Noctis

" No tree it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell " - Carl Jung..

The Road to Splendor for me is arguably one of the best historical dramas of this year.. This is certainly not the butterfly romance type of story.. If you watch it expecting cliche romance and lots of sweet moments, you might be a little disappointed.. The romance is there, the sweet moments are there too but it’s more mature and restrained which I kind of liked because that was perfect for the script.. The screenplay, cinematography and the performances of the leads were what carried the story effortlessly..

Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi served us with undeniable chemistry.. They were so good in their respective roles.. DYX's journey from a smuggler to being in the same space as the emperor, standing in the same room as some of the most powerful people in the empire, and eventually becoming someone they actually fear while earning the peoples respect.. That entire transformation was carried by one of the best emotional performances I have seen.. Deng En Xi was a standout too.. It felt like she didn't let her character down even when the script let her down with some forced angst.. Their romance, chemistry and journey together was beautiful.. They fell for each other early in the story, but it took them an awfully long time to actually get married.. Well, we could thank the emperor for that.. Always getting the ML into shit he definitely didn't sign up for but had to do it anyway for the people he loved and cared..

The supporting cast in the drama is very well written too.. Several of the antagonists are genuinely well written enough that you understand and resent their logic.. They literally were ready to do anything just for money and power.. They were absolutely vile and then there was Yu Jingxiu, who was absolutely pathetic.. The rest of the antagonists had an objective or something they fought for, even if their reasons were selfish.. But this guy was just a pathetic whiner and a loser.. Till the end..
Fan Yake, I am glad that she survived and got another chance at life, on her own terms.. She finally realised that she is more important than catering to the emotional needs of a selfish husband and a vile family and took control of her own life.. I am not saying she made up for her mistakes, but she did atleast try to make things right by saving the FL, whatever her reasons for doing so..

The cinematography in this drama was so good.. There are some scenes you just can't forget.. Quite a lot of the dynamics are shown through framing, like the visuals are doing the narration for you.. For example, the way they show the power difference between the noble families and everyone else with that simple scene where the nobles are standing at the top of the building while the others are standing at the bottom of the stairs.. My favourite was the last episode, where the Emperor also goes down on his knees just to reach the ML's eyes.. It's like he too finally understood what it had cost him all this time.. Anyway, there are quite a lot of scenes in this drama where the visuals tell the story better than words ever could.. I want to say this again, the drama had beautiful visuals, colors.. Truly a feast for the eyes..

Episode 20, the story sort of shifts.. Their reunion after 5+ years.. How the power balance has completely flipped since we last saw them.. He has become the man the FL once wanted him to be.. A person who understands the language of power.. But that spark that made him Zhao Ling in the earlier episodes is now gone.. He knows what he has to do to keep everyone safe and give the FL the life he thought she wanted and he also knows the price he might eventually have to pay for it.. He knows all of that and you can clearly see how it's slowly draining his soul.. And DYX as Zhao Ling portrayed that transition so well that you could actually feel it..

Another thing about this drama was that it sort of reminded me of Flourished Peony.. Ahem, the first season, only the first season.. The way the women were portrayed as if they were trapped in dependence, but infact they were the ones pulling the strings when you look at it.. Mo Yi and his downfall and eventually his death, is one of the examples of that..

Overall this was a really good drama.. I would say this drama is a feast for people who are ready to watch it for the script, screenplay, cinematography and all the other aspects of a drama, for the absolute craft instead of expecting just romance and angst in every other scene.. People blame this drama for being a slow burn, but come on.. These two loved each other so much that they would have died for each other without a second thought.. That's not a lack of romance, that's romance built on something sturdier than butterflies.. Trust, sacrifice, choosing each other again and again when it would have been easier not to.. Physical intimacy is one language a drama can use to show their love, but it's not the only one and this show proves that patiently, scene by scene, right up to the end..

So I will end this review the same way I started it.. This is one of the best historical dramas of the year..

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There is no denying this is a hypnotic creation.. Proof once again that even if the idea itself isn’t anything new, a genius execution of an exciting theme can work wonders.. Especially when orchestrated with immaculate rigor.. Every detail in the drama reflects a rare aesthetic.. It’s no exaggeration to say the drama unfolds as a complete experience..

The visuals in this drama are pretty good with some really striking shots.. And of course, BJT absolutely kills it not just in the action scenes but with a powerhouse performance overall.. The execution of the complex narrative structure is near perfection.. Time loops are tricky but the drama handles them so smoothly that while the story may feel confusing at times, but never messy..

The first episode was a perfect 10 for me.. It set the stage beautifully and instantly made me interested in the story and its characters.. The comedy was on point and the squad’s chemistry was just too good.. The action scenes were meticulously done.. BJT excelled in both hand to hand combat and gunfights, it clearly showed his dedication and wholehearted commitment..

There were two things that felt a bit off to me.. First, even though this isn’t a romance drama, the chemistry between the ML and FL felt lacking.. Their supposed feelings for each other just didn’t connect with me.. Maybe that was intentional, but it still left me unconvinced.. Second, the way he became a time loop perceiver felt underdeveloped.. They could have handled that part much better.. Again it was not convincing..

Overall, this is a truly remarkable drama.. You can see how carefully everything was thought out and pieced together and above all, you can feel the passion poured into the drama by everyone involved.. And that’s why it comes across as such a mesmerizing work.. Beautiful to the eyes, ears and heart.. It’s perfection in the form of a drama, one that will be hard to forget..

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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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I had no expectations coming into this drama.. I just wanted to watch something that’s not too demanding.. Unexpectedly, this was good.. Nothing innovative or fresh and I don’t think that was the intention either.. It sticks to familiar conventions and still works..

I think it’s important to understand that this is not a romance story but a legal drama with a robust, character driven competitive narrative through and through, with a touch of romance and undeniable chemistry and instinctive spark between the main leads.. It also had one of the most mature relationships I saw from characters in this age group in dramas.. No unnecessary jealousy, love triangles, outside interference or forced tensions.. This had all the good vibes I needed at the time..

The characters here feel deeply and love wholeheartedly.. They are good, not flawless but always trying to be decent, to be good to those they care about even when they could be selfish, because their futures are at stake here..

Special shoutout to He Lan Dou.. She was really good.. Her character Guo Xiao Yu was one of my favorites.. Hu Xian Xu and Zhou Yi Ran were good too.. I liked how Hu Xian Xu brought his character, Jiang Chen to life.. There were a lot of small nuances in his character traits that made him feel real.. This is my first drama of both of them.. I was waiting for his upcoming drama Undercover Auto Genius because of Wang Ying Lu, but now I have one more reason to watch it I guess..

There were a few things that bugged me but I just want to bring up one here.. They were part of a Talent Hunt Program, essentially a competition to get a job.. They kept saying elimination, elimination but none of them actually got eliminated.. The first one was forced out because he cheated and the rest quit by their own choice.. That took the edge out of the competition, which was the core theme of the story.. I mean, we all knew who the finalists would be but they didn’t have to go so easy on the others..

Overall, it is a pretty decent watch.. I would have loved to see another 6 episodes, showing what their lives were like after the competition ended.. The ending might feel vague but I think it’s fairly clear that they both got the job and stayed together at the firm.. Still they could have done a better job with that..

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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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A Drama So Beautiful.. I Would Rewatch For The Visuals Alone..

Melo Movie might fall under the Rom-Com genre.. But its more than just a romantic story.. The depth it carries evokes strong emotions.. The drama had so many beautiful bonds and I loved how seamlessly they wrapped up the story in just 10 episodes.. Loved the main couple and their dynamic.. They each carried their own baggage and yet they gave each other the space to figure things out on their own.. Choi Woo Shik, Park Bo Young, and Kim Jae Wook all in one drama?? There was no shortage of memorable performances.. They were just too good.. Whenever a drama with Kim Jae Wook comes out I am always dumbfounded by how underappreciated he is.. With the talent he has, he should be far more sought after and have had way more dramas in his career.. He is nothing short of a brilliant actor and Melo Movie just proves that..

"Life seems to have a fixed amount of happiness..
In another sense, there is also a set amount of misfortunes.. "

"Its simple.. If someone suffers a string of hardships, they should believe that good things will come soon.. "

First kiss in the very first episode?? In the snow?? And then the male lead disappears right after?? What a way to end the first episode..

"Just like that the dark night passed.. And dawn arrived.. And Ko Gyeom disappeared just like that.. "

Without any context his disappearance was such an interesting plot twist.. But the car drowning scene hinted at a backstory.. One that obviously had to exist.. Otherwise there is no coming back for him from this..

" I know I sound crazy.. But that day Ko Gyeom looked like someone returning home from a long trip.. I thought I saw a sense of relief and inexplicable exhaustion in him.. "

I didnt like Son Ju A and I hated how she coincidentally met Mubee at a bar and they just became friends.. That was such a cliche.. I didnt like her character overall.. She was honestly annoying.. The way she treated Hong Si Jun after becoming successful was just not what I expected.. And cutting off even the ML who was her friend was just too heartless.. What I hated even more was how she had the audacity to barge back into his life after her success.. I felt sorry for Hong Si Jun.. He had a family who never even tried to understand him and a girlfriend who did everything in the name of love without ever truly opening up to him.. Only to leave him suffering in the end.. She never tried to change him.. Never tried to guide him.. Just kept praising him.. The moment she realized she would drown with him she just left.. He himself didn’t know how to navigate life or how to fulfill his passion.. He lacked a guide.. He lacked any real sense of meaning..

Episode 7 was hands down the best of the entire drama.. In that one single episode the whole story found its meaning..

"Are you busy right now?"
"I have never been busy in my life."

Choi Woo Shik and his comedy were on point.. He is easily one of the best in the Rom-Com genre..

Two of my favorite scenes in the drama were when they finally accepted their feelings for each other and kissed near the sunflower field.. And the hug scene at the park.. Perfectly synced with the scene playing on the screen in the background.. I loved the framing of the park scene so much that I rewatched it several times.. It was just that impressive..

"There’s no one at home.. No one’s home, Mubee."

They portrayed the grief of losing someone so realistically.. The way he tries to act okay.. Yet even the smallest things like returning to a house without his brother bring a wave of sadness.. And the fact that Mubee could resonate with his emotions made it even more heartbreaking.. Its true that Mubee finds Gyeom at his lowest points.. She truly was the luck that followed his misfortune..

'' Visit me in my dreams from time to time.. ''

Special shoutout to Ko Jun.. This has to be KJW’s most tragic character to date.. After losing their parents and becoming an orphan, he took on the role of the provider and guardian to his younger brother when he himself was still young.. Dedicated his entire life to him.. Only to pass away tragically just when he finally realized he wanted to live..

Overall Melo Movie was an emotional rollercoaster.. Heartwarming yet heartbreaking.. It reflects how life itself carries multiple genres.. Its never just suffering and misfortune.. Happiness finds its way too..

The cinematography in Melo Movie was beautiful.. I would rewatch the drama just to take in those visuals again..

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Let me start by expressing how disappointed I was with the use of so much AI.. Even for simple day to day scenes and also the excessive reliance on green screens.. It felt lifeless, fake and pathetic in every sense..

Apart from that, the drama has quite a lot of good things to talk about.. The relationships mainly.. The relationship between the ML and the FL, the sibling bonding between Lin Zhi Xia and Lin Ze Qiu, the friendships and their bond.. I found it endearing..

I felt the story was running, running and running and rushing towards the ending.. Like it was a straight line from the beginning.. There were no unnecessary conflicts.. But the science jargon and the way Lin Zhi Xia talks can tire you out at times, unless you are a big science freak..

I liked how they portrayed Lin Zhi Xia.. We know she is a genius but we also get to see the other side of her through the genuine friction she has with people.. How she misreads a situation, how she handles stress, how her directness reads as coldness to people.. It takes time for everyone to warm up to her.. Well, unless you are Jiang Yu Bai.. He was that one person she didn't have to explain everything to.. Because he could understand her without words.. There are several scenes where the show uses this to show you exactly who understands her and who doesn't.. The show, like a maths equation keeps proving why the ML is the right one for her and why she goes to extreme lengths to find him and keep him close to her..

Now, their romance.. For a show titled Genius Girlfriend, they sure took their time getting to the girlfriend part.. They should have gotten together sooner and their first kiss should have been 4 episodes earlier than it was.. Because the whole plot was set and waiting for one of them to make the move.. They dragged it along for the last 3 episodes.. The writers and their need to make everything a slow burn is a buzzkill.. This might be my personal opinion but TXW carried the chemistry alone.. HYT, with his stiff expressions and poor dialogue delivery didn't bring much to the character.. Anyway, I liked how they showed how deeply she is in love with him.. TXW nailed her role to perfection.. Could have avoided some of the cringe moments though..

This drama had more than one couple.. There were three couples and all of their stories were good.. But I wished there were more episodes to explore the secondary couples stories too.. Their part of the story was barely touched, especially the second couple Lin Ze Qiu and Jin Bai Hui.. LZQ and JBH were really sweet.. How he repairs her book and keeps it safe for all those years and the scene where he pauses the meteor shower playback so she could make her wish.. It's just such quiet actions that made it more meaningful.. They had genuine intimacy in their limited screen time and one can't help but wish for more..

Jin Bai Hui's parents.. I can't help but talk about them.. I honestly wanted her to cut off her ties with them for how they behaved the entire drama.. But she doesn't.. Well, this was not that kind of a story.. Like I said less conflicts, less drama.. They wanted her to study and do nothing else.. Nothing at all.. They barely let her breathe so that she could study.. But then when it's time for her to use all that hard work and effort to build something for herself, they want her to ditch everything and get married to some random dude?? What?? Seriously?? She should have made them feel the pain of what she went through all her life because of them.. I wish she had.. Vivienne Tien is a good actress.. I hope we get to see her in more stuff, in more important roles and with more screen time..

So, What about Shen Fu Xuan?? Well, he is sort of an enigma.. I don't know what he was supposed to be in the whole drama.. He was the third wheel, he was the good friend, he was the love rival who never actually took any effort to understand the person he said he loved.. And his whole conversation with the ML, trying to act all nonchalant, be the better guy and walk out of the triangle.. Dude, you never stood a chance.. You were not even the SML here.. In this drama of 18+ hours, there was literally not even one scene that could show us that you had even 1% of a chance.. This girl literally wears a broken watch just because of the ML, for how many years?? Anyway, it's good that he walked out without making a mess of it and ruining their friendship..
But I don't understand why the writer chose to keep him out of everything after the main leads got together.. Like, he was literally nowhere to be seen with the friends..

Overall.. It's a feel good drama.. Don't go into it looking for just romance, this is much more than that.. You will love their school days, their little band, their performances.. It's a drama that extends beyond its leads.. You watch it not just for the main leads, but for the whole cast..

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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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Well.. I seem to have come out of Blossoms of Power with very different thoughts than most people.. Because I honestly found quite a few things disappointing.. How did they butcher such a beautiful, fascinating drama with two outstanding leads in those last 4 eps, from the moment the ML died [ yeah right ] till the end.. I was literally sitting there like, What?? Whaat?? Why?? Why would you do this?? All this just to give that Prick Prince Xin the character development, redemption and the kind of death he absolutely did not deserve??

Before I get into the part that frustrated the hell out of me.. I should first say how good He Yu and Meng Zi Yi were in their respective roles.. Both characters were cunning and honestly smarter than pretty much everyone else combined.. They dealt with most of their problems effortlessly.. Both were ridiculously overpowered, well except that the ML was poisoned in his childhood and doesn't have much time left..

He, was obsessed with her.. Well, in the best possible way?? Is there any husband who has done as much for his wife as Xiao Hua Yong did?? The man was completely shamelessly devoted to her.. The chemistry between the two leads carries a lot of this show especially once they finally team up.. MZY, for the first half or so had this stiff expression because she was supposed to come across as cold and elusive.. And somehow viewers mistook that for poor acting?? This woman literally had to kill herself just to find justice for her family, who were massacred and her own husband was the one who led the massacre?? Now she gets a second chance as someone else, this time too she has a family to protect and she obviously can't fail again.. What exactly do you expect from a character like that??

I don't want to talk too much about the court politics, the other princes and all that stuff.. I think all the arcs were pretty well scripted except for the rebellion plot.. And no, I am not talking about Prick Prince Xin's rebellion, I am talking about the one before that, the one led by Prince Ding.. That one had too many flaws.. Like way too many flaws..

Now, Prick Prince Xin.. Sorry, I know I am using that word way too much but I am just too annoyed with him and my wound is too fresh to think otherwise.. Anyway, dude was way too obsessed with her and no, definitely not in a good way.. If he actually loved her, he would have left her alone and stopped annoying both her and us halfway through the drama.. But nah, he just had to keep going till the very end.. He leads an actual rebellion.. Like an actual full blown treacherous rebellion.. And then when he loses and has absolutely no way out, he kills himself and tells her he was secretly playing the villain for her own good.. And she falls for it.. Like What?? Two episodes earlier, his brother died but instead of mourning him, he was in his sister in law's room trying to force her to accept him?? And everything else he goes on to do after that?? Not for one second did he look like a guy who was sacrificing himself.. Even if he didn't want the throne, he wanted her.. And that whole " I did this for you " excuse was just BS..

I hate it when writers do that.. Like, ' Yeah, I might be a villain but atleast I get to die in the lap of the person I am obsessed with, the one I tortured her whole life and I get to see her cry for me.. ' Why?? What's the need for that?? Seriously..

And also, what was the need to kill the ML off with 4 eps left if you were just going to bring him back in the last ep?? If they had just committed to killing him off, that would have actually been a much bolder ending.. She gets the throne, the absolute power she wanted but it costs her the one relationship that made her human again.. Sad but sensible.. Instead, they tried to have it both ways.. Bringing him back just undoes the sacrifice and cheapens all that emotion..

And, in my opinion a bonus episode should be an epilogue.. Something that shows what happens after The End, whether it's happy or sad ending.. We shouldn't have to watch a separate, optional episode after the drama has already concluded just to finally get answers to more of the why's and what's.. If that information was necessary for the ending, it should have been in the final episode.. I mean it was just 12 minutes.. They could have easily included it in the finale..

Overall, Blossoms of Power is a good watch for the majority of its runtime.. But those last few episodes kind of take away the glory the drama had built until then.. And that's honestly a shame..

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Timeless And Unforgettable… Now A Forever Rewatch..

The First Frost is perfect in ways I never imagined.. So perfect that an entire book could be written just to describe how perfect it is and how deeply it touches the heart..

From the opening credits I was pulled into a world I didn’t know I needed.. A world where emotions run deep and where heartbreak feels as real as my own.. Made me laugh when I least expected it.. Emotional when I tried not to and scream in frustration when the angst kicked in.. Yet through all the pain and happiness, I stayed.. Because how could I not?? TFF gave me moments of warmth and tension that left me breathless.. It is a slow burn romance that makes you travel through a story of longing, healing and unwavering love..

I have to say this.. The first ep itself is a cinematic experience.. I couldn’t believe how good it was.. SY and WYF, their chemistry, the visuals, the soundtrack and everything just clicks.. That soft, melancholic feel was absolutely stunning..

I was really impressed by BJT and ZRN.. Bai Jing Ting's portrayal of Sang Yan, with his calm intensity made his character's pain and longing feel so real.. Zhang Ruo Nan's performance was good as well.. She really captured her character's reserved nature and emotional depth.. The dual perspectives in storytelling added a compelling layer.. It showcased how perceptions and emotions shape interactions.. And I loved Wen Yifan’s journey from isolating herself to loving herself.. Which is portrayed with sensitivity while Sang Yan’s unwavering support offers us a fresh view of a ML who is emotionally intelligent and selfless.. He truly was selfless.. Their scenes were sweet but also a little sad at times and somehow, it just works.. The show shifts between her perspective and his.. So you really understand why they are so hesitant.. Its done in such a thoughtful way..

There is a scene that creates a misunderstanding about why she left him and went to another university.. The pain in his eyes, the way she immediately looked at him and shook her head.. Trying to reassure him that it wasn’t what he thought.. That moment alone proves just how good and involved they both are as Sang Yan and Wen Yifan..

" I suddently want to fall in love.. In love with Sang yan "

It took me a while to finish ep 22 because i kept rewatching her drunk scene with Sang Yan.. I watched it so many times it felt like an entire episode on its own..

" No matter what.. I will always catch you "

Some scenes.. Some episodes.. Some moments and some performances will pull at your heart so hard that you might just break..

Special appreciation No. 1 goes to the camerawork.. What can I say? Absolutely dreamy..
Special appreciation No. 2 goes to whoever was in charge of their outfits.. Absolutely perfect and outstanding.. They dressed them to perfection..

Now.. I didnt like two things in the drama.. First.. I really hated was how she left just like that again.. She said she would be brave this time but the moment another problem came up, she ran again.. She knew he had a hard time the last time she did the same thing.. She knew he would do anything for her.. He literally waited six years.. What did she think would happen?? Yes, she wanted to keep him out of her problems.. But weren’t they past that by then?? It was obvious he would blame himself again and suffer even more than if she had just opened up to him.. It just felt so senseless..
Second.. I didn’t like the casting for Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu.. She literally looked like a kid.. I guess she is a Kid.. How did they think that was okay?? The age difference was so obvious and it just didn’t look right on screen..

Most of the men around the FL were creeps.. Including Mu Cheng Yun.. Honestly calling him a creep feels like an understatement.. On the other hand, I really liked Xiang Lang’s character even though he didn’t get much screentime.. He knew his boundaries and genuinely respected WYF.. The bad people did get punished.. But it didn’t feel like enough compared to the years of pain she had to endure.. And honestly I wanted her mother to suffer more.. So much more.. She deserved every bit of it..

" Then the prince endured countless trials..
Mastered all kinds of skills and crossed snowy mountains, deserts and forests full of monsters..
In the end, he saved the princess and they lived happily ever after.. ”

" Tell me.. Were you sent by my Dad to take care of me??
No.. I volunteered.. "

The last two episodes stand out as a perfect example of how to end a drama.. They resolved all the major problems and gave us a happy ending.. A long satisfying happy ending.. No unnecessary angst, no last minute realizations, no dramatic separation just to hug each other in the last moment.. Instead they gave us a full hour long preview of their happy life, their happy ending.. It completely justified their entire journey and every moment I spent watching.. That’s how you conclude an epic romance..

And the best marriage proposal in a CDrama goes to The First Frost.. What a beautifully planned and deeply thoughtful proposal that was..

" Later i realised Sang Yan picked this ring in the shape of a ribbon..
He said, its because we are each others precious gift.. "

I have watched over 500 Asian dramas.. And only two have ever earned a perfect 10 from me.. This is one of them.. That alone says everything about how much I loved it.. One of the most beautiful dramas I have ever seen.. It is not just a story, Its a memory I will carry with me always..

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Love Has Fireworks was an absolute joy to watch for almost the first 30–32 episodes.. It was funny and genuinely entertaining.. Tan Jian Ci carried the drama with ease.. He brought an undeniable charm to Li Yi Fei and his portrayal of the character was an absolute treat to watch.. The premise itself isn't anything new.. Two people sharing a house while getting tangled up at work is something we have seen plenty of times before.. Sometimes it felt like a sitcom, just without the laughter noise in the background..

This was a slow burn.. It took the leads quite a while to finally confess their feelings but unlike some other dramas it never became frustrating.. Their constant bickering, the funny situations they kept finding themselves in and their natural chemistry kept things entertaining throughout.. The drama took its time letting the characters really get to know each other.. It explored their personalities and worked through most of the story before their romantic relationship began..

The comedy is easily the show's strongest asset.. The writers deserve a lot of credit because the humor didn't feel forced.. And once again, Tan Jian Ci deserves praise for his comic timing and effortless charm.. The chemistry between the leads carried the story beautifully and the way their relationship slowly developed and their path to actually getting together was developed with care and done well, Satisfactory.. Ironically, that's also where the drama began to fall apart.. Once the main leads become a couple, the story starts to lose its steam.. The writing becomes inconsistent.. And the FL's sudden self realization and second stage of character development after 30 episodes felt forced.. Things start happening that doesn't make any sense.. After getting into the relationship, the FL suddenly begins ignoring the ML.. He goes through all sorts of ridiculous efforts just to get her attention and we are never given a convincing reason why she is acting that way.. She just, does..

That house selling plotline is really the epitome of everything that goes wrong in the last leg of the story.. It isn't just an inconsistency in the writing, it completely betrays the character logic that the show spent over 30 eps building..
Storywise, that house isn't just a house.. It's the physical space where their relationship began, where they slowly got to know each other and where most of their memories were made.. Something she had the power to safeguard.. So for the FL to unilaterally decide to sacrifice something that meaningful for her ex, whatever the reason may be, feels like the biggest betrayal of her own character.. The issue isn't that she wanted to help him, It's that she never talked about it with the ML, even though it's something that affects the life they had built together.. And when he questions her, she is the one who gets angry and throws a tantrum.. The double standard here, Qian Fei gets jealous over silly things like the ML sitting with another woman and also other stupid stuff.. But that shows that she is a character with clear, even though petty but emotional logic.. She is protective of something she fought hard to have.. That is consistent.. But then she makes a major decision affecting their life and gets angry when questioned isn't consistent with that same person.. It feels like forced conflict to push the story along and reach a conclusion even if it means sacrificing everything they took so long to build..

I would honestly say she handled being a single woman navigating heartbreak and unemployment far better than she handled being in a relationship with someone who genuinely loved and adored her..

The drama also had a solid supporting cast.. The Second and third couple also had interesting storylines of their own..
Now, Jing Jing, I don't know if it's just me but she felt like a very naive character.. The drama she created at the FL's ex's workplace despite knowing it would obviously affect the FL's work life was just plain stupid and cringe..
I liked the character Dang Yu quite a lot.. She had a main character vibe that we missed from the FL at times..

Oh and one more thing.. How the hell did her ex just walk into her house when she was sick?? Did the drama simply expect us to ignore that?? That whole scene made absolutely no sense and it was an unnecessary scene in my opinion..

Overall, it's a decent watch.. In fact I think it would have been a much better drama if it had simply ended around ep 32 or 33.. It's not a drama you will regret spending time on.. 80% of the drama is simply too enjoyable to ignore..

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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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I will never understand why a drama like this is rated so low.. Yes 8 is low.. I am not saying the drama blew me away, but I was entertained and completely engrossed.. These are the kind of dramas that deserve 16 episodes.. No unnecessary drama, no love triangles.. Just friendship, love, personal growth and food.. Lots and lots of food.. Might even feel like one big ad for the Korean food industry..

The story unfolds in an uneventful yet remarkable way.. With a screenplay that feels raw, personal and utterly engrossing.. It focuses on the mundane lives of five characters.. The drama lingers, never too quick and never draggy.. Some might find the lack of build up disappointing.. But the slice of life approach works wonders here.. Honestly, it reminded me of Hospital Playlist..

Everything about this drama feels authentic.. The characters, their relationships, the world they live in.. Nothing is forced or sloppily arranged.. It all just works so well that I couldn’t help but grow attached to them.. Rather than leaning on sappy dramatic moments and sentimentality, it focuses on developing its characters in a natural, unhurried way..

I loved all five of them, they were all great.. And their stories were just as good.. Mun Jeong and her husband?? I absolutely loved their story.. He is the perfect husband.. Chang Won and Sang Gi’s stories were good too, though I feel they didn’t have quite the same impact as the other three.. And Ju Hyeong and Hui Ji?? I adored their relationship.. They didn’t overdo it.. The romance was subtle, but that worked perfectly because I loved their interactions.. They weren’t forced into a relationship because of their past, it just felt natural..

Overall, it’s a really good drama.. It doesn’t rely on big, dramatic twists.. Yet it never once feels boring.. I could nitpick moments in the script where it skips over sensitive issues a bit too quickly, but I don’t want to.. I just wish it had 16 episodes.. I would have loved to spend more time with them..

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You don't have to be perfect to be worthy of love..

Oh man, the moral puzzle.. A lot of people are viewing the drama in very black and white terms.. All they seem to focus on is the intimacy, the toxic words exchanged and he is wrong, she is wrong, things like that.. While overlooking that the story itself is far more complex than that.. I understand that it is easier to just slot them into ' he is toxic, she is the victim ' or vice versa, but come on, the writing doesn't allow us to do that.. The writing, the script, honestly that is the backbone here.. Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao are not the perfect couple nor are they without their own issues.. One was arrogant and the other was insecure.. Both of them were not perfect.. And I think that is the entire point that keeps getting missed in the noise around this show..

The writing is so good that every argument between them feels so well written that I feel they have pulled off something even better than an actual villain.. Because there is no real villain here.. Just two people with their own flaws, insecurities and baggage, slowly bringing out the worst in each other..

Calling the ML a red flag would actually be being nice to him.. He was such an arrogant prick.. In any other drama, this exact character would be the second lead who gets rejected by episode 14.. If he had just kept his mouth shut whenever he got angry or upset, half of their problems would have never existed..

I found that quite a lot of people are blaming the ML and rightly so.. He deserves all the criticism.. I am just surprised that people have already decided that he is the bad guy and she is the pure white angel.. But that’s not really the case is it?? As the relationship goes deeper, she gets so lost in her insecurities.. She too contributes heavily to the outcome of their relationship..

Look at their relationship.. 6 years?? She won't stay over, won't move in, meets only on weekends.. Keeps him at arm's length from her flatmates who are clearly like her family in every way that matters.. While he is just the boyfriend, contained to a very specific box in her life.. She doesn't tell him what's going on in her life, hides almost everything, lies and lies.. Alright, you don't want him in the same room as your friends and flatmates, but why would you not introduce him as your BF to your Ex?? She doesn't tell her Ex that she has moved on or that she has a BF.. If she had told him she had a BF, would he have stayed the night in her room?? She could have avoided that whole embarrassing situation..

The ML introduced her to his friends and I guess he expected her to do the same.. You can see that in all those years of being in a relationship, she never really considered him family.. I am not saying she didn't love him but for her, her flatmates were family, but not him.. That was pretty clear..

Why didn't she tell him about that Dony guy incident?? She had already planned to make it public and take him down, so why didn't she tell her BF, who was also her boss?? He could have helped her.. At the very least, why keep something that serious completely hidden from him when he literally asked her??

More importantly, why didn't she tell him about her friend's death?? Honestly, I can't think of a single reason for her not to tell him.. Not one..

These are not script issues, because the character writing here is peak.. It's showing you someone who loves someone but has never once let him all the way in.. Simply put, she never made room for him.. All the frustration and anger we feel is the script doing its job..

She says ' If the other person doesn't trust you, nothing you say will matter.. ' Girl, the irony is that you are the same too.. You never gave him a reason to trust you blindly.. You just do things, hide things, lie and expect him to be okay with it.. Like, she goes out with her ex for lunch, reminisces about their old times, hugs him, but when she hears that the ML is having dinner with his Ex (which he just made up) she is pissed..

And then, all of a sudden she goes to him and starts talking about marriage.. Not because she actually wants to get married or anything but because her friend is getting married.. And the idea of marriage sounded good to her.. How does that work?? You both are literally having problems, a cold war is going on and there are so many things you need to talk about.. Instead of actually having a conversation about what is going on between you two or resolving the issues you already have, you jump straight to marriage?? Again, she just expects him to like it, accept it and go along with whatever she wants.. You didn't even agree to live with him or introduce him to your ex or anyone for that matter and you expect him to just rush into marriage with you??

"I thought our fourth year being together would mean something deeper than when we first dated."

How can it be deeper when after all this time, he is still just a BF who exists within those four walls.. If you had introduced him to your ex that day, this whole thing might have been different.. The ML stated his concerns and wanted her to think it through, because all he sees is someone who loves him but for whatever reason, doesn't want to involve him in any other part of her life..

The ML here is much softer compared to the original novel.. Like they toned him down on purpose to make him more acceptable.. If they wanted the same effect as the novel, they shouldn't have done it, because here we are forced to look at her flaws too now.. Luke was always trying to be there for her.. There are a lot of things he did that showed us the effort he put in for her.. But when you look back, you don't really see her doing much for him.. The effort she put in and the effort he put in were entirely one sided.. Don't tell me that's the bare minimum, because that's not.. And even if it is, we don't see the bare minimum from her side, at all.. She never made him her priority..

The drama simply deserved more episodes.. 28-30 would have been perfect.. The Harbin arc was so rushed.. If there were more episodes, we could have seen quite a lot more.. I would have loved it even more if they hadn't cut his smoking scenes, it fits the character so well.. I also wish they had kept the part from the novel where she travels from Harbin to Beijing for him.. Now that was her effort and several of the things she did for him in the relationship were just cut.. That's disappointing..

I am not going to talk about anything else.. I don't want to make this any longer than it already is.. Here's the thing people keep missing when they try to crown one of them the villain.. Luke and Flora were never a perfect couple.. They both came in with their own baggage, their own insecurities and their own trust issues and there are entire stretches of this drama where both of them handle things badly.. They hurt each other.. They say things they shouldn't.. They make bad situations worse instead of better.. But that's also what makes this story so exciting.. Watching them navigate this not so perfect relationship, with all their flaws, mistakes and everything that comes with it..

I rated this 8.5.. 8 for the story and Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian.. 0.5 for Luke, the Dog...

P.S. Let's not pretend that Luke would actually stand a chance with her without all this drama and Flora with a green flag?? Yeah, no.. Not her cup of tea..

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Talented Actors.. Ample Budget.. All the Time in the World.. Yet a Below Par Unfinished Sequel..

When you create a banger of a first season the audience expects the next one to be equally good if not better.. Unfortunately Squid Game Season 2 completely fails to meet those expectations.. I spent seven hours watching it.. Only for it to end on a cliffhanger.. Now I have to wait several more months just to get a conclusion?? What a waste of time..

Honestly all the emotions, the quality of the games and the sheer thrill that made the first part unforgettable were completely missing in season 2.. Why couldn’t they just release everything in this one season?? This money grabbing trend is getting worse.. While I agree that some dramas need to be split into multiple parts to make sense.. Squid Game Season 2 doesnt fall into that category..

Psychopath Gong Yoo was an absolute sight to watch.. If I am not wrong this is his first time playing a psycho and he absolutely nailed it.. His character was fascinating.. I mean this guy when he wasnt recruiting people for a kill or die game in the most bizarre way.. He was casually roaming around, taunting and messing with the homeless.. How much of a psycho is he really?? He deserves a spin off like a prequel or something..

The first 2-3 episodes were pretty boring.. The build up was poor and failed to capture the momentum.. Honestly.. In my opinion Lee Jung Jae’s story should have ended with first Season.. If not he definitely shouldn’t have been in the anchor role again.. He literally fell into the same trap again... How stupid is he?? He also took away the opportunity to explore new characters or stories and there were plenty to explore..

I don’t know what to say about Park Sung Hoon.. He absolutely nailed his role.. And TOP?? His character was so pathetic.. I was expecting nothing less than a horrible death for him and he got what he deserved..
Im Si Wan.. You can always expect a top tier performance from him.. And he definitely delivered.. I really hope he and Jun Hui get a happy ending..

The introduction of Player Number 1 was a huge twist.. Totally unexpected.. I was thinking "Gi Hun and his plans are screwed "..

Why so many talented actors if you dont plan on utilising them??

Squid Game Season 2 really missed the chance to recreate the intensity and impact that made the first season so iconic.. It ended up being a below par season.. Felt more one dimensional.. They should have just made it a 12 ep season and finished the drama.. For me Im Siwan and Park Sung Hoon were the standout performers..

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