5
1
Queen of (fake) smiles meets King of hearts
I have been low-key following Kim Se-jeong since her Uncanny Counters days and then her breakout role in Business Proposal. She has certainly been kept busy with starring roles ever since. To be honest, a couple of them are cash grabs by production companies while others are earnest attempt to recreate the magic of BP. However, none of them have the recipe for the special sauce.This one started promisingly. KSJ was given a strong role and she literally came out fighting (hwaiting!). Our OTP ticked all the boxes but it is a weird chemistry. It is like watching a commercial for Chinese herbal medicine. You know the one where they have the voice-over to tell you that this concoction will reduce your inner heat? Well, the ML is that personified. It is very nice to have a boyfriend that truly gets you but it is something else if all you do is cry together or meditate to gain inner peace. What about unbridled lust?! OBTW, there is a bit of skinship but other than a couple of nice kisses, it is all rated PG.
The 2CP is cute and they try to shoulder some of the load. They do occasionally steal the scene but they need more heat as well. There are glimmers of hope but in the end, they are just mirages.
Once you put that in perspective, the rest of the show is just your typical backstabbing business shenanigans and standard village mischief. Bumbling village head meets loud and nosy ajummas. All done with workman like efficiency but nothing too angsty to disturb your karma.
The ending is sugar overload. Oprah Winfrey would be proud. My teeth are aching just thinking about it. And that, chingu, is the fundamental problem with this show. You are not sure if you have watched a drama or attended a wellness retreat.
I did enjoy the show but I probably won't remember it in weeks to come. That is a shame as the cast did their best and the plot is decent. Good enough to be above average but that's a mighty crowded place.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
What's sex? Love is all you need
I had high hopes for this drama. Ok, it is a slow burn in the first half while all the characters are introduced, and we find out how their lives are intertwined. The main plot focused on two sexless marriages and the impact on the relationship of our 4 leads.It is not unusual for a Japanese drama to take an awkward situation and drill down and come up with something uniquely insightful. This show has a hint of that while tackling the role of sex, intimacy, communication and trust in a committed relationship.
The show does pick up it's pace in the second half and it was reaching a crescendo towards the end when it seems to hit the brakes and the show feels oddly moribund.
Let us backtrack a bit. The show is largely about two marriages and they are both on the rocks because of, at first glance, the same problem. A lack of intimacy and poor communication that created an icy atmosphere and lots of stilted moments. This is not help by one dimensional characters. Their relationships spiral ever downward in a low grade poisonous and self destructive way. They seem to spend the bulk of the time apologising perfunctorily to each other. Timidity, sullenness, frustration and detachment are the four horsemen of this drama.
The show appears to be postulating two types of marriage breakdowns. Both pass through a awkward sexless phase. However, in one case, the love between them is stone dead while the other is a complex dance of false promises, poor communication and selfishness but the flame of love still flickers under the dung heap. There is a lot of penned up emotions and subsurface angst. They have an almost affair, actual infidelity but also attempts to patch things up but the dice is casted, and we are heading to a seemingly obvious conclusion.
It would be too much to ask for a HEA ending, but the last episode feels flat. After a year apart, the FL crumbles and mended her relationship with her ex-husband with little preamble. The second ML is forced to play the Noble Idiot card and walk away empty handed.
We are not told if she accepts the status quo as the new norm or all her grievances were addressed. It seems to come down to the old Love Conquers All trope.
The show put forward a number of questions but ends up walked away without answering them earnestly. We get hints that resolves have been weakened, expectations realigned. It feels like a bet each way. It is insipid and provides little service to its fans. Do we really need 11 episodes to tell this sorry tale?
In terms of acting, all the leads did fine. OST is nice. I could find no valid reason to rewatch this.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This show is like a box of chocolates . . diet starts tomorrow
Let's start with the caveats. ;)Firstly, this is a rom-com with a capital R. Comes with a free pair of rose tinted glasses. Secondly, mental health issues covered are just plot devices. No deep diving here. Thirdly, there are lots of triggers due to all the flawed characters and their baggage.
If you are still reading . . good, let's begin.
This rom-com is packed to the rafters with subplots. For starters, there are 4 main tropes running in parallel. Enemy to lover, business shenanigans, a variation of germaphobia plus scopophobia. One is enough to power a regular drama, let alone four!
As expected, our OTP starts off on the wrong foot, but they will become each other's salvation. It is literally given away by the name of the chocolate emporium they work in. In turn, each EP is based on a piece of chocolate in their famed assortment box. They form vignette of stories which come together in the end.
Considering the short runtime, the pacing is fast and furious. It can feel breathless at times. Amazingly, there is order to the chaos. This is largely due to the show having a very clear focus on two things. Chocolates and chocolates. Oops, I mean chocolates and the OTP.
Our leads have phobias which made their lives a daily obstacle course. That is until their fateful meeting. Things got even more complicated, but in a good way.
Their romance is a slow burn, but heartfelt. Surprisingly swoon-y without being sickeningly sweet. They spent so much time bickering only to realise how much they meant to each other.
It was confusing at times. It shouldn't work, but it does. Treat it like an urban fairytale and it starts to make sense. Ask no questions, chingu.
Thankfully, the show is not just about dealing with mental health issues. They also go on road trips to beautiful sites, (those apricot blossoms and lavender fields!) and drop by instafamous destinations. They are unabashed Visit Japan 2025 promos. The show weaved them cleverly into the plot so I won't complain. It beats seeing a pile of brand X juices in the fridge.
This show is not for everyone. The A-plot is fantastical. It is also very sentimental. The adage "You reap what you sow" is at its core. Many of the subplots are there just to reinforce this point.
The acting from the ensemble cast is good. Very Japanese. The ML is handsome and stoic. The FL has the more challenging role. She did a bang up job. I also love how the FL mumbles the odd choice Korean word when he annoys her. Kawaī. BTW, I can't believe she is 38 years old. In many scenes, she can pass for much younger.
There is good chemistry between our leads and skinship that doesn't look fake. But wait! There is more! We have a 2CP which is well written and has depth. I can ship them, no problem. Hwaiting!
For me, this is a lovely little romp and you should judge it as such. It moves so fast that you just hang on for the ride. Disengage your frontal lobe and double the pleasure! Perfect length for a weekend binge. It has a place on my rewatch list. Peace.
P.S. Don't miss the cameos from two top stars at the very end of the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Messy, inconsistent drama that was exhausting to watch
Firstly, I dropped this show after 20 episodes and this is my impressions up to that point. I might be swimming against the tide but this is my honest opinion.Secondly, I wanted this show to succeed. I was enticed by the synopsis and the idea of a more realistic FL in a sea of pretty clones.
To be fair, the first few episodes do deliver. It was zany and breaks the mould of a typical historical drama. The FL is certainly full of vivacity and largely worked without a filter which is good. However, as a whole, it is poorly written and executed. Some of the acting is patchy and the Show suffers from an identity crisis.
I know this is harsh but I exhausted myself trying to like it and this is why;
1) It doesn’t really have a plot up to this point. The ML doesn't want to be a puppet king and the FL wants to be accepted and loved. That’s nice but the story telling is messy and contrived. This is back-of-a-napkin writing with time wasting fillers.
2) The FL didn’t become a better/proper Queen but more or less browbeat the court into submission. I don’t mind that the FL is unconventional, I welcome it but her plot is just a series of cliché trials or watch her steamroll through everything else. I was looking forward to her growth in statue and abilities so that she can be the rightful Queen. So far, she is turning the palace into her whacky playground (square dancing anyone?). It's fun for a bit but where's the growth after 20 hours? Similarly, the ML has shown little aptitude of being a good king. He could have been a typical scion from any costume drama. He has the visual but not the gravitas unless you count being stony faced.
3) Very few of the secondary characters behave consistently. You have to question their personality or even their IQ.
4) Mel Brooks once said, “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into a sewer and die.” That resonated with me as I wrote this. Most of the Show’s humour is bold and loud but there is little witticism nor nuances. To be fair, the FL has good comedic timing and an expressive face, so she did a lot of the heavy lifting. This also means that we expect something "funny" every time she is on screen. That’s a lot to ask of one character to sustain for 36 episodes. Most of the support casts are just cannon fodder during slapstick routines.
5) The OTP will fall in love and have a HEA ending, the drama gods have spoken. The show created every cliché situation to throw them together. Nevertheless, and it pains me to say this, there is little chemistry between the two. Kiss scene felt flat. There are dream sequences, piggyback race, they behaved like lovesick puppies and on it goes. Unfortunately, just like some of the comedy, it doesn’t always stick the landing.
6) I know the Show is not historically accurate, but it is an awkward mash-up. There is little chance of immersion due to constant hints of modernity. The costumes are a hotchpotch of styles/epochs and some have distinctly Japanese feel. The palace protocol goes from overbearing to non-existent. Want the royal couple to have a cat fight in the middle of the palace, sure, why not! Ditto the tone of the show swings from moment to moment. It spans genres with no firm grasp of any of them.
The sad thing is that the potentials are there. The production quality is generally good, the sets are lush, costumes are rich. No doubt the FL was giving us her all. But . . .
In the end, quirky is good, funny is good, support diversity is very good, but good components still need a decent script and good directions to tie them together. We need plots that are meaningful and characters you’d care for and want to ship. Alas, this show is like trying to herd sheep with a cat.
I don’t hate the show. I just feel exhausted from trying too hard to like it. I am dropping this for now so that I can clear my head. Peace out.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Spiderman will have a hard time with this tangled web
Like some other high profile k-dramas of late, I'm in two minds about this show. On the one hand, it totally nailed the romance. It was a slow burn in the beginning but when they jumpstart their relationship it is a sizzler! It hits you in the feels from all directions.I think they hit the jackpot when they selected the leads for this drama. They really acted their hearts out. Bravo! Their chemistry will keep you warm in the depth of winter. I won't spoil the story because it has a nice twist early on but it has its flaws.
I know you are expecting this as I mentioned my reservations about high profile k-dramas. Namely the A-plot is very manipulative. It is like a piece of art that has been crafted specifically to be seen from a certain angle. If you look from the side then the illusion is broken.
To wit, the show has the ML protecting the FL by taking her away from her dysfunctional family but then spent 3 years treating her like a pariah. I accept his eventual explanation but Korean writers have problems with timescale. When 1 month will do, they'd go for 1 year. In this case we went for a grandslam. Why 3 whole years? Most prison sentences are shorter than that! 3 months is more reasonable. Why labour the point.
When you are dealing with years, other factors comes into play like resentment, despondency and resignation. So he took the FL from an abusive and unloving home and put her into a cold and unloving home for over 1000 days. Yay...?
You can sense the writer-nim micromanaging the plot to be as impactful as possible. Ditto the timing and backstory of the antagonist. Hey, don't looking too closely. This is ART, dammit!
The writer-nim then hit us with the angst bomb. No trope was spared. The mess those families are in will keep a team of therapists employed for years. I know it is part of the overarching plot but it can be overwhelming when twist begot more twists. Secrets are like nesting dolls. You just become numb.
The worse part is after all the pain and suffering, the ML repeated the same mistake. He disappeared for 6 months to punish himself while disregarding the FL's feelings. Of course, she finds herself in a dark, dark place and being tormented continually. Her life effectively grinds to a halt. Is he selfish or clueless? Neither label puts him in a good light.
The heart fluttering scenes after their reunion are major highlights but it is like being given a candy after having to drink a bitter draft.
BTW, I find the made up Argen plot poorly done. It is awkward and unnecessary. I can also see a storm brewing over the fictitious war where 2 thinly disguised middle eastern countries took some Koreans hostage. What is the point of that? It was on screen for 20 seconds but it will haunt them for a long time.
I have no doubt this series will be a huge hit and for good reasons. However, I'm not 100% onboard. There are lots to like but there are also bits that left me cold. On balance, I enjoyed the show and I would have no problem watching a highlight reel of the OTP's romance. That is definitely the glue that held the show together. I would have scored this higher if it is more focused on that. As it stands, it is a potboiler in needs of a script doctor's deft ministration. Peace.
Was this review helpful to you?
Apex haken vs office lambs
I'm going to start at the end. ;)The one thing that strikes me is how timeless this show is. Other than the abundance of clam shell phones and slightly outdated PC's, you will be hard pressed to carbon date this drama. It is mind-boggling to think the Japanese workplace probably hasn’t changed much in close to 20 years!
With that out of the way, let's go back to the nuts and bolts. This show is a 100% Shinohara Ryoko starrer. She is literally all dancing and all typing. She portraits an eccentric S class haken. She is utterly professional, abrasive and unyielding in her ways. You can say that she is a pioneer of work-life balance before the topic is even whispered around a Japanese water cooler.
She is highly valued by employers in the know. Any full-time employees who try to belittle her will be licking their wounds in no time. While you can say her portrayal is one-note, you do sense her inner conflicts some times when she knew her actions are hurting people she is growing fond of. Think of it as a kind of tough love. Her numerous qualifications are a little over the top, but you roll with it as a kind of series-long gag.
As I mentioned before, the office setting is timeless. Being a temp is a tough gig. Our FL does not take it for granted, but she also knows her worth and will not take any crap from her co-workers. Least of all, misogynistic power trippers.
As expected, her presence stirred up a lot of tension between the full-time employees and temps. Even between the hakens there are cliques. Some of the plots are centred around cliché powerplay and group dynamics.
We are drip fed the FL's backstory as the story progresses. Bit by bit, we work out why she is so driven. To be fair, the FL hardly changed during the entire run. Nevertheless, her new co-workers are chipping away at her steely resolve. It is just not enough to alter the status quo before her contract expires.
In that sense, it is the growth of her co-workers that is the core of this show. From the meek supervisor who found his mojo, the yes-man career climber who found his backbone and the green haken who found her calling. There are many subplots that are relatable and endearing. There is even a hint of opposite attracts romance.
I was sure they will leave the ending ambiguous, yet they pulled a rabbit out of the hat to give us a possible path to a sequel. Surprisingly, one was made in 2020, but I have yet to track it down (side note, there is also a k-drama remake). Does this mean the romance of this prickly pair might blossom? ;)
One final thought. The projects tackled by her team feels plausible and realistic. This is a stark contrast to the nebulous business deals c-dramas love to use as fillers.
In the end, it is a solid j-drama. I enjoyed it. When you consider I binged it in two days, it can't be that bad. I doubt I'd rewatch it, but you can do worse if you are between S tier productions.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
Revenge best served vertically
I'm going to start with a confession. This is my first vertical format mobile-first drama. It is certainly an eye-opener. Very watchable but also a little unsettling. ;)As a regular consumer of "normal" long form dramas, 60-100+ tiny eps is mind boggling. How does it even work? Once you discover one, you will see them everywhere.
Let's focus on this drama for now. It is fast, brash and entertaining. Eps flash by with no intros or outros. Some are no more than 1 scene long. Even longer ones are only 2- or 3-minutes max. It is perfect for the daily commute or when you wait for your decaf soy latte.
A breakneck pace is necessary when the run-time is measured in minutes. It makes the pacing of a regular 40 eps drama feels glacial.
The production value is decidedly patchy though. It can go from decent to laughable. Some backgrounds are blurred. It feels like they were done in post-production. It is probably just as well as the overall budget must be limited. The least we see, the better.
In terms of acting, our leads are the highlight. The key support actors are ok. The rest is a mixed bag. I won't be surprised if they rounded up some members of the local drama club as extras.
The ML has a hint of Xu Kai about him, and he dominates most scenes. The FL acted her heart out and the camera is kind to her. Our OTP have oodles of chemistry and are not shy of skinship. Plenty of passionate kisses and more. The first few eps set the scene.
This pairs well with the vertical format. As it always has a sharp focus on the subject of interest. It is almost voyeuristic. There are few wide shots and no panning ones. Everything is tightly framed. This is their way to maximise the feels. A phone screen is surprisingly well suited for that purpose.
This brings us to the elephant in the room. While the pacing is fast and furious, the script and direction has to run to catch up. There are quite a few WTF moments when the script seemed to have gone rogue. You just have to roll with it. If you like your show tight and logical then you will groan. I share your pain. ;)
The revenge story is decent, but it is as old as time. There are plot holes, inconsistencies and continuity issues. To fully enjoy this drama, you really need to switch off your frontal lobe. Ask no questions, chingu.
In the end, I appreciate the need for this new format. I suppose it is more evolution than revolution. TikTok showed us where such short-form videos fit into our daily routine, the rest is inevitable.
Is it for me? I'm still fence sitting. It is a mix of TikTok, Mills & Boon and manhua. Love, desire, confrontation and revenge will be on high rotation. I won't mind sampling a few more. It is a form of fast food. You will be hungry soon after the last scene fades to black. Peace.
Was this review helpful to you?
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. ;)
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
A do-over that managed to be different yet samey
Do-over seems to be the A-plot du jour nowadays. Contemporary, costume, Korean, Chinese, everybody is doing it.This one starts a bit differently. Both leads are in a dark and troubling place in their lives. You'd think given their backstories it would be unlikely for them to be friends, let alone lovers. Well, stay tuned because the writer pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one.
I'm not going to spoil it for you so let's just say both went back in time but only the FL retained the memory of her past life. She sets out to protect herself by not repeating her mistakes and tries her best to be independent. At first, she kept running into obstacles which pushes her back onto the same path but over time, she realised that she can influence events and bit by bit, her destiny and those around her began to change.
This is where the show shone the brightest. The first half of this show is clever and engaging. Our leads are given room to flex their acting muscles. They have good chemistry and we can ship them easily. Their growth and changing fortunes is very gratifying to watch. It was fun to watch their mating dance and navigate the various challenges but most importantly, falling hard for each other over time. Swoon!
It pains me to say this but as soon as they are official, the writer took a vacation. The pace dropped off; plots milled around the watercooler as well. Lots of things are happening but it falls under two categories. 1) We swoon while watching our OTP play house. 2) We groan while we are spoon-fed tropey palace intrigue shenanigans.
Not only are the antagonist not doing much hiding in shadows, they talk endlessly about their nefarious plots. I would have no problem if they were clever and devilish, but it all comes down to who should be king, who is backstabbing whom and when is the best time to act. The antagonist waited, the protagonist waited and we waited.
The pace did pick up in the last few eps. At one stage, I though they were going to hit us with the Angst Train but after 1 or 2 eps, everyone just went home. Yes, they literally went back to their estate and got some R&R. It was surreal especially after the torture scene!
The pace changed again towards the end, it is a bit unsettling to be honest. It is dramatic at times and impactful in the Final Confrontation way but I can’t help but feel the scenes are on rails.
That is awkward as the show have many positives up to the halfway mark but then the pacing, storytelling and character developments lost momentum. The game of thrones stuff is predictable and tropey. It is still very watchable but I missed that spark of originality at the beginning of the series.
The last ep is mostly fan service. All the loose threads are tied up with pink bows. The show cruises to a HEA ending as expected. It is sweet and wholesome. I can’t complain. The positives do outweigh the negatives. Peace.
Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet love story ticking all the boxes
Whether you have heard of NEET or Hikikomori spectrum is unimportant for the enjoyment of this drama. You will find out about them soon enough but I’m afraid it is only scratching the surface. This drama is not about addressing social problems. This is a love story first and foremost. As such, it is very well told.Watching Marry Me is like participating in a script writing class. All the tropey elements are present and accounted for. They pop up on cue and play their parts to good effect. We have SM/FL and they stirred things up before moving on. The ML’s parents showed up unannounced and the stress level jumped as expected. Reconciliation arrived just in time and we find out that they are good people but they do need to work on their communication skills. This is the one True Way.
I know it sounds humdrum, but this show is better than that. This is largely because our leads are so adorable. They do not have a mean bone between them. They have total trust and love for each other. Time and again, they express their happiness just being in each other's company.
This means most plot developments are window dressing. They move the story along and our leads have their growth and mini breakthroughs. We watch them fall in love and use their commitment to overcome whatever obstacles placed before them. This is not high drama by any means but a steady and satisfying march towards the HEA ending. All the boxes are ticked methodically. Those little ducklings line up with military precision. Huzzah!
This show is not for everyone. If you are a romantic then this is a must watch. I certainly enjoyed it a lot and I'll binge watch it again over a wet weekend.
Was this review helpful to you?
