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Completed
My Lovely Journey
25 people found this review helpful
Aug 31, 2025
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

a healing journey indeed

first, if you are here for the actor kim jae yong, he does not get so much screen time which is understandable. The story revolves around our main character Yeo Reum, about her own self discovery journey. This drama is slow paced, healing, and more focused on sceneries and human emotions.

what i loved and you might love:
-----------------------------------------------
1. Yeo Reum is rather a relatable character. she is trying to find herself, yet she seems to be more of a background character=not special(as many of us feel sometimes). Her goal is to find her own place in the world.
2. her growth does not involve only personal struggle, but also continuous learning from her clients that she substitutes. Those are people with nuanced stories and lives that we, along her, get a peak into. we learn about their past. regrets, and their life lessons
3. the sceneries are no joke, especially if you are like me and trees are your spiritual animal lol
4.no fully-fledged romance but we get crumps dont worry lol! i think the director felt that going for a full romantic story might overshadow the depth this drama wanted to convey. it could have also undermined the sense of self that kang yeoreum has been trying to establish throughout her journey.(maybe that is reserved for the s2)

what i disliked and you might too:
------------------------------------------------
1.as i ve mentioned it is understandable but maaaaan, i missed kim jae yong while watching this drama lol. i ve been anticipating when he would show up but let s say i was disappointed enough times before making peace with the dramas vision
2.the end was a little bit ummm...it closes with a cliffhanger. i mean it s a so so for me.
3. i wanted more from kang yeo reum more nuance let s say. i still felt like we are just scratching the surface with her.as i mentionned she grew vicariously through her clients, but i would like to see more going on in her own life.(maybe in season 2 )
4. i love this actress yet she sometimes fell short in depicting despair and sadness. she seems a little bit disconnected or flat for me.

overall, a good drama to heal your soul. It lets your mind wander about the meaning of life and success, while you enjoy breath taking landscapes and you get engaged in the human experience. A moment of mother nature's beauty comforting you.

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Completed
Remember 15
25 people found this review helpful
by LiN
Mar 5, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 4
Overall 7.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Forever REMEMBER [ED]

Revenge in a court without justice, is it possible?
Suspense-horror series with an intriguing twist and message.

Viewer description is STRONGLY advised because "Remember 15" is indeed VERY GORY AND INTENSE, it´s no exaggeration. You have been warned.

SHORT VERSION:
A story about a group of people who traveled to an island on the 5th death anniversary of a girl they all knew. All of them carry their own dark past with heavy secrets, which were very well portrayed and underscored by the production. Only the story lacked a bit of coherence.

I REMEMBER 15 reasons why you should watch this series

1. The protagonists are ordinary people and that´s why it is so capturing.
2. Every person has their individual flaws and personality traits.
2. The concept of this series is not far from what could happen in that kind of situation.
4. The concept is interesting.
5. The problems of these young adults are various.
6. You never know what will happen. It´s random.
7. It is not ONLY random and unfounded slaughter.
8. The crew did the best they could with their budget.
9. The art department is fascinating.
10. It has characters that represent LGBTQI+.
11. It has characters that are facing disadvantages in life (sickness, disability)
12. The opening of this series is vibey.
13. The opening soundtrack is addicting.
14. They had a lot of fun while filming on set. (As shown in the interviews)
15. Amazing actors, Amazing crew.


DETAILED VERSION:
STAFF APPRECIATION / Production
In the beginning, I really would like to point out the staff´s work in this series. The Art Director [Kissada Namuang] / Art Department [Sumat Namuang, Suphachai Aemsoem, ...] & the Prop Master [Kittuchot Lumloet] really did an insane performance as well as the actors. It´s even more mind-blowing when you keep in mind that it´s the first main role/ big role for some (3) of them, at least on MDL.

The music is well combined with the mood of the series and all individual parts work well together. The opening, an example of the superb combination of cinematography, lights, shadows, colors, and music, is very addicting for me to watch. I could write about this for days.

PLOT 6.0 >> 5.5
12 young adults return to the deserted island, the place where Lyla died five years ago to pay tribute to Lyla and find out who sent a message over the phone to the deceased girl. However, the closer it gets to the truth the more they discover their cruel past. The suspense remains until the last episode, with a few cliché twists.

In terms of content, it approaches a well-known American show that drew a lot of criticism in 2017: 13 Reasons Why. However, while the situations and topics are somewhat alike the approach of each plot is totally different. 13RW focuses on drawing society's attention to urgent problems and crises of young people and improving classmates in their actions. However, while „Remember 15“also spreads awareness for mental health, LGBTQI+, and toxic personalities/ relationships, the approach and outcome are surely more brutal and more dystopian than in other series with the same trope/topic. What kind of rules and morals do you expect from traumatized teenagers facing death on an island far from a normal and structured civilization?

The more important question to ask is what can we learn from this show?

ACTORS 7.5
As for Zee Pruk Panich, Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan, and Title Tanatorn Saenangkanikorn, they convince the audience of their role. Here I personally highlight Zee (Bew), he had to portray such a difficult character. My rating can also be very much based on the fact that I have „dealt“with his acting skills the most so far and therefore have "high expectations" which he bravely met in „Remember 15“. Especially when considering what kind of role he had to portray.

However, all characters are complicated and multilayered. In general, I would say that the overall acting is solid. At least nobody was a thorn in my side. Personally. On the contrary, even the rather new and inexperienced actors played their roles well [Noon Khingkarn Boonma = Nest, Boss Daranpope Charmpoonod = Mac, Sairung Prapakon Chairak = Lilly]. Hardly anything to complain about. Especially Sairung had a tough role to play. My utmost respect to Sairung, Nut, and Pruk for accepting and embodying these very complicated characters. It mustn´t have been easy.

OVERALL >> 8.0 >> 7.0
The series convinced me in many aspects and buried some of my doubts in the implementation like a corpse in the sand. The scenario is terrifying and not exactly encouraging to make new acquaintances. HOWEVER, that's the way it is with a lot of thriller/horror series, but that doesn't make them any less remarkable. The show's triggers and topics are something the viewer could "learn" from, as quoted in the last episode. One should not take revenge into their own hands, as it is for the law/god/nature to decide what will happen to the offenders/sinners, otherwise, chaos and massacre ought to happen.

In any case, a recommendation to you sweethearts, but I'll stay on the mainland for now. I´ve learned and changed some views on things I had a very set opinion on before watching. I´m glad I have watched this.

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Completed
Project S: Side by Side
25 people found this review helpful
Jul 28, 2017
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
This short series was very promising. The first episode was full of emotions, it had me that emotional that I was on the verge of crying. Autism is not a disease, it is a disorder and I am happy that they put this in the spotlight to raise awareness about people having it. We should not hate them, instead we should be patient with them...they are the most talented people in the world. I admired the pacing the story and the actors are very convincing.

I cannot wait to the next episodes to come. So far, I rated this as perfect, because everything about it is great.

This is one of the best Thai Dramas that I've seen so far.

Kudos to the whole production in this project!

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Completed
Gou - Himetachi no Sengoku
23 people found this review helpful
Dec 20, 2011
46 of 46 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I began watching Gou-Himetachi no Sengoku because I am a really big fan of the history from Japan.Until then I have already watched a few historical asian dramas.But I didn´t find so many good japanese dramas.The most outstanding dramas were koreans;)
But I must say that I was really impressed by this drama!
When I am bored by a drama I usually skip some parts but this drama here made me so addicted ,that I didn´t want to stop watching it.I watched the first 10 episodes and then I always contined to wait exited for the next episode :D You never know what will happen next and it really moves your feelings.In the first moment you must cry and the next moment you just laugh out loud! Even though it isn´t a comedy,the Cast in the drama is performing really exeptionally.You can perfectly understand their point of view and because the story is based on a true story, it feels even more real.
For the plot;
Basically the story is about a princess who is used from the birth for political matters but in the end she becomes the wife of the Shogun whom she really loves.This drama shows her strong personality and how she fought through her life until she finally found happiness ;)
I can only recommend it for everyone who wants to learn of the japanese history and who wants to see an exeptionally played drama with outstanding actors! Even when someone might don´t prefer watching historical dramas , it is worth the lenghts of 47 episodes

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Completed
I Cannot Hug You
25 people found this review helpful
by Pliuzz
Jan 5, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This drama is lighthearted and fun, definitely something to pick up in between some angsty melos. Although I've only read up to about chapter 40 of the webtoon it's based on, the content of half, if not most of the episodes have been covered so I can say that it is definitely true to its original source. Scenes are depicted very similarly and even the dialogue is recognizable from the webtoon.

The storyline was interesting to me because of the unique concept that constituted the plot (a vampire who feeds off of energy through physical contact and a human who has mysophobia). It was well paced throughout and the drama did wrap up nicely. There were, however some loose ends, but the second season is rumored to air next month so hopefully, those will be taken care of. The climax of the story (within the drama) though, didn't seem to be as dramatic as they may have intended it to be. It didn't create the suspense or anticipation that it probably should have.
 I am actually a big fan of the male lead actor after his drama The Eternal Love, so I found myself inevitably comparing these two. That said, I think both lead actors did a good job of portraying their characters, but I never really felt the chemistry between them. Again, perhaps the second season may change my view on that.
As for the music, I did quite like two of the OSTs. They fit the tone of the story well and were memorable enough, as well as not too overused.
Overall, I would recommend this drama for a short and simple watch, as there are only 16 episodes at around 30 minutes each. I also definitely recommend reading the webtoon!

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Completed
When Time Stopped
25 people found this review helpful
Dec 2, 2018
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 6.5
It kicked with a great start ! But gone to downhill in the middle. But it's still a drama worth of your time. KHJ returned after a long long break after his controversy. I thought it'd be a boring and not exciting one at first. But this story is quite good and had me hooked up to the finish.

I just wanted you guys to know that it's a good drama ! You've seen way way worse drama than this ! It's way better ! Specially what people are describing it from my point of view ! It has some peculiar theories ! lol ...
Casting was so good, everyone was professional ! And the music in it was a blessing <3 I really like those OST they were playing in drama !

#PEACE

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Completed
Sniper Butterfly
25 people found this review helpful
by Karma Flower Award1
Dec 22, 2025
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Growth, Time and Love

Sniper Butterfly was a drama I first heard about when I saw the trailer back in 2024. At the time, I remember thinking, “Maybe I’ll watch it someday.” When I came across it again in 2025, something just clicked I knew it was finally time to give it a try.

Themes & Story
At its core, this drama is about a man who yearns deeply, loves only one person, and keeps proving just how much she means to him. The female lead supports him through this time while also dealing with her own struggles, especially her divorce. Her kindness, emotional maturity, and resilience really stood out to me. One thing I noticed early on was that Cen Jin is very used to handling things on her own, and the drama actually shows this in subtle ways. I was really impressed by how she adapted emotionally and handled the changes in her life, even when everything felt unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

I know age-gap dramas aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I personally enjoy them. That being said, I did have doubts at first especially since he was technically still in high school. But the way the cast and crew handled this story genuinely surprised me. It was thoughtful, restrained, and done with a lot of care.
I also loved how the story blended the past and present together. Instead of showing the entire past first and then moving onto the present, everything was slowly woven together, like tying a bow. It felt different from what I usually see, and I really appreciated that.

Drawbacks
If I had one main issue, it would be the lack of communication between Li Wun and Cen Jin. Li Wun, in particular, rarely opened up to Cen Jin because he didn’t want to bother or burden her. I understand where this comes from, especially considering his childhood, but it’s something that could definitely affect their relationship long-term. He started to in the end which I was happy with.

Cen Jin’s emotional independence is shown in subtle ways, and while it’s a strength, it also creates moments where she doesn’t fully notice what Li Wun is carrying until his behavior started to change in obvious ways.

Supporting Characters
I loved Chun Chang she was easily my favourite.

It did take me a while to warm up to Shen Yi Yang as a romantic character, though. At times, he came across like he thought he was better than her or was judging her, and I really didn’t like that.

Cheng Rui deserves a special mention. Honestly, nothing bad to say about him at all. He was such a good friend to Li Wun — a truly genuine and loyal friend.

Acting & Standout Performances
Daniel Zhou wasn’t an actor I hasnt really paid attention to . I’d heard of him from Truth , but this drama completely changed that for me. His portrayal of Li Wun was really impressive. The way he went from a cute, innocent, awkward 19-year-old to a mature 26-year-old man felt natural and believable. Watching that growth over time was one of my favourite parts, and Daniel captured it perfectly.
And yes the boy can kiss 😉
The way Li Wu loves so deeply is honestly what every girl dreams of, after watching Sniper Butterfly, he’s definitely an actor I’ll be keeping an eye on.

Michelle Chen was just as impressive as Cen Jin. I’d actually never heard of her before this drama. And honestly, I still can’t decide if I prefer her long hair or short hair both suited her so well. Michelle really brought Cen Jin to life a woman going through a divorce who unexpectedly meets a young man who just wants to study and live a good life. She played the role with so much warmth and restraint.
Her chemistry with Daniel felt natural, and their kisses never felt awkward or forced, which is so important for a story like this.

Conclusion
Overall, this second chance drama was beautifully made, and I genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. The OST was calming, emotional, and perfectly matched the tone of the story.

I would highly recommend Sniper Butterfly to anyone looking for a drama about growth, timing, and love.


ps (this review is all my thoughts but grammar and pacing was helped by chat gpt)

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Completed
Like in the Movies
25 people found this review helpful
Nov 15, 2020
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This is the best BL of 2020. With its final episode, Like in the Movies has delivered a wonderfully nuanced, intelligence and emotionally powerful show about seizing control of your own life and having the bravery to manifest yourself in the world.

For the second time this year, the Phillipines has decided to show the world how BL should be done.

Like in the Movies is a beautiful, intelligent, layered discussion of coming out and having the courage to seize control of your life.

Like Gameboys before it, it has the perfect mix of brains and heart.

A sparse production with few characters and even fewer sets, Like in the Movies is obviously another victim of filming restrictions due to Covid19. And yet the show’s filming limitations don’t detract from it. Nothing feels missing.

There’s a lot to like about Like in the Movies right from the first scene, especially around its gleeful embrace of romcom tropes such as fake relationship, forced cohabitation and Odd Couple conflict. But underneath the surface, the show is finely tuned and intricately written but has enough kilig to satisfy the most shallow romcom fan.

If the Phillipines keeps producing BL like this i may not watch Thai BL ever again.

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Completed
Punks Triangle
25 people found this review helpful
Nov 28, 2025
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

A Belief in Safety Pins—To Mend

—Only lightly spoilery—

There's a certain *vibe* to Punks Triangle that makes it such a triumph. It's casual yet intimate.

Smoky nightlife filled with private chats with someone you admire but could never imagine having.

With damn fantastic cinematography and costuming, crazy chemistry and acting, it's a thrilling watch.

But the biggest draw and reason for its success (to me, at least): AE/Enaga.

Never have I truly bought a disguise/second identity before!

It wasn't the appearance so much that sold it. A large hat, wig, and baggy clothes can only do so much.

It was the thorough shift in attitude. Who could put together that their awe-inspiring model with a deadly walk and siren eyes, who knows what he's doing, is also the timid, slouching figure with a slow stride and clumsy hands sitting next to them in class?

And the crazy contrast between the identities of AE and Enaga led to many deeper conflicts and realizations within our leads. AE is as much Enaga as he is AE. As Enaga, he is out of his element away from the runway. He's earnest about making clothes but unconfident and inexperienced. But being AE, he has a spotlight on him wherever he goes. He can't get past the idolization to find something real. And he's afraid of disappointing the person he cares about. Becoming Enaga, he is allowed to be an approachable man. But while he's glad to have met someone who likes the other parts of him he shows in his other identity, he also finds himself jealous of Chiaki's fondness for him as Enaga, his softer side. "Do you like that version of me better?"

Becoming someone else to express other parts of you can be freeing as much as it is a burden. Or it can start as a way to hide; avoid unwanted attention, and then become a prison of your own making later on: I.E., how AE started experimenting with his style in school as a way to avoid being approached, and now all eyes are on him as a model.

I appreciated the conclusion having a subtle merging of AE and Enaga, leading to a flirty yet endearing wrap-up between our leads and an essential realization for Chiaki necessary for them to move forward: "My bias is just a person, after all."

My only real complaint about this drama is that deep down, I wanted an explosion of some kind in the finale! Something to send off all the edging of the audience with a high. A searing kiss or small switch-up of some sort would have sealed the deal perfectly!

But as it stands, I'm still left very satisfied and impressed.

Recommended!

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Ongoing 16/16
The King: Eternal Monarch
25 people found this review helpful
Nov 13, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Fantastic story captivating actors

This is one of my favorite K-dramas, I've watched it 3 times already. and each time added clarity to the complicated story. Will probably watch it again to figure out a few more characters. This is the first time I watch actor Lee Min Ho, and he is captivating. His portrayal of a King is eloquent and perfectly measured. A King's face may be taught to be stoic, but his feelings can't hide from his eyes. I ended up searching all his works on Netflix, Prime, Viki and YouTube and seem to watch him grow up from the time he was a teenager. What a delightful performer and actor he is. I look forward to seeing all his future work. The leading lady, Kim Go Eun, is naturally beautiful, she can show such strong raw emotions. I had delayed watching TKEM due to seeing some poor reviews, but I'm totally fascinated by this powerful fantasy movie. I saw many reviews saying the love between the King and plain Detective to be rushed and not believable. But I can understand why she would have developed caring and protective feelings for a King who had been orphaned from childhood. She, herself, having lost a Mother at age 5, would definitely have soft feelings for another soul who lost a parent at an early age. Perhaps some viewers just saw a powerful King living in a rich palace, but she would’ve seen a sad soul who had to appear strong, but had all the hurts and loneliness of being an orphaned child, as only those who have experienced it would know. Had you seen him from that angle, you would’ve given him a loving hug and understanding as well. She Immediately loved him, because they understood each other’s pain behind their masks. As a King, he must hide his feelings. As detective, she chose to be brave to hide her inner hurt as well.

For me, the concept of parallel worlds and existences was fascinating. Imagine if Korea fought off its aggressors in the 1800’s, avoided being colonized, and maintained its Kingdom till modern times. How different a world that may be. Why was it even compared to real world as we know? Who is to say how this fantasy world should be like?

We all think of other worlds and existences in various forms. I found it fascinating !

I am a retired from the US, with plenty of time to rewatch this drama, and others that touch the heart !

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Completed
Beautiful Life
25 people found this review helpful
Mar 29, 2013
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
To be loved like this! I'm trying to imagine it! This was truly a heart-warming story as it explores the relationship between a man and a woman handicapped by her illness. The romance between Kyoko and Shuji will remain deep in my heart for awhile. Kimura Takuya has now been added to my list of favorite Japanese actors. He so wonderfully portrays Shuji who unselfishly loves and cares for Kyoko regardless of the objections of her brother who only wants her to be happy. Takako Tokiwa as Kyoko, this was my first time seeing her but guess what, she is making her way on my list too! This is not a story for everyone but anyone who appreciates a good drama will recognize the beauty in this. Excellent!!

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Completed
The Great White Tower
25 people found this review helpful
Sep 25, 2013
21 of 21 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This drama will be your "EYE-OPENER", and.. You'll be changed forever.

First, let me discuss its novel history. This novel was created in 1965 and has been adapted many times. The writer was "Yamasaki Toyoko". The one who created 'The Grand Tribe' and 'Fumo Chitai'. Her signature works or let's say.. Her theme was more of 'Power Struggle'. I noticed that because I've watched some of her works. It's obviously that this genre is not open or friendly seen to viewers, maybe? Perhaps, because her works were written in a depth-collision contents. Or maybe.. too harsh to be true? I hope I conveyed my point of view correctly because my grammar is not that good. :/

Okay, let's proceed..

Shiroi Kyoto is a glorious, addictive, brilliant drama though it's an underrated and very rarely seen with some viewers.. Oopps. Probably, because there's no teens idol. How sad. :(

This is not actually an episodic 100% medical drama that you'll often see doctor here and everywhere giving medical term and operations. The Hospital is just a setting here. Yes, there's so many dramas about power struggle but this one is a 'great exceptional'.

It portrays and highlights the controversy of conflicts, moral issues, ethics, power and humanity. Let alone the drama engage and allows you to peek into a world of rotten politics where you can see some nobles struggling to achieve their goal. And one of them is Goro Zaizen and the other, Satomi Shuji. The contrasting points between them made it feels like they can be hardly friends or whatsoever and yet, they respect each other capabilities even no words are spoken. Well, action is louder than words, ne? :D

Like this for example:

---- REALIST VS. IDEALIST ----
---- EMPIRICAL VS. PHILOSOPHICAL ---

My gratitude and applause to the writer for some of its great metaphorical context, very sophisticated concept and well-written script. This will remain a classic one and your timeless ambitious character-who-goes-higher-and-higher-up 'Goro Zaizen'. And... the very unorthodox charm and metaphor title that is --

"THE GREAT WHITE TOWER"

Oh how divine you are!! *music plays, "Amazing Grace"* (^o^)

About the OST, you may feel that it plays repetitive but its melody were actually referring to the one who's "The Great White Tower". Sounds heavy, huh? Characters are well-developed, it also views their motivation towards in their careers though I find some of them unrealistic but not 100% actually, so you can easily ignore it. :DD

The depressing, distress and stresses you'll feel in this drama may let you have an admiration and memorable one, that for every consequences of life, there will be a paved with indifference no matter how you look at it. This is a highly recommended especially for us who are entering the society one day. It will helps you realize that despite how messed up the world is, some around the corner.. you'll know how important the relationship between people-to-people. ^____^

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Completed
Young Actors' Retreat
25 people found this review helpful
Sep 11, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

An Amazing Entertainment/Reality TV Show With an Amazing Casts

Where else are you going to be able to watch a show with so many amazing actors and actresses all in one? Look no further.

Every episode is either funny , interesting or purely entertaining. I just couldn't stop laughing at times. It's interesting to see the actors' genuine reactions to some unexpected situations.

I came for Kwon Na-ra (she's just sooo amazingly beautiful, funny and silly) and now I can't wait for more! Seeing the likes of Park Seo-Joon being so silly and funny is really a sight to behold. (Radio?? lol. Watch it and you will know what I mean).

It's really a show worth watching even if it's just for the sake of seeing popular actors and actresses interacting with one another, some whom have known each other previously whilst some whom are fans of each other but have never met. You might even end up watching their dramas (like me as I'm now a fan of Choi Sung-eun as well, lol).

This is one show that is definitely not to be missed!


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Completed
Guardians of the Ancient Oath
25 people found this review helpful
Mar 29, 2020
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

Patience is required for this drama that is unlikely to enjoy broad appeal. It is a Beijing Academy student production so don't expect high production values; indeed there is a distinctly amateurish and unpolished feel to the entire effort.

The shadowy and suspenseful plot is steeped in the supernatural and mythology and takes a long time to unfold. The synopsis, which already gives away much of the story adds to the impression that nothing is happening. Hidden forces conspire to release the demon Jiu Ying, that according to legend was sealed by five deities representing the five elements (metal, earth, water, fire and wood). This manifests itself in increasing hostilities between the You Kingdom and the Wolf Tribe that make war and chaos seem inevitable. These events bring the three siblings Hongxuan, Hongyi and Hongshou whose Baili family has long been the power behind the You throne; together with Ming Yefeng, the leader of the Wolf Tribe who also has a mysterious past with Hong Yi. They are linked by destiny and rediscover their powers so that together with other supernatural beings from a past lifetime, they can once again fulfill an ancient promise to keep the world safe. It is not a complicated or super original fantasy story that culminates in an epic clash between good and evil.

What is interesting about this drama is the characters and the acting. The actors are not given much to work with in terms of dialogue so they have to rely heavily on body language and subtle expressions to convey their characters. This makes the complex characters particularly difficult to get to know and nobody is as they originally appear. It is very difficult to tell who is friend and foe and what their motivations are. For most of the drama, Baili Hongxuan and Ming Yefeng were the most complex and interesting characters for me. While they are both quite grey, both turned out to be quite different from what I expected and almost opposite of each other. I really enjoy this kind of peeling of the onion approach in terms of how a layered character gradually becomes unveiled but many will find this kind of storytelling frustrating and boring.

I suspect many may be interested in this because of Wu Lei and Song Zuer. I admit I discovered this because of Wu Lei. While his character Baili Honsghou is quite one dimensional - the typical c-drama hero that goes through many common tropes; it is the best performance I have seen from Wu Lei since NIF. It is very nice to see how far he has come as an actor; that he is not just an incredibly athletic lean, mean, killing machine. As for Song Zuer, she is an actress that provokes strong reactions, especially when she plays the bratty young girl. I never minded her that much because I always noticed that she has screen presence that belies her small size and her performance in this also showed much progress and was actually quite nuanced towards the end. And it will be remiss of me to not mention how super hot Zheng Kai's Ming Yefeng is - I can't believe I have never seen this actor before!

The story advances much more quickly in the last 10-12 episodes although it appears a bit messy as many characters are introduced at once. But they are not interesting characters and all you need to really know is that they are either obstacles to be overcome or they are there to give some assistance along the way. All of the substantively relevant characters are introduced at the beginning. There are a few nice twists at the end with respect to the emperor as well as the mysterious man in the hood. The ultimate villain (to me was not Jiu Ying) was hiding in plain sight the whole time but their motive for unleashing evil on the world was pedestrian and lame. Most of the so-called heroes or deities in this show have feet of clay, do not have high morals and are not particularly enlightened beings. The story is very matter of factly callous in its treatment of spirits or demons. This is very typical of the genre so if you are familiar with Chinese mythology, you will not be surprised by any of this or how the story ends.

I enjoyed this drama but it is not for everyone. Watch at your own risk.

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Completed
My Little Monster
25 people found this review helpful
Sep 24, 2018
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
I watched this on the plane and surprisingly it was really good. The story follows closely to the manga but still it's a movie so they have to cut some scenes. Honestly for me, the highlight of the movie is definitely the chemistry between the lead. Suda Masaki did a very great job in portraying Haru you can't help but fall for him. It is a very good coming age movie focusing more on the friendship between the students. I really like how this is not your typical shojo movie where the guy is a jerk and the girl is naive, this one actually holds the message to just be yourself. For music they mostly use Nishino Kana's songs because if I'm not wrong it's kind of some collaboration project? Definitely a rewatch I can totally swoon over Haru forever and please stay until the credit end scene.

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