Zogitt

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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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 situation 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 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.

I’m glad to report that the ending is sweet and satisfying. There is no hint of serious romance but there are meaningful banters and teasing. You know they are playing by the rules for now. They are 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.

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. Peace.

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I wish my brain cells are that cute

Yumi's Cells tells a fairly typical modern romance of two people from different walks of life. They met by chance, fell in love, experienced all aspects of a serious relationship, reach a critical juncture and had to make the tough decision to either push through or allow their love to wane. The inclusion of the animated cells added a new facet to the story telling and gave it a multi-dimensional aspect beyond the typical inner monologue. Without the dramas within the cell villages, the story would be engaging but hardly original.

Lucky for us, the complete package was a refreshing take of the old chestnut and the emotional ups and downs were amplified and bought to a sharp focus by the cells' dialogue and machinations. It was really funny to see how the writer-nim translated the characters' thought process into 'anime-action' of the various cells and their interactions. However, whilst this type of segue was a fun and welcome diversion in the early part of the show, later on when some serious decisions had to be made, the cut to the cells can feel jarring and break the tension. It is hard to relate the urgency of the decision to a cutscene full of cute toons even though they were agonising over the same point. This is particularly true for Woong's thought process. The cold AI overlay subsumed the more human side of his character which was much more prevalent earlier on. The mechanical deliberation also made his thought process seemed slow and ponderous. Quite unlike the impulsive Woong we loved. Let's face it, who can forget the out of control Naughtysaurus!

Having said that, it was interesting that in the last episode, the show introduced the face card motif whereby everyone is walking around with an imaginary game card on their forehead which showed their motivation or intention at any given moment. Of course, that also made possible the direct translation of phases like 'keeping your card close to your chest' or 'lay down your card'. It allowed a glimpse into other peoples desire and motivations but it is not as innovative as the animated cell village. Is that a cost cutting move or just exploring options for S2?

As I mentioned before, the core relationship of the OTP was not overly dramatic. It followed a fairly well worn path. When they arrived at the critical juncture, the ML stumbled (there were warning signs) and it started the downward spiral. It could have been saved but several opportunities were missed or mishandled. Both Woong's pride and Yumi's insecurities played key roles in putting pressure on their relationship. Coupled with Woong's stress over his failing start-up, it was hard to see a happy ending. It might be salvageable if both parties opened up and talk through the issues but they became more withdrawn and compounded their problems. It led to a sad outcome but it is not an unrealistic portrayal of a modern relationship. Everyday pressures have to be dealt with. Dancing around issues will not magic them away.

I suppose we have been conditioned to expect rom-coms to have a happy ending but in this case, writer-nim gave us a dose of reality and I respect and appreciate that. Bring on Season 2. I will not take a smooth ride for granted ever again, at least for this show.

In terms of acting, I can't fault the main casts. They drew us into their world and shared their lives with us. It was heartbreaking when they were in despair but equally joyful when they were basking in glorious bliss. Support cast did their job well but most were one dimensional.

OST was good and had a broad range from happy tunes to soulful ballads.

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At least this show is not a dog . . . technically

Ok, it pains me to say this but this review will sound like I'm damning it with faint praises.

On the positive column, I wrote handsome OTP, nice chemistry and a decent amount of skinship that doesn't look fake. Some swoon-y moments. Cute dogs.

On the other hand, the A-plot is tropey, same-y. There are awkward and cringey moments and its fair share of plot holes.

However, overshadowing all that is the stretching of the main plot to its limits. When you consider once the OTP comes together, the writer-nim gave us one ep of fan service then parachutes in the old amnesia trope for our edification. It totally killed any forward momentum.

If that is not enough, we also get a couple of eps of historical reenactment, Joseon Style. This is on top of a decent sprinkling of recaps throughout the Show. It is like a trail of breadcrumbs. There were minor twists in the final cut, but they are not shocking. To be honest, you probably have already foreseen it if you know your dramas.

So, we have Fate, sacrifices and an ancient curse, what I'd like to call the three horsemen of k-dramas. It is serviceable but it walks a well-worn path.

The show can still be lifted with a strong finish. Alas, the Show delivered something that is, once again, agreeable but hardly inspiring. Ergo, the curse was lifted with minimal fanfare. The antagonist just disappears without so much as a "Oops, my bad". Oh, the pain suffered by generations of the FL's family. The injustice of it all!

The last ep is total fan service but it doesn't quite stick the landing either. The HEA ending is never in doubt. Everyone gets something, Oprah style. It is cute how they retold the OTP romantic journey in a different context but once you see past the gloss, it is just a storyboard with a highlight reel. Changing the wrapping doesn’t make it a new gift.

Acting is serviceable (where is my thesaurus?) The comedy side is well handled by the cadre of experienced actors in support. The OTP managed the light and fluffy stuff just fine but when the going gets heavy, they can be found wanting. It is par for the course though. BTW, maybe it is just me, but the FL's Joseon character just doesn't feel natural.

This Show is a light and fluffy cloud with a dark lining. It is watchable, undemanding and will occupy your time. A pair of rose tinted glasses will help as well. A one-time watch for me. Peace out.

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A kiss is never just a kiss

Once again, j-drama delivers a short, sweet, heartfelt romance with conviction. Our leads share great visuals, and you can sense the attraction between the two which translated to oodles of chemistry. Of course, it would not be a drama if everything is smooth sailing, but we are fully onboard for the ride.

Consider the short run-time of this drama, I am pleasantly surprised by the depth in the leads portrayals. They feel well nuanced and fleshed out. The vocalising of their inner thoughts allow us a great deal of insights into their psyches. It is an effective and impactful tool. The pacing is spot on. There is never a dull moment, but the show doesn’t feel rushed either.
The writer-san played the SML and SFL card intelligently. They are not used as the token antagonists to create tension and angst. Their intrusion into their bubble reality forced the leads to examine their true feelings and confront some uncomfortable truths.

There are three particular aspects that I really liked. Firstly, the FL is not the usual bubbly, giddy stereotype. She is a well-respected professional in her own right, but she is naïve in love. This vulnerability endears her to us and this extends to the ML when we find out more about him later in the show. This brings us to the second point; I think it is very clever of the writer-san to flip the perspective between the leads. We get a chance to feel his confusion, excitement and pain which is usually hidden behind the professional demeanours. Finally, while their meet-cute sets them up as friends with benefits, their skinship is not egregious. It is an integral part of their relationship and eventual growth. It is handled thoughtfully and delicately. There are some seriously swoon worthy moments.

The acting from our leads is on point and with a lot of heart and deft touches. There are good performances from the support cast as well and I’m definitely getting second lead syndrome vibes.

The ending is poetic and perfect. I love the kiss motif being used at both ends of the show to signify the final breakthrough in their relationship.

I have no problem recommending this show. It will lift your spirit and restore your faith in love.
Production value is good. OST is well integrated.

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A two speed drama that is . . Ok

Oh woe is me. This is my third attempt at writing this review. I normally have a good idea about what to write before I start. In this case, I just can't seem to nail this down. To be fair, this show is not bad. It has its moments. I just sense this disturbance in the Force.

As a whole, the show is watchable and relatively angst lite. The romance took forever to develop though. It also has a lot of business and chaebol style shenanigans which are repetitive, but lack depth.

If I'm honest, the chemistry of our leads is only lukewarm for the longest time. It can test your patience. It finally picks up in the last few eps. A classic case of From Zero to Hero. ;)

I do find it odd that the writer seems to swim against the tide. At one stage, the FL was frantically searching for the ML because she thought he was in an accident. The show cuts to her running towards him in slow-mo as soon as she spots him. In most romance dramas, this would be the cue for a heartfelt embrace and maybe even a kiss to seal the deal. In this case, she drops anchor, pulled up sharply a few feet away. Once she ascertains he is ok, she turns and marches away. What?

This happened several times. The setup is there, yet the payoff is not. Sure, our leads are novice in love, but the whole point is to give in to your feelings. C'est l'amour! This feels stilted and drags out their romantic journey.

As a result, the show pads out the runtime with fillers of all kind. Mostly about developments in the photovoltaics industry and scheming rich families.

While business subplots are nothing new in c-dramas, this feels a little pedestrian. Solar energy generation is already a mass consumer product by the early 2010's. China is a major player. They tried to dress it up, but it is a tough ask.

Then we have the Chinese "chaebols". There are excessive displays of wealth and people behaving badly just because they can. I really don't know how comfortable this sits with the recent Common Prosperity drive. Maybe they are going for historical accuracy . .

On the flip side, our leads do look good together. Their young lovers act is quite cute. Their immediate family are supportive and nice. Shame about their extended family. Most of them are spoil brats or relatives fighting dirty in the name of money and power.

Another annoyance for me is the focus on the SML. The FL has a crush on him in college, but he rejected her at first. He has been conflicted ever since. Just when the FL decide to let go and find true love with the ML, he made his move.

Such trope is a reliable source of angst if handled well. Our writers decided to drag this out. The SML keeps popping up and interrupt the show's qi. I can accept this if the acting is good. Unfortunately, the young actor leaves me cold. He is a walking wet blanket. He looks glum and depressed most of the time. He sucks the life out of most scenes. There is no growth in his character. We don't share his pain. Yet we still suffer.

Speaking of acting abilities, the FL is in her element. It is hardly a breakout role though. On the other hand, the ML is handsome, but lacks depth in his acting. They tried to paint him as a tortured soul. What we got is more like a textbook good guy. He tries.

Maybe it is the whole "sunshine" theme, but many scenes appear to be over exposed and has an yellow/orange cast. Our lead literally glows, night and day. It is a questionable aesthetic choice in my book.

One final thought, the flag waving is a bit egregious. The whole PV industry's growth and Brain-to-Computer interface are jingoistic. Sometimes it felt like I'm watching a tourism promo or being sold shares in some private/government enterprise. I'm sure it will appeal to mainland audience. Maybe less so for international viewers.

The writers delivered the goods in the end. If anything, it was sugar overload. You could bottle the last 6 eps and call it a day. If I ever rewatch this series, it would be those 6 eps.

In the end, this drama is decent. I'm sure they will do well by the normal matrix. It just doesn't quite scratch the itch for me. We are presented with a draggy A-plot with extra fillers. The fan service is sweet, but took forever to materialise. It is a box of chocolates . . just not quite a top shelve one. Peace.

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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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Bouquets or brickbats?

This series surprised me and not always in a good way. I am conflicted. The first half really tested my patience. Just when I was about to give up, the show turned the corner and I am gobsmacked!

To be fair, this drama has good bones. Our leads have strong visuals and they extrude charisma. Their chemistry is next level. It ebbs and flows like a force of nature.

By setting the drama in the Pearl Delta and turning the clock back 20+ years gives the show a unique vibe. It is also a brave decision to focus on the underbelly of society. There is an authentic grittiness that many contemporary romance drama lacked. This gives the narrative a sharper edge. This also creates a lot of head wind for our OTP.

This is not helped by the series spending 10 eps going back to the 1990's. Every key events of our leads are marked. To be fair, these events shaped them and reinforced the found family trope. I do wonder if we need to devote so much screen time to them.

When the OTP reunite 6 years later, they have technically moved on. However, their emotional cores are frozen at the moment they parted ways. They never stop pining for each other.

How cruel is our dear writer. She spared no efforts on their monster sized push-pull. There is so much angst, guilt and longing. It pains me to watch our leads dance around each other. They can't help being drawn to each other, yet they are like the same pole on two magnets.

This is not helped by the FL's constant teasing and barbed remarks. The ML's stoic behaviour only adds fuel to that fire.

BTW, did I mention the ML is the biggest Noble Idiot in town? He thinks by hiding his true feelings, he is keeping her safe from his enemies.

His life was turned upside down while they were apart. That memory is too painful to share. It makes him guarded and sullen. His over protectiveness irritates her. She wants him to treat her as a woman, the object of his desires.

It took several more eps before we finally see some minor progress. Baby steps . . (groan) . . baby steps. They finally arrived at an understanding. That will do for now. The pressure continues to build, like a super typhoon.

Let's take a step back at this juncture. I can't tell you how "weird" I felt about this series. They had me by the end of EP.1. I almost quit out of frustration by mid run. Then I binged the last half like my life depends on it. Should I give the writer bouquets or brickbats? The answer is complicated.

Where most dramas are happy for the OTP to motor along until the inevitable confession. Our dear writer dug several deep holes in their psyche/history and dropped them headfirst into them. Yes, it is schadenfreude, but it also allows our actors to tap into strong emotions and test their mettle. It can be both exhausting and exhilarating.

Many scenes are emotionally charged. It is draining to watch at times. Nothing is ever black or white. Your senses will be assaulted. Your moral fibre stretched. There are many triggers . . so many.

Just when you think they are on the verge of a leap forward, they would walk back from it. I won't lie. It is frustrating. The reward is rich, if you can hold out for it.

This brings me to the nitty gritty of the show. As I mentioned before, the production is solid. I loved the little details, local customs, local dialect, period eccentricities, etc. So much of that is missing in modern c-drama where generic offices and nameless urban sprawl fills the screen. Bring on the location B-reels! You get desensitised until those details hit you in the face and then you realise what is missing.

Similarly, the support cast will get a passing remark, but this lot is a class above. They felt real. They have personalities and are given some space to grow. Special thanks go to Uncle Zhou for watching over our young leads and his unwavering support. Respect! I feel your pain, sir.

As I mentioned before, the ugly underbelly is ever present. Organised crime and shady business cast long shadows. Something wicked this way comes.

Ok, this is one show I refuse to spoil the last few eps. I need someone to scream next to me on this rollercoaster ride. It might as well be you. You can thank me later. 😉

In the end, I am shook. This show is Jekyll and Hyde for me. For every scene that troubled me, there is a one that made me swoon. I finally settled on a score of 8.5. I need my therapy teddy, stat!

Final warning. There are plenty of triggers and pain points. This drama can be frustrating at times. The reward is worth the journey . . at least for me. Peace.

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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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Where is the romance?

I’m confused. I was curious enough after reading the synopsis to give it a go. After finishing the show, I’m none the wiser.

In trying to clear up my confusion, I took a step back and examined the fundamentals. Firstly, for a romantic drama to succeed, we must want to ship the OTP. In all honesty, I can’t. Their brief declaration of love feels hollow. They delivered the lines as directed. Nothing more.

Secondly, the OTP must have chemistry. There is none. I have no problem with age gap love and there are certainly good examples. However, the ML repeatedly stated that he wants to be a mum. Someone who will look after his clients with care and dedication. This he certainly did with single-minded professionalism. So, the FL loves a man who is old enough to be her father and acts like a surrogate mum. This is messed up. I don't feel their attraction at all. Yes, there is dependency and dedication (plus a bit of wishful thinking by the older ML) but my heart steadfast refused to flutter.

I’m not saying that this can’t happen. Heck, so many sageuk dramas are based on a high-born person falling in love with a servant (or contemporary bosses with secretaries for that matter). However, you'd expect some chemistry if not outright sexual tension. In this case, it is more like someone mistaking caring, concern and duty as love. The fact that the FL has mommy issue doesn't help. Even the FL's proposal of a trial marriage smacks of desperation. Excuse the French, this is arse backwards.

This is confirmed after they started the trial marriage near the end of the series, they are running through roles and responsibilities, and the ML raised the question of children. The FL was shocked. It is as if she never thought about s-e-x. Will they live in a platonic relationship forever? This is how romantic their relationship is from their own perspective. How can we see it any other way?

In fact, so much of their interactions are formal and stilted. This is not helped by the fact that as soon as the ML appear on the scene, the FL is chased by 2 very eligible bachelors. Her rejection of both is expected but baffling.

OBTW, you can forget about skinship. There is none. He did try to lift her up once in an embrace but ends up hurting his back. That's more sad than funny.

The show is not bad per se. It is well acted and all the standard bits are there. It is obvious where the story is heading so I kept looking for the usual rom-com tropes and triggers. They are few and far between. It is as if the production deliberately went for a "what-if" scenario just to mess with us. It is an oddity even by Japanese standard. Peace.

P.S. The original series is 9 episodes long. There is a “special” episode. This is included in the Netflix version as ep.10. It is basically a 1.5 hrs recap of the entire series with a contrived exposition on their version of love. Gawd help them if they need to go this far to justify their brand of logic. I’m still none the wiser.

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A fluffy period rom-com that is a pale imitation of the original

This show is a remake of the 2000 original of the same name which some considered a classic. We shall review this show on its own merits first, but we shall run some comparisons towards the end so that we can reference the scoring.

Let’s have a look at this show from a 2023 perspective. The show has good production value, and a decent cast. There are technically 2 main couples (plus a couple of secondary ones) but the 1OTP consisting of Tian Xi Wei and Ao Rui Peng is clearly the primary couple. They are on screen about 60% of the time and their plotline is the A-plot. Oddly enough, the 2OTP is more interesting and have more depth, yet they are relegated to a support role. This would not be a big problem but for the fact that Tian is not well suited to this role. While Tian has starred in several period dramas including the highly rated New Life Begins. Her typical role is a cute, sassy girl, but this show calls on her to be a well-trained martial artist and she just doesn’t pull it off. The closest she got is awkward brashness. The few fighting scenes were obvious done by her stunt double. This makes her character a bit lopsided and feels simple minded. The 1ML is a more rounded character. He is very intelligent but also a skilful fighter. This makes this pairing even more uneven. They have their sweet moments but hardly the ideal “accidental” pairing which is the raison d’etre of the show.

On the other hand, the second pairing of Bai Bing Ke and Zhao Shun Ran do truly complement each other. Zhao’s textbook portrayal of a general is solid and he has the gravitas for this role. Bai’s role is completely different from Tian’s. While she is supposed to be a high born lady, she also has a pin sharp intellect, well versed in many subjects including the art of war and a quick learner to boot. Theirs is a perfect marriage of brain and brawn. While 1ML seems to spend more time explaining the plot to the 1FL and rescuing her from self-infected troubles. I know that’s how the script is written but I can’t help but wonder what will happen if 1ML marries 2FL? That will be one power couple!

Overall, the show is a low angst, watchable rom-com. It is low angst because the show has this propensity of dismantling its own tension. All the antagonist's machinations against our leads are foiled by chance or by our clever 1ML or 2FL in quick succession. The script painted him as an evil mastermind but he is made to look impotent. It got to the point that we'd assume our leads will win regardless. Another issue is plots that were once fresh are now considered cliché. This turns the show into a “mealtime” show. You don’t need to pay it much attention while doing other things.

In the end, this show is a fluffy, watchable period rom-com that is on par with many other recent ones. Everything is acceptable but hardly memorable. There is nothing wrong with that except this is supposed to be a remake of the 2000 original. From that perspective, a quick comparison is warranted.

It is obvious from the start that the plot is the same, and they have replicated many scenes as well. We can see the similarities as well as deviations. Unfortunately, what is missing are scenes and dialogues that gave the original its depth yet they padded this version out from 20 to 24 eps. Can't say that this helps the pacing. The OG characters do felt more nuanced and animated. There are more skinship in the original and they are also more passionate. This surprised me. The modern version looks and feels generic and sanitised. If this is what modern interpretation means, then we have gone backwards. If this was a stand-alone drama, I might have scored it a little higher but it really doesn't do justice to the original.

If you are interested, the original series is available on YouTube with English sub.

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Love is a many-splendored thing. This show is not.

Our OTP first worked together in Once We Get Married and it is a very good pairing. The romance was sweet, and their chemistry was undeniable. I was really looking forward to this show to see if we can recapture some of that magic.

Let’s be frank, the plot of this show is paper thin. Our OTP met and fell in love 5 years ago and broke up due to some misunderstanding. She was pregnant, but she kept it a secret from him. They met up in the present and things develops from there. The obvious question is whether they will get back together. The writer has the same idea and within the first dozen episodes the show already has the HEA ending in sight. However, the writer threw a curve ball and the relationship hit the rocks in ep.13. The plot then went around the mulberry bush several times before hitting another roadblock a few episodes later. This reset all the relationships including the 2CP’s. We then moped around some unproductive side plots that padded out the episode count.

The OTP are back on track by ep.23 but we have gone through many silly dating tropes that would have been amusing if it was done at the start of the show. It just feels tiresome when it pops up at ep.20. It goes to show that they added so many fillers between ep.13-22.

Stretching a thin plot is nothing new to c-drama when episode count can reach 40+ but you still need a solid foundation to support the flimsy subplots. Unfortunately, this show is structured somewhat back to front. The initial spark of a new romance happened 5 years ago. We only see glimpses of it in flashbacks at the end of each episode. Otherwise, the OTP behaves more like bickering parents that is stuck in limbo between reconciliation and divorce. There are precious few resolutions but repeated setbacks.

In terms of characterisations, the ML is supposed to be some kind of investment wunderkind, but we hardly ever see him do a day’s work and he ended up being an immature proto-dad and a pest to the FL. On the other hand, the FL is hardworking and pulls double duty as a tech visionary and a super mum. However, she is one confused lady when it comes to the ML. She alternates between pushing him away (unconvincingly) and pulling him in (irresistibly). I hate to say this but the plots involving the leads are insipid and their characters are tropey and beige.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that the role of providing titillations falls on the shoulders of the 2CP. They certainly give that a good go but the pairing of a beautiful sexy noona with a naïve inexperience hunk is a no-brainer. If the 2nd side couple lacks originality, the third is definitely the odd couple but not in a good way. The young 3FL is all gung-ho with the love at first sight trope but then she decided to be a martyr to his unrequited love of the FL. It was not helped by the 3ML being totally insensitive to her feelings until it is too late. Of course, this means their relationship bounces around with all kinds of exaggerated set pieces and tropey dating mishaps. Honestly, it is as if the show is overcompensating for the lack lustre central plot and double down on the side couples so that they can generate the heat and craziness that is MIA from the OTP for the first 2/3 of the show.

BTW, I don’t get to say this often, but this show is redeemed by the young child actor. He is so cute, and wise beyond his age. Time and again, he is voicing our thoughts/frustrations about the futile antics of his parents. For this, we give thanks. He does get in the way of their romantic pursuits once in a while but that’s a small price to pay.

As I mentioned before, the last few episodes are pure fan service and lead us directly to the HEA ending we have to have. The strong chemistry of our leads made this watchable. The show knows this and dials up the skinship and swoon-y moments. I can’t complain even if they are shoehorned in at every opportunity. While this is going on, the screen time of the child actor is greatly reduced. No siree, none of that mood killing third wheel, tyvm. This is a shame.

The show also tries to build up some tension with shenanigans from the antagonists. Unfortunately, most of this is quite transparent and are used to set up the eventual downfall of the antagonists rather than to threaten the leads.

I still ship our OTP unreservedly but this is also why I'm disappointed with the show. It has the right actors and it ticked all the boxes, but it also feels insipid and lazy. The extra fan service and sugar hits towards the end, while appreciated, is not a substitute for quality. Dare I call it a cynical exercise to milk the popular pairing of the leads and maximise return on investment? Peace out.

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My cup of romance overflowth

You know the old saying, you don’t know what you missed until it’s gone. Well, this show is my corroboration.

When I first started to watch this drama, I wasn’t hooked. The meet-cute was functional but kooky. The leads are good looking people, and the setting is bucolic. It was not until the halfway mark when it dawns on me how enjoyable this show truly is.
The premise of the Show is fairly typical. Boy meets girl under some trying circumstances and leads to misunderstandings and mistrust. Nothing new there, all been done before. What the show was good at is to put the OTP’s relationship front and centre and show how a healthy relationship can form realistically. How I miss such a simple and straightforward premise.
While the ML is her boss, there is no power tripping nor maltreatment from the ML.

There are teasing and meaningful glances, but there are a lot of communication as well. Quite a lot of the dialogue are musings about relationships in general. There are no hidden agenda nor unhealthy intentions. The ML did have to work hard to break through FL’s shield, but he did it with patience and forbearance.

There is a bit of angst, but it is not directly related to the OTP but rather business related. The strength of their relationship is strong enough so that they can stand shoulder to shoulder when confronted with challenges. Even the parents are lovely and understanding. They are so supportive of our leads.

It is true that the Show is lacking in high dramas but it is a blessing when you consider shows which are willing to derail a perfectly fine love line in the name of overwrought theatrics and angst filled subplots. I’m looking at you, Flight To You.
Acting is good from all involved. I like the fact that the FL is not the classic beauty, but she is so good in this role. The ML is handsome and sweet, a true gentleman. My surprise find is Assistant Lin. He is not idol grade handsome but his is very charismatic.

There is an appropriate amount of skinship and so many swoon worthy moments. I have no problem shipping the CPs at all. The romance is sweet, but it is a steady, organic growth and not the usual 9 tens push-pulls and then the last minute magical confession. This is how it should be. It is not rocket science. I can relate to this which seems to be a point missed by so many writers.

If there is one fault with this show it would be its overuse of "funny" sound effects. This is particularly egregious early on when every humourous moment is accompanied by a cacophony of barnyard sounds or loud zany music track. It got toned down a bit towards the end but it is overused and fairly pointless.

I can highly recommend this Show if you are a romantic at heart and are sick of shows that portray romance as military grade obstacle course that takes no prisoners. This Show will restore your faith in love. It is on my rewatch list.

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Court ladies united will never be defeated!

Let’s get 2 fundamental points clear first. The FL is the heart and soul of this Show. When she smiles, the sun shines brighter and the birds sing sweeter. She is the focal point of many subplots. Interestingly, instead of all the wives and concubines scheming and at each other’s throat, the FL gathers a circle of friends from various royal households which grows to becomes a band of sisters who supported each other through thick or thin. It is definitely refreshing and entertaining to watch them work through and around daily challenges. The second point is the push for gender equality. Even though there are regions in this ancient mythical world where women are considered superior, most of the divided realms are patriarchal. A lot of male characters are portrayed as entitled, patronising or outright despicable. The one exception is the ML who is as sweet, gentle and loyal as they come.

With this in mind, the Show can be boiled down to a series of vignettes that challenge the leads, their friends and the steady rise of the ML in the imperial court. Some tasks are trivial and domestic while others are more serious and involve palace intrigues and affairs of the state. In all cases, it leads to the growth of our leads, their relationship as well as those who are near and dear to them.

Of course, 40 episodes of this is a stretch and this is where the FL’s presence really anchor the show. She is such a lovely and grounded character that you just can’t help but liking her and cheering her on. More importantly, makes you invested in the show and want to keep watching. Nevertheless, not every subplot involves our OTP and some do drag on for too long.
Draggy plots aside, there are other issues. Part of the problem is that most of the trials and tribulations are contrived. It is quite obvious what the writer wants as the outcome and it follows a well-trodden path.

On top of that, the Show is first and foremost a rom-com so its tone is fundamentally light. There are some serious issues presented mostly regarding mental health, the treatment of women and their place in society. While shows like A Dream of Splendor hit it harder and deeper. This Show vacillate between light and dark and settled on a shade of off white which avoided the really tough questions. We are constantly reminded of the inequality, but the solution arrived at are mostly simplistic, jingoistic and misaligned with its historical context. It is more about sending the message than its content and a contemporary message at that.

Acting is generally good, with the OTP outshining the rest of the cast. Of course, with such a big ensemble, there are some inconsistencies but it is not a big issue. Production is generally good but more care can be taken to give lighting a more natural look. Also, the styling and makeup of FL changed significantly towards the end to try to signify her important status and growing maturity but it doesn't work for me. She lost her characteristic sparkle. It felt like she has put on a mask.

The last few episodes are pure fan service with bonus skinship (about time!). The bulk of the plots have run their courses and the Show took its time to wrap things up and ties off each thread with a huge pink bow.

Overall, the Show is sweet without too much artificial sweeteners. The progress of the OTP’s love line is slow, but quite organic and swoon worthy. The writers stuck to their guns and the storyline is very consistent and enjoyable. It is fluffy and light but in a charming way. I can recommend this show if that is what you are looking for.

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