DramaloverPanda

I went into this show hoping to see a cute fluffy romance that doesn't require many brain cells to enjoy. Unfortunately what I ended up with was a mess of a show. While the cinematography and production is done very well that its nice to watch the story really was the downfall. This is filled with every typical cliche you can think of; cold CEO with a past trauma, immature female lead that is bubbly, contract relationship, forced cohabitation, toxic second female lead, greedy business partner making problems. Usually I can over look a lot of plot holes in romances like this as the main purpose is just to see the relationship progression but the way this one was written made it very difficult to even finish the drama in the last ten episodes.

The actors did a good job with their characters and its acted fairly well with how it is written though the emotional scenes don't carry the weight to make you feel them as the viewer. The story however did not stay consistent throughout the show. It is told very much like an outline of a story that hits all the main plot points without any thought behind the how or why of it all. Business problems that don't seem to make sense, money problems that aren't explained, and the characters almost seem to devolve as time passes. In an early episode there were many comments about how Qingqing was so young and even Mr. Gu made a comment about them having a generational age gap though they never actually tell you his age. But in all the flashback scenes of their childhood, which felt like they were added as an after thought purely to try and give the couple a past connection, the kids looked very close in age. The first half of the drama is fairly fluffy and fun with their bickering and Qing's character was made to be immature and at first it really was not a huge deal and easy to overlook. But when the couple finally get together later in the series it became painfully childish to watch most of their scenes together. The couple set rules that felt like you were watching two high schoolers in love for the first time not two adults and the fights and misunderstandings between them were immature.

I wouldn't recommend you spend your time on this drama. There are far better fluffy romances that deliver much better chemistry and a more coherent story than this. I would have rated this higher before I got to episode 20 but after that I found it difficult to even finish because of the behaviors of the leads.

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I went into this not having seen the original so this is my first time seeing the story. There is a lot to like about this show. The cinematography, wardrobe, and production were all beautiful, The actors all did well with their roles especially the two main leads where they played 2 characters each with variations of those characters as the circumstances changed. The OST was nice though not very memorable and the story and pacing kept you guessing through out.

Overall I enjoyed this show and would recommend it, especially if you like a mystery or magical aspects. The writers weaved the story well so as to keep you interested in the telling but also put all the pieces together by the end. While the overall experience was good I will say that the first and last two episodes were harder for me to get through. The first episode did not pull me in and make me want to continue watching, it took that second episode to get me interested. And the last two episodes had me skipping sections. While the story was wrapping up well I did feel like it was dragging on and I was just ready for it to get to the point. Those two episodes are the only two where I fast forwarded.

You really have to commend the actors here. While the main leads did not pull off the look of high school students well, they did however do a great job of distinguishing between characters and changed with the story well. They especially carry the emotional moments well. And while this is a highly emotional roller coaster of a show I never connected to the level of crying along with the characters which makes me feel like something was missing.

I do recommend you give this a watch and enjoy the fantastical story as it unfolds.

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The best way I can describe this is that it is a fanfiction remake of the first season. You can't really call this a sequel because it did not continue the story from the previous season and while it did have mild mentions and references to the first season you could watch this without ever watching the first. This took the basic premise of the first season and just redid it, albeit they did it better but its still just a remake.

Things to note going into this from the first is that the characters all have a dramatic change to them. These will not be the characters you got familiar with previously. The personalities are all very different, again to me it felt so much like watching a fanfiction. In comparison to the last season this season had better cinematography, wardrobe, and story line. It executed the story in a more straight forward way this time and focused a lot on the relationship growth.

That being said it was almost too fluffy for my taste. You can't take any of it serious, including the antagonists as they are so over the top and silly. The romances, this focuses on two romances this time, do progress fairly naturally and have their cute moments throughout. But there isn't anything about this series that makes it great. If you just want something that you can turn your brain off for and will make you smile occasionally then this will be it for you. If you want something that will hit your emotions or leave a lasting impression then you won't find that here.

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If you have not seen the original W: Two Worlds and are thinking about watching this then I would highly recommend you don't. While this drama is a mini series and will only take a little under 4 hours to complete it also a very watered down version that follows the exact same story (minus the ending). In order to conform to the short nature of a mini drama there is a lot of information cut out in this that would actually make it pretty confusing if you aren't already familiar with the story. But most importantly is that what the original version of this show is best at is suspense and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Since this follows the same story line then it goes through the same events but in a fast forward kind of way with no real context or build up which won't leave you feeling anything and will ruin the effect of watching the original for the first time.

As for the production of this series it was really mediocre. The performances felt wooden from the cast, there were some scenes that were so bright it was hard to watch, the sound effects and music weren't incorporated well or were too sparse, and the wardrobe choices felt weird at times. I believe this show was created more for fans of W to reminisce but it just falls very flat.

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I have never had a drama suck me in as fast as this one did in the first twenty minutes of the show. The first episode was a masterpiece that immediately captured my attention and I can't think of many other shows that accomplish that level of interest out of me with just one episode. This mystery thriller really stands out in a lot of aspects and while I have seen several other dramas with the concept of comic book characters becoming aware this one had so many new ways to go about it. Even watching this in 2023 for the first time this drama still stands strong against other more recent ones I have seen. It follows the main protagonist Chul in a very popular cartoon that has his whole family murdered and the murder then pinned on him. He then spends ten years searching for the real culprit by overcoming every obstacle in his path. The creator of the cartoon ends up becoming weary of his creation and tries to kill off Chul to end the story. Chul does not take that storyline laying down and finds a way to save himself by dragging the creator's daughter into the cartoon. This event begins the disastrous and anxiety ridden road between the two as they navigate the dangerous circumstances and fall in love.

Where this drama truly stands out is in its nail-biting edge of your seat twists and turns. Every episode delivers something surprising and unexpected at a fast pace that will have your heart racing as you watch. These unexpected events keep you guessing all the way till the end of the show so if thriller dramas is what you are looking for then you will find it here. The twists do often connect the coherent dots as the story moves along, even if you don't particular enjoy those dots at times it will still have your emotions on hyperdrive.

Where this drama had trouble was with the romance portion. I don't know if it was a lack of chemistry or not enough scenes to really convince you that the two actually like each other but the romance here was just boring. There were several cute moments in the first few episodes as they get to know each other but then too quickly and without reason the relationship progressed and that forced story line began to feel a bit awkward. The emotionally heavy scenes were not carried well between the couple either which just left you feeling a bit blah about their relationship. There was also too much hopping between worlds that occasionally got confusing and tiring. The ending also did not give me the sense of completion that I was hoping for. Almost like it just wasn't enough of an explanation to make me happy.

Even with its flaws I would still highly recommend you watch this drama as it kept me firmly attached to the screen and continuously guessing.

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This would have gotten a 9.5 rating from me if the real world arc in this drama was done better. But the murderous siblings power struggle was boring and poorly written without adding to the overall story. Most of my review will omit that portion of the series because I honestly skipped over almost all of it.

The novel arc and romance portion after returning to the real world has topped my list of favorites. The production quality, cinematography, OST, and acting were all fantastic. There was great chemistry between all the characters, fun lines and interactions with little references to other works. There are a couple one dimensional characters in the novel world but it made sense for the story and was delivered well from the actors. The romance was told well and progressed in a way that felt natural and fun.

I do recommend watching this show but be prepared to skip over large sections of the real world sibling power struggle story line because it was overly dramatic and only detracted from the series. There was also a poorly constructed villian in the novel arc that was used as a plot point to force the main characters to confess.

Also be prepared for the obvious and repetitive product placement in this show.

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I decided to watch this after seeing a lot of the reels from different moments of the show. I grew attached to the characters after seeing them in those little snippets so many times and wanted to watch the show. Unfortunately it felt like the reels that I saw were the best moments of the show. This just did not live up to the hype for me. It was enjoyable enough but missed the mark in other ways.

Story: the basis of the story and the title is about how the main female lead Joo Gyung was always called ugly for having an acne filled red face, big glasses, and large eyebrows. She was maliciously bullied in school for her appearance until one day when she was able to transfer schools. At the new school she had learned how to apply makeup and wear contacts which changed her appearance so much that she was then considered a real beauty. Life was dramatically different for her because of the makeup and she was always worried that her true face would be revealed. Of course she meets someone that finds out about her secret and he ends up falling for her and not caring what she looks like with or without makeup. This concept last until about the halfway mark. Then the second half of the drama focuses more on the love triangle of the 3 leads where the 2 male leads are best friends and an unexpected event separates the main couple for years but the secondary lead stays by her side.

In terms of story it has a very simple concept that has been seen many times. My gripe with the concept however is that while makeup can completely transform your face, it can't change the texture so often when they show her without makeup and she has acne but somehow has perfect skin with makeup I tend to roll my eyes. Also when her secret finally gets revealed its like all of a sudden her 'ugly' no makeup appearance is not that different from with makeup. She adds a pair of glasses and her skin is slightly pink but that is it so calling her ugly for that seems offensive. While her new skin care routine would have helped improve her it was still annoying to watch everyone around her act like she was so dramatically different without makeup.

The love triangle. This is one of the shows where I fell hard into second male lead syndrome. While the main male was fine and everything, I still felt myself leaning far more heavily into the second. His character was so endearing and relatable that it is impossible not to like him. And while you understand the ending I actually found that I did not like it very much because it felt like the female lead did not care about his feelings at all. It felt callous since he has stayed beside her for 2 years and they had gotten so close that even all their friends expected him to care for her when she was drunk. But her care of his affection was not handled well at all. While she did not need to return his affection she could have handled it so much better. It left me mostly just feeling sorry for the second male lead all the way up until the end.

Acting: as far as acting goes it was acted fairly well. I was especially drawn to and impressed by Seo Jun. He was by far my favorite character throughout the entire series. The actor portrayed him so well and he was so entertaining to watch in all of his scenes. Su Ho was also acted well and the actor did a good job of transitioning the character from arrogant jerk with a chip on his shoulder to shy and nervous teenager in love for the first time to the more grown up version. The side characters also all held their own and did great. Joo Gyung was the one that got on my nerves the most. The actress often used this baby sounding voice that I really did not like but other than the voice she did act the part well. I also had a very hard time liking the character very much pretty frequently.

This series had several fun and memorable moments but the writing really let the show down. Joo Gyung was a very hard character to truly like for me so this show holds little rewatchability for me.

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best version out of 5

I have seen all five versions of this story and this one is my favorite. This is a complete story that felt fairly believable, with good character growth and appropriate suspense. The production of this drama was done very well making it enjoyable to view and very aesthetically pleasing. The OST was good and the acting was done well by all the actors. If deciding to watch only one version of this story then I would recommend this one but also if you want to watch another version of a familiar story then you won't be disappointed in this one.

Like all of them this has slight variations in the story to make it different from the others. It starts off with their relationship being a bit different. They meet and spend time together before the accidental night (versus in all other versions he is drugged and photographed as blackmail). The male lead takes longer to warm up to after their marriage than other versions as well but once he figures out his feelings and makes a decision then he stays firm and true to them. This version also has the best/ most heartwrenching scenes and the male lead really carries those moments very well. You get pretty annoyed with the female lead toward the end because her character growth goes from being too soft and pliable to too stubborn and unreasonable. But the male lead saves it and keeps you watching to see how far he is willing to go.

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This is the fifth version of this show I have seen. Looking strictly at this adaptation alone I will say that it was done well. The actors were great, the characters mostly likeable, and the story fairly realistic and believable. If you only end up watching this version then I am sure you would like it. The characters grow on you pretty quickly, the story is interesting enough to hold your attention and make you want to keep watching, the conflicts feel believable as well as most of the character growth and decisions. It is shot beautifully and is aesthetically appealing. The OST was good, although not very memorable. My one major gripe would be the random abrupt shifts in scene and music. That happens alot. The ending also felt rushed and was not completely satisfying. Still an enjoyable watching experience albeit just slightly above average for a drama.

Now if I were to compare this to all the other versions available to for you to see then I would say this one is okay but not my favorite. This is most like the Korean version as far as the storyline goes. As with them all there are slight variations in this compared to the others. What I preferred the most with this version is that the female lead was more realistic and likeable. She is soft, a people pleaser, and a push over but in a much more believable way that makes her character feel more fleshed out and not just dumb like some of the other versions have portrayed her as. The male lead is also softer and gentler in this version and his expressions begin showing his emotions much earlier though he is again most like the Korean version of this character. I also really like that he figures out what he wants pretty quickly and sticks firm to it. What I did not like about this version compared to others is that their attraction to each other was almost to quick. There was not enough moments between them to make you truly understand why either is so crazy about the other but thats a small gripe and pretty easy to get over.

If I had to rate this story and say which one I prefer the most it is probably the most recent Chinese version. So if you were going to watch only one I'd probably recommend that one. This one and the Korean version feel about the same as far as enjoyment to me though I do like the main leads in this one more as he is not as eccentric and she is not as boring as the Korean version of their characters. The Japanese version was the worst purely because it was cut short so you don't get the full story. I did like the original Taiwanese version but the end felt too dragged out.

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Weakest remake of them all

First I will look at this drama subjectively by itself even though I am familiar with the story. If you go into this never having seen this story you would just find an average drama. Nothing that stands out but nothing that really make you hate it either. The production is fine, the visuals are nice, the actors did an okay job with the script, and the OST was okay. But honestly none of it was really memorable except that one scene that will break your heart every single time. One of the biggest problems is that the characters were not given time to develop. Aya was such a weak character and you never got a chance to see her grow since this was cut so short. Its length also plays heavily on my ability as a viewer to feel invested or connected to the characters. If you are looking for something short to just pass the time then this could fit the bill though you may end it feeling dissatisfied.

This is the fourth version of this story that I have seen and it is the weakest. The length played a heavy role in that. By the intro and outtro you can tell that they had intended or possibly even shot the full show with the same ending as all the other versions but then decided to stop airing the show so it was condensed and the last episode rewritten. Because of this you end on a sour note with no real feeling of closure since the misunderstanding isn't completely explained. Aya was a weaker character in this version and her interactions with both male leads felt forced and awkward because there was no time to create a believable relationship with either one. For the same reason it was also hard to believe Kei's change in feelings because it was like a switch for the purpose of moving the story forward but as a viewer it did not feel genuine since all the interactions up until the abrupt change of heart did not give you enough of a sense of depth in his relationship with Aya.

I watched this out of curiosity since I had seen the 3 previous versions but I would not have if I was not familiar with the story previously.

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Disappointing sequel

If you are like me and you went in to this season right after finishing the first season than you most likely also feel like you picked up a completely different show. This season does not feel like the previous season; especially if you are going in to right after watching the first and it is fresh in your mind. If you are picking this up after having seen the first season when it first came out then you might find it more enjoyable.

If you are coming into this season hoping to feel the magic of the first then you'll be disappointed like I was. The first season did an excellent job of setting up the plot and characters that you kept you bound to the screen. The characters all had depth and their own stories that made them all endearing to you as a viewer. The main plot was well thought out and executed with the subplots contributing well to the overall picture. While So Mun is the main character and you do find yourself attached to him and his story the writing for the other characters was also done very well all the way down to the side characters that had little screen time. I rate dramas based on my enjoyment and season 1 kept me captivated from the first episode and I never wanted to fast forward through any part of the show which is very common for me to do in kdramas.

This second season however ignores many of the rules that were established in the first season while also abandoning the original character profiles for the main cast. The characters are supposed to be 2 years older in this season and obviously SO Mun has grown both mentally and his powers have also grown quite a bit. The writers firstly did not do a good job of explaining the power growth as it does not feel very reminiscent of the first season. While psychokinesis was touched on last season, this season it is now in every move all the characters make, even the villains, making the production feel more cartoonish and over the top. This season is also more about the villains from the very first episode to every episode after that. The villains are also made to be the evil version of the counters and while villains are not meant to be likeable these are downright obnoxious to watch. They get so much screen time but no backstory or explanation for how or why they are doing the things they are. Even Mr. Ma became more powerful so quickly that it did not make sense based on the rules you previously understood in season 1. While the first season made you feel like these people could actually exist, this season has turned them into super heroes instead. The humbleness that you felt in all the characters before is no longer present. The addition of the comedic relief new counter just leaves you frustrated any time he is on the screen instead of finding him funny.

I wouldn't recommend you watch and just let the end of season 1 be the end for you.

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Everlasting obsession

This story could have been an emotional journey of longing and love between two destined lovers from different nations. Instead it gave us an unoriginal obsessive love story centered around a main couple that does not even offer convincing chemistry. Relying heavily on miscommunication, secrets, and bullheaded stubbornness this drama fails to bring anything new and exciting to your screen. With bad CGI, poor scene progression and planning, and luke warm acting this drama continuously creates incoherent plots with characters you find yourself rooting against instead of for.

Genius eldest daughter, Jun Qi Lun, is suppressed under the weight of her family's name and their misogynistic rules that prevent women from running the family business. At a young age Qi Lun decides to adopt a male alter ego in order to help in the family business. The Jun Family works closely with the King creating weapons to supply their nation and protect their people but when the paranoid King demands more results the Jun's find themselves scrambling to obtain a material they desperately need to improve their crossbow design. Qi Lun dons her male ego and sets off to find the black crystal but shortly into the trip her caravan is met with bandits at the war torn border and she is taken captive by the future Eagle Lord of the neighboring nation. Their interactions over time lead them to a romance but their respective status make it impossible to be together.

The CGI presented in this was worse than I have seen in a long time, even when compared to many low budget short dramas. It is so distractedly bad that I often wondered why they did not just choose to contain the story to fewer sets. There were many instances where it also logically did not make sense. How do they go from a green forest next to a river bed and run a few minutes but then end up completely lost in a dessert and can't be found by the caravan of people that were with them? They ran for only a few minutes but somehow everywhere the eye can see is now sand and dessert and the green and thriving forest they just ran from is nowhere. This incontinuity would continue to plague the drama in many aspects. The female lead would be a genius but not when the plot needed her to be saved by the male lead. The family business was introduced as a strong provider of weapons in the beginning but then changed to be jewelry or cloth merchants. The cartoonish villainous extended family can plot to steal the family fortune but then behave like school bullies that have no actual intelligence.

Many of these plot missteps could be overlooked for viewers that prefer a romance heavy drama and can blindly believe anything else to just enjoy strong chemistry between lovers. But the female lead actress is often wooden in her portrayal and lacks the chemistry with her costar to make you feel as if she was actually interested in him. The male lead does a much better job at portraying his emotions and want for the female lead but his strong leader personality begins to deteriorate and he just becomes a man that skirts his responsibilities to chase a woman. The romance also creates drama through constant miscommunications, secrets, lies, and unmovable stubbornness often with no real purpose in the plot except to create angst and draw out the story. So much could have easily been resolved by actually trusting one another.Then you have the second couple where the female just stalks the unwilling male until he eventually softens and accepts her. Both love stories are centered around obsession with neither making choices to better their partner's lives and instead only wanting to ensure they end up together.

While I can see someone may enjoy this by turning off their brain I still can not recommend it.

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Found family will always heal the soul

This show is a sweet slice of life about struggle and finding a home and overcoming difficulties. Three children raised as siblings but not by blood find themselves navigating life without mothers and with prejudices placed on them due to their circumstances that were beyond their control. Ju Won who lost her mother before she even knew her to death, San Ha whose mother abandoned him after being stuck in her own grief, and Hae Jun who was left behind and taken in by a stranger. All three raised by Ju Won and San Ha's fathers creating a tight knit family of 5 for 10 years. But as life has a tendency to do things begin to unravel when the boys are seniors in high school and getting ready to graduate. They find their situations changing again and taking them in different directions separating the three 'siblings' for 10 years before the two men find their way back home.

I actually really liked this show a lot. It was really very beautiful and acted very well. The child actors in the beginning were fantastic and the adult actors all embodied their roles with near perfection. The drama also makes a point to show early on in the series the difference in how Ju Won treats San Ha and Hae Jun while growing up which makes the romance later in the story more palatable for some viewers. I like how their struggles are often handled with grace and understanding between the close knit family of 5.

I also like how they made this story their own but stayed true to the characters and their personalities. Ju Won here is much more reserved in this version and I actually like that for her character. She doesn't come off as spoiled or naive but strong and independent which makes sense and fits perfectly as someone that was raised by someone that loved them so well and worked so hard. She learned from him and met her own difficulties with determination and grace. I also prefer this version of Hae Jun as well. His trauma of being abandoned and feeling like he had to earn a place and the way that trauma molded him works here. He is strong and soft hearted like Ju Won's father who raised him but his fear of being thrown away is shown to perfection here. I also really loved Dal in this show and wish she had been shown more, especially her interactions with Hae Jun which were some of my favorite. I actually preferred this pair over Ju Won and San Ha.

What did not land perfectly for me was the chemistry for the romance and I will forever hate San Ha's mother no matter version I watch. I watched this show through the eyes of having seen the original so that knowledge I think fills in some gaps that may be missing in this show because of the shorter run time. There were some things that felt rushed and others that felt too slow. Like the wedding at the ending felt rushed and unnecessary though I thought the same in the original. The last episode also felt so long and boring to me which is not a good feeling when it comes to a finale.

But overall I enjoyed this and would recommend for the found family and even for the dialogue. Some of the advice given to the characters throughout the show hits emotionally even to the viewers who may be able to see themselves in some of the aspects of the characters. Well written script, seasoned actors that are great at their craft, beautiful OST, and stunning visuals make for a good show.

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Enjoyable ride

All in all this is a perfectly fine drama. Well thought out plot that is mostly well executed with characters you can root for and villians you can hate. Beautifully shot and styled with stunning cast. A story about a woman who is given a second chance to go back and change her life a year before her death so she chooses to make those responsible pay and finds a man that is willing to help her do just that.

I have nothing bad to say about this drama. I enjoyed watching it and was fairly happy with the progression and conclusion of the story. I liked the main characters and felt like for many of them their motives were understandable and rooted in a believable way. Greed is one of humans most toxic traits and it will make some people do anything. Yi Joo's personality was also believable with her trauma clouding some of her actions in a way that makes sense and isn't as frustrating as I have seen done in other dramas.

My one complaint would only be that my curiosity about the ending for the villains was not completely fulfilled but they did at least give you a shadow of an answer. This is a fine drama. Not mind blowing or one of a kind but an enjoyable way to pass the time.

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interesting plot but lacks the charisma needed

I personally really like transmigration/ time travel type of dramas and the plot for this one is really intriguing. The female lead is sucked into her own novel because of the backlash of the horrible ending she gave it. The ending she wrote gives the character she becomes a quick death and the villain ultimately winning in the end. In order to get out of the novel she needs to rewrite the ending and do that by not being killed by her now husband, the villain of the story.

The idea of this is really nice, the setting and costuming is also really pleasing. What this show lacks however is the right kind of female lead to carry it. Since the entire show hinges on her then all your attention as the viewer goes to her. Unfortunately this actress does not pull it off. I saw and liked her in Ever Night so I know she is a capable actress, this role just does not suit her. They needed someone that has a stronger presence. Unfortunately in this setting the costuming does not flatter her figure which makes her come off as childish and not as appealing as you would expect from a character in this role. I also dislike her facial expressions and interactions with the male leads. I think they wanted to go for a more comedic approach but ended up with her feeling immature and annoying. She often gives strange facial expressions and the way she carries herself and moves seems so odd to watch.

The male leads are impressing me a bit, especially Ji Chu, most are unknown to me so this is my first time seeing them on screen. The poor choice for leading lady and weak comedic attempts unfortunately detract from this drama and make it difficult for me to be interested in how it continues.

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