when i fly towards yearning (for more episodes)
honestly, i only watched this because i saw on tiktok that *that* guy from falling into your smile was the main lead (i didn't know his name prior to this show, only his dimples xD), i didn't have many expectations - mostly, due to the romance (i am aromantic, which, often makes me unable to love romcoms, because it makes me cringe, and remind me of the things i will never be able to feel) but almost immediately, i knew that it wouldn't be the case for this show.this show was extremely cliché, i will say that - and i did encounter second-hand embarrassment every now and then - but not in the 'i want to throw my ipad across the room' instead it was bearable - and even made sense at times. because this is about youth, it's about the first experiences and those aren't always glorious. i loved the awkwardness and the realness of the show, i loved all the characters and the ways they completed each other. normally, i never like both the main and second lead couples an equal amount - i'll ALWAYS favor one of them, and yet, i loved everyone the same in this show.
another thing i loved was that there weren't any unnecessary miscommunications, even when that girl went after zhang lurang, i loved how instead of siding with the "wrong" side (mainly, for unnecessary drama, that can drag the show out) instead he believed in zai, and even played along with her, whenever the other girl tried to make a move. and as they grew they supported each other in every way they could.
thank you for giving us a healthy show, with a healthy relationship that contained beautiful growth. as well, as beautiful character development of kids finding themselves in the midst of this hectic world.
definitely rewatching this later.
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JoongDunk Stole the Spotlight in The Heart Killers
Now that The Heart Killers has ended, I have to admit… I was really only watching for Fadel and Style. Going into this, I already loved both FirstKhao and JoongDunk. FirstKhao has always been one of my absolute favorite pairings, and I’ve enjoyed JoongDunk too, but they weren’t at the top of my list—until now.To be honest, Kant and Bison’s storyline just didn’t pull me in the way I hoped. I still love First and Khao, but their dynamic in this show didn’t hit as hard for me. Meanwhile, JoongDunk completely stole my heart. Their chemistry, their emotional depth, the way their characters just clicked—I was obsessed. They were the highlight of the entire series for me, and now I love them so much more than I did before.
So yeah, The Heart Killers had its moments, but for me? It was the joondunk show all the way.
Looking back, I think one of the reasons JoongDunk didn’t impress me as much in their previous BLs was because the stories didn’t really suit them. It’s not that they were bad, but I feel like those roles didn’t bring out the best in them. But with The Heart Killers, Fadel and Style felt made for them. Their dynamic, the way they balanced each other out—it just worked so well.
As for Dunk’s acting, I actually think he’s good and has improved a lot. Of course, there’s always room for growth, but I honestly don’t get the hate he gets. He has a naturally relaxed face, which can make some expressions harder to convey, but you can tell he’s putting in the effort. And I respect that. Seeing him in this role made me appreciate him even more.
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A Breathtaking and Emotional Journey
Shadow Love is a cinematic masterpiece that fully immerses you in a compelling and beautifully crafted world. From the first episode, the story captivates with its emotional depth and intricate character relationships. The plot is so unique—one man, three identities—and it kept me guessing and completely hooked. I found myself completely invested in the journey of each character as they navigated crazy politics, wars, and a romance that feels truly epic.The performances by the cast are nothing short of phenomenal. I especially adored Li Shuang's character; her portrayal of a soft, gentle, and utterly cute personality was a highlight. Even as a brave general, she maintains this wonderful, human warmth that makes her so easy to love. And Cheng Lei's ability to play three distinct versions of the male lead is a true testament to his talent. The chemistry between the leads is incredible, conveying a powerful range of emotions that felt authentic and deeply moving. Every actor, down to the supporting roles, brings a high level of dedication and nuance to their part, making the entire ensemble feel incredibly real.
The show's production is stunning. The cinematography is gorgeous, and the costumes and music perfectly fit the mood of every scene. The fight choreography is also top-notch—it's the kind of action that makes you genuinely grip your seat. And the OST? It's beautiful and really adds to the charm of the drama.
This is a series that demands to be rewatched. The complex storytelling and subtle details mean you'll discover something new with every viewing. I highly recommend Shadow Love to anyone who appreciates a well-told story with remarkable acting. It's an unforgettable show that lingers in your mind long after the finale.
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This review may contain spoilers
Find a spouse with same value
So here a bit review on each character, please be noted the drama version is bit different from novel. The drama ver is for fans of Ding Yuxi the actor to gain more fans. Haha.1. Ning Yuxuan NYX:
Outside: a cold, heartless man
Inside: a puppy heart
A good govt officer, has 2 wives but touch no one. Haha.
2. Nie Sangyu NSY:
Outside and inside: heartless woman
Spoiled since a little, loved to torture maids. Even until last breath still not instrospect her wrongdoings. She created her own bad karma. What a stupid evil lady.
3. Ji Man JM:
Outside: business maker, money lover
Inside: pursue everlasting love
NSY separated since baby, twin sister. She treated everyone either as potential customers, shareholders, or professional employees. Kind, funny.
4. Gui Bai GB:
Inside outside is just like his master NYX. Even copy his master when pursuing a girl and take an oath to love her one and only forever. Lol.
5. Wen Wan WW:
Outside: kind and soft
Inside: evil
Fooled NYX as if she was abducted and raped, so when NYX found her he got no choice but to take her as concubine. WW is evil but too stupid so we can relax.
Later she worked together with enemy against NYX but was betrayed and executed, so she kinda too late to realize her mistakes.
6. Ling Xingjian LXJ:
Outside: coward and evil
Inside: just want to surpass his childhood buddy NYX
Well at least he realized his mistakes and corrects them, so his head is safe from execution.
7. Yuan Lang YL:
Outside: kind hearted bandit
Inside: also a puppy heart
Together with JM and NYX bring down enemy and decided to let go hatred of their parents, as long as they could work together for people.
8. Emperor:
Inside and outside: a god of matchmaker, treated NYX dearly.
You know, just like King Wendy in drama Love Like The Galaxy, he supported 100% NYX and become a matchmaker for our female and male lead.
Conclusions:
1. Sweet moments NYX and JM, ladies, just imagine yourself is JM. Happy watching.
2. Remember to find a spouse with same value, same morality kindness, so you will be willingly share each other burdens.
That's all,
I will be more than happy to watch the drama repeatedly.
Loveeee~
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It is a veeeery good drama, as for the acting, as for the truth of the characters and for the really smooth plot accompanied with some really nice cliffhangers.
It is definitely worth to watch, and I would even say to re-watch (which is not something I usually do). The songs are great and some sequences full of emotions are really strong and great.
You will laugh at some situations, tears at some others and even though some imagination is needed sometimes, it all makes sense.
It's a drama I had much pleasure to begin, much pleasure to continue, and much pleasure to finish. It's well done and makes you go through a bunch of states!
I didn't know any of the actors but they are really doing great and you get attached to them really fast.
A MUST SEE
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The characters play well off each other as their chemistry is greate and the actors are all well suited for their parts. And honestly, the guys are very cute :P
One notable thing about this drama is it gives you room to imagine in details yourself. For example, they don't necessarily give the full backstory of the characters. Instead they hint at many parts and let you create your own story for them in your mind.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Remember, your fate hangs on the tip of your blade." ~Zhou Fei
Legend of Fei is not only a Wuxia drama, but it has several cute love stories, an intriguing mystery, and a lesson that all of us should learn from. This drama is based on a popular Chinese novel with the same name by Priest, which I have not read before. (Translated version is only available as machine translation) Two large downsides to this drama were the the terrible editing skills, and unrealistic backdrop that was very obvious from time to time, but the lovable characters and fascinating storyline eventually overshadowed these disappointments. It is quite understandable that many would be unwilling to "wait" more than 20 episodes or so to finally get into the drama, and this is a barrier that everyone should be aware of before attempting the drama. With strong martial arts skills and intelligent thinking, Zhou Fei teaches us that we can achieve our dreams, but achievements are only the result of endless and persistent hard work. With many setting high expectations for a drama with their favorite actors or actresses, this rather low rating isn't very surprising, but I really enjoyed it.Honestly, I don't even know if this contains spoilers. If it does, please message me about it.
Story-8.0
With the usual pugilistic world (Jianghu), there are admirable heroes who help others, but there are also people greedy for wealth and power. Zhou Fei is born into Forty-Eight Fortress, a sect founded by her grandfather (Li Zheng) known for its good deeds and efforts toward eliminating evil. Growing up, Zhou Fei had always been taught by her parents to only do good, to work hard. Her mother seems overly strict to her, but loves her more than anything in the inside. Zhou Fei longs to please her mother, and to achieve this goal, she plans on becoming a famous heroine. After a series of events, Zhou Fei meets Xie Yun, who appears carefree, and quite annoying. Zhou Fei leaves Fourty-Eight Fortress for the first time, and along with Xie Yun, her two cousins (Li Sheng and Li Yan) and some newly made friends, they start to uncover the reasons for the deaths of her grandfather and many other martial artists. The moves for the martial arts were choreographed fairly well, and it was clear that each actor and actress had put in a lot of effort to perfect their moves. I also really liked the costumes; Although they were simple, they fit perfectly for every character, and the light-weight clothing worked reasonably well to portray everyone's personalities. Each story behind the famous heroes are very motivating, and we learn lessons along with A'Fei. The story starts rather slowly and quite boring (and a few episodes could have been cut), but to make fire, wood is needed, and I promise, as the story progresses, it becomes more and more intriguing. There is no clear plot until episode 20-something, which disappointed many viewers. The story revolves around the idea that evil may seem to win, but oh no, it doesn't. Only with a kind heart can you rule the world.
A very important aspect of this drama is the mystery incorporated into it. An item said to be able to assist one into ruling the world was coveted by countless people, and this didn't exclude the evilest of the evil. In the later episodes of LoF, the main plot is revealed, and things do not cease to captivate.
Acting/Cast-8.5
Legend of Fei has some of the most lovable characters in the history of Wuxia characters, as well as some of the evilest. There were some with some annoying attributes, such as the Third Prince, who I still don't know why he was included in the story. We have quite a few comedic duos that give us quite a show, and each and every character has their own story, no matter if their journey throughout their life was tragic, hopeful, or just mediocre. Here are my descriptions of a few of the most influential protagonists and antagonists:
ZHOU FEI and XIE YUN- A strong-willed young girl, Zhou Fei had wild ambitions, but luckily, her ambitions were to do good for the world. (and impress her mother) She and Xie Yun start on a rather bad note, but friendship quickly links them. She discovers that the world outside of her home is not all that cheerful and fun, but rather dark and scary. A hatred towards the Demons starts to grow inside her after she learns of their countless evil deeds, and she manages to kill many of their leaders through the guidance of many martial art heroes and heroines she meets on her journey. The persistence in Zhao Liying's eyes are present throughout this drama, and her acting never fails to disappoint. (I am not a die-hard ZLY fan) Our female lead matures from a girl ambitious to be the best to a young woman who is admired by the many people she had helped. (may contain spoilers:)With a complicated past, Xie Yun is not your typical male lead. He and Zhou Fei first meet when Xie Yun "steals her father". Underneath his cheerful personality hides an unforgiving identity, which Zhou Fei and everyone else learns later in the drama. This identity isn't very surprising, but is crucial to the story. He is very agile, and always manages to escape the Demons without even exerting too much energy. As talkative as he is, he is also very intelligent, although he doesn't always show this aspect of his personality. In front of Zhou Fei, he is funny but also caring. Although Wang Yibo could be considered a rookie actor, he managed to pull off the complex personality of Xie Yun, which is quite impressive.
Wang Yibo and Zhao Liying do not have that fire chemistry, but their pairing was more than acceptable. It may be disturbing to some that ZLY is 10 years old than WYB, but their interactions in the drama made me forget about this irrelevant detail. Xie Yun and Zhou Fei are our troublemakers, they are really two peas in a pod. They only want the best for each other, and will go to the ends of the earth to save each other.
LI SHENG and WU CHUCHU- Another cute couple, Li Sheng and Chuchu are very adorable as well. Li Sheng never manages to beat Zhou Fei in martial arts, and was rather jealous of her. Later, though, he discovers that he doesn't always need to be #1, because as long as he can use his strong skills to help, he is satisfied. Even though he doesn't have the strongest martial arts skills, his leadership and intelligent are two of his main strengths. I found him particularly annoying in the beginning (because he was rude to A'Fei), but his smart and caring personality eventually stole me heart. His love interest, Wu Chuchu, was born with a silver spoon, but her parents are both killed mercilessly and she spends a large portion of her time with Zhou Fei and Li Sheng on the run. Some of her early actions were very frustrating, because she was doing some really dumb things, but her determination to avenge her parents led her to even start to learn some basic martial arts skills.
LI YAN, YANG JIN and YING HECONG- Oh boy, our three troublemakers. They are quite the trio! These three never fail to make me laugh, especially Yang Jin. His motion of rubbing his head is his most famous movement, and makes him appear dumb and useless, but he has some strong martial arts skills. The actor who portrayed him did a great job in showing his funny but strong personality. His love interest, Li Yan, could be said to be even dumber than Chuchu. I love her as well, but some of the things she did were very unexplainable, and led to all sorts of trouble. She wasn't a very crucial character here, but she did manage to add some comedic elements to the show. Last but not least, Ying Hecong, aka The Poisoner. I didn't really understand his presence until I realized that he was very knowledgeable in poison, and he eventually was a very helpful friend to A'Fei and everyone else, and like the others, after undergoing a tragedy or two, he musters up the courage to stand up for what is right. I loved this trio, they are hilarious.
HEROES/HEROINES- Without the wise and famous heroes and heroines, Zhou Fei couldn't have achieved what she did. Each and every martial artist gave her priceless life lessons, as well as had some of the most beautiful stories. Although most did not have much screen time, they each played a crucial role in fighting the Demons, and passed on their skills to Zhou Fei. Li Zheng and Duan Jiuniang had an unforgivable love story, while Ji Yuncheng was an honest man who couldn't forgive himself for a certain event. Madame Ni Chang was a great woman, and saved Zhou Fei and the others quite a few times. Unlike the Demons, these wise men and women were even willing to give up their life to keep the world at peace, and they probably could have a drama just about themselves!
DEMONS- Demons are demons, evil and merciless. They do not even know what the treasure is, but spent years trying to uncover it. Without these terrible characters, the drama could not have progressed, and the actors/actresses did quite phenomenally as the evil roles they portrayed. I wish that some of them got a closure where they learned the valuable life lesson, but even if none did, their satisfactory ending was enough. Each of the demon leaders had their own detestable personality, and not all of them wanted the treasure.
Music-8.0
The music in this drama wasn't very memorable, but it was far from bad. The OST could have been more delightful with a few more songs, and it was kind of a surprise that Zhao Liying didn't sing any of them. Wang Yibo did, and the tune and lyrics fit quite nicely. As for the background/instrumental music, they were very common in fighting scenes and calming scenes, and were also a snug fit. With the mysterious but upbeat music, the audience could predict that Zhou Fei would win the battle, or that some despicable Demon was about to be defeated. In Forty-Eight Fortress or with our Yunfei couple, the soft music showed us the beauty of peace.
Rewatch Value- 8.0
If I had to rewatch this drama, I would most likely skip the first 10-20 episodes, and go straight to when I started to actually make strong connections with the characters. I did enjoy the second half of the story, and did not skip a single part of it.
Overall-8.5
The start of the drama was a little disappointing and underwhelming but the ending was not, as well as the story as it progressed. Some interactions between the characters were hilarious, while others were tense and dark. We are given three cute couples as we followed the main characters' journey to eliminate evil and help the poor civilians. No matter what happened, Zhou Fei did not give up, and her persistence was the key to defeating the Demons. She and Xie Yun have a very valuable relationship, growing from an unfriendly encounter to unbreakable love. And without the amazing acting of every actor, this drama wouldn't have been able to portray the most important life lesson, which I'll leave for you to discover.
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A viper's nest.
After growing up in the countryside, Zhuang Hanyan returns to the capital to claim her rightful place as the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family. Her reception is mixed—some family members seek reconciliation, while others fiercely resist her presence. It soon becomes clear that the Zhuang household is a viper’s nest, but Hanyan is no naïve country girl. There’s more to her return than meets the eye, something her late sister’s husband, Fu Yunxi, quickly discerns. Their relationship evolves from adversarial to conspiratorial as they uncover each other’s secrets and forge an uneasy alliance.The Glory/ 雁回时 is another in a recent wave of revenge dramas that starts with a suspenseful, addictive hook but fizzles in the second half. The reveal of Ruan Xiwen’s tragic backstory and her complex, scheming dynamic with her daughter Hanyan forms the emotional core of the drama. Unfortunately, after this peak, the narrative devolves into dog-blood melodrama, riddled with clichés, plot holes, and unconvincing motivations. Wen Zhenrong delivers a vehement, emotionally charged performance as the bitter and wounded Ruan Xiwen, anchoring the first half—but once her arc concludes, the tension noticeably deflates.
Though I typically adore ruthless, morally grey characters like Hanyan and Yunxi, their pairing falls flat. Their silent staring contests and psychological battles feel insipid, especially compared to over-the-top performances by older actors like Yu Entai's exaggerated facial contortions and whispered threats. That said, Chen Duling shines as Hanyan, balancing hidden depths with fiery resolve. Xin Yunlai, however, is stoic to the point of woodenness, though his awkward, crooked half-smiles carry a strange charm.
The biggest flaw lies in the overabundance of toxic characters with nonsensical motives. Why does Hanyan—clearly talented and resourceful—fight so hard for acceptance in such a dysfunctional family? The schemes lack payoff, the villains are cartoonishly petty, and the central "hidden treasure" subplot feels pointless (why hoard wealth with no heirs to inherit it?). The second half is a mess of twists without cohesion, and the ending—hinting at Greek tragedy but lacking the courage to commit—leaves a wishy-washy, unsatisfying aftertaste.
Yet, despite its flaws, I found myself oddly engrossed. Like a drink that starts intoxicating, turns bland, then ends bitter, The Glory is a flawed but strangely compelling ride. 7.5/10—great potential, squandered execution.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cheeky, cheerful and heartfelt, drops of suspense included
“Knight Flower” is set in Joseon days, yet it is no epic, historical KDrama in a classical sense. It has endearing comedy to offer, the touch of a romance and even a touch of crime thriller, while the setting back then in Joseon is accounted for predominant neo-Cunfucian social ethics in those days. In particular, back then being widowed was bad news for women, whatsoever. (See side note). This circumstance is providing the hook for a cheeky and fresh-minded KDrama plot.In "Knight Flower", the widow simply cannot get herself to merely spending the rest of her long life in honorable, virtuous seclusion, mostly invisible to the rest of the world, trying not to be too much of a burden to her in-laws, and otherwise mourning the deceased husband (whom she never actually met) in the afterlife.
No, this widow does her own thing. She is not interested in being reduced to the virtue of mourning. During daytime, her everyday life is that of a honorable widow and decent daughter-in-law. Yet, at night she is dressed in black, wearing pants and a mask, climbing over walls, jumping over roofs and helping the poor – as "Midam", a kind of Robin Hood of Joseon. Such is her double life. All goes well, until one day...
While the plot is drawing its dynamic appeal from the actually rather sad background of a dubious tradition of treating widows (not only practiced in old Joseon, and not only back then…), the good news is: "Knight Flower", as a production broadcast in 2024, is built on intelligent emancipation, too. What is called for is not compliant bowing, but rather self-confident, creative solutions in dealing with life. Obviously South Koreans are craving for such a role model these days. The show was quite a success. People there apparently enjoyed it. So did I.
"Knight Flower" is cheeky, cheerful, and heartfelt, drops of suspense included, thus with alluring wit offering an enjoyably entertaining genre-mix.
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SIDE NOTE: --- Yeolnyeo or Yeolbu, the virtuous woman of Joseon ---
A loyal subject can only serve ONE king and a virtuous woman can only serve ONE husband. This perhaps briefly summarizes the core of the moral teachings of the period between the 14th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Practically speaking, this implied a widowed woman could face death penalty, if she ever wanted to marry again.
Women had to be obedient to their parents and in-laws. They had to honor their husband. And after his death the eldest son had the say... The greatest asset of a woman, besides bearing children, was her virtue. And that was eventually all that was left, if her husband might have died before herself. There was even granted an official award for valuing outstandingly honorable virtuous widows with the reputation of being a Yeolnyeo or Yeolbu. Thus they had to be particularly determined with living as a commendable model wife even after their husband´s death – according to all the rules regarding morals and daily routines as set out in detail in the book about good conduct for virtuous women…
However, the pressure on widows to be respected as Yeolnyeo became excessive over time. At some point it was even common for widows to consequently take their own lives, too, thus expressing their praiseworthy being loyal to the husband until the bitter end. In this way, they could posthumously provide their family (or that of their deceased husband) an honorable glory of virtue in which all family members could bask. Eventually, suicide was even expected of a widow – especially if she became a widow at a young age...
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So English yet so Korean...
U know that one thing that is different about kdramas that you cannot find in other dramas all around the world. That vibe, feel that is hard to define but it is there. Yes, that is what I find the most in this movie. This movie is so Korean yet so English, one can only understand this after watching it. This masterpiece is unforgettable and has a very realistic ending. The eye contact between the leads is my favorite part of this movie.And of course, this is the best movie of the year...
So don't contemplate whether to watch it or not and just watch it.
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MUST WATCH DRAMA
I have watched and i have loved so many cdramas, but this one particularly has a special place in my heart.Every single episode its so unique,and the drama portrays the meaning of the family and friendship in such a good way. There were many episodes that i couldn't hold my tears as I could identify with the characters feelings. This one is definitely on the good acting skills. The cast may be young in age but their acting skills were on point. FL and ML had such a good chemistry that you could feel from the very first moment the strong friendship between them, the same goes for the other characters too. Also, it was very intersting to watch the parents of each child and how they were managing their families differently.I could keep writing about this drama forever, but i will stop and suggest you to watch it right away so you can understand how I feel haha .
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This review may contain spoilers
for the arts not the charts
i might be the only person who enjoyed this show throughout LOL if you're expecting a walking green forest of characters then dont even bother starting this show bc main leads are heavily flawed characters and both have their shortcomings but they were entertaining to watch (for me). this show is about troubled youth chasing their dreams together but dont expect a smooth sailing ride for them. i personally love shows like this (flawed characters, angsty) so if you're one of my kind you might like this show. the 'love will prevail all' mindset they had at the start is so frustratingly cute. im a forgiver to lovesick hopeless romantics unfortunately i found them endearing. some of the plots were questionable but for the most part it was good! second lead cp story was SUPER unnecessary. buuut zhou shui & dai daji's love was worth to watch! i loved seeing their growth and tbh they couldve added more eps to show zs&dj in present time. alsoo this show has an OE but i like it! which is rare bc i hate an open ending show but they somehow executed it nicely and i was satisfied with it at least!! teared up a bit here and there when watching this but i might just be attached to the show hahaaWas this review helpful to you?
1Sincerity and Hilarity
I just . . . <3 ❤❤❤Such wholesome and supportive MLs! Ida and Aoki were everything good in this world.
The first episode did an amazing job setting up not just the characters and comedic style of the drama (which I adored) but also showing who Ida and Aoki are as people.
Ida is the kind of guy who thinks about things very seriously and carefully and despite not being exposed to/experiencing what many others already have is open to something unfamiliar to him. He also cares deeply about the feelings of others and always takes them into consideration, though he appears quite stoic and awkward at times. Lol.
Aoki is the kind of guy who doesn't let jealousy guide him in acting in ways that would benefit him personally while hurting others. He is willing to make sacrifices for the people he cares about even if it is to his detriment. And, he is very outwardly emotional and expressive, but also quite shy at times. Lol.
That was an impressive thing to accomplish in just the first episode alone.
This is the kind of drama that will not only make you cry from laughing so hard at Ida's dry humor, Aoki's meme-worthy and iconic reactions/facial expressions, Hashimoto's violent/impulsive nature, and Aida's blissful ignorance, but also from how much consideration and kindness oozes from the MLs.
Ida's sincerity was seriously too much for my poor heart to take! And Aoki made my cheeks ache from how many times I couldn't contain my giggles and abrupt bursts of laughter! Needless to say, I along with many of you now have to figure out a way to share custody of the absolute mood that is Aoki Sota.
Something a bit underrated and beautiful I didn't fully notice about this drama until it had a few episodes left was Aoki and Ida saying statements Directly expressing their emotions about things related to their relationship, and also the other paying attention and taking them seriously. Such as, "That made me upset," "That made me happy," etc. Saying This thing you did made me feel This. Basically, "I" statements.
I can't think of very many dramas that do this/have done this.
I've actually read that couples counselors will advise their clients to communicate in this way to directly address their feelings and not be accusatory when/if they're upset with their partner. Yet another reason for me to adore Kieta Hatsukoi and the precious couple in it.
This drama was not only a great showcasing of healthy and communicative relationships, it was also highly addictive. I rewatched each episode (until it was completed) about a dozen times before the next one aired.
Regarding representation, I could not be more happy! Aoki was a wonderful and respectful representation of Bisexuality. It was also delightfully easy to show. He was in love with Hashimoto and then he fell in love with Ida. Simple. He didn't declare that he "doesn't like boys and just likes him" (I hate that trope so much) nor was there any line indicating he never truly loved Hashimoto and was just "confused." He didn't deny his past love and also accepted his present love. I could cry!
I think this was as perfect Bi representation as you could get without actually saying the word Bisexual.
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Fighting for Stupidity
When I read the synopsis I was excited with the premise of a strong female character who excels in war strategies and becomes a female general. The FL is intelligent, devious at times and cross dresses as a man, there's a lot of male brotherhood camaraderie she develops with other male characters which is nice because sometimes its not all just about romantic love. While she is talented, the parts where she goes from commoner to elite fighting soldier with top notch archery and horsemanship skills was unrealistic.The love story really falls flat in my opinion. The ML is good looking but he's a bumbling idiot supposed playboy. His character is really flat and not bright. Its hard to believe he can last as a general for even a minute. I can't really feel drawn to his character. The love story between them doesn't have any emotional pull, its a bit robotic and forced in the acting. Maybe its me but it might be more interesting to see two robots fall in love than the FL and ML.
The SML and the FL seems to have more chemistry as they are on opposing sides and the SML is smart and bold. I watched it because I wanted to see how their story unfolds even though its pretty clear the FL will not end up with the SML. They should have really developed their story more because it was more compelling and a bit more complex than the FL's love story arc with the ML.
Overall it could have been executed better, the last dozen or so episodes was a bit of fast forwarding. I completed it because I was curious how it works out between the FL and SML and how she breaks through to become a general.
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm a little surprised that I watched this entire show, because I was thoroughly disappointed by it early on. Too much of this drama just didn't make sense. First off - let's start with the title. While Yoon Se Na was an honest and well behaved girl, she was not lovely or playful, as many translations of the title says. I don't quite see why all the men wanted to spend time with her, because she really sucked the life out of each encounter she had with other humans. For this I mostly blame the script, and some wooden delivery of it. The show did not make me believe that Se Na actually wanted to be a songwriter, she just seemed coaxed into it by Hyun Wook. It also did not help that almost every secondary plot point was either underplayed or completely disappeared. My Rating: 6.0
In Short: This love story between a boring young girl and a completely unprofessional CEO was truly dull at times and slightly enjoyable at others. The only plot point I enjoyed was lonely idol Shi Woo, though they could have done way more with that as well. SIGH
Pros: The setting is one that I usually enjoy, though it did not feel organic in this show. However, the lighting and filming is really enjoyable, and the dog is cute. The music was also quite good.
Cons: It really bugs me when most of the characters on the show are senior management for some company, and absolutely none of them know how to do their job. Everyone at ANA was unprofessional, and let their personal feelings decide at every turn. Also, the main lead kept his secrets (and lies) for about 8 episodes too long. And the last episode of the show was one of the worst episodes I have ever seen. Somehow, our leading lady was suddenly a complete a-hole for no specific reason.
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