NETFLIX, GIVE US SEASON2 NOW!!!
Ok let me get this out of the way, it is obvious or at least im hoping that they intended to make this a multi-season show just like the other Netflix exclusive Kdramas - Kingdom, Love Alarm and My Frist Love, so please Netflix give them to us NOW.Now that im done ranting, lets get to the good parts:
1. Cast and characters. I love the leads, and the other characters, and the way they are developed. There was enough mystery with each of them to keep me wanting to see more. Plus, Im not going to lie, i came for NJH.
2. The story. Refreshing take on the monster-ghost- good versus evil story. Have you ever seen any other show where ghosts turns into jellies? I bet not. If you have, tell me, i want to watch it too.
3. Good special effects.
The problems:
1. They ended season 1 without properly explaning what happened in the finale. One moment they were building the story to reach the climax and then poof, its finished, just like that. What happened to that giant jelly?
2. I have to wait for Netflix if they want to release a second season, do you guys know hard that can be?
So again, heres one begging Netflix to give us the next installment. Rewatchability is an 8 just because NJH is here. However if youre the type who likes to binge watch a series because you hate cliffhangers, i suggest to just wait a little (maybe a year or so) until we have the second season.
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Unfortunately, like an emotion, it has to be felt to be understood. Just like words frequently falter at expressing our feelings so they also falter at describing this beautiful drama.
With dismal ratings in Korea, the show even ended up being cut to 12 episodes. But even though the loss of those four is a tragedy and the show was forced to speed up its storytelling to compensate, it is still an almost-perfect study of grief, loss and how we grapple with the hole people leave in the world when they pass.
Jung Hae-in always gives lovely understated performances and his portrayal of the inventor Moon Ha-won is no exception. Ha-won has loved and lost but always from afar as he observes life but fails to live it. He is an inventor in the world of artificial intelligence working on recreating the personalities of lost loved ones for therapeutic purposes. He is driven by the need to understand both the sudden death of his mother when he was 18 and the loss of his childhood friend, Kim Ji-soo (Park Joo-hyun), whose husband insisted she break ties with him after their marriage.
While working on the project he acquires a recording studio to lay down voices and meets orphaned sound engineer, Han Seo-woo. Chae Soo-bin is wonderful here as the warm but still grief-stricken Seo-woo. These two embark on a healing relationship of mutuality and reciprocity. This couple's ability to understand and accept the other's losses and to each give and take to an equal extent is heartwarming to watch unfold.
At one point in the drama, Ha-won suggests Banbogi: a meeting between two people who love each other at a midway point between the two. Bangobi encapsulates the reciprocity and mutuality between the two. One does not go to the other, whether physically or emotionally. They always meet in the middle.
Our core couple orbit the black hole that is the loss of Ji-soo. But around them swirl a host of other damaged characters. Ha-won's niece , Moon Soon-ho (Lee Ha Na) who has taken nine years to get over a bad breakup. Jis-oo's controlling and almost-abusive husband, Gang In-wook (Kim Sung-gyu). And the found family of guests living in the boarding house that Seo-woo took shelter in after the death of her family.
While the show examines grief in all its iterations - whether through the death of a loved one, a relationship, or even the person you used to be - it's also about the way in which we grapple with the hole a person leaves in the world when they're gone. How we want just a piece of them to hold onto and how we struggle with the realisation that we will never know what they were thinking because we can never speak to them again.
The Ji-soo AI that Ha-won creates becomes that piece. But it's through Ha-won and In-wook's reactions to that piece that we see most clearly what this drama is trying to say. People are not pieces or object to possess, control or dominate. We will never own them, just as we will never know truly what they think and feel. But that isn't necessary to gain comfort and strength from them and to give that comfort and strength in return.
Grief is overcome by connection and community but most of all through true mutuality. And that's the most heartwarming message of all.
I can only hope that now it's over, people can finally realise what a gem this show was. And maybe, just maybe, next time Korea produces something as finely-written and beautiful as this, people will watch it.
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Don't corrupt your mind without giving it a try
I'm really glad that I watched this drama without reading stupid reviews because this was hell of a fun ride.Let me tell you something about what's special about this drama
The best part about this drama is that all the characters, character development and the decision they make felt realistic which not many dramas have and after a long time watching a show doing this was so refreshing.
the casting and acting was flawless and while people are saying that JCW's character was boring then I don't know which character is interesting because if you just want every character in the drama to jump around, fight and shout without any reason then yeah JCW's character is boring. but man how good he plays this role. just from his expression you can feel how the situation is. he played as the most pure character ever and he nailed it which is not easy. and same goes for KYJ. she did a fantastic job playing the cheerful character. and if both the characters are cheerful then they don't match well.
I didn't got bored for even a sec and an hour long episode felt like 10 min.
and on top of all
You don't watch a drama because it will help you in your work or exams. You watch it to enjoy and if a show is entertaining then it doesn't matter even if the story, characters or acting is trash. if you enjoy it then that's all you need. I know so many dramas, movies and animes I know are trash but I still enjoy them and that's what I think matters the most.
just give it a try and if you don't like it then that's fine too. just go with the flow.
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Very powerful movie
I really enjoyed this movie. It felt dark, and gritty. I loved the characters, even with all their flaws and insecurities. I really felt the emotional turmoil from Wataru. I enjoyed seeing Kyoichi’s journey to find himself, and figuring out what true love really is. I liked the symbolism of him sitting in the chair, like now HE’S the one waiting... This movie is raw, heartbreaking at times, and beautifully performed. The sex scenes between the two characters really revealed their inner passions, and they felt like the most honest, and emotionally revealing scenes in the movie. Both actors did a fantastic job. This movie is about finding yourself, having the courage to accept who you really are, finding love, or rather recognizing love when you’ve found it, and the heartbreaking journey to love and accept the one who is right for you. I loved it! The actors are hot, and the sex scenes are also hot, and beautifully heartwarming at the same time. It was absolutely beautiful. I definitely recommend watching this movie.Was this review helpful to you?
Definetly exceeded my expectations....
"Sniper Butterfly" became a late-year surprise for me,
I've been hooked! It's a "noona" romance, an older woman/younger man story, and I'm absolutely loving it. Before I dive into the show itself, I have to address something that consistently baffles me: the obsession with age gaps. Personally, as long as everyone's an adult, it's a non-issue. Chemistry and acting are what draw me in. I've seen comments on MDL (kisskh) calling out the age difference between the leads, and honestly, I wonder if those people are even watching the show. The female lead doesn't appear significantly older, and even if she did... what's the big deal? It's rare to see this level of scrutiny when the roles are reversed. If the age gap bothers you, don't watch, but please, spare us the unnecessary negativity.
Now, onto the show itself! "Sniper Butterfly" is a second-chance romance, and while I'm not usually a fan of that trope, this one is beautifully done. The story flows seamlessly between two timelines, 2016 and the present, which could be confusing, but it's not. The transitions are clear, and the past and present are cleverly interwoven, connecting past events to the present day. We see the beginning of their relationship in the past, and then jump to the present, where time has passed and their connection is tested.
The show is heartwarming, with emotional undertones that make you feel all the feels. The acting is phenomenal, especially the eye contact and body language between the leads. Their chemistry is undeniable. Their relationship starts with a guardian-sibling dynamic, as she takes him in, which is incredibly touching, especially knowing he's never had anyone. That caring and protective nature evolves into something more, with the emotions, tension, and challenges that come with the transition. It's cute, it's romantic, it gives you butterflies, and they just look great together. The romance is delicate and well-written.
The characters are interesting too. The female lead is refreshing, calm, soft-spoken, and mature. She's not a "badass," nor is she weak. She stands up for herself but also shows vulnerability. I love her and her wardrobe!
The male lead is cute, although I'm a little concerned about how slim the actor is. But the show addresses it, with characters constantly encouraging him to eat more.
I disagree with the notion that the male lead is sluggish. It seems people are stuck on a stereotype for male leads, and anything outside of that is unacceptable. His past, where he was quiet, timid, and slow, actually fit the character's background and what he was going through. We see him evolve; he grows from being closed off to open, and his confidence increases. So, no, he isn't sloppy. It's time to accept that male lead characters can have diverse personalities instead of clinging to a single version.
Conclusively,
THIS show was incredibly beautiful, emotionally charged, and profound, yet it also managed to be funny and heartwarming a truly pleasant surprise!
Walking into a show with no expectations and being completely swept away is the best feeling. This has instantly become one of my favorite jie jie romance shows and is definitely in my top romance cdramas of all time.
It was riveting, with such well-developed characters, not just the leads but even the supporting cast.
The female lead was my favorite, with her maturity, calmness, and wisdom. I also have to commend the male lead for his incredible character development. Watching him grow from being impulsive and timid to confident and understanding was so fulfilling.
These two complemented each other perfectly, and their natural chemistry was a delight. The kiss scenes were incredibly sensual, and I'm now a huge fan of both the leads...I loved everything about this show and highly recommend it.
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Bromance
The first time ever I write a review about a series.So the plot is kinda common, about a cop who hate drugs and try to clean the city from drugs dealer. Then he met a doctor in an incident and both become friends to deal with the master of the drugs dealer. The thing that attract me the most is the bromance between the two main leads. You can say its almost like BL, just got censored. Even so, I still like their bromance as they trust each other so much even when they just met.
So far the story is good enough, lot of things that makes you want to watch more and more. The only problem for now is the subs. From what I read, I think the subs just copy paste from google translate. Even the name sometimes translated. I think this series will have lot of international fans if they could advertise it well and also put proper english subs ASAP.
Two thumbs up. This is one of the drama that i really love and will rewatch it later.
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"I'll stay with you until you stop feeling lonely."
First, I just have to say, I started this directly after watching A Christmas Carol (2022). After such a dark, harrowing film, I had no idea what a perfect palate cleanser this would be, and I'm so happy it's what I chose to binge. Tooth-rotting sweetness that had my cheeks hurting after almost constant smiling every single episode.For me, this is close to the perfect fluff-style BL drama. Adorable fluff mixed with tender, heartfelt moments with a dash of reasonable angst that didn't stray into too-heavy territory, just adding the perfect amount of depth and stakes for our main couple. That angst (and hurt/comfort) was rounded out and resolved very nicely as well. The pacing was perfect, and I continuously found myself thinking 'already?' whenever an episode ended, because I was so wrapped up in every moment and was never bored.
I have noticed some comments about the main pairing being "dry". Now, I'm all for 'to each their own'; if that's your opinion, who am I to say your wrong? Except... maybe you are? A little? No hate, I just feel like the people who think relationships and couples like this in BL are "dry" are looking for instant sparks, mutual intense pining, and lots of spiciness. There are plenty of BL series of that nature. But it's this kind of pairing in BL's that I think is exceedingly rare, and is my absolute favorite: quiet, solidly built, based on respect and day-to-day interactions. It's not an instant heart-eyes romance: it's more realistic, arguably more meaningful, and much more introspective. You come to love the characters for who they are and their roots, and from there, you come to root for something more.
As for the main pairing, I personally love their chemistry. There was never a single moment where I felt anyone was reaching too much, trying too hard, nor was there any awkwardness. They met each other perfectly at the middle, and it felt effortlessly real in that way; I found myself completely convinced in the way they interacted each episode. Everyone was fantastic, but I do specifically want to shout-out Iijima Hiroki. The way he portrayed Minoru was equal parts sweet and heartbreaking: the care and absolute love and devotion he had for his brother while simultaneously struggling with the thought of no longer having that independence of someone his age was beautifully done. Further, in the development of his relationship with Yutaka, he really did a great job in portraying that silent battle with his own feelings, how he slowly came to terms with how he felt, but struggled deeply with it, because he so badly wanted to stay close to Yutaka no matter what, valuing his company over anything, even so much that he harbored deep guilt every time he reached out a little with how he felt (which made moments like the cheek kiss, the confession, the hand holding, etc) so much more impactful. Iijima just knew exactly who he was playing, and brought him to life brilliantly.
I also can't end this review without giving a quick mention to little Maeyama Kuuga. Seriously, where did this kid learn to act? For example, the scene where he saw Yutaka crying and instantly broke down himself? What a little talent. I'm usually not into dramas that revolve around a child in some way, but he really made it impossible for me not to love him.
All in all, if you're into sweet fluff, realistically built relationships, and tender/adorable family moments, I would highly recommend this one. As someone with family troubles of my own, I found this extremely cathartic and just such a nice watch. Japan yet again proving that they're owning the BL game atm.
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want to know about the couples? you've got:
secretly very sweet ceo + charming employee who started the company together and have been together for so long any kind of attraction they could have had is destroyed by habit
the single mom with the cutest little kid ever + boyfriend with opposing mother (who has lots of character development)
And the cutest playboy who's world turns upside down when he falls for his bestfriend (who's watched him and his playing-the-field BS for years)
NOW TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKING IN YOUR BRAIN:
Yes, there are a number of kiss scenes. Yes, the girl actually responds to them. yes, the ceo is still swoonworthy without being a jerk. No, their colleauges are not bitchy and jerks, they're very cute and like a family. No, the parents are not seceretly satan: ready to bitch-slap or money-envelope-slap the FL. No, the ML doesn't have a very cliche tragic backstory, but it's still a backstory to make him look very lonesome-heroesque, don't worry (because is a swoonworthy ceo really a swoonworthy ceo without the #darkpast? i. think. not.)
well, it's also short to binge in a day if you really try hard (24 eps, baby, the best number to see on a cdrama profile) . just trust me, you'll love it if you're looking for this kind of cute love story.
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I haven’t seen this much heart in a drama before. It’s beautiful and melancholic. Serene and hopeful. And ultimately: very important.
The drama has a reputation for being an easy, fluffy, heartwarming watch however that’s just one element of it. Prison playbook, in its core is a show about a couple of men in a bad place, who’ve done bad things but have good hearts. It’s about finding purity in the most unfortunate circumstances and seeking warmth in a cold, hopeless time.
There are some hauntingly dark and jarring moments but the beauty of the show is such that it overcomes its darkness with a good dose of laughter and love. There will be times when you have to pause the screen to let out a jolly good cackle and times when you can’t stop the tears because you’re so overcome by feeling.
All the characters are fully baked and beautifully developed, so much so, that you’ll find yourself forming a personal connection with each and every one of them. The story flows smoothly with "almost" no plot-holes and the writing is exceptional, giving attention to detail and a tight plot. Each episode plays with a range of emotions with never a boring moment. It’s far from a tension drama and develops very slowly, yet it managed to hook me in a way that I binged it as fast as I would do any crime-thriller.
The OST is perfect. The screenplay is immaculate. The acting is top-notch. Kim Hae Soo plays one of the best male leads in a drama in a way so natural and effortless that you can’t help but adore him.
The drama gives birth to one of the most iconic bromances in K-Drama history. There’s real brotherhood and friendship here. The relationships between characters are incredibly fleshed out and the side of romance is also well-done.
So over-all, Prison Playbook is an excellent show. The only reason I didn’t give it a perfect score was because I had mixed feelings about the last couple of episodes. The fact that some of the characters that I had grown very attached to were given a somewhat realistic but quite unsatisfactory and abrupt open end, while other characters were given an almost ideal personality change and happy ending made me raise eyebrows. This contradiction made me wish that there was an additional episode that gave much needed closure to some aspects of the show and closed the story cleanly. However, in the grand scheme of things this could easily be overlooked.
Filled with sugar, spice and life- Prison Playbook is definitely one of the best dramas out there.
Enjoy!
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It's comedic, suspenseful, romantic (wonderfully), full of action (and awesome fight scenes), character development, and deep/heavy/intricate plot lines.
I usually write a review by covering each of the topics I am to rate (e.g. Story, Acting/Cast, Music, etc.), but I feel this drama deserves something more unique. A list of the first things that come to mind when I think of Healer or recommending it to others.
1. Whatever you do don't let this be your first drama.
It can be your second or forty fifth, but don't ruin every other drama by making it your first. It would be like listening to your favorite song for the first time and then only being allowed to listen to "It's a small world" for the rest of your life. (Okay thats a bit of an exaggeration but think of it this way): You won't be able to truly appreciate how wonderful this drama unless you have something to compare it to, and any drama you watch afterwards will fall short of expectations.
2. Whatever you do watch it.
If you have to wait, wait. It's completely worth it. It's ratings are proof of its beauty. I mean its the first drama to break the 9.0, "1 liter of tears" since probably 2006, and the only drama currently in the top 5 (while being surrounded by movies).
3. Relationship goals.
It will become a desire, envy, need, and dream to find a love as wonderful as theirs.
Every time I find a relationship I fall in love with or adore I find certain aspects of that relationship that I want or aspire to, it's kinda like piecing together your dream significant other, but the relationship part instead of the person and what color eyes they'll have.
Healer's aspects: The way they subconsciously recognized each other. The way they looked at each other. How they craved the others' touch. The way they acted like a real couple when they hugged, kissed, and touched each other. The way they spoke to each other. The way you could see how they felt and treasured each other. The reassurance and peace they had when they were together. These are the aspects I personally dream of in a relationship. ( I apologize for gushing, but you'll understand after you watch it).
AKA: the chemistry and acting are A+
4. Plot.
Besides extremely lovable characters, the interconnected relationship and plot lines made me obsess over watching the next episode. I woke up early to get an episode in before school... it was too good to watch while sleep deprived, which brings up point 5..
5. Don't marathon it over night.
The story is basically a drug, it will infest your mind and make you want to marathon the show in 24 hours. Don't let it. Take your time, savor every episode, because it will be over way too quickly.
Imagine your on a diet and your not allowed to eat your favorite food of all time. Now imagine your allowed to eat that food only once (for the last time), don't ruin it by shoveling huge bites into your mouth. Relish every spoonful, forkful, (heck, chopstick-ful) while watching your favorite show, or looking out at a beautiful (your favorite) view. Eat at a leisurely pace: not finishing it in seconds and not putting half into the fridge to save it while slowly letting it go old.
Start, don't rush, savor, enjoy, (possibly cry here or there), finish, and then cry (probably again) because there's nothing left to watch, (then pray your hardest that a drama just as wonderful will air soon), and then (probably) watch it again.
6. There are flaws.
There are probably a ton of flaws in this show, but they are so insignificant that you can't pinpoint them, or they just don't matter to you, because you love even Healer's flaws.
One thing to note: I take rating and reviewing very seriously, because I rely on ratings very heavily as an avid drama fan/watcher. Please don't see my 10/10 rating and just think, "oh it's one of those people who just rate anything they like a 10/10", because that is not the case. My 10 just shows how high I treasure and enjoyed this drama, and I hope you will too.
P.S. sorry for the length, I hope it was helpful :)
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My major frustration is with the three leads. I loved them as a trio. Those moments were my favorite in the show for sure, and their friendship was also the source of many of the emotions I felt while watching. Still, from the very beginning the show is set up as a love triangle, and that's the part where I think this drama falls short. I'll give it credit for not being cliché, but it still didn't really work for me.
The story centers around Im Shi Wan as Wang Won. It's Won's story, so it makes sense that he was the character I liked the most. I thought Shi Wan did a great job in all aspects. He was funny, he was clever, he was stubborn, he was impulsive... and I enjoyed watching his character navigate all of the palace drama without being passive. I think he did an awesome job.
Hong Jong Hyun plays Wang Rin, his partner in bromance. Rin is the straight man, to Won's uninhibited personality, and their dynamic is awesome. I loved that we get to see the start of their friendship too. The show really explores the deepness of their friendship in a way that got me in the feels from the very beginning. It gets very complex, but their love throughout it all is the strongest story in the drama.
Then lastly there is Im Yoon Ah as Eun San. I loved her character in some ways, but she was also the reason for most of my frustration. When she was being brave, impetuous, and independent, I loved her, and her camaraderie with the guys. However, when the obligatory love triangle comes into play, she spends far too much time looking like a deer in headlights. I won't speak too much about specifics, because which guy you root for is mostly about preference, but it really bothers me that by the end all the romance was still questionable. I thought maybe it was the writing, but I honestly think it's that she had trouble pulling off the romantic parts of the story. I've seen better actresses, Ha Ji Won for example, pull complicated love stories off, but I think where Yoona shined in action, comedy, and even some emotional scenes, she left much to be desired in the romance department. Cute moments with Won worked, because their banter was funny, but anything involving serious romance fell flat. I don't think she was bad, but I do think the role was a little out of her league in that respect.
The rest of the cast was good. I loved Jang Young Nam and Oh Min Suk the most out of the supporting cast (both so good at being bad), but there were a lot of great performances. A few characters made no sense to me, but that wasn't the actor's fault, just weird writing. There are a lot of duplicitous characters to keep the story interesting. If you like ancient Joseon political drama, this story definitely has a lot of that to enjoy. If you're not a fan, you will probably get bored about halfway through.
To be clear, this show is 40 episodes, but the episodes are 30 minutes, so really it's like watching a standard 20 episode drama. I thought the show started strong, and ended strong, but somewhere in the middle I began to stop caring. Still, for some reason I just couldn't quit watching. I think that's because of curiosity, and probably because I became attached to the characters, even when the shows seemed to drag. In those times it helped that the episodes were shorter than usual.
Would I watch this again? I'm torn. If I did I would probably be tempted to skip too many scenes. There were a lot of great moments, and like the characters reminiscing, I would probably enjoy revisiting those moments again. Maybe it will feel different watching while knowing how it will all play out, but I think my main frustrations would remain.
Overall, this is a good drama for sageuk fans who want a different kind of story. It is more bittersweet than completely tragic, and there are comedic moments too to add some balance. I think it's far from perfect, and gets messy in the middle, but it all ties together for a touching ending that made me boohoo cry, and smile through my tears. I never heard of the novel before watching, so I am curious what fans of the book thought. It's not the best or worst sageuk around, but if you're in the mood for something a little less typical, this may be exactly the kind of drama you are looking for.
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Incredible Romance
When I first came across Fake Princess, the title sounded cliche and the storyline tropey. I was not familiar with the actors. I thought I would watch the first episode and drop the series. To my surprise, not only I didn't drop it, in fact I was rather enjoying this drama.She is a bandit and he's a crown prince. She wants his telescope so she steals it and they meet, and later marry each other without him knowing the actual identity of the person he is marrying. He has assumed that she's the granddaughter of the Prime Minister, his arch enemy, and a mole planted by him (the Prime Minister). But despite all the suspicions and distrusts, very quickly they fall in love with each other and become inseparable. Everything they do is for each other. Never once they betray the other. Each is always there to save the other. As a viewer, it's hard for me to drop such heart-warming storyline.
I love the Chang Le (Yu Kai Xin/Eleanor Lee) character - altruistic. wise, strong, humble, quick-witted, and intelligent. She is also unusually technologically talented. Yu Kai Xin has that casual expression and body language on her that fits perfectly well for the bandit character she's portraying.
Li Che (Zhao Yi Qin) the crown prince is one of the most adorable crown princes I've ever seen. He doesn't have the normal sharp good look of a crown prince that we are so familiar with. Instead, Li Che tends to have a blank face, a clueless look most of the time, giving the viewers the impression that he's not that smart. Perhaps he's indeed not as smart as his wife, but his devotion and upstandingness capture us all. In front of Chang Le, Li Che is like a teddy bear - compliant, devoted, silly and loving; he becomes a little boy, dependent and gullible. Zhao Yi Qin is new to me but his acting here is wonderful, delivering his character 100%.
My favorite scene of the couple would have been the moment when both try desperately to save the other from the 'poison' both have ingested. The altruism in each is amazing and brings tears to my eyes. Both are faithful to each other with one united heart.
There are 2 incredibly well-developed side couples here - Zhu Yan/Li Heng and Nong Yi/Gong Sun Mo. I have always thought the Zhu Yan/Li Heng couple would have a tragic ending whereas the Nong Yi/Gong Sun Mo a happy one. With a twist of events, they do not end as I have expected, and it's painful to watch the loss.
The villains are despicable characters. Having said that, the Prime Minister is villainous and yet super funny when it comes to his beloved teapots. I laughed so much at those scenes because they are so unexpected of his character. Being mean and nasty but not so intelligent make the villain characters very entertaining and a joy to watch.
The wuxia scenes are extremely well executed. Beautiful fighting choreography, floating hair and flying clothing making the whole scenes stunning to watch. Absolutely wonderful.
Yes, this is a good drama deserves our valuable time to watch. Don't miss it!
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Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West
52 people found this review helpful
by PeachBlossomGoddess 
2
2 Into the wild, wicked West.
The second season of Strange Tales Tang Dynasty sees the team reunite in Chang'an at a time the power struggle is intensifying between Li Longji and Princess Taiping. Su Wuming with his keen survival instincts falls on his sword to get them booted out of Changán into the wild, wicked West. In the blink of an eye, Lu Lingfeng is demoted and banished to Yunding, which is literally at the far corner of the Tang empire! This sets the team on a hazardous journey west along the exotic and magnificent ancient Silk Road, a trip fraught with mysterious and dangerous encounters. The team solves eight zhiguai 志怪 or slightly strange cases in this second season.In a year where many highly anticipated sequels have disappointed, STOTD2 stands apart by exceeding S1 on practically all fronts. The Journey to the West theme pays tribute to the classic novel about Tang Sanzang's pilgrimage West, battling supernatural forces along the way. This season is a visual feast for the eyes with meticulously crafted sets and costumes rich in historical detail. The changing increasingly exotic landscape and the stunning, remote sense of timelessness and insignificance as the team traverses the Gobi imbues the narrative with a sense of other-worldly adventures. Even though the antagonists are (mostly) ultimately temporal, there is a whisper of other forces at play. Or at the very least, the spirits of the wronged souls are not silent, they have just been waiting for someone to listen.
The team hits the ground running with a familiar rapport, sense of humor and teamwork that developed over the course of Season 1. In a hilarious role reversal, Su Wuming finds himself the subordinate, a lowly secretary to Lu Lingfeng. I was surprised to see Lu Lingfeng take Su Wuming's "betrayal" so casually and how lightly, almost enthusiastically he embraces his assignment in Yunding. It is as if he is secretly relieved to escape the power play in the capital with his beloved team alongside him. Su Wuming plays the assistant with exaggerated wit and perspicacity as he watches with a gleam of pride in his eye as Lu Lingfeng comes into own as a student of Di Renjie. What I always love best about this pair is that it breaks out of that mold of the master sleuth with a dumb sidekick whose role is simply to elevate his genius. Everyone on the team has a role to play; Pei Xijun as a genius sketch artist, Ying Tao taking up some coroner duties and Chicken Fei as their healer and resident alcoholic,...ahem,...wine connoisseur. Their witty bon mots and playful antics lift the tedium of some of the narrative detail and relieves tension that builds up in tragic or dangerous moments.
Even though the team functions seamlessly, this season is not really about them or their development. Both romances are more or less in holding pattern and most of the spotlight is on the characters in the cases; the victims, survivors and even the antagonists. What S2 has done most successfully is to make us truly invested in the cases, to empathize with the victims, their loved ones and at times even the perpetrators. Or in some cases to truly hate the antagonist to the bone. All the important roles in each case are well cast, with recognizable talented actors that convincingly convey their roles. It is a nice touch to bring back Dugu Xiashu, a beloved character that won hearts in S1. The mix of cases is also well balanced; some are more procedural with more action, adventure and mythical beasts; while others unfold as classic Christie-styled whodunits.
I found the first case Mara's Defeat to be the least well paced and it stretched over too many episodes but that was inevitable as it also brought the team back together and set the stage for their departure from Changan. The case that made me laugh hardest was The Snowy Inn with its tongue-in-cheek humor and of course the hottie sheriff Jiang. Even though I was quite impressed with the CGI monsters and action, I found the the linked Old Boat Official and Tongtian Rhino cases to be the weakest, with missed opportunities and loose ends. The Letter from Shangxian Hall was the best written case, one that left me questioning the high price of justice paid to punish a truly despicable human being. I was quite mad at the team for not looking the other way. But it is the final case that truly moved and broke me. I will not forget Doubao's story for a long time. Thus the season comes to an end in an emotional and visual climax at the awe inspiring Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. The best cases don't have to be water tight, they just have to connect us with the victims and make us reflect upon the dark side of human nature and how far short of restitution justice falls. This is where by comparison this year's high budget Judge Dee's Mystery fell down hard.
The season closes with the team being summoned back to Chang'an into what should be the climax of the historic conflict between Princess Taiping and Li Longji. I expect Season 3 to have a heavier focus on Lu Lingfeng and the team again as they navigate perilous times ahead. While I am sorry to leave behind the wild, exotic and mysterious Silk Road, it will be nice to be in the boldly prosperous Chang'an again. This was a fabulous season and a testament to the importance of hiring one helluva scriptwriter. This will be a hard season to top but this production team is not one I would bet against. I very enthusiastically rate this 9.5/10.0 and count the weeks, months but hopefully not years until S3.
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To Ningdom Come.
Eternal Brotherhood or The Three Heroes of Light/光明三杰/Guāngmíng Sān Jié is the first instalment of the live action adaptation of popular fantasy novel Purple River/紫川/Zǐchuān. The narrative opens in the thick of a gripping battle scene in a complex fantasy world and never stops to explain itself. The world building, political dynamics, power structures and character backstories all have to be pieced from the dialogue. It does not help that the plot is heavy with political intrigue and many opaque Machiavelli characters scheme against one another. Casual viewers out for light entertainment will find this storytelling approach frustrating and confusing.Zichuan is a loose coalition of different warlords, noble families and clans in a war torn continent. Yuanzhou is the battlefront, the critical buffer province that stands between Zichuan and their arch enemy Beizu or the North Clan. Food is the scarcest commodity in that strategic battle-torn province that is rich in resources. Power in Zichuan is divided as the Chieftain Zichuan Canxing of the ruling Zichuan family must answer to the Elders Council. The family's grip on power is underpinned by a sworn brotherhood between the previous Chieftain and two powerful commanders; Yang Minghua who secures the capital and Ge Yingxing who secures Yuanzhou. This alliance frays as Yang Minghua is widely expected to rebel. This is the back drop that Zichuan Xiu, foster son of the late Chieftain returns to after a seven year exile in Yuanzhou. The time is ripe for a changing of the guard as the next generation's three heroes Di Lin, Si Yilin and Zichuan Xiu emerge. There is a subtly ominous foreshadowing as they are clearly parallel characters with their predecessors.
One of the keys to understanding this story is that actions speak louder than words and no one says what they really mean; not even when their interests are aligned. This is clearly conveyed in the secret bathhouse scene; the only safe place in the capital for Di Lin, Si Yilin and Zichuan Xiu to speak freely with one another. Of the brothers, Si Yilin is the most reliable and almost blindly loyal one. Di Lin is also quite easy to understand; a ruthless, vehement and dangerous character who cares for very few people. Zhichuan Xiu is a cunning and complex character that hides behind an indifferent and flippant facade. The first arc (~12 episodes) that introduces the three heroes is strong as they work together to put down a rebellion. It is nice to see Yang Xuwen, Liu Yuning and Zhang Mingen work so well together in their first collaboration. Their rapport and humorous banter lightens the portentous, politics heavy tone of the story.
The second arc explores Zichuan Xiu's relationship with the Chieftain Zichuan Canxing and his niece Zichuan Ning. It is anchored by masterful portrayals of two Machiavelli mirror characters who are not quite yet opponents; warily circling and assessing each other. Yang Xuwen holds his own well in this match up against a veteran like Ma Shaohua. Their dialogue is quietly menacing with doublespeak, layers of hidden meaning and traces of irony, and dark humor. This is a rare drama where I feel real genuine fear that the protagonists may be up against a more powerful and possibly smarter antagonist.
I was so busy wishing Ning to Ningdom Come that it took me a long time to realise she is quite an important character. Not only is she next in-line to be Chieftain but Xiu actually cares deeply for her. This role is not well acted to begin with and made worse by the choice of a terrible voice actor. Consequently Ning comes across as little more than an annoying, childish, spoiled and shallow princess that gets too much airtime. In reality, scheming is in Ning's blood and she has an innate shrewdness and strong survival instincts. She fears Canxing and wears the persona he expects as a silly princess only capable of learning the cartoon version of history and nowhere near ready to assume power to allay his paranoia. In their opening scene together, both Ning and Xiu are role playing the pampered princess and her foolish swain. Unlike Yang Xuwen however, the actress is not able to convey any hidden depth to Ning or that there are layers underneath her words. But if you watch her carefully, she is quite clever in how she helps Ka Dan and Si Yilin and she has a far better grasp of the power structures of Zichuan than she lets on. If they had cast an actress better versed at complex roles, her arc would be more enjoyable and how Xiu grew apart from her would be seen as a sad development rather than a cause for widespread rejoicing.
Considering the limited budget they had to work with, the cinematography, camera angles and overall visuals are really nice and it is quite clear that this drama was made with care. Even though the dialogue is extremely well written, it is too unbalanced and too much plot movement happens via exposition; making battlefront developments hard to follow. The too few action scenes that occur mostly at the beginning and at the end are exciting and very well choreographed. Even the CGI is not heavy handed and is actually really nice.
I find it really difficult to rate this drama at this point because it actually ends in the middle of an arc and is thus unfinished. Even though it ends with a superb line, it does not change the fact that this is not only unfinished but also sloppy enough to not even close the Lei Hong arc. The production's two fatal flaws are not making the world building accessible and in mis-casting Ning. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this drama and am going to temporarily rate it 8.0/10.0. I will revise up my overall rating for the Zichuan series if the second instalment The King of Light/之光明王/Zhī Guāngmíng Wáng wraps everything up well. I think a strong case can be made to wait to watch this in its entirety when the second instalment airs.
May 2025 update: After watching S2: King of Light, I ended up rating S2 and Eternal Brotherhood in its entirety 8.5/10.0.
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