2
A Thrilling Crime Drama
COPYCAT KILLER is an excellent Taiwanese crime drama with only 10 episodes so far. Perhaps a second season is coming? This series was exceptionally made, well-written, and well acted as well, with the exception of having a fairly unmemorable main lead. Usually this is a fatal crime for a good drama, but considering all else was top notch and excellent quality, and considering how much enjoyment (engagement) this caused from me, I can't honestly dock it any points. This was a really great show, albeit quite dark and gruesome. The story itself was thrilling and intriguing, with twists and turns to keep viewers ever guessing.I mainly enjoyed the entire cast except, as many others have said as well, the main lead. For me he just felt underwhelmingly portrayed and very bland, as well as underdeveloped. There were only a few times which one might see glimpses of deeper working of the character. I understand he was intended to be portrayed as detatched and cold for a reason, since work is his life and he grieves a dark past, as well as the loss of a dear relationship. But ultimately the character felt deeply lacking and hard to connect with, and I wasn't very impressive with his portrayal. The remaining cast were all really great, all giving vivid and memorable performances.
I highly recommend to fans of international mystery and crime drama series, especially if you don't mind brutality, murders, violence, sexual assault, gore, and other dark, triggering subject matters. This drama is about serial killers, and graphically depicts deceased women in various twisted forms of death. Very intense, and yet dark series.
[NOTE: Trigger Warning. Murder. Violence. Rape / Sexual Assault. Abuse. Torture. Language. Dark Adult themes. etc.]
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Three Kingdoms Era, Political Romance
SECRET OF THE THREE KINGDOMS was a really wonderful series. There was so much to enjoy, least of all the maturity of the writing (story, dialogue, characters) that felt like a breath of fresh air. This is a strong drama that easily holds its own amongst the floods of historical dramas, very memorable and compelling. While it does start out interesting, the first few episodes can be a bit slow but act as staging for the rest of the series. Perservere and the drama grows into something more epic. There felt to be a little of everything here. Drama, Politics, Mystery, Romance and even a little Action at times.Everything was simply amazing, from the story premise, to the beautiful costumes, to the excellent casting, to character chemistry, to the stirring music (in later episodes). The writing throughout always felt fresh and never confined by the usual C-Drama tropes. In fact, there were quite a few unusual aspects or at least less common to dramas such as hero POV being male rather than typical "female heroine get sucked into royal politics" trope, the sensitive male hero also (as seen in Liu Ping / Liu Xie) also isn't very common, especially in historical dramas were the typical "strong man" (as well as the warriors, strategists and politicians) reign supreme. Also, his character personality traits emphasize kindness, honesty, morality, mercy, gentleness, forgiveness, patience, tenderness etc...things not usually portayed as qualities in history dramas (and usually not by men). He is often cited negatively by other characters as having too much "womanly benevolence", but this quality indeed makes him strong throughout the series, an admirable aspect, as well as being trope defying. The power dynamics in the couple are also noteworthy as equals, balanced, with strength and weakness well matched.
Ma Tianyu (Ice Fantasy, Vigilantes in Masks) was brilliant as his (dual) role (Commoner Liu Ping / Emperor Liu Xie) and is really great in this series. He has a genuine boyish kindness and sensitivity that shines through, giving his truly noble character more authenticy and his onscreen chemistry with the fiercely intelligent Empress Fu Shou (played by Regina Wan / Wan Qian) was very believable, not to mention the epic bromance shared between he & and his onscreen foster brother, the ever cunning yet charming and charismatic Sima Yi / Zhong Da (played by Elvis Han).
Also, can I just say? The Empress Fu Shou (Regina Wan / Wan Qian) was one of the most powerful and convincing "Empress" characters I've seen to date, brilliant, fierce, cunning, regal, determined, loyal, ruthless when she needed to be, self-restrained but never subdued, an amazing display of badass feminine power and brilliance. Overall such a well-written and wonderfully acted character! And gorgeous to boot.
Also, the character of Sima Yi / Zhong Da (Elvis Han) must be mentioned because he was also another great character giving much to the show, especially in terms of charm, intelligence, sassiness and sarcasm. Always bold and headstrong, but fiercely loyal and entertaining. He was such a well-written and acted character as well. Loved the brother's dynamic. And he was so hilarious at times. Just a natural charmer to be sure!
The list of characters and their wonderful actors goes on and on, but among them
Commoner Liu Ping / Emoeror Liu Xie (Ma Tian Yu), Empress Fu Shou (Wan Qian), Sima Yi / Zhong Da (Elvis Han), Libationer Guo Jia (played by Sunny Wang), Imperial Consort Tang Ying (played by Dong Jie).
Others that are highly memorable are the characters of Lady Ren Hong Chang (Dong Xuan), Cao Pi (Tan Jian Ci), Yang Xiu (Wang Meng), General Cao Cao (Gardner Tse), Xun Yu (Wang Ren Jun), Cao Jie (Wang Yu Wen), Cao Zhi (Liu Yu Han), and Magistrate Man Chong (Tu Yan) and so many others. Really great casting!
In this series there are a lot of moving pieces, political scheming, strategies, hidden motivations, dynamics between characters. It's very engaging and mentally stimulating to follow along and try to read characters intentions. This series has a very strong story plot and cast. There is something to mention about this series, namely that it doesn't seek to emotionally manipulate it's viewers. For hardcore drama fans, that is an aspect that rarely we can escape from in Dramaland and might feel like a bit of change at first. Sometimes soapy melodramatic shows tend to elicit strong reactions initially but can feel manipulative at times. That's not always a bad thing but can feel tiring and under handed.
Therefore, I really loved how this show is not like that at all. It's telling a story and a very good one at that. It doesn't need to rely on half baked, kneejeek manipulative actions to keep viewers hooked. It does it's story telling well. Aside from that, the casting was really great with so many great actors well suited to their roles. I really loved so many of them. Even many of the "bad guys" were relatable and compelling. Everyone has their own motivations, desires, end game. It was great to watch this one!
Overall I definitely recommend viewers give this one a chance! Especially if you are a fan of slow burn Political, Historical, Three Kingdoms Era, C-Drama's. There's a little bit of everything in this one.
Was this review helpful to you?
An Epic, Intense, Mesmerizing Drama
THE RISE OF PHOENIXES was a highly worth while series to watch. Beautiful aesthetics, with a superb attention to detail, breathtaking historical settings and costumes, plus acting unlike anything I've seen in recent years. Truely superb! I can't explain the sense of realism this series conveys, it feels so genuine, mainly due to the skills of the stars, but also due to the level of detail and passion in the writing of the story and characters, as well as in the visual scenery, costumes, setting etc.The story was very moving in itself, both thrilling and compelling. Years after tragic events took place in the kingdom, after the treacharous changing of an empire, a banished and useless prince moves out of the shadows and a young woman tries to defy destiny, but both become tangled in a tale masterfully woven. Highly addictive and hard to look away.
The Rise of Phoenixes was so rich and beautifully constructed, drawing you in, deeper into the web. This tale is so complex and brilliant, filled with memorable characters, suspense, political intrigue, court power struggles, epic strategy, romance, tragedy. So many characters were wonderfully played, whether you loved or hated them, the acting is all excellent. Character chemistry was excellent, love, hatred, rivalry, friendships...all very well portrayed.
Lead Actor Kun Chen (Ning Yi, Prince of Chu) and Actress Ni Ni (Feng Zhiwei/Wei Zu) made great leads in this series. I've since become a die hard fan of them both. Both stars were absolutely brilliant in their acting abilities. The character of Ning Yi was deeply complex and mesmerizing to watch. Kun Chen played his character with masterful skill, conveying vast amounts of expression, emotion and intelligence into his part. I can't describe how hypnotic he was in this role. There's something about his mannerisms that are so deeply compelling with eyes that seem to see everything and stare into your soul. Those eyes of his are some of the most expressive eyes I've ever seen too.
Ning Yi is a deeply brooding one, passionate and fierce, yet calm and restrained at the same time. His character is a very complex one, driven by revenge but also by a deep sense of justice. You truely feel that Ning Yi is a character with a deeply fascinating mind. And he was able to be quite unpredictable. I was won over by him pretty early on.
Actress Ni Ni played her part beautifully, able to believably change gender roles and personality depending on her identity in the series. As the young Feng Zhiwei she is bright and witty, full of laughter and sweetness and high spirit. As her male persona Wei Zu, she was clever and studious, cunning and direct. She is always brilliant and beautiful. As she steps up into higher classes she carries herself ever with more grace and poise, and all the while never loosing her spirit. I found myself entranced by her as well. She is such a highly skilled actress and played her role so believably. All the leads, as well as many of the side characters, we're brilliant in their parts as well.
This series far exceeded my initial expectations. It has a great mixture of the epic story of classic C-Dramas, (master storytelling, depthful characters, tradegy, mystery, intrigue, romance) but with a keen eye to historic detail and masterful cinomatography to boot. There's a great balance of serious and humor within the series as well.
I was slightly apprehensive going in, worried the western (Netflix) influence might have altered the series but was deeply satisfied with the results. It was truely an epic series that will definitely win more worldwide audiences over to appreciate the complexity of Asian dramas. You can tell good money went into this masterful production. Everything seemed to have such care taken. For a drama it felt uncannily realistic, believable, addictive, gorgeous to watch, seemingly painstakingly crafted. Definitely not one to miss!
Overall this series was truely unforgettable and not one to miss if you are a fan of historical C-Dramas; especially epic sweeping series filled with power struggles and political intrigue, court drama and scandel, darkly tragic romance and thrilling, intelligent storytelling that you keeps you always on the edge. Seriously worth several watches. This left me craving more...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not Bad, But No Competition.
SCARLET HEART 2 (Bu Bu Jing Qing / Startling Love by Each Step) was a very enjoyable series, a loosely based sequel of Scarlet Heart 1, though not canon to the original story based on the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin. This series was very intriguing and definitely a good watch, so long as you can expect it to be only vaguely connected to the original series. Going in with those expectation make the show vastly more entertaining. However, many original characters from SH1 appear throughout, in various incarnations, which was a great bonus.Zhang Xiao // Ruo Xi (Cecelia Lui / Lui Shi Shi) is a great actress, as ever, but her modern character is far different from the Ruo Xi in SH1. That can either be explained by the fact that she is an incarnated figure, with different personality traits, or perhaps due to how she was changed by the heartbreaking events of SH1. Either way, she lost a lot of her original spunk and boldness and cries quite a bit. I still cared deeply for her as a character; she was still relatable and admirable, sensible and emotional.
Yin Zheng // Yinzhen (Nicky Wu) was as lovable as ever, though his character was indeed altered, perhaps because the incarnation without previous memory of the past was raised very differently than original 4th Prince had been. While still cold and calculating, he is also a veryuu openly passionate character, expressing a wider range of emotion. This incarnation is driven by revenge rather than the strong sense of justice which drove his noble ancestor.
Zhang Xiao and Yin Zheng were both amazing in their roles and, as ever, exhibit a ton of on-screen chemistry. While Yin Zheng repeatedly pushes Zhang Xiao away, it was clear his innate interest, concern and protectiveness for her, even when he acts in terrible ways. And Zhang Xiao, even after memory loss, has a strong attraction and concern for Yin Zheng. It was beautiful to see their love re-develop in this modern era.
Other incarnations were of course Kang Zhentian (Emperor Kang Xi), Jack (10th Prince), Ma Yi Nuo (Ruolan). There were some new characters which were likable such as the quirky cheating ex-bf Huang Di, the protective guardian Kang Si Yu, best friend Meng Xin Yi, the interesting Ling Dang, the mysterious Lan Lan and others. Even Kang Si Han was very interesting and dynamic character.
The story was very emotionally exhausting, honestly, filled with intense twists and turns, some predictable while others not. I felt the plot line could have used move development, for many times it relied on common drama cliche’s and melodrama. Many of the sub plot were unnecessary and ended up convoluting the story excessively. This series had such great potential given the success and popularity of SH1. And while, not a huge let down, it certainly did not live up to such high standards. The last episode especially felt as if the directors were trying to fit every possible ending in, thusly causing it to feel less than thought out.
Overall, this series was worth the watch for me, and perhaps for fans of Ruo Xi and 4th Prince. Fan service and ship sailing. It was an interesting take on future possibilities, in a modern era.
((HEA))
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Time Travel Romance Classic
SCARLET HEART (Bu Bu Jing Xin / Startling by Each Step) was such a great show. Once I got sucked in, I could not stop. I really liked the concept of traveling back in time from modern day times to the historical Qing Dynasty era via an accident. Such a great plot and I'm now dying to read the novel which inspired it. There was some truly brilliant acting in this series. Everyone was so interesting and extremely well-casted. Unforgettable.Actress Lui Shi Shi a.k.a. Cecilia Liu was really great as the spunky modern heroine Ma'ertai Ruo Xi (Zhang Xiao) and her wit, charm and personality really brings her character to life. Even when I disagreed with some of her choices, I couldn't help but love her and admire her strength and heart. She is just a character that one can relate with and feel for. Imperfect and sometimes reckless but lovable and well-meaning.
4th Prince (Yinzhen) fascinated me from the very beginning, because he's just that kinda guy, but I did not expect to LOVE LOVE him so much by the end. 4th Prince was so dynamic a character, cold and aloof yet somehow so very expressive; cunning and pragmatic, yet loyal and sincere. Such an intense character. Yes, 4th Prince slayed me. Nicky Wu is such an amazing actor. He rocks and was totally awesome in this role, completely captivating and compelling.
The onscreen chemistry between Ruo Xi and 4th Prince was electric and yet so very tragic. (So sweet to learn the two actors married in real life. The love was visibly real. <3 ) An unforgettable pair, and a truly haunting tragic love...
TEAM 4th PRINCE!! 😎
Among my other favorite characters were 13th Prince (Yinxiang), 14th Prince (Yinti), 10th Prince (Yin'e), Emperor Kangxi and Eunuch Li. Many of the female characters were outstanding as well, such as Ma'ertai Ruolan, Lüwu, Gogoro Minghui, Gororo Mingyu, Princess Suwan Guwalgiya-Minmin, Qiao Hui and even Yutan.
8th Prince (Yinsi) was well acted but I could not bring myself to really like his character, or accept his relationship with Rou Xi. His "love" for Rou Xi felt creepy and superficial. 9th Prince (Yintang) was just plain unlikeable. Even still, I enjoyed how diverse and unique each prince and character was. Not a single character felt 2D. In my book, that is great writing and character development. And although the plot is a bit slow at the start it really picks up. Scarlet Heart is so addictive. <3
The whole series was very well done, beautiful sets, intriguing plot, gorgeous costumes, interesting historical portrayals, and amazing , heart-wrenching music. While there is comedy and heavy elements of romance, it is never as heavy as the drama, political intrigue and the ultimate tragedy. This show ripped out my my heart, and then fed it to me, multiple times. The ending, although haunting and moving was very painful. I sincerely loved it though... <3 ((BEWARE: PARTIAL HEA...))
Was this review helpful to you?
Highly Underrated
SINGING ALL ALONG (Xiuli Jiangshan) was a fantastic historical show. It seems to be highly underrated as well. The opening credits, on the other hand, were less than great and I've heard people dropping this show for that reason alone. Please don't! Give this show a chance. It was so amazing and well-made, absolutely unforgettable. Although it took a few episodes to really pull me in, once I was hooked—I was really hooked. Such a great series. Once I had finished it, I am now looking to buy this for my personal C-drama dvd collection for another rewatch (& many more). Hopefully I can find it available in my location.I think I really love how complex and mature this show felt. The writing, story and overall plot were all so great and rarely relied on drama clichés to keep it interesting. But for a few brief times, rarely did it feel sappy or melodramatic for that matter. It was super immersive. I love that the focus primarily was on world politics, military strategies, warfare tactics, district relations, moral causes, etc. rather than merely relying on the romance too heavily. It gave the show a sense of realism. While there were definite themes of romance it never felt silly or immature.
The casting was amazing. I loved so many characters. The characters of Yin Li Hua and Lui Xui / Wen Shu were so great. I loved Ruby Lin and Yuan Hong in this, as they were perfectly casted for the two main leads. They were a true power couple in my opinion. The rest of cast was stellar as well. Overall I adored this series. It was unforgettable.
Was this review helpful to you?
Intense & Stunning
THE DOUBLE is an excellent revenge drama filled with memorable characters, fascinating storytelling, and beautiful costumes and visuals. This series was truly an amazing show and will stand out among the many wonderful Cdramas.“A county magistrate's daughter loses everything but regains her life by masquerading as a minister's daughter, overcoming injustice with help from Duke Su Xiao Heng, rescuing her imprisoned father, and upholding justice.”
This series really shines, especially with Wu Jin Yan as our lead heroine (as Jiang Li / Xue Fang Fei / Xue Li). She is such a great actress. I’ve loved her in just about everything I’ve seen her in since far (Story of Yanxi Palace, Legend og Hao Lan, Royal Feast). She really brings some extra intensity to her dramas.
Overall, this was a really great series with so much to offer the drama world. Highly recommended for fans of Chinese dramas. A great show, with excellent plot and compelling story. Highly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
Artistic Vision of Love
Nevertheless: The Shape of Love (2024) is a Japanese remake of the Korean drama "Nevertheless" (2021). The first thing you may notice is the quality and level of tenderness the series conveys. The show is somewhat nostalgic and visually lush with seemingly endless gorgeous shots and background scenery. As a drama it was very high quality, with excellent cinematography and lighting, beautiful music, compelling cast of characters and a subtle but moving storyline.This JDrama was a real treat. The film style was very polished and portrayed a lush, hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. The story, although compelling, was very much a slice-of-life story.
"Ren Kosaka, a young talented artist, arrives in Kamakura, Japan for a temporary lecturer position. His aura attracts people, yet he keeps distance. When he meets a woman, his emotions change despite knowing the potential consequences."
This drama was full of heart and soul, dealing with the little intricacies of varied relationships. It was very sweet and touching series that I'm glad I stumbled across. Very artistic and of higher quality. Gice it a chance!
Was this review helpful to you?
A Beautiful Modern Sequel
FOREVER AND EVER was a decent C-drama / modern day sequel series, based upon the reincarnated souls of Shi Yi (Bai Lu) and Prince Zhou Shen Cheng (Ren Jia) from the historical romance drama "One and Only"."A renowned voice actress and a chemistry professor chance upon each other at the airport. They form a bond while conserving traditional crafts and weather storms together, deciding to be lifelong companions."
Overall, this was a well-made, romantic drama set in modern times, as opposed to the historical era as the original series had been. This was a good drama, HEA included, if that is your cup of tea.
Was this review helpful to you?
An Excellent Side Dish, After the Main Course
MIDNIGHT DINER: TOKYO STORIES was an excellent Japanese side series about the many assorted stories of the eccentric cast of characters who visit a small diner which opens from midnight to seven a.m. in the morning. The diner is visited by all sorts of interesting, bizarre and sometimes even shady characters, all with their own backstories, reasons for visiting the diner, along with special memories associated with their choice of dish. Some are Yakuza, some gay / trans night club workers, some are struggling dancers, but all have stories to share.Along with the many character's stories that are gradually revealed as the show progresses, this series also features cooking and many different Japanese recipes, making this a unique experience for food enthusiasts, as well as culture aficionados alike. It's a great side series, full of many new stories, if you can't get enough of the original.
This is a very mellow and simplistic series, but one that has a very quiet, heartfelt and thoughtful atmosphere to it. I really enjoyed this and can thoroughly recommend. I must say however, that this show is for adults only as there is some light nudity present and the content can sometimes be risque and emotionally heavy. Overall, this series is a gem and I will be looking forward to watching other related series as well.
Was this review helpful to you?
Anthology of Arthouse Bizarre
PERSONA was a well-made Korean anthology of stories, but due to the one episode length span of each story there is only so much that can be conveyed in terms of character development and depth, and only so much that can take place, per story, so they don't really hit too deep not as other Korean dramas might, but they were still well made and acted, visually stunning and intriguing. In my opinion the writing struggled in these episodes, but do give the viewer pause to think.Worth the watch mainly for the quality of the production and the acting by Eun-Ji Lee (IU) and Bae Doona, as well as the capable directing and visual effects.
LOVE SET [5/10]
COLLECTOR [7/10]
KISS BURN [8/10]
WALKING AT NIGHT [8/10]
Was this review helpful to you?
A Republic Era C-Drama
LOST IN 1949 is a Chinese Historical Drama featuring Communist spy rings, espionage, familial bonds, brotherhood, romance, and slice of life in the Chinese Republican Era, year 1948-1949, building up to the day of reckoning for the country's corrupt elite class.I should first give a warning here, as the topic of Communism can be generally inflammatory subject here in the West. So be warned that this is a very PRO-Communist drama and obviously going to be biased to that end. Hopefully negative reviews won't be written because of that fact alone. However, I personally feel that regardless of your political stance on the topic of Communism as an effective form of governance or not, the series was a completely engrossing and compelling watch and offers reasonable and understandable causes for the drive of the people's movement towards Communism in those days. This drama portrays a highly romanticized, dramatic and somewhat nationalistic take on political tensions, war and Communism in China in the year of 1949.
"On New Year's Day in 1949, female accountant Huang Liwen returns to her hometown Shanghai in order to commemorate her husband and comrade's death. As a newly turned Communist agent, she is ordered to obtain valuable information for the Communist Party and aid them in their quest for liberation. During her mission, Liwen is reunited with her family members, and becomes acquainted with the savy streetwise Qiao Zhicai(Chen Kun) and his younger twin brother Qiao Lijie, who turns out to be a key player in Huang Liwen's mission."
This series contains two of my favorite Chinese Stars, the infinately captivating Chen Kun (Qiao Zhi Cai & Qiao Li Jie) and the wonderful Regina Wan / Wan Qian (Huang Li Wen), both of whom shine here, though the former really steals the show. Chen Kun is a sheer genius and master of his craft and an absolute joy to watch. And per his usual, he was phenomenal. This review will possibly become a rant now...
This series was highly engrossing after a few episodes it really picked up. There is certainly a lot of world and character building, political intrigue and dialogue, family and romantic tensions and relationship conflicts, misunderstandings, etc, but it still kept me hooked, mainly in part by Chen Kun's ever dynamic presence. It's definitely more of a slow burn drama, rather than a thriller as I had been somewhat expecting based on the description and subject matter. The costumes and production were stunning and really capture the Era well, for what one might expect. The entire cast were excellent really.
I've now watched so many of Chen Kun's projects and am ALWAYS, ALWAYS blown away by his performances. He is an absolute force to reckoned with, a literal genius in my personal and humble opinion. He is on a whole next level than many performing actors these days (compared to many actors both in the East and in the West), and never fails to impress, and not simply because of his gorgeous features, dashing charisma and intense presence. He can make a viewer go from laughing to crying easily within seconds, offering up very effective and memorable performances. I honestly can't praise him enough, as this review probably shows...whoops.
Anyways. In LOST IN 1949, Chen Kun plays two characters, the twin brothers Qiao Zhi Cai and Qiao Li Jie, with absolute skill and genius. His vast range as an actor was really put to the test when the two brothers frequently interact with each other and the world around them. You get to see two really different characters played by a single man and honestly it did feel like watching two separate men in their respective parts. Hmmm...Does he have a real life twin? Or a clone? The point being, he's incredibly believable and deliciously entertaining to watch. And did I mention hilarious? While this isn't listed as a comedy, he is incredibly hilarious here, playing both the quirky and lovable, streetwise Qiao Zhi Cai, as well as the cool and awkward physicist, Qiao Li Jie. Many comedic coincidences ensue.
While the first few episodes might move a bit slowly, this series is a rather short drama in the grand scheme of C-Drama's, lasing only 46 episodes. Typical dramas could range around 80-100 eps. And these 46 episodes blew past me in no time and left me wishing for more.
As for qualms, I have very little for this series. One issue would be the writing / handling of Regina Wan's character, Huang Li Wen, towards the later part of the series. She started off very well balanced. Strong and yet hinting at deeper vulnerability and pain. In the later part, she seemed to become very bland and distant and consumed by her vulnerabilities, loosing some of her previously earned wit and strength of character. I have no doubt that has nothing to do with Regina's acting skill, as she is very talented actress indeed, but rather the writing direction chosen for her character. While her circumstances were understandably difficult, I wish she'd been given a bit more time to shine again before the series had ended. Perhaps this series could have been longer? Or perhaps it has been previously edited down and thus some of her character arc was missing.
Overall, finding this gem was a huge win for me. While not perfect, I can't bear to dock it any points. 10 stars because I was kept highly entertained throughout. When not engrossed in the espionage plots and communist tasks, I was kept amused with wonderful characters developing and interacting. Both Romance and Family were key central elements. Hence, I greatly enjoyed almost everything about this series, the story, the portrayal of the Era, the costumes and settings, the atmosphere, the chemistry between characters, all the cast was excellent, even the main theme song was pretty catchy and likeable. Most of all the masterful Chen Kun and intelligent Regina Wan were a sheer delight to watch onscreen with great chemistry. Really loved this drama and super glad I had stumbled across it free and subbed on Youtube.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Started Strong, but Fizzled out.
ANNA, for me, was a missed target. A real let down, to be honest. It really could have been great, but completely missed the mark. Now the confusing thing is there were things about the show that were actually pretty great, for example an intriguing premise with endless possibilities and a lot of room for suspense, and the cinematography and artistic eye behind the camera made the show eye-catching and great to watch. Quality.Starting the series I felt for sure it would turn out to be a real gem, a wonderful suspensful and dramatic show, full of twists and turns. Why? Because it just looks so good, like you can feel right off the bat that a lot of care went into it. It's quality and has high production value, great visuals, great music, intriguing premise, a big actress starring in it, strong supporting cast. What could go wrong?
First of all, for me this wasn't actually a suspense, mystery, thriller drama. The pacing was almost incredibly slow. And listen, I love a good slow burn mystery drama. Intellectual, political, psychological. Those can be great, some of the greatest really. So I don't even think that the fact the marketing misled me on the genre description as the fault of this show failing in my view...
It's difficult to explain why it missed the mark exactly, except maybe that it was lacking in some key ingredient that make for an excellent drama recipe. Namely character development and character acting. After watching the show, I can honestly say I still didn't really feel any attachment to Lee Yu Mi, the main character, played by Kpop idol Bae Suzy. By no means do I mean to bash on her acting ability, but to me her portrayal of her role felt so bland and dry. Boring, unmemorable and somewhat irritating. Sterile, unemotional, robotic. I don't think this was her best work, though certainly not her wirst either.
I felt like the director maybe should have guided her more, encouraged a better performance or at least a different variety expressions and reactions. Often it felt to me that she was just not invested in her role at all, or maybe she thought the same expression would carry her through the show. And truly that fact itself, that it didn't carry her is saying something too, because she's quite lovely to look at, but that certainly doesn't mean she was suited to the role and in my opinion, she definitely wasn't.
Now, in Bae Suzy's defense, a weak character can also happen in series as short as this one (6-8ep), given much less time to develop onscreen and hence less time to connect with the audience, especially given there are other characters, other moving pieces and plotlines also needing sufficient screen time, so perhaps the short length was partly the reason why. And while I admit, I haven't seen many series with this lead Actress, Bae Suzy, in it, I am certainly well aware of her high status and reknown, especially in Korea. And I'm sure she's great in other shows, and certainly as a singer, which is how she started and gained her popularity and fans. So no hate, truly.
However, this series just didn't endear me to her. I'm not trying to criticize her, personally. I'm sure she's a great actress in other things. I'm thinking the writers here didn't do her character justice or perhaps they encouraged a more subdued, muted performance for whatever reason, which definitely wasn't the course to go. For me, I rarely felt attachment or concern for the characters, but least of all for her, which is definitely not a good thing for a drama. The Main Lead is someone the viewer needs to bond to, connect with, vibe with and root for. The supporting cast made her character appear even weaker, by how strong they all were. Also, another thing of note was that the two younger actors for the same character (both the child and adolescent) were more memorable than she was in their respective roles.
The character of Yoo Mi felt often like a passive doormat and then at random intervals more like a sly manipulator, someone you can pity but not admire or relate to. And there didn't seem to be any given reason for this behavior or growth from it, no redemptive path. It was a pity, because this could have been a stronge feminist character with morally ambiguous motives and vast range of character development. Instead, I felt myself rooting for the moral secondary character, the political journalist, Han Ji Won and more interested in the charasmatic and selfish character of Lee Hyun Joo. At least they both felt more dynamic and more dimensional.
I must also add before closing, the premise was indeed quite intriguing and I admire dramas that offer social commentary and make room for deeper intellectual discourse. This series was definitely good in that way. There is much to be said and to analize here about human behavior, human nature, tendancies that can worsen, the evolution of a lie, how ego and hubris can effect identidy, how one lie can turn to many, and eventually spark an all consuming fire that inevitably destroys. The ripple effect, the consequences of that one lie. The reality that sinks in. Really some good ideas to chew on...
Anyway, all this to say this good show felt weighted down by weaker acting, a weak lead character that never had the chance to develope onscreen, perhaps poor casting choices, poor character development/writing and honestly a pretty weak ending. A beautiful face does not equate to a powerful or skillful actor. A great famous singer does not equate to a great actress. Great acting can be hindered by poor direction and writing. A great show or work of art can be hindered by poor editing. Perhaps this show would have been superb with different circumstances. Overall, this was more of a dissapointing watch for me and didn't live up to what I felt it could have been. Very conflicted about this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
This Guy Is the Biggest Mistake in My Life
1 people found this review helpful
A Super Silly JDrama
THIS GUY IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IN MY LIFE was a funny one to be sure, full of goofy humor and crazy antics. While I didn't really buy into the romance aspect, the comedy is pretty top notch, golden. Definitely made me laugh a whole bunch. It was pretty outrageous and over the top, but in a good way I think. Lots of slapstick, crazy situations and scenarios, as well as very funny main characters. Don't go into this one expecting your average Romcom, because it's pretty crazy!Overall, this was a really funny and pretty out-there series that I definitely recommend to Jdrama and comedy fans. Japanese anime-esque humor abounds. Also, the main actress was pretty enjoyable. Definitely worth a try!
Was this review helpful to you?
An OK J-Drama
SUPER RICH was an alright J Drama about a business woman named Hyoga Mamoru (Noriko Eguchi) who grew up very wealthy but yet has very little in terms of relationships and family. This is a romance drama but also focuses on business and human nature.Although the drama was kind of slow, I personally enjoyed the main character. Mamoru was very quirky and confident, a very unique person. Not your typical drama heroine. Even though this drama deals with business and romance, I wish there was more going on besides those two aspects, or at least they could have made the business storyline less repetitive and added more depth. Otherwise it was an interesting watch, but more for casual viewing.
Was this review helpful to you?
