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One more thing, I would suggest watching this drama on Viki, and not Dramafever because Dramafever cut some scenes out of it. I checked the other day because I thought there wouldn't be a difference, but there is.
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A Gentle, Magical Start That Feels Both Refreshing and Emotional
After 1/4 of the year is gone, finally our first Taiwanese BL for 2026 did not disappoint. Wishing upon the Shooting Stars is already proving to be one of those series you just feel connected to from the very first episode. This series has completely drawn me in with its soft, emotional storytelling and unique concept.The premise is honestly one of the most refreshing I have seen in a while. A simple wish turning into something so life changing adds this quiet magical layer to the story. Watching Xiang Yong live under a second identity as Zhong Xiao You is not just interesting, it feels deeply personal. It is less about fantasy and more about rediscovering yourself, your worth, and what you truly want in life.
What makes this even more special is the setting. No flashy city lights, no over the top luxury, just a peaceful hometown that feels warm and real. It is such a nice change from the usual BL settings, and it makes every moment feel more genuine and heartfelt.
And then we have the romance. The return of the high school crush already has me invested. There is something so soft and nostalgic about their dynamic, like unfinished feelings slowly finding their way back. It is subtle, but you can feel the chemistry building, and it makes you want to keep watching just to see how it all unfolds.
The acting so far has been really solid, especially in the quieter scenes where emotions speak louder than words. The music fits perfectly too, adding to that dreamy, slightly magical atmosphere without overpowering the story.
And we can we talk about episode 8 is my favourite episode so far. They cleared up their misunderstanding so quickly instead of dragging it out for a few episodes.
You can really tell how much they love each other during their NC scene. It was filmed so beautifully, one of the best Taiwanese NC scenes I’ve ever seen. I’m honestly speechless.
Unique plot, strong emotions, comforting vibes, and a romance that already has my heart.
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Hanzawa Naoki is the kind of dramas that bumps of the crowd to keep you at the edge of your seat through its astonishing screenwriting, gripping events and high-class acting. This drama didn’t get the highest rating in modern times for naught. It was well worth it from any angle you look at it. You may be wondering: what’s so special about this drama that made people go crazy over it in Japan while the international audience couldn’t care less about it? To find out the answer I had to start this adventure and jump into a world I am not very familiar with: The world of business, bankers and salary men.
Hanzawa Naoki deals with the world of banks which is a non-famous theme for Asian dramas. The story brings the harsh facts about that world to light while focusing on the intense fights that the male lead has to go through in order to survive in that field without abandoning his ideals. What this drama outshines at is the stunning screenwriting and the solid characterization; the storyline was so involving with many twists and turns that will make you eager for more. The smart writing managed to make the events flow by in a thrilling and gripping way without being heavily present or irrationally exaggerated. In terms of directing, I would say that this drama’s business theme was perfectly expressed whether though the well-made cinematography or the nicely chosen shooting angles.
The acting department in this drama was superb; every actor pulled his role in a great way. Extra credits to one of the most phenomenal actors in Japan: Sakai Masato. That man’s acting skills are no joke; he can pull off his roles in a brilliant way and his Hanzawa Naoki’s portrayal is the best proof; he’s a genius actor indeed. And since we’re talking about acting skills, I have to mention the second best actor in this drama: Kagawa Teruyuki who was super amazing as Owada.
Speaking about characters, Hanzawa Naoki owned the show and no one succeeded in stealing the spotlight from him. He’s an overwhelming smart character that will make you absorbed in his intelligent choices and actions. He counts every situation he comes across and he’s always one step ahead of his opponents. Whenever Hanzawa puts the fierce look on his face and starts the “Payback”, get ready to be blown away by his unique way of flipping tables around. As for other characters, each and every one of them was important for the storyline’s development and the characters’ interactions that were beautifully accomplished.
Taken as a whole, I am fully aware why would everyone avoid this type of drama; it has a non-enjoyable theme for most people, no romantic plot and no idol stars as main actors, that’s why I am pretty sure it’s not directed for everyone. However, that doesn’t deny the fact that this is one the best made dramas out there even if it doesn’t get the appropriate attention.
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Story: A whole group of people pulled into a game where there is huge money at stake, surrounded with lies and manipulation - can the truth speak out? It really makes you think - and that's what I liked about it. When you are on a game where lying is key - should you be even more honest? or should you do your best to manipulate others? I myself am a very very bad liar - as soon as I even try and lie - I'll start laughing and end up giving myself away... I am however very suspicious of people and their intentions - I don't trust easily..."Trust is built up over time but it can break in a split second."
Cast: Ha Woo Jin (Lee Sang Yoon) He was one of the biggest reasons I started this drama. & He became my absolute favorite character. His character is insanely attractive and mysterious, and he holds that quality that you know you can trust him no matter what. As soon as he is released from jail he meets Nam Da Jung (Kim So Eun) who asks him to help her on 'Liar Game'. This is my first time seeing her but I absolutely loved her, she's a great actress & I'll be looking forward to more projects by her. She totally fit the part of a naïve honest person. Kang Do Young (Shin Sung Rok) The mastermind of Liar Game - I swear he is evil to his core... Jo Dal Goo (Jo Jae Yun) I loved his character lol - this actor can always make me laugh :P Jamie (Lee El) She was hateful at first but as the show progressed I started to like her (weird) lol
Music: It was intense but I can't say I remember any songs...
Re-watch Value: 9.5 - very high, I will definitely re-watch this someday.
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This review may contain spoilers
So... I just finished this drama and I have a LOT to say. Note: there will be some minor spoilers in here! And, many typos! Because I was very passionate about how I felt about this drama! I have a lot to say! Bear with me!
Before diving into this review, I want to make clear that I'm so happy so many people enjoy this drama! Chinese wuxia dramas go highly unappreciated and are rarely praised to the extent of this drama. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you love this drama, that's great!
With that being said... I've pulled my hair out trying to figure out what all the fuss has been about for this drama.
First things first, the story of this drama feels incredibly odd. There really is no major "conflict" throughout the entire drama, instead many small ones that sporadically occur and get resolved quickly and get all muddled together. And any conflicts that DO occur happen not because they should. What I mean by this is how the plot fails to connect together, the resulting effect of one scenario loosely ties in to the next. For instance, the beginning involves Mo Yuan... and then he just isn't in the drama for 30 episodes. This causes the drama to feel laggy and have zero suspense, because the audience is just constantly expecting what's inevitably going to occur. Further, when something does happen, or a character triggers something to occur, their motivations should align; that's how a story can make sense. I was expecting a big twist or revelation or SOMETHING for everything to all of a sudden make sense, but that never happened.
Now let's talk about characters. As there's no clear conflict that drives the story, you'd expect the characters to be a major reason you'd want to keep watching... but NOPE.
Let's start with Si Yin/Su Su/Bai Qian. I didn't really have a problem with Si Yin other than the fact that she was pretty boring. Honestly, the entire first "world" the drama takes place in is pretty dull, so it's pretty hard for her to make me care. Then, we move on to Su Su. I probably like her the most out of the three, as she's the only one I really felt emotion for. I truly felt pity for her because of the treatment she got as a mortal. As for Bai Qian, she's probably the biggest disappointment of all. She's promised to be an older, wise, witty, strong goddess who kicks ass and drinks all the time. Unfortunately, we get an immature and feeble character who isn't strong to anyone unless she's bullying other women. Legitimately, she only turns "hard" and "strong" when it comes time to use her power against other women (not that some of them don't deserve it, but we'll talk about the "villains" in a bit). She acts rude to what feels like 3/4 of the female cast. If you don't believe me, look at the fact that she immediately becomes timid, soft, and loses all her characteristics when she's around Mo Yuan, Ye Hua, any of her disciple brothers, the king, her brothers, Li Jing, etc.
What's worse than Bai Qian's character, is the relationship between her and Ye Hua. This is probably my biggest problem with this drama, and I've bumped the rating low to a 6 because of this. I haven't seen any reviews really addressing this, so I'm scratching my head wondering if I watched the same drama. Ye Hua borderline sexually harasses her in nearly the ENTIRE third "world" portion of the drama (in the episodes from when Bai Qian reawakens to near the damn end). Ye Hua will jump on top of her, hug her, kiss her, and flirt while she's literally PUSHING him away, exhibiting uncomfortable body language, or telling him to STOP. Is this some kind of unfulfilled fantasy for some people? Is this just a young demographic? Am I in a simulation? Anyways... it's not until near the last ten episodes this changes, and Bai Qian begins to reciprocate affection. Even though her feelings changes that doesn't excuse Ye Hua's behavior prior, and the type of message this sends makes me disgusted. This easily could've been changed by toning own Ye Hua's actions to stop when Bai Qian says no, or just directing Bai Qian's character completely differently. This may seem like an exaggeration, but with such a large audience, dramas need to be aware of the kind of behavior characters act in, even if this medium is only fiction.
Ye Hua doesn't really have a personality, his sole purpose is really to be in love with Bai Qian/Su Su. He used to have somewhat a personality before he meets Su Su, but this pretty much dissolves. Instead of character progression, this character only reverses backwards.
As for Feng Jiu and Dong Hua, they're... fine? They didn't do much harm, but I don't think they added much to the drama either. It's just a stone-faced Dong Hua being chase by a whiny Feng Jiu.
Now we have the villains. I'll be damned if I ever find a drama where the villains aren't some petty jealous women who are jealous of the main lead because they're not as pretty or they don't have the main lead's man or god knows what other stupid reason. Nonetheless, these villains are dumb as hell, they have a stupid motivation, and they are not menacing at all. A villain should be providing a threat, a conflict, an obstacle that stops the hero. Instead, these villains just fill up screen time and provide a major eye roll.
Despite being nearly 60 episodes long, none of the side characters get very fleshed out. Instead, they remain very one-dimensional and forgettable. They're there for the purpose of providing "plot" to the main characters. Albeit, there are MANY, MANY, MANY side characters, so it's kind of hard to make all of them memorable anyways.
Now, on to acting. I've seen Yang Mi in countless dramas, and her acting isn't really anything spectacular or worth major praise, and here's no exception. I think her performance here is adequate, she pulls off the three different characters and cries when she needs to. Mark Chao was pretty decent as well. He can pull off a large variety of expressions convincingly and you can clearly see him acting two different characters. Honestly, I wasn't really blown away by Yang Mi and Mark Chao's chemistry. I don't think it's bad, but I feel pretty underwhelmed after hearing endless comments over how amazing their chemistry was.
However, one thing that bugged me throughout the drama is how awkward the dialogue was delivered. Particularly with the side characters, they literally feel like they are just flat out reading the script in front of you. This isn't really to the fault of the drama, as these character's voices are dubbed so there's no avoiding of this problem.
For cinematography, this drama looks pretty good some scenes but then looks like completely crap in others. The costumes can be overdramatic and look incredibly silly. The CGI is god awful, I'll just put it out there, but when has CGI in Chinese dramas really ever looked good?
But yes, this concludes my rant review of Eternal Love that probably nobody's reading!
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This review may contain spoilers
BEST THING ABOUT THIS SHOW IS THAT IT'S OVER
This show is the worst thing i've ever done to myself and if that's the case with you too, congratulations. You've come to the right place. I have extreme hatred towards everything that happened, specially Tharn. Let's get further into it, you and me. Join me in this journey and scream into a void with me.Starting with the fact how the title is fooling us. It's been 7 minutes since Type and Tharn started dating and not 7 years bec that's how they act. Their relationship has always been toxic but I never expected that they'll have no trust in each other whatsoever. They act like babies and it's frustrating to watch. Definitely not a like couple who has been together for 7 years and that's how you know that the show is already bad.
Moving on, THARN IS HUMANITY'S WORST ENEMY! he is really the worst character. He is obsessed with one thing and one thing only. and that is getting into Type's pants. It's like he can't seem to think of anything else at all. He said he likes type in tank tops and that Type is trying to seduce him by wearing them around the house. ????? What does this even mean? So Type can't even wear comfortable clothing in his own house bec apparently he's "seducing" his sex crazed partner? What an amazing message to convey to the viewers. *SLOW CLAPSSS*. Secondly, his whiny face. He is constantly complaining or crying about something or the other each and every episode. It's really unpleasant, and most importantly, it doesn't make me feel bad for him at all because he's a full grown man. It's just repetitive and shows that Tharn has no other personality trait.
I can never wrap my head around the fact that Tharn saw Fiat kissing Type but not when Type pushed him away and yelled at him? How is that even possible? Anyway, that whole plot was garbage.
Let's talk about Type a bit now, he was genuinely doing so well. The only character who grew up and was acting like an adult. His character development was interesting to watch and it made the show a little bearable. BUT NO, they had to go ahead and ruin that by showing ugh the whole Fiat kidnapping and assault plan. YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT. IT WAS ASSAULT AND IT IS NOT ROMANTIC AT ALL. What Fiat did was wrong but this was not the way to deal with it all!! Because assault is never the answer to anything! whether it's physical or mental. It traumatised Fiat and will probably affect him for the rest of his life. There were 847567475 ways to deal with this but the writer of the novel has always been obsessed with assault and non consensual scenes so I wasn't surprised. Disappointed , YES FOR SURE but not surprised. Considering the fact that Type is a victim of assault himself, he should've known what it can do to a person and would not have done what he did. Now that's what Type after 7 years of graduation would've done because that's how a rational grown up will react. But it's been 7 minutes and not 7 years so what can we do. Also, why was Type interested in Fiat's love life more than clearing things out with Tharn or making sure that he's doing alright?? I would never understand.
Type's dad is another garbage character. He's been complaining about the same thing since 7 years. Homophobia was never funny to me and never will be. He is extremely annoying and overbearing and he makes me wanna punch a wall. He didn't resist telling his committed son (repeatedly) that he should find a "beautiful" girl and get married to her. The worst part of it all is that he's been against the relationship for 7 years but immediately agrees to it once Tharn's sister Thanya comes to visit? WHY? Because she's his favorite actress? I can't get over this shit. Speaking of unbearable characters, Techno. I actually liked him in the first season. But again, they had one good thing but they tried soo hard that they ended up ruining that too. He doesn't stop talking and is clowning ALL. THE. DAMN. TIME.
The last episode was extremely boring and dragged. I really didn't understand why we got to see Thorn's wedding for 20 mins since I never connected with the couple, they had a total 15 mins of screen time in the whole season but we're somehow supposed to feel heartfelt and enjoy their wedding for the majority of the season finale? Shit is not adding up for me.
Saving the best for last, DocChamp. Except for type's bald egg, they were the cutest, most unproblematic couple. But we hardly got to see them because of course, they weren't toxic so why would we? Right? But I loved them regardless because they denoted hope in a way and I always looked forward to their scenes.
Leo and Fiat were cute too but only when they were on their own. The constantly crying Fiat hurt my eyes and honestly, I was least interested but I wouldn't have minded more LeoFiat. They had endless oppurtunities with the side couples but ended up taking advantage of none. All we saw was the same toxicity again and again on a loop.
For me personally, this show was worse than the first season. It was a complete disaster. Every week I watched because I was one episode closer to the end. MewGulf are extremely talented actors and I would really like to see them in another series again and hopefully something good. They did a great job but the storyline was just not it for me. I'm glad this show is over because we really don't need any more of it to be honest.
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A lesson learned
Don't judge a book by its cover is a saying you hear time and again. For me it was an perfect example of that.I wasn't going to watch this drama. It looked too dark and the age gap between the leads was too much to accept. But on a whim I decided to start it anyway and I have no regrets.
The story is not a noona romance, nor is it about two individuals supporting eachother through hardship. It is much deeper than that. Eventhough it was sad and gloomy and heartbreaking, I looked forward to new episodes each week. It was at times predictable and I didn't always agree with the direction of the story but it kept me fully engaged and ended on a satisfactory note.
When it comes to acting, everyone did an good job, particularly Kim Nam Joo. She expressed the grief and desperation of losing a child beautifully. That said, it was Cha Eun Woo's performance that made the drama truly memorable. I could feel Seon Yul's pain and desperation as if it were my own. This was easily the best performance of his career. I'm glad he's finally taking on darker, more mature roles, it really suits him. On a side note, while Cha Eun Woo has always been attractive, in this drama he is next level handsome.
The music and cinematography were on point. It was haunting and bittersweet. These two elements really suited the sombre mood of the drama.
Looking back, I'm glad I watched the drama while airing. This is not the kind of drama you can binge. You have to experience it a little bit at a time to not let it overwhelm you. No matter how great a drama it is, I don't think I'll ever rewatch it. I already know the twists and turns. The surprise element is gone.
To summarize, I consider Wonderful World to be among the best dramas so far this year. Don't be like me and judge it based on superficial things. Just give the drama a chance, and you will be hooked in no time.
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This review may contain spoilers
I just finished the drama and needed a few hours to collect my thoughts. My review is going to be pretty unpopular as i did not love the drama. This is extremely weird for me as i adore the cast ( especially the 2 leads, In Guk and So Min) but the story overall is just okay. The plot left me feeling shortchanged at the end of it. This review contains spoilers so please stop reading if you have yet to watch the drama.**SPOILER ALERT**
Jin Gook is the saving grace for this drama. He has so much empathy and depth. Sung Woong did such an outstanding job bringing him to life. I could feel his despair, frustration and helplessness towards the whole situation. I didn't cry at the end when the leads died but cried terribly when Jin Gook ran into the house. Poor guy gonna live with even more guilt for the rest of his life...
Despite liking the core of Jin Gook's character, i couldn't get over the following inconsistencies to the story.
The stabbing scene... There was hardly any reaction nor consequences to it. Everyone just went about their lives as though it never happened soon after. Jin Kang just treated her brother as per normal. Like i can't fathom how could one stand being in the same room as someone who just stabbed your boyfriend? And also his colleagues just kept him in the team and rejected his resignation despite his shocking confession ... I really don't get it.
The way the team treated Jin Gook was so uncalled for. It was as though Jin Gook set out to kill with ill intentions but it was never the case. Yes. He shot someone and that person died. But it was all out of self-defence and it's nothing out of the ordinary for a policeman. I hated the fact that the writers built up so much suspense for this and at the end of it, I was left thinking "wait...That's it?".
Let's talk also about poor Seung Ah. She was totally dispensable to the story. Her whole life was pretty much a joke. For her to die off "in the name of love" with someone who didn't care one bit for her, to having her"bf" and bestfriend falling in love immediately after the accident, how much more pathetic can her character get? Soon after she died, they basically erased her from the story. No traces of Seung Ah whatsoever until that one scene where Moo Young breaks up with Jin Kang . I just wish they did more with her character (the same can be said about Cho Rong). I can't understand how Jin Kang is such BFF with her (Crying that hard at the funeral) and yet do such a thing to her.
And oh yes, don't get me started on the ending as well. How abrupt was that? ! Also, lack of chemistry between the leads is a little painful at times. There's way more i could say but i shall stop myself here.
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This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful Heartwarming Xianxia! BFTB saved me from its Youku Predecessor!
TTEOTM and BFTB is completely unrelated in story, just to be clear... It's just that the comparison for me is... One is heaven (Back from the Brink ; Huxin), the other is Hell (Till the end of the Moon). How can two dramas by Youku gave me two polar opposite feelings? But this is exactly how I feel.Honestly, I want to take this time, to express my gratitude to this drama: Back from the Brink (Hu Xin): Thank you for giving me this Drama, where I can heal my heart/pain from its predecessor Youku Drama: Till the end of the Moon (TTEOTM). One of the many things I'm grateful for is that BFTB was aired after TTEOTM because after the traumatized experience, came the healing process for me in BFTB, and this is all I ever could have asked for, in a story and pairing that I came to really love.
This isn't my first time I have seen Xianxia Genres, as a matter of fact, I really love Xianxia genres and have seen a lot on them. I have to express that while I have seen a lot of xianxia dramas, not many can make it into my top favourite, but this drama definitely take a top spot in my favourite Chinese drama. It is also the first time where it makes me want to add this drama CP: Tian Yao and Yan Hui as my no.1 Favourite Xianxia Drama CP, because before all this, while I do love the other Xianxia Drama CP, I love them all equally as much, in different dramas, never I actually thought of putting them as no.1, but for TianHui (Tian Yao x Yan Hui), it's the first time I want to put them as my no.1, and I am officially putting them as my no.1 Favourite Chinese Xianxia Drama CP!
In terms of pairing chemistry, and this pairing as the overall, you just got to love them! They are naturally so compatible with each other. They visually look great when they are together (even the people on set has said that too), and in terms of the pairing story, it is a gradual process where their feelings for each other grown through their travels and Journeys together. But honestly, what I love about the pairing Tian Yao and Yan Hui is that, their love for each other is EQUAL. Normally in other Xianxia Drama's there will always be a side that has a deeper love for the other in comparison, but for these two, I love how the writers have written them like this, because it really made me enjoyed their relationship. Equal Love, Equal Sacrifice, Tacit Understanding, their love for each other is really strong, and it is definitely a HEALTHY relationship.
For me personally, there are definitely scenes I really love, e.g. the scene when Tian Yao sacrificed himself to save Yan Hui, it was so heart wrenching and sad, but yet it was really touching for me, I remember that night I cried so much that my eyes hurts.... But I don't regret watching that scene because it gave me the feels that I really love.
Tian Yao is really a loveable character in my eyes, his past and what happened to him and how he came to have relationship PTSD was understandable how he can't open his heart to Yan Hui at the beginning, Tong Luo Village is also the starting point to their relationship, but I really love how Yan Hui warm herself into his heart, because she showed him that how she feels about him is nothing in comparison to how Su Ying feels about him, and that Yan Hui is someone who sincerely loves him with her whole heart. Tian Yao is someone who really uses words in a very poetic way/in a more deeper meaning to convey his love across, and he's definitely better at writing it out than actually saying it, and I was honestly really touched with what he wrote in his nuptial agreement to Yan Hui. The fact that he was the one who requested that to be written on an ink that last forever just makes me love him even more for that! I also love it when he came to really accept his feelings, and chase after Yan Hui to earn back her forgiveness, I really love him during those moments, to see how much he's come and grown in terms of character developments. Tian Yao is also someone who will silently sacrifice and give things to Yan Hui without her needing to know it, that's actually one of the points I actually love about him, since he's not looking at getting anything in return, or for Yan Hui to repay him, he just wants Yan Hui to be safe and happy. He's truly a selfless person when he came to love Yan Hui on his end. He's definitely among my favourite character in this drama, not to mention the time when he's Long BaoBao is really adorable!! Before seeing those scenes, I didn't think I will come to love him as Long Baobao, but Neo(HMH) has convinced me and I love the way how he's more upfront and open with his feelings for her, which is nice to see some acting capabilities from Hou Ming Hao in playing the different characters there.
Yan Hui IMO, is one of the best Female Lead we don't get in Xianxia Drama often, she is actually not those typical Female Lead that we see often. So it is really refreshing to see. I am glad her character is written like this. At least she is Infinite times better than Li Su Su (Till the End of the Moon). For Yan Hui, I love her character growth from the beginning to the end, and when she's come to love Tian Yao, she really shows it in a very sincere way. Although she misunderstood Tian Yao for not valuing her life when he took back the HPS, so during that time, I honestly, like how her character was handled. She can't forgive Tian Yao easily despite she understood why Tian Yao have to do it, but she is actually quite reasonable with how she handled the situation. It is also thanks to this, I get to see Tian Yao putting in the effort to chase after her. I felt like this drama is really magical in a way that, we are going through the process like Yan Hui where it's a gradual process, where the writer made it believable when she opens her heart to Tian Yao to love him again. Although for me, I have forgiven Tian Yao way back then, because I understood why he did it, and I know he wouldn't have done it if there's another choice. The main thing was for Tian Yao, he really ensured that Yan Hui will not die if he take back the HPS, that's what I love about him, and why I can forgive him on my end. But ofcourse Yan Hui doesn't know what Tian Yao sacrificed, so we can't blame her.
People didn't like the Stab scene when Tian Yao took back the HPS, but for me, in terms of writing perspectives, I understood why it needed to go down that route, and why Tian Yao couldn't reveal the truth to her, not because he didn't want to, but because the writers have no intention to let him tell her the truth. If he did told her the truth, than we wouldn't have those developments we came to love in the later part of the story, so for me, I honestly did love how it was handled by the writers there.
The only thing I didn't like was how the writers not have Yan Hui said "Wo Ai Ni"(I love you) instead the writers have her saying "Wo Xihuan Ni" (I like you). If it's the beginning I can understand why she would use Xihuan, but the her in the later stages(after everything), I felt it is more meaningful if the writers should have her use 愛(ai) instead.
For me honestly when Yan Hui said 喜歡(xi huan), I take it as love already I just wish the writers would use 愛(ai) instead since when 喜歡(xi huan) is used and said it does felt like it's downgrading her feelings and that's probably why I don't like it. But to me , her feelings for Tian Yao is 愛(ai) strong enough to be put into the level of love. So in context of when Yan Hui said 喜歡(xi huan), for me I will just interpret it as 愛(ai) instead. Since we know how much she loves him.
Now with all that being said, Tian Yao and Yan Hui are the epitome of true love. Their love for each other is really admirable, how they are both devoted, loyal and will protect each other in those times, how they really portray their love and their relationship to be very equal to me. There is no Tian Yao loving Yan Hui more, or Yan Hui loving Tian Yao more in my eyes, since I see their love is EQUAL. This is what I love about them on my end. They also have a very strong bond that I come to love, and another one of my favourite moments was when they did the CP Test together, since it shows how compatible they are with each other.
The story has a theme that I really love as well:
"Will you choose to save one person" OR
"Sacrifice one person to save the world"?
The Correct Answer has been highlighted: "To save the person you love over saving the world". The key theme behind this is... If you can't save the one person you love, how can you think about saving the world? It's only when you can save that one person, then you two can work together to save the world (kinda theme). So the first and foremost is to save the one you love. It's really refreshing, and I love this revelation being the correct answer, because I am tired of characters choosing to save the world, and sacrifice the one they love...
Both Tian Yao and Yan Hui, respectively in the CP Test, they chose to save each other. This CP Test not only showed how compatible they are with each other, but how they feel about each other is the same, so I really love how that was brought forward for the viewers to see.
In terms of the story pacing, for me, it's not draggy at all, I felt like each episode really went by so fast, and I actually subscribed to Youku and watch it on Youku App on my phone (joined VIP) so I can support this drama view-counts, and also because I always look forward to a new episode. I always look forward to 8PM every weekday nights to watch this drama, and I am going to miss those times. Weekend seems so long for me, because Youku don't air it on the weekend. It's also the first time a drama will make me not like Friday because the next two days will be a weekend for me, and not new episodes, so this drama is really an eye opener to show how much I came to really love it!
For Ending side of things, I am Happy with the Ending, I got something more than what I could have asked for, since it is better than some drama's that ends with a "Last Minute Happy Ending", but for Hu Xin (Back from the Brink), they have more interactions, they actually talk, and we get a final kiss between them! So I am eternally grateful that they gave me this happy ending! Finally a happy ending between the relationship of a Dragon and a Human lover.
I personally also really love how the Final Battle is handled with the whole Yin and Yang concept, and how it shows Tian Yao and Yan Hui working together as one to defeat the final villain once and for all, there's a lot of parallel and highlight that I love, which I have talked about in this thread here: https://kisskh.at/discussions/hu-xin/106609-ending-explanation?pid=2611095&page=1#p2611095
Zhou Ye and Hou Ming Hao, you two truly have chemistry! I really hope you can film another (and many more) modern day romance drama where you are the Main CP, and have many sweet and romantic moments, and I definitely will look forward to some (umm > w < ) Passionate Kiss scenes between you two! That's one thing Hu Xin lack for me, but if I am going to blame anyone, I will blame the directors for not knowing how to give advice for kissing scenes >.< LOL. But anyways, not saying I don't love the kiss scenes in Hu Xin, I will take what I can get, and when they did kiss, I can still fangirl on it, and when they hug each other, how can just a simple hug make me fangirl on them? This is when I know I have come to love this CP so much, and I am glad they can get their happy ending in the end.
I love the many OST's in this Drama! Definitely on my Album to listen to over and over again!
Rewatch Value: Definitely going to rewatch again!!!! <3 I can go through the journey again from the beginning to the end, and while I am not a fan of amnesia plots to be honest, because I tend to not like seeing the development starting over again and them getting to know each other again.... And the whole losing one identity that I don't like, but I got to say that Hu Xin (Back from the Brink) handled it really well. I am sure a lot of people agree to this, since I have seen it in the comments <3
I am going to miss Tian Yao and Yan Hui!! T__T I think I might just go and check out the novel on my end, because I want to see what the novel is like, I have started a few chapters in, but didn't finish it, I guess it's a good time to resume on my end.
I also want to add my note by saying, Bai Xiao Sheng, I was skeptical to like him at first, then I came to did like him since he's the matchmaker for my OTP (Tian Yao x Yan Hui) then I came to really dislike him to the point I feel like punching him because..... *well won't spoil that for you, you will see for yourself when you watch it * but by the end, he got his character development, so he's back to the character I like LOL.
With that all said, this comes the end of my review now.... So what are you waiting for?! Go watch this drama if you have not already!!! I definitely recommend this drama to everyone especially xianxia lovers!!! It is a drama you should NOT miss out!! At the end of the day, I will do my best to recommend this to you, however, whether you watch it or not, it's up to you. In my eyes if you don't watch it, you'll just miss out!!
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1Remarkable drama
I can honestly say this is one of the most powerful, well written poignant dramas i have ever watched on Asian or british websites. I binge watched the complete series and it was the quickest 4 hours of my life.the young actors were just jaw-droppingly good, the music was perfection and for the first time ever watching an Asian drama i am going to read the webtoon this drama was based upon.I cannot praise this piece of work highly enough, the storyline fast fast paced, my attention didn’t waver for a single moment, i am just awestruck at the quality of the acting, the writing, the music, i just hope everyone “gets it” the way i did.
You have a rare treat in store my fellow viewers
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I liked the drama concept, but I want it more!
Let’s start with the visual, I love the vivid colors of the hanboks and the scenery. The storyline was Soso it was monotonous and kept repeating over and over again. I love the actors they chose for this drama however I think the lead female could have dove deeper into her part. It would’ve been nice to see the couples develop more and it would have also would have been nice to have seen the differences between the twins. I love that they had an overweight person in the selection, process you don’t usually see that in a K drama.Was this review helpful to you?
The story itself is an okay one, but one that most of us who have watched dramas surrounding corruption and prosecution should expect with a few twists and turns that give City of Evil it's heart. As it gets towards the end it loses some of the plot and some plots holes (to me) never really get resolved or in the midst of so many plot devices, get lost in the overall story. However, the gem in this drama isn't the story line, but the heart of the cast who did a beyond amazing job with their characters. There isn't one character you won't be rooting for, you won't cry for, from main cast to supporting—and if you watch close enough, you may recognize a familiar face or two from Bad Guys. Above all, Bad Guys and City of Evil are the exact same in one area—the teamwork and camaraderie between the characters is really admirable and what I really watch for.
It's packed with great action scenes, and the music score and OSTs from the drama help set a really great mood for such a dark drama. I don't think I'll really ever rewatch this drama much as I did Bad Guys, but I overall really enjoyed watching it and suggest it for somebody who wants an action packed drama with really great acting. It dives right into the chaos and you just get to go along for the ride.
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My Teacher was interesting in that it did not just have the common plotline but also addressed some of the issues associated with student-teacher relationships. Especially in that case that someone witnesses it, and how that can spiral out of control from rumors, losing one’s job, and everything in between. I liked theses realistic aspects added in, and I felt it gave a more complete view on the topic.
In addition, the acting was great! There was definitely chemistry between the leads, despite the age gap. Also, I enjoyed all the side characters and subplots. The cinematography was also wonderful, which is a rare find in the youth romance genre! To its core it was a movie the demonstrated how love comes in many forms, and how these forms change you and those around you. Additionally, the soundtrack was fitting, but was not a standout, in and of itself.
Overall good movie that is worth watching if you want a youth, school, romance. Although, in this genre, I found Kinkyori Renai MORE enjoyable.
Happy Drama Watching!! :)
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I found myself singing along with the OSTs so much my mom got so annoyed and threatened to unplug the computer if I didn't stop said singing. The music flowed to the scenes, but i will say you;ll get distracted by the story more so than the OST, however it's still really awesome.
This story has awesome side characters and very attention grabbing side stories. The nonchalant AND aggressive jealousy was a sight to see. You grow an attachment to all the characters and you really take a feel for them whether you love, hate, whether want to throttle them, stuff them neatly into a bag of cotton balls, or pinch their cheeks just hug them! :)
In Conclusion: This drama has become one of my ForeverFavorites
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As a drama veteran, I've abstained from writing a review because 1) I'm too lazy and 2) there were enough reviews from everyone else, so I had no motivation to add to the pile.
However, this drama is different. The Tempest is an amazing drama, and yet not many people have watched it. Technically, it doesn't really matter to me whether people watch it or not, but really...this drama deserves to be found and appreciated.
Overall, The Tempest is reminiscent of the first arc of the anime Otogi Zoshi, if any of you have watched it. The heroine goes undercover as a man and practically lives and breathes for the country and its people. What drives the plot is not romance. Instead, the drama focuses its fast pace on the conflicts that face the country as well as the political intrigue inside the Shuri Castle.
Son Neion never let me down as a character. She was strong, determined, and yet also flawed in a way that made her so human. Nakama Yukie has delivered once again.
So basically, if you want to get away from the romance-y dramas for a while and instead go for a heroine who is smart and capable coupled with a solid plot, watch The Tempest.
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