Zogitt

Who ordered the potstickers? Here's your tortellini and a side order of fairy dust!

Food, glorious food! This could have been so much better if they just stuck to that theme but alas, the writer took us down the garden path, deep dive a dank rabbit hole, before magically transported us to the Fairy meadow where the unicorns are frolicking like they were on drugs.

Any reader who has watched the original Karate Kid (and similar movie/show) would recognise the central plot. In this case, instead of martial arts, we have culinary arts. A Michelin star chef needs to find and train a new apprentice, but that person must have a supernatural sense of taste. Of course, this was not done through the kindness of his heart but because he is losing his own ability to taste food, so he needed that someone to taste for him when he creates new dishes. All this is hushed up so people were confused when he decided to mentor a girl (FL) who accidentally entered a top tier cooking competition but can’t cook at all. To compound his woes, he is quite a prickly character and very temperamental. In essence, a stereotypical master craftsman/creative type. All the classic clichés were deployed included the equivalent of the old wax-on-wax-off training trick to bring the hapless FL to some semblance of proficiency. However, this is a rom-com so the tale as old as time was given its due and the master/apprentice relationship took on a much more personal spin.

Speaking of food and cooking, this show has so much food porn. From street food to eateries serving local delicacies and all the way up to Michelin star restaurant. The food was a highlight, and those dishes were shot with skill and a singular focus. I do wonder whether the production team hired a food stylist and specialist photographer. This ended up being the saving grace of the show and I gave it extra marks.

You may well say there is nothing wrong with that storyline, sounds quite interesting and delicious. That is indeed the case, if they stick to it. However, into that pot were added several antagonists as well as dramatic change in tones. I mean descent into madness type of change. Most of this came from left field so what started as a light and breezy rom-com got darker and darker until you thought you were watching a different genre.

The OTP is an odd couple but when all the romantic ducklings are lined up, they can be quite sweet and engaging. You can't deny there is chemistry between them. Towards the end, there are truly swoon worthy moments. It would be tempting fate if this was the only game in town. We are confronted with the typical Chinese rom-com problème du jour, what I'd like to term Too Many Cooks Syndrome. On top of the OTP, there are 5 other CP’s! (Is that a record?) Most of the pairings are contrived and does little for the show other than padding out the runtime and force a change of scenery. This is particularly jarring when the show got darker and more intense. We’d suddenly flip to a CP and watch them do the mating dance or deal with some trivial matter.

All these extraneous stuffs would just be fluff if the show didn’t do a 180 on itself at the 7/8 mark. Every antagonist was reformed. Every problem (except the one concerning the ML) is swept aside. It made a mockery of all the angst and misdeeds that was dished out over the last 30 odd episodes. Some were explained away as historical misunderstanding, but more was left unanswered and frankly, baffling. This was quite strange as the bulk of the show was rooted in reality (cooking is about as real as it can get). When the ML was challenged by reporters as to how he can still be a master chef when he can’t even taste his own food, the writer finessed a clever and logical solution. It only served to highlight the inconsistency later on.

Around that 7/8 mark, we also have an attack of the unicorns as well. We are talking a herd of them. The last few episodes were all about tying every loose end up with pink bows. Happy endings were served to everyone, whether they deserved it or not. This was topped by a Deus Ex Machina solution straight out of a wuxia/xianxia drama. It is as if the writer has abandoned reality, just went all in and damn the consequences. The piece de resistance was the ending. It needs a health warning for diabetics. It was sugar overload. I won’t spoil it, just one hint, Bollywood.

Acting is generally solid but some were exaggerated stereotypes, especially concerning foreigners. Younger actors have room to improve but they show a lot of commitment even when it was an unrewarding role.

OST and production values were good. It would have scored better if the writer stays focused and kept its message clear. Make it sweet and bubbly or dark and crazy but what we ended up is a rollercoaster ride that looped back on itself and make us feel cheated and confused. Individual scenes can be well executed and acted but the whole is, regrettably, less than the sum of the parts.

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Rom-com 101 with an extra spoonful of aspartame

If there is a cheat sheet for a DIY rom-com script writing then it might look like this;

FL is young but ambitious. She just started her dream job as a baker/banker/brain surgeon but she faced a lot of challenges and prejudice. ML is the chef/CEO/civil engineer who took the FL under his wings and guided her to her destiny. OBTW, they fell madly in love and have X kids (kids optional, check current trend). Add extra CP to pad out screen time. Add antagonist just because. 

Without too much deviation, that's just about summed up this show. Dial up the artificial sweetener dosage, downgrade the antagonist to mostly harmless and add a couple of extra CP from central casting and voila, it is done! 

To be fair, using dubbing as a backdrop was interesting. It worked for half the show but it pretty much faded away and the usual business/relationship shenanigans took over. Thank goodness the dubbing here is for anime and not dramas. Don't get me started about the overuse and patchy quality of c-drama dubbing!

All the leads are good looking. There were some skinship and one CP was hot and sexy from the get-go while another CP had the worse case of the fishy kiss this year. The chemistry goes from ok to weak amongst the CP's. You know they are pre-ordained anyway. Ditto with swoon worthy moments. They are there but your mileage will differ. I do like the ML in several of his other shows but this time round he just felt too scripted.

It was interesting to see the show pushed tentatively at a few tropey boundaries but pull back timidly. Age gap love, toxic fandom, etc all had an airing but nothing much came of them. Evil schemes had little teeth. Antagonists were grey blobs. Relationship problems were passing storms, a "heartfelt" apology and it is back to kisses and cuddles, stat. The flip side to this angst aversion is that most of the typical angsty tropes have been banished and I am not too sad about that.

A few societal issues did make an appearance but all beat a hasty retreat as the Goddess of romantic comedy does not allow such impurities to pollute her temple. I'm not even sure what to make of their version of dementia. It was definitely used to milk the soppy angle to good effect. Dementia is a serious medical condition but it was given a very off-handed treatment here.
This show is actually not bad. Manufactured fluff this was but it is a perfect filler with a decent cast and mildly interesting story. If you are new to c-dramas or wanted the extra sugar hit then add an extra point to the score. If you are suffering from diabetes and groan every time you see that plot summary then subtract one point. 

This is one of the most subjective score I have given in a long time. This is due in part to a sense of frustration/disappointment of the state of Chinese rom-com's. To reward mediocrity is to hasten the heat death of the genre.

Maybe this is why so many similar shows are being churned out by the mighty c-drama machine lately because it fill the gaps in programming schedules, relatively cheap and quick to produce and will sail past censors.

One time watch, one time listen and peace out.

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A spoonful of sugar helps the dodgy script go down

This show aimed high, but ultimately missed the mark. Much of the blame lies with the script.

Let's take a step back and look at the fundamentals. Early plot progression feels like bullet points in a presentation. It leaps about rather than flows.

Our FL went from hero to zero in a few scenes. Her whole backstory was summarised on the back of a napkin and took about as long to play out on screen.

Two issues are soon apparent. Firstly, this drama is based on a web novel, but it cherry picked key scenes and subplots. The connective tissues between plots feels weak.

For instance, the FL in the novel died and soul swapped with a girl from a poorer family. This is the foundation of her story arc and eventual growth. Our FL didn't die so it is more a sidestep than a do-over. It fundamentally altered the depth of her struggles. I understand changes are part of adaptation. However, this seemed to be the low road.

Secondly, whatever tracking device the FL is using, I want one! Any time the FL is in mortal danger, either the ML or her sifu will come to her rescue. It is uncanny.

A case in point, our BLIND female lead "stumbled" up a mountain while being chased. Really? After falling down a cliff, she is found by her sifu who happens to be tramping there. Really? The plot armour is next level!

There are also serious plot holes. From a young age, the FL was forced to take on the identity of her stepbrother, He Ru Fei. I have nightmares about masks now, just saying.

Her brother returns at the beginning of this series. Pushes her aside unceremoniously and subsumed all her glories and merits. He then poisons, blinds and tries to silence her with extreme prejudice. What brotherly love!

Then this "fake/real" General He arrives in court to accuse the ML's dead father of traitorous acts. The man has a different voice, is a head taller than the FL. Nobody notice that?! Including those who fought next to her for years. That plot hole is big enough to drive a Big White Truck of Doom™ through!

But wait, there is more! The first dozen or so EP has the FL playing Mulan in a training camp. We have all the cliché moments. They are low hanging fruits.

My jaw dropped when the ML suddenly realises the FL is a girl the moment her chest touches his back. Holy Mother of Drama Gods! How? Did the FL not bind her chest? She dressed as a man every day and nothing "shows". Inconceivable!

I almost sloth quit several times by this point but I hung on with grim determination. Sunk cost fallacy is real, my friend.

The show changed tack and sends them on an undercover mission as a married couple. Yes, you guessed it. All the couple/dating tropes got an airing. Oh, the sugar hits, I gave it a second chance. I'm weak, ok? Don't judge me!

I can't deny our OTP have their swoon-y moments. It did drag on for too long. When we finally get THE confession, the skinship blossoms. It was rainbow and unicorns for a while, but another problem looms.

Normally, we would get a final confrontation with the antagonist just before the HEA ending. In this case, it happened several eps too soon. We did get an episode of fan service, and I can't complain. There is no way we are going to get 4 eps of fan service. I'm not that naïve.

Sure enough, the show hit us with the angst train. To wit, the SML manipulated the King so that he can wed the FL by royal decree, thus sundering our OTP.

Speaking of the King, he is the ultimate plot device. Need someone punished, the King! Need someone send to the frontiers, the King! Need a wedding planner . .

To cut the story short, the FL marched into the palace and told the King this is total BS. Think Éowyn from LoTR. ;) Instead of sending her to the salt mine, he capitulated. Just. Like. That.

Our leads simply sworn to forsake all others and carries on. Geez, that's a win-win for His Majesty. Did we just wasted an episode?

The predictable ending arrives. I'm not going to spoil it. One hint, the show came full circle. ;)

It pains me to pen this. I had high hopes. It should be a slam dunk. When it is good, it is watchable. The battle scenes are mostly style over substance, but they are well done. The romance is sweet with a decent amount of skinship. Acting is decent. The sets, costumes and OST are solid. It just needs a good script. Did no-one proofread it?

So close, yet so far. Peace.

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Look at all the cute pets . . keep looking . .

You know the old saying about kicking a puppy? Yes, that’s you if you don't like this show because it really piles on the cute pets and eulogise on and on about keeping them responsibly.

Essentially, this show is a collection of many pet related vignettes which are loosely linked together within the pet hospital setting. The problem is that the A-plot regarding the ML’s identity is meh. By the half way mark, everything is known to us. It becomes rather tedious to watch the rest of the ensemble stumble onto the truth many hours later.

The show could have benefited from an intense love line, but we ended up with a slow burn. The OTP is preordained but their chemistry is only passable. The show ran through the usual gambit of dating tropes, but nothing works. We watch the OTP dancing the Two-Step with each other for 30eps before something finally happens. This is not helped by the endless shenanigans cooked up by the SM/FL to try to sabotage them. The second leads just won't take NO for an answer. This is particularly true for the SFL. She took puppy love to infinity and beyond! It tests credulity and my patience. Regardless, their meagre efforts are transparent and ineffective.

All that changes towards the end of the run when the melodrama dial is turned up to the MAX. We are hit with a wave of tropes which viewers of typical family sagas will recognise at 100 paces. Luckily, the writer took pity on us and spare us a prolonged torture session. By the time normal programming resumes, the show has run out of puff and we stumbled over the finish line while singing Kumbaya. I barely noticed the herd of unicorns waiting for their checkups by our resident vets.

Acting is workmanlike on the whole. The script is not particularly kind to the FL with her behaving like a hapless and naïve girl for way too long. On the other hand, the ML is the hive mind and he is always ready with a “I told you so”. While he is handsome and charismatic, he can look bored and feels flat at times. The large ensemble cast did their job to move the plot along, mostly in the right direction.

In the end, the show is harmless and watchable but there is not a lot there to lift it above pass grade. The script is a millpond with the odd splash. Your mind will drift and want to hit the FF button. Unless you are a pet lover then there are plenty of dopamine hits. One time watch for me.

P.S. What's with the ML's hair? Does it need a session with Tian Yu Xian?

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An edgy black comedy that ended up with pink frills

The initial setup of this show is hardly original. Nasty, cold hearted boss making all his employees’ life miserable. His worst victim is his parade of secretaries whom never lasted more than 3 months before they are driven to despair. That is until the FL arrived at the scene and managed to stick it out for 1 whole year. In that sense, it was almost like a Shakespearean play of revenge where a conga line of people all wanted to harm the ML either for real or at least play out some fantasy to get redress for past wrongs.

What happened next is dark, zany and over the top, but it worked because it was done with a lot of manic energy and running at break-neck speed. You just don’t have time to ask questions. It was a wild ride to say the least. However, that ride did not last. Around the halfway mark, the pacing and tone of the show began to shift. It coasted for a bit as it shifts gear and recalibrates. By the end of the show, it is a completely different beast. This may be a good thing for some viewers, but it can be problematic as well. If you start watching this show because of the leads, then there is no issue at all. They have great chemistry plus a nice amount of passionate skinship. However, if you stumbled onto this show and was hooked by the crazy, fast paced story then how it morphed into a fluffy romance might leave you scratching your head. On the other hand, if you were put off by the dark whimsical plot and dropped the show then you would have missed the swoon worthy love line that blossomed later on. It is a weird juxtaposition of genres but you have to give the writer-nim credit for trying something different.

Now, back to the main revenge theme that is the backbone of this show. It is ever present and drove a lot of the plots forward. However, it is a double-edged sword. It worked in the subplots and there were many of them. From silly voodoo doll action to inflicting serious bodily harm, just about anything goes. Nevertheless, I thought the overarching central plot is weak and out of proportion when the full reveal happened towards the end of the show. The Show would have us believe that the main antagonist was a mastermind that plotted his revenge for years and has many resources at his disposal that he can manipulate public opinion and pay for others to do his dirty deeds. Yet he blames the ML for ruining his life?! In all honesty, I don’t buy that. The antagonist is living well, and he certainly doesn't seemed to be hung up about his reputation so why play such a long game and devote so much energy to it. It is not as if it is a family feud or the cliche “you killed my father!” storyline. It did make the grand reveal somewhat lame. The ML certainly didn't understand the motivation and neither did I.

Acting is great from the leads. They demonstrated a wide range of skills especially the ML, he raced through several different personalities during the show so kudos to him. The FL was also very good and she is tough but deep down is a sweet and caring soul. The support casts were solid but the writer-nim gave them exaggerated roles so overacting is the norm. They all earned their keeps. SFL was no wall flower even though she is beautiful and I confess to having a bit of second lead syndrome.

To complete the transformation of the show, the final episode is total fan service. It was the most leisurely strode down Closure Lane I have seen for a long time. The writer-nim lovingly closed all the threads and ticked them off her list. Not that I'm complaining because it was so nice and sweet. She paid attention to minor subplots that would have been forgotten by most shows. It was sugar overload but if you ship the OTP then it would just be the icing on the cake. Speaking of OTP, the 2OTP is cute and sweet too and provided some early distraction from the endless revenge action.

To be honest, if it started as a rom-com with just the boss/secretary plot, it probably would have faded badly because the love line is fairly standard. It is the crazy momentum of the first half that carried it over the line.
OST is nice and easy on the ears. Rewatch is there depending on whether you like sugar or spice. ;)

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Live, love and lost under the Big Sky

This is an adaptation of a book of prose by Li Juan. Changes were made to make it more suitable for live action. Read into that what you will.

This series has received some well-deserved attentions and solid ratings. I think it is largely due to its unique setting and a simple and honest storytelling amongst the sea of samey idol dramas.

The story is a mashup of the classic When Worlds Collide and Fish Out of Water tropes. They are oldies but goodies. In this case, our FL finds herself in a remote part of the Xinjiang autonomous region which is the definition of remoteness itself. So, you can imagine her culture shock.

BTW, the show was set over 20 years ago, so things are simpler back then, but changes are coming, just like winter. The straightforward plot largely centred on the lives of one Kazakh village, their friends and their interactions with FL's small family.

Historically, the Kazakh are nomads herders and each summer, the families would move with their herds to their summer pastures in the Altai mountains. In that sense, I prefer the Chinese title of My Altai which is more meaningful.

As the show opens, we find the older generation confused about the changes and "nonsensical" rules from people they can't relate to. While the younger generation is squeezed between two conflicting cultures. It is this tug-of-war that is the foundation of much of the drama in this series.

It is obvious that this show doesn’t have a big budget and can be a bit rough around the edges. Nevertheless, it is made with heart and a focus on authenticity. Local "actors" are used extensively. I won't go as far as saying they discovered new talents, but they managed to grab You Shi before he gained fame with his recent movie roles. He is all singing and all dancing here. He made the effort to learn the local dialect. While not 100% fluent, it is impressive, nevertheless. He also did all the horse riding stunts, and he sang in the local dialect. Kudos to him.

As I mentioned before, the show is like a breath of fresh air (or is that mountain air?), and you quickly become enmeshed in the village life. Their lives are ruled by the seasons and daily chores. It is a harsh but fulfilling life. You know life is tough when luxury is a dry bed.

They only break from the daily grind during festivals and celebrations like weddings. They certainly let their hair down during those rare occasions. Friendship is renewed and romance blossom. This is also an area where the generation gap rears it head. Some of the older generations are still engaging in matchmaking while the younger generations are doing their own thing. In a way, the show used the various romances to spice up the plot but it is a bit distracting when the landscape is such a magnificent stage and yet we are stuck in a yurt, watching the elders negotiate again and again.

I’m not sure these complications is the production trying to inject some relatable plots and angst for contemporary viewers. What is obvious is their influence on the last ep. It really was drama for drama’s sake and feels rushed. I’m not sure if it is necessary but it ended things with a bang. The last scene was a bit of a tease for us who are shipping the OTP. Will they? Won’t they? Maybe a second season will give us the answer. ;)

Regardless, this is a good show. It deserves all the kudos for doing something different. I appreciate the efforts the production invested to make it authentic and sincere. With such a short run-time, it is an easy binge. Give it a go, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Finally, the elephant in the room. The treatment of ethnic minorities and the flood of Han people into those remote regions is a sensitive topic. Several plots gave us a hint of what’s to come. The show's portrayal is restrained for obvious reasons. Enough said.

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A solid winsome rom-com that doesn't need to cheat

This is an angst light sport focused drama with a strong, swoon worthy noona romance running in parallel.

The college aged ML falls in love with the FL at first sight. He was smitten and pursuits the FL with boundless energy. He picked a particular university just so that he can be coached by the FL. The FL is several years older than the ML so there is the usual push-pulls and denials. However, once she accepted his love, they are rock solid. It was so gratifying to see a relationship build upon trust and pure love. In fact, the FL should be applauded for her bravery and strength in pushing back against societal stereotypes and naysayers. Bravo! 

I am thankful that there is no last minute breakups nor silly misunderstandings. The OTP are truly reading from the same page.
Of course there are tropes and cliché moments, this is a Chinese drama after all. Thankfully, they are under a tight rein and doesn't feel too contrived. Plots are mostly allowed to progress naturally.

Acting is fine all around. The ML has been in a number of school/college dramas so he is perfectly casted and is in his element. His training and competition scenes are well done and fairly believable. The FL played the noona role to perfection. She spent nearly the whole show in tracksuits or simple garb which is a refreshing change from the glam style of her other projects. She looks lean, fit and belongs on the sporting fields as a coach.

Most of the other actors are college age but they did fine. Lots of testosterone on display and their coming together to form their own band of brothers was gratifying to watch.

There is also a nice amount of skinship and no shortage of passionate kisses. An above average bedroom scene is a surprise bonus.

Not everything is wonderful though. There are some issues with the use of filters in post production whereby some scenes look like they are shot in fog and the actors looked washed out and glowed with a strange aura. This caused some online remarks and the director acknowledged the issue and dial back the effect in later scenes. The ending also feels rushed. The HEA ending is never in doubt but it feels underdone. Could have added more fan service.

It is not going to win any awards but it is a straightforward and satisfying watch. It is not artificially sweetened and the sports theme provided the necessary trials and tribulations without having to cheat by adding manufactured angst.

I enjoyed this show very much and would recommend it without reservations. OST is fun and breezy. Rewatch will not be a chore.

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Is this Show a duck or a goose?

I thought the Show started well. A dose of mystery, a touch of humour and a hint of romance. There is a burst of manic energy as the Show introduces the key players and setup the main plot. After the meet-cute, the show slows down to a steady pace. There are some funny moments early on as the ML learn to live with ghosts and how to profit from them. However, the humour is fleeting. While it sort of sticks to the initial premise of a taxi for ghosts, we soon find out that it is far from being joyrides. Most of the ghostly tales are quite weighty and depressing. These subplots appears to be random at first but over time, we are given clues to find the missing link that ties them all together.

I actually felt a bit lost by the half way point because I was expecting the Show to go down a certain path based on the marketing and the early episodes but it turns out to be quite a different beast. I won’t go as far as calling it bait-and-switch, but I was not excited about where the story is heading.

Fortunately, the Show finally starts to pull the threads together in the last 1/3 of the run. The final destination is revealed, and we gather momentum as we sped towards the climax. I have to admit that it is neat how the loose threads are related to each other and slots in with each other. The only problem is that by this stage, I’m feeling a little jaded as I can see the Show is clearly manipulating the narrative and subplots until all the pieces are perfectly aligned. The puzzle can’t be solved because the pieces are hidden on purpose from us. We are drip fed very little concrete information while it grows painfully obvious who the real culprits are. This includes creating contrived situations while bending rules to suit the task at hand. Some of these involve questionable police procedurals while others will leave you baffled by the inconsistency if not out right contrivance. The Show will try to explain the ruse afterwards but it does test your credulity.

Acting is acceptable on the whole. I won’t call any of them breakout roles. The FL has a more challenging role than the ML. He can appear a bit wooden at times. They have decent chemistry and there is a bit of skinship in ep.12.

Production value is par for the course. It doesn't have lavish sets but they are functional and fit for purpose. Not a lot of CGI is used even though you would expect more from a supernatural themed show. What is there is acceptable but fairly rudimentary by today's standards. Once again, adequate rather than exceptional.

In the end, all the loose ends are tied up. Emotions run high and a few tears are shed. Antagonists are dealt with. Protagonists have the happy endings we all wish for. The Show turns the fan service dial to the max in ep.12. It is probably the best episode of the series and it is the real highlight for me.

Regrettably, the bulk of the show is fairly pedestrian. Similar ghost/wish fulfilling plots have been done before and often better. There is certainly something old something borrowed here. What we need is more of something new.

In hindsight, it is watchable and kept my interest but it can be testing at times. I won’t mind rewatch a highlight reel but not the whole show. Peace out.

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Too close to RL or not close enough?

I think this drama will have a solid core of supporters but also its fair share of detractors.

I find myself in two minds about this show as well. Fundamentally, this series is uniquely Korean. Its main subject matter will be much more relatable to locals who has children who has lived through exam hell or spent half their youth in tutoring academies themselves. However, even then, there are those who would consider this not realistic enough and is nothing more than dramatisation.

I suppose from my perspective, this show is much more "real" than the usual romcom. Even those set in a tutoring ecosystem like Crash Course in Romance feels almost cartoon-y in comparison.

This is a double-edged sword. The day-to-day aspect is a bit dull. There is a lot of jockeying of positions and details about the Korean education system, especially the last years leading up to the all mighty CSAT. The fact that our leads teaches Korean literature makes it harder for non-Korean to form a connection. Any nuisance about a particular author or a piece of writing is mostly lost in translation.

This is not helped by a slow burn romance. There is a lot of push-pull in the beginning. The age difference and their original teacher/student status adds to the complication. While the ML is all in, the FL is very hesitant to accept his advances. While some scenes are touching and heart fluttering, the majority are mundane, and work related. This improves once they are a couple and there are more emphasis on them. Nevertheless, most episodes are dialogue heavy.

The acting of our leads definitely help to steady the ship and made it watchable. The ML is handsome in a manly way and the FL has good chemistry with him. Their portrayals are on point. The rest of the ensemble cast is a mixed bag. Most of the senior cast members did well. The grey witch’s role is a challenging one and SJY is a class act. However, some of the lesser support roles are one dimensional.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed this show. This is not your typical idol drama full of beautiful people. This one will not grab you from the opening scene and hook you till the end. You have to be patient, invest your time and walk a mile in their shoes to appreciate their struggles. These are mostly normal people doing a challenging job. BTW, I’m glad that there are no murders or psycho stalker. I’m getting tired of that trope.

OST is fine and catchy. I doubt I’ll rewatch this drama anytime soon.

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Rivers of artificial tears

I know, I know, this show is the talk of the town and rating its socks off. However, I’m going to be an outlier. Please allow me to explain.

The star power of our leads combined with the portfolio of our writer-nim (who penned CLOY, MLFTS, etc) should guarantee an instant classic. It is certainly a hit but after finishing the show, I am not convinced that it scored the home run.

At the start of the series, the relationship of the OTP is at their lowest ebb. Of course, the goal is to watch them rise above it all and make us swoon. The series largely archived this with consummate skill. However, this is also its Achilles heel from my perspective.

Even a few episodes in, I can’t help but feel that I’m watching a parade of hand crafted scenes designed to either showcase the visuals of our leads or to hit us with the feels, hard. There is no doubt that this is a S class production on every level. Of course, there are buckets of tears and our handsome ML brought his A game.

However, I feel that the material connecting these scenes are hollow and contrived. This is surprisingly loose and lazy writing coming from a writer of this calibre.

For instance, the plot surrounding the granddad’s mistress is nonsensical. She suffered and schemed for over 20 years because of greed. Really, just greed? She could have built a secret nest egg in far less time than that. Even in the end, it all comes down to a bit of luck and good timing. Ditto the involvement of several accomplices. The script tries to explain it all away, but it is a hard sell when you look beyond skin deep.

Don’t even get me started on the SML. He is obsessed with the FL yet his idea of winning her over is to shaft her family and take her beloved business away. Yes, he offered it back to her but with nasty strings attached. It all feels rather inept and superficial. That seems to be his modus operandi. Just do something over the top and she will submit but there is no solid reasoning behind his various machinations. The idea of him taking over the role of her finance after her surgery and framing the ML for murder is laughable and beyond tropey.

Almost every member of both families is cliché and unlikeable yet so much time is devoted to their petty contrivances. The makjang heavy plot basically seesaws between the protagonist making small gains only to surrender it back to the antagonist in the next scene/episode. There are many outlandish subplots involving the large ensemble cast. The tone of the show yo-yo all over the place because of that.

This highlights how much emphasis is placed on those storyboard scenes. If they were pivotal then I’m all for them but most of the time, they are a quick dose of fan service, or button pushing tropes. They are effective but also manipulative by design.

This brings us to the real kicker. The main theme of the show is the romance of the OTP. This is made painfully clear from the start. However, for this viewer, my first question is why are they even together?! There is nothing to ship. They don’t show any affection. They don’t talk (failure to communicate is a recurring theme). They live parallel lives. The ML suffers daily both at home and at work. This could have been a murder mystery for all I know. Yes, the writer turned it around towards the end, but it is hardly CLOY2, not even close.

A HEA ending is never in doubt once they played the magic cure card. The escalating dramatic tension drops away. All the implausible schemes fell apart as expected. Every subplot is tied off with a pink bow. Was it satisfying? I’d prefer to call it Functional Predictability. I’m sure fans are swooning and elated though. It all ends with an artificial sweeteners overload. Did it go too far? It literally left nothing to our imagination.

Regardless, the gods of makjang will be pleased. Am I being critical? Absolutely. I want this show to be great, nay, perfect. This is god’s gift to the fans of the leads but it is hardly on par with some of the most memorable k-dramas.

If I take off the rose-tinted glasses, I can see all the hype and traffic generated by the highly bankable stars. It served its purpose and made history. Am I the only one not hailing Caesar?

We came. We saw. We forgot™.

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A decent weekend binge

In typical j-drama fashion, this drama has a laser focus on the A-plot. The fact that the story is the usual contract marriage is more or less coincidental. This is also its Achilles heel. The plot is shallow and winds down a familiar path.

To wit, the leads are photogenic. The story is straightforward and tropey. The production is decent. The young cast did well enough. The ML is a bit stiff but that’s par for the course. The FL has more work to do, and she earned her keep. The SML’s role is largely redundant. It injected a tiny bit of angst but that’s about it

The show is solid if uninspired. I certainly won’t go out of my way to hunt it down. If you stumbled across it then it is a decent weekend binge (it is only 9 x 22 mins eps after all). The interaction between the leads is cute, and there is nothing inherently offensive to disturb your inner peace. I enjoyed the show while it lasts. It is a one-time watch for me.

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Enough with the politeness

I enjoyed this show. It is the usual contractual marriage of an odd couple. However, rather than the usual crazy pairing of random strangers, this one is surprisingly well grounded and even have a semblance of logic behind the meet-cute, well, mostly from the ML's perspective.

The plot is solid but uninspired. It runs though the usual gambit of relationship and cohabitation issues. All the problem are handled with maturity and resolved quickly. Of course, there are some issues which are put in the too hard basket like developing feelings for each other. Obviously, being a rom-com those pesky feelings has to be addressed. This is not helped by the politeness and boundary setting between the two. Other than a couple of near misses, their relationship is quite platonic.

This is disappointing because even after they confirmed their feelings for each other near the end of the show, we have very little fan service. It is poor return for shipping the OTP for so long. I honestly would have given it a higher score if we get to see some passion rather than more bonhomie.

Production value is par for the course. Acting is fine and OST is unintrusive.

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“like a softcore porno but without the porn.” – Love movies, drama reviewer

Love lost and found again is the foundation of this drama. A cute boy with mysterious origin ties the many threads together. It has a good-looking cast of young actors and the lead’s do have some chemistry, but it is not very convincing. It was shot in Xi’an but it has a Taiwanese feel to it. This review is pretty trippy to match the ambience of this short drama.

This show is like a game of pin the tail on the donkey. It lurches all over the place but never stays long enough so that you can pin a label on it. For instance, it is quite racy at time, but you won't see anything explicit. It tests the boundaries but never crosses them. Some of the dialogs are very awkward but you can’t say that they are nonsensical or offensive, just cringey, stilted and non-PC.

The dubbing swings between functional to embarrassing. The acting go from reasonable to super cheesy. Every scene can bring its own surprises, and most don’t even involve the script. Ditto the production value. It can be decent one scene and amateurish the next. So much of this show is vexing. Consider how simple and tropey the A-plot is, this is no mean feat.

Some of that can be attributed to its short run time. Officially, it is only 20 x 10 mins long but once you top and tail them, they clock in closer to 8 mins per ep. Thus, the show moves at a cracking pace. I can imagine the editing room floor being littered with scenes they had to cut out. Editing and flow do suffer because of that. It does settle down a bit towards mid run and we can catch our breath but the home run is back to breakneck speed.

The script is humming a tune that sounds familiar but there are many dissonant chords. Cliches are everywhere. Like single use plastic items after a picnic. You might as well get used to plot holes because they are part of this gurgling witches’ brew. I can foretell much toils and troubles.

With a score this low, my modus operandi would be to cut my losses and drop the show but I couldn't. It is like watching a train wreck. You are mesmerised by the impending doom. You are shocked but also awed. As expected, a HEA ending was airdropped into place in the dying minutes of the show. All’s well that ends well.

This show is dire, but not so awful that it becomes a cult classic. It can even be unintentionally funny. In the end, it is a curio that will soon be forgotten. It did pique my interest and it might do the same for you. Heed my warning, gentlefolks. It is hard to stop once it hooks you. I binged it in morbid fascination with barely a pause. But I can never watched it again.

Maybe this is art. Maybe I’m a bowl of petunias. Peace out.

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It exists . . . awkwardly

If I want to be generous, I can call this show a fluffy rom-com. However, that will be doing a disservice to the readers of this review. The premise of this show is a rom-com but what is delivered is subpar at every level.

The main story line is awkward. Bits of cliche plots are cobbled together. It feels tired and predictable. You could call it a labour of love because a bunch of people certainly worked hard to deliver it even with all its problems. Unfortunately, the core concept is not particularly funny nor romantic. I get that they want to get some laughs out of the struggling dating show but you are more likely to gag than giggle. The pacing is also inconsistent. Some plots feel rushed while others just meander along.

This is not helped by the OTP having little chemistry. Their whole love line felts contrived. It was a bad case of puppy love when they were young teens but their feelings for each other is unchanged for 20 years. Ok, it is a bit of a stretch but this trope has worked in other shows so it can work here too, right?

Yes, it can work and they say that they have resolved their issues and they are all lovey-dovey. Yet the same issue caused them to breakup again before the love bite had time to fade. Have they learnt nothing? Are they 34 or 14? The fact that the issue can be resolved with some straight talking is totally ignored. Some of the later dialogue doesn't make much sense. It is the classic "Do as I say, not as I do". I know the happy ending is mandated but it is one audacious piece of writing.

In terms of acting, the FL is prone to overact because her character is quite exaggerated. I have to give her credit for acting like a fool at times just for laughs. The ML pulls his weight but he can't carry the whole show and his character is a bit nebulous. Support cast is patchy. Lots of one dimensional characters. It feels like they are trying to be a caricature of themselves.

To be honest, I am a bit numb after watching this show. It is not so bad that you want to throw things at the monitor nor is it good enough to be truly enjoyable. You keep watching while clinging onto the hope that it will get better. In your heart, you know the actors deserve better, the crew deserve better, WE deserve better!

It exists . . . awkwardly. Enough said. Peace out.

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A sweet little rom-com that got me thinking. . .

As soon as you mention teacher/student romance, the topic is automatically labelled taboo or controversial by many. It is understandable as a teacher is in an unique position of power to groom a young student for nefarious purposes and possibly subject them to abuse. That would be both illegal and morally corrupt and should be condemned. However, what happens if there is another side to this coin?

This Show starts in just such an awkward scenario where the young and beautiful new homeroom teacher is confronted by a confession from a model student. She naturally rejected him and admonished him to not do it again.

For a good portion of its entire short run (8 x 20 mins episodes) we watch the ML does everything in his power to show the FL that he is serious and sincere about his feelings towards her. It is awkward at time but his energy is infectious. He is helped along the way by his friends (both male and female) and even the FL’s big brother when he realised that he is actually serious and trustworthy. Just about everyone involved is behind his quest. There is no obvious antagonist. The moral and societal barriers are his biggest hurdles.

It has its cliché moments and swoon-y ones as well, but the show is never manipulative or sexualised. The romance is surprisingly pure and sweet. A peck on the cheek is about as far as skinship goes. In that sense, the script never crosses the line unless you consider anything to do with teacher/student romance is automatically out of bound. In that case, this show is not for you.

It is not until towards the end that we find out why the ML is so hellbent on pursuing the FL. I’m not going to give the plot away but let’s just say that it is not your typical teenage crush. The reasoning actually makes sense and justifies his action.

There is certainly more depth to this show than the single-minded exploits of a young man in love. A lot has to do with abandonment, commitment and a need to belong. Tropey topics, indeed, but it is used effectively here.

I’m not going to make this out to be some kind of masterpiece theatre. It is short and made with a small budget. There are no big-name actors, and the mostly young cast did their best with limited experience and abilities. Nevertheless, it is entertaining and I enjoyed it. The ML’s and his friends’ antics are both over the top and heartfelt. You know he is being naughty, but you also want to cheer him on like everyone else. You do have some reservation whether the whole story will end well or turn sour given the controversial topic.

I’m glad to report that the ending is sweet and satisfying. There is no hint of serious romance but there is meaningful banters and teasing. You know that they are playing by the rules for now but are also marking time until he comes of age, finish school and then it will be on for young and old. I won’t mind a sequel that covers the next phase of their lives.

Lastly, I have to give credit to the scenes depicting the inter-thoughts of the FL. They are amusing and insightful. Uniquely Japanese and quite charming.

I have no problem rewatching it as a weekend binge. There is no point in comparing it to a big budget, serious drama. It is just a bit of lightweight fluffy fun and viewed from that angle, it is good enough for me and hence my score. Peace out.

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