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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Extremely satisfied
Honestly I like this story it's like a breath of fresh air, quick and short and yet it's very refreshing. Most historical cdramas are tragic and full of pain and depression. Basically they're not for the faint hearted. Even if I'm a bit "braver" than others. I too get tired of those long, stupid, illogical, time consuming and complicated dramas. Therefore even though their acting and story was generally average. It's worth it especially if you've been watching a lot of historical dramas with unhappy endings.Absolutely recommend, for people like me that is. If you're looking for a drama to relax, chill and cool down from all those other scheming and complex dramas.
Well then this is the drama for you ;)
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This review may contain spoilers
Anti-heroes. Down to earth. Authentic. Harsh. Compassionate. No Cinderella story, yet a love story.
I stumbled across this comparatively 'old' KDrama (2002) because of actress Gong Hyo-Jin. But actually here particularly Lee Na-young and Yang Dong-geun impressed me with their strong and down-to-earth performance. Once again I discovered a little gem of early KDrama art.Rather tranquil. True to life. Authentic. No fairy tale. No Cinderella story. No power games of the mighty, but simple everyday life of anti-heroes. Yes, down to earth. Very. I was delighted. This KDrama - like "My Mister" or "When the Camellia Blooms" - is centred around a quite authentic, ordinary world. Not spectacular. Neither in action, nor in scenery. The story is also not about the rich, beautiful, successful people that are always welcome, but about those who are less noticed (in the media): about ordinary people who didn´t have an excellent education, yet earn their money somehow. It is about a world comparably most people unfortunately live in - about their worries, hardships and, if it can´t be avoided, illnesses, too.
In its centre: a young, inconsiderate, unwieldy pickpocket who is confronted with the diagnosis of brain tumor. It is about the people in his immediate environment: family, friends, girlfriends, police. About a love traingle. About choices in life. Reconsideration, too. That's not really 'exciting'. But touching. Unspectacularly impressive. A mirror of compassion and humanity.
"Ruler of your own World" dates back to the early days of KWave. At the time, this KDrama was not as successful (also internationally) as i.e. the productions of the "Endless Love Series". However, it was highly valued and appreciated in its own country for the authentic story (with comparably hardly in KDrama otherwise frequently elaborated makjang). "Ruler of your own World" is considered the ´best´ serial production of 2002 (vs. "Winter Sonata" as the most ´successful´ of the same year.)
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Great Story, Fine Acting
Step into the enchanting world of "Divine Destiny," a captivating romance between Zhang Yinyin (played by Yang Ying aka Angelababy) and Ji Ruochen (played by Ma Tianyu). Their love knows no bounds as they face incredible challenges, even risking their own lives for each other. Together, they become stronger with their increasing supernatural abilities, fighting for love, for their fellow cultivators, and for the salvation of the three worlds. In the realm of fantasy, the gods are thought to reign supreme with goodness, and the demons and devils wicked and bad. In reality, it's precisely the opposite.Zhang Yinyin shines as an intelligent, chivalrous, headstrong and spirited character who is adored as the big sister of her sect. She may be authoritative and explosive at times, but that's what makes her so endearing. Yang Ying's acting brings a lovable charm to the fiery Zhang Yinyin, even with a few moments of imperfection. And her stunning transformation into the foxy fox devil - the CGI work is top-notch!
Zhang Yinyin meets and falls in love with Ji Ruochen who has a mysterious background which adds intrigue to the story. From operating a black shop to a mistaken identity, his journey is filled with twists and turns. With a burst of enthusiasm, Zhang Yinyin simply couldn't resist bringing Ji Ruochen home to her sect, and that's where his amazing cultivator journey begins, and the sparks of love start to fly between him and Zhang Yinyin. Ma Tianyu does a commendable job portraying the seemingly clueless and obedient Ji Ruochen, and later, the powerful demon lord.
A compelling story wouldn't be complete without its fair share of antagonists. In this tale, we encounter several outright obnoxious characters and some with shades of gray. Among them, the most vexing is the consort to the crown prince with that distinctive sneer and high-pitched voice. Alongside the cunning prime minister, they plot and scheme to gain control. But their journey takes a twist, leading to a resolution that brings relief.
Among the more complex characters are the disgraced gods, whose actions stem from obsession and vengeance. Thankfully, they eventually come to their senses and reflect on their deeds. It's a journey of redemption for them, adding depth to the story.
My Verdict
While "Divine Destiny" may have some plot holes and logic flaws, it's a delightful drama that keeps the viewers entertained. It's a pleasure to see familiar faces and enjoy the chemistry between the main leads. So if you're looking for some romantic fantasy fun while waiting for new releases, "Divine Destiny" deserves a chance.
Recommended!
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This review may contain spoilers
This drama tested every last bit of my patience.Everything in it was done at the most shallow, surface level possible. We were given no insight into why our characters made the decisions they made, no deeper look into their inner struggles and desires and motivations; no emotionally revealing conversations between the characters or internal dialogue to bring us into their inner worlds; no explanation for what our female leads ultimate goal was or if she even had one; just a bare bones story trying real hard to be devoid of any substance. Which is all the more frustrating as it had so much potential for substance. The bones of a good story were there. The writers just never put any meat on them.
Understand that none of this is the fault of the actors or actresses. They did the best with what was given to them. (Although I truthfully wasn't impressed with Yong Jun Hyung at all.) I quite liked both female leads and am more angry For them for what a crappy story they were handed than I could ever be At them. Chae Seo Jin is aces as Oh Go Woon, and that's the main reason I didn't end up hating her or her character. They're both too lovable. But while Kim Min Young is clearly just as good of an actress, and Lee Seul Bi had some really solid character moments in the first handful of episodes and in the finale, neither of them were ever given a chance to shine. Chae Seo Jin/Oh Go Woon get all the screentime, and eventually, you begin to think the posters and teasers were all just an elaborate lie, and Lee Seul Bi isn't the main character after all.
I will say that there is a lot to enjoy about the finale. The first half ties up a number of plot points in ways that are genuinely satisfying. It also offers up some deeper explanations and explorations of the drama's theme that the story was sorely lacking before that point. Honestly, episode 12 has more story development than all 11 other episodes combined, and it dulled some of the frustration I had going into it. But the second half of the episode is a total waste, and the episode as a whole brings up some really fascinating ideas that the drama Could have explored and Should have explored but Didn't explore, so it ultimately just leaves you feeling frustrated again.
Should you watch Coffee, Do Me A Favor? No. Coffee, Do Me A Favor is not a good drama, and you should not watch it.
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WORTH THE WATCH 100 PERCENT
It's my first time reviewing a drama, I have been watching C dramas since the onset of the coronavirus, and hands down this drama has topped my list in terms of every aspect, from chemistry to storyline. I swear you will never regret binging all the 36 episodes at one go, cause u will be hooked right from the start. And the kisses, it burns u from the inside, the passion, the hunger, the love, and the sexual tension. My goodness god gracious, It's forever gonna be one the best dramas I have watched. I will rewatch it every time I am in need of some love and fluff and intense romance.WATCH ITTT U WILL NEVER REGRET IT
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Acting/Cast: Perfect! Good chemistry for the main characters. I didn't expect Yoobi to have good chemistry with Minho but they did.
Music: I like that the music also complemented the web drama (Follow Me Down OST from Alice in Wonderland).
Rewatch value: I watched a few episodes again. It's not a long story and not dragging so I can watch it over and over until I figure how to connect the epilogues to the episodes.
Overall, a must watch for those who love light drama with slice of life, school life, time travel genre. I expected a longer episode 10 though but, as with a few of the Kdramas I've seen, most endings seem to make me feel like there are missing elements to conclude the story.
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This review may contain spoilers
Even though what happened is unfathomable, despite all the tragedy, the deeper focus is on hope
A true story. Not the only one of this kind, unfortunately. This one took place in South Korea in 2008 and was filmed in the KMovie "Hope" in 2013. (In the original: "Wish" - the meaning of "Sowon", the name of the eight-year-old protagonist.)This film production, which was shown in neighboring Asian cinemas, too, achieved great success largely through word of mouth. The story is shocking and touching, while the film adaptation laid its focus less on exploiting the crime itself, than on sensitively dealing with how it affected the little girl, her family, friends of family and classmates. It's less about the incredibly unscrupulous, brutal act than about the family's struggle to continue to come to terms with the unfathomable and the consequences on a wide variety of levels - psychological, physical, social, financial, legal, media-related and everyday practical.
“Hope” received quite some film awards. Despite all the heartbreaking tragedy, the KMovie deliberately intents to touch people in a positive sense. The KMovie wants to open up an, nevertheless, optimistic perspective towards a life 'after'. This, obviously, is tough and challenging. Surely it takes time and even more patience. Heart-rending in this context, for example, is the wonderfully authentic portrayal of the massively threatened father-daughter relationship. Unexpectedly, though, some light comes into the darkness. Sol Kyung-gu - in the role of a desperate father, whose daughter is in danger of slipping away from him due to her terrible experiences – apparently did not take off his distinctive costume throughout the entire shoot in order to maintain high contact with the emotions and their intensity the whole time. And Lee Re, in her debut on the big screen as an eight-year-old daughter, also touches the heart, as does Uhm Ji-won, who initially apparently didn't have the courage to take on her role of the mother. She is also deeply touching with her convincing acting that gets right under your skin.
Even though, what happened is and remains unfathomable, despite all the tragedy, the KMovie explicitly focuses on hope. This way, throughout those 122 stirring minutes it is not all grim all the time.
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SIDE NOTE: --- The Cho Doo-soon case ---
The story refers to a rape case from 2008, when a drunken 57-year-old man brutally raped an eight-year-old girl in a public toilet in Ansan. Being as brutal as he was, the girl suffered permanent damage. However, the man (who before had already been convicted of rape, among other things) got away with only 12 years in prison. He consequently kept up his mantra, that being so drunk that day he couldn´t remember anything. This had already helped him in previous cases. Here too, he was given mitigating circumstances due to his age, the influence of alcohol and his mental state.
The rape in Asan was extremely gruesome. (The details were not in so much details explicit in the KMovie and I also do not want to waste any letter for them here, either.) Suffering from her internal and external injuries, the girl was hospitalized for eight months. She took an artificial anus back home. Medical treatment was followed by psychiatric treatment. A year later she was at least stabilized enough to go back to school. But even several years later in 2020, she apparently can handle harmless cartoons on TV only, avoids any news and tough topics, i.e. she is still extremely fragile and unstable when it comes to the issues involving any violence at all.
The investigation and trial in this case from 2008 didn´t get covered in glory. On the contrary. The public outcry was great and extended, among other things, to a petition to the Blue House for retrial. The case also led to a number of legislative proposals being submitted by the Democrats, which would, for example, suggest to imprison repeat offenders of sexual offenses against minors in special facilities for life, or e.g. concern the legal handling of sexual offenses committed under the influence of alcohol. But in the end they didn't go through, nor did various petitions.
Instead, the electronic ankle bracelet was the method of choice when Cho Doo-soon was released in 2020. The cost of continuous monitoring of Cho Do-soon's electronic ankle bracelet during the first 4 months after release only, was estimated by the Ministry of Justice at over 200 million won (over 140,000 euros). In addition, apparently 71 security cameras were set up specifically to protect Ansan's residents from Cho, who still has his wife and his home there…
By the way, the infamous Cho Doo-soon case was also topic in the K-dramas "Taxi Driver 2", "Voice 4" and "Vigilante".
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It's short, full of emotions and fun to watch. I really loved the story. I love this old-school themed stories, so it was for me. It's based on 1979 time period and I love that time set in here. Plus the Deagu dialect is really nice to hear, something different from Seoul dialect we are used to.
It has 'Reply series' vibe to it - probably heard that from a lot of people - which is true (I started to watch the Reply series because of this drama).
This is a text book story of coming to age and first love and crushes. And it truly is about girl generation - but not that Girl Generation - we can see Jung Hee and Hee Joo who are in their teens, her mother, Auntie, number 3 all this woman, in different age group of that time fighting their own problems and facing them. And it is about girls in different generation coming together.
The boys are here, but they help to make the girls look more stronger, not the other way around. Though it doesn't stop being just about the characters either. It shows - glimpse of it at least - how the people used to live that time, things that shaped our culture into something that we see now. And you can see how much we have changed. And how much we haven't.
Plus you can ship anyone with anyone. You can try the drama, just to see if your's makes to the end or not. (Mine did!).
The actors are all new to me. But I liked Bona. She made Lee Jung Hee more relatable to me. Love Chae Seo Jin. Have a crush on Lee Jong Hyun. I don't know about others but I really liked Do Hee's performance as Shim Ae Sook. To see her character grow like that, it was really satisfying. I really liked that.
The OST's in it's self are nice. But it has some of the top 1970's song in it, both Korean and English. And it makes you feel that old time vibe. Love that.
Some of the moments in this drama are my favorite, so I'm going to re-watch those and probably the whole thing too. Cause why not? It's a nice drama. It's short but the story end's perfectly with it's self.
In the end it gives 'complete' feeling. And I can imagine the rest of the story in my mind. It's a really cool drama. Do watch it!! #HopingForAnotherSeason
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A Romantic and Quick Historical Watch — If You Can Handle the Ending
There is one main reason I started watching this drama, and it’s because our (perpetually) second lead male actor Mi Re/Merxat is finally in one of his first leading roles. After completing this drama, I truly have a lot of mixed and bittersweet feelings. Overall (without spoiling anything) I believe this show's strengths include the performances and the overarching plot, although some viewers may take issues with the ending of the series.Some aspects viewers may like about the drama include:
♡ An Overbearing Yet Powerless King: Merxat does a really great job making Yuwen Yong possessive and quite “black belly,” while also showing how vulnerable he is. You see from the beginning how he is physically and emotionally suffering even though he holds the position of Emperor, and also how few people he has around him that truly care for him. I think this makes the plot itself quite interesting, especially since part of the storyline is not only focused on the romance, but also how he and Liu Jing/Jing'er navigate an environment that is literally and figuratively poisoning him. I have to say that Merxat's portrayal of the ML was very well done, especially with both the emotional and romantic scenes.
♡ A Smart, Mischievous, and Talented FL: Probably one of the best aspects of this drama is its portrayal of women. The female lead Jing'er has her own dreams and aspirations, which do contribute to her romance with Yuwen Yong, but also give her agency and personality separate from their love together. Jing'er not only uses her abilities to help Yuwen Yong, but also works hard to improve herself in order to achieve her own dreams. Most of all, her skills often end up either saving her or the Emperor, and often come in handy whether it be to protect herself or to uncover some of the broader political conspiracies in the palace.
♡ A Romance That Stands the Test of Conflicts: While Yuwen Yong often does some things that can be problematic, such as threatening to make sure Jing'er never leaves, in fact he deeply worries about her and the drama makes it clear that he falls for Jing'er first. I love how in a way their romance and chemistry felt a lot more adult, even if they start off by bickering and misunderstanding each other’s feelings. Merxat does a great job at being a devoted ML, and the drama also shows how both Jing'er and Yuwen Yong are lovers who are mutually equal in competence, despite their differences in status. They work together to solve problems, navigate the political conflicts that arise within the palace, and to support each other with their individual strengths in such a dangerous environment.
♡ Loveable Side Casts: Yuwen Zong plays an adorable and naive little brother, and I found it refreshing that he and Yuwen Yong had an overall supportive and loving relationship in the series. Many of the side casts, from the eunuch to Liu Jing's maid, are also not only close friends and confidantes, but support the main characters together as they go through different challenges. I also surprisingly really loved the tragic love story between the enemies Dugu Cheng and Tang Wan, and felt that they had great chemistry together, and that their screen time was tastefully done and well integrated into the overarching drama. While there are definitely characters that are more hateful, including some of Yuwen Yong’s concubines, I liked how some of the side characters were truly friends with the main cast.
♡ Short Length: The show is not draggy, and I think it really benefited from being a relatively short length as well as adapted from a novel. It’s overall very easy to watch and digestible, especially if you want a historical drama that has a balance of politics and romance without being too complex. I was able to follow the overarching political schemes of the drama without getting bored, and I think the number of episodes is very suitable for the storyline.
However, there are also some things that may be an issue or less enjoyable for viewers:
♥ Casting: I think there was some miscasting going on, or at least I was a little confused about some of the cast choices in this show. Gong Mi looks a little more mature than some of her castmates, and I wished they had simply incorporated this into the script (i.e. made her older than Yuwen Yong) instead of giving her a personality of a young and innocent girl who is still unaware of the world. I think it’s refreshing to have more mature and older women cast as female leads, and therefore I wished that they had just made this into part of the drama. Not to mention that much of the supporting cast, especially Yuwen Zong, looked significantly younger than the main cast. In other words, I think because of the casting sometimes I couldn’t tell whether this show was deciding to go into a youth romance drama territory, or wanted to delve into a more adult historical romance.
♥ Ending: Without revealing too much about the ending, what I will say is to be prepared for a conclusion that may potentially not satisfy you, and also closes off the possibility of a second season. I personally found it a bit strange that the directors decided to take the drama in this direction, because this drama fits a certain niche (light and romantic historical romcom) where this type of ending has not yet been done. At the same time, I emphasize that I was spoiled about the ending before I made the decision to watch this drama, and likely if I had known that this would be the outcome I may not have committed as much time to watching this show. I highly recommend you check out some of the spoilers to prepare yourself if you are considering watching this.
♥ Genre: Again, this is related to the ending, but I felt as if the drama couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a lighter and fluffier romantic drama, or if it wanted to be more introspective and angsty. There are many parts that are fluffy and sweet, but as we get to the latter stretch of the drama it navigates into serious tragedy territory. In other words, I feel as if this drama targeted an audience that may be looking for fluff, but then I warn to prepare yourself for the last five episodes, which deviate quite a lot from the sweetness of the earlier episodes.
♥ Production Value: It’s pretty clear that this is really low budget, even amongst the other dramas that fit the niche of short historical romcom. Some similar dramas that also are part of this genre include Oops the King is in Love (2020), Dr. Cutie (2019), My Dear Destiny (2020), The Love by Hypnotic (2019), and Love Better Than Immortality (2019). And I have to say that out of all these dramas, in this drama the sets and clothes were by far much less high-quality compared to the titles I’ve listed. You can sometimes see very clearly where the longer wig pieces attach to the back of the head, as well as how the majority of the costuming and backdrops are made out of cheaper materials. I also didn’t find much of the music or OST very memorable, which I found to be quite rare for a historical drama. While this is a matter of taste, I also note that the drama went for a more saturated and darker colouring, compared to the usual more pastel tone of shows in this genre.
This was a watch that I found to be relatively good for passing the time, especially while waiting in-between for other shows that were airing. It doesn’t drag much because of the episode length, has solid acting, and I really liked seeing Merxat on screen after such a long time as the male lead. At the same time, however, I would caution viewers about the ending, as well as some of the limits of the series with the lower production value. If you have the time and are interested in a binge-able romantic historical drama, then I would recommend you try this out while taking cautious note of some of its issues.
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This review may contain spoilers
Alternatively titled as: We've Got The Best Bromance!
It's been a couple of days since I completed watching Goblin and might I just say am so not over it. I've been reading a lot of its reviews, stalking the fuck out of Lee Dong Wook and basically just obsessing over this one a little too late. I usually try to stray clear of fantasy genre but I hate that I didn't give this one a chance sooner. It's like one of those overly popular dramas that have got the mainstream vibe to it because almost everyone has watched it already and I guess now I know why.I've got so many things on my mind regarding the series, the good things and the bad ones too that it's a bit hard to formulate them properly into words so I'll probably just rant my way out.
Starting off, Goblin was an extremely whimsical watch to say the least.
The first few episodes were absolutely breathtaking with immaculate cinematography both in the historical flashbacks and in current timeline, interesting choice of characters and plot will force you deeper into this drama, and once you're in well, there's no going back thereafter.
The plus point of the drama was definitely its character interactions with underlying but hugely effective humour. I personally prefer things to be serious and funny both at the same time, too much of just one set of emotion gets boring for my attention span. So needless to say Goblin nailed this one requirement of mine perfectly.
Each and every character dealt with the other in such a playful and satisfying way for most part of the series that I couldn't help but connect with them on a deeper, more intimate level.
That said, don't even get me started on the (b)romance between the Goblin and Grim reaper, probably the best I've seen yet (that says a lot considering bromance is a fairly common trope in K-drama world) they were just so entertaining together that at one point I was just watching the drama, waiting to get a glimpse of their quirky interactions (which were a lot thankfully). So if anyone asks me why I loved this drama as much as I did, I'll gladly put my hand on my heart and just think of all the cheeky moments between these two extremely good looking hunks.
Now coming to the romance, I found the story of Grim Reaper and Sunny a lot more captivating and emotionally investing than the protagonists despite the limited screen time. Not to belittle the leads or to say they were lacking or anything, they were good too in their own way. While the Reaper and Sunny had a heavy hot dose of chemistry sizzling through; the Goblin and his bride were the cutesy heart fluttering couple. The show got a lot more interesting seeing these two romantic parallels unfolding side by side. Not to mention the very evident age gap didn't bother me at all, if more I found it quite endearing and romantic since one of the involved party was a lonely immortal being while the other was an equally lonely but warm hearted magical soul. So whatever works for them in this life and after am all for it without any second thoughts whatsoever.
As much as I was intrigued by the plot and the never ending suspense of how things were going to pan out in the end, the last few episodes were a let down as compared to the heavy plot build in the previous ones. While the story went a full circle it failed to actually make sense. The logic and reasoning shredded into nothingness just like how Goblin was supposed to? But after a short amount of separation he reappeared as if nothing happened only god knows how (pun intended). Many other plot points came off as mere convenience which I possibly couldn't ignore at the end. The story of the Reaper got a whole lot diverted and complicated but I suppose it's a given since rounding up a fantasy takes an even more fantastical on the spot thinking. The writers could have done better because the plot turned out to be a sore spot for this one for sure.
Focusing on the actors, obviously they did a fine job on this one. The emotion transitions were perfect, the comic timing even more so and the inner turmoil in each of the 4 leads was something I actually felt and sympathised with especially in the case of Reaper's identity revelation. Lee Dong Wook has got me spellbound and am probably off to binge watch on his other remaining dramas.
Last but definitely not the the least. The OSTs! Oh my lord the OSTs are so on point in every damn scene and the fact that I absolutely love every one of them tunes (still humming round and round) is something that happens rarely.
So if you're looking for a feel good, fanciful world with beautiful and funny people roaming about it, be sure to delve into this one, if you haven't already.
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The main couple has really good chemistry. They suit each other well and their scenes are good. The angst in this romance is about them actually not supposed to be together, it was never meant to be. The butterfly effect has consequences. The second couple are also sweet and the romance plot is a tad angsty, I found myself worrying about the future I knew and wishing for a new future for them.
I have not noticed any big inconsistencies with this taking place in 1989. Even though the brands shown are of later date, I don't look at the brand names but rather the fashion style. I remember well all these horrible clothes, old technology and I feel myself being immersed. I am sure that if you really want to you can rip this show to bits finding loads of errors. I'm just not that kind of viewer. So far it feels like the 1989 that I remember.
All in all a well done drama, with the usual Taiwanese issues (low audio quality and at least one clown character). The extremely cheesy moments didn't bother me at all, I enjoyed them, squealed and cried my way through this very sweet story.
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Masterpiece
To call this show a masterpiece is an understatement. Everything about it is top notch. The acting, the story and the execution. Just wow. Every scene has a significance like the small details, everything adds together.Zhou yu tong, I don't know where to start with her. Her acting is mindblowing, I could feel every emotion of hers. The chem between her character and Jian yi fan is so cute, it the little things that matter.
I like the "mystery" element in here. Eveyone else did a expectiaonal job. Love the relationship between the girls. The emotions were raw.
Strongly recommended drama!!
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At the time, I watched many stupid romantic comedies so I needed something different from those usual dumb stories and so I found this drama somewhere. I read the synopsis that seemed appealing enough to give it a go with a medium level of expectations.
2) Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking this is a rom-com with a psychological aspect. The drama contains several twists that makes the storyline catching.
Positive Points:
*At the beginning (First 15 minutes), everything started really slow that I began to lose interest yet the writers were clever enough to take the story into another different level that attracted my intention.
*The story was captivating all the way through, it was short, psychologically romantic and most of all funny that’s why it hadn’t any dragging or slow moments.
*Main genres:
--->Romance: The romantic aspect in this drama is different from any other romantic comedies that I’ve seen before; there were mature feelings in this drama, the kind of feelings that go deeper and deeper each episode yet it doesn’t fall into the melodrama level since there were childish moments to make it light. I have to give the script writers credit for many "Wait, what happened?" moments while following the romantic development, many plot changes were really surprising and added a great taste to the storyline.
--->Humor: This drama’s funny scenes were smartly written, it was light and enjoyable. Like other Japanese dramas, it was ridiculously fun with all the weird situations.
--->Psychology: The romantic psychology was fairly interesting; there were many strange and sweet situations related to many great philosophic minds in this drama. The psychological cliffhangers were simply amazing, writers managed to keep all the twists captivating by inserting psychology into it.
Negative Points:
*I can’t possibly think about a negative point in this drama’s storyline; it was really great.
Story: 9.5/10.
3) Acting/Cast:
*Actors made it really believable and enjoyable; they knew how to deliver feelings even when they are trying to be funny. Matsuda Shota and Akira are the most talented actors here; I will add Tanihara Shosuke who portrayed the psychiatrist role perfectly.
Other actors were good too but I wasn’t touched by their acting skills like the three mentioned above.
*As for characters, you would get invested in every character since they always showed interesting developments into their personalities.
Ai-Ai was a great character that portrayed a strong woman personality while having the feminine feelings when she needed too: I would say that her character can represent woman power.
--->O-Chan was a character that would make you want to see him more on screen; it was really nicely done with good personality developments.
--->Kiku-rin was the strongest character in this drama, it manages to make you love him, hate him then love him again: It was a challenging character that added a great storyline development.
--->Usami was a weak character (basing on the storyline so it has nothing to do with Tamaki Hiroshi’s acting skills), it had many flaws but it managed to get through near the end.
Other characters were either average or annoying (……)
*Appreciated character: I was attracted by Kairi’s darkness especially near the end; it was a very appealing character to me.
*Relationships:
--->Romance: Since it’s a shuffle we can’t talk about specific couples yet there were chemistry all over the drama with all those intriguing feelings.
--->Friendship: It was present in a good way here, ever since the first episodes there were many signs of good friendship which made characters appear in a great harmony even if there were problems every once in a while.
*Favorite line: Uso da to itte yo, Joe!
Cast: 9/10.
Acting: 9/10.
4) The ending:
Well, it seemed a little unnatural but that doesn’t mean it was bad. Anyway, this drama had a good ending overall.
The ending: 8/10.
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*Watching this drama was really fun, I got to see a mature drama after a long time so I had great feels about it.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes, It is! Who wouldn’t remember watching a great mature drama with superb actors and awesome characters? This drama touched me in a good way, an unforgettable production indeed.
My impression: 8.75/10.
6) Overall:
*If you’re looking for a mature drama then you should watch this.
*If you’re looking for a great romantic J-drama then you may like this.
*Love Shuffle is a short light drama without any shallow feelings. It’s one of those dramas that are directed to the mature audience out there.
Overall: 9/10.
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Cops and Robbers
The First Shot 雪迷宫 is a classic cops and robbers crime thriller featuring China's early efforts to combat drug trafficking in the late 1990s. It seamlessly fuses together proven themes of friendship, loyalty and betrayal, and good vs evil; all the elements that make this genre enduringly popular. It is set in a fictional city Halan in frigidly cold Northeast China and is about a newly established anti-narcotics team's early efforts to combat an influx of drugs into the region. Lacking basic knowledge of synthetic drug manufacturing, Zhang Bei is sent to Huazhou in Southern China to recruit Gu Yiran, an expert chemistry professor to join his team. Due to the initial influx of drugs into Southern China in the earlly 1990s, Gu Yiran's familiarity with the habits and tactics of the traffickers proves as invaluable as his knowledge of chemistry.This is a well made drama if you can excuse the meagre, cheesy 1990s look and feel that gets a much needed boost by Jacky Cheung's top Cantopop and early Mandopop hits from the day. It is definitely not Zhang Yimou behind the camera but the camera angles are quite innovative and the spectacularly choreographed action scenes kept me on the edge of my seat. The crime plot unfolds at a decent cadence with a few really interesting and unpredictable twists and reveals. The bromances were deftly written with each relationship: Zhang Bei and Gu Yiran; Zhang Bei and Jiang Xiaohai and Jaing Xiaohai and Liang Jiaju; illuminating different facets of both Zhang Bei and Jiang Xiaohai.
The investigative unit's rapport resonates and carries the story from the get go with every member doing their own small but crucial part in this tightly knit team. The rabidly feisty Mad Dog Yao kicking butt in any brawl only to be too easily subdued by Zhang Bei cracked me up no end. While I appreciate the narrative taking the time to flesh out the important roles, this drama falls into the usual trap of these plot driven stories of digressing too far into too many personal stories of peripheral side characters. It comes at the cost of the momentum of the investigative plot and the narrative sags in the middle. While Lin Boyang is lovely, I wasn't invested in her sweet but trite romance which went on for so long it bored me silly. This would have been much tighter and more exciting as a 24 episode drama.
I was initially skeptical about Huang Jingyu in this kind of super masculine hero cop who carries the weight of his team and the world on his shoulders kind of role. He has done it too many times and indeed there is nothing about the way the character is written or portrayed that makes Zhang Bei stand out from this tired archetype. Yet maybe its his personal charisma or how he just looks the part so perfectly that his Zhang Bei just "works" in bringing all the other roles and performances together. As much as I like Wang Qizi, Gu Yiran is the character that at the end I liked and cared about the least. He is at surface easy going and amiable but in reality he is lonely and guarded and he has his own agenda. Unfortunately I found his obstinate and repeated Lone Ranger stunts so selfish and boring that it overwhelmed my sympathy for his personal trauma. Although he isn't at Zhao Xiaoguang's level of comically terrible, he is also too obviously not a native Cantonese speaker to successfully pass himself off as one. The role just didn't come to life onscreen in a convincing way and was overshadowed by vastly superior performances by Zhang Yu and Qin Junjie. The truth is fate is random and Lele could well have been any one of them and it is this character that stole the show and made me incredibly conflicted; sad, manipulated, scared, revolted and resigned. It is the best written and best acted role; one that stands out among other stellar performances.
As an avid and frequent consumer of the suspense thrillers, this drama has an excellent ending twist that shocked me and then gave me that aha! moment as all the details just clicked into place. I haven't been surprised like this in a long time and I enjoyed it thoroughly. That said, there is nothing that new or special about the story itself, the plot should have been tightened and there were just so many hidden identities that when you put it all together it looks quite implausible. I am happy to I rate this a very entertaining and enjoyable 8.0/10.0
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