Reviews

A solid series for my first review!

Reset is one of the most binge-worthy C-dramas if you love a good thriller.
What’s good? It completely avoids relying on cheesy special effects. Instead, it focuses on the passengers, and honestly, the side characters' backstories hit hardest. The altercations between the main duo and the cops are brilliant.
The ML and FL’a relationship is way more "partners in crime trying not to die" than actual lovers, which honestly makes the partnership feel way more realistic.
What’s bad? It’s not flawless—some of the middle loops drag a bit, and the ending is a little too perfectly wrapped up in a bow but at only 15 episodes, it’s a good, solid watch.

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The MOST interesting C-drama this year

When I was little, I always loved watching family dramas. Even though that kind of experience felt far removed from my own life, it always gave me a sense of family warmth. Xiao Fang completely brought back those feelings I had as a child. The overall color palette of this show is very clean, and it presents us with beautiful rural scenery. After watching the first two episodes, I really want to visit the area—it’s the kind of scenery you rarely see in the city. The story itself is quite forward-thinking. I can already sense that many people will be upset by the premise of an unwed pregnancy, but the female lead, Xiao Fang, has a brave personality that puts my mind at ease. Even if she decides to have the baby on her own, it’s no big deal. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the male lead, Xiao Wei, changes.
Another appealing aspect is the show’s cast. Aside from the young leads, the rest of the cast consists of well-known actors and comedians—I couldn’t stop laughing right from the very beginning.

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Night has come tinha muito mais potencial.

vamos lá para ser sincera o drama em geral aborda um assunto que já foi abordado por outros dramas asiáticos entretanto traz algumas diferenças traz uma imersão incrível entretanto, ele poderia trazer uma construção de plot melhor, o fato deles empurrar até o final a máfia não é tão interessante se o jogo é infinito poderiam ter trazido os alunos a uma ideia de que naquele jogo eles morreram e nesse se repetiu então todos vão fazer diferente. Achei muito puxado o plot twist é bem legal mas a construção e algumas pontas soltas sobrenaturais não explicadas me irrita. Mas de resto o drama é bem bacana eu adorei a experiência de assistir os atores atuam demais! h

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Why Xiao Fang Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air

Some dramas are driven by twists. Some rely on conflict.

Xiao Fang chooses a different path.

At first glance, the story begins with an unexpected pregnancy outside of marriage. It sounds like the kind of premise that would normally lead to endless misunderstandings and emotional turmoil. Instead, Xiao Fang gently turns that expectation upside down.

What makes the series so refreshing is that it never judges its characters. Xiao Fang is not defined by the choices others expect her to make. She is independent, optimistic, and wonderfully free-spirited. She makes decisions for herself, not because society tells her what she should do, but because she knows what kind of life she wants.

Even more touching is the family that surrounds her.

The Yang family is the emotional heart of the drama. Rather than becoming a source of pressure or conflict, they become Xiao Fang’s greatest support. Their love is warm, unconditional, and full of humor. Watching them feels like being welcomed into a home where everyone argues, laughs, worries, and ultimately stands by one another.

No one in this story exists simply as a supporting character.

Every member of the family has dreams, frustrations, and moments of growth. Even Xiao Wei, who initially appears timid and immature, gradually learns what responsibility and love truly mean. His transformation never feels forced—it is sincere, believable, and quietly moving.

Perhaps the greatest surprise is how kind this world is.

There are disagreements, awkward moments, and difficult choices, but very few truly malicious people. Instead of building drama through villains, the series builds emotion through understanding. It reminds us that ordinary people can still choose kindness, forgiveness, and hope.

Another unforgettable character is the setting itself.

Filmed in Guizhou, the series captures breathtaking mountains, rivers, villages, and countryside landscapes that almost become characters of their own. The scenery gives the entire drama a peaceful rhythm, making every episode feel like a short escape from the noise of everyday life. The beauty of Guizhou is not just a backdrop—it shapes the gentle spirit of the story.

In today’s television landscape, where many romances chase ever bigger conflicts and faster pacing, Xiao Fang feels remarkably different. It takes its time. It lets relationships breathe. It finds joy in ordinary moments, family dinners, shared laughter, and quiet acts of care.

It is the warmth.

What stayed with me most was not a dramatic plot twist or a grand romantic confession.

It was the love within the Yang family.

Beneath all the laughter, their unwavering support for one another is deeply moving. They argue, tease, and stumble through life’s challenges, yet when it truly matters, they stand together without hesitation. Their love feels genuine, generous, and quietly powerful.

I found myself laughing throughout the series—but more than once, I was unexpectedly moved to tears.

That is the magic of Xiao Fang. It makes you smile, then gently reminds you how beautiful it is to be loved, accepted, and never face life alone.Some dramas make you laugh. Xiao Fang makes you feel at home.

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The Eternal Deception

Disclaimer: This review only covers the first 21 episodes as I'm too pissed off to continue. Furthermore, the storyline is an absolute trash that I would watch back in 2023.

Alongside "Legend of the Rosy Clouds", "The Eternal Fragrance" is shelved in the dungeon as well, serving an absurdly long sentence of 3 years before finally earning the green light to air publicly. Back then, this drama had no serious conflicts, law-breaking scandals, and whatsoever. Nevertheless, Youku preferred to dump it in the abyss rather than airing it quickly. I understood that Ju Jingyi did have a huge debate with her former agency, Siba Media, regarding her contract agreement, but that issue wouldn't stretch to this kind of treatment. Unfortunately, after 6 gambles (and all literally failed), Youku decides to show its trump card and hopes that this drama can turn the tables for Youku's chaotic monetary (just my deduction). However, you'll have to bite the bullet if you badly want to see this drama, because it is plagued by several issues that I'm going to list below.

The story centers around an unlikely couple - Xiao Bangchui/Jiang Lifei and Lei Xiuyuan. Originally named Bangchui by her master, the carefree yet cunning Lifei enters the elite academy of Chufeng to cultivate into a stronger girl, as she desperately searches for her missing master and long-lost senior brother. On her journey, she encounters a reality-hardened and equally sly young man, Xiuyuan. Xiuyuan originally comes from Gao Lu - a befallen country, and he needs to enter the academy to kill Lifei and controls a nine-tailed fox demon which is residing inside her hair to cure his sworn brother, Lu Shanhua. As the two play a dangerous psychological game to achieve their personal goals, they are attracted by the opposition of their characters and grow closer amidst the danger of Xiuyuan's past reincarnation as the demon lord, Ye Cha. Lifei enters Wuyue Court to look for her senior brother while Xiuyuan FOMO-ly comes to the same place to get close to Lifei (after multiple dreams of Lifei being his past lover).

Aside from this couple, we've also got several couples as well. Firstly, Baili Changyue and Ye Ye. Changyue and her sister Gelin also come from Gao Lu, while Ye Ye is the crown prince of Gao Lu, with Xiuyuan serving as his body double when their country was attacked. Since then, Ye Ye has been feeling guilty for Xiuyuan because he is supposed to die in the first place, not the latter. Changyue and Ye Ye develops a romantic bond in the academy and are admitted to Dizang Sect. Against Changyue's wish, Ye Ye openly confesses to her and wants to be more than an ordinary cousin.

Secondly, Baili Gelin and Lu Li. Gelin is Changyue's younger sister and also admires Ye Ye from afar. When she realizes that Ye Ye only chooses her sister, Gelin feels heartbroken and decides to go to Wanxian Sect after meeting the enigmatic Lu Li. Much to Gelin's confusion, Lu Li always speaks in riddles, proverbs, or even poems. But Gelin secretly admits that Lu Li might be a compatible partner for her.

Thirdly, Ji Tongzhou and Lan Ya. Tongzhou is the crown prince of Yue Country, and he always showers affection to Lifei, despite having an engagement with his cousin, the bitchy girl Lan Ya. Tongzhou ultimately goes to Xingzheng Hall, where a relative of his helps him there. Lan Ya, having been expelled from the academy, often goes to Xingzheng Hall to beg Tongzhou to marry her instead of yearning for Lifei. The couple has an absolute toxic relationship; I can tell you that.

To be honest, for a xianxia lover like me, this kind of story is too outdated for a 2026 release. Usually, I love stories with misunderstanding and betrayal tropes, to the point of feeling the tension boiling beneath. However, I don't feel anything from "The Eternal Fragrance" and even contemplate that their push-and-pull interaction is to distract the watchers from the impending doomsday. Cultivation, tribulation, star-crossed lovers, formation, and artifacts are also the tropes that I have always loved since the beginning of my journey in xianxia drama - but this time, everything feels redundant as if the screenwriters had copied and pasted the prior formula of a generic xianxia drama without making any improvisations necessary to keep the watchers hooked. The editing is quite choppy (courtesy of cutting 7 episodes in one fell swoop), CGI looks distorted/truncated (you can compare it with "Love and Redemption", sets look incongruous especially the tournament area's realm, and the main couple's story is undercooked as well. In other words, I feel that other couples are more interesting (I hope to see more of Lu Li and Ye Ye). Furthermore, the soap opera of Wuyue Court is a complete humdrum to me, not even the new master of Lifei can save the day. And why does the screenwriter add the love triangle formula into the plot? That bastard Senior Qin is seriously up to no good, yet Lifei still clings to her and deliberately ignores Xiuyuan's warning. However, I have a hunch that love triangle is used as a plot device to deepen the proximity of the main couple (no offense, but Senior Qin is a double-faced jerk).

I have mixed opinions regarding the acting. Ju Jingyi as Lifei does deliver the carefree essence needed to execute her character but coupled with her high-pitch shrieks and constant privation of needing help, I can't help to roll my eyes and feel disgusted of her. Thank goodness, her voice is dubbed by someone else, so I need not hear her seductive tone. Meanwhile, Song Weilong always distracts me from watching properly - I don't know why, but whenever he appears, I don't feel any connection to his character. From now on, I guess I need to avoid his dramas (I'm officially declaring that I'm not a fan of his). The two generate totally zero chemistry and don't even emit the electrifying tension of a couple - instead, they look like two con artists sharing a same boat to overcome crisis over and over again. I'm not gonna lie, but the level of deception is too exaggerating to my liking and I'm tired of it already. Other actors have done their best according to the given srcipt, so I can't complain too much.

OSTs are meh again, even with Zhou Shen, Zhang Zining, Zhang Yuan, Curley Gao, Bo Yuan, Lai Meiyun, and Ren Ran on the deck. Costumes are surprisingly pleasant to eye. But sets and backgrounds are a miss for me (perhaps due to the obsolete aspect of the drama).

Overall, highly recommended only for Song Weilong or Ju Jingyi's hardcore fans or someone who's facing drama drought this summer (though it's not a drought yet). I have no more words to say about "The Eternal Fragrance", but it's better safe than sorry. Thank you for reading, good luck, and happy watching!!!

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Why Oh Why no English translated lyrics of the songs?

I'm loving this show. It moves at a good pace. Got a problem? Boom! Solved. There's no unnecessary dragging along of the story with filler. It's concise, decisions are made quickly, solutions are found, then implemented, done! I like that. FL knows her own mind. She's not a wishy washy, immature, whiney brat like so many other FL characters that we'd like to slap and say "grow up" LOL
BUT... wtf 2 dramas in a row, for me, are not giving us the words to the songs!!! People...the songs have no meaning if we don't know the lyrics. Most dramas give us the lyrics (in English for me) So Much Better! Please, we want the words always.

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It was fine/C'était correct

English:
I liked this show. Was it amazing, and I'm telling all of my friends about it? No. I think it was a wholesome show for the most part. I loved the dad, he was such an amazing parent to both his own biological daughter and to a son that's not biologically his but treated him as his own. I think the dad was the best part of the entire show. I was originally interested in this show because of Hwang In Seop, so I read the plot description and thought, "Huh, this is interesting. I'll give it a watch." However, this show was incredibly slow-paced and felt like it dragged on. There were multiple different things going on, and it felt like it took 3 episodes to get back to something that happened. The "romantic" part of this series felt so forced. In the end, it was like all of a sudden San Ha and Ju Won were together, and it was like a complete 180 from how she was originally calling them her "brothers" and how they're all family. How can one call someone their brother throughout their childhood, then all of a sudden start dating them? That's odd. And don't even get me started on San Ha's mom. She was a disgusting human and blamed everything on San Ha when nothing was his fault. He was a child; how would he know what to do, and how could he prevent something tragic from happening? She was an incredibly lousy parent and just a disgusting human (no hate to the actress, the actress did an amazing job in this show). I also don't like how San Ha's father, Dae Wook, literally did little to nothing to shield his child from his disgrace as a mother. I have way more thoughts on this drama, but I'll leave it here. Overall, this show was fine. I don't think it was amazing or a show I'd call my favourite drama, but it was fine. I think it was alright for a one-time watch, but I don't think I'll ever rewatch it.

French:
J'ai aimé cette série. Était-elle incroyable ? Je le racontais à tous mes amis. Non. Je pense que c'était une série plutôt agréable dans l'ensemble. J'ai adoré le père, c'était un parent incroyable pour sa fille biologique et pour un fils qui n'était pas le sien biologiquement mais qu'il traitait comme le sien. Je pense que le père était la meilleure partie de toute la série. Au départ, je m'étais intéressé à cette série à cause de Hwang In Seop, alors j'ai lu la description de l'intrigue et je me suis dit : « Tiens, c'est intéressant. Je vais regarder. » Cependant, cette série était incroyablement lente et donnait l'impression de traîner. Il se passait plusieurs choses différentes en même temps, et on avait l'impression qu'il fallait trois épisodes pour revenir à quelque chose qui s'était passé. La partie « romantique » de cette série semblait tellement forcée. À la fin, c'était comme si tout à coup San Ha et Ju Won étaient ensemble, et c'était un retournement complet par rapport à la façon dont elle les appelait au départ ses « frères » et à l'idée qu'ils forment une famille. Comment peut-on appeler quelqu'un son frère pendant toute son enfance, puis tout à coup commencer à sortir avec lui ? C'est étrange. Et ne me lancez même pas sur la mère de San Ha. C'était une personne dégoûtante et elle rejetait tout sur San Ha alors que rien n'était de sa faute. C'était un enfant ; comment aurait-il pu savoir quoi faire et comment aurait-il pu empêcher quelque chose de tragique de se produire ? Elle était une mère incroyablement mauvaise et juste une personne dégoûtante (sans aucune animosité envers l'actrice, l'actrice a fait un travail incroyable dans cette série). Je n'aime pas non plus la façon dont le père de San Ha, Dae Wook, n'a littéralement presque rien fait pour protéger son enfant de la honte infligée par sa mère. J'ai beaucoup plus de réflexions sur ce drama, mais je vais m'arrêter là. Dans l'ensemble, cette série était correcte. Je ne pense pas qu'elle soit incroyable ou que ce soit un drame que j'appellerais mon préféré, mais elle était correcte. Je pense que ça allait pour un visionnage unique, mais je ne crois pas que je la reverrai un jour.

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A Summer They Never Outgrew

A love story wrapped in longing. Never Ending Summer is soft, painful and impossible to forget. Zhou Wan and Lu Xi Xiao’s romance begins in a fragile summer of hope, only to be torn apart by life, misunderstandings and wounds that never fully healed. Years later, when they meet again, every glance feels heavy with what was lost and every silence carries the echo of a love that never truly ended.

It’s the kind of drama that aches quietly, then stays with you long after it’s over. Zhou Wan and Lu Xi Xiao’s chemistry is tender and heartbreaking and the mystery surrounding their past adds even more depth to their emotional journey.

An 8.5/10 for a story about first love, second chances and the kind of feelings time can never completely erase.

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Literal Pedophilia/Pédophilie Littérale

English:
Overall, the show is okay. I don't really like how a 29-year-old man is paying attention to a high school student who has a crush on him. He should've shut that down immediately. This was an okay show, though. I watched like 10 episodes, then stopped and just never picked it back up.
I don't think I'll revisit this show. The PDF vibes that it gives off are way too much for me to genuinely enjoy this show. If that's your thing, you do you, but it's weird that you'd like a show that has non-consensual touching and kissing, literally p*dophilia, and internalized homophobia.
Out of 10, I give this show a 5, a 5.5 at most.

Français:
Dans l’ensemble, la série est correcte. Je n’aime pas vraiment qu’un homme de 29 ans fasse attention à un lycéen qui a un faible pour lui. Il aurait dû fermer ça immédiatement. C’était quand même une série correcte. J’ai regardé environ 10 épisodes, puis j’ai arrêté et je n’ai jamais repris.
Je ne pense pas que je reviendrai sur cette série. L’ambiance PDF qu’il dégage est bien trop forte pour que je puisse vraiment apprécier cette série. Si c’est ton truc, fais comme tu veux, mais c’est étrange que tu veuilles une série avec des touches et des baisers non consentis, littéralement de la pédophilie et de l’homophobie intériorisée.
Sur 10, je donne à cette série un 5, un 5,5 au maximum.

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Decent but there are triggers.../Pas mal, mais il y a des déclencheurs...

English:
I think this drama was pretty alright. There were so many scenes that made me giggle and kick my feet. There were also scenes that made me literally pause the show and start ranting about it to the ghosts in my room. I loved the characters (I LOVE how they're all attractive, a lot of the time, one of the actors is just plain ugly), I loved the acting, at some points I would get emotional too. I really loved the plot of this show. I find it super interesting. I do have a couple of concerns about the show, though:
#1. I feel like the story was kind of all over the place at times, and the writers were trying to prolong the ending. Like, why was there the whole "tax evasion" part at the end… That felt so unnecessary. Also, Suo Wei's ex, who visited his mom, saying that "Suo Wei and I are planning on getting back together" and then she falls off the face of the earth, she literally does not appear again in the show after that… like what was the point of making her say all of that just for her to not appear in the show again?? There were other plot lines that just felt kind of unnecessary as a whole, but I'll just leave those main ones.
#2. I HATED the SA, the gang r*pe, and the coercion to sleep with the other… like that's literally disgusting and did NOT need to be a part of this show. Like, I get that Chi Chang and Cheng Yu are the stereotypical "bad boys," but that does not need to be associated with this show. It's not okay in any circumstance to put any form of abuse or mistreatment.
Overall, I did enjoy watching this show. Would I recommend it to someone that just starting watching BL? No… no, I would not. There were scenes in this drama that I really did enjoy watching, however. I loved the actors in this. I think they're all super talented. I think the storyline just lost the plot about halfway through, but overall, it was fine. I seriously did not enjoy the r*pe, coercion, and SA. It was so unnecessary. In the end, I think this drama was pretty alright. I don't think I'd ever rewatch it, but I was good for a one-time watch.

Français:
Je pense que ce drama était plutôt pas mal. Il y avait tellement de scènes qui m'ont fait glousser et taper des pieds. Il y avait aussi des scènes qui m'ont littéralement fait mettre la pause sur l'épisode et commencer à râler à ce sujet devant les fantômes dans ma chambre. J'ai adoré les personnages (J'ADORE comment ils sont tous attractifs, souvent, un des acteurs est juste franchement moche). J'ai adoré le jeu d'acteur ; à certains moments, je devenais même émotif. J'ai vraiment adoré l'intrigue de cette série. Je la trouve super intéressante. J'ai quand même quelques inquiétudes à propos de la série, toutefois :
#1. J'ai l'impression que l'histoire était un peu partout par moments, et que les scénaristes essayaient de prolonger la fin. Genre, pourquoi y avait toute cette partie sur la « fraude fiscale » à la fin… C'était vraiment inutile. Et l'ex de Suo Wei, qui va voir sa mère en disant que « Suo Wei et moi prévoyons de nous remettre ensemble » et puis elle disparaît complètement, elle n'apparaît littéralement plus du tout dans la série après ça… mais à quoi ça servait de lui faire dire tout ça pour qu'elle n'apparaisse plus ensuite ? Il y avait d'autres intrigues qui paraissaient aussi un peu inutiles en général, mais je vais me contenter de celles principales.
#2. J'AI DÉTESTÉ le SA, le viol en gang, et la coercition à coucher avec les autres… c'est littéralement dégoûtant et ça n'avait PAS besoin de faire partie de cette émission. Genre, je comprends que Chi Chang et Cheng Yu soient les stéréotypés « bad boys », mais ça n'a pas besoin d'être associé à cette émission. Ce n'est pas acceptable dans aucune circonstance de montrer une forme de maltraitance ou d'abus.
Dans l'ensemble, j'ai quand même aimé regarder cette série. Est-ce que je la recommanderais à quelqu'un qui commence juste à regarder du BL ? Non… non, je ne le ferais pas. Il y a quand même des scènes dans ce drama que j'ai vraiment aimé regarder. J'ai adoré les acteurs. Je pense qu'ils sont tous super talentueux. Je pense que l'intrigue a un peu perdu le fil à mi-chemin, mais dans l'ensemble, ça allait. Je n'ai vraiment pas apprécié le viol, la coercition et les agressions sexuelles. C'était tellement inutile. Au final, je pense que ce drama était plutôt correct. Je ne pense pas que je le re-regarderai un jour, mais ça faisait un bon visionnage unique.

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Don’t Waste Your Time

A 46-year-old married man meets a 23-year-old woman, feels young again and decides it must be true love. Of course.

Sung-jae spends most of the drama acting like he is the tragic victim of his own affair, while his wife and daughter deal with the actual consequences. Shin-woo sees the father she lost in him, he sees his lost youth in her, and somehow the drama expects this to feel romantic.

I usually enjoy age gaps, affairs and morally questionable characters, but this relationship was simply dull. There was no chemistry strong enough to justify all the suffering, and Sung-jae came across as a selfish man turning his midlife crisis into everyone else’s problem.

The production was also quite poor, which made an already unconvincing relationship even harder to watch.

Just terrible.

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A major project starring FreemBecky

This series gave me everything I was looking for. The acting from both leads felt so natural and emotional that I was completely immersed in every scene. The storyline was engaging from beginning to end, with the perfect balance of romance, emotion, and unforgettable moments.

The breathtaking scenery showcased the beauty of nature, while the portrayal of Thai culture made the story feel even more authentic and meaningful. Every OST was beautifully chosen and perfectly matched each scene, making the emotions even stronger.

Last but definitely not least, the chemistry between the two leads was absolutely phenomenal. Their visuals, expressions, and on-screen connection were so perfect that they made every moment feel real.

This is more than just a series—it's an experience that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended!

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Idols not equal Yankees

Attention, chronique complètement biaisée par ma joie d'avoir vu les douze actrices à quelques mètres de moi, pas plus tard que le week-end dernier. J'en entends déjà hurler à la mauvaise foi dans mon jugement, envoûté par les sourires et les œillades dont les idoles ont le secret notamment envers le premier rang (oui, c'était ma position). Mais l'avantage de "Réincarnation de Yankees en Idols" (je vais appeler la série ainsi) , c'est justement de les voir dans un autre registre que celui qui leur est attribué par la maison de disque. Et franchement, quel kiff ! Même si le trait est ultra forcé, les voir balancer des kuso darō en singeant tout l'imaginaire yankee est un vrai plaisir même pour un non initié.

On voit alors poindre un certain talent pour l'acting chez beaucoup de membres de ≠ME, et on imagine déjà la suite de leur carrière. Il semblerait tout de même que leur position au sein du groupe soit respectée dans le drama : Tomita Nanaka en leader respectée, Sakurai Momo en petite rigolote... un détail qui ravira certainement les fans. Mais même sans connaître le groupe, ce qui était mon cas avant la Japan Expo et cette série qui, par un improbable alignement des astres, a été diffusée au même moment, on peut y prendre beaucoup de plaisir. Un plaisir coupable, certes, mais finalement aussi assumé que celui procuré par un showcase de vingt minutes.

Les clichés des yankee sont tous présents et poussés à leur paroxysme, au point qu'une explication télévisuelle de certains termes, façon émissions des années 80, ouvre le pré-générique, avant un opening on ne peut plus idol. Le premier épisode essaie justement de retranscrire cette époque sans vraiment convaincre, mais le time slip qui le conclut, aussi improbable que maladroitement amené, est d'un côté tellement low cost qu'il en devient immédiatement culte.

Les scènes de combat gagnent heureusement en qualité au fil des épisodes, notamment celle consacrée à la recherche d'un Aniki, qui ferait presque froid dans le dos dans le contexte post-#MeToo. Mais voyons plutôt cela comme un hommage au genre. Nos idoles sont donc parfaitement à leur place dans cette époque, démontrant que les chanteuses sur scène sont bien des rôles et non leur propre personne, comme d'autres œuvres l'ont déjà montré, de Perfect Blue à Oshi no Ko, entre autres.

Le mythe est cassé, et la série remet les pendules à l'heure, aussi bien pour les fans que pour les non-initiés. Non, les idoles ne sont pas uniquement de jeunes filles surexcitées exploitées par des mafias pour générer du cash. Elles possèdent un véritable talent d'actrice qu'elles mettent également au service de leurs prestations scéniques, en plus du chant et de la danse.

Cette série, sous couvert d'un humour potache, de nombreuses références à la culture populaire japonaise (les explosions de sang par le nez restent l'un de mes effets préférés) et d'un généreux fan service, fait finalement réfléchir autant que les deux œuvres citées précédemment. Une diffusion à l'international, ou même une adaptation en anime, pourrait sans doute convaincre un public bien plus large que les seuls fans du groupe et encore changer le regard su cette industrie qui a encore beaucoup à balayer devant sa porte.

Quoi qu'il en soit, moi, je suis devenu fan de Not equal ME après avoir vu cette série. Et vous le deviendrez aussi.

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Director Was NOT Serious…

I really wanted to like this drama because the premise sounds perfect on paper: betrayal, a secret child, a rich mistress and a woman entering her ex-lover’s new family for revenge. Unfortunately, the execution is painfully lifeless.

The drama takes an absurdly long time to reach the story it is actually supposed to be telling. Dong-woo and Young-joo barely share enough meaningful scenes to establish a believable attraction, yet their relationship is suddenly presented as an irresistible forbidden affair. Their kissing scene was especially awkward. Instead of passion or tension, it looked like two actors falling on top of each other while the camera desperately tried to hide the fact that they were not really kissing.

Yun-hee is equally frustrating. She is supposed to become the emotional centre of a revenge melodrama, but for far too long she does little beyond suffering silently, staring sadly and accepting Dong-woo’s increasingly obvious lies. A slow burn should gradually build tension, motivation and emotional attachment. This drama mostly repeats the same conversations until somebody becomes teary-eyed and the episode ends.

The production is also shockingly poor, even by late-1990s television standards. I love old movies and the hazy atmosphere of early Korean dramas, so age is not the issue. The problem is the complete lack of visual storytelling. The camera angles are flat, the blocking is awkward, the editing has no rhythm and the music rarely adds anything to the scenes. The cast is clearly talented, especially Shim Eun-ha, but the direction somehow makes accomplished actors look stiff and amateurish.

I understand why the premise and dialogue may have felt provocative when it originally aired, but popularity does not automatically make something well made. Korean dramas improved enormously in directing, pacing, music and emotional storytelling during the early 2000s, and Trap of Youth makes that difference painfully obvious. A potentially addictive revenge story is buried underneath lifeless direction, weak romantic development and endless staring.

Not a slow burn. Just a drama that takes forever to begin.

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