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A different kind of Kenshin Movie - A Melodrama

Completed - 2/12/2022 - Rating 8.25

Even though this is the last movie of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, this movie is actually the beginning of Himura Kenshin's story. If you haven't watched any of the movies, I would recommend watching "The Beginning" first, or at least before "The Final". The story will flow a little better as you follow his journey when he first became Battosai the Killer.

All other Kenshin movies are fast-paced and action-packed. It is without a doubt that they all have amazing sword fighting scenes and are full of violence and gore. Though "The Beginning" has a very different vibe and fewer fight scenes, they are still as amazing as ever. Another commonality that these movies share is the amazing soundtrack. We have beautiful instrumental pieces that complement the scenes so well, no matter if they are having quiet moments, or violent fight scenes. When I heard the Rurouni Kenshin theme song at the end of this movie, it feels like home.

However, "The Beginning" is actually a slow-burn, melodrama of Himura and Tomoe's love story. We got a glimpse of it in "The Final" and we get the full story here. It's very slow-paced (actually a little too slow for my taste) and the movie has many quiet moments. I actually enjoyed the quiet moments that they had in "The Final" more, as they helped to slow down the pace of a fast movie. Because our main leads are so reserved and introverted, there aren't that many dialogs in this movie. I also find it a little difficult to see how Himura is initially attracted to Tomoe. I guess a 2 hour-long movie really doesn't have that much time to develop the initial attraction in more detail.

Satoh Takeru is without a doubt amazing in this drama. Satoh Takeru = Himura Kenshin. I cannot picture anyone else play this role. He's as quiet and as stoic as ever, but I see a glimpse of youthfulness and a cute little smile when he's looking at his homegrown radish :) Arimura Kasumi is so graceful as Tomoe. There's this quiet strength in her. Eguchi Yosuke reprises his role as Saito Hajime, but I don't think the makeup artist can make him as youthful-looking as Satoh Takeru.

It's hard to say goodbye to Satoh Takeru as Himura Kenshin. I've loved him in all these movies. I am so glad that the Kenshin franchise gave me the opportunity to know him.

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Two awkward and weird individuals = Adorkable romance

Completed - 1/30/2022

I initially dropped this drama after watching the first episode in April 2021. I could not get past its overdramatic acting and did not like the female lead. She's like a Covid-19 tyrant, forcing people to follow all the preventive safety measure (of course, for good reasons). She is not likeable at all, and it's hard for me to continue on and root for her. However, after watching more Jdoramas, I have gotten used to its style and really can't hold it against all dramas. It proves that sometimes, a drama is worth a second chance and you need to be in the right mindset to watch it.

This drama covers topics of online dating-->real life dating, accepting each other for who they are, being honest and communicative. There isn't really any plot twists or anything too exciting, but just a easy, funny and a little over-the-top rom-com to watch set during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two years later, we are still going through all this. This drama has a strong focus on preventive measures, since our FL is a doctor and she does not fail to remind people to keep their masks on correctly and to maintain social distance.

Our leads met online while playing a video game. They started as just simple friends, chatting about daily musings and nothing personal. Of course, they started liking each other. We then follow their journey of discovering each other in real life, learning to switch from an online relationship to real life relationship (all its ups and downs) and learning to work through differences.

Our leads are really weird and awkward in their own ways. However, they are so cute and adorkable together. Most dramas, you lose that fun when the leads get together. But in this drama, I especially enjoy watching them after they started dating. In their early stage of dating, it's hilarious to see them still using the chat app instead of talking directly, even though they are sitting next to each other, typing away. We see how they try to move away from that in the second half of the drama and work hard to have meaningful conversations offline.

I might not like FL in the beginning, but she has grown on me. I admire her honesty and courage, esp. when she's confessing to ML. She's not experienced at all, and is definitely a weirdo, but she is so honest with her feelings and oftentimes the one to take the initiative in the relationship.

However, there are still quite a number of slightly annoying, overly nosy and gossipy supporting characters. They calmed down towards the second half of the drama and have become great support to the leads. They just show their caring side in their own unique, nosy ways. It's also nice to see a good 2ML who doesn't do anything to sabotage the main romance. I do feel a little bad for him, but no second lead syndrome.

Other observations:
1. Why does the ML put the toothpicks back in the container? That's so unsanitary!
2. I love ML's voice when he's the voiceover of his texts. Very soothing and calming.
3. Don't watch this if you are sick and tired of the pandemic and don't want people reminding you of safety measures (but you should still wear a mask).

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Cute and Fluffy (slightly cringey) drama about Love, Teamwork, Perseverance and Mommy issues.

Completed - 1/21/2022

A big reason why I want to watch "To Fly with you" is because of Wang An Yu (ML). I fell in love with him when watching "Forever Love", my favorite young adult drama. I could still imagine his loving gazes and I am glad to see them in this drama as well. However, his character here is very different than in "Forever Love".

This drama is quite similar to "Skate into Love". We have our leads struggling to succeed or to maintain their reputation in their respective sports. We see issues with initial team chemistry, rivalries, sportsmanship, love triangles, etc. However, this drama feels a lot "younger". The characters are all college students, but I feel like I was watching a high school drama, based on the way they talk and act. And because of this, I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I thought I would. It's probably because I am older and I am not the target audience. I don't recall feeling that way when I was watching "Skate into Love".

This drama is probably made to promote Beijing's Winter Olympics in February 2022. I would think the government might have provided a little funding. But the number of product placements in this drama is quite amazing. We have the usual drinks, snacks, skin care, face masks.... but also apps on phone for cleaning service and job searches. I guess the government didn't pay much or at all, and it costs a lot of money for the actors to be trained.

One aspect I enjoy about this drama is the skating. Of course we know that the difficult jumps are not done by the actors, and they probably speed up the skating (esp. ML's final skate when executing difficult jumps). However, I rarely feel like I am watching bad/fake skating. I applaud the actors' ability to skate and act like they know what they are doing. FL is the only person that looks a little off to me when there's a close-up shot of her face when speed skating. I also enjoy the way the drama tries to educate the audience on the more technical aspects of speed skating and figure skating. I never knew the importance of having a teammate supporting and coordinating with you in speed skating (I thought it's a loner sport).

As a romance junkie, I have to talk about the romance here. The first half of the drama was quite fun for the main romance, though a little cringey at times. However, I am most annoyed with the confession miscommunication because it's so easy to just speak up instead of stuttering and holding back. Wang An Yu (ML) and Song Zu Er (FL) look good together and have good chemistry. Both of them are able to get down and dirty to act silly and embarrassing. Once the leads got together, it's quite smooth-sailing, less cringey but more sugary. On the other hand, the secondary romance took up too much screen time, and I find the character, Zhu Le Le (2FL) quite annoying. I wish the drama has lessened this romance and kept the drama at 30 episode-long.

Another weird thing I like about this drama is how sweaty and normal the athletes look. We don't have girls in full make-up trying to exercise. The girls really look like they're training hard and exhausted every day. My favorite character in this drama is Coach Zhuang, played by Pu Miao. She's such a good actress, esp. among all these young actors. She was tough as nails when coaching and screaming at the girls, but on the other hand, she was so vulnerable and hesitant when she saw her son.

I would recommend "To Fly With You" to those who enjoy a cute and fluffy sports drama.

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Easy Watch, Good chemistry and Cool FL

Completed - 1/16/2022 - Subjective 8.5; Objective 7.5-8.0

From a personal enjoyment level, I am rating this a 8.5 (upgrading from my initial 8.0), but objectively, it's probably a 7.5-8.0. I might just be in the mood for a light, short, simple drama and my gut tells me that I really enjoyed it.

The drama itself is quite predictable and nothing really surprises me. It's refreshing to see a female lead in a Japanese drama that is independent and strong at work. She's a pro badass and won't be talked down too. She seems perfect from the outside, but actually quite innocent and insecure when it comes to love. On the other end, we have a male lead who seems cool on the outside (quite typical) but indeed is just as vulnerable. I do want him to be a little more vocal and took the initiative sooner. I like the scenes when they leads are together and they have good chemistry.

Takada Kaho (FL) is so pretty in this drama. I really like her acting and she has big expressive eyes. I also love her all her outfits. I don't find Toshuka Sota (ML) to be handsome, but I do think he fits in the personality of the lead. On the contrary, Izuka Kenta (2ML) is dreamy and sexy. He looks his age (35) and totally not the young college student in the "Pornographer".

For a drama about de-flowering and rated R, the sexual content is quite mild. There a couple somewhat intimate scenes, but nothing too explicit. The intimate scenes were done right and very romantic. I actually wanted a few passionate kisses but didn't get that.

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Not a comedy but an emotional healing drama

When I first read the synopsis and watched the trailer, I thought this would be a romantic comedy. Well, I was wrong. This is actually a very emotional healing drama of the journey our ML has to go through to get out of his funk and to heal his trauma, low self-esteem and anxiety. It's very un-Korean to have a drama about erectile dysfunction and have a proud transvestite/transgendered character, but I am loving it.

Our male lead, Yoon Shi Yoon was amazing in the drama. He portrays his character so well, from a low-self esteem traumatized "loser", to someone who found himself and grew into a better version of himself. I cried with him but also fall in love with his adorable, shy self. This is my first Yoon Shi Yoon drama and I'm glad I found out about him. He's not your typical good-looking actor, but he has his charms and the drama is right, he has great body proportion (nice broad shoulder and muscular torso..LOL). On another note, who doesn't love Jennifer! He/She is the best friend that anyone could ask for. Is there a reason why cool characters have "Jennifer" as an English name? I also love Jennifer in "Thirty but Seventeen". Yoon Shi Yoon and Jennifer are the reason why I bumped my rating to a 8.0 instead of a 7.5.

What I dislike the most in this drama are all the medical professionals. They are all unethical and unprofessional. It really makes it difficult for me to suspend belief and just roll with it for the sake of the drama. I don't think our FL deserves our ML. She did redeem herself a little in the last episode, but overall, this is so unrealistic to have ML continue treatment with FL after finding out the real reason for her assistance.

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Low budget production with an interesting plot + steam punk, but poor execution

10/3/2021

In order to write this review, I need to remind myself that I just watched a low budget 2016 drama in late 2021. C-dramas have evolved and changed a lot in 5 years, and certain things I didn't like were popular and acceptable back then. If this is a 2021 drama, I might be a harsher critic. Aside from Zhang Ruo Yun (ML) and Gabriela Guan (FL) who are child/teen actors and have more experienced, the rest of the cast is pretty young and new. I've seen ZRY in "Joy of Life" and Gabriela in "A Girl Like Me", so it's interesting to see how far they have come.

What I Like:

1. General Plot - I like the overarching plot of this drama. It's very interested to watch a fantasy drama with steam punk elements. At first I thought it would be a more traditional wuxia drama, but is pleasantly surprised.

2. Zhang Ruo Yun/Feng Tian Yi (ML) - ZRY carries the drama on his back and runs with it. His acting is the best out of everyone, even the more veteran actors. His character is more multi-dimensional than others, thus, giving him the chance to show off his acting chops. I miss him when he's not on my screen.

What I Don't Like:

1. Tropes - This drama has the usual C-drama tropes: jealous 2FL and 2ML who won't take no for an answer, love turns to hate, good 2ML turns evil, noble idiocy, misunderstanding and miscommunication over and over again. I think I dislike the most is the misunderstanding trope. Our FL appears to be smart enough in the beginning of the show, but towards the end, she believes what the villainous 2FL said instead of ML (again and again).

2. Low budget shows - I think money is spent on the costumes for just our leads. ML and FL and have the nicest clothes, though you can see that the quality isn't that great either. The costumes for others and the set designs all look very cheap. The palaces don't look grand and the decorations/sets look somewhat cheap. Even though I wasn't expecting fancy fight scenes, the ones that are in the drama (not that many) are not done well. I personally dislike slow-motion fighting. The CGI is obviously very 2016 as well.

3. Inconsistent and illogical incidents - One scene FL hurt her ankle, another scene she ran off. People can go in and out of palaces at will and unannounced. ML hiding something so important under a table (?!?!) that could be stolen very easily. There are many more examples of inconsistent and illogical writing.

4. Ending theme song - What is up with the ending theme song? The upbeat song from those 3 teen boys feel so out of place and totally not giving out the same vibe as the drama or the beautiful opening theme song.

Other:
*spoiler* Endings - I am usually someone who seeks out dramas with happy endings. Once in a while, I would watch a tragic drama. Coming into this drama, I knew there are two versions of the ending and I've watched both of them. Personally, I am fine with the first, sadder ending. I think sometimes it makes sense and it is a tragic beauty. It reminds me of the other drama "Rattan" where it also has two endings. I think most fans preferred the second, happier ending, esp. when the leads have gone through so much and never really had any happy times.

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Fight scenes continue to impress

8/22/2021

The fight scenes in Kenshin movies never fail to impress me. They are fast and exciting, compared to the Chinese irritating slow-motion fight scenes that I dislike so much (esp. in wuxia dramas). The fight choreography is amazing. This movie has more group fighting than 1:1 fights. I personally enjoy the previous movies 1:1 fights and this movie only has one in the final half hour of the movie. The fight scene background music continues to bring excitement to the scenes and if you have watched previous movies, you are no stranger to that amazing musical score.

Unfortunately, I don't think the plot of this movie is as amazing as the previous movies. I feel that they really don't need a "final" movie to the existing trilogy. As much as I love the Rurouni Kenshin movies and Satoh Takeru, this feels like an independent movie to gather most of the previous characters together. There are two characters from the previous movie that are brought back, but it didn't really provide much information or background story to their roles in this movie.

This 2-hour movie goes by fast. I enjoy how Kenshin's former love story was told, without too many words but you get all the feelings. There's a lot of quietness to slow down the exciting fight scenes and let you really feel the emotions of the story. Then the pace picks back up with fight scenes and explosions.

I still enjoy this movie but I don't think it's as good as the last couple ones.

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Suspend reality and enjoy a roller coaster ride of emotions

8/2/2021

First of all, one needs to get over the 977-year age gap. If you have a problem with a thousand-year guy/fox dating a 22-year woman, this is not the drama for you. Well, at least our female lead is not a high school student (aka Goblin).

I enjoy the general plot of the drama, though there are some plot holes. Others might have problems with the age gap or the professor/student relationship. These don't bother me much but I understand why others are OK with it. I am fine with the professor/student relationship since they started their relationship before this happened and it's the reason how ML can see FL everyday. I also like that the story didn't end when the bead is given back to ML or when they got back together. I enjoy the relationship development, how they maintain their relationship, and going through extraordinary struggles. I do feel that there are some plot lines that were dropped or forgotten. What happened to the discovery that the evil spirit transform into ML to kill people? I thought the police was going to investigate and ask ML questions? I guess once the evil spirit is disintegrated, we can forget about that plot. I also don't understand the double-standard of how ML and 2FL's requirements to turn human. Does the mountain spirit just make up his own rules and it's not standard practice for all gumiho? I also would like to learn more about 2FL's background story of her failed romances and how she achieved humanity. There are parts that are a little slow and I felt that there's not enough material for 16 hour-long episodes. Maybe 12 episodes would be enough.

Romance takes center page in this drama. I love ML's smiles and FL's personality. FL's role here is very similar to her role in "Reply 1988". It's great to see a FL who is straightforward, honest about her feelings, communicates (for the most part) and loyal to her friends. I am also a fan of ML and enjoyed his role in "Search WWW" , "Come and Hug Me", and "My Mister". I do find his acting here a little weaker than this other dramas that I watched. I don't feel that his eyes are conveying enough emotions, but when he smiles shyly, it brightens the screen and melts my heart. Our third wheel could probably cause some second-lead syndrome. But I do find his persistent confession and chasing after FL a little too much and clingy. He's cute though :) The secondary romance is cute and fun. The secondary leads are both a little clumsy in their own ways and they make quite a lovable pair.

This drama is a lot funnier than I thought it would be. There are many comedic moments by our female lead (FL)and the supporting cast. It's no doubt that the funniest is our fox-turned-human second female lead (2FL). She is so lovable and clueless and sexy that you can't help but love her. Our 2FL and 2ML are an odd pairing but it worked.

I love the friendships between the two gumihos and FL's friendship with her besties. ML and 2FL form a funny pair with their banter, yet deep down they care of each other. They are both old yet childish in their petty little ways. I also love the friendship between FL and her male BFF. It's great to see a pure platonic friendship that is full of laughter and tears. I do find FL's female BFF a little hard to tolerate at times, as she's very loud and her comedy is very in-your-face.

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7/23/2021

I was glad to see an MDL article recommending this drama. This is a heartwarming drama about pursuing your dreams and growing as a person and in relationship. It was a very pleasant surprise to see so many cooking scenes and beautiful food shots. I've watched ML in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru" creating beautiful Japanese sweets and now seeing him making delicious Spanish food. I wonder if he likes to cook in person.

The general plot is nothing unique or new. It's been done many times about communal living and the pursuit of your dreams. In J-Drama fashion, this short 10-episode drama is jam packed with all the goodies that hook you in and get you excited from the first episode. You want to follow the romance and the journey of the main leads and you really don't know their final decision until the very last episode. The pacing of the drama is good, and there aren't any unnecessary episodes. Just don't expect dramatic plot twists.

ML's character is very different from his character in "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru" and he played it well. At first glance, it appears that he's a goofy and sunny guy, who takes everything lightly in his carefree way of life. But as you watch the show, you noticed he's a very complicated and multi-layered character. I enjoy his character development the most, to see how he slowly becomes himself again and pursuing his dreams. FL's character is interesting due to her being an influencer. The portrayal seems pretty realistic, as to how obsessive we are with our phones and Instagram posting. ML and FL are very different in personalities and values in life. But because of how different they are, they complement each other and encourage each other. At first glance, we are worried that ML won't change and FL has to be the one to accept and change for ML. At one point, I wish FL would just be less forgiving. But that's how they complement each other, as without FL's persistence and generosity, their relationship won't work. Though there are minor misunderstandings, they are always able to openly discussed the issue a day or so later, and resolve everything. Their romance is mature. I don't mind the love triangle as much, as their love is strong enough to endure some minor bumps and bruises.

I enjoyed the acting of our leads very much. The bickering was sweet and funny, and the emotional scenes make me cry with them. The supporting cast also did an admirable job. There isn't any annoying character that I want to hate. I even like the 2ML as the third wheel and feel for him. The secondary romance is OK. I enjoyed this more "natural" acting than most of the over-the-top cutesy acting in some J-Dramas. And the dog is the surprise MVP!

Additionally, FL has great great fashion sense and an enviable wardrobe. Aside from beautiful food shots and cooking scenes, there are some really pretty cinematographic shots when they went camping and fishing.

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A Lakorn First.... a BL Second...also NOT the next "I Feel You Linger in the Air"

Let’s start my review with a couple quick comparisons. I am still searching for the next “I Feel You Linger in the Air” that hits me with the same feelings. I LOVE that drama!

How is “Love in the Moonlight” compared to:

1) I Feel You Linger in the Air (IFYLITA) - Unfortunately, “Love in the Moonlight” is not that drama I was searching for. It has a very different feel from IFYLITA. To me, IFYLITA is the most romantic and sensual Thai BL out there. I LOVE that romance so much. “Love in the Moonlight” feels more like a lakorn with a gay couple as the main romance.

2) To Sir, With Love (TSWL) - Yes, “Love in the Moonlight” feels more like TSWL. It has a central family theme with conflicts, in-fighting and a gay romance. TSWL has a frustrating mother, LITM has a frustrating father. They both feel very lakornish. If you like TSWL, you will probably like LITM. LITM has a stronger romance with more skinship and kisses than TSWL.

3) Memoirs of Rati (MOR) - MOR is just a fluffy sweet romance. “Love in the Moonlight” is more well-rounded and has stories that do not necessarily circle around the main romance. MOR is a period rom-com, but LINTM is a period drama.

Now, how is “Love in the Moonlight” as a drama itself? I don’t love it as much as IFYLITA but it’s a decent watch. It’s a decent watch if you like lakorn with a side of BL.


Plot/Pacing
Luckily, the drama is only 12 episodes long (even though the last episode is 1 hour and 40 minutes), it’s definitely a lot shorter than a traditional lakorn. The pacing is not bad, but it can definitely speed up a little, especially the last episode. The drama focuses on Prince Saenkaew’s family needing to relocate to Thailand due to political changes in his native country. In order not to give up all his family’s royal fortunes to the new government, his father has a deal made with another royal family in Bangkok, in the form of a contract marriage. Although the plot is not really filled with unexpected twists and turns, I do think the premise is interesting enough. Of course, our little Prince is gay, and a contract marriage is not going to make him happy, especially when he eventually falls in love with his fiance’s cousin! There are quite a few plot holes throughout the drama. I have a similar complaint about the leads in IFYLITA where the PDA in forbidden romance is SO publicly displayed! No wonder the secret can’t be kept because these guys can’t keep their business in the safety of a room with locked doors. But there won’t be a drama if the secret is so well hidden. I love the initial episodes when the friendship between the leads is developed. They really do look like a happy trio. I read that some viewers are angry with Pin (FL) for not letting the little prince go. I feel differently because she was betrayed by the two people who she loves the most. The shock, hurt and disappointment can’t be easily resolved. I think if you are just a regular BL fan watching “Love in the Moonlight”, you might not like this drama. The family conflict, the mean adults, and some of the ‘evil’ things they do to the people they supposedly love could be incomprehensible. But if you are a lakorn watcher, you’ve seen way worse in other dramas, e.g. I think the mother in “To Sir, With Love” is worse than ML’s father here.

Acting
I really like the acting of everyone. There is no exaggerated acting. I was not sure if I would like Peak as a ML because I don’t personally find him attractive. LOL😜 But his acting is good and his struggles and crying are believable (might cry a little too much in the last quarter of the drama). Pearl as Sasin is charismatic, and definitely fits the role of a popular playboy. Gorgeous Perth is so well-casted as the sweet and kind Pin. Surrounding the young main trio is a cast of veterans. If you have watched non-BLs and lakorns before, you would have seen these amazing veterans before. I have no complaint in the acting department here.

Romance
I enjoyed the romance for the most part, and I think romance lovers would be satisfied as well. You know it’s going to be fun when a disciplined and proper little prince falls into the arms of a charismatic playboy, right? Yes, we have quite a few of these cliche moments when they fall and are caught. The chemistry between Peak and Pearl is great right from the very beginning. Us romance lovers would die for someone like Sasin (so handsome!) to gaze into our eyes longingly. Both of them are green flags and it’s very easy to root for them. There’s enough skinship and good kisses, longing looks, love letters, secret meetings and hugging to satisfy the romance lover in me. We get to see the muscular torsos of our leads, but the intimate scenes are not explicit. Once they both realized their feelings and confessed, their romance moved quite quickly. I guess my one main criticism of this romance is that it all happens so fast in the second half. From a first real kiss to a first intimate scene, all happens at lightning speed. I also miss the sassy playboy in the earlier episodes. Sasin falls too fast and too hard, and he becomes this lovesick puppy dog in the latter half. I’ve always disliked MLs who fall in love and then forget who they were before. As for the love triangle, it’s to be expected. As I mentioned earlier, I am totally fine with Pin’s reaction.

Production
The whole drama has a very 60s feel to it, even down to the songs being sung by the band. I am not in love with the OST and feel that most songs sound about the same. The drama is not pretty with beautiful cinematography, but it also doesn’t look cheap. The costumes look nice enough. Pearth (aka Pin) and Suzana (aka Songsawat) look beautiful in their dresses, well they are gorgeous to begin with. All in all, everything is quite average.


I would only recommend “Love in the Moonlight” if you are familiar with lakorns and don't mind the dramatic family conflicts. Half of the cast is unlikable.🤣 The romance is pretty good but if you just want to watch a BL, this might not be the right one. Although I don’t love the drama, I had a decent time watching it. I will continue my search and wish for the next "I Feel You Linger in the Air".


Other Random Observations/Thoughts:
1. People really need to lock their doors and stop leaving important things lying around.
2. Pearl looks like a giant next to Peak. He is taller, has a bigger face, wider shoulders, bigger chest, and bigger hands.
3. Suzana Renaud and Perth are gorgeous! Thai women are beautiful and no wonder they do so well in Miss Universe contests. LOL 😍
4. I’ve seen Grandma in a few dramas now. She always talks so slow and I am slightly annoyed with her voice. *oops*
5. That uncle and his wife are so dumb and clumsy. They provide subtle comic relief.
6. I wonder if this is not a gay romance but another forbidden love (Prince and slave), will the drama be just the same?


Completed: 11/2/2025 Review #639

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Adorkable yet clumsy couple finding their bearings as a new married couple.

“A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You” aka “Nami Uraraka ni, Meoto Biyori” is a sweet and cute Japanese period drama about a young married couple. This is a great stress relief drama with a fun opening theme song (I like the piano version, too), and complemented with a beautiful soundtrack of background music that matches the historical setting very well.

Our young couple are both innocent and naive, adorable yet clumsy, straightforward and honest. Their initial awkward and careful interaction was fun to watch. It’s really an enjoyable journey to see how they grow to care for each other despite tough times. What’s unique about this drama is that it’s not just about a young couple, but a Navy couple. It’s already hard to marry someone you don’t know, but adding to that is the extended time being away from each other because ML is in the Navy. You never know when he’s called away, and if he ever lived to come back home. Despite this black cloud of war looming above their heads, our leads make the best of the time they have together.

I am a sucker for awkward yet adorable characters, and in “A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You”, we have two adorkable leads. I had a lot of fun witnessing their growth, shy yet honest expression of feelings, even though the plot is nothing exciting but of their everyday lives. There are many memorable and heartwarming scenes as they navigate and find their bearings in a new relationship. They are supported by a lovely cast who are fun and caring.

The secondary couple is totally different. They are more experienced and worldly, mature and independent. I enjoy their bickering and outsmarting each other. I would have loved to see them a little more, but they have just enough screentime to make me fall in love with them.

If I have to pick on this drama, I would like FL’s over-the-top expression to tone it down a little. I am fully aware that this is very subjective and since this is an adaptation from a manga, actors often exaggerate. I do think that there are times when Yoshine Kyoko’s facial expression appears fake and disgenuine. But for the most part, she has great chemistry with Honda Kyoya. But given the historical setting, Yoshine Kyoko looks a little too mature to pass for a young and innocent girl, especially when Honda Kyoya has a more youthful look. Another minor complaint I have is I can’t tell which house they are in. One scene they could be at the parents’ house and then the next they are at the lead's own home. The living room looks very similar and there’s no mention of where they are.

I have to say, Honda Kyoya and Koseki Yuta both look very handsome in this drama, so much better looking than in the previous dramas I’ve seen. Honda Kyoya looks great in his white uniform yet in more casual wear, he looks adorable and clueless at the same time. The beautiful Yamamoto Maiko who exuberates classiness and cuteness.

“A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You” is a lovely historical slice-of-life drama. I wish there were more Japanese period dramas like this in a beautiful small town setting. It’s just a simple drama about two lovely characters living their everyday life.


Completed: 7/9/2025 Review #601

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The last 15 episodes put me to sleep....so...slow....

Subjective Gut Rating; 7.75

How should I rate and review this drama when I kept on falling asleep in the last 15 episodes? It wasn’t all The Blossoming Love’s fault. I was tired from work and sleep-deprived from staying up late watching this drama (what a catch 22!). However, it is rare that I would fall asleep watching the same drama 3 nights in a row. And that says something about the second half of The Blossoming Love.

Let’s start with the negative. Despite finding it interesting that the story of the origin from 10,000 years ago is great, the execution puts me to sleep. There are so many dialogs, and some are quite slow. After an exciting first half, the second half drags on and on. It shouldn’t take so many episodes to tell us what happened 10,000 years ago. It also shouldn’t take that long for the present-day timeline to spring into action. For a xianxia drama with power leads and fighters, there’s just too much talking and not enough action.

Other areas I don’t like would be the makeup and some acting performances. Everyone is white as snow and some with uneven makeup. I was hoping for better acting performance for everyone, but what I got was average - from the main leads to the supporting cast. Wang Duo is definitely a scene stealer but even I got a little bored of him in the second half when the pace is slow. Sun Zhen Ni is probably the stand-out for me. I am not sure if the actors are dubbed, I really dislike FL’s voice. It’s too young for such a badass woman. But if it’s her real voice, then I’ll accept it.

There are still areas I like about this drama. Visually, everyone looks great. Despite ugly makeup, the costume department wins! Beautiful and elaborate hairstyles, clothing with layers, patterns, beads, and other accessories to make the costumes amazing for both the male and female main leads.

I actually also really like the first half of the drama. Initially, I did think that the plot of the different sects vying for the ‘throne’ and the demon villain is somewhat common in xianxia dramas. However, the pacing is great. The introduction of the characters, how they met and developed their friendships and romances are nicely written. It was really a very easy binge and the leads are likable and attractive in their own ways. The chemistry of the leads is decent. Who doesn’t like an outgoing, sassy and kickass female lead or the 2ML who is mysterious and a little cunning, yet falls for the FL. I also really like how us viewers found out about the older brother that FL cares about deeply. It all makes sense and it’s a creative way to show us that.

There’s so much to like in the first half. That’s why it was so disappointing when the drama cannot hold my attention in the second half. Unfortunately, from a very subjective point of view, I can’t rate this drama higher than a 7.75 (and not a solid 8).


Completed: 1/31/2025 - Review #538

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Excellent Friends-to-Lovers transition with a slow burn romance that's worth the wait in the end.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“You Are My Lover Friend” is one of the few dramas that did the friends-to-lovers trope right. The transition is awkward, uncertain and slower than others I’ve seen. This gives a more realistic approach to this romance. Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are perfect in their roles, and they have such great chemistry as friends and as lovers. On another note, I am a little surprised that business takes up quite a bit of screen time. I was expecting it to be more like “The Love You Give Me”. Some might find the plot draggy due to the slow romance and the business talk.


What I Like:

1. Friends-to-Lovers Transition/Main Romance
Instead of jumping from realizing one’s feelings -> a minute of uncertainty -> confession -> being lovers, “You Are My Lover Friend” took a more natural and slower approach. The realization of feelings took a while for both characters. Of course, there’s the more traditional approach of uncertainty, worrying that 13 years of friendship will go to waste if the romantic relationship doesn’t work out. This drama has those worries as well, but additionally, there’s the uncertainty after the confession, which is not quite an outward confession. Everything is so murky, as it should be. Did they really agree to be together, or not? Are they looking for the same kind of relationship, or not? From beginning to the end, it takes the leads a long time to finally be together. I think this slow burn romance is worth the wait. Once they are together, they are cute and fluffy, yet mature and supportive. They understand each other so well that they don’t need to say a word, the other will know something is not right. They communicate, they support unconditionally and they trust in their partners to not interfere with their work and decisions. They are the perfect dynamic duo in a relationship.

2. Friendship + Flashbacks
I love how the flashbacks are used in the epilogues. They don’t disrupt the flow of the present-day time but show us exactly how great these 4 friends were in high school. The flashbacks also correspond with what happened in the episode. Dramas like these usually show flashbacks over and over again, which could be annoying and repetitive. Instead, I look forward to them at the end of each episode. It’s actually quite lovely to see the main focus of their friendship is in the present-day timeline, and how they continue to be the best of friends. You can see how Jiang Shi Yan and Feng Wei Ran’s tight bond extends to their business partnerships. They might have different points of view, but when a company decision is made by Jiang Shi Yan, Feng Wei Ran does not question and just trusts his decision. Tang Yang and Jiang Yan An have the more typical sisterhood going on, though not as much of a focus than the friendship of the 4 of them.

3. Cheng Hui + Sheng Ni Na (2nd romance)
They are so cute together! I’m a big fan of Cheng Hui and it’s great to see him in this quirky role, a different kind of quirkiness than his role in “Will Love in Spring”. I love that he’s a man of few words and is blunt and sarcastic. It’s a nice contrast to Sheng Ni Na, whose profession as an actress shows that she’s more well-rounded and socially capable. I am actually very happy to see her not depicted as a spoiled actress, but a sensible and mature one. I love how Cheng Hui and Sheng Ni Na grow close together from a few initial pleasantries, to a few words, and quick texts, to cooking and bonding over food and stars. I wanted to see more of them together, but also thought this is just enough for me to be interested and intrigued by their story. OK, I take that back, I want a little bit more of them!

3. Tang Yang (FL)
Tang Yan is an example of how an independent, strong, mature woman can act without being mean and bossy. Tang Yang shows that she’s competent without being petty. She does not need to be saved by a man, and can stand on her own and fight with grace at work. She is righteous and will stand up for those who are mistreated.

4. Jiang Shi Yan (ML)
What a perfect boyfriend and a total green flag, who is not boring! I’ve seen enough boring green flags and he’s perfect yet interesting. Even in the first episode, there’s no way you can’t tell he’s in love with Tang Yang by how considerate and thoughtful he is. He always puts Yang Yang in the first place and does all he can so that he can be with her, without compromising his work. It is possible to have a male lead fall head over heels without losing his cool and losing himself. I also like his jealous pettiness.

5. Zhou Mo
There’s something about the character Zhou Mo, played by Wu Hao Chen, that I find very interesting and mysterious. He’s painted in a bad light, but I always thought there’s more to him than meets the eye. It’s not that I find Wu Hao Chen handsome, but there’s something about how he portrays this character that mesmerizes me, especially the fake smile and mask he put on.

6. Original Soundtrack
There are only a few songs in the OST and I like all of them. I am also glad the music is not overplayed and each song is played at the right time in the right mood. I couldn’t locate the songs on Spotify, if you find them, let me know!


What I Have Mixed Feelings:

1. Slow Burn romance
I think the drama could have been better if it was only about 24 episodes. The romance does take a long time to happen. It could have sped things up in the first 10 episodes, and started the transition a few episodes earlier. Luckily, the recognizing/questioning of feelings happens in the earlier episodes, otherwise, this will feel even more slow burn. There are also way too many near-kisses. Such a tease when you know both Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are great kissers!

2.Business Plot
I wasn’t anticipating such a focus on the business. The lack of suspense and excitement makes the business side of things less interesting. There aren’t enough ups and downs to keep me interested throughout the whole drama. Coupled with a slower romance build up, 30 episodes seem too long for this drama. I also wanted to see the bad guys taken down in a more humiliating fashion. It’s not epic enough!

3. Jiang Yan An + Reng Wei Ran
Their married life is really fun to watch. This couple brings in a different kind of chaotic energy that is very hilarious in small doses. Unfortunately, their marriage problem came in like a whirlwind from the left field. That was not a fun side plot to watch and I wish the time was spent on the other couples, or cut to make the drama shorter.


Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. There are many likable characters (including the two fun moms!), good all around acting and chemistry between all characters. If you don’t mind a business plot and a slow burn romance, this is a good watch. Although I want the villains to end painfully, the drama does tie up the romances nicely with a fun wedding and dance to end on a positive note. My gut didn’t tell me to give this a 9+ rating, but because I like the friends-to-lovers trope and transition so much, I’m giving this a 0.25 bump to 8.75.


Completed: 10/13/2024 - Review #498

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Excellent acting & chemistry but a little long and not always exciting.

Wang Yi Bo probably attracted many viewers to “War of Faith”. Serious Chinese Republican era dramas are usually not very popular. However, I wish viewers who came for Wang Yi Bo would stay for the rest of the amazing cast members. I cannot stop praising how good the acting is in this drama.

I watch this because of Wang Yang and Li Qin, and they are both AMAZING. It’s not a surprise that Wang Yang is excellent, as he’s a veteran who excels in any role he plays. I love him in “The Rebel” where he gave a similar vibe and acting performance as in “War of Faith”. I even watched the business rom-com “Stand or Fall” for him and Qin Lan. He’s charismatic, sexy and has screen presence. He’s the MVP of this drama.

On the other hand, Li Qin surprises me the most. I’ve seen her in many other dramas, but not the serious ones such as “The Youth Memories”. But I am a fan. I even watched’ Thousand Years for You” for Li Qin. Her acting performance exceeds my expectations. She plays a strong, underground Communist sniper/assassin. Then she turned around and became an elegant high society lady. There are quite a few emotional scenes where she had to control her emotions and others where she had to let it all out.

Wang Yang and Li Qin’s sibling relationship is the best relationship in the whole drama. They play off each other so well. They care and support each other, they bicker and joke. But in the second half of the drama, when things get serious and dangerous, they have a few very, very emotional scenes. It was hard to see them both wanting what’s best for China and its people, but have such different beliefs and ways of achieving that.

Another standout performance for me is from Zhang Tian Yang. I’ve seen many of his dramas but they are never memorable enough for me to remember him. I was reminded that he’s the emperor from “A Journey to Love” and that’s such a different role than the one in “War of Faith”. But what a great performance here as well, and he suddenly is in a role where he’s hot and sexy. LOL.

Of course, we have Wang Yi Bo. He’s also pretty solid in this drama and probably the best I’ve seen him. Though the drama centers around his character’s growth and journey, his performance did not stand out for me. He’s still pretty good, but this drama has such a big cast and everyone is so good that it’s hard to stand out.

The rest of the supporting cast, young and old, novice or veteran, are all amazing. In fact, I feel that I am constantly in awe of everyone’s acting, that I am not really paying attention to the plot as much. This is one of the rare Republican era dramas that focuses so much on the finance world and stock market. The spy stuff seems secondary to the business world. I personally feel that 38 episodes are too long. The drama is unable to hold my attention from start to end. I am more interested in individual characters and their relationships, more so than the bigger plot.

I also would not recommend you watching this if you are looking for romance. There are two established couples in the drama. This is not a romantic drama, but I do have to say the limited screen time that these two couples have, they are amazing. They are mature, supportive and they survive through tough times. These women are tough as nails and they are their men’s biggest supporters.

Here are some other areas I enjoy. I love the actors using their own voices and the live recording. The live recording really enhances the viewing pleasure in emotional scenes. There’s no rom-com skin smoothing or white filter. You see the natural looks, flaws and all. All the characters are intelligent. They do not make dumb decisions that are out of character, and you applaud them trying to outsmart each other. The villains are not cartoonish, they just have different interests and beliefs. You also do not hear the OST blasting songs at weird times. In fact, there’s an episode where I did not notice any music until the ending theme starts to play. This drama is full of meaningful conversations and dialogs, and you do need to pay attention to truly understand each character’s motives.

I would recommend this drama for its excellent acting and great production. Your enjoyment level probably depends on whether you are a fan of this genre and finance talks. It is also to be expected that there’s a lot of ‘propaganda’, but to me, it’s just telling China’s history and the rise of Communism. I think the drama is too long and the plot doesn’t keep me on the edge of my seat enough. Overall, it is a great drama and truly a War of Faith and Beliefs.



Completed: 4/21/2024 - Review #430

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Sweet, Fluffy, No-stress watch

Completed 12/31/2021

Normally, I would not pick this drama to watch. However, I want to end 2021 on a sweet and stress-free note. Therefore, I intentionally choose "Sparkle Love" because I know it's going to be cute and sweet and fluffy. The premise seems interesting enough.

I would recommend this drama to those who like:
1. Super sweet and cute romance
2. Cliches - slow motion glances, accidental kisses, accidental hugs, accidental falling into someone
3. Pikachu!
4. Hot guys with nice bodies with a decent number of topless scenes
5. Decent amount of decent kisses
6. Male chases Female romances

Most of the characters in this drama are pretty likable. There isn't anyone annoying or frustrating. The acting is not bad either. I've seen Zhang Ling He (ML) previously in "Maiden Holmes" and "Love Crossed" and also Ling Mei Shi (FL) in "Love by Hypnotic". I would say their acting are on par to those previous roles. They are cute together and I root for their little romance. If you like kisses, these two leads do kiss quite a bit in this drama, before and after they get together. However, having seen their previous dramas, I am slightly disappointed in the kisses. I know they can do better than that! LOL.

For a quick 24-episode drama, the pacing is not bad. If you cut away the intro and ending themes, each episode is only about 30 mins long. It's a easy binge-watch to kill time. I would say most plot lines are pretty predictable. There are multiple couples/romances in the drama, and I don't think there's enough time to spend on each to make them great. I also question the fashion choices of our female lead. She's the one that dresses the worst out of everyone.

Overall, if you want something a simple, cute, and sweet, and doesn't mind cliches and a predictable plot...then go for it! Sometimes, we all need to watch one of these dramas to make us feel good and loved.

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