This review may contain spoilers
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
I started this out of curiousity, seeing the story was something I haven't seen in c drama you can say I wanted a saviour....from all the repetitive cliche plots and thank goodness I decided to watch this ❤️ This tells a story of a girl whose suffering from an illness and has been restricted by it, she yearns too explore and through that exploration she crosses paths with a man who also seems distant and hurt together they get to know eachother get in a whirlwind romance and heal eachother from all their pain.WHY SHOULD YOU WATCH THIS?
1.THE PLOT
The plot regardless of seeming usual with the illness and all is perfectly paced in a way that the writers remained consistent to what they wanted to tell the viewers, giving much screen time to the main leads in the first half, allowing us to get to know them interact with their characters and give us a chance to view their story in more light, I loved it since it felt like I was watching someone's life story and just giggling, crying along the way🤍
2.THE ACTOR AND ACTRESS ( JERRY YAN AND XU ROUHAN.
He ran was the female lead of the series and I felt like this role was made just for her, loved how she potrayed her emotions well more so love how they made her character independent despite being seek she wanted to lead a free life, she was keen about what she wanted and made sure she got it and on top of that not being vulnerable but cheerful smart and strong.
Xiao Han potrayed by Jerry Yan was also done so well aside from being hot 🔥, he really knew how to act with his eyes, his smirks and micro expressions could help you understand exactly how he felt, he wasn't your typical cold guy character he was a mature warm cautious and understanding man in my opinion.
The supports too did a great job, the mom of the female lead Zhang yiquan and many more, Hanyu played by Kido ma was a breath of fresh air in the series with his innocence and clumsy nature he won my heart.
3.THE CHEMISTRY AND SENSUAL TENSION BETWEEN THE LEADS.
I must say I was impressed these guys have a real life 20 years age difference but iam suprised with how comfortable they are with each other, they had that spark that gave me butterflies every time they held hands hugged kissed or even just stared at eachother, yah there we re cut scenes ( I'll neve forgive you wetv) but still these two delivered that firefly chemistry I have been longing for❤️
4. OSTS
I loved how every song that played in the background of the scene matched the scene, like the music score was selected and was soo in sync with what's happening, I really can't choose my best ost as yet as they are all soo nice but I have to applaud who ever made the music selection 🤍 also was shocked to here the English version of lucid dreams which was one of the osts in a k drama while you were sleeping.
5.CINEMATOGRAPHY
The shooting sight was pleasing, the sceneries were soo healing and beautiful at the same time, it gave me those countryside beachy vibes I totally loved it❤️
6. BECAUSE ITS THAT GOOD
Now this drama isn't for everyone, no offense but if you going to make a big deal about the age difference then that's gonna hinder your view on the series, it's pacing is a normal life sort of pacing which might feel slow for some people...any ways this deserves all my praises I was moved from get go and I appreciate every one who joined hands to bring this to us thank you for the give of an awesome drama
7. THE ENDING..
The ending was how you interpret it as a viewer, she calls out his name he turns around with a bright smile and hugs her, is it a fantasy or reality love how it was beautifully potrayed I'll definitely on my side take it as a happy ending...you can choose what you call it as well❣️
I really sincerely with all my heart thank whoever was involved in bringing this story to life, I looked forward to it every single day spend hours listening and mumming to the osts, ive been level A addicted to this and it's left this memory in my head and heart that's to last decades 🥺❤️ I usually rate dramas from a scale of 10 where ten is the top mark but for this I'll add a 0.5 to be fair🌝😌
The forbidden flower 🤍
Personal rating: 10.5
Rewatch value: 10
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This drama hit me like a tsunami of emotions and has left me bruised in so many places I'm in dire need of a strong tonic
I had promised myself to never say this, but rules are made to be broken: King 2 Hearts is the best drama I have ever watched. It is so because it fully responds to what I ask a work of fiction: not just to entertain me, but to make me feel. Deeply.
I suppose it's not for everyone though. It raises issues which require a level of maturity, as well as a huge dose of emotional strength. It plays on prejudices and the rotten nature of politics, sparing no one: the arrogance of the western world, the obtuseness of military regimes, the cowardice of politicians, the corruptive power of money no matter where. But it highlights the best virtues too: loyalty, friendship, courage, honesty, responsibility towards the people we love. This story is the growth of a group of people, from biased to understanding, and most of all is the birth of a king worth of this name.
It's obviously a love story too, but I'm glad this is only partly the focus of the drama. Don't expect a rom-com, or you'll be disappointed. The comedy is there, mainly in the beginning, and it is a clever sort of fun, but it's devoid of the usual comedic tropes, and it always has a black undertone - which I personally adore.
So to me this is a truly romantic drama, in the classical sense of the word, full of awe, suspense and heartbreak. There isn't even an ounce of fluff: if this is what you're looking for, King 2 Hearts is not for you.
Two words about script and direction: the first is one of the most consistent I've come across, never deviating from reality even when the setting is fictional. I am aware some of the scenarios are controversial to say the least, but if you give a look at the way international politics works, you'll see that - alas - it's a lot more plausible than we would like to admit. This said, the writers managed to create an ensemble of wonderful characters who touch the heart, and always thought-provoking dialogues. Direction is splendid, very film-like, playing on grand-angle and close-up shots, on colours, light and dark. The action scenes are believable and thrilling.
Standing ovation for the performance of the entire cast. Everyone has done such a brilliant job, I'm in awe.
Ha Ji Won is wonderful, to say the least. I've read some arguing that a north Korean soldier can't be so girly and trusting in the matters of the heart, but her multiple layers are what make Hang A the incredibly believable character I fell in love with, and Ha Ji Won the awesome actress she is. Besides her doing most of her stunts, she studied the North dialect, voice intonation and poses. The result is a charming mixture of vulnerability and strength which is profoundly feminine.
I'm glad I've really got to know Lee Seung Gi with this drama, because this young man has done an amazing step forward in terms of acting. His performance as the shallow, prejudiced playboy he's in the beginning slowly growing to be a king to be proud of, is mind-blowing. I truly felt all his suffering, doubts, uncertainties, fear… stress. He has gained a loyal fan for his professionalism and for the courage to accept a controversial part which more mature actors had refused before him.
Jo Jung Suk and Lee Yoon Ji have been an incredible revelation for me, both acted so naturally it's almost unbelievable.
Hat off to all the other actors. I was just as involved in their fates as I was in that of the main couple. They all made me laugh, weep (buckets, really), be proud or exhilarated.
Yes, even the villain. It won't be easy for the actor to shrug off the image. He embodies evil in its most horrific, unadulterated form: gratuitous cruelty, the pleasure to see others suffer, vanity and megalomania, all highlighted by a child-like behaviour which is as disquieting as it reduces him to the sub-human this character actually is.
Oh, the music!
A good soundtrack explains the scenes with the notes. When he wrote the score for the 1993 film "The Piano", Michael Nyman said he needed some piano pieces which could speak for Ada, who is mute, and work as a substitute to her voice.
That's what the music in King 2 Hearts does: if you close your eyes and listen to it (I have it all on my i-pod) the music will speak for the scene, and will keep on speaking to you when the show is over. The instrumental pieces are simply perfect and aching. "Two Hearts" begins with the pound of two hearts, hence explaining in a second a title whose meaning I had been pining over for weeks.
Simply beautiful.
I have already re-watched half of the drama and am going through a second (third?) complete marathon. If I gave this a lower re-watch value I'd be a hypocrite. And, believe it or not, it improves on second watching.
There's so much more I'd like to say about it, but I fear I've been wordy enough. I feel a last word of… warning is needed though: be prepared to feel strongly. If what you ask a drama is to entertain you or divert you, don't watch King 2 Hearts; only approach it if you're ready to grow so much attached to these characters, seeing them go will give you an almost physical pain.
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Possibly my favorite melodrama kdrama I have seen.
The story of 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes' is something so vastly different than most Korean dramas. It is a melodrama that sublimely incorporates the genres of thriller, mystery, romance, and tragedy of all things--and on top of your not-so-typical antihero lead, it sheds some light on some controversial topics (which will not be named due to this review being spoiler free). The story starts off quite eerily, full of suspense and mystery, and gradually as the drama progresses, the melodrama kicks in while retaining most of the suspense.
I do feel it slightly lost some spark towards the climax due to the script demanding misunderstandings (don't we love those?). Many conflicts could have been avoided if there was better communication amongst the characters. I suppose this can be said for virtually any drama, but it especially applies in this case. It doesn't help that some of the situations aren't fully concluded. I do also feel there were just a tad bit many plot devices used to progress the story. Some character actions just make little sense, and there was either little or no explanation to them afterwards. I at often times felt frustrated by many of these actions, but fear not; it shouldn't detract much from your entertainment, as the overall execution and the story itself are quite beautiful.
Moving onto the cast--they were absolutely splendid. The leads had amazing chemistry, and everything felt genuine, from hardships to happiness.
Seo In Guk plays his first antihero role in Kim Moo Young, and he truly delivers. His character is sharp, mysterious, and conflicting, and much like Jin Kang, I could not help but be drawn to him, wanting to figure out his character, questioning his motives and actions. Moo Young's dialogue was also quite intricate in that viewers and characters alike could draw multiple meanings from his words. I think this was one element the drama and In Guk pulled off especially well.
Jung So Min plays Yoo Jin Kang, a rather strong willed woman who is also very kind, forgiving, and sympathetic. Jin Kang's strength as a character is not what I would classify similarly to a strong female lead, but she is strong because of her ability to endure everything she has experienced, accept it, and move on. Jung So Min conveyed Jin Kang's emotions so vividly well, the emotional pain is visible through her interactions.
Park Sung Woong nails his role as Jin Kang's brother, Yoo Jin Gook, as well. He portrayed the shifts in emotion as the drama progressed very well. I do however, wish his character was better written.
As for the supporting cast, their performances were stellar as well. Seo Eun Soo pulled off a very convincing girl blinded by love in Baek Seung Ah. Go Min Shi as well with the complications in her character, Im Yu Ri. Special mention Kim Ji Hyun whom played Jang Se Ran. She completely took me by surprise, both her acting and her character.
Most of the faults in the cast were largely due to shifts and errs in the script, not the actors themselves. The actors always delivered in their roles, but often there were actions that just didn't make any sense, conflicts that could have been avoided if we applied any spec of common sense to the situations, which leads back to my stance on there being too many (in)conveniences to the story.
The music in this drama was synced flawlessly. If I had to compliment any one thing about the drama, it would absolutely be the soundtrack. The eerie, sinister themes added so many elements of suspense to drama. Sorrowful, yet calming and somehow uplifting music complemented the melodrama and romance all too well, especially 'Lost' by Ahn Ji Yeon. 'Someday' by Yi Sung Yol was the perfect song to end off many of the episodes' suspense, while leaving you craving for the next. And I can't forget 'Star' which was a beautiful addition sung by none other than the 2 leads Seo In Guk and Jung So Min. I feel this song greatly reflects their relationship in the drama.
Definite a recommend from me if you're looking for a melodramatic romance with thriller and mystery! Just take note that this does happen to be a tragedy.
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1This review may contain spoilers
A Drama to Be Savored and Remembered..
There are many female centric dramas that explore themes of women's freedom and feminism but few have achieved what FP has in terms of depth, execution, impact and the sheer quality of acting and production.. Everything about this drama is exceptional.. The cinematography and costumes, the intelligent main leads with undeniable chemistry and a slow burn romance.. Even the supporting characters were stellar.. Well written and not over dramatic not too slow.. This is how a drama should be done.. The acting, pacing and background score are all perfectly balanced.. Yang Zi’s acting was pure brilliance.. Effortless, heartfelt and completely immersive.. She was simply outstanding.. Li Xian complimented her perfectly.. Effortlessly matching her energy and helping her carry the show.. His nonchalant attitude and performance were nothing short of brilliant..I loved Li Xian's characted Jiang Chang Yang.. He wasn’t the typical ' I will protect you from everything ' hero.. Instead he recognized Mu Dan’s strength and character and treated her accordingly.. He only stepped in when she absolutely needed it.. But more importantly he rooted for her like no one else.. What truly set him apart was the way he treated her as an equal.. He never underestimated her.. Respected her decisions and stood by her as a true partner.. Never forcing his own ' This is what I think is right for you ' mantra onto her..
It was sad to see Miles in his role.. Pathetic and whiny.. But he got exactly what he deserved.. You can’t blame others for your own spinelessness.. That said its not the end of the road for him.. He might return as one of the antagonists next season.. But the real question is how impactful will he be??
When the drama was airing it faced attacks from another actress’s fans.. Rating it low and trying to bring it down.. But in the end haters can only do so much.. A good script, strong performances and quality storytelling will always win..
Now I have high hopes for Season 2.. I really hope they finally share their true feelings and get together in the first half of the show instead of making us wait another 20+ episodes.. It would be great to see more of their moments rather than just the buildup because we had more that enough of that in the first season..
Overall FP delivered an exceptional story with brilliant performances and compelling themes.. Despite the challenges it faced the drama won.. With Season 2 coming soon the expectations are high.. And hopefully it will give us the satisfying moments we are waiting for.. I read somewhere that this drama is truly a tribute to women and I couldn’t agree more..
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Took me back to REPLY days T T
LONG REVIEW ALERTRacket Boys is a coming of age, slice of life, feel good, sports comedy drama which along with the sports of badminton also shows you different shades of life. It will make you witness, observe and analyse different forms of relationships, various shapes of love, many aspects of life and immense depths of life values. I am not lying, it reminded me of my REPLY SERIES days because of similar screenplay technique used in it.
Another peculiar fact about this drama that's clearly visible is that unlike it's name suggests, it's not entirely, or even majorly about Badminton, even though all the main characters are involved in this sports. It's just like Hospital Playlist which despite it's name, mainly deals with day-to-day happenings of the hospital and not just surgeries, diseases, management, etc. So, We call these "slice of life" kdramas for a reason and undoubtedly it's the best genre among others.
STORY & PLOT:
Racket Boys following a similar path of Hospital Playlist, involves badminton players, coaches, association, schools, teams, etc. and their daily lives, evens & odds, results or outcomes and aspirations.
The main plot is about a group of 5 teen boys namely "Racket Sonyeondan (Racket Boys) who are high school badminton players of Haenam-gun Middle High of South Jeolla Province and their journey towards winning a national level competition, together as a team. It starts with Yoon Hae Kang (Tang Joon Sang) moving to Haenam county village from Seoul after his father's financial breakdown. As someone with parents who are both badminton coaches, he was initially an amazing badminton champ but switched to baseball for reasons. However, as he moves down to the underdeveloped village and joins the badminton team just to help them once, he finds himself realizing how much he loved the sports from his childhood and then embraces it with grace.
The story also involves 2 teenage girls who stay with these 5 boys under one roof with Hae Kang's parents and little sister. Together they persue the sports they love so much, explore life & relationships, help each other to improve as players and seek happiness in staying together. The story at some points also throws light upon the past of some characters.
Again, the story involves few villagers who are the neighbours of these badminton fellows staying under the orange roof. All these people help each other during odds as well as celebrate their evens together, which actually portrays the life of a typical village or country side region, irrespective of counties. This was a very good side of the drama to witness and a perfect concept of slice of life stories, I feel.
The story additionally involves badminton players from different schools, regions and countries, plenty of coaches & association members, shop, store, restro, motel owners, saffs, etc etc.
Since it's a coming of age story, you'll literally go through an emotional rollercoaster which involves both happy & sad moments that will make you cry outta despair or sometimes the tears of joy. One moment you'll be smiling wide and the next moment you'll be laughing the hell out of you and other times you'll be crying out of nostalgia.
CAST & ACTING:
I feel Racket Boys could have got much more recognition than this in its real time airing if most of the Kdrama audience were not always focused on the starcast of a drama. I know a lot of people are watching it but still it deserves more. The story is of teenagers and the production did a very good job in casting them. Unlike many highscool Kdrama where actors in their middle or late 20s are casted for 18-20 yo characters, Racket Boys casted actual teenagers, hence bringing change in the norms. Also, the writer of this drama was also the writer of Prison Playbook, so you'll see many characters from that drama here and also many guest appearances.
There is definite character development for each and every single character in this drama, irrespective of their roles, from oldies to youngs. Let me describe the main characters, which is a bit lengthy because I don't really write a lot about this part but the growth of characters in this drama is actually something to be noted and learnt.
The main lead Yoon Hae Kang (Tang Joon Sang) is actually a very good Korean-Malyasian teen actor who rose to fame even though he has few dramas, after his role in CLOY. Loved him playing an asperger kid in "Move to Heaven" and "Racket Boys" hopefully brings him the recognition he deserves for his skills. His character always aspired to win and was pretty conceited, also a lil narcissist. His expressions and way of delivery were so on point and he needs to be praised for that.
Kim Kang Hoon, almost everyone's favourite child actor has always mesmerized us with his acting and in this drama he got a cute character who is always emotional, yet clueless. His countryside accent is so cute and I totally loved him as Lee Young Tae.
Bang Yoon Dam (Song Sang Yeon) is so handsome *blushes under the blanket*. I thought he'll have a somewhat cool character but he's someone who is selfie & sns addict who ends up taking selfies with everyone he meets. He is very easy-peasy.
Choi Hyun Wook is cute and his character Na Woo Chan with a father who is a military personnel had to struggle a lot about choosing a path that made him happy yet question on his capabilities. The way he kept going and got motivated every time from others, is really well shown.
Lee Jae In as Han Se Yeon is the most talented badminton player in the world who rarely loses a match, is always calm and relax while playing a match. She loves her team and her coach but isn't open to everyone. She knows how to work under pressure at any given condition.
Lee Ji Won (Lee Han Sol) and Kim Min Ki (Jung In Sol) did very good job. Han Sol is a straightforward girl and Se Yeon's best friend who gives her best and improves with time. In Sol, the so called Nerd who ranks 1st in the province and the son of a councilman joins the team for his love for badminton and his craving to make friends and hangout with them. The child actor who played Yoon Hae In (Hae Kang's little sister) was cute and her character is mature for her age, which she actually played well.
Kim Sang Kyung as coach Yoon Hyun Jung played a good character who is aware of his own weaknesses and incompetency and always tried his best to improve himself just so he can help his students better. He was super funny, supportive, loving coach, father, husband and colleague that everyone loved him. Oh Na Ra as coach Ra Young Ja was fierce who never compromised with her teaching methods and her students' well being. She always fought for a fairer environment for the players. Head Coach Bae/White Wolf was such an inspiring character who despite of his strict & disciplined nature strived to provide everything to everyone whom he's responsible for. I loved him.
If I go further I might end up talking about all of them because there were a LOT of familiar and old (as in by age) faces in this drama whom I have loved, respected and cherished for a long a time. I was so happy to see all of them in this single drama. Also so many guest appearances from the Prison Playbook cast plus others; such a delightful journey it was to witness.
DIRECTION & WRITING:
This drama given its genre, setup and vibes has been able to achieve a great direction from Jo Young Kwang pd-nim who has a good history of directing beautiful dramas before. The editing is just like as it should have been for a slice of life drama. Synchronisation, organization, connection, intertwining, linking and presentation, everything is good. Even sound editing in different situations, i.e. funny, emotional, inspirational, romantic, energetic, etc, has been perfectly done; just like it should have been for a light heart comedy and feel good drama. The cinematography is top notch. In sports shows, it's necessary to take care about the angles of videography and showcase the movements & techniques of the players perfectly and this drama has been able to do it very well.
Jung Bo Hoon jakkanim is a disciple of the legendary writer Lee Woo Jung jakkanim who has created masterpiece dramas all her life and have worked together in "Prison Playbook". Undoubtedly, Bo Hoon jakkanim just like "Prison Playbook" has again delivered a masterpiece drama "Racket Boys". The screenwriting, dialogues, line coordination, scene organization and everything has been very well done by him and hence he needs appreciation. Also, he needs to work and create more and I'm sure he'll do better.
When I said that this drama reminded me of the REPLY SERIES, especially "Reply 1988" , I honesty meant it.
OSTs:
I suppose there are 5 OSTs in total along with the number of featured old & modern songs that the characters in the drama listen. Just like the title, the drama has some references of Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) and there songs, hence following the trend. Tbh, the OSTs are not that extraordinary here but I feel they're appropriately fit for the kind of vibes this drama gives off. In fact, it's okay for a slice of life drama to have less OSTs because the number of scenes are really high and they won't want to use OSTs a lot in the story, otherwise it'd be lengthy. So, they put them as background scores during conversations.
I love "Will Be" by The Boyz the most which is clearly the main theme OST for the drama used as a mean of power source, inspiration, motivation and pushes you forward. "Focus on Me" by Coffeeboy is a light romantic track mostly used for the subtle romance between the teen lead couple. "I Love You Teacher" , "Cloud" and "To Find Myself" are good too.
DESCRIPTION:
I think I have described how I feel about this drama enough but I feel I have either run out of words or got lot more to say. This drama truly belongs to that category of Korean shows which you should watch whenever you feel down or in a mood of watching a beautiful and feel good thing.
The screenplay is in a mixed manner where one particular scene doesn't run constantly and rather another event that's going on simultaneously is showed in between; that's the technique for a slice of life drama. Majority of the things which seemed to be something turned out be another. Comedy scenes are accompanied by emotional turnovers in the end or vice versa. There were things that taught us stuffs about life, sports, teaching, parenting, social life, etc.
Since the drama focuses on badminton it honestly reminded me of the old days when I played the sports. In fact, it is the only outdoor sports I can play well though I don't get to play often these days. It revived the love I have had for this game. It also throws light on the reputation of badminton among the major sports, people's thoughts about it and the youths' interest in it. The life of badminton athletes, their struggle to keep going among lots of other competitors or peers, the perspective of the coaches, the happenings inside the association and the environment of badminton courts as well as school/province/national level competitions, etc have been very well portrayed in the drama. The way they have shown all the competitions, the games in it and the sets played by the athelets, is very good, though not entirely shown. I think that's fine since it's a drama and they had a lot to show, even things other than the sports. An athlete's way of handling pressure, tackling the opponent, coping to the changing environment, even sometimes giving in as well as giving up, all these also included which are essential parts of their life and the sports.
I love how the village/country-side things like the lifestyle, the environment, the socio-cultural behaviour, the developing relationships, the agri-farm businesses, etc have been picturized in this drama. They sometimes hesitated to make acquaintances and were holding each other tight the next moment. They fought with each other several times and ended up crying tears of joy/pain together some other time. The love and support of the villagers for the Racket Boys was enormous. The old lady's affection for kids was so overwhelming to see; she enjoyed having more kids under her roof, always fed them with their favorite delicacies and even protected them some times. The progressing life of Seoul couple who moved to the village because of situations, has also been beautifully written. The way they grew fond of the village and it's people was even more heart-touching.
The things between the association like the bonding between the coaches, the coaches' urge to do better for their students, the management as well as selection procedures in the sport plus the corrupt and unfair doings of handful number of bad people has been shown. The way everything was handled, corrected and planned was very good.
Lastly, the portrayal of different relationship between the cast, such as, parents-children, elderly & middle-aged couples/partner/spouses, brother-sister, coach-athelete, teacher-student, friends, opponents, etc. made this drama very beautiful, I truly love the way they've been shown. The subtle romance between Yoon Hae Kang and Se Yeon was very cute. They would have shown more of it if they were a lil older but I feel it's totally okay since the drama doesn't focuses or in fact requires romance. The 2nd couple in the drama were cute as well (not spoiling).
About the controversy, it's again incorrectly misinterpreted. How is it racist to tell that the audience discourage the opponent athlete and the country provides unsuitable environment to the guest athletes? I understand it sometimes feels offensive but that's how sports and army dramas/movies work. Every country does that while producing things about their own athlete. I too was angry at such gestures of my own country doing the same in every sports movie until I came to realize this is one of the dramatic elements in a movie/series meant for entertainment and it's not throwing mud to the other country. They don't complain or criticise because they also think the same and are sane enough to differentiate what's racism . Firstly, this isn't what you call racism and finally, this isn't demeaning at all to the mentioned country. I am sure no one would have cared if they had mentioned a country from the West or even another country from the East.
The ending was good. The last 2 episodes were all about the main national level competition that the boys and even the girls had been waiting for. The games have lengthier duration and before or between the each game, they have shown, how the athletes were motivated, guided or instructed by many people. I loved the ending. Won't say more or it'd serve as spoiler.
CONCLUSION:
The drama was an absolute treat to my eyes, to my heart and to my mental health that gave me the wholesome nostalgic feelings throughout and made me want more of it. I am sad that it has ended. I started it 3 weeks back, 2 days before it was supposed to end but I was honestly very sad and angry when they kept delaying for 2 consecutive weeks. It felt like ages waiting for the finale and it has actually delivered all my expectations and anticipations that I have had for the last 2 weeks; I am glad for that.
Honestly, at some points of the drama the screenplay felt a lil slow and some other points the plot felt moderately blunt but thankfully it caught it's original momentum back in the next instance, every time. There are definitely few flaws in other technical aspects as well but anyways RACKET BOYS, overally, is a very good drama which is binge worthy and will make your day better any time you wanna watch it. The rewatch value is very high, i.e. you can watch it again and again, that too it can be placed under random play dramas that you can start from any point and can easily get into. Go ahead and watch it ASAP.
DEFINITELY COMING BACK TO THIS.
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This is usually referred to as a romantic comedy, but the definition is not really accurate. It is romantic inasmuch as it deals with love, but it's neither cute nor lacy/flowery/traditionally romantic. And although it has numerous comedic situations and dialogues, it touches serious issues, leaving their final verdict suspended, making the viewer be the judge.
The cast is brilliant. Every character comes to life and has a wonderful screen presence. None is either completely good or bad, though. They're over the top, at times obnoxious, often surreal, always human. And because the game they are involved with requires them to interact with one another in turn, each time a different side to each character is unveiled.
It's an adult drama. Not because it shows anything improper, but because it deals with adult feelings, failures, expectations and needs.
The music serves its purpose brilliantly, moving at the same rhythm with the plot.
Definitely a must see, in my book.
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I remember I had found out about this drama on YouTube when the trailer had showed up on my feed (https://youtu.be/GUV50QDDR-M). I was about to not click on it, but I'm glad I did. The trailer was soo cute and I really thought that the show was airing already. I immediately shared the trailer with my friend and she was hooked in! We began obsessing over when the show was going to air, and even counting down how many days until the first episode would release (lol). If you were following the drama on it's MDL page, you would know that the airing date was originally said to be November 30, but then it was updated to November 9! I think I've watched the trailer more than ten times now just to fill the time as I wait for new episodes to be released.
This drama is generally about a girl who is the childhood friend of the boy she likes. They go to school together, and eventually mutual feelings develop. While this happens, a new male student is introduced, and happens to become the male lead's rival (there is a female rival too, but she isn't a major part of the story). Although there is a love triangle, nothing overly dramatic or harsh happens between the male characters, except for a little jealousy here and there. This is mainly because they share the same friend circle, and the boys are pretty mature...although...the male lead gets jealous quite a lot XD. Also, the story secretly highlights some real issues people face in life, and that not everything in life goes as smoothly as planned (work, college, relationships). On a side note, the high school portion of the story does take up a majority of the drama (meaning there are more episodes focused on it), but nevertheless it is still a wonderful drama.
I also want to point out some key characteristics of the different people in this drama.
Chen Xiaoxi: She is a very easy-going, cute, innocent, and funny character. Although she isn't the brightest when it comes to her studies, sports, and other things, she shows determination regardless. I personally think she is the friend people wish they had during their childhood.
Jiang Chen: He is very smart, good-looking, and mature for his age. Unlike many other dramas, he does secretly like Xiaoxi back--though we constantly see him trying to pretend to not be interested in Xiaoxi--and isn't afraid to let her know later in the story. I love that his love for Xiaoxi never strays, and in his heart there is no room for anyone else but her.
Wu Bosong: He is a very thoughtful, sweet, and funny person. We often see him running back and forth to get things for Xiaoxi and make sure that she is okay. A lot of the things he does for Xiaoxi he hides it from her, and I especially loved the time where he told the store owner to say that everything was less expensive than it really was, for Xiaoxi. He is the guy that all girls wish they meet. He is honestly just soo caring!
Jing Jing: I absolutely love her, she is such a great friend to Xiaoxi, and stands up for her friends no matter one. She is smart, pretty, and strong as an individual.
Lu Yang: He is so cute and funny. Although he is very childish, he can be a very serious person. He is a person who does not take friendships lightly, and will always help out no matter what.
I personally found this drama very cute, funny, and light-hearted. It has just the right feel and even though it's supposed to be a romance drama, it didn't feel overwhelming. What I mean by that is the drama didn't have one scene after another that was solely focused on the main characters, at least in the beginning when they were still in high school. It didn't shout "ROMANCE" all the time. It was balanced, and focused in on other relationships too and the overall "story", if you get what I mean; which I think is something Chinese dramas excel in. For me, I prefer when dramas develop an exciting plot and not just an exciting romance story. As the story goes on, I noticed that towards the last few episodes where it is focusing on their adulthood, that the pace of the story picked up. Although it did not affect my experience in watching the drama, I wish the drama could have slowed down a little bit and been a little longer. There were multiple times where the story suddenly jumped through a period of time in their life ("one month later").
Overall, I would definitely recommend this drama. This is literally the drama I have been waiting for for my entire life. No other drama can compare. A Love So Beautiful has a simplistic storyline but such a powerful one too, conveying all sorts of emotions.
P.S. If you were wondering how tall Hu Yitian is he's 188cm, and Shen Yue is 160cm.
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First, if you are choosing to watch this drama due to historical context reenactments, you might be disappointed because it is fictitious rendition of the historical events, so creative liberties have been taken. Personally, I didn't mind the changes and/or omissions of history to suit the drama because I was more interested in the fiction of the story rather than the history being presented.
Second, there have been some people who have said that they really didn't find the music to be fitting for the tone of the drama. I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. I think ALL of the music was exceptionally fitting and helped really build the scenes. Even though there was some EDM, rock, and bagpipes in the OST's, they all blended well, and none of them took away from the drama.
Now that I got those out of the way...
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What was amazing:
The friendship felt between Hwi and Seon-Ho was impeccably powerful. Their friendship lasted through the good times and the horrific times. There was a brotherly love they hold for each other that motivated them to fight and die for each other. I loved every moment of it. Especially when they only had bad and worse options to choose from - it was hard to watch, but you can't help but keep watching it happen.
Writers did a great job blurring the lines between "good" and "bad." A lot of times in historical dramas, all the main characters are "good guys" and the opposing party is clearly the "bad guys" - there are no blurred lines. But this drama is deeper than that. It very powerfully demonstrates that when you believe that what you're doing is best for those you love, it's not "wrong" or "bad" just the best option out of the choices you have. The plot in regards to good vs. evil was so well crafted. There were only some characters that I truly thought were bastards (such as Seon-Ho's father), but for the most part, I could see where they were coming from and couldn't hate them for it. Which leads me to my next point...
I ADORE Seon-Ho. Yes, he made some really awful decisions that put Hwi through some really horrible things, but they were the best decisions be could make in trying to protect Hwi and Yeon. AND he tortured himself every day knowing what he did to his best friend and sister. So no, I couldn't hate him, not once. He was actually my favorite character.
I think the writers also did a really good job of writing a story that WASN'T about people fighting over the throne for themselves. The main characters are trying to protect what they view as "their country" but they go about it in vastly different ways. And they do indeed have very different ideas as to what their "country" is too. The writers did a great job writing about historical figures that got mixed up with royalty, but it wasn't about them being king and instead about them surviving in their respective worlds.
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While I really enjoyed this drama, I do need to address some issues:
Unnecessary romance - I am usually ALL about the romance, but honestly, the romance between Hwi and Hui Jae was unnecessary (it reminded me of Hwarang's romance, to give comparison). I don't think it was very well developed at all (we were just meant to acknowledge that they love each other and fight to the death for one another after only 3 or 4 encounters). Personally, the story would have still been just as great without the added romance.
Battle wounds - Simply put, characters recovered really quickly and easily from mortal blows during battle. Some characters would be stabbed through-and-through and would be able to fight within a couple of days with little issue or ride a horse for hours without issue. *shrugs* It's a plot convenience, I know, but highly unrealistic. It didn't distract me much from the drama, but I feel like, either make the battle wounds more realistic to fit the intended plot or have the characters suffer the actual battle wounds given.
Hwi's character development (specifically in comparison to Seon-Ho) - Seon-Ho was extremely well-written with lots of gray areas - he had to make a lot of horrible decisions, live with his choices, and fight for what he thought was right, constantly evolving. Hwi felt like the weaker written main character, lacking the same amount of depth that Seon-Ho was given. I know that they are different characters, but I would have really liked to witness Hwi experience the same amount of depth in plot realizations that Seon-Ho had even though their experiences were obviously different.
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I would like to sincerely compliment all the actors in the drama - they were all wonderful and powerful in their roles. But I would like to say that Woo Do-Hwan stood out exceptionally to me. He is exceptionally handsome, especially in historical attire (LOVED the long hair on him). And he simply did the most amazing portrayal of his character. Again, all actors were amazing, but he stood out to me the most. Do you realize how hard it is to have a man cry and truly portray the emotion without the audience giggling at the silliness of it on screen? Woo Do-Hwan portrayed Seon-Ho's emotions on all fronts with expert precision - you could truly feel his character's pain, turmoil, grief, and sincere love for not only Hwi, but Yeon even after her death. I will definitely be seeking out the dramas I've yet to see with him.
Ending: I don't like tragedies in general and typically avoid them. I started this drama before it was complete and got hooked before the drama was tagged as a "tragedy." Nonetheless, I really liked this drama. The ending makes sense and I'm not upset about it being a tragedy. I say this to hopefully give courage to those people reading this who are unsure about the "tragedy" tag.
Rewatch Value: Yes! I will definitely rewatch! I don't watch too many historical dramas, but this one is incredibly fast-paced and the story is worth witnessing again (tragedy or not).
This drama is not for everyone and definitely more targeted for more seasoned K-drama watchers. It's got some heavy plot and turmoil, bloody battles, little-to-no romance, and a tragic ending - all of which aren't usually mainstreamed. But, if the trailer intrigues you, perhaps give the first episode a shot - that's all it took for me to get hooked!
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It stars Lee Je Hoon as Lee Soo Yeon who's straight laced and by the book character is matched with Chae Soo Bin as the stubbornly impetuous Han Yeo Reum. All of the complaints I read about the drama were about Han Yeo Reum, and how much people hated her, but I didn't have a problem with her character at all. I think her character is frustratingly ambitious on purpose in order to disturb Soo Yeon's futile attempt at having a quiet and routine worklife. Of course their conflicts lead to some great chemistry and I loved the way the story between them developed. I was a fan Lee Je Hoon in "Signal", but this is my first time seeing him as a romantic lead. I also loved Chae Soo Bin in "I Am Not a Robot", so it was great to see her in another romance, and she did not disappoint me. Together they had cute and comedic moments as well as heartbreaking dramatic moments, and even when parts of the story were weak, their character development was strong.
As for the supporting cast there were characters that were favorites, some who were underutilized, and some who were boring as hell. My favorites in the supporting cast were definitely Kim Kyung Nam as Oh Dae Ki and Lee Soo Kyung as Na Yeong Joo of the security team, who's chemistry was entertaining enough to deserve their own spinoff show. I thought Lee Dong Gun was great, although almost typecast in his role, but because his storyline was compartitively weak I felt like his talent was a little bit wasted. I also wanted to know much more about Mr. Jang who I feel like never got enough screentime for being such a huge part of the story. Then there was Kim Jee Soo as Yang Seo Koon, who seemed like a character I would like in the beginning, but she turned out to be so boring that I'm still not quite sure about anything involving her character. Also, because so much of this drama revolves around work, there's a pretty good ensemble cast feel among the airport staff, which helps make the random airport stories seem less disjointed.
For me, the weakest parts of the drama was the internal airport drama between management, which was too vague to care about, and took up too much time. There are also parts of Soo Yeon's backstory that I wish were better explained, but I still think the parts they did focus on were well done as far as drivng the story and his motivation. With the short episode format there was always enough in each episode to keep me curious and make me want to keep watching. By the end, the story felt like it was definitely rushed, but all the parts of the story that I cared about were resolved (although I'm still not sure if the very end was an artistic choice or an emergency decision).
Would I rewatch this? Yes. I think the chemistry between the main couple is what carries this show, more than the general story, so I would probably still enjoy it with a second viewing.
Overall, "Where Stars Land " isn't going to make it to my favorites list, but it's much better than some of the mediocre dramas I forced myself to finish this year. I recommend giving it a chance, especially if you are a romance fan. You may find out that under it's unassuming appearance is a drama with a spark of something extroadinary.
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2
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1This review may contain spoilers
Moonlit Reunion was one of my most awaited dramas of the year.. But guess what, it didn’t live up to my expectations.. Maybe it’s just me.. Maybe I was in the wrong mood, or maybe my expectations were set too high.. I wanted more.. In the end, I could just barely bring myself to give it 8 stars.. The story felt a bit too stop and start for my liking.. Almost every time it seemed to be building momentum, it slowed down again.. With the kind of material they had, the drama really should have kept ramping things up consistently until the end, but it doesn’t..The visuals were top notch and I really loved the cinematography.. The VFX though, were a mixed bag.. When they were good, they were really good.. But when they were bad, they were just plain bad.. Some scenes felt outright poorly done.. And the action scenes looked well coordinated.. It’s always fun to watch action mixed with magic, spells and demons and they did a good job with that..
I stopped counting the number of guys in her life halfway through the drama.. They really could have eased up on it after the incident with her cousin.. But no they had to bring in yet another guy in the very next episode.. The ML and FL already know they love each other, so what more do they need to prove?? Honestly they could have used that time to explore more important story arcs.. Twenty episodes in and we have only caught glimpses of how good the drama could have been.. If they had just cut out this unnecessary nonsense, the drama wouldn’t have felt so dragged out and would have been far more interesting.. Instead halfway through, we still don’t have an established story to follow, we are just stuck watching him get jealous over the nth guy..
They both have their secrets.. So how is this relationship supposed to work?? I can understand her reason for keeping it hidden, obviously.. But him?? He could have told her about himself, at least before marriage.. I guess his silence comes down to that promise he made to never speak of it again and the fear of losing the person he loves most if he broke it.. Still I think he could have handled it better.. Anyway, their breakup was inevitable.. When it finally happened, it was long, hard and painful.. But it had to be done for them to start over I guess..
Xu Kai was impressive.. He had very limited action scenes.. His fights, even though short and scarce it created expectations.. If he had a full blown fight, it would have been awesome.. That whole speech to the Miasma Demon after, ‘ Do you know what kind of person she is?? ’ was damn good.. And then the use of his sword with the line, ‘ Since it’s a secret, you should take it to the grave along with your life.. ’ Absolute 10/10 scene.. His face off with the FL was also really good.. Tian Xi Wei was equally impressive.. Their romance and chemistry were good.. Their romance was another thing we just didn’t get enough of..
I definitely need to talk about Wu Zi Shu, the FL’s sidekick.. Honestly, his track record is as evil as it gets.. He killed countless demons to harvest their cores to make her a full demon, without her knowledge obviously.. He kidnapped her while she was with the ML and unleashed the demonic fire, which could have killed countless innocents and the ML as well if he was an ordinary person.. He killed her evil cousin and his girls, revived her archnemesis Elder Hui and even released the dream demon to wreak havoc during her wedding.. He also had a hand in the demonic fire incident 18 years ago, manipulated Hu Zhu into a reckless chase that got her hurt and used that rat Elder Hui again to hurt Liu Tai Zhen and ended up killing Xuan Hui.. He said some nasty things to the ML that made the FL sound like an adulteress with immoral relationships.. On top of all this, he was the mastermind behind the demon uprising which he staged to lure the Changxi Palace to Chang’an and spark a war between humans and demons.. So, someone who did all of this and how did he pay for his sins?? With an easy death.. His last moments were the best he could get considering everything he did, that was kindness overflowing from the writers.. The more I think of it, the more it annoys me..
The last arc had its moments but again, it was underwhelming.. The amnesia storyline dragged on for too long.. The villains were defeated too easily and we still didn’t get a full blown action sequence..
I would say the script was good.. It’s just my personal feeling that’s swaying me toward so many negative remarks.. I am tired of good scripts being butchered for the writers kink for angst and jealousy.. This drama is a prime example of what could have been.. Such a powerful script with talented actors, not just the main leads but the supporting cast too.. If only they had refined the story and fine tuned it, it could have been so much better.. The ending comes a little too fast for my liking.. The last task felt very short and rushed.. And why did it have to be a rushed ending?? I mean you had 38 episodes to play with, yet we get another rushed conclusion.. Even though there is a post credits scene, it doesn’t feel like enough..
P.S. It seems the CDrama industry is blessing Cheng Lei with all its satisfactorily ending dramas…
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Formulaic and Fun Fluff
In decades of television watching, I haven't met a contract relationship drama that I find completely unbearable. (A Business Proposal did test my resolve) Despite the fact that the C drama production line churns them out as if entire livelihoods depend on them, I always manage to find one to suit the mood I'm in. It's no different in this case.I'm a sucker for contract marriage tropes in the same way people hanker for Korean fried chicken. It's moreish, a guilty pleasure and we know exactly what's on offer. No more, no less. In other words, it's unabashedly a tropefest... with a vengeance. Too much can undoubtedly lead to indigestion. Hence things play out very much by the numbers: sign the contract, cohabitate, misunderstandings, feelings develop, obstacles from within and without, last-minute separation and then the happily-ever-after.
Right out of the romance playbook is the grumpy but ridiculously good-looking CEO who is being pestered by his doting grandmother who uses her ailing health to force him into finding a bride ASAP. Being the good grandson that he is, (and he's probably sick of the nagging too) he complies and settles on He Jinxi who forces her twin sister Su Yanxi to take her place to fulfil the contract. In predictable fashion, the nicer younger sister enters the Gu household and very quickly the tsundere CEO, Gu Xicheng falls for her winsome ways affecting an indifference he doesn't feel. Soon he's pleading for her to stay and indeed who can resist those puppy dog eyes? She succumbs to the wooing but suffers pangs of guilt from time to time for the deception, dreading the day that he will have to be told about her real name. Meanwhile he romances her like there's no tomorrow proving that there's a beating heart 'neath the harsh exterior. Moreover, like all tsunderes that have come beforehand, he is a man living with trauma and abandonment issues.
It's everything we've seen before but of course this is a 24 episode C drama and obstacles to happiness must come into it sooner or later. Rivals enter and wreak havoc. One being Nangong Liuli, who has the oddest idea that Gu Xicheng used to be in love her ie. the clingy type who is an utter disgrace to womanhood with her antics. In no time she turns into an emotional basket case when she can't take "no" for an answer. Then there's Fu Boye, a childhood friend of Su Yanxi. He too may or may not have special feelings for Su Yanxi aka He Jinxi. His fixation with Xixi comes across as rude but it can't be disputed that it keeps Gu Xicheng on his toes.
The show makes no claim to originality but gets plenty of mileage (as one might expect) from having attractive actors at the helm. Luo Zheng certainly looks the part and easily slips into the one-woman-only man role with ease. I liked his chemistry with Lin Xiyi who plays the woman he falls for. He doesn't have to extraordinarily good here (and he's not) but he does enough to convince me that he's in love with Xixi. Besides I watch these things mostly to see the male lead fall for his fated love and I wasn't disappointed. Lin Xiyi is the good-hearted Xixi whose good naturedness is calculated to thaw the CEO faster than the speed of sound. When she's not romancing him, she's doing cosmetics livestreaming with her bestie Lu Anan (Li Xinran) who doubles up as love interest for Xicheng's PA and brother-in-arms, Situ Shuo (Wang Xudong).
There's a nice bit of fan servicing or should I say lip servicing from Episode 16 onwards. Or episodes 16-20 more precisely. That's before the axe falls and the evil twin returns to the plot with her menacing best. It does get nasty and predictably all skeletons come tumbling out of the cupboard one at a time at the writer's whim. It is around this period that Xixi becomes a constant source of frustration and sets up a very unnecessary last minute separation. It's her opportunity to take control of the narrative but no, she doesn't even follow her own advice. It's tiring to watch because Xicheng (who is no fool) is practically begging her to tell him why she's moody and moping when the evil twin tries to drive a wedge between the leads.
In the end, this is harmless fluff. No thinking is required and none is recommended. Just sit back, relax, count the tropes and enjoy the nuttiness.
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I did not know a couple of the leads but they were really good and made me believe their characters. Their acting was so natural and so funny when they have to be, and they made me cry at the tender moments as well.
The music was so well suited to the drama.
As for rewatch value, it's a long drama, so maybe in the very far future I will go ahead and re-watch. It's worth it.
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Liar's Poker.
The Ingenious One is part of the new wuxia genre where the main protagonist is an anti-hero by classic wuxia standards. He is so highly evolved that intelligence and cunning rather than superior martial arts is his defining characteristic. Thus the ingenious Yun Xiang is aloof and cynical, he can run but he can't fight, he is righteous in an ends justify the means sense and his main tactical advantage is his big brain. This drama unfolds like a three-dimensional chess game, which can be very interesting or very boring depending on your attention to detail and interest in complex plots. Even though Yun Xiang can't fight, he is surrounded by characters who can so there are well choreographed action scenes to look forward to.After his village was massacred, Yun Xiang was raised as the sole disciple of the master of the mysterious Yuntai sect. The cerebral and commercial Yuntai and their rival the lethal and rebellious Lingyuan are successors of the legendary Qian sect. At Yuntai, Yun Xiang immerses in qiān shù 千术 or the secret Qian art of scheming and deception. They are sophisticated grifters with a controversial reputation that pay lip service to Taoist principles. One of their core principles is detachment as everyone is a pawn. Attachments and emotions make you vulnerable. This is Yun Xiang's lonely world view as he makes his way down the mountain 15 years later as a brilliant practitioner of qiān shù 千术. Time and all that brain washing did not erase his thirst for vengeance. Against his master's instructions, he makes a beeline for Nandu to uncover the truth behind his village's massacre. Along the way, he is besotted by the formidable and mysterious Shu Yanan. Sparks fly and their objectives appear aligned so they both let their guard down enough to form a wary alliance.
In Nandu, Yun Xiang's first order of business is to finance his mission. This focus on the practical money aspects of everything from running a sect to building influence is fresh and interesting. To achieve his goals, Yun Xiang plays monopoly using qiān shù 千术 or deception to control a bank, a port, a casino and a silk business. As it turns out, this brilliant protege of Yuntai is just a talented con man, a grifter. He boldly plays liar's poker with higher stakes at each turn with the power brokers of Nandu. Everyone is a pawn until they are not and he starts to break Yuntai's core principle of not letting emotions be it love or friendship mess up the con. The drama could have better highlighted how his hidden opponent was plying the same schemes against him. With narrow margins against a hidden foe, does Yun Xiang's growing affection for his pawns become his Archilles heel?
A recurring criticisms of this drama is that Yun Xiang is not that ingenious. The narrative fails to emphasize how under resourced and outnumbered Yun Xiang is. When he shows up in Nandu, he has no allies, no money and only cold clues as to what happened 15 years ago. So it's not fair to expect him to be three steps ahead when he can barely tell friend from foe. We are told he is a complex and morally ambiguous revenge driven character but his backstory is so cursorily shown that he seems like a blank person with no family or friends or history. This impression is amplified when his revenge gets sidelined as he stumbles upon the greater conspiracy and that plot-line takes over the rest of the drama. Similarly Shu Yanan's history is murky until late in the game and her relationship with Wen Cong is never explained. Thus her decisions and priorities are difficult to understand and seem at times inconsistent. Their romance developed too quickly and hiccups at a point the plot should have been building momentum towards a climax rather than digressing into romantic angst. Even though Chen Xiao and Mao Xiaotong did their best, their character designs and relationship evolution did not give them that much to work with.
In sharp contrast, the supporting roles are better written and steal the show. The priorities and drivers of Jin Biao, Mo Bufan, Kang Qiao, the Su family and Liu Gongquan are understandable and empathetic. I was too invested in their well-being and happiness to enjoy the irony of Yun Xiang's role reversal into a puddle of a tropey female lead whose whose life's mission gets hijacked by love. The standout entertaining roles areJin Biao the assassin with a heart of gold and Mo Bufan the money loving banker lured by greed and whipped by fear. Liu Gongquan's entrance also lifts the plot at a point it was sagging. I enjoyed Wang Zirui's chemistry with Chen Xiao better than that of Mao Xiaotong's, which seemed forced. While the role is well acted, Kou Yunjie is the biggest moron in the entire drama. His actions make no sense other than to facilitate plot movements. Only lazy writers take short cuts in plot design by dumbing down characters. The so-called brilliant mastermind and his main dogsbody win more as a result of a huge information and resource advantage rather than exceptional tactics. Their motives for engaging in such a vast and long-dated conspiracy with dire consequences for failure are not compelling. Petty antagonists like Tang Xiao are more believable with their penny-ante tricks and more basic instincts.
The plot picks up into a predictable but overall satisfactory ending after the final conspiracy and mastermind is unveiled. The main antagonist is designed to not show themself or their plans too early. This comes at the cost of making their motive unconvincing and is pointless as their identity quickly becomes obvious anyway. While based on true historical events, the plot design is often used and does not stand out in any unique way. After years of scheming, the mastermind's grand plan is full of holes and overly dependent on single sources of supplies and too few and too unreliable sources of manpower. This kind of shoddy plan would have failed on its own without much help from anyone! But I was too busy enjoying the confiscation of irreplaceable family jewels, a nice end surprise twist and watching villains face gruesome consequences. The message that detachment is a flawed Yuntai mantra; that emotional attachments can swing the odds both negatively and positively is lost in the finale. I enjoyed this drama but recognise there are many holes and unanswered questions, the pacing is not exciting enough and the momentum build disrupted by unnecessary romantic angst. It is a story that had a lot of potential and a wonderful cast but did not come together in the best way. Thus it would not be fair of me to rate this more than an 8.0/10:0 as one of those far from perfect but still highly enjoyable dramas.
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A story that can make you stop breathing
I honestly didn't expect such a storyline. and I know it's sad that it is too short but the episodes which were given to us were perfect from the very beginning to the very end. Anyway, I loved it and I truly hope there will be more and more future series with the main characters. they truly delivered perfect acting and kudos to both.Was this review helpful to you?
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