I am ecstatic that this BL was aired early this year since this is a story 22 years in the making... Well, do not take it literally. You have to watch to know what I just said. It is a nice gift for BL fans since it is packaged in a rainbow-themed wrapper, classic ribbons and a big box full of surprises!
STORY
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Is this series a euphemism to the philosophy: "Love knows no boundaries". Yes. And, it is more of transcending rather than "breaking boundaries".
More often than not, a love story does not make you think, just let you feel every scene, conversation, interaction. And this one will make you think as well; but it does not mean that it will take away the good "stuff" of a love story, actually, it even enhance it as you won't know what will happen next or in the end.
This is the best love story I have watched with a mystery as its core reason of the interaction of the two main character. Despite of having 8 episodes only, the writers did not waste time developing the plot; as every episode it puts a new layer of one's character that will keep you glued to your seat, if you are binge watching this. It will make you think "what's next?". And there are some light bulb moments that makes you utter "That makes sense", or, "Why I haven't thought of that". I bet, watching this won't be an 8-hour waste of your time.
What is also very likeable about this series is how they peel off the mystery piece by piece, layer by layer, while still being coherent and not all over the place and it did not drop a big bomb that exploded in one episode. A feat for a love story with a good deal of mystery. This may follow a similar plot like almost all love stories out there, but what it is satisfying to watch this series is the little details it showed along the way. You will ask yourself, "If I were in his shoes, would I do the same thing? Or act differently?". What should you feel or react in certain scenes. And, there are moments that it is too good that you just watch as it unfolds right in front of you without thinking anything.
Mixed it with some "crazy" friends and an uncoditionally loving mother completes the story.
And I forgot to mention, Thun says the right things at the right time! That speaks volumes about script writing.
For me, happy endings are over-rated. After all, in real life, we actually have more sad endings than the happy ones. But sometimes, there are too much sad endings happening in our lives that we need a happy ending even once in a while. So, how does this series end? Then, you have to find out for yourself and enjoy the journey!
IF this is going to be a sad ending, what you can take away from this is that not every relationship ends with sunshine and a rainbow. Furthermore, most of relationships ended with a sad one. After all, "parting is such a sweet sorrow". It teaches us to be grateful for the person we were once with. All that person taught us, created memories with and experiences shared together.
IF this is going to be a happy ending, then it reinforces the concept of "Love Rules". And we have to endure all the pain and sufferings to get what we want, what we need and be where we ought to be.
I will leave the story part of this review: Some of the best relationships require the ultimate sacrifices. It will be up to fate if we will be blessed accordingly.
As of writing, this series/drama is currently the #2 in Thailand, #1 for BL-themed in Thailand speaks very highly how this was made and loved by many.
ACTING/CAST
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Ohm Pawat's performance as Thun is nothing short of extraordinary. He definitely bring his acting to a way new level. I was impressed how he played Frame in Make It Right, specially when his acting transitioned to the second season. But this specific series, I had a greater respect for his acting skills as he brought his "A" game and considering he just 19 years of age, he will mature, get even better as years pass by.
Singto as Mes. Another stellar performance of an actor. SOTUS, SOTUS S and Friend Zone, portrayed a "serious" Singto, but in this series, his child-like acting is shinning and yet, is able to retained his seriousness when the scene demands for it. The quirkiness of his character that he plays so well is something to look forward to.
Never a moment that I felt that their, Ohm & Singto, acting is with a degree of awkwardness. But, I have seen some BTS of their scenes that most of the time Ohm is the one that is shy to act something out. Hey?! What is another take for, right?
Chimon and Sing as Prince and Khiem respectively, are great support too!
I can't wait for Chimon to have a lead role in a love story. In Our Skyy Episode 2, he can clearly carry a series, portray an 'antagonist' in "The Gifted the series" and having support roles in "My Dear Loser" and "Happy Birthday the series". Now in the up-coming series "The Blacklist", if the trailer holds true what is shows, then it is possible to see Chimon's funny, comedic side of acting. This series show just how versatile of an actor he is.
For Sing, I know he acted in Love Sick 1 & 2, but it is lackluster. Easily forgettable. Then came Slam Dance, but was not given much of exposure. He showed his support role capabilities in My Dear Loser and his potential to lead a series in "The Gifted the series". However, in this series, what is obvious is his acting as a supporting actor, but it no means that he is not up to the challenge. He is good at breaking the "ice" at the very serious moments. For me, one of the under-rate Thai actor out there as he is being stereotyped as this goofy guy who doesn't no how to get serious. But then again, he is good at it.
How do I critique an actor's skill. If he/she can still convey a mesage, an emotion despite not talking or not understanding the native language; through facial expression and body languages. But one can definitely appreciate the acting more if it coupled with a spoken words. The intonations, pauses makes what is being said together with their respective body language, but mostly facial expressions, give more meaning.
ADDENDUM, after watching the raw Ep 8 (finale):
Just when you thought that Ohm and Singto's acting could get any better than best, they actually did! They outdid themselves! Never thought that Ohm got the "moves".
Furthermore, just realized that the director for this series also directed Our Skyy and the sceenwriter of My Dear Loser: Edge of 17.
MUSIC/SOUNDS
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Let's start with the sound effects, there are very few instances where the effects were a second ahead of the intended scene where it is meant to draw emotions. But the effects for the "WTF" moments, especially for Sing, are spot on. Sound tracks in this series I can say that they are the icing on the cake. The songs make it sweeter for the scenes or heart breaking at some. That makes the moment perfect in every sense.
The background, piano-accompanied music in the scenes will definitely make you feel more and deeper.
I will leave this portion with this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnQ6YrKG0I
REWATCH VALUE
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Like all mystery based stories, once the mystery is solved, it is hard to rewatch it since you already know how it will end. But that does not mean that this series is anything less than remarkable.
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Story: It starts off with the child stories and here is where you see everything (father's death, siblings seperated, meeting of the romantic OTP #1) go down. When the characters grow up, there are multiple time jumps and twist and turns throughout to keep you engaged till the very end. Be prepared to cry a lot and be shocked at how the romantic pairings go (they are twisted). I loved the ending although it was bittersweet. I will say that this definitely could have been done with a shorter ep count because there were many filler scenes.
Acting: Excellent ensemble cast. Everyone from the 2 main couples to the supporting cast was amazing. I got attached to all the characters and it was crazy how everyone who is considered protagonists also showed a bad side to them. The writers did a phenomenal job in writing these characters. Just wanted to mention I wasnt too keen on Lee Bum Soo in the beginning but by the end I had become a fan! The chemistry btwn him and Park Jin Hee was perfect.
Music: The score was so fitting. Powerful when it needed to be and emotional in all the right places.
Rewatch: Although its a large ep count, I loved the acting so much that i would like to try and watch this every year if i have the time cause its so epic.
Overall Giant is a must watch for any die hard drama fan and the perfect introduction to Lee Bum Soo. Dont be turned off by the huge ep count or you will be missing out!
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Story: The main focus is on this family who face difficult challenges in wake of an unfortunate life altering event. The first episode was so unpredictable and the ending of it will lead you to want to watch the next episode to see what will happen next. There are multiple storylines going on because there is a large cast so you will definitely stay interested and not get bored. My only gripe is that the romance between the main couple is kind of weak and the ending for them was kind of cheesy...
Acting/Cast: The acting doesn't blow me away but somehow I found myself engrossed in all the characters. There were so many characters that at first its hard to keep up with who's who. After I got to know everyone though I found myself rooting for everyone. I even wanted our villain (very creepy/scary) to redeem himself although it never happens.
Music: OST fits the show well. The theme song is cute & very catchy.
Rewatch Value: I liked this show so i'll rewatch it but not right away.
Overall the plot was engaging but the writers lacked focus and felt a little bit all over the place so a little tightening up with the story could of made it even better. Its positives are that its very touching and you learn a lot about close family relationships.
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Great acting from the cast, in particular, from the leads, in which this film was their acting debut. Shawn Dou was great as the hunky lead male (great smile!) and Zhou Dongyu was lovely as the naive lead female. My only gripe: the male lead character seemed to be a bit too perfect and angelic and it would have been nice to have some more dimension to his character.
Even though the film is set during the end of the Cultural Revolution, there isn't too much emphasis on politics. This is a pure love story at its best with the interactions between the main characters at the forefront.
The film also has amazing cinematography. The color palette isn't striking but there is a nice contrast between the village and the city landscapes.
Recommended for those who enjoy those simple and pure love stories.
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The drama is clearly low budget. You can tell by the costumes/props and at some point, it looks like a home-filmed thing. However! That does not subtract anything from the amount of pure substance in this piece ;)
Considering the Chinese government censors and all that, I'm very proud of what these people managed to put out!
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Its about a man who is forced to be a father and now living with his daughter .. This story revolves around this man ... few characters show up in his life and stays with him .. :) i love how this drama portrays gentleness and kindness in such a sweet manner..
Excellent acting from both main leads and their chemistry is very pure :) ... Another actor and character that i really liked was the young girl ... She did an outstanding job..
Another best thing i liked was the way writer captured my attention all throughout the drama.. I kept watching episodes one after the other in curiosity to what will happen next.. Story-line is very different and unpredictable .. It had me till the end ..
I liked jap dramas for how they show light and deep moments in such a simple way ... This drama touched my heart in so many places :D :D ... if you really wanted to watch something light yet deep and mature.. give it a go .. i am sure you will NOT regret it :)
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I watched this drama ages ago. At the time, I didn't have reasons to watch dramas, I only watch anything that seems interesting.
This drama was one of the first Korean dramas that I saw and one of the fewest melodramas that I was invested in.
2) Storyline/Plot:
It's a melodrama so you can prepare yourself for crying and so but I have to point out that the story wasn't like any other melodrama that I've seen before.
Positive points:
*The beginning of the drama was well explained plus script writers did a great job when it comes to the storyline's development.
*The feelings were mixed up in a way that we could get in touch with an amazing burst of emotions.
*Sad events were very emotional in a way that would touch the heart and soul.
Negative points:
*I always thought that this drama was way too emotional to the point that it may fall into other common tragedies.
Story: 8.5/10
3)Acting/Cast:
Generally speaking, this dramas actors knew how to deliver feelings in a perfect way allowing us to feel pain, suffer, sadness and the injustice of life. The lead actress attracted my intention by her great acting skills.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 8.5/10
4) The ending:
Heartbreaking yet awesome, I wouldn't like it if it ended otherwise because it fits the drama's genre perfectly.
The ending: 9/10
5) My impression (How did it affect me):
*I don't actually like melodramas but this one was a great exception.
*Considering the fact that I watched this ten years ago, this is an unforgettable drama that will never die.
*I felt sadness while watching this drama and the friend who watched it with me didn't stop crying the whole drama.
My impression: 9/10
6) Overall:
*If you like tragedies and impossible love stories than you would love this.
*If you're into tearjerker melodramas then this is for you.
Overall: 8.5/10.
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Bargaining for Love
My Bargain Queen is an office-romance drama that is set in the beautiful port city of Tianjin, China. The premise is based on two industries that are disparate in nature but not mutually exclusive - the bargaining or negotiation consultative services and the hotel business. There is a significant shift to an online bargaining business model towards the latter episodes.The plot revolves primarily around the romances of the characters involved in those lines of work as well as the people around them. In addition to the romance with all its associated tropes and the light comedy,, we also have the business aspects, slice-of-life elements as well as some measure of angst and tragic circumstances (in the backstory) as well.
This production which completed principal photography in October 2020 is aired simultaneously on Dragon TV as well as Youku streaming platform, among other regional broadcasters and streamers. The screenplay is adapted from the novel of the same name (我的砍价女王) by The Sleeping Meow (睡懒觉的喵), a nom de plume. The Ritz-Carlton in Tianjin is featured as the site of the fictional Evergreen Hotel while a number of scenes were filmed at The Happy Valley Theme Park. Kenny Lin reunites with Nicky Wu since Scarlet Heart (2011) while Wu Jin Yan and Wang He Run last collaborated on Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures in 2019.
The production quality is well above average for this contemporary setting due to the posh set designs of The Ritz-Carlton. As expected of a rom-com, warmer colours and soft filters are applied generously in the visuals, with which I have no problems. The cinematography is generally adequate but there are some editing issues as well as certain scenes being cut which affect scene transitions but thankfully without impacting on the flow of the story.
The story works well when focusing on the business aspects, with some interestingly written subplots on the business rivalries and workplace machinations. The romance is decently developed, in particular for the main and secondary CPs. The family dynamics, in particular the FL’s mother, appears somewhat overemphasised while the inclusion of the dreaded angst from the third CP detracts from the initial positivity and feel-good vibes. The 40-episode length does give the overall impression of being drawn out for a romantic drama of this nature. Contemporary C-dramas really should consider shortening the production to perhaps 30 episodes or even less.
I went into this drama for Wu Jin Yan whom I’ve been a fan of since Story of Yanxi Palace and Legend of Hao Lan. She performs commendably here as the FL Xia Qian where her mature disposition and her own voice dubbing suits the role perfectly. The consistency of the characterization isn’t without its flaws especially towards the closing stages, which I attribute to the screenplay. Kenny Lin plays the ML Sheng Zhe Ning, who starts off as a cold and stoic hotel CEO that eventually evolves into a warm and somewhat adorable personality. Both Wu Jin Yan and Kenny Lin complement each other very well together with the right maturity levels and convincing chemistry that makes them a compelling OTP.
Nicky Wu and Wang He Run portray the SML Qin He Bo and SFL Fu Shuang Shuang respectively as the second CP of the show. Theirs is the age-gap romance which, to me, comes across as natural and organic in depiction and development. The only issue I have is Nicky Wu’s voice or rather his enunciation which lacks clarity at times. Wang He Run’s character has a significant story arc which contributes to a degree of growth that provides an additional dimension to her portrayal.
The supporting characters of He Zhi Juan and Ning Meng, respectively played by Ma Si Chao and Song Yi Xing are the main issues in the drama for me. On top of the characterization being poorly conceived, being used to create over-dramatic angst in the plot particularly at a very late stage does scream of lazy scriptwriting. The controversy giving rise to the drama isn’t particularly convincing and, to make matters worse, I feel the acting from these two actors is extremely weak. Ma Si Chao does not resemble a medical practitioner that he portrays and every time he speaks, he sounds out of breath like he is hyperventilating. Some portion of the blame has to be placed on the direction for this. Song Yi Xing’s acting isn’t the most riveting either but for all intents and purposes, she does succeed in making Ning Meng the most infuriating character in the drama. In some ways, I suppose these two do match each other as third CP and annoying couple from hell.
The soundtrack for this drama features warm mellow ballads while the BGM is well-suited although somewhat lacking in variation. I do however enjoy the creatively-rendered title sequence and the accompanying opening instrumental theme. Full OST listing as follows:
Warming Slowly 慢慢热 by Wu Jinyan 吴谨言
To the One Who Loved 致爱的人 by Lin Zike 林子珂
Child 小孩 by Chen Xijun 陈希郡
All things considered, My Bargain Queen is not a bad option to choose, especially if you’re a fan of the leads and in the mood for a light workplace romance. However 40 episodes is a commitment and the slight inclusion of melodramatic elements may dampen the mood at certain points. Proceed with caution but, for the most part, I did enjoy the overall storytelling of the drama.
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I will try not to spoil the drama but if you have read the novel, it follows quite closely :-)
Story
I read the novel, and was really hyped when i heard that it finally got picked up into a drama. But if you haven’t read the novel, don’t worry, it’s something refreshing and heartwarming to watch (of course with a little twists and turns along the way). Characters are really well-developed. No overly clingy characters here like most dramas, side characters play a major part of the story too!! Towards the ending, I felt like it was really rushed? But nonetheless, i enjoyed the drama overall:)
Acting/Cast
The female lead’s acting really caught my attention. This is her first main role she has, and she pulled it off super well, her emotions she showed amazed me.
The other actors are amazing as well, although some of them are first-timers, they pulled it off smoothly!!
10/10
Music
not much to say here but it isn’t overplayed like in most dramas and quite soothing too
Rewatch Value
If I ever need a drama to rewatch, I can see myself coming back to watch it. (That’s how the good the drama is）
Overall
One of the best dramas i’ve watched in awhile :) Give it a try!!
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This review may contain spoilers
A disaster movie, yet using emotional + vivid suggestive power in the tradition of anti-war-movies
"Pandora" is a disaster movie.I don't really consider myself a fan of this genre, which focuses on mass panic and adrenaline.
However, I consider this KMovie particularly valuable.
In this case I think the makers have succeeded in doing something similar to what anti-war movies try to achieve: deterrence by vividly conveying the threatening horror. In respect to the scenario of a nuclear catastrophe the movie applies emotional and vivid suggestive power, at the same time making people think and possibly question the sense and usefulness of highly dangerous nuclear power plants.
In view of the consecutive radical change of South Korea's nuclear policy six months after "Pandora" was released, one could say: the project was worth it. (It would probably be too daring to talk about causality, but it could be considered a noticeable correlation...)
The 2016 KMovie picks up on the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and, against this background, develops a story that is comparable by South Korean standards. South Korea is the country with the highest population density in the immediate vicinity of its nuclear power plants. However, due to its insular position, a realistic evacuation plan in the event of a disaster is a major problem. With the movie "Pandora" the lid of the legendary box is shaken. In this case, a nuclear power plant on the East Coast suffers earthquake damage and radiation leaks, similar to Fukushima 5 years earlier. The film fictionally exercises the processes in the event of such a catastrophe (or a comparable one) and comes full circle with a deliberately touching scene in which Kim Nam-gil makes an emphatic plea against nuclear power in his usual impressively passionate way.
Regarding such critically oriented material, the production obviously had difficulties with its financing - in South Korea the lobby of the nuclear industry is as powerful as anywhere else. Nevertheless, the ambitious project could be realized through crowdfunding.
------------------------ SIDE NOTE: --- Sobering facts/outlook on nuclear power plants in South Korea ---
"Pandora" was released in December 2016.
In early summer 2017, as one of the existing South Korean nuclear reactors was actually scheduled to be shut down, President Moon Jae-in announced that the country's nuclear-focused energy policy would be stopped and that the country would instead steer towards a nuclear-free era. Accordingly, plans to build new reactors or extend the life of existing ones have been abandoned. A sign of hope?
However, by the autumn of the same year already, the government's political commitment was no longer valid. The nuclear lobby has actually been able to exert such pressure (the President's faction not having a majority in Parliament....) and prevail that new power plants were going to be built again.
South Korea's nuclear companies make a lot of money by exporting their self-developed reactors. The companies want reference projects in their own country... it is as simple as that...
As far as the people are concerned: According to a survey by the polling institute Realmeter in 2018, 61 percent of adult South Koreans still firmly support their president’s original nuclear phase-out course. Another 10 percent tend to do so. Yet, the lobby as so often has more to say...
... To date, South Korea covers a third of its electricity needs with 24 nuclear reactors.
... There are always earthquakes on the peninsula...
------------------------
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Great drama, great ending and great chemistry!!
This Chinese drama is refreshing!! YES, finally one that is done right, although I believed it was filmed in 2019?Zhao Jiang Yue is a top manager in the company, just turned thirty and has never been in love or in a relationship. Gina Jin who plays the FL is off the charts in this- gorgeous, beautiful, dressing makeup and hair all done so well! Very good acting as well. I loved the way she teased her bf. Her male counterpart Gu Jiaxin is the son of the CEO, forced to be ZJY’s assistant by the mum. Although he’s a rich kid and didn’t want to work at the company, he’s thoughtful and kind, and eventually starts falling in love with ZJY.
Their chemistry is SO SO GOOD!! The stealing glances, the hand brushing against each other, the “I will protect you” manoeuvres, the intensity, the longing.... my gosh!! Can’t get enough! The other side couples are not too bad as well. The only criticism I have is the character Li Yan Ran. She appears after a few episodes, and she is the MOST ANNOYING PERSON EVER!! Her character just ruined the whole drama- seriously. I understand the writers need a female rival, but this does not cut it. UGH!
The music OST is also very enjoyable and memorable. Definitely highly recommended drama- very refreshing and feel- good overall with a great ending!! Must watch :)
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Scorched earth.
This is an artfully related dark crime thriller about a long, life blood sucking and soul destroying quest for justice. A body in a suitcase, a bomb scare, an incriminating old photograph and a looming terrorist threat captures headlines and puts acclaimed investigator Yan Liang on the case. He quickly discovers that these events are linked to a decade old cold case. The narrative navigates three time periods and alternates skillfully between the original team on the case led by prosecutor Jiang Yang (Bai Yu) and the present investigation led by Yan Liang as both investigations proceed down a parallel path. This is done so seamlessly it is not at all confusing; indeed all of the characters, events and clues flow fluidly and clearly. The pallete is sparse and dark toned consistent with the title and tone of the drama.While the mystery and suspense part of the drama is very well written and doesn't reveal itself too soon, this is really more of a character drama about Jiang Yang, a brilliant young prosecutor with a lot of fire in his belly. Without a doubt, this is Bai Yu's best acted role to date. His signature gigantic forehead was so well concealed I didn't recognize him for awhile. The way his Jiang Yang's indomitable idealistic youthful spirit is extinguished into a subdued, quiet desperation and almost but not quite defeated acceptance is one of the most moving and nuanced portrayals I have seen in a long time. He deserves to win awards for this role. I wish I could say the same for Liao Fan's Yan Liang but I was not wowed by his crime solving brilliance which is supposedly signified by pondering and obsessive ball bouncing. Despite some failed and misplaced attempts at humor, Yan Liang's present day team also lacks the rapport and chemistry that oozes out of Jiang Yang's "hot pot" team. Anchored by Bai Yu's powerful performance and a solid cast overall, there is still an unbalanced or somewhat lacking feeling. This is amplified by the fact that the adversary is just powerful with unlimited resources and tentacles everywhere. There is no well developed mastermind at work - all we see are a bunch of petty villains who employ rather crude tactics to suppress the truth.
The drama peaks at the end with the final reveal in a truly masterful and heart wrenching performance by Bai Yu. Yet I am left feeling unsatisfied; I am missing the satisfaction of a showdown and fitting consequences for the villains. Indeed the repercussions seem far worse for those who resort to scorched earth methods to uncover the truth. Thus to me, this is a dark drama - it far from glorifies the quest for the truth and justice. It leaves a lingering sense that it is far more worth while to just live a good and happy life.
This is an excellent watch but be warned, it is dark and sad. I don't consider it to be quite in the same league of the Bad Kids and give it an 8.5.
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That said, I also like the male lead. Like some characters in the series, there seem to be many "layers" to Xia Chun Yu. You just gotta keep watching to discover another side of him, which adds to the mystery of the entire story. The supporting characters and their respective stories are just as nice, as they compliment the main plot.
However, it does get a bit draggy towards the end... Regardless, I'd still recommend watching it if you're looking for something that's not too heavy (in terms of content).
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