7
3
This review may contain spoilers
It captured the meh
As with many sageuk dramas, the setting, pageantry and historical references hook us in. The plot and characters sustain it. Unfortunately, this series is patchy in the last two and its quality suffers.The first few episodes are nicely done. The idea of the FL being a baduk master is novel, but it has its own narrative issues. Regardless, it set up the meet-cute of the OTP. We are left with no doubt that the romance of our leads is the corner stone of this drama. This is problem #1.
As with many Korean court dramas, the FL ended up having to cross-dress just to get access to the ML. The FL is just not convincing as a man. It also hamstrings her performance. There are moments of animation but it mostly feels wooden.
Unsurprisingly, the main theme is standard issue palace intrigue. There are the odd twists, but they are mere ripples in a mill pond. All the classic courtly characters are there. Both good and evil. The veteran actors turn in solid performances but this is bread and butter for them.
The run-of-the-mill political shenanigans is problem #2. We run through several backstabbing plots as expected. Each time we arrive at a flashpoint we’d get our hopes up. Is this the turning point? Will we see some major realignment? Alas, after each bump, the show would settle back to a long period of doldrum.
Other than the romance and political maneuvers, we must contend with a simmering revenge plot. Unfortunately, this has issues as well. So much time and energy have been devoted to this but at the 11th hour, the protagonist found out that it is all a misunderstanding. We knew this all along so . . . Doh.
Obviously, the evil characters are going to get their comeuppance. However, just like the muddled revenge plots, the righting of such wrongs took its sweet time. Everyone knows who they are but other than much gnashing of teeth, not a great deal happens and then everything happened. By then, I'm past caring.
As I mentioned before, romance of the leads is key. However, their chemistry is questionable. Their skinship mostly leaves me cold. Their first kiss is good but I challenge anyone to feel excited after watching their last kiss in the finale. Go on, watch it and tell me I'm wrong. I double dare you!
Thankfully, the acting of the ML steadied the ship. He was 10 times more animated than the FL and his acting is next level. However, he can't compensate for every shortcomings of this drama.
In the end, the series is watchable but there is nothing new. There are the odd highlights. The ending is a bit ponderous. You’d think an HEA ending is a given. Not so fast, chingu. It is as if the writer is having a bet each way. I have no idea why you'd do that at this late stage. It does reflect on the drama as a whole.
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Colour me surprised!
Marry My Husband: Japan came out about 13 months ago which is 1.5 years after the original k-drama first aired. I didn't jump in at first because the memory of the original was still too fresh. I don't want my experience tainted. I think it is time.First thing first, comparisons between the two are inevitable. I'll try to give my opinion on the j-drama first then reference the original. As the show is over a year old, I won't be doing a structured review. Apologies to any readers who are looking for my regular in-depth review. I think this missive is long enough as it is. ;)
Where to start? Hmm, one of the first thing that strikes me is how "J-drama" this feels. I believe the budget is lower. They did skipped a few expensive set pieces and the sets are less grand. It is still a solid production. The usual 10 eps length is a plus for me.
The core tenet remains the same. The do-over theme is front and centre. Ditto, all the key characters are there. The use of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the backdrop is clever. The shorter runtime means this is not a scene-for-scene reproduction. I appreciate that. J-dramas has its own je ne sais quoi anyway.
The JFL is a quintessential Japanese woman and not a PMY clone. She is a good actor but her vibe is quite different. Our JFL's transformation is more low-key compared to the KFL's. It feels more like a liberation than a phoenix rising. ;)
One thing I was really looking forward to is the JML. The KML is handsome and a rock for the KFL, but the JML is next level. This is hardly surprising consider he is none other than Takeru Satoh. One of the best and most charismatic Japanese actors today.
In hindsight, I think this is a wise move. It is a tall order to sub in a Japanese PMY and that comes with its own pitfalls. Their workaround is to deploy a ML who can lead from the front.
This allows the show to amp up the emotional tie between our OTP. Satoh-san is definitely the man for the job. He became the focus of the last few eps. The outpouring of emotions from an outwardly cold character is something to behold. That is his super power. We also get some heartfelt skinship. All these fine-tuning help to elevate this go-around.
Another area that received some attention is the plotline. As expected, many filler subplots have been pruned. I'm not complaining. ;) One of the biggest adjustment concerns the second leads. I won't spoil it for you. Let's just say it deviated from the original where it counts. ;)
So, is it any good? The answer is a resounding YES! On most levels, the Japanese version is "unique". They preserved the heart and soul of the original, but fine-tuned it. Maybe it is in hindsight or out of necessity. Regardless, they did good.
The fruit of their labour is a tighter script with fewer side characters and filler subplots. It just feels more coherent. It is also more grounded and less sensational. I won't lie, I do miss that amazing wedding in the finale.
For me, both are excellent dramas and I can recommend them wholeheartedly. It is pointless to compare them forensically. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. ;)
In the end, I think the Japanese version give our leads a stronger emotional bond and rebalanced their roles in a good way. The story also flows slightly better. Maybe hindsight is 20-20 after all. Peace.
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I like it. I like it less. I like it again
I'm in two minds about this drama. On the one hand, our leads' love line is swoon worthy, but the rest is patchy.To put it simply, the main plot comes down to a people's revolution to overthrow a drug crazed tyrant. The usual antagonist minister is straight out of central casting.
Even the whole soul swapping plot feels half-baked. It starts well and pulls us in. There are dramatic scenes early on, but it soon settles down to long stretches of swapped souls. It becomes a convenient way for the ML to see how the common people live (I mean suffer) and note down their grievances. While the FL is largely marking time while camping in the ML's body.
If I'm honest, this series would have been better if it is only 12 eps long. 16 eps just means the tropey game of throne plot is stretched to its limits. It definitely lacks oomph.
Not all is lost, the romance between our leads is swoon-y and they have decent chemistry. The skinship quota didn't ramp up until the last few eps. There are a couple of other proto pairings. They are more like footnotes.
I must admit the ending is well done. It didn't end abruptly but allows the story to come to its logical conclusion.
I do find one aspect to be a little heavy handed. They bring in the OG Love God aka Old Man on the Moon (big cameo by Kim Jae Uck) to explain the soul swapping and their entanglement. Fate writ large, chingu. There is even an epilogue just to prove their lives are forever intertwined. We get it! LoL
I won't lie; our leads do look good in the present. I can watch a movie based on that scene. I'm working on the script right now. Call me . . ;)
Ultimately, this is a castle built on shifting sands. Acting is good, the romance is sweet if a slow burn and the production is solid with a big ensemble. Alas, the script is the ever shifting sands. Peace.
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It is all about the feels
Ok, Bossam has been out for 4 years, so I don't see much point in doing a in-depth review. I'll just put a few thoughts down and then my final recommendation.Right off the bat, this show is all about the characters, their interactions and growth, especially our leads. They go through the usual enemy to lover trope. They were sorely tested before their love blossoms. They are good people placed in bad situations. They have to adapt to survive. In the process, they saw through each other's disguises and fall in love.
Considering the setting, it should come as no surprise that palace intrigue is the theme du jour. On the whole, it is tropey and doesn't put forward many fresh ideas. Good actors help to elevated this above clichés.
However, there is a lot of it and by the 3/4 mark, everyone and everything is set on their path. Who's who and their schemes are largely set in stone. There is one big twist near the end which I won't spoil. I do find it heavy going towards the end though.
Speaking of which, this show is 20 eps long. While I was fully engaged most of the time, it was draggy around the 2/3 mark when everyone is dancing the political 2 steps. The show picked up the pace soon after and we hang on for the grim ride.
In the end, this is a solid drama crewed by good actors. It doesn't break any new grounds but it delivers a refined product.
Now the elephant in the room. Does the FL has a No-Kiss clause in her contract? There are several hugs but nay a single kiss. Not even on their wedding night. Their romance is still sweet and swoon-y. Just not particularly spicy.
If a good sageuk drama is your thing and you appreciate a slow burning romance then this drama is for you. Peace.
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That will do Ghost, that will do
A quick confession. Bring It On, Ghost was my first k-drama, sort of. As such, it has a special place in my heart. I was curious when I heard about a Thai remake. So, is this any good?The answer is a little complicated. Overall, it is a solid Thai drama, but it is not necessarily better than its progenitor.
What this show does well is localisation. There is a lot of Thai lore and traditions in the ghost stories. This extends to stories based on modern societal ills. These will be familiar to many and they are impactful and tough to watch.
Another positive is the pairing of our leads. There were some mumblings regarding the original OTP's age gap. They are roughly the same age here. They also have good chemistry and delivered a decent amount of skinship.
This is a key part of the original. The romance between human and ghost is a path well trotted. While most stories in this genre tends to end in angsty tragedies, this managed to turn the ship around and gifted us a plausible HEA ending. I appreciate that.
Now, the not so good bits. The two sidekicks are there purely as comedic relieves. They certainly leaned heavily into slapstick and overacting. They are just loud and clueless most of the time. Why would anyone want to start an exorcism business if all they do is run away screaming at the first sign of a poltergeist. I grew tired of their one-note portrayal quite quickly.
I also have a low bar regarding police abilities in dramas. This one is a confusing mix. While the police officers in charge of the investigation are diligent and earnest, the rest seems to ignore the mountain of dead bodies. They came, they saw, they move on. You'd think it would be a task force level investigation by the end of the show. It is good that the small team delivers but it feels contrived. I'm also baffled why the police are never harmed when others involved are killed off with extreme prejudice.
The SFX in this drama is a mixed bag. There are some good jump scares, and the make-up of the various ghost and bodies are generally good. However, there are some scenes that look amateurish. Is it a case of less is more?
Continuity issues and plot holes also started to creep in, especially towards the end. While I applaud their localisation efforts, they do open themselves up to scripting issues when new contents need to be integrated back into the main plot. Mayhap this Pandora's box doesn't come with packing instructions in Thai. ;)
In the end, I’d say this is a solid Thai supernatural drama rather than an improvement of the original. My score is based on the former. Peace.
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Anyway, the ML put in a lot of effort while playing this role and kudos to him. The support cast are there to move the plot along and they did it competently. There is a hint of romance but it is not a major plot point.
I'm thankful that being a movie, there is no time for long detours or side plots that are angst trains. It moves along at a good pace and most comedic moments landed, which is never a given. The 3 act play is done and dusted right on cue.
BTW, do look up Tootsie(1982) starring Dustin Hoffman. He is the OG unnie. ;)
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Epic revenge saga with bonus romance.
As I'm late to the party, there is no point for me to add to the hundreds of reviews already here. Hence, this will not be a detailed review but rather some thoughts about this series (part 1 and 2 combined).When I say this show is epic, it is not an exaggeration. The revenge plot spans a generation. It also took years for our leads to complete their romantic journey. This is a long and bumpy ride for all involved.
In many ways, this series is true to its roots. The ML is stoic, brave, overflowing with martial prowess. The classic hero with a capital H. On the other hand, when we first meet the FL, she was a teenager barely 15. She was deprived of a formal education because of a scheming aunt. She is intelligent, feisty, has an affinity for mechanical things but unruly and wilful in the eyes of her elders. In short, the perfect foil for the ML.
Their romantic journey is fraught (of course it is). There are plenty of second leads and naysayers. At one stage, the FL told the ML to his face that he engineered their romance the same way he plotted the downfall of his enemies. The most generous you can say is that he doesn't leave things to chance even though he is 100% dedicated to the FL. He knows what he wants, and he can be ruthless . . . in love and in war.
There are many good performances in this drama. The Emperor and Empress are very understanding and supportive of our leads which is a nice change. Most antagonists are a bit one dimensional but it is par for this genre. At least they don't run amok all the time. All the young maidens are crazy for the ML, but he only has eyes for the FL so the amount of jealous/poisonous looks can power a small town. ;)
Our OTP are the bedrocks this series is built on. While The Romance of Tiger and Rose is the breakout role for ZLS, this pretty much cements her position as a S tier traffic star. The ML has master the stoic, heroic stance. They do have their swoon-y moments which is appreciated.
Nevertheless, the show can feel manipulative as well. For instance, the FL broke up with the ML towards the end of the drama and yet she refuses to forgive him even though he laid bare his soul to her and saved her life repeatedly. Then suddenly, she has an epiphany and all is forgiven. Just in time for the final epic battle and the series conclusion. ;)
The funny thing is after binge watching this show, I felt drained, but I also don't feel that I have much to add to the discord. It is well acted and beautifully crafted with epic scenes and an intricate plot. I could wax lyrical about that, I suppose. However, it is fundamentally tropey in the classical sense. We have seen many examples of this genre before. Aye, few are of this calibre, but it is a well-trodden path nevertheless.
What more can I say? It should be in every c-drama aficionado's watchlist. It needs to be experienced . . once. Peace.
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Epic revenge saga with bonus romance.
As I'm late to the party, there is no point for me to add to the hundreds of reviews already here. Hence, this will not be a detailed review but rather some thoughts about this series (part 1 and 2 combined).When I say this show is epic, it is not an exaggeration. The revenge plot spans a generation. It also took years for our leads to complete their romantic journey. This is a long and bumpy ride for all involved.
In many ways, this series is true to its roots. The ML is stoic, brave, overflowing with martial prowess. The classic hero with a capital H. On the other hand, when we first meet the FL, she was a teenager barely 15. She was deprived of a formal education because of a scheming aunt. She is intelligent, feisty, has an affinity for mechanical things but unruly and wilful in the eyes of her elders. In short, the perfect foil for the ML.
Their romantic journey is fraught (of course it is). There are plenty of second leads and naysayers. At one stage, the FL told the ML to his face that he engineered their romance the same way he plotted the downfall of his enemies. The most generous you can say is that he doesn't leave things to chance even though he is 100% dedicated to the FL. He knows what he wants, and he can be ruthless . . . in love and in war.
There are many good performances in this drama. The Emperor and Empress are very understanding and supportive of our leads which is a nice change. Most antagonists are a bit one dimensional but it is par for this genre. At least they don't run amok all the time. All the young maidens are crazy for the ML, but he only has eyes for the FL so the amount of jealous/poisonous looks can power a small town. ;)
Our OTP are the bedrocks this series is built on. While The Romance of Tiger and Rose is the breakout role for ZLS, this pretty much cements her position as a S tier traffic star. The ML has master the stoic, heroic stance. They do have their swoon-y moments which is appreciated.
Nevertheless, the show can feel manipulative as well. For instance, the FL broke up with the ML towards the end of the drama and yet she refuses to forgive him even though he laid bare his soul to her and saved her life repeatedly. Then suddenly, she has an epiphany and all is forgiven. Just in time for the final epic battle and the series conclusion. ;)
The funny thing is after binge watching this show, I felt drained, but I also don't feel that I have much to add to the discord. It is well acted and beautifully crafted with epic scenes and an intricate plot. I could wax lyrical about that, I suppose. However, it is fundamentally tropey in the classical sense. We have seen many examples of this genre before. Aye, few are of this calibre, but it is a well-trodden path nevertheless.
What more can I say? It should be in every c-drama aficionado's watchlist. It needs to be experienced . . once. Peace.
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A tale of two shows
Please allow me to set the scene. My Fated Boy (MFB) is my all-time favourite romance drama. I was excited when I found out the same writer penned this show.Rather than just writing a review of Wanna Be, I shall contrast it with MFB because I think the comparison is illustrative.
Let us begin at the beginning. Both shows are very focused on the romance of our leads. I'm thankful for the consistency. Both relationships took a bit of effort to get going and the meet-cute are poles apart but once it happens, their love is rock solid and unshakable. It is not all plain sailing but at least there are no silly breakups. Now, let's talk about where the shows diverged.
MFB is relatable. Even though the ML eventually became moderately famous, his focus is always on his noona. Their little exchanges are cute and swoonworthy. We can focused on their romance with minimal distractions. We can laugh and cry with them. They are like us. The classic scene in EP.28 when the FL found out she has a white hair and their subsequent conversation about growing old together is grounded and heartfelt. Swoon!
On the other hand, Wanna Be was set in the rarefied world of super models and the fashion industry. Yes, the writer didn’t take it to the extreme and most characters are quite “normal” but is this realistic? It feels almost too clinical. Playing it safe, so to speak. It is a double-edged sword.
I can sense the writer wanting the characters to be relatable hence the ML works as a fishmonger. However, when you mix everything together, the world building feels stilted. It is real . . and not real. Of course, this happens a lot in the dramaverse, it is a necessity. When it works, we get an impactful and engrossing world, but here, it feels derivative and bland. There are glimpses into that rarefied world but they are insubstantial.
This extends to the support characters and secondary plots. As I mentioned before, MFB has a relatively small cast. Everyone knows everyone else. Even secondary characters are interesting and their relationships are relevant. I do feel that the writer tries to be more ambitious with WB. That is totally understandable and a worthy goal.
While the smaller cast helps MFB, the larger roster was a hindrance to WB. To keep them all gainfully employed, there are more side plots which took the focus away from the OTP. Many of these subplots are tropey and feels like smoke and mirrors. It is telling that there are no villains . . . just misunderstandings.
Don't get me wrong, whenever our leads are together, we swoon. What is lacking are other viable CP’s. Even after 29 eps, both 2/3CP remain ambiguous. To be honest, I don't ship them. There is little chemistry between any of them. It is particularly stark when compared to the OTP's. Speaking of which, there is a 3.5hrs OTP romance cut on YouTube. Say no more!
In the end, Wanna Be is watchable and a solid production. I just don't feel fully engaged. It is one of those show that ebbs and flows depending on who is on screen. There are wasted opportunities with subplots as we are delivered a harmless ending.
I still loved the OTP’s journey and their growth. I did have high hopes, my bad. The DNA is there but it mutated and not in a good way. I can happily rewatch the highlight reel and maybe the last episode. Peace.
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The tail wagged beautifully
I don't have a lot to say about this j-drama. Production value is decent. Acting is above average. The initial meet-cute is interesting enough to draw you in. The FL is the star of the show. Her acting is on point and anchors the series.The A-plot is a noona romance set in a large company, so far so storyline du jour. There is the usual push-pull and confused feelings as our leads navigate a fake relationship that got real, fast. Their chemistry is good, and there is a decent amount of skinship.
However, the show lost some of the early momentum once they confirm their feelings and day-to-day work life reality starts to dim the initial glow. While their love is real, they mostly operate under misapprehension. It was a precarious situation.
For a period, the favourite reply of our FL is “what?”. No matter what the ML does, he seems to confuse and distress his dearest noona. It is further complicated by the intervention of his long-lost birth mother who is hellbent on reshaping his future under her control. While she is not evil in the classical sense, she certainly does more harm than good.
Thankfully, the last episode clears up all the misunderstandings and ties up the loose ends. While this type of 11th hour resolution is common, the writing in this case is heartfelt and effective. Rarely have I felt this satisfied after finishing a drama. Bravo!
On balance, I think this series exceeded my expectations. It is not perfect, and the late show drag is real, but some clever writing brought home the bacon. It is a solid production worthy of your consideration.
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It is blooming good! Serious
The title of this show basically summed up the drama. It is all about one girl and her family's rise above terrible adversity and the many challenges they faced. It starts simple enough. All the main characters are introduced and the world building begins. Once the show hits its stride, calamity hits. The FL's family literally went from a position of power and influence to object poverty overnight.Rather than just accepting her fate, the FL comes to the fore and takes charge of the situation and changed her family's fortune. Along the way, she found love and changed the lives of many people she touched.
The series is full of positive messages, and they are delivered quite effectively by an engaging storyline. Yes, the plots are tropey but the way they unfolded is well scripted and its pacing is good. You won’t feel bored nor confused.
It is a good drama overall and quite enjoyable. A large part is attributed to the solid FL character. She faces every challenge head on and uses her initiative and intelligence to overcome them. Of course, the ML is there to do the heavy lifting and lend a sharp sword. In that sense, the show is a bumpy ride, but the trajectory is always upwards. We are never left in utter despair. This is a double-edged sword as we are almost conditioned to see a silver lining around every storm cloud. The show does go dark from time to time, with death and suffering just around the corner. It is just our leads who are mostly Teflon coated.
There is a good deal of fan service in the second half of the last EP before the HEA ending arrives on cue. All the main threads are tied up with pink bows and most characters have their arc concluded satisfactory.
I am pleasantly surprised by the acting abilities of the large support cast. It would not be an exaggeration to use terms like cast of a thousand. There are so many actors with speaking parts! It ranges from highly regarded veterans to young green actors. There are the odd hit and miss but, overall, they lifted the series and provide able support to the leads when the going gets tough. The production value is good but not quite S rank. They didn't cheap out on the sets and costumes.
I believe this is the FL’s first historical drama. I have seen her in contemporary dramas. I not a real fan before this show. I find her other performances to be a bit stilted. However, she is good in this drama. The style suits her and the low-key makeup as well.
While the ML is handsome and the fight scenes are decent, his performance did feels oddly detached at times. To be honest, a bit wooden. All the actors are dubbed but his dialogue just feels too measured and flat. It is as if the lines are recorded in a vacuum. It is odd when almost every other aspect of the series is solid.
I started with low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. It is tropey and a bit cheesy. A guilty pleasure for me. That’s entertainment!
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This review may contain spoilers
Let’s play a game of Whack-A-Trope!
I started watching this show when it was first released. It looks alright. I got past the half way mark before I was blocked by the VVIP pay wall. I ended up watching other shows and shelved it until now. I thought I'd finish it, but to my surprise, it was quite a struggle.After giving it some thought, this is my conclusion. While the first dozen or so eps were decent if samey to many other contemporary c-dramas at least there was enough energy to push the story along. It is obvious that the show is a grab bag of tropes from the get-go.
However, once the plot is on rail and the OTP are official, all the momentum are gone. What is left are very tropey plots and cliché gags to try to keep things moving until the bitter end.
This is not helped by poor character development. The ML is obviously the typical cold, low EQ boss and the FL is the damsel in waiting. Rather than allowing both characters to grow (up), the writer paints the ML into a corner.
The ML is now a lovesick puppy who run through all the typical dating fails. For example, he can't cook but tried his best to cook a meal for her. It was cute the first time. Not cute by the 6th time! He is constantly asking for relationship advice but totally misses the point.
This is a man who is supposed to be an intellectual giant, a peerless lawyer. He behaves like a lovesick high schooler EVERYDAY. Yes, he is a noob to love but flogging the same horse for 30 eps, is exhausting and makes him looks like a fool.
On the other hand, the FL is supposed to grow into a lawyer that is a fitting partner for the ML. I'm sure it was written in bold and probably underlined in red by the writer but what the show delivered is largely the same meek character from start to finish.
The ML is overbearing and too protective. It got so bad that the FL took a break from their relationship. Bravo GF! Finally, a bit of gumption. There was a breakthrough of sort around ep.35. It was so contrived. It went from confrontation to reconciliation in a heartbeat. After all the flowery speech about giving her space, respect and undying love, the ML just went back to being a green-eyed monster in the next scene. He just seems to be stuck in a loop alternatively trying to please her and annoy her.
This type of repetition is everywhere. A kiss being interrupted by a phone call is a tired tropey nowadays but in this show, I ran out of fingers trying to count the number of times skinship is derailed.
Oh yes, speaking of skinship, there are some, but they are mechanical and lack passion. It pretty much mirrors their chemistry. It is there and they whisper sweet nothing to each other on cue, but it is not very convincing. This is further tested when the show introduces a SFL who scored the worst own goal. Least said, the better. You want to see chemistry, watch the first few eps of Amidst A Snowstorm. You won’t regret it.
But wait, there is more! How about the tone deaf, bootlicking junior lawyer? Someone needs to have a good chat with him. Preferably in a soundproof padded cell.
However, the grand prize goes to the antagonist, He is given so much prominence. When you consider he is supposed to be the twice winner of the Golden Scale Award yet at every turn he is proven to be a C grade lawyer but an A grade douche bag, it is sending some weird message about the Chinese legal fraternity. His denouement didn’t happen until the dying minutes of ep.36. It was long time coming but it was unrewarding. He is not punished in any tangible way. His parting words are, “this isn’t over!”. Yay.
At this point, I must call out the handful of legal cases the drama presented to us. They range from meh to facepalm. I don’t know the Chinese legal system, but I don’t think the writer does either. Time and again, the cases are supposed to showcase the ability of the leads, but they are so contrived, it is like reading a murder mystery backwards. Scenes in the courtroom are perfunctory.
Of course, the HEA ending arrived on cue. It is fine. The last ep is total fan service, it is FINE. The 5 minutes long epilogue is the bomb!
I could have just labelled this a fluffy rom-com and move on. But somehow, this show irritates me. Maybe it is the ham-fisted use of tropes, the shallow witless plots or cliché moments stuck on repeat. Regardless, I had more fun writing this review than watching the show. That's a win, isn't it?
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Who said only bad girls have all the fun
Do-over seems to be the plot du jour at the moment. While most shows in this genre would focus on righting wrongs and get revenge on antagonists, this one took a different approach.In this case, the FL was a cruel and ruthless Queen in her past life. Her path to the top was awash with the blood of both friends and foes. In that sense, she is trying to stop herself going down the same path again and right her own wrongs! This is certainly a more novel take on this genre. I’m excited to see how will the writer spin this yarn.
This review will look at this drama from two different angles. On one hand, the series is very entertaining, full of engaging characters and it is gratifying to watch the progress of the FL in her “new” life. However, if we look at the series with more critical eyes then we can see issues with the pacing, narrative and acting.
There is no doubt that this is a S class production. Sets are lush (love to see their Hengdian bill), costumes are beautiful if a tad generic. There is a big cast so important scenes are well populated with extras.
Bai Lu has the titular role and she owns it. She plays both the evil and good roles with aplomb. My only reservation is that while she is supposed to be a maiden about 18 years old in Life 2.0, she can look and feel a lot older. I suppose that is because in Life 1.0, she did and saw things that would age any mortals. It does make her character a little out of focus in earlier episodes as she dances between an innocent teenager and the ghost of an evil Queen. The question of whether she would flip to the dark side cannot be ignored.
This highlights one of the major issues for me. The show is filled with flashbacks of Life 1.0. This is particularly true during earlier episodes where it is almost like watching a mashup of two dramas. The drama tries to distinguish them by dulling the colour palette of the L1.0 scenes. Nevertheless, this can be quite jarring as the trigger for a lengthy flashback might be a simple chance meeting and suddenly, we are watching an epic battle. Even if we don’t get a flashback, she might pause and have an internal monologue about what she did wrong and what she should do now.
These sudden scene changes can give you a whiplash and it slows the forward momentum. It is also confusing when we try to decipher the significance of each event based on snippets of dialogues and jumbled recollections. What is worse is that Life 1.0 is actually more intriguing and exciting compared to the early part of Life 2.0. She is trying so hard to be good, she is boring. I almost want to watch L1.0 more than L2.0 until about the 1/3 mark. I understand why they did it but by making Life 1.0 so dramatic and impactful, it takes the wind out of Life 2.0's sails.
What I have to say next is not going to be popular. The ML is tall and handsome but his acting left me cold. Most of the time he is stoic and occasionally he gets angry. That’s about it. His dialogue delivery feels flat. Another issue is his approach to romance is quite caveman like. It makes him looks brutish when he isn't. The sad fact is that the two other 2ML's radiate serious second lead syndrome.
On the other hand, acting from the ensemble cast is good. There are the odd weaker links, but the more senior members have certainly earn their keep.
To be honest, the series is much more enjoyable in the second half. By then, the FL's plan to change her destiny is finally in place and she surrounds herself with a group of fast friends. The last few episodes are the best. Packed with epic battles, court intrigues and swoon worthy moments. What more can you ask? The ending is satisfying with all the loose ends tired up nicely.
I commend the writer for being innovative and I did enjoy this drama. However, I was distracted by issues which I can't ignore. It lost a point because of that.
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A glorious blend of the good, the meh and synchronised flag-waving
This is a very watchable show, but its plots and tone change so often that you feel exhilarated and exhausted in equal parts. This makes it hard to give a concise rating. When it is good, it is heartfelt and stirring. But it can also get cheesy with a side order of jingoistic flag-waving. I suppose my rating is between 8 and 8.5.At its core, this is about the aborted love story of a pair of teenagers who met towards the end of high school. Their budding relationship was torn apart by the FL’s domineering mother. They met by chance ten years later and things develop from there. If the plot sounds tropey then here's your gold star. This show walks on familiar paths but it does set a cracking pace.
During early episodes, our leads would "chance" upon each other repeatedly. When you realise one is a firefighter and the other is an ER doctor it means they only meet at emergencies. Consider even a small city in China can house millions, that’s a very small but dangerous corner they live in! It feels so contrived and is almost farcical.
All these entanglements finally brought them back together and this is essentially the glue that held the show together. Once we get past the push-pulls and denials, we have a very romantic pairing. Our leads have good chemistry, and they are certainly photogenic. It was gratifying to see the FL grows a spine and stands up to her controlling mum once she is all in. Amore trionfa sempre!
While both stars are beautiful people, Yang Yang is the face of this show, and he is everywhere. This can cut both ways. Fans of YY will rejoice but someone who is less enamoured might start to notice some flaws in his acting.
The other star of the show is the firefighters and their daily grind provides most of the subplots. A shoutout to the ensemble cast who filled the ranks. They must have trained hard for their roles. Some of the action/training scenes look very challenging. They are ably supported by the staff of the ER department where the FL works. However, these plots are a mixed bag. It can go from inspiring and exciting to banal. I appreciate the work of first responders, and I'll not begrudge their moments in the sun. However, some of the dramatisations are over the top. Plots and pacing is uneven. There are a lot of nationalistic messages aimed at the local audiences. Your mileage will differ.
The mother of the FL is straight out of central casting. She is the personification of a rich, immoral, domineering matriarch. She can probably trace her matrilineal line to a Tang Empress. She is a force of nature and rules with an iron fist. The only problem is that her role is very one dimensional. Her only goal is to obtain power, wealth and a total control over her serfdom. She never has a moment of self doubt or regret. It is tiring to watch her do the same thing over and over. Her “Death Bed” conversion feels particularly contrived.
In the end, fans of the leads will be happy, the production value is high, particularly some of the action set pieces. There are impactful and poignant moments that will stay with you. The romance is sweet and swoon worthy. Once the OTP get together, they skipped the handholding and went straight to home base which is rare in a c-drama. However, it is an inconsistent grab-bag of highs and lows, original ideas and contrivances. This annoys me because I really wanted to recommend this show unreservedly, but I can’t.
I can certainly rewatch some of the romantic scenes (repeatedly) but not the whole 40 eps. OST is very nice.
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It is not always about the OTP
This show is a rewarding watch with a nice positive message and a fluffy, easy going style.Ok, now that the review is over, let’s talk about something else.
There is a well-thumbed rom-com playbook that is passed between writers with reverence. On page 2 of the sacred text is this rule. “A second male or female lead must be unlikeable and possibly despicable. He or she shall do all within their power to break up the OTP.” I don’t know how many shows have followed this golden rule to the letter, but I have ran out of fingers and toes a long time ago. Once in a long while, a show will break this rule.
The characters in this show feels real. They are far from perfect, and they will act selfishly when the need arises. They are just normal people who are reacting to circumstances. Both the second leads are in love with the respective leads so they gave it a red-hot go in their pursuit of happiness. However, once they knew the race is lost, they bow out gracefully. It is sad and the scene where the SFL proclaimed that she just threw away her own happiness is gut retching. However, you have to give them their dues and respect their honesty and dignity. It might sound trite but that is a lot closer to reality than the same-y win-at-all-cost type being dished up nowadays. I won’t go as far as saying that I have 2nd lead syndrome, but they are worthy contenders. Speaking of which, a good example of second lead syndrome can be found in She Was Pretty. Salute!
BTW, the side characters in this show are all nice, decent people. Solid friends and co-workers whom you would be proud to associate with. Even in that sense, the show is refreshingly different.
I can’t give this a perfect score because it is just an unpretentious, fluffy little rom-com but it has a special place in my rewatch list. This show will recharge your emotional battery and make you swoon. Peace out.
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