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Blind revenge is not pretty
This drama kept popping up on the trailers so I eventually got around to watching it. I think culturally this story was a mismatch for me there were more character traits that I disliked than what I liked.From the smiley faced poster I was expecting a lighter story but it kicked off with bullying and went darker as we progressed.
Our hero has some strong caring characteristics but is also quite paternalistic and so focussed on revenge he became unlikable.
His long suffering love interest swung between keeping him interested, reporting him to the police and just blindly following nasty instructions of her boss.
The feisty female lead is fixated on trying to win over our hero who blindly ignores this much younger colleague but is very happy she is helping him in his revenge dream.
I like the transgender character there was so much more in her character that had strong, proud vibes.
The evil elder brother is well played for the weak moral person.
The father has no redeeming features and is nasty to the core.
My cultural background had me shouting at the screen I wanted to shake or slap someone around the head so this reaction made it a drag to finish.
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Lovable OTT comedy
This is a comedy where the actors play exaggerated characters, dress in colourful costumes and lay on the cuteness.Our male lead comes across as sweet, effeminate and earnest with a tricky nature. The FL has taken up the running of the family business and is very comfortable in being a decision maker and has a masculine authority that is appealing to our two MLs.
I loved having this drama as a counter play to watching other more earnest dramas. It is light, fluffy and funny.
At first I was at a loss to understand how our FL would fall for this dainty ML but there is a slow build up and the 2nd ML just is over the top full of himself and ends up trying to bully his way into the marriage.
Suspend belief take it as light entertainment and have a giggle.
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Can be triggering
So I wont lie this drama had me very wound up emotionally so kudos to the director and the amazing actors.At first I cheered on our beleaguered FL, Ji Sun Woo, played by the talented Kim He Ae. Later I had misgivings because of the effect the toxic actions of this couple were having on their son.
Bad behaviour aplenty from the ML, Lee Tae Oh played by Park Hae Joon. He managed to look quite ugly and scary as befitting his anger and hatred.
It is unfortunate that often divorce can bring out the all of the unresolved character weaknesses in individuals and this is ably demonstrated by the ML. He is torn between his needs and lashes out destructively. The FL uses her intellect and resolve to counter attack and the tensions are through the roof.
Also portrayed very well is the supporting ensemble being swayed by who to support. As is often the case friends tend to pick the winning side in divorce matters and this is shown as they vacillate between the the two.
Clever editing. cliff hanger episode endings and a fairly aggressive soundtrack heighten the drama. Not one for the soft hearted.
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So satisfying you can practically smell the flavours
A slice of life drama that has close up attention to food preparation may seem uninteresting yet the production, (high quality camera work and lighting), the acting, (natural and expressive) and the light tension makes for a really enjoyable viewing.The FL, Tang Min's character, Xiao Mai is a young girl with an unshakable confidence in her cooking talent. She is unafraid to go up against others who would try to harm her or challenge her skills.
Her 'can do' attitude and kindness attracts the attention of the ML. Yang Kai Cheng portrays Yi Huai as a steadfast, manly character of few words. He is a walking green flag and protects and rescues our FL even learning to appreciate his mother more due to her coaxing.
The support characters are also entertaining - the prickly mother (in-law), her bossy sister and husband add flavour to the story.
The food is a main character of the drama and it is often showcased at the different banquets and competitions. From the humble fresh noodle to the elaborately designed competition finale all is a feast for the eyes.
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Very exciting series
This was an astounding show.Everything screamed top production.
The prize money is a tip to how seriously they designed this competition. The chef's were terrific and their personalities were captured as they performed under increasing pressure. The food and photography, the set designs and music were all very well thought out.
Never a dull moment and exciting concept.
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If you are patient this slow burn romance will surprise.
A handsome university student, out hiking, meets a distressed adolescent. From this encounter the story unfolds.The adolescent, Nakano Taishin, is awkward, shy and introverted yet he overcomes many of those traits as he persistently tries to get Shiga Takara's friendship.
Shades of 'My Beautiful Man Eternal' in their relationship dynamics as Taishin adores and looks up to Takara unconditionally and Takara portrays his frustration at not being perceived as a flawed individual capable of casual cruelty, like his mother.
Both characters show development as they influence each other and begin to acknowledge the depth of their relationship.
Disappointing ending we are left with a lot of questions and loose ends.
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It is an easy watch with sweet moments.
A simple and stressless BL with out too much angst.Tome is an ex model and he appears to be good at what ever he does. His stand offish personality does not endear him to others and often leads to jealous repercussions. We later find out how his upbringing has enabled him to look after himself from an early age.
Natsume is a lovely flawed character. He tries very hard in his work and at trying to get others to like him. His low self esteem seems to be triggered by his wish to be super successful and the reality that he is very good at what he tackles but not outstanding.
These two are working together and Natsume admires Tome and is very encouraging of his talents. Tome starts to notice Natsume and a romantic link is sparked. He is very direct and steadfast in his pursuit of Natsume. Natsume is the focus as he deals with his insecurities, jealousy and possessiveness. All the other characters are there as background noise or mild diversions.
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All in all a wonderful insight into sibling dynamics and dating decisions.
Terrific concept executed really well.Pairing up your sibling on a dating show was a bold move and it paid off. This aspect of the show was very heartwarming as we see the interactions, some sweet and caring others snippy and defensive, evolve as the show progressed and the sibling dynamics became very supportive of each other.
The panel were at times hilarious. They resonated with the unfolding drama and their reactions disclosed how their own dating past had unfolded. It was fun to guess along with them about which siblings were related and who fancied who.
The participants are to be commended. Spending two weeks living together in Korea and a week in Singapore with 4 potential dating partners may seem like a terrific opportunity but it has its drawbacks. These individuals are constantly miked and on camera so they know every nuance is being viewed and critiqued by the audience. There were times when the interactions were completely off the cuff and natural and some netizens moralised and pointed fingers. Personally I think the 'flaws' were the honest charm of the show. Loyalties switched and surprising pairings occurred keeping us the audience keen to know what happens next.
The format was also clever as new rules were introduced giving everyone a chance to interact closely with the other potential partners. The singing duet talent show was fabulously entertaining. The flash back videos of each family brought tears and deeper understanding of the sometimes difficult challenges the participants had faced.
Random Note: does anyone else see Yon Woo's likeness to a younger version of the American actor Ben Afleck? I was reminded of the character he played in Gone Girl who keeps smiling at all the inappropriate moments and is wrongly accused by the judgemental public.
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Very addictive
I got to watch the reformatted 38 longer eps vers.I loved the dynamics of the 2ML they obviously developed a deep bond and affection for each other to the extent they would die for them. Their lives are put in danger enough times that it is clear to see how they look after each other. Both leads are above average intelligence and looks so they carry the drama easily.
Huang Jun Jie plays Ling Jiu Shi had an Alpha male persona but was somewhat restrained in body language.
Zhi Guang plays Ruan Lan Zhu in his first major role and at 24 yrs old I feel this will open a lot more doors (pun) to his career.
The side characters are also interesting although their screen time is shorter. The Spirealm game has tasks behind the 12 doors; to locate the door ghost, find the exit key and uncover clues on how to not get killed are what kept me hooked.
I liked the colour palette used and often moody lighting added to the sense of danger. The opening track, Cánh Cửa - Hạ Chi Quang (The Door) and deep singing voice is very hypnotic. Huang Junjie also sings the ending theme OST. The other tracks are magic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qPMm_cCrDo
This is based on a novel and apparently suffered a little from the adaption but not having read the story I thoroughly enjoyed this version and was never bored.
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This over the top action, black comedy spoof was my cup of tea.
I loved how Vincenzo Cassano coolly handles all that is thrown at him whilst sporting bespoke Italian suits. From airport muggers, cooing pigeons, betraying partners, corrupt officials ....... the list goes on.He seems an unlikely thug with his neat appearance yet he handles the fight scenes with aplomb. Using his Mafia savvy he outsmarts and out fights his way whilst plotting how to remove tons of gold from under a building.
His running mate is thrust into her role and it is a radical about face for her after her father is is murdered. The role is tough and she pulls off the about face realistically. Together they make a formidable team.
There are numerous excellent actors in the ensemble and scary violence is juxtaposed with slapstick humour, this may not appeal to all, I liked it. I was pulled along by the rocking pace and unexpected cliff hangars that were resolved with quirky twists.
Expect lots of laughs, murders, violence and law breaking it is a hell of a ride.
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The 10 participants had their own unique personalities and watching them adapt, struggle, confront and accept their emotional responses to their past relationships and the potentially new relationships was mesmerising.
Season 2 outshone season 1. Some of the tasks were the same, however, the addition interviews gave more depth to the individuals POV. The ex's room was a roller-coaster of heavy feels and it was as interesting to note those who were willing to face this and those who avoided it. The locations were excellent and Jeju island looked amazing.
The support and friendship offered by all the participants demonstrated their maturity. The banter and careful one on ones helped when the emotional struggles threatened to derail them.
As an audience member I got to review my own actions in past relationships so some therapeutic insights were a bonus to me.
A superbly produced show with attractive participants and hosts all willing to open their hearts to us the audience.
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Romance got lost
I liked the drama, however, towards the midpoint it veered off course.The acting is not terrific and the main couple are possibly not the best pairing.
The ML is a traumatised king who is being kept emotionally unbalanced due to a series of grisly murders reinforcing his wife's supposed suicide.
Enter the FL who is hiding from her evil, murdering step mother and has become a con artist involved in the marriage compatibility business. She is a fast talker and not averse to pretending she has Shamanistic skills to save her own neck.
The comedic aspect is in play here as this clueless heroine behaves as though she was never been privy to a wealthy family background, although, as we find out later she has only been on the run for 7 years.
I actually like the 2ML best. He comes across as strong, caring and respectful. At all times he is protecting the king and the FL.
The introduced baddies and their nefarious plots to keep the kingdom's marriage ban in place so they can traffic kidnapped women is jarring.
The evil mother is a suitably Korean Melodrama character whose power and influence gets ever increasingly bigger without ever being suspected.
Luckily the script writers finally wrapped up the crisis, gave the bad guys a suitable end and marry off the two leads. What follows is more cute fun and fairy tale ending to wash away any bad taste left over from those middle episodes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Appearances matter
I think this drama proves that when it comes to looks we can all be quite shallow, so suspend beliefs and prejudices and enjoy.Handsome male lead dates girls purely on their looks and in a very short time (average 2 months) realises their personality is not attractive enough to continue so drops them.
Our FL has never measured up to society's standards of good looking and in her youth was bullied and teased (she assumes) for her looks so has low confidence in this area.
Set the scene for the beautiful ML to be the model for her art class and she becomes in lust for him.
The fantasy of her wearing a ring that cloaks her real appearance allows her the chance to experience an adorable guy being devoted to her. The fact that no one else can see her transformation is the twist. She luckily stays true to her own personality, probably, because she realises this is a temporary transformation and not likely to last. ML finds that her unaffected personality is very attractive and falls deeply in love.
I liked the tension of when she is exposed but not the execution. The 2FL is also given some sympathy as her backstory is revealed.
The ML is also shown as vulnerable due to his relationship to his mother. The FL is the luckiest because she has very loving parents who are good role models for love.
The story is entertaining and as a fantasy drama it works well.
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The FL's are rivetting
The two FL's in this drama are terrific.Zhang Nan as Xu You Yi gets most of the screen time which is unfortunate as Annie Sun playing Yan Wei is striking. **Perhaps this will be balanced out if there is a second season - fingers crossed.
For only 12 episodes I felt there was just way too much that the writers tried to cram in and way too much that was not explained **
The GL aspect is there if you want to see it but sadly the cultural censorship restrictions have whitewashed this couple.
Liu Zhi Yang plays You Yi's husband, Zhou Heng and is thoroughly dislikable as the obsessed, treacherous villain who justifies all his evil deeds as being caused by others actions. His father may have influenced him here and his mother has set him up on a pedestal so no blame is ever attached.
Set in the Republican Era, the plot is focussed on Zhou Heng’s infidelity. He is seemingly accountable or involved in all the murder and attempted murder cases that You Yi’s is suspected of.
In the second half of the series when the two women begin cohabiting their is light humour as their two disparate personalities adjust. Yan Wei dotes on You Yi and is willing to provide whatever she perceives will make her life and pregnancy easier.
The colouring and the lighting of the scenes is very beautiful and adds to the romance. Unfortunately the ending is confusing **
Overall would watch again and maybe skip some of the unnecessary parts. bring on season 2 so we can perhaps showcase Yan Wei.
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Worth the wait
BOT had a great review from AvenueX but at the time there were no English subs so I put in my plan to watch.***So very glad I had rechecked.***
This show is first and foremost funny, quirky and has a type of teenagers take on humour.
Sometimes the sets are excellent and other times they remind me of earlier Dr Who shows.
Consistently surprising episodes that kept me interested whilst the individual characters gradually get fleshed out to reveal their 'monster' forms and personalities.
There is a slow burn love interest by the two, excellent, leads that is also given a complication worthy of this off beat drama. They carry the show and the supporting cast give more depth to the narrative. What is surprising is the directors and screenwriters are not very experienced yet manage to put in many layers and the dialogue pacing is good.
I feel this is a hidden gem that gets better as you persevere with each episode. I really got to like and care about the characters which, for me, shows off the skill of the actors.
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