timotey
Na mo Naki Sekai no End Roll: Half A Year Later
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This mini-series (it's only 3 eps, 30 or so minutes each) takes place half a year after the movie The Master Plan / The End of the Tiny World and you really need to watch that first or this one won't make much sense to you. From the looks of it, the mini-series was much more cheaply made, it's more like a web coda, and it tells the viewer what happened to Kida after his world came crashing down on him.First, if you're sensitive to topics like that, you need to know that at the beginning of the mini-series, Kida is suicidal and at one point, he is honestly tempted to just end it - before he's stopped by a chance encounter with a young prostitute who, in the end, after all it's done, prods him into moving on.
But honestly, Kida's state of mind is more than understandable. He lost everyone who ever mattered to him, he even handed his best friend the proverbial loaded gun and couldn't save him in the end. So all he has left is an empty apartment and his work for the mob. That's it. He has no friends left, no family, no real connections to the human world. The only person who actually cares about him is his boss and that's it. You can feel his emptiness.
My favorite moment was when Kida decided to negotiate for the young prostitute's release and he needed 100 mil. yen for that. And he went to his boss who didn't want to let him do it, especially after he told Kida that if he wasn't careful, he could die, and Kida replied that he knew that. And then his boss said, "You're the breadwinner of our company. It'll be troublesome if you die. If you can't come back alive, I can't allow you to go." And only after Kida promised him that he had no intention to die, his boss not only let him go but gave him the 100 mil., too! I loved the way his boss tried to make it sound like he only cared about Kida because he was their "breadwinner" as he called him but he was so worried about Kida because he knew that Kida kept doing dumb stuff for other people - first Makoto in the movie, now the prostitute - and he kept getting hurt because of it. And no matter how many times he told Kida that "dangerous bridges are meant to be crossed for your own good," Kida just wouldn't listen to him!
What I also liked was the ending. It wasn't really happy. It was more realistic. Kida decided to move on, certainly, but that didn't mean he became happy overnight. He still only had his empty apartment and his mob job and no real friends so...
I honestly love this "universe" the movie and the mini-series set up. I really wish we could see more of it. But I don't think we will.
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I would love to say that I loved it. Unfortunately I can't. It was rather boring and it dragged terribly, it felt as if the director and/or editor completely missed the cue so in many cases, the scenes just went past the moment when you felt like someone should've yelled cut. Some pairings were cute or at least interesting despite the boring writing but it simply wasn't enough. Even the last story focused on Lay Talay's character simply wasn't good per se.And to top it off, there were so many cringe-worthy moments, like when one of the pairing ended up calling each other "Papi" & "Daddy" *shudders* Yeah, I'm really not into the whole "Daddy" kink, yikes! Or when in two of the pairings one half had to literally ask their partner for permission to meet up with friends for drinks. That was so yikes!
The most interesting and original moments for me happened in the last story with Lay Talay about Masuk who, after the death of his lover, Tir, fell in love with Hia but Tir still hung around as a ghost - all the time, literally. I mean, in similar stories, the ghost usually leaves after finding peace but Tir remained with them so it felt more like a threesome because, well, like I said, he stayed with them. all. the. time. Even while they were being intimate. That was quite... well, kinky.
This drama also allowed me to find two newbie actors whose career I'll definitely follow: Chap Suppacheep who played Tue in the first story and then First Piyangkul who played the promiscuous Kaeng. These two caught my eye the most out of the new ensemble.
Still, eh.
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We Best Love: Forever the First
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A sweet little story made special by the amazing chemistry between the lead actors. Shou Yi & Shi De’s story is, well, it’s nothing original, really. But thanks to the actors, it feels like something more, they honestly elevate the whole thing.And then there are the things like Shi De’s mother who’s absolutely amazing. The fact that Shou Yi is half-Japanese and they cast a half-Japanese actor so the blend between his Chinese and Japanese is seamless, when he switches between the languages (mainly when he’s startled or emotional), it doesn’t feel forced. Then there’s the intrigue with Shou Yi’s father, introduced in the last episode as an appetizer for what’s to come in S2. And Shi De’s cousin and his emotional issues - and his lost love...
There’s a lot that works for this drama, considering it’s just 6 barely 30 min. episodes. It’s definitely worth it.
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And the amazing chemistry between Jeff Satur (Win) and Gameplay Garnpaphon (Tops) brought the whole thing to life. Because this was not their first series together, AFAIK, there was no awkwardness of getting to know each other as acting colleagues first, they were close and it showed on-screen in the intimacy between the characters, in the small touches and little smiles. And I can’t wait to see them acting together again, in KinnPorsche The Series this time. They’re a marvel on-screen and I fell in love with them.
Also, this was the first series that I’ve seen that acknowledged the existence of Covid-19 and stressed out the importance of washing your hands etc. Kudos.
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There’s some really nice whump in this drama and the found family trope is positively glorious! Dong Baek’s, the main hero’s, team loves him like their son/older brother and they don’t doubt him for one second, not even when it looks really bad. They trust him with their lives. And Han Sun Mi, the main heroine! At first you don’t get why she’s the way she is, so seemingly cold, but as the story progresses you get why and you get her. And you realize just how much she cares!
Also, surprisingly to some, this drama has no romance. None. What the characters share is a genuine friendship and that’s all. So, if you’re looking for something sweet and romantic, this one is not for you. If you want a dark and twisty thriller about telepaths, then this one is for you for sure!
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Which is why I liked the first half best. When the Preacher then arrived and Guo Deyou & Ding Mao were split, each following his own storyline and with a heavy focus on Guo Deyou - who was the lead, so no wonder - I admit I started to lose interest a bit. Still, Ding Mao’s endless trust in Guo Deyou, even when everyone else turned against him, that was a thing to behold, really. And the ending, the last moments of the final ep, made me very emotional.
Guo Deyou, Ding Mao, Gu Ying & Xiao Lanlan, their friendship, the way they went through thick and thin together, the way they supported each other and had each other’s back, that neither Ding Mao, nor Xiao Lanlan, both born into wealth, were ashamed of their working class friends, that they all as a group respected each other’s… well, idiosyncrasies… that gave me much feels.
Also, I wish I could get my hands on the OST. The instrumental tracks, so very similar to Sherlock Holmes’ - both Ritchie’s and Moffat’s - they just hit the right spot for me. Alas, it’s not available anywhere. Pah, humbug!
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Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo
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I get that Nanase's chaotic personality might be too much for some people - my mother included - but I liked that about her, that despite being clumsy and making a fool of herself on a regular basis, she just kept going, she never gave up, determined to become better, to learn and grow - and she does. She proves that even if you aren't gifted, a natural born genius, perseverance goes a long way, that you simply need to pick yourself up and do it again and again until you learn.
Another thing that I loved was that when Tendo agreed to become Nanase's boyfriend, he was all in. He didn't treat her any differently, he just loved her and supported her and helped her achieve her goals.
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Word of Honor has been, hands down, my most wonderful, most satisfying drama experience so far - and I have watched quite a few dramas in the past years. It had great writing, great actors, humor and sadness at just the right ratio and...Hugs. So many hugs. And hand-holding. And longing glances full of immeasurable love. And sacrifices. And mainly - an unquestionably happy ending for the main couple, a sight unseen in danmei.
But seriously, I didn't skip a single scene in this drama. I was actually interested in all the storylines, even the search for the Glazed Armor, I wanted to know what was behind it and the twist with the treasure, the twist with the key (!!!), the whole reveal didn't leave me hanging.
What truly elevated this drama from a good one to a great, top-notch, let-me-wiggle-in-my-chair-with-the-happy drama, though, were the leads. Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan truly embodied the characters and their chemistry was mind-blowing. They added so much to the characters of Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu, respectively, they made them feel alive, like real people with their ups and downs who sometimes made bad decisions but who didn't let their failures keep them under. GJ and ZZH were so right for the parts and they clicked in such a rare, genuine way that it simply made me feel all warm around the heart.
This drama experienced so many issues before airing - from losing the original leads to big budget cuts, it was laughed at and scoffed at and nobody would've bet a penny that it would be a hit - and yet, it's become a must-see event and Youku truly treated it like the golden goose it turned out to be. Good so. Everyone involved worked on it with heart and they deserve the recognition, twice over!
To sum it up: this drama simply makes me happy, it makes me smile and it occupies my mind and I can't stop thinking of the amazing love story that we've seen unfold on-screen. What a rare gift!
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30Sai made Doteida to Mahotsukai ni Narerurashi
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I loved that there weren’t any bad guys in this drama, that it was a romantic slice of life story just, well, just with a smidgen of magic. Gosh, the way Kurosawa loved Adachi! Everyone deserves a Kurosawa of their own, honestly. And it was in no small measure thanks to Machida Keita who played Kurosawa, he gave the character so much loveliness and warmth. And Akaso Eiji lent Adachi such a cute awkwardness! His and Machida Keita’s chemistry was so... *chef’s kiss*
Also, I think that the reveal of Adachi’s powers truly demonstrated the difference in the portrayal of the self in Eastern vs. Western culture. You can bet that if this was an American show, Kurosawa would’ve been more concerned with his privacy, his thoughts, his own self, he would’ve felt furious and betrayed and he would’ve stormed out in a huff. Here, though, Kurosawa was more concerned with with Adachi’s well-being, Adachi’s happiness, Adachi’s self. Kurosawa was secondary in this equation to Adachi. And that was very lovely because I can’t help but feel that the Western focus on the “I” first and foremost and always has gotten quite, well, narcissistic lately.
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This was, hands down, one of the best dramas that I've seen this year, at the very least. The music and sound mixing was fabulous, the cinematography incredible, the characters so lovable and engaging that when the end finally came, I didn't want to leave their world. It made me very, very happy!I loved all the twists and turns of the story, the supernatural side of it, but mainly, I loved the relationship among and between the various characters, their friendship and their closeness - and their romance! And not just between the secondary characters but between the main two, Yi Kang & Hyun Jo, too.
Theirs was one of the most wonderful romances that I've ever seen. It was very mature and without a single "I love you" or a single kiss, and yet the feelings that they had for each other ran through the whole drama like a red thread, manifested in the lengths they were willing to go for each other. It was absolutely amazing!
I also loved the ending, it was everything I wished for - and more! It was really, truly, honestly perfect! Down to the tiniest hint of Goo Young possibly finding a new love in Hyun Jo's little sister! The way he ran from her was hilarious!
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This is, hands down, my favorite Korean BL drama. The OST is great, the cinematography excellent (it’s really art in motion), the plot so intriguing... and even though the story of Yeonwoo and Yoohan doesn’t really delve deep into the world building of this “universe”, you get the sense of how different it is with the Monos and the Probes living side by side with the rest of the normal population and experiencing things that simple humans cannot beginning to grasp.Yeonwoo and Yoohan, their story and their dialogues, the way the actors portrayed them, I really felt their fascination with each other, that they simply couldn’t stay away from each other. And I was glad about the ending, that the drama did not take the MODC route but gave them a HEA, even though it felt like it was just the beginning of their journey, of the exploration of what they could be together, what a Mono and a Probe can be together if their yearning for one another is mutual, not one-sided and forced.
(Also, the whump was amazing!)
Basically, it was wonderful and I loved it and I need more!
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Phun and Noh are just sweet. Phun is so in love with Noh that it’s ridiculous and Noh reminds me of a cat locked up in a room full of rocking chairs: there’s much hissing and clawing before he finally gives in. Both of the characters have such distinct 3D personalities and even their relationships with their girlfriends before they get officially together are really unique and interesting.
What I loved best about Phun and Noh is that they actually talked to each other. As in, they actually, honest to God communicated and discussed their problems and issues with each other. They never let anything fester for eps on end. That was so startling and unusual and very much appreciated.
So, from my POV? Phunnoh: both thumbs up. Everything else: skip.
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Well, that was very... Japanese. And as much as I looked forward to this movie - I own the manga in its entirety and I watched and loved the anime - I simply didn't like it. Why?For one, the music was very jarring. Terribly loud, electronic, very... 2001: A Space Odyssey like with the whole droning thing etc. After a while, it made my eye twitch. I really hated it.
Also, I felt like I was actually watching a theater performance. It was mostly filmed in a studio, among very obvious set pieces - the shop didn't even look like a real place - and the performances themselves were so overwrought, especially by the villains. It felt very "even the viewers in the last row need to see I'm batcrap insane, watch me cackle." Yeah.
The only saving grace? Watanuki and Doumeki. This kind of a relationship was what I wanted from the manga and the anime and the movie actually delivered. So brownie points for that.
But... yeah. This? Not my cuppa. Maybe someone who is really into artsy stuff will love it but not me.
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Kimi no Koto Dake Mite Itai
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Oh, this was wonderful. Short and sweet and, well, wonderful. A tale of two best friends since childhood who fall in love. And pretty much nothing changes. It's a tale about how amazing it is when your partner is also your best friend.I loved all the pairings in this drama, the main one, Sakura & Yuma, but also the het pairings, their classmates' and the teachers'! Gosh, I loved the teachers, they were just the right amount of quirky without feeling like clowns. And it was so touching how much affection they had for their students - and vice versa! The students poked fun at them, sure, but they honestly liked and admired their teachers.
My main draw, of course, were Sakura and Yuma, their relationship, their personalities, how perfectly they clicked, how well they knew each other, how easily they slipped into being a couple. I think my favorite moment was Yuma's "I will always cherish you" campfire confession. That was just... perfect.
Overall, short and sweet and funny, perfect for curing blue moods.
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The cases in this drama honestly surprised me. They never turned out the way I expected them to. Totono-kun's observation skills were simply awesome, not just regarding the cases but also people, simply people. He might've been a loner but he knew about people. I loved that, yeah, he was annoying to some but when he started talking to the culprits or to the victims, he truly got through to them and made them see reality as was, not just the way they thought it was.Suda Masaki was fantastic as Totono-kun. I saw him in a few things already but he has never really caught my interest, I was always all, "Yeah, and so-n-so was played by Suda Masaki. Alright." But here, he was truly marvelous. The way his Totono-kun was a loner, a bit weird but not in a bad way, a walking encyclopedia but also someone who just walked in the rain, singing a song about potatoes, who was all excited about a bento and an impressionist exhibition, who never, ever wanted to get involved in the cop's cases and yet, when push came to shove, he always helped... Yeah, that was cute.
Also, Totono-kun & Garo! Wow. I'm so curious where that is headed and I hope that there will be S2 that will explore their relationship!
Overall, a great series. Funny but also so intriguing!
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