gf44

Absolutely fantastic. Cleverly written. Very interesting and timely commentary on a lot of hot topic issues without being preachy. Terrifically well acted. And the score -- the score is chef's kiss. No neat answers or resolution here. To live, as one of our primary protagonist's says, is to suffer and to question.

Head and shoulders above current trending k-dramas. Easy top 3 kdrama, and possible all-round, for me this year. Writer-nim never disappoints.

New viewers: you are in for treat. I'll probably rewatch it again to piece info tidbits that I missed the first round much like I did for Stranger & Forest of Secrets. I could write reams about thBlood Free's excellence but I'll let you discover it for yourself.

Hey peeps, any recs for new mini dramas that are not on the rec list but are good? Perhaps even as good as this one? Thanks a mill! Short form c-drama is where it's at!

Try Butterflied Lover. Same team (director + scriptwriter). Beautifully shot, interesting storyline, zero filler and well acted. Highly recommend. I'll always have a soft spot for this one tho, which is why I'm back here again! :)

@shinnosuke_lee I agree with a lot of the points in your review. I'd say you graded it generously. A sumptuous production lacking in heart.

Sure, the emotional bond was a key theme between mom and daughter and son but the forced illness trope + running away to lick wounds + massive guilt tripping were all shoehorned in and wholly unneccessary. It showed no growth to me. A regression in fact. I found it lowered the quality of the drama.

If you enjoyed it then that's fair.

I did not. And that is also fair.

The last 5 eps really let down what in, my estimation, was a well done family ensemble drama. Too much bana story, filled with overwrought desperate grasping at heartstrings shoehorned into insufficient time and space. Blah. The business competion fell by the wayside. And the nuanced growth arc for the family, especially the mum, was sacrificed for cheap shot lessons on being filial and family togetherness instead of wrapping it up organically.

What's the Goblin trauma? 🤔🤔

Lack of communication as a trope is old and a cop-out to storytelling. It's tedious at best and lazy at worst.

Damn, ep 6 was brilliant. The stakes keep getting higher and higher as the tension ratchets up.

WAAAAAAH! 🤯🤯🤯🤯

This is some next level spy, sci-fi, espionage, hyper advanced science and realism. Holy moly. The script and direction are 🔥🔥 And everyone in the cast is 💣💥. Now...this is how you tell a story. Damn.

I tried, then I tried again, & once more -- but I can't do it. I hoped for so much better. 🤢
As much as I like the actors playing the leads, a drama that's fueled by the artifice of miscommunication or complete lack of communicate is hard going. Take out the no communication between the leads and the story could fit into a thimble. It feels like a dated melodrama populated by charicatures of characters with the (very) occasional moment where some heart shows through. There's only so much KSH and KJW can do to lift it. Given this drama's network ratings -- all I can think is star power and pretty clothes trump good storytelling.

On the positive end -- It's rare to see honest and open communication between a lead couple in a period idol drama. Such pleasant change. As to the rest...didn't miss anything when I watched it in 4x

This will never not be funny. I don't even care much about the ep anymore.

I think her leg is disabled.

Aah, the final growth arc for mom and Chenghuan did not disappoint. Painful honest conversations lead to painful realizations. But like lancing a festering boil leading to healing. (At least in drama land). Beautifully acted scene.
Zhiming's character development has been sophisticated and nuanced, thawing incrementally. You don't realise how much has has changed until you look back and see his emotional trajectory. Well written, and understated acting by Xu Kai. It's a pity they focused on that to the exclusion of the business aspect of the story. Still, can't have everything.
Shrill, shoe-horned 3FL has also finally been fleshed out too. While the entry was jarring, I can see her purpose. It still feels a little obvious and obtrusive but again an improvement on her first entrance. Let's see what the next set of eps bring. I hope the business rivalry and M&A story doesn't have a pat ending. It would be disappointed after all the time and effort the director and scriptwriter spent fleshing it out.
Onward!

100% re calibrated growth arc.

To each their own. I find her distinctly unfunny.

Although I do like the line from the trailer of the next eps saying something along the lines that it's no longer cool or fit for the current century to morally kidnap children. Kudos on that boom!

Of course the scriptwriters couldn't live without shoehorning iq dropping shrill, clingy wannabe 2 or is it 3 fl? Ugh. Why? I can feel my face getting into that expression of wtf even? whenever she comes on or her shoehorned craptastic narrative with paperthin motivatations shoves itself on the screen. #rictusofpain
I can feel mom's final growth arc coming along through the pushy relatives (been there seen that...show of hands folks!) and of course the final terribly painful realization that her life cannot revolve (invasively so!) around that of her grown children because that way....well that way lie emotionally devastating discussions that leave everyone shattered.

Awww, our leads are maturely sweet. Enjoyable slowburn (quite literally). Chenghuan's teeth clenched voice of death instruction to her brother was so familiar! Hahahahah....been there done that. Nicely done, drama. Don't let me down as you enter the last third.