5
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3
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Lost in Dramaland
Short and Average BL drama
10/16/2021This is a very short BL drama, eight 10-min long episodes. I would be pretty annoyed if I have to wait each week for just a 10-min episode. They should just make a movie. The drama is a low-budget production, which is not surprising. However, it's pretty average comparing to other BL dramas.
Considering this is the first acting gig for the whole cast, they did a decent job. I would say Kim Yoon Hwan, who plays the main lead, Euen Gyu, might be the better of the bunch. His chemistry with Cha Woon Min wasn't bad. However, the plot is too simple and not much happened. It's just many glances/staring between the two. The love triangle isn't done well.
I would only recommend this drama to those who think the actors are cute and good-looking to watch. I don't find them that attractive, except maybe Kim Yoon Hwan, so I didn't enjoy it as much. Of course, this is all subjective. I am not the target audience, esp. when I am an old woman. LOL.
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The Guessing Game
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.
I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.
J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.
I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.
Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.
Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.
Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362
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A Character-Driven drama for those in the mood of some sweetness and cuteness!
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75A 9.1 MDL rating for a romantic drama is no joke as there are many other critically acclaimed ones that don’t reach this milestone. In order to give “Hidden Love” a fair chance to maximize the enjoyment of watching this, I prepared myself and will share my recommendations for those who hesitated. As an ‘older’ and veteran drama watcher, fluffy and cute romances don’t always work on me anymore.
Recommendations/Tips to prepare myself:
1. I am a romance junkie
2. I am in the right mood for a cute, sweet and fluffy romance.
3. I like the main leads.
4. I am OK with and am prepared for a character-driven drama.
5. I am OK with an age-gap that could seem big.
I know if I watch “Hidden Love” when it’s airing or when it just finished airing, I will be extremely critical in finding faults since the hype is real and positive reviews are everywhere. Therefore, I waited until I was ready. And I am ready now.
What I Like:
Acting - I am quite familiar with Zhao Lu Si’s acting and know that she has no problem acting shy or cute. She did not disappoint me. On the other hand, Chen Zhe Yuan surprised me in a positive way. I’ve seen a few of his dramas but don’t recall him having the ability to subtly control his emotions (happy and sad) and his big, beautiful eyes speak volumes in this drama. It’s only been a few years’ time and Chen Zhe Yuan has improved so much since his “Handsome Siblings” days, the first drama I saw him in. The rest of the supporting cast also did a great job. But this drama is about Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu. If Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan can’t act, this drama will be a disaster.
Siblings - Many have pointed out the amazing chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma. I echoed the praises that they are so fun to watch. Their banter, argument, and horseplay brought so much color to this otherwise quite mellow drama. Their conversations are fun and witty, and you can still see how much they care and love each other.
Sang Zhi (FL) - At first, I thought I would be very irritated with Sang Zhi. I’ve seen clips of her acting all shy with that baby voice. However, I enjoy seeing her character grow from a spunky 14-year old girl, to an independent strong woman who can think on her own, make her own choices and protects the man she loves. We’ve seen female leads who are supportive of male leads. But Sang Zhi took it to a different level. She not only supports her man, but she’s there to protect him (physically, verbally and emotionally), to dispel any prejudice and stereotypes against him, and stand up for him. In a way, she was more emotionally mature when she’s 22 than when Duan Jia Xu was 22 or 27.
Duan Jia Xu (ML) - How can I not love a walking green flag like him? Yes, he’s too perfect and that could be a criticism. But I am also not going to deny the fact that he’s going to my Hall of Fame for Best Boyfriend/Partner. He is gentle, kind, considerate, understanding, and thoughtful. A unicorn that you can’t find in real life but I can indulge myself in this drama and pretend he does exist.
Main Romance - Chemistry is great. I was actually waiting for the college days to come so that I can finally see them interact as adults. I love the secret confessions in folded stars, the shy-but-in love glances/looks, the courting, the heartfelt yet somewhat awkward conversations by two inexperienced lovers, and of course, the hugs and kisses. This drama is made for romance lovers. I can’t help but smile throughout the drama.
Sang Family - I am so glad to see Zhao Lu Si and Zeng Li act as daughter/mother again. After the traumatic experience of “Love Like the Galaxy”, I am so glad to see them in a much different dynamic. The Sang parents are so lovely as well. Even though they disapprove of Sang Zhi’s rebellious trip, they never yelled at her, but just tried to talk some sense into her. They might have disapproved of the leads’ relationship, but the conversations are mature, reasonable and all come from the heart and love for their daughter. It’s so rare to find such amazing parents in a C-drama. Adding the fun Sang Yan to the mix, it’s no wonder Sang Zhi is able to grow up to be someone worthy of love and can protect her love.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
Sang Zhi’s baby voice - I can understand Zhao Lu Si using a somewhat younger voice when she’s 17, but when she’s a college student, that voice has got to go. She can speak normally with her roommate, so I know she can speak normally to her boyfriend. Towards the end of the drama, she has grown to be a mature young lady, and that baby voice really doesn’t match her. Is that Zhao Lu Si’s over-acting, or the director wanted her to act that way? I would never know.
Sang Zhi (14 years old) - No matter how short Sang Zhi is supposed to be at 14, the amazing young actress can’t convince me she’s 14 years old. She’s 12 in real life but she looks like she’s 10. If you are going to use such a young actress, maybe they should have a different younger actor to play the male lead.
Stalker girl - The side plot about the stalker girl lasted a little too long. I also think her presence changes the overall tone of this drama. I understand the reason for her existence in telling ML’s back story, but I wish that side plot was written better. Luckily, she’s the only annoying character and she’s still tolerable.
Supporting Cast stories - Because this drama focuses on the leads’ story so much that the rest of the side characters are forgotten in the back burner. This can be a good or a bad thing. If you just want to focus on Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, then this is not a criticism at all. But I wanted a more well-rounded approach and wanted to know more about other characters. What happened to Sang Yan’s personal life? Did he really have a girlfriend? What is up with his knowledge of childbirth? I thought he got someone pregnant! What about the romance of the dorm mates? If you don’t plan to give them time, then let’s not start to begin with. Not every single character needs to have a love interest, but don’t start and forget.
Age gap - I don’t know if they have to keep on talking about how much older Duan Ji Xu is. 5 years isn’t really that big of a gap. It is central to the storyline, but it doesn’t need to be repeated and reminded so many times.
Overall, this is a great romance drama if you are looking for something easy, sweet and fluffy. The leads’ acting and chemistry are great and it’s a drama full of love, care and personal growth. If you are like me and like my tips above, that will increase your chance of enjoying this drama.
Completed: 8/27/2023 - Review #346
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Excellent development of the Brotherhood and Interesting Mysterious Cases. Love Cheng Yi!
Amidst a sea of not-so-good romantic xianxias and period dramas, “Mysterious Lotus Casebook '' is a breath of fresh air. Despite being a romance junkie, the brotherhood between our three main characters reminded me that I don’t always need romance in a drama. This drama has excellent casting, acting, pacing, storytelling with interesting mysterious cases and some pretty good action scenes.Casting/Acting
Isn’t it nice to cast actors who play characters their age and act their age? In the drama, Li Lian Hua and Di Fei Sheng are both in their early 30s, and they are played by Cheng Yi (33) and Xiao Shu Yao (35). Joseph Zeng (25) plays a younger Fan Duo Bing who is in his 20s. Just because of this, the drama gets a big thumbs up from me. The three male leads act their age and exudes the necessary aura of either someone wise or inexperienced. They are really well-casted and I can’t imagine other actors playing these roles. I have to say I am very impressed with Chen Yi. We have all seen him spitting blood (he does that in this drama as well) and playing the angsty romantic male lead. Who knew he could play a sly and sarcastic fallen hero so well! Xiao Shun Yao’s tall frame and broad shoulders exude that cold brutalness and reminded me a little of his gray character in “The Blue Whispers”. Joseph Zeng’s big eyes brought out the youthfulness and inexperience of Fang Duo Bing. “Mysterious Lotus Casebook” has a large supporting cast of veterans and younger actors. No one stands out like a sore thumb and no character irritates or annoys me. I quite like the female villain and found her beautiful and manic!
Mysterious Cases
There are several mysterious cases and they all contribute to the bigger plot/mystery of the drama. I like that they are not episodic and are allowed enough time to develop and to be solved. The cases are interesting to me, more so than those in “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty”. Although I was never anxious enough to be at the edge of my seat, they generally keep me engaged. There are so many details that I can’t really not pay attention. I was dozing off (not the drama’s fault, I was just tired) and had to rewind the scenes as I realized I was missing pieces of information to follow along. I also enjoy the mid-episode graphics and follow along the Lotus Tower to different locations. I realized I didn’t even take that many notes for my reviews while watching, because I was following along.
The Brotherhood
Excellent! It was so much fun seeing how the friendship develops between the three male characters. Their scenes are sprinkled with humor (and not second-hand embarrassment humor), thoughtful/caring conversations and understanding of each other’s words and actions. It is quite beautiful to see how each relationship continues to build throughout the drama - from strangers, idol, enemies to friends, frenemies, and soulmates.
Romance
Don’t watch this drama for romance because you will be sorely disappointed. I am actually fine with the small romantic plot of Li Xiang Yi and his ex-girlfriend, Di Fei Sheng and the obsessed villain, and even the very small one of Fan Duo Bing and the princess. But having Su Xiao Yong’s affection for Li Lian Hua is unnecessary. She has such a small role that it seems like her sole existence is to do household chores, be an interpreter and grandfather’s messenger, and act as a medical assistant to get help from a doctor. There are no lovey-dovey cute scenes and no skinship at all. But you know what, you really don’t need any big romance plot because there’s enough to keep you engaged.
Action Scenes
There are enough action scenes scattered throughout the drama to keep us wuxia fans satiated. I am glad the drama does not skim out on the big fight with the villains in the end. The action scenes are pretty good, but not to the traditional wuxia standards like in “Side Story of Fox Volant”. I wanted more close combat sword fighting scenes, instead of people getting thrown across the room, with a palm push or a sword swing. I want to especially commend Chen Yi. I never realized what a beautiful fighter he is. There are actors who fight hard and have the physique to do so. There are others who fight like they are dancing or not know what to do with a sword. But Chen Yi’s fight scenes are beautiful to watch. He has a skinnier frame and fights like he’s floating in the air (great wire work from him!) yet he doesn’t fight weakly. It’s a very nice combination of elegance and quiet strength.
Production Quality
It’s so great that the three main male leads are dubbing themselves. Though not often, I do think there are some live recordings from Chen Yi. But the supporting cast seems to all be dubbed by voice actors. The production quality is pretty decent. The costumes, sets, props and ornaments all look decent (not exquisite). CGI and music/songs are minimal. I don’t actually remember any songs played. There’s a dance performed by a male dancer/actor during one of the cases, and that performance is unique and beautifully danced.
Overall, I strongly recommend this drama, especially if you enjoy mysterious cases and are fans of the three male leads. I really don’t have any major criticism of the drama. I liked Chen Yi when he was in “Love and Redemption” but I think I became a fan after his role here in “Mysterious Lotus Casebook”.
Completed: 8/13/2023 - Review #339
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Well-acted, Mature and Dark drama with a controversial Female Lead
At the writing of this review, its MDL rating is at 8.5. I am actually a little surprised that it’s so high. Not that I don’t like the drama, in fact, I really like it. But for the fact that with quite a controversial and flawed female lead, who has made some questionable decisions and said some mean words, I think some watchers might really be put off by her.“Will Love in Spring” is definitely not a romantic comedy. Death is a central theme, and if this is one of your taboo subjects, do not watch this drama. There are some funny and sweet/fluffy moments. But for the most part, this is a mature, dark, healing drama. It’s a character-driven drama that focuses on our main leads' development and their relationships with family members and each other. This is a mature drama that makes you think.
Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong have excellent chemistry from start to finish. Their romance is nicely developed from when they first met in high school, to reconnecting again as adults. They had a long and bumpy ride before they hit the final destination in the very last episode. Zhang Jie (FL) is an independent, feisty, outgoing professional woman who still struggles with low-esteem due to her disability. However, at one point, I do find her shenanigans a little repetitive. I also believe many viewers are mad at her during the New Year’s Eve episode (ep 15?). Her actions and words towards Chen Mai Dong (ML) were uncalled for and downright mean. But given what happened that night at home, her past trauma and what she’s gone through in life, I can understand her and choose to have faith in her. What was most disappointing to me is her decision in the last couple episodes. Not being honest with ML about her decision and plans until the very end is more unforgiving to me. They have always had an honest and open relationship from bickering to comforting each other. Why can’t she be honest now? But, I give props to the drama for not crashing and burning in the end. The final episode wraps out everything nicely and gives me closure to Chen Main Dong and Zhang Jie’s story. The conversation they had at the NanPing train station: FL’s realization of her actions and ML’s clear understanding of FL’s personality, strengths and weaknesses, and his explanation and forgiveness, brought me so much comfort and joy. In the end, they found love and learned to love. For romance lovers, let’s not forget to include the fact that this couple is very affectionate and not afraid to display their affections through kisses and hugs. Lastly, Chen Mai Dong is another green flag and only he can balance out Zhang Jie’s energy.
There are so many lovely side characters in this drama. I love the relationship of the siblings. Niao Niao (little sis) is played by the talented child actress, Zhang Xi Wei. What a little firecracker and smartass she is. She brings so much color to the drama. Wu Jun Ting plays the quirky and sweet younger brother, Zhuang Yan. Who has a pet goose and walks it like a dog?? Zhuang Yan! I haven’t seen Wu Jun Ting since “Time and Her are Just Right”. I loved him in that drama and remembered his nice deep voice. I also envy the friendship between Grandma Chen and Grandma Lin. They are the poster children for best-friend-forever friendship. I enjoy the sisterhood between FL and Wang Xi Xia. Wang Peng looks so pretty as the best friend. She looks so much more mature and sexy than in her previous roles. Last but not the least, FL’s mother. I bet she’s another character that many hate. She’s the typical loud Chinese mother, who can’t stop criticizing her children. She’s tolerable but at one point I also want to strangle her. Glad she got a lot better towards the last few episodes. I am not sure if it’s the actress or the character, but she always seems to talk and laugh with a fake smile.
I would love to see more of the funny romance between BFF Wang Xi Xia and the Doc. The Doc is so quirky and adorable at the same time. Their scenes give the drama a more light-hearted touch, as they are hilarious together. I just want more of them.
I am not familiar with the funeral industry or the role of an embalmer. So, I can’t comment on how realistic “Will Love in Spring” is portraying that. It’s not a profession that we see in dramas often, so I am glad to get a peek into ML’s job.
I would recommend this drama to those that love a realistic portrayal of life, struggles, and relationships. The characters in this drama are all flawed and they make decisions that we don’t always agree with. But life is not rosy and we are not perfect. If you don’t mind the topic of death, this is an excellently acted drama. I had a great time watching this, even if I had a roller coaster ride of emotions.
Completed: 5/4/2024 - Review #437
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Lost in the Kunlun Mountains
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Only watch this for Xu Kai's handsomeness and Wang Yang's charisma
Completed - 8/22/2022If you are not a fan of any of the actors, this might not be worth your time. For me it takes Xu Kai’s handsome face to get me through the first half of the drama, and then add on Wang Yang’s charisma to finish it.
I was quite excited about this drama in the first 1-2 episodes. I was pleasantly surprised that there were some decent fight scenes and creative fight choreography. I’ve already heard that the CGI and green scenes were horrible, and yes, they were indeed not good (running on rooftop and flying around with statues). The production value of this drama is quite low. Even so, a handsome Xu Kai + charismatic Wang Yang + Cool fight scenes = What I like. Unfortunately, my interest and excitement died in the next 10 episodes. All they did was talk talk talk about that stupid bone, with no action. No wonder so many people dropped the drama after the initial episodes. But if you are able to tolerate such boredom and poor plot with the help of Xu Kai’s handsomeness, the plot did get better in the second half of the drama with more action. But such a positive trajectory did not last until the very end. The last episode was rushed and we also have a poor redemption plot that was quite abrupt. The ending was a mystery. What the heck happened? Did we lose a full episode and jump right to the last 2 minutes? Is this due to censorship? (very likely).
Let’s talk about romance since it’s my favorite topic. The short review is: BLAND. Our leads started off as good friends and they are supposed to slowly develop feelings for each other. Well, I didn’t quite see this development. What I see is our FL suddenly really wants to marry ML not because of the bone, but because she is in love with him. I then see our ML never really showed much romantic interest in our FL, and then all of a sudden he is in love. If the friends-to-lovers trope is not done right in the beginning, then the latter part of the romance will become friends-to-lovers-with-no-chemistry. In the second half of the drama, the romance has gotten better once they are together. There’s enough decent skinship and I’ve always loved Xu Kai’s expressive beautiful eyes. But overall, the romance is lacking.
Our male lead, Ding Yun Qi, is a genius. He’s never wrong and is always steps ahead of others. He may not be the warmest person initially, but he’s not a cold tsundere either. He’s smart, loyal, caring, has the best martial arts skills, is a doctor, and also knows everything that the Heaven Official should know even though he left home for 6 years and really didn’t have a lot of time to learn. Well, basically he is perfect. Our female lead, Wu Shuang, is the opposite. She’s outgoing and friendly, curious and likes to fight. Luckily, she’s not dumb and can be quite smart in her own ways. Many dislike Wu Shuang, but I am ok with her. She is usually on the sidelines until the latter part of the drama.
The acting is decent and I don’t see anyone especially bad or cringey.. As much as I love Xu Kai (I bet by now you know I really like him), this is not his best acting. I think the acting all around is OK by the younger cast. The better acting is done by our veterans, Wang Yang as Luo Yun Song, and Morni Chang as Zhou Qiu Hai. These two never disappoint, no matter how bad the script is, you can trust their acting abilities. I also like that they use their own voices. I think I can recognize Wang Yang’s voice by now as he always dubs his own voice. Props to him! There are a couple interesting supporting characters that I quite enjoy - Meng A Sai as Sun San Xuan and Bao Bei Er as Luo Jiu Tian.
I don’t think I can wholeheartedly recommend this drama, UNLESS you just want to look at Xu Kai’s handsome face and Xu Kai looking dashing in a variety of nice suits. There are too many other good dramas out there.
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Neither a Great Thriller, nor a Great Romance drama.
Completed - 3/17/2022I was hoping to watch a more mature BL drama, that’s not just a rom-com of high school or college students. Thus, “Manner of Death” became my choice. A crime/thriller romance drama sounds exactly what I am looking for.
Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed. I am not sure if I am not used to Thai acting, or the acting of the cast doesn’t live up to my expectations. I do not find the acting of Max and Tul, the two lead male characters, to be convincing. If I have to pick, I think Tul as Dr. Bun did a better job than Max as Tan. The drama likes to have close-up shots of the actors' faces for viewers to focus on their facial expressions. Unfortunately, the camera stays with the actors for a little too long (5-10 seconds, maybe) and their inability to convey emotions is more observable and makes me feel uncomfortable. At times, the music accompanied these close up shots made feel like I'm watching an American daytime soap opera. Of the cast members, I would say the actress, Meiko, who played Jane, is the best of the bunch, followed by maybe Great, who played Inspector M.
The chemistry of the two leads was pretty good in the first half of the drama, before they officially got together.. But when the second half focuses more on the crime investigation, the chemistry took a dip. The transition from crime investigation to the leads being flirty with each other appears out-of-place with a very sudden tone change. There aren’t enough sweet or sexy moments to satisfy the romance-at-heart, and the longing and tension from the first half of the drama are gone.
I like the general plot of the drama, a medical doctor who wants to uncover the truth of his friend’s murder. But I don’t think the execution is quite there. Our leads seem to have 9 lives, as they get hurt all the time, recover quickly, but they never die. There is a mix of predictable and unpredictable plot twists. I don’t know much about Thailand’s forensic/medical work, so I don’t want to say they are wrong. However, it does seem somewhat minimal and easy when Dr. Bun does his autopsy work. Overall, this is neither a great thriller, nor a great romance drama. It’s just OK.
Other Observations:
1. Inspector M’s uniform is really tight, showing his fabulous body. He’s the hottest guy in the drama.
2. The actress who played Jane is really pretty, both in casual wear and when she’s all dolled out.
3. Bad CPR alert!
4. Seems like a low-budget production.
5. do enjoy scenes of the small town.
6. Music is not bad. I like the theme song.
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Strong and Likable Characters in a Historical, Political Romance Drama
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75 (warning: long review)I did not read the novel, so my review is based just on the drama itself. “Are You The One” covers many different topics - lies, fake marriage, business, politics, fight for the throne, amnesia and of course romance. For the most part, the drama strikes a pretty good balance. Except for the amnesia plot that’s taken a little too long (more about this below), this drama holds my attention for all 40 episodes.
“Are You The One” is a dark horse favorite for me. I came in without expectation as I was in some sort of drama funk. A lower budget production without a big blockbuster cast doesn’t attract too much attention. But the popularity of Zhang Wan Yi from “Lost You Forever” probably drives some traffic. I personally didn’t watch that drama. Instead, I really like Zhang Wan Yi in “The Bond” and that’s also what prompted me to try this drama out. Let’s start with the ‘negatives’.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Length of the Drama/Amnesia/Plot
As mentioned above, I felt that the amnesia plot lasted way too long. I was waiting for Liu Mian Tang (FL) to gain her memory back and was anticipating a big showdown and blowout. As much as I enjoy the slow development of the lead romance, I can’t wait for more to happen. The business plot was fine in the beginning, but it drags on. I was also a little unclear in the beginning about the political strife between Cui Xing Zhou (ML) and Zi Yu+party. I wonder if these factors would be the reasons why many think the drama is slow and drop it. I think 30-35 episodes would be sufficient to cover all storylines and make the pacing better.
2. Sun Yun Er
She was so badass for half of the drama. She might be obsessed with Zi Yu and did crazy things to jeopardize her original plans, but at least she was interesting to watch. In the latter half of the drama, she is sidelined to become a petty and useless puppet. She was at least a ruthless puppet before.
3. Too Perfect Leads
This point is very subjective. It could be good or bad, or maybe you don’t care. Are Cui Xing Zhou and Liu Mian Tang too perfect? They are both intelligent, courageous, loyal, have a sense of justice, good-looking, and basically are better than anyone else in the drama. Additionally, Liu Mian Tang is a business savvy woman, learns medicine and poison from books, can support in war strategy and be the perfect wife and daughter-in-law. This woman can do no wrong. Are they too perfect for you? Even though they don’t bother me that much, it’s worth noting this down.
4. Part of the Ending
The villain has been calculating, cautious, detail-oriented for so many years. Yet he was triggered to act rashly in the end due to a few angry words from ML. It seems a little uncharacteristic but it’s the end of the drama, we gotta close it out. There’s a really nicely choreographed fight scene in the end. I was enjoying it until the slow mo romantic looks happened. I then can’t take it seriously. I also don’t think that scene is necessary in the grand scheme of things. It’s more of a fan service.
5. Dubbing
This is very subjective as I am a big fan of actors using their own voices. It’s a little disappointing that Wang Chu Ran and Chang Hua Sen were both dubbed. I think the drama would be more intriguing and captivating if the lines were recorded live on scene (even if partially). The acting of the cast is pretty good, so I think being able to hear their emotions when acting would be so much better. Nevertheless, this is a lower budget production, so I shouldn’t expect too much. I think money is spent on other areas (more about this in the positives section).
6. Makeup
Also subjective here because I can’t stand the ugly white makeup on the male characters. And at times, Wang Chu Ran’s eye shadow reminds me of the racoon eyes that Luo Yun Xi has in “Till The End of the Moon”. Zhang Wan Yi also continues to look quite clean when he’s in a war battle (a few smudges here and there don’t count), or when he’s hurt and in prison. His white makeup is the most distracting, especially when he’s not ill.
What I Like:
1. Strong and Likable Characters
Despite my ‘complaints’ about the leads, they also make the audience want to root for them. Who doesn’t like a power couple? They are fun to watch when they are steps ahead of everyone. And it’s not just the main leads. The two supporting couples are also very easy to root for, especially, when they are not as perfect. They feel more real. They make mistakes but also evolve throughout the drama. With all three couples, they are likable individually but even better when pairing up to be better versions of themselves. I also like how the drama gives equal screen time to the female and male characters to have their own storylines.
2. Acting
Coming in, I wasn’t sure of Wang Chu Ran. She’s pretty and elegant. But is she capable of carrying the show on her shoulders? I think she did a pretty job and no less than her performance in “Fireworks of my Heart”. As I mentioned, I already like Zhang Wan Yi and I enjoy his portrayal of Lord Huaiyang. He’s charismatic as the lord, and lovely has a doting husband (he has a cute pouty look). Comparatively, I find Chang Hua Sen a little less charismatic as Liu Yu, but elegant and scholarly as Zi Yu. A surprise find for me is Yuan Yu Xuan’s portrayal of the timid and shy Shi Xue Ji. She is one of my favorite characters in this drama. Additionally, this drama has a large supporting cast by many veteran actors. Their acting is top notch.
3. Romance
If you are a romance lover like me, you might be pretty happy with this drama. There are 3 romance storylines and each of them is unique and special.
- Liu Mian Tang + Cui Xing Zhou - this power couple started as enemies/strangers and slowly developed feelings for each other in a fake marriage. I can’t lie that I wasn’t frustrated with the treatment of ML to FL during the amnesia plot. I think the fake identity dragged on for too long, but from a romance point of view, the hesitation can be viewed as reasonable. I also enjoy them supporting each other, being able to openly communicate their feelings for better or for worse. Their initial romance is calm and constant, and then it’s a little angsty in the middle before becoming sweet and supportive. It was a great journey.
- Shi Xue Ji + Zi Yu - we don’t see a relationship like this often in C-dramas. Political marriages are either portrayed as the couple hating/ignoring each other + a love triangle/square, or they fall in love during the process. But their relationship is different. They are not quite friends but more like partners and comrades. I hope true feelings develop in that very last scene.
- He Zhen + Marques Zhennan - they are the fun pair who bicker from start to finish. I actually think they got the short end of the stick, as their romance somewhat happened behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see the guy chasing after the girl and be as supportive as possible.
4. Meaningful Conversations + Implied meanings
Because the leads are quite communicative, there are many meaningful conversations throughout the drama. The drama also uses many ‘old language’ with idioms and poetry. I am not sure how they are translated in English since I was able to read Chinese subtitles. But when a drama is able to convey a secretive message with just a few words, it speaks highly of the writing of the drama or its source materials. I especially love ML’s confession to FL about how he loves all about her, and not just the adoring housewife that she was. Another favorite is the love birds analogy Shi Xue Ji told Zi Yu in persuading him to let go.
5. Costumes + Hair Accessories
I am a big fan of beautiful costumes and hair accessories. If this is not a high budget production, it’s dedicating enough money to have simple and elegant costumes for the characters. Zhang Wang Yi looks dashing in his simple attire, and only a little fancier in the latter episodes when he’s moved back to the city. Wang Chu Ran looks elegant and sophisticated with minimal makeup and hair accessories. But when needed, all the women in the palace have elaborate and not-faking hair accessories. I also appreciate the use of the hair pins in this drama. They don’t necessarily serve as a mere ornament, but contribute to important scenes and storylines.
- Hair pins are used to show the social status and hierarchy in a family
- FL’s hair pins are used as a weapon of convenience in a few scenes.
- FL’s special glow-in-the-dark hair pin was used in a couple storylines
- A 12-piece set contributed to the downfall of a character
This drama is definitely not perfect. But I think it strikes a pretty good balance in most of the topics it wants to cover. It has a strong and likable cast (ok, except one annoying auntie). The politics are not dry or boring. I would definitely recommend this to those who love romance in historical, political dramas. But if you are looking for a serious political drama, this might not satisfy you. I was tempted to give this drama a solid 9.0 when I finished it, but held back after I detailed everything in this review. Nevertheless, I had a fantastic time watching “Are You The One”.
P.s this is a long review. Thank you for reading until the end. ?
Completed: 9/8/2024 - Review #482
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Kake kara Hajimaru Sayonara no Koi
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Predictable but Comforting. Adorable Leads with Great Chemistry!
Subjective Gut Rating; 8.5Objective Rating: 7.5-8.0
Why am I rating this quite high? Well, because this is my cup of tea! I love when main leads are in love with each other, yet thinking the other doesn’t like them. I LOVE the guessing game. That’s my jam! If you are like me, then you will enjoy this drama. If this is not your thing, then “Goodbye’s Love Begins With Betting” is a predictable, easy and light watch. You have seen everything. There is no surprise, but a comfort watch.
Nao (FL) and Koichi (ML) are both very likable characters. Nao is known as the Ice Iron lady, and Koichi is known as the handsome, but indecisive guy who will say yes to everyone. Both of them started dating due to a bet. And you probably can guess that they ended up liking each other and are worried about how this bet is going to ruin their relationship. The leads have great chemistry and I enjoy all their scenes together.
There are a lot of internal monologues to show Nao’s internal conflict and how she is so different outwardly than her true self. She is adorable and it’s quite interesting to hear the internal turmoil while watching her with an emotionless face. Yamazaki Hirona played Nao really well. I was rooting for her the whole time. But what I adore even more is Koseki Yuta’s beautiful and sunshine smile. It’s no wonder our female lead is so in love with him. Koichi might be indecisive but I don’t find him frustrating because he presents himself so well and because Yuta plays his role so well.
The best friends are the rational and sensible support system that our leads need. I’m glad the drama doesn’t force-feed us a secondary romance, but really centers all attention to our leads. The two best friends play an important supporting role in the story and not just wallflowers. I also adore FL’s co-worker as the cute cheerleader. The ‘villain’ isn’t too irritating either.
If you are looking for a fun, easy and light watch, this is it for you. Don’t expect anything unique or groundbreaking, but sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
Completed: 6/8/2024 - Review #450
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Women Unite to Blossom from Adversities by selling Dim Sum!
“Blossoms in Adversity” is not getting a lot of hype and it’s unfortunate as it’s a pretty good drama. Led by Zhang Jing Yi (of “Lighter and Princess”) as the main heroine, we follow her as she leads everyone to weather the storms thrown at her and the Hua family. This drama reminds me of “New LIfe Begins”, with a focus on the women of the family, though “Blossoms in Adversity” has more drama and less comedy.Plot/Pacing:
A lot happened to the Hua Family in these 40 episodes mainly due to a mean, dictatorial, jealous emperor who couldn’t stand being criticized or questioned. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. With a mix of politics, overcoming hardships, family relationships/dynamics, business dealings and royal family disputes, these 40 episodes go by pretty quickly. There might be slight slow pacing in the middle but the last quarter of the drama picks the pace back up. I am not a big fan of harem scheming, so I was initially worried that I might dislike all these women in the family, especially when the hard times come. Luckily, the fighting only happens for a few episodes and they are not too bad. None of them is evil at heart, and this drama really does emphasize on how these women of all ages and social statuses come together to create a new life for themselves and their loved ones.
Romance:
The main romance is like a calming, steady river stream. Hua Zhi (FL) and Gu Yan Xi (ML) are both intelligent, mature and rational adults. Their romance is developed slowly starting as strangers, to friends, and then to lovers. Although this romance does not give you severe heartbreaks or cute and fluffy sweetness, it brings a sense of satisfaction, companionship and comfort. Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi are very honest with each other, and will communicate when they are in doubt. I would not say Zhang Jing Yi and Hu Yi Tian have excellent chemistry and it’s probably because their romance is just so comforting. It lacks a sense of passion or yearning. The acting is not bad, but also not enough to move or excite me. There’s only really one kiss scene but there is plenty of hugging and hand holding. On the other hand, the secondary romance between Shao Yao and Shen Huan is a lot more adorable. They are just so fun together and I enjoy their chemistry. Their innocence shines through like the bright sunlight.
Acting:
As the protagonist, Zhang Jing Yi did an admirable job as Hua Zhi. She met my expectations but I would not say she’s excellent, because I think the large supporting cast of veteran actresses share her spotlight. Hu Yi Tian is not horrible, and definitely better than in his other ‘cold’ roles in “Go Go Squid” or “Handsome Siblings”. He’s OK but not great. He still lacks expressions in some of the more emotional scenes, especially when he’s angry (gotta do more than open your eyes wide). Lu Yu Xiao really is a very promising young actress. She has played so many different roles in recent dramas and she continues to impress me. “Blossoms in Adversity” has a very large cast from the youngest to the oldest. There isn’t anyone that is the weakest link and luckily, there aren't any annoying characters.
Production:
This might not be an S+ production, but nothing looks cheap. I love all of Zhang Jing Yi’s costumes and hairstyles. She looks beautiful in this drama. When the Hua family has money, all the women’s clothing look nice and ‘rich’, though they seem to always wear the same clothes. I enjoy the OST but do think the songs are overplayed. I am somewhat pleasantly surprised at the action/fight scenes. There aren’t too many fight scenes but the few that they had, I was quite impressed, and especially surprised to see Hu Yi Tian fight hard and seems to know what he’s doing. I don’t recall being impressed with his fight scenes in “Handsome Siblings”. The fights are well-choreographed and I would have loved them even more if we cut down on the slow-motion scenes. Lastly, I am so glad that most of the actors and actresses use their own voice even if it’s from studio/post-production and not live. Eddie Ko (Grandfather Hua) and Myolie Wu (third madame), both from Hong Kong, seem to be the only ones dubbed by someone else.
Lastly, I am not sure if this is considered a criticism, but I find our heroine Hua Zhi a little too perfect. The drama does not outright tell you she’s perfect. In fact, when she was introduced, no one really liked her or cared for her, except for her grandfather. But as the drama goes on, we are shown time and time again how intelligent she is. She is able to overcome Everything quite easily. Hua Zhi can react to challenges rationally, and she can anticipate and prevent future crises, while coming up with new ideas to make money. She’s able to grow her small little food stand business to having her own dim sum store in less than a year!
Having said that, there really isn’t any big flaw “Blossoms in Adversity”. It’s enjoyable, decently-paced with lovely characters. If you enjoy seeing women band together to support each other, this is the drama for you. If you enjoy seeing how one overcomes adversities and blossoms from them (see my pun here.. LOL), this is the drama for you. I’m giving this a solid 8.5. It’s just missing a little something for me emotionally, so I can’t give it a higher rating. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend this drama.
Completed: 6/2/2024 - Review #448
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Cute Main Romance but with Many half-baked and messy side stories
If I were to rate “Love by Chance” solely on the main romantic story between Pete and Ae, this would have a higher rating. Unfortunately, this drama as a whole is messy and half-baked. There are too many side storylines that were introduced but not properly developed. I call this suffering from having a second season syndrome. These half-baked plotlines might continue in the next season, but this makes the first season full of plot holes.But I do really enjoy Pete and Ae. They are really adorable together and have great chemistry. Yes, some of their lines are quite cringey, but I can look past that. Pete and Ae are just such good guys that it’s hard not to root for them. Ae is so sweet and kind, and seeing him slowly developing feelings for Pete and trying to understand himself is the most honest way, is a breath of fresh air. Pete is shy and I was worried that I would get annoyed with him in the beginning. I am not a fan of dismissive and passive characters. Thank goodness Pete surprises in a way that, though shy, he’s honest and will speak up and communicate his feelings. Pete and Ae really have one of the healthiest BL teen romantic relationships. They are honest and communicative. They are sweet and innocent in a way, yet the drama does not shy away from showing us that they are hormonal teenagers with desires. I think in that sense, the drama did a pretty good job, BUT only with Pete an Ae.
Unfortunately, the rest of the pairings are so much more problematic. Tin and Can have the second most screen time in their enemies-to-friends/lovers romance. It has a bullying and mean start but in the end, it touches my heart and I was saddened by Tin’s experience and how their story ended at the end of season 1. But I have to sit through their repetitive and annoying banter for a long time. Then we have these half-baked stories - Pond and Chaaim, Type and his never-seen boyfriend/girlfriend, annoying Chompoo, and Pete's ex and money stolen. But the two worst storylines are Tar and Tum. Tar has gone through something horrific but their storyline is an afterthought that has nothing to do with the main plot. It’s very unfortunate that a serious plot is thrown into the drama without proper writing/execution. The other horrible storyline is Good’s experience with the teenager. What the hell is that? Came from left field and was set up so horribly with another ‘toxic’ romance.
Additionally, the acting for the whole cast is pretty below-average. I know most of them are young actors and it’s their first drama. But I can’t just ignore the fact that I cringe at their acting quite often throughout the drama. I like Perth’s portrayal of Ae the best, and he’s my favorite in the drama. Saint’s Pete was hard to watch in the first few episodes, but he got better as the drama goes on. There are also quite a few loud and annoying characters. Ae’s roommate, Pond, is loud and obnoxious. He’s a good guy, but I can only take him with small doses. The annoying high school teenage girl, Choompoo, also gets on my nerves. I can’t stand her character and her high-pitched whiny voice. Luckily, she doesn’t have that much screen time.
If you are a fan of Saint and Perth, then I would recommend this drama for you since this is their first drama. They are really cute and their story is written in a very positive way. Otherwise, I will skip this drama. I also don’t think the introduction of the other characters' story is attractive enough for me to watch season 2 to find out their ending. If I do watch it, it’s because I see Perth looking quite handsome in this supporting role in season 2.
Completed: 6/1/2024 - Review #447
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A worthy Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor
Enough praises have been showered for this amazing thriller, and no wonder it’s a Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor. I feel that it’s even more amazing when this drama has an original script and not an adaptation of a novel or webtoon. Adaptations seem to be so common these days that original ideas from screenwriters have run dry. This genre is not usually my cup-of-tea and I was hesitant to watch even though I know it’s a masterpiece. I’m so glad this was assigned to me during a challenge and ‘forces’ me to witness the amazing acting of the whole cast.Shin Ha Kyun’s award for Best Actor is so deserving. As a veteran, and mostly a movie veteran, he was perfectly casted as the “crazy” cop who was desperate to find his murdered sister’s missing body for over 20 years. Being accused of killing his sister and living a really hard life, Shin Ha Kyun was able to portray all the emotions of grief, guilt, regret, hate, and being loved by his found family. I was haunted by the evil grin and eyes he showed from time to time, but also cried for him when he’s been hurt so deeply by people close to him.
On another note, Yeo Jin Goo held his own playing opposite the amazing Shin Ha Kyun. He has grown so much as an actor and continues to amaze me whenever he’s in a serious drama. I first loved him as the young crown prince in “Moon Embracing the Sun” but really acknowledged his acting in “The Crowned Clown”. Although he is probably best known for his role in “Hotel del Luna”, I think with him being in “Beyond Evil” and playing with so many great veteran actors must be a very enjoyable process. Yeo Jin Goo’s character, Han Joo Won, might not be as multi-layered as Shin Ha Kyun’s character, Lee Dong Shik. Joo Won could be a little more emotionless but Yeo Jin Goo’s micro expressions and subtle yet emotional acting shines through. I might be more impressed by this young fella than the veterans.
But honestly, the whole cast from the found family of friends, to the villains who cause troubles, they are all amazing. The group of friends who hung out at the restaurant after work each night brings warmth to my heart. They care for and love each other, yet each harbors a secret that you will discover one by one. The villains are not cartoonish. They are so well-written that you don’t feel like you can hate them outright.
The friendship/partnership between the leads is fun to witness. Do they really trust each other as partners? Are they just using each other for their own purposes? Do they really care for each other? Is their next move to protect the partner? This drama keeps me guessing and I love both of them. I really want them to want to die and sacrifice for each other, even though you will never hear them say that out loud.
Lastly, the drama keeps me interested and engaged throughout. From my novice eyes, I love the plot and twists. I thought initially why they let me know the murderer so early on and then I realized, there’s so much more to the story. Different side plots seem to all intertwine into the main plot. It keeps me guessing but not guessing. It’s like you know who the big bad wolf is, but you wonder how the drama is going to show you. I enjoy the showing and not telling approach. There are some pretty intense scenes and a few pretty grueling visuals (after all this is about murders).
If I am going to be nick picky, there are a few minor questions I have about the storyline. Why would Ha Joo Won pick that certain someone for the sting operation? Why her? How did he know she would be chosen? What's the commonality of all the murder victims? Is there a reason to the madness? I would have loved to know more about the backstory of the murderer and what drove him into this madness.
I am really glad I watched this, even though I might have fallen asleep watching it because I was too tired from work. It’s not the fault of the drama, but it does require my focus and attention 100% because each scene and each facial expression is important. I strongly recommend this if you are a lover of this drama, or if you are a novice like me and want to start with something amazing.
Completed: 3/1/2024 - Review #412
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Did not quite stick the ending, but still a very enjoyable watch.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (almost a solid 8.5)Just as many have commented and reviewed, “A Journey to Love” was an exciting, fun, and engaging drama for most of the episodes. Unfortunately, along with other fellow viewers, I was disappointed in the last 5-6 episodes. Even so, this is still a drama worth watching.
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What I Like:
Fight/Action Scenes - It has been a while since I last watched a drama with very satisfying fight scenes that don’t rely on CGI. There are still some posing and slow motion, but comparatively, the fight scenes are fast-paced, realistic and choreographed well. There are many war scenes, as well as just regular fighting amongst each other. These scenes are also spread throughout the drama. All actors and actresses look the part and I don’t see anyone weak who acts like they are flailing around with their swords.
The Gang of Brothers - Who would have thought I will love these side characters more than the main leads. The buddies from the Six Realms Hall/Liu Dao Hall are such a fun bunch. They provide many comedic moments. Initially, I wasn’t sure if the comedy jives with the vibe of the drama, since “A Journey to Love” appears to be a serious drama of assassination, palace politics and wars. But I love these guys so much. Each of them brings something different to the group. And when the last few episodes happened, I was so sad.
Alen Fang/Yu Shi San (13) - I bet 13 is the most loved character in the drama. I’ve seen Alen Fang in many other dramas before, mostly as a supporting role. The last drama I saw him in was “The Longest Promise” and he played the beloved Zhi Yuan. Zhi Yuan is such a different character from 13 but Alen did such a great job. It’s lovely to see more and more viewers know and acknowledge Alen’s acting. He shines so brightly that Liu Yu Ning, as the main lead, pales in comparison.
Princess Yang Ying - This is my first time watching He Lan Dou and she has quite a difficult character to play in Yang Ying. I found He Lan Dou’s acting a little rough in the beginning and it took me a while to get used to her cross-dressing role. But she grew on me and I like her acting and her character more and more. It’s lovely to see little Yang Ying grow in front of our eyes. From the forgotten and timid princess to an independent, strong-willed and feisty lady of the house.
Ren Xin - A true assassin and the best of the best. She doesn’t stop killing, from ep 1 to ep 40. Finally we have a strong female character who is strong from the beginning to the end. Her romance softens her hardened heart a little, but deep down she’s still the trained assasin. I enjoyed Liu Shi Shi’s portrayal of Ren Xin. LSS exudes elegant yet arrogant charisma. Her posture and head were so straight that I wondered if LSS needed a massage after every scene. LOL
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What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:
Li Tong Guang - I like him and then I don’t like him. His obsession towards Ren Xin is a little dramatic, but it’s not like I’ve never seen this before. This is my first true time watching Chang Hua Sen and I don’t think his acting is quite up to par to play such a polarizing character. He wasn’t bad, but at times he seems to have tried too hard to act crazy, and his acting lacks maturity. Other times, I feel that he did quite a good job as someone intelligent and ambitious, yet still cares about the lives of the common people. Maybe if this Li Tong Guang is played by another actor, I might have liked him more as the default gray character of a drama.
Romance - I love all things romance, yet I am not loving the romance between Ren Xin (FL) and Ning Yuan Zhou (ML). It’s not horrible. They look good together, and Liu Shi Shi has the perfect height to stand next to the super tall Liu Yu Ning. But I am not feeling their chemistry. I think Liu Yu Ning’s acting is adequate but not amazing, and especially not good during romantic scenes. There are also way too many slow motion romantic scenes and there was one kiss that took forever for the lips to touch. On the other hand, I love the few scenes Yu Shi San has with Chu Yue. Their scenes are so limited but I feel the chemistry between them so much more. Their night of fun together brought a lot of joy. The conversation/confrontation the day after was emotional and really tugs at my heartstrings. And the last scenes of them together make me feel so, so sad.
Pacing - I was really enjoying the different arcs in the first 70% of the drama. I thought it was well-paced and I was invested and engaged. The combination of comedy, action, camaraderie, and palace politics are pretty well done. Then the last arc with the northerners happened. It’s like someone presses on the gas pedal and everything speeds up. Why was there such a rush in the end? Was the drama edited and chopped up because of the 40-episode limitation? Was that the writing’s fault? I am not sure.
Ending - Was I surprised how ‘brutal’ the ending is? Not really. I don’t dislike the ending per se. I am a little surprised by the sheer number of deaths. I’ve watched C-drama historicals enough to know not to love a character too much, as they might not make it to the end. I just wish their deaths would be spaced out. I don’t think I have the time to mourn for each death, and the drama did not take a breather before moving to the next one. This ties back to my criticism of the pacing.
Dubbing - How I wish everyone used their real voice. Unfortunately, Liu Shi Shi/Ren Xin and Chang Hua Sen/Li Tong Guang. The other main cast did and I applaud them for it, especially for Liu Yu Ning/Ning Yuan Zhou and the young He Lan Dou/Yang Ying. But all dubbing was done in the studio and none live.
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Although this drama is not perfect, I have quite an enjoyable time watching it. It’s able to hold my attention until about ep 35. If the last 5-6 episodes are paced well and the main romance has better chemistry, I would have rated this an 9.0. But now, I am just going to give this an 8.25-8.50. I will still recommend this drama for the fun bunch of guys, great action scenes and an engaging plot.
Completed: 2/22/2024 - Review #406
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Interesting premise of matchmaking but lacking in Leads chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75The main reason that I wanted to watch “The Matchmakers” is because of Rowoon. The premise of the drama is also pretty interesting, especially when the story revolves mainly around the matchmaking of the three sisters and not a bunch of minor supporting characters in an episodic format.
Rowoon has such a pretty face that it is really hard for me not to like him in any role. “The Matchmakers” is trying to challenge me and test my patience. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked Rowoon so much. The introduction of the Prince Consort makes it really hard to like him. He’s such an irritating and know-it-all, I-am-better-than-all-of-you asshole. It took me a while to warm up to his character. On the other hand, FL aka the goddess of matchmaking, is a lot easier to like and to root for. She’s smart and kind. I love her deducing ability and perceptive eye in matchmaking. It was quite fun to watch. But, I need to put away my brain for a little and believe that her makeup can transform her into a totally different person, who even her own brother can’t recognize her.
When we put a book smart ML together with a street smart FL, we should see fireworks. Unfortunately, the chemistry is lacking. I’ve never questioned Rowoon’s ability to act totally in love. I think I am not getting that from the female lead. They are great partners, but not great lovers. Their romance is weak and disappointing, and I didn’t care for their forbidden love.. FL’s wishy-washy indecision also drags down the pacing of the show. The secret of FL’s identity drags on for too long. When they finally kissed, we got a dead fish kiss. What a waste of Rowoon’s lips and talents! The ending is somewhat predictable because that's probably the only way they could have given it a somewhat happy ending.
The drama also spends a lot of screen time on politics and family/female roles, instead of diving deeper into the three sisters’ romance. Their marriages are central to the plot and could have delivered even more comedy. I do find Sisters #2 and #3 romances quite cute and adorable. Sister #1 isn’t my cup of tea.
On a positive note, the overall acting is good. The King is fun and the 2 young child actors are adorable. The crown prince looks a little young and might be better to cast someone older. The veteran cast definitely outshines the younger cast. The production quality is decent and I like the use of natural lighting (candles and lamps). Seeing FL’s annex is like seeing an old Korean friend. You see that set in so many saeguks. Music is ok, and mainly musical scores rather than songs with lyrics overplayed.
I will only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the actors, or if you really like matchmaking. There are better rom-com saeguks out there. “The Matchmakers” should have been 12 episodes long instead of 16.
Completed: 1/7/2024 - Review #391
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A Buffet of Romance Stories
This anthology-style drama consists of 10 romance stories that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Except for the last episode, you can watch the other 9 in any order, and you wouldn’t be confused. For me, I just watched it from the beginning. Even though these are stories of love, they are not necessarily all cute and fluffy. But it does give us variety and viewers will probably like some more than others.“At the Moment” has a star-studded cast. If you watch enough Taiwanese dramas, you will recognize or have seen all of them in other dramas. It seems like the whole cast was in the “Light the Night” series, some as main/supporting characters, and others in guest roles. This is probably because director Lian Yi Qi also directed all 3 “Light the Night” dramas.
The acting is pretty good and the stories are interesting enough. I do have my favorites.
Ep 1 - Scripted Love - this is an interesting and not a bad introduction to the drama.
Ep 2 - Price for a ‘happy ending’ - this is one of my favorite ones. Love the actors and it’s funny!
Ep 3 - Blinded by love - not one of my favorites as I don’t like the female character that much. The male lead is quite good-looking though.
Ep 4 - ET phone home - this is quite weird to begin with but I like the interesting twist (thought somewhat predictable).
Ep 5 - Dodgeball - not one of my favorites because I don’t like the portrayal of the sudden change of feelings.
Ep 6 - Let’s try again - this one is OK, even though I like both leads.
Ep 7 - Hot and sexy revenge - there’s just something about Chris Wu that makes him so damn sexy, even though he’s not the typical pretty boy. Watch this for him. LOL
Ep 8 - Role Reversal - this one is different from the others. A very ‘normal’ relationship but it’s actually really sweet to see how the couple supports each other.
Ep 9 - Badminton never dies - a pleasant surprise to see the portrayal of such a relationship.
Ep 10 - I’m sorry Jie Jie 姐姐 - gotta include this trope within these 10 episodes. It was nice to have a quick recap of how everyone’s doing.
Completed: 11/21/2023 - Review #379
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