This review may contain spoilers
The Irony of Nirvana is the main theme in this tale of conspiracies chaos and corruption
A curious and carefree Ci ventures out from the safety of her village in the mountains to explore the world below only to literally land in the middle of a political firestorm.Ci’s journey led her to the political home of Pei, where she learned medicine , became an enemy, friend then lover of Wei. She traveled to surrounding villages to bring healing and kindness to the people, and justice for women, landed in the royal palace as a princess, and encountered a couple of wars along the way. Her adventures were nothing short of exciting .
The conspiracies and corruption could at times be convoluted but it was interesting to watch the characters investigate and try and unravel the mess. The show missed an opportunity with the Shadow Sect. Their secrecy and strategy made for an intriguing part of the story but was dropped halfway through the series due to the plot turning more towards war and political wrangling in the palace.
Though Pei started off toxic and controlling towards Ci he evolved nicely into a man who recognized the error of his ways and in turn became a fierce ally of Wei and Yueluo. But like other plots within the series, his political endgame of wanting to raise his status in the court was essentially dropped.
The leads, Wei and Ci, had chemistry and a lot of potential but unfortunately that potential wasn’t fully realized. They had some sweet moments but didn’t become a couple until the last few episodes and even then they barely shared any scenes due to the war. I think they kissed once, finally, in the second to last episode and that was only because they had sex. SMH. There were some missed opportunities for them to be physically closer ie hand holding, kisses, hugs, which would’ve given their romantic bond more credence.
The last few episodes got bogged down with too many war strategy meetings and battle scenes. Sadly, the ending was disappointing but not surprising. My heart broke for Ci. She lost everyone she loved most, which was painful to watch. And though I was not a fan of Pei, I felt so bad for him. For in the end he lost everyone he cared about either due to death or by their choice to leave him. Granted much of that was his own fault but it didn’t make him less sympathetic due to the losses. This was a good series. The acting was good and overall the plot was strong. However, if you’re looking for a romance drama you won’t find it here. It’s mostly a political conspiracy and war drama.
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so bad and I don't mean bad in a good way
Not really sure what to say really UGH!!For me a lot of what was going on made no sense and the story was well I thought all over the place.
A lot of the acting from most of the characters especially the support/side characters was beyond cringe.
Its like they didn't even bother to test people for the roles they got before giving them their parts.
Almost like they grabbed random people they saw on the street and gave them a part or
because the actors that got roles just happen to be signed with the agency. Sorry but acting or singing or any other talent you either have it or you don't.
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STORY: 10/10
The main cast returns from the first season with a few new wonderful additions. The new supporting cast members help reinforce and close open-ended story-lines from the last season which helps launch this season into a whole new direction. Season 2 continues true to form, dealing with similar issues as season one, but also tackling new issues such as family, mixing business with pleasure, monogamy, and issues that same-sex couples have to deal with when starting lives together. This season is longer than the last, having 7 episodes with each one clocking in at almost 49 minutes. The writers of this show make use of the time given to again beautifully develop each character with intelligent writing, relatable scenarios, and thought-provoking dialogue.
ACTING: 10/10
Holy smokes! Some of the most realistic and emotional acting in any BL drama I have ever watched. Arm's character is yet again a standout as this season focuses on fleshing out his character and shows him as more than just a one-nightstand type of guy. Ten (who plays Arm) really gave his character a new profound depth that we saw a hint of in season one, but dives deeper into his past and insecurities. Nat's character stands out for me in this season as well, and I think he may have been my favorite character of the season. In season one, Nat's character was always very calm, patient, and understanding. this time we see Nat pushed to his emotional limits as certain events cause him to become unhinged. It was so fascinating to see that side of his character and he pulls it off well, nothing too extreme or character damaging. I also want to mention the new added actress who plays Satang's friend. She had very little to work with in terms of development and story-line but boy did she work with what she had! She blew me away and I wish there was more screen-time with her character (Here's hoping for season 3).
MUSIC: 9.5/10
The only reason this is getting a 9.5 is because I can't say I remember a lot of the music. Not to say that it was bad because it was great. But there was nothing that I would say I could point out as my favorite.
REWATCH VALUE: 10/10
I would watch this season again ten-times over. This season went above and beyond the first and I truly hope they continue with at least one more season
OVERALL: 10/10
A Masterpiece. I know most of you may think I am giving to much hype and praise for this series, but it truly deserves it, in my personal opinion. This season did a great job of fleshing out all the characters and showing how we sometimes make mistakes, but instead of regretting the past we use it to become better for the future. The ending of season 2 is again open-ended and I hope there will be a season 3. Usually the lifespan for a BL drama is 2 seasons but I hope this show will be an exception. I need at least one more season to curve my withdraws.
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This review may contain spoilers
Realistic portrayal of the effects of war in a soldier's life
As someone who read the novel prior watching the drama, I am delighted with the book's screen adaptation. There were brilliant scenes that were awesome and portrayed more than what I imagined those to be. Great job to the TWOT family for a job well done!I'll start with the parts that truly impressed me.
✨ The way Song Ran was thrown backwards during the live broadcast of the war that erupted a few miles away from the hotel where she stayed at - EP.1 This is just pure art and is brilliantly executed, giving me a glimpse of the dangers in a war correspondent's life.
✨ Azan and Ranran's first meeting. I remembered I squeed that time because the main leads' chemistry is just like that bomb - explosive.
✨ Introducing Rina, Sia and Zoro in the drama. These characters were not present in the book but adding them in the drama brings more depth into the story. Rina's death is a good reason for Saxin to become a soldier. In the book, Saxin played a minor character and it just mentioned that he became a soldier (from a journalist) because if he doesn't, then the younger ones will be the one to do it. Sia and Zoro being the kids in the photo CARRY is just perfect. It's beyond my expectations really. And that photo was powerful as just as how it was described in the book.
✨ Acting. I absolutely love Chen Zheyuan's acting here. I've seen him in other dramas but nothing compares to his performance in this drama. He is top notch! Jiang Lie also performed excellent in most parts. Though there are scenes where I think she can do better but overall, it's a powerful performance from her.
✨ OSTs. This drama boasts of great soundtracks that gave me LSS throughout but Te Amo is just on another level. It's gold!
✨ Cinematography. The scenery, the lighting, color, visual effects, everything just blend perfectly justifying its tag as an S-drama.
Now, here are the reasons why this drama is only a 9/10 for me. Some storylines fell short of my expectations. This is a problem with me as having read the book first because I can't turn off my filter all throughout. I know there would always be differences between the book and the series but there were things I wished were included in the drama such as follows:
🤦 Azan and Ben's competitive fight. In the book, Azan requested to join the Special Joint Force but to do so, he needs to pass the training at the American training ground. Btw, Ben is described as an American in the book. Caucasians, having natural advantage in body built and height, were looking down on Azan, Ben particularly. Azan was given a "special treatment" all throughout the training and by the end of the day, he was forced to duel with Ben where he emerged victorious. That's how he earned Ben's trust and respect and they became brothers from then on.
🤦 The school bullying arc. It fell flat for me because this story was supposed to show us the power of a renowned journalist's words, that it could have a ripple effect that's beyond her control. I think there could be a better way to portray that scene.
🤦 The September 26 event. I wish the drama sticked to the original material, i.e. Azan threw the suicide bomber inside the house where a family of six were hiding which is eventually the cause of his first trauma. It is more powerful and will effectively support the later episode's scene about a family inside the dungeon trapped with explosives and how Azan overcame his trauma by saving that family.
🤦 There are a few scenes that are just not making sense like in episode 1, Song Ran removed her helmet and threw it away while running for her life as the bomb was about to explode. Why did she remove the helmet??? 😭 Another one is her going to war sites without wearing any protective gear like helmet and a PRESS bulletproof vest. The battle at Mt. Matuman, it should have been done at nighttime because they were planning a sneak attack on one of the terrorists' strongholds. Why in the daylight when you will clearly be visible from the enemies??? And lastly, Ben's death. Ben died in the book when he tried to save Azan. He was captured and tortured to death in front of Azan's eyes which added to his severe PTSD. In the drama, it's just unacceptable that they killed him just like that. If he already escaped and got back to the base whole, he should have survived by all means. If the plan is to kill him in the drama, then they should have done it in a very convincing way. It's so anti-climactic to be honest.
Anyway, these flaws didn't hinder me from enjoying the drama. It's one of the best I've ever seen and would still recommend it though with caution since it could trigger negative emotions for those unprepared. I, myself, cried a lot the first time I read the book. And even after reading it for the third time, I still feel deep pain inside. It's truly a wonderful masterpiece with a powerful performance from all casts and staff.
Congratulations TWOT family!
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I was first interested in this lakorn because of the early teasers that were released. It looked like it was gonna be really funny. At this point, I hadn’t read the synopsis which I rarely ever do, to begin with.
☆Story☆
At first, I thought the story was off to a good start but then somewhere around the middle it started to get extremely repetitive – seriously like no other! I also think the pregnancy side of things were done extremely badly. Without going into too much detail, I thought the insemination process was done well – though I’m not an expert – but anything else that follows in a “normal, real life” pregnancy I felt was done very badly. There were no follow up appointments unless the female lead had just narrowly escaped yet another attempt on her and unborn baby’s life. If a writer is going to use a plot such as this one, at least try to make it a tiny bit realistic.
At times, I felt like the plot was dragging and next to nothing was happening so they could’ve easily cut the episode down by at least three.
☆Characters☆
I’m not even gonna lie – I disliked/hated most of the characters, except for perhaps two couples. As the story progressed, I started to find more and more characters annoying for one reason or other. Without revealing who is paired up I actually started skipping the third couple pretty early on because I found them extremely boring. I couldn’t force myself to watch them anymore – unless they were talking to other characters I did like.
I thought the male lead was really nice in trying to keep the promise he made to his brother, but I also feel that his methods were somewhat unorthodox. Sometimes it was funny and sometimes it felt kinda creepy. I don’t really know how to describe it. They had great chemistry straight from their first scene together.
I loved the bromance between Kim and his friend (I forgot his name) – the shenanigans were really funny. The sisterhood was probably the best thing because I feel like its not covered as well as other countries who do them – unless I’m not watching the right ones lol. This one was really good cos these girls had each other’s backs like they were biological sisters.
I thought the villain was pretty obvious almost from the beginning although they tried hard to make it seem like it was someone else and for about a minute I almost fell for it but after watching more than enough of these types of plots you kinda start to pick up on certain things. Their motive, actions + reasoning I felt was insane even for a Lakorn.
☆Music☆
Well, it’s a Thai drama so not much by way of music that left a lasting impression, but I liked the one they almost always use in every lakorn and two other ones they played like a broken record.
☆Rewatch Value☆
Overall, I enjoyed watching this, but I wouldn’t rewatch – mostly because I don’t make a habit of rewatching Lakorns unless I liked it a whole lot, like on the levels of Game Sanaeha. Some parts I felt were a little bit too much for my taste so just because you see a pink cover doesn't mean the content will be all soft and cuddly like a teletubbie lol. I didn’t like those darker parts, but I liked that they had a mixture of comedy + dramatics.
If you are someone who enjoys the male protecting the female, constant bickering, fake/hate-love relationships, comedy and romance and nothing I’ve said has swayed you at this point – not that that’s my intention!!! - then you might enjoy this if not just for the cudorable that is Toey.
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When it first aired I dropped it because the introduction was really bad but nothing surprising since I usually don't enjoy introductions in historical dramas (or introdutions in general), but I'm SOOOO glad I decided to give it another try even if it was just because I'd recently became a fan of Jang Hyuk but I skipped the introduction part and suddenly, when Bong Sam becomes a fully grown man, the story becomes really interesting and addicting to the point I never got bored once. It's actually hard to let go of this drama T-T
There are lots of interesting characters in this drama, specially Shin Seok Ju (believe it or not, I love him so much! He's an adorable villain!), Gil So Gae (another adorable villain with so much charisma) and of course Cheon Bong Sam (I love, love love him!). These three made confused as to whom I should cheer for LOL.
The story is about the merchant class and one merchant who will go through all obstacles following his principles and going against anything and anyone to do what he has to do to survive and also what is right. For fairness (and to survive), he goes against the powerful head merchant, the nobles and the palace if he has to.
Cheon Bom Sam's journey is definetely worth it. The story has a perfect pace, it's intriguing and keeps you curious through all the 41 episodes and I can't stress enough how amazing acting is.
The only con I can think of (and it is a weak one) is that it should've ended a little sooner so that the ending would've been stronger.
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the story in the beginning may seem normal to you and similar to political dramas, but its not really the cast were smart in their movements and the tricks and schemes from all sides were good which makes it very interesting to watch, it didnt drag quite the opposite the number of episodes were pretty good and keeps you attached.
The acting for me was flawless, perfect choice of cast, I mean its Nam Gong Min and he is certainly a top rated actor, nevertheless the rest of the cast was just about right.
The script lines, hidden messages, and quotes hanging on the walls were really good. I would recommend this show to anyone without a second thought.
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Break Up Service
13 people found this review helpful
1This review may contain spoilers
A Fun Ride! My first ever Rom-Com to get a 9.5 / 10 Rating from me ;)
Came for the Guest roles / Cameos but found a Very Funny n REFRESHING drama.Hilarious, Very Sweet, Cute (and Sad during Break ups)!
I can't or usually struggle to watch Lengthy Romance Dramas of 16, 24 or 30+ episodes but this show with 12 eps is right to my taste.
Even the show format -- One Case per Episode, makes it more interesting (n easy on mind, to follow their love that is slowly built, without any toxicity)
Also, all my fav actors of GMMTV are in this, which gives more reason to love this :)
***
The Fresh theme of "Break up and Get Paid" is executed with a Positive & Hilarious Tone!
The concept "Break up Service" - that job -- Separate the couple as per client's request n Get paid by the client, is something New to me.
Though the job description looks morally bad or questionable, it's funny.
( Like Dating apps n matrimonial sites, Break up service is a good business idea, Haha -- Anything n Everything can happen in this modern age but for sure, the owner n the employees will go to Hell, if breaks up a good couple, breaking up a cheating couple is fine, I guess ;) )
Even their competitor, "Destiny" -- Make a couple fall in love as per client's request and Get Paid, looks different and cool.
***
All the cases handled by Break up service n Destiny companies n the main story have compelling storyline.
All the cases are Funny n Interesting, some are Emotional too.
Overall, a Good blend of Comedy + Different theme (break up service or Destiny) + Cute love story (main) + Sad love stories (cases), Everything in right proportions that keeps the viewer interested.
There's no moment of boredom throughout the drama.
It's so good that I can rate it higher than usual rom-coms! :)
*** ACTORS / CHARACTERS:
All Actors (main n supporting cast) performed very well.
Every character is well written.
Not just one or two, entire supporting characters are funny.
Special mention: Godji is hilarious as usual.
All the guest roles in each ep / each case are fun to watch.
The competition between the companies is funny n later the team work after merging of companies is very cool.
A Test to morality for Char Jued (Jorin) (viewer too?). She believes that breaking up any couple, good or bad, by a third party is not correct morally and
A Test to prejudiced faith of Char Boss (Off). He believes that Relationships are Fragile and any third person can affect them. He doesn't believe in strong love until he met Jued.
Boss - Jued moments are very sweet.
Off - Jorin's chemistry is very natural n cute, want them to be paired in future projects too, as Serious Off & Naughty Sweet Jorin!
Jorin (actor) is cute n Jued (char) is funny.
Boss falling for Jued but in denial, initially and later fell hard for her, is funny n sweet.
Off in women attires (female disguises of Boss) in every ep, is not at all Odd, instead Very Pretty & funny!
Usually, Off's comedy tone - Goofy n Chaotic, this is exactly what Jorin does here.
Jorin is like a Mini Version of Off here :)
While Off is all serious n dedicated to break up couples here, is funny.
(He did diverse roles very well in his previous works - comedy to serious).
Off n Tay interactions are sweet n funny.
Boss getting hurt after every Break up project, is funny.
It's like "Instant Punishment" for a sin, haha.
The Only time, he didn't get hurt after a break up is of Jued n her two timing bf (ep 1). So it's a good deed! :)
*** EPISODES / CASES:
Every ep starts funny, especially their investigations n disguises but turns emotional in the end.
***
Ep 1 / case 1: Jued & her bf
Cheating bf - Break up!
Also, Boss broke up his Boss, Chan n his wife.
(So two break ups in this ep)
Jued joined Break up service but is confused between her morals n professional requirements.
Guest role: Title
***
Ep 2 / case 2: The content creator couple
Faking sweetness without respect towards each other - Break up!
Guest role: Force, Jamie
***
Ep 3 / case 3: BL Ship
A BL actor who is shipped with his co-star, is in a secret relationship with another guy, who wants their relationship to be out in open, thereby troubles arise in professional n personal lives. Break up!
(But the essence of the ep is sad - Actors can't date in real life, especially when they are shipped with an on-screen partner (actor or actress). They really have to sacrifice true love sometimes for career or have to maintain a secret relationship, Tiring n SAD! )
Main Guest role: Drake, Aungpao, Prom
***
Ep 4 / case 4: Childhood sweethearts
Broke up once n reconciled but then have different life goals. Break up!
Guest role: Win, Emi
***
Ep 5 / case 5: The secret lovers / love triangle
Very funny, sweet n sad ep.
The secret lovers' bond is strong & Break up service's mission failed!
Here during this case mission, Boss n Jued became soft to each other
Fun moments:
Why is Jued so funny n silly!?
Her investigations about Khao's probable bfs are very hilarious.
Godji n Jorin are funny.
That funny surprised look of lady librarian when she saw her impersonator, "Lady" Boss!
This is their first failed case n so Boss didn't get hurt, haha.
For a moment, thought Kay deviated from his usual bad boy roles, surprised to see him all sweet n innocent initially but in the end, he is back to his usual role, haha.
He totally slays Bad Guy roles!
Guest role: Kay, Piploy n Tee
(Piploy with glasses looks like a cute female version of Mark Jiruntanin)
***
Ep 6 / case 6: Jealous ex gf, in between a sweet couple
The jealous ex gf is the client n Jued is against the company's requirements - opposes breaking her friends' love. But Break up!
So Jued resigns.
Guest role: Jan, Sing, June
***
Ep 7 / case 7: Married couple
Husband suspects his wife, having an affair with a young guy at her office.
"Destiny" is introduced here.
Jued hires "Destiny" to help Sing and Jan from case 6, to reconcile.
Married couple didn't break up.
Wife breaks up with her young lover.
Finally, Boss accepts that he loves Jued but a love rival, Tee (actor Foei) is introduced n so Boss's jealous era has started.
Guest role: Jeeratch.
Kapook and Foei are introduced as supporting cast.
***
Ep 8 / case 8: A gal with her three men
Funniest, Sweetest n Saddest ep!!
All favs in one ep - Namtan, Junior, Pod (n obviously, Tay, Foei, Off n Jorin )
The gal (Namtan's char) is in a polyamorous relationship with three men.
One of them, a rich older married man wants her to marry him, leaving the other two guys and is now a client to "Break up service".
Meanwhile, another guy (Junior's char), a budding author hires "Destiny" to make her his gal.
Sad to see Boss being sad seeing his crush, Jued confessing to Tee :|
For a change, Jued got hurt after the case, which usually happens to Boss :O
Cinematography in this ep is amazing.
Fun moments:
Funny - that surprise plot twist of Art (Pod), "Me too" said by 3 gals n a guy, haha.
Jealous Boss is Sweet.
Guest role: Namtan, Junior, Pod
***
Ep 9:
Case 8 continues. Break up!
Destiny and Break up service get into a tough competition and are working very hard, haha.
Rose (Jingjing) is introduced as Break up service's another team lead n Jued is jealous
Finally, Boss confessed to Jued! :)
Fun moments:
Junior n Namtan as finger licking elites are funny n cute, haha.
***
Ep 10 / case 9: Boss' boss, Chan n his ex wife.
Hilarious ep.
Chan's ex wife is about to marry another guy (fake fiancé or real?)
Both the companies get into competition -- One to break them and another to make the wedding happen.
And the teams within Break up service also get into a tough fight.
Guest role: Bangkok boy
***
Ep 11: Chan's case continues
The Chaos of case 9 continues. Hilarious!
There are big Surprises, Great Plot Twists and the secret about the spy from Destiny in Break up service is revealed.
OMG, the biggest plot twist is Oat! Haha.
Chan n his wife reconciled.
Fun moments:
Boss n Tee, challenging each other to fight, that entire scene is funny.
Chan: "Psycho Stephen Oppa is kidnapped, so no wedding, Aigoo!"
Next moment in the red rose scene, that Surprise look on his face when he saw that Stephen Oppa under the blanket. Aigoo! 🤭
***
Ep 12 / case 10 : Boss & Jued case - Break up to reconcile forever?
Both the companies merged and their first case is their co-workers Boss - Jued.
Lot of chaos!
Oat confessed to Boss but got rejected.
Boss - Oat friendship is strong but sad from Oat's POV.
Finally, Boss n Jued met again at the same place where they met first, like a dreamy romantic event.
Love the way how both the companies (Break up service n Destiny) merged and worked to break them up but later helped them to reconcile! :)
Me Sad, seeing my baby Tay (Oat) getting rejected and heart broken but then New's cameo cheered me up. Aigoo! :)
*** ENDING:
Aigoo, such a Sweet Closure to the Story, to Every Character n to the Drama! :)
Closing dialogues of Jued:
"It's undeniable that Relationships are Fragile. Whether to let it stay broken or choose to fix it, in the end, it is up to us to decide! "👌🏻
Overall, this is a Light-hearted Drama without much toxic characters n doesn't affect the viewer emotionally, though there are many break ups.
OST by Satang is Good.
***
My first ever Rom-Com (hetero couple) to get a 9.5 / 10 Rating from me ;)
Totally, a Fun Ride!
If U are looking for some light-hearted drama to sit back n relax while watching or to pass the time, then Don't Miss to watch this lovely drama!
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Jopokin Naege Namjachinguga Saenggyeosseo
13 people found this review helpful
too many characters/love rivals - also deja vu???
Overall: though I was excited for a gangster romance, this vertical mini series was a let-down. Originally watched unsubbed on ShortMax (also has Kiss Me With Unspoken Love and My Uncle, My Ex-Boyfriend). 70 episodes under 2 minutes each. Watched May 2025 on Shortime episodes 1-10 free to watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTFqKh1zTrY My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus. Upon re-watch, I realized it has several plot similarities to KinnPorsche to the point that if someone had said it was a Korean adaptation, I would have believed them.Content Warnings: murder/death, blood, sexual assault, non con kiss, beaten up/violence, non con picture taking, blackmail?, past murders, rape?, kidnapping/held against will, torture, victim blaming, manipulation
What I Liked
- the tie pull
- sweet moments
- a few actual okay kisses
- good he didn't kiss him when the other guy was passed out in ep 27
- visuals
- good ending
Room For Improvement
- way too many love triangles/love rivals
- several camera blocked/cut to black kisses
- jumpy between episodes at times
- one character needed to stop drinking
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
App Information/How to Watch for Free ShortMax
- you don't have to create a login for the app
- daily check ins were between 20-30 coins plus ability to double if I watched an add
- watched 6 ads for 25 coins each (wait time in between) plus 10 bonus for having watched all 6
- watched 10 free episodes per day (if you are out of coins, on the pop up on the lower right there should be an option to watch an ad to watch an episode)
- episodes cost 50 coins, you can't watch out of order, once unlocked they stay unlocked
- I was able to watch about 14 episodes per day, if starting at zero coins, that would take about 5 days
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Story: I have to be honest here and say reincarnation and time-traveling stories are a dime in a dozen in Chinese dramas to the point the Chinese authorities had to regulate it! Melding modern with ancient Chinese settings is also pretty common. Having deities, ghosts, vampires etc as characters has been done for the umpteenth time! The strength of the story lies in the love triangle between the three main characters. Love triangle? Yeah - common amongst commons in Asian dramas! But the selling point here is......you can't really tell who's the male lead! In fact, I believe both men in the love triangle are the male leads. They are equally outstanding and equally worth your support as they both fought for the female lead's affections. So, you'll end up as either Team Ya Long or Team Si Yin. And true to Chinese drama, the romance is of tragic nature. That, however, shouldn't deter you from watching this drama because if you're like me in appreciating a good story and good characterization, you'll agree with the ending of this story. The good news is, it's not an open ending and it is one that will give you a sigh. I actually feel that after all the three people had been through, it's a fitting and compassionate ending.
Another nice addition to the drama is how first impressions may not be the right impression. Ya Long was characterized as the evil vampire - indiscriminately killing, possessive, arrogant, looking down on humans as food etc. First impression and even throughout the drama, he played the role of the vampire to a T. Then, he fell in love and didn't know what to do with it! At first, he dealt with it poorly but slowly, you start to see his point of view and before you know it, you are rooting for him! Then, at the end as his past-life story is revealed, you start to have split feelings about whom the female lead should end up with. His character was dealt at least a couple of twists! I also love Si Yin's character. First impression and throughout, he played the character of the nice guy who sacrificed all the time for the female lead. You couldn't help but feel sorry for him when it slowly became clear that his is most likely gonna end as an unrequited love. Then came the twist and you start to question if the female lead actually did feel something for him! She has many touching and loving moments with him. Just as you think you should switch your loyalties, his past-life story revealed a different character and you'll realize that Mr. Gentleman-Good Guy ain't Mr. Gentleman-Good Guy after all! There is a reason why he out of the three of them, got punished in the worst ways throughout all his reincarnations! And lastly, our female lead's character is pretty standard in most Asian dramas - bright, bubbly, innocent, bumbling, sometimes incorrectly street smart....she provided the bulk of the comedy in this drama. However, you'll find out at the end of the drama that where female leads are concerned, you'd prefer not to be in her shoes. Without giving too much away, I can summarize her character by saying she is the comedy and the tragedy of this drama.
There are also clear indications in this drama that the author of this story is influenced by both eastern and western beliefs and culture. Ya Long is very much a western vampire - with his sensitivity to sun, silver and the wooden stake. You will also be treated to some popular western myths re. creation such as the creation of a woman from a man's rib. I will not comment re. the author of this story (Vivibear - she's Chinese-Swedish which explains the western influence) and her fame as the Queen of Plagiarism. I'll just leave my review of the story at this: it's interesting enough to capture your attention and is worthy as a drama marathon material, BUT it is not outstanding! Hence, I rate the story at 8.5/10.
Acting/Cast: It is not often that we are treated to two male characters who are equally deserving as the male lead. Both Ma Ke and Fu Xin Bo shone through the drama. They embraced their characters to perfection! The female lead, Zhou Yu Tong, though not the prettiest and most outstanding female lead, adequately portrayed Ye Yin - a modern 18-year-old at the cusp of womanhood but still very much a little girl at heart. When you watch the drama and realize that the female lead is just 18-year-old, you'll understand why Yu Tong had to switch from being sometimes a girl and sometimes speaking and behaving like a mature woman. She's very much a modern teenager in ancient times! Special mention to Nie Zi Hao as Fei Niao (Ye Yin's senior). For a newcomer, he's doing really well. I hope to see him in a main role soon. The rest of the cast did an excellent job too! Hence, I gave the acting 9.0/10.
Music: The OSTs are worth downloading. My personal favorite is the ending OST by A2A. "....the happiness I once had, has come to the end of the road...your love is too blinding... what I wanted I cannot stop...in the end, there is only loneliness......love becomes a burden...." The lyrics aptly described the story.
Re-watch value: It took me 2 days to marathon this drama. I will not be re-watching it anytime soon but I think there will come a day when I become bored and unmotivated with the currently available dramas (aka Drama Slump) and this drama may serve as an adequate reprieve to that sort of boredom.
Overall: This is a drama worth watching but it is not a 9.0 and above sort of drama (if you get my meaning!). My only beef with this drama in terms of the production is the poor visual effects. I understand that it's not a big production like Eternal Love or Novoland, but the special effects can be better. However, if you can grit your teeth and turn a blind eye to the poor visual effects, the story will shine through. Overall, I rate this drama 8.5/10.
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Thrilling, haunting and beautiful
Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a much worthy Special episode and Sidequel to the original Kingdom series, and is a must watch if you enjoyed the preceding series.If you haven't yet watched the first two seasons of Kingdom I highly recommend you to do so before watching this one. The seasons only have six episodes each and are easily devoured in a day or two. Watching it will give you everything you need to enjoy this Special episode and its splendour to the fullest.
Compared to the original series this one feels even darker. Together with the beautiful cinematography and excellent storytelling the Kingdom universe truly comes alive in the most chilling way during these 90 minutes.
Jun Ji Hyun is perfect for the role as the mysterious Ashin. With a main character with very few lines she still manages to deliver Ashin to the viewers in such a convincing and raw way. Jun Ji Hyun's potrayal of her makes Ashin feel less of a character in a fictional world filled with horror and monsters, but more like a real person dealing with pain and betrayal in a world filled with darkness.
There is no doubt that Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a well-written high quality production that lives up to the anticipation.
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Deserves More Love - A Real Surprise
I'm so glad I saw Egg and Stone through to the end. The first few episodes have some over-the-top and slapstick humor so I did not expect the show to include such well written and serious scenes for the romance and main plot as the show progressed. The over-the-top bits of humor definitely subside as the episodes go on, but still come through in welcome doses. I love how this show was able to blend elements of silliness into a solid story of a woman and her new found friends journeying through the martial arts world. I laughed out loud while watching, appreciated the WTF moments, and experienced a variety of emotions as I watched the characters evolve. I didn't expect to be so touched.I'm sad to see the ratings for this drama be rather low by MDL standards because I really enjoyed this show. I heard comedy and decided to give it a chance even though the title didn't sound too appealing to me. I had no investment in any of the leads, so I watched purely out of curiosity and for entertainment.
I think Xu Lu and Caesar Wu did an amazing job together. They were committed to their roles and the relationship between their characters was beautiful.
I originally was going to give this show a 9 or 9.5, but when I filled out the stars category and gave everything a 10... well... I'm going to give it a 10 because it deserves better, MDL!!! If you are on the fence about watching, please give it a fair chance.
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This kdrama is not worth your time
This kdrama would’ve been perfect if they just explained the reason on why these people are suffering.. and there are so many unexplained scenes and I literally can’t understand. Especially the way in episode 2 they did not get a tarot card.. and why was there unnecessary inappropriate scenes like they could’ve just portrayed the “cheating” without showing any nudity. The only things I like about this drama was how good the acting was..literally the best. Also the plot twists were insane. Dex episode literally was funny and he slayed the role, the child actors were really good too. I hope they make another season to explain everything because if they did I would give this kdrama 10/10.Was this review helpful to you?
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Madly in love
This Kluen and Dao story was such a warm, lovely one. I was smiling throughout the end. Kluen is such a flirt, and Daonuea is cute and funny. Maithee and Sean got pranked by Kluen and Nuea. Typhoon got an admirer, and I am really happy for him. Northern star found the sea waves. Kluean and Dao came a long way together and were madly in love. Joong and Dunk did justice to their respective characters. Ne and Sean were cute and funny. Maithee was awesome. Kluen finally got his morning star for himself.Was this review helpful to you?
