Zogitt

Bite size rom-com worthy of a binge

There is not a lot to be said about this drama. It is only 4 episodes long but to be fair, it is better than some shows of similar length which tries to jam too much into too short a runtime or too introspective resulting in much ado about nothing. It actually feels like a regular drama that has been parred back to the fundamentals. Obviously, there is not a lot of time to expand on some of the plots, but the core values are there. It managed to cover quite a range of topics that is relevant to the main plot.

Speaking of the main plot, it is all about the love line between the leads. It is sweet and swoon worthy for the most part. There is not a lot of skinship but there is enough towards the end to be counted as fan service.

Acting is good in general. The child actors are cute without being cloying. Their plots are just short of tear-jerking which is a nice balancing act. The FL is very much in her element and she delivered a solid performance. On the other hand, it is nice to see the ML in a lead role. He has been largely type casted in support roles and more often than not, a SML of dubious character. It was interesting that his role here is so loving and caring. It is almost as if his management company deliberately engineered this role so that he can showcase his potentials as a romantic lead without having to first leap into a breakout role like a psycho killer. The clock is ticking when it comes a romantic role even for a male actor. ;)

Overall, it is an easy watch that ticked all the boxes. The short time investment makes binging/re-watching this show perfect for a rainy weekend.

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Mayday! Mayday! Contrary ending approaching

Shows focused on the Chinese armed forces and official emergency services are drama staples. I'm not aware that there are private rescue services in China, so I was intrigued by the promise of this show.

The Show starts well. It is an ensemble cast with many fast-paced plots to keep our interest. Some disaster scenes are gut retching and a challenge to watch but I must commend the production for not sugar coating the tougher storylines.
The usual introductions and meet-cutes showcased a range of interesting and offbeat characters. Even in the midst of all the death and destructions we still managed to find 3 CP's.

The OTP formed by the leads is obviously front and centre. The 2OTP based on the ML's sister is sweet and has a lot of depth. The third pairing focused on DingDing is the weakest of the three.

No surprises that rescues are the backbone of this Show. It provides a lot of the glue between the various subplots. It is also the ready source of action, challenges and angst. This is where I have some issues. I agree that this is a drama first and foremost so we can't expect everything to be 100% realistic, but some of the actions are overly dramatized. I shall give it a hall pass for now, but it does test the limits of credulity at times. I have more to say about this in regard to the ending later.
Another point of contention is the contrived demonising of the ML from the start so that we can watch him grow and change over time. It is nothing new but it can be heavy handed at times.

The Show as a whole is decent. Plot moves along at pace and the romances can be swoon worthy. The writer has this habit of feeding us red herrings to ramp up the angst but show us it is all a misunderstanding soon after and all is well. It works but it gets old after a while. This makes it all the more baffling why the death of the ML’s parents sudden becomes an insurmountable problem.

I put that down to the "breakup we have to have" trope. Even though there are several opportunities for them to talk it through, it was left unspoken. We then have the mandatory time skip. My money was on a grand finale rescue of the FL so that they can patch thing up and hug it out.

Bingo! I was right but what we got was not quite the amazing set piece I was hoping for. The Show obviously had the same idea, but it feels like the writer was locked in a padded room and fed nothing but bananas until he delivers THE script. The setting and outline of the plot was great, but the production didn't have the skill nor the resources to delivery it convincingly. What we got is half baked and it gets worse.

There are many narrative issues with this scenario. For example, how did the 2 doctors climbed UP the mountain without a guide yet a group of young men with a guide can’t walk down the same path? Why did they anchor 3 ropes within inches of each other, what does the textbook say? Why are the Light Chasers the only rescue team onsite? From the B-rolls and costumes of the locals, we gather it is somewhere in/near Tibet. They are located that close by? When they arrived, they just wandered up the mountain with minimal planning and equipment. No hall passes for you this time. :(

What happened after the ML is rescued is worse. You’d think a few moments of heart-to-heart talk after the rescue would be de rigueur. What we got is nothing, zip, nada.

The last few scenes of the show is so ambiguous. We were never told what happened to the OTP afterwards. We got hints that they are back together but could also be our wishful thinking. Then we got the rah-rah scene with the new recruits and the longest staring contest between the two leads as they walked towards each other. They stopped an arm's length away and . . . it fades to credits. What?! Why?! It isn't even artsy. Where is the kiss? A hug?

There is no fan service in the last episode. No clear cut resolution, no kiss, no ring. It is not too much to ask after watching 40 episodes to get a little bit of sugar hit. What is the point of shipping the OTP?

Acting is decent and some of the scenes are challenging and very physical. It is a tough gig for the guys. The ML acted well, but he tends to brood unless he is obviously happy. He was deliberately made unlikeable from the beginning. The FL was a wet mop for the longest time, but she gets better later on. The 2FL has a challenging role and she did well.

I can’t rewatch the whole show, but a highlight reel would be ok. OST is very nice.

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Can a drama be too smart for its own good?

Hats off to writers who pick time travelling as the subject and doubly so if it involves a major romantic plot but it is also a trap for the unwary.

Love in Time (2022) definitely took on this task with gusto. The promise is even more complicated because the time traveling is both ways(!) and it covers a short 4 months span. You can imagine all the timey-wimey shenanigans that ensue.
To be fair, the start of the Show is very well done. It hooks the viewers in with some delicious interactions between the leads and a zany plot. It would have been a very solid base for a movie or a shorter drama. However, with 24 episodes to fill, the time traveling threads begin to look like pretzels by the half-way mark.

The Show does use internal rules and logic to try to avoid the “I’m my own grandfather” type of cliché. They quote buzz words like butterfly effect and dropped names like Hawking to suggest some form of credibility. The problem is that they basically trampled all over the poor butterfly by letting the leads from present/future interact and communicate fairly freely and pass information from the future back to the present on a regular basis.

Rather than trying to minimise their temporal footprint, the leads spend most of their efforts in trying to change the future. I can run with that if it is done cleverly and reasonably. Unfortunately, it got more and more convoluted as the story progressed. It got to the point when it is best to ignore cause and effect and assume they are all inconsequential. In one sense, that is quite true because the show is pushing the time elasticity theory. It boils down to if event Z is meant to happen then if the nominal trigger A is altered then trigger B/C/D/etc will be created to ensure Z happens. That’s all well and good but it also means a lot of mid show plots end up achieving little other than proving this point with one exception.

This brings us to the love line of the OTP. It is intense, swoon worthy and has a decent amount of skinship. However, it is a challenge to work through some of the more convoluted plots as mentioned above. At one stage we have an alive and kicking FL, one in a coma and a dead one depending on which scene is shown. Then we have the present/future ML talking to each other on the phone(!). The date is flash up on the screen from time to time but it feels like nothing is anchored anymore. It is all about pushing the main plot forward and giving our OTP quality CP time during their precious 46mins of shared time. Those short and sweet moments are what held the show together.

Finally, there is much chatter online about the “bad” ending. I think the ending is actually decent. It is unrealistic to assume a simple HEA ending after all the temporal mischiefs. The Show needs to untangle all the twisted threads. Honestly, the whole balancing the entropy thing is gibberish. I believe the Show has a mystical wild card up its sleeve from the start. The paper crane is the key. My take is the “universe” is saying “We stuffed up” when the FL was killed and it is trying to fix it. In a sense, it is like Dr Strange doing his future scanning trick but finds only 1 possible timeline with the right outcome. I also find the present-day ML changing subtly over time to become more like the future ML quite plausible. He is him after all but experienced those 4 months from a different perspective. Once the memories melded over time, he naturally realigned his personality.

Acting wise, it is good. I like the persona shift of the ML as he flip between his two realities. The FL did well but she sounds too young from the dubbing. Would her own voice be better? To be honest, the real antagonist is really underwhelming.

Overall, I enjoyed the Show. It can be entertaining and occasionally, thought provoking but more often than not, I find it easier to go with the flow, switch off the frontal lobe and don't try to analyse it. ;)

OST is fine but a total rewatch is unlikely. A highlight reel would be nice.

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Superb piece of sci-fi suspense drama but can't sustain the excellence the whole way

The c-dramascape is well populated by crime/thriller/suspense dramas. However, if you throw in a sci-fi spin to the mix then the candidates for top dramas in this genre is somewhat thin on the ground. Maybe it has to do with censorship or culture but the writing in that sub-genre tends to be more muted and less innovative than creators from beyond their border. I’m glad to report that this show stood head and shoulder above the typical competition.

It is not a spoiler to tell you that the story is revolve around our protagonists being “trapped” on a bus that will explode and kill them in a matter of minutes. Each time they die, the sequence resets (hence the title) and they return to the bus. This is all laid out in the opening scenes and reinforced in the first episode. As our leads live through more cycles, they learnt how to work with the time loop and manipulate the events. They have to find out why they are looping and do what they can to stop it.
As this is such a suspenseful drama, I shall try to remain spoiler free. Most of the comments will be intentionally vague.

As you can imagine, with the scenes and scenarios being replayed over and over again, the writer have to find ways to present their predicament from different angles and perspectives. This is where the writer did a very good job for much of the show.
Similarly, the actors are repeating variations of the same plot, but they showed a lot of emotions and dedication. The leads were standouts and kudos to them. There are definitely no squeamish or wimpy characters here.

The production value of the show is quite good. Maybe it is the repetitive nature of some scenes that allowed them to get more bang for their bucks by editing explosions and car chases shot from different angles to generate more “unique” footages. One thing that piqued my interest is the police station. It seemed to be modern and “nice”. I don't know if it is based on a real police station or whether it was embellished.

I appreciate the show expending efforts to fresh out the backstories of some support roles. It made their behaviour more meaningful.

Alas, I wish the show was able to sustain this high standard all the way, but it did begin to falter towards the end. Not so much individual acting and scenes but the consistency of the main plot.

A lot of the issues came from the time loop concept. By the time we find out who the bomber is, the rest of the story is not that hard to deduce. Even so, the repetition still went on when the leads failed to break out of the loop. This gave us a lot of time to contemplate the raison d'être of the main event. It exposes some narrative weakness, and you start to question the goals and motivations of the antagonists. The internal logic still holds, but there are now cracks where there was none before.

The Show also paid a lot of attention to the backstory of the antagonists. It was nicely done and with a delicate touch. However, by then we have already sat through several backstories, we know what will happen and when, we know who did it so there is little intrigue left. This only brought about a distinct change in pacing and tension.

Another issue is why the leads are involved? They were just trapped and then released once they solved the puzzle. These issues would have been less contentious if this was a two hours movie or have fewer episodes.

The ending also did not sit well with some viewers (no spoilers). I can sense the writer was preparing us for a different ending, but it took a detour. Was it because of censorship?

In the end, rating this show is like judging some Olympic sports. You start with a perfect 10 and then you start to deduct little bit here and there as you spot minor imperfections.

OST was fine. Rewatch is difficult as there is no mystery left and the repetitions will test most people's patience.

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A load of twaddle but thankfully it is short

Other than a few cute moments, there is very little about this show that is original or special. The plot is super tropey. Everything is done in a fairly simplistic way. There was a twist towards the end that was necessary to make the plot work and tie up the loose ends but it had marginal emotional impact. That sort of sums up the problem with this show, it tried to deliver the goods but the script and acting were not up to the task.

Speaking of acting, it ranged from passable to bad. The brainy ML is like a block of wood most of the time. He has very little facial expressions and his delivery is weak. He is an idol and certainly has the looks. Maybe this show was created so that his team can test the water with a tentative foray into the acting world. Let's just say, at this point in time, he shouldn't give up his day job. The 2ML (pulled from the manhua) is very annoying. Yes, he was role playing but his character is so unlikeable, it just make you want to cringe every time he shows up. His habit of starting every sentence addressed to a female with "Woman, ...." is so condescending that I wanted to start a new #tag movement to hunt him down. He did tone it down towards the end but for a good 2/3 of the show, he was just a buffoon and not particularly funny.

The female leads fared better but they have very straightforward roles and were straightjacketed by their characters. They did their best but it is hardly breakout roles. Most of the support casts were amateur hour material and one dimensional.
They also played the fish out of water trope for all its worth but this is old hat nowadays with the predisposition of recent c-dramas to drop M/FL from the present into ancient/mythical Chinese settings and vice versa.

Honestly, I am not against this type of short form web dramas but they still need to hang together with a decent script and some acting chop. I have watched other short form dramas where it is done with 3 or 4 actors and a couple of rooms as sets and they were compelling and engaging. This show had bigger ambition, a sizeable cast and probably a decent budget but it just come across as try hard. Shows should not automatically get a get out of jail card free just because of its format.

The short web episode format worked against them in this case as well. In a typical 11-12 minutes run, around 3 minutes is taken up by the intro and outro. What is left just felt jumpy and insubstantial before the end credit rolls again. An edited version of several 30 minutes episodes might work better as it will lets the story flow more organically and sustain a narrative without having to fight with all the stop-start editing.

In the end, there was just enough cuteness and fragile hope for me to stay. It never quite delivered but the ending was as sweet as you'd expect so it was true to form.

One time watch and one time listen. Peace out.

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Pride and Prejudice (and Zombified plots)

Oh how I wanted to like this show. It started off strong, a bit whacky and over the top but had a certain je ne sais quoi. It started the fourth wall breaking from ep.1 which suggested some fun, insightful touches. There were definitely some funny moments in the early part (the hypnosis scene was a classic). There was little fluff though. It had very adult themes and the unicorns were locked in their stables most of the time. This is definitely a melodrama but with funny moments. The production value appear to be high as well. Main characters are well dressed, dare we say, stylish. No cheap set to be seen, hooray!

The main actors were good looking, especially the ML. The OTP had good chemistry and appropriate skinship. There is no mistaking the relationship between the FL (Cai Huan Zhen) and the 2FL (Hao Sheng Nan). They were the worst frenemies. They were always catty to each other and tried to one-up each other at every opportunity. We soon find out that they were the best of friends in senior high school but during their college years, they became the worst enemies because of some misunderstanding over a male college senior.

That's ok, a bit tropey but dramaland is built upon such tropes. The problem in this case is that there were just so many misunderstandings, lies, manipulations and failure to communicate that it was wearisome within the first few episodes. The show kept telling us that this was all due to their pride and inability to admit their mistakes. Fair enough, I agree that that can be a problem in real life too but this show suffered from a plague of this affliction. All I can think of when they finally got to the pivotal wedding scene at the end of ep.2 was "this is not going to end well".

Due to this heavy handedness, I began to dislike many of the characters very early on. All we saw were their nasty behaviours and how they tortured themselves as well as people around them. That is a bad thing. A drama need protagonists as well as antagonists. When you don't really care about the main characters, you lost the key motivation to keep watching the show. It is a fine line when a show can be seen as draggy. In all honesty, I was sorely tempted to drop the show at several points along the way but I hanged in there because the show did have its moments but it was a close call at times.

Things do improve about mid point. The OTP was reasonably stable after they managed to communicate more openly (after many frustrating failed attempts and bucket of tears) and even had some sweet moments. Then they introduced the 2ML (Jiang Qian Yue aka THE college senior). OMG, I'm sorry but he was a completely douchebag. His older brother was even worse. The plot went for a swim in the muddy pool of sleazy tropes with them. Of course that took the OTP off the rails and down a cliff but unlike most dramas, where the 2/3OTP would step up and lighten the mood or at least distract us. We just have more angst and bad behaviours from all involved. The problem is that the 2FL and the 2ML pairing just didn't gel (unless it was another dastardly plot twist), I cannot ship them. That subplot was pretty flimsy and self serving. Nevertheless, the 2ML maintained his feelings for the 2FL was genuine to the bitter end, just like his secret crush on her for 10 years. Not buying it, not feeling it, not at all. By then, Illogical plot holes abound in the show so it was just another whatever moment.

But wait, there is more! The writer pulled the Noble Idiot card on the OTP as well and we had the mandatory breakup. I have said it before and I'll say it again, why writers insist that breaking up with someone who truly loved you is the best way to bring them happiness, success and peace of mind. Really?!

And drumroll please . . . my pet peeve taunted me throughout this show. Putting aside the frenemy shenanigans, all the bad deeds went unpunished. Attempted rape, slander/libel, invasion of privacy, inflicting actual bodily harm all received no sanctions. Yes, I get that this is an adult drama and not a fairy tale but this is one heck of a dystopian world they lived in.

Not all characters were unlikeable, the ML turned out to be a flawed character but very loyal and had a heart of gold. The FL was a flawed character but tough and strong willed, she will grow on you (in time, I hope). The FL's parents were loveable but their were like caricatures especially the mum but at least they were nice and sweet and didn't trying to harm anyone. The ML's parents were kind of funny in the beginning but it just became sad after a few episodes of constant bickering, especially when you learnt that they have been like that for years. It also made their reconciliation in the end felt rushed and undercooked.
The ending was over the top and it would be sweet if the storyline supported it. Just watch the café scene before finale and hear what she said to the ML and then watch the last few minutes, you will see what I mean. It just didn't make sense. Damn those unicorns, they are getting restless.

I'm sorry that this turned into a bit of a rant but this show just worn me out. It tried to stir our emotions but most of the time I just felt annoyed or dumbfounded. Episode 13 was the best one in my book because the characters finally voiced my frustrations in their own dialogues. They actually called each other out and say what is wrong with them. Is it a realistic portrayal of modern relationships? I hope not. It had its good moments that kept you watching but most of the show was mired in a swamp of its own making.

Acting were good but it is a tough gig. I particularly felt for Joanne Tseng. OST was fine. Rewatch is no thank you, unless they added zombies.

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Promising start but went old school tropey and left out the creativity

I was sold on this show by its synopsis. I watched a few episodes and it seemed to delivered on the quirky rom-com setup. Cool crown prince in a arranged marriage to a young, beautiful, fighting bandit queen who was also the Chinese version of MacGyver but pretending to be a noble lady! What can go wrong?
A lot, is the TL;DR answer.
The longer version is that they took the worst of the old school palace intrigue genre and combined it with tons of clichés subplots and draggy storytelling. Where there should be growth and development like the OTP romance was reduced to love at first sight with a lot of teasing and barely any push-pull. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing but what replaced it was endless scheming and nasty business like tortures and killing of innocent people. It was not as if they don't have something to built upon. They could have kept the light hearted tone going as they spent the first few episodes showing us how clever and resourceful the FL was and how she kept turning the table on the schemers. I won't complain if they build the show around that concept as a female Chinese MacGver would be intriguing. However, that mostly faded away and when it do come back later on in the show, she was used as deus ex machina to move the plot along. Typically, she would stand in front of a trap/lock for a couple of seconds and opened the said lock (which haven't been successfully picked ever) in 2 seconds without hesitation. Of course, on the other side of those door were more macguffins.
There were 3 romantic pairings in total but other than the OTP, the other two pairs were marred by sad, melodramatic manipulations that it was hard to ship them. A lighter hand would had been more in tune with the original tone but by ep10, the show had pretty much gone completely to the dark side.
The drama also arrayed a whole host of evil doers before us from episode 1. Unfortunately, they were one dimensional and came out of palace drama central casting. What is worse was that they were also made fun of at the beginning of the show and shown how inept they were and yet by middle of the show, they WERE the show and did all kinds of horrible things (mostly to their own families and innocent people). This just bring on added frustration to an already tropey show.
In terms of acting, there was nothing to write home about. There was minimal growth in the characters. Most actors just did their job so you didn't get much nuance in their presentations. What I did find odd was that sometimes the younger actors seemed to behave as if they were in a contemporary drama but wearing period costumes. The flip side was that the show also used some of the oldest tropes. Ditto the aesthetics. It was nominally ancient China but some of the setting appeared to be borrowed from different dramas so it just felt unanchored.
Honestly, I was going to drop the show a few times around mid show but decided to push through just to see how tropey it can get and they did not disappoint. The fast forward button was a welcome relieve.
This show would have been a decent (maybe even good) wuxia drama if they stick to the original concept and kept it a light hearted rom-com. Unfortunately, it just ended up being tropey, clichéd and draggy. I cannot recommend this drama unless you are following the leads.

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Sweet little rom-com that will brighten your day

If you believe in love at first sight and contract marriage is the guarantee path to happiness then this show is a must watch for you! Seriously, I really enjoyed this show and it is so short and sweet. Contract marriage is such a dramaland trope these days that it can only go down one of two paths, find love and happiness or find love and the whole thing falls apart horribly.
This love story was well paced. There is always growth but it is set firmly in the "slice of life" genre so no psycho killer or evil family plot anywhere. The ML was a real tease to his new wife. Swoon worthy moments aplenty. Not that it was totally angst free with the usual misunderstanding and jealousy popped up here and there. They are quickly bobbed on their heads and our CP can safely resumed their romantic journey of discovery. I really appreciate how the CP communicated with each other and accept each others point of view. It was refreshing to see issues not fester but allowed to be aired and resolved in a mature manner. The OTP's chemistry is very good. Not red hot but there are lots of skinship and sex is definitely on the menu but nothing graphic. Romantic to sexy, in a newly-wed couple way.
The OST is nice enough. Nothing memorable but pleasant. Rewatch value is high as it is such a sweet love story and only just over 3 hours in total length, it is not even a binge if you watch it over a lazy day.

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Why did they ruined a perfectly good rom-com?

Dear gods of dramaland, what have I done to deserve this "bait and switch" of a drama? It was so good for the first 1/3 of the run. It was quirky, funny and sweet. The chemistry of the OTP was great and the 2ML was cute and nice (instead of the usual PITA). It has all the hallmarks of a great rom-com. Easy viewing and brings a smile to your face. There is a low key mystery about a kidnapping many years ago but it was really no mystery at all as the evil doer was well and truly identified very early in the show and his motivation as well. It is really who else is involved that is up for debate. It didn't take much deduction to work out the ML's real identity either.
However, and this is a show breaking however, they changed tone and genre mid way and it never recovered. The problem here is that they tried to turn it into a serious drama and go big on the melodrama but there just wasn't enough substance in the storyline to sustain that. The worse part is that it derailed the romantic storyline. The ML ended up constantly backing off from the FL due to his backstory and the scheming. His personality also did an U turn. The show made it looked like he was hiding some big secret but honestly, it was only a mystery unto himself as viewers would have already worked out the plot long before. The OTP had reconciliations and there would be moments of sweetness (to bait us) and then the wheels would fall off again.
I still don't understand the use of cliché forced separation of the OTP at the end of dramas. Sure, it can work some times but only when there is a net benefit to the plot and character development, in this case, the writer just throw in a 1 year separation with all the angst filled built-up and misunderstandings. Only for the OTP to magically reunite in the twilight minutes of the last episode. The writer-nim even go as far as having the FL confront the ML and shout in his face why he disappeared for a year without even once contacted her. The ML's reply is so lame that it was sad; he was too busy. Really? Too busy to send a txt once a week/month? Or is it the old cliché of "if I hear your voice I would have to rush back to your side"? You went to the US of A, dude, they have internet there too. :P Is this just lazy writing?
On top of that, the villain is more annoying than evil. Suspense is minimal. Lots of meddling from parents and mediocre/generic support cast. The 2FL was wasted. She started off ok but she wasn't given room to do much later on.
As if acknowledging the error of their way, the ending of the show actually had the ML revert back to his original identity and carry on with his old job and his old goofy mannerism. If they had stayed their course and develop the story with the interesting characters they spent so much effort building up in the first 1/3 of the show, they would have a really fun and quirky hit on their hands, we ended up with a mess of clichés that did more harm than good.

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A superb romance drama produced by adults for adults

In a sea of samey idol dramas, this series stood out for all the right reasons.

The leads are good actors who are charismatic and handsome in their own way. Their chemistry is off the chart. They are madly in love with each other, and it shows. There is a good deal of skinship that feels natural and spontaneous. They can be playful or serious but we are never in doubt about their love. It just feels . . right.

This show is grounded in reality as well. The ML's work in a funeral parlour doesn’t leave much room for glitz and glam. What we get are spontaneity and home truths. The dead relies on him to preserve their dignity as they shuffle off this mortal coil. A mistake of split second could mean life or death. Those stories can be challenging and some will leave an lasting impression. As such, this is not for everyone. While the show handles such passings and their aftermath with aplomb, the stories are mostly maudlin. Anyone who is sensitive to such storylines should make an informed decision.

On the other hand, the writer balanced these low points with the OTP’s love line. There is no syrupy, rainbows and unicorns moments but just real people looking for love and needing to love. Instead of poor communications and misunderstanding at every turn. Our CP talk about everything. Some of their dialogue is raw but you can't deny their heartfelt sincerity.

They both know they have baggage but they are willing to work to overcome them. Once they are a couple, they have no qualm about PDA. It can be a little awkward for the residents of the small town but it is delicious and we bask in their pink glow.

Of course, our OTP face challenges, but the most important thing is that they behave like adults. They sulk and say harsh words which they will regret. However, they do acknowledge their mistakes and try to right their wrongs. It doesn’t always lead to a simple resolution but when the stars are aligned, we get fireworks!

I have already mentioned the top-notch performances from our leads but it also boast a strong support cast. I'm really impressed with the young actor playing the role of the FL's sister. She has great potential and I'll keep an eye out for her in future dramas.

I'd highly recommend this drama for true fans of romance dramas. It doesn’t have a parade of young and beautiful idols but it more than compensates for that with quality performances and depth in the storytelling that will resonate with mature audiences. It is not for everyone but if you can handle the weightier subjects then you will find a heartwarming, realistic and swoon-worthy drama. It has a permanent place in my re-watch list.

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Who needs Chinese medicine? Just bottle the ML!

I'm only half joking when I wrote the title. While the drama has multiple side plots and an ensemble cast, the A-plot is simply how good the ML is to the FL and why are they not married yet? LoL

Right from the start, the ML took care of the FL. First as her TCM doctor who saw her at her lowest ebb. There is an instant attraction but he kept it professional for as long as he can.

We are never in doubt that he is a pure soul and cares for all his patients. The FL is lucky to be the Chosen One™. However, she is one confused puppy and the last break-up hurt her deeply. While he is helping her to heal, she just can't see the forest from the trees and ended up pushing him away.

Of course, she soon saw the errors of her way but she is still stuck in "no man's land" without a clear path forward.

Then all hell broke loose when her ex-BF shows up to "reclaim" her. That was the catalyst for her to act decisively and break with the past completely.

From then on, it is pretty much smooth sailing for our OTP. There are endless happy couple scenes and a goodly amount of skinship. They even squeezed in a bit of sexy time as bonus. Also bonus points for the FL's parent being so chilled and loving.

There is a bit of angst towards the end but inconsequential. For instance, the FL going overseas to study was the sword hanging over their heads for half the series but it ends up being almost meaningless. The only impact is their forced seperation for a few months but they video chat constantly. The studies and internship means little as she ends up managing a local restaurant with her bestie and gets married before she unpacks her suitcase. Where is her growth? What is the point of the trip to Switzerland?

It would have been more impactful if she gave up her study for love and then find fulfilment managing the restaurant.

Ditto, the mum's health scare. It was barely a ripple in the Force. It feels like nothing is allowed to get in the way of the HEA ending.

I can't complain because I wholeheartedly ship the OTP. However, it does feel stretched. I think 24 eps would have been perfect.

In the end, I felt oddly detached. It is like I'm watching my besties getting together. I am very happy for them but I'll be the one teasing them endlessly with "get a room already!".

It is an enjoyable show because it is designed to please. It will give you the warm and fuzzy feelings in spades but I can't, in all honesty, sit through it again.

OST is fine but the love theme is on HIGH rotations in the second half. Production value is good.

P.S. One thing that I'm happy to see is TCM being shown as complimentary to western medicine. This is much more realistic than some depictions that implies TCM is akin to magical cure-all.

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‘Tis the season where Yu Mi discovers Yu ME

This season starts where S1 left off. In S1, Yumi was a supportive girlfriend and a good mid-tier manager, but she has hit the doldrum on both fronts.

It was no surprise that Yumi was once again looking for love and it seemed to be going swimmingly until the tropes took over. The big plot development in this season is how Yumi discovered self-love and becomes more assertive, a risk taker and is more focused. While this leads to some positive character growth, it also meant that she became more obstinate and, to a degree, self-sabotaging.

This change in focus also altered the feel of the Show. Yes, when the love line is in full swing, it was sweet and swoon worthy but that didn’t last. What replaced it was an air of melancholy. There are ripples of heightened emotions along the way, but it never reached the same heights as in S1. Everything felt muted and there is a strong sense of role playing when it comes to the romance. There seems to be a lack of passion.

Of course, the cells are the glue that held the show together and allow the writer-nim a chance to go off piste with the action. They are cute as ever and have loads of personalities. However, if you remove the animations, what is left is a fairly tropey plot and to be honest, a bit meh. It ticked all the boxes but there is little we haven’t seen before.

On top of the OTP, there are two other pairings. They are cute and provided some distraction while Yumi is beavering away at work. They were almost more fun to watch than our main CP. Acting is fine and felt comfortable with a bit of quirkiness when needed.

Now the elephant in the room. The ending is a total teaser. It left the plot dangling mid scene. There have been persistent rumours that there will be NO season 3 but this ending is shouting the exact opposite. There have been a lot of early chatter about possible endings as followers of the webtoon knew who is the chosen one. So what is going on? It also begs the question why is the Show only 14 episodes long when a normal 16 eps would have given the Show enough time to wrap things up if there is no S3. There will be a huge uproar and backlash if the Show ends like this. There is no news regarding S3 at the time of writing.

In the end, Yumi 2 was enjoyable and watchable but not as good as S1. The cell animations patched over a fairly ho-hum script and carries it over the line. As my friend @Love movies famously said, “I wish it were more yummy!!”. Peace out.

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This show doth play it safe for too long

The scheduling god was not kind to this drama. It is released around the same time as the popular k-drama, Love Next Door. Comparison between the two is inevitable. If you filter out the obvious cultural differences and filler subplots, it is basically the same trope. As such, I can’t in all honesty make this show up to be better than LND because it isn’t. Please allow me to explain.

As in LND, the basic premise is the classic BFF to lover trope except in this case, there is the added complication of the ritualistic sworn brotherhood.

Sworn brotherhood is OG. You can see it in classic literature of many cultures. Most are born out of harrowing experiences on the battlefields or during extreme trials. Just ask Henry V or read ancient fables. This is all very well within their historical context but not so relevant in the modern world except for some niche situations. It is all about male bonding but awkward when it is between the opposite sex.

While this is a valid meet-cute, the show really leans into it. When you consider the whole premise is the OTP having a mutual crush on each other for years, this is a millstone around their necks. We are presented with endless horseplay, push-pulls and staged closeness but they all end with the decoration of "Nothing to see! We are bros!!"

Ye gods, what a killjoy! It went on for so long that I became numb. I knew where the show is heading but I lost all faith. The unicorns might die of old age at this rate!

Eventually, our leads confronted their feelings, but their trial is not over yet. First, we have the muddled confession which leads to a period of relationship twilight zone. Then when they are a couple, they enter the Failure to Kiss phase. Just note that this is well past the 2/3 mark of a 30 eps show.

I know the interrupted kiss is such an old cliché in c-dramas but this is taking it to the next level. It is funny the first time, but it wears thin, fast. After numerous failed attempts, I just groan.

I think this is the biggest problem with this drama. It really thinks that the viewer is happy to be baited endlessly. The show kept dangling the carrot before us until we are on the verge of despair. Then we get a little bit of fan service and out comes the carrot again.

Praise be to the Drama Gods when they sealed the deal. It is telling when their best buddy found out, his reaction was “that’s impossible. You are sworn brothers!!” Yes, I feel the same, bro. Of course, it is all sweetness overload from then on.

Our leads really spent too long in the bro zone and their chemistry suffers. It ramps up later on, especially after they dialled up the skinship, but it was lacking for much of the run. Too much fake horseplay and testiness will kill the mood.

There are 2 other pairings. The married couple are there to occupy screen time. The 3CP of the nerdy partner and the movie star was so low key, their confirmation during the last ep was a brief holding of hands. It takes the mutual understanding idea to infinity and beyond. If you blink, you'd miss it.

This brings me to the final point. This show really played it safe on every level and for too long. The romance took forever to jumpstart. The skinship is ok but needs more "heat". The business subplots are just window dressing. You can skip them, and miss nothing. There is a bit of angst, but it is very formulaic. The typical misogynistic boss is front and centre. Every element is there for you to tick them off, for better or for worse.

As such, it is watchable and even enjoyable at times, but it is also forgettable. The production value is decent. The support cast did their best. However, it doesn’t really hit you right in the feels. IMHO, that's a key prerequisite for a good romance drama.

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It captured the meh

As with many sageuk dramas, the setting, pageantry and historical references hook us in. The plot and characters sustain it. Unfortunately, this series is patchy in the last two and its quality suffers.

The first few episodes are nicely done. The idea of the FL being a baduk master is novel, but it has its own narrative issues. Regardless, it set up the meet-cute of the OTP. We are left with no doubt that the romance of our leads is the corner stone of this drama. This is problem #1.

As with many Korean court dramas, the FL ended up having to cross-dress just to get access to the ML. The FL is just not convincing as a man. It also hamstrings her performance. There are moments of animation but it mostly feels wooden.

Unsurprisingly, the main theme is standard issue palace intrigue. There are the odd twists, but they are mere ripples in a mill pond. All the classic courtly characters are there. Both good and evil. The veteran actors turn in solid performances but this is bread and butter for them.

The run-of-the-mill political shenanigans is problem #2. We run through several backstabbing plots as expected. Each time we arrive at a flashpoint we’d get our hopes up. Is this the turning point? Will we see some major realignment? Alas, after each bump, the show would settle back to a long period of doldrum.

Other than the romance and political maneuvers, we must contend with a simmering revenge plot. Unfortunately, this has issues as well. So much time and energy have been devoted to this but at the 11th hour, the protagonist found out that it is all a misunderstanding. We knew this all along so . . . Doh.

Obviously, the evil characters are going to get their comeuppance. However, just like the muddled revenge plots, the righting of such wrongs took its sweet time. Everyone knows who they are but other than much gnashing of teeth, not a great deal happens and then everything happened. By then, I'm past caring.

As I mentioned before, romance of the leads is key. However, their chemistry is questionable. Their skinship mostly leaves me cold. Their first kiss is good but I challenge anyone to feel excited after watching their last kiss in the finale. Go on, watch it and tell me I'm wrong. I double dare you!

Thankfully, the acting of the ML steadied the ship. He was 10 times more animated than the FL and his acting is next level. However, he can't compensate for every shortcomings of this drama.

In the end, the series is watchable but there is nothing new. There are the odd highlights. The ending is a bit ponderous. You’d think an HEA ending is a given. Not so fast, chingu. It is as if the writer is having a bet each way. I have no idea why you'd do that at this late stage. It does reflect on the drama as a whole.

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Maudlin, depressing, heartwarming and uplifting. Wait! That's just the trailer.

It took a bit of effort to start writing this because I'm in two minds about this drama.

I suppose we might as well start from the beginning. The FL played identical twins with different personalities. Both are in a bad place when the show starts. One is labelled a no-hoper just marking time in her hometown while the other is the breadwinner working in Seoul. The fact that she suffers every day at her coveted government job is kept a secret. An existential crisis caused the twins to switch identities.

I’m just going to declare outright that I’m a fan of PBY so two roles in one show is twice the goodness. Bring it on! :)

This series starts promisingly. The show literally doubled down on the fish out of water trope. We see their struggles and how their lives diverge as they grow up. For a single parent family in a country town, their struggle is real. This is also the ground zero of resentment and preconceptions.

As the drama progresses, we watch the twins discover each other's world. One twin would think that the other is living the best life. You can sense their initial resentment and growing confusion as they find out it was not all beer and skittles. There are moments of lightheartedness and small wins, but the daily grind is relentless. There is an unshakable sense of despondency and weariness.

I'm glad to report that PBY came through again. She delivered both roles adroitly. The young actress playing the teenage version also did well. The MLs and most of the support cast are solid actors. Some of the scenes involving the veteran actors are heart-rending. My issues is not with the acting nor production value, but with the pacing and how some of the narratives are handled.

While the first third of the show is engaging and set up the main theme well, the pacing for the middle third is languid and circumspect. Pot boilers are everywhere, and they are set to simmer.

They faced challenges in the workplace and in the friend zone. We are also treated to historical misunderstandings from different perspectives delivered via many flashbacks. I can understand if this is something horrid and unforgivable, but it was almost trivial once the truth came out. It was a life changing moment for our OTP but it feels overblown.

BTW, can someone please drop the Communication Breakdown trope down a deep hole, pretty please? Our twin sleeps next to each other and the ML is their next-door neighbour. A few choice words would have cleared everything up. It was not resolved for 10 YEARS! I get it as a story element but it is definitely head scratching. I suppose the show would be 6 eps instead of 12. (Laugh/cry/facepalm)

Speaking of EP’s, the length of each episode is LONG. We are talking telemovie length. In that sense, the total runtime is on par with a typical 16 eps run. It can be a challenge to sit through one of the bleaker ep. I won't be surprised if a casual viewer throws in the towel. That would be a mistake because the last third of the show is so much better.

The growth in the characters are rewarding and uplifting. It more than compensates for the nadirs. Not only is our OTP in a happy place but there are gains on many fronts. Lots of fan service and rewarding moments packed into the final hours. Huzzah!

Sadly, it is not all rainbows and unicorns. There's a tearjerker twist which signifies a conclusion, releases and new beginnings. Have tissues handy.

Lastly. we have the unresolved 2CP. Granted they look ready to launch but we are left dangling. Enough with the meaningful gazes! Is it too much to ask, dear writer-nim, to grant us one last "seal it with a kiss" scene? We beseech thee!

In the end, this is one show that the sum is greater than its parts. It helps if you FF some of the more draggy bits. Have faith, this show does deliver. I won’t rewatch the whole drama but the last third will be an easy binge for me.

Always remember, “Yesterday is over. Tomorrow is yet to come. Today is yet unknown.” Peace.

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