This review may contain spoilers
Sunshine truly worths the name with a mature and slow- burn romance.
🍁OVERVIEW OF PLOT:The plot tells the story of female director who divorced her husband at the age of 36 'cause he is a scumbag. A 26 year old boy fall for her at their very first meeting when they met 10 years back 'cause she is the director who filmed his father for public advertisement which increases his respect towards his father's profession and give him motivation to study arts and design to motivate and aware society toward the hard workers.
🍁PACE OF STORY AND CHEMISTRY:
The drama has a slow pace and falls in the category of slow burn romance with many sweet and hilarious moments at times and ends with a happy ending. It kept me hooked to it from the very first episode as I like slow- burn romance very much. There is not much skinship and chemistry between leads is average.
🍁ACTING AND CHARACTERS:
🌿Sheng Yang : He is a hardworking, sensible, talented, warm-hearted person and has a great sense of humour . He is good at communication and don't give up easily whether to pursue his love or to build his career on his own. Xiao Zhan did a great job in portraying Sheng Yang with his natural looking acting and amazing emotion delivery just even by his face expressions. This character shows a development from being a little immature to purely mature without losing his basic character traits I mentioned above.
🌿Jian Bing : She is a brave woman who has courage to divorce her husband in her middle age after being married for 10 years. Her father was also a scumbag like her husband and she witnessed her father's dirty deeds at the age of 12. She told her mother about that but not long after she never seen her mother happy again and witnessed her death. It gives her a trauma and she started to hate her father but hated and blamed herself more for telling all that to her mother and begun to think that all adults' relationship is like this, so it takes her many years to divorce her husband. She is also a warm-hearted person and knows how to deal with tough situations with calmness and intellect. She became a very professional director and started her own company with her husband and best friend, even after divorcing him she kept personal and professional life seperate and continued their cooperation in company. She is a strong character and not like clingy, naive and childish female leads in most C-dramas. Bai Bai He did a praiseworthy job in portraying this character with natural acting.
Other characters are also pretty good other than the hockey couple, they really get on my nerves and I skipped every time they were on the screen. I don't understand why they were in the drama, just useless and waste of screen time.
Sheng Yang's parents are very reasonable, understanding and hilarious characters. They showed all the real concerns about relationship and financial problems very well. Sheng Yang's friends also showed a growth in character especially Pan Rou. The thing I don't like in drama is that they portray her scumbag ex-husband and father in a funny way and toned down the seriousness of cheating in a relationship.
🍁OST AND COSTUMES:
OSTs are average not very good and costumes and makeup are decent.
🍁CONCLUSION:
This drama is very down to earth and shows the real challenges in a person's life when it comes to relationship or career with a touch of healthy humour. It doesn't show a fully fantasized world but promotes hardwork, better communication and intellectual decisions. When other dramas just show us the importance of better communication to avoid misunderstandings, this drama tells us how to do it. Purely a mature romance drama. The leads needs each other. For Sheng Yang, Jian Bing brought a ray of increased respect and a new way of thinking in his life and as for Jian Bing, Sheng Yang brought a new hope and happiness in her life after an unsuccessful marriage and childhood trauma.
I would definitely recommend this drama to give it a try although it may seems to be boring to many people but it relies on deep understanding.
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LOVE SCOUT: A mature workplace romance filled with tenderness and interesting characters.
I'll start off by saying "Love Scout" is written by one of my favorite screen writer Kim Ji Eun —the same person behind a favourite kdrama " why her " and my top drama from last year, "Wonderful World," and then "Lie After Lie," which I also loved. I'm thrilled to have another favorite series from her!The story revolves around a workplace romance between a female CEO of a headhunting company and her secretary, who happens to be a single father. Their first encounter is filled with tension, leading her to vow never to see him again. However, fate has other plans, and they find themselves working together as CEO and secretary.
One of the most intriguing aspects of "Love Scout" is the role reversal between the leads. Instead of the typical dynamic where the male lead is the CEO and the female lead plays the secretary, this drama flips that expectation. Our female lead takes on the CEO role, while the male lead becomes her secretary. This change not only adds a fresh perspective but also switches their personalities—she's cold and distant due to past traumas, while he embodies a warm, caring, and sunny disposition.
This reversal allows us to explore the characters in a new light, deepening our understanding of their motivations and struggles. It's fascinating to see how these dynamics play out, providing a unique take on workplace romance... this fresh approach to character roles makes "Love Scout" stand out in the genre.
This drama does a fantastic job of balancing romance with the work aspect, seamlessly incorporating moments of comedy and light-heartedness. The storytelling is so well done that nothing feels overshadowed; each element complements the others perfectly. The laid-back and relaxing setting adds to the overall charm, allowing viewers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
The challenges faced in the headhunting business are portrayed through various character stories in each episode, making it engaging and relatable. The female and male leads navigate these obstacles together, showcasing their growth and teamwork. There are moments that are emotional and thought-provoking, adding depth to the narrative.
Another stand out aspect of love scout is the The character development....as mentioned in the start I've watched lots of series from the writer and she has a knack for crafting characters that are broken, flawed, and ultimately relatable, making them feel incredibly human. This drama is no exception.
The female lead, who is cold and distant due to past traumas, is portrayed as professional and strict in her work life, yet at home, she battles loneliness and insomnia. The gloomy atmosphere of her apartment reflects her inner struggles, highlighting a life filled with pain.
What I love about her character is that despite her challenges, she is headstrong and straightforward, confronting her feelings with remarkable clarity. She quickly realizes her emotions and takes the initiative to confess, showcasing her growth throughout the series. As she interacts with the male lead, we witness her gradual healing and transformation. She's not weak; rather, she embodies vulnerability while also being a fighter. This nuanced portrayal makes her journey compelling and relatable.
The male lead truly steals the show. He’s not just handsome; he embodies a warmth that makes him incredibly endearing. His professionalism and hard work shine through, but what really sets him apart is his role as a devoted father to his little daughter. Their interactions are heartwarming and will definitely have you swooning.
He excels in multiple roles—being a good friend, neighbor, and secretary, all while being an exceptional father and partner. It’s refreshing to see a character who genuinely deserves the title of a "green flag." He’s understanding, mature, and caring, showcasing a high emotional intelligence that makes him a fantastic listener. His intelligence is evident, but it’s his kindness and warmth that truly make him stand out.
Other characters are also interestingly written..like the second leads that aren't necessarily the main focus but I love their interactions with the leads and their interactions with eachother...then the work place employees who add to the comedy aspect of this drama and how they each contribute to the overall work place setting of the drama through different character stories.
Another thrilling aspect of this drama is undoubtedly the romance. It features a mature-themed love story that beautifully tackles all my favorite tropes. From workplace romance to the dynamic of "she fell first and he fell harder," and even the classic grumpy-sunshine and enemies-to-lovers arcs, this drama has it all. The transition from strangers brought together by misunderstandings to an incredible CEO-secretary duo is executed perfectly.
Their chemistry and tension are palpable, making their interactions both squeal-worthy and giggle-inducing. A standout moment for me was how they engage in simple yet profound conversations about life, work, and their relationship. After confessing their feelings, they sit down to discuss what they’ve become and what the future holds for them, and that heartfelt conversation is just so warm and touching. The romance is refreshingly mature yet cute and sensual, and I’m loving every minute of it!
The acting is undoubtedly amazing...and so are the osts..thag are beautiful and sensual.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not a romance drama
This drama left a very bad feeling behind after I watched it. The FL was spineless and subservient, and the ML was abusive, violent, and had mental issues. I fail to understand how a woman can fall in love with someone who threatens to kill her just because she bought fish and wanted to cook something special - I skipped the entire scene because it was too violent for me to watch. If this was a dream sequence of the FL, then it just leaves me flabbergasted that she still believes she is in love with the ML!Each episode is of 3 minutes and the whole drama somehow feels as if it is incomplete. Why would the mom suddenly become so avaricious that she sells her daughter to the rich? How can the daughter not have any clue of her mom's nature? You cannot be so dumb in life. And even after she realizes this, she just forgives her mom as if it is an everyday event.
So many negative characters in the drama starting from the ML, FL's Mom, her work colleagues, and her sister-in-law - who was a b***h from hell. Not to talk of the ML's father who thought it right to buy a human just so that she does not get sold off to some other rich household. For a man who has reached a ripe old age and himself a father of a girl, he appears to be singularly lacking in morals, is selfish, and ruthless - he chooses to "buy" the FL (as if she is a commodity) from her mom instead of taking aid of the law and reporting the matter to the police and getting the women arrested for human trafficking.
In the end, the writers even introduced a teacher who is supposedly in love with the FL and is willing to wait for her until God knows when. Our blind & dumb FL however chooses to stay in a toxic relationship with her so-called husband just because .........I am still wondering why??? Romance? Love??.... I say BS.
To the writer of this drama (if you are reading this review) : stop encouraging and selling abusive relationship stories in the name of romance or at least write something that inspires all those women out there who are in such relationships to find the strength and willpower to fight back.
For those who do not want to spoil their mood - please stay away from this drama - there are better and more pleasant things to do in life!
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This review may contain spoilers
A film of two halves
The good bit is the first half:So this film is amazing at the beginning - a brilliant "get the team together and do amazing things, nice guys finish first, rise over prejudice and have fantastic adventures" romp.
It looks excellent, the characters are really well realised, the dynamics between them are believable and for a change the writers show, don't tell, us who the characters are and what they are doing.
Then they kill off every single substantial female part one by one until we are left with a pretty naff mystic who disappears... and like it's 1973 the members of the team with a uterus die so the men have a reason to keep adventuring...
I just can't even...I loved it and then *sigh*
If you want to watch this, watch it until they get to the Mystic Forest then bug out of there and make up a better ending in your head.
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FEEL GOOD DRAMA AND ALSO CUTE!!!
This drama is so cute bot visuals and the storyline....This KBL has come after a long time and the wait is literally worth it.....Korean BLs are having a moment this year as they keep releasing one hit show after another. If you are done with Eighth Sense, Semantic Error and other KBL's and are looking for the next show, A Breeze of Love is here to watch!For those who don't know yet A Breeze of Love is adapted from the “Weather Forecast Love” webtoon. The show tells the story of Ban Dong-wook, who has insomnia. His condition gets worse, especially on bad weather days. On one of these bad days, he coincidentally meets Lee Do-hyun, who becomes his haven. Soon, Do-hyun develops feelings for Dong-wook.
Unfortunately, his confession goes awry, and misunderstanding festers between the two. Fast forward to five years later, the two meet on campus and try to fix their broken ties..........
[THIS PART MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
I Really liked the first episodes. The close-ups, the camera work, the lighting, are all peak K-romance. The boys are gorgeous and they can act - we already have a good idea of their characters and the chemistry can be felt the moment they face each other.....also props to the girl who help them meet much faster 🤭
this one's cute haha especially Dohyun broooo he such a cutieeee so as Dongwook......also I was expecting that this one would be like " A Shoulder to cry on" (having no kissing scenes) but your bro is shocked when I saw that there is!!!!! I immediately screamed like omg that's such a memorable scene 🤭 the atmosphere, the feeling, the- AHHHH hahahah and also I think the title change for this one (well) it fits with the drama....no stress or whatsoever hahaha so if you are looking for a 'feelgood' drama that also has an aesthetically pleasing cinematography I'll recommend this to You! 💯🤍
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Ha Ji Won and Lee Jin Wook are good as Oh Ha Na and Choi Won. They have a good chemistry and it is fun to watch them fight and laugh. I don't know who Yoon Gyun Sang is, but he is the male version of an actress that is stone faced. He doesn't have much experience. So, hopefully he will get better. Ha Na's parents, brother, and friends help make the drama more interesting and better. I really liked when she would discuss her life with them.
Personal: I gave this drama a higher score because Ha Na and her mother spend the night in a hotel talking and it reminds me so much of spending time with my own mother. I love that scene the most and I will probably rewatch it over and over. I miss my mom, but that episode is some how comforting.
The music is good.
I won't rewatch this.
It is pretty ok as a light romance.
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They should have just made a 1 ep special with the new stuff.
I love 2gether. It was the first of the modern thai BL series that i got into because of the pandemic. I say modern BL cause the first thai BL i got into was Love of Siam. Anyways, 2gether and still 2gether hold a special place in my heart. And after watching other BLs from around the world after 2gether, i've realized that there are far better quality BLs than 2gether, but again, Sarawat/Tine still had a special place in my heart.So when they said a movie was in the works, i was hoping for a continuation of the story with a better budget and production akin to like Gameboys the movie or Hello Stranger the movie (both of which upped the production, story and everything from its original series). Unfortunately, 2gether the movie is 90% a recap of the series we already know, with footage from the series stitched together as a montage with new voice overs to give more context, and for 10% parts that were new was probably shot all on a single day.
I know the 2gether stans may seem like this sounds harsh but im just speaking honestly. This was utterly disappointing. It was like someone took the original source material and decided to make a fluffy fanfic epilogue/conclusion. I skimmed through the whole movie and watch the last bits and it felt unsatisfying. And this earned a Thai cinematic theater release? This just felt like a low effort cash grab. It felt almost like a slap in the face to the fans. They could have done a single ep special with just the new stuff and it would have achieved this conclusion just the same, if not better. Ill prob get flamed for this, but again, im just speaking honestly.
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This review may contain spoilers
WARNING: This review does NOT actually contain spoilers, however, if you truly want to watch this show, you shouldn't read this because I took my kid-gloves off while writing it.So here's my dilemma ...
Usually I live by the standard "If you don't have anything nice to say, it's better to just shut up," but in this case not saying anything will drive me crazy. Do you know the feeling when you look forward to something only to be deeply disappointed by it? Sadly that's exactly what happened for me with this show. However, trying to live up to my own moral code, I do have one nice thing to say about this show though, and in good rhetorical fashion I will put it at the end of my review, where the most persuasive point should be, so please bear with me ...
First of all, I think the actors did a decent job at trying to bring the characters to life, however, their efforts were butchered by the senseless writing most of the time. Characters are established as one thing only to react and behave completely opposite to what you would expect – not in a good "wow,-that's-a-cool-twist!"-way but in a "WTF-just-happened?!"-way.
What's also strange is that most of the main characters are spoiled rotten but are still praised as mature and kind by everyone else. Even their parents rarely say anything about their horrible behaviour which is just unrealistic (and/or bad parenting). For instance, the female lead is portrayed as this mature but still innocent little angel (or as I like to call it "The only kind of Asian heroine"), but some of the things she says to her hard-working father are just downright disrespectful ... and he NEVER reprimands her! It's so bad that I honestly can't tell if he's the best dad ever or just bad at educating his daughter.
Before this gets completely out of hand and turns into a ranting of epic proportions, here are my top 3 reasons why I do NOT recommend this show:
3. The borderline unprofessional editing. Seriously, it's so bad that it actually obstructs the plot and messes up the timeline.
2. Speaking of timeline: There are some major plot holes in this thing. Just think about how the two lead characters supposedly met each other the very first time ... (WARNING: The gaping plot hole you will find might drive you mad.)
and last but sadly not least ...
1. The plot is not driven by the characters but the other way around. This is a recipe for disaster. It makes everything (worst of all the drama and dialogues) terribly forced and artificial, leaving the audience wonder most of the time why certain dramatic moments are happening in the first place, when they could have been so easily dissolved. Which they eventually are ... in the most anticlimactic way possible.
Okay ... I promised to say something nice, so here we go:
I like the title song.
Although the character that's supposed to have written the song in the show is portrayed by an obviously tone-deaf actor who should have been told to never sing in a public setting.
But still, yeah, I like the title song.
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The plot is neither shallow nor particularly predictable. Until the end, the viewer does not know if the romance between the leads will have a future or not, because apart from the age difference - which isn't that big anyway - there are other, more important obstacles: opposite stances towards work and life in general, different social status, dissimilar goals. The good aspect of this love story based upon differences is that both learn one from the other. It's not the dramatic change of one of them overnight, in the name of love or another equally unrealistic reason.
The best part of the plot lies in the dialogues, though. They are clever, at times hilarious, at others quite deep. I loved learning of the process behind the creation of an advertisement, and why those people are often referred to as "the creatives".
The acting was very good, although I must admit at not having been swept away by Itoh Misaki's performance. There were times when she felt wooden and unconvincing. This lowers my acting mark to an 8, which would have been otherwise flawless, since everybody else did a great job, including Kame.
The music isn't my favourite, but it was chosen with great sense and is very fitting with the story told and the setting.
The photography deserves a mention too: there are some beautiful screen shots throughout this show. I can still see them with my mind's eyes today, more than 4 years after I've watched the drama. They are meant to create a visual pattern, parallel images which create a nice contrast between the incompatibility of the two main leads in the world of words, and the harmony between them on a more emotional level.
I will rewatch it. It gave me an energy shot at the time, therefore I keep it for future need of the same.
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The one thing I'm confused about is they never really explained why was there another Xun'er in the villain valley.
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A Sweet, Warm, and Healing Romcom!
This is my first time writing a review for drama, I want to say that i really love the drama, it has been my mood booster & happy vitamin everyday ❤️if you want to watch a lighthearted, sweet, warm, & healing romcom drama then this a good start for u!
At first, i watched the drama because of Xinxin. And i think just like Cnets say, i think Yu Shuxin really know how to pick a good drama❤️
YSX drama start from Youth, I've fallen for you, Find Yourself, Moonlight, Love Between Fairy and Devil, and A Romance of the Little Forest are all really good ❤️ .
The things i love from the drama:
- Yu Shuxin really smart picking character that suit her so much, the acting is very real & greatly believeable to the audience! Yu Meiren is perfectly written for Yu Shuxin! No one can play it perfectly Yu Meiren other than her! I love Yu Meiren character, she is such a smart, confidence, good at work, brave, can stand on herself, independent, hard working, and true to her heart! She is just so perfect so perfect example of a beauty with brain ❤️.
- Yu ShuXin used about 140 set outfit from 300 set outfit she prepared for this drama, i enjoyed looking all her beautiful & different outfit & style from YSX, She is such a fashionista, a beauty blogger indeed❤️
- Empowering woman, woman can also chase the man we like first ;).
- Yu Shuxin as Yu Meiren is still reborn as a flower this time too, she's a corn poppy flower this time and Zhang Binbin as Zhuang Yu is someone who expert in plant too, he is botanist professor, so much coincidence with LBFAD & Rattan :)))))!
- Zhang Binbin as Zhuang Yu is so great! At first he might looks cool and indifferent but he will melt to Yu Meiren along the way, really love his soft smile to Yu Meiren everytime she did cute/crazy things to him.
-It's a two-way crush/unrequired love thrope drama, which is my cup of tea, i really enjoy it!
- Brain power CP, both of the lead are intellectual people . The ML is Botanist Professor while the FML is Phd in Ornithology. The way sometime they make joke only they can understand it with the science reference :'). They are also not falling in love because the writer said so, they are truly are destined to be together, they are different souls that resonate together, they share the same brain cell, They both are such a cultural and literated smart couple ❤️
- Yu Shuxin and Zhang Binbin chemistry are overflowing and so top notch!❤️. I had to say that Yu Shuxin is really a Chemistry Queen, they way she always have a good chemistry with every of her costar! Mezhuangdan cp is not an exception! They gave a calm bf hyper gf vibe so strongly. Also their kiss scene is SOOOO GOOOOOOD!!! It's soooooooo PERFECT!!!*chef kiss :*
- A sweet, warm & healing enviromental protection campaign drama. Your eyes will be healed because so much green in the drama , a great cinematography of the little forest, plants, animal, small village, etc ❤️
- Original Story, which is rare in cdramaland these days
-The drama quiet gave a justice to the research background and it's also maybe due the fact that they had real experts and professional to guide them through the drama
- The adorable and sweet OSTs sang by our main lead Esther Yu and ZhangBinBin, they voice are really a honey to my ear ❤️
-Meizhuangdan cp behind the scenes are the sweetest and the funniest, they even much more in the behind the scene, go watch it y'all!
The things i don't like:
- too many unnecessary 2nd couple screentime
- the drama cut the Legendary iconic kiss scenes of the main cp
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1The Female Lead Choice Doesn't Matter But The Story Line
I've been seen a lot of people complaining about FM choice what what, could you have been better? for my opinion I think she's portraying her character very well, it's just people used for the same FM's on the stories.I've watched the story and I already know how it's going, it's so good , the ML is not just handsome but so cool, he's the villan I love hating but failing to.
The FL is cute , I really can't wait for those to finally realized they have feelings for each 🤭
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But that all changed when I came across this drama. I know this with certainty...this has the potential to be a successful crossover, Netflix get on that please! If there was ever a content you have to hammer out of China, this is it, right here.
This drama...Kdrama fans don't be intimidated by the 58 episode length, honestly by the time you watch the last episode you will think that its too short and will wonder how you're going to fill your time now?
Story: The synopsis on this does not do it justice and despite all the controversies regarding the original Author and the allegations and law suits with regards to plagiarism this does not detract from how creatively the script writer and director did an amazing job on translating this ethereal story into something amazing on screen. The world building alone was masterfully done.
This fantasy revolves around the story of Bai Qian, an Immortal Fox Goddess/Queen and her trials and tribulations in the framework of the Mortal and Immortal realm. The drama can be split in 3 arcs. First we see her as a young fox princess maturing and getting tangled up in a Holy war and her feelings for 2 different men on 2 different sides. Then her Mortal trial and getting tangled up and falling for Ye Hua and her suffering because of it. Lastly balancing it all out is her journey as a fully grown High God and falling in love with Ye Hua as an equal. So this is a story of her growth and those around her.
But this is also a story of enduring, sometimes obsessive, and faithful love from the whole cast of characters. It will fill you with hope and heartache and you definitely will not want it to end (and the fact that everyone is pretty much immortal does give one hope that there is more to this story).
Production values of this drama is quite high, although there are sometimes bad CGI you end up overlooking it as they are only set dressing for this amazing story. Costumes were amazing and well thought out and the way the it shot and edited was top notch, even the comedic bits felt organic and well timed.
Acting/Cast: Perfectly cast and acted. Massive kudos to everyone involved in this as every single character shone and shone brilliantly, even the most reviled characters. Acting was never ever an issue and whoever made the final call on casting must be praised. Yang Mi and Yu Alan (Fourth Bro) even look like Fox deities (its the long facial structure I think) Yang Mi was a marvel playing 3 different and distinct versions of the same person. She made Bai Qian a character that you can fall for. Unlike in some dramas I care not to name you can see why 3 different and distinctly marvelous men can fall for her. Her chemistry with Mark Zhao (Ye Hua) is sizzling. Off the charts. Enough that I wish they were dating IRL (but alas, both married to other people). There's enough kissing in this drama for one to be annoyed with other drama for their lack.
Speaking of Ye Hua, I'm sure i'm not the only one who fell for him too. I cannot praise Mark Zhao enough. The way he conveyed his emotions, the control he had with his body language and his passionate performance really sold Ye Hua as the ideal man. Ye Hua's growth was full of subtleties and you can't help but love him at the end. The cold Ye Hua, body language cold and controlled and imposing, the quietly suffering Ye Hua with his stoic facial expressions and expressive twitches, the caring Ye Hua with his subtle fond looks and mildly exasperated smiles and playful but strict attitude, the passionately in love Ye Hua who's eyes can melt steel and convey more with his face and eyes than a 1000 page poem could. Kudos to Mark as well for playing Mo Yuan so differently and so well I didn't recognise that he was the one playing both until I read the other reviews. I'm definitely looking forward to more of his work. I also have to mention the child actor playing A Li, definitely a stand out. He brought such flavour and playfulness to an otherwise fraught reunion and subsequently stole the show with every scene he was in.
The whole cast of characters was great, Dong Hua was definitely a favorite (with his perpetually condescending/amused/inquisitive facial expression and that amazing hair!) and even though Feng Jiu got annoying sometimes it was not due to Dilraba's acting but due to the circumstances and script. I definitely teared up at the end of their Mortal Love trial and am consoling myself by reading the Pillow Book. I also fell for the lovely pair Zhe Yan and his Zhen Zhen with their old married coupleness.
Music: Amazing OST, from the most wistful fantasy instrumentals to the Epic drums and the main romantic theme songs. I fell in love with it all and ended up humming the opening tune at work (if I knew mandarin I'd be singing it too).
Rewatch Value: YES, A THOUSAND TIME YES! I cannot recommend this enough and even though I just finished it a week ago I'm planning on rewatching this with my sister who is also a Drama fan though she's pretty exclusive on the KDrama. This raised the bar for all other dramas for me and even though I already am a fan of CDramas (I loved Boss & Me and Love O2O) this really cemented my love for them. I'm really looking forward to more from Mainland after this.
Overall: Perfect. Perfect story, perfect cast of characters and perfectly put together. Dare I say, it's flawless. What I liked was that not only was the Main Male lead swoon worthy, but that the Female lead was someone so awe inspiring as well. She was definitely not just a helpless Damsel in Distress constantly tumbling along needing to be rescued, she was strong and opinionated and for a Fox Queen pretty well rounded as a character. She was strong and smart and though naive sometimes, her empathy really shone through. Such a breath of fresh air from all the other female leads I've seen so far. Also I have to say there's something so appealing about a crying Ye Hua. As much as I like him smiling his fond sly smiles he was so heartbreakingly good when he cried. And he definitely made the fight scenes which usually look silly to me, look awe inspiring instead. Ye Hua is H.O.T. specially when he's staying put and asking Qian Qian to come to him and not doing the patented wrist grab that all Asian Drama think is the height of romance (although there is one pretty memorable scene but he was at the height of insecurity and not in his right mind).
Overall this is the highlight of my year so far (well...until the next season of Game of Thrones comes out anyway) and will always have a place in my heart. I have a feeling this is one I will watch over and over.
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*Inserts the reversed horse drawing meme*
It started as a cringe is the best way possible. I cannot believe I enjoyed something that brought me so much 2nd hand embarrassment. And yet, I liked every second of it. All the awkward situations that have no place in reality, but that put a smile on my face. All the moments that made Seon Ho question his sexuality, and me question my sanity. If only the show stayed on the path of silly comedy and did not venture into the miscommunication and misunderstanding hell, burning both the souls and brains of all the viewers.It’s not like the plot did not have a potential to be a really fun and light BL. We had all the elements needed to deliver a perfect mutual pining romance with some over the top, but enjoyable comedy. So why, oh why was most of the show based on the most ridiculously easy to explain misunderstanding? Mental gymnastics the writer had to go through to come up with the ways for the characters NOT TO find out the truth deserve a golden medal in the Olympics.
Still, there were things I enjoyed.
First of all, Seon Ho was a great character. Sweet, caring, hardworking, honest and open minded. He had a cute puppy-like demeanor and it was impossible not to like him.
The few scenes between Seon Ho and Gu Mu Yeong that were not focused on the misunderstanding were also truly fun. The way Mu Yeong gave a few soft smiles because of Seon Ho was just cotton candy warm marshmallow sweet. I even enjoyed Han Joon Seok and thought he would serve as a better reason for the conflict than what we actually got.
The acting was also nice. I was not thrilled with Ko Chan Bin’s performance, but overall the character was such a mess… How does one even deliver anything decent based on that writing? Song Seung Hyun, Lee Do Ha and Seo Min Seo honestly did well in their respective roles.
One thing though - even Park Shin Hye had more realistic kisses in the beginnings of her career...
Production value had its ups and downs. Overall, the quality was good. A bit over the average for the short k-bls. One scene in episode 7 thought… If you watched the show you know which one I am talking about. Who thought that was good enough quality to be included in the final product?
Overall… It just left me feeling disappointed. I went from hyped excitement after the first 2 episodes, to complete resignation after the last two. It got progressively worse with each episode and if it was a full length drama, I would definitely drop it half way through…
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Unfortunately, Taiwanese dramas have a mould. Sometimes what comes out of that mould can be flavoured differently. But it is, unfortunately, a somewhat superficial change.
So let's talk first about what this drama is trying to be. It's trying to be an intelligent and nuanced conversation about two unhappy people maintaining relationships out of habit and obligation whose mutual attraction shocks them into re-evaluating their lives. And in many aspects, Before We Get Married succeeds admirably. The core story underpinning it is good with strong characterisation, excellent performances and fine writing. Taiwanese dramas are known for having real people having real conversations in realistic ways and this drama is no exception. How it begins and how it ends are good and the ways in which the characters move around each other within the text is generally good too. Some of the emotional beats between Weiwei and her fiancé, for example, are utterly perfect. Painful and frustrating but perfect. Puff Gao and Jasper Liu have extraordinary chemistry and it's not hard to believe they want to tear each other's clothes off throughout.
So, then, it's the execution that becomes a problem. And this is where that Taiwanese drama mould comes in. The show is marketed as a sexy infidelity drama but ultimately the cheating is meant to be a mere impetus to the character's development. As such, the show struggled with how to deal with incorporating cheating while not alienating an audience that was likely to respond negatively to it. Like a lot of infidelity dramas it tried to have its cake and eat it too, metaphorically speaking. Weiwei had to have an affair while not actually having an affair. Weiwei and Kehuan's respective others had to be progressively terrible so we'd feel the infidelity was justified. Both partners were obsessive and controlling but it seems as though this was deemed insufficient to justify the emotional affair to the audience and so greater sins were thrown into the pot, often in random and frustrating ways.
The show's first episode and THAT scene was the perfect example. The conversations between Weiwei and Kehuan in episode 2 show that this incident was supposed to be consensual; the first volley in an affair. Instead it was a disturbing non-consensual incident that framed Kehuan as a potential abuser and possible rapist. I have no idea what it's doing in this show or what we were supposed to think about it. That also goes for the camping incident, which did neither lead any favours.
As the show progressed it began to opt for cliched Taiwanese romcom scenarios to portray our couple as being destined for each other. At the same time it tied itself up in knots to make sure that Weiwei could deny a sexual relationship when the time came. And it's true - Weiwei wasn't leaving her boyfriend for another man, she was leaving him for reasons that were entirely her own. Trying to do this plotline within the context of an active affair probably seemed too complex and too difficult for writers of a 13-episode Taiwanese show. Especially when they were no doubt pressured to imply that this new relationship was in fact Twu Wuv when instead it was about two people who just really wanted to bone each other.
Whether this show falls down by not delivering on the sexy it teased or whether it falls down because it made the leads unlikeable due to their infidelity is a matter of personal preference for the average viewer. Either way, it was a frustrating and sometimes tedious watch as Weiwei prevaricates and dithers and recommits to the wrong man and Kehuan turns from a complicated win-at-all-costs manipulator into the Perfect Male Lead and everyone starts working together for reasons that make no sense except that Taiwanese writers need new scenarios, stat. The last thing this needed to be was a workplace drama.
Overall, what this drama was trying to do was very good, original and interesting. A new flavour if you will. But what it actually needed was a whole new mould.
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