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Completed
Tune in for Love
32 people found this review helpful
Dec 21, 2019
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I was lucky enough to see this wonderful movie the day before I deactivated my Netflix account ( I am not a Netflix fan, LOL). The chemistry between Hung Jae In and Kim Go Eun gave me goosebumps, their acting was the perfect choice for this movie. The storyline develops on the base of how music changes throughout the years and also over a radio program that both of them love since the very first day of airing, like all of their lives are based on this program. Actually different from the classic Korean movies where everything is funny and cheesy because in this movie isn't all about love, but mostly about hardships of life and the difficult moments and problems that all of us faces and touches problem like the prisons and the betrayal in a couple... But music makes everything softer for all the movie length!
The themes are also more mature than other K-Movies, and that's the wonderful thing. Absolutely needs worth a try for watch, these are two hours but really well spent!

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Completed
Under the Moonlight
32 people found this review helpful
Jan 26, 2025
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Love Triangle with Impressive Characters & Story

Among the recent Chinese historical mystery and detective dramas I've watched, Under the Moonlight stands out as the most realistic. Unlike many other series that feature elaborate and sophisticated murders, this drama focuses on crimes driven by greed and corruption—reflecting a more grounded and plausible portrayal of society. The production quality is impressive, with exquisite attention to detail in the costumes and set design. The music and background settings are authentic, elaborate, and meticulously crafted.

Plot Summary
Luo Shu (Hu Bing Qing) was sold to the Qin family and later to a brothel as a child after losing her parents in a fire. Ever since, she has attempted escaping, but a hidden force continuously prevents her from leaving. One day, with the help of County Commissioner Han Mu Zhi (He Peng), who is drawn to her intelligence and courage, she finally manages to break free. Recognizing her keen observation and wit, Han Mu Zhi enlists her help in solving a case where women seeking divine blessings for pregnancy are deceived and impregnated by men posing as disciples of the gods. Due to the shame associated with such crimes, no victims had previously come forward. Luo Shu plays a crucial role in bringing down the criminal organization, after which she requests assistance in restoring her status as a commoner to escape the lowest caste of society.

To protect her from being recaptured by the brothel while awaiting her official documents, Han Mu Zhi allows her to stay at the commissioner’s station. Over time, Luo Shu becomes an unofficial constable, using her sharp mind to assist Han Mu Zhi in solving numerous local crimes. They fall in love with each other.

Setting and Themes
Set in the Ming Dynasty, when societal norms were deeply conservative and women were discouraged from appearing in public, Luo Shu disguises herself as a man to conduct investigations. Although most people around her are aware of her true identity, Qi Meng Lin (Zhai Zi Lu), a spoiled brat from a wealthy and powerful family, remains oblivious, leading to humorous and endearing interactions. As the story unfolds, Qi Meng Lin eventually discovers her identity and falls in love with her as well, leading to a love triangle and delightful dynamic between the three.

Unlike many mystery thrillers that revolve around intricate and sensational murder plots, Under the Moonlight presents cases that feel authentic—crimes such as spousal murders, neighbor disputes, cheating, and human trafficking. The drama effectively portrays a rigid class hierarchy where the wealthy wield power with impunity while the poor are trampled upon with no voice. Luo Shu’s ability to solve these cases through keen observation and critical thinking is depicted realistically, making her journey even more compelling.

Characters and Acting
Since I am not very familiar with the lead actors, my evaluation is based purely on their performances in this drama.

Luo Shu (Hu Bing Qing)
Luo Shu is portrayed as brave, intelligent, and selfless. Hu Bing Qing brings the character to life, though at times, I find her facial expressions somewhat lacking. Certain emotional moments—such as fear, anger, and sorrow—could have been conveyed more vividly. It’s unclear whether this was a deliberate choice in writing or a limitation in the acting, but a greater range of emotions would have added depth to her performance.

Qi Meng Lin (Zhai Zi Lu)
Of all the characters, Qi Meng Lin is my favorite. Zhai Zi Lu delivers an outstanding performance, capturing the essence of a young, spoiled, and narcissistic nobleman who remains optimistic despite the challenges he faces. His interactions with his servant, Lian Shu (Yu Yao), are particularly amusing—Lian Shu, despite being a servant, essentially controls Qi Meng Lin’s finances and frequently reprimands him for his extravagant spending. Their dynamic adds a lighthearted and charming element to the show.

Han Mu Zhi (He Peng)
Han Mu Zhi is a principled and serious man who despises corruption and refuses to bow to the powerful. However, He Peng's portrayal comes across as somewhat rigid, with minimal facial expressions, making him appear almost robotic at times. Given He Peng’s strong performance in The Untamed as Wen Chao, I suspect this stiffness is an intentional aspect of the character rather than a flaw in the acting. Nonetheless, subtle moments of emotion—particularly regarding Luo Shu—hint at a deeper complexity beneath his stoic exterior.

There are several morally ambiguous characters whose true nature remains difficult to discern. The writers skillfully use both character development and acting performances to maintain this sense of uncertainty, keeping viewers engaged until the final reveal.

Final Thoughts
The historical authenticity enhances the viewing experience, making it one of the most visually immersive dramas. The costumes for all characters are carefully designed and highly believable, contributing to the overall realism of the show.

Among the contemporaneous dramas I’m watching (including Flourished Peony and Everlasting Longing), Under the Moonlight is my favorite. The story is highly relatable, and the acting, despite some inconsistencies, is the best among them. I thoroughly enjoyed the series.

Unfortunately, it remains underrated on kisskh, with only a small audience recognizing its brilliance. If you’re looking for a well-crafted historical mystery with realistic cases and compelling characters, Under the Moonlight is a hidden gem worth watching.

Highly recommended!

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Completed
Unrequited Love
32 people found this review helpful
Jul 11, 2019
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 10
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 7.5
I finished the drama recently and I must say, I was not disappointed
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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Completed
Pandora
32 people found this review helpful
Jun 10, 2022
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
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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Completed
Why Women Love
32 people found this review helpful
Feb 23, 2022
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

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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Completed
The Long Night
32 people found this review helpful
Sep 26, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 6
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

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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Completed
Well-Intended Love
32 people found this review helpful
by Fei
Feb 12, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers
This show, apart from being full of gender stereotypes, also has a sexist and abuse-normalizing storyline. Ling Yi Zhou is controlling, oppressive, obsessive, selfish, psychotic man who basically blackmailed and tricked a woman into marrying him and yet he is always portrayed as the perfect dreamy husband! Also Xia Lin went from being a dynamic young woman trying to make it in the entertainment industry to a stay-at-home obedient wife whose ONLY purpose is to support her toxic husband. Also Xia Lin’s reaction of her finding out Yi Zhou’s scam was absolutely terrifying. Instead of freaking out about the fact that she was being watched for months and forced to marry him, she was only upset because she had been lied to about her being ill. The issue of Ling Yi Zhou trapping her into that marriage is never tackled, while Yi Zhou hiring guards to keep her inside the house (so basically kidnapping her) after finding out that his scheme was uncovered is also a toxic behavior worth mentioning. All in all well intended love is about a toxic relationship that is everything but well intended and I definitely do not recommend to anyone to further support it. At the same time I hope everyone who has already watched it could understand how wrong and unacceptable it is for a show like this to air in 2019.. Horrifying.

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Completed
The Judgement
32 people found this review helpful
Nov 8, 2018
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10
This is my third review since I’ve joined this site. I’m still learning English, so I apologize in advance for every grammatical or syntactical error you may find here.
Let’s start with the main topic of this show, around which everything revolves: the rape. This show does not take for granted the fact that everyone knows the meaning of the word and, on the other hand, it offers a comprehensive explanation of it. The characters become more aware of what it means to rape someone as time passes by, letting even the viewers improve their knowledge. But what I enjoyed the most is the choice of pointing out the huge social justice problems that come out when survivors actually try to make their voices heard. The fact that the chances of being actually supported for accusing your rapist are so low is still a major problem of our society.
There are a lot of other things I enjoyed, of course: the gay couple shows us a typical reaction intolerant parents may have about their children’s homosexuality and why it does no good for the boy’s wellbeing, who’ll probably start to keep everything inside and may even decide to blame himself. I also liked the constant reminder that we, as a society, tend to judge without having an overview of the situation, talking at someone’s back instead of arguing with them about that problem.
Almost everything in this show is perfect and I have to admit I’m not able to list every single detail of it as I would like to. In the end, I consider ‘The Judgement’ a really interesting and important television show.

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Completed
Silent
32 people found this review helpful
Dec 23, 2022
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

Silence, Love and the Value of Friendship

This is my first review but I just had to write about Silent. I really loved this show. I was hesitant to love it up until the last episode because I was afraid that it would break my heart as so many Japanese dramas & movies tend to do. But this was beautiful all the way through and every character was so rich. There were several opportunities for the show to go in a way that would have disappointed me but the writers resisted. Watching Sou's growth throughout the series was so endearing and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. Meguro Ren did such a great job of playing a complex character and one that was so different from the only other drama that I'd seen him in, My Love Mixup. Kawaguchi Haruna is luminous as Aoba. All of the side characters were also so layered and interesting. Special shoutout to Suzuka Ouji as Minato. The character was my underappreciated MVP and this young actor did such a good job with him. I can't wait to see what he does in the future. I loved the last episode which brought tears to my eyes as it ended. I highly recommend if you don't mind a quiet, slow paced show that will steal your heart.

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Completed
Wedding Impossible
32 people found this review helpful
Apr 2, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Terrible writing. I finished this jeon jong seo

The writing is painful. I'm having to force myself to finish these last couple of episodes. It makes sense one of the writers has never written on a project before. I thought maybe the writing would get better, but then came episode 11 which was so damn bad. Add in the flat acting with it and just takes it all new level of bad. I can't believe they skipped a year and blew past that the son in law killed his wife. Wheres the families reaction to the news it was the son in law? What happened to the reporter? Then they made the secretary the new chairman of the entire company lmao. Did you want to see a-jung get her big break in acting? too bad they did it during the time skip smh. They let do Hans stalker ex off scott free with no punishment for outing do-han to his brother ji-han. What in the heck was that ending?????

Why was the acting so bad? especially from the male lead. if I hadn't seen him in duty after school, I would swear this was his first gig. He barely had any emotion in the biggest scenes. his character was awkward and not in a good way, and the acting was flat. He almost has the same one expression in every scene.

Zero romantic chemistry between the main couple. Zero 0 none at all. at least they had a little chemistry when they were enemies, but after that, it was more like they were brother and sister. The one day get-away vacation was the least romantic getaway I've ever seen in a romantic kdrama. They literally did work in a field. In a way, it could have been cute, but they actually made it look so weird. he gets a small cut and then complains about for the rest of they day lmao. If there's one thing I can't tolerate, it's a weak kiss, and man, this one was WEAK. You only get one, maybe 2, in most kdramas(which has started to change recently. kdramas for some weird reason are getting a lot spicier know and it needs to stop) Make that one kiss count. Throw in some passion.

This show actually starts out interesting but then goes straight downhill. The fake marriage setup isn't even that interesting, and without the flashbacks of her with do-han, I can't even really tell their really friends. We barely got any interesting wedding planning scenes, and the wedding dress try-on was boring as heck. Did the writers have a bet on who could write the most boring scenes? We get no background info on the ex. why did they break up? why is he so mad? Do-han not telling a-jung about him, why? he dyes his hair for no reason, and we get no explanation.


The cafe worker Song sang eun has more chemistry with ji Hans assistant min jin woong than the main couple. they have a cute little romance going on. Their scenes were funny and adorable. The jealous family members hong in and kim ye won were pretty good too, those two together are hilarious. loved watching their scenes. Park ha in is very good in this, she plays her character the best out of everyone. Chae won just takes everything on the chin. I usually hate when the second female lead is a bad person, but in this, I would have loved it.




Jeon jong seo is an incredibly talented actress and so beautiful. idk who chose this script, but man, it was a mistake. The only solace for me is that enough people seem to like it to give it a high rating, so this project doesn't tarnish what's been a great run of projects so far. I've seen other people online agree with me, so I know there are those who will be hesitant to watch her next project, but it looks like it will be an incredibly serious project. So we should be getting a front row seat to the jeon jong seo I've seen in past projects.

I know she probably took this role so people would see her in a happier and fun light, but at what cost. I know she mentioned people seem scared of her due to her past projects, and she wanted to change their minds. She has to ask herself if she cares more about how people perceive her or about choosing projects that utilize her talent.

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Completed
Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty
32 people found this review helpful
Jan 15, 2020
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Great drama, a must watch!

I really like this drama, mainly because of the 2 main characters! 13th prince is really good looking and is a great actor for his young age (I hope that he will have lots of new dramas because I like watching his acting!). The main characters have excellent chemistry in all their scenes and it really warms my heart every time those two are together. 4th prince's character is well written, as he is depicted as a serious, just and loving character. I wish there are more scenes of 14th prince with MW. I really enjoyed the acting overall, especially the king.

The concept of the drama with the time travel is quite confusing but it doesn't bother me much as the romance story is very interesting and sweet. The villain (Ming Hui) really is EVIL! She appears in every single episode for a very long time, which is the MOST ANNOYING part of this drama. I really don't like her character, so I had to skip through a lot of scenes with her in it.

Highly recommend if you like good looking cast and sweet romance story! There is a bit of comedy too which is a huge bonus. The ending is satisfying.

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Completed
Across the Ocean to See You
32 people found this review helpful
by LinLi
Apr 17, 2017
44 of 44 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
Personal Thoughts: This drama was good and has great theme to it. The main leads had great chemistry and had some hilarious moments. As addicting the drama was, it was kinda cliche but it didn't stop me from watching it.

Story: The overall story was great but there could been somethings cut out. The main leads should been together faster without so much drag to it. Let's just say the ending was perfect but with only a tiny flaw in one of the side stories. I really liked how the story went and cried at some point. It was somewhat emotional but no enough to let you cry every episode.

Acting/Cast: The cast was amazing everything went out well. Though the main leads weren't that glamorous and good looking, but their amazing acting should be praised. In the story, the sisters looked similar which made it more believable.

Music: Let's just say the music wasn't that good but was worth mentioning. Most of it was just background music and sometimes actually ruined the moment. But there was some good songs in an episode or two.

Personally, I believe whoever is wondering and want to watch a simple yet dedicating drama. This one is for you! The endings of each episode were usually extremely suspenseful which made it super addicting. Stop reading and start watching!

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Completed
Water Boyy
32 people found this review helpful
by dawn xD Flower Award2
Mar 17, 2020
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 3.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

it could've been good... but it wasn't.

besides apo (the only good character in this) and the swimming club friendship (aka puth, song and kluay being babies), this show was a train wreck. we had a rape scene that was never addressed and waii didn't even bother to apologise to apo.... we had a great lesbian character turned into a predator (which is very harmful to the lesbian and lgbt community) and then become straight? bi? what tf was that clownery??? we had some of the most terribly written female characters ive seen (wan being shown as crazy and evil and then being slutshammed, mai being possessive and manipulative, and fay being a victim of the cliche cheating plot) and forced romantic dynamics (yes this applies to waii&apo as well as kluay&achi). i wont even get started on that age gap couple bullshit.
waterboyy could've been a good show, but gmmtv made every single decision to make sure it was a disaster. and tbh thats sad because the cast is amazing ):

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Completed
Story of Kunning Palace
250 people found this review helpful
Nov 27, 2023
38 of 38 episodes seen
Completed 109
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

May the baddest man win.

This is the drama adaptation of a popular female harem web novel "Kun Ning" (坤宁) by Shi Jing (时镜) with an interesting approach; readers voted on who the female protagonist ends up with. It is a dark and gripping tale of intrigue, conceit, betrayal, revenge and redemption. Jiang Xuening is the alluring but resentful, selfish and ambitious daughter of a court official who ruthlessly parleys her charm and cunning into becoming empress. Her schemes lead to the downfall of the royal family and the ruin of both her childhood sweetheart Yan Lin and the erstwhile incorruptible Zhang Zhe. Desperate and full of regret, she barters her life with the blackbellied Xie Wei to save Zhang Zhe. She finds herself reborn as her 18-year old self with a chance for a do-over. She vows to do better this time, to steer clear of the bastions of power and the malevolent Xie Wei. She tries to use her preternatural knowledge to save Yan Lin and Zhang Zhe from their sad fortune. As she embarks on a journey of atonement, she discovers there is an element of destiny that pulls her towards the center of power. This time, with greater wisdom and insight, she uncovers hidden secrets and unexpected allies that help her better grasp the intrigue unfolding around her. Is that enough to change their destinies or are they doomed to the same tragic fate?

This story explores the causal links between the past, the present and the future.; the idea that if only knowing what we know now, we can go back and do what we should have, could have but did not do. It begins with a Ning'er who is already a fully realised character that is not yet revealed; a charming beauty who had the world at her feet and lived a wicked and self-indulgent life. Even though Ning'er's goals change, her innate nature stays the same. The past is told in flashbacks just before the moment plays out again in the present. This works in terms of the more detailed plot points but dilutes the character and relationship stories. Thus while Bai Lu pulls off her role well overall, the piecemeal telling of the backstory doesn't capture the depth of Ning'er's regret or the layers in her relationships with some of the main characters.

Where the storytelling falls short is in Zhang Zhe's arc. To me, it is the most pivotal love story in the drama. He was the best of men, a morally upright official who betrayed his principles for her. And she was a selfish person who was so moved she became selfless for him. Their emotions were so powerful it pushed them both outside of themselves towards a mutually destructive outcome. Sadly unlike the novel, their do-over relationship is shallow and barely scratches the surface of the unfinished affinity between them. It's a pity that instead sticking to the novel which better fleshes out this arc they wasted a bunch of time on the nasty Consort Shu's boring and tropey petty antics. Wang Xingyue delivers such an empathetic portrayal of Zhang Zhe that I was disappointed his character was short changed by the narrative.

As for Xie Wei, I have a weakness for unapologetic, unspeakably damaged, vengeful and morally ambiguous characters like this. Zhang Linghe delivers an intense portrayal of this dark and complex role. Although he overdoes some of the snarls and sneers, his performance overall deserves praise and is his strongest to date. Every time the full fury of Xie Wei's fiery death glare flashes across the screen, I go weak at the knees and my brain turns to mush. Yups, I am definitely a "may the baddest man win" kind of girl. Xie Wei is far from the best man but they are well matched, morally flexible ends justify means kind of people. Their romance arc only takes off later on but it is worth the wait. A mutual understanding develops gradually between them before things get really hot and steamy. When it does, their audacious chemistry explodes in a way that sets a new bar for passionate kiss scenes going forward.

Even though the political conspiracy is not that complicated, it is well told and riveting. Xie Wei's origins are a bit too obvious early on but I enjoyed how Ning'er and Xie Wei work together to uncover the conspiracy. They are both diabolical in how they manipulate the different factions around like chess pieces. The villains are no pushovers but they are overshadowed by the force of nature that is Xie Wei and Ningér's combined dark ruthlessness. This is not an action heavy drama but all of the fight scenes were well shot. I particularly enjoyed the vicious ferocity and absolute glee with which Yan Lin cuts through a melee. I hope this fight maniac Zhou Junwei's small indiscretion does not stand in the way of future roles in action intensive wuxias. Outside of one unnecessary and infuriatingly gratuitous death, the drama ends on a strong note after a bloody, intense and thrilling showdown.

While I enjoyed this drama immensely, the storytelling left me vaguely dissatisfied; as if I only watched the cliff note version of a story that had a lot more depth, nuance and substance than the drama managed to convey. This director is not great at knowing which plot arcs to give more weight to and has an unfortunate predilection for over-bright spot lights and spinning cameras. The production values are mediocre at best. This is a story that had so much potential it deserved to be in the hands of a better director and a better budget. I still rate this a highly reccomended 8.5/10.0.

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Completed
Mouse
61 people found this review helpful
by nick
Feb 3, 2025
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

brilliant

Mouse is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the dark recesses of human nature, exploring the chilling concept of whether criminals are born or made. The series revolves around a rookie cop who finds himself coming face to face with a mysterious serial killer. As the investigation unfolds, Mouse keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, blurring the lines between right and wrong while exploring the moral complexities of justice and accountability. With its intricate plot twists, compelling characters, and chilling suspense, Mouse is a standout in the thriller genre, leaving viewers questioning the very nature of humanity.This drama is criminally underrated; it is very rare to see such an elaborate plot that is put together so well. This was an emotional rollercoaster and will absolutely keep you on the edge of your seat every episode. The plot twists and misdirections will keep you guessing till the very end... Highly recommend to those who are looking for a suspenseful and exhilarating series.

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