Reviews

First time seeing Wu Lei in modern clothes.

I didn't imagine that I'd fall in love with this series when I started watching it. Loved it. The story is so well written.

Wu Lei & Zhou Yu Tong have great chemistry together. They look good together.

This is the 3rd series of Wu Lei I'm watching after Love Like The Galaxy & The Long Ballad. I just love him. He impressed me with his acting skills. In these 3 series, he portrays three different characters with ease. Wu Lei's expression in some scenes was so good as well as hilarious.

Song San Chuan is a young, hard-working athlete. He is a charming, handsome, smart, cheerful, mature & straightforward guy. At first, it looked like he was a cold & unsocial guy. That is because his surroundings were not friendly & supportive. Afterward, he became a loving, funny, friendly person. Liang You An is a hardworking girl, great at her work. Doing everything right to get a promotion, but her boss is holding her back because she is that good of a special assistant.

Song San Chuan & Liang You An have a mature & understanding relationship. They are always standing by each other. Their age was never a problem for them because of their understanding of each other. They solve their problems with communication, which is rare in the series. In every other series, communication is what is lacking between the main leads. There is no stupid & jealous second lead who wants to come in between the main leads ( which is a relief). The support that Liang You An gave to Song San Chuan is remarkable. In every sport, she is there to support him.

Love An Cong, he so cares for Song San Chuan despite him not being his son. He treated Song San Chuan like his own.

Hate Jiang Jie. He is an arrogant, selfish, self-centered person. Everything revolves around him.

Whose small details Song San Chuan remembers of Liang You An is so sweet. Like Liang You An doesn't eat green so he is pick greens out. The scene where they play in playground was so sweet. Song San Chuan asking Liang You An for a date while jumping he was so cute. The look on Song San Chuan face when Liang You An asked him to remove is clothes off he was terrified. Liang You An care & worries after seeing Song San Chuan injured fingers & coming every night to keep him company was sweet.

Finally, Song San Chuan got a supportive teammate & friends. Chen Zhe was the 1st person to help Song San Chuan at tennis. He is the 1st friend Song San Chuan had. After that, Dai Yi started to help him at tennis. All because they saw how hardworking & dedicated Song San Chuan is at tennis. Jiang Jiao Jiao at 1st was arrogant, a spoiled brat, but afterward he also became best friends with Song San Chuan. These 4 have such a wonderful friendship. Always supporting each other, encouraging each other. Jiang Jiao Jiao & Song San Chuan friendship is so funny & childish, they're the best.

I can free their pain & struggle to stand on the bus, I face it everyday.

Love Song San Chuan & Liang You An zoo date. They were so cute. Having fun just for one day, forgetting everything, just enjoying themselves.

It made me sad seeing Song San Chuan getting rejected twice by Liang You An.

The scene where all of his friends have to hit Song San Chuan for practice & they weren't willing to do it but had to. Hurt & guilt in their faces when the ball hit Song San Chuan.

Jiang Jiao Jiao expression when he caught Song San Chuan & Liang You An smiling at each other. Jiang Jiao Jiao helping Song San Chuan so the coach didn't doubt him.

Song San Chuan getting jealous of the D3 manager for taking too much to Liang You An. Song San Chuan calling himself a pervert.

Loved how Song San Chuan ran to Liang You An when she said that she didn't want to be alone & is afraid. He kept her company, cooked for her, played games with her & cheering her up was so cute.

With style, Song San Chuan entered & introduced himself as Liang You An boyfriend to her ex. I just loved it. Song San Chuan scolding Liang You An for wearing too much makeup & keeping a few buttons of her shirt open & her telling him to keep his collar down was so hilarious.

The way An Cong convinced Song San Chuan to play the match was so funny. His reaction after seeing Liang You An in Song San Chuan clothes.

Love Zhang Yan expression of everything, it was so on point.

Love Song San Chuan, Jiang Jiao Jiao & Chen Zhe friendship and the way they tackle the bullies. Jiang Jiao Jiao & Chen Zhe getting into the bathroom with Song San Chuan to find out what he said was hilarious.

How dedicated Song San Chuan is, even in his sleep he is practising.

Song San Chuan's shocked expression when Liang You An suddenly kissed him.

It was funny to see when Song San Chuan caught Liang You An telling Luo Nian about them & her reaction afterwards.

My most favorite scene of Song San Chuan & Liang You An is them living together for a few months. They experience so much together, living a life free of burden. So many sweet & cute moments they had.

This series is a must watch. One of my favorite series.

Read More

Mature, Real and Relatable

To find this jewel was a joy. Staring out, you would think the connections and 'entanglement' would be obvious. The way the writers highlighted the things that people endure and sometimes commit to out of obligation and manipulation was very prevalent for both the ML and FL. The tension and chemistry between the leads was endearing and sexy. What happens when a partner makes all the decisions that can affect your life without discussion, and you accommodate it without recourse? This drama addresses this in spades. The 'fluff' was not needed nor used in this drama. There were a few scenes that are a bit too much or not needed within the office. Yet, overall cast and crew did very well in weaving relatable personal and business relationships. So happy that the ending wasn't typical but realistic when dealing with mature individuals. The ending basically screamed..."If what we feel is true, it will be. But let us both heal first." Bravo! Must Watch!

Read More

The Princess Bride.

Lost You Forever is a dark, beautiful, suspenseful and, poignant tale of intrigue, treachery and longing. This drama is immersive with its air of mystery, the shiver of danger, a whisper of regret and a sense of profound loss and longing that saturates every scene. It is a story about love but it is not a love story. It is a far more complex and expansive exposition of the many kinds of love and how it can be restraining and boundless at the same time.

Set in Dahuang, a magical, treacherous and unpredictable world where humans, demons and deities co-exist, two forsaken royal orphans vow to always cherish and protect one another. Shattered by a broken promise, Xiao Yao loses herself, misplaced during a time of great turmoil. She assumes the appearance of a man and lives among the humans and demons of Qingshui Town as the village fertility doctor. This is the most exciting arc because everyone has secrets and danger lurks around every corner. When cornered, Xiao Yao is most adept at grovellng, lying or poisoning her way out of trouble. Yet she is carefree, uninhibited and almost contented in Qingshui Town with her found family. Alas, destiny catches up with her as Cang Xuan, Tushan Jing and Xiang Liu all converge upon Qingshui Town, shattering her refuge.

The latter arcs take on a political tone as Cang Xuan emerges as a contender for the Xiyan throne with Xiao Yao clearing the path for him. They must establish Cang Xuan's support base among the restless and resentful Central Plains; where the noble clans and families have complicated blood ties to remnants of the defeated Chenrong state. Xiao Yao is the princess bride, a chess piece that Cang Xuan dangles temptingly in front of the scions of the powerful aristocratic families he seeks to win over. Marriage to him is simply a means to seal alliances. He supresses his heart's deepest, secret longing by sheer willpower. Zhang Wanyi adroitly portrays Cang Xuan as a consummate politician, a very dangerous, smiling tiger / xiàomiànhǔ 笑面虎 who has his enemies in a death lock before they even know it. Love is not of paramount importance for Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao, whose destinies are interlocking as a result of their childhood oath. They work towards a greater purpose with one heart and one mind. Anyone and everyone else is always subordinated to this purpose. They are both unattainable characters who have already carved out so much of themselves for each other that there is not much left for anyone else. This is why what Xiao Yao seeks is an unequal relationship with essentially, a doormat. The princess in her however prefers that it is a doormat made of fox fur rather than a rather foolish, entitled product of too much in-breeding.

Xiao Yao is by far the darkest, most complicated, and most independent female protagonist I have come across in Chinese dramas. This is an awesome and challenging role that Yang Zi delivers magnificently. As someone who had a huge allergic reaction to her earlier works, I am speechless at her portrayal. Her Wei Xiaoliu has decisively unseated Ni Ni's Fang Weizhi as the most convincingly acted female disguised as a male character. But it is her heart-wrenching homecoming scene that can squeeze tears from a rock that truly captures the depth of Xiao Yao's sense of abandonment and despair over the person she lost forever. I can't think of another actor that has so visibly taken their acting to a high a new level the way Yang Zi has. That said, no power on this earth will make me revisit her past roles though I enthusiastically look forward to her future ones.

Tushan Jing is the weakest link in this drama both in terms of how the character is written and portrayed. Despite his stunning physical appeal, this is not a role that a promising but inexperienced actor like Deng Wei is ready for. He pulls off a charismatic and endearing Ye Shiqi that melted Wei Xiaoliu's stone-cold and lonely heart. But he lacks depth and range and visibly struggles to get into character as Tushan Jing. His perpetual stricken, deer-in-the headlight expression threw me out of some of the drama's best, most intense moments. When the Haoling King assures his daughter that the shrewd and canny Tushan Jing must have already guessed her identity, the camera pans to a dumbfounded looking Tushan Jing! I burst out laughing even though I am absolutely sure I was not supposed to. It does not help that the character's weak and indecisive waffling does not match Tushan Jing's reputation as one of the most brilliant and cunning minds of Dahuang. There is clearly also a writing issue but it does not excuse the actor's inability to make the character seem deeply conflicted rather than just weak and lacking basic smarts and survival instincts. This is a glaring weakness that weighs on both my viewing experience and my rating.

Xiang Liu is Xiao Yao's greatest nightmare, a demon that she is bonded to by a spell no one fully grasps. He is her soul mate; they are both lonely, realistic characters trapped by a cause that is bigger than themselves and thus have no free will. Tan Jianci's masterful, subtly tragic rendering of this vicious, resentful and enigmatic nine-headed demon with a shockingly passionate heart has catapulted this fantastic actor to a new level recognition. His styling is spectacular but what takes my breath away is how with the angle of the head or a flicker of an eye, his expression can change from unholy amusement to vicious cruelty; from tortured to pure, unbridled joy and affection. I don't know how Xiang Liu's story ends but the fact that he is committed to a lost cause that pits him against the person Xiao Yao protects at all costs fills me with dread. I cannot see any scenario in which this ship does not somehow sink but my heart won't listen to my head that urges me to get on the lifeboat to safety before it is too late.

Season 1 sets up the backstory of a world torn apart by war and introduces many well-written and multi-faceted characters that were collateral damage in the conflict. Intricate relationships and debts that will at some point come due accumulate between the various stakeholders. After some draggy politicking, Season 1 ends triumphantly with an unexpected twist and sets the stage very nicely for Season 2. I expect Season 2 to reveal even more secrets from the past that will force Xiao Yao to make some impossible choices. How unbreakable is her bond with Cang Xuan? Will the tragic story of Chi Chen and the Xiling witch repeat itself? Will Deng Wei finally get his act together and give us the real Tushan Jing? Will Xiao Yao shock us with her marksmanship by shooting her rival in her black heart? I hope we will not have to wait too long to find out. At the same time, I am grateful that this breaks in a good place for a time out. I have come to care too much for these characters and something tells me that this is the kind of story where even those who get what they want may not truly want what they get.

So far, Lost You Forever is the most addictive and immersive drama I have watched in 2023. I rate this a 9.0 for now because there are some notable flaws but if Season 2 comes together well, there is scope for me to revise it up.

Read More

Sweet Exchange of Heart and Hope

This is a cute series where the ML is younger than the FL yet in many ways more mature. Both leads are driven in their respective careers, however both struggle with insecurities that bleed into other areas of life. The growth factor (career and relationship wise) within this series is pretty good. There are parts from a business perspective that seem off. However, the writers tried to 'fix' it quickly in following episodes. The chemistry factor was sweet. The OST was decent. The parent interaction was good in voicing concerns without being overbearing. Trauma points were not over-the-top or a main focus which was refreshing. Overall production was solid. Worth the watch.

Read More

Quite a unique plot

First of all, let me say this, don't expect the same level of quality from these short vertically filmed series to a full length drama. That won't be fair at all. So I'm rating this accordingly only comparing this with other similar length series.

Okay, now onwards to review.

Let's address the elephant in the room first, the length of episodes. Direction and editing suffer immensely due to short length, The whole series felt like a trailer on top of trailer. That's how abnormally fast paced this is. Scene change is so abrupt that a lot of time you will be left wondering whether you missed a whole episode? That was my main gripe with this series because rest of the things were quite good.

The plot is unique and original. Storyline had real promise but short episode length never gave it much time to shine. This story had potential for a full length 16 episodes drama easily. 9/10 for story.

Acting/Cast was decent. They acted good in some scenes and then a little bad in some too. ML slightly better than FL though. I do have to commend them for their chemistry though, flawless! 6.5/10 for acting.

Production was quite good unexpectedly. Yes, even with a low budget short series, I didn't see any problems with production. Costumes were good, cinematography was spectacular and sets and locations were quite appropriate. No issues in production. 9/10 for production.

OST/Music was just there. It was neither good nor bad. That is, you won't be remembering it but it sufficiently creates the atmosphere when needed in scenes. 5/10 for music.

And finally the ending, absolutely loved it! This ending upgraded my overall score for this short series by quite a lot.

Overall, its a good watch if you can bear with vertical frame and abrupt scene changes. The whole series will feel like watching a drama with finger always on fast forward button. The best part about this is the story and chemistry. Quite hard to find such a unique story and such well done chemistry. Final rating 8.5/10, upgraded by 0.5 - 1 due to that amazing ending!

Read More

Alchemy of Souls Review

Alchemy of Souls is a captivating fantasy story about a young mage journey to turn emotions into real objects. Set in an imaginative world, the tale explores the magic of human feelings and the protagonist's growth as they face inner and outer challenges. With its mix of magic and emotion, the story leaves a lasting impact, offering a thought-provoking adventure.

Lee jae wook as janguk delivers a captivating performance , skillfully portraying the character's evolution from curiosity to mastery. His ability to convey a wide range of emotions and inner conflicts makes him relatable and engaging, ensuring the audience is invested in their journey

Jung So Min as mudeok/naksu/buyeon portraying the mentor brings gravitas and wisdom to the role. Her charismatic presence and authentic delivery create a strong mentor-mentee dynamic that adds depth to the janguk growth.

OST adds a special touch to the drama. It fits perfectly with the story, making emotional moments even more powerful and the magical parts feel real.

The story has many layers, and you might catch things you missed the first time. The characters grow and change, so it's interesting to see their journeys again. The magical world and cool visuals are worth seeing multiple times, and the music and emotions make it enjoyable to watch over and over. It's a drama that keeps giving, even after you've seen it once BUT changing buyeon face is disappointing

Read More

A rare gem that even surpasses its predecessor

Where the first season showcased the slow buildup of the character's connection and culminated in them embarking on a tentative relationship with each other, this season explores Hira and Kioyi's slow-changing relationship as they work on building a life together and figuring out what it means to be happy, not just with each other, but with themselves.
I was already very fond of both characters after the first season, but through watching this I grew to love them more and more. Both of them have grown quite a bit since the end of the last season and as the story dives deeper into their thoughts and motivations, they start to feel more and more like real, flawed people in search of and deserving of love.
Kioyi specifically finally starts to show more of that fierce vulnerability we got to see glimpses of at the end of the last season and it both makes him a perfect instigator for Hira's deeply needed character growth, and serves to deeply endear him to the audience (or at least to me, although I don't think I'm alone in this).
I also highly appreciate how all the conflicts develop realistically and resolve satisfactorily while neither being drawn out unnecessarily to fuel the angst and drama, nor getting wrapped up too quickly or neatly in order to just get to the happy ending already.
In short: This season continues the well-paced, well-balanced, and beautifully portrayed story of two slightly strange but sincerely lovable characters as they continue to face life's challenges together and figure out how to keep changing and growing for and with each other. An actual masterpiece of a sequel.

Read More

It's over for me!!!!

I don't think I'll watch this series until the end. I finished the episode 3 weeks ago and can't bring myself to continue. I need to tell this "I'm sorry, but it's boring".
When I saw the trailer, I was so excited, because it promised a lot. But the story isn't good for me. I expected things to happen differently. Joke even trying to help Zo with Nita and their feelings developing along the way. I would have liked to see Zo trying to win Nita over, not fall for Joke so quickly.
I like a soft love story with no big drama, but let's be serious, this isn't "My School President".
I like Dunk and Joong, but I don't see the chemistry between them. I didn't see it in their preview series "Star and Sky" either. I always get the feeling that Dunk can't get emotionally involved, that he can't convey the feelings to us, the viewers. When I see Zo, I see Dunk. They have the same behavior towards Joong/Joke.

Read More

The Most Beautiful

First of all I have to admit I went into watching this show with mixed feelings. I absolutely cannot stand relationships with unbalanced power dynamics and consent issues between characters I'm supposed to be rooting for will send me running for the hills faster than you can say "But it's just fiction"; so you can see why I'd be hesitant to watch this show.
If that's what worries you about this show, if those are the reasons you are hesitating to watch it, you have nothing to worry about.
This is not a show about a master/slave relationship, this is not a show glorifying abuse, this is not a show that treats issues of consent and power dynamics lightly. This is a show about two lonely people who find themselves unexpectedly gravitating towards each other, who clash and bring out the worst in each other at first and slowly learn to fit together, to help each other grow, and to reach for what they want rather than keeping their dreams and desires at arm's length.

The pacing is incredibly well done, especially considering the short runtime of the series, and fully allows the characters to grow and evolve and gives the audience enough time to let each scene really sink in and linger.
Both leads, strange and wonderful people that they are, are given clear motivations for their actions, the choices they make, although they may not always be the best, are inarguably fitting for the characters, and their chemistry is undeniable.
From the beginning both of them recognise something of themselves in the other, they are kindred spirits of a sort, and their complete inability to express or make sense of this connection is what leads to the perpetual push and pull dynamic between them. Nothing they do comes (at least in my opinion) from a place of malice or a wish to do each other harm, they are both just desperate people who are so trapped in their own preconceptions of the world and each other that it takes several years and many incendiary clashes before they manage to claw their way through those constraints and towards each other.
This whole story is underscored by an absolutely masterful combination of visuals and sound that bring the characters to life in a way that I can only describe as genuinely breathtaking and the entire show culminates in an explosive climax that ties everything together so perfectly it left me in awe.
As intense as all this sounds, there is also a fierce charm to this show, a warm sincerity and even humour that serves to humanise the characters and to ground them in a way that makes even to most dramatic scenes and actions feel believable and real. Here's to you, little rubber duck.

In short: It's a slow journey full of twists and turns that is utterly captivating to watch. If you give it a chance to tell its story, you will find something entirely unique and compelling in this show, an irresistible draw that grabs you by the collar and pulls you in whether you like it or not and takes you for a wild and beautiful ride.

Read More

A series that had a lot of potential partly ruined by a poorly written story

I don't like long commentaries and analysis on series, so I'll keep it short.
I really like 2nd Chance stories and Peng Guan Ying, so I had some expectations for this drama. However, on the repeated advice of other viewers, I stopped at episode 30 because the later episodes have a questionable/silly arc.

PLOT: A couple of divorced surgeons, find themselves 7 years after their divorce, working together (mentor/resident) in the same hospital. They hide their former relationship from others. The ML adopted a child. But they still have strong feelings for each other, despite their traumas and especially their fear of another marriage failure.

PROS:
+ A CL with great chemistry, performed by 2 great actors.
+ Child (excellent and who will also certainly be a very good actor).
+ Dynamic production
+ Realistic context and credible medical situations.
+ The support characters are well developed, sympathetic.
+ The vision of (active) women is modern.

CONS:
- The multiple flashbacks on the different periods of the CL's relationship make the storyline quite confusing.
- The character of the ex-girlfriend is very ambiguous: she no longer wants ML, goes away with a French museum curator, but distills perverse ideas "for her own good" in the head of the FL (which further increases her feeling of inferiority).
– The ML (played by Peng Guan Ying) is annoying with his indecisiveness.... Traumatized by the failure of his parents' marriage, OK + dumped by his girlfriend just before the wedding, OK... But his behavior after his own marriage is not understandable !! Even when he confesses his feelings, even when he wants to protect the FL, he always keeps a distance, hides the fact he's helping her, etc.
- Last narrative arc with father's cancer + ML accident and amnesia + ML being sent to Africa, while the FL remains in ignorance: it's stupid and doesn't make any sens.
- lengths in the 2nd half (skipping or speed 1.5).

===> A series that had a lot of potential (CL + context + good cast) but was partly ruined by a poorly written story.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Je n'aime pas les longs commentaires et analyses sur les séries, donc je vais la faire courte.
J'aime beaucoup les histoires de 2nde chance et Peng Guan Ying, donc j'avais des attentes sur ce drama. Cependant, sur les conseils répétés des autres viewers, je me suis arrêtée à l'épisode 30 car les derniers épisodes comportent un arc discutable/idiot.

PLOT : Un couple de chirurgiens divorcés, se retrouve 7 ans après leur divorce, à travailler ensemble (mentor/résident) dans le même hôpital. Ils cachent leur ancienne relation aux autres. Le ML a adopté un enfant. Mais ils ont toujours de forts sentiments l'un pour l'autre, malgré leurs traumas et surtout leur peur d'un nouvel échec.

PROS:
+ Un CL avec une great alchimie, interprété par 2 super acteurs.
+ Enfant (excellent et qui sera aussi certainement un très bon acteur).
+ Réalisation dynamique
+ Contexte réaliste et situations médicales crédibles.
+ Les personnages support sont bien développés, sympathiques.
+ La vision des femmes (actives) est moderne.

CONS:
- Multiples flash-backs sur les différentes périodes de leur relation, ce qui rend la storyline assez confuse.
- Le personnage de l'ex girlfriend est très ambigu : elle ne veut plus du ML, rejoint un conservateur de musée français, mais distille "pour son bien" des idées perverses dans la tête de la FL (ce qui accroit encore son sentiment d'infériorité).
- Le ML (joué par Peng Guan Ying) est agaçant avec ses indécisions.... Traumatisé par l'échec du mariage de ses parents, OK + largué par sa copine juste avant le mariage, OK ... Mais son comportement après son mariage n'est pas compréhensible !! Même lorsqu'il avoue ses sentiments, il veut protéger la FL mais reste toujours en retrait...
- Dernier arc narratif avec cancer du père + accident du ML et amnésie + envoi en Afrique, alors que la FL reste dans l'ignorance : ne tient pas la route...
- des longueurs dans la 2e moitié (zapping ou speed 1,5).

===> Une série qui avait beaucoup de potentiel (CL + contexte + bon casting) mais gâchée en partie par une story mal écrite.

Read More

Nothing New

it was interesting at the beginning but it became to lame and obvious when it proceeded. it's not bad. worth to watch one time.
They could have added more magical elements to the story but emphasized on their love which was really boring to watch. I mostly skipped their romance part.
The side characters are pretty good and kept the show for me. and the second leads where too.

And I don't know if a breakup scene is really an unavoidable scene in almost every KDrama. it's like the writter just wanted to include that scene so they made a lame excuse to break them off.... ughh ..
But still it was pretty good watch.
And I will never watch it again. ?

Read More

Binged watched in 4 days!

I binged watched all 4 season despite being ill and had temperature. this helped me a lot.
It gave some hybrid korean zombie series vibes where zombies run and are much more dangerous but here its kinda more realistic, in the point of view of infection.

Of course tragic things can be character deaths where there are worse kill-off scenes of some characters who we met since first episode.
Characters are all amazing and the cast. it gives you the worrying aspect and actors did great job. same with plot!
music is also unique and gives METRO game vibes.

Read More