This review may contain spoilers
My Cherie & Her Amour
THE SHORT REVIEW:🌷 Would I Recommend? YES
🌷 Did I love it? YES
🌷 Should you watch it? YES
💕 What I Liked —
• Lovely female lead & male lead. You could love and root for them!
• Excellent cast, very talented
• Great chemistry between leads
• Wonderful story-telling. Rich & included multiple characters.
• Good world-building. The story wasn’t tunneled to just the main leads or restricted to 1-2 settings — but included various characters and locations. The world felt rich and alive.
• Good budget (Nothing felt like cost was cut)
• Costumes were a treat to watch!
• Soundtrack was gorgeous and suited our FL well
• The romance was whimsical and fairytale-like. I didn’t feel this happiness since I watched Prissana (2000)
• Once the ML finally decided to own up to his feelings. Nothing could detour him. Not even his mum. Not even Anong’s brothers. Not even society.
• The ending. The best ending I could ask for!
💕 What I Didn’t Like —
• In the first arc where the ML was judging husband prospects for the FL — it felt like the two leads were speaking two different languages. Like they both liked each other, and not the other characters (eg: Chat) — but when the other would say something like “Oh you love so so”, the opposite lead wouldn’t say “no I don’t love him/her” …. I was peak frustrated 😂
• During certain scenes the production team used artificial lightening to create this glow effect, but to me it was jarring because what do you mean this circular bright glow is right between the leads face? Is there a moon in the bedroom?😭
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🌷 PLOT & THEMES:
I found the premise behind the show refreshing, having not seen such setting in a while. A story about a spoilt but kind young lady who comes from new money in a Thai era that still segregated between aristocratic people and others. I found it very interesting to see a new-money heiress pursue the eldest widower son from a disgraced aristocratic family. The story moved through various arcs, and touched various themes such as family, women empowerment, autism, homosexuality, self-integrity, and how Thai society worked in that period.
Despite these various arcs and themes it explored, the show remained very engaging from the first episode tot the last. the plot’s balance remained steady throughout the show and I didn’t think it needed any less or any more number of episodes – it started well and ended well.
🌷CHARACTERS
The show also had 3 dimensional characters, all well-written and with purpose to the plot. They felt like real people with real stories, with traits both good and bad. The character relationships were convicting & there was no issues about chemistry between the couples of the show, even the gay couple did amazingly. Almost every character (except the two elder brothers of the female lead) managed to learn and evolve throughout the narration of this story — ultimately becoming better versions of themselves.
For example: The male lead’s mother, after her husband’s disgrace and death, was left to raise four children alone. This hardship made her hard-hearted and foul-mouthed, as she adapted to protect her family and restore their lost prestige. Her obsession with planning their lives stemmed from a desire to shield them from further disgrace. Yet, despite her sharp words, she wasn’t inherently bad. By the show’s end, she realised she could soften her exterior and let her children live freely.
Another character was the female lead’s brother, who knew he couldn’t be with the man he loved, and so wanted to bring the man over and pair him up with his sister Anong, so that the lover could be close to him. This was so foul of him, but by the end he decided to forgo society and had a reunion with the man he loves just as he is (thanks to Ml & FL) — realizing that not everyone needs marriage, but some just need a lifetime of companionship with their love.
🌷WORLD-BUILDING
The production team did an amazing job at world building. The show moved in various locations such as the characters’ homes, high society clubs, tennis courts, the mall owned by the female lead’s family, the courthouse where male lead worked, beaches, fields, and a village province where the male-lead relocated for a bit. The world felt large and real— it felt much larger and real than the main characters — & because of this, the show’s experience was even better!
🌷TECHNICAL ASPECTS
• Cinematography — The cinematography was excellent! Each location, each frame, and each angle was a treat! The leads had such gorgeous backdrops of the sky, the sea, the mountains and flowers! The ending scene where the leads hugged at the beach while the high tide rolled in slowly from all sides & the sun set behind them was unforgettable!
• Music — Violette Wautier captured the female lead so beautifully in “The Trouble is.. ปัญหาของฉัน” — paired with how well Yaya brought Anong to life, Violette’s sweet voice, and the lyricism of the song — really brought the story to life and made this soundtrack is unforgettable! I still have it on repeat in my playlist.
• Costumes & Production Design — The production team did an excellent job at the costumes & production design! Anong’s outfits, makeup, and hairstyles were absolutely gorgeous! The set designs such as their homes, the usage of vintage cars, etc — was done very well! Nothing looked out of place and the dedication to creating a rich and believable period really paid the team off!
• Editing & Visual Effects – The visual effects & editing for most part was dreamy and well done. To bring out this whimsical, dreamy effect the post-production editing team set the colour grading of this show to be warm, with these green tonal changes — without the green effecting the faces of the characters (which was kept warm and rich). This made everything look more vintage and believable. I found my gaze moving around the backdrops and appreciating the colour grading done in certain scenes — especially since most Thai dramas, even those done recently, have these pasty, low saturated colour gradings done in their dramas which doesn’t do it any favors imo.
🌷 ACTING & CHEMISTRY
As a longtime (but picky) Lakorn watcher, I must admit I have not watched many of Yaya’s shows, nor did I understand the hype. In fact I have probably just completed one show, and put another on hold. However, this show really made me appreciate her as an actor. Yaya’s sweet candy-like voice paired with her portrayal of Anong (the light hand movements, how she carried herself as a lady from that era, and her facial expressions) – really made me stop and think: Yaya is beautiful, & she is exceptionally talented. No one could be Anong except for Yaya.
Tor did amazingly well too, no one could be Khun Phra except Tor. No one. His appearance, his gaze, his dialogue delivery and his mannerisms … were all top notch! He was the character.
Everyone in the support cast did very well too! All their storylines were believable and their emotions real.
Often times, extras cast in shows are cast because of their cheapness rather than talent, so their performance ends up choppy and this deducts points from the show, but even extras chosen in this show were talented and believable. Kudos!
🌷 FINAL THOUGHTS
I loved it. It has been so long after Prissana, Padiwarada, and Khun Chai Puttipat that a show was made so successfully whimsical. I adore the show. I wish I could erase my memory and watch it again. I don’t rewatch shows but I will rewatch this I know.
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This review may contain spoilers
I loved this one
Aww I wanted DX to come back as a spirit through the sword that was gifted to him. That would've been a cool arc. Ultimately I thought the sword meant that'd he'd be the protector of the void. Then again I didn't read the novel to truly understand.In a way I foresaw the death of baby DX but loved the revival of his characters' nature in the Void. I wished that Simu shared her burdens with the team she cultivated in the mortal world so she wasn't alone dealing with that crackhead YK. Granted her team in the void was strong but they underestimated YK desire for the throne and missed key opportunities to quell his rebellion. It went on for too long, since they have 300 years of training; you'd think they'd have a fall safe if the queen gets captured, confined or subdued.
Same for DX military work... granted he isn't a Xie Zheng but the casualties he amassed was crazy. Then he's so slow to call Simu for help while so many people are dying fighting against juju enhanced chong soldiers.
This story portrayal of death was raw and cold; which to me was different from other wuxias. I enjoyed Simu's strict nature concerning mortal matters, she can aid and safe but can't bring back is such an honest way of accepting the ebbs and flow of life. It was a extremely mature take on the limits of interference one can induce and/or manipulate on fate.
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hold on tight, photography freshman
it is i, the niel.i don't even have thoughts. it was nothing. the storyline was nonexistent, and the ending was such a flop. it's not even that it was so bad; it was so nothing and so boring. technically, there was the idea of a plot, and i do love vampires, but it was not well executed. you guys knew each other for less than a week, calm down.
also, the styling was so flop. this came out in 2022, and the styling was giving 2016. woof. fun to see pre-boys planet jiwoong. sure. i literally have nothing else to say about this. honk shoo mimimi
best,
the niel.
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addicted heroine
I can’t lie I actually love this and I was waiting for season two, but they didn’t bring it out and I was generally excited to watch season two. b. CNN.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Free fall from grace!
I just watched the ending 6 episodes in 3 hours. And I watched SY and DL scenes twice.I am so disappointed in this show.
S1 was good untill the uprising and the rest was mediocre.
S2 had a few excellent episodes and the rest was a farce.
Uniting a war stricken land with clowning is so ridiculous. I liked Xiu in S1 but in S2 he became a not-funny-at-all clown.
But that clan elder, Zichuan the elder, was a cunning weasel whose only aim was controlling his subordinates by making them doubt and hate and fight each other like what he did to Di Lin and Lou Ming Hai. He ordered DL to kill all the rebels with their families but didn't tell him that LMH was a spy he had planned beside the YMH the rebel leader. He waited for DL to kill LMH's family and then purposely sent LMH to check on his family so he could see their bloody corpses to make DL and LM enemies so in the future neither could gain enough power to turn against him. So appalling. He kept playing with everyone, manipulating them into doing the dirty work without getting dirt on his own hands.
And it seems that Xiu is not planning on going back to Zichuan. He called himself the king of Yuanjou which means he wants to stablish his own empire. And poor DL thought he'd be coming back home.
And I absolutely hate Ning. I hope Xiu would not marry her. She is so stupid she imagines herself to be wise and clever. After 18 years of slacking, she thinks she has become a politician by reading a few books. Childish!
I highly doubt I'd watch S3 if it gets produced. I have a bad feeling about how DL' and SY's destiny will turn out. I think they will both get killed by some evil plan drawn by the clan elder and that fox Ma Wei.
Acting wise, the show is on a high level. But the overall credit I give it is a 4!
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Where Chemistry Wins the Case
Going into The Prosecutor's Proposal, I honestly had one goal. I wanted to see the romance. This is also my very first BL, so I'm reviewing it purely on its own merits rather than comparing it with other series in the genre. Everything I say here comes purely from my experience watching this drama as it is. Safe to say, it was a surprisingly enjoyable introduction to the genre.The story begins fifteen years after the murder of a powerful casino mogul, a tragedy that forever changed the lives of two boys. Fate reunites them as adults, one becoming Prosecutor Ju Tae Seon while the other, Lee Chae Ha, works as a Senior Assistant in the Fine Collection Division before eventually becoming Tae Seon's investigator. Together, they find themselves digging into a conspiracy that stretches far beyond a single murder, reaching into a powerful corporation and even the prosecution itself. At its heart, however, this is less about solving a mystery and more about two people carrying opposite burdens. Chae Ha lives with guilt while Tae Seon carries resentment. Justice, revenge, and forgiveness constantly pull them in different directions, making them each other's greatest weakness and, at the same time, their only source of hope.
The first episode does a really good job establishing Chae Ha's character. He comes across as quiet, gentle, and almost painfully meek. At the same time, those qualities makes me question his past as an ex-police officer. Anyway, his gloomy home life, his dependence on sleeping medication, and the nightmares about his father immediately hint that there is a much deeper wound beneath his calm exterior. Then comes his first encounter with Tae Seon during lunch. Even with just a few exchanged words, there is already tension between them. Their first crime scene together only amplifies that feeling as Tae Seon constantly challenges Chae Ha while Chae Ha quietly tries to do his job. It becomes even more interesting when Chae Ha sincerely admits that he respects Tae Seon as a thorough prosecutor, only to be unexpectedly assigned to work under him the following day. From there, their dynamic becomes the driving force of the entire drama.
I was already excited to see a “your dad murdered my dad” trope. Without question, the chemistry between Chae Ha and Tae Seon is this drama's greatest strength. Chae Ha is soft spoken, patient, and often lets himself be led by others. Considering the guilt and doubt he has carried from the past, it makes sense that he naturally keeps a low profile. Tae Seon, meanwhile, is commanding and often controlling. His lingering anger from the past gives every interaction between them an extra layer of intensity. Watching them together somehow awakened my teenage fangirl self all over again. Their dynamic, with Tae Seon often taking the lead while Chae Ha quietly holds his ground, the constant tension, and the longing hidden beneath every confrontation all worked surprisingly well for me. Every romantic scene had enough electricity to make me smile without even realising it.
Kim Yoon Shik deserves special praise for his portrayal of Ju Tae Seon. His performance shines the brightest during the romantic moments. His eyes and even the smallest movements of his lips communicate emotion without needing lengthy dialogue. He also fits the cool and aloof image of Tae Seon naturally. There were a few emotionally expressive scenes outside the romance that felt a little awkward, but whenever the story leaned into quiet yearning or restrained affection, he absolutely delivered.
I also appreciated that the drama actually tried to tell an engaging crime and mystery story instead of using it as mere background decoration. Going in, I honestly had very few expectations for the plot because I was mainly interested in the romance. Still, I found myself invested in uncovering the conspiracy. It is not the kind of mystery that constantly leaves you scratching your head, and most of the major reveals are fairly easy to predict. I had already guessed who the mysterious figure and the main villain were long before the reveal. Even so, it remained entertaining enough because the emotional stakes between the two leads carried the narrative.
Unfortunately, the production has a few noticeable flaws. Scene transitions occasionally feel awkward. The overall story remains understandable, but the editing makes these jumps difficult to ignore. There are also a few logic gaps and plot holes scattered throughout the series, though none of them were significant enough to ruin my enjoyment.
Visually, the drama sits comfortably in the middle. Nothing particularly stood out as spectacular, but nothing looked bad either. I actually liked the cool, gloomy colour grading because it matched the emotional weight of the story. On the other hand, the AI generated scenes were distracting and felt unnecessary. The final scene also switches to an extremely bright sunset palette that almost feels like the drama is making a statement. I understand the intention, but the heavy saturation clashes with the otherwise subdued visual style. A low contrast bright ending could have worked just as well to maintain the atmosphere established throughout the series.
The soundtrack, however, was genuinely nice. The OSTs create the perfect emotional backdrop and elevate many scenes. They are the kind of songs I would happily listen to even without revisiting the drama, which is always a good sign.
The ending itself feels a little rushed. Once the story reaches its climax, events unfold at an unexpectedly fast pace, especially regarding how quickly the villain is dealt with. The climax is also more subdued than exciting, making it feel slightly anticlimactic. Strangely enough, I was not disappointed because my expectations were never centred on the mystery. I came for the relationship between Chae Ha and Tae Seon, and that aspect remained satisfying until the end. Despite the rushed pacing, the story still manages to wrap things up in a reasonably satisfying way.
Overall, The Prosecutor's Proposal was a wonderful start to the genre. It certainly has its share of logic gaps, plot holes, inconsistent scene transitions, and questionable use of AI, but none of those outweighed what the drama did best. The chemistry between the leads is undeniably its strongest asset, and I appreciate that the writers still put genuine effort into crafting a mystery that complements rather than overshadows their relationship. Like a courtroom where the evidence may not be flawless but the final verdict still feels right, The Prosecutor's Proposal won me over where it mattered most.
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quick fix for fantasy romance - an underrated, fun 8 episode gem
this drama was so so so good and underrated, i binged all 7 eps in one setting andhad the finale been out i would have finished it in a day, i sacrificed my beauty sleep lol , it has the older kdrama feel to it, it's not a masterpiece but it has something the newer ones don't have that remind of the old kdrama vibes , it's an 8 ep gem, the story is actually quite deep and interesting , they did what they normally do in a dragged 16 eps in only 8 so nothing is dragged until eternity since the story was condensed in 8 epsalso the feelings aren't compromised either , the emotions are deep and there and developed pretty well, allow me to say that i felt like i watched a 16 eps story be done so well in just 8, i feel like if this was longer i wouldn't have loved it as much as i did because i can see all the places they would've expanded it, in other words, dragged it it's for me an 8 objectively but 8.5 subjectively as i enjoyed it so much and it sucked me in like no other these days
i'd say it's definitely a hidden, underrated kdrama only a few have it on their radar but i want to encourage more people who are interested in such genre , a fallen star trying to reclaim her place with some romance, some fantasy, some emotions, just a little forbidden love kinda story that gets resolved quick and fast, a sweet ml , good but not overly exaggerated villains . give this one a shot , it's a quick fix to your romance cravings and the FL is very likable , it's been a while since i enjoyed a FL, she's so fun and has character development , and badass nonetheless
i have to say , please do binge this , yesterday i realized that if i had watched it while it was airing it wouldn't have been as enjoyable and i would've forgotten things and enjoyed it less but with the binge it retained its magic.
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Messy but fun - the premise pays off if you're patient and in the mood for this genre
the story is really messy but really fun to follow .. it's been a while since i've seen a good drama where all characters are insanely involved in one case against each other but it's also done really well that they join hands to get rid of a bigger evillll .. FUN FUN trulyyy ..the premise pays off but i had to be patient .. ep 1 and 2 are alright then 3 4 5 is where it gets a little boring but it's all building up tp shape the story and what will happen , there are many characters and plot line but they're introduced pretty well and all given their justice as a part of the story which is why iit feels a little slow in the beginning as they go about laying all the ground work for when it all gets together and at 5 or 6 i think 6 tho it picked up so well
i just couldn't miss it ... even tho i got busy and stayed away for two weeks when i got to it tonight it was so so good i binged ep 7 to ep 10 in a day .. amazing really fun and engaging got so much better at 6 tbh and different and niche .. the story cuts to the juicy parts, and i like it a lot ... from the fights to the bickering comedy to the truth and undercover stuff and the operation and everything is really fun and worth watching .. besides the performance of the cast is stupendous... i'm so glad i didn't miss it .. i really encouraged you to watch . but be in the mood . be a bit free , not too busy or have your hands full of other kdramas that you think are more fun and be patient in the beginning and it pays off truly ...
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Don't jump on the hating the ML bandwagon early on, just trust me , it's so good
people hating on this drama clearly dropped it early on ... there's no way you can hate do kyung and call him the villain of the story if you watch until ep 12 ended and continue until 15 and further more after ... ep 12 do kyung is no longer to blame .. besides this is why you always give a drama a chance i'm so glad i didn't drop when i hated it in the first 3 eps ..My advice would be to stick thorugh and not hate the ML .. notice all the good things he does from the start , it will all pile up to show that he's the one for the FL and the one who deserves her .. besides turns out , he was not at fault at all\
It makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you relate, and it makes you dream.
hahahaha they drive each other crazy and drive me madddddddddd ahahahahahahhaha oooo do kyung experience intense angsty feelings, arguably i haven't seen a FL and ML SUFFER for each other as much as these two did... this was so intense and complicated in my opinion .. UGH I JUST LOVE IT I ADMIT , I'm one of "another miss oh" drama lovers turns out .. i thought I'd be a hater in the first few eps ...because it sets you up to believe something that isn't really the truth
can i just say i adoree the second couple ahhahaha i be waiting patiently for their scenes, jing sang is so chaotic
the drama also such a wonderful concept of fate and love and it executes it beautifully .
beautiful show , beautiful love story .. adore it so much .. fun , funny sweet , angsty , nothing matches 2016 kdrama quality .. older kdramas have a different taste and mind you it has been a while since i binged 18 eps in under 3 days tbh ..
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Revenge brought them together, friendship made them family
I started this drama expecting a fun revenge story, but what I ended up loving the most was the friendship that grew between these women. Watching complete strangers slowly become each other's biggest source of support was easily the heart of the series, and their bond felt genuine from beginning to end. I also loved that the teenagers weren't just side characters. They each had their own struggles, personalities, and growth, and seeing them gradually become part of this unconventional family made the story even more heartwarming. Their interactions with the adults added so much charm and emotion, making it feel like everyone was healing together in their own way. Despite dealing with some heavy topics, the drama never lost its warmth or sense of humour, constantly reminding me that healing doesn't always come from revenge, but from finding people who truly stand by your side. While some revenge arcs wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste, the found family dynamic was more than enough to make this a memorable watch. It left me smiling, and that's exactly the kind of ending I was hoping for.Was this review helpful to you?
Sometimes all we need is one person who believes in us
More than anything, this drama left me with hope. Lin Wanxing spends so much of the story carrying her own pain, yet she becomes the person who helps everyone around her find the strength to keep going. She could have chosen anger and revenge, but instead she chose kindness, and that's what made her such an inspiring character. Wang Fa was everything I could ask for in a male lead. He never tried to change Lin Wanxing or make decisions for her. He simply stood by her side, believed in her, and encouraged her to chase her own dreams first. As much as I loved them, I think the students were the real heart of this drama. I loved that they weren't just there to support the main story. Each of them had their own struggles, dreams, and insecurities, and I was so glad the drama took the time to tell their stories too. Watching them grow, support one another, and refuse to give up on what they loved was genuinely inspiring. Lin Wanxing's speech near the end was another unforgettable moment, reminding us that no one should ever let rumours or other people's cruelty define who they are. This is one of those dramas that quietly teaches you to believe in yourself a little more, and that's why I know I'll remember it for a long time.Was this review helpful to you?
Some truths take years to face
I loved how the drama slowly peeled back those layers instead of rushing to easy answers, making every step of their relationship feel earned. The plot twists were honestly one of my favourite parts. Just when I thought I had figured everything out, the story managed to surprise me again, and that kept the tension high until the very end. At the same time, the investigation never overshadowed the emotional journey. Watching these two men confront the past, let go of guilt that was never theirs to carry, and slowly learn to trust each other was far more satisfying than simply solving the case. I do wish a few parts had been explored in a little more depth, but overall this was a mystery that kept me guessing while also making me genuinely care about its characters, and that's exactly what I look for in this genre.Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet as an Orange
I put off starting When Oranges Fall because it looked to be another high school romance that offered nothing new. However, I found that its authenticity and realism in its characters, plus the setting in the late 90's/early 2000's, really made this story stand out. The conflicts were precisely what high schoolers figuring themselves out would go through: discovering feelings for a friend, the fear of losing the friendship, and the uncertainty of where your lives will go. The way these characters dealt with their emotions was so realistic and well done - definitely a new comfort show!When Ko (Progress) meets his new neighbor, also named Ko (Almond), the two don't get along at first. Pretty quickly, they put aside their differences and become fast friends, particularly because new kid Ko 2 has an orange tree that Ko 1 loves the oranges from. As the two grow closer, Ko 2 joins Ko 1's existing friend group. The show follows the group throughout their entire high school career, and as the kids figure out growing up, they also have to figure out their feelings for each other.
Almond and Progress did a great job in these roles. It really felt like these characters were real people with real motivations. While there were a few episodes that felt like the conflict dragged on unnecessarily, and perhaps a few loose ends that never truly got tied up, overall this show was a wonderful watch. The portrayal of young and uncertain love was fantastic. I was surprised that for a show set in the early 2000s, there were zero conflicts about queerness. While that aspect may be unrealistic, I do love watching a show where queerness is never questioned. If you're looking for a sweet, feel-good romance with a bit of a nostalgia for the time period, this is one of the best ones for it!
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A masterpiece of historical storytelling, with unforgettable characters and performances.
An exceptional historical drama that delivers on every level: writing, direction, character development, emotional depth, and acting.What makes this series truly special is that it is not only a story about the creation of Joseon, power struggles, and politics. It is a story about different visions for the future of a nation, the people who shaped history, and the sacrifices behind great changes.
The writing is outstanding, with complex characters who are neither simply good nor bad. Each person has their own beliefs, motivations, struggles, and reasons for the choices they make. This makes the story feel deeply human and allows the audience to understand different perspectives.
The entire cast delivered excellent performances and brought these historical and fictional characters to life with great intensity and sincerity. However, six performances were especially memorable for me.
Yoo Ah-in’s portrayal of was truly exceptional. I will never forget this acting performance! 👏🏻 He captured the intelligence, ambition, emotions, inner conflicts, and transformation of this historical figure in an unforgettable way. He did not only portray a future king, but the human being behind the historical reputation. His ability to show both the strength and vulnerability of Yi Bang-won made this one of the most fascinating characters I have encountered.
Byun Yo-han as Lee Bang-ji (“Viper”) was another outstanding performance. He was not just a legendary swordsman; he was a deeply wounded and complex person. His intensity, emotional expression, and ability to communicate so much through his eyes and silence made him one of the most memorable characters of the series.
Park Hyuk-kwon also deserves special recognition for his remarkable performance as the twin brothers Gil Tae-mi and Gil Seon-mi. Playing two completely different personalities, he showed an impressive range as an actor. As Gil Tae-mi, I absolutely loved his theatrical style, his humor, his expressive acting, and even his unique makeup and appearance, which perfectly matched the character’s extravagant personality. He brought a playful and entertaining energy to the screen while still portraying a truly skilled and dangerous swordsman.
On the other hand, as Gil Seon-mi, he created a completely different atmosphere, showing a much more restrained, quiet, and introspective character with great emotional depth. The contrast between the two roles was fascinating, and his ability to transform so convincingly into two completely different personalities made both characters unforgettable.
I also want to give special recognition to the two young actors who portrayed Yi Bang-won and Bun-i in the early episodes. Their performances were full of energy, intelligence, and emotion. They created such a strong foundation for these characters that their later development felt even more meaningful.
These six performances stayed with me the most and made this journey unforgettable.
A masterpiece of historical storytelling, with unforgettable characters and performances. One of the best sageuks I have watched. ❤️💯
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A Slow-burn Love Story Between A Western Writer And A Samurai Daughter
ばけばけ or The Ghost Writer's Wife is the fictionized biography of Lafcadio Hearn (called Lefcada Heavin here) and Koizumi Setsuko (called Matsuno Toki or Otoki here). Hearn was born in Greece and raised in boarding schools in Ireland. He moved to America at 19 and became a successful journalist and reporter in Cincinnati and New Orleans before further roving the world to write travelogues at 37. Setsuko was the daughter of a samurai family who were at bit of a loss at what to do after the feudal structure in Japan was eliminated by the Meiji Restoration. This series begins shortly after Hearn landed in Japan at age 40 and took a job as an English teacher at a middle school in Matsue.Hearn was clearly a bit of an eccentric even by the standards of his time and place. He had damaged his left eye when playing ball at age 16 and completely lost the sight in that eye, and had always been myopic to begin with. Hearn was pretty distant from his immediate family and so was a bit rootless. Heavin is presented as a kind of an ur weeb: he is utterly taken with Japanese culture and fascinated by its traditions, customs and folklore. Heavin is played by Tommy Bastow who had previously appeared in 2024's Shogun.
We get quite a bit more of Otoki's backstory in this series. Her grandfather had been a retainer of the local Daimyo in Matsue, and he is committed to the old ways of the samurai. But the family's income was eliminated after the Meiji restoration, and an important part of the plot of the series is how inept her father is after the transition to the new constitution and economic structure under the Meiji emperor. Otoki is played by Takaishi Akari, and about 5 weeks into the series I was like, "Who is this actor, and what else has she done?" I do recommend her strikingly different but equally great performance as a teenaged assassin in the Baby Assassin franchise (3 movies and a television series to date). Takaishi has a very readable face, IMO, and much of the charm of this series is that it is very easy to guess (or project onto) what Otoki is thinking in her silent reaction shots.
Takaishi won best actress and Bastow won best supporting actor for their performances in ばけばけ at the Television Drama Academy awards in March.
The focus of this series is more on Otoki but we do get a bit of Heavin/Hearn's backstory along the way. I was very happy when the series spent two episodes on Heavin's prior marriage to a previously enslaved woman, Martha (Mattie Foley IRL) from when he had been a reporter in Cincinnati. I had expected the series to completely hide that part of Hearn's past, and I must give the production huge kudos for casting the black American actress Misha Brooks - I am no expert in what Ohio accents would have been in mid-1870s Ohio, but Brooks' modern midwestern accent is perfect for the part, and her performance is notably good in this brief tangent for the series. Notably less good is how the writer chose to end those episodes which I shall rant about as an as a slightly spoilery option at the end of this review.
The writing and the direction in this series are well above the average for asadoras as well. One of the key directorial choices throughout the series is to get a bit closer to natural lighting throughout. Thus, the relatively frequent night scenes are often lit by candle light, and the production sometimes leans a bit hard into the darkness. Everything is pretty much discernable, but you might wish to watch this on a larger screen at night to get the full experience and enjoyment of this series.
By any standards this series is not a quick romance, but it is a delightful and beautiful one. The two do not meet and instantly fall in love, and the process of their getting from here to there is quite lovely. Otoki has an unusual (for her time and place) interest in ghost stories from well before she ever met Heavin, and Heavin discovers a mutual interest in them through her recounting of them to him. As writer Heavin is initially just looking for a source for stories he can incorporate in to his books being printed and sold overseas, but ultimately has his life is changed and unexpectedly fulfilled by this interesting and unique woman from a distant culture. ばけばけ nails that process of bonding, and the series is heartwarming and moving throughout. It is well worth the time investment for the watch.
Beyond here lieth spoilers for two episodes (out of 125) in the middle of the series:
Look. I understand the writer's challenge of trying to present and wrap up Hearn's relationship to his first wife in 30 minutes of television. Hearn did indeed get fired from his newspaper when his editors learned that he was married to a previously enslaved woman. But what the series did not have time to explain was that Hearn then just started working for the competing paper in town and the circulation went up at that other paper because of his writing to the point that the previous paper tried to hire him back. In real life, Hearn and Mattie were married for a few years, and tried to reconcile several times but ultimately drifted apart permanently, and then Hearn moved to New Orleans. Part of what came between them was undoubtedly the racism of the time - mixed-race marriages were not legally acknowledged in Ohio until a few years after Hearn and Mattie parted ways, and one can only imagine the pressures the two experienced while they were together. It is indeed difficult to tell that story in a brief aside in this series.
Nevertheless, choosing to present the reason that Heavin and Martha broke up is because Martha attacked her boss with a razor is shockingly racist. The whole scene is maybe 3 minutes in a 9,375 minute drama, and so I cannot condemn the whole series for that one scene, but there has to have been a way to write a permanent ending for Heavin and Martha's relationship without making Martha a violent, razor wielding criminal.
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