John Wick female version with cool cinematography
It was John Wick female version.....There was nothing much to the plot nor a lots of dialogues... Just simple revenge story with cool fighting scenes. The acting was not bad either. Tbh there was nothing much to act except the scenes wth the friend....
What I loved the most abt this is the cinematography and the use of colours...it was all shades of orange.. A lot like Wong Kar Wai movie....
The cinematography alone was enough to keep me watching this to the end..
It was a fun watch for one time watching. Not sure about the re-watch value
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A disappointing barely-BL.
The series is framed by a class about love, wherein the students in the class are paired off in heterosexual couples to do a bunch of love experiments. Two girls pair up, because one is in love with the professor, and the other has a stalker, so she's terrified of all men (except Jiwoo, who's too tiny to be scary).That means that two boys have to pair off, and off we go.
This is a BL, and yet the class doesn't even attempt to address same-sex relationships, or anything not heteronormative. The most we get is that the professor allows the same sex pairings. To be frank, nobody should need his permission.
Because the stalked girl (Yuna) isn't afraid of Jiwoo, she allows him to escort her home, which draws him into the stalker mess.
This is a series that could have worked if it were twice as long. It simply had too much going on, a lot of it totally unnecessary, to cover in six brief episodes. Almost the entire story is about Jiwoo pursuing Yuna and dealing with her stalker. There almost no BL whatsoever.
Then, we skip all the processing it might take to go from identifying as straight and being in love with a girl to going gay. Jiwoo changes like a light switch being flipped, and Roa, who loves him, rejects him based on truly incomprehensible reasoning, then abandons his life and runs off to the sea. But we do have time for a silly girl's antics and pursuit of her professor and Roa's intrusive asshole roommate.
This story is so disjointed and lacking in any organic character or relationship development that I felt absolutlely nothing at the end.
The series doesn't fail because it's short, it fails because it's a long story that was crammed into a short space. For contrast, watch the 8-minute BL short Please Tell Me So on YouTube, also starring Han Hyun Jun - this does a much better storytelling job despite its brevity.
I'm often told that I should unconditionally support Korean BL because it's new there (It isn't. Long Time No See was made in 2017, less than a year after SOTUS) and operating in a homophobic environment (welcome to the continent of Asia). Why? I support good Korean BL like Semantic Error - I have no responsibility to support borderline gay-baiting like this, which is a cynical attempt to exploit a fashionable genre without having to commit to it. This is not a m/m romance, it's a story about stalking, with a shallow and cliched15-minunte BL stapled to the end of it.
Story: Since this is marketed as a BL, I have to rate the writing as a BL, so 3. I liked that Jiwoo's first hints of attraction to Roa was from seeing him shirtless rather than trip/catch/stare or accidetal kiss.
Acting: 7.5. Han Hyun Jun is more like a 9, most of the rest are fine, and Kim Tae Hwan is OK but a bit stiff.
Music: It's there.
Rewatch: 2 - I wouldn't watch it again, but I might revisit a couple of scenes that I liked.
Overall: 5. My overall opinion was that it was bad, but didn't look like it was bad. It's competently produced, but the story is just not interesting as a BL and skips too much that is important. I really hope someone puts Han Hyu Jun in something much better than this because he is talented and just adorable.
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Sweet + Entertaining + Fast Pace
Positives:-Entertaining: I tried so many of these sweet dramas (modern and costume) and this one stood out for entertainment value. Pacing is great and I never got bored. It actually does have a simple story to tell and the romance/jokes are not trying too hard. Their daily lives are full of interesting moments which made me smile, lol, squeal, excited, and wanting more.
-Perfectly cast: GORGEOUS respectable yet full of contrast male lead character (main reason why I watch dramas) plus a cute and assertive female lead, with a young and energetic cast of friends. They all fit their characters well, have fun interactions with each another and delivered good performances.
-Fight scenes: there are a good amount here done by male lead himself and the martial arts director and crew deserves recognition.
-Production: although not a big budget drama, everything from wardrobe, hair & makeup, setting, camera work, fight scenes, CG are done well. Nothing annoying stood out that takes away from story/characters. I can tell production cares and want to deliver a fun drama for people to enjoy.
Negatives:
-Some typical romance cdrama tropes but with a male lead like that, who cares...
-Over simplified throne struggles which is not a reason I watch this drama.
So if at the end of the day you just want to come home, relax, destressed, and enjoy something easy and fun, watch this. =)
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Arsenal Military Academy
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It didn't give what it was supposed to give
*Sigh*I was really looking forward to this one.
I rewatched Go-Go Squid just before I watched Dt. Appledog's time, and I wish I hadn't.
In short, it's no match for Go-Go Squid. My head hurts from how BORING it was. The plot was just okay. I was really hoping for more, but I think the original Go-Go Squid cast is what made it so GOOD. This cast just didn't have the same chemistry as the old one. The sets also didn't feel the same, KK headquarters felt... Cold? The GGS KK headquarters felt like home, but the set they chose to felt so empty.
I was glad to see Hu Yi Tian finally saying sentences, and his chemistry with Li Yi Tong wasn't too bad either. I was rooting for them the whole time but couldn't bear to watch their story through.
I think this drama might be interesting to people who have not seen Go Go Squid, but if you haven't seen it yet watch GGS first! Don't bother with this one :p
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Appreciable attempt...
The literal translation might be "shooting stars" but I still wanna call it "shitting stars" for 2 reasons: firstly, it has 똥:tong (poop) in its original title and the very fact that they've used asterisks (**) for the international title. So, even though many people say it's shooting, the intentions of the makers is very clear, huh!Produced by "Mays Entertainment" and created by "Studio Dragon", "Sh**ting Stars (별똥별)" is a romcom plus idol-life drama. Written by Choi Young Woo and directed by Lee Soo Hyun, the show was originally broadcasted on tvN while iQIYI took charge of international distribution.
The show could be a romcom drama having the main couple at the center, surrounded by many other lovelines, but deep down, it portrays the life at Entertainment agencies, as personal managers of celebrities and members of a a PR team, all of whom are indulged in cleaning up the mess created by the stars, hence justifying the intended title.
Oh Han Byeol (Lee Sung Kyung) is the PR team Head at Starforce Ent. and a long-time close buddy to the topmost actor in Korea, Gong Tae Song (Kim Young Dae); both of them are like sworn enemies and the story mainly follows their story, as they develop feelings for each other. Kang Yu Sung (Yoon Jong Hoon) and Park Ho Young (Kim Yoon Hye) are two managers at the same agency, while Choi Ji Hoon (Ha Do Gwon) is the director. Cho Ki Ppeum (Park So Jin) works as an ent. reporter whereas Do Soo Hyuk (Lee Jung Shin) is the legal advisor to StarForce.
Other familiar faces in major roles are: Lee Seung Hyub (N. Flying), Jang Hee Ryung, Kim Dae Gon, JunQ (MyName), So Hee Jung, Choi Ji Woo and Jin Ho Eun. There are many rookie actors who did deliver well. Also, you'll see many guest roles including Kim Dong Wook, Lee Sang Yeob, Jang Ki Young, Song Ji Hyo, Moon Ga Young, Chae Jong Hyeop, Lee Ki Woo, Kang Gi Doong, Lee Sang Woo, Park Jung Min, Seo Yi Suk and Lee Joo Woon.
Plot development is average yet decent and likable. The pilot episodes and the follow-up didn't create any impression, ngl. But it suddenly became interesting from the 4th episode, idk why. The furtherance is smooth, with so many up & downs and several peak moments, accompanied by twists and revelations. Except for the first few episodes, I didn't really see it going down or dragged or exaggerated. Imo, the 13th & 14th were the ones where the show was at peak throughout, and everything is put to rest by the end, opening a smooth path for the finale week. Thr ending sequence and the finale ended in a grand way. So overally, it might not be very good in sum development, but it was nice and decent with minimum flaw and damage.
The show as an usual romcom, that too in 2022 did not require immense talent to create, however, maintaining the decent quality throughout is what should matter the most. In my opinion, the writers have been able to achieve so to a great extent, if not entirely. And provided that the writers are both debutants, they should be appreciated and encouraged for this was able to be acknowledged by a huge number of audience. It was a wise choice in their part to make it more about the "behind the scenes" workers than the stars, and also giving sufficient share to each of the couple development, adding the character goals to it.
Lee Soo Hyun PDnim who has debuted only 2 years back, has been able to create about 4 moderately acclaimed pieces and I believe this drama also belongs to the same category. His previous experiences surely has helped though this was his first romcom, unusual of his genre. The decent job in case of screenplay, screen-editing, sound editing, sequencing, etc. should be appreciated. Setup in modern urban vistas, there was no need of visual excellence, and everything has been kept simple. The extraordinary failure of cinematographic work in Africa should deduct a point from overall though.
There are 5 OSTs in total and all likable, perfectly blending to the drama and properly utilised throughout. "Shooting Star" by Nam Woo Hyun is alluring track with tranquil music describing how it feels to be in love. "How I Feel" with Kim Jae Hwan's captivating vocals has a jolly rhythm and a piece of confession. "My secret, My everything" by Sondia and Vincent Blue brings back the vibes of old K-romcom OSTs, I cry every time I listen; their harmony is everything. "Departure from a Country" by SuJu Kyuhyun is a melancholic yet alleviating song with stimulating lyrics. "Won't give up" by Choi Yuree is is a softcore track about assuring one about staying by their side and comforting for ever.
What I liked...
# Chemistry development between Tae Sung and Han Byeol was very fond, sweet and likable. Even though they get together sooner than expected, the follow-up journey was nice as well.
# The second couple (won't say who) were the cutest, I'll cry. I wish they had more screentime as couples or their prior development but I'm actually very happy that the couple existed. Let me cry again. The same goes for the third lead couple as well. Let me informq that there are 6 couples in total and each of them are uniquely heart-winning. Look forward to them.
# Park Ho Young, as a person was sweet and her acting is so adorable no matter the situation. The cheerful character she played, surely will remain in my memory.
# Kang Yu Sung, as a responsible and handsome manager did give me flutters throughout. The man is so charming, I will literally pluck stars for him. The character was well written.
# My Lee Jung Shin did shine in the show as well. Him in formal is paradise. The couple chemistry might have come very late but it was nice.
# The PR team, Manager team and the entire organization have been an amazing experience. I don't think such importance was given before? The office scenes were mixed bags of emotions, depicting various situations.
# Emphasizing mental health issues in idol dramas is common but this show did a good job in exposing variable sides of it and also throwing light upon the "behind-the-scene" efforts from the companies, which might not be entirely real.
# Dae Soo calling Yuna-yaaaa was so funny yet so pleasant, I swear. I will miss that for a while, hahahaha.
# There are more than one bromance in different forms though none of them is greatly emphasized, starting from co-stars to managers then between stars & manager and then stars and staffs, and what not. Each of them were fluffy.
# I love the very way the OSTs has been utilized in the show; not only they're good on their own, the appropriate use during the melodrama is actually well-handled. I don't usually see this as a specific point but this drama made me realize so.
What I didn't like...
# Kim Young Dae's acting was a bit off imo. Outstanding performance should be expected from a lead but I guess he was still not prepared to takeover the ML role. It wasn't bad actually, the thing is he needs more training and polishing, and definitely has the potential to become a good factor.
# Unnecessary crossovers did irritate me. The "Find Me In Your Memory" appearance was fine and relatable but the "Penthouse" one was annoyingly cringey and wasn't necessary. Def felt like a filler.
# The cinematography in 1st ep was disgusting, infact, very much overdone. No, seriously, Africa doesn't look like that irl.
# The less of the 2nd couple came to me as disappointing when I realized that even with the seemingly lees screentime, they outshined the lead couple.
Final Remarks... The pros definitely outweigh the cons: in simple, it was a good show to look forward to. Unlike a lot of people, I think it a fairly average drama with very few flaw, which makes it a decent one time watch, yet something that everyone should watch, provided that these days, old-styled romcom dramas with good production values. Go ahead.
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Unique, refreshing and riveting!!!
This drama has indeed shocked me, I can understand it took a while to air because of various reasons one of them being censorship so let's say I had lost hope that it was going to be as good..or if it was going to even air but it finally did and here we are....This is definitely one of the best dramas this year...2024 hasn't been the best C drama year so I have to specially thank snowfall for pulling me right out of that slump.....
This dramas had a riveting, refreshing and sort of unique plot..that despite facing issues of censorship managed to keep you engaged and entertained..the story was a mixture of fantasy, action, suspense thrill and a bit of comedy but was also really emotional and heartwarming.
The characterisation was good..the characters especially the main characters were written to be complex but also interesting and also had personality..... except for the villain antagonist that came off as rather aimless and one dimensional but I can put him aside because these other characters made up for what he lacked.
The acting was absolutely incredible, I need to applaud the actors and actresses for devouring and being commited to their roles in a way that made me connected to them and the story.
Gao weiguang's character as Shen zhiheng was absolutely Mature charismatic but also principled, disciplined, kind and dignified..in addition to generating a really strong aura that made me love and appreciate his character.
Ouyang nana as Milan was such a precious Character, I love how she managed to portray a blind character so well, her eye expressions and body language was so convincing..and I loved her character development after she changed....she was smart, witty and charming....she was a great addition to the cast.
Win wins Character as Situ weilan was another amazing character, he was potrayed as grey and witty but also a bit mysterious....and generated this charming era....
These three had such amazing character chemistry and I enjoyed their interactions throughly.
One character I had a problem with was the supposedly antagonist Li yiyang, his character seemed aimless, and cartoonish and one dimensional and I wasn't sure about whether to take him seriously or not..he was so annoying and definitely not entertaining but regardless I have to commend Ryan Ren's acting in some scenes especially in the last Episodes..he did start off as overacting but I loved how he improved towards the end...it was indeed a development.
I must say I also enjoyed...the heart warming relationship between Gao weiguang and Ouyang Nana's characters Shen and Milan...it was heartwarming and beautiful despite them having subtle interactions.....I really yearned to see more of them.
This drama was visually appealing...the costume designs the cinematography everything was shot so beautifully....it was appeasing to the eyes.
The osts and soundtracks were amazing too.
Now which brings me to the part I kind of didn't like but also sort of understood..THE ENDING Iam still collecting my self to describe exactly what I feel about the ending..it felt a bit quick abrupt rushed....it would have sunk in more had it been a little longer...let's just say it definetly broke my heart but the series overall minus those last few minutes of EP 24 was amazing.
Do I recommend it ?
YES skip the last episode if you can't take a heartbreaking ending but watch the rest of the drams the only difference is that you might get too attached and connected as I was which would lead to a heartbreak.
All in all this is one of the best dramas this year!!! For me so I give it a 10 consider it an emotional rating because even if it wasn't the most perfect drama I was still entertained so much to give it anything less than that.....so enjoy!!! It's a nice drama.
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1. ZERO, let me say again ZERO, nada, nil, bupkiss, makjang. Twenty episodes with plenty of grim but no nonsense. The absence of time skips, noble idiocy, zombie spouses etc was so bizarre for a K Drama that its very sanity almost seemed makjang. It was the primary example of
2. The revolutionary idea that viewers might be intelligent adults, and treating them accordingly. Characters who behaved credibly, and stayed in character. When noble idiocy loomed, it was called out as BS, which it always is. Shite happens and the bad guys DO get away with it, but life can go on and happiness can still be found.
3. The music. Really intelligent and well thought out choices, from the best ever use of Mickey and Barbie Girl to the song that ALWAYS makes me think of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi behind chicken wire - Stand By Your Man The music was note perfect and the use of so many English language songs really helped this old man feel the nostalgia feels.
4. The acting. Unlike many, I HATE Pasta to the the core of my soul with a loathing that will burn forever. It was the very first K Drama I ever dropped and I still resent it bitterly for wasting 9 hours of my life that felt like 9 weeks. I could rant about everything I dislike about that Drama for nearly as long as I could laud this one to the skies, which is what makes it relevant here. LSK's performance in this Drama showed that he's an actor, and becomes his character. From partway through Episode 2 I did not even think of him as the loathsome tyrant of Pasta once. A great performance as a real human being. I know that it was the same creative team too, which makes the credibility and humanity of the characters all the more remarkable to me. Oh Jung Se was as reliably awesome as ever, adding one more big black mark to the record of those criminals who wasted his talents in MHIYD
This is also the third Drama in a row where I watched an actress for the first time whose previous works had been panned but who delivered in style.Go Ara, Yoona and now Lee Yeon Hee had all been lambasted as pretty faces who can't act, but all three for me delivered solid performances worthy of commendation. I absolutely loved LYH's delivery of the "You're Mine, and I'm mine" lines, perfectly encapsulating the character she so ably brought to life. And of course, very much unlike Yoona, LYH got a good ...
5. Ending. Perhaps the most remarkable feat of this Drama was its conclusion. It took real courage to end the pageant when they did, but then to give a masterclass in how to wind down a Drama was equally remarkable. In her recap of Episode 18, koala talked about the K Drama fixation with the drama lasting until the last couple of minutes then a quick happy ending as the credits roll. Or a handshake and a smile, which in some parallel Universe apparently counts as a "happy ever after" ending. The alternative to this "cry, hurt, pain, anguish, separation - kiss,smile, fade-out" style is normally a soggy, pointless pile of sap that looks and feels like the fan service it almost invariably is. But here, even when the BIG drama was done and dusted, there were enough smaller dramas to make it feel like a real, ongoing story, even while it wound down toward a truly satisfying happy ending.
At times I reveal a tendency to be a bit hyperbolic in my reactions to negative characters. It's a tribute to the brilliance of the 3-4 episode wind down of this Drama that by the end, all that bile was gone, and I was OK with the two villains getting away with it, actually getting off scot free. Because the Drama eased off gradually and showed the OTP being so perfectly perfect for each other while still being believable human beings, I wasn't left ranting "you call THAT a happy ending, why aren't those two snakes being skinned alive and boiled in oil?" Instead I was (quite literally) smiling and clapping with delight at the ways the Drama surprised me.
I am so indebted to the soompi friend for never missing an opportunity to sing this Drama's praises, and completely understand why he referred to it as the new Gold Standard of K Drama writings. It quite unarguably is, and that is itself a real problem. Even though my tally of 60-something Dramas watched means I'm still a beginner, I'd already got used to lowering expectations and looking only for good characterisation and believable OTP chemistry in the Dramas I choose to watch. Now I feel like I've seen a glimpse of K Drama's own Asgard, where the Drama Gods sup on ambrosial shows we never get to see. The end of Episode twenty meant the beanstalk was hacked out from under me, and my brief ascension to the dizzying heights of this medium's potential was terminated, leaving only very happy memories and the sad conviction that "we will not see its like again" . Except, of course, when I watch all over again from the beginning, this time with my wife.
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This review may contain spoilers
I Swear if That Boy Don't Remove That Thing On His Face!!!
At some point we need to find out who keeps giving Star Hunter investment to make these nonsense bls, so we can throw eggs at them or boo them in public, cuz what the hell? Just why? Who green lit this? And what was the point of the ugly arse maid custom, and did y’all see that ugly lingerie? Also did that boy put a plastic bag over the lead's head?Listen, is Star Hunter looking to go out of business or something? Cuz seriously, what the eff was this? Yes, this had a plot, with a start and a middle and an end, but it was executed so badly, with awful acting, cliches, cringe, awkward dialogue, horrible direction, stupid cheesy sound effects, basically, they found a 'do not do list' and said, wanna bet? This whole show was unfortunate. Let me explain:
The lead was naive to the point of stupidity and talked so loud it was like he lived inside a washing machine. The love interest's whole thing was that he was a dirty smelling dude who looked like a creepy uncle and came off as a garbage collector. The second couple were meh, cuz the smaller one was so obnoxious he made me wanna hurl. There was a female couple who could have been replaced by a houseplant and it wouldn't have made a difference to the plot. The lead's friends were annoying and loud, and wasted screen time on nothing. There was attempt at a love triangle, but the rival was so boring and uninteresting, chalk had more personality than him. Another random dude was in love with the dirty love interest cuz he saw his cow photo one time or something. And there was one guy with blond hair who's purpose for being in the drama seemed to be filler person. No really, his whole thing was to fill in the empty spaces on screen. If there was an empty chair, he was sitting in it, if there was white noise, you can bet he was saying something stupid to fill it.
And that was about it, and don't get me started on the cringy arse scene with the 'Can I taste your lips' or 'I am thirsty' crap. Or the ugly arse facial hair that vexed me to no end, why did he have to have it for so long? Oh, and that tv remote bit, where suddenly the lead was no longer acting like he was born yesterday. And the milk. OMG the milk, what was up with the milk?? I mean everyone need a thing but...you know what, never mind. I'm not doing this today, if you're looking for a bad bl show or your time is worth nothing, go ahead and give this a chance.
Star Hunter, thanks for nothing Bob!
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Story/plot: -10- This drama had a cute, fun, and catch-worthy storyline! I absolutely loved how it was centered around swimming, mixed with life issues and dramas. I was intrigued from the very beginning to the very end, and although there were some parts that were dragged out, I couldn't really blame them; after all, they had to fill up 36-37 episodes... Even so, every episode hooked me in, and made me stay up late every night, telling myself "just one more episode" (even though we all know, that is never true :P). The ending is definitely NOT a downer! This ending was settled and it flowed smoothly and nicely.
Acting/cast: -10- LEMME TELL YOU! THIS CAST=PERFECTION! Xiong Dylan (Tang Yi Bai)+Tan Song Yun (Yun Duo)=so cute!!! They are the ULTIMATE couple and they were made to be the main leads. I squealed at their height difference every time, and their interactions on and off camera are also goals! Other than the main leads, I also loved how there were other cute couples around them like, for example, Huang Sheng Chi (Qu Rui Feng) and Wang Zi Xuan (Xiang Yang Yang). Not to mention, there were a lot of good lookin' guys in this drama! You need the right cast to carry out a good storyline and THIS CAST MADE EVERYTHING FANTASTIC!
Music: -10- This is my first drama where I truly payed attention and appreciated the song selection, and this is because the song selection for this drama is so memorable! Every song truly matched their placement during the moments throughout the drama. If anyone wants to take a sneak peak at a song example, here is my favorite, "Crossing the Pacific", which could be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY65i3DP9WA
Rewatch value: -8- Although I gave many complements about this drama, my rewatch value would have to be an 8. This is because since there were a lot of surprising twists and turns, rewatching the whole drama from beginning to end wouldn't allow the full attention this drama truly deserves. I will, however, re-watch all the cute moments the characters had with one another and beware! there are A LOT of cute moments where I guarantee you will squeal when watching!
Overall: -9.5- Overall, this drama was a cute and refreshing one to watch for me. My only downer is probably the rewatch value, but I still advice this to everyone because of all the positive things I stated above, from the storyline to the music, this drama made everything fit well altogether.
Thank you to everyone who read this relatively long review, but I hope whoever is reading this to give "My Mr. Mermaid" a try, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :)
Chào for Now!
Lily L.
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This review may contain spoilers
Started strong but went downhill towards the end, such a shame!
This show started really strong for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet chemistry between the leads. How I see it, I don’t see a sizzling chemistry between the leads, as you do for the second couple, however, they look good together and complement one another. The acting is also really great by both of the leads and I wish to see them in more works in the future.However, somewhere towards the middle, the show became a little drag. For a short series of 14 episodes with episodes not that long as well, I feel like it was unnecessary to include some of the tropes like a second male and female lead. It was not even executed well because it was so short that it felt like it was included just for the sake of having that drama instead of actually getting something out of it. Similarly, there were a lot of things happening without any context. Really poor writing and direction towards the middle which made me question if the writer has changed. They’re getting married out of nowhere and many other things happen like that which leave you questioning the entire plot and what exactly is happening.
For instance, Episode 13, though cute, was such a filler episode. No substance whatsoever. They're adding any random fight, argument, or misunderstanding now just to stretch it to 14 episodes. So many good subplots have been missed by their writing team like the business aspect (for the show focusing on her job so much at the start, that is barely covered anymore) or how they got married or even a better confession. As it is now, it starts feeling lame/repetitive/boring to me towards the second half. This was such a good plot, they definitely needed better scriptwriters.
The story in itself is quite simple, straight forward and sweet. I somewhat enjoyed it despite the lack of coordination because I enjoyed their scenes together quite a lot, so I kept my brain aside while watching. It’s an easy and fluffy romance that is a nice watch. Would recommend it for people who’re looking for some cute fluffy romance, no angst per se and no melodrama or toxic people per se (other than that one co-worker). Quite an easy watch (with too many plot holes).
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I understand where this plot wants to go, and I even appreciated – to some extent - the never-ending shifts of most characters from one side to the other, when not somewhere in between. However, it gets a little surreal in the long run, to the point that the unpredictable becomes predictable: once you know nothing is as it seems, you're prepared to think the opposite of what they want you to think – hence seeing through the smoke curtain. Therefore, if it weren't for the heartthrobbing Paksa Adil and all the scenes he's in bar none, this drama would be a sequel of police actions going askew either because some corrupted high power butts in or because they are as incospicuous as a baobab tree in the desert. Not to mention the nth old, or fat, or old and fat villain sitting on some baroque chair and acting like a lunatic buddha ordering this or that killing. I need to confess: at times I yawned. And why do the powerful and corrupted always meet at Japanese restaurants? Does sashimi embody the "raw" quality of the Korean politics?
Unfortunately, there's no way to explain the faults of this plot without spoiling it. Suffice to know that I stopped watching it for the plot and just went for the way scenes were shot and acted. Now, if it were possible to rate direction and cinematography in particular, it would be a completely different story, since the drama is visually and technically impeccable. Attention to details, colouring and the use of light – or lack thereof - all are spot on and intensely evocative. I found many of the characters extremely interesting, constantly fluctuating between dark and shade – light is completely absent here – and the acting by Kim Yoo Mi and Choi Moo Sung impressed me no end. Kim Yoo Mi in particular gives life to an amazing character, extremely stubborn as a "boss" and wonderfully human as a woman. My liking of her character is all due to her acting, because, let's face it, the poor actress's actions consist mostly on moving from an armchair to a sofa with a glass of whisky in her beautifully manicured hand. It's therefore the subtle changes of her face that tell her story.
As for Jung Kyung Ho's, it'd deserve a review on its own, so mesmerizing it was. His character is the best written one: you can peel off layer after layer and there's still something to find. The actor's take of it, suavely ruthless and gracefully tormented, makes his Doc's Son into one of those unforgettable characters who are going to stay with you for a very long time. Without him, this drama would be nothing more than a morbid, blurred photograph of an improbable criminal world. His onscreen chemistry with Nam Gyu Ri and his "putative family" is palpable and great to watch, but then again, I think this actor would have great chemistry with a tree trunk, if needed.
On the opposite side of the spectrum there's Ji Hyeong Min, the super cop who got so much on my nerves I want to forget him with all my might. He goes from being as likable as an ingrown nail to suddenly grasping the situation to no avail whatsoever. Truth be told, the whole police force – the official one, that is – could have heavily contributed to the comic if this drama had a comic intention, which it doesn't. The level of corruption and the number of undercovers borders on ridicule.
The soundtrack is classy, powerful, always appropriate. In short, marvelous.
I am not going to rewatch this drama any time soon, if ever. Intense but frustrating, it is the kind of experience which leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth, since the ultimate meaning of it seems to be that justice is a mere word, a utopia for philosophers and dreamers. I have no doubt this is so in real life too, but at least when dealing with the world of fiction, I'd rather be deceived.
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This review may contain spoilers
Wow, I loved it!
This series is primarily about a woman who is betrayed by her husband, but it was how she responded to his betrayal that made the story such a satisfying one. Rather than watching a bitter and traumatic struggle...it felt as if we had a ringside seat to one woman's grand awakening. Watching her journey of personal growth was thrilling and those of us who watched it LIVE loved every episode. The writers gave this FL a phenomenal character role and she made this story a stand out for me.Things I liked...
First, the FL.
Initially, her character appeared a bit subdued. She is beautiful, but she is not a bombshell. But as we watch her, her inherently graceful persona becomes captivating..and contrasts sharply with her husband and his crude and selfish parents.
She was portrayed as a woman who had married young, in a male dominated society, for whom love was of secondary importance. So when he cheated, it might've wrecked her world..but it did not destroy her. Her concern was only for her daughter, and money meant nothing if she could have her.
Her character was so authentically drawn that we believed in her. She was grace under fire and even when she yelled in agony when they took her daughter away and purposefully at the company dinner, she was never out of control. She mistreated no one..not even his cruel parents. She was also unexpectedly kind to both women who betrayed her, and because of that kindness...she gained a forever friend. Her grace not only endeared her to the SML...but also to her employees who would've followed her anywhere. And of course her daughter knew she was loved by her.
Interestingly, the only person who underestimated her was her ex-husband. But once she was backed into a corner..her confidence and determination combined with her keen brain made more her than his match. She was no less kick butt than any martial artist FL we have seen, sans the martial arts. Lol. And every time she succeeded we were elated.
Second, I Liked the SFL.
Her character was not simple nor one dimensional. She was young and a bit desperate ..and she foolishly trusted in lies. However, once she wakes up, she is smart enough to see her mistakes and to learn from them. It is a real and somewhat raw portrayal of the foolishness of women who fall for the machinations of powerful men. To give this woman credit, she is incredibly hard working and she fights hard to recover her self respect......earning mine in the process.
Third...I liked the SML.
This guy is everything her husband is not. He is decent, moral and brilliant. He is also to my surprise quite good looking..I didn't really notice until the scene where he met with the ML in his office and he was wearing this blue top and in the light of the window, his face looked so beautifully chiseled..with a sharp jawline and beautiful lips..... mummm...sorry...got a bit distracted there..lol ...but although he has been in love with the FL since his college days, neither he nor she ...know much about love.
So naturally, he isn't going to tell her how he feels..nope, absolutely not!! But there is no doubt that she has been under his skin from the beginning. There is a scene later on, where she is teasing him..and it makes him so angry that he furiously exits the car. Only she can make this guy that hot and bothered and...oh... it is so lovely watching a man unravel. Lol.
In conclusion, this was a story of contrasts.. love vs lust.. ethics vs corruption. Wrong was uncovered, truth was presented and justice was served. The ML had lived and played without virtue or consequence, until everything he had hidden was revealed.
And as for the FL and the SML ...they had lived as if they were waiting for each other... for them it was an epic new beginning and a brand new Alliance. This series was a joy to watch..don't miss it.. because I promise...you are gonna love it. ❤️
Happy Watching!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."
Sure, people can change themselves and their life, and it's good when you are trying to better yourself and prosper. But when you want to change yourself just to surpass the standards of certain someone, you end up loosing yourself, which is immensely evident.REFLECTION OF YOU is a story of such desires and the constant urge of vengeance from someone who had pushed you off the cliff just when you were about to embrace your dreams. This is a story about two women: one who despite of her achievements, couldn't help herself in making choices and another who after loosing herself has become revengeful; both, thereby creating unavoidable consequences, that somehow drags their families into the mess. This is a story of love, desires, betrayal and revenge, as the synopsis states.
"Reflection of You (2021)" is the live action adaptation of the novel "Someone Who Looks Like You (너를 닮은 사람)", originally written by Jung So Hyeon (정수현)
Director Im Hyun Wook has done a very good job here, even as a newcomer with lesser experience; I am sure his work in his previous drama of similar genre, has helped him a lot. Yoo Bo Ra jakka-nim is a known and acclaimed face in the industry and she must be applauded for the stupendous plot development in this drama that carries several peaks and keeps the same intense throughout the series. Her method of storytelling as well as the monologue narrations and dialogue writing are all praiseworthy indeed.
Jung Hee Joo is a famous artists and essayist, married to a rich family. He got a loving husband and 2 adorable children: a highschool daughter and a 5yo son. She loves her family to the extent she can do anything for them and has to manage it along her artist life that she has built-up through passion. Gu Hae Won is a failed artist who has lost her path to happiness and changed from a happy-go-lucky girl to a revengeful woman. Both of them share a past that has ruinned themselves to different levels. The story shows their encounter after years, which involves the unveiling of the past events that has dragged them to hell and they try to bring down each other by any means. This major plot invoves many other characters involved with their individual lives and some sub-plots that is related to the main storyline, more or less.
What I loved about the production is that the script of the drama never ran out of substances. Whenever you feel like it might become boring and context-less, leading to subsequent exaggeration, the writer comes up with another enraging scenario which serves as a side dish. First episode successfully establishes an intriguing impression upon the audience, creating plentitude curiosity. In my case, I was mesmerized from ep1 to ep6 so much on my first day of watching that my anticipations was raised high. The way everything about their pasts got revealed within those episodes just so the viewers can draw the entire picture on their own, bothered me a lot as to what else they got to offer next. But I'm happy didn't go blank at all till the end. There's in fact no episode that didn't see development or was boring. The last 4 episodes become very intense, typical makjang vibes, that is frustrating and anger inducing like usual.
Jung Hee Joo (Go Hyun Jung) doesn't lack anything other than constant love and loneliness has grasped her.. She has seen the harshest of days but to her fortune, she falls in love with Ahn Hyun Sung (Choi Won Young), who always wants to remain flawless. Her family comes first to her and she's become very strong over years, despite which she's indecisive and can be easily manipulated that lands her in pickles many a times. Gu Hae Won (Shin Hyun Been) is a budding artist and was Hee Joo's teacher years back. She was a easygoing girl back then but situation and time has made her rude, arrogant, resentful and crazy for vengeance. She can now go to any extent to get her job done. She is married to Seo Woo Jae (Kim Jae Young), another aspiring sculpture artist who doesn't have any control over his feelings and can be reckless to get what he wants.
Other minor characters are Kim Bo Yun as Park Young Sun (Hee Joo's MIL), Kim Ho Jung as Lee Jung Eun (Hwain Museum Director), Kim Sang Ho as Yoon Sang Ho (Pub owner), Hong Seo Joon as Lee Hyung Ki (Min Seo's husband), Park Sung Yun as Lee Dong Mi (Hee Joo's friend), Seo Jung Yun as Goo Jung Yun (Hae Won's mother) and Shin Hye Ji as Lee Joo Young (Lisa's friend) , who are more or less good actors with experience.
Being a mystery-revenge thriller with makjang elements, this drama comprises of many important factors of reality. Loneliness being one of them, has won over almost everyone's mental health for which they choose to keep everything to themselves and be submerged within illusion. The worst part of it is not the pain inflicted by sad memories, rather the loneliness of it. Second being revenge, is a means to intrigue the viewers in here; they say, the best revenge is to unlike them who has caused the injury. But do people really believe in that? No! We are mostly who choose to avenge through damage, even so it is caused upon us. Obsession being another factor, proves once again that it in itself is a way of ruined beings to destroy themselves further. Of all human weaknesses, obsession is the most dangerous and the silliest. Also, lying being considered the worst habit of human beings, is something that can't be fixed. But we must remember, our lies catch up to us someday, somehow. Jealousy too is a factor that immensely dominate the story. The inner consciousness of one's own inferiority is something that can eat us out completely. Domestic violence, disturbances in marriage, parental love as well as negligence, bullying culture in highschool, greed, hate speech, extra-marital affairs, cheating, competition, insecurity, possessiveness, mistrust, etc are also a part of the drama.
I was worried the writer and director might forget about the few side plots that was incorporated into the major plot via the minor characters like Ahn Lisa (Hee Joo's daughter) played by Kim Soo An, Jung Seon-u (Hee Joo's brother) played by Shin Dong Wook and Ahn Min Seo (Hee Joo's SIL) played by Jang Hye Jin. Since there were long gaps before they brought forward the consequences of those scenarios, I was uncertain about them not turning into plotholes, but thankfully!
This has a set if good OSTs. My most favourite is "The Moment" by Lim Kim which is an English song that reminisces past and resonates the consequences with a sense of guilt and regret. The harmony in the track is very soothing, indeed. "Moving Away" by Savina & Drones is a lowbeat, despondent track with immense vocal works. "I Am Lost" by Lee Seung Yoon is a melancholic song about heartbreaks whose high note rhythms are enough to melt your soul. "Knocking On" by Jannet Suhh and "Midnight Sun" by Kim Kyung Hee are the other 2 tracks.
The sound production is also well done. The background scores and the OSTs have been utilized appropriately and were able to keep up the thriller plus makjang vibes throughout.
Knowing own-self is the beginning of all wisdom and can prove a great teacher. But the attempt to imitate someone else's reflection will only bring you misery and land in a horrendous & repulsive situation. What matters is the timely realization and withdrawal, followed by self-reflection and learning.
The finale week had the most dramatic consequences. 15th episode in fact laid a foundation for a superb finale episode but to my disappointment, that seemingly amazing seqence actually got wasted somehow; the peak at the end of ep15 somehow calmed down as soon as within 30 minutes of the 16th ep and the resr 1 hour of it was heading down some unknwon path. I don't wanna comment on it firmly bcs I am uncertain about the writer's intention, nor have I read the original work to be aware of it. But let me simply put it, that it might have another season, otherwise, we'll have to move on from it, considering that the drama got some plotholes. The ending sequences in the last 15 minutes have left me all confused and I have got at least 5 questions, which can be answered with another season only.
Its not new for Kdramas to have unsorted endings just to leave the audience to interprete and assume by their own but ai believe that's not the case here at all. I would have been happier if they had wrapped up the entire story within one season bcs I don't honestly see a potentially amazing drama out its 2nd part. Sure, this one is good but adding more to it will somehow feel like an unnecessary exaggeration, I think. Hoping to listen from the makers soon, I mean they should be clarifying about their intentions by now.
Overally, this is very good, if not something unique or groundbreaking but surely has different kind of moods and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. It's more of a combination of mystery thriller and makjang, and not the typical frustrating makjang kinda drama. The last 6 episodes have the actual intense makjang stuffs, which might not be that sensitive. But anyways, enjoying this depends on your expectations and taste in makjang drama. For example, I am not a fan of intense makjangs so this mild dose was honestly good for me. It has it's own flaws of drawing plots and characters at few points but it's definitely worth the one time watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
THE SIGN of Better BLs to Come
If anything, I am happy that Thai companies are expanding beyond the typical BL storylines. its A SIGN that the genre is evolving and has a lot of potential.Quick recap. Phaya and Tharn are reincarnations of Garudas and Nagas - mythical deities in the Buddhist/Hindu culture. Their connection was so strong that even at childhood, they were drawn to each other and Tharn became an unofficial protector of sort to Phaya. The end. Okay, Im kidding so many things has happened in this show that its so hard to make a quick recap.
What i like about the series:
1. I really love the first episode because it hooks you in to want to see more.
2. Great production value, you can see that they have really thought hard about the story and execution to deliver us a unique story. Even the action sequnces, which may often feel too rehearsed, is commendable. The CGi somewhat feels subpar but it is very acceptable considering that this is from a somewhat new production outfit. Hands off to them.
3. Maybe one of the best looking cast in a BL ever. Do i need to say more? Billy's scenes in those black boxers are BL gold. Babe is undeniably a gorgeous boy. I love all the support cast. The first episode with all the fake nude scenes is like a rain blessing to water the dryest dessert. And yes, the almost obligatory NSFW scenes in almost all episodes (but more on this later).
4. Im really happy that this is not just another university/high school story.
What i dislike:
1. I thought Tharn as a Naga is in female form, that were the dream sequences, werent it? They made such a big deal about it in the beginning but the later episodes Tharn Naga became just Tharn with long hair.
2. While a lot of the viewers like the weekly crime solving cases and the overall human baddie, i hated it. The truth is they weren't used to advance the story of Phaya and Tharn and their love story. In fact the big case turned out to be not important in the scheme of things.
2, Chalathorn turned out to be nothing but a dud instead of being the menacing villain.
3. There were too many subplots. The show wanted to be so many things. This show is worth at least 2 good BLs rolled together in one - the result is a mishmash, 2 half-baked pies and confused if its an action or a fantasy series.
4. One blatant proof of the show's identity crisis is with Tharn - one second he was this strong guy solving cases next second he is this soft crybaby blaming himself for whatever accident Phaya has gotten himself into. He is a police officer who will suddenly leave his post just to save the damsel Phaya. His character, lost consistency and could have been handled better.
5. While the male cast is the focus of the show, the young female support and the GL is acted so poorly. Even the grandmas who were suppossed to be lovable just werent. Their lines were so cringy and could have been edited out of the story to make it leaner.
6. The show got so convulated in the second half that i was watching the episodes in 2x speed. From being a must-see show it became a tedious watch, a show i just needed to finish because i want to see the ending of the fantasy story.
7. The almost obligatory NSFW scenes. For crying out loud, Phaya escaped the hospital in episode 9 just to answer a booty call.
8. The cashgrab finale. I get it, i get it, the producers wanted to capitalize and earn a little extra and god knows they deserve it for all their hard work, but it left a lot of sour taste in the mouth . Once i saw that ad showing the last episode will be shown in a streaming event, i almost decided to drop this show. What made it worse, the 3 week break between sepisode 11 and the free -to-air episode 12 turned out to be non-climatic after all, with so many plotholes and unexplainable things happening. Action scenes and that forest chase scenes became laughable, and that mythical love that is supposed to be epic in size just werent.
9. Please also explain to me how did Tharn saved Phaya from falling off that cliff from mid-air because that defied time and logic. That must have been a very very high thousand kilometer cliff because so many things have happened during that fall (the criminal was even able to get back to the base and shoot Chart) and yet Tharn still managed to save Phaya mid-air. and I watched it a few times to get a sense of it but just cant. Boy they didnt wrap this show properly.
Will i rewatch this series. No. It is tedious and there are tons of other contents right now. Im just giving it a 7.5 for all the effort and what it could have been. Will i reccommend? Sure, even with all the inconsistencies it is still a good watch, the boys alone is worth it.
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