Zogitt

Watch a nude portrait drying is more engaging and sexier

As you would expect, the first couple of episodes were quite cute and set up the contract marriage scenario. To say the two leads are introverts is an understatement. They have low emotional intelligence and barely adequate social skills.

Contract marriage is a staple of j/k/c-dramas so it is a well worn path. There are certain expectations when we watch such a show. The journey of the OTP is never going to be easy, but it is their growing love for each other and their eventual coming together that give us the raison d’etre to watch. It is in this regard that the show left us wanting.

In terms of production and acting, they are both fine. It is up to the usual j-drama standard. The actors played their roles well enough and mostly by the book. The problem lies mostly with the script.

In essence, the writer-san want to show us a different style of marriage/relationship where the couple continue to lead independent lives and only meet up when the mood suits them. This is happening more and more with mature aged couples who have established home and a comfortable work/life routine. They don’t want to upend their lives completely just for the sake of a relationship. However, in this case, it goes beyond that, our leads just don’t know how to live with other people.

They are constantly confused about their feelings and in denial. They internalise everything and hide behind excuses even when their hearts are shouting for attention.

Misunderstanding is a given. The noble idiot card is being playing repeatedly. Almost every subplot is about failed relationship or difficult romances which undermine their house of cards. It was cute for a while, but it soon become draining and unproductive. They do get jealous when the SF/ML shows up but the effect is never consistent. Sometimes it is productive but other times they are self-destructive. Most cliché plot device that normally would bring the OTP closer together are foiled.

In the end, the lack of chemistry between the leads is the killer blow. They have the odd sweet moment but most of the time they are just awkward around each other and pushing each other away. Their relationship is just flat. The ML is a wet mop. You can’t get a rise out of him if you fill him with helium. Just about every romantic trope used is muted.

Every thread are closed with a pink bow in the last episode. Happy ending is a given. Sadly, the main love line remains anticlimactic unto the bitter end. The proposal is a damp squib and there wasn’t even a kiss to seal the deal. Of course, they live apart after they got married (sans wedding ceremony). Even when they meet up on their days off, they behave like acquaintances, polite acquaintances to be sure. There is no PDA and definitely no skinship. All the while the voiceover (FL) is telling us how much they are in love. Indeed! I’m not even going to ask if they have ever slept together. From the viewer’s point of view, there is scant reward after sitting through 10 episodes.

The Show is dull, tropey but watchable. The travelogue is nice and there are cute moments. Regrettably, the show is just not very rewarding from a viewer's perspective.

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In space, no one can hear you facepalm

I have finished this series and here are my final thoughts;

I don't think the ending substantially changed my views nor my rating. In the end, the show becomes an existential tearjerker. I wasn't surprised by this development but it has certainly taken plot development to infinity and beyond. The FL could have returned to Earth but they are not getting off the ISS that easily. It is a narrative mess. Is it a dream? Did the writer-nim OD on special herbs? Obviously, it is hard to diss the ending as I don't want to speak ill of the dead but it is very tempting. My original comments stands, with minor edits. Peace.

~~~ my original comments ~~~
Rather than a rambling rant I'll hit you with some salient points. Here goes;

1) While the show is billed as a rom-com, there is a disassociation. Yes, there are comedic moments but they are largely at the ML's expense. The astronauts also gets up to some whacky stuff as well. They are more cringey than funny. You can feel the show labouring to make it work and it has largely given up by mid show.

2) Taking itself seriously is a fundamental problem with this drama. If it was written as a spoof then I can excuse many issues. As it stands, there is a serious disconnect between the hyper realistic setting and a fanciful plot. So much effort is devoted to reproduction in space. Yes, the story does come full circle but is that really the whole point of a multi million dollar production?

3) The series is full of pseudo science yet it laughs in Newton's face and do whatever it needs to move the plot forward.

4) Cue The Space White Truck of Doom™. Let's be real, the ISS is designed to function for years in the most hostile environment known to human and every system is designed with fail-safe and redundancy in mind. I don't have a problem if they did something dramatic with a failed valve or some such but they face catastrophic failures on multiple fronts as soon as the ML arrives.

5) They kept referring to the morula. That is BS because it is only called a morula on day 4. In another ~24 hours it will become a blastocyst as the cells divides every 12 hours. They are still looking at the same 16 cells after days in the incubator. My head hurts.

6) While I touched on the comedic aspect, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. The ML only met the FL a few times before the launch and she is always cold and aloof. There is no hint of any chemistry/attraction. Flash forward a few days after launch and he has the biggest crush on her but why should she reciprocate? Ah, yes, finding your man sleeping with your boss can do it. So . . she has revenge sex? Once they are back on Earth, the romance does progress as expected. I can sense the writer's desperate attempt to sustain the romance.

7) Which leads us to the relationship between the various protagonist. What a mess! There are so many unrequited love, crushes and toxic relationships. That is a recipe for disaster even in a normal k-drama, let alone in a space opera.

8) Chairman Choi is a caricature. His lording over everyone is so cliché. It is painful to watch and he gets away with it.

9) The whole lottery ticket plotline is like a game of Whack-a-Mole. It kept popping up every ep. The 3 astronauts just look pathetic. The scene where they wave the ticket around outside a restaurant is beyond stupid. No words.

10) The KSA is not a quasi space police. They can't interrogate people and confine them. The ownership of the zygote is very grey. Riding roughshod with science is bad enough, very iffy about their interpretation of extraterrestrial laws.

I have a feeling this series relies on star power and CGI extravaganza to paste over narrative gaps. It's a huge gamble and they lost, big time.

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A fantasy romance that ticked all the boxes

First, a confession, I have not read any of the novels and I'm only vaguely aware of the anime series on Netflix. My friend @Nelly recommended it to me and that is good enough. 👍🏼

As a standalone movie, it is fast paced and run through the extensive lore without a pause. That probably won't please the hardcore fans, but you roll with it as a casual viewer.

It is set in an alternate Meiji Japan circa turn of the 20th Century where “gifted” people with special powers try to hold off some kind of ancient evil. While the Gifted ones appears to be united in their noble task, it is far from the truth.

Our ML is one of them and a Captain in the special guards unit specifically tasked to hunt down the evil "insects". The FL is the daughter of one of the noble houses, but she doesn't seem to have any special power so she is treated like a servant as soon as her mother passed.

The similarity to Cinderella is obvious. That includes an evil stepmother and a nasty stepsister. Her life in that household is hellish. Her surprise betrothal to the ML offers her an avenue of escape.

If that is not enough, the Beauty and the Beast trope also joins the fun. The ML has a horrible reputation of being a beast to any female who tries to marry him in the name of political alliance. Just like in B&B, the FL tames the ML with her sincerity and "inner" beauty.

As a hopeless romantic, that is win-win right there. Throw in a handsome ML who looks dashing in uniform and a pretty FL who is vulnerable on the surface but has a backbone of steel, the movie can do no wrong.

But is it? I would be lying if I said the show is perfect. The world building is rushed and lack depth. No doubt a lot of lore and background information have been glossed over. It is understandable due to the time constraint, but you do occasionally feel that there should be more nuisances.

Speaking of the story, the Emperor's plot moves in mysterious ways. It is meant to be full of mysticism and symbolism but it is slow and stilted.

Also, the romance between our leads is very sweet but innocent. I'm sure they would die for each other but they always behave very properly. I'd love to see a bit of skinship. Fine, we'll just say their love is pure. (Grumble, grumble)

Finally, the production value is good, and the OST is very nice. The SFX is generally well done. There are many cinematic moments. However, its budget is limited, and it does show from time to time.

Don’t get me wrong, these are niggles rather than faults. In the end, the movie is an enjoyable romp with all the ingredients of a swoonworthy romance, Meiji style. The pseudo historical setting adds colour and novelty. Who can say no to some bonus fantasy actions?

The post-credit scene hinted at a possible sequel. I'd welcome that. More than anything, I want to see a traditional wedding ceremony. The bride in a fabulous kimono with all the trimmings and the groom in full dress uniform with a honour guard. Sweet!

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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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Standard healing drama with a very confused message

This is not how I wanted to write the review, but this is one confused puppy and I just don't feel comfortable watching it. Let's get the standard stuff out of the way.

This drama has a big ensemble cast and chock full of veteran actors. Our leads are good actors, and they are in their element. The OTP has good chemistry and there is a bit of skinship. The usual village ajummas can be loud and nosy but you roll with it. They are least of our problems.

OST is fine. Production value is par for the course. With the show set in a country town, most sets are rustic but feel lived in. Perfectly fine.

What is not fine is the conflicting messages being delivered. The basic premise is supposed to be the evil of the Korean drinking culture. This piqued my interest as this is a pet peeve of mine. I lost count the number of times writer-nim uses drunkenness as a device to either create a situation or to move the plot along. It is a miracle that more people don't get into serious trouble, especially young ladies. If this is a reflection of reality then I'm afraid . . very afraid.

Unfortunately, after watching the first few eps, I’m more confused than ever. Sure, the ML runs a clinic treating alcohol addiction and the FL shows all the sign of being an alcoholic so we have the instant connection. That's one tough meet-cute though. Their interactions are naturally fraught. We soon learn that they were each other's crush in senior high school but became estranged later on. Let’s just say the title gives the rest of the plot away.

You might think, so far so good, right? Not so fast, chingu. While the show seems to be promoting the abstinence message, it also gives us every excuse why people “would/should” drink to excess. This is not just about the FL but many people in her circle of friends and family.

Sure, we soon learn why she was hitting the bottle, but she is surrounded by enablers with drinking problem of their own. This is not just at the beginning to set the scene but went on all through the show. Every time the FL tries to be abstinent, someone will tempt her or challenge her. Hwaiting?

Heck, you would think the show is serious about this issue when one character dies from alcohol poisoning, but it never feels . . right. Their resolve seems to ebb and flow from one scene to the next. It might be lecturing us one minute but shows us people having a blast drinking the next. Yes, I know it is part of their culture, but why highlight it then? It feels so inconsistent. Is excessive drinking their sacred cow?

Once you dilute the central tenet, the show feels hollow, contrived. I was hoping the writer-nim would finally flip the narrative but we got something much less convincing. Sure, they listed all the ills, including unable to donate your organ but what's the chance of that in RL compared to the effort required to order another round of soju? Talk about low hanging fruit.

Without a strong core message, it is just another standard issue second chance story with a weak 2CP noona romance. Competent and watchable but what's the point? Very odd.

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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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Everyone gets their yummy desserts

Not all makjang are made equal and I’m glad that this is a good’un in my book.

Makjang storylines, by definition, are meant to be convoluted and outrageous. While for a shortish 12 eps run, it does traipsed through many tropey plots, it is hardly a witch’s brew. I am pleasantly surprised by how well paced, coherent and logical the script is, well, once you get past the whole cancel death shenanigan.

I’ll be honest, the do-over plot device is old hat by now. Every year, there is a new crop with minor variations. This one started fairly typically. Death by misadventure and (GASP) you wake up and get another chance to get things right or in the FL’s case, exact revenge for many years of pain and suffering in the hands of her family.

There are no shortage of shenanigans, foul deeds, mental as well as physical torments. It is full on and yet it feels manageable, relatable. The A-plot needs the darker tropes to make the story work, but it doesn't take them to the extreme just to earn the torture porn badge.

Once the show established the lowest point in their lives, death will do that to you, it is a steady and engaging climb back to the top. Of course, it is never going to be easy for our leads, but they are quite a power couple. They might not be all loved up from Day 1 but their relationship is refreshingly pure and solid. While the FL thought that she is just using the ML as a stepping stone to archive her goals, the ML has other ideas.

I know that sounds bad but in fact, it is quite the opposite. While the motivation of FL’s initial actions is pure revenge, once she takes greater control of her life and learn more of the truth, their relationship changes and evolves. The show changes focus to healing and getting a second chance at life. That is so much more rewarding to watch than a show that is hellbent on Mutually Assured Destruction.

Another gratifying aspect of the show is while the antagonists knows all the dirty tricks, they are not omnipotent. Their plans are effective, even devastating at times, but our leads are not hapless punching bags. They have their wits about them and they have the measure on the evildoers. The show doesn’t jump feet first into non-sensical plots just to meter out endless pain and sufferings to our OTP.

In terms of acting, it is a definite mixed bag. The highly emotional plots and extreme situations are fertile grounds for overacting. Still, I have seen worse. They are within the realm of “normal” behaviours rather than pantomime grade performances.

In the end, I enjoyed this show very much. More because of the leads' growth and their healing journey than the revenge angle. Also, for a change, I can cheer them on without having to facepalm later because the show threw the kitchen sink at them and make them suffer for no reason other than for our “entertainment”. The last ep is purely fan service and I give thanks. It ties up all the loose ends. All key characters are given their moment in the sun (or in purgatory) so we are not left hanging. It is not award winning stuff but it is a solid production.

For some, this might be a weak example of a makjang but I will take it. There are enough troubles in the world today. I don’t usually rewatch this style of drama but I can make an exception in this case. Peace out.

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Some shows are created great, some achieve greatness, this one needs to try harder

Let’s start with the good bits. This Show is watchable. It is not too long. It has swoon worthy moments and a bit of skinship. The ML is handsome and charismatic. The use of antique restoration is an interesting backdrop. If those statements feel a bit like faint praises that’s because while the Show does nothing drastically wrong, there is little substance to sink your teeth into.

Now let’s move on to the not-so-good bits. While the Show is watchable, the plot is tropey and uninspired. It started well enough and there are some nice plot developments early on but then it got tedious and is not helped by some loose storytelling.

There is an overarching thread about antique fraud, but it is not hard hitting at all. To be honest, it is fairly amateurish in execution. Any twists are telegraphed well in advance. Some side plots and scenes feel like busy-work as if they are drawn randomly from a shoebox of plot ideas. Can a show suffer from FOMO?

While the ML is handsome and charismatic, his role suffers towards the last 1/3 of the show. After his confession, his character becomes a bit capricious. I get that people can behave a bit “funny” when they are in love, but his portrayal is stilted and hammy. I’m inclined to blame the director for some iffy instructions. The personality shift does not sit comfortably with his style.

The FL has the feisty, street-smart girl role down pat. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the experience nor the range yet to give her role real depth. She can smile and cry on cue, but you can sense that she is being told what to do rather than owning the role. This contributes to my next point.

I don’t ship the OTP wholeheartedly. The script would have us believe that they are madly in love, but I don’t sense a strong chemistry between them. Yes, they went through all the typical rom-com tropes, and they say all the right things, but it is not convincing. I also dislike the script’s propensity of leading the actors to the brink of confession and then pull back hard only to have the leads suffer from some misunderstanding in the next scene. All that can be avoided if their feelings are clear. Once more around that blasted mulberry bush we go. As someone who wanted to ship them, it is frustrating and unrewarding.

Speaking of CP’s. I can see the writer wants to push the opposite attracts trope so 2CP is a mismatch and tiresome to watch. Of course, they will get together in the end, the drama gods have spoken! I get more chemistry while watching dough rise.

Sometimes, a show can be lifted by a good ensemble cast but the secondary characters here are problematic. The 2ML won’t take no for an answer and is delusional. The cousin of the FL is the main troublemaker. He is not evil, but he is stupid, greedy and inept. Yet the Show paints him as a loveable rogue. Even though he does so much damage, he is always forgiven and handled with kid gloves. Most of the secondary characters are one dimensional and farmed out to actors with limited abilities. It is not a happy confluence.

The antique restoration theme is largely used as a plot device. They try to make it educational, but the titbits of information soon feel superfluous. They should put a disclaimer before the show to make sure viewers DO NOT try this at home.

Am I being harsh? Yes. I’m not mincing words because the Show is not trying to do better. You can find B grade shows that is hitting above its weight or really awful shows that should never be made. It is the crowded middle that is a quagmire for mediocre shows to sink out of sight.

I don’t believe in dismissing shows just because it doesn’t have top stars or a big budget. I have been pleasantly surprised by a number of second or even third tier productions. Nevertheless, It is a waste when you pair decent actors with a decent production and you still ended up with an insipid mishmash.

OST is serviceable. Rewatch? You jest. Peace out.

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Cute, easy to watch rom-com that took the path of least resistance

The start of this show is actually the best part. The premise of an overbearing highflyer who flew too close to the sun, crash and burn to become a lowly live-in caretaker of a share house is interesting.

The fish out of water trope generated a few laughs. The injection of a FL who held a grudge against the ML sounds spicy but that's about as angsty as it got. Yes, there was a bit of payback fun and resultant character growth and healing but it is a tropey rom-com to its core so it is no surprise that the rest of the plotlines follow the well thumbed playbook.

I'm not saying that it is bad, to the contrary, it is quite light and an easy watch. The "problem" is that it doesn't push hard in any direction. The revenge plot is half hearted because the FL is too nice. The SML/SFL are too understanding and they just take the hint and move on. A bit of distraction and that's about it. The romance of the OTP is nice but not particularly passionate. Even the skinship is more coincidental than full on passionate affairs. I normally hate "angst for angst sake" type of writing but this show swings a little too far in the opposite direction.

Naturally, the ML is a changed man by the end of the show and we get the mandatory HEA ending. Totally fine and a bit of fan service but this puts it squarely in the middle of a very crowded space with little to separate it from the rest.
Worth the one time watch but hard to come back for seconds.

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The screenwriters want to teach us what love is but the Show came across as half baked and tedious

The fake marriage trope is now firmly established as a recognised genre and j-drama has done its best to invent a sub-genre whereby the marriage is between two total strangers with little or no preamble.

It can be very interesting and rewarding to see two strangers navigate living as a married couple with all the obligations and expectations from families and society. Finding love is a must and that journey of discovery is usually what sustain us and defines whether the Show succeeds. This show started on the right track but then lost its way in a maze of its own making before eventually finding the exit. The viewer is taken on a protracted run through the maze and it is frustrating when we can see the correct path before us but the protagonists always seemed to take the wrong turns.

The show is billed as a rom-com. There is the usual overacting and it has lots of romance in its plots but most of them seem to circumvent our OTP. It is as if the writers are giving us a tutorial on what true love is with lots of book examples. Unfortunately, the ML must have slept through most of it.

Time and time again, the ML was confronted with "feelings". He would get confused or misunderstood simple signals. At one stage, the FL shouted that she loves him and he replied "that's nice. What's for dinner?" (that is not what he actually said but you get my drift). The problem is that this doesn't happen once but repeatedly. The ML was berated by his friends, family and even his love rival as being dumb, idiotic and clueless. This is a person who works in advertising, well educated and pushing 30. He is not a shut-in. I can accept social awkwardness and inexperience but his behaviour is next level. Yet, at the same time, he has a long time crush on someone so he is not without feelings. While the FL was better represented, she was portraited initially as scatty, impulsive and naïve but at least she knows what love is when it hits her between the eyes. Of course the FL spent much of the show annoyed, disappointed and/or confused.

So with all the tutoring, expositions and observations of other people falling in and out of love over many episodes, you'd think our CP got the gist, right? Nope, not for 90% of the run. Even after multiple "confessions" and the donning of couple's pyjamas they still broke up on the weakest pretence. Forsooth, ye ol' curse of Failure to Communicate! The writers loved to use this device. They would have the actors interrupt other each repeatedly at key moments or an action is totally misunderstood but there is never any clarification. That is painful to watch as it was so obvious and served only to prolong their suffering and ours.

Speaking of love, there seems to be a queue of people who would fall in love with our protagonists pretty much at first sight. Random characters would be introduced for an episode or two, hit on one of the leads and sow confusion and then disappear. Why is this the only way for our protagonists to get any clarity about their feelings?

In terms of chemistry between the leads, there is a bit but there should be a lot more. The pairing just never felt 100% right. The Show tells us again and again that they are perfect for each other but I don't feel it. Friends, yes but soulmates? Kisses are rare and felt wooden. You just don't sense the passion. The herd of unicorns are MIA for this show.

Of course the ending is HEA with hints of multiple pairings. I would have prefer a show that spend a lot more time and energy showing us how the OTP falls in love and work together to sort out problems rather than standing around observing other people's love affairs and then completely botch their own. This is not a DIY car repair video after all.

There are much better examples of this genre such as "Because This Is My First Life" and "Shanai Marriage Honey".

The Show is watchable and there are funny and cute moments but it doesn't balance out the tedious bits. There is next to no re-watch value for me. Peace out.

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Cliché rom-com with the memory of a goldfish

First of all, apologies to all my goldfish friends. ;)
I'm ambivalent about this show. On one hand, taken moment by moment, it is light, fluffy and swoon worthy. On the other hand, the script is weak and too tropey, has pacing issues, plot holes big enough to drive through and one dimensional characters. After episode 5 until around ep. 19, I watched the show at 1.5-2x speed. I didn't skip scenes but I can't be bothered to sit through them at normal speed either.
The start of the show is way too fantastical (I didn't say it was fantastic). It all happened at breakneck speed with tropey meet-cute, accidental first kiss, cohabitation, faked illness, falling into each other's arms (repeatedly) all done and dusted by the end of episode 2. It was bordering on non-sensical. By the fifth episode, the OTP was signed, sealed and delivered. What a shame that the show then expanded all its energy on creating road blocks for the CP. Nothing new there but it was done with little finesse. The simple plots were transparent and with the ML's Super Intelligence™, he was always one step ahead of the antagonists. It might be satisfying to watch piecewise but it also reduced any tension to near zero as you knew the ML will win every time.
Speaking of antagonists, it was very claustrophobic. There are about 6 key characters (plus the usual family, best friends and close associates) but they are from just 2 families and they all grew up together and most of them have a crush/unrequited love of some one else in that group. Even with numerous rejections, the circle just goes around and around and nobody takes no for an answer.
Disappointingly, the FL felt muted. Zhao Lu Si has a lot of screen time but her character was not strong and easily manipulated. Normally, she plays the feisty, bubbly FL that throws down the gauntlet to the world but not this time. There are glimpses of that but on the whole, she was overshadowed by the ML and more suffering than dishing it out. She was totally manipulated by the ML in the early episodes, then she became his pretty partner and cheerleader. She has her own achievements but it was small scale by comparison. I think she was underutilised and frankly didn't shine.
I have no doubt many viewers will ship the OTP but my cynical eyes kept seeing the writer's hand in pushing them onto us. Creating those "moments" that will be talked about and shared.
On top of that, there were endless business shenanigans (just within the key players). Once again, very poorly constructed and involved expositions on some wicked machination and magically, the other company's shares will crash. It paints the Chinese business world in pretty grim lights, TBH. Of course, the ML came through (again and again) and made his enemies look stupid (and they were). That is why I mentioned gold fish memory as all these were done in small cycles. Confession/rejection, business gain/loss, family politics, rinse and repeat.
It got better in the last few episodes but the tone is set and it is really just a race to the finish line of closures and CP happiness.
The secondary pairings provided some relieve but they didn't do much more than that. You don't really feel invested in them.
OST was mostly happy tunes and rewatch is not really there unless you want to watch some of the CP highlights. There were some egregious PPL as well.
Like I said before, moment by moment, it is not bad but sadly, the whole is less than the sum of the parts.

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Very sweet rom com dragged down by 2OTP

I really enjoyed this drama for the simple reason that it was not dramatic. That was an odd statement to make, I know. :)
This drama was definitely not attached to reality as it matched up a male god with a slightly older goddess and they lived happily ever after. On top of that, half the show was set in a PC game world. Total fantasy but it was surprisingly good.
This is not the first show with the back drop being a game but this show did it with style. They didn't try to make the game realistic but they used it to set up some crazy scenarios. Think James Bond meets Romancing the Stone. As they technically met online, the meet-cute was done in game and there were many funny and cute moments. Unfortunately, the game scene faded away about mid show. I missed some of that surreal wackiness.

Once they did meet up in real life, the romance really kick started and they were so sweet and cute together. The ML was really forthright with his pursuit of the FL which was refreshing. The show did have its fair share of clichés but I appreciate that they didn't succumb to tropey pressure to break them up. Every time their relationship was tested, they resolved the issues fairly quickly and their relationship grew even stronger. So many lovey-dovey moments and they have a mature approach to skinship. They really acted like a couple in love. Swoon.

What I didn't like was the 2OTP. I understand a second and even a third pairing is the norm but this show just took a strange line with the 2OTP. Yes, they started on the wrong foot and it was definitely more hate than love but I just can't ship this CP. The 2ML was just pathetic. He came across as weak, desperate and somewhat annoying. The 2FL had so much emotional baggage that she could have opened her own storage facility! It literally took them the whole show to get together and a) there was no time left for any sweet moments with them and b) I stop caring a long time ago.

The acting from the OTP was very good. The ML has matured in age and acting ability since his "Rest Your Head on My Shoulder" days. He is handsome and he can act cute so well. No stoney face ML thanks. The FL is a professional singer and that helped to bring a lot of the singing and performance scenes to life. This also contributed to a better than average OST. They really worked on the sound track and lifted the the show. Cinematography was good and interesting, sets and costumes well above average. It was a polished product.

There was a lot of growth, healing and closure so you felt good after watching this. This positivity made it easy to rewatch it for the sweet romance. of the OTP Just fast forward the 2OTP scenes and life will be even sweeter.

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Sweet, refreshing rom-com

What a lovely, refreshing rom-com. It is almost a 9 but for the unnecessary break-up and a messy tail (see later). It is refreshing to see the cool, clever ML doing all the chasing while the FL is clever and bold but a bit clueless when it comes to dating. Not that she is ditzy, just a little innocent and happy-go-lucky. The chemistry of the OTP is very good. Not raw lust, just pure first love from two nice sweet characters. There were genuine LoL moments as well. The scientific approach to dating from the ML is sooo cute, not done for laughs like other dramas but totally in character. There are just so many cute moments during the first 2/3 of the show, it really brings on the feels. That makes the obligatory break up so much harder to take. Especially, when the reason behind the break up was so thin and weak. I'd call it poor writing, to be honest. We don't need that just to have the bitter sweet reunion later on (can't recapture the light tone for several episodes). I can do without the manufactured pain and suffering for our OTP, thank you very much. All the support casts were great. Strong characters and lively banters. One last thing, there are 27 episodes on Viki. The ending at the end of ep. 27 is not the true ending, a bit meh and half baked. The reason is that there is an episode 28 (26 mins long) on Youtube with eng sub which you must watch to conclude the series properly.

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Go hard or go home!

On paper, this show should be a slam dunk. Strong cast, interesting premise and high production value are the holy grail of any drama. This is watchable but with caveats.

The cast is the dream team. Top stars and veteran actors formed the core. The problem is that they are mostly one dimensional.

The ML is a human punching bag. He takes a lot of punishment but return them 5 folds. His boyish good looks and winning smile is his trademark. He has a very strong moral compass but he is impulsive to a fault.

The FL is smart and capable but she shows very little emotion and keeps her cards close to her chest, that is until she fell for the ML. Our leads are obviously the OTP. In fact, he has been chasing her for years. It feels a little stilted. They are cute together, I'll grant you that. It is a bittersweet romance.

The 2ML is the brain of the team. He is the FL’s ex but we know very little about their backstory. He plays it straight. The discus thrower is the standard issue gentle giant. The bumbling Captain rounds out the ensemble. He provided most of the slapstick humour. The Olympic Avengers (their words) is assembled but there is not a lot of team building. Their damaged psyche complicate things as well. It is the classic Band of Misfits.

Speaking of bumbling, the commissioner is ineptitude personified. I still have flashbacks about his role in When the Stars Gossip. (Groan)

Unsurprisingly, the antagonist stands out. He has been hiding in plain sight and is the mastermind of a Cartel of Evil (I'm getting MCU vibe). He is cold, calculating, ruthless and remorseless. He looks ordinary but some of his scenes will give you nightmares. Kudos to the actor. His interaction with the team is . . . peculiar. He could and should have taken all of them out and then take a vacay in the Bahamas. I suppose the show must go on . .

The plot is fairly straightforward. Money + Greed = Corruption. Crime pays -> do more crime. Our team are earnest but they are mostly incidental heroes. The police is inept most of the time and is always one step behind. Hence the need for our Band of Misfits.

The production value is undoubtedly high. There are a number of very elaborate fight scenes and chase scenes. They are well choreographed and creatively shot. Mr Tarantino would be proud. In fact, the whole series is somewhat Tarantino-esque.

Such elaborate set pieces work great in a feature length movie. Your senses are overloaded and you hang on for the ride. When you have 16 episodes to fill, the pacing becomes an issue. The extreme highs and lows make the show feels choppy.

This brings us to the pachyderm in the chamber. The violence is egregious. There are lots of graphical violence and many innocent people are hurt in the making of this series. The show double downs on this. The body count rises and the fights gets bigger and bigger as we build towards climax. If you are thinking of recommending this to your genteel granny then don't, just don't.

Violence is no stranger to k-dramas, just look at the popularity of Squid Game. The difference with GB and Squid Game is we know dozens of faceless extras are going to die each ep. In this case, our team are the good guys. When they get beaten up, it is personal and visceral. The sheer amount of it does desensitise us.

Regardless, this show has good bones. It can soar like Icarus but also plumbs the depth of human depravities. It throws a lot of stuff at you from the start. It is like a challenge. "Can you handle this? Are you having fun?!" The show is not interested in the middle ground. Go hard or go home!

The last 2 eps is pure fan service. Our team can do no wrong. All the baddies fall like dominoes, but with extreme prejudice. ;) There are plot holes that a Big White Truck of Doom™ can drive through but who cares.

I'm sure there is an audience out there for this show. It failed to engage me completely and that's on me. The violence is excessive. The plot is surprisingly threadbare once you pare away the window dressing. It will leave you breathless at times but it lacks depth and resonance of the best in class. Peace.

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A sagacious revenge tale ruined by the ending

I don’t think anyone would be reading a review of this Show for a precis of the plot by this stage. I shall stick to some key observations and my conclusion.

1. This is the Goldilocks role for Song Joong-ki. The production has to use some serious filtering to make him look like a young man because of his real age. They did well but it did take me out of immersion a few times.

2. The whole soul swapping device is pure fantasy and the Show never bothered to explain its rationale. The Show went to town with the time travel motif as well and left no stone unturned. The ML loves to weaponize historical events as part of his various schemes. It can be entertaining and fun to spot the historical references.

3. The interactions between Do-jun and his grandfather are highlights for me. They are fighters who have a mutual love and respect for each other. The old man accepts the thrown gauntlet from his grandson with glee. We lost that spark when Jin Sr passed and the subterfuges become more grubby and less machiavellian.

4. The romance of our leads is ill conceived. They have little chemistry, and their progress felt laboured and frankly perplexing.
To be fair, the machinations in the early stages are both engaging and clever but it gets old after a while as it is the only game in town.

Like all good things . . . the end cometh for us all! Oh, how cruel are the drama gods!

While the Show’s ending works on a basic level and pulls most of the threads together it also opens up a Pandora's box of contrivances and inexplicable plot holes. Thus exposing some seriously questionable writing.

A) The ending basically undo what the ML has worked tirelessly towards for 17 years. He was at the cusp of claiming total victory and winning back the FL when he was murdered. Why, sweet Petunia, why? Most viewers would expect the show to just keep moving along that well plotted trajectory and use the last episode for some much-needed fan service.

B) How did Hyeon-Woo survives being shot by a hitman at point-blank range, falling down a high cliff and drowning in the pounding surf? Each event can and should be fatal and yet he survived all three. He spends one week in a coma and walks out of the hospital with barely a scar. Is he immortal?

C) Do-jun's timeline and Hyeon-Woo’s is separated by twenty years. Just before Do-jun was killed, both Jin brothers were being investigated for criminal acts. What happened to those investigations? What about Do-jun’s death? Is the FL that incompetent?

D) The aging and de-aging of the main characters are immersion breaking. For instance, by the end of the Show, the FL should be pushing 50 and yet she looks not a day older than when Do-jun was alive.

E) After all the damning revelations, dirty laundry lists and a public hearing at the National Assembly, the whole sorry saga is finally signed and sealed by one 20 years old phone recording. How and why did the young Hyeon-Woo record his call to Director Kim when he was supposed to be in a highly distressed and confused state. Even more incredulously, Kim forgot to hang up the phone and allow the most incriminating statement to be recorded. It is beyond contrived. The audacity is jaw dropping. This is the deal breaker for me.

In hindsight, I can see that they wanted to close the soul swapping loop and it becomes a redemption arc for Hyeon-Woo but what did that achieve? Hyeon-Woo’s family is happy that he is alive and he has his revenge. On the other hand, Do-jun would have achieved the same goal but the ramification of his death is so much worse. The FL became a lonely and bitter workaholic, Do-jun’s family is broken, and the worst part is the conglomerate carries on for another 20 YEARS! How is that a better outcome? I could go on, but you get the picture.

I freely acknowledge that some of the acting is superb. Some can be considered breakout roles. The bulk of the storyline is intricately crafted and engaging but . . .

Reborn Rich could have been one of the best dramas in 2022 which makes it even more baffling why they deviated from the webtoon ending and crash landed within sight of the runway.

One time watch for me. Peace out.

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