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this is probably the most ORIGINAL PLOT for a kdrama to exist in KDRAMALAND like come on she literally turns into a chicken nugget , I went into this with zero expectations , the cast is what drew me in to begin withand it's safe to say that I don't regret it one bit , I'd never laugh as hard I did when watching a drama , like it's the driest jokes and scenes ever but somehow it's what makes this drama so hilarious 😂😂😂
the casting is really well done and thought out, everyone did amazing and DELIVERED.....
so if you love comedies you will definitely not regret watching this drama I can guarantee it
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Vigilante - The story of A Dark Hero, without super power's fighting for Justice.
➥ Intro / Reminder :-It's a story about law and vigilantism with sub story about evil fighting the more bigger evil & became an evil with fighting against evil.. Protagonist ( Nam Joo-hyuk) when facing the criminals that the law had freed, displayed a calm, clear smile and a refined madness that was not beyond at the top.
➥ Short synopsis:-
"Vigilante" is an action thriller in which Kim Ji-yong ( Nam Joo-hyuk), who lives as a "Vigilante" who defends the law during the day, judges criminals who have avoided the law at night, and people with different purposes face each other fiercely.
➥ Detailed Analysis :-
If you're a fan of intense dramas with a gripping plot, well-developed characters, and an thought-provoking exploration of moral complexities, then The vigilante is a must-watch drama.
Excellent and Wow. That's all I can say. I was freaked out about this drama, because I loved the first two episodes. after reading 25 episodes of webtoon I had high expectations. And it exceeded those And truly the Best drama to bring a webtoon so chillingly and realistically to real life ife.
The acting was excellent, The action was good the action here is based more on suspense and violence.The story was great. The characters were diverse and interesting. However, the drama does not only deal with the catharsis of crime and punishment.It makes the viewer think constantly about the justice system.
Criminals getting away from the law is a problem that the show brings up, and vigilantes need to step up and do something about it. There are important questions that this brings up about the legal system and how people can help keep the peace.
And in 5th ep When Ji-Yong comes face-to- Jo-Heon about the errors in the legal system, the moral ambiguity of his vigilantism is highlighted. This sparks an intriguing debate about righteousness, morality about law and the shifting boundaries between right and wrong makes Watchers to think what is correct in present society is Vigilantism or Law this one is my fav scene of Vigilante. The conclusion of Vigilante will cause viewers to reconsider what justice and the law are. The public remains unaware of Ji-Yong's identity as the vigilante at the final episode, Viewers are also at ease to judge whether or not the vigilante's actions can be justified morally by this point of view. Despite his efforts, Ji-Yong is successful to preserve his identity under wraps, some things are out of his control.
➥ Nam Joo-hyuk :-
Nam Joo-hyuk, who is challenging the action genre for the first time in his life through 'Vigilante', to create realistic and realistic action, he received weight training, boxing, judo, and martial arts, he lived in his character role here "The law has a hole. Now I'll fill the hole.With the line, "This is justice," he shows charismatic appearance, armed with intense action and cool eyes that punish criminals with a deep black hood.. his black hood and police uniform, create a completely different atmosphere, making us look forward to his first action thriller completed with his delicate and detailed acting.
➥ Other departments :-
The cast is full of top quality actors including Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji Tae, Kim So Jin, Lee Joon Hyuk
The Remarkable Direction, Cinematography, Music and the Acting, editing, sound, score, visuals, and action are all top notch. The series' cinematography and storytelling skills especially shine during action scenes and scenes with shocking twists. The depth of the characters and the complex plot development make this series fascinating.
➥ Direction:-
Despite being Choi Jeong Yeol's first drama, he handled it very well. The drama showed his potential in 4 episodes, which is enough to anticipate more entertainment from the next episodes..
➥ Conclusion :-
Vigilante, the intriguing webtoon adaptation that offers a unique twist on the vigilante genre, blending character development with intense action, making it a must-watch for fans of action and thrillers and exploration of complex moral themes..
( Personal Review )
Vigilante" who judges criminals with his own justice, and throw a new topic to viewers about the law and what true justice is.
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Good start, poor finish!
To be honest, I didn't know from the start that we would get this series. I found about it in a random way, but when I saw that Gun had the main lead, I was super excited. When I watched the first episode, I felt that they would provide us with the sth different that the rest typical Thai BLs. Boy was I wrong....
Quick summary: A good start that led to a crappy finish.
CHARACTERS
Our main lead couple is Sun and Sky. Sky, who is portrayed by Gun, is the rich son of a ethical mafia boss. I know that "ethical" can't describe a mafia boss, but bear with me. On the other hand, Sun (Boat) is an orphan man that was put under Sky's father guidance since he was young, for a weird reason. After some incidents and as Sky's life is in danger, Sun is appointed as his bodyguard and follow him 24/7.
Our second lead couple is Pitch and Bank. Bank (Tenon), is the goofy childhood friend of Sky, and is familiar with Sky's background, and he attends the same university as SunSky. On the other hand, Pitch (Sugus), is a senior of the three boys. On an unrelated topic, Sugus has a powerful eyebrow game. That dude can do anything with his eyebrows.
Lastly, we have our two females in the series, Juno (Apple) and Toktang (Jane). Both of them are classmates with our trio and friends with Pitch. Toktang is a shy and down to earth girl and at first she seemed to be the love interest of Sky, as he seemed interested in her; while, Juno, is an honest girl who was openly interested in Sun.
PLOT
I am sure that most of us when we read the description for the series we already had an idea of what the plot is going to be like. Honestly, what I thought about the series was true. Every assumption and stereotype that I predicted was true. Bodyguard and young master are falling in love, their statuses won't allow this relationship, they fight, they reunite, happy ending. That's it. Okay, sure, for once the real villain in the series isn't another love interest, but it is an unethical mafia boss that wants to sell drugs on Sky's father territory, but he refused. So, the bad mafia boss tries to kill the son of the good mafia boss.
Though, I have to admit that the first episodes were exciting and I thought that finally we found a thai series that won't have stupid clichés. Well, as I said earlier, I was wrong. One cliché after the other, people falling in love with the other person in a spam of a second, fights between the couples for the silliest things, unwanted jealousy, and happy ending.
ACTING
Well... I might be an asshole... but... the acting... was bad....
First of all, let me say about the role of Gun. I was glad that in this series they didn't make Gun's role as the typical non-good-looking character (e.g. LBC in which everyone pointed out how plain and ugly he was); and instead he played for once a confident role. Even though I liked Gun's role, I didn't like his acting that much. I believe that he is better of with a comedy role. In the series, there were many scenes that required him to either cry or be sad; and for me it just didn't work. That being said, in my personal opinion, I feel that Gun's acting is getting better as the time goes by.
Moving on to Boat's performance, I have to admit that this was the first that I watched with him in the cast. I found that his expressionless face was kind of fun in many cases, but again I don't think that I liked his acting. One of the main reasons, is due to the script. I believe that as an actor he has many things to give, but he needs the right script and plot.
As for Tenon, I found him a little awkward in many scenes and I thought that his expressions could be improved. Taking into account his age, I think that in the future we would see more of him. Last but not least, we have Sugus. That dude he was a master in controlling his eyebrows. What the hell? I found his flow and personality better than the rest of the cast. However, he also had some awkward scenes.
I may point out the negative parts, but as an overall, I believe that the four actors could give us more, if they had better script on their hands.
MY OPINION
I know that nobody cares about my opinion, but whatever! To be honest, the description was pretty descriptive so I do not know why I am so disappointed with what I watched. The thing is that this series seemed to be different from the rest. We didn't have any cringe/stereotypical scenes in the first two episodes, we had a manly main lead, and a story that could give us many things. But then the third episode happened.
WHAT THE FUCK? It was the cringiest and the worst episode that I have ever watched. We have two people, that in the beginning Sky doesn't like Sun, but when he learned that he never relaxed or went to a nice place, he would take him. LIKE A DATE... DUDE!!!! Sky who doesn't like Sun, I REPEAT, takes Sun for a date, and they share their drinks, their food, they wear matching funny hats, take pictures, and Sky buys them a matching heart necklace, that each of them has one part of the heart. DO YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING? Dude, that was so cringy to watch. wtf? I haven't read the novel of the series, so I'm not sure when they were supposed to develop feelings for each other, but that was so tough to watch.
That leads me to my next point. As someone who was only watching the series, I wasn't able to understand when our main leads developed feelings for each other. It was like some scenes didn't make it to the final cut, and we were left with half the story. We don't get to know why Sky's and Sun's blood was so important till the last two episodes. Why? Moreover, if Sky's life was in danger, and many assassinations happened against him, why did he still attend the university and the university activities? Lastly, where is the police in those type of series? Sky was almost killed in the university's bathroom but nothing happened after that? WHAT IS GOING ON? I think that the screenwriters wanted to create more tension for the couple and just used everything they thought.
Also, I want to touch the topic of product placements. As you may have noticed, in the first episodes, there is no product placement. As someone who hates how the products are being showed in the thai series, I was happy with the absence of them. Until that fucking episode came. You know what I am talking about, the one in which they leave for the camping. DUDE! DONT! DO! THAT!
Anyway, that's it. It's a shame that it didn't work out in the end, but I didn't have any kind of expectations for this series.
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I lost braincells watching this
I think my main issue with this series is that Nhai is so unrealistically brainless. His childishness has been an issue for me since EP1 and I feel like no character development occurred. The dialogue was ridiculous (though this could have been a subtitle issue because I felt that they got progressively worse).Ai and Nhai are cute, don't get me wrong, and I like their little gang but really what was the point of this series? 12 episodes and barely anything happened. If I was more invested in the characters maybe I would have appreciated the constant fluff but they had no depth despite several plot points being presented yet not explored.
This would have been better as a short series with maybe half the amount of episodes... Don't waste your time.
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Survivor: The Mother-in-Law Obstacles.
Xu Lingyi, marquis Yongping is all that a mother could ask for: a patriotic high ranking court official, ethical, cultured, responsible and a shining example of Confucian filial piety who asks not if he is happy with his wives, it is enough that his mother is. When his official wife dies, he takes her younger half-sister Luo Shiyi, a lowly concubine's daughter as his official wife, thus preserving the marriage ties between the Luo and Xu family. But Shiyi is a talented and resourceful woman ahead of her times and values her freedom and independence over making such an excellent match. She has her own agenda and unlike his fawning concubines, is quite happy to be neglected by Lingyi and left to her own devices. Her attitude bemuses and intrigues Lingyi out of his indifference and he finds to his dismay that he is increasingly attracted to her.The best part of this drama is how the romance blossoms at a realistic pace between Lingyi and Shiyi, leisurely exploring important phases from distrust, to mild annoyance, to intrigue and blossoming attraction, to collaboration with some conflict and a healthy dose of jealousy thrown in. Neither character is perfect - Lingyi is a workaholic, neglects his harem, is aloof, overly strict with his children and his brother and just generally comes across as no fun at all. Except for the flashes of subtle humour that emerges when he deals with impertinence from his close aides or criticism from his family. Wallace Chung really delivers a very nuanced portrayal as a lonely and kind nobleman beneath a strict and unapproachable exterior. I really enjoy watching him come out of his shell and become a more complete person as he discovers happiness with Shiyi. Shiyi grows from a rather headstrong and defiant young wife into the caring, responsible and capable mistress of Yongping manor. This is a very different kind of role for Tan Songyun and although I feel her interpretation of the role is not that inspired, her Shiyi is likeable and pleasant to watch. Both leads are consummate actors with very solid chemistry, delivering many sweet and thrilling romantic moments as they fall in love and grow together as a couple.
Even though I don't expect much from the plot when it comes to character dramas, I have to say that the writing overall leaves a lot to be desired. It actually starts out fairly well even though it is incredibly tropey from the beginning. That is because there is a satirical approach to the writing, with subtle humour nicely woven neatly into the dialogue that had me grinning away. And some of the characters, especially the hateful concubine Qiao and Erniang were such parodies and so well acted that I got many chuckles and base enjoyment out of their setbacks and defeats. That fizzles out after the Qiao arc and at that point the mystery and defeat of the mastermind should have just been quickly wrapped out instead of dragged into repetitive plot lines and themes. The writer with a sense of humour must also have bowed out at that point because it wasn't funny anymore.
Which brings me to the mother-in-law from hell. This MIL is a real piece of work - she picks all of her sons wives, she is snobbish, biased, hypocritical, is completely illogical and plays the matriarch card all the time to get her way. This character turned the drama into some bizarre edition of Survivor where the contestants are parachuted into Ming Dynasty where they need to survive the mother-in-law of all obstacles and win the heart of the dude. Shiyi and all of Lingyi's wives are pitted against this troll who thinks that the ultimate reward is marriage to her son. The most unbelievable part of the story is that none of these rather ruthless and resentful bitches took the initiative to poison her. It would have made for an excellent Murder on the Orient Express kind of murder mystery if they all did it. As for Shiyi, her winning strategy is to kill everyone from her MIL to her love rivals with kindness. This took so long and we have to endure so many ridiculous, lazily written and repetitive arcs that I couldn't help but think poison would work so much faster.
The two main takeaways from this drama is it really sucked to be a woman during Ming Dynasty and bad shit happens when your mother picks your wives. Overall an ok watch to pass time but nothing to write home about. 7.5/8.0 overall, maybe 8.0 for just the first ~half.
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This series was absolute bull shit for so many reasons First of all its not a BL series so i dont know where this idea came from - all the two leads talked about was his scalp treatment there was absolutely no romantic interest or feeling's involved.
One of the female characters needed to go - she sexually assulted a man while he was drunk and they tried to pass it off as comedy - that shit aint cute it so disgusting and disturbing that they believe its fine for her to do it to him, but when its the other way round people start getting mad.
Thirdly the series ended without a conclusion- the couples didnt get together, their feelings for each other (the heterosexual couple) was not explored and in all felt like they just gave up with the series and called it a day. And to conclude this shouldnt even be called a drama/series when it was just a dermatologist advertisement
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High Jumping Comedic Romance
What drew me to this series was the sportiness with a side of romance and drama. Wanted something fun and easy while watching heavier stuff. Only know Gina Jin from a previous show this year which was also an older woman/younger man thing but this one actually had a plot and good acting.Pros: I really liked the underdog kid ML who was always critiqued for being too short to do the high jump but nothing slowed him down. There was only an 8 year age difference between the leads and the ML was 20 when they got together. So to those who feel skeaved out by these kinds of scenarios; don't worry, everyone was an adult in this one. The chemistry between the leads was palpable from the get go. But it was the sportiness, comedy, and the ML's iron clad determination to continue to do what he loved that kept me watching. The FL was a great beginners coach and was very credible in her role.
The beginning and ending credits and OSTs were beautiful and all perfectly placed. I liked the pace of the story as it never dragged nor felt cliché. As a fan of track and field in the Olympics this peaked my interest and I was even more impressed that they cast an actual high jumper athlete to both help/encourage the lead in his role but also as one of the supporting characters; just made it feel more authentic. Was it 100% perfect in all of the sport parameters? No, but this was a drama, not a documentary, so it wasn't expected.
For a c-drama, this had very mature romance which was a nice added touch. There were no lips pressed together and wide eyed looks of confusion from whichever lead. Each kiss after the first and romantic first night together were very convincingly done.
Cons: This would have gotten a rare 10 from me had it not sent this great and light-hearted for the most part drama off the rails in the last 3 episodes with the crazy reporter and her unnecessary garbage plus all that other junk that then had to quickly spin a plot of ML going overseas to train with FL's dad. If this thing was to be included, it had to start way earlier. But honestly, it really was unnecessary because they could have had him enter into some competition and show him winning or something and build up to the last 3 minute proposal that was then quickly turned into a wedding in the last episode. It was very haphazardly thrown together and if not for that last out of left field portion, could have had a very satisfactory and strong ending. I also wish they spent more time on the sports then the romance; had it more 50-50 especially towards the end. Sadly, editing went out the window via a javelin throw and that portion missed the mark.
Would I recommend it? I absolutely would. Despite the last 3 episodes being just essentially fillers, it was a very funny, easy on the brain, natural, and great show to watch which I enjoyed very much and will totally rewatch my favorite parts.
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Jun Yu Mi was perfect as the cute and flawed Han Yeo Reum. I like that she tried so hard to do what she thought was right. Eric Mun is exceptional as Kang Tae Ha. I had no idea he is such a good actor. He can kiss and is totally hot so he being a good actor is a plus. Sung Joon is one of my favorite actors. I have seen all of his dramas except I Need Romance 3. He does not fail to deliver as Nam Ha Jin. Thee other actors are good too.
Edit: I forgot to mention that Yoo Ah In is the last episode. Whoop Whoop
The music is really good.
If you would like to watch a more realistic drama on love, then I recommend this one.
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why yall mad for
I don't know why all of you stay hating this show. It's literally so simple and cute for people who need a break in between shows that are hectic and all over the place. Sure, the characters were a little show at advancing with their love, but at the end it was still all cute and was worth it in my opinion. I don't know what you guys expected from a 5 episode show where they're all each 15ish minutes. I'm actually really happy the show ended the way it did. The first season was very wholesome so it would have been weird if they included more "adult" situations into this one. I really recommend this and the first season to anyone who needs a little break and who needs a calm show.Was this review helpful to you?
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One of the better Thai BLs I've seen in more than a year!
Despite all the negative comments I read here on MDL, I really liked this one and am going to miss it. Here are my pros and cons:PROS
STORY. Yes, that's right. Sure, there were some moments that suspended belief, but what Thai BL doesn't have those? For the most part, I found this compelling. And, contrary to so many BLs, it actually HAD a story (yes, I'm looking at you, Bad Buddy). Even better, everything was wrapped up in the end, and with no cliffhangers.
ACTING. I really had no issues with the acting. Nat was great as the villain, as was Perth as his conflicted son. Phuwin played his lead role respectably, with some really good moments here and there. Pond was pretty good, as was Chimon (in a part that gave him little to do). And Pawin was delicious as the conniving and underhanded Phum.
OST SONGS. Phuwin has a beautiful voice and I loved his OST. Pond singing was surprisingly pleasant and I enjoyed his OST, played in the ending credits. (As for the rest of the music... what was up with all those misplaced Christmas carols? And that hideous cowboy song??)
CHEMISTRY. Palm was so adorably sweet and protective with Neung. And they weren't afraid to kiss with some passion.
CONS
"ELDERLY" PEOPLE. That dance class for the elderly! The oldest person I saw looked to be maybe 45. What's the life expectancy in Thailand, 48?
"JUST SHOOT ME!" It was either Episode 10 or 11 (I forgot) where three or four of the characters (separately) got themselves in a situation where they felt compelled to scream out "Shoot me! Go ahead, shoot me!" A bit silly.
THE NOTES AND LEAVING. It was annoying enough with Neung did it. It was downright ridiculous when Palm returned the favor in the finale.
Still, none of those were dealbreakers for me. I'm giving it a 9.0.
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The plot is very simple. It is about a teenager crush that evolves into a beautiful relationship once reciprocated. While it is simple, I think the show did a good job overall in portraying the different stages of the relationship. There is no unnecessary angst and the tone remains light and fluffy throughout.
The only thing that makes me rate the story lower is the lack of scenes showcasing ML thoughts. The drama could have used an extra episode to flesh out ML character more. His background story is way too short and he changed from brotherly affection to full on loving the FL so quickly that I find it a bit abrupt. It would be better if there are more scenes showcasing his hesitation and motivation. The novel did a much better job fleshing out his character imo.
The casts are definitely the highlight for me. Everyone fits their role so well and the acting feels quite natural. I love all the 3 leads, though I am most impressed with Chen Zheyuan. His eyes deliver so much emotion! The chemistry between the 3 leads are amazing. I definitely will be checking out their future projects.
I also really like the OST because they fit and added so much to the scenes.
Overall I really like this drama. It is well produced and I could tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. It was good from beginning to the end. Although I feel like they could use 1 or 2 more episodes, but overall I'm very satisfied with the series.
I would recommend this drama for anyone that likes romance, slice of life, and something simple in general. This drama has been my happy pill after a long tiring day at work for the past 2 weeks, so I would definitely missed it.
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Suddenly you had your typical K-Drama over-dramatic melo shit everywhere. Everything became a thousand times more sappy, illogical and emotional in a try-hard way. The pacing became shit. Plot-holes tumbled in and things that should’ve been huge just ended up being anti-climactic. And before you know it, Chicago ends on a note so “MEH” that it’s a disservice to the once precious drama. For sure, most people are probably going to love Chicago’s ending episodes too but for me since this drama was all about being subtle but powerful the extra turns it took, did not slide.
Here are some aspects of the show and my take on it:
-Yoo Ah In’s BeWhy inspired shitty haircut:
We are all superficial people to some extent and Yoo Ah In’s egg shaped haircut is no doubt a fashion disaster but there are some actors who don’t need appearance to make things work because their talent is enough. And Yoo Ah In tops the list. He just gets how to handle me and he always manages to wring my emotions like a masterful puppeteer. So much so, that at this point I think that he’d be able to perfectly emote even if he had a giant garbage bag on his head. He is spectacular as always here, playing two roles with different personalities all at the same time and excelling at both. And just for those of you, who simply cannot get over the hair-do, the drama comes with a sexy as hell past version of Yoo Ah In, with great hair and a lot of badass. ;)
-Weak female lead:
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. If there is one person who can sell me a damsel in distress it’s Im Soo Jung. I remember her brilliance in MiSa about 7 years ago and I still find her really likeable. Unfortunately because of her doe eyed look and an eternal stupid expression, she is often typecast into the “dumb but kind” roles. But I feel like despite that she always manages to shine through with her inner strength and true, she does exactly that in the first ten episodes. But after that, the writers started to confine her in a box again. Too much crying. Too much need saving. Too much “woe-is-me” bullshit. That her personality just falls under. And it’s a shame too because she is supposed to me this “bad-ass sniper” with like a trillion qualities and so sadly this whole thing made me realize that while I do like Im Soo Jung, I hate damsels in distress more. And soon for me, Jeong Sol turned from being adorable to annoying real quick.
-Han Se Ju:
A lot of people think that HSJ is just one of those “bad boys” who are actually bad guys but that’s just not true. Sure, the writers tried to force the image on him with the whole “wrist grabbing, temper tantrum throwing, macho alpha asshole” bullshit but it still isn’t true. Because Han Se Ju is an actual sweetheart. A passionate, sensitive and thoughtful man who can act like a complete petty toddler at times but an admirably strong old soul at others. For me, he was a character close to my heart ‘cause I know I’ve myself thought so many of the things that he believes in, I have felt so many emotions that he goes through and that makes him so relatable to me. He’s a beautiful man inside-out, with all his lows and trust issues intact.
Sound track:
While Chicago has a brilliant soundtrack and the show makers did get the play timing right most of the times, there’s one weird ass instrumental that they unfortunately play in the most poignant scenes in the later episodes, effectively ruining the impact. Tragic.
Bromance:
By far, my favorite bromance, simply because of how natural and heartfelt it is. It stays strong from the first episode to the last and soon became the only reason I continued with the show.
Other:
The romance is good. The side characters are endearing. The kisses are enjoyable. The antagonist does a very good acting job. The past and present weave effortlessly and are interesting to follow. The cheeky and often hilariously cringey supernatural effects are a delight. While the ending episodes are mediocre at best, the first ten are so emotionally powerful that at the end I couldn’t help but give it an 8.5, still.
Do I recommend? Yes. Definitely. Because despite its flaws Chicago in its core is a beautiful story about friendship, loyalty and the inseparable bond between three people that transcends time. This is a show that you absolutely have to give a chance to. It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, it’s worth at least a try. This isn't a drama you should judge by reading other people’s opinion, you simply have to experience it yourself.
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I am not sure where to start with this drama as this is an amazing drama. Probably one of the best dramas of 2015 if not the best. I could talk about how great this drama is for a long period of time but I will try to make this review as short as I can.
First things first. I started watching this drama as soon as it came out because I found out about it a month or so beforehand. As soon read the synopsis I was hooked. I have never seen or heard of anything like that for a Korean drama. So the synopsis is what drew me in but seeing who was cast as the lead characters made me want to see it more. The only thing I was worried about was where they going to be able to pull off a drama like this. Well my worry went away straight after the first episode and left me blown away. Some dramas start really great but then start to slow down and others take a few episodes to get going. While watching D-Day not once did it slow down, it continued the momentum it started and kept it going through all 20 episodes. I never felt bored or tired and each episode left me wanting to watch the next one right away.
Story
The story for this drama as I said before is something that I have not seen or heard of for a Korean drama. I was worried how it was going to work out but it was done way better than I expected. The special effects and sets they had made it more realistic. What I really like about the story is that it is so believable. This is something that could happen and I think that is what first drew me to it. I am a person who loves romantic type dramas but what I like about this one is romance is not the main feature. The romance is there but it focuses on the disaster a bit more. You get to see how the doctors and other emergency workers deal with a disaster like this. If you are a person who loves romance in your dramas and likes shipping the main leads together then I will say this drama does have that. It does have some sweet and cute moments admits the tragedy that happens. So don’t worry about that.
Acting/Cast
The cast for this drama I think is perfect. I loved all the actors and their characters even if some characters where not so good. Kim Young Kwang does a phenomenal job in this drama. I first saw him in Love Rain and every time I saw him since he has played a supporting role or played the second male lead. So I loved that he was finally the main lead in a drama and boy did he do an amazing job. He is such a great actor but in this drama you can see just how good he is.
Jung So Min played the female lead and also did a great job. I first saw her in Playful Kiss and while watching this drama you can see how much she has grown as an actress. She plays a doctor in this drama just like Kim Young Kwang and does a great job at it. I really liked her character and also Kim Young Kwang’s. I think both lead actors had great chemistry together and I would love to see them both again in another drama.
Also loved the other actors in this drama. A few of them I recognized and had seen before and loved seeing them again.
Music
The music in this drama was so good. Most dramas have about 4-5 or more OST songs that have music and lyrics but this drama only had 3. But the 3 it had were so good and fit the drama perfectly. One of the best parts about the music was the instrumental/Score soundtrack for the drama. It was amazing to listen to and scored so perfect for the drama. So in all the music is really good and I have already bought the 3 OST songs that were released. I also plan to download the rest of the soundtrack once it’s available on iTunes and possibly buy the physical soundtrack as well. That is how much I just loved the soundtrack.
Rewatch Value
The rewatch value of this drama is so high for me. Actually while I was watching this drama I went back and rewatched a few episodes. This is a drama that I would defiantly rewatch from start to finish a bunch of times. I will probably watch it again very soon and this time introduce it to a friend. Since I watched this drama by myself it would be a great drama to watch with a friend or friends. Also if this drama comes out on DVD with English subs I will defiantly be buying it.
I highly recommend this drama as everything about it was so good. All that is left to say is if you are reading this and trying to decide if you should watch this what are you doing. Go watch it now. It is a must watch drama that should not be missed. One of the best or if not the best drama of 2015.
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1No smiling matter.
Ye Pingan must be a witch. So whisper the common folk of Chang'an uneasily amongst themselves. Her medical practices are eyed with disdain by the ruthless and ambitious young magistrate Yuan Shaocheng. When she finds herself entangled in a murder, he investigates her unsparingly. To his chagrin, she manages to stay one step ahead of him. They are both complicated characters with dark histories and hidden agendas. They fall into an uneasy alliance where they use each other and inevitably start to uncover each other's secrets. The story is set in treacherous times during the reign of Empress Wu and at the pinnacle of the power struggle between the Li faction and the Wu faction. They are both mere ants caught in the crosshairs between powerful stakeholders. Thus their interests don't always align and they find themselves at times on opposite sides.This is a well paced, suspenseful plot-driven story pitting two smart protagonists, at times for and at times against each other. There are conspiracies within conspiracies that reveal an abominable, heart-wrenching secret that Ye Pingan vows to expose. The subject matter is no smiling matter; it is an unflinching depiction of the vilest form of abuse of the powerful against the defenseless. It is ironic that during the only time a woman ruled the world in Chinese history where at the upper echelons, women are as powerful and capable as men, at the bottom of the social strata they are weak and unspeakably abused. Led by Ye Pingan, the victims refused to roll over and play dead. Instead, they make terrible sacrifices to seek redress for what happened to them against practically untouchable antagonists. The way these damaged women bond and joy from their friendship and common purpose is the heart of the drama.
While there is undeniable romantic tension between them, Pingan and Shaocheng's relationship is more of a side story as they are both committed to causes that are larger than themselves. Even though I am normally not a fan of either Liu Shishi or Dou Xiao's acting, they are both well cast in their roles here and deliver mature and nuanced portrayals. Liu Shishi's taut, impassive expression and her cold, bright-eyed glare perfectly captures an avenging angel with just a hint of inner trauma. And Dou Xiao is the consummate ruthless, grey character who could be friend or foe... as long as he keeps his pearly whites hidden. Thankfully the somber tone of the story only allowed him to traumatize me twice with that killer 1,000 MW preternaturally white, extra toothy smile. That said, I found it hard to root for either of the leads. While I like that they are rather amoral characters who are in it to win it, they fight for other people. I find characters like Ni Chang or Wu Ankang who also know how and when to fight for themselves or when to walk away to be wiser and more relatable.
While I enjoyed the many twists and how the reveals build upon one another, the sub-plot arcs all follow the same formula so after the second arc, the reversals are predictable and anti-climatic. Nonetheless the drama held my interest to the end because of the entrance of the yummy Zheng Yecheng who delivers some exciting fight scenes. Not to mention I always enjoy dramas set during Wu Tzetian's reign and Chen Jin pulls off the role with gravitas and charisma. What I do not like is how these kinds of stories never fail to end without a dire message about the dangers of an over-ambitious woman.
Overall a sober story about lives lost in the name of vengeance and atonement, both ultimately hollow goals. Its a pretty good watch even though there really is nothing feel good about the story. I rate it 7.5/10.0.
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