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Nakashima Tatsuya is a genius Japanese director. His “Confessions” and “Memories of Matsuko” are living evidences of his brilliance. The downside is that he doesn’t come out much but when he does, it will be through a thought-provoking wild picture like The World of Kanako.
Being a serious fan of Nakashima filmmaking, I was eagerly anticipating this. But I wasn’t ready for this darker tone and pitch black atmosphere. Needless to say, I was pleased in a very good way. The picture was a clear depiction of an ill society with lots of vacancy within.
The storyline was based on several flashbacks to draw Kanako’s life. The multitude of switching between the past and the present was an intelligent procedure to keep the suspense until the end. Of course, the overuse might turn out confusing especially by the end but it was a definite win for the film’s two hours’ longitude.
The plot’s successively coherent events helped expressing the characters’ nightmarish adventures. But it was the excessive violence that pinpointed the severity of what actually happened. Of course brutal beatings and cuttings can come out extremely discomforting but it’s their gruesome nature that grabs the memory and highlights the nasty reality Nakashima was trying to illustrate: Nothing is what it seems. There’s always a hidden reality underneath.
Beside Nakashima’s explosive style in picturing a chaos in stunning colours, there were his brilliant main leads. They’re what strengthened my wish to see this picture in the first place; the veteran Yakusho Koji (he was on a whole different level), the brilliant Tsumabuki Satoshi, the charismatic Odagiri Joe, the much imposing Nakatani and even the impressive younger talents Hashimoto, Komatsu and especially Shimizu. The film’s loaded cast helped bringing few of the craziest characters ever.
There’s zero hero in this film. All of its characters are some sort of anti-heroes, psychos, sadists, violent pricks and even demons. It was the intense characterisation that made me glued to the screen the whole time. They make one hell of an entertaining bunch. They were perfectly entwined in a messy havoc. They even get crazier as the film goes on and on unravelling their traits one by one. Some characters didn’t get proper explanations as they popped on the screen but it all went well for the final blow.
Maybe Nakashima went abroad with the repeated violence, brutality, rape, drug use and all the ugly side of REALITY but it was especially genius how he has wrapped his characters in a surrealist cover of apparent fantasy. It does take a big director to convince his audience about the line between reality and fiction without getting caught in his own scenario. Hats off to you oji-san!
The World of Kanako is a fascinating take about the ugliness in society (more particularly Japanese). It’s an intriguing view about people’s masks and their crazy reactions when someone pushes the wrong button. It’s basically a gripping watch centring on wild characters being pushed to the edge.
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The best historical Cdramas so far for me
If you want a show with the perfect balance between romance, soft comedy and political plot : you should totally go for it.I've seen some people talk about the romance of The Prisoner of Beauty, but I feel like the political plot is really underrated by most people. I'm really hard to please in historical dramas because I love politic plots but I also need very-well written characters and relationships (not necessarily romance, but romantic relationships are the most common). Most historical dramas I've watched always had the same problems to me : either they had an interesting romance but not enough politics, or there were enough politics, but the romance and/or characters were not well written.
Well, let me tell you : the prisoner of beauty is the exception! I found it was very, very well balanced. I saw some people saying it was more romance than politics but I found the politic plot almost always there. The power struggles between the families, and even the "enemy bond" the Qiao and Wei have is politic. Every plot around the canals in the cities is political. There were some parts more romance-focused and some more family-centered, but I wouldn't say the drama was mostly romance. I felt like it was the perfect 50-50 between politicals struggles, and romance/familial struggles.
I absolutely loved Wei Shao's and Xiao Qiao's bond. How they distrust each other at first, and Xiao Qiao manipulates him, how he separates her from the other Qiaos from the start, how he protects her in front of his family but does not trust her at all, into how they slowly discover what is hidden between each other's mask and struggle between their feelings and their filial duties. The chemistry was amazing, and some dialogues struck me as peak enemies-to-lovers dialogues. One, specifically : when Xiao Qiao is accused of cooking the grains to fool the people, and Wei Shao defend her by saying "I would trust you if you told me she tried to poison my whole family, but I would never trust you if you told me she tried to harm the people." This was such a powerful dialogue to me; he was willing to defend a woman he thought capable of killing his family.
However, what I loved more than anything else was the flawless characters' writing. I am a sucker for complex and coherent characters, and I definitely did not expect this drama to serve this. Romance dramas, and especially enemies-to-lovers one, tend to give big character developpments to their character, sometimes too big to be realistic. By that, I mean cold and cruel characters becoming too kind and soft; or characters changing too much or too suddenly just to serve a plot device. Which is okay, as long as it's enjoyable.
But this drama does not do that. Like, ever. Every character's writing is so deep and coherent I was surprised.
I am going to start with the most obvious one : Wei Shao. He doesn't have that switch male leads often have in romance dramas, from "cruel and cold" to "silly and lovestruck". He keeps the same qualities and defaults from the beggining to the end, but some are developed while some are tamed. His hatred is slowly tamed, and his kindness, noticeable since the beggining with how he did not want Xiao Qiao to struggle too much in his family even when he disliked her and didn't trust her, takes more and more place and makes him warmer. But those traits did not appear suddenly, they were there since the beggining. Wei Shao has always cared most about the people, and he stays this way until the end. Even when he has to chose between defending Panyin or Yunjun, he stays loyal to his values. He choses to defend the people instead of his family. That is a very coherent and well-written decision, especially when you notice the parallel between Xiao Qiao's grandfather who had to go through the same dilemma. Having to chose between his family and the people made him understood why the Qiao betrayed his family 15 years ago. That was a beautiful way to end this arc.
Liu Yan and Yu Lou are very good exemple of how coherent and deep the writing was. If you think about it, they repeat the same errors again and again until it kills them, and I find that to be a very realistic writing. As Wei Shao told her, Yu Lou fails to notice other people's love for her right until the end. Even when she is warned about it, she doesn't notice and change, because humans don't change that easily. Liu Yan, on the other hand, only knows how to be obsessive. His "love" for Xiao Qiao was an obsession, and that almost killed him in the beggining. Did he learn his lesson? No, he reproduced the same kind of obsession for Yu Lou and died because of that in the end. I found his character development very interesting because I did not expect him to become the biggest villain of the show. Him killing his parents and little brother shocked me to the core, but then, when you think about it : that, too, was there since the beggining. As Xiao Qiao told him in the beggining : I know you treat me as a jewel, but the problem is you don't care about other people. And that's how he acts for the whole drama. He's blinded by what he wants (first Xiao Qiao, then power, then Yu Lou), and never cares about anyone or anything else. His unability to change is what kills him in the end.
Wei Yan's writing also surprised me. I thought I would despise him; he turned out to be the most lovable character of the show (to me). While he is described as a shameless man, he actually respects boundaries. He has never tried anything toward Xiao Qiao, and is even willing to leave his grandmother just to not bring shame to his cousin and cousin-in-law. Watching him yearning for a home and family and recognition was so interesting. He could have made the "wrong" choices so many times but never did. I saw people say that his love for Xiao Qiao was some misplaced lust; I disagree on that. I think he said it himself to her when he's suspected to have an affair with the Yu girl. While his grandmother and Wei Shao suspected him to have done something wrong but were still willing to protect him, she was the first to not assume he did something wrong. Which was new for him. He said it later to Wei Shao : he doesn't want his family to forgive him for his wrongdoings, and he resented them for that. Instead of doing that, Xiao Qiao has always assumed the best of him and tried to prove he was not guilty. I understand why he would fall for her after that.
Xiao Qiao's writing was also very coherent, though I don't have much to say about it because I feel like the show has said enough. This quote sums it up : "Water only flaws gently when the path is smooth. Block it with wind or earth, and all you'll do is stir up towering waves". One thing I loved is how her pretending to be all-weak-and-gentle at the beggining while scheming for her family in secret actually blew up against her in the end. She had to apologize for that and I think that was fair. Wei Shao was not perfect but he, at least, never tried to deceive her. She had no choice but to do so, but she could've come clean later and still didn't. I liked that the writers didn't brush it off easily.
I could go on and on about each character, because every single one of them was written with care. Qiao Fan and Bi Zhi, for exemple, are also very coherent in their decisions and actions. Wei Shao's mother, too; she changes, but stays a quite selfish character till the end (the only reason she didn't flee Yunjun at the end is because she wanted to be appreciated by Lady Xu).
At the end of the day, I feel like a drama that stays true to their characters writing all along and ends its plot with a beautiful parallel (Wei Shao having to choose between people dear to him and the people, like the Qiaos 15 years before) deserves a 10/10. I know it's very different from the novel, but I feel like every change only made the drama better.
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This review may contain spoilers
[Warning: long review]This isn't just a show. It's a story close to life; a story of great moral value and lessons to be learnt. This is an amazing journey through the eyes of a man who can be similar to many of us at some point in our lives. And I believe many people, including myself, have come out of this journey a better person. The below is more an in-depth review more for people who've already watched the show, but if you are curious to what exactly is so good about the show, feel free to read on, since there are no big spoilers in this review.
The story is simple enough; Ken is a shy guy who never managed to express his love to his childhood friend, Rei, and now he is attending her wedding to another man. A fairy pops up to grant Ken the ability to correct some regrets of his past so that hopefully he will face an improved situation in the present. The idea of time-travel seems to contradict the idea of the show being close to life; if you think about it, however, everyone faces some regrets of action or non-action in the past; time-travelling back to change these is an ability we always wanted, and we simply see Ken doing what we wished we could do. These timeslips create a blueprint in the show which becomes obvious very quickly; in fact it is so faithfully replicated that the show is always in danger of becoming repetitive. However, each episode is executed masterfully such that the repetition doesn't become tiring; it instead gives the viewer a standard framework from which to view the characters, their story and the outcome of Ken's actions, making them seem all the more clearer and connected to the present. More importantly, you get to see Ken's gradual emotional development through the series. It is argued by many watchers that this format isn't the best way to present the show due to the repetitiveness; but for me it possesses a mesmerizing charm and cuteness that endears me to the show.
The characters are excellent, and I totally mean it when I say that. Many shows out there create characters to suit the story, which results in disjointed personalities and actions that seem out-of-character in some scenarios; ProDai is one of the rare few that have wholesome, complex characters whom you get to understand and relate to as the story progresses. It is as though the story is written to suit the characters, which is how real life works; this makes the show so much closer to life. Sometimes, it even angers the audience when they see how stubborn a person's personality in the show can be, because at times the show simply stagnates when Ken cannot bring himself to change the past; to me however, this is also one of the charms of the show, the rigidity of personalities is just so like life. Nevertheless, the genius scriptwriters have churned out enough twists and turns in the story to keep it interesting throughout, and effortlessly blended in moral lessons which never seem to be forced into the story (something J-doramas are bad at). Most importantly, the show was brought to a complete end, albeit an open-ended one, which was satisfying for most, but completely amazing for me.
Acting is top class as well; vintage performances are seen from Nagasawa Masami, Hamada Gaku and Mikami Hiroshi, as well as of course the star of the show, Yamashita Tomohisa. His acting isn't particularly fantastic, but he gave his character a personality unique to himself; he became Ken, Ken became him. In all, his was an absolutely memorable performance. The OST is another highlight of the show, with BGM that is always at the right places, at the right time, and invoke heavy doses of emotion and goose-bumps that really bring the show up to another level. Who could forget the inspiring themes of Rising Road and Hallelujah Flash, and their rearranged emotional renditions that play in heart-tugging scenes? The ending theme, Ashita Hareru Kana, and the insert Chiisana Koi no Uta are, well, I don't think I have to say more. Personally I have Ame Agari (translated as 'after the rain')as my favourite as well, because of the scenes that it plays in, and the meaning of the song towards the show: after the rain, sadness will vanish and everything will start anew.
With all that being said, the show has its flaws as well. Particular aspects that stuck out include the lack of development in one of the main characters, Mikio, and the convenient shafting of Tada, portrayed as the guy everyone hates but really, is just a good man fighting for his own love. Even so, I give the show a 10. I have to admit that I'm biased in the score and in this review; but it is really because I love the show so much. My advice is really to follow the show in its entirety, indulge in the characters and feel the fun, the anguish, the anxiety, and the exhilaration in the show. And most importantly, learn from it, and I promise any watcher that it will be a enjoyable and memorable journey for you as well.
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RIABB is a drama perfectly fitted for the period when the winter has been going on for too long, you want to something to warm you up and you are tired of tea and soup. It has a lot going for it – nice characters, great chemistry, interesting themes – but ends up only slightly above average.At first, the drama is defined by Kang Dan-i and you root for her since the beginning. Joining back the job market after a break is a worldwide theme and when you are confronted with the heartbreaking truth of what was really going on with her, you cannot help it but be on her side. One thing this drama does so well is showing the unspoken in relationships, the things that hurt so much yet belong behind closed doors and women are often told, that that’s just how things are. I found myself crying over one of the stories of the side characters that got also divorced - her situation was so ordinary yet touching in a profound way. And the writers not only showed these things but presented us with strengths for these characters in friendships rooted in understanding and patience. There is plenty of good female friendships and bromances as well.
The core of the drama slowly shifts toward the relationship between Dan-I and Eun-ho and it’s a delight. What I loved the most was that it was shown through the everyday life, built on strong foundation, acceptance, nurture and care. The other romantic relationships formed in the drama felt also really nice and natural.
The workplace is a major part of RIABB and it’s a dream to work in. I also felt like the actors themselves had such a good time filming the drama that it showed through. There was also one mystery which I felt was a bit extra but tied into the story comprehensively. It’s a character driven drama which makes the tempo quite slow and it makes you feel the length of some of the episodes.
Overall though, I liked it and looked forward to every weekend to watch it, thanks to Netflix and the quick upload with subtitles. But I don’t think that there were those memorable moments worth coming back to that soon.
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Neo is the definition of a true gentleman always quietly sacrificing for others. Whether it was giving up watching the Olympic table tennis he was excited for, carrying heavy luggage without complaint, or ensuring Victoria didn't have to wait alone at the museum, his selflessness was evident in every moment.
As the most responsible, sincere, and kindhearted member, Neo went above and beyond to support those around him. From helping Enxi and Zhishan in Chile to leading as a tour guide in France and a group leader in Tanzania, he was always the backbone of the team.
One of the best travel companions, Neo knew how to be present without disrupting others’ emotions. His interactions with foreigners were particularly touching, showcasing his effortless ability to connect with different cultures. Some of the most unforgettable moments include him singing acapella and playing basketball with locals. His warmth and adaptability made these experiences even more special.
Neo is the kind of person who puts others first without hesitation. Traveling with him will be an absolute privilege.
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Bestest of the best drama of all time!
Woah!! I am so in love with this drama where I have endearing feelings for all the cast members.Moreover, I also feel these soft-subtle-healing vibes this drama gives me where I don't need to skip any moments or watch it in 2x speed like few other dramas which are rather a little bit draggy or a bit hasty without any character development.
I love how it soothes my soul and makes me happy! Every character has their own sufferings, past and personality.
In addition to it, all of them are just so adorable.
Definitely this drama will be ranked on the topmost place in my Xuanhuan side of drama heart.
YangZi is just so good at portraying different layers of her past experiences. So commendable! Her acting is superior. ❤️
XL and TJ are just so cute with those hearty eyes for the FL. Something I definitely didn't expect so soon for our Nine-headed Demon Serpent the Great Xiang Liu! ?
Up until now CX just gives me sibling-like chemistry with FL.
I wanted 4thML Chi Shui Feng Long to gear up a little bit to get into XY's heart as the only thing do is to be completely whipped for XY and nothing else. ?
I definitely recommend you this title. <3
Yang Zi/ Xiao Yao:
She's definitely our common FL who was given a lot of love by her family and the consistency of her character is portrayed really well. Generally, FLs from different drama make few decisions which are questionable but our XY is very different from theirs. I love her character in this drama the most. Everyone knows about her tragic past and how she tried her best to live her life despite of various troubles. Her being totally calm and having pure hearted demeanor is just so rare.
She is so committed to her loved ones that she tries her best to assist them mostly XL by giving her own blood all the time to cure him and protecting CX everytime. She is so admirable.?
On weibo, it shows that XY is a scorpion and since I am her fellow water sign buddy, I kind of understand her insecurities rooted from her past loses and traumas.
She needs security in her relationships where she should be sure that the other person will not abandon her at any cost and she can believe that person with her fragile heart. She is in such situation where she can not suffer anymore heart breaks.
That's why she took her time accepting her own identity of being a princess before her all security issues gets taken care of and believing that her father didn't really wanted to abandon her because of some rumours.
I myself and XY wants to be this kind of healing relationship that its better to torture physically than being abandoned from time to time by those for whom she had at least an ounce amount of faith and those who were being nice with her.
That's why she has basically closed her heart from upcoming vulnerable emotions and feelings strangers bring to her.
Zhang Wan Yi/ Cang Xuan:
Even though I'm not a big fan of CX character's life decision but I kinda understand why he took those decisions in his life as he needed to live while constantly fearing of his 5th and 7th uncle plotting all the way down the hill!
He had bunch full of people trying to assassinate him including people from Chenrong army because of his identity.
He said to XY in yesterday's ep that he no longer can be willfull after his mother's death. I'm sobbing for him 'cause every character in this drama has depth and weight in their heart can be felt so easily namely in XY, XL and CX's characters especially.
CX literally poisoning and losing his control over himself just to move out of Xiyan city is just so cruel to himself! He claiming in front of XY that he needs to remember today's suffering in order to remember it in the long course of time to stay strong for his goal is so commendable.
Hats off to ZWY's acting even his pupils work so hard to portray the feel of mad man who was addicted to those poisonous drugs which he needed to take just to make people around him think that he is depressed and can't do anything so that he won't be a danger to his uncles for the throne!
He tried to puch Chenrong XinYue off his body but at end wasn't able to resist her since she was the sister of his biggest benefactor.... He can't even have someone he loves dearly! So tragic all the way.
I haven't read the novel so I don't know what tragic things he will do to XY that she eventually wanted to kill CX after watching yesterday's ep where she tried her best to control CX when he lost himself to the drug! Poor them... CX please at any cost don't betray and break heart of XY....
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A UNIQUE CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED GEM
I started this out of spite but I was drawn to how it's theme seemed like something I haven't seen in C drama land in a while and I must say it continued surprising me throughout the episodes.Before I give my likes and dislikes about it I must say it's not your usual C drama troupe..it's not gonna have a fast pace type of love story and neither does it solely focus of romance...it's wierd yet quite addicting to watch.
What I liked about this drama was the plot execution...which was quite different...setting the leads out on this adventure as she tells him stories which were quite connected to her life was refreshing to see...the fables( stories) were amazing and each taught a lesson, the plot managed to balance the romance and the humour and the main plot.
The cast, it's my first time seeing FEI in a drama and yes I can say she really out did her self in this her character was challenged to portray firstly the role of the female lead and then POTRAY the fictional fable characters and each had a different temperament which she did flawlessly.
Male lead was someone I've seen before in CEO dramas and he's character here was a breath of fresh air I must say, he was sunny and different from all the roles he has been potraying which I liked quite alot.
The CINEMATOGRAPHY was an absolute pleasure...this part is usually not put into consideration in many dramas but this drama made sure to put it into place..the cinematography was amazing and the creativity put into the leads outfit which allowed them to reflect their roles and also the cinematography was an absolute pleasure indeed....I loved it
My only problem with the drama was being short...like how can you give me just 30 or 27 minutes per episode for this beautiful drama..I needed more.......
This is highly recommended for people who want something unique...and interesting but if you looking for alot of romance then this isn't for you....
It's added to my top five dramas this year.
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A very fun and likable romantic comedy. Jun Ji Hyun is an absolute delight. Funny, fun, sexy, and just a great actress. Kim Soo Hyun is fantastic too as the very serious opposite to her, and their chemistry is so great. Without a doubt one of the best couples in kdrama. Great supporting cast too. I like how it gives Park Hae Jin a serious subplot for his character, instead of in most kdramas where the secondary male lead is just there to wallow in his own self pity of how he can't end up with the lead female. Though don't worry, he does a bit of that too XD.This drama did some cool things with it's production value. How it used it's cameras for special effects of stopping time and the other powers. I thought it was well done. The only part that really disappoints me is (minor spoiler, skip ahead to next paragraph if needed) that in one episode she falls from the stunt cable as it breaks. It is filmed and planned out so dis-believably and just terrible. Even with the height, she falls on a pad and caught by a guy and both end up in small comas? WTF.
Other than that I don't have any big complaints with this drama. Though I do have mixed feelings with the ending. (Spoiler, skip ahead again if you haven't watched)
The ending is perfect in many ways. If it ended up being too happy and easy with everything resolved, then it would have been a bit too much fanservice and unrealistic (ha! I say that about a drama that is about an alien lol), it's just that it leaves unanswered questions. And the biggest one is how long can they really be happy together when we know the issue of her aging while he doesn't is still up in the air? I know not everything can end perfect, but it kind of makes it a bit sad doesn't it?
Anyways, overall a great drama with some great actors. Be prepared to cry. I cried so much at the end of the second to last episode and at the beginning of the last episode, that I couldn't even produce any more XD. But that's what makes it good, right?
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Shadow Punisher: A Mystery That Completely Took Me by Surprise ?
First of all, I had absolutely ZERO expectations from this drama. It seemed so underrated, and honestly, I'm not even a fan of the male lead. I've watched around two of his dramas before, and I didn't like either of his historical dramas. No offense to his acting, but his previous roles just weren't my cup of tea.But Shadow Punisher? THIS DRAMA PROVED ME WRONG.
I was bored without any dramas to watch this month, so I thought, why not give it a try? If it disappointed me, I'd simply drop it and move on to the next one. Little did I know that once I started watching it, I wouldn't even think about dropping it. The plot, the mystery, the character dynamics, the twists... everything had me hooked!
Hats off to the scriptwriter because THAT SCRIPT DESERVES A SOLID 10/10. The acting, the storytelling, the mystery, the character development... everything deserves a 10/10 from me. The suspense kept me hanging on, constantly wanting to know what would happen next. I never expected this drama to be this good, and now that it's over, I'm genuinely sad. 😭 I wanted to know how everything would end, but now that I've reached the ending, I wish I had more episodes to watch. I'll definitely rewatch it someday, but right now, I'm suffering from that post-drama emptiness. What am I supposed to watch now?!
The plot itself might seem like a classic historical drama setup, with old friendships, people being schemed against, and someone returning after several years. But the way the story unfolds, the mysteries surrounding the cases, and the way everything comes together make it so much more engaging than I expected. My only criticism would be the father-and-son scene near the end, when the emperor is about to die. I personally felt that scene was somewhat unnecessary. Other than that, I genuinely enjoyed almost everything about this drama.
And THE FOUR DIVINE CONSTABLES! Can we please talk about them?
One of my absolute favorite things about this drama was the bond between Li Si and the constables. Their friendship, brotherhood, trust, and teamwork while solving cases were so satisfying to watch. The way they stood by one another and worked together as trusted aides of the emperor made their relationships feel even more meaningful. Every one of them had their own personality, strengths, and purpose in the story. They weren't just there to fill the screen. They each brought something special to the team.
My four favorite characters were Li Si, Meng rui, Bai Zhengzhu, and Old Yan. Every single one of them SLAYED their roles!
Li Si: Honestly, he surprised me the most. Considering my previous experience with his historical dramas, I never expected to enjoy his performance this much. This drama genuinely changed my opinion of him. His character, his interactions with the constables, and the way he carried the story made me appreciate him in a way I hadn't before.
Bai Zhengzhu : I was especially happy to see her in this role. The last drama I watched her in was Only for Love, where she played a rich, innocent, playful girl with a rather carefree personality. Seeing her here, portraying a constable who understands the responsibilities she carries and takes her duty seriously, was such a refreshing change. She still had her own personality, but there was a sense of responsibility and maturity to her character that I really appreciated. I loved seeing this side of her!
Old Yan : He was so good in this drama! His character might have been older, but his fighting skills were INCREDIBLE. 他的武功特别好！ His martial arts skills were seriously impressive. He portrayed his role so well, and I loved the strength and determination he brought to his character. But his ending? PAINFUL. Watching him lose his arm and still continue fighting for the greater good was heartbreaking. He kept fighting even when he had already suffered so much. His sacrifice genuinely hurt. 😭
Meng Rui, MY FAVORITE! ❤️🩹
I'm honestly still sad that I didn't get to see him properly wake up at the end. I don't know if I missed something, but I was left wondering whether he was still alive. I personally interpreted the ending as a sign that he would survive, awaken again, and perhaps become even stronger than before. At least, that's what I want to believe! But watching him transfer all his powers just to save Li Sir was such an emotional moment. The sacrifice, the friendship, the loyalty... I CAN'T. He really was one of my favorite characters in the entire drama, and I wish we had gotten a little more closure for him.
My final recommendation? WATCH IT.
If you've been avoiding Shadow Punisher because it seems underrated, you're unsure about the plot, or you're not particularly fond of the male lead, please give it a chance. I went into it with the same doubts, and look how that turned out!
The mystery will keep you curious, the cases will pull you in, and you'll find yourself wanting to watch just one more episode to discover what happens next. Before you know it, you'll be completely invested in the story and the characters.
I started this drama expecting very little and ended up loving it far more than I ever imagine.
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I'm not into Taiwanese dramas but I loved this one. Some people who finished The Fierce Wife complained that it was infuriating and moved at a snail's pace. In my opinion, they never got the whole point. This is a story about GROWTH. It is about a woman who found her self-worth after the breakdown of her 10-year marriage. It was slow because the writer and director took much care in developing the conflict in the story and building up the anticipation in order for the viewers to gain a better understanding of the relationships and motivations.
The lead character An Zhen is everything that a man could ask for in a wife. She was loving, thoughtful, sweet and self-giving to a fault. It was obvious from the very start that she was that "type" who would give up everything for her man in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, her husband never appreciated her for who she was nor her efforts because he was so used to having her around, pandering to his every whim and his every need. He abused her love, destroyed her trust and even became so thoughtless as to force her to divorce him while she was recuperating from a car accident at a hospital. Thus, the journey of An Zhen is what makes the drama engaging and uplifting. Indeed, she had become "fierce" but not in the way that most people would think. No she did not become this femme fatale on a mission of revenge against her husband and his mentally-unstable mistress. She became fierce in a way that she was able to find her inner strength and proved that boring, homely wives like her can go beyond the stereotypes and reach boundaries beyond their expectations. I loved not only her physical transformation (Sonia Sui is gorgeous!) but also her emotional transformation.
My favorite side characters in the drama are easily the women: Rui Xuan, the funny sister-in-law, and He Ai Lin. I liked Rui Xuan because she provided comic relief alongside her husband. He Ai Lin...well she never gave a good first impression but she grew on me. She was the typical beautiful and successful career woman who never seemed to get a break until she married the man who was not her type but who treated her so well. They provided such a strong support for An Zhen and dealt with Wei En like no other woman could!
I just have one gripe: I wish that the character of Wei En was given more layers and that the reasons for the affair were more fleshed out. I didn't really like how she was merely designated as a "psychotic" self-centered mistress worth hating. It was necessary to make the viewers understand why the affair took place on a much deeper level. Was there another reason to the affair aside from the fact that Rui Fan was bored and experiencing some sort of mid-life crisis? When is enough truly enough? What truly went wrong? Not everything can be clearly defined as purely black or white after all. In life, we often deal with and make choices based on grey areas.
Would I recommend this drama though? Yes, definitely! But this calls for a more mature way of thinking since it is a journey in itself. Also, the ending (which i LOVED btw) is not really meant to resolve the main conflict in concrete terms. I'd recommend this simply because the drama proved to me that you can be strong without being bitter and that you can be kind without being a doormat. It's a human story that anybody can relate to. Also, the performances of Sonia Sui and James Wen were really great and their chemistry was good even though they played an estranged married couple.
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Acting/Cast: A Love To Kill is one of Rain's best drama. Although my opinion on his acting has changed and I honestly don't really like him as much as before, I feel that he did a very good job playing out his role in this movie. You'd hate him for his actions, you'd think he's better off dead, but at the same time, you feel sorry for him, you understand his pain and his need to detach himself from every other emotion aside from anger. Although the female lead is mainly victimized throughout the series, I don't dislike her acting-she does do a good job- I just mainly dislike her role and how she seems helpless most of the time. To me, the most interesting character is the male protagonist, but it was just enough to keep me watching. I felt that Rain made him very "cool."
Story: The tension throughout the story was built up very well, perhaps some might call it "overly dramatic" but I think the events that happened really fit the whole story up until the very end. It's an example of the older type of infamous Korea dramas: the type that was filled with angst, sorrow and death but it is also the type that moves us most. So if you watch it, be prepared to cry.
Soundtrack: This series' soundtrack is pretty much my favorite. It's the only OST that I bothered to buy. They had very talented artists like K.Will making it and most of the songs were very emotional. Although I would say that more than half of the songs in the OST are sad songs, there are some light-hearted ones as well. It's the best combination of REAL Korean music and not the mainstream K-pop ones we hear nowadays.
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This review may contain spoilers
Little things left unnoticed may mean very much to you
I've been looking forward to this drama since I heard about it because of its star-studded cast and the victory of the original novel, "Don't Fall in Love With the Boss" (才不要和老板谈恋爱) by Ye Fei Ran (叶斐然), which I haven't read.This drama is told from the perspective of Qian Wei (Song Zu Er), a twenty-eight-year-old woman who was unable to write the exam to become a qualified lawyer for some reason. She now works as an assistant to Lu Xun (Hunag Zi Tao, aka Z. Tao), a former law school classmate. She saw him as an enemy, a rival who made her life as uncomfortable and difficult as possible, even back in college, when he used to beat her in everything she did. She also had an ex, Li Chong Wen, who was her law school senior.
She is involved in an accident that puts her in a coma one day. During this time, she fantasises about returning to her adolescent self, where she knows exactly what will happen. She seizes this opportunity to change her life. She plans her life to be exactly how she wants it to be. She works even harder to reclaim the things she lost to Lu Xun and swears she will never date her ex again. But something went wrong with her plan, and she fell in love with her very rival's younger self, Lu Xun, without realising it.
She awakens from her coma one day, torn between her perfect life in her dream world and the reality. Most importantly, she has lost her lover, Lu Xun, and is unsure whether he is still in love with her. However, she learns from her doctor that what happened in her dreams could be true because her subconcious brain may develop stories that people tell her while she is in coma. She then embarks on her quest to discover whether Lu Xun is truly in love with her.
I expected the typical office romance based on the title, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story's twists and turns. It was both strangely satisfying and entertaining. With their outstanding acting, the cast also contributed significantly to the success of this drama.
Song Zu Er, who plays the female lead, Qian Wei, performed admirably and convincingly in her role. Her acting is natural and adorable, and she can perfectly capture and execute each and every emotion of the character she is given.
When it came to Z.Tao, he was as charming as ever. Please do not avoid this drama because of his hair! He is, without a doubt, one of the best Chinese actors I've seen in a long time. Anyway, I think he looks better with his hair down.
The chemistry between the leads was fantastic! Much of the drama's great praise was directed at its two leads, who proved in this romantic comedy that they were more than just pretty faces.
One thing that I liked about this drama is that all the characters have their own stories to say and are independent of the main leads. They all have their own struggles to deal with and their own lives to live. Even though there was a love triangle in this drama, it was not chaotic or complicated, which improved my opinion of it.
The depiction of love, both romantic and the kind we feel for our family and friends, was excellent! I was moved to tears at times because it touched my heart.
What I liked:
# Unique plot line and its execution
# Good cast and their acting
# Well developed characters
# Independent side characters
# Uncomplicated love triangle
# Effortlessly humorous
What I disliked:
I have nothing to say except for Lu Xun's hair.
Final Thoughts
This is a fantastic college/office rom-com that has raised the bar for similar dramas. This is a fluffy romance show that is perfect for people looking for drama with a unique story line and an amazing cast. I would recommend this drama to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted drama that will make them laugh and cry at the same time.
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Extremely brilliant storytelling
First screened at the Berlinale 2023, this has one of the most complex plotlines ever seen in a Korean movie and yet it was executed perfectly due to its brilliant storytelling. It's sort of an assassin story driven in classical melodrama styling and vintage visuals. The story centers around a killer agency that runs like a hotshot entertainment company where they define contract killing as putting on a show, while Boksoon has the highest rank in the agency, she's also a mom of an adolescent daughter which plays another bigger part of the story. There's a lot of social commentary within its storyline and every bit of it hits the mark sarcastically with black humor. The cinematography and transitions were handled with some spectacular camera movements, every scene was shot beautifully and the action sequences were really breathtaking, and how they treated the ending with love is just impressive.Was this review helpful to you?
BRIDGERTON BUT MAKE IT CHINESE!!!
Finally there’s something new and fresh coming from C-drama!!I trully recommend this drama especially to those who watch bridgerton! At first I thought the story would be all about 3rd daughter & the restaurant owner, but i didnt expect this series to have developing stories episode by episode. Totally invested in their dramaa
at first i was hesitant to watch bcs i thought it would be boring to watch drama with historical background ( chinese dynasty etc) but it turns out to be great! it is delivered in such a modern way that for me, is easy to understand. it maybe confusing to understand the chinese background & old ancient culture but after watching this, i am totally interested!!
recommended!!
[add]: deeply in lovee with the 4th daughter storyline!! wish they have more drama together in the future!! props to the male lead too, very good acting!!
also props to the casting director! i think they really did a great job!!
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