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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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Opposites attract
First and foremost this drama is about relationships the CTF setting is just context so if you thought this was a gaming drama you will be disappointed.There is enough contrast in the two main leads to add the uncertainty of how will they ever get together and if they do how will the maintain a relationship - but they do and the story is well told.
Tong Nian played by Yang Zi is bubbly, generous, smart and well loved by her family, friends and most who meet her.
Hang Shan Yan played by Li Xian is aloof, controlling, outcome driven and we learn later very lonely.
Both characters have a terrific ensemble of family and friends surrounding them and we are given enough exposure to make those characters add substance to the story.
I think this strange pairing works because the people surrounding Shan Yan want him to be with someone and have more than just the team and the goal of China winning the championship in his life.
Yang Zi has enough bravado/chutzpah to keep turning up in an effort to win him.
Despite there being 41 episodes time flew by for me. I never needed to skip or even feel bored the pace was good and even.
Music is also very apt.
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Be the best version of yourself that you can
Just completed this drama last night and loved it.The description 'charming' came to mind.
This BL manages to gender neutralise and focus on the sweet angst of a couple starting to love. What I mean by gender neutralise is there are no specific BL tropes the story could be about 2 boys, 2 girls or 1 of each it works because it is about the couple. The whole story focuses on their gradual coming together.
There is enough depth of character building, despite the shortness of the drama a lot is contained as the back story is revealed. Honestly the 11 episodes flew by and I watched from start to finish engaged all the way.
The actors are very natural in their responses and the 'human-ness' of their love is beautiful to watch at the end I sat for a while just recalling scenes. Kang Eun Bin and Jo Hyuk Joon did an incredible job depicting the leads in a realistic and restrained way that emphasised the naturalness of their portrayal. the OST and cinematography were lovely and added to the experience, especially the use of tinted lighting (blue for blueming).
XXX
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A wild supernatural ride of a drama
The cast of this drama are varied and interesting. The fantasy is that the majority of main leads are either from heaven (deities) or demons. mix in some humans and ghosts and then the plot takes off at a gallop.There are other sub plots, a snappy bromance, a slow burn romance, a fairy sharing her brothers body in a male female swap, an idol who is actually a demon pig who falls for a zombie and let's not forget the black dragon that could disrupt the world unless the FL sacrifices herself.
It is a fun mish mash of ideas held together by the cunning and charming monkey Son Oh Gong played marvellously br Lee Seung Gi. His romantic feelings for Jin Seon Mi / Sam Jang are triggered by a magic bracelet that binds his heart and weakens him. There are many manipulations that often backfire and evil doers flourish but not too scarily.
I didn't warm too quickly to the FL until the zombie is taken over by an evil spirit who then manages to swap souls with the FL. The transition from a fairly staid person working as a real estate agent into a femme fatal was an eye opener. She transformed her body language and voice and was very believably a dangerous evil woman.
20 episodes packed with plots, back story, great visuals and sometimes weird CGI meant I was never bored and the OST is lovely too.
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A BL rom com that leaves a sweet taste
Loved the music from Jeff Satur it really set the scene.This rom/com is an easily digestible story that shows the interaction of 4 couples in a school environment.
Depending on your own preferences will decide which couples you favour. Each have their own story and back story that is lightly touched on in this short (12 episodes) drama.
I think the writers did a very good job of linking the characters and showing some character progression as the young men move from the study world to the business world.
Special mention are the scenes with the parents.
Mek's parents are lovely and accepting and love shipping the BL couple. Kim has a wonderful scene with his caring mom helping him to discuss his struggles with his first work experience.
Even the perfect Tim gained my sympathy when showing his restrained and polite refusal to be coerced by his father into joining the family business.
The romantic scenes are tastefully done without any graphic content. I feel they can be viewed by all the family without causing discomfort if wanting to help 'normalise' the idea of same sex couples. There is plenty of touching, hugging and kissing. The friends and two sisters are very supportive and it was especially lovely to see the long-term couple, Park and Lee getting married the vows were very touching.
Not too perfect; the headmistress is too OTT and borderline bullying/blackmailing could be written out in a swap for more couple time.
It is also satisfying to see the boys remain in touch and supportive whilst chasing their career objectives.
I do think this is one I will rewatch when I need a little taste of sugar.
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This review may contain spoilers
Kpop exploitation explored.
NB If you choose this drama because it has a comedy genre I think this is misleading. This is not a fluffy romance. It explores the very unhealthy actions of the victim rescuer dynamic.
This drama highlights what happens when a young girl, who due to earlier neglect by her money grasping mother, decides to become an idol. She is groomed by her manager and eventually becomes a money making product. Along the way she begins to experience crippling anxiety. This is conveniently ignored by her manager until during a concert she collapses. He then bundles her off to live in an apartment that is part of a shared household.
An insight Doona gets later in the story is that the managers deliberate ghosting of her during this mental breakdown is to force her to suffer loneliness and isolation and drive her back under his control.
FL Doona is an emotional red flag mess.
she has no close friends, anger issues, abandonment issues and severe anxiety and depression. She acts out aggression in very inappropriate ways (using glass bottles as a weapon) and has never experienced love.
ML Won Joon enters the story as a student studying for his engineering degree who moves into the share house to be closer to college. He has left behind his single parent mother and a chronically ill younger sister. He has also had an unrequited love with a former childhood female Jin Joo whom he perceived to be out of his league due to her families wealth.
The story depicts the initial misunderstandings and then eventual curiosity and attraction between the two leads. Both actors represent their characters excellently.
The ending is left open for us to choose what happens next and this is very suitable after all the angst each character has faced in this relationship.
One thing I felt was that these two people needed to meet to help each of them to grow and heal. Both show more maturity and better boundaries in the end.
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Breathtaking and affecting.
Kim Tae Ri as Yun Jeong Nyeon ate this role. In every scene she captured attention.Her character was very flawed, arrogant, headstrong, prideful and joyous, and generous. Awestruck with her singing ability, she remained true to herself throughout.
Ultimately Jeong Nyeon was on a mission and her voice was her ticket to freedom from mediocrity and her determination was the candle she had fired up. At times it was painful to watch and I kept hoping someone would save her from her actions. There are others in this story and I felt that all of them let her down in their own way.
This was so unlike any other drama I had watched and this female lead was truly a hero, if only onstage. She starred in her own life production as the star.
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