sutaraito

The most perfect show that I have ever seen

I know this drama is getting such high praise and it may cause people to be skeptical but truly, it deserves the highest praise. It is the most well written kdrama out of all the kdramad I have seen.

I feel like I’m pretty generous with my ratings for shows because even though there may be multiple things they could have done better, it’s usually a no overall enjoyable.
However when I give this drama a 10/10 I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Everything is perfect. I have no notes. It’s DEVASTATING and heartbreaking at times but it brought forth so many emotions it was such a pleasure to watch and a very valuable experience.

If you’re hesitating, don’t. Just keep a box of tissues nearby, you’ll need it.

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Great Potential in the Beginning, Falls Flat near the End

I'm writing this review because a lot of the perceptions of the characters and story are bothering me. The Eternal Fragrance had great potential and worldbuilding, but falls flat sometimes and had a just okay last episode. I will start with the good and bad and then do a (short) rant.

THE GOOD AND GREAT:
- Strong worldbuilding: There were only a few things that I was confused about but otherwise it was not hard to follow
- The ML and FL: I thoroughly enjoyed these characters and their relationship. They each have their own motivations that they stick to but are plagued by their love for one another when it comes into conflict with what they want. I am always ready for a doomed lovers trope
- The styling: I love love love all the outfits and hair for the main six. Most especially the demon lord and the divine tree. Makeup could be better for the men. Styling for the old dudes was mostly pretty good too, couldn't stop staring at their eyebrows lol.
- (Most) side characters: I love a found family, the six friends were great when they were given screen time. I wish we saw more of them because according to the timeline they spent at least a year together. The side characters for demon clan weren't thoroughly explored but I did like how their arcs ended
- (Some) villains: I appreciate the commitment to making certain characters just full on assholes even if they have misplaced motivations caused by centuries of hatred. Some of the endings are very satisfying, some fall a little flat. I think Cuixuan was quite good, actually frustrating because we know his strength. It made me root for the ML and FL more.
- Brave choices (?): Basically this drama isn't afraid of doing unexpected things and killing characters. They aren't characters you get super attached to but it's still pretty shocking. It makes he story and relationships more intense.
- Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi!!! Started this drama for SWL, I love his expressions and he looks great as a demon lord. This was my first JJY work and it's a great first impression! She played Jiang Lifei really well.

THE SUBPAR:
- CGI: The low budget for CGI is immediately noticeable unfortunately. Thankfully the smaller battles look okay, but the flashback to the Sea Calamity and battle with the demon lord from 500 years back looks pretty awful and they show it a lot, so that's a bit distracting. I really think some creative lighting could have helped a lot.
- Editing: Choppy quite often though it doesn't take away too much from the story. The abrupt cuts sometimes are very annoying and can make some parts of the story difficult to piece together.
- Tongzhou: I hate a love triangle but I could tolerate his character in the beginning when everyone was in the academy. Unfortunately he devolved from there and got pretty annoying. His treatment of Lanya was very satisfying for me but what he was doing to Lifei in the end was unacceptable and he did not receive a satisfying punishment for it. His character arc wrap-up was incredibly disappointing to me because they almost had it right, but refused to punish him for all the awful shit he did for what felt like "old time's sake". It was more disappointing because the drama usually isn't afraid of hurting characters that were/are good people.
- Lack of love scenes: I felt the tension, it was great. I wish we got more lovey-dovey scenes. I know, I know, a story doesn't have to have love scenes to be good. But we spent so much time with them and their developing relationship, I think it would have been a satisfying wrap-up.
- The last episode: As someone that was enjoying the show pretty thoroughly, the last episode felt quite flat because of some character arcs (Miaoqing, Tongzhou) and lack of time with the ML and FL, instead spending time with side characters.
- Demon lord's eyeliner: Super specific but it was genuinely distracting, sad because he looks amazing otherwise

Lastly, I have to rant as someone that was seeing the comments while this was airing:
Jiang Lifei and Lei Xuiyuan were a lot of fun to watch when you ignore the dozens of people that believe Lifei should just ignore the people around her and just go along with Xiuyuan. I really don't understand people, he betrayed her trust in the beginning (which she forgives him for, mind you), and in the final arc it LOOKS like he has caused the deaths of multiple people close to her indirectly and directly (we as the audience know it wasn't him, but she doesn't!). It is so ridiculous to think she should just ignore all of this, things that make it look like they really are fated to cause doom, and follow along with everything he says. Her taking time to make her own plans and find out the truth is what makes her a good FL. In fact the relationship and trials between the ML and FL are what feel the strongest to me in this drama.

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Cute but kinda clumsy?

An 8.2 rating on mdl is quite high for a jdrama so maybe I went in with high expectations. I really wanted to like this more, i love the roommate trope and the first episode with main leads bantering seemed quite promising. But this drama is kind of all over the place.

There isn't really a main storyline, it's just bits and pieces of the characters' lives and work but it's not cohesive. The friend group does not get enough scenes together to feel like a tight knit group and the friendships are very underdeveloped so when there are scenes that are meant to be emotional, they just fall flat. The romance progressed WAY too fast, both the main and the second leads. I mean a kiss in episode 2 for the mains?? I was shocked. Their relationship should be cute on paper but it just feels like it doesn't have any substance because they went so fast from being strangers to dating, and because I don't even know when she stopped liking her boss. This also made the final dilemma for the ML a little annoying? It didn't feel like their relationship was deep enough for him to consider giving up on such a big opportunity for her. The second leads were just so meh, the SML liked the FL first and then switched to the SFL like 1 episode later. They were also super underdeveloped and felt forced honestly, they aren't very compelling as characters especially the SML which makes it hard to care. I really think the main leads could have benefited from the screen time given to the second leads.

The drama looks very pretty and the music really helps with the atmosphere. There aren't unnecessary misunderstandings and it's quite an easy watch. I LOVED the end little bits where we saw Shun's POV and their pre-relationship scenes (which is not a lot) are fun. I can see why a lot of people like it but it unfortunately suffers from underdeveloped relationships and pointless side characters which I personally value a lot.

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enjoyable! + kimutaku is so pretty

the overall atmosphere and feeling of this drama is lovely. I loved the dynamic between the leads pre and early relationship. going from annoying him because of the failed one night stand to developing a crush was actually very cute to see. going back and watching again made me see moments of teppei showing interest and reciprocating those feelings as well but i wish we saw more and that riko didn't fall as hard as she did because it did feel a little unbalanced. the relationship moments were very cute and kimura takuya (who is just gorgeous in this) and matsu takako (also beautiful) have such good chemistry and line delivery. i loved the mini breakup scene, matsu takako delivers the 2m line so well.

teppei is kind of an asshole and i hate both of the second leads. perhaps in my head i rationalize the kiss as him being swept up in the nostalgia of their old relationship or as something that he did because part of him felt like he would regret it now that he had the chance, but i do think it was a spur of the moment thing that he genuinely regretted. maybe i'm wrong but i do actually think he stopped liking sanae, just that his brother was a complete and total ass and he felt obligated to take care of her. i think this drama would have been so much better without the constant sanae drama or even just separating her shit from the main leads.

the ending also left me wanting more and even though i agree that we had to see teppei beg for her, i wish they had solved it abt twenty minutes before the end so we could actually have a proper wrap up. overall i had fun watching it for the most part, the last three eps dragged on a bit and i did not care for a second spent on the second leads. i would watch again just for the chemistry of the two leads but will definitely be skipping through the second leads and most of the last three eps.

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cutesy

very cute and light drama, this isn’t an actual review i just have to say that i HATE the mom. i keep seeing people say that they’re happy the drama didn’t do the whole “mean mom” thing but huyeong’s mom was insanely manipulative and disrespectful to him. she spent her entire time on screen disregarding her grown son’s wishes to stay in his home country, going so far as to SUE him to force him to go back to the US. that is not a kind mom. so i am a bit disappointed that they ended up going to the US but in my head they don’t stay there and come back to kore soon.

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