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Lost in Dramaland
Light drama without tackling any serious teenage issues
"Our Secret" is one of the lighter coming-of-age teen dramas that I have watched. It is very romance-focused and doesn't tackle serious issues, and even the pressure of school/studies isn't that bad. The romance is very slow-burn and is nicely paced and done. You can say the relationship has a pretty "realistic" development. The leads do have some pretty sweet moments.Personally, I don't like FL's character. I don't like loud female leads nor super shy ones either. FL here is the shy, quiet and super introverted type. Comparatively, I like the quiet but strong FL in "My Huckleberry Friends" more. I also don't like FL's voice and the way she speaks. On the other hand, ML has a more normal personality (though he's a genius) and not the typical bad boy or cold-outside/warm-inside type.
I think 24 episodes is more than enough, and it could be one or two episodes shorter. Because the drama is very "slice-of-life", personally I find the pacing OK (not great) but also not too slow. I watched this drama on YouTube and it affects my viewing enjoyment because some songs and music were blocked due to copyright issues.
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Strong male characters but female characters drove me crazy
6/15/2021I decided to watch this drama because of the male leads. They are definitely good-looking and I like all 4 of them. However, even though I enjoy romance storylines, I feel that the drama should have focused more on crime investigation and fighting, instead of romance. Aside from the main FL, I do not like any of the female characters. They are all annoying, immature and petty. They make the MLs weaker and not as heroic as they could be. It's especially worse with the female deputies who keep on bullying the FL. They are so unprofessional and petty and should never be allowed to continue to be deputies. I do enjoy the slow romance of the main FL and ML and would have loved to see them more. The acting of the 4 MLs are good and they look good in their uniforms and in fight scenes.
I enjoy the fight scenes as they are more of the traditional wuxia fighting than the modern xianxia fighting with slow motion and spinning. The music is fine and I do enjoy the opening and the closing songs, sung by the two cast members. The costumes and CGI were just OK (well, this is an older drama afterall). Not a fault of the drama, but from watching on Viki, it seems like they re-did the color of the drama and everything looks so HDR+ and fake. The drama is decent, but still has many plot holes. If the female characters are less annoying and the romances are more mature, I would have liked this drama more. The drama could be a little shorter by cutting repeated conversations about romance and revenge.
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Mature drama with a good combination of romance and thriller
7/31/2021Saw a MDL article recommending this show and I thought I would give it a shot. This drama does not seem to have big stars in it, and not being talked about a lot. However, I quite enjoyed it and thought it has a good combination of romance and thriller. This is a very short drama, 16 episodes and about 30 minutes each. I am glad to see more recent modern C-dramas that are shorter. This contributes to a much tighter plot and no dragging. I even felt that the drama should be a little longer to give us more of the story that happened 5 years ago.
What happened 5 years ago was introduced through flashbacks in the beginning of each episode. Though the flashbacks were not in chronological order, I didn't find it confusing. I would have liked to see more and longer flashbacks, to see what really happened and how the love between ML and FL developed. Since they still love each other 5 years later, they must have a pretty amazing past for that to happen.
This is my first time watching any of these actors and actresses in a drama. I felt that the acting is pretty good (not amazing). I enjoy FL's portrayal of a mature and smart woman, who despite being in love with ML, did not make stupid decisions but somewhat rational ones. I always have a soft spot for MLs who are cold on the outside but warm on the inside (but not acting like a jerk). Our ML here is quite handsome with nice abs (LOL). His acting isn't bad but also not amazing. I do enjoy those smiles and loving looks he has for the FL. He looks especially handsome in suits and when he's fighting. Actually, I felt that this drama has many good-looking actors and actresses. 2ML is especially adorable and it's a good contrast to the cool-looking ML.
I enjoyed the romance development of the leads. There's a decent amount of push-and-pull but you can feel the chemistry.
They also have great and realistic kissing scenes. Their love feels mature. However, it took me a little while to get into the secondary romance. I do not like the stalker-ish and persistent behavior of how 2FL is chasing 2ML. I really wish dramas would stop doing that. On the other hand, I understand it takes a character like 2FL to break through the walls of 2ML.
I also enjoy the OST and the background music. I am so glad that the music did not appear at inopportune times, or played extremely loud. I also like the wardrobe selection here. Actors look dashing in suits and actresses look great in the respective outfits. Oh, and the little girl is quite cute and sassy. She is quite a scene-stealer!
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Unique Story , Beautiful Cinematography and Amazing Costumes
7/21/2021The reason for me picking this drama is mainly because of Zhang Bin Bin (ML). I first saw him in "Ten Miles Peach Blossoms" and had a minor crush on him. I've been trying to look for another drama of his with good reviews and a happy ending. This led me to Rattan.
Plot/Pacing: This is a unique and weird story, that is quite different from other C-Dramas. It's a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I find that you either really like the story or you hate it because it could be confusing. I liked it but I do find certain areas a little confusing without enough explanation. All that happens is probably due to love + obsession + stubbornness + revenge. I found the twists and turns quite un-predictable esp. the revelation of who Bai Ying is. I enjoyed the first half of the drama, when Si Teng (FL) is trying to piece together what happened to her and what happened after her death. The pacing was done well. I got a little bored towards the early 20s episodes but the pace picked up again towards the mid-20s episode. There are some plot holes and illogical parts of the drama. Did ML ever find out the real identity of his best friend? If FL told him about her fight with his best friend, did he not care at all? Never confront him? On another note, he's a successful architect but he never really went to work? Even if he was there, he wasn't really working. When he's hurt and almost dead, did they really transfer him out of the hospital to his home without any lifesaving medical equipment? I know this is not a medical show, but you gotta at least do the bare minimum and give him some IV and an oxygen tank!
Romance: There are several romances in this show and that's where all the hate and revenge started all the drama. First we have Qiu Shan betrayed by his Tribe Yi lover, thus started his hate for all Tribe Yi and Si Teng. We also have the unfortunate romance of Bai Ying and Shao Yan Kuan which ended with the death of Si Teng. But of course, we have the main romance of the leads. I would say FL and ML have decent chemistry. I wouldn't say it was off-the-charts. I personally enjoyed a slow burn romance, and theirs is slow burn. But I feel that it's lacking something to make me believe that they are so in love that they would die fo each other and go through what they did in the last couple episodes. I feel that I need to see a little more passion in that slow-burn romance to believe in it more. I also feel that ML is too perfect of a character. He's good-looking, rich, sweet, caring, attentive and rarely shows his temper. Is he a perfect guy? Probably. But not as multi-layered as I want a male lead to be. FL, on the other hand, is a much better written character with development throughout the show.
Acting: The overall acting is not bad. I enjoyed FL's sassiness and ML's sweetness (gosh, he is such a joy to look at..LOL). The supporting cast's acting is not bad either. I particularly enjoy the two child actors. They are so cute and adorable. Young Si Teng did a great job in showing her sassiness and facial expressions at such a young age.
Cinematography/Setting/Music/CGI: What a beautiful show! I love all the sceneries, the village, the forest and the architecture and set designs. It's refreshing to watch a modern show not set in the glitzy city setting. The majority of the show takes place in the rural part of the country. All the accommodations at the rural areas have their own distinct architecture and design. The sweeping views of mountains, lakes, grasslands and forests are beautiful. I also enjoyed all the songs in this drama. There seems to be quite a number of songs and you don't get that same annoying song played over and over again. However, one BIG negative for is that the music is just way too loud. I watched the show on Viki and also on YouTube, and I found the volume of the actor's voices are drowned by the background music. When music or songs are played, I have to turn down my volume, and then turn it back up when actors start to talk again. I am not sure if it's because of the version that I was watching, of just a problem with editing. I also quite enjoy the special effects of rattan whipping and fighting. It was especially beautiful when FL builds this canopy/umbrella for ML when he was crying. What a beautiful use of her talent in this touching scene.
Costumes: Si Teng's wardrobe deserves its own category. I read that this is not a big budget drama and I think most of the budget is spent on costumes. FL looks amazing in her collection of qi paos, and also her more modern looks. However, towards the second half of the show, I find myself missing seeing her in qi paos. Not that she's not pretty in her other looks, but there's just something special when a gorgeous Chinese lady wears this traditional dress. I even find the cross-dressing June Wu looks great in qi pao. ML's costume changes when he's in the rural area vs when he's in the city. He dresses so young and casual when he's in the village. But when the setting changes to the city, he looks so handsome and dapper in those long coats and dress shirts. Oh, one more thing, why is there so much makeup on ML's face? He look so white and it's not attractive. He looks SO much better with a more natural tan look.
Ending: I have mixed feelings about the ending of this drama. I felt that the show could have ended at Ep. 27 when FL disappears and the show ends on a sad note. Yes, it's sad but I think it's more fitting and more beautiful this way. But then, there are a few more episodes with rebirth and a young Si Teng. In a way, it's also fitting that FL and ML ended up somewhat together and went back to nature. I guess fans were not happy with that ending and we got Ep 31 with a happier ending. As much as I love seeing ML with a happy ending (since that's my main reason of watching the show), I felt that the Ep 31 ending is my least favorite one.
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This is not for me...especially the Main Romance
I don’t usually write a review of a dropped drama, but I figured this could be helpful to others who feel the same way. Is this a horrible drama? No, not really. But it’s not enough to keep me wanting to continue on and there are elements I don’t enjoy that are central to the plot.Disclaimer:
I am a romance lover. Romance (whether it is a main plot or subplot) can make or break a drama for me. If I love the main romance, I can overlook some flaws.
Not always a fan of noona romance (older woman/younger man). I want to give this drama a chance because of Xiao Zhan. The only other noona romance I can think of that’s similar and I liked is “The Rational Life”. But I watched that years ago, and I might not like it as much if I were to watch it today.
Let’s start with what I Like:
Strong Female Leads - Stories about women in their 30s can be inconsistent. Dramas claim they are independent and mature, but their actions tell a different story. However, Jian Bing (FL) and Liang Shan Shan (2FL) prove to be the minority. Through their actions, thoughts and feelings within the first 18 episodes that I watched, they are truly mature and independent. They don’t rely on men to provide them with happiness. They live for themselves and are professional when at work.
Acting - There’s really nothing for me to pick on in terms of acting. From what I’ve seen so far, the main and supporting cast deliver good performances. I was especially impressed with the veteran performance from ML’s parents when they were having a big argument. I bet that sequence was done in one shot as the way they yell at each other seems so real.
Make-up - It’s lovely to see a drama without white filters, strong backlighting or white thick foundation on the actors' faces. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Xiao Zhao look so ‘real’. Everyone just looks normal and in character.
That’s all I can think of. And now with the negatives and why I can’t continue on.
Main Romance - As I mentioned, the main romance can make or break a drama for me. Unfortunately, this romance is giving me similar vibes as “Go Go Squid 2”, another drama I dropped. Sheng Yan (ML) is a mature 26-year old at work. He was professional and knows enough to keep his mouth shut and to Fake It Till he Makes it (<-- a little plug of another drama who has an excellent romance LOL). However, when it comes to love, he is a little puppy, always following FL around. And because FL is such a mature woman, his puppy eyes stop being cute after the first few episodes. I dropped “Go Go Squid 2” for this same reason. I like an unrequited love, but for that to last so long, when ML is a mature adult at work, seems off to me. I like a slow burn romance, but not when I don’t feel any romantic chemistry between the leads and when they are so different in the stages of their lives. They seem more like sister/brother or mentor/mentee to me. Maybe the romance develops into something beautiful in the second half of the drama, but at ep 18, it is not motivating me to continue on.
Plot - The pace is also quite slow. 36 episodes are way too long. There isn’t much happening in the first 18 episodes, and nothing different. I do appreciate the story of a female (and badass) director. Everything that happened is predictable. I don’t think this is supposed to be a slice-of-life drama, thus, I expect more from the plot. Are there touching moments? Yes. Is it well-acted? Yes. Does it make me hit the “play” button next? No. As a binge watcher, this is a big indicator of when the drama is not for me.
This review is super subjective and I am sure many love this drama. To me, I was expecting more and it didn’t deliver. It’s not a bad drama, just not enough for me to continue on when there are too many other dramas waiting for me.
Completed: 9/30/2023 - Review #360
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Slow burn romance of a Kickass Power Couple with decent chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25I have not watched “Princess Agent” for obvious reasons (the ending sucks), so I went into this drama without expectation from Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin. I am not looking for a continuation of their previous romance. I wonder if that’s the reason why I don’t feel that their chemistry is amazing, but still good.
The big selling point of this drama is the two leads. The majority of the drama focuses on the romance and relationship, before going into the real plot towards the second half of the drama. I am a die-hard romance lover, so I am not going to complain (much) about it. It’s really lovely to see their interaction and romantic development when they’re in the mortal world. Their conversations are full of subtle and not-so-subtle sarcastic remarks, which help with building their attraction for each other. I enjoy the not-in-your-face and not-second-hand-embarrassment comedy. I feel like you need to pay attention to what’s going on to fully enjoy it, otherwise, you’ll miss a subtle dig here and there. However, I do think the drama spends way too much time setting the stage for this slow burn romance in the first half of the drama. As much as I enjoy their conversation, I also am missing the plot. This is a xianxia drama, so I am sure there’s a villain out there plotting against the ‘good’ guys.
I’m glad to see another kickass power couple as we really don’t see that many in C-dramas. From the top of my head, I could only think of the leads in “Who Rules The World” and “Wonderland of Love”. But Sheng Li and Xing Zhi are on a whole other level. They are the best of the best, the top 2 of the 3 realms. I am glad Shen Li remains intelligent, cool-headed, and powerful from beginning to the end. In a way, we have a reversal of gender. As the drama says, a reversal of who is the yin and who is the yang. Xing Zhi is also an interesting character. He’s being held in such high regards, has the whole world on his shoulders, yet he’s petty and jealous. He also is a know-it-all and doesn’t communicate much out of necessity for the most part. It’s also hilarious that once he’s given up restraining himself, he has such a love brain. He’s more clingy and emotional than Sheng Li and it’s both frustrating and fun to watch.
On the other hand, I am greatly moved by the romance between Feng Lai and Liu Yu. They have very limited screen time. Even though their romance is not unique, it leaves a more lasting impression on me. They are both such pure and kind-hearted people, but they break my heart. I might be partial as I am a big fan of Xu Hai Qiao, and his portrayal of Feng Lai is impeccable. The other romance that receives an awkward amount of screen time is with the sultry Ms Jin, the serpent. More on that at the end of the review.
The acting is solid but not exceptional. The veterans are great - Zeng Li as Shen Li’s godmother Demon Lord, Liu Guan Lin as the Heavenly Emperor, Zhou Xiao Chuan as General Shang are all great veterans. Comparatively, Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin did fine. There are moments when I thought ZLY did a really good job. I also feel that LGX’s acting is a little uneven. There are times when I feel that he could emote really well with subtle microexpressions, but other times I feel that he’s very wooden. Maybe that’s why I don’t quite feel the chemistry between them to be as great as other reviewers have said. Xin Yun Lai sorta played a dual role as Mo Fang and along with He Yu as the Heavenly grandson. They both deliver average acting. My favorite is Xu Hai Qiao as Feng Lai. His screen time is limited but XHQ never disappoints. He is such a scene stealer.
This is obviously a pretty big budget production. A large amount of CGI and green screens are used in this production. The very first fight sequence in ep 1 sets the CGI tone for the rest of the drama. However, I do find that fight scene shot like a video game. But throughout the drama, I really enjoy the special effects of the different light/power blasted during any battles. Sometimes production runs out of money and they start to fade out the special effects towards the end of the drama. Not this one! The final big battle was amazing. Despite my praise of the fight scenes, there are quite a few very fake-looking green screen shots.
Costumes and set designs are quite nice. Zhao Li Ying looks absolutely stunning in all of her different costumes, hair and make up. I love her simpler getup in the mortal world, but also enjoy her more girly looks with flowy hair. Some of the Heavenly Realm sets remind me of “Ashes of Love” and “Ancient Love Poetry”. I guess they all look the same to me after watching so many xianxias. “The Legend of Shen Li” also has a beautiful OST. However, they are played quite loudly and at times I couldn’t hear the words spoken very clearly. The drama also likes to blast this suona background music (it sounds like the suona song played in “Small Town Stories”) whenever something exciting comes up. It gets annoying after a while. One thing I am a little disappointed about is that the main leads are all dubbed. None of them uses their own voice, and at times the words don’t match the movement of the lips.
Another thing that annoys me is the large amount of inner monologues by Shen Li. There are times I wonder if these are words spoken, or all in Sheng Li’s head. Zhao Li Ying doesn’t really open her mouth wide when she speaks, so I got confused at times.
Let’s talk about the ending. I think the drama should have ended at ep 38. Ep 39 is more of a side story or an easter egg episode. It’s cute and I enjoy it, but this filler and fan service episode somewhat changes how I remember the ending of this solid drama. The kiss scenes at the end are definitely for the fans, and this fan did not enjoy the kisses. They seem awkward.
Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable watch. The pace is decent despite a little slow down with too much time spent on the set-up of the romance in the beginning. The power couple is fun to watch and I enjoy their interactions and conversations. The romance is slow but mature. Acting and production are solid, though not exceptional. I like (not love) this drama and will recommend it to those who enjoy xianxias and great CGI battles.
Completed: 5/12/2024 - Review #438
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Turn off your brain and you will enjoy this cute and fluffy ride!
If you can watch this drama without thinking too logically and critically, this will be a fun and cute ride. I was having a hard time in the beginning to just let loose and enjoy, thus I found the first half not as enjoyable. The first two points listed in my dislikes below explain more about my criticism. However, I finally found my groove and enjoyed the second half of the drama a lot more, and felt that the drama finished strong. If you are looking for a fluffy and cute romance without any angst, this is the drama for you.What I Like (quick bullet point version)
♦︎ Great chemistry. Both couples are different but chemistry is good.
♦︎ Great acting between the main leads - they make me smile when they’re so cute together, and also make me cry when they cry. Chen Zhe Yuan and Shen Yue exceeded my expectations especially with the emotional and conflicted scenes.
♦︎ I like the secondary romance as well. It offers a good contrast to the main romance. I like seeing how the second male lead matures but doesn’t lose his quirky self either.
♦︎ Love strong and independent female leads. Both are go-getters professionally and romantically.
♦︎ FL’s mother is the MVP. We need more mothers like her in C-dramas.
♦︎ No annoying character.
♦︎ Like the two male leads’ outfits - they both look great in suits and long coats.
♦︎ It has one of the best, most heartfelt wedding scene.
What I don’t quite like or have mixed feelings about:
♦︎ My biggest dislike is the characterization of ML as someone who came from 500 years ago and transitions to the modern world without much trouble. He adjusts to the modern world too quickly, just because he’s supposedly smart and can read books at the library. I am not used to characters like that without time to adjust to the real world.
♦︎ Even if this is a fantasy drama, the plot just moves along to the romance and ignores the interesting and fun part about ML’s development.
♦︎ Initially, I had trouble with ML’s evil personality as it seems to have disappeared after a couple episodes. I want him to be the anti-hero for longer. I think the drama tries to explain his personality towards the last few episodes with the “twist”.
♦︎ FL needs a better wardrobe. Her outfits are horrendous and the worst of everyone in the whole drama.
♦︎ Not enough plot wise in the first half of the drama aside from the developing attractions.
♦︎ I forgot all about FL’s best friend and her boy toy until they showed up again in the last episode. Even then, I didn't recognize them until her name was called.
Completed: 10/17/2022
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I can't t urn my brain off to enjoy this. William Chan is not enough to keep me going
Subjective Rating - 7.0Objective Rating - 7.5-8.0
I tried to like this drama but I don’t think this is for me. I am a fan of William Chan, and especially his modern dramas since who doesn’t like a handsome guy with cute dimples and a hot body. But he’s not enough to keep me going.
Is this the worst drama ever? No, it’s not. Just not for me. From a personal enjoyment level, this would be a 7 but from an objective drama watching experience, I’ll give this an 7.5-8. So, an average of 7.5 will be my final score.
Here are some quick thoughts:
1. I realize I am not a fan of girl-chases-guy plot. This doesn’t warrant a low rating, just a preference.
2. I do not like how stalkerish and clingy Xu Lai (FL), CEO Huo Yan Zong (2ML), Firefighter Lu Fang Qi (3ML) and Actress Yu Shi shi (3FL) all are pursuing their love interests. If you like them, you can say they are persistent in love and are really the perfect match for their spouses. If you don’t like them, they are annoying stalkers. FOUR such characters in the same drama is just way too much.
3. Though I don’t like how stalkerish FL was in the beginning, she actually isn’t so bad later on. I actually think Zhang Ruo Nan did a pretty good job.
4. How could the police let irresponsible reporters into the crime scenes? One too many in this drama.
5. A civilian, no matter how trained they are, cannot put on fire fighter gear and just run into a burning building to save someone. Where are all the other 20 fire fighters on sight?
6. There’s skinship, but it’s a waste of William Chan’s kissing talent. Kisses are meh.
7. I’ve watched 24 episodes and never saw the supposedly playboy best friend with any woman. He seems to be more of a decent guy than all the others (except ML).
8. A mature and responsible fire captain took a day off from work to trespass and do illegal things with his girlfriend. Total love brain fart.
9. I can’t stand a mature, rational, logical male lead totally turning into a love sick puppy. Not that ML stops being a responsible person, but his constant thoughts of his girlfriend has influenced some work decisions and actions.
10. Guys thinking they know what’s best for the ladies and making decisions on their behalf. One too many in this drama as well.
Overall, I have a hard time turning my brain off to enjoy this drama. For the romance, once you get past the first 7-8 episodes of a stalkerish FL, their relationship is quite nice. They act appropriately, have enough fluffy scenes and do communicate for the most part. I also enjoy watching a different side of a firefighter story regarding other non-urgent duties they have to do, and the dog training.
Dropped: 6/25/2023 - Review #322
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Interesting & Complicated Plot but falls short in Writing/Execution. Could have been better!
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (0.25 bump for an interesting plot)“The Sign” started off really strong with a lot of fun scenes while the characters are in training. The action scenes are fun, and the interaction between the characters are interesting. The flirting and naked men took over the feeds when the drama first started airing.
The biggest selling point should have been the very interesting plot. It’s quite uncommon to find a Thai drama that mixes folklore, action/crime investigation, past lives and romance all in one. This is a very brave attempt. If the writing and execution are done right, this would be a winner. Unfortunately, I feel that the drama falls short. I wonder if the novel is a lot better.
Instead, the best thing about “The Sign” is the chemistry between Phaya and Tharn. Of course, romance takes center stage in the plot, and it’s not a bad idea to have strong chemistry between the leads. Initially, I thought Phaya would be the cool and cold-on-the-outside character. I was quite surprised when he became clingy and totally smitten. Not the direction I anticipated or liked, but it sort of works out since Tharn has been the more cautious one in this relationship. Billy (Phaya) and Babe (Tharn) deliver great scenes together. Their kisses are passionate and believable, while their intimate scenes do feel very intimate and romantic (give me “I Feel You Linger in the Air” vibes).
Acting is average (at times above average) all around. Even for the leads, there are some scenes that call for more subtle acting but I don’t think the actors quite deliver. It’s Babe’s first role and for that, I think he did a really good job. I do think the acting gets better as the drama goes on. I’ve seen some pretty bad acting in Thai dramas but at least no one sticks out like a sore thumb, just a few below average (Doc and Dao). It’s also a nice change to see Akk/Captain not playing an evil character. I’ve seen Akk in other dramas before and his acting is always pretty good. He’s solid here as well and looks mighty fine in uniform.
I was hoping for more action and police work, especially when the drama started off strong with all the training and missions. So, I am a little disappointed in that respect. The middle of the drama has a lot of talking, and not a whole lot of action. It’s probably also because the folklore/past connection takes more of a center stage. It’s interesting to see how Phaya and Tharn are truly connected together and Babe looks quite pretty as a girl/Naga. I am still a little confused about the Naga, and not quite sure what Tharn has done in the past to warrant being ‘cursed’ in the present time with people trying to hurt him. The writing is weaker in the second half. It either glosses over certain things (e.g. why Doc is so obsessed with Tharn, or how someone could be saved so easily), or when the drama decides to tell us instead of show us (e.g. the last episode and what happened between Tharn and the Doc). If the drama is longer, maybe it can really show us and explore the background story all characters in
Overall, I applaud the attempt to create such a drama with an interesting and complicated plot. Although I wish it had been better executed, I still had an enjoyable time watching. Babe/Tharn’s first role and he did quite well. I wish to see more of him in future.
Other Random Observations:
1. There are also many shower scenes of men posing naked with blurred out butts in weird positions.
2. The blurred butts also take away the very romantic feel I get from the intimate scene.
3. Thai dramas have the best grandmas! We have 2 in this drama. Thai dramas have the worst parents, and luckily we see none of them here.
4. The classic music played is a little too much during the art case arc.
5. I like Yai. I thought he would be a useless sidekick, but he ended up being the better cop than the leads. Tharn was so strong at training camp and seems to lose the ability to fight later. Yai beats him big time!
6. In C-dramas, you know to expect your fav supporting character might not survive till the end. With Thai dramas, it’s harder to tell which way it will go.
Completed: 2/24/2024 - Review #407
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Too long but Good leads chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75For some reason, the lakorns that I picked all have a similar plot of sibling rivalry and fighting to be the heir of a company or family fortune. Not sure if it’s me or it’s just a very typical/common plot. “My Lovely Bodyguard” is no different. Our ML has to fight off the villain to protect the company that he was asked to oversee, and in doing so, his life's in danger. Therefore, he employed our female lead to be his bodyguard. Of course, our female lead needs money to support her family (cliche) so she took the offer.
What I Like:
1. Good chemistry between the leads with a slow burn romance and pretty good kisses.
2. Good-looking cast. ML has a gorgeous smile and his eyes smile with him. FL is beautiful no matter what she wears.
Smart, independent leads who are good people and easy to root for. The secondary leads are likable characters but not super memorable.
3. Lovely relationships between uncle & nephew, grandmother & granddaughter. These foursomes brought some much fun and sweetness to the show.
4. The child actor and grandma are both adorable!
5. Enough comedic moments here and there to lighten the mood, but not typical slap kiss, over-the-top humor.
6. Acting is pretty good all around. I enjoy the villain’s acting the most.
What I have mixed feelings and don’t like:
1. Draggy plot about the villain. Not enough happened to contribute to 12 long episodes.
2. Interesting ½ of the drama, but then it slows down in the second half. I lost focus towards the last ⅓ of the drama when the villain and leads keep on going around in circles.
3. Action scenes could be better. I might have watched too many Chinese dramas. I expect fight scenes to be more hard-hitting but our female lead is not delivering.
4. Plot holes and illogical inconsistencies here and there. Just little things that if you use common sense, you would have made a different decision. Nothing major, just minor annoyances to me.
5. Last episode is too over-dramatic with the fight, injuries and hospital scenes.
Compared to a few other lakorns I watched this year, unfortunately, this drama is below average. It was unable to keep me interested and focused for ⅓ of the drama. Just this fact, the drama will get a below 8.0 rating. If not for the good chemistry of the leads and the lovely foursomes, I would have rated this lower. The draggy plot is not exciting enough to fill all these long episodes.
Completed: 7/17/2023 - Review #331
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A collection of short stories that are connected because of the antique store, Good Old Days. Each story is 2-episode long, and not a lot of depth is given to the characters. But enough to tell a simple story. Most of them have a connection to a family member and/or romantic interest. Some stories are better than others.
Ep 1-2: Bond and Relationship - my second least favorite story and almost did not hook me in to continue watching. Luckily, I find Lee (ML) attractive and watched it for him.
Ep 3-4: Memory of Happiness - I enjoy this one. The leads are likable and I think the story is believable.
Ep 5-6: Road to Regret - my least favorite and I only watched the first 10 minutes. I find the three main characters loud and annoying, and did not want to continue on.
Ep 7-8: Our Soundtrack - I like this one as well. The song is catchy (I found it on Spotify!) and the story is easy to follow. Not too deep but enough to keep me interested.
Ep 9-10: Love Wins - the title is the cheesiest but it's my favorite. Their love touched me even though I had a hard time getting into the story in the beginning. But following the couple and their challenges of a long-term relationship keep me engaged for the most part.
Ep 11-12: Somewhere Only We Belong - a decent one to end the anthology. Though it's quite predictable, it is sad to see how it all ended.
Completed: 7/11/2023 - Review #330
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Good quality, chemistry and acting for a low-budget web drama
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Provoke” is another well-produced low budget web drama directed by Zeng Qin Jie of “A Familiar Stranger” and “The Killer is Also Romantic“. The production quality is pretty good and I like it just as much as I like the other two dramas. Following a similar format, in twenty-five episodes, 12-16 minutes long, the drama tells the story of revenge, hidden identity and love. I can’t help but compare this drama to another popular web drama “Maid’s Revenge”.
Although I enjoy Dai Gao Zheng’s frequent flashes of his muscular torso and abs in “Maid’s Revenge” more than Zhao Yi Qin’s abs in “Provoke”, I have to say “Provoke” is a much better drama. The story is more coherent with fewer WTH moments. The acting and costumes are better and is also a lot less cringey and trashy.
Actress Daisy Li is beautiful as the sexy Jiang Ying. She is absolutely gorgeous in her various costumes and sexy when she is on stage singing and trying to seduce all the men. Male lead Zhao Yi Qin is handsome, but he is so skinny that when he’s wearing a long coat, it seems like he’s being swallowed. I enjoyed his body-building toned abs but a little too lean for my taste. LOL. Both leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is pretty good as well.
However, my first reaction to the drama within the first episode is that there are too many slow motion scenes. Why are they walking so slowly? Why are they slowing things down when it’s not necessarily a ‘romantic’ scene? This got better throughout the drama, but I can’t help but also notice everyone speaks very slowly as well. Moreover, whoever dubs the male lead sounds like he’s whispering instead of speaking (a very airy voice). I like the first half of the drama more than the second half. The writing is weaker in the last few episodes.
Overall, if you are looking for a simple and short web drama in the Republican era, I will recommend this. It’s rare to find a pretty well-rounded low budget drama that doesn’t look cheap. Oh, and it has a pretty good OST as well.
Completed: 4/20/2023
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I wanted more Chemistry between the Leads
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25“Call It Love” is a melodrama through and through. The pacing is slow, the conversations are meaningful, and the romance is slow burn and quiet. South Korea really likes its revenge drama in all genres. However, what differentiates “Call It Love” from other revenge dramas is that love, healing and forgiveness are more central to the plot, than revenge itself.
I had high expectations before I watched this drama. Kim Young Kwang was the main attraction and he did not disappoint. What a versatile and amazing actor he is! From an adorable and sexy CEO in “The Secret Life of My Secretary”, to a psycho serial killer in “Somebody”, and now a lonely and sad CEO, he was just perfect for the lead role. Han Dong Jin (ML) is a man of few words and walks with a sad and slightly crouched posture. He exudes loneliness, yet his caring side shows when he’s with FL. Kim Young Kwang is able to portray subtle facial expressions and looks/eyes that can convey all he wants to say without actually speaking the words.
On the other hand, I have mixed feelings about Lee Sung Kyung’s portrayal of Shim Woo Joo (FL). I am happy to see her venture out of the rom-com genre and challenge herself to play this role. Shim Woo Joo is another sad and depressed character. However, I find Lee Sung Kyung’s acting one-note throughout most of the drama. She often maintains that one facial expression - a sad and bland look/gaze. I actually like her character in the first ⅓ of the drama. Woo Joo speaks her thoughts with no filter and no reservation. I like her no nonsense approach and doesn’t care what other people say. But then, she seems to lose that straightforwardness and barely utters a few words.
Another reason I want to watch “Call It Love” is because I was craving some angst and melo-romance. I thought this drama would satisfy this urge of mine but I am disappointed. The first few episodes reminded me of “My Mister”. When the romance starts to slowly build up, I was hoping for the angsty, sizzling chemistry similar to Mr. Gu + Yeom Mi Jung in “My Liberation Notes” or Lee Boo Jung + Lee Kang Jae in “Lost”. Unfortunately, I did not feel that tension and longing in Han Dong Jin and Shim Woo Joo. I do like how honest and open they are with each other (in their own introverted way). I enjoy the depth of their conversations. Without really having long conversations, they are able to speak their minds succinctly. But they don’t move me. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t cry for them. I didn’t pray that they could live happily ever after. The chemistry was not bad, but did not live up to my expectations. I am sure many feel very differently and am in love with the leads.
“Call It Love” does explore the message of healing and forgiveness. I do think the drama does a good job by showing the effects of the father’s betrayal and the mistress’ calculated scheme. Oh yeah, I hated ML’s mother but I’ve seen worse parents in K-dramas. However, the secret was so long drawn out. At times, I wanted ML to know the truth already, so we can deal with the aftermath and damage control. On another note, I like the somewhat dysfunctional Shim family and the love/hate sibling relationships. I love what Shim Hye Seong (eldest sister) said to ML that, their family doesn’t know how to comfort each other, and feels awkward consoling someone, thus, they went out to karaoke and party hard instead.
Love triangles technically don't exist in this drama and I’m glad a couple friendships did not turn into unrequited love. Men and women CAN have platonic relationships. I’d rather see more of the bromance between ML and his fellow CEO buddy, than the lukewarm secondary romance. I find Shim Hye Seong (sister) a little annoying in the beginning but I understand why she acts that way once we get to know her. Once the forced smiles are gone, she becomes so much more tolerable. Yoon Joon (pharmacist 2ML) is a great and loyal friend to FL, and I’m glad to see Sung Joon plays this role after being introduced to his handsome guy in “I Need Romance 3”.
Many commented on the pink tone and the use of different colored filters. It doesn’t bother me, nor does it add to how I feel about the drama. It just doesn’t matter to me, but it might to you. I also quite enjoy the OST.
Overall, this is a good melodrama if you are in the mood for a very slow burn and slow-paced romance. I just wanted more in the chemistry department to give this a solid 8.5+ rating.
Completed: 4/18/2023
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Worthy of all the praises, but still missing some elements to make this perfect.
Subjective/Gut Rating; 8.75I will add to the many praises that everyone has for “Alchemy of Souls”. It is indeed a great fantasy, action, romance drama. As a veteran C-drama watcher, the story isn’t hard for me to follow but I could see how some can be confused. This drama has all the elements to be a highly rated production. I have an enjoyable time watching this.
What I Like:
1. Top notch production - sets, costumes, CGI. I actually want to see more CGI.
2. Love the OST. Took me by surprise in the beginning with the English lyrics, but the melodies give me all the feels.
3. Veterans Yoo Joon Sang (Leader Park Jin) and Oh Na Ran (Maidservant Kim). These two are hilarious and I love their dynamics.
4. I was worried about the comedy in the beginning because I don’t want a rom-com. But I find that there are enough comedic moments sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to make this into a comedy.
5. Bromance - The four actors have very distinct personalities but when they have scenes together, they are funny and have great chemistry.
6. Lee Jae Wook - He is not my kind of handsome, but I enjoy his acting very much. He is still so young and definitely has a great future ahead. I can’t believe I’ve seen all his dramas except “Move to Heaven”.
7. Glad the romance storylines are done well and maturely, and not annoying with evil men/women.
8. Good pacing.
What I want more or with mixed feelings:
1. I want more fight scenes, not enough for an action drama. The few scenes they have are good but not long enough.
2. I wish they could showcase more of FL's badassness. There weren't enough flashback scenes when she's Naksu, and when she's MuDeok, she's a sidekick. I wanted them to show more of her wit, even if she's weak physically.
3. Missing the chemistry between Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min. Jung So Min looks like an older sister to me. Maybe because I am aware of their real life age gap.
4. Jung So Min’s acting is a hit-or-miss. I know she’s a cold-hearted assassin and could be emotionless. But I see bored eyes instead of assassin eyes. Of course, this is very personal and I know many love her.
5. Hwang Min Hyun’s acting could have been better - borderline bland and decent. . He’s handsome though. Each time I look at him, I think he’s Cha Eun Woo and it takes my brain a few seconds to adjust. I think Cha Eun Woo has prettier eyes though
Completed: 1/26/2023
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Great from start to finish with enough excellent fight scenes to satisfy a wuxia lover
I usually don't watch wuxia movies as they oftentimes let me down due to incompetent writing and crappy fight scenes. After watching so many wuxia dramas that take their sweet time in world-building and setup, it's hard to find a movie that can do all of that in less than 2 hours. I'm glad I found "Brotherhood of Blades" years after it premiered. There's a beginning, middle and end to a full plot, and I was captivated and entertained for the full hour and 50 minutes.The action scenes are awesome. There is no wired flying around, twirling and waiting around during a battle and slow motion fight scenes. We have men (yes, men not boys) who put in the effort to train hard and give us realistic and hardcore close-up fights. I love the different weapons used in this movie, and not just a sword or knife. No weak and mindless swinging of the sword but strong and determined slashes and slits of the throats.
A veteran cast (maybe not then but definitely now) delivered a beautiful performance. I've only seen Chang Chen in "Love and Destiny" and I love him in "Brotherhood of Blades" a lot more and he looks much more charismatic in his JinYiWei uniform. I've never seen Wang Qian Yuan (the oldest of the brothers) before and I am impressed. Li Dong Xue is the youngest might not have delivered as memorable a performance as the two brothers, but he's not bad. I like him a lot more in "Love and Destiny". The two female characters and love interests do not have many scenes but they're fine. It's lovely to see great actors such as Nie Yuan, Zhou Yi Wei and Chin Shih Chieh. You know they will be good. Looking back, there are many excellent actors in this movie!
If you are looking for romance, it's very minimal. It's enough to drive the plot but not enough to make a lasting memory. Liu Shi Shi is beautiful as the female lead (that doesn't have many scenes). She reminded me of her role in "Lost Love in Times". There was a scene towards the end that was very touching and gave us the backstory of her relationship with Chang Chen's character.
If I have to criticize, I would have loved the movie to be a tad longer and dive more into how the brothers met and a little bit more of their background. Most of them are explained in a sentence or two. I think another 15 mins would be enough to show us more.
I am quite surprised this movie has such a low rating on MDL (7.5 at the time of writing). I am rounding up my rating from 8.75 to 9.0 to give it a little bump. ? If you love good old-style fight scenes and a strong acting performance by everyone, I
recommend this movie. Only 924 watchers is not enough!
Completed: 12/18/2022
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