Ok the important stuff: this is a College-Fake-Dating-Enemies-to-Lovers-Idiots-in-Love BL drama. It is a cute and fluffy romcom with low-stakes conflict and tons of heart. You will probably roll your eyes at The Dumb. You will swoon at all the romantic little bits. You will bash your head over idiot bois being idiots. All in all, if this is what you’re into, you’re going to have a great time.
Both leads are spectacular and swoony in their roles and have, hands-down, the best chemistry of any pair I’ve seen all year - and maybe in the last couple of years. I loved how mostly-supportive each boy’s friend-group was. I loved all the various characters and relationship. And mostly I loved that it was such a hit The Powers That Be came back for round 2 and gave us Still2Gether so we could get 5 more episodes of gross romance and fluff.
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30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii
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I loved that the show highlights that we can be our own worst/ harshest critics and sometimes we just need to be able to step outside of ourselves for a little bit to get a more accurate picture. Also that finding that we are lovable/ worthy of love can be so empowering. Add in a bit of ‘even the seemingly put-together good at everything guy can be a bit of a mess sometimes’ and you have powerful feel-good mix of a show all in 12, sweet, half-hour episodes.
Some weeks, that 30 minutes was the bright light I was needing to get through to the next week. The show is cute, soft, heart-felt, and everything I needed at the end of the year.
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Cliff hanger Show!
Ugh this show. This show was the cliff hanger that kept me nail biting and dying because I had to wait week to week, because of course I had to live-watch it. I have no chill. This cast is literally my dream cast. Lee Junki is at his peak Two Weeks best in intensity. Moon Chaewon is as amazing and brilliant as ever. The chemistry between the two as husband/wife potential partners/ enemies is off the charts. Topping that all off with Kim Jihoon in the latter half of the show is just - well I will never shut up about it I swear.The writing is generally gripping and intense throughout. I love how dedicated and insightful Cha Ji Won is as a detective, bringing a unique perspective and insight to her cases. I also enjoyed the way the show approached the idea of love not as a feeling but as a choice, actions one chose to make every day, like Hae Soo learning how to show his love to Ji Won. All in all, this show was knocking it out of the park, setting itself up to be one of my top shows of the year. And while I do rate it pretty high I had to knock it down a bit as the last episode tarnished some of my love.
[Spoilers below the cut]
The writer in me appreciates what the show as attempting to do with the last episode (the show as consistently very thoughtful as it dug in deep to the various issues it confronted re: marriage, love, mental illness) as there is definitely going to be some fallout to the things that all the characters endured, the ending just didn’t land. In a medium where amnesia is an overused and tired trope that has become a cringy cliche, a show really has to make its use compelling. I have to watch it and think ‘there was literally no other way to deal with this’. And in this case, I feel the show fell short.
Like I said, there is *going* go be fallout to a marriage that has essentially been built up on a lie. Amnesia feels like a cop-out wiping of the slate to start over in a way that absolves Hae Soo from confronting those lies. The writing also pushes Ji Won into playing “The Cool Wife” who just accepts everything that has happened bc ‘reasons’. Which - for how wonderfully she was written otherwise - felt like a real let down.
Even if she *is* understanding, the brain/ heart don’t flip on a dime. She would be struggling with accepting and trusting him. Instead the amnesia gets to cast him as the victim of all that has happened and while he is a victim, he was no innocent. It centers his pain and struggle while evaporating hers.
It frames the final conflict as her striving for his acceptance when it really should be the two of them equally striving to rebuild what has been broken. It unbalances them when the rest of the show had them always on equal ground. It was disappointing and really killed my love for the show. I wish they’d opted for either really fleshing out that conflict, or just skipping it altogether and giving us a sendoff of them riding into the sunset trusting that they will work it out.
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As I get older I appreciate stories that focus on characters in their 30s/40s because its nice to see aspects of my own reality reflected back. The world is different at this age than when I was in my early 20s floundering through love. There are hard stories to watch here; one of the doctors works pediatrics. There were tears, and choked up moments because this show is so great at humanizing characters that only show up for a few minutes of screen time.
It’s also great at subverting expectations. There are not really and villains that you’d expect. There are shitty chaebols but also human, endearing ones. People come in a range of good and bad and we get to see them through our loveable group of long-time friends. The show is just the definition of a moving human drama.
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..CUT IT OFF, CUT IT OFF, CUT IF OFF~!!..
..I already watch the anime version of this, so I am expecting a lot on this adaptation not caring if this is the same as the anime - and I'm not disappointed haha...
..very funny, I do enjoy the sing and dance - their a perfect trio..
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..I do also enjoy when their original face pop-up haha..
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..also this is not just about fun, sing, and dance, it is a slice of life too - how to enjoy life when the reason of your life is the people around you, cheering for you, caring for you, and loving for you..
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..love this film - all the casts and staffs..
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I do, so, adore a show that knows what it is and just breathes life into the space its meant to fill. The story is based on a manga of the same name and its souce material is definitely apparent. It feels like a sports anime in its narrative beats and pacing. We have an assortment of stock characters: our scrappy outsider savant protagonist, our rival who drives him to succeed, a handful of supportive friends, a prickly mentor, etc.
The show, however, doesn’t ever rest on its tropes or its archetypes. The story hits familiar narrative beats but stakes are real, victories feel earned, defeats are crushing; there are no shortcuts or hand-waving through the plot.The main characters are fully realized and fleshed out and portrayed wonderfully by their cast. They are flawed, prone to mistakes, sometimes selfish, sometimes selfless, earnest in their desires and often falling short of them, which is to say they feel human in the best sense of the term.
At the heart of the story is Shi Guang, who winds up bound to the spirit of an Ancient Chinese Go master, Chu Ying. The master proceeds to continue his love of Go by both playing vicariously through Shi Guang and by teaching him. Through him, young Shi Guang winds up crossing paths with Yu Liang, also a talented Go player, and the interaction creates a rivalry between them that spans years.
These two relationships, that of Shi Guang and his mentor, and Shi Guang and his rival are the fuel that move Shi Guang through the story as he comes of age and learns to find his own place in the world. Both relationships are portrayed with such nuance and skill, rendered with a loving care that would put most romances to shame. The relationships are never static, and are multi-layered and complex.
At times Chu Ying is Shi Guang’s best friend, sometimes a pouty child needing to be mollified, or his stern teacher expecting the best. Through all these the genuine love these two feel for one another is palpable. What binds them is more than just a shared love of a game, but a genuine affection and care for one another. They can build each other up and break each other’s hearts.
The relationship with Yu Liang is more tense, obviously, but is wonderful in that it demonstrates how competition and a rivalry can at one level foster personal growth, but also create its own intense form of intimacy, unique in its nature. While it is possible to see their relationship through a romantic/bl lens, and it is fun to do so, the show leaves room for interpretations on that point which feels like the right choice for them.
When we leave them there is still so much life for them to live, so much ahead of them. Apart from that is a gaggle of delightful and compelling side characters and relationships. There really is so much to love about this show. At 36 episodes it never felt like it dragged on too long, it never felt drawn out or overwrought. When trying to find a fault I’m left wanting.
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The story is told in 1 8-episode season and a movie. As the episodes are short and easily bingable, functionally it could work as 2 movies (and I’ve watched them back to back multiple times, apologies to all my friends I dragged into this).
Storywise, Hello Stranger is not breaking any new ground. We have a young nerd, Mico, teamed up with the jock superstar, Xavier, for a team project and from the moment they see each other, the chemistry is palpable (tho the relationship is a tad antagonistic). Already, we know exactly how this story is going to go but as always, it is about how we get there, it is about the pleasure of watching the story unfold.
What this show does perfectly is nail its characters and then cast two amazing actors to breathe them to life. Both Mico and Xavier are written so believably, I instantly understood who they are and how wonderfully they fall for one another. I could write reams on the nuances of Xavier’s character (it is no mistake that his name is pronounce Savior) and the character arcs both he and Mico navigate in both the series and the movie.
I love that we have essentially a bisexual character in Xavier for whom, understanding himself and being that self is important. There is a coming out scene but it is given second billing to him actually accepting and having the courage to make choices for himself, instead of fulfilling the roles expected of him. He eschews the label bi - though he tries it on - not because ‘he doesn’t need labels’ but because picking a word is less important than being able to express what it is he is experiencing and feeling.
It is things like this that make the series feel like sinking into a nice, warm, queer blanket. The labels are only important in the context of being able to give language to a queer experience as opposed to a way for everyone else to put queers into their proper category. What matters is the experience - Xavier’s experience of love - the word to define it is secondary.
And he is contrasted with Mico, who is much more assured in his sexuality, but that doesn’t make him less prone to prejudices and mistakes. To wearing his own ‘masks’. To the inevitable insecurity of youth.
The thing I love most, however, about this series, is that all the characters (except for the token homophobe) are rendered with compassion. No one is intentionally cruel, there are no evil second leads or vicious exes, just a group of young people trying to figure themselves out and live through the trials life hands them.
People make mistakes, but they are understandable ones. People make bad choices but ones that make sense because of who they are. In the end things are resolved because the characters have grown, because they’ve chosen to change and to forgive. The series has a fundamentally hopeful view of humanity that feels refreshing.
….aand now for some gratuitous Tony Labrusca:
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There is a moment early on where our main character, Karl, watches, mesmerized, as his neighbor Vlad dances carelessly in his living room and we wonder, does he want Vlad, or does he want to be Vlad? And as the show unfolds it becomes evident that the answer is both. He wants Vlad but coming to terms with that means coming to understand elements of himself that Karl would perhaps rather leave unexamined. And so this is a story about romance, but also about coming of age, because life will push him, force him to grow into himself.
Unfortunately, neither issue is fully resolved in our 8 episodes. That isn’t a bad thing because both of these issues are as much about the journey as the destination. Being able to actually ask the questions the show poses is enough of a step itself, as unresolved as it feels.
The things that hit most for me are the details that clarified the queer lens of the show. The emergence of Karl’s internalized homophobia as small, ignorant micro-agressions that aren’t left to stand unexamined, the value the story gives to older queers in gaining a sense of self-understanding (which is rarely actually represented), the well-intentioned allyship that often becomes self-centering in straight characters, etc all lift this show from the general BL milieu into a delightfully queer story.
I love that the relationship between our leads is shown thru an exploration of their intimacy with one another, instead of hinging on the fact that they’re both attractive humans cast as the leads in a television show. I love that the conflict feels real and is not hand-waved to try to force a resolution in 8 episodes. There are no easy answers to growing up and the show doesn’t try to patronizingly give any. And I actually love that because of all that the show doesn’t quite end as much as feel like its paused. Though the knowledge that a season 2 is a question of when not if, apparently, helps a lot with that but even if it never happens I feel the story as it stands is beautiful enough on its own.
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Great subject for a BL
Great subject for a BL. It does boarder on being abusive at times but i found it more challenging than abusive.For sure Hira ended up with the wrong person. I am so impressed that so many Asian BL's and other drams have a love interest stand aside such that the one they love are happy with who they supposedly really want. Very honorable and it changes me a little every time I see it happen.
Now it's time for me to back up. So Kiyoi does demand that Hira loves him as a person and not a god. That was great. I really didn't see that coming. Then the last scene they are joking about it??? I think they should have buried it and left it for a more powerful ending.
Best scene was the reconciliation of all the scenes as a flash back. Bravo.
My Complaints are are good ones. The story and other characters could have been developed more and the ending could have shown more of how Hira adapted and became a real partner for Kiyoi.
Congrats to all for making this series!
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Good BL of 2021
I thought that Kiyoi was a bully and Hira obession with him was very weird but Kiyoi never respond to his obession with him like saying "gross" or "disgusting. At first you think Kiyoi may not like Hira because of the way he was treating him but then in episode 5 we actually get to see Kiyoi point of view that he actually started to care for him and saw the passion in his eyes. When he kissed him it was intense that Hira was arrogrant for treating him like a god or a king instead of a ordinary man. Hira didnt think it was impossible for Kiyoi to like him. I really loved the final episode i wish they gave us more finally two people realizing they loved each other and needing to communicate. They really are polar opposites of each other but when Kiyoi was on the back of Hira on the bike he smiled so happily that the person he loved, loved him back. I loved this BL so much. It really made some of think it was a master/servant type of love but it didnt turn out that way.Was this review helpful to you?
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Casual Drama
I would say this drama is good if you want to watch something while productively doing something else. There are sweet and funny moments between the ML and FL as well as the secondary couple.Are there annoying situations? Yes. Are there annoying side characters? Yes.
That's the reason why I say this is a drama that you can have playing in the background so you can casually ignore the annoying parts.
I would have scored the drama a bit higher if they didn't drag show on. With its general storyline and the pacing of the episodes, it would have perfectly been fit to finish it between 16 to 19 episodes without adding unnecessary trouble for the lead characters.
I personally stopped at episode 19 and pretended that 20 to 24 did not exist. You'll figure out the reason why if you watch the 19 episodes. Overall, it's a stress-free drama if you skip those episodes.
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After the first episode aired and the criticisms started, I defended Utsukushii Kare primarily on the fact that the contrast with the adorable Kieta Hatsukoi airing at the same time was startling. While I adored Kieta Hatsukoi, the premise isn't exactly unique. Utsukushii Kare came in and brought something so vividly different, I was hooked from the very beginning. Yes, it's not sunshine and rainbows. It's messed up kids, obsession, mistreatment, and other troubling behaviours, and I loved every second of it. Every episode gets wilder and wilder, more and more intense. The tension building progressively is truly remarkable. Their dynamic is one that while, yes, I would disapprove of in real life, I would love to see more of in dramas. It's a very flawed, intense romance, with a happy ending nonetheless, and I honestly couldn't ask for anything more.
The story is captivating, the acting is very solid, the soundtrack is perfect, and the complexity of their relationship definitely warrants a rewatch in the future. Easily 10/10.
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not even yiran could save this one…
ok so i was rlly excitef to watch this because i love zhou yiran and the main lead girl is rlly pretty so caught my eye but its just .. a messthe plot is all over the place, bad dubbing, the editing is messy and as much as i wanted to give it a chance i couldnt bring myself to ? i hope the leads get a better opportunity because theyre both good actors..
i did only watch 2 full eps but that was enough for me to give up,, id rather spend my time watching something good instead haha .. also the description here makes it seem good but it rlly isnt imo
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A post-covid blood sucking zombie survival drama called Happiness? Yes, Please.
"Happiness" seems like an odd title choice for a drama about blood-sucking zombies but it actually makes perfect sense. Like most popular zombie/plague/monster invasion stories this drama is less about actual zombies and more about human nature and survival instincts. The concept seems pretty far-fetched when you read it but the way it plays out is pretty realistic. Since we can all relate to how out of nowhere this covid pandemic felt, the randomness of "madman rabies" seems pretty legit and timely. I don't like to add too many spoilers, but I think anyone watching should know at least the basics of what they are getting into. If you're a fan of movies like "Train to Busan" or "The Mist" then you will probably love a lot of things about "Happiness". The story can be a little cliché at times, and more eerie than scary, but what I enjoyed most were the characters, especially the main leads Han Hyo Jo and Park Hyung Sik.First, I have to applaud Han Hyo Jo as Yoon Sae Bom. If you are looking for a drama with a strong bad@ss female lead you found it and she will not disappoint. Sae Bom is impulsive and hilariously reckless, but her bravery, loyalty, and smarts make her the clear hero of this story. She is matched with Park Hyung Sik as Jung Yi Hyun, who is an equally brave and impressive hero, but it's clear from the beginning his first thought is always the safety of Sae Bom his "lifesaver". Some may wonder if this drama is at all a romance. I would say yes, but not in the way you may expect. These leads have amazing chemistry throughout, from the very beginning, but there are no cutesy moments that distract too much from the main story. Instead, it just adds more depth to their friendship, and higher stakes to what motivates them as a team. Seeing even the small ways they cared for each other made me care even more about them.
The rest of the cast is filled with many over-the-top and duplicitous characters. They are hilarious, and frustrating, and reflect the good and bad in all of us, sometimes to the extreme. I know that everyone would like to think that in a situation like this they would be considerate, responsible, brave, empathetic, and heroic but stories like this reflect what we may not always want to admit, how selfish, greedy, fear-driven, and irrational we all have the capability of being when it comes to our own survival and happiness. Good people may make bad choices. Bad people may save lives. This is what makes this drama fun to watch and hard to predict. You can't always tell what the characters will do or read their true intentions. There are a few clear villains that are fun to hate, but I think almost every character (besides cute Seo Yoon) did something that made me want to yell at them through the screen at some point.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. The story would probably be less exciting the second time around, and some parts of the plot are messy and choppy, but I think it's a great survival thriller with a great, although slightly heavy-handed message about happiness and what makes life worth living. It's also a great bingle length. I was a little sad when it was all over but at the same time, 12 episodes felt like the perfect length. I also appreciated the ending even if it felt rushed.
It's worth mentioning that the soundtrack is really great and compliments the various moods in the plot well.
Overall, this drama surprised me. I wouldn't call it my favorite drama of the year or even add it to my own favorites list but I understand why it's so popular. It's the perfect drama for these quarantine times. It's not too scary, and it leaves you with the perfect amount of schadenfreude reminding us that things could always be waaaaaaay worse. It also humanizes the crazy zombie transformation which made me overlook the cheesy makeup and instead see how we sometimes villainize and ostracize sick/infected people instead of helping and supporting them. "Happiness" also doesn't go too far with gory violence. It's pretty tame, besides lots blood, scary sounds, and some jump scares. It's the perfect balance of genres for a broad audience without being too frightening, too romantic, too melodramatic, or too silly yet I laughed, jumped, felt butterflies, and even teared up at least once. I'm sure this drama will definitely make people think twice about who their neighbors are. It certainly makes me very suspicious of too many empty water bottles... o.O... The premise isn't very original, but it's still effective. Maybe it's time to watch "Sweet Home" next? I never thought of myself as a huge fan of this style of drama but this one left me thirsty for more... in a good way. ; )
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