Wonderful characters/relationships, no stupid misunderstandings, satisfying ending, best of 2023
I’m super stingy with giving 9s, but after more than 250 dramas, I’m handing out my first 10. For me, this is definitely the best drama of 2023, and possibly my all-time favourite.Destined was wonderful, entertaining and had everything I love -- swoony romance, a perfect amount of angst and humour, slice of life, palace intrigue, bromance, great secondary couples, heartwarming family/in-law dynamics, excellent pacing, multi-genre, no annoying characters (except for maybe one...) and green flags everywhere.
The relationships in this drama -- between couples, friends, parent and child (Edit: OK, maybe just the moms, lol), employer and employee, sworn brothers, sworn sisters -- were all beautiful portrayed and ridiculously healthy: open, trusting, communicative, respectful, warm, and loyal.
I almost hesitate to review this for fear my enthusiasm will fuel unrealistic expectations, leading to inevitable disappointment, but this drama was about as close to perfection as I’ve ever seen. Elements that are hit and miss in other shows were done consistently well here, with none of the annoying and frustrating trope-y plot devices or foolish misunderstandings. Our primary villain is complex and multi-dimensional; war/battles scenes were exciting, filled with dramatic tension, conveying the enormous stakes involved and the David vs Goliath nature of the fight (I ordinarily find a lot of battle scenes a bit boring); the emperors were among the most sympathetic and heartbreaking I’ve ever seen portrayed.
THE PACING
The pacing is well-done in this drama, which is divided into several major arcs. There were times I found myself smiling, laughing, crying, and stressed — all within the span of a tight, 40 minutes. Even the episodes that clearly served as "breathers" before the next major plotline were still interesting. It never felt draggy and flashbacks were effective and kept to a minimum. Those who don't like "slice of life" moments, however, might find those episodes spoil the momentum, especially given the excitement that came before.
THE ENDING
Asian dramas can be notorious for slaughtering their endings, but Director Yin Tao (who also helmed The Blood of Youth among many other notable dramas), and screenwriter Bai Jinjin (who helped pen Love Between Fairy and Devil) exceeded even my hopeful expectations. (For those who have watched Yin Tao’s previous works, you will also recognize many beloved and familiar faces.)
OUR MAIN HERO AND HEROINE
The drama does an excellent job showing the selflessness, support, open communication, trust, and utter devotion Liu Yuru and Gu Juisi have toward one another. The evolution of their relationship from mutual dislike to mutual respect is organic and natural, but moves along swiftly. Yuru’s opinion toward her husband shifts as she discovers the real Gu Jiusi, while Juisi — inspired and moved by his wife's kindness, loyalty, and a desire to make up for the “joke” that led to their unwanted marriage — becomes a doting and devoted husband, working hard to become worthy of his formidable new wife.
Their relationship was also a perfect example of how a drama can have fantastic character and plot development without resorting to the overused and cliche-ridden tropes of frustrating miscommunications, unnecessary secrets, and idiotic misunderstandings. You can have swoony romance, healthy supportive relationships, and excellent communication and *still* tell complex and compelling stories.
Prior to Destined, I was generally unfamiliar with Song Yi’s work, but I thought she did a wonderful job as Yuru. Some viewers complained early on about her portrayal, but I thought she did a great job acting simultaneously demure yet strong, capturing the character's quiet strength and poise. Conveying and embodying that complicated dichotomy convincingly is no easy feat.
Yuru spent her entire life trying to be the “perfect lady”, living her life with enormous restraint in order to ensure her and her mother's security by marrying well. The way she carried herself, the repressed and “delicate” way she shed tears, were all part of her exhausting efforts to carve a better future. She had to consistently maintain a prim, proper, and reticent demeanor, suppress her emotions and reign in her opinions, because that was how “well-bred” ladies were supposed to comport themselves. This perhaps made it difficult for some viewers to connect with her emotionally. But Yuru demonstrated her ability to withstand enormous obstacles and upheaval, that she would not be easily defeated. As her character evolved and was accepted into a family that allowed her to be her true self, her behaviour relaxed. The delicate sniffles disappeared, the emotions became more heartfelt, her actions and opinions more fearless and decisive.
Yuru also makes for a striking contrast with Jiusi who is more straightforward: he was a dandy with a heart of gold — a big softy. He was rather childish and playful initially, but matured into a commanding and wise strategist and advisor. Unlike Yuru’s character, he had an easy life (and is male!), so he is naturally more relaxed, open, opinionated and unreserved in his actions and speech.
Both leads were genuinely excellent in their respective roles, but I think it's easy to mistake Song Yi’s restrained and carefully balanced portrayal as somehow lacking, when in fact, it is the opposite.
Bai Jingting’s last several dramas have been consistently excellent, though I was relatively neutral about the actor himself prior to Destined. This drama really showcased his emotional range and comedic timing.
THE VILLAIN
I don't recall ever shedding a tear for a villain, let alone one this despicable, ruthless, and irredeemable. And yet.
The screenwriter and actor did a great job bringing Luo Zishang’s character and tragic story to life. Oftentimes, the Big Bad Villain in a drama is just evil for the sake of being evil, or loathsome because of the clichéd hunger for power and greed. In Destined, our villain, played by Liu Xueyi, is enigmatic, multifaceted — even sympathetic — despite being unequivocally unforgivable. Yes, his hatred toward Gu Jiusi and his family was absolutely disproportionate, the atrocities he committed in the name of vengeance were utterly irrational and indefensible, and the underlying reason its own well-worn cliché, but it was somehow still difficult to not feel sorrow in the end for the tragedy of his entire, wasted life. In the hands of another actor, it is quite possible that the weak premise behind what motivated his hatred would have derailed the entire plot. Luo Zishang’s feelings towards Yuru conveyed all the "what ifs" of his character, and the show beautifully captured those “what ifs” in the final two episodes.
Liu Xueyi is great when he plays the hero, but he is also excellent at portraying villains and morally ambiguous characters. I hope he will continue to balance his roles between being a lead and taking on interesting supporting roles like he has here and in other previous dramas.
I really appreciated how the show also made time to tell a bit of Ming Yi’s story. Throughout the drama, he seemed like your typical disposable background character, the almost-invisible right-hand man who unquestioningly did his master’s bidding, no matter how heinous. But the writer and director even granted *him!* satisfying closure, making time at the end to give him a voice so he could tell his own story and voice his own hopes.
There was some viewer frustration that a pivotal character did nothing to stop the chaos created by the Luo Zishang earlier. While his intervention could have made an enormous difference for the fate of countless lives, in my view, he was always morally ambiguous — his shrewd ability to navigate the treacherous schemes of the previous royal court speaks to this aspect of his character.
BUT…?
I don’t have many buts, to be honest. I think we could all quibble about a few details here and there, small plot holes (some of which were eventually answered), but given the complexity of the source material, I thought they did an incredible job packing what they could into the new 40-episode limitation and telling a tight, well-paced story.
There was one notable death near the end that I wished didn’t happen, but at the same time, given the character’s personality, it was perhaps a fitting and honourable end for them. Their future, had they survived, would have been bittersweet in other ways because it would not have been the life they wanted. Their death also served another purpose: it bolsters the underlying theme that it is lonely at the top, even in the best of circumstances.
Arguably, there were no genuinely annoying characters, except for maybe one, but I have yet to decide if the character was annoying in a way that was organic to the story, or in a way that faulted the writing and/or acting.
For some of those who read the original web novel by Mo Shubai , this adaptation was apparently disappointing, particularly in the later arcs as key details were changed or left out. Others were frustrated by the fates of two notable characters — one beloved and another much hated; both did not get the ending they deserved (I sympathize with the criticism, but also understood why the less palatable ending was chosen).
For me, the overall strengths of this drama far outweighed any of the issues. As another viewer commented, “This is not perfect, but it’s perfect for me.”
NERDY OBSERVATIONS
-- Hurray for live audio! Undubbed costume dramas still feel like a rarity and adds another layer of pleasure
-- I love the brief scenes early on with the accountants -- I found the clacking of the abacuses/abaci very soothing and meditative
-- Liu Yuru’s first cosmetics store was absolutely gorgeous
-- I saw a behind-the-scenes clip of the construction of the beautiful mansion the Gu family moved into when they first arrived in Youzhou, so I couldn’t get over how little actual screentime such an elaborately-made set received
-- What happened to Yuru's half brother? I'm sure he was still around, but it would've been a nice touch to see him interacting with his little nephew at the end.
-- Last but not least, a shout-out to the cinematography, especially during the dramatic battle scene with Yuru standing high on the ramparts, passionately striking the war drum to rally her husband and the soldiers, her bright red gown a beacon against the sandy desert battleground
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Nam Goong Min Awakens One's Curiosity
Review based on episode three.Nobody and nothing are what they seem in this drama, filled with mind games, mysteries, and eeriness. Awaken was a bit slow in its start-up, but once it got its groove, it's been nothing but one surprise after another. I love how Nam Goong Min plays Jung Woo. Everything, from the way he walks, talks, carries himself, and the carefree demeanor, belying his true feelings and thoughts. But what I like most is his uncanny ability to know what's going on around him and those he takes an interest in, be it his team members, the victims, potential victims, or the culprit(s). I got the sense there was more than one. Jung Woo makes this show worth the watch but then so do Jamie (Lee Chung Ah) and MJW (Yoon Sun Woo), who seem to mirror each other and are Jung Woo's other halves from an incident thirty years ago.
I like Hye Won's (Kim Seol Hyun) loyalty to Jung Woo; I hope she doesn't let her feelings get in the way. I get the sense Jung Woo picked her, knowing how she or, more so, her father connects to the village. I adore Yoon Seok Pil (Choi Dae Chul), Jang Ji Wan (Lee Shin Young), and Deputy Chief Hwang Byeong Chul (Kim Won Hae). I enjoy the humor and chemistry they bring to the team. I continue to be wary of Lee Taek Jo (Baek Ji Won) for her unscrupulous connections and Lee Ji Wook (Yoon Gyung Ho) for his self-serving reporting. As well as CEO Yong Shik (Jang Hyuk Jin) for his treatment of MJW, but think they are all just puppets playing to the tune of a more persuasive puppeteer. Awaken turned out to be a fun ride indeed.
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Might disapoint you if you believe everyone saying it's a masterpiece
Hear me out, I'm not saying this was crap. I liked it, it was a nice watch and I looked forward to it every thursday.But I kinda believe that the reason the rating is so high is because of 1: The NC scenes, 2: The popularity of the original manga/anime, 3: the acting
I have to say, the NC scenes were truly incredible. Not only because they were explicit or special (Use of Honey as lube, crying s*x...), but because the rythm and camera shots truly made us dive into their intimacy. The acting was also amazing, specifically from Boom as Akin who killed it all the way.
Now, the story itself was a bit all over the place. Specifically in the beginning before they get together, Akin keeps going back and forth in the way he treats Jin, both their actions kinda come out of nowhere and the evolution of the romance doesn't really make sense. It gets better after they become a couple though.
In general, it isn't that much different from any other BL in term of process and storyline.
For the adapation aspect of it, I have to say I'm SO GLAD for how it turned out. They were pretty loyal to the original plot, but they took the amazing initiative to change Jin's character for the better. If you haven't watched the anime or read the manga, you might have been taken aback by the nonconsensual kiss in the beginning, or the slight toxic treatment when Jin ignored Akin cuz he was sick. Well, I agree it wasn't the best, but oh god how happy I was this was the only aspect to be worried about, when you know Jin in the original story constantly r*pes Akin and is overall a controling piece of sh*t that sometimes has a sweet smile which apparently is enough to forgive him. So yeah, this was such a good choice from the screen writer/director of the drama.
On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised in the beginning when I saw they had decided to change point of view and take Jin as a main character instead of Akin. But then it seems they forgot about this whole idea as the story went on. It was disapointing how everything was always about Akin and we rarely got to dig deeper into Jin's character. It makes sense in the manga since Akin is the main character, but since they took that initiative of change in the drama, I wish they had gone all the way.
So yeah, overall worth it, but I definitely wouldn't call it a masterpiece
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This movie was exceptionally moving. A exquisite piece of Art by Hirokazu Koreeda, although the outcome is off of his usual genre I do think it convey his essence.
It's very rare, perhaps disturbing, mesmerizing movie.
The actress does a terrific work in interpreting a living doll, her roll was extremely believable.
The developing of the plot may be obscure for some people (I've read some harsh reviews about this movie) but I resolved to think that people CAN'T get the real meaning of the history: explore how people interact at a deep emotional level. The idea that someone's respiration could insufflate life to another person is a very intimate form of interaction and satisfaction.
All characters, whether their gender, they are alone.
For female characters, the keywords are "empty" and "absence". For the male, are "substitution" and "perversion." The men of the film didn't go straight to the object of his desire, but they choose alternative solutions. They are perverted men who want the death, not life.
These are the characters that KORE-EDA tried to to portray. It's a film about the solitude of urban life.
Overall, I think It's a worth-watching movie. You'll never forget it if you can find the meaning through the multiple metaphors inside and apply it to your own life. This is a philosophical essay... real poetry. A stirring rendition and superb images.
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The Most Audacious Pair of Assassins!!!
It is exceptionally rare for me to begin a review with who I think literally steals this series from everyone. There is only one reason to watch this series. And that is because this story has Style. Style gave this series distinction. He IS the series and the only reason I finished this rather mundane and pedestrian story. Dunk Natachai as the character of Style brought such uniqueness to his persona from the beginning. Layered with arrogance, shallowness, pomposity and yet underlying it all was still a sense of sincerity. I could observe that he began his pursuit of Fadel (Joong Archen) simply as a challenge in the beginning. But once he undertook to know who Fadel was, he fell for him, hard and began to peel away at his exterior gruff layers, much like you peel an onion. As he did so with Fadel, he also peeled away at his own layers of shallowness surrounding himself. As he got Fadel to open his soul to him, he too did the same. With Dunk’s characterization however, I could sense and feel it deeply. His facial features and the way he looked at Fadel were not just about acting. It felt real. And oh, his love scenes with Fadel were not just fervently romantic; they were simply hot, erotic, and alluring. It has been ages, especially for a Thail BL, for me to actually feel a sensuousness emanating from an individual. He exuded it. Not only in words but in his expressions and his actions. It has also been a long time since I have been able to use the outdated term ‘it factor’ but he has it. He is the whole package. I never once felt as if he was faking it or ‘acting’ it out. He was genuine, sincere, even when he was being perhaps impish and immature in his approach to winning Fadel over. Deep-down, he projected such passion and intensity that he is the only Thai BL actor in an inordinate length of time that felt authentic. When he kissed, it looked sensual, seductive, and steamy. Excuse my vernacular, but his actions were hedonic, and his scenes made him tantalizingly erotic. Not afraid or ashamed to show it or be it. Something that has been missing in Thai BLs. He is an exceptional actor as he made it look so nature and unguarded. What a performance and kudos for making it feel so damn genuine.Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/03/08/the-heart-killers-series-review-ep-1-to-12/
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Color me surprised!
I am honestly awed by this series, that actually managed to get worse with every passing episode. And now you'll ask "Why are you watching, if it is that bad? Stop judging and drop it".Well the answer is simple; Hate-watching. This is such a badly written series that it is fun to criticize and see how bad it can get.
Now, to the people actually wanting to know what is wrong with it and if it has any redeeming qualities, I will quickly mention the good and the bad.
The good:
+ Some of the actors are watchable: Even though the cast is filled with some very popular actors, unfortunately, most of them are not as good as usual. Despite that though, they are still caring this drama that lacks in everything else.
We have Lee Jae Wook (Han Tae Oh), Choi Jin Ho (Kang Joong Mo) and Choi Hee Jin (Kang Hee Joo) that are doing -mostly- a good job. Then we have Lee Jun Young (Kang In Ha) that is okay. After this series, I am honestly not sure if he is a bad actor and I thought he was good in his past performances or he is good and he was just not that great in this series.
+ Kang Hee Joo: Most people like her, others don't understand why the majority likes her. Well I am here to answer that.
Kang Hee Joo is the only one in this series that seems to have a character -and an actress that can support it-. Besides her gorgeous looks, she is the only one that is actually consistent and has a personality. Is this personality not really "great"? Yes. She is naive, persistent and toxic at times. But she feels real and is great to watch.
Now we will get to the bad (yes that was all the "positive"):
- Plot: I don't have lots of things to say. This is just a very badly written series. Characters are purely unlikable and change personalities (like Tae Oh being a genius, but suddenly turning dumb), romance is cringy and unnecessary -and I am being very kind-, actions are not really explained or make sense (like ruthless FL that appears so strong and has all these great ambitions -even gets married to benefit herself- and when her mother asks for money, she turns super weak and cries when she could just get rid of her one way or another-) and let's not forget that this basically turned into a makjang halfway through (people playing dead, actual murders, evil dad coming back, fake allegations leading to death sentences etc.)
- Time skips: One of the worst -if not the worst- decisions of the writer. We have so many time skips for no reason. First episode, we are literally getting to know the characters. They have this great plan to rise in power and suddenly boom 5 and 10 year time skips where they have achieved so much and are in these high positions and we don't know how and what happened in between.
- Characters: The characters are generally very one dimensional or they tend to like completely change personalities. That aside, another thing that bothered me is that some characters appear, seeming important or promising, and then they suddenly dissappear like they were never part of the plot -or writer remembers them when he needs them for the plot to move forward-.
- Root for who?: I felt like the scriptwriter wanted the audience to root for Tae Oh and Hye Won, and here I am rooting for Hee Joo and even In Ha at times.
All characters are super unlikable and they try to pass as this "male and female lead are the good ones". My dude, they are not. Tae Oh kissed his best friends wife and did everything in his power to destroy a conglomerate family and for what? For nothing. And Hye Won? She married In Ha just to get power and cheated on him with his best friend! And did she actually get any power? Yes (when the script said so). Let's not forget how she tried to take advantage of everyone and always put herself first...
- Draggy or fast paced: I am not sure! This seriss felt super draggy at times. I was sooo bored. Other times, it felt like it needed so much more time to develop the "plot" and the characters.
- Romance: It is so cringy and unnecessary. FL's incapability in acting aside -she looks like someone forced her to be there-, the interactions between her and Tae Oh are so cringy. They have zero chemistry.
Also, I don't understand why and how the whole "falling in love" happened. First of all, female lead is just purely unlikable as a character. Secondly, they barely have any interactions. Like when did he fall head over heels for her? Lastly, the romance is just sooo unnecessary. It is just a plot tool that is used in some cases to make Tae Oh do things he shouldn't be doing...
- FL is unnecessary and badly written: Oh look, another female main character that has nothing to add in the series. Writing wise, she is supposed to be manipulative, ambitious and self-centered. But she literally does nothing. She gets privilages just because script says so and out of the blue. She is just there helping other people with their plans. The only thing that she does is marrying In Ha, but even that was something he initiated.
- Clichés: Many and I mean many clichés. We have the typical chaebol fights for the "throne", the typical sad backstories/dysfunctional families of the main leads, the typical bad "siblings" and many others.
- Hong Su Zu's acting as Na Hye Won: Su Zu's performance is one of the worst if not the worst I have ever seen in a Kdrama by a female actress all these years. There it is, I said it.
After reading many comments like "She will get better, it is her first main role" or "Don't be harsh with her, it is her first role" and completely disagreeing, I want to express my opinion.
Firstly, the crew responsible for the casting should have seen that she is incapable of acting, especially since she would act as the freaking female lead -emphasis on lead-. So why she was chosen? Either, they really liked her looks or there is another reason (connections, being popular -or impossible- all other candidates were worse). Now, no one can convince me they liked her acting, because she just can't act.
Even if there were connections involved, the director should have helped as much as possible to get a good result or just try to guide her. And I don't know if he did, but it doesn't seem so. Not even a single frame of her compliments her. Even when she is sleeping she looks tense.
Moving on, actress takes the other half (and more) of the blame. She should just not have taken this role, if she knew she can't do it. This is not a support or guest role to get familiar with the whole acting process and learn. This is a main role and more so in a series with some big names.
The thing that irritates me the most is that it doesn't even look like she is trying. She has a puppy eye expression no matter what is happening. Seeing something that can ruin her life? Puppy eyes. Someone is literally chocking her? Puppy eyes. Like come on!
It's not like she is good at being serious and she lacks in the emotional scenes. She lacks in every single scene, no exception.
So no, for me, "don't be harsh, this is her first role" isn't an excuse for such a horrible performance. We have seen child actors doing better. We have seen other actors doing better in their "first roles". If she had some good scenes, I would understand. I would ignore. But that is not the case.
Of course, threatening the actress and posting hate comments on her account is a big no. She is human too.
I do think that if she chooses to continue acting, she should do proper training, because this is not it.
Ending: I didn't expect the series to suddenly turn good in the end and, well, I was right. The ending was as expected. Evil In Ha gets his punishment, while male lead Tae Oh -that was also not the greatest person out there- and love interest Hye Won get their happy ending...
All in all, a very badly written series with some questionable acting performances and barely any redeeming qualities. Ideal only for hate watching.
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Yin Yang Guardians
Less than 2 months after the release of The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity, Netflix finally aired The Yinyang Master on 19 March 2021, about a month after its cinema release in China on 12 February 2021. For fans of fantasy in general, and Onmyōji in particular, Christmas has come early with two adaptations within such a short period of time.Rip-roaring fun and excitement with almost non-stop action, fantastical depiction of supernatural beings with magical powers in an enthrallingly beautiful other-wordly setting, along with a group of adorable characters that anyone would love to root for. That’s my enduring impression of this film.
(Note: There will be some comparisons made between this film and Dream of Eternity in this review due to the shared premise and proximity of their release)
The Story
The Yinyang Master is adapted from the NetEase game Onmyōji, which in turn is based on the original source material, the novel series Onmyōji by author Baku Yumemakura.
The story is about the Yinyang Master saving the world from apocalypse by preventing the return of the demon lord from the spirit realm in which he is imprisoned. The plot is uncomplicated, the motivation behind every character's actions is clearly defined and the mission is straightforward - stop evil at all costs, even at the cost of lives.
Screenplays that are adapted from video games usually reflect the richness and intricate details of the game world, which is very much the case here. Every aspect of the storytelling is executed to near perfection, in my humble opinion. The inclusion of deeply layered characters, each with its own fascinating backgrounds, and the many unique and colourful creatures, monsters and “guardian beasts” blend seamlessly with just the right dose of suspense, thrill, action and emotions.
Interestingly, there are a few elements that evoke memories of Marvel productions. Rocket Raccoon’s doppelgänger makes an appearance, while the Yinyang Bureau’s teleportation vortex is similar to Thor’s Bifrost Bridge dimension travel. In addition to that, the cute creature Red Ghost looks like a cross between Hellboy and Maui (as attested by several other users as well). Coincidentally, Dream of Eternity also shared some similarities with the Marvel-verse, notably the “magic circles” used by Dr Strange himself.
At 113 minutes, which is about 20 minutes shorter than Dream of Eternity, and despite the quick pacing of the story progression, the film does not feel at all rushed. There are sufficient introspective and evocative moments that convey the emotional depth and the intended themes of certain scenes and character arcs to the viewers. Dream of Eternity focuses primarily on the four central characters and the themes of love, friendship and bromance (perhaps even BL undertones). The Yinyang Master, on the other hand, has a bigger cast of characters with themes of friendship, camaraderie and teamwork, as well as childhood friends to potential romance dynamics.
Production
The production values are obviously of the highest order because this entire film is stunning to behold. From the A-list cast, top-tier production crew down to the top notch set design, visual effects and gorgeous cinematography.
The cast is headlined by the supreme talents of the award-winning Chen Kun and Zhou Xun (which is more than enough to elevate any production, really). The production designer is the experienced Yoshihito Akatsuka who has designed the sets for renowned productions notably Babel, Kill Bill, The Flowers of War, and Shall We Dance, among numerous others. The music director involved is the legendary Shigeru Umebayashi, famous for Yumeji’s Theme, and composing music scores for Wong Kar Wai films, as well as the original Japanese Onmyōji films.
Principal filming took place at Hancheng Film and Television Base in Xiangyang City (unlike Dream of Eternity’s filming location at the famous Hengdian World Studios) and the visual effects photography employed the use of an IMAX full-frame camera, with more than 2000 visual effects lenses, and real-time visual effects synthesis, which apparently is the technology of choice in big budget Hollywood productions.
Acting
Chen Kun is undoubtedly a fine actor. He is good in any role that he portrays but I always feel that he’s made for dramatic roles in historicals. Likewise Zhou Xun, she is perfect for epic period productions. Together they make everything look great and I believe have the potential to save any poorly made production too. The way they convey their emotions through nuanced micro-expressions, and articulate the essence of every scene is beyond words. I particularly love Zhou Xun’s voice, with the deep husky tones projecting a subtle quality of intrigue that further enhances her already formidable acting range.
Chen Kun’s Qin Ming is very similar to his Ning Yi in The Rise of Phoenixes. Devious, cunning with a hint of mischief and a big dose of self-confidence. Mark Chao’s version is somewhat more pleasantly charming but less dramatic. In any case, I quite enjoy both versions. Bai Ni is a more understated supporting character but Zhou Xun expertly delivered this role with finesse.
The rest of the cast were decent in their portrayals, through the limited screen time that they were given. Qu Chu Xiao, of Bloody Romance fame, depicted a more cheerful version of Bo Ya (as opposed to Deng Lun’s stoic version). William Chan’s Ci Mu is commendable but nothing spectacular. I thought Wang Duo characterization in Dream of Eternity was more compelling, but they both had their bare chested moments in a similar capacity, which some viewers may enjoy.
Music
In addition to the wonderful music score composed by Shigeru Umebayashi (incidentally Dream of Eternity had its own iconic Japanese music director in Kenji Kawai), Yinyang Master has no less than 6 OSTs, including the superb rendition of Where You Belong by the remarkable Zhou Shen as part of the ending theme.
Track listing as follows:
1. "Promise 侍约" by William Chan
2. "Where You Belong 归处" by Zhou Shen
3. "Cross Together 同渡" by Jin Wenqi
4. "An Enemy or Friend 宿敌亲启" by Feng Qinyuan
5. "Against the Shore 靠岸" by Zhi Ma Mochi
6. "Someone in the Heart 心有所主" by Jill Yan Qier
The Yinyang Master is an amazing production that should not be missed, especially by fans of Chinese fantasy. In comparison with Dream of Eternity which is probably somewhat slower-paced, and perhaps more contemplative, this film is considerably less emotionally convoluted and forward-thinking in its execution. Each is great in its own unique way and for that they both get the same rating from me (their ratings on Douban are quite close, at 5.1 and 5.8 respectively).
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This review may contain spoilers
the story was rather slow paced for me hence why i had to skip from ep12 towards the last ep. didn't regret doing that but what I DO regret was to even start watching this show GOD THE PAAAIN.eventhough i missed out a good half of the show the pain towards the end was still there.. It was there.. Still there.. Somehow the words I want to say isn't forming but what i can say is it is one of the most beautifully captured show there is. Everyone who was a part of this drama did a REALLY GREAT JOB . I had a few attachments with the characters and it was god damn painful to see them go. Especially Yu Jin, Hui Seong & Dong Mae . They were just starting to grow fond of each other and- It was good to know that they had each other's back eventho they hate e/o Lol. The end of this drama gave us the closure we expected and wanted which was good BUT STILL PAINFUL. YuJin & Lady AeSin cause of my pain and suffering god damn why cant they just be happy ?!
was it worth a watch ? YES definitely but if you have awful attention span like me it'd be fine to skip a couple scenes and episodes.
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Averagely Above Average
Idk how to describe this but somehow it was an average series with a twist. It wasn't too cliché or basic and I didn't get bored. It did kinda get stretched out a bit but nothing to steer me away. It's a simple show, but nothing you should dismiss. I wanted to smack Jin a few times, but what's a drama without some emotion? lol I think all the cast has potential to succeed and this show was a great start! It's pretty underrated but please give it a watch. I'd recommend to anyone new to BL as this isn't too cheesy or dramatic with pretty decent visuals. There's one ship I wanted to set sail but it failed which is ok (I guess).Enjoy...
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Story: This story was very interesting about two people from different backgrounds connecting to each other mentally and emotionally after a few events and spending a lot of time together. The story was written in a way that was true to real life and can relate to either one or both of the leads in someway. One of the most realistic melodramas I have seen in a long while.
Acting: The acting was top-notch! I was speechless throughout this drama. I could not imagine any other people playing the leads. Kim Jung Hyun as Soo Ho was raw, real and intense with so much impact. This was the first time that I was truly invested in a male lead character in a melodrama (it usually takes time for me to get invested in them). I cried so many times because of his character. Seo Hyun as Ji Hyun was just as real, raw and intense as Soo Ho. She made me cry just as much too. . . Seo Hyun portrayed a woman who was going on with her life, but then, it just stops after a few events till Soo Ho show up in her life. The chemistry between them was so intense, electric, sad and sometimes sweet even. The other leads were people who you would love to hate so much with passion!
Music: Really hit the right spots for me. The background music was fantastic, and fitting for the tone of the drama. The best song in this drama is "Time" by Gaho. It is sad song that really brings the mood to the drama and fits the scenes that it was in.
Re-watch or Nah?: Would not watch this again because It was hard to watch. I scored a 8/10 because I did watch this twice. . . . I was hard both times. Maybe I would recommend a one-watch for people who are starting this drama.
Overall,
Do not let Kim Jung Hyun press conference controversy stop you from watching this drama! You would understand why he did what he did once you see this drama. You will not regret this. . . . The story is interesting, the acting is beyond expectation and the characters will hit you with so many feels that it is insane.
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I would highly recommend this drama to anyone who can appreciate a great story with action, romance, bromance and a great cause to fight for.
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IT. WAS. AWESOME.
omg. I honestly don’t know what to say. this drama was so so so so SO good. I’m not even joking it’s the best I’ve watched in a while, it might even be a part of my top three all time favs now. If you’re thinking about watching it, please go ahead and do so, you won’t regret it. Our ML is such a green flag and our FL is SOO cute and pretty. They have such good chemistry together as well!! Literally feel like rewatching it already… PLEASE WATCH IT. 🙏🙏❤️Was this review helpful to you?
Great acting, great plots, but should have been a series
I actually really liked this movie. A lot of people did not enjoy it because they found it confusing or peiced together weird, which I will say is true to an extent. I really liked all of the plot lines and how they connected, but it left me wanting more from each one. We got a snippet of each plotline basically. I definitely think it should have been a series rather than a movie, that way they could flesh everything out better, and make it a bit more cohesive. Overall I think it is well worth the watch, and will probably watch it again when it releases on Netflix with the official subtitles.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Amazing..but where's the romance?
Love, love, love the drama. This is one is going on my list of top dramas that I have watched thus far and there is a lot that I have watched and love.I am satisfied with how the game ended. Those who deserve to be happy, ended up with happiness and those who deserved to be punished, got their punishments. However, I am not happy with how the drama ended.
Let's start with the storyline - it's your typical storyline. The toxicity of the family, the corrupt offiicials, the romance. All of that is what makes a great story and this one delievered. The family dynamic really sonates with me as a modern girl because we see this all the time in real life. It's nothing to new to a lot of families. The thing that really pisses me off is how much they disregard because the oldest son is supposed to bring honor to them, but yet, he had failed them over and over and over again. He cheated and sold his family for pennies (not really, but you know what I mean) and yet, the family still believes him over and over again. Yes, he did receive karma, but even then, his wife and Hua'er still acted like they did nothing wrong and is mad at the family for not helping them when he went crazy. I mean, can they really blame the family for it? Where's the accountability? Why is it that the family have to always clean up their messes? The only person that I feel sorry for is Song Hai Long. The only did that he did wrong was marry Hua'er. I don't think he desrves to be living in poverty with Hua'er and her parents. I wish Shen Nuo would help him obtain a position in the court.
Characters -
I know that many people hated Man'er but I don't understand the hate. She's not greedy and she's not selfish. Yes, she's trying to make a living but can we really blame her? She's playing a character in a game who has a mission that she needs to do. She can't be giving all of her money to her family. I mean, how can you excuse the grandma and aunt for stealing her hard earned money and then call her a selfish pig? Like come on. She's not selfish either. Her wanting to split from the family because she only wants what is best for her little family. The way they treated her family warrants her need to split from them. Like, are those who calling her selfish condoning the things that her family has done? I can't even consider her selfish at all. First of, she helped Hua'er despite the fact that they knowingly and willingly sold her off to a dead guy as part of a widow burning. YET, she risked her reputation to help Hua'er escape her fate. Then she saved Ye'er from the toxic family. Not only that, she had helped the family over and over again. Even at the end, they still forgave them and gave them a place to stay. Time and time again, she had helped her family despite the fact that they treated her like she nothing.
Romance -
Where the hell is the romance?! There was some romance, but there was barely any too. Out of 26 episodes, there's probably like what 2 episodes where we see the romance. That's all I have to say about the romance part.
Overall -
I gave this a 9 rating overall because of the fact that there is barely any romance. The title is "Romance on the Farm," there's a farm, but very little romance. Another reason why I gave it a 9 because I was not happy with the ending. Sorry, but not sorry. I thought that it would at least end like Romance of Tiger and Rose, but it did not. I was not satsified. We didn't get to see Shen Nuo in real life. The "special ep" was nothing special. It only explained what we have already guessed. Shen Nuo is the creator of the game. But we didn't get to see his face. What kind of ending was that?!
I would def watch this again at a later date. Recommend if you can get past the toxicity of the drama.
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Overall, the whole story is actually pretty interesting, funny, and many scenes make you squeal. It's nice and light, not too dramatic, like the second female lead isn't your cliche evil person who plays dirty tricks on the main female lead. same for the second male lead.
The music is really nice and goes well with the moments. I personally really liked this drama, finishing a drama is really hard for me, and I usually drop them when I don't like them or I think they're dragging, but this drama wasn't like that. It's really enjoyable. I love all the characters and I hope you will too.
Short review but hope it helped.
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