Weak story
Not fond of this season.Where do I start without spoilers...
Well to watch this season go watch season 1 at least so you understand the motives behind the vigilante group. What season 3 has become is just the opposite.
The problems this season faces is
- Lacking character development
- Case by case stories without a overarching or main plot that drives the entire season
- Principles are contradicted from season 1
- No prosecutor or police to challenge them which season 1 and 2 had
- Rushed cases and too far fetched at times
- The main lead actor starts making weird faces which I don't think he did in season 1 and 2
Watch if you have nothing better to do.
I really liked season 1 and unlike most people I felt Kang Ha-na made the entire season 1 pleasurable and would have loved to see her return in season 3 as a taxi driver member and be challenged by her mentor or another prosecutor.
It would have made a great season 3 seeing Kang Ha-na as a female lead and ultimately I would have ended that with her leaving the team and establishing a franchise and a spin-off into her own Taxi Driver: Prosecutor Kang like imagine prosecutor by day and she drives people around at night then gets cases...
Now that would hit.
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The story is not original - a good and dogged cop chasing after an elusive villain. The characters themselves are not that original either. But the cast make this script an electrifying movie to watch. Hwang Jung Min is fantastic as an everyday-man kind of cop who is passionate about his job and genuinely cares about people. Yoo Ah-in pulls you in with his performance as a villain who you love to hate, yet can't help but find out more about. Yoo Hae-jin is a sidekick with a difference and he does a great job of it, as he does with all his other roles. Special shout-out to Jin Kyung, who puts in a great performance in any show she's cast in.
You can tell that the cast are having so much fun playing their characters, and it is infectious, because this show is a thoroughly entertaining ride. Yes, you are rooting for the good guys, but you are also excited to see what tricks the bad guys next pull out of their hats. For this reason, I think this show has a decent rewatch value.
Overall, greatly entertaining with outstanding performances by the cast.
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Easy on the eyes, easy on the story and just no drama at all... quite wholesome.
There is not really much to say about this series. It's short, to the point and no bad drama, no bad ex gf, no bitching, no heated discussions, nothing. It's just a melow story of two couples coming together. Of course due to the constrainted playtime and I guess because of the limited budget there is no depth in the characters. All of them are pleasing to the eye and we have to guess that all of them are nice in their ways.Production quality was nice. Just the "bar" both TrueFilm and Sukfilm use is still a bit cringe :) The actors are all quite handsome or cute, they also did the job well.
So, this was quite fun to watch, quite relaxing and a nice change of pace compared to all drama series airing the last two months. You will not get frustrated, you will not get angry, you will probably just enjoy it. And that's a good thing. If you have not seen this yet, invest the 30 minutes for a wholesome expierence.
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As I stated the mysteries were remedial. Very little comes in the way of twists and the red herrings were more like pale pink. It was almost like watching an episode of Columbo. You know whoever he bothers is the killer. The who is a given. The how is what it's about. Unlike Columbo there is an underlying mystery/force behind all the other mysteries. The writers skim the political surface of the British annexation, racism, and ruthlessness. I wish they would have delved further. At first I had remind myself that this is Chinese drama and there's only so much one can air. After a couple of episodes the thought never crossed my mind.
The acting was very good. I loved every scene with Hu and Zhang. They had great chemistry. Yan had to be taken with a grain of salt. She is a bully and childish. The character can be great one second and completely annoying the next. Aside from her wardrobe, there was really nothing likable about her. The supporting cast was good. As a whole they were solid.
Let me take a moment to mention the production which was superb. The sets and wardrobe were sublime. Admittedly, I adore the fashion of the 1930's and 40's. The music was also great. I caught 2 modern songs that were out of place. One character was humming a song and a 30s style arrangement of "Dancing In the Streets" was played in a club. It makes me wonder what else I may have missed. The opening and ending titles are extremely good CG accompanied by fantastic songs. The opening theme "Enigma" by Chinese rapper After Thought sets the tone for each episode, while Shu Si Ding's sexy "Awake" leaves you with a sense of wonder.
While I wish the writer was more daring, I did enjoy MRIAD completely from beginning to end. I don't know if I'd ever watch it again, but I'd definitely check out a sequel. I'd like to know what's next for the characters. Overall, I'd give it a 9-9.5.
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A Light and Fun Fluffy Drama
All I can say is I enjoyed watching this drama. It's a light heart drama. I'm a fan of both of them.I watch both of their drama's. LAR and SP. I also recommend for you guys to watch LOVE AND REDEMPTION and SLEEPLESS PRINCESS. I promise you'll fall inlove with them even more just like me lol.
I didn't expect that their chemistry is high. I mean it's overflowing. They look good with each other.
If your looking for a Fluffy Historical Drama then watch this. It's full of comedy. I promise you will enjoy watching this.
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THE GOOD AND THE AVERAGE:
Plot falls on usual trope of arranged marriage between two individuals that have never met (except they did). A young girl who has a motive to enter the Long family on the decreed of the royal family. A Qin 4th prince who poses a threat to the reigning emperor. Yet one couldnt choose who you fall in love with. It was fate who brought them together and its the heart that decides where it goes from there. On the political aspects theres secrets, multi parties and alot of chess playing.
The characters- Rather intelligent otps who have their own charms but also made some questionable decisions that you may or may not like but it does make them flawed yet human.
Male otp: Long Fei Ye as a man in position of power that comes with great responsibility. He is both revered and feared by many. Outwardly cold and reserved and man of few words. Described as a deep pool of water. A strategist, intelligent, shrewd and observant. He had a plethora of good traits that obviously drew Yun Xi to him.
Female otp: Han Yun Xi the first daughter of Han family who grew up without her father's attention and in search of her mother. Shes an optimist at her and tends to take life full frontal. She doesnt let things bring her down and while her words may have bite, shes a softie at heart. Her knowledge and skill of poison and their cures sets her apart. As does her vibrant personality and intelligence. She however does not hold a high self defence when it comes to people she accepted and trust. This is both a virtue and a flaw.
The other character i liked was the dependable Xi Feng, the prince's right hand man who was also an early supporter of the couple.
Acting- Ju Jing Yi as our heroine was fitting. Petite, pretty and energetic she brings out the sweet charms of Yun Xi. The actress was previously memorable in her supporting role in Novoland. Zhang Zhe Han looked the part of Long Fei Ye but i do have complains with some of his eye expressions. But together they do have great rapport and i was greatly entertained to watch them drift together.
THE WEAKNESS:
The plot itself has good parts as stated earlier but also typical in C dramas that middle part that lost some traction. The device plot to wedge between our otp came in the form of Bai Li Ming Xiang, the prince Childhood friend. While shes isnt as villainy as many other characters in the drama, i just didnt want to watch her scenes.
The other major person affecting otp was 2nd male lead Qu Qi Shao who although interesting at start but my interest waned over time and safe to say no Second lead syndrome for me
Many parties with their own ambition, plot and war over in palace politics. Some that i dont care that much about. Lots of self centred, power hungry people that when it comes to their decline i felt neither triumph or pity, just ambivalent.
For all these reasons its a solid 8.5 for me. It was entertaining to watch especially watching Yun xi able to thaw the ice and earned the prince attention and love. When the prince is attentive, acceptive of her and trust in her capabilities, he was really swoony. Those are the parts i would rewatch.
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This review may contain spoilers
We Are Family
I love the type of shows where I go in with very low expectations because of what the trailers show and because I may not like one of the cast, but by the end, I am satisfied and feeling slightly nostalgic because the show and the watching experience were completely different from what I was expecting. Romance on the Farm is one of those shows. And to think I almost did not watch this because of the main lead actress.However, I decided to still give it a go because of Joseph Zeng. I became a fan after his role in Mysterious Lotus Casebook. I said to myself, “At worst, I would end up dropping it. At best, I would enjoy it and add it to my ever growing completed list.” I almost did end up dropping it like 8 minutes into episode 1 because I could not stand the family. But then Shen Nu came into the picture and I forgot all about dropping it. In fact, I enjoyed it.
This is probably the first drama I have watched with Tian Xi Wei where her character didn’t bother me to the point of yelling at the TV. I attribute this to the Lians. I was too busy hating all of them to even focus on her. They let them get away with too much because "they were family" and they just had made a "little mistake". The worst of them all were the grandma and Shouren's family, his wife, Madame Gu, and daughter, Hua'Er. If the transgressions these made were little mistakes (according to the grandfather) I would hate to see what they would have considered big ones. They were definitely an intense gaming experience.
Additionally, although the character the main female actress portrayed did lack some sense in some things, and the male lead kept coming to her rescue, it wasn’t as terribly lacking as the characters I have watched in previous dramas. I still feel she is typecasting herself, and wish she would take more challenging roles, but I managed to be moved by her in some parts of this show. Around the midway point of the show, the male lead leaves to take care of some things and I was somewhat bored without him around. I was battling myself to stay awake without the Lians being as prominent as they were in previous episodes. I thought I wouldn’t even say this, but I kind of missed their toxic existences.
Despite its title, there is not much romance but we have the pleasure of witnessing cute and heartwarming moments between different couples and on the occasions when the main leads kissed, they were REAL kisses. *wiggles eyebrows* I also loved the OST. Usually using contemporary sounds in a mostly period piece feel awkward and out of place, but not in this one. Plus, Joseph Zeng sang an OST and it fit the story and scenes perfectly.
Although the show doesn’t delve deeper into some issues post-game, as it ended almost immediately after she came out of the virtual experience, and I am still curious about how long she was in there, I am satisfied with all the endings, both the in-game one and real life one (even before the special) as I felt they were fitting. I can see myself rewatching this show, even the initial episodes when the Lians were stabby hand gesture worthy.
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So cute & funny
I love this short little drama! It's so cute and funny! So different from the typical C-drama, maybe because it's short. FL is spunky and cute, but not 'cutesy' as in baby talk and pouting. I loved it when she punched Concubine Li in the eye! HAHA! And then they end up on the same side as both are arguing for her to be sent to the Cold Palace! Per the rules of the Book Officer, she's tampered with the original novel, and she has to remain in the Cold Palace for 100 days or be eliminated in both the novel and real life so she continually trying to return to the Cold Palace and the Emperor is continually interfering with her plans to go there, first because he was suspicious of her and then because he's begun to fall in love with her. Her antics are so hilarious and the reactions of the emperor and the other supporting characters are funny as well since she's continually surprising them. She does get sent out of the Cold Palace after a day, but the Book Officer didn't show up and she didn't start to fade so that's a bit of inconsistency with the premise of her having to stay at the CP, but I can overlook it because this little drama is so amusing right now! So refreshing from most C-drama historicals because it's fast-paced and keeps you chuckling through all the episodes. I'm looking forward to watching Season 2 & 3, but I dread how it's all going to end because either she stays in the novel or she has to leave. If she leaves, she'll be leaving behind the emperor - so sad. But, if she returns to the real world, let's hope that either the emperor can follow her (like in the K-drama 'W') or a lookalike guy shows up in reality.Was this review helpful to you?
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What I didn't like are too minor and does affect my view of the series in any way. Example, you know those crazy girls stereotyped in most bls? Well it had that.
Overall, go watch and be sure to have your tissues ready in every episode.
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Of course I also have some hangups with this drama. In the middle episodes they tend to drag the story and highlight on some unnecessary scenes but all in all it's okay.
I would like to recommend it to those who want to laugh their heart out and fall in love with the main lead couple.
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What a Gem!
The quality of Korean BL is steadily improving! This is a short and sweet series that went above my expectations. The story was interesting and flowed well enough even though it was working with limited time. Also, the acting and chemistry were better than I have seen in similar BLs in the past.The female actors were also pretty good, which I have noticed to be lacking in other BLs. The friendships between the characters were lovely. The two main leads were also seriously so cute (Although their chemistry was a tiny bit lacking - in the case of the tall lead) . Fluffy and sweet wonderfulness of a series, definitely recommend. Especially if you're looking for something to make you feel all those warm fuzzies.
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Love can be messy
The two main leads have a lot of complexity written into their characters and they portray mixed emotions very well. My take on the drama;I see Mark as a person who knows he can love wholeheartedly and when he is disappointed in not winning his intended love interest he backs off and tries to deal with the aftermath of feelings by drinking and looking for random hook-ups. The scene of drunken mistaken identity is more a fanciful wish on his part and gives Mark the chance to act out the passionate love scene he has missed out on.
Vee is in a long term committed relationship with his girlfriend and has a strong need to be helpful and have others like him. He assists the very inebriated Mark and when Mark throws himself at him he finds himself turned on and reciprocates. This sexual encounter affects both of them badly. Mark is angry and hates Vee for the encounter. Vee is confused and begins to realise he is sexually attracted to Mark and then the story unfolds.
Youth in university exploring their sexuality without yet fully understanding what is required to maintain a relationship. Friends adding their own input to the confusion. Jelousy, judgements, sacrifice and selfishness overlaid with raging hormones and insecurities.
The parents add some interesting dynamics to the mix and the two male leads are influenced by their attitudes.
As a love story it has fulfilled this role. The two MLs have a strong chemistry and they are sufficiently different to add the angsty thought that maybe they won't be able to stay together.
Very watchable and rewatchable.
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If you're EXO-L or just really like EXO, watch it!!! It's literally just EXO being EXO while playing minigames verses each other and spawning more memes for the fandom.
Lee Soo Geun was a great, hilarious host. The minigames were great, sound effects were on point, and music was always fitting.
If you don't like EXO, well...I don't know why you're here.
The only cons to this variety show is that it's too damn short and there needs to be an EXO Arcade 2. Please another season, thanks. Now everyone go watch EXO Climb the ladder season 2 when it's out.
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1
1Amazing Short Story
In my opinion, this is a true masterpiece of short-form drama. Each story runs only 15–30 minutes, yet within this limited runtime, the director consistently delivers compelling narratives with no unnecessary dragging or dull moments.As each story is standalone and narrated in either one (15mins) or two (30mins) episodes. with no connection. So you don’t have to watch this in sequence, and can always randomly choose your favourite episode or the episode with your favourite casts in it to watch. Below I have a brief breakdown of the popular casts on the episodes.
Every character is thoughtfully written, carrying complexity and emotional depth that feels authentic to their circumstances. The richness of each scene clearly conveys the essence of its theme. The series explores a wide range of subjects—entrepreneurship, business ventures, social transformation, environmental issues, industrialization, relationships, kinship, choices, struggles, risks, and even sci-fi—creating a tapestry of stories that feel both diverse and cohesive.
Blending realism with heartwarming storytelling, the drama is infused with action, comedy, and occasional adventure. Many of the stories are inspired by real-life events, spanning the era when Shenzhen was still a developing region full of opportunity to its present-day status as a thriving metropolis.
The production boasts an impressive ensemble of nearly 80 well-known actors from the film and television industry, each delivering strong and memorable performances.
Special mentions and brief, low-spoiler impressions:
• Ep 1–2 – A poignant portrayal of a mother’s love and anxiety, highlighting how far a mother might go to help her son.
• Ep 3–4 – Hu Ge & Yu Shi: A powerful story about an ethnic tribe grappling with modernization, offering insight into cultural traditions and the pain of change.
• Ep 5–6 – Bai Yu & Wang Yu Wen: A lighthearted misunderstanding that unfolds into a sweet and fun romance.
• Ep 7–8 – Zhang Song Wen: A touching narrative about balancing habitat preservation with urban development.
• Ep 9–10 – Zhang Ye Cheng & Mao Xiao Tong: A deeper, more somber exploration of the finance industry, touching on stock market risks, greed, and exploitation.
• Ep 11–12 – Zhang Yun Long & She Shi Man: A story centered on friendship, social entrepreneurship, and the courage to take a leap of faith.
• Ep 13–14 – A romantic tale set around a bookstore, featuring subtle mystery and a hint of magical realism.
• Ep 15 – Wang An Yu: A moving story of a decades-long friendship between a young social entrepreneur and a cleaner who profoundly inspires him.
• Ep 16 – Jin Shi Jia: A capable performance in a storyline about early business opportunities in Shenzhen, though it personally resonated less with me.
• Ep 17 – Li Landi & Tu Song Yan: A heartwarming story about kinship and friendship, revolving around a young girl helping a man recover his lost memories.
• Ep 18 – A cute animated segment, though it didn’t leave a strong impression on me.
• Ep 19–20 – A comedic duo and a missing sculpture head—pure fun and laughter from start to finish.
• Ep 21–22 – Chen Xiao & Tong Yao: A tribute to construction workers and their resilience in building Shenzhen’s iconic Ping An Financial Center.
• Ep 23 – Lei Jia Yin: A delightful and thought-provoking story about an AI butler, ending with an unexpected and clever twist.
• Ep 24 – The finale beautifully closes the series with a story about merging Yong Chun martial arts and dance. Having seen such performances online before, I once questioned whether the fusion would dilute either art form. This episode offered fresh insight and challenged my preconceived notions, showing how the two can merge harmoniously.
The cons: I feel that this series would attract more viewers’ attention if the production team could put more thoughts in the episode sequence. Perhaps having the exciting and popular casts in the first few episode or having and overall theme that flows throughout the series so the viewers could be intrigued to follow through.
However, each story is inspirational and resonated with me in different ways. Whether you are someone who lived through that era and might feel a wave of nostalgia, or someone unfamiliar with Shenzhen’s history, this drama is both educational and perspective-shifting. It’s well worth a watch.
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