bojojoti

Fun to Watch and Even More Fun to Listen To

This is the perfect gateway introduction to K-pop/K-dramas for the uninitiated. I'm not a devotee of animation, but I had a watching party for KPDH, and the viewers were enthusiastic, especially about the OST.

As an avid K-drama fan, I laughed when "Love, Maybe" played when Jinu met Rumi, knowing that Jinu was voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop, who played the ML in Business Proposal, where the song featured heavily. What a lovely Easter egg for fans!

I awarded an extra star for the soundtrack. "Free" has beautiful lyrics; "Takedown" and "How It's Done" are great for working out; and "Golden" is powerful. "Soda Pop" may be pure sugar, but if I'm dragging on my daily walk, I play it and get instant energy.

I'm looking forward to a sequel, as the story felt rushed and unfinished at the end.

Read More

Intelligent Characters Overcome Trauma with a Sweet Romance

Two appealing, intelligent leads, a virtual reality world set in the Chinese Republican Era, and a slow-burn romance made for a pleasant watching experience. Add the beauty of Shanghai and some lovely architecture, and Love Between the Lines distinguished itself from other romance dramas.

There were exquisite scenes, especially in the snowy virtual world. I could have happily spent more time there; I wish a larger storyline had been set in the virtual world. It was cold and mostly colorless, a reflection of the ML's mindset. Within that world, he was in absolute control, ruthlessly plotting and eliminating his enemies at will. He was free to live as himself, something that had been taken away from his true life. When FL joined the game, she also discovered she could free herself from the "safe" walls she'd erected around her life; she could be as spirited, daring, and reckless as she wished. The couple were so striking in the virtual world! The ML in a military outfit cut a commanding figure, and the FL was stunning as she nearly glowed in white costumes in that dark world.

The ML and FL were seemingly two opposites: he was cold and aloof, while she was warm and bubbly. Their homes represented them. His was a large apartment in a modern high-rise. It was empty, quiet, devoid of character, and bereft of color (except for some lit bottles of alcohol). When the FL first saw it, she said his home was merely an extension of his office. The FL lived in a longtang, a community of multi-storied older apartments facing an alley that was shared as a public space. Her home was old, noisy, cozy, cluttered, and filled with personality. As the ML and FL's relationship advanced, his life began to fill with color, sound, and comfort; her life began to add order and purpose.

Special mention should be made of the 2ML. I generally despise love triangles, but Dai Xu played the part of the quasi-villain so deftly that I couldn't help but empathize with him and hope for good things in his future.

The best dramas show personal growth and enlightenment. Although the ML had learned to grow up quickly, hide his innermost thoughts, and depend only upon himself, he learned to trust and share with the FL. As for the FL, she'd lived with trauma that had caused her to choose safety over dreams. With the ML's support (and it was often hands-off, because he trusted her to handle things on her own, something I relished greatly), she learned to make decisions for her own good, not for security or to appease others. A line of hers that resonated with me from the drama (and I am paraphrasing loosely according to my wonky memory) was, "When a pair of shoes don't fit, I change them; if the road becomes a dead end, I take another road; if a person doesn't like me, I change him for a more suitable one." Our sweet, kind FL had learned to set boundaries and draw lines.

The quality of viewing faltered somewhat for me when it became too dramatic towards the end, but that's a minor quibble for a drama that I mostly enjoyed.

I'm awarding an extra half star for some lovely visuals in the virtual reality world.

Read More

Love Triangles Squared? A Geometric Nightmare of Relationships

MDLers loved this more than I did. The drama featured Lu Bai, whom I've enjoyed in other dramas. ML was relatively tall, which I always appreciate, but he had the face of a little boy. The recurring theme of the drama was that he was super attractive, which I'm willing to be convinced of, but he still had the face of a child; although as the drama went on and I began to like his character, I didn't mind so much that he had a baby face. So, I should have been more enthusiastic, but the characters, nearly all of them, were extremely unlikeable in the beginning.

ML was cold and mean; FL was childish and petty; 2nd ML was willing to destroy his friend's happiness and business out of selfishness; 3rd ML was willing to destroy a young girl's life out of selfishness; and the supporting characters lied, stole, coerced, cheated, and carried out personal vendettas. Later episodes improved, but there wasn't enough happiness and cute moments to make up for all the unpleasantness.

If you're allergic to love triangles, this is a geometric nightmare. FL dated three men, and, in EVERY ONE of those relationships, there was a triangle. Or square. Or tetrahedron.

Subtracting a half star for being tedious and exhausting with all the misunderstandings and love triangles.

Read More

A Lonely Fairytale

I'd seen Encounter on many lists, but I avoided it because I don't care for melodrama, and I generally steer clear of romance unless it's mixed with mirth, murder, mayhem, or mystery. The drama sat, disregarded, on my "to watch" list until I saw it was about to leave the service I use. I half-heartedly clicked "play," not expecting too much.

I would not have dreamed I'd derive so much pleasure from this drama. The casting was perfect, especially Song Hye Kyo as the Ice Princess and Park Bo Gum as her Bright Knight. The cinematography was stunning, especially the Havana scenes. The director did an amazing job showing emotions without speech by the subtle turn of a foot, the motion of a hand, or the glance of an eye. I'm not generally a fan of hokey camera angles, but the split screen was effective, as it was used sparingly.

It's as if the creators of the drama took notes of my favorite things and lovingly showcased them: art, photography, music, bookstores, prose, poetry, plants (I want a lemon cypress!), and beautiful landscapes. The anime in each episode was charming, and the OST was magnificent.

I could complain about the angst going on too long, but Park Bo Gum's radiant smile and sweet expressions make me forget any negative remarks I might have had. I have to award an extra half star for that smile.

Read More

Nothing is Secret That Will Not be Revealed...

Thanks to Tat for the recommendation. I needed a break from blood -spewing wuxias and mindless romcoms, and this was a welcome change. Zhao Lu Si was perfection as the closed off, careful schemer. William Chan did admirably as her chameleon lead, at first charming the viewer as a thoughtful suitor until he revealed his cold, manipulative nature.

I hate lying, despise liars, and tire of drama misunderstandings, but those issues were dealt with a deft hand and made sense. I was sympathetic to the FL's need to create a carefully crafted, totally bogus image of herself. The misunderstandings that derived from her duplicity occurred naturally and were understandable. The overriding narrative of the drama is that nothing remains secret forever, and there is a price to pay for dishonesty.

The character development of the ML and FL was compelling as their masks were dropped, and they became increasingly honest with one another.

The final episodes sullied the drama a bit by having too many over-the-top conflicts presented and overcome. At least one, if not more, of the ridiculous scenarios should have been discarded. I can only suspend belief so far until reality rips me out of the story.

I added a half star for Zhao Lu Si's acting.

Read More

Subverted Cliches

Flashbacks aren't a favorite narrative device of mine, but My Fated Boy did them well, and they added greatly to the story. The viewer watched expectant neighboring parents pledge their unborn children to one another in marriage and then agonize as the daughter was born first, and the son was born seven years later, effectively ruining their plans. With each episode, we saw the little girl go from major disappointment that the new baby was a boy (when she'd hoped for a girl), to bullying and using the toddler baby as her scapegoat, to finally becoming his close friend and protector.

He Yu was adorable as the smitten kitten totally in love with his childhood friend. The supporting cast was a joy, with screenwriter Meng Hu giving depth to characters other writers treat as paint by number. The wife of the CEO was smart, warm, and loyal to her sister, but she was also kind and considerate to her sister's rival. The 2FL was a breath of fresh air in drama world. She was passionate and determined (and I did dislike her greatly at first), but she grew from entitled to admirable. The FL's friends added to the warm and supportive feel. Other characters deviated from the run-of-the-mill drama script, which was refreshing! I'd see the set-up and groan that here comes another evil executive, and I'd have my expectations subverted. Thank goodness! And most of the noble idiocy acts were short and overcome quickly.

The OST fit the drama well, the cast was great, and the ML was the cutest puppy in love.

Read More

You Will Read This Review and Wake Up Refreshed (and no longer want to kill anyone)

I was tired of silly romcoms, and this was a nice change. It did have the tropes of cold man/warm woman, noble idiocy (but, thankfully, that was brief, not drawn out, and understandable), revenge, time skip, and accidental kisses (why have I NEVER been accidentally kissed when I trip fairly often?), and a ridiculous amount of dropped, lost, or out-of-battery phones when needed most. Seriously, how many times can a person lose a phone or run out of battery at the worst time? That's LAZY writing!!!

I did enjoy the psychology angle; it gave a freshness to the dilemmas portrayed, and I appreciated how each was resolved.

The supporting cast was pleasurable, especially the psych boss. His interactions and gentle teasing of the ML were a highlight.

Kudos for a C-drama that told an entertaining story in only 16 episodes. Unfortunately, there were loose ends: how was the person in the trunk saved? Whatever happened to Luo Luo's family? Where did ML's mother go? A better use of time would have been to cut the multitudinous flashbacks and overly-long recaps in order to tie up those loose ends. The revenge arc could have been completely eliminated, as it wasn't developed well, didn't really make sense, and it wasn't needed.

I've added a half star for the cute interactions between psych boss and ML.

Read More

Unfortunately, this drama focused on one of my personal taboos: a person who feels entitled to the love of another. After FL's confession to the clueless object of her affection, ML merely said he thought they were unsuited to one another. He didn't say he hated her or she was repulsive; he wasn't angry, mean, or disgusted—he was taken unaware and was confused and perplexed. After all, she was the girl who had tried to fix him up with another woman. How was he to know she'd had a one-sided love affair with him for four years?

After the unsuccessful confession, FL sexually assaulted the ML, forcibly kissing him and holding him in an armlock. I don't condone this action when done by males; why is it permissible for females? When this didn't change the ML's mind, FL turned into the classic scorned woman, full of anger and bitterness. All the love she'd previously held for the ML turned into loathing.

She should have been fired from the company. Instead, the ML discovered he loved her and began to pursue her. I guess that sullen face grew on him. FL was manipulative, deceitful, childish, and mean-spirited. She continued to be spiteful, contrary, difficult, and disagreeable. ML forfeited his dignity and became her pitiful doormat.

I hate-watched the rest of the drama simply for Miles Wei and Yang Shi Ze's sakes. I realize I'm not the typical romance viewer, so your experience may differ greatly. I'm of the opinion that romance/marriage should be of a balanced nature with respect and power on both sides. No one is entitled to own someone else's heart, and a rejection of a confession (especially when it comes unexpectedly) should be accepted gracefully.

I added an extra star for the MLs.

Read More

So Many Questions!

What happened to Wei Qing's mother? She doted on Ning Fei, but she didn't make an appearance in the entire show. Why did the sweet, kind, effervescent FL become an angry, sullen difficult woman? I admit she had due cause to be angry at the circumstances, and I wouldn't have blamed her for breaking off a relationship that was toxic, but there are better ways than ghosting a person and still wanting to be a part of his life afterwards. I began to detest a character I'd cheered on in the first season. How could she let her best friend live in limbo when she knew her loved one was alive? Worse yet, when directly asked by the friend, she lied and said she didn't know anything.

The manufactured drama and ridiculous nature of this season made me cringe. Did amnesia really need to make an appearance? Worse yet, all the villains were left unscathed and even had their hideous actions glossed over. I guess attempted murder, corporate espionage, blackmail, slander, libel, and theft aren't that big a deal; invite the black-hearted psychopaths to our wedding!

The first season had a light-hearted aspect that the angst-ridden second season lacked. I suggest stopping at the first season unless you are addicted to the ML's torso (it makes a frequent appearance, so there's that).

Read More

The Wrong Character's Teeth Were Fixed

Sweet Teeth has a high MDL rating, but it just didn't hit right for me. There were appealing moments, but it fell short. Initially, I was all in for the FL: she was a librarian with a love of books and she had close friends. Unfortunately, she over-reacted like a spoiled child which made me cringe, and she had the unsettling habit of lying constantly and irresponsibly (avoiding her boyfriend, when he'd made a special trip to the airport, just because her hair hadn't been washed that day).

Some nitpicks:
The dentist worked on FL's mouth, when it didn't seem to need it, as far as I could tell, but NOTHING was said about his mentee who had problematic teeth. Personally, I thought the mentee was adorable, as was his smile, but I can't imagine a mentor dentist overlooking those teeth.

It also rubbed me the wrong way when the ML told the FL he'd always apologize first, even if she was in the wrong. Hell's bells! That's not the way a healthy relationship works. How is the other person ever supposed to grow and learn if all their mistakes are upheld? I love that my significant other and I stand our ground and hash out our differences. That's what a real relationship built on truth and respect is all about.

In a fluffy romcom, it was out of place to insert the topic of abortion. I especially hated the idea proffered that the young man would support his girlfriend no matter what she did. A person shouldn't support everything in a misguided notion that that means love. Sometimes, love means saying, "no, you're wrong, and I love you enough to tell you."

Finally, the last scene with ML and FL left me disgruntled. I know it was supposed to be romantic, but all I could think of were the books they were destroying: all those broken spines, torn pages, and messed up covers.

Read More

Spoilers Galore! Read At Your Own Risk!

I was blindsided. I thought this was a pleasant romance. The synopsis didn't reveal the angst, and the tags didn't include "tearjerker." It was definitely NOT fluffy nor low angst. As much as I had wanted sweet, I got a hard-hitting tale, but I don't begrudge the time watching it. Or my ugly crying during it. I only wish I'd been more prepared; hence, my warning to you. I often avoid tearjerkers; I'm glad I mistakenly watched this one, but viewers should be aware.

Bai Lu did an amazing job transitioning from a naive girl to a mature woman in the role of Cui Shi Yi. One of the few portrayals of aging I've viewed that was entirely believable. Ren Jian Lun's portrayal of Zhou Sheng Chen, the noble man who lived for country while denying himself, was perfect. I had adored Wang Xing Yue's character in The Double. His acting skills made me despise his character of Liu Zi Xing, even while feeling some sympathy for him. The actor would have been only 19 years old (or younger) at the filming of this drama. He should have a long and distinguished career ahead of him. The supporting cast were also fleshed out and memorable.

For those who like romance and can handle pain, Shi Yi and Sheng Chen's relationship was realistic and endearing, and I couldn't help but want good things for them and hope desperately for a good outcome. Be forewarned, however, that the drama was a tragedy. Out of a cast of about 50 characters, with many couples and love interests, not ONE ended with happily ever after. I racked my brain to come up with just one couple, and I couldn't. Unrequited love was the best outcome.

My main objection to the drama is insurmountable. The ending of the last episode was an anticlimactic mess. The viewer was treated to a powerful scene of Shi Yi dressed in red, and the visuals were striking and indelible. Ethereally beautiful. Then, the drama played as if funds had run out, and the rest of the story had to be relayed in walls of captions and time skips, the most egregious display of telling not showing.

I've awarded an extra half star for the overall feel of the production: striking cinematography, complementary OST, and stellar performances.

Read More

Overuse of Filters Simulated Early-Onset Cataracts

Someone went to film school and wanted to try all the filters, light flares, bokeh, over exposure, vignettes, and out-of-focus shots. It was distracting. Too much of a good thing is still too much, and this wasn't a good thing. It's helpful when a drama uses different lighting or focus for flashbacks, and it can be effective in romantic scenes, but there wasn't a pattern or logic used that I could detect for the effects.

The relationships between family and friends were more compelling to me than the romance, especially the one between brother and sister. Siblings are often depicted as adversaries in dramas; it was nice to see a supportive, loving, playfully teasing bond for a change. Also going against the trend was FL's stepfather, who was depicted as kind and caring to his stepchildren, often intervening for them with their overbearing mother.

For a drama that committed many of my least favorite tropes or devices (unbelievable amount of Time Skips, Noble Idiocy, Love Triangle, Break Up, Prolonged Unnecessary Misunderstandings, and Dumbfounded Mutism), the relationships and cute interactions kept me watching.

Read More

Daring Speed in Thailand; Sputtering Love in China

Thrills and romance set in Bangkok, Thailand? Sign me up. I relished the change of scenery with the opportunity to view the dilapidated elegance of a major city. The day scenes showcased colorful waterways, and the night scenes were magical in neon. I'm not a fan of brutality, so the boxing wasn't for me (and, thankfully, was limited), but I relished the racing scenes and wouldn't have objected to more, especially if the FL were the navigator.

The FL was adorable, but how could she not be when played by Esther Yu? I didn't realize until I double-checked that the continually smiling, sweet boy from My Fated Boy was He Yu, who now played a dark, dangerous, desperate man. Who knew such a cute Golden Retriever pup could transform into a snarling Pit Bull?

I was enjoying the drama (even the love triangle wasn't overly annoying) until the act of Noble Idiocy hit. I felt the momentum slow and sputter, and it never revved up after the ensuing time skip. I will begrudgingly admit that I could understand this instance of sacrifice more than most dramas, because of the FL's age. ML didn't want to take her future away when she hadn't even attended college yet, and he didn't want to saddle such a spoiled young girl with a handicapped husband.

Add a nice supporting cast and excellent music to round out my review.

Offhand remarks: I was visibly relieved when the ML got a haircut after the time skip. I had wanted to snip those uneven strands so badly! And the mother's outdoor garden in Canada in winter with tropical plants... they would all be dead after one night. Not only that, but the mother had all the doors and windows open in the house. They'd be celebrating the New Year with burst plumbing pipes and pneumonia! Canada is frigid in the dead of winter.

TL;DR: Romance and racing in beautiful Thailand, but the drama lost its momentum, sputtered, and stalled once it relocated to Nanjing, China.

Read More

Dramatic Battle Scenes, Nice Romance, Epic Failure to End Satisfactorily

The cast, leads' chemistry, costumes, and OST were good. The story kept me invested most of the time. I loved the FL. She had an admirable character, and Zhou Ye played her well. Kudos to Ryan Cheng who had the best adoring looks as the ML.

Nitpicks:
1. I'm all about female empowerment, but some of the speeches got too preachy. People accept points of view more readily when they are attractively and subtly presented, not when they are bludgeoned repeatedly with them.
2. The death of Yan He was telegraphed so hard in advance that it became a cheap and needless death.
3. Chu Zhao's character was a large part of the story, but his ending felt rushed and squandered. What a waste. He could have been an amazing villain or a compassionate leader after a redemption arc, but his character fizzled out.
4. If He Yan grew up as a boy and became a fierce general, she wouldn't have acted so timidly or cutesy, like hiding behind Xiao Jue while grasping him for protection. It would have been engrained in her to act masculine at all times, for fear of blowing her cover and losing her life.
5. During battle scenes, it's probably dangerous to seek out your loved one for a moony-eyed heart-to-heart talk or to sit and cry because you think your partner is dead when war is raging all around. Thankfully, the enemy respected that lovers need a break from battle and didn't skewer them with a spear. What is that? A love time out? A battle break?
6. No one noticed General Fei Hong shrunk overnight when He Ru Fei took He Yan's place? No one noticed the voice change? Or her delicate hands became manly? She was tiny, and he was average male sized. Major plot hole! I could suspend belief that beautiful He Yan was accepted as a male (not really, but I tried very hard!), but this was impossible to fathom.

Neither here nor there, but I don't believe I've ever watched a drama that smashed so much pottery to convey surprise, anger, and an utter disdain for the props budget. The director obviously loved the splash and crash of a smashed dish filled with liquid.

Read More

Exceptional Female Lead Versus the Toxic Emperor

The FL became one of my favorite leading characters: the actress exuded quiet strength and nobility of character. She was brave, intelligent, kind, and adventurous. I practically cheered when she told the ML that she'd read many instances in romance novels where the couple had silly misunderstandings, but she wanted to eliminate that with communication. How nice to avoid a ditzy FL and nonsensical misunderstandings!

FL's relationship with the ML was built on mutual respect and trust. Their chemistry was so sweet and strong. There was a break-up, but it made sense and wasn't used clumsily to rachet emotion. FL was saddened, but she got on with life. I respect the writer for not trying to wring excess heartache from the situation; restraint was more effective.

The drama highlighted many issues women would have encountered in that era (and even now): abuse, infidelity, lack of free will, etc. It dealt with bullying, poverty, and political oppression. It featured numerous murders and torture scenes. And yet, I'm thinking about putting Blossoms in Adversity in my Fluffy or Low Angst list, because it's so life-affirming and comforting.

Read More