The acting... OMG!! The cast was amazing but the acting was more than I expected of a movie like this. Night is like my new bias. I also love the subtle hints of vampirism that they used with Night like the Dracula haircut and the red eyes which signifies eye dryness (they are not human) or exposure to too much sunlight. Wine was so creepy and psycho it was scary how good he was.
The music was amazing. I really want the soundtrack. One minute there was beautiful, opera-like music and then 5 minutes later, it was eerie, dark and creepy music that made the atmosphere which is what music in movies is supposed to do.
I recommend this SO MUCH if you like vampires, revenge, psychotic behavior, and amnesia in the story (it has it all!). I certainly will watch it in the future when I remember it as being an mind-blowing movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
54 people found this review helpful
But if you're looking for a thought provoking drama where you can spend half the time guessing whom the murderer is, and the rest of the time studying the abilities of the human mind; then this is the one for you.
This drama is based on the question "Are monsters born or made?" and focuses on the psychologic part the story. Now before you back away (I know I usually back farfar away from movies that have a psychologic theme) this one is really worth the watch!
There were frustrating parts and questions that weren't fully answered. I also wish that there had been more shown about each characters background. I rated the rewatch value low only because of the fact that once you have watched it, you will already know how it will end and who the murderer is.
Over all, a very interesting and thought provoking story that pulls you in and allows you to ponder about one of life's greatest questions; "Are monsters born or made?"
Was this review helpful to you?
Not like other romance dramas...MUST WATCH
Holy shit the amount of plot twists!! I thought that this would be a super fluffy and light hearted romance drama between the actual person behind the “virtual idol” and our FL but that’s not the case at all. The story is very different from the current Chinese romance dramas and I’m so glad that I started this! Super interesting with lots of twists and extremely addicting once you get started...10/10 recommend please watch if you aren’t sure whether you want to watch or not!I mainly started watching this because of R1SE He Luo Luo. I also have seen Dai Lu Wa in “The Plough Department of Song Dynasty” and “Please Classmate” so I was really interested in seeing the two together.
I think that people should really give this show a chance if you like romance with a hint of action and comedy. The story may seem serious at times but it’s also packed with comedic scenes so the antagonists aren’t necessarily super evil (like you can’t take them seriously all the time).
Was this review helpful to you?
Story
Welcome to the ugly side of the business and enterprise world. The drama talks strictly about the ways CEOs and company presidents try to multiply their revenue, manipulating each other, using and abusing their power and money in order to achieve their goals.
In its core the drama wants to express how in such power games there are no friends, presidents are ready to form alliances to destroy their opponents and then turn their back on their “friends” to become the winners. It is a constant, never-ending battle for power filled with dirty scheming and despicable plotting. Therefore the drama ends up being quite unfulfilling and frustrating as it makes us feel like it goes nowhere.
Night Light focuses on a female ceo who wants to become the richest woman in Korea destroying her opponents, having no friends, using and throwing away people in order to accomplish her ambitious goal.
The drama does not offer any comic relief, no side stories, no romance at all, no sad backstory, nothing. It is firm and brutal staying in the same strict line of corporations.
Best thing I could mention about the drama was the constant turning of tables, the winner never stays the winner for more than 1-2 episodes while the alliances between the power people changed all the time depending on their interests.
My favourite thing however was easily the amazing underlying chemistry of Lee Yo Won and Uee in their roles. Usually in kdramas the female leads are enemies or frenemies at best. Here on the other hand, the chemistry was off the charts and the relationship was a lot more fluid which made the drama very interesting and kept me going. Moreover, i feel inclined to mention the incredible clothes fashion by the main cast that was a pleasure to watch as well as the spotless background music instrumentals that made most of the drama pretty atmospheric.
At this point i feel inclined to talk about the girl power in the drama. The drama is all about female empowerment. We get a female lead who is vicious and strong beyond imagination. Saying something sophisticated and memorable whenever she opened her mouth, slaying men, scheming and plotting, destroying them in their own game. If this isn't stimulating and exhilarating in a sea of weak female characters in kdramaland, i don't know what is!
The first half of the drama was more interesting for me as there was some background story and the relationship between the main characters was quite intriguing as well as the drama talked about relatable stuff like the importance of money. That being said, the second half of the drama focused almost completely in the subtle battles between the companies and that in combination with the characters being completely difficult to empathize with and the situations being thoroughly unrelatable made the drama very difficult to keep up with and rather boring.
Acting
I read quite some viewers had issues with the acting, but I beg to differ.
I could easily say that acting is the best part of the drama mainly because of Lee Yo Won. Her naturally cold aura fitted perfectly with her strong, cold-blooded and ruthless character. I was utterly impressed by her performance from start to finish. Best and most vicious character I’ve seen in a kdrama and best portrayal of such character!
Uee has a lot of haters but I think her acting was equally as good in a very sweet but determined character. She stood well next to Lee Yo Won and in a very weird but beautiful way they complemented each other. It was a blast seeing them on screen together hope they can work together again.
Jin Goo’s character was rather weak and a pushover. I think he didn’t suit the character well at all, it was almost annoying seeing him act but I can’t say his acting was bad per-se, he just wasn’t a good choice I think.
Recommend/Rewatch
The drama is difficult and not for everyone. If you want romance, melodrama, comedy or anything usually found in kdramaland, this is not for you. This is strictly a business drama only for lovers of the backstabbing and the fluidity of such situations which is the beauty of them. I will never rewatch this.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A bit weird and edgy, yet refreshingly and unashamedly honest about what love life also is like
"LTNS" (Long Time No Sex) starts off where other series usually end. TVING doesn't care about age ratings. “LTNS” is unusually explicit for a KDrama. At the same time, “LTNS” presents itself as a pitch-black comedy with venomously satirical overtones. Be prepared for an edgy series that is refreshingly and unashamedly honest about what love life also is like...If desire in a relationship has been turned off over time by habit and everyday worries while instead alienation and disinterest are creeping in... what should you do? The protagonists unexpectedly find an almost absurd option to bring some excitement and “we”-time back into their relationship. With detective zeal, they set out to blackmail those in whom the fire of (actually forbidden) desire still burns happily... and in doing so, they thus try to create a (almost criminal) virtue out of their own need, so to speak.
"LTNS" has fun with scenes that convey uninhibited sexuality one moment, but are completely unerotically thwarted the next. It is somehow down to earth in a most peculiar way. Bedroom stories are being told here that we haven´t been waiting for. All of a sudden such a certain mood for certain hours is eventually collapsing like a house of cards due to a mishap or unexpected incident... A "Bravo!" in this context to the actors, too!
“LTNS” promises a special kind of bizarre, weird series delight with plenty of potshots at the mendacity concerning certain facades of a solid and sincere love life and family life that are usually and preferably presented to the outside world.
Was this review helpful to you?
As viewers are often reminded by the stylish introduction to each episode, Detective Ishikawa Ango walks the “border” between life and death. A mistake on the job lands him with a bullet lodged in his brain and a difficult decision to make: have surgery or leave it? BORDER begins when Ishikawa puts off the decision and returns to work. Each episode covers a different case, complete with a unique death and its matching ghost. Our hero interacts with the spirits and lines up what they have to say with the facts; oftentimes, the victim is even able to tell him who has done what. Though one might worry this takes away from the mystery, enough twists and turns are thrown in to keep things interesting.
Like with most procedurals, not all crimes are created equal. Some episodes are stronger than others, with the most uneven occurring smack dab in the middle. I did like that not every victim was likable or even a particularly good person; it allowed the story to go in different directions than expected. There was also a double-meaning in the word “border,” which factors in as added complexity to the theme.
BORDER struggles most because of its predilection for exposition. Even at the start, we zip right through the “how” of Ishikawa’s powers came to be. Only a few moments pass before he’s tossed into his first case. Case denouements come across as spoon-feeding at times, or like a snippet from a script outline. A good example can be seen in an entire character: our female coroner. She is described rather than developed, tending to speak in sentences full of exposition. When the narrative stands on its own legs with a bit more subtlety (as in the seventh case) this drama watches much better. Plus, the ending simply screams for a sequel which might be good or bad depending on the viewer.
Perhaps the greatest strength of BORDER rests in its solid atmosphere. Cold colors and dark lighting work to build a flawless mood which goes unshaken for the duration of the series. Famous composer Kawai Kenji lends his talents to the soundtrack, resulting in many instances of eeriness and memorability. There are few vocals as expected, but what we get is great (such as the theme evils fall by MAN WITH A MISSION). I particularly enjoyed the creepy choral theme which plays from time to time. However, the scope of music is a touch limited—it might get repetitive for some viewers.
Unfortunately, few cast members are of note. We have Oguri Shun who is gripping as Ishikawa, despite how stoic and lifeless the character ought to be. In one early scene, the character describes his life as waiting for the next big case—with little else worth mentioning. As time goes on and Ishikawa develops more, this talented actor gets more room to stretch his wings. He is particularly impressive in the last few episodes, where more range is necessary. The other performances are forgettable, with the exception of certain guest stars and those strange little hackers (Nomaguchi Toru and Hamano Kenta).
Was this review helpful to you?
Fluffy Illogical Romance with a Cheesy and Adorable CP
The Legend of Jinyan is a lighthearted, fluffy historical romcom, with lots of sweet scenes between the main couple (CP), and a lower focus on plot and political scheming. Most criticisms generally focus towards the characters in the show, especially Kabby Hui’s acting as the FL and Chen Jingke’s portrayal of the ML. I admit both have A LOT of romantic scenes together, and so if you do not like them as characters, I would NOT recommend this as a series that you would enjoy. There are also a lot of logical issues with the story and characters, and the series is full of extended misunderstandings. However, this drama suited a lot of my own personal tastes, and so if you want something that is completely focused on romance, is an easy watch, and has a CP with lots of chemistry, then this might be something you are interested in!I'd highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
♡ A Bickering Couple that is Stupidly Cute Together: Jinyan and Xiao Yu are so adorable together. They have a couple dynamic where on the outside they constantly argue, but on the inside they are both always looking out and caring for each other. They are both childish and naive in love, but also are incredibly loyal to one another, despite the fact that they are hiding their true identities. Considering this is one of Chen Jingke’s first ML roles, he did a great job portraying a young king who could sometimes be temperamental and easily angered, but also cared about his people and treasures Jinyan deeply. Kabby Hui was adorable as Jinyan, who is stubborn and often gets herself in trouble, but is willing to work hard and even sacrifice her own safety to protect King Yu and her own family.
♡ Fluff Everywhere: The best thing about this show for those of you who love romance is that literally every episode has at least 75% of scenes completely focused on the main couple. This isn’t a drama that is heavy on the plot with only sprinklings of romance — instead, it reverses this, and there are so many adorable moments between our main couple that will definitely make you satisfied. Their relationship development is also very well done, especially from being attracted to each other as strangers, to slowly relying on and learning more about love through each other. Kabby Hui and Chen Jingke also have so much chemistry together, and you will not be disappointed by how passionate their kiss scenes are!
♡ Loveable and Endearing Side Cast: I absolutely loved so many of the side characters, from the eunuchs to even one of King Yu’s consorts who supported the main CP. While many of them did not receive as much screen time, they often played important roles in the drama, from helping the main CP grow closer, to caring about the main characters when they were frustrated or going through struggles. Props to Zhou Yiran, who did an amazing job as King Yu's right-hand man Zhong Li. The brotherhood between him and Xiao Yu played an important role in the drama, and I loved how the drama emphasizes how the side characters contribute to the character development of the lead cast.
♡ Relatively Good Pacing and No Draggy Scenes: I barely skipped anything in the drama, because of how I think pacing was quite well done. Again, this drama has a lot of romance, which is what always kept me watching. I never tired from seeing all of the "sugar" between the main CP. I also liked the way that there is some but not too much politics interspersed in the series, with the main conflict involving the battle for power between the two brothers, King Yu and Xiao Qi. I think I also liked how the “Evil Second Lead Female” is Wen Suyu, who actually is in love with Xiao Qi and not King Yu instead, which makes the overall drama a bit less predictable.
♡ Beautiful Production Value: While this is a lower-budget drama, I think the backgrounds and the pastel colouring was beautiful. The costumes and outfits were very nice, and the OST (especially the title track) is amazing. I think some of the most memorable scenes were very beautifully shot, and I really liked the cinematography of this drama. Many of the symbols, from the cherry blossoms to the wine cellar, were very nicely portrayed, and even though this show did not have a high budget it is clear that the sets were very well done.
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
♥ Acting Issues and Directing Choices: There is a lot of overacting, especially in trying to be “cute,” by Kabby Hui, which is ironic considering how adorable her appearance already is. In many ways, I think viewers may have been less harsh on her acting if the production team had chosen to tone down her expressions. Many have dropped the show solely because of the FL, and I think going into this show with low expectations will help. I also emphasize that while there are many situations in which Jinyan gets into trouble and King Yu rescues her, she also helps King Yu to grow and balances his personal limitations. Jinyan protects the ML and sometimes even solves the ML’s interpersonal problems and relationships. Her best qualities are her efforts and the way she tries to help the people around her, even if sometimes she may stumble or she may get into trouble for doing so. If you can sit through some of the acting, then I think deep down Jinyan’s characterization is in fact quite brave, and she takes a lot of agency for the things that she does.
♥ Lack of Plot: This is not a drama that is focused on political schemes, and it is not a political thriller or an intricate plot where you have multiple people trying to take down the main CP. Most of the plot gets addressed in the last 8 episodes, with much of it crammed into the last 5. Ironically, I found the ending to be much less sweeter compared to all of the cute scenes that we had in the rest of the drama. That just goes to show how this is really a drama that's primarily for the romance, so if you’re looking for something with depth and political background, this is not a good pick. If you want something that is light on the plot, and you are invested in the main CP, then this might be something you are interested in.
♥ You Must Like the Main CP to Enjoy This Show: Because this show is so dominated by the romance, if you don’t like either one of the characters in the CP, or if you don’t like the actors, then you will likely have a hard time watching this. Most of the enjoyment of this series is really in the chemistry between the CP, and the many heart-melting scenes between both of them.
This was my crack drama of 2020, because of just how fluffy, adorable, unrealistic, cheesy, and sweet that this series was. If there is any drama that could literally give you diabetes, or a drama that is made for us "single dogs," I would definitely say that this is it. I absolutely loved the precious romance between the main CP, and how enjoyable and easy to watch that this drama was. While not all elements of the show may work for all watchers, if you're into a niche for something light and sweet, then I would highly recommend you give this show a try!
Was this review helpful to you?
Incredibly Fantastic ! EMOTIONAL, EVOCATIVE and POIGNANTE !!!
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MOVIE OF 2024 !!!My Name Is Loh Kiwan is an emotional rollercoaster romantic thriller that takes you on a thrill-filled journey in Belgium. The story runs smoothly from sadness to action-romance-beyond realism the harsh reality of refugees. The plot is well-paced, with the main characters developing progressively the dark tone of rom element keeps the audience entertained. Every one character's actions are legitimate and dependable on eachother, running with Loh Kiwan and Marie story, it represents story between Father-daughter, Mother-son. My Name is Loh Kiwan carries a wide range of all genres that can be really liked by anyone ( watchers). The cast of every character truly symbolizes their specific roles, delivering how the characters feel to life. Loh Kiwan triggers an indication on other cinematic brilliant works of the Korean film industry.
[ 10/10 !!!! ]
Outstanding Soundtrack, top quality Cinematography (Loh Kiwan Close-up shots are good) Visually amazing every scene by setting dark tone; the film displays beautiful atmospheres that reflect each character's existential experience.
[ SONG JOONG-KI ]
Song Joong-ki's physical appearance conversion, and emotionally charged makeover are certainly the film's standout paths. His physical appearance is the centerpiece that allows ourselves to emotionally. engage with the story in a deeper way. He again shown the versatility of his acting with this movie. Giving a chance to Debute director is really a good challenge. He took the challenge and deleveried his acting in new way proficiently. Song Joong-ki as Kiwan has won the hearts of the audience. His versatility is beyond words and after you’ve seen his other projects, it is proved how easily he molds himself as per the requirements of his role.
[ LEAD ACTORS ]
Loh Ki-wan's transformation from at risk to strength is prominent, while Marie's struggles with addictions and issues with her family throw depth to her character. Their on-screen chemistry surpasses geographical boundaries, and their love story narrates overwhelming feeling of mutual suffering and redemption that connects to watchers. As i expected the climax made me cry, especially Choi Sung Eun acting like suffering from outside circumstances and dealing with her own emotions Loh Kiwan feelings will make everyone emotional. And Song Joong-ki classic in climax leave good impression on his character development.
[ DIRECTION - WRITTING ]
Debute movie of Director Kim Hee-jin, she utilised her cast perfectly within the small looking big story, i really appreciate her work of Loh Kiwan, because it's her first movie and cast like Song Joong-ki Choi Sung Eun so I doubted there's a some pressure on her but after watching the movie I understand I was worng.
She carried masterfully every scene. Although it's an adaptation the movie writer brilliantly delivered the script with heart touching lines. Loh Kiwan standout with unique mix of traditional story telling with amazing scenes that make you enjoy and emotional feel in every moment.The performances of supporting actors such as Lee Sang-hee, Kim Sung-ryeong, and Cho Han-chul are also excellent.
[ Finally ]
South Korean Film makers never fail to deliver a movie from Intense battles to emotional tales, and western entertainment media appreciate Korean Film Makers as " South Korea is a goldmine of original ideas and storytelling talents ". And we can saw it from Loh Kiwan.
Definitely one of the most memorable films I've seen. This movie may inspire, sometimes horrify, or send you into an existential crisis, but it will make you think about something new by the time you finish it. Despite its dark underlying themes, the film ultimately delivers an appealing message of hope and endurance, leaving viewers with a sense of satisfaction and emotional ride..
brought by -- Shinnosuke_Lee
Was this review helpful to you?
================
Episode 1 shows that one can not judge a person not unless you have walked in his/her shoes. And this specific episode, took it in the literal sense which made them both appreciate the sacrifices they had to make just for the other.
Episode 2 shows that you should not wait for a potential rival to profess your love to someone. If you feel it, say it, show it and be true to what you feel.
Episode 3 shows that it is not good to test your partner specially if you are not ready to accept the result or you might regret it.
Episode 4 shows that being "in" a relationship is not always enough. You need to spend time together, experience things together and do not take your partner for granted.
Episode 5 solidifies the concept of if it is meant to be, it will happen and will end up together. To stop worrying and be with the person you hold close to your heart every waking moment because who knows, you might wake up without your partner by your side.
It is nice for GMMTV's approach about this special. They made it in a way that it is can stand alone with little reference to the series where their respective relationship started for Episode 1-4. And I am not really surprise that they did an extensive flashback on Episode 5. After all, among the 5 series here, it is SOTUS that is most successful, beloved and widely recognize.
However, for episodes 1-4, one can appreciate the story even more if they have watched what each couple went through. What they went through and it feels that their pairing will end in this. For episode 5, it was a clever move so viewers who like to rewatch SOTUS, or watch it for the first time. I know it moved me to watch it again. GMMTV made it in a way to tease the viewer.
I have this sense of accomplishment, a closure if I may say so, as far as their respective relationships is concern and it is hard to see if it is going to anything else other than how each episode ended. What I am trying to say, it is the end of the road for their relationships as it ended happily. Except of course for Pete and Kao as they will renew their respective roles in Dark Blue Kiss.
ACTING
================
Episode 1:
Off - I have always seen him as the goofy not serious, the clown of the gang. So when he played the role as Rome, it was nothing short of my expectations. He transitioned quite seamlessly.
Gun - I must admit, Gun have his work cut out for him. Knowing in the series I have seen him, Puppy Honey and The Gifted, I see him as the serious type guy and taking on a role as Pick will be hard for him as it demands to be more relaxed, not up-tight, joyful and full of confidence. In his episode, I felt that there was some instances that he needs to loosen up a bit but did not quite fulfill my expectations.
Episode 2:
Chimon - Seen how he improved his acting from My Dear Loser to The Gifted, which is the opposite ends of the spectrum. As Sun, he is the reserved, shy, ever polite kid, weak and vulnerable. And as Wave, he is the determined, confident and projects an antagonist aura quite well. And his role as the young Pana in Happy Birthday, which I see him as the loyal friend where you could actually seem him happy. I knew then that he is a versatile actor that can take any role that is given to him. He played Sun in this special with confidence, stares at In is believeable, retains his sweet and vulnerability and his happy smile is quite genuine too.
Pluem - Started as In in My Dear Loser, one can easily see that he can be bossy and the next, a defender of the weak. Playing as Tonmai in Happy Birthday, I saw him cries quite well too as it shows that he can be vulnerable. As he reprise his role in this special, the character needs to be with a degree of assertiveness and at the same time scared. Nothing to say other than praises for his acting here.
Episode 3:
Frank - The biggest improvement among the 10 main characters here as he was able to show that he is more relaxed, can respond appropriately, receptive of Frank's sweetness. Unlike in My Tee/Cause Your My Boy, you can clearly see him thinking what to say or act next; not to mention when Frank kisses him, it was a stiff reaction for me.
Drake - I have always seen this guy as the bold/daring one. A big transition from his role in Slam Dance to My Tee/Cause Your My Boy. In this special he is more affectionate towards Frank and more natural and not forced.
I could see these two to be in a Romantic-Comedy theme series. And they can definitely pull it off.
Episode 4:
New - In all the series I watched with him in it (SOTUS, Water Boyy the series and Kiss Me Again), you can tell that he is good being as the underdog, can be easily boss around, unsure of himself. Meanwhile, as he renew his role as Kao, you can see him as the puppet master, pulling the strings, bossing Pete around is nothing but extraordinary. Beyond that innocent and sweet face, he was able to project that role quite amazingly.
Tay - who said a boss can't be a follower? Tay showed his vulnerability side in the episode. Like a dog following his master, or should I say, the love of his life. And was able to showcase more of his playful side and not just the up-tight guy.
Episode 5:
This is the episode where I expect for Singto and Krist to be consistent with their acting. And they are! Plus, I see Krist being more comfortable with Singto and his affection towards Singto is much more natural. And did I say he cried better?
SONG
================
Two songs... First Kiss from Episode 3 and the flashback in Episode 5. Brings back memories! Unfortunately for Ep 1, 2 and 4, there is no song that stood out for me.
REWATCH VALUE
================
If you miss the sweetness of one of the couples, you would actually re-watch this. But I have this lingering feeling that only Tee and Mork would have a future series, after all, My Tee/Cause Your My Boy was excellent at the beginning but somehow loses it direction in the middle.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Strong Start But Then Became A Downhill Runaway Train
This series had a ton of potential. A show about a psychologist counseling patients with various problems and in depth look at just how each session progressed. Her own life and the life of her friends, family, and romantic interest as well the antagonist were all very strongly introduced. Each main plot and subplot were going well until about episode 29, around that time this smooth moving train lost its conductor and started to go downhill at top speed.The subplots started to obscure the main plot, the characters behavior didn't align with what they had previously done and many useless characters were brought in without a proper explanation to cause trouble only to completely vanish later in the same way they appeared. Or scenes that were shown in opening and closing credits, never actually happened. The guess is that after the first review and cut in episodes, the editing was done extremely poorly.
The main antagonist aka el creepo or YJH was forgiven or given a slap on the wrist judgment for really horrendous things. His character development was a constant tug of war between evil and some version of good. Though he was hell bent on revenge, it seemed his revenge was aimed at the wrong people and totally misguided by his adoptive father who was the real criminal in the entire plot.
The mega scandal promised in the synopsis that would evoke HD's sleep walking problem; didn't and wasn't that huge. It was also left for the final 11 episodes to sort out. HD's father was thrown into the mix and neither that relationship nor problem was solved in the end. Many of these main plots were left hanging. I'm all for a cliffhanger as I've written my share of them, but you need to tie some of the loose ends up and leave just one hanging to really grab the audience, not 36 of them. Which could speak to a season 2 but considering how poorly written and executed the second half of the drama was, do people really want to see season 2? And will season 2 have the same cast because a whole new cast would make this a disaster. Plus c-ent has a tendency to do sequels up to 5 years after the fact and at that point everyone has lost interest.
Lilli's change in men was like a whiplash, because from rich, snotty, and "cute", in a span of one full episode she fell for an average Joe cop. It was as if, the writers really had no time to develop Lilli's evolution as a woman and wrote the polar opposite of what she fell for before like an epiphany of sorts and hoped the viewers wouldn't notice.
Instead of properly closing out this series, the writers threw in another couple for HD to help cure in 2 episodes. And the ending went from el creepo crying over his mom after she tried to kill herself, to an ambulance, to suddenly out of nowhere a monologue of HD talking about her work and the patients she's helped. The last episode honestly looked like it belonged to a completely different show. There were so many inconsistencies and inaccuracies, towards the end that I'm sure I missed explaining a lot here.
I commend all of the actors on their terrific acting but only that and the OSTs were what remained of a really great and strong show at the beginning. I was very much looking forward to this series and I'm really disappointed. Would I recommend? Depends. It certainly has its strong beginning, but a very weak and inconsistent second half and ending. Judge for yourselves if you choose to.
Was this review helpful to you?
2) Storyline/Plot : This drama has the closest adaptation of the manga; it followed it literally without much change. It was faithful which made it enjoyable.
3) Acting/Cast : Like I said before this was my first Tw-drama so back then I wasn't familiar with the cast but i loved the acting plus supporting roles were extremly awesome along with all the side stories.
4) Music : I don't actually remember the music clearly but I think it was nice.
5) Rewatch value : one of the fewest dramas that I check out sometimes. If you do rewatch dramas you will definitely rewatch this.
6) The ending : It was extremly good the kind that everyone wants to see while watching a drama but I wouldn't consider it an "End" since there's a second season.
7) Overall : I am so not into chinese languages but while watching this drama I totally forgot my dislike and focused on the story.
Basically, if you're Itazura na kiss's fan you must watch this.
Was this review helpful to you?
Story: Beware; some of the synopses around the internet are a bit off from what the drama is really about. The plot is developed pretty well (although there are a few holes, here and there). The plot is intricate, and at some points left me 2nd guessing what I would predict would happen (I like that because it means it doesn’t FOLLOW the basic C-Drama line). Anyways, just be prepared for plot twists.
Acting/Cast: I don’t speak Chinese, so I cannot comment on whether I think their speaking is on point. However, I feel most of the acting was genuine and sincere. I cried with some of the characters, and smiled at all the lovey dovey scenes. The kissing on this drama is pretttttty “MEH.” The drama was well cast and everyone seemed to have harmony. I like supporting roles and support love lines. I also liked how badass all the female characters were! Not all of them were weak women that needed “saving.” Even Feng Huang, no martial arts skills, was pretty badass and so strong of a character that Lei Jing Hong got his sh*t together! I also wanted to note that Dilraba and Vin Zhang's acting has gotten so much better than the King's Woman!
Music: Very catchy theme songs and especially the ending theme song. The ending song is sung by Dilraba. It sounds so nice to the ears, I would download it if I could.
Rewatch Value: I’d definitely add this to watch again list. I think it’s a pretty overall great drama. Cinematography is great, the landscape and scenes are beautiful. I liked the courtyards in Liehuo Manor. I.e. Maple had all the maple trees, Plum courtyard had all the plum blossoms, etc.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This series is everything I ever wanted to see and so much more..
Bad buddy as the title goes it's about two individuals not exactly buddies but well they were kind of buddies in high school just that they didn't actually put a label on it. So anyway two buddies separated for three damn years, due to the rivalry between their parents, cross each others path yet again in university and that's where everything begins. It might seem like those dramas of typical high school setting at first but honestly it isn't. It is much more than that and better in every way."From two people who shouldn't be friends to two people who cannot be just friends anymore." trope done right. It's a basic plot done so right that it's too mesmerising.
And let me tell you this series is breaking stereotypes and I love it so much more for that. Especially the wife thing. They are clearly both husbands. Why use wife? This series voicing this out feels great. And them saying I don't mind the gender instead of I only like him. Now that's how it should be voiced out. Being gay, lesbian, bi, pan, trans isn't wrong. Some series overusing the sentence 'I only like him' low-key tells how they disgust the idea of loving men being men. But well bad buddy broke that stereotype too.
In the begining of the series many complained that the fights were not realistic but no, it's realistic. As someone who has been a witness to such petty gang fights, I know it happens. The whole university might not be aware of it but those who are aware pretty much know how those fights are and sometimes even how childish the reasons for the fights are especially in such an age group. So it's not exaggerating.
The series is everything I ever wanted to see and so much more. It just keeps getting better and better and the actors make it so much more better. Pat and Pran have the best chemistry out there.
This series makes my heart leap up with joy and then again it does not fail to inflict my heart with stinging pain. Definitely recommending this series.
Was this review helpful to you?
I like this drama.I laughed a lot and cried.I don't like long dramas,but now I would welcome even more episodes.
Nuan Nuan and Han Che was completely in tune.I like their emotional scenes.
Even the songs would be absolutely great.Even the music itself gave the scenes an atmosphere.
The second couple also had chemistry between them. Well-crafted drama.There weren't annoying scenes for which you were set up and you want to skip them to the part that interests you.The story shows when you want something. Go for it!As you hesitate, you don't have to get another chance.
I will definitely look at the drama again?
Was this review helpful to you?
The story provides a refreshing and heartwarming story about family, love, hardship, and a promise. The story telling of the film is set a pace that causes little confusion, if the the viewer has read the synopsis prior to watching. The opening narrative prepares the audience for what is to come and meaning behind the narrative does not fade through the film. Despite, the beginning setting the film provides light humor through the film where the audience would not be expecting. The ending of the film will leave the audience feeling satisfied and not disappointed as the are no loose ends. The choice of cast, So Ji Sub and Son Ye Jin, were great. The visuals and quality of acting both actors provided were well suited for their roles. Furthermore, their younger counterparts, Lee Yoo Jin and Kim Hyun Soo, provided admirable skills. The overall use of music throughout the film highlighted the message and importance behind each scene. In conjunction with the cinematography employed allowed an engaging and enjoyable viewing experience for the audience.
As previously stated, based on the delivery and cinematography this re-adaption of "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" exceeds the quality of the Japanese film. I personally highly recommend to watch this film in its entirety, as the delivery of the story is well carried out and has little to none loose ends - leaving the audience with a lingering feeling. Although, you will foresee what is to come re-watching this film a second time will provide a more in-depth understanding between each interaction.
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Japanese Dorama Club11 minutes ago -
BL Drama Lovers Club16 minutes ago -
Role Reversal (RR) Drama Lovers Club56 minutes ago -
Hallo, I'm Chase! :31 hour ago -
"Refollowing" someone?1 hour ago
