Best Historical Romantic Drama of 2019
This is one of the very few dramas that has more depth and lets the viewers experience all kinds of emotions – love, hatred, happiness, sadness, kindness, cruelty, trust, betrayal, amongst others. Being a tragedy, this drama has captured my heart and emotions, and takes me through the journey of joy and pain.The female lead grows from an innocent and naive girl living on the steppes/desert, into a thoughtful and self-sacrificing woman living in the palace. Her role makes her the most loved character in the drama, and Peng Xiao Ran has effortlessly achieved the high standard in her acting. She is an amazing actress – natural, beautiful and authentic.
The first male lead, Chen Xing Xu, is very young in his early 20s. He has also achieved successfully his role as the 5th Prince with a boyish personality. He gives viewers the impression of a silly thoughtless youth, and yet, he is a smart scheming lethal strategist deep down. This is a very complex character to portray and Chen has done it with flying colors.
This is a high-quality production, from acting to costumes to props. The whole cast plays their roles convincingly and effectively. All details are taken care of. There are no or few holes/loose ends.
The story itself is heart-wrenching and sad, but it also calls up many questions we may have within ourselves about life and about decisions we make daily – things may not always be what they seem to be.
Since it is a tragedy, the ending is what it is expected, a tragedy. I love the ending because there is proper closure for every character; no unnecessary killings just to write-off a character. Everyone gets what he/she deserves.
The sound tracks are the most unforgettable tunes for this drama. Each song is meaningful with sorrow and longing that are sung in beautiful melodies. I don’t know how many times I have listened to the “Little Fox” which gives me the deepest impression. The song conjures up images of a girl riding a horse running freely on the steppes, long gone is the pain one has to endure in life.
Despite it is heart-wrenching to watch some episodes that involve betrayal and killings, this is a must-watch drama. I give it a two-thumbs up.
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This review may contain spoilers
Why Are U Gay? Who Says I'm Gay?... You Are Gay.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo. Dafug you mean this isn't a BL? All that tension is wasted on a bromance? Look, being friends is nice, best-friends? even nicer, but these two talks/look at each other like they tryna book a honeymoon suite. Respectfully, I think they should kiss each others faces and get marry... cuz aint no way that tension/chemistry/dialogue is of the friendship/bromance nature! Also, half of this cast should have died halfway through episode 1, in a coma or hospitalised from all that beatings and fighting.What's more surprising about this show isn't that it's tag 'bromance' but screams bl. No, it's how we had 16 episodes, and no one died from all that violence. And who even showed this children how to fight and start gangs? Whenever there's a fight scene, I'm always like, 'Ooooh, is you dead?' only for them to show up the next day at school like 'who, me? nah, I should be dead but like...it's Tuesday, we have Thai language classes so...' People, how did these children survive for this long?? Especially when none of them knew how to call the damn police?
Anyway, Listen, I think the word 'Friend' should be permanently ban from Saint and Shin's dictionary, cuz these two would do/say the most questionable, inlove-ness-ness thing ever then go:
Shin: I would have forgiven you for every bad thing you ever did, if you'd have stayed. You left me behind.
Saint: I'm sorry, I thought leaving was the best thing for you. The best way for you to live your dreams and be happy.
Shin: Without you in my life, I won't be happy. Apart from soccer, you are the only thing I care about.
Saint: You are the only person I care about too. Let's take a couple picture.
Shin: Waking up to see your face is what I've wanted my whole life. I don't like you, I love you.
Saint: I love you too, Shin.
Me: awwwwwwwww *heart doing jumping jacks*
Shin: You are my friend.
Saint: You are my friend.
Me: Dishonour. Dishonour on you, dishonour on your cow, dishonour on your ancestors goat!
I can't do this anymore. And no, it's not that I want every thing to be a BL, but like the writers and director are purposely trying to drive me insane with how they are executing this friendship. Legit, every episode I'm just waiting for one of them to confess, or just lean in a little bit and kiss, so I can go... 'I KNEW IT!' cuz, friends don't look at each other's lips like that. I was legit going 'kiss, kiss, kiss' in episode 12, instead of going 'how dafug is yous still alive right now Saint, you should be in a morgue.' And when they hugged, I cheered and cried a bit. Imma need GMMTV to cast these two in a BL so my soul can rest, cuz I aint finna chill with his whole bromance thing.
GMMTV were messing with us throughout this show. In the finale, with all the longing looks, playful touches and promises of staying together forever, and the 'I love yous' in the rain with faces so close, I was screaming, yaay, finally, only for them to go 'bish you thought'. Why are they playing us like that? Never before had a bromance tug hurt so much. Well, there's The Untamed, but we don't talk about that. Cuz really, is the bromance in the room with us? Huh, you call that bromance?
Not gonna lie though, I do love their friendship. To have someone who is there for you and cares for you it’s beautiful. I love seeing them goof already and tease each other of having 'feelings' and 'blushing'. Their roughhousing is all I'm living for at this point. Seeing how close they were in the past made me sad they had a fallen out. And with the little sister, they seem like a family. Still, I won’t say no to friends to lovers XD
This show is a BL, disguised as a bad bromance, cuz we can all see the BL in neon colours. Literally every episode Saint's like 'I want you back, I love you, please be with me forever' then Shin will look at him with those longing eyes and they'd stare real hard into each other's eyes. Why is this a bromance? In what world is all that tension bromance? Nothing about Saint and Shin screams bromance. Those two are in love. Literally these was them, word for word:
Saint: The most important thing that I'm giving up is not school, it's you, Shin. I'm giving up on the chance to be with you.
Me: OMG, this a BL.
Director: No, it's a bromance.
Shin: You say, you're giving up what's important, and that means you're giving up on me. But you know what? You gave up on me a long time ago. Three years ago when you broke my leg. So, you don't get to leave me behind again.
Me: *in tears* Seeee, it talks like a bl, acts like a bl, it's a bl. They are in love.
Director: No, it's a bromance.
Me: No one asked you, Sharon. Damn!
First off, for half of the series I kept asking myself, 'are those teachers at that school even qualified to take care of the children?' It seems like no one knows what they were doing. The students just walked all over them, disrespecting them, hitting them, straight up treating them like trash. Literally, why were these children still in school? In the real world they'd have long been suspended, right? But, in the last half, the teachers pulled through. I did like how they were there for the children, and did their best for them. With how horrible those children were, they could have given up, but they didn't, and fought for them, which is all a good teacher can do.
Anyway, I enjoyed this show, a lot. The whole mystery regarding what Saint did to Shin to make him hate him so much, kept my interest. But oh boy, I was ready to pull my hair, because 6 episodes in and Shin is still going on and on, and on about how dirty Saint did him. 'You ruined my life. I will never forgive you. I will beat you up'. And I'm like sure, he's the scum of the earth, now tell me what he DID. Damn! Boy was so vague about what happened it got annoying. Cuz, my arse is nosy and I wanted to know what he did so I could judge and hate him too, but they kept dragging it. Literally, that plot device was like that one friend who always have sh!t to share but never does like:
That One Friend: You won't believe what happened to me today. I'm telling you, when the Pope finally left, the police had to fly the rest of us home on a helicopter. In the end, the president and his details had to sleepover at my house.
ME: OMG??? What the hell happened??
That One Friend: It's nothing really. I don't wanna talk about it.
ME: *Inwardly* I am stabbing you in my head.
No, but, I am so glad they finally told us what he did. And when I heard how Saint ruined Shin's dream by beaten him the hell up, broken his leg and ruining his soccer dreams, then disappearing on him after, I was like... Never forgive him. As a matter of fact, beat him some more, cuz... what?? And knowing Saint did that because he probably didn't want his 'friend' to leave him is even worse! Nah, but Saint did Shin sooo bad. Learning that and seeing how Shin still didn't seem to truly hate him made me feel even more bad for him. Yes, Saint deserved all the hate he got got from Shin. Hell, he deserved more than that, but I was so happy when he finally earned his forgiveness and they became 'friends' again, or whatever the hell they are with those longing looks.
I was all giggles in episode 11, that roof top and bike scene was everything. I won't even mention the jump on your chest hug, the lip stares or nothing. Cuz apparently those are things friends do and say, so imma shut up, and consider for the millionth time if I should open ao3 and write my own damn fanfic about these two characters with tags #notabromance #nobromancehere #saintandshinnotfriendsbutboyfriends
Anyway, my main issue with this drama is the violence. Like, what school would allow all that to happen and not expel those students? They are so violent and mean, then, they return to school the next day like nothing happened. Some of these people should be in a coma, have major injury or like dead dead. Literally, after all the beaten Shin got, he showed up to school like it was nothing. That boy should have been in a coma or in an obituary page.
PLOT: the story is interesting, though there's so many gang stuff and nonsense fighting violence going on it drags. The bad guys are so generic it hurts. Ken and the twins were so bleh and uninteresting in the beginning, but glad they got a redemption arc, an emotional one at that. That being said, it took be a while to notice they were twins and not the same person doing both part. My bad.
CHARACTERS: My fav was Chatjen, Mark really outdid himself in this role. I knew Mark was a good actor since Last Twilight, even when Boston was wrecking his heart, I loved him. And here I just loved how well he played his character. The leads, Saint and Shin are a close second, cuz I like the tension between them, the push and pull and how each makes me understand the characters they are playing. They were perfect for the role, and they managed to make it a very enjoyable show.
Secondary characters: I'd thought the supporting cast were gonna be background noise, but most of them had depth. Cable, Peeta, Chatjen. Everyone seems to have their own problems, even Ken and his friends. I can't believe this show managed to make me emotional about Ken. This character was unlikable for like 12 episodes, then bam emotions. I legit don't know if I should respect the redemption/depth arc or boo at it for being so damn emotional. The twins really pulled through for their friend, I thought they were just gonna be airheads.
Also who the heck was cutting onions during that classroom scene in episode 15?? When they all decided to be friends and sharing food... awwwwww like, I was going through it. Love how they came together in the finale as well to help Ken. See how beautiful friendship can be instead of them fighting all the time. And don't even get me started on Saint and Shin confronting the mother that they were friends and the little sister coming to hold their hands and calling Saint brother. My tears were everywhere. I aint saying it looked like one of those forbidden love story scenes, but it did. I really do love how they are ride or die for their friendship.
That shady teacher, being a bully was a surprise to no one, and that one female teacher is trying, but the poor woman is just sad. Her hitting her self had me going 'what even are we doing here?' I understand her wanting to quit, but damn woman, give yourself a break, nobody is perfect. And was I the only one who went 'My sister, enough already, just go back to teaching like we all know you will.' when they kept baby-ing her? Yes, I understood her, but it was getting to a point when I was over that whole arc. And also who the heck was her father? In the finale, she kept doing 'dad I did it, I'm a good teacher, bla bla voice over' and i'm just sitting there like, whomst?
I also like how the Eve and Airy developed from being enemies to friends. I'm satisfied with the finale we got. Was so emotional when Chatjen left. Poor dude was so happy with his friends. I'm glad the students came around, and Class 2 became friends. Loved how closer Shin and Saint seemed in the end, and how the mother had accepted Saint into the family. It seems their future is gonna be tangled together forever, cuz Saint's whole purpose in life right now is... 'Shin. I'll follow Shin everywhere. If it's not Shin related I aint want it.'
All in all, I went into this show thinking it was a bl, and was surprised when it wasn't, but the story and characters kept me watching. Plot-wise, the story has been done before. The violence was very savage and I didn't buy it that it didn't have more dire outcomes. The teachers and violence part got a bit boring, but all of them adds together, and we got a beautiful story of friendship, redemption and forgiveness, which was told with a good cast and team. I enjoyed coming back to it every week, so I'll recommend this to all drama lovers, trust me, it's as bl as it gets, so don't let the bromance tag keep you away. Trust me. This is going on my list of fav dramas this year.
ALSO. We are getting WU with Sky and Nani as leads next year!! Ahhhhhhh. I'm hearing it's another bromance. At first I was like. 'No, curses!' but knowing the chemistry of these two, that show is gonna be more intense and gayer than any bl next year. So, GMMTV, go ahead keep playing with us, make them 'friends' again, I don't care, as far as these two are in the same series together, we've won. Damn, it's gonna be a long arse wait for WU.
Aanyway, imina SkyNani.
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I'M GLAD I FOUND THIS GEM
I started watching this without any expectations, just out of curiosity and interest after seeing the trailer but this drama has truly captivated me and made me addicted to watching every episode.This drama has a GREAT STORYLINE, BEAUTIFUL CINEMATOGRAPHY, the calmness and elegant storytelling, soft color grading, aesthetically pleasing camera angles, good choice of music, and even the strength of each character is very satisfying. What stands out the most is the smart female character who doesn't just wait to be protected by the male lead but can also protect him in return, a truly well-written character.
The male lead is absolutely captivating. The expressions he shows make you both want to protect him and be protected by him at the same time. And the couple in this drama is so adorable, their chemistry is sizzling! His jealousy and His wide smile when he's proud of Dou Zhou is damn cute, He not only respects her choice but even expands her capacity to choose, He is the greenest green frorest. They’ve already given me butterflies, their relationship before and after fujin furen era. And I can't wait to see what actions they'll take to solve the problems in the future.
The story gets crazier and crazier, with a plot that keeps getting better and not a single scene wasted. The way the director showcases each character's development is excellent. DZ's coolness when she's angry is truly mesmerizing; her brilliance in handling problems never disappointed.
Surprisingly, this drama was directed by someone who usually works on mini-dramas, and this is his first full-length series. Hopefully, none of the characters will experience a downgrade. Please continue to develop their characters even further, making them grow stronger and more compelling as the story progresses and hope the drama will continue to maintain this excellent editing quality too.
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This drama stars Park Min Young as Hae Won. Hae Won's POV is how we slowly (very slowly) get introduced to this town. She is cold, and super emo, so don't expect a completely lovable character, but I found her performance to be super realistic, and I empathized with her even when she frustrated me. I'm not surprised that she was so good (she's one of my favorites), but I am surprised that she had such great chemistry with Seo Kang Joon, who I initially thought was too young for her. They were perfectly matched from the very beginning, whether their scenes were awkward, cute, sexy, or intense. There is also a lot unsaid between them, and lots of staring , which would get old quick with lesser actors. I just loved how they played off of each other so well no matter the mood of the scene. Kang Joon also plays Eun Sub as mysterious so effortlessly but also showed awkward vulnerability in a way that made me fall in love with his character quickly and look forward to seeing him on screen, even if he was just making coffee (very slowly lol). This isn't your typical romance, but I think romance fans with patience will get the payoff of seeing a great love story between two loners struggling with their own complicated pasts. Warmth in this drama isn't just about the weather, it's about how they are able to warm each other emotionally, and that feeling between them is palpable. It also gets HOT at moments which I appreciate!
The rest of the cast truly is also amazing, and really makes the town feel 100% real. One good thing about the pace is that it gives time for the supporting cast to also be portrayed as complicated well-developed characters, whether I loved or hated them. So many of the supporting characters got me in the feels... Mom and Aunt in the matching sunglasses (my favorites), Eun Sub's parents and hilariously obnoxious little sister, The book editor, The frienemy, The book club, and goofy but reliable Lee Jang Woo... eventually I felt like I knew the whole town well, and along with the gorgeous shots of the scenery, it felt like a welcomed vacation from coronavirus quarantine. At times it was almost a PSA for social distancing (physically and mentally lol)!
As for the story, I do think it is well done, with great attention to detail when it comes to relationships, and even a bit of suspense, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling during the first episodes which mostly set the mood more than moving the story forward. It almost feels more like a stage play at some points. Still, it is definitely original and I had no idea where the story would lead, which was great, The music, while a perfect fit, also makes taking a nap during this drama very tempting. The Good Night Club confessional blog also felt a little much at times, although it does allow us to see more into Eun Sub's thoughts, especially about "Irene". For me, the pace picked up once Mom showed up, or at least there was much more focus on the overall story, and I no longer felt the urge to nap from then on. Not that the mood every really changes completely, the tone is moody and even calming throughout.
So, would I watch this again? I'm sure I will. I do think that now that I have connected to the characters and know what's going on, that the slow beginning would be more enjoyable the second time, and I'll no longer be confused by moments that didn't matter to me out of context. I still think some things could have been introduced or resolved in a way that dragged less, and maybe fewer flashbacks initially, but I still respect the overall pace because of the mood and atmosphere it helped to create.
Overall, I was uncertain at first, but this may be the perfect drama to watch while stuck at home. Don't expect a lot of action, a major villain, or even melodrama, because this story is driven by relationships and character development. I did love the themes of healing through emotional warmth and affection, struggles with forgiveness, or even the comfort in expressing themselves at the multigenerational bookclub. To me, this was a wonderful love story but it also explored all the different ways love can look, even when it seems like love is not there. I laughed, I cried, I felt butterflies and wanted to scream at the screen at moments, so I would never call this drama boring as a whole. I recommend giving this drama a chance. It won't appeal to everyone, but the slow but steady vibe definitely won me over!
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Phenomenal and addicting! So good!
I normally only leave reviews for shows that really impresses me. I can only say wow! It's rare to see a story with strong leads that stay strong all throughout the series--when I say strong I mean leads who aren't foolishly blinded because of "love" and are strong all on their own regardless of the other person(s). They are independent and can make their own decisions. I love that there aren't any of those annoying drawn-out misunderstandings that historical dramas usually have.Both characters of ML and FL are very likeable and loveable all on their own, with their own individual quirks which makes their coupling even better. Also, for once the main girl has a good family--no family drama which is really refreshing for me. The FL is strong, fierce, smart, has good martial arts, has influence and confident which is uncommon for historical dramas. The ML is equally great. I also especially love that they incorporated comedy appropriately into the show. I laughed so much almost every episode and there were a lot of "aww!" scenes. This is a very fun and wholesome show.
Both Neo and Gabrielle did such a phenomenal job displaying their character and roles. The storyline is unique and refreshing; misunderstandings are resolved without viewers having to pull their hair out from frustrations. I'm currently on episode 36 of 40 and will be sad once the series is over. I already know this show is worth a re-watch!
**EDIT: I have now completed the series--all 40 episodes. I am so sad that this show is over, but really enjoyed watching it. I have already re-watched twice. A very addicting show and also quite uplifting and wholesome. This is a great show to watch, especially for those who hate angst-filled dramas because this drama is not--it's more light and fluffy. ♥
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Story: Lots of clitches and sometimes plot holes, historical inconsistency etc, but hey what the heck, it is a web drama so you have to over look it if you really want to enjoy it, at least I did and it worked out for me.
Acting/Cast: Superb, they cast all 5 main leads and supporting cast perfectly, specially the main couple I heard they were in WGM top couples and definitely the director made a great choice casting people with great chemistry because everything looked so natural, skin ship, falling in love and kisses looked real. I have to point out the flower boy villain, this guy acting was superb over the top at times but that's what it made this show stand out for me.
Music: It was ok not memorable but ok.
Rewatch Value: I had cancelled my subscription to Netflix but I just renewed it so I could go back and for to watch what I missed.
If you guys have netflix please try to watch it there as much as you can, I have had problems with drama sites it takes forever.
Overall: A very well done, dorky, odd rom-com historical drama. Highly recommend it. It had a feeling like Go Princess Go (TDrama)
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Another perfect season of Forest of Secrets (Stranger)
Forest of Secrets continues to shows Korea how it should be done. This is what happens when a writer as skillful as Lee Soo-yeon gets teamed up with brilliant actors, a talented director and a PD that understands how to bring all of that talent together.Jo Seung -woo is back as Hwang Shi-mok, the incorruptible prosecutor suffering from brain damage following surgery when he was young. He is joined once again by idealistic police officer Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doo-na). Set several years after the events of the first season, time and an inherently corrupt system has not been kind to either character, both ground down by the machinery of justice and both clearly nearing burnout.
This season starts with fog, Shi-mok's headlights illuminating it faintly and this image underpins everything the writer is trying to tell us about the quest for justice. Which way do we go through the fog? What step do we take? Which direction is the right one and which just gets us more lost? While blood splatter led us through the forest in the first season, there is no clear direction here: just people going through the motions and wondering whether they make any difference in the world.
The tone of season 2 is not just grim, it's leaden. The weight of those years bears heavily on our two protagonists as they attempt to navigate their way out of the fog, their path lit however dimly by a belief that justice is possible even if the pursuit of it is exhausting.
Forest of Secrets has grounded its narrative in this season in the fight between the police and the prosecution over investigative rights. As the infighting accelerates and the two sides seem more intent in slinging dirt than in serving the public, corruption gathers apace as it always does. And with our eternal partners Shi-mok and Yeo-jin on opposite sides, both will begin to question their role, their ethics and their ability to retain their independence and objectivity in an environment where it seems everyone is compromised in some way.
Forest of Secrets 2 may not be as rollicking as its first season but the writing is even more skillful, insightful and mature. We flounder in the dense fog as much as our characters do at first, waiting for that path out. And by putting us there and building that atmosphere, everyone involved shows us that they are truly at the top of their game.
Everything - the writing, direction, music, design - every aspect of this drama is almost perfect as its first year was as well.
This remains the pinnacle of Korean drama and its sophomore season merely cements that rank.
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QUEEN OF IDIOCY AND HER BIGGEST SIMP.
A show that looked quite interesting and engaging from its trailer and previews only to end up as a total dud. The episodes get boring with each case and rarely are moments of anything exciting. It is draggy and even gets annoying sometimes especially the entire relationshit arc between the leads.One of the most dumbest female leads to ever exist. I still don't know how she even managed to become a lawyer. From the previews it looked like she will be one strong willed and badass lady but all you get is an idiotic damsel in distress who just keeps putting herself into dangerous situations, only to be rescued by ML. In almost very ep, she just keep crying and lamenting.
Kang Ki Young finally getting a lead role but just the wrong show. His character is a huge doormat of a simp who just cannot move on from a lady who dumped him to marry someone richer and influential. The entire past love arc was pure crap and would have been better if not kept in the show. Dude keeps on getting hurt by FL's decisions and keeps coming back wiggling his tail.
There is no chemistry between the leads and neither is any character progression. I would say the relation arc between Sara and her ex husband was way better than the ex boyfriend turned coworker dude.
I would say the antagonists were way better than the leads and at some parts I even wanted them to win be it the ex husband or his mother. They did really well with their part.
If you are looking for some exciting law and thriller stuff, this show ain't worth your time.
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They did us dirty with the way it ended
I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t seen Addicted, nor have I read the piece(s) the series is based on. I am not going to compare it to anything, but I will simply judge it on its own.The plot is interesting. It’s not something we often get in BLs (yes, I know this is a censored version, but it’s still a BL), and even if we do, it’s rarely done well. Stay With Me has executed it amazingly! The plot is not nearly as simple as it seems at first, which was a really pleasant surprise. While the development of the relationship (romantic or not) between Wu Bi and Su Yu is at the front of the series, it’s not the only focus. We also get to follow how other relationships change and develop over time, mainly those of their family members and close friends.
Wu Bi & Su Yu: I love seeing them together. The two might be quite different but they have an amazing influence on each other. Wu Bi might appear cold, arrogant, short-tempered and uncaring, but in reality, that’s all a front he puts up to protect himself. We get to see him open up more once he gets closer to Su Yu and his family. Su Yu lives only for school because that’s his ticket out of poverty. He is not a demanding child, he never asks for help or anything from his father, because he knows his father is trying his best. He does become more carefree as he gets closer with Wu Bi. He becomes more open and willing to talk about his wants and needs, especially with his Wu Bi. The two might have started off as enemies, rivals, but the way things change was done very well. It was well thought through. Their actions had clear intentions and reasons, as did the way their relationship progressed. I think both actors did great in their roles, they had great chemistry.
Now, this might have been a censored work, but it didn’t really hide what kind of relationship the two have. Their looks, their touches, the little kisses, the way they gravitated towards one another, the innuendoes that were being thrown left and right… they might have left a lot up to our imagination, but they made things as clear as they could.
I absolutely love Su Yu’s dad, miss Zhou and Duo! With all the flaws that Su Yu’s dad had, he has always been immensely proud of his kids – Su Yu, Wu Bi and Dou – and all of their achievements, no matter how big or small they were. He was incredibly supportive of them and always there when they needed him. The same goes for miss Zhou. As for Duo, she was a little ray of sunshine who is always ready to share her words of wisdom with her two older brothers. This was the found family all of them needed to thrive, not just the boys. Not all of them were blood related, some not even by law, but they truly showed what it means to be a family, to love each other, to support each other.
On the other hand, I don’t think Su Yu’s mom and most of Wu Bi’s family have any redeeming qualities. There is something about the cousin that I disliked from the start. Might be his arrogance or just the overall vibe he had, but I don’t think he cares about anyone but himself. His uncles are horrible. They treat everyone around them like dirt and that didn’t really sit well with me. Wu Bi’s father lost any right for redemption once we learned he has been abusive towards his son after his mom passed away. And Su Yu’s mom lost the right for redemption the moment she decided to abandon her child. I don’t care how much they tried to make us sympathize with the two, I think both of them are bad parents.
Which brings me to things I disliked. One thing was Su Yu’s dad saying how all parents love their children. Not all parents do and not all of them deserve to be respected as parents. Children do not owe love and respect to their parents if that is not something they received from them. I know Asian cultures are big on respecting your elders, but it’s actually a very damaging idea. I think certain scenes were very bizarre and didn’t make much sense or were done in an over dramatic way that just made them hard to watch. There are also certain things that I feel lacked proper closure or explanation why it happened like it did. Or how it was even possible. And I am not even talking about the ending here.
That ending though… they better give us a S2, because I am not happy with how it all ended. It does feel like it was a setup for another season, especially how it was all left in the air in the end. It was a scene I knew was coming based on the trailer, but I did not expect it to be left unfinished like that.
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Solid crime drama! Gripping! About an aged, cynical cop struggling in a dark, grim man's world
"Shadow Detective" offers solid crime thriller quality at a high level - gripping, dense, with South Korean Look&Feel!As a Disney production, the series was produced explicitly for the international streaming audience. Accordingly, within compact 8 episodes the KDrama presents itself rather slim in terms of some characteristic dramaturgical, Korean-style storytelling elements. Nevertheless, a profound script, the committed cast and witty camera manage to create an enormous intensity and three-dimensionality.
"Shadow Detective" takes the audience firmly by the hand. The story does not have to come up with an excess of violence (as is so often the case with international, more masculine orientated streaming productions). I should mention, though, that it's primarily about older men in a man's world - and it's rather dark, grim, cynical.
Against the almost self-evident background of an almost unassailable, corrupt shadow world, the story focuses on the protagonist's inner struggle to do a reasonably good job as a detective despite the ailing system (... and to cope with aging).
Another season has already been announced.
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This review may contain spoilers
A must watch healthy relationship
This drama deserves a solid 10 from my perspective .I rarely writes reviews for drama just after finishing it but this deserves exception. . This is story of two people falling in love by understanding each other. So the lead have more screen time than any other unnecessary dramas. This is kind of healing romance with a realistic characters. The actors match the character so well that we can’t imagine anyone else as LZX and YSL.This drama is an example of how healthy relationship can make a person better. If someone asks a drama on healthy relationship , you guys can show them this for sure. No evil scheming ex-girlfriend or evil parents spectating couple or anything. All are positive people. His ex girlfriend even helped them to get together.
This drama contain romance, comedy and some lessons. The characters are well written. This is just a simple love story between two normal human being we see around ourselves. This drama is like reading a good book. You know reading some book in a chill atmosphere after hectic work , you know what I mean. There is no angst or much drama. The entire focus is on their romance and relationship. They do have deep conversations. Some might say all they do is having lunch and talking but if they listens to their convo well , you will know why they are having that convo. Also in my experience we like someone or develop a relationship by talking with them and understanding each others thoughts, likes and dislikes right?.
Ye Shi Lan(FML) is a paediatrician working in Anxing hospital . She is one of the character many can relate to. She has her own flaws also her own qualifications .She has a purpose for her life, she has a goal, she plans her life with practical way. She wants to fulfil her dream of buying a house which is an influence from her father. She is timid but she is aware of her flaws. She accepts her mistakes, apologise , she tries to correct things. One thing I liked that she was a pessimistic person , when Lu Zhao Xi(ML) gives advise her to think life in a positive way, she actually took it seriously and made herself positive. She is ready to accept the advices if its good. She is someone who we can make understand things. Her relationship with her best friend jiajia is also good. They are not typical best friends you see in dramas. Here they share everything with each other, they are not ashamed to talk anything with each other. Also Jia Jia gives the best advices to her instead of some crazy immature ideas.
I was able to relate to YSL in some scenarios like why she is thinking like that. YSL felt she didn’t deserve Lu Zhao Xi when she felt some affection or like towards him, she saw herself inferior and LZX had so many qualities so that she didn’t find a reason why would LZX like her.
The female lead got the most character development in the show I can say. In first episodes , she seemed unhappy, lack of confident, less outgoing , always keeps herself and always sees things in positive way also she started to get along with colleagues also. Later in episodes you can see, she became more vibrant , active , doing sweet talks with Lu Zhao Xi easily. Coming to our ML , Lu Zhao Xi, He is the one of the best ML out there. He is born in a rich family , he got everything but yet he is aware that he is privileged due to his family background . He is not the usual robotic face President/CEO. He is the main reason I got hooked to this drama. He is very considerate , influence people around him positively, respect others, very understanding. You can see in one episode where they were having an event for trying the birth pain stimulator for men and he came forward and gave some good speech there. So such things shows how thoughtful he is . He is a person everyone deserves in their life. He doesn’t misuse his power. He is very playful , easygoing and friendly. He is the standard for a man in girls life. He sees life in an optimistic way. Even when Ye Shi Lan misunderstood him back there in Taoyuan Village, he never took that to heart , he understood why she mistook and never judged her , even he tried to comfort her . When she came to back to hospital he teased her for fun but nothing serious , YSL thought he would take revenge but nothing like that happened. When he was trying to make her jealous but when thing didn’t go as planned he instantly felt regret and depressed because he felt he hurried YSL and affected her mood, he was worried about her. You can see when he realised he liked her more than momentary crush he was afraid to confess not because of the fear of rejection but because he was worried she would feel awkward to face him in future. That much he thinks of her. Lu Zhao Xi is not thunder Leo (usual type). He express his emotions, he express his love , he do a lots of sweet talk. Because even when they become together we will not awkward .
Their relationship is very beautiful. They respect each other , love each other and have a lots of admiration. They never fails to compliment each other and support each other . I love while developing their friendship first, they shared each and everything with each other, because when they become couple they didn't have any big secret hiding from each other. They know most of things about each other.
I watched whole drama with smile on my face. The confession scene was one of the best confession scene I have seen. Only real words, no honey coated promised . During the confession scene, Ye Shi Lan shared all the insecurities with him and I wanted to give a hug to her. LZX understood her worries. And he was able to comfort her.I love how Lu Zhao said, “Though I can’t promise only good things will happen to you in the future, even if something
Bad happens, I’ll try my best to make it in good direction”. I feel this line is good , because no fake promises like I will make only goo things for you in future etc etc. The dialogues are written beautifully , it’s like reading a poem or book. Also the Scenery of Taiyuan village is good.
In short I would totally recommend this drama to anyone. Definitely going to be in my Top list of fav dramas and rewatch list.
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Solid storyline
Recommended to watch. I knew about this drama from advertisement. The trailer looks interesting so i thought i check out a little bit. But never knew i hooked until the end. From the title i thought this is japanese drama, but i was wrong.(actually it from japanese comic from same name).I'm a big fan of dramas mostly chinese drama and korean drama. This is first time for me to find chinese drama that contain solid storyline. Mostly i just going to skipped or fast forward most episode of chinese drama because mostly it contains filler that unnecessary. But not this drama.
The acting was superb. Whoever casting the actors and actress made a good job. Many talented young actor and actress. (watched because of juck zhang but now I'm in love with this drama)
The music good, suitable for growth/competition drama.
I had a little bit knowledge about go, this drama give more knowledge about go and behind the scene.
Things that i don't like. 36 episode not enough for me. I need more. I understand that production want follows closely to the comic storyline but don't ended like that. I hope there's season 2.
Rewatch value 10/10. I definitely will watching this drama again.
I hope there are more like this drama out there. Nowadays, it all about survival, growth and rivalry.
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Absolutely hilarious!
Hands down the most fun I've had watching a comedy series in a long time. I was literally rolling on the floor. It's short, but totally worth the time. The casting was also very good (not great, but decent), and the main character played his role flawlessly.The only criticism I would have is that I'd like for the romantic storyline to be more developed & foreshadowed earlier, as well as for the entire series to be longer. However, if you look at this show purely from the comedic perspective, it's a 10!
And it's super rewatchable :)
The series tackles most cliches in the genre and does it an unexpected, fun way, without offending anybody. It's just so fresh in the sea of BL shows that are similar to each other.
It's an easy recommendation.
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Deserves More Love!
Week after week, I would check the rating here on MDL to see if other people were seeing what I was seeing, yet the rating remains consistently poor. If you've come down to the review section out of curiosity, please don't let the low average rating scare you away! This is a beautiful show that gets better the more you engage with it as a viewer.I think the thing that might be throwing many people is actually the thing I also like most: namely, that this series is more like a stage play than a TV show. There are a limited number of sets, a relatively small cast of characters, and high dialogue to action ratio. This ties in with the main character's profession as a play actor and also serves in a metacontextual way of engaging with the act of storytelling in a rather novel way. Not only does this show have a main plot and a few subplots, but everything about it is also a love letter to the very notion of storytelling itself. Characters serve as stand-ins for the audience, the chorus, and even the storyteller in turns. It's a fun device that really adds to the depth of each and every shot, line of dialogue, and character choice made along the way.
I also have to applaud the way that this show handles religion and spirituality and the supernatural. It's also a deep dive into grief and loss. Honestly, there's so much to this show! Also, Jared is adorable and it's worth watching for each of his appearances onscreen alone.
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Missing: This Drama
OVERVIEW:1-10 Episodes; Super
11th Episode; Misses Small Spark
12th Episode; Perfect Finish
Likes:
1)Soul Connecting Stories
2)Connecting Characters
3)Acting
4)Writing
5)Atmosphere
6)Cinematography
Dislikes:
1)NONE
OVERALL:
Don't MISS This Drama
*****************************************
OVERVIEW:
1-10 Episodes; Super
11th Episode; Misses Small Spark
12th Episode; Perfect Finish
Likes:
1)Soul Connecting Stories
2)Connecting Characters
3)Acting
4)Writing
5)Atmosphere
6)Cinematography
Dislikes:
1)NONE
OVERALL:
Don't MISS This Drama
*****************************************
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