KingC

"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.

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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.

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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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How To Seek For Happiness.

I might be the 0.1% of the audience who do not feel as attached to the drama as I should've been. It's not because the drama is bad, no, no. It's one of the most heartwarming productions I've seen. I would suggest Hometown Cha-Cha to anyone looking for an escape from real life, yet deciding to learn something about reality while doing it.

☆ If I could summarise it, it would be:
A young dentist Hye-Jin, has a wake up call on the harsh reality of life after moving to the seaside village of Gongjin.
I had a love hate relationship with her character during the first eight episodes that I saw. It's ironic because I'm as closed off as her in real life with very few friends. I related to her woes of moving from a huge city to a little known town where you suddenly discover that many of the items you used to buy are nowhere to be found, people are more nosy and everyone are an overly friendly bunch who inadvertently put you in an uncomfortable position. I loved how she tried to mask her difficulties and attemped to change herself. Her character growth was gradual and a delight to watch.

☆ But, Hye-Jin needed a lot of growth during the first half of the drama. And thankfully, Chief Hong existed to throw a pail of ice cold water on her biased views about people and life. I absolutely hated how she referred to herself as someone on the 'upper elite' despite being clearly in a difficult situation and there were several instances that her own best friend (who grew up in similar conditions as hers) seemed much more perceptive about the people around her. This stark contrast between those two stood out to me and I still do not know if that was purposefully meant to be that way.

☆ I have to mention the one character whom I deeply respect: Chief Hong, the male lead and the love interest to Hye-Jin. While clearly portrayed as empathetic and a jack-of-all trades, two qualities that earn him the nickname "Chief", we see him call out Hye-Jin several times for her prejudices towards the 'common folk' and her stubbornness and refusal to understand the minds and workings of a local close knit community. While I 100% agree with her actions, I admire Chief Hong for his confidence in himself and flr striving to change her views. I wasn't deeply invested in their romance, which is definitely leaning towards the slow burn arc, but I loved how strong their connection was. I loved his openness and the efforts he made to make the people of the small town happy.

☆ The little town has a handful of characters whom we closely follow throughout all the episodes. They are the basement of the drama. We get to know their grievances and secrets, and see them slowly warming up to Hye-Jin in turn. I loved her interactions with them. I admit, I'm eight episodes in, but I'm still unable to recall anyone of their names perfectly. (In my mind some of them: Mr. Americano + Singer and his daughter Ju-Ri; Restaurant Chief who is divorced with a son, the Restaurant Chief's divorced husband who is the head of the small town, The Shop Gang, The Three Grandmas, Pyo Mi-Seong, Police Dude…
Another aspect that I loved about the show was how they stuck true to the genre. It's not just the leads whom we learn in depth about, but the supporting characters as well. I have to say, I enjoyed the bittersweet parts of the drama a lot more than the lighter scenes. I've heard that it gets quite tearful during the last half.

☆ Although I'm sometimes annoyed with Hye-Jin, none of the characters got on my nerves. There were no pressure inducing misunderstandings and most of the arguments would be smoothened out in a calm manner. There was something magical about how the most simple things in life can bring us immense joy and pain. At one point, it made think of quitting everything and living a life like Chief Hong's. Yeah… haha.

☆ The OST was fitting and had a cottage core ambience that perfectly fit Gongjin's theme. The locations were really scenic and watching the blue ocean itself left me really satisfied.

☆ As to why I dropped this. Slice-of-life dramas are not ones that I usually binge. (It took me three months to complete Reply 1988.) But, I also realized that I'm more attached to slice-of-life dramas that I could somehow personally relate to. While this drama has all the right emotions that are meant to tug at our heartstrings, I don't feel the urge or curiosity to know what happens next and did not have a strong attachment to anyone. (This might be because of how disconnected I felt to the daily life of the people. I found their struggles relatable though.) And the hour long episodes of focus on the daily life of the villagers and Hye-Jin pushed my patience. (I was exhausted watching two episodes a day and tend to fast forward a lot.)
Somethings that are meant to happen, would eventually happen. Just like how the drama portrays life as: Unpredictable and sometimes bitter. I can see why so many people love the slice-of-life genre a lot and this one definitely deserves to be among one of the best in that genre.

I bid a hearty farewell to you, Hometown Cha-Cha. Maybe, somewhere in the future, I might pick you up once again to bring me back the calmness and contentment that I felt while I initially watched you.

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Neither Good or Bad.

Boy.... I missed watching according to the schedule and completely feel unmotivated to continue after EP11. The more I think
about the spoilers and the way the story wove into a labyrinth for the sake of filling the episodes, the less inclined I feel to know what happens in the future. Maybe I'll pick it up sometime, bit it's definitely a Dropped from me for now. I'd recommed this show if you don't care much about plot or if you are a strong fan of the leads. I'd suggest turning off the "logic+understanding" and switching on the "only for enjoyment" button on before starting. Otherwise, I feel like so many talented actors (who did their job well) were wasted in this one. The script/story lacks direction and runs around in circles with the Deity system itself remaining ambiguos and difficult to portray. It could've been solved in 10 or 12 episodes, but dragged on for no good reason.
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I'm going to rate it a 5/10 for the first 11 episodes of the drama. 5 is me focussing on the plot alone and the overall way it impacts the pace and anticipation for the story as a whole.
What bothers me is that the writer seems to know where the story has to go, but did not do a smooth portrayal of it. We are at the 10th episode, and the only plotline that is actually in motion is the mundane love triangle of Tak Dong Kyung's friend Ji Na... which I am not interested in. The main couple's "throw-the-ball-to-the-other" keeps going on. In an episode spanning an hour long we get 10 minutes of important points about the leads, particularly from Doom and the deity. It is clear that he has a plan, but the story has yet to reveal what he is actually upto. The only character who makes logical statements is the female deity, but she seems to be someone cleverly inserted to give the main couple a happy/neutral/bitter ending. Unless you are a fan of slow plots and is patient enough to watch sweet scenes with the leads, I highly doubt that this drama is "binge watch worthy". From what I see, Tak Dong Kyung can choose to just take the surgery and live with what time she has, making the 100 day contract invalid. But, judging from EP11's teaser, we are going to get pulled into another maze of intricate ball throwing and decisions, so let's see where it goes.

I can see why it has so many polarized ratings - for a fantasy KDrama with predecessors such as Goblin and Hotel del Luna, the anticipation and expectation is really high. Once we set all that aside, DAYS is indeed a different drama with a an interesting plotline. Doom himself is personified as a living being and the concept of the cycle of life is something I'm seeing for the first time.

Fantasy dramas are either a hit or miss and I can tell that this one has a lot of potential to take either road. EP8 was slightly satisfying as it managed to cover a few important foreshadowings that could have been done much earlier. There are characters and conversations that are actually interesting: like the young teenage girl and Myul Mung. We get a mysterious vibe.
The main couple is ship worthy, but the erratic "toss-the-ball-to-the-other" plot has been a bit repetative and makes it seem boring. Another thing that I noticed is that there might be time skips - the drama begins with her having only three months left to live and then in the recent episode she tells that she has about two months left.
The acting of the cast fills up all the missing parts, but once we try to summarize an episode... there's not much going on there. I don't feel the urge to binge the new ones every week. I also feel that the addition of the friend's complicated love life is a filler of some sort, but if they had not been there, the drama would be pretty boring.
It has enough mystery and potential to keep me curious and I want to see whether the ending is going to be a thrilling, yet logical one or if the writers decide to do a cope out.

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Logical, Political, Romantic.

I had been unable to escape this appropriately titled Chinese Costume drama on tumblr last year and chose it as one of the CDramas that I had decided to finish whatsoever this year.
(Appropriate because blossoms are an integral part of the story. Unlike so many other dramas which make it obvious that the ones who choose names pick the most beautiful/powerful sounding word.)

And I am curious how it successfully managed to slip through the ‘reincarnation’ plot blocker, because it's quite evident that our female lead, Dou Zhao, doesn't believe that what she saw was a mere ‘dream’.
To support this, the first episode is shot and presented to the audience in a very conspicuous manner.

Well, the plot is nothing new as far as Historical Chinese Dramas are concerned, but the almost effective use of runtime and a script that was written with a clear vision might be one of the few reasons why Blossom is one to try, particularly for historical drama fans.

Dou Zhao, a young girl from an influential family of Lords, mysteriously remembers her previous life while engrossed in a book. Following a series of inevitable events, and knowing what lies ahead, she leaves home to live with her Grandmother in the countryside, acquiring skills and knowledge to ensure her survival, adapting the lifestyle of a businesswoman far away from the restrained life of a noble household. However, she once again encounters Song Mo, the feared General who had perished with her in the past. With the pieces set on the board, Dou Zhao attempts to guide Song Mo away from the tragic fate that awaits him whilst simultaneously battling her family affairs, both in and out of the court.

• Story and Romance:
Like all political dramas, this one is not immune to the 'boredom' aspect. Unless you are willing to sit through several characters' planning and plotting. There is romance, which is integral to the story, yet it becomes the backdrop for a couple of episodes. I mean this in a positive manner -- there was an even distribution of both romance and politics which managed to keep me engaged and know what was about to occur. The villain is revealed right at the beginning of episode one, so nothing comes as a surprise, but the curiosity about how Dou Zhao will alter her future.
The romance is excellently paced. Both Dou Zhao and Song Mo tested each others' limits, particularly Song Mo, as he had no recollection of his past. But, the break in their ice was gradual and convincing. It was not a love-at-first-sight for either of them. I would describe it as something to be viewed in person rather than attempting to write it down in words.

The scriptwriter is the same person who wrote the script of Legally Romance (2022), so I won't complain much as condensing a 500 chapter novel into a 34 episode drama is no simple task.

• Cast, Costume and Soundtrack:
I have no complaints about the cast, but there were a few highly emotional (tearful) moments where I felt that I felt Meng Zi Yi wasn't much into her role, though she absolutely nailed everything else.
Costumes weren't flashy, but Dou Zhao's 'countryside' outfits were my favorite.
I guess most of the budget went into other aspects of the drama because I don't remember hearing numerous songs. My favorite is definitely Don't Envy (不羡) by Bo Yuan.

• Cold Pricklies: That would definitely be Song Mo's character during the final half of the drama -- considering the length of the original novel, I understand how certain parts have to be altered; but his sudden response to one of the characters in particular seemed too cruel for me. The buildup was unexpected or rather I had failed to understand Song Mo's past.

• Final Thoughts:
A really good Chinese drama that respects the intelligence of its target audience, provided that half the stuff they release is often mediocre at times. I'm not sure if I'll ever rewatch 'Blossom', but it has definitely left an impression on me.
I hope that the entire household of Dou Zhao is happily living somewhere in an alternate universe.

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Where the Waves Take You.

What happens when your carefully planned life comes crashing down? And you are terrified of disappointing your family?

Well, Asagi Soramame knows the truth. With her grandma and relatives preparing for her wedding which is set to occur within a month, an enthusiastic Soramame visits her boyfriend in Tokyo -- only to be met with the truth that he was no longer going to marry her, or even uphold the promise of installing an elevator at her home for her grandmother.
Scared of revealing the truth, she decides to stay over at Tokyo and find a job with the help of Umino Oto, a struggling musician. Fate works its threads and both of them find themselves in a boarding house run by a rich, wise old lady, Kyoko-san.
While Oto and Soramame attempt to find their own successful paths, they develop a deep understanding of one another along the way.

*The overall theme of the drama as well as the aesthetics had a very calming and cottagecore atmosphere which did not tire me. This is more about the growth of all the characters rather than the romance. Every one of the cast embodied their characters well. I particularly liked Hiroze Suzu's portrayal of Soramame.
It was very easy to feel for such a character -- from the get-go, it is evident that she had been pampered by her family. When the rug of comfort is suddenly pulled from under her feet, she is forced to confront her future. She was fearless and daring, but she was also honest and vulnerable.
Oto was another subdued character of Nagase Ren's. He wasn't emotional, but his empathy was evident till the very end.
The slowly developing feelings between the two as well as their banter with Kyoko-san were some of the most touching moments. The drama also gave me an insight on how the fashion as well as the music world works.
The final episode was bittersweet, particularly when it comes to Soramame. She seems to be happy with the outcome, though, so I'll rate this one a 7.5/10. 0.5 points docked cause I was too lazy and distracted during some scenes.

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Background Noise.

I particularly did not dislike this one, neither did I like it.
For a story that spans only eight episodes, I was not able to emotionally connect with any of the characters; not to mention, the storyline was a very typical one.
The leading actors gave it their all for bringing the characters to life, but sadly, the story got plain boring after the first half -- Maika was somewhat overemotional at times, particularly during the last two episodes, but the story didn't give me a reason to feel for her. And the flashbacks to the past were from Satori Shun's point of view; which did not give much purchase for Maika's feelings. Though, I did like how the drama highlighted the ways in which the parents' influence shaped the characters.

It had plenty of potential, but the idea of what the scriptwriter wanted to convey just didn't get through to me. 6.5/10 because it was not terrible, yet I'm sure that I'll forget about this one very soon.

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"Demon Hunters Tell No Tales."

Demon Hunter’s Romance or Wu You Du is the first serious Chinese fantasy drama based on a novel that I’ve watched since Lost You Forever back in 2022. Frankly, the mass release of episodes and all the fast track nonsense makes it impossible to enjoy CDramas, personally from my side.
I began this on a whim – I am familiar with both the leading actors’ works and this one had been floating about since 2022.
In a nutshell, this is a work that had some significant effort put into the writing and directing department. It’s not flashy, but can hold your attention if you are curious.
Also, I’m happy to know that inspite of my short hiatus from the “official” CDramaland, the writers and creators still do not fail to disappoint me in the ‘Disappointment Department’.
I’ll dive right into my jumbled thoughts.

★ The Story:
Duan Ban Xia, the young daughter from a prestigious family has a secret – she is able to see demons with one eye following a freak accident that occured after she had been abducted when she was twelve. Her ‘accident’ is brushed off by her family as a dream and her visions are purported to be a mental health issue. Following several visits to Physicians and calming balms, her wits come to an end when she realizes that her newly wed cousin’s wife was a demon.
However, fate comes in the form of Jin Xuan Ye, a mysterious demon hunter.

What was supposed to be a transient meeting becomes a tangle of fate when Ban Xia’s father is found dead under mysterious circumstances and she has no choice, but to seek someone who would help her uncover the truth.

— The story is almost well paced and engaging. It mostly dealt with three major demonic mysteries that the team, consisting of Xuan Ye, Ban Xia, and the rabbit demon Chi Xue, came across on their search for truth.
The end of EP2 and the beginning of EP35 is one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve seen in a CDrama, particularly with the lighting and the music.
Why did I mention the word “almost”? If I could divide the drama into three halves, it definitely loses its steam in the middle half, where I personally felt that a case that could've been wrapped up in three episodes got dragged around a lot. If I’m being honest, the trailer focussed on major pivotal scenes that take place in the final bits of the drama, yet it never really took a central role and seems to have been stuffed at the end. Especially considering that its native title translates to Worry Free Ferry, yet we are never really shown much about it except at the final arch and one voice-over conversation.

More about the ending below.

★ The Characters and Relationships:

… are the heart and soul of the story. Not to mention, every actor on screen knew how to do their job well. Ban Xia is not exactly the most powerful female lead, but she was never annoying. Her relationship with her cousin, Ting Zhou (her maid) and Jin Xuanye are the highlights. I had seen Song Zu Er previously as the leading character in Legally Romance and I as not let down by her performance here.
Xuanye was a very subdued character (Ren Jialun seems to pick less animated roles and floats with the power of facial expressions alone) with his fair share of mysteries, but he was honest about his emotions. Their romance was very, very palatable and I found myself grinning like a fool in several instances. At points where I felt to fast forward or drop the drama, it was the characters who made me stick till the end.
The supporting cast was powerful as well. Particularly Wen Jian, Chief Chu Youhuang, and Commissioner Sima Liying. I really liked how natural the rapport felt between the characters. Even the demons had a past and personality of their own rather than being hastily assembled skeletons.
Particular note for the actress, Zhang Zi Xin from Reunion Inn who sounded like Esther Yu. I hope that most of her scenes were done in single or double takes because the amount of neck movements she was performing gave me a crick.

★ Costumes and CGI:
Costumes were unremarkable. But, I did like a few of Ban Xia’s outfits at the end of the drama – they had a cottage core aesthetic and simple patterns without being too flashy. Xuan Ye’s outfits didn’t have any patterns, but they were my favorite out of everyone.
CGI is passable, not too great, but just what I expected from a drama with such an atmosphere.

★ Soundtrack:
My instant favorites:
---- 大梦不醒 - Jason Zhang. [This was just ethereal when combined with the right scenes.]
--- 心之渡 - Sun Yun Ying.
--- 予你人间 by Song Zu Er slowly grew on me too.
The background music was not too memorable, but the instrumental renditions of various songs were beautiful.

★ The Ending:
I am honestly surprised that viewers are surprised by the ending – which is a very, very typical Chinese Fantasy drama cliché ending. I mentioned the Disappointment Department, didn’t I? Well, this is one of the features that the production team ticked off.
Take literally any Xinxia or Wuxia dramas and you get a plethora of half baked endings. So much that people are surprised to even get a proper denouement.

I’ve become accustomed to such finales that I do not care about anything anymore and feel zero emotions when characters are killed off/separated. Because this is lazy writing at its finest. Having such endings once or twice is fine, or even if the author intended the original source to have wrapped up in that way. But, when the same pattern is repeated multiple times, it loses all meaning. Which is exactly what I feel for this drama as well. I titled my review with a hint of what it reminded me of. Is it hopeful? Yes.
But, the entire way how the episode ended abruptly enraged me-- it looked as if they hastily put together scenes and conversations two minutes before the air time.

★ From the Writer's Desk:
An 8.5/10 from me for now, as the rewatch value is personally, not too high. But, this is the first Chinese fantasy drama in a long time that managed to hold my attention and care for the characters. 3.5/5 if it was Douban or a 7/10 if I am being critical, but then I’ll have to revamp my entire dramalist to reflect the change in outlook, but in a site such as this where subjective reviews overtake objective ones, I’ll attempt to bury my bitterness and let this one go.

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Bitter Nectar.

Surprisingly, Futtara Doshaburi is a rather calm drama to watch and relies solely on the characters to carry the story. It deals with mature topics regarding intimacy and communication.
Hagiwara seemingly leads a perfect life with his longtime girlfriend Kaori - with the intimate aspect missing.
Sei's situation was different -- he was forever stuck in a twisted friendzone with Fujisawa, who claims to take care of him forever, yet doesn't allow Sei to lay a finger on him.
An accidental email had these two developing a rapport, which strengthens after they discover that they are coworkers.

I don't condone cheating, and there were alternate choices that these characters could've made, but they've (or rather Hagiwara) had been suppressed and confused for too long that he simply lost his composure and did what he did in the spur of the moment.

I could understand why certain mishaps happened, but it would've ended the exact way, even sans the cheating. But, this is a drama and we have a story to tell.

The OST was really good -- both the opening and the closing themes, along with the BGM, were apt for the theme. (The opening song is Bitter Nectar by One Love One Heart, which is the title of my review.)
In terms of acting and characters, everyone were able to convincingly portray their roles well -- but one highlight would be Muto Jun close to the end of EP5.
I was able to sympathize with them.

All in all, such a drama is a first for me, but I don't regret the time I spent on this.

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A Monster Calls.

The only Godzilla movie I have watched is that 1998 which, I would later learn, was universally panned by critics. So, this is my second Godzilla movie. (Or rather the first one from Japan.)
What I liked about this is not the monster or the CGI, which without saying, was stunning enough to land an Oscar.

In the backdrop of a war torn Japan, a kamikaze pilot, Shikishima Koichi, who, instead of going to fight a losing war, evades it by lying that his plane had mechanical troubles. The island in which he had landed for repair is soon attacked by a dinosaur like creature and when he is asked to shoot at it using his plane, he becomes frozen with fear, resulting in the death of the mechanics who worked there.
He returns home grief stricken, only to find out that his family was wiped out in the air raids. Now, slowly struggling to make ends meet, he accidentally picks up a lady, Noriko and a child whom she had rescued.
However, he is plagued with guilt and endless nightmares which hinders him from moving forward. Fate comes in the form of Godzilla, which had now become even more indestructible. Shikishima decides to set things right once and for all.

As usual, Japanese movies make simple events seem touching and this one was no exception. It dealt with grief, guilt, loss and the courage to move forward inspite of that all. Noriko, who has just lost everything as he had, had a much more positive disposition whereas Shikishima's inner monsters a him mad.
I liked the simple banter he shared with his co-workers. The movie stressed along on human feelings. All the cast members were excellent and managed to invoke the necessary emotions without overdoing it.

The Godzilla was plain scary. The way it crushed and destroyed everything on it's path was terrifying. I mean, some of the dog's barking as it approached and people screaming and fleeing is the stuff that triggers your worst nightmares. And the radioactivity thingy coming out whenever it was pissed was beautiful, yet, frightening.

All in all, I really enjoyed the experience. It's one of the few rewatch worthy movies I've seen in recent years and it's definitely worth a try.

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Second Chances.

I think it's time to admit that some types of mature romances aren't just for me. This was the case with this show.

Miyata Akihiro, a sincere and diligent editor of a business magazine by chance gets to meet his first love, Iwanaga Takashi while working on an article. However, he is still haunted by his previous experience as a teenager with the untouchable Iwanaga sensei, who had bet on their love. Now, as adults, Iwanaga once again expresses his interest in Miyata-san, who is determined not to fall for the easy-going Iwanaga-sensei again.

The characters, particularly Miyata-san is the reason I held on until the end. He was careful and cautious with his words and actions. I was never once annoyed or angered by his choices.
As for Iwanaga sensei... I have no idea about him even after the end. There was so much more to him than what was being shown, but I just couldn't feel anything for his character at all.
I enjoyed the flashbacks, but they seemed incomplete to the story, inspite of giving some glimpse into their past, particularly Miyata-san.
Both the actors nailed their roles, and the overall atmosphere of the drama was pleasant.
It seems to be one of those dramas, which I feel had a lot of potential, but somehow managed to miss me.

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Soothing and Memorable.

The trope of childhood friends falling in love is definitely out of vogue and dramas with recurring themes (often including the same scenarios) fail to impress, and rather irritate viewers instead.
Kimi Ni Wa Todokanai falls in the same league, but with that magical Japanese touch of making the simple seem the most beautiful, this has become one of my favorite dramas ever.

The seemingly quintessential, popular and well loved, yet introverted Ohara Yamato has a deep secret: he is head over heels for his less bright and extroverted childhood friend, Ashiya Kakeru.
He refrains from confessing, but when Kakeru expresses his wish for ‘having someone special’ and actively seeks company along with his friends, Yamato begins to lose control of his carefully guarded feelings.
The shift in tone of their friendship confuses Kakeru and the two best friends are forced to grapple with their emotions.

The trope might be a cliché, but I loved every single episode.
Its concise storytelling, excellent performances and chemistry from both the leading actors, coupled with adequate runtime made this a simple, yet memorable watch.

Also, the BGMs which were ridiculously spot on, aesthetics and a sprinkle of comedy, friendships and sibling relationships made this wholesome.

All in all, I will be definitely revisiting this little journey with the characters once again.

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The Midnight Library.

I was fooled into thinking that this was some isekai style comedy drama, but oh no. It sits right up there with 'Oh no! Here Comes Trouble!' -- dramas which are disguised as comedy when in reality, they hold a much deeper meaning.

The drama opens with a despondent 29-year-old Myung Ha (Lee Tae Vin) in a bar, reading his senior's soon-to-be-turned-to-a-game novel about a couple who finally get their happy ending. He is dismissive about the HE, and points out that Cha Yeo Woon, a supporting character with no 'happily-ever-after' is the one whom he pays attention to. His senior asks Myung Ha whether he would be the one to give him a happy ending -- Myung Ha soon falls asleep drunk and wakes up as his vibrant 19-year-old self... right in the middle of the said game.
His task? Save Yeo Woon within 300 (?) days or face death.
As Myung Ha tries his best to bring a suicidal and lonely Yeo Woon back to life, we slowly begin to learn about who Myung Ha is.

The gaming aspect is strongly welded to Love for Love's Sake -- there is not a moment where I forgot that Myung Ha was not even from the gaming world. What is intriguing is how we discover small snippets of his life through various incidents. Yes, Myung Ha's ultimate task is to unpeel Yeo Woon's various layers and make him choose the things he genuinely cares about. But, what does it ultimately bring for Myung Ha, who doesn't even exist in the first place? And what will happen, when Yeo Woon starts to develop feelings for him?

The answers to several questions were slammed down on my head in the penultimate and final episode, and I still do not know whether to be happy or sad. It was a bitter experience, watching them.

Myung Ha must've been one tough character to play because out of everyone portrayed, he had the most secrets. Kudos to Lee Tae Vin, particularly for the last three episodes because no one call pull of that feeling without understanding the character.
Cha Joo Wan convincingly played the role of a cold tough guy to an honest and strong individual quite well. I liked his sincerity and straightforwardness.

Myung Ha's two other friends and the little sister brought a sense of normalness and 'familial' feeling to what would otherwise have been a rather lonely drama. His relatiobship with his grandmother was what I liked the most -- she was the link which existed in Myung Ha's life, both the virtual and the real one.
[The Midnight Library is a book by Matt Haig by the way. Love for Love's sake, despite it's flowery title reminded me of this book.]

I think for one has to watch this drama by self to experience it -- pretty sure that this is the type of story that is either a hit or miss. Either you understand it or you just don't. It strikes a deep cord and might not resonate with many, but ultimately it definitely is a different story for such a short drama.

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"Follow Your Heart."

Despite the ratings, I think this is one of my favorite short dramas from Japan. I can see why it appeals to only a limited audience -- the leading characters are definitely not the conventional ones. While I'm pretty much accustomed to seeing the 'popular smarty pants' and an introverted silent/chaotic mess, its the first time I'm coming across characters who are both calm and composed. And the overall aura of this series is surprisingly dark/unhappy.

Takizawa Kazuma has just returned from overseas and landed a job in the HR department of an advertising firm. To his surprise, he runs into his former best friend and first love Ishihara Ren, whom he had lost connection with when Kazuma had fallen ill in high school. However, the Ren he knows now refuses to indulge about his past and has changed his surname. They fall back into their old habits and Kazuma keeps his feelings for Ren a secret, even resorting to a friend-with-benefit arrangement, to keep it hidden. But, Ren seems to be hiding something much more bigger than he imagined.

The story has a plot, particularly dealing with workplace harassment. But, the entire journey is worth only for the characters alone -- if they grow on you, per se.
Saotome Ren/Ishihara Ren is one character whom I respect. Not because of how loyal he was to everyone he came across, but how pure he was in his intentions. I can practically hear my parents telling me why I should never fall in love at a young age because that's exactly what happens to Ren.
I enjoyed Kazuma's sunshine like personality; but, I do think that he a bit too naïve when he was young.
[It's lucky that Ren's instincts were correct, otherwise this would be a certain tragedy. ]
I have to say, I was satisfied with both the actors' portrayal of their roles, even if Ren's crying scenes did not have actual tears. But, then again, was it intentional?

The supporting characters such as Ryunosoke and Hide weren't just there to exist, but provided insights about the remaining characters. I liked how we were shown how both Ren and Kazuma saw each other through their own lens'.
The pacing was surprisingly good. The flashbacks from childhood that were interspersed with the current timeline managed to capture my attention and pique my curiosity. Both the child actors were excellent and well casted. I hope to see both of them in bigger roles in the future. [Loved the ending song, One Day, which seems to be more suitable for the darker theme rather than the sunny opening.]

I'm writing this review after quite a long break, so it's already a win that I'm able to recall both the characters' names and their stories. It might not be for everyone, but this was just an almost perfect watch for me.

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Bite Sized Slice of Life Series for Peace.

Following the tradition of those adequately paced, capsule sized, fluffy BLs, Love Tractor is not groundbreaking by any means. However, its charm lies within the characterisation and aesthetics, which were beautifully planned.

Within the first two episodes, it's evident that Yun Sul, an excellent law student, has absolutely zero interest in pursuing law. He rebels against his father's wishes and escapes to his grandfather's village. There he meets the humble and honest Ye Chan, who despite leading a simple life of farming, is happier than most people.

The story has romance as one of its main elements, but what caught my attention was how every character, including the cameo-like In Seong, had a personality and aura of their own. They have a life outside of the bubble, which also plays an important part in shaping who they are.
Yun Seol, perhaps was the most calm, struggling and composed character out of everyone. We see the half of the show from his perspective, while the other half is from Ye Chan's point of view, which was plain hilarious.
Open as a book and innocent as a child, he was smart, but an emotional and confused mess of a kid half the time. An easily likable character.
The comedic timing of everyone in the village was awesome; the village head, Ye Chan and his mom specifically.

In terms of acting, everyone seemed faultless to me. In a manhwa like manner of course! I know there were complaints against the village head, but even he seemed okay to me. The Soundtrack was beautiful - particularly 'Rainbow' by Coldin. (He sang the OST of Semantic Error, last year's breakthrough KBL.)

Mind you, it's kind of a long drama; every episode increases in duration and the final ones were almost half an hour long. I appreciate the team responsible for this as the runtime was sufficient enough to at least attempt to convincingly portray Ye Chan's budding romance. (Ham was more mature and closed off, so I am not sure where and when he fell for Ye Chan.)
The last one I saw, Starstruck, had everything tightly packed into 'exactly' 15 minutes and it was deeply disappointing to see all that potential wasted. Sigh..

All in all, Love Tractor is a beautiful and peaceful watch to cool off your mind.

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