Jinxxa_Wolf

For Ruby Lin & Wallace Huo

THE GLAMOROUS IMPERIAL CONCUBINE was a fairly entertaining and highly melodramatic show, though I can hardly call it quality. Much of it felt rushed, cliched and predictable. If you watch Chinese dramas then you will recognize many tried and true tropes and cliches. The writing in this series was fairly weak and brought nothing new to the table, so to speak. There wasn't much I didn't see coming. I did enjoy the main leads however, as I am fans of the wonderful actors Wallace Huo and Ruby Lin.

Many of the side characters were pretty over the top, outrageous and flamboyant. Some of the main female protags' family were overly melodramatic, cheesy and comedic. A few of which, die off in the first few episodes, though I won't say which. I feel they were added to lighten the mood, since there are constantly tragic things happening and characters crying.

There's still plenty of crazy emotional characters to go around afterwards though. The royal Eunuch of Chu, forgetting his name, was pretty silly and dramatic and might be offensive to western viewers who don't see the eunuch trope (eunuch, not gay) in dramas very often. As he is a castrated male, he is portrayed as being very feminine and flamboyant (squeely, whiny and peppy) and often used to comediac effect (which is still sad because historically royal eunuchs had VERY difficult lives and I wish a drama some day would truely focus on one of their stories for once, instead of a princess/prince/royalty etc. but I digress.) He was particularly flamboyant and silly, and yet he eventually grew on me and I liked his relationship with Princess Fuya.

TRIGGER WARNING: One of my complaints was concerning the male leads. Both of the male leads were deeply flawed and hard to root for, and many of the men (main leads and side characters) throughout the show force themselves onto women, without much consequence and are often painted in a pitiable light. There are topics such as rape, near rape, sexual violence, coercion, physical abuse, cheating etc. Even perpetrated by the leads. So that was disappointing.

Overall, this was a fun little show, good for casual passive viewing. I can't really recommend to serious drama fans, but it may be good to watch if you are a fan of Ruby Lin or Wallace Huo, as am I. There seriously wasn't enough Wallace Huo for me though. Kinda made the series drag on. This series was not anything overly great for me, but not the worst either. Aside from some of distasteful subject matter, this show had quite a few moments of entertainment.

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Who Rules the World Indeed...

WHO RULES THE WORLD was a top notch, high quality, super fun C-Drama, one I watched with family over the course of a few weeks. It was pretty entertaining, filled with drama, adventure, intrigue, action, mystery, romance and a little comedy. And of course, some outlandishly fantastical wuxia fight scenes as well, because what would a fantasy martial arts drama be without some good wuxia mixed in?

Who Rules the World is the story of two highly cultivated master martial artists, known as Feng Lan Xi and Feng Xi Yun, who join hands together to travel the world and fight off an evil clan that seeks to dominate the world. They are opposites of one another in many ways but work well as a team.

Although this series was a bit slow at times, overall the story was interesting and the cast really likeable. Everything was quality, to the complex plot to the breathtaking background scenery to the intricate indoor settings. Very beautiful and visually stunning. The music was pretty good too. I enjoyed the two main characters and how they interacted with one another. I do feel like more time could have been spent truly developing the characters deeper instead of flirtily eying one another endlessly, but even still, it was a great show and the family enjoyed it. I'm glad we gave it a try. Would probably rewatch down the road.

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A Dark Psychological Crime Thriller

BEYOND EVIL was an insanely good drama. Going into it, I really had no expectations set and so I was very pleased to realize this was going to be a stellar drama. I realized that right off the bat. It wasn’t hard to guess it would turn out to be great, given the super great acting, intriguing storyline and mystery, and awesome music. The first episode was very compelling. There was so much to love about this show. It was very addictive and masterfully executed. This isn’t your run of the mill crime kdrama by far.

Being a psychological thriller, and featuring a lot of crime, involving some gruesome murders and some graphic and highly emotional scenes, this series is rather dark and certainly not for everyone. It has a way of getting in your head and under your skin, without being classified horror. However, the complexity of this drama is pretty mind blowing. Definitely a series to try if you enjoy dark, gritty, psychological crime thrillers.

While there certainly is crime, murder, mystery, intrigue and heavy psychological elements, this drama is wholly original in flavor and it’s hard to peg down why. Certainly the two male leads (Shin Ha-kyun as the jaded and misunderstood Lee Dong Shik, and Yeo Jin-gu as the determined and incorruptible Han Ju Won) are fantastic actors with definite on-screen chemistry. Though the story is non-romantic, and not sexual in nature, the two partners gradually form a deep bond hard to describe. They grow from enemies to partners to true friends, of course, but the platonic bond they later share is something truly powerful. Possibly result of a shared trauma, or a trauma bond. Either way it’s incredibly moving. A Bromance unlike any other, especially in this genre.

The story itself was excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat. The entire drama is a rollercoaster ride, from one thrilling point to the next. The characterizations were great and memorable. There were so many likable characters besides the main leads, and all were so well written and existing in various shades of grey. I really loved the connections and friendships between the people of the small town. Great casting and great acting. On top of all that, the visuals, cinematography, script, music, it was all top notch. This show makes you feel so much. Just prepare for a wild ride. I really hope there will be another season/series soon.

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Heart & Soul

MY MISTER (Naui Ahjusshi) was a k-drama that defied my expectations and left my predictions hanging out to dry. It is deep, layered, and so full of heart. At times it was tragic and heartbreaking, while others it was laugh-out-loud hilarious. It was always quirky and fresh. I can’t begin to express how touching this was. There is something just so beautiful and deep about it. Wonderful acting, brilliant writing, gorgeous music, quirky realistic characters, down to earth vibes, heartfelt plots and themes...everything was so great. This show has so much heart and soul.

The acting was fantastic. The entire cast gave stellar performances and all left lasting impressions. Lee Ji-eun (as Lee Ji-An) and Lee Sun-kyun (as Park Dong-hoon) were both so great and relatable. You truly feel for both of them, as people, and their trials and tragedies impact the viewer deeply. I loved Lee Ji-An’s relationship with her grandmother. I also really loved Park Dong-Hoon’s deep bond with his family and friends, but particularly with his brothers. The trio were so relatable and lovable. The entire side cast was fantastic as well.

This drama is close to real life. It is such a beautifully complex show and all the characters are so well-rounded and realistically portrayed. There are layers of emotion and subtext between the every day lives and events of these characters. There was so much going on that kept me watching, even though the overall pacing was fairly slow and it had an almost dreamy, melancholy vibes going for it.

Some viewers might not like the lack of typical romcom themes (over-the-top-silliness, unrealistic stories and excessive coincidences, mushy-gushy love at first sights, overly perfect looking cast, HEA endings for everyone, where everything is neatly tied up in a bow and everyone unrealistically gets their own sparkly magical happily ever after.) Nah. This drama brings home the feels. It brings home a meaningful story.

There were so many sensitive issues and life lessons learned in this short series, such as seeing the beauty in life and in the little things, the importance of family and friends, empathy for others when we don’t understand their secrets and sorrows, supporting one another through thick and thin. Overall, this was a great series, especially for more mature viewers.

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Dark & Mesmerizing

THE FLOWER OF EVIL. This was such a great show and such a fascinating, compelling story. Having a whole cast of wonderful characters, preformed by great actors and actresses, as well as great music OST and visual cinematography, made it an excellent experience. It is unforgettable and definitely a rewatchable, thrilling show. It takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions from start to finish, and the ending had me choked up. It definitely packs a punch.

First of all, Lee Joon Gi (Baek Hee Sung) and Moon Chae Won (Cha Ji Won) were fantastic in their roles and made the series so believable. Both are superb actors and had such excellent on-screen chemistry, even though this isn't really a romantic drama, their relationship is a key theme throughout. The entire cast was fantastic, even Jang Hee-jin (as Do Hae-soo) and Seo Hyun-woo (as Kim Moo-jin). I found Kim Moo-Jin such a funny, lovable character. The police/detective team were great as well. Also, wow, what an incredible and absolutely adorable child actress Jung Seo-yeon as Baek Eun-ha, is (daughter of Hee-sung and Ji-won)! She was just the cutest, especially when interacting with her father. She lights up every scene that she is in.

Overall, this show is a highly complex story with layers of mystery, dark psychological aspects, intensely thrilling moments, dark secrets of the past coming back to haunt, full of twists and turns and a complete emotional rollercoaster ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The series did such an excellent job of balancing the fine line of being both tender and gritty, beautiful and yet dark. Highly entertaining and beautiful to watch, thought-provoking, memorable and just an overall fantastic series. LOVED IT. (Hoping for a Season 2!)

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Moody Drama

APRIL STAR (Fan Xing Si Yue) was one C-Drama I will never forget. Let me start by saying, I am a huge fan of the actor Nicky Wu, hence why I first decided to give this show a try. This show was fantastic and extremely powerful and completely not what I was expecting. Having completed the show, I will say this. I have no regrets. However, this show contains some very intense themes and difficult content. Even still, it is very meaningful. The importance of family, acceptance, forgiveness, and truth was the moral behind this tale of rejection, lies and revenge.

Ye Fan Xing struggles with dark secrets and painful memories from her past. Stephy Qi is an amazing, moving actress, playing an incredibly strong yet surprisingly vulnerable character. She is extremely convincing in the role of Ye Fan Xing, who appears strong, cool, level-headed, when beneath the surface she is anything but. She is a character of extreme depth and visceral pain, trying to hide it. I think one of the things I loved most was that she was both lovable and hate-able. She was a really well developed character, with so many shades that she felt real.

Xiao Han was amazing, because, well- Nicky Wu. However I wished his character was expanded upon more than he was allowed to, and not left so mysterious towards the end. Nicky Wu is such an amazing actor though, so he really carried the role, at times warming my heart and at others, breaking it. I love all of his characters and have followed many of his previous dramas, and this character was no less fascinating—interesting, strong, intelligent, compassionate, patient and sometimes the only sane character around— a real breath of fresh air. To me, he was a character that I loved straight through the entire drama.

Mi Si Yue was another character that really made a lasting impression. She was completely interesting. The actress, Zuo Hang, was incredibly lovable, funny, and moving. She gave her character so much spark and vibrancy and was so believable in her role. Watching her transformation was nerve racking.

Fu Xia was another interesting character, though one that took me longer to care for than the others. There's no denying he was well-acted by Ming, a unique and quirky person that really suited this role. While I found him to be more bothersome than charming, he did have a funny and amusing persona and I gradually liked him. Not sure the ending suited him though...

I loved Ye Fan Xing's team as well. The villain was also pretty believable and creepy.

Overall, there were so many awesome actors, interesting, developed characters, the plot was really intriguing and touching and the opening credits were Ah-Mazing. I never wanted to skip them...

((TEAM XIAO HAN <3 ))

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An Epic Journey to Save a Kingdom....

ICE FANTASY (Huànchéng) is a great epic fantasy C-drama.

Although this story is filled with fantastical realms, characters and creatures, epic storylines, adventure and drama, gorgeous costumes and music, it also revolves around the deep love and loyalty that two brothers share. I find this fact to be very pivotal and moving. Ka Suo and Ying Kong Shi go on an adventure to save the Immortal and Mortal Realms and restore the Ice Tribe. I loved so many characters in this series. They all grow on you and gradually become more complex.

The only reason I'm rating it a little lower is mainly because of some occasional cheesiness (mostly because of the overacting of the Fire King) and because it wasn't the absolute best C-drama series I've watched in my lifetime. It was very good though. No regrets. This series was over all really good, the visuals, costumes and realms were really stunning. I really enjoyed this drama, and so many of the characters, such as Ka Suo, Ying Kong Shi, Li Luo, Yan Da etc. And, an added perk, this series features some really strong female heroines and villains as well. Love. Overall it was a great watch.

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A Must Watch Medical Series

GOOD DOCTOR was such a great show. This was the second K-drama I ever watched, back when it first came out and it got me hooked. I found the concept so touching and accepting, although there are some painful parts in it as well. I absolutely love the concept. There should be many more shows like this one. People with differences, limitations or supposed "disabilities" can achieve great things, help others and change the world. In truth, many are not lacking but gifted. This series tried to make a statement that everyone deserves respect and absolute equality, regardless of their differences and/or medical condition. This show was so well done and very intense. The characters were all so well casted as well. An amazing medical drama with a lot of heart. Loved it! I loved the character of Park Si-on.

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Memorable Show

COFFEE PRINCE was one of the first K-dramas I ever watched, quite a few years ago now. It is a very entertaining rom-com, but as light as it may seem, it also has a lot of heavy-heavy feels going on. The premise is fun and entertaining and yet very moving. The characters are all interesting and well-casted. I absolutely loved the main character, a tomboy heroine named Go Eun-chan. She was so lovable, relatable and interesting. Although a bit slow at times, this show was an unforgettable watch. Super cute. No regrets.

Overall, it was worth the watch.

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A Compelling, Mysterious Sequel Series

VICTIM’S GAME 2 picks up close to where the first season ended, with our Forensic Detective (ASD / Aspergers Syndrome lead), Fang Yi-Jen, pulled into another investigation of an equally mysterious string of murders, with Journalist Hsu Hai-Yin helping along the way.

The show is very compelling. I really enjoy the intensity of this series, as a dark, edgy crime show full of believable yet unique story and characters. I really enjoyed the cast, especially Hsiao-chuan Chang (as Forensic Detective Fang Yi-Jen) and Wei-Ning Hsu (as Journalist Hsu Hai-Yin), as well as Moon Lee (as daughter Chiang Hsiao-Meng), but the entire cast was really great.

“After discovering his estranged daughter's link to mysterious murders, a forensic detective with Asperger's syndrome risks everything to solve the case.”

Overall, this 2nd season of Victim’s Game series was really good and stayed in tune with the previous series. Watch this if you liked the previous season of Victim’s Game.

[NOTE: Trigger Warning. Suicide. Abuse. Violence. Gore. Bullying. Cancer. Language. Dark Adult themes. etc.]

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Ultra-Violent Revenge Kdrama

MY NAME (2021) is a really great, dark and gritty Kdrama. I absolutely loved this series. It is a thrilling crime show about a young woman that has been drawn into the depths of the criminal underworld seeking revenge for her father's murder. The revenge plot is heavy and central. The show goes all out in terms of violence and action.

The show is top quality, with an excellent cast, compelling story, stunning background locations and believable scenarios. The writing is compelling, making the characters really memorable and relatable, and all deeply flawed. All of those facts are great in their own right, however, the show immediately hooked me in with its immersive fight scenes and action choreography, not to mention the cinematography and visuals. The fight scenes are exceptional, high energy and intense. The punchy soundtrack will get stuck in your head.

"The story about a woman who joins an organized crime ring and infiltrates the police as an undercover agent in order to find out the truth about her father's death."

As a sucker for revenge dramas, I really loved this one. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Highly engaging and highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of gritty, gory, revenge thrillers from South Korea. Must watch!

Be Warned. This drama is very violent and bloody. Not for the faint of heart, or squeamish.

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A Serial Killer Thriller

A BLOODY LUCKY DAY is a interesting and thrilling Kdrama about an optimistic taxi driver who is desperate to pay off his financial debts, having been a victim of a scammer, in order to restore and reunite his family. In order to accomplish this, he begins taking on extra clientele, one of which turns out to be a serial killer.

Lee Sung-min plays the optimistic, kind-natured, Oh Taek. He is very believable and memorable in his role and I always enjoy his acting. His happy-go-lucky persona is perfectly counter balanced by the dark, sadistic character of Lee Byeong-min (played by Yoo Yeon-seok). The two have an interesting chemistry and creates great tension for the series.

There is another parallel storyline in this series about a mother (Yoon Se-na played by Han Dong-hee) doggedly searching for her son’s killer. She is another excellent and believable character and you can really empathize for her situation.

The whole series is really intense, realistic and compelling, although there are a few aspects where you may have to suspend your disbelief. It never felt too much and certainly kept things interesting, in my opinion.

“An ordinary taxi driver who becomes entangled with a customer that turns out to be a serial killer.”

Overall, this was an excellent show. I appreciate the unique approach to the somewhat overdone genre and topic of mystery / thrillers concerning serial killers. The acting is really great, as is the storyline, settings and music. This was a really fun watch and I can’t wait to see more! Wooo Part 2!

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Timeless Love Story...

ETERNAL LOVE (San Sheng San Shi Shi Li Tao Hua / Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) was an unexpectedly wonderful show, super entertaining plot and lovable characters. I was skeptical going into this one, fearing it to be another "too cheesy to believe" romance. However, it completely pulled me in. Everything was really well done. <3

The character of Bai Quan played by the wonderful Yang Mi was perhaps one of the best female leads I have seen in a C-Drama yet. She is very loveable, feisty, witty and completely unique. I loved her character so much. Mark Chao was great in this series as well, but especially as the stoic, yet warm-hearted Ye Hua. I loved Bai Qian and Ye Hua and adored watching their love grow and their lives intertwine. They had such palpable chemistry. So adorable.

The whole cast was great, honestly. Bai Fengjiu and Dong Hua were also very enjoyable. Li Jing, although broody and tormented, was also a very interesting character. I honestly wish there were more episodes, even a second season. The costumes were dazzling, the setting breathtaking and the mythology was captivating. I fell in love with the world of Eternal Love, along with the majority of the cast.

And the music! Fantastic. My only complaint, and it’s a pretty small one, was at some points the drama became almost melodrama, as if the emotions overshadowed the plot, slightly detracting from the suspense of impending doom. (Usually the melodrama had to do with Su Jin or Li Jing.)

This show made me teary, and I don’t cry easily. But the ending was very satisfying, complete with HEA. Anyway, this was a very enjoyable, creative and dazzling show. If you’re into fantasy romance, and xianxia, give it a chance. Unforgettable.

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Dark Fairytale

IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY (2020) is a noteworthy kdrama, with a dark, modern twist on the fairy tale romance genre. It had a really interesting flavor, especially with the gothic fairytale/ story book aspects.

"An extraordinary road to emotional healing opens up for an selfish antisocial children's-book writer and a selfless psych-ward caretaker when they cross paths."

I really loved Seo Ye-Ji in her role as the mysterious Go Moon Young, a children's gothic fairytale author. She was really brilliant in this role.

Without giving anything away, in terms of plot and theme, I will just say that this drama strongly focuses on a variety of topics revolving around mental health, psychology, childhood trauma, repressed memories, autism spectrum disorder, antisocial personality disorder, child abuse, dysfunctional families, post traumatic stress disorder, etc.

This dark romance series, while not perfect, was definitely interesting and meaningful. The characters were all very memorable. It was a pretty beautiful drama.

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Thai Drama of Social Politics

MASTER OF THE HOUSE (2024) is a dark well-made Thai drama, concerning social politics and the heirarchy of a wealthy elite family, that are suddenly possible inheritors of their fathers vast diamond empire. Much corruption and betrayals ensue.

"After the patriarch's death, a family engages in a power struggle over his diamond empire and his recently wed housekeeper."

Honestly, this drama is pretty difficult to watch, however, due to the lack of many favorable or empathetic characters in the show, as well as its dismal and disturbing air of corruption, scandals and scheming. The wirst part is the rampant abuse of the servant staff. The nature of the beast, but disturbing to watch, nonetheless.

However, the quality of the show is definitely noticeable, with there being appropriate dismal atmosphere, good cinematography, believable settings and costumes.

Overall, it was an interesting show to watch and glad to see more Thai dramas available these days, but it could have been so much better. Still, worth checking out.

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