Excellent Production
[Note to fans of Yanxi Palace: Please treat this drama as a separate story from Yanxi. If you have seen production spoilers on the internet, please ignore them. It's best to view this drama FRESH.]The story takes place around the end of the Warring States Period in China (475-221BC) and it highlights the conflicts between the Qin and Zhao States. The three main characters enter the story as Li Hao Lan (born to the imperial censor in Zhao) is banished from home and sold to the merchant Lǚ Bu Wei. Later, they meet the prince from Qin who is kept as a hostage in Zhao, Ying Yi Ren. With their help, Ying Yi Ren escapes Zhao, becomes the King of Qin, and later passes the throne to his son and heir, Ying Zheng (later known as Qin Shi Huang -- the first Emperor to unify China). Li Hao Lan is Ying Zheng's mother and she later becomes the Empress Dowager.
This drama is high-quality and unique: story, cast, costume, setting, music, etc. The characters are complex and have layers/depth. The story is for members in the audience who enjoy thinking about the story and characters , long after the episodes reach their conclusion. This drama has several complex hidden messages for the viewers. Each main and supporting character has their own lessons to share. The main story and its deeper meanings are clear for everyone in the audience to interpret in their own way...
There are many memorable characters in this drama -- main and supporting roles. Their story lines and subplots are highly enjoyable!
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This review may contain spoilers
OK I am not 1 that goes all 10's on any drama. There is usually something that I don't like, but this drama just hit my top 10. I was so blown away by how it kept me guessing the whole time. It was amazing. I loved every part about it. The acting totally killed, the music was exactly right, loved the story, & I will watch it again just b/c it was that good! There is a big red tip here that says not to post spoilers. So I won't, but man let me tell u I was soooooo not disappointed by any part of this drama. I enjoyed all the main actors & loved the ending. It was exactly how I would have ended it. I think that even if u don't like melodrama's that this 1 would change how u think about them. It was totally killer.
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From the very first moment I saw the description of Memories of Murder I was sure I was going to at least like this film. Why? Let’s begin with genre: I’m a sucker for things related with serial murders; creepy, I know, but I love this dark, eerie atmosphere that’s usually present in such films. After deciding that this movie is worth watching I’ve done a little research about it… and the things I’ve discovered made me even more certain that this movie is just perfect for me. Not only it is based on real events, but the culprit of this crime was never found! Another thing: I’ve read somewhere that Quentin Tarantino said that this movie is among his Top 20 favorite movies since 1992 – well, that’s a sufficient recommendation for me.
This movie has amazing acting - every single actor made his role alive and believable. The most outstanding one was Song Kang Ho, who plays a role of a stupid local detective, good only at forcing testimonies out of (usually innocent) people with a use of brutal force; evidences are not important to him, the only thing he needs is his intuition. So… yeah, you guess right, he’s not what we call a good cop. He has his sidekick, and boy, this guy is even more stupid and brutal than his hyung – it’s usually him who does dirty work (hanging people upside down, kicking them in the face with combat boots, digging a grave for them etc). So how can such detectives resolve as complicated case as serial murders? Fortunately for them, there’s this guy from Seoul who comes to help them in an investigation - and he is the exact opposite of our country bumpkins.
What I liked about this movie was that it wasn’t only about finding a murderer; it also showed us a believable development of characters. Park Doo Man discovers there are other ways to find a culprit than forcing a testimony out of suspects and Seo Tae Yoon starts to doubt his own, "good" methods. It all combined with great acting, thrilling action and a bit of humor creates an amazing movie. So, if you like thrillers and you’re not put off by violence, then Memories of Murder is just for you.
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ACTION: There are few plot holes but regardless, the drama is pretty decent. The action scenes are not that powerful like any other sageuk drama but still good. I love the turning kick, flying kick, the punches. The fact that Kim Myungsoo trained for weeks to do the stunts alone without having a double, I’m giving him that credit. Good job.
ROMANCE: There was no Romance tag before the promotion of this drama. To those who keep asking if there will be romance or not, the first episode will give you hints (so better watch it).
CHEMISTRY: Some says that ML and FL has no chemistry, and that Kwon Nara looks older for him. Let me give you a fact. They were both born on March 13 but Kwon Nara was born in 1991 and Kim Myungsoo is a ’92 liner. So Yes, Kwon Nara is 1 year older. And maybe, you still can’t move on with Danyeon Couple – know what I mean (I’m one of them). I’m telling you, Yi-gyeom and Da-in chemistry (ship) is smoothly sailing. The way they give concerns to each other, then later on bickers, will give you butterflies. Also, Yi-Gyeom and Chunsam’s chemistry is so funny.
PRODUCTION: If you think that the drama is a low budget because their wardrobe is not as fancy as other saguek drama, well for me, it’s a No. The story is not about the Royal Family. The ML is not a KING or a PRINCE. He’s just an ordinary man working at the palace with a pretty good position so don’t expect him to wear that fancy thing. Their attire fits perfectly for each character and for every situation they are in. Though sometimes Da-in’s lipstick is kinda flashy when she’s wearing man’s clothes. The cinematography is not dull as what others think. Check your phone and laptop or tv. They have different vibrance, lol. :-D
ACTING: Though I still have hang-over with Kim Myungsoo’s character as KIM DAN, I’m loving his character now as Sung Yi-gyeom. He delivers the character well. His facial expression is like emojis. Kwon Nara on the other side is also doing a good job portraying as Hong Dain. Though I say, in the last scene of episode 4, it’s kinda awkward. Lee Yi-Kyung, as always… he makes me laugh in every scene that he has.
OST: So far, we only have 1 OST for the 5 episodes. They haven’t released the full version yet but N.Flying’s OST I’ll Find You is such a bop. KBS please released it soon.
So, for those who are having doubts whether to watch or not, give it a try. It’s a pretty good drama. See for yourself. We do have our own taste buds you know.
I’ll update my review soon
NOTE: Comparing this to MR. QUEEN is lame because they are of different genre and plot. Also, if you think the drama is underrated, well it’s not. The fact that the ratings for each episode is in 5% range despite having a strong contender (I know you know it) even before the drama airs, I must say it’s not underrated. So far, I'm enjoying this drama.
UPDATE: I won't say much. But I just want to tell you all that the story of this drama keeps getting better and exciting. Every episode is a must watch -- The blossoming romance between FL and ML, the complicated relationship between ML and his half brother. The problems that they have to deal with - corruption, murder and more.
UPDATE: I'm only giving this a 9.5 rating as I badly want season 2 for this drama. This drama ended with 14% for the last episode (such an achievement for KBS because it has been long (2018) since they achieved a double digit rating in Mon-tues drama timeslot. Too bad many viewers are sleeping on this masterpiece. It deserves recognition and hype too.
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Grounded and natural tackles various serious topics
Really love this show. It's been a while since I saw grounded bl tackling serious topics while also staying interesting and portraying realistic characters. I don't mind characters being over the top sometimes like in other bls , because it's still just a fictional show, but once again missed these kind of shows that just feels real and genuine. This might be one of my favorite BL shows including Old fashion cupcake, and Blueming. Would love to see more shows like this that just doesn't portray lightheaded subjects and doesn't shy away from portraying serious issues.As a manga reader, I was impressed by how accurately this show portrayed it. There are literally scenes that could be put side by side and also really glad that they didn't cut dark themes that take place in the manga. I honestly didn't think they would dare to portray this kind of story. Here I want to give kudos to the director and screenwriter , because I feel she was able to realistically portray the show while balancing between manga and show, as to my opinion there weren't any filler scenes. Additionally, as the screentime is always limited to 30 min , I am glad she was able to balance it well. Now I have seen few comments saying that it didn't do justice to manga, but I feel like it's up to each person, cause personally I feel like they showed all the important scenes without losing too much context.
As for the acting, personally I liked it. It feels very grounded and natural and if you have seen some animes/ manga getting updated into live action , you know how cartoonish it can get cause sometimes actors would struggle to find balance between manga and real acting and get it mixed up. I really like subtle expressions of Ren's actor, I think he was perfectly casted and was able to find that balance , as it felt like a real person with real feelings and I could relate to him. Again will mention shows like Old fashion cupcake and Blueming, where in the same way it feels so natural , characters just make you sympathize with them.
Also liked Kazuma's choice of the actor, again feels very natural, though reading manga at first I thought he didn't fit the image but later as I continued watching the show, I feel like he was also chosen well, as he was able to deliver Kazuma's gentle character quite well and his affection towards Ren and tender gestures were also delivered well.
Now, as for the kids actors, some ppl complain that showrunners shouldn't have chosen real 14 year old actors to play them, however, actually I didn't mind. Acting is still acting, and there are tons of shows which have 14 year olds or even younger portraying such provocative scenes though I didn't think it was provocative but just unsettling, which is the point , as the scene in the manga also makes you feel uncomfortable. There are some shows like Shameless where there are tons of provocative episodes and in the first season Ian's actor was only 15 and his character had to make out with the actors who were in 30s like Mickey and Cash's actors, which apparently no one has problem with. Again even with Shameless, as long as the actors have chosen themselves to portray a certain role , I don't have a problem, cause acting is acting. As for this show, I liked the portrayal of the teenage actors as well as it felt very natural.
Although some people might disagree with me, and call the acting is bad, again I feel like it's up to each person. Cause there are tons of shows out there, in which for some ppl certain actors didn't sell out their roles and for some ppl portrayal was quite solid. I think the only problem or minor issue was for me sometimes the crying on the scenes which could have another takes, but in overall for me it was very natural throughout the whole series. I usually don't judge a whole show to have bad acting just because of couple of clunky scenes, and instead evaluate it based on the whole show and how it made the characters feel , in this case, fleshed out , natural and sympathetic.
Again another thing, why i liked the cast and feel like they perfectly fit their roles is because the chemistry between two leads was really great. There are so many BL shows or usual shows that have 2 actors who are trying very hard to portray their characters but there is no chemistry between main leads. I think for me same type of well executed chemistry was again in Blueming, Old fashion cupcake, Cherry magic, To my star, Minato's laundromat(cute chemistry). In Tokyo in April , I really loved all these subtle expressions of two main leads especially Ren's, and of course it was adapted from manga, but their domestic scenes are the best. Like they would be just calmly chilling together or cooking together , and the amount of fluff there is immeasurable. I honestly think affectionate scenes are 100x times better than all those passionate sexy scenes in Thai BLs. Honestly watching these 2 characters together made me feel very lonely and wanting a comfy relationship like this haha. Their scenes didn't feel awkward or clunky at all, and it just felt very natural and like a real life couple, which convinces me that actors were able to connect well before shooting for this show.
As for the music, really love both opening and ending songs. Especially the ending song is perfect for these characters. However, I wish there were more musical scores, cause the ones we have are really nice and wish there were more of it in the show.
I feel like we need more shows like this that have some depths and serious topics. I am not against comedic BL shows and lighthearted ones like Cherry Magic or Minato's laundromat( perfect summer light show) all of these shows are necessary and provide great escapism from the real tough world we have. But at the same time those shows are prevalent and it's quite refreshing to see shows like Tokyo in april and in which characters who play mid 20s office workers actually act and feel like them in real life. Honestly missed shows like this and would like to see more shows having emotional depth, characters that feel very real and natural.
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This drama is a simple romance. Nothing more. Nothing less
Don't expect the most original of the stories, don't expect a gritty, edgy tale. The story is as simple as it can get. And cliché too. Really cliché.
We have our aloof rich dude, Ji Soo Ho, and our candy girl, Song Geu Rim. We have our controlling evil mom, Nam Joo Ha and the love rivals, Lee Kang and Jin Tae Ri. However, althought there ARE a lot of clichés, I was pleasant surprised by how most of them were desconstructed. The characters feel like they could be real people. Each has their flaws and virtues.
Yoon Doo Joon was so good as the cold Soo Ho. You could see the façade he put, you could feel how deeply he was hurting inside. And despite what many think, I didn't feel turned off by his gap with Kim So Hyun, they had a nice chemistry and it didn't really feel like I was seeing a younger girl and an older man (although both are still young in my opinion, YDJ not so much)
Talking about KSH, I really liked her acting and character as well. She was different from most candy girls, more down to earth but still being a shameless optimistic. And like many other of her works, KSH has such a natural way with acting. She feels genuine and you can't help but like her. She did great with her first "adult" role.
I also really liked Yoon Park as Lee Kang haha I'll admit that at first I didn't recognize him at all, so I was all like "hmmm I've seen him somewhere" but it wasn't until I checked the cast I recognized him fully lol Back to his acting...he's clearly the second lead. The funny part is that you can't really figure out if he's a romantic rival or just a weirdo who is very touchy feely. And that's the good in his acting: he kept me trying to guess his character even though it was so clear who he was. His actions were unpredictable, and his behaviour funny in a very twisted way.
I saw some complaints about Yura and her acting, but honestly in my opinion she was okay (?) I mean, she was so underdeveloped that for me it wouldn't make a huge difference if she was part of the drama or not. Her character could be easily removed and it wouldn't change anything. Although I have to admit I liked what they tryed but failed to do with her character.
Being an ex-journalist, I used to work with radio as well, so obviously I was at least a bit excited to see how they would portray it on TV. The result didn't deserve my hype.
The first episode had me like: "WTF?" all the way through. Seriously, and the way the drama portrays doing radio is romantized to say the least. No, there's no such thing as describing the sunset on radio. Radio is highly scripted and the DJs are supposed to talk as clearly and objectively as they can. Maybe it can vary from country to country, but I would like at least a bit of more research on how everything works. I found it really strange how they talked about how radio was so great but didn't bother to at least show some of it's story. C'mon, we are talking about one of the oldest communication devices here.
I didn't need a whole description, but some mentions would be good.
Also, would it hurt to be less cringy? Whenever I saw a slow-mo I had the urge to roll my eyes to the back of my head. The cheese was real on this one. Like I said, it's romantic to the core, actually to the point of giving you cavities. However, being a fluffy sucker like I am, I can kinda forgive haha
The pacing seemed strange sometimes too. I mean, sometimes it was too slow, then too fast. Then in the last few episodes every piece was put together but it still felt a little rushed to me. Some consistency wouldn't hurt too, because without it we really don't know where the drama is really going to. Is it purely about romance? Are they going to focus solely on radio? Is there a mystery at all? Everything ended up being confusing.
And even though the characters were quite pleasant to watch, some felt a bit too underdeveloped for me. It lacked some more story. If you're going to present a character that has depth, then show me WHY instead of only giving me glimpses of what could've been. And even if you, don't rush it like this drama did. Because I ended up liking more the idea of a certain character, the potential they had, than what I was really shown. Soo Ho's mom and Tae Ri are great examples of this, but I would love some more work on the others as well.
The music was cute. Just that, I didn't really care nor paid attention. Actually, the music that had my attention was actually the background music rather than the OSTs haha Whenever they were at an event, shop or store and I heard music like "Peek-A-Boo" or Bruno Mars' hits, I would get all excited. Which is also a negative since the OSTs are supposed to be one of the highlights of a drama. Music matters too.
Rewatch value? Hmmm, maybe yes because I'm a shameless Kim So Hyun stan haha But for those who like romance and some good moments, it's worth watching again after some time.
All in all Radio Romance was, like some said, mostly a "filler" drama. It had good acting, some good moments, emotional moments too but also plenty of flaws. In the end this is just an average drama that you watch to pass time. But being average doesn't necessarily means it's bad, it's just that this drama clearly has a target audience and it didn't get out of it's comfort zone. So if you're a fan of romance, then give this one a try, but watch knowing you won't be seeing the next great epic romance, just a cute little romance.
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GREAT!
This is a point of view of someone who doesn’t watch the anime.I think it’s such a good history and the actors are fantastic! The soundtrack was amazing, the end was a true freedom! Yes I know all the fans of the anime was mad about the hair, how the actors look, but let’s be honest ok? They are AMAZING! I’m watching the anime right now and they are so faithful, they really make a good work. When you make a panorama you can see how the series are damm good, please Japan make more live actions I NEED that.
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2"Will it be fun?"
Officer Black Belt takes the viewer into the world of parole officers who deal with ex-offenders who are still being monitored with ankle bracelets. In South Korea they have martial arts officers who are the muscle for the parole officers when things go wrong. Kim Woo Bin packed on 8 kg/17.5 pounds to look more imposing for his role as a directionless man who finds his direction helping to protect the parole officers and citizens of Seoul.Lee Jung Do spends his life doing what is fun. Fun for him is martial arts training where he holds third dan black belts in Taekwondo, Judo, and Kenpo. When he’s not fighting for fun he plays video games with his best buds. He also delivers fried chicken for his dad’s restaurant. On the way home one night he comes across a martial arts officer wounded in a fight and takes down the criminal. After receiving an award Parole officer Kim Sun Min offers him a temporary job while the officer recovers. Jung Do soon finds he has a natural affinity for being a martial arts officer and helping people.
Officer Black Belt had action and humor in a film dealing with a terrible subject-sexual assault and child exploitation films. Like Jung Do, most of us will want to taser certain parts off of the perpetrators’ bodies. The film went from a case of the week to an overarching villainous gang and uber-villain. Kang Ki Jung had sexually assaulted 15 children and only received 20 years in prison (that’s a little over a year per child-what is the criminal justice system thinking!!!) Jung Do and Sun Min would have to use all of their skills and put their lives on the line to prevent more children from becoming victims after he was released.
This was one of Kim Woo Bin’s stronger roles as he displayed a range of emotions as the friendly fighter who grew to enjoy the responsibilities of his job. Kim Sung Kyun as Kim Sun Min brought the bro in bromance as he guided Jung Do in his new career. Lee Hyun Geol was creepily effective as the enormous Big Bad villain. There were some continuity issues as day turned into night in a matter of seconds in several scenes. I enjoyed the first half of the film more when the officers went more by the book. In the second half they recklessly went into dangerous situations without calling for back-up. Jung Do relied on his Scooby Gang instead of looping the cops into the evidence they found which seemed irresponsible and put their lives in danger. While Taekwondo is a great competition martial art, Jung Do really needed some additional training in how to hit the vulnerable spots-eyes, ears, neck, knees-if he was going to continue fighting gangs of bad guys or with one-on-one fighting with well-trained bad guys.
Overall, Officer Black Belt was entertaining and Kim Woo Bin’s performance was engaging. There was plenty of action and the fights were well choreographed. The film didn’t break any new ground in the action arena but I did like that they attempted to shine a ray of light into the darkness. When strength was called for, they brought it, and when compassion was called for they brought that, too. To answer Lee Jung Do's question "Will it be fun?" at his interview--yes, it will be fun. When it's not terrifying.
13 September 2024
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"The Prisoner of Beauty" is my Roman Empire!"
The Prisoner of Beauty" is my Roman Empire! I thought "Eternal Love" was my most rewatched C-drama (9 times and counting) & then "My Journey to you" & "General's Lady (6 times each), but nope… "Prisoner of Beauty" said, “Hold my fan.” This one snatched the crown, burned the palace, and declared itself emperor of my "Imma watching it till i learn by heart even the ending credits" list!I'm already on my 4th rewatch in less than 15 days and still fully unhinged. At this point, the play button is filing a restraining order.
The couple’s chemistry? It’s chemistrying harder than Marie Curie in a radioactive lab with no gloves. 🧪 Someone call the drama hazmat team — I’m melting. Their dynamic is enemies-to-lovers-to-obsession-to-I’d-burn-the-empire-for-you. Their eye contact alone has more tension than the entire Ming dynasty!
Song Zu Er as The female lead? STUNNING. She was smart, strong, graceful, and gave regal savage energy. She matched his fire beat for beat — no wallflower, no pushover, just pure elegance with a blade behind her smile.
Together, they were a power couple for the ages — like Mr. & Mrs. Smith if it were set in a palace with revenge plots, stolen glances, and OSTs that end lives.
And Liu Yuning as the male lead??
PLEASE. He didn’t just raise the bar — he burned it, buried it under dramatic OSTs, and then whispered devastating lines in that deep voice while it rained on my standards’ funeral. 😭
He’s 6'3" of brooding stares, lethal elegance, and poetry in motion. His acting? Criminally underrated. His voice? Illegal in at least 7 provinces. His presence? Main character energy so intense, it bends gravity. Every scene he’s in feels like a historical thirst trap wrapped in silk and trauma!
And listen — I don’t know who keeps calling this tall, tragic, sharp-jawed king “ugly,” but I hope your pillow is always warm, your rice undercooked, your earphones tangled, your stream stuck at 99%, and your fave drama ends on a cliffhanger that never resolves!
Not everyone needs to look like a cookie-cutter, AI-generated, flower-boy idol with 17 filters. By international standards, he’s a fine, handsome man — tall, expressive, with charisma that eats the camera alive. And the voice? That’s not just a voice. That’s a weapon of mass seduction. He’s got that "You’ll think about me even in your next life" energy. If that’s “ugly,” then I don’t want “pretty.” I want epic. Tragic. Dangerous.
If anyone calls him “ugly” again, I will Liam Neeson them — I have a very particular set of skills. 😤
I will find you. And I will educate you. With a playlist. And screenshots. And 30-minute character arcs broken down with timestamps.
Now go sit in the corner and think about your life while I rewatch The Prisoner of Beauty for the 5th time and cry into my fan.
If Eternal Love was my comfort drama over the years… then Prisoner of Beauty is my emotional support fever dream.
I’m not watching anymore — I’m studying. Writing a thesis. Citing sources. Defending a dissertation in front of a panel of palace eunuchs while Liu Yuning sings in the background and I spiral! ♥
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A typical feel good romance but BETTER...!!
so I have waited for few weeks to write a review of this drama in case it disappoints me... But boy was I wrong.... Believe me, it has its elements where it feels like it will take a turn into typical cliched drama but it surprises you in the best way possible.The characters at a first glance are not new, a hot-headed filled with mood swings having broken past ML, can't help herself a damsel in distress FL and jealous out for revenge second male lead. BUT the characters have depth, they change except (second female lead, but let's pretend she doesn't exist), they are shown to be more than just their initial characteristics.
Both the leads have really good chaotic, continuous bickering chemistry and I have a bias for such trope.
So watch this drama if you want to enjoy the good old butterflies along with their actions having certain logic and reason.
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I guess you can say that I'm thrilled and charmed by the simplicity of the drama. There isn't much new to the plot, in general, but you see a lot of freshness in how they approach the subject. Either Jin Hyuk found a drama that appears to ideally fit to his own character, or they changed it a bit to fit him, because he is superb in it.
Jin Hyuk has an ability to play characters, that seems simple and lighthearted, at the same time, being incredibly deep and sophisticated. I think this is the main charm in this drama. He plays his role perfectly and at the same time gives depth to the plot, writers have given him to play.
I do believe that either people see this drama and can't get enough of it, or they will dismiss it for being too simple and easy. But at a closer look, you love it more than (almost) any other.
Also have to give production crew a thumbs up. The choice of actors is pretty darn good and as I am usually pretty negative in my reviews about female leads, which usually appears in me not posting about them at all.. :) But this time I have to say.. I'm impressed.
Ha Yoon is at her strongest in here. In 'Fight for my way', she made an impression as a great actress, who could really play a part I'd enjoy, in an emotional drama. I was right, she's perfect for this, in this. She makes me smile and she frustrates me.. and she makes me feel her emotions, and relate to her life..
Everyone, the writers, producers, the actors. Have done a great job on this project(will do). Can't wait to watch it until to the end. Hope to feel surprised a bit, but whichever way the plot goes, I'm sure I'm gonna love it until it ends.
(BTW) Not sure about this remark.. But I really do like Hoya only, when he's dancing.. I've seen some, or a lot of his acting. But somehow.. his character, wherever he plays.. has not gotten a lot of recognition from me. He plays well, but I don't like him as an actor. As a dancer, sure.. I could watch him for a long time :D
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This review may contain spoilers
Aaaaaabsolute Disarseter
This, I imagine, is what the first draft of the script for "A Perfect Match" looked like:Scene 1.
[A wet dream.]
[Morning wood.]
[Lingering shots of Xiao Nan showering. Ummmm…. Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Lather. Rinse. Repeat.]
[Product placement.]
[Dead parents.]
[Gran sad.]
Scene 2.
[Nan's late for an interview. Saves a girl.]
[Boss bad. Girl his sister.]
[Product placement.]
[Dead parents.]
[Gran sad.]
Scene 3.
Evil woman: Flirt with me. I’m the straight devil.
The Villain: I will, baby. Now fuck off, Nan, you perfect-bodied handsome god, you.
[Note to casting: Make sure the villain is the ugliest member of the cast.]
Xiao Nan mewls.
[Lingering shots of Xiao Nan (and the villain) showering. Ummmm…. Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Lather. Rinse. Repeat.]
Scene 4.
[Xiao Nan and The Boss meet, get drunk, and talk about...]
[Dead parents.]
[Lingering shots of Xiao Nan showering. Ummmm…. Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Lather. Rinse. Repeat.]
[Product placement.]
[More product placement.]
[Near kiss. Even more product placement.]
[The little girl is a brat.]
Director’s Note: All very well, but where’s the dialogue in this?
Scene 5.
[Introduce a supportive fujoshi.]
[Product placement.]
[Yes, this whole episode is for product placement. It's called multi-level marketing.]
[Lingering shots of Xiao Nan showering. Ummmm…. Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Lather. Rinse. Repeat.]
Scene 6.
[Boss and Xiao Nan play tennis.]
[Both take their tops off, for no apparent reason.]
[Ummmm.... Aaaaaaaaabs…. Peeeeeeecs… Niiiipples....]
[Boss has an unexpectedly hot body.]
Xiao Nan's Thirst: That tattoo! Wreck me daddy… Destroy me king…
Xiao Nan: I think I might fall in love with you. So, I'm going to go.
Boss: I like you too, so I'm going to let you go.
[Brat sister screams.]
[The villain wants a second serving of Xiao Nan.]
Everyone: Who doesn’t?
Scene 7.
[Brat sister screams again.]
[Xiao Nan shows he can bitch-slap.]
[The villain wants a rematch with the boss. They play tennis. The boss wins. Obvs.]
[The hotties kiss. Finally.]
[Gran sees.]
[Gran sad.]
[Fujoshi consoles.]
[Product placement.]
Director’s Note: Seriously. Will there be any meaningful dialogue in this show?
Writers: Aaaaaaabs…olutely not.
Scene 8.
[Gran sad because boy loves boys.]
Gran: You a whore?
Xiao Nan: No....
[Cut to Xiao Nan, who's now having rampant, rambunctious sex with Boss.]
[Camera cuts back to Gran again, who’s suddenly happy, for no reason whatsoever.]
[Product placement.]
[Lingering shots of Xiao Nan showering. Ummmm…. Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Lather. Rinse. Repeat.]
Scene 9.
[Tennis match. Someone wins.]
[The villain creates a conflict. Let’s see, he pretends to be injured so that the boss can be jealous?]
[Boss jealous.]
[Lingering shots of... ]
Writers: Wait. What the fuck? Where's the shower scene? What's going on?
Director's Note: I think we've had enough showering, don't you?
Writers: Aaaaaabs... so.. fucking... not!
Scene 10.
[The leads reconcile.]
[Xiao Nan becomes a wife and a cook.]
[The kid's still a brat.]
[Gran's a bit useless.]
[Beach trip. Shirtless frolicking. Ummmm... Aaaaaaaaabs.]
[Product placement.]
[They all live happily ever after... in a surprisingly tiny flat.]
Note from the Producers: What?!?!? That's it? The final scene is not of the boys showering together? After all this fluffing, you won't even finish us off?
Verdict:
This is one of the worst shows I have ever seen. I loved it.
Reader’s Digest:
DO SAY: sPectacular...
DON’T SAY: exPectorant...
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This review may contain spoilers
It’s been a while since I have completed a drama series, but this was a great one to start my 2020 year (I know it’s already April, but college has not allowed me to truly binge-watch any shows; please forgive me). Story/plot: -8.5- I enjoyed the storyline for the most part. The focus on ice sports was a unique twist to this show and was one I have not seen in specifically c-dramas yet. Loved the main leads, and adored the supporting characters. The lessons each character learned throughout the drama were unique to each individual, and it was heartwarming. It was a great rom-com mixed with the touching aspect of each character striving to reach their goal while having strong support from friends, family, and loved ones. With that being said, there were a few points I wanted to address. 1) 40 episodes for this drama was, in my opinion, a bit too much. It was bearable to sit through, but barely. I think the reason for these added episodes is due to this next point. 2) There were too many side couples. Although I did appreciate and adored each side couple, it took some time away from the main leads. Each couple might have not had that much time to themselves, but when you accumulate 5 different side couples each with let’s say 30 minutes of screen time and story building, that already adds up to 150 minutes, or over 3 episodes. The focus was switched between the different couples so many times, and I wished they used that time to instead focus more on the main couple, especially after that climatic scene around episode 33-34. With that being said, 3) That climax around episode 33-34? Unnecessary and semi-frustrating. The relationship between Tang Xue and Li Yu Bing afterwards honestly did not come back to like what they had before the incident. They tried to resolve it afterwards, but I felt like there was some kind of awkward tension between them that was never truly “resolved.”
Acting/cast: -10- Initially, I was hesitant about the main lead pairing of Janice Wu (playing Tang Xue) and Steven Zhang (playing Li Yu Bing) because I was still caught up with them playing different characters in other dramas. However, just after the first episode, all of my doubts were disregarded because these two were honestly perfect for their lead roles! Each individual played their role very well and altogether created a great and memorable cast. I suppose the one thing I wish was focused more on was the transition between Tang Xue’s past self and her realizing how she acted towards Li Yu Bing; I felt like Li Yu Bing just accepted that she was different back then, has changed to a better self overtime, and that’s it (but this is more of a plot concern rather than a cast concern).
Music: -10- The soundtrack for this drama was truly perfect. They knew how to fit the mood of each specific scene with the song that accompanied it; best one I have heard in any drama yet! I loved the outro song, “The Moment I Met You” (当遇见你) and have been listening to it nonstop; if you are interested, you can find it here on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRmyqGE0zw8&list=FLqDXyD0Srhes9ywsutKGnDg&index=2. I am still looking for the piano piece that was played throughout the drama, so if you know the title of the piano piece I am referring to, please comment it down below!
Rewatch value: -7- Adored it the first time through, but I can not rewatch this entire drama from episode 1-40 over again. I already had the urge to skip many scenes (don’t worry, I did not) when I was watching it for the first time, so I know I will be skipping many scenes if I do decide to rewatch it. There were many cute scenes between Tang Xue and Li Yu Bing that I would rewatch, but other than that, this was more of a one-time-enjoyment type of drama.
Overall: -9- This drama caught my attention, and I was glad I was able to enjoy binge-watching it through a stressful time right now between being stuck indoors and stressing over finals week for college. It left me feeling empty after finishing it, which is a good sign since that meant I enjoyed watching the series. Although I believe there were some things that could have been altered, I still fangirled throughout watching this and thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you are looking for a rom-com where each character learns how to grow into their better selves, I would give this drama a go! If you have already finished this drama and are looking for something that revolves around rom-com and sports, I recommend My Mr. Mermaid (it is centered around competitive swimming)! Thanks for reading :)))
Chào for Now!
Lily L.
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It starts off with a girl that has a traumatic past that goes through something mentally and it sucks because she doesn't know what she needs to do or how to help it in any way. You have a business man that really just minds his own, has a funny assistant, has a strained relationship with his brother and all in all, this show is like What's Wrong With Secretary Kim but like...not as dramatic honestly. Lol. The two cross each other because of fate really and the rest is kind of history. The perks of this show is the female lead is sweet and adorable, hard working and understanding. The male lead tries to be aggressive and mean but he's really sweet, has a soft spot for the FL and even when he's trying to be tough, he cares for her and I love that for them. LMAO. At first things are a little put off because of misunderstanding and your average bickering but the chemistry they had and evolved into was wonderful and the kisses were...*chefs kiss*; also the side stories, not even bad. I also LOVE that the girl that had a crush on the ML didn't come and try to be a home wrecker lol love when it's not toxic.
The acting was great! I personally have never seen the main leads in any shows but they did fantastic and I like that they clicked together. I liked the brother a lot more in Girlfriend because he wasn't a jerk but he played a good actor because you couldn't tell who he was actually helping. I also liked the best friend, she was great in Go Go Squid, great in this show too. So all in all, I liked everyone and everything.
The music was sooo nice. Like so nice. I really liked that they timed the instrumentals perfectly; it's a rare occurrence for that.
You know what? I rarely rewatch shows, but I think I just might. They were honestly so sweet together, had great kisses, were not toxic at all and they really were just trying to do what they need to do for each other and I dig that. So overall, a great show. A fluffy kind of show with a cliche storyline but you know what I say, old but gold in my book.
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