Mizuhira-san

Started with greed, ended with humanity...

I didn't hate this season, nor its ending like most viewers did, but it left me with lingering thoughts. I think the ending was befitting of the drama's theme as well. Since the beginning, [Squid Games] was supposed to be about winning and becoming the last one standing. It could've been anyone, but Gi Hun's plot armor saved him as he's the main protagonist. In S2, most of them survived as if to lay a foundation for the sequel's bloody plot. (I mean, come on, it's THE SQUID GAMES!) S2 was a bit more 'lively' in a sense; not only about Gi Hun bringing hope to most of the players but also the music used since Ep1. He tried his best but in such an environment - with only a few weapons and comrades who agreed to fight off a huge 'organization' - the path ahead surely wouldn't be all flowers... It was realistic.

Now moving on to S3, the title of its last episode, "Humans are...", was a powerful message to its viewers, which can be interpreted into various meanings. Gi Hun didn't give up until the end. He strayed from his beliefs in the middle due to his guilt but he got back to his senses and fought with all his might. He tried to save lives from the very beginning and fulfilled the last wishes entrusted to him by the previous players without failure. He promised, and he kept his word.

The characters portrayed human nature in reality. We see all kinds of human beings in real life and Squid Games showed us exactly that. Not all people are like the male and female leads we see in K-dramas, and they change or do not change at all from WHO they are. When faced with d8ath, true colors surface.
Another message I got from watching this series is that no matter what you face in your 'journey', stick to your moral values. Even if you make a mistake, there's always a chance to turn back to correct yourself. It's a matter of choice.

If I have to describe the whole Squid Game series, S1 is like an appetizer, giving us a taste of what it looks like and how it goes by showing us the main protagonist's journey. S2 is like the main course, which led us through a path towards a hopeful future (with a mixture of sadness and fun). Finally, S3 is like a dessert served with some lemon and sprinkled spices instead of a huge sugary treat.

"We are not horses, we are humans. Humans are..."

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Like Miao Miao's quest that's stuck at 99%

As mentioned in my headline, my feelings for this drama are stuck at 99%, and can't exactly pick out what the missing 1% is. Let me first point out all the strengths. The cinematography, music, CGI, stunts, costumes, make-up, and plot are all top-notch!

Firstly, their acting. All the actors and actresses expressed their characters very well. However, in my case, I'm not much of a fan of Esther Yu. I mean, I'm not very fond of her acting but she possesses her unique qualities. Yes, I watched her act, but sometimes don't feel very much convinced. It's a mixed feeling, but that's not always throughout the drama. Maybe it's because of her character? On the bright side, I loved her interactions with the father figure (the county official) the most. It was so heartwarming and beautiful. Ding Yu Xi? God... Just wow. The way he portrayed Mu Sheng/Ziji was on point! What attracted me most was his sad and crying scenes. His eyes say it all. Ziji's like a misunderstood child or a defensive cat, and his portrayal is convincing. Zhu Xu Dan and Yang Shi Ze also played their roles well, too. They're so well-matched! And my DuDu, she graced the small screen with her elegance as the mirror demon. So pretty! X3

Secondly, the costumes, hairdo, and make-up suit them all, even the supporting and guest roles looked extremely stunning in their unique fashions~ Be it the demons that popped up here and there, or the main and supporting characters we see all the time, the cast is donned perfectly from head to toe. They paid attention to all intricate details like the small hair pieces and braids the multiple layers of 'Hanfu' and extra accessories for every character. EVERYONE'S BEAUTIFUL!

Third, it's about the editing department. Cheers people. It's a 10/10 from me. This is one of the best, high-tiered level editing! I fell in love with how the transitions changed, the backgrounds, and especially when the characters used their powers. It didn't feel out of place. Everything's just flawlessly done. The OSTs are breathtaking, exciting, and bittersweet in some. Fighting scenes are so cool!

Lastly, the plot. As someone who's already read the novel version, I can see they've tweaked some, which I think is much better in terms of storytelling. I started reading the Manhua first actually, but the updates were SUPER SLOW! Hence, changed to the novel version. To be honest, the translations were bad so I couldn't make out much of the story back then but I do remember they changed several parts like where (1) Mu Sheng's dreams of Miao Miao (almost every time he sleeps X3 It was quite a torture for him in the novel & manhua), (2) Miao Miao's wedding (I'm not sure but I think there was no character named Zhao Ruo Shi in the original versions; Miao Miao was under the influence of the bracelet given by Mu Sheng), (3) the temple part (manhua & novel plot is about offering a bride or something, and both Mu Yao and Miao Miao fell victim. It happened quite early and MuSheng saved MuYao first, left Miao Miao to fend for herself, but came back for her. He still doesn't trust her yet when this happened), and etc. However, the storyline in the drama makes much more sense as an adaptation. The final ending scene reminds me of "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo", but with a more positive and hopeful feeling.

To sum up, I think the remaining 1% lies in my comparison between the drama version and the original novel & manhua versions. Afterall, it's best to enjoy them as stand-alone works. Mix them up? You won't feel as content as you'd thought. They shine in their own right and I'd say LGIEF is a masterpiece with great potential.

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From a flowery path to dark vibes, and heading to a new beginning

It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and all the actors and actresses portrayed their characters well. The vice-curator and the widows in particular were great. The actor portraying the vice-curator was adorable, to be honest, XD. I felt bad for him as he was so smitten by his 'Lady Kim' lol, but he got his partner in the end. He's so cute XD. Aeung Du is CUTE; such a little glutton~

The main characters did well with their characters too. The earlier episodes were so much fun with Nok Du cross-dressing as a woman; his gestures and way of speech were spot on! I also like Dong Ju and her fiery spirit. Both were adorable together and their romance is on another level. The couple would go to great lengths to protect each other despite being burdened by their dark pasts. Some say their relationship doesn't make sense since their parents were entangled in a political feud in the past, but Nok Du and Dong Ju made it possible to be together. After going through many hardships we can see how much they're meant to be.

Next is Yul Moo, the 'wolf in sheep's clothing' prince. WOW. I genuinely didn't expect him to be the villain here, with how he acted so kindly and helpful towards all the women at the Kisaeng house. I got chills down my spine when he was revealed to be the man who killed the widow and slashed down a minister. It was shocking to know how KTO switched from a normal and cheerful noble frequenting the Kisaeng house to a dark, psychopathic killer who would obliterate anyone who would sabotage his plans. I mean, who would believe it easily after showing excellent cooking skills with a heartwarming smile right? :')
In addition to him is his bodyguard (or maybe Yul Moo's personal weed exterminator lol, since he'd clear his lord's path without fail) Dan Oh (our HIH!!!); he's so cool~

The king, well, he did so well as the power-crazed monarch who wouldn't excuse even his flesh and blood to take his place. He's a lost cause, yet I can still see a little good in him. Just like Nok Du has mentioned, his father is a pitiful person who has already dived so deep into the dark side and the king himself had already accepted it.

As for the music, it was pretty nice but sometimes, they would just cut off the music bluntly when the scenes shifted; it was a bit off-putting. The wardrobe designs for every character were stunning.

Last, but not least, many say the ending wasn't favorable but in my opinion, I'd say it was fitting. Although Yul Moo was a bad guy in the beginning, we can still witness his change in the end; maybe just a bit but we can see he's willing to change (though not his initial goal to seize the throne). He's ready to weather all obstacles and burdens of being King. I wasn't able to hate both the King and Yul Moo in the end; they're just being themselves, 'people who've chosen a bloody path'. Most importantly, I was very pleased with the mother-and-son reunion at long last. They truly deserved this. I love how the Queen respected her son's wishes and protected both her husband and child till the end within her power. Again, it's a fitting end for me~

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The healing chapter

A thrilling second season we waited for, but somehow was lacking something.. It was still a great watch but it's a shame Si-Eun's wits and fighting skills were not emphasized that much compared to the first season. The way he calculates the probabilities of winning and making use of his surroundings is what makes him unique. Maybe it's because I just couldn't get enough of his fight scenes X'3
Season 2 was great on its own too. In my opinion, this season was made to focus a little bit more on how Si-Eun and his new friends heal from their past wounds. On the other hand, season 1 was more about his growth and friendship.

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