Tanky Toon

Corporate perks meet fake love... and one very real dildo duel

Noona romances are one of my favorite sub-tropes, and thankfully this is one of the better ones. I’m not really a fan of Shin Min Ah, though I’ve watched some of her dramas and I’m lukewarm towards Kim Young Dae; but in this drama, I think they work and look good together, despite comments to the contrary. I find Shin Min Ah’s portrayal of a woman, who is very calculating by nature, in the sense that is not evil or manipulative, but she measures her life in pluses and minuses. Her enjoyment increases if she thinks she’s ahead in life and decreases when she suffers a setback. So when she finds out that the company gives better perks to married employees, she takes advantage of this by hiring someone to pretend to be her husband.

Enter Kim Young Dae as fake groom Kim Ji Uk, who cruises in life despite his wit, seems to be satisfied with working a low-paying blue-collar job, rather than being a corporate slave. An animosity seems to exist between our main characters, perhaps due to a clash of values or some unforeseen circumstance that will be revealed much, much later. But on the get go, the beef between these two hate-birds was so fun to watch.

The only people who are privy to this facade are Hae Yeong’s foster sisters, Ja Yeon and Hui Seong. Each has their own opinion on the matter, but they have their own problems to deal with. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about these two. Sorry, not sorry. And neither was I really invested in their love lives. Although Ja Yeon’s story might be more interesting, only because of the hilarity surrounding her hidden identity as a popular web novelist who writes smut. And coincidences of all coincidences, Ja Yeon encounters one of her detractors who happens to be boss of so and so, who happens be the son of so and so, and she happens to be friends with so and so, who happens to be the secretary of so and so. You know, typical small world.

Speaking of small worlds, Ji UK’s sudden presence at Hae Yeong’s company shocks her. Despite her efforts of keeping a distance from him, Ji Uk turns out to be a quasi-Peterella, wearing all fancy clothes, driving a sweet ass car, living in a snazzy apartment. The scenes of both Hae Yeong and Ji Uk avoid suspicion are funny as heck. And even more so are the instances where misunderstandings pile on other misunderstandings between Gyu Hyun and Ja Yeon. Then there’s a scene where most of the main cast gathers at Chairman Bok’s table, and we slowly see the faint dots connecting each other. Could it be that the already small world could get smaller?

The second half of the show explores this complicated relationship among the characters, with further plot twists thrown into the drama. You would think that by throwing fruit into a veggie salad and it will taste better. Not only we get mistaken identities; we get countersuits; we get a murder mystery that’s not really a mystery; we get polyamory; we also get a Mother who lived in a shoe, She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.

And whew, I just got exhausted from that, so imagine watching it snowball into a dildo fight. Yes, you read that right. I’m not exaggerating this time. Then, the rollercoaster ended suddenly...wait a minute...is this a joke? They inserted the very dreaded TIMESKIP, because they do not know how to tie a neat bow without it. What the ever loving duck did you do to me???? Who does that??? Then, as easily as they pulled the plug, they just like flicked the switch and said, here you go, here’s your short happy ending. This is like somebody showing me the laborious way they baked a cake for twelve hours, only to just have me taste a smidge. This is definitely NO FAIR, NO LOVE.

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Flashes of warmth, floods of cringe—welcome to a drama with mixed prescriptions

I was bracing myself to watch this drama. On one hand, after hearing this would be a romance drama with Park Shin Hye, I immediately thought, “Oh my gosh, she’s going to screw this up isn’t she, with her notoriously horrible on-screen kissing?” Then there’s Park Hyung Sik who was brilliant in SWDBS and soundtrack#1. So I was mildly surprised to see Shin Hye’s vastly improved lip-locking skills, but her crying skills were so bad that even my nine-year-old could outperform her.

Speaking of cringe, I wasn’t sure whether Hyung Sik was supposed to be a plastic surgeon in this drama, or a dentist, because the abundant times of him flashing his pearly whites were as if he’s trying to drum up sponsorship from Colgate. So it’s no wonder that, with his high visibility, that he’s an easy target. He went from high-profile to lying low in a nano-second, and somehow ends up staying at his ex-rival, previous crush’s house, because Korea is THAT small.  

And while both Ha Neul and Jeong Woo’s careers are in the dumps, they cling to each other like Jack and Rose aboard the small wooden door from the Titanic. Their acting could not save them both from this drama, but you know who does? Surprisingly, it’s the rest of the cast, who were more natural in their roles. Seong Ha and Yoon Park have this cute chemistry going on as the second couple, and they were adorable as Hong Ran and Dae Young. Both single parents leading busy lives and were awkward with their own children, but somehow could lend each other support and give sound advice for the other.

I also particularly loved Jang Hye Jin as Ha Neul’s mother; I’ve seen her in many dramas and she’s just that lovely ahjumma who embodies the nurturing figure, while trying her best to understand her daughter despite initial misconceptions. By no means perfect, she tries to impress her nosy, one-upping relatives, and in the end, learns to accept that her children’s health and happiness are more important than having illustrious careers.  

Another weak point in this drama is the surrounding mystery of how Jeong Woo’s patient died, or what made him the scapegoat for that death. Although I sensed who the culprit was from the beginning, I didn’t know that there were other layers in how this came to be. I wasn’t sure whether it was necessary to the plot, but I guess the writers deemed them important enough to include them in the drama.  

There were other half-assed attempts at introducing characters into the drama who bear very little relevance, aside from showing the juxtaposition between real friends who stick with you or pretend friends who are only with you, when things are going great.  

Ultimately, this series aims to tell you that misfortunes happen, but when they happen, it is how you cope with them that matters, and having supportive friends and family who help you along the way is a crucial part of that journey.  

IMHO, this show delivered the right message with partly the wrong execution.

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It didn’t surprise—but it didn’t offend. Just floated in the drama middle zone.

I was not so keen on watching multiple versions of the same story like I used to when I had more time, but this show came highly recommended. You may ask: aren’t most dramas these days rehashed works of the same story, using the same tropes and plot devices, but just used a different name or a varied setting, and you have the same old, recycled drama, only all jazzed up. But I digress.

This Japanese adaptation did not hold my interest at first. The characters seemed disconnected from each other. Especially off-putting was Risa’s character. I already knew going in that she would impersonate her best friend for her own selfish desires. One may also argue that she had Sato Ai’s permission to do so in the first place, and therefore, it was acceptable. But she continued the pretense without Ai’s knowledge, and she did not seem remorseful about it; that midway through the show, I put this on hold for quite some time.

Picking up a second time where I left off, the show fared better, but not by much. My impression of Sato AI has improved, especially with how she dealt with the obstacles and challenges thrown her way. Sosuke, on the other hand, remained just a pretty face. He had very little chemistry with Sato Ai and had more engagement with Takuya. Speaking of Takuya, I did not feel a strong Second-lead syndrome like I did with the original Korean drama, though no fault of the actor.

The revelation at the end was no surprise to me. Perhaps if I watched this first, I might have a different opinion about this drama. There’s very little difference between the two titles, except this is less angsty and shorter, of course. What this Japanese version did better for me was the portrayal of female friendships. Perhaps due to its length, this show wasn’t able to explore much else. Nevertheless, it’s a decent copy of the original.

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One clueless boy. One clever girl. One endless loop of emotional whiplash

This is unexpectedly cute and sweet. The joys and confusion of having a middle school crush are being explored in this drama. For years, Takagi has been one-upping Nishikata in terms of jokes and pranks that the latter becomes frustrated. But every time Nishikata thinks he has gotten his revenge on Takagi, she outsmarts him. Despite this, both spend more time with each other than they ought to be, when Nishikata is supposed to dislike Takagi.

I loved the passive-aggressiveness of Takagi, juxtaposed with the naivete of Nishikata. Tsukishima Rui is fantastic as the witty girl who is harboring a not-so secret crush on her classmate. Meanwhile, Kurokawa Souya is adorable as Nishikata. His expressions are on point, especially when he becomes surprised that Takagi always got the better of him.

Their innocent flirtation is the crux of this story, and how they are more bonded to each other than they realize, particularly by the oblivious Nishikata. This drama captures the essence of that first sweet instance of blooming love, that I am too afraid to watch the sequel lest that bubble break.

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Romance so lifeless, the spark had to be Photoshopped

I’m not sure what to say about this drama that I neither love nor hate. Maybe it’s easier if I started breaking the parts I enjoyed. So what I liked:

1) Hirose Alice’s acting as the thirty-something year old woman who got a fresh start in life by entering a college to study what she missed out on a decade ago because of an unfortunate accident (apparently, she had quite a few of these). Her quirky expressions when she’s excited, and her stern face when she’s focused, were all captured on film.

2) The various characters living in a shared house. Their camaraderie, despite their distinct personalities, was refreshing and natural. They supported each other in their school work and their respective career paths. When there’s a disagreement, they talked it out or gave advice when requested, but mostly they listened to each other.

3) The inspiring messages the show imparts about not giving up, nor is it too late to pursue your dreams at any age as long as you strive for the path you created.

Now on the parts where I thought were disappointing:

1) I love noona romances, but the main pairing lacked chemistry. I’m not even expecting sizzling or hot-for-each-other attraction. But it wasn’t even lukewarm. Not to say Michieda wasn’t adorable as Taku, but it seemed like forced attachment on his part when paired with Sayako. So it was difficult for me to buy into their romance. All I see are two people who play a lot of rock-paper-scissors.

2) There are half-baked characters in the drama that don’t really serve a purpose for me, and are easily forgettable.

3) The time skips that flashed rapidly at the end. Are we supposed to believe that neither of them even attempted to contact each other during those years? I get it that both of them are doing what they thought it would be good for the other person, sacrificing their relationship so both can focus on their career. But if Shogo didn’t tell Taku that Sayako rejected him long ago, would Taku have gone back and looked for Sayako? And she’s no better at the end, postponing marriage until when she’s settled? Until what, she turns 50 and is too late to have kids?

Anyway, watching this drama is like expecting a firework display but ended up with just a birthday candle.

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The premise sounded interesting, about someone who possessed the ability to read other people’s inner thoughts. Don’t we all like to be mind readers sometimes, but the reality of that ever happening would be scary for both parties. With this ability, not only would the listener be overwhelmed with unsolicited thoughts (especially if they’re negative), but they wouldn’t have to make an effort to understand the other person better. For the non-listener, their confidentiality would be violated. I believe that some people should be granted privacy, especially if they have no intention of disclosing their true intentions without filtering them first.

In this drama, Motomiya fortunately used this power mainly to communicate with her voiceless, quadriplegic father. She also used this ability to help her business, and she did not use them against others. Also, because of this talent, she gained a better awareness of other people’s sufferings as she tried to assuage their fears. But her reliance on this ability was tested when she encountered Yoon Tae Oh, who thought in another language that she couldn’t understand.

Motomiya tried to interpret Tae Oh’s internal musings, but she shouldn’t have worried though, because Tae Oh was forthright about his feelings. Whatever that was in Tae Oh’s mind, he voiced them and was sincere about it. Yuri doubted this, because in her experience, what one says aloud doesn’t always reflect their innermost thoughts. She developed some trust issues because she couldn’t believe that some people can be actually that pure-hearted and kind.

I loved Tae Oh’s character specifically because of this innocence about him, that he’s open and that he wears his heart on his sleeve. I also loved the interaction between Motomiya and her father, how their bond was so close despite the tragic accident that befell him. Motomiya could not get over her part in her father’s disability, but she kept forgetting that he would have done anything to protect her, and would not blame her for it.

I wasn’t keen on the other characters though. Even the story-line of the second couple was ho-hum for me. The plot, though simple, was not fully explored, as I would have liked it to be. I would have been interested in the fantastical nature of how she came to possess that ability to hear people’s thoughts. Though the drama made some reference, albeit briefly, it wasn’t enough for me. The saving grace of this drama was truly Chae Jong Hyeop’s portrayal of this mild-mannered, happy-go-lucky man who refused to let his chance at love be consigned to fate.

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I nearly dropped this drama after watching one episode. In the beginning, the antics, though funny, seemed forced. The main characters were not only stubborn, but clueless about each other’s plight, often making assumptions they were out to get each other. I almost gave up if it were not for Jung Woo and Oh Yeon Seo’s performance. Their pairing may not be your typical drama couple, but they brought out their A game in this show.

Jung Woo stars as Hwi Oh, a cop who could not control his temper. Despite his good intentions, Hwi Oh believes his outbursts are justified, considering what happened to his colleague. Meanwhile, Yeon Seo stars as Min Kyung, a woman who’s constantly paranoid and keeps looking over her shoulder. She thinks that everyone she encounters will hurt her, therefore she hardly ventures out unless absolutely necessary. She assumes Hwi Oh to be a relentless stalker, as he appears everywhere she is, not realizing he’s her neighbor. After realizing her mistake, Min Kyung lowers her guard after finding out that Hwi Oh was a police detective, currently unemployed because of his suspension from the force.

As time goes by, the two slowly form an unlikely bond. We see both Hwi Oh and Min Kyung grow fond of each other and become accepting of the other’s quirks..We see them relying on each other during difficulties, and how they care for each other despite struggling with their own issues. Hwi Oh’s pursuit of justice sometimes lands him in precarious positions, as he did not have authority to conduct investigations because of his suspension.

On the other hand, Min Kyung had to deal with her POS ex and his manipulative mother. The deliberate sabotage of Min Kyung’s already fragile reputation, led Min Kyung to be shunned by the condo community. And here we see how endearing Hwi Oh is, by standing on her side despite the lack of proof to the contrary. However, even this wasn’t enough for Min Kyung who questions every motive of Hwi Oh going close to her. The previous trauma that she endured, made Min Kyung unable to trust anybody, even herself. Not wanting to seek help or seem weak, Min Kyung tries to tackle everything by herself, even if it’s to her own detriment. Meanwhile, Hwi Oh tries his best to be there for Min Kyung, becoming her protector and guardian.

But the story is more than the developing relationship between these two main leads. We have to appreciate the secondary characters, acted out by an amazing cast. They exist in the drama not merely to support the plot to its fruition, but they each have a role in asserting how society can stigmatize people with mental illness. The show also highlights the importance of not jumping to conclusions, especially when you don’t know the entire story. There are always two sides to a coin, and it may be worth your while to fully understand what’s going on before making hasty judgments.

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It started out interesting until it wasn’t. Let’s start with the simple part and discuss the second couple, where Murao persistently followed Tanaka Yoichi despite his rejection, not because she was unattractive, but because she was a teenager. Despite being warned about the consequences of being involved with an adult and a faculty member at her school, she did not seem deterred. I really have no patience for people who are only concerned about their own feelings, despite bringing other people into trouble and not thinking about the consequences of their actions. That being said, I mostly overlooked the parts with those two.

Now on to the leads. The premise of their meet-cute was interesting, seeking refuge in a desolate corner from the rain (of course!) Then their friendship blossomed because of their quirkiness and commonality. And it all changed when Tanaka transferred to another school. Upon his return, Tanaka-now-Mabuchi becomes less carefree, and more aloof, even towards Futaba whom he liked back then.

We later learned that Kou had a hard time dealing with his mother’s passing, hence his dreary and detached attitude, which was perfectly understandable. But that doesn’t mean he can take out all his frustrations and dump them on his friends. I can understand how grief can change people’s personalities, and the first time he abruptly left Futaba without saying a word, was undesirable but reasonable. However, for a guy to keep doing this time and time again to a girl whom he supposedly likes, would not fly with me.

I used to root for Kou and Futaba to be together, but Yoshioka deserves better. Kou keeps ditching her and giving all these excuses, then becomes angry when someone else becomes interested in her. He’s just treating her like a toy, losing interest in playing with her until another child enjoys it. He even admitted to his friend, that even if he likes Futaba, he has no intention of dating her. Then he brushes off the accidental kiss as if it’s no big deal and gets upset when she ignores him as he did to her?????

Towards the end of the first series, I was no longer invested in their story and wished for Futaba to be with Kiuchi instead. At least Kiuchi is consistent, and transparent with his feelings. If Kou cannot prioritize Futaba, then she’s not that important to him. He could have sent a simple text, saying he will be late or that even if he can go to the festival, he needs to be somewhere else later. Anything really to give Futaba at least the time of the day as she had provided him. But no, he ghosts her and is more concerned about his classmate just because they shared the same pain of losing someone close to them.

If Futaba insists to be with Kou, what next? On the day of their wedding, something comes up again that he’s unable to attend? But hey, if that’s the kind of guy she prefers, then she better be prepared for the consequences and don’t come crying. I’m so pissed to even watch the second season. It’s not worth it to keep my blood boiling.

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Story: Two boys go from friends to being more than friends, but less than lovers. Their shenanigans escalated from silly things like spinning bottles on their foreheads, to more brazen acts like throwing Molotov cocktails in public streets. And at some point, probably experimented with each other during one of these reckless escapades. But to what extent, we don't really know.

Acting: The actors are not too shabby.

Music: Unmemorable.

Rewatch Value: If only to figure out whether some parts are a dream or the reality.

Overall: We see two friends bonding with each other for different reasons. Jie Yu uses his friendship with Yan Shiu as an escape from the real problems his family had been facing, with his mother working hard, and still had to help at the shop his father was supposed to oversee. His father doesn't seem to take responsibility; he wakes up late and he runs off to "business trips" that no one knows where he really went. Tired of picking up his father's slack, Jie Yu goes and spends more time with Yan Shiu. But the time spent made Jie Yu confused about what he really feels, especially when sex gets in the mix.

All the scenes of both boys being together are interspersed with scenes of Jie Yu riding solo on the streets. The camera work was choppy as the frames go back and forth the present and the past. If the film's intent was to confuse the viewers, it certainly did its job.

So many questions were left unanswered. Was Jie Yu running away because he had developed feelings for Yan Shiu , or was he just escaping the increasing intimacy of their friendship? Was Jie Yu denying his sexuality or was he afraid that Yan Shiu was only fooling around and wasn't as invested in their friendship as he was? Nevertheless, we will never know whether the lovemaking between them really happened or just a figment of Jie Yu's imagination.

I'm leaning towards the belief that they did sleep with each other, since Jie Yu said he wanted to go back to being friends. But whether he meant it or not, was another question.

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With a title like “Silent,” I had a feeling that this would be an emotionally heavy drama. The drama begins with the story of a woman who is currently engaged to her boyfriend, but she still sometimes wonders about whatever happened to her high school sweetheart. Tsumugi’s fiance, Minato, also spent time looking for that same answer, because back in high school, the three of them were friends. Their trio dissolved when Sou cut all ties with people who knew him before he lost his hearing.

After the three united later, not by choice on Sou’s part, things begin to change. Despite Tsumugi’s insistence that it is Minato she loves, he ends their relationship anyway because he knew he couldn’t hold a candle to Sou’s place in Tsumugi’s heart. On the other hand, Sou pushes Tsumugi away, and shoots down any semblance of rekindling their old feelings for each other.

Throughout the entire show, I felt that Minato’s self-sacrifice was unnecessary. He did not give himself any credit for being good enough for Tsumugi. And the same goes for Sou, who arbitrarily assumes that no one, not even his girlfriend, would be supportive of him if he divulged his condition. His faith and trust in Tsumugi was so little that he did not think that Tsumugi would be there for him when he eventually becomes deaf.

Although I understand the part where Sou considers himself as a burden to others, and his self-exclusion was just a coping mechanism that he adopted. Meguro Ren as Sakura Sou portrays this man who has hearing loss with great care and sensitivity. He is certainly the star of this show.

The rest of the cast also carried their own weight and delivered performances that are nuanced and natural. From Kawaguchi Haruna as Aoba Tsumugi to Kaho as Momono Nana, everyone did their utmost best in representing their characters.

The drama touches on the struggles of people with hearing impairment, how some may deal with the condition (whether from birth or later in life), and how the people surrounding them may deal with the issue differently. From the overprotective mother to the supportive sister, each of them shapes how Sou views the world as being unable to hear.

The drama also dispels some assumptions that people with hearing loss can have on those who do not have to deal with the same condition and vice versa. This poignant drama will make you feel empathy for those who live in a world filled with silence.

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Nothing prepared me for this drama. I went in with no expectations, and I came out with a new understanding of how people can take different paths in life, and still succeed as long as they put their heart in it. Not to say that they haven't produced dramas with inspiring messages of how to live your life to the fullest before. But this sports-oriented show delivers that message without being preachy.

The drama kicks off with Zhou Yu Tong as an efficient personal assistant who is quick on her feet, excels at handling multiple tasks, and successfully resolves many issues for her demanding boss. Liang You An crosses paths with an athlete trying to make ends meet by joining a competition sponsored by You An’s company.

Song San Chuan becomes smitten with You An at first sight, and his loyalty is endearing and his smile adorable all throughout the drama whenever You An is around. He latches on to You An as his saving grace when he finds himself in limbo and could not get past his trauma playing professional badminton, as it reminds him of his mother, who abandoned him during one of his important matches. You An saw San Chuan’s potential and suggested that he switch sport.

New to tennis, San Chuan struggles to find his footing with his unambitious teammates and a new coach with peculiar training methods. But his tenacity and You An’s faith in him made San Chuan shine in a sport that had shunned him at the beginning. Through this journey, San Chuan understands he can rely on his family and friends for support, and that he didn’t have to bear all the burden. I also liked the fact that You An developed a backbone and learned how to say no to her ex-boss or to others who thought they could easily manipulate her.

I enjoyed this drama a lot, and there were no secondary or tertiary characters that made me pull my hair. All the characters were well-rounded, even the seemingly devious ones. “Nothing But You” tells us that everyone can achieve their dreams: if you don’t give up, have faith in yourself, and have supportive people surrounding you.

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Japan really knows how to do age-gap romance. This light-hearted drama, albeit formulaic, has its angsty moments. Bratty, spoiled high-schooler, meets a recently divorced woman who is down on her luck. Despite suddenly finding herself homeless and penniless, Hayame still is tenacious when it comes to doing what’s right and wrong. However, because of her unintentional destruction of someone else’s property, Hayama concedes to Issei’s dice game of life. Although Hayame is reluctant to play along with the outrageous requests, she sees no way out until she’s able to pay off her debt.

To no one’s surprise, Issei becomes enamored with the resilient Hayame. But so does Issei’s brother, to the consternation of many others fangirling over the inn’s young master. Though love triangles or love trains abound, we know who the end game will be. Although, I would have been equally fine if Seigo and Hayame end up together.

His love for Hayame spurred Issei’s character development, and there’s nothing cringey about wanting to become better (more responsible, more mature) in order to gain her affections. Issei’s grandmother and butler are adorable as supporting characters. Aside from the obvious references to the Cinderella-trope, this drama is a delightful, easy watch.

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I should have known from the poster alone that this will not be some great masterpiece. But did I expect this one to be? Certainly not. I’m just curious how such a large age-gap romance will play out on the screen.

Well, the sinister but ill-timed sound track certainly was a letdown many times where I anticipated a stabbing or two to take place. So all that foreboding knife-wielding was really there just for show. Much like the various ASMR of gurgling and brushing of teeth were actually people just practicing oral hygiene and did not carry some sort of symbolism.

At one point, I even expected the romance between Shinobu and Chiaki to go south. And I am so okay with that, as they later both took on separate paths and lived without each other for years. But aside from Yuta the son, and maybe Okano the Magazine editor, the rest of the characters were frankly unlikeable. From the misogynistic ex-husband to Chiaki’s mother, both battling each other out for “The Worst Parent of the Decade” award.

Then, towards the end, where each of these characters started their own monologue to tell their own backstory, but more like an excuse for their shitty behavior, I almost lost it.

But like some other rubberneckers, I can’t help but be glued to the screen watching this train wreck of a romance go by.

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Though the relationship between teacher and student serves as its backdrop, it is not the taboo aspect that should stand out, nor does this drama romanticize grooming as some may be inclined to believe. They handled the triggering subject of suicide with care and caution, with the insistence that there is so much to live for, despite what one might think as a life-ending suffering. Mikoto felt that there was no more future for her after she was rejected by her first love when she encounters her teacher on the rooftop. Haibi Jin distracts Mikoto with absurd requests or plies Mikoto with off-hand comments to distract her from her goal.

We learn that Haiba Jin was also once in what he deemed as dire strait, when his mentor tried to dissuade him from ending his own life. And it was because of this life-changing moment that Haibi Jin paid it forward and gave Mikoto a purpose. When Mikoto learns nothing is worth dying for, she develops genuine feelings for Jin.

There are many things in this drama that some people may find problematic, but the show is cognizant of these situations, for example, when Haibi Jin can be considered as stalking Mikoto around town, all he was really doing is ensuring she does not make another attempt at her own life. The show also mocks itself by injecting dry humor and reminds us not to take this drama at its face value.

At its core, this drama highlights the importance of the will to live for oneself, as much as for others, without trivializing the hardships that one may encounter as no more than experiences that one must go through in life in order to be stronger.

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The drama started out strong, with a formidable female character who is as resourceful as she is kindhearted. I enjoyed Song Yi as Liu Yu Ru and initially assumed that she will be a pushover due to her dainty appearance, but she held her own despite the circumstances surrounding her family. With a twist of fate, Yu Ru got herself hitched to the male lead, despite her fervent adoration for another man.

For his part, Bai Jing Ting portrays Gu Jiu Si with all the playfulness when he was a delinquent and with all the seriousness when he became a high-ranking official. The two leads ooze enough chemistry to make their sham marriage believable. However, I almost gave up mid-way through this drama as it dragged through politics but I was interested enough in Gu Jiu Si's character development to continue.

I also liked the secondary characters, especially the brotherhood between the two kings and the friendship among the young group who were supportive of each other despite past grievances. Jiu Si and Yuru's benevolence knows no bounds, that it sometimes becomes a detriment to the show. Perhaps the message is to forgive those who wronged you, and people who make mistakes can get a second or a third chance. But just because it's a noble thing to do, doesn't mean that people should get away with murder and still be able to live their lives without consequences.

I feel that the final episodes were a bit anti-climactic for me and the drama lost some of its steam as it tries to wrap up some loose ends. But all in all, a decent offering, if you take a break or two,

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