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Lost in Dramaland
Everybody Marries Jiu Ling!
Completed - 11/20/2021"Jun Jiu Ling" seems to be a pretty controversial drama - either you love it or you hate it. I am in the former and quite enjoy watching this drama. The pacing is good for a 40-episode drama with a good mix of romance, politics, medical practices and battles, to keep me engaged. This is no small feat, as I do get bored usually in the middle of a Chinese historical drama.
Plot - If you can get over the ridiculousness of the first episode - a bad attempted murder, incredible prison break and face/voice changing, then you will be rewarded with a good and fun drama. The general plot is pretty typical - a revenge drama to expose the wrongdoings of the antagonists with the support of your friends. As I mentioned, this drama has many different elements. I am glad that it's not about a bunch of princes fighting for the throne. There's enough romance to go around for the romance lovers (like myself), a little bit of martial arts, some evil court ministers and battle scenes to save the country. This is by no means a perfect drama with a perfect plot. There are some scenes that I did do some eye-rolling, but I enjoy the drama for the most part.
Jin Han/Zhu Zan/ML - Jin Han received many negative reviews for his role as Zhu Zan because he's deemed not "handsome" enough. He might not be your typical, idol-looking ML, but I am very impressed with his acting. I think he fits very well into the character of Zhu Zan - a fun, loyal, upright, hopeless romantic. I hope netizens won't give up on this drama because they don't like Jin Han.
Peng Xiao Ran/Jiu Ling/FL - This is my first drama of Peng Xiao Ran. I avoided watching "Goodbye My Princess" but I heard she was great in it. I can see why everyone praised her as she did a fantastic job as our FL, Jiu Ling. She's beautiful with porcelain-looking skin, and her eyes can convey so much emotions. She has enough acting chops to carry this show on her back, if needed. However, I do think the character of Jiu Ling seems to be a little too perfect. She is so smart in every way possible, brave and beautiful. There doesn't seem to be a flaw in her.
Main Romance - I love the main romance here between Zhu Zan and Jiu Ling. I think it could be considered a slow-burn romance as it took a very long time for them to be officially together. However, you cannot miss the chemistry between them. There's so much emotional and funny moments between the leads. Even with 3 other love interests appearing, there's no reason to doubt the love they have for each other. There's no misunderstanding and they are honest and communicate with each other. When they do get together, there are many sweet and cute moments between them. When Jiu Ling is with Zhu Zan, that's when we see a different side of her... a fun and mischievous side that she rarely shows to others.
Other Men - The other 3 men really have no chance in being with our FL. She's honest and straightforward with them, and never leads them on. With such a perfect woman in front of them, it's no wonder they would do anything to support her. Aside from one psycho obsessive admirer, the other two are considerate and supportive. However, they are not good enough for me to have second-lead syndrome. I am Zhu Zan all the way!
Supporting Cast - There is a pretty decent sized supporting cast. It's a given that the veteran actors did a good job. But even the younger actors and actresses acted well. I was glad that there's no truly annoying character. You know who the villains are, though they aren't the most despicable I've seen.
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Predictable but you still root for the Lead Couple!
10/21/2021This drama shows the challenges that our male lead experiences after he had a spinal cord injury and became paralyzed from the waist down. I do not have have such an injury and do not use a wheelchair, so I can't really judge whether the depiction of his and his circle of support's experience is realistic or not. However, I feel that this drama does enough for us to know the hardships that they have to go through. It touches on the more common physical accessibility issues, but also the lesser known and more embarrassing challenges. It doesn't shy away from letting us know that a different kind of love from lovers, family members, and caregivers, is needed to provide and support someone with such a disability. This drama also reminded me a little of the C-drama "Crush", a story about the main lead who is visually impaired, and his challenges (great first half of the drama).
It's nice to see that our ML is still quite optimistic in life, is able to climb out of the abyss of despair, and lead a somewhat normal life as an architect. I am happy that he's not a gloomy ML and needs our FL to bring him out of his depression. Of course, he has his moments of weakness and needs emotional and physical support as well. Matzusaka Tori did an amazing job portraying his character. He's charismatic when he's upbeat, but when he's devastated and in pain, I cry with him. I want to hold him in my arms when he's wriggling in pain and protect him from everything. *sigh* I am always wary of FL in Japanese dramas, as they are usually too innocent and naive and are such pushovers. Thank goodness our FL here is not like that. She might be shy sometimes, but she speaks up when needed, and takes the lead in challenging injustices and support our ML. Our leads make a great couple and their chemistry is good. I wish the kiss scenes are a little more passionate =)
With such a great lead couple, we have to have some annoying second leads. I do not personally like them. I understand where they are coming from, especially when they both have been in love with our leads for decades. But I do not like how pushy and manipulative they are, when they know our leads have no interest in them at all. They are too desperate for my taste.
As my title said, the storyline is quite predictable. There aren't any surprises, but that doesn't stop me from binge-watching and wanting to know what will happen. I root for our leads and want to see them live happily-ever-after.
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9/11/2021 = 8.75 ratingI read many good things about this drama and I like Steven Zhang, so I decided to give it a try, even though I am not a big fan of body-swapping. I was so close to giving this drama a 9.0 rating, but held back because I feel conflicted about the last 2 episodes.
What I like:
1. Plot - I do agree that the body swapping was done pretty well, compared to "Secret Garden". I feel that there are just enough episodes about body-swapping in the first part of the drama to keep me interested and engaged, without dragging on for too long. I also appreciate that the swapping doesn't just end when they switched back. That would be too easily resolved and the whole plot will end and just fill with other side stories. This drama could have fallen into the trap of many common tropes, but instead, it makes fun of them.
2. Acting - I have been a fan of Steven Zhang (ML) and am glad to see him in a different role. The other roles that he's in are usually the happy, outgoing teenager/young adult role. He's a more mature, cool and introverted character here, and he did a great job in portraying that. Of course, he's super funny and in character when playing the "female" character. I've seen Liang Jie (FL) in "Eternal Love" and didn't like that drama at all. I dropped it and didn't like Liang Jie's character. I am glad to wipe that bad taste off my mouth and watch her in this drama. Just like Steven Zhang, she was great in her role. I think as a female playing the male part, audience might not notice her acting as much as Steven's male character playing a female role. But I like the subtle acting and facial expressions, just the more masculine mannerisms that she portrays.
3. Characters - I enjoy watching a drama with no real villains, though I don't like ML's dad. Most C-dramas portray villains in rom-coms to be too cartoonish and over-the-top for my taste. So I am glad we don't have such characters in this drama. Moreover, another pet peeve of mine is innocent/naive/dumb characters. I am also happy to see that almost everyone is pretty smart in their own ways and act their age . Even our leads who are having their first real relationship are acting age-appropriately, and not some 30-year virgins who are too shy to even hold hands. I appreciate a real adult romance. Moreover, we have cute and supportive parents like our female lead's parents, and a great BFF for our FL.
4. Romance - As I mentioned earlier, I appreciate a real adult romance. Once the leads are in a relationship, they are honest and communicative. They are not afraid to flirt or show affection for each other. I find their romance cute but not so sweet that is unbearable or cringey. Their romance is very heartwarming to me. FL is just ML needs to be able to overcome his bad childhood memories. I enjoy seeing such a great supportive relationship.
5. Clothing - For once, not only the male characters dress handsomely, but our female characters are dressed well. I like that the girls are casual at home, but dress nicely and appropriately when at work. I've seen too many overly baggy casual well that female characters wear in C-dramas. Even though this is not a drama about fashion, I am glad to see our leads have a great wardrobe.
6. Comedic moments - The sound effects do add to the comedic moments of the show. There are many funny moments, not only during the body-swapping plot, but sprinkled throughout the drama. I find these moments funny but not over-the-top or slapstick funny. It was quite funny when FL explained why she never gave the love letter to doctor.... that's quite creative and unpredictable.
What I don't Like:
1. Product Placement - I understand PP is a big part of Korean and Chinese dramas, and I accept that. But in this show, I am sick and tired of seeing those snacks. They advertise those snacks in every episode (at least it feels this way). It's a bit much. Also, do we need several characters to suddenly catch a cold to advertise the cold medicine?
2. Music - I like the songs OK, but they play the English song " I See You" a bit much. The worst is that the background music is so loud and makes it hard to listen to the dialog.
3. Ending - I have mixed feelings about the noble idiocy and the time jump. I understand why the leads have to break up and I see where the ML is coming from. I just wish there's a better way to show that. I really dislike the trope where the leads break up before the final episode, then a time jump in the final episode and they reunite and live happily ever after. We know they are going to break up, as it's hinted in the very first episode. I was also a little taken back that all this happened in a novel written by FL. For some reason, I expect her to quit being a reporter and become an author, and then write about her love story.
Want more:
I am interested to see more about Tong Hua and Pei Jia Shu's relationship. They have pretty good chemistry and I wanted to see them get together.
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Started off sweet and fluffy, then a little more serious
8/25/2021As part of the Sweet On series by Tencent, it's expected that this drama has a lot of fluffy and sweet moments, and will probably have a happy ending. The plot is interesting since it involves a child psychologist. However, everything is quite predictable, so if you want a comfort watch, this is it. The acting is generally good but the dubbing is pretty bad (for a 2021 modern drama). There are a few impractical things that happened, e.g. how did ML get a picture of him and FL's first kiss for his laptop wallpaper? Who is taking the picture? Why would a mom/FL let a kid play bubbles indoors when it could be slippery and dangerous?
I am a fan of Miles Wei after watching him in "Perfect and Casual" and his character here is quite similar to the other role. He's cuter in in P&C though. He's visually pleasing in his suits and casual clothing. It's my first time watching FL and she did a decent job. The star of the show, as many reviewers mentioned, is definitely the child actor, Lennon Sun. He is so adorable and you want to see him interacting with everyone on screen. The supporting cast did a good enough job, but I am not as interested in their storylines. I am happy that for a sweet drama that we don't have any too annoying and irritating characters.
The show did turn a little more serious towards the last part of the show, when we know more about the car accident. There aren't enough fluffy moments to lighten to the mood. Overall, it's a decent drama if you want something quite easy to watch, with good visuals, decent OST and a super adorable kid.
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I was introduced to this drama by a MDL editorial article. I am glad more J-Dramas are recommended, otherwise, I wouldn't know where to find good ones. I am usually pretty picky about J-Dramas because most of them are either an adaptation from a manga or anime, and the acting and storyline are too over-the-top for my taste; or the FL is one of those naive, innocent, shy girls who has never touched a boy in her life. These are not my cup of tea.
Plot: I find the plot summary pretty interesting about a pseudo-romance for a manga. However, after watching the first two episodes, it became quite clear that this pseudo-romance is quite unethical and hurtful. I am glad that after the first initial episodes, the story gets better and it moves a little farther away from this hurtful premise. The plot is quite predictable throughout the show in regards to the development of the main romance, past romance, to the challenges faced by ML as a manga artist. I do enjoy the last episode quite a bit and it's a little less-predictable than I thought.
Characters: I am glad to watch a FL that is straight-forward, independent and not act like a little naive little girl. I've watched so many dramas that a 29-year-old woman acts like she's 16. It didn't happen here. She is quite likable and her acting is not anime-like over-the-top. ML's introverted, anti-social character could be difficult for some to get used to in the beginning. But he has great character development. I especially like his awkward, adorkable smile and grins. Even though he looks hawt int he last episode, his smile seems a little "slimy". I like ML's dorky look more. The child actor also did a great job. He's so cute and I love his shy smile as well. The supporting cast did a decent job and there isn't anyone too annoying.
Romance: The romance of the lead characters is nicely developed though can be predictable. I enjoy their contrasting personality and their funny banter. FL brings out the best of ML through their little fights. I still think the kissing should be a little better, esp. when it's their third kiss and it's not a surprising one. It's 2021 and I hope to see less fish-kissing in J-dramas, K-drams and C-dramas. It took a while for it to happen, but that awkward initial start of a relationship is super cute. I wish to see more of that but those moments were hard to come by. Since J-dramas are quite short, I am glad the secondary romance didn't take up too much of the time.
This is a simple, cute and light-hearted drama. This is the palate cleanser that I need after watching the more intense "Legend of FuYao" (which I recommend wholeheartedly!).
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Great women bonding and empowerment; Several anger-inducing characters
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25Revenge seems to be a popular theme recently. However, in “Alliance”, it’s not a central plot or at least not the main reason for Lin Shuang (FL) when she started out her journey of re-discovering her former self and becoming independent again. We have two strong women who bonded because of an extramarital affair: the wife and the lover. Throughout the drama, we witness how they break free from the chains of men and families, and grow to be self-reliant and be the best person they could be.
What I Like:
1. Lin Shuang/Jiang Xi Unlikely Friendship - Most of us are probably drawn to this because of their friendship. From enemies to scheming partners, and finally becoming each other’s support system, their unlikely bond is front and center in this drama. It’s lovely to see how they support each other without sugar coating anything. They are there to provide encouragement, constructive criticisms and celebration of big and small accomplishments. They would not have become the person they are in the last episode without each other.
2. Jiang Xi - I especially like the story of Jiang Xi. Midway through the drama, I pray that she will have a VERY happy ending. Not only does she not have a happy childhood and loving parents, she also gave her heart for a man who is evil on all levels. If this is not a women-empowerment drama, I would love to see her be spoiled by a rich sugar daddy who loves her to death. But I will settle and wish her a guy who treats her right. Jenny Zhang plays the character so well. She has this beauty that is alluring and sexy, even if she’s not doing anything intentionally sexual. She has an aura that makes her very attractive just by the way she holds herself. Jenny is perfectly casted for her role as Jiang Xi.
3. Strong Women Cast - Although not all the women are lovely in this drama, there isn’t any weak damsel in distress in this drama. Women portrayed in this drama have a very independent and strong light shown on them, and not only for our leads. We have supporting characters who are opinionated with strong and explosive personalities, and even minor roles as computer engineers and programmers. However, most of the CEOs and executives are still men in the drama, except for Sister Wei (Ark CFO),
4. Acting - Strong acting from the four main leads. They are all experienced, so that does not come as a surprise. “Alliance” also has a very strong supporting cast of other veterans (parents and executives) and the younger cast also does not disappoint. I have no complaints with anyone’s acting performance.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Little Apple (daughter) - This little girl is really cute and she speaks her lines very well. I adore most of the scenes she’s in, especially with her mother and Uncle Gu. But gosh, she screams so much that it hurts my ears. Every time she calls out her grandparents, her high-pitched scream would kill me. There’s an episode when she was crying for her mother at the top of her lungs and I had to fast-forward it. It’s a personal pet peeve. She does act really well and major props for her ice skating and ice hockey skills.
2. Lin Shuang - As the main lead of this drama, I empathize and sympathize with what she is going through. Afterall, she IS the drama. But for some reason, I am not connected with her emotionally. Do I feel bad? Yes. Does her experience move me to tears? No, not really. As mentioned above, I feel for Jiang Xi more, even though I can’t relate to her experience. With Lin Shuang, I can relate to her on a more rational level since I am a mother myself. But emotionally, something is missing. Is it Zhang Xiao Fei’s acting? The writing? Most likely, I am the problem.
3. Wei Ming/Li Ze Feng - I have a love-hate relationship with Wei Ming. I HATE everything he does and he makes my blood boil. But you can’t deny the writers did an amazing job in writing out his lines (or shall I say lies). You have to give him props for being cautious, detailed-oriented with a great memory. Li Ze Feng does such a fantastic job in playing this slimeball and he just spits out these ‘beautiful’ lies so convincingly. I love the acting but I hate the character.
4. Plot/Pacing - In theory, there’s a lot going on in these 36 episodes. We started from the happy family to the discovery of cheating. Oh, by the way, did I miss Lin Shuang feeling heartbroken because her husband cheated? Like she loved this man and now she’s sad because he doesn’t love her anymore? All I get is that she felt betrayed and she regrets her decision to give up her career. Then we have women bonding, fighting and growing. Don’t forget the family drama and child custody. We throw in a slow-burn romance and another side romance. Add to the drama is the business side of things, a start up, and corruption. It took Lin Shuang less than a year to discover the cheating to start her business. That seems really fast for anyone, let alone someone who hasn’t worked in years. All of this is covered in 36 episodes. YET, for some reason, it felt repetitive in the last 5-8 episodes for me. The scheming back-and-forth doesn’t end, the same lies are told and it’s no fun when you know who the villain is, and his tricks from the very beginning. The romance isn’t fun or angsty or fluffy. The drama loses my focus in the last few episodes (maybe the tech and coding talk) and I didn’t like the last episode either (especially the proposal). I like where the female leads end as a person, but I don’t like the writing of the last episode.
What I Don’t Like:
1. Frustrating Characters - One of the main reasons I did not watch this drama initially is because I heard of the frustrating characters. Gosh, there are so many and they make my blood boil. If I am only watching Wei Ming’s lies, I can deal with that. But his parents, Jiang Xi’s mother and the spoiled brat Joyce? They never go away and stay for the whole drama. I want to jump into the TV screen and beat them up so badly. If you do not like these frustrating and anger-inducing characters, don’t watch this drama.
2. Make-up - Who approves the make-up for these male characters? Huang Xiao Ming looks absolutely horrible with the white, cakey thick foundation on his handsome face. Has he aged that much that he needs such makeup to make him presentable? The other one with bad makeup is Zhao Shun Ran (Martin). He’s so handsome but he has uneven makeup on. At times, you see makeup on the face but not the neck. Huang Xiao Ming’s makeup distracts me whenever he comes on screen.
3. Lin Shuang/Gu Xu Romance - I hate to say this, but this slow burn romance is not working for me. I am not moved by Gu Xu’s dedication and I can see why he’s the perfect guy for Lin Shuang in my head. But the writing of the romance plot does not convince me that Lin Shuang feels the same way as Gu Xu. Did she like him when they were in high school? Or did she only see him as a rival this whole time? When did Lin Shuang fall in love with Gu Xu? Was it love or gratitude? Unfortunately, I am not feeling the chemistry between them.
Despite my rants, I do feel that “Alliance” has a lot to offer. I’ll recommend this for those who are looking for a women-centric, empowerment drama. As a working mother, I reflected on my personal experience while watching this. It’s hard to balance career and family, and you do need to give up some. If you are a working mother, you might be interested in this as well. However, if you can’t stand frustrating characters (those you want to punch their faces), it’s best to skip “Alliance”. You might get angry and it wouldn’t be fun, except, of course you are looking to be angry. LOL
Completed: 7/7/2024 - Review #457
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Not the story I was expecting - uninteresting, unrealistic, illogical
I thought I would be watching a drama about a bunch of young cadets learning and being groomed to become future policemen/women at a police university. But it turned out to be different than what I had expected. The majority of the drama is about a crime investigation into illegal gambling sites and most of this happened at the National Police University, thus the title of the drama.Usually, it’s not a big deal if the plot was different than expected. But there are all kinds of wrong in the logic of this plot. The drama never explained how Kang Sun Ho became such a skilled hacker, especially when he doesn’t come from a well-off family. Where and how did he learn these skills? Yoo Dong Man as the investigator using unconventional approaches and ways to catch criminals doesn’t make a lot of sense either. I cannot imagine him still having a job by being such an irresponsible and reckless cop. I would have fired him a long time ago. Involving a group of freshmen to help with the investigation and exposing them to danger? Yeah right. They’re so green and can barely throw someone over their shoulder during judo practice (yet they all have black belts!). How could the two other professors join in an unofficial investigation and be as reckless as Yoo Dong Man? Everyone should be fired.
There’s a lot of talk and not a lot of action. I was enjoying this drama in the beginning when the students were still being students and not wannabe investigators. But once the focus is on the illegal gambling sites, the drama runs in circles and becomes repetitive. The last 5-6 episodes are incredibly slow and draggy, and full of fillers of nothingness. I was falling asleep and want to drop this drama so bad (but can't because of a watch challenge).
Romance and love triangles are boring. Kang Sun Ho and Oh Kang Hee were somewhat cute in the beginning but once they get together, the sparks are gone.
Overall, the acting is average. The veterans are definitely better than the younger cast. No one is horrible or exceptional. I do like a couple upbeat songs. Krystal Jung seems to be the sole responsible actor for all product placements - Samsung phones, Subway, Food ordering app, makeup/concealer, etc.
The one thing I like about the drama is the character development of Kang Sun Ho. It was heartwarming to see how his relationship with his adoptive father has changed. I like how he comes out of his shell, and throughout the drama has grown, learned his mistakes, not running away and become a confident person. He’s not the lost puppy who worries about his adoptive father disappearing, or always on egg shells when fighting with his brother/best friend.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama. It’s not a good drama about cadets and nor a good crime drama. Unless you are a fan of the actors, I would stay away. Jung Jin Young (though skinny) looks really good in uniform. If you are his fan, you can watch the drama for him.
Completed: 7/2/2024 - Review #455
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Dream High Special Concert
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Not enough singing and dancing
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75You would think if this is called a concert, there will be a lot of singing and dancing. Unfortunately, I found that almost 50% of the show is just two annoying hosts interviewing the cast and playing games. I understand fans want to know what happened behind-the-scenes, watch some fun bloopers and hear the cast members talk. I get that and I like them too, to a certain extent. I don't care for their fake awards given out to the cast members. Or the hosts trying to stir up rumors between two cast members.
What I want is hear most of the songs being sung live during the concert. "Dream High" has such a great OST and a diverse set of songs. Maybe it's hard for the cast members to remember all the lyrics AND the choreographed dance moves? Luckily, at least I see an amazing dance performed by OK Taec Yeon, Jang Woo Young and Park Jin Young.
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A waste of an amazing cast with a poorly written script
What attracted me to watch “The Jungle” is its stacked cast. Look at all the handsome men and beautiful women! Unfortunately, that’s where the positive stops, well, it also has a few great songs.If you are watching just for the cast, then you will have an enjoyable time. The boys aka The Jungle have good chemistry and are fun together. They all look really good. Unfortunately, their acting is a mixed bag for me. The standout actors are Nanon and Krist. It’s my first time watching Luke and he’s the weakest of the bunch.
On the girls side, their acting is average except for Pat. Pat never disappoints. She is probably one of my favorites, if not my most favorite Thai actress. She doesn’t have a lot of screen time but she has presence and charisma. Unfortunately, this drama centers around guys, so the girls are mostly confined to the guy she’s attached to, and then you don’t see her much anymore.
But the writing is just not good. The romance stories are all half-baked. They are not mysterious enough, dark enough or sexy enough. Some scenes are quite cringey. Not enough time is dedicated to each pair, when we have so many pairs to share these 16 episodes. Most of the romances are typical and predictable. But they are easy to watch and won’t raise your blood pressure. But the ‘serious’ plots are so poorly written. In the first half of the show, we have reporter investigations of a certain death. The way it was conducted is unprofessional, illogical and unrealistic. In the latter half of the drama, it touched upon another ‘serious’ plot in a startup company where several of the main characters used to work. The way they approach the perpetrator in the last episode is laughable. There are just so many things that don’t make sense in this drama, and I only half-turned on my brain.
With such an amazing cast, the actors are unable to really perform to their standards. It’s such a waste of talent. I would only recommend “The Jungle” for the visuals and drool over the guys and girls. But you will need to overlook the cheap sets (that’s the cheapest looking high end bar I’ve seen), the poorly written storylines and the illogical, shake-my-head moments. I was going to rate this a 7.5 until I watch the final episode. So, a solid 7.0 for the cast.
Completed: 4/23/2024 - Review #432
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Very interesting concept and could be amazing if executed better
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (rounding up because I had a good time binge-watching)The concept of “See You in My 19th Life” is so interesting that it probably attracts many viewers. There are many things I love about this drama and other areas which I would like to explore more. I did not watch the webtoon and this review is solely based on the drama. Nevertheless, this is a very easy binge and I was able to watch it all on a Saturday in one go.
What I Like:
1. Shin Hye Sun - I may not be a super fan of Shin Hye Sun but it’s without a doubt she’s a great actress. Her role as the female lead Ban Ji Eum showcases her talents so well. I usually am not a fan of girl-chases-boy but she does it in a way that I don’t find annoying. She’s assertive but not overly stalkerish and irritating. I find her teasing ML cute and not overdone. I love how she just busted out her flamenco moves. That’s hilarious! When it comes to the emotional scenes, especially the last few episodes, I can’t help but cry with her.
2. Young Actor/Actresses - Young Ban Ji Eum is adorable and smart. Her conversations with her ‘niece’ are both mature and innocent. Young Yoon Joo Won has the poise of someone who lived 17th lives, yet her appearance has such an innocent look. Young Moon Seo may not have as much screen time as Joo Won but the scenes of him trapped in the car were heartbreaking.
3. Uncle and Niece relationship - I love seeing these two individuals who technically don’t know each other, don’t have any familial love, yet come together and form their own special family.
4. Guest Stars - With 19 lives, it’s the perfect way to bring in many guest stars. I would love to see more of them (see my mixed feelings below).
5. Production - There are many scenes that are shot beautifully and in different angles. The OST has some great songs that I will add to my Spotify playlist. I also like that we see an appropriate interior of a hotel. A hotel that needs renovation and you can see that it’s not a super modern hotel, but one that has history and its own charms. I like the setup of ML’s office where it feels warm.
What I have Mixed Feelings About:
1. Pacing - I was hooked from the first episode. It has a great introduction of the characters and the background story. The pace is good in the first half but definitely slows down in the second half. I especially feel that the last two episodes are very slow and it keeps repeating on finding out the past, yet not much happens. They are the same flashbacks for 2 episodes.
2. Past 18 lives - I would have loved to see more of the different lives and the guest stars, and how their stories directly relate to FL’s personality and experiences. We mainly saw clips that lasted a minute or two. I want to see more of the person and the love story of Chae Jong Hyeop composing the love song for. I want to see more about the first life and not just the same flashbacks.
3. Romance - I wouldn’t say the chemistry between Shin Hye Sun and Ahn Bo Hyun is bad, but it’s also not amazing. There are criticisms of Ahn Bop Hyun’s acting and I think he did a fine job. I think he was quite cute when he’s being cornered and was very shy. It’s when he is NOT shy anymore that I am finding the chemistry lacking and not sweet enough for me. Oh, and they have ONE great kiss when both of them are such good kissers. I am not satisfied! LOL. On the other hand, the secondary romance is also a little lacking for me. Here, I do find Ahn Dong Goo a little bland in his portrayal of the ‘cool’ role. I am missing the micro expressions that you see from great actors when they portray someone who is ‘cold’ on the outside. I think the secondary romance could have been developed better and with better pacing.
4. Unexplored Plot - Did the drama forget about the hotel renovation after the initial episodes? I want more background story of ML’s family and the older generation as the twist about the accident is not very satisfactorily explored and explained. I want to know more about Ha Do Yoon’s (ML’s BFF/secretary) history with ML in Germany and his responsibility to the Chairman. Without going into too much spoilers, I want to know why the other lady can remember her past lives when she wasn’t in FL’s first life. Is that a plot hole or her existence is just a device to move forward with the hotel fight for power narrative?
Overall, this is such a cool concept and could be an amazing drama if executed better. Despite my criticisms, I did have a fabulous and easy time watching it. I will recommend it to those who love this type of fantasy drama but not to those who are very particular about writing and execution.
Completed: 8/20/2023 - Review #342
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Business Focus with amazing chemistry between Qin Lan and Wang Yang
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Stand or Fall” is very similar to other female-centric dramas about women in their 30s. However, this one has a very strong business focus and a majority of the time we follow Guan Wen/Qin Lan (FL) and Ding Ning/Wang Yan (ML) through their ups and downs at work. The main attraction of this drama for me is the strong chemistry between Qin Lan and Wang Yang. They are two of my favorite veteran actors and they did not disappoint.
Recommendations:
1. Fans of Qin Lan and Wang Yan
2. Fans of Business dramas
3. Fans of sisterhood of women in their 30s
Qin Lan has a similar role in “The Rational Life” where she plays a very successful businesswoman. What differs in “Stand or Fall” is her character’s strong, assertive personality and no BS approach to work and life. She was a lot mellower and calmer in “The Rational Life”. I quite like seeing Qin Lan in a more feisty role. On the other hand, it took me a quick second to see Wang Yang not in a villany, gray role. I’ve been so attracted to him/ his characters in “The Rebel” and “Lost in Kunlun Mountain” that it’s quite fun seeing him in love and jealous. He is still as charismatic and attractive as always, playing the successful counterpart to Qin Lan’s character. The two of them have so much chemistry and their bickering and outsmarting each other are the highs of the drama for me.
The other two female leads have a decent amount of screen time. They are both fun characters and the trio’s sisterhood is fun to watch. However, the supporting romances lack chemistry and their careers' storylines are not as interesting. ML’s BFF appears here and there to provide work gossip and support. But he is quite a one-dimensional character.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of business talk in this drama. If you are not interested, you might be bored. The dialogs are fast with business lingo yet Qin Lan and Wang Yang are experienced enough to make it seem natural. The drama is not dubbed (thank god coz I love their real voices) and you can hear the live recording with some post-production corrections here and there. I also love all the business attire at work. Qin Lan has quite a nice collection of business suits, shorts, dresses, and skirts. She looks so beautiful and I love her new short hair cut. Of course, Wang Yang doesn’t look too bad himself in formal suits and casual attires.
“Stand of Fall” might not be a solid 8.5 but I have a great time watching it. It met my expectations of Qin Lan and Wang Yang and how amazing they are together.
Other Random Observations:
1. Glad to see Qin Lan not afraid of getting dirty or having lipstick drawn on her beautiful face. But she's way too skinny though.
2. Why would a mother goes into a sleeping child's room and turn on the bright light?
3. For once a mother spoils a daughter and not a son.
4. When people in their 30s fall over each other, it's not a slow mo romantic scene but of them hurting their backs. LOL
5. Love the unique relationship FL has with her brother.
Completed: 8/19/2023 - Review #341
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Watashi, Teiji de Kaerimasu
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A light watch and look into Japan's work culture
What better drama to watch than "No Working After Hours/Watashi, Teiji de Kaerimasu" when I have been doing a lot of overtime myself at work? This is a light and easy watch for those who are interested in learning more about the work culture in Japan.The drama touches on several important social and work issues that could probably happen in many cultures:
1. Training new employees using the outdated methods seniors were trained and treated.
2. Power harassment
3. Sexual harassment
4. Hobby/Interest harassment
5. Balancing family and work life and difficult choices made
6. Balancing work and personal life and difficult choices made
7. Unhealthy work hours and after effects
8. Different expectations when you are men vs women, single vs married
However, do not go in expecting the drama to go in details and give you satisfying results each time. I've read complaints about how the sexual harassment issue was dealt with and I agree that it wasn't handled as well as I would have liked. With only 10 episodes, there no way they can address all issues properly.
Our female lead is in the middle of all these situations - when she's the one dealing with them and when she's supporting her colleagues. She is a likeable lead and not one of those naive, innocent, submissive Japanese characters.
I would not expect a great romance. The 'slight romance ' tag is accurate and even so, I was not satisfied. The chemistry between ML and FL is definitely better than with tj boyfriend. However, there aren't enough romantic scenes in either relationship. This is a workplace drama first and foremost.
I would recommend this if you want a light watch but not a serious drama that tackles all these issues. The employees are all supportive and likeable. The 'villain' can be frustrating but may not be truly malicious.
Completed: 8/3/2023 - Review #337
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A Tractor Loaded with Love
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The cuteness and pouting are a little too much for me.
Subjective Rating - 7.75I needed something light after a stressful watch, and “Love Tractor” seems like a good idea. However, I am not as impressed with it as many others.
Is Ye Chan cute? To a certain extent, yes. But his cuteness also grates on me after a while, especially his pouting. I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever met a 20-year old act like this, in real life or in drama-land. Oh, he also does not look 20 (the actor is 25 in real life). I am also not a big fan of the persistent chasing after a guy to the point of being stalkerish. But since this is Yoon Do Jin’s first drama, I think he does a decent job.
Do Won is a more experienced actor and his portrayal of Seon Yul is more subtle. I do like him more towards the second half of the drama. The drama gives us enough to get to know him and his background story.
The plot itself is simple and that’s okay. I was not expecting deep characterization or a very complicated story to be told within 8 short episodes. I enjoy the scenery and villagers who are not annoying. The side characters do not distract me from the main characters.
The romance is a little lacking. I am not feeling a lot of romantic chemistry between the two. Seon Yul appears to treat Ye Chan as his annoying but cute little brother. I see no reason why they would fall in love with each other.
If you are looking for something simple and light, and the cuteness of Ye Chan doesn’t bother you, then this is a good watch. However, I don’t think it suits my taste, or what I am looking for at the moment.
Completed: 7/3/2023 - Review #326
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A stressful watch that keeps you on the edge of your seat!
I did not watch the movie version, so my review is totally based on my impression of the drama. I read that the personalities of the characters in the drama differ from the movie. I think “Bad Genius” is probably the first drama I watched that I felt really stressed out throughout the whole series. The story is based on a real-life cheating scandal in Thailand. I gotta say, these kids are really smart to come up with ways of cheating.Throughout the drama, there were several cheating methods used. I was quite impressed with the barcodes. But the large scale ones were not as believable and quite farfetched, thus creating all these stressful situations and me worrying if they were going to make it or not. I have so much to say about Bank’s plan in the last scandal, but I don’t want to give out too much. Let’s say it was not as impressive as Lin’s previous schemes, but there’s also a reason why this is Bank’s project. There are quite a few unexpected plot twists throughout the drama.
I am really impressed with the acting of the young cast. This is June P’s second drama and Jaonaay’s first. You could not tell from their performances here that they are such rookies and they had amazing screen presence. Even if Blank is such an introverted/anxious character, you can’t take your eyes off him. Their subtle slight romance lightens the drama quite a bit. But we don’t see much of it. There was a lot of internal turmoil going through these two geniuses, and I think both June and Jaonnay portray these complicated feelings very well. Ice (as rich kid Pat) and Nana (as the actress normal girl) did pretty well. I was quite impressed with Ice’s scene when he was confronting his father. Nana on the other hand, might have delivered a weaker performance among the four, but she still did a pretty good job.
As much as this drama is about the students fighting against the education system, in a way, it’s more about the inequality of society. The four main leads have their own reasons for gaming the system. They might seem like they are friends and teammates. But behind this facade, there’s a lot of betrayals, blackmail, harassment, backstabbing and under-the-table deals. It’s sad to witness two good and hardworking geniuses resorting to this.
In the end, I also miss the old Bank. The Bank that would help a child get his balloon back.
Completed: 7/3/2023 - Review #325
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Interesting Political/Mystery plot, Amazing Chemistry, Beautiful Costumes
“The Curse of Saree” is the perfect drama to satisfy my desire to watch a lakorn without over-the-top acting, with traditional/cultural aspects. I’ve learned that I do not know how to enjoy Thai humor, thus, I try to prefer lakorns with a more serious or a melodramatic tone. I do enjoy learning about Thai cultures and seeing the pretty dresses they wear. But historical dramas tend to have time-traveling or body swap themes, which I don’t prefer. Historical dramas also seem to have many annoying characters, such as servants with comedic parts that I don’t enjoy. Therefore, “The Curse of Saree” is the perfect fit for me.We follow the journey of two Thai sisters to the country of Mantra. I am still not quite sure if Mantra is a part of India, or a fictional copycat India. The younger sister, Pat, is going to marry the Crown Prince of Mantra but is faced with opposition from the Queen and many political leaders. The elder sister, Nuan, travels to Mantra to support Pat. Both sisters are sucked into Mantra politics and play an important role in helping the royal family in establishing their autonomy from evil rich businessmen and political leaders.
This drama was decently-paced for the majority of the show. I only found it somewhat slow in the last 3-4 episodes. Mind you, these episodes are long and I am still not used to watching 1.5 hour to 2- hour long episodes. But there’s enough going on during the drama to keep me entertained - politics, mysteries, adventure, slight horror and also romance.
The four main lead characters are very likable. They are brave, kind, loyal and basically good people all around. I love the main leads, Nuan (elder sister) and Prince Kirij (older prince). They started out on the wrong foot and bickered through the first couple episodes. Kirij is old-school and family and Matran people first, while Nuan is a free-spirited, famous Thai fashion designer. But deep down, they are the perfect couple and love their siblings fiercely and will do everything they can to see them happily married. I was initially not attracted to Kirij. He frowns too much and gives off a very standoff-ish vibe, which is to the credit of the actor, Sean J. But Kirij grows on me and I have learned to love his character. Sean is able to act proud but the subtle display of emotions towards Nuan - affection, admiration, love, shyness - totally melts my heart. Nuan is a strong female character. She is not affect to speak her mind, has a great sense of justice and loves her sister dearly. Baifern P is beautiful and plays her role beautifully. The lead couple has amazing chemistry, even without a lot of skinship. There are a couple unsatisfying kisses, but it’s the unspoken affection that provides the sizzling.
On the other hand, Pat and Crown Prince Chathat’s love for each other is more innocent and pure. All they want is to get married to the one they love, but they are faced with obstacles on all front. Their chemistry is not as sizzling as their siblings, but they give off a different vibe. Pat might seem shy and introverted, but her inner strength and stubbornness guide her through this difficult journey. It was hard to watch her going through physical and emotional abuse. Chaithat is the Disney Prince Charming. He loves Pat but is bogged down by royal responsibilities. Poor guy tries to balance it all but is quite useless in a way. He really can’t do much.
The brotherhood and sisterhood of the drama are great. It’s lovely to see siblings who truly love and care for each other. This is a rare Thai drama without family rivalries. No one is fighting for inheritance or for the throne.
The villains of the show are right out for you to see. You sort of know what to expect from them, and what they would do to stop the marriage from happening. I wouldn’t say they are cartoonish villains, but they are definitely Thai villains.
Without giving out too many spoilers, the underlying plot is to solve the mystery of the saree, thus, the title of the show. The mystery component is interesting and the horror part isn’t too bad. The CGI is bad though. I think money is spent on all the beautiful sarees in this drama and it’s a feast to the eyes. I LOVE all the modern and historical looks for the characters and not just the leads. From the King and Queen, to the evil and beautiful girl, to the main leads and their servants, everyone dresses impeccably.
As much as I love the drama, it is not without faults. I find inconsistencies in the plot here and there, e.g. 1) If you are freezing and having hypothermia in one room, you might want to move to another room before “that grand romantic gesture”; 2) If you are supposed to be hiding, you might not want to walk around the palace openly at night. They do not dampen my enjoyment of the show, but if you think clearly, something’s missing. As mentioned, the CGI is not great. Some scenes are cartoonish. Although there’s minimal exaggerated acting, I do think the camera wastes too much time on every single character’s facial reaction for dramatic purposes.
Overall, I had a great time watching this. I love the main lead characters/chemistry/romance, solid acting all around especially the two main leads ( esp. when they were holding back tears and still acting strong), beautiful costumes and an interesting political/mystery plot.
Completed: 4/7/2023
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