janec

I don't know, I didn't live in those times, and as a historian dealing with antiquity (although not of this country) I think many people have too much of a warped idea of the past. It really wasn't just kinky sex and uncontrolled violence. So here I'm more concerned with how the filmmakers approached the subject. For me, as a viewer, a scene where a random man does a certain thing with some woman adds nothing to the plot. It doesn't show the realities of the era, because in every era people had sex. Even when we have the main couple in a passionate embrace, there is no passionate context, there is the physical act of copulation itself. Seriously? The creators clearly meant to put sex in every scene where they could. So it's not even about what's shown, but how it's shown. Well, and whether people used to live like that or not has nothing to do with whether the viewer likes the character. I'll give the example of “Gladiator,” which is a rather likable movie and Maximus is one of the more beloved characters because the script and director portrayed him in such a way that it's hard not to like him. If in this drama someone had tried to build the characters as they should be, I might have cheered for FL and mourned for her husband. However, they were portrayed in such a way that, for me, their story has no stakes and no meaning. I don't get involved in their fate, they just don't matter to me and thus I don't care about the drama itself. But that's just my opinion.

Me too. I miss such productions.

I did

This drama is extremely idiotic, but I got a great laugh watching it :)

I am struggling a lot while watching this drama. I think there are a lot of unnecessary scenes that the only thing they bring to this drama is an impression like, “Oh, Korean porn!” Everything is incredibly long-winded. I don't care about the fate of any of the characters because the script didn't give me any reason to root for or like anyone. I watch solely because of a few actors, but if I approach each episode 3-4 times, maybe it's not worth it? I'm stuck on the fifth one and really probably won't return to it. This drama is tiring , unplesent and uninteresting to me.

A few months ago, a rather heated discussion heated up on this topic because of the use of the word "propaganda" in the context of the synopsis for this film. If anyone still feels that they should insult someone and feel offended if someone else used the word "propaganda," I suggest that they educate themselves on exactly what the term means. I've posted a link below to a fairly good description of this topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJIF6zZPuwM&ab_channel=Metatron

And yes, if someone makes a film showing the heroic struggle of ordinary citizens against a cruel occupier, it is 100% propaganda whether you like it or not. And if you still don't understand what propaganda is, well, at least try to respect other users of this site even if you don't agree with his/her opinion.

I love him as Zhuge Liang in "Red Cliff." This is a very different role than the ones he has accustomed us to, full of subtlety. "Confession of Pain" is seemingly ordinary, but I personally found his role gripping. "Perhaps Love" was interesting. I had a great time with the comedy "Returner," and for me this is probably his coolest film role next to both parts of "Red Cliff." He was very intriguing and fresh in "Sleepless Town," although I think it was too artsy a film for me. I wonder about "Fallen Angels," but I don't remember it anymore. "K-20: Legend of the Mask" was also very interesting, but for me it ranks around fifth place. But "Returner," "Red Cliff" and "Confession of Pain" are my three favorite titles. In each of these three roles Kaneshiro is different but his sincere eyes just compel me to believe him to get involved in his story.

It's really a shame. For me, the young Kaneshiro was just great and it's a shame that he only had three dramas. Gosh, I wish I could watch this drama again.

If I remember correctly, it was on dramanica, but it has been many, many years since then. They changed servers several times. I know the other two Kaneshiro dramas are there (I checked a while ago) but this one actually isn't :( I even asked ChatGPT, but it didn't help. Sorry.

Let's agree that we disagree on ML's motivations and choices. If everyone made the same choices, the world would be a tad too monotonous. Yes, let's see what happens in the next episodes.

Ok, I get what you mean. I still think his behavior is short-sighted and very harmful. Not only is he destroying his career for himself, but in order to protect his ass he ordered his subordinate to falsify the report, and for such a crime both of them can lose their jobs very quickly. After what he pulls off, he'll be lucky if he gets a disciplinary dismissal, as he adds criminal charges in each episode.

I'm not going to convince anyone that this drama is bad either, because as I said, I haven't made up my mind myself yet. But I have noticed that when someone likes a series and by the second or fourth episode they write a review of 10/10 somehow no one suggests them to wait, because maybe something will appear that will change their mind.

Hmm, maybe in that case you can help me see what is so GREAT about this drama? Is it the main character acting like the last idiot? Every decision he's made so far has been wrong, and it's only getting him further and further down. While in the first episode I could tell myself that he was acting senseless because he was under the influence of drugs, in no way am I able to justify him not reporting the loss of the gun. He pursued the suspect, was hit in the head and lost consciousness, for which he had proof and a witness. He might have been reprimanded, but he wouldn't have left Chekhov's gun bound to fire and kill someone. How would he then explain himself? On top of that, his personality is not clear, as he was not clearly built up before the incident. Even before the incident, he acted like someone with a borderline personality. But let's leave him be now. FL steals someone's mail and hides it for her own benefit. “Bad guys” are so simple, obvious and shallow and their behavior so typical that I have seen it in hundreds of other dramas of this type. I wouldn't even be surprised if the Doctor turned out to be an insurance guy from the shadows manipulating classmates who did him wrong in high school and taking revenge on them. And even if not, the drama didn't really make me curious about who the Doctor is, because I didn't manage to get attached to ML before the incident, so I don't feel any loss or concern about his fate. In the same way, I don't care whether the lieutenant is the captain's friend or his enemy, because it wasn't established at the beginning that there is a super mentor-student or older-younger brother type relationship between them, so his “betrayal” doesn't shock me at all. The way the cinematography is shot is rather mediocre, except for a few shots that annoy me, as well as the music, which does not convey the atmosphere. I'm watching because I like Ji Sung's acting, but here his character has not won my sympathy, my appreciation, and only arouses irritation. The screenwriters throw information garbage at the viewer in an attempt to artificially create tension and curiosity, because they can't do it organically. It's nice to see so many familiar faces, but overall this drama's quality is very far from those produced by 2019, where the unpredictability and tension were able to knock people into their seats. This drama reminds me a bit of the videos on Tik-tok, where every ten seconds or so you have to throw in something shocking to keep the attention of the viewer, who can't even focus for 5 minutes.

So yes, at this point I don't know if I like this drama, nor I see any greatness in it, because no element that I could like in it has appeared yet. Everything to me is a typical production trying to interest the viewer, but in my case without success. The problem is not whether I like or dislike the genre, because I like the genre, but in this case the execution for me is just meh. I emphasize, for me, who loves the first season of Stranger, but the second season was just meh.

Ok, if someone likes this drama from the beginning, good for you. Maybe we just have different expectations and pay attention to something different when watching. I'm giving this drama a chance, but everything for me depends on how ML will behave in the next two episodes and whether he will still be a dumb, cowardly asshole, or if he will do one thing that will gain my respect and sympathy.

After four episodes, I still don't know if I like it.

I'm afraid I fell victim to the drama's extensive promotion promising that viewers of season one would be satisfied with season two. As a viewer of the first season, I am not satisfied with season two. I am a fan of the “show, don't tell” rule. Hence my lack of satisfaction. And thank you for the advice coming from the heart. I appreciate the concern.

For me, this drama is more and more disappointing with each episode. Sorry, just too much talking, too little action, the jokes are not funny at all this is not it. So why am I watching? Just for the Second Prince. He is a wonderful villain. I feel like hugging him and saying “don't worry, you'll make it someday”. :)

The clip at the end of the shoot looks very good. If they keep the quality for the whole series it will be an awesome production at least on par with the biggest classics. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because they really interested me. I haven't seen something as promising in a long time.

Sorry, I wasn't going to write back, because why drag this out, but at this point, aren't you the one who is imposing your own view of the world and your own ideology on others?

Forgive me, but your words suggest that every white person thinks like a colonialist looking at Asia as savages, and this is simply not true. There are dozens of countries in Europe, and only six of them have played with conquering other continents. To assume that all whites succumb to anti-Chinese propaganda is not only wrong but also hurtful. Your words are simply not fair. Forgive me, but since you insist that you won't give up promoting your political world view on a topic that has nothing to do with politics, I'll be the one to back off.

I wish everyone a pleasant day regardless of their skin color or background. Movies should unite, not divide, and the discussion about them should be about, well, movies. And at this point I admit that I am imposing my vision, because I believe there is a place and time for everything and this forum should be about movies, not politics. Live long and prosper.

Ok, I get it, but really, is a topic where people just want to talk about dramas and movies, what they like about them and what they don't, really a good place for political discussions? I doubt that she, or I, would express ourselves anti-Chinese, since we both like Chinese actors and productions to some degree. She admitted that she was interested in the film because of the actor, and that is not anti-Chinese statement that requires some politicking. Believe me, anti-Chinese propaganda is not practiced in all Western countries. I don't see the purpose in politicizing something that is just an opinion on a synopsis. No one here is taking away China's victories or defeats, glory or disgrace. No one is attacking China. This statement, mine or @S_Ellie's, is only about the fact that at this stage of information on this film, the synopsis does not promise it to be interesting. Adding some political context here is simply inappropriate.

Can't we just stay on the topic of the film? Please.

It's getting harder and harder to wait for this movie. My first Chinese films were of this type, so I have a great fondness for them.
I hope to see it soon.

The issue is that I'm not forcing my cultural ideals on anyone, and I have no idea which comment of mine (and whether it's definitely mine) you're referring to. Expressing an opinion is not forcing anything.

I wrote a longer comment referring to a certain discussion, but I see this discussion was deleted, so I won't pursue the topic. I really have no idea how you think expressing an opinion that something promises to be uninteresting is "forcing my cultural ideals". Oh, well, I’m just stupid, probably.

In any case, I wish you a pleasant day.