Reviews

Expecting more from Japanese Love in the air

the Thai version. I’ve seen the Thai version first and I was hoping that they’ll add a new atmosphere for this.
Trying to be objective this series is not easy to be executed, because we need to feel
• the characters connection ( imo the Japanese BL’s do it just great with a few episodes,there’re objective,on the other side Thai BL focus on crescendo, it takes longer but we get that connection)
•Characters chemistry ( Arashi/Rei was ok , Fuma/Kai could be better, it missed the emotional tone
I’m actually surprised because normally on Japanese series they have this ability to capture the essence of the story.
For me … I wasn’t expecting a copy paste of the Thai series but an adaptation having in consideration the Japanese culture.
They started out well on the 2nd episode I had the impression that they’ve focused on the keys points , I liked how they demonstrated Kai emotional state,it was so well made…but somewhere they lost focus.
I hope that they could see constructives comments and next time leave us speechless.

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=> Excellent isekai series , with a great Ding Yu Xi

PLOT: The FL, faithful reader of a novelist (the ML) falls into the novel / video game, in which she must complete quests to return in the real world. In the game, she is FL2, meets a group of demon hunters (ML and his sister, ML3) and helps them face demons, conspirations, romantic rivalries, ... and the Great Villain.

+++ a great cast, with Ding Yu Xi & Esther Yu and a bunch of excellent actors
+++ super quality CGI (the Chinese are the only ones who can do this kind of effects at this top level)
+++ epic, cute OSTs that fit perfectly with the emotions.
+++ The cinematography is TOP: costumes, make-up, framing, fight scenes, etc.

### The storyline is a little chaotic sometimes. In addition, the impromptu passages in the game system prevent you from fully investing in the story because you put yourself in the position of an observer.
### The ending is a little abrupt, I would have liked to see the meeting of the two characters inthe real world.
### The romance is very cute, with great chemistry, but there is no kissing or skinship,... Too bad!

=> Excellent isekai, with a great Ding Yu Xi
*******************************************************
Isekai avec Ding Yu Xi & Esther Yu

PLOT: La FL, fidèle lectrice d'un romancier (le ML) tombe dans le roman / jeu vidéo, dans lequel elle doit accomplir des quests pr retrouver le monde réel. Ds le jeu, elle est la FL2, rencontre des chasseurs de démons (ML et sa sœur, ML3) et les aide à affronter les démons, les complots, les rivalités amoureuses, ... et la Great Villain.

+++ un great cast, avec Ding Yu Xi & Esther Yu et bcp d'autres excellents acteurs
+++ des CGI de super qualité (les chinois sont les seuls à pouvoir faire ce genre de choses à ce top niveau)
+++ des OST épiques, cute, qui s'accordent parfaitement aux émotions.
+++ La cinématographie est TOP : costumes, make-up, cadrages,scènes de fight, etc.

### La storyline est un peu chaotique par moments. De plus, les passages impromptus dans le système de jeu, empêchent de s'investir complètement dans l'histoire car on se met en posture d'observateur.
### La ending est un peu abrupte, j'aurai aimé voir la rencontre des 2 personnages dans la réalité.
### La romance est très cute, avec une belle alchimie, mais il n'y a ni kiss ni skinship, ... Dommage !

=> Excellent isekai, avec un grand Ding Yu Xi

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my remaining bit of innocence is gone lmao-

I had pretty high expectations from this show and I was certainly not disappointed. It was one of those shows that the plot was so over the place that it made me wanna watch more. I couldn’t not finish it.
Although the plot was a little questionable, like almost too abstract, it was still very good. I was never bored.
Bible is also a very good actor and I think all of them did a good job portraying their characters.
I must say though, the amount of red flags throughout this series was crazy. Literally, not a single character was even remotely nice. I’m not complaining though!
I swear though, almost every episode had an explicit scene. I felt as if I shouldn’t be watching it, if u know what I mean lmao- Like why did Tonkla always want it raw 😭😭😭?! This was one of those shows that I made sure to watch at night. The amount of questionable scenes would be too risky to watch out in broad daylight.
Anyways, I quite enjoyed this series. I have some opinions about the ending, but other than that it was pretty decent!

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Wow, such an incredible show

Not much needs to be said about this show, it is one of the best dramas I have ever seen. The cast was incredible which is to be expected of Chung yi he is just so good. I enjoyed how powerful the women were. Qiao Wan Mian, Shi Shui, Su Xiao Yong, He Xiao Hui and Princess Zhao Ling. Were some of my favorites and Fan Duo Bings mother was hilarious. The script was expertly written, including Li Lian hua’s humor. I think Li Xiang Yi is one of my favorite heroes of all time now. His character development was incredible and the way he grew compassionate and humble was endearing to see. It’s incredible how much Dei Fei Sheng connected to him, he saw him as a contemporary. They had an unspoken bond that transcended their differences. It was odd at times and yet impressive. The cases added to the shows overall enjoyment. It is a must watch!!!

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Bland characters and underwhelming execution of story

This was my first high school cdrama. And I can't say I'm impressed. Although most people will disagree with me, it surely won't stop me from expressing my opinion.

As far as I've noticed, the main reason why so many people love this is nostalgia. Nostalgia is a strong emotion. Speaking from experience, I agree that it can make you very much attached to things that may not be that impressive. However, I'm not connected to this drama in that way.

The only thing that saved this drama (more precisely helped me remain patient before deciding to drop) was the actors. Even while acting out extremely bland characters and bland script, their expressions and deliery proved their talent. High school is a very potential premise. You could show so much, there's so much that could happen in a school, in a student's everyday life, etc. It could become a medium of life lessons, struggles and finding hope while navigating life as a teenager and then growing up. Why make the school life all about a stupid crush where you can't see anyone besides that guy? A guy who cannot even stop being rude and insensitive. The male lead has trauma I get it, why not show him develop then? It doesn't make sense for him to be like that in almost all of the episodes (as told by some other reviewers). Why not show his struggle to understand emotions? There's too little plot, idk what the hell happened in the 9 episodes I watched. Then there's the guy who cannot stop doing so many things out of his way when even he lives under difficult conditions.

I have only watched 9 episodes. But I tried so hard to be patient and continue. To actually like it. I sacrificed my sleep for an empty script with empty characters. I cannot like a show, no matter how cute or lovey dovey it might be, if it does not portray strong characters. If characters are not strong and are bland and flat, the whole show feels flat to me. Oh, there's also no chemistry between any of them. Anyway, that's the end.

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Even in 2024(25) 1900’s drama

Yet again desperate male soul looking for desperate love.
I don’t know when will these Chinese directors change their template and use some sense, at least for once in a while. No story no character development nothing. Typical Cdrama template
1. From the first episode itself ML start to follow FL till the last episode. If FL goes to moon ML meets by coincidence, if she goes to Jupiter again same.
2. In all the cdramas ML is top professional but very free to roam wherever FL goes without proper background story or reason.
3. While the FL leading life personal and professional in a balanced fashion, ML is desperate to love FL it’s like he has nothing to do but to persue FL.
4. In this drama also, even till 5 episodes never seen ML working(except for starting few minutes that to completely scrap), initially I thought may be he is in vacation for his father’s surgery, instead of comforting his father and his family he is simply roaming with FL to some marriage function, super market, repairing FL neighbouring street lights, dropping off and pick up FL. That to she broke up with him suddenly and ruthlessly without giving any reason.
5. In the first episode ML tells to FL that “you are not that important to me” I thought at least in this drama ML is matured and realistic, but few minutes later again came back to desperate mode.
6. In most of the Cdramas I like FL character, they are social, people person and charismatic but ML characters are like sadistic- cold who keeps on looking(stalking) at FL what she is doing, with whom she is speaking, eating/drinking etc.. for them only FL looks like human other female characters are allergic.

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⏳BONG BONG ⚙ Sing A Song ... Say What!?! ..... Drop It Down.... ⏱H, yeah.....⌛ °8.7°

This show is seriously funny, especially the first half, so... Drop in!

I had just watched Live Up To Your Name-7.6 which involves time travel to/from the Joseon period, so redundancy was a concern. Turns out, there was no need to worry, tee-hee.

There's nothing novel about entertainment features that portray time travel to a romanticized past era, anyway. Not only is the contrast between different cultures fascinating, but the fact that people are the same, no matter the circumstances, resonates.

Did I say fascinating? Not on this show. This show displays that the differences are HILARI🤣US.

What's so funny, you ask? Driving a big van through a cramped Joseon shopping district- after beheading the "monster" (the van) didn't work. Pulling out a 99cent lighter and causing panic. Teaching the Joseans "2 thumbs up👍🏽," drinking games, or slang. Fine, it's all been done before, but this show reaches into the backseat and pulls out the laughs. It's all giggles until a misplaced history book almost wipes out Korea entirely. Oh my. What should we do?

The van, Bong-Bong, is the most intelligent of the characters. Bong-Bong clearly has an agenda, and drives the plot, ahem.

Speaking of characters, we have the petulant actress, the greedy flimflam artist, the Mute Ninja who communicates with his mind, the escaped princess, the villain (a narcissist in full bloom), and more.

I loved this corny little show. The episodes are all just 30 minutes, so each one is its own brief escape. Bong-Bong may take me anywhere. Let him (yes, Bong-Bong is a male, even though On-dal calls him 'my lady' throughout) anyway, let him take you through 20 fun filled episodes. You won't want to return!

You have reached your destination.

〰🖍 IMHO

📣9 📝7 🎭8 💓8 🦋8 🌞6 🎨7 ⚡6 🎵/🔊8 😅7 😭3 😱3 😯3 😖3 🤔5 💤0 🔚10

Age13+
R language F💣 X 4 which is later played back

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Soaring Swordsmen Sweeping Saga Stalwart Support Singular Sorrow & Longing Surpassed 8.7

The Untamed is wonderful and exciting. At times it's warm and at times it is so beautifully sad. We follow Wei Wu Xian over many years, particularly his exploits with Lan Wan Ji. They are the most promising youth - two of the best fighters and strongest opponents around.

Stick with it. It's confusing. We get a condensed intro in ep1 and then jump 16 years back to the beginning of the tale. The story meanders forward from there. TU has a couple of time jumps backward and forward. I went back later (approaching mid-show) and rewatched the first 20 minutes or so, which helped tremendously.

At the very beginning, Wu Xian(“WeiX”) is mischievous and ebullient, and always getting into trouble. Wan Ji (“LanZ” - Wei Wu Xian calls him “Lan Zahn”) and WeiX meet at Cloud Recesses. LanZ, as one of the Lan Clan, resides there and on site they have a finishing school, of sorts, for young men.

These two are complete opposites. WeiX keeps making friendly overtures to LanZ, which irritates the solitary LanZ greatly. WeiX is a fun, friendly joker and an overall class clown. LanZ rarely talks. Always drinking, WeiX has an easy affability about him. LanZ is serious, studious, never breaks the rules, and NEVER drinks, as prohibition is one of the Lan Clan's 3000 decrees. Yes, three-thousand. WeiX knows all about them. He's had to copy them 💯×💯s of times and he's often being punished. Never-a-hair-out-of-place LanZ was never punished, until he met WeiX.

A threat from the Wen Clan arises. All the other clans are concerned, resulting in WeiX and LanZ going on a quest together. One thing leads to another and they end up in many scrapes along the way. They eventually form a bond that's closer than brothers, though we have to wait until nearly the end to see the depths of the impassive LanZ's devotion to his friend. Still waters run deep, so frozen waters might have a torrent underneath their icy surface.

Tragedy occurs while the clans are fighting and WeiX is blamed. Thus starts his unraveling of the mystery surrounding events that lead up to the "current day."

{The show is based on author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novel, Mo Dao Zu Sho. The two protagonists become lovers in his book, but that was stripped from the TV series. (🇨🇳 isn't the only country with censorship 'issues,' btw. Most of the world is censored.) This, understandably, upset the gay community. Said "Oligarchy" is what it intends to be. They don't care a whiff about feelings or individual rights. We are hypocritical to be "ho-hum" about that ruling Party's steamrolling, censorship monolith when Google, or the NBA want to get in bed with them, or when Nike or Apple want to slice mfg costs by employing near-free manpower to compile their uber pricey items at the establishment's no-impromptu-inspection-allowed factories. That hierarchy controls everything - most of all information. This allows them free reign to eradicate human rights: It's well documented. They don't tolerate religions either, and the rumors of what happens to prisoners makes many horror pics look TAME. (If you're still with me, the reason I don't use the name of this country is because I will be censored.) Just sayin, if we are missing something the censorship machine took away, we should empathize with our fellow humans, stand up for the rights of all, and not tolerate any bully censors. It's all permanently interlocked, and not a pick-and-choose situation. Censorship will always be more damaging than freedom of expression. Let the (respectful) dialogue flow. Commercial over.}

There's a heavy fantasy element to the show. The swordsmen fly through the air. They cast magic spells, make talismans, and musical instruments are used for magic as well. Some of the fantasy elements are key to the story. It is much like Flying Tiger Crouching Dragon. The fantasy is cool, but the feel is of a sweeping saga, not simply a fantasy piece.

The characters are well developed. Their humanity, and otherwise, is the centerpiece of the story. Despite the changes enforced on the storyline, the union between the two protagonists and their respect for each other is what endures once the final episode's credits scroll by. It's easy to infer that their bond goes beyond mere friendship. Even the hetero relationships in UT are virtually platonic by Western standards. There is no closer relationship depicted in the show, and it is breathtaking.

Every element shines (except for a couple of the special effects. One monster was very poorly done). There's 50 episodes. It's alot; too much for me to binge watch. Eventually I went to watching a couple of episodes a week, which was perfect.

However you choose to watch, just choose to watch this stunning piece of art. It is truly magnificent.

IMHO...
🎬9 🤔7 🎭9 ⚡8 🌞 7

Age 13+
Written 9/2/21

ps. 5/28/24 ~>>
Asia remains extremely conservative when it comes to sexuality across the board. But, I've recently seen 5 or 6 🇨🇳shows that depict either a gay man, a gay romance, lighthearted “gay” joking between men, or other gay-related content that is evidence of a major attitude shift.

“Today, the 🇨🇳government's approach to LGBT rights has been described as "ambivalent", "fickle", and as being "no approval; no disapproval; no promotion". There is much resistance from conservative elements of the government, as various LGBT events have been banned in recent years. Since the late 2010s, authorities have avoided showing homosexual relationships on public television, as well as showing effeminate men in general.” Wiki. Their record on human rights, in general, is even worse.

In order of ~lite & trite~ to ~heavy & serious~ you may also like:
Love Between Fairy & Devil 8.9;
Once upon a time in Linglian Mountain 7.5;
Overlord 8.4,
Douluo Continent 9.4;
Handsome Siblings 8.7;
Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber 9-Kung-fu!;
Eternal Love 8.3,
Ancient Love Poetry 8.6;
Under the Power 8.6,
The Rebel Princess 9.1,
The Sword and the Brocade 8.6 (in ancient Chinese opera style),
Love and Redemption 10,
The Rise of Phoenixes 9

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Baby's First 'Red-Flag' Republican Spy Mini

If any other actor had played the Male Lead I would absolutely not recommend this show in the slightest except as a "dip your toe in with a "safe" mini" recommendation for someone who has never watched the genre before. Everything about the writing of the show is extremely safe and almost bland.

All the twists are broadcast well before they happen so nothing TRULY shocks. The main villian is basically a non-threat clown so there's no real stakes to think he's a danger to the main leads. The 2ML and 2FL are nice and cute people so there's no real threats from them. Even the "big" problem that "kinda" separates them was resolved because of someone else doing it in truth...

YZX carries this show uphill and is THE reason to watch, nothing else. He kisses well, he cries well, he looks obsessed and heartbroken well... He is just VERY easy to look at.

As for the music, it exists. It's okay to listen to but it doesn't really evoke any deep emotions like a lot of these mini drama songs do.

Basically recommend this ONLY if you are a YZX fan and have nothing better to do.

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go find your light!

oh my oh myyyyy😭😭😭

man i struggled so much finding a place to watch this show, i had to switch between three websites for each different episode (because some didn’t have subtitles) but alas, it was worth it because this show was amazing. from start to finish, its a beautiful show with a beautiful message.

i cried so much and it takes a lot to make me shed tears. the actors sold their characters and their grief and sadness so well.

at first i thought it was horror the way it introduced itself in the beginning, but it was truly a beautiful show.

the only thing i was confused about was the little boy in the bus and how come he was never mentioned in the episodes. i only remember him showing up briefly to hand over a basketball to the nurse but that was it, and was never mentioned again. this isn’t a spoiler so don’t worry, just a little observation that didn’t make sense to me.

overall. amazing show, amazing characters! very sad though, be prepared to watch this!

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Waste of KYJ and SK's chemistry and acting skills

It had potential and some moments/dialogues/ideas that stood out but the execution was downright blasphemous because I simply cannot believe someone would actually pay for a story/plot that is so paper thin it may not even exist.
Side characters except probably for Ju cheon seok were downright caricatures which is sad because those characters had potential. The chemistry and the tension between the leads carried it until a certain point but after that...yeah.
I cannot even call it tropey because that would mean they have done a good job about the tropes because they had the right leads who could have done justice to a solid, tight storyline with tropes done right. They tried to do many different themes and ended up a mess. A shame honestly.

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