45
48
4
3
1
2
2
2
7
14
4
1
3
8
3
5
1
4
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1
1
4
5
3
2
4
16
16
7
2
A feast for the eyes and soul
Watching this series is such a healing experience, thanks to the beauty of Finland's nature and lots of adorable animals. You get to know more about the actors Kwak Dong Yeon, Lee Je Hoon, Cha Eun Woo and Lee Dong Hwi and witness their sometimes hilarious interactions. Seeing them learn how to live off-grid and practice their cooking skills is entertaining. The pace feels slow but it fits with the theme of living a slowed down lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I do wish there had been a bit more interaction with the people of Lapland though, perhaps additional sharing of food and culture or extended conversations.Was this review helpful to you?
Subtlety in Storytelling Is Underrated
This may seem like a simple story on the surface but it actually has a bit of emotional complexity to it. Rather than being over-the-top, many of its cute and humorous incidents have a sort of gentleness about them. My fondness for the first couple increased as their thoughts and fears were gradually expressed over time. Sometimes it was done through internal dialogue which isn't a method that always works, but in this case, I think it proved effective. During certain moments, I became extremely moved or would burst into tears unexpectedly. Except for one episode's lack of momentum, the only other drawback was the second couple. Their arc was too heavy-handed and imbalanced which became tiresome and made its characters nearly unlikable. As a result, I ended up skimming through those parts. This understated tale of loss and healing has its flaws but is successful at building upon layers of foreshadowing and emotion.Was this review helpful to you?
Oddly Satisfying
I don't watch many animations or animes but really enjoyed this series. It's super cute and heartwarming. The sighing Gudetama with its gelatin-like mass that constantly jiggled and the energetic Shakipiyo with its lone angry eyebrow are both really adorable, and the voices for these characters are spot-on. I never imagined I'd end up crying over a chick and egg story but that's exactly what happened. My only big gripe is that I'd prefer animation-only rather than a mix of animation and human actors.Was this review helpful to you?
A dark, emotionally-charged story with gorgeous visuals
If a story can leave me feeling unsettled to the extent that I'm wrestling with my own emotions and thoughts after an episode's credits roll then it must've done something right—and Tender Light was able to do just that. Cruelty, anger, suffering, frustration, sadness, bitterness, jealousy, intensity and yearning were all keenly felt, leading me to dwell heavily on the past and present circumstances of its characters, as well as the line between right and wrong. I have no regrets embarking on this tumultuous journey of complex and flawed characters. Not only did the main leads perform wonderfully but the other cast members too. Additional elements that contributed to the appeal of this series: muted color tones, black-and-white transitions, effective use of sound effects and music, plus the selection of quotes and book passages. It's almost worth watching just based on aesthetics alone. There was a point when later episodes started to drag a little, also the ending(s) could've been improved upon (an additional alternate ending is available). Final takeaway: Tender Light may not be perfect but it's truly such a dark, beautiful watch in both a visual and emotional sense.Was this review helpful to you?
