Reviews

It's alright

I will be honest, the storyline was so dumb and a little boring (for me, but I had good laughs). Aside from that, my real issue with the storyline was that troubles spawned out of nowhere, and when they were solved, they disappeared and were mostly never acknowledged. Still, whenever I'm bored, I watch this series, it has a special place in my heart and I cherish it with all its imperfections.

Going into positive things!

- JoongDunk chemistry was on point. Whenever they kissed I was like: "I also want to kiss a guy like that."
- The theme song was a banger, it is playing 24/7 inside my mind
- Can Dunk look prettier?
- Why is Joong so handsome?
- Kot was a real one for standing up for his friend.

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One of the rare down to earth lakorns.  

I honestly admired RIn,  she was very patience, caring, loving, and her skills, she cooks, cleans, she plants, make perfumes. I don't think that I have got half of her skills as a wife.   She protected her calmness when her husband's ex-gf suddenly came to destroy her wedding.  She endured her even after getting married.

I loved the advice the mother give to her daughters. " Do you think marriage is like fairy tales that you read in book"  & about a heart can change.  

Saran's ma advices to her son...     " Love is like pen & paper " " Spoon & Fork"  you can love / marry  someone out of your circle ( matching-suitor- someone richer - poorer- different culture-beliefs-religion etc ) but this may not always work.  (this type of relationships)

Saran & Ri they slowly fall in love,  Although I'm against arranged marriages, but arranged marriages still exists and not all ends up like Saran & Ri's.

When you fall in love slowly, you learn to respect, but when you marry someone you already know / in love, after a while you lose that spark,  

This lakorn is set in 1950's and you can that vibe from the music, outfit, cars & surroundings. I really really enjoyed the OST,  it was pleasant almost very relaxing.

Also we have Villains called White Tiger,  who uses black magic, now this is not everyone's cup of tea for me it's the power of the words. Believing into something  too much and making  it real.

She has two younger sisters, One gets married after her but her marriage crumbles down in a short time. Saran's friend is wooing Rin's little sister, she's the only clever one after Rin.  

Sisters  don't get much screen time.  I totally recommend it. It's not your usual lakorn

No matter what I love the connection between three sisters,  we only see the two of them arguing it's Rin & the middle sister, that's because  Saran refused to help her husband on his illegal rice exporting business,  (that reminded me something very  similar happened in my family when my mother was still a child funny enough in the 1950's like in this lakorn.   All three of them were protective of each other, none of the other sisters made Ri felt like she's adopted,  but she always slept with the maid, until Saran's friend starts to investigate.  Her story sort of reminded me of Cinderella, how she was doing all the housework while her step  sisters are   socializing.
She hopes that her husband will be back and take her so they can continue to live together but the end all she got is a failure from her husband.

Ri's story towards the end may surprise you

I love how both mothers were good towards Rin, except the bitchy ex & stupid White Tiger everything is all ok.

If you find the ex gf annoying like me, just wait through the end she's gonna get a nice slap by Rin's sister.  

What I love about Korean, Chinese - Thai Dramas they use karma ..  being quite spiritual myself I believe in karma.

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PLOT: Ambiguous
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That's the best way I can describe it. After I'd finished watching this drama, I remember feeling satisfied but somewhat confused. No matter how much I wanted to write a review, I refrained because I was uncertain what the point of the story was besides getting the main leads together.

If you've read the synopsis, you know the protagonists survived the collapse of a shopping mall. So at first, I thought the story was about the leads working to make sure a tragedy like that didn't repeat. Except the story moved into a different territory, exploring why the mall collapsed in the first place. So then I assumed the plot was about finding out who was really responsible for the tragedy... only to realize that was barely touched upon. So next I wondered if it was about building the memorial for the victims' families and, in so doing, allowing our leads time to accept what happened and heal... But by the end of the story, none of those things mattered. In fact, some of those plot points were left completely unattended or brushed over.

So what was this story about?

It took me a bit of reflection to find the common thread that wove everything together. This is a story of hurt and comfort, simple as that. All the characters, each in their own way, were hurting. And, as the story progressed, they each found some measure of comfort and peace. But despite the heartwarming story, some plot-points did drag the narrative and bogged it down, extending the plot unnecessarily. That is not to say the story isn't good, but that is exactly the problem. If it had had a clearer plot, it would've elevated this story to greatness.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Sensitive & emotional
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The strongest point of this drama is probably the main characters, their acting and their chemistry. It's also worth noting that the characters stay very consistent, growing with each episode in a believable way.

Lee Kang Doo (male lead played by Lee Jun Ho): His character kept me engaged. He's not an unusual character, but I've more often than not seen his type in a supporting role rather than a lead. Kang Doo is a character who's hurting but he doesn't know how to ask for help. In fact, at his core, he doesn't think he deserves to be helped. He clings to life by sheer force of will, hiding his insecurities behind a wall of impatience and anger. But his bark is louder than his bite and, though he's rough, his true gentle heart shines through his every action.

Ha Moon Soo (female lead, played by Won Jin Ah): Her character is a perfect balance for Kang Doo. If he's like fire, she's like a gentle river. She flows calmly, abundantly and consistently. She's almost always in control of her life and emotions, which allows her to help those around her. She's a good person through and through, and a nurturing one at that. I really enjoyed her character, especially when her control broke to let out her real feelings and, with it, give us a glimpse of the pain she's been hiding. She was the most balanced and emotionally intelligent character out of the entire cast.

ANTAGONIST: None
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Although there are characters that act antagonistic, their role wasn't really that impactful. So I'd call them blunders more than antagonists.

SUPPORT CHARACTERS: Sympathetic
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Seo Joo Won (second male lead played by Lee Ki Woo): He was a complex character, presented as someone who wanted to move forward, but who couldn't let go of the past because he was still very much hurting. He was also a likable character from beginning to end.

Jung Yoo Jin (second female lead played by Kang Han Na): She's Seo Joo Won's former fiance who's still in love with him. Despite Joo Won not reciprocating her feelings, she was a strong, dignified, intelligent and sympathetic character. Unlike the standard second lead female, she never once tried to force her love upon Joo Won, nor did she blame Ha Moon for being the recipient of Joo Won's affections. Another thing of note is that she becomes friends with Lee Kang Doo.

PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Sweet & tender
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The relationship between Kang Doo and Ha Moon is tender and nurturing. As I stated, this is a story about hurt and comfort, so we got plenty of that. There was a lot of chemistry between the characters, which allowed the progression of their relationship from strangers to co-workers to friends to lovers to feel organic and natural.

The pace was well maintained. It was a slow burn, but when it burned, it did so brightly. Sadly, it did sizzle in the middle (lost some momentum) under an overdose of unneeded drama. It's worth noting that I'm not a fan of getting a couple together, then tearing them apart unless there's a believable reason for it. In this case, I do question at least one of the reasons towards the end because it felt very out of character. That aside, the overall romance is heartwarmingly sweet.

Here are some of the highlights:
1) I enjoyed the transition from friends to lovers and appreciated that Ha Moon Soo was an active participant in that. In fact, I'd say she was perhaps bolder than Kang Doo, which is always refreshing.
2) I love the balance of the relationship. They were almost always on the same page and it never felt like one of them had the upper hand.
3) Their relationship was very healthy and based on mutual trust. Which means that both characters were there for each other at their lowest point and, in so doing, demonstrated that they were comfortable being vulnerable in each others' arms.

OVERALL: Low rewatch value, but definitely recommended
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This is a tender story about bringing two characters together to help heal their emotional wounds. Even if the plot had its flaws, the characters and their excellent portrayal made up for it. If you're looking for a sweet romance, then you should give this a shot. If on top of that, you're into stories of hurt & comfort, then this story will definitely satisfy you.

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Messy Hearts, Second Chances

From the first few episodes, I was already fully invested. This season is emotionally messy, vulnerable, and very character-driven, which is exactly the kind of dating show that pulls me in. There’s a lot of complicated feelings, unresolved pasts, and people who clearly came here not just to date, but to actually face things they’ve been running from. It’s uncomfortable at times, but in a way that feels honest and human, and that’s what kept me glued to the screen.

One thing that stood out to me is that this season feels less about “finding someone new” and more about second chances both with people from the past, but also second chances with yourself - to face old mistakes, unresolved feelings, and try again in a healthier way. It’s risky, it doesn’t always work, and it leaves a lot of people hurt, but watching that emotional process is what makes this season so gripping for me.

The amount of love triangles can be tiring, especially when some friendships feel more emotionally compatible than the romantic pairings that actually happen. Watching people get stuck on one person while ignoring other possible connections was frustrating at times, and some heartbreak felt avoidable, but I also get that this emotional stubbornness is also very realistic for dating.

I also want to talk about William, because I feel like he’s being misunderstood by a lot of viewers. Yes, cheating is wrong, full stop, I’m NOT excusing it. But the way he talks about his past shows real guilt and self-awareness, not arrogance or indifference. He’s clearly affected by years of toxic relationships, and that kind of pattern really messes with how people view love, trust, and themselves (speaking from experience). To me, he doesn’t feel like someone who’s proud of his mistakes, but someone who’s scared of repeating them and struggling to be emotionally vulnerable now that he actually wants something real. Red flag behavior should be criticized, but growth and accountability should also be recognized when they’re there.

That’s why his dynamic with Izaya works emotionally for me, even if it’s kinda risky on paper. They reflect each other’s fears and flaws, and it feels like a relationship where both could either break or grow a lot. The emotional tension between them is what keeps me hooked the most.

Compared to the previous season, this one feels much more emotionally heavy and complicated, which I personally found more engaging, even if it also made things more exhausting at times Overall, this season isn’t clean or comfortable, but it’s raw, vulnerable, and emotionally engaging, and I’m fully seated for where these messy journeys go next.

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One of 2024's hidden gems

Oh, Songwon Police Department 2nd Violent Crimes Unit, you are so precious to me. Thank you for bringing so much me so much joy these past few weeks.

Honestly, give me an ensemble cast with great chemistry, comedic chops, and one shared brain cell and I'll eat it up every time, and this show is no exception.

For me, the best part of this show is the team's chemistry and bond. I found most of the cases interesting (although the resolution the writers come up with sometimes requires some hand-waving), but this show is primarily character-driven and gives more attention to building and developing its characters and their relationships.

I also really liked how the case of the week gave more insight into each member of the team. The only person I thought got shafted in this regard is the maknae; I would have liked to know more about why he left his family to join the police force but it seems the writers forgot all about that part until the last episode.

I do wish the overarching mystery had been weaved in better with the rest of the story. The big bad's reveal and the clue that led to it also required a bit of a deductive leap.

Another thing I enjoyed was that, for all their silliness, these people are competent for the most part and dedicated to their work. Even the maknae showed great moments of brilliance that made me go, yeah, this is why he was hired.

This show isn't one of the flashiest releases this year and as such might go under the radar, but I fell in love from the first episode and recommend it to anyone looking for something light and funny with a lot of heart.

I'm really going to miss the thinking chair, Junghwan searching diligently for T-Rexes for his daughters, Joong-ryuk the one-punch man, and Yubin's weird facial expressions!

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A short series packed full of flavour.

First off, my review may be a bit bias, since Seven is my favourite actress and Bai is one of male actors I like, but within reason. They always deliver great performance, I'm never disappointed with their acting, if I don't like one of their dramas it's usually bc of the crappy plot. Although, Seven is my most loved actress, I'm not blinded to only watch her dramas, if it's bad script or plot I won't watch it. But, I will specifically check out her dramas and if it's not great I will still drop it. Among the many actresses, only Seven's dramas, I was able to finish 4 of her dramas all the way through, which really says a lot since I drop dramas like raining cats and dogs. Anyways, on to the review of New Home.

Although I've only watched 6/8 eps, I'm still waiting on Youtube for the rest to upload, I've watched enough spoilers and clips of this drama on weibo to get the whole picture.

1) Acting and Casting. The drama did well in casting the younger actors to play the leads. I was very pleasantly surprised the little girl actress was chosen again to play as Seven's younger self. I loved her in Go Ahead, she did amazing, and she did equally well in New Home. The little boy resembled Bai since even the ears were similar (great detailing in casting the younger actors to resemble the adults actors).The younger actors did well in portraying the personalities of their adult selves and the dynamics of their relationship.

If people didn't know, Bai and Seven have been friends for about 5-6 years now since their collab as minor characters in Whirlwind Girl. They have achieved amazing strives in their careers. So, when fans, including me, heard of their collab in New Home, they were ecstatic. Perhaps, it's bc they've known each other for years, instead of two strangers collaborating on the first day, their chemistry was amazing and very comfortable. Their acting was very natural, not overly done or dramatized. I loved Bai's comedy side, he does it so well and smooth. The little details in his expressions were very well executed and natural. I'm never bored watching him act. Seven's acting was very natural as well, I particularly love her smiles. But, I think Bai was the winner in this drama.

The other actors, as villagers, did very well too. Each character had their own personality trait. The granny was cute and funny. Overall, acting and casting was superb. 10/10!

2) Plot. I'm amazed an 8 ep drama can tell a full story with gradual character development. As we all know, cdramas are pretty long and have a lot of filler scenes. This one was to the point, great balance of romance and comedy. This drama was actually pretty heartwarming. Bai's character (XiaoDong-XD) and Seven's character (SiQi-SQ) had similar upbringings, as they were both raised in the village with no parents, but their dreams and goals were different, thus in adulthood their success in life were different. XD is quite materialistic and he want fast paced income. Instead of going to uni he worked most of his life and become a live streamer bc it provided fast income. SQ went to uni, majored in Agriculture, and went back to her home village to be a village official to help the villagers find a sustainable method for livelihood. The two are very much opposites of each other. SQ is all about hard work, no short cuts in life, selfless and optimistic person. While XD thinks earning money or obtaining goals is about being smart and finding shortcuts. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But that's not the case for XD, he runs away from his problems or gives up. When they happen to meet again, in the village, things happen and under SQ's influence and encouragement XD finds meaning in life again. He also becomes more mature and sees life in a different light. SQ learns to put down her prejudice in the profession of live streamers and sees social media as a great resource to help rural areas better their lives. This drama shows the difficulties rural areas have to make ends meet. Most younger people have left their village for the city, to make a better living, leaving behind elders and children. There are troubles in making a living in a rural area, but the use of social media allow villagers to promote and communicate with a mass audience, of all ages, to see the beauty of rural life and to sell their local products. This drama also depicts the hardships of live streamers and how fake their lives really are. They may seem glamourous to the audience, but it's all just illusions social media influencers like to portray. 9.5/10

3) Special Effects. Although this is a modern drama, but the little details used makes it extra humorous and entertaining. The smoke from the house, the blushing, the sound wave etc made it so much better. I also really love the inner dialogues of the 2 leads. We get to hear their real POV and it's always cute and hilarious. I find this the most entertaining unit among the rest. This one gives a good laugh. 10/10

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Amazing. Hilarious. Great!

Where do I begin with my review of Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation? This show is absolutely hilarious. It's exciting, doesn't take itself seriously, and best of all, the cast really seemed like they LOVED working together.

There's never a dull moment in Team Bulldog. I genuinely can't think of an episode, or even a single scene, which I thought dragged on for too long. At times, I may have found myself a bit lost trying to follow some of the earlier plots, but the comedic value, and the chemistry between the cast more than makes up for that.

I'm ashamed to say I had never heard of Cha Tae-hyun before. He's a complete scene stealer, and by that, I really mean whenever he's on the screen, you can't help but become totally immersed. Credit to the screen writers for creating such an amazing character, and of course, to Cha Tae-hyun himself for perfectly portraying Kang Ho.

I enjoyed Lee Sun-bin's performance in Sketch a lot, and while Team Bulldog is the only other show I've seen her in, she appears to be more suited in comedy roles. The supporting cast really helps to elevate the show to another level too - all the characters are extremely likeable, and the acting is superb.

I believe there's HUGE rewatch value in this. I could see myself watching from start to finish again very soon, something I wouldn't consider with most shows.

Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation gets a 10/10

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I only just finished it and I already want to rewatch it!!

This was honestly really fun to watch. I made predictions at the start about what I thought would happen so I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the film.

Suda Masaki's character (Yamashiro Keigo) just want to succeed with his art and manga. And once he finally does, things go south. Despite him drawing upon a murder he witnessed, the murderer decides to follow the murders in the manga. It's a bit of a full circle moment, especially during the climax. It's relatively slow for the most part but the director did an amazing job at building up the tension. Especially when Morozumi started appearing in Keigo's life. I was worried for all the other characters but also excited to see and know more.

The acting was phenomenal. The fact that Fukase Satoshi who played the serial killer - Morozumi Shuichi - only just had his acting debut with this film is insane because of how good he was. I did wish we knew more information about his character and how he used another person (Henmi) with his killings, but I'm still satisfied. Suda Masaki was great as usual. I expect nothing less from him. He really captures different emotions well - from joy and happiness to anxiety and frustration. I also love Seida-san. Seeing Oguri Shun act is always so enjoyable. He wasn't just a detective. He also had interests. And of them happened to be reading manga, specifically Keigo's manga. The other actors also took on their role well.

I really do recommend this film. If you love any of the actors in the film (especially Suda Masaki and Oguri Shun), and psychological thrillers with serial killers, and manga, this film is for you.

PS. Sorry if this review is all over the place, I might go back and edit this. I'm also glad that I am the first review for this amazing film!!

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I learned after my first two reviews to wait a month or two after I watched the last episode before reviewing something. Sometimes there is something better out there and I just don’t know it or the show isn’t as bad or as good as I thought it was after the end. That said, I’m glad I’m reviewing this after some distance. On the surface, Her Private Life is a fabulous piece of fluff…..digging deeper, well, its just that…..more candy, not exactly healthy but okay in controlled doses.

STORY:
This is the story of Duk Mi (played by Park Min Young) who is a fangirl (like a rabid fan – and a little too much like me). She just idolizes Cha Shi An, nicely done by One. She also has a real job curating an art gallery. Queue ornery but very breathtaking new director, Ryan Gold played by Kim Jae Wook (way to beautiful for comfort). It isn’t long before he realizes something is up with Duk Mi and well it all spirals out of control in a nice cotton candy flow-y way.

CHARACTERS:
Two leads aside, I liked the supporting characters a lot. Also, Duk Mi plays this part very similar to how she does in Secretary Kim so I’m concerned she might be a one note wonder. I haven’t seen Kim Jae Wook in anything else yet, but I plan to. Their romance is a little textbook but entertaining. The storyline of Duk Mi becoming an emotional support for Ryan Gold is touching and removes some of the cliché-like taint from the story.

Duk Mi’s friend’s Eun Gi and Seon Joo are good for some laughs (I do like Park Jin Joo’s Lee Seon Joo the very best). The co-workers including Cindy (fellow celebrity stalker) are interesting and Cindy’s mother is so out of control, its like watching a car accident. I admit I found Cha Shi An endearing and sweet and hoped he’d have more visibility in the show or at least at the end, perhaps a concert or something. I was a little frustrated his character never found out the identity of the fan (it was Duk Mi). That would have been nice to see his reaction to realize he knew her, but….it wasn’t necessary to carry the story to the ending.

MUSIC:
The music wasn’t bad but forgettable. Truly, I can’t remember one song about this show, but I wasn’t annoyed by it. I don’t make a habit to download songs but over the summer I found a few shows with music now firmly planted in my playlists. (Is that a good thing or a bad thing?)

RECAP:
Park Min Young, like Secretary Kim, has fabulous hair and costumes. I want fabulous hair and costumes!! I will say that considering her last two shows were with Kim Jae Wook and Park Seo Joon, she must be the luckiest actress in all Asia. I’ll admit that I want to watch all her movies just for the leading men.

If you are looking for earth shattering, scenes that make you want to scream or cry, political intrigue, or high art, please don’t watch this show. Her Private Life is something lighthearted and friendly that you can detox with when watching too many c-dramas. When your done watching, I promise, you’ll be smiling….however, also ready to move on.

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I have seen Swords of Legend (2014) featuring Yang Mi & Li Yi Feng - which also had a very mysterious and intriguing plot. This "sequel" is not directly tied in with the previous but continues with having introducing new legendary and powerful swords to us.

In SOL2, we are introduced to the Hanguang sword & Zhaoming sword. Hanguang is supposedly an evil sword that's cursed It’s a powerful soul that requires strength as it can decrease the energy of the person that wields it. Zhaoming is a sword that was used during the ancient battle of the gods (see below) but was broken into many pieces after the battle, and never seen again. Zhaoming sword is so powerful it can cut off the “spiritual energy” of a person.

The plot of the story is that during ancient times, during a mythological battle the sky was damaged so God Shen Nong had to slay a giant turtle to help hold up the pillars of heaven. He used the colored stone to help repair the sky. During this battle, an ancient group of human beings "Leishan tribe" assisted in this battle. As their reward, God Shen Nong granted them to live in a floating island above the earth and presented them with a tree that can give them "immortal" abilities - such as longer lives, super strength, etc. in return the Leishan tribe worshiped God Shen Nong. However throughout the years, the barrier around Leishan's tribe starts to deteriorate and the tree starts to die and people start to get sick, but the god is nowhere to be found. A demon, Li Ying, sees this opportunity and sneaks into their city and grants them help. But in turn, must help him spread demonic tree-roots throughout earth. A group of four heroes from earth discovers the truth and help rally up the martial sects to fight against the atrocities caused by Leishan’s tribe and Li Ying.

Yue Wu Yei (Fu Xin Bo) - Is a spoiled brat and Yanjia enthusiast. (Yanjia is like robots/steampunk type of creations). He is actually of royal lineage of the Wolf Clan of Jiandu (they were destroyed by war) and adopted by “the enemy” General Yue. He’s raised in a lavish environment, being given all by his adopted parents (they do love him though). He was rescued by Xie Yi (Yanjia expert) and later becomes his protege and inherits his skills & powers.

Wenren Yu (Ying Er) - Is a warrior from Baicao valley. She left the valley and now “wanted” by her clan. She is on the search for her master, who went missing after discovering Leishan’s tribe's diabolical plan. She ends up falling for Wu Yei.

Xia Yize (Aarif Rahman) - He is part of the royal family of Chang’an. His mom is consort, who happens to be a mermaid so he’s considered half-monster. He doesn’t want the throne and instead wants to practice Taoism cultivation with his master, but is thrust into palace intrigue. He ends up falling in love with “Fairy of Mount Wu” - Ruan.

Ruan (Jiang Coco) - Initially we think she’s “Fairy of Mount Wu” but she has lost her memory, as Xie Yi had locked her in stone for 10 years. She gradually figures out who she is in the end. She is very sweet and naive and gradually falls for Yize.

Important Side Characters we should know.
Xie Yi/Chu Qi - Is a Yanjia mastermind, and priest from Lieshan’s Tribe. He initially doesn’t agree with causing their people to suffer from the foul-air so he creates yanjia creations to try and break the barrier set by God Fuxi, but he inadvertently lets in Li Ying (the demon). He ends up rebelling against the Supreme Priest because he doesn’t think they should save their people by sacrificing earthmen for Li Ying.

Li Ying - scary/smoke demon. He feeds on people’s emotions and fears.

High Priest/Shen Ye - He is the leader of Leishan’s tribe. All he wants it is to solve his people’s dilemma of sickness, and he is willing to sacrifice earth people’s to Li Ying’s plan to ensure that his tribe can survive. He’s like a good anti-hero of this series.

Yu Qi - The sword spirit inside Hanguang. I liked how cool they made the sword spirit is portrayed in here. He randomly comes out to scold Wu Yei but also gives him advice. He later helps the crew by melding together Hanguang and Zhaoming sword.

Overall, this drama isn’t terrible. I thought the plot was intriguing and I was captivated and wanted to see how it ended. I wasn’t in love with the cast, I thought it was meh (but I thought the same for SOL). I just didn’t feel “connected” to our cast. The romance isn’t super cute, but the ending was overall happy for most characters.

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Based on the manga, it's the hell of a psychological drama.
I liken it to "Liar Game," where people manipulate each other for money by lowering their debts. Both have tons of puzzles in a game that will test their humanity, morality, loyalty and, of course, friendship. So it comes down to the premise of "Tomodachi Game" that should be translated as "Game of Friendship".
The drama was very well planned, starting with the story that is not at all simple, it is rich in tormenting elements, where they test all the feelings of the participants and stirring the feelings of the spectators.
The quality of the cast here is irrelevant, after all they are all players of distinct minds who act differently under the pressure of a complicated game with a soundtrack that helps and much to give the climate of tension necessary for the story. Reasoning in a limited time to choose the correct answer is undoubtedly torturous, experiencing real tension and emotion is difficult even for those who watch, imagine who plays.
"Tomodachi Game" explores all the variables and perspectives of the participants, just a wrong answer and you are out of this game! Where friendship will speak louder than money or money will speak louder than friendship!

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Very Entertaining

This was a very funny series. The script was great because it mixed the right amount of comedy and drama. The cast did a great job portraying their characters. I also like how the actors did not take their character seriously. The only character I didn’t like was Fifa. She was portrayed as too whiny and annoying. I don’t know if this was a problem with the script or how the actress was told to play the character. As for production, the cinematography, sets, and graphics were awesome.

Random Note: Annie’s house was also used in the 21 Days Theory series as Q’s house. I always get a kick when I see a familiar location used in different series. However, this was the first time I saw the same location as I was watching both series in one day.

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Must-watch Historical Rom-com

First off, I highly recommend this drama to anyone looking for a historical rom-com. I find myself laughing at almost every episode. Along with the comedy, this show packs several plot reversals that quickly advances the story. The pacing is quite perfect. A few episodes toward the end suffer from some rushed editing, but it does not affect my overall enjoyment too much.

I am very impressed by the character development and casting. Many characters have their own backstory and motivation for their actions. Each actor fits their role perfectly. Among the entire cast, I really can’t pinpoint a single bad actor. I am especially impressed by Neo Hou who can delicately depict Rong Xia’s emotional trauma. The cast members deserve praise for their outstanding performance. The production team have created interesting characters and select the most appropriate actors for them.

The show’s central theme is “family”. We see contrast between our two leads: Ban Hua, who is adored by her family members, and Rong Xia, who loses his family at an early age. It is also because of “family” that brings our two leads together: Ban Hua strives to protect her family at all cost and Rong Xia wants revenge for his deceased loved ones. As the story progresses, we see the interaction and competition between the different families. Despite the many hardships, the Ban family sticks together and manages to prevail. Unfortunately, some families suffer from greed for power, which lead to miserable outcomes.

Ultimately, what makes this show so heart-warming is the union of family. Rong Xia desperately longs for the family that he has lost. He tries to find another father figure but feels empty after certain events. Without realizing it, he internally torments himself over the issue of “family”. Thankfully, Ban Hua stops him from self-destruction through warmth and love.

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I stumbled across this title watching a youtube video about 2017 Korean movies. I almost didn't watch it because of the previous reviewer. However, like life - we all have different prospectives. What made me rate this a solid "9" was the adaptation of a story focusing on two central characters - Prince Gwanghae and the team of loyalist fighting for the survival of their country. There was no CGI just pure natural scenery and the cinematography was excellent. The fighting didn't require wire work - just your realistic fighting during war and conflict. When added to the cause and effect of their budding relationships out of necessity, the writer and director solidly weaved the growth of both characters - the team and the prince. Loyalty is what this drama is about -- what are you willing to die for? What do you believe in? The people of Korean ancestry have made lots of sacrifices to call themselves Koreans and this drama is just a small recollection of the past challenges faced. When I cry at the end - I know I know I have been moved -- and I was deeply moved by the synergy of two classes under pressure.

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