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Fortune favors the bold.
Flourished Peony 国色芳华 is the first part of a sweeping two part story about a woman's quest to restore her mother's legacy and control her own destiny. It is set during China's cultural golden age when peonies were sought after as the "Queen of Flowers", a symbol of beauty and prosperity. He Weifang or Mudan (Peony) is a merchant's daughter with a rare talent for cultivating exquisite peonies. She is exploited by her grasping in-laws who have designs on her dowry and disdained by her husband Liu Chang, who pines for a county princess. She intrigues corrupt Flower Envoy Jiang Changyang when he overhears her wickedly praying her husband be plagued with piles, baldness, unfaithful concubines and bomb out in the imperial exams. Amused and empathetic, he helps her end her loveless marriage and finances her business ventures. Cheering her on from the sidelines, he lends the rare helping hand when she is in over her head. She gets him out of a tight spot and an unspoken trust, friendship and romance flowers between them.Mudan’s journey—from a submissive daughter-in-law to an independent businesswoman—unfolds amidst feudal Tang society, where class divisions, filial piety, and arranged marriages were societal constraints on both men and women. While the narrative highlights the systematic nature of women's subjugation and their lack of legal rights and agency, it is framed in the context of a feudal society where no one truly has free will. Thus, a promising scholar from an official family cannot hope to marry a county princess, a county princess can no more choose her husband than a merchant's daughter, and even an insouciant Flower Envoy must entertain a union not of his choosing. I really appreciate this kind of social commentary that is sharp, yet balanced and contextual.
Mudan has fantastic business instincts and is a confident, persuasive, and a savvy risk-taker that dares to seize the moment.She is ahead of her time and champions modern values in terms of women's rights and roles. While the obstacles women faced are realistically depicted, fortune favors the bold and Mudan overcomes them confidently and resourcefully. This kind of too capable, superwoman character would be suffocating and alienating if Mudan's resourcefulness and confidence were not also flaws that drive the plot. Anyone else would keep a low profile upon learning that Liu Chang and his dreadful parents are in Chang'an. Not Mudan!. With a misplaced sense of invincibility, she glories in her success and growing reputation, inevitably bringing herself to the vengful Lius and the jealous Youzhen's attention. Fear not, her plot armor is so thick that some poor patsy inevitably pops up just in time run into the white truck of doom for her! Thus she never truly suffers the consequences of her miscalculations and over-confidence.
Even though Sheng Yi's arc could have been tighter, her story is moving, realistic and compellingly portrayed. She is the most miserable and oppressed character in this story as a result of both her low status, her gender and her upbringing. Even though her actions are controversial and frustrating, I empathised with and rooted for her the whole way. Unlike Mudan, Sheng Yi is a product of her times; it is natural for her goals to be aligned with prevailing social norms. Whereas Mudan's modern values and opinions don't quite fit with the ancient Tang society. Sheng Yi makes a passionate case that not every woman wants or needs to be Mudan. Sadly, Mudan cannot fathom how given a chance to be free, a woman would choose to cling to traditional roles. Her tone deaf conversation with Sheng Yi where they both talk past each other highlights how two people can care deeply for each other without understanding one another. This is one of Mudan's blind spots as learning nothing from Sheng Yi, she blithely steamrollers Lv Gengchun into turning her medical practice into a for profit business.
This storyline unfolds at a slow pace that is barely noticeable as the atmospheric set and costumes, the rich dialogue and the tension between the deep and complex characters is immersive. Even though many plot arcs are quite cliche, the characters are captivatingly written, with flaws that can lead to significant setbacks and/or their downfalls. Both Liu Chang and Youzhen are insufferably arrogant characters who go to extreme lengths to get what they want only to learn they don't want what they get. Wei Zheming is persuasive as Liu Chang, an erudite but weak character who genuinely believes himself to be a better man than her really is. While the antagonists are smart or powerful enough to pose a credible threat, they spiral downhill into cliched obsessive archetypes for the convenience of the plot or to elevate Mudan or Changyang. But their stories are not over and there could be a reversal in the second part of the story that delivers a more nuanced and complex antagonist than what we have seen so far.
As someone who is no fan of romance, I find the delightful slow-burn connection between Mudan and Changyang to be the highlight of the drama. Unlike too many other stories that rush into love, this relationship develops organically and leisurely. The chemistry between Yang Zi and Li Xian is palpable and their bond feels deep, mature and authentic. They are both consummate actors that skilfully convey how their characters are savoring that delicious, giddy moment where they know they will be lovers but they are in no hurry to take that next step. Instead they are just basking in the strong foundation of their mutual trust and friendship while anticipating the passion that lies ahead. I love how Yang Zi has disappeared into this role and is not just Yang Zi being Yang Zi. And it has been too long since I have seen Li Xian's crooked smile and how he effortlessly conveys that there a lot more to Jiang Changyang than what meets the eye with just a few subtle expressions. I can't wait for the second part, which should reveal more of our enigmatic Flower Envoys and take his relationship with Mudan from confidantes to lovers.
The first part of the story ends somewhat anti-climatically with Mudan almost too effortlessly accomplishing what she sets out to do and with many sub-plots left open. The profound social insight, engaging storytelling and fantastic acting papers over some of the more predictable sub-plots. Unlike most empowerment dramas, it avoids separating the male and female lead but still indulges in some contrived plot points just to prove that women can make it with minimal help from men. Even though Mudan and Changyang's story is unfinished, I like it well enough so far to rate it an 8.5/10.0. If everything ties up well, my final rating for this story can be a 9.0 or even better.
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1Story : 9.0 - like i said it was a bit rushed, many people said that it was a bad ending, but in all honesty it made sense to me, the romance was exciting and I longed for more romance scenes, and that's what I got, If you're into LGBTQ movies this is definately the movie for you.
Acting/cast 9.5 - what can I say the cast was spectacular, the romance they portrayed was beautiful, no doubt! Also the support characters did a wonderful job.
Music 10 - Oh Wow! The music was beautiful I always love violin in movies and this is perfect for the atmosphere, truly no fault in any of the pieces of music.
Rewatch Value - It's a quick movie to watch again, so I'm definately going to be watching this again in my spare time.
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Remember us and all we used to be.
After One and Only stabbed me in the heart, I needed justice, I needed closure and most of all I needed to hear Shi Yi say "Zhousheng Chen, remember us and all we used to be." Theirs was such a splendid, intense love with so much passion and yearning that could not run its natural course. Sadly, after being restrained for ~5000 years, all that is unleashed are faint echoes of the past. Thus, my final impression is that what was, is never again.What this is, is a very sweet, very ordinary, reasonably touching but hardly memorable love story that is markedly lacking in intensity. It falls down hard in its failure to connect the characters of the past with the present. Aside from appearance, both Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi could be entirely different people and this an entirely different drama. Of course in the present, they will be different but there must be that je ne sais quoi, that certain aura that lingers. Even the essence of their relationship changes, in fact it regresses. Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen of the past were of one heart and mind - she gifts part of her dowry to pacify Nanxiao and accepts her marriage hoping to reassure Zixing of her Prince Nanchen's loyalty. Shi Yi of the present asks no questions, she just trusts Zhousheng Chen absolutely without understanding his family's background or his plans. And he tries to protect her without telling her anything - it is the one thing about him that bugged me in the novel and it is the one thing they should have but did not change! As such, the sense of them being soulmates that are connected on a level beyond words is not there.
Ren Jialun and Bai Lu are both very solid actors with good enough chemistry that I genuinely enjoyed the good (pink moped), bad (lame kiss) and ugly (I am ready) of their moments together. Overall I enjoyed Ren Jialun's endearing portrayal of the shy, awkward and introverted professor whose world goes from revolving around uninhabitable planets to revolving around Shi Yi. That said, there were some truly cringe moments and he often came across as having no fire in his belly, likely due to his heavy sighing and lethargic, monotonous line delivery. I must praise how even though it took awhile, they fell into a much more natural rhythm as a couple in the last quarter of the drama and I was moved by how they grieved together and consoled one another. So despite some initial hiccups, there is genuine relationship development and that aspect finishes strongly.
The main issue with this drama that it lacks both plot and engaging and complex supporting characters. Everything really revolves around the two main leads and their romance, which moves too slowly and uneventfully to really anchor the drama. Besides Uncle Lin and possibly Mei Xing, none of the supporting characters are that likeable or empathetic. Zhousheng Chen's stepmother is the only truly complex and interesting secondary character, everybody else including the villains are rather two dimensional and the two cloddish servants are downright annoying. The plot is for the most part suspended in favour of the romance before it rushes through to the end. It is also rife with somewhat melodramatic rich family tropes from greed and envy to infidelity.
If One and Only is slow burn, Forever and Ever is like watching paint dry by comparison because there is no burn. I had to entertain myself by speculating on who got reincarnated into who and looking for hidden clues and traces of the past while mourning the fact that I was not going to see Zhousheng Chen reborn as a present day sexy beast. Which begs the question: considering how tortuous One and Only was, should Forever and Ever be watched as a standalone romance? Well, without the backstory, this is just about how an absolutely gorgeous but likely slightly delusional voice dubber falls head over heels in love with a fictional ancient drama character Prince Nanchen. She throws herself at a complete stranger; a nutty, loner of a professor with the same name who is a bit slow on the uptake but eventually realises he just got very, very lucky and thus the story unfolds. If that works for you, then by all means, skip the heartache that is One and Only.
I only watched this because I was looking for Prince Nanchen and Eleven. Sadly the future is but a mere shadow of the past. But still this is a sweet, well acted love story so I am not throwing rocks at it or at the actors. Nonetheless, this sequel did not live up to its potential so I can only rate it a 7.5. I would give both dramas together a 8.0-8.5.
Postscript:
For those of you who still need closure, there is a very well fan made alternate ending ending for One and Only produced by industry professionals. I have fan subbed it and hidden it as a spoiler in the comment section of my One and Only review.
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And I couldn't deny that the best part of this drama was the acting of, and chemistry between, all the actors. Props to all cast members, including the director and staff with the beautiful sceneries and cinematography. But of course, I have to say this out loud: Jang Dongyoon and Kim Sohyun's chemistry was heckin exploding!!!! I just love them both!!!!! I was pretty much lukewarm with Kim Sohyun before, but I'm a fan now. And don't get me started with Jang Dongyoon—he's just too good to be true! Very much looking forward to their next projects, and I really really hope they do another project together. Maybe not in the near future, but hopefully someday, when they're a bit older. It's been a long time since I wanted to ship lead actors and wished for them to date in real life, but I just can't help it. These two look cute together and I am deluding myself into believing that they can't act like that if they didn't have real feelings..... or maybe they're just really good. Either way, I am fine with that! <3
OST and sound effects were great for me as well. I just wished they didn't use songs with repetitive English lines (but the "one of a kind girl" kinda grew on me eventually haha). I love the all-Korean songs, like Younha's Shine On You. I had it on repeat since it became available on Spotify. Became a feel good song for me since it reminded me of all the Nokdu-Dongjoo soft happy moments.
Rewatch value—definitely watching this again! Just until I get over my Jang Dongyoon-Kim Sohyun feels.
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"She'll thrive, and through her a family will endure."
In her 2007 novel “The Sweet Far Thing”, Libba Bray has says, “There is an ancient tribal proverb I once heard in India. It says that before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.” Indeed, our past is what holds us back from things that we wish to accomplish, but what matters is how we learn, acknowledge and grow as better human beings from it. We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the entire. There is no beauty in sadness, no honour in suffering, no growth in fear and no relief in hate; it’s just a waste of perfectly good happiness. “Pachinko” depicts all that through the saga of a family over generations."Pachinko (パチンコ)" is a Japanese gambling device resembling a pinball machine but with automatic payoff as in a gambling slot machine (merriam-webster). Pachinko parlors are widespread in Japan, and, mostly owned by Korean immigrants, and usually also feature a number of slot machines so these premises resemble and operate similarly to western casinos. Modern pachinko machines have both mechanical & digital components. As stated by the writer, Pachinko, in the show, is depicted as a metaphor to life, when it's very unfair to go ahead, but you still continue to play, because you can't turn back or give up either. Pachinko is a game of chance and survival, both figuratively and literally.
Created by Soo Hugh and co-directed by Justin Chon & Kogonada, "Pachinko (2022) is an American show from Apple TV+, adapted from the original book of the same title authored by prominent Korean-American writer Lee Min Jin, released in 2017. Co-produced by 3 companies: Media Res, A Han.Bok Dream and Blue Marble Pictures, it's a 4 year long project, that started with Apple Inc. acquiring the bid for the series in 2018. The production took 7 months for casting and all of the cast were in fact auditioned and chosen, as informe by the team. The filimng started in October 2020, and was done in different phases, at different locations, and in fact different countries (South Korea, Japan, USA and Canada), that ended in April 2021. Reportedly, the showrunner Hugh has the objective of creating 4 seasons in total, which gives us the idea that the show we just finished is apparently one-fourth of the original novel.
"Pachinko (2022)" follows the mettlesome multigenerational chronicle of a single family, in parallel, who are immigrants of Japanese invasion & colonization in Korea. Their pursuit for survival and happiness, with hopes & dreams have led them to prosper and thrive over decades though their foregone days of sufferings and scars from the past remain fresh in their hearts. The show presents stories from different timelines from 1910 to 1989.
Kim Sun Ja (later Baek Sun Ja/Bando Nobuko) is played by 3 actors: Jeon Yu-na (childhood), Kim Min Ha (teeange), Youn Yuh Jung (Old), whom the author keeps at the centre of everything that takes place throughout. Steven Noh plays Pastor Baek Yi Sak (Sun Ja's husband) while Soji Arai (Korean name: Park So Hee) is in the role of Baek Mo Se/Bando Mozasu (Sun Ja's son) and Jung In Ji takes part as Yang Jin (Sunja’s mother). Ko Han Su (Lee Min Ho) is a cold-hearted fishmonger with a dark past and plays an important fuelling factor that impacts Sunja’s life. Baek Yo Seb (Han Joon Woo) and Choi/Baek Kyung Hee (Jung Eun Chae) are brother & sister-in law of Sunja, respectively. Baek Solomon (adult: Jin Ha and young: Yoon Kyung Ho) is Sunja’s grandson from Mozasu, who is an efficient employee in a top corporate bank in New York. Etsuko (Kaho Minami) is Mozasu’s girlfriend whereas Naomi (Anna Sawai) is Solomon’s collegue.
The opening was the highlight of the TV series and definitely a favourite. While looking at the opening credits, it’s unclear whether this is a Korean, Japanese or Western drama; the main cast members gathered in a scintillating & evocatively coloured pachinko parlour as if it were a paradise, dancing to "Let's Live for Today" by The Grass Roots. This is the only time the actors from different timelines intersect, which was mainly due to Hugh’s love for opening credits.
“A child is coming. This one will thrive, I assure you. And through her, a family will endure.” : describing the birth of Sunja, the central character, this line epitomizes the pneuma of Pachinko’s premiere. In contrast to the book, which is ordered chronologically from the 1930s to the late 1980s, the filmmakers of this series made a bold change. The nonlinear construction of time in the series jumps between past and present.
“Pachinko” tells us a spellbinding story of colonialism & subcultural nationalism, war & peace, love & loss, and victory & sorrow, exclusively from a meta-historical human perspective. The historical accuracy and the detailed representation of adversities experienced by the people of Korea, due to the brutal consequences of a ruler's greed, is of immense value and definitely deserve all the noble words that exist in the world. From making aware the contemporary generation about their history to generating nostalgia & cognizance in viewers by enabling them to look back and consider the affinities between realities of different times, Pachinko does all that, if not more.
Enumeration of Sunja’s journey particularly feels nostalgic yet melancholic as it serves as a reminder of the wartime and post-war stories of 1st generation Koreans and their descendants. The nuance of these memories, however, forces us to acknowledge what they’d, in truth, gone through in the course of history and how it affects the current Zainichi Korean generation. It also shows us how resilient and strong people can be despite what life throws at them. Though the cornerstone essence of the story remains the same, adapting it into live-action demanded some changes, and these changes are brought forward from the development of the series; you can clearly experience it if you have read the book already.
In "Pachinko," the representation of Solomon goes with the complicated colonial history his grandmother navigated first-hand and the reverberations of which he continues to grapple with as an adult. This also captures his links with the Korean heritage, and both challenges and intertwines with his Japanese upbringing. Indeed, Solomon is the 2nd most focused character in the drama, for the latest time period portrays the saga of him trying his best to become a corporate slave, while his links with the foregone history of his family’s sufferings hold him back and enables him to make decisions, unsuitable for his career and his ambitions.
“Pachinko” is magnificently and aesthetically recountable, particularly while illustrating 1910s Korea. Shots filled with dusty hanboks of the Koreans and pristine uniforms of the Japanese are entirely accurate to their time period. The show is filled with panoramic landscape shots of golden grain fields, dense yet bright forests, diaphanous water bodies and inky oceans. The opaque and uncanny fish market and dark-timbered boarding house are fascinating to extents. The combination of both pitch & pale hue, with varied compelling colour palettes, provides immense pleasure to the viewers and its enormous production values which has resulted in stupefying cinematic values, can be witnessed and heartfelt, from the very beginning of the show. The camera beautifully captures the vast sea separating two countries: Korea and Japan, and their highrises, with the movements remaining easy on the eye. The meticulous set designing, development of premise and eventually bringing them to life, have paid off.
The use of sound and language is also beguiling and bewitching. The use of the comoosed sounds and themes in “Pachinko” is perhaps the most heart-felt since they possess the power that enables the viewers to connect to different time periods, accurately. Various instrumentals composed bring about the souls of the essential contexts that the author and makers have attempted to project upon the audience. Sometimes it pulls the heartstrings to levels, but for most of its parts, the background scores are caliginous, shadows, weighty and substantial.
Reportedly, Hugh also took care of the character outlooks in an effort of using beauty im order to create a timeless period piece. The extensive studies with collection of photographs and clips of the contemporary time was a great help for illustrating appropriate hairstyle and makeup; starting from looks to attires, everything was developed with sincere attention which is obviously reflected in the show.
“Pachinko” offers us a reality check on the assumption that the age of globalization may make life easier. It shows how globalization can also push us further away from our roots and ancestors. This story is truly extraordinary and unique, and one that should not be watched as a typical migration story. In “Pachinko,” identity is not defined in terms of binary codes. Each story is different, and each individual is different in spite of their shared historical experience. This has enabled Hugh to go for a standalone episode, portraying the life of Hansu, through a terrifyingly real incident. Hugh’s research also led her to the Kantō earthquake, which hit the Tokyo-Yokahama area on September 1, 1923, with the magnitude of 7.9. The impact of the disaster was massive, with a death toll of aprox. 140,000. What stimulated as a consequence, was the spread of rumours about the Korean immigrants adding to the destruction and trying to overpower Japanese, turning them to scapegoats, which led to massacres, which was unforeseen and heart-wretching. According to several unanimous reports, an estimate of 6,000 Koreans were killed as a result. Nevertheless, Lee Min Ho gives the best of his career in this and honestly it's the first time I liked his acting, he has improved, indeed.
I think I have already thrown light upon the direction and related tasks throughout, in my piece, like sound editing, cinematography, setup design as well as composing, etc. The directors Justin Chon & Kogonada have done their job with great care and their efforts are visible. The rest members of the team should also be credited their due words of appreciation. Congratulations of creating a masterpiece.
Writing the show, for Hugh, hasn’t been just about bringing the epic of the Zainichi family onto the screen, exceedingly, she has attempted to a great deal to showcase their thorough experiences & emotions in accuracy and get the facts right. Her immense research and fact-checking has also enabled her to get her script reviewed by 20 or more historians, including those specializing in Japanese history, Korean history, and colonization. Its notable that their opinions and voices were unanimous and this has surely helped to elevate the quality.
Exceptionally, in the finale, the opening credit is performed by the Korean pop Pansori (traditional) band LEENALCHI, which recreates the same song by modifying the lyrics with Hangul.
My most favourite quote from the show is:
"Even if you're scared, let's be scared together. If we do that, won't we gain some strength?"
You must look forward to the ending of the finale episode, for it shows us the interviews from several Zainichi Korean Women, currently residing in Japan and their stories of suffering, tolerance, resilience and resistance. The 5 minutes long edited clip is enough to move your heart and make you cry.
Final Remarks... Pachinko is a brilliant tribute to the resilience & forbearance of survivors from an era of oppression on small lands, that was not often discussed, previously. It is a very complex part of history which ties in with one of the best shows to have been brought to life. The grandeur of Pachinko is, in many ways and on many levels, a reminder of how time can affect our lives. It sort of redefines the standard of a story that can move millions of hearts. Pachinko is the life-altering story that should have been brought to screen much earlier. Please go ahead :)
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Strong female lead
I started this drama because i like seeing strong woman in historical dramas working hard for her position.Half the drama is exactly this. So what differs dramatically from others drama of this kind is, that the main girl is not totally good. I hate this part in most historical dramas, that the main girl always saves the bad people and don´t get justice herself. In this drama she will take her revenge and doesn´t prevent that the evil will be punished.
The other half of the drama is the love between her and the prince. Don´t let you misguide from the synopsis. The drama is full of romatic scenes between them.
The story was not really unique. Many things were like in all that other dramas i watched, but there were a few scenes that surprised me. I couldn´t stop myself and watched this drama in only a few days.
I would recommend this drama everyone who likes romance with a strong female lead that goes her own way.
If you think 59 episodes are too much, i need to say here that the runtime of each episode differs. It started with 40-45 min per episode, then it got to 30-35 min and the last few episodes were only 20 min long. It was really easy to watch this drama.
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Addicted Remake Done Right
Acting is really good from these two young actors 10/10. plot is pretty much the same as addicted but feels a bit more stretched out and we see the backstories of the characters a lot more. The pacing tbh seems much better this time around. it's getting better with every episode... wow the nostalgia.. Addicted was my first BL ever and I feel like I'm finally getting an updated complete story with lots more clean camera work and dialogue. whether this is BL or bromance I love the story and I'll keep watching.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
MDLers’ Choice Awards 2020 for Best Xianxia Romance, Actor & Action
With over 7K comments in the discussion board (setting a new MDL record at the time of writing), Love and Redemption is quite possibly the winner of MDLers’ Xianxia Romance of the year award for 2020, if ever there was such an honour bestowed by the panel of admins and as voted by MDLers themselves. And of course, our beloved Cheng Yi wins the Best Actor, Most Popular Actor and Best Kisser awards, among others I might have left out.Why is there so much passion for this show? Because L&R is a binge-worthy narcotic that induces an addiction so severe that one becomes fully dependant and invested from the very first dose. Throughout the 59 episodes, I simply could not refrain myself from “chasing after the story”, just to bear witness to the trials and tribulations experienced by our main leads (Yu Si Feng and Chu Xuan Ji aka SF and XJ) amidst much traumatic physical and mental suffering (and no little amount of blood loss, voluntary or otherwise) in the process, inflicted upon themselves and even on each other. This powerful romance truly deserves multiple awards because it is all inclusive and literally no one is left out.
As with other fans of the show, we persevere through each and every episode with the faintest glimmer of hope, and against the odds of the deeply dreaded historical C-drama curse, just to see a happily ever after ending. When a show gives you butterflies in the stomach and myriad emotions, damn it you know it’s good.
Truth be told, technically it’s not the most perfect production (then again nothing of this mortal world is perfect, except maybe Cheng Yi's acting) – there are minor flaws in directing, editing, and cinematography. But without a shadow of doubt, full marks go to the depiction of the story and portrayal of the characters. The visual effects, CGI technology employed and martial arts choreography are among the finest, if not the best, seen in a Xianxia drama for a very long time.
Story:
I did not read the original novel, “Liu Li Mei Ren Sha” by Shi Si Lang, and simply went in with a clean slate and without any expectation, demand or bias. What I ended up with was a masterpiece of storytelling. To put it simply, at the heart of this drama is a beautiful story about a love so pure and strong that it defies all odds and conquers everything that fate throws at it, just for a chance to shape its own destiny.
As is customary of this genre, we have the usual setting of the 3 realms – the Heavenly court and its entourage of Godly Emperors, Demi-Gods and Immortals; the Mortal Realm with its various sects of cultivators and loyal followers and groupies; and the Underworld realm filled with Demons, Devils and generally every other plausible kind available. Within this universe lies our unassuming SF and XJ, whose love story unfolds across the 3 realms and transcends several lifetimes, in a long and arduous journey filled with seemingly endless challenges and obstacles.
Nearly every conceivable plot element, trope and the emotional highs and lows that one could ever wish for in a fantasy is present in abundance. Full-blown action from fierce battles fought out in epic proportions in the heavens and on earth, between every imaginable species of celestial beings and affiliations, with all manner of divine weapons and cultivated powers. Many action C-dramas pale in comparison to this spectacle.
The romance is simply off the charts and has the steamiest kissing scenes in any C-dramas that I’ve seen this year. Being nearly all-inclusive, you will observe multiple relationship angles involving fabricated/ forced/ infatuation/ manipulated/ unrequited/ tragic love, whether it be romantic, familial, bromance, sismance and even BL among various characters. Normal rules of engagement no longer apply as even gender associations extend to androgyny levels in both corporeal and ethereal formats. Not many romance dramas, regardless of genres, could hold a candle to L&R.
There is no lack of focus on supporting characters as everyone is given ample room to develop and showcase their own storyline. There is enough suffering, tears, torment and blood vomit to last beyond a single lifetime (or in this case 10 cycles). No shortage either in frustrating misunderstandings, heart-breaking betrayals, sheer mental anguish, broken oaths and promises.
Thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. I didn’t have to look too hard to find some semblance of luminescence within the darkness throughout the proverbial tunnel where memorable but fleeting moments of pure unabashed and unadulterated innocent love between our hero and heroine can be observed. This is fine dining at a Michelin–star establishment rather than buffet at a fast-food joint, but trust me, the long-awaited dessert certainly provides for a much welcomed catharsis at the very end – the last 30 minutes of the finale episode makes everything worth it.
Acting and Cast:
As the ML, this show has potentially propelled Cheng Yi to celestial popularity levels. His portrayal of the much adored character of Yu Si Feng through his seemingly innate ability to emote convincingly and project poignant scenes of excruciating torment while shedding TONNES OF BLOOD AND TEARS has deservedly earned him legions of new fans, including yours truly. Yuan Bing Yan, who plays FL Chu Xuan Ji, displays the necessary depth in portraying the character’s growth, from a sensory-impaired and downright clueless young woman to a multi-faceted divine being of supernatural awesomeness. Perhaps at times Cheng Yi’s superior range and mastery of acting became too overpowering, but there is no denying the explosive chemistry between these two leads. The intense emotional connection that they share does indeed feel tangible and real rather than artificial and contrived.
There are several villains who dish out multiple levels of annoyance and angst. None more so than the top two of Hao Chen and Wu Tong. Without Liu Xue Yi, L&R would not be as satisfying (and torturous) as it had been. He brings to the table his version of Hao Chen, a complex and egocentric multi-dimensional piece of work who’s armed with a deep-seated sense of self-serving twisted logic that is borne of extreme bitterness and utter resentment. I doubt HC himself even realises that he is an actual villain because in his mind, he believes himself to be the righteous and spiritual holier-than-thou sacred existence while everyone else who does not share his convictions is almost certainly in league with the Devil himself. This is where the actor succeeds in his ability to consistently maintain the angst levels and turning it up a notch or two when the situation calls for it, throughout the entire show.
Huang You Ming plays the other villain, Wu Tong. It would be unfair to vilify WT as an outright villain because in a way he is a victim of circumstances that turned him into a sociopath. Constantly filled with contempt and uncontrollable rage, coupled with insatiable bloodlust for revenge, this is a deeply troubled individual who has no control over his own fetishes either. The actor’s looks, sadly for him but fortunately for us, projects the character’s vile vibes completely.
I want to add that the voice dubbers for Yu Si Feng and Hao Chen in particular, did an absolutely amazing job in adding the emotional nuance that brings to life the actors’ portrayals ever so vividly to the viewers.
The rest of the cast generally did pretty well too. Zhang Yu Si playing Chu Ling Long displayed a remarkable transformation from the spoilt princess persona to the role of an abuse victim struggling with PTSD. Together with Li Jun Yi, who plays Zhong Ming Yan, they both formed the second main couple in the show (among many other couples) and gave the OTP a run for their money in the pain and suffering stakes.
Did I mention this drama is filled with many charismatic and good looking male actors? In addition to Cheng Yi and Liu Xue Yi, we have Zhu Zi Xiao (Yuan Lang), Fu Fang Jun (Wu Zhi Qi), Li Xin Ze (Luo Hou Ji Du), Bai Shu (Ting She) and Zhou Jun Wei (Ruo Yu).
Overall:
Love and Redemption is definitely not light and fluffy (except for very few episodes). Make no mistake, this is as heavy and serious as it gets, and the drama is extremely adept at reducing viewers into emotional train wrecks. Mercifully, it did not take too long for viewers to get an overhaul. At least we got what we deserved – a truly happily ever after ending. I had thoroughly enjoyed this dramatic journey and I think you would too.
Thanks for reading :)
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A turning point in the Korean LGBTQI+ film industry? Kinda.
I was not having high expectations for this series, to be honest, but I am glad it could prove its worth to me and hopefully other viewers too. The Korean LGBTQ+ film industry is growing and improving its series in terms of production and duration., which is noticeable when watching this drama. It´s definitely a good decision to watch “First Love, Again”. In the following, I try to justify my recommendation briefly and concisely.PRODUCTION
Nothing extra outstanding nor something they failed in. However, it gets closer to the normal high standard of Korean dramas. One thing I´d like to highlight is that the use of light and shadows in this series was on-point. Compared to other Korean LGBTQI+ series the dialogues and monologues have been better in both quantity and quality. The story feels less rushed than usual, and I am sure we can expect similar dramas to be produced soon.
PLOT
The plot is, I mentioned this in the heading, unique and exciting to watch. I especially enjoyed the soft pacing and the comedy side of a more serious story. Both characters seem to not be written as extraordinary people, but rather normal citizens like you and me. One of them just happened to remember their incomplete love story and is trying his best to make their ends meet so that his consciousness can finally rest in peace. Other than Yeon Seok remembering his past, there is no superpower or characteristic that makes him less ordinary, except for his multilayered personality and his weird humour. Additionally, I also enjoyed the sweet moments Yeon Seok and Jeong Ha Yeon had. So cute. However, towards the end it kinda got boring.
ACTOR
What surprised me the most though is that it´s the first appearance in a drama (on MDL) for both main leads. This get´s even more confusing when you witness their solid performance in terms of facial expressions and natural behaviour. So what can I even say? They did a good job, and I am glad that Jeon Chang Ha and Jin Gun were chosen as the main leads because they matched the characters and thus the entire series is harmonious.
The Supporting Cast also showed a satisfying performance in their roles. I can't think of anything that I would have found disturbing or unfitting. Well done. Especially Song Han Hee showed off in her role as Mikael. I adore the idea and origin of this character, firstly that they are genderfluid/ non-binary and secondly that the series mentioned their identity. Good job!
OVERALL
As I said in the beginning, in terms of innovation and production, this drama is definitely recommended and it is indeed a good decision to watch “First Love, Again”, as it is a turning point in the Korean LGBTQI+ film industry.
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The story overall was beautiful and touching... I laughed and cried along with the characters. Be prepared though, if you are going to watch this movie, have a box of tissues by your side because you will cry your eyes out. Anyone who hasn't watched Koizora should; it expresses the feelings of absolute happiness and pain.
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1A striking retell
Excerpt:“He lived a thousand years and he’s beginning to learn to love. But he is yet to understand that love doesn’t come from just one person”
“I have nothing but time” he said....
****
This short film is an adaptation, a compilation, or whatever you call it of the 2008 film of the same name - Painted Skin. The original movie which runs close to 2 hours, tells the story of Xiao Wei (Zhou Xun), a fox spirit who feasts on human hearts in order to maintain her beautiful and youthful appearance. General Wang Sheng (Chen Kun) rescues her from a band of Xiongnus and brings her home. Peace didn’t last long in that house as the demon falls in love with the general who happens to already be married to Pei Rong (Vicki Zhao). Thus, this heartbreaking plot proceeds to show the length the demon will go with her tricks and schemes to get the man she loves and the length Pei Rong will go to protect the man she loves.
In this short film which is about 30 minutes long, we have a condensed version of the plot but with a twist. This short movie swaps the sex and roles of the characters. Xiao Wei (played by Ding Cheng Xin) is now a man. While Wang Sheng (He Cheng Xi) and Pei Rong (Wang Chu Ran) are still a married couple, they have now switched roles. Pei Rong is the general protecting the town, while Wang Sheng stayed home recuperating from an injured leg. So in this film version, it's Pei Rong that rescues and brings Xiao Wei home to her husband. And the rivalry is between Wang Sheng and Xiao Wei.
The visual was aesthetically pleasing. The majority of the movie was shot in the general’s courtyard but the cinematography was beautifully executed it accomplished creating the tragic, poignant ambiance it intended to. The initial meeting, the unspoken suspicion, the subtle and not so subtle rivalry, all took place in this courtyard. The little sword fighting scene it had was very well done.
The acting was surprisingly very good. I was especially moved by He Cheng Xi’s Wang Sheng. He managed to emulate the despair, the fear, and raw emotions his character was feeling. This is not to say that his counter-part Ding Cheng Xin’s Xiao Wei was any less captivating. He succeeded in conveying his character’s seemingly sweet and fragile as well as cunning side beautifully.
This retelling removed the fillers and supporting characters and all the extra fanfare that went into making the 2 hours original movie and just focused on moving the plot around the three characters. Because it did just that, the emotional impact was even more powerful than what I felt with the original. I remember when watching the original, I only watched it for Chen Kun (a girl’s gotta do what a girl's gotta do). I enjoyed the film but I don’t recall it invoking the kind of emotion this mini-film did. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while and I forgot.... but I think I’ll remember this one.
Another thing this movie did differently is it put the focus on Xiao Wei and Wang Sheng. How they interacted, how they competed, how they observed each other. In the end, it may seem you are left to wonder - Who did they love exactly?
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*** Lovestruck was unbelievable, electric, and TRAGIC. Don't hate the ML and FM for their flaws
I have watch 100s of kdramas, american shows. Lovestruck in City first to hit my heart the way it does.You need to watch 15 straight episodes to see the progression. Every episode is entertaining because you get a perspective never seen before in kdrama concerning relationships. You will be mad, cry, intrigued the entire time. *****Don't judge you opinion about characters. They are flawed, relationships are messy.*******
I don't hate the FL (EUN OH/ KIM JI WON). She made me teary-eye the entire show because I know the feeling of hating yourself. She is selfish I agree, but her wanting to "FIND HERSELF, and to LOVE HERSELF", I completed understand. She abandoned him, but this relationship was destined to fail. She ghosted him and should have just dumped him properly. But ML himself was superficial in YangYang saying he wouldn't love her if she was not who she was without the tattoo and carefree style. She was scared and ML was superficial to start. Both made the relationship NOT WORK. *****Kim Ji Won is the most charismatic, expressive, and REAL female actress I have ever seen in this drama. The emotion she depicts in her eyes is .... incredible.
The absolute sadness that the ML (JAE WON/ JI CHANG WOOK) shows is real. You might not like it, but it is REAL. Dwelling over a girl he fell in love with, the anger for being abandoned. After every moment and flashes to the past, you root for him even though he is not perfect. ****Ji Chang Wook getting criticism for this drama is wrong. His electric chemistry with Kim Ji Won was breathtaking. Throughout show he was energetic because he is passionate and has anger problems, which I relate to. Many people I know have these spurts of emotions. Don't hate someone people they are displaying weakness in character. I appreciate the REALNESS OF IT.
But breakups are ALWAY messy. I have been ghosted in the past as well. Relationships ending in a flash. So I understand this. I have also ended relationships due to my own insecurities and still dwell about them.
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Ms. Incognito or should I say, Ms. Inconsistent?
A badly written interactive fiction game, that’s what this drama felt like. The production team gathered an amazing cast, built such promising characters… and then decided to throw it all away after just two episodes. YES, two episodes!It’s honestly ridiculous how lazy the writing got. The story started so strong, and then nosedived into chaos with zero logic. Yet, because those first two episodes hook you in, you somehow keep watching, like, “Okay, maybe they’ll fix it?” Spoiler: they don’t.
My biggest disappointment was the female lead. She started out with personality, confidence, and potential, but somewhere along the way, she just turned into a punching bag for the antagonist. While the antagonist had all the power, our supposedly rich AF FL didn’t have a single bodyguard or a competent team around her. Just the poor lawyer who’s apparently a one man army, multitasking through every crisis.
Also the title Ms. Incognito? Be so for real. She wasn’t incognito for even five minutes. This woman’s enemies found her faster than I find spoilers on Twitter.
I can’t emphasize enough how much potential this drama had. The characters were unique, layered, and played by such talented actors. And they just… wasted it. Ughhh.
Like I said, it’s basically a badly written interactive fiction game that you can’t stop playing, not because it’s good, but because you need to see how the trainwreck ends.
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Satisfying and Rewarding
I started this review while ongoing and now it’s done, I’m editing my final analysis.Cast: From main leads to supporting, I think this one is well chosen.
Li Xian (Mai Dong) -i give him credit for choosing works that makes his acting credible. Seen him in go go squid and meet yourself. With this third one, he’s secured a spot in my top seven list of male Chinese actors. He brings out the character he plays so well you just admire it. He’s the cold, serious, never smiles mortician…until Jie.
Zhou Tong (Z Jie)- is an incredible versatile actress with a colorful array of roles with big actors. She’s unfiltered, unabashedly comfortable in this role which makes her character so endearing. She has a handicap but it doesn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams, and a love in MaiDong.
Wan Peng (Xiaxia) has a minor role as bestie of Jie. Loved her in My girlfriend is an alien. Here’s she’s almost unrecognizable with her matured new (to me) look. Beautiful.
The rest of cast are so good each putting in their best to compliment and complete this storytelling.
Writing is very good. So many poignant points about life. It really makes you think. FL had lots of insecurities and there are some parts she may seem toxic even. What I like though is how ideal relationships should be. One part she said something totally out of place that really hurt ML. Immediately though she sought his forgiveness, explaining her why’s. I think for many who haven’t had love lives may be turned off automatically after this incident but those of us who have can relate that it’s relationship building in progress. This couple did make progress, big time.
I think it’s unique that the main guy is a make up artist of the deceased. The portrayal of the handling of others loved ones makes me appreciate those who do these acts. These artists are in the background, hardly thought of, recognized. This gives an enlightenment of sort. Definitely an appreciated work.
There’s so many thoughtful lines that goes along that gives us so much feels. “Life is full of different destinations. Eventually you’ll go the grave”. “People buy special urns or beautiful tombstone to make their loved one standout. Those are just illusions. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. Nothing more outstanding than that. Therefore, live the best life you can, while you can”.
This drama is for the matured thinkers. It’s written well, and acted well. As for romance? You got to see it to believe it. It’s exactly as how two people who have just fallen in love act. Finally we see that true warmth of love through eye connections, touches, real hugs, and kisses. Definitely modern display of love. Kissing in public? What? No fish kisses either. Chemistry is sizzling I’m piqued whether it’s acting or real. lol. They did well. Appreciate their work.
It takes an explosive incident to put the decision at rest. Together forever we will be. Done. Very well done.
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The story was lacking, to say the least. It didn't seem as if there really was one sometimes to be honest. The episodes were mainly made up of small conflicts that didn't seem of much importance to the central story at all. Even the the climax of the main story was resolved rather anticlimactically in the last episode. I often found myself wondering what the heck happened after an episode, not because I was shocked by the events, but because nothing really did happen. The story trudged along at a horse and buggy speed and it seemed that our lead female Ah Ro was just along for the ride. She didn't seem to have any purpose in the story, but to give our leads some angsty tension (not that it was needed because they had enough of that on their own). The main couple had no chemistry whatsoever and I even found myself bored at their scenes. And lets not even begin talking about the plot holes. There were many and they were extremely noticeable.
The acting was mediocre. This is an average amongst this large cast; some were better than others. Going back to the issue with the main couple, I believe it wasn't totally the fault of the cast. Park Seo Joon had amazing chemistry in his last drama with Hwang Jung Eum and Go Ara did well in Reply 1994. While they are not exceptional actors, they have shown good acting skills, and even they could not salvage how stale the plot was. Minho's acting became a lot more natural though and Taehyung did well with his emotional scenes.
The OST itself is pretty good and some of the songs were actually quite memorable. I did notice though that the music editing was not very good throughout the entire drama. It cut off weirdly and some of the music didn't even fit the scene, which is disappointing coming from a show that was prefilmed and edited.
Overall, it was only slightly enjoyable to watch so I will not be rewatching. I would like to give some honorable mentions though to my otp Ban Ryu and Soo Yeon, Sung Dong Il the designated ahjussi of kdramas, and Park Hyung Sik's face (it's beautiful :')).
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