Zogitt

Easy to watch show with some serious story telling issues

While this drama was easy to watch, it has some serious story telling issues. Yes, the OTP has chemistry and are good looking but it is not raw passion. The romance is a slooow burn with every bit of push-pull and misunderstanding style tropes thrown in just to prolong the journey. The final confession didn't happen until ep20 and the FL was still trying to wiggle out of admitting her feelings for the ML. Seriously, if they drag this out any longer, I would have dropped the show right there and then. Thankfully, they did acknowledge their love for each other and we get a few episodes where they were a happy couple. Of course, the well worn path of Chinese drama haunt us and we get the nasty plots to break them up and the forced separation. The annoying thing is that the writer seemed to start off writing one show and ended with another. The original setting of the school was fairly fresh and generated a lot of funny moments in the first 10 episodes or so. The interactions were easy and a role switch with all the female characters being strong and determined, welcoming. But by mid show, the story line is firmly back in well established romance/melo drama territory. Early set ups and back stories faded into the generic plot pool. The middle part of the show was so focused on the OTP's messy relationship that key events (like the tournament that was SO important) ended up going nowhere and had little impact. By the last third of the show, the writers seemed to have run out of steam on the OTP and a lot of screen time went to the support casts. It is not a bad thing as those relationships (we ended up with 3 more pairs!) is actually more interesting than the OTP by then. Their plot lines felt more real and organic in comparison. The down side to that is that it served to highlight how contrived and forced the main story line has become. Seriously, the last quarter of the show was a mess. Weak writing and awkward editing resulted in very odd tonal shifts. When they wheeled out the "Death Strike" as a deus ex machina plot device in ep33, I knew the writer(s) are in trouble. The lazy plotting also extended to how amazingly easy for the OTP to be manipulated to engineer their breakup. We did get an eleventh hour happy ending, no surprise there! I would have been a lot happier if they cut out a lot of the "will they, won't they" shenanigans in the last episode, get the OTP back together quickly and let the ensemble cast have some happy scenes together. That would have been a nice fan service. In the end, the show had a promising start but lost momentum mid way and it ended as a meh show. I was only going to rate it 6 but the support casts (love the cute kids) deserved a point for their efforts.

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Soulless rom-com that was a house of tropes and clichés

There are times when you live in hope that a show will turn the corner and get good. Well, after 13 episodes of this drama. I cannot see any light at the end of this tunnel so I dropped it. I have no doubt it is on course for a happy ending because it has to but it did not earn it.

First of all, there is next to no plot. There is the much hyped animosity between two top idol/actors and that pretty much drove the story along. One idol will try to sabotage the ML and he will hit back with something. It is all about competing to be the top dog and play dirty to get there. As a villain, the other idol is laughable. He tried to act like some kind of evil mastermind but he is just not up to it (acting and plot wise). So the show is basically moments and scenarios being thrown together one after another. A change of scene, a cliché moment, maybe a gag accompanied by funny sound effects (just in case we missed it). Rinse and repeat. Most of it centred around feeble attempt by the ML to impress the FL. All the tropes and clichés are piled on top of each other in place of any real story telling. You can forget about PC or moral, this stuff roamed with the dinosaurs.

It is unavoidable that we have to talk about the acting. It is meh to bad. The longer I watched the antics of the ML, the more I'm convinced that he should stick to his day job as a singer. He is meant to be a famously handsome idol/actor and some of his scenes made me groan out loud, especially when he is supposed to be acting on sets of real dramas. The FL was ok but there is really little scope for her to act. There are also too many side characters and most of them are stereotypes of little consequence. There is so much overacting from the ensemble.

To be fair, I was actually entertained for a few episodes because all the acting was over the top so that it was like a parody but then after a dozen episodes, I realised that this is IT. This is all we are going to get. It was depressing.

Now we can talk about character growth. There is none (so far). Most of the characters are one dimensional. The FL is supposed to be well educated but she is a doormat and a wall flower (tough gig). She was blackmailed to become a slave, tutor and mother to the ML. The ML was a man-child who is rude, crude and insensitive (what else can he be?!). Yes, he did sort of changed a little because he wanted the FL to like him but this is not growth. He bounces all over the place with his desperate need to please the FL only to turn around and bark harshly when he is challenged about his feelings for the FL. Even after his "confession" he was so awkward to be around as the FL didn't even took him seriously and I don't blame her. I already talked about the villain(s). You have to either laugh or cry.

There is a little bit of skinship so far but I don't feel much chemistry between the leads. Yes, the Show pulled out all the tricks to push them together but I feel sorry for the FL for having to put up with the childish antics of the ML. I don't ship the CP and that is the kiss of death for any romantic drama in my book.

So please don't waste your time on this unless you are doing a case study or feel the need to suffer. For a moment I thought it might be so bad that it will become a cult classic but alas, no. May be it was created as a vehicle for someone or to fill a void in scheduling, in either case, a waste of resources. Peace out.

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Weaponised cluelessness

Final Edit: I got up to ep.22 and gave up. I skip-watched to the end and the 1OTP's confession happened 5 mins before the end credit rolls. We did not get one kiss, nay, not even a hug out of them. Enough said.

~~~~~~~My original Review~~~~~~~
I was going to write a review after I finish this series, but after watching 20 eps, I'm sorely tested. Hence a half way review just in case . . ;)

First of all, your enjoyment of this drama will be very subjective. If you are in the right demographic and/or fans of the stars, your journey will be much more enjoyable. Otherwise, caveat emptor, my friend.

This show is a youth/idol romance drama set in a college. The characters are supposed to be in their early 20s, yet the actors are closer to 30 in RL. They did ok most of the time but don't look too closely.

The A-plot is straightforward enough. We have 3 CP's. They are pre-ordained yet most are blissfully unaware. Some are outright frenemies. Others are crushes that need to be cultivated and ascend to the next level. The FL's are more aware of their feelings and what they want.

This is where the weaponised cluelessness comes in. Most ML's are looking for the light switch in a dark room when it comes to their feelings. Let alone the FL's. This is after 20 eps. (Sigh)

This is even more egregious for our 1OTP. I know the 1ML is tall and handsome but he is charmless. He has zero EQ and -100 points in social skills. Is he on the spectrum? He would literally tell you he is watching you because you are ugly and he wants to add an ugly character to his manhua.

BTW, he has been pigeonholed into drawing shàonǚ manhua, ha ha! Most of the comedy comes from his ham-fisted attempt to do research among his college cohorts.

Don't get me wrong, there are cute and funny moments but there are plenty of cringey and awkward ones as well. Same old gags are on repeat. These are low hanging fruits.

This extends to the multiple love lines. There is a lot of misunderstandings, confusion and outright ignorance. All the usual tropes get an airing.

Our FL is constantly yo-yoing between despair and hopefulness. I share her pain. I seriously question why she has such a huge crush on the ML. He is not so much a blank canvas but Teflon coated. Every overture from her is deflected. Sure, he cares for her but he would do the same for a stray cat.

Similar situations confront our other two CP's. They are clueless or in denial after 20 eps. Is that cute or painful to watch? You decide.

I know most of the reviews are positive and I can see why. It is angst lite and easy to watch. I enjoyed seeing a manhua being created.

The show is watchable, but 33 eps is a stretch. Every trick are used to stretch the thin plot. IMHO, it'd work better if it is tighter and shorter.

Now let's talk about the bread and butter stuff;
1) there are a lot of overacting. They are playing for laughs after all.
2) it is less acting than roleplaying archetypes. Bumbling, domineering, shy, take your pick. Most characters are one dimensional.
3) costume is casual college chic. Except the FL who is always well presented but I can't shake the Lolita vibe.
4) the OST is serviceable.

I'm trying to finish the show but the crystal ball is murky. I'll update as I progress or . . not. Peace.

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Easy to watch palate cleanser

There is no point in comparing this little production to a mega hit. It is only 8 X 20 mins episodes. The simple love story is delivered competently as you'd expect from a Japanese production. Other than a hint of a SML and a touch of sibling rivalry, there is little resistance to the blossoming romance of our leads.

If I'm honest, everything is understated. The love story and the setting are all standard issue. The meet-cute centred around "cold hands, warm heart" is just a low hanging fruit.

Acting is decent, ditto the production. The small amount of skinship is done by the book. It is fluffy and easy to binge. Nothing will disturb your inner peace. A palate cleanser before you jump into the next makjang extravaganza. Peace.

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It all comes full circle

Catfishing is all too common in today's online world. Some are unintentional while others are malicious. In this case, the FL took it really badly even though the ML's intention was pure. She carries that wound with her to this day.

Fast forward several years and our leads meet again in an work environment without recognising each other, at least initially. The A-plot is largely based their romantic and healing journey.

As romantic story goes, there is a decent amount of swoon worthy moments in the middle 1/3 of the series. The ML is handsome, savvy and a hopeless romantic. Unfortunately, he is a total noob to dating. It is a blast to watch him deal with his secret life as well as try to win over the FL. Their chemistry is undeniable which gave us some nice skinship.

On the other hand, the FL is all business and a perfectionist. She will speak up against her superiors and has quite a reputation for hanging them by their own petard. Even though she is not looking for love, it came looking.

It is this slightly awkward but delicious tug-of-war of the hearts that sustains much of the run. However, it is not without issues.

The biggest one is the grandma being used as the antagonist. She is a strong willed and stubborn businesswoman. She blames the death of the ML's loving parents squarely on the young ML. It was unjust and very harmful to the little boy, her sole remaining family. Nevertheless, she sustains the resentment for years. In fact, she is the reason why the ML has created a secret life/persona just so that he can escape from the strait-laced upbringing, if only for a few hours at a time.

Unfortunately, she is a poor antagonist. Yes, she did a lot of harm, but she was not evil. It is hard to like her, but it is even harder to hate her. She carries her pain in silence as well. It just needed an external force to reset their orbits. The FL is in a perfect position to do just that. However, when the reconciliation came, while cathartic, is a bit flat because there was no big revelation or grand gesture. It just took a bit of stating the bleeding obvious. I'll take the win, but it was less than impressive.

This brings us to some general observations of the last few eps. Everything came full circle. Fate has spoken. The HEA ending was never in doubt. There was a hint of tension towards the end but it never reached a zenith and before you know it, we are cruising to the finish line. The last EP is largely fan service but in a gentle way. No grand romantic gestures or meltingly hot scenes. Everything falls into place and on with the B-rolls.

Oh, I almost forgot, the 2CP is quite engaging. The characters are flawed but they have interesting backstories. Their journey is fraught but when it clicks, it is smoking. I like them, not enough to ask for their own show but they are a cut above the usual dial-a-2CP mob.

Production value is good. OST is fine. Not quite good enough for my coveted rewatch list but a highlight reel will be more than acceptable. Peace.

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Jack of all trades, master of none

If you watched the show because of the official Netflix trailer, then you’d be in shock when you watched the first episode. It has some lighter moments but the bulk of that episode is dark, very dark. It is not until the FL leaves the island when the mood starts to lift but even then, there is a dark undertone that rears its ugly head from time to time and really hits some serious lows towards the end of the run. I’m not talking about drunkenness or bullying but multiple suicides, domestic violence and attempted murders. It is no joke.

Here lies the main problem of this show. The premise of a teenage girl surviving by herself on a deserted island for 15 years is fantastic and if they play it purely as an escapist fair it could work. You will have to suspend your disbelief but with the right cast and a good script, it has a lot of potential. However, like so many k-dramas of late, the writer-nim have to inject darkness into what could have been a light and breezy show.

On top of that, this show put the FL front and centre at the start of the show but then shift the focus onto to the older FL and that changes the tone and pacing of the show. I appreciate the importance of the old FL’s role in shaping the FL but her story as a faded star is much less engaging than the FL's. It is functional but it dips very close to a melodrama when it should have been uplifting and fun. It can hardly be called inspirational.

I understand some dramas are makjang by design while others are psycho thrillers but why do shows need to incorporate elements from several genres. Simplicity and a clear focus might deliver a better outcome. There is a throughline here but sometimes it fades or branches until you are not sure what is the A-plot anymore.

So if we pared back the plot to just the main theme regarding the rescue of the FL and her eventual rise to stardom, it is actually good and wholesome fun. Park Eun-bin played the role with heart. She can be naive one moment and glamorous the next but you can relate to her. Even the simple love story of Mok Ha and Bo Geol is sweet and heartfelt. That makes the padding out of the story feels all the more unnecessary. There is more than enough fuel for a decent 12 episodes run. Rather than watching the growth of the FL into a diva, we ended up with multiple threads pulling in different directions and by the time the spotlight is back on the FL, it is a done deal. We see very little of her “struggles”.

Is it an enjoyable watch? Yes, mostly but it could have been better. As a social commentary, it is stilted and heavy handed. As a fantasy, it feels hemmed in. The constant juxtaposition between the horror of domestic violence and light, uplifting moments can be jarring. Neither theme is helped by the other. It is like watch an unicorn frolicking in the meadows except it also breaths fire and has glowing red eyes!

OBTW, there are moments when I see glimpses of Attorney Woo when the FL looks a certain way. Uncanny. OST is FAB. I believe PEB sang some of the songs. That’s impressive.

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Sweet quasi-fantasy healing drama improves over time

This Show works because of three things. Firstly, a well crafted script that is tropey but self aware enough to know not to pile on the clichés but works with the tropes instead. Secondly, the casting of the leads is perfect. The FL has done her fair share of dramas but her forte is a sassy girl with a heart of gold but a novice in love. She definitely has the titular role here. The ML is handsome with a bit of the bad boy vibe yet possessed enough vulnerability to make him likeable and relatable. Thirdly, the OTP has great chemistry. It is not just about the feels but they look comfortable and happy around each other so that you can believe that they are best friends as well as madly in love.

I would have given this show an even higher score but for a few missteps. The start of the show is a bit weak and tropey. They steamrolled through a few plot holes to set up the main plot. It is just as well that the show improves as the story progresses or it would have been just another same-same quasi-fantasy rom-com. The fact that the show evolved into a poignant healing drama was unexpected and most welcomed. The production value is decent rather than high. Some of the set do look a bit low rent. 

There is a lot of growth in the OTP but surprisingly, the 2OTP was the CP dragging their heels. Their development was definitely arrested and to be honest, a bit boring.

I think the FL really shines in this show. She displayed good emotional range and much of it feels genuine. Her interactions with the ML becomes more and more natural over time. The ML complimented her very well. Their swoon worthy moments are believable and even touching at times.

Of course, the fantasy element can complicate the plot but rather than just simply telling us to ask no questions because it is a fairy tale, the Show tries to give us a plausible explanation and a path forward. I appreciate that.

The last episode is total fan service and I really enjoyed it. The special speech in that episode was wonderful. I don't know if it was all scripted or some of it was ad-libbed but it feels natural, heartfelt and funny. Can't really ask for more.

The Show is sweet but not loaded with artificial sweeteners. It has a decent amount of skinship and it will lift your mood. . There are angsty bits but they are necessary to propel the story forward. Thankfully, there are no silly breakups, nasty parents or psycho ex's.

OST works well. Rewatch is not a chore. I would recommend this Show.

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Good try but too long

Full disclosure, I watched the K-drama original awhile ago so I do have a frame of reference for this review. I suppose the simple one sentence review is that it is not as good as the original. Why? That is a lot more complex and I'll try not to constantly refer to the original but some comparisons are unavoidable. LHZ's family as a whole was a missed opportunity. They could have done so much more with their characters. I do feel sorry for the 2ML, in this drama, he had the most emotional depth but the writers decided that the FL is going to reject him from day 1 and on to the bitter end. I'm ok if there is no wavering but there is so much opportunity for cute, witty banters but every encounter from the 2ML was brushed aside as a joke (that would make it the longest running gag for any drama!). I'm not sure what is the instruction the director gave to Peter Sheng but for most of the show, he was expressionless whether he was happy, angry or sad (maybe a little smile or a little frown). Most of the time, Just a stony face. I see so many ML played like that in c-dramas. They are handsome guys but you almost think that they are told not to emote so not to distract from the perfect model shot. Now the elephant in the room, Dilraba Dilmurat is a good actress but LHZ is a no win for her. The FL is suppose to be funny, competent but a bit awkward and she just came across as borderline annoying, a lot of it has to do with her speech pattern. In this version, she speaks very fast but rambles on about nothing most of the time which is distracting and tiring to watch. She should have been seen as a smart, bubbly person but a bit naive and trusting. There are glimpses of that but most are lost in her endless bumbling and rambling. Also, after the transformation, she did look beautiful in some scenes but a lot of the time she looked tired and she still has that posture where she is trying to look shorter/smaller. The chemistry between the OTP is ok and we are told endlessly that they are THE OTP but they just don't have the sparks flying. Speaking of chemistry, the bromance between the ML and the 2ML in the original was a joy to watch and so funny but in this case, there was just a hint but went nowhere. In a sense, that is this c-drama in a nutshell. The plot focus has shifted heavily towards saving the magazine and a lot of the nuisances became muted or lost. When you consider the original k-drama was only 16 episodes and packed in more humour, more drama and more growth, you know there are lots of empty space in the 40 episodes of this version. It is totally watchable but it could have been better. Finally, I actually really liked the editor-in-chief character in this version. She mixed eccentricity with sage like presence so well. I look forward to her appearance every time.

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Stop reading reviews. Just go and watch it!

A cursory check indicates that there are 50 pages of review on this drama to date so I shall not waste bandwidth in a detailed review but just provide a few succinct observations.

To put it bluntly, this is an amazing healing drama. The setting, the story (and I mean story, not plot) and the acting from the ensemble cast are all superb. Our leads will make you swoon, laugh and cry.

However, this show is not for everyone. The presentation of mental health issues and persons with disabilities are subject matters fraught with challenges. Productions will never get it just "right". It is your own interpretation and your call. I respect that.

Ditto, the storytelling will be polarising as well. The setting is not strongly rooted in reality so there are times when you feel like you are watching a story within a story. Your mileage will differ.

There are some wrinkles in the plot. They are minor and might induce an occasional "eh?". The more you immerse into their world, the less you'd care.

Somehow I missed this show when it first aired. Better late than never! I can recommend this show unreservedly.

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Solid female centric drama that fell short of being great

This Show certainly started with a bang. It is dramatic and engaging right from the start. It was the classic “how the mighty falls” trope writ large. Liu Tao has the titular role and I love her acting and visuals. She was ably supported by Qin Hai Lu and Chai Bi Yun. Together they formed the triumvirate that seems to be de rigueur for the current crop of similar shows.

Our hapless FL is tested time and again. Her despair and suffering are palpable. She is pushed to her limits, but this only fan the flames from which the phoenix can rise again. The Show did a good job keeping us engaged. The problem lies elsewhere.

Most of the subplots are tropey and they come in waves. When one FL gets a handle on things, the next one will hit the wall and the cycle repeats. This is not helped by the fact that all three FL’s works in the same regional TV station doing different roles. It is interesting to see how the newsroom and the business side works, but it is a small pond. It becomes more claustrophobic as the episode count ticks up. The Show tries to stay relevant by having the leads branch out into the “new” streaming platforms. It helps, but it doesn’t feel “real”. These are not backyard operations but well staffed business ventures. Many struggling streamers must be rolling their eyes.

Weaving through all these challenges are love lines for each FL. Some are more interesting than others. Obviously, the Liu/Liu pairing is the focus, and I can totally ship them. In fact, it is this burgeoning romance that keeps me watching. The ML is so earnest and devoted, he can make any woman swoon. I love his unique visual with the hint of a rebel.

Speaking of romance, it is a key selling point of this Show but also its Achilles heel. There is nothing wrong with the 3 pairings but other than talking the talk, they don’t really walk the walk. After all the push-pulls and trials, we end up with a ripple rather than a wave when they are finally together. Yes, they are loved up but there is next to no skinship. A couple of hugs and a peck on the cheek is it. The other two CP’s don’t even get that far. Maybe it is the age of the actors, but it is not very rewarding after shipping them for so long.

While most c-dramas work hard to hook us within the first few episodes, this show does better than that. The middle section where the FL’s start to turn things around are some of the better episodes. However, the tail didn’t quite fire. Part of the problem is the return of the FL’s husband and the resolution of his mysterious disappearance.

I know crimes must be punished in c-dramas. However, his return feels too scripted. I would prefer for him to keep his distance rather than showing up all guns blazing. He behaved just as you’d expect and utters all the cliché lines. It is formulaic and feels lacking. A better option might be for him to send her all the damning information and an apology letter. Then set her free with a divorce by proxy. He doesn’t deserve redemption per se but that would be a more nuanced approach than just painting him as an one-dimensional crook.

In the end, the Show is a good example within this popular genre. I appreciate the solid acting, chemistry of the Liu/Liu pairing and good production values. However, the plots lack originality and that certain je ne sais quoi to lift it above the rest. It is an enjoyable watch but not high on my rewatch list. It gets a credit rather than a distinction. Peace out.

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How do you repack an opened Pandora’s box? . . . With great difficulties!

This show is hard to score. Not in terms of the acting or the production value but how its fundamental world building is mishandled.

Let’s take a step back. The star of the show is the FL. She has the titular role, and she is all singing and all dancing from start to finish. She has a demanding role and she has to dig deep. On the other hand, the ML feels muted for the longest time and while I understand that he is traumatised since an early age, his performance is quite stilted or maybe it was just the way his role is written. You just don’t feel much energy coming from him. This is the opposite compared to the FL who is on overdrive most of the time. Another issue is the chemistry between the leads is not strong. There are sparks but, on the whole, it feels more scripted than spontaneous. There are also some questionable behaviours by the FL earlier on which just feels awkward.

Surprisingly, I was more invested in the 2CP's romance. It was the usual rich girl/poor man trope but it is more earnest and heartfelt. It felt more organic than the OTP's.

What bothers me more is the way the writer-nims went about building a set of fairly convoluted narrative logic. We see actions and reactions that are attributed to the FL's unique circumstances but the how's and the why's are rarely explained. The internal logic is opaque and obtuse. Their applications are not consistent. It is immersion breaking, but more importantly, makes you question everything you see and hear within the story. The writer-nims are holding all the cards.

Yes, I understand it is a fantasy and certain narrative “flexibility” is to be expected, but I cannot shake the feeling that the storytelling has been twisted into a pretzel.

The puzzle pieces finally click into place in the last episode. I have to say that the final reveal is somewhat underwhelming. There is some much meat in all her previous lives but they are served up as little more than random (emotive) scenes. I wish there is more substance to those recollections.

While her first life held all the keys, its treatment is perfunctory at best. Nevertheless, this episode is still the best of the lot. All the key side plots are tied up with pink bows. The reverse meet-cute is very meta but nicely done and is so sweet. However, the finale is also the last straw for me.

The whole premise of the FL forgetting her past lives is a good idea if there is to be closure but what is presented to us is broken logic and plot holes. It is a Hail Mary moment that didn't quite work.

The FL appears to have lost a few week's memory and went back to her old job but how is that possible? What about her co-workers? They waved her off to start a new job and she is back as if nothing happened. I suppose the CEO can pull some strings. . .

An even bigger hole is her life after running away from her abusive father. Kim Ae-Kyung raised her from early teen to now. What happened there? I can accept she won't remember Ms. Kim when they meet again but who raised her? This is a different reality?

The show can make her forget some memories, but the show didn't alter history/reality en masse. The ML, Ms. Kim and Cho-Won all remembers her so there is no gap in their collective memories. Ms. Kim lived with the FL for years. Theoretically, her room is still out the back of the shop. My head is spinning.

Ditto, why did the ML’s mother remember her past life as well? Was she cursed? That was never explained. So many loose ends if you pause and think about it. All these are just put into the Too Hard Basket™ and buried in a very deep hole.

In the end, the show is watchable and swoon worthy at times. Taken in parts, it is a decent watch. Alas, as a complete package, it is quite vexing. Fans of the stars can roll with it, but it is a challenge if you are not. With that in mind, I cannot recommend this show wholeheartedly. If you want to watch it, please make sure to put on some industrial strength rose tinted glasses and give your left brain a day off. ;)

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24 episodes of fan service and 6 episodes of fillers

There are basically two ways to watch this show. Either as a fan of One and Only or a casual viewer. If you are in the first category then this is the best show ever and it will bring you joy and make you swoon again and again. If you are in the later group then you will not understand what all the fuss is about. You might enjoyed it as a romantic melodrama but you will more likely to find it slow, stilted and some scenes do not make much sense. A bit meh, to be honest.

But credit where credit is due, the show is good. It is beautifully shot and definitely a high quality production. The sets, costumes, lighting designs are all top notch. Acting was great from the ensemble cast. However, to truly appreciate the plots, sentiments and nuisances of this show, you will need to have watched One and Only or at a minimum a decent knowledge of the backstory.

The reason is that the story is full of direct but more often, obscure references to the prequel. There are literally dozens of them. From names, locations, scenes, music, paintings, poems, food, everything. Yes, you can still enjoy the show without any of that knowledge but it will be like visiting a house full of people who are constantly telling in-jokes and laughing among themselves. You can still enjoy the drama as is but your enjoyment will increase ten folds if you are in on the jokes.

This reference spotting also extends to character spotting. Almost every named characters in the prequel have their counterpart in the present. Some have similar roles while others have their alignment flipped. The show even go as far as stating that the ML seemed to be surrounded by people who owed him a debt from their past lives (an old Chinese saying and quite true in this case).

This brings up an interesting point, the reason why the original book was split into two separate dramas is because it is a no-no to use reincarnation as a plot device in c-drama and this is how the Show got around this "problem". Dreams and references to One and Only is now fine because the FL worked on its dubbing (clever and done well) and the modern ML's is a descendant of the historical ML's clan. So everything is squared away and fated.

Honestly, fate is almost too weak a term to describe their romantic journey. We are talking divine intervention level stuff. From their meet-cute to their growing love for each other, it is all preordained. There is no doubt that our leads are in love. They only have eyes for each other and cannot live without each other once their paths are crossed. This made the rest of the plot seemed superficial. Ditto the 2OTP, they are a nice CP but barely made a splash compared to our leads.

In that sense, the FL is the star of the show. She actually provided the glue between all the subplots in both shows. Even in her modern incarnation, she still subconsciously kept a lot of her qualities from her past life. Her likes and dislikes are all reflecting her past life. Her poise is always graceful, a little ethereal and nothing faze her. She is decisive and forthright when it comes to their relationship. She is sweet and playful with the ML and the ML only. She basically lived two lives without realising it. Ditto for the ML but more subtly.

I suppose it is unavoidable that there would be at least one antagonist and I'm afraid he was not up to the task. He was really a sad and tortured soul who made mistakes and did stupid things which ended up hurting his loved ones more than the OTP. You can't really hate him but a weak, pitiful villain is only marginally better than not having one at all.

If a lot of dramas use the last episode as a reward for their loyal viewers and load it up with fan service, this Show went the whole nine yards and it is filled to the brim with fan service (and Easter eggs) from start to finish. It gave the fans everything the prequel could not. PDA, skinship, loved-up banters and everything swoon worthy. The last episode is particularly egregious but a fan wouldn't care less and is thankful. 

OST was good but I think it was a bit overused as there were so many sweet moments that the love ballads were on constant rotation.

I would rewatch some of the sweet CP moments but skip the family dramas.

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A sandbox movie with a deep and dark rabbit hole in the middle

This "review" is unlike any I have written before because this movie is not about just watching the movie. It is much more than that. A back-of-a-napkin review will read like this; beautifully acted, beautifully shot, artsy, slow, a bit quirky but there doesn't appear to be a lot to it.

Wait, don't tune out yet! :) This is why I called this a sandbox movie. I believe that there are 2 phases to this experience. Phase 1 is just watching the movie. Phase 2 is taking your time to digest the clues, images, metaphors, etc. You have to play in that sandbox with the pieces given to you and look beyond the obvious.

Because of this, I can understand why this movie would get a lower rating. If you stop at Phase 1 then it is an artsy, quirky movie (see short review above). Some may just dismiss it as an indulgence especially if you are not in the mood to dive back into the movie after the end credits rolled.

However, if you get into Phase 2 then it is a Pandora's box! There are multiple layers and POV's. There are clues, messages (such as the hopelessness of their youths vs the Korean Gatsby's) and more. They point to different experiences, intersecting plots and even alternative realities! I have my own theory on what happened to the protagonists but I'm not going to discuss it here because a) spoilers b) I could be utterly wrong and c) you need to go down that dark and twisted rabbit hole yourself. Have fun!

In the end, I would compare this movie to a modern art installation. I appreciated the superb acting, evocative cinematography, multi-layered script and skilful directions but I don't fully understand it. It got me to think about it (and lost sleep). It will leave an indelible mark in my mind.

So while I can't say that I loved the movie because it is not a genre I normally gravitate towards (thanks LM for the recommendation), I can definitely express a deep appreciation tinged with a sense of awe and discombobulation!

Now I need a stiff drink and a good lie down. ;)

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Speaker for the Dead meets Rain Man

TL;DR: Move to Heaven is special, go watch it. We need season two. Now.

The longer version: Let's try to keep it short before it turns into a postgrad thesis.

MtH doesn't hit dramatic highs but it works slowly and steadily to breakdown your emotional defence until you can't help but be touched by the many emotional moments presented by the show. On the other hand, it is not a non-stop tear jerker either. How the narratives affects you will depend on your background and your EQ. Have tissues handy, you have been warned.

It tells simple stories of people who have passed away and became clients of this specialist cleaning company. Each short story was handled touchingly and delicately. Their lives seemed mundane on the surface but that was the whole point of the show. These cleaners do more than just clean and pack up the belongings of the deceased. The father and son team have the knack of seeing beyond the flotsam and jetsam of a person's life and see some of their essences and what was their last unfinished task. Their goal is to try to complete that task on their behalf and bring closure to people closest to them, in a sense, they are the speakers for the dead. Along the way, the show touched on many societal ills such as domestic violence, bullying, elderly neglect, etc. They are not unique to Korea but they are certainly prevalent.

The show is almost perfect but not quite. The writer can be too clever and withheld information from the viewers and then did the big reveal and tell you what the clue was after the fact. Most of the heavy lifting was done by the young ML who has Asperger's but also a savant . While he is surrounded by a very supportive found family, they don't seem to do a lot other than bicker among themselves or provide the contrary views to move the plot along and for which the ML debunks as par for the course. It is not quite an ensemble cast in that sense. The uncle's cage fighting and back story added a nice action component and complexity to his character. However, some misunderstanding that lasted for years was too easily resolved in the end.

Speaking of back stories. The show was arranged sort of back to front so the show started with the forced cohabitation of basically strangers and the second half of the show revealed their complicated back stories via lots of flash backs (have tissues handy) and explained how their lives were changed. It worked quite well but the problem we have here is that the show felt like it came a full circle and then it ended. If it was the standard 16 episodes, it could have ended properly. In the 10 episodes we got, we got revelations, character growth, some closures and everything was in place for the show to go forward but it just stopped. There were hints of budding romances, the cleaning company was finally on solid footings, an antagonist that was set for revenge, even a curious new job offered in the dying minutes of the show. If that does not hint at a second season I don't know what does. Please, please give us another season. We besiege you, Old Mighty Netflix!

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It is more than an e-sport drama

TL;DR version: This is an amazing drama. A must watch. One caveat; if you hate gaming or e-sport then give it a miss.
The long version: this drama combined two fully realised dramas into one. What is even more impressive is that it was an ensemble cast of well over ten leading characters. All those characters were three dimensional and acting was great and on point.
With such a complex and interwoven plot there were definitely issues but the show just took you on such a rollercoaster ride that you just hung on tight and enjoyed it.
The promise of the main plot is some kind of temporal anomaly that linked the lives of two crossfire game players, one lived in 2008 while the other in 2020. To help identify the two parallel plots, I'll refer to one as -08 while the other as -20.
First we must address the elephant in the room. If you are concerned about the butterfly effect or time paradox then be assured that the show took a bazooka to them and walked all over their ashes. The show used the time anomaly as a convenient plot device whenever they see fit. All kinds of time shenanigans happened but they all seemed to have minimal impact to the timelines or the world as a whole. Just tell your cognitive functions to go on a paid vacation.
As I mentioned earlier, with such a complex plot(s), there were issues which you can either take umbrage or just shrug your shoulders. The perfect example was the recovery of ML-08 from a prolonged illness. Totally unrealistic but they had to take that route or the show will grind to a halt. Ditto, 2ML-20 which was all nicely set up as a love triangle for OTP-20 and he just disappeared after a couple of episodes. See memo re cognitive functions.
On the whole the 2008 timeline was better written and acted. It just felt more raw and gritty. It started fast and furious and didn't let up until the halfway mark. The 2020 storyline was more like a youth drama with a hint of "The King's Avatar". It could have formed the basis of a standalone c-drama if they wanted. It was well told and well acted but paled in comparison with the 2008 storyline. The 2020 ensemble was still strong but felt a bit cookie cutter (the cosplayer was a standout).  
Around the 20's episodes mark, it did turn very dark and the various plots took a breather while the writer sort things out so that the two timeline can meld into one stream in 2021. A lot of the personal relationships were resolved and cemented around then.
Speaking of relationships, there are three key pairings, one in '08 and two in 2020. They all grew organically and didn't steal the limelight from the main plots. Unsurprisingly, I found the romance of 2OTP-20 was more engaging and funny and they were allowed more latitude with their courtship with several really funny moments while in game. However, having said that, the kiss of the OTP-08 in ep.33 was one of the best c-drama kiss, ever. The penned up longing and passion was overflowing and it was so natural. Swoon.
Speaking of funny moments, it was very clever of the show to use a mix of in-game graphics but more importantly, have the real actors dress up as their game characters and do the fight scenes. There were some tense moments but some of the funniest scenes were done in that alternative game world. Look for ML-08 teaching the FL-08 the game and the bromance scenes later on. Classic, totally classic. I won't be surprised if they recreated some championship games as they were really good matches.
The villain of the piece was also done well. I am a bit tired of the tropey hidden mastermind or Psycho killer with questionable motives. The show's villain suffered a chain of events that got him deeper and deeper into trouble. He was nasty and despicable in the end but you went on that dark ride with him and can empathise.
Kudos also goes to the writer for putting ML-20 in a wheelchair. As a gamer myself, I have been fascinated by the idea that online games are the ultimate leveller when a disabled person can live a full life in a virtual world without hindrance nor discriminations. Ditto giving real gamers cameos and showing photos of past greats in the end credit.
One small gripe is the last 7 mins of the show skipped ahead 5 years but you don't feel anything has changed and there was no obvious character developments. The show hinted is that everyone just cruised along for 5 years which is unrealistic (not even their hairstyle?). After making so much effort to make the timelines feel authentic, those last few minutes just felt out of place. If they have done a 1 year skip and gave us an update on the team/individuals then it would have been a more satisfying conclusion and gave us closures.
OST was good. A mix of battle music, love songs and incidental music. High production value all round.
In conclusion, I suppose I am a bit biased but even if you tone down the gaming side, it is still a good drama. Definitely recommended.

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