Reviews

Warm and fuzzy atmosphere, it hurts a bit but in a good kind of way, oh and lots of pining

Soramame and Oto meet for the first time and as a watcher you instantly know they have a connection which only deepens as they get to know each other. Both of them are talented in different fields but what they have in common is that they aren't living up to their true potential yet. They can rely on each other and help each other tackle the various hurdles life throws at each of them.

They banter with each other like siblings but at the same time you know they care for each other deeply. The mutual pining will tug at your heartstrings, it may become a bit frustrating at times but all in all their journey is quite plausible to me and I enjoyed it a lot.

It has to be said that the romance part of the series is not the main focus, each lead has a lot on their respective plate. If you're looking for a drama where there's an abundance of skinship or where the couple starts dating in the third episode or so, this drama might not be the right fit for you.

The atmosphere is what I love a lot about this drama. You get those warm and fuzzy feelings when they sit together at dusk (!) sharing what happened that day or to give the other a push in the right direction if they're stuck with something they're working on at the moment. The title of the series fits really well because a lot of the scenes take place in the quiet evenings when you can see the last sunrays of the day on their faces. The setting is very intimate and I liked the conversations they held.

The music underlines the cozy atmosphere, sometimes with a nice song and with the slow piano and strings version of said piece at other times - or no music at all which leaves the deepest impact. I already checked out Yorushika and put some of their songs on my playlists.

I'm by no means an acting expert but I think the cast did a very good job. They made me laugh and shed a few tears (which is not something that happens to me a lot when watching a drama) so in my opinion they accomplished their goal.

Rewatching a series is not something that I do frequently but I can safely say this one will be a candidate.

This has become one of my favorite romantic dramas from Japan. Most of the times there's a point at which I get bored but that was not the case here although I have to admit the ending was a bit drawn-out.

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Unintentionally hilarious

This series was honestly so bad it went back to being good again just for the amusement factor.

It looked like a high school film class project. They seem to have shot all the exterior scenes at the crack of dawn as there was never anyone around and they clearly couldn’t afford any extras. The acting was pretty appalling thought the guy who played Jing Jim Ming was the better actor of the two by far, the other guy , Ding Jun Jie wore the same expression throughout, even the sex scene had him looking entirely disinterested.

Both main guys were very pretty though, no denying that!

The plot was terrible, the series blurb made much more of the fake boyfriend thing when that was barely relevant. It just limped along never quite taking off.

Yet - - - I watched the whole series so there was something captivating about it somehow and now it’s ended I’m puzzled why I didn’t give up.

No rewatch factor, terrible music, yada yada.

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This drama is about five women who start living in the 22nd floor of building called Ode to Joy. It is about their lives and challenges in work and loves, but it is mainly about their growth as individuals and in finding a save haven in each other's company.

For the most part, the drama is easy to watch and the episodes go by fast. Good pacing with no time is wasted since there is a lot to tell in the given time. There are some stories that outshine others, but the story still gave a fair amount of screen time to all the characters. The music that accompanies it is excellent. The main theme song, sung by our main heroines, is perfect in portraying what this drama is all about, women of this era. The other theme song that caught my attention was Cinderella by Jiang Xin (Fan Sheng Mei) had really great lyrics that describes the hardships and hopes of women our generation.

If I were to look at the stories individually, I wouldn't call them original in any way. Not only that, you can say they aren't that realistic either. What makes this drama outstanding and memorable in my eyes isn't the over story, it isn't the result where our girls end, but the characters, the journey they take individually and together. It makes their world feel real and complete. Every new character we meet feels that he or she is playing their main character in their own world. While watching each episode, I found myself having so much to say about each and every character. Everything they did made sense in their mindset. Everything they say had a reason behind it. And the more we discover about the characters, the more the picture feels complete and everything starts making better sense.

Honestly, I could write an essay on each character in the story. None of the characters is perfect, each characters had good and bad points. But you know what the genius is in the end? At the end of the drama, we still have the same people, with the same positive and negative side, yet they felt more at peace and more satisfied with themselves than when we first them. There was definitely changes and development throughout the drama, but it is very subtle and didn't require any of them to change their personality.

While characters individually were all written well, and the relationship between the girls was great and felt the most genuine, when it came to the love relationships, the chemistry wasn't all there, and many times it felt awkward seeing the characters together. Somehow, when they went on dates, it felt like everyone was being pretentious. At times that suited the characters, but other times it felt out of place. It didn't bother me much, though, since the main theme of the story was the relationship between the girls, and that felt the most genuine with the most sizzling chemistry XD

The one thing that annoyed me most was the narration. First of all I just don't like the narrator's voice. And second, it's a wasted effort. In reality, the cast is all very capable, and they were great at expressing their thoughts and turmoil through their facial expression. NONE of them needed someone to tell us what they were thinking. It really annoyed me in the beginning, then I just tried to ignore it.

Before finishing the drama, when I heard there would be a second season, I worried that the story would drag. However, this isn't the case anymore. While the drama ended in a good place and I feel completely satisfied, there is a lot of potential for a second season and a lot more stories to tell. For that reason, I can't wait for it. I already miss those girls!

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Disclaimer: 7.5 is a very good rating for me, don't let that dissuade you from watching this. Grounded Chinese realistic dramas are very unknown overseas because it's rare they get licensed and subbed, and All Is Well is one of the few that people even hear about because of Daylight Entertainment. MDL ratings for Chinese dramas are incredibly inflated and I don't want to hurt this drama's chances by lowering its rating, but I also have a lot of issues with it. Just keep in mind that my 7.5 is probably like a 9 on a typical MDL scale.

Firstly let me say that the acting is on point, no surprise there at all. These are all talented cast who've worked for many years. Guo Jinfei as Su Mingcheng was the overall highlight for me as I felt his character was the most difficult to grasp and had some intense dialogue, many of which were improvised. Of all the cast, I hope he gets some recognition for his performance. They also added a touch of Suzhou culture to the drama by inserting Suzhou "pingtan" (a traditional form of performing arts sung in the Suzhou dialect) that usually matched the scenes they were edited to.

It's hard for me to review this for several reasons. I think most people watching this would enjoy it as a good, emotional family drama. But let's set aside emotional manipulation and convenient plot devices because I feel that's lazy writing. What ruined this show for me was the ending that broke away from the novel's original ending in order not to aggravate TV audience expectations. The amount of toxicity and abuse in the Su family could not have realistically been resolved the way it was in the show. As a result, characters went through typical whitewashing, which I think completely missed the point of the original story and does a huge disservice to Su Mingyu and all people who have grown up in similar environments.

The message this drama passes along is that family is everything and no matter what, you should always forgive family because forgiveness sets you free. But I disagree, I find this message extremely invalidating and oftentimes unrealistic. Letting go of hatred is not equivalent to forgiving those who have abused you emotionally or physically. No amount of whitewashing, no reasons, serve as justifiable validation for people to treat you like trash, ever. Period. You can learn to let go of hatred so that you can free your present self from the grasp that shitty events in the past have on you without forgiving people who do not deserve your forgiveness, even if those people are family.

And that's why I'm conflicted about my thoughts about this. I don't feel like I have the right to decide how other people, such as Mingyu, personally handle these situations. We all choose our own way of moving on and letting go, and at best we can only be supportive instead of judgmental of what makes other people feel empowered and happy. I personally feel that the direction this drama went is rather fantastical and is something more often wished for than actually happens in real life. For a realistic production such as this, I expect less wish gratification and more stark realism. I can only say that in the original novel, Mingyu did not make certain choices she made in the drama, and I think the drama should have at the very least kept the choices she made in the book. Firstly because they make more sense character-wise, even if they are less wholesome; secondly because while I can't make decisions for Mingyu, the original author can and did, but her choices weren't respected. Most Chinese family dramas choose this type of ending, All Is Well did not bring anything new to the table even though it had the opportunity to.

There is also one error in the writing that doesn't actually affect the story, I only want to point it out because this is supposed to be a realistic drama and I really feel like the writer should have done some work here: The entire premise of this story is unrealistic in itself due to the fact that China established the one-child policy in 1980. The Su kids are obviously born after 1980, so yeah. Especially in a major area like Suzhou, given the Su parents' occupations (hospital nurse and school librarian) it's impossible that the Su family could have had 3 children.

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Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

I decided to watch this movie on a whim not knowing what to expect, little did I know, that 2 hours later, I would end up being left mesmerized. This film is not for everyone (a word of caution there is strong sexual content and nudity), some may even call it disturbing, but if you look past it, you'll see and hear a beautiful story being told right in front of your eyes and ears. The directing, acting, casting, and music painted a canvas so breathtaking, it would almost be a shame not to call it a masterpiece. The ending was so poignant it left me feeling something I've rarely ever felt before, the feeling of breathlessness.

This is one of those films that you watch once in a lifetime (as reflected in the scoring I prescribed) not because it isn't worth rewatching, but because you'll still remember it, way down the line.

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Zhen Zhen: A Tale of Courage, Survival, and Justice

INTRODUCTION:
Prepare yourself for a breathtaking journey as "Drifting Away" takes you through the transformative growth of a teenage heroine. Witness her evolution from a life of bullying and trauma to a determined force of justice, overcoming her past and catching those who wronged her. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of Zhen Zhen is nothing short of extraordinary—her "deathly gaze" and powerful presence define the series. This is more than just a show; it’s a testament to resilience, emotional depth, and the raw power of storytelling. Get ready to be captivated by Zhen Zhen’s journey and Zhao Jinmai’s unmatched performance.

PLOT OVERVIEW:
The story follows Zhen Zhen, a young woman who escapes a brutal criminal gang that manipulates and tortures victims to sell human meat. After enduring unimaginable trauma and surviving through sheer resilience, she’s inspired by a police officer to join the force.
Haunted by his past failure to identify the gang’s leader, Detective Peng teams up with Zhen Zhen to bring the criminals to justice. As Zhen Zhen heals and reconciles with her family, she grows into a courageous officer, ultimately helping to capture the gang and ensure their sentencing.
A gripping tale of survival, justice, and redemption.

Characters:
Main Lead:

Peng Zhao Lin:
Peng Zhao Lin’s most endearing trait is the quiet strength of his wife, a woman who consoles him in his darkest moments, simply sitting beside him when the chaos within becomes overwhelming.

As a detective, Peng’s character is defined by his unwavering resolve—if he sees a criminal, he cannot look away, no matter the cost. Deeply caring for those around him, he plays a pivotal role in mentoring Zhen Zhen, offering her the push she needs to grow and ensuring the case is pursued from start to finish.

By the end, Peng reflects on his regrets, particularly the time he lost with his family due to his dedication to his work. This realization pushes him to prioritize his loved ones, and he becomes not only a better husband and but also a father figure to Zhen Zhen.

Zhen Zhen:
Zhen Zhen is a woman who stays true to herself—fearless, smart, and incredibly brave. Her acting is mesmerizing, and her strong character shines through in every scene. She embodies a cool, fire-like aura, effortlessly pulling off any look, proving that her face card is unbeatable.

When she moves to a new school, Zhen Zhen becomes a target for bullies, but she bravely confronts them. Unfortunately, her efforts are met with harsh punishment from her mother, who offers little love or understanding. Feeling increasingly alienated, Zhen Zhen’s frustration grows, especially when her mother slaps her, leading her to run away. She tries to find her old friend but learns she’s no longer living there, so she ends up sharing an apartment with a tenant.

The criminal gang relentlessly targets her, but despite their best efforts to capture and torture her, Zhen Zhen remains resilient. During her torment, as she recalls her parents, her voice trembling, you can feel her heartache. In that moment, I just want to tell her to hold on—she’s strong, and everything will pass, making her a version of herself that won’t be afraid anymore.

Zhen Zhen fights back with determination, escaping multiple times even after being caught again. Though she’s physically and emotionally broken, she crawls away, half-dead, haunted by nightmares. But she doesn’t let the trauma define her. After being rescued, she decides to join the police force to overcome her fears.

As a police officer, she excels, even displaying a deadly gaze during boxing that radiates anger and strength. Over time, her parents come to understand her, respecting her decisions and finally showing her the love she longed for. Zhen Zhen leads a strong, fulfilling life, never giving up. She works tirelessly to ensure the criminals are sentenced, finding support from a mentor and a kind-hearted partner. Her transformation from a victim to a fearless woman is inspiring, and she learns to love herself more every day, with her short hair symbolizing her strength.

Deng Li Gang:
His performance makes you despise him deeply, and he embodies everything sinister about a ruthless criminal. A total red flag, he doesn't hesitate to kill or beat people to hide his tracks. Despite establishing a family to cover his crimes, nothing can protect him from the consequences of his horrific actions. He controls everyone in the gang with fear and manipulation, but ultimately, his bad deeds catch up to him.

Message:
the message is clear: no matter how hard you try to escape, the law and justice will always catch up with you. Life is a journey of facing fears, fighting through challenges, and eventually overcoming them. Even when you’re pushed to your limits, like Zhen Zhen, you must hold onto your strength and never give up. You may endure hardship, but through resilience, love, and determination, you can transform into a version of yourself that is no longer afraid. Every struggle has its purpose, and with the right support and inner courage, you can rise above and find justice—both for yourself and the world around you.

Direction: The direction effectively balances emotional depth with intense action, building tension and keeping the audience engaged throughout. It guides the narrative smoothly, particularly through the character-driven moments of Zhen Zhen and Detective Peng.

Cinematography: The cinematography amplifies the story’s tension with dramatic lighting and close-up shots that highlight characters' internal struggles. It enhances the gritty atmosphere, making each scene feel raw and impactful.

Soundtrack & Sound Design: The haunting soundtrack complements the emotional tone, deepening the atmosphere of fear and hope. Sound design intensifies the action and emotional scenes, especially during moments of torture or confrontation.

Special Effects: Special effects are used effectively but sparingly, adding realism to the action and brutal moments. The practical effects during intense scenes make the violence feel grounded and believable.

Costume Design: The costume design mirrors the characters’ growth and roles. Zhen Zhen’s transformation is reflected in her evolving wardrobe, while the villains’ attire highlights their menacing nature, contributing to their characterization.

Writing & Dialogue: The writing is sharp and impactful, with dialogue that resonates long after it’s spoken. It balances character-driven moments with action, highlighting key themes like justice, resilience, and personal growth, adding depth to the narrative.

Overall:
This series was an emotional rollercoaster that had me feeling everything—anger, tears, and immense pride for Zhen Zhen. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of the character was absolutely stellar, bringing so much depth and realism to the role. Her performance will definitely leave a lasting impact.

"Choice and perseverance are like the cycle of day and night—alternating yet coexisting. In the moment of decision, feel the profound embrace of perseverance, like the meeting of dawn and starry night. Together, they form a radiant yet tranquil painting, quietly awaiting the arrival of each morning’s light and the serenity of each starlit sky."
~Zhen Zhen

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The Most Audacious Pair of Assassins!!!

It is exceptionally rare for me to begin a review with who I think literally steals this series from everyone. There is only one reason to watch this series. And that is because this story has Style. Style gave this series distinction. He IS the series and the only reason I finished this rather mundane and pedestrian story. Dunk Natachai as the character of Style brought such uniqueness to his persona from the beginning. Layered with arrogance, shallowness, pomposity and yet underlying it all was still a sense of sincerity. I could observe that he began his pursuit of Fadel (Joong Archen) simply as a challenge in the beginning. But once he undertook to know who Fadel was, he fell for him, hard and began to peel away at his exterior gruff layers, much like you peel an onion. As he did so with Fadel, he also peeled away at his own layers of shallowness surrounding himself. As he got Fadel to open his soul to him, he too did the same. With Dunk’s characterization however, I could sense and feel it deeply. His facial features and the way he looked at Fadel were not just about acting. It felt real. And oh, his love scenes with Fadel were not just fervently romantic; they were simply hot, erotic, and alluring. It has been ages, especially for a Thail BL, for me to actually feel a sensuousness emanating from an individual. He exuded it. Not only in words but in his expressions and his actions. It has also been a long time since I have been able to use the outdated term ‘it factor’ but he has it. He is the whole package. I never once felt as if he was faking it or ‘acting’ it out. He was genuine, sincere, even when he was being perhaps impish and immature in his approach to winning Fadel over. Deep-down, he projected such passion and intensity that he is the only Thai BL actor in an inordinate length of time that felt authentic. When he kissed, it looked sensual, seductive, and steamy. Excuse my vernacular, but his actions were hedonic, and his scenes made him tantalizingly erotic. Not afraid or ashamed to show it or be it. Something that has been missing in Thai BLs. He is an exceptional actor as he made it look so nature and unguarded. What a performance and kudos for making it feel so damn genuine.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/03/08/the-heart-killers-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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I am not a fan of medical dramas. I am not of fan of Japanese dramas. Today a new dimension has been opened for me. I just realised what i am missing out on. Today i have come to realise Japanese dramas can just be as good all other the dramas i watch. Its just a combination of a good plot, excellent cast, beautiful ost and the result a perfect little 10.5 episode drama i wanted to binge again the moment i watched the last episode.
This is the perfect Japanese drama i have ever watched. Now i am not sure if there's any good stuff out there.
Scale of 1 to 10...10.5
Rewatch value.....perfect score
I highly recommend this for someone looking for something sweet and fluffy. Thank me later.

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Most of the votes and reviews of this movie from regular viewers are generally between 6 and 8. Mine is not. I saw this movie nearly 10 years ago after a recommendation from a friend. I can still remember not only the beauty in the cinematography, the music, and interpretation of the life of a monk, but also in the wonderful acting and script.

This was a movie that showcased the beauty of life in all it's stages, what the world can show you if you only watch and listen, and how harmonious it can be. This is not a fast paced film, nor is it filled with alot of dialogue. However, 10 years later I still remember this film fondly and look forward to watching it again.

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Watch it for your favorite actor / actress

This is the first review I've written because I find the high rating (7.9 currently) puzzling.
Compared to other dramas of similar rating, I must say this is not on the same level.

I'm fan of the leads, so I'm watching the drama because of them. Unlike other comments, I find the acting more than acceptable (but I haven't read the novel, so I can't say if the characterization matches that in the novel). They are cute individually, but I also agree the chemistry is lacking - despite the cinematographer's efforts into building romantic picturesque scene that's just classically gorgeous (particularly those scene in those last episodes - you know the ones. yum.)

Except those few scenes at the end, the special effect was also horrible in the sense that it pulls you out of the story. The "inner force" is all just fan and wind, and the power feels a bit hallow on screen. The line trap that's virtually invisible is thick as a rope at times, and can just be cut through or repositioned if you're a character that needs to stay alive. It is impossibly deadly if you're a bad guy. The green screen effect and prop so obvious that again it looks more like a school project than a professional production. The editing is choppy. The exact same line repeated in consecutive scenes (as if they filmed it, and didn't know how which they want to use and decided to include both).

The fights themselves are not the most interesting choreography I've seen, and we've all seen these actors execute better fight scenes in other dramas. Every c-drama fight is a dance, but it's like watching a professional dancer dance or watching an elementary school production. The steps are simple - suggestive of a fight more than seeing and feeling it. For a show billing itself as a wuxia, the "wu" (meaning fight) element is surprisingly weak. This got worse in later episodes, where they skip the fight entirely. There is a scene where the character picks up their knifes indicating they are going to fight. The next scene is the bad guy on the ground suggesting there was a fight and the bad guy lost... which leads us to the biggest problem of this story - the writing. The political dynamics both of the court and of the martial arts world were brushed over. It leaves the viewers feeling like all the fights were just random. You're barely invested in the fights. You know good guys will win and bad guys will lose.

The drama has never set any tangible goal for any character. Zhou Fei leaves home for the sake of leaving home - no goals to speak of. Xie Yun's goal is achieved by the end of the first episodes, the rest of the time he's just wanting to live his life. Now, wanting to live his life has been the plot of many leading man, if only there was someone who doesn't want him to do that. But in fact, everyone wants him to just live a normal life and do nothing. So, yeah, our leading man is someone who's entire arc rests on do nothing. One could then say his arc is to support Zhou Fei, but Zhou Fei's arc seems to be supporting Xie Yun. So, again, circling around nothing...

Side characters are largely one-dimensional, and again lacks purposes. So often, I feel like why is that character in that scene? She has no skills and therefore no reasons to join this "mission". Eventually I concluded the actress needs screen time. So, even though there is absolutely no reasons for character x or y to be there, the script put them there because that's where the action is. The acting for some were flat - furthering my feeling of "huh?"

Low music scores because as the show progress, I find the music montages as just a way to fill time. Later episode also had very modern sounding music that pulls me out. I thought I was watching a James Bond movie...

I'm writing this review because I use this site to evaluate what drama to watch - and 51 ep is not a small amount of time. So, if you are fan of the leads, go for it. The plot is simple enough that you can watch it easily in 2x without issues. Honestly, this is a fine show if it wasn't for higher expectations. Had this been a show with no names, no supposedly good source material, and released without fanfare, it would have been just another average c-drama in the sea of internet dramas with rushed script and low production. Some reviews say this is their favorite drama of 2021, I suspect it's only because we're in January...

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Overall, I like this drama. I don't understand why many people drop this drama or why they are giving it a bad review. I believe that this drama doesn't deserve such a low rating. The actors and actresses all did a wonderful job and the plot is pretty solid. The ending of the drama was definitely a twist, but it brings the story to a full circle.

It explains the true events of 500 years ago. It also explains the truth behind the Qi family curse. With the truth coming to light, we can see the reasoning behind Yi Mei's actions and Qi Yanran's actions. I'm not making excuses for them since I hated them throughout the entire drama, but it gave me a clear understanding of why they did what they did, especially Qi Yanran. I understand that they explained the twin theory earlier on, but after finding out the truth of the curse, it does explain why there is an "evil" twin and a "good" twin.

My rating of this drama is actually 8/10. I did took two points off for the fact that they killed off so many people towards the end of the drama. I should have expected this, since it is always almost the endings for majority of dramas with this kind of storyline, but I was hoping that they will keep everyone safe and sound. We already knew going in that the battle was long with unforseen dangers, but I was still hanging onto a tiny sliver of hope that everyone will make it alive -- injured, but alive. And yet, there were so many deaths at the end.

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All style no substance.

I was really excited to watch this Republican period detective drama. Having enjoyed Hu Yitian and Zhang Yunlong's chemistry in My Roommate is A Detective, I couldn't wait to see them team up again in a similar setting. The adaptation of Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries seemed like an added bonus. Sad to say, despite the visually sumptuous set and costumes, both the characters and cases are bland, uninspired and the pacing is very draggy.

While Situ Yan is the lead detective, he is not meant to be a literal adaptation of Hercule Poirot. Poirot with his known eccentricities including his fastidiousness and obsession with symmetry, is one of the the most distinctive, well dimensioned fictional detectives ever. He has a clear process and methodology that is based on human nature and psychology for solving the case. I would never cast Hu Yitian as Poirot and I am ok with the fact that Situ Yan is not Poirot. What I am not ok with is the colorless, cardboard characterisation of Situ Yan as simply a highly intelligent but rather lethargic lawyer with a strong sense of justice. Hu Yitian does his best with the role but he doesn't have much to work with. This is made worse by Luo Shaochuan, the money guy whose contribution to the crime solving aspects of the partnership is unclear. This character is so indifferently written it is not worthy of an actor of Zhang Yunlong's calibre. The two leads get little screen time together as they go down disparate paths in the investigations. Unlike their previous best loved collaboration, Zhou Mowan is more often Situ Yan's sidekick than Luo Shaochuan is. Thus we don't get to enjoy their banter and their incredible chemistry that builds up and fleshes out both characters as they work through the cases. While both female leads are well written and likeable, they crowd out the bromance.

When it comes to adapting these beloved Poirot classics, I am no die-hard Christie purist. I am receptive to and have seen good adaptations that take a fair amount of liberties with the original works. This can be successfully achieved because changes notwithstanding, the adaptation remains true to the essence of Christie; the psychology of the crime. This is where Checkmate fails to deliver. The supporting cast is very mediocre and lacks screen presence. Bland storytelling and poor pacing with unnecessary romantic digressions disrupts the build up in suspenseful tension into the final reveals. The cases must be evaluated convincingly from the point of view of each character, to assess their psychology as a sense of imminent peril escalates. Who was the victim? Why would someone want them dead? Who would cross that line and actually do the dastardly deed? This drama fails to make me feel invested in the human aspects - the victims and potential suspects; it fails to create a sense of urgency to solve the case or engender that mixture of sorrow, pity and revulsion for the perpetrator that is signature Christie.

The first case is Murder on the Orient Express, a well known case that has been adapted to death. While this version does not stand out, it stays close to the original and is fairly well done. Although Roger Ackroyd is also quite well done considering how difficult it is to adapt an unreliable narrator case into this format, from there, things start to go downhill. These cases are masterpieces; material changes should be weighed carefully and not made with the misguided idea that such impeccable Christie plots have scope for improvement or merely for the sake of delivering a surprise twist. Which is what they did to one of my personal favourites. They went for the plausible alternative solution which simply did not fit the human nature aspects of the case. And thus fails to deliver Christie's magic wow factor, the thrill and the chill and that sense of shock, sorrow and acceptance that it all made sense; that it is the best and only solution. It devolves further as cases are stitched together in a cut and paste fashion that is increasingly incoherent. The final case bears little resemblance to what I think must be the original. While it took no genius to spot the the final antagonists a mile away, their motives are uninteresting and unconvincing and the ending is frankly farcical.

If you are a Christie purist, I would say avoid this drama. You will feel they have desecrated some of the author's best works. If not, this is a watchable if unexceptional adaptation. The production values are quite good and the Republican period setting in Harbin has some novelty appeal even though the drama overall is all style no substance. This is a 7.0 for me but I would have rated it 7.5 if they didn't ruin Five Little Pigs and finish in such an absurd manner.

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Brilliant Cast, Average Storyline...

Easily one of the most hyped Korean movies of the year, screenwriter-director Lee’s ” Seobeok” drew attention by the collaboration of two of Korea’s biggest stars in the industry, Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum working alongside one another. However, something which does seem to have been left out in reviews beforehand in favour of biased comments upon the actors themselves, is glossing over the actual storyline.

Seobok is an odd fusion of drama, philosophy and morality in the first-half closely followed by fast-paced action with gunfights and psychic powers in the final part. It is surprising, but somehow, these two halves did blend quite well, resulting in a rather entertaining film.

The movie is the tale of Min Ki-hun (Gong Yoo) a former intelligence agent with a traumatic past. He suffers from a long-term illness which causes him to occasionally lose consciousness (mostly at times most convenient for the plot). Chief Ahn (Cho Woo-jin), his former cunning agency head, recommends that he be part of a revolutionary experiment that might help to cure him of his ailment. This experiment involves Seobok (Park), brought to life through stem cell cloning and genetic engineering. Seobok is a gentle, benevolent soul who is fascinated about the world, and morbidly about mortality.

Seobok’s bone marrow contains special cells that could unlock the secret of immortality. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people are interested in him, mostly for selfish reasons.After a surprise ambush by some military forces, Min and Seobok find themselves on the run together. If viewers can put two and two together, the screenwriting openly becomes predictable as the story moves along .

Admittedly, the action scenes are pretty enthralling, opening up in the beginning of the film with a terrific moment when a vehicle is driven through a brick wall. Yet whilst the plot does begin to build up to a satisfying climax, the pacing is ultimately slow in parts with perhaps the only reward seeing the antagonists get their just desserts, as well as some more profound moments of angst-ridden backstories for the characters. The philosophy in the movie whilst arguably risking the problem of being overwrought, did add a multifaceted layer to the storyline.

As far as acting goes, Seobeok is certainly headlined by its two main actors Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum, who do not disappoint within their performances.

Amazingly, Gong Yoo was hesitant to accept the role at first and was unaware that he would be starring alongside junior actor Park Bo Gum. However, Gong Yoo later confessed that he enjoyed playing the role ( as well as being able to break away from his typical ” good guy” roles as a foul-mouthed and cynical agent), something which he certainly excelled within his performance as troubled protagonist Min. In a scene exploring Min’s back story, Gong Yoo captivates the pure humanity of his character in arguably one of the most memorable parts of the film.

Evidently, costar Park Bo Gum also had his fair commentary upon feeling fairly nervous with working with Gong Yoo in the film. Regardless, Park’s somewhat romanticised appearance as the mysterious Seobok, did not diminish his talents onscreen as both characters and their bond over the course of the film was fairly likeable and easy as a viewer to become invested within. Admittedly, the side characters were mediocre at best; not dire nor unwatchable, but the antagonists in particular felt formulaically one-dimensional.

As far as the ending goes it is more a matter of opinion. Some may interpret it as more a clever metaphor, whilst others may be less impressed by the abrupt and sudden conclusion . Overall, ” Seobeok” had undeniably brilliant performances by the lead actors Park Bo Gum and Gong Yoo who certainly do not disappoint. However, whilst the movie attempted to style itself as an intricately complicated philosophical, action-thriller ( and was successful to some extent in parts), it often struggled to pace its own storyline as well as breaking out of unoriginal cliches . Nevertheless, it was enjoyable in parts, and certainly worth watching to pass the time.

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All is good up to the last few episode / ending

Story :
I think the main story was good and it was really engaging, really like the part however when it comes to the ending, it became really shitty. I couldn't understand what was going on. It makes sense but doesn't make sense in the way that it just doesn't come together. It felt like they didn't had enough time or money to put in the effort. After ep 20, things start to go haywire imo.

CGI:
Despite it being a show where most of it is CGI, I think it is pretty good. The CGI don't seem too fake like other Chinese movies/dramas. It doesn't look like a 50cent CGI. Feels like a good $2 CGI.

Music :
No Much comment, think it is pretty good. I skipped the intro song and ending songs because it wasn't really that catchy but suits the mood. I binged watch every week once it is fresh out of the oven so I only listen to it once or twice per few ep.

Acting:
I don't know how others view their acting. The ML does has a pretty solid filmography so his acting is ok. The FL, many people complaint about her acting. I think there are quite a few moments where her expression do not tell me anything, particularly towards the ending but overall, I still can stand her and I think she is pretty good looking. The chemistry between them offset feels more real than the chemistry in the show. I felt that at the starting that there was no chemistry and I wanted to drop but I continued.

Ending:
I really cannot stress how this ending is like BOOM in your face. There is no real meaning I felt. It felt like I dropped into a pit and had no way of coming out. Will there be a second season?? Open ending?? I felt like the last 10 eps are kinda waste. of time.
There is no proper ending to the second male lead and the main male lead. The female lead also. Who the fk this master comes over "Hey , I am here to fetch you" Go where????? There is no proper explanation.


There are a lot of questions that I have in mind and I want to know:
1. Where is the FL's real home/ real past?
2. What happens to the ML and second ML now that this FL is going to leave?
3. How the hell did the two side characters (Xwien Ei, Jaoke) came back when they were gone during the fight?
4. What is the master's story? How did he went into that ring and the coming back out didn't really make big sense.

As you watch this show, please remove all your doubts from your head if not you will be like ????

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When you don't have a clue about BDSM, don't include it in your story at all...

What could have been a nice production was a failure... If you don't have a vision of the story, don't tell it, when you include specific sexual practices then learn about it and don't include laughable scenes. And because they had no vision the series does not have flow, it's choppy mess from the beginning to the end.

I would not deny that the couple does have chemistry especially in the end, but the story is half assed and ruins this series. We know that you can tell a good stories in short episodes but they couldn't. Even when they kiss well, in this case sex does not sell.

So, this is a huge disappointment and should be skipped.

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