Reviews

ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS OUT THERE

This show was something that was just too good for all the people watching it. From the story, to the excellent acting, this show was so perfect. This is not a show that is focused on romance. People actually need to come out the romance tropes. Not everything should contain romance as the main plot. This show had romance in the perfect amount, not too much to shift from the main plot.
The actors were so perfectly casted and they improved on the already really good script. Especially the mother. OH MY GOD. She is so natural at what she does. At times, you could see her and you could feel the character's pain so much through her. And all the people really were too good. I was bawling my eyes out so many times in every episode. I cried, I laughed and I got angry too. Life is unfair to so many people and sometimes you cannot help but feel anger at the unjustness of life.
I cannot even describe properly what this show was. I was so speechless when the show ended. I loved it to another level. I don't even watch that many shows but I saw a video about this show somewhere and I knew I had to watch it. PLEASE GIVE IT A WATCH. I don't care how freaking sad this show was at times, but everyone needs to see the amazing acting of the entire cast and the extra freaking amazing storyline.
I have read some reviews about how this show had such less romance, but the show wasn't about romance at all? I don't know who told them that this was a show with romance as main plot because it really is not. This is a show about a mother's struggle and her relationship with her son. This show is about how despite struggling herself, she wanted the best for her son. She made mistakes because it was her first time being a mother, no matter how crazy that sounds. At the end of the day, she wanted the best for her son. This show is about how a son loves his mother so selflessly that he forgot to care about himself at times. This show is about how a son understood his mother and where she was coming from when she was not being very nice to him. Tbh, she was struggling herself and she was doing her best.
Even if you don't like the starting episodes for some reason, just have patience and keep watching. You will love this show. Every single episode, you will love it.
I will fight for this show forever???
People, if you only want romance in your shows, skip this show because this show has so much more than romance. There are plenty of shows to quench your thirst of romance shows lol

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Missed opportunity for camp

At least it was short.
Writing this review four years after the fact just because....
I enjoy low budget dramas and watched this one only for Luo Yunxi (as one does). The worst part about it was that it could have been so much fun, but the plot was just kinda lame - it's a xianxia, it was super short. There was no need for a mortal palace political intrigue plot arc. At the end when we encounter the nightmare demon guy - omg that's when I realized we could have had so much more. He was like a xianxia Dr. Frankenfurter. Imagine if we had him through the whole thing! And also imagine if the FL could act! cough cough.
Not a difficult watch, but worth it only for LYX oeuvre completists. This is the gig that got him noticed by Heavy Sweetness Ash Like Frost author, which got him an audition for Ashes of Love, so I can't hate it.

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Entertaining but not perfect imo

The ending.... Was quite something. Oh, I don't even watch the alternate ending yet as I write this. What i noticed is that I like the inclusivity of this drama you know, coz it didn't try to be realistic as possible for a historical drama. I like that it gave something new like how man got to be treated like the way woman always got in a real world or usually it would be like that for them. Also, the beauty standard, like I said b4, the inclusivity of plus size and rounded face girls. Another thing, I love that the dramas in the imperial harem were not cruel and vicious. The devotion and patience of the Hero and the strong and courageous stand of the heroine. I'm glad my tears are worth it in the end. Kind of.

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was good, at first.

i watched 9/16 eps or 18/32 eps of this drama and decided to quit.

I'll divide this drama (the main couple relationship) to 3 phases:

1. attracted/flirting side while also denial stage
2. accepting the feelings stage and in the effort of trying to be together
3. together stage

i dropped this drama on the second stage. i feel like the desperation that i felt strongly from both of them in the first stage slowly started to disappear. but realistically, it should be. bcos at the the first stage, they were falling in love, but at the second stage, they need to face the reality. how to say it to the people related to them. so, while they are still fighting with each other (in a nice way) they also need to face other people which is realistic but i'm particularly not really entertained, or simply bored (being bored while watching drama has always been my biggest thing, but yeah, i feel it when i feel it).

as they need to face more and more people in the second stage, despite them being sweeter bcos at that stage they already confess to each other, but their scenes were lesser in quantity so i can't see them as frequent as i want to, and maybe just maybe their scenes will be more in the 3rd stage but i can't wait that long. after the very entertaining eps 1-4 where i sacrificed my sleep just to watch them flirt and denying their feelings, ep 5&6 were fine, but ep 7&8? kinda snoozefest. i kept looking at the watch bar (or how do u call this), and thought "y is this so long?", which i've never felt before while watching this drama. after that i continue to watch until ep 9, but after that, i just realized i feel extremely sluggish to continue ep 10. that was when i knew, i had to drop this bcos i don't want to force myself anymore.

a person questioned me for my decision since i gave this drama 6.5/10 for a dropped title (maybe he/she considers it as a decent score), but i think this drama really deserves that score despite me being unable to finish it. i hate nothing about this drama, except the pacing after ep 6. i think the storyline is decent, the social issues brought up was eye-opening, and the chemistry? undeniable. my only problem was that i was bored, and sometimes annoyed with some of the characters, but that's it. is it STILL watchable? YES.

i think that's it. definitely not a bad, dumb, insulting audience intelligence type of drama, and also not a cliche drama. might be not for me, but i won't not recommend this to people, bcos maybe, others will enjoy it.

that's it!!!

ps: jung hae in is so handsomeeeee!!!!!!!

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Heartfelt drama

This is a show I've wanted to watch for a while but not necessary because it is such a popular one. The fantasy genre is one I really enjoy so I had to give it a chance.

I really liked the idea of parallel worlds; I thought it was a bit tiring in the beginning since they were showing scenes from the past back and forth and you were forgetting what was actually happening in the present but it made so much sense later! I'm one of those who think the drama could have had 16 episodes, there were so many scenes who could've been shortened. There was a certain warmth in some scenes that made me forget about some imperfections. The last 5-6 episodes were so good, a lot of suspense but the last episode seemed a bit rushed. One of the best parts was Nam Doo's storyline from the last part of the drama.

The acting was very good: as always Jun Ji Hyun is great in comedies! She had great chemistry with Lee Min Ho, he did a really good job too. Liked a lot the supporting characters (Joon Jae's friends mostly).

The OST was quite generic.

To be quite honest, I wouldn't rewatch it that much; it started a bit slow but then it really caught up! There were a lot of funny moments though; those need rewatching!

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a so-so makjang

i finished this in 2 days, i think that was pretty quick, but not to say that i did not struggle. but, thankfully it was only 8 eps. at first i watched the series at 1.5x but then on ep 4, i decided to watch this story at 2x. the major problems with this series is that it is slow. despite having only 8 eps, i still think it's slow, esp the romance between the main couple only started (or they started to have more scenes together) in ep 4, when there are only 8 eps.

the revenge plan/storyline ain't that interesting, also. at first, i was totally not threatened with the fl's plan, each time she stated her plan i was just "oh, ok?". and the main villain (eugene) might be the most watchable/interesting character bcos her plot and scheming seems better than other people. every character in this drama is driven by revenge (some are weaker), but everyone help each other bcos they only want revenge or money. so that's fun i guess, u can compare the intensity of their revenge. yeah...

the romance? hmmm idk. lacking i think. i watch this mainly for romance, but yeah, it wasn't that appealing (this applies to the main couple romance but also the side side fling).

well, since this is makjang, i won't really complain abt logic. i'm used to makjang not being really realistic/logical bcos yeah, makjang. but i don't hate it. this is one of the entertaining genre for me. so yeah, i welcome intense/hot/interesting makjang anytime. but this one is just so-so.

there are better makjang out there for sure, and i'm still looking for them too. as a netflix series, this is pretty skippable but if u want to watch for the cast (like me who watch it for lee hyun wook), it's pretty okay, i guess....

that's it!

ps: pls ignore my score abt the music. i don't really care abt the music. i just had to put a score.

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Loved the fire chemistry and kisses .. I love romance

I was waiting for this, but somehow wasn't feeling like it was interesting enough so i left it in my plan to watch *that's being shelved for life in my books*, but after a month or so I watched like two episodes and then put it on hold, but somehow I still wanted to watch it so i left it in currently watching. I came back a few times and never continued, but i eventually give in, i initially thought it wouldn't be as interesting or the romance wouldn't be what i expected, boy was i wrong hahaha... the romance was great, the kisses was amazing and the chemistry was fire.. sweet ost's too.

Definitely don't regret watching it, and I'll recommend if you love romance. The story was nice, the chemistry was great, the romance was sweet, the family relationship with the FL, her brother and grandpa was great, and the ML's friends were the best. they had some great coworkers too.

I left feeling content and pleased. I've always loved Bin Bin and Janice's works but i wasn't sure what to expect with romance since this is the first time I'm watching a main role of hers since she got married, but... the chemistry she had with Bin Bin was amazing, don't talk about their kisses.. *me blushing* haha

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Sooo Many Tears!!!!

Oh my Heart!!! This drama was absolutely broke me! I shed so many tears! I was not ready. This female lead was incredible, she pulls you in and pulls at your heartstrings. I stumbled upon this drama because I saw it was a Deng Lun drama, But i never anticipated that it would hit this hard. I was expecting a sweet and cute love story but this it a very intense drama with so many layers of history and secrets and a love trying to bloom. This was a very in-depth drama that pulls you in and consumes you while you try to understand all the relationships and how everyone is intertwined. The Women of the main family have been in a 2 generation long battle over the head of the embroidering business. There is so much backstabbing, sabotaging, horrific betrayals that happened in past and the most heartbreaking thing of all it that it looks like history is repeating itself with the current generation. I cried so many tears for all the injustices that took place, I got so lost in this show that it felt like i was experiencing all the pain first hand. These actor’s and actress did such a phenomenal job at bring out all the emotions in their audience, these villains are some of the best I’ve encountered. The love story between Yun Kai and Guo Guo was truly so beautiful. I highly recommend this drama though it’s hard on the heart, it’s one that will stay with you. I rated it 8/10 because yes while its absolutely phenomenal, thoroughly invoking all the emotions in you, it was a bit rough to go through and it left an ache in my chest that I couldn’t ignore, this kinda bittersweet sadness when i think of how hard it must have been to endure all that.

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Very entertaining and realistic feel-good drama

First of all this drama felt soo good. I dont know how but it just felt really good to watch. It had a nice vibe while watching. I must say I did think that it was gonna be another one of those stupid, over dramatic and complicated love triangle dramas but this drama felt very natural. The romance in this drama is also very light and has a ton of comedy in it. The screenplay's really well done. I avoided this drama for a very long time because I thought it would just be dragged long condiering how many episodes there was but it rteally wasn't dragged at all. From how they met as kids to how they grew such a close bond, it all felt wholesome. I genuinnely recommend watching this drama. Although I did feel that the story felt a little boring and maybe a little too 'not-dramatic'. It was great watching them grow through the ages and overcome their differences, changes and grow closer together. I loved every aspect of this drama and it also had a very wholesome ending! The acting of the cast too was just as amazing! I could feel great chemistry between the three leads and I very very very much loved the character of Dad Li. He was such a strong and compassionate character, he melts my heart. Overall great entertaining drama about what makes a family and the struggles within a marital household. And about how the people hurt learn to heal. ??????????‍???‍???‍⚕️?

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In a unique way affectionately told. Critically nuanced. Not off-the-shelf. Still easy to digest.

I might have easily missed “Not Others”, if I hadn't volunteered to help out with the German subtitling. I'm glad I didn´t miss it, because "Not Others" turned out to be an unorthodox surprise - being unexpectedly substantial and also pleasantly true to life, thus rooted in a rather simple, normal, everyday world. It is the story of a family, above all of a single mother and her daughter, but there are also a few contemporaries who are related by blood or by choice.

The story goes on and on as life goes on and we go with it as a matter of course (and gladly so). (Well, at least that's how it was for me.) There was nothing particularly extraordinary and exciting about it. Just normal madness.

Well, admittedly, a bit more than normal madness... after all, the mother herself is still a teenager when she has her child and doesn't want to give up on some of the youthful pleasures in life - regardless of responsibility for the child. However, the script and the two leads find a good pitch for this very special, unusual and inherently difficult relationship dynamic with all its challenges. A clearly structured 'I'm the grown up and you're the little one' doesn´t exist. It is rather upside down here. Instead of the classic authoritarian hierarchy between parent and child, they both ended up bonding as allies sort of, in a world from which they have fallen. Due to the unusual role constellations, the arguments between mother and daughter often have a slightly funny touch. Behind this, however, lurks a rather unconscious overburdening on both sides. And this earnest approach of this emotionally tricky situation shines through again and again in the strategy of both of them trying to cope with everyday life. However, mother and daughter are overall impressing with their casual authenticity as well as pleasant directness and openness - a communication style that clearly sets them apart from so many others in the story. Choi Soo-young shines here, but especially Jeon Hye-jin, who can show herself from a completely different side in the role of the still youthful mother...).

At some point it's about a criminal case - eventually almost symbolic for the unwanted and eventually professionalized role of the daughter within the mother-daughter-relationship: the need to/the urge to look after her mother. And at some point it's also about romantic love - symbolic for the very human longing to rely on a partner on eye level, to lean on a shoulder... This human need actually concerns mother and grown-up daughter alike. But can there even be a place for 'outsiders' within the mother-daughter relationship?

Please don't take "Not Others" as a crime thriller or even as a RomCom. (The men in particular come along rather secondary...) Ultimately, it is the complicated emotional behavior patterns that characterize the family life of mother and daughter in the context of their very close and extraordinary relationship. This makes the KDrama breathe in and breathe out in its very unique pacing. It is primarily about this uncommon family, with an affectionate, yet critically nuanced look at their very special relationship dynamics. "Not Others" is cautiously questioning established (conservative) family models, too...

Overall, “Not Others” is no off-the-shelf KDrama (like so many others in 2023...).

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Some great moments and some not so great. the other characters except leads.

It was a nice watch but tbvh I've watched better C-dramas this year. Firstly, Yoona's acting really isn't my cuppa tea. Though she was better in the later half of the drama. Loved Junho. Overall, a nice watch. I really wanted DaEul's story to be taken seriously. The way her in laws & husband treated her like a maid but the way they used very serious and a common issue ㅡ where working women are taken forgranted and are pushed to work full time outside & inside home ㅡ for comedy was worse. No redemption arc for inlaws or husband.

Also, I loved the air host/hostess pair ㅡ especially the guy, wanted more of them.

I think the overall duration of the drama could've be much shorter. They didn't address his sister's issues, which she was pretty accurate about ㅡ his father was guilt stricken or whatever but he did take his daughter for granted, how he casually said that he isn't worried about her ㅡ regarding the divorce issue ㅡ but how it'll affect the company?

So all in all, I can totally understand where her sister ws coming from. They could've explored her character more.

So, there were some great moments and some not so great. They got a few thing well while they often ignored all the other characters except leads.

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No Middle Ground - Love or Hate

This is not a romantic comedy, its important to know this going into it. There is at best a touch of romance, so be prepared.

Additionally, there is little in the way of middle ground with this drama, you will either love it or hate it based on how you view Eun Mi as a character.

She is either the heroine of this story or someone who should be criticised for many of her actions. I will be perfectly honest whilst I recognise her strengths she is certainly isn't a likeable character to me.

The premise of this drama is built upon the relationship between Eum Mi, the mother and Jin Hee her daughter. Eun Mi gave birth to Jin Hee as a teenager and raised her as a single parent. The synopsis for this drama states they literally grew up together.
This is where my problem starts, the suggestion that Eun Mi ever really grew up. Yes, she raised her baby, she worked incredibly hard to provide for herself and Jin Hee, but did she ever really grow up? For me, no, her attitude and behaviour still resembles that of a teenager and not a 40 something year old woman. Whilst this wouldn't be the worse thing, it does manifest negatively in her relationship with Jin Hee at times. Jin Hee often needs to be the parent in the relationship with her own emotions often ignored by Eun Mi. Eun Mi thinks little of the consequences of her actions, often leading to problems for Jin Hee. Jin Hee's feelings are often secondary in their relationship

The introduction of Jin Hong, Eun Mi former boyfriend and Jin Hee father only complicates the situation further. Eun Mi quickly rushes into renewing her relationship with him, forcing Jin Hee to accept this relationship, yet she doesn't like the idea of father and daughter becoming close. Whilst all this is going on Jin Hong and Jin Hee seem to be circling each other, unsure how to approach each other. Jin Hong in both his relationship with Eun Mi and Jin Hee is either too passive or at times simply weak.
I also didn't like that very little attention is given too Eun Mi failure to share with Jin Hong that he had a daughter. This was glossed over far too quickly.

Jin Hee does have a romantic interest in Jae Won who is also her superior at work. Unfortunately very little is done to really develop their relationship until the final few episodes and even then it was pretty limited. Park Sung Hoon was criminally under used as an actor in this role.

My final issue with this drama is the last 2 episodes. They don't entirely fit within the context of the previous 10 episodes. We had seen little in the way of growth from Eun Mi and yet suddenly she was a more mature individual.

I think this same story could have been told, keeping the humour, the unique Eun Mi character, yet also showing some growth as an individual whilst also allowing her relationship with Jin Hee to evolve as well. Instead I found Eun Mi admirable qualities too often overshadow by her negative traits and when her relationship with Jin Hee did evolve it didn't feel natural.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this drama in the way I hoped, the funny moments soon became less funny and I was left with a dislike towards Eun Mi and a sense of sadness towards Jin Hee.

For me the the final two episodes were unable to erase the events in the previous 10.

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I dont just get that ending

I dont even know what to say. If im mean please i am sorry but the ending was shit. How will that guy just kill everybody. At least if they wanted to end the film quickly they could have made the spheres kill tyem not that guy. And whats this na, after all the whole drama on spheres and everything, tye endjng was suppose to be action and good, but i was shocked to see everyone killed by the guy, at first i thought maybe they will survive but what was that na, they died. And what was the thing they should in the ending abiut, when they should all of them in the class.
Aaah
The ending was a total trash
That was the worst ending i have ever seen
The film was aaaahhhh

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I watched this show on going since the very start. I watched it for Park Sunghoon, so I didn't think much of it, but somehow this made it's way into my 10/10 rate list. I had a break from watching any dramas for the past few months until around last month when i picked up this drama along with two others. And out of all that I've watched recently, this really takes the cake. I was abolutely invested in this, I kept thinking about this, I felt every single scene. This drama hurt me, and made me giggle like a high school girl.

The drama I think is pretty realistic in a way, at least to me. The mother-daughter's relationship that had a lot of misunderstandings, the two being stubborn and having their own views, the two keeping things from each other so they won't be hurt. And I think the way the drama is written shows that quite well. In a way that every scene, my emotions were like roller coaster. I would side with a character on one scene, and then a few scenes later, I would understand the other character's perspective too. Of course, other dramas do this too, but I don't know why this is just so perfect for this drama specifically.

Personally, the ending is very different from what I imagined and from what I wanted. I do feel a little disappointed that there weren't as many jinhee-jaewon flashbacks as much as eunmi-jinhong. And it's a bit sad that their relationship only bloomed in the last two episodes, but even then, they're not officially dating and they even barely have any scenes together as a couple in the last episode. But, at the same time I can't really get mad because their slowburn is what made me love jinhee-jaewon so much. Any scene together at some point made me excited and happy for what their next step as colleagues or couple would be. I loved overanalyzing their every move, their stares, their words towards each other. It was the most exciting part whenever I wait for the new episodes each week. And just for that, even if it wasn't what I wanted exactly, I'm happy enough like this.

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Watched it for Liu Yuning

Never really watched the actress before or maybe I just can't remember. I was not familiar with other actors as well so it was all because of Liu Yuning that I started this show with little to no expectation especially with this kind of storyline (read the summary if you don't know). I am still in confusion how I ended up watching the whole show even though I was skipping many parts which was outright boring and even after skipping I could still understand the story.
There are three couples and most of the time I skipped the parts of the one who was the head of reporters (forgot her name). I just didn't understand her character. Maybe because she was just not sticking to anything. Giving resignation then coming back like nothing happened, insisting to fire her friend from job then asking for not doing it because as usual she was wrong :/ She behaved like an angry bull who just hits anyone without any reason. She never tries to understand other's perspective and SHE WAS A LEADER ( sigh...)
The FL was a good actress but but but...she was too perfect as described by ML in a scene. In reality her character was the perfect image of THE perfect citizen, wife, mother, daughter and add as many perfect role you want to put before her name. Which was just so not real. I can't believe there was not a teeny tiny bit of imperfection in her that could make me see her as a real person. Anyways ML was the one that made me love her scenes. He was quirky and fun guy that I enjoyed the most. It was a breather for me to see him in a different kind of role.
The most annoying character was the third FL. and the funny part was that she was the most real character in the whole show. She had all the negatives and conniving scenes. You might hate her but you won't be able to because THAT IS WHO WE ARE. Yes...she represented many women struggling out there in the professional sphere who strives to do anything to earn her living without connections and try to achieve her dreams at all cost and guess what she was the one who actually did not get a perfect ending like other two FLs. (Eye rolls)

I don't know how well they represented media's role in China. They tried very hard to portray a media which is very honest and doing its job to represent truth without any bias. ( which I highly doubt). Rest of the cast is just there for show you won't even remember them. I liked mom's role to bring out more emotions from FL. The ending looked rushed and I just couldn't digest the way FL ended up with ML while she was about to forgive her husband seconds ago. ( It was not a spoiler you can just guess the storyline right away). Overall it was one time watch and I watched it for Liu Yuning who overshadowed everyone. I was not even that much interested in their cases related to their job. Oh! I forgot to mention the kid of FL. He was the best part of the show apart from Liu Yuning. Acting wise it was really good, music was ok and that is all.

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