Noctis

Romeo and Juliet.. But The Tortured and Murderous Kind..

First things first, this is not an easy watch.. It’s honestly an unpleasant drama to get through.. A lot of what happens here hurts you, breaks you and makes you want to break into the screen and take matters into your own hands.. Had I Not Seen the Sun embodies what a drama exists for, not just to tell a story but to immerse the audience completely.. The drama doesn’t try to entertain.. It just deeply affects us, shaking, frightening, unsettling, disturbing and jolting us.. It makes you feel the weight of what’s happening, not as fiction but as something real and close and that emotional discomfort is what the drama uses so effectively.. Simply put, Had I Not Seen the Sun has the power to shake you up, terrify you and leave you in a bewildered daze by the time it ends..

The director doesn’t soften any harsh realities, violence, cruelty, moral decay.. The drama is honest and in some ways even nihilistic.. It reveals the ugly, disturbing aspects of its subject matter in a sharp, precise way..

There is a lot to talk about here, but I will try to keep it simple.. The whole story unravels in the best possible way, starting with a gripping first episode which is intriguing, sharp and setting up the psychological thriller vibe perfectly.. The drama has a lot of little details in the present timeline about Chou Pin Yu that you might miss if you are not paying close attention, the mirror, the bag, the phone in the first episode, for example.. All of it quietly hints that everything is not as it seems..

I liked how the story shifted between the present and the past and that transition from past to present in Episode 2 was just wow.. The screenplay is ambitious in its framework.. It’s not just a serial killer story, but a character driven tragedy with real psychological depth and a touch of tragic romance.. I also loved the moth-butterfly-sun metaphor, especially the way the drama shows Li Jen Yao as the moth drawn to Chiang Hsiao Tung, his sun.. And Chou Pin Yu’s hallucinations are equally intriguing, they almost give the drama a supernatural feel even though it’s all happening in her mind..

The cast was actually perfect.. Tseng Ching Hua was just outstanding, his expressions, his presence and that calm menace, it was all so eerie.. Moon Lee as Chiang Hsiao Tung was the emotional core of the story and she was painfully convincing.. Chiang Chi as Chou Pin Yu didn’t get a lot of screen time.. Her performance was intriguing enough that it actually made me even more excited to see what she will do in the next part..

The cinematography is beautiful, in the most absolute sense of the word.. It has some seriously good visuals and color tones.. And the framing, the symmetry, was well structured and looks great on screen... And credit to the OST too, the music played such a huge part in setting the vibe..

One small detail bothered me.. Someone that meticulous, someone who didn’t want the FL linked to his crimes in any way, somehow left that one photo lying around?? That should have been the first thing he destroyed, I wonder why he missed that..

Overall, Had I Not Seen the Sun is a seriously good drama that you just can’t overlook, with a cinematic level of screenplay and storytelling.. It’s not an easy watch in any sense.. But if a drama can pull such an overwhelming reaction out of you, then it’s doing something right, isn’t it?? I actually thought these 10 episodes might feel draggy somewhere in the middle because there’s a Part 2 coming.. But not at all.. It’s very well paced and not bloated in any way..

Part 2 is where all the revenge is.. Hope they don't hold back and go all in, brutal, bloody and unapologetic.. There are still so many unanswered questions.. What’s the real identity of Pin Yu?? I thought she was the FL but then who is the girl at the end?? Ko Chia Yen’s character?? If she is the FL, then having three different faces for the same person feels a bit too much.. But I do have a few other guesses.. Let’s see.. Either way I am excitedly waiting for Part 2 and hoping it ends on a harsh, bloody note.. And yeah, I don’t want to debate whether his actions were right or wrong, they were scum, rotten to the core, they had it coming, every last bit of it..

I am expecting a stripped down, bare bones, no nonsense, brutal revenge story for Part 2..

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A Drama to Be Savored and Remembered..

There are many female centric dramas that explore themes of women's freedom and feminism but few have achieved what FP has in terms of depth, execution, impact and the sheer quality of acting and production.. Everything about this drama is exceptional.. The cinematography and costumes, the intelligent main leads with undeniable chemistry and a slow burn romance.. Even the supporting characters were stellar.. Well written and not over dramatic not too slow.. This is how a drama should be done.. The acting, pacing and background score are all perfectly balanced.. Yang Zi’s acting was pure brilliance.. Effortless, heartfelt and completely immersive.. She was simply outstanding.. Li Xian complimented her perfectly.. Effortlessly matching her energy and helping her carry the show.. His nonchalant attitude and performance were nothing short of brilliant..

I loved Li Xian's characted Jiang Chang Yang.. He wasn’t the typical ' I will protect you from everything ' hero.. Instead he recognized Mu Dan’s strength and character and treated her accordingly.. He only stepped in when she absolutely needed it.. But more importantly he rooted for her like no one else.. What truly set him apart was the way he treated her as an equal.. He never underestimated her.. Respected her decisions and stood by her as a true partner.. Never forcing his own ' This is what I think is right for you ' mantra onto her..

It was sad to see Miles in his role.. Pathetic and whiny.. But he got exactly what he deserved.. You can’t blame others for your own spinelessness.. That said its not the end of the road for him.. He might return as one of the antagonists next season.. But the real question is how impactful will he be??

When the drama was airing it faced attacks from another actress’s fans.. Rating it low and trying to bring it down.. But in the end haters can only do so much.. A good script, strong performances and quality storytelling will always win..

Now I have high hopes for Season 2.. I really hope they finally share their true feelings and get together in the first half of the show instead of making us wait another 20+ episodes.. It would be great to see more of their moments rather than just the buildup because we had more that enough of that in the first season..

Overall FP delivered an exceptional story with brilliant performances and compelling themes.. Despite the challenges it faced the drama won.. With Season 2 coming soon the expectations are high.. And hopefully it will give us the satisfying moments we are waiting for.. I read somewhere that this drama is truly a tribute to women and I couldn’t agree more..

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Moonlit Reunion was one of my most awaited dramas of the year.. But guess what, it didn’t live up to my expectations.. Maybe it’s just me.. Maybe I was in the wrong mood, or maybe my expectations were set too high.. I wanted more.. In the end, I could just barely bring myself to give it 8 stars.. The story felt a bit too stop and start for my liking.. Almost every time it seemed to be building momentum, it slowed down again.. With the kind of material they had, the drama really should have kept ramping things up consistently until the end, but it doesn’t..

The visuals were top notch and I really loved the cinematography.. The VFX though, were a mixed bag.. When they were good, they were really good.. But when they were bad, they were just plain bad.. Some scenes felt outright poorly done.. And the action scenes looked well coordinated.. It’s always fun to watch action mixed with magic, spells and demons and they did a good job with that..

I stopped counting the number of guys in her life halfway through the drama.. They really could have eased up on it after the incident with her cousin.. But no they had to bring in yet another guy in the very next episode.. The ML and FL already know they love each other, so what more do they need to prove?? Honestly they could have used that time to explore more important story arcs.. Twenty episodes in and we have only caught glimpses of how good the drama could have been.. If they had just cut out this unnecessary nonsense, the drama wouldn’t have felt so dragged out and would have been far more interesting.. Instead halfway through, we still don’t have an established story to follow, we are just stuck watching him get jealous over the nth guy..

They both have their secrets.. So how is this relationship supposed to work?? I can understand her reason for keeping it hidden, obviously.. But him?? He could have told her about himself, at least before marriage.. I guess his silence comes down to that promise he made to never speak of it again and the fear of losing the person he loves most if he broke it.. Still I think he could have handled it better.. Anyway, their breakup was inevitable.. When it finally happened, it was long, hard and painful.. But it had to be done for them to start over I guess..

Xu Kai was impressive.. He had very limited action scenes.. His fights, even though short and scarce it created expectations.. If he had a full blown fight, it would have been awesome.. That whole speech to the Miasma Demon after, ‘ Do you know what kind of person she is?? ’ was damn good.. And then the use of his sword with the line, ‘ Since it’s a secret, you should take it to the grave along with your life.. ’ Absolute 10/10 scene.. His face off with the FL was also really good.. Tian Xi Wei was equally impressive.. Their romance and chemistry were good.. Their romance was another thing we just didn’t get enough of..

I definitely need to talk about Wu Zi Shu, the FL’s sidekick.. Honestly, his track record is as evil as it gets.. He killed countless demons to harvest their cores to make her a full demon, without her knowledge obviously.. He kidnapped her while she was with the ML and unleashed the demonic fire, which could have killed countless innocents and the ML as well if he was an ordinary person.. He killed her evil cousin and his girls, revived her archnemesis Elder Hui and even released the dream demon to wreak havoc during her wedding.. He also had a hand in the demonic fire incident 18 years ago, manipulated Hu Zhu into a reckless chase that got her hurt and used that rat Elder Hui again to hurt Liu Tai Zhen and ended up killing Xuan Hui.. He said some nasty things to the ML that made the FL sound like an adulteress with immoral relationships.. On top of all this, he was the mastermind behind the demon uprising which he staged to lure the Changxi Palace to Chang’an and spark a war between humans and demons.. So, someone who did all of this and how did he pay for his sins?? With an easy death.. His last moments were the best he could get considering everything he did, that was kindness overflowing from the writers.. The more I think of it, the more it annoys me..

The last arc had its moments but again, it was underwhelming.. The amnesia storyline dragged on for too long.. The villains were defeated too easily and we still didn’t get a full blown action sequence..

I would say the script was good.. It’s just my personal feeling that’s swaying me toward so many negative remarks.. I am tired of good scripts being butchered for the writers kink for angst and jealousy.. This drama is a prime example of what could have been.. Such a powerful script with talented actors, not just the main leads but the supporting cast too.. If only they had refined the story and fine tuned it, it could have been so much better.. The ending comes a little too fast for my liking.. The last task felt very short and rushed.. And why did it have to be a rushed ending?? I mean you had 38 episodes to play with, yet we get another rushed conclusion.. Even though there is a post credits scene, it doesn’t feel like enough..

P.S. It seems the CDrama industry is blessing Cheng Lei with all its satisfactorily ending dramas…

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Ding Yu Xi to the rescue

I will start off by saying this.. The FL would have ended up dead in a ditch somewhere in the name of investigation if she hadn't been married to the ML.. The characters in the drama are not well developed.. The ML literally carried the entire show.. Should have been a 30 ep drama at the max.. The cases and investigations in the second half were just plain stupid.. And she was getting promoted in every few episodes while all she managed to do was almost getting herself killed or her husband.. Lu Chui Chui was miserable.. Apart from Jing Lin every other side characters were just meh.. And as always there is a pathetic pervert hitting on a married woman in this one as well.. I dont understand why such characters are glorified..

The first half of the drama was good.. It had a good pace and made me wanna watch.. But the second half just went downhill.. Losing its momentum and falling flat compared to the beginning.. The pacing in the second half dragged and it felt like the drama was stretching beyond its limit.. There were no plot twists in the last few episodes.. Just some stupid power moves which actually was pretty stupid.. It was just a poorly thought out conclusion..

Still you cant expect every drama to be Blossoms in Adversity or Who Rules the World.. The biggest disappointment for me was how the ML's character completely failed to do himself justice.. He started off as this badass intimidating figure feared by everyone.. But by the end he was reduced to someone who was being taunted by the FL’s friends and even a random kid.. It felt like all his strength and presence just disappeared.. Overall its just a one time watch.. It’s not something I’d rewatch..

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Romance?? Action?? Logic?? This Drama Said No Thanks..

Disclaimer: This might sound like a rant.. Because it is one.. If you somehow enjoyed this drama.. Good for you..

Script?? Bad.. Acting?? Bad.. Action?? Bad.. Romance?? Bad.. Character Development?? None.. VFX?? Worst.. Not one scene had good CGI.. I sat through this drama for SWL and what a disappointment.. It felt like the entire production team lazily put this together.. Apart from the costumes everything else felt completely half assed.. Like the team just threw things together and hoped for the best..

Angela Baby.. I hope you take some acting classes because seriously, what happened?? This was painful to watch..

The ML was supposed to be the next Wolf Lord or something but instead he spent the first half of the drama getting hurt, stabbed, hurt again, stabbed again by the FL and her minion.. And he still wagged his tail like a lovesick puppy while she kept taking advantage of him.. Where was his brain?? His dignity?? His revenge for his parents?? At one point he even got stabbed on purpose just to stop her from leaving.. That’s not devotion, that’s a suicide attempt you fool.. And then, after all that, he goes and gets shot with an arrow to protect her..

The script was all over the place.. Like the writer forgot what they wrote five minutes earlier.. The ML gets stabbed with a sword and yet wakes up the next morning like he is ready to go and win the La Liga.. And man he was so happy becase he saw the FL sitting by his bed.. Dude, she was literally applying medicine and touching another Guy's leg in the previous episode while she didnt even bother to prepare medicine for you.. That didn’t tell you anything?? And to top it off she was shamelessly ready to give away the locket or whatever that was that you gave her.. And you still didn’t realize you meant nothing to her?? At least not at that moment??

And the princess?? Dumb as a rock.. Another infuriating character..

Ep 13 was actually decent and I thought maybe things were turning around.. Then Ep14 happened.. The FL, in her infinite wisdom decided to protect her minion who literally tried to kill the ML by threatening to kill herself if anyone harmed him.. And the ML?? He had to tell his soldiers who had just watched their comrades die, to lower their weapons because his love interest was having a meltdown over the guy who tried to murder him.. What kind of joke is this??
Then somehow in the next scene the ML and FL end up in bed together.. She just threatened to kill herself over another man who tried to kill him and now they are suddenly sleeping together?? So all those soldiers died Just so he could end up in bed with her?? Unbelievable..

Even if she did love him which is questionable, she manipulated him the entire way.. She never once did anything for him.. Yet he kept crawling back like a fool.. She faked her death, ran back to her hometown, and started living her life while he was left depressed thinking she was gone.. She never once made an effort for him.. Not.. One.. Thing.. Meanwhile he spent the entire drama begging for her love..

What a complete waste of time.. Even the conclusion was unsatisfactory.. After everything it didn’t feel meaningful.. Just another half baked ending that failed to justify the mess before it.. I don’t know, maybe I had high expectations.. But for me this was just another drama with a mediocre storyline and wasted potential..

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I hadn’t planned to start watching this yet.. Really, I hadn’t.. But somehow, I fell straight into its trap... I thought I would just take a quick peek at the first ep and before I knew it, it was six in the morning five episodes down and no way to stop.. It’s that good, no wonder the ratings are so high..

Whenever I watch an enemies to lovers kind of story, I never get tired of that slow shift when they slowly grow into each other.. They begin to learn things about one another.. Their deepest secrets, the softest parts that were never spoken about, the little facts and even their weaknesses.. The enemies to lovers trope here is done exceptionally well.. It’s neither rushed nor slow.. I would say it’s perfectly executed.. After what happened in the first two episodes, I was curious to see how they would ever go from enemies to lovers.. Seriously, they hated each other so much and he really did torture her pretty badly..

FYX and FSG’s love feels incredibly strong and almost beyond ordinary, something that truly left me amazed.. There are so many small, subtle moments that quietly scream how deeply they love each other.. Their love is the anchor that holds the story together through all the tumbles it takes.. Fu Yi Xiao’s emotional and moral journey, from someone bound by loyalty to a woman willing to risk her place, her safety and even her heart for the truth and for her supposed enemy is deeply compelling.. Her transformation mirrors that of our ML Feng Sui Ge, the prince shaped by vengeance and duty who slowly learns that power without compassion is just another kind of cage.. Their love is forged through loss and courage and through the painful realization that sometimes, love itself is the most defiant act of all..

Something that really stood out for me in this drama is the couple and their relationship.. I know I am writing too much about them, but bear with me.. Their relationship isn’t like the cliche ones you see in most dramas.. Their relationship is completely and sensibly balanced.. They respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses.. Both are capable, confident and competent individuals who don’t lose sight of who they are just because they are in love.. This is what I love about the writing, they are intentionally kept as equals.. Neither is portrayed as weak or dependent and she never becomes someone who needs the ML to protect her.. Even the ML understands her strength and intelligence, he lets her take risks when she has to, never forcing her to hide behind him or stop her out of overprotectiveness.. That’s what I hate in most dramas, when they fall in love and suddenly all that ruthlessness or individuality disappears and they just turn into fools in love.. But here it’s not like that at all, and I absolutely loved it..

Visually, this drama is undeniably beautiful.. They have done wonders with the cinematography, framing and color work.. The direction isn’t flamboyant, it’s careful and deliberate as if the story itself is afraid of revealing too much too soon.. I do agree, though, at times, the pacing falters as if the director momentarily loses sight of which emotion to frame, grief or resolve, tenderness or deceit..

The supporting characters were good as well.. I really liked the ML's team.. They were utterly loyal till the end.. But I feel the show spent too much time on the other side characters who didn’t really deserve that focus.. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but personally I didn’t enjoy it.. Nothing about those parts felt worth the time and none of the characters made me want to keep watching.. There was hardly any real character development, maybe with the exception of the Emperor of Jinxia.. But again, that’s just my opinion..

Talking about character development, one character was a complete disaster from start to finish, the Princess of Susha.. She was frustrating to watch, constantly making poor choices and falling for the wrong man.. What she needed was a knock on the head, not sympathy.. In the end, she literally got a sword to her stomach from the very man she loved and sacrificed everything for.. She never had any clear motive and kept walking straight into her own downfall.. Even her revenge felt so shallow, what was she even avenging?? The story tried to frame it as if the SML wronged her, but he was honest from the beginning that he would never love her.. Then she went on to team up with another terrible man in the name of revenge.. The Emperor and the princess were just two broken people making things worse for each other.. He was an awful person, much like the SML.. His last minute redemption does count as character development, but it doesn’t make him a good person nor does it turn their story into some tragic love worth mourning..

The ML at least had one sibling who had some sense and did the right thing, the Second Prince of Susha.. Despite being raised on lies and manipulation, despite having every reason to protect his mother and hold on to power, he still chose what was right.. He stood by his brother when it mattered most.. He has my absolute respect..

All the other characters had fitting endings and every arc was wrapped up really well.. Feng Sui Ge got his revenge on everyone who wronged him and his family, every backstabber met their fate and it was incredibly satisfying to watch.. And through it all, Fu Yi Xiao stood by him, protecting and fighting alongside him, just as she promised she would..

I wanted to mention a few other things..

There was one thing I think they overdid, the face filter.. It was just a bit too much.. They really could have eased up on it.. At some points, CZH looked like he might melt if the sun hit him..

These Chinese historical weddings are just so beautiful.. The attire, the colors, the whole aesthetic, it’s pure bliss to watch..

I have to mention the torture scene, when she tortured him, he seemed to enjoy it a bit too much for it to be called torture.. The man was out there thriving in pain..

There have been quite a few female general characters this year and a lot of talk about who did it best.. But now, we finally have a clear winner.. Hands down, the title goes to Li Qin and her character Fu Yi Xiao.. She was absolutely perfect, fierce, graceful and beautiful.. The way she carried herself was simply sublime..

Overall, this drama was an absolute feast to watch.. I would have rated it a solid 9.5 but all that beautiful buildup led to what felt like a small firework.. Don’t get me wrong, I still liked that firework and thought it was beautiful but deep down, I was hoping for a grand finale of explosions, a huge, epic scale war to end it all.. And also, putting a character who didn’t do a single right thing throughout the entire drama in charge of a country was just plain ridiculous.. She never once showed intelligence, responsibility or even basic morality.. There was no real character development that could justify giving her the responsibility of ruling Susha, that was a huge misstep on Feng Sui Ge’s part.. Chengyang on the other hand, showed far more potential and leadership qualities.. For these two major reasons, I couldn’t bring myself to rate it any higher than a nine.. As much as I wish I could give it a perfect score, these two glaring flaws held it back for me..

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"The Best Love Is The Kind That Awakens The Soul And Makes Us Reach For More" – The Notebook..

The Best Thing as the title suggests was truly the best in terms of acting, visuals, story pacing, romance development and chemistry.. No doubt about it.. Zhang Ling he and Xu Ruohan were obviously the heart of this drama.. Not just their characters but also them.. Their chemistry was electric and seriously it was that good.. Their relationship felt natural, built on meaningful gestures and honestly they didnt need anything grand.. Every interaction felt real.. Like watching two people genuinely fall in love.. It is truly a gem for its take on romance.. No over the top drama.. Just two people finding solace in each other.. Visually The Best Thing is a feast with the flowers, beautiful scenery and all the beauty you could ask for, including the actors..

The premise might feel trope heavy but it was unique in its own way and the actors brought it to life in a way that was so natural.. I loved how he peeled Shen Xi Fan's layers.. Her indecisiveness, her blaming herself for everything that happens.. Its messy, its human, and it grabbed me right in the feels..

The Chinese medicine backdrop isnt just pretty window dressing.. I was surprised by how much it mattered.. It underscores the theme of healing, both physical and emotional..

The first 12 eps were a solid 10 for me.. But eps 12-16 were a bit irritating.. They added cliche scenes that didn’t quite fit the drama I had been enjoying until then.. Problems were bound to arise obviously.. But her indecisiveness and how it felt like she was leading him on despite knowing she shouldn’t, was not what I expected.. But whatever irritation I felt just vanished after that phase.. And honestly even when it was frustrating, ZLH made his character so good that I didn’t even care about anything else..

That being said, she totally deserved the ML.. After everything she endured.. The love she received wasn’t just a reward, it was something she had rightfully earned.. Her struggles, growth and the emotional toll she carried made her deserving of a love that was unwavering and pure.. Despite her flaws and mistakes, she never stopped trying in her own way.. In the end their love felt justified,earned rather than simply given..

“No matter what happened in the past, good or bad its part of who you are..
Accept the past, and focus on the present and the future.. ”

“In my eyes, every day you get better and more deserving of love than the last..
So from now on just focus on loving yourself.. As for the rest, leave it to me.. ”

Her friends and the rest of the supporting cast were too good not to be mentioned. However the second couple's story felt underdeveloped and lacked a strong sense of fulfillment.. I suppose that’s because the ep count was shortened.. Causing some of their scenes to be lost along the way..

The parents deserve their own spotlight.. They were truly outstanding.. Man they were really good.. Ep 25, with all the nervousness, anxiety, fear and pain felt so raw.. They were too convincing and natural.. Truly commendable performances..

The director deserves praise as well.. Each episode was beautifully executed.. They completely made up for any shortcomings the script had..

The FL’s mother having breast cancer felt like a story arc designed to give the ML closure for the pain he endured from his own mother’s death.. Back then he had to face that pain alone.. Watching helplessly as she withered away.. But now he had the chance to do for the FL’s mother what he had long wished he could do for his own.. Help her face it, fight it and bring her out of it safely.. At the same time, it was also for the FL.. To make her realize that she wasn’t alone.. No matter how bad things got, she had people who would stand by her.. Unwavering and ready to support her through anything..

" But In my heart, you are the most beautiful scenery in this world..
Xifan, Falling in love with you is the luckiest thing l have ever done..
Loving you is the best thing I have ever done.. "

Overall The Best Thing is such a lighthearted drama.. No complicated stories.. Just two people falling for each other and finding their way together.. Slowly but steadily, in a way that proves no distance is too far for them.. Its neither rushed nor dragged out.. It takes its time.. Allowing you to feel every step of their journey.. By the end you can’t help but feel happy because they made it.. And it feels truly earned.. The Best Thing isn’t just a title.. Its a promise.. There’s a reason everyone is obsessed and the drama more than justifies it..

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Legend of Zang Hai isn’t the kind of drama you say you enjoyed, it’s more of an experience.. A story about revenge, it follows our ML who after witnessing the brutal slaughter of his parents, friends and family at the age of ten sets out for vengeance with the help of a mysterious group of people..

The script, direction and screenplay are just impeccable.. And the performances?? Absolutely out of this world.. Xiao Zhan’s portrayal of Zang Hai is unforgettable.. He fully embodies a boy shaped by trauma and driven by revenge, yet unable to let go of the softness he was born with.. There were so many scenes where he proves just how good his acting really is..

This drama might not be for everyone.. It doesn’t have your typical ML who goes around killing and beating people up in the name of revenge.. LOZH proves that not every hero needs to be a martial artist.. Instead, it dives deep into the emotional cost of vengeance and how destructive it can be.. The story makes us care about the characters so much that we are forced to question whether what Zang Hai is striving so hard for is truly worth it..

I absolutely love it when we have two main leads who can actually act and not just serve visuals.. And also the FL being the one with the physical strength and martial arts skills?? Always a treat.. There’s just something so fun about watching a badass FL protecting her man..

Zhang Jing Yi was extraordinary as usual.. Loved her chemistry with Xiao Zhan.. Even though this wasn’t a romance centered plot, it still gave us one of the best matched couples.. It was heartwarming to watch them fall in love and heal their broken hearts.. After he meets and falls for Antu, the story becomes more interesting.. Because now suddenly he wants to think about a life after revenge..

Absolutely loved the cinematography.. It was artistic and beautiful.. Zhen tower was just magnificent.. Scenes like the Empress Dowager’s funeral, the boat scene in ep 15, the Prince’s residence, the dinner fight at the Marquis’s home, and the rain fight, just to name a few were all stunning to watch..

Overall, Legend of Zang Hai is truly worthy of being called one of the if not the best CDrama of the year..

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From Promising Beginnings to Disappointing Endings..

I rated this drama 8.5 based on the first 7-8 episodes.. It started of really well with spot on comedy.. Great acting and steady story development.. However after those initial 7 episodes the characters became bland.. And the forced humor felt out of place.. Even thats understandable conisdering this is a romcom.. But Some of the choices the characters made were really nonsense..

Constantly being let down by the Korean writers who struggle to deliver satisfying endings.. They Often resort to forced breakups.. Unnecessary time skips.. And last minute reconciliations.. As if thats the only way they know to end a story..

I honestly didnt understand the need for Cha Hui Seong's story.. She is in an open relationship and the couple sleeps around with other people.. Then she gets pregnant but she doesnt know whose baby it is?? What sort of dilemma is that?? What lesson is the writer trying to convey?? Modern relationships have no morals??

The second couple was interesting.. With Lee Sang Yi delivering a solid performance like in his other dramas.. Han Ji Hyun had her moments but her cuteness felt forced at times.. And her acting was all over the place.. She is a good actress but i hope she doesnt follow the ' i need to do smut to get the recognition i deserve ' mantra.. Spice up Our Love was an unnecessary spinoff filled with cringe and cliche romance.. I am looking forward to her next drama with Lee Min Ki..

The main couple's story started off really good.. The first seven episodes were genuinely hilarious.. But unfortunately took a fall afterward.. The ML supported the FL through her struggles and was always there for her.. Yet she broke up with him right after her mother’s funeral.. She clearly lacked empathy there and it was just a dumb thing to do.. He loved her mother as if she were his own and she didn’t allow him the time to grieve.. Son Hae Yeong was a mature character.. But her decisions felt childish and selfish.. Instead of facing the hard times together.. She cruelly cut him off.. Leaving him alone when he needed her most.. How is that love?? Kdrama FLs often take love for granted.. I wished they wouldnt get back together..

The conclusion felt rushed.. With a last minute reconciliation that didnt do any justice to the way the story developed.. The FL didn’t even try to stop the ML AGAIN.. He had to chase after her to make amends..

" I never regretted letting you go " Thats what she said..

In conclusion.. While the drama faltered after the first seven episodes.. It still delivered memorable moments and strong performances..

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Tragically Beautiful..

Mr. Plankton was a total gem from start to finish.. It truly set a high standard.. Delivered quality in every departments.. From start to finish there were no bad scenes.. No bad characters.. And not a single bad performance from any of the actors.. Each actor brought depth and authenticity to their role.. Made them essential to the story no matter how small their screentime is.. Cinematography was impressive.. The romance was just chaotic.. Messy and yet strangely perfect.. They were a chaotic couple.. And funny even when they shouldnt be.. And come on what more can you expect from a drama that had two marriages in the first episode and The ML kidnapped both the brides.. It was a rollercoaster of chaos and fun..

The first scene itself screamed ' No happy ending here '.. And that was actually the way to go.. The entire story leading to that last moment.. ' His Death '.. That was the perfect ending.. No miracle cure.. Nothing magical.. Just a journey filled with Love..
Comedy and Pure Messy Romance..

At one point.. I genuinely feared that WDH wasnt just acting.. Maybe he was actually going through something himself.. He was that good.. He was really living the character..

The scene where Jae Mi kissed Hae Jo at that the bus stop after kidnapping him from the hospital honestly didnt feel like it was scripted.. It felt real.. As real as it can be.. Such a perfect moment..

And the last scene..

" In the end.. You are the final scene of my life.. I guess that means i had a pretty good life.. "

What a powerful way to end the story.. The ending was expected but heartbreaking nonetheless..

Overall.. Another strong contender for drama of the year.. Loved the characters journey and their warm connection and relationship with each other.. WDH certainly deserves an award for his performance here.. And kudos to the writer for that ending.. This drama is going to stay with me for a long time..

They entered our lives so effortlessly.. And in just ten episodes.. They left us shattered and aching..

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I had expected this to be a successful second season to a beautifully written drama.. Even if not better than the first but at least close to it.. But honestly, it wasn’t.. And I totally understand the low ratings.. I really do.. I am not going to blame the story itself.. If this had been a standalone drama or not a continuation, it would have actually been an excellent one.. But it wasn’t.. After watching 34 eps and waiting 5–6 months, you shouldn’t have to sit through another 12 eps of push and pull between the main leads.. Especially letting someone like Liu Lang who is a complete nobody affect their relationship.. The court politics, the mutiny and everything else were solid, but most of what happened in the first 12 eps felt totally unnecessary.. The foundation for the characters was already built.. What they needed to do was move the story forward.. Instead they were still stuck in the same loop.. Repeating what had already happened in the first season.. Honestly I respect the commitment the writing shows, it knows what it wants.. But I didn’t quite get the fulfillment I was hoping for.. I am only whining because I expected more..

If it were possible to erase someone from the story.. It would be Liu Lang.. Enemies?? Yeah I hate them.. But what about people who stay close to you and backstab you?? He literally got his life back and is living well because of the FL and yet he tried to destroy her relationship out of jealousy?? He was supposed to be like a younger brother to her.. His sister did the same thing and now he followed right in her footsteps.. And the fact that this guy hit the ML and still got let off?? I was honestly disappointed at how easily he was forgiven and also how his stupidity and jealousy were sugarcoated as concern for the FL.. Sure he got his redemption arc but he didnt pay for his mistakes..

Liu Chang was pathetic in the first season but here he completely turned into a character unworthy of any pity.. He did some truly nasty things.. It was actually satisfying when the FL hurt him repeatedly, the stabbing scene especially felt good.. But honestly, he still didn’t suffer enough.. That’s why I wasn’t satisfied with how things ended for him.. He should have suffered more pain..

I actually felt sorry for Princess You Zhen.. The cycle of her life was truly sad.. Hurt by the men around her, including her own father.. I am glad she didn’t die in the end.. It meant she had another chance at life, another opportunity to start over..

Ep 19.. I think they were too hasty in confronting Prince Ning.. I mean he literally crushed their decade old plan in just a few days, it felt way too easy.. And the final confrontation, the war could have been handled much better.. It just goes to show how little attention was given to the parts of the story that didn’t have the FL on screen..

While I wasn’t completely satisfied, this was still a watchable conclusion to an amazing story.. In the first season even though Mu Dan was the anchor, the others mattered too.. But in the second season, it became all about her.. No one else had a satisfying storyline.. Even the ML felt underused and sidelined, just to elevate Mu Dan’s character to glory.. I really wished everyone had a meaningful presence..

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12 More Episodes Of This Family Please..

Family Matters?? No.. It’s Bloody Matters..

Family Matters follows a hilariously mismatched family with superpowers/abilities trying to blend into society.. They are unhinged, chaotic and utterly unpredictable.. But somehow they are perfect for each other.. Literally the most unhinged family ever.. It is an action mystery thriller with a unique concept and dark comedy that really hits the spot.. They were so funny without even trying.. And the cast?? they were absolutely perfect..

The twins?? They absolutely nailed their roles.. The way they casually walked into their grandpa dragging a body and gave no absolute care about it.. It was an oddly brilliant scene..

Even the climax.. All of them sitting in one frame.. The mother with a hole in her hand.. Father with multiple holes in his stomach and a missing ear.. Grandpa with a hole in his leg.. And the twins?? Bloody after beating up a couple of punks.. Perfection..

My only gripe?? The background score.. This show deserved way better music..

The ending made it clear that season 2 is a must.. With that revelation and all it is obvious that we barely scratched the surface.. But since its a COUPANG TV original I dont know what to expect..

With all the theories going around.. My view is that its true that Family Matters is Yeong Su's plan.. It is clear that she manipulated her husband and planted the idea of " Chulsu will do anything to protect Yeong Su " in his mind.. This was revealed after the fight with the pastor.. So yeah she might have started it all but got too much involved and forgot her actual purpose.. There is plenty to explore and another season is definitely needed..

Overall.. Family Matters is a wild ride.. Gripping storyline and standout performances left me craving for more.. Here’s hoping season 2 delivers even bigger surprises..

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Love Song In Winter Indeed..

"If you want rainbow.. You have to deal with the rain.."
- Augustus

This quote came to mind as I finished the drama.. The ML and FL are each other's rainbow.. And Wen Peng is undoubtedly the rain they must endure.. The first 10 episodes were top notch.. We even got the first kiss in ep 2.. Unlike many dramas this one avoided the usual angst and misunderstandings we often have to endure in the first half.. And the ML?? He crushed the SML every chance he got.. Firmly put him in his place with such nonchalance that it made it even more satisfying.. Little did I know though that this was nothing compared to what was about to unfold.. Compared to the first 10 episodes the next 10 were just good and nothing great.. Once the killings and investigations kicked in the plot began to lag.. The investigation plot initially was poorly crafted.. And the cops they were made to look completely ineffective.. They were literally overpowered by a girl half their size and not just once..

We got a proper villain in LSIW.. WTC was truly outstanding in his role.. I dont know if the villain was overpowered and too smart or if the others were just naive.. He outsmarted them at every turn.. He was a psychopath, A maniac, A madman, Callous and Machiavellian.. I liked how they revealed that the SML could be the villain.. He was initially portrayed as this perfect guy with a troubled childhood but slowly his dangerous side was revealed.. By the end of episode 21 it was clear he was the antagonist.. There were hints from the beginning like the butterfly and other subtle hints..

The FL treated the ML coldly after her friend's death?? Well.. Yes she did.. I felt sorry for him but I dont blame her.. Her behavior might seem immature but it was as mature as it could be.. Both in the past and in the present.. Even the ML realizes this and tells her "Now I understand why you had to do that 8 years ago".. And I honestly think the FLs from both Cdramas and Kdramas could learn a lot from the FL here on how to draw a clear line with the SML.. There are very few characters like her..
That devil of an SML made the FLs life miserable.. He killed two of her friends.. She had to break up with her love.. He tried to kill her mother and soon her boyfriend also almost got killed.. Even amidst all that she stood strong.. Her mental resilience is truly commendable..

Wen Pang’s mother’s identity was a real surprise.. I wasnt expecting that.. Or did I miss the hints?? I liked the mother's character in the first half but by the end she became someone I really disliked..

There is a scene in ep 32 where the ML breaks down.. It felt like a genuine emotional breakdown.. Natural not overdramatic and it fit perfectly within the sequence of events..

" Jiang Chengyi.. Don't get hurt again.. I can't live without you.. "

Everything about the couple felt special..

Read a few comments asking why the villain didnt propose to her in those 8 years.. I think the answer is simple.. He knew she would never love anyone else and that she was waiting for the ML to come back because she believed he would.. Or perhaps because she never truly let him go.. So he had to make her come to him on her own..

The last 6 episodes were good but they were way too slow... Though I didnt mind.. By the end Wen Peng had completely lost touch with reality.. Consumed by his own delusions and obsessions.. He literally killed and hurt everyone close to her and still had the audacity to say "No one will ever love you the way I do"

The interaction between the ML and the antagonist in the last episode didnt make sense.. Was that really necessary after everything he did?? He is being treated as a human being?? And then the ML asks him to meet their mother?? How could he even think about letting her see a psychotic psychopath who manipulates and gaslights people so easily?? As for the mother’s character.. I dont even know what to say.. It felt completely illogical.. Yes she loved her son.. But her psychopath son tried to kill her stepson and Kidnapped his girlfriend.. Killed two of their friends, murdered several others.. And tried to kill at least three cops.. And she keeps saying its her fault?? While her love for her son is clear her willingness to overlook his crimes makes her actions seem more baffling than emotional.. This choice by the writers underplays the cruelties of the SML.. I really wish they hadnt included that scene.. It felt totally unnecessary and probably hurt the show’s ratings..

While the final episode had some unnecessary scenes, it was really good overall.. I mean an entire episode of them being happy after overcoming all their problems?? Kdrama writers, take notes..

Overall.. Despite some slow moments and unnecessary lengthy scenes the drama really pulled me in.. The performances were solid and the chemistry between the leads was undeniable.. The FL was such a standout character and the villain?? He was terrifying.. The ending had its flaws.. Sure but it still gave them the happy ending they deserved.. Is the drama perfect?? No.. Flaws?? Plenty.. But its definitely worth the time and its one i will not easily forget.. Be sure to watch the bts scenes as well.. They were fun..

P.S.. The subtitles are never getting better are they??

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Friends to Forever.. A Heartfelt Journey in You Are My Lover Friend..

In a genre filled with familiar tropes and cliched romances.. You Are My Lover Friend tries to set itself apart by taking a more heartfelt approach.. Exploring the slow burn of friendship evolving into love.. With genuine emotion and subtle moments the drama captures the beauty and complexity of realising your love for someone who’s been by your side all along..

Really loved all the characters in the drama especially Cheng Hui.. He was really fun to watch.. Feng Wei Ran and Jiang Yan An's relationship was another strong point in the drama.. And I also enjoyed the dynamic between the ML and his mother.. It added a lighthearted enjoyable touch..

However.. Honestly.. The drama would have been better received if it was just 20 or 24 eps.. The main couple could have gotten together sooner.. As there was no real reason to delay it.. There were quite a few unnecessary subplots that didn’t add much to the story.. And the whole 'Brother Yang' thing became repetitive.. It was honestly annoying hearing them call her that so many times..

One of the positives of You Are this drama is that it doesn’t rely on a complicated story arc.. For me that’s refreshing.. There are plenty of dramas that overuse angst and tension.. But luckily this one didnt follow the same path..

Overall.. You Are My Lover Friend offers a refreshing take on the friends to lovers trope.. Even though the drama feels unnecessarily stretched, It still remains an enjoyable watch for anyone craving heartfelt romance..

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I am just going to cut straight to the chase with this one, HINSTS II was absolutely incredible not just a stellar story on its own but a sequel that delivers on almost everything the first part set up.. The drama feels so much sharper and heavier in the second part, which is exactly what you want from a Part 2.. Since the first part already laid a solid foundation for the story, the characters and the direction this will go, this sequel dives deep into that darkness.. We get a clearer view of how everything actually went down and most importantly we finally see the pain those monsters went through..

This story like the first part is all centered around the horrific incident and the aftermath of that trauma.. This time they did a brilliant job showing the lasting damage this event left on the main characters..

I think I should get this out first.. From a storytelling perspective, the 10 episodes make sense.. They cover all the questions, tick all the boxes, explain the whys and hows and show what pushed Li Yen Yao to that level of desperation.. It ties everything together neatly.. That said, this could easily have been 4 episodes shorter and still been just as good if not better.. For people who were waiting just to watch the guys who ruined her life suffer, it might feel a bit long.. Personally, it was totally worth it.. I just wish their pain had lasted longer.. They died too quickly and they didn’t even feel half of what she had to go through..

There is nothing more satisfying than watching bad people get what they deserve in the most brutal way possible.. But at what point does revenge turn into something darker than cold blooded murder itself?? You will know exactly what I am talking about if you have watched the drama.. We could argue about morality, humanity, conscience, ethics, whatever you want to call it.. But the truth is, something started that day and that ' something ' only had one possible end.. That’s what we saw here.. If this wasn’t the ending, then it would have been those scumbags walking away with a smile on their faces again just like last time.. Because in this journey, no matter which path they took, everything was always going to diverge into the same destination eventually..

It’s not a very clever drama with a cunning hero.. Most of the emotional nuance can get lost among the horrible things happening, the bloodshed, the brutality and the sexual aspects of the drama.. This is where the longer storytelling I mentioned earlier really comes into play.. The story gets the respect it deserves because it doesn’t rush anything and it lets us see that there are other extremely compelling elements to this sequel besides people being killed for revenge.. As the story moves forward, we see how the barriers she built to protect herself from those memories slowly break down, inching her closer and closer to the moment when everything collapses.. We watch her reach her breaking point and we see how because of that Li Yen Yao is pushed into a psychological spiral.. His inner and physical conflict only intensifies as he reaches that tipping point where he realises there is no other way left except revenge and justice for the pain that practically ended their life.. So that at least she can have a life or whatever is left of it..

Watch out for episode 5, that’s where things get confusing for some and everything makes sense for others.. And the way Chou Pin Yu's real face is revealed?? Honestly, that was ' peak cinema ' as they say.. And that scene with the plant she watered.. That was so well done.. That one moment showed exactly what she was going through, a glimpse of what is actually happening to her.. And again just like in the previous season, the transition from past to present was slick.. The bar scene in episode 5?? Perfect..

The casting for this drama was crucial to making the story work and this is definitely one of those cases where the cast truly shines.. Tseng Ching Hua carries that quality that defines both the teen and adult versions of Li Yen Yao.. He feels like a soul forced into the harsh truth of existence.. It puts him in this strange place between who he was and who pain turned him into.. I really like LYY's character arc, someone becoming desperate and hungry not just for revenge but also to protect the only person he loves.. The rest of the cast was really good too.. Alice Ko basically did for this part what Moon Lee did in the first, she carried the emotional weight of the story and pushed it forward with her performance..

There is a real ' why the f**k would he do that?? ' moment toward the end that honestly bothered me, his second last kill.. There was absolutely no need for it.. It suddenly paints LYY in a different shade, but then the show weirdly downplays it afterward as if it doesn’t really matter.. So what was the point of that?? Was it just to make his death feel inevitable?? But wasn't that already the case??

Now, the ending might seem vague or open, like what actually happened to her?? But it really isn’t.. She fulfilled her promise to him about following her passion for ballet.. Then she rereads his letter, walks toward the ocean and drowns herself.. The mid credit scene makes it clearer.. She meets him again in the afterlife or whatever you interpret it as and together they finally complete their last unfinished wish, preparing the Christmas tree.. And that’s it.. That’s the real ending..

There was never going to be a happy ending in this one, not for a single moment did the story suggest otherwise.. What we got was the best possible outcome for these characters.. And honestly I am glad they didn’t soften it or exaggerate it.. It was the perfect ending for a beautifully written, directed and performed story about two people and the agony that shaped their lives..

Overall, just like Part 1, this is a well made drama that delivers the best possible conclusion to the story.. I can’t say I enjoyed it, that’s not the right word, but I was completely riveted by it.. This story had one of the best portrayals of a character’s mental breaking point and it wants us to feel it, to understand it.. It’s not a pleasant watch and it’s not meant to be.. And honestly, seeing those trash people whose humanity was long gone, the soulless monsters finally face their comeuppance made this worth it..

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