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Lost in Dramaland
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
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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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Not a comedy but an emotional healing drama
When I first read the synopsis and watched the trailer, I thought this would be a romantic comedy. Well, I was wrong. This is actually a very emotional healing drama of the journey our ML has to go through to get out of his funk and to heal his trauma, low self-esteem and anxiety. It's very un-Korean to have a drama about erectile dysfunction and have a proud transvestite/transgendered character, but I am loving it.Our male lead, Yoon Shi Yoon was amazing in the drama. He portrays his character so well, from a low-self esteem traumatized "loser", to someone who found himself and grew into a better version of himself. I cried with him but also fall in love with his adorable, shy self. This is my first Yoon Shi Yoon drama and I'm glad I found out about him. He's not your typical good-looking actor, but he has his charms and the drama is right, he has great body proportion (nice broad shoulder and muscular torso..LOL). On another note, who doesn't love Jennifer! He/She is the best friend that anyone could ask for. Is there a reason why cool characters have "Jennifer" as an English name? I also love Jennifer in "Thirty but Seventeen". Yoon Shi Yoon and Jennifer are the reason why I bumped my rating to a 8.0 instead of a 7.5.
What I dislike the most in this drama are all the medical professionals. They are all unethical and unprofessional. It really makes it difficult for me to suspend belief and just roll with it for the sake of the drama. I don't think our FL deserves our ML. She did redeem herself a little in the last episode, but overall, this is so unrealistic to have ML continue treatment with FL after finding out the real reason for her assistance.
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Novoland: The Castle in the Sky
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Low budget production with an interesting plot + steam punk, but poor execution
10/3/2021In order to write this review, I need to remind myself that I just watched a low budget 2016 drama in late 2021. C-dramas have evolved and changed a lot in 5 years, and certain things I didn't like were popular and acceptable back then. If this is a 2021 drama, I might be a harsher critic. Aside from Zhang Ruo Yun (ML) and Gabriela Guan (FL) who are child/teen actors and have more experienced, the rest of the cast is pretty young and new. I've seen ZRY in "Joy of Life" and Gabriela in "A Girl Like Me", so it's interesting to see how far they have come.
What I Like:
1. General Plot - I like the overarching plot of this drama. It's very interested to watch a fantasy drama with steam punk elements. At first I thought it would be a more traditional wuxia drama, but is pleasantly surprised.
2. Zhang Ruo Yun/Feng Tian Yi (ML) - ZRY carries the drama on his back and runs with it. His acting is the best out of everyone, even the more veteran actors. His character is more multi-dimensional than others, thus, giving him the chance to show off his acting chops. I miss him when he's not on my screen.
What I Don't Like:
1. Tropes - This drama has the usual C-drama tropes: jealous 2FL and 2ML who won't take no for an answer, love turns to hate, good 2ML turns evil, noble idiocy, misunderstanding and miscommunication over and over again. I think I dislike the most is the misunderstanding trope. Our FL appears to be smart enough in the beginning of the show, but towards the end, she believes what the villainous 2FL said instead of ML (again and again).
2. Low budget shows - I think money is spent on the costumes for just our leads. ML and FL and have the nicest clothes, though you can see that the quality isn't that great either. The costumes for others and the set designs all look very cheap. The palaces don't look grand and the decorations/sets look somewhat cheap. Even though I wasn't expecting fancy fight scenes, the ones that are in the drama (not that many) are not done well. I personally dislike slow-motion fighting. The CGI is obviously very 2016 as well.
3. Inconsistent and illogical incidents - One scene FL hurt her ankle, another scene she ran off. People can go in and out of palaces at will and unannounced. ML hiding something so important under a table (?!?!) that could be stolen very easily. There are many more examples of inconsistent and illogical writing.
4. Ending theme song - What is up with the ending theme song? The upbeat song from those 3 teen boys feel so out of place and totally not giving out the same vibe as the drama or the beautiful opening theme song.
Other:
*spoiler* Endings - I am usually someone who seeks out dramas with happy endings. Once in a while, I would watch a tragic drama. Coming into this drama, I knew there are two versions of the ending and I've watched both of them. Personally, I am fine with the first, sadder ending. I think sometimes it makes sense and it is a tragic beauty. It reminds me of the other drama "Rattan" where it also has two endings. I think most fans preferred the second, happier ending, esp. when the leads have gone through so much and never really had any happy times.
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Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
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Fight scenes continue to impress
8/22/2021The fight scenes in Kenshin movies never fail to impress me. They are fast and exciting, compared to the Chinese irritating slow-motion fight scenes that I dislike so much (esp. in wuxia dramas). The fight choreography is amazing. This movie has more group fighting than 1:1 fights. I personally enjoy the previous movies 1:1 fights and this movie only has one in the final half hour of the movie. The fight scene background music continues to bring excitement to the scenes and if you have watched previous movies, you are no stranger to that amazing musical score.
Unfortunately, I don't think the plot of this movie is as amazing as the previous movies. I feel that they really don't need a "final" movie to the existing trilogy. As much as I love the Rurouni Kenshin movies and Satoh Takeru, this feels like an independent movie to gather most of the previous characters together. There are two characters from the previous movie that are brought back, but it didn't really provide much information or background story to their roles in this movie.
This 2-hour movie goes by fast. I enjoy how Kenshin's former love story was told, without too many words but you get all the feelings. There's a lot of quietness to slow down the exciting fight scenes and let you really feel the emotions of the story. Then the pace picks back up with fight scenes and explosions.
I still enjoy this movie but I don't think it's as good as the last couple ones.
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Frightening Cohabitation
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Suspend reality and enjoy a roller coaster ride of emotions
8/2/2021First of all, one needs to get over the 977-year age gap. If you have a problem with a thousand-year guy/fox dating a 22-year woman, this is not the drama for you. Well, at least our female lead is not a high school student (aka Goblin).
I enjoy the general plot of the drama, though there are some plot holes. Others might have problems with the age gap or the professor/student relationship. These don't bother me much but I understand why others are OK with it. I am fine with the professor/student relationship since they started their relationship before this happened and it's the reason how ML can see FL everyday. I also like that the story didn't end when the bead is given back to ML or when they got back together. I enjoy the relationship development, how they maintain their relationship, and going through extraordinary struggles. I do feel that there are some plot lines that were dropped or forgotten. What happened to the discovery that the evil spirit transform into ML to kill people? I thought the police was going to investigate and ask ML questions? I guess once the evil spirit is disintegrated, we can forget about that plot. I also don't understand the double-standard of how ML and 2FL's requirements to turn human. Does the mountain spirit just make up his own rules and it's not standard practice for all gumiho? I also would like to learn more about 2FL's background story of her failed romances and how she achieved humanity. There are parts that are a little slow and I felt that there's not enough material for 16 hour-long episodes. Maybe 12 episodes would be enough.
Romance takes center page in this drama. I love ML's smiles and FL's personality. FL's role here is very similar to her role in "Reply 1988". It's great to see a FL who is straightforward, honest about her feelings, communicates (for the most part) and loyal to her friends. I am also a fan of ML and enjoyed his role in "Search WWW" , "Come and Hug Me", and "My Mister". I do find his acting here a little weaker than this other dramas that I watched. I don't feel that his eyes are conveying enough emotions, but when he smiles shyly, it brightens the screen and melts my heart. Our third wheel could probably cause some second-lead syndrome. But I do find his persistent confession and chasing after FL a little too much and clingy. He's cute though :) The secondary romance is cute and fun. The secondary leads are both a little clumsy in their own ways and they make quite a lovable pair.
This drama is a lot funnier than I thought it would be. There are many comedic moments by our female lead (FL)and the supporting cast. It's no doubt that the funniest is our fox-turned-human second female lead (2FL). She is so lovable and clueless and sexy that you can't help but love her. Our 2FL and 2ML are an odd pairing but it worked.
I love the friendships between the two gumihos and FL's friendship with her besties. ML and 2FL form a funny pair with their banter, yet deep down they care of each other. They are both old yet childish in their petty little ways. I also love the friendship between FL and her male BFF. It's great to see a pure platonic friendship that is full of laughter and tears. I do find FL's female BFF a little hard to tolerate at times, as she's very loud and her comedy is very in-your-face.
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Great acting, beautiful cinematography, great OST but with plot holes and inconsistent pacing
10/26/2021 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0This is a very interesting drama to write a review about. The expectations were so high when it's first announced but it might not have lived up to the expectations. I was happy to watch a fantasy, sageuk as we don't see them often. It has a great cast and a lovely OST. Maybe because I've been watching many long, historical/fantasy C-dramas, I am fine with the pacing of the show.
Plot: The general plot is interesting with different elements of Korean folklore, fantasy, good vs evil, and of course, romance. However, the drama seems to have forgotten some of the side storylines that they introduced and never go back to tell us more. For example, how did ML become the richest man as an astrologer with no family support? It doesn't quite make sense. I would like to know how ML's bodyguard came to follow him, and what's the backstory of the gisaeng who wanted the king and the royal family dead. Although I like the happy ending for the leads, it does seem a little anti-climatic. Do we really need to end it with the palace power struggle and give us an open ending? Why waste the last few minutes on those bad guys still hunting down FL?
Art/Painting: I thoroughly enjoy learning and watching the painting contests. The paintings are all beautiful and it's interesting to see how each painter interprets the poems. Even with FL painting the royal portrait, it's amazing to see the amount of details needed - each stroke needed to paint the hair, beard, wrinkles, and patterns on the robe. Big props to the artists who were hired to do all the work.
Romance: We all know that our main leads are the destined pair, so 2ML doesn't stand a chance. I do enjoy the chemistry between the leads. However, I would love to see the romance focused more of their initial attraction and romance as adults before they realized their childhood connection. They had such great chemistry then when they're still getting to know each other. I don't believe that one-time childhood encounter is strong enough to be the foundation of their romance, even if they're destined to be together. There's also quite a bit of back-and-forth from ML whether he should leave FL alone or not. I guess love is hard and it's easy to sway. I also don't quite appreciate the many slow mo romantic scenes, or slow mo scenes in general. I think that's why the pacing seems somewhat off.
Acting: The biggest strengths of this drama is the cast and their great acting. It's no surprise that the veteran actors are great. Our young leads also did a very respectable job and I believe in their joy and heartaches. I am a fan of Kim Yoo Jung when she played the younger FL in "Moon Embracing the Sun". I am happy to see that she's grown up to be such a fine actress and I've enjoyed her acting here. I haven't seen any of her modern dramas though. I've seen Ahn Hyo Seop in "13 but 17" and also "Dr. Romantic 2". He has definitely grown as an actor as well, and this might be his best performance I've seen him. I've seen Gong Mjung in "Be Melodramatic" and honestly, I don't remember him at all. I also like his acting here, though he's not used well in the second half of the drama. However, I am especially impressed with our villain second prince, Kwak Shi Yang. What a great performance by him that I feel bad for his suffering because of Ma Wang.
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Flawed and Unlikeable Characters brought us Amazing Stories and Moments
*update*. I have a little time to process and am lowering the rating down to 9.0 instead of 9.5.Completed - 5/23/2022 - my love for Mr. Gu bumped the rating to 9.5
I am really surprised that I like this drama so much. I am never one to root for annoying and unlovable characters, and they never bring me joy. Slice-of-life dramas are a hit-or-miss to me as I often find them very slow. However, “My Liberation Notes” excels in telling amazing and touching stories of very flawed characters, and in the end, you grow to care for them. You should know what you are getting yourself into, in order to enjoy this drama. You either love it, or hate it. I can’t say I relate to the characters on a personal level or that they are ‘realistic’, but their stories touch me nonetheless. Thus, a rare high rating for me for a slow-paced, mature slice-of-life drama.
A few things to know before delving into the drama:
- This drama is not a happy drama, but has unforgettable comedic moments.
- Does not give you warm and fluffy romantic feelings - but has moments that make you smile.
- You will find the characters annoying in the beginning, or maybe throughout the drama.
- The drama uses a lot of silence - gives viewers the time to feel and breathe.
- Dialogues and Monologues can provoke deep thoughts (even during silly, comedic moments).
“My Liberation Notes” focuses on the three Yeong siblings and their family.
Yeom Ki Jung - The eldest of the three siblings, Ki Jung is probably my least favorite sibling. I find her annoying and that feeling subsides a little in the middle of the drama, but in the end, I still dislike her the most. As someone who is 40 years old, she acts very immaturely. However, you can say that she portrays a hopeless romantic beautifully, as there are many people out there who are just like her - want to be crazily in love with the most perfect person. But after you reach a certain point, you become desperate enough to want to just be with anyone. She wears her heart on her sleeves, displays all her emotions outwardly and uncontrollably. Her story has a strong focus on romance and her relationship with Jo Tae Hoon. In the end, I still am not sure they are the right fit for each other, and if Tae Hoon can really give Ki Jung what she wants.
Yeom Chang Hee - the brother who I am most annoyed with in the beginning. But he’s also the one that has grown the most and I root for him in the end. Chang Hee is loud and can’t help but criticize everyone and everything. He gives off a lot of negative energy. However, his crazy outbursts also have a lot of insightful truths. You realize he actually is really smart, although life hasn’t gone his way. His casual and funny conversations with his buddies often enlighten us with important life lessons. He also provides a lot of comic relief, especially when it comes to his relationship with Mr. Gu. The way he looks up to Mr. Gu, even though technically they are not close at all, is quite fascinating and hilarious. Chang Hee’s story focuses more on his career than the other two siblings. He might not seem dependable, but as he said, he’s psychic. He’s always somewhere at the right place and the right time, up until the last scene for him in the drama. I am happy for him.
Yeom Mi Jung - the youngest of the siblings and the one that probably has the most screen time due to his relationship with Mr. Gu. Mi Jung is just one weird, lonely, depressed and dysfunctional human being. I am not sure if such a person really exists in real life (one that has ALL of her traits). The drama does get into stories about her family, career and relationships. Although I do not relate to her at any level, her story is fascinating to me, maybe because we are just so different. We barely hear her talk in the first few episodes. But once she starts to open up to Mr. Gu, WOW, fascinating and weird stuff comes out of her mouth, unfiltered. Her conversations with Mr. Gu are to die for. They are just so unique and profound in a way. I am glad she met Mr. Gu.
Gu Ja Gyeong - the mysterious Mr. Gu is so attractive and ruggedly sexy that I can’t take my eyes off him. There’s just something about him or how Son Seok Koo plays this character. His aloofness, smirks, and endearing glances at Mi Jung totally melt my heart. This manly man has to be one of my favorite K-drama characters of all time. He’s so quiet for most of the dramas, but the microexpressions on his face speak volumes. His silence with different characters does not seem awkward at all, but just how things are supposed to be this quiet with him. Mr. Gu is the perfect soulmate for Mi Jung. They are on the same wavelength and just understand each other so well, even though they come from very different backgrounds. In the last episode, I wish for a happy ending for him and Mi Jung, but I can’t help expecting he’s going to die either because of his work or alcoholism.
This review is getting long. But let me just say that the acting is top notch here for all actors. I’ve seen Lee Min Ki and Kim Ji Won in many of their previous works, but they are so different here. Big props to them for branching and doing such a great job. Everything feels so real in this drama - no fancy clothes, makeup, or beautiful smooth skin. Commuting to work and worrying about missing the last train is hard. There are many great dynamics between different characters, especially the Liberation Club.
Other Random Observations:
1. The word “Worship” has a whole new meaning.
2. Mr. Gu looks hot in fancy suits and dirty clothes - I kept on waiting to see him topless. LOL
3. Weird stories such as pick-up girl and frogs are highlights of the show.
4. The depressed and serious vibes can change all of a sudden due to very memorable comedic moments.
5. Mr. Gu and his club scenes are probably my least favorite moments of this drama.
6. Did I mention I ❤️ Mr. Gu? 😍
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Excellent Friends-to-Lovers transition with a slow burn romance that's worth the wait in the end.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75“You Are My Lover Friend” is one of the few dramas that did the friends-to-lovers trope right. The transition is awkward, uncertain and slower than others I’ve seen. This gives a more realistic approach to this romance. Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are perfect in their roles, and they have such great chemistry as friends and as lovers. On another note, I am a little surprised that business takes up quite a bit of screen time. I was expecting it to be more like “The Love You Give Me”. Some might find the plot draggy due to the slow romance and the business talk.
What I Like:
1. Friends-to-Lovers Transition/Main Romance
Instead of jumping from realizing one’s feelings -> a minute of uncertainty -> confession -> being lovers, “You Are My Lover Friend” took a more natural and slower approach. The realization of feelings took a while for both characters. Of course, there’s the more traditional approach of uncertainty, worrying that 13 years of friendship will go to waste if the romantic relationship doesn’t work out. This drama has those worries as well, but additionally, there’s the uncertainty after the confession, which is not quite an outward confession. Everything is so murky, as it should be. Did they really agree to be together, or not? Are they looking for the same kind of relationship, or not? From beginning to the end, it takes the leads a long time to finally be together. I think this slow burn romance is worth the wait. Once they are together, they are cute and fluffy, yet mature and supportive. They understand each other so well that they don’t need to say a word, the other will know something is not right. They communicate, they support unconditionally and they trust in their partners to not interfere with their work and decisions. They are the perfect dynamic duo in a relationship.
2. Friendship + Flashbacks
I love how the flashbacks are used in the epilogues. They don’t disrupt the flow of the present-day time but show us exactly how great these 4 friends were in high school. The flashbacks also correspond with what happened in the episode. Dramas like these usually show flashbacks over and over again, which could be annoying and repetitive. Instead, I look forward to them at the end of each episode. It’s actually quite lovely to see the main focus of their friendship is in the present-day timeline, and how they continue to be the best of friends. You can see how Jiang Shi Yan and Feng Wei Ran’s tight bond extends to their business partnerships. They might have different points of view, but when a company decision is made by Jiang Shi Yan, Feng Wei Ran does not question and just trusts his decision. Tang Yang and Jiang Yan An have the more typical sisterhood going on, though not as much of a focus than the friendship of the 4 of them.
3. Cheng Hui + Sheng Ni Na (2nd romance)
They are so cute together! I’m a big fan of Cheng Hui and it’s great to see him in this quirky role, a different kind of quirkiness than his role in “Will Love in Spring”. I love that he’s a man of few words and is blunt and sarcastic. It’s a nice contrast to Sheng Ni Na, whose profession as an actress shows that she’s more well-rounded and socially capable. I am actually very happy to see her not depicted as a spoiled actress, but a sensible and mature one. I love how Cheng Hui and Sheng Ni Na grow close together from a few initial pleasantries, to a few words, and quick texts, to cooking and bonding over food and stars. I wanted to see more of them together, but also thought this is just enough for me to be interested and intrigued by their story. OK, I take that back, I want a little bit more of them!
3. Tang Yang (FL)
Tang Yan is an example of how an independent, strong, mature woman can act without being mean and bossy. Tang Yang shows that she’s competent without being petty. She does not need to be saved by a man, and can stand on her own and fight with grace at work. She is righteous and will stand up for those who are mistreated.
4. Jiang Shi Yan (ML)
What a perfect boyfriend and a total green flag, who is not boring! I’ve seen enough boring green flags and he’s perfect yet interesting. Even in the first episode, there’s no way you can’t tell he’s in love with Tang Yang by how considerate and thoughtful he is. He always puts Yang Yang in the first place and does all he can so that he can be with her, without compromising his work. It is possible to have a male lead fall head over heels without losing his cool and losing himself. I also like his jealous pettiness.
5. Zhou Mo
There’s something about the character Zhou Mo, played by Wu Hao Chen, that I find very interesting and mysterious. He’s painted in a bad light, but I always thought there’s more to him than meets the eye. It’s not that I find Wu Hao Chen handsome, but there’s something about how he portrays this character that mesmerizes me, especially the fake smile and mask he put on.
6. Original Soundtrack
There are only a few songs in the OST and I like all of them. I am also glad the music is not overplayed and each song is played at the right time in the right mood. I couldn’t locate the songs on Spotify, if you find them, let me know!
What I Have Mixed Feelings:
1. Slow Burn romance
I think the drama could have been better if it was only about 24 episodes. The romance does take a long time to happen. It could have sped things up in the first 10 episodes, and started the transition a few episodes earlier. Luckily, the recognizing/questioning of feelings happens in the earlier episodes, otherwise, this will feel even more slow burn. There are also way too many near-kisses. Such a tease when you know both Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are great kissers!
2.Business Plot
I wasn’t anticipating such a focus on the business. The lack of suspense and excitement makes the business side of things less interesting. There aren’t enough ups and downs to keep me interested throughout the whole drama. Coupled with a slower romance build up, 30 episodes seem too long for this drama. I also wanted to see the bad guys taken down in a more humiliating fashion. It’s not epic enough!
3. Jiang Yan An + Reng Wei Ran
Their married life is really fun to watch. This couple brings in a different kind of chaotic energy that is very hilarious in small doses. Unfortunately, their marriage problem came in like a whirlwind from the left field. That was not a fun side plot to watch and I wish the time was spent on the other couples, or cut to make the drama shorter.
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. There are many likable characters (including the two fun moms!), good all around acting and chemistry between all characters. If you don’t mind a business plot and a slow burn romance, this is a good watch. Although I want the villains to end painfully, the drama does tie up the romances nicely with a fun wedding and dance to end on a positive note. My gut didn’t tell me to give this a 9+ rating, but because I like the friends-to-lovers trope and transition so much, I’m giving this a 0.25 bump to 8.75.
Completed: 10/13/2024 - Review #498
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"Love like the Galaxy" is a highly anticipated historical drama in 2022 (my second most anticipated after "Who Rules the World") since we have two very popular young actors, Wu Lei and Zhao LuSi. Personally, I think Wu Lei and Zhao LuSi are a much better match than Zhao LuSi + Yang Yang or Wu Lei + Dilraba. Probably because they are of similar age and give off a young love vibe (instead of siblings). This family drama also reminded me a little of "The Story of Ming Lan" but a less serious version. I like the fact that the drama focuses on different relationships and not just romantic relationships.
However, as a romance lover, I was looking forward to the main couple's romantic journey. I am a little disappointed as it took them a very long time to meet and for us to see any sort of romantic development. In Part 1, our female lead, Cheng Shao Shang (CSS) attracted the attention of three young men. We see the sweet, young, puppy love between CSS and Lou Yao. Lou Yao is cute and all, but really just seems like a good buddy to hang out with. He will never be on equal footing with CSS. CSS picks him probably because she can walk all over him and can do whatever she wants (aka freedom!). Yuan Shen is the petty high school kid who likes to pester the girl that he likes. I also don't feel any real chemistry between CSS and Yuan Shen. I usually enjoy bickering between leads but not much here (well, he's technically not the male lead). We finally see CSS and Ling Bu Yi (LBY) together after about 10 episodes. That is one sloooww start of a romance. Unfortunately, scenes with the two of them together are far and between. For me, there isn't enough to justify LBY's love for CSS and the pacing of their story seems off. However, I expect to feel very differently in Part 2 and I am anticipating a lot of heartaches, longing and chemistry *fingers crossed*
A big part of the drama focuses on CSS's relationship with her mother. Although I understand where her mother is coming from, and the guilt she's feeling inside, it's really hard to see CSS not getting the affection from her mother. Mom is supposedly very smart. Why can't she see that the way she's treating CSS is not the right way to go? She's seen the relationship between CSS and her aunt, and should know that CSS is smart and sweet. Why is mom being so dumb here? I think we all know that being constantly compared to someone else hurts ones pride and self-confidence, esp. when your mother is the culprit. There are a few other annoying characters in this drama. Luckily, to me, they have not reached my boiling point yet, and I still find them to be tolerable since they also provide comedic relief, e.g. all those bitchy women and princesses.
My favorite character is Qi Qi, played by Zhang Yue. Qi Qi is so fun and cool, and I like her style. She doesn't care what you think of her nor take BS from anyone. She's the perfect BFF for CSS. I love it whenever she's there for CSS and protecting her from the other petty and bitchy ladies. There are many comedic moments throughout the drama. They are funny and yet not over-the-top. The humor doesn't distract from the main story or the feel of the drama. I hope this type of humor continues in Part 2 and it doesn't turn into a melodrama.
Zhao Lu Si does shine in "Love like the Galaxy", and she looks beautiful. Her character is smart and scheming and provided enough material to showcase her acting skills. On the other hand, Wu Lei has a little less to work with in Part 1. He looks great as the general but I wanted to see more of him, not just the stoic side. I do see glimpses of a different LBY towards the end. I love the awkward adorableness in the last couple episodes and look forward to seeing more in Part 2. One of my favorite parts of this drama is the confrontation between the leads in ep 27. I've been waiting for this. I want them to talk, to argue, to openly tell each other how they feel.
The production value seems pretty good. I believe this is a S+ production from Tencent. I don't remember any of the songs. That could mean they are not memorable or they are not overplayed, or both. Although the cinematography did not "wow" me, I do like the costumes, hairstyles, accessories, sets and props. Nothing looks flimsy or cheap, except for those big rocks they used for training in the Shang household. Those rocks look fake!
Part 1 is a good start to setup for the rest of the drama. I look forward to Part 2 and expect to like it even more.
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Strong focus on romance with likable characters; Underrated because ML is not handsome.
It’s quite unfortunate/unfair that “Once and Forever” is rated so low and mainly due to viewers not liking the male lead, Zhang Yi Shan, and think he’s ugly. He might be miscast but it’s only because I think he looks too old for the part, not because he’s not handsome enough. Having said that, his acting is great and has great chemistry with Guan Xiao Tong. They are so fun as best friends (love their bickering), while also super adorable when they finally become a couple. I never wanted Xie Qiao (FL) to be with Yang Cheng. Yang Cheng is such a bland character and Fan Cheng Cheng’s acting is not good either. I have rooted for Qin Chuan (ML) since the first episode. It hurts me when I see him hurting.I also like all the characters. There’s only one annoying girl in the earlier episodes where her obsessive pursuit of ML annoys me. Other than that, there are many likable and layered characters. The 4 roomies are different yet get along so well. It’s rare to see a college drama where there's no jealousy or argument between them. I enjoy seeing them grow from innocent 18-year-olds, to independent strong women. Their journeys are different but each is given just enough time for me to care about. Let’s not forget the sassy sister, Qin Qian. She’s so badass! She loves so passionately.
This drama has a very strong focus on romance, especially during the college days. If you are not a romance lover, this might not be as fun. There are multiple couples and their romantic journeys are all very different. I wish the kisses were better though. I enjoy each of them and really hope they all have their happy-ever-after. But alas, this is not a fairytale and I can’t say more without spoiling it. But we have two Mr. Green Flags in this drama. Qin Chuan might not be perfect, but he’s the perfect boyfriend. His love for Xie Qiao never wavers and is always there for her. His love is demonstrated through actions. He Xiao Zhou is more of a fairytale prince. He’s gentle and kind, studious and hardworking, considerate and never complains about life's hardships. He’s too good to be true. Additionally, I’ve seen Ye Xiao Wei in other dramas before but this is the one I find most attractive. Maybe because he’s a walking green flag.
The acting is pretty good in this drama, except for Fang Cheng Cheng who is less experienced than others. I really enjoy the acting of Zhang Yi Shan (as ML), Guan Xiao Tong (as FL), Li Xi Rui (as sassy big sis) and Jiang Pei Yao (as rich girl). I am also glad to see all actors use their own voices and there’s live recording. The Beijing accent (I think) is quite pronounced especially for Zhang Yi Shan and Guan Xiao Tong, but this all just adds more flavor to the drama as it’s set in Beijing.
But this drama is not without its fault. I think it’s just a little too long at 35 episodes. Not much really happened during the college days aside from romances. The plot dragged a little in the middle but the pace is picked back up in the last 5-8 episodes. There’s quite a lot of English spoken in this drama. I give props to the actors for practicing their lines and their pronunciation is actually better than I expected. However, when the drama was set in England and no British accent was to be heard, I thought everything happened in New York. Others have also commented that US bills were used when the characters were supposed to be in Canada. There are a lot of inconsistencies when it comes to what happened outside of China. There’s also a surprising amount of subtle and non-subtle Chinese pride/propaganda in this drama. It’s not as much as other military or rescue dramas, but more than I expected in a retro, slice-of-life drama. I also find it hard to tell time. During college days, the drama will show us the year and month. But mid-way through the drama, it becomes harder to tell if months or years have passed. I really need to pay attention to the dialogs.
Overall, this is not a bad drama. It really deserves a much higher rating than 7.0. If you like the friends-to-lovers trope, or are a romance lover, this is a decent watch. But nothing really too exciting happens and there isn’t any plot twist. Though the male lead is not handsome, the ladies are all pretty and the other guys aren’t bad! Lastly, I didn’t watch the prequel nor read the novel.
Completed: 12/22/2023 - Review #384
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Jinpai Kefu Dong Dong En
3 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Decent rom-com for fans of Xu Lu and Miles Wei
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75For the most part, “Hello, I’m at Your Service” is a fun and light drama. The best part about is the chemistry and the romance between Dong Dong En (FL) and Lou Yan (ML) and their story is the central plot. Mixed with this fun romance are the business side of things and the relationships of the different characters. Not a serious business drama, so don't be deterred if you don't like business stories.
Main Leads:
As mentioned, Xu Lu and Miles Wei have great chemistry together. They make this drama watchable with their acting and the healthy relationship that they have. Dong Dong En is an account executive that would do anything to please her customer, Party A. Whatever Party A wants and at any time of the day, she delivers. Miles Wei is a typical C-drama CEO. He was cool and calm in the beginning but slowly evolved into a great, warm and adorable love interest and boyfriend. Their fun interaction in the first half of the drama creates a lot of comedic moments (which to some might be a little over-the-top). But if you just go with the ride, you can see Xu Lu and Miles Wei have a lot of fun playing their respective roles. Once they get together, Lou Yuan is especially cute and adorable. They have honest and open communication. Lou Yuan is one of the rare CEOs who openly declares his love in sincerity to everyone, expresses his feelings and always says the right thing (though his words don’t always touch my heart for some reason). He’s the perfect boyfriend. Dong Dong En, on the other hand, is a little more reserved in this relationship and yet she’s the one with the supposedly bigger personality. She’s more cautious because of the disparity of their social status and their business relationship. She’s the one in the driver’s seat in the relationship. It’s been a long time since I saw such a dynamic in a romantic comedy, and I appreciate that.
Supporting Cast:
I enjoy the side story between Wang Zi Jian and Cao Ya. It’s nothing earth shattering because we’ve seen such second lead romance in many romantic comedies. However, it’s nice to see a pair of successful individuals get together when one is a supposedly playboy and the other is an independent, career woman. The different characters at both companies, Peony and 82, are fun and endearing. There isn’t anyone too annoying and most of them are very supportive and caring individuals. ML’s mom is fun and loud. FL’s parents are caring yet protective, but not too unreasonable. At least we have nice parents in a C-drama. The ‘villain’ is OK. The character is not very well developed as a ‘villain’ but I can understand the animosity towards the leads. The only side character I couldn’t stand was introduced towards the last ¼ of the drama. Let’s say she was introduced to cause trouble for our main couple, since everything is going so swimmingly well and we just need drama.
Acting:
Xu Lu and Miles Wei really have no trouble playing their respective roles. These are not difficult characters to play and they are both very experienced actors. Their performances are to be expected. Everyone else did their job right. I would not say there’s anyone that stands out for me to praise, nor anyone that stands out for me to criticize.
Business Plot:
If you don’t like business stories, this drama isn’t too bad. A lot does happen at the two companies, but business talks are minimal and not difficult to understand. The stories revolve mainly around the characters and their relationships in the business world. But towards the last ¼ of the drama, the business plot does kick up a notch to wrap up the ‘villain’s’ story. I was actually quite bored during this part of the drama and might have fallen asleep a little. For a 24-episode drama, the pacing is good right until the very end for me when I lose my focus. This is partly due to the business plot and the introduction of a character I don’t care for. But compared to recent office romance dramas, the romance is central to this drama, and not the business.
Overall, I would recommend this drama if you are fans of Xu Lu and Miles Wei, or if you are looking for something light and funny. The comedy might be a little too much for some in the beginning with Xu Lu’s character. But it tones down after a while. “Hello, I’m at Your Service” is not an exceptional drama and definitely not a must-watch. I have a good enough time watching this, except towards the end when I got a little bored and distracted. Because of this, I am rating this a 7.75 instead of a solid 8.0.
Completed: 10/6/2023 - Review #363
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