You’re never too old to enjoy life.
Allowing yourself to feel happiness, enjoy small things and create a deeper connection to other people at times might feel like either a luxury, unobtainable pleasure or inappropriate whim. Old Fashion Cupcake shows you how we all deserve happiness in our lives, and how growing older doesn't mean you need to put it aside.Have to say, even though the romance was quite a treat, and the mutual pining was a blast to watch, the “anti-aging” plot was the one that grabbed my attention the most. Following Nozue on his journey to discovering himself again - outside of his daily routine and work, was fascinating and extremely heartwarming.
Togawa's low-key chase after Nozue gave me all the best feels and just enough angst at times to make me fall for the couple hard. I appreciated how he not only wanted to be with Nozue, but he was also truly trying hard to help him enjoy life, enjoy his work, and enjoy all the small things he was too afraid to try in the past.
Both main actors aced the roles. The passive attitude Nozue had for a lot of things, how he just tried to survive each day, how he fell into the routine and forgot how fun life can be - I could see that all in the performance. Kimura Tatsunari perfectly acted the small possessive and jealous moments, Togawa striving to help Nozue come out of his shell, the care and admiration - all and more.
Honestly speaking, it was just a fun, enjoyable short watch with some uplifting messages and moments that most adults (and younger folks) would appreciate to hear.
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Amazing lead chemistry + many kisses but predictable with common cliches.
Completed - 11/22/2021"Once we Get Married" is a cute and fluffy rom-com that is very binge-watchable and a good palate cleanser after a serious show. You don't need too much brain power and can just sit back and relax. Don't expect a mind-blowing plot as it's very predictable. However, the leads have amazing chemistry and they make me smile when they do cute things. :)
I recommend this drama if you are a fan of:
1. the actors and actresses
2. enemies-to-Lovers trope
3. contract Marriage trope
4. common rom-com cliches such as, accidental kisses/hugs/falls, phone battery died at convenient times
5. nice second male lead & evil second female lead
I am a fan of #1, 2 & 3, therefore, I decide to watch this drama. I know it's not perfect but I enjoy the ride. I saw our main male lead, Wang Zi Qi, in "Imperial Coroner" and quite enjoyed his role there. In this drama, he is not as reserved and mature as his historical role, and I am glad to see a different side of him. Here, he plays the CEO who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, acting somewhat childish and petty and jealous - but looking adorable as well. It's so nice to see Wang Zi Qi in two very different roles.
I've always been a fan of contract marriage dramas, and have seen quite a few of those. Therefore, I realize that "Once We Get Married" is actually quite average. The plot is predictable and you know the challenges that our leads will face in this type of set-up. However, I really enjoy the main romance between XiXi and SiChen. They are fun when they're enemies and argue with each other. Yet it's also adorable when they start to have feelings for each other and when they actually got together. There are lots of skinship and an amazing number of kisses (doesn't mean they're good kisses, just ok). I smile ear-to-ear when I see our leads bickering and flirting.
The secondary romance between Mu Ruo Na and Shang Ke is quite boring. I don't find either character attractive and don't care for them at all. I skipped most of their parts. This romance does not add anything to the plot and feels like a romance from a different drama. There's not much interaction between the secondary romance and the main romance, until the last few episodes of the drama.
We also have our typical second male lead, Mo Zi Xin, who has been in love with our female lead for a long time. He's one of those that will do anything for our female lead, even when he's been rejected. He will support her quietly and come to her rescue whenever the male lead is not available. On the other hand, we have our evil second female lead, Ran Xi Wei, who will do anything to sabotage our lead's romance. It's actually quite annoying that she keeps on doing that from the beginning of the drama all the way to the end. It's never-ending scheming and sabotaging.
Other observations:
1. This drama has the most accidental kisses I've ever seen in a drama.
2. Is Mo Zi Xin wearing a Pikachu tie? He wears that ALL the time!
3. Did I see our leads shop at Costco for groceries?
4. When did Nana become BFFS with XiXi?
5. Our female lead doesn't dress that nicely for someone who is a fashion designer
6. Wang Zi Qi and Ian Yi look amazing in suits!!
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This show is a perfect example of trying to be too many things. It was jarring to jump between the fantasy, thriller/crime and romantic comedy. It was like three separate shows happening all at the same time. With the more suspenseful and crime part of the show, the music was just so overtly dramatic it was over the top. The fantasy was the most interesting concept of the whole show and the showrunners let so many things unexplained or unexplored, much to the show's detriment. I love a romantic comedy but it felt so out of place with the rest of the storyline and felt inconsistent when I think back over the 16 episodes and the justifications and history between the two leads seem to change pending on what the show runners needed to try and get to the end. So in the end, the romance felt not as natural as I think it could have. Granted, I have just come off watching Her Private Life with Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook where the chemistry was off the richter scale. And the crime, oh dear... well I have to say I don't watch kdramas for their realistic cop/law plotlines. Makes me wonder if I have watched too many western cop/law shows that give off a better impression of actually making plausible sense. This show was just ridiculous in this area.
I think one of the worst things is when you get to the last episode and there is only 15 minutes left to go and you are left with so many things to tie up that every scene just becomes cheesy, predictable and disappointing.
All that said, I think PBY and AHS are great, I still love them as actors and will continue to support their future projects. I also think they did a great job with the roles they were given and the mediocre script they had to work with. All the supporting actors were great and I enjoyed their parts in the story, even though most of them seemed to disappear in the last couple of episodes.
All in all, I don't think I will ever be watching this show again and I would only recommend it if you are a fan of the two leads.
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This review may contain spoilers
don’t bother.
highly scripted, contestants started doing things that made no sense, no real love or connections, stalkers, a guy who doesn’t understand consent, multiple ad product placements, one of cast members opened up to being forced to choose one person they didn’t like during the final choice, and finally, the producers think we’re dumb, stupid, and crazy.don’t watch.
*the rest is random letters because it says I have to post 500 words to submit a review 🤦♀️
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That being said this show compelled me to write one. First of all I loved Grey Rainbow operative word loved. This show had everything going for it and I thought it would be my first 10/10, then the fire nation attacked and by that I mean the ending happened. The story I swore would get a 10 suddenly dropped to 3 in my mind but was upped to 6 for this review after careful consideration of the episodes.
On that note I am surprised that this is rated so high (though mydramalist ratings can be wayyyyyyyy off sometimes) but this one genuinely surprised me. I though more people would be upset by the fact that the ending served no actual purpose. The show that I praised for its originality and realistic perspective jumped straight into stereotypical at the last second. The ending can only be described as forced. I understand in theory that the writers were trying to highlight the "you never know what life might bring" fact but since it was done poorly with very little lead up/foreshadowing it had the effect of being more like "really...really hoe. That's the best you could do."
The cast was strong, cinematography was breath taking and the music was good. I like this story except for the ending and I even plan to rewatch it at least up to a point but i can only recommend it with the warning that the ending SUCKS.
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A solid winsome rom-com that doesn't need to cheat
This is an angst light sport focused drama with a strong, swoon worthy noona romance running in parallel.The college aged ML falls in love with the FL at first sight. He was smitten and pursuits the FL with boundless energy. He picked a particular university just so that he can be coached by the FL. The FL is several years older than the ML so there is the usual push-pulls and denials. However, once she accepted his love, they are rock solid. It was so gratifying to see a relationship build upon trust and pure love. In fact, the FL should be applauded for her bravery and strength in pushing back against societal stereotypes and naysayers. Bravo!
I am thankful that there is no last minute breakups nor silly misunderstandings. The OTP are truly reading from the same page.
Of course there are tropes and cliché moments, this is a Chinese drama after all. Thankfully, they are under a tight rein and doesn't feel too contrived. Plots are mostly allowed to progress naturally.
Acting is fine all around. The ML has been in a number of school/college dramas so he is perfectly casted and is in his element. His training and competition scenes are well done and fairly believable. The FL played the noona role to perfection. She spent nearly the whole show in tracksuits or simple garb which is a refreshing change from the glam style of her other projects. She looks lean, fit and belongs on the sporting fields as a coach.
Most of the other actors are college age but they did fine. Lots of testosterone on display and their coming together to form their own band of brothers was gratifying to watch.
There is also a nice amount of skinship and no shortage of passionate kisses. An above average bedroom scene is a surprise bonus.
Not everything is wonderful though. There are some issues with the use of filters in post production whereby some scenes look like they are shot in fog and the actors looked washed out and glowed with a strange aura. This caused some online remarks and the director acknowledged the issue and dial back the effect in later scenes. The ending also feels rushed. The HEA ending is never in doubt but it feels underdone. Could have added more fan service.
It is not going to win any awards but it is a straightforward and satisfying watch. It is not artificially sweetened and the sports theme provided the necessary trials and tribulations without having to cheat by adding manufactured angst.
I enjoyed this show very much and would recommend it without reservations. OST is fun and breezy. Rewatch will not be a chore.
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You'll have characters that you'll love from the beginning, some that you'll hate and some that you'll have a love-hate relationship with.
I love how the characters develop through the entire drama. I have to admit i hated the female lead a little at the beginning, but the way she changed till the last episode fascinated me. I also love the relationship that bloomed between some characters and it is honestly better than any romantic relationship.
About the end, some characters had a happy end, some not so much. But i couldn't be happier with the ending that they gave us. I think everyone got the ending that they deserved. Of course there are some characters that deserved a little better but it was to be expected and given the circumstances, they couldn't get a better ending.
It's a great drama that will make you go through a lot of emotions in the shortest time possible. It's mysterious and captivating and i promise you, you won't regret watching it.
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TWELVE really left me frustrated, The Disaster That Was TWELVE
First of all, I would like to ask the director and the writer the purpose of this series.The characters felt disconnected, like they were just delivering lines without any emotional weight or bond.
Too much time is wasted on repetitive running and chasing scenes, with little actual story development.
: Instead of leaning on Korea’s rich history and traditional attire, they went with over-the-top feathers, glitter, and cosplay-like aesthetics—making it look cheap rather than epic.
Screen time use: Large chunks of the show felt like filler—eating scenes, chaotic dialogues, and CGI fluff—rather than a meaningful story.
The Disaster That Was TWELVE
I have truly never been this speechless after finishing a series — and not in a good way. TWELVE is the definition of how to take potential and drag it through feathers, glitter, and empty screen time until the viewer begs for mercy.
No Chemistry, Just Chaos
The characters move around each other like strangers forced to share an elevator. Dialogue after dialogue lands like random words thrown into the air, and somehow, the show still insists there’s “care” between them. Chemistry? Nonexistent. If anything, they had more passion when chewing food than when talking to each other.
Screen Time Wasted
Where did the hours of this series even go? Half of it was just running. The other half? Eating. The pacing felt like the writers forgot they were making a drama and instead shot a marathon training documentary mixed with a mukbang.
CGI and Costumes: A Glitter Explosion
And then we come to the visuals. Oh my god. The CGI looked like it was built with leftover PowerPoint animations. Instead of using Korea’s stunning historical wardrobe, they gave us cosplay: feathers, glitter, and shiny nonsense. The main character looked less like a warrior or royal figure and more like she was headed to a discount masquerade party.
Not Just Bad — Unwatchable
In the end, TWELVE wasn’t even watchable. The lack of direction, the empty chemistry, the carnival-costume visuals, and the complete waste of screen time turned what could have been a decent series into something I wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy.
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Secret Passion
It’s a simple film but very classy and sensual. It’s only 13 minutes so it gets to the point quite quickly. Recommend for someone wants to unwind with some historical gays.I’m not sure why this is rated 18+ though, they showed a nipple and nothing more. The language was also not explicit. If the perfume ads I see are more sensual than this shouldn’t they be “18+” too? Baloney. This was MILD compared to recent BL. I’d rate this 16+ in my gracious opinion.
For anyone confused on the ending, “A Crimson Mark” is the hickey that the chancellor leaves with the scholar during their affair. The chancellor, obviously embarrassed by it, becomes attracted to the idea seeing it a second time. The mark is the representation of how taboo their passionate relationship is.
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The Parades (2024): A Poignant Exploration of Loss and Connection
"The Parades," directed by Michihito Fujii, takes viewers on a heartfelt journey through the afterlife, exploring themes of love, loss, and the power of human connection. The story follows Minako, a mother searching for her son after a devastating calamity, who gradually comes to terms with her own passing and finds herself in a realm of restless spirits.Strengths:
⪼ Emotional resonance: The film excels at capturing the profound emotions associated with loss and grief. Minako's unwavering love for her son and the struggles of other characters to find closure resonate deeply with viewers.
⪼ Unique portrayal of the afterlife: The film's portrayal of the afterlife, with its "parades" where the deceased search for the living, is both visually stunning and thought-provoking. It creates a space for exploring unresolved relationships and the lingering bonds between life and death.
⪼ Compelling characters: Each character in the film, from Minako to the other residents of the in-between world, has their own unique story and motivations. This adds depth and complexity to the narrative.
Weaknesses:
⪼ Uneven pacing: The film occasionally struggles with pacing, with some scenes feeling rushed while others linger too long. This can disrupt the emotional flow of the story.
⪼ Light on plot: While the film excels in its emotional core, the overall plot remains relatively simple. Viewers seeking a more complex narrative may find themselves wanting more.
Overall:
"The Parades" is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that explores universal themes of love, loss, and the power of connection. While the pacing and plot could be tighter, the film's strengths lie in its heartfelt portrayal of grief and its unique depiction of the afterlife. It is a film that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll, prompting reflection on life, death, and the bonds we forge with others.
Recommendation:
This film is a good choice for viewers who enjoy emotional dramas with supernatural elements and who are interested in exploring themes of loss and the afterlife. However, those seeking a fast-paced plot with multiple twists may find it lacking.
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This review may contain spoilers
Visually speaking, this is a gorgeous movie. Vibrant colors in walls, clothes and scenery. The contrast between the black-and-white princess and the colorful real world. Miyuki's clothes, every one of them. Ayase Haruka as a princess, Kenji as a poor director's assistant. The shots of the camera. There is one scene at the beginning of the movie that was filmed from above, and it shows the little made-up town and all the actors in their clothes, and it was simply beautiful.As for the story, it was a nice, clean romance, with a bit of mystery and heartbreaking moments. I watched it twice in a week and I cried in both occasions. However, it could also be because of Ayase Haruka's tears... she almost always manages to move me with her tears. And she looked amazing as a princess. She had a nice chemistry with Sakaguchi Kentaro (she almost always has a good chemistry with whatever actor she works with), BUT as always, she is terrible in love scenes. She is a like an unreachable princess, cold and stiff in regards to hugs and kisses. Thankfully, it wasn't properly show in this movie, so it didn't bothered me so much.
I though at first that the movie had some plotholes. Like, she has to put make-up on her entire self to disguise her black-and-white self. But she remains colorful even under the rain. However, I noticed that it only rained when she was upset or sad, so maybe the rain was magical like her and couldn't affect her. It isn't explained how she comes to this world, but since it is a fantasy, there is no need for that. And as for all her wardrobe, it could be because they are in a movie set, and there are a lot of clothes.
SPOILER...
The ending was very sad. I couldn't live like them at all, without touching the one you love. And when they finally do... :(( so sad. Why??? The final scene was just a way to calm our broken hearts :((
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This drama had such a good start and theme. I absolutely loved it up until around ep. 12 or something when Ha Na learned about Seo Jin's ilness.The way she kept on holding onto Robin and feeding into that illusion is seriously damaging and abusive, there's no way someone in real life would do that to someone after finding out they're ill.
She kissed, asked to marry and, as was implied, had sex with Robin who is not a real person and is a result of DID. How fucked up is that?
Ha Na was so selfish that she convinced Seo Jin to live mentally ill for the rest of his life so she could be happy. When that wasn't possible she cried and basically begged Seo Jin to stay ill. She then guilt tripped Seo Jin and Robin for seeking treatment and only accepted Seo Jin when she found out he still had a part of Robin in him.
Everyone else around him also fed into this illusion and nearly made a funeral when Seo Jin was finally cured. What even.
At first I hated Seo Jin's father but after he said Ha Na's behavior was destroying her son and she was the reason he was still ill, I saw that he was the only smart and sane person in this drama. Simply a father(even thought not perfect) rooting for his son's mental health, which is the most important, when not even the psychiatrist seemed to care.
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Love is not supposed to be this toxic.
The show has too many red flags. The writing is really bad. People were hating on the bad guys when in truth as you watched this show, the only people that keeps the storyline flowing were the antagonists. Sure, there was an episode(s) of sweet moments between Namcha and Irin but that ends up overshadowed because of how Irin treats Namcha, and when it comes to those moments, nothing frigging happens afterward. I feel like they were just going around in circles. Irin, despite being older wasn't acting mature for her age. She's indecisive and could not make up her mind. I find it amusing that in the first episode, she fired an employee just because she didn't like the scent she smelled which showcased a real Karen-like behavior. I know some women were hard to please in real life and difficult to understand, but strong, educated and highly successful women like how they portray Irin to be shouldn't be like that. Namcha's ain't cute (the actor Win is though lols, I love him). He stalks her, follows her around, and gaslights everyone because of his love for her. I get it, unconditional love, sure. But that unconditional love will be your downfall if you don't keep it in check. Besides, I don't find any redeemable quality in Irin that will make me give her unconditional love like how Namcha does. The sister needs psychiatric help. She has suicidal thoughts and she's volatile at best. Irin should've seen that instead of trying to just protect her. You're supposed to be the smart one here and she looks up to you. The characters have flaws, I'm cool with that. But how did you end up bringing all four innately bad characters with so many negative personalities together and expect this to be resolved? I would've preferred if the story started with Namcha meeting Irin in the present and slowly discovering and knowing her as the story progressed than them having a past, age gap, and all, then trying to make the story interesting by injecting drama after drama that doesn't seem to get fixed. Anyway, I still encourage people to watch this and give it a go. Some people like it. Some people don't. Just a word of warning, it has lots of gaslighting, manipulation, and toxicity. I only love Win so I stayed. I hope he gets a better project than this next time.Was this review helpful to you?
This is not a Romance
It's definitely not a BL and not really a highschool drama even though most of the action takes place inside a highschool.It is coming of age drama that conveys the teenage angst and thoughtless cruelty born from it perfectly and as such has a realistic feel.
In the end I thoroughly enjoyed it as an assessment of the teenage experience .
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Excellent development of the Brotherhood and Interesting Mysterious Cases. Love Cheng Yi!
Amidst a sea of not-so-good romantic xianxias and period dramas, “Mysterious Lotus Casebook '' is a breath of fresh air. Despite being a romance junkie, the brotherhood between our three main characters reminded me that I don’t always need romance in a drama. This drama has excellent casting, acting, pacing, storytelling with interesting mysterious cases and some pretty good action scenes.Casting/Acting
Isn’t it nice to cast actors who play characters their age and act their age? In the drama, Li Lian Hua and Di Fei Sheng are both in their early 30s, and they are played by Cheng Yi (33) and Xiao Shu Yao (35). Joseph Zeng (25) plays a younger Fan Duo Bing who is in his 20s. Just because of this, the drama gets a big thumbs up from me. The three male leads act their age and exudes the necessary aura of either someone wise or inexperienced. They are really well-casted and I can’t imagine other actors playing these roles. I have to say I am very impressed with Chen Yi. We have all seen him spitting blood (he does that in this drama as well) and playing the angsty romantic male lead. Who knew he could play a sly and sarcastic fallen hero so well! Xiao Shun Yao’s tall frame and broad shoulders exude that cold brutalness and reminded me a little of his gray character in “The Blue Whispers”. Joseph Zeng’s big eyes brought out the youthfulness and inexperience of Fang Duo Bing. “Mysterious Lotus Casebook” has a large supporting cast of veterans and younger actors. No one stands out like a sore thumb and no character irritates or annoys me. I quite like the female villain and found her beautiful and manic!
Mysterious Cases
There are several mysterious cases and they all contribute to the bigger plot/mystery of the drama. I like that they are not episodic and are allowed enough time to develop and to be solved. The cases are interesting to me, more so than those in “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty”. Although I was never anxious enough to be at the edge of my seat, they generally keep me engaged. There are so many details that I can’t really not pay attention. I was dozing off (not the drama’s fault, I was just tired) and had to rewind the scenes as I realized I was missing pieces of information to follow along. I also enjoy the mid-episode graphics and follow along the Lotus Tower to different locations. I realized I didn’t even take that many notes for my reviews while watching, because I was following along.
The Brotherhood
Excellent! It was so much fun seeing how the friendship develops between the three male characters. Their scenes are sprinkled with humor (and not second-hand embarrassment humor), thoughtful/caring conversations and understanding of each other’s words and actions. It is quite beautiful to see how each relationship continues to build throughout the drama - from strangers, idol, enemies to friends, frenemies, and soulmates.
Romance
Don’t watch this drama for romance because you will be sorely disappointed. I am actually fine with the small romantic plot of Li Xiang Yi and his ex-girlfriend, Di Fei Sheng and the obsessed villain, and even the very small one of Fan Duo Bing and the princess. But having Su Xiao Yong’s affection for Li Lian Hua is unnecessary. She has such a small role that it seems like her sole existence is to do household chores, be an interpreter and grandfather’s messenger, and act as a medical assistant to get help from a doctor. There are no lovey-dovey cute scenes and no skinship at all. But you know what, you really don’t need any big romance plot because there’s enough to keep you engaged.
Action Scenes
There are enough action scenes scattered throughout the drama to keep us wuxia fans satiated. I am glad the drama does not skim out on the big fight with the villains in the end. The action scenes are pretty good, but not to the traditional wuxia standards like in “Side Story of Fox Volant”. I wanted more close combat sword fighting scenes, instead of people getting thrown across the room, with a palm push or a sword swing. I want to especially commend Chen Yi. I never realized what a beautiful fighter he is. There are actors who fight hard and have the physique to do so. There are others who fight like they are dancing or not know what to do with a sword. But Chen Yi’s fight scenes are beautiful to watch. He has a skinnier frame and fights like he’s floating in the air (great wire work from him!) yet he doesn’t fight weakly. It’s a very nice combination of elegance and quiet strength.
Production Quality
It’s so great that the three main male leads are dubbing themselves. Though not often, I do think there are some live recordings from Chen Yi. But the supporting cast seems to all be dubbed by voice actors. The production quality is pretty decent. The costumes, sets, props and ornaments all look decent (not exquisite). CGI and music/songs are minimal. I don’t actually remember any songs played. There’s a dance performed by a male dancer/actor during one of the cases, and that performance is unique and beautifully danced.
Overall, I strongly recommend this drama, especially if you enjoy mysterious cases and are fans of the three male leads. I really don’t have any major criticism of the drama. I liked Chen Yi when he was in “Love and Redemption” but I think I became a fan after his role here in “Mysterious Lotus Casebook”.
Completed: 8/13/2023 - Review #339
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