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Very good, but not perfect ?
Overall, this is a really good bl. The acting is well done for the content. Some have criticized Chiaki's actor for being too blunt, but that's just his personality, which is why he identifies with the punk/goth community. Being from that community myself, as well as being queer, he reminded me of several I've met.Also, being in the fashion industry, one needs to be forthright or you'll get eaten.
All that being said, I felt the actors did a good job with what they were given to work with. Remember, their given a script and being directed, so what we get is what the producers want us to have. Often it's not entirely the fault of the actor.
I appreciate much of the outdoor filming was one of the fashion districts of Tokyo, Shibuya ward/Harajuku (Cat Street especially). I have many punk and vintage shops bookmarked when I visit next year.
I agree that the final episodes was a bit rushed and too cringe. I feel there must be a production/director issue, because the vibe changed.
I wish this could have been a bit more edgier (sp?). From what I understand, the manga goes more in-depth with the relationships, which would have been nice to see.
I will definitely re-watch this and am planning on getting the manga.
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Comedy Done Right, Stakes were questionable
Cha Eun-woo had me swooning every time he appeared on screen. What I didn't expect was to come away talking about his performance more than his face. As Lee Un-jeong, he brought a lot of charm and warmth to the role and proved that he's capable of much more than simply looking good on screen. Three women catching feelings for him in only eight episodes? Honestly, believable.This was also my first time watching a drama starring Park Eun-bin. When the casting was first announced, I wasn’t exactly sold on her and Cha Eun-woo as a pairing. Thankfully, the show wasn’t heavily focused on romance, which worked in its favor. Still, they weren’t bad together at all. I guess the whole “polar opposites attract” trope rarely fails.
That said, I low-key shipped him more with the hot villain girl. They barely had any scenes together, but every interaction was electric. Then they killed her off, and I took that personally.
Speaking of characters who deserved better, I was genuinely upset about all the Wunderkinder kids dying. The evil scientists and that creepy sponsor grandpa absolutely deserved whatever came to them, but the kids? They were victims too. They deserved a chance at redemption instead of being treated as collateral damage.
I do have a few questions, though. The Wonderfools were constantly referred to as “defected pieces,” but apart from not fully understanding or controlling their powers, they didn’t seem to suffer any major side effects. Meanwhile, the Wunderkinder kids were considered the “successful” experiments, yet they were the ones experiencing severe side effects. Am I missing something here, or does that logic feel backwards?
Another thing: why was Grandma unable to do more for Chae-ni? She was portrayed as incredibly resourceful, had connections and seemed to know far more than everyone else. Yet somehow she was always arriving just a little too late to actually save anyone.
One aspect that annoyed me was the repetitive cycle involving 3792 and the villains. Every confrontation played out the same way: he’d be on the verge of death, emotions would run high, dramatic music would swell, and then... he’d survive anyway. After a while, it became predictable. The stakes stopped feeling real because you knew he wasn’t actually in danger. Not that I wanted him to die, but if you keep building up these emotional near-death moments only to undo them every time, the impact starts to disappear.
The comedy, however, was flawless. A solid 10/10. Every joke landed for me. The goofy humor, exaggerated reactions, and comic-book-inspired style were absolutely hilarious. The Wonderfools themselves were delightfully chaotic, and that’s exactly why I loved them. They were weird, messy, and completely entertaining to watch.
Overall, despite a few frustrations with the plot, I had a great time with this show.
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One of the better vertical series I've watched.
English voice-over may have made it better or worse, I'm not sure.This would have been a good series if it had been longer and we had to sit with the betrayal. Xing was bullied by a fake and punished and neglected by her family for two years, but it didn't feel that way. It also didn't feel like they all had 12 years of loving each other because they turned on Xing so quickly. How could they believe someone they just met over someone they raised? Then their feelings suddenly flip on a dime again once they realise they forgot her birthday? It just didn't feel believable.
This is one of the reasons I don't like vertical series. This was a good plot; it just needed more time to flesh out the characters and make their actions make sense.
You're also telling me that this family never once looked at their camera footage in 2 years? Their cameras were also all perfectly placed to catch almost every evil act as well.
They wait for 30 years for her to wake up, only to have her pretend not to remember them. I mean, they kind of deserve it, but also they waited for 30 YEARS. I felt only a little bad for them.
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Great cast, directing, and storyline
Did not expect such a complex plot based on the summary. However, the actual plot was well done and I appreciated how despite all the "proof" her coworkers stood up for her. It was nice having a boy's mother portrayed as wicked or stuck up. Honestly, I was half expecting the mom to offer money to the FL not to leave her son. LMAO.The ML went through so many torturous years all because of a promise to a dying woman. As a mom, I get it. As a human with morals what she did was ethically wrong. She knew he was a kind and upright person and that her son was not and used it to bind them together and keep her company afloat. I wish I could feel bad for the son/ex-boyfriend but he doesn't have enough functioning brain cells for that.
Also, it could be the version and platform I watched skipped it out but there was no follow up on the dad after he grabbed the ex-boyfriends hand to restrain him.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this drama. Definitely going on my rewatch list!
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a much needed story
as someone who's watched countless kdramas with bullying as a recorrente theme, teach you a lesson is such a breath of fresh air!! getting to see bullies get a taste of their own medicine so quickly is trulyyyy gratifying.the paybacks require some suspension of belief because yeah this wouldn't happen in real life, but it's fine with me. it's not trying to be realistic in the first place. in fact, its charm is getting to see terrible people pay for their actions even if in real life they'd walk away unpunished and to see the victims get some deserved reparations. some may say the bullying/cases portrayed were over the top but i didn't doubt for a second real life could be this cruel and unjust, despite how heartbreaking that is. law systems not only in south korea but everywhere need a reform ASAP.
i'm not exactly the biggest action enthusiast - i usually get lost in the frenzied camerawork - but the choreographies for this one genuinely awed me - along with the sound design wowow!
even it adresses really heavy themes, there are some golden comedy bits, i felt the balance was necessary so it wouldn't become too hard of a watch.
the main cast's chemistry is great, i particularly loved the little romance between bong and hanrim (the crazy gf x loser stocks have never been higher!!!!) jin kijoo is amazinggggg, i personally looove how LOUD she is, kdramas need to invest more on loud and unabashed fls!!
as for kim muyeol, i hadn't watched any of his past projects, so i was pleasantly suprised!! his presence on screen is so gripping!! i might have developed a gigantic crush on na hwajin btw, he looks insanely attractive here.
overall, a well-balanced and wildly entertaining watch. i have hope for a 2nd season but maybe that's just wishful thinking lol
ps: the ending theme is a banger but i can't find it on spotify... ugh
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If Violence Isn't Solving the Problem, You're Not Applying Enough of It
Don't get me wrong, I love seeing bullies get what they deserve. The revenge in this show is genuinely satisfying, and that feeling of payback is exactly what draws you in. But let's call it what it is: in this series, violence solves everything. The unspoken rule is simple, if violence isn't solving the problem, you're just not using enough of it. The government-backed team beats, humiliates, and terrorizes abusive students and corrupt adults because the legal system keeps failing. Every episode proves that going all out with force saves the day. The finale tries to get deep with a moment of restraint, but after eight episodes of rewarded beatdowns, that feels empty. So yes, 'Teach You a Lesson' is cool, satisfying, and deeply wrong. Watch it for the guilty fun, but don't pretend it's anything other than a show where the answer to every problem is a fist, and the only mistake is not punching hard enough.Was this review helpful to you?
Don't trust anyone in this!!!
This was a great series in making pretty much the entire cast look guilty. You really have no idea who the protagonists and who the antagonists are as you are watching. As you get deeper into the drama, it really doesn't become any easier to figure out who to root for. You just have to stick with it and watch everything play out.Taec Yeon is fantastic in his role as Sung Joon, along with Seok Jin. They're the good guys, then the bad guys, oh wait, now one is the good guy ... now both bad again. You really aren't sure, but you have to be on their side. These characters shows us how revenge can consume your life, making for a miserable existence.
Episode 11 is definitely the pinnacle episode of the series. Many questions are solved to that point, with some very surprising answers. This is also the episode that the most evil antagonist emerges. One we didn't even know existed. He's brilliantly evil and takes us into his hell over the final three episodes, with the final episode being written perfectly without a hitch. Normally that last episode never seems to hold up to the rest of the series, but this one did. Everything you want to happen ... happens!!!!
Just an all around great series to enjoy!!!
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Romance of two mature adults done right!
Wow I did not expect this show to be such a hit for me, but it was. We don't see a lot of BLs with over twenty something couples in life phase that come after university, first big loves and first years in the career are over. This show truly did the romance of two mature adults so well!I think for anyone over 30 and 40 the shows themes will resonate: what if I need to change my career direction bc what I am doing is not working, how do I deal with my parents becoming older and needing to look after and what forming a romantic relationship is when your relationship priorities are not as they were when you were younger. The show also describes the struggles of coming out at older age in society like Japan, where being gay is no longer exactly unheard of, but where ppl of the community still have to consider that their love could have adverse reactions from other people.
The best part of the show is Azuma's and Kuji's relationship development. At no point do we get big dramatic moments, but instead the show gives a steady relationship arch that has it's ups and downs, with two ppl slowly realizing their feelings. The moments of conflicts are not resolved with arguments of shouting or running away, but rather both of the men reflecting and adjusting to each other.
Having said all the positives this won't be for everyone: if you like your fast paced Thai BLs with dramatic flair, a lot of steamy action and the character types in typical Thai BLs this might not be for you. Also if the themes covered in the show hit too hard home, for some this isn't going to be the escapism they want from the real every day life.
If you have watched and liked other J BLs, you will like this one too! I loved this and the show will be updated to my favorite BL list.
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A Regular Rom-Com Wearing a Crown
A regular rom-com wrapped in royal packaging, with weak conclusions, underdeveloped themes, and a romance that never quite satisfied me.Perfect Crown was undoubtedly one of my most anticipated dramas of the year. It had three things that immediately sold me: a royal marriage of convenience, Byeon Woo Seok as the male lead, and a female chaebol CEO willing to do anything to protect her company and position. On paper, this sounded like the perfect drama for me.
And honestly, the drama does a lot of things right. It is visually gorgeous. The costumes, palaces, and overall production value are stunning. Everything feels expensive, polished, and luxurious. If there is one thing Perfect Crown never lacks, it is presentation.
My biggest disappointment came from the female lead. Byeon Woo Seok delivered exactly what I expected: a charming prince with enough vulnerability and tragedy to make him easy to root for. But IU's character never became the powerful businesswoman I was hoping for. Instead of getting a commanding CEO similar to the female lead from Queen of Tears, we ended up with a much more familiar, softer, and occasionally cheesy heroine. For a character introduced as highly capable and ruthless in business, she rarely felt as formidable as the story claimed.
The premise itself was interesting. A successful and intelligent woman pursuing a prince because of the legitimacy and status attached to his title raises some fascinating questions. Unfortunately, the drama never explores those ideas deeply enough. It presents themes about power, status, monarchy, tradition, and self-worth, but rarely digs beneath the surface.
The first half was genuinely entertaining. I enjoyed seeing a modern monarchy setting and the political dynamics surrounding the royal family. The marriage of convenience trope had potential, and I was curious to see how the relationship would develop. The problem is that the romance never truly convinced me. I understood why the male lead fell in love, but I never clearly saw when or how the female lead's feelings changed. One moment they were partners, and suddenly we were expected to believe in a grand romance without enough emotional buildup.
Chemistry was another issue. The leads looked beautiful together, but I never felt the spark that made me emotionally invested in their relationship. Ironically, I found some of the side couples more engaging. The brother and sister-in-law were adorable and had a natural warmth that often outshined the main romance. Their marriage felt built on genuine affection rather than plot requirements.
The supporting cast was honestly one of the drama's strongest points. The Queen was easily one of the most fascinating characters in the entire series. Every scene involving her carried tension because I could never fully predict her motives. Her father was equally memorable despite limited screen time. Even the young king brought an interesting perspective to the story, raising questions about whether people should be forced into roles simply because of tradition.
Another character I found genuinely interesting was the Prime Minister. While I wasn't always convinced by the direction the writers eventually took with him, especially in the final episodes, he remained one of the more compelling characters in the drama. His motivations, loyalty, ambition, and complicated relationships added layers to the political storyline. For much of the series, he felt more nuanced and intriguing than some of the main characters, which made his eventual downfall feel even more frustrating.
The villains also stood out because they were not the typical over-the-top antagonists constantly announcing their hatred. Their hostility was quieter, more calculated, and often more effective because of it.
Unfortunately, the writing begins to struggle in the later episodes. Plot holes become harder to ignore, character motivations become inconsistent, and the political conflicts start escalating into increasingly absurd territory. Multiple near-death experiences, sudden villain transformations, and rushed resolutions made the final stretch feel messy.
The ending was probably my biggest frustration. After spending nearly the entire drama building toward the crown, the story suddenly abandons the very goal it spent so much time developing. Rather than feeling meaningful, the resolution felt rushed and unearned. It left me with more questions than satisfaction. Instead of finishing the drama thinking "wow," I finished it asking "why?" and "how?"
As for IU, this is actually my first drama with her. I know she has many fans and a strong acting reputation, but based on this performance alone, I did not leave feeling excited to immediately explore the rest of her filmography. That may be more a reflection of the writing than her acting, but it is still how I felt.
At the end of the day, Perfect Crown had every premium ingredient needed to create an unforgettable drama: a star-studded cast, royal politics, business power struggles, beautiful visuals, and a popular marriage-of-convenience trope. Unfortunately, the writing never elevated those ingredients into something truly special.
I enjoyed watching it, and I understand why so many viewers loved it. But for me, it felt like a regular rom-com wearing a royal crown. Beautiful to look at, pleasant enough to watch, but lacking the depth, chemistry, and emotional payoff needed to make it memorable.
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That is by far one of the best dramas I have seen in such a long long time!!
That is by far one of the best dramas I have seen in such a long long time!!it gave Taxi vibes while being directed at schools and pupils and it just was so good. I don’t think I can quite put towards how good this show was the series these actors and I really hope in one sense that there is a season 2 because I would love to watch a season 2 of these characters but in the same breath would a season 2 ruin the series we’ve just watched?
A bit like extraordinary attorney Woo that was such a great series and it’s not had a season 2 yet… but let’s face it we all want a season 2 of teach you a lesson because like weak hero, it could be incredible!! but like we hero If there is a season 2 I beg and pray that all the characters are played by the same actors and actresses because the only problem with the season 2 in K dramas is sometimes the cast of switched and it just ruins the series.
Can we genuinely talk about the incredible cast that was pulled through for the series? Okay the female inspector was a bit bonkers but the actresses played that character so so well the actors and actresses genuinely were hands down incredible.
The storyline was genius. It was almost a full circle in the sense that started with the inspector’s Fiancé (gutted that they weren’t actually married. I mean I understand it’s part of the plot but they sounded like such a gutted that they weren’t actually married. I mean I understand it’s part of the plot but they sounded like such a great couple ?!) and governor‘s daughter and finished with the same storyline which is ingenious in itself.
Overall, if you can’t tell how much I love this series please start my review again and read from the top because this was an incredible, genius, great, fantastic written, played, acted, screen directed drama and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
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A dark, locked-room detective story with highly vivid characters and excellent chemistry
A dark, locked-room detective story filled with Jianghu flair and heightened emotions.A murder takes place at Taohua Estate. In the first episode, the household consists of the head of the family, his two sons, two daughters, a daughter-in-law, and a guest. The only servants shown are a eunuch, a steward, and a maid. One of the characters is about to die, and Guard Han Dao must identify the killer among the rest. The case is complicated by the fact that everyone in the estate is either a sadist, a victim, or a twisted combination of both. To make matters worse, the guest is the guard’s senior fellow disciple, who once killed their master right before his eyes.
Everyone has a motive, many have the opportunity, and overall, the residents of Taohua feel like spiders trapped in a jar, making it genuinely hard to find the culprit. On top of that, Han Dao is hardly a skilled investigator.
The plot was gripping from start to finish — I felt the pacing was perfectly tight with no drag, even though different parts of the drama shift slightly in focus. At first, we get an immersive look at the estate's atmosphere and a detailed breakdown of the characters' personalities. They turn out to be so unique and eccentric that they easily steal the spotlight from the actual detective line. But then new deaths occur, more dark secrets and backstories surface, and the murder suspicion passes from one character to another like a game of hot potato. The last few episodes are packed with plot twists. Even though the drama slightly overuses this trope, the surprises felt completely earned and appropriate.
My review might sound a bit dry, but the drama actually triggered a storm of emotions in me. It definitely earns its "domestic violence" tag. The abuse happens right on screen, and the victims don't just heroically grimace when beaten — they scream and lose consciousness. The execution is dark, atmospheric, and raw. The actors deserve massive credit for this; their maniacal glints and crazed smiles gave me literal goosebumps. I was especially impressed by Feng Zi Yi, who only has three dramas on his MDL profile. Here, he absolutely shined as the eldest son, Yun Yang — arrogant and brutal to everyone except his younger brother.
Feng Yi Yang, who played the younger son Yun Ming, did a brilliant job portraying devotion bordering on obsession and madness, leaving a very complex impression. He has several highly emotional monologues. At first, the acting might seem overly exaggerated, but you quickly realize that this is the very essence of his character and the drama as a whole: excessiveness and sheer theatrical drama.
The head of the estate, Yun Su (played by Ross Chen), is a completely unhinged character. In his pursuit of immortality, he resorts to disgusting and filthy methods, including murder (though not the one the main leads are investigating). He is essentially the root cause of all the chaos in his domain. The fish rots from the head — and that is exactly the case with Taohua.
The female characters are equally impressive. On the poster next to the leads stands the eldest sister, Yun Qing Xian (Han Le Yao) — composed, proper, and good. She is so good that it actually makes her suspicious, because it feels impossible to live in such a viper's nest and remain righteous.
The daughter-in-law, Hong Xiu (Bu Zi Ying), is the character that evokes the most pity. The patriarch conducts experiments on her, the younger brother sleeps with her, and her husband beats her and tattoos her in an excruciatingly painful way.
The servants are complete wild cards. You never know whose side they are on—the patriarch’s, the eldest son’s, or their own, driven by personal grudges and tragic backstories.
The supporting cast turned out to be so colorful and memorable that the main leads almost got lost in the background, simply because they are the only sane people in this madhouse. But as the saying goes, "almost doesn't count." Watching the leads was pure joy. Their chemistry is excellent, and they make every shared scene enjoyable to watch. Wanyan Luo Rong, as the performatively carefree Yan Shi Yi, and Liu Hao Qun, as the serious, responsible Han Dao, looked great together—a classic bromance pairing. They have touching moments, teamwork scenes, a fight, and even a bit of fanservice.
Aside from the gripping story and stellar acting, the drama features an excellent soundtrack. It’s subtle where needed and appropriately grand during dramatic scenes, perfectly setting the right mood.
I also want to note the beautiful cinematography and editing, especially during the fights. There aren't many action scenes, but for a mini-drama, they are remarkably well-choreographed.
The only thing I wanted more of was the bromance. The chemistry between the leads was fantastic, but they were given too little screen time.
The only thing that caught me off guard was the final episode. It feels very unusual and a bit rushed; in a full-length drama these events would have been pushed into a special episode. Here, the investigation smoothly transitions into a confrontation and relationship resolution between the main leads, and the story doesn't just stop once the killer is found. Most importantly — there is absolutely no angst or tragic ending here, which made me incredibly happy.
Overall, I loved this drama. It's a solid, locked-room mystery free of grand cosmic conspiracies and tedious palace politics. It features highly vivid characters and excellent chemistry between them, wrapped up in a satisfying, albeit unexpected, ending. I don't regret a single minute spent on this show.
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A Solid Series That Has One Flaw
This series was super solid with a well-developed plot. The acting by the leads and support cast was great and really delivered. I enjoyed its playful take on the transmigration genre—especially when they just invented guns, which I just kept laughing about to the end like "Ha, you brought a knife to a gun fight?!"There is only 1 flaw for me. Which is: Is Zhang San okay? After learning that this guy was trapped in the novel for over 10 years, on hell mode, since he was a CHILD, basically tortured and alone for so long, I NEEDED more than the ending we got. I needed to know, unambiguously, that he returned to his time and got to live out his childhood and grow up normally or SOMETHING. The happy marriage sequence with the novel characters is romantic and all but those facts had me stressed AF about him in the real world. Like, would he return to his time? Or would he, like, wake up from a coma? Would it feel like a dream? Would he need therapy for like 800 years? Because I feel like I would!!! I mean, talk about childhood trauma. I needed to know that he would be okay. I'm being somewhat facetious here, but my fragile emotions could have used the last 1 or 2 episodes wrapping up the real world side a bit more because I needed to know more than just their characters meeting outside the novel.
But yeah, anyway, great series!!!! I swear I'm totally carefree on the inside!!!! 🫣
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- Hwang Jin-man
I love this side of Korean movies or drama's where they deconstructs and explores the complexity of human psychology. This drama is a one kind .Not everyone gonna watch it or they will love it. But if you just give it a watch it will make you realize so many things. Not in same situation but you could understand each character (Eun-ah, Dong-man and even Park Gyeong Se)
All the casts did a great job as they are all great artists. Hope to see them again in this type of genre.
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This show is a perfect example of what a good cast, director, script, and staff can do. An undercover cop saves a girl with a gambling dad. She eventually becomes a journalist and finds him again. The story sounds simple enough but with absolutely phenomenal chemistry, acting, and directing it turned it into a masterpiece. I'm not negating the script. It was a good script but I've seen plenty of good scripts butchered by terrible acting or good actors that have been in so many roles together it's boring to watching them.Do I think the dad got off easy? Yes.
Did I really want to see a wedding? Yes.
Would I watch another season of this? Hell yes.
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Overcooked and Charred
With the star-crossed lover theme, there’s absolutely nil possibility to go wrong...... as long as the feelings are conveyed correctly, a seven-plus rating is an easy target. What comes later is for the casted team, the styling, the music, and the fillr plots to achieve.In my opinion, the story started off good. The first half of part one was dedicated to a soft romance blooming between a god and his attendant, which later turned into a trope of one-sided sacrifices on the attendant’s part. Then, in contrast, the second half comes with a little fluff; characters are less rigid now that they’re in the mortal world, not bound by heavenly rules. The ML, who was one of the most stubborn and pessimisstic MLs to ever exist on screen, starts behaving human , ... he addresses his feelings and sets his priorities right. The FL, who sacrificed everything to the point of mental and physical assault on herself, is now following her dreams . Sure, it was short-lived, but it was the only segment I actually liked in this entire series. Look, I’m fine with the saving-the-world thing, but I’m not a fan of her noble sacrifice , especially when it ended up hitting her in the face.
Yang Zi was amazing as ever; in fact, I liked her better in this drama becaause she mostly plays serious roles, and this one felt a little different, a little refreshing. Cheng Yi was a surprize package since I’d never watched any of his dramas before. I liked his acting and his appearance ... yeah, this man deserves the praise he gets.💕💕💕
Styling was good. Special effects were on point, fitting the era it was shot in (not judging it by 2026 standards).
But the dragggggggggg (so many gs,)which continues in part two as well .. killed the joy for me. The story could have been manuevered better, but the writer kept it entangled in unnecessary melodrama and mis understandings. I firmly believe that this type of nonsense shows a creator’s limited imagination. So… yeah, I’m not impressed.
Still, I won’t make any harsh statements, because this show has its own fanbase. So yes, there are people who liked it as their favorite drama, but it just couldn’t appeal to me the same way.
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