KingC

A Renascence in All Ways.

The Liar Game returns after a two year hiatus, completely invigorated with power and deviousness. This series might be one of the few sequels out there that outshined its predecessor.

☆ Kanzaki Nao-chan and Akiyama-kun are pitted along with Fukunaga (AKA the Mushroom from S1) two years after their last match. However, this time, they are headed for the semi-finals. The games in the second season are unflinchingly deceitful. While the players of the S1 were pulled into the labyrinthine game against their will and with no choice left, the players in this one are clearly worthy of the arena. Not only are they experienced with the workings of the game; none of them are completely unintelligent. The stakes are much higher and the opponents far more stronger. I felt incredibly like an imbecile while watching the games unfold. All of them appeared facile, but once they begin, they are a far cry from what the players were promised. The psychological play on human minds was boggling to watch. It was a battle of brains that was absolutely nerve-wracking and thrilling.
(As an added bonus, I inadvertently got to know the rules of all the games mentioned in Poker Face by Lady Gaga.)

☆ While the Nao-chan in season one was forced to become enlightened about the depth of human greed and deception, this season is where she actually proves her worth. She maintains the same personality as in season one, but it's evident that she has actually grasped the concept of the Liar Game. Still dubbed as "stupidly honest", I suddenly realized why she was an integral part of the game.
Akiyama Shinichi is still the prime mover, but he is forced to face opponents who are as skilled as he was at his craft. He is as eccentric and enigmatic as he was in the past, but we see different facets of his that we hadn't seen before.

☆ The production style is definitely outdated, but the comically dramatic laughter of the 'villain' was more sporadic than the first season, which is definitely an improvement. I also found the OSTs to be absolutely fitting for such a thrilling drama. I loved both the Capsule songs used: Sugarless Girl and Love or Lies.

☆ The first season was tamer and provided the perfect basement for the second to be built upon. I admire the writer for managing to maintain the mysterious aspect of the show and deepening the purpose behind the ridiculous game of deception. For once, I didn't find them to be desultory, but witty and intelligent. It was a true test of human nature. This aspect is given much more focus in S2, which is undoubtedly more explosive than the first.

I can see why fans of such psychological gaming shows find this absolutely unforgettable and riveting. It left me pondering about how the game represents the real world and how vacillating humans have become due to their guile. I couldn't dislike Nao-chan. Someone like her was not meant for a game like this, but she is ultimately the player who breaks all rules.

Japan adds their own flavor in all the dramas I've seen and they did their magic with this one as well. Definitely one of the few series that got me scratching my head out of sheer confusion, but kept me glued to the screen to know the outcome.

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A Bittersweet Twist.

Slice of life genres are rarely everyone's cup of tea. The realistic portrayal of life and relatable characters are what makes one fall in love with them. When dramas like Go Ahead peaked back in 2020, no one paid much attention to silly kids' genres dramas such as I Don't Want To Be Friends With You. MangoTV never bothered to subtitle it and it wasn't until six months later that Kukan Drama Channel decided to pick it up. And then the magic began...
-- The Plot:
Li Jin Bu, a 17 year old who is sick of her single mother's neglectful and careless antics decides to stay overnight at a Public Bathhouse as a sign of her displeasure and finds herself transported 20 years back to her mother's cold North Eastern hometown. Lost and confused, she has no choice but to track down the last person she had wanted to see: Li Qing Tong, her mother... who is completely unaware of who she is. Cooking up lies and jumping through hoops, guided by a mysterious man, Jin Bu takes it upon herself to change her mother once and for all.
--- The Duo:
Li Jin Bu is no angel. She is lonely, stoic and often ruthless with her words. She is perhaps, one of the most realest characters I've seen in a High school drama to date. Her mother, Li Qing Tong is not a bright one either. Slightly dumb with low IQ and high EQ, she tries her best and doing things the right way. As time goes, Jin Bu starts to grow up along with her mother and gets to know her from a different angle. The show explored the depth of their relationship perfectly. They go from mother-daughter to realizing that they are each others' best friends.
--- The Brotherhood:
Honestly, Chen Jun He, Duan Xiao and Ba Dan were characters that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Particularly Chen Jun He. His antics with his friends, his family and Qing Tong were the highlights of the show.
-- Romance:
I rarely ship ships. But, I'd die for Jin Bu and Duan Xiao. Subtle romance without words are my top weaknesses and this couple managed to hit all the feels the right way. Jin Bu never confessed outright to Xiao. And I understand why. But, she always put forward what he wants and tried to be her very best to him. Her sincerity and his trust were beyond heartwarming. Their every moment together was like a piece of treasure.
-- Overall:
I have no words to describe how much this drama means to me. It was in no way a perfect production, but it made me lose interest in other dramas for two months straight. The characters, the lessons, the sweet memories that it left for me can never be put down in words. But, I sincerely implore you to give this little gem a try. :)

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The Darkest Minds.

A 9/10 because this was extremely an eye opener for me. I've never investigated murderers, looked up police procedures or psychopaths and had never even known that they had certain behavioral patterns until this. Though, a caveat for thrill seekers -- this drama is no regular "thriller". It is more procedural and gives an indepth look into the lives of Criminal Profilers. (This might be the reason why I did not feel to rate it a 10/10.)

I am quite curious about how the original book was written because Through the Darkness is carried by the efforts of two budding criminal profilers, Song Ha Young and Captain Young Soo. Despite their intense passion for that specific line of work, they often face ridicule from their colleagues, thanks to the apprehension that follows anything new.

The entire story as a whole is told in an almost episodic format, loosely based on some of the major crimes that were headlines in South Korea. (As a matter of fact, Gu Young Chun, who was sentenced to death, is still alive and imprisoned.)

In particular, I was impressed and terrified by Song Ha Young, an introverted detective who was extremely sensitive to the emotions of everyone surrounding him. I have to say, he is hands down one of the most genuinely nice and fluffy male leads out there. We see his intense passion for his work. What was surprising to me was how I grew attached to even his own mother, who definitely has less screen time than any other characters who are working on the field. His rapport with his more extroverted colleague was one of the lighter parts of the show. I slowly began to care for both of the profilers and their family.

Captain Yoon, one of the major female characters, was introduced in a rather annoying fashion —- I grew to like her refurbished attitude as the story progressed, but I failed to understand her rude approach to the Criminal Profilers in the first place. I found the female reporter disconcerting as she had only a countable number of scenes. I wished to see more of her passion for her work.

The crimes were gruesome and the interviews were bleak —- but, as someone mentioned, we are the creators of our destiny. We choose to become who we are.

Funnily, both my mom and a friend of mine advised me in the exact same manner that Song Ha Young was admonished on episode 8 and 9.

I hope that the real authors as well as the entire cast and crew behind the scenes received extensive counselling and therapy after wrapping up. This show is not for the light hearted.

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A Slow Descent Down the Hill.

First: if you are looking for the 'thrill' and anticipation that one experiences while watching Signal (2016), Beyond Evil, Mouse (both 2021) or Flower of Evil, this drama isn't for you. I will suggest this drama to anyone who is looking for a unique story of two brothers. The murder and psychological aspects all come in second.

I dropped this drama precisely at the 13th episode, then watched the final episode to sate my curiosity.
The number of times I've seen it recommended alongside other thrillers is what drove me to begin this. I should've not kept prior expectations beforehand; this would've saved the rating from getting tanked.

The story had a good start that is enough to pique my curiosity. It's already established that Lee Hyun had a traumatizing experience as a child. Now, back in Korea after his stint as a Criminilogy Professor, he is drawn to certain murder cases that revive memories about his missing brother. On the other hand, Cha Ji Ahn, a cop, has stalked him for 20 years while on search of a serial killer whose last known interaction happened to be with Lee Hyun.

I don't usually go off about female leads, but Cha Ji Ahn's character and her backstory were the weakest part of the whole plot. I never really cared about her past or romance with Lee Hyun, thanks to how the writers wrote her as an almost comical and cringeworthy caricature of a cop. The main poster doesn't include her and I can see why. (Her annoying nature becomes bearable after episode 8. She was not irritable when it came to scenes of crime discussions with her team, but I skipped everything else of hers involving a casual Lee Hyun.)

I loved Lee Min's interesting game of cat and mouse. This was what kept me going throughout the whole drama. Park Bo Gum and Do Kyung Soo blew the cap off with their performances in this one. DO, Lee Joon Young's younger self, was stunning in his portrayal of a complete psychopath, but his delivery of certain lines are going to be some of the most memorable ones in dramaland. (Particularly at the end of EP1 and almost his every flashback. Another person to add to the list of Bunny Serial Killers.)

Seo In Guk has potential, but the shifting tones in his character made me feel less emotional towards him -- it went from comedy to stoic all at once. The character Lee Hyun didn't seem to get a break. The scenes of his that I enjoyed the most were all the serious ones.

I found it hilarious that Lee Hyun got everything solved instantly with the help of the Art gallery director -- I must not have watched enough to know his true identity or this is lack of paying attention from my part.

By episode 8 or 12, I knew who was who -- biggest let down as the story seemed rather bleak and uninteresting after the big reveal. (EP12 has one of my most favorite moments: the conversation between the two brothers. Both actors delivered emotional and heartfelt performaces.) I fastforwarded quite a bit after that, eventually deciding to drop the whole thing as it did not seem to have what I sought. I will not be going back to this drama anytime soon.

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Missing Links.

I guess this drama is supposed to be a dark one filled with tension, considering that it's taking place during a time of war and their country is right in the middle of it. But..
The cast, story and even the outfits are decent, however, the story failed to grab my attention. I blame the editing.
Plus, completely skipping the past of the main leads and directly heading for the conflict was a wrong move by whoever planned it because I did not feel emotional at all.
Su Yan was particularly irritating. I don't know why, but she almost seemed slow when time was dire, did not provide proper explanations to Wen Yuan and many of the troubles could've been avoided had she reacted on time.
Don't get me started on the King. He left absolutely no impression on me, even when he was at his most powerful. Pretty sure that Su Yan could've properly handled him, but alas, the story calls.
I would suggest this if you need some "break" and watch some good acting, despite of the story.

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A Nice Snoozefest.

There. My review's title is my 'a few word summary ' of Breeze of Love.
Honestly, the actors were excellent and had chemistry/angst, but the story did not do a good job in capturing my attention. The characters did not seem to have been fully fleshed out.
The overall set up was reminiscent of Our Dating Sim, except that this one has the college as the backdrop, but unlike ODS, I did not quite buy into their relationship.
For one, the separation and the reason was cut up and stretched far more longer than necessary. Ban Dong Wook was frustrating to watch. His side of the story remained obscure until the end. I understood that he was the introvert of the story, but hey. I couldn't quite root for him.
I loved Do Hyun, though. Atleast, his reason for being pissed off was valid.

The trouble might lie in the fact that the flashbacks were just not sufficient/placed at the wrong timing for me to catch up to them.
Their relationship was nice to watch though, so give it a try if you want something light.

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"People Crave for The Normal."

As a person who enjoys binging thriller dramas, this one is sure to have ended up in my dropped/fast forward list had I tried binging it.

The very interesting discourses and comments regarding certain characters is what drove me to begin watching this drama. Slice of life dramas are not my forté. But, seeing such intense character analysis for a seemingly sunny drama was what made me curious.

Probably one of the most well loved dramas that premiered last year, "Our Beloved Summer" is the chronicles of Choi Ung and Kook Yeon Su, two vibrantly different personalities who are forcibly put together in high school to film a documentary. The Proximity Principle proved true and it's not long before their hateful relationship morphs into love. After a disastrously earth shaking break-up, they meet five years later. Now, grown up and absorbed in their own career paths, they are unexpectedly thrown together again. But, this time, both of them are determined to change for the better…

I suck at expressing emotions in general and have a penchant for accepting characters and the story as it is presented, hence watching this was personally a purely fun experience for me.

Be warned… the slice-of-life tag doesn't lie.
The story follows the ordinary lives of both Yeon Su and Choi Ung along with one major supporting character (Kim Ji Ung).

Sticking true to the tag, it's the characters who are the soul of the story. Though it began with almost little to no emotional attachment from my side, I slowly grew attached to them by episode 14. There is not much purposeful happening with the plot, so, if you are a fan of strictly plot driven stories, this drama isn't for you.

Kook Yeon-Su can sit together with Kat from 10 Things I Hate About You and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Studious and meticulous in every aspect, she sets vigorous boundaries and rules to who or whatever crosses her path. Including Choi Ung. She has an almost aggressive reaction to everyone, trenchant and assertive with her words… which naturally makes her one of the most unlikeable students in her school.
I found her bravado tiring. But, the writers did a good job, taking time to explain her actions and errors.

Choi Ung is far from her strict good-girl regimen. He slacks off at class, is meek like a puppy and knows more social skills than Yeon Su. He understands what he has signed up for once he begins to date her. I loved how he was not driven by goals, but rather went with what his heart wanted.

The life outside their perfect bubble has an almost domino-like effect on them. These polar opposite duos had their own ways of expressing their emotions as a result. Yeon Su was more on the *tell* side of the sphere whereas Choi Ung was on the *show* side. They each await empathic responses to unasked questions. To me, this lack of understanding and failure to express themselves was the prime reason for their break up. Now, as adults, their tables have turned. They are much more aware of their mistakes and are ready to accept the error of their ways.

40% of the drama is seen partially through the eyes of the Documentary Producer, Kim Ji Ung, Choi Ung's best friend. He was a character whose presence was pivotal in understanding the leading ones. We see a deeper side of Choi Ung through him, his own personal troubles, his support and ear for Yeon Su, the rapport with his workplace colleagues… even Ung's manager and Sol - I were important.

NJ, an idol, felt really out of place. She was not annoying… but I didn't understand why there was so much time being invested in her story, which could literally be spliced out and kept as a different special episode. Her presence did incite major changes to certain characters, but I felt that the writers failed to portray her with more depth or importance. The main reason seems to be her lack of interaction with the major characters.

It's the actors who breathed life into the chara ters. They lived them. Even the minor ones. Choi Woo Shik was mind blowing in portraying the very insoucient Choi Ung. Rather than appearing lifeless and boring, he was vibrant and unique. Kim Da Mi had less internal monologues than Choi Ung, but the process of unwrapping her various layers was smoothly portrayed.

I didn't find the drama too funny, though. There were a few slapstick comedy scenes, but there was always a serious shadow in the background for more than half of the drama.

The soundtrack was overall pleasant to listen to with "Home" and "Christmas Tree" being my favorites along with the opening theme by Kim Hwan Hee.

It's a drama that I'm sure I'll probably never rewatch. But, sometimes you stumble upon a coin on the road and check it out.
As Mr. Park said to Ji Ung, people crave for the 'ordinary'. And so do I.

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A Compact and Warm Story.

I began this one in order to get out of a drama slump and it unexpectedly became one of my favorite short KDrama! What made this attractive to me was not just the romance, but the distinct characters and the struggles that they dealt with.
-- Taekyung struggled with being a loner; Shin Woo takes time to adjust and feel comfortable with strangers; Da On is bent on making everyone happy and never knows how to say no. Namjung is a cheerful and supportive friend wheras So Hee tries to get what her heart wants.
--- The pacing of the drama was excellent. With 16 episodes spanning around 29 minutes each, they managed wrap up everything quite neatly. There were some episodes I felt that would drag on certain parts, but it never did.
--- The relationship (including a love triangle) were surprisingly not too forced. Although, I still do not know when somebody is a bad actor, everyone's performance in this was highly convincing. They played and looked the part that fit their characters' personalities.
--- I loathe love triangles with deep intensity, and almost dropped this drama. But, this was one triangle/unrequited love that I felt was well written. There was no unnecessary pushing or pulling, but just went with the flow in the right way.
--- I found the setting and cinematography pleasing to the eyes. The OST in particular, was simple, but managed to capture the essence of the drama without going overboard. I was particularly happy to hear A.C.E, a band that I'd followed since their debut. (I particular loved the song Spark. Fever by Mooz is my next favorite. And the instrumental "You".)

It was nothing too special, but it had really warm vibe that we rarely get from many dramas.

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100% Warm Fuzzies.

When I meant that it was fluffy drama, I wasn't kidding. It's like an overdose of supposedly cute and sweet events leading to our leads falling in love, but I'm sorry to say that I found the main leads' storyline absolutely boring. I can't help but feel disconnected with their characters. Especially the three main female leads. I was able to enjoy scenes of them individually or with other supporting cast. But, once they were actually together, the 'comedy' part just fell flat. What was supposed to be funny came off as cringe.
I loved Zeng Li's scenes when she was having her internal monologues or just thinking by herself.
The cast was trying their best, but some scenes looked not so natural and in character.
Don't get me wrong, this drama is not unwatchable by any means. It's aesthetically pleasing and has warm color tones that puts one's mind at ease. And it was shot in several beautiful locations that I found breathtaking. I'd suggest this to anyone looking for a candy floss drama with beautiful locations, good looking actors (who attempted to bring justice to their role) and fluffy love.

Another thing that I loved was the small lessons and thoughts that each episode had. They were really heartwarming.

If I could pick a character whom I was actually curious to watch, it was Wu Ying (and Liu Yu Cheng as an extension). Their storyline was kind of off as well, but I found it more interesting to watch. Deng Hao Ran is another character whom I absolutely adore for spilling the truth to Ma Yi Yi. To be honest, all the characters grew on me, but there was something still missing in the main leads. I don't know why, but the story is beautiful as a whole.

The OST is really, really beautiful. But, there were some instances I felt that it did not fit the ambience.

Overall, I can say it was very enjoyable. The only trouble I had was this constant disconnect with some characters that made me skip multiple scenes.
I literally kangaroo hopped through the drama.

I think it's time for me to admit that I've grown too old for dramas like these. But, this certainly could've been much better or interesting. I couldn't help feeling like they tried too hard. Yet, I would certainly ask you to give it a try. It gives you a lot of warm fuzzies.

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Wrong Turn.

When a friend told me that this drama had the worst love triangle in the history of love triangles, I was tempted to watch it. Love triangles were a trope that I despiced with a viscious intensity, and I was curious to know why this one was labelled as the worst. Oh boy... nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for the terrible experience.
This is not a drama - this is a weapon of mass destruction. If there was any piece of entertainment that I coule choke to death, it would be this. I decided to write this review after going through my old posts about this drama and realized that my throat still got stuck whenever I thought about it... due to pure rage.

Yan Fei, a young businessman, is clearly unhappy and dissatisfied, both at work and in his relationship with Jimmy. When he accidentally drowns and is saved by a young boy Hai Qing, sparks fly. No amount of words can describe how much I am unable to buy their relationship. Just like the synopsis says, he gives his number to Hai Qing after sharing a steamy kiss... that did not even make sense. Flashforward a few days and Hai Qing has already lost the dude's number and is unable to call him.
Now Hai Qing... Dude is legit one of the worst brats I've ever seen in dramaland. He treated everyone around him like crap and switched personalities like those party lights that flash. I hated him in one episode, felt bad for him in the next, then hated him again. He was way beyond rude to his Grandpa. (Thank God. He passed away within the first four episodes. I'd like to think that he purposefully did it to escape the horror that was about to unfold on screen.) I pitied his future, but his horrible side managed to wipe away all my feelings for him.
I did not care about Yan Fei and Hai Qing. Even Jimmy seemed pitiable by the end of the drama. Ping Jun is the whole star of the show. He loved and cared for Hai Qing, yet he backstabbed and cheated on him without even an ounce of guilt. Yes, it is cheating. Hai Qing and Yan Fei's relationship had no build up. I don't think that one kiss can sweep you off your feet so much that your brain blew off to mars. They acted like some fated couple. I can believe that since they both are horrible in their own special way. Even Jimmy might have been crap, but so was Yan Fei to him. And Hai Qing needs some really good glasses. And a kilogram of common sense.
Ping Jun and Pinky saved the show. I didn't care about Yan Fei. I wanted to call the police whenever he showed up between Hai Qing and Ping Jun.
I don't know what the writer was trying to convey. Was he/she telling an intense love story? Was it about cheating? I frankly don't understand half the reviews praising this for its raw portrayal of real relationships. If this was how the human heart was... God Help me. I never want to fall in love.
The series did not shy away from kisses and steam. But, I did not care about anyone except Ping Jun. I wanted to snatch him away whenever he came on screen.
1.5 stars is too low. This one seems to have managed to attain all the stars ranging from 1 - 10. But, I intensely disliked the people whom I'm supposed to feel something for. And no way am I ever gonna watch this drama again.

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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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Intriguing.

I rated Love Thunder a 7 based on comparison with other dramas of the same kind; i.e, mini short dramas with barely cohesive storylines, even when compiled.
But, I enjoyed it quite immensely as it managed to maintain a constant momentum throughout it's short runtime. If you are reading this, bear with me for my lack of knowledge in music and the jumbled thoughts.

☆ Story:
It's doubtful whether the scriptwriter explored further into the fantasy aspect that governs the tale, as it is more of a short story rather than a full fledged novel. But, it works out for a short-form drama such as this.

In 1983, two boys, Nagi and Ao, meet at a record store and share their love for music, particularly concerning an empowering composition by Dvořák, (9th Symphony, 4th Movement from the New World), which Ao finds quite scary, yet inexplicably tearful. Nagi, who is more forward with his emotions takes him back to his home, enjoys the song for a while and expresses his liking for him. A slightly disconcerted Ao and Nagi bury a time capsule to be opened 42 years later. And thus begins a mysterious cursed cycle of fate.

☆ My Thoughts?
It very, very strangely reminded me of Someday or One Day with the only similarity being that they both rely on music as a medium/trigger of time travel.
When it comes to characters, I don't know if it was purposefully hinted, but I never believed that somebody was human.
The very urgent and passionate moments of the drama are all tinged with sombreness as we already know the fate that awaits them, yet it is what ultimately makes me stick to it.
Nagi in particular had such a strong circle of fate over his head and his devotion was evident to the point of perturbance.
Even with the short runtime, the actors did a convincing job. The director must've clearly pictured what and how each moment was going to unfold because I did not feel any gaps or discrepancies while watching the compiled version.
And many thanks to the fansubber for providing the subtitles.

Music? I don't know much, but even I was disturbed by the 9th Symphony by the end, thanks to the story and atmosphere.

It is disappointing that the mysterious aspect was not explored, but the finale left me wanting more, so this is definitely a must-try from me.

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Glass Case of Emotions.

I had to double check the kisskh ratings for this one after watching the first two episodes because there was NO WAY it got rated an 8.0+

Here are my jumbled thoughts:

• For starters, there are very few braincells to be found and the only ones present belong to the Jiangs, Shao Peng's bestfriend Shu He, and Jonathan/Cheng Feng Jie. And Jiang Shao Peng's story is the strongest aspect of this drama in every way. It's also the reason why it had a solid rating.
Yes, we do begin with Yang Zi Xian, a spoilt, but repressed brat who had been sent back to Taiwan to oversee an important project for his Dad. His PA quits, unable to bear his shenanigans and Zi Xian handpicks Shao Peng due to his deafness and muteness.
His scheming hurts Shao Peng, who had diligently taken his duty and he quits in a fit of rage when he realizes that Zi Xian's plan was to get someone who wouldn't be able to discover his attempts to evade duty.
Realizing that he had insulted and looked down upon Shao Peng, who, in spite of his disability, worked hard and sincerely to make it to his goal, Zi Xian decides to apologize for his attitude and re-hires Shao Peng. Slowly, they develop a rapport and Zi Xian begins to open up about himself.

• The major highlight (or rather a depiction of the harsh reality for people such as Shao Peng) was how he had to learn to overcome situations and smile during difficult times. Initially, we begin to feel that he had grown used to his deafness as he had lost it as a child; but Zi Xian sees right through him. EP9 has an deeply impactful and intense confrontation between the two -- Zi Xian was brash, but he was also intelligent and empathetic, once we slowly begin to see him change for the better and spend more time with Shao Peng, going so far as to learn sign language to make him comfortable.
Their romance was slow, yet sweet. It had it's roadblocks, which is impossible to avoid, considering both of their backgrounds. Yet, the drama portrays that being 'disabled' is never a disgrace as it not a choice; rather, it becomes a part of your individuality -- your normal. Their feelings felt 'real'. Not to mention, Shao Peng's relationship with Shu He and his parents.

• By the way, Zi Xiang is actively pursued by a gang of goons for money -- there is no who-did-it, because we are shown who had done it. Xin Jia, an amateur and rising assassin, takes up the job by himself to prove his worth. He spectacularly fails and gets successfully captured by Chen Feng Jie in incognito mode. None of these parts of the plot matter, but they provide a sense of respite because in spite of the absolutely hilarious side couple and laughable attempt at being a 'thriller', the creators used all their efforts for Shao Peng and Zi Xian and I'm not unhappy.

• I had no complaints in terms of acting as everyone depicted their roles well, even during silly situations - yep, Feng Jie and Xin Jia. Kudos to Jin Yun, who seamlessly manoeuvred sign language, and later, Raiden Lin, though he and the rest of the cast had the advantage of being able to talk to each other.

• Not a huge fan of the songs. The backgroud instrumentals were good, though.

• Honestly? I titled my review as 'Glass Case of Emotion' because one moment I'll be scoffing at their shoddy 'thriller' vibes and then the next moment, it'll be bittersweet or funny. There was no stable emotions as all four main characters had different vibes. (Serious Vs. Funny.) And all of them had almost equal screentime, too.

A solid 8/10, considering that they did manage to hold up one storyline thoroughly and convincingly in the middle of the river.

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Every Action Has an Equal and Opposite Reaction.

This is the drama that made me realise that I prefer the Thriller genre.
Weak Hero 1 had much more emotional entanglements between the characters, particularly Si Eun, who was learning to thaw and accept friendships as a good influence; but also had to learn about the bitter truth about it.
In Class 2, he attemps to revert back to his original aloof self, having inadvertently made a name of himself as the lunatic transfer kid. But, when Jun Tae, a bullied classmate crosses paths with him, he realises that he can no longer return back to who he was and what his previous experiences had taught him.

I can see why this one might not seem disappointing, but for Si Eun, it is one step forward. Establishing his past self and traumas was the purpose of Class 1. In Class 2, he has to face the fact that he can no longer be a by stander and is forced to come to terms with his guilt, the traumas and changes he had gone through.

The High Lights?

☆ Cast: The entire cast did an absolutely fantastic job, delivering tasking emotional as well heart pounding action scenes. As usual Si Eun stands out due to his character, but his friends, particularly, Baku and Jun Tak shone as brightly as he did.
As for Baek Jin. He was a very interesting character -- I can guess some of his story, but his past remained shrouded. Maybe Baku would one day, tell the truth. (The first thing I did when certain charactets appeared on screen was check their ages was cause there was no way Baek Jin was close to 17.)

On the good side, I'm glad that this season had a lot of decent fighters who knew when to run and had friends for backup.


☆ Story: I think the sky high ratings of this series is solely based on the emotional aspect since it easily captures your heart and makes you root for leads as well punch the villains through the screen.

(I never wrote a review for Class 1 as I felt that some dramas just have to watched to understand them.)

As it is based on a Webtoon, I'll forgive them for not going too deep into the backstory of certain characters such as Baek Jin.

I highly doubt that an organisation equivalent to a student mafia exists, but hey, I come from a college where there is literal Drug Ring, so I'm not sure of I'm supposed to doubt them.
All in all, it an extremely thrilling ride that lives upto Class 1.

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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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