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Acting/Cast:
The acting, for me, wasn't very good, but some of the other Chinese dramas I have attempted to watch have very similar acting style. So, if you like, and watch a lot of, Chinese/Taiwanese dramas the acting probably won't be a problem.
There were a few interesting characters in the drama. Sometimes, it was amusing to watch the choices they made and the way they handled the consequences of those choices. They also made it easier for me to digest some of my not so favorite characters. I actually liked some of the "bad" guys more than the "good" ones. The reasons why they did some things seemed to logical and very close to reality. I know I would do almost the same things as Hu Ji did if I were in her shoes.
Some of the minor/guest characters were laughable. They looked like they were part of a bad cosplay...play; pink wigs and all.
Music:
I thought the OST was very good. Actually, I loved the OST. I felt it went accordingly to each scene and I still listen to some of the songs.
Re-watch:
The drama is fantasy and I love fantasy based dramas & movies, so it was very appealing for me. And while, I wouldn't re-watch the full drama again, I will definitely go back to my favorite scenes and episodes.
Overall:
There are a few other things I loved about the drama like the fighting/battle scenes, which had a lot of the fantasy element in them and I loved when Yao Yao, or Xian Yue, played the flute. The costumes (especially those of the female characters)were amazing and gorgeous. There were also some parts where breathtaking scenery could be seen.
I really wanted to give this drama an 8. I really did and I actually had scored it that before I made the review, but have now changed it. Why? Well, even though the drama is far from perfect, it does have it own charm and I found it very entertaining, but I just didn't like the ending. The ending ruined the last episode for me, which was otherwise great.
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From first impressions, this drama may seem like a very light-hearted love story between 2 youths. However, as each episode unfolds, you realize how much depth this story surprisingly has. The story itself has does have some repetitions - at first, it seemed like bad editing, but as you continue, you will soon realize more and more, that the story was made this way on purpose to send the right message. I was very surprised of how a simple on-the-surface plot can be transformed into a feels-train with its hidden complexity. Needless to say, this is a must-watch imo
CHARACTERS / ACTING
This drama really only focuses on one character - Yoo Tak, which at first seemed like a generic character.. and he actually is. As someone who enjoys music, Yoo Tak is very relatable and you will see how he makes mistakes not just for the sake of drama. Among L's work, this is definitely one of the better roles he does done. The lead actress also did very well on her character.
MUSIC
The music in this mini-series is absolutely mesmerizing! There are a few scenes in this drama where nothing is actually presented visually - but the music coupled the situation so well that it was actually driving the story and gave it life and meaning. Particularly, there's a light guitar track with some vocals that really enhanced the experience.
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Highly entertaining
Very likeable characters portrayed by skillful actors. Especially Park Ji-Hoon who was amazing as usual. The humor was right up my alley, and the pace was good enough. But most of all I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. I haven't served in the military, but I like to imagine the friendships and bonds shown in this series might be similar to those in real life. I felt like I was included in that dynamic a bit while watching.Was this review helpful to you?
I usually give this iper good reviews to drama that have a historical plot, or actions, or fantasy in them.
But Coffee Prince is my exception.
With this drama I was able to know a lot of good actors: Gong Yoo became one of my favourites. So the first good thing of this drama are the actors indeed. Everyone did a very good job. She was just perfect, sometimes I just forgot she was a girl!
He too was perfect in his role, the cold but childish guy who can be mature too.
The chemistry between them was nice too.
Even the other characters are perfect: from the owner of the shop, to her family, to the waffle guy and so on. Everyone, just perfect in their roles.
They acted very naturally.
Also the script was natural.
The story is simple and realistic, even the fact everyone thinks she is a guy doesn't sounds so 'unrealistic', and the dialogues develop naturally.
Like in everyday life.
I loved also the way Han Kyul accepts his love towards someone who he thinks is a guy, I think this drama was awesome also because of the meaning in it; "it doesn't matter if you are a boy or an alien because I love you."
The music is something I just love. Every episode is full of korean and english songs that makes you feel sad, good, relaxed.
I just LOVE this OST, it has something different from every other drama.
I rewatched this something like ten times, and I never got bored.
I absolutely reccomend this, it is a good drama, I can't find nothing to complain, so if you want to watch something not too much 'difficult' just fall in love with this one.
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Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island
20 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Like a breath of fresh air, beautiful coming of age story....and yes, absolutely worth the hype
This is so pretty, and refreshingly unpretentious, with a storytelling that feels almost lyrical...the tension and anticipation all through, for the 'dam to break' is plain beautiful,....and then when it finally overflows, it's so damn satisfyingBL-needle Score: 8.5. High BL-ness
They got most things right in this one, an arresting story and script (even though nothing new), stunning locales, beautiful cinematography, great editing, and acting.....I also loved the way they use euphemisms and symbols to depict the hurdles of a queer life and the unrelenting gaze of the disapproving society all around....
The elder brother and his constant attempts to drive a wedge and keep his friend and brother at a arm's length, strikes a raw nerve with me....reminding me of all those family and friends who go out of their way to try 'control' and suppress queer lives in the name of 'all for your good'.....even when well-intentioned, it is an absolute abuse of power and privileges
The story is one that most queer individuals will identify with.....about how queer people are afraid to live their authentic lives, how expressing and living even the most obvious and commonplace emotions feel like a huge hurdle...and how almost everybody around seem hell bent on keeping up the 'make-believe' given their own insecurities and an absolute lack of understanding and empathy.......but that kiss and the 'dam-break' at the very end, was like a befitting reply to all of that ....felt so effing good......
To me the recurrent visuals of two lychees, the sudden rains, and shaking of the water-laden trees seemed to symbolise the queer gaze, resisting inertia, shaking up the 'status quo' and refusal to 'do the expected'...
Update: They are releasing short Special Episodes now...treating us to the delight of everyday cute life of Chen Li and Xhiaozhi.....it gives off such a comforting and purr-y vibe..sigh..this is beyond cute... I just raised the score to 9
Definitely recommended.
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Very satisfying ending
ML made the show for me, beautiful acting by ML, he kept me watching. His earnest naivety pulled me in because I wanted him to win or have a happy ending. Truthfully the whole cast did a good job, they were frustrating where they needed to be, likeable where they needed to be, definitely job well done.Watch if you are looking for something that doesn't required too much from you the viewer, but is an interesting story, engaging character (the ML) and a satisfying ending. Not exactly a happy ending but a good ending.
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"But Romance Town doesn't have a plot!" Well, there is a plot, but it without a doubt became a secondary concern for the writer. What the writer brought to the forefront was a thoughtful (albeit at times heavy-handed) and quirky character study, and it was this slice-of-life aspect that grabbed me. The characters became so real that I found myself accurately predicting their every move, not because the plot itself was predictable, but because I came to know these characters so well in and out that guessing their next move was like friends finishing the other's sentence. More wonderful still is the grayness within each character: there is no absolute evil or good, and as a result I found myself sympathizing with even the most unlikeable resident of the street. Overall, the world of this show felt organic, with events progressing naturally based on the characters' authentic reactions as opposed to being driven by artificial plot devices.
Admittedly, the plot could have been tighter. At 20 episodes, the show is perhaps four episodes too long. There were plot points that went nowhere, towing along certain characters in its wake. Gun Woo and Soon Geum's relationship, despite being the main one, fell on the dull side, and a last minute pairing felt too sudden, but I let it slide since it was a couple I had been rooting for. Some episodes seem to just drag on (ironically enough, given the title of this drama, those were the episodes that dealt directly with romance), while others had me yanking my hair, gasping aloud, and craving more.
Despite the above complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed journeying through the world of Romance Town with the maids as my guides. We were gifted with a glimpse into their lives, friendships and loves, and I'm not ashamed to say that I miss them already.
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An extremely satisfying watch
This one was pure cuteness with a dash sexiness.The main couple was on fire, so there are lots of PDA, kisses and love quotes.
The dialogs were super funny and the story doesn't go on the angst route, so the obstacles the couple go through are no the typical ones like miscommunication os a crazy ex.
I really liked the FL, she was super down to earth and a totally go-getter, which is cool to watch. She is no damsel in distress, but the ML still is a knight in shining armor, so it's interesting to see them finding a balance in their relationship.
You kind of get the mature side of a couple, so it's a bit different from the "after they get together it's boring " kinda of drama. You stay because the script is nice and their acting is great.
I enjoyed it very much and it's definitely a fluffy romantic watch!
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Probably the cutest gory horror movie ever
I loved this! What a nice treat for those of us (me) who didn't have anyone to celebrate Valentine's Day with lol.Now, I am someone who doesn't usually watch horror movies; I am a scaredy-cat on most levels. But I enjoyed this movie, even if I had to cover my eyes for some bits. It was pretty gory and had plenty of somethings à la jumpscares, but it was all bearable! It had a simple premise of a timeloop where the six main leads had to find body parts scattered around the school; I thought it was brilliant. As a very lovey-dovey type of person, my favorite part of the movie was the developing friendship between the six. Watching a horror movie is much easier when 1/4 of the time is spent with your heart fluttering from both platonic and romantic bonds!
Watching this movie, I realized how big an impact sound has. My heart would start pounding (both in fear and happiness) depending on the music and different noises. BIG kudos to the sound engineers! Overall, an enjoyable watch. I was very close to skipping, but I'm very glad I didn't. Stay tuned for the post-credit scene!
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And I think it does a great job at portraying how illness can affect a life, much better than many hollywood movies. This just felt so real, and it's even more inspiring knowing that it's based on a true story. I think I'm going to read Aya's book next.
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1Through Sick and Sin
Vanished Name is a suspenseful story about women who have had their identities stolen or hidden for reasons not entirely within their control. The story opens with an infuriated and vengeful Ren Xiaoming, whose husband—acclaimed novelist Liu Xiaoran—has stolen and published her diary as his new coming-of-age novel. She is not amused by this gross violation of not only her privacy but also that of everyone she grew up with. Her cold fury, the way her eyes scrunch up vindictively, is more chilling than any tears or yelling. But this very foolish man thinks that the royalties from book sales will heal all wounds. The diary, along with the discovery of a long-hidden corpse, pulls Xiaoming back into old relationships and a past she long left behind.The core themes of the narrative are women's struggles and friendships spanning two generations over 36 years (1987–2023). It mostly alternates between Xiaoming's coming-of-age years around 2004 and the present (2023). Xiaoming was a difficult child—brilliant, prickly, selfish, and judgmental. Her mother, Ren Meiyan, whose life's mission seemed to be marrying her way down the list of 100 surnames, was my favorite character. Her ability to smile through her many struggles as if "the sky falls down to be used as her blanket" (天跌落嚟当被冚) moved me unaccountably. It baffled me how such a ditzy, optimistic, and joyful character could have produced such a pompous and narrow-minded daughter. The number of times I itched to smack Xiaoming for judging her and giving her such a hard time!
The narrative alternates between two timelines that reveal the ties binding two generations of women and their complex entanglements. This is one of those dramas I couldn't stop watching because so many questions popped up from the get-go. What on earth possessed Xiaoming to marry such a turd as Liu Xiaoran? How did the bright, mischievous sparkle in Bai Shu's eyes fade into such a dull, cold, and colorless person? I don't particularly like Liu Yase's acting, but her appearance as the grown-up Bai Shu screams that something soul-destroying must have happened to her—and it broke me. I needed to know what happened to her, to all of them.
The young actors got a huge amount of screen time, and they carried this drama. Wang Shengdi, of The Bad Kids fame (Pu Pu), is riveting as the adolescent Ren Xiaoming lashing out at the world (mostly her mom) with her frustration. Her natural and unique chemistry with Bai Shu, and how they came to understand and change each other's worlds for the better, made me smile. Na Yi is another young actor to watch—her transitions from careless joie de vivre to off-the-charts tension in her quiet, passive-aggressive rebellion against Ge Wenjun are flawless. The young He Yuqiong is the unsung hero of the group: generous to a fault and always there for Xiaoming.
The drama's biggest problem is that it was difficult to really see the child in the adults. Even though it's hard to find fault with Ni Ni or Zhou You's performances, I just couldn't see the young Xiaoming or Yuqiong in either of them. As for Zhang Fang, this role was completely miscast and took me out of the drama. I am usually a huge fan of Liu Mintao, but I found her acting a bit over the top here. Among the adult roles, Yan Ni (Ren Meiyan) and Dong Jie (Zhou Yun) delivered the most convincing performances. But by the time the adults took over the narrative, the kids had already gotten me too invested in the story.
The most laughable part of this drama is the suspense plot—it is a giant nothing burger. So if you are here for the mystery, best give it a skip. From the nameless corpse that remains genderless for the longest time to the dumb cop who refuses to read the book, this is far from a fast-paced crime thriller. Instead, it is a sober coming-of-age story about friendships that survive through sick and sin—the kind that get you through all the things you can't change in life. Yes, there is closure at the end, but twenty years later is just too late. So late that all the unlimited potential of youth had passed them all by.
I rate the main plot arc about women's struggles and friendship an 8.5/10, but the mystery and ending barely a 6.0/10—for an overall 7.5/10.
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WORST ENDING EVER!!
Let me start with the reasons I loved this show, I'll save the spoilers until the end.Go Ah Ra as Ra Ra. I saw her Miss Hammurabi and loved her. She has a fresh appeal about her. Though Ra Ra's life went south pretty suddenly, she was always optimistic. Though I often felt she was taking advantage of Joon, I couldn't be mad at her - she was always open and up-front about what she was doing. Ra Ra changed everyone that she came into contact with for the better. Her effervescent personality in the face of adversity was a joy to watch.
Lee Jae Wook as Sun Woo Joon - this is really his first leading-man role, and I must say he was made for it. His personality was the opposite of Ra Ra's, but there was a magnetic pull between them. His acting is understated and believable, and when he cried, oh my!
Ye Ji Won as Jin Sook Kyung - as the owner of the beauty salon, she was quirky and a little strange, but so fun to watch.
I felt that the entire cast was excellent.
OST - Oh wow!! How they wove "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" through the entire series was brilliant. Playful one minute, soulful the next, heartbreaking in the next minute.
STORY - here's where things get difficult. Up through about episode 11, I would have rated this as a strong 10. The writing was excellent for each of the characters. Their actions and their conversations were so fun and heart-felt. The salon ladies were a hoot. Though Dr. Cha was a little creepy to me, his character made sense the more you got to see him. The friendships/crushes of the teenagers were fun and not too terribly irritating. I loved watching everyone change through Ra Ra's influence, and the fact that she was acting in a completely natural manner without any artifice was lovely. The budding relationship between Joon and Ra Ra was so special - she'd ask him to do something for her, he'd say "no" but then do it. All the things he did for her - I really felt that he loved her. The beginning scenes of each episode and the epilogues provide some additional clues as to what was going on. I love a storyline where the main characters have met in different scenarios over the years.
After about episode 11, I was wondering if a different writer took over. This went from being a light, fluffy love story (with quite a few laugh out loud moments) to melodrama pretty quickly. Here is one of my issues, if I know it's going to be a melodrama going in, I can prepare myself for angst and stress. I was going along, really enjoying this show when BAM! His nightmare mom, his even more nightmarish dad, breakups for no reason, lots of time spent apart, everyone is miserable, clingy ex-girlfriend shows up, and toss in an illness that he doesn't tell anyone about and it's a big old mess. I do have to give the writer credit for the scenes making fun of the "water in the face, paying off the girlfriend to leave her son alone" trope. This couple was apart more than they were together.
SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS!!!!
This is what is unforgivable for me - Joon goes to the US to "study", though he's really being treated for leukemia. Joon and Ra Ra still talk to one another on the phone. A few months go by and his mother shows up at Ra Ra's piano studio and tells her that Joon has died, and he left her a letter. So, we hear Joon's words to Ra Ra and go through her grief with her. FIVE YEAR TIME JUMP (I hate the time jumps in the best of times, but this was the worst!) Ra Ra is playing the song that she used to play to welcome him home and looks up, and there stands JOON. He says he didn't want to come back until he was well. She's a little bit mad but then forgives him pretty quickly. I had problems with this on many levels. First, what kind of mother would lie about her son being dead?!? And the fact that he left Ra Ra completely out of the loop, that's not love. All I could think of was, if I was Ra Ra, I'd be wishing that I'd been able to spend whatever time she had with him. When I got to the end of this show, I really felt like I'd been cheated, and I am NOT amused! So, strictly for this reason I had to lower my rating to a 7. I really wanted to go lower, I'm so mad, but the show was so good up to when it wasn't anymore.
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Horrible
Watched to the end hoping it would get better and then I get to the end and I Call MAJOR BULLSHIT like Im sorry but no that ending was Just smh HORRIBLE The whole show was!!!! DON'T BOTHER WATCHING!! The whole reason she loves him is just so wrong 😔 he just constantly hurts her Physically emotionally Verbaly and tries to force him self on her and She Fucking still loves his ass OH HELL NO GIRL THAT IS NOT SAFE GTFO and go find a new man that will take care of you!! If you like this type of show then you're be all for it but I won't watch it againWas this review helpful to you?
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This review may contain spoilers
Unexpectedly I loved it so much that I will surely Rewatch it again with tears and tissues
A little background here so you can skip this paragraph, if you wish… [I thought I would regret watching this drama but I think I needed this to get over my drama slump. I had 2-3 dramas in my CW and I made my 1st drop this month. I was almost in a drama slump as I passed on 4 days without watching any episode until I started this drama.]This Drama and Tissues both are a must. As quoted by others, yes this is a little Melodrama but I usually don't mind it if it's portrayed in the right manner. The cute and innocent Shi Yi played by Bai Lu and actor Allen who nailed this role was the best choice the director made. Another best choice was the setting, the whole winter theme in beginning is like cherry on the top. What was unexpected for me was the supporting roles. It's rare for me to find so many hateable Characters in a drama. Yes it's not a writing mistake. Its Hate-able, characters whose actions irritated me till the end.
The first half is more about the background setting for upcoming twists and plot. While the middle half is where I got to experience all those Sad emotions in one go. I remember that particular scenario from Episode 15 and 16 where I was crying continuously and I felt like "No at this pace I can't continue this Drama anymore". I felt strange all over as I watched a few more episodes. No, it was not the drama's fault. It was me who cannot tolerate the sudden emotional rollercoaster at all. The one-by-one coming situations were breaking me. Ahh why am I remembering so much again. I hated that parts and I loved that parts equally. Tbh, I was confused like I knew the characters had no other choices and it's going in the destined direction but I just can't accept it. I still wish, thing went my way but yeah it won't. The drama has already finished and why would the screenwriter listen to Me lol. Hopefully, I went through that phase and just went on. I am happy that I didn't dropped this drama with the fear that this would be a sad ending drama. If I dropped it, I will definitely miss a beautiful story.
Zhousheng Chen — he's like the light who ruled this drama. I don't believe he died, cause I would rather say he is eternal. A character that I would remember and admire for years.
Shiyi — noblest character. I wonder how did she tolerate all of this till there… like she saw her father going as a child, she was forced to marry Zixing, she was trapped in that palace all alone and then her Master died, she was helpless but couldn't do anything. She sacrificed herself at the end.
One and only is not only about Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen alone, it's about all those people who were a part. Other characters whose individual story touched me ≈•≈
✓ Liu Hui (His Majesty) — he was given too many responsibilities at the age of 6 then he was killed by his own mother at 19. All his life, he was just controlled by others. Poor him.
✓ General Hong Xiaoyu — I had a strange fear from the starting of episode 22 that something will get wrong in her story and that fear came true. She died. Oh… she was so good T~T
✓ Monk — he suffered a lot but he kept calm in precious situations. Him being in the Nanchen Royal Army was the best choice made by him but he also had to leave for his own country.
Characters that destroyed their own life and entered my Hate diary =××××—
×•× Empress Dowager — Do I need to name a reason? She can even kill her own son. She's a psycho. So glad that she died.
×•× Zixing/Prince of Guanling — The self obsessed man. He is just too selfish. He acted as if he liked Shiyi but in reality he's too crazy to like anyone.
×•× Qin Yan — he watched by every bad deed but instead of opposing it he supported all of that. I pitied him for a while but once Mentor Xie died, I sensed that he won't be any better.
×•× Jin Rong — One word for him. EVIL! He had no boundaries to crime. He did everything a devil can do. I feel like I can curse him for hours HE WAS SO BAD!
"Zhousheng Chen, I am here to marry you. If we meet again in the next life, hope you can come to marry me. Will you? I will take your silence as a Yes." — Shiyi.
Oof this line. It's going to haunt me so I have to start Forever and Ever soon…
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