Noctis

Behind the Scenes of As Beautiful as You

" In my position, I have my own hardships.. Love is not everything in my life.. I cant sacrifice the whole of Dongyang for my personal love.. I cant guarantee that you are the only one in my life.. But in love, there is only you.. " Han Ting had a more realistic approach and was the more matured one in this drama..

The storyline was good but doesnt break any new grounds.. We have seen similar plots aplenty.. However.. It’s well executed without the unnecessary distractions often found in C dramas.. The chemistry between the main leads were really good.. But the FL’s choice to attend her ex’s wedding especially since he’s marrying her close friend felt like a bad decision.. They tried to make it look like its normal.. But its not.. And her breaking into the ML's safe.. That was such a pathetic move.. She should have asked him openly instead of doing that.. Most of the problems in dramas can be solved by having an open heart discussion with your lover.. But for some reasons they choose to complicate it.. Like many C dramas this one is stretched with too many episodes and fillers.. Overall it's a good watch.. Xu Kai is charming as always.

Dont forget to watch the special episode.. It gives the perfect closure..

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O Romance.. Where Art Thou??

It’s funny how the worst part of a drama titled Fight for Love ironically ends up being the love itself.. I simply didn’t feel at all about the romance.. When I watch a drama that has romance at the center of its plot, I need to feel something, it can be fun and lighthearted or angsty and heavy but whatever the tone is, I want to at least care a bit about the relationship.. Well, it just didn’t happen here.. I didn’t feel anything for them honestly.. Their interactions were fine but that's it, it’s just forgettable..

Another issue is that it’s just too long.. 40 episodes is way too much.. And when a story is stretched out like that, it becomes even more important for the narrative to keep moving and to hold your interest the whole way through, but that wasn’t the case here.. The drama has zero narrative momentum.. This should have been a 28–30 episode drama.. There are too many filler stories and way too much time spent on the supporting characters.. We already have the push and pull between the main leads, but then we have to sit through the same thing with the supporting cast as well.. And also an ex who was just there to create unnecessary tension..

It’s such a shame how terribly bland Victoria Song is as the FL, especially when she is paired with a ML like Ding Yuxi.. Her forced expressions, stiff acting and weak fight scenes just made the drama even harder to sit through.. Ding Yuxi is really wasted here and so is his character’s potential.. The issues about his reduced screen time didn’t bother me much, you barely notice it after the initial episodes.. But he is definitely underutilized.. He should have had more fight scenes or at least longer ones.. At least that would have given us something worth watching..

I also wanted to mention a few other things..

Imagine a female general who has killed so many enemy soldiers like they were insects, but when her ex locks her up with him forcefully, she says “What is it that you want?? My body or my love?? If it’s my body, then take it” and then she actually starts to undress herself.. When she could have easily beaten him and walked out without any effort at all.. Does it make any sense??

This one bugged me as well.. The way the story begins.. How does an experienced General march straight into an obvious enemy ambush like that?? With the layout of the land he should have expected it right?? You threw all your sons into one fight, one war, all at the same time.. One wrong move and your whole lineage is gone.. The whole arc honestly felt like it existed just to wipe out the Wei family so that the ML would have a reason to join the FL in her quest for answers and revenge..

The rebirth premise from the original novel felt more promising.. Even though I haven’t read it, I still feel like that version would have been much better.. Why stray so far from it??

Overall, Fight for Love is a drama you can easily skip.. There is nothing here that would make me recommend it to anyone.. The 7 rating is for whatever Ding Yuxi managed to bring to the story.. The team tried way too hard to cram too much into one drama and it just dragged on and on and on..

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Smile Code had a fresh take on romance as it paired a standup comedian with a man who has alexithymia.. Which means he struggles to express or even feel emotions.. It’s refreshing and honestly that’s what made me start the drama.. It’s not your typical romance and I was curious to see how these two completely different people would connect..

The storyline does a great job of mixing comedy with drama.. I really liked the friendship and their chemistry with each other.. While the story does get a bit melodramatic at times the actors and the story keeps you interested or atleast in the first half..

Shen Yue was genuinely and effortlessly funny.. Lin Yi as a person with alexithymia was really good.. Their chemistry is what really drives the show and it evolves so naturally.. But he really had some psychological issues.. Kudos to the FL for holding on to him for so long as it was not easy..

The first half of the series was really strong but the second half felt pretty poorly executed.. It dragged on way too much and just felt stretched.. One thing that really bothered me was how they made her look in that breakup scene.. Seriously did they need to make it so over the top?? The missing tooth made it feel more awkward than emotional..

About halfway through the drama just lost its spark.. It became a bit of a snoozefest for me.. Honestly the second half really dragged the whole show down and kind of ruined the experience..

I really didn’t like the scene where the SML proposes to her only for it to be abruptly cut off by the ML before she even had a chance to respond.. She didn’t reject him so the SML still didn’t get a clear answer and that was just a really poor way to handle the scene.. It felt unfair to his character.. Even after that she led him on.. Not giving him a firm rejection or any kind of clear answer.. It took another two episodes and yet another proposal for her to finally give him an answer and I don’t know, it just didn’t sit well with me..

When the ML came back for her the way she treated him was honestly pretty harsh.. I get why she acted that way but it still felt awful.. The guy really deserved another chance after everything he had been through..

What made it worse was the final few episodes.. After everything, she rejected his proposal in front of everyone.. That was like a slap in the face.. When she proposed to him in the last episode I honestly kind of hoped he would reject her.. Just for the sake of it..

Overall Smile Code is definitely just a one time watch.. But it’s worth it for its unique premise and the excellent performances by the main leads..

P.S. I was so confused when I saw the reviews for this drama in MDL.. Everyone was rating it a 10.. But if you check their profiles it's just accounts that were created to rate this one drama.. There are so many such accounts in the review section and it's honestly kind of sad to see how far people are willing to go..

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Fall in You was a full on soap opera.. Cringey and cliche but surprisingly fun to watch.. I really like Fan Zhi Xin.. I feel he is one of the most underrated actors in CDramas right now.. Like most of his dramas, one constant disappointment was the supporting cast.. It just screamed low budget.. Apart from the main leads, everyone else looked like they were in a D Grade drama..
The music though was good.. The beats elevated certain moments really well..

If you leave logic aside, you can actually have some fun watching it.. Like there is this one scene where she is talking to her friend about her confused feelings for her uncle and says..
'But we are family..’ and her friend shoots back, ‘So are married couples..’
That’s their logic.. That was hilarious to watch..

There were plenty of scenes that made absolutely no sense.. Like when a bunch of random nobodies shoved cameras in the FL’s face demanding clarification about her relationship with her uncle.. They weren’t even reporters, just random people in a hospital.. I mean are people that ridiculously stupid and nosy??

[ Spoilers ahead ]

Everything in this drama moves a little too fast.. The ML’s cold, dark demeanor disappears by ep 2.. The killer is caught halfway through and the leads fall in love.. They get together soon after the killer is arrested.. And by ep 15 he proposes.. They even get married and before long divorce is on the table.. The pacing was fast but not necessarily bad.. Up until ep 16, it was actually alright..

Mind you, what happens after this could have been salvaged with some good writing and a slightly higher budget.. After their marriage, things just go haywire.. A lot of nonsense.. From 'I will always be with you’ to hiding out in a hotel room.. We get the typical ML who keeps secrets from his wife because 'I don't want to lose her'.. Forget everything else, why didn’t he at least tell her that the SML approached the SFL to help break them up?? That would have made her see the SML isn’t exactly a good person and keep her guard up.. And maybe if he had just opened up sooner, her grandfather wouldn’t have been killed..

To make it thrilling, they threw in a bunch of unnecessary confusion about who is related to whom.. Like, we don’t even get a clear answer about the ML’s parents until the very last episode.. Anyway, dramatic much??

Even though I could list a thousand things wrong with this drama, there is one thing they nailed perfectly.. The main couple.. Fan Zhi Xin and Daisy Li had incredible chemistry.. Their romance and interactions alone made the whole drama worth watching..

Overall, it’s a fun watch.. I wouldn’t call it a good drama but it’s definitely entertaining.. With a stronger script, better supporting cast and a higher budget, this could have been far more likable.. Flawed as it is, this drama is worth the watch for the romance alone.. Fan Zhi Xin and Daisy Li deserved a much better script..

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Lost in a long long story..

A good script excellent screenplay and a talented cast that's capable of giving you memorable performances on any given day.. But honestly the cast deserved so much better.. The biggest flaw was the overstretched length.. 40 episodes were simply an overkill.. The story felt dragged..

You had Luo Yun Xi and Song Yi as the main leads.. Two phenomenal actors with undeniable talent and yet couldnt deliver a truly memorable drama?? That's failure on the biggest level..

If I were to write down everything I feel about this drama it would probably turn into a 10 page letter.. So I am going to focus on the last phase of the story instead which I really didnt like.. The last 10 episodes were probably the biggest reason why I think the drama underperformed.. There were a lot of unnecessary story directions towards the end with the rival store being one of them.. Was that even necessary?? Couldn't they have tied up the loose ends without introducing that subplot??

Then this drama too like many other dramas introduces that character who is after a married woman.. Trying to make her his.. But what's truly baffling is how in one episode he tries to sexually assault the FL and the next moment they are somehow friends?? Then he joins them in the fight?? And after that he gifts her something and she accepts it in front of her husband?? In just a few episodes this bad guy is reformed and asking for another chance.. So she gives him a job at her shop and keeps him close?? What was going on here?? Meanwhile LYX gets another FL who is perfectly fine cozying up to another guy...

Overall.. Watch it for the cast and some comic moments but dont expect anything too grand.. Its just an alright one time watch..

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How Much Comedy Is Too Much??

The brief clash in the rain and the final fight were the only decent moments in this drama.. Everything else felt cringe riddled with forced comedy and unnecessary scenes.. Its frustrating to see such a talented cast wasted on this kind of material..

The villain is probably the dumbest.. How can he be fooled so easily by everyone?? Hong Sik is not like the usual villains.. He is dangerous but dumb.. He was even tricked by the arms dealer.. Bit disappointed how it ended.. He was too easy to defeat.. Honestly we were robbed of a satisyfing climax.. And seriously.. Who checks their phone in the middle of a fight??
What was with that random plane door falling??? It felt like a scene straight out of a B-Grade drama..

Kim Nam Gil’s screen presence is truly unmatched.. He is in a league of his own..I think he solely elevated even the weaker moments of the drama..

The camera work throughout was brilliant.. With some truly stunning visuals.. The fight in the rain and the post credits scene fight in the snow were just visually stunning..

Overall this season wasn't as impressive as the first season but i still enjoyed most of it.. I would love to watch another season of them being silly and their absurd adventures but with a better script..

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Dark Elegance: Gannibal

Gannibal has a riveting story that takes us on an unexpected journey into the dark corners of human nature.. From start to finish, this series is a masterclass in storytelling, story development.. The plot of Gannibal is hauntingly intriguing with a gripping narrative.. The cinematography has a sinister edge with muted tones that perfectly complements the drama’s dark undertones.. Creating a striking contrast between the serene beauty of the village and the unsettling darkness hiding behind it... Yagira Yuya was hauntingly brilliant.. I absolutely loved his performance here..

Gannibal is a drama that doesnt rely on cheap thrills.. Its less about jump scares and more about an atmosphere of dread, misdirection and the slow unraveling of truth.. The horror of what's happening creeps up on you, something that leaves a psychological mark..

The only disappointing fact is that the second season hasn't been released yet.. The delay is something unacceptable considering how they ended the first season..

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Hell is Other People..

An uncomfortable yet fascinating watch.. I do like stories that challenge me and this one certainly did.. It’s a heavy and difficult drama and every performance, especially Vin Zhang’s is so believable that it’s painful to watch.. The drama’s emotions feel real, not staged or exaggerated.. The story breathes, I mean it feels alive, honest and organic as it moves through its sorrow and exhaustion..

There might be quite a bit of ranting in my words here.. This drama had more characters to hate than to like.. There’s no contender for Parent of the Year, because I mean, you will understand once you see this drama.. The family isn’t very likable for most part of the story and after a while, you start hating other characters too.. Apart from the main leads and the two cops involved, everyone else falls somewhere between hate and love-hate..

I hated her mother right from the moment she came on screen.. Her daughter was looking for comfort and all her mother was concerned about hiding that heinous act.. And whatever her mother did in the hospital made my hatred for her only deepen to a point where I couldn’t forgive her, no matter what happens next..
The FL worked hard.. They didn't want her to study so that they could prioritize her brother's education.. Still somehow she made it through school and got into university.. Her family basically abandoned her.. But when she graduated and got a job, her mother dragged her back.. After what her mother did at her workplace to force her to return home.. I don’t know.. I felt nothing but hate for her.. Even after this they blamed her insulted her without having any right to do so, she faced every hardship alone and even after that they wouldn’t let her be happy, always pushing their burdens onto her..
Even her brother was sickening in the beginning.. He literally told her husband ' You are not her family.. You don’t know her pain ' All this while being silent about his own sister’s assault.. He saw her in the hospital, he knew what happened, still he said nothing.. The sheer audacity of that?? Forget being her brother, is he even human??

To be fair, his character did get better soon and may be worthy of redemption.. He realizes his mistakes and finally starts supporting his sister.. As for their father, I don’t even want to talk about him.. Just another spineless worm..

Her family, their minds, their thoughts, their entire way of seeing the world are poisonous.. Their deep rooted perceptions have rotted them from within.. Her mother especially, she couldn’t stand the idea of her daughter’s life reaching beyond her own..

The things the rapist and his family did to the FL and her husband were just too much.. I just hoped they would suffer a hundred times worse by the end.. He hid the USB drive inside his daughter’s trophy.. How could his wife still defend him after knowing what sort of trash he was.. What she did in court on day one only proved how rotten she is too..

I wanted to mention a few other things..

The scene where their neighbours helped them clean the insulting graffiti was comforting to watch.. Just how the society subtly supported them during such a painful time is something we don't see often..

I liked how their past connection wasn’t turned into some worn out childhood romance trope.. It was more than that.. There are other emotions besides love, it’s not always romance that drives people to act or care..

Not blaming them, but her plan for revenge and his attempt to act on her behalf so she wouldn’t completely destroy herself were both stupid.. But I guess that was necessary for the story to reach its tipping point..

" Do you think Qin Nan loves Ye Sibei??
If you think so, it would be difficult for you to understand Qin Nan's actions..
It is not just love.. Qin Nan sees Ye Sibei as a faith, almost like a religion.. "

Who is the antagonist in this story?? Is it just the perpetrator?? What about his wife and all those people who took his side, even though it was painfully obvious what he did?? What about the FL's parents, who for a major part of the story blamed her, insulted her and pushed her deeper into darkness instead of giving her the support she needed?? Isn't this the ultimate result of their constant meddling and their need to box her into a life she never wanted, when she could have achieved so much more and led a life much brighter than this?? And the sister in law, who changed her statement and lied in court to protect herself and cost them the case?? Even if it's just him who deserves the punishment and rot in hell, others are to be blamed too and they need to suffer the consequences of their choices..

Overall, not perfect by any means.. There are slight issues, some poor dialogue and a few unnecessary scenes.. But all of that is easy to forgive.. Yes, it doesn’t come without its flaws but what we got is good enough to watch at least once.. I should probably stop here because this has already gone too long.. So in conclusion, I liked this drama.. But it’s not something I would rewatch.. Not because it’s bad but because I wouldn’t want to go through those same emotions again..

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Rich, atmospheric and utterly entrancing, Blood River is all those things and more.. It’s a fantastic concept that kept me enthralled till the last episode.. Blood River is an adventure in all the best ways.. The characters are interesting, memorable and have quirks and distinct personalities that make them feel vividly alive.. For me, this drama shines.. It’s a world filled with assassins and clans whose loyalties are written in water, where every character seems to whisper an unfinished feud.. It’s a place where righteousness is fragile, trust is a rare currency and the river runs dark with history and betrayal.. The action begins right from the first scene and never really lets up.. There’s no onerous worldbuilding, no tedious introductions, Blood River gets to the good part immediately..

Blood River has beautiful visuals and some breathtaking sequences, along with masterfully crafted fight sequences.. All wrapped in that dark, moody vibe, it was pure bliss.. And in that same vein, this drama introduces a whole lineup of compelling side characters.. While the main characters are good, the side characters are all really interesting too.. None of them are particularly well developed, but there are intriguing dynamics at play..

No idea why Peng Xiao Ran is listed as second lead or even a main lead.. Her only role seems to be lovesick for a character we are barely invested in.. Honestly, she wouldn’t be missed if she wasn’t in the drama.. She is completely underused and her story arc feels disconnected from the main plot.. The supporting cast had far better storylines to be honest.. There’s nothing else to her outside of being the girl who desperately looks for love, she has no real personality, no aspirations and nothing beyond the basic 'love me, love me, look at me' behavior..

Chang Hua Sen was really good here.. I actually felt he was even better than Gong Jun in terms of screen presence and performance.. Gong Jun’s facial expressions looked odd at times.. Even in the final reunion scene, he looked like he had eaten something bad and was wondering why the camera was still rolling..

If I had to choose a favorite character apart from the two male leads, it would be Bai He Huai.. I loved her mannerisms and her costumes were really beautiful..

Now, the world building here is rich, detailed enough and well thought out.. The plot stays consistent and true to itself.. The pacing fluctuates a bit in the last 18 or so episodes but mostly stays fast paced thanks to the huge number of fight sequences.. And that last fight was really something.. I liked that they didn’t show the main leads as overpowered, we actually got a long, hard fought battle where they had to go all out to take down their foe..

Overall, Blood River has the full spectrum of feelings.. From good to bad, joy to frustration, excitement to depression.. It puts everything together in a well balanced plot with a weave of storytelling that pulls you as far away from reality as you can possibly get.. Blood River might not have been perfect and it definitely stuck to some of the mid cliches I expected but I was pleasantly surprised by how much this story kept me interested.. Even with such a large number of characters, it managed to make me care about their lives and the outcomes of their struggles.. Well, except PXR I guess..

Then why did I rate it only 8.5?? Because the last few minutes of the drama disappointed me.. I watched 38 episodes of their struggle to reach the other shore only for the result of all that hard work to show up as a subtitle.. Like you couldn’t give us a 10 minute sequence?? And what was that whole happy ending after 12 years thing?? Just stupid.. There was absolutely no need for it.. If you are going to give us a last minute reunion, why bother separating them at all?? Was that separation even necessary?? I honestly don’t understand this obsession with time jumps for happy endings..

Well, them getting a bittersweet kind of hope instead of a dramatic ending fits the wuxia tradition, since it rarely gives perfect happy endings.. I guess it works as the completion of Su Mu Yu’s journey, with Bai He Huai returning as the light in his life and it gives an ending that isn’t fully happy or tragic, just human..

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Be Passionately in Love was a drama with a good core storyline but ruined by lazy writing, poor dialogues and disconnected screenplay.. Even the dubbing was bad.. The one redeeming factor was Wang An Yu..

The first half was very disappointing.. It just didn’t connect with me.. Once again the issue was lazy writing.. This drama could have been salvaged easily if the writer had simply done his job with a bit more effort.. The no kiss issue only added to the drama’s problems.. I heard Liu Hao Cun had a no kiss clause in her contract.. But there is no official confirmation yet.. If that’s true she honestly shouldn’t have been cast in this role.. What is she doing in a drama literally titled Be Passionately in Love if she can’t kiss?? It just felt inauthentic. It’s true that passion doesn’t necessarily require kissing or intimate scenes.. But this drama was already lacking and abrubtly cutting those moments didn’t help its case at all..

The second half was definitely stronger than the first and the last few episodes were genuinely good..

All that said.. I still liked the drama.. Yes, it fails in execution.. But I appreciated it for what it tried to be.. A story about two teens dealing with realistic problems.. Family issues, uncertain futures and misunderstandings caused by a lack of maturity.. Another highlight for me was the absence of the usual annoying SMLs, Creepy characters hitting on people already in relationships, forced breakups and last minute patch ups.. It was clear they didn’t want to rely on the typical overused tropes and I genuinely appreciated that.. It even had strong, well written supporting characters..

“What I want might be a bit greedy..
It’s a passionate and unwavering love.. One of a kind.
It has to be just me.”

Wang Anyu really needs to consider changing his agency or start being more selective with scripts himself.. Because this isn’t the way to build a solid career.. His last few dramas haven’t been particularly impressive and that’s unfortunate given his potential.. Hopefully his upcoming roles will reflect the kind of actor he is capable of being..

Overall, Its a good drama if you can look past the shortcomings in the writing and screenplay.. Like I said earlier, the absence of the usual overused tropes was refreshing and that alone makes it worth a watch for those tired of overly familiar cliches..

P.S.. I totally respect her choice but I hope Liu Hao Cun stays away from dramas with romance as the main plot..

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Could Have Been Better.. Should Have Been Better..

Face Me is another attempt at medical crime thriller drama that had the potential to stand out but it falls short due to the lazy screenplay and narrative.. The whole concept felt off at the beginning.. Even the initial cases failed to create any real pull towards the story.. The dialogues were not that great.. I guess thats why the initial episodes felt boring..

Lee Min ki and Han Ji Hyun both delivered good performances but I felt they are far better actors and they were underutilised in Face Me.. Especially Lee Min Ki.. Han Ji Hyun is a lively character.. I hope she does a historical drama soon..

Lee Yi Kyung was also good in his role.. 2024 has been a great year for him.. Marry My Husband and Face Me.. And even Marry YOU.. He is showing his range and gaining more attention as well..

They could have made the scene where the real culprit is revealed much more dramatic.. It should have been a goosebumps moment.. I mean imagine realizing the person who killed your father and tried to kill you.. The culprit you have been looking for / hiding from is right in front of your eyes about to operate on you.. And you only realise this as you are slipping into unconsciousness.. If only they had made it more edgy or exhilarating..

I actually think Face Me is a better drama than what the ratings and comments indicate.. I guess the rating is below 8 because most of them were expecting some romance even if it's not the main focus.. And also they were expecting something more dramatic i guess?? What were they expecting?? A killer who changes his/her face after every murder??

Overall the drama was good.. The ending didn’t feel rushed.. And the conclusion hinted at a romance between the leads.. Which was nice.. However I would have loved it if they had explored that a bit more.. What harm would an extra 15 minutes in the final episode have done??

P.S.. The subtitles were poor again.. What will it take for them to hire someone skilled to handle the subtitles properly??

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I really enjoyed the drama.. I watched it mostly for Zhou Yi Ran and the action and I wasn’t disappointed.. The fight scenes were definitely the highlight of the show.. I haven’t watched Douluo Continent or the donghua so I can’t judge this adaptation based on them.. However I think it was pretty well done..

I am going to skip commenting on the VFX and CGI since I started this with no expectations.. Honestly it might not have been perfect but it was good.. Some fight scenes were absolutely fluid and intense.. Most people might not feel the same but I liked the Netherworld Arc the most.. The visuals of the drama were great and some of the costumes were beautiful.. " Some "

Xu Jia Qi as Hu Lie Na was really impressive.. The supporting cast was excellent and their chemistry and portrayal of friendship were great.. As for the main couple and the romance.. It was minimal but it was still sweet and the chemistry was alright.. I am hoping for more development in the next part..

The Sea God arc has definitely piqued my curiosity and there is still a war to fight.. I hope the entire cast returns for the next season and I hope there is another season.. We didnt get any closure in this season for sure..

While I can’t compare this to other adaptations The land of warriors had some well written scenes and action sequences and some wonderful visuals.. Certainly worth the watch..

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Well, where to start.. The story is no new invention obviously, but that’s not really a bad thing.. I don’t think the drama ever aimed to create something new.. It gives off a Legally Romance vibe, which honestly doesn’t work at all in its favor, because Legally Romance set a high standard that’s not easy to achieve..

There’s not much to talk about in this drama.. Nothing new to be exact. The story was good up until the last episode.. Nothing extraordinary, but still a fun watch overall.. The chemistry between the main leads was nice.. I loved how their relationship developed.. Some scenes were beautifully shot.. Their first kiss, the proposal scene and some moments like that..

Honestly I don’t think Chen Jing Ke fits well in that college age role.. He looks a bit too mature to fit in.. They tried hard with the costumes, but nah it just doesn’t suit him.. I think more mature roles would suit him better, he has a hard edge to him that’s hard to ignore.. Sun Zhen Ni on the other hand, fit the role perfectly.. She is one of the actresses I hope achieves huge success in her career.. Yeah, her acting feels a bit rigid at times but she definitely has potential..

The drama had way too many characters whose stories went nowhere, the ML’s cousin and his friend, the FL’s friends, FL’s brother and Shi Yun.. Because of that ending it all felt meaningless.. I also don’t think the drama was very logical when it came to the business aspects.. It was pretty clear they didn’t do enough research on how shares and ownership actually work.. But anyway, not going to dwell on that..

Now the third act of the drama, where it all spiraled out of control.. First of all the SML’s villainous arc made no sense.. He had no reason to do it, he was not that sort of a guy.. You hear two people talking about their past lives, the logical conclusion would be to think they are two whackjobs or may be look for answers, but obviously not get depressed about losing something you don’t even remember having..

That was one of the most absurd endings I have ever seen in a drama.. Everything was wrapped up beautifully and then they went and ruined it all in a matter of 15 minutes, like completely destroyed it.. I understand censorship and all that but there were better ways to end the final episode or even the entire third act.. Sure it’s a happy ending, the leads are together but at what cost?? Their relationship felt like a consolation prize.. Even if that’s how they wanted to end it, they should have added at least one more episode in the present, to show that she achieved something.. With her character, you can tell she might seem happy but that regret will always be there.. I enjoyed the drama until that last episode, but after that it just spiraled.. Really disappointing..

Yeah, I am happy for Xue Jiao and Zhi Hua.. They got the chance to experience a life they missed the first time, something many people can only dream of.. They lived and loved with all their hearts and they had the opportunity to enjoy every pursuit of life and happiness together.. If this was an outright romance drama, that conclusion would have been satisfying.. But she lost everything, didn’t she?? Her parents, her brother, they are still struggling and she is too.. But yes, she found her better half, so silver lining and whatnot..

Overall, even with all the criticism about the ending, it was a good watch.. But obviously, the conclusion would have been decent if they had just stopped about 30 minutes into episode 23 but yeah " censorship ".. If I am to end this on a positive note, I would say I hope they found success in their current life and it’s not just their love story that had a happy ending but every other aspect of their lives, especially hers.. God knows she deserves it, even if we don’t get to see it.. And to the writer, I hope you have nightmares about that ending for a long, long time..

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Love.. Sacrifice.. Courage.. And Endurance: The Pulse of Gyeongseong Creature..

This is not your typical damsel in distress or ML saves the FL and then they had a happy ending drama.. Even though he saves her several times by risking his life, she does the same for him.. Itss also not your usual fight for the love of your country or hero saves the world narrative.. While the story is heavily influenced by a falling regime and its hold on the country.. Patriotism, in my view, is not the drama's core...

Its the journey of Jang Tae Sang who is thrust into a world he is not familiar with.. Facing trials that test his resolve and character.. And Yoon Chae Ok who in desperate search for her mother enters a dangerous world from which no one escapes.. Together they form a bond of love that only fate could forge..

The screenplay, acting and cinematic visuals were standout elements of the drama.. The opening title sequence was beautifully crafted.. With paintings and illustrations that set the tone for the drama and drew me in from the very start..

Claudia Kim's performance as Lady Maeda was outstanding.. I really would love to see her as the FL in a drama soon.. Han So Hee handled her role with ease.. Especially the action scenes .. And Park Seo Joon was nothing short of extraordinary.. Showcasing his incredible talent and range as an actor.. I would expect nothing less from him.. Given his remarkable ability to bring characters to life with such authenticity.. Kudos to Park Seo Joon for taking the time to choose the right script for his comeback..

The sequence where Jang Tae Sang enters the patriots hideout and the scene seamlessly transitioning to Yoon Chae Ok as she shoots Dr. Ichiro and then shifts to Maeda before returning to Yoon Chae Ok.. All set against a dramatic rain backdrop.. This three minute sequence was peak cinematography..

`Sā, futari tomo koko de shindekudasai' / 「さあ、二人ともここで死んでください」 / Now, i ask you both to die here.

The climax fighting scene was well choreographed, Han so hee was just perfect.. She sacrificed herself to bring an end to her pain as well as her mother's.. And to protect the person she loves..

One thing I didn’t understand was why she chose to kill Ichiro.. Killing him wouldn’t change anything, and she was smart enough to know that.. I was expecting her to sneak into the hospital and try to kill Kato because he was the brain for the whole project.. Wouldn't that have been the wiser move??

And the ending.. How did she end up in water with her mother ( shenshin )?? Was that how they wanted us to visualize the scene?? Because there is no way Jang Tae Sang would have deserted her dead body or let her mother take it.. May be the second season will answer that..

In conclusion.. Gyeongseong Creature serves a rich textured story and a refreshing departure from conventional narratives.. Blending Love.. Sacrifice and courage.. And It’s clear that the journey of Jang Tae Sang and Yoon Chae Ok will continue..

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