Thoughts from an Asexual in her 20s
When most shows or movies advertise being about the teenage experience, you typically see a focus on things like first love, peer pressure, drugs, etc. And don't get me wrong, those things can definitely be a part of the teenage experience. But the topic that this drama decided to tackle is perhaps much more widely applicable. And needed. It's what sex education should be, told through the lives of realistic teenagers.In it, there are discussions not just about sex the deed, but many things related to it (in no particular order): stigmas and pressure, sexuality, desire, terminology, self-gratification, history, STDs, harassment, birth control, periods, pregnancy, abortion, parenthood, parent-child relations, consent, feeling ready/prepared, and even where to find additional resources. It doesn't feel crowded. Nor does it feel like a scare tactic to encourage abstinence (like what was used in my own sex education). It was organic. And realistic. And grounded in real experiences I or those around me have encountered.
It was told through the lives of 3 female leads who all had to learn something or another about the above topics: a sexually-experienced and outspoken female lead, a shy and nervous female lead raised in a conservative household, and the sexually-indifferent to sexually-repulsed aroace female lead who often acts as the voice of reason for the other 2. And at the end of each episode, they come together at their favorite diner to discuss the lessons they learned and to encourage each other once again to keep learning all they can and to accept one another on their different journeys.
At first I wondered why a diner? It's so public. But I guess that was the point. It's effectively saying that this is a normal part of life. One that doesn't need to be discussed behind closed doors. Because when you leave these conversations for only private spaces, you run the risk of not having the conversations at all.
And I say aroace (aromantic asexual), despite the FL in question only being canonically labelled asexual, because she defines herself as not interested in romantic or sexual relations. It was actually my only major gripe with this story. I actually had to stop and put this on hold because the way she handled this label was incredibly irksome and disappointing to me. And I needed to give it some breathing room in order to see beyond this at all the good qualities of her representation.
Here's why it disappointed. There is a big movement in the asexual and aromantic communities to raise awareness about the differences between sexual and romantic attraction. Too often, the conflation of those terms is used to delegitimize us and our experiences. Too often, the conflation of these terms confuse those of us just trying to figure ourselves out. Too often, the conflation of these terms leads us to believing that asexuality/aromanticism are terms that almost fit, but don't. And using a phrase like "there are many ways to be asexual" does not erase the potential harm of ignoring why that movement of awareness exists. And it's even worse when the resources and adult figure informing the FL all describe the term in terms of sexual attraction - but the FL turns around and almost solely uses the term in reference to romantic attraction (instead of perhaps saying both). "It means I do not feel any desire for a romantic relationship." Like I said, it irked. A lot.
Perhaps this could be partially the fault of the subtitles though, because I do think i heard the term aromantic pop up in the spoken dialogue a few times. But as I do not speak the language, I may never know.
That being said, I related to the asexual FL a lot. Her perspective on the conversations her friends had and the pressures she overheard were a lot like mine. Her annoyances and break downs stung, because I have (and even continue to) feel them. She's comfortable with the label, and won't hesitate to support her allosexual friends and advocate for the spectrum of experiences. She's good rep, conflation of the asexual and aromantic terms aside. So it is a great start for asexual rep, and I look at this character with all sorts of fondness for existing.
But one other warning i will give though, is that this is NOT a show to binge. While it does overall have a happy and hopeful tone with great messages, it tackles a lot of heavy, sensitive, and/or uncomfortable topics and experiences. And I don't think it's just my fellow aces who will be itching to hit the exit button after too many episodes in a row. So for the sake of your ability to enjoy and appreciate the story, I highly recommend only watching a couple episodes at a time.
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Simple and Sweet With Just The Right Dose of Comedy
This is a super cute rom-com about first romance, highlighting the awkward journey of inexperienced young adults as they try to develop their crushes into relationships.A show with lots of heart and on-point comedy, it was all the clichés rolled into one, but also a mood booster. The show was such a pleasure to watch that it made me want to go back to my first relationship in college and enact all the drama tropes.
The leads, Wang Xing Yue as Ren Chu and Tian Xi Wei as Lu Wanwan were endearing together and very entertaining to watch. Both leads have engaging visuals suitable for their characters. Ren Chu was classic good looks, whereas Wanwan was doll-like lovable. There was some cringey overacting from TXW and robotic under-acting from WXY, but nothing bad enough to distract me from enjoying the fluff.
Our FL was often misunderstood by the audience as too dumb to be in medical school, but after a few episodes, many, including myself, realized that she was actually intelligent and resourceful. However, Wanwan suffered from anxiety, especially during stressful moments like exams or performing in front of others. Anyone suffering from fear of public speaking, for example, can relate to her freezing up during stressful moments. Wanwan was generally cheerful, optimistic, and had a good EQ.
Unfortunately, Wanwan was burnt by her first crush experience and was slow to acknowledge her feelings for the ML. Hence the slow-burn romance…
Ren Chu was the brilliant and handsome campus king, a star swimmer, and talented in many ways. Despite being popular, his EQ was very low, and he was not inclined to be sociable to most. Of course, him being all cool and detached increased his popularity. Even though it was not clear how Wanwan caught Ren Chu's interest, I did enjoy watching his attempts to get closer to her, trying to confess his feelings and deepen their relationship. I shared the poor guy's frustration.
I found it charmingly funny that when one could not expect to squeeze an ounce of romance out of the most scientific moments, Ren Chu could still be romantic. He was also steadfastly committed to Wanwan, and I love how he completely shut down an annoying admirer who was clearly out of touch with reality.
The sincere and straightforward romance between the leads was adorably nerdy. Despite being new to love and still trying to work through their feelings, they did not shy away from sharing their thoughts. Both were emotionally immature in their own ways, creating plenty of opportunities for funny scenes. I smiled and laughed so much throughout the show. Even their "love tokens" were hilarious!
The development of skinship appeared natural, including the kissing scenes, starting with awkward pecks to more comfortable kisses.
I love how the drama used the supporting characters as devices to voice out or prompt the growing feelings of the leads. Little comments and setups here and there helped the romance along for our fumbling main couple.
The supporting cast was fine, doing what they needed to do. It is a mostly young cast, and while they did ok, there was room for improvement. There was some over-acting but nothing much to complain about and nothing much to praise. A second and third couple provided extra entertainment, but I was not particularly interested in their development. Wanwan's parents were awesome and provided some great comic relief.
Another high point for me was the OST. The opening song was catchy and reflected the happy, bright tone throughout the show. My favorite, though, was the ending credit song, 不知不觉 (Unconsciously). For me, it heightened the romantic feels of the drama.
Overall, I recommend this light, sweet rom-com, especially if you are looking for one with little angst and the main CP are so darlingly adorable in their unadulterated, innocent love.
Full OST list on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9aFD7zCaP0
Full OST list on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/1ybsFTzVK5SZaLc1PWzCe8?si=TZ9guaKtR6GAtwNwN3MW2w
不知不觉 (Unconsciously) - 康子奇 (Kang Ziqi)
不知不觉 (Unconsciously) - 徐秉龙 (Xu Binglong)
遇光 (Yu Guang) - 嘉羿 (Jia Yi)
奇妙物语 (Wonderful Story) - Joysaaaa
初次爱你 (First Love) - 彭雅琦 (Peng Yaqi)
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This review may contain spoilers
All I Can Say Is WOW!!!
This is DEFINITELY one of my top BL shows of the year alongside Cherry Magic!!! This is such a beautiful masterpiece of a show!!! I remember when the preview trailer first came out… I was already hooked!!! I was on the lookout for it and it did not disappoint me one bit when it finally started. I looked forward to seeing it every week. It made me feel all of the emotions. I was up here sitting in my room crying over everything. I don’t think any other BL has made me this emotional before in my life.First, I would like to start off with the casting and characters. Billkin as Teh did a wonderful job. His character was a smart but confused individual. Given this being a coming of age type of story, I feel like his actions throughout the show were justified because he was learning to navigate who he was as a person like how most people do around that age. Coming into your sexuality can be a mix of conflicting emotions. I understand that it takes much time and reflection. I know some people were annoyed by his character but I think he portrayed it very well. (Side note: I know he had to be drained in between takes from all that crying he did lol It was almost giving me Third vibes from Theory of Love lol I just thought it was kind of funny but they both still had me feeling all emotional and tearing up so you know they were doing something right!!!). PP Krit as Oh-aew also did a wonderful job. To me, Oh-aew I feel was more secure in who he was as a person and of his sexuality than Teh so it was hard for me to see him be so distraught at how Teh kept on backing off from truly moving forward. Pining over someone who won’t REALLY reciprocate can be one of the worst feelings in the world. So, I truly felt his pain through it all. All in all, the two lead actors really DELIVERED!!! I could feel every single stare, every single body movement, and every single touch. You could cut the TENSION with a knife!!! No one couldn’t tell me that there wasn’t a magnetic true love between these two. I know this sounds cliche but it's like they were destined to be together. Also, I would love to see them in future projects!!!
Shoutout to Tan and Bas as well for sticking by Teh and Oh-aew sides and being true friends through it all even though they had to give up the possibility of a romantic relationship with the guys. They are the real MVP’s of this show!!!
The writing and directing on this show was impeccable to me!!! No cringy dialogue and every single line served its purpose well. This is movie grade writing. I saw some behind the scenes videos of certain scenes, like the hotel scene where there under the staircase, being directed and I loved seeing how meticulous the director was. He did a great job directing all of the scenes so you can truly see and get the meaning of everything.
I also wanted to quickly just say that I loved the attention and callback to details throughout like with the tutoring book that Teh made for Oh-aew that was left empty by the end of episode 4, the flower that was supposed to be colored the same as Tan’s garment but Teh colored it red because he was thinking of Oh-aew, the rubbing of Oh-aew’s back when he sniffles, the references to Teh’s favorite actor, and the use of Chinese phrases to get meaning across. I could go on and on but wow I just loved how they really connected all of the details throughout.
Also, the cinematography in this show is TOP FREAKIN NOTCH!!! Every single scene is just so beautifully shot. The cinematography alone makes me want to cry lol I saw somewhere that someone said the filming of the show reminded them of an indie film and I totally agree!!! They came with the high budget for this series and I live for it!!! The music throughout the episodes is beautiful as well. The OST Skyline performed by Billkin made me emotional as well. Billkin’s voice is just so pleasant sounding.
This show was a rollercoaster of emotions and it was one of the most sincere shows I have ever watched!!! I was worried it wasn’t going to end well considering all that went on in episode 4 especially but I am glad that it had a happy ending. When Teh asked Oh-aew to be his boyfriend... I SCREAMED in excitement!!! I can’t wait for Season 2!!! Also, it’s so beautiful how this community really came together to discuss and support this amazing show!!!
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First Disneyplus original Korean drama exceeds my expectations
This show is significant. It’s one of Disney+ first original Korean production, in which they aim to win market share over their competitors. They also managed to get the idol Kang Daniel who is well-known for his dedicated fan base in Korea to star as the male lead in his first acting stint.Rookie Cops has a strong ensemble cast consisting of different personalities. I found it very interesting that the MBTIs of the characters were released before the show - Wi Seung Hyun – ISTJ, Go Eun Gang – ESFP, Ki Han Na – ISTP, Kim Tak – ISFP, Yoo Dae Il – ENFP among others. It’s very relatable in that we see how these different personalities react in such diverse ways in situations and makes for a fascinating study into human nature. Go Eun Kang is very likeable as the female lead. Despite my doubts about idol-actors, Kang Daniel does hold his own in this cast. He manages to have varied expressions yet he does not overact. From the first episode to the last, I can see the improvement in his acting.
I do like the plot as well. It’s not just all fun and laughter shenanigans by students. There are some intriguing threads in this show, such as the beautifully filmed very violent death scene right at the start of episode one, and I thought they did a commendable job tying everything together in only two episodes.
I found this to be a meaningful show with its memorable lines as well as study of institutional police corruption. The show stays consistent to the theme of how friends come to the rescue when all seems impossible and it was touching when ML talked about banging their heads against the wall together.
However, it was a pity that they did not go further into the ML’s family background. There were some allusions to strained relationships between the ML and his busy police commissioner father, which was in contrast to the warm dinner ML and his best friend shared with Professor Cha. I would have loved it if more time was spent developing his backstory. Instead too much time was wasted on the FL saving the day through various small incidents, and it felt unbelievable and repetitive after a while. Like really, why does she need to be in the police academy if she already has all the skills?
I thought the action scenes in the final episode saved the entire series with the right mix of plot twists, adrenaline and humour. I love it that the squad came together with a plan. I would have wished for a longer action sequence, with Kim Tak and Kang Daniel together facing their opponent in keeping with the theme of friends helping each other.
Nonetheless, the action scenes were still enjoyable. I was impressed by Kang Daniel, since he did not need stuntmen in doing those action scenes. He also showed impressive nuanced acting in the final scene with his father. I feel he has a bright future as an actor! He’s also a good kisser (which is important if he wants to do romantic scenes). Somehow, his kiss scenes are not cringey but heart-fluttering.
I would watch this show again for three main reasons. First, the chemistry of the ensemble cast is great, not just between the male and female leads but all 8 of them are very likeable and relatable. You are likely to recognise yourself or your friends in at least one of them. Second, it has some of the most meaningful lines from kdrama imbued with positivity (e.g. “humans can do anything”). Third, the cinematography is the best I have seen in kdramas. Lush green landscape panoramic shots, gritty close-up shots- it has it all. Overall, it’s an enjoyable show.
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But then I saw episodes 19 and 20, and in those two episodes everything changed and became clear. The true heart of the show was revealed: FAMILY, specifically the Jang family, and what it is to be family and why we need them. The rest of the drama intimated at the theme, but never made it clear enough or important enough for me to care. The drama was billed as one about infidelity and I was viewing it through that lens. But the drama did itself no service being billed that way. By the end I remembered (and realized) that the main character was Jang Hee Tae (with the 2nd most important character possibly being Kim Joon) and not Il Ri. So hating her character wasn’t relevant – she was just a means to an end, someone to keep the plot going. I didn’t have to like her, to love what this drama did right.
And what it did right, it did beautifully. I should not be surprised by the quality of anything the cable channels do anymore because they really are where the best and most cutting edge Kdramas are broadcast. The networks are frequently all flash and no substance. But TvN and jTBC in particular bring us such wonderful and fresh dramas – often challenging too. Valid Love was challenging. If you think infidelity is inexcusable when you start watching this drama, it probably won’t change your mind. But if you can be open-minded, you will get so much more out of it.
The acting is absolutely superb – from top to bottom. The characters feel so real and flawed and the world feels gritty and lived in. It is a lovely slice of life drama. The directing and cinematography is absolutely fantastic and adds so much to the story that even when Il Ri was driving me nuts, I could have watched it with the sound off and been happy. But then I would have missed the soundtrack, which was perfect because it always set the mood but was so subtle you often missed it. Instead of over-bearing ballads or screeching pop music, they just used ambient background music to convey the mood and add to the rich, languid scenes.
I wasn’t going to give this drama a score as high as 8. I hated the Il Ri character most of the drama (although she did seem to grow a little at the end), and there were long stretches of the drama that just annoyed the crap out of me, or even bored me. But the ending is so good. The acting is so fantastic and the directing is just gorgeous that qualitatively I had to give this drama an 8. I give it an 8 in spite of an awful female lead character (not a knock on Lee Si Young, who was good and whom I like quite a lot) and some writing between the early episodes and end that really started to meander and make me go WTF. So many Kdramas start good and then end badly – most of them really. Valid Love did the opposite. It started meh. It got pretty crappy in the middle, and then it soared at the end. The writer, despite the WTF moments, clearly knew what she was doing.
I came for Lee Soo Hyuk (heh). I stayed for Lee Soo Huk. I took away so very much more.
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1Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae really impressed me with their acting skills. I often find the childishness of the leading women in Kdramas annoying, as I feel it makes them look downright stupid, not cute. Yet Lee Da Hae's portrayal of Yoo Rin was unexpectedly endearing and funny. Lee Dong Wok was amazing in this role and he didn't play the character as too cold and arrogant, but just right.
I don't know what it was exactly about this drama that really grabbed me, but when it did, I was hooked. I usually hate extreme silliness or angst, and but for a few moments, this drama did these elements perfectly. In addition, even the secondary characters' storylines were interesting and captivating. I often find myself skipping through these plot lines, but, here, even the second male lead seemed more than just an instrument of conflict.
Overall, for me, this drama will stay as one my favourites for a long time for its simplicity, clever humour and well developed romance. Some scenes will stay in my mind forever like the orchard scene, the moving elevators or the romantic farts of Mrs In-Sun. I really recommend this drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
Flying across the world was worth it
Ok so first I don’t speak Japanese and the movie didn’t have subtitles. I haven’t read the novels or listened to the audio cd’s.I came across Utsukare last year and was beyond impressed by the acting and story. So getting news of a second season and movie with a theatrical release felt very special and I decided to go to Japan for the experience.
When I made that decision, I intentionally didn’t want to read the novel or synopsis until after seeing s2 and the movie because I came into the world of Utsukare based on the show/visual medium and I wanted to continue my journey unspoiled without overly knowing the written material.
So opening night, I get some merch, get a ginger ale, and sit and let the movie show me a story.
Absolutely true a lot of the nuance and context of what was happening was beyond me.
Here is my tumblr recap - https://www.tumblr.com/anotherblblog/713949084636119040/ok-so-i-came-to-japan-to-watch-utsukushii-kare
Some are taking criticism at my recap because I don’t speak Japanese.
I went to Japan to watch this on the big screen because I wanted to see Utsukare big and bright and I got that experience.
With 2 seasons of HiraKiyo, I felt the movie picked up and continued their relationship well. Hira is more direct and involved and even with his insecurities still is there for Kiyoi and not yearning in place beneath him.
The mentors are really solid in their lives. The music is mostly new but with some familiar elements.
What I wanted for this experience was for it to feel like a movie. Big cinematic set pieces but I didn’t wanna lose the feeling of Utsukare.
I think the movie delivered on both.
The movie took set pieces and vignettes from the television series - HiraKiyo sleeping together and elevated it for the big screen. More tulle. Longer runtime. More heat. There are 2 high heat scenes and a handful of domestic fondness. They’re a couple. They feel like a couple. When they look at each other. When they touch. And it’s continuing a lot of the emotional tension in season 2 with Kiyoi wanting more. And Hira gives it to him. And Hira even gives it to him in a bathtub.
Where in season 1 Hira ran alone through the school a lot, in the movie he runs leading Kiyoi through a slo-mo cinematic fantasy run through the school but also through their past that they didn’t quite have in season 1. But seeing them again in their full school uniform and their casual wear felt real for me because it felt real for them.
The 10 episodes of seasons 1 and 2 led to this experience and I was very happy to have seen it, now three times.
I will love going back with subtitles and seeing how it’s translated for the international audience. But I’m content and impressed by what I’ve seen.
10/10.
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The simultaneous narratives were really interesting as Thai Lakorns can be somewhat typical and standardized in terms of storylines and Khun Mae Suam Roy was anything but. Saying that I wouldn’t recommend it as a first Lakorn to watch for Thai drama beginners as it will build unrealistic expectations about them. This Lakorn is like an old Port wine, one has to wait to drink it in order to fully maximize the experience of tasting the wine.
The mysteries about who shot Siriya, who caused her lover’s death, who messed up with the car breaks to cause Sina (pretending to be Siriya) accident, who shot her, and the Cluedo guessing game kept raising an array of questions about the possible suspects and sending viewers on mental wild goose chases nearly until the end. For those that like mystery games, this drama is brilliant. For those that like lovey dovey enemies to lovers kiss and slap stories, they’re not is as large a supply. The relationship between Thi and Sina is intriguing and really captivating from the beginning but it’s a bit like climbing a mountain except that when you think you reached the top and the view can’t get better, you haven’t reached the top yet and the view will get tons better.
Khun Thi, the male lead has always suffered from abandoned child syndrome both physically and emotionally by his mother which have caused him a severe emotional trauma and scarred him deep inside his heart. It was a tough issue for a young child to deal with and one that has strongly impacted on him. He’s very loyal to his father’s family who have raised him but he’s still the son of a mistress and that knowledge has always waved itself invisibly over his head, hidden away in an emotional inferiority complex. His leading lady, Sina (pretending to be her twin sister Siriya to discover who shot her, making her wheelchair bound), on the other hand is rather normal; a hardworking stunt double who kicks ass and protects her sister. Their love story is cliché and the way their emotions and their struggles play are a like an elastic band constantly expanding and shrinking, standard but at the same time so real life and both Pop and Bua have a strong chemistry onscreen. I found Darika’s obsession with Khun Thi too paranoid but that’s Lakorn stereotypical.
The writers have done a brilliant job writing the Nat and Siriya/Sina and both Khem Rujira Chuaykua and Bua Ongumpai have done a great job bringing them to life. Nat is the scorned woman who feels that her infertility caused her husband to fall for Siriya, who bore him a child and as a consequence had made her live in agony for years. Wanting to be a mother and being unable to, wanting her husband’s love but being scorned by him is something that many women can empathise with and can understand too well. As a result of those issues Nat battled depression, low self-esteem and extreme stress. Siriya is the eldest twin and the weakest one. She’s so meek and calm all the time making her look way too insipid and pitiful as she always comes across like a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued by her knight in shining armour. This makes her annoying as a character. Sina on the other hand is completely the opposite and that’s what makes her interesting, her Spice Girls, girl power attitude. The twins are so utterly simple, so devoided of complexity which is interesting as the story doesn’t need them to be multi-layered. The writers did such a great job in keeping viewers guessing, double guessing and questioning things all the time that when the Lakorn ended there the Suttarak family has finally got a sense of understanding about what happened, why it happened and was finally able to move on from that.
I liked that Khun Mae Suam Roy as a Lakorn is very well written and that the story is organic, flowing without a lot of dull or unnecessary moments. The storylines have purpose and are intrinsically connected; in one way or another they add substance to the development of main story arch which in itself is an achievement. The actors played a huge role in that but it’s easy to perform well with a great script that deals with contemporary issues relevant to current society.
I loved the romance, how the love story developed and how the drama production team gave viewers an entire episode dedicated to it. It was amazing, particularly how Thi played with the cards that were dealt to him and how, despite the denials and his own internal battles, he has overcome them and gave himself the chance to be happy with the woman he loves, freely and without reservations; but for me despite loving the romance, Khun mae suam roy was not about it, it was about the fight for justice and for a chance at happiness, underlined by a revenge plot, emphasized by a beautiful soundtrack. Roses have thorns.
For all of the above I am giving this Lakorn 10 points out of 10.
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The male main character Ning Wei Jin is a talented young surgeon, and although unexperienced with love, he is reliable, caring, and mature. I personally didn't swoon over him but he was excellent boyfriend material. I liked his relationship with his younger sister Ning Wei Xuan and his best friend Gao Ren.
The female main character Ding Ding pursues her dream of designing pet toys and I was rooting for her as she navigated the challenges of running her online shop and creating original designs. (If you love cats, you might like this drama because there's cat pillows, cat cartoons, a cat cafe, and a pet cat.) I loved her loyal, humorous best friend, Xiao Feng, who gave the BEST advice. You could always count on him to call her out on her behavior. Basically, anytime the ex-boyfriend came back into the storyline, it would cause an issue between the main leads, but they (mostly Ding Ding) never seemed to learn and grow from it. It seemed pretty hypocritical on Ding Ding's part given how she felt when she saw Ning Wei Jin with his close female friend.
Ning Wei Xuan is a really energetic, lighthearted character who relentlessly pursues her brother's best friend Gao Ren. Their scenes initially are so much fun - the highlight of the drama for me - and had me laughing out loud. However, there was a point when she really crossed the line and I no longer found her antics funny. I really wanted her to reflect over her actions and grow up a little. Also, while I loved Gao Ren, the introduction of the other doctor really showed how immature he was in comparison...
In conclusion, if you decide to give this drama a try and are tempted to drop it halfway through, I recommend dropping it.
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This review may contain spoilers
What I loved: The main couple, and the other subway cops.What I liked: The case-of-the-week format.
What I was meh about: The main plot. It was draggy in the middle, but kept me engaged in early and late episodes.
What I hated: Ha Ma Ri, the metro police in general (they're terrible at their jobs).
The driving force of this drama, for me, has been the personal stories of Go Ji Suk and Yoo Ryung. Both of them are very warm-hearted people who have had to take care of their disabled loved ones all on their own, so they both have experienced a lot of suffering. The case-of-the-week format worked for me as well, with each case having Ji Suk warming to Ryung's style of doing things more and more, as he comes to understand her drive to save people.
The main plot is admittedly weak, because the police seem ridiculously incompetent at finding clues to the Subway Ghost case. The way it's written, without Ryung's help they would never have figured out who the killer was. Lieutenant Ha Ma Ri is lousy at her job, because chooses to be a hateful bitch rather than be a good detective. Ma Ri ignores Ryung's pleas to investigate her sister's disappearance, as well as her theory that the killer used the subway tunnels. She also finds every opportunity to verbally spite Ryung and put her down because Ji Suk falls for Ryung instead of coming back to HER. Ma Ri could have been a great character, but instead she's just plain hateful, an incompetent detective with an inferiority complex.
I like this drama a lot, despite its issues. Some of the lines, like Ryung saying it was her sister's fault (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about), made no sense at all, and irritated me because it had been established that due to her sister's Autism, her mental state was about the level of a two year old. How can a two year old be to blame for what happened? I can understand why the villain blamed her – he was out of his senses with grief and anger – but I don't understand why anyone else would blame her.
But 90% of the time I really enjoyed watching this drama. So I will recommend it to those who are a fan of slow-burn love stories that have a lot of spark, because the chemistry between Moon Geun Young (Yoo Ryung) and Kim Sun Ho (Go Ji Suk) is amazing in this drama.
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Padam Padam
38 people found this review helpful
1This review may contain spoilers
A shining little diamond! An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one way!
For all those who like three-dimensional life in movies and television. For all those who, apart from the clichés, are open to more complex relationships and personal development processes. For all those who want to get involved with a downright hopeless fate at the 'lower' end of the social pyramid. In this context, one should not allow oneself to be driven away immediately by punches and kicking. "Padam Padam... the sound of his heartbeat and hers" rewards with a touching love story that, by Korean standards, takes its place in an almost sensual, sensitive way.I already got to know Jung Woo-sung in "A Moment to Remember" as an exceptional actor, enriching his encounters and relationships with an almost sensual dimension. That alone is a unique feature that contributes enormously to the quality of this KDrama.
Nevertheless, it wouldn't do justice to the story (which is wonderfully told in all instances) to reduce it to just a romance. It tells the story of an ex-con and his fellow inmate. It quickly becomes clear that Yang Kang-chil actually was innocent. And even after his release 13 years later, he is not free from that momentous act that he did not commit. Rather the real perpetrator would like to finally get rid of him for good, as he had witnessed what really happened back then. And others, too, have not forgotten or even forgiven what happened back then.
Kang-chil, on the other hand, would like to make amends for the lifetime that was unjustly stolen from him in prison. He's a simple, uneducated young man, now in his 30s, who only learned crafts in prison. His vita has taught him to engage 100 percent in the NOW. He may seem simple, yet he sees life in simple terms. However, he is quite capable of comprehending, of taking action and responsibility as well. He choses a simple, direct route. If he is happy about something today, then he gives room for this joy TODAY. Not tomorrow. And he doesn't have to weigh up whether it's ok to be happy or not. It's the same with anger. In short: he follows his heart. And there we are with the title of the KDrama: "Padam Padam". As onomatopoeia, it refers to the heartbeat (and takes up the title of a chanson by Edith Piaf of the same name).
------ SIDE NOTE --- Importance of onomatopoeia in the Korean language ---
The title "Padam Padam" also refers to the fact that the so-called onomatopoeia/onomatopoeia is of particular importance in the use of the Korean language - it is about eight times as important as in other languages. In Korean, remarkably often in narratives one can encounter the simple (yet acoustically imitated in a culture-specific way) onomatopoeic imitation of simple natural sounds. The list of everyday onomatopoeic vocabulary is correspondingly long. With this content communication is expressed more directly, more forcefully, more concretely and more immediately. "Padam Padam" therefore not only refers to the heartbeat - symbolic of the life that one wins and loses again, or for the feelings of the two lovers - but also to the special portion of 'directly conveyed, sensually experienceable feelings', which the protagonist places in all of his encounters.
A lot of heart and soul goes into the hand-picked production design, which also mostly wants to leave a consciously direct impression for all senses. (Mainly we are in the rural areas of the coastal region of South Korea.) The landscape, the sunset, the lake at night, the fireworks, etc. impress through a high degree of aestheticization. Sometimes you have the impression that you can literally smell the sweat of the well-trained young men... At other times some scenes are repulsive, ruthless, almost ugly - yet still highly sensual.
So Kang-chil is sensitive, but he's also a tough guy. He's not your usual appealing protagonist. He is peculiar, impetuous, impulsive, irritating, and also disconcerting. But he quickly grows on you in his sincere, direct and sensual way. This is actor Jung Woo-sung at his finest. His female film partner Han Ji-min can't resist the intensity that emanates from him either. It's a pleasure to watch her being drawn into his spell. (Here I can expressly praise the chemistry between the actors...) And then there is Na Moon-hee, who once again embodies the bumpy, complex and yet emotionally real (South Korean) mother-son relationship in a three-dimensional authentic way. By the way, the men here are above all punching, kicking and spitting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That may be due to the milieu in which the story is set, but not only. Even if it seems strange to the Western eye at times, the KDrama is authentically filled with life throughout.
The story finally offers a not inconsiderable special feature as an encore for its surprising developments away from your ordinary everyday life: a guardian angel (wonderful: Kim Bum with ponytail) .
An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one ways!
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The director worked closely with the writer of the book and the victims. According to one article I read, he was too soft in the movie and that the reality was MUCH worse. He was doing his best to keep a balance between watchable and the truth.
What was shown was enough to make me physically ill. To give you an idea of my maturity? I am 22 going on 80 depending on who you talk to. This stuff normally does not phase me. I would never let my little 18 year old brother watch this. BEWARE.
Also, there are some things changed in the movie to make the teacher look a bit better than he was, please look in the discussion thread for some corrections to the movie. The only criticism I have of the movie was making the teacher look better than he was.
This movie will make you examine exactly how human you are. Victims from this case were extras in the movie. The actors were amazing and they were so good it made it hurt all the more. This is a movie to be watched with your friends: Ben, Jerry, and another human. You will not get through it otherwise. Also, Pepto might be useful.
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1
1A Fever Dream
Affinity (2026) is the batshit crazy gateway drug to short dramas i didn't know i needed!Watching this drama felt like trying to explain a fever dream to a therapist who eventually just gives up and starts asking for spoilers; or to put it another way - it’s like describing a fever dream to someone who just nods, grabs popcorn, and joins in. One sip of its liquid chaos, and you're hooked asking for the full bottle .
If you have told me a week ago that I’d be binging a Chinese short drama, I would have laughed in your face. I thought they were too much and not my cup of tea. I thought i was too sophisticated for 19-minute bursts of adrenaline and questionable CGI.
But I was wrong. Affinity isn't just a cup of tea; it’s a double shot of espresso mixed with pure, unadulterated chaos .
➤ THE "SO BAD IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD" VIBE ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
Let’s be real: the dialogues are cheesy enough to clog your arteries. The script sounds like it was written by a sentient AI that was fed nothing but romance novels and Resident Evil lore. The plot moves at a speed that ignores the laws of physics and logic but the leads have a "genetic compatibility" so high it should come with a radiation warning. One second you’re watching a genetic mystery, the next there’s a standoff that feels like a fever dream, and suddenly we’re hitting the "Esper-guide trope" (manhwa readers know this trope very well) where the leads literally can’t breathe without each other.
It is ridiculously crazy. It’s the kind of show where you find yourself yelling at the screen, "What the hell? What's with the plot? Don't do that? STAWP that's embarrassing!" while immediately clicking 'Next Episode' because the chemistry is somehow against all odds, absolutely electric .
I have reached a point of no return. I’m sitting here, watching a man stare intensely at a woman because their "genetic compatibility" is off the charts, and I’m nodding like, "Yes, this makes perfect sense, he should definitely kidnap her for her own safety." My brain cells are actively packing their bags and leaving, but my heart is doing backflips every time the Male Lead looks like he’s about to either commit a felony or give a hug .
Its actually embarrassing but you will devour it . You will feel like a raccoon in a dumpster; You know this is trash, yet you would feel it’s the most delicious, five-star Michelin trash you’ve tasted in a while.
➤ OVERALL ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─
If you’ve never tried a short drama because you thought they were "too much" like me, let Affinity prove you right and then let it ruin your sleep schedule anyway. It’s ridiculous, it’s over-the-top, and It’s the kind of high-quality madness that makes you question your own standards while you’re busy hitting "Next Episode" with a manic grin on your face .
- DO NOT ask me if the plot makes sense - It doesn’t. I’ve stopped looking for logic and started living for the chaos.
- DO NOT ask me to stop - I can’t. I've become a total short-drama binge watcher overnight lol .
There are plenty of "forced kisses" and high-tension skinship, so if that’s a deal-breaker for you, consider this your warning to stay away. But for those who stay? My god. The chemistry is absolutely feral and kiss scenes are so WILD that I’m genuinely questioning how Chinese censorship let this pass without cutting it to shreds?? I don't know who was in charge of the censorship board the day they reviewed this, but I want to buy that person a drink for looking the other way🍸👀.
Spoiler Alert (EPISODE 7): What's with that train kiss scene?! When she’s slowly crawling away and he’s just hovering over her, following her move for move... and the background music?? You will absolutely scream and be like WHAT IN THE WORLD??? It is so crazy and visually insane that you will definitely rewatch that specific scene more than once—I just know it hahahha! And the way he picks her up with just one hand all the time as if she weighs nothing? It’s dark-romance-coded perfection that makes you question your own standards .
and in (EPISODE - 10 ) again he literally threw her on bed with just one hand . That was kinda umm😭 it felt as if he slammed her onto the bed to wrestle with her or he had some grudges😭. But ok i'll stop here, i won't spoil more scenes just yet .
Last but not the least, Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it unbelievable? Yes. Am I watching it again? HELL YESSSS . Bcuz at the end of the day, I’m here for the entertainment, and Affinity is delivering exactly the kind of wild, addictive fun I didn't know I was missing.
So, would I recommend it? ABSOLUTELY. Just a fair warning: you’ll need to throw away the logic and switch off your brain to fully appreciate the chaos of this wild ride .
All in all it’s an 8.5/10 ( unbiased - 8 ; +0.5 bcuz its my first short drama and i enjoyed it ) that feels like a 10/10 when the leads are on screen together.
Thanks for reading! ♥︎♥︎♥︎
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I was attracted by the synopsis so I decided to give it a try.
2) Storyline/Plot:
The general story isn't complicated nor original; I saw this type of story in "Sweet 18" before yet this film's storyline was really appealing.
Positive points:
*The story was romantic but not too romantic since it focused on family too.
*It had a great combination since it was funny, cute while being a little serious
*The story's developement was amazing to follow.
*The whole adult-child love story was somehow innocent even when they lived toghether: I liked that concept.
Negative points:
There isn't, I just wished that they made this into a drama instead; it would have been perfect that way.
Story: 8.5/10
3)Acting/Cast:
It couldn't been any better even though I am not too familiar with the leads.
*The chemistry between them was somehow captivating even though it wasn't that present.
*Moon Geun Young did a great job in portraying the innocent 15 years old girl with all its sides; whether it was with her husband, her family, her school and everything else.
*I loved how Park Sang Min reacted with his little bride by trying to be the responsible adult but that didn't cut out the funny side of his character.
Cast: 7.75/10
Acting: 8/10
4)The ending:
The type of ending that anyone would like to see even though it was typical but that doesn't deny that it was fluffy.
The ending: 8/10
5) My Impression (How did it affect me):
*I was intrested in the whole concept ever since the film began, I had fun while watching it and it wasn't boring, not even the slightest bit.
*This is is a great memorable film.
My Impression: 9/10
6) Overall :
*If you like rom-coms then you must watch this.
*If you like old-young relationships then this is for you.
*If you like innocent love stories then you may like this.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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Story. Well, the storyline of this drama may not be the most original one - the concept of two old friends falling for each other is used frequently so it's kind of hard to squeeze something new from this idea. This drama couldn't avoid some of cliches - jealousy, the return of cheating ex-boyfriend, crying in the rain, ignoring your own feelings etc., but even if those things did appear, they didn't spoil the fun of watching. Everything was happening at the right moment - nothing seemed rushed or too slow, every episode had its own charm and I didn't feel like fast forwarding even once, I enjoyed every minute of the drama. It was a bit painful watching the sufferings of poor Li Da Ren but this had its purpose and made the story more realistic.
Acting. Well, here I have to admit that I completely changed my mind about Taiwanese actors. In those few dramas I've seen up to now the acting was a bit bad - it seemed fake, exaggerated and naive but in ITWY it was the exact opposite. Every single actor played his/her part natural, like they were real characters and not just the actors. Now I can't imagine Chen Berlin playing the guy who is, let's say, cheating ex-boyfriend - he was so natural playing a sensitive, supporting best friend that I really believed he has to be like that in his pirvate life too. The same can be said about Lin Ariel - she was really convincing in her role of a strong and independent woman who knows what she wants and aims for that.
Music. I have to say that music was the first thing I noticed about this drama - it's really fitting. And the song that Da Ren wrote for You Qing? Yeah, it was perfect!
Rewatch value. That is a hard one - I loved the drama, it was really good and all, but like somebody said before, I don't know if I would bear seeing the sufferings of Li Da Ren once again. But, on the other side, the last episode was so awesomely epic that it redeemed it all; finally, we saw some of the hapily ever after and not just the happy ending!
Overall, I gave it an 8 because this was the best written, acted and executed Taiwanese drama I've ever seen and finally I saw a a female lead who was worth my liking - not some whiny, wimpy girl, but a true woman.
And a cherry on top: nearly all the clothes (and especially shoes!) of You Qing were to die for!
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