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Beautiful and Heartbreaking Love Story
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75If this is a regular BL love story, the focus would be on the budding romance of an extroverted and popular guy falling in love with a reclusive and quiet loner. The whole drama would be of how they fall in love, the push-and-pull and then many fluffy scenes of them together at the end.
But this is a Japanese BL and we know the Japanese are famous for having unique and interesting (sometimes weird) plots. “Eien no Kinou” aka “Eternal Yesterday” is one of them. When I heard about the story of a living corpse, I wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted. I was so glad I am finally in the right mood to watch this.
“Eternal Yesterday” was told from the perspective of male lead Micchan’s monologues. Flashbacks are used to tell us how Micchan and Koichi met and fell in love. Koichi’s accident was introduced in the first episode and it’s not hard to guess how the story is going to end. Despite that, when I got to the final episode, all the emotions hit me hard.
Koichi is a lovely character and it’s very easy to like him when he was first introduced. Micchan, on the other hand, as the quiet one, took me a tiny bit longer. But I’ve come to love his character through his experiences, inner monologues and the emotions he felt for Koichi. The acting for both leads is great. I can feel their initial attraction for each other and unspoken spokens and heartaches throughout the drama. Both actors, Komiyo Rio and Inoue Sora, are easy on the eyes, so that doesn’t hurt.
I’ve always loved the use of silence in Japanese dramas without manipulating the audience’s emotions with music and songs. The quietness invites the actors to really express themselves through their acting. This is so evident during the quiet and intimate moments in the last episode. Since this is not a cute and fluffy drama, but more of a melodrama, the pacing is slower and some viewers might not like it. Because the drama is so short (8 eps at 20 mins each), the slower pace did not bother me.
My only criticism of the drama is the subplot of the teachers. It felt a little out-of-place and only serves the purpose of that one scene in the classroom with the biology teacher. I wish their story was a little more fleshed out and not out-of-the-blue.
“Eternal Yesterday” is a miracle that provides Micchan and Koichi time to prepare themselves, treasure their time and properly grieve. Each moment spent together is a gift and I’ve enjoyed this heartbreaking journey with them very much. In the last scene, I truly wish Micchan can find another number one in his life. The ending theme in the last episode feels like the ‘alternate’ happy ending that I want for them.
Completed: 7/22/2023 - Review #334
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Simple Slice-of-Life Drama with Romance as a focus - Not much happens
“Once Upon a Small Town” is a very light, slice-of life drama set in a rural setting. I can’t help but compare it to “Summer Strike”. Both dramas have the main lead moving from Seoul to a rural village for different reasons, needing to learn to integrate into their new communities and along the way meeting someone they like.Not much really goes on in “Once Upon a Small Town”. If you are into a simple drama with a romance-centric plot, then this is for you. Similar to many stories about small town living, you can’t get away from having loud and nosy villagers as the supporting cast. Even though the villagers don’t really show up too much in the drama, when they do, they are really boisterous and annoying. “Summer Strike” does not have this problem, but it has a different plot that disrupts the quiet rural life. If you want a stronger romance plot, then “Once Upon a Small Town” is better than “Summer Strike”. “Summer Strike’s” romance has a more mature and quiet feel to it. The romance in this drama is more slow-burn, innocent and sweet. It’s also cuter and fluffier when the leads finally get together.
The acting is decent and the chemistry is OK. It’s interesting to have a story about a vet but unfortunately, it doesn’t go into detail about the profession. I would have loved to see more animal cases and how he treats the animals. This is not a medical drama, like “Forest”, so the focus is mainly on the two main leads.
I have an easy time watching it. I will only recommend this if you are really looking for a simple slice-of-life drama. Do not expect plot twists or anything unpredictable.
Completed: 7/7/2023 - Review #329
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This review may contain spoilers
Zhou Ye/Yan Hui (FL) is the best part of the drama
**ending spoilers only towards the end of review**For some reason, I thought the production value of “Back From The Brink” would be higher or similar to that of “Starry Love”. Because of this expectation, I was a little disappointed and distracted from a few things that prevented me from fully immersing myself into the story and enjoying it. This is not a bad drama at all, but an average one instead of a good one.
Acting -
The best part about this drama is our female lead, Yan Hui (played by Zhou Ye). I’ve only seen Zhou Ye in one other drama, the very popular “Word of Honor” where she made quite an impression on a lot of people. I am glad to see her taking the lead in this, as her acting is the best of the bunch, even more than some of the veterans. Yan Hui is a very likable character to play. She is fun, intelligent, has a good head on her shoulders and won’t take crap from others. She might have started off as someone young and inexperienced, but she was in no way naive or a damsel in distress. It has been a great watch to follow her journey of growth to become a mature, independent, courageous warrior. It’s not hard to find another story about a female lead’s growth, but it’s hard to find one like Yan Hui who is not naive and innocent or acts like a child to begin with. I enjoy her character development and growth much more than our Dragon King Tian Yao.
The only other actor I would shower praise on the acting is Yang Rong, playing the character of Su Ying. Yang Rong is a veteran actress and I’ve seen her in other roles (“Marvelous Women” and “Song of Youth”). I enjoyed her portrayal of the love-obsessed Su Ying. I just wish her character is not such a stereotypical second female lead - one who goes crazy because she’s obsessive in love. Nevertheless, Yang Rong is a talented and versatile actress.
However, the acting for the rest of the cast is just average. I was hoping Neo Hou would be better than a pretty face. I can’t say I enjoy his acting here. He is a little better than when he was in “A Girl Like Me” but nowhere close to the fun and young teenager in “When We Were Young”. He looks good though, even with long white hair. Riley Wang is fine but not excellent. His character, Bao Xiao Sheng, is a fun one to play but the hairstyle distracted me. The rest of the supporting cast is OK and no one really exceeds expectations. It also seems like aside from Neo Hou, Zhou Ye, Yang Rong, Riley Wang, and Chen Xin Yu, most of the supporting characters are not very well-known or are quite new to the industry.
Plot/Pacing -
The pacing for the first 20-25 episodes is great. A lot happens as viewers get to know the characters, learn about the backstory of the betrayal, and the challenges our main leads face. There are also many funny moments, some more subtle than others. I did have a great time laughing along. But then, the pacing slows down in the next 10 episodes, and doesn’t pick up until the last 5 episodes. The general plot itself is not difficult to understand and follows a similar pattern of other dramas of the same genre. I would not say everything is predictable or unpredictable, but I was pretty engaged in the first half of the drama. There are a few questionable plot holes here and there, but nothing major.
Romance -
Neo Hou and Zhou Ye have decent chemistry. I like that there’s no love at first sight, and the feelings really didn’t blossom until they started their journey together. And maybe that’s why, we’re not getting sizzling hot romantic energy from them. Of course, it would also be due to the actors inability to portray such love. Tian Yao and Yan Hui are quite similar when it comes to love. Their love is steady, honest and never wavers. They support and love each other unconditionally and it’s hard not to root for them in the end. I do have mixed feelings regarding the ending (will talk more later). Riley Wang/Bai Xiao Sheng has to be one of the best third wheel out there. He’s so likable that you can’t hate him, even if you are not a fan of love triangles. Romance is easy to watch, but it also lacks a certain “spark”.
Production Value -
As I said earlier, I am not impressed with a lot of the production quality in “Back From The Brink”. I am disappointed that none of the actors/actresses uses their own voice (not even in post production). The dubbing is off and horrible at times. You would hear the voices but the lips are not moving (and I am not talking about internal monologues). The visual effects and CGI are only average at best. The fight scenes are OK as well. At least the costume department does a decent job. Well, Zhou Ye and Neo Hou are good-looking, so they look good in anything they wear. I also like the OST and you can't go wrong with songs from Zhou Shen and Liu Yu Ning (I can't find the songs on Spotify though 😞 ). The sets and some of the props look fake and flimsy. If Tian Yao’s sword is not lit with the fire visual effect, you should see how fake it looks. Having said all that, I am someone who is bothered by these production qualities as they affect my viewing pleasure. If you are not like me, you might enjoy this drama a lot more than I do.
Ending Spoilers -
I know as C-drama fans we are frustrated with sad and ambiguous endings. However, “Back From The Brink” seems to want to please fans by force-feeding us a happy ending. After searching for many years, Tian Yao finally found Yan Hui. But I am not sure if Yan Hui still retains her memories. If she does, why didn’t she go looking for Tian Yao and her friends? If she lost her memories, isn’t a kiss in the end considered big time sexual harassment? OK, maybe I should shut down my brain and just enjoy a happy ending.
Overall, this is a decent watch. If you are a fan of the actors and actresses, then it’s worth a watch. If you are not and you are just looking for a good fantasy wuxia drama, I think there are better ones out there. Because I really like Zhou Ye and her character Yan Hui, I’m giving this drama no less than an 8.0 rating.
Completed: 6/30/2023 - Review #323
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A well-rounded Family-focused story with murder mystery and time-traveling as the backdrop
Watching “My Perfect Stranger” was an impulsive decision as I needed something different that could be interesting. Upon seeing good reviews, I figured I’ll give it a shot. Mystery, crime investigation and time-traveling are usually NOT my go-to genres, so I am coming in as a casual novice. Romance is my jam. My review is very subjective and might differ from more experienced watchers of these genres.I am happy to report that I had a very lovely time watching this drama. With the backdrop of time-traveling and crime solving, “My Perfect Stranger” actually has a strong focus on family - discovering, forgiving, healing, reuniting and reconciling. The pace of the drama is consistent and I can’t help but click on the next episode and binge this in less than 3 days.
Our leads were introduced to us as two individuals coming from sad, broken family backgrounds. Through their adventures in 1987, they were able to learn more about their families' pasts and came head-to-head with people that have a negative impact on their present-day lives.
Yoon Hae Joon (ML) and Bae Yoon Young (FL) are both intelligent and kind individuals. They met as strangers but their individual secrets collided and had to work together to solve the murder mystery and save their families. Both leads are very likable characters and it’s easy to root for them. Actually, most of the characters are lovely. The annoying ‘villains’ are not that bad.
There are many heartwarming moments between Yoon Young (FL) and her mother Lee Soon Ae in 1987. It’s nice to see their blossoming friendship. Yoon Young also has quite an interesting and fun dynamic with her 1987 father. The drama does bring out different emotions in me - happy, sad, and touching. However, compared to other dramas I’ve watched, the emotional ups and downs are only on an average level. Maybe that’s why I didn’t give this a 9.0 rating. Just missing that strong emotional impact for me personally.
The suspense of the murderer is done quite well. At least from my very novice mind, I had a hard time guessing who the real murderer was. It really comes down to the wire by the process of elimination in a way (and I still couldn't guess it right). Smarter and more experienced viewers probably could guess it sooner. There are minor plot holes that I think are hard to avoid when you are telling a story about time-traveling. But I don’t think there’s anything too jarring.
There is slight romance for the romance junkies like me. I would say the romance is just enough for this type of drama - a side plot that’s quite predictable. It’s nice, but nothing special. I actually find the romantic chemistry between the leads quite inconsistent. I am not sure if it’s because Kim Dong Wook looks more mature than Jin Ki Joo (and her playing a fake high school student might contribute to my impression of her as well). But in real life, they only have a 5-year age gap. I am not feeling much romantic vibes from Kim Dong Wook. The pair seems more like siblings or good friends. I do enjoy some of the quiet moments they have together, and some fun banter. I like the love confession and think it’s a very lovely way of expressing one’s feelings in the grand scheme of things. It’s just something is missing in the romance department.
However, I did think the acting for both leads is great. I am particularly impressed with Jin Ki Joo. The last drama I saw of hers was “The Secret Life of My Secretary” and I liked her in that as well. She has picked a variety of different roles in her career. She has great sad scenes but also shines in the fun ones, especially with her 1987 father. Kim Dong Wook is a veteran and his acting meets my expectations (sans romantic vibes). The supporting cast also did a pretty good job.
Overall, I recommend this drama to everyone, especially casual crime/mystery watchers like myself. It has a little bit of everything and is a well-rounded drama. But if you want something more intense and nerve-wrecking, then this might not be a good choice.
Completed: 6/25/2023 - Review #321
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Excellent chemistry and pacing - A lovely romance that stirs up many emotions within me.
I seem to have seen quite a few dramas lately with sign language - Chinese, Japanese, Thai and now Filipino. Most of the stories have a very similar plot. We will see the romance of two individuals, one is usually deaf and the other hearing. We follow the story of how they meet, fall in love, face life's cruel challenges, and how they can or cannot overcome these challenges. "Isa Pa with Feelings" pretty much follows this storyline as well.The reason for my high rating is not necessary the plot per se, but the sum of many good parts. The two leads are lovely and easy on the eyes. The acting is good and they have excellent chemistry together. ML looks so smitten from the first scene he was introduced. I also like that they both have a cheery personality, thus their falling in love story is adorable with many heart-fluttering moments. That's why it becomes so heartbreaking when they are faced with life's challenges. The contrast between the beginning & middle of the movie and the end brings up so many emotions within me. The pacing of this movie is excellent as well. The movie is able to tell the story of the two leads (background and falling in love) in many great montages and flashbacks. I never felt like it's rushing or trying to jam pack many things into a movie. It has a start, a middle and an end, and closing out with a beautiful dance.
If you are in the mood for something cute and heart-fluttering with great music and dancing, I strongly recommend this movie. This is what I need at the moment when I am somewhat in a drama slump. The 9.0 rating is very subjective as it reflects how I feel during and after completing this movie.
Completed: 6/19/2023 - Review # 320
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The acting is decent and the drama for the most part is simple and easy to follow. Her regrets are predictable and not mind-blowing. So if you are looking for a light drama with a few heartwarming storylines, this is a good choice.
I’m glad our FL is not the overly, innocent type. There isn’t anyone annoying in this drama. I do find the chemistry between FL and the grim reaper much more interesting than her love interest. There’s something in the grim reaper’s eyes that I thought would have a different backstory, but I was wrong. Speaking of eyes, there’s a kid in this drama that has the weirdest expressions. He has this serious look with angry eyes, when he’s not supposed to be angry. It’s weird and cute in a way.
Completed: 6/19/2023 - Review #319
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Simple, Cute and Easy Watch - Don't expect anything out of the ordinary
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75I stumbled across this drama as I was browsing around for something romantic and light. This is the perfect stress reliever. The plot is simple, no stress, no angst, no miscommunication or misunderstanding. In a way, you can say it's too simple with no surprises. But if you are in the mood for something mindless this is a good watch.
I like the female lead and the acting is not bad. She's optimistic, hardworking, active and sensible. An easy person to root for. I thought there might be some more work troubles, but just like the rest of the plot, nothing really crazy happened. I enjoy the siblings relationship and find 2ML to be very adorable. The siblings have pretty good chemistry.
The male lead, on the other hand, it's quite bland. He is a man of few words but the writing makes him into a boring doctor, with hints of pettiness. He's OK and the romance with FL is OK as well. I was hoping for more after the confession but the drama seems to run out of time to tell their happily-ever-after. The secondary romance is more interesting to me.
There are a couple cute songs, but at times they are too loud and overshadow the lines being spoken by the actors. I also think one of the 'cute' songs played quite too often. As this is a lower budget drama, the dubbing could be better.
Overall, it's a simple and easy binge. It's what I need at the moment andI would recommend it if you have nothing better to watch. 7.75-8.0 because I had a good time, but 7.5 if I am being realistic and critical.
Completed: 4/27/2023 - Review #302
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Set the right expectations to enjoy an overload of Cuteness (maybe a small dose of cringe)
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25For someone like me who is a little older (not necessarily wiser LOL), I need to be in a certain mood to watch “My School President”. It’s pretty obvious the target audience is a lot younger than me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it. I just need to know what to expect and be in the right mood.
Current situation: (when all the ducks are in a row for success):
* I need something light and easy to watch
* I want something fluffy and a lot of romance
* I know this is a high school drama targeting a younger audience
* I expect a lot of comedy and I am OK with Thai comedy - similar to understanding Japanese unique humor to watch dramas adapted from manga and anime
* I expect to see a lot of product placements
Now that the stage is set for me, I can sit back, enjoy and appreciate this highly rated teen drama.
What I Like:
1. Gun aka Fourth - He is so adorable and he knows it. I want to pinch his cheeks and give him a big hug. He’s the star of the show. He made me want to check out “Moonlight Chicken”.
2. Fourth is also the best actor in the whole series among the young kids.
3. Gun and Tinn have good chemistry and are cute together.
4. I like how Tinn supported Gun throughout the drama, despite wanting to be in a relationship right away. He held back, and did what’s best for Gun. I am a sucker for someone who does a lot behind the scenes for their loved one.
5. What a rare sight to have supportive parents. The two mothers love and support their son differently but always have their best interest at heart. Tinn’s dad is hilarious and is an unknowing (or knowing) wingman. I wanted more of him.
6. I love the quiet conversations that Gun and Tinn have throughout the dramas. These moments are so intimate and bring them closer to each other. They seem so mature when some of the more serious topics are shared during these moments.
7. I like most of the funny and supposedly seductive moments (80% of the time).
8. Tiwson is the best wingman out there.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Aside from Gun/Fourth, I find all the other young actors acting to be below average to average.
2. The songs are a mixed bag - there are a few that I really like but a few don’t seem to be catchy enough for me. Best voices to me - Gunn’s mother and Por/Ford. I do appreciate the actors singing the songs themselves.
3. Yak (music club senior) is annoying and has too much screen time for my taste.
4. I guess the music club no boyfriend rule only means no openly announcing to everyone, but secretly dating is ok?
5. Although I appreciate the lack of homophobia among students, it’s still sad that we couldn’t get away from adults having this problem.
6. The side couples and side characters storylines could have been better.
7. I can’t help but still cringe at some of Tinn’s cheesy flirty lines. It’s a little too much and over-the-top when he’s coming on so strong.
Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. It’s so different from the chaste/clean high school C-dramas. The flirting in this drama is at a whole different level. Either you find it funny or you find it too cringey. But through all these comedic moments, there are serious topics explored. I recommend you have the appropriate expectations before watching this. Otherwise, it might not be an enjoyable ride.
Completed: 4/25/2023 - Review #301
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So happy to see Leo Wu act like his age again...
“Nothing But You” has a pretty good balance of romance, sports and business. I really like watching both badminton and tennis, and learning about the training and experiences of these professionals. Compared to many sports romance dramas, it should be noted that the business side of things do take up quite a lot of the drama time. If you are just looking for romance and don’t like business, you might be bored. I personally enjoy the balance of it all.I think the best thing about this drama is casting Leo Wu and Zhou Yu Tong as the main leads. I am so happy to see Leo Wu in a modern drama again after “Cross Fire” (amazing drama I strongly recommend) and in a role where he can act his age. As much as I love seeing him as a tough prince or general in “The Long Ballad” and “Love Like the Galaxy”, it’s nice to see him act as a 22 year-old. It’s refreshing and he’s so adorable.
I was initially concerned about the age gap, since noona romance is not my favorite. The male and female leads reminded me of the leads in “The Rational Life”, but better and more compatible. Even though Song San Chuan (ML) is only 22 years old, he’s gone through enough in life to be quite mature. I also appreciate his character to not be always portrayed as the forever mature and act-older-than-his-age character either. I love that he can still act young and sweet, and Leo Wu is the perfect Song San Chuan. On the other hand, Zhou Yu Tong played the more mature Liang You An very well, too. Professionally, she’s experienced and mature, but when it comes to love, she can still act like a little girl. Even with a 10-year drama age gap between the lead characters, they make a very compatible match as both can be mature and childish at the same time. Leo Wu and Zhou Yu Tong have great chemistry. It did take a while for them to be officially together, though there’s enough sweetness and affection throughout the drama. Viewers' patience is rewarded with many cute and sweet scenes between the leads once they are together as a couple. I can’t help but smile whenever they are both on the screen acting cute.
I really like how Song San Chuan and Lian You An support each other professionally and personally. They have honest and open communication. You won’t find misunderstanding or miscommunication. They are not afraid to verbally express their affection for each other, while also showing their love through actions. Towards the end of the drama, San Chuan supported You An through a difficult time when a family member was sick. I already like San Chuan, but what he did here put him in my “Ideal Man” custom list. In fact, all the characters in this drama are super supportive of each other. There really isn’t any annoying, irritating and selfish supporting character that I hate. I might find FL’s sister a little annoying in the beginning, and wasn’t that interested in her romance, but she got better throughout the drama. I love the bromance between the 4 Top Smash players, the sismance between FL and her best friend, and especially the stepfather/stepson dynamic.
The pacing of the drama is good and there’s enough happening to keep me engaged and focused. It’s evident that Leo Wu and other actors put in a lot of hard work in the preparation of their roles as professional athletes. I greatly appreciate their dedication, and their muscles and abs. LOL The badminton and tennis playing scenes look pretty realistic.
If I have to criticize this drama, I would say I am a little disappointed in the injury subplot. I know it’s hard to not show any injuries in a sports drama, but still, it was quite predictable. I also felt that the pain issue was resolved rather quickly and then all of a sudden the player is back at the top of their game, and we’re informed by a few quick news articles. Maybe some scenes are edited out? I would have liked to know more about the other two male players, rich boy Chen Zhe and high schooler Dai Yi. I also wanted a little more romance between FL’s best friend and the coach (maybe a little less time on the secondary couple). Towards the last ¼ of the drama, the dubbing got worse. I appreciate the actors using their own voices, but the post production got sloppy and the lips don’t match the words. Censorship again?
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. I like both Leo Wu and Zhou Yu Tong, and love their chemistry and playfulness. I enjoy the equal screen time of romance, sports, and business and find the acting to be pretty good overall.
Completed: 4/15/2023
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An addictive but frustrating train wreck I can't look away.
This is usually not the type of drama I would watch, but I saw it on Viki and clicked “play” out of the blue. I would describe this as a frustrating train wreck of the lack of communication. A train wreck I can’t seem to stop watching. It’s addictive and definitely a guilty pleasure.Infidelity seems to be a common topic that J-dramas love to explore. Another thing I find happens more in Japanese dramas than other Asian dramas, is the use of different perspectives when storytelling. “Liar” gives us the inner thoughts and monologues of both leads, and not just from the female lead’s perspective. I’ve seen this in “Rinko Wants to Try” (for an episode) and also in “My Beautiful Man/Utsukushii Kare”.
Despite knowing the male lead’s perspectives, it’s still frustrating to watch him not communicate his feelings to FL. FL has been pretty open but ML just stays in his own little bubble and is unaware of others around him. In a way, these frustrating moments, push-and-pull, angsty miscommunication is why this drama is addictive as well.
Acting is solid and the pacing is fast (maybe too fast). My main criticism of the plot is the lack of foundation of love between the leads. I think they got together too fast, and I don’t know why they fell in love with each other in the first place. Without this foundation, it makes it hard for me to believe their deep affection can last for so long. I also have mixed feelings about the last couple episodes with the family drama. Is it necessary? Should the drama have ended sooner?
I wouldn’t call this an excellent drama, but I thoroughly enjoy it and as I say, I got suck into it and can’t seem to look away. This is a short drama if you are in the mood for it.
Viki has the spin-off episodes mixed in with the regular drama. It might be better to just focus on Ichi and Narita’s story first, and then watch the spin-off with a focus on Deno’s story.
Completed: 3/18/2023
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This review may contain spoilers
Did not meet expectations; Conflicted about some decisions made.
“Work Later, Drink Now” Season 1 was fun, unique and a surprising hit. But unfortunately, I did not enjoy Season 2 as much. I have many conflicting feelings about the plot and the reasons behind certain actions and decisions made. The three main ladies are still fun and crazy, and the three actresses did an amazing job. I think as a trio, they really click and give us a very fun sismance. The sisterhood is genuine and real, and makes you want to have friends like them. The drinking never stops and it seems to have a lot more product placements to support their drinking habits.However, I feel that the season started off on a weird note. Spending the initial episodes in the mountain feels a little disconnected. Of course, there are many hilarious moments, e.g. training at the arcade in preparation for life in the wilderness, the big statue with an eye-catching body part, the companionship of using the restrooms together, etc.. However the message of trying to survive cancer by delaying possible treatments, and trusting in nature to heal you, is not something I feel comfortable with. Of course, this has a lot to do with my personal beliefs and upbringing, but that also dampens my love for the show. Additionally, sending a text message to your boss/partner and just disappearing into the mountain is so unprofessional. Also, no damage control or consequences after disappearing for 2 years? Where do you find an employer like that?
There are a few other storylines that I don’t agree with. Friendship is great, but an alcoholic mother who abandons her child and neglects the child’s most basic needs, requires more than just caring and supportive friends. There’s no talk of getting professional help. The fallout between the friends towards the end of the drama also seems uncharacteristic. It’s hard to believe Ji Gu never confronted Ji Yeon’s actions all these years, when she’s just a straight talker. Maybe Ji Gu never cared for those guys, or maybe her self-esteem is just too low to even think that Ji Yeon is in the wrong. The women never properly talked to resolve the issue.
Season 2 also focuses more on the family history and dynamics of the four main characters. It’s great to see that and to get to know each character on a deeper level. Some stories are better than others. I find the storyline between yoga Director Kim and her brother somewhat boring. But I do enjoy the ones about So Hee and her mother, and her mother with Buk Gu.
I was really looking forward to the romance between Ji Gu and Mr. Nice Paper. Unfortunately, not a lot of time was devoted to it and I was disappointed. It could have been so much sweeter and cuter, but it wasn’t. So Hee and Buk Gu keep on going around in circles. They are fun together and have great chemistry, but their romance wasn’t done right either.
Overall, I personally did not enjoy this season as much. It’s not bad, but it just did not live up to my expectations. I actually got really annoyed with Ji Yeon started mid-drama. Her craziness and high-pitched loud voice/scream start to irritate me. I don’t remember feeling this way in season 1. Maybe she has more screen time in Season 2?
Completed: 3/14/2023
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Untraditional Sagaek with a lot of fun and comedic moments
“The Forbidden Marriage” is a light-hearted drama with many comedic moments. Don’t expect this to be a traditional sageuk, otherwise you might be very disappointed or pissed off. But if you are looking for something fun without too much angst, then this is a great stress-reliever. I would say the drama is about 70% fun, 15% politics and 15% serious plot.The humor is not over-the-top per se, but could be very untraditional. I enjoy the quick references to “Goblin”, “Hotel Del Luna” and “Sky Castle”. I don’t think I’ve seen a historical K-drama with so much adult humor on sex and erotica. There is interesting background music and sound bites to complement the funny storytelling. I like the supporting characters - Chief Eunuch, Court Lady Won and Royal Secretary - who are the most unusual individuals to be giving out dating advice.
The romance is developed nicely between the main leads. I would have liked to see a few more cute and fluffy moments after they got together though. The kisses are meh, but I appreciate Kim Young Dae’s abs very much. He’s also very adorable. The second male lead is the typical nice guy/bodyguard/officer, who is also the best friend of the emperor/prince. It is interesting the way the second male lead said he’s not going to confess, is basically confessing without saying the actual words of “I like you”.
The acting is solid and the production quality is not bad. I don’t remember the last time I watched a K-drama where the female lead does not have perfect, glowing skin. FL is a swindler and a beggar, so it would make sense that she doesn’t look perfect. I also like how ML has dark circles and red eyes during his depressed state.
12 episodes is the perfect length. The pacing is good and everything flows well. I do think there’s too much focus on the “Solo” folks towards the second half of the drama. I am really not interested in their movement, or even the side romance of the common folks. The political and mystery parts are OK. I have to say that assassin has the lowest success rate I’ve seen.
“The Forbidden Marriage” is not perfect and might not have the best writing. But it creates a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. It’s great if this is what you are looking for. But don’t expect a serious plot about palace politics or forbidden love.
Completed: 2/14/2023
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Good general plot and leads chemistry but poor editing
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75I quite like this more mature plot in a BL drama. Our leads both have a hidden identity yet they couldn't help falling in love with each other while being suck in between two gangs' rivalry.
The leads have good chemistry and their acting is pretty good for a low budget, web drama. Both actors have gone on to more mainstream dramas but this is one of their first earlier projects. Considering they were not very experienced then, I am quite happy with their acting. It's also nice to see a Korean BL with decent kisses and skin ship. Since the drama is so short, the romance develops rather quickly and their one big conflict is resolved very quickly as well. It also has one of the funniest first make out session I've seen in a drama.
Unfortunately, the drama consists of 5 very short episodes and the editing comes off as disjointed. If this is a movie, the editing might be a little better. However, even scenes within the same episode are weird and the transitions are not well done. Additionally, I am still a little confused about the gang rivalry. Aren't they fighting for a club? Why did the bald guy suddenly remove himself at the end when he wanted to kill the Flying Dagger? On a positive not, there are a few really good fight scenes, better than some I've seen in a regular TV production.
The relationship between the Flying Dagger and his father is quite tragic. It's unfortunate that an abused kid was fostered by such a predator. A few of these scenes could be triggering for some. But in contrast, viewers are comforted by the warmth of Gi Tae's sister.
Completed: 2/4/2023
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Short, fun and SEXY - A different kind of K-drama (that I welcome)
A Korean drama about finding the mysterious G-spot, sexual satisfaction, masturbation, sexual partners/friends with benefits is hard to come by. Many enjoy K-dramas because they are ‘clean’ compared to Western television. However, what if such a drama is needed for the local Korean audience? It’s not like Korean movies are chaste anyway. So, if the above-mentioned topics make you feel uncomfortable, please do not watch this drama. This is definitely not for you. Please check the tags.But if you enjoy these more ‘mature’ topics being shown and talked about openly without judgment via stories of our two female leads and their podcast, then this is a fun drama. But this drama is so much more than just sex. It’s about knowing who you are, what you want and how to get that. It’s also a story about healing, hidden in between all the sex talk.
And yes, there’s plenty of sexual content especially when you first hit the “play” button in Episode 1. So be careful where and who you are watching this with. Some scenes are shot more beautifully than others. I don't think the sex scenes are excessive (but you might), but there’s enough to make you wonder if you are watching a K-drama. However, I most appreciate the frank and open communication about these sexual topics. Most of the characters are non-judgmental, and they bring up interesting facts and opinions.
I like the development of the main romance between Son Hee Jae (FL) and writer In Chan (ML). Within 8 short episodes, I can see how they start from strangers to being more than that. Actress Ahn Hee Yeon played an adorable lead and I don’t find her annoying at all. Actor Park Sun Ho, though handsome and I love his smiles, could seem a little emotionless at times.
The romance between Lee Mi Na (FL) and Doctor Woo Jae (ML) is a little too fast and furious for me. They are a very good-looking pair and they do have great chemistry. I would have loved to see more of their interaction before everything wraps up in episode 7.
The sismance is great. I love their open and uncensored conversations, and their little trip to a specialty store. It’s not often that we have long scenes at these specialty stores in any Asian drama.
This is a fun short watch for me. It’s not a perfect drama, but it’s perfect for me at this moment. It hits just the right spot. 🙂 If you like this, you might also like the Japanese teen drama “17.3 About a Sex”, which is a lot cleaner and very PG-13.
Completed: 1/14/2023
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A good mix of Romance, Fantasy and Crime Investigation
“Love in Time” is Chinese adaptation of the Taiwanese drama “Meet Me @ 1006”, which I also watched. But it’s been a while and I don’t quite remember the details. “Love in Time” has a good mix of romance, fantasy and crime investigation. I think romance might be stronger and has a larger plot than “Meet Me @ 1006” (but I might be wrong).Storytelling using multiple timelines could be confusing but I think “Love in Time” did a pretty good job. It shows clearly on the screen whether it’s in 2021 or 2022 and it actually isn’t hard to tell apart even without the words on screen. If you are really picky about consistency and things always make sense in different timelines, then I am not sure if this drama will satisfy you. What happened to the jealousy of the co-workers? How about paying at the convenience store when you’re not from the same timeline?
I think the strength of the drama is giving the three genres (romance, fantasy, crime investigation) equal time and integrating these elements well throughout the drama. However, even though the drama is only 24 episodes long, there are moments that I felt like the story is not moving fast enough. Technically, there are two big “events” that the main characters want to change, and I feel certain smaller events are repetitive and could have sped up the pacing.
I enjoy the acting by the two main leads, especially Yang Xu Wen as the male lead. He basically plays two characters and you can tell just by looking at him which timeline he’s in. He looks so handsome in this drama in nice tailored suits (better looking than in his period dramas). I enjoyed his acting here a lot more than “Strange Tales in Tang Dynasty”. The female lead, Julia Xiang, did an admirable job as well. I really like her character in the first half of the drama. She’s adorable and smart, and has a strong sense of justice. I also want to see more of her challenges as a newbie reporter. But towards the second half of the drama, she cries too much and I miss her brighter personality.
Unfortunately, I do not think the acting of the supporting cast shines as bright as the leads. Wang Men Li (as actress Wu Ji Rong) and Xu Kai Xin (as reporter Mu Shi Ming) are especially disappointing and bland. I had high hopes for Dai Gao Zheng after seeing his sexy acting (aka abs) in the popular web drama “Maid’s Revenge”. Unfortunately his role as Jiang Sheng Hao will not be his breakout role. He was OK, but he didn't stand out. I also think the script for the supporting cast is not doing the actors any favors. There’s barely any character development and the supporting cast only serves to move the plot along. This show is made for the male and female leads. Anyone else is an afterthought without depth.
As a romance junkie, I am satisfied with how the romance develops between the leads, in both timelines. I really do feel like the romance takes center stage in this drama. There are fun enemies-to-lovers bantering, cute and sweet scenes, a couple kisses and some really good, genuine hugs. I am glad that the male lead doesn’t turn dumb and useless after falling in love. He’s still smart and still level-headed. He really does have character development and has become a better person at the end of the drama. The second half of the drama becomes a little more melodramatic (because of the plot). I still think the female lead cries too much and I wish there are more heartwarming and sweet scenes here and there to balance out the melodrama.
I am satisfied with the ending of the drama. I was worried it’s going to be a cliche ending where someone would wake up from a coma or recover lost memories. Since this is a fantasy drama, I can’t use the word ‘realistic’ to describe it. But I would say it’s reasonable and not abrupt. There’s time between the end of a certain important event for the lead to recover, adjust and slowly come to terms to how they feel and to finally move on.
Other Random Observations:
1. I’m glad the actors are using their own voice. But I wish there’s more live recording and less post-production voice over. The quality of the dubbing isn’t great.
2. like Yang Xu Wen even more after this drama. But for some reason he is giving me a playboy vibe, which is weird because his character is definitely not a playboy.
3. My notes reminded me that I criticized the FL in the Taiwanese version for not showing enough of her judo. I think FL here does a little more MMA, butI still not enough. I want to see her beat up some bad dudes.
4. The apartment here is really big and nice. The Taiwanese apartment has a little more character and fun, definitely not as swanky especially for a down-on-his-luck lawyer.
Completed: 12/25/2022
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