Almost there.
The Double is a pretty good drama. For the first 15 episodes I would have said that this show was on its way to being as good as Love Like the Galaxy.But it's not quite good enough to fill that LLTG Hole.
The positive things I have to say are endless, because this is an example of when you can feel every ounce of effort that was crammed into this show. The cinematography was amazing, there are so many shots that are screen saver worthy. The consistent use of flowing fabrics, wind and flower petals made my eyes pop open on more than one occasion. The fight choreography was on point too, it's almost comparable with Blood of Youth and fighting is the whole point of that show. The music also slapped. Be it a bgm or the featured artists it was always a pleasure to listen to whatever was coming out of my speakers. I did add more tracks to my playlist, and that's always the mark of great music.
I have the highest praise for the actors, there's not a single person in this show who was not giving a stellar performance as well, the direction and cast's chemistry was great! I feel like there are so many scenes where I can't imagine another actor replacing any of our main characters. This along with the initial writing in the first quarter of the show made the story so compelling! Everything just made sense, and I really liked that.
On the other hand it's hard to overlook the flaws of this drama. I think it can be overly dramatic and prioritize visuals over telling it's story in a more useful way at times. I also think that the pacing of the show could have been better. The 1st through 15th episodes are clearly aware that this story has a time limit and all the events flow evenly… But once we pass that halfway mark the plots take forever to resolve and get more and more choppy. I especially despise the final episode which unnecessarily kills off some characters in the dumbest and most abrupt ways. I didn't care for the drawn out reunion that we don't even really get to see. It's gore and murder and then a flower field and the FL looks into the camera and this hefty 40 episode monstrosity ends… Just. like. that…
I felt that there were so many moments where I wanted something more, something deeper, something intricate to happen and for the writing to be just a little smarter in how all of these characters related to each other.
I didn't care for it…
but the beginning was amazing so I can't rate it that low. I'd recommend it! But this is not on Love Like the Galaxy or Love and Redemption's level. Those stories kept you hooked until the very end and had very satisfying endings that didn't need unneeded shock value for its finale.
Was this review helpful to you?
Its pretty decent
QoT is a pretty good drama. I think that it starts off stronger than it ends… but it's still a great experience.The best part of the show is of course the main leads. I really love that the lead characters complement each other so well. Hyun Woo's intelligence, gullibility, and caring nature fits so well with Hae In's hidden vulnerability, arrogance, and willpower. This is the couple who got the fairy tale ending and then lost the plot shortly afterwards. The main point of this story is getting this couple back to square one and I'm in support of using a progressive brain cancer to do so.
I'm in love with the writing, its very well put together with so many memorable and heavy lines that are buried in my head. It was always moving me every episode. The side characters were all so fleshed out and all of them got satisfying moments that made them seem like real people to me. They made mistakes, did hurtful things, and could be selfish and ignorant while doing so… but they didn't usually stay that way.
This show praises its characters for changing and punishes anyone who doesn't make and effort to be a better person… I like that… a lot.
On the other hand this show is REALLY overly dramatic sometimes and I'm not a total fan of the ending. It seems so lackluster compared to all the buildup.
Its still better than 90% of Rom coms this year, and it's definitely rewatchable.
Was this review helpful to you?
A wonderful surprise
Incredibly consistent and engaging. It is a webnovel adaptation so it has a Donghua like vibe to it mostly due to it putting a lot of emphasis on the well choreographed action. If you like shounen anime then this will be a perfect fit for you. It's almost perfect… I can't really think of anything that could make it better than it already is.Warning! There are only really dashes of romance. It mostly focuses on action and politics…. So if you're looking for a romance heavy story then this might not be for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Going down roofie road.
After binging this drama in the span of less than a week. I have to make a formal apology to "From Now on Showtime!" because this show is basically the same thing but like wayyy worse in every aspect.Its boring, predictable and cliché. The stalker serial killer, the b*tchy 2nd FML, the second lead not liking her until he's got competition... All of it made me wanna hurl. The show not being able to remember it's own lore about magic.
I don't mind dramas being commercials... But I still wanna be told a good story. I was totally on board for this show until the 5th episode? Once he drank that DAMN love potion it was OVER for me! Such a dumb decision! Speaking of dumb things.
I could not bring myself to believe that a woman willingly wrote this. Every single female character with 1 exception (and no, its not the FL) is a joke. An actual joke. The FL's only characteristics are her being "nice" and liking hot guys. Aside from her dad dying thats all we know about her. Everything else circles back to those two things. Oh? she's hardworking? YEA cuz she's "nice". Oh she's making dumb magical decisions? YEA it's cuz she likes hot guys. The script has her isolated from other people without really giving a valid reason. If she's so nice why does she get bullied and isolated everywhere she goes… I know it's Korean fiction but there's gotta be a reason for her lack of human connections. Even the biggest b*tches I know have a couple f*ckin friends??? (its me, I'm b*tches) Her superiors and coworkers are all disgusting shallow people who walk all over her, take advantage and so on. DESPITE THAT! The FL still wants to be friends with them?
LADY PLEASE have some respect for yourself.
I really dislike when women in dramas can only think of men... you don't have any hopes? Dreams? Goals? Hobbies? The coworkers and 2nd FL have lives that only revolve around the males they drool over... So pathetic. Also the 2nd FL is a freaking delusional hypocrite that honestly made me head cannon that she was a stand in for someone that actually bullied the writer in real life, that way she can feel like she punished her bully through the show… All of this seems like bad fan fiction. The Mary Sue FL, the lack of romantic tension, and the one dimensional 2nd FL… it all reeks.
The male characters are basically pieces of paper. I don't know why the ML ended up liking the FL? He was so rude to her and then BOOM the worst decision of the show comes and all of a sudden he's all about her… The 2ND ML seemed like he might have something relatable and interesting going on… but it doesn't get enough development and he too also starts liking the FL for shallow reasons… I have nothing to say about either of the villains… Both were so boring. The mayor man…. allows his uneducated daughter to make political decisions for him because she's angry… What a whack politician…
The biggest issue is the FL making the conscious decision to trick a man into drinking a love potion that would FORCE that man to love her. This action is the biggest issue for me... Is her life so bad that she needs to essentially magically roofie a man? She's that desperate for love??? WHY??? So cuz her dad died she has the right to force men into a relationship even after being PREVIOUSLY REJECTED BY THE SAME MAN? I just can't wrap my head around this creative decision.... THIS and everything that results from it are tainted. If she gets into a relationship with that guy… then everything that takes place is r*pe… I don't understand how the writers missed that… The drama doesn't really make any effort to condemn her actions either, instead it's used as a comedic trampoline… All kinds of shenanigans take place after that…
The cinematography, music, and acting were all fine I guess.
I can confidently say this was my worst drama of 2023… too much of it rubbed me the wrong way. I would gladly watch King The Land 20x times more than ever watch this again. Just awful.
Was this review helpful to you?
BORINGGGG
This is a cumulative review for Season 1 and 2B*tch x Rich is really basic.
The commentary that you get from shows like this are also basic.
Its really heavy handed with it themes, and it makes you realize how unrealistic most of the characters are. By the end we have teens making money moves and ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER ENDING, continuing the tradition from Season 1.
The acting was basic, the music was basic, and so was everything else. I never felt strong emotions while watching, maybe exasperation.
If you're looking for shallow commentary on capitalism, consumerism, class stratification and the evil of most K-drama schools, with a dash of half-baked murder mystery then THIS IS THE OPTION FOR YOU!
Was this review helpful to you?
A Mess
TLDR: this show is exactly what would have happened if someone woke up one day and decided to make Till the End of the Moon look nicer while having a sh*ttier story and characters.The Good: As previously mentioned, this is a damn good looking drama. Aside from the wirework and some really bad editing (things appearing and disappearing from hands) Things look VERY nice. It's been a while since I've watched a proper XuanHuan fantasy with the works. The sets were pretty premium looking and visually appealing. Lots of varied settings that add very much needed distraction from all the stuff on screen that either bores/irritates you. The music was also okay, no tracks stood out to me but I definitely feel that the soundtrack is more balanced than TTEOTM's.
Got to also give the cast their flowers, everyone was clocking IN for their check. Not a singling person was phoning it in, Bai Lu was especially exciting to watch as always but I am her biggest fan so I could be biased. Zeng Shun Xi was not a bad actor either, I started the drama thinking his portrayal was a little too stiff (I was having Blossoms in Adversity flashbacks) but as time went on he did kinda win me over…
Okay now THE BAD:
This sh*t is in the wrong order.
I'm not joking, this story is told to its audience in the wrong ORDER.
I'm officially getting into spoiler territory here, so be aware.
In TTEOTM there is a flashback portion that adds to the story. The Untamed also starts in the “future” after most of the inciting events have happened, then it has an extended flashback to tell its background to the audience so they can be more invested in the coming conflicts and have a better understanding of how the past effects the characters they are invested in.
Feud doesn't take either approach, instead it withholds crucial information in favor of subverting expectations later.
I truly believe this show would have been twice as good if it had just told its story in chronological order with Bai Lu's Siling as the focus. If we had experienced her pain and suffering in real time, then it would have had 2 main benefits.
1. Siling's actions wouldn't have seemed so unnecessarily cruel and meaningless. Since I spent so much of the show following Bai Jiusi, we have more of a connection with him and his suffering. When Siling's motivation was revealed I was so tired of the subversion that I couldn't help but think that basic communication could have solved everything… (This is comedic foreshadowing)
2. Creating anticipation, instead of always feeling confused and wondering I'm going to get enough info to alleviate the distinct feeling of stupidity I was constantly burdened with. I could have been given Siling's side of the story and been patiently awaiting Bai Jiusi's finding out more about her core motivation. Then satisfaction from his finding out would have been wayyy better than how it was implemented.
Imagine this same story told in chronological order.
Siling and Bai Jiusi meet and form a connection ➡️ they fall in love➡️ they diverge in their philosophy and spilt➡️ Tragedy strikes➡️ Reincarnation.
Boom, then you can basically pick up where ep 1 starts. It just seems like such a waste of potential.
The other bad: The Side characters.
Almost every side character is either one dimensional or kinda appalling. Our 2nd ML is a creature that is only ever driven by his desire for the FML ( a woman he barely knows or talks to). A lotus demon who commits murder for like 5 episodes and is conveniently excused and redeemed. Another love triangle that persisted until the 3rd to last episode… (dumb)
And a whole host of side characters who don't matter.
In fact, they matter so little that it is only when their lives are endangered and are ready to sacrifice themselves. Each insignificant background character bravely calls out their name before getting obliterated. (Can not make this up, I do not remember those walking corpses and I never will.)
The other other bad.
Bai Jiusi's the most impressive punching bag I've seen since Yu Sifeng from Love and Redemption. Dude is betrayed, beaten and bamboozled in almost every episode. He's supposed to be the most powerful person but he's so whack. It's crazy. Such a stoic character makes terrible and borderline dumb decisions almost every episode.
The romance was so flat. It was definitely that fact that we only see the most basic of interactions between the leads…. then we're thrown into the most nonsensical long ass plot.
SPOILER
--‐---------------------------->
The time travel nonsense really grabbed me by the hair, slapped me and spat in my face and called me stupid for watching till the end.
Siling getting to go back in time and fix everyone's dumb little problems with just communication and ..... Yea.... thats it. She just talks to everyone and that shows that everything was a huge waste of time that would have been solved if ANYONE in the story stopped for a second and TALKED about what they wanted.... OMFG💀 the ending is dumb and unsatisfying too.
Overall, I think this drama is beautiful, but it is most certainly a waste of time. I will never watch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Mmmm so good and tasty.
This is good.Japanese dramas are usually rated lower than their foreign counterparts because they are sometimes pretty sucky… or they could be missing some sort of fundamental quality that a viewer is seeking.
I can't lie, I've felt like J-dramas have been on a downward trend since the 2010's but every once in a while Japan will surprise me with something good actually.
Romantics Anonymous is one of those for sureeee.
I will start off with the negatives since there is so much good to discuss.
This show is wayyy too short, the modern “Netflix” format of 8 episodes is much too short for a story this heavy. The lack of runtime makes it so that the viewer is left feeling rushed through the story. 10-12 episodes would have been perfect. The episode titles follow a gimmick where each episode is named after a branded chocolate piece in a box set… They literally skip over some of the pieces because they don't have enough time to dedicate an episode to it.
All my criticism is linked to that lack of runtime. The rushed ending, the shallow exploration of the characters' backstories… All of it was addressed as best they could but… it was still a jot unsatisfying.
Anyways, everything else was GREAT.
Liked that it tackled phobias and gave plausible reasons for why they form and can sometimes get worse. LOVED seeing people get professional help from a mental health specialist, and introducing coping mechanisms and self affirmations to an audience who may not have ever heard of them.
It can be powerful to see characters whose problems mirror your own, seeking out help…
The romance was delicate and slow, very cute and satisfying. I loved seeing two adult strangers get to know each other, admire each other and finally realizing they are soul mates.
Both leads were amazing! Haven't seen Oguri Shun do a rom-com in a while… but… uh… he's had the sauce for twenty years… he'll always have it…
Haven't seen Han Hyoju in anything since W… but here she is quirky, earnest, and lovable as Lee Hana.
Love that no one's issues are magically fixed by the end. They just make progress towards wholeness.
Great watch, I've been obsessed with it since I completed it.
Was this review helpful to you?
DIYBT
It's so funny to me because I was literally just waxing poetic about the merits of J-dramas, and how they are capable of telling good stories while not being afforded the same budgets as blockbuster C and K dramas…But Bruh…
This show was straight CHEEKS.
I can barely think of anything I liked aside from some parts of the story and side characters.
FL was pretty likable, her tenacity and work ethic REALLY made her grow on me. BUT she's got terrible taste in men and friends and it's not funny.
I'm not exactly sure what was going on with her family either? How are y'all doing all that with a little girl doing homework at the bar???
ML was baffling. I think they were trying to make him a tortured soul with unwarranted self destructive tendencies… BUT his backstory is REALLY stupid if you think about it for 5 seconds, so it makes his spiraling behavior stupid too.
I liked the boxing bits tho, its like watching a sports anime but worse. I'm not that picky.
Cast was great and the music was alright. Cinematography was okay, nothing on screen ever made me open my eyes to see more.
I will never watch this again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Pls save me
Blossom is a very good drama that does everything right. It's got great actors, and engaging script and plot, good music and cinematography… It's doing everything RIGHT but its still somewhat off for me personally.After slogging through many dropped B grade dramas, I finally was able to cross Blossom off my list. I'm not sure if it was the months of anticipation or my own high expectations, but this drama only disappointed me.
I will say the crazy thing and admit that I enjoyed The Double more than this in the end.
I feel like the story was at its best when the main leads had more distance and the plot wasn't really revealed yet.
Once everyone and everything starts coming together the story became a little stupid to me. I couldn't understand why certain people changed so much and why other made the decisions they did…
This is a good show but I'm still searching for something that will snatch me from the clutches of LLTG.
Was this review helpful to you?
I wanna like it more but…
Blossoms in Adversity is a welcome departure from the typical disgraced family trope… Instead of the usual set up where the story starts off after a noble family has fallen, we get a show that focuses on the failing of the family in real time.This drama does so many things that I like. The music, cinematography (though it's a bit over the top at times) and action were all pretty good. The ML's action scenes were especially good. You can tell that he's been molded into a ruthless killing machine, who is perfectly capable of beating a man to death with his bare hands, then he demonstrates😆.
BIA shows how women are treated as commodities rather than people in this ancient society. Women and girls are supposed to be looked at, and used not heard. The domestic talents they cultivate are ultimately useless when it's time for them to earn money on their own. The purposeful ignorance they live in can even be a threat to their lives in dire situations.
I really enjoyed everything that had to do with this critique of the traditional family unit and expectations of women… Seeing a group of women overcome the odds over and over was amazing… but….
I don't really like anything else.
The ML’s acting was especially bad. I remember seeing a review mention someone had a “frozen face”, as soon as I saw the ML I knew it was him. Only his eyebrows move, it's hilarious.
The romance lacked chemistry, So I skipped through all their later scenes together…
There is a villian and I hate him because he is stupid. The ending seemed super rushed to me, and all their problems were solved super conveniently…
It was alright, I would recommend it, but I would never watch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Please understand what you're getting into.
This is a story about a 30-sum year old woman getting psychometric powers after touching the butt of a cow that got hit by a meteor... then using those powers (which only activate when she is touching a booty) to catch a serial killer.Of course Shenanigans ensue...
I don't understand why people are taking this drama seriously. This is a comedy, and its a damn good one.
All the jokes were funny and memorable. The cast did an excellent job. I didn't mind the lack of romance because its clear that isn't the point of the show. The goal is to make you laugh! That is what I needed and wanted!
Music and cinematography were great! Added several tracks to my OST list!
I thought the chemistry was fine... some people are complaining about their dynamic when its legit enemies to lovers. ML starts off thinking the FL is a S3x offender... I can understand him being abrasive to her touching him without consent. His reactions were totally appropriate!!! Despite that their relationship develops and deepens.
Its a fun(ny) solid drama that warmed me up!
Was this review helpful to you?
It's so good!
A wonderful comedy that is elevated by its cast in every way. It was such a fun experience. So glad I had the time to rewatch it.The only thing holding it back was that some of the villians are so dumb. No one dies in the show despite the fact that there are multiple assassination attempts, yeah they're that stupid.
Honestly that just adds to the humor!
The music, cast, and plot are all perfectly balanced. It's nearly perfect. I wish a little more attention was paid to the romance, but I'm glad I didn't have to sit through another love triangle.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great! until it isn't?
I really liked this show! Episodes 1-7 are basically perfect!At the halfway point things start to take a dip? I felt that the establish patterns of certain bus passengers were being disregarded in favor of a more dramatic presentation?
Earlier in the story our main characters are held down by the other bus passengers for attempting to leave the bus... but when the culprit is revealed and pulls a knife on the main characters all the passengers including FOUR men all stand by and watch the FL get her throat slashed AFTER STABBING ANOTHER GUY??? Not once but twice?
The main leads have to scream for help to get other people into action... even though they were happy to inconvenience the leads earlier...
I also disliked the stupidity of Mengmeng's ? death? Why would the bus stop there? why didn't she look both ways before stepping onto a busy highway? The driver doesn't have mirrors so he could see and be like "watch out!"??? and the lack of urgency towards the end?
The ML is visibly suffering after every loop after the halfway point.... The FL disreguards him and keeps pushing him.... Lady he's bleeding from the nose... yall can't take a break for one loop so the man can relax? And not be burned to death, stabbed or be chased by the cops?
Not to mention the hot potato with the bomb near the end? Eveyone was just taking their sweet time telling the truth to each other.... I know its a DRAMA... but damn.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Relic of a Bygone Era
The first thing that came to my mind when I started this drama was "dated". Everything in this show is extremely dated. The cinematography, music, story, and tone all feel like I've been blasted back to that very warm era from 2008-2012 for Asian dramas. Unfortunately It's been a decade since then and I need a lil more than what this show was able to give. Plain talk: it's really boring.Though the drama tackles some serious issues like CA, SA, dr*gs and MORE, but it has a serious tonal issue. One moment we'll see the worse thing ever happen to a person and three minutes later you'll see some of the most cheesy comedy ever. The framing device is also weird? It's like a 4th wall break thing like The Office but it doesn't contribute anything… So what's the point in having it at all?
The story is simple… boring… and linear… At times I was shocked at how mature the content could be then be pulled out immediately by the erratic tone. This drama does not know what it wants to be: A crime solving law drama, A conspiracy drama, or a tacky rom com…. in the end it split the duty unevenly…
A big issue for me is the FL and how she's obviously not like other girls…🙄 Shes built up to be a bad B who can take care of herself but the only reason she gets anything done is because she's surrounded by men… I wasn't a big fan of her silly or "cute" moments because I really never felt like I could take her seriously. Like if that chick from It's Okay to not be Okay acted like she did THEN I'd find it cute because that woman was actually a bad B…
The leads had pretty ok chemistry and had some nice moments from the beginning. The whole cast had great acting with only one person standing out.
But like JO HAN CHUL tho… dude was the bread and butter of this drama and carried the entire thing on his back. He was so ridiculous that I'd wake up everytime he was on screen. Man really felt like he was having fun writhing on the floor in his underpants.😂😂😂 It's worth watching just for him, played a great scumbag.
All in all if you like simple straightforward stories with no detours or if you're feeling nostalgic for dramas they stopped making a decade ago then this is the drama for you. You'll definitely have some fun but never rewatch…
Has a satisfying more traditional HEA too!
Hated the wedding dress tho…
Was this review helpful to you?
Clanker's first Strike
BAYM…. is kind of a mess. Inconsistent characters, pacing and plot coherency abound.Do not watch this show if you are actually interested in watching a solid historical costume drama with great political intrigue, do watch if you're a foodie who wants to turn off their brain for a moment of pleasure.
I will start by saying that the cast here is pretty commendable. Lots of veteran actors playing new roles that I've never seen from them. This is Yoona at her best (when she's not with GG) her acting is consistent and sincere, I really enjoyed every time she was on screen. Her costars range from amazing to acceptable, but I'm okay with that.
The food was amazing to see and the direction for the cooking scenes were fluid and actually made a lot of sense. It's almost like choreography for dances or fights.
I start having issues with the plot, I get that the show is only 12 episode, but I still feel that the pacing should have been a little more consistent. Now that everything has been completed, I have a hero I don't understand too well nor can be invested in because his development was way too inconsistent. The villain's motivations are unclear and very hard to understand logically. I got why everyone was doing what they were doing on a surface level… but thats all. If you stop and think about any main faction's motivation you will realize that everything is shallow and just a little dumb.
All of that is forgivable, my issue is the amount of ai in this drama. When ai started becoming more accessible it never occured to me that it would eventually make its way to dramas. There are multiple scenes and dreamy sequences where ai is used to highlight the characters reaction to food. Multiple instances in multiple episodes… I can only imagine how many liters of water were wasted to render that dumb pea scene. All of these could have been replaced with using stock photos and video and a dash of clever editing… I'm so disappointed to see that clanker made content has infiltrated a medium I have deep affection for.
Going forward I will be dropping dramas that have ai, If I can see it, it will be dropped.
Was this review helpful to you?
