Ackery

High expectations are the key to disappointment

This is going to be a rant/review with the length of an essay, so friendly reminder that this is my personal opinion. I intended to make this spoiler-free, but I just had to mention a few scenes that made me roll my eyes in the plot/characters and directing part of my review.

Remember 15 was one of my most anticipated series of the year and it did disappoint me in almost all aspects possible. Before ranting, I want to mention the two things that I liked about it.

Promotion: I want to applaud the team that was responsible for the promotion of this series. The posters, especially the first one, were some of the best I have ever seen. The official teaser prepared the viewer for a suspenseful, gory series that would also focus on the characters and their stories and it was very well edited.

Acting: The portrayal of the characters from their respective actors was probably the best thing this series had to offer. They all did a decent job, taking into consideration the fact that the characters were not that well-written.

Now to the rant:

Directing: I usually don't pay that much attention to the directing, since in most series it is neither praise-worthy nor rant-worthy. However, in this case things are different. If someone told me, they changed the director after the first two-three episodes I would probably believe them. Even though it felt like it got improved in some way (not that it was good, but not as bad) the way they shot the first few episodes was amateurish at best. There were some shaky camera movements, even in scenes that there was no reason for the camera to be shaky (basically scenes where they were just standing and not running). Some unneeded (and shaky) close-ups, that not only did not create the atmosphere they aimed for, but also made the scene look even more ridiculous. Some outrageous shots that were filmed badly - worse than when I was filming a commercial for school-. There is this one scene where two characters are face to face and it is supposed to be intense, but the camera angle allows the viewer to see half of the face of one of the characters and not even that well, because her hair was getting in the way. And let’s not forget the scene when Fone lost her eye from the branch of a tree. That branch went so deep that it should have destroyed her eye completely, yet someone thought ‘’let’s make the screen red, to show that Fone is seeing red from the blood that she lost'', when she is not supposed to see anything, because her eye is gone!

Make-up: After watching the teaser of the series, I expected a decent amount of gory scenes and there were some, but the way they did the make-up was pretty bad in many of the cases. As a result it felt fake and it ruined the gore aspect that was supposed to be one of the main themes of Remember 15. Frankly, there are many times that I, and probably many other viewers, have seen some pretty bad CGI or some pretty bad make-up scenes (with a very recent example being Under the Skin). However, unlike those dramas, Remember 15 should have some realistic gory scenes to make the plot and the atmosphere work.

Plot/Characters: I wouldn’t mind that much if the plot was perfect and all the other aspects were lacking, but even the script was not well-written. The series has basically two timelines, one happening in the past and one taking place in the island. As a viewer, I anticipated some suspenseful scenes in the events happening in the island, but unexpectedly, the past of the characters was much more interesting to watch. Generally, the majority of the plot and the actions of the characters made no sense. I know I should throw my brain out of the window, when I have to, so I can enjoy a series, but this one was so outrageously stupid at some points that it was hilarious and a bit insulting to watch. The characters' reactions made no sense. Everything worked as a plot tool to make the story develop -if I can call that development-.
Everyone is so emotionless and their reactions (or to be more precise the lack of them) make no sense. People are dying and everyone is so calm! In one of the scenes Bozo (or another male character, I don’t remember) finds Bew with blood on his hands and with a dead body near him (that probably has no head left, because Bew smashed it with a rock) and he looks calmer than when I am having a walk in the park. People get severely injured, but they survive and can function properly, when the script says so, but others with less serious injuries can’t even walk straight. The characters' reactions are very fake and the way they act changes so drastically, in a way that it feels like they change their whole personalities. Therefore no matter what they do, you don't really feel anything about them. Some of them are okay, but the majority is just bland, the kind of 'I don't care even if they die' kind of bland.

The pace: Unfortunately the pacing of the series was another huge problem. I could call the first half of the series a guilty pleasure, but after some point it became very draggy. The thing is, that when you are making a slow paced series, you must know how to handle everything to make the viewer interested in what is taking place on the small screen. In this one, they apparently didn’t know how to do that. There are many scenes that last minutes, even though they don’t add anything to the atmosphere or to the plot and the sole purpose of their existence is to make the episode last longer.
Remember 15 could easily be a movie or a short five-episode series. I felt like they wanted to make this deep, emotional and at the same time engaging and suspenseful, but it ended up being extremely boring. As a result I watched the second part of the series in double speed and I felt like I was watching it in its regular pace.

This is trying to be a character-driven horror series with some social commentaries here and there, but it is failing miserably in all aspects. After having watched the WeTV Thai original series After Dark, I expected a similar atmosphere as that one. If you have watched that series, you will know what a disturbing atmosphere really means. It managed to balance good acting, chilling atmosphere and also make some social commentary, while this one just wanted to do so and never achieved it. Is this horror? No and I don’t know If they really aimed for it.

All in all, Remember 15 had an interesting concept, but the execution lacked in almost all aspects and for me, it does not deserve your time, especially if you are looking for a horror series. Try After Dark or some other Thai series with a similar theme, like The stranded.

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Femme fatale, where?

While I was watching this series many "what if" questions came to my mind. What if the editing was good? What if Park Hee Soon was the male lead? What if the make-up artists could do make-up? But let’s see every aspect separately.

Plot
The plot was obviously full of plot holes, as expected from the genre. The problem is that the series took itself way too seriously to a point that me, as a viewer, expected something better writing-wise. At some points, it was plain stupid.
Let’s take the kids for example that were basically there for décor. When the scriptwriter needed them, she added all those scenes with them, when she didn’t, it was like they didn’t even exist.
When it comes to these series, entertainment is a must. Even though the first half of the series was entertaining to watch, the second half was boring for the most part and all the excitement disappeared.


Directing, Cinematography & Editing
First of all, if someone asked me, when was this series released, I would be confused. The majority of the series looked like a 2016 or a 2015 production, but there were some scenes -not many- that looked visually pleasing, like they were part of a 2021 production. Generally though, it felt cheap.

The lighting was bad, especially in some scenes, like the tango scene in the first episode. I only liked the close-ups in the first few episodes that added to the atmosphere they were trying to create.

The editing was also pretty bad. In one scene the character looks to the right in the other scene, he looks straight ahead.

And then, we have everyone looking fake. Someone told me how it is called, but since I don’t remember it and I can’t find it, I will just use my own words. Everyone’s skin looks fake. It is flawless and not in a "the make-up is great" kind of way. In some scenes, it felt like some characters didn’t have a nose, that’s how bad it was. And to be honest, just why? I had a huge problem with that, especially regarding Seo Yea Ji. She is stunning the way she is, why would you make her look like that? That must be an achievement.


Acting
Oh, Lord. Generally speaking, the acting was mediocre, if I want to be generous, with Yoo Sun as Han So Ra being the only one that I loved watching on screen. She did a great job, portraying her character and I dare say that I would compare her performance with Kim Seo Yeon’s in the Penthouse. Good overacting is not easy to find and she did a magnificent job. Lee Sang Yeob and Park Myung Hoon, Kang Yoon Gyeom's brother, also did a very good job.

Now to the rest of the cast. Seo Yea Ji did an okay job as Lee Ra El. I would say that she needs a bit more work in the sentimental-scenes department. Besides that, at some point, I felt like she gave up. It was like she was trying so hard to make Ra El seem like a good person, to a point that she even made her voice sound thinner.

Now to the actual problems. One of those problems is Park Byung Eun. Even though I didn’t find him as bad as everyone else did, another actor would bring the eroticism and chemistry that it was needed. My biggest problem with his acting was the inconsistency. In a close-up shot he looked shocked, eyes red etc and in the full shot of the same scene he looked like he was just staring at some flowers in the park.

I also didn’t like the acting of Jeon Gook Hwan, the actor that portrayed Han Pan Ro, Han So Ra’s father. I get that he is a veteran, but for me he was ridiculous and I am saying that in the least good way possible. I felt like his acting would suit a series from five years ago. Same with his right hand Kim Jung Cheol, portrayed by Jung Hae Kyun.

Don’t even get me started on the foreign actors and how bad they were. Seo Yea Ji spoke better Spanish than the people that were supposed to be from Argentina.


OST
I like the original soundtrack of the series, with Hold Me Tight by Kim Ye Ji being my favourite. The version of Libertango by Astor Piazzolla with the bandoneon in the tango scene was also fantastic.


Femme Fatal
Undoubtedly, Seo Yea Ji is the perfect actress for these types of roles. Besides her beauty that I personally find quite unique in the Korean industry and her deep voice, she can pull of characters like Lee Ra El. However, no matter how good and gorgeous she is, her character was downgraded by everything else.

Firstly, she is supposed to be mesmerizing when dancing tango and she is just not. The way she dances feels amateurish, cringe to watch and it is definitely not as erotic as they want us to believe. Plus the choreography they created didn’t help at all. It made me laugh at times. That’s where the director should enter and actually do a good job alongside the make-up artists and stylists which gets me to my next point.

As everyone noticed, Seo Yea Ji has lost a lot of weight. Even though we can’t know if it was for the role or because of the scandal, the people responsible for her outfits should be fired. Many of the things that she wore didn’t fit her body type. Not only that, but some of the clothing choices were just bad. Same goes with the makeup.

No, the bad make-up wasn’t intentional, as I have heard many people say. Besides the fact that it felt like they were amateurs and had the same three things to work with -colors, eye-shadows etc-, the majority of their work was awful and I am being very kind. The make-up they used in most scenes looked awful on her, it didn’t fit her outfits nor it was nicely applied. The glittery make-up was just offensive to my eyes. It was bad even in her dreams! Plus, in some shots it looked different than in others and in some scenes they made her look like a ghost.

The same problem occurs with the hairstyles. They weren’t too bad, but when you have Seo Yea Ji you must make her look even more beautiful and not degrade her beauty.

Once again, think of the tango scene. I can’t believe they made her wear that awful dress with that awful make up, when they could have dressed her with a blood red colour dress to make her look like a woman you would give up everything for.


Kang Yoon Gyeom VS Seo Eun Pyung
If you were watching this series, while it was airing, then you know that everyone was arguing about who Ra El should end up with, who is better blah blah blah.

This is my unpopular opinion. First of all, for me, Ra El should end up with no one. Confucius had said "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves" and that would be the most fitting ending for this type of series.
Now, if I had to choose one, that would be Kang Yoon Gyeom. First of all, I can see why he would love her or obsess over her, take your pick. Also, people seem to forget that Lee Ra El is not a saint. She may have been through a very difficult time, but she is manipulative and uses everyone to achieve her goals, including the kids. So no, I don’t think she would make a good couple with Mr. Perfect Seo Eun Pyung. Her toxic relationship with Kang Yoon Gyeom and their similarities make them the ideal endgame, because that is what fits a series full of morally grey characters.

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‘’Pigs are born to be torn into pieces’’

The King of Pigs is a 2022 korean series based on the animated film with the same name that got released in 2011. I think the best way to write this review is by dividing it into three parts, taking into consideration the three different stories that get interconnected throughout the series.

The past: A part of the series takes place during the school years of our protagonists, showing the difficulties they had to endure. From a technical aspect, the directing, colour grading and cinematography are phenomenal. Acting-wise, it was a very good call to not choose older actors to portray the characters and personally I ended up being fascinated with the performances of all the young actors, without a single exception. I would dare say that their performances were haunting, in a way that it was sometimes a bit disturbing to watch. However, if I had to pick the best performance, then it would be that of Choi Hyun Jin who portrayed Kim Chul, the mysterious third friend of our main protagonists. Plot wise, this is the most interesting part of the series, since it is veiled with mystery and it is focusing on the darkness of human nature in a very raw manner. It reminded me of the saying that "the school is a miniature society".

The Present: The present story changes between the serial killings that are being orchestrated by Hwang Kyung Min and the investigation from the police done by Jung Jong Suk, an old friend of the killer.

The killings: From a technical point of view this part is also quite well done, with some very good editing and a darker colour palette. The acting is excellent, especially Kim Dong Wook’s performance as the bullied child that decides to take revenge from his bullies. The other actors also did a very good job, with two of them standing out the most; Oh Min-Suk portraying the adult Kang Min and Bae Yoo-Ram portraying the adult version of Park Chan-Young. Plot wise, this part of The King of Pigs is quite well-written, keeping the viewer on the edge of their sit with all the brutality and the darkness of the human nature that is being showcased. It also raises some dilemmas regarding justice and what it really is.

The investigation: Unfortunately, all good things come to an end with the investigation being the weakest part of the drama. From a technical aspect, the directing and cinematography are pretty lacklustre. There are some scenes that are way too bright or don’t fit with the atmosphere they have created. There are also scenes were the colours are way too bold, like the parts with the coroner where the blue colour looks unnatural. Many times it felt like they were trying too hard to create an atmosphere to fit the dark aura of the series, but since they didn’t manage to do it, it ended up feeling artificial. Acting wise it is not anything extraordinary with the performance of Kim Sung-Kyu (Jung Jong-Suk) being the only noteworthy one.

Chae Jung-An starring as Kang Jin Ah ruins this series the most for me. Her performance is pretty bad, since she is having only two expressions in the entire show no matter what is happening. Every time she was on screen I got reminded that this is a series and she is an actress trying to portray her character and failing. Plot wise, the investigation is also the weakest part. There are things happening way too conveniently to make the story move forward and once again the character of the female police officer that is being portrayed by Kang Jin Ah has no reason of existence. She is being used time and time again from the writer to make the plot move forward and as a result her actions are nonsensical.

One last thing I want to mention is the lack of censorship. The King of Pigs deals with many triggering topics involving murder, bullying, sexual harassment, suicide, animal cruelty and yet it is not your typical kdrama where everything is blurred. With the exception of one scene, where censorship was necessary, everything else is being shown in its most violent form. The fact that the series doesn’t shy away from brutal and bloody scenes is a huge plus, taking into consideration the topics in discussion.

All in all, the king of pigs could have been a phenomenal series with fantastic performances, if they focused on the past and the serial killings and not on the police investigation, a weakly executed part in almost all aspects.

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Revenge is a dish best served with green beans

Let's be real. Could I resist a series called " Until I Destroy my Husband's Family"? Nope, I couldn't.

Otto no Katei wo Kowasu made may have been a low budget series and may have gotten a bit draggy towards the end, but no one can deny that it was entertaining.

Matsumoto Marika is splendidly overacting from beginning to end, as many of the actors and actresses in the series. I may have not read the manga, but the drama definitely had the right vibes. The plot itself was entertaining for the most part, even though there were some predictable moments, especially if you have watched similar series in the past. The ending was not that great, writing-wise, but it was good enough. Lastly, thumbs up to the people responsible for the music (♪ Galileo Galileiii ♪)!

In simple words, Until I Destroy my Husband's Family is an entertaining revenge drama, that would definitely benefit from less episodes, a higher budget and a better written ending.

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ᴀ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴅɪᴀᴍᴏɴᴅ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢꜱᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴇᴀ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴋᴇꜱ

Calming Waves is a hidden gem.
Unfortunately for the series, it got released in a rather "unlucky" period of time after the successful Coroner's Diary and a few days before the highly anticipated (and later overhyped) Legend of the Female General.

Even though it is not flawless, its shortcomings are rather insignificant for a series that unlike many others got better and better with each episode.

Cinematography and directing are fantastic. It is one of those cases where you end up taking multiple screenshots and filling up your gallery. Acting was good from everyone and OST was amazing, with the credits song "Rising Through the Night" (踏夜升明) by Liu Yuning being my favorite. But those are things that I don't want to focus on, cause they are characteristics that many series possess.

So what did this series excel at?


ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝔸ℂ𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕊
One of the things that I dislike in most series with multiple characters, is that most of the times everyone feels less important comparing to the mains. In this case, all characters are equally significant. They all have their own stories and their own strengths and weaknesses and at no point I felt that anyone was unnecessary.

Even though Beiming (Wang Xing Yue) and Xueman (Julia Xiang) are considered the protagonists, all characters are complete individuals that are not there to serve them as aids or to make them look better in the eyes of the viewer.

If I'm being honest, this series is so well balanced when it comes to characters that all of them feel like they portray main roles.
Even though some characters were unusually smart, none of them felt unrealistic or one dimensional and more importantly they weren't almighty, cause every single one had their flaws. Everyone complemented one another and they ended up making the perfect team.


𝔽𝔼𝕄𝔸𝕃𝔼 ℂℍ𝔸ℝ𝔸ℂ𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕊
The reason why I have dropped many dramas in the past, is that many series portray female characters and especially female leads as weak, damsel in distress individuals that always wait for male leads to save them...
In Calming Waves the female characters are nearly perfect. They are capable, smart and their strengths make up for the shortcomings of the male characters.


ℝ𝕆𝕄𝔸ℕℂ𝔼
This is an aspect that worried me quite a lot when I started this series.
Thankfully romance was more of a subplot, that was delicately portrayed without overshadowing the main investigation plot of the series. It was natural, it was subtly beautiful and it also felt realistic and well-balanced.

The female characters didn't feel like decor, being there only as the love interests of the male leads. They were strong and intelligent characters and I deeply appreciated how male leads didn't work as saviors.

Everyone put the common goal of their team first. Even if someone got hurt, there was no overreacting, slow motions, sad songs in the background, cause they had to achieve their goal and there was no time for sentimentalities.


𝔸ℕ𝕋𝔸𝔾𝕆ℕ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕊
I won't say much when it comes to this, cause I don't want to spoil anyone, but all antagonists in this series are phenomenally written and some of the best I have watched in recent years.


ℙ𝕃𝕆𝕋
Of course, nothing could work if the plot itself was not good. Even though it does contains some exaggerations here and there, the series is generally very well written and complex.
It felt both plot and character-centered, it was dialogue heavy, exciting and definitely entertaining.

It also has a bit of everything. It has mystery, action, drama and comedy. It has romance, bromance, sismance and multiple other fantastic relationships between different characters.
Everything is well-executed and thought-out.


All in all, this is a gem that deserves more attention.
Please don't be fooled by the terrible poster, cause Calming Waves is a series that offers quality in every aspect.

𝓖𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓪 𝓽𝓻𝔂, 𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮!

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Missing Person: Nanno

SPOILER FREE

I don't want this to be too long so I will get to the point. Even though it was quite an easy watch with some interesting elements here and there, there were three main problems in this season. One was that the writers and the team tried to have a more ''sophisticated directing'' that was decent, but at the same time tiring and didn't evoke the unsettling felling that season one gave off. The second problem was that I felt like they were out of ideas. Most of the episodes had very similar elements to episodes from season one and felt repetitive and sometimes even draggy or unnecessary. The biggest problem in this season though, was Nanno herself. She was barely there in some of the episodes and the drastic change of her character, even though there were clues that it was going to happen, felt hasty and abrupt.

I saw many people wanting to find out Nanno's backstory, who or what she is, but I personally don't. One of the best parts of this series is the fact that we don't know anything about her. She is ''The girl from nowhere'' and I want her to stay that way or at least if we were to find out what she is I would prefer it to be in the last episodes of the series. The unknown is much more horrifying than the known.

Episodes ranking:
8 -> 6 ->7 -> 5 -> 4 -> 1 -> 3 -> 2

SPOILERS
My personal ranking of the episodes from best to worst:

Episode 8: This episode was a breath of fresh air comparing to the rest and it was imo by far the best. It was bloody, had a plot twist that was rapidly revealed and an unsettling atmosphere. It was also the episode that made me realize that in the modern world, most people would prefer revenge and not karma.

Episode 6: Easily the most visually pleasing episode of the whole season. Nanno gave a speech about rules in the beginning of it, but it was much more than that. It was about cutting off whatever is different. It was about strict regulations and societal rules that make people unable to breath and how difficult it is to get them out of your life, without becoming a monster. It was about a dark and white world that doesn't want any colors and doesn't need anyone to be unique. I also liked the Junji Ito vibes that this had regarding Nanno.

Episode 7: Sarcasm about social media, how they work and that sometimes we are able to do awful things for some views from people that we may not even know. Also about appreciating our life no matter how it is.

Episode 5: Easily the most fucked up episode of the season. It was certainly intriguing, but also unsettling. I liked the fact that it was basically a social commentary about the principle of "respecting people older than you", that doesn't only apply in school, but also in every part of people's life and it is fundamental in many Asian countries. One of the main reasons this is in the top four is because of Aim, that played Kaye. He was phenomenal and he portrayed every single emotion with just a look.

Episode 4: Interesting episode and the main introduction of Yuri. Frankly, they could have handled it way better, so that her appearance would be more mysterious, but they didn't.

Episode 1: First half of the episode was great. James is an amazing actor and he was really good in this role. Unfortunately second half felt draggy and repetitive and it reminded me of the first episode of the first season. It became a little ridiculous after a bit, like a badly written wattpad fan-fiction.

Episode 3: One of the most interesting concepts in this season. Unfortunately I didn't really like the execution nor the acting, but the idea was really good and it reminded me of season 1. This could be way higher in my ranking, but when a good concept is not handled correctly, it is even worse than a bad concept being handled in a bad way.

Episode 2: I liked the message of the episode, that love is love no matter what, but that's the only thing I enjoyed. This was the equivalent of the TK episode in season 1. It felt draggy and the main reason was not just the story, but the fact that it felt out of place. In the TK episode Nanno played a fundamental role and she did try to destroy TK, but since he was a good person she couldn't. In this one, it felt like she didn't have any bad intentions from the beginning and that could be explained by the change of her character, but if that is the case then it shouldn't have been the second episode of the series. However, since Yuri was introduced there wasn't a choice for this episode to be the 4th or the 5th of the season. If this episode didn't exist at all I would prefer it, since in only 8 episodes, I expected to see Nanno acting like herself.

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The King carried the nation and the drama on his back

I will quickly mention the things that I liked and disliked about the series and then I will refer to my biggest problem about it that made it such a huge disappointment.

What I liked:
+ First four episodes (with pick being the fourth)
+ Jo Jung Suk as the King
+ Park Ye Young as Lady Dong
+ Most of the veteran actors performances (along with a few non-veteran ones)
+ The child actor that starred as Dae Gun
+ Politics based
+ Visuals
+ Non-puppet king
+ The dark atmosphere
+ Production quality


What I disliked or found mediocre:
- Script was mediocre -to be kind-
- Music: okayish individually, but nothing memorable and shouldn't have been used in some scenes
- Pacing: Each episode could easily be 15-20 minutes shorter
- Jang Young Nam tended to overact as Queen Park
- Cobweb-like beards
- The absence of tension in the majority of the show
- The romance aspect made me feel nothing most of the times
- Many clichés - Very underwhelming, especially towards the end
- Ending


Now, to the thing I was mostly disappointed about. Friendly reminder that this is my opinion.
Also, what will be mentioned does not contain spoilers, unless you have not read the synopsis, watched the trailer or seen the poster. So to anyone that wants to go into the series without any previous knowledge I suggest you to stop reading.

And here it is, my biggest problem with the series -> Shin Sae Kyeong and the female lead that she portrayed

1. Portrayal as a male baduk player
- Obviously no one in the crew wanted her to look like a male. The make-up department did their best to make her look like a woman.
- The makeup they used when she was actually dressed as a woman was either the same (as her male identity) or not as prominent...
- Someone must have told the actress to act like a woman at all times too, because everything, be it her mannerisms or voice, could never have anyone fooled that she is a man.

2. Everyone looked brainless
- Have I seen series where an actress that is impossible to look like a man pretends to be one and no one questions it? Yes, many!
But you know what those series weren't? Serious.
They were mostly focused, one way or another, on romance where anything was possible -and they were certainly not focused on politics-.

Captivating the King sets a very serious tone from the get go and the romance is not the center of the plot.
So it feels not only extremely unrealistic, but also a bit dumb.
We have a ton of people scheming and no one mentions that she looks and acts as a woman (not that they could, but at least try to make her look like a man, just try).

3. Every other man VS Her
- This is a series filled with veteran actors, most older in age. There are no idol looking characters and barely any very young men are starring.
The majority of the men are old or middle aged, the younger ones are tall and build and all of them have a beard. Of course even though all actors wear make-up it is not really that visible on the men. And what is the female lead as a male like? Petite, super young, glass skin, no beard - not to mention the absence of the adam's apple- and of course face full of make-up...
She feels so out of place between all these people, yet no one seems to notice.

4. Character
Her character is stupid, there I said it.
- Everything goes her way, because the script says so. She would be dead a long time ago if the series took itself seriously.
- She literally has no plans (she is just going with the flow, even though she wants revenge)
- The scriptwriter and director try very hard to convince the audience that she is a smart and capable character, but her plan makes 0 sense -because there isn't one-. And as we all know, it is very easy for someone to get revenge against powerful people when they have no plan. Let's not forget the thing that irritated me the most. She acts depending on her emotions.

5. Acting
- The female lead is supposed to be a desperate character that will do anything to bring justice about what happened to her and everyone around her. She is supposed to be smart and calculative.
And you know what she does? She is ready to bawl her eyes out every freaking scene!
She is having a serious conversation where she should look intimidating and she looks like she is about to cry! Am I -or any character- supposed to take her seriously?

- Shi Sae Kyung has a limited amount of expressions the entire series
1. She looks like she is about to cry (or cries)
2. She is expressionless with her mouth always open
3. She is moving her eyes around or semi closes them to look flustered/confused

6. She ends up being a vital part of the plot, even though she is unimportant
- The writer tends to involve her in situations out of nowhere just to include her in the plot. She is not really an important character, more like a guest role in her own show that they had to involve in the plot somehow to give her screentime. The whole drama could easily work without her character.

In the few series I have seen Shin Sae Kyeong, I have never considered her a very good actress, but also not bad to a point that bothers me (plus I can’t avoid saying that she is super pretty).
Now, Shin Sae Kyeong was -as usual- not really great, but was basically ruined by a very badly written character -and an equally badly written script-. Also, having Jo Jung Suk as her co-star undermined her performance even more. He was the one that carried this show and he was the only thing that was worth it from beginning to end.

All in all? Unfortunately, despite its good start, this ended up being another series that did not need a female lead, but they decided to use one just to squeeze in the romance and because the scriptwriter apparently couldn't do anything better with the script -while also using the false ''strong woman'' armor-. Some good performances and the production quality weren’t enough to save a very badly written script that was also lacking greatly in terms of pacing. And yes, I will say it, this would work much better as a revenge based male VS male lead drama that focuses on politics and schemes inside the palace.

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A fun ride, but...

Special Delivery is an action movie that is certainly not ground-breaking in any way. When I am watching action movies, my goal is to be entertained and throw my logic out of the car window. However, in this case, the movie did not offer the kind of entertainment that would make me turn away from all the ridiculous things that were happening at times.

The plot was structured like many films of the same genre, and the action sequences were definitely fun to watch and very well-made. In other words, if you are looking for some nicely shot and fun to watch action scenes, you will surely be entertained.

What ruined it for me the most was the acting. The female lead is a badass protagonist, and Park So Dam definitely didn't have a hard job, when it comes to the acting department. Her character was mostly expressionless, but in my opinion, she didn't deliver even in the scenes that she was supposed to show the slightest bit of emotion. She was very wooden. The main antagonists mostly overacted and to be frank, I couldn't take them seriously. Generally, the majority of the cast was mediocre.

It was obvious that the scriptwriter tried to make this an action film with some kind of emotional impact, taking into consideration the way the plot progressed. However, the characters were poorly developed and the acting was lacking. As a result I didn’t feel anything for any of them.

All in all, even though there are some aspects that are there in almost all action films, like people not dying, unless the script says so or individuals suddenly turning into super humans with great abilities, the acting and the way the plot was structured didn't make it entertaining enough to make me feel for the characters or ignore some of the absurd things that were happening on screen. Don't get me wrong though. This is an entertaining ride and an ideal movie to watch, when you are looking for some fun after a long and difficult day.

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Thai horror strikes again!

I think reading reviews and critics of anthologies is one of the funniest things ever, cause every single person can have a completely different opinion on an episode and a story. You can read someone saying “this is easily the best episode in the anthology” and right after someone else mentioning “this was the worst episode in the series” and they both can be right at the same time.

This is not the first horror anthology I have watched, and certainly not the first Thai horror anthology, but it is easily one of the best.

As a whole, I can only say that the series was extremely entertaining and very easy to watch. In other words, a binge-worthy drama. That aside, the directing/cinematography was great in the majority -if not all- of the stories and the atmosphere was as dark as it should be for a horror series.

I can’t really judge the other aspects without mentioning each episode individually, but generally there were some great performances in some of the episodes and also some pretty bad ones. Some stories were great, others not so much, but I think everyone will find at least one they will like.

This is a horror anthology though and there is only one main question; Is it scary?
Honestly, I don’t think I am the right person to answer this, since I rarely get scared -due to years long experience when it comes to horror lol-. However, I will mention that there is some shocking imagery and there are quite a few well done violent/gore scenes, so yes, I would say that for people that are not really that much into horror, the series may be scary or at least disturbing and "I'll cover my eyes" worthy.

There are definitely a lot of horror tropes used (haunted houses, murders, spirits etc.) and some predictable moments, but the series also has some pretty well done endings and it is undoubtedly fun to watch. So, for horror fans, you will certainly have a good time, be it because you had fun or you were hate watching.


My favorite episodes:
- Our Little Sister (episode 1)
- The Vow (episode 4)
- Viral Curse (episode 8)

My least favorite episodes:
- Spectral Class (episode 5)
- Dear Granny (episode 7)

Best episode directing/cinematography wise:
- Our Little Sister (episode 1)

Best episode acting wise:
- The Vow (episode 4)

Funniest + most extra episode:
- Spectral Class (episode 5): I swear, the scriptwriter was high when he was writing this.

The most unique -in terms of horror- episode:
- The Vow (episode 4)

The most psychological horror episode:
- Viral Curse (episode 8)

The most graphic episodes in terms of violence:
- Ode to my Family (episode 3) + This also gets the “best title award”
- Wedding Dress (episode 2) + This one had also Tim Burton vibes
(+ I could also add Spectral Class, but it was way too ridiculous for me to do so...)

Performances that stood out to me the most:
- Care as Milk (Wedding Dress)
- Gee as Nat (The Vow)
- Smile as Dao (The Vow)
- Bee as Montha (Dear Granny)
- Nina as Ple (Viral Curse)
- Maralyn as Kaew (Viral Curse)
- Nat as Bird (Girl Next Door)
- Piglet as Jane (Girl Next Door)

All in all, this -along with the After Dark Thai anthology (free promotion, cause that series is way too underrated)- is a must for horror fans and it manages to be entertaining from beginning to end, making it a binge-worthy drama (that I hope gets a second season).

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What makes us human?

Nowadays, good psychological thrillers are like the money you have left at the end of the month; not enough.
And here we have Lesson in Murder that not only managed to be compelling from beginning to end, but also had the ideal dark atmosphere that a film in this genre must have.

As a fun of ''darker films'' (and as a way to defy my parents when I was young) I have watched my fair share of disturbing/bloody scenes and I no longer get shocked easily.
However, in some peculiar way this film managed to disturb me, even though it didn't have neither the most bloody nor the most disturbing scenes I have watched (especially make-up wise).

Is the blood and human despair enough to make a good psychological thriller though? Certainly not. There is also acting, directing and an actual -non bloody- plot. But let's start from the beginning.

Abe Sadawo that portrayed the serial killer Haimura was simply phenomenal. His facial expressions in combination with his emotionless eyes was just a disturbing image in itself. It literally felt like I was watching an emotionless shell trying to be compassionate. Mizukami Koshi also did a pretty good job in his role as well as (most of) the rest of the cast.

Plot wise the movie was complex and intriguing enough without being hard to understand. It managed to explore the darkest corners of the human mind, without trying too hard and it had a great balance between plot and characters. I would definitely recommend to anyone that may be reading this to not watch the trailer or read the whole synopsis before watching it.

And there is something else I personally loved and I know that most of the times it can end up being a disaster. I am talking about the so called ''filler scenes''. The movie had some scenes that seem unecessary at first, but as the film progressed everything ended up being equally important.

Last, but certainly not least, the directing and cinematography were great. They gave the film that last spice that was needed to make it better than your average psychological thriller. It was dark, but not too dark, disturbing without trying too hard, symbolic without being too on the nose.

Even though it is not flawless, mostly when it comes to the make up/hairstyling department and some deliberate misdirections, the film ticked all the right boxes -dark atmosphere, engaging plot, good acting- that definitely differentiates it from many movies in the same genre and personally speaking it has just been way too long since I watched something this satisfying.

P.S. To my fellow Through the Darkness and Beyond Evil lovers, you will enjoy this a lot!

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Blood and Flesh

I have been trying to come up with a catchy first sentence to begin this review for the past hour, but I can't think of anything satisfying enough, so here we go.

Execution-wise the movie is splendid in all aspects from cinematography and directing to acting and music.
Unexpectedly it doesn't even feel draggy, even though it runs for two and a half hours.
However for some reason I don't feel like mentioning any of this is important, because it doesn't really matter comparing to the plot and what it felt like watching it.

Hunger deals with the theme of greed and the chasm between the poor and the rich. It doesn't romanticise anything and at some points it feels raw to a point that as a viewer I felt depressed, frustrated and angry but not in a way that it made it difficult to watch. It doesn't have any type of ''fairy-tale'' plot or the cliché of ''food made with love beats everything''.
It focuses on the importance of the choices that people make for themselves and how easy it is to turn into a person you hate.

Even though it doesn't feel preachy, I feel like they could tone it down a bit more to have a better balance.
I would definitely like a different ending, but it didn't degrade the rest of the film.

"The poor eat simply to satisfy their hunger, but when you have more than enough to eat your hunger doesn't end".

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In the Land of Saints and Sinners

If I had to describe what Fangs of Fortune is about in just a phrase, I would say it is a series about free will; the freedom of choice.

In a world where humans, demons and gods reside, one might expect good and evil to be clearly divided, but that is not the case.

Both humans and demons are prejudiced against one another. Humans see all demons as evil, and demons believe humans are fragile and incapable of truly understanding them.

Humanity, and subsequently mortality, is about the beauty of an ephemeral and mundane life; it’s about emotions and fragility. Demonhood, and consequently immortality, is about power and the inability to truly feel.

The thing about Fangs of Fortune is that it is not just about the beautiful, yet fantastical, world we see on our screens. It is also about the real world, the one we wake up to every morning. It’s about judging someone without truly knowing them. It’s about labelling someone as good or evil, simply because of a specific characteristic they have. It’s about being hated, even if you did nothing wrong; being hated because of something you couldn’t control. It’s about realizing that you cannot truly understand a situation, unless you have been there. And finally, it is about the fact that no matter who or what you are, no matter what you experience, no matter the hardships you have been through, in the end, what you become is your own choice.

All the characters in this series are proof that everyone is different, and that is the beauty of life, immortal or not. Not every person turns into a villain because of a tragic past, and not every individual becomes kind and considerate just because they lived a good life. It's all about choices, and we always have the power to choose, even in situations where everything seems like a dead end.



Below, I will analyze my personal experience with most of the technical aspects of the series, and I will also answer some common questions you may want to consider, before watching.

DIRECTING AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guo Jing Ming has quickly earned a place among my favorite directors. He has the ability to create magic on screen. Every frame is not just beautiful; it is spellbinding. The world he has created here feels like the one my 6-year-old self would have dreamed of living in, despite the dangers it might have held. He captures the beauty of what I envision when I think of Chinese culture. Of course, the slow-motion scenes, the close-ups, and the techniques he is using as a director are a hit or miss. You will either love or hate them, and I am enamored with them.


MAKE UP
If you have also watched My Journey to You, then you’re probably aware that Guo Jing Ming has a tendency to make his characters appear pale on screen. In my opinion, although they don’t always look "real", this choice works in his favor most of the time. However, there were some scenes where I was bothered by the fact that some actors and actresses appeared so pale that it became visually unappealing.


ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
I have to admit that the songs are somewhat overused in the series. However, individually, every single song is soulful, touching, or simply electrifying.

Here are my three personal favorites:
- Return after a long dream (大梦归离) by Li Yuchun (李宇春)
- Unintentional big dream (无心生大梦) by Liu Yuning (刘宇宁)
- Yuan Zhou’s youth (远舟的少年) by Neo Hou (侯明昊)


ACTING
All of the actors in the series did a solid job with their roles. I wouldn’t say that all of them delivered award-worthy performances, but none of them took away from the drama, while I was watching. Each had their moment to shine, with some performances standing out more than others.

The two people who stood out to me the most were Neo Hou and Tian Jia Rui. Starting with Tian Jia Rui, I had high expectations from him, since I had enjoyed his performance on My Journey to You. Despite having limited experience in acting, he managed to truly bring Zhuo Yi Chen, his character, to life. His eyes are incredibly expressive.

Now, onto Neo Hou. Even though I knew of him as a rising star, I hadn’t seen him in a series before. I was impressed by his performance and how well he managed to portray a character with so many different layers.

On the other hand, if I had to mention one person that impressed me the least, it would be Xu Zhen Xuan as Ying Lei. While he was excellent for the most part, especially in the more lighthearted scenes, I do believe he needs more work when it comes to delivering more emotionally charged performances.

As for Chen Du Ling and Tian Jia Rui, if I could, I would award them the Queen of Tears and King of Tears titles, respectively. It’s truly astounding how effortlessly they manage to cry, and in such a magnificent way (while also looking impressively beautiful).


MYTHOLOGY
Fangs of Fortune may not be based on a book, but it draws inspiration from a classic text, that contains information about mythological creatures, called "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (山海经).

The drama -with liberties involved- manages to intelligently portray various creatures from the text. Not only does it retain many of their key characteristics, but it also incorporates other elements like clothing, make up and more to enhance their depiction.

Take Zhu Yan (朱厌) for example. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, he is an ape-like creature with a white face and red feet. In the series, aside the “ape jokes” that gave us a hint of his true form, there were other creative ways that the crew used to portray his demonic form. For instance, in the first few episodes, his clothing is dark red with a white fur, something that is obviously done intentionally. In fact, the red "energy" that surrounds him, made me wonder if it was another way for the director to portray Zhu Yan’s red feet.


PLOT
While Fangs of Fortune has an entertaining plot, with some truly amazing scenes, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it from start to finish, it would be inaccurate to say that it is perfect. There are several aspects that the scriptwriter/director could have handled differently. For example, aside the first few episodes not being entirely captivating, there were many scenes where conversations were taking place, and the “big threat” was just standing there, waiting for them to finish.

That aside, some characters are underdeveloped and, at times, even forgotten in terms of the plot. There are several liberties taken in this regard. Did it bother me? Not really. However, I do believe that if certain scenes had been portrayed differently and more effectively, the final result would be even better.


HUMOUR
The drama is comedic from start to finish, despite not being advertised as such. As with any “comedy”, it’s something you’ll either love and laugh along with or dislike and roll your eyes at. At first, it caught me off guard, but the more it happened, the more I warmed up to it. Now, I can clearly say that the comedic elements were absolutely hilarious (and pure gold).


CHARACTERS
Like many viewers, I became attached to the characters. Every single one of them brings something unique to the team, and every member is essential.

Zhao Yuan Zhou, Zhuo Yi Chen and Li Lun
In my opinion, these three characters were written with the utmost attention to detail. All of them were very complex, with rich backstories and current experiences that made them layered and multi-faceted and I couldn’t help but feel for them.

Wen Xiao
As the female lead, Wen Xiao serves as the emotional backbone of the team. I do think that in general her character is underdeveloped, but I will touch on that later.

Pei Si Jing
Who doesn’t love a strong female character who can fight and stays true to her values?

Ying Lei
A humorous and kind-hearted character who made me laugh countless times.

Bai Jiu
The team’s doctor, another pretty well-written and multi-dimensional character with a complex, yet fascinating personality.


FEMALE LEAD (?)
As mentioned earlier, Wen Xiao is the emotional backbone of the team. Unfortunately, she is noticeably underdeveloped compared to the others, and she ends up feeling more like a supporting character than the main female lead.

Wen Xiao is portrayed as weak and fragile, something she openly acknowledges. She is kind-hearted, but like everyone else, she can be too quick to judge others sometimes. The main issue I had with her character is that, even though her introduction was magnificent and powerful, she ended up doing very little throughout the series. In the most dangerous and pivotal moments, she was merely a spectator.

Her weakness remains constant throughout the series and many times it felt like she was inserted into certain plotlines/scenes just to be present, rather than having a significant role in the events. There were many scenes where all she did was lie helplessly on the ground, while everyone else fought for their lives. What frustrated me the most is that, despite being portrayed as someone with potential power, she never truly feels like a powerful and important character.


ROMANCE + BROMANCE + SISMANCE
The romance between the two main characters was slow-paced and, unfortunately, underdeveloped. Even though the actors had good chemistry, the portrayal of their characters and their actions never convinced me that they were truly in love. Their "relationship" felt sudden, with barely any build-up. Some of their grand gestures for each other were impactful in concept, but because the romance itself was super underdeveloped throughout the earlier episodes -with most meaningful scenes not being between them- "their moments" failed to leave an impression on me and left me wondering why they are acting the way they do.

On the other hand, the bromance between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhuo Yi Chen (and even Li Lun) was the kind of “romance” the series was missing. Not only were the actors phenomenal, with their scenes oozing chemistry, but their relationships were also better written. Because of that, as a viewer, I could better understand and connect with them. Plus, they shared some of the most emotionally impactful moments in the series. Why though? I will get to it later.

Bromance aside, the relationship between Pei Si Jing and Wen Xiao was also beautifully portrayed. Despite their differences, they formed a deep connection and felt so much for one another. Their scenes were magnificent and their conversations were truly beautiful to watch.


ENDING
Obviously, I won’t spoil it for you. I will just say that even though the last episodes were not flawless in terms of execution, thankfully the series did not crash and burn.



Now to the questions:

-> WAS IT AS GOOD AS MY JOURNEY TO YOU?
Fangs of Fortune is fundamentally different from My Journey to You, which makes it impossible to truly compare the two. Even though both series share the same director and as a result they are both visually stunning in their own ways (with some amazing OSTs), that’s where the similarities end.

MJTY was a much darker series -both in terms of cinematography and atmosphere, as well as plot- with limited fantasy elements. It was more dialogue-driven and political, with a heavier atmosphere and barely any comedic elements. On the other hand, Fangs of Fortune, was a fantasy drama through and through, filled with an exquisite amount of comedy and a generally lighter atmosphere. So, it all depends on what you generally enjoy.


-> IS IT BINGE-WORTHY?
Yes and no. For those who generally dislike GJM's directing style -his meticulous attention to visual detail, slow-paced dialogues, hushed voices, and frequent use of slow motion- it might be challenging to watch, let alone binge. However, for viewers that enjoy his approach, binge-watching will probably be a delight.


-> HOW IS THE ROMANCE?
The romance unfolds slowly and it takes a backseat to the series' main storyline, as the focus is mostly on the ensemble of main characters rather than the two "leads." That said, as mentioned above, it is also quite underdeveloped. So, if you are looking for a romance-focused series, this is not the one for you.


-> DOES IT PORTRAY A NON-PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO MALE LEADS?
That is a very complicated question. Of course, it could never truly be a same-sex romance, since there is a ban on same-sex relationships portrayed on screen in China. However, Guo Jing Ming has incorporated many homoerotic undertones between some of the characters -and this is not the first time he’s done so-.

For me, it’s evident that the director/scriptwriter would likely have pursued a different kind of relationship between the two male leads, if it wasn’t for the ban. I know many of you may disagree, but I’d like to share my thoughts on this.

First of all, there are many scenes that are undeniably not purely platonic (like the hairpin scene between two of the characters or the red string scene). Additionally, the main male characters are much more complex and layered compared to the female lead. In fact, the most impactful moments, the ones that really stand-out, happen between the two male leads and not between the male and female lead.

In addition, the way that GJM directed the drama makes it evident that he was willing to go in that direction if he could. Their interconnected fates, their glances, their touches, their bickering, their reactions when it came to one another -all of it- had far more depth compared to the main romance. The fact that the female lead was weak and underdeveloped, coupled with her random appearances in certain scenes, further reinforces the idea that the romance between the mains was never meant to be the central focus.

Lastly, it doesn’t matter whether you consider their relationship platonic, brotherly, romantic or something else entirely. Their bond is unquestionably powerful, something that I don’t believe anyone can truly deny. The fact that the female lead is not the focus of the series at all and barely appears in the last few episodes, made me even more convinced that this was a story about something much different and deeper than what we initially expected.


All in all, Fangs of Fortune took me by surprise and I think it will be a long time before I get over it. It ruined me and healed me simultaneously. Despite its flaws, it was an incredible watch. The characters, their stories, the OST, the underlying message and the overall experience of watching it are things I won’t forget.


I will leave you with one of the many beautiful quotes of the drama about mortality and death:
"Tears has nothing to do with age and nothing to do with strength or weakness. It has something to do with our hearts. Humans are soft-hearted. Soft things will always be pricked by something hard and cold and death is the hardest and coldest thing in this world."

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LIVƎ

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here"

Dear lovers of the dark side,

This is a tale that not everyone can stomach.

Boody, disturbing and daring, this doesn’t follow the typical routes.

Don't spoil yourself (and don't rush to judge it), because you will miss the fun.

It may not be perfect, but you will enjoy the dark elements and the twists and turns.

Just be careful not to gaze too long into the abyss.

Don't miss it (if you can take it)

Sleep safe,
Dark Side Cult Member

P.S. You better be watching or I will be watching (you)

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"On the backside of the moon, there was not even a single ray of light."

"I have someone that I want to make happy, but if that person really finds happiness then I won’t be needed by anyone in this world."

Human darkness was always something that fascinated people and Byakuyako portrays two of the most interesting and complicated characters I have ever watched, that have fallen into the abyss. It focuses on two pathetic human beings, Yukiho and Ryoji that are trapped in their past and guilt. Their relationship can’t be defined with a simple word. It is not love, nor friendship. It is a complicated connection between two scarred humans that found someone to rely on. Like the sun and the moon, Yukiho and Ryoji are meant to exist in the same universe and offer comfort and rest to one another, but without being able to truly exist at the same time.

"After that, I told lies upon lies. This way, I lost every bit of the truth."

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A GAME OF CHESS

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗
✅ Production quality
✅ Directing
✅ Acting
✅ Plot
✅ Dark/Serious atmosphere - No comedic elements
✅ The emperor: Finally an emperor that is actually capable and not a puppet like usual or just there for decor
✅ Suspenseful, super entertaining and also quite ''poetic'' from beginning to end
✅ It was the perfect amount of episodes
✅ The strategies of the characters A+
✅ Great ending

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥
❎ There are some typical ''supernatural'' Chinese medicine things, but honestly wasn't that bothered
❎ Fight scenes were generally good, but sometimes when way too many people were fighting one person, we had the usual "You could have killed him while his back was turned" problem.
❌ I will pretend that last scene in the special didn't exist
❌ Plot armor of the ML that could be avoided in one simple move
❌ Some slight editing problems


𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘/𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝗜 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗:

👏 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒
There is no sugar-coating and characters being saved just because they have an important role in the series. A mistake can kill anyone no matter who they are.

👏 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘
In most series you know from the get go which characters will play an important part, which ones will die, which ones will stay alive till the end. Here 😂😂😂
You see someone that feels like a main character? Dies next second. That was the magic of this series. Nowadays, everything feels way too predictable. But here, you couldn't tell who will be next.

👏 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃-𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
There are no kind-hearted characters and no pure villains here. All of the characters are calculative, cold blooded and smart and they have their own stories to tell. They are important in their own ways and all are equally vulnerable and also powerful.

👏 𝐀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒
Huaian may be the ML, but he doesn't feel omnipotent, cause everyone around him, the people he is trying to kill, are equally smart and dangerous, something that I rarely see in dramas.
Most of the times in works like this, we have the super important main character, a couple of villains that many times are not even that powerful and everyone else is just there to play a minor part in the main character's plan.
Here most of the characters are important in their own ways. I am not sure how to explain this, but all characters feel like mains even if they barely have any screentime. They are all part of a chessboard, where any move can be fatal and no win is gained without sacrifice.

👏 𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄
Huaian is a ruthless character that is not scared to stain his hands with blood to achieve his goals and that is one of the main reasons why this series stands out for me. He doesn't hesitate. He knows how to take advantage of people and control them. I like that he is not portrayed as a hero, but as someone who lost way too much and is about to make others go through the same pain and even worse.

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