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As far as the acting went, it was nothing out of the world but it did meet the bar required to effectively tell the story of the characters. The male lead made me care for him despite the fact that he had the same expression throughout the show. It worked in his favor too and sold the "serial killer with a good heart" persona quite well. The female lead was your standard formulaic supposedly 'strong' heroine. Conveniently playing the damsel in distress when it mattered and the right amount of dumb to keep prolonging the story. There were some very interesting side characters that I wanted to know more about and see our hero interact with but I guess the creators were short of time.
I did feel that there was more action and less depth in the drama. You feel for the characters but not enough to really be invested. Regardless, it's an excellent time-pass. There are some very heavy moments, some good dialogue and badass fighting sequences to keep you hooked. While I don't think this drama is something that stays with you long after you finish it, I do think it's good while it lasts.
Enjoy!
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However, when you're sitting in your room watching on the small screen of your laptop, you need a strong story-line to keep you interested. And frankly there isn't much plot here. A man who dies a heroic death has to face seven trials in order to be re-incarnated. Each of those trials tell stories of his real life. Interesting, right? Except, the trials are quite ridiculous. He's a washed from holy water angel and all of his sins turn out to be not sins but good deeds with good intentions.
The prime example of a trial from this movie would be something like: A mother is seen not giving chocolate to her child when he's starving. This is her crime and she's taken to Heaven's court but later she's forgiven because it turns out that the child was allergic to chocolate all along. So she, in reality, was saving her child's life. I'm not even kidding, all his trials are of the same magnitude and in similar fashion. The last one is different but it takes a piece from the typical K-Drama melo shebang.
There are some sentimental scenes and if you are someone who cries only because you see another person crying, then it might be touching for you. But if you need to actually feel the emotion yourself to find something poignant then you'll find this simply sappy like I did. The film also tries to be funny but mostly settles at mildly amusing with some meme worthy moments. The acting has its perks but most of the time, it's either mediocre or over the top.
The characters are also a little bit annoying as a whole, especially the female character and the main guy who's on trial. The only person who's fun to watch is Joo Ji Hoon playing the self-preserving and often hilariously cynical Hae Won Maek.
There are some good action scenes though and cameo appearances by some big stars so it was nice recognizing them but over-all the film is sort of boring. I took a billion breaks within its 2hr 20 min duration.
So the best way to enjoy the film is not taking it too seriously and not focusing on the plot, rather just appreciating the cool effects and pretty sceneries.
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However, towards the end it lost a lot of its identity and took a turn most run-of-the-mill k-dramas do. The writing took a lot of hits as it floundered confused about what direction to take.
Out of the blue kidnappings, dramatic fight scenes, near death experiences and other ridiculousness that was so unlike what the show stood for. It started as a very bearing drama with a constant melancholic but hopeful vibe as it documented the journey of various characters with different paths in life who came together to build a dream with tenacity and determination. Never knew it would turn into fucking "The K2" towards the end. Lol
Speaking of characters, Park Sae Joon did a brilliant job bringing forward a hero unlike many others. He was the definition of silent strength, a brilliant mind and perseverence. A man who got up again and again even with the odds stacked against him. Someone who managed to retain his composure, compassion and child like purity despite all the shit life handed to him.
Kim Da Mi, surely the breakout artist of the year was a delight to watch. Yi Soo was a tiny ball of vicious energy. She was driven and determined to the core, with a sharp young mind and someone who never gave up no matter what you did to her.
At the same time however, she was also incredibly rude, selfish and did downright horrible things. I'm all up for that as it added to her complexity and made her sweet moments all the more impactful but I hated that her backstory was not explored at all. What made her that way? I would really like to know but nopes.
Some people didn't buy the romance but I did. I think the drama pulled this aspect fairly well. Both of them played a significant part in the other's life. For Yi Soo, her quest for love gave her genius but idle mind a purpose, it grounded her and made her a better person and for Saeroyi, Yi Soo was his backbone. The true kingmaker and the force behind his success. When everyone told him his dreams were impossible she not only stood by them, she made them happen.
They were good for each other which is why the romance rang true for me. Sure, Yi Soo was a bit obsessive and took it to another level but that was her character from the start. Love or success, she'd take everything to the extreme. (Again, I'm annoyed at the fact why that was so. We are just supposed to accept her personality as it is though without any insight.)
All the characters had their amazing moments in the show however some did not develop as nicely as they could have cause of bad writing 101. The second FL came through at times but mostly her victim-is-me mentality annoyed me to no end. The villains were okay-ish, none too exceptional but they did the job.
Over-all, the drama delivered a lot of important messages and did a good effort at being woke. That said, it also had a lot of corny, overly sappy and unrealistic moments where I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
In the end, I'll say that while this drama was definitely not exceptionally good in terms of writing and later on even the execution, it was a fun ride for sure. I binged it in 2 days straight and never found an episode that made me yawn.
So while I do reccomend it, I would advise not to have sky high expectations going in, because of the hype surrounding it.
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The serial shows two people, who couldn't be more different from each other fall in love and experience all the complications that come with an unexpected romance.
Jang Mi is a full of life woman whose empathy is her fatal flaw. She's considerate to a fault and her idealistic approach to everything combined with a tendency to always speak her mind, often gets her into a mess. Gi Tae is a huge cynic when it comes to commitment. He's rude, practical and prefers solitude. Due to unfavorable circumstances both of these find themselves bound to each other under the facade of marriage and from then on, utter hilarity ensues.
The love story between the characters is a very authentic and real slow-burn. They grow independently as individuals and then together as a couple. They have doubts, fights, laughs and ultimately, a deep understanding that comes with being aware and accepting of each other's flaws.
The drama showcases how the decisions made my the children are always heavily influenced by those made my the parents. It highlights what it means to be a family and above all it gives a message; that even when things could take a turn for the worse, it's okay to take chances in life.
With a sweet and bubbly OST, adorable laugh-out-loud moments, delicious food and a lovable cast, 'Marriage, Not Dating' is truly one of the best feel-good romantic comedies out there.
Enjoy!
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Started with a bang but ended with a whimper.
This drama started out promoting a very promising message but unfortunately, soon fell flat. Since I am not a fan of puppy love I didn't pick this up for the romance. I wanted to see our female lead's journey through bullying and how she conquers it. But apparently, her boy conquers for her. I feel a bit robbed cause I kept waiting for the character development that never came.Regardless, it's a cute drama and you gotta give it effort for picking up a topic as controversial as plastic surgery. The actors are cute too and they did a good job. The best arc was probably done for the antagonist and soon she became the only interesting person on screen.
It's unclear what the core message of this drama really is. Is it promoting plastic surgery? (lol) Is it teaching self-love? Is it telling us that beauty is on the inside and self-acceptance is the key to happiness?
I would really like to know but sadly the show's focus soon turned on being your every other basic neighborhood love story and stayed there. So yikes.
A fairly enjoyable drama, nonetheless. Watch it if you don't want anything too serious.
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Mars isn't made to impress the audience with the sparkle of a big production, instead It is made to move people. It's low budget, old and simple. Which is what makes it all the more impactful. It shines light on the ugly side of humankind. There are many things that people try to hide under rugs and make vanish out of sight but Mars drags them all out and exposes them for all to see. It highlights the crazy in everyone. But most importantly, it's an empowering story of finding the light, acceptance and hope. It assures that even if your beginning is tragic, your ending doesn't have to be. Mars doesn't romanticize mental illness and abuse, rather it delivers an honest portrayal of these issues and offers no excuses. At surface it seems like just another cliche good girl/bad boy story but when you dig a little you discover that there are layers upon layers of meaningful themes disguised under.
Chen Ling was a beautiful man. And I'm not talking about his gorgeous hair, heavenly dimples and angelic face, rather, I'm talking about his beautiful personality. He was such a tortured soul who was so broken and so lost and yet, when he loved he loved deeply. He was loyal, kind, affectionate and brave. There were so many shades and so much color to his character. He laughed so freely; with a childlike glee and always joked around, painting a picture of how he was just a reckless slacker. But at the same time, when he was serious, his cruel eyes and ruthless expression sent chills up my arms. His tears were always so touching and when he was heart broken it showed on his face. His "bitch please" face made me laugh countless of times. And there was that bitter chuckle when he realized that the world had gone and fucked him over once again.
There was much darkness in him, yet, he managed to radiate innocence. He was so charismatic and magnetic that you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Nowadays, bad boys are extremely over-hyped in stories, there is usually more talk than walk about how the protagonist is so badass, but Chen Ling was the real deal. He was bad to the bone with a side of crazy. He could be scary, beyond morals and a little heartless but beneath it all, there was a heart made of platinum that was purely good. I think Vic Chou did the acting of the century in this drama. He mastered every emotion and displayed it perfectly. Which is why, I find it so absurd that his role in Mars isn't as well-known as it should've been.
Then comes Qui-Lou. Anybody who knows me, knows that I can't tolerate bumbling and weak heroines which is why in the beginning Qui-Lou's easy tears and meek voice really grated on my nerves. However, as the drama progressed I started to see her for who she really was; a sophisticated, mature and intelligent woman. She had gone through so much and yet, she found the courage to face it. She had so much empathy and she was tough in her own way. A lot of people were saying that her transition from a quiet presence to a talkative person was very brutal, but I couldn't disagree more, for she retained her shyness till the end and there weren't any drastic changes at all, instead, you gradually saw her become more brave and able to voice her opinion. It was an amazing message on how you can make new beautiful memories to drown the horrible ones and anyone who thinks otherwise, needs to frankly eat shit.
At the start, I thought Barbie wasn't really acting at all because I barely saw her expression change except for the redundant quivering of lips when Qui-Lou was seen breaking down for the millionth of time but after a while, I saw the subtle changes in her demeanor and realized what a phenomenal actor Barbie really was. She was completely in sync with the character and she changed and became stronger as Qui-Lou's wounds healed. It showed that she really did give it all for this role. There were so many powerful scenes that made your heart hurt and a lesser actress would have failed to deliver the emotion.
The relationship dynamic between the two protagonists was outstanding. Going into the series I was a little miffed by what seemed like insta-love on their part but I was proved wrong as I watched more and more. They were two complex people who were attracted towards each other for their own different reasons, they evolved together and licked at each others wounds. They were willing to sacrifice so much for the other and their love was completely unconditional. Even though together they were fearless, what I found so refreshing was that their world didn't revolve solely around each other. They were independent people with their own individual standing who grew stronger in each other's company.
What I also loved about this drama was that besides the main characters, the supporting roles were great too. I know that the actress who plays Qing-Mei is very successful but unfortunately for some reason before this, she always rubbed me the wrong way, due to which I had dropped a lot of dramas she had starred in, however I thought she played her part excellently here. She's so savage, yet sweet and warm. Da-ye is also a complete cutie and I felt happy whenever he came onscreen.
Other characters left noticeable impressions on me too. Tong Dao was fascinating. Qui-Lou's mother was an unredeemable bitch and the stepfather was too pathetic to put in words.
I loved how the characters always spoke in such light and sombre tones which made the gravity of the serial more prominent. And the music was added on the perfect moments to make everything more influential. The OST ( Ling-Zero) is one of the best soundtracks ever made. It's hauntingly deep and even though I didn't understand a single lyric, the tune and the singer's melancholic voice made me feel serene.
Mars deals with serious issues like rape, suicide and mental health and it gives a raw exposure to all that isn't pretty. It isn't a drama that's going to make you cry or heave with emotion but it's definitely something that will move you to a certain extent. Despite the horrible quality and the less than mediocre direction, you'd still be compelled to watch episode after episode.
I am not gonna say that this is something you can watch again and again because its beauty is in watching it only once and enjoying it to the max but I will say, that it is one of those horribly under-rated dramas that are a must if you want to truly experience the whole Asian Drama scene.
P.S: People who've read the manga say that they didn't like the show or that they decided not to watch it in the first place. However, maybe it is just one of those "you like whatever you watch first" sort of situations but I started reading the manga alongside the show, and believe you me, it's absolute trash. Kira and Rei are wholly one-dimensional characters and the parts that were so heart-touching in the drama came out extremely bland in the manga. So, don't feel wary of the drama, if you didn't like the manga. 'Cause I can vow it's better and more well-developed.
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So obviously, it was because of him that I started watching this drama. However, despite my unconditional inclination towards him, I'm not the kind of person who'd give out a biased review and so to be completely honest, even though Master's Sun has a lot of perks, it isn't as dazzling and mind blowing as people claim it to be.
I mean an 8.8 rating? Hm dramalist, you know that's pushing it a little bit, no? But then again, if trash like Love O2O can get as high, I think we'll let it slide.
Story:
Even though the premise of this show is quite unique, it hasn't truly escaped the KDrama cliche. You've got your recurring theme of amnesia, the "I love you so I'll let you go" bs, the martyr-esque actions on the hero's behalf, the unnecessary back and forth love between the main leads and of course the irrelevant draggy parts where the creators thought of prolonging the story into further two hour episodes instead of wrapping it up in one like it should've been.
However, the reason why all of these minor flaws are overlooked is because this drama gives so much joy. All the characters are extremely likable and throughout its episodes it somehow manages to maintain a steady rhythm that keeps the viewers interested. Every episode has a new ghost story, while simultaneously having a backbone that gave the serial its direction. The characters develop beautifully; they grow into themselves and by the last episode all of them had evolved into mature and three-dimensional personas.
Cast:
The thing I love about So JiSub is that he always delivers a performance where I can look past his name and immerse my self into the character he plays. When I watched Master's Sun, it wasn't So JiSub that made me relentlessly crack up, rather it was President Joo.
The best term to describe Joo Joong Won is adorably nasty. He's very materialistic, selfish and practical and yet he radiates innocence. When he's being a brat and telling people to get lost, instead of getting offended you can't help but want to squeeze his cheeks. Every thing that comes out of his mouth is just plain hilarious.
Countless of times, I had to press the pause button so that I could get my laughter in control. He's incredibly witty and his comebacks always gave me so much life. At the same time he is a very loyal and devoted man and you can't stop all the warm and gooey feels that erupt wherever he's concerned. I swear, I'd be his candy girl a thousand times over.
This is my first drama by Gong Hyo Jin and I admit that I was a little apprehensive. Not gonna lie, I'm a pretty shallow person and even though I preach about inner beauty, I do like my characters to be pretty. Tae Gong Shil literally held up her middle finger in the face of every single stereotype that society associates with beauty. Her hair has never seen a brush, she stinks, she has major panda eyes, her clothing is "drab" (if we're being kind) and she doesn't give enough fucks to be embarrassed about it whatsoever.
Now starring against a man who's so incredibly handsome is very hard when you're playing such a supposedly dull character. However, soon enough you start to see her pretty heart and you start to love her for who she really is. She is kind hearted, strong and persistent. Even though in the beginning she appears to be an insecure and weak woman, soon we discover the deadly claws she's been hiding. She's extremely blunt for what she wants and if she wants you to know you're no good, best believe you'll know it. She can cut you up pretty nicely and later in the show she more than makes up for all the times she had to deal with Joo Joong's shit.
One very refreshing thing about this drama was how honest the main leads were with each other. They don't have the same petty misunderstandings that usually plague KDrama relationships. They have conversations, they talk and stabilize themselves as independent people before being together and that was something I really respected.
The side characters are also pretty amazing. Secretary Kim, Kang Woo, Yi Riyeong, Joo Won's aunt, her husband and even Tae Gong Shil's older sister and her blabbermouth brought their own to the show.
This serial has so much fluff and happiness and is truly a feel good drama. Despite all this though, I don't think I'll be rewatching it anytime soon for it doesn't bring forth drastic bursts of emotion and isn't exactly a never before seen phenomenon.
It has a more of a "enjoy it while it lasts and then say goodbye" vibe. And that's exactly what I'm doing for despite all of its cuteness, it isn't something you cannot let go of.
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Raw, painful, slow-burn love story where love is not enough
I absolutely love separated lovers/ second chance romances because I feel like you get so much angst, longing, yearning, regret, hate, love, and resentment that you just don’t get with a straight laced love story.There is just something special about two people completely in tune with each other who life turns into strangers and then, time brings back together.
They don’t know who they are anymore but they know a part of each other nobody else does and when they are together, immediately everything that they were, everything that they lost and everything they could be bubbles up between them.
It’s that bubbling angst pot of love and loss that I NEED to see.
✔️ What comes after love nails all of the above. Hong and Jungo meet in the most natural of ways, they fall in love the most natural of ways and they fall apart in the most natural way.
✔️ The chemistry between the two leads is outstanding and you believe every emotion. From the initial puppy love, to the gradual soul deep connection to the budding frustration to the heartbreaking separation and then, the deep, fathomless longing - these two make every scene believable.
✔️The acting is excellent and I think this might as well be Lee Se Young’s best role. She is such a relatable and lovable character. A girl who left home to reach her dreams in another country only to meet the love of her life. A woman who realises she has to give up her love for her sanity. A human who is flawed and hurt and so she withdraws into herself.
Her portrayal of young innocence, chronic isolation, loneliness, hurt and disappointment are all brilliant.
✔️Holding his own against her is the absolutely gorgeous Sakaguchi Kentaro. This was my first time watching him and I was pleasantly surprised by his expressive eyes and very nuanced acting.
Jungo is closed off and doesn’t know how to show his love. The way Kentaro wears his regret and yearning is genuinely moving.
✔️The skinship in this show is very real and mature. The way they interact makes their love believable and the kisses feel electric.
Ultimately, this show doesn’t really have a plot. It’s a character driven story that captures the entire beginning, middle, end and rebirth of a cross barrier love between two people.
✔️It’s very slow paced and realistic and just the kind of show that you want to watch when the mood hits just right and it’s raining outside.
❌ That said, I do think that the plot tended to run a little bit in circles at times, the pacing was too slow in moments and for me, their young puppy love era was the most lacklustre to watch. Especially, the ending episodes with the random misunderstanding, missed timings and them repeating how lonely the FL was in their relationship a trillion times got a bit draggy. Also, I just feel like this kind of story had excellent potential to be a tragedy or have a bittersweet ending, somewhere where the couple got closure but moved on instead of a reunion because there is so much that has happened, so much that has changed about them that cannot be fixed so easily - but oh well, love wins!
✅ Overall, I had a great time just relaxing and vibing with this drama every Friday. Once a week seemed like the perfect pace for it and it felt artistic, emotive and like a little story book with six tiny chapters that acted as a window to the past, present and future for these two.
Overall, a solid watch.
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Vicious, Sexy, Badass - This is Park Shin Hye Like You Have Never Seen Her Before
Feminine rage has never been more delicious in this fast-paced, thrilling and hilarious wild ride of a drama helmed by a disgruntled she-devil who loves her sparkles as much as she loves murder.You can almost feel Park Shin Hye’s frustration for always being dubbed as a “mediocre actress” and “overshadowed by her male counterparts” because, this time, she came here without pulling her punches and was in it to slay it.
✔️Her character Justitia is an excellent anti-heroine. She is the female equivalent of the oppa of all oppas, an absolute bad girl in the best way possible.
✔️Selfish, violent, sadistic, cunning and utterly ruthless as she is, her prickly, fashionable, savvy self is also completely endearing. Park Shin Hye embodies her role beautifully and makes her 100% lovable.
There is a childlike sort of purity in this savage demoness as slowly her heart thaws and she starts to reluctantly care for people around her. Watching her gradually fall in love is literally the best thing ever.
✔️While Kim Jae Young is a new actor for me, he holds his own alongside her as the righteous, good cop with a golden heart. That said, he definitely feels like a glorified support role in PSH’s orbit and doesn’t have the wow factor where screen presence is concerned but that’s okay because the show obviously wants to focus more on the demoness.
✔️The pair has good chemistry together and the push and pull between them, along with the banter is fun to watch. However, the romance is a slow burn and almost feels like a friendship dynamic for most of the show with not much skinship.
That said, while PSH does serve her signature dry dead fish kisses in this, there is this one kiss where she is like “bet you didn’t see that coming”. I was almost shocked with how she nailed every aspect of this role.
✔️The drama doesn’t have a lot of filler and at 14 episodes, it does not drag. Each episode features a certain case and while I usually don’t like episodics, it was always great to watch Justitia put her lipstick and high heels on and mete out her own brand of manic justice in the most violent and blood pounding way.
✔️The action scenes were all well shot and while some sequences were longer than should have been, the overall element of CRAZY in all the action never let it turn boring. Park Shin Hye absolutely nails her fight scenes and comes out looking stylish, sassy and always on top.
✔️The supporting characters are entertaining, add excellent comedic value and don’t take up the screen time longer than is necessary.
✔️While the fantasy elements - with the ghoulish sound effects, the hilarious CGI and the wonky getups for the demons - are kind of funny and not that well done, it works because the show doesn’t take itself that seriously.
✔️The OST of this drama is always fun and “Sunmi’s Crossroad” absolutely stands out and brings the right amount of emotional impact when needed.
✅ Overall, the drama is VERY much fun and VERY much binge-able. There are some obvious plot holes but they can be ignored simply because of how entertaining the drama is.
So definitely recommended for a good time pass.
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This is the first Asian drama that I watched that had so many episodes. I finished it in three days, where I was relentlessly stuck to my laptop screen. I laughed, I swooned, I sighed, I screamed- all in all it was a fairly enjoyable ride.
To be honest, the star of this show is Zhou Zhen. The drama would essentially be nothing without him. He's an Alpha Male to the boot. He's got the looks, the rough exterior, the charm and the golden heart to go with it all. He's possessive and controlling and yet, so tender and affectionate. He's a true badass and even though his fight scenes are awfully corny at first, they grow on you. The actor playing the role delivered his best and really there couldn't have been a more perfect Er Ye than Zhou Zhen. The loyalty his subjects have for him is endearing and his courageous personality and give no fucks attitude is so fucking attractive.
And well that's about all this drama has, to be honest. The supporting characters all lie on various scales on the spectrum of annoying and dumb. The main heroine is a horrendously stupid and weak af damsel disguised as a smart female lead. It's convenient how she's apparently good at almost everything except, things that matter.
Like, literally the only time she took out her claws was is in front of the man who loved her with his all. Which was hilarious because for all her bark, she's so irrelevant and legit has no bite. She's always saved by the hero and even when she apparently becomes this badass later, she does nothing except create problems for the guy. Like, there was no scene in the entire show where I was like "Go Girl, that's some mojo".
Nope, she's useless.
Plus, towards the end she commits one of the most brainless acts ever committed in the history of dumb acts committed by brainless heroines and has to pay heavily for it, just because she thought trusting a shady ass man who she met a coupla times was better than trusting someone who was there for her through thick and thin. I really don't understand what Zhou Zhen saw in her and how he was capable of loving such an ungrateful TSTL so unconditionally that he forgave her for her selfishness time and time again.
Then comes Ming Zhu. This girl is even more dumb than our heroine. (Which is quite a feat to achieve in itself, to be honest) She let's herself be manipulated time and time again by the bad guy and has to face so much shit in her life. She suffers horribly throughout and at the end always asks God, why it had to be her.
Well, the answer is because she buried all her intelligence under a rock somewhere and went on her merry way. Like, all the messy things she gets herself in could've been easily avoided but nope, she was hell-bent on making irrationality her best friend. Like really, let me ask you, if somebody who tortured, hit, raped you and was emotionally blackmailing you to do hideous things offered you a gift, would you fucking take it with a big smile or would you throw it in the nearest trash can and be 'oh shit I'm outta here'.
Like, how dumb can you be to trust a guy, you hate? Who's inflicted horrible things on you countless of times. How can you be brain-dead enough to later wonder why he lied to you and deceived you? Like bitch, you thought? You really thought the guy who made your life hell was gonna turn into a boy scout in sixty seconds? I can't.
However, the women are not the only epitome of stupidity here, because we always have the second male lead Ying Dong to fulfill the quota on the men's side. He's simply a selfish, childish brat who always creates troubles for others. Like, he literally does not have a single redeeming quality and frankly, his existence is a waste.
Atleast, throughout the drama he gets rightfully taunted about how he is trash (which he is) and in the end admits that he can only love himself. I literally wanted to punch him in the face. Throughout the show, he gives these fierce and angry looks where he pretends that he's all that but like, he just needs to sit tf down cause he isn't shit. He's a worse damsel in distress than our heroine and his ass constantly needs saving. It's a pity that at the end he still does get almost everything (while even in the last episode he creates shit for other people). His brother, Han Chuan on the other hand was so respectable and a clever and true businessman who I really liked from the start.
Also, one thing that nobody seems to notice is that Cruel Romance plagiarized an entire scene from the Korean Drama Innocent Man, where Ming Zhu asks YingDong to meet her and jumps in the pool in order to show that she is willing to end her life for him. Tsk tsk. However, where it was an impactful scene in Innocent Man, here it was just further evidence of Mingzhu's lack of intellect.
A perk of this drama though, is the Bad Guy. Qian Tian is a good villain. His psychotic and bloodthirsty character was very interesting and he had his wits till the end. The back and forth between the hero and the villain was so entertaining to witness. Qi Ji and Huang Xiao Ming portrayed excellent acting skills and really, they were the only thing that made this drama worth watching.
Even though the heroine independently wasn't much, her chemistry with Zhou Zhen was amazing. The romance aspect of this drama is brilliant and it's filled with iconic, swoon worthy moments. Despite the fact that the drama lost its soul towards the end and just kind of wandered aimlessly with unnecessary sub plot lines and repetition (Literally, the second last episode is filled with characters having flashbacks of things that happened before again and again- I skipped almost all of it because of the sheer redundancy of it ) and the ending wasn't executed well at all but if you're a romance lover and like your guys to be Alphas and bad boys, you'll ignore all of its shortcomings and still get extremely entertained.
For Zhou Zhen's swagger is enough to overcome all that this drama lacked.
I wouldn't say I'd rewatch all of its 40 episodes but there are some scenes that I'd definitely like to revisit.
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Tragic beauty, sexy martial arts, tender pining and the most epic bromance of 2024!
This is not a drama you watch, it’s a drama you experience. Fangs of Fortune is a signature Guo Jing Ming piece of art with stunning cinematography, excellent music and gorgeous shots. The sheer beauty of this show is breathtaking and it is pure pleasure for your eyes and ears.This director captures the dark, sensual beauty in his actors in a way that’s unlike anything I have ever seen. He has the skill to get the best acting out of his cast and create enormous chemistry between them with the slightest of gestures.
✔ This is a slow burn story of six individuals coming together to make a family that would live and die for each other. It’s fully character driven and focuses heavily on the relationships between this lovable team of humans, gods and demons, even sometimes at the expense of the plot. However, soon the show finds its pace and its footing and midway, gains momentum to the point that every episode is impactful.
✔The martial arts and action scenes are truly some of the best I have ever seen. They are emotional, sexy, expressive and tell a story instead of being just mindless fighting. There are so many adrenalin filled moments in this show coupled with tender emotions and powerful dialogues, peppered with excellent comedy that is always layered with undertones of tragedy. It’s really a mixed bag of feelings and after a while, you get so immersed that you are hit with every single one.
Now, let’s talk about the soul of the drama. While there are many amazing characters, the two male leads absolutely steal the show and give it life.
✔Zhao Yuan Zhou is one of the most powerful demons in the world with a deadly reputation to match. Feared by all, hated by most and condemned by many - he is a lonely soul burdened under self-hatred, guilt and a will to die.
It is this pursuit of death that brings him to the door of Zhou YiChen, the righteous, morally upright commander of the demon hunter bureau. Zhou Yi Chen is a man with many scars on his heart, a dedication to do what he thinks is right and a deep sense of vengeance that burns within the childlike purity that consumes him.
✔Even though their relationship starts off as a blood feud with one pledging to kill the other, soon it flourishes into one of the best male friendship arcs I have seen in a C drama ever. The love, silent camaraderie, empathy, understanding, protectiveness and compassion that they come to share is beautiful to watch.
✔These two make a formidable team because they are both such interesting characters in their own right. Both are damaged, powerful, with hard edges but incredibly soft hearts and their bickering, bantering dynamic together is truly a treat to watch. I mean, they were literally self-confessed soulmates - what more can you ask for?
✔The character development for both of them is excellent as well. Soon, you uncover the mischievous, cat-like goodness of the great demon and realize what a butter heart he has. You understand the pain he carries, the blood that paints his unwilling hands and you can’t help but feel for him as he finally, slowly, yearns to live instead of seeking the death that he thinks he deserves.
✔Similarly, you watch as Zhuo Yichen slowly becomes the formidable, unbreakable, full of grace man he is destined to be. He becomes a roof that shelters all. A roof that protects from wind and rain. A roof, that is home.
Both, Neo Hou and Tian Jiu Rui fully sell their characters and give out a very magnetic, ethereal performance and there is a world of chemistry between them.
✔Other than these two, the rest of the team - consisting of the loyal, endearing, food-loving God Ying Lei, the badass and resolute archer, Pei Si Jing and tiny, lovable doctor Bai Ju - is also a powerhouse of emotions. Each has their own stories, their own reasonings, their own fears and insecurities and their own amazing story arcs. All of them can be shipped with all of them and the found family arc is truly at its finest in this drama.
❌Unfortunately, the weakest character of the show has to be its female lead, Wen Xiao. There is a bland quality to her that becomes more apparent because of how magnetic the rest of the cast is. Wen Xiao is an underdeveloped character whose main job is to wax out poetic and flowery dialogues and cry atleast 49473993 times per episode. When she isn’t doing that, she is being a personal therapist/cheerleader for one of the two male leads.
❌There’s nothing wrong with being physically weak and having subtle strength, nor is there anything wrong with being all heart but honestly, Wen Xiao feels like an after thought of a character that’s definitely used as a shield to get through censorship by GJM who has been frequently ostracized for BL undertones in his dramas.
❌So, Wen Xiao’s character feels purposefully diluted as a calculated creative choice by the writer. She’s not given any of the impactful scenes, her romance arc is little more than a subplot and she’s supposed to take a backseat to the bromance which is obviously more thoughtfully written. While all the other members of the squad have their own flavoring, back stories and growth, Wen Xiao is stuck in the box labeled as “pretty weak lady who can do no wrong” and is responsible solely for the visuals in the story. While all the characters have seen significant growth as the episodes go by, she is still exactly the same as she was in episode 1.
❌ As a result, she is the most uninteresting character to watch and her love story with the great demon fell flat for me. Good thing is, romance is really just a minor thing in this drama and never holds that much importance in the first place so it’s all okay.
✔As the episodes progress, the show becomes darker with many questions of morality thrown in your face. Most of them, pushed forward by its very enigmatic, very sharp, sympathetic villain Li Lun. Li Lun is an absolute menace - evil, messy, sneaky and manipulative as he is, he still has a lonely, childish, unloved heart inside and he’s a delight to watch on screen. He has to be one of my favorite charismatic villains ever. Li Lun is 100% THAT girl.
✔ Finally, I feel like the drama had a very fitting bittersweet ending. It was beautiful, part tragic, part hopeful and true to the atmosphere built in 34 episodes. While there were many tears that were shed, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Overall, this is a show to cherish slowly instead of a binge watch. It is a whole moment in time all in itself that offers complete sensory overload and that’s why, it is definitely Jeana recommended.
Enjoy!
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Also, I felt warm inside when they quoted a few iconic lines from "I'm sorry I love you" and John Kim's like, those lines are very familiar, I wonder where I heard them from. I was like, very sly m8, I saw what you did there and I loved it. xD
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In the sea of K-crime dramas, Memorist tries to be a blue whale but ends up being a fluke- the most abundant fish in the waters. It's generic, follows a pattern already used by many others, unoriginal and unfortunately boring by the end of the day.
In order to be apart from the norm, a mystery/crime show has to bring its own color to shine through. Stranger did that with the unique characters, Voice did that with its powerful antagonist, Defendent did that with the brilliant acting but Memorist, unfortunately has nothing that stands out.
Trouble with over powered protagonists (like the ML here, can read memories, is a kickass fighter, super smart, handsome , has a fan base) is that you're less forgiving of their stupidity. The ML's reckless actions and punch first, think later idealogy was less charming and more idiotic to me. It kept him from doing what matters and unfortunately, that meant I'd be stuck with more episodes of the same running around in circles with the plot I have no interest in.
Yoo Seung Ho is good here. He knows how to act but does not have the wow factor to make you connect with him (unless you're already a fan), the FL's character is well written but the actress's portrayal of her is just bland enough to make it meh.
Sure, there's mystery and the whodunnit factor and the frustration of not being able to catch the murderer but to me personally, it felt like I was seeing more of the same thing. And the idea of watching the same thing for the umpteenth of time, digesting all of the info dump with a mediocre setting and characters for 16 hours straight does not sound appealing to me at all. Some people say it got better, others say the plot just became messier as the episodes progressed, I for one don't have the patience to find out.
Maybe more suited for watchers that are new to the genre and fans of the cast but for a seasoned watcher? A hard pass.
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