"I wish I could paint myself over again"
Kurosawa Akira wrote the script for The Portrait and to quote Sally’s shocked line in When Harry Met Sally, “Well, that's just so optimistic of you, Harry”. Kurosawa wasn’t known for movies about women or stories this positive and heartwarming. The film was deftly directed by Kinoshita Keisuke with strong performances by the cast.Kaneko and Tamai agree to purchase a house together for 200,000 yen and then flip it for 400,000 splitting the profits. The only problem is that there are tenants living in it. Kaneko decides to move his young mistress into the upper room which the family doesn’t fight. Midori is temperamental and not pleased with the move. The family occupying the house is poor but happy. The father, Nomura, is a painter of some renown but not terribly successful. The family automatically assumes that Midori is Kaneko’s daughter and treat her as a treasured guest. Midori isn’t used to positive affirmation and her guilt is made worse when Nomura asks her to sit for him. The woman revealed in the portrait is not who she believes she is.
Nomura with his magical artist’s eye saw deep into Midori, who she really was. This vision stood in stark contrast to who Midori believed she has become in order to survive after the war. The cognitive dissonance finally erupted as the young woman had to decide the person she would choose to be. Could she really paint herself all over again?
The family was almost too good to be true even seeing blackouts as a gift to dance in the moonlight. The one member who grasped that Midori was not Kaneka’s daughter cast no judgment, offering only acceptance. Kurosawa’s social commentary was muted but the blackouts were a bit of reality creeping in as well as the young women resorting to sleeping with old men to make a living. Nomura’s oldest son had been missing since the war with no word, as they hopefully awaited his return. Then of course, there were the realty vultures hoping to turn quick profits as they turned tenants out of their homes. The Nomura family’s impenetrable loving-kindness shield the only detriment to the current flippers’ plans.
The Portrait was a lovely little film showing a family’s and a young woman’s resiliency in the face of social upheaval and financial strain. Each person had to decide who they were and who they wanted to become, even when their options were few. And the greatest mystery of all, would Chiba the cat return home? An easy recommendation for people who enjoy these old films.
13 February 2026
Was this review helpful to you?
So heart-warming!! !!
It’s been so long since i am having this giggling jiggling moments when i watched a kdrama. such a heart-warming, happening & fulfilled storylines. i love everything they potrayed in the drama from the village veterinary hospital, old trucks, cute coffee truck, peach farm, Sandeul Police Station, Hui-dong villagers anddd the cinematography.Choo Young-woo and Joy are such a cutesy when they smile as they show us the FULLY GUM SMILE uGH I LOVE THEM!! the awkward and shy interaction are what i lived for along the hours! i hope they will be casted for more kdramas just like Once Upon A Small Town bcos Joy is so cute in her white & floral dresses!
Nevertheless, please give it a watch on Netflix! You don’t have to stress regarding any, u just only have to stress “whEN WILL THE CONFESSION BEGINS??”
Was this review helpful to you?
A Storybook Romance That Knows the Script
Normally, I wouldn’t be into something like this. It’s a heavy romance, and they lay it on thick. But several nuances made it work for me. This isn’t meant to represent real-life love or realistic scenery—it’s a storybook version of romance, told through fictional characters who feel stilted because they’re written in that way on purpose. And by following a scripted novel that we see the lead getting pulled into preserves that “author” vibe. It makes it clear that the cheesy delivery is intentional, not because the directors thought that’s what viewers wanted (at least, that was my interpretation—and why the romance felt digestible to me). And whenever the romantic script became a bit too much, it would balance itself out with comedy or a lingering sense of sadness.I do have a few disclaimers, though. I skipped through the second lead’s arc because it felt a bit sleepy to me, even though I know what happens with them. I also really like Wang Yuwen, so I’m more inclined to give her performances a chance. Overall, though, this was a great watch for me. I connected with most of the characters, loved the soundtrack (even if there were only a few songs on repeat), and I really enjoyed the narrative. It had nice angles and a few compelling twists that gave the story depth. The color palette was beautiful, and I loved being transported back to the ’90s. Now I want to watch more circa-1995 dramas!
Was this review helpful to you?
A fairy tale about a marriage of convenience.
A captivating, fun, and romantic story with a fairytale vibe. Rose and Din have great chemistry; I found myself yelling for them to kiss several times. However, for me, the highlight of the series was the cousins, especially Lom. Believe me, I'm not saying this because this character is played by Freen Becky; I'm not a number one Freen Becky fan, but I must admit she's my favorite character. Lom is giving a charismatic performance. There's humor, fun, and suspense too. I liked the villain of the series and the serious issues it addresses. I hated him and was afraid of what he might do to the protagonists... In other words, I loved him! That's how a villain should be.Was this review helpful to you?
Major casting failure. The FL actress isn't right for the role and ruined it for me
Things I liked1 The ML. he did his part. he tried hard to make it work but it was useless with the useless partner he had. I hope I see him in other series where he can shine.
Things I disliked
1 The lack of chemistry. Something was off and it never felt like they were in love. He probably was, she certainly wasn't. She gave the impression that he was lucky to have her and we were lucky to watch her destroy a love story.
Things I hated
1 The casting of the FL. The actress didn't even try to make us believe she was in love. No warmth, no humor, no tenderness and certainly not any chemistry with the ML. The people who cast her for the role should be fired. If she's not capable to convey love and warmth she has nothing to do in a romance series. Don't make me incest my hours on something you know it won't give me satisfaction because you chose a person for the role who can't act. It's an insult to the viewer. First and last time I've watched that actress.
2 The line about leave to men to take the initiative about the future. What the hack was that? Who wrote that dreadful line?
Was this review helpful to you?
I'm immpressed by people who want to protect the Environmental .
Thanks for this wonderful drama
Great preducer
Great director
Uncompared crew
Specialy Yang zi ..
Was this review helpful to you?
Watch this when you want a stupid vertical (?), but horizontal!
Watch this when you want a stupid vertical, but on a bigger screen, with a substantial amount of 🔥 or spice or 'kilig' or whatever you want to call it. I'll just dub this a horizontal.Don't watch this to critique character motivations, evaluate plot point plausibility, or form opinions on whether the FL ever consents to being randomly grabbed & forcefully kissed.
The premise is kind of a copy of Mysterious Love, but the plot isn't as bad and disjointed.
The OST is randomly copied together (as in, it's blatant plagiarism), but most of the MDL comments still find it substantially adds to the enjoyment.
Some of the production is incredibly sloppy (audio, continuity, other things), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it in 4K for scientifically analyzing you-know-what.
The only actor who is good from start to finish is Jesse Ren. Fang Jin is quite bad at the very start, then gets to an okay level with some outages here and there. However, she's not here to convince you of her emotional range or expression control, but to somehow be put into peril, before being rescued (and ravished) by Jesse Ren.
(There's a second couple, who are totally unnecessary yet mildly cute, but unlike the leads they didn't bring their intimacy A-game, perhaps related to their age difference. Might view them as in the wrong show. Beyond that there are various gangsters and office workers and office workers that are gangsters too, but none of these stand out much. I'll only keep a look out for future roles of Liu YuYang, ML's sidekick.)
Oh, and watch the specials!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
University BL with 3 sweet romances
PLOT: The welcoming and integration of new students into an engineering school is facilitated through various junior/senior activities. One group stands out in particular: the Perfect 10 Liners, a close-knit group that welcomes new students each year. Three successive couples form:[ep 1 - 8] Arc/Arm => Force & Book
[ep 9 - 16] Yotha/Gun => Perth & Santa
[ep 17 - 24] Wine/Faifa => Mark & Junior
+++ Great cast with talented and nuanced actors. Some could improve their kissing skills, but we forgive them because they're cute.
+++ Well-constructed and coherent story, without a major villain, twist, or break-up.
+++ Effective and well-paced direction.
No complaints about the OST.
### Some characters, meant to provide comic relief, are VERY over-the-top.
### The couples I found really cute during their own story arcs lose their appeal in the other characters' storylines.
=> A pleasant, heartwarming series, without any particular message, except to have a good time.
***************************************
BL universitaire avec 3 sweet romances
PLOT: L'accueil et l'intégration des nouveaux au sein d'une école d'ingénieurs, se fait par des multiples activités juniors / seniors. Un gpe en particulièrement en vue : les Perfect 10 Liners, très unis, intégrant chq année des nouveaux. Formation de 3 couples successifs :
[ép 1 - 8] Arc/Arm => Force & Book
[ép 9 - 16 ] Yotha/Gun => Perth & Santa
[ép 17 - 24] Wine/Faifa => Mark & Junior
+++ Super cast avec des acteurs talentueux, subtiles. Certains devraient améliorer leurs kissing skills, mais on leur pardonne car ils sont cute.
+++ Story bien construite, cohérente, sans Great Villain, sans twist ni break-up.
+++ Réalis° efficace et rythmée.
RAS sur les OSTs.
### Certains personnages, censés être la touche comique, sont TRES exagérés.
### Les couples que je trouvais très cutes durant leur arc narratif, perdent de leur saveur sur les arcs narratifs des autres.
=> Série agréable, réconfortante, sans message particulier, sauf celui de passer un bon moment.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Like Other K Dramas
As someone who has watched a lot of K-dramas, this show felt really refreshing. It wasn’t predictable and didn’t follow the usual TV tropes. I literally couldn’t put it down, which is a rare occurrence for me. I didn’t love the ending, but I understand why they chose to finish it that way. The cinematography is beautiful, and it truly feels like a work of art (pun not intended).Was this review helpful to you?
Much better than season 1
After watching season 1, I was hoping for a big improvement with season 2, that definitely happened. It still was lacking a bit in story line, but the characters seemed to have a bit more depth in this new season. Ren, who I still find boring, had a bit more personality and became a little more likable than in the past. Kyohei Takahashi seemed to open his character up and gave us a better understanding of who he was, making for a better match with Nanako this time around. Riko Fukumoto gave more with her character as well. At least the two showed some chemistry in season 2.My favorite still remained Takumi Ando, just as in season 1. Coki Yamashita gave his role such personality, appearing more realistic than anyone else in this drama. At first, you kind of think things will work out for him, then they appear not to, but then it seems like it will again. It's a good back and forth to see where he ends up, not knowing until the very end. Ando was the only one who appeared strong enough to survive, no matter what the outcome.
Overall, much more enjoyable in this final season!
Was this review helpful to you?
bai lu and xing yue
I love the story, I am watching this, it's really so good. and love bai lu and xing yue. They are really so good in acting. Best couple. I wish if bai lu and xing yue will real couple. We want more drama with this couple.🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞Was this review helpful to you?
Bad script.
Continuing the trend with a lot of -the last couple of years- k-dramas, this show also suffers the "disease" of a bad script.Contrary to what others have said, I actually think this isn't a complicated story. It's just a badly written one.
I've watched a lot of mystery-thrillers and the script and acting are the most important factors for a show of these genres to be good. For any show to be fair.
Once again, what is going on with South Korea and its writers? Are they using Ai or what, bc I can't think of a reason where the writers are so uninspired with their work.
For this drama its ONLY saving grace is Lee Junhyuk. This man is one hell of a actor. Anyone that hasn't watched his dramas need to drop what they're currently watching and start "Dongjae, the good or the bastard" right this second. Now, THAT'S a good show.
Anyway, such a seriously disappointing drama. How can you have known, serious actors and the budget to shoot a Netflix thriller but not try to have a better script?
Unoriginal, uninspiring and frankly I'm over korea's obsession with luxury brands and surface level "rich people-poor people" concepts.
K-dramas need to do better.
The 4.5 is for Lee Junhyuk, otherwise I'd give it a 2 for the annoying script.
Was this review helpful to you?
Overhyped & Repetitive — A Frustrating Watch (12/16 eps)
Ep 1–2: Bored.
Ep 3–7: Finally felt some momentum.
Ep 8 onward: Gradual decline.
By episode 8, I started getting irritated with the female lead, Im Sol. By episode 9, that irritation turned into genuine disconnect. The emotional scenes, which should have been impactful, didn’t land for me at all.
I pushed through until episode 12, but I found myself stuck there for days. I had already crossed the halfway mark, so I didn’t want to drop it. Eventually, I did.
The central concept... repeatedly going back to the past and returning to the present... felt fresh at first but quickly became repetitive. Instead of deepening the narrative, it started to feel like the only driving device.
Despite a few enjoyable moments, I couldn’t stay invested. For me, it didn’t live up to the hype.
Was this review helpful to you?
I can't believe this is a 9
Things I liked1 The low angst isn't something I dislike. I don't necessarily care about having problems and love triangles and something to overcome. So that wasn't the issue.
2 The second couple. Better actors and more interesting story, although not one I haven't seen before, But that's fine. I don't chase after originality either.
3 The ML. I think he was decent, but that's it. His character never took off and the thing I liked most about him was his dimple. I'm sure he'll do better in a better written story.
Things I disliked
1 The lack of character development. Growing older and deciding to get married isn't what I call real character growth. Everything felt so boring and somewhat not right. I can' explain but the whole wedding and having a baby was rather off-putting than romantic. I know many love this, hence the rating of 9, which is baffling to me to say he least, but to me it felt like it wasn't the right move. Like the writers pushed them to do this to have a happy ending. It felt sad in a way rather than romantic or joyful.
Things I hated
1 Unfortunately the FL. I've seen her n other series and tolerated her well, but here she got on my nerves more than once. She overdid it in sweetness to the point that it felt fake in the end. She pushed and stalked and insisted to the point that it made me uncomfortable. I love high school dramas. Hidden Love, Our Secret and a few others are amongst my favorites, but this one didn't make the cut. It didn't have a story and the acting of the FL wasn't good. Coincidence but today I mention twice Esther Yu because two actresses I didn't like in two dramas tried to play cute and they made m cringe whilst when she does it she makes me smile. Anyway, the actress isn't my cup if tea. I hate her voice and her expressions and her whole childish behavior. This is what made me dislike the series. That it felt like a child was doing all this and it felt so cringe and wrong.
Was this review helpful to you?
Curtain Call for a Villainess
If fate had a redo button, Jiang Xue Ning would smash it without hesitation. In Story of Kunning Palace, her obsession with becoming empress costs her dearly. She strains her friendship with Yan Lin and causes the arrest of the upright official Zhang Zhe, all for a crown that glitters a little too brightly. Her reign is brief. Rebels led by Yan Lin storm the palace and the royal family falls. In her final act, guilt outweighs ambition and she trades her life for Zhang Zhe’s freedom. Cue the cosmic plot twist. She wakes up as her 18 year old self, before she ever steps into the palace. Determined to rewrite her destiny, she tries to avoid the chessboard of court politics, only to be pulled right back in as Princess Le Yang’s study companion and the disciple of Xie Wei, the very man who orchestrated her downfall in her previous life. Talk about karmic irony.At its heart, this drama is a meditation on cause and effect. The past is not just prologue here, it is a constant ghost. The narrative structure leans heavily on flashbacks, often showing us a moment from her first life right before it replays differently in the second. It is a clever way to map the domino effect of her choices. We see how a single selfish decision can echo across timelines. That said, the constant toggling between lives sometimes feels like reading the annotated version of a novel instead of the full uncut edition. We understand what happened, but we do not always sit long enough with the emotional aftermath. The depth is there, shimmering beneath the surface, yet occasionally diluted.
As Jiang Xue Ning, Bai Lu is the drama’s secret weapon. In her first life, she is every inch the charismatic empress, charming, manipulative, and deliciously wicked. She wears ambition like haute couture. In her second life, she softens without losing her bite. She is proactive, remorseful, and even a little bubbly, as if redemption has given her caffeine. The beauty of her performance lies in the consistency. Even when her goals change, her core personality remains intact. She is still sharp, still calculating, just now aiming those traits toward survival and atonement instead of pure power.
Orbiting her in both lifetimes are three very different men, each representing a different shade of love and consequence.
Let us start with the reddest of red flags, Xie Wei, played by Zhang Ling He. If toxic masterminds had a poster boy, he would be it. Brilliant, ruthless, and fueled by vengeance, he is described as having a saint’s skin but a devil’s heart. Calm and cultured on the outside, thoroughly Machiavellian underneath. He spirals into bouts of mental instability whenever it snows, which strongly hints at unresolved trauma. With Jiang Xue Ning, he evolves from adversary to something far more obsessive and possessive. They are not your garden variety star crossed lovers. They are more like two villains in a Shakespearean remix, bringing out each other’s darkest impulses. Their romance simmers for a long time, built on arguments, strategy, and reluctant understanding. When it finally ignites, it is explosive. The chemistry between them raises the bar for passionate kiss scenes in historical dramas. Zhang Ling He goes all in. Yes, the snarls and sneers can be theatrical, but the intensity works. This is arguably his strongest performance so far.
Then there is Zhang Zhe, portrayed by Wang Xing Yue, the moral compass of the story. An upright official in the Ministry of Justice, he is principled to a fault. Duty, justice, and integrity are not just words to him, they are a lifestyle. In her first life, he is the only man Jiang Xue Ning truly admires. He represents a pure love constrained by propriety and responsibility. Ironically, this righteous man once compromised his principles for her. Their bond is powerful and tragic, so intense that it pushes them toward mutual destruction. In many ways, this is the most pivotal love story in the drama. He is the reason she learns to be selfless. That is why it feels like such a missed opportunity that their relationship in her second life barely scratches the surface of their unresolved emotions. Wang Xing Yue delivers an empathetic and quietly devastating performance, which makes the lack of narrative focus on his arc even more disappointing. We are given the outline of a masterpiece but not the full painting.
Yan Lin, played by Zhou Jun Wei, is the childhood best friend who never stood a real chance. Friendzoned from day one, yet loyal to the end. Initially cheerful and carefree, the heir of the Yan family matures into a battle hardened military leader after his family’s tragedy. His love for Jiang Xue Ning is steady and protective, the kind built on shared childhood memories and promises whispered in youth. Zhou Jun Wei balances mischief and maturity well, especially in the action scenes where Yan Lin’s charisma truly shines. His transformation feels earned, and his presence adds emotional weight to the rebellion that once ended her life.
The political conspiracies are not overly complicated, but they are gripping. Watching Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei manipulate court factions like chess pieces is wickedly entertaining. They are diabolical together, a power duo that thrives in moral gray zones. This is not an action heavy drama, yet when fights do happen, they are well shot and impactful. Yan Lin’s battlefield moments, in particular, are memorable.
As for the ensemble, they provide solid support, though not every subplot lands. Xue Shu’s arc drags and tests patience. Her screen time could have been better spent deepening Zhang Zhe’s storyline, which feels like the emotional backbone that never fully flexes.
Despite its narrative shortcomings and production values that are decent rather than dazzling, I enjoyed this drama immensely. It feels like reading the Cliff Notes of an epic novel that clearly contains more layers, nuance, and heartbreak than what makes it to screen. And yet, even in summary form, it captivates. Perhaps that is the real magic of Story of Kunning Palace. It leaves you satisfied, but also yearning, as if fate pressed redo one more time and said, you can have more, but only if you dare to look closer.
Was this review helpful to you?
