as for people like his age, they are hot-blooded. They will undergo numerous mistakes, embarrassing ones even. I would also like to add the friendship of the ML with his friends are amusing to watch, they did undergo trials too but the friendship still remains. The ML tried his best to be suitable for the FL despite his shortcomings. I like his persistence but just like we humans in reality, there are things that we need to give up for the people we love.Was this review helpful to you?
enjoyable romcom
Overall: it was a fun watch and I hope we get a sequel/see these actors in more series. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI and YouTube (not in the U.S.) here is the first episode link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s27LxcQeg_0Content Warnings: kidnapping/held against will, manipulation, coercion
What I Liked
- the supporting characters
- I did laugh several times, the comedy sound effects weren't excessive (I loved that security guard just watching them go at it like that wasn't part of his job lol), though the comedy did give way to angst at some points
- sweet and supportive moments (though Yang should have apologized verbally in episode 3)
- Tammy wasn't a cliche female character
- ep 6 NSFW scene was very well done
Room For Improvement
- plot holes/continuity errors/nonsense stuff (i.e. pretty sure that isn't how you find investors/partners, why didn't he just ask his wealthy parents???)
- Phojai's plan/timeline made no sense and that was a weak apology
- they lived in the same building, but this was not shown/explained and then sometimes Phumjai was at a different bedroom/house (his parents?)
- cliche plot point in ep 5 and other cliches (sick after being in the rain, accidental fall/catch, etc)
- ending was rushed, too much of the debt stuff (could have cut that whole plot out)
- several interrupted kisses in the final episode
- I didn't deduct points for the blatant product placement because it funded the series
Note: I am blown away that Offroad's character here is so different from Saint in Our Days, I have to keep looking to make sure it's the same actor
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Saved from a summer slump
Good enough series, saved by the story, its strong supporting cast ( mother, teacher and friends) and slice of life setting.Not everyone can make a good modern drama, very weak acting wise ( ml was exceptional in Blossom so I guess that mysterious cold look works better for him). Personally not a great fan of one problem after another kind of trope and typical cliched cp, repeating issues etc without any character growth and story progression.
However, an easy going light watch, run in the background kind of acceptable production, saved from a summer drama slump.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Love that was Meant to Be
What a drama! From the first few moments you will find yourself smiling. I did. It is so refreshing and nicely done. From the first episode, you are just captivated by the leading couple. They are both so well suited for each other, that you will find yourself just falling in love with them.FL (Jiang Zhi Nan aka Xu Mu) is a planner for an Shangxin Advertising Company. She loves her job. The one thing missing in her life is a partner. This is due to certain expectation she has of meeting that certain someone that she feels is right and she wants to marry. Even though after six blind dates, and at the urging of her parents to change her viewpoint, she is not willing to do so. But surprises do come when you least expect them, and it did so with the arrival of ML (Zhang Jiong Min aka Xie Shi/Jiang Zhou) at a client meeting Xu Mu attended. Xie Shi unbeknownst to Xu Mu was the same boy who was her high school desk mate. Talk about surprises! Her life from that moment on changed dramatically. She was now about to find not only her partner who has always been in front of her but the true meaning of love.
Xu Mu when meeting Xie Shi finds him to be aloof and cold. She doesn’t recall much about him from their days at high school. But in a drunken state she finds out the next morning, that she has announced to everyone that Xie Shi is her boyfriend. This was great news for Xie Shi because he had loved Xu Mu since high school. He never knew how to express his feelings to her, so taking advantage of the situation, and seeing how everyone from her family and friends were congratulating her, Xie Shi suggested they become a contractual couple and live together. Xu Mu at first was hesitant but saw this could relieve them both of the pressure of endless blind dates and accepted the offer with a stipulation, if either has a crush on the other the contract would be null and void.
We also had Xu Mu bestie SFL (Yan Zhi Chao aka Song Nian Nian) and Xie Shi’s bestie (Wang Chuan aka Shen Yi). This was another adorable couple.
You will find that Xie Shi is a man of few words, but his expressions show more than what Xu Mu cares to either recognize or consider. He does always the slightest things to please her because he loves her. Cooking, driving her to work, helping make sure that she has everything that she could possibly need to feel secure in this “contractual relationship” which, he would hope would lead to more. But as they say the best laid plans.
Enter a rival for Xie Shi, Zhang Yao (Sheng Yi Chen) who was an artist that Xu Mu had over the years been texting as a friend. He is a famous painter that no one has ever met or had do an exhibit. Zhang Yao leaving a restaurant the same day as Xu Mu didn't have an umbrella. She kindly gives her his. As she smiles and goes, he overhears her colleague call her name, "Xu Mu." He then realized who Xu Mu was and texted her back to say he would do the exhibit. Zhang Yao immediately wanted to be with Xu Mu but found out that she was with Xie Shi. Ironically, he heard Xu Mu and Xie Shi both talking about their video chat with her mother and how well they performed which he then knew they weren’t a couple. Of course, he confronts Xie Shi about this and tells him that he will pursue her at this point. In the end, Xu Mu makes it clear that she only sees him as a friend. Heartbroken, Zhang Yao leaves.
Xu Mu thinks that Xie Shu likes Qiao Nan (Zhang Hao Yue) because of various misunderstandings one in particular was when there was an earthquake, and she saw Xie Shu helping her to a taxi for medical attention. Not realizing that he came there to check on her only to have someone say that she was in the room with Zhang Yao.
Misunderstandings abound and so Xu Mu tells Xie Shi that their contractual relationship is over.
Of course, Xie Shi doesn’t know what to say but he agrees to what she wants. But again, fate intervenes for this couple who is fated to be together. Xu Mu’s mother tells her she has a blind date set up for her which turns out to be Xie Shi. He explains to her about Qian Nan, and she tells him they were a fake couple so there was no need to explain. The matchmaker told her that who she was meeting today was looking to get married. She asks him is he looking for another girl for a fake marriage. If he still wanting the fake thing, she won’t have enough time or energy. She had this blind date just to get a husband. To which she tells her that he is not acting. Tomorrow they can go and get married. Does she dare? She does! This beautiful couple gets married!
Xu Mu finally does understand that Xie Shi did love her for such a long time when she finds his high school book. He goes to explain so much to her which he confesses his love for her. That is what she was waiting from him to hear that he loved her. She then opens up and confessed her love for him.
Xie Shi did have a rough upbringing which Xu Mu found out when his father came asking for money and threaten him with getting rid of his mother’s bracelet. The only item that his father still had of hers. He gives him the money and his father gave him the bracelet. Xu Mu calls her aunt who explains how Xie Shi’s father beat his mother, but Xie Shi would intercede and ended up with learning to use his left hand because his father broke his wrist in one of those beatings, and it didn’t heal properly. This also happened at the same time his mother died.
The surprising part is that Xu Mu did meet Xie Shi's mother. On his birthday, his aunt and mother went to get him a cake. All of the stores were closed. Xu Mu happened to run into his aunt and mother when they ask where she bought the cake. Knowing that they would not make it, Xu Mu gave them the cake and told them to wish her son a happy birthday from her. Hearing this story and seeing her in the background of the photo her aunt took of his mother that day made Xie Shi happy to know that she had met his mother.
We get to see each couple happy six years later. Song Nian Nian and Shen Yi have a son, who takes after Xie Shi in math. Xie Shi and Xu Mu do not have any children but after having an in-depth conversation, they decide to have one -- Manman. So smart and so like Xu Mu. He loves how his parents are so loving, and he goes through their photo album showing us their meant to be love story. It was cute.
I really enjoyed this drama. I feel you will too. There are misunderstandings that don't last long. Both couples are nicely matched. This is one of these dramas that you can just sit and binge. You may even find yourself smiling and thinking about your high school love and how that sweet and carefree years of being young can transcend to being with that same enduring love as an adult.
Get yourself all ready. Cuddle up and enjoy this sweetly done drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
A show nobody needed....
With WeTV nowadays you have a chance to get a gem or in this case step into a big pile of crap.I have no idea what the writers/director/producer smoked to put a) so many clichés b) so many couples c) rape into such a short story. Especially c) is repulsive because it does not have any consequences and the character who got raped acts like as nothing ever happend. WTF?
It's a waste to write anything more about this pile of crap. I'm really sorry for the actors who had to act out this shit. But at least it did not drag for twelve episodes 🤣. The money could have been used for other things!
Verdict: Avoid it like the pest, it matched the absolute low like "Flirt Milk", both shows are equally terrible.
Edit; Meanwhile the actors are suing the production company for not paying them the agreed sum which is paltry in comparision to other productions. So now we know where the money went... not into this productions, not to the actors.
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The story is simple, but surprisingly compelling. We see Jin Tian's (Wang Likun) journey to a place, to Prague. At first, it is just a beautiful city meant to help her heal; it's a city that her only family member once lived. Later, though, and interwoven with her own love story, Prague becomes that place of being and becoming a new person. What I enjoyed most is how interwoven Jin Tian and Ze Yang's story was with Lan Xin and Dr. Novak's. The links and flashbacks gave a beautiful, yet sorrowful meaning to the idea of having a place and of being in love.
Despite a group of young, fairly inexperienced actors, Somewhere Only We Know featured bright moments. The chemistry between Wang Likun (Jin Tian) and Wu Yi Fan (Ze Yang) was sweet; their interactions with Sophia (Ni Ni) were definite highlights of the film. Moreover, they showed an awkwardness that fit well with two young people in love. Plus, the movie showcased Wu Yi Fan's ability to be a "cold guy," a nice guy, a sweet guy, and best of all, a silly guy. Xu Jinglei took a major risk, and I believe it paid off. Last but not least, Xu Jinglei was awesome herself as the young Lan Xin. She gave off a grace and beauty that brought me to tears at its sincerity.
I loved the music in the film! From traditional Czech music to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" to Wu Yi Fan's "There Is A Place," the music captured that sweetness of new love, of old love, of lost love, and of found love.
Probably my only complaint with the movie lies in it's use of English instead of Czech when there are longer conversations with non-Chinese characters (Dr. Novak, especially). I don't hate the choice necessarily, but I would have liked there to be more Czech involved in the film.
Of course I'm going to rewatch this again and again. It's sweet, funny, yet also insightful. On a fangirl note, why wouldn't I watch it again?
Overall, I give Somewhere Only We Know a 10 because I enjoyed the film so much. I laughed and cried (I dabbed tears at several points during the film), and I thoroughly felt the love between the characters. I also enjoyed seeing the beauty of Prague; I really, really want to visit it now. It gave a wonderful environment and air to encase the beautiful stories within the film. The film made me want to find my own place as well.
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A long time ago i watched the first episode but ended dropping it bc i thought it was boring but when ii watched it for the second time i was addicted. I liked the men switching in a woman body bc he started to understand the womens life. There wasn't only romance but also comedy there are really funny scenes. There are 3 endings I personally didn't think the drama was ended yet bc there are things that aren't explained yet.
Acting
Zhang peng peng did a great job i really liked her acting when she had to act as a man she was doing really wel. Qi peng was really handsome but his face was always the same i know he played the icy cold character but his face was a bit stiff this was his first drama so he still has to learn a lot. The rest of the cast was good. There was only one person i wanted to punch in the face jian ying yue really annoyed me but that was her character.
Music
I really liked all of the ost chinese music are always beautiful also there lyrics are special.
Rewatch
I will rewatch this bc every episode is only 20 min which is not much and there are only 35 episodes!
Overal
I really liked this drama i recommend you to watch this the leads are great and it is also funny
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1unexpected things happen in life one after the other
Do I think this drama should’ve been from the point of view of a trans man? Yes.Do I also understand that the issues this drama brings up more people would be willing to listen if it was portrayed through the eyes of a cisgender man? Sadly also yes.
I went into this drama very sceptical and had been sceptical about it ever since I read the plot description because storylines like this one almost always tread in transphobic waters. But I came out of this drama pleasantly surprised. The writers knew exactly what they were doing to grab people's attention, bringing awareness to topics that sadly society doesn't take seriously from pregnant people. The discussion on the idea of what "roles" men and women "should" take when it comes to having and raising a child was done brilliantly. Every member of the cast did an amazing job at portraying this story with such care.
The one thing I am a little disappointed on is after really the first episode the erasure and lack of mentioning of pregnant trans men and how they could most likely relate to a lot of the struggles and curiousity that we see multiple of the pregnant cis men go through within the drama. But other than that I did enjoy this drama and I think it did exactly what it was set out to do.
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BLACK FLAG
My favourite novels out of the all novels are those with a possessive male lead that will do everything for their lover , i'm a big fan of the husky and his white cat shizun and i love moran who is the main character of the novel and the drama version which is called immortality , many people have immortality in their watchlist yet the come here and complain about how possessive hua yong is ,like how they don't know how fiction works and how most chinese novels are full of tragic and black flag characters .some of the most popular danmei's have black flag mls including (svsss,case file compendum , ERHA, the film emperor ....)
so if you are not interested in those characters this series isn't for you like the most chinese novels .
10/10 for me with no doubt and it's a masterpiece .
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I started watching this drama because it was the holiday season and I desired a good romance comedy, and I followed a friends recommendation and started watching this. I can't say that I instantly fell in love with this drama, but I did like this drama from the beginning.
Story:
Overall, I enjoyed the story immensely. So why did I give it a 9 instead of a 10? It's because you know who ends up with who. It's not going to shock you in anyway if you've watched any korean romance comedies. Other than that though.
Cast/Acting:
Perfection. It couldn't have been better. The only thing that was somewhat "different" was Dok Go Jin's voice. His voice is "different". In the end it becomes the most soothing voice though.
Music:
The music did its job very well.
Rewatch Value:
I'm not much of a rewatcher, but I probably will not rewatch this like most other dramas and movies.
Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed this drama so so so much. It's a great drama that'll have you laughing and crying in no time. It's one of the best Romance Comedies out there. Oh and the ending was just A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
So go and watch it! You'll enjoy it!
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Gameplay Plot came to life
I fell inlove with this drama from the very start and I'm sure the plot will unfold beautifully because I heard it is following the gameplay plot .Even the dubbing of the characters is the same. What a wonderful adaptation.
The acting of all the Actors is on point especially Xu Kai and Yu Shuxin.
The chemistry of the leads is such a sweet candy for me that I can't get enough.
Shuxin, as I've heard it is good in choosing script.
I'm reviewing this on one shot.
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How a bad lead character can ruin a show
This story is about a 70 year old woman that finds herself not being needed and feeling unwanted by her own daughter after spending her life raising her while running a restaurant. One day after an argument she leaves home and ends up at a shop where her appearance is changed, taking her back 50 years to her 20 year old self. Now in a much younger body she must decide what she will do and if maybe this is her chance to follow the dreams she abandoned long ago.First this show has great side characters. The two male leads are great and fun to watch, the granddaughter is multifaceted, and the overall concept makes the story interesting. The music is also great which adds to the appeal. But, while I enjoy aspects of this show the things I do not enjoy outweigh the things I do. The cinematography is mostly done very well but the repetitive use of the close ups on the faces at a downward angle are really unflattering. It is such an odd camera angle and used so frequently that it is hard to overlook at times. The styling of the show also feels unbalanced making the show that is set in 2024 feel more like its decades behind.
The show's biggest blunder, however, is that it suffers from two major flaws. First is in the execution of the the main character's transmigration. Time travel and transmigration can be a bit tricky to get just right but there are so many examples of stories where leads went back in time or were able to start their lives over that were complete successes and that is due to the way the performances were delivered. As a viewer I have no problem with a 70 year old becoming a 20 year old again and having a second chance at achieving their dreams but for it to work the character has to feel like they are young again. This show gives us Mal Soon/ Do Ri who is taken back 50 years to appear as her younger self but she never once acts young. She continues to behave, dress, and speak exactly like her 70 year old self. This approach feels like a miss to me because I find that I can not connect with the character when she behaves in this way as it never feels like she is trying to achieve her dreams or change her life. She is just trapped in this younger body and instead of actively pursuing her dream of becoming a singer she is being dragged into it. This is also where the romance feels wrong to me. I can accept her falling in love with a man the same age as her appearance if she behaved that way but since she never sheds her 70 year old persona then the romance with a much younger man gives me a bit of the ick.
That leads me to the second major flaw and that is in the way the main character behaves. Mal Soon/ Do Ri is not a likeable character. She is arrogant and stubborn but without just cause to be that way and the way she treats the people around her is selfish. Her not being likeable at first would have been fine and would have shown character development and allowed the viewer to grow to like her. But 10 episodes in and this character is still not likeable. Not liking the titular character of a drama for the entirety does not make it an enjoyable watch. Especially for a show like this that is supposed to be a romance and a second chance at life.
The flaws are made more glaring when you see Park Jun become his younger self and actively accept the change and dress and behave as a 20 year old would. He still gives advice or makes comments with the wisdom of years as he would as an older man but he is believable as a young man and easy to root for. Mal Soon's daughter is another horrible character that you never find yourself feeling pity for because she is just as awful as Mal Soon. Even with the reveals that give some reasoning behind their actions I find that they are given too late in the show so there is no impact. The change in the characters occurs far too late in the series and is rather sudden instead of the gradual build up throughout that would have given the viewer more attachment to the story.
Could have been a good story but ultimately fails to capture any of the magic and 'what if' energy I usually get from watching transmigration stories. The last two episodes are touching but also confusing and ultimately underwhelming ending the series with many unanswered questions.
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Loving It
The Well Blended adventure plot and Romance subplot captivated me.Xu Kai and Yu Shuxin have chemistry no doubt. It is that I wonder if Luo ZhaoYan and Yue Qi if this is in an GL line. The chemistry of the two characters is captivating although they have different love line which is also makes me feel giddy, hahaha. The characterization is perfect.
Cutie girl with Strong Fighting Skills x Dignified Master who pretend as a guy.
I'm fond of the two actress.
Back to the review, The show is comedic and you will not get bored. The 1st episode for me is captivating that you want more episodes.
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Made for Mindless Binging
Double Love is a good pick if you're looking for hearty laughter, fluffy romance, and fun engaging characters.Adapted from the novel "Master, your wife is AFK again" by author Da Ju Mao, the story centered around Lu Wanwan, a female actress who is trying to make her mark in the acting industry without counting on backdoor connections, and Han Jingmo, a star, and expert game player.
The plot itself was the usual idol drama - a bumbling yet bright and warm rookie actress meeting a cold but admirable popular male artist and how they fall in love online and offline. There were cliches like past encounters leaving a deep impression on one of the leads and the usual show business shenanigans like scheming actresses trying to sabotage the FL's career and get between the two leads.
The storyline may not be new, but the show was fun to watch. The main CP's love story was endearing, and I love watching their journey to success in their careers and personal lives. The humor and wit were on-point, and the interactions between the characters were so heartwarming that they pulled me into the drama. Plus, issues and misunderstandings were resolved quickly, making it an easy watch.
Unfortunately, the show suffered from some terrible editing, and key scenes were cut, leading to viewers' frustration and confusion. I strongly recommend looking through the comments for links to the cut scenes for a better understanding.
The CGI for the game was pretty good, and I enjoyed watching the matches and the characters. There were some hilarious setups in the virtual world, especially when juxtaposed against the characters in real life.
The chemistry between the main couple as well as among all the characters was organic and engaging. I was rooting not only for the main CP but also for the low-key relationship with BL undertones between another pair. I adored the dynamics of the Lu family and the sibling relationship between Wanwan and her brother Lu Guang Han. They were hilarious, teasing and bullying each other but also so supportive and protective of each other.
Zhang Sue Ying was the highlight, honestly. Her character was full of energy and spunk and brought so much life to the show. ZSY's acting was so natural and realistic, like she became one with her character, Wanwan.
As for Bi Wenjun, he was somewhat stiff in the beginning, but he got much better in the later episodes. I was not wild about how they styled him as the top star Han Jingmo, and I preferred his look in the game. However, he was still eye candy, and together with ZSY, they made a great-looking couple, especially during their scenes on the red carpet. Han Jingmo was the perfect ML - faithful and consistent, always looking out for Wanwan...although he can be childish at times.
In general, the cast was great, and there was a fun rapport among them. I did find the side couple's story unnecessary and uninteresting. I would much rather them show more sweet moments between our main CP.
The OST was awesome. I never skipped the ending credits because of the song, 'I Wanna Be Your Love' sung by Bi Wenjun. It is a sweet song played during the main CP's romantic scenes. The opening song, Tiptoe, by Xu Mengjie, was catchy too. For posterity, I listed the song list at the end of this review.
Overall, do give this show a try! It would be a shame to miss out on the comedy, fun and satisfying ending. Whether you need to cure bad-day blues or just a distraction, watching this show might just do the trick!
OST List:
* Bi Wenjun (毕雯珺) - I Wanna Be Your Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJE7NwDhOg
* Xu Mengjie (徐梦洁) - Tiptoe (踮脚尖)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLq-5sam6O0
* 打扰一下乐团 - Fearless (无畏)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uFefnf9A9o
* Jin Wenqi - No Trace (无迹可寻)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umsk7wFO8Bo
Album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/52w5EV0C36g1EsEmGX4nDK?si=mX8-ZjeRQBiiMuPIBNS-cA
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