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Wasted potential with the highlight being a complex FL
The best part of this series is the complex FL. We watch her deal with trauma and the repercussions of her trauma with PTSD, touch aversion, sleepwalking, and very low self-esteem. We get to watch as she deals with the horrors of a terrible family and how she remains strong and unafraid to stand up for herself, but still face the long-term effects of her past. Her trauma isn't just a empty plot that the writers put in without consideration of how terrible it can truly be. The FL is the highlight and honestly, I would've loved to see more time spent on her working through her personal issues. She is a complex, multi-dimensional character that we get to watch grow and learn to love herself. I enjoyed her character more than the romance of the whole show.The romance was perfect, warm, but empty and quite lackluster. The ML is a really flat character who's only character trait is being in love with the FL. In the Hidden Love his character was full of life, humor, warmth, and love for everyone around him. In First Frost he has a best friend who is super friendly and caring and many other friends as well, but yet he constantly ignores them, is rude to them, and doesn't show his care for them at all. His best friend even begs him at one point saying that he really needed to talk to him, but he shoved him off because he wanted to be with his girlfriend. This ML was just empty outside of the romance.
The romance was the main genre, so of course, it's one of the most important relationships in the show. But..what about the FL's best friend? She is always there for her, forgives her when she leaves her/dumps her and is always there for her even when the FL doesn't have the emotional/mental energy to be there for her. Yet the FL mentions multiple times that the ML is the only one that loves her and that he's the only family she has.
The secondary couple was cute, but they didn't fit the tone of the series at all. I would've watched them if they had their own show because they had more natural chemistry than the leads, but I skipped during First Frost.
So all in all, the FL was the best part. The romance was warm, but empty.
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An In-Depth Character Study
Please don't read this review unless you've finished the series! The show is so much better going in blind!This series is a very unique take on a character study. The main genres are thriller and mystery and they take you on a wild ride as you try to understand who Fei Ke really was. What were his goals, motives, and what made him into the person that he was? That question is never answered, because he himself never got to find out.
The series plays as each character takes a turn describing their own story with Fei Ke. Each person describes a different personality, a different type of manipulation, and a indescribable pull towards him.
But this is not a story of a man, evil, intent on on gaining money or power. He is not some master manipulator. Though, his intentions can be subjective, I think it's clear that he didn't set out to scam people. When opportunities arose, when he was betrayed, when the victim created and walked into their own trap, he pushed forward. He was oddly sincere and kind, searching for genuine connection and treating others as meaningful to him, but also preparing for the worst. As soon as they betrayed him, he did so back double fold. The story is more so about a man who continues to make the wrong choice, meet the wrong people, and push away the only person that stayed on his side, honest and good Shen.
The one and only chance he had at escaping his dark childhood, becoming the person he was meant to be, when he was given the choice, he chose revenge. From the moment he chose revenge, he set his life on a course of lies that led him to twisted people, further twisting himself until he became a "fake" version of himself. Rather than actualize the person he was going to become, bright and clever and kind, he chose to hurt those that had hurt him. This moment destroys him and that is where the story truly began and where Li Zenrui's ended.
The ending was truly heartbreaking and brought my score up from an 8 to a 9.5.
It ends with each person returning to their happiest self or their truest forms of themselves. For Fei Ke, only after his death did he regain his name. Only in his last moments, did he do something that was true of himself, returning to his innocent self still full of hopes and dreams. Only once before his death, did he get to hear someone call him by his real name, only once...only once.
Only one person remembered who he once was, Shen was his only lifeline. And in his final moments, he chose to save that lifeline, the last remaining piece of his hope.
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Stylistic Directing, Sincerity, & a Realistic Couple
This is the first review I've ever done for a vertical drama. Normally these are short simple watches perfect for low-attention spans or palette cleansers, but this drama is different. The setting, directing, acting, and storyline is all amazing.The director is heavily influenced by 90s Hong Kong Cinema. They make references throughout the drama even reenacting the motorcycle scene from A Moment of Romance. There's a poster for In the Mood for Love at the inn as well. The directing style is heavily influenced by this creating beautiful color grading, ethereal filters, lighting, etc. There are split shots and combo shots to include more scenes that normally aren't included in vertical format.
The story is genuinely fun even though some aspects are cliche. It's elevated by realistic and grounded characters that feel multi-dimensional. They have a healthy and equal relationship with good communication and clear boundaries. There are some cute moments or RR throughout as well. The intimacy is so sweet; there are so many warm hugs, cuddles when sick, etc. They're a very realistic couple in love. Most vertical dramas focus on one aspects of relationships, but this one follows through with actual romance and love.
The addition and heartfelt sincerity regarding the ML's grandma and FL's friend was lovely to see as well. It added even more heart to the story.
Bonus points for not whitewashing the characters! The ML has gorgeous tan skin and they didn't bleach it and instead used it to match the beautiful warm color grading. The Hong Kong setting added so much life to the story, it was a character of its own.
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