Kate

honestly, if they made ML and FL characters friends who support each other, with not even hint of romance, it would be better. As you said, the romance just felt unnecessary...

Glad it was helpful :) it's true that there are many eloquently done reviews, but not all readers look for reviews like that. I think there is space for all types of reviews on this website, so everyone can find something for themselves :)

Glad my article was helpful. Honestly, as I said, many people (me included) read reviews AFTER finishing watching the show. I look for people who share their experience or look for people who viewed the show differently.
You can always try to include some opinions of the story, acting etc, but as a part of describing your experience and the feelings the show evoke in you :)

"we have been reduced to silly archetypes" honestly male leads had the same problems, especially in rom-coms. They are all the same. it's getting better, but in the past it was so hard to find unique and strong male or female characters. When I see some male actors, and I see they literally play exactly the same character over and over again I truly give up watching any shit with them. I always say, that most dramas that have poorly written female characters, also have poorly written male characters (if they are both leads, it's different when it's a one person show type of a deal).

They have become so predictable, to the point where we know exactly who will end up with who < yooo this! this is my biggest problem with "love triangles" it's usually romance between FL and ML and SML is just there having unrequited love lol

Zhu Yi Long makes me want to watch The Story of Ming Lan, but he ain't lead... and it is on my not interested list hahahaha
also, I didn't even know Ode to Joy was a novel!

haha, no. I just got curious for now reason hahaha

Honestly, a lot of Lee Hi songs could easily become osts, depending on the genre of a show or movie. Also, I always cry while listening to "Breathe" hahahaha

First of all "Favourite Member(s): Jeon So Min" < taste!
and daaaamn I wanna watch Heart Signal now, even tho I feel it would make me want to throw my laptop out of the window lol

I'm going through some reviews from all the people on my friend list lol

yes. damn. I was so mad. establishing the characters and team is legit the most important part of any con story. and they just skipped through that hahaha

This drama did so well with presenting not only unique couples with unique problems, but also interesting individual characters that had their own problems. That's often a problem with rom coms, when after a couple becomes a couple, they stop being individuals, and all their problems focus on the couple shit. Not here tho, and I appreciate it.

this show is hella depressing if someone drops it. But the whole point of it was, no matter how bad it gets there is hope and light at the end and room for development.

I've dropped the show but still, I agree lol I did drop it coz of the ridiculous romance and the fact there was not enough time spent on the villain, his motivations and the F is he doing in the background. They literally just gave him few random scenes here and there.

The timeline in this drama is a complex layer of complete garbage < best line ever lol

I honestly wish I had that level of love and excitement when I was watching it. Every time I talk with someone who loved NiF, they are always so happy and hyped about it, and sadly I don't share the sentiment :(

Great review tho. I especially like the fact you point out how the series focuses on the use of traditional chinese instrumentals over typical ost with vocals. Not all series need a full 20 songs ost. Sometimes just the instrumentals can bring so much more depth and emotions to the scenes.

Honestly, the managers or whoever goes around the street and seeing someone and having the thought "that's a future star" sound like they have some mad magic skills. Coz it;s obviously a lot of beautiful people, but not every beautiful person can be a star/idol/actor...

but often they just see and know.

I've been watching more and more Chinese production and he is showing up here and there. I'm liking is performances quite a lot, but damn I didn't even know he had a music career!

Hope writing small notes will help haha sometimes even one lines is enough to capture the feelings you have after watching an episode :)

honestly, I couldn't even see these actors and actresses as idols hahaha I'm so use to seeing them acting on screen, it's hard to even imagine them in different profession.

Imagine working in the office with Jin Ki Joo... I can only guess her co-workers had hard time focusing on work with a beauty like that in a room. Like damn.