Starts slow then awesome
I’ll edit this review once I complete the entire series. I just want to share something to those 📖reading📚 a review to decide if they’ll watch this or not.Granted it starts pretty slow and doesn’t grab your attention right away but by episode 5 you’ll be anticipating the next episode.
The story is far fetch but artistically entertaining. Most cast were pretty good with their acting and convincing.
I’m on episode 8 and the attachment between the leads is just starting so don’t expect any amazing fireworks right away. Story is being told in a slow manner and I didn’t mind it on this series.
The period costumes used is also interesting.
So far, by episode 8, it’s showed clearly that attachment even not bonded by label, is blind of gender distinction.
I can’t wait to watch all episodes. By episode 8 it’s still not clear how the relationship will progress. It’s one of those drama series that’s unpredictable
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This review may contain spoilers
Harem Drama
*The time I am giving this review, the series is still ongoing so I might edit this after the series ends.*Nothing typical with this series
This is a story of a lady who is carefree and vibrant, who has a doctor beau and then got entered by her mother in selection for a concubine for the Prince. Now, it is not typical young prince. He is an older prince with many adult sons who are mostly married and have numerous concubines.
The FL looks so much like the consort of this prince who died 30 years ago giving birth to the now heir and the selection is for a consort who looks like this dead consort for this aging prince.
This is where the drama starts that changed a carefree and vibrant lady into a woman trying to get out of a mess consistently.
There is not a lot of martial arts here, only one doing any is Huang You Ming who played the part of Lu Bei Yi (the doctor ex-beau of FL). Its very minimal martial arts.
As so the casts, I have seen ML Peter Ho in a lot of period series, and most times, he played a role of a carefree support character. I find his roles quite fitting for him. He seems to be a natural when it comes to those kind of roles. It closely resembles his role here but not to the full extent. I am actually confuse sometimes as to why his character was written to be a man who plays dumb but sometimes smart, and emotionally responds to certain situation in a way one would not expect or confusing. One sample is his son with his first wife being killed and he went berserk towards FL Lou Qing Lian but when his son with FL was miscarried at 8 months, he didnt investigate nor did he react anywhere like he did with 1st son (when this happens he was already in love with FL). When he found out his brother, the heir has something to do with it, he didn’t react towards his brother and was more focused that the 4th brother setting up this heir brother. Mind you, this heir brother did a lot of nasty things towards him. This made me confuse as to the way this chatacter was written. He even spent and risked a lot to keep this brother as the heir.
The rest of the story revolves around the harem, plots, tricks, friendship, enemies etc.
The rest of the characters and story is alright. It is interesting enough for me to keep watching. I love the first wife of ML. I think her character is the best in this series.
As to the artists playing the roles, I find nothing wrong with it. Most viewers are so used to seeing beautiful, young actors in a drama that when someone like Peter Ho plays the part, theres criticism bound to come up. I think he is a good actor and played his character well. Chemistry wise, its not exploding in chemistry but it is good enough.
The production part as in wardrobe and sets, all I have are positive words and compliments. One thing tho personally, I am not digging the FL's hairstyle by episode 15 (hehee its just my own taste). Don't expect grand palaces and sprawling mansions. But all the same, you can tell the sets in each scenes were done very creatively and efficiently.
One other odd thingbis the appearance of Madam De - the mother of ML who never appeared nor had a say before when FL was jnitially brought in the mansion then midway of the series was the hating on FL for lookingnlike thebold consort who she blames for the prince not visiting her anymore.
The background scene music is not that great for me. The credit music is alright but could have been better.
It is worth the watch I think. At least try 6 episodes and you can decide if it is for you.
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Learned, endeared, and appreciated
This series isn't the type of series I would have queued to watched. I started watching this because of Zhao Lusi. It dragged for me in the beginning and i found it to be different from a typical series I have watched. Regardless of the story or theme, seies usually flowed showing relevant scenes. If once in a while I come across a "so-so" series, it'll have irrelevant scenes thats added as a filler & didnt make sense to be added...like it was a waste of time. This series has a lot of scenes like conversations within family, colleagues or friends that we can say not necessary but actually helped carry the series.I found some comments here regarding romance in this series immature.
This series is not about romance. It is there but itll be slow and tho you know it is coming, it came towards the end - to me, it was placed perfectly.
It will be slow for viewers as they start watching it and you'll feel you are trying to hold on for something good but eventually you'll stick to it because you anticipate the next banter between husband and wife, talks between grandson and grandpa, naughty exchange of TouTou with her master, learning about Meng Mengs condition, techniques to help live, learn TCM, etc.
This series will guide viewers with open mind how to live better, and healthier. It is educational at the same time entertaining.
It is not a perfect series, but it is one that if you give it a chance, you will stay til the end.
The characters in this series evolved flawlessly and artists all did an exemplary job in each their roles. The casts meshed well with each other. Casting director deserved his paycheck for his work here.
Production was just awesome 👌 Location chosen were all 👏 that I cant help imagine the hardships production encountered.
Overall, it is a series I will highly recommend. Don't get impatient watching because by episode 10, you will pick up things you would try to help you live a better life even in a small way.
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masterclass in high-fantasy storytelling
Whisper of Fate proves a "beautiful ending" is defined by its emotional resonance rather than just a fairy-tale conclusion.While many viewers equate satisfaction with a "happy ending," this series takes a more profound route. It concludes in a beautiful and heroic manner, centered on a selfless sacrifice—one life given to save many. This poignant finale elevates the drama to an epic tragedy that lingers long after the credits roll.
The production quality is truly beyond expectations. The cinematic effects and props are spectacular, creating a world that feels both immersive and ethereal.
Every garment is intricately crafted to reflect the status and evolution of the characters. The fight choreography is sharp and dynamic, seamlessly blending physical stunts with high-end CGI.
The strength of the script lies in its ensemble. Every character is given a backstory that is expertly weaved into the primary narrative. This attention to detail gives the world life and makes every stake feel personal.
This is a high-priority recommendation for fantasy and costume buffs who crave a balanced viewing experience. It offers a perfect blend of Suspense & Action, Angst & Humor, a very light romance - just a "sprinkle" that complements the plot without overshadowing the overarching stakes.
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Endearing
I find this short series endearing. The story contains or/& mentions bullying, mental issues, homophobia, family issues, crammed within 8 episodes of 30m each episode. Having done this, there are some issues that were left unanswered or unsettled like the confrontation with the father, the vagueness of the 2nd CP's relationship, and the suicide of one of the characters. The series felt rushed to me, or I may be just wanting more.🤷♀️If you are into jazz, you'll enjoy the pieces played here and the melding of pop and jazz towards the end.
I appreciate the production for a good wardrobe selections and not recycling for other scenes, scene set-up and props.
At first, I made a mistake that one of the main actor is the same one as 8 sense. This series has also same vibe as 8 Sense which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Recommend to any BL genre fans.
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Good Concept, Poor execution
I am not being fair for dropping this before watching the entire series so my review may not hold water.my POV: if there is no distinction between human and AI, what made the protagonist accept this AI when he is a recluse and introvert? The set setting is not matching the concept. AI is supposed to be aiding emotionally but so far, what I have seen was the AI being a physical help. The AI doesn't seem to be set with boundaries and has overflowing emotions - more than the human. The concept hooked me but lost me when I didn't see the execution matching the idea. I might have a preconceived notion of an AI that is clouding my judgment, so I may not be being fair.
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Refreshing Twist for a Historical Series
Bravo! This series conquered 2024 for Period/Comedy/Mystery/Fantasy drama series for me so far.Ding Yu Xi truly can shed tears tears with no qualms. Feng Man, WA Er, Zhang Yi Cong carried the comedic part well. Ding Jia Wen, Zhou Qi, Wei Zhe Ming, Ren Min, ang He Feng Tian eloquently played their characters. The rest of support actors did their parts well contributing to an adorable fantasy, period drama.
Most period drama seems to include romance to hike up ratings so I get more enthusiastic with series that did well without it. I am biased to mystery, period and fantasy series so having them all minus romance made ecstatic.
My only disappointment is not adding VM Shengguan (Ren Min) back towards the end.
Entire production did well with the scene sets, wardrobes, and props. Fight choreographies were done and executed well.
I watched this in iQIYI as a paid subscriber.
I highly recommend this series.
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Naporitan?
Came across this series in Netflix and was intrigued so gave it a go.Typical Japanese style of acting - excessive expression. It took me a while to get used to this and finally accepted it as their norm when someone explained that it is normal in different regions or area of Japan to have excessive expressions.
Music is awesome and I added it on my Playlist.
Story isn't typical for a plot involving cooking.
Best thing is being introduced to Naporitan which to other culture might be clingy but we have to remember that each of our culture has something cringey to other culture.
I tried cooking this Naporitan out of curiosity and it proved to me that I really shouldn't judge based on looks or sound because my family enjoyed it. Only alteration I did was switch Polka Kielbasa with Japanese sausages.
overall, I recommend it for a relaxing watch and a little exposure to different culture.
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Review is after second attempt to watch. My First attempt: 15 minutes through episode one and I was going to add this to my dropped list however, I read other viewer review first, and it convinced me to give it a second try.
This could have been a good one but.....
The director and film editor obviously didn't give their heart to this project. It reflects no care at all and that they did the bare minimum and collected their paycheck. The editing is horrible. Cut scenes were so obvious, and theres instances of camera not being focused or angled right. Theres scenes that were included that didn't make sense. Cheesy lines caused me to fast forward a lot. Awkward scenes are also included. And come on.... a threesome out of nowhere of people who works closely together???? I truly didnt see the necessity to add this to the story. Piano BGM was used too much in this series that it was hard to focus when hearing same BGM for almost every kind of scene. Wardrobe is off in some scenes and seemed like revolved within just 5 sets of outfits (I may have overcounted).
Ton Saran Anantasetthakul needs to take more acting class. Casting could have been done better; hardly any chemistry within the entire production casts.
This can be a construed as a mean review however this is my honest take for this series. I feel regretful because to me it is a good simple story that could have turned good if directed and edited better. As many negative things I noticed, I didn't drop watching it after my second attempt of watching because it has an "it" factor that kept me in my seat after I finished episode 1.
So give it a try, pass episode 1 and see if you wont finish it. I don't think it is enough for rewatch value tho.
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Surprisingly Nice
I don't normally watch short episode series loke this but seeing a short clip of it, I gave it a try and it is surprisingly nice and well done for a low budget series.The plot is good although it is confusing in the beginning however, patience is a virtue because it'll make sense as the story evolves.
I think if this series was thoroughly invested on and improved, it could have been a great series. It is already good now, so it can only be better if the narrative is explored more. Theres just one quirky part which was the handmaiden seemingly having powers but it was glossed over. It didn't even play any part during the time there were issues and problems that could have been solved by her power. That seems to be a hole left uncovered there.
The artists all did well. Good chemistry all around. Each one portrayed their role well. I think we will see more of the leading male actor more in the future. He has a potential.
The wardrobe is excellent as well as the production itself. I didn't notice any out of scene wardrobe. It seems attention to details were given to this series
I recommend this series for those who like light hearted, short series. To those like me who don't fancy short episodes, to me this is worth the patience.
Good work to the entire production.
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Typical Teenage Japanese BL
Review:Don't include story summaries as users have already read the plot summary.
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Actors - fine looking young lads
Acting - can be improved
A bit quirky acting
Do not post major spoilers as you'll just ruin the show for the readers who are thinking about watching the show.
'Do not add spoilers to the headline!
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sophisticated and artistic rendition
Adaptation of Inouesatoh’s popular BL manga, 10 Dance, is a visually spectacular achievement that captures the high-stakes world of competitive dance. Directed by Keishi Otomo, the film shines through its technical dedication and the undeniable chemistry of its leads.The highlight of the film is the choreography, which clearly reflects the year-long intensive training undertaken by the cast. Ryoma Takeuchi (as Shinya Suzuki) and Keita Machida (as Shinya Sugiki) deliver phenomenal physical performances, moving with an authenticity that makes them indistinguishable from professional dancers.
While the film succeeds as a sports drama, it falters somewhat in its adaptation of the central romance:
Plot Focus: The narrative leans heavily into the mechanics of the "10-dance" competition, often treating the characters' personal stories as a side dish.
Relationship Depth: For viewers not already familiar with the manga, the developing relationship between Suzuki and Sugiki may feel under-explored. The source material's deep emotional underpinnings are present but sometimes lack the necessary screen time to breathe for a newcomer.
Costume Consistency: Despite the high production value, a notable missed opportunity was the lack of costume variety for Takeuchi Ryoma on the dance floor; a change in attire could have better reflected his character's growth or the different disciplines.
The film concludes on an ambiguous note that may leave some viewers feeling as though something is missing.
Overall, 10 Dance is a sophisticated and artistic addition to Netflix’s BL library. While it might require a "head start" from the manga to fully grasp the characters' sentiments, the breathtaking visuals and the production team's hard work make it a must-watch for fans of the genre.
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rough diamond
Bastard Wargod is a testament to what a dedicated team can achieve under the constraints of a micro-budget. While it struggles with the typical hurdles of indie production, the series offers enough flashes of potential to make it a notable entry in the low-budget fantasy genre.Strengths and Production Value
The production crew deserves significant credit for their visible hard work. Working within tight financial restraints, they managed to deliver impressive props and costumes that feel grounded and authentic to the world-building. These technical elements often punch above their weight class, providing a visual texture that helps distract from the limited scale of the sets.
Areas for Improvement
However, the visual consistency falters in certain areas; most notably, several characters wear the exact same costume for the entirety of the series. While this is likely a budget-saving measure, it occasionally breaks immersion.
The screenplay itself is solid and provides a functional foundation, but the execution often falls short of the script's ambition. Better direction could have elevated the pacing and helped the plot unfold with more clarity and impact. Additionally, while the cast shows flashes of talent, the acting remains uneven and could benefit from more refined performances as the series progresses.
Final Verdict
Bastard Wargod is a rough diamond that clearly suffered from its "low-budget" status. Despite the stiff acting and missed directorial opportunities, the sheer effort of the crew makes it a respectable effort. With a more experienced hand in the director's chair and a slightly larger wardrobe budget, this story could truly shine.
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Detective Dee: The Ghosts in Weird Town
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Miss the old Dee Renjie directors
Lord Pei's quirky, weak and childish character depiction do not meld well with Dee Renjie character portrayal of a very focused and serious personality. This entire production is a little disappointing after getting spoiled for years with excellent Dee Renjie stories, wardrobes, casting, and directing.Quite different from typical Dee Renjie works. This is my least favorite Dee Renjie production. The cast chosen is good but the way it was directed isn't fitting with typical Dee Renjie production. Need a different director who is knowledgeable about Dee Renjie characters.
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Both FL didn't fit the character
The production is good enough but casting seemed lacking. Costume, set design, lighting and props is not bad. Both ML I have seen and watched in other projects that left impression on me and I think they did alright here. Not the best but it's good enough. There are just some awkward moments in their acting if you are paying close attention, you won't missed them. The FL leads are in an entirely another world. I stuck through the end but at midpoint I wanted to drop the show. They just did not fit the character they are playing at all in my opinion. There is not even a hint of chemistry in any of the main couples. The casting for this series was not done well IMOWas this review helpful to you?
