Ferry of Souls

Gave me the anime nostalgia in live action mode

This plot made me nostalgic for my childhood days when I used to watch animes like Kamisama Hajimemashita. The drama carried the same anime-like vibe, and even the ending soundtrack and BGM sounded like anime tracks as well . Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be based on a manga.

The FL is a 1000-year-old demon-hunter and owner of a monster inn, cursed with immortality. Her duty was to help people confront their inner demons~manifestations of past obsessions~and guide them toward salvation. However, instead of fulfilling her role properly, she simply slayed them with her sword, never pausing to understand their pain or seek true redemption for them. This careless approach led to an accumulation of karmic fire within her, causing unbearable pain from time to time.

The ML, a reincarnation of someone from her past, joins the inn to help her with her work. Together, they take on various clients, confronting the monsters born from their lingering obsessions and helping them find peace in their present lives.

The leads had great chemistry, but they were never portrayed as a fully committed couple. In fact, they shared just one kiss, and that too in the final episode. Their relationship felt more like a partnership or a deep friendship between two besties, with the FL being the bossy, fiery, and dominant leader type, while the ML came across as calm, gentle, and a bit timid. So, if you’re expecting a honey-dipped, overly romantic love story, this might not be the best pick for you.

Jui Lin and Yanqi delivered exceptional performances... both are seasoned actors, and they lived up to that reputation. Their chemistry felt natural and mature, perfectly suited to the tone of the story.

Apart from this I absolutely loved the aesthetics of the set. The entire inn, designed to reflect an ancient or medieval era, had interiors that perfectly matched that period-old-style furniture, wooden doors, vintage lamps, and intricate details. Yet, those subtle modern touches, like the iMac on the reception desk, added a distinctly 21st-century vibe. The leather sofa in the lobby, on the other hand, gave off a late 20th-century retro charm.

In a nutshell, the set design beautifully captured the essence of the FL’s thousand-year-long life, it felt like she had gradually collected and blended pieces from different eras into her living space over time.

Things that could’ve been better:

1. The closure to the leads’ love story wasn’t as convincing as its buildup, felt a little rushed and emotionally underwhelming compared to how beautifully their bond was developed earlier.

2. The final face-off with the main villain, the old lady demon king, was unintentionally hilarious instead of intense. The overacting in that scene completely broke the mood that had been building up.

Nonetheless, the drama was amazing. It had so many refreshing elements—I found myself tearing up every time they resolved a case and laughing at their everyday banter. A total masterpiece in its own unique way.

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