Actual dumpster fire
Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps you are confused by the fact that I call this drama a "dumpster fire" and yet give it a rating of 8, and I can understand that confusion, so allow me to explain.Imagine, if you will, just a random stinky drab dumpster. Now normally we don't think about dumpsters, because why would you. And when you have to put your garbage in one, or if you see one overflowing on the street with disgusting things, and you actually are forced to think about a dumpster or be near a dumpster, you're like "augh gross" and you hold your breath and try not to look too hard at it or have to smell it's fumes.
But imagine that one day you are walking down the street in an average neighborhood, and out of a perfectly average looking dumpster, is a giant raging bonfire, like a huge dramatic bonfire just blazing away. And the smell off the thing is probably terrible, but yet at the same time it is so magnificent and extraordinary looking that you are mesmerized and cannot look away.
Well that is this drama. So let's break this down into 2 parts. The Dumpster... and The Fire.
🎬THE DUMPSTER.
Well first we are talking about PLOT. The whole foundation of the dumpster is messed up. The FL from the beginning was not written to be likeable. If you want to try to like her, you can. But her backstory is SCANT. They don't give you a home address for her from which you can relate and get behind her and feel like you know her and care about her. Sure they throw a pittance of a backstory at you, just enough to fill in the blanks and create the plotline. But there's no empathy for her built into this plot. So no matter what actress you cast in the role, it was ALWAYS gonna come out lookin bad. The story tells you she is an infiltrator fighting for justice. And yet your heart tells you she is just an ice donkey. But perhaps that's an insult to donkeys because even donkeys aren't as cruel and stupid as she is. And when I call her stupid, I mean all the way around. Because not only is she intellectually unable to keep up with her surroundings, but she also sports a rock bottom EQ. In the infamous words of Mitch Hedburg, "that's a double whammy".
Halfway through the drama, there's a scene where she rather dramatically threatens to unalive herself and I'd put 5:1 odds of any person who makes it that far in this show thinking to themeselves "meh, g'eiahead"
Now second biggest problem was with STYLING. I know. How bad does it have to be to actually be "second biggest problem". Well, it was pretty bad. Not for the men so much, but for the women, they were done dirty here. It is as if Stylist is maniacally driving a steamroller of vindictiveness, created from literally every current year social media chinese beauty trend, and PLOWED it over all the ladies with a merciless cruelty. You got your crown heightening hairstyle, dragon-lady french manicure, silkworm eyebags, "eye sparkle" contact lenses, fake eyelashes, sticking out ears, baby lipstick.... and all of it is done BADLY. These ladies clearly have natural beauty, and the stylist has marred it to dumpster-tier levels. Congratulations, stylist. Your revenge is complete.
And then you have just random stinky things in the dumpster, dumb clothes, thrift store furnishings, tropey crap, unconvincing acting, drab dialogue, random cliches (i tripped in these high heels on the pavement because idk how to walk right oh my ML broke my fall how sexy and fortuitous!)(oh no, the power's out and we're all alone in a scary storm!)
🔥THE FIRE.
Now THATS a fine red-flag ML. Obsessed, check. Possessive, check. Devoted, check. Borderline yandere, check. Gangster badass, check. Shitkicker, check. Gorgeous face = you know it. Good kissing, YES. Zhi Jie just NAILED this brand of sexy, he so owns it. And for some reason, HIS stylist did a great job. He looks so gangster, he is selling the sh*t out of it.
The script and plot is biased toward him completely. He is put in situations that bring out this badassery and this possessive black hot energy. The dumpster is, shall we say, the VEHICLE for this absolute 3000 degree blazing majestic bonfire, that is Zhi Jie as a near-perfect specimen of red-flag hotness.
Sometimes the best things can be found in the dumpster.
In this particular dumpster, is a perfectly good perfectly sexy TEN OUT OF TEN RED FLAG ML. I mean how does one even go about scoring something like this.
So I gave it an 8 because it's like hey... I'm not saying this is top shelf. Nooo, no no, not at all. But is it watchable and possibly re-watchable? YES, if ONLY because the ML himself is a red-flag masterpiece.
Stinky? Absolutely, without a doubt. But also glorious and hypnotic. I would recommend watching this, but only with proper personal protective gear, such as nose plugs and goggles, inhaler, possibly a gas mask or hazmat suit.
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Was Love Worth It in the End?
Where do I even begin with this hot mess.The drama centers on Hao Yu (Lu Zhao Hua), the police commissioner's foster daughter, who goes undercover in the criminal underworld for revenge. Along the way, she gets romantically tangled with mafia heir Ji Zhi Jie (Fan Zhi Xin). Her ex-lover, police officer Zhou Zi Heng (Li Jia Bing), conveniently reappears to "help" her. Or so it seems.
First of all, Hao Yu is the worst undercover informant I have ever seen. The signs were practically glowing neon for Ji Zhi Jie--she was not on the "up and up" with him in any way. Her excuses were weak, lies were weaker, and anyone with common sense could see she wasn't telling the truth. But he chose to ignore all of it. Because he loved her that much.
Seriously. No matter what happened, he always took her side.
1. He gets beat down who knows how many times.
2. He gets whipped for her.
3. He crawls on his knees on broken glass to get a key and save her when she's kidnapped.
But of course, she has to "keep up pretenses." She even takes a bullet for him, which convinces him she's fully committed. The signs were there, but he ignored every one of them. Even his closest confidante told him Hao Yu couldn't be trusted. So many people warned him, but he kept choosing to believe her.
And the ridiculousness continues--Zhou Zi Heng is a dirty cop working both sides: feeding information to the police and to the mafia boss who raised both him and Ji Zhi Jie. Naturally, Ji Zhi Jie knows absolutely nothing about any of this. Shocking right?
Finally -- finally -- when his man brings him photos and proof of all Hao Yu has done; he completely breaks down. He kills Zhou Zi Heng, pushes away everyone close to him, and turns into this dark, hardened version of himself. You'd think Hao Yu would exit stage left at that point. Nope. She sticks around because now she wants to bring him down.
Hao Yu had me on my last, last nerve. I don't understand why he didn't just leave her alone. She was truly pathetic. Her infiltration attempts were laughable -- she always got caught, and he always had to save her. That whining, the crying, the clothes, those nails...I simply could not.
Now let's talk about Fan. I love me some Fan. He acted his heart out. But how many times did he grab her by the neck and threaten to kill her? Countless. And yet, he never followed through. He told everyone to leave him because he wanted to take down the councilman, and he begged her over and over: "Don't believe what others say. Trust me." She never did.
He was never the monster they thought he was. He just wanted to end everything so the people he loved could finally live freely. If only she had trusted him -- no matter what.
To finally end things, he chose to become a kingpin because he needed everyone to believe he had turned into the world's worst villain, even though he hated the lies and the cruelty. Behind the scenes, he was working with the cops to make things right. He even met one of the officers to coordinate with Hao Yu. Eventually, the truth came out, and she finally learned who he really was -- someone trying to do the right thing all along.
He gave her so many signs and gestures...but in the end, he still died, saving her. He left so much to her. All his properties. Swiss bank account with money for the children from the orphanage he created for them to go to college.
She did finally understand how much he loved her when she read a note that fell from a book.
"I've knelt three times. The first time, I begged him to let you live. The second time, I begged for the right to die by your hand. The third time, to give thanks for meeting you."
Fan needs to start choosing better scrips. Go back to those Lethal Man style dramas. These recent ones are not doing him any favors. His acting is always solid, but this FL brought nothing to the table for me.
The turbulence never stopped -- because this relationship was doomed from the start.
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Watch with icecream and try to keep your wrath from melting the screen.
The story revolves around Hao Yu the female protagonist who has the IQ of a kindergartner and emotional intelligence of a toddler. She wants revenge on Ji Zhi Jie the male lead, an underworld heir morally uncorrupted and born with the idea that Love Can Set It All Right.The morbid setting the writer wanted to portray never really hit the sweet spot. The gang was colorful and well dressed. A refreshing departure from an all black ensemble often noted in such stories. I must ask the writer what exactly went through his or her mind while penning this. The FL is cringe, annoyingly hell bent on revenge and the best part is not even good at it. A patient suffering from severe glaucoma could see through her paper thin act of love towards the man. Why was there not a single reasonable bone in Zhi Jie is beyond me. Was he too busy getting dolled up, upgrading his wardrobe or did he just forget his prescription glasses, I just couldn't decide. How can you love and then continue to love someone so horribly wrong for you.
Coming to the reason of watching this show, of course it is Fan Zhi Xin. The man can act and acts so well that it seems all too real to me. The pain, the frustration, the anger and the angst. Halfway through I wanted to slap the woman silly myself and throw her in a dumpster. I just can't with stupid females who can't grasp situations and act as if the world owes them something. If a man loved me half as much as the dude loves her, I'd be loyal to the grave.
Anyways back to the drama. I'm taking innumerable breaks to watch this, rest assured I will finish it because Zhixin worked his ass off to make my heart feel for him. I owe the man this much. Will edit his once I finish this train wreck of a drama.
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Is this love an abyss or a trap?
I was kind of expecting that ending and YES, the rating is mostly for the ML, I have to give it to both the writer and FZ, the portraying of a fool in love couldn't have been better. If there was anything that kept me going till the end it was the selfless love, the possessiveness, the desire and the willingness to be a fool for love even if it's for someone who definitely didn't deserve it. The story is about a FL whose quest for revenge lead her to entering the Cangfeng gang as the Successor's woman. Till the end, I couldn't find any form of empathy for the FL, the character embodies selfishness and stupidity all too well, with display of her back story being too shallow to help viewers relate, I can't blame the actress though, with the way the character was written, there was no redeemable factor, there were 2 scenes where she tried k**ling herself and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one at that point who wanted her to succeed so badly."ONLY UNDER UNDER ORDER CAN WE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE AND LAW "
Irrespective of all the flaws of the plot, It shallowly depicts what the situation can be like in a town overrun by a crime syndicate
HIGHLIGHTS
* The Red Flag ML - " I'm no big Hero"
What's not to love
* The ML's style
I have to give his stylist a 5 star rating, every time he came on screen all that rings through my mind is " Shuàigē"
* Chemistry between the ML and FL
Watch this with little or no expectation and you might enjoy it more than you think.
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Romance a senso unico, un'infinità di menzogne e un finale che non sa di redenzione
Questo drama si è rivelato, purtroppo, un misto di frustrazione e delusione. Unica – o quasi – nota positiva: il protagonista maschile, interpretato da Fan Zhi Xin, aveva un buon potenziale. Del resto l’attore è esteticamente interessante (tra l’altro in realtà è più giovane di quanto in alcuni drama sembri), oltre che carismatico, magnetico e particolarmente adatto a interpretare il “cattivo ragazzo” dall’animo complesso, l’antieroe per cui vale la pena soffrire. Di contro è anche l’unica caratterizzazione comune un po’ a tutti i protagonisti da lui interpretati, quindi sul fronte della versatilità potrebbe non essere particolarmente talentuoso. Se però ci soffermiamo sulla serie in questione, allora possiamo dire che la figura del delinquente o l’assassino dal cuore nascosto, una maschera dura che cela una fragilità interiore, può dirsi senz’altro riuscita.Considerazione quasi opposta quella sulla controparte femminile, Hao Yu. Descritta come una spia infiltrata in cerca di giustizia, si rivela invece un personaggio amorfo, privo di spessore e, oserei dire, di intelligenza emotiva. La sua missione è vendicare il padrino, e per farlo è disposta a tutto, ma il suo metodo è esasperante: passa l’intera durata del drama a fare la spia in modo così maldestro che persino un bambino se ne accorgerebbe. Il tutto senza mostrare la minima evoluzione del suo personaggio. Nonostante lui le dimostri in mille modi la sua devozione – venendo pestato, frustato, strisciando sulle ginocchia tra i vetri rotti per salvarla – lei continua a mentirgli, a tradirlo e a dubitare, nascondendosi dietro una presunta rettitudine morale. Questo fa sì che non la si possa definire in tutto e per tutto una vittima, se non addirittura un’eroina. Ha il suo obiettivo di vendetta, che persegue atteggiandosi da paladina della giustizia ma di fatto comportandosi spesso in modo meschino, diventando simile in alcuni tratti – tranne che nell’omicidio – a coloro che tanto guarda dall’alto verso il basso.
Il loro romance, di conseguenza, è sembra non trasformarsi mai in un sentimento sincero. Da parte di lei c’è qualche titubanza, ma perlopiù suona solo come mero sfruttamento. Lei lo usa come strumento per i suoi fini, e lo farà fino all’ultimo, senza mai ricambiare realmente la sua dedizione. Lui, dal canto suo, ogni volta fa finta di crederle, ma tiene gli occhi aperti, creando un circolo vizioso di menzogne e manipolazioni che stanca dopo i primi episodi. Questo squilibrio rende l’intera relazione tossica e, per giunta, noiosa. Quando poi lui, per amore o per frustrazione, si impone, il suo comportamento non appare passionale, bensì prevaricante e aggressivo, perché manca qualsiasi base di fiducia reciproca su cui poggiare la tensione romantica.
E poi c’è il finale, deludentissimo. Non che mi aspettassi un lieto fine, attenzione. Ma se l’idea era quella di una redenzione che passa attraverso l’amore non corrisposto e il sacrificio estremo, allora l’intera impostazione del drama doveva essere diversa. Invece, ci viene servita una conclusione malinconica e raffazzonata, dove lui muore per salvarla (ovviamente) e lei solo dopo, leggendo una lettera, capisce quanto l’amasse. Troppo poco, troppo tardi. La redenzione non sta nell’atto finale, ma nel percorso, e qui il percorso è stato un deserto di incomprensioni e cattiva scrittura.
In sintesi, “Invisible Love” è una triste occasione sprecata. Non basta certo la buona prova recitativa dell’attore principale per tenere in piedi un intero castello di carte. Piuttosto, per chi fosse curioso, suggerirei di optare per qualche suo altro titolo meglio riuscito e salterei a piedi pari questo.
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Não vale a pena
Esta série começa com uma premissa intrigante: Hao Yu, uma informante infiltrada no submundo, e Ji Jie Jie, o homem implacável que arrisca tudo por ela. A narrativa prometia uma dança intensa entre lealdade, paixão e sacrifício. No entanto, o que era para ser uma história de confiança e redenção se perde na insistência frustrante da protagonista em duvidar dele. Mesmo com a atuação do ator que tanto me cativou em outros doramas, aqui a falta de evolução do vínculo entre eles me decepcionou profundamente. O desfecho, apesar de trágico, não foi capaz de resgatar o potencial que a série tinha no começo."Was this review helpful to you?
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Walau jalan ceritanya pada awalnya terlihat klise karena genre romance, thriller. Tapi suka sekali dengan chemistry semua pemainnya. Terutama FL dan ML sangat baik dalam memerankan emosi lover-enemy-lover. Sedih bgt woy ML nya jadi 🍠gasiee ituu?? Berharap ada Season 2 dehh soalnya bagian ending itu kalau menurut ibu peramal, ML bisa diberkahi "anak" yang tak disangka sebagai budi baik😭(ngarep bgt ada S2 nya). Ini salah satu short cdrama yg sepertinya akan buat gagal move on sih 😔. Cewe menutup hati dan mata FL ini don't deserved "mencintai secara ugal-ugalan" boyfriend 😣dia ga sadar kalau sampai akhir itu ternyata ML udh punya rencana panjang dan seberjuang itu buat "kasih cahaya dan kebahagiaan" buat FL. Nangisss🥺😭Setelah menontonnya, rasanya aku juga ingin memiliki kekasih yang begitu tanpa pamrih di kehidupan nyata... (bersedia melakukan apa saja untuknya... bersedia mempertaruhkan segalanya untuknya... bahkan mengorbankan nyawa sendiri)
Kehidupan Ji Zhijie tidak mudah... Pertama: Ia lahir tanpa orang tua... Ia diasuh dan kemudian dijual ke sana kemari... Akhirnya, ia diasuh oleh Paman Kun (tetapi ia hanyalah pion dalam permainan Paman Kun), dan di depan orang luar, ia sulit didekati dan tidak tahu apa itu perasaan... Tetapi ketika menghadapi Yu Shi, meskipun ia sudah mengetahui identitas samaran Yu Shi, ia tetap memilih untuk mencintainya dengan teguh, dan memberikan hatinya yang sebenarnya tanpa ragu, memperlakukannya sebagai secercah cahaya dalam kegelapannya! Kedua: Ia secara sadar menyerah pada kebejatan, dan meskipun ia berada di posisi yang lebih tinggi, ia dengan rendah hati menundukkan kepalanya kepada Yu Shi, memohon sedikit saja cintanya—"Tolong berbohonglah padaku sekali lagi, hanya sekali," katanya, "Kita yang bertanggung jawab atas awal dan akhir." Di permukaan, itu tampak seperti sikap posesif, tetapi sebenarnya itu adalah cinta yang tak terukur (orang yang lebih mencintai akan lebih dulu meneteskan air mata), dan bahkan, dia melindunginya dengan segala cara, memastikan keselamatannya... Pada akhirnya, dia bahkan berencana untuk "ikut terlibat dan menjadi yang paling jahat" untuk membantunya mendapatkan kembali keadilan dan cahaya yang menjadi miliknya, tetapi dia Ia rela "terlibat dan menjadi yang terburuk dari yang terburuk," tetapi ia semakin terjerat dalam hubungan yang ditakdirkan untuk gagal ini, semakin tenggelam dalam keputusasaan hingga akhirnya berada dalam keadaan hancur. Ketiga, karena pengabdiannya, ia mendambakan penebusan, namun pada akhirnya mengorbankan hidupnya untuk memastikan kesejahteraan Yu. Bahkan mengetahui bahwa ia akan meninggal, ia tetap membawa Yu ke tempat aman, menyuruhnya untuk hidup dengan baik dan menjelaskan alergi obatnya… Sebelum kematiannya, ia berpesan kepadanya, "Hanya ini yang bisa kulakukan, hanya ini yang bisa ku bantu," dan menyerahkan semua bukti yang memberatkan dirinya kepada Yu. Akhirnya, ketika polisi tiba, ia menyuruh Yu untuk memutuskan semua hubungan dengannya, "Kita tidak memiliki hubungan. Hanya dengan cara ini kau bisa hidup dengan hati nurani yang bersih." (Setiap kata, meskipun menghilangkan kata "cinta," dipenuhi dengan cinta!) Akhirnya, ketika Yu berbalik, ia memberinya senyum, lalu memperhatikannya berjalan menuju cahaya…
Kehidupan Ji Zhijie berawal dalam kesendirian dan berakhir dengan kasih sayang yang mendalam. Dengan kelembutan dan obsesi posesifnya, ia menjadi karakter yang paling memilukan dalam cerita ini... Badai hujan ini membasahi hidupnya dan mengubah cintanya yang mendalam menjadi penyesalan.
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