KingC

Hyde and Me.

Based on a popular webtoon, Sweet Home received significant attention back while it aired last year. I did not have any prior idea about the story before I dove in. Only that the red hued poster hinted intense blood shed and an MDL article that introduced several "monsters' '. The hype doesn't lie: the Green Home apartments' residents face the nightmare of their life when an epidemic-like condition that turns people into monsters strikes them. Told through the eyes of Cha Hyun-Su, a 19-year-old boy who had just moved in, the series follows the residents as they struggle to survive and hope for an escape from their bleak future. All this whilst they fight monsters and risk turning into one themselves.

☆ The plot… Well, if you are someone who is familiar with post-apocalyptic or dystopian genres, then the basic background of the drama can be hinted right from the opening scene. There's nothing novel about it and I found the progress of 'that' particular subplot partly predictable. But, it did not suck away the thrill and anticipation. There is a high chance that further revelations arise in the future, so I'll give this one the benefit of doubt.

☆ The Characters are the real highlight of the show. And the poster lied. We meet a number of characters whose backstories are intensely explored. The name of the drama 'Sweet Home' from my perspective, doesn't stand for a safe and warm place to stay. It's rather the home that the remaining survivors struggle to build by slowly growing accustomed to their rough circumstances and starting to trust in each other. The plot lacked substance, but it did not lack in the character department. No one was present just as a plot device, but the very base of the story dumbs all of them together in a rather unfavourable manner.
All the cast were spot on. Their performances were incredibly good and overwhelmingly with the right emotions. The two child actors in particular were highly convincing.

☆ The entire story takes place in an apartment complex. The drama, as a result, is cramped, dark and bloody. It created the right ambience to feel the tension whenever necessary. The first two episodes were particularly disturbing, but the feeling disappears once we get the hang of it. Another plus side of the drama was that it did not have any gratuitous violence or scenes for the sake of it.

☆ While the background music was highly addictive, I'm sure that I wouldn't have chosen Warrior by Imagine Dragons as the ultimate battle song. It sounded cool in one or two episodes, but managed to ruin the mood, particularly at the end of EP8. It was supposed to be a highly emotional experience, but all I had in mind was how somebody thought to ruin the moment with such a terrible choice of song. The soundtrack in the final three episodes was perfect though.

☆ Despite all that, I felt that there was a distinct absence of purpose in the initial episodes. There was a repetitive cycle going on for a long time until something urgent pushed the leader 'four-eyes' into taking drastic measures. It was good for a single watch, but definitely not worth going all over again for a second time. The drama stressed a lot on the characters and their struggles individually for the first half of the episodes. The leading character, Cha Hyun-Su barely speaks or appears for an extended period of time. The episodes and screen time was equally distributed for multiple characters. The latter half of the drama is when things get into motion and the story gains momentum. It's finale was explosive and intriguing enough to convince me to give the second season a try.

☆ While there were scattered minor plotholes, one in particular was glaringly obvious. It was never brought up or resolved in the end. It shouldn't have been the case, but it almost felt as if the writers knew no other way to wrap up the arc and decided to neglect it. Also, the concept behind the 'monsters' was only mentioned in passing and never got any proper explanation.

There are enough details that are yet to be explained and I hope that the second season does this. It lacked the thrill I had expected, but it was an almost satisfying watch. I loved the various characters as they fought for hope. Though I don't think I'll rewatch it, the time that I spent was definitely worth it.

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A "Sweet" Thrilling Ride.

I've known that several Asian countries preserve certain forms of art and even have generations of the same family take it up, thus continuing a legacy. Once the family falls, the art dies down. Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru/Something Is Wrong With Us strongly portrays the importance of such traditions.

-- - When 5-year-old Okuro Nao (Sakura) came to the legendary sweet shop Kogetsu An with her mother, she never expected that her entire life would get turned upside down after her mother is framed for a murder that she did not commit… all based on the words of Tsubaki, her only friend and the one who made her love the art of sweetmaking. 15 years later, she decides to go back to Kogetsu An to find out the truth and clear her mom's name in the hope to enjoy the art of sweet-making freely. She hides her true identity and gets entangled once again with Tsubaki, discovering secrets that could turn her world upside down.

--- The story: is very Makjang style. But, not too much over the top - everything came to a believable conclusion. The murder and sweet making go hand in hand. I kept waiting for unfortunate events to befall Nao, but she faced them with all the might she had and learnt to survive in the deadly kitchen of Kogetsu An. She has to sort out her priorities: her mother's truth or Tsubaki's trust? The term suspension of disbelief becomes unsuitable once we realize how much of a big part the sweets play in the drama.

--- The Sweets: Like the title of my review, the art of sweet making itself seems like a more scary job than performing a surgery. And no sweet was simply a sweet. Each one had unique meanings and descriptions that would make ancient poets weep. It looked as if everyone made it with their heart and blood instead of flour and sugar. The carving, colouring and the effort that went behind a single one makes me want to frame them in a glass case instead of eating them.

--- I absolutely loved Nao's character. She had guts and a lot of willpower. Although appearing frail and powerless, she is ready to go headfirst into several situations that one would usually dare not go close to. Particularly, someone like her who must be avoiding suspicion. I loved her journey. I loved how her character grew into someone who could stand on her own and be a worthy opponent.

--- Tsubaki was no exception; he was the one person whom I felt had a distinct character growth. He had his own emotional baggage to hold up and simultaneously prove that he was worthy of his father's name.

--- The supporting characters and even the ones who are to be labelled as villains were all pitiful and three dimensional. Everyone were just pure humans in the end. I didn't hate a single person. I had a particular liking for Takigawa-san and Jojimo-kun, who impressed me with their performance and characters.

--- The time skip: I have yet to see many dramas that can portray a proper timeskip without making things seem like complete nonsense. This drama in particular had two to three timeskips that had a natural flow to it. Characters grew and evolved as individuals during them, making the next set of events nerve wracking to watch. It is a well paced drama.

--- The aesthetics: Japan rarely goes for flamboyant display of beauty and this drama was no different. The grace and poise in every character and the craft were so well portrayed that I can't recall a single moment where I was bored out of my mind.

--- The OST was the downside for me. While I enjoyed the simple BGMs and the opening credits, I did not like the song that popped up usually right before the episode wrapped. It sounded more suitable for some anime or heroic movie. This might also be due to the language barrier; I didn't understand a single word.

It's definitely worth a watch. And also, one of the better dramas that does not disappoint.

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A feast for suspense and romance lovers.

This is one of the most unique dramas that YoYo English Channel has put up. With only 24 episodes, the mini mystery plots, excellent cast, hint of romance and comedy, it has enough solid substance that is pretty bingeworthy.
All the actors, even the supporting cast, played their roles excellently. Li Jia, Cha Cha and Ah' Cheng's friendship was particularly noteworthy. They reminded me of the Harry Potter trio a lot. I wish I can see more such relations in CDramas. Even in moments of distress, Ah-Cheng would crack a joke and lighten up the mood.
Cha Cha's romance towards Li Jia was truly a delight.
Each episode had a fresh plot and dealt with how the events in them ultimately affected Li Jia, a PG student in psychiatry, who was desperately clinging to a hope that moving away from his home could change the fate that ultimately awaits him - genetically linked schizophrenia around the age of 24.
I loved his character - kind of an introvert, but with enough insight and brains. Cha Cha and Cheng on the other hand were more of his supporters who helped him with each and every step.

--- The downsides would be that some 'mysteries' felt too unbelievable or longer than necessary. The ending itself seemed rather rushed with several unanswered questions.

Despite that all, I'll still recommend this to anyone looking for a quick thrill.

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A Walk Down Nostalgia Lane.

I'd recommed this series to anyone who wants to watch an almost realistic portrayal of family relations and troubles. It somehow managed to compile all the emotions and instances that we love and fear all in one.
Narrated by Duk Seon, we switch the perspectives through several characters that grew up together. My personal favorites were Sun Woo and Jung Hwan - they did not stand out but there was a certain charm about how they handled stuff.
The parental relations were the highlight - they have the ability to make you tear up.
By the time I reached high school, the internet and smartphones had taken ove. Me and my friends, who still didn't have them, could slowly see communication decline in favor of banal frivolities such as selfies and cliques. I wish that I had grown up somewhere during Duk Seon's times as the meaning of "friendship" was taken with much seriousness than today's times. Parental ties are something that no amount of technology can conquer and I'm glad that Reply 1988 attempted to depict the two sides of life in a relatable manner.
Overall, its a worthy watch with a lot of life lessons. Youth is a terrifying period of life, but all storms are meant to pass. And they will, eventually.

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Excellent Cast with a Makjang Style Plot.

I might be the one of the very few people who began this drama for Zhang Zhe Han and its not even his most popular work. But, iQiyi might have some of the most unique, lesser knwon dramas out there that can really showcase the talent of an actor from my previous experience. (I liked Gong Jun's performance in Flavour It's Yours and was suprised that many viewers did not think he could act well until Word of Honor.) Anyways... here are my scattered thoughts.

I'm not kidding with the title. It gave me the same vibes that Korean Makjangs do. Even one of the characters, Liu Wenna, told the very same thing. It was different, yet really familiar at the same time. Maybe there are other dramas that fall into the same category as this that I haven't come across.

Honestly, this drama is a mixture of drama+romance+comedy+tragedy. The Male lead, Zhang Min would be in a pretty bad mood and this really hilarious scene would be happening at the very same time. He and his Secretary Xiao were one of the highlights of the show - both of them use 100% of their brain when it comes to business but has absolutely little sense when it comes to live human beings. Their banter and dumbness were some of the lighter parts of the show. We see this right from the beginning till the very end and it was really enjoyable to watch.
The company atmosphere was particularly stiffling and the plot is pretty ruthless to both Zhang Min and the female lead Luo Xi. Every episode, I would be prepared for either of them to get duck pressed. And the show did it really well so much that I began to fast forward those bad stuff by episode 30.
The plot revolves around power play and money in general: Zhang Min is set to be the next Chairman of Sihai Group after his father marries him off to Liu Wenna, a childish spoilt girl, for the sake of securing the support of her father's BK Group to solve their funding issues. (Much to Zhang Min's displeasure since he never really loved the girl nor is he interested in being a puppet for his father.) His chance encounter with Luo Xi while on an errand for his father changes his life as she is a breath of fresh air to him. We see him slowly warming upto her and this was pretty funny , but sometimes pressurizing to watch as something terrible would soon follow. Luo Xi was a really understanding female lead. There were times I thought she couldn't handle Zhang Min's troubles, but she would open up and be more understanding to his situations. Her friendship with her brothers and even Tao Lun was heartwarming. Dough, the little girl, might be the most mature one out of all the characters.

The Cast was actually good. Characters were not one-dimensional and changed as time went by. But, I'm not particularly happy with the way things wrapped up in the final two episodes. I guess they ran out of time and rushed it. Zhang Zhe Han was excellent as Zhang Min. He is "cold", but we see him become someone different to characters like Secretary Xiao, Luo Xi and his mother. Honestly, I think he portrayed every emotion from comedy to tragedy in this one. If someone had told me that this person would be called as Nation's Wife in 2021, I wouldn't have believed it.
Riley Wang was rather surprising, but for some reason, I couldn't continuously connect to his "anger" induced movements, particularly when he was against a more experienced cast in the same shot. I hope he gets more diverse roles in the future to try out.
Zhang Ruonan played the sensible Luo Xi quite convincingly. Her character was more calm and composed and less angsty than the rest.
Liu Wenna was really petty and spoilt, but the drama covered those points later. I particularly didn't hate her, but she was a comic relief from the pressure cooker plot.

I have to say, the drama is unique in its own way. I knocked off a few stars as the plot moved waayy too fast towards the end and I felt that some people didn't exactly get what they deserved. The OST was really different from the regular stuff I keep hearing in modern dramas and I had to slowly warm upto it. Overall, its really enjoyable to watch. I binged it in three days and although its not perfect, it did not disappoint.

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Lives Upto Its Name.

I began this drama purely as a palate cleanser. And I have to say, it did its job really well. The plot revolves around an overused trope, but the characters shine in their own unique ways, particularly Zhang Si Nian and Yun Shu. Their chemistry was strong and there was never any misunderstanding or communication gap between them. There were times I felt things could fall apart, but they'd talk it out and smoothen the mood. Yun Lan, Yun Shu's sister was a strong supporting role with her own story. The bond between Yun Shu and her friends' and their complicated relationships was another part of the drama that I liked. I did skip many parts and stuck for the main characters alone. But, this is one of those dramas out there that didn't make me go crazy with frustration. A really light watch.

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One cliché among the many.

EDIT: I rethought and lowered my rating. But, I still stick to what I said.
Definitely, this drama doesn't deserve a 9.5 if you look at it from all aspects. But, I loved it so much to the point that I rewatched it.
So... is this really worth it?

THE CHARACTERS:
The usual: Yuan Qian, a freshman of the Sculpture Department has no time for games or relationships - she wanted to badly transfer her major to Oil Painting which she had unfortunately lost due to her low College Entrance scores.
Qin Shen: the hero whose heart is same as that of his sculptures. He doesn't pursue relationships either, rather he wishes to excel in his craft and talent.
They have their own paths. So, when they collide, thing go right and wrong.

SATISFACTION OR CAREER?
One thing that I absolutely loved is how they handled this subject. (And possibly explains my high rating.) Most of the plot revolves around the female lead attempting to change her major to the one she loves. Qin Shen, the male lead, is punished by his mother for choosing what he loves - sculptures. [ I didn't even know that such a major exists. ]
The school decides to stop taking in students due to its less popularity.
With only 11 students and not to mention that most of them were reassigned from other majors and had to learn to love Sculpture. [Except maybe two or three including Qin Shen.]

Objectively, parents are right - sometimes choosing what we love would end up with us being jobless. I still don't know what to think of this and it might never change.

THE ROMANCE:
Coming from a Professional Single myself, I would not ask you to trust my rating.
The leads are forced together on several occasions, which I think is the reason they fell for each other. There are time skips right from EP 3, so we do not see the complete growth of their relationship, rather only the tough parts.
I liked how Qin Shen and Yuan Qian were skirting around each other without ever telling what the other was feeling. This leads to some misunderstandings. (They don't get together until EP 16.)
Heck, Qin Shen himself is one jealous person. But, I wished Yuan Qian had tested his limits cause most of the time, it seemed like she didn't. She was afraid of losing him once she got him.
And I've seen comments about how Qin Shen's actions creeped out many. I suck at anything romantic, so I'd suggest you to watch the drama to find out. I didn't care much about the last few episodes, even though I loved the drama.
And this comment sums up what I thought:
https://kisskh.at/40061-professional-single#comment-4723381
[Same thing with LoveO2O - Wei Wei's computer was hacked by the main guy, not to mention that he almost stalked her albeit his intentions... if it was real life, he'd be in jail.]


THE FRIENDSHIPS:
They were one of the reasons that kept me watching the show. All of them were unique and relatable and reminded me of my real life friends. Particularly Chen Qinan and Yi Ming.
I had many crack up moments due to their antics.
For once, there was no "you are better than me" "she is more good looking" talk among them, both girls and boys. They learn to appreciate each other for who they were.

THE ANTAGONISTS...
don't actually exist. The second lead, Song Siyi is never considered a romantic rival. He is good and cheerful to everyone, including the Yuan Qian. He might be even better than the male lead when it comes to possessiveness. But, its clear that what he feels is just his wishful thinking. He is one of my favourites for just being himself.

I didn't particularly hate Ling Wei either. She had a crafty mind, but she wasn't completely evil as some of the others I've come across.

OVERALL:
Its a good watch and throw drama among many of the millions released every year, if we ignore the problematic parts. But, I'm glad that I stumbled across it.

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Career + Self-Growth + Relationships.

The title of my review is exactly what this drama is. Don't go into this expecting some top tier romantic growth or charactef development. This has to be one of the most weirdest dramas I've watched in a long time.

Wako Machida is the unconventional female lead, who for once, was really unconventional than just being a label. She did not care about make up or clothes, but put in all her effort into the comics. Definitely a lovable female lead.

Soma Meguru, pretty boy who loves dressing up as he sees fit is perhaps the most interesting character that I looked forward to. I was surprised how everyone easily accepted his choices once he was an adult. But, the dark part of " pretty boys" being impelled to do stuff and fit themselves into parts that they don't need where perhaps the best portrayed here. I felt physically sick when the President came up with *concepts* and the others just went about with it to keep their job.

Last, but not the least: Kira. If someone told me that he was the same guy from Love is Phantom, I wouldn't have believed it, so a round of applause. I loved how unique he was and never put up with what anyoneone insisted. Although he was undoubtably an arrogant git during the initial episodes, he grew up and changed himself for the better.
I loved his completely crazy romance with the editor in chief. I'm afraid that I was more invested in their romance than the leads. (The leads had a lot of baggage to put up with, so I could understand why it happened .)

Sadly, it was not strong enough to compel me into watching the remaining episodes. I found myself fastforwarding 98% of the episodes, unfortunately. It isn't a bad drama. Just not interesting enough for me.

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An interesting first half and a draggy second half.

It's kind of funny that I actually enjoyed the drama for 26 episodes before finally realizing that I was watching it for the sake of watching it.
What I absolutely loved about the drama was the leads and their interactions with their best friends and siblings. They were axtual, mature individuals. Particularly, the lead Zhou Fang, who tried to put up against her mom's wishes for a quick marriage and actually wanting to settle down by herself first. Song Lin's relationship with his sister was another highlight of the show.
I loved Zhou Fang's perseverance.
Then came the business thingies, coupled with product placements. I actually liked the second couple at first, then got annoyed with their screentime and draggy stuff. Overall, it could've been a good drama, but wasted a ton of episodes on subplots. Pretty sure that it was a "me" issue and not the drama's fault. But, all I can remember now about this drama is the hotpot and coconut drink. Which is definitely not a good sign.

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Unique and Fascinating.

It's rare for Chinese Dramaland to steer clear off tropes and are often in favour of recycling identical storylines with little to no new twists. Which is why such Urban Fantasies are rare to come by. Strange, funny, and emotional, all rolled into one, Dear Diary is the perfect drama for binging during an extreme drama slump or if you are in the mood for something refreshing with solid substance.

☆ To get a gist of the drama, I suggest listening to the opening OST. (There are no spoilers in both the opening and closing soundtracks.) They perfectly capture the vibes of 'Dear Diary'.
Calling the plot "solid substance" might be a long shot furing the first few episodes. Considering that 3/6 of the characters and the basic plot revolves around a 12-year-old girl's impromptu fanfiction that she was inspired to write while visiting a Babylonion Exhibition. I still do not understand how she oh-so romantically scribbled down a love story after hearing a bloody legend that was far from lovely. What makes this drama a delight is that the now 24-year-old Chen Mei Ru comes face to face with the characters as an adult, leading to hilarious scenarios as she tries to figure out what to do with her sudden "Babylonion Prince, Murong Jie Lun" who as written by her 12-year-old self, is pretty obsessed with her. (The first few episodes are some of the most funniest stuff I've seen in a long time. It wasn't cringey, but genuinely made me laugh.) Worse, her Prince also brings along the two main supporting characters of her story. Her best friend, Jian Huai Zhang and former classmate Duan Shi Lui, all get wrapped in this unexpected adventure.

☆ The beauty of 'Dear Diary' lies within the almost seamless flow of the plot. As the story progresses, the writers manage to flesh out the three fantasy characters into more than just cartoonish caricatures in Chen Mei Ru's diary. What's more, the seemingly silly piece of fiction by an adolescent turns out to be much more deeper than we expect it to be. I appreciate how the writers managed to avoid unnecessary conflicts and subplots. They stick to the main characters and their adventures. The plot slowly gains momentum with each episode and I love how the all the characters have their own distinct identities that are much realistic and relatable. Moreover, there is a constant mystery underlying beneath the Diary and it kept me curious. The story attains it's peak and becomes dark and intense after the first half. But, every episode was worth it.

☆ The Cast, for such a short drama, are on point with their acting. The production crew went as far as hiring people from Iraq to teach the actors Akkadian (language spoken in Babylonia) and adjust their postures. Plus, nobody was overdubbed. When it comes to characters, I particularly enjoy Duan Shi Lui's scenes: he is the perfect mix of comedy and seriousness. I loved his twisted relationship with Jiang Hui Zhen and Mei Ru. I liked how Mei Ru was potrayed; she manages to maintain her personality even after going through changes. Jiang Hui Zhen, her best friend and co-writer/supporting character in her diary, is more complex than her care for nothing facade. Mu Rong, Ou Yang Wen Shan, and the Dragon Lady are initially portrayed as assertive beings, but they slowly grow out of it. Character growths were not abrupt. It tempts us into slowly getting attached to the characters. Chen Mei Ru, Mu Rong Jie Lun, Ou Yang Wen Shan, Jiang Hui Zhen, Duan Shi Lui and Dragon Lady, all have equal screentime. So, there are plenty of scenes for us to get familiar with them. As a bonus: we have three side couples, all of different variety.
I admit, I wasn't invested in the ships in the beginning. But, by the end, I wanted everyone to be happy.

☆ I was impresssed with the CGI, which by common low budget CDrama standards, is pretty good. I also liked how intricate the sets were, particularly the Babylonion ones. Being one of the most ancient civilizations, the Babylonion Empire was known for its advancements in several fields, including law. (The Code of Hammurabi. I had previously heard the name before as it was the title of a legal Korean Drama, Mis Hammurabi. I did not know its significance until now.)
Apparently, the production crew spent their resources to shoot at Morocco and Paris; collected actual sources and artifects from Babylonion Period to bring originality to the story and this is clearly evident as we watch the drama. Post Production took two years and I can tell that the team took extreme care of their craft.

☆ The soundtrack was perfect and befit every scene. It had the right timing and captured the essence of the story: from cool, fun and kiddish tunes to absolutely epic music and choruses that reminded me of the Elves of Middle-Earth.
My favorite Songs were:
▪ Give You All My Empathy (當傾盡所有感同身受) by Jiao Mai Qi/Mickey Jiao (焦迈奇).
▪You Deserve Love (你值得被好好爱着) by Jin Wen Qi/Vanessa Jin (金玟岐).

☆ I have to warn that characters listed as 'supporting' play a major role in several arcs. But, they were reasonable and effectively avoided unnecessary scenes. With 24 episodes, they've done exceptionally well in the 'no filler department'. The ending was predictable, but felt too jumbled and predisposed, particularly the final episode. It should've made me emotional, but the choice of arrangement of scenes looked odd. And there were a rather large number of characters that we focussed on (6) so, some episodes may appear to be lagging behind. The duration of episodes were really something: roughly 20 - 30 minutes, minus the opening, recap and the ending credits that is a solid four minutes long. The

All in all, it reminded me a lot of the American Movie 'Enchanted', but with more intensity and mystery. It's a standout for me among the many dramas I've seen and is definitely worthy of a watch. Something unique and distinct with it's very own magic is what Chinese Dramas lack and for that, I will gladly give this an 8.5/10 for now.

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Something is Wrong Indeed.

Maybe I liked this accurately named short drama (which I will admit, is good for a watch and discard type) because it was obviously never meant to be as serious compared to the likes of Blueming or Semantic Error. I did not expect anything out of it, considering that the team probably had a very tight budget as they seemed to have shot every single scene either with the lighting effect of the burning sun or bright streetlights at night.

• Cast: Was quite good. They portrayed what they had been given. Which makes me think about the characters...
• Characters: I know that more than half of the people who watched this drama are cursing Do Ba Woo, as the entire story is told from his perspective. But, the character whom I just did not understand till the very end is Ji Hoon. It is blatantly obvious that the script was written solely for Do Ba Woo. Every single scene with Ji Hoon did not convince me even once that he had had any feelings for Ba Woo.
Somebody should've banned Ji Hoon from using the word 'like' because he took it in a literal sense, whatever the case. Yes, it is sort of explained that he was far too scared to reveal his emotions, but writing the entire story from the point of view of one character and attempting to convince viewers about the other in the last couple of minutes just did not sit well with me.
Do Ba Woo might come off as a selfish individual immersed in his own feelings, but how was he to go after a friend who -- 1. Did not take his confessions seriously. 2. Heavily implied that they were friends multiple times.
Ba Woo was a serious loner and Ji Hoon was always the kind of person who seems to easily attract friends. (Look at his bandmates! By the way, they were another favorite part of the story for me.)
Ji Hoon makes Kakeru from Kimi Ni Wa Todakanai look like Einstein when it comes to verbal communication.
Ha Min was the impetus that sets the boat sailing. He deeply regretted it, but I was far more satisfied with how he grew up by the end of show.

• Script: Weak as wet paper. They should've speed run the last three episodes and focused on important moments -- such as Ji Hoon's character and reactions. Heck, even the last scene seems to be a re-imagination of what would've happened if Ji Hoon fearlessly communicated his feelings back then.

• Music: The songs were okay. But, I think this is the first time I ever felt that the background instrumentals failed to properly convey the urgency of the scenes. It was the same multiple times.

• Final Thoughts: It's not terrible, but the script was undoubtably a failure. So, I suggest you close your eyes and attempt to understand the characters and dive in to decide on your own whether something is very wrong.

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The Traumatised Village.

Gannibal's second season can be watched as a direct continuation of the first as it starts right from where the first one ends.
And mind you. The entire story takes place within a span of one night and a whole day.
Rather than focussing on the mystery or build-up, we are 'shown' or told what had taken place straightaway. It's unflinchingly disturbing and dark, but was worth sitting through till the end.

I'll write down my jumbled thoughts here:

☆ The second season brings along everything that I loved from the first -- stellar performances by the cast, even more so in this one, (particularly the actors for Goto Keisuke, Yosuke, Iwao, Kuroe and Gin who had more scenes and importance) ; convincing and nauseating horrific scenes combined with unexpectedly emotional moments.

☆ Characters: one of the highlights would be Goto Gin, aka, the half-eaten grandmother through whom the Gotos were introduced to us in the first season.
Well, she is a character you have to watch. Her past and the point where all hell breaks loose are vividly described and portrayed. It's highly disturbing. And I'm not kidding about it.
Themes of sexual assault, rape, cannibalism, gaslighting, etc are all an integral part of this season.

While I admire Goto Gin as an individual character whose sole purpose was to somehow keep herself alive through any means, I absolutely despice her actions and think that she got exactly what she deserved in the end.
She just had to become Tantai Jin 1.0 instead of showing an ounce of empathy.

☆ In a very twisted way, I can understand why the villagers are how they are. To me, they weren't crazy. And even the final episode and the scenes depict the extent of the impact the Goto family had on them.
Keisuke and the remaining younger generation (including the villagers) were the focus of the second season and they did not disappoint.
I was very surprised to know that Nagata Takato was a part of the cast as I was unable to recognize him.
It was also unexpectedly emotional, particularly the end of EP7, where I legit had goosebumps.

☆ As for Agawa Daigo... His character was the most 'human' of them all. Yes, his enraged actions led to a chain of events that ultimately ended up with terrible consequences (although, to me, it was for the best), but in the end, he is ultimately a character I respect. (Hats off to Yagira Yuya, whose performance I had slready noted in the first season.)

All in all, it was a bittersweet journey for me. Strange, but nevertheless, memorable.

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Beautifully Poignant.

I dropped this drama twice back while it began airing as it made me fall asleep 2 minutes into the story. The overall bleak atmosphere and the inner monologue did not help, as it reminded me of Eternal Yesterday.
Setting that aside, I began to watch it after people who follow Japanese LGBTQ+ works kept posting about it.

Minase Jin, a paradigm model student who stays away from trouble and leads a carefully planned monotonous routine, has his life shaken when he accidentally stumbles upon a secret harboured by Hirukawa Haruki, the infamous delinquent of his class.

I think the charm of this drama lies completely in how the emotions are slowly built up and conveyed across the screen in that simplistic fashion that Japan has. The story is not groundbreaking by any means – but as someone said, this drama is not looking for fans, it is an art.
Both the leading actors pulled off their roles beautifully. Especially Motojima Junsei in the last three episodes, where he had to cry a lot. Though, I was a bit surprised that they cast someone who had played the younger counterpart of a character just the previous year. (Tokyo in April.)

Almost everything is from the point of view of Minase, who is a rather unconventional male lead, had he not been the narrator. Eight out of 10 episodes is a series of flashbacks where he recounts his times with Hirukawa Haruki as he pens a poetic letter in which he relates his emotions akin to being lost in the very vast sea.
Hirukawa was a much more easier character to understand.
But, I liked how they portrayed the emotions of both the teenagers – it was not all pretty and polished, but rather gritty and bumpy.
It doesn't just focus on the romance, but how it affected both of them and shaped their lives in some way - the good or the bad. I could relate to moments where characters repeatedly ask Minase to stay away from trouble. Minase himself uses the word "bystander" to describe his part in Hirukawa's life, something that he could not easily control.

I've read the webtoon, but liked the changes made for the live action.

A round of applause for everyone who worked on bringing Miseinen to life, because, honestly, it would've been one of the most boring dramas in existence if anything had gone wrong.

Yes, it's a very simple drama, but the emotions and hard work that went behind it is evident.
I hope that this drama somehow manages to reach somewhere or the right person amongst its journey in the deep ocean.

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"Family."

This drama is reigned by emotions rather than a story and it's no fantasy either. There was some reality in every single character portrayed and it should be the reason alone to give 'Unknown' a chance.

It follows Wei Qian, the eldest brother who is forced to grow up and give up the frivolities of life in order to provide a safe space for his younger sibling, Wei Li, after his neglectful and abusive mother ruins their lives.
After taking up a shady job under a certain Lao Le’s gang, he stumbles across an abandoned, feral kid whom he then takes home. What follows next is a slice-of-life plot depicting how Qian finally gives up gang activities and grows up to become the ultimate ‘Da Ge’.
However, his little bubble, in which he is forever the parent to his siblings, is popped when Wei Zhi Yuan, the boy he had adopted, confesses his feelings.


Pretty sure that the title ‘Unknown’ is definitely meant for Wei Qian, the eponymous character of Da Ge by Priest from which this drama was adapted. He is the only one who doesn't know what exactly he was feeling until his younger brother took matters into his own hands. His own future is wholly dependent on making his loved one's be safe and happy.

The drama gave me all the warm fuzzies that I wanted and even moments of laughter at times - particularly with San Pang and the co-worker gang and Dr. Li. Also - when Zhi Yuan left Qian speechless with verbal/physical displays of affection. Though, in reality, I would've been the one to change countries had something like that happened to me.

The acting was top notch. Particularly, Wei Qian. I could understand his confusion the most and could literally feel his emotions and suffocation through the screen. Wei Zhi Yuan was not far behind – as someone who is poor in expressing emotions, this dude legit scared me with how open and honest he was.
San Pang, and the entire family together were wholesome and heartwarming to watch.
It's a well made story about a found family and everything that takes to hold them together.

The Soundtrack was beautiful. Particularly the opening song. There was nothing too much over-the-top about the production, either.

Pretty sure that I won't be rewatching this anytime, but it's definitely one of the more warm dramas out there.

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Depressing, but Memorable.

This drama is steeped in sepulchral undertones and it's evident that the entire message has a chance of missing its mark. It's not a 'story' per se, rather the journey of the characters in particular.

There is no mincing of words – An introverted, intelligent high-schooler, Mitsuru, loses his person, the popular Yamada Koichi in an accident, which happened right beside him. But, the ‘dead’ Koichi gets up in spite of clearly fatal injuries that should have killed him.
Mitsuru now helps his ‘living corpse’ of a friend to get back on track, but he starts to slowly realize that his presence is the only thing that keeps Koichi corporeal.

As a viewer, it's painful to watch as it is evident that Mitsuru was in self denial. He keeps trying to come up with reasons for Koichi to stick around and Koichi, knowing him, attempts his very best to keep Mitsuru happy.
In a way, Mitsuru, a usually quiet individual, speaks up and tries to get Koichi to live out his last wishes.

Mitsuru is a particularly hard character to play without appearing emotionless, so kudos to the actor for not making him seem indifferent. Koichi was much easier, but his story was sad in a way.

I watched this in January, and right now, all I can remember is Mitsuru crying. Hence, why I used the word 'memorable' fir the title.
It's depressing from start till the end. Maybe that's the pain of losing someone.
It's good for a slow watch, but I'll not suggest it to anyone who has had a difficult time getting over the death of a loved one.

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