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Lost in Dramaland
Interesting light watch into the Idol Industry but nothing deep or impactful
I want to first say that I do not follow any K-Pop idols, boy bands or girl bands. My review of this drama is solely based on my thoughts on the drama itself just any other drama reviews I’ve written.“Imitation” is a simple and uncomplicated drama about the journey of idol trainees striving to debut and become legit idols. This is a pretty light and enjoyable watch, without too much angst or trauma. There is a side plot about an idol trainee and her inability to handle the stress and unprofessional business practices that took away some of the lightheartedness of the show. I was actually expecting a little more trials and tribulations, a little more suffering, scandals, crazy fan clubs, and chaos in the idol industry. The drama touched on some of these issues, but did not do a deep dive. The storytelling of the ending plot in the last 2 episodes is not done convincingly and not impactful enough to make me feel for those suffering.
I enjoyed the first ⅔ of the drama when getting to know each idol group, the dedication they put into their practices and rehearsals, and the introduction of the romance plot. The main romance is enjoyable in the beginning before the leads get together. But once they’re together, there is a lack of cuteness and fluffiness. The kisses are bad fish-kisses and I find the chemistry between the leads just OK. Lee Jung Young is a much better kisser than that! The love square/pentagon seems to have stopped abruptly. For the longest time, I thought Lee Yoo Jin (2ML) could not let go of Lee Ma Ha (FL). But then all of a sudden, he found someone else. The transition from being in love with his best friend for years to falling in love with someone is not done well. I found the third writing-music-together couple a lot cuter but they have very limited screen time. Thus, their romance appears to be half-baked.
I am most impressed with all the dancing. As most of the cast has an idol background, it should not come as a surprise that they can all dance. My eyes can’t help but follow Lee Jung Young around when he’s on stage. He’s so hot and his dance moves are really hard-hitting. He has so much charisma. Unfortunately, I am not as impressed with the music. Maybe they are just not my cup of tea. The only songs I like are the slower ones: FL and 2ML's duet "Like When We First Met" and the last song “Constellation/Your Sign”. I am also not impressed with the outfits that the girls are wearing. Tea Party has the ugliest uniform. The Sparkling boys don’t look good either. I know these two groups are not as popular as ML’s SHAX, but still, the costume department could have dressed these good-looking boys and girls better. SHAX really does look the best on stage with their makeup and black leather outfits.
Acting is decent but I think Lee Jung Young carries the drama on his back. His character is the most layered. He’s adorable when he’s in love, jealous and being petty. But he also portrays a cool and hot superstar really well. I am not as impressed with female lead, Jung Ji So. She’s OK but not as fun as Park Ji Yeon’s portrayal of the sexy and sassy La Li Ma.
Overall, if you want something light that focuses on teammates, friendships and romance, then this is a good watch. But don’t expect anything deep with plot twists.
Other Random Observations:
1. The use of flashbacks could be somewhat confusing.
2. I quite enjoyed the big concert in the last episode.
3. ML has a super ugly historical movie look. How could you turn someone so handsome into a beggar-looking hero.
4. I think FL has hair extensions or a wig on, and they don’t look good on her at all.
Completed: 2/6/2023
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More Legal/Business Talk than Romance - Decent but not Great.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (extra 0.25 for Xu Kai's emotional eyes) - Spoilers about the ending at the end of the review.Many were expecting the broadcast of this drama, and I wasn’t one of them. I like Xu Kai and Yang Mi, but not a fan of older woman/younger man tropes, so I was waiting for reviews to come in before I decide to watch “She and Her Perfect Husband”. Lowering my expectations did help with me enjoying this drama.
Plot - This drama is a lot more business-focused than I originally thought. The conversations about legal and investment dealings might bore some viewers. I usually am fine with a business drama, but I still find this a little too much talking in a conference room instead of seeing legal/business dealings in action. Romance is folded into the overall business talk, since without the law firm promotion limitations for women, there won’t be a fake relationship between the main leads. This drama tries to talk about workplace inequality and treatment for women, and I appreciate it. But I don’t see why our female lead tries so hard to be a partner to make changes, when the firm’s initial ideals and purpose have changed. All the talk by the CEO about how good the firm is, is not shown through actions by management.
Main Romance - Surprisingly, there aren’t that many scenes of the two main leads together in the first half of the show. That’s when they first met and developed a marriage contract, but somehow the business side of things overshadows the interactions of the leads. Xu Kai and Yang Mi have good chemistry and I enjoy their bantering and conversations about their ideals. This couple for the most part really has honest conversations. The confession scene is a little underwhelming. It’s awkwardly cute but I was expecting more. Once they officially started dating, there are more sweet scenes in the middle part of the drama. I was initially worried that Yang Mi would look a lot older than Xu Kai and the romance would not be to my taste. Fortunately, I enjoy the scenes that they have together.
Secondary Romance - Li Ze Feng looks really good as Tao Jun Hui (2ML), just the hair is a little too ‘tall’ for my taste :D But his lack-of romance with Wu Fei (2FL) is really noticeable, and I guess that’s the whole point to it. Wu Fei calling Tao Juo Hui “Uncle” as a term of endearment every so often doesn’t help with the big age and maturity gap. On the other hand, Tao Jun Hui and Qin Shi (FL) have really good chemistry. I can totally see them together and there’s really no comparison between Qin Shi and Wu Fei.
Other Romance - Most annoying romance ever. I think I skip the majority of the scenes between Ren Mei Mei (FL’s BFF) and Qin Wen Yu (FL’s second brother). If I were Mei Mei, I would have divorce that jerk years ago. Their scenes only serve the purpose to describe Qin Shi’s view on marriage. Other than that, these two characters don’t really need to exist.
Acting - The overall acting of the whole cast is not bad. But the veterans definitely outshine the younger generation.. As a fan of Xu Kai, I am so glad he’s not in another cold-on-the-outside role. Yang Hua is still a more introverted character but at least he’s adorable and sweet. When the drama focuses on his background story, you can see his more emotional acting through his big beautiful eyes. That’s what I have been missing from his dramas lately. I am also glad that he’s not being dubbed. He might need some work but it’s not too bad. Yang Mi is Yang Mi. She’s the queen. She’s sassy and bossy as the hotshot lawyer, yet at home she’s a totally different person. Her real voice bothered me at times since it’s so girly. So when she’s whining, especially to the boss lady, it’s a little irritating. Speaking of the boss lady, that woman is amazing. I can’t tell if I should trust her words or not. Her fake smile (when the drama calls for it) is so fake that I can see her mind churning out schemes after schemes.
*spoilers*
Ending - The last few episodes have been criticized for the leads acting out of character. I can see why people said that as the leads have been honest and open with their feelings throughout the drama. For them not to talk much in the last episodes, it could be frustrating. From my point of view, the breakup is necessary and veteran watchers know that it’s coming. It’s not the first time we see a contract relationship breakup for the exact same reason. I can understand ML’s intention and agree with his action. If you want a real marriage, you need to end the old one to start off fresh. I just think he did not communicate his intention for the breakup clearly enough to FL. As for FL, throughout the whole drama, we’ve been told she doesn’t believe in marriage. The breakup allows her to think clearly about what she really wants. I just wish the writing of this part is a little better. You can do all that, breakup, giving FL time to think, etc, but should have done that a little sooner and not dragged that out. It doesn’t make sense that they were apart for 7 months, and then ML suddenly shows up at the apartment across from FL’s, opens his arms and then all is well?? Why wait 7 months? No communication at all for 7 months? What was the point in leaving her when you came right back to her? I thought he was waiting for her to make the first move?
Other Random Observations:
1. Love the conversations between ML and his dad. Dad gives the best advice.
2. FL’s outfits to work seem to be too flashy for a law firm.
3. A lot of product placements - I guess they need money to pay for FL’s wardrobe.
4. The songs are nice but quite repetitive after a while.
5. A few annoying characters but bearable.
6. I don't think the steamy kiss tag should apply here. Just because they are not fish kisses, it doesn't mean they are steamy kisses. I think Yang Mi needs to exert a little more effort for it to qualify for that tag.
Completed: 1/30/2023
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Turn off your brain and enjoy the Cuteness and the Fluffiness.
I would only recommend “Double Love” if you are looking for some mindless romantic fluff. You can’t use your brain, otherwise you will hate it and question yourself why you wasted your time. I tried to turn my brain off, enjoyed the first half of the drama and then the poor editing finally got to me. Don’t watch this for gameplay, because there are barely any scenes. They do hang out and chat in the game a lot. I’ll try to keep this review short.What I Like:
1. Siblings relationship - That’s the best part of the show. Love the interaction between FL and her brother. They have more chemistry than any of the romance storylines.
2. Bromance (CEO Lu and Actor Gu Qiao Bei) - The weird bromance and if you look closer you could find BL undertones. But, no, it’s just pure friendship and they are interesting.
3. CP visuals - Our leads look good together.
4. The songs are nice.
5. FL looks pretty inside the game. Love all the outfits in the game.
6. Good or bad, I quite enjoy the friendship inside the game.
What I Don’t Like:
1. Scenes edited out? Where is the confession scene? How did ML discover FL’s true identity to the CEO? Who is the hacker friend? How did FL know of her and contacted her for help? WHERE ARE THESE SCENES?? I am not sure what happened to the second half of the drama but I don’t want to be TOLD what happened after the fact. I want to WATCH all these things happening.
2. Makeup - I find all the female characters makeup a little off.
3. These superstar actors don’t seem to have trouble hanging out in real life. No paparazzi and rumors, not problem living a normal person’s life, until the plot demands them to be exposed on social media. Not very realistic.
4. For only 24 episodes, I still find the pacing to be slow. Not a whole lot happened in the drama.
5. Too many slow motion close ups. Not my personal favorite, but might be yours.
6. Kisses are meh. I’ve seen ML did a better job in “Sweet Teeth”.
*edit* Random Observations:
It's quite weird to see Zhang Xue Ying and Dylan Kuo in such a comedy. I last saw Zhang Xue Ying in "Princess Silver" and Dylan Kuo in "Ever Night". The roles are so different from this rom-com. It's a weird surprise and it makes me like their sibling relationship even more.
Completed: 1/21/2023
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Cute and Fluffy romance, but too much going on for a short drama
"Destined to Meet You" is a short drama with a very complicated plot. With only 20 episodes at 10 mins each (about 3 hrs runtime), it tries to cover too many tropes. - love at first sight, contract relationship, tragic past, amnesia, fight for inheritance and more.If the drama sticks to 2-3 of these tropes, the story would have developed more coherently and there would be fewer plot holes. But if you don't want to think too much and just want to enjoy a sweet romance, this is a good watch. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good, and the acting is decent. I have always liked Yang Ze and would like to see him in fewer web short dramas like this or "The Killer is also Romantic" but in bigger productions like in "No Boundary".
I have a hard time with the dubbed voices and find the FL's voice slightly annoying in the beginning. Nonetheless, their interaction is cute. It's nice to see a girl taking the initiative in a relationship. I thought she would be a little more experienced in love since she's 5 years older, but she acts like she doesn't know much in the beginning. Their relationship progresses well throughout the drama. The secondary couple is OK to me. A few comedic moments of 2FL's clumsiness but not much depth to their storyline.
Overall, it's a quick and easy watch to kill time, and I like the songs.
Completed: 1/18/2023
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Slice-of-Life Drama - Women Power and the Friendliest and Most supportive female characters ever!
As many have reviewed and commented, “New Life Begins” is a special drama. A drama that is full of positivity, humor, lovely sismance, hilarious bromance and friendships. In fact, the drama has so many cool, independent and friendly female characters that I actually feel slightly weird watching it. I kept on expecting something bad is going to come from the left field and derail this happy choo choo train. This is what happens when I watch too many C-dramas with too many evil and jealous second female leads.I was skeptical to try this drama out because comedies are a hit-or-miss to me. I am not a fan of over-the-top and slapstick comedy. I am glad I gave it a shot. The comedic moments are funny and not overly dramatic. I really had a great time watching it and laughing with and at the characters. It’s rare to see such a big cast with so many characters that you love. I want to hang out with all of them.
“New Life Begins” is more of a slice-of-life drama than a romance. In fact, the main romance is so slow-burn that I was getting a little bit disappointed. Curb your expectations if you think you will get many sweet and fluffy scenes. Even though the main leads are a couple for a very long time, they act like friends for most of the drama. I wish they would sprinkle some more sweetness throughout the drama, and not wait till the last 5 episodes.
But if you are into female friendships, sismance and strong women, this is the drama for me. There are many female characters with very distinct and interesting personalities. You will surely find someone to root for. This is a drama about girl power. I actually want to see more of the female business owners and not only the restaurant. The drama talks about some sort of Women Chamber of Commerce, a school, postpartum mother’s care and education, martial arts academy teaching self-defense, etc. But these are not shown but only mentioned in passing. I hope they have cut down on some of the palace politics and fight for the crown, and spend more time on the different kingdoms and businesses. The drama changes its lighthearted tone to a more serious tone in the middle and it lasts too long.
The political plot is nothing special, if you’ve seen enough Chinese historical drama. We have princes fighting for the King’s attention and for the crown, the King trying to balance the power of all the princes, and sad childhood and background stories of growing up in the palace. The best part is probably the interesting personalities of the princes and their bromance.
The acting is pretty good. I was worried I might not like the female lead, but she turns out to be smart and very likable. I actually enjoy Bai Jing Ting’s scenes when he is at home and acts all shy and awkward. Unfortunately, I don’t get the princely charisma from him.
This is a perfect drama to watch to relieve stress. Nothing is too serious or angsty, and there’s plenty of humor. You will definitely find someone you like and want to root for. We have a collection of amazing and supportive women in this drama.
Other Random Observations:
1. Did they sneak in a same-sex couple in this drama?
2. 7th Prince and his wife have so few scenes, but their shy and awkward personalities are a scene stealer for me. They are so cute!
3. It’s my personal pet peeve, but I don’t like the way Tian Xi Wei (FL) speaks. Her speech is choppy and sounds like she’s mumbling a few words out instead of complete sentences.
4. I am glad the actors use their own voices, but the post-production dubbing is just OK.
5. Love all the food scenes!
Completed: 12/17/2022 - 500th drama!
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A mix of different genres could be a blessing or a curse.
"Till We Meet Again" is an interesting movie with a mix of different genres - fantasy, romance, comedy and horror. At times, I feel that the movie is trying too hard to have so many different elements. Two hours don't seem enough time to fit everything it tries to achieve. Nevertheless, this is a unique movie with great acting and songs.
The first 15-20 minutes are jam packed with introductions to the main characters and the ins and outs of being selected and trained to be the god of love. There are some weird comedic moments, along with some disturbing scenes. Not a lot is explained about the underworld, so watchers have to pay close attention.
I enjoy the love story between Shi Xiao Lun(ML) and Hong Jing Qing (FL). I am a fan of destined love and theirs is a touching story. However, ML’s partner-in-crime, fellow god of love Huang Wen Zi seems like the third wheel in the whole movie. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with ML, but then she acts as a supporting role for pretty much the whole movie.
Additionally, the movie throws in another plot of revenge. This is when I think the movie is trying to do too much. In the end, everyone is connected with each other in their past lives, but since this is a movie and not a drama, not enough time is dedicated to each character. The movie has a large supporting cast, especially other gods of love and the seniors. All the gods of love only seem to exist to tie the red string on FL. After that, they pretty much disappear. I would have loved to see this funny lot more, but you know, time constraints.
This is my first time watching Kai Ko. I was so moved by his crying when Shi Xiao Lun reunited with Hong Jing Qing for the first time after his death. Kai Ko is funny during Shi Xiao Lun’s younger years and scenes of when he’s alive, and he gives off a very different vibe when he’s the god of love. Since I’ve seen Vivian Sung before in “Lost Romance”, I expected to see her do well, and she’s really pretty here. Her emotional scenes are great. I’m glad to be introduced to Gingle Wang. Her image as the god of love, Huang Wen Zi, totally reminds me of Kim Hee Sun’s Grim Reaper role in “Tomorrow” with her pink short hair. The short pink hair is probably the only similarity between the two characters. Apparently I’ve seen her guest stars in a few dramas before, but I don’t remember her. If this is a short drama and not a movie, I think she could make a stronger impact.
Overall, "Till We Meet Again" is an interesting movie to pass time. The mix of genres could be a blessing or a curse. And it will be up to the viewer to decide.
Completed: 12/4/2022
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Fantastic piano playing and unexpected plot twist
“Secret” is written and directed by Jay Chou. So, it’s not surprising that the music and the songs of this movie are top notch. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this movie. After reading the synopsis, I thought it’s another teen melodrama about first love and the disappearance is probably due to an illness or parental disapproval. But I am so wrong. I did not see the plot twist coming and I am glad I was wrong.The acting is not bad and I wasn’t really expecting much from Jay Chou. After all, he’s known for being a singer and songwriter. Female lead, Kwai Lun Mei is fantastic and is the star of the movie. She plays the mysterious and interesting Xiao Yu well, as well as the more melodramatic scenes in the latter half of the movie.
The best part of this movie is the piano playing. If you are a music lover or a piano lover, this is a must-watch. There’s no fake playing and each song feels real. The piano duel is fantastically exciting. Lovers playing music together has such a romantic feel to it. It shows their innocent love and expression of love all through music.
Is this a realistic movie? Not really, especially in the last few minutes of the drama when danger is in his face, yet our main lead continues to play his music. But it makes for a great story and a great ending to this lovely movie.
Completed: 11/26/2022
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Mother-Daughter Duo and their growth through life challenges.
I am very glad I did not let the age gap deter me from watching “My Treasure”. However, I understand how it can be a turn-off. After all, Vicky Chen was 17 and Roy Chiu was 39 when they shot this drama. Though I think in the drama, Vicky is about 22 and Roy is about 35. There are many office scenes, but this drama is not a business drama. The focus of the drama is on the struggles, life challenges and growth of Qiu Dong Na (FL) and her mother, Qiu Xiao Xia (2FL). The supporting cast and their stories are an extension to illustrate their growth.What I Like:
1. Qiu Dong Na (FL) - It’s very hard not to like Dong Na. She’s brought up by a single mother and has to be careful of each cent that she spends, while sometimes has to act as the only adult in the family.. However, having a tough childhood does not stop her from growing up into an intelligent, optimistic, loyal, caring, and generous adult who doesn’t bow down to setbacks but perseveres to accomplish all she wants. She makes everyone around her to be a better person, especially Gu Fei (ML). I think the proposal speaks to how independent and great a person she is.
2. Mom-Daughter relationship - It’s lovely to see the duo supports, challenges and inspires each other through their unconventional way of life. I enjoy all the witty conversations and banter between them. They are honest with each other and don't hesitate to provide constructive criticisms when needed. We don't see too many dramas showing struggling families in this light - optimistic, opportunistic, annoying and loud at times.
3. Mentor-Mentee relationship - Qiu Dong Na (FL) and Gu Fei (ML) have known each other for years and have a very tight mentor-mentee relationship. They understand each other and are not afraid to show their vulnerabilities and not-so-pleasant sides. I enjoy their conversations and witty banter. Even if we take away the romance, they have great chemistry together just as friends.
4. Mature romance - I like the mature romance between Xiao Xia (mom) and Wang Shi Cheng. A drama about two individuals in their 50s shouldn’t be so entertaining but it is. They complement each other well, and because of their different personalities, they can also support each other in different ways. Their romance is a good contrast to the other two romance storylines.
5. Realistic wardrobe - Oftentimes, we see female leads wearing fancy clothes and accessories even if they come from a poor background. I am happy to notice that Dong Na actually wears the same white shirt and jeans quite often as her business attire. Her clothes fit her personality, background and office setting. The working class dresses like the working class. The richer folks all dress appropriately e.g. Gu Fei (Roy Chiu looks dashing in all suits and in casual wear), Cheng Fan Yang (wears nice tailored pantsuits and exudes independent boss lady vibes) and Li Chu Ning (always wears pretty dresses and purses showing her well-off background).
6. Proposal Speech - I love what Gu Fei said. Period. I don’t want to give out spoilers, but if you watch this, pay attention to his heartfelt speech when they were lying down.
What I have Mixed Feelings About:
1. Qiu Xiao Xia (Mom) - I may not always agree with all her decisions and actions, but I can see where she is coming from. She also has a very street-smart side of her, which contrasts and complements her daughter and Gu Fei’s way of thinking. But sometimes her actions seem immature and not due to her lack of education. Personally, I think she screams too much and her high-pitched voice is very irritating. She is probably the most annoying person in the drama for me (and this is a very subjective comment).
2. Frenemies (Dong Na/Chu Ning) - I did not like Chu Ning at first when she tried to sabotage Dong Na at her first job. But their love/hate relationship grew on me as more background information was given as to why Chu Ning disliked Dong Na so much. I actually want to see more of their friendship and feel that the writer is missing an opportunity to elaborate on the character development of Chu Ning.
3. Dong Na/Gu Fei Romance - We all have different opinions about this age gap. I am going to just focus on this romance between a 22 year-old and a 35 year-old. The romance is very minimal in this drama as the story focuses on their mentor-mentee relationship for the most part. I am not sure if it’s because of the age, I find the romance not developed very well. The realization of feelings towards each other does not have enough buildup to it. But when they do get together, this couple is super cute and adorkable (they are already very honest and communicative to begin with). I do question why they both act like teenagers when they have been in past relationships. I actually want to see more scenes of them as a couple. Maybe they are edited out, or the drama just tries to keep it as a bare minimum.
4. Dong Na/Cheng Fan Yang - I have mixed feelings about the supervisor-subordinate/mentor-mentee relationship between Cheng Fan Yang and Dong Na. I like it but I wanted more. It’s hard to pinpoint what is missing. Maybe I wanted more interactions? More heart-to-heart talk? But I am glad to see that Dong Na recognizes Cheng Fan Yang’s voiceless cry for help and is able to support her, and enlighten those around Change Fan Yang.
5. Not making me feel - This is super personal. I like dramas that elicit emotions out of me. Whether it’s to make my laugh or cry. After watching this drama, I don’t recall ‘feeling’ much. I feel like an outsider looking in, but not being there with the characters through their journeys. Yes, I am weird like that. LOL
Completed: 11/5/2022
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Mature, Serious, Complicated and Thought-Provoking
Disclaimer: I am not a transgender and do not know much about issues faced by transgenders and persons with gender dysphoria. I apologize in advance if I use incorrect or insensitive terms in my review. Please do kindly correct me respectfully in the comments if I make any mistake. Thank you.“Kataoimoi” aka “Unrequited Love” is definitely not a romance drama about unrequited love (though there are quite a few). At first glance, it’s about a murder and its investigation. But the main theme in this drama are issues faced by transgenders and those suffering from gender dysphoria. According to Mayo Clinic, gender dysphoria is the ‘feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.’
This drama opens my eyes to these topics and issues. I have a little bit knowledge of those suffering from gender dysphoria and might want to go through with a sex change procedure. However, this drama talks about more than just this procedure. I am particularly impressed with the analogy of the Mobius Strip. A character described that the inside and outside, male and female, co-exist on the same strip and not just one or another. Not everyone wants to have the procedure to change their sex surgically. There are some who want to identify with both genders and are comfortable with it.
It’s not an easy watch but a serious and complicated one. However, the writing and the execution could be better. A lot of information and details regarding the crime investigation and those involved are given to viewers in only 6 hour-long episodes. I have to pay close attention to the conversation and the details unveiled to figure out who’s who. I think this drama could benefit from a few more episodes, and explore some other relationships. Even with this criticism, I still find the drama to be quite slow-paced.
This is not a drama for everyone and you should know what you are getting yourself into. But it’s thought-provoking and I hope it sparks healthy conversation and the desire to learn more. Thanks to commenter @seroonetwothree, I learned of the term gender dysphoria and Googled about it.
Other Random Observations:
1. Excellent acting by the cast, especially Natatani Miki as Mizuki/Mitsuru.
2. I like the use of an American Football team as the backdrop. Quite unique for an Asian drama.
3. The pictures taken of Mitsuru are beautiful!
4. Love the ending song and it fits the drama well.
Ending my review with a quote from the drama: "Nature loves diversity. Society hates it.".
Completed: 10/16/2022
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An enjoyable low budget web drama that doesn't look cheap.
Completed: 10/15/2022Following the success of "The Killer is also Romantic", director Zeng Qing Jie has another well-directed and produced short drama in "A Familiar Stranger". I am often quite critical with the production of low budget dramas because the fake sets, cheap costumes and questionable acting really affect my viewing pleasure. I am happy to say that I was not bothered by any of these factors when watching "A Familiar Stranger". In fact, it makes me want to check out this director's other works those two dramas are so well-done.
Compared to TKIAR, "A Familiar Stranger" is not as comedic but is more romantic. The plot is interesting and I think the story flows pretty well. Because it's such a short drama, there's no pacing issues. I know I mentioned this before, I am really surprised that the set designs, props and costumes look so good. I've seen mid-size budget productions with big stars that are worse this this drama.
I really enjoy the development of the main romance and I think the actors did a pretty good job. The chemistry between 'real' 17 and the General is good. There are a couple good, 'steamy' kisses but I wanted more (too many teasing almost kisses). We do have the typical accidental falling into your arms, gazing softly into your eyes, etc. But the ending twist was unexpected. There isn't any annoying character and the kid is quite cute. The only part that's a little unrealistic to me is how King Ning became so obsessed with 'real' 17.
It's not an amazing drama but it was an amazingly enjoyable watch for me.
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Please Don't Meet the Man
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Modern Technology - A Blessing in Disguise? More than just a Rom-Com.
Completed: 10/9/2022What a pleasant surprise when you started watching a drama without any expectation. I came across this drama because I needed a title that features a walkman/pager for my MDL Challenge 2022. I have never heard of “Please Don’t Date Him” before but the synopsis seems interesting enough and it’s only 10 episodes long. So I gave it a try and I am so glad I did.
At first glance, “Please Don’t Date Him” seems like a typical rom-com. But the drama is a lot deeper than that. A computer chip belonging to the National Intelligence Service was accidentally inserted into the AI-capable refrigerator that FL is developing. She also seems to be the only person who can activate the special abilities of this chip and access the personal information of others. Actually, I still don’t know why she’s the chosen one who can activate Jango.
When the world of data is at the fingertips of our FL’s hands, what would she do with all this confidential personal information? Is using such information really helping others, or is it ‘violence’ towards the victims? How accurate is information on the internet? How do we interpret this information? This drama delves into ethics and pros and cons of modern technology. Technology provides us with lots of data, but decisions are still made by the individuals.
The romance is slow-burn and sweet. The couple was more fun before they got together (which is usually the case with modern dramas these days). We can see their contrasting personalities, upbringing and philosophy of modern technology. It's a good reminder of the pros and cons of modern technology. We have an episode of fluffiness but then drama hits and our main couple starts to face challenges in their relationship. The chemistry is pretty good, not sizzling, but good enough for me to be invested. It doesn’t hurt that our female lead is pretty and smart (Yay for girls in STEM), and our male lead is tall and handsome (topless six-pack alert!).
The other two romance storylines have a decent amount of screen time, but don’t take away from the main romance and plot. Both of these romances are quite interesting and unique in their own ways. I find the sismance between the three friends to be fun and believable. Each of the ladies has very distinct personalities and they complement each other well.
There are many comedic moments throughout the drama e.g. karaoke at the bridal shower was very unexpected. The cast is small and luckily I don’t find anyone annoying, even the ex-boyfriend. This drama is very binge-worthy. I finished all 10 episodes in one sitting on a Saturday. The pace is fast with so many things happening in this drama. Some might find certain plots underdeveloped due to the drama’s length, or that things are happening too fast.
My main criticism of this drama is in the last episode. I did not see the twist coming and it seems to have come from nowhere. That particular side plot is underdeveloped.
Everything that happened inside FL’s apartment was quite unrealistic. No scissors in the house or kitchen? I thought the story would lean towards the NIS involvement and undercover work.
However, this is a really fun and easy watch for me. It’s by no means a masterpiece, but due to my unexpected personal enjoyment, I am giving this an 8.5 (it might seem overly generous compared to my recent reviews of other bigger budget and more well-know productions).
Other Random Observations:
1. Those organic drinks look really nasty and unappetizing. They do have very weird and creative ingredients.
2. Not all the firefighters are good-looking, but they all have hot bodies! We need more topless firefighters in photo shoots.
3. I did not recognize Lee Jun Young (ML) as the same actor in “Love and Leashes”. Well, he has a very nice (but too thin) body and a cute face here. He also has a lovely singing voice.
4. What is so special about the walkman and the song?
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Can't believe I cried for a Pig!
Completed: 10/1/2022What an adorable and heartwarming movie! This movie boasts a big and popular cast with 6 individual stories. Each story features a family or a couple and their pets. These stories are simple but very relatable. Each of them is heartwarming in their own unique way. I am pleasantly surprised that I am satisfied with the amount of screen time for each story. Oftentimes with such a big cast, you feel something is missing, screen time is not evenly distributed, or not enough time dedicated to tell a complete story. However, I don't feel that at all.
We have a very experienced cast and there's really nothing to criticize about their acting. However, the MVPs are the pets. I don't own any pet and am not especially fond of dogs and cats (I am fine with them). This movie makes me want to be a pet owner, well, maybe not a pig owner.
If you love animals, especially dogs, cats and pigs, then I strongly recommend this movie to you. It's an easy watch and will make you feel very loved and warm inside.
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Drama Special Season 9: Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
An easy and funny watch - a series of second-hand embarrassment
Completed - 9/22/2022“Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days” is an-hour long drama special about some embarrassing events and memories of our female lead. As she runs into her first love again, more embarrassing moments are created while she navigates between her ex-husband and first love.
This is a light and funny watch. All the actors are experienced and they portray their characters pretty well. I was interested in learning about FL’s experience as an exam writer. I never knew there’s such an arduous process to come up with exam questions for students, and that these teachers have to go through a lockdown training camp for it! There’s some math talk which goes over my head and I just ignore it. LOL
The love triangle is front and center in this drama special. It’s funny and heartwarming at the same time. Although there isn’t much skinship, the chemistry between FL and her first love is great. There are no plot twists but just a simple and comfortable romance.
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You Are The Joy of My Youth
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Good intro to those new to esports but will be disappointing to veteran watchers
Completed: 9/16/2022 - 7.75 rating“Out With a Bang” is the latest esports drama that is a shorter, lighter-hearted production with a smaller budget and a not as well-known cast. It’s hard to follow the footsteps of other popular dramas such as “Love O2O” (the OG), “The King’s Avatar”, “Gank Your Heart”, “Cross Fire” (my favorite) and “Falling Into Your Smile”.
The plot is simple without too many unpredictable twists. It’s an easy watch with OK acting and no annoying characters. We follow the journey of male lead, Xiao Yi Chuan, a once top player of the industry. Due to a hand injury, he disappears from the esports world but comes back for another chance of success. Along the way, he finds love and camaraderie with his team members, and also finds his former self.
The gameplay of “Out with a Bang” reminds me of that in “Cross Fire”. Instead of relying only on animation, we have actors playing their characters and doing different stunts and shooting. This is my preferred gameplay, as I like to see the effort actors put in, instead of them just staring at a monitor and doing finger exercises on their keyboards and mice. Animation could be prettier, but this is more fun to watch as a viewer who is not familiar with the games. However, this is a lower budget production and it would be unfair to compare it to the gameplay in “Cross Fire”. I do appreciate the actors' effort and think they did a pretty good job with the shooting scenes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of exciting gameplay throughout the drama. The exciting scenes are all concentrated in the last few episodes. I would have liked to see some more during friendly competitions with other teams or during their livestream practices.
The romance storyline is OK. It’s not the strongest but it’s an easy watch. The leads are more fun before they become a couple. I am a fan of bickering couples and the enemies-to-lovers trope, so I quite enjoy the first half of the drama when it comes to romance. But once they confess their feelings, the romance becomes boring. The romance is reduced to two kids getting cute and jealous. There aren’t enough heart-fluttering scenes and the kisses are lacking. We got a decent kiss out of them.
The best part of the drama is the bromance. The bromance between Xiao Yi Chuan and his best friend, Wang Bo Yu, is funny and cute. It’s nice to see how much Wang Bo Yu cares for XYC despite not being in the same team but has been friends since they were amateur gamers. The bromance between XYC and Chu Tian is also done well. I enjoy the development from love rivals, to teammates, to mentor/mentee relationships. However, compared to other esports drama, the rest of the teammate camaraderie is a little lacking and hasn’t been the focus of the drama. Usually, team chemistry is the biggest selling point in this genre, but at least we have two pretty good bromances.
If you are a fan of the actors and want a simple and easy-to-understand esports drama, this could be a good introduction to the genre. But if you have seen the other more famous esports dramas as the ones I listed, then you might be disappointed. Personally I am going to rate this a 7.75 and not fault the drama for the not-so-great gameplay due to the budget. However, the writing and acting could have been better, and I don't like the dubbing at all.
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Great Slice-of-Life drama of a Rookie Cop - a different kind of Espionage drama.
Completed - 9/11/2022“Fearless Whispers” feels very different from the regular spy, Nationalist vs Communist espionage drama. I would say it’s a slice-of-life drama about a rookie cop and the police department, set in Shanghai between 1946-1953. It gives me the feeling of a combo of “Ordinary Greatness” + “The Rebel”. This drama is so underrated due to the lack of English subtitles. However, it scored a high 8.0 rating on Douban (and that is really high!).
When watching this, I can’t help but compare it to “The Rebel”. It lacks the thrilling plots and action scenes but it shines in showing us life of ordinary folks during that time frame. Not everyone comes from an elite family, but heroes can be found within the common folks. We follow the life of top university graduate and rookie police officer, Gu Yao Dong, as he starts his new career, has his ideals challenged, and gets entangled in the fight between the Nationalist and Community parties.
What I Like:
1. Acting & Characters - Great acting all around from the younger actors to the veterans. It’s so great to also watch a drama where actors are using their own voices and hearing the Shanghai accent. It adds to the authenticity of the drama.
♦︎ Li Yi Feng: I watch this drama because of him and he doesn’t disappoint. There’s something about him that I really like (and I don’t really think he’s handsome). He plays the idealistic, innocent yet brave GuYao Dong really well. He's the diamond in the rough, or gold waiting to be polished and shine. The perfect hero that we all root for. Watching this drama clears the unpleasant memory of him in “Mirror: Twin Cities”. His role here reminds me of his role in “Noble Aspirations” as well. Oh, he also looks the most handsome and adork-able in this drama.
♦︎ Gina Jin: She plays the badass female lead who is smart, brave and rational. It seems like we need to watch a spy drama to find such strong FLs these days. Gina was great in her tough spy scenes, as well as the more emotional scenes when she actually has to hold her feelings in. I am so glad to see a different side of her after her rom-com roles in “Why Women Love” and “Crossroad Bistro”. I also like the really simple make-up she has on throughout the drama. Plain but beautiful, and fit her character.
♦︎ Wang Long Zheng: This is my first drama of his and what a great veteran actor. He doesn’t ooze the type of charisma that Wang Yang has in “The Rebel”, but he attracts you in a different way. His chemistry with Li Yi Feng is great. Xia Ji Cheng is a complicated character and he did a fantastic job. I miss him when he’s gone for several episodes.
♦︎ Niu Jun Feng: He’s a surprise and I am so glad I found him again (I forgot about him in “Love O2O”). I was very impressed with his acting as Zhao Zi Yong. Zhao is such a conflicted character and the one I sympathize with the most. I was rooting for him and praying that he’s going to have a somewhat happy ending. Zhao Zi Yong is a good contrast to our male lead, and portrays a more realistic struggle. Not everyone can be a hero and most of the times, reality forces you to choose differently.
♦︎ Li Qiang: First scene I saw him and I hated him. That’s how good his acting. He gives off such an evil, cunning and manipulative vibe. What a great veteran and I think he helps elevate Niu Jun Feng’s scenes.
2. Bromance - The chemistry between the male characters is better than the romance.
♦︎ Gu Yao Dong + Xia Ji Cheng = the mentor/mentee relationship between the two is one of the best things about this drama. They have so much chemistry together especially when they are having heart-to-heart conversations or teaching moments. I noted down specifically the scene when Gu Yao Dong was drunk and Xia was taking him home. The scenes were done so well. If I didn’t know any better, I thought they have romantic feelings for each other. LOL. There are a few episodes when Xia Ji Cheng was away. I didn’t know I miss them on the screen together that much, until they’re gone and then back together.
♦︎ Gu Yao Dong + Zhao Zhi Yong = These two best friends started out with a cute friendship in the police department. They are both good-hearted young people but walk a very different path. I was glad that throughout the drama, though they made different decisions, their friendship never really died. They might have done things that hurt each other, but they still care deeply. It saddens me to see such good friends enduring so much pain, but it also makes their friendship all the more memorable.
♦︎ Police Dept Team 2 = They may not start out loving each other, but it's great to see how their friendship develops throughout the drama. Each character is colorful and complements each other. They annoy me sometimes, but they are also quite funny at times. I am glad the drama did not forget these supporting characters and spend some time in the last episode about each of these colorful characters.
3. Pacing - 51 episodes could scare people away. I was skeptical at first and prepared for the drama to drag. Luckily, to me, I think the drama is well-paced - not fast, not slow. It has the pacing of a slice-of-life drama with some exciting plots sprinkled throughout. It doesn’t have as many intense and heart-pumping scenes as in “The Rebel” but it has its own charms and exciting moments. I was kept interested throughout the drama. I do think “Fearless Whispers” ends on a strong note, especially Eps 49-50. The last episode does wrap things up nicely.
4. Gu Family + Neighbors: ML has a lovely and supportive family. It’s no wonder our male lead is such a great guy. There are many heartwarming moments when they reach out to a neighbor in need and it’s so great to see. I enjoy the lively neighborhood and even the annoying neighbors (you got to have a couple of these characters)and luckily they are kept to a minimum. I was heartbroken about the story of Mr. M and his daughter. Not a lot of time is spent on the neighborhoods, but enough to give us a feel of life as an ordinary person trying to live through changing/tough times.
What I have mixed feelings about:
1. Injuries: The injuries are probably the most unrealistic part of this drama. Our male lead was beaten to a pulp multiple times and he recovered at a remarkable speed. If this happens in the real world, he would have been dead several times, or be in a coma, or paralyzed. Actually, not just him but all the characters. We see another character getting beaten by a metal rod on his legs, his body and his head, and he was walking and running around in the next scene.
2. Production Quality: Compared to “The Rebel”, “Fearless Whispers” appears to have a smaller budget. The sets and props, though don’t seem too fake and flimsy, also do not look very high quality as well. Speaking of injuries as mentioned above, we seen quite inconsistent wounds. Someone being tortured only had a slash on the face and a slash on the chest, and then the shirt was just soaked with red dye. Those wounds are so unrealistic and fake that I wonder if the character really was tortured to almost dead. On the other hand, I quite like the neighborhood set and houses. They all seem very realistic.
3. Romance: I find the chemistry between our leads to be good, but not amazing. There’s definitely a lot more romance in this drama than in “The Rebel”. However, though the romance in “The Rebel” is limited, the chemistry and longing are off the charts and memorable. In “Fearless Whispers”, the romance pales in comparison. It’s decent and there are a few emotional scenes well done. But for the most part, it’s nothing to write about. I also wanted a little more about the Love Square and feels that those side plots just went away.
Today, 9/11/22, it was reported that Li Yi Feng was arrested due to illegal prostitution. I am not sure what would become of him or if he's really guilty. I am saddened because I like him as an actor and we will probably not see him in any drama or movie for a very long time (or ever). I still see the YouTube videos of this drama online and not taken down (yet). The chance of this drama being subtitled is even lower now and audience will miss such a good show.
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