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10 stars just not enough!
If I could give this drama 100 stars I would. I don't like to write long reviews so I'm not going to hear suffice to say that, there are so many dramas to spend my time watching but this one will want you to watch it over and over. I beamed at the adorably cute Kim Go-Eun (can we be besties??), fell hard for Gong Yoo, and laughed like an idiot at Lee Dong Wook (hey guys, can we go fishing together sometime?). Their bromance was on another level. I cried pathetically several times. You will relive the series through the OST, and maybe smile and cry again. Beautiful story, perfect drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Reason for watching - Well, I kept putting off this drama because of the hype. Even though it follows one of my favorite tropes (couple forced together, bicker a lot and fall in love), I didn't want to watch it anytime soon. But since I've recently resolved to watch the most popular dramas that I've avoided for one reason or the other, I decided on this one. Especially after I ended up loving 'My Girl', another drama that I had ignored previously. :P
My favourite character - Han Ji Eun and Lee Young Jae(when they're together only) ;) I loved their bickering and antics.
Story - Anyone who has watched atleast a few dramas will know this plot - the main couple hate each other at first sight, bicker, pick fights, slowly fall in love while denying it, only to be hindered by the clingy second lead before they finally realize their love for each other and unite/reunite. Been there, seen that.
But still it's worth watching, mainly because of the main couple. Also, the drama doesn't take itself seriously in many situations. The plot turns may seem illogical and crazy to believe. It's a check-your-brain-at-the-door-and-enjoy kind of story which is quite fun to watch even now.
Acting/Cast - I've never been a fan of any of the actors in this drama. Halfway through the drama, I started to see the appeal of Rain(I like him best when he's smiling) and Song Hye Kyo(who does the messy, loud Ji Eun character well). I hated the female second lead, Hye Won(as I was supposed to?!) and I think it shows how effective her acting was. :)
At first, Ji Eun's friends grated on my nerves so much, but near the end I became used to them(probably like Ji Eun herself lol).
Music - This drama has a couple songs that I ended up loving - Chuh Eum Geu Ja Ri Eh, Un Myung(Fate) and I think I. The OST is one of the plus points of the drama.
Full House/Location - As for the house itself, it's one of the best houses in kdramaland. I especially loved the wooden swing seat, helical staircase and the water view.
Rewatch value - I don't rewatch a drama in its entirety usually. I would like to watch only their interactions around the household. Cleaning, cooking, bickering and name-calling(though it's never meant in a hurtful way).
Overall - Recommended for rom-com lovers, those who like watching cohabitation/contract relationship dramas. It's one of the most popular dramas out there for a reason. Watch it and you'll realise how kdramas have evolved in the past decade.
P.S. I adored the Three Bears Song! Song Hye Hyo won me over with this song, actually. She is so cute dancing for this song. Rain and Grandma also are not immune to the song's/singer's charm, it seems. ;)
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This review may contain spoilers
Great job, Kanittha Kwanyu!
A Korean original (which I have not seen) and Kanittha Kwanyu as the director – these were two pretty good reasons for me to watch the show. And I certainly didn’t regret it.First the things I wasn’t so happy about:
- The length. The original has 16 episodes of about 45 minutes, the remake has 18 episodes of about an hour. I really can’t think of a good reason why they had to stretch it like this. Cutting it down to maybe 15 episodes would have helped to avoid getting repetitive (some dialogue was repeated several times with only slight variations) and to keep up the high tension (the “revelations” were mostly announced way too early). I really can’t say that it got boring, but the storytelling would definitely work better in a shorter format.
- The antagonist. I’m sorry, but Tida was just too evil. Especially if the overall message was that at the age of 17 nothing is as serious as it seems etc., you can’t just put in such a psycho. She was not a victim of domestic violence herself (as far as we know) and she didn’t experience any peer pressure, so where ist the key to understanding her behaviour? Although her final moments were very strong, with everything that she did I feel like she needed to be cured in a psychiatric clinic. I refuse to believe that such cruelty could just be a simple character trait.
- In my opinion, they unnecessarily idealised high school as an institution, I really cannot relate with such a depiction of it. Especially when they were wishing goodbye to Mr. Q, it got pretty awkward. Maybe this is in fact the experience students in Thailand (or Korea) have, to me it seems unrealistic.
However, I really enjoyed everything else:
- The production value. It is pretty obvious that the budget for this was above-average, resulting in more episodes, a great ensemble of actors and amazing work in the technical departments. If it results in this, I am certainly able to forgive the annoying product placement!
- The soundtrack. Getsunova stands for quality when you need emotional songs, and they did not disappoint. Also the general soundtrack was really on point, a lot of effort must have been put into it. In some scenes it however went a little over the top and felt more suitable for an epic Hollywood movie than for a high-school TV series; less is more, I would say.
- The cinematography. As a fan of cinema, I do pay attention to the camera work. And generally speaking, (Thai?) TV series most of the time are pretty average in this regard, also because it is mostly not an essential element of the storytelling (after all, movies and series are pretty different formats). In recent years, “Theory of Love” really stood out with regards to cinematography, followed by the great “A Gift to the People You Hate” and now “Who Are You”. It wasn't that outstanding in this case, sure, but the frequent use of inclined camera angles was a memorable and impactful effect. Colours and lighting were also well-harmonised.
- The story. The first episode already played a nice game of confusion with the viewers, showing Meen'a and Mind's parallel, but very different lives, setting up everything that was to come. Afterwards, there were lots of “hints” dropped throughout the series, making it a really exciting experience that (almost) never got boring. I would criticise that after that much buildup, the “revelations” about Meen and June were not so surprising and fell a bit flat, mainly because of the length of the series. However, the series luckily didn't just focus on the stories of Meen and Mind. The side-stories, above all Gun's, but also Pete's, and even Lyla's, really added something relevant and were masterfully interwoven with the rest. Much of what happened in the series felt in one way or another relatable and realistic and there is certainly important messages to learn about friendship and family relations.
- The characters and their actors. I had already seen Namtan in several roles and she is definitely a strong actress. She delivered her role(s) very well, whether she was crying, being fierce or caring for her friends. Distinguishing between Meen and Mind wasn’t always easy though. Krist was definitely better than what I had seen of him before, playing a seemingly indestructible nice guy with a certain underlying sadness. Sing was very convincing as well, I felt his struggles a lot; he seemed so lost sometimes that it really hurt. The adults all delivered great performances (which isn’t always the case in GMMTV productions), except for maybe the mother, she seemed a bit unnatural to me in some moments. Mr. Q was a really interesting character, his initial shadiness soon made space for a striking idealism.
- Kay. The best performance however, and I think many will agree with me on this, was clearly Kay’s. Isn’t it incredible that this is his first role? I haven’t felt that much for a fictional character in a long time (Jaylerr’s performance in “Angel Beside Me” probably came close), in these last episodes he really wrecked me emotionally. Gun’s messed-up relationship with his father, his social isolation and his determination when it came to Mind, it was all delivered perfectly; his character had definitely the most nuanced story arch and the strongest personal development and I heavily doubt that many other young actors could have done such an amazing job.
Long story short, I loved this series! It had an interesting story from the beginning, was technically well-made, could rely on an amazing cast (seriously, Kay alone was better here than the entire cast of “Blacklist” combined!), had a great variety of fascinating characters and managed to convey strong emotions through all of its main elements (story, cinematography, music, acting). I am happy to see that my enthusiasm about Kanittha Kwanyu is justified! Additionally, this series gave me more Getsunova music to get emotional to and a new YouTuber to follow (Kayavine).
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This review may contain spoilers
Once a loser, stays a loser.
*Updated Review - 8 episdoes*I’ve just finished all eight episodes, and I wish this drama was longer! It’s such a warm, nostalgic trip down memory lane, capturing the essence of college life, friendships, and young love. Set in the early 2000s, it brings back memories of first crushes, late-night talks, and figuring out life one step at a time.
The four main characters make this drama shine, their friendship feels so real, reminding me of the days when friends were our biggest cheerleaders and partners in crime. They tease, support, and stand by each other, making every moment special.
And then there’s the romance; awkward confessions, heartbreaks, and unrequited love, all portrayed in a way that’s both hilarious and painfully real.
Now that it’s over, I feel a little unsatisfied. The drama captures the raw reality of young love; messy, uncertain, and fleeting, but some questions felt unanswered, especially for the boys. While I wish for more closure, maybe that’s the point. Not every story wraps up neatly, just like in real life.
Even with its bittersweet ending, this drama was an emotional ride that made me laugh, reminisce, and wish for just a few more episodes.
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Wondeful!
This is such a great drama. The acting and chemistry of leads is just perfection! The story delightful as the two interact and grow close. Both characters are so well drawn and shows how despite their differences they are a couple so beautifully matched and so respective of each other. Dali is a strong female lead which is so great- he is just so adorable in his love and reaction to her!The plot is interesting and moves along at a nice pace. The music so fitting and the costumes particularly Dali's are just stunning!
Cant recommend this enough - romance, humor, visuals - perfection!
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This review may contain spoilers
Almost all of the following is in the synopsis of this movie. I just added a lot more detail.If you have not seen this movie or have been hesitating over seeing it because of the subject matter and the fear of being overwhelmed by it, I encourage you to watch. I was, surprisingly and shockingly to me, not emotionally as devastated by this movie as I feared I would be. Bullying is a tormenting subject for me and I normally cannot abide movies about it, especially knowing that, in this case, the result is the suicide of this young girl.
This movie is so different from 99% of the bullying movies. All the others seem to deal with the physical aspect of bullying and the devastating psychological damage caused by it. And most of the movies deal more with boys. This movie presents bullying done in a more insidious, psychological way, as I think girls are more likely to engage in. It's sneaky, done with smiles and rumors and pretend friendliness with intimidation and,in this movie, the victim is fully aware of what is being done, but unable to escape as these are her only 'friends'. She is dragged into it repeatedly as it comes in waves between bouts of being ignored, getting benign attention, and then, when the mood strikes them, they attack her again. There seems to be one ring leader, as always. But no one is exempt as the followers themselves attack her in their own snide ways.
The Thread of LIes analogy is beautifully done as her older sister and mother, in their need to know 'WHY?', follow the thread of lies and omissions and half-truths her school mates tell them. At the same time, these children also lie to themselves and each other in their own fear and full knowledge of their own guilt and responsibility for what happened. The movie gradually exposes the cracks and fears in the perpetrators own lives that drove them to torment her and the guilty repercussions that begin to eat away at them. The thread analogy is also beautifully and heartbreakingly used as the older sister and the mother finally discover the notes Cheon-gi left for them in the balls of yarn she was constantly using in her knitting. She tells her sister there are 5 notes and it is this that sets her sister on her mission to expose the lies but, as she discovers 2 more notes, it is also revealed to her how mentally disturbed the main culprit is, and how devastated the second culprit is due to a simple misunderstanding and subsequent attack and betrayal of Cheon-gi. Even the mother and the daughter's notes reflect this sweet child's realization that they will be not only grieving but battling their own fear of what they missed or where they did not see what should have been seen.
The final ball of yarn and note is a bit of a cypher to me. (see below in spoilers-I would appreciate others' views on the meaning behind this final note and it's location)
A beautiful movie, superbly acted and directed and written. A must watch. I wish it could be shown in many many schools.
I wouldn't rewatch, just because I got all I want to out of it the first time around.
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This review may contain spoilers
Feels unfinished
I liked this short film, it has an interesting story line. A group of gay friends and one of them is very popular which all the other guys flock too while another is extremely jealous of his popularity that he curses him with a ghost. Only this backfires and the two (ghost and human) fall in love which only makes the jealous friend more determined. There's a pretty raunchy sex scene and some worthy acting. But it almost feels like a teaser to more in depth story. I think that's where the story falls flat because we don't know why this guy is so jealous in the first place, his motivation feels weak, although he comes off as unstable and manic so maybe he doesn't need a deeper motive. But why is this ghost beholden to him. How he came to have this knowledge of summoning ghosts/devils etc. Just little unanswered questions that would have strengthened the story. Others have commented about the story being scary, I don't know what most peoples tolerance for horror is but this felt fairly tame to me. I enjoyed it and it has much promise, I just wish there was more. Congrats cast and crew, well done all round.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So this is another of my top fav dramas. I dont think Ive ever laughed so hard from watching a drama before watching this and I dont think I ever will. If you're seeking a series of good laughs then you should start watching this right now. It seems quite long at 50 episodes but it could be over before you know it if you're a drama lover as you'd find yourself laughing through each episode. You could also try out the highly successful 1992 movie versions of this (Its broken into part 1 and 2) as they are shorter and still hilarious. Then if you find yourself wanting more, you can go for this. But this tv series is at least 3 times funnier than the movie and has much better production. Your choice. The synopsis for this has all the info you need and even some extra I'd consider spoilers but even that wont stop anyone from enjoying this show. The story is based off a Jin Young novel which I think is titled The Duke of Mount Deer. The show basically revolves around this lazy lecherous street rascal, Wei Xiaobao, who is thrown into the wuxia world (or martial arts world) of conspiracy and life-threatening situations and thus he constantly has to rely on luck, his glib tongue, cheap tricks and street smarts to survive his way through because he barely knows any martial arts. A lot of laughs would come from the show revealing the thoughts that go through Wei Xiaobao's head but even besides that, this show would have you laughing one way or another. Another major character is the Kang Xi emperor and the story revolves a lot around Wei's relationship with him.
The Kang Xi emperor as well as many other characters in this are real historical figures that existed in Chinese history because even though this is a fictional story, it is based on real Chinese history (I actually learned more about Chinese history due to this show ^__^).
Unlike the movie counterparts, this show starts off with Wei as a child, who is equally as hilarious as his grown up counter part. One reason I mention this, is because I was really taken aback as to how exceptionally good the child actors were (I sincerely hope they won oscars or some sort of award for the roles they had). They could really bring in a sense of realism to their roles. Perhaps the older actors performed really well because they didnt want to be outdone by them lol. The other reason is because the child actor scenes last for about the first 6 - 8 episodes (Perhaps their screen time got extended because they were that good? Idk). You might miss their faces when they're gone but their older counterparts did just as good so you might not mind too much.
The only downsides of this show I remember is that towards the end (I think during the last 10 episodes or so), you start to get a lot of scenes that drag on or feel boring. Still it ends on a good note (both happy and sad things occur but it'll probably leave you feeling nice and warm inside) and overall it carries meaningful messages on conflicts that occurred during its time period. Honestly, just do yourself a favor and start watching this whenever you can. You can thank me later ;)
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Engaging Storyline, Strong Performances, Subtle Bromance, Cliffhanger Finale
"Towards the Truth" is a captivating thriller drama filled with mysteries and twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, this hidden gem seems to have flown under the radar, with fewer than 500 viewers on kisskh at the time of this review and even fewer ratings. It's no surprise that the overall score remains low, but that does not reflect the drama's true quality. With its solid acting, compelling storyline, and well-crafted scripts, it certainly deserves more recognition.One possible reason for its low viewership and score could be the poor subtitle quality, as noted by some viewers. Given the complexity of the plot, accurate and coherent translations are crucial to understanding and enjoying the drama.
Storyline
Set during the Song Dynasty, the drama explores themes of injustice and corruption, focusing on the crimes of the wealthy and powerful who evade punishment through influence and nepotism. At its heart is Shen Song (played by Wang You Shuo), an exceptionally intelligent scholar who passes the imperial examination but clashes with the emperor, leading to his dismissal from court.
Struggling and downcast, Shen Song finds refuge with a kind constable who introduces him to his uncle, a restaurant owner. Shen Song then transitions into a skilled cook. However, his unique ability—a double iris in his left eye that allows him to peer into the past and uncover the truth—brings him back into the world of crime-solving. Though initially reluctant, he is forced to use his "gift" to investigate a gruesome crime involving over 60 corpses.
During this investigation, Shen Song meets Gong Sun Li (Zhang Chen Xiao), the son of a high-ranking treasury official. Gong Sun Li, despite his privileged background, is earnest, compassionate, and driven by a desire to fight injustice. Together, the two form a formidable team, joined by others, to crack cold cases and challenge the corrupt officials who enable societal inequality.
What I Liked
֎ Shen Song and Gong Sun Li: These two characters are the soul of the drama. Shen Song’s intelligence and moral compass, paired with Gong Sun Li’s unpretentious charm and unwavering integrity, make them incredibly relatable and inspiring. Their dynamic and camaraderie are highlights of the show, portraying mutual respect, care, and occasional humor.
֎ Character Depth: The drama does an excellent job of delving into the multi-faceted personalities of Shen Song and Gong Sun Li. Shen Song’s unique eye ability is used creatively to reveal his past, while Gong Sun Li’s relationship with his father showcases his complexity and personal growth.
֎ Themes of Justice: The exploration of systemic corruption and the struggle of upstanding individuals against societal rot is both thought-provoking and relevant.
֎ Humor and Pacing: Despite its serious themes, the drama incorporates moments of humor, particularly through its portrayal of government officials reluctant to challenge the status quo. Its fast-paced narrative ensures there’s never a dull moment.
֎ Brevity: At just 16 episodes, the drama packs a lot into its runtime without feeling rushed.
Areas for Improvement
While the central characters are well-developed, many of the supporting characters, including Qin Er (a supposed main character), feel one-dimensional. By the end of the story, her backstory and motivations remain largely unexplored, which is a missed opportunity to enrich the narrative.
Additionally, the sheer number of plots, subplots, and twists may overwhelm some viewers, particularly with subpar subtitles making it harder to follow.
Final Thoughts
"Towards the Truth" is a well-crafted drama with compelling characters, a gripping plot, and a strong message about justice and integrity. Its nuanced storytelling and fast pacing make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Despite its shortcomings, particularly in subtitle quality and character development for the supporting cast, it remains a highly underrated gem.
The enigmatic character who compels Shen Song to use his unique eye to uncover the past and solve cases remains shrouded in mystery throughout the drama. His/her true identity is only unveiled at the very end, leaving viewers with a tantalizing cliffhanger that sets the stage for further intrigue.
For fans of historical mysteries and thrillers, this drama is definitely worth your time. It’s a pity that it hasn’t reached a wider audience, but those who give it a chance will likely find themselves engrossed in its story and rooting for its upstanding protagonists.
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The series starts out at a descent pace and you get an opportunity to see our two leads in their youth. It was fun and gave you the young love feeling. Their personality/character was revealed in the beginning so there is no mystery about whether or not they are bad or good. You can just tell. You will get a lot off political scheming and a hint romance (that’s right a hint). Although our leads performed well together you you don’t get to see the real chemistry between them together/together. You know they have feelings/love each other but you don’t feel it.
This series definitely highlights reform int this culture in the sense of foreigners, trade expansion and etc. I believe the overall premise for the series was growth of the culture, Progression and adapting. Well displayed.
What I enjoyed most about the series was the acting. The overall plot was well maintained.
What I didn’t like was the the lack of clarity and gaps. So many things were left out. How do I know? There were so many 3 years later or 1 year laters. After a while things got a bit confusing. There was a sudden infatuation by a character. Just strange. In truth, after the female leads identify was revealed I couldn’t understand why she lived where she lived and why these people were left to care for her. These things made absolutely no sense to me.
I do love the male leave. He starred in a similar series title “princess man. “ Some of the same events happen.
Important notes
-90% politics
-little to no romance but you do get love
- nice fight scenes.
-no redemption for those that were done wrong (yeah, you heard me)
-no major power plays (aka -shocker moment)
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The writing was amazing for the sitcom and there were many times where I was rolling on the ground laughing.
The pace of the show was very good for a sitcom as each episode had it's own kind of mini-story but with many story arcs still prevalent.
The story was at times predictable, but at other times not what you expect.
The downfall of this drama would be the ending. If not for the ending I would have given this drama a perfect for writing and casting.
There is nothing extraordinary about the soundtrack of the drama, on the other hand the ost for the drama went well with the scenes and emotions of the characters.
The rewatch value score would be rated higher for me had the ending been different.
Personally, I didn't really like some of the coupling in the drama, but that's a personal taste.
The relationships were very well built and evenly distributed between the characters.
I would recommend watching this drama, even if you're told the ending is surprising.
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Looking for romance?
This drama is pretty much Princess Ling catching her man lol. Overall it's a cute rom com to watch. The plot is not heavy so if you're looking for hard core palace intrigue and schemes, not this one. Definitely recommend if you're looking for lighthearted, flirty girl chases cold guy drama! Some of their scenes are definitely not period drama appropriate but we like it! I'm sure if the drama had more episodes, we would get a better indepth version of our lead couples as well as the plot. YBY and ZYC is cute. Merxat looks good in here and for once, he's not chasing the female lead. I would rewatch the episodes just to see the two leads shamelessly flirt with other but that's about it.Also, aside from the villains, most supporting characters were likable. All the grandpas or dads (besides one) were supportive and acted cute in their own way. Even some characters who we thought would be the typical villain turned out okay (ML childhood female friend).
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Annoying FL
The script is a mess, and the female lead's acting is painfully bad. The only decent performances come from the bad girl character and the police officer. Everything else is difficult to sit through.The actress playing the lead can barely move her face, probably due to excessive plastic surgery. She struggles to speak clearly, likely because her lip fillers are getting in the way. Honestly, it’s unsettling. I really wonder who’s backing her. It's hard to understand how she continues to get lead roles with acting this terrible.
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From the getgo, this movie is dark, starting out with a murder, and quickly escalating into the kidnap/breaking in scene within the first 15 minutes, so it doesn't waste time on back story.
The characters in this movie are, for the most part, extremely intelligent. I usually hate watching thrillers, because you are always screaming at the dumb woman on the screen to stop being so stupid and getting everyone killed. And while the characters did make mistakes, and you did yell at the scream from time to time, I was really impressed with how well the characters handled the situation they were in, none moreso than Eun Soo.
Eun Soo has had surgeries and has some kind of affliction that has left her without a voice. The terror that this little child actress was able to emote without the use of a voice was just incredible. The terror on her face was enough to evoke terror in the viewers heart and feel so incredibly sad that she couldn't even scream or speak to alert anyone to the villain in their midst. It made the situation all the more terrifying.
The adult actors were equally impressive, Yoo Ji Tae in the role of the serial killer was absolutely amazing though. He played crazy perfectly! Soo Ae was really amazing as the mom, enough so that I am now looking through her filmography for more of her!
All in all, if you like thrillers then I seriously recommend this one! It wasn't so twisty that you couldn't follow along, but it was suspenseful enough to keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time! Definitely worth the hour and forty some odd minutes :)
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that was cute ... in 16:9 format ...
What's really sad is, that MDL has no structure with putting uncut and cut versions together or seperate it and in this case, the re-edit would warrant a new entry for sure because now this show now is a) like any other show and b) can reach a much wider audience. So I have to write the review here which suxx...While the reel was not bad itself... it's a pain to watch. Thankfully GagaOOLala picked up the series with an horizontal re-edit, giving us 6 episodes of around 17 minutes each... And that changes the vibe of the show dramatically in my POV. Some cut's are still rough because such a reel has episodes of around 90 to 120 seconds, but most of the time you will not notice it.
Both leads did a very good job and the story progresses naturally and with the usual BL tropé of "should I do it or not". There is not much drama in it. It's just mostly smooth sailing which will bring a smile to your face. Of course it's also not an earth-shattering story but everything felt so in flow. This is a nice vibe show, you can forget your worries and just enjoy it. And that is, what I did. And so, if you have a chance, grab this show on GagaOOLala and forget the shitty world for around 100 minutes!
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