This review may contain spoilers
I have been casually lurking on this website for a year; now I have finally made an account because I want to write a review JUST for this show. This is a spoiler-free review! I will provide some assurances here and there in case there are things that might otherwise turn you away, but I do not count these as spoilers because I give absolutely no specifics.tl;dr - Skip to the Overall Rating section at the bottom for a basic recommendation.
---Story: 8.5/10
The tone of the show was consistent; it knew what it wanted to be. From the first episode to the last, it was dramatic (comes with the genre), but it had a good balance of humor and romance and knew when to lighten up. After all, it is a generally feel-good kind of show, one that I would classify as a comedy in the original sense of the term. It never felt dark or gritty; just serious and sometimes perilous at times, and then would relax a bit with something cute and/or cheesy and make me smile like crazy.
The synopsis might sound spoilery to some but it just basically gives you an idea of what happens in the first episode. Yes, everything is set up in the FIRST episode, even one plot thread that is left hanging until episode 17 before it is nicely tied off by the very end of the show. So basically you are in for a ride to know exactly HOW this sweet, innocent woman who has never been part of the “underworld” has to adjust and fool everyone into thinking she’s her sister, the Female Star Killer boss of Yi Ching Group. And how the other characters with their own conflicts and secrets achieve their goals and react to each other. It’s quite entertaining.
It takes a little while for the romance to develop but that just makes it feel more natural, and any other way would be too rushed. After all, there are secrets and misunderstandings that keep the characters apart at first. At the beginning of the series when the characters are getting to know each other, I sensed that spark between the two main couples and it definitely was all paying off between episodes 7-15 with plenty of cute and romantic moments to keep you feeling warm and fuzzy. Things get dark by episode 16 but this is building up to the climax and the storm will pass soon—don’t give up hope.
Oh yeah, big plus here for me: NO LOVE TRIANGLES. HALLELUJAH! I was expecting the first male lead (Le Jun) and first female lead (Ping Fan) to get hijacked by some stupid love triangle shenanigans with the second male lead (Tian Xing) but AMAZINGLY this never happened! Because Le Jun and Ping Fan have eyes only for each other. Meanwhile, Tian Xing becomes enamored with the unexpected second female lead (Jing Xuan) who is a nurse at a hospital that these characters end up frequenting because they are in the mafia and always getting into fights, of course. Now there was a bit of concern with another character who tries to court Jing Xuan but in the end I didn’t have to worry about it. So if you are like me and can’t stand those silly love triangles, this is probably a good show for you! (=^w^=)
The plot features a lot of tropes and cliches, but rather than being annoyed by them, I felt like they were used in ways that made sense, were set up logically/plausibly (as much as you can in a fictional story), and propelled the story along. That is to say, I got the impression they were not included for their own sake, but to create a sense of a greater picture that simply involves some elements that we're familiar with. Or even if they WERE just included because the writers thought they had to, at least there was a REASON for it and it was explained in the show to make you believe it. Honestly, we are watching a romantic drama, what do you expect? We're HERE to see Ping Fan bandage up a wound on Le Jun's muscular, swoon-worthy shoulder and to see Tian Xing woo Jing Xuan ineffectively by showering her with flowers and gifts because he thinks that’s what girls want. :P We drama fans signed up for this stuff, this is what we expect and they deliver on every occasion.
Still, I think I should mention that some parts are kind of cringy. Some more than others. Most of the time the cringe is light and I was expecting it so it didn’t bother me, but oh man, there was only one big offender that stands out in my mind. Somewhere between episode 12-14 (I think, I don’t quite remember which episode exactly) was a Certain Scene (no spoilers… you’ll know when you get there) that was so cringy I almost couldn’t watch it… I thought it was going to be a dream sequence because it was so absurd but it was real. Sigh. I am impressed that somehow I survived the cringe and the writers still managed to make it relevant to the plot and move the story forward so it all worked out.
The pacing and editing was great! I admit I'm no expert when it comes to this kind of thing, but I thought the scenes flowed from one to the next naturally, spending a bit of time with different characters and letting the story unfold in a way that was engaging and kept me hooked. Even the introductory 1-2 minute recap sequence at the beginning of each episode was fresh and fast-paced to remind you what happened in the last episode (in case you go a few days or weeks between episodes) and I found myself watching them even when I was binging 3 episodes at a time. None of the episodes dragged or felt like filler—19 is the perfect number for the story they were trying to tell and they used their time wisely to wrap up all the plot points and address everything that I had questions about. As far as I was concerned, the writers had the whole story planned out and knew exactly what they were doing.
They also left themselves enough room to squeeze in quite a few kissing scenes by the end of the show, but that’s what you came for, right? Gotta watch ‘em smooch. Ain’t no romance drama without the smooching!
Last note: WHAT A CUTE INTRO! The opening theme is catchy, cute, and fresh. I liked the style they used with the cartoony animated effects overlaid on… well, it’s hard to describe, but the way the characters are presented in the intro is kind of an exaggeration of their roles in the story? In a good way… it felt appropriate for the opening. Everything about it sets you up to expect a comedic, yet dramatic, romantic story featuring two main couples. I was slightly disappointed that they always show Ping Fan with long hair in the opening and in the commercial break scenes, when she has short hair in the rest of the show (except the first episode, obviously), but that’s just a nitpick. I’m about to fangirl again thinking about it. \(>3<)/
---Acting/Cast: 9/10
I loved all the casting choices they made for each character! Personally I was captivated by the performance of each of the mains. Especially the actress who played Ping Fan/Ping An! She was amazing! She put on this whole different persona for each sister, she has a completely different vibe and way of moving/making facial expressions depending on which sister she is acting at the time. And she is ADORABLE! Oh my god, that cute grin she makes is enough to make my heart melt. Oh, Gu Le Jun, you never stood a chance against that smile. The girl who plays Jing Xuan is also adorable with those little curls at the tips of her hair and she has such a cute voice. The actor for Le Jun makes a convincing bodyguard type and has a winning smile that he shows on rare occasions (mainly after episode 6). Tian Xing is quite fetching in his black suits and styled hair, especially when he goes making puppy eyes at Jing Xuan. Oh goodness.
They all played their parts well. There may have been a bit of over-acting for the supporting characters but it was for comedic effect and felt purposeful, not like it was bad acting or anything. You will care about all these characters and want to know how their story ends.
An interesting note: Each character had their own wardrobe or personal style, wearing particular kinds of clothing, which I think helped not only to differentiate them from each other but also to tell a little about their profession/character. For instance, the strawberry-loving Xiao Zhi always wears a dapper patterned vest that doesn't quite match the “black mafia” theme the rest of his peers have. Ping An wears a lot of leather and tight pants while Ping Fan has a more casual, light, and cutesy style. Le Jun has no-nonsense rugged wardrobe in neutral/earthy colors. I also noticed that Jing Xuan is always wearing light colors (like white, beige, and blue), while Tian Xing wears dark colors-- a sort of visual contrast between the "white" and "black" professions they represent. This was very consistent throughout the entire show, though it took me a while to notice it. I just like this kind of attention to detail. Great visual cues to support the overarching themes. Whoever was in charge of costumes deserves some recognition!
---Music: 6.5/10
I would have given it a higher score but there is just one problem with the way they presented the music in this show. And only one flaw, really… Whenever anything vaguely dramatic/surprising happened, the SAME SONG kept playing at the SAME PART of the chorus and it got kind of old after the second episode. But they will keep playing the SAME SONG about 4 times per episode right up until the last minute of the last episode, so it’s better if you just get used to it. The song is “I’m Burning” by Ian Chen and it’s a great song, I actually like it… it just gets old when they play it so much. I would have preferred if they saved it for the MOST DRAMATIC moments and not just as a cue for each commercial break. Man, that chorus “I’m burning…” is going to haunt my dreams from now on. (;=__=)
All the other songs were fine, though nothing really stood out to me. Could be because I only watch these shows when I wear headphones and I keep the volume down to preserve my hearing, so I couldn’t hear the music so clearly all the time. But the other music choices were fitting to the mood of the scenes and I have no complaints. Would have gotten a higher rating here if not for the “I’m Burning” repetition that I mentioned above.
---Rewatch Value: 6.5/10
I’m not the kind of person who rewatches shows so I gave this a lower rating. But this one was quite a journey! It would be interesting to see it again, knowing in advance all the background information that is slowly revealed with each episode. It puts the characters into a different light and makes you say “Ah, that’s why that happened!” If you do rewatch, maybe watch it with a sister/close relative or friend who likes chick flicks or dramas. I personally would not watch it again but that’s just because I already have so many other dramas on my list to get to. (<u<;) Watch at least the first 2 episodes before dropping it. And remember that when things start to get rough, it will be resolved within 1 or 2 episodes!
---Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Everything in this show was part and parcel of the genre, plot, and tone they were aiming for and I think it worked great! No drama is perfect, but for what they did here I will heartily give them a round of applause and recommend The Masked Lover to people who are looking for some adorable, suspenseful, emotional, and sometimes cheesy comedic romance with a structured, well-planned plot.
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Criticism wise, I wish that the plot had been more complex and that things were a little harder to achieve. As the other reviews mentioned, the story felt a little too simple at times. Albeit, that just may because I usually watch 16 hour long dramas, and thus I am used to seeing things progress in more detail. Overall, I do think that the movie did a good job with the 2 hours it had!
I also think Kento's acting was also a little over-the-top at times. As much as I love him - I actually started this movie for him! - it was a little cringe to see his overly enthusiastic acting. Although, I understand that this is his first time playing such a big role and it is very different from his past roles. I hope that in the next three movies, he can improve and become better because I know he is a brilliant actor and capable of a lot (as seen in his works Death Note and Todome No Kiss)! Other than that, the cast was brilliant and all actors delivered their roles very well!
To conclude, I would definitely recommend this movie! There may be a few things that were a little lacking, but in the end it was a very fun rollercoaster! I am excited to join the community of the Kingdom fans and read the story in it's different forms of media (ex: manga & anime) ((:
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This review may contain spoilers
"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" – A Heartfelt Journey of Young Love and Self-Discovery
Plot Summary:"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a Thai BL drama that explores the intricate relationship between two young men, Daonuea and Khabkluen. The story begins with Daonuea, who has been harboring a secret crush on Khabkluen since high school. When they reunite in university, Daonuea decides to confess his feelings, setting off a series of events that challenge both characters to confront their emotions and navigate the complexities of their relationship.
Main Characters and Actors:
Daonuea (played by [Actor's Name]): Daonuea is a sensitive and artistic student whose courage to confess his feelings drives the plot. His character's emotional depth and vulnerability are key elements of the story.
Khabkluen (played by [Actor's Name]): Khabkluen is charismatic and confident, yet his interactions with Daonuea reveal a more introspective side. His journey of understanding his own feelings forms a crucial part of the narrative.
Overall Impression:
"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a heartwarming and engaging drama that beautifully captures the essence of young love and self-discovery. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, making their evolving relationship both believable and compelling. The series successfully blends romance with moments of humor and drama, creating a well-rounded viewing experience.
What I Liked:
Acting: The performances by the lead actors are commendable. They bring authenticity and nuance to their roles, making the characters' journey emotionally resonant.
Storyline: The plot is thoughtfully crafted, with a good balance of romance and personal growth. It keeps viewers invested in the characters' journeys and their evolving relationship.
Cinematography: The visual presentation is beautiful, with carefully composed scenes that enhance the storytelling. The use of color and lighting adds a layer of emotional depth to the drama.
Music: The soundtrack is well-chosen, enhancing key moments and adding to the overall emotional impact of the series.
Areas for Improvement:
Pacing: Some episodes might feel slow-paced, particularly in the middle of the series. A more consistent pacing could help maintain viewer engagement throughout.
Supporting Characters: While the main characters are well-developed, a deeper exploration of the supporting characters could add more depth to the story.
Recommendation:
"Star and Sky: Star in My Mind" is a must-watch for fans of the BL genre and anyone who enjoys a heartfelt romance. The drama excels in its portrayal of the characters' emotional journeys and the complexities of their relationship. Its strengths lie in strong performances, a compelling storyline, and beautiful cinematography, making it a highly recommended series for those looking for a touching and well-crafted love story.
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BEST SHIT EVER 100/10 Better than anything
From start to end it was perfect. Never got bored, amazing OST and characters. These charectars are more intresting than my entire exitence. Amazing plot and the whole twin shit is so cool. Love it so much. The acting ooooooo don't get me started. Especially Seok Jaebum his acting is unbelivable.This show got me in my feels and ahh just picasso. Never disapointed and the amount of times my jaw hit the ground. This story and crime oml. As always the students are way ahead of the cops. My brain still can't wrap around the crimes and everything. The ending tho- Nothing can top that. The ending was picasso and i just love the high shcool theme and everything.
Story:
There is our male lead, Ji sooheon. He is living on his own, poor, has a sick mum and has his own brain tumor. Amazing fighter and works part-time at a bowling alley. Our female lead Ok Chanmi is an orphan. She has a twin brother who was adopted at 6-8yrs old. They were orphans from the start, and he moved from Busan(where the orphanage is) to Seoul. He has rich adoptive parents who are not kind. His name is Park Wonseok or his birthname Ok Chankyu.
One day on call with her twin brother, her brother got interupted, dropped his phone and cut the call. He fell out of the science lab window of his school. Ok Chanmi didn't know this though. No one knew they were twins, everyone at Park Wonseok's school thought he was an only child. Couple days later, he wasn't picking up no calls so Ok Chanmi goes to his school. She asks around and finds out he died. Labeled as suicide. She screamed to the cops that it was a murder. She moved all the way to seoul to find out who killed her brother. Ji sooheon is her partner in crime and they solve this mystery working hand in hand aswell as with many others. This isnt a smooth story many other major incidents occur on their journy. Who? What? When? Where? Why? You will never know..
just art, or a ticking time bomb untill everything gets revealed...
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Reunion: The Sound of the Providence Season 2
19 people found this review helpful
Lightning doesn't strike.
Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off with Wuxie and Xiao Bai leaving Warehouse 11 and assembling a team to journey on to Thunder City. At this point Wuxie is desperately ill and it is not clear whether he will survive long enough to get closure on what happened to Wu Sansheng and unravel the secrets of the Thunder God. This season is better paced and more tightly written, avoids the digressions characteristic of Season 1 and comes to a satisfying conclusion. In this journey, Wuxie learns to live life in the present moment and appreciate the people around him rather than chasing mirages.Unlike Season 1, this season is a lot less about the Iron Triangle. Although we see them and their rapport and witty banter remain the most memorable highlights of the drama, this would be more aptly titled Entrourage rather than Reunion. The issue is that too many members of the team that travels to Thunder City only have modestly well developed relationships with Wuxie and/or Xiaobai but are pretty much strangers to each other. So when they are thrown together in suspenseful or dangerous situations, there isn't that very enjoyable natural chemistry or seamless bond that emanates when the Iron Triangle is together. The only execptions are Xiao Bai and Liu Sang and possibly Hei Yanjing so things markedly improved towards the end when all the "extras" get left behind.
The other enjoyable aspect of this season are that we have two very good villains - Boss Jiao and the spy and one excellent grey character Jiang Zisuan. In fact I would say they somewhat stole the limelight in this season. I was particularly impressed by Wu Lipeng's portrayal of Wuxie disguised as Jiang Zisuan. He literally knocks off all of the little mannerisms and micro expressions of Zhu Yilong's Wuxie to a T. However, it goes on for way too long and to the point where it was no longer even logical from a plot point of view. So the season ends with this feeling that Zhu Yilong/Wuxie was missing in action toward the end. This is particularly disappointing because in the final arc, I expect to see the "real" Wuxie cunningly out maneuvre and confront the last villain. Instead, he pretty much just rocks up for the final two "real" episodes. Even though Zhu Yilong/Wuxie returns for that final showdown, it has a hollow and anti-climatic tone to it, as if he is not fully in character.
Although this season progresses at a much better pace without the marked ups and downs of Season 1, I actually still find both Sea King's Tomb arc and Warehouse 11 arc of Season 1 superior to both Thunder City arc and Imperial City arc of Season 2. That is not to say these arcs are not well done, they truly are but they just were not as dangerously thrilling or mythically suspenseful - I did not feel my heart in my throat the way I did in the first arc of Season 1. This is probably because the Iron Triangle is somewhat overshadowed in Season 2 and it is hard to care as much for the entourage cast. I was praying for the Iron Triangle's survival every moment of the Sea King's Tomb arc. That does not happen in any of the Season 2 arcs - in fact if anything it seems a bit too easy. So despite its overall better cadence of storytelling, Season 2 feels like the thunder rolls but lighting doesn't strike. Thus, I rate both seasons a very enjoyable 8.5 for very different reasons. I separately reviewed Season 1 in greater detail.
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This movie really make you hear the voice of the silenced ones
I think it's one of my favourites this year if not THE fav. I think that the title "Without a Sound" refers not that much to a mute protagonist, but to the fact that in Korean (but not only) society many voices are unheard, many bad, criminal things happen without media and people being loud about those problems, because it's hard to handle, because of corruption, because it's an uncomfortable topic or because more powerful people make them keep quite...Chang Bok said to Tae In "what will he do without him?", because people with impairments and disabilities, people from very poor families, orphans like himself really need more help, but instead are being mistreated and cast out like trash and in some cases really have no choice (if they don't want to starve). Not to mention mafia, human traffic for organs, prostitution, paedophilia... The movie may seem almost comic (I did laugh hard in many scenes), but it does make you think about some really heavy topics with many strong metaphors and question yourself what did YOU do about it, since you surely had more possibilities to make a change than the protagonist, a person without a voice (physically and metaphorically, although he did make many people "hear" him at the end of the movie). It also obviously blurs the line between good and evil, since the protagonists do some criminal things, but also some good things, so it's not them being evil in their nature, but some of their actions. It makes us question ourselves what’s right and wrong, what’s good and bad what do we think about a certain situation and if those beliefs depend on motives and circumstanced or if our moral is absolute.
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This review may contain spoilers
Known Ex-Boyfriend
This drama is what disappointment looks like. But I can't even complain, cuz it's on me... I had too high expectations. I blame myself for this one, I disappointed myself.When I first learned about the premise of this, I was like. Oh, so Taiwan bls graduated from stepbrothers and are now going into the uncle business, sign me up. I was ready to be on my moral high ground while enjoying, and judging. Unfortunately, when the first episode aired and the intro was longer than the episode, I almost rioted.
Literally, the eff was this? It was all over the place. The plot needed time, which they didn't have, so it was rushed. And who the hell even propose like the uncle did in the finale? It felt like they ran out of budget in the location they were at, and had to leave, so the director was like, hurry up, quickly, put the ring on his finger and let's check out before we have to pay for another day.
Also, all that missed chances for them to meet and find out about each other was ridiculous. The mother even sent a picture, and you telling me after he returned to his phone he couldn't see it?? Then, it turned out the uncle knew the whole time any way? Meh.
Taiwan dramas almost never disappoint, so to see this one let me down, was unexpected. I'm not sure if it's due to the plot being whatever, or the execution, but this was not it. The story was very rushed, the secondary characters were uninteresting, and that basic arse bad guy came off whiny and childish with no depth. The main cp were there, didn't really get much from them either, and that mother was also there... really, everything about this disappointed me. Such a shame, this would have been an amazing bl if it had proper run time and the plot was well executed. Perhaps they lacked investment?
Anyway, if you wanna watch it, kudos to you, personally I won't recommend it. Hopefully the actors get a chance to work on something better in the future. One thing I liked about this though, was the theme song. Dafug you mean 'My love for you is 3 centimeters deep, not more, not less.' It made me laugh, so at least there was that.
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Set in the peaceful Edo era, the film is a human drama instead of a straight chambara (swords play) film like the title displays so do not expect heads rolling and straightforward Samurai action the whole time. Once again, Kobayachi harshly criticize the ancient Japanese feudal system and the Bushido codes of Samurai honour that requires blind loyalty.
Screenwriter Hashimoto (Kurosawa’s regular) did a magnificent job with the story’s shades, turns and flashbacks in a way that would make you anticipate the developments of the story; it may feel slow paced at times but that’s the usual Kobayachi way of building strong tension to end it with a blow; heroism was created little by little until it reached the end. The term “Rebellion” isn’t exactly what you think when reading the title, it’s not the story of a samurai establishing justice or honoring his lord, this is the story of an elder samurai’s own codes of honour to help his son and daughter-in-law through the injustice caused by their clan’s lord and the closest higher-ups. Instead of blind loyalty and accepting unfairness without asking questions, they decided to go against their feudal lord, the system and the world they live in.
Samurai Rebellion is also viewed as a family drama with many displayed emotions and connections. It also contains the most touching romantic story I’ve ever seen in any Samurai film; the sacrifices, the mutual understandings and the painful injustice leading to separation. However, that doesn’t deny the presence of action especially at the end. The dual and the fight sequences were splendid considering the fact that they were used to get all of that intensity that’s been constructing during the whole film. It made the perfect finale of the film.
Is it really necessary to talk about acting? It’s Mifune Toshiro, the legendary best actor Japan ever knew and one of the better actors in the world; people usually know Mifune in Kurosawa’s films where he always shined but let me tell you, Mifune’s performance with Kobayachi was one of his finest works ever; he did a flawless job with the character of an elder samurai who built a hero out of himself to confront injustice. There’s also Nakadai Tatsuya, the second Japanese legend. Although he was only a supporting role, he delivered so well and I must say that I completely loved his character that sounded mysterious; he was someone who had to be torn apart between his greed to be the best swordsman in the clan, to be a friend or to serve his lord according to the samurai codes of honour. Someone else deserve all the praise is Tsukasa Yoko, she had one of the strongest female performances I’ve seen in the golden Japanese cinema. Her character Ichi was also one of the better female characters displayed in Samurai films.
The black and white cinematography was top-notch just like the camera angles and the smooth close-ups because Kobayachi is a masterful director after all. What also should be highlighted is the superb music choice to empathize the emotional involvement.
Watch if:
-You like Samurai films.
-You want to discover old Japanese films.
-You like Toshiro Mifune because this is one of his better works.
-You like Masaki Kobayachi’s way of making films.
Do not watch if:
-You dislike old films (black and white).
-You dislike Samurai films.
Samurai Rebellion is a timeless Kobayachi masterpiece that defies the usual definitions of samurai codes of honor in the most brutal tragic way.
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The plot itself is rather simple and not that difficult to predict, but what made the drama stand out is how everything was presented. The tone of the drama is very lighthearted and serious moments or events aren't portrayed in an overdramatic way. I loved that some dramatic scenes were even purposefully exaggerated so that they seemed funny instead. With a 2 episode extension the last episodes were a little slower than the rest, but personally I didn't mind that especially because I really liked the ending.
The cast was great as well; Chae Rim really gave life to her character and she will be one of the drama heroines that I won't be able to forget. For me a huge plus of this drama was that it dealt with regular middle class people who are often overlooked in dramas. Another thing I liked was that even supporting characters were well written so that I've grown fond of the whole cast. However, I thought that one of the male leads was a little dull and he didn't leave as much of an impression on me as other characters.
All in all, Dal Ja's Spring is a heartwarming, cute story that I will surely rewatch on a rainy day when I need an uplifting drama!
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I wasn't sure how I felt about Kwon Sang Woo before this but I enjoyed his character a lot. He plays an honorable son, prosecutor and a loyal, steadfast friend. He's hot headed, prone to fight and often very funny. Go Hyun Jung is wonderful, as always. I like her so much. She has such range; from What's Up Fox to Queen Seon Duk (Evil Misil!) to Dae Mul, she is an undeniably great actress.
This is one drama that uses its side characters well. They all orbit around the leads in believable ways. They are necessary to the story and not distractions, which if you have ever read any of my reviews, you'll know this kicks up a drama's rating for me.
At 24 episodes, I felt the pacing was just fine. It took me a long time to finish this but I blame the springtime glut of obsessive fare like Greatest Love and others for stalling me on this and not a lagging storyline. This drama is worth your time if you are into politics and more adult storylines. It's written well, directed well and most of all, acted well. There is some strange editing at the end/beginning of some episodes but they always clean up the story during the hour.
I'm giving it an 8 over-all. My Re-watch value is low. Not because I didn't like it but because I'm more apt to watch light romantic fare over and over rather than a long political drama.
Again, this drama is worth it if you like political stories or if you are a fan of the leads. They do a great job in this drama.
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愛而不得 "ai er bu de" (Unfulfilled Love)
An unfulfilled love is perhaps the most painful romance there is for a couple in love; it is also one of the seven bitterness in life. The official trailer has prepared the viewers for the ultimate ending of the story, and since episode one, most viewers like myself, brace for a painful and untimely ending in the final episodes. The good news is, this is only perhaps a third of the story told. The rest of the story will be told in modern times, thousands of years later in their next lifetime, and the new drama is currently waiting to be released.This is a touching, beautifully sad story. The female lead and male lead have loved each other so deeply for so many years, and yet they cannot be together. The story revolves around an unstable kingdom with a seemingly weak emperor and a power hungry controlling empress dowager. On top, there are enemies from within and without. No one knows who is foe or friend. Parricides, filicides and fratricides are rampant.
The development of the main couple's relationship from the beginning to the end is sweet and heart wrenching, with both leads mature and somber. As most viewers have already anticipated an ending that is tear jerking, every episode becomes heavy and painful to watch.
Zhou Shengchen (Ren Jialun aka Allen Ren) is an uncle of the then Emperor. To untangle himself from the power struggle within the palace, he changes his family name and barricades himself to guard the western border. He is intelligent, solemn and an incredible fighter. Who is more perfect than Ren Jialun to play this role? Here, Ren Jialun's performance is at his best, with an air of royalty and coldness, yet not lacking his affection for his love and his followers. His styling is also the best of all I have seen of the actor in his historical work. He looks so good and so convincing here. Despite adopting many followers, Cui Shiyi (Bai Lu) is the only one Zhou Shengchen falls in love with romantically, and yet he cannot love her openly and take her as his wife for he has vowed not to be married nor have offspring for life.
Cui Shiyi is the niece of the then Emperor’s teacher and her family holds high status in the society. To protect Cui Shiyi from any danger arises from palace political struggle, she’s sent far away to Zhou Shengchen and becomes his student. Growing up without a father, quickly, Cui Shiyi takes Zhou Shengchen as a fatherly teacher figure and gradually falls in love with him. And yet, fate doesn’t dwell her well.
Like Ren Jialun, Bai Lu’s acting here is also perhaps one of her best. She starts with a very young girl who doesn’t talk, and becomes a fine, mature young lady fit for an empress. Bai Lu has given us a remarkable performance for both her phases as a very young girl and then as a young lady. All the emotions on her face tell the silent sufferings she's going through and the longing for the one she loves.
Ren Jialun’s chemistry with Bai Lu is perhaps the best compared with his other co-stars in other dramas. Both exude the love and longing for each other, and yet they can’t say anything or take any actions. There’re hardly any physical contacts and yet their chemistry is overwhelmingly real that brings tears to the viewers’ eyes.
My Verdict
This is a beautiful romance with a lot of resignations. The characters are intelligent and lovely. The writing is intact and coherent, and the cinematography is good. All the war scenes are well done, in particular, Ren Jialun’s action scenes. Be warned though, the final two or three episodes are painful to watch.
Overall, a wonderful love story not to be missed. Bravo!
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This review may contain spoilers
Tackling the horrors of war and the absurdity of the Korean War in particular with grotesque humor
"The Long Way Home" – original: "Western Front" - is a KMovie about the Korean War. But a funny one... if a movie about war might be called funny at all... In fact, it succeeded brilliantly in tackling the horrors of war in general and the absurdity of the Korean War in particular with grotesque humor.As a last resort, even a North Korean student is drafted to drive a tank into battle. A South Korean farmer, in turn, has to leave his heavily pregnant wife behind in order to take part in an all-important, top-secret mission and deliver strategically important secret information to the Allies. Neither are heroes. Neither of them would actually care about the war. But both have dutifully learned the ideological phrases of their 'side' and both, quite by chance, are the only ones in their respective units to survive in an airstrike three days before the truce is signed. The North Korean incidentally stumbles upon the top secret paper and hides it. The South Korean incidentally overwhelms the North Korean... obviously, neither of them being born to be soldiers.
"The Long Way Home" is a kind of road movie back and forth through the empty landscape of the western front line. The student from the north wants to return home with his tank. The farmer from the south, in turn, wants to hand over the secret paper so that he can finally return to his wife and newborn baby. Eventually, sometimes one pulls in this direction and then the other one in that. Only a cow is involved, too. And a bizarre village community in no man's land. Along the way, the two squabblers also stumble upon Chinese troops reinforcing the north, and there is also another airstrike from the south. Then, again and again the cow in the vastness of the natural landscape, in which military equipment and soldiers don´t seem to fit in at all. The war is increasingly losing its meaning and significance. The tank has long been junk anyway, but ironically it becomes their shared cozy home. Enmity becomes friendship. War is crap. This one anyway! Regarding its fatal futility and arbitrariness, the KMovie in conclusion actually goes one better, too.
In "The Long Way Home" infernal war scenarios and powerful chamber drama collide with slapstick and situational comedy. A daring mixture, but quite successful not least thanks to strong mimes - with young talent Yeo Jin-goo and veteran Sol Kyun-gu in a fantastic playing mood.
A different kind of anti-(Korea) war movie.
Not a milestone in cinematics, but quite entertaining in its bizarreness.
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Right off the bat I was enticed by the disclaimer,
"This drama is fictional. All resemblances to actual people, places or events are purely coincidental. Or you may choose to take this as purely a made up story or try to grasp an understanding of the darkness these days."
A simple but perfect set up for how brutal each episode is, not just the individual crimes but the overlaying story. Most drama's make a scene just brutal in its initial appearance. In Joker, where the first look at the murder victims might not be all that horrible, as they are carefully investigated you develop a deeper conviction that what they get - even though its not legal - is what they deserve. (Sort of brings out the worst in all of us, maybe.)
The cast is amazing. There's humor that fits in well with each characters lives, there's drama, and realistically dark content. If your not a seasoned murder detective drama watcher, you might get a little queasy. So be careful.
Finally I would like to make a point to say that, where this drama isn't unpredictable it does a great job at making you want to contradict your initial theories. Towards the end you will know what's coming BUT you will constantly try to talk yourself out of it.
So..."You want murder, destruction and revenge all tied in with remarkable characters and the barest traces of humor? Well, by golly, you've found your drama.. "
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1This review may contain spoilers
Impossibly Disappointing
Sigh. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.I'm not going to explain why this drama failed in detail. Others have already sacrificed many of their brain cells to do so. Instead, I'll give you a short rundown of my thoughts.
Wedding Impossible had potential. It had a bit of a unique premise, a wacky start promising some over-the-top fun, and the opportunity to say something/showcase Queer representation in a mainstream K-Drama. I don't have to tell you that it failed on all counts.
I looked back at my notes and found one I made after the first or second episode: "Here's hoping they can achieve a fun drama while treating the Gay ML's sexuality and coming out with respect."
Oh, poor Noir. You naive, sweet summer child.
As the episodes progressed, it was clear the drama forgot or simply no longer cared about its premise. And rather than focus on what was supposed to be the main point of intrigue/source of hi-jinks and conflicts: Do Han using this sham marriage to hide his sexuality. They leaned into anything BUT that. And whenever the opportunity presented itself to delve into his struggles, how staying in the closet affected his relationship with his family, how the fake marriage was affecting his best friend and brother: They barely touched on it or simply pivoted and went, but what about the car accident from years ago, what about the poorly-built-up main romance, what about company politics and backstabbing, what about whining and complaining?!
And the worst part! The worst part is that this supposedly fun rom-com-style K-Drama not only didn't give the Gay ML a love interest (which is just plain Homophobic if you ask me): IT. WASN'T. FUN.
AND ANOTHER THING! Is it just me who finally noticed that they rarely used the word "Gay?!" Wtf. Are they scared of it?! If I didn't know the plot/wasn't paying attention, I would have no idea what Do Han's "secret" is when they're talking about it in some scenes!
By the time we got to the last few episodes, I just wanted it to end already. I found myself frustrated, annoyed, and just . . . Annoyed at myself for hoping for better.
If you're like me, a Queer person who, despite the odds, is kind of hopeful for good mainstream LGBT+ representation in your Asian dramas: I'm sorry to myself and you that we stuck this one out. Let's just collectively agree to go rewatch the Queer cuts from Nevertheless and Love with Flaws, drink some wine, and wait for Hwang Da Seul's next masterpiece.
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Not a gem but A VERY GOOD WATCH.
The year 2020 has been full of surprises for the kdrama watchers. My dangerous wife will be one of those underrated dramas that many people won't watch because they are not that familiar with the cast.I would not actually recommend many people to watch them.. Only the matured ones and who love a journey with ups and downs and many twists.I absolutely loved the cast..their acting was top notch.The story was too good but somehow it feels quite repeatitive after a few episodes..But I love the fact that it's not really predictable.I mean "expect the unexpected" then you may find it predictable..so many twists and turns.The thing that upsets me that I could not actually see the reasons behind their actions until 12episodes maybe.The osts were pretty good.I won't rewatch it because I already know the twists..lol.
If you are thinking whether you should watch it or not..I think you should give it a try.
(It's my first review and English is not my first language so I hope you will pardon me for my mistakes)
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