Reviews

Korea is King of Gore, Force & Intensity

What I love about Korean cinematography is the realism by which they just draw me in. The focus on tangible facts and objectivity is above par, imho. As a schadenfreude, I enjoy the intention placed on the gore and how they explain in detailed conversations what was done and with what, as if it’s normal discussions— because they are. It’s what investigators do.

If you’re someone who enjoys trying to put the pieces together by developing theories which often times react to gut feelings, this is a good watch. My mind wonders at the slightest clues…which might amount to nothing. However, it’s what makes these well put together storylines worth watching.

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moody in a good way high quality production and memorable

actually the pacing for this stood out for me the most. made it memorable and gave actual rewatch value which I don’t often have at all. definitely unexpected as well considering unintentional love story’s show was starkly different. was a lot heavier handed in this one and with a stronger mood. though that also resulted in plot holes connecting back to the main story I didn’t care. emotions were also a highlight definitely better acting from these leads than on the original show. was engaging to the point I didn’t care if it was different from the source material. in any case, the characterization was very different from it anyway

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With a solid plot and a magnificent, stellar cast, this is a fresh and intelligent historical drama.

The brilliant Hou Minghao, in the role of General Wuji, is the true soul of the series; his overwhelming charisma, wonderful expressiveness, and marvelous eyes convey deep emotions without needing words. Imposing and ruthless on the battlefield yet possessing a righteous heart, he shows a vulnerable side that makes you truly empathize with him. The young actress Aimi is also fantastic as Xie Jiayu; she is highly talented and has a incredibly promising future ahead of her.The series has the feel of an old-fashioned drama, with a gritty, realistic quality to the visuals that makes everything feel authentic and believable. Modern themes are handled beautifully, featuring strong, intelligent, and exceptionally well-developed female characters. Wuji himself is very open-minded—he deeply respects his beloved's independence and never treats her as a possession. I must also mention the magnificent soundtrack, which beautifully features Hou Minghao’s superb vocals. It is one of those rare shows where I never skip the opening or closing credits.

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fun watch with good acting from full cast

acting really underrated honestly compared to other works in this genre that get gassed up but are actually terrible.. episode lengths were plenty long enough to me considering most other shit nowadays manages to be like 5 mins come on lol and genuinely don’t know why there’s so many comments on so-called plot holes because it was actually very clear they were trying to provide context for literally every element of the plot. but to be fair I guess that’s just the usual audience anyway zzz nobody knows how to pay attention properly. singular thing I can agree on was it just wasn’t realistic but what was anyone supposed to expect ? so what if the cop was bad at being a cop lol they said it themselves anyway. and the leads didn’t particularly have chemistry but honestly I didn’t care the story was fine for me genuinely compared to loads of other works again that are worse by a long shot with actual plot holes and cheap lazy writing.. and no time wasted on triangle bullshit or misunderstandings etc since the romance wasn’t intense which was fine. was able to enjoy all the characters and their connections a lot better. possibly memorable? rewatch value only low because I personally don’t rewatch most things

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Masterpiece & Must Watch

An absolute masterpiece of a drama, this is my first time seeing this ML as the lead. He performed phenomenally and had great chemistry with the FL. The two carried a great plot and script, although, their acting was so good together they could have read the phone book and I would have watched it. That being said the actual costumes were stunning and the camera work was done very well as well. I love how she wasted no time on revenge and planned for the future early on. The 2ML (original husband) did a great job as well. I actually felt bad for him when he shot her with the arrow. His expressions and small details about him were done VERY well. The queen's daughter was very annoying but she was supposed to be. She was a spoiled brat who was the catalyst for their entire plot falling through. Her stupidity and lack of a vision caused them to start digging especially when she wore phoenix robes to her wedding. The sad (ish) bit was that the Queen was abandoned by the King of Xilian who didnt even bother protecting his own son and daughter. Instead the king/man who actually loved her had to kill her because she betrayed him and chose treason. I do wonder what happened to her family though because treason is a reason for 9 generations of extermination. But she didnt care about her family and vice versa.

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Waiting for more.....

Plot: Entertaining and intriguing. Incomplete.
Acting: Better than most. Characters believable. ML needed more screen time. I liked how their relationship evolved. 2nd ML delivered but could do with less speeches.
Atmosphere: The unknown worked in its favor. Nothing was revealed until it was needed to kbe known. Grimy, dirty and depressing.
Direction: Good. Pacing was as it should be. Flashbacks filled in snippets that could be forgotten, used for revelation or introspection and impact.
Length of scenes and series: Episodes could be a little longer but it worked to stretch it to 8 ep with something new in each. So it wasn't repetitive.

Ended on a cliffhanger to be continued. Hope it does happen and funding is not an issue.

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10/10 Move to Heaven: an Excellent Job!

Netflix's Move to Heaven is an unexpected gem, one of the best dramas produced from South-Korea, told in a realistic and wonderful way, unique and very original Korean drama, and will truly appeal to a global audience.
Originality, sincerity and universal values are what makes Korean dramas produced by Netflix stand out compared to the regular Korean dramas which are still very catered to the local audience. From Kingdom, to Love Alarm, to Sweet Home and now Move to Heaven. All amazing pieces of art that are unique and very original.
The story centers around trauma cleaners, who are people who clean up and move stuff of the deceased. This explains the title of this drama: Move to Heaven. It is also the name of their company. In 10 episodes we see multiple story arcs evolving, including those of the main characters Han Geu-ru played amazingly by Tang Jun-sang and his uncle Cho Sang-gu. We see very relevant social themes being addressed by the trauma cleaners, all in a very sincere, realistic and emotional way. Keep your tissue box ready though!
A special shout-out to Tang Jun-sang for his epic performance and realistic portrayal of the Asperger syndrome and for connecting the different story lines. His character is smart, remembers everything, connects the dots, and speaks like a robot. It is something that viewers will not easily forget.
Han Geu-ru was told to tell himself every day in the mirror that he did an excellent job. I can only agree, and would like to extend this to the whole show. You did an excellent job!

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The Lie We Should Have Lived In

Although this series is completely implausible, it is just so much fun to watch because it hooks you in with its preposterous premise. In hindsight, this might have worked better as a comedy, as the whole concept is ridiculous. To be sure, it is entertaining, but predictably so. We can guess how it is all going to come out after just a few episodes. That is how obvious it became. It is nonetheless intoxicating to watch given how handsome all the protagonists and antagonists were. This series, for all its faults, honestly does try. But due to inept writing, poor direction, and an absurd premise you have a bumbling inept individual who takes credit for solving a crime that he had nothing to with solving. But it sure is fun to watch simply for the silliness of it. Honestly, I think this would have been a great “Pink Panther” story if you get the reference.

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“Love is knowing yourself, understanding your partner, and respecting each other”

This drama revolves around an urban love story. The female lead, Jingjing, and the male lead, Yu Tu, are both in adulthood with stable careers while navigating the challenges of work, relationships, and everyday life. Their unexpected reunion becomes the heart of the story, allowing viewers to see how both of them have grown from high school students into the adults they are today.

What I love most about this drama is how mature both Jingjing and Yu Tu are. They communicate thoughtfully, try to understand each other's perspectives, and take both their careers and relationships seriously. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The drama also does an excellent job of contrasting their lives. Jingjing has grown into the successful person she always dreamed of becoming, earning the admiration and even envy of many of her former classmates. Yu Tu, on the other hand, excels in his career and has achieved what many would consider a prestigious job. Yet despite his professional success, he gradually realizes that he's lost sight of himself and begins questioning what he truly wants in life.

The contrast between Jingjing and Yu Tu, their long-awaited reunion, the emotional turbulence they experience, the lingering "what ifs," and their constant struggle to figure out the "right" path in life all come together to create a heartfelt and engaging journey.

Although there are moments that will absolutely break your heart (ofc I cried), the drama develops both characters beautifully, allowing viewers to genuinely understand their different perspectives and the choices they make. I especially love that the male lead doesn't rush into a relationship. Instead, he takes the time to understand himself, figure out what he truly wants, learn to love himself, and find the courage to stand by his own choices.

I've always loved the female lead! Jingjing is like a refreshing ice cream on a hot summer day and a comforting hot pot that you constantly crave during winter. She's bubbly, radiant, excellent at her job, adorable yet mature, and completely comfortable with who she is. She's the kind of person who loves herself first and then shares that positivity with everyone around her. I've always said I'd love to have a friend like her in real life.

The male lead is also the kind of character who proves why Yu Tu is so admired. He's intelligent, calm, thoughtful, mature, capable, and incredibly kind. Sadly, even though he seems "perfect" in everyone else's eyes, he sees himself as a failure because his career and sense of responsibility don't align with society's definition of a "successful life." I won't spoil too much, but this inner conflict is one of the strongest parts of his character.

If I had to describe their relationship in one phrase, it would be: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.”

Overall, this drama is easy to watch, relaxing, and heartwarming. It's an ideal urban modern slow-burn romance. I personally put this as one of my favorite (at least top 3) modern romance C-Dramas I’ve ever watched! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
⤷ p.s. I really love their OST, especially《烟火星辰》"𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀" 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘂 𝗬𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.
This OST has a special place in my heart. It used to be on Spotify, but they removed it…😭✮⋆˙

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Zero

Sinceramente, esperei mais desse drama.
Sim. Talvez mais química da Bai Lu e Cheng Lei. Que na minha opinião, foi fraca e quase ela não mostrava sentimentos genuínos por ele.
Mas pode ser também que na adaptação a deixaram assim.
Para mim, a melhor atuação do Cheng Lei foi em A lenda da Generala.
É um drama com muita intriga política, focado em algumas pessoas e algumas delas não tiveram o ciclo fechado.

Como disse, esperava um drama repleto de reviravoltas, e o amor mais "seguro e original"; e se fosse uma receita esse drama; com certeza, colocaram farinha, mas sal, açúcar e fermento não teve.

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