SecondBreakfast

Realistic and touching modern cdrama that isn't what you'd expect

What really made this cdrama stand out from the other modern ones I’ve watched is the steady, but realistic plotline and pace of the story. The conflicts faced by the characters are ones many people in the world experience. I think BJT and ZRN did an amazing job portraying the trauma and healing process between SY and WYF. I really want to shout these two actors out because they really blew this out of the water. I can’t imagine anyone else playing these two characters the way they did. The chemistry was literally unmatched. They didn’t rush into their relationship; it was a slow burn. And this also played into the realistic aspect because someone like WYF who had gone through so much would definitely be cautious when committing to a relationship. Some people thought the drama was too slow, but I think this is what makes it so attractive. It doesn’t sugarcoat or fluff up trauma recovery. Rather, it validates that it takes time to heal from these things, and you will always be supported and loved throughout. You shouldn’t think you are unworthy of care because everyone deserves to be loved. The First Frost brings many societal issues into light, such as sexual assault. It’s a really sensitive and deep theme that I didn’t expect to see in a romance, modern cdrama like this one. I think it’s important that cdramas represent more of these problems and accurately portray how they are in society. Additionally, the First Frost doesn’t pretend the conflicts the characters face are easy to solve and everything favors them. In fact, it didn’t for like 8 whole years. There was a steady character growth and subtle changes that made the story seem more relatable. In other modern cdramas, a lot of unrealistic events occur that make the plot seem super fake or impossible in real life. However, in the First Frost, all the plot events make sense for the circumstances the characters are in.

I also want to note the First Frost gained so much global traction. It’s really interesting to see more American audiences making the First Frost so popular. Edits of the First Frost have literally been flooding my social media pages. I’ve seen so many influencers say how they’re out of their “cdrama slump” or ditching “kdramas” for the First Frost. It gives me pride that people are recognizing cdramas but I also feel sort of frustrated that people don’t give enough attention to the hundreds of other AMAZING cdramas that have already been produced. I think cdramas deserve so much more recognition and admiration.

There honestly isn’t anything I didn’t like about this cdrama. The OST was stellar, actors amazing, cinematography CRAZY GOOD, story soul touching. This director really does a good job with creating perfect modern cdramas. Highly recommend people who haven't watched it to watch it. It’s a really rewarding journey.

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A wholesome family historical drama that tests the strength of familial bonds

Story: I think what really made the story touching was the difficulties faced by Mother Li all contributed to her future success. She had been ridiculed and quite literally exiled from her own home and had to fend for her children and herself. The thing that really touched me was the way she looked so happy and content at the end of the drama when she realized she had accomplished her life goal of providing a good life for her children.

I’m going to split the drama up into 4 main parts: 3rd daughter, 1st daughter, 4th daughter, and 5th daughter’s story

3rd daughter’s story: I think this story was definitely the one I was most looking forward to. I was expecting Perfect Match to mainly talk about the 3rd daughter and her husband’s story, but I was sort of disappointed. They marketed the cdrama as Lu Yuxiao and Wang Xingyue being the male and female lead, but they only had 10 episodes of real solid screen time. Their story was so short compared to the others. It was honestly quite disappointing to not see enough of their collaboration as I was looking forward to it. They had so much chemistry, I just wanted more of it.

1st daughter’s story: This part of the cdrama was arguably my least favorite one. I think the eldest daughter did not deserve all that drama. She’s the most caring and smart sister in my opinion, yet she doesn’t speak out enough when it comes to her own marriage. I initially thought she and her husband were really not very fit for each other. He was so cold and rude to her and always expected her to fix his problems and apologize to him. He was sort of useless at the beginning, but it sort of got better. Also, when he called her “姐姐” (sister) to suck up to her, I was literally getting the ick. I know their story still ended up ok, but it was unnecessarily long and dragged out. Honestly the directors could have allocated more time to the 3rd sister’s story. Also, the backstory of Yuan Ming (1st daughter’s husband) was sort of forced and super random. I don’t think it contributed much to the plot.

4th daughter’s story: This was my favorite arc, surprisingly, after the disappointment of the short 3rd daughter story. I think their story was thought out and was really attractive. It was very easy for me to get hooked on their romance. No complaints.

5th daughter’s story: This part also wasn’t too bad. I think some parts of the Yang family’s issues were sort of messy, but it still managed to get the point across. I do agree that Yang Xian (5th daughter’s husband) didn’t really do enough to convey his absolute love and affection for the 5th daughter after he literally ditched her for 3 years. I mean I know it was for a good cause, but he could have begged more for forgiveness. Also, Yang Xian did not do enough for his wife to help her solve his family’s case. It literally pertained to him, but he just sat there with his broken leg. He could have at least sent some people out to help her.

Overall, the story wasn’t too bad. I was just so, so disappointed the male and female leads didn’t get enough screen time. I honestly don’t think you can say there was a female or male lead for this cdrama because the structure of it is different. They split the story up into different parts for each couple, so neither one got too much screen time. I do think the eldest daughter’s story was too long though.

cast/acting:

Lu Yuxiao: I’m really glad she’s getting more and more lead roles in cdramas, although you can’t really say she was the female lead in Perfect Match. I don’t think her acting was noticeably bad or noticeably good in Perfect Match because it is a light and wholesome cdrama. It didn’t really test her acting, but I’m excited for her future projects!

Wang Xingyue: Again, I was sad he and Lu Yuxiao weren’t the center of the story but oh well. I think Wang Xingyue needs to take on some more challenging acting jobs. I saw him in the Double, and I had such high expectations for him. I think he really has a lot of potential for good and challenging roles, so we’ll see.


Liang Yong Qi: I saw him act the bad ex-husband in the Double, so I was super surprised when I noticed he was also going to be in the Perfect Match with Wang Xingyue. Originally, I didn’t have high hopes for him because I kind of hated him from his previous role as a villain; however, I was pleasantly surprised by his adaptability to his role in Perfect Match. It was really cute to see him be such a kind and caring person when it came to the 4th daughter.

I did notice some interesting cameos such as Li Yunrui as the Li Father and Zeng Shunxi as the Emperor. Funny casting, but it worked out I guess.

Themes: there were a lot of really good themes in Perfect Match that really tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel happy inside.

Familial bonds: From the beginning of the story when the Li family was alone and hopeless to the end when every sister had found their “perfect match”, this cdrama is full of the power of family. Mother Li is really the backbone of the entire family, bringing them together and keeping them safe all the time. She deserved so much and her resilience helped her be blessed with 5 amazing son-in-laws. Also, I think the brotherhood in the son-in-law club is hilarious and touching. They’re always either reporting back to their wives or secretly aiding them in their efforts to solve problems.

Gender stereotypes: I think all 6 of Li family’s daughters all fought against the gender stereotypes at the time. Each daughter was brought up to be resilient and intelligent in the face of an opponent, and that really shined through. They all had their strong suits and worked together to solve problems, no matter how tough.

Overall: Although the story had some disappointments and slow areas, I think overall Perfect Match is a warm and wholesome cdrama you should definitely watch when you feel down. The progression of the Li family from having zero to everything is truly what makes Perfect Match perfect. I rate it a 9.5/10

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Two unfortunate lightning rods that are crazy, stupid in love

For me Mr. Plankton was a really quick watch (1 and ½ days). The 10 episodes were reminiscent of the fleeting time Hae Jo and Jae Mi had together. Overall, the acting of all the actors was outstanding. Their dialogues, eye contact, body languages were all spot on. It really made me get super into the story. Although the story was so touching and made me sob, I definitely wouldn’t rewatch it. There’s too much trauma. I think this is definitely a one-time kdrama. Not a feel good one for sure.

Themes/story:

I think what “Mr. Plankton” really taught me is to cherish what you have in the present. Stop trying to fulfill dreams or aspirations that will only harm you. I saw this with Heung and his family lineage, Jae Mi’s dreams of becoming a mother, and Hae Jo trying to find his biological dad. All these things were painful subjects for all three characters, bringing them more suffering than actual joy. And in the end, neither of them were able to fulfill their goals. I think what this kdrama is trying to tell us is that your time is fleeting on this earth, just like plankton in the ocean. You make your oxygen and then you’re gone. Make the most of it while it lasts and enjoy even the obstacles that come your way.

Characters:

Hae Jo: Tough and charismatic, Hae Jo is the definition of a “bad boy”. I think his quirkiness and free-will for his life stems from having been neglected by his parents as a child. He pretends to be a tough cookie, but in reality craves attention and love. His only real way to deal with pain and suffering is to push those he cares about as far away from him as possible, resulting in them suffering more. Hae Jo deserved a better life, but he was never really given the chance to fully experience it to the fullest. Just as he was beginning to understand what true family felt like, he could no longer stay for much longer. His character really created a pit in my stomach because while he is toxic and harmful towards a lot of friends, he experienced a lot of really unfortunate events.

Jae Mi: Not much to say here. Stereotypically bright, sunny girl that brings joy into everyone’s lives. She’s a ray of sunshine for everyone around her. I think she also craves love, just like Hae Jo, making them the first storm. Their yearning for affection sort of overwhelmed them. This makes it super hard for the both of them to separate, while they also simultaneously hurt each other, especially Hae Jo. Jae Mi honestly deserves all the best in the world. Her one wish to become a mother couldn’t be fulfilled, and then her soulmate passed away.

Heung: I love Heung. I think he's really slept on character. Having already seen Oh Jung Se’s acting in ‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay’, I knew Heung was gonna be a great character. Heung is a character who really finds confidence in himself. Although spoiled and cherished all his life, he never truly knew who he was as an individual because he constantly lived by clan rules, and his mother’s guidance. Even though Heung was also going through loss in the story, he didn’t let this misguide him and corrupt his heart. He remained pure and sincere to Hae Jo and Jae Mi, never letting his pain hurt them in any way. He even comforted them along the way, showing true bravery and compassion.

Bong Suk: I LOVE Bong Suk. She is literally everything: a diva, a baddie, a tough mom, a super caring woman. Her charisma and sarcasm perfectly matches Hae Jo. Her dynamic with him is also so funny. Even though she pretends to be super tough and mean on the outside, she cares deeply for Hae Jo and anything troubles he goes through. I adore her. 10/10 character.

Other comments:
- When Hae Jo reunited with his old dad, I literally broke down. I think that was the scene I cried the second most (first place obviously goes to the last scene)
- The ending scene is literally HEART BREAKING. The visuals of it, the music, the acting. UGHHHHH. It hurts everytime I think about it. I can still hear Hae Jo whispering “I love you” to Jae Mi.
- Hae Jo’s lackey is so funny
- The song “California Dreamin’” will never be the same
- Why did Hae Jo’s dad just accept him again? Did he realize he was wrong?

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Highly underrated and thrilling kdrama that makes you feel all the feels

Overall: I haven’t watched such a complete and perfect kdrama in a while. I feel like WTPR had, like everyone else said, all the elements people love in a kdrama. What I really felt made WTPR stand out from other kdramas I’ve watched recently was its dark storyline. The insane chemistry of the actors also surprised me, because I was not expecting their love to be that raw and real. I think overall this drama was actually very satisfying and enjoyable to watch.

Story: The story really surprised me. I initially watched WTPR because I saw edits of it on my feed and I thought it looked cute. Boy was I not expecting the many plot twists in the kdrama. I feel like so much was packed into 12 episodes but the director did a really good job of making it clear for the most part. I think there were some plot holes regarding Baek Sa Eon’s father, but it’s not that big of a deal. I was really pleasantly surprised by the depth and darkness of the story. Aside from that, I know there was also controversy around the last few episodes, but I didn’t see much of an issue with it. Also, I wanted to note that this kdrama was the first in a long time where I felt the ending was literally perfect. I didn't really want more because I was happy with how it ended. It was a good place to cutoff.

Acting/cast: I only have two words to describe Yoo Yeok Seok and Chae Soo Bin: HOLY CHEMISTRY. I was not expecting their acting to be this good. The way they convey their love for each other in the story tugged at my heartstrings SO MUCH. Their feelings are just so intense in WTPR I was literally obsessed. I was literally screaming in the last episode. I think initially the actors’ kind of turned me away from WTPR because I didn’t know either of them, but I’m glad I decided to watch because my life has been changed by their story. I will never forget Sa Eon and Hee Joo.

Other comments: I think the music wasn’t too notable, just your average kdrama music you get you in the feels. For rewatch, I definitely wouldn’t watch it again because there’s so many plot twists. I might watch some cute scenes again just to feel fluffy inside because boy were there a lot. Also, I really liked the story of the second couple. I wish they got more screen time and more for their story.

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