This review may contain spoilers
The PG-13 Chinese Version of Death Games and Why Number 19
Fans of death games are familiar with dramas like the Korean Squid Games and the Japanese Alice in Borderland, and this one is a Chinese version of the death games and a drama adaptation of an award-winning Chinese psychology suspense novel. I wrote the "Chinese version" because every Chinese drama watcher knows how strict Chinese censorship is. Therefore, in contrast to other countries' death games that are R-rated, this one is PG-13: minus profanity, nudity, and violence. I will also explain why the drama title has the number 19 in it.STORY/PLOT:
The MDL synopsis is accurate so I won't add anything to it. "19th Floor" (actually, there are no physical floors, more likely levels) is a drama adaptation of the novel "The Nineteenth Floor of Hell" ((地狱的第十九层), a winner of the 2005 Sina Book of the Year Award, written by Chinese best-selling psychological suspense novelist Cai Jun (蔡骏). In the novel, according to Baidu, "the story aims to express a profound proposition beyond fear. Everyone has the original sin of greed, jealousy, selfishness, or anger in their hearts. Once tempted and the truth is revealed in broad daylight, there will be uncontrollable and unreasonable consequences. One's bizarre behavior, falling into layers of hell is a cruel punishment for the inner demons".
To pass the NRTA review, there are big changes made. Firstly, the word 'hell' is omitted, because CCP is atheist, and hell is a religious word, thus should not be in modern titles (can be added in xianxia's titles that are merely mythical stories). There is a Hong Kong movie adaptation "Naraka 19" with a plot that is true to the novel. Secondly. because the drama's mission is to educate young viewers, since the main characters mainly are university students, the drama focuses on the character growths of the main and important supporting characters who are the game players. Thirdly, there are no real deaths, as stated in the synopsis, the losers fell into a coma in the real world. Fourthly, there is profanity, nudity, and violence, thus making this drama a PG-13 version. Although I don't read the novel, I assume the novel is scarier than the drama. Fifthly, because it's a university setting, a slight romance is added to this drama, and the romance subplot does not take over the mystery plot.
Why Number 19:
It was in the Tang dynasty when the more popular concept of the “18 levels of hell” came to be, circulated by the Buddhist text "Sutra on Questions about Hell", which mentioned 134 worlds of hell that were then simplified to a total of 18 for convenience. Each of the 18 levels contains a specific method of torture for a specific sin. At the end of my review, before the spoiler of the ending, I will list the 18 levels of hell for your convenience.
The novel adds the 19th level of hell on purpose which I won't spoil you what it is, especially since the drama doesn't describe any hell nor do the games symbolize the 18 levels of hell. The number 19 in the drama simply is the number of the abandoned school building where some of the games are played.
Plot-wise I gave this drama a 9.0 because in their real lives, the story is a bit draggy with the character growth process some young characters have to develop. The games themselves are fast-paced, some I even think are too fast since the games end in only one episode. Definitely, they are thriller games, not suspense games (unlike, for example, Spirealm which I'm watching currently in which one game takes several episodes to finish).
Because of the character growth process, some conversations are deep and heart-to-heart. Therefore, is better if viewers understand Chinese either written or spoken. Unfortunately, some of us watched it through the bad translation of MangoTV, so we lost the depth. Fortunately, Viki will pick the subbing up. Hopefully, the late viewers would appreciate this drama more and thus will rate it higher.
CHARACTER/ACTING:
Chun Yu, the Female Lead, is the focus of this drama (also in the novel). She is intelligent, brave, and cute, but she holds a hatred towards someone that later is addressed in this drama.
Gao Xuan, the Male Lead, becomes Chun Yu's companion in solving the mystery and overcoming the game's challenges. This character is somewhat mysterious, because of the nature of Gao Xuan in the original source (I will spoil you about him at the end of the review). Casting Wei Zhe Ming as Gao Xuan is perfect, as I have seen him playing antagonists (or semi-antagonists) in the past.
I won't spoil you with the supporting characters, but the many characters are flawed/three-dimensional. As its original source explores characters with the sin of greed, jealousy, selfishness, or anger in their hearts, so does this drama but with positive outcomes.
Besides acting out greed, jealousy, selfishness, or anger, most actors and actresses did a good job of portraying fear, considering they don't face real monsters but greenscreens. The actors' or actresses' facial expressions befit the characters' confusion or stress when facing horrendous situations or trying to solve (time-ticking) puzzles or mysteries.
VISUALS:
This is a death game theme with monsters, puzzles, and mind games, therefore, props, sets, and CGI depicting the darkness and the intensity of each game are a must. They are pretty much well done and some give you jump scare or suspense without gore or horror. I specifically love the jump scare of the first game with the shadow puppets. I have watched many mystery-genre Chinese dramas in which shadow puppets become mysterious aspects, and in this drama shadow puppets are monstrous aspects.
OST:
The ending OST is "The Last Light" by Wang Mi Ran, a Mongolian-descent singer, with the stage name Miya. Actor Xiao Kai Zhong who played the character Zhang Tian Qiang, sang the male version of this OST as an insert song during the scenes with him in it.
SPOILERS (Scroll down if you want to know about 18 levels of hell according to Buddhism, the character of the Male Lead, and the ending)
18 Levels of Hell (Not mentioned in the drama, because it's considered religious - Buddhism belief or mythical/superstition per NRTA censorship)
1. Hell of Tongue-ripping, where those who gossip and spread trouble with their words will repeatedly have their tongues ripped out.
2. Hell of Scissors, where those who destroy someone else’s marriage will have their fingers repeatedly cut off.
3. Hell of Trees of Knives, where those who sow discord amongst family members will be repeatedly hung from trees made of sharp knives.
4. Hell of Mirrors of Retribution, where those who have managed to escape punishment for their crimes while alive will be repeatedly shown their true horrific selves.
5. Hell of Steamers, where hypocrites and troublemakers will repeatedly be steamed “alive.”
6. Hell of Copper Pillars, where arsonists will be repeatedly chained to red-hot pillars of copper.
7. Hell of the Mountain of Knives, where those who have killed for pleasure or without good reason will repeatedly be made to climb a mountain made of sharp blades sticking out of it.
8. Hell of the Mountain of Ice, where adulterers, deceivers of elders, and schemers will be repeatedly left out on a barren mountain of ice to freeze.
9. Hell of the Cauldrons of Oil, where rapists, thieves, abusers, and false accusers will be repeatedly fried in vats of boiling oil.
10. Hell of the Cattle Pit, where those who have abused animals will repeatedly be hurt by animals in turn.
11. Hell of the Crushing Boulder, where those who have abandoned or killed children will repeatedly be made to hold up heavy boulders, eventually being crushed by their weight.
12. Hell of Mortars and Pestles, where those who voluntarily waste food will repeatedly be force-fed hell fire by demons.
13. Hell of the Blood Pool, where those who disrespect others will be thrown in and submerged into a pool of blood.
14. Hell of the Wrongful Dead, where those who have committed suicide—considered deliberately going against the karmic course of the universe—will be forced to repeatedly wander the realm without a way out, while being pelted constantly by the Winds of Sorrow and the Rains of Pain.
15. Hell of Dismemberment, where tomb raiders will have their bodies repeatedly torn into pieces.
16. Hell of the Mountain of Fire, where thieves, robbers, and the corrupt will be repeatedly thrown into the fiery pits of an active volcano.
17. Hell of Mills, where those who have misused their power to oppress the weak will repeatedly be crushed in a stone mill.
18. Hell of Saws, where those who have engaged in unethical or unfair business practices, or exploited loopholes in the legal system, will be repeatedly sawn in half by demons with saws.
Regarding the Male Lead Gao Xuan:
In the novel, Gao Xuan is an antagonist. In the drama, Gao Xuan is a protagonist
Ending:
Overall a happy ending, EVERYONE is alive and played the final game to fight the villain. Broken relationships are mended. There are two romantic couples formed, Chun Yu and Gao Xun are one of the couples.
The last scene depicting a new death game starting is probably just a tease for the possibility of Season 2. So, the drama doesn't end with a cliffhanger or open ending.
Because of this type of a wholesome happy ending, my final rating is 9.5.
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It does stick to its genre of being ROMANCE, COMEDY, HISTORICAL and MILITARY!
NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT!
Well, where to start. hmmmm.
[The Story]
YOU ARE SO GONNA LOVE THE PLOT. Its about a woman pretending to be a guy for the war. She became a war hero so when she revealed to the emperor her real identity, she was pardoned. After knowing she's a woman, the emperor took this chance to marry her off to a prince. This prince is quite opposite to the girl. Their roles here might be a bit reversed however, from time to time, you will see the main girls feminine side bought out by the guy and you will see the guy's manly side bought out by the girl. They complete each other's personality. In the entire series, YOU WILL LOVE the development of the characters relationship. One good thing about this, is that it's not just about the two of them but also how they contribute to their country and how that contribution helped their character progress in time.
[The Ending]
Well, the ending is good but not THAT satisfying. Just finish it and find out for yourself. DONT WORRY, YOU ARE NOT GONNA REGRET IT!
The OST also deserves an applause! It makes you feel SO EMOTIONAL! The song makes you cry out of nostalgia... It makes you feel like the main characters are real people from legend..Their love really feels so real.
[P.S. The main guy sang it too with some other singer which is not the main girl]
Speaking of legend, they kind of remind me of the real ballad of Mu Lan. The main girl is Mu Lan and the guy is her lover. The series really does make you believe that the main characters really were legendary lovers from the past, like they were actually part of history and that you can still feel their love resonance to the present. Watching the series makes you feel like you were back at those ancient time too.
Will I re-watch it? I already did for the 4th time already AND I WILL AGAIN after I finish the rest on my list
Do I recommend it? YEAH! OF COURSE!!! GO WATCH IT NOW!
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Story:
I liked the story. It was actually pretty interesting and different in a way. Some would say that the age gap between the 2 main character is hard to overlook but it was okay for me. What I mean is I wasn't really paying attention to that part as the drama is based around something fictional, the age gap is just a part of that. I like the relation between the two main characters but also with the second couple. The bromance was also a very good part of that drama. I just wish Deok Hwa played a bigger part of the drama. Usually, there are some characters that I don't like in a drama, like a big villain but I just liked every characters here. And also, I enjoyed everything regarding the Grim Reapers organization and especially the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook).
Acting/Cast:
They all did a great job and I think they all suited their role. Gong Yu as always is a very good actor. I was also very surprised by Lee Dong Wook, if was just perfect as the Grim Reaper. Also, Kim Go Eun is a good actress (that I saw in Cheese in the Trap before) but rather than feeling sad with her when she cried (near the end) I was just impressed. I usually don't like the cryings in dramas also so seeing Lee Dong Wook always with teary eyes/crying was kind of hard for me but he did a good job! I also often find the main female lead annoying but she was okay.
Music:
I think Goblin wouldn't have been that great without this OST. Seriously, the music in the drama was just perfect. All the songs were just beautiful. If the music wasn't that good, I think I would have rated the drama 7.5 instead of 8.5.
Rewatch value:
I would probably not rewatch it, or I would skip some parts. The episodes are unnecessarily long.
So why do I think Goblin is overrated?
- There are tons of flashbacks and they are ALWAYS the SAME!!! That was SOOOO annoying! I hate when they do that in dramas. Like they would put the same flashback twice in the same episode and in almost episode... And for what? We didn't forget that happened so why? This is why the episodes are long but it is just long of flashback I think... It could have been maybe 10 minutes shorter if it wasn't for that...
- Then, that wouldn't really affect the rating but it kind of annoyed me to some point.. The product placement here it just too strong. So we can see it everywhere and in every drama but usually it's more subtle than that. They were literally saying: eat SUBWAY and your life will be better. (or something like that). I understand that they needed money to have that good quality in the scenes but come on...
- Then I feel like the story/plot could have been better used... It is kind of a waste of the characters I think. And I wanted to know more about the deities.
So yeah, I'm happy I watched it but I wished the realization of the drama and the use of the characters would have been better handled. When I finished the drama I had a bitter feeling. I enjoyed it and really liked it but I felt like the potential was a bit wasted. So I think there are many more stuff to talk about regarding that drama but I'll just stop here :)
Anyways, Goblin is a drama that need to be seen ! :)
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If you're a die-hard romantic, you simply can't afford to miss this one!
You won't believe how much I'm in love with this series! From the heart-touching soundtrack to the captivating storyline inspired by folklore, everything about it is a perfect balance. The chemistry between the leads is off the charts, and the rest of the cast is equally amazing. The narrative is so beautiful that it never lets you lose interest for a second. And don't even get me started on the bromance between Goblin and The Grim Reaper - it's pure entertainment! Plus, Deuk Hwa's character is just too cute for words. Gong Yoo's charm and wit will leave you swooning, and the female lead and Deok Hwa are absolutely adorable together. The narrative and the poetic elements of the show are so enchanting that they'll make you want to fall in love and believe in magic all over again. If you're a die-hard romantic, you simply can't afford to miss this one!Was this review helpful to you?
PLOT:
Age gap between the leads in dramaland isn't very common. At least not in the way that you'd see the characters ever acknowledging this. I've seen age gaps which were fun or cringe, but this was actually quite nice. The way the drama started off and the interaction between the leads felt like a Western story to me. They form a genuine bond and their love and relationship follows that. I wasn't a fan of the male lead but he was watchable and watching him being in love with the female lead was a lot of fun. The only downsides started after Ep 15 where the good moments were less and secondary melodrama took over. If it weren't for the leads, I wouldn't have watched this nor completed this as none of the secondary characters were interesting. The uncle and the friend were super boring. The drama with the second leads and the mother-in-law didn't go with the plot at all. There were times the drama ignored the cooking aspect and concentrated on some other uninteresting points. I also didn't fully love the food aspect as I am a vegetarian and almost all the dishes had meat in it.
ACTING/CAST:
Zhao Lusi steals the show for me. This role was slightly different from her previous dramas although she always does comedy in all her dramas. She looked fabulous and her playful side always made me smile. I like the fact that she has good chemistry with whoever she acts with. The ML actor was new to me but he did a good job too. He looked older than he was supposed to be, but he never let age get in the way of affecting their chemistry.
OST:
Normally I wouldn't like these kinds of songs, but all of them fit the mood of the drama pretty well.
OVERALL:
If food and romance with a big age gap is your thing, go for it. I would say don't lead the age gap deter you from watching because the leads did a genuinely good job of it. Zhao Lusi is a treat to watch and the food that they show seems delicious. A special mention to the SL because I felt like he matched with the FL better. This drama is a one-time watch and you'll find some delightful moments to watch. If you don't like the leads then don't watch this as the drama doesn't have much else to offer.
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Although it can get a little hectic at times, this is a beautiful story dotted with humour, showing us that love is the same whether we live in a dark or a light world.
I would definitely recommend it!
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To be honest it broke my heart a little. I don't want to spoil anything, just watch it!
The synopsis does not tell a lot about the story and sounds a little bit boring, but trust me, it's good.
Seoyeon's choice surprised me a lot, didn't expect that AT ALL. At the beginning I found Minjae kind of creepy but then I understood what was happening.
The acting was great, they both did an awesome job portraying Seoyeon and Minjae. (In case you didn't know, both of them worked together in Thirty but Seventeen.)
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This review may contain spoilers
Best 2023 Kdrama??
From the acting to the plot, everything about Boyhood was top tier. I loved the action sequences a lot, I wish there were more frightening scenes of Im Siwan without the mask.All of the other actors were great too. One thing I liked about the show was the genre switch, it felt jarring, but quite realistic at the same time.
Unlike most of the other revenge/underdog kdrama, Boyhood wasn't unrealistic. Like, yes Jang Byungtae ended up winning against Gyungtae, but it wasn't because of his strength, but endurance that he had built for YEARS.
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Intense. This Lakorn was one of the first I ever got into watching and It was worth every minute. The story line was so unique and dramatic that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next!
I didn't honestly get interested in the story until the second sister was introduced.
The main actor and actresses pretty faces were icing on the cake to their WONDERFUL acting. Some of the conflicts the actors and actresses were put into seemed to really affect me.
The main lead almost seemed too nice to me though.. if that is possible... and the first female lead introduced in the beginning seemed too naive to the point I got very angry.
The actor who played the main antagonist of this drama did a wonderful job because I truly despised his character with every bone in my body.
I didn't pay attention much to the music because of how interested I was so into the story.
There are a lot of different emotions in this drama and I would recommend going into this lakorn prepared to cry , and very much prepared to become angry.
The chemistry between the leads was not the greatest but somehow it was made up for by the end of the drama.
I definitely recommend this lakorn to anyone looking for a dramatic drama full of secrets, revenge and learning to forgive.
You should definitely check it out!! Enjoy!!!
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the lack of slice of life in cdramas
my sister recommended a drama to me because the male lead is her favorite k-pop idol. i declined several times, but after finishing taeri's drama, i decided to give it a chance. my dear friends or my unfamiliar family showed koreans doing slice of life so well but there's no good slice of life in cdramas, but i found "the forbidden flower" to be an exception. recently, i started watching "sweet games." these types of dramas may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy this genre, "sweet games" is a solid choice. i wish "do you like brahms?" had more comedic scenes like this drama because it strikes a great balance between drama and comedy.Was this review helpful to you?
Heo Im (Kim Nam-Gil) is a very famous acupuncturist doctor who worked in one of Joseon's superintendents, caring for the most needy people. It turns out that at the same time, he was accumulating a lot of wealth going to treat senior officials at night.
The opportunity Heo Im so much hoped emerged: he was cast to treat the King's disease, and completing the treatment, he could finally win the position of a royal doctor.
At the beginning of the journey to palace, he was surprised by a desperate father with his very sick daughter in the lap and decided to leave them waiting, giving priority to the treatment of the king. It occurs that before starting with acupuncture, Dr. Heo's hand began to tremble and he wasn't able to apply even the first needle. The incident was considered an insult to the King and he had to flee the palace before being imprisoned. But the officers chased him and cornered him on a bridge. After receiving an arrow, Dr. Heo fell into the river and traveled in time.
~
Live Up To Your Name, Dr. Heo ... I started to watch without many expectations and I was completely stunned by the script! It is simply amazing and very well written. No flaws, the story flowed very well and was a phenomenal experience. It's from another level. It isn't a simple time travel drama.
The drama is a mix of medical, historical and romantic comedy genres with a more adult twist. The exchange of environments (Joseon / Seoul) is fantastic and very well made and occurs at the most opportune moments. They also succeeded in highlighting the change in medicine between the two centuries, focusing, for example, on equipment such as the needle, herbs, then scalpel, medicines and others.
Oh yeah, the story brings up several other historical points and characters that were important to medicine. The history pass in the time when the Japanese invaded South Korea. Let me cite an example: Dr. Heo Jun (Uhm Hyo Sup) was actually one of the best royal doctor during the King Seonjo Dynasty in Joseon and constantly appears in the drama , bringing brilliant lessons; So we still take a "bath" of historical knowledge.
Acting/Cast
It's even funny because, at the beginning of the drama, I watched two completely flawed protagonists. Dr. Heo had been torn apart by the injustices of the world and could no longer be considered a doctor, for his values had been lost in the arduous path that life was in Joseon. Choi Yeon-Kyung decided to be a doctor after losing her parents and resent her grandfather, she became apathetic (apathy - lack of passion), a little arrogant and did not sympathize with her patients.
The evolution of the characters is the big point of the plot! They with their own faults help each other, correct and grow in an impressive way. And you know what else? The story unfolds at a perfect and exciting pace.
I can say that I followed Dr. Heo's path and that today I am his great fan. That I understood your feelings, your inner conflicts, your responsibilities and your despair. And this is all merit of the brilliant performance of Kim Nam Gil.
The secondary characters are so charismatic and I've been falling in love with them little by little. Everyone has some influence on the plot and their presences have made the story even more unique.
Music
The OST is beautiful and exciting.
Rewatch Value
Yes, this drama has a flaw: it's over. Oh really! I'm missing this drama, I didn't want it to come to an end so quickly.
And the romance? The romance is beautiful! Perfect! The protagonists have a lot of chemistry! Really! And as the Japanese samurai said there in episode 16 ... They look beautiful together!
So if I could honestly say to you guys not to miss a drama that was broadcast in 2017 I would say that's the one. I know a lot of people don't know and didn't follow and that is why I need your help so that this review reaches the hearts of our chingus!
It's a drama to get involved, get excited, have fun and that's exactly what we're looking for!
~ Sorry for my English.
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1B oldly D iving into S omething M emorable
Please bear with me. There are exciting aspects to Hua Yong and Mr Sheng´s story that extend beyond X. However, I am not that convinced by the series overall, despite agreeing that it´s impressive that they actually opened a wild door like this in 2025. I think it´s understandable why this series is hyped so much: It´s bold, it´s fresh -- It´s a lot of things that lovely viewers out there have yearned for. I mean, Omegaverse live action? In my younger years, I would not have thought this could ever be filmed. Yet here we are. What a journey ....So what bothered me?
Where should I start? There are too many confusing, unspoken facts, almost as if some parts were purposely left unfinished. Completely leaving aside how toxic the whole omegaversa is in general ...... Additionally, I think the way they handled the music scores was sort of boring and predictable. Very repetitive. Besides Huang Xing´s (Hua Yong) performance for most parts, the acting was not convincing to me, even a bit frustrating at times. I admit there are some actors new to the industry, and everyone should have the chance to cultivate their skills -- and yet, I have to consider this when reviewing. Overall, the editing and acting were a bit too messy and anticlimactic.
Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the non-conventional take and idea of the story and what they did with it as the first "players in this genre" (Even though there were more coherent elements they could´ve added, especially to the plot of the side couple). I´m hoping to see similarly bold concepts and scripts like ABO Desire in the future.
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Torturously realistic to the point of pessimism
This is a very well-written show with well-developed characters. None of the characters are shown to be particularly good or particularly bad - but as human beings, which is something I greatly appreciate as a writer and avid drama-watcher. The realistic themes covered here will definitely get the viewer to think long and hard about our societal framework and how that can either help or hinder our happiness.Another thing I like is the acting of the main four. Though all of them are subtle with their emotions, they still form distinct personalities which make for great performances overall. Understated acting is perhaps one of the hardest types of acting to accomplish, so I believe the lead actors did a superb job with their characters, being neither overdramatic nor wooden.
A warning for those who want a happy ending: you will be sorely disappointed. The ending is an unconventional one which feels like a missed target. Especially with the emotionally-draining situations the characters are often stuck in, not experiencing even one moment of true happiness, the ending feels like somewhat of a waste, especially for viewers like me who watched the drama as it aired. If you decide to watch this show, be careful to not get too emotionally invested in the main characters as I did.
To close, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys rich character development and unpredictable, yet realistic outcomes. The best part of this show is how incredibly human the characters are, which is something I believe needs to be shown more in movies and TV.
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Bias is forming...........
What kind of a bias? Something that's been plaguing Kdramas for a loooooong time and definitely a major weakness. I'm talking about the villains. Most specifically, the reasons WHY they become villains and/or WHY they target ppl and affiliations. Because it makes for the weakest and lamest traumas that either they or other characters are afflicted with~300 yrs ago your great great great second cousins aunt gave the dog a chicken leg today was supposed to go to my great great great grandpa's nephews cat which is why I cursed them to be allergic to chicken until my wrath is spent, lol, ridiculous shite like that is ruining dramas~
It didn't help that FL felt responsible for something asinine w/o any real reason too and allowed it to destroy and shape her entire life. Didn't help that her own fam mistreated her because of incidents behind her control. A step sister raising hell and causing untold pain to a step sibling who loved her because of a self inflicted inferioty complex. Another side story following the same pattern. Ugh. Here we have the ML of a company whose friend and business partner felt hurt over another partner and company head that thought he'd make a better business leader, so butthurt guy sabotaged and destroyed the company causing the head to suicide and the ML to take the blame which led to a fallout tricking down to the FLs story and her trauma~
Lame bs all around, we see idiotic things making villains and it's really not hard to find things much more worthy than this. But like I said, this plagues Kdramas in the worst way. It shuts me down which is why I said bias. We saw a few scenes of amusement but it didn't shake the rinse and repeat horrible back stories that are being used to shape dramas. Check it out if you want. I say pass~
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