Also the poster is misleading. This drama is vibrant and so beautifully shot. The colors, backdrop and scenery and down to female lead's hanbok is vibrant. With just a touch of fantasy on the immortality issue but overall its quite slice of life of a musician, Joon Woo who is a little reclusive but opens up to the mysterious but smart mouthed lady, Mi Jo living downstairs.
Also the drama has awesome secondary leads in Yeon Ji and Jason. No bitchiness or suffocating love. They are so good that you wished their arc is a happy and fulfilling one too. The characters and story backdrop is sufficiently thick that it could easily be a longer drama and infact i kind of wished it was longer so that there would be more character development and progress of relationship which i felt i needed more after the credits rolled on the final episode.
The music was nice which was a given since its a YG production.i love the R&B track sang by the male lead titled You.
The acting was good and no noticeable cringeness. I find Kang Seung Yoon and Jang Ki Yong shine as their character of Joon Woo and Jason. The only minor blip was Mi jo's makeup and the vivid pores which was distracting and a little unexpected. Plus cant they give us an otp kiss?. Enjoyed the entirety while it lasted.
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There were moments where i could feel my heart break. Even now, 20 minutes after i ended this movie, i can still feel tears in my eyes. I have never ever cried like this while watching a movie. At the end, there was this moment where i cried so much i thought i was going to break down.
I'd love to watch it again but i don't think i can. I already have a headache because of crying so much.
10 points out of 10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Drama about dreams and youth
When I first watched the trailer of this drama, I didn't expect that this drama would be so different than what they promised, but in a good wayThe trailer only show us that this drama is about esports with a little bit of time travel element in it. But what this drama never tell you is that it has a mystery element, strong friendship element, even with a bit a dash of romance which is so satisfying
You started the drama by meeting the two male leads, Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaobei, who seemed to live in different timeline. But you soon enough realize that they're connected through the game called Cross Fire, where it allows them to sort of communicate with each other. Their story started to unravel from there, which reveal the story about chasing dreams, being youths, and also about friendship
Good things about this drama:
1. Strong characters. There are many times I get mad at the drama because they just don't treat their characters right. But for Cross Fire, all the characters are strong in their own way. Xiao Feng's team and Xiaobei's team both have their own shortcomings and also their own problems, but you will definitely come to love them. I was prepared to roll my eyes if they treated their female characters like a trash, like many dramas usually do, but in this drama the female leads are very headstrong. They're capable of standing on their own two feet without having the support of the male leads. I fell in love with the 3 powerful female leads who are strong and capable in their own way. Even Xiaobei's mother is also very good
2. Mystery plotline. Like I said, this drama is not only about esports and time travel. There's also a mystery that's hinted since the beginning of the drama until the end. There's this one bad guy and you are led to hate him, but at the end, I felt some sympathy to him because his life ended in a way that's just so pathetic. And the mystery is actually very intriguing, even though a little predictable, and it will keep you on edge each episode
3. Engaging storyline and clever editing. The plot of this drama is very tight, very good, and also very engaging. Believe me that chasing this drama one episode per day almost make me go insane because my fragile heart can't handle all the cliffhanger they throw us. It feels like they're playing with our hearts with each episode and you would end up screaming in frustration because the drama is just so good that way
4. Realistic gaming sequence. This might be one of the things that make me stay watching this drama. It's so good that it prompted me to actually watch CF championship (it's so fun!) and wanted to try the game myself. But my laptop is too slow and not designed for gaming, so I have to forget this desire
Bad things about this drama:
1. This drama has the time travel element, so somehow, this part itself is not really realistic. I think there are many times when we have to fill in the blank ourselves since it's not explicitly being explained. The VR part is a bit ridiculous as well, and even though it brings the plot moving forward, I still think that it's a bit weird and a little bit of a stretch
2. Episode count. Of course, being 36eps, there are some parts that could be considered as filler, especially the love triangle that come out of nowhere. You might be confused with some of the storyline as it didn't even make sense (like how XIaobei could get better)
Overall, I think that this drama is worth to be watched and worth you wasting your time for it. I wish everyone would have the courage to actually pick it up and sit through it, and I'm sure you'll love the drama as much as I do. This drama will be my favorite in 2020. Even though the drama is not too logical and there are some parts that make you just feel that it's silly, I'm sure you'll end up loving all the characters and would cheer for their success at the end
Score: 8.5/10
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chachiba who is greiving and loved her father so much would do anything to have this last part of him agrees. Wee begins Raping her, stalking her freaking out whenever she is close to another guy.
He plans to get revenge using her as her father is dead and she is his blood. One part of this show really made me laugh when Chachiba comes home from running one morning and Wee grabs her because she is wearing shorts and basically running clothes and accuses her of seducing men. And she tells him he is the only creep around basically. Chachiba is no weak willed lily she really gives it back to people when they treat her poorly I loved Kwan as Chachiba she nailed this role. The weak damsel role never really suited her. Tui is good as the rugged Mysterious Millionaire his sick fiance had me waiting for her to die.
Watch this if you want to see some hard core slap kiss
This is not for the light hearten but it is really well acted out
the story is not anything new but kwan and Tui bring a freshness to their respective roles
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2Short but impactfull, best Korean BL of 2022
Eventhough it is a short series / web drama but this Korean BL did a justice for viewers. Good story, awesome cinematography, heart whelming music and proper acting. The actors did a great job to portray the characters. I can feel their chemistry and emotion especially between Jungwoo and Choco.The themes about being left by someone you love is common in drama. But the story about unconditional love from someone used to be your pet who have died years ago and suddenly appear as human at your front door is uncommon in drama.
Overall I really enjoy this short series. I want to thanks and appreciate all the actors and crews who did great job. I hope many more people watch this series becuse it is so good.
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I need to watch a cute rom com after this...
slowly the writers turned this into a "how can we drag the hostage situation and make every character miserable as the episodes continue?" the first two episodes were my favorite you got to see the different dynamics between the characters and their banter with each other. they were having fun and it was a treat to watch them interact, laugh, cry, be shy, etc. the beginning of the hostage play was intense and cool but to drag it out till the end got tiring. now at this point i have seen episode after episode with the characters portraying the same emotions of sadness, anger, betrayal and repeat that i as a viewer have become frustrated and it got to a point where the dramas tone was centered on these emotions and the writers refused to make the characters feel anything else, which in my opinion desensitized the story. I have seen many unsatisfactory tragic endings in kdramas (god's gift, cruel city, etc) but this one has by far left a bitter taste in my mouth. perhaps maybe it's because of the script that caused the dynamic range of emotions to remain far from balanced 95% of the show was a stagnant sad fest simply put, that being said, i do hope to see jisoo and haein act together in another drama their chemistry deserves justice.Was this review helpful to you?
An “ Extraordinary” Waste of Time..
It’s fair to say that sometimes certain dramas can be incredibly overrated.Although this isn’t an entirely groundbreaking commentary upon dramas, it’s important to remember that sometimes a lot of these shows are “glorified “ by fans in favour of the “casting” or “ chemistry” between the leading actors or chosen cast of the drama, and Extraordinary You is no exception.
Naturally it is of course wrong to truly say that the actual show didn’t have any good features; it played satirically upon the youth romantic comedy genre with its own parody of the F4 ( “ A3”) from Hana Yori Dango/ Boys Over Flowers, the concept itself of a teenage girl ( Kim Hye Yoon) coming to find her own sense of freedom and control where she is written as an extra in a webtoon ( not an entirely “ brand new” concept when compared to older dramas such as “ W; Two Worlds”) was intriguing and the mystery behind Ha-ru ( Ro Woon) for at least the first couple of episodes added to some early advantages of the show as well.
Yet when taking a greater step back by comparing the overall storyline , character performance and characterisation of the drama, there’s no sugarcoating that Extraordinary You was quite simply a “hot mess” .
Whilst Hye Yoon must be praised for several heartfelt moments through her performance , the irony is not lost that for a show playing upon romantic cliches by screenwriters In Ji Hye and Song Ha Young, Eun Da Oh was the epitome of a “ stock” and restricted female lead with little actual character depth, interests outside of her obsession with “ Ha-ru” or actual intrigue for viewers at all over the whole of the drama. Whilst of course there’s nothing wrong with a female lead making a decision over her own love interest ( in particular with the concept of the show), her apparent declaration to defy fate and become independent through actual character progression apart from obsessions and boys, was tossed out the window after this scene early on in the drama.
Additionally whilst Ro Woon brought a mysterious air of composure to his portrayal as the leading man, Ha-ru, his performance sometimes felt a little lacklustre and wooden at times within the show. Naturally this also partially the fault of the screenwriters as well from transitioning Ha-ru as an actual figure of intrigue and an individual early on in the drama ( parallel to Lee Jae Wook’s character, Baek Gyung) to an overrused plot device. It seemed evident that not even before the halfway point of the drama Extraordinary You became too obsessed with its own cliches and repeating the same cliches over and over not as a statement or joke against romance mangas/ manwhas, but ironically as actual plot line.
This consequently lead the show down a really slippery slope of gradually worse characterisation even with fairly intriguing and comical characters such as “ Dry Squid Fairy” ( Lee Tae Ri) to reverted plot devices and lacking originality by the ending of the drama. Overall whilst Extraordinary You isn’t an unbearable or dire drama to watch, however, after the halfway point, the actual intrigue and devotion towards the drama becomes minimal and by the ending of the drama, there’s that awful lingering relief that it has ended your suffering by finishing it. Certainly a waste of time if you’re looking for something with genuine originality and intrigue .
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This review may contain spoilers
How Many Times Can TLC be Framed? Let Me Count the Ways.
Would you believe this is my first ever LYX costume drama? I've seen him in only one modern before where he did good but his FL dragged the show down. Needless to say I wanted to see him in a genre that fit him and here he definitely didn't disappoint; actually none of the actors did.Pros: The entire series centers around the ML or TLC as it should and his evolution. He initially had 3 arcs as someone else pointed out. The first one was as an over confident immortal who wanted to bring his senior Fang Zhou back to life; that was his obsession. He had tried to save him but failed because their other disciples walked in and one (LY) got into the middle causing a massive backlash, killing FZ. LY went crazy and joined as I called them "Team lunatic" and the third one simply disappeared and we didn't see him much other than in flashbacks and at the end of the show.
TLC's obsession with bringing FZ back was an ever consuming thing (he lived, breathed it); he put FZ's heart into his own stomach and kept FZ’s body in a coffin because of the power he had could essentially bring FZ back but at the cost of his own life. Unfortunately, LY stole half of that Rebirth thing and the puppet GMD the coffin with the body replacing it with a fake. TLC's obsession was such that he treated the people around that he first hired or saved like tools for his own means. When he came out of seclusion 4 years after the incident (and healing from LY's savage attack), it was to clear his name that LY, GMD, and the biggest villain YM who created puppets like GMD in images of himself and GMD followed. The opposition had a lot of middle villains that could do serious damage to TLC. LY kept harming TLC but he didn't kill him. Couldn't bring himself to. Because though TLC couldn't die, because he was from another realm, his immortality could be depleted as we saw his hair go from black to gold to white in the last episodes.
The dynamic was that there were many villains especially the main one, plus LY that was always doing something in the way and TLC's over confidence though he most of the time could predict his opponents move and outsmart them, they did get a few on him too. He didn't anticipate just how many people/puppets he had to deal with plus the evil pill disaster and YM and bringing FZ back to life. TLC's first thought personal arc was all about FZ and that he didn't matter as long as he could bring FZ back. Things started to shift as he started noticing the people around him weren't tools but helped him out of life threatening situations like AS with her blood or CY and SLH always on the frontlines willing to sacrifice for him. At first only FZ and LY were his only friends and LY later a lunatic enemy until the end; but than he started to open up and have feelings of friendship and protection towards these new people in his life. SLH was one of the best characters because he saw through TLC and told him what was what. He wasn't just a cold assassin but also preceptive. He called TLC a lot on his cover ups and made TLC really think hard about his steps.
FZ taught him how to read, write, and how to have feelings. Though when ZCJ confessed to him, he told her he didn't learn that emotion. He felt something for AS and felt CY was his younger brother. AS was also very preceptive but she understood his heart unlike SLH was more tactical. He had had other friends like XX who was comic relief in this otherwise, Puzhu, General Jiang who though we lost among others, went above and beyond for TLC and his little group. There were other great characters especially Jeremy who played GMD/YM. He was an amazing villain. FYL who played LY; first time in a lunatic villain role and he nailed it. I have to say absolutely every actor did a wonderful job as their characters. Master Shao's actor I've seen many times before was great. CHS though a guest from Bilbao Palace along with all the other guys whose character names I don't remember, the dude who was always directionless, his disciple who fell for ZCJ. ZCJ and her beginning arc was great. All the villains (even little Xiao Shi which was sad), except one who just didn't hit villain will be in the cons.
By the time TLC's final arc came around and he started to regard his friends very closely, they started leaving or getting killed off. AS turned out to be FZ's sister and GMD erased her memories so she could get close to TLC but her pure heart didn't harbor hatred but caring and love. Once her memories returned even though she did harbor some hate, she really didn't but she needed to grieve so after helping TLC destroy the first GMD in secret while pretending to be on GMD's side and saying mean words to TLC, she left altogether, more about this in the cons. But before any of this TLC finally let go of his obsession with bringing FZ back to life but releasing his heart from his stomach (ironically he needed to be kidnapped with FZ's body in the coffin as bait which still fell and shattered and FZ's body dissolved as TLC wounded, cried tortured tears. And ZCJ--who had turned to the dark side as while her own kidnapping LY tattooed a butterfly which made her a long lost fake princess--shoved a poisoned needle that LY cultivated for 4 years with poison just for TLC into him believing LY's lies that the needle will cripple him and she could control him like a puppet and make him love her; her own obsession), and the heart absorbed the needle and the poison so even in death FZ saved TLC's life as his heart, needle, poison and all was released.
CY's death was very hard (you had tears as did TLC) and XFT's meddling as well as GMD poisoning him and it distracted TLC, so XFT and GMD could kill Master Shao; she had already infiltrated the sword society thanks to the worst mistake Puzhu ever made by vouching for her (because of three year chess experience; though she was using him every moment. Then them being stuck in a cave, sharing secrets with his broken leg, their attraction to each other that wasn't meant to be. And lastly she supposedly helped him in the war by helping getting rid of the transformer and the dude creating them). After that greed, power hungry sword society leaders quickly sided with her against TLC no questions asked even when SLH, XX voiced suspicions; it was hushed.
Then when LY was finally captured after TLC rescued him this was after beating the ever loving snot out of him; I'll be honest I rewatched that scene several times. It was so deserved and overdue and giving LY his own memories and pain of what really happened so he would understand once and for all. Wish it was done way before though (as bait for TLC to come to Master Shao's funeral) when he was rescued by TLC and TLC of course attended and when they accused him of killing Master Shao and again of being YM, and than the tongue twisters between Puzhu and TLC at the mourning place; TLC showed off the fact that XFT knows how to block his heavenly power. All the other guys got the message. (Not to mention the not knowing what freedom was to the Peach Bitch calling her pathetic). And Puzhu said that whole you don't leave with LY or you will be condemned by everyone on purpose because he knows TLC doesn't care about being condemned by all as we've seen happen time and time again here. Then when he sees that TLC is fading and XFT stupidly takes advantage of that to kill both (by herself mind you; all her lackeys just stand there stunned) all the other guys warn him plus Puzhu disperses both powers as back up arrives for TLC. TLC takes away LY after which XX gives a very smart and intelligent speech (about stupidity of the sword alliance and blindly trusting the enemy; how disappointed Master Shao would be in them) a food for thought to everyone else and then you see everyone whoever stood by TLC's side just walk away saying they are done they are not dealing with this anymore. I'm going back to my island or whatever it is but it's quite obvious right then and there whose side they really chose. Sometimes words like that do not need to be spoken. They are just acted out. That's called real faith and trust. And the antidote is in the world.
LY sadly dies because of Xiao Shi's palm strike when he arrived at the cave for no reason and TLC though he checked everything on LY, didn't know about that. It was a heart wrenching moment because from the original 4 brothers of Z Tower, TLC was the only one left. LY returned the half of the Rebirth scroll he stole so TLC could kill YM once and for all. Probably the most gut wrenching was when TLC was broken and crying over little plates he made for CY, Master Shao, and LY. He was devastated and said he was all alone now which wasn't true; while he was in that cave, his friends like ZCJ who got a redemption arc along with the miracle physician, Ms. Hong, and XX dressed as a woman (which was added as the bit of humor to this somber part), Puzhu, SLH, the disciples, Fu Ren, were going all around the regions distributing the antidote and helping each other. These were still his friends and I really wish he knew that.
Meanwhile, TLC created a devise to reverse time to go back before YM was born meaning he wouldn't be born either; essentially rewriting history and bringing everyone back to life. The other price is that no one would remember him because technically he never existed. So after battling YM as the latter connected their realm to the mortal one nearly destroying that one, TLC killed YM with a sword and the full rebirth scroll; telling him his essence will be mortal knowing all of the emotions and just to make good choices; starting from birth without memories. TLC hit his time reversal device and fell into the void dissipating himself as he said an important line FZ once spoke "saving thousands of lives at the price of one is worth it."
Then next scene everyone is alive, SLH is reunited with his wife and FZ is having a meal with AS whose chef is Zhumei. They all manage to bump into each other but not now without knowing each other. Some funny moments and I'd like to believe that TLC was reborn as a white fox mixed with a dragon as the last scene was with XX who I honestly think recognized TLC but other then laughing and saying "silly fox", that was all that was needed and a bit of a voiceover made sense.
Woof, didn't think I'd write so much and we still haven't done the cons but the ending for me was done properly. I think TLC did everything he needed to do and lived his life and evolved as the people around him helped him. I can't see it any other way. Because if he stayed alive, YM would be reborn. They were connected and TLC wanted to sever that connection once and for all. I just wish we saw more of the important people alive that were great allies to the gang at the end.
I loved the costumes; they were stunning. TLC loved flapping his massive sleeves at people though BTS they could be cumbersome for other people. Every accessory, the scenery and sets that were real were beautiful too and the CGI was just right. The OSTs didn't overpower. And LYX's crying in particular as well as when he would really fight, people weren't kidding when they said he was born for costume dramas.
Cons: How many times can TLC be framed? Let me count the ways. Dear lord the first arc of the series LY framed him at least 3 times and it was like a hamster wheel, so repetitive. I've never had a drama drag in the beginning, it was getting old. I have to say that the writing and some editing was the worst here. Not to mention the zillion and a half flashbacks; twice each would have been enough (and also not in the same episode), they would had another 1/4th extra to film if most of that was deleted. It was a hot mess; many episodes had multiple of the same flashbacks. Like we get it already! It felt like the writer thought we had brain damage and wouldn't remember something we saw 20 minutes ago; absolutely ridiculous.
I'm going to address a very important point as it had the comment section divided. Personally, I think AS did exactly what she needed to; she just got her memories back and had a brother to grieve for and literally had no time because there was war and so much going on around her. I don't know how she didn't lose her mind. The man she fell for and cared deeply for though he claimed to have killed her brother, everything pointed to the opposite. Plus she had had the heart disease because she had been feeding him her blood so he could survive each time the situation was dire. What was completely wrong was the way they made her disappear after writing him a "Dear John" letter and not even explaining that she had the heart disease and didn't have long to live. It made him think she just didn't want to be around him anymore and given her relationship to FZ things were complicated so he let her be but it was like she was just sliced off with a knife and that's it. Very poorly written. Or when she would just appear out of nowhere like she did in cold as hell northern forest; people were searching for him in one specific and she just magically appeared to save him, didn't make any sense. At least write that they had a connection and she could feel him or something. But nope. Many times things needed to be explained and then acted out and neither were done so you felt lost like can we have a bit of a backstory?
I don't care who she was or wasn't but XFT was the peach bitch from start to finish. She only ever cared about herself. She killed people without a second thought; her own freedom was all that mattered, I think regardless, her crocodile tears for Puzhu were fake. She was a seductress and she knew how to manipulate people especially men as long as she got what she wanted like infiltrating the sword society and corrupting them by killing Master Shao and than cutting off his arm; like why and blaming the murder on TLC first portion of frame job and then came the rescue of LY where she just went all out and called him YM altogether like LY had done in the beginning. It was stupid because LY had never seen YM but she working directly for GMD knew YM made GMD look like him so how was that even remotely believable. So again we circle back to the frame jobs of the beginning. Eye roll worthy. So the fact that she took herself out in the last episode had nothing to do with anyone. And I personally didn't need to see her again reborn though I know it was more for Puzhu's aka Crown Prince's now sake, still could have done without. She wasn't a villain like the word would be but just an eh that followed instructions and was a puppet in a sense herself. Nothing anyone said made me like her. Her actress did a good job, that's really all. Oh and ZCJ's antler princess head piece looked ridiculous.
The last battle between TLC and YM was supposed to powerful because this is it and yet it fell flat because for starters they're darting in and out in between that metal tree contraption, secondly there's dialogue nonstop, so you somehow have to manage to read what they're saying and watch them fight but it wasn't like an actual full fight but darting, striking blades, than using spells and repeat plus constant dialogue. Editing had to be better here; fight like really fight not soft fight, don't talk, you can have instrumental music in the background to build the fight. Had that happened it would have been awesome and appropriate; 40 episodes were building up to this and it was very anticlimactic. And episode 40 felt rushed.
Would I recommend it? I would. It's gorgeous and the story though had issues sometimes with writing and editing; it was a deep and complex story which you really have to delve into. So get on watching.
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One of the cutest BLs I have ever seen!
Definitely you can't expect and Oscar-worthy series from this one but one thing for sure, I am a very easy-going person, some silly comedies would make me laugh so hard and each episode of this drama did not fail to make me laugh hence, this review is totally personal and you might have different opinion than the one I write below.When I first saw the trailer, I did not have a high expectation on this one as it will be the same university life BL stories but I trusted that this would be an okay-ish story as it was based on JittiRain novel (author of Theory of Love and 2gether). Also, I am a diehard shipper of NeoPhuwin and when I saw Neo and Phuwin will not be a couple in this drama, my interest dropped. But, after the first episode, I got hooked, impressed and immediately had a good feeling about this one and each episode was getting better, waiting for Fridays was the most torture thing for me for the past weeks.
So what makes me like this series so much (it will be endless but I make it short):
1) The directing. What makes this series so good is the ability of the director to make the comedy part "laughable". If you think the series is just a silly BL story for teenagers, it is not. It is full with good messages and were conveyed in a fun and comedic way. The directing managed to set the tone of the series so well, also they tried to make Duean and Meen story as separated story and it did not feel weird to me.
2) The acting. There are some experienced and new actors, but their acting was good and they don't really look like they just get out from the acting class.
3) OST and background music were awesome, so perfectly placed in the series and both Louis and Mix songs had been on my playlist and on repeat for many weeks already.
4) The small little effort to make Pi's and Duean's room to look like a real living person room, not just for the sake of the series! (LOL, I know).
What are the things that I wish it could be improved:
1) I would love to see more interactions and dynamics of Pi and Duean family. I love every moment of the parents, and the three brothers. They had an interesting chemistry and characters, I wish to see they explore more into the stories of the family, their reactions to accept the couple of Pi, Duean and Wan (by the way in Thai Pi means year, Duean means month and Wan means day, LOL) and also the closeness of three brothers. The family adds flavour to this series.
2) I wish Bam (Janhae) character was a male. Look, don't get me wrong, I love Janhae, she's a great actress especially in Who Are You (LOL!) and I know love is genderless. But I get tired to see a female character to make someone else jealous in BL series. Mork loves Pi and tried so hard to win Pi's heart, we know Mork has interest in men (arguable, yes) so it would make a perfect sense if Mork has a male friend or ex boyfriend to make Pi jealous. I also don't want to see another "I don't like men, I only like you" so if Bam character was a male, then my heart will be at peace, at least.
This series has all the cliché things you have seen in other BL series but as Gun Attaphan said in Theory of Love, "it is not cliché, it is called classic". The clichés, "stupidity", illogical and craziness of the stories what made this series so cute and good in so many ways. You can see the Genres and Tags of this series in the descriptions and if you can't handle those then it might not be your cup of tea. "Comedy" is the first genre listed, well you can argue a good and bad comedy, not everyone will laugh at the comedy part of this series but this is the first BL comedy for me that really did not fail me from the get-go.
In conclusion, if you're still thinking to watch or not, give it a try, it is worth it. If this series was aired last year during worldwide lockdown, I'm sure it will become a hit just like 2gether. So yeah, that was a cue for you to start watching this golden series. Enjoy!
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It’s a total disaster
As a longtime fan of Omniscient Reader, I had hopes for this movie, but it really let me down. This movie was honestly painful to sit through. It completely disrespects the source material — major plot changes, wrong character portrayals, and decisions that make absolutely no sense if you know the original story. The creators clearly cared more about using big-name actors for hype than staying true to what made the novel great.The pacing is chaotic, with too many plot holes and zero emotional buildup. It feels more like a cash-grab than a real adaptation. If you haven’t read the novel, you’ll be confused. If you have, you’ll just be angry. Nothing about this feels faithful, and calling it “creative liberty” is a joke.
Visually, it might look okay, but that’s about the only thing going for it. Everything else? A disaster.
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Could have, would have, and should have been epic but just isn't.
This drama's thrilling opening had me on the edge of my seat with my heart in my throat. It is one helluva start that brilliantly sets the stage for the backstory. We are immediately transported to ancient Wei, a wicked, immoral, debauched kingdom where the dissipated nobility hunt slaves for sport. Our titular character Xing'er/Chu Qiao is no ordinary slave she is a superhero; assassin, gladiator, warrior and survivor. Her courage and fiery fighting spirit draws the interest of many suitors including her owner and spymaster Yuwen Yue, Yanbei hostage prince Yan Xun, Prince Yuan Song of Wei and Prince Xiao Ce of Liang. If not for the fact that she pulls her weight when it comes to the rescuing, this would sound absurdly Mary Sue. As it turns out, the most powerful men across three rival kingdoms simply have a death wish and are fatally attracted to dangerous, irascible and bad-ass women. Recognising her indomitable spirit and lethal fighting ability, Yuwen Yue trains her to be a top notch spy and assassin.I enjoyed every moment of the first half of this drama - despite some discontinuity in the editing, the plot is intriguing, the characters are flawed and complex, it moves at a fast pace and the fight scenes are powerful and exhilirating. The chemistry between Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin is off the charts and their supercharged one on one fight scenes are hot, hot, hot. The way Yuwen Yue grooms her, her gratitude and resentment and the push and pull attraction between them and their strong personalities results in a highly combustible build-up in passion between them. I just love how his eyes reveal how vulnerable he is, his grumpy sullen glower conveys his displeasure at being enslaved by his slave while the tiniest wry smile suggests a sense of acceptance and humor about it. The fierce answering spark in Xing'er's fiery eyes and her combative, resentful stance is a dead giveaway as to who this spitfire also most unwillingly longs for. I believe she would never have left with Yan Xun if her pride had not been so wounded at the thought she was nothing more than a lean mean killing machine to Yuwen Yue.
I have always considered Zhao Liying a vastly overrated, creepy life sized LOL doll with her gigantic head and eyes. This drama has given me a newfound appreciation for her acting skills and commanding screen presence. Her fight scenes are phenomenal and it is obvious that she immersed herself in this fabulous, kick-ass role of a fearless heroine with a big heart and bold dreams. It is hard to pull off the typical cold male lead well but Lin Gengxin effortlessly depicts the iceberg that conceals a dormant volcano. It is such a waste that his masterful articulation of such a complex and interesting character does not get nearly enough screen time. With one glaring weak link, this boasts an all star cast with complex, interesting and funny supporting characters with Xiao Ce (Deng Lun), Yue Qi and Yang Song being my favourites.
After peaking near the middle with a barbarous, heart wrenching massacre that results in irreversible divisions, the plot digresses into a long winded, meandering, melodramatic and ultimately trite tale of revenge as the focus shifts to the second leads Yan Xun and Chun'er. They are parallel selfish and amoral characters who go off the rails albeit for good reason and become consumed by hate and revenge. Although Li Qin does a fantastic job making a delusional, entitled and spoilt princess somewhat empathetic, the character Chun'er is not smart or interesting enough to command the amount of screen time she got and in so many gratuitous sub-plots. Xing'er/Chu Qiao's character is thrown under the bus in these arcs where she is dumbed down, stagnates and even regresses on several fronts when she excuses Yan Xun's misdeeds and lies at the cost of many lives. Like Chun'er she closes both eyes to the fact that Yan Xun sold her an empty dream and is nothing but a selfish, heartless prick with no game plan, is of mediocre ability and has no vision.
Yan Xun is a well written, complex and interesting antagonist. It is hinted from the beginning that he is innately selfish and quite manipulative, traits that rule him after the loss he experiences. This has to be said - this role however was badly miscast and that is why the drama pretty much implodes in the second half, from the moment Yan Xun takes centerstage. Shawn Dou is a blank actor that never compelled me because underneath the surface of his toothy, million dollar smile, there is not much to him. He can only pull off easy going, laid back two dimensional good guy roles and from his blank placid gaze it is clear he never really gets deep into character, he is the epitome of still waters run shallow. They would have been way better off sticking a Darth Vader mask over him rather than to inflict the wooden, constipated expression he wore for over half the damn drama on us. And the annoying sibilant "dark" whisper that became his voice made him the first male character I have ever been tempted to mute in a c-drama. To me, there is no believable triangle in this drama because there is zero spark between him and Zhao Liying. Put against an intensely masculine actor like Lin Gengxin, Shawn Dou's utter lack of sex appeal (男人味) is painfully obvious. I don't mean to offend his fans but this is too important a role that got way too much screen time to have been so poorly cast. I struggled to complete this drama because I lost all interest in the Yanbei arcs and the last few episodes are simply incoherent.
I was well warned that this drama has the worst open ending ever. The problem is that unlike The Rise of Phoenixes, it is not just about one bad ending episode. This drama starts to sink from about the halfway point where my intriguing historical spy / assassin drama turns into yet another boring revenge drama and my strong female allows her dreams to be subsumed by someone else's agenda. The only reason I didn't drop this is the remarkable chemistry between Yuwen Yue and Xing'er. I am reading the book (which is long but riveting) so I know their story does go on and the portrayal of both characters are quite faithful to the novel. Many much more interesting sub-plots didn't play out because they wasted 15-20 episodes on the most boring Yan Xun and Chun'er. Sadly the odds of this ever being completed with the original cast are low.
This drama could have, would have, and should have been epic but it just isn't. All it is is unfinished. Thus I rate the first few arcs 9.0/9.5 but the second half is at best a 5.5/6.0. My overall score is 7.5 which I consider generous. This is one that must be watched with adjusted expectations.
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What a gripping movie
Now I saw that someone had given this a rating of 5 and all that I can say is that they must have watched the entire movie through a blindfold. There is no way this could have deserved such an insulting rating especially when I spent so much of my time on the edge of my seat because I knew something was going to happen but I didn’t know just how bad the next few minutes were going to be. Just a word of warning at this point. This is not one for the faint hearted but then again within minutes you realise that this is going to be one bumpy ride. In saying that though don’t be put off because it’s one of the best movies that I’ve seen for quite some time and I have a lot of respect for all those who managed to craft such an amazing tale where not one iota of the story could have been left out without damaging the integrity of the movie.Excellent work and I have to commend the cast and crew for creating such a fascinating tale. Anyone whose hesitating about watching this just do yourself a favour and do it. You won’t be sorry.
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Ms. Incognito or should I say, Ms. Inconsistent?
A badly written interactive fiction game, that’s what this drama felt like. The production team gathered an amazing cast, built such promising characters… and then decided to throw it all away after just two episodes. YES, two episodes!It’s honestly ridiculous how lazy the writing got. The story started so strong, and then nosedived into chaos with zero logic. Yet, because those first two episodes hook you in, you somehow keep watching, like, “Okay, maybe they’ll fix it?” Spoiler: they don’t.
My biggest disappointment was the female lead. She started out with personality, confidence, and potential, but somewhere along the way, she just turned into a punching bag for the antagonist. While the antagonist had all the power, our supposedly rich AF FL didn’t have a single bodyguard or a competent team around her. Just the poor lawyer who’s apparently a one man army, multitasking through every crisis.
Also the title Ms. Incognito? Be so for real. She wasn’t incognito for even five minutes. This woman’s enemies found her faster than I find spoilers on Twitter.
I can’t emphasize enough how much potential this drama had. The characters were unique, layered, and played by such talented actors. And they just… wasted it. Ughhh.
Like I said, it’s basically a badly written interactive fiction game that you can’t stop playing, not because it’s good, but because you need to see how the trainwreck ends.
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This review may contain spoilers
Visually, musically, emotionally - This show hits all the right spots!
Season 1 ended well, leaving the audience much to look forward to in Season 2!I was anticipating this drama not only because of Dilireba but also because of the director, Zhu Rui Bin (Chu Yui Bun), whose works included "The Long Ballad". Apparently, a casual conversation between Zhu Rui Bin and Dilireba, who was reading the "Blue Whisper" novel, led to the filming of the series and their collaboration. For those interested, the novel "Blue Whisper" is written by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang, and you can find a good English translated version here: https://wayeast.weebly.com/the-blue-whisper.html. I started reading and finished the novel when I was almost done watching Season 1, and it is a good read!
This show is tagged as a Xianxia, an ancient Chinese fairy tale set in a magical fantasy realm, with gods, monsters, ghosts, and cultivators (or xiūshì) who seek to become immortal beings called xian. As for the female lead, she is a guardian/spiritual master of the Wan Hua Valley. The male lead is Chang Yi, a Merman (or jiaoren) captured by Princess Shunde, an immortal and the older sister of Tianjun who is the Lord/Emperor of the Heavenly Court.
The drama starts with an episode highlighting the intelligence and kindness of our female lead, Ji Yun He, portrayed by Dilireba. Yun He is resourceful, and she seeks to achieve what she wants through the least harm to everyone involved. She is pitted against her "senior disciple brother", Lin Hao Qing, the young master of Wan Hua Valley. He appears crueler and one who would stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, his actions are contradictory, especially when it comes to Yun He. The audience will find out why eventually.
In exchange for a high reward, Yun He and Hao Qing accepted a challenge from Princess Shunde to transform the captured Merman into her subject by 1) teaching him to speak, 2) for him to grow legs, and 3) ensuring that he is forever loyal to the Princess.
The story focuses on the main couple's journey, as Yun He and Chang Yi fall in love, and the trials and tribulations they go through for each other. In season 1, the audience may find that the main couple does not have enough screentime together, and much of the story is also about the side characters. However, for me, each character adds depth to the story, and I find the side stories engaging. That being said, I still want to see Season 2 showcasing Yun He and Chang Yi more.
Visually, musically, emotionally - The story pulled me in so deeply. The production is undoubtedly high-quality, and a lot of attention is paid to the details. The costumes and sets provide a striking visual impact, and the special effects/CGI are well-done, immediately evoking feelings of wonder and fantasy. I like the cinematography, where the director filmed from different angles and views, providing a fresh experience, and drawing in the audience. Furthermore, the choreography for the fights, flying, and other action shots were done so superbly. I watched the "behind the scenes" (BTS) clips and it is obvious how much effort and time the actors put into practicing the wire-flying and martial arts moves.
So far, this show is a gem - it flows nicely and is well-executed. Each episode kept up the pace, never lost the momentum, and just got better and better. With unexpected twists and turns (some not in the novel), I never feel tempted to skip, and there are scenes that I would rewatch just so I could appreciate the gestures, effects, and words again.
The episodes show different aspects of a situation and the different perspectives of the characters, who are interesting and none are superfluous. No one is all good (except Chang Yi initially) or all bad. Every good character has flaws, and each villain has a backstory that makes them relatable and their actions justifiable. You will come to understand what the characters go through, the reasons for their emotions, and their circumstances. Overall, the script scores points with dynamic characters who struggle with their actions, who are not always clear if they are doing the right thing or what the right thing even is. I find myself connecting with the characters and rooting for many of them. As the story progresses, there are many more tears-inducing scenes, and I become more emotionally invested.
I have nothing but praises for the acting delivered by Dilireba, Allen Ren, and the other actors, including Xiao Shun Yao (very manly!), Hu Yi Xuan, Fan Zhen. Together, their looks are a visual feast for the eyes.
Dilireba fits the role of Yun He perfectly, but then again, this is not surprising since she often plays intelligent, quick-witted, and strong female leads. This time, it is another female lead with a tragic background that formed her resilient character. As expected, she looks gorgeous in her outfits and make-up. Just wait till you see her transform into her demon animal, you would be blown away! To me, she has improved even more in this role, honing her skills to deliver the story via her eyes and facial expressions. She does so well not only in scenes with increased, intense emotions, like laughing while crying during the ironic or tragic moments, but also in simple scenes where the audience only needs to watch her face and feel the loss or longing that Yun He is going through.
Likewise, Allen Ren impresses me with his ability to emote a myriad of feelings and thoughts just with his eyes and micro-expressions. His character does not speak for the first couple of episodes, and only through his physical acting, can still move the story well. Side note: I read that Allen got criticized for wearing a muscle suit during his merman scenes, but that still does not detract from his fineness. Chang Yi is the epitome of pure goodness in the show, which is what Yun He is drawn to at first. Allen delivers this innocence well but he is also able to easily express anger, nobleness, and arrogance. His visuals are not my usual preference, but in this show, in that persona, he's captivating. His transformation from trusting, naive, "fresh out of the water" Chang Yi to the all-powerful Lord of the North highlights Allen's acting chops.
The show does a great job, allowing each main actor to showcase their talents and skills. Yun He is featured more in the earlier episodes, and I like her character development. Then in the later part, Chang Yi has more screen time, and he becomes way cooler and more impressive.
The entire cast has performed well, and the supporting characters help to carry this show. There is such good rapport among them, like the endearing sismance between Yun He and Luo Luo, her butterfly spirit, played by adorable Hu Yi Xuan. I also appreciate Xiao Shun Yao's portrayal of Lin Hao Qing's character, who displays conflicting motivations, forced to act a role to protect someone he cares for. Compared to the novel, the show made Hao Qing more complex.
The OSTs are on another level, with appropriate pieces underscoring the scenes. The starting and ending songs are very fitting, and both set a dramatic and emotional tone that is infused throughout the show. The more I listen, the more I like them! For posterity, I have recorded the main tracks here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpzFy3Rzd74
Song: 留白是表白 (More Than Blanks)
Artist: 金志文 (Jin Zhi Wen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExRgy5Ry3C8
Song: 鮫人之歌 (The Song of the Merman)
Artist: 周深 (Zhou Shen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pzD0itRfo
Song：#如你所想 (As You Wish)
Artist：#毛不易 (Buyi Mao)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKnVuUxCN4
Song: 魚躍而上 (Leaping Fish)
Artist: 薩頂頂 (Sa Dingding)
On the whole, I find this drama worth watching and following. Not surprisingly, many of us are eagerly waiting for the English subtitles to appreciate it fully. I will rewatch this show when the whole show completes airing with proper subs in case I may have missed any nuances during the first watch.
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It is great to see Yun Woo Jin in a leading role after Arang and the horrible When a Man Loves. He is a great actor that doesn't disappoint as Gong Ki Tae. His character obviously had trust issues and who could blame him after growing up like that. He is a fantastic kisser...HOT. I remember seeing Han Groo in some supporting roles and I wasn't sure she would be able to pull off the lead. She proved me wrong as Joo Jang Mi. I enjoyed this strong, quirky character a lot. Although her character had to do some unimaginable actions, she pulled it off as believable. I like how the writer let her sincerity shine through the deception. It was very interesting. I usually end up hating all the parents when watching dramas like this, but this time I liked them all and the way the characters were used to show the scars that can be left on a child's heart. The other actors were good including the cutie, 2AM's Jin Woon. He wasn't really given a lot to do and I'm not sure if that was written so the main leads took center stage or because he is such a newbie actor. Anyway, he didn't suck.
I liked the music through out
I will probably rewatch this. I'm tempted to do it right now.
If you like romantic comedies or even just an easy to watch drama, then I think this is a good choice. It isn't the kind of drama that tears your heart out with emotion, but instead gives a comfortable feeling.
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