Reviews

An adorable narcissist? HOW?!

I actually started this drama on a whim, after watching an FMV of the couple. I loved how the ML looked at the FL. That's all there was to it to make me hit the play button. And I guess it's a good thing that I went in without looking any further. Because in episode 1 I was greeted with a narcissistic male lead and time travel. Two things that normally make me run for the hills.

What made me stay? The male lead is definitely narcissistic, but never crosses the line. In fact, the writers somehow managed to balance his narcissism with his genuine care for others. Simultaneously. I don't know if i've ever seen anything quite like it before. I kinda wanna go through the narcissism tag to see if I can find another... He also goes through tremendous character growth, that felt natural and unrushed - despite the shortness of the series. And, fortunately for me, the time travel comes into play with a support character, not the leads. So it actually didn't have too much focus, and contributed to the message of the story in very interesting ways.

It's told with the classic manga-esque dramatics that really only Japan can pull of. It really pulls the punches on commenting on Pretty Privilege/Kawaii Factor and biases, in a humorous way that sent me laughing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the support characters. Not a single one had me annoyed or sent me ranting, especially by the end. And I adored watching the romance (even if I would have liked more affection from the female lead).

It's kinda poetic actually, that a story that wound up being about biases, made me question some of my own drama-watching biases. I am still wondering how this writer managed to make a narcissist so adorable and root for-able.



*Disclaimer: I am referring to his possession of narcissistic/self-centered traits which are commonly found in everyone on a scale of intensity, not as someone who appears to have Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

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Windstruck will definitely leave you all struck all right. The story was great. I loved how it opened up with a narrator and how it ended with one. At first I thought the narrator was the main male lead, but the ending showed it was someone else (watch My Sassy Girl first, then you will know what i mean). My Sassy Girl and Windstruck are related movies... Windstruck is like a prequel to My Sassy Girl, but you should watch that before Windstruck or else you might not get the storyline and it will just confuse you. I love how they incorporated almost every genre into one movie, it had: romance, comedy, drama/melodrama a bit of action as well.. what more can you ask for right?

The cast's were amazing, I love Jun Ji Hyun, she is such an amazing actress. She portrayed her character sooo well. Really loved her character as a strong sassy police woman. Also Jang Hyuk was awesome too, I really liked his character, he was soo funny xD And like an all rounder of a main character, it seemed like he was good at ALMOST everything! The other cast members were good too.

I liked the music, it was nice and simple. Also one of the OST's was beautiful because it had a piano (and I love the piano). It didn't have too many songs just 2 but that was more than enough for this movie. It didn't need too many songs.

Rewatch value - 10/10. I gave it a high rewatch value because I think I can watch this movie over and over again and not get tired of it because this movie has sooo many different aspect that it will just draw you back in and make you watch it again. Some of the scenes were filmed soooo beautifully and I love how they included the wind (hence the title Windstruck). It was really beautifully portrayed, so for that I would definitely watch it again.

Over all - 10/10. I have nothing more to say about this movie, it had everything a good movie has. All you have to do now is watch it.
P.S. do keep a tissue box with you because some scenes might make you cry (I know I cried a lot). But don't worry about the ending, you will definitely love it.

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Disappointing by the end

That was a weird drama. They lost half of the characters in the middle and even the direction of the plot. While Song Lin becomes more and more warm and generous, Zhou Feng gets to be self-centred to the point where she chooses to turn a blind eye to the fact that Su keeps using her to get at Song and stays loyal to Su even when Song needs her, and even when her own career would benefit from helping Song. The only moment she thinks of going back to working with her boyfriend is when she's jealous of another woman helping him. If the genders were reversed viewers would never let the character get away with it. That totally put me off from the main couple and I just skipped the last episode, not caring for the ending anymore. 6/10

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Super, Super Short Review

If you want to laugh your head off, bust a gut, and be in a good mood all day, Run BTS is the variety show for you.

In a nutshell, Run BTS is basically BTS being wackos. They have all sorts of fun with activities, challenges, games, sports, etc. It's highly entertaining to watch them have fun and be crackheads. It's hard not to binge watch this because the episodes are short and it holds your attention.

I gave it a ten not because I'm biased (maybe a little though) but because I genuinely enjoyed it. If you ever want to release all your stress or you're in a bad mood, watch this variety show. You'd feel better in no time.

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I must say that I dont usually watch this kind of dramas. This is pure action/adventure with a bit of mysticism. However I just finished Eternal Love of Dream and I desperately needed to watch another drama by Vengo. I looked up the list in this website and this one was the one that stood out the most. BEST CHOICE EVER!

I watched the 21 episodes in one day. It's not 5:18am and I am writing this review instead of going off to sleep. That's how good this series is. It's a mix of The Mummy and Idiana Jones, but using Chinese mythology. The characters are awesome, both main and second leads. They are fully rounded and each one has a role to play. You will come to love them, hate them or pity them... but they won't leave you indifferent. Nobody is cartoonist or one-dimensional and even the "villains", if you can call them that, are very human and there will be moments when you empathize with them.

The series takes place during the Republican Era. I knew nothing about it but fortunately you don't really need to know anything about that era to understand what's going on. The drama is self-explanatory. Costumes and music are great. The plot is intriguing, it will make you hold your breath in the right moments. It starts slow. In fact, I skipped most of the first and second episodes. But once Vengo's characters joins the main expedition group and they go down the mountain, that's when shits gets real. I wasn't able to stop, I just had to know what happen next!!!

The acting is fantastic. I began to watch it because of Vengo but everyone acts their roles incredible well. Vengo is awesome, though. He is super handsome and his character is so different from DH Dijun, but he nails it in every scene. He looks so tan in this series!!! He was so pale as DH, but here he has a tan and he also has freckles! He is a pleasure to look at, but what really makes him stand out is his acting. I felt his pain and my heart broke for him.

About the ending. If you are like me and love spoilers, I will tell you that it is a sad ending BUT Vengo's character survives. So there is that.

As I said, this is not your typical romance drama. This is full of adventure, mystery, danger, human emotions and a little bit of flirting. It' fairly short, just 21 episodes, so the pace after the first 2 eps is great and you won't get bored. Please, if you love Vengo and enjoy movies like The Mummy, please watch it. You'll love it. It's in YT fully sub in English.

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Too little depth, too much background noise

There is a lot of detail in the story, but it doesn't make for a lot of depth. Crucial parts are missing and the relationship between Qin Qing and Zu Yuolin is all background noise and an extremely distracting cacophony towards the end. Part of it is the acting of Yi Daqian - he's not up for a main lead yet and somewhere after a few episodes I suspect the writers tailored more to his style as it became a bit less annoying, but still he can't carry the role. And it makes the depth of the relationship unfounded and unbelievable. I think he can improve, he's just not there yet - he's still at the level he played in Eternal Love of Dream.

Who is ready for a lead role and I would've loved to see more of is Song Luo. I missed the arch in the U.S. and would've loved to see how she adjusted and if something would come of the friendship turning romance or not. Overall the females were more expressive, more vibrant and better in their acting. Dilireba, Zheng Shuijing and Zhu Yin are a pleasure to watch. The elder generation is just oozing acting experience, show for example by the way Zhou Younian supports his wife and also handles her stubbornness with flair and subtlety. It really feels like they've known each other for decades and even when mother Ruhui knows she's being handled by "Old Zhou", she can't help but let a smile of endearment escape her.

Don't kid yourself though. The mothers in this series are extremely overbearing and manipulative. Acted brilliantly, but still getting under your skin, making you bite your fingernails, plead at the screen and beg for them to gain some restriction.

But in the end it is the writing that lacks here. The main story arches could've been done in 24 episodes, maybe less. How it ended up at 51 (45 on DVD and streaming) is mainly because they started to write it as a soap opera. Which is all well and good, but then make a soap opera and don't postpone the ending of a finite series that everyone is waiting for. Writing fillers and product placements that are just far too obvious is not entertainment and I skipped over most of the issues that Qing Qin faces in episodes 38 and beyond cause it was just too hard to bear.

The animosity between Su Yushan and Song Lin is also underdeveloped. Sure - they are competitors, but the hate that Su Yushan displays is truly villain worthy, yet we don't have this big thing that happened between them. Maybe he overplayed his role or the writing just give him too many tools to be evil, but with very little response and background to be justified.

However, the parts that are good, are excellent and that's why it still ends up at a 5.5. Just be ready to skip entire arches if you don't find them interesting.

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Good movie, great acting, but it hit too close to home for me. Literally anyone, and that’s pretty much everyone that has been in a serious relationship of any kind that ends, will totally relate to this. Sometime, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t keep that magic. Like any other new relationship at first, it’s exciting, interesting, fun getting to know each other, it has that “feel good” new feeling. After a while, you can’t picture yourself without that other person. Then it starts to feel repetitive , nothing new anymore, and at times boring, the magic gone. Even the desire for intimacy disappears. It’s time to call it quits. That is this movie in a nut shell. It just didn’t feel good after a while as I watched it. BUT, it was good if you can keep your own past relationships and memories at bay. I just couldn’t.

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Give this at least 1 episode

The narrative is fragmented at the beginning and it's also a slow burn but once those interlocking stories connect the drama will become engaging. It has gripping mystery like it will literally suck you in, every time a story connect to another will leave you nodding, it is so satisfying. Aside from the mystery I also like the chilling mood/atmosphere of this drama, it helps to arouse my curiosity. It is well directed drama; it knows how to lay clues and when to build tension.

Theme is revolved around T R U S T like father losing the trust of his daughter, gossiping neighbors , characters committing infidelity, trust leading to bullying, talking behind someone's back in a professional environment, someone who blindly follows others or beliefs, it is everywhere and it is impossible to miss. There is also another underlying layer here which is what people want versus being practical, people always dream, it might fade but another dream will replace it or an imposing parent will kill it.

I will give its music a perfect ten. It plays a huge part on how this drama builds its tension. It is a brilliant piece of music which underlines the mood of this drama. That aerial shot of those houses was brilliant, it seems a small detail but if you think about it deeply, it is the theme this drama wants to convey. Great acting from the cast, from the supporting cast to leads like Odagiri Joe, Risa Naka, Kuroshima Yuina, Anna Yamada, but the best performance should go to Risa Naka. Anna Yamada is a great young actress too. I am excited to see her future roles.

Overall it is great mystery drama, if you think of mystery dramas, this is I think the best you can get this year and it can compete to the best of the best mystery dramas/movies around. My only complaint is its ending; it is underwhelming and feels a bit rushed. I was expecting a huge climax but didn't get what I want. Also, the reveal is predictable or maybe it's just me because I've already seen lot mystery dramas. Lastly, thanks to HPriest for subbing this drama.

Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/

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What do you think is more important, the story or the story teller?

What do you think is more important, the story or the story teller? I think it's the story teller and this drama is the proof, this story of this drama for me is nothing new, from plots to overthrow the crowned prince to the crowned prince falling in love with a lowly palace maid, if you've been watching k-dramas for a while now then this drama doesn't offer much difference in terms of the story BUT it REALLY excels at the story telling. The entire cast of the drama have created this which is nothing short of a mesmerizing gem. Everyone, the actors, the directors, the producers, the camera crew, the editors, etc. have all contributed greatly and it shows. Their work demands attention of the viewers and as one of the viewers I couldn't help but appreciate their efforts. I have really enjoyed my time with this drama, hope you will too!

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This series is literally one of the BEST BL drama's I've seen in a long time. It has an amazing cast, amazing writing, and each episode deals with really profound issues that I have never seen discussed in any Asian BL TV series I've watched in the past Here's the break down:

 STORY: 9/10
The story revolves around 6 gay men, with the main characters being Arm and Pom, two best friends who room together. Their lives, and the lives of the other characters, connect through a series of events that take place throughout the show. The writing and development for each character is well thought out and I grew attached to each character very quickly, despite it being a 5 episode series with each episode clocking in at around 29 minutes. What's really great about this show is the issues that it deals with are so taboo but yet eye opening and  it was handled in such a smart and educational. As a gay man in my 20's I really appreciate this sort of series. It's all very realistic, maybe too realistic for those expecting a fluffy BL drama... this show is definitely not for kids and not for the close-minded. The romantic and kissing scenes are so on point. I don't know if the cast is LGBT+ in real life but they sure had me fooled.

ACTING: 9/10
The actors in this series are phenomenal. They truly were invested in their characters and each actor gave their respective role layers and depth. Highlight actors for me are the ones that play Arm and Nat, but every actor in Gay Ok Bangkok really gave Oscar worthy performances, in my personal opinion. Very raw and realistic performances.

MUSIC: 9/10
The sound track was super good and changed in each episode, but it still managed to maintain overall tone throughout. Fantastic!

REWATCH VALUE: 9/10
I would say this is an easy rewtach for me. Everything about this series impressed me and I did not want it to end OVERALL: 9/10 Excellent! The only reason I did not give this drama a 10 out of 10 is because it's only five episodes and I felt as though the last episode was a bit choppy, the way it ended. But they make all that up with season 2, which you should all watch if you have not!

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The synopsis , although not exactly inaccurate, doesn't do justice to Anone and probably isn't the most enticing thing ever. However, any possible advantage from correcting it is (in my opinion) inferior to the pleasure of figuring things out on your own, guessing how will the plot flow, how are all those people connected and what makes their wheels spinning. Long story short: Anone is so much more than two women of different age finding each other and healing their wounds. It weaves an intricate network of people crossing paths and trying to achieve their goals (or just living their ordinary lives). It is a drama about people and living in a society, which may sound banal on paper, but never is. It's about a warmth and comfort of a makeshift family (nothing short of a miracle), brutally contrasted with inhuman coldness, lack of regard for others, narrowness of horizons forced on the weakest and most impressionable ones and scarring them for life. You will see 'villains' more bloodcurdling than the most grotesque psychokillers populating your usual crime shows, but they will be completely commonday and manipulating people with little tidbits they have on their loved ones. Not that it strictly divides characters on good and bad, at least not those that stay longer.
It's about dreams, too (another banality on paper). And counterfeiting money. The better part of the plot could belong to an action movie, but the drama approaches it in a casual, slice-of-lifey manner. One arc turns very brothers Coen.
It's fun! In a quirky, gloomy way, with plenty of situational and visual humour stuffed in between tender moments. Beautifully written and directed, playing with conventions, often showing-not-telling and fully using the potential of each episode being a complete entity that can tell a story from a certain point. Highly recommended.

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The second lead stole the show.

I'm a little sad because the actress playing the female lead is the only reason I picked up this drama but her character(s) didn't have much dept, and surprisingly I ended up liking the scenes where the male lead interacts with the second leads more than the ones with the female lead.

The male lead doesn't have much of a life or motivation aside from maybe one day being with the protagonist, but he made me giggle a couple of times so I'll give him that.

The second female lead is a bit weird, but it didn't bother me as much since she's supposed to be a dumb bird (literally).

The character I liked the most was by far the second male lead, 10/10 comic relief but also did pretty well on the more serious scenes, he was a surprisingly positive character and pretty much the only reason the other three didn't die by the halfway point of the drama, between the female lead who never knows what's happening, the male lead who's a bit too eager to saceifice his life at every opportunity and the second female lead who's dumb as a rock, I guess the writers needed someone to keep the ship going.

The villain could've done better, they only started showing him as a suspicious person almost at the end so it was a bit of a shift with the character, I think there could've been a better way of showing that he was suspicious from the start and to reveal his plan at the end without making it so cartoonish.

Didn't like the ending, it was what dropped the grade for me, I was willing to forgive all the flaws from this drama but a unsatisfying ending I can't forgive, in my opinion it was poorly executed and rushed, they could've cut all those flashbacks and given more time for the fourth life and closed things more neatly.

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