Reviews

An excellent drama

Ripe Town is a thoroughly watchable, neo-noir-style mystery thriller set in a prosperous rural area during the late Ming dynasty. The drama follows the investigation, by multiple official and semi-official actors, into what appears to be a ritualized serial killing spree. As the mystery plotline unfolds, so do multiple intricate backstories filled with bad behavior, conspiracy, outrageous social inequalities, and additional unsolved murders. We follow the action through a group of young sleuths (constables and their friends) connected to one of the murder victims, but other interesting characters (a brilliant but traumatized judge, prostitutes, local mobsters, well-to-do businessfolks with questionable backgrounds, and a seemingly inept magistrate) play critical roles in the action. The acting is excellent all around, and the mystery plotline is exceptionally logical, unfolds at a good pace, and is unveiled gradually so that the ultimate resolution is both eminently plausible and yet still a surprise.

It's impossible to review this drama without commenting on its superior production value, which greatly exceeds that I've seen in any comparable piece (and even that of larger-scope historical dramas). The sound, visuals, cinematography, and editing are all top-tier. It's also worth noting that this drama has a very unusual tone for a Chinese historical piece. It's very sober and ultimately quite bleak, but not oppressively so (there's a surprising amount of fairly dark but genuinely amusing humor, as well).

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Not bad

I feel sincerely that some points of the story ruin the whole picture.

I had to choose whether to write with spoilers or not. The spoiler will be in the comment below. DON'T click it if you don't want to be spoiled.

I liked the first few episodes, we come back to a world we left..well for me it was last year. I like the starting point of the story. The re-introduction of characters and the world overall. The action scenes in the first episode were well-made. The story picks its pace, but the writing makes it so the pacing is broken quite fast and becomes inconsistent. It hurts the story, especially in the last 4 episodes.

What hurts the story even more is the introduction of new plot points, those points didn't have time to develop and were brushed over so shallowly that they make little to no importance to the story. I like that they tried to expand the world a little, although they failed at that point too. Also, everything feels smaller than in the first season, even after introducing a new unknown region, that region has no weight in the story.

The music: to be honest, I can't even hum it, even after watching the last episode a minute ago. The music is forgettable. I don't remember feeling strong emotions from the music alone. Except for only one of the episodes, the music is lacking in supporting the scene.

The acting did pull on some heartstrings on a few occasions. Overall I think the acting was good during most of the scenes. It's the opposite of the music. The acting was great except for a few scenes.

For 12 episodes x 90 minutes, nothing much happened and too many new things were introduced.

I don't think I will rewatch this season. For me, they miss big time on building the climax of the story. That last episode left me with a blank face and a ''whatever'' in my head. ''Whatever it's over now''

Note; it's no bad and I am glad I watched it. I also don't care that they changed the actors, it did not influence my rating.

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An Epic Conclusion to a Saga and Perhaps the Prelude to another.

This is gonna be one long rave review cus I rarely even write reviews. :)

I really think the world of Arthdal is one with such great lore and infinite potential and it is so satisfying to see it being told in such an immersive manner. Season 1 was a tale of hopes, dreams, struggles and beginnings for all the characters. Season 2, despite the long wait, immediately had me immersed in the lives of these characters yet again.

I had my slight doubts if I would still be able to accept the new casting but over the first few episodes I found myself rather enjoying comparing the old and new cast and appreciating both in their own way. Especially the trio of prophecy, i admit I was quite satisfied with how things turned out. As much as i love SJK as young Eunseom and Saya I think LJK perfectly pulled off a battle-hardened Eunseom and a Saya who has mastered the manipulative ways of the court. Tanya is the first character I've seen being played by both KJW and SSK and i feel that the growth is reflected here too - from a naive and inexperienced young girl who is desperately holding on to her ideals to a tougher woman who will use people and bend some ideals if it aligns with the greater good.

And of course Tagon and Taelha. They were my favorites then. They are my favorites now. Im not sure if I can even express in words how much I love these two characters. There is so much depth to these characters. Their bond that stays so strong beneath despite the struggles, betrayals, anger and hatred on the surface. (They deserve a series of their own really) I especially loved Taelha in this season and how surprisingly these two are amazing parents to Arok even when the world is falling apart around them.

So many of the side characters are great too. The Momo tribe, Tachukan, Neanthals to name a few.

Im really happy with how Season 2 has ended too. Yes there are many open endings and unanswered questions but that just gives my imagination so much more to dream with. Whether there is a Season 3 or not, Arthdal Chronicles for me has been one memorable journey.

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cutest relationship in kdrama history

nothing to nick pick about this drama. fab casting, greating acting, the cutest and funniest main leads with the most adorable relationship istg. absolute fav couple! there are a few problematic jokes but the drama brings out some laughing bouts from you in the earlier episodes it's actually so fun. wish that continued till the last few but not to be. but their relationship felt real and really wholesome it was refreshing. I also wish the show could have shown us more Bong Soon as a superhero saving ppl and doing the regular "your friendly neighborhood strong woman" thing lol. That was my expectation from the introduction, or atleast after she learns to control her power. instead it mainly focused on the single psychopath character. which is again true to the superhero genre with one main rival to the hero and all that.

love love the ost. PHS simply lived his character. don't think he went out of character even during cuts lol. even in the drama can see PBY geniunely laughing and smiling cuz of his antics lol. i can't believe these two didn't actually fall in love! absolute fav couple.

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Lee Joon Gi's Performance is Incredible

I LOVED the second season of Arthdal. Lee Joon Gi has killed it with his portrayal of Eunseom and Saya. I am so very proud of him.

Though there has been a lot of skepticism around this second season changes including a change in the director, the recasting of two lead characters as well as many of the supporting cast, and a change in streaming platforms, I am so relieved with the direction and quality of the series.

Arthdal is proving to be quite the epic fantasy tale. I am in love with the world-building and how the story explores lore and prophecy. Its portrayal of motive and power has been truly fascinating.

My biggest gripe of this season is Shin Sae Kyung’s performance of Tanya. Her portrayal was quite underwhelming and lackluster. Is this how she always acts in more historical dramas? Her performance pales in comparison to the performances of Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi. Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi have some of the best scenes together. The onscreen chemistry is off the charts.

The ending felt rushed, but that was expected considering the scale of Arthdal. Overall, season two still kept the quality up, even when it resolved its plot lines in the most predictable ways possible. This was a fun world to jump into!

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Lacks Substance. Harassing & Pushing = Love (apparently).

In reality it would be ick, as a fantasy I gave it a chance but it's lacking in many ways. The characters and story are poorly written and failed to engage me emotionally.

There are eight 20min episodes. The first 3.5 episodes are all physical/sexual harassment (that's weirdly encouraged by coworkers and manager), stalker-ish obsessive behavior, and ignoring what the other character says.

As a fantasy, the frequent close physical proximity does build tension and the lead actors seem comfortable with each other and have good chemistry. The intimate scene is surprisingly realistic, especially for a Korean BL. And sadly, that's the best thing I can say about this whole series.

There's not much to the story and the script is dull and full of clichés. Things became a little less shallow and more emotionally interesting in Ep 7-8 with the introduction of a certain character, but that was too little and too late for me. I couldn't really care at that point because the story had failed to get me invested in the characters.

Character words and actions contradict each other. Ex: "Your feelings aren't insignificant. They're very special." BUT, I'm going to ignore everything you say, especially every time you say you don't want something, and keep making you uncomfortable (even after they get together).

The actors did okay with what they were given, but no one was truly compelling.

Cinematography and music were generic (but didn't distract either).

I can't recommend this when there are many Korean BLs that are much better written. Love Class 2 is a great option if you're looking for realistic intimate scenes (the 2nd and 3rd couple have them). At the same time, there's more emotional depth and sweetness, naturalistic dialogue, and engaging stories. FYI Love Class 2 is a stand alone, not a sequal, so you don't have to watch the first series (which is good but not as good).

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time travel emg memusingkan.

oke ini aku nikmati banget si. cuma aku suka sama yang kasus kasus beda gitu, lebih excited aja gitu rasanya dan juga time travel masih bisa dipahami walaupun kadang agak ga ngeh ini tuh jaman kapan. nah kalau untuk kasus yg utamanya, aku agk kurang suka. belibet banget karena time travel nya. aku gapaham, misal adegan 1 ni trus ke adegan 2 eh balik lagi ke adegan 1. jujur ak tak paham betul-betul konteksnya. trus terakhirnya ga terlalu dijelasin detail bgt kejadiannya. hppy ending sbnrnya cuma mungkin bisa ditambahin minimal mrk jumpa lah dan menurutku penulis mengakhiri hidup villain tu kurang tepat, ak sm skli ga ngarepin hal itu. aku harepin dia dapat hukuman di masa depan yang kek menderita banget. tapi setelah aku pikir” kl dia ga mati di jaman 2000-an, pasti banyak kasus yang diusik sm tu org. so yaudalah ak terima. but, terlepas dr main problemnya, kasus kasus kecil jg bagus jalan nya, ada plottwist nya juga.

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face swap

The series was quite nice. The actors were also nice. They were fine. However, there was no harmony between the lead boy and our lead girl, and in my opinion, the lead boy did not suit the girl. I can't answer exactly whether the difference in age is because his face makes him look older or because he has a mustache, but I didn't find these two suitable. Apart from that, I liked all the actors, except for the logical errors in the series, which is a fantastic series, but if we ignore them, the biggest reason why I took down the score is the FACE CHANGING incident at the beginning of the series. I thought about quitting the series even after that episode. I gave up again. I couldn't tolerate mistakes like this anymore. Even though it was nice, I couldn't handle such things. He says let me give you my face, don't use it too much, he gives you a watch or something. The other one says, why should I use it maliciously? The reason he wanted it was because he was ugly and the girl whose face he took was more beautiful. We didn't see this in the series. Our two daughters were beautiful. So is their skin. There is no ugliness. The excuse doesn't fit at all. Secondly, why should I use it maliciously? It doesn't fit at all. Why would a person give his face to another person? Why would he teach this spell? No follicle, no egg, what was this wish and this wish was fulfilled. I couldn't like this series at all. After all, does a well-intentioned person want someone else's face? There is reason, there is logic. It's something that was written with a huge mistake and a foresight that doesn't fit into this series. I wanted to say this. No need for others. That's enough already. Let's not hinder the audience. But I hope that if the screenwriters add a little bit of reason, reality or appropriateness to their writing while making a series, it will be better. Otherwise, make it up and slide it. I've had enough now. Screenwriters, please do not spoil the beautiful TV series, plots and stories with such simple things. Please!

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Bittersweet Relationship

I come with expectation of bittersweet story, emphasis on the 'bitter', but actually the sweetness is quite profound. Still, it has deepness, like a bittersweet vintage wine. Intoxicating.

The main point is not the plot, but characters. Doona and Wonjun, both feel very complex and very humane. How their intricate thought lead to certain decision, but how easy they change when shaken by each other. Actually, that's very realistic. All support character have their own story, bring lighter feeling. Actors and actresses do their job very very well. All characters feel alive.

My favorite soundtrack is the one from Seori. I can't explain why, but I think that one contain the soul of this story. It really bring mood for the scenes and leaving a somber feelings.

The cinematography done very well. I really love the use of empty space they often use by framing the scenes. It's like looking at old pictures, reminds you of unfinished feeling. Which is very suitable for this story.

I know it has open ending, but for me, it has conclusion. It just done quietly and secretly. They exclude us from that. It feels intimate, and I love it.

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I had a rough start with the show and didn't get over it

Somehow I felt not really exited when I started to watch this drama. I don't know why, but it just feels a bit off. Right after the beginning I knew with whom he would end up, so I basically sit through 16 episodes, being 100% sure to know who will be the endgame - and I was right. So the whole show was really predictable for me, which..of course.. minimized the fun for me.

There were some things I appreciated, but I feel like, these things I pointed out in my episode reviews are the same things again and again:

+ Namgoong is a really great friend. Loyal, wise, gives good advices, acts like he doesn't know something to make the other person not uncomfortable, but gives still the right advice and he's funny!
+ The teacher is a gem! I think there were hints to his story for a second season? But..honestly..I am not really interested, unfortunately. (By the way: if someone remembers seeing this actor in another drama: please tell me! It's driving me nuts, because I am sure I saw him somewhere else, but I can't find any information on this, lmao)
+ The show brings some important topics on the table, just like being ready to coming out, being a pushover, first love, unrequited love etc. etc.
+ The soundtrack is great!
+ Character development is definitely present. I like.

But I feel like the flaws overshadow the little good feelings the show gave me. I'm sure I will remember this show, because the soundtrack found it's way in my playlist, but overall I don't feel the need to rewatch any scene of this. Some scenes were really awkward, so it was hard to watch, even when they made me laugh (but I'm also a person who laughs when something is uncomfortable, so..nevermind, lol)

- In my opinion, they spent way too much time with TK and Daon.
- Because of that, it feels weird that TK switches so fast to Shinwoo. Dude looks like he's just the second choice, because Daon can't stand up for himself and Shinwoo is there for him. Especially in the last episode..I don't really understand what this one scene in the beginning is supposed to mean. It makes it even more looking like TK isn't really over Daon. (Am I the only one who thinks that it's weird they keep wearing their partner-bracelets?!)
- TKs monotone acting was really hard to sit out. I love dry humor and straightforward characters, but after a few episodes it's really hard to endure.
- Imho this crashed the whole chemistry. I saw similar characters in other dramas, but they had great chemistry with their partners because they could act really well and adapt to show feelings and a reaction when it was needed. But here..idk how to explain it. It just kills every spark that could have lighten up, because TK looks zoomed out most of the time. He doesn't use a lot of face expressions, his eyes are nearly dead, so hooooow tf should I be able to tell any chemistry in there. T_T
- Wtf was this disappointing kiss in the end? Shinwoo did great!!! But again, TK looks so distant, it feels like Shinwoo is harassing him. x.x

I feel so burned out that I can't handle my disappointment any further, lmao. At this point, I will just say, this wasn't my kind of drama and I agree to the other critical reviews and just spare any more words to not waste more your time reading things other explained way better than me. :'D

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this dráma IS masterpiece story ❤️

this dráma IS excelentt bae suzzy IS talened actress and oné of my favorit actress. slown burn story AMD stien burn romacne IS mi favorites genre- ❤️ chemisttyy IS between main couple IS amazing !!!! Kiss scéne in this dráma IS amazing story IS amazing att All IS amazing !!! this dráma IS my favorit dráma 2023 ❤️ Bae suzzy slayyy and plot in this dráma i like her character ❤️. but the end IS sad for me ? i Wish I wish there was a second season so they could be together. I enjoyed every episode, I knew from the trailer that yes, this is exactly what I need to see

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Blind hatred towards a race is never justified.....

This was a very short series, however the airing schedule made it stretch too long... I had started watching it earlier but had to pause it for a time till all episodes aired...But it would not be a problem for future viewers so no need to discuss that.

Actors Zou ye as Bo Qiu and Li JiaQi as Su Xiao Huan did a wonderful job in portraying their emotions within the framework of the story. Even the supporting cast of Xiang Xin as Yu Li and Wang Ting Xu as Xuan Yuan Qingchuan did justice to the role written for them.


The story itself was very simple and motivation of the antagonist was almost non existent, pitting human versus demons would not be beneficial to a halfling, the whole series is focused on killing the demon king, Bo Qiu but nobody stops to question that killing him wouldn't resolve their problems as he wasn't responsible for any of their woes in the first place...the production team with the limited budget tried their best to showcase the tale however if the script had been better the actors could have something more to work on.

What impressed me was the difference between Yu Li and XiaoHuan thought process.... Yu Li reveals that her motivation for creating chaos and slaughtering humans and demons alike was because she had been mistreated by both races in childhood... So she is responsible for the war which is leaving thousands of people hungry, homeless and destitute..... Where as Xiao Huan also states in her conversation with Bo Qiu that she was orphaned at an early age and left to fend for herself, she too had a difficult childhood but she chooses to remember small kindness shown to her by people of offering her warm bowl of food, helping with small things which makes her believe that all people are not bad.... Also Xian Huan's love for animals is heartwarming to see.

Cinematography was the saving grace, picturisation and scenes were shot beautifully.

The instrumental music inserted during ML and FL's emotional scenes was very mesmerizing and soulful. Lot was said in the tune without any words.

Overall : Could be watched once, but not the best mini series out there. Hopefully the actors would get better opportunity in future.

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Ridiculouls with some cute sprinked in

I am here after Cutie Pie, where I loved Dio and Hia as side characters. Their chemistry and personality made me like them more than the main leads of Cutie Pie, actually. But naughty babe let me down.
The chemistry itself was the same in places but since the vibe of this show is completely different from Cutie Pie, as is the personality of these characters, that leaves the chemistry almost unrecognizable from its original form back in Cutie Pie.

While cutie pie was an emotional watch, with some over-the-top shenanigans thrown in for comedic effect, Naughty Babe is an over-the-top wannabe lakron that tries too hard to be an action-adventure coupled with "emotional intensity". The result is an over-the-top ridiculous show that isn't a lakron, is far from dramatic, makes the "emotional intensity" aspects feel off and unreal, and completely misses the boat on comedy. Nothing meshes together well; it's all disjointed. It's one stupid mess. I had to force myself to finish it out, but I did, for the sake of the main actors, both of whom I like.
I wish they'd have stayed true to the cutie pie format, and the feel of those characters, but alas...if wishes were wings...

I'm not in the mood to write a plot summary. I'll say that the main MDL summary is pretty accurate, as is the trailer for the show.
For anyone not invested in these characters from Cutie Pie, I wouldn't recommend getting into this show. There are better viewing options available. <3

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