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Unique and Special drama with Great acting and appreciation of Chinese Opera

Completed - 7/29/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.25-8.5
Objective Rating - 9.0+

“Winter Begonia is a rare treasure that most people probably won’t watch because it doesn’t scream hot young actors in a censored BL romance drama. Chinese Opera + Republican Era + mature male leads + Japanese occupation, do not really translate to instant popularity with the general audience. Growing up, I was NOT a Chinese opera fan myself. That’s why I was hesitant to watch this, despite its glowing reviews from almost everyone. Does this drama make me love Chinese opera? No, not really. But I learned to appreciate all performers’ dedication and hard work to this craft. It’s a beautiful part of Chinese culture that I wish it will continue on forever.

If you don’t love Chinese opera, this might be a difficult drama to watch because it's central to the plot, and there are many opera scenes and singing. But if you are a fan, or you don’t dislike it, you might grow to like it more. I will join the chorus of praises in the production quality of “Winter Begonia”. The opera costumes, accessories, hair and makeup = all top notch. So much effort (and probably research) is put into this.. I also really enjoy all the suits that our male lead, Cheng Feng Tai wore. Not only was he dashing and hot in all his outfits, I really like the subtle pattern and velvety (maybe?) quality of his suits. Shang Xi Rui also wears a variety of cheongsam/changshan, from the more modest white ones to the formal white ones. This might be the only drama I’ve seen all male characters wearing such thick wintery changshan.

The relationship between our two male leads is an interesting one. They are total opposites and it’s quite amazing how they have come to trust, care and ‘love’ each other. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of sizzling, romantic chemistry between the two. I think the male leads in “Killer and Healer” have much better pure romantic chemistry. In “Winter Begonia’, Cheng Feng Tai and Shang Xi Rui are soulmates, they are more than friends/lovers/family. You can feel their deep affection from each other by the way they look at each other, and also through very casual, everyday conversations. You will not find the typical BL romance or fanservice in this drama.

It’s hard to tell if Cheng Feng Tai really loves his wife. Maybe he only cares for her as family because they have been together for so long. Yet, with the way he looks at her and the physical affection that he displays, he does seem to love her. In the second to last episode, while Cheng Feng Tai is facing danger, his last flashbacks are of his wife. Doesn’t that mean he truly loves her? But then, what about Shang Xi Rui? Does he love them both? Or as I mentioned, Shang Xi Rui is maybe more than merely a lover/partner. I guess that’s for the viewer's own interpretation.

The main reason why I did not give this a 9.0+ rating is because I got bored towards the 2nd half of the drama. The pacing is really good in the first 30 episodes. I enjoy the relationship development of the leads. I also really like the characters in all the opera troupes and see how they train, live together, and fight amongst each other. It was fun to watch the dance-off between Shang Xi Rui and Chen Ren Xiang. I also like the conflicts/politics of the opera troupes, and the respect the veterans receive from opera performers and audience. But when the drama turns political with the Japanese occupation, there’s too much talking and bad accents.. I understand the need for it but it’s not exciting or interesting enough, until the last two episodes. Even though the ending has a very strong political tone, I am interpreting it as a special way for the drama to demonstrate the unique bond between our male leads.

Lastly, you don’t really have to worry about the acting performance of this cast. They are veterans and they know what they’re doing. Big props to Yin Zheng for playing Shang Xi Rui, a multi-layered crazy genius. Huang Xiao Ming is very charismatic as Cheng Feng Tai and he is oh-so fine. I remember really liking him in “Nirvana in Fire 2”. The way he looks at Shang Xi Rui melts my heart. This is my first time seeing Merxat and Li Ze Feng NOT playing mature and sensible roles. I’ve seen them both in previous dramas and their roles here are so different and I’m glad they are taking different roles. As the female lead, Charmaine Sheh holds her own among a strong male cast. She’s wonderful as Fan Xiang Er.


Other Random Observations:
1. Yin Zheng looks quite old in this drama. He’s 9 years younger than Huang Xiao Ming but he doesn’t age as well.
2. Still some minor plot holes - what happened to Cheng Feng Tai’s nephew and brother-in-law in the end?
3. What happened to his little sister?
4. I like the opening theme song; it matches the feel of the drama
5. I appreciate the training that actors went through to perform on stage. Their mouths might not perfectly sync with the singing, but you can still see that they’re mouthing/singing those lyrics.
6. Yin Zheng, Tan Jian Ci and Andy Huang look beautiful playing the ‘dan’.

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Hilarious, Emotional and Meaningful

Completed - 6/23/2022

This very short drama special started out with funny scenes of innocent high school girls discussing 'important' topics such as, what is sex? where do babies come from? is condom a candy? how does 'it' go up? But what transpires the whole premise is the discovery of the first volume of a banned erotic novel. Of course, what high school girls wouldn't be excited about that? Even their mean and strict high school teacher is obsessed.

The story also took place between 1986-87 when anti-communism sentiments were high and the government was controlling. We witness students being mistreated by teachers, and subordinates being mistreated by supervisors. The tone of the second half of this drama special changes quite quickly from funny to emotional.

Through it all, our heroine Soon Deok, played by the amazing Jung So Min, is central to all that is happening. She stands out among others due to her independent, forward thinking personality, and inspired those around her, esp. her teacher Tae Nam. It's quite difficult to like Tae Nam in the beginning. Who knew erotic novels could change a mean and selfish teacher to care and risk so much for his students?

I am glad to discover this drama special through an MDL article. I recommend this unique special to those who want something different - funny yet meaningful and emotional.

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Short, Simple and Easy to Watch

Completed - 6/6/2022

A very short drama special about two individuals meeting at the Marriage making company. Within an hour and 5 minutes, this special is able to tell the love story of our leads from disliking each other, building a business relationship to friendship and then falling in love. The plot is simple but engaging and I don't feel like I am missing a step in their relationship. Chemistry between the leads is pretty good. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, which could be perceived as over-the-top.

"Let us Meet' also provides enough background information about the leads to give us an idea of the societal pressure of individuals living in that era. Women are opposed to arranged marriage with strangers during these 'modern' times. As Kyungsung (old name for Seoul) is changing, marriage is not necessarily about love but looking for the right conditions, such as money, status and education. With the Japanese occupation as a backdrop, this drama special also provided glimpses of what life was like for women. Do not expect a deep dive into these socio-economic issues as that's not "Let us Meet" is about, and besides, it's too short.

I would recommend this if you just want something short, simple and easy to watch.

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List of Triggers/Themes listed at the end of Review

Completed - 6/2/2022 - 8.25

“Tomorrow” is an ambitious drama that wants to tackle serious social issues and how they contribute to suicides, and also put a fantasy spin to it. I quite like the general plot of the drama but I feel that the execution leaves room for improvement.

What I Like:

1. Plot - I think the idea of having grim reapers not just escorting the dead, but also trying to save them is a very interesting concept. It’s also interesting to see the behind-the-scenes operation. I heard complaints about how this drama makes it appear that it’s too easy to dissuade suicides because of a few words. With that, I would like to say that this is the whole concept of the drama, so maybe you shouldn’t watch it if you don’t even like this general plot. Why force yourself to watch it if you can’t even get past this? Do I believe suicides could be dissuaded this easily? Absolutely not. However, as the Jade Emperor said, and I paraphrase, it’s not that victims can be talked out of committing suicides with a few words, it’s more like NO ONE has ever said those right words to them in the first place. Living is hard, and if you don’t have the support system and kind words from people who care about you, it’s easy to give up. Do I think the execution of the drama is great, no, I don’t. More in the next section.

2. Impactful Cases - There are a few very impactful cases shown in this drama. I was taken back by the first case regarding bullying. It was hard to watch and I question if this is the tone set for the rest of the drama. Luckily, the drama just started with a BANG. I personally enjoyed the first ⅓ of the drama and those 4 cases (see my list of cases at the end of the review if you are interested). They are nicely developed, about two episodes per case, and provide enough background for me to feel for the victims and be glad that their issues are resolved.

3. Acting - This is my first drama of Kim Hee Sun’s and I love her in this drama. She is able to portray Goo Ryun (FL) very well, showing her sassiness, bossiness, badassness, heartbreak and often with very quiet subtle facial expressions. Rowoon’s acting has gotten better as well. He has come a long way from his “Extraordinary You” days. I do not personally find his comedic moments incompatible with the drama, but just enough to lighten the mood. Looking at Yun Ji On’s biography, I noticed I’ve seen quite a few of his dramas and he looks familiar, but I can’t recall any of his previous roles. I think I will remember him moving forward after “Tomorrow”. The handsome Lee Soo Hyuk didn’t really have that big of a role in this drama. I wish I could see more of him, and more when his character is not so ‘cool’. I enjoyed his Joseon scenes more as he is provided more opportunity to shine.

4. Outfits/Appearance - Kim Hee Sun has quite an eclectic wardrobe. I love her pink hair and her orange/reddish eye shadows. She looks amazing in suits, high boots, tight leather jeans or casual wear. But let’s not forget our Jade Emperor. What flashy attire she has! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kim Hae Sook wear such fancy clothes, as she always plays the mother or grandmother roles. All the grim reapers look good in their fitted back suits.

What I don’t like or have mixed feelings:

1. Blaming the victim - The Risk Management team, or our FL mostly, likes to use reverse psychology and blame the victim tactics to start their ‘counseling’ sessions. I personally have a problem with it, especially when I noticed this right off the start in the first case. I do not believe that is the way to go, no matter what good intentions you have.

2. Half-baked Cases - For a 16-episode drama, it covers many 12 different cases. I feel that some of them are too short and not enough time is invested in developing the story. The drama tries to tackle too much. Some cases are resolved within an episode and then you move on to the next one following a similar formula of how they tackle it. I think it’s best to reduce the number of cases and then really spend quality time in executing the select few.

3. Over-the-top/Unrealistic scenes - There are few scenes where I went “Huh?”. When it’s time for the war veteran to be escorted, it was a little over-the-top to have the whole Escort team + RM Team + Jade Emperor to be present. Do they do this for all war veterans? Because each one of them deserves such respect. I know it’s for TV, but it’s a little too much for my taste. A suicidal puppy? On the other hand, ther court scene in ep 11 is one of the most laughable and unrealistic court scenes I’ve seen. They really dumb it down to move the plot forward.

4. Leads story - I would like to see character and relationship development throughout the drama. I feel that I don’t see enough of the main characters interacting with each to develop a supposedly strong bond. Their background stories pop up every so often and not enough due to the focus on the cases. I hope to see snippets of the Joseon storylines throughout the drama and not just in the end. I am actually more interested in their previous lives than any of the suicide cases.


Below is a list of themes/triggers that might prevent someone from watching. I hope by listing them, you can skip episodes that are too much for you, but not completely write off the drama. However, suicide is the main theme and cannot be ignored.

Ep 1-2: Bullying with verbal and physical assaults
Ep 2-3: Exam failure
Ep 4-5: Survivor’s Guilt and loneliness
Ep 6: War veteran/PTSD/regrets
Ep 7: Body Image/Eating Disorder/Bulimia
Ep 8: Criminals - to save or not to save; physical violence
Ep 9: Dog passing away
Ep 10-11: Sexual assault with physical violence
Ep 12: Miscarriage with guilt and depression
Ep 13: War Comfort Women with physical/sexual/verbal assault
Ep 14: Suicide/wrist cutting
Ep 15: Stress of being a Celebrity

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Who is the Murderer? Let's get to know the Deceased first.

Completed - 3/24/2022

If you haven't watched season 1, please know that my review WILL disclose who was murdered (which you find out in the last few minutes of Ep 8). I also strongly recommend you watching season 1 before season 2.
Here's my review of season 1 if you are interested: https://kisskh.at/profile/voicelesslove/review/199589

Now that we know who was murdered, season 2 focuses on finding out who the killer is. The drama casts a very wide net and basically suspects anyone and everyone that has to do with Madame Sue. For the majority of season 2, I find the pacing to be somewhat slow. There are still stories told using many flashbacks. We find out more about the background stories of the characters and what happened the day of the murder.

But the focus is discovering who Madame Sue really is. She is not as nice and gentle as she seems. There's a much darker and manipulative side of her that not many people know. Was she already like that when she was a teenager? Was her experiences at home and low self-esteem the reason for her extreme actions? Each episode, we get to know her little by little and the lies that she told to her closest ones.

It's not until the last few episodes of season 2 do we find out exactly what happened. Madame Sue, the manipulative and revengeful one, has set up traps for those who hurt her long before her murder. I believe after her attempted suicide, she is ready to set the wheels in action .

Part 2 does not tell us who the murderer is, but ends on a cliffhanger. We do see a set of eyes from the rearview mirror. We will need to finish Part 3 in order to know what really happens on the day of murder.

p.s.
-Chris Wu is amazing as Baby - can't recognize him at all!
-The many guest roles continue in season 2. It's nice to see more of Wallace Huo (he's so darn sexy) and Vivian Hsu (who I haven't seen in a long time).

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Better than the average Korean BL

Completed - 3/19/2022 - 8.25

It's nice to watch a Korean BL about mature adults and not in any school setting. This is a very short series/movie and I usually prefer the movie version, as the short weekly episodes could feel disjointed at times. I find this drama/movie better than the average Korean BL I've seen. To me, it's better than "You Make Me Dance" and a LOT better than "Tasty Florida".

For a low budget web drama, the production quality appears pretty decent. Nothing feels cheap at all and all the food scenes look good and delicious. Looking at the filmography of both male leads, it's no wonder I quite enjoy their acting. Both are quite experienced with other movies/dramas under their belts, and not newbies to the industry. Most of the times, acting seems to be weakest in Korean BL dramas. Comparatively, I think the acting in "Where Your Eyes Linger" is a little better.

The story is quite simple, but I don't find it cringey or cliche. The romance progresses well and I don't feel that it happens suddenly, esp. when this is a very short drama/movie. My only major criticism is the English-speaking girl. I can understand the debt situation but who is that girl? She seems to be a very useless character and doesn't add anything to the drama/movie at all.

Overall, this is a light-hearted and easy watch and I would recommend if you needed something short to watch to kill time.

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Beautiful and Mellow Healing drama that also feels like a documentary

Completed - 3/7/2022 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

“A Thousand Goodnights” is a beautiful, healing drama about family, dreams and people in your life. It also gives me a feeling that it’s part documentary and part tourism promotion of Taiwan. You get to travel to different parts of Taiwan, learn about small town/village traditions and livelihood. Following the train route mapped out by her deceased father, Tai Tien Ching (FL) completes the journey that her father couldn’t.

I would recommend this drama for those who enjoy:
1. Slower paced, healing drama where you get to feel, listen and experience what the characters are going through.
2. Beautiful landscapes and scenery of Taiwan - hills, mountains, ocean, islands, etc.
3. Learning about small town livelihoods and traditions
4. Different dialects spoken - Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka
5. Wisdom and life lessons through dramas

I also would suggest not binge-watching this drama as each episode is about an hour and 15 minutes long. Due to its slower pacing, I think 1-2 episodes a day is good. When I watch 3+ episodes a day, I lose my focus and get bored. It wouldn’t be fair to judge a drama due to my binge-watching habit.

After Station Master Tai retirement, he planned out a trip to different places along the train routes to visit old friends. But he was unable to do so and his older daughter Tien Ching wanted to complete the trip for him. Following her father’s mapped out route, she discovered different sides of her father that she never knew. She met her father’s friends and learned many life lessons throughout the journey. The trip actually did not take up as many episodes as I thought it would. I thought the majority of the drama would be about the trip itself. Actually, I would say only about 50% of the drama took place in different Taiwanese towns and villages. The rest is spent back home. There’s enough going on at home surrounding our FL, ML, 2FL and 2ML (don’t want to give out spoilers).

Romance does not take center stage in this drama. However, the two romance storylines we have give viewers two very different flavors. The romance between Tien Ching and Chen No is quiet and mature. They understand and support each other. They have honest and open communication. There’s no cute fluffiness or public display of affection. Actually, Tien Ching never straight up tells Chen No that she likes him. But you find glimpses of sweetness in their conversations and actions. And you know they care for each other deeply without any big declaration of love. On the other hand, the romance between Tien Yu and Po Sen is more of a typical rom-com romance. They are cute together and will flirt with each other. When the drama transitions to them from Tien Ching’s trip, the transitions seem out of place and weird. At times, I do think their romance and 2ML music career change the tone of the drama. I am not sure if it’s a good or bad thing.

The music and the cinematography are beautiful. There are many scenes of mountains and rivers, fields and ponds, islands and trains. The background music complements the scenery so well, without overpowering the sounds of nature (birds chirping or ocean waves). For me, I heard different types of music - from Disney-like, to classical music, to historical drama-like and big Hollywood music scores. I am not a music critic but I really, really like the background music in this drama. I also read that the opening and closing themes are specially written for this drama. The songs are beautiful as well.

Other Observations:
1. Station Master Tai seems to be the most perfect character ever.
2. I love his station master decal on his cell phone case.
3. For some reason, I don’t like how FL behaves - not sure if it’s the character or the actress
4. Why break the cute elephant banks when you can take money out from the bottom?! All for drama’s sake!
5. First time seeing a drama using Facebook Messenger as the chat app.
6. What happened to the studio’s financial crisis?
7. I do think the drama could be a little shorter.

Lastly, I love the last episode - gives me warm fuzzy feelings. “Good Night’ can mean -
I Love You
I Miss You
Thank You
I am so thankful to have you in my life
See You Soon
Good Night, Sweet dreams

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Low production value, OK acting, Lack of leads chemistry but interesting Overarching Plot

Completed - 3/2/2022 - 7.75 Rating

I really wanted to like this drama and give it a higher rating despite its general negative reviews. I was on the verge of giving it a solid 8.0 because I really like the general overarching plot of the drama. It's no wonder the novel was adapted, as the stories are interesting. However, the horrific editing of the last couple episodes discouraged me and I'll keep the rating at a 7.5-7.75. I have not read the novel, so the rating has nothing to do with how good the adaptation is, or whether I dislike any of the actors/actresses. For some reason when I was watching “Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities”, it reminded me of “Novaland: Pearl Eclipse”. I was comparing the two dramas’ plot, acting, chemistry and my enjoyment level. “Mirror” feels more like it is a part of the Novaland universe than “Pearl Eclipse”.


What I Enjoy:

General Plot - I really enjoy the story of the rise and fall of the three kingdoms, and how our three main characters’ stories intertwined with their ancestors’ stories. The objectives are clear and viewers can pretty much expect how the story will play out and what the general ending of the whole drama is. The journey of how the characters achieve their ultimate goals is what this drama is all about. I actually do not think the pacing is slow but rather good. I was not bored but do need to pay attention to what’s going on, due to its poor editing and storytelling. I can see how the editing in the first few episodes can confuse watchers and cause them not to stick around a little longer. We generally have pretty intelligent characters in this drama and there isn’t anyone too annoying.

Zheng Ye Cheng - ZYC is the only actor that uses his voice for dubbing. I applaud him for this and really wish more actors would use their own voices. I recently watched him in “Crossroad Bistro” and he did fine. I am more impressed with his acting in this drama, as he has a chance to play *spoilers* a few different characters, with different personalities. I would not say his acting is brilliant, but it's a bright spot among others. He also has the most colorful costumes in this drama!

Costumes/Looks - I think all the characters have pretty good “looks”. Their costumes fit their characters and you can see how the colors they wear coordinate with their roles. As mentioned, Zheng Ye Cheng as the Prince has the most colorful outfits. Our FL has all white or very light-colored costumes, and ML has mostly dark-colored costumes. I do think Li Yi Feng as Su Mo/Chun Huang looks better in white than in black, even with the long white hair. It might be weird but I want to compliment the wigs that the actors are wearing. I especially like the intricate braiding weaved into all of their hairstyles.

Music - This drama has a nice OST. We hear the beautiful voices of Zhou Chen and Mao Bu Yi. The songs are not overplayed and the background music complements the scenes. I didn’t feel like the music was forcing me to feel a certain way.


What I Don’t Enjoy:

Editing and Storytelling - The biggest flaw of this drama is its editing. You can see scenes that showed up in flashbacks but never during the actual scenes. I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or due to editing. Some scenes are transitioned to show the RESULTS instead of the process. It feels like the drama is condensing 15 minutes into 15 seconds. During the final few episodes of the drama there seems to be missing scenes and the story was jumping around. The episodes feel choppy and don’t flow well enough to prepare us for the final showdown or the epilogue. It’s really unfortunate because this drama could have been so much better.

Chemistry/Acting - I do not necessarily find Li Yi Feng (ML) and Chen Yu Qi’s (FL) acting horrible. They are okay. I do expect more from Li Yi Feng as I’ve seen him in “Noble Aspirations” and liked him in that drama. Maybe because he had more chemistry with Zhao Li Ying? I was hoping the chemistry between the main characters would improve but it didn’t. They are supposed to have this heartbreaking romance that’s full of longing and angst, but I don’t feel anything. Their romance is such a central part to the plot that when I can’t feel anything, it really distracts me from enjoying the rest of the drama. The romance of Su Mo and Bai Ying could be considered a slow burn (after 100 years). But it’s not giving me enough bread crumbs (aka sweetness, meaning glances, etc.) to endure this slowness and the lack of chemistry. *Spoilers* When the three leads are acting as their ancestors, I actually enjoy their chemistry more. The few scenes with an innocent Chun Huang, a more talkative Bai Wei and a jealous Lang Gan are more fun than their younger selves. I wish we had more scenes of the ancestors’ story.

Production Value - This is supposed to be a S+ production but you couldn’t tell by its horrible CGI and set designs. The CGI is subpar and it’s worse than 2018 “Ashes of Love”, especially when they are showing scenes/sets of the palace and rooms. When you see the set designs and props, they look cheap and fake. I looked back at the beautiful set designs of another S+ production, “Pearl Eclipse”, and the difference is huge. The drama also has some weird filters and camera shots. The shots look fuzzy/blurry at times. I am not sure if the director is trying to create some sort of effect? I also wish the drama had more fight scenes. There are only a handful and they’re too short for me to appreciate.

Overall, I don’t regret watching this drama. I knew to curb my enthusiasm and expectations, and I knew what I am getting myself into. I would only recommend this drama if you really like the actors, craving for xianxia dramas and have nothing else to watch. For better or worse, having only 43 episodes (pretty short for this type of drama), is one of the reasons why I decided to give this a try.

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A different kind of BL drama

Completed - 2/21/2022

Coming into this, I’ve read some comments on “My Beautiful Man”. It seems quite controversial and it’s not the typical fluffy BL drama. This is a love story about two individuals who have their own issues and demons to deal with. If I watch this drama when it’s aired weekly, I might feel the same way as most watchers, just hating how Kiyoi treats Hira. Because honestly, it’s a lot of bullying.

Hira is an introvert who suffers from stuttering. Because of that, he has a difficult time making friends and is made fun of all the time. He retreats to his little cocoon and becomes invisible. His parents bought him a camera when he was young, so that he has a hobby of his own by being socially isolated. On the other hand, Kiyoi is the total opposite. He’s the “King” who is surrounded by admirers. He’s viewed at the top of the social hierarchy but also has secrets of his own.

Hira’s obsession with Kiyoi is abnormal and unhealthy. Even though it’s mean for Kiyoi to call him creepy and a stalker, that is quite true. Hira is creepy and he is a stalker. Their complicated, master/slave relationship is the central point of this drama. It doesn’t matter that years have passed, their relationship is still as dysfunctional as ever.

But once we get to hear Kiyoi’s side of the story and his own internal struggles, viewers begin to understand the “why” behind some of his actions. But do his reasons justify his actions, that’s up to the viewer to decide. I actually really enjoy Kiyoi’s internal monologues, more so than Hira’s. I would have loved to see more of Kiyoi’s story. For someone who is new to acting, Yagi Yusei’s portrayal of Kiyoi and esp. in the last episode is really good. We see a different Kiyoi that’s not shown in the first 5 episodes.

This drama might not be for everyone. But if you are up for a different kind of BL drama, I would recommend it. Besides, Yagi Yusei IS really a beautiful man.

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Light-hearted and Cute, but Unrealistic and Illogical

Completed - 2/18/2022 - 7.75 rating

If you are not watching this aired weekly, it's best to watch the movie version than the drama version. The story flows better and it's not as fragmented. This is a cute and light-hearted BL drama/movie, with decent chemistry and somewhat good-looking actors. Also, something is wrong with the synopsis here, "After a serious row, he is thrown out of the family home and is left with an emotional wound. " <--- I didn't see that happening!! Serious row? Thrown out??

What I enjoy:
1. I like the bus scene with their pinkies in the air. Really cute!
2. Cute interactions between the leads.
3. Great songs - Korean BL dramas never disappoint me with their songs.
4. Production value seems decent enough for a low-budget web drama.

What I don't enjoy (spoilers):
1. The acting of Won Hyung Hoon (Creditor) is not very good. I know his character is supposed to be quiet, but he comes off as bland and emotionless.
2. Unrealistic and illogical plot lines (stop reading if you don't want my cynicism to spoil your happy bubble):
= Will a debt collector really trust you enough to extend your loan payment for a month after a dance that's not even that good?
= The whole debt collector profession in this drama is unrealistic.
= If a debt collector moves in with you, you should kick him out immediately (DANGER!), no matter how nice he seems.
= Just because Shi On got the audition to play the lead role, doesn't mean he automatically has money. He actually has to work first to get paid. Why does it seem like the loan is totally forgiven all of a sudden?
= If they assume the loan is forgiven, then why did Hong Seok leave Shi On in the end? As Shi On said, the previous relationship ended and they can start anew. Why leave? I still don't get it.

Though it seems like I dislike this drama/movie, I did have an enjoyable time. I needed something light and short, and it suits my needs. I just can't give it a higher rating, as it doesn't seem fair to the other dramas that I rated a 8.0 and above.

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Completed - 2/11/2022

I don't remember how I came across this drama. It's short and sounded interesting. Without knowing much about it, it appears to be a comedy full of laughs and life lessons. I then realized this drama shows our protagonist's journey of revisiting and re-examining her relationship with her mother, and dealing with her mother's sudden death.

Liu Lian (FL) aka Durian is an independent, happy-go-lucky 30-year-old feminist, who is trying to live her life to the fullest and not caring about what others think of her. She's a little quirky and a little weird, is loud and obnoxious. Like her nickname, she's spiky like a durian and protects herself with those outer spikes She's a fun character to watch. However, deep down she is lonely and really misses her mother. She has a hard time dealing with her mother's sudden death.

Throughout the drama, there are many flashbacks of Liu Lian's life with her mother. From these flashbacks, we learned of their complicated love-hate relationship, and saw how much they are alike. There are many life lessons learned in this drama, and the opening theatrical acts are an interesting way to peek inside Liu Lan's inner thoughts and feelings. Though this is a small budget web drama, I don't feel that it's a cheap production.

However, there are quite a few plot holes where things don't line up. Why did Liu Lan go back to work for the same company after her fake pregnancy announcement, as if nothing happened? How come she couldn't pay her ex back from the insurance money? What happened to her relationship with Ma Ye?

Since it's such a short drama, it's worth a watch if you have some time to kill. It's very easy to binge all 12 episodes in one day.

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Coming Out story of a Confused teen - full of sweetness and angst

Completed - 2/10/2022

This is my first completed Thai drama (BL or not). I am not a serious BL drama watcher and I am a straight woman, so I can't really comment on how realistic this drama's portrayal of a teen's coming out journey. However, I have to say that among the BL dramas that I have watched (Chinese, Korean or Taiwanese), this one is the best produced and most "realistic" to me. Most BL dramas focus a lot of the romance and skinship/kisses and are usually comedies. This one shows us Teh's conflicted feelings of realizing that he is attracted to his male best friend.

I really like the first episode. It was well-produced like a movie. It describes the young friendship of two adolescents, how they had a fallout and then back together as friends. It was innocent, and just about rekindling and repairing a lost and broken friendship. I was hooked after watching the first episode.

Episodes 2 and 3 brought us more joy and the developing of feelings for each other. You see a little jealousy from both Teh and Oh-Aew, when they are not quite sure why they are feeling a certain way. Is it just pure friendship or more than that? We also saw a few very intimate and sensual scenes from the pair of friends, yet not sexual as other Thai BL dramas I've seen. There are so much emotions in these episodes and I really enjoy the acting from both of our leads. Oh-Aew is so sweet and caring, and such a great friend to Teh.

Pacing slows down in Ep 4 and 5 and I lost a little of my focus. The focus is on Teh's mixed feelings and confusion. Others might think that it took him too long to understand his feelings. However, I disagree. Though I don't have such experience, it can't be easy to have your ideals and belief system turned upside down. He needs time to think and process and really feel. Teh is not sure what to do with these new feelings for Oh-Aew, as he's brought up to like girls and not boys. His heartfelt talk with his older brother conveys, I assume, many teens' concerns about how others view them as "different". Oh, what a great and supportive brother he has.

If I have to say one thing I don't like about this drama, is the overdramatic crying of Teh. He is quite a crybaby and the saliva and snot are a little too much for my taste. Otherwise, the acting is solid. I really like PP (Oh-Aew) and prefers his acting and showing of emotions over Billkin (Teh).

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Good pacing and overall acting - but lack mini climaxes here and there

Completed - 1/18/2022

"Sword Snow Stride" is one of my highly anticipated dramas as we seem to lack a true wuxia drama in 2021. However, after watching it, I realized it's not a wuxia drama in a traditional sense. There is a lot of special effects instead of martial arts fighting. The story is a combination of politics and pugilistic world.

It's undeniable that Zhang Ruo Yun, our male lead, has some great acting chops. I've seen him in the highly rated "Joy of Life" and also his earlier work in "Novaland: Castle in the Sky". He's an amazing actor. He reminds me of the Korean actor, Yoon Ah In. Both give off similar vibes, not handsome in the traditional sense, but with such charisma. In this drama, he is surrounded by some great veteran actors, especially, Hu Jun (ML's dad), Qiu Zin Zhi (God of Swords), Tian Xiao Jie (Grandpa Wei) and Wang Jian Guo (Old Wang). Comparatively, our young female lead, Teresa Li, pales in comparison. She's not horrible, but when you are playing against someone like Zhang Ruo Yun, she's not quite at the same level. Hopefully, we get to see more of her in Season 2 and her acting improves.

For a 38-episode C-drama, the pacing is good. There are enough events and little missions throughout the drama to keep me entertained and focused. But when looking back, everything feels very smooth-sailing. I don't think I was ever on the edge of my seat, worried something awful might happen to our leads, or that I really, really want to find out what happened next. I feel like it's missing some thrilling events. However, maybe it's also a strength that even without these minor climaxes, I am still engaged throughout.

We have many strong female and male characters in this drama. No one is naïve or makes dumb decisions. There isn't anyone annoying that I want to yell at. We have women who can fight and/or use their brains. How awesome is that! We have a family of intelligent people who are ruthless and cunning, yet selfless enough to sacrifice for the common good. They have some pretty fun and heartwarming family scenes and dynamics.

However, when "Snow Sword Stride" was promoted as a wuxia drama, it comes with certain expectations. I was hoping for amazing fight choreography and strong fight scenes, esp. from our male lead. What we have is a "modern" version of a wuxia drama with slow-motion fight sequences and a lot of special effects. I do enjoy the special effects - leaves, water, raindrops, flying swords, etc. But I was also hoping for actual fight scenes and not posing and slow-motion sequences.

Other Observations:
1. It seems like our male lead doesn't fight much and have others do the dirty work for him.
2. Our female lead seems quite useless in the first half of the drama, a little better in the second half. I hope she has a more significant role in Season 2 both in politics and in romance.
3. Why is the white fox at the fight in the last episode? What's that got to do with her? Just to help out a friend? Or want to give her some screen time before the drama ends?

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Sweet and Innocent teen drama - No GaoKao (college admission exam) for once!!!

Completed - 1/4/2022

"Summer Again" might not be a perfect drama, but to me, I really like it and I can't stop smiling while watching it. This is my second teen drama that I rated a 9.0, after my other favorite, "Forever Love". I finally found a Chinese high school drama that is not focused on the evil GaoKao (College admission exam). There are so many other teen dramas, but you can't escape the plot of students stressing over the exam and parents being mean about it.

"Summer Again" is a breath of fresh air. The setting is at a small seaside town. The drama is about our young cast finding and loving their true selves, and discovering and working towards their dreams. Romance is present in the name of friendship. It's sweet and innocent, and there's no cheesy love lines or fluffy and intimate skinship. It's just pure innocent, caring and supportive friendships.

What I like:
1. Plot/No GaoKao - As mentioned, the focus of the drama is not about studying hard for the exam. I have watched a good number of teen C-Dramas, and this might be the only one that I can remember that has nothing to do with the exam. It's just normal high school life in a small town. Our young cast grow and learn about themselves. Of course, they encounter similar challenges in other teen dramas, but I think it's a refreshing take as it all happened in a small town.

2. Realistic teenagers - We have normal teenagers doing what normal teenagers do. They hang out, dress, talk and act like teenagers. Our male lead is not cold-on-the-outside and mean to FL, nor was he a genius or a failing student. He's just a normal kid who happens to be a famous comic book author. Our female lead is not naive or shy or a pushover. She's an above-average student, not particularly smart or dumb. Even if ballet takes center stage, she's not a superstar ballerina. All characters act like their age. I also like that none of them is dumb or naive

3. Romance/Friendship - We don't have outright romances here. There's no lovey-dovey fluffiness. Not even a kiss. or the confession of "I Like You". Once in a while, a romance like this is refreshing. Our leads are caring and supportive friends. They have open and honest conversations. They listen and support each other, and don't try to change each other. They help each other think things through in order to come to their own decisions. They show affection through actions. It's simple, sweet, and innocent.

4. Ballet - I appreciate our FL performing all her dances. And no, don't expect expert ballet dancing. Her dance is simple and amateurish, and definitely not showcasing someone who has been dancing for years. I can't say for sure, but there are enough shots to show her head /body/legs to know that FL does her own dancing. On the other hand, I can also tell that her teacher is a ballet dancer (I looked him up and he is). You can tell by the way he presents himself and the few dance steps he did - very light on the feet!

5. Gift Giving - What a creative way for ML to give the farewell present to FL when they are under the tree.

What I don't quite like as much:
1. Love triangle - ML only has eyes for FL and he makes that very clear. I still think that the jealous 3FL storyline lasted a little too long. Even though I pity her circumstances, her mean actions get repetitive and annoying after a while.

2. Acting - The overall acting of the main cast is not bad. However, the other minor characters' acting is not quite up to standards. For example, I am not sure if the ballet teacher is supposed to act so stoic and wooden because of his role, or his acting is not that great.

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Overall, enjoyed it better than "Guardian"

Completed - 12/30/2021

When I watch "Killer and Healer", I can't help but compare it to the more popular drama, "Guardian" (2018) starring Bai Yu and Zhu Yi Long. I have not read either novels, so my reviews and thoughts are solely based on my enjoyment when watching the dramas. "Guardian" is a lot more popular and probably due to the two male leads. Mao Zi Jun and Ian Yi might not be as famous, but I really enjoy their (b)romance. If you are only looking for true bromance, this is not the drama for you. It is very obvious that our main leads are in love with each other.

The main selling point of this drama is the chemistry between our male leads. Zhou Yue Lou (played by Mao Zi Jun) and Dr. Chen Yu Zhi (played by Ian Yi) are obviously in love with each other. The way Yue Lou looks at Dr. Chen is full of love and affection, and you see that within the first episode of the drama. On paper, they might have very different personalties and family backgrounds. However, deep down, they have the same beliefs and ideals. They understand each other, and have a very honest and trusting relationship. Their trust for each other never wavers even when life's circumstances challenge them.

I also enjoy the overall acting of the whole cast, compared to "Guardian". In "Guardian", aside from Bai Yu and Zhu Yi Long, I did not like the acting of anyone else. In "Killer and Healer", aside from the leads, I really like Zhan Jun Bai and Patrick Quan, who played the tragic secondary couple. Our female lead is not annoying and did a pretty decent job. We have two characters who provide comic relief and they are funny in their own ways. The characters are pretty smart and didn't make any dumb decisions, and there isn't any annoying character.

The general plot of the drama is decent. It's nothing too out-of-the-ordinary. I do enjoy a Republican drama that is not about spies, the revolution or Japanese occupation. The big villain was not exposed until toward the end of the drama, though it's not hard to guess who that is. However, I do have a problem with the pacing and felt that some of the crime investigations felt repetitive. I lost my concentration in the middle of the drama, but I think it finishes strong in the last 10 episodes.

One big reason why I like this drama more than "Guardian" is that it doesn't look cheap, even though both dramas are not big budget productions. I was very annoyed with the flimsy sets in "Guardian". Here, aside from some questionable gun fights, everything looks decent and the costumes aren't bad. Our leads look dashing in their suits and uniforms. I would compare the production quality to be similar to "Fall in Love" (2021).

p.s. When watching this drama on MangoTV YouTube channel, the sound keeps on going in and out. It's very, very annoying!!
p.p.s. I heard there's an alternate ending somewhere.

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