whoever decided on the pacing should be left behind and cut... jk not jk
production: i don't think the production looks low budget at all. even if it is, i didn't mind it and thought it was fitting for the storyline they had in mind.story: this is where they messed up. the plot can be engaging but the screenplay is the worst. the pacing is terrible, i don't know what's happening, and the end was clearly rushed. they could build the relationship more and tell the backstories much more but i ended but not satisfied... they need to invest on better screenplays because this is not it.
acting: the other two actors were good for bl standards, the actors that played yeong woo and yi bin. the other one that played ki jin is clearly a rookie and it showed especially on the "emotional" scene. but the acting didn't bother me it's the pacing that ruined this show for me. kudos on the kissing scene tho! they did a great job and it's not a dead fish kiss. like that's how you do a kissing scene!
ost: the ost is so good. i keep repeating the "wish upon the stars", it's a top 3 bl ost of all time for me
rewatch value: i won't be rewatching the whole show maybe some scenes like their date scene and the kissing scenes.. because that's the only good parts like why would i rewatch a show that has a terrible pacing.
overall: so much potential but they dropped the ball so hard... like the first few episodes are good but then they cannot make stories that feel fleshed out and not rushed. i feel like at this point, kbl need to focus on the story, because that's the reason some of us are watching. the kissing scene saved this bl for me, otherwise, it would've gotten an even lower score.
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Liar Game 2 is a continuation of the first and all the same elements of the 1st Liar Game are in play in this second installment.
The premise is the same but the games are different. I liked that for Nao, the stakes are higher. She gets involved with the games for a purpose and her over the top hope for finding the truth and honesty in humanity becomes a real part of the plot. Again, the relationship between her and Akiyama further solidifies as the games go on. There is character development. Not just for the leads but other character/s as well.
I actually liked the games in this one better; higher stakes, bigger losses, twistier games. All good things!
If you like Liar Game than Liar Game 2 is a natural progression. Why stop at the first when you get a chance to re-enter this strange world? I highly recommend this sequel.
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Thanks for believing.
This is an investigative Drama in which Romance is not a throw in the window.
Unlike your everyday detective story (especially the episodic one), This one has only one case through out
and it doesn't rely on how genius or clever the Protagonist is... or how awesome they solve the case.
Its a kind of drama that needs character investment. Every twist the plot will give you will strike lightning in your emotion. Observe, feel, analyze, it was very enjoyable and involving.
I know many viewers will pass this up because of its oldness and unfamiliar cast and if some random user attempt to watch it will drop it once he/she mis-concept it as a boring drama since the atmosphere isn't the same as the one we everyday saw in this generation. But if You have some dedication to taste a somewhat unfamiliar territory...you will be rewarded BIGtime as this was a genuine drama that are so rare and original.
Story
The first couple of scenes will give you an idea what the show will be going' and the first couple of episodes (which is somewhat slow but just need to build up the complexity of the characters).
It may somewhat buffles you especially for casual viewers..but after that..you will have the sense of it after you see ".....!!" and it will start to hook you..till the end. with Mind blown included. You will appreciate it greatly.
Characters
They are all 3-dimensional, They are all ingredients of the story..if one of them is not there, the story will not be completed. All of them behave different.
Any change in their behavior as the plot progresses affects a lot of consequences.
MUSIC
The OST here are overwhelming
The variety of music pieces have a sense of subtlety which is mesmerizing that doesn't need a lyrics to tell what they mean and let say it has a SOUL.
The sounds often tells many things more than the words not only just there to accompany the scenes.
Some dramas often have "saranghe" songs which is somewhat generic but sounds great ..that uses over and over again which is sometimes cheesy and you will not see it here
Replay
I think this drama is even better when see the second time around.
You know already the twist but you will get a lot of reasoning after repeating.
Good!
-Has a Very Complex Plot
-Moderate pace but detailed
-All Characters you see has a 100% importance to the plot
(3 dimensional characters)
-OST are very varied and haunting
-Very replayable especially for its kind
-Unpredictable
-Realistic (some plot devices can be superficial)
Bad?
-Old Drama
-Not Fast enough for casual
-Actors/Actress may not be familliar to you
-There is only one Song (OP)
-Some will think that a mystery drama has low replay value since you know what will happen the 2nd time around
-No Genius detective that uses more than 10% of their brain (this was proven a myth)
-no wacky moments out of nowhere (like we see in others of the same type)
My Enjoyment statistic
E01 8.5 / E02 8.0 / E03 9.0 / E04 10 / E05 9.5
E06 9.5 / E07 9.5 / E08 10 / E09 10 / E10 9.5 /E11 9.5
note: This is a Dark' Mystery Romance Drama but it is Moving.
There are less violence and not as disturbing as you think.
note2: I just put 9 on Cast and replay just you to notice how astonishing the 'story and the 'music is.
I really want to put 10s on all category in the first place.
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Maybe Horikita Maki has retired, but Kimura Fumino looked a bit like Maki (in my opinion) in this dorama. It may be her short hair. It may be her high cheekbones and sweet smile. From certain angles, she looked like Maki.
I don't understand why some people say she was frustrating in the first couple of episodes. I think any girl, especially any girl with bad experience in love, would be wary of any guy, no matter how cute or honest he looks, who approaches her and tells her he is her destiny. It is expected of the girl to be cautious, to be in doubt. If she agreed to be with him from the very beginning, I would have thought she was too naive and easy.
The story has the perfect amount of friendship (Makoto and his "rival", Haruko and Mitsue), good comradeship (Makoto and GOD, Makoto and his boss, Makoto and his coworkers), a nice rival (who is not really a rival, and who is just one of the nicest guys ever), present parents (who are there for their daughter). I liked the different tasks Makoto had to do, since it all served for a reason.
I am not satisfied with the ending. I was left with a "this is it??". I think there should be a SP. There HAS to be.
I love the OP and ED sequences. The dance was cute, and the song is pretty. I also like Yamapi's smirk when both of them are sitting in the couch, in the ED sequence. Only that, that same smirk is somewhat bittersweet in the final episode :(
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Humorous, bold, educational, raw and empowering
This is a show full of flawed but ultimately lovable characters and their struggles in fields of love, sex, health and friendships. It's unlike any other Thai production I've seen and it feels fresh in themes and execution, each episode introducing something new and unexpected. Praise goes to the actors too as this series doesn't lack daring and difficult scenes. The plot is well-constructed and all storylines intertwine nicely without feeling forced and unnatural, each of them carrying a different important message. Even when it's as subtle as a brick, show's heart is in the right place and its straightforward manner is a part of the charm. I highly recommend this series to everyone!Was this review helpful to you?
Joo Ji Hoon will be the initial draw for many. His performance as Yoo Ji Ho is tremendous fun. While the character starts off ridiculously trusting and naive, his development in the second half more than makes up for it. This point is also where Ji Hoon settles into his element. Seemingly improved from Warrior Baek Dong Soo, Ji Chang Wook plays a precariously balanced role with ease. I wanted to hate his Yoo In Ha, but couldn't completely; he was such a pitiable man and, in another life, things might have been different. The three veteran actresses portraying the mothers were also compelling, Chae Si Ra in particular. It must have been difficult pulling off such a complicated character like Young Rang.
Music may be considered another star in Five Fingers. There were many pleasing vocals, including a sad theme by Ji Chang Wook himself: "Fills My Heart." Lim Jeong Hee's "Don't Love Me" seemed to play the most and nearly brought me to tears once or twice. Classical and original instrumentals pepper the rest of the scenes. These work marvelously to amplify their impact and while dynamic, never bring the action over into the cheesy.
Viewers should be aware that Five Fingers deals in themes of domestic abuse and portrays one of the most dysfunctional families ever to grace the screen. The portion before the time skip can be a little hard to watch, and personally my emotions were all over the place.
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Amazing story! Inspiring Characters! Incredible Acting!
This is a story with a setting in a closely knitted community in South China in the 80s at the onset of the country reopening its door to the outside world. The drama depicts vividly the life experienced by common folks where street gangsters roamed and interwove into the fabric of the society. Life was tough as the country rebuilt its economy, healed from the devastation of the revolution, and stepped onto the world stage.The Story
The story is narrated from the POV of Yi Dongdong (Niu Junfeng), one of the main characters in the story. He recounts how he has come to meet Ma Xiaoxiao (Tan Songyun aka Seven Tan) and Ou Xiaojian (Xu Weizhou aka Timmy Xu) and how the two have inspired him. Though secretly in love with Ma Xiaoxiao and his love is never being reciprocated, Yi Dongdong is happy with this status quo for years from high school till adulthood.
Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao have grown up together on Mayang Street, a very tightly woven community where everyone knows and helps each other in times of trouble. Both Ou Xiaojian and Ma Xiaoxiao are soulmates and later become lovers to each other. They are role models in their neighborhood and in school with highest ranking in their academic studies. Tragedies strike repeatedly in Ou Xiaojian’s life and he grows up fast. While all the kids around him still in school, wondering what life is all about, he drops out of school, enters the police academy and is thrusted into a world that even most adults cannot handle. Unbeknownst to all, he becomes a mole for the police. To gather information, he hangs out with gang members, rendering everyone thinking he has turned rogue. Daily he’s involved in gang fights and getting hurt bloodily. His mission is to collect evidence to flush out the kingpin of the organization that has a seemingly clean façade, but deeply involved in money laundering, black market, smuggling, human trafficking, frauds, cheating schemes, street gangsters, and it has a giant network that spans to multiple cities and countries.
It is both happy and sad how the story ends. It makes me cry and my heart aches for my hero. I know deep down inside somewhere, Ma Xiaoxiao still remembers Ou Xiaojian dearly and cries for him.
The Characters and The Acting
The Ou Xiaojian character is a very difficult role to portray as he is multi-dimensional. On one hand, he’s a normal kid just like everyone on the same street. He goes through the same growing pains like others. But on the other hand, he has to act tough and fearless to protect those he loves. When he becomes a mole for the police, he has to act like a bad kid to blend in with the gangsters, talking rough and mean. Son of a dead police officer, he has a heavy burden on his shoulder that he cannot let anyone see. Misunderstandings are left unexplained because he can’t; he’s always in a predicament because he doesn’t want to purposely hurt the people he cares for. He is altruistic and magnanimous, and takes care of the kids in the neighborhood and helps them grow like a big brother, he's their guardian angel and everyone looks up to him. He's inspiring and very filial pious. And yet, life is cruel to him. Like his grandmother, I’m constantly fearful for Ou Xiaojian, fearing for him getting hurt again or even getting killed. Though I smile every time he comes on screen, as he gives viewers the security that Ou Xiaojian would take care of everything and everything would be fine, I’m fearful for him. The writer has successfully captured our sympathy for the character and brought out the motherly instinct of the viewers.
Actor Xu Weizhou has a baby face that plays well as the character of a 17-18 year old teenager as Ou Xiaojian. His ‘bad-boy’ aura makes him a very convincing gangster, albeit the best looking one, with a perfect physique even among the many Chinese actors. At 185 cm height, his long legs and strong chest make his every action move extremely good to watch; he’s really an eye candy for many viewers. Either riding his motorbike, running, kicking in fights, wearing his black biker outfits, he exudes a charisma no others can match. By the end of the drama, Ou Xiaojian has become my hero and Xu Weizhou gets enlisted on my favorite actor list.
Ma Xiaoxiao lives just across the street from Ou Xiaojian’s shop/home. They love and care for each other, watching out for each other’s back constantly. Ma Xiaoxiao is mature and commanding. A role model for her street and school, she is their big sister. She pulls the kids up when they lag behind in their studies. She’s their voice in school. Her friends love her and would fight tooth and nail to help her. Just like Ou Xiaojian who sacrifices for others, she sacrifices herself to make dream come true for her sister.
Tan Songyun has done it again, this time as Ma Xiaoxiao, an 18 year-old high school girl. At her actual age of 30, she continues to amaze me for transforming herself into a teenager playing the roles so effortlessly and convincingly.
I really enjoy watching the moments when Ma Xiaoxiao and Ou Xiaojian are together, not doing much, just holding hands, heads leaning on each other or gazing into each other wordlessly. Those moments really create ripples in my heart; their chemistry is exploding.
There are numerous veterans here, and multiple young actors, all giving their tip top performances, bringing alive the characters, making us empathize and love them.
The Official Sound Tracks
This drama produces numerous wonderful sound tracks, in particular the OST We Suddenly Grow Up, reminiscing the bygone childhood from the voice of a youth, and the OST Remembering You accompanied by a harmonica intensifying the melancholy, conjuring memories of a lost love.
My Verdict
This drama is one of those that once you start watching you cannot stop because the characters just pull you in.
This is a story with a lot of complexity. Its characters are multi-layered. Its attention to details is commendable. Many norms of the era are captured and depicted vividly here, such as how precious soda was for a child, how a big deal a pair of blue jeans was, televisions and phones were considered as luxuries. Private facilities were rare and common bathrooms for the whole community were the norm. Or the cooking of spicy or fermented foods that stunk the whole street. People living together like a big family, laughing and crying on each other's shoulder. The family dynamics and interpersonal relationships are being written so well that, these are all the small details that make this drama so relatable and endearing. It does make me ponder what does it mean by “a meaningful life”. Would one be happier living in a community like they do on Mayang Street, or like we do individually away from loved ones? No doubt there is a lot of conflicts living in a community like that – parents and neighbors fighting all the time, and secrets become public knowledge in no time.
This drama brings out the resignation and humor of life. At the beginning of each episode, the writer provides a lesson learned in the ensuing scenes with a fine statement for the viewers to ponder, successfully capturing the experiences all of us may have encountered in life. Sad as it is for a short young life of Ou Xiaojian, we should also celebrate him for living a life that he finds meaning in. The writer has successfully given us a very inspirational character.
A wonderful story that makes you keep thinking about the characters. TWO THUMBS UP!
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This review may contain spoilers
I'm not really sure how I feel about this drama. I don't want to say that I really enjoyed it but I don't want to say that I dislike it either. Great things in this drama:
-the acting
-the chemistry between the main lead actors
-it's loosely based off a real person in history
-formidable villains
-the pace generally isn't too slow unlike many dramas
-some character development
-happy ending unlike many Chinese historical dramas
-well thought out uses of symbols and cinematography
Bad things in this drama:
-the setup for the ending
-frustrating villains but this is what the drama intended so it's not actually a bad thing
In comparison, the good things should outweigh the one real bad thing, which is the ending. However, the ending really decides how good the drama is. I don't want to give any spoilers, but the drama writers kinda pulled a deux ex machina from their butts at the end which I wasn't particularly happy about. I appreciate the effort to end the drama on a positive note but still...
In any case, the journey through most of the drama itself will probably negate the weird ending. I'm rating the rewatch value lower because I'd skip all the angsty villainy parts and just rewatch the good romantic scenes. Overall, pretty good drama!
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Refreshing dynamics is exactly what we all need from time to time.
Love Tractor just does not follow any of the cliché character portrayal and I love it.Is the story complex? No. Do any of the side characters have any depth? No. Is there any solid conflict? No. And that’s why it’s so good and serves as a perfect fun and relaxing watch. Each episode makes you fall in love with a new aspect of the drama. At first I just adored Yechan, then I started to appreciate the aesthetically pleasing shots of the rural area. Without me even noticing I started to like Yul more and more and by the end I was completely smitten by his dynamic with baby Yechan. It just gradually builds positive emotions and energy - I could not stop smiling as I was watching.
Some scenes and plotlines seemed a bit random, most were underdeveloped, but at the end of the day, the focus was on the growing relationship and trust between Yul and Yechan, and I’m fine with it.
The acting was great and I will even defend the village head chief (or however they called him). Was his presence extremely random? Yes. But somehow even that aspect was endearing and his friendship with Yechan was simply adorable. I loved how Yoon Do Jin was able to make extremely expressive Yechan feel natural and never over the top in an unrealistic manner. I appreciated how Do Won’s presentation of Yul showed you can have a more reserved character that does not come across as cold and distant.
Production value was great. The visuals were stunning - both in terms of cast and the scenery ;)
Overall, such a pleasant watch.
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Just as titled 'Love Is Like a Cat,' but with no cat, only a dog; so, love was missing.
Disappointed, no hate, just my honest review. Watch if: 1. you are a die-hard fan of any of the actors, 2. you are an animal lover, 3. you don't care. Don't watch it for BL content; the entire series is 3 hours long, with BL content comprising hardly 10 minutes, and only in the 7th, 11th, and 12th episodes. There's no chemistry; it felt like they kissed each other just because there were no girls around. One main lead was Thai, and they used a translator for a single reason. Acting was average; Dog Cafe had only one dog, and the entire series revolved around the dog more than the human main leads. Extra characters for unnecessary drama; I didn't feel anything. It's way too slow until the 10th episode, and the other two episodes were rushed just to ensure the male leads ended up together.Was this review helpful to you?
The perfect comedy to cure your drama hangover/withdrawal
What an unexpected delight! This show is loaded with laughs and parodies of common costume drama tropes. It's so silly yet funny that you will pay no attention to its less than stellar plot.This is the perfect change-up to cure your drama withdrawal as its silliness and hilarity is sure to break the trance. Best of all, there should be no concerns about whether the plot will suck, angst, unsatisfactory ending, and all that nonsense. Just laugh along for the ride and get off investment free if the funny stops.
Also kudos to the FL for not afraid to look ugly occasionally for the lols.
7.5 (+1.0 MDL inflation)
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some things are best left buried in time
the only good thing about this show was chalarm and his comedic moments.the plot was below average at best, definitely not part of the BL shift going on. the casting left a lot to be desired, and those cast in the leading roles barely had chemistry.
with all the good BLs airing right now, you can genuinely do fine never watching this series.
I do think there’s quite a few in the supporting cast that are genuinely good actors, or at least show real potential, but as for the main pairing… I just hope they can get a better support system or guidance. maybe they needed to workshop more, they looked uncomfortable at times and I had to talk myself into continuing the show in hopes it got better. needless to say, it didn’t.
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The tale of a determined detective who switches bodies with the psychotic serial killer she is chasing took the best acting efforts from both Haruka Ayase and Issei Takahashi, and I have to say that by the show’s conclusion this may be some of the finest acting I’ve ever seen by either of them!!!
Also props to Kazuki Kitamura, the brash, arrogant and yet highly intelligent and motivated detective Mitsuo Kawahara who is always hot on the heels of the body-swapped duo as they try to wrangle themselves out of their predicament- This was a character that I never quite knew what to expect from and he surprised me every time!
An A+ drama that had me on the edge of my seat as the show took you through its elaborate twists and turns culminating in an entirely satisfying Wrap-up!!
I was excited about this ever since first hearing about it in the new drama announcement, blown away by its first episode and throughout its entire run, Tengoku to Jigoku has always been my #1 favorite drama on the air! A definite 10/10!!!
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Though it’s far less bloody than the first two, Park Chan Wook’s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance should be held in just as high regard. It outclasses Tarantino’s Kill Bill as a revenge story with far deeper turmoil.
Filmed in an almost grotesque fairytale manner, it is about the struggle between a saintly pale faced damsel in distress and a cunning witch donned in red eye make-up and classy heels. Stranger yet, is that both characters are one and the same - Ms Geum Ja (Lee Young-Ae) who seeks vengeance for crimes committed against her.
This film has the right blend of humour, love, family elements yet maintains an incredibly intense dark tone throughout. The surreal shots, the use of music and the progression of the story are nearly flawless.
I would happily use the words 'compelling' 'heart wrenching' and 'beautiful' to describe Park Chan Wook’s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. However, to this description you must also add 'chilling' and 'horrifically sinister' to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of this film. Lady Vengeance provides the audiences with intense off-camera violence and in this film it is the aftermath of the violence that is most effective. It’s not the violence that bothers the viewer but the situation in which it arises.
This offering by this amazing director is not for those who can only stomach physical brutality but that of the emotional type, thus making opinions surrounding this film as divisive as its predecessors. Like most pieces of art, it really depends on one’s taste. But one thing is for sure; whether you’re swayed by the deeper emotional content or the hard to ignore visual elements, there is at least one thing you’ll love about this film.
Or if not, you won’t be able to forget it for a variety of reasons.
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The curse was gone, but messily and realistically. Though the journey was far from perfect!
The storytelling is in a very classic Hwang Daseul style—delicate and nuanced.The drama dives deep into the complexity of trauma, self-discovery, guilt and love through the journey of DoHoe and Ju Yeong.
DoHoe's journey is filled with pain and inner conflicts, much of it rooted in the toxic environment created by his abusive father who runs a Taekwondo gym. Several moments conveyed the inner struggles of characters with small but very significant details.
Because of his toxic upbringing,he is someone who struggles to confront his past and doesn't allow or think worthy of himself to heal. His inability to face his wounds is both heartbreaking and frustrating at the same time. As a result, his relationship with Ju Yeong is complicated by unexpressed emotions, the trauma that was never addressed and the weight of the past that neither of them can escape even after 12 years.
Ju Yeong was the emotional anchor that kept Dohoe from drowning by constantly reaching out and putting in more effort despite the hurt and confusion Dohoe threw at him. There were few brief moments of comfort amidst that frustrating yet realistic push-and-pull dynamics between them. JuYeong often compromised trying really hard to bridge the emotional gap that DoHoe can't seem to cross. The imbalance does seem unfair but at the same time, their love story is portrayed as both beautiful and painful showcasing how even when people are deeply flawed and overwhelming, sometimes the connection between them can be profound and will last.
The chemistry between the actors was undeniable and their emotional journey felt raw and authentic. It mirrors the complexity of moving past trauma and being in a relationship when both of them are carrying their own and shared emotional baggage.
While the narrative is filled with emotional highs and lows, the pacing felt rushed throughout. The rapid shifts in the character arc without addressing their actual issues in detail left me craving for more. I wanted to understand them better. It felt like there was so much more beneath the surface, a whole world which just didn’t have enough time to really explore.
While the supporting cast like Hyean Ho added a new layer to the story, I am still a bit unclear on the mysterious circumstances surrounding his and Dohoe's past. They introduced him for bigger purposes, but his character felt very undeveloped.
And my biggest gripe was the editing. It seemed choppy and confusing. There were many scenes that missed the mark and their meaning relevant to the story because of this.
Overall, while the drama isn't without flaws, it keeps you hooked with its nuanced portrayal of love and healing. It's a powerful attempt at exploration of how our pasts shape us and impact our future decisions.
Sometimes addressing those past ghosts is the first step towards healing. Definitely recommend.
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