And in one day its love
I started this show by accident, I had no plans to actually watch it. It was the BEST accident that has ever happened. Although, this review will be ongoing and is subject to change. I would say this is fast becoming one of my TOP 5 favorites of all time. I have not been disappointed by anything, the development of the story, or the lessons along the way. I always want more, I cannot wait for the next episode and sometimes it leaves me thinking of positive things I could consider within my own life. Can't ask for much more, except please hurry and show the next episode. :) So far I am in love!Was this review helpful to you?
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Kissing scenes were not satisfying....!
One thing I liked most about this drama is cast!.why "Friendship" or "Best Friends" tag is not added???
Actors and acting is only good thing in the drama. Bad editing, bad direction, no budget, bad screenwriting, scriptwriting(story was draggy when not needed and was rushed when it was supposed to be draggy/detailed), no promotion and everything was mess but not actors, their acting and their chemistry.
Chemistry and understanding between ML and FL was so smooth and perfect. Their relation was so pure and transparent l, there was no misunderstandings, no love triangle, no plotting against each other for love and also other couple(young dragon lord and his fiance) was very much sorted with their feelings.
These days they have started making more cdramas like this where there's no toxic love and tangled relations. Even tho kissing scenes were not really good or mayb lack emotional touch, it worked because of their chemistry throughout the drama.
I cannot even tell how good they portrayed their character, each and every actor-character did their best, The Squad- bestest thing in the drama and probably the only reason to watch drama until the end.
This drama perfectly justifies the phrase 'Friendship is inevitable and Friends are destinated to be'. In the group of four each character had their own bond, story, chemistry equally love, hate, care, responsibility with every other character. There's no grouping or partiality in their squad, all four love all four equally! For someone like me who really cares about Friendship, This drama will not disappoint in terms of Friendship.
There are many mistakes from other teams of drama-makers (like editing team, direction, screenwriting) but not from actor's end and that's what makes this drama deserving!
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About a love that has somehow lost its suitability for everyday life over the years
“Between Him and Her” is an alternative to the tried and tested Cinderella love story, which usually ends with a supposedly “they lived together happily ever after”. Therefore, this story is about 7 years later...The KDrama is rather down-to-earth. It is set within the world of young creatives of Seoul´s fashion scene and tells about a love that has somehow lost its suitability for everyday life over the years. A love that became a habit.
Eventually, a critical moment causes the barrel of internal, unnamed, silent, consuming dissatisfaction to overflow and thus gives necessary strength to actually question everything. However, questioning everything also means having to ask yourself the unpleasant questions. Unfortunately, the answers are not clearly “yes” or “no”. They´re lurking subtly, are not always logical, nor pragmatic or even negotiable. Sometimes it's a "Yes. But." Sometimes it's a "No. But." The problem is: whether it's "yes" or "no", both are true. Love is not always automatically suitable for a partnership... and even if so, this cannot be considered a given either. Nevertheless, that doesn't make such a love any less true or valuable.
For outsiders, on the other hand, the matter may seem more evident. As a audience, we might want to shake one or the other. But in the end the answer unfolds exclusively from within the very personal, complicated emotional world of him and her. Nobody else can have a say. And the KDrama conveys that quite vividly, rather authentic and painfully realistic, too.
Accordingly, the pacing as the two protagonists are taking stock of their emotional relationship, is rather cautious and introspective. Therefore, subplots are providing some invigorating comedy and a bit of drama on the outside, thus pleasantly topping off this little study on certain facets about love.
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High-end KDrama story-telling/performance quality - emotionally complex, captivating, touching.
Society in trouble. "Angry Mom" confronts viewers with some unloved topics. Bullying comes first and keeps the door open for one more... and one more... and one more... and one more... It's about the attitude of the parents when it comes to education and school, about prejudice, discrimination against women, male-dominated hierarchies, pedophilia, the power of the powerful...If it weren't for the comedy (even just the fact that the mother, in her mid-30s, puts on a school uniform again and goes to school), it would all be hard to bear. Also, the protagonist's former school friend was deliberately portrayed in an exaggerated manner. She and the gang of men she leads often look like they're straight out of a cartoon - she herself is sometimes reminiscent of the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. Her scenes always provide a breather with a little exaggerated fun, even if the bitter seriousness does not fall by the wayside.
The comedy has nothing to do with a charming blinking. It only serves as a channel for anger and dismay (of the viewers). The story itself isnt´t all too easily digestible. The daughter is being bullied, but no help can be expected from the official authorities. The mother does the work herself (absolutely marvelous: Kim Hee-sun!). Without frills, she stumbles right into a male-dominated snake nest in the high school environment. The further she courageously advances, the more unexpected help she gets. However, no one else would dare for themselves, although many do not like what is going on. ... If she would not be a mother with her child being affected, she would probably have given up too...
This is once again high-end KDrama story-telling/performance quality - emotionally complex, captivating, touching.
Don´t miss it.
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Dynamite is lurking everywhere that could bring the Empire down... but who dares to set it on fire?
First of all: should you watch "The Empire"? In any case. Yes! But: The KDrama isn't funny or soul food at any point... Rather, it provokes by intelligently and multi-layeredly confronting the ugly sides of the glamorous world as well as the almost hopeless rebellion against it."The Empire" stylizes the world of that top 1-10 percent, that outrageously wealthy and influential elite of society who can afford a lifestyle that the rest of society dreams of. At the same time, this elite presents itself as mendacious, bigoted, moral scum. Dynamite is lurking everywhere and could explode at any moment. The KDrama paints a dull, tired, bored, vile, quarreling picture of the rich - not a radiantly beautiful one brimming with vitality. Wealth is displayed in a feudal manner, but it seems a bit pietistic, even from the outside it's rather cold, empty, stale and sad. The color saturation has been reduced accordingly. Some clichés are tickled. Privileged decadence is predominant. Elitist arrogance rules the luxurious, isolated orbit of a calculating, selfish family dynasty. Everything here is expensive, bare, distant, decadent, and nothing is welcoming, warm, beautiful, or friendly. With all that wealth and success, no one is free or happy. ´Trust´ is a foreign word in this family. This makes the KDrama hard to bear in places.
The conservative elite in "The Empire" feigns progressiveness by throwing snippets of English into their conversations. However, this seems artificial (dramaturgically quite effective) and (yet) not very convincing, rather quite strange, because their arrogant fantasies of exclusivity are nothing more than mendacious, feudally inspired traditions, old energy full of cobwebs. When the young, life-disappointed but highly talented student brazenly appears in front of the self-proclaimed aristocrats on her vendetta, it is downright unheard of. But basically it is exactly that and much more of it, what it takes to push the dusty elitist behavior to its limits and ultimately really abolish it. There is no awe in this young woman. It may be that she has the courage of the desperate. Never mind After all! The modern system is already stumbling through her presumptuous impertinence. Interesting that this brave young woman is actually introduced as the bad guy - because we as viewers see the story (initially) through the indignant eyes of the self-ennobled nouveau riche - those who want to represent a class of their own and who are used to directing fortunes behind closed doors according to their interests. To a certain extent, the dramaturgy identifies 'us' with those who govern the "Empire". 'We' are identified with order being maintained and respected. And yet it is difficult for 'us' to side with them. This elitist world presents itself as too lost, too sick, too decadent. ... This collision of two worlds is highly explosive and wonderfully depicts the inner turmoil and contradictions within society.
In between, the journalist seems a bit helpless as a plaything for those who provide her with information for her interests. Despite all the bite she has, she is first on the hunt for her own professional success. The 'thing', what needs to be researched and uncovered, becomes a means to a personal end. Journalism, with its democratic mission, is thus also floating on the edge of decadence and gives little hope. (Yet, hope there is...)
And then there is the protagonist Han Hye-ryul: herself a child of that problematic, ambivalent elite, third generation of the empire full of influential lawyers founded by her grandfather. At the same time bearer of hope for a modern democratic society. She takes her responsibility seriously and uses the opportunities that her origins gave her in the cradle constructively in the service of the community - she does NOT bend the law according to her personal discretion, but her truly innovative credo is: she sticks to it for ALL binding law. She tries to follow her professional path with true integrity. Such genuine integrity gives hope to the masses. On the other hand, they frighten the elite, because this robs them of the foundation of their shadow power.
However, the torchbearer of legal integrity is, beyond her professional ethics, also a person who grew up in a world full of privileges. As a child of the elite, she not only automatically inherits money, fame and influence, but also old guilt, and when in doubt she is pilloried. As a woman, she has feelings like everyone else. As a wife, or rather a betrayed wife, too. As a daughter. And as a mother too. She is therefore challenged on several fronts at the same time.
"The Empire" tells the story of a woman who, out of deep conviction and belief in a legal system, wants to undermine the autocratic, arrogant elite coalition. However, she is the child of a family that is involved in such things whether she wants to or not. And yet it is precisely this family tradition that makes her the full-blooded prosecutor that she is. By tradition, she wants to do her work excellently and in an exemplary manner. And for her personally, that means cleaning up the mess of backroom deals and exclusive privileges. Finally someone who believes the rule of law is above ALL? And not only that: the protagonist is one with an ego that (luckily in this case?) is strong enough to actually take on the powerful enemies. So is there perhaps still hope for a better, fairer world? "The Empire" works intelligently on this question. There is no easy answer to that. The crushing moral swamp to traverse is overwhelming...
... And then there is the fourth generation in the family clan... the son of Han Hye-ryul. He actually ticks quite differently ... for his part, he is the bearer of hope for a new dimension. He wants to swim his way out of the swamp of tradition, and yet he is torn between his feelings for his parents and grandparents and his own needs and desires. He doesn't dare, and yet...
------------------ Side note: --- Inflation of KDrama productions, in which the rich and powerful take center stage in the context of law and order---
The corrupt networks, which want to reach the top circles and the blue house, have become an almost inflationary context for KDramas and movies. A trend that has already been observed in recent years. But 2022 will surpass everything that has been produced so far. "The Empire" is one of many 2022 productions that settle accounts with the discrepancy between free democracy, responsible citizens and equal rights for all on the one hand and class society, strict traditions, hierarchies and autocracy on the other. "The Empire" unashamedly and unequivocally, without any ribbons or icing on the cake, unveils how difficult and long the road still is - to a society in which citizens are actually all treated equally before the law. There is obviously still one instance of power that in 2022 in South Korea is firmly convinced that it is above the law...
Why is the profusion of KDrama productions, in which the rich and powerful take center stage in connection with law and order, so inflated at the moment? So that it maybe/hopefully slowly really sinks into mass consciousness and from there it gets to each individual that this must/want/can come to an end! So sledgehammer: monarchical Joseon is history! Aristocracy and class society are history! Dictatorship is history. Let's go South Korea! Stand tall, walk tall! Don't be blinded. Don't be tempted to join in with this old class thinking and to feel a little more valuable if you have someone you can trample on...
No more reverence and respect. No more feudal lords and serfs. Actually, this is presented every week in KDrama, in the cinema and in the news: that the venerable elite is actually morally rather underground and such a life is neither honorable nor desirable. But as long as the viewer's gaze continues to be dazzled by arrogant behavior and luxury items and prefers to look past the lazy core, there will (have to) be endless KDrama variations with sometimes bigger or sometimes smaller sledgehammers. But that's not surprising either, because the centuries, even millennia-old, tradition teaches something completely different... it has been class-thinking all along...
Nonetheless. South Korea counts the year 2022. It is official: We (even in KDrama Land) ALL have a value and worth regardless of origin, past or future - not just a few percent wearing particularly expensive clothes. Wealth or poverty or anything in between and beyond is independent of a person's worth before the law. If we, who apply the law, still act according to ´other´ laws, allow ourselves to be seduced and bought and used, secretly hoping to be able to take such a quick shortcut further up, then it is our own fault. No one has the right to beat us, use and exploit us and throw us away after use like garbage! No one.
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Rough around the edges, but super fun!
I had little to no expectations going into Fish Upon the Sky, as I found the trailer and concept pretty underwhelming and cliche. On top of that, it began airing a week after Tale of a Thousand Stars, which I absolutely loved, so the bar was set pretty high in my mind at that point. Now, after having completed the series, I can say with complete certainty that, although it does not surpass TOTS in the slightest, Fish Upon the Sky is one of GMMTV's stronger series over the past few years.I'd first like to go over what I loved about this series and then what I didn't love as much:
To start, and I'd say this is the main selling point that sets it apart from it's predecessors, Fish Upon the Sky is absolutely one of, if not, THE funniest GMMTV series I've seen. I find a lot of the delivery comedy wise in GMMTV series to be a little cringy and sometimes hard to find funny, but this series does not have that problem in the slightest. Although Pi and Mork have some really funny scenes, especially towards the beginning, the humor really shines in the "Story of a fifth-year student" scenes with Meen and Duen. Both of them have really perfect comedic timing, and the ridiculousness of their scenes are so fun to watch!
That actually leads me to my next point, which is that the side couple is so charming! I often find myself skipping side couple scenes in a lot of GMMTV series such as MilPhukong in 2gether (I'm sorry FrankDrake!!) which is, similarly to FUTS, based on a Jittirain novel. However, in FUTS, the side couple is so incredibly likable and fun to watch! Both Neo and Louis give really fun performances and have great chemistry both comedically and romantically. To be honest, and I'll touch on this later, I actually would sometimes find myself skipping scenes with the main couple just so I could get to their scenes! Their dynamic is just so refreshing and cute! Towards the beginning of the series, they reminded me a lot of PickRome from Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey, but as the series went on, they proved to be a lot less toxic and a lot more lighthearted, which I absolutely loved. I believe Louis is a new face at GMM, and I absolutely hope that he has more roles in the future because he's packing so much talent (he can sing, dance, act, he's funny, and he's just so freaking adorable!! PLEASE I"M BEGGING YOU GIVE HIM MORE ATTENTION!!!)
I think the last stand out thing I really enjoyed about this series was Phuwin's role as Pi. I think Pi was a super unique BL protagonist. His struggles were super relatable, and his snarky attitude was really fun. I also liked that he wasn't afraid to stand up for himself when he was being harassed online Phuwin really really surprised me in this role, as I was only familiar with him from The Gifted Graduation, where I found his acting a little overdone and uncomfortable at times, but here, he felt super natural and authentic, like you could know him in real life! I know he's around my age, so it's super impressive to me that he's able to do so well as he did, and I hope to see him in more roles in the future!
Alright now onto the stuff I didn't particularly enjoy:
This is definitely an unpopular opinion, but I really did not enjoy Mork for the majority of the series. I think a lot of fans were really charmed by his looks (Don't get me wrong, I was too, Pond is VERY pretty), but I think because of that, they overlooked a lot of the glaring flaws in his character. For one, he was super pushy with Pi. He kept insisting and insisting and insisting that Pi really liked him, and ignored when Pi asked him to leave him alone. Moreover, him egging on the MorkPi fanpage shippers was really not cool, especially after Pi made it VERY clear he was uncomfortable with it. I just found a lot his behavior to be reminiscent of the toxic archetypes commonly used in BL, and that just did not vibe with me, I'm sorry. I think he did have his good moments, for instance, the confession scene in episode 9, but overall, he was just way too aggressive and forward with Pi for my comfort levels. On top of that, and I really hate to say it because he seems like such a sweetheart, but I don't think Pond's acting skills were developed enough for this big of a role just yet. As far as I know, this is his second role ever after The Gifted Graduation, where he wasn't even in the actual show, but a narrative ad that played after the last few episodes, and it really shows. A lot of his line delivery fell flat to me, and his more emotional scenes didn't hit me at all like Phuwin's did. I think he has a lot of potential, and I'll definitely follow his work moving forward, but I don't think he was ready for this performance.
Another thing I didn't love was the story. Like I said, before going into FOTS, I set my expectations low because the plot was so cliche, and although I was impressed and surprised by other aspects of the show, which I touched on earlier, the plot was absolutely everything I expected, and not in a good way. The whole "ugly duckling" storyline is super played out, and paired with the original enemies to lovers dynamic MorkPi originally has, it just feels like nothing new or interesting. What's worse, in the Pi is perfectly good looking even before his whole "transformation"!! I feel like "My Dear Loser: Edge of 17" is a prime example of a well told ugly duckling story because you see the transition in both looks and personality, and how those affect the protagonist, whereas FOTS doesn't fully commit to this storyline, so it falls flat and feels unnecessary.
This is kind of similar to my last point, but this series is really hypocritical in its message, as it tries to both denounce a lot of common BL tropes while feeding into those same tropes at the same time! The whole storyline with the MorkPi shippers is a great example. Pi stands up to the shippers and defends his privacy, telling them how serious what they're doing actually is, which is fantastic, but right after, the show goes back to making the shippers seem goofy and lighthearted when, just as Pi said, what they're doing is really not a joke. The female characters, which in this show are far and few between, are either annoying, or used as a plot device to get one of the two couples closer together, which plays into the incredibly damaging BL trope of demonizing women. Bam was a really great character because she genuinely wanted Pi and Mork to get together, and then in the end out of no where, with literally ZERO foreshadowing, she sabotages them because she's apparently been secretly in love with Mork the whole time? Like wtf? There was no reason to do that with a perfectly good character just for the sake of causing drama in the last episode, especially when it was all resolved so quickly.
Finally, and this is SUPER nitpick-y, but the music in this show is so bad?? I'm not talking about the opening and ending songs which are both really beautiful and catchy, I'm talking abut the random English songs they use constantly that are laughably horrible and really distracting throughout. I know that's like not important at all, but I haven't seen anyone mentioning it so I just wanted to point it out lol.
Overall, although it's littered with overused tropes and sometimes uncomfortable acting, Fish Upon the Sky is a really fun series that deserves a lot of the love it's getting. I can't wait to see what these actors do next!
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3
1
1Love in Dahuang is cruel, lonely and makes your soul bleed - A deeply emotional analysis.
Season 2 of Lost You Forever drops you straight into the tragic, painful, full of yearning madness that is the brutal world of Dahuang. It brings with it the same excellent cinematography, gorgeous sets, beautiful dialogues and haunting music score that was the signature in its first season.However, this season is more raw, more bleak and more unkind to your heart as it follows the journey of our broken characters and their futile love. Ultimately, it is a story of what could have been, what never will be and what remains.
✔️What could have been - Xiang Liu - The glorious dragon of all our hearts
At times, watching this season, it felt like this was Xiang Liu’s world and we were all just living in it. The nine headed dragon has to be one of the most complex, deeply layered and nuanced characters on Chinese television. With his life shaped in torture, the shackles of a lifelong oath dragging down his very being and undying loyalty to a doomed army hanging over him like a cloud, Xiang Liu is the most devastating unsung anti-hero I have ever seen.
Even though he started his journey with borderline villainy, he is soon revealed to be sacrificial, noble and selfless in a way that is both self-punishing and painful. His love for Xiao Yao is real, thoughtful, tender and pure even as he tries to bury it under constant denial. He builds her up in a way no other man has ever done. With tough love, unexpected tenderness, hidden affection and needed ruthlessness, he makes her the kind of woman who she has always wanted to be.
Someone who can rely on herself, who belongs and who is strong and unafraid. Ultimately, he is the one who understands her on a soul deep level - he is her teacher, her best friend, her soulmate and also the man she can never have. Always there to pick her up when she needs it most, always there to save her when nobody else can.
To the very end, his goal remains to do what is best for her even if it plunges him into infamy or rips his own heart out. He wears the mask of her worst tormentor when in reality, he is the guardian angel who makes it possible for her to have everything she has ever wanted. His love, unlike others, comes with no conditions. The only condition he has is her happiness.
Tan Jian Ci’s acting was phenomenal here. He was capable of displaying so much emotion in a matter of minutes. His fearless, vicious, demanding, deeply sacrificial, stubbornly duty bound, frustratingly complex, unflinching, vulnerable, SEXY ASS SIN portrayal of a dragon with a golden heart, that is so broken that he knows nothing else, completely wrecks your heart.
At the same time, his duality shines through in the form of Fangfeng Bei - a carefree, playful, witty, flirtatious casanova that is even more painful to watch because it dangles the possibility of how different things could have been in another life for both us and Xiao Yao.
The “what if” here is so strong. What if Xiang Liu was just Fangfeng Bei - a man who could love without restraint, live without burden and could accompany Xiao Yao for the world to see? What if he gave them a chance? What if? What if? What if? It’s enough to drive you insane.
It’s like Xiang Liu had an unspoken connection with my eyes. Every time he came on screen, my eyes cried tears of blood. I felt like a live wire of hurt as I saw him kill all the longing in his heart, stomp on the love he thought himself unworthy of and march towards an end that was as devastating, unstoppable and glorious as the man with all these jagged edges himself.
It’s almost sadistic the way the author of this drama lets us know the depth of his love, the tenderness of his heart and the ultimate compassion behind his sacrifice. It’s an unbearable doomed secret that hangs between us and Xiang Liu. The one we want to scream at the world and the one he wants to bury. And bury, he does.
A serpent with the sweetest sting, a dragon with a fire that burns only himself, a man with a heart that is boundless - Xiang Liu will forever live in my heart as one of the most memorable and formidable characters I have come across in ages.
✔️What will never be - Cang Xuan - The wolf who tore the sheep's clothing
From the very start, Cang Xuan has shown to be a man capable of absolute mercilessness if he is pushed towards it. A strategist who can do away with all personal feelings for the end goal. He has forever been a cornered wolf, clawing and manipulating his way to power so he can protect the one he loves. He has worn the cloak of civility, he has made compromises for the throne, he has hidden his anger under the guise of a smile - all so he could be the man who calls the shots.
Now, he has it all and yet, his head hangs low under the weight of the crown he fought to put there. His love for Xiao Yao has been the oldest and coldest friend he knows - his underlying motivation for everything. What he feels for her has simmered and bubbled under his skin since they were children. After all, she’s the only person in his life who he trusts without question. The only woman who has been with him through thick and thin.
However, Cang Xuan has been suppressed for far too long, been forced to muzzle his fangs for too long and this season, slowly his veneer of politeness has started to chip. His desperation and his need for her has started to congeal into an obsession that is as self-destructive as it is selfish.
Slowly, you see him unravel as his need to keep her next to him, his festered bitterness and his damaged soul that has been deprived of love for way too fucking long threatens to propel him off a cliff where there is no coming back from.
Cang Xuan is a deeply unfortunate, tragic hero and Zhang Wanyi’s delicate portrayal made this flawed, broken and wholly human character always easy to empathize with. On one hand he can be beyond ruthless and decisive for the things he wants and on the other hand he oozes this childlike fear and insecurity when he faces Xiao Yao. He is king to all but at her feet alone and it’s eating away at him that she cannot see it.
He cannot get the love he is starved for, so he feeds himself with more and more power - it keeps him full yet malnourished. Until, he is nothing but a famished wolf, yearning for a love that is always at the tips of his fingertips and yet millions of miles away.
While, I definitely feel like the drama declawed him in the last few episodes, and stuffed his wolf back into the sheep’s clothing, there is also some reprieve in seeing this character come into his own and make peace with his ambitions while ultimately choosing a path that keeps his conscience clean and his hands bloodless.
✔️What remains - Tushan Jing - Weak spineless noodle who is the only option available
One of my biggest gripes with this drama was the way they executed Tushan Jing’s character. He is spineless and cowardly to the point of being intolerable. Always weeping and coughing on the side, always waiting for other people to clean his messes, always the least interesting person in the room - the only thing Jing has going for him is the ten or so episodes of the first season where he endeared himself to viewers as the pure and untainted Shi Qi.
Since then, all his actions are just explained in dialogues. The show wants you to like him just because the script says so. He is good just because the script says so. Deng Wei is the weakest link of the cast and fails to manage to bring forth even a hint of a second layer to his character.
It’s almost like the drama makers hate him because he’s given the least impactful screen time and even when he isn’t he wastes his moments with the same redundant facial expressions we have seen from episode 1. He is never Xiao Yao’s equal and is more of an adopted pet than a partner. All he does is get sick, cries and causes Xiao Yao to mother him.
He is a very useless character overall - bland, uncomplicated and a man who would always be on a lower level than his woman. Which is also why, it’s the most understandable why Xiao Yao would be attracted to him given the rough life she has had and why he is the only real option available to her. So, while I understood his appeal to Xiao Yao, it still didn’t mean I had to like him as a character and I couldn’t help but yawn every time his scenes came on screen because of how much of a snoozefest they were.
✔️Xiao Yao - The Queen of Broken Hearts
Xiao Yao - one of my favorite female leads ever - really took some hits this season. She was at times frustratingly indecisive, forever hung up on a man when that’s never been her character, stupidly self-blaming and had some moments that were downright naive. That said, Yang Zi’s excellent portrayal made her impossible to dislike for me. Her acting is one of the best I have seen by any C-drama heroine in my entire life.
Xiao Yao is a woman who wears her past and troubled childhood like a cloak. It’s always there, lingering at the back of her mind. She is a product of her upbringing and abandonment is a word that rules her deepest phobias. That is why, even when you dislike the decisions she makes, they fall in line with her character. You understand why she does what she does and you can’t begrudge her that.
Her underlying strength never vanishes even at her lowest; she is clever and scheming when she has to be, and she never loses sight of her passion that lies in healing people. While I do believe her life revolved around the men more than I would like, Xiao Yao is still one of my favorite characters.
There's something so nurturing in her that speaks to the broken men she comes across, something so wounded that reaches out to others with similar wounds, that there is never a question as to why she is the one all these men are pining after. That said, as compassionate as she is, Xiao Yao’s wrath is a cold, cold dish and when served, it freezes the other person to near death.
Yang Zi’s phenomenal acting made me feel her loneliness, her pain, her anger and her hopelessness. She has always only ever wanted to have someone that would put her first and it’s impossible to forsake her for it.
Even if it pains me to say it, her ultimate decision is the most realistic and practical one among the very meager options. Cang Xuan’s love is shared by the throne he sits on and tainted by all the women he must marry for the sake of power.
Xiang Liu, who is without a doubt the one she would be with if she could, is imprisoned by a debt that will never be paid. A debt that has become his identity - it’s all he knows, all he has ever known and parting with it, means parting with himself.
So Jing - simple, unimpressive, easy to handle Jing - is the safest option for her heart. She doesn’t need saving because she can save herself. She doesn’t need fame because her lineage gives her enough of that. She doesn’t even need the epic, unforgettable love anymore because all the torture that she has faced over the years has beaten it out of her.
What she needs is just a partner, fully devoted and simply there, right next to her with no other responsibilities other than staying with her. In Jing, she sees the innocence that she herself has lost and preserving it, means preserving a part of herself.
By healing him, she heals herself and so she fights for him with such devotion because despite all the pain, he has brought her happiness that is simple- a simplicity she has forever craved for and I won’t hold that against her.
Because, despite the men you root for, this is ultimately Xiao Yao’s story about the love she lost, the love she never had and the love she gained. It’s a journey of how she met these men who changed the very trajectory of her life - who broke her some, who healed her some - and who left different kinds of impressions on her heart.
❌ Some Flaws this drama had:
I am not going to say this drama was perfect because I did find some flaws in it. For one, the plot did go in circles at times and the action/war scenes were poorly executed. There is a lot of telling rather than showing as well. Other times, there were unintentionally funny scenes that didn’t go with the tone of the drama. (Even if they were few and far between.)
However, the biggest flaw was the last few episodes. Rushed, messy and deviating from the original novel. It baffles me why the drama chose to make some of the choices it did in order to reduce the brutality and tragedy of the original novel. I think it made the story more audience friendly but it really felt like defanging a lion and turning it into a house cat.
The fates of these characters in the novel were there for a reason. They made sense because their personalities and actions led up to those conclusions. So, meddling with that, especially in the case of Cang Xuan, just made a lot of things feel underwhelming for me.
And yet, they decided to keep one of the most cruel fates in this story, just like it was in the novel, even when audiences prayed for some reprieve there. So, I am not sure what the point of those changes really was because I am sure the amount of scenes they modified, they ended up pissing off fans of each of the men.
✅ Final Thoughts:
So yes, while I had problems with this drama, it was still very much a story that pulled at all of my heartstrings. I felt so much empathy and so much grief for these flawed characters and I feel that overall, the writers did an excellent job weaving a narrative that was so compelling and so utterly agonizing.
There are some excellent supporting characters in this drama in the form of the bratty but endearing princess Nian, the wise Xiyan emperor and the lovable Haoling king. They all have moments that steal the show and allow you to look at the main protagonist’s actions with a different perspective.
Lost you forever is an extremely character driven slow burn story which is why I think this is best seen 2 episodes a day. You have to sip and feast on it like a mug of cozy hot cocoa instead of downing it like a tequila shot in one go because if you do that, you’ll be left coughing, sputtering and bored.
Ultimately, this is a story about love but love is not the end goal. These are complicated characters who all have their own motivations to do what they do. And, while they crave for a home, for companionship and for a future - they don’t necessarily base their choices around it. As a result, there are more or less no antagonists in this drama - just these complex people with their own internal struggles, fighting their own demons.
I had already read many excerpts from the novel, so I knew how most things were going to go and yet, when I saw it all come to life on screen, my feelings still got manipulated like I was a puppet on strings. I cried, I laughed, I stressed and I despaired. For that alone, I feel like for me, it was a drama worth watching and I cannot give it a lower score.
So, this is without a doubt one of my favorites and 100% Jeana recommended.
***
To Xiao Yao,
You don’t have to be alone anymore. May you have somewhere to go and have someone to rely on. Wishing you a lifetime of peace and happiness.
Xiang Liu
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Thanks also to those on YouTube for the English subs [uncut] as without them we would never have know such wonderful talent.
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An amazing journey of self-discovery
I know there are at least a few people who are on the fence about starting this drama since it's heavy on politics and it's not everyone's cup of tea. It sure is not mine. Yet, here I am, loving this drama and recommending it to everyone. And here's why...STORY
Would I call it realistic? Not really. Did it bother me that it was unrealistic? No. Why? Because it was cohesive and consistent. I know that political dramas can be boring for people who are just not interested in the topic, and that's why adding some unrealistic, but definitely grabbing the attention plot points made this drama more approachable for a wider audience.
The main point of the drama was the development and growth of the characters. It's a story of believing in yourself and what you stand for, fighting for the right. Discovering that just because there are winners, does not necessarily mean there must be losers. How to play the game that will make not only you achieve your goals, but also make everyone around you content. It's about slowly realizing your strengths and ways to use them. Figuring out that wanting something does not necessarily make you a bad person who is only led by greed. Many interesting lessons to learn with our main character. An amazing journey of self-discovery.
CHARACTERS & CAST
I was not sold on the idea of Ji Jin Hee being the lead of the whole drama. Especially after watching the first two episodes. Him being surrounded by all the strong and captivating side characters made me worried, if he can truly lead the whole show. And oh boy, I was wrong. Now I would say he was born for this role and he aced the character. Seeing Park Moo Jin slowly grow without giving up on his principles and beliefs was an amazing journey. It was refreshing to see a really smart main character that was also empathetic and, to put it simply, a good person.
It's also worth mentioning other characters that won my heart: Cha Young Jin, whom I loved to hate at the beginning and then just simply loved. Han Na Kyung who was the MVP of the badass team. Oh Young Seok, who made the drama even more thrilling to watch. Yoon Chan Kyung who was the true politician - I never knew where she was standing and what her motives were. Is she good? Is she bad? I guess you will find out for yourself, if you decide to watch it.
OTHER
The show also talks about some serious issues in a realistic and not patronizing way. It helps with understanding the reasoning for specific choices characters make. The cinematography and the way it was shot was beautiful. Definitely a high quality production. The music was good; it was not exactly grabbing my attention, but it's a political drama, the ost is not the main focus here. The ending was perfect, and everything I could wish for.
Overall, I did not expect to like this drama as much as I did, but it will probably stay as one of my favorites.
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JUST " ONE &ONLY " U , ZHOU SHENG CHEN ~ BEAUTIFUL BONES [A MUST WATCH]
I have never doubted and never disappointed with ALLEN REN's acting, in any drama he is always very successful in carrying out his role well... this is his fifth drama that i watched in a row from UTP, i started to be his BIG FANS after UTP and continue to pursue all his works..and after this drama released the trailer, i'm really interested to watch it..no doubt again... his handsome and authoritative appearance, accompanied by the beautiful artist BaiLu, adds to my desire to watch it..... and after watching it...this drama is far from my mind....because....THIS DRAMA IS TOO GOOD AND PERFECT...in terms of story, acting, costumes, bgm to cinematography is very beautiful and perfect, like you are watching on the big screen... I was amazed when I started watching this drama and felt like I was watching a big screen cinema....
this drama has a very good storyline, developing and extensive, you will find every point of the episode is never boring and once you start, you will be drawn into the story and continue it until the end...even though the ending of this drama is very tragic and makes you will cry bitterly watching it but I am very satisfied with the ending, because the cursed Villains also get punished for what they have done...
This drama has many sweet moments between the two main leads " Zhou Sheng Chen and Cui Shi Yi although there are no very romantic scenes but their every gaze, smile, hug and concern for each other is able to melt and thrill your heart when watching it ... Their love are so sweet, sincere strong and pure....
the acting between the two mainleads is very very amazing and perfect in this drama....
Allen Ren brought ZhouShengChen's character very perfectly and amazing,he is a manly, handsome, strong, wise and highly adored character by his people...he is a character who not only has good skin but good bones too and deserves the called "BEAUTIFUL BONES" , people who have good skin, don't necessarily have good bones and vice versa...only ZSC has both...he doesn't chase wealth, doesn't chase thrones and isn't infatuated with beautiful women...only CuiShiYi who is able to melt his heart.... he is a patriot who is willing to sacrifice himself for the peace of the kingdom and the welfare of his people.... truly a hero whose name will always be engraved in the hearts of his people...
CuiShiYi played by BaiLu is very lively and perfect...she is a very beautiful, elegant, gentle and intelligent woman, she is the only female figure who can melt ZSC's heart, CSY's love is the MOST GREATEST I have ever seen in a drama, she is willing to sacrifice her whole body and soul just for the man she loves ZSC, willing to sacrifice herself forever not to marry just to be with him, the greatest happiness for her is to be by his side forever...
"CUISHIYI IS A WOMAN CHARACTER IN THE DRAMA I LIKE THE MOST BECAUSE OF HER LOVE IS SO STRONG, SINCERE AND GREAT..."
THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE BOTH MAINLEADS IS REALLY AWESOME AND VERY POWERFUL...
not only the two mainleads, even the supporting cast also acted very very well which also helped make this drama so success...
besides that I also really admire the relationship between teachers and students, or with military advisors and between their brothers and sisters which is very deep, harmonious and strong, they look at each other like brothers and their own family, love each other, take care of each other and that makes me very touched, loved and admired their excellent relationship.
beautiful soundtrack song and suitable for every scene add perfect points to this drama, I love all soundtrack songs in this drama too.
this drama is not only worthy of 10/10 if possible i will give a rating of 1000/1000 for this drama 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I also want to thank our two main roles, of course Allen Ren and Bai Lu for their amazing acting for this drama, besides that also our support roles, especially those who play CuiFeng, General Hong, XiaoYan, General Feng, General Zhou,XieYun, YangShao , Advisor Xie , Huan Yu and 3rd madam cui and Prince PinQin) and others, as well as the director and the rest of the crew for making this drama so lively and perfect
I re-watch this drama from the first episode and I might find it difficult to move on from this drama for the next few months after watching the sequel "forever and ever"... this is what I'm most looking forward to...
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STORY
The story revolves around a restaurant that's only open from 12 midnight to 7 in the morning. He doesn't really have a menu, if he has the ingredients, he'll make you whatever you want. The whole show is about the people that come and go through the restaurant. In all the times that he's been the proprietor of the restaurant, Master (that's what his customers call him), has met interesting people. His regular customers get their story told too. Some episodes are not as memorable as the rest.
ACTING/CAST
I actually watched this drama for Nam Taehyun. I really think he's not that bad of an actor. He acts the way he's supposed to act, I think. But the other actors are great too.
Kim Seung Woo as Master, I think did a good job to appear the friendly restaurant owner.
I love the regular customers who pop up from time to time.
Nam Taehyun plays Minwoo, a student who has so many part time jobs.
Choi Jae Sung who plays Ryu, the mysterious gangster with a heart of gold.
Jung Han Hun (Mr. Kim, the fisherman) & Joo Won Sung (quack doctor), I love their friendly banter.
Jin Seo Yun as Cherry, she works at the bar close by
Park Jun Myun as the manga writer
Ban Min Jung, Song Hwa Ryeong & Jang Hee Jung as the Noodle sisters. Compared to their Japanese counterparts, I like them better.
Son Sang Gyeong as Deongchi, Ryu's scary looking but kinda like a big teddy bear bodyguard.
At the end of most episodes, there's like scenes of his customers going home. I cried seeing the very last one because the show made me like the camaraderie between all of them.
There were a lot of the well known actors as guests like Ji Jin Hee, Oh Ji Ho, Seo Woo, Ahn Jae Wook, Lee Ki Woo etc.
MUSIC
There's not really that much of a music. But I love the opening song "Till the Morning Comes" by Younha.
REWATCH VALUE
Definitely! The episodes are only 30 minutes and like I said, I really like the cast. They made me laugh, they made me cry.
OVERALL
Compared to the original version, I'd rather watch this than that one. I maybe k-drama biased but I really think the original was more boring.
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At times like that we need friends who help us, who'll reach their hand out, who'll walk the difficult and hard path towards that faraway dream. Because sometimes you simply can't do it alone. And why should you have to, if you have friends by your side who are willing to support you?
If you ask me that's the main thought of the whole drama. People aren't born strong. When they're alone they'll often feel insecure and won't be able to do what they truly want. People are able to get stronger when they have the unconditional support from friends though, people who'll stand by their side no matter what. People who'll fight for them. Who'll bring happiness but also lighten the pain and sadness.
But what Tumbling teaches you is that those people, your dear friends, are also only humans. They will also get hurt, feel insecure, get angry, lonely or frustrated. They're also capable of losing hope or making wrong choices. And just as they help you, you should support them when they need it.
Tumbling is a really amazing and very touching drama. I am simply yet madly in love with it.
At first I thought the drama would only be about Tumbling itself and bullying but it deals with so much more than that, it honestly surprised me, in a good way. In my opinion the actors are the ones who make the drama as great as it is, every character has it's own role within the story and gets the opportunity to grow and change slowly.
Tumbling sounds like a typical sport drama but it's so much more than that. Besides the sport itself it deals with your normal teenage problems, insecurity, loneliness, violence, sadness but mainly about hopes, dreams and above all; friendship.
It's really hard for me to explain what I love about the drama without spoiling too much but I guess it's the way the characters develop themselves. Even though Wataru starts off as your typical delinquent, he turns out to be so much more. And not only him, everyone in the drama gets a moment to shine.
Even though there are cheesy or cliché moments I think the drama pulled everything off perfectly fine, the story is simple yet really touching at moments and the actors are all simply amazing.
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Yummy Drama
This is probably one of the most enjoyable drama. While watching this drama, you will feel light-hearted. I really love how the whole drama focuses on Hua Xiao Mai's cooking and her 'dream'. Usually, other cooking dramas like dating in the kitchen don't really depict its title, it only has the cooking and kitchen part at the early episodes, but at the latter episodes there is no dating in the kitchen anymore. But at Chef Hua, they managed to keep the show core plot, they did not go astray from the main plot. This drama doesn't have the fight for throne, love triangle, evil scheme, bla bla bla bla. It is totally a light hearted drama, it is like showing the audience a day in a chef villager in the past.Also the cinematography is AWESOME!! I love the cooking shots. Even though some of the cooking shots bothered me bcs of the fingers smh .. but the angle lightning and everything made up for it. In addition, the OST is also very catchy too!! If you are looking for a light drama, I definitely recommend this drama!!
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This review may contain spoilers
"I hope that in this world, there is someone who will come just for me."
"Legend of the Female General" (锦月如歌) is one of my highly anticipated dramas for 2025. It is based on the novel "Rebirth of a Star General" by Qian Shan Cha Ke, but I haven't read the book, so my review is based solely on the drama.(NOTE: This review has been sitting in my drafts folder for 2 months, and I'm glad to finally publish it!)
PRODUCTION 📺:
For me, one of the things I like most in this drama are the action scenes, which are so well executed. Most of the time, as they wield their swords, whips and spears, I was glued to the screen, and I felt like I had an adrenaline rush just by watching them 😂. I think the production team really put effort into the choreography. Some memorable scenes include:
• He Yan's sword dance in Yezhou👏 ~ It's a combination of gracefulness and strength.
• He Yan's Duel with Ding Yi ~ Badass He Yan at one of her finest scenes!
• He Yan's face-off with the Lie He commander ~ this scene and the events leading up to it are just brilliantly done.
• Their battle with Wu Tuo at Jiyang and He Yan's fight with Hu Ya Te, the commander of Wu Tuo.
There are still other action scenes of He Yan and Xiao Jue that I like, but I won't mention all of them anymore.
As for the location shoots and costumes, they are appropriate and meet my expectations for a costume drama set in a fictional period in Chinese history.
STORY/PLOT 📚:
Right from the start, the drama team shows us that one of the story's main themes is the romance between He Yan and Xiao Jue. For me, they have shown enough of the romantic aspect in the drama. I also like the snippets of flashbacks in some episodes that show the dynamics between He Yan and Xiao Jue when they were still students in Xianchang Academy.
The military aspect is also dealt with, and their military exploits/espionage activities are complemented by the excellent fight scenes. Another thing I appreciate in the drama is that He Yan's military genius, leadership and commanding presence really shine through in the scenes where they're needed.
Overall, the drama's pacing is good. Each arc is given time and space to develop, except maybe for the last arc. As for the ending, it gives a good wrap-up for most of the characters.
There are some parts that could be better though:
• I wish they had shown more background on He Yan and her master Liu Bu Wang, like where and how they met, and how he helped mould her to become the person she is.
• Some parts could have been fleshed out further, but given the number of episodes, I think we got a good compromise.
• I was disppointed with how the scriptwriters treated General Yan He's character (played by Peter Sheng) towards the end.
CAST/ACTING 🎭:
Zhou Ye as He Yan is the one that stands out for me. She was able to show the different sides of He Yan - one who's feminine yet not dainty, sharp and strategic, an ace fighter and a leader. When she fights, she slays it! There were just some scenes with Xiao Jue in Yezhou city where I think she acted a bit too feminine, when she was supposed to be a man at that time.
Cheng Lei is one good actor who has portrayed memorable characters in other dramas, e.g., Gong Shang Jue in "My Journey to You". Here, he brings the same kind of intensity and focus as Xiao Jue. There are moments though when I feel he could bring more depth/emotions to his scenes.
He Ru Fei got my blood boiling many times; his character is so infuriating! Based on this alone, I'd say Bai Shu did a good job portraying him. He Ru Fei is a despicable character, with little redeeming qualities.
Zhang Kang Le was able to show the morally grey aspect of Chu Zhao. He could have been a great statesman, had he learned to let go of his obssession.
Li Qing as Cheng Li Su and Zhang Miao Yi as Song Tao Tao contributed to the light-hearted scenes. I like that they put these two characters in the drama.
QUOTABLE QUOTE 🔮:
"有时候做一个人的替身久了，难免会忘记自己是谁。我希望，这世上有那么一个人是为我而来。" ~ 禾晏
"Sometimes, when you've been another person's substitute for so long, you might forget who you are. I hope that in this world, there is someone who will come just for me." ~ He Yan
FINAL VERDICT ⭐️: If you like military dramas with great fight scenes and romance, and a kick-ass female lead who succeeded in a male-dominated world (despite having to dress up as a man first), then I would recommend this. Despite some parts that could have been better, this is still a good watch for me.
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For full enjoyable experience, PLEASE watch the cut/trimmed scenes and the second ending
If anyone have watched any dramas from MGTV, you'll know that they suck, especially when they put it on YouTube. MGTV doesn't always provide Eng subs, they will cut audio if it means avoiding music copyright issues, and they also edit and cut/trim down scenes a lot. Sadly, they're not like the wonderful YOUKU with "Word of Honor." YOUKU has been giving such an wonderful experience for fans of Word of Honor. MGTV could never because they're too cheap.With all that said, Killer and Healer is still an enjoyable drama despite being butchered like that but if you want the full experience, please make sure to watch the cut/trimmed scenes and watch the second ending. You can find all of those clips on YouTube if you search "Killer and Healer highlight" and "Killer and Healer ending."
Killer and Healer is a Republican Era, cop/doctor action detective drama with the cop, Jiang Yuelou, trying to solve and get rid of opium in Jing City. By chance, he meets the doctor Chen Yuzhi and they form a cooperation and then an unbreakable friendship/relationship helping each other while trying to break through the cases and find out and stop the main villain of the drama. At the same time, Chen Yuzhi tries to help Jiang Yuelou with his PTSD and bipolar disorder which has begun to affect Jiang Yuelou's reactions/decisions in the field.
YES, THIS IS A SOULMATES DRAMA. Look, if you know anything about Chinese dramas by now, you know they censor LGBTQ+ content. That means that directors and scriptwriters etc. have to find a way around it and I think this drama did it wonderfully. The main leads, Jiang Yuelou and Chen Yuzhi, have an incredibly deep relationship with so much loyalty and trust, along with warm and tender exchanges and interactions. ESPECIALLY IF YOU WATCH THE CUT/TRIMMED SCENES, you can witness that even more. There is so much explicitly said AND implied, you have to know how to read between the scenes/lines. And I want to clarify that, though yes they have a female character here and she does catch feels for one of the main leads, she is never used to block the two guys nor is she ever an annoying character. She's so wonderful and I will fight anyone who hates on her. Her character was used in some way to downplay the LGBTQ+ vibes but you can always tell how important and critical Jiang Yuelou's and Chen Yuzhi's relationship is to each other.
Anyway, it's fairly fast-paced and yet also does very well with angsty and sad scenes that makes you cry. The OST is also really good too and truly makes you feel the emotions of the scene. There are some plot choices that I question, but overall, I still enjoyed this drama a lot.
Mao Zijun as Jiang Yuelou and Ian Yi as Chen Yuzhi were such a delight! I hadn't really seen them before in their previous dramas (and I believe Killer & Healer is their first real drama as leads), so watching them here was refreshing but also so enjoyable! Mao Zijun is my absolute favorite because he is able to balance looking cool and handsome and also painful scenes where he's hurting and is crying so much. I am seriously impressed with Mao Zijun as it can be difficult to pull off a character who can be aggressive but also sympathetic too. He's able to show off how Jiang Yuelou can be tough but also be so vulnerable. Such great acting and good character.
Ian Yi did a perfect job of being the gentle and caring doctor Chen Yuzhi. There are other supporting characters that are pretty great too, such as the female character Chu Ran, who wasn't annoying at all and was just so level-headed, calm, smart, and cute. I adore the supporting characters like Song Rong and Sun Yongren.
There's the second "couple" characters--Zhan Junbai and Yu Tangchun--who are so fascinating but sadly don't have as many scenes as the main leads. However, their relationship is intriguing still and quite heartbreaking. I adore both of the actors for these roles and enjoyed watching their interactions and relationship.
To summarize, you might like this drama if you like these things:
-Two complex and competent male leads who value and care for each other so much that it's practically romantic (but due to censorship, it's "bromance"). (Even kisskh tag this as "homoerotic subtext" and they're not wrong.)
-A competent and smart female character who is never made annoying or as a "block" to the main leads
-A complicated and intriguing relationship between the supporting "couple" characters
-Endearing supporting characters who serve as comedic relief and also as commentary to the two male leads' relationship
-HURT/COMFORT!!! This is one of the best things about this show. It's about the angst and hurt and being taken care of by the other!!
-UNWAVING FAITH AND LOYALTY of the main leads!!!!!
-Suggestive and flirting looks (what can I say, Mao Zijun just oozes such casual flirtatious style, okay.)
Things that you might not like or feel comfortable with
-Depiction of mental illnesses. Personally, I think they did a decent job with Jiang Yuelou's bipolar disorder and PTSD but I don't know too much about bipolar disorder. I know PTSD though and Jiang Yuelou definitely have a lot of that from his difficult background. However, I know some viewers may feel it difficult to watch when Jiang Yuelou is going through this.
-Deaths. This is a Republican Era drama, so typically, a lot of people will die, especially in this line of work as a cop/detective working to fight mob bosses.
Possible content warnings:
-depictions of addiction behavior and trauma-related behavior like aggression and violence
-depictions of domestic violence and abuse
-depiction of PTSD and bipolar disorder
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