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Lost in Dramaland
Interesting look into the BL world but writing and execution could be better.
“Lovely Writer” seems like a good way for me to peek into the world of Thai BL dramas and novels. I am not sure how much truth is in this drama, but if it’s exaggerated for the sake of entertainment, the truth doesn’t seem too far behind.Is the drama’s intention to poke fun at the industry or to show us what it’s like? Either way, it’s an interesting topic and the main reason why I choose to watch it. I had a lot of fun watching the first few episodes when the drama was focusing on casting and filming some of the scenes. I actually would have loved to see more behind-the-scenes of the BL drama industry. Instead, I think we got more about the pressure of selling sex in novels.
This is a pretty good-looking cast, just like ‘Bad Engineers’, the BL drama in “Lovely Writer”. Kao N. who plays Nubsib is definitely good-looking. I also found Tum and Mhok quite attractive. Aoey might be a handsome guy but his character makes him very unattractive. I find Gene to be ok looking.
But when it comes to acting, it’s just so-so and inconsistent. It’s not the worst I’ve seen in a BL drama, but definitely not the best. The cast is still quite young and inexperienced, and most of them only had a few dramas under their belt. I think out of the group, Up might be the most consistent and he plays the introverted and awkward Gene pretty well.. Kao (Nubsib) had a rocky start but got better towards the latter half of the drama.
I also find the pacing of the drama very slow. There are some episodes I have to watch at 1.25x speed because it takes forever for the cast to spit out a sentence or it spends too much time using slow-motion to have the characters look around or contemplate. I also don’t think we need to watch Aoey cry for 5-10 minutes on multiple occasions, which led to my dislike of the character even more. I was waiting for the romance to develop faster, so that I can see more of their relationship challenges navigating the entertainment industry as a couple. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen until towards the end of the drama.
Overall, I do enjoy the romance between Gene and Sib and their backstory (though a little unrealistic). I think their contrasting personalities make for a fun watch. They really didn’t do much and are very domesticated. I think that’s also part of their charm and I do like their scenes together at home. They have great chemistry and have very believable and nice kisses (not forced, not overly R-rated, but just right for the moment). The concept of the reconciliation is nice, but I don’t think it’s executed well and is too short. On the other hand, I dislike the romance between the two managers. I think they are fillers and don’t add anything to the drama at all. If you cut out their romance, nothing will be affected.
Overall, I had a great time watching this due to the subject matter. I am not sure how this drama was received in Thailand during its airing. I wish BL fans can separate real life actors vs characters in a drama. These aggressive fans shipping is really toxic.
Other Random Observations:
1. My first Thai drama seeing two meals of Korean food (BBQ and home-cooked tteokbokki) and a Japanese tea ceremony.
2. Everyone is so rich. Such nice apartments and big houses.
3. I can never get used to the aggressive product placements in Thai BL dramas - drinks, facial masks, cosmetics, breath freshener, dental hygiene products, sunscreen, etc.
4. I am not liking the weird fairytale endings. They might be fun, but they are fillers to me.
Completed: 11/6/2022
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Dragged down by flashbacks, slow motion scenes and slow pacing
Completed - 7/9/2022I was interested in watching “Age of Legends” due to the two leads, William Chan and Sandra Ma. The plot seems interesting enough, though it’s nothing new or unique. Unfortunately, my initial concern came true. 47 episodes for a modern Chinese drama is way too much. This drama is bogged down by draggy plots and flashbacks, and I would only recommend you watching this if you are a fan of either of the leads. I actually fast-forwarded many scenes, and I don’t usually do that.
What I Enjoy:
1. Hu Rong/Sandra Ma (FL) - I am a fan of a strong and badass female lead who can fend for herself. Hu Rong is not without flaws. She’s way too impulsive as a cop. But she can fight! I am actually quite impressed with Sandra Ma’s fight scenes. She did not appear weak and really did seem like she could throw a punch or throw someone over her shoulders. Hu Rong also has two amazing guys who love her enough to sacrifice their lives for her over and over again (actually a little too much for a supposedly strong female lead). I’ve seen a couple Sandra Ma’s dramas and this is the first one that she’s not whispering and I can actually hear her speak clearly.
2. William Chan - It’s William Chan that drew me to this drama. I can always count on his modern dramas to show me his fight scenes, good looks and his muscles. Instead of being a clean shaven handsome man, for most of the drama, he looks quite unkempt and unshaven. Of course there are scenes of him in a nice suit or uniform, but I quite like his man-bun look. He really doesn’t disappoint in all the action scenes.
3. A few great and likable supporting characters:
= Uncle Guo - what a lovable grandpa he is! Supportive, caring and wise. He believes in ML and never wavers even though he knows ML could have done something really bad in those 8 missing years. I also enjoy all the life and dating advice he gave ML.
= Zhou Li (Fatty) - He’s not handsome, smart or talented. He’s just a normal guy, a great friend and a good human being. I really like his character and how he stands by his friends.
= Ah Se - He reminded me of Fei Liu (from Nirvana in Fire) for some reason. Ah Se is so loyal, adorable and sweet. I needed more of him!
What I Don’t LIke:
1. Flashbacks - Why??? Why so many flashbacks throughout the show?? These annoying flashbacks probably constituted an extra 5 episodes. If you binge watch, this is incredibly annoying. However, if you watch an episode a day, maybe the flashbacks are more tolerable.
2. Draggy Plot/Pacing - The flashbacks really slow down the pace of the drama. The writing is not tight and the middle episodes about the rivalry between Liu Zi Guang and Hou Si Hai lasted too long. The scheming against Liu Zi Guang & company and conversations of Hou Si Hai and his subordinates became repetitive and predictable. I lost my attention and realized I can still follow along the plot alright if I multitask or fast-forward certain scenes. There are also many unnecessary slow-motion scenes in this drama and further slows down the pace.
3. Waste of Liu Yi Jun - What a waste of a talented veteran actor. Liu Yi Jun’s character, Ye Wang Long, spends most of his time hiding in his big house and having the same conversation over and over again with his right-hand man. For most of the drama, all he did is tell us what ML is going to do, because he knows ML so well. He was so much more fun to watch in the first few and the last couple episodes when he’s not taking a back seat to everything that’s happening.
4. Undercover operation - This has to be the worst kept secret. How could you have an undercover, dangerous operation known to so many civilians, and have civilians join in? I can’t really take this plot seriously.
5. Last episode - It’s not exciting enough and quite predictable. Moreover, when FL is handed a bulletproof vest, you know what’s going to happen. Actually, why didn’t FL wear a bulletproof vest in the first place??? After being shot, how can the villain run all the way from the base (somewhere in the woods) back into town and wait for ML? That’s quite a long walk when you are hurt. I am also confused about the last scene of the drama.
6. Dubbing - There’s a lot of post production dubbing over the original dialogs. The voices don’t match the movement of the mouths. And you can tell due to censorship that they changed many of the original dialogs.
Other Random Observations:
1. Maybe a little overdramatic, but I quite like ML’s fight scene in the rain - fighting, holding an umbrella, shielding Tina from the rain and seducing her at the same time. Oh, we got some tango background music and slow motion scenes to set the mood. I would fall for William Chan, too!
2. Good decent kiss scenes from William Chan and Sandra Ma. Chemistry is pretty good but not sizzling hot.
3. It took a while for the leads to get together but romantics like me are rewarded with enough sweet scenes. The secret rendezvous spot where the pipes are is an interesting location for a date.
4. Sabrina Chen’s CEO character is really annoying in the beginning. Thank goodness she got better.
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What happened in a relationship when opposites attract and worlds collide?
Completed - 7/4/2022 - 8.75I didn't know I needed a second season after "To My Star". I watched the movie version of season 1, thus, those short 15-min episodes did not feel as disjointed and I liked it fine. Here comes season 2 and I am glad the episodes are longer and we are treated to 10 episodes. The longer format allows for better storytelling and more developed side characters.
Oftentimes, dramas end with what happened in season 1 - two individuals from very different worlds meet and fall in love. We like opposite attracts stories, and they always end with happily-ever-after. But what happened afterwards when you are in a relationship and the initial honeymoon phase is over? "To My Star 2" is giving us a pretty honest and realistic view of what happens next.
This drama started with Ji Woo disappearing with just a simple break up note, and Seo Joon is devastated. Even after a year, Seo Joon has not given up hope and is still looking for him. There's a lot of angst this time around and not a whole lot of cute and fluffy scenes. Emotions are raw and real. I keep on waiting to find out why Ji Woo would suddenly disappear. He must have a good reason to do that, right? Some might think his reasons are uncalled for and coming out from nowhere, as there has never been any indication that he was unhappy in his relationship. But if you think from his point of view, and take into account of his personality and past history, you could understand why he feels a certain way. Being thrust into a world of happiness and the world of a top star can be disorienting, and he's very lost. But thank goodness, his opposite is someone who doesn't give up and tries to get him back over and over again.
I really enjoy Son Woo Hyun's acting as Seo Joon. I think he did quite a good job in portraying all the different emotions. Unfortunately, I think Kim Kang Min's acting needs some improvement. His portrayal of Ji Woo in the initial episodes is quite bland. There isn't a lot of emotions when he first reunited with Seo Joon. Just a blank face. I do think he improves in the later episodes.
We are introduced to a few new side characters: Ji Woo's ex-girlfriend, old neighbor and the young daughter. I think they are much better side characters than those in season 1. I also enjoyed all the songs played and thank goodness they were not overplayed.
I guess my main criticism of this drama is Ji Woo's realization that he wants to go back to Seo Joon. He's been holding out for so long, what changed? Is it because Seo Joon finally stop trying? Is it because he couldn't get a hold of Seo Joon and is suddenly scared that he would never see him again? Why is his break over? I am not sure why. I find his realization and reconciliation with Seo Joon a little too fast. However, I don't have a problem with Seo Joon's final decision, just wish it wasn't so instantaneous.
I am giving this drama a rare 9.0 because I was moved by their story. An extra bump from 8.75 to 9.0 because I enjoy those two passionate kisses. LOL.
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Good Idea and General Plot but Poor Execution and Acting
Completed - 5/28/2022 - 7.75I don't know anything about Tai Chi, so I can't really comment on the authenticity of the moves and fight choreography. I thought Tai Chi is basically healing and exercise for the mind and body. Little did I know that there's a whole martial arts side to it. Thanks to the crash course and the (too) fast introduction of the Tai Chi plot in the first few minutes, I realized Tai Chi is martial arts used in wars and battles before the use of weapons.
What I Like:
1. General Plot - This drama has elements of a wuxia drama set in the modern world. Instead of sects of the pugilistic world, we have different types and clans of martial arts. I enjoy the story of how the descendants of the four major Tai Chi clans try to attract new followers, break traditional and outdated customs and spread the art of Tai Chi to the younger generation. I also like the idea of a talented female lead who is so gifted that she gets to fight and protect others physically using her Tai Chi skills. It's always fun to see a group of youngsters band together to fight the bad guys and win in competitions. The academy that they are in, CMFU, is interesting and weird at the same thing. It's interesting because students can choose a major of their liking, wear fancy uniforms (if they want?) and compete/challenge against each other - reminds of Harry Potter and the Houses of Hogwarts. But it's also weird in a sense that I thought the different majors are only of traditional Chinese arts e.g. painting and Tai Chi. Then I realized it has all types of martial arts (Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, Wrestling). And then there's swimming as a major? What kind of weird Academy is this??
2. Costumes, Sets and Cinematography of CMFU - Even though the academy is weird, its setting is beautiful. The school is surrounded by beautiful sceneries - valleys, grass fields, rivers and mountains. Many training scenes take place out in nature or overlooking the water. The villas, houses and classrooms have a very traditional touch and design. The battle stage is set over the river and near a bridge where spectators are located. In the final competition, competitors all hang out in their respective boats with flags of their clans - very wuxia-style. Though the characters don't wear often, I really like the all-white, traditional fight uniform during the final competition. Every so often, the female lead would wear something traditional when practicing. I also enjoy the school uniform - black, long coat, and wish the characters wear them more often.
3. Fight scenes - I don't know if the fight choreography is real Tai Chi or not, but I enjoy all the scenes. I like the side-by-side Tai Chi practice between the characters. There is a decent number of Tai Chi practice and fight moves, though I would have liked to see longer scenes. I am satisfied and it's a pleasant surprise as I initially thought this drama is more romance-heavy, and really wasn't expecting a more serious plot.
What I Don't Like:
1. Acting - I know many of the actors are young and new, but the acting is really not good. This is male lead, Bi Wen Jun's first drama and it really shows. I actually saw him previously in "Sweet Teeth" and I can definitely say his acting has improved slightly 2 years later, though still has a lot of room for improvement. I have previously seen our female lead, Sun Qian, in "Remembrance of Things Past" and similar to Bi Wen Jun, she has also improved in that other drama. Her acting here in "Sweet Tai Chi" is just as bad (maybe a little better) than Bi Wen Jun. For some reason, I found their acting more tolerable in the first half than the second half. The romance scenes are awkward and lacking chemistry. Well, they do look good together visually. The rest of the supporting cast isn't that great either. I guess I am most surprised (in a bad way) at the acting of the two Hong Kong veteran actors who played grandma & grandma. Why do they also seem so uneasy in this drama?
2. Characters - Separating the acting from the characters, I actually still don't like any of them. If I have to choose, Chen Bing is my favorite character. He is funny and adorable, yet is mature when we need him to hold back his annoying, blabber mouth girlfriend. Our female lead, Feng Piao Piao, could be a very controversial character. I find her both funny/cute and annoying/childish at the same time. I think for the most part, she is more annoying/childish, especially when compared to the quiet, cold and mature male lead, Wei Chu. Wei Chu isn't that interesting of a male lead either. He's the typical cold genius who is smart and good at EVERYTHING. He never tells others his plans because he's the smartest of all and can fix everything.
3. Romance - The main romance is awkward and I think this is due to both the acting and the writing. There should be many shy, cute, fluffy moments, but I can't feel the chemistry at all. Even when they are officially a couple, they still act like shy teenagers uttering their lines without any display of affection. On the other hand, the secondary romance started out really clingy, stalker-ish and annoying. But at least once they are a couple, they act like normal couple. However, I don't understand why the 2ML all of a sudden is so in love with 2FL when for the most part he never shows interest in her.
Other Random Observations:
1. For someone who practices Tai Chi for years, our FL loses her balance often and keeps on falling on the ML.
2. Not sure if I would trust someone inexperienced and has no medical knowledge to be in charge of making medicine and treating a seriously hurt patient by learning from a book (even if she's getting advice over the phone from a doctor).
3. It's quite easy to guess who the masked lady in black is.
4. Men in this drama like to declare their love by announcing to the world that she is his girlfriend/fiancee without first informing the girl of his feelings.
5. I want to beat FL before her competition when she's acting childish and clingy.
6. Why are the mean girls being chased by the bad guys? What's the point of that scene?
7. Why are the mean girls on stage after the competition? When did they all of a sudden become great friends? Because they're saved by the main cast?
8. They just got engaged, why are they worrying about losing each other and being apart?
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Movie King and His Princess
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I want to be loved and protected by Jeremy Tsui too!
Completed - 4/23/2022 - 8.25“Be My Princess” is an interesting drama in a sense that I thought going in that this is a light, rom-com with lots of funny scenes. This is due to the fact that we have an amnesiac male lead thinking he’s a character of a drama. When you have a premise like this, one needs to forgo some common sense to be able to fully enjoy this drama. You can’t use the logical thinking that it is a totally bad idea to let ML continue to live in this fantasyland for a year and really not do anything to help him out, but let him fall in love with FL and vice versa. But give this is a fantasy rom-com, let’s just enjoy the ride.
What I Enjoy:
1. Jeremy Tsui - Probably with most viewers, we watch this because of the handsome Jeremy Tsui playing the male lead. I’ve previously seen him in “Novoland: Sky Castle 2” and the recently aired “Autumn Ballad”. His acting is definitely great here. He has the most interesting and expressive big eyes that can smize (got the Tyra Banks reference? LOL) at you and make you melt. In his previous role, he often plays the cool and aloof character. But here as Mun Yun, we see a sweet, cute, caring and slightly playful side of him. I am just as impressed and really, how can anyone not fall for the Grand Tutor who dotes on you like a princess? But then, I still can’t ignore his slightly slouching and protruding of his neck posture.
2. Ming Wei (FL) - Zhou Jie Qiong plays the character of Ming Wei pretty decently. There’s something about her acting that I am not totally sold on, but I wouldn’t say she’s bad. Maybe just not as natural? I can’t pinpoint. However, I really like the character of Ming Wei. She is somewhat quiet, not the loud, happy-go-lucky female lead. But there’s a quiet strength and stubbornness in her. She really has gone through so much in this drama, yet she remains honest to herself, rational and confident. She is no pushover and will fight back with punch lines that hit you thinking how a girl like her can come back with that! Gosh, I didn't expect to cry with and for her so much in this drama. The middle episodes just kill me! I was bawling worrying with her and for her about what’s to come, and we know what will come for sure.
3. Supportive parents - Hooray for supportive parents in a C-drama!! Haven’t we seen enough of parents emotionally abusing their adult children? Not here! FL’s parents are the sweetest and the most supportive parents. FL’s father dotes on his wife and his two daughters, and treats them like princesses. He’s so cute and sweet, and becomes a tiger when you mess with his daughters. ML’s parents might not be as sweet, but they are also supportive of ML when he has his amnesia and doesn’t recognize them at all. That has to be heartbreaking, yet they give him the space and time to heal.
What I Don’t Quite Enjoy or Feeling Lukewarm:
1. Main Romance - I don’t think there’s enough development between FL & ML and FL & 2ML for both guys to really fall in love with her. FL and 2ML barely have any interaction. FL and ML might have more scenes together, but I don’t think for a cool and aloof guy, there’s enough to justify his actions/affections in helping FL in the beginning episodes. What do these guys see in her already to be so smitten? I can understand the romance after ML becomes the Grand Tutor and is obsessed with protecting FL and then falls in love with her. Those episodes were the most fun and sweetest. As I mentioned, who doesn’t want to be protected and loved by the Grand Tutor? But the amnesiac episodes last too long for my taste. It doesn’t leave enough time for the last part when he wakes up. I want more episodes of him waking up and having a more complicated relationship with FL, and eventually wooing her back. The last segment feels rushed and I am not satisfied.
2. Pacing and Minor Plots - As mentioned above, I think the amnesiac plot is too long and the last arc is not long enough. I also feel that the last few episodes involving the Ming and Xu families are unnecessary. It doesn’t really add anything to the main plot and just wastes time. It seems to be creating conflict for the sake of it, and to fill more episodes. This drama could have been only 24 episodes + 2 extras.
3. Secondary romance - I am lukewarm about Ming Qiao and Xiao Zhao’s romance. They are OK together. I also don’t see why Xiao Zhao will fall for a young girl like Ming Qiao. Their scenes together are ok but not cute enough, interesting enough or fluffy enough. Just OK.
4. Dubbing - How I wish this is not dubbed and we can hear Jeremy’s sexy voice. But I have come to terms with that. Watch “Autumn Ballad” for the real actors' voices. I was hoping that in a modern drama, it won’t be dubbed. But what I dislike the most are the voices of the two female leads. They both have very young and cute voices. I just don’t see our mature and mellow FL having such a young voice. Maybe that’s why it takes me a little time to like Ming Wei/Zhou Jie Qiong.
Other Observations:
1. I usually find love lines and love declarations quite cringey (words spoken by Mung Yu). But for some reason, when it’s spoken by Mung Yun, the Grand Tutor, they become sincere and lovely. I totally fell for it. There’s this innocence in him that I love.
2. Why are the shoes clacking sounds so loud in this drama?
3. The first drama about the Grand Tutor seems to be a typical historical C-drama: lovers can’t be together due to politics, married someone else but still in love with each other after all these years.
4. I like the honest conversations FL has with Mung Yu.
5. I find the whole drama too bright.
6. Only one annoying character in the drama.
7. OST - there are a few lovely songs in this drama, but I feel they are overplayed sometimes.
8. Episodes 1-28 are the real drama. Episodes 29-30 is the story of the drama, The Grand Tutor.
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Not the best Sisterhood Drama
Completed - 2/14/2022 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0It’s hard for me not to compare “Crossroad Bistro” with other C-dramas that focus on female friendships and their experiences in life and romance. Compared to “Remembrance of Things Past” (excellent drama) and “Delicious Romance” (fun romantic comedy), “Crossroad Bistro” pales in comparison in the female friendship. This drama is more of a slice–of-life drama and it doesn’t hook me in right away like the other two dramas.
In ROTP and DR, the female characters have been friends since high school, or even earlier. They already have a very tight bond, and know each other very well. And because they know each other so well, their dialogues are meaningful and witty. However, in “Crossroad Bistro”, two women are cousins, two are friends from high school and one is not close to either of the 4 to begin with. There isn’t enough time in the drama to show us how their friendship evolves and develops for them to trust each other and venture into a business together. It doesn’t seem very believable to me. I am not saying that they have to be friends for years, but I do want the drama to show me more of this newfound sisterhood. Additionally, the 4 business owners do not have that much interaction with each other, aside from having meals at the bistro every so often. In the other two dramas, the women made you feel like you want to be friends with them, and you want to be a part of their special group. I do not feel this way in CR.
On a positive note, the acting all around is pretty good. Individually, I like and dislike some of the ladies, and that is probably due to their acting. I actually do not know any of the female leads aside from Drolman Suijun who’s in “The Rebel Princess” but I don’t remember her. I am more familiar with their romantic partners. I am a BIG fan of Wang Yang (“Because of Love”, “The Rebel”, “You are my Hero”, “Joy of Life”). I’ve seen Yang Xu Wen “Noble Aspirations 1&2”, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes“. There are also two surprising guest appearances as wel - a climber’s wife and a doctor’s son.
As characters go, the women all have pretty different personalities and career paths. In a way, that’s good as we get to see their different life experiences and choices they make. I think I might like You Shan Shan (CEO) the most, followed by Feng Xi (Bistro Manager). Bao Xue (Actress) is cute and fun in the beginning, but I feel annoyed towards the end when she’s acting a little childish. I feel a little meh about Si Meng (housewife) and really dislike Dai Xiao Yu (PR) As for the male characters, we get three really good guys that I don’t think the women deserve (except for Feng Xi) and two jerks. This is not a drama with lovable characters.
I really enjoy the music in this drama. There are a few nice songs and also musical scenes in the drama with live music playing. I’ve never seen the musical instrument that You Shan Shan plays (not sure what it’s called) but the sounds made were beautiful. Her jam session with the other artists is one of my favorite scenes.
Other Random Observations:
1. All the women in this drama are super skinny.
2. Zheng Ye Cheng looks cool, handsome and mature here - not the pale and baby-faced idol actor.
3. We have men who look like men and not young boys.
4. I want to see more of the developing romance between Feng Xi and Zhao He Nan. Everything happens too fast. This is the romance I look forward to the most.
5. I thought the Bistro serves only Chinese food - but they have steaks and sandwiches, too?
6. They really like to eat dumplings in this drama (being set in Beijing).
7. It’s very weird that the drama shows when it’s the last time the characters appear in the drama. It could be a minor spoiler if it happens in the middle of the show. And completely unnecessary when it’s the Epilog.
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Beautiful slow burn romance, excellent acting and great cinematography
Completed - 1/1/2022My first completed drama of 2022. What a beautiful ride this has been. I think "The Red Sleeve" has become my favorite sageuk, surpassing "The Crowned Clown" and "Moon Embracing the Sun". This drama has equal parts court politics and romance.
Acting - The overall acting for the whole cast is excellent. We have the amazing lead couple, whose quiet, simmering chemistry is off-the-charts. Lee Jung Ho (ML) and Lee Se Young (FL) were charismatic and playful in the first half of the drama, and the acting switches gears to a more melodramatic and serious tone. Our second male lead, Kan Hoon, portrays a grey character well. He kept me guessing whether he's good and loyal, or bad and traitorous. Not to forget out crazy king played by veteran actor Lee Deok Hwa. There are several episodes and scenes where he just took over the screen, and you were so mesmerized with him. The strong women supporting cast from the Queen Dowager, all the Princesses/Concubines and court ladies - all act their part and make each scene believable.
Romance - As mentioned, this is a very slow-burn romance. ML loves FL for over 10 years and courted her for so long before they were officially together. We have to wait till Ep 16 for that to happen!!! You cannot deny their chemistry. It might not be sizzling hot but it's simmering from episode to episode. We started with the initial fun bantering to the quiet and loyal behind-the-scene support, and then finally talking openly about their feelings (mainly ML to FL). One of my favorite scenes was when ML was grounded by the king and has to stay in his room. Our FL quietly stayed by his side outside the door, and read him poetry from the Book of Odes. That was such a romantic scene! I was happy to see that scene again in the finale. On the other hand, I was frustrated for ML because he never openly heard FL's love confession. I understand where FL is coming from, and her choice to stay with him is an act of love. But ML confesses so many times that I think he deserves to hear those words from FL's mouth directly. In the end, the audience waited until ep 16 to finally have some happy couple moments for less than half a episode. Well, at least we got several amazing kisses (not fish kisses, thank god!) from our amazing couple.
Court Politics - The rise of the crown prince to the throne took up 2/3 of the drama. It's interesting to see another side of throne fighting. Here, we don't have other princes but only the crown prince. Yet, there's still a lot of secret meetings and fighting between factions, before ML can become king. The friendship between the Crown Prince and Hong Deok Ro is quite a tragic one. As with the romance, the complexity of this friendship is not in-your-face, but is slowly and gradually shown to the audience. The power struggle between the King and the Crown prince is interesting as well. It's quite evident that the king wants the crown prince to take the throne eventually, yet he just won't let it go. Behind all these politics, we also have women working behind closed doors. We have scheming queens and princesses, fighting for their own benefits. But the biggest villains is the secret society run by a bunch of evil court ladies. That plotline is quite interesting, as I never would have thought they could be powerful enough to influence who would be the next king. I guess it's similar to how there are powerful eunuchs in C-dramas.
Court ladies & Guards - I also enjoy the behind-the-scene look of the hard-working court ladies. The friendship developed between FL and her friends was heartwarming to watch. Without these friends, life for these court ladies is depressing. The friends also provide comic relief to a pretty serious drama. Having someone like Court Lady Seo to be by FL's side is a blessing.
She's like a mother to her. I can't forget to mention our loyal and naive palace guard, Kang Tae Ho. He is quite adorable, esp. when he's giving tips on how to court a woman!
Cinematography - This is a beautifully shot drama. I especially like the natural lighting in all the scenes. When the scenes are shot indoors at night, the light is strictly coming from the candles and lanterns. There's no fake artificial light. It makes everything so much more natural and real. The costumes are beautifully layered with appropriate accessories. Though court ladies can't wear elaborate outfits, but you can tell that all the clothes are of high-quality fabric and not flimsy ones.
Other Observations:
1. Is it really that difficult to kill a tiger??????
2. How did FL escape from the underground prison when the exit is where the head court lady is having a meeting?
3. Love the dumplings scene in the finale. I feel that the leads are trying hard not to laugh and might have ad lib lines some of the lines.
4. Ep 17 is a little slow. I wonder if it's better to keep it at 16 episodes instead of increasing it to 17. But then, the episodes are already 1.5-long, so maybe not.
5. I am not sure about the ending: somehow I wished the drama ended sooner right after the leads got together. I want to see them happy.
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Unique & Funny to start, but gets more Emotional
Completed - 11/17/2021 - rounding up to 8.0Surprisingly, I enjoy "Dear Diary" a lot more than I initially thought. I was expecting a fairly low quality and low budget drama, but was pleasantly surprised that the production quality is not good and they filmed at different real locations. Before I watched this drama, I thought this would be a silly, over-the-top drama and I am prepared for it. But after the first episode, it's obvious that there's a more tragic undertone to all of this silliness. It is quite an emotional drama, and might be a tad melo towards the end.
What I Enjoy:
1) A unique story started by a 12-year old when she was day dreaming about a grand love story. I was a hopeless romantic myself when I was young (maybe still am.. LOL), so I can totally understand the obsession of wanting to have an amazing star-crossed love story. Instead of saying she's writing a diary, it's more like writing a romance novel. I love how this all started, and how a tragic event changes the FL's life and her view of the world. I enjoy the character growth and how she comes to accept herself and that she deserves to be loved.
2) Hot guys in Hot outfits. I have never seen our male lead, Rhydian Vaughan in any drama or movie. It shouldn't come as a surprise that he's a good-looking guy, with sexy eyes and a hot body. I apologize if I sound like a cougar. But he's one of the main reasons for me to watch this drama. He looks incredible in everything he wears (or not wear), whether it's in his Babylonian armor or his modern casual looks and suits. I never find Wang Rui Chang to be particularly attractive, but he does look really cool in this drama. He is so tall and lean that he makes all the outrageous and over-the-top suits look stylish.
3) Sismance. Our two female leads have very different personalities, but have been supportive of each other since they're 12 years old. I love scenes when they were young and writing the diary. It's so cute to see the young ZhenZhen dancing around and reading the romantic parts of the diary. Their friendship remains strong through all the ups and downs in this drama. There's no jealousy between the two.
What I don't enjoy:
1. The pacing of the first half of the drama is pretty good. But towards the last 1/3 of the drama when it becomes more serious and emotional, the scenes become very repetitive with too many flashbacks.
2. Cheesy love lines. I know it's the writing of a 12-year old, but I can't help but feel that once the three couples got together, they forgot how to talk like normal people. Their lines to each other become too cheesy for my taste. It's really like they are straight from a young adult romance novels.
3. Underdeveloped romance. This is a pretty short 24-episode drama. But if you take away the beginning and ending credits, the recap of the previous episode, then you are only left with about 30 mins per episode. I feel that there isn't enough time to properly develop 3 main romance storylines. The romance of Jiang Hui Zhen and Ou Yang Wen Shan is the weakest of the three. They started out as such a cool couple, but there isn't enough time to tell their story properly.
Other observations:
1. Fan service - there are many shirtless scenes of Rydian Vaughan, and I am not complaining
2. Acting is pretty decent all around, esp. Bu Guan Jin. I would say the weakest of the bunch is Rydian Vaughan.
3. Why are they fixing a broken mirror? How Ou Yang Wen Shan knows so much more about the modern world than Mu Rong Jie Lun and the Dragon Lady?
4. Dubbing is inconsistent and sometimes totally out of sync.
5. I didn't expect to cry so much!!
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Be patient and wait till the details are revealed via flashbacks
9/15/2021It pains me that I have to give this drama a 7.5 rating and not higher. I am a big fan of Xu Kai and Bai Lu and LOVE them in "Arsenal Military Academy". However, I am disappointed in how the story was told and their supposedly amazing chemistry. When I review the notes I wrote down about this drama, I wrote down mostly negative things. *sigh* I like the overall story of the drama, even though it sounds like I hate it. I had high hopes since it got a 8.3 rating on MDL and it's pretty decent for a historical/wuxia/fantasy drama. Unfortunately, the visuals of Xu Kai and Bai Lu are not enough.
What I don't like:
1. Plot and explanation - Throughout the drama, I scratch my head and wonder what just happened to a certain scene. Why is it cut and immediately transitions to something else. Then I realize, after half/one episode later, they went back to the initial plot and explain what happened via a flashback. This happens ALL the time!! The drama is slow to reveal details and if you fast forward and miss a dialog or flashback, you will be completely lost and wonder why there are so many plot holes. You need to be very patient and then your questions will be answered. I am not sure I've seen a drama that uses this technique to tell a story, and personally, I am not a fan of this style. Oh, there are still plot holes e.g. *spoiler* in Ep 53 - I thought FL's lightning sword was stolen by the Captain of the Guard and given to the Golden Immortal. How come FL found it in her chest and was able to use it to kill ML's demon essence? Also, if they can all teleport, why don't they do it more often esp. when they are in danger?
2. Editing - Editing is a little wonky. Scenes have awkward and abrupt transitions, including background music cut off suddenly.
3. Female leads in the 2nd half - In the first half, we have a strong and sassy anti-heroine. In the second half when Lu Zhao Yao is reincarnated, she lost that feistiness and ended being just a regular FL who is in love with her man. Where is that badass Lu Zhao Yao? Where are her amazing fighting skills? Same goes to the other FL, Qin Zhi Yan. Where did she go in the second half? The two FLs had so much fun and chemistry when they are sharing the same identity. Once everything goes back to normal, Qin Zhi Yan becomes a character that just looms in the background.
4. Daytime or Night time - There are so many scenes that I don't even know if it's daytime or night time. When Lu Zhao Yao is visible again, you would think the sky should be dark. But no, it's quite sunny out there! I am confused!
5. Main Romance - Everyone said the leads chemistry is amazing. Unfortunately, I don't feel it. It's not bad, but just OK. Just because the kisses were amazing, doesn't mean the chemistry is good throughout the show. I do love Xu Kai's eyes. I understand why Mo Qing is in love with Lu Zhao Yao. But Lu Zhao Yao suddenly falls head over heels after realizing Mo Qing is in love with her is a little too fast and not explained well. I was hoping for more development, a slow realization and then falling in love. But because the romance took a while to enter the main storyline, I feel that the writers were rushing it a little.
6. Slow-Motion scenes: There are so many close-up slow-mo scenes that totally drags down the pacing of the drama. I am also very disappointed in the fight choreography and slow fight scenes. I know this is not a traditional wuxia drama, but still. In the last few episodes in the big battle with the Golden Immortal, the fight could have finished in 15-20 minutes. But all these slow-motion and awkward transition of scenes prolonged the battle for to 1-2 episodes.
What I Like:
1. Kisses - Xu Kai and Bai Lu don't disappoint. Those kisses by the gate are amazing. Mo Qin was so shy in the beginning but just couldn't resist Zhao Yao. *sizzles*
2. Bromance - I love the bromance between Mo Qing and SiMa Rong, and also the love/hate friendship with Gu Hang Guang. The scenes when they were coming up with proposal ideas are hilarious.
3. Loyal, Undying love - I am a fan of ML who is super loyal to FL, and will do anything for FL. Love is shown through actions and not just cheesy lines. There are other side romances where the male supporting characters are in love with their women, and just couldn't let go and move on. It might be a little much for others, but I love it.
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Slow-paced, too many side plots, can't be compared to Fuyao
9/6/2021Listening Snow Tower is not a widely-recommended or talked about drama, and I got to know about this as I read an article comparing it to "Legend of Fuyao". I also read comments that it's a wuxia drama with great fight scenes. Fuyao is my one of my most favorite dramas and Snow Tower is not even close to the brilliance of Fuyao. (My review of Fuyao: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/review/152877)
The reason why I stuck with this drama and not drop it is because of our male lead Yi Qing. I have never watched Qin Jun Jie in any drama before and I am a fan now (got Spy Hunter on my PTW list). His portrayal of our sickly ML is great, though I don't find him particularly handsome/attractive at first. He shows the vulnerable side of our lead when he's not feeling well, but you can see his determination and stubbornness in his eyes as well. I feel his love for our FL when he's looking at her with quiet admiration and adoration. Even though he appears pale and sickly throughout the show, you can feel his presence as the Tower Master. He has that charisma that people will listen to him whether he's coughing up blood or just sitting quietly reading. I don't think I would continue with this drama if not for Yi Qing and wanting to know that he could succeed. I root for him and want him to have a happy ending so badly.
I enjoy the romance between our leads. I like a mature, quiet romance where our ML is showing his love through actions and not just cheesy lines. This type of romance might not be for everyone. There isn't any fluffy cute romantic scenes or banter, or big gestures to declare their love for each other, except maybe self-sacrificing themselves so the other won't get hurt. I love that our ML supports FL quietly and secretly, by helping her get stronger, and never try to change her. They understand each other's actions without saying it out loud. As much as I love this type of relationship, I do feel the chemistry between the leads could have been better. I think I am just not feeling it from FL to ML.
I like the general plot of the drama. Unfortunately, there are too many side characters and each of them have their own little romance/story. Do we need so many love-at-first-sight romance? I am fine with a decent supporting cast, but I just feel it's a little over-the-board here. This takes away from the main plot and slow down the pacing of the drama. There are so many times when they capture their nemesis, threaten to kill them, and then let them go. This drama does not have to be 56 ep long. I lost my attention in the middle of the drama, and the pacing only picks back up towards the last 5-7 episodes. Speaking of the supporting cast, I am most impressed with our villain Ming He, played by Angela Yuen. As a newcomer, she did a great job in her portrayal of Ming He/Ye Huo.
One of the most disappointing thing is the editing of the fight scenes. I really hope to find a good wuxia drama that gives me great fighting choreography. The fight scenes seem to be better in the first half of the show than the second half. I appreciate the lack of slow-mo spinning that are so prevalent in many shows. I wish to see longer fight scenes and faster movement. Our actors seem too weak when yielding their swords. There are times when some expected good fights were starting and they were cut short or transition out to something different. Our FL is supposed to be one of the top 3 fighters in the show, and we barely see her in action, or the fight scenes are so short that they don't her prowess. The best scene she had was her fight with the ML in the rain. Other than that, there's nothing memorable.
There's blood spitting/coughing everywhere. I wonder if our ML rivals Si Feng in "Love and Redemption" in the number of times these two MLs spit blood. The dubbing is not good either. There are several times where the supporting cast is speaking out the inner thoughts of the leads and explaining why they do certain things. I wonder if there's a better way of conveying the same kind of information. I don't expect any passionate kisses in a wuxia drama, but I was hoping to have at least one decent kiss from our leads. The kisses that they have are all life-saving kisses, but not a romantic kiss. The other two kisses by our supporting cast are surprise/unwilling kisses that are quite unnecessary and really did nothing to the story.
It sounds like I hate this drama, but I really don't. I have high hopes but am disappointed. There are times when MDL ratings are wrong with shows that have sub-8 ratings. Unfortunately, this time it's correct. I like it enough to not drop it but it took a lot of willpower.
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The Legend of Gu and Jue
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Deze recentie kan spoilers bevatten
New Fav XianXia drama - Pacing/Plot, Acting, Characters
8/31/2021I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this drama and it has become my favorite xianxia to date after watching "Ashes of Love", "10 Miles Peach Blossoms", "Love and Destiny" and "Love and Redemption". I do not share the opinion with many netizens that FL is not suitable for this role. I think her petite size actually fits her role as a god-in-training for most of the drama, and not THE powerful god yet. The drama is from the same director as "Love and Redemption" so you see some of the same actors in this drama as well.
Things I Like:
1. Pacing/Plot - I was worried that the pacing of the drama would be slow and I would be bored towards the middle. But no, I am entertained and held my attention throughout the 49 episodes. I am also happy to know that this drama differs from others that there are no trials in the mortal realm, like most of them. Yes, it does have similar tropes/plots such as amnesia, evil villains from the Ghost and Heavenly realms, one-sided obsession love. I enjoy the story is kept within the heaven/god realms. However, nothing is over-the-top. The story develops well and continues to get better as the drama goes. The pacing and the plot are what propelled me to give this a 9 rating.
2. Acting/Characters - I enjoy all the characters in this drama, including the supporting cast. We don't have naïve/innocent spoiled brats, or cartoonish villains. All the characters are smart in their own ways and don't make out-of-character dumb decisions. I enjoy seeing contrasting personalities of ML and FL in the two story arcs. Acting is great all around. I watch this mainly for Xu Kai and he doesn't disappoint. He's a little "bland" in the beginning before we see his character's real personality and character development. I love his eyes... those big eyes speak to me when he's in pain and I cry my eyes out for him as Qing Mu. I also love Liu Xue Yi as Tiang Qi as the 2nd ML. He got to have more dramas as ML where he gets the girl (he does in "Qing Luo" but it's not a great drama).
3. CGI/Costumes - This is a beautiful drama. The costumes are beautiful along with the head pieces of the ladies. However, as much as I love these costumes, I wish there are more colors (even pastel colors). They seem a little too "white", but beautiful nonetheless. The CGI is really good. I love the purple power of Jing Yuan and the black evil power.
Things I don't like or am lukewarm about:
1. Chemistry of the leads - I feel that both ML and FL acted well, but when the two of them are put together, I don't feel the romantic chemistry as much as I've seen in other dramas. This is probably a personal taste. They are both great actors.
2. Confusing start of 2nd arc - The transition from the first arc to the second arc is a little too fast and too much. I feel that many characters are introduced in the beginning before I can figure out what happened after 60k years.
3. I want to know more about the relationships/love triangle between Gun Jun, King and Queen. Why did the queen leave Gun Jun? Really because of him traveling too much? Or there's something more to it. I am more interested in this love triangle than the romance between 9-tailed fox and Sen Yu.
Overall, I strongly recommend this drama if you enjoy xianxia dramas and are fans of the actors/actresses. The pacing is better than other xianxia dramas.
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Things that Come After Love
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A rollercoaster ride of emotions brought to you by excellent acting
“What Comes after Love” tells a simple story of young and innocent love, going through the challenges of everyday life, and coming to the realization that only love is just not enough. These young lovers reunited 5 years after their breakup. The drama tells their love story through flashbacks to the past and present, and is narrated from both leads’ perspectives. There’s an added colorful touch with regards to cultural differences between Japan and South Korea.After the series ended, I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. There are so many frustrating moments where I want to strangle the leads because of the lack of communication and the lack of action. Towards the end, I did feel the interactions between the leads become somewhat repetitive but not to the extent that I dislike the drama. I just want them to speak up or do something!
However, I cannot deny the fact that I love this romance from innocent puppy love, to regrets and pain. Their smiles, laughter and passionate love for each other is so contagious. On the flip side, the longing, pain, depression, loneliness and regret break my heart. But none of the emotional rollercoaster could have happened if not for the excellent acting from Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro.
Both actors are perfectly casted. I am not sure how Lee Se Young’s Japanese sounds to a native speaker, but it sounded perfect to me. This might be one of her best roles yet. Kentaro has this dorky and shy charm. He conveyed the unspoken words through microexpressions on his face and his eyes. His character is a man of few words and Lee Se Young has very few lines in the last couple episodes too. Yet, I feel every emotion that they’re trying to convey.
If you like a melodrama of lovers reconnected after a difficult breakup, I would recommend “What Comes After Love” for you. The cinematography, music and the use of literature complemented the plot and the acting so well.
Completed: 11/5/2024 - Review #509
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An easy slow-paced watch with repetitive flashbacks and a decent OST.
I seriously went into this without expectations at all. I am not sure what attracted me to watch this, maybe because it was a Taiwanese BL and I mostly have a decent time watching them. Then I realized “First Note of Love” is actually a Taiwanese/Thai co-production and that was interesting.One reviewer commented that this should have been watched as a movie or binged. I agree because if I had to wait weekly for 1 episode, I would have given up. The pacing of the drama is slow and full of repetitive flashbacks. If I watched this weekly, I would complain I wasted 30 mins on basically only 15 minutes of substance. But since I binged it, the flashbacks got to me. Additionally, one song was played on repeat for half of the drama. Even though I like the song, I was getting sick and tired of it.
Having said all that, I have a generally good time watching “First Note of Love”. I like the acting, the story of healing and getting over a loss/trauma, and I was looking forward to a great comeback performance. The comeback performance was fun, but definitely not the grand finale I was expecting. The romance is sweet and angst-free, but I think Neil falls in love with Sea a little too quickly. I found the secondary couple really cute and want to know more about them. The use of both Thai and Chinese is better than I thought and I actually look forward to their conversations to see what language they will be using. We got some pretty good kisses but I wish the supposedly sexy scene was shot better and more passionately, and not in slow motion with filters of forced-romantic lighting.
The ending is not super impactful and the professional decisions made of their future is a little head-scratchingly vague. Objectively, this should probably be rated at 7.5 but the personal enjoyment factor is at an 8.0.
Completed: 11/2/2024 - Review #507
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Funny first half but a more serious tone in the second half.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25I was quite surprised that I had a pretty good time watching “No Gain, No Love”. I wanted something fun and this fits the bill as it’s funny enough without going overboard, but the tone of the drama changes in the second half. I was also a little hesitant in the beginning because I am not a fan of noona romance. Luckily, the age gap was not mentioned much in the drama.
Shin Min Ah shines in her role here. This role reminded me of her character in “Oh My Venus” in a good way, as I didn’t like her in “Our Blues” or “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”. But her chemistry with Kim Young Dae is not as good as with So Ji Sub.
The first half of the drama is hilarious. I like how the leads dislike each other, yet their interaction is funny. I enjoy the contract marriage trope, and how they come together in creating this fake wedding. When watching wedding scenes, I often have happy tears because I am moved or happy for the couple. This fake wedding moved me to tears because I am sad. The whole reason behind it is not funny at all, despite it being an interesting and exciting event.
The chemistry between Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae is decent. It’s cute at times but not sizzling. I actually think the portrayal of them falling in love could have been written better. There are a few kisses but nothing earth-shattering (maybe a slight disappointment because I expected more?). We don’t really see too many cute and fluffy scenes of them before the drama goes down a more serious path.
There are quite a few mentions of other dramas and guest appearances. The supporting cast did fine and I’m glad there’s no one evil or annoying. There are rave reviews about how cute the second couple is. They are OK to me but there isn’t enough screen time for me to truly fall in love with them. I guess I’ll just have to check out their drama special. The third long-time couple surprises me with their setup, but their story is boring. I do not miss them at all when they’re not on my screen.
The second half of the drama, especially the last few episodes, feel rushed and jam-packed with more serious side plots. Knowing the story of how FL’s dad died is enough for me. I don’t really need to know about the other father. I wish the drama could have tied up the sisters' stories without wasting precious screen time on him.
Lastly, there is a lot of product placement in this drama - all the snacks and Kopiko coffee candies, Subway, Banaespresso, cars, and beauty products. With all the revenue from advertising, they could have dressed the female characters with better clothes. They all dress like old ladies.
Overall, I did have a pleasant time watching “No Gain, No Love”. It started off very strong but only ended on an average note. But 12 episodes zoomed by in a jiffy!
Completed: 10/29/2024 - Review #506
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Obsessive, Possessive, Toxic, Passionate and Manic!
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25This is probably one of the better acted short-length dramas I’ve seen. Female lead, He Xuan Lin, is an experienced actress and I last saw her in the very popular “Starry Love”. Her character, Gu Jun Yao, has gone through so much in her life that this is such an angsty watch. You can’t help but root for her freedom and happiness.
“Love & Bid Farewell” is a tale of revenge, obsession, love and toxicity. There are many reviews going into the details of the drama, so I won’t go into that. I’ll just write a few quick thoughts of the drama.
1. As mentioned, the acting is great. He Xuan Lin really is the shining star. Apparently, I’ve seen male lead, Yan Zi Xian, in many other dramas before when he had a supporting role. I don’t remember him at all. But I will now for his role as the obsessive and possessive Yue Jin Chen.
2. I appreciate a strong female lead, who once she realized what happened, did not go back at all. She never fell into the trap of romance, no matter how much the male lead tried to entice her.3.
3. It’s amazing how Yue Jin Chen can get stabbed so many times and not die.
4. Great, passionate and forceful yet realistic kisses. Probably one of few C-dramas (mini or full-length ones) where the male lead and the female lead are both going at it and not being shy.
5. I appreciate there’s no evil and annoying secondary leads.
6. For a low budget production, the drama doesn’t feel cheap.
7. There are times I did feel like I wanted to fast forward, as the plot became a little repetitive. 24 episodes at about 20 mins each, might be too long when the plot only revolves about the leads.
8. A great drama for those who want a real red flag ML.
9. The ending is not surprising and you can’t really go any other way. I am glad the drama sticks to its dark theme and didn’t try to please the audience and gives us a different ending.
If you are looking for a toxic romance with an obsessive and possessive red flag male lead, then I strongly recommend this drama for you.
Completed: 10/26/2024 - Review #504
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