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Lost in Dramaland
Unique and Special drama with Great acting and appreciation of Chinese Opera
Completed - 7/29/2022Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 9.0+
“Winter Begonia is a rare treasure that most people probably won’t watch because it doesn’t scream hot young actors in a censored BL romance drama. Chinese Opera + Republican Era + mature male leads + Japanese occupation, do not really translate to instant popularity with the general audience. Growing up, I was NOT a Chinese opera fan myself. That’s why I was hesitant to watch this, despite its glowing reviews from almost everyone. Does this drama make me love Chinese opera? No, not really. But I learned to appreciate all performers’ dedication and hard work to this craft. It’s a beautiful part of Chinese culture that I wish it will continue on forever.
If you don’t love Chinese opera, this might be a difficult drama to watch because it's central to the plot, and there are many opera scenes and singing. But if you are a fan, or you don’t dislike it, you might grow to like it more. I will join the chorus of praises in the production quality of “Winter Begonia”. The opera costumes, accessories, hair and makeup = all top notch. So much effort (and probably research) is put into this.. I also really enjoy all the suits that our male lead, Cheng Feng Tai wore. Not only was he dashing and hot in all his outfits, I really like the subtle pattern and velvety (maybe?) quality of his suits. Shang Xi Rui also wears a variety of cheongsam/changshan, from the more modest white ones to the formal white ones. This might be the only drama I’ve seen all male characters wearing such thick wintery changshan.
The relationship between our two male leads is an interesting one. They are total opposites and it’s quite amazing how they have come to trust, care and ‘love’ each other. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of sizzling, romantic chemistry between the two. I think the male leads in “Killer and Healer” have much better pure romantic chemistry. In “Winter Begonia’, Cheng Feng Tai and Shang Xi Rui are soulmates, they are more than friends/lovers/family. You can feel their deep affection from each other by the way they look at each other, and also through very casual, everyday conversations. You will not find the typical BL romance or fanservice in this drama.
It’s hard to tell if Cheng Feng Tai really loves his wife. Maybe he only cares for her as family because they have been together for so long. Yet, with the way he looks at her and the physical affection that he displays, he does seem to love her. In the second to last episode, while Cheng Feng Tai is facing danger, his last flashbacks are of his wife. Doesn’t that mean he truly loves her? But then, what about Shang Xi Rui? Does he love them both? Or as I mentioned, Shang Xi Rui is maybe more than merely a lover/partner. I guess that’s for the viewer's own interpretation.
The main reason why I did not give this a 9.0+ rating is because I got bored towards the 2nd half of the drama. The pacing is really good in the first 30 episodes. I enjoy the relationship development of the leads. I also really like the characters in all the opera troupes and see how they train, live together, and fight amongst each other. It was fun to watch the dance-off between Shang Xi Rui and Chen Ren Xiang. I also like the conflicts/politics of the opera troupes, and the respect the veterans receive from opera performers and audience. But when the drama turns political with the Japanese occupation, there’s too much talking and bad accents.. I understand the need for it but it’s not exciting or interesting enough, until the last two episodes. Even though the ending has a very strong political tone, I am interpreting it as a special way for the drama to demonstrate the unique bond between our male leads.
Lastly, you don’t really have to worry about the acting performance of this cast. They are veterans and they know what they’re doing. Big props to Yin Zheng for playing Shang Xi Rui, a multi-layered crazy genius. Huang Xiao Ming is very charismatic as Cheng Feng Tai and he is oh-so fine. I remember really liking him in “Nirvana in Fire 2”. The way he looks at Shang Xi Rui melts my heart. This is my first time seeing Merxat and Li Ze Feng NOT playing mature and sensible roles. I’ve seen them both in previous dramas and their roles here are so different and I’m glad they are taking different roles. As the female lead, Charmaine Sheh holds her own among a strong male cast. She’s wonderful as Fan Xiang Er.
Other Random Observations:
1. Yin Zheng looks quite old in this drama. He’s 9 years younger than Huang Xiao Ming but he doesn’t age as well.
2. Still some minor plot holes - what happened to Cheng Feng Tai’s nephew and brother-in-law in the end?
3. What happened to his little sister?
4. I like the opening theme song; it matches the feel of the drama
5. I appreciate the training that actors went through to perform on stage. Their mouths might not perfectly sync with the singing, but you can still see that they’re mouthing/singing those lyrics.
6. Yin Zheng, Tan Jian Ci and Andy Huang look beautiful playing the ‘dan’.
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Excellent Acting with different stories that can impact each of us.
Completed: 7/17/2022Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 8.5+
This is my first omnibus-style drama and it took me a while to get used to it. And as a binge watcher, this is not the pacing that I am comfortable with. It was difficult for me to want to press "next episode" each time. It took me a long time to finish this drama and I have to watch one story at a time. Of course, this is very subjective and others might find all stories so compelling that they couldn't stop watching. Because of this, I am only rating this drama at 8.5. Additionally, a couple stories are not as interesting to me.
"Our Blues" takes place on the beautiful Jeju Island, a place I've been wanting to visit. Taking us out of the big city and into the more rural village provided us the opportunity to appreciate nature and this drama has beautiful cinematography and an amazing and soothing OST. I really enjoy the small town feel and the village lifestyle and community. However, it does take me a couple episodes to get used to the personality of the islanders. They are nosy, loud and rude, and just can't stay out of other people's business. But they are also kind and soft-hearted, and each character is ready to jump in to help anyone in a split second. That's the beauty of all the stories here and it's heartwarming to see there are people out there who truly cares. It's the perfect place for healing, to take a break or to ask for help.
Looking at the cast list, it's without a doubt that you do not have to worry about the acting performance of anyone. Everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, is excellent. This drama evokes so many different emotions that it's amazing how everyone is so good. I do want to point out a few that stood out to me:
1. Lee Byung Hun - the last drama of his I watched was "Mr. Sunshine". And what a different role he has in "Our Blues". I applaud him for taking such a different role and doing such a great job. You can't see a shadow of Eugene Choi in his role as Lee Song Seok.
2. Lee Jung Eun - I've seen her in so many other dramas in a supporting role and her acting here is off the charts. She plays the caring, loud-mouthed, nosy Jung Eun Hee so well. The first few episodes are about her, and I was mesmerized by her acting.
3. Kim Woo Bin - My first of his drama and I'm glad he's back after taking care of himself. I avoided watching "Uncontrollably Fond", so I'm glad to see him here. Kim Woo Bin's eyes can convey so many different emotions. I stare at his eyes and I am in love, and adding the fact that his character is so lovable, I've added Park Jung Joon to my "Ideal Man" list. LOL
4. Jun Eun Hye - Not only do I appreciate the fact that we have an actress with Down Syndrome in this show, but that she is not portrayed as the sweet and innocent girl. She is sassy and has a great personality. She is tough, will argue with you and keep you on your toes. And yes, people with disabilities do drink and cuss, and they want to be pretty and have a boyfriend/girlfriend.
As mentioned earlier, not all the stories touched me or that I find super interesting. Here's a quick recap (I tried to keep it without spoiler but read as your own risks).
Han Soo + Eun Hui
A very impactful beginning of a drama. Here we reminisce the past/first love, money issues and family burdens. The powerful confrontation scene in the hotel room was a big "WOW" moment for me. It was so quiet the whole time, no music and just letting two veteran actors duke it out. This story makes you wonder how you treat your friends and who are your real friends.
Yeong Ok + Jung Joon
This is when I fall in love with Kim Woo Bin. He's so warm and accepting that he doesn't care about Yeong Ok's relationship history. He believes in her and loves her, despite her lies in the beginning.
Young Joo + Hyung
What happened when Romeo and Juliet got together and have a kid? This story explores teen decisions and family support. How do we get parental approval when life has been so hard?
Deong Seok + Seon Ah
Postpartum depression is a difficult topic and not portrayed enough in dramas. This story explores the darkness of depression and how it affects everyone in the family, especially the child. It's important to have someone who doesn't give up on you and stand by your side until you are better.
Mi Ran + Eun Hee
When two best friends perceive their friendship differently, the result is a big argument and brawl. Eu Hee is the one that I wish she has all the happiness in the world. She's been there for everyone, her BFF and neighbors, but was hurt by her first love and BFF.
Yeong Ok + Yeong Hui + Jung Hoon
I love this story esp. the realistic portrayal of someone with Down Syndrome. Yeong Hui works, makes money, and wants what we all want. I love that she is the main character in this story and not just resorted to a few lines here and there. I love the complicated sisterhood and the friendship between Yeong Hui and Jung Hoon. The last scene when Yeong Ok was in the van alone was very touching.
Choon Hee + Eung Gi
What an adorable little grand daughter and what a fun duo she makes with her grand mother. They have such an interesting dynamic when they slowly learn how to get along with each other. I LOVE the scene with 100 moons!!
Deong Sok + Ok Dong
We knew from the start that there will be a story about this mother/son relationship. The reason why mom remarried was not surprising, but it's still heartbreaking nonetheless. Reconciliation and the acceptance/preparation for death are explored in this story. In the last episode, I am glad that everyone finds closure and we get to see all the characters back in a super fun way.
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Kono koi wa atatamesu ka?
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Completed - 6/24/2022 - 7.75 ratingThis drama, also known as "Do You Want to Warm Up This Love?" is a simple, uncomplicated and quite predictable romantic comedy. It's an original work that is not an adaptation of a webtoon or manga. That might explain why there isn't any over-exaggerated acting.
Let's talk about what I like in rapid fashion:
1. Simple drama for those who don't like angst or misunderstanding
2. No really annoying characters.
3. A few decent kisses towards the end - not passionate but better than others.
4. No evil ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, no evil parents, no evil characters
5. Interesting scenes of convenient store dessert making and shots - though can't be compared to the exquisite desserts in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru".
6. Good chemistry between the leads; I enjoy their bickering and opposite-attract romance; also like the smirks and side-glances ML has towards FL.
7. I enjoy the mobile convenient store stories the most.
What I don't like:
1. My biggest complaint is the hiring of Kiki (FL) in creating new desserts. She was introduced as an Instagram food blogger and I can believe that she has excellent taste buds and her reviews are spot on. However, there has been no indication that she actually knows how to cook and make desserts. If she's hired as a consultant to provide feedback or be a taste tester, I can buy that. But actually being a dessert chef in developing recipes and making them? That's a hard sell. But since that's the main plot, it's something that I just have to ignore and go along with it.
2. I can understand Kiki wanting to move on from Takumi (ML) and start a relationship with Makoto (2ML). However, it's taking way too long for her to decide whether Makoto is the one or not. Her indecisiveness is disrespectful when Makoto has been so kind and sweet to her. I might not have second-lead syndrome, but I don't think Kiki deserves Makoto anyway.
3. On the other hand, I don't blame Takumi for not realizing his feelings for Kiki and continuing to be in a relationship with Riho (2FL). But once they broke up, it's so wrong to immediately ask Kiki out behind Makoto's back and ignore his best friend's feelings. That's not how you treat your buddy who has been you BFF all your life. Yes, Kiki has the right to choose, but at least be honest with you friend first and declare equal opportunity courtship.
4. Not a whole lot of excitement with the business plots. They are just OK.
All these listed might not affect your viewing pleasure, but they bug me. I guess none of these are huge flaws, and this could be a decent and easy watch if you are in the mood for it.
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Great Character and Career Development of a Strong Female Lead
Completed - 6/12/2022 - Subjective rating - 8.75, Objective rating - probably 9.0+“Master of My Own” has received rave reviews due to Seven Tan’s character and her portrayal. I have to agree that she was great in this drama. The drama doesn’t have any glaring flaws and I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it’s very binge-able. Despite that, my gut reaction after watching “Master of My Own” is not an automatic rating of 9.0+. There’s something missing that I can’t really pinpoint. It doesn’t quite move me? Not dramatic enough? I don’t know. However, this is a great drama and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a drama about the character and career growth of a strong female lead. Don’t expect fluffy cute scenes or lots of skinship.. The chemistry is there between Seven Tan and Kenny Lin, but this is not about a great love story.
Seven Tan/Ning Meng (Lemon) - It is so nice to see Seven Tan in a mature role and not as a teenager anymore. I have enough of her loud/outgoing, tomboy roles with a mushroom bowl haircut. She looks absolutely stunning here in her hair and makeup with nice tailored and fitted suits. Her portrayal of Lemon is great and convincing. We followed Lemon’s journey from a more introverted secretary who has to endure her supervisor’s insults and torture, but continues to believe and works towards her dream to be an Investment Director. Seeing how she grows and works towards her goal is the best part of the show. Her upbringing and tight and loving family creates a big contrast to the male lead. There’s no instant success, nor having the male lead to always help her to solve her problems. We see Lemon falls down, picks herself back up and then excels in her career. Along the way, she meets people in her life and career where she treats them sincerely, and they in turn are there for her when she most needs help.
Kenny Lin/Lu Ji Ming - Before I started watching this drama, I had heard about how our male lead is a jerk and could be quite intolerable in the beginning. Maybe my expectations were low and I was prepared, I am pleasantly surprised that he doesn’t bug me as much. Yes, he does talk down to Lemon, denies her strengths and potential, and is unwilling to give her a chance. However, maybe it’s due to Kenny Lin’s acting or the writing of the character, I never dislike him that much. I’ve seen my fair share of mean and abusive bosses in dramas, and his character is not as despicable (at least to me). When we are introduced to his family, we finally understand why he acts a certain way. Definitely, Like Father, Like Son. The best part of Lu Ji Ming’s journey is his character development. We witness his personality change throughout the show, and it’s mainly due to his interaction with Lemon and witnessing how she works towards her ultimate goal. When you compare how he behaves in the first episode and the last episode, you can really see a difference. And I appreciate the gradual change. There’s no love at first sight and immediate personality change because of a romance arc.
Romance/Love Triangle - As I mentioned earlier, this is not a romance-heavy drama. However, there’s definitely chemistry between Kenny Lin and Seven Tan through their interactions as boss/subordinate, colleagues in the industry and business partners. I look forward to scenes when they are together, even if they are bickering and screaming at each other. This is probably the slowest burn romance I have seen, and I actually don't mind. What I do mind is the disappointing kiss that we got after waiting for so long. There are actually more dating scenes between Lemon and her senior, Su Wei Ran. I read spoilers before about the issue that Su Wei Ran had which caused Lemon to break up with him. I was actually worried that the issue would be dragged out for several episodes. However, I am glad to see it resolved rather quickly, because our amazing female lead does not take crap from others anymore. I do pity Su Wei Ran and am glad that Lemon actually did go out with him for a while. Their short relationship forces Lu Ji Ming to re-evaluate his feelings for Lemon, and also encourages Su Wei Ran to reflect on the type of person he wants to be.
Supporting Cast - Let’s talk about Director Xu. If all women (actually everyone) has a mentor in their life like Director Xu, we will be living in a better world. Personally, I am thankful to have supportive supervisors in my career, and I also strive to be a good mentor and supervisor to my staff. We are missing characters like Director Xu in Chinese and Korean dramas. We’ve seen enough abusive bosses, why not great ones who see your potential and want to nurture that? The bromance between Lu Ji Ming and Ceng Yu Huang is quite fun and satisfying. They are so different, yet they are there to support each other. There’s something more enticing about a great bromance than a great sismance. Why is that? The supporting cast is solid and I don’t feel that there’s any annoying character. That’s a big plus!
Investment stories - I enjoy the side plot of different investment stories that Lemon helps out - textile factory, exercise company (reminds me of Peloton), household appliances. Each story is simple but it provides some ‘warmth’ to this drama. It’s nice that they ended up inter-connecting with each other. On the flip side, I think I am missing some ‘edge-of-my-seat’ type excitement from all the investment stories. Yes, there are crises and troubles, but not evoking a lot of emotions from me.
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Drama Special Season 8: Let Us Meet
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Short, Simple and Easy to Watch
Completed - 6/6/2022A very short drama special about two individuals meeting at the Marriage making company. Within an hour and 5 minutes, this special is able to tell the love story of our leads from disliking each other, building a business relationship to friendship and then falling in love. The plot is simple but engaging and I don't feel like I am missing a step in their relationship. Chemistry between the leads is pretty good. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, which could be perceived as over-the-top.
"Let us Meet' also provides enough background information about the leads to give us an idea of the societal pressure of individuals living in that era. Women are opposed to arranged marriage with strangers during these 'modern' times. As Kyungsung (old name for Seoul) is changing, marriage is not necessarily about love but looking for the right conditions, such as money, status and education. With the Japanese occupation as a backdrop, this drama special also provided glimpses of what life was like for women. Do not expect a deep dive into these socio-economic issues as that's not "Let us Meet" is about, and besides, it's too short.
I would recommend this if you just want something short, simple and easy to watch.
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A drama full of good people
Completed - 6/3/2022"Fight Song" is a light-hearted drama about two individuals who have hit rock bottom in their respective lives. They met through chance and decided to start a time-limited relationship to help each other out. We especially cheer for our female lead because she's so full of life and spirit. She faces both professional and personal hardships in strides, and becomes the role model for many.
The romance between our leads is cute, awkward and adorable. With two novices in love, they navigate their unique time-limited relationship with a lot of curiosity and naiveté. Their interaction is really adorable. However, I do feel that their relationship is lacking some romantic vibes. For once, I hope the drama is a little longer, so that we have more time to see how they slowly develop feelings for each other. I would have loved to see more romantic and heart-fluttering scenes.
I do recommend this drama if you are looking for something positive and cute. This is one of the very few dramas that I remember, where every single character is a good person. No annoying co-worker, parent, or love interest. I also like the two songs, esp. Star Train. Our male lead has a great voice and I very much enjoy the acoustic version, though it might just be a tad overplayed.
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Good first half but slow second half
Completed - 4/18/2022 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0Having binge-watched season 1, I am glad I took a little breather before diving into season 2. Season 1 wasn't a very enjoyable experience for me (see my review here: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/reviews/203095). But taking a break allows me to reset and I enjoy this season more than the last. It might also due to the fact that there are only 20 episodes here, yet I still feel the pacing is quite slow at the end. You will need to watch season 1 first before this one, otherwise, nothing will make sense.
First Half of the Drama:
Season 2 continues where it was last left off. Our leads went through the Abyss, and the first half of the drama was set back 1000 years ago. I really enjoy this story arc, much more than the present day storyline. General Duan Mu is a character I can root for and is likable, much more so than the happy-go-lucky deity in season 1. I follow her journey of shouldering the burden of the Duan Mu army, continuing to fight for gender equality and the never-ending fight to prove that she's worthy of being the lead general. Zhang Yan (ML) proves to be a great support system for her emotionally, physically and in warfare. I enjoy their romance here - quiet, mature, supportive, and honest. On the other hand, we also see a different storyline about Hong Luan (2FL) and Wen Gu (2ML). We found out why Wen Gu was so attached to Duan Mu and why he likes her so much. Actually, who would not like General Duan Mu. At first, I wasn't a fan of Duan Mu's fiancee, General Hu Lu, but his character grew on me. He also had an amazing battle scene that was full of emotions and strength. His part was small but he made an impression on me. The villain of the drama was slowly incorporated into this portion of the story. I knew there's something fishy about him when he regained his past lives memories. You just knew he's up to no good.
Second Half of the Drama:
I would have given this drama a solid 8.0 or even 8.25 if it's not because of how slow the second half is. Now that everyone is back to the present day storyline, it's no surprise that the goal is to eliminate the villain. Unfortunately, I found our villain to be very one-dimensional, cartoon-ish and not "sophisticated" enough. I personally was bored towards the last few episodes and had to increase my watch speed. The scenes are slow, the talking is slow. On the other hand, after a very mature romance in the abyss, I suddenly found the romantic words spoken between our leads to be somewhat cringey. I did not like Darren Chen's acting when he has those sad puppy (somewhat bored) eyes. His facial expressions and eyes lit up more when he's in the playful and bickering scenes with FL (as in season1). Darren Chen is a very handsome guy, but I don't know why I find his more emotional/sad scenes to be less attractive. I prefer him being the quiet support of General Duan Mu. But a bright spot is introducing me to Gu Zi Cheng (who played Wen Gu). He has one of the more interesting characters in this drama. He's cool and aloof yet smitten as Doctor Wen Gu, then turned into revengeful Demon King, then loyal and faithful as Soldier Wen Gu and lastly as the young and innocent new Wen Gu. Towards the end of the drama, there are quite a few plot inconsistencies and plot holes in regards to Duan Mu's magical powers. Without going into spoilers, I feel that it was quite a stretch for her to have those powers in the final fight.
Overall, I feel that the drama could combine both seasons into one. A combined 40 episodes (instead of 52) is probably enough to tell its story with better pacing and a tighter storyline. For my personal enjoyment, I enjoyed season 2 more than season 1, thanks to the plot in the army.
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A short and sweet web drama
Completed - 4/2/2022"Emperor or Boss" is a cute, light-hearted and short romance web drama. This is a great stress-reliever if you want to just enjoy the ride and not think too much. As long as you lower your expectations and not expecting a big budget production, it's an easy and binge-able watch.
It has:
1) Good-looking leads
2) Decent chemistry
3) Decent acting + expected a little over-the-top acting
4) No angst, no misunderstanding, no annoying characters (maybe annoying FL dubbing/voice)
5) Love triangle that is somewhat funny and not annoying
6) Plenty of decent kisses after the leads got together
I watched the drama on MangoTV YouTube Channel with Chinese subs. I do not recommend watching the drama there. MangoTV YouTube channel is notorious for blocking out music and sounds. I should have known better. Instead, try the Idol & Romance or Fresh Drama YouTube Channels with English subs instead.
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Party A Who Lives Beside Me
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Silly, Funny and Cute Rom-Com - Life's challenges of a New intern!
Completed - 2/23/2022A silly, funny and easy-to-watch romantic comedy with a focus on career and life choices of an intern and her colleagues and friends. This is a pretty short 24-episode drama broadcasted on Mango TV. And it’s no surprise that the English subs on their YouTube channel are horrible, and maybe that’s why we don’t see many watchers and reviewers of this drama.
I would recommend this drama for those who:
1. Are new graduates or just got their first jobs.
2. Enjoy a no-stress silly, sometimes a little over-the-top and cute romantic comedy
3. Interested in the advertising and public relations industries
4. Doesn’t mind MangoTV’s awful subs and blurred background music/songs on YouTube
Our female lead, Ye Xuan, is a new intern designer at the start up advertising company 88 Ai Ke. She is full of passion and dreams in making it big in Shanghai. The drama is about her challenges as a new intern and her career development into an independent and strong woman. Along the way, she met some awesome friends and colleagues, and of course her romantic partner. I am not sure how realistic the workplace politics and procedures are for an advertising firm, but to an untrained eye, the plots are enjoyable.
Our male lead, Li Ze Nan, is a successful Sales Director of a big advertising company. He’s also our FL’s landlord, Party A, mentor, friend and lover. He might come off as cold and stoic at work, but is indeed warm and funny as well.
Our leads have good chemistry especially when they are bickering. They have a healthy friendship and relationship - supportive of each other, open and honest communication, no misunderstandings. This is a slow burn romance and they don’t get together until the last quarter of the drama. But once they get together, they are sweet, cute and funny together. There’s no shortage of fluffiness and skinship towards the end (though their kisses are not good at all) to make up for the long wait for their relationship to start.
The secondary and tertiary romances are just OK for me, esp. the tertiary romance between two colleagues. It happened too late and too fast, and doesn’t add much to the plot. The secondary romance between Hu Ya Nan and He Yu Cheng is kinda cute, but could have used a little more development.
This drama is definitely not a masterpiece and there are some inconsistencies in the plot (e.g. no cooking rule is out the door, no way FL has enough money to make an important purchase). However, I enjoy it for what it is - a sweet and fluffy rom-com.
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You Make Me Dance (Movie)
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
Light-hearted and Cute, but Unrealistic and Illogical
Completed - 2/18/2022 - 7.75 ratingIf you are not watching this aired weekly, it's best to watch the movie version than the drama version. The story flows better and it's not as fragmented. This is a cute and light-hearted BL drama/movie, with decent chemistry and somewhat good-looking actors. Also, something is wrong with the synopsis here, "After a serious row, he is thrown out of the family home and is left with an emotional wound. " <--- I didn't see that happening!! Serious row? Thrown out??
What I enjoy:
1. I like the bus scene with their pinkies in the air. Really cute!
2. Cute interactions between the leads.
3. Great songs - Korean BL dramas never disappoint me with their songs.
4. Production value seems decent enough for a low-budget web drama.
What I don't enjoy (spoilers):
1. The acting of Won Hyung Hoon (Creditor) is not very good. I know his character is supposed to be quiet, but he comes off as bland and emotionless.
2. Unrealistic and illogical plot lines (stop reading if you don't want my cynicism to spoil your happy bubble):
= Will a debt collector really trust you enough to extend your loan payment for a month after a dance that's not even that good?
= The whole debt collector profession in this drama is unrealistic.
= If a debt collector moves in with you, you should kick him out immediately (DANGER!), no matter how nice he seems.
= Just because Shi On got the audition to play the lead role, doesn't mean he automatically has money. He actually has to work first to get paid. Why does it seem like the loan is totally forgiven all of a sudden?
= If they assume the loan is forgiven, then why did Hong Seok leave Shi On in the end? As Shi On said, the previous relationship ended and they can start anew. Why leave? I still don't get it.
Though it seems like I dislike this drama/movie, I did have an enjoyable time. I needed something light and short, and it suits my needs. I just can't give it a higher rating, as it doesn't seem fair to the other dramas that I rated a 8.0 and above.
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Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
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A different kind of Kenshin Movie - A Melodrama
Completed - 2/12/2022 - Rating 8.25Even though this is the last movie of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, this movie is actually the beginning of Himura Kenshin's story. If you haven't watched any of the movies, I would recommend watching "The Beginning" first, or at least before "The Final". The story will flow a little better as you follow his journey when he first became Battosai the Killer.
All other Kenshin movies are fast-paced and action-packed. It is without a doubt that they all have amazing sword fighting scenes and are full of violence and gore. Though "The Beginning" has a very different vibe and fewer fight scenes, they are still as amazing as ever. Another commonality that these movies share is the amazing soundtrack. We have beautiful instrumental pieces that complement the scenes so well, no matter if they are having quiet moments, or violent fight scenes. When I heard the Rurouni Kenshin theme song at the end of this movie, it feels like home.
However, "The Beginning" is actually a slow-burn, melodrama of Himura and Tomoe's love story. We got a glimpse of it in "The Final" and we get the full story here. It's very slow-paced (actually a little too slow for my taste) and the movie has many quiet moments. I actually enjoyed the quiet moments that they had in "The Final" more, as they helped to slow down the pace of a fast movie. Because our main leads are so reserved and introverted, there aren't that many dialogs in this movie. I also find it a little difficult to see how Himura is initially attracted to Tomoe. I guess a 2 hour-long movie really doesn't have that much time to develop the initial attraction in more detail.
Satoh Takeru is without a doubt amazing in this drama. Satoh Takeru = Himura Kenshin. I cannot picture anyone else play this role. He's as quiet and as stoic as ever, but I see a glimpse of youthfulness and a cute little smile when he's looking at his homegrown radish :) Arimura Kasumi is so graceful as Tomoe. There's this quiet strength in her. Eguchi Yosuke reprises his role as Saito Hajime, but I don't think the makeup artist can make him as youthful-looking as Satoh Takeru.
It's hard to say goodbye to Satoh Takeru as Himura Kenshin. I've loved him in all these movies. I am so glad that the Kenshin franchise gave me the opportunity to know him.
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Two awkward and weird individuals = Adorkable romance
Completed - 1/30/2022I initially dropped this drama after watching the first episode in April 2021. I could not get past its overdramatic acting and did not like the female lead. She's like a Covid-19 tyrant, forcing people to follow all the preventive safety measure (of course, for good reasons). She is not likeable at all, and it's hard for me to continue on and root for her. However, after watching more Jdoramas, I have gotten used to its style and really can't hold it against all dramas. It proves that sometimes, a drama is worth a second chance and you need to be in the right mindset to watch it.
This drama covers topics of online dating-->real life dating, accepting each other for who they are, being honest and communicative. There isn't really any plot twists or anything too exciting, but just a easy, funny and a little over-the-top rom-com to watch set during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two years later, we are still going through all this. This drama has a strong focus on preventive measures, since our FL is a doctor and she does not fail to remind people to keep their masks on correctly and to maintain social distance.
Our leads met online while playing a video game. They started as just simple friends, chatting about daily musings and nothing personal. Of course, they started liking each other. We then follow their journey of discovering each other in real life, learning to switch from an online relationship to real life relationship (all its ups and downs) and learning to work through differences.
Our leads are really weird and awkward in their own ways. However, they are so cute and adorkable together. Most dramas, you lose that fun when the leads get together. But in this drama, I especially enjoy watching them after they started dating. In their early stage of dating, it's hilarious to see them still using the chat app instead of talking directly, even though they are sitting next to each other, typing away. We see how they try to move away from that in the second half of the drama and work hard to have meaningful conversations offline.
I might not like FL in the beginning, but she has grown on me. I admire her honesty and courage, esp. when she's confessing to ML. She's not experienced at all, and is definitely a weirdo, but she is so honest with her feelings and oftentimes the one to take the initiative in the relationship.
However, there are still quite a number of slightly annoying, overly nosy and gossipy supporting characters. They calmed down towards the second half of the drama and have become great support to the leads. They just show their caring side in their own unique, nosy ways. It's also nice to see a good 2ML who doesn't do anything to sabotage the main romance. I do feel a little bad for him, but no second lead syndrome.
Other observations:
1. Why does the ML put the toothpicks back in the container? That's so unsanitary!
2. I love ML's voice when he's the voiceover of his texts. Very soothing and calming.
3. Don't watch this if you are sick and tired of the pandemic and don't want people reminding you of safety measures (but you should still wear a mask).
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Accompany You To Fly By The Wind
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Cute and Fluffy (slightly cringey) drama about Love, Teamwork, Perseverance and Mommy issues.
Completed - 1/21/2022A big reason why I want to watch "To Fly with you" is because of Wang An Yu (ML). I fell in love with him when watching "Forever Love", my favorite young adult drama. I could still imagine his loving gazes and I am glad to see them in this drama as well. However, his character here is very different than in "Forever Love".
This drama is quite similar to "Skate into Love". We have our leads struggling to succeed or to maintain their reputation in their respective sports. We see issues with initial team chemistry, rivalries, sportsmanship, love triangles, etc. However, this drama feels a lot "younger". The characters are all college students, but I feel like I was watching a high school drama, based on the way they talk and act. And because of this, I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I thought I would. It's probably because I am older and I am not the target audience. I don't recall feeling that way when I was watching "Skate into Love".
This drama is probably made to promote Beijing's Winter Olympics in February 2022. I would think the government might have provided a little funding. But the number of product placements in this drama is quite amazing. We have the usual drinks, snacks, skin care, face masks.... but also apps on phone for cleaning service and job searches. I guess the government didn't pay much or at all, and it costs a lot of money for the actors to be trained.
One aspect I enjoy about this drama is the skating. Of course we know that the difficult jumps are not done by the actors, and they probably speed up the skating (esp. ML's final skate when executing difficult jumps). However, I rarely feel like I am watching bad/fake skating. I applaud the actors' ability to skate and act like they know what they are doing. FL is the only person that looks a little off to me when there's a close-up shot of her face when speed skating. I also enjoy the way the drama tries to educate the audience on the more technical aspects of speed skating and figure skating. I never knew the importance of having a teammate supporting and coordinating with you in speed skating (I thought it's a loner sport).
As a romance junkie, I have to talk about the romance here. The first half of the drama was quite fun for the main romance, though a little cringey at times. However, I am most annoyed with the confession miscommunication because it's so easy to just speak up instead of stuttering and holding back. Wang An Yu (ML) and Song Zu Er (FL) look good together and have good chemistry. Both of them are able to get down and dirty to act silly and embarrassing. Once the leads got together, it's quite smooth-sailing, less cringey but more sugary. On the other hand, the secondary romance took up too much screen time, and I find the character, Zhu Le Le (2FL) quite annoying. I wish the drama has lessened this romance and kept the drama at 30 episode-long.
Another weird thing I like about this drama is how sweaty and normal the athletes look. We don't have girls in full make-up trying to exercise. The girls really look like they're training hard and exhausted every day. My favorite character in this drama is Coach Zhuang, played by Pu Miao. She's such a good actress, esp. among all these young actors. She was tough as nails when coaching and screaming at the girls, but on the other hand, she was so vulnerable and hesitant when she saw her son.
I would recommend "To Fly With You" to those who enjoy a cute and fluffy sports drama.
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Sweet and Innocent teen drama - No GaoKao (college admission exam) for once!!!
Completed - 1/4/2022"Summer Again" might not be a perfect drama, but to me, I really like it and I can't stop smiling while watching it. This is my second teen drama that I rated a 9.0, after my other favorite, "Forever Love". I finally found a Chinese high school drama that is not focused on the evil GaoKao (College admission exam). There are so many other teen dramas, but you can't escape the plot of students stressing over the exam and parents being mean about it.
"Summer Again" is a breath of fresh air. The setting is at a small seaside town. The drama is about our young cast finding and loving their true selves, and discovering and working towards their dreams. Romance is present in the name of friendship. It's sweet and innocent, and there's no cheesy love lines or fluffy and intimate skinship. It's just pure innocent, caring and supportive friendships.
What I like:
1. Plot/No GaoKao - As mentioned, the focus of the drama is not about studying hard for the exam. I have watched a good number of teen C-Dramas, and this might be the only one that I can remember that has nothing to do with the exam. It's just normal high school life in a small town. Our young cast grow and learn about themselves. Of course, they encounter similar challenges in other teen dramas, but I think it's a refreshing take as it all happened in a small town.
2. Realistic teenagers - We have normal teenagers doing what normal teenagers do. They hang out, dress, talk and act like teenagers. Our male lead is not cold-on-the-outside and mean to FL, nor was he a genius or a failing student. He's just a normal kid who happens to be a famous comic book author. Our female lead is not naive or shy or a pushover. She's an above-average student, not particularly smart or dumb. Even if ballet takes center stage, she's not a superstar ballerina. All characters act like their age. I also like that none of them is dumb or naive
3. Romance/Friendship - We don't have outright romances here. There's no lovey-dovey fluffiness. Not even a kiss. or the confession of "I Like You". Once in a while, a romance like this is refreshing. Our leads are caring and supportive friends. They have open and honest conversations. They listen and support each other, and don't try to change each other. They help each other think things through in order to come to their own decisions. They show affection through actions. It's simple, sweet, and innocent.
4. Ballet - I appreciate our FL performing all her dances. And no, don't expect expert ballet dancing. Her dance is simple and amateurish, and definitely not showcasing someone who has been dancing for years. I can't say for sure, but there are enough shots to show her head /body/legs to know that FL does her own dancing. On the other hand, I can also tell that her teacher is a ballet dancer (I looked him up and he is). You can tell by the way he presents himself and the few dance steps he did - very light on the feet!
5. Gift Giving - What a creative way for ML to give the farewell present to FL when they are under the tree.
What I don't quite like as much:
1. Love triangle - ML only has eyes for FL and he makes that very clear. I still think that the jealous 3FL storyline lasted a little too long. Even though I pity her circumstances, her mean actions get repetitive and annoying after a while.
2. Acting - The overall acting of the main cast is not bad. However, the other minor characters' acting is not quite up to standards. For example, I am not sure if the ballet teacher is supposed to act so stoic and wooden because of his role, or his acting is not that great.
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Flashbacks galore - should have combined Seasons 1+2
10/22/2021Aside from the continued great acting from the cast, I am very disappointed in Season 2. They should have combined both seasons, esp. when Season 2 was broadcasted only about a month after Season 1 ends.
Episodes 1-5 - Flashbacks Galore!! The story was moving so slowly as each character needs to have their own flashbacks. If there's no season 2, we don't need so many flashbacks.
Episodes 6-13 - The cast is basically running around in circles inside Death Marsh + more flashbacks
Episodes 13-18 - This last part is when the story starts to move along and things start to get interesting. There's more action, more conversations and the plot thickens! I was hoping for some good battles in the final episode, and I'm glad we did get some.
*Spoilers: Season 2 Ending and Season 3 Synopsis below* - Big Rant!!!
You give me an open ending after all that???? That is so unfair to Xiao Fan/Gui Li. He's been trying to revive Bi Yao for 10 years, and you can't give us a happy ending? And then when I read the synopsis for Season 3, you tell me Xiao Fan actually loves Xue Qi and not Bi Yao??? What the heck is that?? Who tries to chase after a glimpse of hope to be with the love of his life, and then the next season realizes that she is actually not the love of his life??? Arggh....I have never read the novel, so I don't know who Gui Li actually ends up with. But this just doesn't make any sense.
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