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More Like Eternal Suffering!

Ninety-nine percent of the suffering could have been avoided by the tiniest bit of communication, but that's drama life for you. Forget about love triangles—Eternal Love featured love dodecahedrons!

Yet, for all the angst, the story was compelling, and the cast was captivating. The costumes and sets were beautiful. The CGI lacked only in the water scenes, where it was apparently fake (I can handle most fake mountain and orchard scenes, but fake moving water is so apparent). The OST enhanced the experience with poignant lyrics.

Kudos to Maggie Huang who played Su Jin, a character I loathed deeply. It was incredibly satisfying to get to the eye scene (you'll know what I mean when you watch). I had envisioned that scene and anticipated it for far too long! How gratifying when it actually happened.

Mark Chao was a new-to-me actor. He lacked the pretty boy image of many K- and C-drama leads; a masculine man was a nice change of pace. He was able to convey emotions well, even within his stoic character. As for pretty boys, they were in abundance: Gao Wei Guang with long white hair, Vin Zhang all dark and dangerous, and Yu Meng Long, Leon Lai, and Zhang He.

The series was long at 58 episodes, but it held my attention and soaked my hanky. "Tearjerker" should be added to the tags. It ended well, and I was left with a happy afterglow. Upon reflection, it's odd I felt pleased, as only about 2% of the characters had a happy ending! But they were the 2% I most cared about, so I'm good with that.

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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.

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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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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.

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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.

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From Trauma to Love?

I quite liked the ensemble cast. Each person brought something to the drama. I especially appreciated the brainiac friends; they kept things interesting. The noona romance of the model and stray cat boyfriend was my least favorite coupling (she was verbally and physically abusive to him), but I still liked the characters. The FL and ML were, naturally, the most compelling. She was immature, gauche, and had an explosive temper, but she was also brave, emotionally strong, kind, and had a strong set of personal values that made her likable. ML was a psychological mess, but I personally enjoy the overcoming trauma trope.

This should have been wrapped up in one season instead of stringing the viewers along for an angst-filled nonsensical second season. Just one more episode, and the drama could have concluded happily and well.

An extra half star was awarded for the nice friendship scenes.

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It's Deja Vu All Over Again

The romance didn't hit right with me. I didn't understand why the leads were attracted to one another (guilt turned to love?). The only chemistry between them was in the test tubes in the lab. The drama would have been fine without romance, maybe even sharper and crisper. I appreciated the intelligence of the characters, but the loops did start to drag a bit. The ending was jumbled; I wondered if they'd been hoping for a second season, and that's why there were loose ends. Even so, the drama was entertaining, smart, and thought-provoking, and Bai Jing Ting was a joy to watch.

Subtract a half star for that undeveloped romance, but add a star for the cast.

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Revenge is a Dish Best Served by Two Attractive, Intelligent People

It's blissful to view a drama with two intelligent, loving leads. It took them awhile to get to that point, but that was understandable considering they seemed to be on opposing sides in the beginning. And they did have a rather violent introduction to one another. Their slow journey toward each another was rewarding to watch. Great chemistry between the leads.

During their romance, there was revenge and political court intrigue all about them, which gave many opportunities for individual stories of love and betrayal. Dou Ming's story arc gutted me; Miao An Su's surprised me; and Wang Ge's infuriated, then pleased me.

Fun fact: both leads had twin guards. ML had two males; the actors are twin brothers in real life. FL had two females; the actresses are twin sisters in real life.

Thanks to no 1 dou zhao defender for the recommendation! I truly enjoyed this.

An extra half star is awarded for bright characters, a refreshing change from the insipid FLs I've endured lately.

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The Confusion Starts with the Title—Why is There a Comma?

I watched this mini-drama (about 8 hours long) solely because of Fan Zhi Xin. He can play a charming scoundrel or a psychopath with disarming ease. There's a scene where he was heartbroken with tears in his eyes, but when he turned, his expression changed immediately to one of scorn. Great acting.

I was relieved the FL was a mature, intelligent, self-assured woman (I'm tired of 30-year-olds who act like teens). She had great chemistry with the ML.

As for the bad, there were loopholes the size of hippos. The viewers were told the rules of the time phone, but the rules were bent or ignored repeatedly. And, dang, if I have two minutes to call someone to warn them of impending death, I'm not going to natter away about inconsequentials. It's like the perpetual fatally stabbed character in dramas who knows the killer's identity but grandstands to the final moment, saying, "I know who the murderer is! You'll all be surprised. You need to be wary. Watch out! The killer is..." And then the stabbed guy gasps and dies, and no one knows anything. Yes, the phone calls were exactly like that.

As with many time-altering situations, this drama was confusing. More so, because it didn't adhere to the rules. I doubt there are many viewers who can explain clearly what happened when and to whom. Add the dislike of time travel sequences by the Chinese censors, and the drama had its work cut out for it to make everyone happy (which is, of course, an impossibility); so, the entire drama could be construed to have been a bad dream.

I came for Fan Zhi Xin and time travel. I got Fan Zhi Xin and a bewildering romance instead.

I'm awarding an extra half star for Fan Zhi Xin's acting and the surprisingly nice OST that accompanied this short drama.

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Great Cast

Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won are always watchable for me. The rest of the cast did an admirable job, too.

I'd expected a police procedural, but there were relatively few cases; the emphasis was on the camaraderie of the detectives and their battle against corruption. Although violent crime and trauma were depicted, there was always comic relief, sweet friendship interactions, and slight romance to brighten the darkness.

One question the drama provoked was: how much evil is permissible if it serves a greater purpose in the end? Can a few innocent be sacrificed for the greater good of many? I stand firmly on the precept that tolerating evil begets evil: "The wicked become even worse when they are tolerated." - Leo Tolstoy

The drama introduced many characters and plotlines, but it didn't tie everything up at the end. I was left with questions, which I won't discuss to remain spoiler-free. For that, I'm subtracting a half star. I loved the chemistry between the detectives, especially the growing relationship between Dae Gu and Seo Pan Seok. That, alone, was worth adding an entire star.

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A Rebellion was Promised

The good: The actors were wonderful, and their characters were compelling. I find the journey of personal growth of characters intriguing, and this drama was rich with experiences for the leads; they grew from bright, naive young people to mature, resilient ones.

The annoying: Operational security was absolutely nonexistent. Wanted ML marched through the marketplace all in black with a mask and no one noticed him, even though he was heavily sought. He showed up everywhere something was going on, and nobody recognized him, even though his friends were continually yelling out his actual name. Princess' husband had a secret document fomenting treason he stuck up his sleeve. Foreshadowing disaster, his friend asked why he didn't burn them, and he said he wanted to show it to his wife. 2S2L! Here's a pro tip: if there is an inept blabbermouth in one's group, it would be wise not to tell them everything that should remain secret. If anyone competent had been after the ML and FL, they would have been captured/eliminated in short time, but it appeared that no one in power had the idea to watch their residences or follow them and their servants.

The bad: From the start, the viewer was told Su Yang was evilly ambitious, and, true to form, he murdered indiscriminately to take the throne. The entire point of the drama was the struggle to defeat Su Yang and remove him from that throne. Kim Seung Yoo's whole purpose in living was to seek revenge on those who killed his father, and that included Su Yang. The drama didn't deliver on that promise. Only one of the evil ministers paid with his life; Su Yang retained the throne. All the noble families whose innocent fathers were murdered remained as servants to the men who had killed them. The ML was left disabled and no longer able to fight against Su Yang. He was thought dead so had no identity. The FL was categorized as a servant. In reality, a runaway slave and a disabled, unidentifiable man would find it hard to survive in ancient China. I have to remind myself that Korean dramas are more about enduring rather than winning, but it's hard for my American sensibilities to accept that as a happy ending. I wanted Su Yang dethroned, Jong's baby made king, and Seung Yoo made regent until the child came of age. I wanted the evil ministers removed from office and all their innocent servants who had been nobility restored to their stations. I especially wanted that weaselly little minister who thought everyone needed to be killed to have a taste of his own medicine, but he got a happy ending as far as I know. The rebellion just fizzled out. So unsatisfying!

And yet, the acting was enjoyable, the characters were memorable, and I don't begrudge the time spent watching. No extra stars awarded, because I'm too annoyed by the ending.

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Visually Appealing Period Piece. With Monsters.

Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee, along with a cast of sterling supporting actors, elevated a monster story set in Japanese-occupied Korea.

The pawn shop was gorgeous, the town was visually appealing, and the hospital was appropriately stark and chilling. The drama had charm as a period piece. The underlying camaraderie of the oppressed people knit the community together and made the viewer want them to succeed.

There were issues with writing. It drives me mad to watch stupidity in action. Every time the heroes were in peril and were trying to escape, they'd stop in a hallway and have a meaningful conversation. Have a sense of urgency when you're being chased by evil people!

I have no idea why the bad guys had such a hard time keeping up with our heroes, because they always returned to the pawn shop. For 100 years, they always returned to the pawn shop. Why bother tailing them? After an especially harrowing escape, I thought (silly me!), they had best hightail to a hotel or remote cabin somewhere to elude the bad guys. No, back to the pawn shop, where everyone knew they holed up. They still couldn't find them half the time!

TL:DR: Season 1 had compelling stories: occupation, freedom fighters, separated families, blended families, and the struggle for survival. Also, too many long dialogues during tense moments.

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