Xtinew

FIRST JAPANESE DRAMA I WATCHED

This is my first Japanese drama and like it...I rated overall 8.

It's about the Tawara family, the last shinobi clan, who lived in a traditional 'house of ninjas' in present-day Japan. Six years earlier, the eldest son died during a mission to rescue a kidnapped politician, and the Tawaras abandoned their discipline. They aim to be a normal family, but struggle with some idiosyncratic dysfunctions. Some family member were longing for action because of the boredom, separately they involved in questionable activities while the Dad, the head of family strive to hold family together as ordinary as possible. The head of the Bureau of Ninja Management insisted the Tawara family to take on mission although been rejected multiple times.

When a crisis unfolds, the family is drawn back into the shadows of its past, the son that they thought died was actually survived and recruited by the enemy. The family must take on the greatest crisis as it became personal one and that threaten the nation on political trouble.

Action, little romance, family dynamic, revenge, mystery and comedy. Japanese has special dark humor that I can appreciate.

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WHICH ONE IS THE REAL PRINCE?

The star of this drama is Kang Hoon, he's cute and adorable. 3 guys with hidden identity renting rooms for their national exam in town hosted by Yoon Dan-Oh, one of the guy was the run-away crown prince's son whose gone missing many years before with the help of watchman. The Crown Prince's son Lee Seol was survived from the coup, his parent killed by his brother taking away his seat as the heir of kingdom. Lee Seol was helped by a watchman, a mysterious man who'd protect the king, since young he went hiding and lived surround people under different identity.

3 handsome men; Kang San, Kim Shi Yeol, Jeong Yu Ha were room mates, although they're not getting on well, they're pretty civil to each other. Kang San was good with his martial art and very tart, Shi Yeol is an easy going, gambler, playboy, Yu Ha was a serious scholar and like Dan-Oh but who actually were they? When the chief of Palace guard were looking for the 'golden dust (Lee Seol) his intention was to find the watchman because he believed if he find the runaway prince he certainly would find the watchman who killed his beloved son during the coup. He suspected Dan-Oh would know who it was among the 3 guys and struck a deal with house as collateral.

I guessed it wrong, I thought it wrong, which one was the real prince amongst 3 men. Eventually the King was determined not by the real blood but by conveniences. Good ending..all had their happy ending.

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DIFFERENT JUNG HAE IN - DESERTER PURSUIT (D.P)

I came to watch this drama for Jung Hae-In, he's so adorable and the sweetest in 'Something in the Rain', the best boyfriend any girl can hope for but in this drama though he's transformed himself into a tough smart capable Private Ahn Joon-Ho. who go out on pursuit Deserters from the Korean Army with his partner Corporal Han Ho-yul (Koo Kyo-Hwan). Army deserters, young men under obligatory 2 years military service in South Korea who went through hell of being bully, abuse, harass, humiliate, ignore by their seniors in broken military system. By each case, it discovers how these bad things effect their mental health when they rather decide 'NO' other choice but to run from the Army and face the consequences. Bully is NEVER ok, Military is the place to toughen and train men/women up, to be ready in more harsh and tough condition in case of war. Many higher ranks use this form of reason, abusing their power or seniority that many become powerless and held contempt. Who's to blame? Officers that pretend not hear & seeing anything? The system that ignore the victims, encourage the abuses as form of group discipline.

Despite all that, Private Ahn Joon-Ho (Jung Hae-In), Corporal Han Ho-Yun (Koo Kyo-Hwan) and Sergeant First Class Park Bum-gu (Kim Sung-Kyun) come out as more compassionate and reasonable soldiers than the most. Corporal Han has more comedic side of him, taking his job funner with passionate approach to the problem, Private Ahn is the 'brainier' in finding deserters using logic and analysis although he did not go to collage and has a rough abusive upbringing, Sargent Park is their superior who gives orders - he sees reason behind every deserters. The story is great, the actors do amazing job, the supporting actors do nothing less than the main actors. When they chase - they really run, Hae-In really do boxing - his stance is perfect. Pack of emotion, comedy, action, smart dialog, great music (OST), no romance which is awesome. Although some of the scenes are gruesome...nothing I can find wrong to every episode, although it's only 6 episodes! End episode with shock, ehemm...what? This is the end???

I can see a mole in the corner of Jung Hae-In's lip (want to bite that), he's boxing and no smiling, tough exterior somehow doesn't erase his sweetness and charms of Seo Joon Hee (Something in the rain). I am looking forward for season 2 and hopefully it will be more than 6 episodes....oh can't wait!! I'd like to see more of Jung Hae-In in more manly impressive character instead of his brand as a romantic cute sweet lovable guy in romance drama. I like him here...a complex deep heartfelt man who has inner struggle, who wears baseball cap and a hoody than polished apparels, who doesn't smile to charm the ladies but seriousness like he's been through rough and witnessing sadness and disappointment in life.

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STAND BY YOUR MAN

One of the OST is 'Stand by your man' but this girl doesn't stand by her man. Seo Joon-Hui (Jung Hae-in) is the best candidate for sainthood for putting up with alot of s**ts of Yoon Jin-ah (Son Yi-Jin), 4 years his senior that he loves her terribly and deeply, that would protect and care to depth of his heart. The best perfect boyfriend that any girls in this world will go gaga over, his smile would brighten anyone. Both of MLs are very strong chemistry, a handsome cute 31 years old who fallen hard in love with his older sister's bestfriend - his bestfriend's sister, whose family considered them as their own son and daughter for long standing support and friendship between them. Suddenly, they're in relationship - although a secret love affair - afraid to reveal their true feelings to their family.....doubt confessing it to her mother which fairly ending the love story. Ep 10 starts with heartbreaking scenes, as the episodes progress their love puts on the line - the test that will be determined the true love.

Read the review and many don't like this drama. I love it, a love story that has depth, hope and love that would not survive when both give up on the relationship like many of us do. About the age different between them as an issue, 4 years age gap isn't bad, I don't understand the reason why her mom against their relationship. They aren't blood brother/sister, although he isn't coming from prestige family background but he adores and loves her....isn't it all matter? Obsessing with background, Mom becomes the most hated character here. Poor Joon-Hui, that guy deserves a noble award for 'best boyfriend' type.

Part of 'Stand by your man' lyric said;
But if you love him, you'll forgive him
Even though he's hard to understand
And if you love him, oh, be proud of him
'Cause after all, he's just a man
Well.....Joon Hui isn't like a type of man described on the lyric....he is the opposite. Probably, I love this drama because I can relate with my personal experience...the best and worst of being loved and in love...and when it's fallen apart.

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My two favorite guys; Chen Kun and Shaw Qu Chu Xiao (not William Chan)

Another version of Ying Yang Master played by Chen Kun and Shaw Qu, these two actors has different personalities that carry their screen characters alive. Chen Kun has strong, charismatic, firm, teasing personality while young Shaw Qu has style distinctive moves, youth freshness, compatible with veteran actors like Chen Kun, Zhao Xun, and William Chan. Bo Ya ( Shaw Qu) was ousted by Qing Ming (Chen Kun) and looking for him to restore his name and reputation. Like the other version, this one has weird creatures that got us scratch our head, but it's expected, but I like this version as much as Mark Chao and Deng Lun's one.

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Darren Chen and the other creepy guy...

I watch this drama because of Darren Chen, he was awesome in Sleuth of Ming Dynasty as magistrate. He always has the best smile and cutest face, I think beside Riley Wang, he's one of the cutest actor there is. I am not into super natural theme or super power immortal/devil kind of story line. I am sticking to this drama because Darren Chen worth to watch, well...I like him more as Tang Fan as an intelligent, chatty, childish, lanky, smiley, know nothing about martial art, and everybody's little brother. He's good at it...mirroring his personality. In this drama though he's cold demeanor, quite, respectful, upright, martial artist...25 years old that ripe to find a wife (encourage by his God-Mother). The actress is new, she's quite beautiful. The story is so so ....there're too much of visual effects that I am not fond of, there's one guy that's pretty creepy WenGu Wei Yu that got jealous with the relationship develop between Zhan Yan and Duanmu Cai. This creepy guy was always monitoring - watching Duanmu Cai although he's one of her people...with grumpy face, white robes, jealous, he's not on the best mood all the time. Darren Chen is a charmer, his sweet innocent smile hasn't change, his dimple decorates his cute face. Since he's a local hero, many match-makers try to get close to propose marriage from many local girls...too bad his heart's already belong to immortal Duanmu Cai. They shouldn't be in relationship because one is mortal guy and the other is immortal deity..but fallen in love is hard to deny. Relationship between MLs are on and off all the time...they love but trying to avoid each other - like the long last 20 episodes are getting their heart bruises. They're back 1000 years when the root of love debt calling, different background set - different supporting actors - different dimension. Expect season 2 because there isn't end of drama...

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OMG...Hilarious

Zhao LuSi and Ryan Ding were the cutest couple..their chemistry were genuine, hilarious and perfect match for each other. Zhao LuSi was cheerful, mischievous, happy, and smart while Ryan Ding more naive in the name of love but also calculated and kind, he's super jealous to Pei Heng (of course, why would his wife flirt with an old flame/ex fiance?). From the start they met till the end, it was full of sweetness, comedy, and survival techniques (for Chen Qing Qing). There're a lot of memorable scenes but my favorite was when Chen Qian Qian elected as the leader of rebel and she got drunk from celebratory feast and Han Shuo came to save her and...well it's so dang adorable and funny. I want to have best bud like Zi Rui or even Bai Ji that would fill the days with laughter. Although it wasn't a happy ending in the other dimension but a happy one in modern life. I definitely want season 2 and hope it will be the same main leads.

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Combination Season 1 and 2

Like everyone else, I watched this for Xiao Zhan and Zhao LuSi. Wish Xiao Zhan was the leading man, he's so much better than Jason Koo in beauty, and acting skills. Why can we just talk about Xiao Zhan and Zhao Lusi than other cast members? Because they brought this story together...the rating might be different if these two as a couple (almost..dang it!) although the story was not interesting at all...with LuSI smile and Uncle Bei Tang MoRan charms...this drama was better. Why on earth the Emperor went to Maid's quarter so often just for Luo Fei Fei, when someone with highest respect and power - that person won't step in or too much bothered with Maid's issues . The rest of the cast members were more less desirable.

Xiao Zhan has the tendency to be stand out amongst actors. Like this drama, the Wolf, Joy of Life, he wasn't main Lead but we wish he was and could only imagine those dramas would turned up to better than original Male Leads (not JOL though, he was Yan BingYun). His collaboration with Zhao LuSi was actually more fitting, they both look the best of themselves, LuSi was cute and Xiao Zhan was a sweetheart. I didn't care so much about the story line, none made sense, just love to see these two and none others. 2 big stars born and Hope they'll be together again in the future drama...

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BAD ASS WOMEN

The only word I'd said for this drama is love..love..love and eat. I love 2 fathers who love their children unconditionally regardless if they're biological children or not...their loves shone through times, reproach to all parties. Song Wei Long, Seven Tan, Steven Zhang dynamic brothers and little sister relationship with a lot of emotional struggles as family came from different abandonment, the best Dads Li Ba and Ling Ba, the sibling would dropped everything to help out the others trouble. Ling Xiao's mom was kind of crazy, chronic PTSD after the lost of her first daughter that traumatized Ling Xiao as he tried to deal with his Mom's possessiveness over his guilt. He ZiQui reconciled with his mom finally after so much heartaches. A lot of eating scenes as family and friendship, all looked so delicious foods that I would gladly sat with them eating Li HaiChao's cooking. I like the most was the way Ling Xiao declare his relationship with Li JianJian in front of their dad....and he hesitantly accepted the relationship - ZiQui was the one firstly asked for his permission. Anyway....He ZiQui gave Ling Xiao and Li JianJian an ultimatum in their boyfriend - girlfriend relationship not to mess up 'sibling relationship' if their love didn't work out. ZiQui's seeking for kinship to the family who raised him while Ling Xiao had loved JianJian since high school in desperation of a drowning boy/man from sinking psychological burdens.

All bad Ass women were all in this drama; the women who abandoned their young children, or women who're forcefully dictating their children to go to what their best vision to their kids. These women didn't allow their children to make mistakes and learn life lessons. Tolerate, love, understand, hopeful, forgiveness won over regret, disappointment, sadness, anger, bitterness of these women. They became one family....and that's the best ending ever.

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The love story of Wen KeXing and Zhao Zi Shu

I would not pass this drama, it's addictive! I mean who can you not fall in love with Zhao Xu, Lao Wen, Gu Xiang, Cao WeiNing, little idiot Zhang ChengLing, and Ye BaiYi. The story is around this character and the actors delivers in the best way. You can't find Zhao Xu character from other actor better than Zhang Zhe Han or flirtatious Wen KeXing other than Simon Gong because these two main leads are reminiscence of Zhao Xu and Wen KeXing. Iam not into BL, don't like Untamed, but I love this one. Zhang Zhe Han is so gorgeously beautiful man, and flirtatious Simon Gong is so dang handsome. . . when Ah Xu started to warm up with Lao Wen and understood how much love and devotion Lao Wen has toward him, they're soft gazing to each other, smiles, barbs back forth, and helping each other to overcome emotional and traumatic past, co-parenting ChengLing. Sad ending for Gu Xiang and Cao WeiNing, too much love between Ah Xu and Lao Wen - they want to give the best life and health to the other man. I would give credit to Simon Gong I think he's the best in here, he's flirtatious in minute and cruel to people he hates in next. His chilling laugh, cold stares, tight lips, killing and revenge mood, his fan was deadly more so than BaiYi sword. The next scenes he'll be laugh happily, sparkling in his eyes, sweet smile, proud uncle master to ChengLing, concern and loving soulmate to Zhao Xu and kind master to Gu Xiang. That's why I love Simon Gong....he embodied all. Lately I realized Zhao Zi Shu seems to have a good and spoil life. His master/wife adored him and treated him like their own son. All members of the sect respected and adored him, 81 of original members died in his watch including his dear junior. He's been so much in power since 'naive and knew nothing' young man who brought the sect to serve Prince Jin and yet remaining member still loved him (in case of Han Jing) to the end. There where his guilty conscience played important role as he redirected his mind set into totally different perspective...change his life for the better but dying...this is where 'Word of Honor' story started. Where our love story and obsession began with the character of Wen KeXing, Gu Xiang, Zhang ChengLing, Cao WeiNing and Ye BaiYi. This drama will become a classic..one of the most memorable drama to many of us.

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This is the first C-drama I watch that got me hook. Zheng YeCheng and Rosy Zhao LuSi were the cutest couple and made this drama worth watching. The duo had the cutest dynamic or because Zhao Lusi is naturally the cutest actress right now - she has the freshness of youth like she just coming out from shower - her smile brighten the day. I love their interaction, the chemistry of them were purely bliss although YiCheng is the mature character in this drama - he's compatible with LuSi's cuteness. I like Er Meng's (Mao Fang Yuan) dumb character, LuSi has best interaction with him although short air time together, they are good to each other.

The rest of the cast though I don't really care, the idea of story has great potential - just that production team didn't execute it right. The technicality was terrible...we can see obvious fake visual effects, the supporting actors lousy - none of them doing their role good to bring out the best of whole collaboration. but great OST. The best for the whole production is Zheng YiCheng and Zhao LuSi became the first cutest CP....follows with Ryan Ding, Liu Yu Ning, Xu Kai Cheng..and next.

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LU YI & JIN XIA FAMILY COMPLICATION

Love the comedy, action, social standing on background story of this drama. I love Allen Ren and Seven Tan, they're so cute together. One had OCD and the other one was free spirited - a girl whose appreciated the value of money. There were great interaction to get to know each other better, support and sacrifice and in love. Implacable Lu Yi was so gorgeous in his layer of robes, could't see speck of dirt. Being in uniform, Lu Yi was the best dressed officer as far as I am concern but when he's out of layers - he's not buffed at all - just a skinny lad. Seven Tan delivered her character very smoothly, I think Lu Yi fallen in love with her in how much Jin Xia always found reasons to touch him. Kind of the breath of fresh air after so many C-drama stories were about intrigue, greed, power, and jealousy. I love the dynamic relationship between Lu Yi and Jin Xia, not just the cuteness together but also professionalism when they're on the job. Besides 2 ML, Han Dong (Yan Shi Fan) and Li Qin Qin (Jin Xia's adopted mom) did amazing with their characters.

It's dragging the whole Japanese pirates case or zombies, half of the drama was about it. Jin Xia found out Lu Yi's father was involved of the killing her entire family (& clan) based on the order of Emperor. Although their love affair were blooming and promised to love one another, Lu Yi felt guilt of his father's involvement so he voluntarily went for his execution. Emperor realized his wrongdoing by ordered execution of Jin Xia's family later and pardoned Lu Yi. Yeah, it's complected background causes but the end of story was very fulfilling. I think 55 episodes is way too long - 30 something episodes would be more proportion.....I skipped on not so interesting plots.

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Unbearable to watch

Ok...I gave it try 4 episodes. Actors are so childish, acting skill is 5 the most, they both are messy in appearance and NOT eye candy, probably beauty/handsomeness isn't everything but helps especially when acting skill is also a doubt. It's only 16 episodes in total but I don't think I can make it to the 5th episode...some people investing their money, trust, time and effort to create this drama but the whole production blew it off...they give opportunity for these (not great talent) young actors. This is one of the drama that will be forgotten soon as people start with only first episode...

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They dropped the ball...

Sorry, I don't like this drama. Actors wasn't good Jason Koo over-acting it, Connie Kang is a beautiful girl but that's all, they didn't have chemistry, and the rest of supporting actors did less than good. Jason Koo in Oh! My Emperor didn't do well either, Xiao Zhan took all the credits and a better choice for the main lead instead of him. In the Song of Glory he did little better. This drama story sucks; childish and boring. By ep 6, I was enough watching them.. nothing was good. Looking for better dramas in case.....seriously if I want to waste my precious time.... this drama still didn't make a cut.

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INCOMPATIBILITY

Alright before everyone slap me with vicious comment, I think Xiao Zhan is way too handsome for any female actresses to become his compatible co-star. But at least the production team should have chosen a skill actress as a FL rather than this one. As banished Royal Prince Shi Ying, Xiao Zhan was immaculate, dignified, serene, preserved, a perfect gentleman for a prince. Cultivated in seclusion, once solely focused on his tasks, he develops romantic feelings for his disciple Zhu Yan but their student/teacher relationship prevents either from expressing their true feelings. The thing is Ren Min not up to the task, with a big nose and raspy bangs she wasn't a typical female that would melt an outstanding prince's heart to have a happily ever after together. She's an okey when doing modern drama but sadly not this. I might be over estimated Shi Ying a reclusive young handsome prince might not be down to any girl but he's fallen to the silliest girl. Someone that wearing her heart out is more suitable actress to partner with Xiao Zhan's beautiful romantic feature. I can't think anyone better suitable as his co-star. I do think they miscast the FL, her acting was average, her character (& voice) was annoying endlessly, the plots weren't new. OR if it wasn't Xiao Zhan, Ren Min might have a better luck with this drama, IDK.

Of course, I dropped this drama soon after realize that this duo didn't bring emotional drive that they intended to, it's mismatch casting. Ep 1-8 wasn't interesting, I think I gave them enough chance. I also find Xian Xia genre doesn't catch my attention. All that flashes, magic, and all the stint, it loses integrity of acting skill and creativity, it's all about digital works. The concept of story line is overly used. Xiao Zhan should do better in choosing script.

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