Reviews

Electrifying chemistry between leads!

This drama is really romantic, those who love watching many intimate romantic This drama is really romantic, those who love watching many intimate, romantic moments this drama is for you, there are lots of kisses which are rare in cdrama.. The story is a bit lagging but the lead actors acted so well. Lead pair looks so good together and the did justice to their roles and like...moments this drama is for you, their is lots of kisses which is rare in cdrama..Story is a bit lagging but lead actors acted so well. Lead pair looks so good together and the did justice to their roles and like i mentioned above you will love their chemistry. Their is also second lead couple their story is really confusing . storyline has many flaws but actors tried to cover it with their performance.This drama would have got more fame if the storyline was less lagging.

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Great chemistry

This is by far my fav bl drama. The chemistry of the characters is so good which makes their acter better. The storyline was different and the director did a great job at providing enough information on their past for the viewer to sympathize with them. The huge mystery behind Tharn's exes was kept hidden very well and, honestly, I could have never thought that Lhong was the culprit and such an asshole. Even though the relationship was kind of toxic, they made it work. I went back to watch this series 4 times more, so far. I think it was because of the attachment I had with Gulf's character 'Type'. Have to add that the music was very addicting as well. I definitely listened to the songs after finishing the series.

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If you were expecting a country romance lakorn then this might not be for you. What we have is a FAMILY drama with a bit of romance by the main leads to tie it all together set against the backdrop of a local drug lord trying to buy all the land. I'll be upfront and say I usually don't watch family drama's but by the time I realised what I was watching, I was 6 episodes in. So I was invested and hoped it would turn around. Unfortunately it became a chore to finish and but I persisted and my hope was that there would be enough sweetness by the Main Leads to offset the other stuff. I hoped in vain.

STORY

This was a messy story with so many story threads, it took time away from the main storyline of the nang'ek and p'ek. Most of the story threads were unnecessary and served no useful purpose, if this was a lakorn of 50+ episodes maybe everything could have been evenly developed but the script tried to cram too many things in the 31 episodes. Let me go through the list of story threads

P'ek and Nang'ek shared the "main" storyline.

P'ek sister,brother,mother and the gold chaser of the p'ek each had they own storylines.

Then we have the two brother in the nang'ek side who both have minor romance storylines.

Also the estranged brother of the nang'ek has his own storyline shared with his wife

We have the villain family in the farm who have 2 different storylines, one being the main crime backdrop and the other being comic relief.

Trying to give all these storyline threads some screentime just made the lakorn into a jumbled mess.

ACTING/CAST

Ben was not a very convincing lead for me but at least his character wasn't a total cuck and simp. He was very upfront with his feelings and chased after what he wanted. I did feel like his character portrayal lacked the toughness that I expect in strong leads as his character came across as too soft spoken. Chingching pulled a great performance with what the script allowed her to do, but she didn't have as much screentime as I expected due to the messiness of the story.

Everyone else did an acceptable role but the standouts were the Somyai parents who played their roles pretty well. The actress who played Keawta (one of nang'ek brothers love interest) was very pretty and would have been great as maybe a second lead.


MUSIC

I loved the music and selection in certain scenes, the opening theme and closing theme were quite good. I recently started listening to Luk Thung and the song choices were spot-on.

REWATCH

Nope

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Short but packs a Punch

The episodes are short but the writers never let that interrupt the flow of the story. The plot is well paced with no moment that felt like a waste of time. At the end of each episode I kept wanting to see more.

The shining stars of this drama are our two main protagonists.
Doo Shim's character grows through out the story from a pessimist who wants nothing to do with her powers to slowly realising her responsibilities and it's beautifully executed.
And Na Woo So - In the first two episodes it feels like he would be the average rich jerk ML we are used to seeing in Kdramas but he defies all my presumptions. He is the perfect partner for our FL, always there to support her but never overshadowing her.

And when these two opposites attract we get the most heartwarming romance. Though it feels a bit rushed in the starting owing to the short episodes, it took no time to grow on me. I couldn't resist their charm and chemistry.

However, as well written as the two main characters are, all the side characters fall short. Maybe it was the length of the episodes or maybe just bad writing but I think the side characters were not really fleshed out and were only there to further the plot.
And the worst thing here is the villain. His motivations are laughable at best. There is no point in finding any logic there.

The writers did a good enough job (as much as they could in a fantasy teen romance at least) in exploring the theme of what the students go through and the kind of pressure societ puts on them when it comes to academics.

While I was not familiar with KSR and NDR before, their long list of filmography is enough to show that they know what they are doing and it was clearly evident. With low budget dramas you expect to see somewhat cringey acting and production but that was so not the case here.

Although I watched it while it was airing, this drama is perfect for binge watching in a single setting.

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A couple that makes you feel secured

I think this is the first chinese drama ive seen where the main couple has a very healthy relationship. No possessive gf/bf, no unnecessary jealousy, no nonsensical misunderstandings. The main leads are very mature that it makes you feel secured with their relationship.

Kudos to the actors who portrayed their characters well. Their chemistry is on another level that you will actually feel what the characters are going through. This was supposed to be my filler drama bc ive been really busy with irl but i couldnt help but focus. Definitely worth your time.

I hope we can see the main leads on another drama in the future!!

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Perfect lovestory and kinship..

I don't understand why people underrate this series..
It's perfect in everyway it could be...
Hats off to the one who wrote this story line and also for the actors and directors who showed us this story in the perfect manners... I couldn't hold my tears and feelings......
Tears got overflowed at the last two episode..
Allen ren and Bai lu done an amazing job.. I loved all the people of the western states and subordinates of Jr. Prince of Nanchan....
I couldn't see any flaws in the story and their acting.. Couldn't be anymore perfect than this... Must Watch Again...
Am sorry for the people who skipped this series.. You guys missed the amazing journey...
Let me watch the sequel of this series now.... Adios Amigos....

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Beautiful drama - Love Triumphs- Worth the Watch

I have not watched the prequel of this drama, so had no idea of the back story - OMG I absolutely loved this drama- story, acting etc. Prof. Zhou Sheng Chen (Allen Ren) absolutely nailed the character - let me gush about him for a sec.... he needs to be given an award for this role...super intelligent, brilliant, sweet, nerdy and clueless about romance character he played to the Tee. Its not only Shi Yi who will fall in love with him/character, I think most girls would.

Towards the end, he turned out to be really romantic, as Shi Yi said in the last episode "you are quite romantic", & you are one who "acts & doesn't talk" unlike most people who talks too much without the act. Bai Lu as Shi Yi did a fabulous job too. I loved the fact that she was established in her own career, who is not afraid to take leave, have babies - I think subtly they are trying to show taking maternity leave/getting married is all part of life's journey - it should NOT be negatively inferred in any job sector. I liked Shi Yi's best friend/house mate, every girl should have a bestie like that (reference here the first couple of episodes, where she takes every opportunity to find a way for Shen Yi to meet the Prof. hehe).

The drama references to the back story (S1), in the right amount so that one who hasn't seen S1 will not be lost...the ending is happy & sweet, but I would have loved to see the last couple of minutes of the episodes with their kids -then it will be like a full circle, they loved each other for centuries, so such an ending would have been epic.

There some emotional scenes towards the end when Shi Yi falls in a coma, how her parents doesn't let Sheng Chen see her - he doesn't give up , stays outside the hospital room for days & finally the parents too acknowledge his genuine love for Shi Yi... The first words she spoke after she woke up from the coma was "Zhou Sheng Chen" for her in all her lifetimes there is just no other - only him... so so cute. During this time (whilst she was in the coma), apart from reading her diary & understanding the love she has for him, the sweet romantic things our Professor did ( to show her when she wakes up from Coma) was just fabulously sweet.

Would recommend it to anyone who loves and believes in 'forever and ever' kind of love.

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A Really Slow Paced Drama...But Chen Zhe Yuan Is Worth The Watch

As a head-start, for those who are curious about this drama, the appeal will be to those who enjoy watching high school dramas and also welcome dizzying feeling of first love and all the challenges that comes with it. I actually fall into this category and wasted no time to watch, with all the high ratings given by other viewers.

However, as I dived into this drama, I suddenly realized it is one of the slowest paced drama I have ever watched. The story line was predictable, the plots pretty flat, the conversations pretty monotonous, background music was not appealing and yet I completed 24 episodes without fast forwarding.

After completion, I thought back to what held the show together, and needless to say, it was the main lead Chen Zhe Yuan. It was his portrayal of Si Yue that kept the show interesting. His attitude, his persona and the way he transitioned from his young confident self during high school, to his un-certainty during his University days and to his maturity when clarity comes to him in life and love. He commits, he is loyal, he is protective and fearless when it comes to love. So, this was what kept me watching. The portrayal of this character alone is enough to keep the ladies swooning.

I won't be watching this drama again, and only recommend to those who are interested get to know Chen Zhe Yuan. I will definitely be looking out for his other dramas.

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Not worth of 8 rating

This is my first Korean drama I felt like Chinese dramas, all the brainless plots and characters are like Chinese. Shameless ML without bottom line, annoying and b**chy FL.
When ML falls for FL he always thinks of her and wants to stay with her even though he knew she feels irritated and hurting because of him, but he always keep on nagging to her. Of course he is young but 25 years is more than enough to know what to do and what not. When she rejected him and told that she wants to be with her ex boyfriend he still keeps on hanging with her and visit her home or wherever she is, even though he knows that is embarrassing to both and mainly he knew she is getting hurt for seeing his face, even after he knew she is getting married soon and also when he saw her in the wedding dress he couldn’t stay away from her. After so many irritating incidents he decided to stay away from her but not for too long, he came back to old fashion. The most annoying and irritating part is because he is little younger (25 years) the director always wants to project his immaturity and there is no clear picture when and how he falls for her that much deeply.
Especially the FL is so annoying and b**chy. When she also had crush on ML she suddenly she accepted her ex and requested him stay with her when he is about to leave for work, after so many annoying and irritating incidents ML decided stay away from her, she didn’t let him leave she always asked him stay with her not to quit the job and not to leave the place he stayed even though she knew that is making embarrassment and irritating to both, and suddenly she realised that she has ML is her heart yet she wants to marry her ex and doing all preparations for marriage. She used to tell the FL to give up on her but she orders him to stay with her I thought this is sadistic and brainless, the most annoying thing is she suggest some girl for ML.
Here She is 39 years old but there is no incidents to witness that either professionally or personally.

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Is it a good show? Maybe. But something is off.

First of all, english isn't my mother language, but i hope everyone at least know what I mean. I think nowadays, almost all tv shows which have good ratings, just part of hype, in fact not all of them is really good. After watching 2 ep, this show is pure action, and i quickly noticed something is off, which is, the logical action of the character based on situation. Enter Lee eun-hyuk. This guy shares a room with his sister. One night, he told her he was going to work. At ground level, he found some occupants grouping together & they seem can't get out. Then a monster attack. Tell me, in your logic, what should the guy do? First he tries to help others to fend off the monster & close the door. Pretty logical. Then he groups up with other. He forbids anyone opening the door to leave. Ok. He goes to security room and watches the monitors. He sits there with others & planning what to do. Errr...wait, did you say he has a sister?
Yep, that's exactly why i told you something is off with this tv show. The character doesn't act logically enough. Does he forget he has a sister up there? And when her sister finally goes downfloor, he just hands her a shirt for cover. No talk. Nothing.

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The Teenage Shaman

The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim is a KakaoTV original production and is the first ever fantasy mystery series produced by the South Korean streaming television. It is also the ninth original program overall created by the online streaming platform since it was officially launched in 2015. KakaoTV’s primary focus is on developing short format productions including original dramas, films and entertainment programs that range from 15 to 40 minutes in length per episode and some of which are delivered in vertical form for mobile users.

In-line with that focus, The Great Shaman is produced as a short web-series of 12 episodes at 20 minutes each, that airs one episode weekly.

In a nutshell, the drama tells the story of 18-year old Ga Doo Shim, who hails from a family with shamanistic abilities, as she navigates the vagaries of life complete with teen angst, real life complications and, of course, evil spirits. All this occurs when she transfers to Songyeong High School, one of the most prestigious schools in South Korea. The premise isn’t far off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, for those familiar with the US show.

On the whole, I find this drama rather fun and enjoyable. It is generally lighthearted and easy to watch with elements of mysticism-based thrills and suspense that are not too horrifying or complex to grasp. In addition, it provides brief glimpses into slice-of-life aspects concerning school life, family dynamics, friendships and a budding romance. With a total running time of only 240 minutes, none of the themes are explored in great depth but the narrative is well paced and executed to convey the key plot points in an engaging and entertaining manner. As a low-budget web series, the production values and technical details are not significant factors to write home about. However, for the most part, the quality of the visual effects rendered and the minimalist action sequences appear to be presented well enough which come as a pleasant surprise.

The main emphasis of the storytelling is on the relationship between the two leads, Ga Doo Shim and her classmate, Na Woo Soo. This partnership largely works because of the charisma of the two leads and the rather charming chemistry that they share. Popular and much-loved former child actors, Kim Sae Ron and Nam Da Reum portray the titular role and Na Woo Soo respectively in what has been a delightful and captivating performance headlining this production. The rest of the supporting cast generally give a decent account of themselves. Special mentions go to the veterans Yoon Seok Hwa, Bae Hae Seon and Moon Sung Geung as the halmeoni, mother and principal respectively.

The soundtrack features 3 OSTs, the upbeat Run To You by Kwon Jin Ah, the evocative Dear My Nights by Seung Hee and the “couple theme” Forever Smile by Yoo Seonho. BGM comprises ominous stock music and on a side note, the voice of the evil spirit is provided by the villain from LUCA: The Brginning, Kim Sung Oh.

If you’re planning to start this, lucky you because you get to binge all episodes in one sitting compared to the rest of us who watched it while it was airing - the pain of waiting for new episodes is indeed real! Although unconfirmed at the time of writing, there is a possibility for a sequel which means we may get to see more of Ga Doo Shim and Na Woo Soo in the near future.

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Real. Painful. Moving. Wholesome

The first 5mins may make you turn away. That cruel moment of seeing someone losing the will to live and seek death can be too much for some viewers.

Yet theres so much this drama offered beyond what I expect. For one it tackles real issues. There's JingJing who pulled a Robin Williams on all her loved ones including her 3 besties. She shouldered a lot of things and hid it so well. In a depressive state, she made a drastic choice.

The 3 remaining ladies like Jing Jing faces many struggles as North drifters, slang for people who left their hometown to go to the big city in the north trying to make a better living. During bad times, Beijing is a city so fast paced, one can feel like you are swallowed whole. Nan Jia is a strong character, a career woman with her own business. She too faced a lot of hurt in the city, faced issues with health and in love. Qiao Xi Chen who works hard, lives like a miser, struggled to be successful and wronged by backstabbers at office. Xu Yan who has a lot of insecurity and often too wrapped up in people's comments, had a lot of growing up to do in life and love.

With the ladies are 3 love interests and fortunately for us all 3 lads are good guys. That helped to balance off the sad elephant in the room. Its a story showing growth and more so in the courage and hard work the ladies put into living their life.

Wholesome are the great parents. The ones who love their children and tell them the words one need to hear. This sounds easy but is not often dobe. Sometimes parents set too high expectations or say the wrong words that can hurt their children. Xi Chen's parents words to her were so touching. Wholesome are the friendship among the ladies. Wholesome was when the 3 ladies care for JingJing's parents.

The acting is top notch. Ren Su Xi, Zhou Yu Tong and Sun Qian at different points of the drama moved me to tears. I felt their sincerity across the screen. Chinese dramas should do more lengths like this: 12episodes of moving story, poignant, meaningful and leaves us hopeful.

Parting words from JingJing: Even after the darkest of night, there'll be sunrise. Even after the longest journey, there is an end.

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Unexpectedly SO GOOD!!

Firstly, this is my first drama watching something with Lee Jun Ki. Totes worth, best decision hands down. I'm now in love with him.

Secondly, this is my first ever post because I felt the need to sign up and thank Netflix for having this drama available.

Thirdly, PROS: (SPOILERS)
- Pace - perfect. Nothing dragged on.
- Storyline - perfect, edge of my seat at the end of each episode.
- Acting: superb. 1000/10.
- The FL saves the ML many times.
- The evil character really pissed me off so bad so thank god, he only started having a story towards the end and then died.

Lastly, CONS:
-That damn amnesia at the end.

In conclusion, this drama was PERFECT. Literally perfect!

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To much STARING? ??‍♂️

Okay, when I first saw the teaser I was excited due to Mark his acting skills are superior, and I kinda like their chemistry. So i was excited when the first episode aired I kinda get it ? the whole show will be slow-burner (Slow burner are not my favorite) but I was like it will get better in a future episode but boy I was wrong the show is the slowest burner I ever watched like this whole show could have been wrapped in total 7 episodes but they don't have much of script or the writer didn't try to add something new in the show so when you don't have a script but you have to make a 12 episodes series then you add RoMaNtic staring, or useless scene for example (Main lead parking his scooter, or random food closeup shots, or just random object's) as for the staring I love that cute and fluffy stuff but it was too much like I was like say something like. And with slow-burner shows, we usually have the side couple to save the show. But this time side couple was like if the main leads are slow so we will be slower than them. ? I was like I am done with it. I begging remaining episode they will say somethings,
As for the acting, both are pretty good actors
Music is good
Cinematography is also good
So let's just hope the series gets better

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A worth watch !!

My first venture to jdramas …..and I can’t explain how happy I am to have given this one a try ….
Even after seeing that it got almost all the reviews towards the very positive end of the rating spectrum ...I still was hesitant (maybe bec first dramas are always memorable ...you wish to carefully pick the critically acclaimed ones so as to make sure you aren’t disappointed)...and I am really glad to say that this drama has me looking forward to my journey in dorama land …

This is way more than just a typical rom com ...it’s an ordinary story that gives you hope and courage to fight for what you need ...tells you to cry,stand up and face the mess ….( I feel weird writing this ....cuz actually I am team it’s okay to run away as long as you are willing to come back and fight but yaa ...it’s true that someday or the other ...you gotta deal with all the shit that comes your way)
( I haven’t mentioned the story ...cuz synopsis provided by MDL is way too good ...pls check it )

The positives …

No annoying characters …( I don’t know if this is common for doramas to not have them ...and if it is then ...I am dancing already)

They don’t keep on dragging an issue like anything and just talk it out …(dare not ask for more in a rom drama …!! )

Amazing bonding between the characters ….I love the entire house arrangement ….housemates are so supportive of each other ….and every character individually is so likable ...and the dog’s so adorable ... …(even I wish to live in a share house like that …!!)

Life Lessons ...well some dramas teach you small and important things ….I feel it’s one of those dramas ...it’s a happy happy stuff but yeah it doesn’t deviate from the fact that life got troubles too ...and just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that the path will be easy ...it might be easier than others ...but no bed of roses for anyone here.

Also I like the fact that the ML makes FL feel that not everything needs to be captured and shared over the internet ...ofc she likes doing it ….but addiction is not good you can’t start living just to share your life on internet ...you sometimes need to really snap out of it ...and live somethings just for yourself …(that’s probably the best part)

I enjoyed the side characters too ….as someone who skips scenes without much thought...I really didn’t touch that forward button ...so you know it’s amazing

Negatives …
I don’t know why but I end up watching love triangles all the time (don't yell spoiler spoiler ...it's there from the very first ep) ...I am a bit annoyed by that ...tho this one is like way better than others I have come across ..still
(guess I need to now start checking tags before I watch)
Also the show doesn't start off too well ....like the initial eps do feel weird and difficult to keep up with !
and the main couple don't give couple vibes ....they'd be better as friends.

But all in all I loved the drama ...and am way too happy to have this as my first !!
I hope everyone who’s reading this does give it a try!

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