" I'll like you alot from here on, I'll be good to you for real..." Moon Chae Won
IN SHORT:It's an amazing humane drama with an incredibly beautiful narrative. The dialogues are so well versed they hit right into the heart! The quiet heartwarming background piano (sometimes violin mixed too) makes the past flashbacks scenes very alluring and majestic. Those first scenes (the flashbacks) are one of my top favorite bits of each episode!
The production was the definition of perfection till the drama's last breath! Kudos to Directors, Screenwriters, Composers and Actors, especially our beloved Moon Chae Won and LEE JOON GI. They did an outstanding job bringing the characters to life, Do Hyun Su's character was an especially hard one to pull, he truly deserves much love!
IN LENGTH:
The story takes it's time to develop the characters in the first few episodes, and the situation quickly escalates! You'll be surprised how much you're invested by the time the tragic strings of events begin!
The plot is about one man who wants to find the meaning of happiness for once, after dress rehearsing tragedy, in his entire life before! And a woman who wants such happiness for the man she is head over heels in love with!
After turning over his life, 18 years later in the present, he is pretty much what a perfect husband is expected to be! Doing too well to say! Everything is about to get ruined by a sudden turn of event that leads to uncovering his past! which seems to be filled up with misfortunes in more than one way!
The drama takes it's time to develop the main characters in present, while hinting about what could have happened in the past without giving too much spoiler early to fuel our adrenaline secretion, then suddenly we are thrown back to the past to only realize what actually is important is not what we were looking forward to the most! It's a whole different disheartening story that takes a creative take on self-inflicted misery, taking blame, and finding a middle ground for one's well being and happiness!
Acting is top notch! Lee Joon Gi as Baek Hee Seong is top notch! He looks totally dependable, manly and more than anything, a lovely dad! Whereas portraying Do Hyun Su couldn't be better executed! He looks so much younger now, and has a gaze that says the world about him, adorable and painfully cool in his yellow hair style!
Moon Chae Won is doing wonder with her acting! She has the kind of shaky, mellow voice that has emotions breathing out while she talks! She is an amazing actress who wonderfully fills the role of a very caring strong woman, Cha Ji Won, seeking happiness above all else for her family! She looks beautiful and mature, it's always great to see her again in a new drama!
I'm just gonna say! the music is just too perfect! From the incredibly suspenseful tracks "Flower of Evil" and "Switched Destiny" to the melo tracks "Upcoming Shadow" "Hard Relationship" to my most favorite track in this album "Cherry Blossom Kiss" which starts weird, mysterious and full of anxiety and emptiness, then it paces up to a sweeter tone then a more joyful and bright tone, which goes perfectly with Do Hyun Soo's character journey within the drama
We also have the feel nostalgic poetic piano track "Someone to Be Remembered" by Jung Se Rin (I noticed he has also composed the unbelievably beautiful track "When Mind Wants to Rest" from Naui Ahjussi)
There are only three songs on the entire album. (One of them "Psycho" by DOKO, being used only as an ending theme for the episodes and it's very catchy and goes well with the epic clifhangers.)
I have to say the remaining two are the most beautiful songs released in a drama this year! They aren't ever overused and it only plays when you really start to crave a song! They have that kinda impact!
"Feel You" by Shin Yong Jae is one of those two songs and it really deserves all the awards! Mark my words! An unexpressed love confession with lyrics beautifully wording out the feelings he has no idea sorting out for himself!
The melody is especially sad yet thrilling and makes our heart skipping beats! You can't tell what it exactly makes you feel, probably to reflect how Hyun Su can't distinguish between his own emotions, even in those moments his heart races like he is in pain!
"In My Heart" by LIM YEON is also a wonderful love poem, describing what Ji Won is feeling towards Hyun Su, and how even if her heart comes crashing down, she will face it, as long as it's love, she will be there, for her love!
I would probably re-watch this drama many times! It's that good. Tho the mystery element will be gone, it still has lots of suspense and drama to enjoy.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and those who enjoy subtle romance plot-lines! A Must Watch Definitely.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Head 2 Head? More Like Living Rent-Free in My Head
This series honestly sneaks up on you. What starts off feeling like sharp banter, rivalry, and chaos slowly turns into something way heavier and endearing. I didn't even realize when it happened- one moment I was entertained, the next I was deeply and emotionally invested. My only complaint is how short the episodes are and the occasional abrupt scene cuts which actually did not bother me as much, because JeromeJinn, they make it completely worth it.Jerome and Jinn are pure chaos in the best way. They started off as rivals who were constantly at each other's throats- insults, glares, nonstop competition but let's be real, that was just them flirting in denial. Every argument, every petty moment, every attempt to one-up the other was just unresolved feelings screaming for attention. Their chemistry is insane. The trailer calls them each other's nightmare, but all I see is them being each other's world. These two walk into a room and the gravity literally shifts. Their entire world just... orbits around each other. Unintentionally, intentionally- doesn't matter. Whether they are racing, arguing, or simply existing in the same space, it's always them against each other and them with each other, basically always them together.
Spoilers Alert!!
What really elevates the story is how it handles the darker elements. The dreams, visions, and accidents don't exist just for shock value, they slowly change the tone of everything. There's this constant sense that something bad is coming, and J's decision to not tell Jinn becomes its own source of tension. I understand why he does it, but watching him carry that weight alone is painful. The fear is quiet, personal, and suffocating, which makes it hit harder than any dramatic twist. Also, I get why some people feel the dreams are repetitive but isn't that the entire point of the series? Every dream sequence builds on the last. They're not just repeating for the sake of it; they're accumulating. Each one adds a new layer, getting heavier, more serious, and disturbingly real.
I have a lot of favorite moments- like a lot, every episode it just adds up. If I had to mention one of my absolute top favorite then one is Jerome's realization. J admitting he never hated Jinn and that he does not want to forget about the diary- oh my god, that whole scene. The way it played out, the atmosphere, the tension, the way they looked at each other, every word he spoke... and especially the vision of the future that followed, where they softly held each other's hand in the air as they looked at each other- that felt like a promise, like something they didn't have to say out loud because it was already written between them and to top it all off, "Not a Crush?" playing in the background blended so perfectly with the moment- it was perfect. My heart genuinely could not handle it. It was raw, it was beautiful, it was them. Every single second of that moment just cemented why I am completely, hopelessly obsessed with this series.
Also, I cannot not mention the hospital scene after Jinn's head injury. It's painfully beautiful. J is drowning in guilt, convinced the accident is his fault, while Jinn sees it as life being unpredictable and refuses to let J carry the weight of fate itself. What breaks me is realizing Jinn’s biggest fear isn't death- it's J slowly destroying himself with guilt. Even the suggestion of breaking up isn't cruelty; it's desperation. And that kiss? Not romantic... pure panic. A wordless don't say that. Then the line, "But if something happens to me one day, I'll believe you did your best."
This... this has my heart. Jinn isn't asking J to stop caring- he's asking him to stop hurting himself. I have so many more favorite moments and scenes that if I start listing them, I might actually fill every single page of that diary- you know the one that was first Jinn’s and now belongs to Jerome >_<
And then there's FarmVan- a whole different flavor of emotional chaos. Van hijacks Farm's space, steals his snacks, takes his bed like it's his own. And Farm, my sweet, soft, painfully in love Farm. He lets him. Every. Single. Time. Their chemistry is explosive and so is the tension between them. Every glance, every touch, every little flirt makes my heart do somersaults. But here's the thing- Van's insecurity is real, and he's constantly sabotaging himself. He tries, at least with Farm but it's never enough to stop him from hurting Farm in the process. And Farm... my sweet, soft, endlessly patient Farm. He loves Van so fully it hurts.
Also, I never could hate Van. He made me furious, but he also made me care, and that balance is hard to pull off. I understood what he was doing and why he was doing it, even when I couldn't agree with his choices. And honestly, that's what makes this series so strong- it's incredibly consistent with its characters. No one suddenly acts a certain way just to push the plot forward. Every messy decision, every bad call, still feels rooted in who they are. Nothing feels out of character, and that's what makes all the emotional beats hit so much harder.
Also, shout out to Mai who has been third wheeling, actually no fifth wheeling so hard I am convinced he deserves financial compensation and also a partner at this point. He has really suffered enough. I adore his friendship with them. And while we're at it, I absolutely love the mums and their friendship too- warm, grounding, and quietly perfect.
And I am in love with the OST, especially "Turns Out It's You". I have had it on loop for months. The lines- "I told myself no, but turns out it's you. I told myself don't, but you are the one." that is literally J and Jinn in TWO LINES. It screams them. In fact the song bleeds them. I don't think this is ever getting out of my playlist. Also, "Secret Crush" is just as good and this is J's POV. And "Not a Crush?" is Jinn's POV. I love all the osts including Friend Next Door and all those unknown background music which I still don't know the names of.
This series might not be perfect, and I am sure it has it's flaws, but for me, it's nothing short of perfect. It has a way of pulling me in and making every moment feel unforgettable. I'm so damn in love with this series. This series made me a fan of SeaKeen and now I am absolutely smitten by them. Highly Recommended!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Women on the ball. Delighting, enraging, inspiring, concerning. Excellent script. High-end KDrama.
"Agency" has it all. Viewership has skyrocketed, as have ratings. "Agency" is the hit. Cool freshness, fashion, speed, one or the other rivalry as well as all categories of human manners, even the lowest, underline the handpicked lifestyle ambience. This all guarantees a lot of fun, seriously...The topic hits the South Korean nerve of the time. The nerve of women in particular, I should add. What may appear to Western eyes as an entertaining office drama with catfights has a completely different explosiveness in the eyes of Asian, especially South Korean viewers: The deeply hidden, rousing topic of the time, which affects everyone, is ´population decline´. The critical nerve bubbling on the surface revolves around ´sexism´ and ´misogyny´. The incumbent President Yoon proclaimed that these topics could be shut into history books, but "Agency" gives him the lie, right on. The KDrama clearly demonstrates how up-to-date it is. More than one South Korean woman in this story, no matter what position – down to the generation of the mothers of those mothers in the series - will find themselves here. And more than one man as well...
It is pleasing to see how razor-sharp and competent the female protagonist proves herself in this man's world. Also pleasantly refreshing side effect here and there: alternative model approaches for female vs. male management styles. And then there is the extravagantly privileged and insolent Jaebeol of the youngest generation who eventually is inspired to break free from her heavy chains of family-clan expectations. Besides their punching power, both lead ladies are palpable, too. Watching the series is a pleasure, even if the topics touched on may also arouse rather different feelings as well... A colorful bouquet of thematically critical, plot-relevant threads is dramaturgically subtly intertwined. In addition to the two female leads, there are also diverting (women´s lib) moving stories about Go Ah-in's employees and colleagues.
Stellar, good-humoured actors. Excellent script. A wonderfully balanced mixture of fun and seriousness, of pace and depth. The coherent details were undeterred on a differentiated, complex overall picture of the current business world. High-end KDrama-'pleasure' – delighting, enraging, inspiring and concerning. And while we are at it, "Agency" is innocently, smilingly, prettily and yet cleverly and valiantly placing a feminism-sting, too.
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SIDE NOTE: --- Misogyny and population decline in South Korean society ---
Without women it won´t do. But South Korean President Yoon has now officially messed with them. There was an enormous wave of protests when he announced that he wanted to abolish the ministry, which had been set up around 20 years ago to support women against sexual assaults and for equal rights, arguing the issue was no longer an issue. Immediately, around 800 organizations formed and stood up. President Yoon, who is promoted and sponsored by a strong conservative, patriarchal current, has blown a hornet's nest. His world – that of macho men – is obviously different from that of contemporary South Korean women.
It is a given fact, that misogyny in South Korea characterizes everyday life throughout all classes. Neither an entrenched, male-dominated business world from the bottom up to the boardrooms, nor professional disadvantage and discrimination of women in the workplace, belong to history yet. In the contrary, recently it has even been fuelled by the election of the current President Yoon. Fortunately, there are opposing movements and criticism. The KDrama "Agency" uses a socially critical magnifying glass here. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go, although a drastic reflection is desperately needed, in order to be redirect economic development towards a positive light.
The current demographic trend is closely linked to the economic and social situation, which is shaped by antiquated patriarchal beliefs. Those old (apparently always happy to be taken off the socio-cultural shelf, dusted off, polished to a high gloss and then put back again) convictions stand in stark contradiction to the high pace of the high-tech modernity of everyday life in South Korea. This tense paradox is already having a negative impact (not just on women's attitudes towards life, but also) on the country´s economy. The official statistics on population development from August 2022 show declining numbers for the first time. Actually, the country's birth rate is the lowest in the world. There is no trend reversal in sight. The population will continue to shrink. And that is already and will even more so affect the economy. The proportion of women in the working population (at 55.1 percent) could certainly be increased. Although South Korean women are very well educated on average, only a little more than half of them actually bring their skills into business life. Among men, on the other hand, 73.7 percent are employed. This is due not least to the misogynist attitude in all areas. The difference in pay between women and men is estimated at 31.1 percent. Nowhere else in the 38 OECD countries is it THAT bad. Added to this is the disadvantage on the career path. Work-life balance is in its infancy, because the motto is: woman to the stove. Executive suites are for men only. Women are rarely seen here. And if so, then often only for ornament or to fill the image of an empty marketing shell (similar to "Agency").
It's high time that the many misogynists among South Korean men (including their president) arrived in the present. In the long run, a trend reversal can only succeed jointly – at eye level.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fun fact: this movie came out on my birthday. But then of course, we had to wait a little to finally be able to see the subtitles. A love story? *reads the plot* Love it. The actors? *checks the cast* Yes, two of my favorite South Korean actors, both such beautiful and talented human beings. The decision has been made - I'm watching this!I have a thing for love stories set in the 90's or the early 00's: how the set design is specifically made to reminisce the flip phones, dvd's, etc. I even noticed how the filming style varied a lot in this movie, from shaky to cinematic and professional. So even the little details stood out to me. Now, the main characters and their relationship seemed to genuine. They had amazing chemistry and character development. People gave this film a lot of backlash because of the sad ending, but I found it quite contemporary. The writers of the story didn't want to sugarcoat anything. This movie depicts how relationships in the real world work: people might have a strong belief in fate and how it brings humans together, but love doesn't last forever. Personally, I was balling my eyes out and had a thought that life is, indeed, so unfair sometimes. I'm still convinced that the main male lead Hwang Woo Yeon had the biggest character development. From a stupid jock to a mature and sweet teacher, we all wish him true happiness and to look back at everything as memories that shaped him. Even the female character Hwan Seung Hee changed from someone unapproachable to a loveable and hard-working woman. In other words, the story is important, but I though that observing the main characters was more fascinating. So if you're still on the hence whether this movie should've ended on a bad note, take your time to rethink if it would've been better with a happy ending.
Overall, this exceeded my expectations. I definitely recommend watching this and myself, I'll go and rewatch this movie sometime in the near future!
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Beautiful cinematography and amazing chemistry
I have liked a bl after a long long time.. BL these days are just not making me interested. its either the acting or the story or the chemistry that lacks. This BL, and i think Japanese BL its itself are really really really good as compared to other countries. they have better acting better direction and mature themes.This is absolutely beautiful. I loved it from the first episode. The characters are flawed but so are we and thats what makes it relatable. Highly recommended if you are bored of shitty thai bl these days.
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"The Palace" is about two friends Chen Xing and Lui Li, who are palace maids, and their relationships with the 13th Prince. This movie is mainly about Friendship, Loyalty, Betrayal and Love. There is also misundertandings and a stealed identity.
One character turns into a mischievous and schemeful woman that betrays those who trust her. I like how they explain the origin of her behaviour - she wanted to have power and freedom in a place and period where she is fated to serve others.
Another character is portrayed as a pure and innocent woman who stays true to her love and friendships. She tends to make sacrifices and resign to her fate. Sometimes I was annoyed about this while other times amazed.
I liked the evolution of the characters and the contrast between them, but I would have liked some mixings. Not black and white characters but grey characters. Even so, I think that the fact that they are black and white makes the story more epic and memorable.
What I loved most was the photography. All scenes were recorded beautifully and each frame is like a photo itself. Great casting and costums.
I think "The Palace" should be more popular. I haven't watched any of the dramas named "The Palace" that are set in the same years so I don't know if the storyline is very similar or not.
I recommend this movie.
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Hidden Pearl
The story is not new, but the execution is great. I've seen a lot of C-dramas. This is not to be missed. ML and FL not only paint wonderfully in ancient costumes, but can also play. This was the first story I saw them in, but it certainly won't be the last. FL is beautiful, smart . ML is persistent, handsome and cunning. The chemistry, the humor, and the visuals are also great. The music with the heartbeat and the insertion into the series is perfect. Even though it's only a miniseries, I would watch the characters for a longer time.Congratulations for the team.
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This review may contain spoilers
It's the best one I've ever watched but what a shame that it doesn't have a season 2 yet .
Like ohh my god I really can't express this , but I can't resist to write , I want to write and express my feelings about this particular series .I swear it's the first series that made me cry like a fool .
I'm so impressed by Stay with Me; it's better than I ever imagined.
I am completely obsessed with Shu Yu and Wu Bi! The way they fell in love, fought, and found their way back to each other was pure perfection. Hands down, this is the best drama I have ever watched!
I know I’m late to the party, but I just finished this drama and I am completely overwhelmed by how deeply attached I’ve become. Wu Bi’s fierce possessiveness and jealousy made my heart skip a beat, while Shu Yu’s adorable teasing perfectly balanced their dynamic. Their love was so profound that they were truly ready to sacrifice everything for one another. The finale proved this beautifully: when the brakes failed, Wu Bi intentionally steered the car to take the brunt of the impact himself, choosing to risk his own life just to shield Shu Yu from harm. I understood Wu Bi’s devotion through every single episode. It’s hard to put into words exactly what I’m feeling right now, but watching this masterpiece was worth every second.
I’m convinced that when Shuyu said 'I love you, Ocean,' he was actually telling Wubi. It’s obvious that Wubi is the reason Shuyu moved on from Ye Wan Wing; he knew his heart belonged to Wubi all along. They were inseparable, and I’ve never seen Shuyu smile like that with anyone else. The way Shuyu changed Wubi’s life is indescribable. They were truly meant for each other, meeting at the perfect time when they needed each other most.
Shuyu finally realized that he is the most important person in Wubi's life—a truth captured perfectly in Wubi's smile. Wubi did everything in his power to protect Shuyu, proving that genuine love has nothing to do with external beauty or gender. Instead, true love is built on the time spent together, mutual care, and a constant, comforting warmth. It is defined by selfless sacrifice, where a single embrace provides complete comfort, and finding joy in fulfilling the other person's wishes is the only reward that matters. ..
I never thought I could fall so deeply in love with a bromance series, but this show completely shattered the thought of mine that bromance can't compete with BL dramas. I am so incredibly grateful to the friend who recommended this masterpiece!
It’s not just a cute show that makes me blush —it resonates with me on a profound level. The scriptwriter, the director, and the lead actors deserve endless praise for bringing this majestic, outstanding project to life. You can truly see the deep meaning and immense effort behind every single frame.
It is deeply frustrating that strict censorship regulations have prevented the production of Stay With Me Season 2. As dedicated fans, we deserve a proper resolution to the story of Su Yu and Wu Bi, especially since the audience is so emotionally invested. It is well-known that the cast is eager to film the sequel, making it highly disappointing that industry roadblocks are holding it back.
While Zhang Jiongmin continues to secure roles in various new dramas, it feels unfair that his partnership with Xu Bin for this series has been completely stalled. Leaving an audience hanging for over three years is incredibly disheartening for a fandom that has supported the show from the very beginning.
I’ve actually cried over this because I am so deeply attached to their story.
What I wrote is way too short to express what it made me feel .
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Put Your Feet in My Shoes
Despite a 7.9 rating here on MDL as of this writing, The Trust is a lovely drama. The idea of body switching is not new, but the execution of it is interesting and very funny. Imagine a distrustful couple, the lord of a city and his wife, switches bodies, and they must continue to perform the roles of the other as if nothing has happened. Putting their own feet into each other's shoes, they finally understand the other's pains, predicaments, and perspectives, and come to empathize with each other.This is a story of political power struggle and harem cat fights, though at a smaller scale but as deadly. Political rivals scheme to bring down the other, and the City Master tries to maintain the balance of power while silently fighting against the onslaught of his own uncle who is ambitious and treacherous.
Xu Yu (Song Yanfei) is the daughter of the most powerful general in the land, guarding the northern border with a formidable army. Growing up in such a household, Xu Yu becomes very adept in sword fighting, horse riding, bow and arrow, but not so good academically. She is a carefree girl and in love with Xiao Jinyun (Zhang Haowei) whom she has grown up with. After marrying him, Xu Yu finds life not what she had expected; she becomes disillusioned and unhappy. Disappointed, she stops caring about all matters in the household, and doesn’t vie for attention from her husband, while others in the harem fight tooth and nail. With such an attitude, her mother-in-law does not like her and she repeatedly gets into trouble, and is always being framed and blamed for everything that she hasn’t done by her husband's concubines.
Having a heavy burden to carry for his city kingdom, a discord court of academic (文官) and military (武官) officials, and a big household to maintain, Xiao Jinyun’s demeanor is serious, uptight and unaffectionate towards his wife and concubines (he has at least 4 of them). This has led to his concubines vying for his attention by backstabbing each other, especially they bully Xu Yu who doesn’t care to fight back. He is suspicious and wary of Xu Yu’s father, General Xu and her two brothers because of the strong military power they wield, more so when fanned by the academic officials like his scheming uncle. On top of that, the military and academic ministers don’t see eye-to-eye on anything and always bicker among themselves over even the most trivial matters. Again and again, the academic sect tries to take down General Xu at every chance they get.
On that fateful day, through some magical force from some meteorite stones and an eclipse of the sun, they exchange bodies; Xiao Jinyun lives in Xu Yu’s body and she in his. Now living in a man’s body, Xu Yu is liberated. She/he goes to the brothel, gets drunk, attends court assembly to fend for her father when he’s being attacked; she even goes to war to help her father in fighting the invaders. To others, their City Master has suddenly changed in character, playful, impulsive, an excellent sword fighter and an archer. To Xiao Jinyun’s surprise, Xu Yu manages her role as the City Master in court very well as her way in handling the disarrayed court officials seems to be effective.
For Xu Yu with Xiao Jinyun inside, her change is just as significant; she becomes mature, responsible, and calm in dealing with everything negative that comes her way. For the first time, Xiao Jinyun realizes how badly Xu Yu has been treated by his own mother and concubines; they criticize, backstab, frame her, and lie about her to him. In General Xu's daughter's body, Xiao Jinyun knows that the Xu family is totally committed to him; their loyalty is second to none, One of the hilarious scenes is when he also experiences her menstruation pains. As Xu Yu, Xiao Jinyun manages to improve Xu Yu’s relationship with his mother and helps her in reclaiming her status as the main wife, gaining respect from everyone.
As they grow to understand and trust each other more, all their misunderstandings resolved. They work together to tackle a series of crises, politically and at home. Their romance is gradual and sweet, from distrust to trust with no doubts.
I have never watched any dramas by Song Yanfei and Zhang Haowei, but I find their acting very natural and convincing here. I love how they each plays both characters, bringing out the contrasting individual characteristics and demeanor. How Zhang Haowei becomes girly and rolls his eyes when he acts as Xu Yu is hilarious, while Song Yanfei as Xiao Jinyun becomes the one that always has a plan, and makes the first move. The scenes are cute and very funny, accentuated by playful background music.
There are at least two BL/bromance couples here. The Xu Youran (Li Junchen)/ Xiao Jinming (Cao Junxiang) pair is amazingly good looking with wonderful chemistry. By the way, watch out for the rabbit Xiao Jinming brought for Xu Youran to care. I presume this is a hint of their relationship. The other pair, Jiang Tang (Feng Mingjing) / Xu Jun (Li Ji), is equally interesting and fun to watch. Too bad they have too few scenes and dialogs together.
My Verdict
This is a very underrated series. It is a lovely story, cute with very funny dialogs. As unserious the tone as it is, the acting and the plot are serious. The script writing, directing, editing, and acting are all brilliantly executed. The court powerplay is not boring as we have great acting here by Zhang Haowei, and the harem cat fights are not infuriating as Song Yanfei’s portrayal is brilliant and very lovable.
I've come to realize that the low viewership (hence rating) is probably due to the poor English subtitles. It is such a pity because this is a wonderful series that deserves to be watched and loved. Strongly recommended.
BRAVO!
Anime link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBakWosU0sfj2hkpghsp3loSDXl6w-P1h
Very good. Recommended!
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Overall, after watching the final episode and not realising it was actually the final episode (changed from listed 75 eps to 74) I have to say I wasn't too happy with the ending but the drama is for sure extremely well made and in my top 5 dramas of all time. If you're looking for a drama with more depth, a little romance and a smart, independent heroine I definitely recommend this one!
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This review may contain spoilers
A Love Story That Isn't for Everyone
I have been wanting to watch this movie since I first watched the trailer and had "No Regrets" by Li Rong Hao on repeat for over a month. I knew this was a movie that would make me cry. I don't think this movie is for everyone, when it's a love story that isn't for everyone; especially people that doesn't like very flawed characters and that not all love will have a happy ending.Zhou Xiao Qi is our male lead that is super rash and emotional throughout the movie, while You Yong Ci (our female lead) was a girl that wanted to simply feel loved and safe in a relationship due to her past family issues. I honestly felt like female lead's character was not fleshed out well compared to the male lead's character, but I think the main focus of the story was on Zhou Xiao Qi. They are both very flawed characters though. The moment Zhou Xiao Qi did the stupid thing that ruined his future, I knew their relationship would fail no matter what. There would always be regrets for him, and then for Yong Ci will forever feel guilty for it. No matter how much they loved each other, it would just not work out.
I think the message that the movie wants to tell us is that just because you love each other, doesn't mean you have to end up together. It gave a realistic view on how when you are young, rash and emotional; you make stupid mistakes and say stupid things that can make or break a relationship. But it's important to look back and cherish the love you had for each other in the past. We should view it as a happy memory; it's better to have loved and been loved, then to not have loved and not been loved Also, it's important to live with the decisions you made and to not have regrets. Keep looking forward, learn from your mistakes and try to become a better person.
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All the usual angst
Manipulation ✔️ Bitchy ex- girlfriend (the worst I have seen in any drama! ) ✔️ Lots of misunderstanding ✔️ Lack of communication✔️ Love triangle✔️And yet somehow, I didn’t skip much and finished all the way through 😂 I did find it quite engaging although the storyline was annoying. There were some nice moments between the main leads, and they did manage to express and communicate their feelings.
Not a great watch. Only if you have nothing better😉.
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A Refreshing and Outstanding Adaptation
"Boys Over Flowers" has been adapted in various versions, but one stands out as the best. This particular adaptation did a fantastic job of changing the story in a great way. Thyme's character was portrayed wonderfully, adding depth and making them different from other versions. Gorya's acting was top-notch, and she really nailed her character. Ren, who connected Gorya and Thyme, was also a favorite.What I liked most was that they changed a plot point from other versions. In this adaptation, the main female lead didn't kiss the second male lead, which often made me angry in other versions. It was a welcome change that kept me engaged. However, I didn't like Thyme's mother. She was like a villain throughout, and it felt one-dimensional.
This adaptation beautifully showcased the strong friendship between Gorya and the other F4 members, something that wasn't as clear in other versions. The drama didn't drag on with too many episodes, which was a relief. It covered the whole story in just 16 episodes, maintaining a good pace. While I would have loved to see a wedding part, I still felt satisfied and overwhelmed by the overall experience.
The unity and loyalty displayed by F4 with their motto of "All for one, one for all" was heartwarming and added an extra layer of enjoyment.
In conclusion, this adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers" brought a refreshing take on the story, with standout character portrayals and strong friendship bonds. While not everything was perfect, it left me feeling satisfied and overwhelmed. If you're a fan of the original story, this adaptation is definitely worth watching.
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Here the heroes individually are insignificant, helpless. Together they can make a difference.
"Falsify" (also "Distorted") tells an exciting story about the business with official truth. I think this works particularly well as the KDrama offers a critical examination of the rather difficult concept of 'truth', which can be bent and manipulated depending on the eye of the viewer. Is the rule of law just a pretty farce? Rather an eloquent backdrop for the mighty who operate in the shadow? Does actually anything like justice exist? What truth are we hearing? Which one do we want to hear? Which preferably not? Is it always so good to bring the truth to light?Regarding the recently common term 'lying media', used as an accusations from all different directions, "Falsify" offers a burning issue. Also a bit of an 'Watergate Affair' in South Korean garb (as the underlying case resembles some real South Korean one). Sophisticated journalism and sensation-hungry tabloids, public prosecutors and lawyers as law enforcement officers, so called respectable (yet cheating) businessmen as well as gangs are all frighteningly close together. Against this background, seldom has sich wide range of positions, attitudes and motivations been thus successfully intertwined and presented close to touch on the basis of individual fates, altogether mixed up in an exciting story. Abysses open up in view of social ideals and their illusions. And yet hope is not lost in the face of (quite deadly) superiority.
This is definitely not a ´Marvel´-like (super)hero story. Here the 'heroes' individually are insignificant, inconspicuous, fallible, and to some extend helpless puppets in a complex mechanism that is controlled by opaque forces. However, together they can make a difference in co-creation - by bundling their potentials, throwing their prejudices overboard, getting involved with each other, learning to trust each other (despite initial contempt), and no longer reflecting on what separates them. The key is a unifying idea that is bigger than each individual (with their physical, emotional or social needs). They want to give this idea shape, body, weight and charisma with all imaginable creative means. This cross-personal idea is what gives them strength (even in the face of massive personal threats) and overcomes fear. Here it is the idea of a democratic constitutional state in which there is justice for ALL; in which ALL are equal before the law; in which every citizen can/must bear responsibility for his/her actions - the price for the freedom of responsible citizens: a minimum consensus of laws, rights and obligations that are binding and binding for everyone.
This idea sounds nicer and more promising than it really is, because it usually stays with the idea that is trampled on behind the scenes. Yet, it is (real) people who fill this (abstract) idea with life. But where there are people, there are also their corruptibility, their greed, their vulnerability to blackmail and their cowardice, as well as the fitting people to unscrupulously exploit such weak points. South Korea's young democracy and long history of corruption and mighty ones operating in the shadow offers a realistic, scandal-ridden environment to process this exciting and at the same time outrageous KDrama - thus offering a wide range of gray tones, emotionally differentiated and authentic.
By following various protagonists from the press and the courts, the story begins with individual threads of action that are at best loosely connected to one another, but which become entangled over the course of the story and together form a strong strand that everyone can pull on together. So a bit of patience is required from the audience, but it pays off! The differently motivated characters come to life in a tangible way, become comprehensible in good and bad and reveal a reality about the business with truth that makes you shudder. We as the audience are ourselves cleverly integrated as part of the story - as representatives of public opinion and thus as perpetrators and victims at the same time.
Wow!
Good job. Ambitous. Thought-provoking.
P.S.:
Also ideally suited for repeated series enjoyment due to the differentiated, complex story.
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The first half of the show is particularly strong, in part due to outstanding performances by Kim Young Chul as Taejong and Choi Myung Gil as his embittered queen. Taejong may be monstrous, but he’s also powerfully human, and the show loses some of its spark when he exits the scene. The second half is weaker, perhaps because the series was cut down from 100 episodes to 86. This causes pacing issues, as some events are rushed through while drawn-out moments of pathos feel unearned due to a lack of dramatic set-up. Subplots get dropped and major characters disappear without acknowledgment or comment. It also means that Sejong comes off as far more serious than perhaps he was, as the show leaves out such “frivolous” elements of his life as his love of music and his passionate relationships with his concubines. In general, the show is more comfortable in the elegiac than the celebratory mode, but its tendency to emphasize loss sometimes deflects attention from just how extraordinary Sejong’s achievements were. It may be difficult to do great things, but there is great joy in such success as well.
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