One of the best romantic comedies
I stayed up late to finish the final two episodes of this brilliant series, and I do think it's one of the best romantic comedies I've seen. However, this series is more of a romantic COMEDY than it is a ROMANTIC comedy.I love the humor of this show, because it is also referential. In Episode 11, it even hints at other recently-aired series such as My Liberation Notes ("revere me") and even alludes to Kill Me, Heal Me and many other popular K-dramas.
I have to say, it features romances that are refreshing because, again, the couples communicate well with each other. It's definitely not smooth-sailing all the time, but because they are able to converse with each other, they are able to deal with their problems well.
This is a rowdier, less sardonic Korean version of The Office, with smoldering romance at its center. The series is remarkably consistent in that even its kissing scenes are laugh-out-loud events: it's one of the few shows that feature kisses that are both hot and extremely funny at the same time.
Overall, this is definitely recommended. Intelligent, poignant, and yet boisterously funny, Gaus Electronics is one of the year's best series.
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"It´s the law of gravity" or the dilemma of failing in the second half.
I will make it short, it´s not a bad story and also the actors weren´t bad or at fault for any of the bad reactions. On the contrary, I think the cast did a pretty good job for a low budget series. With all my respect, it´s just simply this kind of rushed scenes, actions and endings that make web series like this not enjoyably enough to give it a high ranking.Moreover, some of the mistakes could have been resolved easily if the screenwriters had focused more on the quantity of the story than the quality of visual things. I understand that they very likely had a low budget, it´s just that these major mistakes could have been avoided if they had written it a bit more neutral. However, since homosexuality/ or attraction between men is still not accepted in many parts of China, I do partly understand they needed some interesting turning point to get some attention but that scene in episode 8 was definitely not the right choice.
The turn of things is also misleading and provides the wrong image of a healthy relationship/ love story. It would have been different if the focus of the story would have been less light in the overall series or Cheng Yi had been introduced as a bad character.
Apart from the "very toxic misbehaviour", it didn´t even match the pacing of the story. An honest dialogue was the main thing the story needed, not the impulsive kind of unnecessary action. This dilemma seems to be one of the main curses in the BL industry. Overall without the incident, it would have been a higher ranking with a more reasonable ending. Almost no rewatch value.
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There are essentially four Big Topics being put up for analysis in the drama: What it means to be a wife; what it means to be a mother/parent; the current state of education in primary/secondary schools in Korea; and the ramifications of both wanting a divorce and the consequences that come with having that wish granted. It’s difficult to hammer out each of these topics as a separate theme because they are all melded together through three interconnected families: The Hans, the Jos, and the Ohs. (It may be helpful to look up a family tree beforehand to get their relations straight).
The story as its most basic level centers around Yoon Seo Rae (Kim Hee Ae), a married woman with a son who is about to enter into secondary school. It is through Seo Rae that the drama questions what makes a person qualified to be a “Wife,” and to what extent that right extends to being a “Mother.” Does fitting all the qualifications of being a good wife automatically make Seo Rae a good mother, or does being a good mother to her son (adorably played by Im Je No) make her a good wife? In a society that stresses keeping up family appearances and keeping elders satisfied above all, can a “Wife” be more than a vehicle for her child’s success (and thus a mirror for her own parent’s efforts realized)? Can she still focus on herself occasionally and allow herself to feel like a woman - an individual - again? These are the questions the dramas asks through Yoon Seo Rae’s character; the questions with which she herself struggles time and time again as she is tested by her arrogant in-laws and as she grows through her interactions with Kim Tae Oh (Lee Sung Jae), who is the dentist from the description.
But that is only part of the equation that makes this drama wonderfully thought provoking. Through Kim Tae Oh’s wife, Hong Ji Sun (Lee Tae Ran), we see the privatized education craze from the eyes of someone profiting from it; profiting from housewives who will do anything to make sure their child comes out on top. On the other hand, we also see how a marriage crumbles in on itself through no fault of any particular party. Through the Han family, we see a product of the education craze all grown up - Grandparents who feel their society owes them the world for giving up everything to educate their children, and Grown Children who see themselves as the “Noblesse Oblige,” as Han Sang Jin (Jang Hyeon Seong) tells to his son, which is a result of his own perceived privilege. We also see what the idea of divorce does to a person’s mental state when it is out of their reach: Han Myung Jae (Choi Eun Kyung) is a character you’ll love to hate by the end of the drama, but some of her last scenes definitely make you sympathize what it is like to be stuck in a marriage because of filial obligations. While her situation may on a whole feel like Karma-induced retribution, it is also the drama giving us another portrayal of Wifehood in Korea.
There are so many more points I would like to give attention to in this drama. It is one of the best portrayals of character growth and subtle changes in characters I’ve ever seen depicted. Yoon Seo Rae and Kim Tae Oh’s journey throughout the drama is one of the sweetest, more realistic and mature illustrations of dealing with the prickly topic of adultery. Usually, we only get the perspective from the person who is cheated on, but this drama took care to give us both sides; not only that, but also reasons for the reactions of all the families involved, even when the viewer might not agree with those reactions.
I could go on and on, as you can probably tell, but I’ll also point out some things I felt the drama didn’t do enough with in order to make this review more balanced. It didn’t get a 10 from me for a couple of reasons. One, I felt that the topic of education and the impact it has on the kids involved could have been explored more. We get a child who does really well in school and a child who struggles, but we only know this through exposition, not with actually spending time with the child as a viewer. Two, there were some plotlines that were used solely as plot-drivers in the first half that were completely dropped and never mentioned again in the second (the situation with Yoon Seo Rae’s mother; Kim Tae Oh giving out free dental care, etc.) They’re little strings, but they still left some holes, at least in my mind.
I’ll stop here ’cause this review is getting monstrously long. If you couldn’t already tell, I enjoyed this drama immensely and would recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper, intriguing plot line in a drama. If you can stand slower paced stories (there are scenes where you spend a good 5 minutes just watching a person walking, or sitting, or lost in thought; I happen to really enjoy those types of scenes, especially with the wonderful camera work in this drama, but... I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea), and if you want to see how a typical family drama in Korea usually unfolds without having to devote yourself to the normal 50+ episodes, then give A Wife’s Credentials a try.
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Its so hard for me to review this movie, because you just need to watch this to understand. This is a real tearjerker and many more emotions you'll feel.
I really felt tired when I watched this movie because so many emotions where involved!
The actors & afcourse the dog were great, the story is amazing and is makes it more special because it really happened. The music made some scenes even more sad.
Def. rewatch and you'll have to see it to understand my review :)!
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This review may contain spoilers
Romance is super intense
I am quite amazed at how this lakorn turn out. First talking about James and Ice, I love love love, new pairing. I like seeing the development of each actor and actress when they are acting with others they haven't act with before. So as for pairing go, I did not have a problem.I really like this 'bad' boy/temper of James character. One thing I really like about Theeruth is that his character is not weak, nor dumb and gullible. Theeruth has a strong character as ML. Also, I really love James in that SWAT outfit, he look super hot. Hopefully we get to see him act in a lakorn of police work/detective.
I don't watch any of Ice lakorn but I will say I love how she is able to portray some of the hard emotions and feelings in some scenes. Especially on the episode when Rawee got kidnap. Everyone in that scene, their emotion were so raw.
Storyline, maybe I am bias but I love this type of plot. If you watch westerner movie, this gave me the vibe of Knives Out and A Murder Mystery. So of course I'm going to love this type of plot where there's multiple villain going after FL. I don't think I ever watch any Thai lakorn that is this type of genre, it is pack with action, mystery, comedy and romance. Although for the romance, there is not a lot of romance going on here. But, you can feel the love in the air between Theeruth and Rosita. Every time they are together you can gradually see the feelings they develop for one another. The way Theeruth caresses for Rosita when he save her from danger, the way he get frustrated when Rosita is being harmed by the villains. Trust me you did not need any kiss/intimate scene to feel the love they have. I love a lakorn where both ML and FL chemistry are so strong and noticeable that you are able to naturally see their love develop throughout each episode.
As for the other plot goes, I like that they definitely did not drag the storyline. They get to the point and no unanswered questions. This lakorn is definitely more action related. I love that the first episode pretty much got right to the plot, not building up unnecessary scene that doesn't make sense. I actually like how episode two was quite heavy with all the villain going after Rosita. You think you know who's the main villian but you really don't because each one have a different motive.
Overall, I genuinely feel like all the characters acted their role good. The characters story was well developed, I love the 'hate' relationship the leads have at the start.
Give this lakorn a try, it is so underrated. Just because its rating was not high or over the top does not mean it was a total flop. Rating is quite bias in my opinion.
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The Lost Tomb 2: Explore with the Note
14 people found this review helpful
Don't fret over the beginning
Before even starting this review, let me tell you: Do not judge this series by its beginning. The start of it is pretty horrific and I admit it does not get better until like episode 8 or 9. Also, this review is especially for people who watched other adaptations of the Daomubiji series of dramas.Story:
+ the story works well in itself and there are almost no plot-holes
- the story does not work well regarding its continuity to its prequel and sequel
Overall I have to say, I enjoyed the story, especially the later half of the drama. The story pace is quite steady, fast enough to not get bored, slow enough to enjoy scenes. There were some story parts (side story mainly) which I just could not enjoy though.
Some characters were re-casted, while others weren't and it is noticeable. The chemistry in the beginning is way off and you will feel like some of the actors first have to grow into their roles. Will they be your favorite casting of all the adaptations? Probably not. Are they doing a good job? Yes.
This drama also makes it one of its main missions to show you new perspectives to characters you might already know. If you expect your usual main protagonists, forget it. It is interesting though how some relationships are displayed in the drama, some totally new from what we have seen before, some just a new perspective. This goes from Wu Xie and his uncle to how Wu Xie deals with betrayals from his closest friends.
The music is actually really really good and I caught myself enjoying the intro and outro a lot. Regarding the special effects and CGI, I am quite sure all the money went into the last two episodes. You will notice green screen but if you blink your eyes a few times, it is not that bad.
Overall: I will probably end up re-watching some of it over time, as I did really enjoy the new character relationships and some of the scenes are really a small treasure. I will probably avoid re-watching all of it though. I totally recommend watching the show after some time has passed since watching the other adaptations, as what makes this series so hard to watch is mainly the comparison, and less the series itself.
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180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us
14 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Breathtaking to Heartbreaking
Acting : 100 %Plot :100 %
Though the plot may seem controversial, I have high hopes for this!!!!!!!
I totally love the story plot and the actors. I fell in love with Pond❤ . I love his acting, looks and his voice and the way of delivering his lines totally got me😍
edit: Damnnnn!!!!!!
Ep 6 is just a conversation between two persons for the whole episode and I loved it. How can writers
come up with something as intriguing as this!!!!
I reall felt bad for the mother in this episode, until ep 5 it showed the selfish aspects of her. But in ep 6 we can clearly see how lonely she is!!!
As the way I see it, everyone seems to be lonely but she just couldn't bear it
The acting and cast is on top notch💜
Its very frustrating to wait a whole week for next episode🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲
Edit: 02/10/2022
I never cried this hard for an LGBTQ+ show 💔 .
Its heart breaking and I totally understand and accept the climax. Thats how my actual first love ended.. Not because we don't love each other but because our loved ones/society can't accept it💔🥹🥹🥹
Some people won't change no matter what☹️
I am trying to move on, but this gave me heartbreak again💔
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This review may contain spoilers
devoured
okay guys this def has spoilers, im just gonna be saying my thoughts after each episode and highlighting my fav contestants and such! if u havent watched the full episode yet please do before u continue reading ><okie ep 1, JAY GETTING MORE SCREENTIME :000000 oh my gosh you dont know how much ive been praying that jay gets all the attention he deserves and FINALLY mnut- i mean mnet finally decided to do so, him winning the votes from all 6 judges actually surprised the shit out of me too though like i did not expect that i dont think anyone was expecting that tbh, okie nothing else to say other than that i just wanted to congratulate this iconic moment, also seunghun getting that intro part i cheered :3
ep2, the other performances didnt excite me as much as the first eps did but they still did really well! (im sorry i just dont know any other contestants well and wasnt really into the songs :') BUT DITTAURRR omg i was so excited, cos we had wumuti and the other contestants id heard were pretty popular, i was praying so hard wumuti got top tier or atleast recognition, i felt so bad when he got so dismissed when he was trying out for the A part, like he didnt even do so bad compared to the other guy wtf, and during the actual performance i was smiling so hard when it was his part :D HE GOT TOP TIER YALL I SCREAMED, (to the person who messaged me IM SORRY GIRLYPOP WE'LL BURN MNET DOWN TOGETHER) GUYSSSS JAY WUMUTI AND SEUNGHUN ARE IN TOP4 RAHHHHH i did not expect my top picks to be up so high oh my goodness SEKRGHKJFGHQGTQ
ep3, GAWDAMN EVERYONES SO GOOD WTF, my favs were sherlock (gave me goosebumps fr park je up did saur GOOD) and dangerously (had me gagged) i am SLIGHTLY.... i mean A LOT irritated that jay and saeon's team lost, like that means theyre in it for elimination which makes me salty BUT I AM SO HAPPY FOR WUMUTI ESPECIALLY LIKE AJHVGAFLVGHAHGE DESERVED KING
ep4, the songs were pretty mid, i mean i could feel theyre emotions and desparation(?) but they remind me so much of those chinese sad(?) love songs my parents play in the car so im pretty tired of these sounds ngl. kick it team was pretty dissapointing like i love that song but it felt like they were singing late??? was that just me?? and kang seokhwa's voice didn't fit the song, it was like he wasn't doing enough, and jeon woong felt like he was tryna do TOO much (especially with the growl attempt), plus the voice crack babes i felt so sorry for them, same with 'a letter' i felt like mnet def left the less exciting performances in this ep, but i LOVED river so much, u could tell both of them were FEELING it like bain suits these songs SO well he was so sassy oml. his voice preview with maria had me in a chokehold, but the pre-4 mission didn't really do much justice for him, but this really opened my eyes to him, so yeah might start voting for him!
ep5.... bro i was so confused at first cos were we doing the same mission or the new mission? but duh ofc if i looked at the name but the editting threw me off. damn this round was long as hell ☠︎︎ performances wise, none of them stood out to me, mnet even ahd to skip past the really bad ones lord ☠︎︎☠︎︎ so ill just talk about the next round! first round, bro i was so scared cos seunghun and bain are competing with each other and that means one of thems gonna get eliminated so i didnt know who to root for, but i will say 'ill be ur man' team DID SO WELL OH MY, like u can REALLY tell the difference between good and bad peformances and thats when i realised it, also they looked so good in the suits gksdsghnrg I ALSO MY JAW DROPPED WHEN I HEARD THE PREVIEW FOR THE NEXT PERFORMANCE, KISS OF LIFEEEEE WHATTT I JUST KNOW ITS GONNA BE GOOD
ep6, i absolutely live for these performances, first of all before they announced the elimantions, i was DEF hoping for bain's team to win, he just impressed me so much BUT THEY LOST WHAT THE ACTUAL IM SOBBING, the next teams i didnt even know most of the people even existed im sorry ☠︎︎☠︎︎ guys the boring ballads need to go, THERE I SAID IT FIGHT ME IF U WANT i just cant with these sounds anymore, theyre voices just didnt harmonize well, and tae woo's voice was so scratchy and not in a good way, next teams... no comment, they were all decent, AND OFC jays team is in the next ep cry
ep7, HREGHEGERGRARARRR FEVER IS THAT GIRL, possible one of my fav performances in the show, anyways nothing much to say! go vote hunminjaybit team!
ep8, jay's team was great but i do think some members shined more than others so i do agree, but the highest being 90 was kinda sad, okay PURRR GUILTY TEAM i was NOT ready for that wtf and DRAMAAAA OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT SONG i literally was drooling before the performance (not literally i swear) cos i was so excited but i did feel like it was a bit empty compared to the original (cos im so used to the heavy backtrack) but it wasnt bad but didnt live up to my expectations omg uptown funk was SAURR FUNN, next team why is yeoone lowkey flopping i feel so bad for him, DAMMMN I did not expect milky up to win omg and i kinda expected the elimination to go how it did it TT
ep9, hmm... tell me why the performances arent as exciting as before.... obviously flower was really good but none of the other ones were that impactful, if im being honest even flower wasnt the most impactful but they did great nonetheless!
ep10.... oh lord here it is, the final okay the performances! omg waterfire the stage WAS SO PRETTY IT FELT SO ETHEREAL AND THE VOICES WHATT THE HARMONIES THE COSTUMES THE LIGHTING my jaw was on the floor the song is actually so good its kind of like the definition of beautiful , next performance was pretty good, not much to say if im being honest. okay... hunminjaybit RAHHH it was honestly really good like theyre voices are so good omg im sob
GUYS IM WRITING THIS AS IM WAITING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT HUNMINJAYBIT BETTER WIN OTHERWISE ALL THIS FOR NOTHING the freaking music is getting on my nerves HUH WATERFIRE IS THIRD bro that means wumuti didnt debut NOOOO GUYS PLEASEEEEE nah lee da hee's commentary is getting on my nerves NAHHH THE AD BREAK shes literally said 'the winning team is...' like 5 times. OH MY GOODNESSS RAHHkrhfregEG there snO WAYYY OH MY GOODNE WHAT TEH ACUAL YAYAY IM SO HHAPPY IM SO FEKING EITED RIGHT NW NAHHHHHH
hey guys btw the name bdu is kinda goofy ngl but i feel like itll grow on me (i hope)
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A very refined cat and mouse chase.
If you like watching enemy spy dramas, you can watch Peng Xiaoran and Liu Xueyi's #TV series, Unshakable Faith#. The CVB peak of this drama has broken 3. In more than ten episodes, the plot is still quite engaging, and the enemy is so dense that it keeps challenging you, which makes people try to guess endlessly. Let's talk about it briefly.The background is the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, GJ was involved in the major secret project of water fall (submarine construction), and the plot revolves around the protection of experts, anti-security projects and sabotage, and the enemy.
Peng Xiaoran plays the female public security officer Pang Hongmei, who was not very calm at first, a little irrational, and a little underestimated the enemy's cunning, but she was good, vigilant, intuitive, and highly observant, and willing to make up for her shortcomings.
Liu Xueyi is a returned mathematician Ji Danyang, a computer man, mature in appearance but a bit simple like a genius child inside, has not been defeated by the enemy, likes to be free and unrestrained, and has a rebellious psychology against Pang Hongmei's step-by-step attention. However, his mathematical ability has also helped Pang Hongmei solve some cases.
In the special enemy line, the identity of the father and daughter Bai is the core, Kan Suzi plays the second female lead Bai Hui and Ding Yongdai plays Bai Hui's adoptive father Bai Minghan. The father and daughter are constantly involved in various sabotage incidents and are invited for interrogation by the special team from time to time. Bai Hui looks like an innocent little white flower, but as soon as she comes out, some people suspect her. The father, Bai Minghan, the audience in the comments will think he is bad for a while and think he is a good person for a while. In more than a dozen episodes, the identities of the two, father and daughter, are reversed. The change of perspective of the characters that incite us is quite strong.
Pang Hongmei, Bai Hui, and Ji Danyang all have emotional lines, but the emotional lines appear after a dozen episodes, because their focus is mainly on chasing spies or taking care of the development of the submarine.
The plot is not the kind of high-energy brain-burning, nor is it strong logic, but the narrative and pacing are very well controlled, and it always keeps the audience's appetite, and it is quite delicious. If you are interested, you can check it out.
Source:
Medium shade small water
7 hours ago from Rescue Drama Super Talk
https://m.weibo.cn/status/4982818952446762
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The history seems a little messed up in the beginning but it becomes very clear as it explains the pretty well done critical base behind it. It's one of those situations where you don't know what you would do.
The composition of the movie is also very good,it goes neither too fast nor too slow. I had no problems with that. There were just a few things that wasnt explained about the characters but these things didn't make the movie meaningless so it was kind of ignored.
And we can't forget the acting. Those little girls were absolutely amazing and the mentally handicapped father made no clue of his great acting.
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For a revenge story involving political corruption, Lawless Lawyer is surprisingly optimistic. Although perhaps calling it revenge is misleading. After all, Bong Sang Pil --our charismatic main lead-- makes clear from the start that he's not seeking revenge, but justice. This point is emphasized throughout the series, separating an instinctive reaction (revenge and anger) from an emotional action (ensuring the end of corruption for the greater good).
In that respect, the story is quite simple. The main protagonists are aware of who the antagonists are from the get-go. Therefore, they have a clear goal and the only thing left to discover is how to solve the problem at hand. Fortunately, the plot wasn't drawn out unnecessarily or bogged down with an overload of melodrama. There was just the right amount of action, comedy, intrigue, drama, and romance to keep the series pretty light. This means that this is a series you can easily binge-watch.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Refreshing
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Bong Sang Pil (male lead): his character was one of the biggest surprises, refreshingly so. He proved to be a well rounded and balanced character. On the one hand, he can take care of himself in a fight without breaking a sweat, he's confident and charming. On the other, he's straightforward, honest, emotional and fearful of risking people to achieve his goal. Bong Sang Pil is not perfect. He makes plenty of mistakes and, most importantly, he is held accountable for all of them.
Ha Jae Yi (female lead): her character was also refreshingly consistent. She was introduced with a bang, which set the foundation of her character. But unlike the fates of the female leads in other dramas, she never loses that badass quality. Like Bong Sang Pil, she's a balanced character. Equal amounts capable and emotional; Ha Jae was not only very mature and rational throughout most of the series, but she was also very gentle and nurturing towards Bong Sang Pil (who loved every second of it!). She's also someone who's confident in her knowledge and ability, but who's also humble enough to accept she doesn't have all the answers. When Bong Sang Pil puts her knowledge to the test, she's open-minded enough to tackle every uncomfortable issue head-on, unwilling to compromise the truth for the sake of convenience.
ANTAGONISTS & SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Interesting
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Antagonists and enemies were very fleshed out. I don't want to go into detail so you can meet and discover them yourself (else I end up spoiling something). I'll just add that they were all shades of grey (to a different degree), corrupted by a system that allowed it so. I know some people found some of the acting awkward, but I didn't mind it at all. Sure, some characters were a bit cartoony in their portrayal but that just made it fun! There were also quite a number of support characters, but their involvement didn't detract or took away the focus from the main characters.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Healthy, nurturing and balanced
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This is an important point for me when watching dramas with romance in them. In this case, the relationship progressed fast but naturally. The chemistry between the leads was off the chart, which helped weave their romance into the story without it feeling forced or disruptive. Here are some of the highlights:
1) Bong Sang Pil was very sweet towards Ha Jae from the start and there's a good reason for it.
2) The chemistry between the leads was depicted through subtle, yet natural gestures. You could tell how much he valued her with every look and smile he gave her. You could tell how much she valued him whenever she caressed his arm and squeezed his shoulder.
3) The relationship between the leads was nurturing. They were partners in an equal give and take relationship. When Bong Sang Pil was vulnerable, Ha Jae supported him, when she was weak, he was there to keep her whole. It was incredibly balanced and satisfying because they both had something to gain from being together.
OVERALL: Solid 10
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The art direction was great: from the framing to the colors to the music... everything worked. The action scenes were also very good, coordinated and well choreographed. All the characters brought something to the table and I found myself unable to hate anyone. Even the antagonists were interesting to watch because they each followed a clear set of morals and rules. Though the ending was a bit anticlimactic, it still provided all that it set out to accomplish. Though there were some loose ends, I suspect it was done intentionally in the hopes of getting a second season (which I personally wouldn't mind).
Overall I still give it a solid 10 and would definitely watch it again.
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Watch it for Romance/Obsession or Dylan/Peter - But not for Revenge or Palace Politics
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75“Unchained Love” has such an interesting and unique general plot that unfortunately the writing and editing did not deliver. The lure of a forbidden love between a eunuch and the emperor’s woman, with revenge in the backdrop, seems to be such an amazing story. I missed the comedy tag, as I thought this would be a serious, heart-wrenching story of love and revenge. The comedy in the first few episodes threw me off a little, and the revenge plot is a disappointment. Having said that, I did have an enjoyable time watching the drama, thus I am rounding this up to an 8.0. If I solely based on the plot disappointment and the sloppy and illogical writing, this would be a 7.0-7.5.
What I Like:
1. Smart Lead Characters - I really enjoy the first third of the drama when the leads are trying to outsmart each other and then form an unlikely and unwilling alliance. I am a fan of smart female leads who can hold their own and be on the same intelligence level as the male leads. I found Bu Yin Lou (FL) has some similar characteristics to Cheng Shao Shang in “Love like the Galaxy”. They are both smart but have to hide their true self due to their upbringing. Similarly, Xiao Duo (ML) is similar to Ling Bu Yi in “Love like the Galaxy” as well. They both appear to be ruthless and cunning and are out to seek revenge, but love their women tremendously, in very different ways. Maybe that’s why I like “Unchained Love” because of these strong characters and similarities. I cannot stand a dumb female lead anymore, or one that is innocent and naive. But the similarities of both dramas end there. “Love like the Galaxy” is a much more well-written drama.
2. Acting - Well, Chen Yu Qi might have overacted a little in the beginning during her comedy parts when portraying Bu Yin Lou’s outgoing personality. But for the most part and especially after the first third of the drama, I do find her convincing. I was never a big critic of hers and found her acting decent. I am actually glad to see this funnier side of her acting, since her other roles I’ve seen are more serious or standoffish. Most of us probably watch this drama because of Dylan Wang. And yes, he plays the ruthless Xiao Duo very well. Though I am not a fan of how his character becomes a love sick puppy, that’s not his fault. He acted well. But the actors that shine in this acting category are the veterans Peter Ho (as Murong Gao Gong/Emperor) and Zeng Li (as Empress Rong An). Many have sung praises for Peter Ho in this drama and he indeed is excellent. It’s an amazing journey to follow his character’s change in this drama. Zeng Li is the only main character that uses her own voice, and I think that is why I like her acting. Coming off her other memorable performance in “Love like the Galaxy” (oh, another reference to LLTG), her acting here is more manic but also nuanced. The rest of the supporting cast did a fine job but no one stands out against the main four.
3. Production value - I don’t think this is a S+ production, but everything looks nice. It has good solid sets in the palace and also in all the houses. The props, fixtures, and furniture look good and sturdy; and nothing looks cheap. The costumes are beautiful and women’s hair accessories are tasteful without feeling overdone. The men also look good and handsome in their costumes. Dylan Wang really looks good in all his attire. Oh, except for the bad makeup for the women - too white and cakey.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Dubbing - I am disappointed that 3 out of 4 main characters are dubbed. I recently saw Chen Yu Qi in “Hi Venus” and “Story of Fox Valiant” and she wasn’t dubbed. I still remember her voice and when she speaks in this drama, I couldn’t place her face with the voice. Peter Ho is probably dubbed because of his Taiwanese accent, but for such an experienced actor, it would feel so much better if I can hear his voice when he’s going all crazy. I think all Dylan Wang’s historical dramas are dubbed, so I wasn’t surprised. At least I heard his real voice in “The Rational Life”. But when you look at the major supporting cast, it seems like most of them are using their own voices. Then, why dubbed the leads???
2. Action scenes - This is not a wuxia drama, so I won’t judge the action scenes too harshly. There are some fun scenes and they definitely make Dylan Wang look good. However, I do feel that they are somewhat overexaggerated and theatrical. The flips and jumps were overdramatic and the wire work wasn’t done well. There are a few scenes especially in the last 5 episodes that it was too unrealistic to have someone standing there, everything in slow motion, and the killing just stopped. Well, I think a certain character should have been dead a long time after being pulled by 5 horses. Instead he’s just suspended in the air for a long time. This is also why I criticize the writing of this drama.
3. Main Romance - I think the chemistry between Chen Yu Qi and Dylan Wang isn’t bad. But because I was expecting more angst, a more tortured romance that I feel something is missing. I was hoping for more longing looks and loving gazes but I ended up getting some pretty open looks and hang outs together. They spend so much time together that it doesn’t seem like a forbidden romance anymore. How can no one out of their small circle see that something fishy is happening? How can the suspicious emperor not suspect something sooner? Of course, for many romance lovers, all these happy and cute scenes are a plus. I was just expecting something different.
What I Don’t Like:
1. Writing/Editing - It is probably due to censorship, or just bad writing/editing that the second half of the drama doesn't make as much sense. It was especially bad for me in the last ⅓ of the drama with the romance plot. In one scene, FL was questioning if ML really likes her and she hasn’t realized her feelings yet. In the next scene, they both spend the night together and they are outright in love with each other? The couple's intimate scenes and dialogs were cut out, and this really affected the flow of the romance. We learned of certain conversations/events via a few flashbacks. FL has been portrayed as smart and cautious throughout the drama, but for the sake of convenience, let’s have her make dumb and careless mistakes so that the emperor can finally find out the big secret. What sloppy writing for this big reveal! Our leads have so many opportunities throughout the drama to elope, but they never did. And when that finally happened, it was just that easy to get out and leave the palace without being detected.
2. Pacing - I think this drama has a strong start in the first ⅓. But in the middle, the drama slows down. I would have thought that the last ⅓ would pick up the pace as that’s when all the revenge, reveal and action take place. But unfortunately, I find these episodes slow. It’s a lot of talking in circles, waiting for something to happen but didn’t really happen.
3. Revenge - On the one hand, I understand Xiao Duo’s realization that ‘an eye for an eye’ might not be the way to go. However, after spending 6 years plotting for a revenge (we’re told but we haven’t seen much), the ending to the revenge plot is very anti-climatic. You fall for a woman, and you throw that rage out the door pretty quickly. I really dislike a male lead who was so determined in the beginning and then became a lovesick puppy in the end. Dylan’s character in “Love between Fairy and Devil” was like that, and here in “Love Unchained’ is the same. That’s why Xiao Duo’s revenge can't hold a candle to Ling Bu Yi’s in LLTG.
Do I recommend this drama? I would if you are in it for Dylan Wang or Peter Ho. “Unchained Love” is a drama about forbidden love and obsession in love. Do not watch this for the revenge plot or palace politics. If you are a romance lover and can throw some logic out the window, I think this could be a very enjoyable watch.
Completed: 2/20/23
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What can I say but wow?
Fortuna's eye is the perfect mix between thriller and romance, meshing together to make an incredibly unique and moving movie. The acting was superb, and the script really packed a punch, to the point that'd I'd recommend this to anyone even if they weren't into romance.A few things stuck to me with this movie that I greatly appreciated. One was how Shinichiro approached his ability, and the struggles he faced with knowing a person's future. The movie does not shy away from the difficulty one would go through if they could see when people were going to die and explores it in quite a bit of detail.
Two, the romance was incredibly well done. I admit that I am not a fan of romance, I find the genre to be full of really unhealthy and/or incredibly unrealistic. However Shinichiro and Aoi's relationship was really well done and added quite a bit to the story. It took an interesting premise and pushes it further, as Shinichiro sees Aoi start to fade.
Third, the ending. Now maybe I haven't watched enough Japanese movies but it caught me by surprise and was really moving. I would have cried my eyes out if I could! (Unfortunately a big earthquake happened during the movie so I was still full of adrenaline when the credits started rolling.)
All of this made for an excellent movie that I highly recommend watching!
The icing on the cake was Jun's acting - while he only plays a side character in the movie, he was absolutely phenomenal and I'm glad to see him get more and more roles.
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Not for faint heart
If you're seeking exceptional acting, a compelling plot, and well-developed characters, this show may not meet your expectations. It's important to set aside your logical thinking while watching because, within the first few minutes of Episode 1, you'll likely develop a strong dislike for the main male lead (ML). This reaction is quite natural. However, be prepared to be captivated by the female lead (FL) and her fearless, devil-may-care attitude. Brace yourself as you're thrown into a whirlwind of various clichés and tropes within the show's universe.Throughout the series, you'll find yourself questioning everything and contemplating whether to continue watching. If you manage to endure the first 10 episodes, which make up half of the total 20-episode run, I recommend pushing through. This is the kind of show that you'll likely watch once and then forget about it. Personally, I'm only here for FL as I genuinely loved her character and her acting.
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