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Uneasy Alliance
I was getting "The Double" vibes in the beginning, and I settled in for a treat. And it was compelling, initially. The FL was mesmerizing as the abandoned child grown into a scheming survivor. When the equally calculating ML met her, the intrigues grew into dueling agendas. They reluctantly agreed to assist each other when their objectives matched, but it was an uneasy alliance filled with distrust and lies.The Good:
• The story had enough twists and action to keep me engaged. It did lose steam as it progressed but was still very watchable.
• The actors nailed their parts. Yu En Tai was masterful as the mild-manner father. I couldn't take my eyes off of Wen Zheng Rong when she was on screen.
• The ML was a stoic character, but his interactions with his little daughter were delightful. The actor could infuse some warmth into his frigid character with his smiles, indulgent attitude, and hugs when playing with the child.
• Beautiful costumes. Love those capes with the fur collars.
• Lovely scenery. I was amused at all the flowers blooming in the snow every shot, but, whatever. Ancient China must have had special growing zones.
• I sometimes grouse about open endings, but I admired how the viewer was left to interpret the final scene. Inventive!
The Bad:
• Both the ML and FL were morally gray characters. I empathized with them, but I never grew to like them. ML was willing to lie and endanger others for his purposes. He was comfortable with torture. FL was willing to kill the innocent in order to obtain her revenge. I admired their bravery and intelligence (but why were they always one step behind the villain?), but their ruthless natures made it hard for me to love them.
• This was a revenge, not a romance, drama, but I had hoped for a little more between the leads. It felt as though the drama was headed there, but those sweet moments never materialized.
• At the end, the FL admitted to the ML that there was one more thing she had lied to him about. He told her the past was in the past and to enjoy their beautiful future. Well, that's fine for him! What about me? I want to know what the other lie was!
• There was a bit too much "girl power" evangelizing. Even when I fully agree with the sentiment, I hate having it preached to me. Repeatedly.
• I had to suspend belief far too many times.
I added a half star for that imaginative take on an open ending.
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The Cast Elevated a Convoluted Script
At the beginning, I thought this was going to be an "oops, I hit my head and now I'm in the Goryeo Dynasty," but later it seemed it was a body switch between two women: one real and one a fictional side character in a novel. Unfortunately, the story never addressed the ancient transported to the modern world, and it was treated as if she just automatically fit in with short hair (which was shameful in her era) and technology. She didn't even have a language barrier or an issue with Hangul.The Good:
• I was grateful the 2ML wasn't part of a love triangle. One trope dodged! Once the ML and FL chose one another, their relationship was solid. No unnecessary break-ups. Second trope averted!
• I liked the message: "Revenge is for those who can't turn back." The ML was willing to turn back once he loved the FL. He wanted to offer the other prince a chance at laying down his hatred and redeeming his life.
• TFNwtD was surprisingly kissy for a K-drama. Good ones, too—not the we're-30-years-old-and-look-like-awkward-teens kind of kisses. I'm a bit old school and am not comfortable with excess screen affection, but, if it's going to be part of a drama, it should look competent.
• Do Hwa Seon was spoiled and evil. Ji Hye Won did a great job in the role. I couldn't help but like her!
The Bad:
• I can't decide if there weren't enough cutaways from the past to the future or there were too many. As it was, there weren't enough to make a coherent backstory or there were too many that intruded upon the story of the past.
• The lack of cohesion and the proliferation of confusing storylines marred a potentially good drama. K-dramas are usually masterful in blending intrigue, action, and comedy, but this was was loaded with the comedy in the beginning and heavy with drama at the end; it was unbalanced.
• As is often the case, the villains were forgiven, redeemed, or their bad deeds ignored. What's a little murder or treason between friends? This trend is deadly in the real world, and it's unsatisfying in the fictional one.
I really should have given my 7.5 star rating for standard fare, but I added a half star because Ok Taec Yeon looks great in historical dress, wields a sword well, and emotes with his eyes.
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I Promise You Won't Experience Second Lead Syndrome
I needed another calm drama like Road Home (real life has provided plenty of angst lately, thank you very much), and this featured the same actress (and snow) of Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, which was just about as chill as it gets. Oddly enough, like Road Home, Shine on Me had attractive snow scenes and rugged desert scenes.The Good:
• There were beautiful visuals: plum blossoms, canal scene, ski resort lit in the dark, sweeping desert vistas, and Shanghai neon shining at night.
• FL's younger cousin was a delightful addition. He was sweet with just the right amount of ornery. Their interactions felt authentic. Although they teased one another unmercifully, it was always apparent they cared about each other.
• The OST complemented the drama excellently. The lyrics were on point, and the music was fitting.
• The snow figurines were darling.
The Bad:
• The last two episodes could have been squished into previous episodes. I didn't need the time skips. As the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I really didn't need all the lovey-dovey stuff at the end.
• Entitled one-sided loves who don't know when to give up are tiresome. And is it really love if you don't trust or believe in that person?
• Some characters faded away with no further mention of them.
I added an extra half star for the younger cousin. Finn Han's acting was natural and appealing. He made a small role memorable.
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Slow but Beautiful
Road Home was a gentle love story between two people with nearly everyone against their relationship, especially family and friends. The pace was slow, but the actors kept this viewer's attention. The ML, especially, did a notable job with his stoic, quiet presence, mainly emoting from his eyes.The Good:
• The cinematography was outstanding. The snowscapes were spectacular. I was bundled up in my cozy red blanket while it snowed outside my window in real life, but my view wasn't nearly as magical as a night scene in Qining with the houses reflecting colored light on the wintery snow. The desert scenes were equally majestic with mountains, canyons, and gorges dominating the screen.
• Once the ML and FL were grown, they acted like adults in love. The FL was a refreshing departure from the 30-years-old-acting-like-a-12-year-old virginal damsel. She actively pursued the ML and admired his body openly.
The Bad:
• Unless you're a completionist, there's little need to watch the last episode, as it's a rehash of previous scenes which have already been viewed multiple times, and it felt anti-climatic. Good scenes were shown repeatedly in long flashbacks throughout the drama. Cutting or shortening those repetitive flashbacks could have trimmed at least four episodes (conservatively) and tightened up the story telling.
• Chinese dramas (and Korean ones, to a lesser extent) often like to rehabilitate, overlook, or forgive the villains. A violent, abusive, alcoholic man who cheated on his wife, beat his children, and actively tried to destroy their futures realized the error of his ways, stopped drinking, returned to his wife, and became a better man. If only life worked that way!
• There's more rah-rah propaganda than action.
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Dangerous Romance
A meek doctor and an elegant shop owner wed, but their mild personas were facades for their dangerous abilities.Being a short length series, there wasn't time for filler, and the drama never dragged. The leads were good, married romance was passionate (as it should be but rarely is in dramaland), and the story was interesting until the final episodes. I was left confused, unsure what happened with the prince. The subs were often odd, and I couldn't determine whether that was for comedic purpose or an inept AI language translation situation.
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Campy Mad Scientist Battled Beautiful People
Take an evil villain, four beautiful boys, and an average girl and her capable best friend and place them in a tale of conflict between taking over the world and finding one's place in it.The drama had the potential to ask universal questions about relationships and discerning fantasy from reality, but it swung like a Newton's cradle from deeper meaning to nonsensical fluff. Intelligence and common sense weren't a part of the movement, but, even so, it was diverting and occasionally mesmerizing. Love Crossed couldn't decide if it was a romcom or a sci-fi action series.
I'd like to see a drama with Zhang Ling He and Fan Shuai Qi as the leads (they were, unfortunately, the second leads). They were striking together. Her strong and decisive character was a nice departure from the typical inept damsels in distress.
The last episode was filled with cringe and happily ever afters, with all the wish fulfillment possible. Too kissy for me. I felt embarrassment for the adults in the room watching the kids fawn over one another.
I added a half star for Tien Niu's performance as the motorcycle riding granny. It was as unrealistic as the story, but she almost made it believable.
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Suited Me to a "T"
Two of my MDL friends enjoyed Glory. That, and having Hou Ming Hao as the lead, made this an easy choice for next to watch (some may not know that Hou Ming Hao is the embodiment of my beloved departed cat; I was recently told his fans have nicknamed him "Kitten," which only reinforced my impression of him).The Good:
• My aversion to amnesia plots was tested, but it was done right and was believable.
• At 36 episodes, the drama never dragged, nor did I consider it to have needless filler.
• The tea motif was a highlight; the views of hills swathed in centuries-old tea bushes were beautiful.
• The life lessons ML imparted to the FL about relationships were exceptional: knowing when, or if, to intervene between two people, and understanding that promoting goodwill between individuals benefits all.
The Bad:
• I'm incredulous of love that survives betrayal and a literal stab to the heart. I'd be unlikely to kiss and make up after that.
• Nearly all male villains were punished; practically no female villains were held accountable. Even murder and attempted murder held no significant consequences for the females.
• The finale felt like a fragmented disaster. The Duke's household was the converse of the Rong's matriarchal society. It had as much infighting and many poisonous relationships. However, it didn't make complete sense to me: the father, who had been robust and domineering, suffered a quick decline; the sister's muddled thinking; the mother's inconsistent acquiescence to belligerence; and the concubine's nonsensical reasoning were too much and felt unconvincing. The brother's death, in particular, was a needless emotional gut punch.
I like dramas that make me think, and I've been contemplating the difference between the Rongs' matriarchal structure and the Duke's patriarchal household. Both systems trampled on the feelings of everyone involved, with the head dictating the terms by which everyone else was forced to live by.
At the end, the Duke's position had been taken by his young grandson, with his daughter-in-law holding all the power. The situation was unlikely to have a happy outcome, given its roots in scheming and bloodshed. Will the daughter-in-law relinquish power peacefully to her son as he comes of age? Will her stepdaughter prove to be a destabilizing factor? Pity the poor woman the young duke eventually marries. Lu Jiang Lai escaped a hornet's nest by abandoning that family.
The matriarch of the Rongs was left unscathed, but she will suffer the ongoing indignity of being supplanted by her granddaughter. I feel for them both as they will remain thorns in one another's sides until the grandmother's death. Slowly, Rong Shan Bao will implement changes to make the clan more inclusive and less combative. She'll allow her "sisters" to form relationships of their own choosing. Men may join the business. Will this mean a change from a matriarchal emphasis? Will this shift harm or benefit the Rong family company?
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Toxicity in Every Shade and Hue
After watching several episodes, I decided nearly all of the characters, with the exception of the ML, FL, and a select few of their friends and family, needed to be placed in an airtight room and have the oxygen slowly pumped out of it.I kept having flashbacks to my dysfunctional childhood family. Unlike the ML and FL, who endured and accepted their abuse, I set boundaries once I became a mature adult. Real life isn't like a drama; toxic people don't often realize their toxicity and change their ways. It would be nice if reality functioned more like a drama.
The Good: The relationship between the ML and FL was a delight from beginning to end. ML's mother, the sweet and beleaguered wife to her malignant husband, realized at the end that she was also to blame for her daughter's distress and her son's condition, because she had enabled her spouse's vile speech and actions by not more firmly standing against him. The admission was too little and too late, but it meant more to me than the redemption of the "villains" in the story. I expect bad people to act badly; it's more horrifying when good people allow the bad to happen. Kudos to Tan Jian Ci. He was unrecognizable to me as the sweet ML from Filter. He made me absolutely loathe him in this.
The Bad: Toxic people don't often change in a short period of time. Yet, nearly every villain was either given a redemption story, forgiven outright, or had their outrages glossed over and forgotten. One person went to jail, and one person was divorced. Two out of about ten paid a price; the rest cried (and some didn't even do that) and were forgiven. To me, a real redemption consists of being sorry, asking the person who was hurt for forgiveness, and then atoning for the transgression. Atonement was lacking in nearly every case.
I fast-forwarded through the final episode. I lived through Covid-19 and didn't wish to re-live it. The scenario felt tacked onto the drama, which should have ended with the wedding.
I added an extra star because my Rewatch Value was so low. This was too stressful a view to want to sit through it again, regardless of how lovely the ML and FL were.
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Started with a Nice Twist on Cold CEO as a Woman But Floundered in Cliches Afterward
Love triangles, misunderstandings galore that lasted too long and often didn't make sense, noble idiocy, freaking six-year skip in another country with no contact, rich CEO forcing a contract marriage, childhood friends turned adult romance, scheming stepmother, controlling father, skeevy adopted brother, evil board members, and childhood traumas. Other than amnesia, I think this drama had most of the tropes covered. The one twist was the CEO was a woman, and her forced partner was a man.The good: As the powerful CEO, FL's office wear was haute couture and sizzling, especially the black/white ensembles. And those handbags! Nice. Oddly, when she returned home, she'd change into frumpy housewife dresses in ghastly shades of muted corpse.
The bad: It was hard to believe the motivation of the bad guy. It was even harder to believe that after all his planning and scheming that he made peace at the end.
I liked the leads, but I found the love stories of the two other eventual couples (who were involved in multiple love triangles until the very end) were tedious, repetitive, and distracting.
*MAJOR SPOILER to follow*
I'm glad this is fiction, because if someone had stolen the first five years of my baby's life—something I could never get back—I'd find that unforgivable. I'd jettison 99.99% of drama relationships. I find myself mumbling, "I'd never put up with that!"
The time skip was atrocious, but the supernatural ending with dead sister was worse. Why didn't she show up 16 years earlier and save everyone all the trauma and destruction? I enjoy fantasy and supernatural elements if they're introduced early and follow the drama's parameters, but it's a cheap trick to inject them at the end of a long drama.
TL; DR: Started well and with sizzle, meandered in the middle, and fizzled out at the end. The leads were watchable, but the script failed them.
I added an extra half star for FL's styling as the CEO at the beginning of the drama.
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If Kissing Were an Olympic Event, ML Would Take Gold
The leads were stunning, costumes exquisite, sets attractive, and the writing ridiculous. The drama wasn't a comedy, but I found myself laughing in nearly episode. This was definitely a remove-brain-to-enjoy kind of drama.Don't watch this with your granny. Ryan Ren takes his kiss scenes seriously. I was properly embarrassed, but I'm likely to watch more of his dramas. I appreciate enthusiasm.
An extra half star was awarded because I was never bored. I was anticipating the next silly thing that even the most absurd soap opera would deem too preposterous. I was anticipating an appearance of amnesia, but that was about the only thing they missed!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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