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Need to turn off my brain to enjoy - then it's a funny, adorable drama.
Completed - 3/12/2022Watching “My Girlfriend is an Alien” in 2022 might have brought me in a more cynical and critical mood when rating this drama. I might have liked it more if I watched this in 2019 and am a newbie to romantic comedies. Unfortunately to me right now there are elements in this drama that I don’t quite appreciate or enjoy. There are plot holes and inconsistencies but if I could turn off my brain and just go for the ride, it’s enjoyable, funny, low-stress and full of laughs.
I would recommend this drama to those who:
1. Love adorable female leads who are not especially dumb or naive in rom-coms
2. Like bickering between the leads
3. Enjoy a somewhat low-stress, no angst, easy-to-watch drama
4. Are OK with uncomfortable/sensitive treatment of characters
5. Don’t mind annoying 2FL and simple ‘villains’
6. Don’t mind misunderstandings
There are already many reviews for this drama so I’ll just write 1 thing I like best and 1 thing I like the least. I agree with most of the critical/negative reviews in the review section.
(+)
Our Leads:
Wang Peng played our funny and cute alien, Xiao Qi. I am glad that her adorableness did not border on being overly annoying and naive. I have seen Wang Peng previously in “When We Were Young” and “Crush”, and I have to say she looks the prettiest in this drama. I’ve never found her to be that pretty, but maybe her makeup and her character’s personality make her super attractive to me. It’s also funny that you saw clips of “When You Were Young” shown on TV in this drama. Wang Peng’s acting is on her usual level as I’ve seen in her previous dramas. She plays the cute yet stubborn Xiao Qi pretty well.
Bie Thassapk Hsu, plays the cold-on-the-outside but warmhearted male lead, Fang Leng. This is my first drama of his and I am quite impressed with his acting. I didn’t find him bland when he’s playing the cold CEO role, and I enjoy watching his more emotional scenes. Additionally, he is so handsome, looks good in both suits and casual wear, mm… shirtless as well. Xiao Qi and Fang Leng have great chemistry in this drama and is the drama’s biggest selling point. They bicker and fight, don’t really declare their love for each other but you know how much they care for each other.
(-)
As much as I want to caress Fang Leng’s muscular chest as Xiao Qi, I became increasingly uncomfortable seeing him fondled like that throughout the drama. The whole plot with Xiao Qi being uncontrollable with the smell of pheromone just becomes a way for uncomfortable, double-standard sexual harassment. I can’t deny I laughed when it happened for the first couple times, but then my brain cells kicked in and asked, what if it’s a man fondling a woman’s breast, is that funny? Additionally, there’s a lot of wrist grabbing, ML pushing FL against the wall and manhandling her. Some might find this to be romantic but I can’t seem to turn off my brain and just enjoy the ride. Because of all this, I can’t give this drama a rating higher than 7.5. It would be lower if I didn’t enjoy the leads acting and chemistry.
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Mature romance + beautiful scenery + rural village life
Completed - 3/10/2022 - 8.25 ratingAs my journey to explore more Thai BL dramas continues, I came across this highly rated drama. I was in search of a drama that is not about high school or college students, but a more mature drama. I am glad I came across "A Tale of Thousand Stars". The majority of the drama was spent in a rural village. The beautiful opening theme already sets the mood for me.
Our male lead received a new heart and wanted to fulfill the wishes of his organ donor, and traveled to become a volunteer teacher in a rural village. I would say the story is quite predictable and there aren't any crazy plot twists. We know our male lead, Tian, had to adjust to life without luxuries or even city-life basic necessity such as water and electricity. We know he's going to encounter some challenges with the villagers and that he's going to fall in love, and had to leave the village eventually (or not?). None of this is surprisingly, but that doesn't deter me from enjoying it.
"A Tale of Thousand Stars" is the only BL drama I've watched to date that has the least amount of physical contact or public display of affection between our two leads. This does not mean their romance is not good. In fact, you feel their deeper connection through conversations and actions. The chemistry between Tian and Phupha is sizzling. You can feel the attraction and the hesitancy in crossing the friendzone boundary. For a stern character such as Chief Phupha, he's quite flirty and suggestive with Tian. Yet, he's also so shy when his friends question his feelings for Tian. Tian on the other hand, is supposedly the younger and more outgoing of the two, yet he's the passive one in the relationship in expressing his feelings. Looking back, I do not think they outright confess to each other, but it's without a doubt that they are very in love.
I really enjoy learning about the food, livelihood and traditions of this Thai rural village. I I actually also quite like the house that Tian was staying at. I might not survive without electricity and running water, but I like the wooden house and feel of it. We also see many beautiful scenery of nature - luscious mountains, view from top of the mountain, view from off the cliff, forests and grassland.
The acting of the leads is pretty good, but not amazing. I like Mix's acting more than Earth's, especially with the more emotional scenes. There are times I find Earth's acting a little emotionless, unless he's smiling shyly and then I melt. 😊 But overall, I think Mix did a better job. I can't deny what a handsome fellow Earth is. I criticized "Bad Buddy" for its fanservice of excessive shirtless scenes, and I was glad I didn't feel that way with Earth. On another note, I think Earth was using his real voice singing and I love it. Was he also playing the instrument for real? It seems like it. I really like all the young actors/actresses in this drama. I think the students acted better than many of the adult side characters/villagers. The 'villains' are quite underwhelming.
I do find the pacing of the drama a little inconsistent. I was very interested in the first 5 episodes, but then it seems to slow down a in the middle episodes. I also find the last episode to be a little slow - too many slow motion scenes and flashbacks. I am probably not the only one who wanted to see more cute scenes between the leads, and not just the last couple minutes. I know product placements are needed, but it is quite weird to see the snack mix popped up so often in a rural village.
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This review may contain spoilers
Completed - 2/27/2022 - 8.25 ratingFirst of all, I’d like to thank MDLer @ether aka catoven for subbing episodes 8-10. They are so hard to find! Links to the subs in my comment below.
When I watched “ Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu”, it was hard not to compare it to the C-drama “Crush”. They both have a main lead who is visually impaired. We see their daily challenges and how their loved ones try to understand and support them. However, “Crush” is a more mature drama and has a more serious tone. “ Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu” is a lighter, fluffier romance drama. For both dramas, I enjoy the first half more than the second half.
What I Enjoy:
Education - I am not visually impaired so I am not sure if the depiction of their challenges in dramas are realistic or not, but I have to say I do learn a lot from them. From “Crush”, I realized what the Braille blocks on the ground are for. They are similarly explained in this drama. Furthermore, we have a Japanese visually-impaired comedian’s commentary in this drama. I learn more about the tools and technology that they use, and the different variations of blindness. I never knew there are audio devices for watching movies, or such magnifying screens for reading. For some viewers, they might feel these commentaries as the drama trying too hard to educate, or they disrupt the flow of the drama. However, personally, I really enjoy them.
Strong FL - I also enjoy a Japanese FL who is not the innocent, naïve and overly shy type. In this drama, Yukiko strives for independence and speaks up when needed. She doesn’t shy away from confrontation or any honest and open communication with her family or with Morio. Even though she is visually impaired, she is not afraid of new challenges. It was so inspiring to see how hard she prepared and worked in order to make fries.
Sweet ML - It took me about half an episode to fall in love with Morio. I am not a big fan of love-at-first sight. It is hard for me to understand his initial feelings and they also seem over-the-top and unrealistic. However, he is so adorable that I can’t help but root for him. Sugino Yosuke plays his role as Kurokawa Morio so well. You can see how awkward and shy he is around Yukiko, yet he’s the Black Panther that everyone fears. He tries so hard to learn about the challenges that Yukiko faces each day, and is so supportive and kind. And he’s not just kind to Yukiko but all of his friends as well. He’s not the big scary Black Panther that he seems to be. When his friend confesses to him, his response is so kind and so perfect.
What I Don’t Enjoy: *SPOILERS*
The Trope - Yukiko and Morio have such honest and open communication throughout the drama, that I find it uncharacteristic that we see the trope noble idiocy at the end of Ep. 9. Yes, they already had one conversation about Morio taking the job, but they could have another. Yukiko should be able to express her thoughts to Morio and tell him that she really wants him to take the job for himself. There’s no reason for the breakup and for her to lie to him. I do not mind the one-year time skip when they go their separate ways to find their own dreams. But there has to be a better way to have the same ending without having this noble idiocy trope at the end of such a good drama. This is the main reason why I can’t give this drama a solid 8.5 or 9.0 rating but a 8.25.
Shishio + Izumi - At first, I thought the drama was going to change Shishio into falling in love with Izumi and have them live happily ever after. I would be so mad if it happened. I am happy that the drama didn’t do that. However, why can’t they just remain as close friends? Why does the drama want them to be in a relationship when Shishio probably will never fall in love with Izumi? Or is the drama hinting that maybe in the future he will change and there’s a chance?
Other Observations:
1. No annoying characters in this drama. Yay!
2. BGM helps set the mood and we don’t have any overplayed songs.
3. I wish FL has nicer clothes to wear. Just because she can’t see well, she deserves nice clothes as well.
4. In “Crush” I found the ML doesn’t look straight at someone when he talks. But in this drama, the visually impaired seem to look straight at someone’s face more often. Maybe I am imagining it?
5. The poster have the leads on the bus, but I don’t think I saw that scene in the drama. Mm….
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A short and different healing drama with a dash of humor.
Completed - 2/26/2022When I first read the synopsis of “Definitely Not Today”, I thought this would be a sad and depressing healing melodrama. After all, the story are about two individuals who are living their respective miserable lives and the male lead wants to commit suicide. I was pleasantly surprised that there’s a lot of humor to lighten the mood, yet not changing the vibe of the drama.
This short drama only has 8 episodes (less than 20 minutes each), with Chinese and English subs on Youku’s YouTube channel. The drama can’t really devote too much time on the backstories of our leads. However, it deftly tells us enough to let us know how their life experiences contributed to their current states of mind. Through a series of misunderstandings and events, our main leads are on the run. They started to get to know each other and develop an unlikely friendship, which in turn developed into a very subtle romance. Along the way, their lonely hearts are healed as they support and comfort each other via unconventional ways.
I have previously watched “Be Yourself” where our main leads, Connor Leong and Vivienne Tien, were a couple. They had a similar dynamic in that relationship with Vivenne being the assertive type and Connor as the passive one. But the vibe of their romance is vastly different. I also enjoy their acting in “Definitely Not Today” a lot more. They portray a wider range of emotions without feeling forced or over-the-top.
Those 8 episodes go by so fast. The pacing is great and I was fully engaged throughout the drama. I definitely recommend this to someone who wants a different kind of healing drama. But be aware of triggers - attempted suicide, depression and sexual assault.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute and Fluffy - Cotton Candy has a whole new meaning!
Completed - 11/4/2021 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0"My Dear Brothers" is a simple, cute and lower budget web historical drama. It suits my needs that I needed to watch something light as a palate cleanser. The beginning time-travel element reminded me of the Korean web drama "Splash Splash Love" (it's a short and cute drama as well).
What I enjoy:
1) The general plot of how the romance is developed. It's nothing too out-of-the ordinary or surprising. In fact, it's actually quite predictable for the most part. However, I enjoy the awkwardness of our ML and the cuteness of our FL. I appreciate the fact that even though our ML is innocent and naive, he's not dumb. He actually learns fast through observations and is quite perceptive. Our FL is not over-the-top with corny cuteness, but just enough for me to enjoy their sweet romance.
2) Cotton Candy *spoiler* - I love it when our ML keeps on calling kisses as cotton candy. It's just too adorable, especially when he said it with such an innocent yet matter-of-fact expression on his face. I don't blame him for treating cotton candy as the second most important thing in his life (aside from FL, of course).
3) Wedding - this is my first time seeing a fusion wedding in the cultivation world. I enjoy how they incorporated the traditional red and the modern white in the wedding. The vows written by Shi Dong are so sweet and funny at the same time. I sort of wish the wedding scenes last longer.
4) The Holy Tree - I did not see the plot twist coming regarding ML's real identity. No wonder they put so much emphasis of the holy tree throughout the series. I love everything about this holy tree - the lantern scene, the effort to revive the tree, ML's childhood memories, wedding night under the tree, and most importantly, how love gives meaning to ML's life and how love revives the tree to its former glory.
What I don't quite enjoy:
1) Makeup - I know this is a low budget drama and I know it's petty of me, but it really bothers me quite a bit with the makeup in this drama. You don't really need a big budget to do decent makeup. But for some reason, it's not done right and I can see through all the blemishes and imperfections. The worst is the chapped lips that our actors have, esp. for our ML/Hou Chi and 2FL/Qiu Li. Qiu Li has the worst lipstick application and chapped lips. Or maybe I am not up-to-speed on the new lipstick trend? I don't see our FL/Shi Xia having the same lipstick problem.
2) Holy Palace - in order to fully enjoy this drama, you do need to suspend belief and dive into this fantasy world. However, one thing that bugs me is how easy it is to enter the Holy Palace in the last few episodes. I thought you have to go through this scary forest that get you stuck in illusions and take the most important thing away from you. Isn't that why Shi Xia loses her taste and Bi Hong loses his eyesight? Apparently, none of this matters when the Devil Sect can easily go in and out of the Holy Palace.
3) Ending - I am confused about how they're supposed to save the world. What was it that flew out of Qiu Li's body when she died and into the formation? Her spiritual root? If it's her spiritual root, how did it affect the formation? How did our ML survive and was able to send FL and her brother back to the modern world, and transport himself as well? There isn't a whole lot of explanation.
4) Kisses - for a historical drama, there are quite a few kisses in this series. Unfortunately, they are all fish kisses with no passion. I can understand the first couple of fish kisses, since ML is still new to all this. But after that, I wish to see a little more passion and lip action. These kisses are not living up to the Cotton Candy reputation.
Other observations:
1) Overall acting is decent but not exceptional. I find FL's acting a lot better than ML.
2) First half is better than the second half - a lot funnier with sound effects, but could be cringey for some.
3) How did Shi Dong learn how to build everything in the Devil Sect? Just because he comes from the modern world, doesn't mean he can create and build shuttles, magical instruments, etc.
4) Family drama between Yuan Zhao, Bi Hong and Qiu Li lasted a little too long for my taste in the last few episodes
5) A few common tropes that you might not like - noble idiocy, fake amnesia, spinning hugs, falling into your arms, 2FL turns evil for the most part.
6) There's an extra episode 36 - life in the modern world - short and cute
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Low-budget production that affects my viewing enjoyment - watch for the male leads
10/15/2021As one of the first mainstream BL adaptations, I am sure it has paved the way for future BL hits (e.g. The Untamed and Word of Honor). I have not read the novel, so my review is based solely on the drama itself. Unfortunately, I do not share the same positive experience as most reviewers here. I failed to see why it has garnered so many positive reviews. Is it because it's a BL adaptation? The low production value of this drama greatly affected my enjoyment. I've watched other low-budget dramas in the past, but for some reason, this one bothered me the most and did not keep my focus throughout the drama.
What I like:
1) Main Lead's acting/chemistry: Without a doubt, the best part of this drama are Johnny Bai and Zhu Yi Long. This is my first Johnny Bai drama and my second of Zhu Yi Long (I've seen him in "The Story of Ming Lan"). Their acting is great and I would have dropped this drama long time ago if not for them. I believe in the deep affection when they look at each other. I love how their characters' personalities complement each other as well. It is definitely a love story, and not a bromance. I will be looking out for more of their dramas in the future.
2) Opening/Ending Theme songs: It says a lot about a drama when the only other positive thing I can write about are the opening and ending theme songs. It's interesting to have an English song in the opening. But the melody sets the mood and the tone for the drama. I also enjoy the ending theme, and also the behind-the-scene footage as well. I wish more dramas would do the same, instead of giving us spoilers.
What I don't like:
1) Low Production - Unfortunately, all of my complaints stem from the low-budget production value. As I've said before, I've watched other dramas that are low budget, but this one really bugs me.
* Sound/Voice dubbing - I watched this drama both on YouTube and on Viki, so I am sure it's not because of the platform, but the drama itself. The volume of the dialog fluctuates in each episode. The worst is that when the actors are speaking, you can hear the change from one voice to a dubbed voice. This happens ALL THE TIME for all the characters. Sometimes, the sound effects are louder than the dialogs.
*CGI/Sets - The special effects are quite bad in this drama. This is a 2018, so it's not like it's made in 2015. The set designs all look very fake to my eyes. The only acceptable sets are the leads apartments. Every other place gives a very "cheap" look. Maybe it's the director's fault in not knowing how to take better shots?
2) Acting - Aside from Johnny Bai and Zhu Yi Long, the rest of the supporting cast's acting is just OK. I am referring to the Investigation team. The other extras and other cast members for the shorter storylines, their acting is not good at all. Some are wooden and bland, others overact and exaggerate. It was really not enjoyable at all.
3) Plot/Stories - I feel that the plot lines of the shorter crime stories were too simple and not sophisticated enough. They are so easily solved and not creating enough mysteries to tie back to the bigger plot. As much as I love the leads to have this star-crossed romance, I don't think having just one deep conversation 10,000 years justifies the deep love that Shen Wei has for Zhao Yun Lan. I want more of their stories 10,000 years ago and there aren't enough scenes of them together. The minor love triangle plot is somewhat weak as well. The drama tells us how much Zhu Hong loves Zhao Yun Lan, but it's not showing us throughout the drama. I enjoy the dream scene when she finally confessed, but I want to see more of this unrequited love before this, so that that dream scene has a bigger impact. There are also a few head-scratching plot holes but they are minor in this case.
Overall, watch this drama for our two male leads. They are indeed great and they have great costumes (one thing I couldn't fault because of the low budget).
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Good mix of Romance, Fantasy, Adventure - but could be confusing
9/18/2021I was attracted to the unique plot of this drama, even though I haven't read or heard much about "Serendipity". This short drama doesn't really have a big budget, nor does it have a superstar cast. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was concerned when I saw the MDL rating of it at 7.8. This drama is by no means a high quality, big production. But for my personal enjoyment, I quite like it. It has a good mix of romance, fantasy, comedy and adventure.
This 12-episode drama tells the story of 3 different worlds. The first one is a little confusing to start and the acting wasn't at its best. It might take 1-3 episodes to get you interested. The second world (historical) is my favorite out of the three. I am less confused and there are quite a few funny moments. Romance is also more developed here with some cute moments. The last arc is the most confusing to me, and it's the most serious world. I still don't quite understand the general story of how this all started and ended. How did Yan Sui and Wan Wan get into this situation? What really need to happen to get everything back to normal? I am still not sure. Hence, I only gave this a 8.0 instead of 8.5.
I wish China would produce more short dramas, as the pacing is perfect and the story is tight. There is no unnecessary filler or misunderstandings over and over again. This is a good quick, light break from watching a serious drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Hodgepodge of craziness but it's Entertaining
I wonder if I would like “When the Phone Rings” more if I had watched while it was airing and joined in the hype and obsession on the Feeds. I vaguely remember the hype of a hot red flag ML in the beginning, the sizzling chemistry, screenshots of hands and veins, and how everyone was quite obsessed with the drama.Unfortunately, since I binged this, what goes in my head might have been the exact opposite of the hype. I do still think the chemistry between Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin is pretty good, though the majority of the time that happened on the phone. But I don’t get the craze about the hot red flag ML nor the slow-motion supposedly romantic shots, or the hands. I felt that these elements gave the drama a very fake rom-com feel, especially when this is not a romantic comedy. But yet, does this drama know what it really wants to be?
It started out as a serious drama with a thriller/mysterious plot. The background of the Presidential Office, Presidential spokesperson, interpreter and Presidential candidate give this drama a more ‘serious’ vibe. But once you add on the ridiculousness of the phone calls, it becomes a makjang. Add on those slow-mo romantic shots, it became a romantic comedy with accidental trips and kisses.
Let’s talk about the phone calls. The first one or two, I could understand the frustration and the daringness of it. As time goes by, these daily phones happen so frequently that there is not way a smart ML couldn't decipher someone’s wrong and the tone has changed. From a threatening voice of a murderer and kidnapper, to a lonely housewife who wanted a divorce and then a lovesick girl who just wanted to be loved by her first love. The change is so drastic that it’s ridiculous it can go on for so long. Unfortunately, that’s why the drama is called “When the Phone Rings”.
But viewers and Feeds users are correct that the second half just went down the hill into pure makjang territory. I don’t even know what that ending was. It took 2.5 long episodes to wrap up the thriller part, when we already knew who the culprit was. I could also understand wanting to leave the world behind after all that happened, but to disappear like that and to a place so ridiculous? The sunset reason is just weak. The whole last episode is just a filler. What is up with the sudden wedding announcement? We skipped the whole relationship and I was waiting for it to happen.
Despite all my complaints, I am still giving “When the Phone Rings” a rounded up 8.0. You can’t deny it was entertaining with great acting by Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin. Big applause to Chae Soo Bin for all the sign language she needs to learn, and there’s quite a few. I am a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope and despite the whole phone calling unreasonable plot, I do like the transition of the leads relationship. Kisses are great, as well, and that is to be expected from Yoo Yeon Seok. Everyone looks good (nice clothes and suits) and sounds good.
If you go in knowing what to expect - that is - not a serious thriller/mystery drama, and enjoy a hodgepodge of craziness, “When the Phone Rings” can be very entertaining.
Completed: 2/2/2025 - Review #539
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I want to be part of their friend circle!
Let’s start with the ending (no spoiler). I personally really like the ending. It’s not one that is typical of a youth drama but one that feels so much more mature yet fun. The last episode is a big recap on all that happened in the past 29 episodes, but not in a super flashback-heavy way. The chemistry of the whole cast is evident throughout the drama but it’s especially heartwarming to see them all sit together chatting, making fun of each other, and reminiscing about the past. It makes me want to be part of their friend circle! As they face their past selves and reflect on past hopes and dreams, it’s great to see how far they have come and how much they have changed and matured.The acting of the cast is awesome. I really had no expectations when I started it but did know “Always Home” has great reviews. I just finished watching Daniel Zhou in “A Moment but Forever” and really liked his character there. He’s even better as Song Cong, the mature and quiet straight A student. Together with Jing Xi Chi (such a fun green flag) and Chen Huan Er (lovable and not annoying FL), these 3 best friends who live in the same neighborhood, provide us with a lot of laughter, tears and heartwarming moments. Their friendship, in addition to the closeness of their parents, are what C-dramas are famous for. The three families take care of each other through life’s ups and downs. As much as I love scenes of the three youngsters, I enjoy the parents' rowdiness just as much.
Romance is slow-burn and you need to be patient. And I don’t recall seeing SO many one-sided crushes in a high school drama. However, Jing Xi Chi and Chen Huan Er have so much chemistry together. Love, love, love this couple as well as them as individuals. Their frequent banters and jokes feel natural and real. They are open and honest with each other. They are indeed best friends-turned-lovers. I might have wanted the romance to start a little sooner because they are just so adorably shy and I want more fluffy scenes. Unfortunately, the secondary romance between Song Cong and Qi Qi is not as satisfying. I don’t feel their chemistry and really don’t think they’re a good pair (maybe that’s what the director is trying to convey). Without giving away too much, what these couples go through are part of their journey to become their mature present selves.
High school days took over more than half of the drama. I would have liked to see that shortened a little, even though the high school days are the most fun to watch. College life was not bad in the beginning (especially when the main romance finally develops) but then nothing much really happened to create excitement. Not many episodes are dedicated to the adult/professional days, but I do like the message that they are not protected and sheltered anymore by their school and families. Even though there are small and big crises/events happening throughout the drama, they are resolved pretty quickly within an episode or two.
China is really a pro in these coming-of-age dramas. “Always Home” is one of the better ones in recent memory. The acting is great all around from the main cast to the veteran supporting cast. The chemistry and friendship feel natural and realistic. Despite some challenges in life, this drama is a pretty easy watch. Because I like the last episode so much, it cements a solid 8.5 for me.
Completed: 4/25/2025 - Review #569
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Magnifying relationship concerns through Sex talks and issues.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75I’m not going to lie, watching “Us Without Sex” is because I am craving for a mature drama that gives me some good sex scenes. I know Taiwan is not shy in that regard and not afraid to dive into some taboo and sensitive subjects. What I wasn’t expecting is how moved/touched I was. I thought this would be funny and sexy, but in the end, I cry so much that my eyes are swollen.
“Us Without Sex” magnifies underlying relationship problems by addressing sex concerns and problems. The drama does have a few sex scenes but nothing too explicit. It actually focuses more on the stories of the couples, some seek advice from our female lead sex therapist, Zhang Jia Chen. I applaud the drama in covering a variety of topics, and shedding light on different types of couples (straight, lesbian, gay).
The main plot focuses on another female lead, Song Qin Yu, and her inability to have sex with her husband. As she goes through therapy, us viewers get to know her experiences, thoughts and past mistakes. Her story with her husband, Lin Shu Zhe, brought me to tears. I was cheering for them, then I thought Lin Shu Zhe is too good for Song Qing Yu, and then I pity them both. I want them to live happily ever after. As a therapist, Zhang Jia Chen, also learns to discover herself and heal past wounds. Her personal story is not on display until the latter half of the drama, though we saw snippets of her experiences here and there.
Acting is phenomenal and that’s to be expected from a veteran cast. I first discovered Cheryl Yang in the drama series “Light the Night”. She was amazing in it! In this drama, she plays a cool and supposedly carefree therapist who is not afraid to have some sexy fun. But she also excels in some of the more controlled emotional scenes. This is my first drama with Ella Chen and she makes me want to love and hate Song Qing Yu at the same time. Each time I start to hate her, Ella makes me want to love her again by playing such a conflicted and flawed character. Oh, Tony Yang as Lin Shu Zhe is so lovable. He’s so cute when he’s a doting husband, but damn sexy when his shirt is off. I love him so much here! Jacob Wang is dashing in his suits and was introduced as a sexy leading man, but that charisma seems to have gone away when he’s officially introduced (it’s the acting but not the actor). The supporting cast of friends and colleagues, and all the patients make up a very, very solid group of actors.
There are some interesting sensitive topics being covered in this drama. So, if you are sensitive to sexual harrassment, attempted rape, S&M, sex dolls and sexual disorders, you might want to re-think watching this. For the most part, the therapy sessions are quite interesting, fun and educational, and they don’t dwell on the serious issue. There are no villains in this drama, just flawed people not knowing what to do and making mistakes.
Maintaining a happy and healthy relationship is hard, and “Us Without Sex” clearly reminded us of that. Only love is not enough, as life and people are complicated. I thoroughly enjoy this drama and will recommend this to those who like this genre. Because I came in with low/no expectations and was blown away by how it makes me feel emotionally, I am giving this a high rating of 8.75 (rounding up to 9.0), well, also to pull up the rating a little bit.
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Ending spoiler
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I hope that if there’s a drama special later on, the two couples will reunite and rekindle their romance (I am a big fan of second-chance romance). At this point in their lives, they are not ready to be together. There’s work that needs to be done in getting to know themselves, becoming braver and to grow individually. But I so wish Lin Shu Zhe and Song Qin Yu would meet in a few year’s time, still deeply in love with each other and what they want in the future aligns perfectly. This is my imaginary ending as a hopeless romantic.
Completed: 11/10/2024 - Review #511
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Great Leads chemistry but messy non-romance plots.
“Wandee Goodday” is a very binge-worthy and light-hearted romantic comedy. If you turn off your brain and don’t think too much about the unprofessionalism displayed in the hospital, I think you can enjoy it even more. I had a lot of fun watching the romance develop and there are many cute and fluffy scenes.I was initially concerned that “Wandee Goodday” would be a cringefest and not to the level I can tolerate. Luckily, it’s more cheesy than cringey. Yoryak (boxer ML) and Wandee (Doc ML) have great chemistry and have many cute and funny scenes. I enjoy how quick their fake relationship is developed and witness the growing affections for each other. Their banter is fun and quite flirty, and a little raunchier than I expected. However, what I was expecting are raunchier bed scenes. Yes, you see naked torsos, but they always have their underwear on. There are kisses on the cheeks, neck and body, but they never feel raw. In fact, I would argue most of the bed scenes weren’t shot very well. So, if you are worried that this might be “Bed Friend” or “Only Friends” level of spiciness, rest assured, you will be fine. In fact, the kisses the leads have are so super sweet and romantic. As much as I enjoy the main romance, I do not like how the story drags their official announcement as a couple for so long. They already act like a couple and they know they like each other, why can’t Wandee just say the words to make it official?
There is a love triangle, it might annoy some of you because of how insincere and clingy this third wheel was. He never bothered me too much, and I am OK with it. The secondary romance between Oye (Yoryak’s brother) and Cher is also cute. I like the contrasting romance of an established couple to the fake relationship of the main romance. There are a couple other mini romance side plots which I think are unnecessary. They feel like an afterthought and not enough screen time is given to fully develop them.
The last quarter of the drama has less romance but more of the other side plots. This is where the writing goes downhill a little. I don’t think Thai writers can write trauma and healing as well as Chinese or Korean writers. The creditors are written off easily. The family animosity was resolved in no time and then we’re a big happy family again. There’s so much standing and talking during a championship match. The scholarship presentation ceremony is over-the-top and super unprofessionally done. No way such a prestigious award announcement will happen with singing, cheering, and love confession. Fortunately the best part of the show is the main romance and it takes up a big portion of the drama. Because for the rest of it, you really need to turn off your brain to enjoy.
Nevertheless, I had a good time watching “Wandee Goodday”. Our main leads are adorable and fun, and they carry the show on their backs and run with it. Great (Yoryak) seems to have gone through training to be a boxer. His moves and punches look realistic. Oh, and I can’t stop admiring all the hot six-packs in this drama. So, enjoy this fun rom-com and don’t think too much about it.
Completed: 7/27/2024 - Review #466
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Women Unite to Blossom from Adversities by selling Dim Sum!
“Blossoms in Adversity” is not getting a lot of hype and it’s unfortunate as it’s a pretty good drama. Led by Zhang Jing Yi (of “Lighter and Princess”) as the main heroine, we follow her as she leads everyone to weather the storms thrown at her and the Hua family. This drama reminds me of “New LIfe Begins”, with a focus on the women of the family, though “Blossoms in Adversity” has more drama and less comedy.Plot/Pacing:
A lot happened to the Hua Family in these 40 episodes mainly due to a mean, dictatorial, jealous emperor who couldn’t stand being criticized or questioned. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. With a mix of politics, overcoming hardships, family relationships/dynamics, business dealings and royal family disputes, these 40 episodes go by pretty quickly. There might be slight slow pacing in the middle but the last quarter of the drama picks the pace back up. I am not a big fan of harem scheming, so I was initially worried that I might dislike all these women in the family, especially when the hard times come. Luckily, the fighting only happens for a few episodes and they are not too bad. None of them is evil at heart, and this drama really does emphasize on how these women of all ages and social statuses come together to create a new life for themselves and their loved ones.
Romance:
The main romance is like a calming, steady river stream. Hua Zhi (FL) and Gu Yan Xi (ML) are both intelligent, mature and rational adults. Their romance is developed slowly starting as strangers, to friends, and then to lovers. Although this romance does not give you severe heartbreaks or cute and fluffy sweetness, it brings a sense of satisfaction, companionship and comfort. Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi are very honest with each other, and will communicate when they are in doubt. I would not say Zhang Jing Yi and Hu Yi Tian have excellent chemistry and it’s probably because their romance is just so comforting. It lacks a sense of passion or yearning. The acting is not bad, but also not enough to move or excite me. There’s only really one kiss scene but there is plenty of hugging and hand holding. On the other hand, the secondary romance between Shao Yao and Shen Huan is a lot more adorable. They are just so fun together and I enjoy their chemistry. Their innocence shines through like the bright sunlight.
Acting:
As the protagonist, Zhang Jing Yi did an admirable job as Hua Zhi. She met my expectations but I would not say she’s excellent, because I think the large supporting cast of veteran actresses share her spotlight. Hu Yi Tian is not horrible, and definitely better than in his other ‘cold’ roles in “Go Go Squid” or “Handsome Siblings”. He’s OK but not great. He still lacks expressions in some of the more emotional scenes, especially when he’s angry (gotta do more than open your eyes wide). Lu Yu Xiao really is a very promising young actress. She has played so many different roles in recent dramas and she continues to impress me. “Blossoms in Adversity” has a very large cast from the youngest to the oldest. There isn’t anyone that is the weakest link and luckily, there aren't any annoying characters.
Production:
This might not be an S+ production, but nothing looks cheap. I love all of Zhang Jing Yi’s costumes and hairstyles. She looks beautiful in this drama. When the Hua family has money, all the women’s clothing look nice and ‘rich’, though they seem to always wear the same clothes. I enjoy the OST but do think the songs are overplayed. I am somewhat pleasantly surprised at the action/fight scenes. There aren’t too many fight scenes but the few that they had, I was quite impressed, and especially surprised to see Hu Yi Tian fight hard and seems to know what he’s doing. I don’t recall being impressed with his fight scenes in “Handsome Siblings”. The fights are well-choreographed and I would have loved them even more if we cut down on the slow-motion scenes. Lastly, I am so glad that most of the actors and actresses use their own voice even if it’s from studio/post-production and not live. Eddie Ko (Grandfather Hua) and Myolie Wu (third madame), both from Hong Kong, seem to be the only ones dubbed by someone else.
Lastly, I am not sure if this is considered a criticism, but I find our heroine Hua Zhi a little too perfect. The drama does not outright tell you she’s perfect. In fact, when she was introduced, no one really liked her or cared for her, except for her grandfather. But as the drama goes on, we are shown time and time again how intelligent she is. She is able to overcome Everything quite easily. Hua Zhi can react to challenges rationally, and she can anticipate and prevent future crises, while coming up with new ideas to make money. She’s able to grow her small little food stand business to having her own dim sum store in less than a year!
Having said that, there really isn’t any big flaw “Blossoms in Adversity”. It’s enjoyable, decently-paced with lovely characters. If you enjoy seeing women band together to support each other, this is the drama for you. If you enjoy seeing how one overcomes adversities and blossoms from them (see my pun here.. LOL), this is the drama for you. I’m giving this a solid 8.5. It’s just missing a little something for me emotionally, so I can’t give it a higher rating. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend this drama.
Completed: 6/2/2024 - Review #448
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Interesting premise of matchmaking but lacking in Leads chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75The main reason that I wanted to watch “The Matchmakers” is because of Rowoon. The premise of the drama is also pretty interesting, especially when the story revolves mainly around the matchmaking of the three sisters and not a bunch of minor supporting characters in an episodic format.
Rowoon has such a pretty face that it is really hard for me not to like him in any role. “The Matchmakers” is trying to challenge me and test my patience. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked Rowoon so much. The introduction of the Prince Consort makes it really hard to like him. He’s such an irritating and know-it-all, I-am-better-than-all-of-you asshole. It took me a while to warm up to his character. On the other hand, FL aka the goddess of matchmaking, is a lot easier to like and to root for. She’s smart and kind. I love her deducing ability and perceptive eye in matchmaking. It was quite fun to watch. But, I need to put away my brain for a little and believe that her makeup can transform her into a totally different person, who even her own brother can’t recognize her.
When we put a book smart ML together with a street smart FL, we should see fireworks. Unfortunately, the chemistry is lacking. I’ve never questioned Rowoon’s ability to act totally in love. I think I am not getting that from the female lead. They are great partners, but not great lovers. Their romance is weak and disappointing, and I didn’t care for their forbidden love.. FL’s wishy-washy indecision also drags down the pacing of the show. The secret of FL’s identity drags on for too long. When they finally kissed, we got a dead fish kiss. What a waste of Rowoon’s lips and talents! The ending is somewhat predictable because that's probably the only way they could have given it a somewhat happy ending.
The drama also spends a lot of screen time on politics and family/female roles, instead of diving deeper into the three sisters’ romance. Their marriages are central to the plot and could have delivered even more comedy. I do find Sisters #2 and #3 romances quite cute and adorable. Sister #1 isn’t my cup of tea.
On a positive note, the overall acting is good. The King is fun and the 2 young child actors are adorable. The crown prince looks a little young and might be better to cast someone older. The veteran cast definitely outshines the younger cast. The production quality is decent and I like the use of natural lighting (candles and lamps). Seeing FL’s annex is like seeing an old Korean friend. You see that set in so many saeguks. Music is ok, and mainly musical scores rather than songs with lyrics overplayed.
I will only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the actors, or if you really like matchmaking. There are better rom-com saeguks out there. “The Matchmakers” should have been 12 episodes long instead of 16.
Completed: 1/7/2024 - Review #391
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Amazing Leads Chemistry, likable supporting cast but only OK plot
Overall Rating - 8.25Subjective Romance Rating - 8.5
Objective Drama Rating - 8.0
Giving this drama an 8.5 is mainly due to the chemistry between Zhang Bin Bin and Janice Wu. Zhang Bin Bin looks so handsome in this drama. If you are a romance lover or a fan of either actor, I strongly recommend this drama. Otherwise, this is a decent one with equal parts business and romance. Most characters are likable and no one is too annoying or irritating. The villains are tolerable.
I am a fan of the leads, and that’s what prompted me to watch the drama. Because honestly, the business plot isn’t that unique and quite predictable. The part about ML’s pursuit of his dreams in the end reminds me of Yang Yang’s storyline in “You Are My Glory” but not enough for me to be moved like in “You Are My Glory”.
However, what shines are the characters. Zhang Bin Bin and Janice Wu are so lovable, fun and awesome together. They are both smart and petty (in a funny way). I feel like I am prying into their private lives when they are looking into each other’s eyes, having those lovely and realistic hugs and kisses. I enjoy the earlier episodes of their flirting and smart banter. Those earlier episodes are definitely a lot more fun. But the skinship (kisses and hugs) come in the latter half of the drama. The kisses are realistic but the camera tends to pan away and not give me enough close-up shots. LOL. Some might not like the long distance relationship but I find that pretty ok. Many dramas get boring after the leads get together, but at least the long distance relationship keeps things a little more interesting for longer.
Aside from the main romance, I love the fun relationship between FL and her grandpa. I look forward to their sarcastic, funny and witty conversations. Grandpa is one of the best in C-dramaland. On the other hand, ML’s sweet relationship with his little brother is also a highlight of the drama. It’s too bad we don’t see the kid enough in the last few episodes. That storyline ended quite abruptly. The co-workers/team chemistry is pretty good as well. All the team members are likable.
I appreciate almost all actors using their own voices and not dubbed. It seems like there’s quite a lot of live recording as well. I also like many songs played. There are just two love songs that are overplayed and I got a little annoyed. But as a whole, I enjoy the OST.
But the drama is not without faults. My biggest pet peeve is FL’s understanding/knowledge of all things technology when she first joined the company, especially since she’s a communications major and not an engineer. I have to suspend reality to enjoy those early episodes. The secondary romance isn’t exciting at all and didn’t bring anything new or add to the drama. I wish the ending for this pair was different. I also did not like FL’s hairstyles. They need to fire the hairstylists who gave Janice Wu such childish styling. I don’t feel that the pace of the drama is slow or that it drags in the middle episodes. That’s probably because the drama tries to put many subplots and filler plots within these 32 episodes. The result is that not all subplots are fully explored. I wish the drama had focused more on certain storylines and then removed some of them. If you don’t like China’s national pride in their aerospace technology, you might find this very preachy. At least it’s less than “You Are My Glory”. Lastly, this drama has a LOT of product placements! I didn’t think it took that much money to film this drama as there aren’t many elaborate sets, but there are so many advertisements - bottled water, Yakult yogurt drink, makeup/face masks, noodles, toothbrushes, etc.
Overall, this is a fun, office romance drama. Watch it for the leads chemistry and not for the business plot. It’s quite an easy watch and very bingeable.
Completed: 6/11/2023 - Review #317
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Melo-Fantasy Drama with Singing - But not quite a real Musical
Completed - 5/7/2022I am a big fan of musicals, so when I heard that "The Sound of Magic" is a short Korean musical drama, I got to check it out. However, I think my expectations were too high, and the drama didn’t quite deliver. The premise of the story is good, and I enjoy the general theme of finding your true self and path, through the belief in magic. However, I felt that the execution is lacking a bit. I was expecting a more upbeat and hopeful drama, but this is sadder and darker than I thought.
If we’re talking about a musical, we can’t ignore its music. I was not very impressed with the first episode and found the songs and the singing to be just OK. However, I did enjoy a couple ballads throughout the drama, especially ‘Have a Good Night’ sung by the sisters. I do think the music is lacking in variety and there are only 2 group numbers. I would have liked to see more. Since the majority of the songs are slow ballads, I am missing the dancing/choreography of a musical. The singing is OK. I guess the actors are not really theater actors who can sing, and it shows. I have to remind myself not to compare “The Sound of Magic” to “The Sound of Music” or any of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creations. That would be an unfair comparison, thus, I didn’t lower the rating despite my minor disappointment. I do plan to get the OST from Spotify, and I might enjoy the music more as I listen to them more.
I do enjoy the acting of our young leads, Choi Sung Eun and Hwang In Youp. I am not familiar with Choi Sung Eun but I think she was very expressive in all her sad and teary-eyed scenes. Hwang In Youp is not that cool bad boy in “True Beauty” anymore but a studious student searching for his own path. Of course, the top attraction to this drama is Ji Chang Wook. I think as a veteran actor, he did fine. He isn’t as charismatic as the Magician as I would have imagined. I want his personality to be bigger (not as crazy as Willy Wonka, but a little more oomph). His best performance is in Ep 6. I enjoy the young actress, Oh So Hyun, as the little sister, especially her singing in ‘Have a Good Night”. She has a beautiful, young and pure voice. It’s also a nice surprise to see every actor's younger self, Nam Da Reum, to play the teen Magician. There has got to be one annoying character in these Asia dramas, and the award goes to Baek Ha Na, the classmate. I guess that means Ji Hye Won did a great job portraying her. Also, what is up with all the parents in this drama? They piss me off!
I feel the cinematography is a little uneven. There are scenes that are beautifully shot, usually the magic and fireworks at the theme park. But all the other scenes don’t look anything special and somewhat dull. I was just expecting a Netflix production to give us a little more. I understand the theme park is abandoned, so I don’t expect glamor inside. But the scenes shot inside the Magician’s office or the stage do not look very nice.x
Overall, do not go in expecting a big musical drama production. Think of it as a Korean melo-fantasy drama with music and songs. Oh, also don’t miss the stage performance of all cast members at the end of Ep 6.
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