Reviews

Modern Wuxia. Fun, action-packed ride with great character relationships. Don't expect romance.

Modern Wuxia. Gravity defying fights. Secret sect with masterminds vying for power. Cipher leading to ancient hidden treasure. Smart colorful villains and grey wild card characters. All lead by a young orphaned man on a quest to find his mother and uphold justice in this world.

Chu Yi Han (Wang Zi Qi) has 3 days to go into the Northwest Wolf den to rescue his mother and bring down the crime syndicate. Insanely skilled in combat, versed in 4 languages, unconventional adaptation abilities, unwavering drive, he is the best police candidate. He is the worst undercover agent. "Do killers have such nice skin?" Everyone knew he was sus. Even better, he knew they knew. But they didn't know who he worked for. Leveraging this confusion, in an intriguing cat-and-mouse game, Chu Yi Han, deftly avoided death, prolonged the timeline, getting closer and closer to his goals.

This isn't a tale of a brash, lone wolf overcoming a succession line of one bland big boss after the other. Rather, a traumatized cub, supported and nurtured by a his pack, fighting together against a well-integrated kingdom of brilliant, layered humans. Humans with understandable motives and fears, with enemies and loved ones. A fantastic balance of cliffhangers, unexpected humor, familial relationships deeper than blood, and tears.

Our hero "leaves the mountain" and is thrusted into the dark underworld. This is an action drama, not an investigative mystery. The biggest unknown is whether the charismatic smiling person facing him will kill him today or tomorrow. His North Star is the support of his 3 fathers, his best friend, and the belief that his mother is out there waiting for him.

The production company, Jebsen, while known for excellent professional police and uniformed dramas, romance tends to be a cold side dish instead of the showy main course. Do not expect romance! Do not expect romance! Skip the next paragraph so that you do not expect romance. XD

Perhaps, because I wasn't looking for romance is how I got it in spades. This is is the 2nd cooperation between the leads of The Imperial Coroner, Wang Zi Qi and Su Xiao Tong (Gu Lin Na). Our CP are too busy trying to stay alive to have any interactions. Finally, they have real scenes in Episode 12. Admittedly, it may be my love for their past lives, but I felt a synergistic, fated, star-crossed love between them. "Can I be your friend?" met with his silence. Ah, the tragedy. Chu Chu became Na Na, Wang Ye became Officer Chu. Her surname became his. This love is highly YMMV. But once it hits, each moment is full of longing. Their beauty is in the unspoken, having the blank space to fill the void with lost potential.

Chase The Truth is the 2nd of 5 planned serial dramas by Director/Screenwriter Zhao Junkai. He is great at choosing fantastic actors to bring his visions to life. Because I liked these characters and performances so much, here they are in detail XD:

Chu Yi Han (Wang Zi Qi). In a cast of well-acquainted veterans, our lead is able to hold his own. WZQ's strength is being malleable, bringing freshness to each character. He was in 5 dramas this year, 5 different genres, 5 characters different from each other and from himself. He went from Chu Yi Han to Xin Qi the next day. There are rough edges, but his subtle charisma, detail design, and ability to have natural chemistry with each actor make the performances engaging. And Chu Yi Han is several characters in one. Upright cop, deceptive gangsta, filial son/grandson, bratty nephew/disciple, controlled & repressed emotionally, volatile maniac, shy & hesitant-in-love puppy, flirty and sexy wolf. Seamless. On a primal level, it is FUN to watch him beat people up. But then you cry with him as he becomes a lost little boy. The tears and sobs hit as powerfully as his kicks. He is the soul and each interaction propels the story.

Uncle Cheng Fan (Tian Yu) became Chu Yi Han's primary father figure when his mother, Lin Ke, went undercover 10 years ago. His sloppy, frivolous, joking appearance deceives his opponents, allowing him to get into their minds and overpower them psychologically. This is Tian Yu's comfort zone, but he is always impressive. His interrogation of serial killer Long Qi and his scenes in Episode 24 are masterful. It is his warm, bickering, protective relationship with Yi Han that is the core of the drama. I could watch 100 of their home scenes. Cheng Fan nags, Yi Han scoffs, Cheng Fan tells long-winded story, Yi Han is amused, Cheng Fan lies, Yi Han busts him, Cheng Fan almost kills his ward, Yi Han adds another survival technique to his toolbelt. Hahaha. That is their relationship.

On the flip side, Chu Yi Han is always reverent to Chief Tai Yong Zhong (Du Yuan). A role that can easily be underappreciated, Chief Tai is the patriarch, Cheng Fan's and Duan Qing's Shi fu. He is caring, strategic, and embodies a conflicted leader who has to send his people into danger. A quiet strength, it is unquestionable how he became Chief. He is fatherly to Cheng Fan and grandfatherly to Yi Han. Yi Han is softer with him. The Chief's hesitation and doting smile show how much he loves this kid. Powerhouse actor, probably the best that I have seen in this type of role in recent years, he gave me unexpected tearful moments.

Sha Xiao Fei (Zhao Xun) is Chu Yi Han's underworld boss and punching bag. An odd couple, enemies to begrudgingly respected allies, every scene with Yi Han is exhilarating. Insanely magnetic, Zhao Xun is the best actor of the younger than 40 group. His Xiao Fei is mercurial but has a tragic vulnerability that makes you root for him. The romance with equally explosive Yi Yi (Fu Mei, who is captivating) is beautiful. One of the drama's best storylines is his arc with his father. I applaud the details, on-point emotions, logical but oft-not taken resolution.

Lao Qiang (Xia Huo Bin) is Xiao Fei's father. A paranoid, shrewd, manic depressive who should have been a psychiatrist in another life. Soft spoken with tension, the most ruthless villain, a perverse mentor/mentee relationship, his chess game with Yi Han is fascinating to watch.

Pei Yin (Xu Hong Hao) is our dastardly, romantic villain who gets under Yi Han's skin by dangling his mother's reunion and anointing himself "The Stepfather". Xu Hong Hao is theatrical, humorous and skirts the border of cartoonish but somehow comes out as controlled, calculating and menacing. Cute and icky, he amuses me and sends spine shivers each time he calls Yi Han "my son".

Yi Han can not measure up to his mother, Lin Ke (Liu Wei Wei), a brilliant undercover officer, stronger than all men in brains, combat and resilience. She didn't have many lines, but we instantly felt her connection to her son and pack. The way Xiao Fei spoke of her fondly, we knew she is worthy of admiration.

Tang Xiao Tian had the perfect guest role, Yu Da Luo. All guests should be like him. Lovable, observant, loyal and funny. He wasn't a tool character, his presence was felt throughout the entire drama. And yes, his bromance chemistry with Yi Han is sizzling.

In a BTS video when Yi Han was at the Wolf Den, someone asked why Long Qi was let out of jail for that scene. Uh, that's because the serial killer twins, Long Qi and Long Ba, were played by the second director, Hou Ji. Isn't that amazing?

Of course, this drama had areas that could be improved.

1. Image quality. Set your screen to max brightness. Perhaps it is the desert sand, but picture can be fuzzy. Furniture and set design fit the theme but are eye-sores. Italian Western Restaurant. Nuff said.
2. Choppy editing. Flashbacks are used to fill in suspense, but they may break the flow or add confusion.
3. Music. The OSTs weren't bad, just underutilized.
4. Suspended disbelief. The stunts are awesome but incredulous, best viewed as Wuxia fantasy. The Duracell Bunny technology powering the wide range listening devices is Matrix level.
5. Draggy exposition scenes. There were times that the audience already learned something, but the police must rehash that knowledge so that we know they know.
6. A couple of the Wolves were played by less dynamic actors. It is hard for everyone to be amazing, but they distracted from the story.
7. The romance. While it worked for me, for most it is unlikely to be enough. The timing of the romance talk in the later episodes also seemed out-of-place, but I will take my crumbs.

Besides the acting, 3 dimensional characters, & relationships mentioned above, there are so many good moments and strengths.

1. Well-designed structure. Instead of a linear progression of air-dropped baddies like other dramas, by having the Wolves be numbered (#1-7) like a traditional family, they became familiar to us and integrated in the story from the beginning. We anxiously anticipated their arrival and dynamics. Power shifted between players and it was interesting to see the last one standing.
2. Symbolism and literature add a bit of poetry to the masculine action drama. The lone wolf and wolf pack. Hints of Shakespearean tragedies like Romeo and Juliet with fated, star-crossed lovers without the foolishness and Julius Caesar, a tyrant betrayed by his brothers. A homage to Jin Yong, regarded as the greatest Wuxia writer ever, by testing the audience with his least known work. And literary classic, Water Margin.
3. The pacing is fast, like a roller-coaster, thrilling and fun, lots of upside down loop-de-loops with episodes 12 & 24 being the heart in your throat, deathly drops.
4. Strong women were present in this male-dominated genre. Na Na, the unknowing princess of the underworld, courageously defended her loved ones. Su Xiao Tong was moving in Na Na's first phone call with her father and her breakdown scenes. Yiyi was not a typical shallow mob girlfriend. She was devoted and fierce. And Dr. Mu (Yang Shu) was an equal partner to Cheng Fan in their mature, comfortable relationship.
5. Qiao Dan is a sleepy cutie and Captain Duan a tough, straight grouch.
6. The OST had a nostalgic feel. Su Xiao Tong's song was wistful and sweet.
7. The romance! If this was to your taste, it stimulated all the senses. Xiao Fei and Yiyi were salty and spicy. Yi Han and Na Na were a subtle, perfect balance of bitter and sweet, with lingering umami.

My fun/memorable scenes:
- All of Cheng Fan and Yi Han's home scenes
- Anytime Chu Yi Han beat Xiao Fei
- "Can I?"
- "Sorry. I may have hit him a bit hard."
- "I am lustful, OK?"
- Suspension Bridge Effect explains half of C-Drama romances 😂
- Cheng Fan and Yi Han, last episode.
- "Shi Fu"
- The last line of the drama, a clever, perfect ending. Simplicity expressing great depth.

If you made it this far in the review, I hope you check this one out. It's an easy watch with lots of fun and heart-warming moments.

Read More

It will consume you

The way, how beautifully is the whole series filmed, eddited, and also big applause for the audio quality. I was falling in love more and more by every episode I watched.

I could talk about the perfection of these acting skills all day. From beautiful innocent smiles to those totally perfect teary scenes (especially in the end). The pure romance, love, and understanding which was portrayed by the main couple? Excuse me? Where did they find such good actors? It wasn't an act for me.

Xi Gu's whole backstory with his parents and his school life always gets to me and make me all emotional. It's so touching, as it's opposite to Hao's way of life. I loved the chemistry between them, the height difference, the smiles, emotions, everything was so well pictured.

Also, I can't forget about Sun Bo and Zhi Gang. They looked so cute together that I couldn't help but smile at little Bo. Also, Zhi's smile? Where can I gen one? I loved how they dealt with everything together. And how happy and emotional i got when they finally got Zhi's pa's permission.

For those who came this far and reading this, even if it's labelled as spoilers. Here it comes. Your eyes won't stay dry. Be sure of that. And if not even one tear will slide down your cheek, what kind of monster are you? When I first watched this emotional story, I watched it when it came out. But no longer after that, it may have been 3-4 months, I have watched it all over again in one night. I cried the whole 3 eps in row.

As you see, I'm writing this review after some time, after I binge watched it 2 nights in a row. I needed to buy a new pack of tissues for this. It's definitely different watching it, knowing how it all will end, and just like it's it's even more emotional.

I strongly recommend watching this show more than once. It's so pure, and I assure you that it will leave a strong impact on you.

Read More

I'm actually quite surprised the rating is this low - in terms of plot, writing & the concepts this drama touches, I feel like not so many are on its level.
Definitely a well-built revenge story that never feels pointless or stupid as it often happens with other dramas inside this subgenre.
The casting was on point. A group of amazing actresses that were able to handle this story without the big presence of a male star, still quite rare in the drama world.
Definitely would recommend to people that aren't used to watching Asian TV / people looking for a drama that feels like something you'd watch on American TV.
9/10.

Read More

Fluke, Earth, and BounPrem

So once upon a time I wrote a review for "Between Us", where I said UWMA broke me, and then I realized that I had never written a UWMA review, so I'm fixing that right now.

And when I say UWMA broke me, I mean it BROKE ME.

I smiled, I squealed, I cried(OMG did I CRY), and it was all worth it.

Actually, I have never spent so many episodes bouncing between smiling like a total idiot and then bawling my eyes out(until I watched "Between Us", but that's a totally different review).

Like, Earth and Fluke have this amazing ability to take my little heart and make it glow one minute, and then smash it to pieces and make me bawl just as hard as they do the next(like, Pham's final breakdown and In begging Korn to wake up, I can't, I JUST CAN'T).

This series is on the my list of Things That I Love So Very Much, and it's not going to get removed ever.

I found this novel as a translation online and read it two days--that's how good it was.

Then, I found the series a couple of months ago.

And binged it.

Twice.

This cast is perfect, the writing is almost perfect(there's a couple of scenes where the pauses between dialogue felt a little bit too long, but hey I can forgive that).

Also, I said in my review for "Between Us" that there is a fabulous display of Consent--it's here, too. Dean totally backs off when Pharm tells him to and wants to make sure that Pham is comfortable in the relationship and won't push boundaries. Pharm also gets kudos for establishing those boundaries and wanting Dean to respect them. Can you say Healthy Relationship? Because that's what it looks like.

I love that Pharm is so passionate about food, and the cooking scenes made me hungry(like, I googled the recipes so I could try them myself).

The swimming scenes were a nice touch. I loved the dunk tank, and the races, and the locker room flirting(especially when we needed a little bit of a breather, and you know, shirtless BounPrem--because both of them look fabulous without a shirt on I don't care what anyone else says).

Ohm is one of those rare actors that can say so much with just his eyes, and Dean's face while he eats the food Pharm brings him food at the swimming club turned me into a big pot of goo.

Fluke is absolutely adorable and can emote on the turn of a dime, and Pharm's shyness is so cute I could die.

BounPrem have always and will always make me smile. The Christmas broccoli scene is one that I watch on repeat whenever need a pick me up because awwwwwwwwwwww.

The beach scenes made me squeal(like, I scared my dog with the amount of squealing going on).

Manow is the friend everyone wants, and she's not the annoying-female-who-exisits-in-the-plot-only-to-make-trouble-for-main-couple-because-she-has-a-crush-on-one-of-the-boys. Manow is there as a supportive a wholly positive person and she also made me grin like a stupid idiot whenever she was on screen.

Will I rewatch this?

ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY!!!!

I'll just make sure that I have plenty of tissues and no makeup on when I do.

And I bought the novels, because of course I did.

Read More

?

The first seven episodes was great, had the viewer totally
engaged in what was going on but when it came to the
second half parts of it they just completely lost me with
final seven episodes. The final episode only served to leave
the viewer "well me" scratching "my" their head with even more questions
then when it left at the seventh episode. That cliffhanger in the final ep
wasn't necessary at all. I doubt that they'll have more episodes
or even one follow up episode to explain what the hell I just watched
with that ending. This is definitely not a show I'd rewatch.

Read More

Was promising, what happened?

Started off to be a bop, but ended up being full of plot-holes and nonsense.
The first four episodes were perfect. The story was somehow original and both the main protagonists showed off their pleasant personalities, with good qualities and interesting back ground stories. Their dynamic was so cute, the typical golden retriever/black cat relationship. And I was honestly all about it, they got me wrapped around their pinky toes. For real, Meen NAILED the gangster role at first, I was so surprised seeing him drenched in blood and then all sweet with his love interest. How cute.

Things started going down the hill by the end of episode four. The whole confession felt rushed, and I don't think Guy was there yet: literally ten minutes before accepting Tew's confession, he was almost kissing his long-time crush. I also don't understand how their relationship developed so quickly. That made Tew's character way too much confident about the reciprocity of his feelings for Guy. Also, his way out of the gang was way too easy, way too rushed; so much that his promise felt untrue.
The end of the straw was episode six. The fighting scene was hilarious: Tew fought like 10 guys and ended up as fresh as before, not even a little scratch on that stunning face. I get it, you're cool, but you're still human last time I checked.
I blame the eight-episodes-lenght for almost everything of this.

Outside of the way-too-rushed pace, tho, there are SO many problems.
- Kenji is too cartoonish on his own, doesn't even need to get commented;
- Why the heck is the "being with me is too dangerous I must leave you" trope so popular? super annoying and makes ZERO sense;
- The break up felt also very fake. The actors' probably did their best, but with a poor script like this it was almost impossible doing any better;
- I get that Tew is the good guy, here, but he literally solving no problem with Kenji. I get it, you don't unalive people, but... at least do something?
- Was Tew really convinced that an apology and some soy milk would solve things? On what planet does he live? Things were SO messed up that I almost ended up cheering for Wahl;
- End of episode seven makes no sense, again.

It's not the best drama I've ever watched, but it's definitely not the worst. Meenping is always so cute and fluffy: their chemistry is so good, it keeps you entertained enough.
Waiting for the last episode, now, but I doubt it will solve any of the problems I listed before.

Read More

Good survival show

I’ve been putting off watching this show since it came out, despite the fact that my friends kept telling me to watch it because when I recommended it to my mom, she told me the show is stupid so I took her word for it and just never looked back.

But today my friend told me to watch sweet home for them because season 2 is coming soon, and i was like eh why not, I have nothing to watch right now anyway, and WOW!!

This show does NOT disappoint. There were certain things that confused me at first like, why did the virus effect you when it wanted, or how come some viruses are more powerful than others and why are they using headphones and what not. (Google helped me out with these questions lmao) The reason I put it as 9.5 is because the show itself is AMAZING, world building and character development as well as relationships and the action scenes, everything is so well done, but the aspect that I found the most goofy were the monsters.

I don’t know I just can’t take the monsters seriously at all. The CGI isn’t bad but it’s just that they look like they came out straight out of a kids show, so it took the seriousness out of the show for me a bit. But otherwise I enjoyed the show a lot, despite the monsters being funny looking, it’s worth sticking around. I’ll start season 2 now!!

Read More

comforting and depressing

“You missed me too much. So, it was your imagination.”

When grandpa called his wife Xiao Xiao… but his wife isn’t Xiao Xiao…

Grandpa’s letter… I almost made it through the whole movie without crying, but then the letter came… I’m very upset now.

This was beautiful yet heartbreaking and the actors played their characters so naturally and masterfully. Time moved so quickly while watching this movie, which means a lot in my book because I'm not a movie person at all. This felt comforting and depressing at the same time, and I liked how his game was represented in the present timeline. The scenes were in black and white because they didn't end up together. I guess the end becoming colorful meant they found peace in their breakup because their love for each other still persisted even if they aren't together? Whatever it is, this movie was beautiful, but I will NOT watch it again😭💗

Read More

Short and sweet mini-show with interesting storyline

This is a nice mini-show. The storyline might start off simple but as in many C-stories, some drama is introduced towards the end. This is no different, but it does make the story more interesting and even a bit exciting.
Character wise:
FL is a simple and nice woman who works as a security guard at the compound where ML lives.
ML is a clever but damaged young man who doesn’t want to take over the company.
Acting wise this is good. The actors don’t have much time to shine but I did think the supporting character Mumu was played by a rather skilled actor. I think I’ve seen him in some drama before but can’t remember which one.
Well, if you are into something short and sweet - with a bit of interesting drama - this might be for you.

Read More

Neo Noir done in a pop culture friendly way

"A Pyrrhic victory is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress."

The Worst of Evil is truly a study of the psychology of a Pyrrhic victory.

It is a very , very, good watch and nothing to sniff at. I applaud the ease of the theme presentation and the accessibility of the watch , something that is very hard to do with morally ambiguous characters but this drama nailed it .

The watch is strenuous and far from a kick back watch . It is unrelenting in its brawn and dark in its resolve . I highly appreciate how all that unflinching and unrelenting darkness never let up for a second and was beautifully woven in the music , the acting and the dialogue.

I rate it an 8.5 because its definitely more than good but there is really nothing new being explored here. Its exploration is also not that novel but for what it is- its a wonderful drama worth a watch with standout performances by Ji Chang Wook, Bibi and Im Se Mi. I was not particularly blown away by Wi Ha Joon as I should have . I think he doesn't have the depth just yet to handle 4D characters like the gangster Jang Gicheul. I think a Woo Do Hwan (since they have a similar look) would have delivered that heart wrenching humanity coupled with a searing darkness. Wi Ha Joon made it very obvious he was playing a role.

Other than that - a very enjoyable drama with a lot of tension and thought provocation and soul stirring moments.

Read More

Engaging story, solid but boxed performance from Xu Kai

From the director of The Untamed and The Legends, no less! My expectations suddenly skyrocket, especially after last seeing Xu Kai in the rather disappointing She and Her Perfect Husband.

The Chinese title, LeYouYuan, is also the title of a Tang dynasty poem envisioning a beautiful but fleeting world (my rough interpretation). Translated as Wonderland Plains in the show, it represents both a physical and mental refuge and happy place. WoL is a tale of erupting power struggles in the wake of a coup. Li Ni (XK) is one of the last surviving members of a royal lineage in a kingdom usurped by a rebel traitor. Three major parties then vie for control of the land and resources: Li Ni's ShenXi army (loyal to his murdered grandfather, the former emperor), the independent and very powerful Cui Family army, and the self-declared new Commander-in-Chief Sun Jing. However, Sun's brutal reign forces an uneasy alliance between the ShenXi and Cui armies. Li Ni meets the sharp and cunning Cui Captain He (Jing Tian), and begins negotiating not only joint trade and conquest, but also love.

I've been following XK's work since Ancient Love Poetry. I saw hints in ALP (as well as The Legends) that he could be a very good dramatic actor but, so far that I've seen, he seemed to be playing the same type of character in most of his shows: ie. the boyish, cocky but likeable hero type, always cool, understated, and at the top of his game. I keep watching him to see if he can break out of this box, and unfortunately WoL doesn't stretch his range.

WoL starts off as a light formula romance, against a big backdrop of war and politics. By Ep20 the drama turns more serious as Li Ni learns Capt He's true identity and factors it into his political strategy. In fact, they both don't hesitate to use each other. Things then get far more interesting as he tries to balance his goals for the country against those for himself, which triggers direct conflict with Capt He's own vision for country, self, and themselves as a couple. The course of their relationship through treacherous terrain makes their characters more sympathetic as their belief systems start to clash. Circumstances push them to the brink in an horrific (and excruciatingly long) battle scene. Will either of them sacrifice their core tenets for the other? At this point the strengths of XK's and JT's performances come further through a crushingly sad wedding scene. Toward what seems will be a tragic ending, XK pushes to his best performance (but doesn't break the box), before the story winds down with a conventional ending.

The story is strictly wuxia and what makes it dense are the fluid shifts of alliances between the 3 groups as they manage not only dealings with each other but also challenges from within their own ranks. The most dangerous foes come from your own family. This results in a fairly large cast of characters, and the ensemble cast is competent, with many familiar faces.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable drama with decent performances and an engaging storyline. XK fans will be pleased with this work.

Read More

This was a pretty alright watch for me. The beginning was kind of slow. It started out like your typical drama about an underdog startup with three main characters who seem kinda lame and weak at first. There is a reason for it that you find out later on and learn that all three of them went through things that kids should not have gone through and that they are a lot stronger than they seem.

It does pick up towards about the last quarter when the betrayal happens. That was when I started binge watching 2 eps at a time whereas starting out, I put on 1 ep on the side while doing other things. So I can understand why people may not have stuck with this.

When I thought they already shared the backstories of the main characters, there’s actually more about two of them as the story progresses and it’s pretty messed up what happened to them.

I’m pretty satisfied with the end and worth the watch for me. I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. How they found each other and were a source of strength to overcome what happened to them.

Only fault for me, and maybe it’s more of a preference thing, is that I didn’t like that the color scheme was dark and dull. It makes sense for the story, but it could be dark but also have more bold, sharp and vibrant colors like Ballerina and The Killing Vote.

Read More

It's okay

I began watching it today, and overall, it's okay. The acting doesn't stand out, and the storyline is quite standard. Predicting the plot is relatively easy, but I still find it somewhat enjoyable. The characters aren't particularly well-developed, lacking depth and coming off as basic. If you're looking to pass the time, this show might suffice, but I wouldn't classify it as a must-watch for quality entertainment.
Some things in the show don't quite add up, and some of the characters' decisions come across as oddly illogical. It's frustrating to see them make choices that don't make any sense at all.
But I'll give it a try. I've just watched 2/3 episodes. Maybe it'll get better later on.

[Spoiler Alert]

One particular annoyance is the characters seemingly oblivious to obvious signs of a curse, like the victims having white eyes. It's baffling how the best friend dismisses the idea of a ghost despite clear indicators such as phones not losing battery, everyone falling asleep simultaneously, and more. Additionally, it's irritating that the best friend doesn't make a real effort to assist the main character when she's thrown into the pool or is drowning. Instead of actively helping, she just stands there uttering, "no, don't!" without taking any meaningful action. Wouldn't even suprise me if something is wrong with her.


[SPOILER END]

EDIT: I just finished watching it, and I have to say, it got better as it progressed. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece or a must-watch, but it's not bad either. I enjoyed the plot twist and am hopeful for a season 2. However, I still found most of the plot to be quite predictable, and to be honest, not much of it shocked me—except for the ending plot twist, which genuinely surprised me.

Read More

Realistic And Quietly Touching.

Spoiler only at end of review. A beautiful, somber yet hopeful film. Thoughtful, touching, and deeply resonating. Addresses multiple thoughts and internal struggles in a realistic way. I really appreciated how the film explored the relationship between a gay man and a heteroflexible man. The story shows how insecurities from past experiences, societal expectations, and different gender identities can influence someone to hold themselves back from happiness out of fears that are often warrented in the real world.

I found on YouTube (in The USA Jan 2024). In the comments I learned that the word written on the cigarette box means "forbidden". This is really helpful to know because it has a symbolic tie-in with the characters.

The physical intimacy was a little stilted but part of that could have been the editing. It ultimately didn't detract from the film.

The thing that frustrated me was how many wide-angle shots there were. Even though it was beautiful cinematography, it was emotionally distancing. Watching scenes from half a room away meant that I often couldn't see the actor's faces clearly (and sometimes not at all). I think the film could have been even more emotionally powerful had I been able to tune into the character's emotions playing across their faces as they talked and looked at each other. This did impact my satisfaction and my rating.

Otherwise, the cinematography and lightning is gorgeous and had a beautiful lonely feel to it that underscored the long-standing psychological state of the characters. The composition of frames and the contrast of light/dark and colors was masterful, especially in the longer still shots. The instrumental music was understated and complimented all the scenes well.

Side note: I also like Yuan's review on MDL.

SPOILER ON THE ENDING:

While the technicalities of how the two will proceed when they work in different cities is left up in the air, the reunion and reconciliation is successful. The ending is mostly satisfying. The end shot felt like an add for Marlboro cigarettes though, which wasn't to my taste (and it wasn't like that in the manga). Update: However, after learning that the translation of the word on the cigarette box is "forbidden", the ending tableau makes a lot more sense.

Read More