Zogitt

Goldfish have layers, onions have layers, but this donkey doesn’t

The premise of show is simple. Wives are like goldfish. They live in fish bowl like environment and they need care, attention and love to thrive and stay healthy. Of course, any accredited relationship experts are going to roll their eyes and ask what century this rubbish came from. Sadly, there is an ounce of truth in the modern Japanese society, so it is a valid starting point. However, this can only be a starting point, when you construct a whole show based on this line of reasoning then it quickly shows how shallow and one dimensional it is. It can’t sustain a decent dialogue for long. The Show filled the narrative gaps with sex. A lot of it and quite explicit for a j-drama.

On the surface, this show seems to be pushing a lot of boundaries. However, once you have watched it, you realised that it is only pushing one boundary, but it kept pushing and pushing until you grow tired of it.

I’m not going to do a blow-by-blow description of every extramarital affair. Needless to say, there are many dalliances and that they are presented as the only way unhappy, dissatisfied wives can find love and fulfilment. There is not even a hint of other options or a deep dive into their lives. What we see is what we get. I am all for including appropriate intimate scenes in Asian dramas and we can do with more realistic portrayal of sexual liaison in a relationship. The usual euphemism of a couple lying in bed (sometimes fully clothed) with a pan to their intertwining fingers and then fade to black is so overused and quaint in this day and age.

Thankfully, titillation is not the only game in town. Fate played a key role in pushing our OTP together. Our CP is an odd couple, a young handsome aquarium owner and an older woman suffering from domestic violence and psychological torment. Their story is better constructed and has more depth, but it is still done in bold strokes and quite tropey. What got my goat is not so much their love line but the ending of it.

The writer expended a lot of energy setting up their burgeoning relationship and they had to overcome a lot of opposition to be together. Just when they are happy and free to love each other, it ended. Why? I suppose it could be a girl power thing. It is her way of saying she doesn't need a man to survive. It would be okay if it was part of the developing plot, but it largely just happened out of the blue.

I do find that j-drama like this type of ambiguous endings where it is neither sad nor happy. Often unfulfilling and a little fatalistic. It is a statement of sorts. A reflection on reality? Is that really what we want after investing our time and emotions? We don't need a HEA ending every time but at least make it reasonable and satisfying.

Then the show throws in a 2 years’ time skip. While some relationship improved, several affairs are still ongoing after two years. This is done behind the backs of the husbands even though they are not all horrible. There is no effort to resolve their marital problems and the affairs become the panacea. This sends a confusing message. We are shown some deplorable behaviours but we are also shown some that are deemed to be just naughty and good for the soul. Is this meant to be satire? The show is inconsistent in this regard and ends up trivialising important messages.

Acting was ok. Some characters are one dimensional and there are some overacting but where it counted the key actors delivered. OST is inoffensive.

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Lots of skinship but lazy plots

Once again, this show started promisingly. The production value appeared to be high and scenes were lush and grand, at least in the first few episodes. The meet-cute was nice with reasonably fast pacing. However, the show went south with more and more storytelling issues and plot holes as it progressed. Overall, it was a disappointment.
A lot of the issue with this show comes from a very simplistic approach to plot development. Everything was telegraphed, characters and plots were mostly one dimensional. It wasn't so much character growth but more like personality transplant. Both 2FL and 2ML turned from jilted suitors to homicidal maniacs. It was straight out of Evil Plot 101 playbook but they were literally shouting "you will pay for this in BLOOD!".
By the half way mark the story just felt stuffed with set pieces that doesn't really related to the main plot (if you can call it that) but just so that they can stretch out the episode or add more skinship. The classic case in point is the black inn episodes (ep 31/32). It felt like they brought the writer back to add more scenes but paid scant attention to continuality or narrative logic.
I suppose it is time to address the skinship side of things, this show had a surprising amount of it for a c-drama. We are talking about lots of hugging, kissing (some of that quite passionate) and the OTP being frisky in bed. After completing the show, the cynical part of me is calling them out for using the skinship to distract us from the poor script or at least keep us watching the show. If that is something you like then thou shalt find aplenty. However, you can also find 15mins cuts of their romantic scenes on YouTube.
Similar to the personality shifts, the show also have drastic mood changes, it started off as Contract Marriage 101, Rom-com 101, Palace Intrigue 101, etc and some of it did work early on, especially the scenes between the ML and his group of close friends. He was so ignorant of love and sex that the show was almost like relationship tutorial and sex ed and you will get a chuckle or two. Then the show shifted to Tragic Revenge Melodrama 101 (subtitled "Every Trope Were Used"). Yes, it was designed to hit us with the feels and make us empathise with the characters but the plots were so transparent that you just felt like you have seen it all before (from the golden age of tv dramas).
The ending was laughable. The tone was completely wrong. We are talking about tragic scenes just a episode or two ago; Death and broken people stalking the scenes. The FL was in a coma for days and as soon as she woke up, they were getting intimate. It got worse, the ML then spend the rest of the episode trying to play parlour tricks on his friends (I was groaning with them) when there were orphan threads and unresolved sub plot just left dangling. Was that really all that was left to do after 36 episodes?! It wasn't even decent fan service.
OST was good for the first half but then it got repetitive. Acting was ok. The ML was quite stiff and wooden for half the show but he did open up. FL has to do a lot of heavy lifting but there was little growth in her character. The ML's brother was one of the main villains but he was so wooden, he was more annoying than evil. The 2FL acted her heart out (especially towards the end) but it was a very textbook role. The 2ML was interesting and handsome but once again, his role was so tropey that it was all done by the book.
Honestly, I was going to drop the show around the 2/3 mark but I thought I'd push through but I did fast forward some scenes. The OTP did have their sweet moments and decent chemistry but I won't be re-watching the whole show, may be the 15mins YouTube highlight reel.

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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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Sex is good but this show is better

Let’s start with the standard caveats. If you are uncomfortable with open discussions about sex or graphical contents then stop reading now. This show is not for you.

If you are still reading, then you’d better be sitting comfortably because this is a long review.

This show is a rare find. It is a superior show in many ways. It will surprise you with its subject matters. It will shock you with its openness and directness. It will make you re-evaluate your viewpoint about intimacy and gender stereotypes. This being a k-drama is certainly an eye opener for me.

If any viewer has doubts about its main topic, the opening minutes will certainly dispel them. While it might start like a show aim to shock and awe with titillations and sexploitation, it is much more than that. It is very thought provoking and surprisingly earnest. It is particularly relatable for female audiences. Certainly in a Korean context but also in a broader application.

This is because the show is very open about female sexuality and the tightrope they must walk at times. While men are part of the equation, they are often seen as selfish and ignorant. This is very refreshing compared to most romantic c/k-dramas. Typically, what passes as intimacy is reduced to cliche motifs like the intertwining of fingers while lying down and then fade to black.

The sex talk podcast plot allows the writer-nim to explore the full gambit of misconceptions and misinformation surround female sexuality. The lack of frank discussions and societal pressures in eastern societies cloud the issues and perpetuate many myths. Not only does the show lay them bare, but it also presents them in relatable scenarios. Yes, it is much more racy than your typical k-dramas but the sex scenes are not egregious nor are they exploitative. (See later discussion)

Nevertheless, being a rom-com, it can’t discard the venerable playbook completely. While the show started with an almost anti-romance stance, it turns the table in the last third of its run and it becomes quite romantic. It is tropey, but nicely done.

Speaking of exploitation, there are some online comments suggesting that the FL is a user/abuser who manipulated the ML and used him for her gratifications. I understand that POV as she was quite eager to turn him into a friend with benefits but once he confessed his love for her, she backs away and left him high and dry. It is not a good look.

However, I have a different take on this. Looking at the whole picture, we can see that she wasted 5 years of her prime in an unfulfilling relationship. She is uncertain about her self-worth and the role of love, sex and fulfillment after the breakup. Their typical monogamous relationship is strait-laced. Masturbation, casual sex and friends with benefit are exciting and liberating ideas but they are also fraught and alien to her.

Into this maelstrom enters the ML who is suave, handsome and most importantly, available. It is hardly surprising that she zeroes in on him. However, I don't believe that the FL is toying with him. She is naive and eager to experiment. She wants to copy the 2FL but she can't help falling in love with her soulmate. She knows this but she is not ready to commit. Her recent breakup is still raw. She needs more time and went on a journey of self discovery. Please note that she didn't play around as soon as the ML is out of the picture. This is not the behaviour of a cunning vixen. Maybe she could have handled it better but she is in a brave new world without a google map.

We know she has sort herself out at the NYE party. She is happy to see the ML and didn't appear surprised. Did she arrange the meeting? She wore his parting gift and happily show it off to him to signal acceptance. This will do for me.

Similarly, it took a lot of courage for the 2FL to start a new relationship when she swore that she will never be hurt by a lover again. Even someone who is quite self centred about sex still wants to be loved.

Acting is solid from all concerned. Pacing is spot on. There are a lot of energies from the ensemble cast and the OTP’s have oodles of chemistry. It is a joy to see relationships, love and intimacy being portrayed realistically. Yes, warts and all and amen to that! It does makes it hard to go back to the vanilla c/k romance dramas where 9/10 of the show is about NOT getting together and then we are “rewarded” with token PDA.

The show is not about being liberal nor lording over someone. What they are saying is, sex should not be taboo or an obligation. It should be fun and mutually satisfying. Masturbation is liberating. Sex with a compatible sex partner is better but sex with your soulmate is the best.

This show surprised me in a good way and engaged me like few others. I’d happily binge watch this again and so should you.

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What do you call a romantic makjang comedy?

🔔 I have edited the progressive review into this final version. Enjoy!

I was genuinely excited about this show. Its premise sounds delicious. It is a little bit naughty. That's the special sauce of a good rom-com, right? ;)

In the end, I'm conflicted. There are more lows than highs. I'm sorry that this review will be a bit ranting. I really wanted to like this drama, yet I walked away disappointed.

Like many k-dramas, it starts well. The attraction between our leads is strong. They are motoring along as you do in holiday romances. So far, so swoon-y.

The FL had to lie to get her first decent job. It wasn't a simple white lie either. Heck no! She went from a bachelorette to a married woman with a young son. Snap!

It was audacious, but she is desperate. She needed the money to help her mum so I'll give her a hall pass. It is not the lie that is the core issue here. It is the fallout and the characters interplay that are much more problematic.

The FL is portrayed as a loser from the start. I have no problem cheering on an underdog. Unfortunately, while her work life is forging ahead, her private life is tanking. She is weak and did nothing when she knew her deeds are harming others. A simple mea culpa would have turned the tide and she'll win the handsome guy.

To be fair, this is not helped by the ML falling deeply in love. He is obsessed. He is torn between doing the right thing and going postal. His pain is palatable. It is basically schadenfreude, forget rom-com.

It is a witches brew of cliché subplots by mid show. It is draggy and full of relationship red flags. It doesn't beat around the bush, it is a whole garden maze.

Speaking of red flags, I can't ignore the behaviour of the SML. He is the FL's bestie for 20 years. It is obvious that he has a crush on the FL. When the FL asked him to play her husband at work he took full advantage. He’d sidle up to her and gets all handsy. The FL has no choice but to play along meekly. She looked so uncomfortable. This is messed up.

But wait . . there's more! Here comes the SFL!

She falls for the SML at first sight. She took the effort to get close to his young son and suss out his life story. It was shady but you can roll with it. What is less forgivable is when she starts to blackmail him to go on dates with her to keep his secret. C'est l'amour?

All told, the ML spends several eps close to his breaking point. He wants to protect the FL, yet he wants the "married" woman even more. It was torturous to watch. So many people are hurting. It was a League of Sufferers™.

The ML even plans to drag the SFL into a loveless marriage just so that he can "protect" the FL. When did it ever worked? This triggered his fragile mum as well.

It is all sunshine and unicorns after the truth comes out around ep.9. The tonal shift is dramatic. This only serves to highlight the pointlessness of the preceding eps.

The show is largely on cruise control heading into the home straight. It was borderline sugar overload, but I'll take it after all the makjang shenanigans. That is until the angst train hit us again. We have the whole hit parade of angsty devices plus a break-up with bonus Noble Idiocy. What fun!

No sooner did we get some resolution and let out a collective sigh of relief, did the writer-nim brought forth the Big White Truck of Doom™ . . I mean a big black limo. But wait, there is more! The OG amnesia trope. (Sigh) There is so much going on yet it feels . . formulaic, stale.

The ending is predictable and artificially sweetened. All the threads are tied up with pink bows. I don't want to call it lazy writing . . but if the shoe fits.

The sad fact is that the production quality is not bad, it has potential. The acting is decent in general even though most characters are straight out of central casting. There is a nugget of good idea at its core, it just got workshopped to death over time. Peace.

P.S. the cameo of the $1 Lawyer is a surprise bonus. Is this a hint?

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This show tripped over its own feet . . HARD

I only penned the review of A Dream Within A Dream a few days before I finished this. I mentioned will be a prize fight between ADWAD and this drama. Timing can be a bitch. Sadly, it was a no contest.

While there are minor wobbles early on, this series is watchable. Our leads did a fine job. I'm a low-key fan of both, just saying. Yet, I was surprised I can pinpoint the exact moment when the wheels fell off this show.

Ok, let's rewind and talk about the good bits. This drama started promisingly. The FL is a loner who is obsessed with one graphics novel which will cease publishing soon. She magically woke up as a secondary character in that novel after knocking herself out in a fall.

All the ducklings are lined up for a fun romp. For several eps, everything is on track and the OTP is a house on fire. This is helped along the way by the ML's acting. As the King's loyal attack dog, he is death personified. People only start breathing again once he leaves the room. The nice twist is how his whole demeanour changed once the FL melts his heart. He becomes a lovesick puppy, and we swoon. Woof!

While the FL makes random comments about plot devices and modernity, there is not a lot of actual leakage between the two worlds. Ahem, instead of promoting modern hygiene practices, the FL introduced cocktails and Soju bombs to the masses. That’s progress for ya.

Other than some petty jockeying for the ML's attention, most of the action is light. The odd danger the FL faced are used to bring our leads closer together. The plot armour is strong around the FL. ;) It is hardly a sophisticated script though.

The tone did finally change when the true antagonist returned to the capital. The minute he shows up, he basically told the ML “I'm your worst enemy and I'll destroy everyone around you!” Subtle.

That would have worked if he is pure evil, but I have a feeling the writer-nim is not sure how to use him. There are a couple of related subplots that seems to have died quietly, and his ranting and raving is inconsistent. It did solidify towards the end but there was a lot of posturing in the middle.

As I mentioned before, I can pinpoint exactly when the show went off the rails. It is when the FL go back to the present and have a conference with the original Lady Cha as well as cupid. Yes, the god of love. The OG cherub. He popped up here and there earlier and was an amusing distraction. However, in the present, he is playing hardball. He is no longer a literary device in a novel. He created the initial soul swap. How and why is unclear, other than both protagonists wished for a different life.

I mentioned in my review of ADWAD how most dramas in this genre have problem melding the two worlds back together. While ADWAD did a good job, this show stumbled badly. Be warned, the following is a rant. ;)

Don't get me wrong, the HEA ending is total (and I mean total) sugar overload. It should come with a health warning. Unfortunately, it also stopped making sense. Plots went either amok or nowhere. Evil people, good people, they are all dropped into a fairy meadow and told to frolic with the unicorns. It was bordering on bizarre when you consider the period it is set in, the backstory of those characters and the events preceding the virtual group hugs.

That point of inflection occurs when the FL told the ML to stop killing people and be his own man. Boy, did the writer-nim ran with that! The ML ends up playing Batman in the middle of a battle. While his men are being slaughtered, he used only nonlethal forces on his enemies. He also spared every wrongdoers when he returned to the capital.

The last couple of eps is a maze of plot holes and inconsistencies. For instance, I accept the modern girl slotting into her Joseon life easily because she knew the novel back-to-front. However, I’m baffled how Lady Cha becomes a 21C girl. Not only is she thriving but she remodelled her room, goes to college, uses a computer and mobile phone like a pro. Was she given a VR manual on How to Survive in Modern Seoul (I want one)? Quite baffling if you pause and think about it.

Don't get me started on the empty palace just before the climatic fight scene. How? Why? My brain hurts.

In the end, we are told our leads live HEA in a spin-off novel. They have 6 kids (consecutively by the looks) and wants 6 more! Hooray for them, but wait! What kind of novel is this when all you read about is happy, bucolic existence and making babies. Ah! There is that . . . I suppose . . . I need a line of soju bombs and a good lie down. Peace.

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Perfectly sweet, perfectly inoffensive. Totally . . . fine

To hate this show would be like kicking a puppy. To like it would take no effort but that’s a low hanging fruit. If I was new to drama watching then I'd scored it higher and posted a page full of ❤️ but I'm too jaded and grumpy so I ended up writing a review instead. ;)

This show reminds me of several other dramas in the same genre but with the angst dialled down and the sugar level hitting WHO daily dosage level. Is that a bad thing? For some, this is their sweet spot. However, it really does nothing for the genre. To be brutally honest, it is samey and forgettable.

The writers seem to go out of their way to minimise the impact of any angsty tropes. If there was a chance of misunderstanding, then the other party would just happen to walk past to overhear the relevant conversation. If there was a hint of danger, then someone would happen to be in the vicinity just in time to defuse the situation. It is nice to be harmless but it can also be a path to extinction.

In terms of acting, the ML is playing the same nice guy which I thought was perfect in Perfect and Casual (2021). I suppose it is better to be typecasted as Mr Nice Guy than a serial killer. He is totally besotted with the FL for years and she can do no wrong. While it is great to see them get together, there is not much push-pull.

The FL is sweet and innocent. She is well casted in that role, but it is hardly a challenge either. The rest of the support cast are standard issue and I, for one, am glad that the parents are so nice and supportive. As I said before, inoffensive.

The 2CP is fine. Has a bit more kinks in their path to happiness but we know they are the 2OTP hence it is so written so it shall be done. The 3CP is more about social commentary than the pursuit of happiness. Thus, they are a bit inconsequential. Everything is . . . fine.

I would be lying if I say that I didn’t enjoy this little romance, but I would be hard pressed to recall its storyline in a few weeks’ time. It is a classic popcorn flick. It is fluffy, harmless and forgettable. That is a shame because the potential is there. The show just has no desire to push any boundaries. This is odd as the underlying storyline is all about the FL trying her best to succeed in her career.

BTW, there is a 30mins “epilogue” which is total sugar overload. It largely consisted of bonus scenes that didn’t make it to the actual release. Sweet, so very sweet.

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It is better than I expected but missteps kept it from being great

I liked this show. It was entertaining and made me chuckled on occasions. If only the show knew when to stop and finish on a high and it would have been a surprise hit. As it stands, it is good but not great, funny and cringey in equal measure. A celebration of inconsistency that can be good, bad and meh.

The premise of the show is our leads soul swapped and have to live in each other’s bodies for a period of time. This brings about the usual sex change gags and innuendos. More importantly, they now realise challenges faced by each other. This understanding leads to mutual appreciation, and romance ensues. If all that sounds familiar that’s because it is a popular trope for contemporary as well as costume dramas. To top that off, the show has one of the messiest beginnings of any shows. It is quite possible for some confused viewer to drop the show after the first episode.

So I think it is best that we get the backstory straight now. The show is actually based on a graphic novel and the artist behind it is going through a sad divorce with her husband who is the publisher of the said novel. To mess with him, she deliberately introduced the soul swap plot, fully expecting the novel to crash and burn but the readers end up loving the plot twist. It is that novel we are watching as a live action show. To complicate things, we are dumped in the middle of the ongoing story without much preamble. There is little explanation of people’s behaviour nor their motivations upfront. However, the show does provide some background information later on. This means that for a casual viewer, the first couple of episodes can be bewildering and its overuse of zany sound effects and comedic devices only muddy the water even more. Let me assure you that it is not a farce even though it might appear so initially.

Once the dust settles, the show is actually better than expected. From my perspective, that is due to three key factors. Firstly, the script is quite clever. We have the usual tropes and there are plenty of them but the show work the tropes in such a way that it shows how the leads truly complements each other. They both have their shortcomings but by switching roles, they actually helped each other to overcome some sticky problems that have been festering. It also shows how their lives are more complicated than they thought. This allows a lot of character growth and breaking down the barriers between them.

Secondly, the acting of the FL is great. She truly played two roles. Her female role is quite stereotypical. Not bad but largely cliché for a costume drama. It is when she is playing as the king then she truly shines. She extrudes the gravitas and behaves regally.

Thirdly, the OTP's chemistry is good and their romance is swoon worthy. It is lovely to watch them grow closer together over time and find true love in an organic way. The path is not easy but it is a rewarding one both for them and for us.

This brings us to the not-so-good bits. The soul swapping part went on for too long. While I appreciate how well it set up the eventual growth of the leads, there are missteps so the longer it went, the weaker the overall show becomes. The show also relies heavily on tropes which is more obvious in the middle stretch. It doesn’t suffer from mid show drag per se but the pacing is patchy. The plot is mostly on rails.

The palace intrigue subplot runs the full length of the show. It was mostly predictable with standard antagonists filling the cliche roles. It is not particularly engaging. It was just there. Its conclusion is fairly predictable.

Another weakness is the ML’s acting. The ML is handsome in costume, and he does a decent job while playing the king. His behaviour while soul swapped is like a caricature of a girl and can be quite cringey. It makes the “FL” looks dumb and silly. I accept that she is not the sharpest knife in the kitchen but when she is in her own body, she does not behave like an airhead, so his portrayal seems unnatural and a bit off.

The link back to the contemporary storyline is a waste of time. In the span of 30 episodes, I think those scenes added up to around 20minutes. They are just snippets with a foregone conclusion to round things out. Other than making sense of the messy start to the costume drama and act as a postscript, it serves little real purpose.

The ending of the show is as sweet as you can expect but it is also contrived. It was the ending we have to have but you can feel that they took some serious liberties with the plot to get us there.

All in all, I enjoyed this show. The OTP's romance is swoon worthy. It can be funny and insightful. It did breathe some new life into the genre, but it is not consistent enough to be a breakout drama. It still have one foot firmly mired in tropes and it did the show few favours.

OST is not bad, but it does become repetitive.

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Tropey melodrama that was buoyed by the acting but hamstrung by the script

The promise of this show is old school tropey. Rich, controlling patriarch ruining his kids’ lives. Misunderstandings, forced separation, single motherhood, the works. Classic melodrama from go to whoa. Hence, I would focus on what worked and what didn’t.

What worked:
The acting: All the key actors were superb. This is a perfect vehicle to test their mettle. Many scenes were done without OST or even dialogue. It is all about projecting the longing, penned-up emotions, hatred and confusions to the viewers. It could be a challenge for some but not this ensemble. My heartstring was bow tight by the end of many episodes. Have tissues handy.

The production: It complimented the story very well. It is realistic and believable. Gritty when it should be. It does not dress everything up in glitz. In fact, a lot of the mood is set by the lighting, especially in the hospital. Shadows and lights all played a role. It was a complete package.

Direction: Good actors need a good director. When the team is firing, the scenes were off the chart. The bathroom tryst, the drunken “apology” in the FL’s hallway, the return to their hometown during his regression, and more. Each of those scenes are worthy of rewatch and classroom discussions.

The young actors: Thank goodness for them. I can’t imagine the older leads dressed up in school uniforms. The young actors pulled their weight. Well done!

The son: Finally, a child is allowed to behave naturally. There are meaningful dialogues but no wisecracking one-liners. When you pair that up with an adult voice actor trying to sound like a kid, it is cringe worthy.

No dubbing: Hallelujah! The emotional impact of this show needs that connection and expert dialogue delivery. A floating voice will ruin it.

The Script: A win and a miss. At times, it is a wonderful script and allowed the plot to play out slowly, but steadily. The story is grounded. It is not over the top. At least for a good 2/3 of the show.

What didn’t worked:
The Script: Ahh, I see, all the old tropes have taken up residency here. There is enough directorial and acting firepower to make it work but the script really developed cracks in the later half of the show. It is almost as if the weight of the tropes has overwhelmed the writer.

Case in point, the mental illness trope. It allows for some light and breezy scenes which was great fun to watch and showcased the acting of the leads. But the tone abruptly changed. Why bait us? Ditto the business shenanigans towards the end. It changed the feel and dynamics of the show. It was a plot looking for a story. There were hints of something more but it just ended up toeing the line. (see below)

The Ending: It really pains me to write this. Almost everything to do with this show was on point and then the ending happened. After 29 episodes, the show basically says, we can’t deviate from the clichés/tropes. Every loose end tied with a regulation approved knot. Yes, job done but it felt rushed, awkward and unsatisfying.

To elaborate further; Sheng Fang Ting’s story could have ended much better. Considering Sheng was portraited as driven and angst filled but not evil. He could be kind and caring. He has a hidden agenda and an axe to grind but what if the writer takes the high road, let the brothers have the private chat but instead Sheng said, “I was going to take everything away from you but you are not like father. I respect you as a man. Now we shall fight side-by-side and save OUR company.” The ML was so touched that he signed the company over to Sheng because he has the business mind and is the worthy successor. Shu Qin overheard it all as per the script but now she is even more in love with Sheng. All the elements are there. The show could have pivoted at that point. After the relentless groom, this is one little sugar pill I shall gladly accept.

Similarly, there was a lot of communication between Sheng and Shu before the wedding. All that stopped. No scenes of them talking or arguing. Sheng could have told her his past and how he suffered. She can decide if she’d forgive him. That is logical. But the trope (or censors) demanded a morality tale. Revenge might be sweet, but the price you pay is much, much worse in the end. We get that but do we want it?

The last straw was the resolution of the puzzle of the FL’s father death. It was farcical. It is the key reason for the barrier between the leads and caused multiple deaths. The whole plot was wrapped up in moments with only a deadpan voiceover about crimes and punishment. Is that it?

Elephant in the room:
The timeline: The leads broke up 7 years ago and the actors looked to be in the 30’s (they are actually in their 40's!). But the leads should be in their late 20’s (school/college/pregnancy). We seemed to have lost 10 years. It is not a deal breaker but it can pull you out of immersion.

Negative comments abound about Wallace's accent but diversity is a fact of life. Dubbing and homogeneity has a lot to answer for.

To be honest, this show was tracking a perfect 10 for the longest time but some script issues and then the ending gave me pause and it lost its shine. I would rewatch parts of it for the superb acting but not to the end, especially the ending.

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It is all about the payout

You don't see many 12-16 eps c-dramas. Sure, there are short form ones that are basically chopping a mini series into 8-10 minutes segments. Then you have ultra short vertical dramas dominating phone screens nowadays! It is rare to see one that seems to share DNA with k/j-dramas though.

As A-plot goes, it is old school. It is centred on a 40 years old bachelor who is set in his ways. He reads like a thesaurus for a zero EQ personality. Taciturn, self-centred, opinionated, and that is him before breakfast! It gets worse, much worse. If I'm honest, it was exhausting to watch him in the early episodes. He is not evil or malicious, but you will thank your lucky star that he is not your friend, better yet . . your neighbour!

It is quite obvious who is our OTP from the start. As expected, they start off on the wrong foot. It is their romantic journey we are invested in.

This is where we can truly appreciate the acting abilities of our leads. They are handsome/attractive. As far as I'm concerned, their maturity gave them an edge over young idols. This is a double edged sword though . If you are in the idol drama demographics then this show might not appeal to you.

Of course, the ML took his time to grow into a "human being". It is just as well his progress is measurable or you will be tempted to rage quit by the half way mark. ;)

While there are the odd second leads, they are low angst and have minimal impact on our OTP. In that sense, they are their own worse enemy. With all the prevarications and heartfelt scenes, you would expect them to progress faster.

Thankfully, our dear writer didn't go down the j-drama path and leave them in limbo. Picture this typical j-drama scene . . they look longingly at each other . . across a bridge . . snowing . . fades to black . . (Shudder)

Hence my comment about the pay out. The second half of the last EP is the ultimate reward for our patience and forbearance. It was dreamy, sweet and swoon-y. I haven't felt that way about a c-drama for a while. There have been some great romantic c-dramas, yet this one just creeps up on you and hits you with the swoon-y stick when you least expected! LoL

In the end, it is a good drama. Hardly original, yet better than expected. A lot of that comes down to the acting of our leads. There is also a hint of k-drama structurally, and it worked. The storyline is not cluttered. The pacing is on point. The support cast earned their pay. You gotta love the old bikers. ;) Production value is solid. OST is nice. A neat and tidy bundle, if I say so myself.

I can recommend this drama . . as long as you can put up with the behaviours of the ML or . . hit the skip butron. ;) Peace.

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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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Death by a thousand cuts . . with a dull scalpel

Makjang and melodramas are a staple of k-dramas. Most of the time they are well sign-posted. Once in awhile you'll stumble across a show that looks harmless on the surface but a makjang in disguise. May I present to you, Dr Cha.

At its core, this show is about the struggles of a middle-aged woman stuck in a loveless marriage, her identity and the fallout of an affair. Our FL has an epiphany after recovering from a very serious illness and wants to break free from a closeted existence. Everything is on track for several episodes. The antagonists might be circling but the expectation is that our FL will overcome.

Not so fast, my eager friends. She was soon relegated to the peripheral while the antagonist takes centre stage. I'm not saying that the FL didn't try to push back but it is as if the Show is determined to beat her down with every cliche gender stereotype and societal/familial coercion. This is not helped by the tyrannical behaviour of her husband.

While Korean audiences might tsk-tsk at the horrid husband, they are more likely to accept it as typical patriarchal behaviour. Essentially, this show is a graveyard where all the makjang tropes come to die. Caveat emptor if you stumbled across it on Netflix and thought that it is a heartfelt romance.

The fact that the bulk of the show's pacing and flow are dictated by the antagonists made it hard to watch for me. The FL's growth is stymied by one person's illogical behaviours and interference. She is trapped in a no-win situation with the weight of the world on her shoulders. It is draining and unrewarding to watch. There is no hope, just despair.

Even with all the trials and tribulations, we still get a HEA ending. The last episode is total fan service, on steroids. Everyone gets redemption. There must be a 2 for 1 offer at the wholesaler. Honestly, if you jumped in at this point, you'd never guess what happened in the first 15 episodes. Even the herd of unicorns are falling over from sugar over dose. The sentiments are rooted in traditional values, quite inoffensive and banal. The reason why Dr Cha rejected her suitor is so old fashioned that it should be delivered in a calligraphy scroll.

Having said all that, the acting of the various leads is very good. Especially Dr Seo. You end up with a love-hate relationship with his character. He steals most scenes but at the same time, his character is so unlikeable that you just want him to go away. Well done, sir! The FL is good, but she only has moments of highlight rather than a dominating presence. Sadly, Dr Roy is relegated to cameos most of the time. He should be given more screen time. What a waste.

In the end, Dr Cha is a show that will resonate strongly with some but polarising for others. It is not bad, per se. Acting and production is up there but it doesn’t work for me because I'm not the target audience and I don't agree with their world view.

This brings us to a growing concern of mine. While the Hallyu wave have netted us some amazing dramas, the pressure on the various streaming platforms to find more k-dramas is ever growing. This in turn creates a buy-first-ask-later mentality. We might end up with a constant stream of patchy but hyped dramas with little quality control. Peace out.

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A healing journey disguises as a noona romance while masquerading as a sports drama

I am in two minds about this show. I keep swaying between the pros and cons.

On the one hand, it is very well written for the majority of the show. The plot keeps moving at pace and there is always something new happening on multiple fronts. There are mini cliff-hangers which keeps you wanting to see a little bit more. Misunderstandings are not allowed to fester and generally speaking, there is good communication between the leads.

Unfortunately, like many c-dramas that runs to 30+ episodes, it does flag towards the end. It is not quite a mid-show drag but you can feel the momentum draining away. The last few episodes mostly coast along rather than being propelled by some unstoppable plot. We got there at the end, and it is an ending that fans would appreciate but it is not a grand finale and feels more like a collection of footnotes.

It is clever of the writer to distribute the fan service fairly evenly once the couples are confirmed. In fact, some of the best CP moments are found around the 2/3 mark. From then on, we get dollops of skinship here and there to spice things up. It is nice and sweet but there is a lack of intensity.

In terms of acting, the ML is great and he carries the show. He is all singing and all dancing. He trained hard for the role and he is very good both as the impulsive young man as well as the maturing sports star by the end. His acting is animated as well as nuanced. On the other hand, the FL turns in a measured performance which is par for her. To be honest, I feel that she is often cast as the super competent professional who is hyper-focused on her work and her private life suffers. She has more or less given up on romance once she turned 30. Of course, her well ordered world is turned upside down when a handsome young suitor enters our noona’s life. The problem is that she can sleepwalk through such roles by now and it shows. We are also familiar with how a noona romance flows so we need more from her to lift this above the rest. Unfortunately, the show pushes too hard on the business side so she appears more often as the cool and calculating club manager and less of a romantic lead. We get a scattering of swoon worthy moments which rarely feels truly passionate.

On the other hand, the healing journeys undertaken by several of the casts, while low key are well written and rewarding to watch. They are nice character studies. There are no instant redeemption but a steady growth of the characters throughout the show. In time, they learn to deal with historical wrongs with maturity. This is gratifying to watch.

To the show's credit, the bulk of the support casts is actually quite good. The ML’s dad, Coach Zhang, Jiaojiao and Luo Nian are interesting characters in their own right. There are still the odd one dimensional characters such as the FL’s boss and her mum who are mostly there as naysayers. In the end, they did little damage, but it is distracting and repetitive.

This goes for the secondary couples as well. The Jiaojiao and Liang Tao couple is cute and has good chemistry. However, I have to wince a little when I realised that the coach has been passive/aggressive chasing Luo Nian for well over 2 years before she shows him a hint of acceptance. That’s playing the long game!

Finally, the sports aspect is very good in the beginning and engages us with the ML’s struggles. It showcases the ML’s dedication, intensity and physicality. It kept our interest for good part of the show but once again, that aspect becomes little more than window dressing later on. We get montages of “random” match play and then the final results. It moves the plot along, but you don’t sense the earlier "fight to survive" urgency anymore.

Is the show any good? Yes, it is. It is well written and well-acted on the whole but the show does peters out towards the end. The story is engaging and the noona romance is sweet. We have a decent amount of fan service and a HEA ending that will satisfy the fans. It would have been an even better show if it sprints to the finish rather than just jog past the line.

The OST is nice and I wouldn’t mind a casual rewatch.

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Short and sweet fluff or two hours long ad?

When they said mini drama they meant it. It is about 2 hours total in length. I have seen it presented as 20 x 6 mins episodes or 3 longer episodes each about 42mins long.

The premise is quite straightforward. The ML knew the FL when they were younger and there was a hint of first love but they lost contact. By some cliché plot device, the ML was transported into the future and met up with the FL again and they are now both working adults. He ended up living with the FL for a while and they fell in love all over again.

The story is fairly straightforward. It has a tropey plot but there was no nasty surprises. The OTP had good chemistry and they made a cute, good looking couple. A big negative was the egregious product placements. It wasn't just the usual jar of cosmetics by the sink or drinks in the fridge. They actually wrote the ads into the script so that the actors pushed one company's products relentlessly. At one stage, the ML got a job selling the products in a shopping centre and, of course, he has to demonstrate the products and tell us all about their benefits.

On the whole, it was a harmless show with a decent plot (point deducted for all the PPL). Cute and fluffy with minimal investment in your time and emotions. Think of it as a palate cleanser between two must watch shows.

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(In my best Yoda voice) “Feel the Love!”

Once in awhile a show comes along that just tells a simple story really well. No fuss, no unproductive theatrics, just the basics.

This show is all about the love story between a handsome dude and a beautiful girl 5 years his junior. Their association started when the girl was in junior high and she developed a crush on him when he was introduced as his older brother’s roommate in college. The ML played the "brotherly" role for years until the FL comes of age and he started to have romantic feelings for her. That’s how the show portrayed his side of the story and we shall leave it at that.

The Show took its time to recount their early meetings and how the girl crushed hard on him and going through all the highs and lows of an unrequited love. The Show really hits its stride when they meet again by chance after the FL finished high school and went to a college in the city where the ML is working. Their chemistry is a sight to behold.

As I mentioned in other reviews, in a romance drama, you want to ship the OTP and watch them overcome adversities and fight foes arm in arm. More often than not, dramas will have them fighting each other due to some weak plot twist and go through a breakup or two just to "spice things up". I am thankful that the writer heard my prayers and there is none of that in this show.

Instead, there are lots of playful teasing and plenty of heart fluttering moments and bonus skinship. Their deep love for each other should be distilled and bottled for sale. There are challenges but they are handled with aplomb by our OTP. The writer seems to have gone out of her way to collect all manners of relationship challenges and then set about resolving them in the most positive ways. Each obstacle serves to reaffirm their love and make their relationship stronger. There is little fuss and definitely nothing can come between these two lovebirds. There are no real antagonists and a circle of good friends cheer them on. This type of honest yet heartfelt love story is rare in today’s dramaland. I, for one, give thanks.

The leads are perfect for their roles. ZLS was born to play the lead. I believe this is her first high school drama and she did it with ease. She looks cute and vulnerable in her high school scenes. She then blossomed into a beautiful and radiant young woman in her college years. This goes double after she is in a committed relationship. CZY is handsome and showed a lot more maturity in his role. He played the big brother role well but his take on a devoted boyfriend is next level. He is loving but respectful and always caring. He will make any girl swoon. Their scenes are always worth watching and their chemistry is off the chart. You can really feel their love and commitment especially in later scenes when their resolve is tested.

However, it is not a perfect show. the FL uses a breathless, higher pitched voice when she was playing her younger self and it can be unpleasant to the ears at times. Most of the support casts are from central casting. Their subplots are largely superfluous.

Hidden Love is a sweet, fluffy romance with little angst and few stress points. It is not going to win any awards but this is a show that you can rewatch with guilty pleasure. If you have Romantics Anonymous on speed dial, then you will be doing a happy dance. However, If you want to watch a show with complex plots and matching level of angst and intrigue, then you should have stopped watching 24 episodes ago.

For me, this show has a permanent spot on my rewatch list.

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