Now, Hyun Bin's acting, as I've discovered is very good. He plays double roles very well, making it believable he is different characters. He did basically the same in Secret Garden. (I really wish he'd choose some better roles so I can see him in something worthy of his skills.) This was the first real role I've seen Han Ji Min in (other than her Jealousy Incarnate cameo), and she did an okay job. There was something I liked about her.. Sung Joon can be hit or miss for me, but I actually liked him in this even though the character could have been scripted better. Hye Ri was cute, but fairly unnecessary in this show.
My main gripe with this story was the amount of time that Hyun Bin spent as Robin compared to his time as Seo Jin. Yes, Robin was heroic and happy and nice, while Seo Jin was...well his polar opposite. Yes, they are both different sides of the same person, even if Hyun Bin did an amazing job at making you feel like they were two separate men, not sharing one body. I would have liked to have had more time with Seo Jin and Ha Na interacting and getting to the bottom of his illness. I felt really sorry for Seo Jin and how he was treated compared to Robin. I did like the way that Ha Na's interaction with them "both" helped Seo Jin through his past and work through Robin to heal him. I just wish I had gotten to see more of his change through HIS eyes, and also that they had resolved the problem of Robin earlier in order that Ha Na and Seo Jin AS Seo Jin could have had more screen time together getting closer. And maybe that's the crux of what didn't work for a lot of people. Even though Seo Jin and Robin were the same man, it would have been nice to have seen more of the REAL man, Seo Jin as opposed to his alter, Robin - who was just a "symptom" of his DID.
The music was fairly good, enjoyable and appropriate.
I don't see me watching this again, but it really wasn't as horrible as so many reviewers make it out to be. There just wasn't enough of what I wanted to see...it was crammed in at the very last few minutes so I felt a bit cheated somehow (even though they were the same person).
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Not even exaggerating, by the way.
1) The reason I watched this :
if you’ve poked on my dramalist, you would probably know that I watch Korean dramas almost exclusively. It’s partly habit, partly soft spot, and partly the excellent production values that kdramas tend to serve up. Coz I do like pretty things, as you very likely know.????
Still, I like to keep an open mind, and when something that’s not within my usual wheelhouse gets a lot of buzz, the curious cat in me can’t help but want to see for myself what the fuss is about.
That’s what happened here.
2) background and cinematography :
A LAND OF FAIRYTAIL, its a world in itself , a unique story plot fantasy world , full of twists and LOVE , the scenes itself , are original .. The production values of this show are so high that it often feels more gloriously cinematic than modestly small screen.
Everything is carefully, lovingly, beautifully shot, and it is a literal feast for the senses. From the amazing landscapes, to the loving camera angles and every meticulously-framed shot, to every deliberate, painstaking detail in set, costume and background music, everything is precisely, just-so perfect.
*The cinematography is great , which is one of the strong points of this drama
3) Acting
Our principal cast does a tremendous job of bringing their characters to life, and even the baddies are excellently and believably portrayed. Layered and nuanced from the big moments to the quiet, subtle ones, every major character is delivered with an admirable level of mastery and commitment.
10/10.
4) The writing
Its all about the writing ... this show wouldn't have been a success without the great mind of the writer,As excellent as the production values and acting are, the writing is truly the star of this entire show. Mad, mad props to Hai Yan, who not only wrote the original novel, but also penned the script for this show.
ONE WORD " General brilliance "
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
Its like I lived in the world of FANTASY and dreams for a short period of time :)
*Is the drama memorable: YES
My impression: 9/10.
6) Overall: 9/10
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Basically, it doesn’t matter if you don’t usually watch dramas from China, or if you don’t usually watch period dramas, or if you don’t usually watch long dramas. This drama is, objectively speaking, so splendid and magnificent that if you don’t check it out, you’d be missing out. Big Time.
Not even exaggerating, by the way.
1. The polish : Everything is carefully, lovingly, beautifully shot, costume and background music, everything is precisely, just-so perfect
2. The acting :The cast is a sprawling one, as befits the scale of the story, and from the principal characters to the secondary characters, to even the small, incidental characters, every single one is well-acted with his/her unique character, character development and plot twists adds a lot to the story and each character
3. The Romance : THE BEST, Great chemistry between the two main leads, with UH-Mazing cute scenes.
4. sisterhood and motherhood : this close palpable relations between main leads and secondary characters are so breath taking.
5. The villains : with their acting forced to hate them more and more with every passing episode.. they did great job
What a breathless, breathtaking journey. Equal parts brilliant and satisfying, and executed with such meticulous, fine care, The Princess Wei Young is definitely a drama for the record books.
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Story:
I tend to be a little wary with Chinese historical dramas, because too often you get bogged down by all the palace politics and it might be intriguing for some people, but not for me. Nirvana In Fire didn't let itself get fixated on what was going on in the palace - Mei Changsu was the heart of this story, and it's so refreshing to have a drama with such an (actually) intelligent character. I'm hesitant to label this as a revenge story - I actually see it more as one of redemption. Mei Changsu was a beautifully complex character, who was once a noble and upright young man and has been hardened and jaded. That doesn't mean he's lost his moral compass, but he is no longer as innocent, and it's reflected well in how he manipulates the people around him. I loved how deftly Mei Changsu handled every situation - not that Plan A always worked out - but while he always tried to maintain several steps ahead of his opponents, he was also well aware that wasn't always possible. Prince Jing's character was essential to the story, and while I did find his sense of right and wrong tiring at times, it was awesome to see his friendship with Mei Changsu develop. Despite being fifty episodes, there wasn't a dull moment, and the writing was intelligent and well thought out, without being confusing and overwhelming. The direction was beautiful and everything was well shot - it had a very cinematic feel to it.
Also - I actually really liked the fact that the story is not based on real history. It means that the writer has a little more leeway with her characters. I especially love the existence of strong female characters here - one is a detective and one is a general, and they are both so awesome.
Characters/Acting/Cast:
The fanwars aside, this cast was absolutely amazing. I love ensemble casts because the story doesn't depend on one star - instead, they can play off each other and bring the best out of one another. With that said, props to Hu Ge - as someone who has seen a lot of his works over the years (from his very first show to his most recent one), I am astounded by how much he's grown as an actor. This was an amazing role for him, and he embodied the complexities of Mei Changsu perfectly. As I mentioned earlier, I found myself so frustrated with Prince Jing at times, but Wang Kai was absolutely great in the role - even though he played a stiff character, he was also able to convey a lot of the fears and hangups of Prince Jing.
And of course, hats off to the rest of the phenomenal cast - especially Victor Huang as Prince Yu, Liu Min Tao as Consort Jing (though when is she not awesome?), and Wang Jin Song as Marquise Yan. The latter especially actually played a small role in comparison, but he had such a great presence. One thing that the Shanying team has been great in is pairing up their youngest stars with a great veteran cast, and Nirvana In Fire was no exception.
Music: The music that they chose for this show was beautiful, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. I love the fact that Liu Tao, Hu Ge, and Wang Kai all got to sing their own versions of some of the songs - it added a bit of dimension to the music and made some scenes even more poignant.
If you've been burned by Chinese dramas in the past, don't skip out on this one - this is probably as perfect of a drama as you are going to get.
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Speaking of which - how much do I love that Signal used real cold cases and presented them to the viewer in a new light? So many cases go unsolved and you tend to forget the victims and their stories - despite the fact that it was heartbreaking at times seeing some of the cases unfold, it was a great reminder that we will never forget. The social commentary made in several of the cases was bold and refreshing - and I liked that even though it's not like the writers could solve the real cold cases, they could at least give the victims their turn at justice in a fictional world.
Story:
The writing in this was absolutely brilliant - it's so hard for police procedural dramas (especially one with a bit of a supernatural twist) to pull it off without significant flaws in logic, but I think Signal handled it very well. Not to say it was perfect - but all the cases were both compelling and still relevant to the main story. The director also played a huge role in telling the story - he emphasized the story telling side versus the crime solving, and because it added a very real, human element, it was beautiful to watch. Despite the lack of romance, the platonic relationships within the show were developed so well. Though the overall tone is heavy, there are still some great, warm moments that help to fuel you through the more depressing ones.
Characters/Acting/Cast:
Three cheers for the cast, who were absolutely phenomenal. The main three actors were given great characters as well, which is always the first step to success, but the performances were top notch. Yes, Lee Je Hoon did tend to overact in the beginning (and a little towards the end), but I still think he was fully able to show the conflicts within Park Hae Young. Jo Jin Woong was the star, and his bumbling but determined Jae Han was such a wonderful hero to have in a show where you weren't sure if justice could prevail. Kim Hye Soo deserves all the love in the world for essentially playing two characters, but still showing that they were the same person, just changed by time and circumstance.
Music.
There was never a moment where the music overwhelmed the scene - it was always a perfect match. And yes, a lot of the soundtrack was a little haunting, but it fit.
Signal is probably the most well done Asian police procedural show that I have seen, and I absolutely love that it has elevated the expectation of quality in this genre. I will say, though, that I rated it lower on rewatch value if only because I don't know if I can live through all the emotions again. If you haven't seen it yet, you need to!
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It will make you wan't more.
The scene photography, the visuals and the directing is splendid.
The warm of family and love is the key that this movie was a pure perfection.
The cast ease their own role that they played and im telling you
you won't be dissapointed.
.
The heart breaks and the bright smiles is breathtaking.
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The series is a work of art. The scene photography,the visuals.
The two main role made a history and as the series it's self.
It's so saddened that the series got banned at china but that didn'nt mean to stop you to watch the first season.
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This movie has been a a rollercoster ride the ups and downs of the cast will make you say "this is a mess but i love it "! ..
The leading man did justice for hes role a big applause.
The movie its all worth watching it.
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However, something I look forward to the most when watching Asian dramas is character growth and development. For Furukawa Michiru, I received practically none. This young lady who was so used to her father making decisions for her, that she looked for the slightest chance of freedom and took it. However, when taking the chance, her sheltered world, and the worlds' of those around her, began to all spiral downward like an unraveling piece of thread. If your looking forward to Michiru taking control of her life, gaining independence somehow, as well as a new outlook, then look no further. It doesn't quite happen. The ending felt very rushed with only slight resolution given.
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One woman who goes back to school to help fight the bullying and corruption that goes on behind closed doors.
A story of family and love, and that's all that matters.
I really recommend this drama, it's story telling is great for all viewers. It has sadness and a whole lot of laughter too.
Character development is key in this drama. Very well done.
Ji Soo was awesome!!
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The female lead could be seen as a pushover at times, but I could see myself in her shoes. She's a introvert and she has a hard time expressing her feelings and people tend to use that to their benefit.
I do have to admit the drama had me hooked for the first half before it started to get boring. I'm not sure if it's because it started to steer towards another ending, or I felt like the events in the drama seemed to bore me. Some people did end up feeling unsatisfied with the drama because of the ending though. The ending does not have a solid conclusion and the audience is left to make up their own ending but I was fine with it. It kind of left me wanting to know more so I went back to the webtoon but that's not completed yet either.
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The plot consists of a reverse harem (multiple males liking one female lead) and some people could get easily offended from this drama by the way. If you don't think about it too much, you might enjoy this drama but a lot of the male leads are a bit forceful. I noticed some of the the other viewers didn't enjoy this drama as much as me because they said the male leads seem to force their feelings on her, she got kissed but she didn't allow it, they would court her when she rejected them, etc etc. But it seems like most people tend to have that problem with Asian dramas, if that's person is you, you might want to avoid this drama. I don't have that problem so... I liked it.
I love how direct the female lead was with her feelings. She didn't avoid the situation and she would confront them with her feelings. She does have her flaws, but I understood her a lot. I understood why she couldn't forget her ex-boyfriend, because she did love him. She is pretty, she has a lot of people who ends up liking her, but she is not perfect--and not anyone else in the drama either.
I would definitely recommend this drama to friends if they want a cute drama. It's been a while where I found myself rooting for both of the actors, because I came to like both of them.
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This was so fluffy and sweet and adorable and the love story was so wonderful. Feng Teng was cold and calculating and closed off from love. Shan Shan was silly and not quite the smartest girl in the room, but she always saw the positives. Together they were cute and so freaking sweet and watching Feng Teng melt and fall in love was so much fun. Honestly, I think that was one of the highlights. The way he slowly melted and fell deeply in love with Shan Shan was so much fun to watch. I couldn't have asked for a more fluffy and bubbly romance. It was exactly what I wanted!
Every moment that the OTP shared was beautiful. From their first encounter all the way through to the finale episode. I felt like the actors had the most amazing chemistry and that chemistry enhanced the on screen performance in the best way. It wasn't just the lead couple that had excellent rapport, it was the entire cast. Feng Teng and his best friend Handsome Qi had great interactions. Shan Shan, her cousin Liu Liu, and their friend Shuang Yi had such a great on screen bond that it added an extra layer of fun and enjoyment to the show for me. The OTP moments were amazing, even when Feng Teng was watching Shan Shan through the window in his office there was a wonderful tension and attraction there. This OTP is definitely in my top five!
As with Love O2O, there was very little drama in the story for Boss & Me. Every story has to have some conflict in order for there to be some substance. However, when it becomes so overwhelming that the story drags and nothing can move forward that's what I have a hard time getting through. There was very little unnecessary drama in this show which was great. The obstacles and issues that the OTP and group faced were within the realm of reason and added to the story instead of halting all forward momentum.
In all honesty the things that I did not like were few and far between. I'm totally ok with that! Really, really alright with that. And, these few things could be labeled as more nitpicking than anything else. None of these were negative enough to make my watch of the show drag or unpleasant, so I count that as a huge win!
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