1
1
ryoato
Sisheng Peak
Under the Queen’s Umbrella
38 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
phenomenal
This drama is historical and I've been seeing a lot of complaints towards the genre as a whole, saying it's boring. I haven't looked too into the review for this one, but I can say my opinions towards it are very positive.To start off, I think it is incredibly underrated. The production of the drama is insane, and it is beautiful in every shot. Every shot is detailed and adds to the premise of the story, and none of what is shown is filler. It comes down to even the little moments that focus on hands, rain, etc. The cinematography is stellar and from a directing standpoint this drama is nothing less than that. What comes down to making this drama really good is all of the elements coming together. A lot of shows can have a good cast with a bad script, or a bad cast with a good script. This one pulls together what it had so well and is not overdone. The cast is pretty much star-studded, quite literally as you have SF9's Chani included as well. I have seen some complaints about the secondary characters not being acted as well and that the main lead Kim Hye Soo is carrying the show, and to that I will explain. Kim Hye Soo is a veteran actress who has been doing this for years, and she is by far the best actress here. I can see that she may overshadow, but it is all the credit to her. She is just one of the best actresses out there and her co stars are young and haven't done it as long. What I am getting at is that she is amazing and the other acting isn't bad at all, she is just so so so good at acting that you might compare her to her co-stars.
With that being said... I am pleasantly surprised by all the acting efforts of the whole entire cast. With some new faces that I haven't ever seen personally in a drama, none of them are over or underacting at all. The story is pretty easy to follow, a Queen's ambition for one of her sons to succeed and become a crown prince. The story may be simple, but every character is picked apart and that makes it very interesting.
Each prince has their talents and things they are good at, but they are all very flawed. Each flaw gets its turn to shine, and each talent does as well. You can sympathize with even the princes that aren't directly the Queen's son. Every young person in this drama has a lot of weight held over them and they don't take the situation they are in lightly. The drama starts off lighthearted, but it descends to be deeper and more emotional. It's a story about family and survival, and a beautiful one at that.
There are a lot of characters in this show and you would think I would forget a few or get lost. I haven't gotten lost at all, instead I grow further intrigued by each episode and scene with every character.
The only complaints I have is the Queen Dowager... I hate bad people just thinking they are superior without having anything to back them up. She feels superior having put the King in his position. She wants to have everyone wrapped around her finger.. I dislike that woman so much honestly but that can't really be a complaint. It is credit to the drama for doing its job to make me dislike her.
To wrap it up this drama is so good and I recommend for someone that wants a heartbreaking, heart-racing watch.
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and so the monster was me
This film I believe is intended to be watched without spoiling or going into what it is about in depth. Take in all the promotional on the surface and you will get the full viewing experience. I say this because of the promotional materials that lead you in one direction, take it in that direction at first and then go in depth.. which is what I did. So spoilers.I definitely did not get what I bargained for when I decided to watch this movie. I watched the trailer, read the synopsis, saw the poster, and thought I would get a good scare out of this one. The ratings and reviews are well enough that I thought it would be perplexing, a psychological horror.
The first two-thirds of the movies had me, but in the back of my mind, the answer to the allure and mysterious tones was pretty simple and clear. To put it simply, this movie isn't a slasher or a horror. It is a coming of age queer film beneath two layers.
There are three acts to this movie after the initial setup. With the synopsis, firstly you have a story of a single mother who cares deeply for her child, a devoted and misunderstood teacher, and two kids that have the answers to the overall premise of the film. Minato is the child of the single-mother and is being abused as school, by either a teacher, or something else is at play.... so that is what I thought. I thought there could be anything, even a fifth element that added supernatural. This film was anything but, it was so real and thought-provoking, and in the end I found so many details that clearly show what was really going on the whole entire time.
The third act shows the perspective of Minato, and slowly it shows that instead of an abused boy, you find a boy that is scared of his blossoming but very real feelings for a student of his that was shown to be connected to this mystery within the school. There was no abusive teacher or secret being held by the higher ups, there was a boy who was scared of his feelings, and enough to think of himself as a monster. So in the end he made a lie. This film weaves together several elements to knit it into one final conclusion. Instead of going on about that I'll point out a few details that show how brilliant this film really is.
I must say, I was hesitant to conclude that this film involves two boys that like eachtother, but by the end and looking into the screenplay and its intent, I realize that was the point. Minato was just as scared as his feelings and it brings the question as to why it is seems as sexual when it is innocent love between two people that are the same gender. There is an innocence with Minato and him coming to terms with his feelings for Yori, and it's heartbreaking to witness how scared he really is of them.
You can see this through dialogue, and specifically with scenes where Minato says he is shifting into a monster, and where he is in the MRI scanner, truly scared that it will read his mind and his mom will be aware of his developing feelings. Why is he so scared thought? Yori is why he is scared, he is constantly tormented for his behaviors that don't suggest he likes a girl, he is abused by his father and told he has a pigs brain. Yori's father would rather he act out and be bad, than be an obedient child who is good at school. There is this whole spectrum of what a boy acts like and what they shouldn't.
What got to me was the part where the two boys find a safe space together, and I started thinking about their feelings for eachtoerh when Yori got too close to Minato. Although in the end Minato never wanted Yori to go anywhere, and what was cool are the little details. Minato goes back to the empty safe haven and texts Yori, where Yori says he won't go back because he wants to touch Minato, in the ways where he patted his hair or hugged him, but Minato says he wouldn't mind. I love how the ending doesn't have them fear, and instead they get past the gates of the railroad and are happy and free... there's just a lot to talk about with this one.
it seems that this topic is a taboo and that's why I didn't see it at first, but that is the point behind this film. To have you question why it is seen that way, and why you view an innocent feeling and curiosity as sexual or not normal. There is no romanization between them, the director and screenplay had the intent to share a story of two boys that grew to love eachother and coming to accept in regardless of the heteronormative society they were placed in. Any opposition to that shows the point of the film again and societies failure to accept it.
Below I'l several links that goes over all the details of this film I couldn't go over.
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/1761z26/little_details_in_koreedas_monsterkaibutsu_2023/?rdt=39846
https://x.com/wyvernhood/status/1745418419368055276?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw
https://x.com/korokketto/status/1745376701188825596?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw
https://x.com/haeinfleur/status/1744727092586246244?s=46&t=hWWeyWA1Y9kwJqIT_KVSaw
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Pining at its finest
Korean BL’s have either been a hit or a miss these days. This drama isn’t dry at all, in all honesty it is pretty good. I’m not going to rave about Zuho being in it, or how that isn’t a a bad thing etc. I’ve done that in the comments and everyone has their own opinion on that. My opinion is to give this show a chance and enjoy it. I like Zuho and Sf9 a lot, how could I at least not find this entertaining.Luckily for me this drama is more than entertaining. It has great moments of chemistry that by the first few minutes where the two leads are in high school and the story is set up, you can pinpoint right away that one clearly and so desperately pines for the other. That is all credit to the actors, both of them, but for Han Joon’s character specifically. He bit hit tongue twice.. looks like that can only be directed so far. He took that intuition and fully went with it, so that is a reason for me to buy into this chemistry if the setup didn’t already do that.
Childhood friends to lovers can be cheap. But Han Joon’s and Yoo Jae’s bond is different with them both being guys. There isn’t that attraction that people will assume is thee because they are the opposite sex, so that’s why I find it interesting. You have Han Joon liking Yoo Jae but knowing it most likely won’t be reciprocated. The moments of his conflicts with expressing his feelings and being upset about that are brief, but the actor knows the characters feelings that you don’t need to much explanation on that. I’m sure there would be if the drama was longer… which is where things seem to be so easily solved if this drama were.
It’s a stunning show with how it’s not super high budget, the music is calm and the ending ost is really upbeat and I like it. Some editing is off, but I’m just glad a show I’ve been waiting for is finally here. I’m glad that the actors are into their roles and aren’t shying away. Zuho I give so much respect for this. He clearly knows his character well also and is versatile with the many emotions his character has to pull off here. Jealousy, attachments, stress, anger.. love love love to see it
My only gripe is this show needs to be longer. It’s only because the endless potential I see with the all so interesting story. On the surface it’s childhood friends with one liking the other. But there’s a whole lot more. Both of the friends have similarities with being poor, they have unfortunate circumstances and adversities that they have calmed and healed with by being so close. I wish to see those internal struggles outside more, specifically with both of their home lives.. but this drama isn’t long enough to have all that without it being choppy. So the attempt that is going to be made will push through for me, but it could be better if fully fleshed out. There is so much to fit with so little time, but it is really interesting to watch nonetheless.
The acting is really good for the leads. The chemistry is there and has my heart pumping from looks alone. The cinematography shines at moments and other times it is just the drama moving along. So this drama is harmless.. and it could become a complete bucket of cold water over the heads of people who doubt it if it comes through with the chemistry that the actors have- but will the production let them?
Unfortunately not. The last handful of episodes unfortunately are rushed and packed with so many things that there isn’t enough time for. The jump from dating and being together is a bit off.. only because there is only so much affection that was allowed to pass through. In a broader version I can only dream about this would’ve been a 10/10. For what it stands for though it was pretty good. Not perfect at all honestly. It had a lot of gaps I had to fill in with the editing and cuts just because it simply isn’t long enough. Lots of potential, too much potential that it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
I enjoyed the chemistry but wished it would’ve been pushed further. It would’ve shown them and their difference from being just friends to being a couple better. It would make more sense for it- but again it was just a lot of potential. Potential is a good thing, for the whole show though it was underwhelming but not horrible. I’d binge in a day if I watched it again.
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most anticipated but most disappointing
I was excited to see that Gemini and Fourth were getting another project together, and ultimately knew it was inevitable. With the popularity of the pair from their recent (and best so far..) project which was My School President I was excited to see another imaginative and original drama from the pair. Unfortunately for me the originality wasn't coming because this drama is a remake of Keita Hatsukoi, and it is again.. unfortunately not anywhere near as good. What comes in the end is an adaptation I can neither recommend as a stand-alone drama, or to any fans of the original. This drama is just worse in every single way possible.. let me explainI am not a hater of the fact it is a remake. I know remakes can be done well and have been before, I didn't expect for this to be better or worse, the least I expected was some effort.. and I didn't even get that. The acting is done well enough from the new faces I see, Gemini and Fourth I can't help but see that they are just acting out what was originally done.. and the depth behind their performances aren't there because of a simple reason. The direction and production shot them in the foot, and it isn't any of the acting at fault, it is the writing, the editing, directing, and everything but them. So the editing is extremely cheap and it tells me that whoever is in charge of this project simply didn't understand or care for the source. This drama was just a way to make a quick dollar, that is what it all tells me. They use shammy music and sound effects in ways that aren't effective and just a shame to be there in the first place.
With Fourth in particular. He is a fun person and is an amazing actor, and I know that from his leading role in My School President. The difference there is that he had room to act, instead here they shove sound effects to try and get an emotion of humor out of a scene. The original source material is a manga, and I can see this being done with animation, live action is completely different. The actor can stand alone by himself and I don't know.. act! Fourth is more than capable of holding a viewers attention in the humorous scenes, but instead they drag it out to its limit by stretching the camera and adding cheap sound effects which are what I said. They are cheap ways for the audience to go.. oh this is funny! It isn't, to me it is insulting. I know Thai dramas tend to do this, but they should've reeled it back. My School President was a fun show but also had its mellow moments, it was so well received and had heart because of the directing and care in every scene. In this drama there isn't any attention to detail other than call backs to any other source material. There is a whole lot of extra time in this drama, but it is wasted for cheap and phony reasons. This drama uses the leads and the source material as a way to market and doesn't do anything new by itself, it drowns the original concept to an abyss and I can't see it coming back from it.
Crucial parts that may seems small are taken out, with the Cinderella episode in particular being the worst and the point I realized this show just sucks. I really didn't want it to either. So Atom (who is played by Fourth) isn't even Cinderella, and that is fine by itself, but when you really think about it where is the logic? Originally he volunteered to do it, so the only reason I see that they didn't is because either Fourth didn't want to cross-dress (which is fine) or because this drama wanted to toss the coin in the pot of things they are progressing. That did the opposite, with Atom not being Cinderella it messes the whole identity of the stage itself as well as Atom's character. He does thing in spontaneous behavior, because it is just who he is. He is someone that thinks before he acts, and that is how it is in the original and not here. With Atom having time to think about it, get rejected, and then to do it again takes away a bit of that charm from him, and ultimately strips the dynamic between him and Kongthap (Ida). Ida is a guy who thinks carefully, and even too carefully. He doesn't even understand the concept of liking someone and it doesn't make much sense to him just based off a feeling alone, and Atom (Aoki) is the opposite. Aoki is the person who does things all of his feelings and without feeling, but just is a genuine person. So he subbed in for Cinderella not just because he liked her, but because it was just in his nature. His whole class had no problem and here? Well they refused until he had to and he did it by himself? He had no reinforcement and it made his behavior seem odd? Like Atom isn't the type of guy to do things off of a one moment decision, but they find it weird? So it was disingenuous even if they wanted to pull a homosexual relationship in the mix.
So the episode there became just the characters singing instead of developing their individual characters they sung songs for the play... If you want GemFouth to sing write another drama that has it make sense.. here it made no sense? It was another skip for me..
They screw up the main parts of the characters so badly and they seem a shell of themselves. Atom and Kongthap alike are stale and uninteresting. The ending of episode one wasn't nearly as impactful from the editing and because of the direction towards the portrayals. Kongthap is someone who in the end is also an extremely good person, and very thoughtful. Atom ended up actually liking him but not in any way that was serious or understandable, it was actually pretty confusing. I keep watching and hoping they just go to the source because that did nothing wrong, and if they change things then can they add? There is more than enough time to make this drama good or watchable, this drama just makes me think that I should just go back to watching the original. I really should, GMM shame on you. Shame on you for just shoving this out into the open for the money, where is the heart? Where is the passion? The comedic timing alone is enough to turn someone away from this, this isn't funny at all, not even in a so bad its good.
Taking away the little details.. especially the garbage scene.. oh boy.. that is just not needed. Taking those humor bits away show to me that whoever is in charge really doesn't understand the source material at all. It is just fan service and bad fanservie and is extremely dissapointing. Watch My School President again if you like Gem and Fourth, don't kid yourself into thinking this is good.
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Where was this Sword and Fairy?
Like the many others I thought that you'd have to watch the other Chinese Paladin series to start this one. Luckily you don't have to do that! The series is based off of video games, and each series pretty much stands alone.This adaptation of Chinese Paladin 6 is called Sword and Fairy, and weirdly enough it's airing at the same time of another Chinese Paladin series. Between the two I chose to watch this one because of Xu Kai,
It's not extraordinary (but it had the makings of a fantastic drama. At the beginning drama is fun and not too dense with mellow, and I can go either way honestly. I like a lot of different dramas and was skeptical because of the wondrous nature of this one. A handful of episodes in and I'm buying into how the world works and where the drama seems to lead. Which is an interesting place considering its main premise is surrounding a looming disaster brought by a demon lord that may or may not be our FL? What is even better than that is the cult that worships this Lord Ming and hilariously mistaken our FL, Qi, played by Esther Yu, as this demon lord. So her and her sworn brother (lol not buying that) are in the middle of it all trying to reclaim their (mainly Qi's identity). Surely enough handfuls of more episodes and there is a lot I can't buy into so easily. I think the show started being bad when a certain someone found out their origins. Then it was a lot of back and forth between two settings and not a lot of organic sets. I am someone that is more into real life settings and weather and etc.
I haven't seen anything like it honestly. It's unique with the costumes, and especially the dynamic between the FL and the ML. Qi is very dumb and I see the complaints about the dubbing and the 'annoying' voice, but be serious with yourself on this. This character only knows three years of life other than a reoccurring dream. She is naive and how she sounds equals to that, I have always been wary of Esther Yu because of the voice but why? It works so well here and she is hilarious. She doesn't phone in what she is playing and make it annoying, she has charm and the acting chops to fill in many diverse roles and funny and naive ones alike. Xu Kai who plays the ML, Jin Zhao, isn't as naive as her, but they are both as unfortunate honestly. They both know nothing about their whereabouts, other than that they woke up together so that makes them to be born on the same day. He is protective of her and just as skeptical as anyone that wants anything to do with her. I am loving the dynamic between them, their teasing is great to watch and that makes me excited for a potential romance at the beginning slowly falls into a mess. Their relationship isn't developed and instead you watch the other characters and their relationships. I really didn't get what I bargained for.
The mystery behind the leads is interesting, as. you don't know exactly what the two even are. Are they human? Demon? Are they bound by fate? Again, I don't know how the Chinese Paladin series really work, but I see a lot of fights, characters, and wonder if it will get heavy into plot or if they will just go place to place. The latter is what happens.. honestly a mix of both. It is hard to take seriously at times with how fake everything looks.. the effort is there but it just overall seems cheap by the end of 36 episodes.
I think about what the drama is trying to accomplish and rate based on that. So if this drama is appealing to the demographic in China it is doing very well. People are happy and better than that, this drama has been acknowledged by one of the producers from the source material. So that alone tells me it is doing something right.
Although upon watching the whole series it seems I am asking myself... what really happened? What was the point? All of these pretty faces in this drama can't amount to anything if they are barely in it by the time the series ends. Xu Kai and Esther Yu are still great.. but unfortunate.
There is a lot of what I care about and nothing of what I do. So that is really less Xu Kai and more side characters. The chemistry between the leads is the best it can do I guess.. but it's not electric when comparing to much better dramas with much better performances. It is due to the script.. because I know the leads have it in them. This story is just convuluted. There is so much happening and it is hard to keep up, but it is pretty entertaining. In the end I am wishing for more stories with more heart. This one was just a video game adaptation, that really didn't have its own unique narrative to tell. There was only so much that could happen and in the end it was pretty stale.. but it had Xu Kai and I love him to death.
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Takara-kun to Amagi-kun
16 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
harmless first love
At first I didn’t think this would really be that good, and it’s not amazing or anything.. but man.. the chemistry in this makes it so good and makes it A LOT better than other BL’s today. The leads actually have chemistry and play off saboteur, they aren’t afraid to get close to each other. I’m so glad that I am not baited with them. This show is a lot better than people give it credit forThe editing of the first episode can be confusing, but I’m pretty good at finding things out so I am good with that. I honestly really like the editing, it’s not too campy and it has a balance with its tender moments and easy going moments. So the confession scene was chronologically at the end of the episode and then they got together, that’s all good there. If you end up being confused by it then that would only frustrate me if you say the drama is bad because of it. I will say it a million times, I rate dramas with what the drama is trying to accomplish in mind. This is a high school romance, and it has a lot of things that make it interesting so the rating is higher than the others here.
Amagi is so likeable. He is by far the cutest BL character I’ve seen, even more than Aoki in Keith Hatsukoi (which says a lot). He is just genuinely a fun loving character and is an optimist. Takara on the other hand I didn’t think I’d like, and to the shows credit they are supposed to be opposites. At the end I came to understand his character and overall the both of theirs. They are opposites, foils to each other. Amagi keep inside his social boundary and isn’t ‘popular’, he is optimistic and not afraid to share his feelings. Takara is the extrovert but to me they switch with that, as Takara is put in the role of being popular but keeps to himself inside of his circle where Amagi talks to his friends more and seems to have more fun. Takara keeps his feelings back because he doesn’t want to overwhelm others. They really are opposites and I like how the dialouge showcased that.
This show is so much better than people are saying it is. You have to take in what’s there, face value it seems less than it is. But for the story it’s telling it does it so so well, and it doesn’t waste time. Now for the chemistry, I am wonderfully surprised here. Both of the leads are natural with each other and I swear, when I say them holding hands I really thought they were a real couple in real like. Again I didn’t think I’d buy into it, I thought that the confession scene was too dramatic- but looking back onto everything as a whole their storyline is going very nicely. Takara was the one to be down bad first and I LOVE that, I really thought that was a nice plot twist and getting through the first episode it made it better and better. I
Finishing up the show was very enjoyable. Don’t expect a heavy plot, this show is full of sweet moments. The fact that the leads get together early on is great to see. You can see their relationship for the duration of the show. I do see people complaining about how it seems to not do anything, but there is a genre for that. This show is a slice of life and goes about their days as a couple together, it’s not outstanding and doesn’t overstep its boundaries. No- it isn’t perfect, but it is fun and sweet.
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Not the ‘Perfect’ Drama
The reason I am watching this is because Yang Mi is so pretty. Other than that the drama just delivers a fake relationship storyline that is honestly pretty easy to read. It’s going to go exactly how I think it is, but that doesn’t make it horrible. Yang Mi is so pretty and beautiful here I can’t ignore the drama, I have to watch.So far it’s not offending me. Yang Mi looks incredible in every scene… she is so gorgeous and as a lawyer she gets to wear the best outfits.
That’s really all I can say. It’s predictable, but it’s pretty fun. Although the whole domestic violence being acted as comedy isn’t, so the drama really looses out there. I hate that China likes to act like because a woman does it it’s fine and funny. It’s not funny, it’s so not funny. Very unfunny.
I’ll end it saying Yang Mi is gorgeous and two gorgeous people together sells. That’s why the reviews are high. But for me I’m being honest and I’m going to say it’s really not amazing, it’s alright.
I really am enjoying the nature of this series being all fluffy with the romance scenes. The two leads are very cute together and I like the pace that things are going at.
For the drama as a whole I must say, I really like the relationship between the leads. Anything outside of that is not good or interesting to me. Although Tao Jun Hui is an interesting character. He is Qin Shi's ex, and isn't your typical evil ex. He is honestly a good person and cares for her.. so that made Yuang Hua have some competition. Neither of them were petty though. Adults acted like adults for the most part.. outside of Qin' Shi's brother and sister in-law, those two were the worst and were so dumb and immature. I did not care for them and they made this drama worse ok.
What I did watch was good though. Not spectacular. Just good. I really ate up anything between our two leads though, so that's how this drama became just a little better than average for me. Maybe I am just a simp for Yang Mi.. or maybe Xu Kai did play the perfect husband roll and it got to me....
either way I don't think I wasted my time. I liked it, pretty harmless. For a Chinese drama that is a lot for me.
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Through my severed ties and broken identity can that lead me back to my once triumphant life
This drama is refreshing with its setup. As a male lead drama it isn't centered on romance. It may have bits of it, but it's too early to tell right now. What I can tell is that the action is choreographed well, the story is easy to follow, and the characters I really like so far.Ever since watching Immortal Samsara I have became hooked to Cheng Yi as an actor. Here I am again hooked. His character is so different than I have previously seen him in. He isn't regal, he isn't perfect and in love.. he is a man with an abundance of regret who has given up his identity to live his life peacefully and respected now as a traveling doctor. I am satisfied that here Cheng Yi is playing a dual sided character, held down by his past but significantly weaker with limits. He was OP before but to an extent that he ended up much weaker. His character is so interesting because of this and his potential talent and strength that unfolds. His character is so tragic, a once talented youth now telling himself that he can live to die without conviction or relationships to hold him back other than his old partner. Slowly it becomes aware he doesn’t want to die, as he calls out for help or tells Duo Bing directly he needs medicine. Without blatantly saying anything it’s crystal clear that he now has people he wants to protect and a hope for the martial arts world. So it’s very tragic to me to see this man who was once so powerful slowly getting closer and closer to death without any hope of living. He doesn’t want to die but accepts it and acts like it’s no problem to him when he really is soft hearted.
I enjoy the whole aspect of traveling and solving mysteries together. Where there are some that take larger spans of episodes to complete than others. This keeps the drama feeling fresh and doesn't get stale because they aren't staying in one place. So that means that it should be a more action oriented and character driven story. The sequence of episodes have mysteries that weave together a fuller narrative. Also.. there is a dog that is seen often
I think this drama will catch attention with it being male-lead. Going past censorship because it is not a romance.. maybe some bromance. Right now there is no ounce of that really. The chemistry is good between who is introduced early on. Duo Bing and Li Lian/ Xiang Yi have that playful banter and wit between the two. I can't say too much about them without spoiling what's happening. What I can say is that the dynamic of master-student is there. Cheng Yi's character is the experiences one while Duo Bing is a fresh faced detective, a young master with servants that follow him. That leaves me interested in his upbringing being fleshed out more, meeting his parents and seeing if he is a disgrace to them or not. There is a lot of room for heartbreak and heart-wrenching moments even without this being a romance.
With each episode I find the bond between Duo Bing and Li Lian all the more touching. That’s the word I chose specifically because whenever the two part I think about all the moments they had together like cracking cases, working off eachother for an unsaid common goal. There is a lot of trust between the two and the fondness Duo Bing has for Li Lian almost feels like some sort of destiny, that Li Lian really can reprise his role as a hero as Xiang Yi and be a true master for Duo Bing. Li Lian convictions hold him back, and he has them for Duo Bing as well, he doesn’t want to hurt him and hold back his future. What is tragic is that Duo Bing sees him as a part of his future in both egos that Li Lian has as his former self and present. Duo Bing has this version of Xiang Yi being perfect and a mighty hero as Li Lian believe that life of his was selfish and the complete opposite of how Duo Bing sees he self proclaimed master. The point in the drama where Duo Bing realizes that his master was infront of him all along and his past and future have been connected the whole time will be just as heartbreaking as it is a relief.
SPOILER//
Now episode 30 comes in. It has been too long for me to see two men earnestly fighting for eachothers lives when they both acknowledged they don’t have to. The thing is at certain points in this episode it is giving me the feeling that The Untamed did.. and that’s a haunting thing. A very good thing.. a wonderful thing. Now I’m putting this here because this is why I pushed the rating to a 10. The moments building up to a payoff of episode 30. It tells me why these two are fighting for eachother, and even though they have their rough patches- they’ve been through too much to let the other die. I love to see Duo Bing fight and be called crazy for it because he will kill for Li Lian, he protects him and nurtured him and man… it’s just great. Duo Bing has been wronged many times by Li Lian and honestly it would be hard to trust him, but he sincerely cares and respects him at this point that it’s no question for him to fight with his life on the line to protect him. It’s kind of giving off a little more than the initial relationship.. not saying anything.. I’m just feeling it. In ANY other context between a man and a woman what happens would be seen as romantic. So I’m saying they are soulmates ok. Like I kid you not Duo Bing gets so protective and Carrie’s Li Lian and yells at his superiors that he will be the one to take care of him, he won’t let anyone touch him, he will kill anyone who touches him… oh my god.. and the mother is an ally.. That sort of writing without saying completely how they feel is so smart, it’s what sends this drama a notch above the others. Honestly I just want Immortality to release and see Chu Wanning be respected and treated so precious in the same way as Duo Bing treats Li Lian.. Li Lian has no friends and Duo Bing is his first and only best friend, they drank wine on a rooftop.. Duo Bing gives up his title and status in the court.. and the guy is so prideful. He lives off his pride but sets it aside no question just to be able to take Li Lian with him. Pure devotion.. it’s a blessing to watch a drama that doesn’t revolve around romance and instead is smart and thoughtful and gets me to feel.
So to me this is a solid drama. It doesn’t have faults I can pick apart. The story is weaves together by mysteries towards smaller goals, larger goals, and then the crux of the show which has yet to reveal itself in the early episodes. It is like nothing is as it seems. I really like how each mystery has plot twists and there are new elements added on that makes it more enriching. So many layers to Xiang Yi and his past and Duo Bing reminding him constantly of who he was not only as a symbol of his once partner in the martial arts world but a older brother figure to him. Duo Bing flips his past on his head by being more youthful and naive than his uncle ( that was Xiang Yi’s partner) so it’s refreshed and he is now more of a younger brother figure to him.. if you can call it that.. I don’t know.
The self loathing Li Lian has compared to Duo Bing’s fresh attitude and then compare that to Fei Sheng’s self righteousness. He is also another main character that isn’t focused on as much as the main pair but has his story unfolding in its own way. He isn’t one dimensional but you can see how other characters see him as such. As a domineering figure, a prescribes without much compassion. But he is a lot more than that.. can’t say much without spoiling his character too much. But his story is a really good and interesting one, I like his character a lot more than I initially thought I would. Duo Bing is a firecracker, he is so funny at times with his honest and blunt reactions. I love that he has no filter and clearly needs guidance.
I can't go without talking about the Lotus Tower, that is Xiang Yi's moving house. It is pretty sick of an idea. It's so cool, his character is just so cool. The action isn't too flashy, same with the acting. It's natural, but also has lots of unnatural things when it comes to the story and seeing things I haven't seen. The setting grounds this drama so it isn’t magical.. but sometimes it feels eery like there are other things at play.
The more I think through this drama the more I can see different aspects that makes this drama excellent. The dynamic between Duo Bing and Li Lian/Xiang Yi especially. That is 10/10 hits all marks.
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this show isn’t blooming
The first episode of this drama is point blank amazing. It sets up a really good story with a strong female lead. I expected this show to stay that way, to stay just as engaging as the first... but it didn'tOur Blooming Youth leans more towards a political mystery than an action. I expected a lot more fighting from the female lead since she was really good at it in the first episode. Her character is just weird to me, she is supposed to be really good at solving mysteries but the way the audience knows that is pretty dull. They just say she did it with her father and was good at it, there barely is any flashbacks to her life with her family. That is an issue.
Min Jae Yi wants to find the culprit behind her fathers murder. For some reason that is intertwined with the crown prince because of a letter she got. The letter tells her to protect the crown prince and her father does as well as she's dying. She has to disguise herself as a male to not get caught and to investigate. So that was what I can tell after the first few episodes, and now onto episode 14 it is the same thing. She is still disguised and the progress is really slow. The more I watched the more annoyed I became of her character. She does a lot of talking where it sounds like complaining or whining… at the beginning she wielded a sword and was super cool- what now? Where did that go? She just talked and confronts people.. from an outside perspective she clearly would be annoying.. it hurts because she CAN fight. But there is little to no action here and it comes in abrupt spurts.
Of course this is all my opinion. But come on now, I can't help but compare. Shows with. a mystery driven plot can do well, and they are able to be engaging. The whole disguise and mystery aren't working because the build up was so poor. They don't have any flashbacks of Min Jae Yi being young and showing how she cares for her family, there is no threat to her because in the end I know she is a main character and there will be no harm. The steaks for their mission to find the culprit is so low and lost. A lot of this drama is filler scenes with the main gang hanging out... crown prince, Min Jae, her maid friend, her maid friend teacher.
It was ok at first, but it slowly made me become so bored. I am not stupid and I can understand what is going on. I watched 50 episodes of the Untamed and knew all the characters names, convictions, why they did what they did, the mystery. The Untamed just did it right. It engaged me because it took a careful setup to show why these characters are doing what they are doing without telling you. I wish Min Jae's character took time to reflect on the deaths of her family, they could have developed them as characters rather than them being dead. That way I would want to find out just as much as she did, I would have a reason to care. Right now it is just the plot. Her family is dead and she loves them just because. I mean of course they are her family but they could show that bond between them and show how much it pains her to have it cut off rather than having the audience make it up for themselves.
Straight up some characters don't need as much time and time is wasted on them. The teacher friend guy in the pink outfit is a comic relief and at this point the maid is to. The interesting characters like the crown prince really take a back seat. It is such a shame, the crown prince before him died- I mean they could have him feel guilt and shame. He does.. a little.. but the story goes and cuts to any other place but his.
He is involved with the mystery and is supposed to have a curse on him. I think the writers forgot about the curse after a few episodes. His arm works, he is just paranoid. It is fine but he is one dimensional, slowly being flattened by the writing. His relationship is supposed to be a blooming romance with Min Jae Yi, and they apparently were childhood friends? That whole plot thread serves no purpose whatsoever. It is just a cheap way to have a connection between them because there is no chemistry or spark.
Min Jae Yi liked who she was betrothed to (which is another interesting character I wish they would actually spend time on). They spend time on characters, but its all talking.. its so boring and is all over the place. I could know these characters names but I don't. It's not my fault and I am capable, but I shouldn't have to look things up and write things down when watching a drama. I don't hate the drama, I just am so disappointed.
Min Jae Yi kind of gets annoying because she isn't even doing what she wanted to in the first place. Half of the time its her looking worried and remembering and failing to remember, I don't really see her do anything.........
Park Hyung Sik's drama Happiness that I watched before this served him much better. Just watch that if you like him. He is cute and not cold, not saying he is bad at acting here. I just do not like his character. The crown prince is bipolar I swear, like he flips on a dime and has people he trusts and then doesn't trust. The only reason why is because he's paranoid.
Don't even get me started on the villain. The villain I do not even know the name of. He just wants power I think? He sucks as a character and a villain and a threat, he has done nothing other than probably killing Jae Yi's family and other people. But I don't care anymore.
I have to finish this drama because I'm almost done. Maybe its a slow burn. Then again a slow burn should be engaging. So I recommend to people that like political dramas and that's it? It's just boring and not doing what it is supposed to do. This is completely unbiased, maybe it's not my style. Still I have watched similar things... Iljimae is older but a much better revenge plot mystery drama, watch that instead. This show is so bland.
Now by the end of it I become so .. bored? I don’t know honestly. It felt like a satire and a disservice to the actors at the last episode. I’m talking about the twin brother plot line. That was so cheap because they didn’t show how this kid existed, that he was his brothers shadow. Like he was there as a plot device rather than a character and I could write a whole essay on why he is and how it could’ve been done better. They crammed so much but it still was watered down and I didn’t care. Now that’s just me. But this drama honestly isn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Maybe it’s because I expected more tension overall, romance wise, plot wise, it was just standard and compared to older historical dramas I’ve seen it didn’t have a lot of heart. It’s too bad honestly.
In the end good guy wins bad guy looses. Why are they good and bad though? You don’t get that- it’s just your main characters. That is all, no backstories further than what you knew at episode 2. The main group of characters don’t get developed and neither does the bad guy. That is how I sum this up. What about the curse? It’s not real. What about the family that was murdered? It’s just the bad guy that did it? Why? I don’t know because he’s bad … I’m sorry I’m trying my best here.
The reason why I am so harsh is because of the potential. There are parts where this show is good, but at the end I lost all interest that I don’t care. It’s a shame to me.
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One of a kind; heartbreaking, passionate, moving
Now that I have finished the show all I can say is that it was MORE than worth the time. This drama is CRIMINALLY underrated and you won't find another drama handling such topics so beautifully. Every scene kept my attention, even the side plots (which is a lot to say considering how easily I get distracted).STORY
The main thing that needs to be understood about this drama is that it is a romance. The two leads being Ms. Ji and Seung Yoo it's pretty much a given that the main story and romance overall is going to be focused on both of them. With that being said there is some give here for me to get past the main issue. That is the teacher/student relationship. The two are going to interact with implications of a romance no matter what way you look at it, that's just what the show is and just what it wants to show. Still, with it still airing I can't really tell just what way it will go about with their relationship and how.
I wouldn't call this a romance really though, it focuses a lot on corruption and the motives of the characters. There is a time jump about 8 episodes in, which wasn't forced or confusing. Overall the story was engaging, heartfelt and kept my attention and leaving me on the edge of my seat
CHARACTERS/CAST
Seung Yoo clearly has trauma that stems from his childhood, and the depiction of those feelings and raw emotions are portrayed insanely well by the main lead Lee Do-Hyeon. In all honesty the fact that Lee Do-Hyeon was starring as the main lead was the reason I started watching this drama in the first place. What is making me stay for the whole thing is the overall story. The experiences of someone who has a traumatic memory or past is something I can say has 'tried' to been portrayed well, but usually ends up falling flat due to the writing or the unbelievability of the acting. Lee Do-Hyeon is a scene stealer in whatever he is in, the guy is talented and it shows specifically in scenes where he is having a breakdown or some sort of remembrance of what had happened to him. Lee Do-Hyeon doesn't give me any doubt to his character, I don't have to think about the fact that it's a show and someone is acting, I just believe him and I can truly get immersed.
Ms. Ji is a likable character. Again that's my opinion. What makes a likable character to me is to have a character be genuinely a good person. She isn't trying to seduce Seung Yoo, and it may be argued that she is 'stupid' or 'ignorant' to the issue that could be seen with her relationship with Seung Yoo. I see that she has her dignity and sees a student that she can relate to (even more than her husband). Seung Yoo and Ms. Ji see the world in somewhat of the same way with their views on math and infinite possibilities and all of that. You just have to watch the drama and think, you can't go in hating the relationship or thinking she is a predator. Seung Yoo is the one who is drawn to Ms. Ji, there isn't anywhere where they've crossed the line (yet). It may come in the future but at least it was expected.. it's in the description of the show. I don't understand how people are getting so upset when it is said in the forefront. I see it more being there as shock value to get people to watch, even in the first episode. I believe it will be brought back and be a misunderstanding, even if it's not- it's just what it is. It would be wrong, but it wouldn't make this show the worst. There's a lot to like: Lee Do-Hyeon's acting, the portrayal of trauma, corruption, etc..
You have to give credit where credit is due. No Jung Ah (the principal) was one of the most compelling and well-written characters in the show. She was given a background and therefore a motive, and she was developed well enough yet not given too much screentime to take away from the protagonists. Jin Kyung is such a versatile actress and portrays this character eerily well. There were moments when I had to stop and pause as she reminded me so much of similar situations I have been in, specifically people that her character represents. No Jung Ah is selfish but blind to the potential damages she causes, she's power-hungry and is a character that is actually fun to not like as opposed to antagonists that are typical and easy to read.
ISSUES/CONCERNS
Another issue that people have with this show is the attention she gives to Seung Yoo compared to her other students. To that, I'd say that it's a drama with the leads being Ms. Ji and Seung Yoo. Of course, it's going to be the both of them alone, and going on trips, taking things too seriously makes watching things less fun. In the end, what I expect from this drama is for the characters to be developed, a time skip for years from where they are at.. acknowledgment of the flaws of the relationship.. closure..
I would've liked to have seen more development of Ms. Ji's and Seung Yoo's relationship regarding how they got together knowing in the end they were. Other than that the drama was wrapped up perfectly and had one of the most satisfying endings to a K-Drama or any show in general that I've seen. One thing that I also found a little weird was how Ms. Ji's father died at the end, only because I saw it coming.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama is one of my favorites, I could gush about it all day and wish I could write better reviews because there is only so much I can say to reflect just how good this show is. It's well done and wasn't typical, it wasn't cliche, it does it's own thing and it does it SO WELL. The music.. especially the OST. 'Darling' makes me tear up every time I hear it. This drama is realistic, acted so well that I didn't doubt any of what was happening or the acting even once. I look forward to more dramas coming from this director and any actors/actresses that were involved with this show.
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Cutie Pie: Special Episode
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the dream husband is getting married
I really enjoyed the first season of this show and understand it is not everyones cup of tea. Cutie Pie to you is a bite-sized drama to watch after the first season. It takes away all those traits you hate from the second season and sums it up into all the fluff and just a bit of angst that makes this watching experience more sweet than sour.I am a fan of Zee and have been since his first drama, and man watching this makes me so happy for him. Zee is living the dream truly, his job is to act besides NuNew... NuNew is not only adorable, he is a rookie actor and has a calming voice and I can't hate him or his character. He stands as the cutest lead in BL for me, he can do no wrong.
Lian and Kuea are getting married and preparing but there are obstacles. In the end I know love will win and I am here for all of it. I can't really complain about a drama made for the fans that is giving us more of what we love. The only downside is that I feel that I am watching on some actual intimate moments between Zee and Nunew because they are a couple. Zee is so down bad for him, whenever he is in a scene with Nunew I sit there and thing "man, this guy is really good at acting". Whenever Zee looks at Nunuew he REALLY looks like he is in love, so that is why I must remind himself that he is. Lian is too good to be true, so that might be a sore spot. Lian is an actual perfect husband, through and through just watch the show. Lian wears suits all the time, he is so in love, he is a thriving man and I love to see it
I am anticipating their new drama to see the different roles they can do. Zee and Nunew can act in love but can they do the whole enemy to lover? I will wait anxiously to see. So far this drama Zee is so down bad in every way and I can't blame him.
I get the complaints about this being pointless. What were you people expecting from a special? It was created for them to get married and had the fluff that I desire so much. Again I will never complain for a series made for the fans, it didn’t waste my time. This drama isn’t anything amazing but it’s not offensive- it did it’s job and that’s why I rated it averagely.
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Witty, enthusiastic … Great Job!
This show is so entertaining, I have seen my handful of comedies but this one does the best with balancing its themes. It has crime and mystery in it, but isn’t keeping a dark tone and is overall lighthearted and a really fun watch.The comedy in this show is what sells it for me. It’s a more of a show don’t tell. I love the character dynamics as they all are great together. Lots of credit goes to the main trio and especially the leads. They clearly have the chemistry and I can tell they are comfortable with each other from being in different projects before. It’s amazing to me how they came together from a completely different drama, but take their new characters and add the charisma and charm and do it so well.
At first I was confused about Sun Woo being a chairman and a detective, but I found myself really loving the double identity there. With each persona he has his true personality seeps through, quick tempered and peculiar about things, but he isn’t a total jerk. He is very likeable as arrogant as he is because you know he was orphaned and had big shoes to fill. Se Ra is also very well done, she is her own woman with lots of passion. I like how they both have secrets and find them out very soon in the show. I can’t wait to see them get together and am already seeing so many sparks amidst the absurdity they go through together.
Overall this show is doing the comedy well and the mystery.. the two things it’s going for are understandable and it’s more than enjoyable to watch. Impressed by the acting by Kwon Yuri, SNSD girls are multitalented and so much fun. Jung Il Woo is very charming with this character and after watching Cinderella and the Four Knights I am happy to see him in a role that lets him be badass and fun, but also much more matured with this drama. So far a solid 9/10 hoping it doesn’t run itself dry (I don’t think it will)
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All of me loves Oh Sehun… can’t say the same for the girl these two leads pine for
I came into this show expecting a light-hearted romantic comedy. A love triangle that I honestly would have a hard time watching if it weren't for Oh Sehun. Instead this drama offers much more than the above, in fact it deviates from the typical love-triangle formula to share a story more about youth and the love the young characters have to give towards each other as a whole.So I'm not going to lie. Oh Sehun is the reason I was interested in this drama in the first place, and outside of that I wasn't planning on watching. To my surprise, right away this drama proved to be interesting- and honestly a whole lot more than I expected in general. Sehun's character Go Yoo fits him so well. The smiles and fun easygoing energy that he has is just perfect. After watching him in that one pirate movie I had no idea what to expect from his acting, but with this role he really fits it so well that I'm impressed and excited to see where his character goes. I think Sehun will do well with the mellow scenes, as this drama will definitely be having more of those. Sehun's scenes with basketball are point blank amazing, peak cinematography. They straight up did a Matrix style scene like where Neo dodges the bullets. Some could say outdated, but honestly genius. Like it is set in 2006, they did the Matrix, its part of the time.
It can be argued that Sehun doesn't look like a high schooler, but come on now. Something about his confidence on the basketball court, he fits being a high school basketball player too well honestly. The guy is all in other players faces like it is the only thing he's good for. So I can see his conflicts of his identity coming to light as he mellows himself to worry about other people. Which can very much so happen considering he ends up giving a kidney to his best friend. (which I also love) Watch the scene where Go Yoo makes the game winning shot and taunts the other players and tell me that isn't a spitting image of a guy in your high school that played basketball and peaked then. (not saying he is going to peak, just getting my point across).
Seeing bullying frustrates me. That is a good thing, why would I feel good watching bullying? Joon He gets bullied and has some issue with his health right away. I can see the whole story happening infant of my eyes and pray and hope that it does it correctly. This drama has a lot of open areas to fail, so that scares me the most. Jo Joon Young plays Joon He, and he plays off of Sehun so well. Their chemistry is so fun, and I love it so much. Watching two people enjoy eachtother that much, it makes me think about them growing old and still ending up as the same stupid teens they once were.. unfortunately I have no idea at this point if that will get to happen at all. I hope this drama focuses on the two of them rather than girl tearing them apart. So far it isn't what I thought it would be, so I hope it continues that path and cuts away romance that doesn't need to happen. The focus should stay on the two best friends, and be about their hardships with realizations about Joon He's health, him opening up, confections with a girl being added to the mix, but he always ends up back to Go Yoo. There is something about the two of them that is so beautiful... as dumb as that sounds. If Joo He is in trouble, Go Yoo will have his back. I love people genuinely enjoying each other without romance being shoved in my face. It is much harder to show a friendship than a romance. Romance can't really be described as to how people fall in love, so in dramas they take advantage of that and it can end up being dumb and heartless. Friendships are earned, they give reasons to why they depend on each other, and that they chose each other to be friends.
What I am saying, is that what is set up is interesting enough that it leaves me impressed. That is because it is executed well, acted well, written well. This drama is just a job well done.
The setup of the story is really good. The cinematography feels outside of the genre I was expecting. I love getting into dramas without knowing much, but its a mixed bag. Either I could love it, or really hate it. Right now I love this drama. What I am worried about is the love triangle, but in the end I think that it will be used to develop the characters rather than make them into a shell of themselves (at least I hope for that to be the case)
Go Yoo and Joon He by far have the best chemistry. Which is so insane to me with the age gaps. Honestly I am just getting so much from this drama that it really didn't have to do. It would have been successful without it being taken in the direction it is because if I watched for Sehun, I bet you many other people have.
Instead this drama serves to lead itself into a bittersweet story. Which it could've gone straight towards the love triangle, it may do that- but it also has a lot of depth beneath that with the first scene coming into play. I am so happy to see another drama that shifts its timeframe away from the present day. A lot can happen with it being set in 2006 compared to 2023. I would say more but I don't want to spoil. What they are doing with the time difference is underdeveloped. The girl character just comes over to drink several times and she’s the same character but not to me.. maybe because there was no defining traits about her to begin with. I don’t get why she comes out of the blue and what they are doing with the whole 2023 story other than to take it to the last episode to show whether Go Yoo is alive or not.
Watch this drama for Sehun, and watch it to get out of the typical love high school plot. I really want this to be great, and hope it stays to focus on the friendships. Then it will get a higher score. For what occurs over the small amount of episodes is a bit confusing. I think they are trying to do a whole jealousy thing with the girl but I can’t buy into it. The girl character isn’t really a character, I can’t find anything interesting about her other than that she is pretty.
Why do they both like her ? Especially Go Yoo? He’s so interesting .. why does he like this boring girl. It’s just oh it’s a new girl so they like her. They look good together… stupid stuff is said to make me buy into it. But I do not at all. Both the male leads like her and there is no depth outside of that, so to have Go Yoo get so jealous because of her makes no sense. It makes sense if he’s jealous she is with his best friend, but as for the latter it straight up does not. He does not know this girl, she is literally just preset and serves no other person. I swear this girl had not thoughts for and is a plot device to have this show be longer. Also she is so laughably bad at basketball .. If they both are mad at eachother for the girl and stop being friends because of it that is straight up criminal. Instead it should be that she is a gap between them and they are upset because of the rift they don’t understand them between them as friends. It does not need the romance but unfortunately that is what this drama is… so I have to live with it
I’m only so picky because they have these things to do and they are ignoring it for the girl. She takes time away but in the end serves no purpose. There is no way I feel bad for her, I don’t know her. She is just new pretty girl and is so annoying to me because I don’t understand why everyone likes her and wants to be her. God it is the worst. Her character is so so so bland… I can’t pick out any trait about her, she just stares and looks and barely talks. Female characters can be good and I don’t hate them by any means, a lot of dramas I love the gamble lead. Here though they really did my girl so bad. She just exists in this school, she’s new, pretty, but she has a secret…. But why- why do they find her interesting? Why is she supposed to be important. She is literally just a thief but why- why is that the thing that makes her not like other girls. Why is it the emotional climax for her- is her family poor? I don’t know they don’t give you that. They give you her crying and suck away anything I love about this show with her just being there. She takes away so many points for me here.
This story should have been done without her entirely.
100% just the two friends and maybe Go Yoo actually being upset he can’t play basketball and starting to blame his friend for that because of the kidney issue. They could have Go Yoo struggle with his identity and friendship and how he feels bad about what was taken away from him but he ultimately gave it away. Give the emotional climax to the friendship that was set up so well. Have it be between the leads and them reconciling and talking about their health issues- lives outside of high school- literally anything but the girl and her being a theif.
This show isn’t going beyond that in a way other than adding a girl to have tension and conflictions. I kid you not she does nothing. I don’t know why suddenly she is some main friend with them? I don’t get it.
Not bad as by any means, just not anything new. Now it’s still good though because of the main friendship, but the girl in the mix is pretty lame to me personally. .. if not aggravating.
It’s a shame. They had this story and a great setup. In the end they dragged out what didn’t need to be a part of it and lost touch of what they wanted to do in the first place. The cellular memory plot is so convoluted and only in the last two episodes.. but barely? So I’m disappointed but not surprised with this one.
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the silence that moves you
This drama is truly brilliant with its cinematography. Without going too much into the plot, since it’s episode one it isn’t too far deep. But to be so emotional and heartfelt with only one episode, that shows a lot about this drama to me. An hour in and I was had felt a lot of emotions, knowing that this person that our protagonist Aoba cared about so much, had eventually left her without reason.The building up to the moment where she meets Sakura again is paced well. This drama has no action or flashy scenes, it’s just dialogue but it’s not boring. The storytelling with the high school flashbacks aren’t tedious. Every piece of the story falls into place for that final build up moment and I’m so glad there are more episodes to come.
The seller with this drama is the acting. With Meguro Ren , firstly I’ll say he is really good looking. He portrays this restricted feeling so well. The frustration of being unable to communicate, it was so raw and heartbreaking to see him finally reconnect with someone he loved so much. The contrast of who he is now to who he was then makes the frustration even more felt.
Sakura listens to music and bonded with that with Aoba, and Aoba loves his voice. Their relationship wasn’t explored past that with this episode. So Sakura’s reason for his abrupt leave is justified. I don’t want to explain too much because the ending scene of episode one does it so well. There is so much tension within Sakura because of his inability to hear, and to be able to tell that through sign and facial expressions is what really got to me.
This drama is really good. It’s mesmerizing even. The sudden cuts to silence, the score building up. Silence can be lonely, but it holds beauty within it. The portrayal of that beauty I believe will be explored more although there is a lot of pain.
The concept of this show wears itself a bit thin towards the end.. there really ends up to be not much of a story- but I get it. This show has a certain style and genre that I just so happen to get a little bored of. But it is well done with what it does. The only complaints I have are the time skips or cuts, flashbacks, etc. They just get confusing at times to me. Other than that I can’t really say anything is bad about this drama, it’s a very real feeling and it’s paced (although a bit slow). It’s about growth so I get the intended audience probably isn’t like me where I get bored easily. It is very interesting don’t get me wrong, it’s just a lot of the same things per episode. This drama is pretty slow, but I believe that it’s supposed to be.. you’re supposed to be impatient and wanting things to happen- but life isn’t like that. It goes through the characters lives realistically and is a portrayal of losing one’s hearing and how frustrating that is. I get it and enjoyed this show.
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I’m Interested in You.. until you are very uninteresting
I’m a huge pessimist about things so I don’t know if this drama will be a full melancholy or if it will be lighthearted. So far it’s a calming watch as the plot and setting are easy to follow. I think the name of this drama is really clever, as the main characters work in a bank. he promotional wall warn you of love square.. it’s a melancholy and won’t be fast paced or tropey… whateverAs for the first episode .. I really liked it. It doesn’t seem like the plot is too much for the show to handle, and I think it will follow a slice of life with characters opening up about their backgrounds and we will learn why they are the way they are. The main two characters are both very likeable. I love this upwards trend of respectful men that are caring.. very green flags here. It’s so heartwarming to see a man simply cherish and care for someone, the main character has been pining for the main girl but he isn’t overbearing about it. He has been working with her for years and hasn’t pressured. He admires her from afar.
Yoo Yeon Seok is the main lead and he is the green flag. I really love his character so much, he is just a really good person and the first episode shows many examples of that. He is also a handsome guy and it’s nice to see how this actor can stay in a lighthearted drama, but sell a completely different character so well. The feelings he has for Ahn Soo Young are very wholesome and I love how we can see this coming from an adult man. I see a lot of high school dramas portraying crushes and those are fine. To see a grown man feel excited and get worried about how to react for someone is interesting since I haven’t seen it too many times. Especially done where he is just so respectful and cautious.. the guy gave her his jacket when she was climbing a tree. He notices her and does small things for her without making a big deal out of it or holding her accountable.
Ahn Soo Hyun is a very interesting. She is very soft spoken and takes care in what she does. She has ambitions to move up in her job but isn’t too overly confident. So far I’m the most interested in her story, why is she so calm? Why is she so nice? I understand why the lead pines for her, she is really just an intriguing girl that people want to be around. She’s appealing and the first episode sets it up for a story between the two that could be very satisfying. Moon Ga Young does a great job with her character, as I saw her in Tempted playing basically the opposite of this character. Although she can come across as cold in some scenes, there is a reason to why she’s holding up a wall. With this being a melodrama I believe she isn’t just one sided and harsh; I want to see why she gets cold and harsh and how she can thaw out.
This drama isn’t too amazing /yet/. The trailer makes it look like it will be dramatic in the right places and tugging at the heart strings for others. I’m looking forward to see how this show develops and so far it’s a gorgeous modern drama with bright scenes, like likeable characters, and an easy going script to back it up. Yoo Yeon Seok is such an amazing actor. Honestly saying that is an understatement. Even in the first episode he’s already got me feeling just as anxious and down bad as he is
None of the main characters are bad people actually which is refreshing. But they fumble the bag with the resolution between the characters. It’s just. It engaging.
A sore spot of this drama is that the conflicts revolve around relationships. Which is something I don’t usually like and it tends to drag a bit. But with the addition of new characters coming in it keeps things interesting and keeps you wondering. The longer time you have with the characters.. it just makes you not like them as much. There are decisions made that don’t have to. I understand that it doesn’t exactly make it bad writing.. but as for engaging me it wasn’t doing it.
Finishing up the drama I must say it really dragged. Like I had to skip a majority of the last two episodes because it was just going over old things. What needed to happen took so long. I honestly grew to not care and it’s too bad because aesthetically I was really enjoying this drama at the beginning. The last three episodes just lost its touch. It was just boring.. and I usually like the dumb and stupid dramas- but this one just wasn’t fun to me anymore. It’s too bad.
I did really like the osts and I wouldn’t go as far as to say don’t watch it. I wouldn’t tell someone to watch it either honestly.
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