1House of cards.
My Journey to You is dark, intricate and suspenseful wuxia that hones in on Wufeng spy Yun Weishan's mission to sneak into the Gong family's heavily guarded mountain stronghold. This is a once in two decade opportunity, as the Gong family holds a bride selection event for their young masters who have come of age. A shocking twist thrusts Gong Ziyu, the least capable young master, to the helm of the family. He is clearly unequal to the task and must prove himself worthy before the seemingly invincible Gong family folds like a house of cards under the force of internal and external challenge.Shocking murders that rock the foundations of Gong family just as Wufeng spies slip through the gates. The whydunit is quite clear from the get go. By elimination and a few clues, most of the mysteries including Wuming or Anonymous's identity, are easy to solve. The mysteries look more complex than they really are because many other sub-plots unfold at high velocity. The key is not to over think; the straightforward answers are usually the right ones. The antagonist reveal comes late in the story after the facts are stale and the long expository style gives a sense of anti-climax at the end. It may have been better to resolve the internal conspiracy prior to facing the external challenge. Nonetheless the mystery sub-plots are fairly tight and engagingly woven into the external plot of this dark wuxia.
The real guts of the main plot centres around the Gong family and the secret that they vowed to safeguard for all time. It is no fun to be a Gong; stuck on an isolated, toxic mountain and locked in an existential battle with their arch enemy Wufeng. All of the young masters of the Shang (weapons), Jue (commerce), Zhi (poison) and Yu (defence) lines shoulder many responsibilities from a young age. All except the self-indulgent and spoiled Ziyu who has a father, foster mother and older brother to lean on. It is no wonder that Shangjue and especially Yuanzhi resent Ziyu and demand he prove his mettle. The real irony is Sword Wielder is the most sucky job that comes with a butt ugly tattoo and life imprisonment on that dreadful, suffocating mountain. Not to mention the exhausting chore of trying to stare, glare or scowl down Shangjue and Yuanzhi only to be torpedoed by one of Zishang's whacky, mind boggling non-sequiturs that destroy any crushing come back! As much as I was riveted by the Gong family soap opera, it is the mysterious denizens of the back mountain that broke my heart with the intensity and absoluteness of their obsessions. This drama has the most absurdly gorgeous, eccentric, layered and memorable cast of characters.
While romance is always a feature, it is never what this kind of dark themed wuxia is built around, so conventional romance watchers are bound to be disappointed. Both Weishan and Qian are spies on a do or die mission. If they have love brains, they'd have been long dead spies. By design, Shangjue and Qian's relationship is more interesting because Shangjue is a more cynical and questioning character than Ziyu. He is a much more difficult target and this forces Qian to take more risks and thus reveal more of herself to captivate him. It is quite clear there is an intense attraction, that they got their hooks into each other. It is a dark and fascinatingly toxic relationship where it is left for the viewer to decide whether and to what degree they actually fall in love.
In sharp contrast, Ziyu is naive and unquestioning. Weishan is his first love and he falls for her like a ton of bricks, absolutely and unconditionally. The feeling may be intense and pure but it is also uncomplicated and not that differentiated. The bigger problem is that Weishan is by design an elusive character. She does not have to reveal much about herself to reel Ziyu in and so for the most part, she remains a blank character. By the end of the drama, she is still so much a mystery that it is difficult for viewers to be that invested in her and thus the main romance. Yun Weishan is the main character but because she is so hidden, it is as if there is no main character or CP that anchors the story. For the most part, this feels a story about many characters told from many different points of views. To me, this is the biggest shortcoming in the narrative that is saved by the presence of many other fully realised characters. This is not completely a bad thing because it allows the entire spectacular cast, and notably Cheng Lei, Lu Yuxiao and Tian Jiarui, to really shine without taking away that much from Yu Shuxin and Zhang Linghe. All of the actors got the screen time their characters deserve and deliver all around strong performances.
In terms of cinematography, breathtaking action scenes and stunning aesthetics, this drama is everything I expect of Guo Jingming and more. He is the ultimate connoisseur of male beauty and truly immortalises all of these actors, male and female at the peak of their gorgeousness at their most flattering camera angles. Yue (Moon) Gongzi was the one that stood out for me in this visual feast and his love story moved me most - I'd have gone to the moon and back for him any day of the week! Despite some holes, I am overall very satisfied with the writing. I much enjoyed the witty repartee, the foreshadowing and the layers in the dialogue and many hidden clues in the form of riddles and homonyms that are embedded in the script.
I actually quite like the ending epilogue which has caused quite a bit of consternation and heated discussion among viewers. This is a plot driven story so none of the main characters are the end game. Both main plot lines converge to deliver a very complete ending in terms of th narrative, which is merely one mission or chapter in the saga of Wufeng's longstanding rivalry with the Gong family. The end epilogue closes with just the right dark and chilling note that upon reflection was long foreshadowed, makes sense and is completely in character. As such, I am very happy to rate this 9/10.
I will elaborate further on the ending epilogue in a spoiler below but please don't read it until you have finished watching this drama. This drama is best enjoyed without spoilers so please don't scroll down until you are done watching.
WARNING!!! Major ending spoiler below!!!
Yun Weishan returns to Wufeng to face the music because her work is not done. The biggest clue is that she is not that surprised to find Wufeng waiting for her. She allows Ziyu to think she chose freedom over him, so that he does not look for her and endanger himself and his duty to protect the Infinite Fire. Beyond that, she also knew the note was not from Yasi and possibly she always knew about her twin. More than the Fortnight Flies, that may have been Wufeng's real hold over her. If you rewatch the opening scene, it is very suggestive. Yasi quickly reassures her that the Yun family was just knocked out and not harmed. So it is important to Weishan they are not harmed yet she is not curious enough to even look at the bride she is replacing. Why? Because it is her twin, she already knows what she looks like.
The bigger reason she returns to Wufeng is revenge. She is probably quite safe from Wufeng because everyone that knows of her betrayal is dead and Qian was the one who actually leaked all of the information that lured Wufeng in. She told Jin Fan the truth about Zhuomei, just not the whole truth. She may even be Zhuomei's daughter. That is why she was taught all of Qingfeng's top martial arts but Qian was not. Neither of them even got close to Dianzhu/Wufeng's leader so they could not have learned Qingfeng sect's top martial arts from Dianzhu. Weishan probably joined Wufeng to avenge Zhuomei and possibly also free her sister. She simply could not stay with Ziyu in Gongmen because her work is not yet done. But the first chapter of her story can be considered complete.
A second season probably reunites Weishan with Qian because Dianzhu is their common enemy. This is also why Qian leaves Gongmen, she also has a mission more important than love. Another season could well take place entirely outside of Gongmen so it is not clear the entire cast needs to return. Given how popular the Gong family is with audiences however, my guess is if they can reunite everyone they will bring it all back to Gongmen. But they can also continue it outside of Gongmen with only Shangjue returning or Ziyu returning after handing the reins over to Shangjue. This is very smart of Guo Jingming. He left all his options open. Including the option of not proceeding with another season.
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Fantasy Healing Fable
I will preface this by saying that this is in all likelihood the best drama I’ve seen all year. By a strong margin. It’s certainly one of the best I’ve seen in the last 12 months. Until Shards of Her, I hadn’t watch any Taiwanese dramas in several years. Yet in the last couple of months, I’ve discovered a treasure trove of good shows. This is perhaps the best one with the widest appeal. While it has whodunit elements, there’s no gore or violence to deter the faint-hearted. It’s a gloriously perfect blend of coming-of-age, fantasy, a touch of horror, detective and family drama. The weakest part I’d say is the police procedural side of things occasionally played for laughs (which doesn’t help especially from the perspective of a seasoned watcher) but all is quickly forgiven because this show is driven by great storytelling and is imbued with plenty of heart. It’s the kind of show that the Koreans call a “healing drama”. Which usually results in an outpouring of eye water once the waterworks are turned on. Good grief. I don’t remembered the last time I cried this much in a drama.The star of the show is Pu Yiyong played by Tseng Jinghua, an underachieving high school graduand whose only talent is calligraphy. It’s hereditary. His grandfather is a renowned calligrapher and a teacher in the art. But that distinct family trait has a habit of skipping a generation. Calligraphy however is a dying art form, quickly being superceded by technology. On the other hand Yiyong’s only ambition is to be a comic book artist after completing high school. One day on his way to a calligraphy competition, Yiyong, his father and grandfather board a bus which unfortunately falls prey to an incoming airplane. The lad survives but wakes up after being comatosed for over 2 years. His grandfather barely makes it and is still unconscious in hospital even after all that time. It is left to Mother, Ye Baosheng (Cheryl Yang) to pick up the pieces.
While time has moved on and everyone else with it, Yiyong is lost at sea with no paddle. Or map. Metaphorically. He has no idea what’s next for him until he becomes entangled with supernatural beings who insist that they need him to settle unfinished business on their behalf. So an almost 20 year old unemployed Yiyong reluctantly takes on “cases” that contain at their heart a riddle that needs to be unravelled. Enter Chen Chuying, a junior police officer (Vivian Sung) to lend him a helping hand and takes the lion’s share of the credit for clearing up these mysteries in front of her colleagues. Still cracking these cases is a team effort. Along for the ride is former schoolmate and med student Cao Guangyan (Peng Cianyou) who coincidentally moves next door with his dad (Mario Pu) when Dad’s days in publishing comes to an abrupt end.
Yiyong becomes a reluctant sleuth as he wrestles with his own future and the loss of his father which has left a gaping wound with guilt at the centre of it. He has nightmares that he can’t make head or tail of. There’s also a shadowy figure in the background determined to test his mettle at every turn. Unlike others who have come before, Yiyong is a reluctant superhero. He would rather get on with life and not be haunted by beings that only he can see. Until he starts drawing them that is.
On a deeper level, like many crime shows, this is about the forgotten people in our communities. Those who have suffered loss. The lonely. The homeless. The victims of crimes. This where the show tugs at the heartstrings effectively. The rollercoaster of emotions that I feel in this comes only very rarely. Beautifully intertwined with all of this is also the message that everyone has something that they’re good at. Even a designated “loser” by current social standards can contribute in unexpected ways. Academic smarts aren’t the be all and end all. Everyone has a part to play in the social engine regardless of social status, education, smarts or rank.
This journey of course isn’t Yiyong’s alone. Chen Chuying and Cao Guangyan, his so-called “superiors” who accompany him have a lot to learn from him as well as these out-of-this-world experiences. Chuying understandably is desperate the climb the ladder and break glass ceilings in the police but is forced to confront her own motives for wanting to a respected detective. And Guangyan, for once in his life doesn’t have all the answers regarding his future.
I am new to most of the cast and Tseng Jinghua who leads the cast is definitely brimming with potential. He brings the right balance of confusion, grumpy frustration and a reluctant compassion to the role. Despite Yiyong’s brusque demeanour Tseng Jinghua manages to keep him relatable and likeable.
To give credit where it’s due, I leave my highest praise for the script and by extension the writer. It’s the kind of story that could easily lose its way or get derailed by all the moralizing but unlike many others it’s unusually disciplined by keeping the main thing the main thing. The result is a coherent piece of storytelling which is undergirded by a surefooted direction. Once it takes off it never falters. Furthermore they also manage not to butcher the finale in order to leave the door open for another series. Which is entirely doable if the will (and a decent script) is on the table.
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Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon
71 people found this review helpful
Story
So, in contrary to the common belief that this drama glorifies adultery and adulterous couples, it rather incriminates infidelity simply by expressing a very well-round idea of what it exactly is. We get to see how it starts (as innocent as everything else, or maybe not so much), why it can start (it won't happen unless there's a reason(s) that has been ignored for a long time), how it intensifies, the guilt, the excuses, the fears, the acceptance, the happiness, the sadness, everything, and in the very end the consequenses, that hit hard, and hit everyone and everything around the adulterers. There is no happy end simply because in a sea of hurt feelings nobody can be truly happy ever again.
There is nothing cute about what happens, the story is rather difficult to watch at times, you can't root for anyone, you can't excuse but you can understand and the whole drama just made me question several times what i would have done had i been in such situations.
The drama, in its core, isn't even about adultery, it's about life choices. It exploits all the wrong reasons we decide to settle down in a marriage. Because we're afraid to be alone, because we want an easy life financially, because we just want to see a face when we come from work every day and have a clean house, because we are arrogant and we think we can buy everything with money, even people... and so, so on. People marry because they're afraid to try hard and be happy, they're afraid to search for that one person, so they settle. Being happy is scary, and it means being with that one person that completes you, the love that consumes you; but what happens if that person appears in front of you after you've settled down?
The drama offers the answers. Either suck it up and live a miserable life, or face the facts, break up/divorce and continue, finding yourself. But still, people are scared, being happy is scary, so they get greedy. Who will leave their perfect safe life to live a dream? Noone, so they'll cheat, because they want the best of both worlds. The drama shows you exactly this journey or bad choices, of selfish acts and the result which is cheating and destroying everything because of greed!
I appreciated how fast paced and to the point the whole drama was. First 5 episodes illustrate the beginnings and reasons of adultery and after episode 6 how everything crumbles down and the repercussions of it. The music wasn't original but it brought so much to the drama, it set the atmosphere in the best, most dramatic way possible. Another thing i appreciated was the slow but steady build up which did make the first episodes feel bland maybe, but it was carefully planned for the intense explosion of the later episodes. Best thing about it were the 3D characters, they felt like real flawed, greedy, selfish people, that you can't help but judge and hate, but in midst of their spiraling they made more sense than i could ever imagine!
If i had one problem to point out, it would be the... mildness of some scenes. While the acting was always tip-top the quarrels and fights felt rather calm, i missed the intensity in the conversations. The drama definitely needed some more... tension in certain scenes.
Acting
The acting was overall spectacular.
Ueto Aya was luscious, conveying her charactrer's feelings constantly, she made total sense and expressed perfectly her thoughts and acts. Couldn't help but feel sorry for her while wanting to slap her for not being rational.
Kichise Michiko was equally breathtaking, portraying a character who saw infidelity as something trivial, who had never fell in love, but when she did she fell hard and completely with her whole essense! Breathtaking performance indeed.
Saito Takumi was cute and sensitive, a close-to-perfect performance as a kind man who is unhappy but isn't even aware because his life is seemingly perfect; and not to forget Kitamura Kazuki for his charming portrayal of a rough but emotional artist.
The casting was really special, the actors really suited and looked amazing next to each other, i don't know if they took the time to find them or if they just worked out this perfectly, but it was indeed magical.
Recommend/Rewatch
This should not be watched by a huge amount of viewers. It's a melodrama but not even your average melo. It talks straight about cheating, there is no side story, no comedy at all, nothing unreal, nothing pretty about any of it. It demands a certain mature viewer who can understand the meaning without judging too hard and is willing to see some disturbing stuff. If you are ready to go out of your comfort zone, watch something serious and difficult then do give this a chance, otherwise it's just not everyone's cup of tea. I can see myself rewatching it in a few years but i'm a fan of such dramas.
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Despite flirtation with the idea of what it means to be a woman, core themes center around poverty, motherhood, and family (fractured and/or 'whole'). Many will find parallels with real life, uncanny sparks of the every day between each character interaction or plot motion. Though the story can be depressing, sometimes unrelentingly so, rays of hope peek through from unlikely places. The slow pace also works well, allowing for quiet sequences and subtle explosions to be worked in without unevenness. Unfortunately, well written as I found it, there were times an event or character seemed superfluous. A glaring example of this would be the welfare worker and his wife. Their tale felt unimportant and tacked on, the purpose served more thematic than necessary -- and even then, other characters had already fulfilled this aspect well. The Shiori character was perhaps a bit underdeveloped in the end, but her place in the plot was decidedly important.
Where have they been hiding Mitsushima Hikari? If the rest of her work is as vibrant as her portrayal of Koharu, it wouldn't be far-fetched to name her among the best actresses in Japan. Mitsushima-san delivers lines as if they were second nature; her gestures and body language are subtle and real. She positively carries this drama, though her work brought up the performances of others as well. The young ones depicting the Aoyagi children are also an absolute joy to watch. More than just precocious cuties paid to be tiny versions of adults, each of them felt like actual children. They babbled and asked questions endlessly, they cried without reason, they understood more and less than adults might want. This was especially true of Suzuki Rio, as the older Nozomi.
Fans of Oguri Shun should be happy with his solid performance, but will not want to watch Woman primarily for his sake. Shun-san is primarily seen through flashbacks, and though his character is important enough to warrant a spot as a main character, it is in the same way as a literary character might be labelled as such. The absence of his Shin is what pushes the basic conflict. There is a particular scene including him which had me bawling, though.
Musically, the drama stands strong. Orchestrations felt well-placed, especially in those scenes meant to be pivotal. These are also marked by unusual but interesting cinematographic sequences, such as an intense slow motion bit, set to an older song called "Believe." These instances were a little disconnected from the rest of the drama, but strangely effective. Though the sound of the theme song ("Voice" by androp) does not initially appear suitable, the lyrics tell another tale.
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so peaceful
Peace really is what I felt while watching Koisenu Futari. It's like watching your best and happiest dream unfold on repeat, just full of warm and contented feelings. One of the special people in my life is an aroace. She's a remarkable woman, gifted and strong, but also lonely and often feels misunderstood. I feel like I understand her a little bit better now after watching this drama. And while Issei Takahashi was the originating reason why I found Koisenu Futari, the theme is what made me determined to watch it.Don't we all want to live our best and happiest life? And what does that look like for each of us individually?
That's the question that both Takahashi-san and Sakuko have to answer for themselves. Takahashi always gave of himself to fulfill the expectations of his grandmother and of society. He lived in the same, in the now, and he never let himself think his life could be any different. He blessed Sakuko so much, freeing her to be her true self, teaching her that it's okay for her to be different no matter what anyone else said. And she returns that favor to him tenfold by helping him discover just who he wants to be and what he wants to do and equipping him to follow that dream.
Everyone goes into dramas with preconceived ideas of what it will be like. This drama was none of my preconceived ideas. I'd even settled on disliking Kazu-kun because he just seemed like someone who would annoy me. When in fact he also became such an integral part of Takahashi and Sakuko's development, and he grew and changed so much through the course of the drama. I didn't like Sakuko's sister, until I suddenly did. I thought some elements would end up being tropes and they weren't. And of course, the ultimate fear that the story would devolve into a love story, which it never did.
Koisenu Futari is perfect. Its value is so far-reaching and I hope it gains more traction and viewers. Thanks to Kaizen Subs for their hard work. Many thanks to the brilliant performances of Issei Takahashi and Yukino Kishii. The more I learn of Takahashi-san's filmography, the more I love him. He doesn't settle for the norm, but stretches boundaries. If you want another equally magnificent drama starring him, try Bokura wa Kiseki de Dekite Iru. Another hands' down favorite, only this time he plays a man who I believe is on the autism spectrum.
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Even though I felt that it was lacking in something on the surface, that I couldn't quite pinpoint, it still had a lot of depth and talent in pulling the viewers heartstrings. The three main actors all did an amazing job which made the story more believable and worth remembering. Over all, it has that dark atmosphere running through almost the entire movie and even though it's more slow paced than the trailer made it out to be, it is definitely worth your time and it will most likely leave you wanting to re-watch it later on (or at least with a craving to recommend it to everyone you know).
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith but historical China
I saw this described as Mr. & Mrs. Smith but period C-Drama* and I would say that's a pretty accurate description.The shortness of the drama left no space for filler episodes or unnecessary drama, which honestly was really great to watch. The emotions from the actors were very well portrayed, and I really loved seeing a female lead that was strong and could protect herself (which is unfortunately rare in these types of dramas). I wasn't as invested in the side couple as I was the main couple since I felt they were a little bit more cliché, but they were still interesting enough to watch.
Because this show is so short, I found myself hitting "next" all too often, which made this go by too quickly! But honestly it was truly a well-done show. It didn't feel like they were too low-budget (likely because it was short) so I was never pulled away in disbelief.
Nobody was ever annoying, everyone played an important role. There were funny moments, serious moments, romantic moments, and sad moments. The ending was a little too neatly tied together, but even so I still very much enjoyed it.
This is honestly one of my favorite C-Dramas now, just because it's so fun to watch!
*credit for the description to sarah-yyy on tumblr
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We Best Love: No. 1 For You - Special Episode 6.5
43 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
I'm so confused by the hate of this. I think a lot of it was to mislead us. We are getting a tiny glimpse of their separation.. more can be at play. The baby is HIGHLY unlikely to be Shi De... he wasn't in America long enough to knock someone up. I think the most logical theory is that the girl is his step sister (he did go to America for his mother's wedding) and the baby can be either her's (with another man) or even Shi De's half brother. Shi De probably decided to stay in America to help his family... those medical bills could be for his step father (basing it off the name on it.. makes most sense to me).I think this special episode was just to MAKE us speculate and going crazy with theories until March 5th. I think the major anger is going to be that Shi De stayed in America for 2 years instead of the promised 2 months... Shu Yi was pretty upset at the thought of a long distance relationship in the last episode so maybe him jumping to conclusions and then finding out Shi De wasn't coming back created more of a problem.
The screenwriter wrote the majority of the HIStory series, so I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt.. that series is amazing.
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This is one of the best zombie movies in the world. Yes it all has the same old same story, its lighthearted. But not all movie directors can make it so perfectly like they did here. The actors were amazing, all of them. I said 'wtf' troughout the whole movie, I could feel my heart pumping, heck, I am even sweating!
The music added so much emotion and tumult in this movie. It has the loads of action, thrilling scenes, gory parts and hair-raising parts troughout this movie.
Why am I so ridiculously excited? The good pacing of this movie, you get sucked into it the minute you watch it. The actors whom all did an excellent job, they were convincing, Ma dong Seok is like always the freaking badass. Everyone had their time and story in this movie. The CGI was greatly made and the actors of the zombies felt so real, the nasty bone breaking scenes and blood everywhere. The music added so much tension in everyscene.
I would rewatch this movie any day and I do think this will be one of first Korean movies to be seen around the globe, because here in my home town, where they never heard of Kdrama land, now knows about this movie.
A 100% must watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
It took me 5 days of mind wrecking just to decide on an overall rating for Empress Ki. The eternal reviewer's doubt whether it is fairer to value a drama using the brain or the heart is maximized here: this is an epic tale where almost every single aspect is at the same time exceptionally good and glaringly bad. In trying to elaborate this, what follows may become very long, and for this I apologize in advance.First, the pace.
If you are preoccupied by the length, be assured the rhythm of the narration is so fast you'll come to the 51st ep. wishing you could have another 10. There isn't even one moment of boredom among the hundreds of little and big events that follow one another. By the end of each episode, I sat there wide awake wishing it wasn't already 4 a.m. and I could watch another. The downside of such a fast pace is that it never gives you respite. I wanted to linger, now and then to bask in the sweetness, or simply see these people being happy for a while, but it was not to be. Every time an issue is concluded the next is ready to shatter that glint of satisfaction it was so hard to finally obtain. The infamous last 10 episodes I've read many criticize, could have been the most poignant part of the drama if they hadn't been so incredibly rushed, to the point that events seem to make little sense. As a matter of fact they do make a lot of sense – with the glowering exception of the silly Maeback botch – but you have to think the entire journey over in order to see it.
Which leads me to the script and its characters.
This isn't a journey to begin in search of historical dependability, not in the details, at least. Little to nothing is known about the woman who became the Empress of Yuan before she entered the palace as a tribute from Goryeo, and there isn't much information about the single steps that were taken in order for her to sit on that throne. The writers have taken many liberties both in characterization as well as chronology, but I personally think they did a great job in always making those steps exciting and suspenseful and when you reach the end you will realize the plot is rounded up very well, with a couple of exceptions. This is why I think knowing a little about Empress Ki's true story in advance can actually enhance the watching and explain the choices some of the characters make.
For instance, we can assume Crown Prince Ta Hwan was exiled to Goryeo when he was only a teenager, which perhaps will make you judge his character with some indulgence. King Wang Yoo of Goryeo, on the other hand, is by all means the most fictionalized of all the main characters, so much so that knowing his true story is not only unnecessary but extremely counterproductive. My humble advice: stay well away from the true known facts about him if you want to enjoy the drama.
When history is taken into consideration, a lot of the twists invented by the writers acquire significance, since the opening scene tells us in advance where we are heading and curiosity is all on how they'll get there. History also explains why so many characters in this drama change side, go from good to bad, from bad to worse or are suspended somewhere in between. It obviously does not explain or justify the fact that everyone speaks Korean, but I am aware that having the huge cast speak different idioms would have rendered the watch almost impossible.
To this drama I own the realization that I possess a dark side too. There have been moments when I wanted to see blood and wished some characters would not only be killed, but killed with pain. It's such an alien feeling for me, it shocked me. It goes to the credit of writers and actors to make me hate with such an intensity, but I'm not sure I want to experience that kind of emotion again. Attachment and love to some characters, though, was equally intense and I swam in it with gusto. It's going to take a very long time before I can get these people out of my system. While it kept me highly entertained in the first half, in the second this drama almost broke my heart. It has very little to do with characters dying or living, and a lot with them losing their innocence. At some point I almost wished the leads had died on that exile island and remain forever what they used to be, before being scarred and marred by that terrible imperial palace, "a place with no blood, no tears and no mercy". to quote Lady Park.
When it comes to the much talked about love triangle, I must say I jumped on Seung Nyang & Ta Hwan's ship very early on and never wavered. I could not see or feel any chemistry between Ha Ji Won and Jo Jin Mo and while my brain kept on telling me these two characters had a lot in common and it was logical for them to fall for each other, my heart never agreed. In fact, my heart unyieldingly refused to accept it. Ha Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook, on the other hand… I could have watched them waltz one around the other for the whole 51 hours run without complaining even once. Some of the most poignant moments in the entire drama involve these two and they are the main reason why I enjoyed Empress Ki so much.
This said, the love triangle was not only central to the story, but dual purpose too. Because on final analysis the true seesaw is not between a woman and two men, but between a woman and two countries. The issue of eradication underlines the whole narration and should never be forgotten in order to understand Seung Nyang's choices. This is, after all, her story, how she's initially forced to abandon her country and her roots and gradually develops an attachment to her adoptive one. The more she distances herself from Goryeo, the more the story focuses on China and takes the viewer along.
Spectacular acting by Ha Ji Won - no news here, not for me, at least. I doubt any other actress would have pulled off such a role with that seeming ease; Ji Chang Wook - yes, I'm just a little obsessed with him right now, after seeing him in two very different dramas I loved and being impressed by his ability to convey such a varied range of emotions. His Emperor is so controversial I could write a review only on him, but let's go on; Baek Jin Hee – Danashili, my most hated and beloved villain was terrific too and Jin Yi Han, who possibly didn't deliver the best performance of his career, but whose charisma alone made him into an all time favourite, unforgettable Tal Tal. The rest of the cast did great too, although I was more impressed with the young actors than the older ones.
A word needs to be spent on the villains. There are a lot of them here, all evil for different reasons. A few of them are very consistent; others are such since the beginning, but the viewer is manipulated to the point of thinking otherwise; some suffer from inexplicable 180° turns. What they all have in common is the unyielding conviction they never did anything wrong, which for me is the saddest trait of this drama and even when they got what they deserved, I was left feeling… empty. Their evil logic is at times extremely lucid and makes the line between good and bad blur.
Music is the hardest aspect for me to rate and perfectly mirrors this drama fluctuating between good and bad. The instrumental pieces are hauntingly beautiful and extremely powerful. Listening to them with closed eyes might be the biggest spoiler of all as to how this story is going to end, which is an achievement in itself since an Ost exists to tell the story via music. The songs, on the other hand, were not only very annoying to my ears (personal taste) but also inserted too abruptly at times when not completely random for the scene they soundtracked. I ended up using good old maths: instrumental 12 + songs 5 = average 8,5.
To come to such a high overall score despite the glaring shortcomings of the script, I took the whole picture into consideration. A 51-hours long story that manages to keep the interest alive till the very end is commendable in itself and the fact that I already know I will definitely re-watch it in the future is proof of the high level of emotion it made me feel. Furthermore, this is not a book, and the visual means is used at its highest, with stunningly beautiful sets, costumes, colours and camera work. If you are able to suspend belief at times and focus on style and emotional impact, you'll no doubt enjoy Empress Ki as much as I did.
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Story: Nothing new here, rich guy comes across a poor girl who's not smitten by money. He gets curious about her and falls in love. The girl follows suit. There is some parental opposition, obsessed lover-wannabe, etc. but they don't play make much difference to the storyline.
Acting/Cast: It centers around just two characters played by Sung Hoon and and Kim Jae Kyung. I liked Jae Kyung in God's Quiz 4, but this was my first time watching Sung Hoon. Though I won't say they did an exceptional job, but they kinda complemented each other on screen very well. His brother and secretary and her friends play minor roles in the story, though I didn't pay much attention to them.
Music: Nothing original but considering 15-min episodes, they suffice.
Rewatch: Yes, yes and yes! Mainly coz it's so short, but also coz of the feel-good factor.
Concluding Thoughts: Nothing new about the story, nothing new about the execution, nothing spectacularly great about the acting and yet - it's pretty much awesome considering the time invested.
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1If u are undecided if u must watch this drama, this is the sign. WATCH IT ❣
At first I was reluctant to watch this since it is another fantasy/all about gumiho type of drama. However after the first 2 episodes id say it's very fun and hilarious to watch. Hyeri is made for comedy! The way she exaggerates her movements and facial expressions makes me laugh so hard. Also it is good to see somewhat another side of Jang Ki-yong; didnt really peg him for comedy but his character suits him. Loved Kang Hana from Start Up, and seeing her in this drama with a completely different vibe is a treat.Updaaate! Just finished ep 16 This drama is worth your time!! The main actors (and second leads) are just so perfect for their roles. Their chemistry is on point.
The story has good pacing too! Altho it's a gumiho/ fantasy drama; the writing is good and not boring at all.
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I was watching this parallel to Dream High 2, and the difference in the standards caught my eye more...
First of all, about the story. The bromance, love, friendship, family, these themes are very central in the drama, and are done perfectly. The characters are so perfectly constructed, that you'll start feeling for them after the 1st episode you watch.
The thing that amazes me in dramas like this, is that the characters are like brought to life, they became real for me, as they were not trying to be perfect, they were not perfect, and while absolutely loving every character of this drama, I could get angry with them, shout at my screen, and the next moment swoon because of cuteness, their friendship, romance...
Every episode has a story to tell, not like in some dramas, that just drag on, to get to the 16th episode... I have yet to find a scene I'd like to skip here (don't look for it :P).
I discovered several actors here, that I'm going to follow to other dramas, whatever role they take :P
First, Sung Joon, I'd seen him in Lie to Me, and impressing he was in the beginning of the series, but as the romance advanced between the leads, his character faded away, so to say honestly, when I saw him in the first episode here, I didn't know I knew him :P Though his rough voice was reminding me, I didn't catch the signals... Honestly, now I'm very much in love with his down to earth portrayal of Ji-Hyuk, I loved his caring for his friends, his shyness with Su-Ah, his mess ups as a leader, but at the same time honesty and not giving up... (I can't believe he's just 2 months older than me Y_Y)
Jo Bo-Ah, as Soo-Ah! Fantastic girl :) When I saw she's a newcomer, I automatically started searching flaws in her acting... guess what... didn't find... She did better than great, her acting sometimes reminded me of Inoue Mao's portrayal of Makino Tsukushi in Hana Yori Dango, well to think of it, her character really had similarities to Makino. Love her brave and caring character. (THANK YOU FOR NOT LEAVING!!!)
Becuse of MyungSoo (L), now I'm a fan of INFINITE :P Though sometimes he was trying to hard with his icy stare, he's a cute guy and I think he did great, his character was in the end the balance the band needed (speaking about balance...) Do-Il... I can day, this guy... we're seeing him in more dramas from now on, he's gonna become SO popular with his unusual looks (especially eyes..)
Not even going to mention Lee Min-Ki's character, oops, I did... ok... His character just glued me to this drama... an unforgettable character, like a firework, brilliant in the night, and even when it already out, it leaves an unforgettable impression...
If you think this drama is going to blow up your mind by something super new and undiscovered, you're wrong, it's actually a very old story... 'friendship or love'?
Well, guess what, the script writers did great, the main point becoming, it can be both, only you have to be honest with both parties and most importantly with yourself.
I have enjoyed every second of this drama, and can't imagine that I won't be waiting for it next Monday and Tuesday... At least I can keep the songs and rewatch the episodes, by the way, the music is also very-very good, immersing you into the boys world in the moment it starts...
I'm gonna miss Eye Candy! (who;s gonna read a review THIS long?... I had to speak up, haha~)
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Beautiful drama
I like this drama super beatiful the way of act specially the leading actors of this drama(fair xing and Hu yitian) super gentle and good acting skill. Hoping for season 2 or maybe another drama for this two actor. It's so cute and more lesson for this drama like you need to be true in yourself. The team is super supportive for the love team of two players. And Hu yitian the way he understand the problems of one of his team mates. And also how fair cxing help him to overcome his problemsits such a big HEART for me.Congratulations for the team of this drama. Love you all
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Strong Start, Weak Finish
Contrary to the popular opinion here, I really appreciated the extensive backstories of the characters. It effectively provided justifications for why the participants would engage in such an insane project, which is quite rare for the typical Death Game film (usually, the participants are lazily thrown into their circumstances due to some metaphysical element within the story or deus ex machina reasoning). I also enjoyed the softer social commentaries in the beginning of the film and the fairly realistic and reasonable depictions of the main characters. That is, none of the characters are overly virtuous or exceptionally talented, and they all act or respond appropriately to the situation at hand; I can see these characters in my day-to-day life. Finally, the cinematography and acting (of the main characters) were masterfully executed.Where the series started to go seriously wrong was in the final few episodes when the filmmakers decided to use caricatures for their characters as if they were holding a contest to use as many tropes as possible to fit the bill of the caricature in question; at some point, I was not sure whether the series abruptly became a satire. Not only were these caricatures agonizing to watch, but the decisive shift in narrative presentation really killed the immersive experience evoked by the previous episodes. Additionally, the moral justifications for why the mastermind started the entire project were banal, forced, and unconvincing; the creativity of the "midnight bet," from which he grounds his perspective, is what you would expect from a #SocialExperiment YouTube video, not a Netflix produced K-drama.
All in all, for someone who does not enjoy the typical Death game flick, I found the series very entertaining and well made within the category, but beyond this, it is forgettable. Although the cast, cinematography and music scores were appropriate and exceptional, there was, unfortunately, nothing noteworthy about the screenplay and directing.
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