Reviews

Some hits, but more misses

If you watched the trailer (as I did) you've already seen everything important from ep. 1: the main couple gets established (rather than introduced - as this, apparently, happened in a series which aired 4 years ago), issues the main plot of the series revolves around are presented almost immediately and the show gets on the road with the body swap thing. Both ep. 1 and the show as a whole benefit from good production quality, an interesting main plot and fairy well done scenes where the main couple gets intimate. However, there are more misses than hits here. First of all - the writing. Body swapping as main plot point can be used in many different ways: as basis for comedy or a tale of the main couple reflecting on their relationship or for each of the main characters to do some introspection; hell - it can even be used to produce erotic content. Whoever wrote the script for "Suntiny" knows this, but did what seems a half-hearted job: the comedy isn't very good nor is there a lot of it, and while both mains describe positive influence of body swap on their relationship, this remains a declaration only and is not followed by any actions. What also bothered me a lot was how writing influenced pacing of the episode: I felt like the story is not progressing in a natural way, developing in an understandable way, but jumps from scene to scene - and those scenes are only loosely related. Another problem was lack of acting; Max delivered his lines like a machine, in a flat, boring way - Nat, despite all of his shortcomings, at least brought some feeling and intensity to his performance. And one more problem: poor editing and some weird editing choices. Ep. 1 is only 38 minutes long and watching it I got the feeling that there are several scenes missing (either cut during editing or not shot/written at all) - scenes that should be there for ep. 1 to tell its story in a comprehensive way.

Read More

A Beautifully Crafted Chapter of Emotion, Elegance, and Connection

Episode 8 continues to raise the bar in every possible way - from storytelling to visuals, it's a true celebration of thoughtful creativity and heartfelt performance.The narrative was rich and purposeful, subtly weaving in themes like air quality awareness and gender equality in a way that felt natural and deeply respectful. These messages weren't forced - they were woven gently into the story, creating impact through grace and intention.And of course, at the center of it all is the sweet and slowly blooming romance between Charan and Khanin. Their moments were tender, filled with quiet glances and unspoken care. It's the kind of slow-burn that speaks volumes with just a look - truly a romance built on trust and growth. Adding charm to it all is Chakri's adorable presence - always close to Khanin, always adding warmth and lightness to the narrative. He's the quiet guardian we've all grown to love.Visually, the episode was stunning. The cinematography was rich and poetic - every scene bathed in golden hues, every frame thoughtfully composed. Combined with the beautiful background score, the emotions resonated deeply. The music elevated the story without ever overpowering it - soft, stirring, and perfectly timed.The costumes were elegant and expressive - a perfect match for each character's journey. The attention to detail made every scene feel immersive and refined.The set design deserves special mention. From Emmaly's elegance to Meenanagarin City's grandeur, the world of the story felt alive and authentic - crafted with care to suit the tone of each moment.And finally, the performances - each actor embodied their role with heart and authenticity. From Charan's quiet strength to Khanin's playful charm & flirty sparks, to the delightful balance JayCalvin brought to the plot - everyone contributed to making this episode unforgettable.

Read More

Assassins and robbers and seal oh my!

In a flashback Su WuMing overhears an official discussing three names in Shiyang. They decide to look for the coroner named Dugu and he is reading from the book of life and death. This is why Su just happened to be at the right place at the right time for Dugu events. He and magistrate Dugu head for shop to see which suspect lied. When Su opens the door he said a surprised ‘he is the one that lied?’ And then assassins start firing at them. This is broken up by Lu and YingTao. After a brief reacquaintance Lu introduces himself to the group and lets them know he will be an obstacle. The challenge is accepted. Yingtao takes a dart for Su and Su takes a dart after that. Dugu was grazed but they don’t find that out til poison starts working on him. Imperial guards are in the mix,but it is unknown who used the poison weapons. Fei once again shows up just in time to take care of them all. We see the dreams of the wounded and once again the manic maneuvers of Dugu with his ‘wife’.😝 Su has figured out a body is hid in porcelain so Fei and XiJun head to shop to tell Lu. Lu has already figured this out and sets off traps to check out the statues. Two bodies are found. One the son of a coroner and the other the brother of the grave robber. The mother coroner is called to begin autopsies on the bodies. Fei is chuckling from sidelines speculating that Su and Lu are competing to solve case first. I am not liking this step backwards for them or the choice to have Dugu be involved in all three seasons. This is one arc choice that boggles me.😝

Read More