This review may contain spoilers
Definitely worth watching! A painfully beautiful film.
/ Long personal interpretation of everything that played out, explain (?) / details will be further below.Everything was just stunning: cinematography, the acting, locations, to the sound in the film. It's a queer, sapphic coming-of-age story that's complex, heart-wrenching, and realistic. It shows the complexitiy of life, people, uncertainty of adolescence, what it means to grow up in the flat and the societal aspects of it. (Self-image, identity, love, dreams, social class & opportunity differences, unjust system to difficult family/financial circumstances.)
A tear-jerker filled with details to catch.
FLAT girls left a huge impression with how it was delivered. I absolutely loved how impressively detailed and layered the characters and film is for us to uncover. Every scene & dialogue meant something to the characters and it felt like I was watching real people and trying to understand them through their lens and circumstances. The film leaves room for you to think, interpret and judge for yourself, adding emotional depth and feels "human" in a way. There are reasons behind every actions, emotions and words. Meanwhile, when feelings are kept with words left unsaid without clarification, it's easy for misunderstandings and assumptions to occur– much like in real life.
The more I went back, the more I understood the characters, their reasons and the possibilities– making the film memorable although it wasn't difficult to watch. Despite the layers of struggles, dilemmas, uncertainty, and the harsh circumstances beyond their control, there was still warmth, kindness, love, dreams, and resilience. I felt for the characters but also gained a lot from them. I think how the film goes may differ with different takeaways but it's extremely well done.
The actresses chemistry was natural and endearing while the acting by the casts was incredible. Watching it on the big screen was such an experience that I kept going back to appreciate it although it had me bawling, empty and filled with thoughts. Another great film by GDH, and it easily became my favourite. A movie that lingers.
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****spoilers starts here****
(personal interpretation, but to each their own way of interpreting!)
/// Please do not read if you haven't watched it!*
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/ Feelings:
Ann has feelings for Jane. When Jane felt nothing & wasn't sure how to interpret their kiss, Ann went along. Ann confirmed her feelings and her sadness thinking it wasn't mutual. Ann could have put her feelings first but she reassured Jane for her confusion and hid her feelings instead. Ann is clear about her wants and likes, but that's not that case for Jane.
Jane's figuring out and might not know how loving someone feels like especially intimacy with how young she is, but Ann means a lot to her. Jane's happy around Ann but felt nothing kissing her– as she got close to Tong, it got her questioning. Everything switched once Jane thought Ann & Tong were a thing. Every scene with Jane upset, was because of Ann.
/ Identity:
- In an early scene, Ann casually tells Jane, “The clean one is in another bag.” (chest binder) Does Ann wear it too (?) but Ann helps Jane with laundry to keep her secret. (Jane switched the clean one with the dirty one, made sure her dad was asleep before removing it and told Tong not to tell her mom.)
- Even Jane's parents doesn't know, but Ann knows Jane.
- Jane “It's nothing, I won't wear it anymore” to Tong / was to cover it up initally-
- but, Tong reassured her > Jane continued wearing it. Someone else who understands Jane.
- Jane may have thought she wasn't a tomboy after feeling nothing during the kiss > removed the binder.
- Jane's finding herself. (Girls school / Flat with many traditional families)
/ Alleged relationship between Ann and Tong:
Personally, the entire relationship between Tong & Ann was built on a series of misunderstandings. Considering Tong's actions, Ann's feelings for Jane and importantly my perspective of Ann & her determination. Tong had been caring, but Ann had always worked hard for money. (Laundry/Selling food/Wanting to teach English).
Some scenes/dialogues had no clear basis & felt out of place (because the characters isn't telling us).
Any interpretation lacks overall clarity as some dialogues/scenes matches with it, while others don't.
(*intentionally so, to draw our own conclusions?*)
/ Scene of Ann taking her phone at Tong's.
- Uncomfortably in Jane's perspective.
- Had Ann seen Jane inside, she would've misunderstood as well.
What did or didn't happen—up to interpretation.
Put on his shirt before letting Ann in (mannerism) = Removed when she left.
(Phone on the bed): Tong lets Ann sleep there instead of the couch? Returned after she left? Did Ann even stay over?
(Checked outside): Perhaps to avoid any potential misunderstandings? But Jane was inside. The environment is tight; it’s easy for neighbours to see & misunderstand.
- Ann didn't want to go home.
- That same night, Tong comforted Ann with her dilemmas about giving up her dreams for her family to have a home. Given her young age and all the responsibilities weighing on her, his words "You can be something much better," "You don't have to be a big sister all the time," & "It's okay"–
He mentioned, *"If you need help with anything, you can always tell me."*
Before, Tong was warm to the kids and treated Jane like his child because of their similarities.
- The sudden switch in the characters/dynamic was too abrupt to follow along without any doubts.
- The sequence didn't make sense.
- If anything else, I am assuming.
/ Jane and Ann's misunderstanding (bench)
There was tension before anything. But Ann doesn't know what Jane had seen. Instead, Ann did see Tong and Jane being close, and Jane, vice versa.
(What I do know is, Ann thinks that Jane likes Tong, while Jane is here thinking that Ann & Tong have some relationship.)
> Jane staring at her extra racket > She's thinking of Ann, not Tong.
> Ann meets Jane, while holding a new badminton racket from Tong, "knowing" that Jane likes him.
> Jane meets Ann, "confirms" their relationship after seeing Ann with a new racket from Tong.
- Ann never took anything or the racket from Jane.
- Ann thinks that Jane is upset because of Tong.
- Jane got upset & ran off; Ann chased after her.
/ More of Jane and Ann's misunderstanding (stairs)
Jane: "I thought you wouldn't date a cop?
(Does Jane know why she's upset?)
Ann: "Well, he gives me money" (he probably did)
I honestly think that Ann was masking her feelings & going off based on Jane's assumptions.
Jane: "Do you know anything about love?" (Jane, who doesn't know what love is)
Ann: "Love only matters to those with money." (Jane, Tong, or both),
"How can a person like me dare to love someone?" which Jane didn't catch.
Couldn't link Ann's replies to "for money". Instead Ann was talking about herself and how she's unworthy to love Jane.
- This was after Ann realises their differences during the phone call & her witnessing Jane "having feelings" for Tong / comparison
- "Well, he gives me money" could be a figure-of-speech to how Ann thinks that only those with money to give like Tong "can love", not meaning that they're together. Also, I truly wonder if Ann thinking that Jane "likes" Tong played a role in her reply.
/ Jane's mom noticed Ann with money
Jane: "She receives it from Tong because they're together."
Her mom: **"But he doesn't have money and even borrows from me."** ( *"All good cops has no money"* + was Ann's money solely from Tong?)
/ Jane collecting money from Tong.
*Ann's family is in need, he's happy to help make ANN's life a bit easier, just like how he's happy when he's able to take care of JANE.* (This highlighted he's helping Ann & Jane's misunderstanding)
But, Tong's helping Ann yet Jane is upset (?)
1. She think Ann and Tong are dating.
2. While Ann had never accepted any of Jane's help, she is receiving help from Tong who is struggling.
(Ann probably doesn't know about Tong's struggles while Jane always wanted to help Ann)
/ Tong gets emotional after Jane leaves; It could be his reality.
He doesn't have money for himself, let alone anyone else, not even his child. He's doing everything but it's incomparable to the stepdad who's rich. "Couldn't come because he had no money."
- But he "can do something" for the kids at the flat.
- He mentioned to Jane "They have a new family" “it’s better that way”.
(How he treats the kids, spend time & calls Jane warmly would make sense + he can't do the same for his child who's away in another province.)
- He likely have his own family/financial circumstances and reasons.
/ The interaction between Tong & Ann wasn't awkward (court)
- Tong mentioned he plans to study law for a promotion & wanted to learn English from Ann
(If Ann did receive help from him, pretty sure this is how Ann would give back)
- *The pan-out scene with neighbours gossiping about Ann and Tong from above the court*
(Looked like they were spreading rumours. Ann looked uncomfortable while Tong was questioning)
/ The rumours of Tong and Ann dating spread because of Jane.
- Ann exploded at Jane because her mom is now tying her already bleak situation down with marriage to Tong for money.
- It didn't feel like they got "caught".
(In a interview, the director mentioned about how women who lived in the flat tend to grow up believing the need to rely on men and that they're incapable to earn) But,
/ Ann didn't want to be like her friend, tied to the flat after marriage.
She mentioned: She's afraid that she'd be unable to leave; Her friend's life seemed to have stopped at the flat, unable to go to university or even come out for a game of badminton.
/ Jane chasing Ann, who ran away to the pier
Jane: "You won't marry him, right?" (misunderstanding)
Ann: "Do you really like him that much?" (misunderstanding)
Jane: "I don't know, but he's not good enough for you to stop your life for him."
- Jane's piority > Ann.
- Jane tells Ann she believes in her (even though Ann is doubtful)
- Jane comforting and apologising to Ann for spreading the "news"
/ Tong & Ann, pier scene.
- Tong telling Ann to bring the kids tomorrow; he'll bring them all to the cruise. (He brought it up out of nowhere instead of clearing up their "situation". I think he knew Ann was hurting with everything and wanted to make her happy)
- Ann tells Tong she'll live with him immediately if he could give her 10m baht (Ann wouldn't have asked if they already had some sort of relationship / Her mom pressured her: "So what did Tong say about the money". )
Ann asked that for her family = giving up her way of life. Her mom still blamed her for everything in a later scene.
/ How Tong looked at Ann. He probably felt terrible for her having to bring that up and knew that she's thinking of leaving.
- Tong said something like "Don't leave me ( in Thai, it doesn't indicate 'me' ); I'm trying my best, and I need time,"
/ Tong's response could stem from his complex situation.
He knew that she wanted to leave, doesn't have the money for her to stay, wanting to help but unable to. With his situation, whereby his family left (why?) , how he's unable to provide for his family as much as he wanted despite covering shifts and really "trying his best" (in a corrupted workforce), it could trigger those replies / Ann asked for money.
With Ann's "I can't wait long" / she's gonna leave.
/He suddenly switched/ & gave her assurance instead. Told her that *"She could earn as much money as she wanted.* (Also, maybe like the importance of Ann to Jane in the flat, the kids' presence was significant to Tong. He wanted to help Ann stay, but quickly knew that with her family situation, being stucked here wasn’t what she wanted)
- Ann: "I know" (Her determination after the reassurance from Tong, and Jane.)
/ *Ann saying they broke up to her mom* (The only indicator of a 'relationship")
But with her body language, it seemed like she didn’t want to explain. No point in it— her mom wouldn't listen anyway. A way to end her mom’s ideas of pushing her to marry for money.
/ Jane & Nice painted all the names on the wall, including Tong.
(That made him seem significant. He got emotional seeing the names with all the changes at the end. If he's a bad person, they wouldn't have painted his name & why did he get emotional?)
ENDING! (aside from everything else)
- Ann's ending > hopeful or the worst.
I believe that Ann ran away to chase her dream. (She almost hung the scarf but let it free.)
I believe she is "stronger". The cruise scene symbolised how she didn't want to return to her life at the flat perfectly. To make sense, I just think she hid somewhere on the cruise avoiding Jane, as it was far out. I believe she'll manage and achieve anything once she sets her mind to it, like how she was determined to leave and did so. It is not selfish of her. I hope she's happy.
- *Jane holding the paper hat (Part time/Full Time) + the world map at the end.
- "I hope we bump into each other on a plane, because you have to take me to first class," indicating that Ann is around.
- Ann's family and Jane weren't that "sad" either, although Jane was.
1. Who hung the packet of food outside Jane's flat?
2. Tong started hanging out with other cops after the kids left. (The dialogue is honestly questionable... but I don't know the context. I want to believe in him & that promotion)
3. Ann mom, please change– Although it seems unlikely with Ann's sister taking over her role.
4. Amy grew up! (Ann's sis) Showed some time had passed with Jane's mom having the money to move out. Ann's mom debt / paid off? who did?)
5. What were Jane's actual feelings for Ann?
Was it just Ann's unrequited love? or Jane was hiding it from Ann as well halfway through? or does Jane have feelings all along but realises it after Ann left? (Based on imdb synopsis, Jane liked Ann.)
Hope Jane still appreciates simple happiness & slowly figures it out. Hope her mom understands her more.
6. Will Ann and Jane meet again?
Ann and Jane misunderstood each other and their feelings until the very end. "Love is more important than money" to "Love only matters to those with money". Although Ann almost wanted to give up everything for her family, she ended up running away to chase her dream for a change. I do feel that Ann will return once she's in a better position, at least to Jane.
7. Ann did fulfill her promise to Jane about going on the boat.
Anyway I only wish all of them well :')
- summary of Ann, Jane and Tong
/ In the comments under this review if interested! / exceeded the word count here..
Definitely rewatch it again in your perspective of the characters!
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1This review may contain spoilers
Slow-Burn Pining Into Wildfire, Great Through Ep 6.
Spoilers only at bottom of review. 8 Episodes total. Finished series & updated review 10/15/23.I'm conflicted on how to rate this because Ep 2 through 6 are great, very enjoyable, and I would easily rate a 9/10. I know I'll re-watch them multiple times. But Ep 7 & 8 are cringy for multiple reasons and I would rate them a 4/10. Such a disappointment. Still, I loved most of the main couple's story so much that I've decided on 8/10 as my overall rating. When I watch again, I will likely either stop after the first scene in Ep 7, or skip to the 2nd half of Ep 8 to finish. In Ep 7 & 8 there's a good amount of affectionate skinship and a couple of emotionally charged kisses, so you could fast-forward the rest if you can't stand it.
Wonderful acting by the two leads, decent plot Ep 1-6 but ridiculous plot Ep 7-8, smooth-flowing dialogue *until Ep 7, some lovely cinematography, okay music, meh side characters.
The first episode is a bit overly goofy, and though it did get a few chuckles out of me, I was glad to see that toned down in the second episode as the character interactions and emotions became the focus.
The actors playing Yang and Phumjai are fantastic. There are a lot of sweet moments between the characters and the actor's chemistry is palpable, like magnets. They both also really nail the nuances of overlapping feelings; puting on a certain mask to others while the character's true emotions are just under the surface and still visible for the audience to see. Their chemistry and the way they interact with each other quickly drew me in and got my emotions invested. Their characters and the way they act them are my favorite thing about this series.
The friend Tag and the girl Tammy are acted well and feel like real people. I especially like how Tammy is written; I didn't like her character at first but her actions and communication skills won me over.
The brother is not acted or written well, he feels like the weak link, though his character gets slightly more likeable by the end. The other side characters are more like caricatures; over-the-top and lacking depth. Because the series is only 8 episodes, I was okay that they didn't spend a lot of time rounding these people out in Ep 1-6. But then Ep 7 & 8 relied on them more heavily and the simplistic writing and acting got annoying (especially in situations that were supposed to be serious and dire).
There are some beautiful shots utilizing space and lighting that, to me, underscored the bitter-sweet lonliness of pining. The feeling of being a part from others as you hold your thoughts to yourself.
Sometimes the background music was good, but at other times it did not fit the mood of scenes well (for example, positive major chords being played during an emotionally sad moment). It's probably not obvious enough to bug most people, but it distracted me from scenes a couple of times.
GENERAL SPOILERS:
The intimate scene at the end of Ep 6 had a similar feeling to Love In The Air nc-17 scenes, and I learned it had a similar approach: the actors improvised the scene as their characters (except for a couple of lines). It is BOTH emotional and hot, the best combination in my opinion. It feels very real. And this scene will be memorable for a couple of reasons, you'll see ;)
Ep 7 & 8: Ugh, what a way to unravel the magic. The writers, director, editors, and most of the actors created a muddled mess. There was obvious confusion about what mood/tone was the goal. On one hand, there's a very serious situation, on the other, the side characters continue their over-acted comic relief. Things that were supposed to be serious were undermined by lightheartedness or ridiculousness, and what were supposed to be feel-good moments or humorous were not because they were poorly done (& poorly timed) and ridiculous. Tension is completely disolved.
!SPECIFIC SPOILERS!:
Further frustrations with Ep 7 & 8 (I just needed to vent):
Why is it that in most BLs calling the police (or for an ambulance) is treated like an afterthought? You think you're boyfriend is kidnapped and you call and wait for your brother, your employees, and your friend to show up and ask "what should I do?"? This is so obviously unrealistic it's just lazy writing for plot contrivance trying to wring our emotions.
The older brother didn't have any savings of his own to help out instead of "being a hostage"? And neither of the brothers thought to ask their very weathly parents for a loan (instead of one of their sons being a hostage)? Get real. If the situation was as dire as the script pretends it is, something could have been worked out with the loving, supportive parents.
The creditor goes from being set up as a scary mob-like antagonist (though this is not pulled off well), to a waffling basic business man. A dire situation spearheaded by a buffoon lowers the stakes and can't hold tension (or the audiences attention).
The completely unnecessary and eye-rolling cliche of the discovery of a young childhood connection. Thankfully, it was brief and didn't have an impact on the story.
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Just as good as the series!!
The movie/series: Both had a great storyline and script. The cast was great and did a great job with their characters. The cinematograph and graphics were awesome.The movie: Overall, they did a great job editing the series into a cohesive movie version. There are a few scenes that were edited differently (same footage put in a different order) and some scene placements were changed. There were also a few scenes deleted or cut short, I’m assuming due to timing purposes. There was one scene that was cut short that I wished they kept completely in. However, all of the changes did not impact the quality of the series in anyway. I enjoyed the added bloopers and behind the scenes footage at the end of the movie.
Before I continue, it’s important to know an individual’s definition of added scenes. My definition is when the director adds scenes that were deleted due to timing restraints or when additional scenes was film after the original production has ended to add more meaning. A good example of this is “Life-Love on the Line”. Because of this, I do not count the bloopers and behind the scenes footage seen after the movie. I did not notice any added scenes the first time watching the movie. However, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything and watched the series and movie at the same time (split screen). What can I say, I wanted to be thorough. I only saw two added scenes almost 2 hours into the movie. The truth is it really does not matter if you notice the additional scenes or not because they don’t really add anything to the movie. Don’t worry about it and just enjoy the movie. Yes, it's almost 3 hours long but it's worth it.
Random Notes:
I personally preferred the English subtitles for the series over the ones in the movie.
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I don't usually watch korean historical film, this was one of the exceptions since I had its DVD in one of my collections for a long time because I thought it was a historical-Wuxia Chinese film but when I found its synopsis and main actors in MDL, I decided to watch it right away even though it's Korean.
2) Storyline/Plot:
Do you love stories that would make you feel like you're watching a piece of art? This is it!!
Positive points:
*To start with, action films mixed with romance are one of the favorite genres that I like to watch and this film was just the type.
*Love through fighting was a brilliant idea that made this film's story so captivating because usually the leads are on the same side.
*The fighting scenes were nicely done; grafic effects and cinematography would make you feel like you're watching a piece of art being painted.
*The historical concept gave this film its great concept, it wouldn't be this great if it was in another era.
Negative points:
*The general presentation period didn't tell much therefore we don't get to know a lot about the leads (specially the lead male).
*The romantic story could've went a lot deeper; we haven't seen a lot on that side but that doesn't mean it was bad.
Story: 8/10
3) Acting/Cast:
*Kang Dong Won: I just love this actor because he always have unusual roles, here he was amazingly different. I usually love it when the lead male is mysterious, handsome, martial arts expert, full of karisma and I found all of that in "sad eyes" character; it was a perfectly portrayed character although he may sound very silent but he managed to deliver a lot of emotions: *Claps* I really loved him here.
*Ha Ji Won : In every drama/film, she can portray any character in a good way, here it wasn't any different; she was cool with her foolishness and manly behavior, she was the kind of strong/independent female lead plus she delivered great emotions. However, Kang Dong Won amazed me more.
*I just loved the chemistry between the leads because every scene they had together was interesting to watch; they were so cool especially in fighting scenes.
*I was right for watching it because of the lead actors: they did a great job.
*The general acting was cool and the supporting roles were acceptable.
Cast: 9.5/10
Acting: 10/10
4) The ending:
*Some people may not understand it, I would love to explain it but I would spoil it for those who haven't seen the film yet.
*Anyway, it was a great ending plus it was really logical for this type of film.
The ending: 9/10
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I didn't get my eyes off the screen the whole time, it was really interesting to watch. I am still wondering why I haven't seen it before.
*I was really entertained; i laughed, I was excited because of the fighting scenes, I was moved by the sad emotions somehow (I don't usually get moved by any sort of sadness so this is rare).
My impression: 9.5/10
6) Overall:
*If you like action films mixed with romance then this is for you but don't expect a lot on the romantic side.
*If you like mysterious male lead/strong female lead then this is for you.
*If you like martial arts film that's full of cinematography then this is for you.
Overall: 9/10.
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Underrated fun, hilarious and sweet show!
Starting with the opening scene illustrations, I found this drama funny and quirky. It did not feel like a big-budget production, the sets were nondescript, and the costumes were not that memorable. Still, those did not detract from the show's charm. Instead, it is ultimately entertaining, mixing cute romance, just the right amount of melodrama, and on-point comedy.I thought that the drama did well in combining romantic and "slice of life" scenes featuring the different characters with the political shenanigans in the palace and courts. It stood out for me because it was a historical drama accompanied by non-traditional touches like the gender role reversal between the main couple. In this show, the male lead played the traditionally weaker and gentler role, while the female lead was the strong one, unpolished like a diamond in the rough.
As individual characters, the leads were likable, and together, they were endearing. Hu Jiao, played by Baby Zhang, was strong and domineering, the daughter of a butcher with some impressive knife skills. She had no formal education and was blunt as well as impulsive, but she was perceptive and street smart. She was also honest, principled, and upright, just like the male lead, Xu Qingjia, played by Tong Men Shi. In contrast to A'Jiao's physical strength, Xu Qingjia can be considered a xiǎobáiliǎn or pretty-faced boy, delicate and frail. However, he was incredibly intelligent, a learned scholar who was rational and thoughtful. His level-headedness tempered A'Jiao's fiery personality.
I enjoyed the sincere and simple romance between A'Jiao and Xu Qingjia. Their love was adorably dorky. Despite being new to marriage and still trying to work through their feelings, both did not shy away from sharing their thoughts. I also appreciated their care and respect for each other, especially regarding their relationship and life goals. Even when one did not want the other to make sacrifices, they still listened to each other and understood that they wanted to protect each other. There was no noble idiocy which is a trope I find most annoying.
It was great to see A Jiao's character develop. Typically straightforward, she did not usually mince her words, but she slowly started to consider Xu Qingjia's feelings. She learned to yield, saw things from his point of view, and did not hesitate to show her admiration for his brilliance. Xu Qingjia, on the other hand, would acknowledge that even though A'Jiao's words hurt, there was truth in them. He was always sweet towards her, so giving, but he would stand up for his beliefs when it came to important matters, at the risk of being beaten by A'Jiao.
These two managed to find common ground and reveled in each other's strengths, rather than expecting each other to possess the traditional gender-related skills. When conflict appeared, it was not a test of whether it would break them up but more of a testament that their relationship was strong enough to adapt and overcome. They were partners through and through.
The second couple, Yu Niang and Gao Zheng were equally delightful, with Gao Zheng just as dorky as Xu Qingjia but more emotionally clueless. Yu Niang was another awesome female character, and along with Lin Cui, A'Jiao's best friend, and other characters, there was a message of female empowerment. Actually, both ladies and men shone in this show. I liked the sismance, bromance, and the lack of tiresome third parties or love triangles. My favorite aspect of the show was the emphasis on wholesome masculinity and strong female characters.
It was also fun to watch the dynamics of A'Jiao's family members. They were hilarious and so supportive and protective of each other. Some characters fell flat, like the villains, but the cast did fine overall. It is the first time I watched the main actors, and while they were pretty good, they do need to hone their acting skills.
Musically, the song tracks were memorable, and by that, I mean the songs were effective in evoking memories of the scenes for me. I like the closing song, sung by our main couple, Baby Zhang and Tong Men Shi, but my favorite is Guòmén (Cross the door) by Liu Fengyao. It is incredibly romantic and, when played during the scenes of the couples, heightened the watching experience for me. For posterity, I included the track list at the end of this review.
Whether you need to cure bad-day blues or just a distraction, this drama might do the trick. I recommend that you try this drama out and decide for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4liQrjrq1M&t=547s
佟梦实&张含韵 - 春日愿 (Spring Day Wish - Tong Mengshi & Zhang Hanyun)
入梦 - 袁咏琳 (Into a Dream - Yuan Yonglin)
过门 - 刘凤瑶 (Cross the Door - Liu Fengyao)
许你清嘉 - 戴欣梦露 (Xu Ni Qing Jia - Dai Xin梦露)
牵红 - 曹璐 (Bringing Red - Cao Lu)
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This review may contain spoilers
When is a woman beautiful? When is she not (anymore)? What does it mean for love? For work?
"She was Pretty" is a true story, so they say. It's about love - of course. The first love, too. And about being a woman in South Korea. When is a woman beautiful? And when is she not (anymore)? And what does that mean for her then? For love? For work? For social life? For your self-esteem?That's what this KDrama is about.
Wanting to be beautiful as a woman is widespread. Needing to be beautiful as a woman is deeply Korean. In hardly any other country do women spend so much time on skin care and make-up. Impeccability of the personality is reflected (in the South Korean self-image) in the form of pure skin and so facial care is part of a comprehensive ideal of beauty. The KBeauty industry supplies innovative products for this. In Germany, there are an average of three to five care steps that women use for their facial care. South Korea has become known for its "10-step Korean Skincare Routine", which (should) lead to a flawless porcelain complexion in lengthy and loving detail work.
In my experience, series that deal supposedly critically with ideals of beauty, bullying based on appearance, discrimination based on aesthetic value judgments and norms tend to have a hard time. They can't really be critical since their sponsors often come from the KBeauty industry... And they can rarely present an "ugly", "repulsive" character as a protagonist if they want the viewer to identify with it and actually watch the series. The subject calls for compromises before the story can even be thought through, let alone be told. Most of the time, this results in a transformation process for the protagonist: she transforms into a beauty that men and women can no longer overlook, and as a result she at last gains (now well deserved) self-esteem.
That's why I'm not a fan of this type of series. Even if the actresses are usually very committed, perhaps because the topic is so important to them. But the story can't help it... In the end, the solution is the transformation - the ugly duckling blossoms into a pretty woman and thus causes plenty of "Aha!". That doesn't convince me personally, because the core of the problem is rarely shaken, at most it is touched on the shell.
Accordingly, "She was Pretty" is not among my favorite series. Still I like it. Why? After all, there is the male character of Shin-hyuk. He's a great guy, he's good-looking, he's got what it takes - but he doesn't act like the norm. He takes a close look behind the facades and encounters the human in the woman, not the image of the woman. And falls in love with the woman as she is (before some kind of transformation). I think we need more role models like this. In "She was Pretty" at least there is one. It's encouraging and also fun to watch Shin-huyk (refreshingly played by Choi Si-won) in his encounters with the 'Ugly Duckling'.
Of course, ugly is relative in this KDrama as always. The protagonist, Kim Hye-jin, was once one of the prettiest girls in her class and totally hip. However, she has inherited her father's skin, which is characterized by a noticeable redness in the cheek area. Also, her hair is naturally frizzy. Although this might disturb the eye of the South Korean viewers, it is actually nothing that cannot be remedied with a few interventions, if a woman wanted to. Hye-jin just doesn't want to. To her it's not worth it (also in monetary terms). Yet that's how she offends people and makes social life and professional life difficult.
She compensates for her flaws (and thus her lack of value as a woman) through hard work. At the same time, she and her goodwill constantly invite others to have her be exploited. There's a memorable scene in which she takes on the new job with a competitor. Her co-worker is what you might call pretty (at least she's done a lot to be). As a reward, she is given permission to manicure her nails during working hours and to work rather slowly (if at all). Hye-jin, on the other hand, is passed around, pushed and insulted. The ideal of beauty for women - beyond performance - thus influences hierarchies in the working world. Unfortunately for South Korea this is a widespread status quo.
With Hwang Jung-eum and Choi Si-won being in a cheerful mood and providing plenty of fun in the midst of the actually less funny social conditions, the KDrama becomes worth seeing. The exalted editor-in-chief of the lifestyle magazine, who changes her hair color and her outfit with the hour and constantly recites from Italian operas, also ensures a good mood.
Ah, yes, this Kdrama is first of all a rom(ance) with some com(edy) in search of a happy ending. Some things may be predictable, but some are not.
As far as the beauty-topic ist concerned: It´s never too far from the norm, but some socially critical echoes could still be sprinkled nonchalantly throughout the course of the story. ...Humor paves the way for serious messages...
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A story about loneliness and the struggles of everyday life...
Many viewers won't like this series much, because first it's not a BL, secondly there is no real drama but many heartwarming/heartbreaking moments in this story. It's a slice of life where two people drawn together, fight their past baggage and come together in the end.It depicts the struggles especially in Japan where social pressure and expecations are a real burden. The last episode Azuma describes that best: "I feel like I've just been running in circles. I kept telling myself I'd take a real break when things settle down. But "settling down"... if you don't force yourself to take the time, it feels like it'll never happen."
We see the disconnect of families like Kuji and his brother, who takes the house Kuji is living in, not just because he inherited but despite his hate for his father. He does not really need that house but he kicks Kuji out of it regardless. Azumas mom is struggeling with loneliness because many eldery people left alone because their spouses already left and their children are struggeling themselves not investing the time to be there for them.
This is slow pacing, some may say boring, but life itself is not an action movie. It's running in circles and to break out of that circle is the real challenge both of them faces. And in the end, they manage to do it.
These are veteran actors not needing a queer role to stay relevant. Of course Takeda Kouhei is best known to us for his role in "Oldfashion Cupcake" while for Shibuya Kento it's his first stop at such an series as a main role (he was a guest in Ossans Love). Both did an amazing job and overall the cast was strong. Production quality and cinematography was on point with slow movements and great pictures to punctuate the actors characters and performance.
If you are tired of the 100th school BL this is something completely different, a mature look of two people struggeling and a sensitive composition of how two people can find to each other without the usual drama and silly scripts. I can't do no other as highly recommand you to watch this. But this is not for escapists, this is for people who want to improve their understanding.
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Watch for the wonderfully amazing kids, great OTP, hilarious rival ... BUT some caution ahead ...
There is so much to love about this drama -- the OTP pairing between Xie Binbin and Zheng Qiuhong, the most ridiculously adorable kids ever, and a rival you think you're going to thoroughly loathe, but end up finding absolutely delightful and hilarious. All of these factors make this drama worth watching.ACTING:
Xie Binbin, who is simply adorakable and was also enormously likable in Party A Who Lives Beside Me, is equally endearing here. He's not the most emotive or best actor, but you can still sense his ever-present regret over his initial motivations, all of which culminates into a moving and heartfelt speech near the end of episode 27. He and Zheng Qiuhong, who was equally fantastic in Dine With Love, have great chemistry together. The pairing is inspired and I hope to see them together again in a future drama. But it's the children who are truly revelatory. At first, they just seem like your typical adorable C-drama kids, but it's almost magical watching Zhang Yanbo and Huang Bosi together as the story unfolds and they interact like true siblings. Episode 26, in particular, is a gem. First you'll cry, then you'll laugh out loud as the kids break your heart before charming your socks off.
Yang Xue'er, who plays Tong Luoqi, is pitch perfect as the bitchy rival with the heart of gold. I'd seen her in a number of other dramas before, but this character really allowed her to shine. Some of the funniest scenes in the drama involve her and the children, and some of the most heartwarming scenes are also between her and the FL.
Finally, I was surprised by my unexpected sympathy for Qin Tian once his back story was revealed. He was a different person in the flashbacks, and credit goes to Jin Chong for his acting. Of course, it doesn't justify his actions in any way, but it made his character more interesting and nuanced -- he wasn't just some one-dimensional villain out for the usual revenge.
STORY:
There are some minor quibbles here and there that can be glossed over, but there are a few significant issues that mar what otherwise could have been a very satisfying romcom. One of the biggest weaknesses is the secondary couple. Both BFFs are perfectly fine ... and yet ... somehow bland. That blandness spills over into their equally uninspired romance, which was really the only draggy part of the drama. Far too much time is spent on a courtship that has no spark.
Another major weakness is the overall plot that drives the entire story. A key component of the "mystery" is fairly obvious within the first episode and by the mid-point, viewers have a pretty good idea as to the other elements of the mystery. And yet, more than a dozen episodes go by before some of these theories are finally confirmed. (Eg. Speaking as someone with relevant experience, how does that detail about the brother not come up even once in conversation?!) I don't mind plot predictability, but the build-up to a couple of the big reveals felt quite forced, unrealistic, and unnecessary. Not surprisingly, the plot briefly got splattered with some obligatory "dog's blood". By the time the series ended, I still had some unanswered questions as to how certain key events were even possible.
Despite these problems -- and unlike The Love You Give Me, a recent modern drama that I found extremely frustrating to watch -- Please Be My Family was still very enjoyable. At less than 30 minutes each, it's also a breezy binge. Ultimately, the strongest aspect of this drama is the main cast of genuinely wonderful characters. They really carry the show and help compensate for the storyline flaws.
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Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
At twenty-three, Lin Zhaoxi lives a life of quiet desperation. She grows up in the shadow of two natural math geniuses - her father Lin Zhaosheng and his mentee and love of her life, Pei Zhi. Despite her passion, her aptitude for math is not intuitive and falls short of true genius. Discouraged, she majors in philosophy and is resigned to a mundane existence. She also loses touch with Pei Zhi after he leaves to further his studies in Germany. Her world unravels further when she discovers her father Old Lin has early onset Alzheimer's. Then out of the blue, she is whisked away to cheese world, a parallel world with a childhood classmate Ji Jiang. In order to return to their world or strawberry world, they must win Math Olympics. This was a challenge she failed as a child. It was arguably the great inflection point that put her on a less satisfactory life path, one that is lacking passion.Don't be put off by the math aspects of this drama; the writer does a good job making abstruse concepts and theorems quite approachable and avoids getting bogged down into the weeds. The storytelling indulges in almost ten episodes of sheer childhood delight as the young Lin Zhaoxi, Ji Jiang and Pei Zhi try out for Math Olympics. The child actors led by Wang Shengdi, Fu Bohan and Lin Zeyi blew me away with their natural and uninhibited articulation of joie de vivre that conquers all. The young cast steals the show with their empowering message that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. The Harry Potter allusions were brilliant - it just cracked me up that no one wanted to be Harry! It also pays proper homage to Snape, one of the most complex, fascinating and moving fictional characters ever written. This is indisputably the strongest, best arc of the drama.
The middling arc is a struggle by comparison as both Zhang Xincheng and Zhang Zifeng take time to get in character and are not that convincing as lovers. It is not a bad arc at all, in fact the father daughter dynamics are very enjoyable and touching. It is just that the first arc is just too good. Initially, Zhang Zifeng seems mis-cast because unlike Ji Jiang and Pei Zhi, I could barely see any vestiges of the child that was Lin Zhaoxi. But upon reflection, it is intended that all of that youthful optimism and sense of invincibility is extinguished. The actress really redeems herself in the latter episodes, especially in her chilling encounter with her doppelganger. Oddly it is Zhang Xincheng's performance that doesn't hit all the right notes in this. I think he is much less comfortable taking on grey or flawed roles. I didn't like Pei Zhi for most of the drama and only empathised with him after his heart to heart with his father Pei Donglai in cheese world. Both the young and grown Ji Jiang is far more charismatic and is seamless portrayed by both actors. As always the veteran actors Lei Jiayin, Wang Xiao (Zhang Shuping) and Geng Le (Pei Donglai) are the ones that save the day by extracting the best performances from the younger actors. In this one, even they are outclassed by the amazing kids. Ni Ni's brief stint as an omnipresent and unforgettable character is both delightful and heartbreaking. The drama picks up pace and comes together in the final act. It finishes strongly with a few good mind blowing twists and reveals to end in a good way. Some may not like how it was all wrapped up but I did and I explain why in a spoiler in the comment section of this review.
The Heart of Genius is a well-crafted and intriguing story about life, love and friendship that is comical, inspiring and heartbreaking. Everyone makes mistakes and has regrets; Lin Zhaoxi didn't try hard enough, Pei Zhi lost his father too soon; Lin Zhaosheng didn't fight to clear his name; Zhang Shuping did the wrong thing... This drama tantalises with the impossible fantasy of re-writing history, to have a chance at a do-over of the big what-if moments in life. It proves that even though assholes are still assholes in each world, the grass is not necessarily greener in cheese world; that there are always consequences and trade-offs that are of unknown, unknowable value. Thus we must be consoled by the wisdom that life is not a fairy tale and who we are and who we love are the sum total of our shared experiences good and bad. To live in the moment and to accept what we can't change. It is a very engaging and thought provoking drama that does not seem to get the appreciation it deserves. It is one of the most enjoyable dramas I watched recently and am happy to rate this an 8.5 overall.
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Story: Different from what others said about how boring the early episodes was, IMO the early episodes are great! I waited every week for new episodes. I want to see more about Yi Seul & Baek Ho.. I really adore how they loved each other, how they cared about each other.. It was.. really sweet (I'm typically a fan to sweet couple like them..) I really enjoyed every episodes.. But when I reached later episodes, I found the story becomes, a bit dragged, and BH-YS's relationship becomes more bitter, especially on around episodes 11-12. And it's true what people said that episodes 11-12 is frustrating, and episodes 14-15 was the turnover. Finnaly after I passed episodes 12, I once again, found myself enjoyed waiting for the next episodes, and am really satisfied with the ending! Such a happy ending :) The side story also add addiction to this drama (I especially adore Tae Nam and Chae Ri's story)
Acting/Casts: Such an outstanding chemistry between Yoo Seung Ho & Park Eun Bin.. They've been together in some project, and it makes them comfortable with each other. Yoo Seung Ho himself has a strong acting base from his dramas before. Other casts also did a perfect job (even the supporting roles really did a great job!) That's why I give 10 for this section! They are really outstanding!
Music: Honestly, for me, some of them are great to build the mood (especially for crying scenes), but some of them were just, average. Outside the drama, some of the soundtracks are on my playlist :)
Rewatch Value: I usually don't rewatch the dramas I've watched before.. But I'm sure that some of you would like to watch this again in some time :D
This maybe not the best drama I've ever watched.. Some people found this frustrating and I was one of them. But if you want to watch a sweet romance, then you come to the right place :)
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Really cool Gender swap Romantic thriller!
I heard Kim Jieun (FL) saying that this show is a Romantic thriller in a radio interview and that's what it is exactly! A really interesting one at that! It has short 24 episodes of almost 22-25 mins each. Easy to watch, mostly light-hearted and quite well acted. Picks up pace after Ep 4.HIGHLIGHTS :
1) ACTING: Actually I have become a fan of both FL and ML (Lomon) and went back and watched most of their old shows because of how good they are here! When they gender swap the change is so smooth it's like they actually swapped! They both have done a really great coordinated job here! 👏👏
2) CHEMISTRY : It's simply Fire! Both the leads look so hot together! 🤩 And I am sure many of you are here because of those kiss scenes YT shorts! 😁 But mind you, the actual romance part is really subtle, don't expect fireworks romance and sweeping declarations, you just have to imagine those things yourself! 😭 LOL (EDIT: Now that I have completed it, I can say that romance gets more visible towards the end and for that I am infinitely happy :D)
3) STYLISH SHOW: When you watch it you will realise they have added all elements to both aesthetics and the plot to make it modern and stylish. All the Marketing ideas they come up with in each episode is so new and cool and overall very interesting and I really enjoyed those scenes in each episode!
4) I personally like a no nonsense strong headed FL and here she is perfect as one! she's no saint and don't go expecting her to be one either you will be disappointed! She's superbly grey! (EDIT: For people looking for character growth, let's just say they all become better versions of themselves in the end.)
Mild spoiler :
5) It's a thriller so be ready for huge plot twists! Things may not be as they seem in the first 3/4th half of the show! 😉 But they are totally worth it! Accept things as they come, it gets better and better! (EDIT : It's certainly all worth it in the end! *HEA* <3 )
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The rebellious disciples ~ It will always be you, in all lifetimes | Great ending—Baby Machine CP!
"Everyone has their own fate. Sometimes, you can save a person but can't change their fate." - Ye XinAlright, I am totally sold! That was such an enjoyable and satisfying story overall. I love a lot of things about this but my love and adoration for Mu Qing Ge/Xue Ranran is the greatest!
I typically jot down notes on how I feel about a drama I'm currently watching and upon checking it minutes ago, it was full of high praises and words of adoration for the FL. She's one of my most favorite FL character this year. I love everything about her and what she does...her broad-minded, non-condescending and appreciative view of everyone's potential and capabilities was truly commendable. + The way she finds meaning and fun in almost everything brings this delightful charm to her. A well-written character who made the story beautiful and admirable—the backbone of this story!
The story as I mentioned above was well-written and despite it being a Xianxia drama, the amount of cliché plot sand scenes were minimized to offer just the right amount and I would say that they did a spectacular job for that. Every scenes are interconnected to one another and I never felt at lost even once while watching it. The scenes were engaging and enjoyable that I don't feel bored at all.
Phasing was good and they were able to maximize all of the episodes to the fullest. No major nor minor plot holes I can think of, and I don't have any dissatisfactions either. Maybe something I 'hoped' was included even as a short scene is the wedding ceremony of Gao Cang & Xi Er (If they really ended up together)—I like this pairing a lot and I find the both of them adorable. It's just sad that we didn't get to see them be wedded but anyways, that's fine and totally understandable as it's not their story. Just wanna mention here that Xi Er's commentaries about what she smells to describe feelings and emotions is very unique and funny to me. She's even nonchalant whenever she delivers them which makes it even funnier. Haha!
The most important and noteworthy part of this story would probably be Mu Qing Ge's journey in making Su Yi Shui a better and kinder person. Her approach towards his violent reactions and retaliations is that one thing that made me look up and admire her. She was understanding, patient and sincere in dealing with him—Explaining things carefully in different ways in order for him to understand every situation. She's like a mother raising and correcting her juvenile naughty son.—She uses warmth to melt his frozen cold heart, gentleness to mend his maimed soul and love to lighten the darkness surrounding his world which made him gradually open up and love her in return.
The same credits should be given to Xue Ran Ran as she also suffered quite a lot dealing with his "Master". Although it was a completely different scenario this time as Su Yi Shui has already been tamed, felt indebted and of course, in love. He at the same time was the toughest to deal with, in his hot and cold, confused and full of hesitation phase. Thank god Xue Ran Ran's persistence and passion for him was boundless. Because if not? then I don't know anymore. Also, XRR & SYS chemistry gives off this extra cheerful and playful vibe which makes watching them more entertaining than ever!
Rising action and climax of the story were greatly executed and I hereby say that the most entertaining part of the whole drama is the last 10 episodes. I never felt that they were rushing anything at all. More so, they seemed like a water flowing smoothly in a river. The director and writers certainly got a good grasp of the story—on how should it flow and how should it be ended.
The conclusion was logically done as I don't expect Mortal Cultivators (no matter how powerful they are) to defeat an Immortal. So, kudos to the team for giving us such a satisfying and rational ending. Mu Ran Wu's ending on the otherhand felt lacking to me. That b*tch deserves an excruciating death more than that gone-insane trope.
Ending is my most favorite part of the whole drama. Xue Ran Ran & Su Yi Shui settling down, retiring and living their happiest days (becoming baby machines lol) with their kids is the best ending we drama fans could ever receive from a drama. So I truly appreciate and extremely grateful to the entire team for giving us such a happy ending.
P.S. Seeing kindness and reasons through Su Yi Shui's display of cruelty is Mu Qing Ge/Xue Ran Ran's real charm and power. Her words of affirmation and strong relentless love gave him warmth—She lit his life and provided him HOME.
Story - 10, Best Xianxia I have watched this year (2025) and in a while. Story is compact and has a smooth sailing flow. Like I mentioned above, the director and writer got a flawless idea of how the story should progress and perfect control on how to conclude it.
Acting/Cast - 10, I so love each one of the cast! Deng Wei is the perfect leading man and no one in my opinion can top Julia Xiang's performance in this show—She excels in this mischievous and silly acts/expressions which suits her the best + Flawless and effortless execution of both Mu Qing Ge & Xue Ran Ran was truly amazing. The supporting roles are great as well. It's also nice to see Ai Mi and Fo Bo Han again (since I have been seeing them in almost all of the dramas I watched. Haha!)
Music - 10, beautiful and lovely. It accentuates the mood and color of the drama. + It brought out the emotions of the scenes they're used in.
Rewatch Value - 10, A drama that I will surely re-watch if I can and would also recommend to people to watch.
Overall - 10, Everything about this drama is exceptional to me. Thinking about this drama reminds me of how beautiful the story and visuals/CGI are. I wish more directors can start making Xianxia dramas like this.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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How this drama got me so hooked is magical!
It took me a while to finish this drama because I really didn't want it to end. "From Now On, Showtime!" is a hilariously silly comedy but there's also the perfect balance of romance, suspense, and heartwarming emotion. I genuinely laughed and ugly cried and truly felt connected to the cast at the end. Yes, the story is pretty well written but it's honestly the cast that makes this drama work so well. At the start of the first episode, I was not impressed and thought it would be too cheesy for me to get into. The arrogant magician meets the stubborn lady cop plot didn't have any appeal. It turns out that these characters would become way more interesting and endearing than they initially seemed, and Cha Cha Woong's "assistants" would soon steal the show, and keep me watching! This isn't just a romance with great chemistry, it's the bond between characters that got me! I won't say too much about the supernatural aspect, since the reveal is so well done, but that's also a major hilarious highlight!Park Hae Jin as Cha Cha Woong is a cold and conceited loner who is the unlikely match for Jin Ki Joo as emotional and impulsive Go Seul Hae. These characters are extreme in order to play up the comedy, and at first, it felt like too much, but soon I grew to love their banter and they seemed perfect together. You can expect some standard romance tropes like denying their attraction, melodramatic destiny, and past life connections, but the ghost aspect of the story made this drama still feel very original. Go Gyu Pil, Jung Suk Yong, and Park Seo Yeon, much like the characters they play, are the glue that holds this story together. Their chemistry with each other and the leads are what makes this drama magical. Their comedic mystery-solving antics (later including Jung Joon Ho) are the plot of the majority of the episodes, and that was enough to keep me addicted.
They were all so good at conveying emotion too, as well as comedy, making the characters also feel memorable and real.
The entire supporting cast is great as well. Sure, some of the characters are cartoonishly evil (like Detective Seo) or overly sweet (like Officer Lee), but because this is mainly a comedy having over-the-top characters made sense. The guest star ghosts were also great. I'm not the biggest fan of dramas with random stories introduced each episode, but the writers did a great job of connecting most of the ghost stories seamlessly to the main plot. I should also shout out Kim Jong Hoon as Seo Hee Soo for giving big second lead energy! For those who hate love triangles, yes this drama has one as a major factor in the plot, but it is also a well-written aspect of the plot not just thrown in as a contrived conflict for the main couple to face.
Would I watch this again? Definitely. It's super fun and I never got tired of watching the main characters work together. The cast seemed like they had a lot of fun making this drama too. I could have done with fewer past life scenes, but they did feel important to telling the story. I also had no interest in the officer vs shaman side romance storyline, but it wasn't bad enough to skip. Watching this whole cast just put me in a good mood, and that's a good enough reason to watch this again.
Overall, I highly recommend this drama if you want to laugh, which I know is weird since this drama also deals with a lot of death. I think this drama being well balanced is why it works so well. I LOLed and wiped tears through so many episodes, especially near the end. I think romance fans will love the awkwardly cute leads, but it was the loner learning to depend on his "employees" & "partner" theme that got me right in the feels! If the idea of ghosts makes you nervous, just know that this isn't scary. It has more of a kid-friendly haunted house vibe than actual horror. I also thought the ending was very satisfying. I don't think this drama is perfect, but it's definitely a new favorite of mine. Even the opening theme song started to get me hyped!
If you're looking for a different kind of feel-good drama, you found it.
Grab some snacks and tissues and get ready to laugh a lot... It's show time!
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War of Faith: Best Financial Espionage Drama
History would tell us that Shanghai in the 1930s was, to say the least, wild. In the midst of all of this, enters a poor young man named Wei Ruolai, played by Wang Yibo. Wei Ruolai has little to no money, came from a province controlled by the communist party, and was having a hard time receiving his diploma. It's a recipe for a bleak future. But with grit, determination, and his genius brain, he managed to secure a place at the Central Bank and work alongside distinguished officials like Shen Tunan, played by Wang Yang. Here begins the gripping story of Wei Ruolai finding his faith and fighting for it. No matter the cost.To be completely honest, I am a fan of Wang Yibo. His acting has been improving rapidly and all his films released in 2023 were a massive success so naturally, I was looking forward to this drama. However, I was not expecting to get so much out of this than I actually did. Republican era drama is my least favorite genre in dramaland. It's suit porn but I think this genre is the least famous internationally for a reason and my username is what it is, also for a reason (LOL), I watch romcoms and healing dramas! It's a finance drama set in the 1930s-- how riveting could it be to watch people talk numbers, right? Boyyyyy, was I so wrong!
The story is told in the ML's POV. Viewers get taken along his journey of finding his place in the world, finding confidence in himself, and finding his passion only to lose them all. He goes through a series of pain, heartaches, and grief-- and in the midst of it finds his true faith and his true passion. We see the ML transform several times throughout this drama. Through this journey, viewers also get shown the world of finance during the troubled times of the 1930s. We see how finance plays such a huge role in war and economics. We see people's greed. We see how innocent people get sacrificed, and we see how the government can turn a blind eye.
The series in itself is very action-packed. There is no dull moment and the story keeps moving very rapidly. A lot happens in the first 4 episodes to set-up the drama but everything that happens in the story has meaning. No fillers. It's 38 episodes but it is very fast-paced without sacrificing compelling and complex storylines. Every episode makes you want to watch more. I was watching earnestly and the foreshadowing in this drama is so smooth and clean that I probably missed some tiny details along the way. I'm already excited to rewatch this drama now that I know what I'm looking for!
This is an original IP so my hat is off to the screenwriter and the director for creating such a marvelous piece of art in television. The cinematography in this drama is also of high quality that is rarely seen in c-ent. It felt like watching a movie, and despite the 2.5 weeks of airtime, I wish the story goes on. I want to see more.
The casting of this drama is also top-notch. No holes anywhere. Everyone down to the little girl acted so incredibly well. Wang Yibo was such a star in this production and it is his best acting to date! Wang Yibo's Wei Ruolai feels so incredibly human and real. He conveys very complex emotions with his eyes and his face. His performance is so captivating because of the precision and nuance he gives the character. You can feel through the screen every single thing that Wei Ruolai feels throughout the drama-- and to be honest, it was a lot to handle!!! This drama also spanned 6 years and many transformations for Wang Yibo's character and if you compare his transformations, you can clearly see the contrast between each one. From his starry-eyed full of hope young man, through the disappointments and desperation, and to becoming an integral part of the communist party. Wang Yibo did such a stellar job and as a fan, I am so incredibly proud.
Wang Yang, Li Qin, and the rest of the supporting characters also deserve their flowers. Everyone was captured in such a humanized way that you can feel empathy for every character. You believe everyone's storylines and you get to feel that a lot of the big players in this drama are morally gray. Everybody had their purpose and I was hooked! The storyline and acting did its thing for me. I hated who they wanted me to hate, and cried for the ones they wanted me to cry for. I've never felt a story so real and close to me like this in a very long time. Certainly not in c-dramaland, and not in a Republican era drama. A gem of a find for me is Lan Xiya who played Niu Chunmiao. She was introduced halfway through the story with such a very firecracker of an entrance. I loved Niu Chunmiao as a character and I loved Lan Xiya for her talent in acting. She's so new and young but her ability to act is very high. I'm so impressed with her just as I was impressed with her character. Another treasured character for me is Wei Ruolai's best friend, A'Wen played by Li Weilong. A'Wen allowed us to see many layers to Wei Ruolai so very early on in a drama. Also, special shoutout to Zhang Tianyang's Lin Qiaosong-- he put me through the ringer all 38 episodes!
Lastly, the music. I think all I gotta say is Zhou Shen.
This has been a very long review but if you're still with me, please go watch War Of Faith. It will be worth every second of your time. You can find out how apropos the English title War of Faith is. And if you don't believe how a Republican drama can be so good, check it out yourself! :)
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Story: [8.0/10.0]
Age of Youth 2 starts out with the group going on a hilarious little trip to airport to pick up Han Ye Ri. They proceed to get lost and another hilarious encounter ensues. I laughed so much in the first few episodes. Soon Kang Yi Na moves out of the house and the group proceeds to find a new roommate. Soon we see Seo Jang Hoon enter the scene. She initially enters the house to investigate a strange letter. Ooooooo what's going on??? Anyways most of this drama focuses on Song Ji Won trying to investigate what had happened during her childhood. We also Yoon Jin Myung get aquainted with her job. A nice portion of this series revolves around her and her job as well. Of course we see some nice house antics between roommates in this season as well. However, I must admit that I feel like Season 2 took a more darker approach to the story. I really liked Season 1 for it's freshness and how it was very realistic. Season 2 seemed realistic in terms of their college life as well, but the ending was kind of anti-climatic. Maybe it's just me, but I don't really like dark slice-of-life shows. It just makes the show seem like a melodrama.
Acting/Cast: [8.0/10]
Overall I can't say that I really liked or really disliked the acting. It was okay in my opinion. I more so had a probablem with Ryu Hwa Young leaving. Personally I felt like Ryu Hwa Young and her Kang Yi Na character really made this show a lot more funnier and light-hearted as apparently seen with the first few episodes. I felt like the show tried to replace that comedy bit by emphasizing Song Ji Won's sex life (or lack of sex) to make up for it. I wasn't sure if they were trying to make us laugh or not by including those bits, but they definitely weren't funny. Otherwise the acting and cast is pretty consistent compared to the first season.
Music: [8.0/10]
An 8.0 is generally the score I give to most show's music score. I don't usually give 9s or 10s unless the show is a music-based drama that had great music and OSTs.
Rewatch Value: [7.5/10]
Overall this show has middle of the pack rewatch value for me. It'd probably be a long time before I watch this again since I've completed 150+ dramas already (lol I have no social life). I will probably watch the first season again before I watch this one.
All in all, this was a decent follow-up to the first season of Age Youth. I'm sure you all noticed this, but I do have a slight bias to the first season. I honestly always multi task when I'm watching Korean dramas or my anime shows. This often means that I pay less attention to shows if I find them boring. I generally don't watch slice-of-life dramas as well. This show gets a thumbs up because it kept my attention the whole time even though it was a slice-of-life drama. I hope they make a season 3 and that Ryu Hwa Young comes back.
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