To make matters worse, during the Japanese invasion, the farmers faced a double whammy: the threat of an influx of famine refugees and the confiscation of their crops by the Japanese army.
The primary target audience of this drama is the domestic Chinese market, as it reflects a turbulent period in China's history. During that time, landlords owned most of the land, and tenants gradually began to rebel. If I am not mistaken, in today's era, the super-rich still hold the majority of the wealth, while Chinese office and factory workers are often required to work six days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., under the 996 work system.
The performances of all the actors and actresses were outstanding, and the storyline captivated the audience.
I binge-watched this drama.
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This drama features sexual scenes and nudity, which is why I classify it as an adult drama. With the inclusion of sexual content in Queen Woo and now The Trunk, perhaps the K-Drama industry is moving away from a puritanical approach, especially with the emergence of BL and GL genres.
The story centers on a contract marriage, while the mystery of the trunk serves merely as filler.
This is the first time, after finishing the second episode, that I had to rewatch the opening to familiarize myself with the key characters!
I liked the part where the ML asked, "Does the contract include sexual services?" The FL responded, "If both parties are willing."
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The story is set in Kyoto, Japan, during the 1950s. At that time, women were often unable to work in traditional restaurants due to the lack of acceptance from their male coworkers. Additionally, customers harbored biases against female chefs.
Today, many food enthusiasts seek traditional gourmet flavors and ambiance . For instance, the coffee prepared by skilled baristas is significantly more expensive than instant coffee; however, customers are willing to pay a premium for freshly brewed coffee.
If I am not mistaken, our favorite dishes were often home-cooked meals prepared by our parents, as they evoke memories of our childhood.
**Warning: Spoilers ahead!** After her younger sister's arranged marriage interview with a hotel owner's family, FL encountered an unexpected dilemma: her sister had eloped.
To meet the financial support requirements necessary to save her family's traditional restaurant, FL found herself compelled to assume the role of the bride. The groom's family was aware that FL's family lacked male heirs, and they seized this opportunity to gain ownership of the restaurant through familial connections. Unbeknown to FL, ML had been directed to make the restaurant profitable within a year, or it would be demolished and transformed into a new hotel.
When the main couple officially meets and introduces themselves, FL reveals that she is a widow. The age difference between her and ML, who is a college student, is like mother and son. However, ML is unfazed by this, as he is heartbroken over the fact that his sweetheart married his wealthy brother instead.
On their wedding night, she declined to consummate the marriage because they both had someone they like, so he slept in the adjacent room. He assumed she was still emotionally attached to her deceased husband, so he accepted the situation.
However, from her perspective, she wished to set him free, believing he was a young man with a promising future ahead of him. Their union was merely a marriage of convenience.
Even though their marriage lacks strong emotional connections, ML did everything he could to revive the restaurant business, despite knowing that FL harbored a secret infatuation for her former coworker, the head chef at a hotel.
The remaining episodes concentrate on the restaurant's strategy for attracting customers through mouth-watering dishes, ultimately culminating in a contest to determine the top chef in Kyoto.
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Twenty years ago, YouTube was just beginning to gain popularity, and our internet speeds were too slow, suitable only for reading articles. As a result, we relied on terrestrial television to watch Korean dramas. We were captivated by the JITP theme song, "Onara," to the extent that we even purchased a VCD of it at the night market, albeit a pirated copy.
To this day, I still remember the child actress who portrayed the younger FL; she was incredibly adorable and made us cry when her character was bullied. Her role in JITP left the most significant impression on me, which is why I recently rewatched the first few episodes for the sake of nostalgia. Each episode concluded with a cliffhanger, and before I knew it, I had binge-watched the entire series.
The JITP storyline progressed from (1) Little Bride Lady to (2) Kitchen Court Lady, and finally to (3) Physician Lady.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
As is common in historical dramas, the palace is rife with betrayals. When FL was a kitchen court lady, she and her superior were framed and sentenced to exile on Jeju Island as maids. Unfortunately, her superior died during the journey. While on the island, she studied under the guidance of a doctor. However, when she was forced to treat an enemy leader, she was accused of collusion and sent back to the palace for trial. Fortunately, ML testified that it was she who ensnared the enemy, enabling the government soldiers to achieve victory. Upon learning that a new group of physician ladies was being selected, she attended the interview and successfully passed.
In the Chosun Dynasty, female physicians held a very low social status. Her medical instructor noted that when a male physician achieves commendable results, he is rewarded with gifts and promotions. In contrast, a female physician who attains the same level of success is often rewarded with a night spent with a senior officer.
When all the senior doctors failed to treat the king's illness, officials, scholars, and even the female physicians objected when the king wanted her to try. They protested, claiming that a female physician could not treat the king because it was against tradition. It is inspiring to see how she treated diseases while the senior male physicians were only concerned with concealing their misdiagnoses. As expected, she emerges stronger each time she faces a setback.
Besides time travel, the supernatural, and kissing, it encompasses most other genres. Credit must also go to her adoptive parents, who lighten the mood with humorous scenes.
JITP is a classic; don't miss it.
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**Warning: Spoilers Ahead** This Netflix series is based on a true story. It narrates the career journey of ML, who initially started by selling English encyclopedias. One day, he unexpectedly returned home early and discovered that his wife was unfaithful. Upon being confronted, she claimed that he could not satisfy her sexually, which ultimately led to her leaving with their children. Eventually, a friend introduced him to the adult magazine trade, and together they progressed to producing adult videos for sale. The challenge arises when ML seeks to create uncensored pornography, resulting in conflicts with the police for violating censorship laws and with the Yakuza (criminal syndicates) for ignoring their regulations.
Even though the drama carries a restricted rating, it emphasizes commercial elements more than the explicit content itself. The plot unfolds rapidly, unveiling its concealed techniques: the seminal fluid is actually composed of potato starch mixed with egg yolk for coloring. Furthermore, the intimate areas are secured with tape. Gradually, the industry shifted from implied sexual content to explicit scenes, yet censorship laws remained in effect.
As BL and GL dramas gain popularity, along with recent scenes featuring nudity in Korean dramas such as Queen Woo and The Trunk, I was reminded of Bob Dylan’s "The Times They Are A-Changin'."
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A tear-jerking drama basically about the trafficking of human organs.
After seeing "The Trunk," which revolves around a marriage contract, I recalled that I had previously watched another show titled "Marriage Contract."
In "Marriage Contract," the female lead agrees to sell her liver. I was perplexed because humans only have one liver; how could she sell it without risking her life?
Here is the response from Microsoft Copilot: Yes, it is possible to donate a part of a person's liver. The liver is unique because it can regenerate and grow back to its original size.
In living donor liver transplantation, a portion of a healthy person's liver is removed and transplanted into a recipient. Over time, both the donor's remaining liver and the recipient's new liver segment will grow to normal function levels.
In episode 1, the female lead overhears her boss asking her manager to find a liver donor for his alcoholic mother, offering a substantial amount for the liver.
Aware of her brain tumor and facing pressure from loan sharks regarding her late husband's debts, she agreed to sign a marriage contract to temporarily become a family member, allowing her to donate her liver. This arrangement would also ensure that there are funds available to support her preschool daughter in the event of her passing.
Her motherly love and sacrifices will bring viewers to tears, so be sure to have your tissues ready. The daughter is both adorable and intelligent. She even told her mother that she is a big girl now and that her mother can tell her everything.
The second male lead is so cute when he throws a tantrum in front of his parents.
The remaining episodes focus on the mother's struggles.
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Love works in mysterious ways; some lovers elope, while others willingly forfeit their inheritance. In this case, FL's father warned ML about the consequences of being left behind, but ML did not hesitate to pursue his feelings.
What makes this drama unique is the absence of artificial misunderstandings, and characters whose sole purpose is to seek revenge. What initially appeared to be a love triangle quickly resolved without animosity. Those who seemed cruel and selfish were merely fulfilling their professional responsibilities.
For instance, the journalist who suggested that the photo he took of the protagonist leaving the hospital was scandalous, inadvertently caused the investor to withdraw his funding to protect his shareholders.
The scenes depicting declarations of jealousy are beautifully crafted.
FL to 2FL: I'm so insanely jealous of you. You get to have another movie, and another one, and another one after that.
2FL to FL: Actually, I've been jealous of you since the moment I met you. Figuring out why ML cast you as Gyuwon.
However, the best scene was when Jaein (FL's co-actress) recalled her jealousy towards FL: Must be cozy, just lying there to act. You lie there, frown a bit like you are in pain, and a movie with your name on it gets released. Jaein was so ashamed that she left without completing her audition for another new drama.
If you're uncertain about whether to watch this melodrama, I encourage you to tune in for the penultimate episode this Friday night.
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I was initially hesitant to watch this drama because it was reminiscent of A Litre of Tears, both series deal with degenerative diseases that gradually impair patients' abilities to walk, talk, write, and eat. However, after watching the first episode, I found the romance in this series to be captivating.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
The show opens with graduates attending a job fair, fully aware that their chances of securing a full-time position are slim. During one interview, the FL's phone rang, causing her embarrassment. However, the man sitting next to her stood up, apologized to the interviewers for the interruption, and promptly turned off his phone. This moment serves as the catalyst for the protagonists to connect. Eventually, ML secures a job at a furniture company, while FL continues to work part-time at a restaurant.
If I hadn't read the synopsis, I would have thought I was watching a romantic comedy series due to the antics of the second couple. For instance, when he asked her how much taller she was than him, he received a slap. On another occasion, he begged for a one-night stand, only to be struck with her handbag. When he expressed his desire to be her boyfriend, she declined but permitted him to have a one-night stand. At the love hotel, both of them pulled out a book about sex, as they lacked any sexual experience.
The first half of the story focuses on the protagonists' love affair. However, when ML is diagnosed with an incurable disease, he decides to break up with FL, understanding that their future together is bleak. He chooses not to disclose his illness to her, as he wants to avoid eliciting her sympathy and complicating their separation.
Later, FL became a caretaker nurse and started a new relationship. While attending to her patient, she unexpectedly encountered ML again, who was now in a wheelchair. It was then that she realized the reason for their breakup. To make matters worse, all of their mutual friends, including her current boyfriend, were aware of ML’s condition, but she was not.
We should not judge her decision to leave her current boyfriend in order to care for ML.
Unfortunately, there are no English subtitles for the final episode, but a picture is worth a thousand words. The main couple has a wedding photo, and the final scene is very heartwarming as they enjoy a fun day at the beach.
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If you need a detox after watching Tastefully Yours (TY), this Japanese drama is a superb choice. Both dramas have 10 episodes, but unlike TY, WCG uses the second half of the series to develop the other characters.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
WCG tells the story of a blind girl's yearning to be self-reliant. It was a bit tear-jerking when she went to work at a fast-food restaurant. At first, the other employees resented her for slowing down their work, but their manager encouraged them to show empathy. Unexpectedly, the store's workflow improved because of her.
The first episode is hilarious, with her accidentally kicking the local hooligan in the groin, while the finale is satisfying.
This drama provides insight into the difficulties faced by visually impaired people.
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According to a Google search, the term "makjang" refers to a subgenre of Korean dramas known for their dramatic plot twists, heightened emotions, and larger-than-life characters. Combined with noona romance, love triangles, political manipulation, and corruption, the drama moves at a brisk pace with hardly a dull moment. Sorry, no passionate kisses.
Spoiler Alert!
When the female lead was on the verge of being promoted to the top position at the law firm, she was forced to serve as an adjunct professor at a local law school. There, her students played a crucial role in helping her regain her professional status. The court proceedings in the final episode were thrilling; however, the punishments handed down were disappointing.
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1 Litre no Namida (1 Litre of Tears) is a medical drama based on a true story.
There must be an amazing reason why this drama from 20 years ago can occupy the MDL Top 100 Japanese Drama list. Maybe it is the sense of reality that this medical drama manages to pull off. Unlike other medical dramas, the focus here is solely on the FL patient rather than the doctors.There's only a brief mention of why ML is so depressed with life, and we also are not distracted by character development for the supporting cast.
The title of this drama clearly tells us that this is a tearjerker, so get your tissues ready, especially starting in the middle episodes.
The love from the whole family was so strong that even the parents hid their heartache with smiles. At first, FL's sister was unhappy with her parents' preference for FL, but she changed her attitude after learning about FL's illness.
I can relate to this drama because my late wife first had breast cancer and then bone cancer. She asked why she was punished twice? All I could do was comfort her.
Tip: The final scene is very touching and unexpected, you need to see this drama!
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Initially, I wondered who would care about a person's fabricated scandals. However, according to Wikipedia, Chunhwa refers to the Korean erotic art tradition, primarily from the Joseon era.
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead!** The first half of the first episode truly lives up to the drama's title, "The Scandal of Chun Hwa," as the ladies become captivated by the erotic drawings. It is amusing to see one of the maids display comical astonishment while perusing the graphic content. It is a riot when the prince visits a brothel to lose his virginity, and his sister, the princess disguised as a man, also goes there to secretly witness the grand occasion. When the prince's fiancée learns of this, she storms into the brothel to demand what is rightfully hers. After punishing him, she takes him to another location to address the issue of chastity. Later, they even engage in the sedan chair shaking in broad daylight, which leaves her servant feeling embarrassed.
My curiosity was piqued, so I queried Deepseek whether people in the Joseon period were promiscuous based on the Chunhwa erotic art. Deepseek responded that the existence of Chunhwa (春画, "spring paintings") does not imply widespread promiscuity in Joseon society.
While the first two episodes were humorous, the third and fourth episodes became somewhat perplexing. I acknowledge that this is solely my issue; therefore, to prevent negatively impacting other viewers, I should stop here.
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