KingC

Wholesome.

If you are seeking to watch something quick and short, yet with a clear plot and a convincing cast, this one is for you.

After getting her face swapped and identity stolen from her by Shen Qin, the cunning daughter of the Prime Minister, Shi Qi, a painter must wade through dangerous waters in order to get her identity back. This includes deceiving her new husband whom she had married in Shen Qin's stead, as well as looping around the shady Prince Ning, Shen Qin's lover.

The plot is straightforward and doesn't mince words, neither does it become too illogical.
I am glad that this was not a full length drama as the shorter duration made it an easy viewing experience for me as well as the story was conveyed in a succinct manner.

The handful of characters were excellently portrayed by the cast. I was impressed by everyone's performance. Even the Military General.

There were some unexpectedly comedic moments amongst the overall ominous tone of the drama, and the romance seemed almost like a breathe of fresh air for Shi Qi, who for most of the drama, goes through emotional and mental stress.

Overall, it's a wholesome, yet serious and entertaining drama worthy of a quick watch.

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A Surprisingly Haunting and Emotional Drama.

My rating is a bit subjective —- I'm a sucker for old school ghost stories and have always had a certain liking for books and movies related to the paranormal and humans.
9 is definitely an overblown rating for a production such as this, but I might be one of the few people who had no trouble following the plot. (I watched the Uncut version.) And mostly, Something In My Room gave me a strong sense of nostalgia as it reminded me of the Mediator series, Anna Dressed in Blood, Hotel del Luna and Shadowkiss.

Most of such stories have repeated tropes, myths and endings. This might also be the reason why I liked this series a lot. One note for viewers who come for the "Romance": the drama isn't romantic per se. It is rather the side dish that comes along with the ghost mystery. If you are a fan of old school romantic ghost novels that we've heard a million times, this drama is perfect for you to binge through.

Phat and his Mom Chris move into a new home following his dad's permanent retreat into monkhood. Phat, who still struggles to come into terms with the separation instantly has a strong ill feeling at House No.88, but his mom refuses to listen to his very real concerns about it being haunted. Taunted into renting it by a weird neighbour/housekeeper Aunt Nuan, they attempt to settle in. Until Phat breaks down for real and seeks help from his friend Dream in order to find out more about the haunting. The ghost happens to be Phob, who is unfortunately an amnesiac. He needs Phat's help to find out who he was and move on from the living realm in peace within 49 days.

The first time I heard of the 49 day deadline was in Shadowkiss by Richelle Mead. Meg Cabot's Mediator series dealt with the concept of the dead staying around for a while, or wandering aimlessly until they find out the reason for their haunting. It even has the same premise: a ghost haunts her new bedroom and she falls for him. Trouble was that she did not know why he was still around. And would she keep him with her for her own reasons? Or should she help him and let him move on?

If Susannah Simon was a certified Mediator whose job was to purposefully help ghosts move on, Phat is the forced mediator who slowly warms upto Phob, who undoubtedly is a prankster and the only genuinely funny character in the entire drama. (Probably because he was an amnesiac.)
Something In My Room is not just about finding out Phob's true identity —- it dealt with heavy themes such as separation, death, goals, parental love, and the importance of life in general.

Phat and his Mom's relationship was a strong one. I adored how they really cared for each other and how Phat was ready to share all his secrets with her, whoever outlandish it might be. I absolutely loved this aspect of the show. Yes, somethings can't be revealed without stirring ill emotions, but their genuine understanding and support for each other is a highlight. Both the actors nailed their roles. I particularly liked Phat's 'introvert, but secret extrovert' attitude. He was funny in the beginning, but he is definitely one of the most loneliest characters I've seen. This is a largely negligible point, but I've seen "heteronormativity agenda being pushed into everyone" arguments. Personally, from my observation, Phat starts appreciating and falling for a person based on how close he was and how much he knew them. Not because of their sexual orientation or looks.

Phat's friend Dream was interesting in her own way. I've heard that she was badly written, but I think they randomly added the plot in to show how difficult it was for her to accept herself and her father's deeds. Also, as I said, I'm a sucker for ghost tropes, which might be the reason this part did not annoy me. Luck was the only character who was really "off". He piqued my curiosity, but his real trouble was with himself.
Ghost stories, especially long ones, come in with filler content.

Phob is definitely the real hero. Mostly, because when we begin the drama, he is a fun loving jester who has zero idea about himself. This slowly starts to change as the story progresses and we begin discovering bits of his memories. Kudos to the actor who played him as there were emotional scenes that were just plain hard to watch. (Apparently his past role in a BL romance left many viewers hopeless, but I guarantee that this one can change your mind.)

Luck was one character that they could've done away with. His sceptical view of events and his own trauma appeared conflicting to me.

Production wise, it's evident that they were short on budget. The editing is not perfect. On episode 5 and 6, there is a play performed by a character and I still do not know what was real and what was fake. Or I might just be too stupid to appreciate his art.

There are scenes that appear to be still missing, particularly in EP1. Product Placement was minimum, but when it did appear, they did not even attempt to hide the promotion. Nothing is prim and polished. It irked me so much that House No. 88 was always dark at night. Yes, Phat's mom was out of the province, but that doesn't mean that the electricity went with her, right?

The BGM was beyond fantastic. Particularly the synthwave that played during the first time that Phob meets Phat in his dream and the finale.

Extra round of applause to the screenwriter for the very satisfying conclusion. The FB scene is one of the most bittersweet moments I've seen on TV. The finale can be interpretted as either sad, bitter or happy. But, it's definitely an ending that nobody would easily forget. This is definitely an easily bingeworthy watch which I would highly recommend to lovers of ghost stories.

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Same Crime, Different Times.

Signal is a drama that is never missed in a list of thriller recs. Although the MDL synopsis seemed a bit boring to me, I decided to give it a try.

Park Hae Young, a detective, has an open disdain for the police force in spite of working for them. He had witnessed cases being handled for the sake of it's completion and his very own brother framed for a crime he never committed.
Chae Soo Young, his senior and team leader is unforgiving to this attitude, but she realizes that he had more spunk in him. Her sunbae, Lee Jae Han had disappeared 15 years ago.
Fate intertwines the three of their lives after his walkie-talkie that was about to be disposed off is found by Hae Young… leading to a chain of events that create waves in the past and it's ripples in the future. As Hae Young and Jae Han solve the past and the present, Hae Young seeks the answer to Jae Han's disappearance.

Hold onto your seats, because Signal is a mixture of thrill, mystery, suspense, despire, melancholy and various other heart wrenching emotions. The first few episodes deal with regular gory and disgusting cases, both in the past and future timelines (connected by the radio transmissions between Hae Young and Jae Han). It is during the later episodes that the ultimate dark side of the plot is revealed: Jae Han's disappearance.

I did not care for any of the characters initially. We don't see the inner workings of several of them, including Detective Cha. All the events seen through Hae Young's eyes, and his hatred for the police, made him one of my favorite characters. I have never seen the leading actor's performance before, but I'll definitely be checking them out in the future. Jae Han was a typical tsundere puppy whom I grew to slowly adore over the course of time. I loved his bravery and tenacity when it came to solving crimes.
I enjoyed seeing the two sides of Soo Young —- the inexperienced rookie cop and battle hardened detective.

Particular praise for the actor who played Kim Bum Joo, an utterly despicable and corrupted Chief of their Precinct. I wanted him dead until the very end.
The rest of the cast delivered stellar performances, even the minor culprits who popped up.

I loved how every case was solved and handled. As usual, the cops got on my nerves more than the killers. The stress was 100% real and my blood boiled whenever the cases were overturned. I feared for the life of the characters. I hated the villains. I adored the glimpses of family, loyalty and affection that were strong backbones of this drama. The music, especially the BGMs were spot on - I can recall several scenes because of it.

Definitely a must-watch (or must try) for fans of crime and thrillers.

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The Chae Family Chronicles.

I expected something subpar by seeing the MDL ratings. This drama is perfect for viewers as a palate cleanser… if you are not much bothered by office banter and business. I have zero idea about how a cosmetics company works, but seeing a fictionalized portrayal of it through this drama was engaging.

The story as a whole does not belong to the main characters alone. Chae Hyung Seung, a marketting trainee under the guidance of Yoo Song-ah (his sunbae), knows his emotions well: he has a terrible crush on his Sunbae. Her lack of awareness about his feelings doesn't deter him from giving hints nevertheless, but his hopes are dashed after he finds out that the object of his affections already was in a secret relationship with the Branch Manager, Lee Jae Shin. Hope springs eternal when he discovers that the BM had a skeleton in his closet too: he was engaged to Hyo Joon, the granddaughter of the company's chairman. With the help of his sister, Chae Ji Seung, who makes wedding dresses, he forces Song-ah to witness her partner's back stabbing at Ji Seung's store.
A broken Song-ah is desperate to break off her sincere emotions, and Hyung Seung decides to veer fate in his favour, despite the endeavours he would have to go through, both personally and officially.

I was slightly creeped out by how absolutely persistent Hyung Seung was in chasing his Sunbae. (I'll just use that term.) I did find his feelings to protect her quite sincere, despite how trenchant he sounded while warning her against pursuing Jae Shin. He slowly grew out of it once he knew his feelings were out in the open. While he was a more lighter character, both his sisters stories are explored just as thoroughly as his. His second Noona and her 7 year old daughter were some of the scene stealers.

It was suprising to see Hyung Seung's entire family in the spotlight, which was why I decided to title my review as mentioned.

Song-ah aka Sunbae had a lot going on in her plate. Her repressed emotions got the best of her at times and her crying scenes were heart breaking -- Kudos to Wo Jin Ah for that!
But, I did wish that I got to see some of her mother's point of view. Her slowly growing to learn about Hyung Seung was interesting to watch and I loved how open she was about her thoughts. I found her romance with Hyung Seung quite calm, warm and healing.

Now... Jae Shin was an idiot. As the story progresses, I could see why Sunbae fell for him -- he had the potential to be a male lead, but threw his chance into the trash can right in the very first episode.
Although, I admire his perseverance in the business field, romance wasn't good for him.

The office gang was a surprising highlight of the drama. The rapport and support among it's members were delightful and heartwarming. I adored Lee Jae Woon's comedic moments.

The OST was absolutely beautiful, particularly the BGM at the end of EP1 and the end of EP16.

"She Would Never Know" is the most suitable title if we view it from Hyung Seung's point of view since he is the one who gets the ball rolling -- his Sunbae would suffer utter despair and humiliation if she doesn't know about what was going on behind her back. But, I find the original title more endearing and incites
A sense of curiosity: "Sunbae, Don't Put on That Lipstick".

Well, I discovered why he said that. It was a warm drama and I'm sure that I would probably rewatch it once again when I'm in need of a refreshing change.

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Dare to Dream.

It took me two months to complete this one, thanks to it's slice-of-life genre. But, I don't regret the time I spent. (Note: it ain't about romance at all.)
Set in an sharehouse with four people within an age range of late twenties to early 50s, we are introduced to each and everyone in detail. Their struggles, dilemmas, confusion and troubles are all laid out with equal importance.
Mameshiba Mashiba, an instagram influencer, learns the hard way of life from them.
It's my first time seeing this 'influencer' thingy as an actual occupation and I still don't know what to feel about it. Like her housemates, I too, was as stunned by her very vigorous routine and thought that she would collapse much earlier.
Fujino Shun, her minimalist housemate chef was one special character. I loved how he relentlessly pursued what his heart felt was right. Koko-san was just like him when it came to realizations and serving truth.
Another character whom I grew to care about was Hase-san and Harucho. Both of them were polar opposites when it came to emotional expression, but this reinforced the fact that not everyone can react or reflect in the same manner.
Throughout the 10 episodes, we see Mashiba-chan slowly realize what she really wants and stumble across road blocks.
I loved the synchrony among the five housemates. At the end, I even grew to like the Orca President, whom I initially thought would end up being annoying. But, his presence was crucial.
The drama's strongest aspect were the life lessons --I won't be forgetting anyone of those soon. It was a highly inspirational watch and I'll recommend this to anyone who is attempting to overcome a tough time in their lives.

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A Perfect Closure.

This little scene was hastily put together by the creators as a thank you for their international audience and I couldn't be happier. It continues a few years after the ending of Someday or One Day and gives a short glimpse of what awaits our characters in the future. It's fulfilling and heartwarming. I do know that some might find it bitter, but I'm glad that the writers stuck to the logic of the original world and served justice to all the characters. We get to see our favourite characters once again. Though, I still don't know how certain events will work out, it still gave me some sort of hope that everyone I cared for were off to a brand new start.

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"Sorry for lying."

I first heard about the Liar Game while Imawa no Kuni No Alice trended back in December 2020. I decided to watch this while the Squid Game hype was ongoing as I've seen several people prefer Liar Game as the top choice when it comes to games involving mind tricks.

☆ The first episode almost had a comedic effect on me. Kanzaki Nao-san, a girl who is so used to believing everyone and speaking the truth that she is nicknamed as "stupidly honest". When she receives a letter and a box with 100 million yen, she accidentally agrees to participate in the "Liar Game". The first task involved stealing your opponent's 100 million yen or losing the game and returning the 100 million you owned as a form of debt payment. She is relieved to find out that her 'opponent' was her old middle school teacher. Discussing the issue with him, it's not long before she is tricked out of her own 100 million yen by him. Now at the verge of being a victim with a 100 million yen debt, she takes a desperate action: begging for help from a con artist who was fresh out of jail.

☆ I did not see what was coming. As I was not well informed about the plot, I was blind to several things that happened. But, the hero himself deserves his own paragraph. Akiyama Shimichi, who was jailed for three years for defrauding a pyramid scheme organization, is astounded by Nao-chan's stupid honesty. The exact moment that he gets down to help her is the point where the drama changes tracks. He is no ordinary or extra talented hero; he is plain experienced con artist who was also possibly a valedictorian of his University. His method is not exactly simple, but it's evident that most of his skills are acquired from experience. Intelligent and meticulous in his game, he wove plans involving tricks and deception so much that by the end of the drama, I did not trust a single one of his actions. He was pretty much ruthless till the very end. Nothing magical changed him. He had his own judgements and plans when it came to everyone.

☆ The games: the only thing I can proudly boast about is that I successfully managed to pass the Trail game in Round 2. If that counts. The trouble with this drama is that it keeps you at the edge of your toes, playing the game right along with the actual players. And there was no loophole out of any of them. Everyone of them required pre-planning as to what the players were betting on: losing or winning? Both of the choices had their own drawbacks. And in a room full of people desperately trying to avoid a debt stricken condition, how could one guarantee that no one would lie to win? If Akiyama-kun wasn't there, 60% of the cast, including our heroine Nao-chan might've 100% ended up in debt. But, that doesn't mean that the other players are imbeciles. Though not on the level of a well experienced con artist, they knew their tricks well. But, same as before, I did not trust a single player by the end of the drama.
The timing of each game was really reasonable. But, it also showed how much our mind convolutes itself during critical moments. Though the games were pretty simple, what mattered was the result or the choice that each made, making the final decision absolutely nerve wracking to watch.

☆ What I found particularly striking about it was the unpolished and raw storyline. The plot and games were on point. No draggy episodes, no moments of intense emotions. The story was also insane when required. It pretty much puts the female lead through a duck press multiple times until the very end. All characters go through moments of doubt and despair. I found the punishment of living with a monumental debt even more intense than instant death. It was something that could lead to psychological distress and possibly a life of depression. The purpose of the Liar Game was intensely explored during the final few episodes.

● The Drawbacks:

☆ Nao-chan is incredibly naïve. She is called stupid multiple times and very reasonably so. The good thing about her was how she handled matters and was mature enough, unlike many female leads, who are just noisy.

☆ The *bad guys* of the drama or the villains of the moment were really comical or anger inducing. Almost a combined eight minutes were spent on the overdramatized laughter and tears.

☆ Liar Game was released in 2007, 14 years before this review. Unlike the more well polished production that all recent dramas have, this one appears distinctly outdated. The colour grading seems off in several places. It had freeze frames, close up shots, and effects that me me mad.

While there is a high chance this drama will get buried as the years go by, I'm glad that I finally decided to watch it. It was a well planned and excellently executed drama that would be remembered by the ones who saw it.

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Quick Fluff.

This is adapted from a shouju manga and it shows. But, I still watched it anyway.

--- It's a really silly story, but I found this one much more bearable than Coffee and Vanilla. The leads actually had reasons to fall for each other, however ridiculous it was.

--- The FL Momo-chan, though appearing over excited, was definitely not dumb. There are moments I saw that she did have a serious side that she used her 'help everyone' attitude to hide.

--- There were a few amusing supporting characters whom I found interesting. Plus, all the cast had acting skills.

--- It only had 10 episodes that are around 22 minutes long. No need of brains to watch this.

I began this to get out of a drama slump. It served it's purpose well. So, it's a 6.5 from me.

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"Humans are the most fearful creatures."

This drama clearly has no strong plot. But, with only ten episodes, each spanning the length of an hour, it did not pull any punches.
Disturbing and dark, it begins with Jong Woo moving into a dingey apartment with the least rent out of all that he had seen. With a hopeless job and seemingly disconnected friends, he is thrust directly into the company of the many strange men in his neighbouring rooms. Yet, he has no way out. No one listens to his words or has time for him.

The drama brilliantly portrayed the sweet country boy Jong Woo's many incidents that ultimately lead him spiralling into a state of mental distress so much that we at one point are unable to watch it out of sheer stress. Im Shi Wan was excellent in his role and he conveyed the intense expressions and Jong Woo's state of mind with so much reality.

Help comes in the form of a charismatic dentist, Mung Joo, with whom he shares his similar love for crime fiction. But, wh he originally thought to be the most normal out of everyone, becomes his biggest nightmare. I saw Lee Dong Wook in Goblin, but it is this drama that truly showed his talent. The very mad gleam in his eyes, the flicker of compassion (only for Jong Woo, by the way) and his own strange perceival of nature and human mind was almost paradoxical. It was weird that Jong Woo and more chemistry with him than his own girlfriend Ji Eun, who was saddled with work load and never really semed to have her 'country boy' image of his removed from her mind.
People keep pushing their frustrations out on everyone , and Jong Woo, a good guy, realizes that he was being pushed around and maybe it was time to snap back.

The turn of events, the gory scenes and most importantly, the sheer incompetence of the police was mind numbing. There was a moment I assumed that one of the policemen/detective was working in favor of Eden studio.
*Mild spoiler*: this would also make the ending more possible.
I was suprised that I liked it so much. Every single supporting character delivered their roles well. All in all, this is definitely a highly thrilling, re-watch worthy drama, especially for starters of this genre.

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From the Wineyard.

This is the first time I watched a drama just for the characters alone. They were all unique!

I have to say, both the leads were amazing. The drama is seemingly normal, but their acting was really good and convincing, especially certain emotional scenes. And their chemistry? Awesome!
Heck, even the dark guy and Mi Ya stood out. I fast forwarded a lot of scenes, but stuck for them.

I didn't care much for the plot, since I have zero knowledge about wine. But, the term "sommelier" was something new that I learnt. Also, I wonder how much research everyone went through before writing the script cause they have a lot of descriptions about the types of wine and their histories.

Overall, another watch and forget drama. But, certainly worth it just for the characters!

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Fluffy and Invigorating.

I used to watch this underneath my blanket as I did not want anyone to think that I'd gone insane by seeing my demonic grin.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for some quick and fluffy drama with angelic and innocent characters.

With a meagre 22 minutes, Kieta Hatsukoi delivers a fulfilling tale of friendship, romance and comedy that was perfect to ease my tensions and bring a smile to my face. I can't remember a single episode where I didn't stop grinning. It was a form of relief after a week's worth of classes and provided me comfort while I was away from home.

***A small caveat: this drama is really good if you are interested in Character Analysis. The story goes around in circles without major developments, which is, frankly, frustrating. The final two episodes were the weakest, in my opinion.

☆ In the traditional way of Japanese Manga, the story begins with a very diminutive incident of an eraser being borrowed by Aoki Sota, who had a crush on his deskmate Hashimoto-san. Unfortunately, this silly eraser had the name of another student, "Ida". When the eraser takes a tumble to the floor, Ida sees his name on it and Aoki lies about it to protect Hashimoto-san's feelings. And thus begins a tale of misunderstandings and lies. Worse, Aoki is terrified after he finds himself falling for Ida.

☆ Pretty sure that such kids and circumstances might exist only in fictional high schools. When I was in highschool, half of my classmates were raccoons. This drama has the purest, angel-like characters whom I couldn't help but love.
Aoki was a really chaotic character, but I related to his reactions a lot. Hashimoto-san, who has her own parallel storyline, is never once a nuisance, but was truly kind and empathetic about everything.
A very silly premise to begin with, but the very essence of the story goes far more deeper than we see.

There was nothing over the top or expensive about the drama's production, which is plain and simple. But, the convincing performances of the actors, directing and the very humble story pulled me in. There might be a million stories out there that follow the exact same plot, but what makes them stand out is their execution, which was neat and precise.

☆ Now… the very backbone of Kieta Hatsukoi lies in the slow, yet steady character and relationship development. It's personally my first time seeing a character such as Ida Kosuke. He was truly kind and thoughtful, but was unflinchingly veracious. I related to his feeling of being unable to understand the concept of dating or "liking" somebody. There were often times I wondered how things would work out, and Ida literally spelled out what I couldn't express in words. His concern for his friends and classmates, his willingness to give the unknown a try and his care for Aoki were truly heartwarming to watch.

Aoki was much more self aware than Ida, focussing on minute troubles and attempting to be empathetic towards everyone. He was dramatic, going as far as getting inside a plastic trash bag and hiding himself under his hood. Scenes adapted right from the manga came to life, thanks to the immaculate portrayal of the chaotic character by Michida Shunsuke.
I reflected a lot when it came to Aoki, too. He was deeply connected to his emotions and learnt from his friends. His over the top antics and reactions added more humour and liveliness.
While Aoki was more honest and careful , he wasn't reticent when it came to confronting his own doubts about his relationship.

Hashimoto-san and Akkun, despite being secondary characters, are quite pivotal for the flow of the story. Their relationship with the leads and their own storylines, combined with their individual personalities inserted more flavour to it. And a shoutout for Ida's childhood friends and volleyball team, who, albeit not having much screen time, managed to show the depth of their friendship.

☆ The BGM, staying true to the comical genre of the drama, was often funny. There were only two songs featured and I have had them on repeat since the first time I heard them. Both Aoki and Ida belong to Idol Groups, Naniwa Danshi and Snowmen. Coincidentally, despite not being released exclusively for the drama, the lyrics were apt for the plot.

Overall, a really soft drama to enjoy and obsess over.

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"First Love Again."

First and foremost, Lovely Runner is a rom-com. Meaning that if you came to watch some science fiction fantasy drama which is a stickler for rules of time travel, this drama isn't for you. [The title of my review is from a 2021 CDrama, which has a very similar plot, but with the laws of nature governing the whole thing.]

But, if you are looking out for a real wholesome one, Lovely Runner is just perfect for you. It's a well written, well-paced, romantic, comedic and heartwarmingly satisfying.

Im Sol, a wheelchair bound 34 year old woman, is an avid fan of Ryu Sun Jae, the lead singer of a boy band Eclipse.
It's not a simple relationship either – His words had inspired her to keep living on, and to add to that, he also had happened to go to the high school close to hers. In spite of her disadvantages that hinder her from applying for her dream job, she still maintains a cheerful demeanor.
However, her life takes a drastic turn when she finds out that the person who had encouraged her to live on had committed suicide. When she is stricken by grief, fate gives her another chance – Ryu Seon Jae’s watch, which she had bought for a hefty sum at an auction becomes a time machine and she hurtles to the year 2008.
Now, stuck in her high school self, Im Sol snatches the chance to befriend the teenage Ryu Seon Jae (whom she had ignored in her youth) and change his fate. This also meant that she has the chance to avoid the accident that crippled her and distort the future.
But, as she begins to change the past, she realizes that there are some things just can not be altered.


☆ The Plot + Romance:

Lovely Runner is nothing new in terms of plot. What I loved were the characters and the relationships between them. I think this is what most people loved about it and hence the drama's sky high ratings. I have mixed feelings about the “plot”, but as it's a rom-com, I'll try to overlook it.

Romance is a strong building block; yet at the beginning it's evident that Im Sol treated Sun Jae as her “idol” rather than a real person.

But, the transition to love and the absolute possibility of their relationship was genuine.
An Idol meeting a fan and falling in love?
In the case of LR, Im Sol and Sunjae were already neighbors and had met before, it was just that he was a person who passed by her life without ever influencing it ‘directly’.

It was both sad and comedic to see Im Sol attempt to rescue Sun Jae from his fate, particularly when she couldn't tell him anything about the future.
[This plot point got lost somewhere after EP10… or did it?]

Both Sun Jae and Im Sol were innocent people to begin with. Heck, even their friends and relatives are funny and nice people in general - hence, there is absolutely ‘NO’ additional drama.
Also, it was an added bonus to see a ML who was for once, not an all knowing God. Dude was legit dumb.

In Hyuk and Sun Jae’s bromance, Sun Jae and his father’s antics, Im Geum’s dreams, Sol and the relationship with her grandmother, mother, Tae Seong (the 2nd ML and my favorite character) and her best friend together were just heartwarming to watch.

I did feel that there was a distinct difference between the original timeline and the altered version where Sun Jae dies.
In the original timeline, it looked like the scriptwriter went with the way of the webtoon and had Sun Jae actually commit suicide. (It might be because of the way it was shot.) The other timeliness however, showed a stark difference from EP1 and followed the ‘thriller’ aspect.

I still feel a bit irked about a quote that never became a reality. But, hey, the drama was fulfilling.

☆ Also, this is one emotionally draining drama. Hats off to Kim Hye Yoon for managing to bring about both comedy and tears in a seamless manner. She had that Song Yi Ren kind of energy and was very flexible as a 34 year old grown woman stuck in the body of a teenager, which might've
become awkward had it been any other actress.

I had never heard about Bye Woon Seok, except in passing after the ‘Strong Girl’ drama but, oh dear. Both his comedic scenes as well as the emotional ones were spot on.
[One of my friends was contemplating whether to watch this or not after it aired, and another one advised her that it's ‘either death or villain’ when it comes to him.]

I'll definitely be checking out their future works. Even In Hyuk and Tae Seong had their moments.

☆ Soundtrack: KDramas rarely disappoint in this department. Every song went well with the scenes, but if I could listen to a song all by itself, then it would be ‘Monologue' by Jae Eon and ‘You & I’ by Eclipse.

It's been a long time since I watched a KDrama while on air. It reminded me of those times when they actually managed to grab my attention and continue watching them. I've been serial dropping KDramas a lot since the one hour runtime and emotional investment is much more than CDramas. This one is a surprise from 2024.
It reminded me strongly of ‘Legally Romance’ and ‘First Love Again’ both of which were memorable dramas I liked and had similarities to.

A solid 7.5 from me. I cut off points as I felt that something went ‘missing’ with the story after a couple of episodes. The characters were the only thing that kept me going. [Updated the score from 8.5 to 7.5 because I don't think I'll be revisiting this drama anytime soon. Perhaps I might change the rating if I rewatch it.]

Anyways, one thing I learnt from time travel dramas is that I'll be single for a very, very, very long time unless someone from some other parallel universe risks everything to travel through space and time to meet me.

All in all, it was a wonderful journey. I hope that both Im Sol and Sun Jae manage to meet each other in every universe, however slim the chance is. (And that Kim Tae Seong never changes.)

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"Not all those who wander are lost."

I have to warn, despite my rating, I've also covered the parts that I didn't find appealing and gave the reason for my score in detail.

It is no surprise that everybody expected Word of Honor to flop, particularly when it was a Youku production. 2018's Guardian was Priest's first censored adaptation under them that drew in a huge crowd of fans and rocketed the actors to fame, but made major changes and failed to capture the beauty of the novel. However, it gave other cleverer Video Platforms like Tencent the strength to go for more popular adaptations, starting the domino effect, particularly after The Untamed's (2019) success. After Legend of Fei, fans gave up all hope, coming to the conclusion that Priest would never get a decent adaptation. Word of Honor is the first drama I've completed, based on a Priest Novel, Tian Ya Ke (Faraway Wanderers). This jumble of thoughts is coming from a person who began reading the novel while waiting for new episodes.

A short introduction common for both the book and drama:

"The founder of a deadly assasin organization takes extreme measures to leave his past life behind, choosing death as a form of his redemption. He spends his days disguised as a beggar, wandering and drinking his last days away to glory. However, fate has more in store for him and he soon finds himself tasked with protecting the last remaining survivor of a prominent sect who was involved in a conspiracy regarding a famed armory that lead to the death of many. Much to his displeasure, he is closely followed by a suspicious man and his maid, who may not be whom he claims to be."

+++ No good actor can save a drama if it has a bad script. And the Script is one of the strongest fields in Word of Honor. The scriptwriter Xiao Chu, who is a fan of Priest did an excellent job, bringing the characters and story to life. Her love and respect for the source material can be seen during several instances in the story. Many events have been jumbled up for TV, but any reader will be quickly able to recognize several scenes scattered all over. The changes for the drama almost make the novel lacklustre in comparison. Expanding on various sects, their backstories and Zhou Zi Shu's past, we are led on a thrilling edge of your seat storyline that left me craving the next episodes. (Episode one in particular will always remain one of my favorites. Unlike the book, it showed the human side of Zhou Zi Shu in detail.)
The basic plot is the same as in most of the wuxia dramas. What makes the story excellent for me is the perfect balance between the episodes, the interesting storyline with multiple characters, each with their own motives. No episode focused 100% on the leads and it was a pleasant surprise. It increased the anticipation each week and the thrill I experienced can't be put into words. I rewatched all the episodes while waiting for the others. Its clearly visible that even with the limit of 36 episodes, and a meagre budget, the production team toiled to portray what they loved in the best way possible, something that can put big budget IP dramas to shame. I could ask for no more from them for that.
Every character has a task or a promise to keep. This is the very thing that moves the plot forward. May it be Wen Ke Xing's facade hiding his true plan or Zhou Zi Shu's word of honor. Even Gu Xiang, who starts out as a servant who experiences life outside the Ghost Valley for the first time, begins to voice her own thoughts, opinions and feels for others. Cheng Ling, poor boy, ends up hanging onto Zi Shu and Lao Wen, the only people he could trust. Their tragic pasts, brotherhood and regrets are slowly revealed as the episodes move by, keeping us glued to the screen with baited breaths.

+++ The Cast, both young and old, played their roles really well. Both Zhang Zhe Han and Gong Jun were popular for their works, but definitely not huge traffic makers that can bring in enough hype. I was familiar with Gong Jun's works previously. It was nice seeing him do a different, more animated role for a change, one that could actually showcase his range. From switching from funny mode to murder within seconds, going all out psycho, he did not disappoint. The flirty Wen Ke Xing may be asking a simple question to Ah-Xu, but we can clearly see that he is being very subtle about it. He shamelessly follows him around, but never forgets his hatred and anger.

"Three days later, I will come to get my goods... or burn your shop."
(Wen Ke Xing, EP6)

His moments of vulnerability, acceptance of his doomed path and some of the plans he concocted made him a very anti-hero character. Especially in the first half of the drama, where we get to see past his innocent mask.

"I wanted to wander the world till I die. But, it seems like God has other plans for my destiny."
(Zhou Zi Shu - EP11)

The title of my review is from a poem about Aragorn written by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. In a twisted way, Zhou Zi Shu is a wanderer, but he has never forgotten who he was. While still in disguise, he was described as someone who travels a long way to keep his promises - a Ranger. (By both Cheng Ling and Lao Wen.)
(Many beautiful quotes from LOTR can be used to describe several feelings in WOH.)

It was my first time seeing Zhang Zhe Han in a full on main character role as I had only seen clips before and in Nirvana in Fire. He completely blew my mind in WoH.
Starting from his painful past in the first episode, getting disguised as a pathetic beggar (a hilarious transformation that you shouldn't miss) to putting up with Wen Ke Xing's flirting and finally accepting his fate, he portrayed the emotions with such depth that we audience can't help but sympathize and fall for the lost man who had been shattered by life's harsh experiences. I've seen several comments poking at his acting skills right from the start. But, I'll defend him at all costs for this role. Zhou Zi Shu in the book is 80% of the time just moving along with the flow, easily irritated with Cheng Ling, and doesn't respond much to emotions. Had they got any other inexperienced actor for this role, it would have been a total disaster. It's sad to see that no one notices the slight emotions skittering across his face. His improvisations on set and the love he gave to Zhou Zi Shu can be easily seen in the way he brought him to life.

I'd seen Zhou Ye in Better Days, and though it appears as if she is annoying, the character Gu Xiang is very impulsive, and I personally think she did a good job. Another surprise was Xie Wang played by Li Daikun.
Ye Bai Yi was one unsuspecting character whom I absolutely adore. His constant bickering and general disdain for the ongoings on the jianghu and his love for food all hide his true nature and regret. I wished that he had more screen time. And his scenes and voice over in the last few episodes were really emotional.

+++ Bear with me if you are reading this cause I suck at descriptions of feelings.
Right from the end of the first episode, sparks begin to fly and the drama was subtle in its portrayal, using poetry and idioms from various forms of Chinese literature to convey the emotions. This in turn, had me and fellow viewers scrambling for hours through tumblr for translations and meanings that give the story a new depth. I badly wished that I'd learnt Mandarin cause there were several lines that no translation could do justice. A particular phrase in EP17 had such depth that no English subtitle can capture its hidden beauty. We see their relationships grow from skirting around each other to final acceptance. And with this comes the hint of fear that they are not good enough for the ones they cherish. The inner struggles that the characters undergo, the mature way they deal with their troubles and the lengths they go to protect them would make anyone root for their happiness. While Lao Wen and Cao Wei Ning are almost blatantly open about their feelings, both Gu Xiang and Ah' Xu struggle with their internal dilemmas. One pair, a stark contrast from the other, pure and innocent whereas the other sought redemption through each other.

The brotherhood between Shen Shen, Gao Chong and his disciples; the relationship between Cheng Ling and Ah' Xu + Gu Xiang and Lao Wen were heartwarming. Even the little known Qian Qiao story arc was something I found really interesting. It showed several sides of the characters and gave the story a realistic vibe.

++The fight scenes had a mixed effect for me - they were either way too fast or too slow. (They were thrilling and beautiful to watch though.) But, I was glad that they used slow motion for certain scenes otherwise the beauty of the movements would've been lost, particularly for Zhou Zi Shu.

++ The OST: I admit, the opening song didn't catch my attention at first. But, now I have it on repeat in my head. Even some of the BGMs were just so "fitting", particularly the one that played during Zhou Zi Shu's first fight in Mirror Lake Sect in EP2. They have a strangely haunting feeling.

+++ The villain... was a weakling from start to finish. And he strangely had a strong sleazeball effect that I had not felt with many others before. I just hated him. That was a down point for me. Even the other evil fellow had redeeming points. I couldn't hate him till the very end. I pitied him.

This review is already long enough, so I'll head straight for the points that make me wish that I'd never started this drama in the first place. *MILD SPOILERS*

+++ The script, which was going really, really well takes a sharp turn down a rocky road, particularly after EP30. It is known that the budget constraints had reduced the number of EPs to 36, but the way it was handled was unbelievable. Changes were made from the novel, but the transition from one scene to another made very little to no sense at all, unless we come up with theories ourselves. The obvious plothole sort of ruined the watching experience for me. I can now see that several things that happened in EP32-33 were a set up for the ultimate finale, but I really wished they'd taken a more simpler, meaningful path. It made several characters who claimed to be intelligent look stupid. Seeing Zhou Zi Shu during those episodes was like twisting a knife through your heart and that's something I will never forgive this drama for. It's been more than a week since I completed it and I still can't forget those moments. But, EP35 and EP36 saved the drama, even though it felt a bit too rushed.

+++++ I can see why it has an 8.6 rating in Douban. The "wuxia" aspect is pretty serious and strong in this one. Several of the recent releases have all come closer to the "candy wuxia" category, from my observation.
There are several backstories and characters to keep up with, which some people might find annoying. I needed three rewatches to remember everyone. But, all three were absolutely worth it.

+++ The finale, I admit, was heart crushing. Anyone who thought they should film it or write it were pure evil. The concert was like a balm to my soul and so was the epilogue, but I find that several foreshadowings in EP36 give the ending epilogue a real meaning. I couldn't be happier.
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I debated several times how to rate Word of Honor, considering all ranges from 7.5 to 10. Cruel, but in a website such as this, where personal enjoyment and hype elevates the scores of several dramas, it is fair.
With that being said, why did I give this drama such a rating, when it obviously had faults? Because in the end I couldn't. Judging by the amount of absolutely bland stuff I've watched/forced myself through to the end/dropped/ended up forgetting, this is by far one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It was my best friend for three months straight. I put every single drama I was watching on hold for it, keeping all my bets on the scriptwriter's promise to keep going till the end despite the absolutely slow subtitles. I felt like I was going through a winner's curse while watching the last few episodes. I rooted for the characters' happiness. When they were hurt, I felt the same. I was enraged with the plot in the finale. But, that shows how deeply it had impressed me and that's solely because the people behind this adaptation knew how to capture viewers and knew what exactly to do with what they had in their hands. This drama has an unexpectedly huge number of characters and scenes with them that would require more time and budget, so its understandable that its not perfect. (It got released really quickly: five months after shooting had completed.)
Even with the last bit of staggering plot in the end, it spun arpund my feelings like a washing machine. And it was 100% worth it. Zhou Zi Shu is right up there with Aragorn as a favorite character of mine. (Wen Ke Xing would come along anyway - they are a pair of wings.)

If Zhang Zhe Han worries that people might forget Zhou Zi Shu or Wen Ke Xing, it is unnecessary.
There are plenty of us who still needs to be forcefully pushed off the mountain or those who still keep peeking or visiting. Pretty sure that Lao Wen would eventually kick us off one day.

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"I would rather live freely for ten days than live against my own will for 10 years."

These words were spoken by Zhou Zi Shu in Word of Honor (2021), which happens to be one of my all time favorite Chinese dramas. I wonder what he would have had to say to He Ran had they ever met.

Though coming from two completely different spheres of dramaland, I think this sentence captures the essence of The Forbidden Flower/Summer Flower/Xia Hua, which follows the rich and talented daughter of a late renowned painter, He Ran, who despite having everything, has gone through several dark days.

Still reeling from the after effects of a deadly illness, 20 year old He Ran is sheltered and cut off from the outside world by her overbearing and overprotective mother, Mrs. Qiu, who has assigned a nanny to watch over her for 24/7.
While managing to sneak out and enjoy bits of a free life, she is enticed by the voice of a stranger at a Hair Salon, whom she only knows by his assigned No. 33. It's unbelievable, but He Ran finds an excuse to escape her gloomy existence - find No.33 again.
Xiao Han, the owner of the said voice, is a man years past his youthful days, but that does not stop He Ran from pursuing him.

She cautiously probes for information about him from what she could gather within the first two episodes, before beginning a full blown onslaught to realize her vision. This part in particular was hilarious and slightly disconcerting to watch. Xiao Han, the object of her attentions yeets himself away from his own home to escape her shenanigans.

–-------
I want to rate this drama a 7, but I invested too much time into this to end it in such an unholy manner.

Now… I will begin by writing down a few observations/random details/caveats first from what I gathered:

1.This is an age-gap drama based on an already existing novel 'He Stands in the Gorgeous Summer Flowers (他站在夏花绚烂里) by Tai Hou Gui Lai.
I 'google translate' read 90% of the novel and I 100% prefer the drama. There are some quite distinct changes in characterization and the live adaptation adds real depth to the two dimensional versions I read about. Or maybe things got lost in translation.
I've noticed that contemporary Chinese dramas often surpass their novel counterparts and this drama is no exception.

2. And judging by the number of watchers it has, I think the age-gap tag scared away most of the viewers. And I'm 100% sure that this drama is a success partly because Jerry Yan looks like he did 20 years ago - not to mention that he has almost the exact same hairstyle from his Dao Ming Si days. Both Xu Ruo Han and Jerry Yan just fit together so well into their characters and I barely noticed that there was an age gap between them. Age-gap doesn't matter to me as long as the characters are brought to life.

3. I highly suspect that multiple script changes or scenes were shot. There are times that scenes black out and cut off jarringly. Some of the dialogues were never mentioned, yet we later hear the characters speak about it. There are certain scenes from the trailer which are never shown. And the additional behind the scenes footage (aside from the intimate ones) sort of solidifies the point.
The opening scene itself seems to have selected a different shot instead of the one which we see in EP8. (There is a minor flashback.)
Moreover, this is definitely "NOT" an S-Class drama from my assumptions. It had only 30 minutes per episode.
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The warm fuzzies:

● The Scenery: the whole drama is a visual feast. Every scene is shot beautifully. It's worth watching it just for that alone. Plenty of money seems to have been spent on camera and lighting and location and flowers and painting.

● The Cast: Every single actor played their part to a tee. I loved how Xu Ruo Han in particular portrayed two different sides of He Ran - the one when she is not genuinely interested in something and the other side of her which she reveals to Xiao Han alone.
Xiao Han, a man content with being isolated and loves the peace and quiet of the plants, was a joy to watch. I loved how he looked like he was regretting every decision he made after meeting He Ran during the first 8 episodes. We slowly see him give up and just give in to her demands and by the 10th episode, we are aware of why he shelters himself from everyone. Jerry Yan absolutely served justice to his character.

Their chemistry together was just too sweet and easy on the eyes. I did not find the age gap annoying.

The mother was another well acted character - - atleast I think so. If she was meant to depict a broken yet muddled woman, she definitely did the part well. Supporting characters such as Pan Zi and even Han Yu showed the contrast between He Ran and her 'hidden friends'.

● The Soundtrack: My favorite is "The One'' by Vivian Loh. Had the opening scene begun with Lucid Dream, I don't think I would've been pulled in as intensely as I had.
Plus, there were several songs played throughout that just makes certain scenes indelible. Summer by Nicki Lee is one of my newfound favorite songs, thanks to this drama.
Some other favorites:
● Heartbeat by Vivian Loh.
● Mine by Vivian Loh.


● The Characters: they are the reason I stuck till the very end, regardless of how depressing or happy it was going to be.

Han Yu was one character who made me laugh everytime he came on screen. Not because he was purposefully being oblivious to He Ran's dismissal of his friendship and companionship, but he was also the only one who even bothered to worry whenever He Ran showed signs off sickness.
Xiao Han has several fans, so I'll skip right down to He Ran, whom I absolutely adore. And I feel a bit guilty speaking for her instead of against her.

Several people mentioned how she loves selfishly. Was she selfish? Yes, definitely. But, she loved selflessly too. She put in 100% effort into her relationship, sacrificing everything once she understood that it was worth it.
Her comparing herself to other women and making dangerous promises ticked off several viewers, but I understood where she was coming from. She just wasn't able to wrap her mind around how Xiao Han must've had other women in his life and wondered whether she was meant to be forgotten just like them.

(I once asked my friends who were in a relationship how they could be with their person, knowing he must've liked someone else before them. Someone gave me the exact same answer as Xiao Han's.)

He Ran seems to have the same fear - that she too will be like one of his experiences. If anyone noticed, she is the assertive one in their relationship. She is well aware that she isn't a 'nice' guy.

She just doesn't want to be forgotten like the many people who had crossed Xiao Han's life. Ultimately, we all wish to be remembered by someone in some way.

And as much as I appreciate her character, several times she comes off as unreasonably and dangerously possessive. She barely lets anyone breathe on Xiao Han - there are episodes where we see her push limits and just go bonkers.

Her pursuit of Xiao Han is itself comedic. Xiao Han considers his temporary attraction to her as something he wouldn't obsess over, and He Ran's stalking tendencies is what he deems to be the antics of a young girl who is blinded by her crush. It isn't after a long time, that he finally concludes that she isn't kidding.
Well, He Ran was lucky that it was Xiao Han. And vice versa. Or else this drama would've turned into a crime thriller.

–---------------

Now….. somethings make me want to rate this a 6.5 - 7. I settled on 9 [rerated it an 8 when I realized that there were too many filler episodes past EP13] because the drama seems to have been made with serious dedication and effort worthy of a longer drama. Both from the cast and crew. Plus, this is the only time a contemporary setting which is not centered around youth managed to keep me hooked.

● I was unfortunately not invested in He Ran's mom's and Yuan Qi's relationship.
I liked their individual scenes, but I simply did not care to watch their scenes as a couple. More than half of the drama after EP13 focused on them.

● The handling of He Ran's illness. For someone who is cocooned by her mom, it irked me how casually everyone except Han Yu and his aunt were regarding her health. (It was understandable why He Ran had resolved to 'living in the moment'.)
Both of them were more concerned than anyone whenever she appeared weak.
It's mentioned in the first two episodes about her 'follow up' check ups, but then we barely hear about it. Shouldn't it have been stressed on more?

And after Episode 18 or 19, I could not make sense of what was happening. Her diagnosis and prognosis were more positive than negative, then what about her treatment? Shouldn't it be more serious?
It's evident that some things were portrayed more for cinematic value rather than reality.
It might be able to get brushed off in a book, but in an onscreen adaptation with significant changes, it's hard to pass by.

With all these complaints, this happens to be the first contemporary Chinese drama after Legally Romance (2022) that I've been patient enough to keep up with in spite of my complaints.

Nevertheless, this drama is one of the most beautiful and romantic ones I've seen to date.
The Queen of the Night blooms very rarely, but it is for this very reason that it's remembered. And maybe that's the same charm 'The Forbidden Flower' exudes.

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"The Glass is Either Half-Full or Half-Empty."

My title describes exactly how I felt while watching this short mini-drama. What stood out to me the most are definitely the characters who have very distinct and unique personalities. Despite the very fantasy like synopsis and the strange title, the drama doesn't spend much time exploring them. Heck, the kiss in the title is almost hyperbolic as it doesn't have any significant effect on the plot.
Kouta, an unlucky college junior, gets a chance to escape his bad luck after running into Naoya, a naturally born lucky King, who is also the campus's sweetheart. A slight misunderstanding of semantics ends up with both of them dating. Kouta, who is initially uninterested in the dating aspect, slowly begins to get to know Naoya (and himself) better along the way.

Kouta, whose eyes we see the story through, is a gem. I loved how he had feelings and emotional outbursts and an actual personality which somehow made him real. I could relate to how and why he reacted in certain ways, including his dilemma of maintaining friendships, yet keeping himself aloof from emotional attachments. The actor who played him definitely did an excellent job portraying this multi-faceted character.
Naoya was almost manga like, right down to his looks. He was a genuinely honest and nice male lead who attemped his best to be nice to everyone.
Also, Anna, Mika, the Senpai and Naoya's friends were a few constant characters that despite not being important, made the drama lively.

The little bits of Psychology lessons and advices from the characters that were inserted in the episodes were enlightening. The drama was definitely not the surface fluff I usually enjoy -- it did focus on the perspectives of two vastly different characters and their views.

The pacing of the show seemed off during a few episodes. Although every bit of it gave me warm fuzzies, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was just missing.
But, it gave me a breath of fresh air after two months of extreme stress. So, I'll rate this a solid 7.5/10.

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