monstrous surprise
no spoilers here :)this is a story of survival & anguish, and follows the themes in all the episode titles.
a father daughter(FL) duo 'sleuths' that finds missing people, including the ML 's mother, missing for 10years. the ML is an orphan who built a 'golden' empire with his shop & ressources. everything is set for a promising journey. and oh how it was!
I watched it as it was released, and the last episodes were released a few days later.
it's not perfect , but its memorable and left a huge mark on me, especially with the state of the world right now.
here are a few things i disliked:
the show felt like a stitch of many tropes, definitely sounding cliché at first but it gets a lot better!! I really appreciated the themes of the show ( usually displayed as their episode titles like chaos, despair, anguish etc)
some negative feedback:
- I never thought a ML could become more AND less shallow at the same time as the show progressed, but he does gain more depth.. so thats a relief
- not enough backstory or evolution of the enemy in the beginning, one has to be patient to get a deeper look there as its not given in the early episodes
- had some stranger things vibe with the sci fiction of the creature, but they sure added the kdrama touch !
- no spoiler but *some* elements don't add up or aren't explained. however its not a lot of things, most of the story holds well
some neutral feedback: i have the biggest deja-vu of the the Kako(Gato) character but i just can't seem to point my finger on it!!!! especially with experimentation & the glasses! i
some positive feedback
- the period style was superb!
-I loved all the characters and their evolution (almost)
- i loved the underground rebellious vibes (Especially the nuance within it)
- main story is very interesting and terrific
-loved the episode titles!! the themes were brillantly portrayed
-a light romance touch, i think it was perfectly balanced neither over/underdone
-the mother theme was deep yet barely put in our faces.
- also... BRILLANT SCRIPT!!! i looooved most of the dialogues especially between the power and the oppressed.
So-hee has come such a long way! been following her since nevertheless , and so much growth in her performances! she has a way of being subtle yet full of emotion & power!
i also am also very impressed with the whole cast! even the evil characters, young joon was so brillant in performing the disturbingly evil character! as well as su hyun!
IHAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND THE ENDING FULLY ( as it may be pointing for a s2, but thats not always a positive thing as they already had a big story in these episodes!)
things to watch out for: the first clue is in episode 7'th ending ( there was a long hiatus before the remaining episodes)
and the scenes in the last episode AFTER THE FIRST CREDITS!
the producers did put some clues but i am not sure about all of them!
brillant show!!!
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A spring breeze eventually comes...HEARTFELT DRAMA!
This is what i love about kdramas... the little moments of hope that shine between the cold and desperate seasons of life.No one does it like kdramas!
PROS:
-CHARACTERS: While the story seems very simple, What sets this kdrama apart is the characters wholesomeness.
we can't help but really get attached to Chan's way of smiling through everything. And Haran!! powerful play by our FL... her winter characterization was spot on. the fear of thinking something bad would always happen to spoil your happiness, or feeling that you don't deserve happiness were poignant and well delivered!
-VISUALS: everything is stunning and full of symbolism!
- The nuance of leaving things out: the dilemmas and tough choices Chan was going through in how to help Haran or clarify things( also other characters went through similar dilemmas) were realistic!
-SEASONS: The theme of seasons is also very well integrated. in the animations, the cinematography, the snow... We can't help but feel hopeful in our own journey through seasons while watching our main characters Chan and Haran heal each other at different seasons...
-COUPLES: honorable mention to all secondary couples and the symbolism of each sister, shining in their own way!
Cons:
INTRUIGUE: the main tension in the story gets dragged way too much. As a viewer, i was so ready for that secret to pop by half of the episodes! too many replays of same moments...
FAIRYTALE: this is part of the kdrama magic... all the coincidences that happen to make the plot moving in a certain convenient direction. I usually don't mind it too much, because its fun and dreamy! but it was overdone a few time here. I did appreciate when the characters were partially responsible for making some coincidences work.. but the big letdown is that the drama and tension didn't feel sustained. As if they all had some fluff and soft wrap around them!
QUOTES:
many moments feel like a warm hug...while you probably saw quotes on the seasons and radiance, or having walls around us... i have to quote our youngest couple ' we can cry about it later, but for now we can try'
and also our ML saying' a spring breeze eventually comes...'
this show wasn't about a pretty perfect, but about being there for each other in the most supportive way.
LOVED IT !
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exceeded expectations
Why I started this drama...I started this show with low expectations. I wasn't a fan of the main leads, and the cover photo + intro sounded cheesy....
Also, I did not enjoy the life of the general's daughter that was playing slightly before with the same main actor and a story of a general woman.... LOGD seemed shallow....so I was skeptical about this one too!!! however, shadow love's story sounded a bit original and the comments here encouraged me to start!
-Characters:
strong & real FL characters are hard to portray in dramas, they are rare but I think this show hit the mark. Not only did they hit the mark for the general Shuang, but also for the ML Janan/ Annan who was brillantly portrayed too.
Also, this is a show that really puts the ML and FL on the spot with their acting, I am glad they were on a production team where their chemistry, lines, expressions, development... all lined perfectly for a great result. ML had a really challenging role as there is the infamous "memory loss" trope, but he did it flawlessly!! i think this show is among the ones that played amnesia best!! well done!
all characters were very wholesome, bold, raw , credible and well played! (even the villains! ) and for me it's often a winning formula.
-Storyline:
the story moved fast in the first episodes but then it slows A LOT. it's in this big lump that character development happens. so I can't complain!! this show did not skip on showing the scenes that matter, unlike other shows who only tell or skip the little elements that truly make a story "genuine" "believable" and help us connect with the storyline.
I loved the incorporation of magic that was not over the top. just enough. I loved that we weren't given the clues of how that magic works and that it doesn't make the center of the story as much as we'd expect iitially. Which is great because sometimes obsessing with the magic rules/problem often ruins a story and makes it too melodramatic.... so points for making a great balance on that! Also, it wasn't a story that was meant to be tooo complicated, just enough. it was mostly a love story, and the title is brutally honest.
this story doesn't feel rushed, but I did feel like most episodes were like an epilogue and the main story actually happens in the last 10 episodes.
-Production:
While some scenes have very minor execution discrepancies, the actual execution of the story, script, costumes, lighting, etc... was well done. it shows that the production team had fun making this drama. special kudos to the music ( while sometimes it was a bit much, i really enjoyed the electrifying beat that matched the character's energy!)
It's one of these stories where i will miss seeing these characters interact with each other in the most wholesome way. even for the most mundane things!
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a great show that can hold its ambition!!
I was not expecting this show to become one of my favourite cdramas!!the opening fighting scene and the overly flirtatious pilot made me almost drop this show because i was 't sure where it was going... but So glad I continued... quickly, we realize the plot is so engaging and the characters feel genuine.
While it has the usual tropes about identities, the evolution of the leads was a satisfying watch!
Not only is the storyline and twists well done, a lot of surprises along the way, but the pace is also flawless!
the title of my review says it was an ambitious show: I feel the production was ambitious in creating the story of two very strong leads, ming yi and ji bozai, and they didn't fail.
From the ost, to the chemistry, to the support cast, the cgi... all well done!
I think it's important to mention that for strong main leads, dramas often fail them in creating arcs or a few seasons where they act out of character and suddenly they are dum, or frustrating just for the plot... This show had the plot AND character development. ( for ming yi there are even more nuances)
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the heavy weight of past generations
this cdrama really follows it's own title, where its about ties and grudges from a previous generation that weight on the current one.this show has many pros, but also many annoying elements. i think what makes it worth a watch is the main lead who carried the cdrama!
>>>the main leads:
MQ is a grey, bold character . His character was played very well because i think he showed the nuances of many decisions he took. the character has so many red flags, but the actor really delivered here.
CZ is also a bold character, lively too... but she is mostly boxed in a righteous idealism for a long time in the show. it's understandable as she represents the legacy of the heroine of the past generation... but i think it's one of the elements i thought were overdone... even when she was resolute, the actress did not show us enough nuance or internal struggles as she had a lot if them!!
both main characters evolve and it's beautiful to see them slowly break from a status quo of who they are told to be.... ( the most interesting part of the cdrama for me) however, i have to admit CZ growth comes so late in the show! (albeit her angst and bittersweet moments are amazing!!! ) it's beyond frustrating because they are too few! and even then, it's inconsistent!
>>> plot :
it starts nicely but it quickly feels alllll overrrr the placeeeee ahhhhhh!
then the plot keeps revolving around itself in a wierd way . i think it could have been a shorter cdrama. reveals and hidden elements were all over, some were really cool to discover along but others felt forced.
The past generation's story is so heavy it's overwhelming sometimes. i really enjoyed the intertwining stories of the present and past, we see really well how the past affected the present.
Some characters are refreshing ( like CZ parents!) while others are classic.
some episodes were really memorable, especially the ones where the ML are on their journeys together.
>>> execution
there's something about the way it's filmed or the script, i can't point my finger on it, cringe? disconnected? stereotyped? flat? despite beautiful angles and scenes.
action scenes are nice though!
>>> it's a rich complex story with fun moments and intrigue. i think MQ carried the show till the end as other roles felt a little 2D...
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Huge potential, Nevertheless
I never write reviews and I watched tons of Kdramas, but I love reading reviews here before watching a show so I thought I would add my own, because I wasn't gonna watch it initially. I only saw the preview trailer on Netflix with that scene in the bar and I found it very intriguing and well paced. I ended up binging this show....This show begins differently and has its own mood.
I could understand Nabi and from the beginning we meet a very interesting female lead we get attached to and want to see her evolve. it was very promising until the show just ended up being a cycle of back and forth on repeat and I couldn't see a true evolution of Nabi, just like her professor keeps saying. Only by the end of the show do we see her making interesting changes.
I won't talk much about Jeon ML because there is not much to say, except for a weird evolution he goes through. however, he did play his role very well in the beginning to create that atmosphere of doubt, confusion and red flags,
the 2nd ML was a nice addition at first and a huge contrast to the other ML, he played his part brilliantly, but I feel that plotline lingered too much.
I LIKED: the flow of the show and the mind voice/vocal was spot on. I applaud the show for portraying the uncertainty, the anxiety, the confusion very well shown through the FL, but I was hoping for more evolution from her and a clearer evolution of her relationship with the ML. the butterfly, the sculpture project, and the drawings were all beautiful analogies as well.
DIDN'T LIKE: the main lesson /meaning behind the show was a bit shallow for me where it could have had a deeper approach on vague relationships, toxic relationships and love etc....
I give it an 7 because it did convey a lot of emotions through the plot and characters, it made me question my own approach to my previous relationships and my own reaction to red flags. While there were lots of cringy cliché parts of the show, I did enjoy the more explorative parts of it.
I would not rewatch it though.
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instant ICON: Raising the bar for historical cdrama!
updated after finishing it , no spoilers :)it starts with waw! not a single detail is missed!
from the first second, we are invited into the warm world of fan chang yu , despite everything cold around her.
it takes a lot to execute a story so perfectly... huge respect and shoutout to the director of this show!
nothing was left behind: amazing light, angles, audio design, its slow when it should, fast when it should, fights scenes are not neglected nor too much, script is amazing, storyline is classic but so well done! nothing is overly explained, the flow of this show is insanely good! mind you, there are some tropes, but the actors have pulled them off brilliantly so far that it doesn't feel scripted.
the Main leads are very talented but i think they truly shine in this one ! Fan chang yu is really a beautiful and raw character that is already so nuanced, fl is portraying her so well! XZ is also so nuanced but we havent seen everything about him yet.
this show is great journey !
watch how pursuit of jade will become an instant classic!
UPDATE:
Was it perfect? oh no... the plot got weaker by the last arc and screentime becomes questionnable for some characters! i am left with wanting to see more of the greatness of general FCY and the marquis...
despite everything, in the drama and real life drama around the production, main leads shined through and the story started off so genuinely attaching.
in the comments i read how, compared to other ZLH roles, this story can look less mature... more childish. it's a relevant impression I also had. but it's definitely because of the last arc and underwhelming plot tension.
All the negative elements got nothing on our main leads (and main villains although qi min couple very toxic and it was put forward more than main couple sometimes)
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What a wasted potential ?
This is the story of low level civil servant, orphan, bullied, insecure and lonely, getting entangled in magic with a lawyer.BIG HOPES: the initial plot and characters that was PROMISING a classic fantasy melodrama and starcrossed lovers whose characters grow together and find each other …
But somehow, along the way -very early-it got tacky.
What i liked:
- they had a cute intricate melody for magic and general ost was nice
- Early episodes (1-4) really had a witty comedy even if it was cringe( still happening by the end but its sparse and mostly off )
- I liked trying to guess the rules of this magical world and the mysteries along the plot ( in the beginning)
- FL development is among my fav element of a show: i loved that we see her evolve and the actress really showed a nice progression ( but it was still a bit inconsistent, feels skipped and weird!!)
What i didn’t like:
- without spoiling, early on the ML actions suggest some toxic behaviour , that even if addressed by the other characters, it really was a low from the writers , especially how they reveal events related to that part. I totally disconnected from the romantic side of the story
- The magic mystery itself 😢 while i love fantasy in the real world and making it subtle, sometimes it was sooo subtle we were constantly being thrown off/ON the magic.
- The characters: while they could all potentially be great characters ( in their own roles to the story) each character had something off and unrealistic making us disconnect further with the story. Especially the main leads.
- The MOST ANNOYING EKEMENT: Witholding information from the viewer: this is a show that constantly hides parts of a scene to reveal it later, while it can be really nice if well done, it was sooo overdone and annoying in this show. We were expected to root for the FL and ML from a short reveal from the past? This made the story / engagement of the viewer forced. I felt tricked by the writers hiding a lazy evolution of the story to buy minutes…
- This brings the last point: we remain confused for most of the show … the main story is not clear as if random scenes were patched together.. it lacked cohesiveness…
I had read in some comments that the writer’s last work before this one dates back to 2018, which may explain the choppy scenes?
Overall, the show felt shallow, often redundant. the viewer is almost always left guessing.
I really wanted to love this show because it had a nice idea!! But it was shabby with no meat… the actors did great often but it wasn’t enough…
I was left disconnected from the story . My neurones weren’t ‘coupling’ with the story ( it’s an inside joke from the story) …
I still want to finish my review on a positive note because some episodes were really nice so :
- Shout out to the main actors who did their best to bring these characters to life considering the script ( some lines were really cringe but it turned out witty or really funny !)
- I liked the general atmosphere of the world in this show and cinematic quality.
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MASTERPIECE:A league of its own!!
UPDATED REVIEW after completion, no spoilers :)I started this with low expectations, I've watched LOTS of wuxia so far but this one takes you by surprise in how it tells a story! It took me a while to adjust to the way this cdrama unfolds its mystery, i thought it was just beautiful scenes concatenated randomly together but oh no....
diving into this world is a big jump but oh so worth it!
This show pushes you to accept the world veil of shadows as a standalone one of a kind. dialogue is often concise, short but so effective. the main cast and production WOW!!!
-CINEMA: how come every scene is a visual statement? I feel i am watching a live manga/anime. the wind, light, angles, action, costumes... so satisfying! I never saw a live actors drama with so many attention and dramatic effects for every scene. too much? NAH!! its such a vibe!! and until the very end. a lot of scenes have become iconic for me!
-ACTION &DRAMA balance, lots of actions while keeping the story going is tough mastery!! the episodes are very well paced and separated! choreography amazing till the end!
- STORY is genuinely AMAZING!! although some tropes here and there, it's super well done. Until the end, the story is tight and super creative! sometimes it takes a while to understand but the show always clarifies the mystery later. Always keeps us guessing!! genius complex and nuanced story.
-MANY MAIN ACTORS: It's so hard to give so much attention to many actors/characters at the same time, but waw! this show does it brilliantly! the main cast have a great evolution and each of them have purpose! all of them shined here and had the chance to play even different roles. the only character that i think could have had more to give was wu shqwan. he did have his moments but sometimes his character's presence was taken dor granted !! all 4 main actors + yuan were a great cast and carried the story amazignly!!
-MUSIC : oh man the music is so energetic and perfectly added throughout! also very diverse collection!
-CGI: sometimes with wuxia you have to turn a blind eye to cgi... but this one is spotless! the effects are really seamless and super creative.
-ARCS & PROGRESSION: the story is tight!! 29 episodes was a great number and the story did not loose the plot, on the contrary, it flowed beautifully till the end, connecting the arcs together!
hard to believe this is not based on a novel!
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ART of mockery
Sarah reminds me of a mockingbird...She is surviving, blatantly and nonchalantly in a maze of superficialities.
the actress showcased her coldness and manipulative ways so brillantly in this show.. sometimes even just litteraly in her eyes, the gaze she gives...
while the story and investigation have a few loopholes, it is really engaging and we discover the WORLD of sarah. A world where she is no longer the most shocking part of it. her world is a reflection of an ugly system and she peeled each layer...
the underwhelming resolve of the investigation is so interesting and sad.
i was reminded of another interesting netflix series about celebrities and social media quests gone bad...
it's a nice show to dive into if you like to see the dark side of fashion and high class society
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THE PERFECT CRINGE?
so i hesitated a lot to watch this because, well, the poster looked cringe, and the title sounded soapy and i was loosing hope on good dramas lately...WITHOUT SPOILERS, you only need to watch the first scene with the window to know that it will be a great show!! this quality cannot be faked!
the cinematography, imagery, the story, the parallels, lessons and how people change or don't change were amazing!
despite a cliché seeming 'cold' ML, with typical tropes, it was a well done one!
i often gave up on shows made by this FL although i love her a lot! i think she was phenomenal here!
the FL transformation throughout the show is lovely and inspiring, and i think this show tackles toxic and violent relationships well and inspires a healing journey!
i knew this show would be well done since its based on a solid webtoon: the producers can stay coherent more easily , but its a show that gets really messy with drama!
if you are looking for a classic drama, this is the PERFECT CRINGE!
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I finally understand the title
I thought the trailer was really melodramatic & lyrical. So i skipped the show for a long time until 2 friends recommended it to me… i did finish it, it was okay for me… but i am a bit mitigated.. it sounds overrated for me…I loved the concept of this drama, and the main character is an ANTIHEROINE/vigilante that is filled with subtelty and i loved getting to know her. What i also loved is clear boundaries of our FML when she is launching her revenge plan, without revealing any spoilers, its a tight balance to hold !
BULLYING: The bullying theme was really well portrayed from high school years till the end.
BULLIES: Although there are a lot of extreme lyrical ironies in the bad characters, it was well played by the actors, but a bit stereotyped. What i did love is that even if the main perpetrator is one person, the ‘responsibility’ of the whole circle was well shown. The evolution of each bully is well played.
GRAPHIC SCENES: I understand the realism behind the very dark, sexual, vulgar, drug use & violent scenes, but i did not expect it to be so present. I am still mitigated on the necessity of some scenes…
REALISM: Often times i thought it was a soapy ‘sh*t show’ in the sense that sometimes everyone was hysteric and out of their mind and it was chaotic! What kept it a bit real was the husband, and the revenge ‘helpers’ …
THEMES: The glory explores many core THEMES, my favourite was the glory/ retribution. Although all the bullies were having their own ideal lives on the surface, it was clear from the beginning how miserable they all were… and i loved how the show was clear on how far should the revenge go…
I also liked the miracle/getting help theme, this theme is much more fluid, poetic and evolved through the show and it was this theme that created the evolution in the main character.
I feel mitigated about this show for some reason because other themes were underdeveloped. & the show really revolves around the bullies’ lives more than the victims and it gets really annoying.
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My fav FL ever.
I have watched so many k and c dramas and finally have found the gem of FL. She was mature, consistent , inspiring and believable character played brilliantly all the way till the last min! Disclaimer: I really didn’t expect to root for her this much!!The story and tough topics are handled really well!
It’s obviously not perfect as I found the ML a tad bit too perfect . The actor was great in portraying and made him believable enough. I actually watched this out of curiosity because I watched another show of his( yeah.. the fairy/devil drama …😅) their relation was really beautiful throughout all stages.
I like this kind of story ( older career driven FL ‘find yourself’ is another one for ex) as it’s usually full of atypical challenges compared to your classic rom com of immature couple leads.. this is the kind of story with character depth and development that sets off beautifully. It also doesn’t skip in the relationship buildup that makes us root for the main characters.
The critical scene where the relationship of the main characters evolve is memorable and so well done !
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LBTG: inspiring mysterious world but it falls flat fast
I just started the first episodes and so many great things to say! but in 3 words: intruiguing & great vibes! 🔥THE WORLD OF LBTG:
I love this fictional setting! i almost want to call it whimsical but it would take away the depth of the characters... its eerie but just enough, it's witchy but just enough. I can feel the direction is really controlling the vibe depending on the scenes and we already have great symbolism of elements: the tree, flowers, birds, colours, wind, cold....etc. We do see lots of death , the show puts it at quite a distance from the viewer so far...
I am waiting to see the world unleash to another level at some point! The ost is really helping here ! and also Dilraba's acting!
STORY+ ACTING:
I'm loving the main leads, and although it takes a few episodes to pick up the pace but the story and journey looks so fun and interesting! First episodes are making way for an exciting complicity between the leads
DIRECTING:
i realize that directing makes a huge different in the success of a show, knowing it's also the director of lost you forever, we can see the humour style and the boldness of characters give way to an enjoyable journey. i'm definitely tuning in!
It doesn't feel larger than life kind of story, because i think they really nailed the spirit sovereign character with what she does and how her boundaries are so far. i'm waiting to see the other details of the male lead side! It may evolve further but i appreciate that the story is focused so far.
i also love the OST so far it's exactly how i'd imagined this world would be! and the cinematography quality!
OK BUT THEN WHAT?
UPDATE: the story was underwhelming halfway through. i really wanted to like it!!
I know some people had read the novel, i didn't. So I wasn't gonna project the grandeur of the story beyond what the show is giving us. aside from Simu, everyone looks too theatrical Ml is also aloof, and the arcs feel brushed off... i didn't keep watching until the separation arc, maybe tension built there...
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wished for more...
this show has been quite confusing,without spoilers:
-i did not enjoy how the director decided to reveal the past in between the present.
-nor did i find it convincing to see a photographer leave her 20years career as if it never happened. making the whole quest of the main character empty
- i was unable to enjoy the rest even with nice visuals... the story was not cohesive for me.
-and character development was lacking as the past 'reveals' make us falsely believe the characters changed, when in fact, its only our perception of them.
don't get me wrong, i usually love slice of life and healing stories....
i tried to keep watching because i didn't know what bothered me or bored me: it was the lack of substance/emotion & glue to the main characters.
i am still neutral on the acting as i normally love these actors!
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