Tanky Toon

The office drama where no one works, yet hostile takeovers happen daily

I usually avoid dramas where one or both of the main characters has a child, because of my own peculiar reason since childhood, but both instances, including this drama, surprised me as this is the second time where the kid stole the show.

Like in “Unforgettable Love,” the child actor was so precocious and lovely as he became the catalyst where the two leads get together. I couldn’t believe that Cui Yi Xin was only around 6 or 7 yrs old when this drama was filmed. Quan Quan seemed more mature than his young age and perhaps because he had to go through a lot due to his heart condition.

The leads were not too shabby, even though it’s the first time I’ve seen either of them. In the beginning, Wang Yu Wen came across as bland and lacking personality, especially in contrast with Ma Xin Rui’s character, Cao Mu, who is spunky as Min Hui is dry. But throughout the show, she develops a backbone as she fights the injustices of sexual harassment and other political games that people were playing against her.

On the other hand, Wang Zi Qi balances the jilted ex-lover Xin Qi who misunderstood Min Hui’s intentions, and the protective boyfriend he later became to be. Although, at some point, he turned into a bit of a stalker, following Min Hui around the city to get into her good graces, while finding intel on her non-consequential blind dates. Some might get put off with this, but the drama defends this behavior as permissible since there was no malice behind it.

Speaking of which, I find it really laughable that Xin Qi spends most of the drama pursuing Min Hui that I wonder when he actually works as a CEO of a large company. Ru Ji mocks this trope in one of his later conversations with Zi Zhu, that only in a drama world, where a character can be with their beloved 24/7. There’s also a lot of contrived instances I found disbelieving. For instance, Quan Quan had multiple run-ins with Xin Qi because he had the freedom to roam the halls of the hospital or wait outside alone. He was also asked a few times not to open doors to strangers while his mother was out running errands. It was fortunate that all these encounters were with Xin Qi, who he later discovered to be his father, otherwise I would have been terrified by the thought of him being taken away by an unscrupulous person.

There’s also that coincidence where Cao Mu’s boyfriend, happens to be the brother of Min Hui’s acquaintance, who happens to live at the same orphanage as Xin Qi. Talk about a small (drama) world. Talking about Cao Mu and her boyfriend, it was cute in the beginning until it wasn’t. But their pairing was better than Ru Ji’s and Zi Zhu’s, despite Ru Ji’s insistence to the contrary, that no, Zi Zhu isn’t a replacement. I lost interest in these four people after they coupled up and their chemistry fizzled.

Although the business back story provided the characters with material to work with, it didn’t captivate me as much as I anticipated. The Be Agile tech company serves only as a platform to showcase Min Hui’s intelligence, and the hostile takeover was only a way to bring the antagonist Qi Rang back into the fold. The drama started strong, and the ending was solid, but was mostly soft in the middle.

The absence of Quan Quan in the back half of the drama was palpable. I kept wondering, who is babysitting the child? Where is he and who is he staying with? The drama tried to cram so many things in the last few episodes, like we finally see Xin Qi working until he collapses because of exhaustion. Then besides all this, the villains did not get their just desserts, or at least, it wasn’t satisfactory to my taste. Are we supposed to forgive Xi Yue for all the things that she has done to destroy Min Hui? And how about Qi Rang? Yes, authorities arrested and convicted him for the sexual harassment he committed against Min Hui years ago, but what about his illegal dealings? Also, Xin Di’s absence in the main couple’s wedding is a glaring omission. The two secretaries were there, why not her?

But all in all, a decent drama about second chances.

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Brotherhood, betrayal, and brilliant sword fights—romance sold separately

I had to do a double-take when I watched the first few episodes. I thought it was Cheng Yi playing Xiao Se until I realized it wasn’t. (I don’t check the actor list before watching a drama). Anyway, though Cheng Yi remains a favorite, Li Hong Yi deserves praise for his portrayal for the cheeky and cunning Xiao Se, who is as removed from the Marial Arts world he used to dominate, as he is much embroiled with it because of his real identity.

Also, upping up their games are Liu Xue Yi as Wu Xin and Li Xin Ze as Tang Lian. I’ve seen both of them mostly in support roles, and I finally got to see them shining in their major roles. Not to be outdone, Ao Rui Peng easily portrays the happy-go-lucky Wu Jie, whose naivete is endearing. As for the two other female characters, unfortunately, I find them a little lacklustre. I do not know if it’s intentional or not, but these female characters seemed weaker than their male counterparts, and I am unsure if it’s due to the acting or the writing. Since Ruo Yi had a backstory of being a sickly child, it’s understandable that her martial arts prowess wasn’t as advanced as the others. But for a supposedly skilled fighter such as Si Kong Qian Luo, I am not sure why production forced a love line on her with Xiao Se, when there’s none to be found. They look more like a pair of siblings than a romantic couple. I don’t understand why production forced a love line on Si Kong Qian Luo and Xiao Se when there is no chemistry between them. Removing it would not impact the plot.

The rest of the characters were multi-dimensional and well-portrayed. There’s an abundance of personalities to keep the side-quests intriguing. The main plot itself is rich and intricate, without being too convoluted. I enjoyed the backstories, especially those of the martial art masters and immortal deities who predated the younger generation.

Speaking of the young ones, I admire the camaraderie among the group, especially the unusual bond between Xiao Se and Wu Xin. They are total opposites of each other, in terms of personality, upbringing and identity, and yet they are very in tune with each other’s thoughts and motivation. They may disagree sometimes, but they have the utmost respect for each other. Also along their journey, the team built a bond of trust where they can rely on each other to do their own parts. And it is their journey that I found entertaining, and it’s all kudos to the scriptwriters and the production crew. Also to be commended are the expertly choreographed fights, the carefully-thought-out strategies, the intricate costumes made by the production company.

Overall, this is such a great watch, even if they didn’t incorporate romantic elements. It was so hard for me to even decide where to put this in my top 20 list as China has been producing a lot of amazing Wuxia/Xanxia in the last five years but this one is certainly in my top 5 Historical Chinese dramas (as of this writing).

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Story: It's predominantly about a sheltered, young man who strives to meet his parent's expectations but also wants to live a life for himself. So when Francis reconnects with Tommy, he follows the latter around town, neglecting his studies and piano lessons.

Acting: Decent enough to portray the relationship between two boys just hanging out.

Music: Nothing to write home about.

Rewatch Value: Once is enough.

Overall Impression: When I searched for other reviews of this short to serve as comparison, there's hardly anything that could be found. Instead another HK film of the same name, the one that uses the 2019 HK protests as a backdrop, was the one usually featured. So it made sense to me, that this particular short, barely registered on the radar. And so is my opinion of the film.

The only pivotal scene that I could commend is the one where Francis finally had his outburst in the final moments. He finally snapped after being subjected to other pursuits he really does not have any interest in. For his mother to profess to care about Francis, she did not do a good job of understanding where he is coming from nor what he really wants in life.

But even with this statement, I wasn't quite sold on what the film was trying to portray, aside from the reality of gay teens living in the shadows of their true nature.

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Story: It's about a boy telling a story about two boys to another boy. In the boy's story, the two boys are best friends. But wouldn't you know it: the boy telling the story is also the best friend of the boy who is listening to this story. What a coincidence! And that the boy telling the story, is planning to do a movie about this story. Or at least, that's what he said he was doing.

Acting: Good enough for two people sitting at a coffee shop.

Music: Barely noticed.

Rewatch Value: Short and adorable enough to repeat.

Overall Impression: What an ingenious concept for a confession. At least Dong Young is self-aware enough not to expect much from his best friend aside from maintaining their friendship. And it's a healthy reaction from Jung Min, accepting his best friends feelings without indulging in it. Nobody died, it's a win for me.

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This drama is about two best friends suddenly being tasked with hosting a podcast about love and sex. Neither are really in a capacity to give professional advice, but they do lend a listening ear. On one hand, Mi Na only dallies with casual hook-ups, and is not looking for anybody for more than a romp in the hay. Meanwhile, Hee Jee is stuck in a boring rut with her longtime boyfriend, who cares more about what’s on screen than carrying an actual conversation with his girlfriend. Though neither of them feels jealous of each other’s situation, sometimes they wish to improve their love and sex lives.

In the eight brief episodes, we see both women grappling with the idea that there is more to life than just having meaningless sex, and comparatively, that they are not obligated to stay with one person just because it is easy and convenient. Change is a thing; yes, it could be scary, but the braver you are to explore what you truly want, the more rewarding your life experience will be.

Both Ahn Hee Yeon and Bae Woo Hee’s portrayal of these women come across as natural. The two male leads are not too shabby as well. I find the drama very refreshing as it tackles mature topics with candidness. I love how both female characters developed as individuals when exploring relationships outside of their comfort zone. The drama fearlessly delves into different perspectives on romance and sexual relationships that may not align with conventional values or beliefs, but are not deemed wrong or right, nonetheless.

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This drama started out slow, but after a few episodes, the story picked up and became more interesting as it went. I like the juxtaposition of characters and I’ve seen both leads in other works and they’ve already proven their acting prowess there, especially when I have viewed four of Zhang Ling He’s works before I watched this one. So I knew what I was expecting. Who surprised me though is Ryan Cheng. I didn’t realize he was also the main in “A Familiar Stranger,” but maybe it’s because his character there wasn’t as flushed out as Gong Shang Jue’s.

The characters in this drama are multi-dimensional, that they are not necessarily “all good” or “all evil.” Despite what has been portrayed, most of them have the freedom of choice, whether to follow along the path that was created for them, or carve out one for themselves. This is why I admire Yun Wei Shan’s character and Yu Shu Xin’s portrayal of a skilled assassin. She cleverly integrated herself into the Gong family and made her own judgment, not solely relying on what had been fed to her, while also following the edicts of her organization.

Gong Zi Yu, for his part, turned from a playboy to a love-struck fool, from a supposedly incompetent “spare” to become the new Sword Wielder. Throughout his journey through the trials, Gong Zi Yu has proven himself to be more than a sitting duck everyone assumes him to be. His ingeniousness, coupled with his compassion for the people, made him a formidable leader.

I find myself second-guessing the true nature of the characters, which is rare for me as I have usually found them predictable in other shows. Even I find the pairing of Gong Zi Shang (Zi Yu’s sister) and Jin Fan (Zi Yu’s guard) hilarious. Perhaps the only person I truly detested here is Shangguan Qian. I really have no tolerance for her type of character, through no fault of the actress.

As for other aspects, the production, cinematography and the costumes were breathtaking. Likewise, the plot here is also intricate and engaging. Everything here in this drama is smoke and mirrors, and it is up to these characters to decipher the truth from all of it.

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Story: A collection of erotic shorts about men fantasizing about other men in uniforms.

Acting: No better than amateur porn stars.

Music: Maybe the sound of beeping horns can even lull you to sleep.

Rewatch Value: Not bored enough to do so again.

Overall Impression: This feature is actually just glorified porn trying to pass as avant-garde film. The stream of consciousness monologuing may impart some life truths that may seem profound, but they are overly gratuitous. I will not totally give this a zero though, but maybe an F for F-fort.

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Story: A boy gets "saved" by a life-guard who mistakenly thought that the swimmer was in dire danger. However, Wu doesn't protest and lets himself be assisted by the lifeguard to shore. Wu fantasizes about this encounter, especially when their bodies were touching. He tries to dispel these carnal thoughts by meditating, but this doesn't seem to work when he finds out that the lifeguard also happens to be a patient at his father's clinic.

Wu incorrectly assumes that the lifeguard's frequent visit is due to mutual attraction, and therefore is present whenever the lifeguard was there. Whereas Wu wasn't motivated before to study acupuncture, with the lifeguard's presence at the clinic, he becomes fascinated with the different types of therapy that his father uses on his patients.

Acting: The actor who plays Wu is expressionless, despite his supposed infatuation with another male. The other actors were even less memorable.

Music: Ho-hum.

Rewatch Value: Once is enough.

Overall Impression: Not abysmal enough to get a 1, but still a snooze-fest. The film was trying to be profound until it got convoluted in its attempt at symbolism.

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Started out as creepy, and ended up as not so creepy, and through no fault of the story really, but I blame the production company on this.

First, why didn’t they cast an appropriately-aged actor to portray ML’s teenage self, when they did so for the FL and 2nd ML? All those screaming “Pedo” would have no grounds to stand on, if this was done, and frankly, not as disturbing to watch a 12 yr old smiling infatuatedly at a 35 yr old at the start of the drama.

Second, why they didn’t dub Yang Mi’s voice so it doesn’t come across as whiny and annoying throughout the show?

Third, why do production companies insist on casting actresses who cannot even clearly pass as a guy unless you are totally daft and oblivious? There are probably more androgynous-looking actors out there that they could have chosen.

I continued watching anyway, as I love a forbidden romance between Master and Disciple, but man, was it ever frustrating! By the nth time Jian Ming pushed Hai Shi away, I was actually rooting for her to end up with someone else and I would have been happy. You would have thought that Jian Ming was a green flag due to all his self-sacrificing intentions, trying to put Hai Shi out of harm’s way, but he is not doing her any favors as she keeps coming back. Why would she be hopelessly clinging onto somebody who doesn’t prioritize your happiness, but would always choose the country over you?

And don’t get me started on the emperor! Tilan clearly has a case of Stockholm syndrome! Actually Di Xu’s bromance with Fang Zhu looks more sus with all those half-naked, pact-making rituals and fussing over their bestie’s pale-looking lips.

The third coupling may seem the least toxic of all the pairings here, even though Zhou Ying was prone to peeping over the courtyard where Zhe Liu was working. Stalking seems to be the least of all evil here, so the show gave it a pass.

The drama also throws in half-baked villains with some half-baked back stories, expecting you the swallow the Kool-aid that they only did what they did. To watch this show to completion, you need to suspend your disbelief, and throw away logic, or better yet, hang on to that remote control. You need that FFWD button.

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This drama is cool without being cliche, as it guides viewers through the sexual development of youth. Despite being naïve about certain things, the characters were willing to learn about the different sexual concepts that aren’t necessarily traditional.

It is refreshing to see how the three friends differ in their outlook on love, lust, and beyond. While some are shy, they still communicate their concerns and thoughts to each other, albeit ironically, in a very public restaurant.

I find this drama highly entertaining and educational without being preachy. It’s certainly hilarious how things kept falling out of Sakura’s bag, and how shocked she is at finding things she deemed “dirty” are actually a normal part of human sexuality. I am stanning also for the ace and bi rep, especially after both Tsumugi’s and Yu’s speech.

Even with only nine brief episodes, this drama thoroughly explores everything related to sex, including, but not limited to pregnancy, birth control, consent, periods, etc. The show thoroughly examines these subjects and handles them honestly, without disguising the truth. It certainly is a progressive approach to education in an Asian country, mostly perpetuated by conservative principles.

And as one teacher suggested, it is important for schools to provide proper sex education so that students can make informed decisions and not make assumptions about sex. Highly recommend this drama as it dispels the misconceptions and myth about sex.

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I thought that with only 14 episodes, I could blow through this without a hitch. But I was wrong. The drama started out strong; I especially loved the flirty friendship between the main couple. Elvis Han has the suave financier down pat, while Elvira Han oozes smarts and sexiness as the hardworking, no-nonsense lawyer. And oh, the sizzling chemistry between Tang Ying and Zi Quan really lit up the screen. But that’s about it.

Because when both are at work, they’re being played by their colleagues, supervisors, and both seem to work on projects that failed (through no fault of their own, but by the machinations or neglect of other people). Setbacks are inevitable, as they are part of life, and it’s how you overcome these obstacles thrown your way that counts. The show imparts more than a few nuggets of wisdom, but by the 10th life lesson, it became too preachy.

The drama also introduces so many random characters, but none of them really fully fleshed out. Most are one-dimensional, like the bratty sister whom I cannot stand, and her cringey boyfriend. She only became interesting towards the end when she ditched her possessive BF and moved in with a younger guy (her landlord). I feel the drama brought in all these randos just to prove a point, like the sugar daddy equates women with useless barns or the socialite who sinks her teeth on Zi Quan once she learns he’s no longer single. The main leads used a lot of these side characters as teachable moments, especially when they aim their gaze at the audience. But mostly, I was so bored to death that I couldn’t fake liking it.

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Picked up this drama because the premise sounded interesting: a virgin meets another virgin and enters a FWB contract. Occasionally adorable, but mostly predictable is that they both caught feelings after having coitus a couple times. Of course, a drama cannot do without a rival love interest or two, who obligatory part ways for the leads to end up together. Despite the sexual tension Takada and Totsuka bring to the screen in the beginning episodes, it did not carry towards the end. Waste of talent, especially Izuka’s. And I certainly didn’t expect the weak-a$$ peck that fell short after the enormous buildup. Watch only if you want to pass the time, but not necessarily.

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I enjoyed this rom-com more than I expected. Perhaps it may be because of its short run typical of Japanese drama that allows all the essence to be compact without being draggy., unlike the long and drawn out fifty-episodic offerings from other countries.

First, it shows the typical Japanese work culture where everyone is worked to the bone and doing overtime is common and even expected. Shikamori Umi is no stranger to this and continues to run around until she reaches a limit.

Second, the drama demonstrates that change is possible when Umi gets recruited as an intern at an agency, where a very different and refreshing work culture has been established.

Suzuki Airi is a natural, transitioning from a bare-faced, exhausted employee to a spritely, newly motivated worker who wants to try her best at everything, even over-extending herself sometimes. But she realizes that just fell back into the habit of over-pleasing others.

Her coworkers, her new boss and especially Kazao, and even Hina manifest ideas that shape Umi’s worldview, in that working hard is commendable, but also is taking time for yourself. The cast was supportive of Umi’s endeavors and she finally learns to be independent.

This drama was delightful and gratifying. Also neat was the trivial fact that three of the male actors in this show were in other BL dramas that I’ve watched. I did not even recognize Izuka Kenta in that whatchamacallit hairstyle.

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This is one of those dramas where I would have been fine without the two leads ending up together. It’s not that I had an issue with watching student-teacher relationships, as I’ve seen tons. But the execution, and the backstory towards the end of when Murai first fell in love with Tanaka wasn’t sitting well with me. I actually would have preferred if Tanaka end up marrying her colleague Yamakado, whom she had more chemistry with.

The romance feels very one-sided, or perhaps this was the show’s intention I don’t know. But I think it was really more of an escapism on Ayano’s part, and only after confronting her own ambiguous feelings for Murai did she break free of her illusion from Hitotose, an online game character who she has been obsessed with, as his eyes reminded her of her friend’s (Really weird if you ask me, if you find out who). I wasn’t also keen on the second couple, where there was lack of development, nor rhyme or reason why Yayo-chan should be with Hirai.

The only saving grace about this drama is that it keeps reminding us that it is wrong to be in a relationship with a minor, from Ayano herself who tells Murai this, to Yamakado reminding Ayano that this is one line people shouldn’t cross, to the ending that thankfully does not show any further skinship between the two.

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