Reviews

Gruff + brawn = sunset cuteness overload

I have watched too many korean dramas. So much so I recognize the usual tropes and know their outcome. The problem is, I have been applying the same logic to japanese dramas. And have been repeatedly surprised. But still, I keep expecting the korean style outcome when exes or professional rivals are concerned, which luckily, never come. Japanese romcoms are the only dramas/films where the expected evil/mean antagonist never appears!

This one has been the same. It is a story of a burly mangaka who has no life outside drawing mangas. He is stuck, manga storywise and decides to employ a down-on-her luck women to act out different romance situations. At the same time, he is given custody of his nephew. The three of them first clash and then slowly become a family without realizing it.

Frankly, I almost dropped this a few times: the first being 30min into the first episode when her cringy behaviour was too much to bear for me. I soldiered on when the repetition of romance situation under his control in real life become too immoral for my taste. I kept telling myself: this is a drama, it needs ambiguous and difficult situations in order for the plot to move forward. Fortunately, these two issues disappeared after a few episodes and we are left with usual romcom tropes: the ex who comes back, the mother thinking of taking her son away, a rival mangaka, a stalkerish victim of first fake romance situations. Every time one of these characters showed up, I was filled with feelings of foreboding, expecting a difficult and sad outcome. And every time I was surprised when that did not happen.

There is not one single mean character is japanese romcoms. I love it but I don't think I can ever get used to it.

The cast was perfect: the ML is hottest j actor around, his sexy gruffness is so irresistible. Since it was based on a manga, I was pleasantly surprised that the manga mannerisms and exaggerated grimaces were toned down to a bearable level. The kids were the cutest.

This is a highly bingeable drama, I had a lot of fun watching it. I only wished I remembered that japanese romcoms are the sweetest dramas ever and that nobody is really evil in them: that would have saved me from some unnecessary stress! Just watch it if you need a pick me up!!!!

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ONE OF THE BEST DRAMA!!

at first i was kinda underestimate this drama, especially the ML (sorry Dongyoon 😭). but it was like the universe wanted me to watch this drama, i finally gave in and try to watch it.

again, Nana is unbelievable. the gurl is beautiful, its crazy. and after i finally realize that Dongyoon is a looker too!!!!!

for the first few episodes, it was all fun and laughs, i love it. and then the plot thickens. it was like watching this thriller murder mysterious movie.

tbh, i like the later episodes better because, again, i’m not really into this afterlife and reincarnated things. but overall, it was worth to watch!

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yqThe ending is not good

I should have just stayed away shouldn't have watched it it's lacking a bit in terms of plot. The ending was sooooooo stupid like beom jin didn't even get punished for any of his crimes and the other veritas just got let off the hook despite all the shit they've done to su ah and the others kids that were poor. All in all this was good until the ending that just bring down my rating a bit. The male actor's acting isn't that good in my opinion. The drama didn't even show what happened with yu yang ki when the officers left the bus (which basically shows that they weren't doing there job) and the other prisoners were gathering around him. Poor su ah and tae ra they didn't even get any justice for their deaths.

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"Different Princess" – A Captivating Time-Travel Romance with a Modern Twist

"Different Princess" is a delightful CDrama that captivates its audience with a unique blend of romance, humor, and drama. The story revolves around a modern-day protagonist who finds herself transported to a historical setting, adding an interesting twist to the typical romantic storyline.

One of the standout features of the drama is its engaging plot, which successfully balances the challenges of adapting to a different era with the complexities of relationships. The narrative is both heartwarming and humorous, keeping viewers hooked from episode to episode.

The character development in "Different Princess" is commendable. The cast delivers impressive performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, adding an extra layer of charm to the overall viewing experience.

The production values of the drama are noteworthy, with lush cinematography, beautiful costumes, and well-designed sets that transport the audience to the historical period. The attention to detail in recreating the setting adds to the immersive quality of the show.

While the pacing is generally well-executed, there are moments when certain plotlines could have been explored further. Additionally, some viewers may find certain twists predictable. However, the strong character dynamics and engaging storytelling compensate for these minor shortcomings.

In conclusion, "Different Princess" is a highly enjoyable CDrama with a fresh take on the time-travel romance genre. With its endearing characters, well-crafted plot, and impressive production values, it earns a solid 8/10 rating. Fans of romance, historical dramas, and lighthearted humor will find "Different Princess" to be a delightful addition to their watchlist.

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Love is love ?

South Korea began transitioning to a democratic regime only in the 1980s, and my hypothesis is that the process itself took many years and likely still continues. In the 2000s, they really started to flourish and seemingly express a kind of Western defiance, which, in my opinion, infiltrated at least the film industry in a recognizable way. This movie, in my view, displays those markers, as if you're traveling back in time to the Hollywood of the 1980s in the United States.

The desire to convey a defiant idea that "love is love," unrelated to age or sexual identity, was successfully emotional and managed to deliver the message in its unsophisticated way. It was also very direct, typical of those years when there was a certain innocence and naivety, and everything was spoon-fed.
That is, the character whose soul was transmigrated spoke the same sentences and heard the same music at a level of 100 percent, not just hints here and there. Moreover, there was a lot of caution not to show any intimacy between the two characters(Second round), due to the period it was filmed.

In my opinion, it still holds up even though 23 years have passed, but on the other hand, it's very easy to judge this movie now because we are in a different era where things could have been a bit more blunt.
That is, if they had shown us a romantic scene between the two characters in the second reincarnation, it could have been bold for an even earlier time while still maintaining the same flame to this day.

Many of the things said by the male protagonist's classmates could not pass today's censorship filter, what is known as political correctness. After all, it's permissible to say these things only in class, but heaven forbid depicting them in a fantasy movie scene. Blunt remarks that men would make about women, which are still made today albeit censored, manage to induce a sort of internal cringe because this censorship has become part of our consciousness.
The same goes for other aspects in the movie, such as age differences. In the 2000s, this wasn't relevant and wasn't censored in South Korea. From the modern viewer's perspective, people who watch this and criticize the movie may not be aware that the era was different, and such things were accepted as part of the culture.

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the orchestra does the greatest job

WITHOUT SPOILERS

first of all, the story moves quite slowly, but it keeps you in suspense and gives you time to understand the entire plot. I can't imagine the story moving faster, because then I would probably have problems analyzing it. There were really many different threads. I was very moved, and I even understand some of the issues from my own experiences. The topic of stalking, serious illness, family conflicts and others. Everything can be found here.

Music is something that has caused me the greatest emotions from the very beginning. A real orchestra and a repeating melody that will forever remind me of IFWT - amazing! The acting is also very good, the actors' emotions were also connected with mine.

There is no thread lost in this series - everything is explained from beginning to end ( including the judgments, which are described in detail). Highly recommend!

SPOILERS ALERT

I'm very disappointed with Vegas' behavior. If it weren't for the fact that he was hiding the disc with the murder evidence, everything might have turned out differently. Despite everything, his emotions were understandable. I really liked that the relationship between him and Meimei improved a lot.

I'm happy that Chi's mother recovered and Chi has a good relationship with her grandmother and Pete! So beautiful. The ending with Yi and the entire Phatson family was also wonderful, but I regret that there was no conversation between Meimei and Toey - their story was interesting and unexpected from the very beginning. Btw Toey is a very good figure for psychoanalysis!

Thank you for reading my first review :)

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A robot in a love relationship? Is it even possible?

First and foremost, there are two kinds of a basic robot, one has the capacity to learn and grow (AI / Artifical Intelligent); the other operates on a pre-set and non-learning program. The former is the robot here.

Another first plot for a Taiwanese BL, they are really breaking grounds.

We have to understand that the basic of a robot-AI is that it is like a child starting to learn on top of the what was initially designed/uploaded into the system. Yes, there will be awkward acting because of this; but it is cuuuuuuute! Early on you can see who got into who first, but the question remains, can it be reciprocated, returned? Robots' based on the action and reaction on their programming and it learns from the action and reaction of the people it interacts with. It also learns from the situations and it experience it.

To a degree, this is a late coming of age story. LOL

As for the story itself, when a man who is used to be alone and doing stuffs by himself suddenly had a companion, an AI. For someone who is not used being taken care of, it is very easy for him to think of the AI more than its purpose. Be that as it may, the question now is, can the AI learn to feel anything? Is it even part of its programming? That is the allure of this series, the questions.

Visuals of the actors cannot be denied; couple with the aesthetic interior and architecture make things way easier to the eyes.

As this plot is something new, expect that this will not be perfect and will be opportunities to improve. But like I said earlier, this is another first for Taiwnese BL.

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Nice inter-time love story, heavily influenced by Goethe and Genki Kawamura

I recently started watching this series, and was immediately captivated. The storyline pretty straightforward: Sunshine makes a pact with a supernatural being, who grants him 7 wishes in order to bring his boyfriend back (very much like Dr. Faustus did with the devil in the classic novel by Goethe, however to a different end), and for this has a price to pay. The price for every wish is to make someone disappear from the world (an idea very similar to the exceptional novel "If Cats Disappeared From The World" by the Japanese author Genki Kawamura, which cost me two sleepless nights). Each wish predictably leads to unanticipated results, which gradually teach Sunshine a lesson about life and complexity. The story is based on the book by Patrick Rangsimant, but (at least the few pages that I read) there are differences, especially with respect to the overall atmosphere. In fact I like the adaptation more. I cannot tell about the actual plot and its ending, since the series is ongoing.

The acting is quite good, and the two main lead characters have great chemistry (according to some research I did, which I am not sure is correct, this reflects their relationship in real life). Despite the reason for it, they definitely are very convincing.

Technically the series is good, the sound background very nice, cut and angles are very good.

Having said that, I do have some criticism as well. I am not a huge fan of overall dramatized stories (you know the one that make you cry all the time). I like emotions to come in finite portions, while here (especially in the last episodes), the drama simply grows and grows. It is not a perpetual whining yet, but I feel that the series would gain more with a touch of down-to-earth objectivity. But this is a matter of personal taste perhaps. The second (rather technical?) thing that bothers me are the countless flash-backs, which not always serve a purpose. I would go for shorter episodes, since rewatching so many scenes again and again in most cases brings no new information.

As a whole, I am really enjoying this series, which gratefully is not another high-school puppy-love BL drama, but explores more aspects of the human nature, and clearly comes from the pen of an author with certain life experience and maturity. We certainly need of those.

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Mostly Fun

I love these variety shows where you get to know the celebrities and their real personalities, not just what their agencies want you to see.

All of these celebrities were very nice people deep down. They played the game but didn’t hold any grudges. Laughed through the pain!

SeungGi - variety show master
HeeChul - hilarious
BoAh - beautiful yet calculating
NaRae - smart but annoying
JiWon - Mr Cool
Kai - cute and sweet

Most of the games were fun. The real estate purchases stretched into two episodes and got really boring. Fast forwarded through this.

The island was just beautiful and it must have been a great place to spend a week.

The ending was really weird how they left separately and the whole ATM thing. Also left NaRae on the island and a strange person watching through the cameras. Maybe NaRae stays for another season? Hope not.

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If it's the last show I see...

I'd be alright. I've rewatched most of the series at least twice already. I will continue to recommend this show until the day I die.

Pros:
The acting and directing are amazing. Jimmy and Sea and P'Aof did so well and really brought life to these characters - even the side characters that we barely see. Like good job to Mark and Namtan, Film and Ohm, Kun and Emi - just everyone.
The music is full of bangers. I've put those things on repeat and watched the music videos extensively.

The whole team did a great job of really getting at your emotions, whether with the lighting, the camera angles, the music, the facial expressions, hell - the clothes. It became a game of "what shirt or hidden words in the background will we see this week?!"
The show was so well put together. They really had an amazing team for this project.
I felt every emotion for 11 episodes and... most emotions in episode 12.

This show didn't fall into the dreaded weak episode 11, but episode 12 did have some weak points. I'd say episode 12 was the weakest episode of the series, and I think it's because they really needed a whole 3-10 more episodes to really get into more story.


Downsides - some spoilers:
The show never really addresses Mhok's PTSD or trauma responses. The one time Mhok finally tries to bring it up, he's dismissed as feeling pity for Day and kicked out. When he comes back, he thanks Day for breaking his heart and apologizes for pitying him - which is something he never fucking did. I really wish the show had given more time to developing Mhok's healing process instead of saying it all happened off screen during a time jump.

Day's mom is a bitch, but we're meant to forget this because she also apparently had character development during the time skip.

Not enough time with our side couple, honestly. I could use half a show about Night, please. Mark was amazing and he barely had any screen time.

MAJOR SPOILER: Other people's downside: Day's eye surgery. As someone with legal blindness, seeing someone who is super rich manage to get an eye surgery did not bother me. Not in the slightest. I didn't think it detracted from the message of the show or from Day's character development. I was very happy for him. I think he's using his experience to be a better person. I liked it.

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Welcome to Samdal-ri 2023: A Heartwarming Escape to Jeju Island

Ah, "Welcome to Samdal-ri" 2023. The title itself evokes a warmth that lingers like the salty Jeju Island air, promising tranquility and whispered secrets. It wasn't just a drama; it was a portal to a simpler life, a refuge where I found myself returning week after week.

The characters became etched in my memory. The fiery photographer, Eun-ju, grappling with a hidden past, had me rooting for her journey of self-discovery. She's paired with the enigmatic Haebang, a talented weather forecaster who's not quite what he seems. Their chemistry? It simmered like the island's volcanic hot springs, building in intensity until it erupted in undeniable connection.

But "Welcome to Samdal-ri" wasn't just a love story. It was a vibrant tapestry woven with the lives of the quirky villagers, each with their own stories and genuine warmth. They welcomed Eun-ju like a long-lost family member, their laughter echoing in my living room, their struggles tugging at my heartstrings.

And the setting, oh the setting! Jeju Island was the star of the show. Lush green hills cascaded down to turquoise waters, painted with the vibrant colours of tangerine farms. It wasn't just a backdrop; it was a living, breathing character, whispering tales of resilience and the healing power of nature.

The narrative wasn't flawless. There were detours, moments of confusion, and even occasional frustration. Yet, like Eun-ju's arduous climb towards self-acceptance, the show found its rhythm, its heart. The finale? Let's just say I wept like a cleansing spring shower, leaving me hopeful and renewed.

"Welcome to Samdal-ri" 2023 wasn't perfect, but it resonated perfectly with me. It was a warm embrace on a cold day, a reminder that beauty and kindness can bloom even in the most unexpected corners. So, if you seek a show that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of second chances, set sail for Samdal-ri. Just pack your tissues, maybe a tangerine or two, and prepare to be swept away by the Jeju magic.

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Curiosity is the biggest bait

[this is more of an after thought than a full review]

This drama has Guo Jing Ming (director/screenwriter) written all over it making it a double edged sword from start to finish.
As someone who only found out about the existence of c-drama during the Pandemic, his work had a sense of exciting familiarity from the get go. The way he uses visual story telling and symbolism reminded me of some of my favorite movies/shows growing up. I have yet to find another Chinese Director or writer who is able to evoke that feeling in me.
Visually this drama really is impressive. I have a massive soft spot for dark, goth-vibe movies and shows. Combine that with the bad-ass BGM when the characters were introduced and the carefully crafted visual storytelling ... ah I love it!

The more dramas I watch, the more drama-fatigue I get and it's hard to watch anything from start to finish because everything becomes so predictable. But for the first time in a long time I watched episode after episode being excited about what happens next. I could not have guessed it and that made it a really good watch for me.

Instead of thinking of it as FL, ML, SFL, SML, TML,... It was quite clear (to me) that this drama has multiple mains and every story is equally as important. Although it begins quite ambiguous, it becomes more and more evident that among all the leading characters there's no one who is really a villain. Everyone's ambitions are justifiable and not born out of greed. This solidified my initial impression that this is a story of many, not of just two.
But unfortunately the story of first CP dragged along after having a very good start. Any sense of chemistry that was there eventually fell into a slumber as their story became more and more lukewarm. The intense stares and slow mo walking past-each-other scenes early on quickly ceased to exist and in my opinion this is what gave the second CP the chance to shine even brighter because they kept the intensity up. ZY was introduced as the spoiled son that spends a lot of time hanging out at the dance house (brothel?), likes to drink and pretends to be weaker than he actually is. He often rebelled against his father and did not hesitate to yell that he will leave. Everything about his introduction had me believed he would at some point reveal his true character and show every one his wits especially after the tattoo scene, however he and YS were gradually reduced to being the safe option in order for the more complex characters to go about their story. After all you cannot have your bread buttered on both sides.
GSJ and GZY had such epic introductions, with epic instrumental that is not commonly used by c-dramas and their styling was also much better than that of the ML, who sometimes looked like his make up was wet paint.
The brothers reminded me of a duo of wolves, so calculated but also deeply complex and their dynamic was amazing. In comparison ZY fell short on so many levels and became the SW although GSJ was much more qualified and long term would have been more respected and feared by outsiders. Thinking about ZY ten years down the line... I cannot help but to suspect that the reputation of Gong will become less and less feared. Selfishly though I must admit this provides GSJ with a tiny chance of freedom, that he unlikely is to take willingly but if the circumstances are right I believe he could have his own drama about how he leaves the Gong family, despite having an undying sense of loyalty towards them. I have no doubts was the situation flipped YZ would not hesitate and leave to be with YSS... but doesn't it sound more interesting if it was the so-sure-about-his-place character that ended up leaving the mountain? - Wishful thinking I know.


Not being able to have multiple deeper, darker main characters is something I have noticed in every c-drama that attempted this so far - guess this is where Censorship comes into play. At this point I don't think I'll ever get see a 10/10 drama from China because only the most dark and twisted (love) stories can get such a rating from me.

GSJ, GZY and SSQ were the most interesting part of this drama. She was thrown into a lion's den and of the two assassins, her mission was much trickier and therefore so much more exciting. We only got glimpses but I believe these three could have their own drama, making it a push-and-pull game of wits and raw feelings. I would not want it to be ruined by idol romance but rather make it a dark romance. I'm kinda fed up with healthy or realistic relationships in dramas, it's fictional so give me all the borderline toxicity. I wasn't walking around in a "Mrs. Salvatore" hoodie for years because I liked Matt, lol. (vampire diaries).
The story of these 3 had an even flow and from all the characters I found theirs could be the perfect background story for a season 2. Yet I did wish we had gotten more scenes of them taking a (dangerous) liking to each other.
But I really didn't like how they schemed against her near the end. It wasn't until then, that SSQ was singled out as the only antagonist of the four/five. YZ did not tell her about the fortnight flies and she also ratted her out to the others, which totally took away the element of surprise and potential for a great reveal scene. I was actually looking forward to that a lot and I'd almost say while watching it was one of my biggest disappointments.
My favorite scenes were early on when GSJ was riding a horse in the dark and the camera films from above and then through an open gate as he rides past.. and a little earlier GZY being on the roof to stop ZY - just EPIC. You already get the clear feeling that these two are very different from your usual drama characters and they delivered 100%.


--BIG SPOILER--

I read up on the final scene and it's interesting how on Chinese internet the interpretation is that SSQ's life ended since he saw her standing on water. Previously only for-sure dead characters were 'seen' by the leads, so the fact that he imagined seeing her could hint at that she is no longer alive. On the contrary on mdl, reddit, etc everyone is certain she is alive since she was seen in a garden tending to the flowers.

-- CONCLUSION--

In the beginning it all felt like one epic production and I could envision it continuing in so many ways. Even now I still think if they were ever to make this a multi-season show, they could really pull the wheel around and make it amazing. Somehow I can't shake the feeling that it felt like the backstory of something greater. Knowing how this is most likely a stand alone drama, I do feel let down but in my mind there is no doubt that the story continues and the best is yet to come. (small hope is that the screenwriter/director has multiple works that have more than one part)
As I said, it truly feels a prologue. In a perfect world (or literally just a country without TV censorship) this could turn into a complex game of survival and love that could de-throne any drama I ever watched. As small as the world of Wufeng & Gong was, it was just the perfect amount to get immersed into the story without feeling like you need to care about the rest of the world. I really loved that aspect.

One of SSQ's lines early on was "curiosity is the biggest bait" and they really took that and went with it for the entire drama. I was really curious after the very intriguing start and was baited into watching till the end. I don't regret as it stands out a lot to me and is not comparable to other dramas in my opinion but I also kept waiting and waiting for big things to happen and from to time things did happen but the entire 3 trials thing was such a big plot of the drama which I really didn't like it at all. I only fast forwarded twice during this drama, both times were during the second trial. I really wanted the leads to have a more intense story. Also I feel like for some of the symbolism I know too little about chinese language, culture/history to really get it. I felt like there was a lot of hidden meaning behind things shown and spoken.
In all of the drama, there is only one thing visually that bothered me. The transitions... some of them were just like the ones you use for a fancy power point.
Also there are so many single tear drops running down the characters face… I was about to make a drinking game out of it, lol

Full circle moment back to the beginning of this after thought that turned into an endless thought: Guo Jing Ming's work is always like that. I watched his movie "The End of Endless Love" a few days ago and had the exact same feeling afterwards. Some real glimpses of gold, that just hit so right and feel totally unique but he's never able to make a full stream of light from the few glimpses. Makes me wonder, does he just have really great ideas but doesn't have what it takes to turn them into reality... he needs to pair up with a superb screenwriter and maybe then it will turn into a masterpiece.

Another drama watched that was on my "not interested" list and ended up leaving a big impression. Maybe I should listen more to what people are hyping up?

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Maybe you should try it out?

For some reason, I love some parts of it (you may check the trailer as well), and has a potential but because of the drama was short length, I already know possible happen since lately I found dramas similar like this and expected the ending whether it was good or not. Additionally, the music is good and gives the story more meaning. For me, it was okayish short length drama (compared to other short dramas I've watch) and you may want to try as well if you want but don't make your expectation too high like other dramas that have longer duration since they are not the SAME!!!

Enjoy and Good Luck!!!

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