kralicek

kkkkk, quite ancient choices

Production and acting was above average but the story couldn't captivate me. If there are two main leads which are heroic materials with very proper conduct, than their love story usually - at least for me - tends to be quite boring. Screenwriter usually take the easiest way to carry on the plot and that is self-sacrifice. And here they used it like fifty times, ML always getting hurt for FL, never telling, This trope is already over ("out") in dramaland but here it was overused so much. And with combination of long staring, long explantation of the same things, topics to small details, which was necessary, it was making me feel bored. And then we have several strange characters like popping of his brother out of nowhere, he disappeared in a same abrupt way as he appeared. Why was ignored a really good potential in the story - he was using dark magic, which would give us interesting plot of him fighting it and being on the verge of becoming black?

I need romance 2, 9 End 2 Outs, Go ahead, Weightlifting Fairy, all the Reply's

Undemanding...that's what I would use to describe this cute-fluffy drama where main leads are almost always together on the screen. We have a couple with nice chemistry (despite their real age gap), who is quite mature as goes through problems - meaning that they discuss things together and trust each other( with a few hitches). But if you have a couple that gets together quite early in drama and they always overcome problems, then there is no tension, excitement and suspense...all that is left is cuteness, chemistry...which is fine for many of us when we want something "undemanding". If you don't expect great story plot, but want fluff with some nice kisses (kkkk), this drama is for you. Acting was also above average than what we usually see in these kinds of dramas.

Very old dramaland classic full of clichés...in those times (2009) basically amnesia trope used to be a "must", like meddling parents, infatuated ex or fan and necessary break-up. The melo was sometimes so bad and over the top, I was laughing like - really? wow, so funny, why did I liked at the that time - but why there are people who still rewatch it? How many dramas do you really remember (name or story plot) from that times? Not many, but this old classic will be among those, us dreamland fans, still remember, which is a feat itself. Now seeing such plot, rating would be really low and we would criticize FL cause we saw so many self-sacrificing heroes...luckily times has changed, we get more interesting plots with more interesting characters (now flawed heroes are in - Vincenzo, Mouse, Just between lovers) but I must say that from times to times I would like to see those old tropes with some really good melo full of clichés in nice new package :-)

Chinese drama with very Korean vibe, not only because of amount of eps (16). One of the best Chinese with very good written characters, acting and pacing. It is rare to see all three aspects packed in one drama. I loved that both leads were imperfect and how they struggled with the situation in their own imperfect ways. It made them very believable characters, to which we can relate, especially ML. In most ch-drama we have aloof, cold or playful, goodhearted main hero but both groups share one more aspect - that except that one weakness (OCD, trauma, family problems etc) they are almost perfect in every other way, therefore Xiao He Run is very endearing character. The FL has mix of typical damsels in distress - goodhearted, soft, willing to help and very impulsive - in many dramas this combination makes FL a bit annoying cause in order to save something, she cause even more problems...but not here, the combination of these characters were so well written and played, that we must like her, especially that her strong believes here also changing the people around her. And I liked many messages throughout the drama: not to judge - according to appearance (Lu Di) or hearsay (Ma Gun Qiang), or how internet trollish is harmful and that we shouldn't be afraid to help someone. I also appreciated that a director/screenwriter didn't take a coward ending like we see in many dramas - that it was only a dream, or it was a game...something which make meaning of the drama and in the end erased it.

First three eps were amazing. I though, wow, we've got something really interesting here. The rawness of the story was impactful. I thought we may have one of the best drama 2022... I was looking forward to how on Earth can we go from such all-consuming hate to falling in love, especially with his ex-wife next to them. Unfortunately the drama fall in the same vicious circle of many dramas: repetitive scenes and dialogues about who will sacrifice, getting kidnapped and saved. I accepted that plot holes exists in dramaland (show me a drama without them, kkk, very very few exist), but here with such a quality drama it is a bit shame they are not addressed.
I must mention one of the best OST, so fitting and making scenes more thrilling...such a shame that towards the end the main few songs get used less and less. So for me it is a drama with one of the best starts ever, which unfortunately never grows to its full potential, there is a strong build-up but then climax seems to go without expected bang. Anyway, it was a ride.

Gao Wei surprised me, he was again a bit different from his previous roles. We have many actors who are the same or pretty much similar in almost every role. I saw him in 3-4 roles and each has his own distinctive characteristics unlike the other. so kudos for that. Yes, we have the brick scene or poorly written terrorists...also many female soldiers were running in a bit girly style, which also didn't add to fierce image of the special squad. Not perfect, but ok drama, where I wouldn't use a romance tag.

This drama is when you want to rest in between. Fluffy, no-brainer, and with typical self-sacrificing ML. The love plot of MC is a bit sad because we've got 4 incarnations/lives and in first three they never got together. This story is a bit boring - if you have a noble ML and a nice FL it is almost always boring for me, cause the plot is self-sacrifice and interactions are so "proper". The second couple was much much funnier and more interesting, although I don't know what happened with script: 2nd FL was so funny, playful and unrestrained bird, in the second half of drama, she became more timid having only one thought that she is ugly cause her birthmark. Anyways, I was more invested in the secondary couple, so what a surprise that they've got happy ending. What irritated me a bit was the unjust concept of heaven - it was sucuuuuch~ a big cliché. And our MC suffered without any justification, reason and they never get satisfaction of apology, remorse...

Wow, I wouldn't have written it better. Powerful transformation which was a very crazy ride packed with witty humor. It hit my spot, so laughed a lot while watching. I loved so many characters, after a while finally interesting "bad guys" (Boss Yong, Assemblyman Do)...the bromance is now everywhere, but here we two really good ones (Ryu Soo and K, Kyoung Tae and Jae Seon).

I. am not a big fan of Kajorn, but from time to time I try one for a change. For Thai very nice done fighting scene, especially women did a great job. Both ML were great, but Taew was amazing, her range of emotion was exceptional.

My most favorite from those years is The Legend (2007) with Bae Yong Joon. One of the best story ever, although the ending isn't ideal. They had some problems with shooting and ML was badly injured. It is not a surprise that I also love the Arthdal Chronicles, which gave a bit similar feeling.

One of the best ch-drama of this/previous year, at least for me. Historical dramas are my must-see and this gem is character driven with good story plot. Usually it is one or the other, but here both things are deliciously packed with great dialogues and witty sense of humor. So I fell hard. I liked or enjoyed almost every character shown in the story - heroes or antiheroes or common people - all nicely written with background stories and supported with great acting. We can feel that it is probably harem story with no true love, so I was a bit cared to see so many beautiful young actresses, as we know often their acting is just so-so, but not here. All of the actors made me feel their character is 3 dimensional. Yes, the story was a bit slow paced, but the plot was developing very nicely - again sometimes we got all the interesting things in the first half of the story and then it is boring or repetitive, again not here. The last ep has superb ending - maybe not the whole story but at least it gives us some closure as opposed to those cliffhangers for 2nd season. One of the main story plot is resolved, which was very satisfying. I would love to get another season, but I am content this way. I can feel that the director was thinking of us, to make us satisfied and the cherry on top was the ending text. Quite meaningful. You can also feel that this drama was carefully thought from initial animated titles with another great equation. I, of course, also like Joy of Life, but somehow I prefer this one, maybe cause FL is better written here.

I rarely give up a drama but I couldn't get into Luoyang and gave up around 8th ep, although I like all 3 main actors. It felt a bit flat, but here we have wonderful characters, great dialogues and fine chemistry (all kind of)...but romance is not main focus and it is only very nicely hinted.

I love historical drama, but since Six Flying dragons there was only one which I enjoyed - My kingdom. I don't count into this genre rom-com as Mr. Queen, 100 Days My Prince or Arthdal Chronicles as it is also a bit fantasy. So for me Red Sleeve is a gem in the darkness shining with brilliant light. And finally they operated realistically in terms of crown prince/king of having multiple wives and concubines, which we can see in Chinese dramas but Koreans in recent years mostly ignore the fact and bring a love story of a Crown prince and one - of course - brave woman. Yes, Im Dok was brave and a bit different from typical maids in palace, but I liked that they didn't make her too much emancipated, her character stayed within the boundaries of that time and for me it was refreshing, as we see a lot historical FLs with mind set of modern woman. This drama has nice mix of politics and love story, both in nice balance working well together. And I really love this romance. We could feel all the slight changes: from liking and fondness to attraction and lust and then love. ML always gave her change to choose, which make me like him more...just maybe I would be more delighted if Im Dok would find silver lining of living in palace like FL in Yanxi palace - she can never truly be happy in a golden cage but found a way to enjoy her life. Acting was wonderful, and Jun Ho was one of actors who can truly pull off a crown prince, his bearing and strong presence, Not many actors (especially younger with exception of for example Do Kyoung Soo and Yeo Jin Goo) can act like that. He portrayed dignity and arogance coming from different class very well and he even managed to differ a prince from a king. As a king he was even more overbearing, kudos for that. I saw BTS, and it looks like all of them had so much fun on the set :-)

"Don't like" is a strong wording, I have never said that I don't like it. I think we can be engaged in drama that is mediocre, or sometimes even drama full of clichés can click with us, if the mood is alright or has excellent actors. Here, I wasn't bored, I was interested in what's happening next, didn't feel need to press forward, which is quite success in my vocabulary after watching dramas for 15 years :-) but after sometime this drama will be forgotten in river of time.

I liked the subtle romance, it had all that was needed. I quite like to see contrast in art, fashion...it makes things more dynamic, but it didn't work here for me. We have 2 main plots - romance and school politics=people growing as persons. As I wrote, romance is subtle, has a poetic feeling (curtains always dancing in the breeze, soft light, soft music) and then in stark contrast there is ugliness in people. Unfortunately, in this cake the mix of ingredients didn't work for me, although actors were excellent. especially I loved FL. We could see her in 3 different life phases and in each, she was a bit different person. Ye Rim was also great...and funny thing in time of wireless earbuds, we still got to see old cliché :-)

I like mystery thriller dramas, but here something didn't work for me...I am not sure why, cause actors were great. I liked goofy Detective Cha and mysterious doctor Lee, their bromance and friendship with profiler. I personally think that detective Cha had a crush on her, but she saw both of them as friends, although doctor felt closer to her. It might be that she felt some type of similarity in terms of having strong boundaries for others, unsociability. Her character was a bit weird , cause as a main character she felt only as a sidekick, her only progress was that instead of fun, she was getting interested on personal level. I liked character of doctor, but I was expecting something more from him, some catharsis, climax, but it never came. Then we had an idea of innocent being born of two monsters, but again we never get to work with this concept. It would be interesting to see how he goes through or his breaking point. At one time I had an idea that it may the concept: innocent finding being born two monsters cannot escape the same destiny after seeing too many unjust death, he finally breaks and become Chimera himself. Oh, I would love it and actor was great enough to pull it off. + Producers decided to make it a bit scientific, with all explanation of explosions etc, we could see they made it as one interesting point of the show, but that was abandoned halfway... It's not that show is bad, I gave 8,0, but something felt flat.

I think it was the end of the 12th ep

As an espionage historical comedy it is above average due to acting and especially great sense of humor which is mostly seen in main couple bickering, but not only there. Therefore I enjoyed this show more than I expected, although the story plot was nothing special and we have an open ending suggesting there might be season 2. The dynamic among the team works great and there were no annoying characters.