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A Healing Drama
FL faced pressures with work, her boyfriend, and her brother. When a major event happened, she decided to drop out of the rat race. She gave up niceties for the luxury of time.This drama resonated with me, as my choices haven't always been culturally normal. It was freeing, as an adult, when I realized I got to choose what I deemed important; I chose to disregard what was important to others, because that would never make me happy. If an out-of-print book at a used bookstore brought more joy than a designer handbag, what was the purpose of trying to fit in with the crowd that thought otherwise?
Lest the viewers are led to believe this is a fluffy drama, let me warn it deals with heavy issues: murder, suicide, violence, and trauma. Even so, the FL and ML remained true to themselves, retaining loving spirits and quiet dignity. Some believe "strong" people rant, rave, and push people around. On the contrary, truly strong people are able to preserve their character through horrible situations. They don't allow circumstances to alter their inner selves.
At only 10 hours long, Summer Strike is short and sweet, but keep the box of tissues handy. Grief is counterbalanced by the warm and wonderful relationships of the townspeople.
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Be Yourself; Outer Appearances Don't Change the Inner Self
My first impression was the drama was too silly, but I grew to enjoy the nonsense. Later, I was uncomfortable with the FL as it was repeatedly said how kind she was, but her actions were particularly cruel and thoughtless to one person. As the story progressed, I began to appreciate the friendships and ensuing humor, especially of the supporting cast.The message that everyone is uniquely beautiful, though true, was hammered at a bit too hard. Although I appreciated the sentiment, a lighter touch would have been more effective.
The FL had low self-esteem initially, but she sabotaged herself with her attitude, poor grooming, lack of makeup on a face with acne, and wearing a hoodie to a job interview with a company that dealt in fashion. Her "transformation" at the end of the drama was more about confidence and self-love which resulted in proper hygiene and maintenance.
A bouncy OST complemented the drama, and some nice writing delivered well by the actors distinguished this from run of the mill romcoms.
Filter finished well with no long time skips or a loved one leaving the country for a few years to improve themselves. That's a rarity for current romances, it seems! The visuals were a treat. Favorite scenes were the Rainbow Stairway (located in Meijingyuan Town, China: https://www.reddit.com/r/cdramasfans/comments/1j7upwv/behind_the_scenes_the_making_of_the_iconic/), and the ML and FL hiding in a school archive room with thousands of books stacked behind them. I also love when a drama teaches me something new and fantastic. The ML gave the FL a box of Prince Rupert's Drops, a group of tadpole shaped colored glass. PRDs are harder than steel and practically impervious at their bead end, but they are incredibly fragile at the tail-shaped tip. The entire thing can shatter with mere finger pressure. It was a fitting metaphor concerning relationships. For incorporating unique aspects into the drama, my appreciation is given to the creators. As a result, my viewing afterglow reflects a higher rating.
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A Different Kind of Female Lead
This FL wasn't toothpick thin or ravishingly beautiful. Most would deem her average, but I adored her. She was naive but nobody's fool; forgiving but had firm boundaries; timid but brave when situations demanded; smart and talented but humble; and was her own person while conforming to what was expected of her. I loved that although she made the effort to wear a dress when her friend pointed out she wasn't very feminine, she also felt comfortable putting the ML's head on her shoulder and patting his head consolingly or just picking him up and twirling him around when she was happy. She was the epitome of true womanhood in her caring attitude, kindness, protectiveness, and nurturing spirit. Society gets it all wrong in believing femininity is about cute hair, high heels, and jewelry. Those are accessories, not the true attributes of a woman. I so loved this character and her sweet relationship with the ML. Their teasing interactions and true caring for one another were a delight to watch.The draw of the drama was the loving and mature romance between the leads. However, I'm not sure the couple should remain together, because they were a magnet for life-threatening situations. Seriously! Someone was forever getting kidnapped, stabbed, or blown up with those two around!
I added a half star for a FL who wasn't cut from the same old drama pattern.
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Must Watch One and Only First
To fully appreciate Forever and Ever, it's recommended to watch One and Only first: https://kisskh.at/63781-love-your-bones-forever-2. The prequel drama contained the tragic love affair of Zhou Shen Chen and Shi Yi; their story was continued as a possible reincarnation of the lovers (or a dream, according to Chinese censors) in Forever and Ever. There are numerous references to the prequel: original Shi Yi lost her voice, present Shi Yi was a voice actress; present Shi Yi is afraid of heights and has an aversion to red (which viewers of OaO will understand!); both wore red sequins for a wedding; and both liked light blue clothing.One and Only was filled with angst, but Forever and Ever started so sweetly that I thought I'd get to add it to my Fluffy or Low Angst list. Later episodes got darker and became more melodramatic, so it lost its standing as lighter fare.
I find it regrettable when a drama changes its tone midway. The beginning of Forever and Ever was perfect for romance lovers and those who don't like sadness or angst. The latter part changed significantly, and the viewer was forced to sit through numerous sad songs with tears running down people's faces. About the only tragedy that the drama avoided, although I'm sure the writers seriously contemplated it, was the affliction of amnesia. My pleas of, "please, please, please, no amnesia!" were answered. Those who love a sweet slow-burn romance may not like the latter part, and those who enjoy melodrama may find the beginning boring.
In the prequel, Zhou Sheng Chen was noble general, with regal bearing and a quiet, commanding presence. In FaE, Zou Sheng Chen was a nerdy dweeb (or dweeby nerd) as a chemistry professor. Shi Yi's character stayed more true to the original as an elegant, sweet low-key woman with all the talents and attributes of her former self (art, literature, and music).
The relationship of the ML and FL was tender and sweet, although initially extremely awkward. Actually, the awkwardness was cute and endearing. Their daily interactions were some of the most mature and realistic I've seen in a drama. I'd love to see a similar romance that doesn't turn melodramatic, if anyone has suggestions. Give me two people who believe in one another, don't allow outsiders to wedge between them, and work out their issues together like Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi.
I generally don't rate a rewatch high, but there was depth and purpose in much of what happened in FaE. There were so many Easter eggs connected to the prequel, that I'm sure I missed many. A rewatch would help solidify which characters related to the past, too.
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Just When You Start to Love Them, They Change
I was initially annoyed when Season 2 introduced a new character in place of Kang I Na, but as time went on, I warmed to Cho Eun and eventually embraced her with open arms (I'm sorry to see this was the only role the actress Choi A Ra ever played; she was endearing as Cho Eun). Ryu Hwa Young as Kang I Na made some guest appearances which eased the transition and was a treat for the viewer. I was less accepting of the actress change for Yoo Eun Jae. It was jarring to have a new face for an old character, but I placated myself by acknowledging she was my least favorite girl in the house; it would have been far worse if Park Eun Bin had been substituted in her role as Song Ji Won. Still, it would have been a mercy for viewers if the actress had been given a new character to play, and Yoo Eun Jae had been eliminated completely from the show. That would have preserved the sweet nature of Yun Jong Yeol from season one, who was transformed into someone unrecognizable in season two. He deserved better.I was still in my grumpy "begrudging the actress changes" phase for the initial episode, and I was certain everything I'd enjoyed about season one was being destroyed in season two. The first season had realistic humor, but the second season started slapstick silly with ridiculous driving and a happenstance serial killer. I was sure my rating was going to be significantly lower for the second season, but, as the plots progressed, the drama won me back, somewhat.
Park Eun Bin gave a compelling performance as Song Ji Won. Her interactions with Im Seon Min (played by Son Seung Won) were warm and natural—a delight to view.
Again, the OST was appropriate and fun.
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This review may contain spoilers
Supporting Cast Stole the Show
L&R introduced me to some wonderful characters. Hao Chen was the self-righteous ruler of the heavens, covering up his fear, resentment, and covetous nature with a beautiful face and pretty words. Teng She, with his head movements and sibilant speech, was perfection as a snake beast. Wu Tong was dark and menacing, but he managed to evoke my sympathy, although not nearly enough to overcome my repulsion!I've got to admit that the supporting cast carried this drama for me, as I wasn't invested in the FL (she was easily manipulated and didn't trust the man she claimed to love) or the ML (he was self-sacrificing to the point of not having his own identity).
As for the bad, there was a heavy ratio of angst to bliss. The misunderstandings were epically bad. There were so many instances where one sentence of explanation would have changed the entire outcome, but lazy writing struck again! It was frustrating to watch the ML lie to the FL, then feel all butt-hurt when she believed his lies.
I added a half star for the supporting characters and a nice OST.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is NOT Go Go Squid!
I had higher expectations. I enjoyed Go Go Squid! It was sweet to watch a girl break down the walls of a cold, angry man. Squid 2 had some good things going for it. I enjoy Hu Yi Tian and Wang An Yu on screen. The group blind date was original and had me laughing out loud. The family and friends' relationships were warm. The OST was enjoyable and featured some of Go Go Squid's music; listening felt like meeting an old friend, and it made me smile.But that's pretty much where the good stuff ended. There was little conflict or growth. The drama was basically two people soulfully staring at one another, interspersed with a few scenes of battle robots. Seriously! If you'd edited down the cringy eye contact between the ML and FL, the drama would have been cut in half and not dragged as hard.
For being so sugary, Squid 2 left a bad taste in my mouth. The ML was the greenest flag of all time—to the point of not having a personality. The FL took advantage of him in numerous ways. The one that was unforgiveable to me was that she willingly became his opponent. When a couple is dedicated to one another, they're loyal. They support one another. They don't join the enemy (which was the company of her ex!). They don't undermine one another. They build a life together.
I admit I probably have defective romance genes. If you like romance, this may be your cup of tea. Just don't expect anything much other than insipid romance. I took lots of breaks in the last episodes, as the romance was painfully dull to me.
I awarded an extra half star for the blind date scene, the music, and Wang An Yu's portrayal of an immature Shen Zhe.
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Hou Ming Hao is Anime Pretty
I enjoyed the initial push and pull of the leads trying to outsmart and outmaneuver one another in charming and amusing ways. Both leads were attractive and exuded chemistry with one another.Once they knew one another, the drama suffered a bit in trying to manufacture conflict that wasn't sensible and only served to pad the episode. Noble idiocy struck often and hard. Misunderstandings abounded when just one sentence could have cleared everything up. Thankfully, the leads started to work together and actually communicate without massively lying to one another, but it was frustrating getting to that point.
The OST was good, the costumes were attractive, and the cast was beautiful.
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Sweet, Wealthy Mother of ML Breaks the Mold
The drama was short and sweet. It touched on childhood trauma, medical illness, and evil capitalists, but it stayed light and concentrated on the relationship of the stoic ML and the bubbly FL. Due to its mini-status, it didn't have time to do in-depth stories or be innovative. Having said that, the ML's mother was a breath of fresh air. She was supportive of the FL to the point of pushing their relationship. No fat envelopes of money or water dashed in the face! This mother removed the extra sleeping bag on a camping trip and brought out photos of the FL cavorting with the ML to show to his fiancée. That's worth an extra half star from me.Was this review helpful to you?
It's Good Until It Goes Horribly Bad, But I'm Not Mad
I don't expect as much from itty-bitty series, so I grade on a curve. The drama started well, and I thought I was going to be pleasantly surprised. Midway through, it began to meander and not always make sense, but I was still entertained and rooting for the beleaguered couple. I considered it one of the better itty-bitty dramas: the leads were appealing, and the story was engaging. Then the last episode hit, and things got bizarre in a hurry. I can only speculate that drugs and a preschooler were involved with coming up with that finish.Director: "Hey kid, what would make a cool ending?"
Kid: "Make a lady eat centipedes! And she'll grow Wolverine claws. Her name is BLACK WOLF. Good, huh? She's a bad guy and will fight the good guys with her claws and ninja powers!"
Director: "Sounds super cool! There's no budget for a fight scene, though. How about I do a story time with Black Wolf instead?"
Kid: "Boring! Does Black Wolf die in the fight?"
Director: "For some reason unknown to anyone, Black Wolf must have been defeated, and now she is the Story Time Lady."
Kid: "That's stupid."
The kid is right. That was stupid. Stupid ending for a drama that started out well. The leads deserved better.
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Dental Hygiene is Obviously Important, But There is a Limit!
I'm accustomed to product placement in Asian dramas, but great googly moogly, this was beyond obnoxious. I think this was supposed to be a censored boy love story about overcoming mental blocks, but it was really about dental hygiene: floss, toothbrushes and their sanitizers, mouthwash, and breath spray. I recommend this for people in the dental industry only.I added an extra star, because my Rewatch Value was extremely low (I would never rewatch unless I was incarcerated with no other entertainment; hence, the one star), and the leads didn't deserve such a low score, being such sweet boys.
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A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love
1 people found this review helpful
Kiss the Cousin, Married Man, or Your Student?
Harumi Junko became 32 without going to the university of her choice, getting a good job, or finding a husband. As often happens in dramaland, she went from a complete dearth of romantic partners to three, all with Western taboos: a married man, a cousin, and a 17-year-old student she was teaching. The drama is highly rated, but I couldn't cheer on any of the relationships, even though I liked all three MLs. They were decent people as rivals, which is rare to find in dramas. The problem, for me, was with the heroine. She was exceptionally dense and used noble idiocy as an excuse to lie and use people. Yes, she was fairy beautiful, and I realize men are sight stimulated, but 32 is a bit late in life to have the awareness of a potato.I've allotted an extra star for a love square involving sweet, kind people.
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An Engaging Fairytale about a Dragon and a Spunky Girl
The leads were anime-pretty, especially Hou Ming Hao's eyes. The story suffered a bit from too many episodes, loose ends, and unanswered situations. The ending made little sense. It had been 15 years, yet when ML met Xian Ge, her oldest child was about seven years old; she'd been heavily pregnant the last time he saw her! This could have been an 8.5, but it lost its way.Still, it was worth the watch to see Hou Min Hao as a baby dragon in an adult male's body: the look of innocence mingled with indignation and ire, culminated in tiny spurts of dragon flame shooting from his mouth. I'd watch the drama just for that. I've awarded a half star for that cute baby dragon.
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A Quick Bit of Nothing
This was basically an infomercial to introduce the judiciary to the public, especially to young people. It's presented as a love story between two adults who act like adolescents. There's nothing terribly wrong with the drama, but there's nothing much to see except for Kim Min Kyu's always adorable dimples. I've awarded an extra half star for those alone.For those new to Kim Min Kyu, may I suggest watching Business Proposal instead?
https://kisskh.at/693591-in-house-confrontation
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This review may contain spoilers
Prepare to Cry a Hankie Wet
So much emotion packed into such a small drama: first love, tragic loss, soul-crushing guilt, regrets, deep depression, and, finally, acceptance of grief. A nice OST accompanies the story well.I could withhold a half star for not following up on the Grim Reaper, but I'm too busy consoling myself to bother.
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