SeanFletcher

A Missed Opportunity

Double Happiness is a show that started off with a particular premise but changed direction in the second half. In essence, it was told from the heroine’s perspective. As her purpose in life change, so did her views on relationships.

In some ways, this show is a refreshing take on blended family situations. However, the significant focus on the second couple meant that this was undermined quickly. Not enough story time was devoted to how two families came together.

Our main couple are delightful and warm. Both are respectful of one another where the chances of one on one time are sabotaged regularly. They also have challenging work/business lives but both are very pragmatic and successful in what they do.

The second couple are, in a word, vile. Yet, the writers try to make us feel sympathetic to them. I’m sad to say, I belonged to that group that fast forwarded the rough their scenes 80% of the time.

The third couple were okay. Again an interesting take on a couple that have like each other forever. She is the owner of a second chance relationship agency. He, a supposed playboy.

In many ways, I enjoyed the fourth couple, that wasn’t a couple, the most. We got to see an interesting insight into a cemetery that is a final resting place that even I would like to be found.

The parents in this story, except Aunt Lily, are beyond frustrating.

Be warned. There are topics in this show that aren’t pleasant.

My final thoughts are Kitty Zang is a delight. She carries any show she is in and she does that here too as a single mum who sticks to her guns. Our ML is also very good but he makes it look easy. Both were great together.

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There is Much To Like About Brocade Odyssey

There is much to like about Brocade Odyssey. The acting was very good, the costuming was of a high standard (it has to be because show was all about brocade). The sets were also good. The OST was enjoyable and so was the story for the most part.

Right from the get go, we see how determined and resourceful Ji Ying Ying.is. I feel that this is one of Seven Tan’s best roles. Zheng Ye Cheng put in a fine performance as the newly minted Brocade Officer who is at odds with his family. Together, both leads are a wonderful OTP. In fact, this is one of the show’s strengths - the commitment that they have throughout regarding what became a tumultuous journey.

The early episodes gave a good appreciation of the ancient Chinese brocade industry. This including understanding silk, the weaving process, the dye process and how the colours are set using the local water fall and natural pool. We also get to see the conflict between the great brocade houses and the small independents ended up by Ms Ji.

For the most part, each of the story arcs were quite good. The acting certainly made this possible. However, I felt the last two episodes let the story down. In fact, the final episode spent too much time on the villains rather than on giving show time to wrap things up better. I also have to agree with some commentators how disappointing it was regarding what happened to some of the key characters. Some characters just disappeared.

Brocade Odyssey is worth your time. The leads are worth watching just for their relationship alone.

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A Roller Coaster With A Big Heart

The General’s Daughter is 183 episodes of a full on Filipino roller coaster ride. It is emotional, funny and heartwarming, with both lovely and despicable characters and with leads tormented by their past. It deals with corruption and injustice and is a homage to the need for a better Phillipines.

Angel gives a powerhouse performance as the almost Nikita type character and deserves the awards she received for this role. The veterans deliver strongly as well - it almost seems without effort. The actor who played Elai also deserves a special mention.

Some might find TGD too repetitive - our heroes and heroines are in over their heads time and time again. This doesn’t matter as the show is aimed at entertaining its audience.

We get to see Filipino communities as I know them to be. People who are humble and making the most of what they have. The evil drug lords are painted very much as in it all for themselves while misleading those who benefit from their largesse. The military and police are painted in a helpful light, although they are divided within.

I’m glad I watched it. Show has a big, emotional, heart. Prime does not have all the episodes but the television company that produced the show does and can be found on You Tube.

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A Lavish Production With Great World Building

Shooting Stars is a lavish and well made production that promises much. The acting is first rate and the world building regarding the Republican Era, second to none.

At its heart is a very strong theme that people and relationships matter. Camaraderie is important and working together to achieve the greater good is a worthy goal to aspire to. Family in its different forms is shown too. The conflict between brothers a vital cog in how the plot unfolds.

The first 16 episodes were superb. There were a range of scenarios regarding who might be good and who might be bad. It was also intersecting re the portrayal of the police force at this time, the rise of the different political factions and the evilness of the Japanese menace. Show used actual footage from events that occurred at that time, deftly weaving our characters into what happened.

However, in the second half of the story, the patriotic fervour was a bit overdone. On some occasions it was over sentimentalised. Chen Hao as the face of such idealism was overdone. I was wasn’t convinced of his relationship with Miss Shi, but she was a fabulous character. His friendship with Yuan Sheng was a key part of the story, but I found its execution so so at times.

Our lead couple were very good. I liked their relationship. So much was against them, but their genuineness shone through. Min Min was a delight: delicate but strong and very loyal. Yuan Sheng needed to lighten up a bit 😂

Overall, Shooting Stars is worth a look. The set design, wardrobe and old vehicles are worth watching for these aspects alone.

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A sci-fi thriller that is bingeworthy and a great ride!

Möbius is a very good sci-fi thriller. It has it all: superb acting, very good direction and high quality sets, locations and atmosphere. Even the OST was appropriate. Perhaps this is the result of only 16 episodes - quality can be maintained throughout and the budget spent on things that matter.

The elements I liked very much included the loyalty of BJT’s team, the relationship between the OTP - understated and very good, the concept of a five day time loop and the RAN technology used. I also liked that the two male leads were evenly matched.

My only real criticism was the manic acting at times by the main antagonist and his mentor. Both are very good characters in their own right but perhaps too over the top at key moments - especially the ones that repeat over and over. Also, I didn’t enjoy some of the over the top emotional scenes by some of BJT’s team went on for too long - however, this is the hallmark of many CDramas.

At the end of the day, why would BJT do another time loop drama? Well, because Mobius was well written and had a superb cast. It would seem Season 2 is on the cards.

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Ski into Love has a lot going for it

I like Esther Yu very much. However, despite her very good performances, I have not been able to finish a number of her dramas over the last two years. Despite this, I am pleased to say Ski into Love is a show that I enjoyed from start to finish. The premise in itself was interesting and I think it gave good exposure to both the artistic side and challenges regarding both creating on-line comics and success in snow sports.

At the end of the day, this show is about betrayal, failure, redemption and succeeding against the greatest of odds i.e. oneself.

Some commentators on MDL were critical of Esther’s performance as Wei Zhi. I found though, she delivered in spades. And, if you are watching closely enough you can see little gems here and there regarding her nuanced performance. She is kind, a little bit ditzy and cute but there are moments that show a much greater depth. As always, her timing is immaculate.

Lin Yi as Shan Chong was good but I found he was too much of a cardboard cut out for me at times. Perhaps his best moments were his interactions with children. I felt we got to see a performance less guarded during these moments. The sister Shan Shan was delightful. Show needs to be applauded for dealing with her condition in a very thoughtful and considered way by those around her. If you want an in depth drama regarding someone who has the same disability, then take a look at Born to Run, a show that is 10/10.

I liked Wei Zhi’s and Shan Chong’s relationship. It’s one that is very supportive of one another, once they get through the usual conflicted beginnings. We did get to see those tropes re the differences in the parents of both Zhi and Chong. We also got to see how they treated their children respectively, including their fears and concerns and how they celebrated moments of aspiration and achievement.

The moments of snowboarding on the ski slopes were well done, especially the competition aspects. I have read comments by some snowboarders that although the community aspects appeared spot on, some of the more technical aspects of snowboarding were underdone. Perhaps, this may be due to the number of episodes cut from the show, which is something I haven’t looked further into.

Wei Zhi was very much the healer in this drama and Esther portrayed this aspect exceedingly well. Show is worth a look.

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A Show John Wick Would Be Proud Of

Last Samurai Standing is pure, unrelenting entertainment. With high-end production values, breathtaking fight sequences, meticulously crafted sets, and performances of the highest caliber, not a single moment is wasted. Every character is layered and intriguing—some driven by hope, others trapped in the brutal machinery of cleanup, and still more consumed by greed, profiting from the suffering of others.

For me, this series feels like Alice in Borderland reimagined in Edo Japan. Across six episodes—the opening arc of a larger narrative—the story never shortchanges itself. It plunges into familiar yet resonant themes: exploitation, betrayal, disappointment, the bonds of family, redemption, and the fragile persistence of humanity. The backdrop is haunting: the twilight of the samurai era unfolding against the devastating outbreak of cholera.

At the heart of the tale is our hero, who takes in a teenage girl competing in the Koduku contest. She stirs memories of the daughter he lost, awakening his humanity and reshaping his path. Their bond is compelling, tender, and transformative. As his siblings emerge, painful family histories surface, yet it becomes clear that, like all families, they must eventually unite to confront the dilemma that binds them.

The mastermind behind the contest may be easy to identify, but that hardly diminishes their impact. The role is integral, and the actor delivers it with nuance and strength. Contestants range from relentless fighters to those guided by conscience, unwilling to cross certain moral lines. Meanwhile, the enforcers and cleanup crews execute their unforgiving duties with chilling precision—though some reveal flickers of empathy toward the doomed participants.

Many will enjoy Samurai. It is well written. It is relevant to today. It is thoughtful. There are some amazing cultural elements in various villages and towns on show too. The bloody scenes are relevant. Even though the fight scenes have super human endurance on display, as one other reviewer has mentioned: John Wick would be proud. This is a show the makers can feel proud of.

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The moon is beautiful tonight

Reborn is a rare show. Its exploration of the human condition is both harrowing and beautiful. Great writing, great acting and great settings all come together to deliver an unforgettable show. This is one of the best shows, ever.

Qing Yu is an amazing human being. She has the most pragmatic view on life. She has suffered, suffers through most of the story but explores her life through trying to understand what people are about. Then in the ultimate tribute to humankind, she gives back to all around her in spades.

Ming Sheng is both rebellious, unbending, loyal and someone who can’t stand his father and yet Qing Yu opens his eyes. These two together show how, as young actors, with so much experience behind them, can deliver a performance beyond other actors their age.

The writing is so respectful. The subject matter not easy I would think in that part of the world but full marks for tackling a number of key health and social issues on many different levels.

Qing Yu’s mum, a brilliant actress, who we have seen deliver great performances in other shows, is superb yet again. She deserves an award as does Zhang Jing Yi. We see a mother who is devastated, depressed, but determined to survive - because that’s what you must do.

Qing Yu’s wider family are the pits. The writing doesn’t hold back on how traditional village and family values make life tough. We cheer for her and her mum as they tackle the father’s family both head on and through doing the right thing.

Ming Sheng’s family is seen through the eyes of juggling a professional career. This is where the writing is brilliant. It has us thinking a certain way, with prejudices until we see subtle changes make us realise that his father is a decent human being.

Then to top it all off, the show reveals what love really means: the moon is beautiful tonight. That is to say, to share life with someone, with all its ups and downs but for you to be behind one another right up until the very end.

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Go Find Your Popcorn And Strap Yourself In!

For a micro drama, The Princess, for most of its run, is a good one. I enjoyed the repeated scenarios, the reoccurring plotting to split the leads apart, the ensuring heartbreak, them getting back together and the politics of the Republican Era.

This drama has a very good cast, great costuming and tantalising sets with good production values. Like all micro dramas, the end of each 15 minute episode ends in a cliffhanger, so, yes, we get certain plot lines repeated time and again. Reaching for the popcorn during these moments will help you get through what happens next!

However, I found that during the last 20% of its run, the rehashed happenings to our leads undermined the story. Some would argue - what story, it’s a typical Republican Era plot. Even though it is, the early episodes had interesting developments regarding Chinese opera at the local theatre, good family mysteries and interesting characters.

There is plenty in the romance department for fans of the leads, who have both done some very good shows to date. The number of face eating, passionate kissing scenes and other amorous moments (that you don’t see in standard dramas) would keep most very happy 😂🤣😂

If show hadn’t gone down the path it did in the final 8 episodes, I would have given it 9.5 instead of 8. It’s worth a peek, even if it is for the first ten episodes 😊

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Marie Kondo Would Be Proud!

My Housekeeper popped up on my Netflix feed and I had a feeling straight up I would like it - and I did. So much so, I finished show overnight.

So, what’s to like. Firstly, the characters. Each character is given room to breath. There is no over the top character, which is a welcome relief regarding this type of jdorama. The blend of senior actors and the younger actors works.

Secondly, the workplace. It seemed normal, supportive and deals with the current issues - psycho social health. We see how leading up to this, the pressure on workers, the lack of time and a key stress indicator - super messy apartments - it felt like home, actually!

Thirdly, I felt the story addressed a very real issue in Japan: that marriage is still valued and that age gaps are no barrier to this. I did have thoughts of papa katsu running through my mind but show is not that. We have two lovely people who somehow, bit by bit, fall into each other’s orbit.

Fourthly, it deals with family separation in an even handed way. It even shows how it is possible to mend fences, to bridge that gap.

Lastly, I liked how the focus was on that it was okay to have a job that suited you. There was no need for everyone to aspire to be a professional corporate, a lawyer, a doctor and so on. In fact, hiring a housekeeper is a smart move because it gives you your life back and room to breath, to be human.

Take show for what it is - it’s a nice show. Enjoy 😉

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Superb viewing - don’t let the logic gaps put you off!

Legend of the Female General is superb viewing. The show has very high production values, great aesthetics, superb acting and logic gaps aplenty but they don’t matter. This show is top notch entertainment.

Our OTP is great together. From the initial moments of subterfuge, through to relationship challenges, flashbacks, sweet moments and side by side on the battlefield. In fact, the final battle scene to this series is top notch. He Yan is superb on her white charger shooting arrows in an effort to rescue her beloved. The best horse scene since Jeremy Tsui.

There is the full range of villains and one in particular who really doesn’t seem that bad but lets his romantic attachment cloud his judgement. He tends to interfere more than he should.

There are many other highlights: He Yan’s indomitable spirit as she rejoins the army and makes her way back to the top, her increasing affection for the ML, typical tropes that are dealt with quickly (yay) and Huai Jin who, as the perfect male general, has a hard exterior but a soft heart.

Viki does have the bad habit of only releasing one episode per day towards the end of a series. Although frustrating, Legend carried itself very well at one episode per day.

So, what is the show’s message? It would seem to be: stay true to yourself, even if you have to hide who you are from time to time.

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