Reviews

Twenty Episodes of Enjoyment; Sixteen Episodes of Drivel

I needed something sweet after watching a horror drama, and this proclaimed "sweet" in the title. I was impressed by Luo Yunxi’s performance in Till the End of the Moon. It was healing to see him in a happier, romantic role. I’ve enjoyed Bai Lu in a number of roles (she was also in Till the End of the Moon), and it was wonderful to see her paired with Luo Yunxi in a drama with a happy ending. Honestly, this drama feels like therapy after being traumatized by Till the End of the Moon.

The Good:
• The leads shared a natural, playful chemistry.
• The Welsh Corgi. She wasn’t the most polished actor, but she was cute.
• Gao Han Yu delivered a nuanced performance as the most complex and compelling character.
• The male lead’s attire was exquisite. Kudos to the stylist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic3lJAn8Cek

The Bad:
• The secondary couple dragged the drama down. The female character was insufferable: a bubble-brained, overly emotional, stalker girl child. Why is this portrayed as cute for women but a glaring red flag for men? I know five-year-olds who act more mature. The male counterpart was a tech nerd who never learned to use his words. I cringed every time they appeared on screen. No shade thrown at the actors—they were playing the parts given to them.
• Noble idiocy, where great pain was inflicted in order to spare the loved one great pain. How does this make sense? And this was done even when it was life-threatening! I wish this trope would die a fiery death.
• The writer shortchanged the 2ML. He was sacrificial and underwent significant transformation, only for his arc to be discarded. His motivations remained unclear, making his choices feel like a manipulative ploy to make the ML more likable. He deserved better; all that character development was trashed.
• Once again, the FL was warned to stay away from a dangerous person, yet she ignored the man who loved her most and wanted to protect her. If you’re in a committed relationship and your partner warns you that someone has ulterior motives and is dangerous, you should listen. FL shouldn't have been wining and dining alone with another man when she'd promised to be home with the man who loved her.

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Episode 1 Review

I don't even know where to start with this first episode honestly. My Royal Nemesis had every reason to be just another soul-possession rom-com and instead it came out swinging. The writing is sharp, the pacing doesn't waste a single minute, and the whole thing just has this infectious energy that makes you want to immediately hit play on episode 2.

Lim Ji-yeon is the entire show!!!! I knew she could do dark and intense, The Glory proved that beyond any doubt, but watching her fully commit to comedy while somehow keeping the character grounded and layered at the same time? Amazing!! She plays someone who is completely out of place in the modern world and makes it hilarious without ever making it silly. Every reaction, every confused glance, every moment of silent calculation, my girl is locked in from the very first scene and she does not let go. Her acting changing between Dan-shim and Seo-ri is done so well, just goes to show how talented of an actress she is.

Heo Nam-jun as the cold, arrogant chaebol Se-gye is also a very pleasant surprise. He plays the character with this dry comedic energy that works perfectly as a foil to Seo-ri's chaos, he's not even trying to be funny, which makes him funnier. And Jang Seung-jo as Mun-do brings a genuinely unsettling presence that adds a whole different layer to what could've just been a lighthearted premiere. He's giving mystery and menace and it's working beautifully. I wish I could add a tiktok I viewed the other day about him, it's just too darn funny lol.

The chemistry between the leads is already there from basically their first interaction, which is rare for episode 1. And the production itself, the way it moves between the two time periods, the costuming, the way it frames Seo-ri against the modern Seoul backdrop is just gorgeous.

Strong, strong start. Lim Ji-yeon is carrying this with both hands and she's barely broken a sweat. 10/10 would recommend. #MyRoyalNemesis #멋진신세계

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Adorkable Fun

The main downside to this show is how difficult it is to stream (with subs or without). With some methodical searching you can watch nearly all of the episodes with subs, but not in the same place and with varying degrees of quality (res & subs).

If you go to the trouble, you are in for a treat - especially if you are a fan of any of the members/groups. The show proudly embraces something we never thought we'd need to see - a bunch of male pop stars in their 20s (sorry Tony & Heechul) struggling to satisfy the various beauty requests from an equally star studded guest line up of gorgeous female Kpop/Drama stars.

The premise of each episode is for all the men to awkwardly greet each other and guess (aka hope) who the female guest is going to be. Once the 'princess' arrives, she has some time with the boys to quiz them on various aspects of the female mystique and watch them attempt to appeal themselves through dancing, singing, role playing, etc. After this, she gives them her makeup criteria (e.g femme fatal, girl next door, etc.) and disappears into an adjoining room while the boys get a tutorial from their on set celebrity makeup artist, who does his best to point them in the right direction. In S1, they practice on mannequins; S2 on (gulp) actual models. After the female guest observes each guys' final result, she chooses who will complete which step of the makeup routine (foundation, eyeshadow, blush, etc.). One by one, the boys head off to have some intimate makeup time, during which they attempt to both cause the lady's heart to beat faster and complete the makeup successfully. The episodes finish off with a final reveal of the look and the visiting 'princess' choosing one member who gave her the most heart throbbing moment.

It's a surprisingly funny and cute show. The best way to find subbed episodes is to visit the fan sites for either the boy group members or the visiting female guest.

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A promising start then it stunted

The story had all the potential but after the initial half, only thing that kept me going was Jeonghan's part. His toxic curiosity , possessiveness then lovestruck yearning held me in front of the screen. The actors did their best and I am quiet satisfied with their acting , chemistry . The music was well suited, delivering the perfect emotion . However, story execution failed tremendously. Iljeo's action became erratic contrast to his character' s setup, petty threat came off as futile, two childhood flashbacks add more to the confusion. The ending just give you an exit, not the joy of a story well-done. So, this leaves it to the pile of dramas worth for a one time watch.

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A blueprint of modern Teenage Thai drama

Every opinion aside, this became the blueprint of modern Teenage Thai drama and anything and everything you see started after Hormones became a big hit.

Even if you watch the drama a decade later it somehow completely fits the present day scenario perfectly. The plot revolved around multiple people with multiple relationship and friendship dynamics that the youth could relate too. It was daring, messy, discussed things openly which has been considered taboo. This was such a refresher. The story didn't revolve around 2 people, it revolved around stories and that made multiple possibilities of what might happened. It talked about relationships, love, teenage problems. It talked about different parental and family problems teenagers face. It shed light on multiple aspects of sexual intercourse and also a bit of sex education. Every character felt like they were real because they weren't created to cater to a certain audience with either overly saturated green flag characteristics or ever so hating red flag characteristics. Each of them made mistakes and the story took turns to give them a chance to realize the mistake and how to do better. It was an amazing character centric story where the plot was never empty.

The acting of the young cast truly showed how we must have more new faces in the industry. Most of them were newbies with little experience and they made the characters from the page alive on the screen. Hormone truly gave us the next generation of Thai actors. Everyone, even the smallest of roles did an amazing job.

The camerawork was nothing extravagant but it was realistic. It gave of the early 2010's vibe and the editing was much more ahead of it's time with the pacing and frames.

All 3 seasons of hormones are still enjoyable to this day and I believe it will remain one of the best even in the upcoming years. The viewers could connect with the characters and thus became the groundbreaking drama it is.

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Es el primer drama de jisoo que me gustó!

Muy lindo el mensaje que deja el drama: vivir el presente y dejar de ver el final.
Pero en la vida real todo termina eventualmente y trae consecuencias catastróficas; entrar en una relación es como estar sedado para luego darte cuenta de que debes nuevamente despedirte de las personas. Es estar pasándola increíble y tener siempre presente que llegará un día donde extrañarás ese momento.
Si la vida fuera un drama, podríamos tomar más riesgos como la protagonista, pero la realidad es mucho más consecuente. Si no mueves bien tus fichas, podrías pasar un par de años de tu vida intentando volver a ser tú, y con el tiempo te va consumiendo. Poder amar libremente es solamente una quimera; en cambio, debemos andar con cautela en el mundo real. Pero supongo que para eso vemos este tipo de historias, para desconectarnos de nuestra propia realidad y refugiarnos en un mundo de blancos y negros, lejos de nuestros eternos grises.

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The Untamed (2019) ★★★★★

I put off watching The Untamed for a long time.

Partly because it was 50 episodes, partly because the fandom surrounding it is so intense, and partly because when something is hyped this much, it often struggles to live up to expectations.

In this case, the hype was deserved.

The Untamed is not a perfect drama. The special effects are often dated. Some of the musical choices are unintentionally funny. There are moments where the production shows its age and budget limitations.

None of that mattered.

The story is simply too good.

What begins as a mystery surrounding the return of the infamous Yiling Patriarch gradually unfolds into a story about loyalty, grief, sacrifice, reputation, family, belonging, and the devastating power of narrative. Few dramas have explored the concept of othering as effectively as this one. Again and again, characters are judged not by what they have done, but by the stories people tell about them.

Wei Wuxian is one of the most compelling protagonists I have encountered in a C-drama. Warm, mischievous, intelligent, compassionate, stubborn, and occasionally reckless, he remains fundamentally committed to protecting others even when the world decides he is a villain. Xiao Zhan’s performance is extraordinary.

Equally impressive is Wang Yibo as Lan Wangji. Playing a reserved character is difficult. Playing one who communicates almost entirely through subtle changes in expression is even harder. Wang Yibo somehow manages to convey loyalty, affection, grief, regret, devotion, and love while speaking very little. By the end of the drama, some of the most emotional moments come from a glance rather than a speech.

The supporting cast is equally strong. Jiang Cheng is frustrating, tragic, and deeply human. Wen Ning became one of my favorite characters. Lan Xichen’s kindness and optimism make him easy to love. Jin Guangyao is one of the most effective villains I have seen in a drama because he rarely appears villainous. His greatest weapon is not power but perception.

The greatest strength of The Untamed, however, is its world.

Cloud Recesses, Lotus Pier, Burial Mounds, Koi Tower—each feels like a real place inhabited by real people with histories, traditions, loyalties, and wounds. Long after finishing the drama, I suspect these places and characters will remain vivid in my memory.

This is not the strongest romance I have watched.

It is not the most emotionally devastating drama I have watched.

It is not the most visually impressive drama I have watched.

But it may be the most immersive world I have visited.

By the end, I did not want to leave.

That is one of the highest compliments I can give any story.

Highly recommended.

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My Very-Much-Comfort Drama!

I dont usually write anything here, but this underrated drama made me create an account just to rate it 10/10. Why cant I rate it 100/10???? T_____T

I dont even know how to describe it anymore. I could say this is the best Chinese drama I've watched so far, and some people might think I'm overhyping it but that's exactly the point. I never giggled THIS hard while watching a drama, so yes, I dont mind overhyping this.

Mo Qing Cheng set my standards too high for a man. If he wants something, he strives for it. He's also the most straightforward character I've ever seen and now I want him to be REAL 😭

Just like how Qiang Qing Ci accidentally found Shengshengman, I also accidentally found this drama when its "Slowly" OST played on shuffle on my playlist. This one is truly my type of drama since I tend to watch for fun, not for conflicts.

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This drama has a really interesting concept. Four people with superpowers come together as a group. The idea is strong and enjoyable, and the story is good. It’s not the best out there, but it’s engaging enough to keep watching.

One of the biggest strengths of the show is its characters. The three supporting characters stand out much more than the main lead. The main character feels a bit plain and boring at times. The others bring much more personality and energy. They are fun, expressive, and genuinely entertaining to watch. The female lead especially shines with her humor. Her running style and overall mannerisms add a lot of comedic charm to the show. The side characters and villains feel weaker. The villains, in particular, don’t feel very strong or fully developed. They are not memorable antagonists, and their acting feels a bit bland compared to the main group. Even outside the Wonderfools team, most other characters don’t leave a strong impression and feel average overall.

Speaking of comedy, the drama does have funny moments, mostly because of the characters. However, as a show that presents itself as a comedy, it doesn’t fully feel like one. The humor is not consistent throughout the show. Instead, it feels more like a regular drama that has some comedic scenes rather than a true comedy-focused series.

The action is where things get mixed. The action scenes are good, sometimes even very good, but they clearly had the potential to be much better. It feels like the show could have improved the action significantly by fully using the characters’ abilities. For example, some powers, like super strength, were not explored as much as they could have been. There were opportunities for more memorable scenes, but the drama didn’t always take them. Because of this, the action feels slightly underwhelming compared to its full potential.

As for the OST, it’s one of the highlights. The opening theme is especially great; I’d rate it a 10 out of 10.

In the end, this is a good and enjoyable drama with strong characters and a fun concept. While it doesn’t fully reach its potential, especially in action and comedy, it still a solid drama.

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Beautiful show and learned about ink in a predictable feel-good story

The Heir follows a familiar story pattern that is not new, but is as feel-good as ever. A cheerful, hardworking, fearless, [insert more positive adjectives] young woman of prodigal genius overcomes various obstacles to bring happiness to herself and everyone around her. Her protagonist halo glows so brightly that there isn’t much suspense; the show is mostly about cheering her on and feeling good when she succeeds.

I think this show’s high point is its production. You can tell a lot of effort was made to bring this time period (Ming Dynasty) and place (Huizhou) to life. Its portrayal is vivid and detailed, with beautiful settings and a lot of atmosphere. The streets teem with extras, the food looks delicious, the costumes get dirty, old people have freckles, the FL’s fingernails always have ink, etc. There are also so many little details surrounding the daily life, like all the little tasks they do, it creates a nice slice-of-life feel.

We also get to learn all about ink-making. Shows that focus on a single industry will really play it up and put it on a pedestal, which I never found that relatable (sorry, I just don’t share the passion for ink!). But we can still admire the devotion of the characters, and it’s a fun way to learn about a new topic and the culture embedded within it.

As for the story... Li Zhen, the FL, is both capable and likable, so it’s fun to watch her underdog successes. As she makes her way up the career ladder, she faces off against scheming competitors, mean-spirited family members, natural disasters, and the like. She sometimes gets discouraged and shows real emotions, which makes her relatable and adds some humanity to an otherwise overpowered character.

The ML is also likable and good support for her, but he definitely seems secondary. He is also just on his own mission separate from hers. The romance between them is a good level for people who want just a hint of romance but nothing too played up. The FL and ML don’t even interact that much for the first half of the show, which I didn’t mind and barely noticed. Their relationship grows naturally and subtly as they work together and develop a solid friendship. Later there is some noble idiocy on his part, but luckily she is the kind of brave FL who stays true to herself.

I was happy with the growing relationship, but it’s only one part of Li Zhen’s life. Of the scenes that really left an impression on me, most were Li Zhen with her mom or her grandfather, rather than anything with the ML. At one point when Li Zhen is struggling in the rain, I thought the ML would magically arrive like every other show, but instead it was her mom- made me tear up. (As a side note on the mother-daughter idea, the story arc with the Princess and her mother is also quite sweet).

Female empowerment is not an outright theme- except for occasionally throwing sexism at Li Zhen- but it’s still a show where the writers seem to like women. I especially like that the female side characters are generally well-written, having varying roles and degrees of power as well as different relationships with each other (often positive). Li Zhen herself also just overshadows the ML, often being the one to save him, and she handles without him what I think is the biggest conflict of the story.

Those are the things I liked. Unfortunately, I just also didn’t find the show that interesting.

The thing is, the plot is kind of repetitive and the conflicts do not feel meaningful. The FL has so much plot armor, there isn’t actually any REAL question about whether or not she will triumph. And the villains are rather one-dimensional and uninteresting, just cartoonishly bad people. Normally I like bad villains because it’s less emotional load, but these were just too excessive. Fourth Aunt, for example- poorly written but rather well acted- spews nonsense that makes no sense and nobody ever argues logic with her. And the most prominent villain simply gets more and more unhinged as the show goes on.

I just honestly did not find it that interesting to see over and over, villains acting super evil and Li Zhen coming up with ways to squash them, or win over hearts when she can. Even among the side characters, many are likable (“good people”), but there are only a few that I actually found interesting- and one is already gone within 6 episodes.

The entire foundation of the show is also weak, since the tragedy that anchors the show (the Tribute Ink scandal) is full of holes. Ink does not spontaneously combust; why did nobody look into who set the fire? Every time somebody directed more misplaced vitriol at Li Zhen, I could understand it as a plot device, but I still had to roll my eyes.

So in general, the show is not too stressful (not too many deaths either, beyond the first few episodes), but also not that interesting or meaningful. I watched most of it at 1.25X or 1.5X speed. I just don’t really need to spend THAT much time watching people curse the villain or praise Li Zhen.

For the acting, I think it’s really good. Both Yang Mi and Elvis Han had some great expressions and captured the right vibe. This show also has a lot of older characters, and I love watching older actors because they’re generally more experienced and quite good.

The production, as mentioned previously, is excellent, really bringing the show to life, as befitting a show that wants to educate its audience. The styling is nice and not over-done. I also really liked the music, especially the BGM which is used well for effect. I especially appreciate the playful BGM which let me know when I can take it easy, and the uplifting one that plays when good things are going to happen. The OST is also nice but is not over-used, probably because this show didn’t overdo it with the dramatic scenes.

Overall, although the show does many things well, it unfortunately suffers a fatal error of not having meaningful conflicts or just being that interesting overall. It seems mostly good for soaking in the setting and getting to know a time and place and industry. I’d give the story a 6 or so (somewhere between “not that into it” and “entertained but not masterpiece”), but +0.5 for great portrayal of female characters. And then the production is so good that I’ll rate the overall show higher than the story. ...I also happened to watch this when I was home sick, and discovered that it’s perfect for a dazed binge when you’re not feeling too good or thinking that clearly and just need something external to make you feel better.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





The ending is... hm, I thought it was happy. How could it not be? Nobody who just spent 42 episodes watching an invincible protagonist win all her battles wants anything less than Happily Ever After... surely the scriptwriters know that.

The strange thing is, everything is working out and then with 5 minutes to go, the ML is suddenly sent off to battle. With one minute left he comes back, walking across a field towards the FL. Textover tells us that Li Zhen essentially retires after all this, no mention of the ML. It was so odd and unnecessary that I googled it, and it seems many people consider this an open ending a la The Double (ie the vision is implied to be an illusion because he died).

Well, I chose to take the ending literally, like he actually returned. But it is a strange bite-sized chunk of story that is easy to ignore if you prefer that method instead.

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