WRONG in nearly everything, but the actors are great and it is not boring
The details are in a reply comment with a spoilers tag.The good things are the issue of disability is covered, however faulty, and that the leads are not hardcore straights that all of the sudden become gay, it is better than that.
A PSA: if possible, avoid running both as a recreational/cardio exercise and a sport. The issue is that even if with the most advanced footwear this activity irreversibly destroys your spine and knees. Health scientists did not find any benefits of it in comparison to other activities that do not cause this much harm. The issue is that evolutionary humans are long distance walkers and, rarely, short distance runners, but never long distance runners, hence the body is not accommodated for the latter at all, so it always ends up being destructive.
ANOTHER PSA: never become a couple before trying intimate fun because it can completely and fundamentally destroy all prospects of your relationship no matter how much the purely platonic/romantic part goes. You absolutely need to establish that you are compatible first.
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The Usual Stone Cold ML melted down by the Cutesy FL
Sima Jiao is the last of his clan, with blood so precious it is coveted by cultivators all over the realm for being potent for cultivation and healing. But also because of this, Sima Jiao is held prisoner by the 8 Palaces upon the annihilation of his clan 500 years ago when he was just a little kid. As he is on the verge of breaking free from his prison, a Liao Tingyan is sent together with 99 other palace disciples in the name of serving him but in reality each carries a mission of either killing Sima Jiao or mating with him to bear his descendant. The demon cultivator Liao Tingyan did not even remember her own mission because she is actually a modern soul that had transmigrated into the ancient realm just before she was sent to Sima Jiao. The initial suspicion of Sima Jiao towards Liao Tingyan turned into curiosity as the latter keeps refusing to kill the former despite so many chances he gave her. And so, when he finally broke through his seal placed by the 8 Palaces, he decisively brought Liao Tingyan with him in order to further investigate the origin of her mission and figuring out how to topple 8 Palaces altogether. And of course, after going through life and death, both fell in love with each other.Cant help but notice how much of a trope this show turned out to be. It is the third work of Wang Yinglu’s that I saw, also third of Arthur’s, and sadly I could not finish it. Honestly I totally love her as Feng Baobao in I Am Nobody, and I adore him as Ning Que and Duan Xu, but no amount of adoration I have for both actors could make me finish this.
Liao Tingyan, the body that FL transmigrated into in this title, had been fun to watch in the first 10 episodes as she tries to adapt to the new foreign world, but she grows annoying as she started to fall for ML, and went full on acting baby-ish and cutesy when the ML reciprocrated. I especially couldnt stand how the FL was written to be too naiive, dim-witted and not too bright to read the room, this on top of being a damsel-in-distress just turned me off completely.
Support characters also lack depth and background that I failed to feel any connection with them. The Snake guy, Ruling, Yuan Che - all fell short. Basically they were not impressive - the absolute fillers to the plot. I wish I could push on to the finish line, but as FL’s voice becoming more and more whiny as the episode progresses, I realized I just could not stand her anymore.
As for romance, the kissing scenes were somewhat sweet in the beginning, but when the writer decided to blast scene after scene of their hands and lips all over each other, even while suffering from flesh injuries, honestly they just grew intolerably boring and much too sappy for my liking. I lost count how many times I fast forwarded with rolled eyes. I also realized this show had a tremendous amount of scenes of the main characters in bed, either making out, comforting the injured half, or merely conversing, but the number definitely surpass any other shows that I’ve seen in just the last 5 episodes I saw. Look, I get that in this world, your soul partner could heal you by entering your consciousness, but whats up with the overzealous kissing and feeling each other up while doing the healing, complete with the injured losing all their clothes in the process (but funnily the healer did not)? Was the screenwriter insinuating that they shagged? How did they shag if they were inside the soul manor thing? The dorkiest one would be when Sima Jiao was ‘gravely injured’ and Tingyan was supposed to have performed the soul manor healing thing, then Jiao was awake and pulled Tingyan back while Tingyan plead, “I can’t take it anymore!” Is that a hint that theyre doing it while dual cultivating or something? Oh lord, make it make sense. 🙄 The amount of such scenes made me feel like I was watching amature soft porn skit instead of the usual romance/xianxia kind of show. Not sure if they had this in the novel or the adaptation amped up such scenes just for the fans.
The amount of precious Sima blood being spilled was also overbearingly ridiculous. For a 500yo grandmaster, it is funny how Simu Jiao’s power keeps getting toned down with each battle, rendering him gravely injured each time (but still strong enough to keep saving FL and make out with her every chance he get). He basically has the supreme blood and powers compared to the rest of cultivators who were mostly born after his imprisonment except for 3 palace heads, and yet he keeps narrowly escape their siege with serious injuries that left him incapacitated for days after each confrontation (read: more making out when Tingyan performed the soul manor healing on him 🙄😒). This character just doesnt exude supremacy at all.
I love Arthur as an actor, and boy I keep seeing the innocent Feng Baobao which I adore so much when I saw Liao Tingyan, but this plot is a strain to my eyes as I keep rolling them episode after episode. Not only was the romance too overbearing and looked cheap, the action choreograph also failed to garner any wows from me. I guess I’ll just move on now.
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Here, the story is very simple: Young man has a crush, gets enormously flustered when said crush flirts with him, they meet again and try anew. Add a light splash of secret identity, and indirect kisses, and you have a strong base for a good short film. I liked the piano pieces and the old-fashioned crooned song at the end, the perfomrance of both actors was solid -- only the change between scenes was too hard and distracted from the overall soft vibe.
If you have eight minutes, then do go and watch it.
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The best talented actor xu kai.
“800 Meters” showcases Xu Kai in one of his most grounded and emotionally resonant performances to date. Departing from his usual historical and fantasy roles, this drama leans into realism, offering a refreshing perspective on perseverance, youth, and inner struggle.Xu Kai delivers a nuanced portrayal of a character caught between expectation and self-doubt. His acting feels natural and restrained, allowing subtle expressions and body language to carry much of the emotional weight. Rather than relying on dramatic exaggeration, he builds his character gradually, making the audience genuinely invested in his journey.
The story itself revolves around more than just a physical race—it becomes a metaphor for life’s pressures and personal growth. The pacing is steady, giving enough room for character development without feeling dragged. Supporting characters add depth to the narrative, each contributing to the protagonist’s transformation in meaningful ways.
Visually, the drama maintains a clean and realistic aesthetic. The cinematography captures both the intensity of competition and the quiet moments of reflection, balancing tension and calm effectively. The soundtrack complements the story well, enhancing emotional scenes without overpowering them.
What makes “800 Meters” stand out is its simplicity. It doesn’t try to be overly complicated or sensational. Instead, it focuses on relatable themes: determination, failure, and the courage to keep going. This grounded approach makes the drama feel authentic and impactful.
Overall, “800 Meters” is a compelling watch, especially for those who appreciate character-driven storytelling. Xu Kai proves his versatility as an actor, delivering a performance that is both sincere and memorable.
Very² emotional drama, bestt
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1This review may contain spoilers
Conflicted?
Did I over rate this? Maybe. Did I enjoy it all the way through? Yes. Does it have issues? Yes. On with the review.I really did enjoy this drama all the way through and found none of it really boring. That is what I try to go by for dramas anymore is did I get through it without being bored and asking what the heck was that it makes no sense. This drama was great especially when it first starts out it pulls you in with what is going to happen next, but through the story line its like they lost all focus on where this story was going.
The first big thing is that they make the ML out to be this big Marquis that everyone both fear and respect, and you don't really know why because he gets thrown into the background of the FL. I loved this FL she did great with her character and this is the first drama I have watched her in and would love watching her again. I loved her character so much in this, but did the over power her when it comes to the ML yes they did. She is a butcher girl that has been raised with the most normal of child hoods she could have until her world is thrown upside down with her parents death. Does she have unusual strength yes she does, did her father teach her how to fight yeah he did, but I still don't think that would make her be able to take out such a strong general that has more battle history then she does. I agree with another review that I read where they talk about the fight with the general and then her not being able to pull up both Qiao Qiao and Qi Min. Granted did she want to see Qi Min die yes he is a horrible character (Will get more into his character), but the FL has this strength but yet couldn't do this simple act makes no sense. So how did she kill a general with it being her first battle she was in?
I personally think they should of also focused a bit on the ML's story you don't get to really know too much about him. I get this was more focused on the FL, but you don't get to see what makes the ML even really important to this story. I loved the chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei, but also felt like the love story between them was also put on the back burner at times. Would of just loved to see more. Also just wish they would of done more with Zhang Ling He in general love watching him and love most of his dramas.
Now on to the Sui brothers. Two of the most toxic characters ever, but I'm sorry I have to say I loved them. They were great and I enjoyed their stories sometimes more then the actual story. Deng Kai and Lin Mu Ran played these characters amazingly. Would also really love to see Deng Kai and Snow Kong in another drama together their whole dynamic was toxic but the chemistry between these two shined through that I wish in some ways Qi Min would of turned himself around through his hardships for Qiao Qiao just to see more of their chemistry. I am becoming a fan of Deng Kai the more I watch him.
All in all it had its flaws anymore what drama doesn't, but was it a good watch yes it kept me interested all the way through it just to see what was going to happen. Oh have to say something about the kids before I almost forgot. Those two little kids were adorable and gave amazing performances. They were just so cute especially with Bao'er saying he will make Changning his empress. So cute!!
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Kinda lives up to the hype, kinda
My Gosh was I bombarded with this series everywhere on the net that one night I gave in.1. The good:
- Likeable and lively FL, especially in her natural habitat a.k.a. her village. Interesting back story of her being a butcher lady too.
- The child actors are adorbs! Sometimes they act way beyond their ages though, which is stereotypical in dramas. So I think of these instances as: writers letting their imagination running freaking wild.
- The veteran actors, including the uncle and aunty, the busybody granny, the foster father/shifu, the emperor.
- Lin Mu Ran's crazy, sadistic prince character was entertaining. He has potentials.
- Yan Yi Kuan (cry). I think of his character not as an antagonist but an antihero. [SPOILERS] Did his actions lead to a lot of suffering and deaths? Yes. Was he push into it by shitty power? Yes. Could he have done it differently? Yes. But then it wouldn't be an Asian thing of non-communicative but caring parent (figure) any further. Also, it makes it poignant, his character and his storyline. The only sympathetic and sympathiseable bad guy in the series. (I also shuddered at the thought many dramas have characters like him. Those who sacrificed everything and gave their lives to serve their countries and people, only to get death sentences - extendable to their extended families - by a single choice/decision or even at the whim of the higher-ups.)
- The music highlights the heart-warming, romantic and lively scenes well.
- The COMEDY always hits the right notes with this one.
2. The bad:
- Quality drops gradually. The first arc was enjoyable. The middle arc was muddy and dragging, with Lin Mu Ran being the highlight. The last couple episodes were saved by Yan Yi Kuan.
- Lacks focuses.
3. The delusional:
- The overly emphasis on the ML's looks/handsomeness. They not only say it but use every chance to highlight it in the makeup and costumes. I'm sick of it. (But not to the point of hating him. I think his online hate is just as toxic as his fans glazing his supposed "beauty".)
- The superhuman abilities of Gary Sue and Mary Sue:
[SPOILERS]
ML: Clearly doesn't shoot a bow. But every time he shoots, even with three freaking arrows, he never misses. He is the most feared general but hardly does any planning or strategising. Even his combat is mostly non-proven.
FL: She freaking kills two of the most veteran and strongest generals/warriors of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. She has never worn amour before, but as soon as she dons one, she moves like the wind (okay, fine, like usual). She breaks rules, acts recklessly but, by the power vested in plot amours, everything ALWAYS turns out well and swell.
Both 20-something to early 30s main characters become super important political figures, for whatever the plot reasons, in the court of a 9-year-old emperor with a 20-something restauranteur/entertainment venue owner mother being behind him. These three don't have any backgrounds, knowledge, track records or even show the slightest of learning about the serious business that is the court life. They are not qualified. The freaking country is doomed from the start.
- Simp-and-limp male characters.
- Kids not being kids.
4. The horrible:
- The last bait I took was Qi Min. He was paraded everywhere online. I got intrigued of people painting him as a sad, pitiable secondary character with a tragic love story...
[SPOILERS]
Oh, hell no, it's not a love story at all! Why and how did they decide to fantasise this abusive, mentally disturbed and clearly needed help, obsessive rapist/kidnapper/murderer and his Stockholm's syndrome victim? It's disgusting and I need therapy.
Conclusion: Funny (again, the comedy of this series is on-point) with a good start but can be uneven, delusional and absolutely questionable.
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Light, Engaging, and Intriguing
I really enjoyed this drama. I didn’t notice the usual plot holes or execution issues that often come with short-format productions. I found the narrative engaging, with a nice blend of comedy, romance, and intrigue—all tied to a mysterious and generational past that entangles the leads. It was a pleasant watch—neither too heavy nor too light.Was this review helpful to you?
Fashion Show or TV Drama?
Fashion show or Tv Drama is the question I was asking myself the entire time. "Veil of Shadows" is sister to "Fangs of Fortune" and cousin to "My Journey to you".These Dramas have:
+Gorgeous, rich costumes.
+Beautiful actors, you would struggle to find someone normal looking. i really wanted to see one ugly side characters at least once :).
+Great fighting scenes.
+Flashy, well done special effects.
+Superb soundtrack.
-Weak story. Everyone dies but then you see them later making the impact of the sacrifice pointless. Both "Veil of Shadows" and "Fangs of Fortune" story telling consist of mini side plots, which look more like leveling quests to the 4 main characters where each quest ending with boss kill.
-Acting was flat, because of the way the drama is shot. You often see actors talking to camera ,making beautiful posing and shedding fake tears. Unfortunately you won't see ugly crying here, the tear drops fall in most beautiful way possible, like small crystals out of actors eyes.
-World is empty. You rarely see scenes where characters are walking on streets full with people living their lives and doing their business. Everything is too staged.
With all the fall backs this drama deserves good score and I understand why ppl would like it. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but overall it is much better than other releases like "Blood River".
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1This review may contain spoilers
The Sun and the Star
The most unrealistic part about the eight episodes was not the ghosts - it was Arthit's dad being extremely cool with him just quitting med school. Yeah, that's not how it works!But factual accuracy aside, this was a genuinely sweet and innovative addition to the Four Directions universe, certainly my favourite of the parts until now. Who knew that actual plot could help build a good series? (I'm not saying anything, but we know plot is always good)
Dao and Thit are one of my favourite couples - there's no faking of anything in their relationship, what you see is literal what you get and I'm glad we got to see exactly how they figured each other out. During that time, we got an actual story with Dao and his spirit - seeing abilities helping not only Arthit with his mom, but also several ghosts he lives with (this is also a neighbour/proximity love story, which YES)
In that period of five or so episodes, we see a lot of both the leads and their respective personalities. And for once, there was no terrible parent or insane trauma on our screens. Thit and Dao are both flawed individuals but their struggles don't feel ramped up for drama. I liked how they each had things to deal with, but none of it had to with physical, mental or emotional torture or manipulation.
And then, once we and they get to know each other well, that's when we get the romance. I will admit, once it switched to just romance, the pacing became dismal (as with the rest of the other parts) but I was just so charmed by Arthit and Dao that I didn't really mind.
I suppose this is not much of an informative review as I'd like it to be, but honestly, I have no real complaints except for the pace and some questionable behaviour by Arthit at times. Ngern and Oat did a wonderful job, they had so much chemistry and I really enjoyed their dynamics.
Honestly, if anyone very badly wants to watch any of the Fourever You stories, this is the one I'd recommend. Every character feels more fleshed out, familiar and new alike, the main couple is amazing and the story is really good.
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We are all stories in the end...
Great series! Came late to the scene by a couple years and kind of annoyed with myself for waiting so long to watch this because of a couple negative reviews. Yea, there will always be something that annoys the hell out of you... looking at you, Wenjun!.. However, aside from wanting to knock some sense in a few and respect in others..(and stop a certain disgusting drugging). It was a great series. I can truly appreciate the intricate world created and the many tales woven to make the main story whole. You quickly have your favorites and your own personal hit-list and before you know it 40 episodes are done and you are sad to say farewell to the truly "good ones" but we are all stories in the end... So, make it a good one, yea?Was this review helpful to you?
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what a journey ....
a superb fantasy drama with a lot of plot twists and intriguing characters , at first it was very confusing with same actor playing multiple characters but it will be clear in the end .great story, acting , cinematography and music yet the unequal screen time between main leads for me affected the story somehow , I mean it would quite difficult to give 4 leads equal screen time and it will end being focused on one couple more than the other .
wu shuguang's story felt rushed for me , I mean we didn't get see wu wuyuan and his love story as ji ling and lu wuyi's love story and even after becoming a dragon he was still quite weak and still needed ji ling's help, it felt like although wu shuguang has the dragon's power ji ling is still the true dragon deity , wu shuguang at sometimes felt like a supporting character rather than a main lead .
ji ling and lu wuyi 's story was great on many aspects , glad they got a happy ending .
you chi was quite funny throughout the drama, glad they gave his character some depth in the end and he got his happy ending and love interest " mu long ".
even the great 4 demons had great stories of their own which was great .
considering this is a GJM drama , I watched this with my hand over my heart thinking how would he make it a sad ending yet it was a happy one .
overall great fantasy drama on many aspects .
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Watched thrice and still bitter about it
I wanted to like this series A LOT. "Chang Ge Xing" is possibly my favourite manhua, still to this moment. But I couldn't, no matter how much I tried a.k.a. three-freaking-times!1. The good:
- The OST no doubt. What a goated OST.
- The first episode is likely one of the best first episodes I've seen. The character introductions (albeit with many changes from the manhua), the exhilarating sepak takraw match, the costumes, the sets, all.
- The best acting scene goes to Wu Lei [SPOILER] when his foster mother was killed. That and the first episode were non-skips.
2. The alright:
- The characters of Yong An and Hao Du, both new and extended characters from the manhua. In my first viewing, their journeys, separate and together, are easier to watch and pay attention to. Because it's simpler compared to the push-and-shove, tug-and-pull characterisations and storylines of Chang Ge and Ashile Sun. But I don't care about them beyond that first watch.
3. The BITTER:
- The story. I understand the writers made the most out of the source materials. They seemed to have a lot of love and respect for Xia Da too. But damn was the whole thing butchered.
One of the driving forces of the manhua is the conflict of identities, especially ethnics of Chang Ge and Sun. Unfortunately, the ethnic diversity is superficial and completely washed here.
- The characterisation. For a story as intricate as "Chang Ge Xing" to work, it must be developed gradually and in focus. By parading a bunch of characters and creating new storylines for the supporting-but-important-commerical cast, it fails miserably. It's clear as day, when main characters got pushed aside and received less attention from viewers than the secondary ones. In my first viewing, I dropped as Chang Ge gets into the nunnery.
- Chang Ge and Sun. Bloody hell, Dilireba and Wu Lei butchered my beloved characters.
Dilireba might have been a good cast, given her Uyghur ethnicity. But she doesn't look the part of Chang Ge (cry), barely gave any acting if at all to save her life (cry), even her figure and acting dead-gave away she was a girl (cry). They made Chang Ge character sooooo unlikable, self-centered and inconsiderate (even as a strategist, you have to be able to consider to plan and strategise). Cry.
Wu Lei looks ridiculous in costumes that aren't Tang, including his wig and his battle armour. It doesn't help that his physique is like most every other Chinese commercial actors. In the manhua, Sun has an imposing presence and endless charisma (earned at that). Even though he is young he is a seasoned warrior and highly respected leader, regarded as the "god of war". I don't see any of that in Wu Lei. But at least, he gave that emotionally violent and gut-wrenching highlight of a scene.
To be fair, I think, those who don't know/read the manhua might like this series (more). But even when I tried to detach it from its source material, it was still such a jumble-mumble of bad story-telling.
Conclusion: Bitter. Wasted. Dead.
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Better to lose with dignity than to win with dishonor!
I appreciate the revenge of this rugby player who fell from grace for doping. He disappeared and three years later, he will return to this sports school to coach this team of seven boys.I found the soundtrack to be spot on, especially the music during the explanation of "what rugby is" that made me smile because it reminded me of the Quark programm. I liked the natural acting and the interludes with comics based on the images, as well as... the handsome young men.
A little less so are the moments where the shooting coach is treated like a slave by these school principals.
Their dirty methods to undermine the rugby team for more funding or for themselves. New guidelines, manipulation, unfavorable situations, unequal battles between the best in their classes against people who have never practiced... I couldn't wait for the showdown, especially from episode 9 onwards, when kneeling seemed to be the order of the day.
I didn't know about the existence of this rare disease, MYASTHENIA, which causes muscle weakness, eyelid damage (eyelids, double vision), and respiratory paralysis. Kudos to the actor for his performance, which makes these moments so touching. His character is a brilliant motivator for these kids, winning them over with his actions and advocating for them.
A mix of feelings: anger, seeing that those who play dirty, despite injustice and violence, always have everyone at their feet. Emotion, accompanied by a few tears, for these two coaches who put the well-being of their players before their own (support, sacrifices); tenderness for this captain who timidly confesses his love to the girl he likes; praise for the director who supports this coach through thick and thin; admiration for this shooter who trains hard to regain her balance after the accident.
A few emotional tears in the last few episodes.
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One of the most beautiful and have to cry a lot cdrama ?
Honestly, I’m still in shock that Veil of Shadow is already over. Everything about it felt so sudden, from the surprise release announcement to that finale, and I’m just not ready to say goodbye! This drama was honestly a visual masterpiece; some of the locations and costumes were so gorgeous I literally gasped. And the cast? Incredible. Every single actor brought so much emotion to their roles—when they cried, I was right there sobbing with them. I swear I spent half the series in tears! The plot twists were absolutely wild and kept me stressed out the whole time, but what really kept me going was the friendship between the characters and the chemistry of the two main couples. They are officially my favorites. The OST was also such a vibe and fit every scene perfectly. My only real complaint is that 29 episodes is way too short—I needed more! Thank god for that happy ending and the kiss scenes, because if it had ended sadly, I don’t think I would’ve recovered. Such an amazing, emotional ride!😭💕Was this review helpful to you?
"It takes an exceptional person to love a warrior, especially a warrior whose war will never cease."
If you are looking for a sweet, fluffy love story, this is not the one to watch. If you struggle with depictions of war and PTSD, you may want to avoid it. However, if you want a beautifully heartbreaking story with strong performances from the main leads and plenty of emotional angst, it is absolutely worth watching.Not for the faint of heart, The White Olive Tree is a deeply emotional experience that lingers long after it ends. I found myself in tears more than once (which usually happens very rarely), completely immersed in a story that is as devastating as it is beautiful.
At its core, this is a story about young idealists, people who choose, of their own will, to step into danger and do what must be done, even when no one asks them to. They are driven by compassion and a sense of duty, fully aware of the risks, yet unwilling to turn away. Fate, however, is unforgiving. Their choices come at a great cost, and the suffering they endure feels painfully real. Still, they continue to help others, even when it breaks them.
As a ML, CZY delivers an outstanding performance as Li Zan and truly owns the role. His portrayal is nothing short of devastating. Li Zan is not just a man who has experienced hardship, he is someone fundamentally altered by it. The weight of the lives lost around him, especially those of friends who died for him, becomes something he can never escape. That survivor’s guilt seeps into every part of him. Along with his physical trauma and the crushing burden of his own guilt and regrets, it leaves him slowly falling apart under the pressure.
Watching him transform into a shadow of who he once was is painfully realistic. His silence, his distance, and the way he carries himself all reflect a mind and body pushed far beyond their limits. His PTSD is not portrayed lightly, it feels heavy, suffocating, and all consuming. You can feel how trapped he is within his own memories, how every step forward is weighed down by the past he cannot let go of. This raw and unfiltered depiction makes his character unforgettable and at times very difficult to watch.
Equally moving is Song Ran, whose unwavering devotion anchors the story. Her refusal to give up on Li Zan, her quiet strength, and her determination to stay by his side no matter what make their relationship incredibly compelling. Their love is built on understanding and mutual support, even when it is imperfect. They lie and hide their pain, each trying to protect the other from more burden, each trying to avoid causing more pain, but their bond never really breaks. The way they continue to be there for each other, despite everything, makes their love story feel very special and genuine. It feels like a truly rare kind of love story, the kind you don’t come across often.
The music also deserves mention because it is perfectly chosen and enhances every emotional moment.
One other thing I really loved was the relationship between Sa Xin and Ben. As a fan of all kinds of bromances, this one was pure gold for me.
They start off as enemies, then slowly move into a stage of reluctant acceptance, and eventually develop a real sense of brotherhood and connection. That progression felt very natural and genuinely moving. Ben, a seasoned mercenary who becomes a regular soldier, and Sa Xin, a young reporter who turns into a soldier, both meet each other in that in-between space shaped by war. Through that shared experience, they begin to understand each other’s pain and hopes for a better future, which makes their bond even more touching.
That said, the drama is not without flaws. At times the pacing feels stretched and some scenes last longer than they should. Also, the English speaking actors were noticeably weak and sometimes even ridiculous/distracting, which took me out of the experience.
Even with these flaws, the drama still stands out because of its emotional depth, strong performances, and meaningful story. It is heartbreaking, sincere, and not easy to forget.
(Also, while watching, I was thinking about how Eastern Country, the fictional place where the war takes place, feels a bit unusual because its native population includes people of many different ethnicities. Then my aunt pointed out that this might actually be intentional. Eastern Country could have been designed that way to represent the world as a whole, rather than a single nation. In that sense, it becomes a symbol of universality, showing that war does not discriminate and affects everyone regardless of background.
If that really was the intention, then Eastern Country works as a kind of microcosm of the world, emphasizing how war is horrific precisely because it touches all kinds of people equally. I am not sure if that was the creators’ exact goal, but it does make a lot of sense when you look at it that way.)
9/10, even though I wish I could rate it 10/10 just for how powerfully it stirred my emotions.
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