Reviews

for those who have a second male lead syndrome and want some unique story with a likeable heroine

Have you ever had a filling that a heroine and a second lead are meant to be together? They have great chemistry, understanding of one another and generally bring the best in each other? Yet for a reason as old as kdramas, they won't ever end up together?
So what if these characters were given the mind of their own? How would story unfold then? Well, thats basically what this whole kdrama is about and you know what? It is genious.
The writer/director very successfuly captures the basic criterias for usual cliched love triangles.
Now, we have two love triangles:
1.
Kyung - the typical jerk male lead who is cold towards heroine yet is excussed because he has a tragic past
Dan oh - clingy heroine who loves ml no matter what and has health cindition
Haru - second lead who is mature and caring and has kind of bromance with ml.
2.
Namjoo - popular and rich ml
Jooda - poor and submissive fl
Dohwa - cheerful and charming sl
This drama perfectly portrays everything wrong with such triangles. It shows how fls are often owershadowed and consumed by ego of mls. You could say that whenever they have scenes together, its always about mls and their wishes. Drama does a great job exposing how in these typical relationships, a female leads wrong being benefits male lead since heroine becomes dependant on him and stuck with him.
Things are completly different when fls are with second leads. They are equal with them. Yet it is never meant to be. I especially liked how well the story is packed in a way that it was able to convice me as a viewer that Haru is not what is meant to be a ml.
Extraordinary you is first and foremost a romance story. I do enjoy this genre but im very critical of it since i rarely encounter a story which is both engaging and believeable without being sexist. I ended up being very satisfied with romance in this drama. It is hands down, one of the most beautiful and tragic romances in unconventional way.


The theme is not the old and tried amnesia. Its more about author/character relation which takes inspiration from absurdist literature. It is quite tricky subject and i was surprised how well it was explored.
Along with criticizing traditional kdrama pairings, this drama also criticizes repetitiveness and unwillingness to chance even if story itself requires it. So, constant memory loss serves the purpose of showing us how author takes the freedom away from their creations by putting them in cliched positions.
In the end tho, (spoiler) Dan Oh and Haru won. Since they are nameless in new manhwa and can be free.


Acting is great. Really natural and without exggeration. I was surprised that Haru is played by an idol. Actress who plays Dan oh managed portraying bigger than life, cheerful, stubborn and determined heroine without comic exaggeration and it didnt feel forced at all.

As for characters, they are definitely the higlight of the series. Especially Dan oh which is rare because usually in kdramas fls dont get much character with complexity ( its changing now tho ). Dan oh is funny and extra yet she is not annoying or naive. She deals with existential crisis throughout this drama.
As for Haru, he is everything we love about second leads. He is caring and kind towards Dan oh and their relationship is based on trust and understanding. Their scenes together were so heartwarming and chemistry was just electrifying.
Kyung, he is the ml out of the triangle in the comics world and supposedly second lead of this drama but it doesnt feel this way at all. In this Dan oh centered story, Haru and Baek seem to have role of similar importance. It is good decision on the writers part for two reasons: first, this way sl isnt there just to create mild obstecle for ml. He and Dan oh have a special bond. Second, this way we still have feeling that he is the one who is supposed to be a ml.

Soundtrack is very balanced. I usually dont like how overly dramatic and always present the soundtrack is in kdramas but this one had a very good choice of songs that captured the mood of the drama.

This drama had great potential and it exceeded expectations like no other drama i have seen. It started with good quality and remained such throughout the drama. And believe me, as a experienced series viewer, from star trek tos to westworld, i know thing or two about good quality series.

In short, it is one of the best kdramas out there even in non-kdrama standards with a very original and kind of philosophical themes such as free will/determinism and the dilemma of whether or not being awarne of your fate is worth it if you cant do anything about it.

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Eveil, evil, corruption and greed, so what is not to like?

If you are here for the romance, then back away and go watch something else.... However if you are here for an interesting plot with twists, greed, corruption, cruelty, evil, more evil... so much evil that I thought of renaming it children of evil... and some more corruption privileged brats! With a side of friendship, sweetness, and maybe a small drop of romance in a lovely frame of umbrellas. This is the right place for you!

This drama is actually pretty hilarious with lots of great dark humour and one liners... that play a little bit with other well know n dramas that deal with corrupt parents going to great lengths for paving the way over other children so that their children can get a head.... So if you like that type of theme you will probably enjoy this too.

There where a few small issues here and there that bothered me including their portrayal of people becoming so obsessed that they go insane in a pretty stereotypical way. The last episode was also a bit of a mess most of the time... making the pace, sloooooooooow, slooooow, fast, slooow. slow... mess...


The teens here did a amazing job, and so did the leads portraying characters with all kinds of development and personality changes... And It was done brilliantly!

There where plenty of people here to bring out your inner anger and frustration, fun PPL and pretty cinematography with a decent OST, making math look both pretty and even a tad sexy, so hats off to the creators for achieving the impossible.

This was also mid to highly bingable, and most certainly worth watching.

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Cheap Love is a story about two people from very different walks of life meeting each other and falling in love.

Junichi is to all intents and purposes a loser and lowlife. He is a nightclub scout which means he talks girls and women he meets on the street into working for the nightclub and/or adult video industry. Nanami on the other hand is a straight laced music teacher at a girls school. She leads a very staid and mundane life. She is looking for excitement and something different. She has a chance meeting with Junichi which then leads her to have a conflict with the decisions she has made in her life.

Around the same time her father arranges a marriage meeting for her with a colleague from his office. This man is really keen on getting married to her and so she sees a normal ordinary life stretching out and on the other hand a life of danger and unpredictability with Junichi. The story then follows her inner struggle in doing what her parents and society expect her to do and what she really wants.

Junichi for all his street smart conman ways is quite naive and vulnerable. People use him and take advantage of him. He assumes responsibility for his friend who looks up to him as a role model. It is apparent from the odd comment that Junichi would have liked to better himself but unfortunately society has labelled him as a lowlife loser and he has found it difficult to break free from the only life he knows.

The acting by Sorimachi Takashi, who incidentally I had never seen before, was excellent. He played the character with a lot of swagger and cocky confidence which is masking an inner hurt and vulnerability. Nanami is played by Tsuruta Mayu and she played her role well too.

Do not be put off by the fact that this is an old drama 1999. It does not feel as dated as more recent K dramas I have seen. The story is very good and the romance between the main couple is compelling.

The music - we have some classical pieces as obviously she is a piano teacher. And also some nice instrumentals. The main theme song is a song by Shania Twain which sort of fits the mood of the drama I suppose although it's a genre of music which doesn't really appeal to me.

All in all I would highly recommend this drama...... that is if you can find it!

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My favorite vigilante gang ever

Going into this knowing it was thriller/romance, I already knew I would love it. But I wasn't prepared for how powerful the social message would be. In fact, I think this turned out to be more sociopolitical, and the thriller was kind of a side dish, but as someone who loves when there are stakes for the characters outside of themselves, it was perfect to see. It made the plot seem so much bigger than I expected without ever making it feel like the main characters were over-important or had plot armor.

Character-wise, I absolutely loved SeanWhite together and as individuals — it was beautiful to watch them fall in love while dealing with the looming secret identity reveal and the stress of starting a social movement. They’re definitely the best part of the show.

The side characters were really fleshed out as well: Yok, Dan, Gram, Gumpa, and even the female characters were generally good additions to the cast.

The only character I might’ve wanted to see more of would’ve been Black, who not only had such a powerful on-screen presence thanks to Gun’s amazing acting but also was probably one of the best-written characters in the show and the perfect example of how “things unsaid” can be the most heart-wrenching things ever if the writers do it well.

Black’s best scenes were with White (once again, amazing acting) and then Todd — call it toxic but but the chemistry between them was absolutely palpable. Black/Gram was absolutely something I became invested in straightaway and I’m still sad the show went in a different direction. It’s not a deal-breaker (nothing was, considering how much I still ended up loving this show) but it’s a shame the red herring turned out to be more intriguing than the truth.

I think that’s why some people having been saying the thriller part was predictable, but I personally don’t completely agree. I don’t think it was the most twisted whodunnit, but once White joined the group (basically episode 2) it became clear that there would be so much more to the story.

Overall, such a great watch. I'm so satisfied by the ending and there are definitely scenes I'll go back to. Also — the theme song is so good, I didn't skip it ONCE.

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Better than a lot of craps being shown right now.

What to like:
1. Cutipies! Ben, Jim , Olan! Yum yum yum!;
2. Good subtle acting(except maybe Yana). Some people say that Ben is a bit humanoid with weird facial expressions, I kinda agree (its like watching a male version of Kristen Stewart who almost always looks like she needs to take a crap when she needs to show emotion) BUT its also part of why i like Teejay's acting, it is closer to how people actually act in real life. Also, i like his small nuances that shows the gayness of the character;
3. Flo, i love Flo;
4. Above average cinematography;

What to hate:
1. Creepy watching by the window scenes, like for real, its not polite to openly watch your neighbor through your window;
2. I know Ben and Jim are the main protagonists but the series treated the secondary characters like crap just to move the story forward
- BLs have a sad habit of relegating female characters as useless background characters. They could have made Yana a proper lovable character so we'd feel attached and sorry for her. I love Flo but she was a glorified sidekick, does she not have anything important going on with her life?
- How they handled Olan's character was a bit too low. They made us love him and then just dumped him like a sad kitty;
3. The whole Covid setting was used just for convenience but lacks consistency. Not everyone was wearing protection, the characters were always outside (using being a frontliner as an easy excuse). Is Leo a frontliner too, how can he go to Ben's place so easily? How can Yana hitchride with Olan without mask? If you dont want the character to wear masks, then dont use the COVID setup;
4. Things escalated too quickly - one day Jim was so inlove with Yana and the next he was announcing to the world his love for Ben. I know they tried to show him caring for Ben, even calls him wifey and all, but it wasnt implied he was gay enough to really be his lover. Was he infected with a gay virus? Was it the lack of chemistry? Was it Jerome's ineffective acting?
5. The way they were trying to ship Olan and Yana. I seriously hope they wouldnt put them together, cause it feels like they are going to do that in the second season;
6. I hate Leo and that useless Ben and Jim's families conflicts.

Would i rewatch, yes probably, maybe just a quick skimming before the second season. Overall its a good and appreciated effort from a big studio, certainly better than a lot of the crappy telenovelas in philippine tv. I hope a lot more can be brave enough to tell these kind of stories and maybe one day it will be more mainstream. Overall, i give it 4 stars aout of 5.

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Comfort series with introverts in a charming relationship

"Ameiro Paradox" is one of those dramas that are not complex, but even though very enjoyable to watch. There is no extensive network of connections between characters, no digging into their pasts, and no twists and turns. I came across the term "comfort series" the other day, and I think this drama fits the category perfectly.

Yes, I love to lose myself in multi-layered plots and breathtaking frames. But, for balance, I like stories that warm my heart. That's why "Ameiro Paradox" will stay in my memory for a long time.

The main characters are Onoe and Kaburagi, who work for the weekly gossip magazine Dash! - Onoe as the reporter, Kaburagi as the cameraman. They are assigned to work as a duo, which is not convenient for them. Onoe follows ethical principles in life, while Kaburagi has nothing to do with them in case of getting a scoop. Onoe despises Kaburagi's flirtatiousness, and Kaburagi is annoyed by Onoe's naivety.

At first glance, they are different and do not fit together as partners at work, let alone a romantic relationship.

However, as history progresses, it turns out they have as much in common as they differ. Just like the fact they are both introverts. Their dislike for each other is incredibly short. Most of the story is feigned dislike, which only adds charm to their relationship.

Onoe is fascinated to discover that Kaburagi actually has a gentle personality. The hard shell is something that Kaburagi created because of and for the work. Onoe is the only one who manages to break through it. While he doesn't endorse Kaburagi's methods of achieving goals, Onoe also admires that he always gets what he wants.

Kaburagi admires that Onoe stays at peace with himself even in such environment. Onoe appears to him as pure, unsullied in this dirty world. He notices his brilliance, analytical thinking, and ability to connect the dots. Looking at his advantages, even his flaws, such as clumsiness or naivety, seem winsome.

At some point in the story, there is a misunderstanding between them. Onoe is carrying out the action alone, without Kaburagi and it ends successfully. While Onoe is very pleased with himself, Kaburagi becomes cold and distant towards him. Why is he sulking for no reason, is he a hypocrite? After all, he is the one who deceives people to achieve a goal, so why is he so offended when Kaburagi only did his job well? What's this about?

When they worked as a duo, there was a kind of division of blame. When Onoe went on a mission alone, it stripped him of his innocence. Kaburagi always wanted to protect him during their work - not only from direct threat as kidnapping or abusing. He didn't want Onoe to become cold and soulless like him. Poor Onoe, he just wanted to show himself as an independent individual who could be as good at investigating as Kaburagi. It took the opposite turn than intended.

Fortunately, the characters explain everything to each other in the end. Their love is sweet, charming, and this is the warmth in the heart that I wrote about at the beginning.

Coming to the end of my review, I have to mention Masayan, Onoe's friend who runs the pub. The pub is Onoe's contemplative area, and Masayan is the voice that allows him to gather his thoughts, put together mismatched puzzle pieces, and helps him make a decision. In dramas we often deal with a phenomenon - I would call it - talking for talking's sake. Good friends but lousy advisory. I'm not saying there should be philosophical treatises, but I can't stand truisms and pointless advice. Here we have one of the most valuable characters in dramas at all. We need more of them! Such friends in real life too :).

As for me, the drama has the potential for the second season! I'd love to see further adventures in Kaburagi's and Onoe's demanding work and how their relationship develops.

Favorite quotes:

1)
Onoe: - I just thought if you had to do it against your will, I would do it myself. Because I knew you didn't like that kind of task. […] And I didn't want to see you suffering. So I offered to do it instead.
Kaburagi: - But I'd rather do it myself than let you do it for the same reason as you.

2)
Onoe: - You know, you always smell good.
Kaburagi: - Really? But I didn't wear any perfume.
Onoe: - It's probably the shampoo.
Kaburagi: - So… If we live together, we'll smell the same.

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Have you ever built a sandcastle at the beach? Perhaps you spent hours under the warm sun, carefully sculpting each fine grain with the precision of an architect. Up came the walls, the keep, the towers; your ambitious fingertips caressed open windows, kissed detail into the facade. When your labors ceased, there stood a work of art (now beautiful, a thing to be admired) where once was but formless sand. At that time, did you know your lovely castle was destined to crumble? That soon, the ocean must exert its endless force and by rolling waves down would come the towers, down the keep, down the walls. Gone again would be your castle, returned to wind-battered shore.

Suna no Utsuwa (Vessel of Sand) spins a tale of unavoidable fate, embodying this sort of transient beauty with dark resonance. We follow pianist Waga Eiryo, a secretive man running from his past…and the cruel destiny he believes might also shape his future. Just when it appears he has shed both, a face from his troubled childhood resurfaces to torment him once again. One moment lost to passion and a sharp shove is all it takes—in rush the waves ready to destroy his new life. So begins our tale of murder and mystery, tragedy and deception, of happiness which crumbles like so much sand.

This series will haunt me for a long time to come. Understated as it is, Suna no Utsuwa nonetheless delivers an elegant atmosphere with serious impact. Each of its elements folds together with an artistic flourish that must be marveled at. In all my experience with Asian television, no other example has so impressed me with its visual beauty—what stunning cinematography and evocative scene composition! Time has not diminished one bit of the vibrant aesthetic. All one could further wish for are stirring themes, unique plots, and powerful performances; here one receives all three and more besides.

Our mystery is unveiled via a masterful combination of fragile character interactions and clever police investigation. Do not expect any resemblance to your regular detective drama. As powerfully constructed as the puzzle is, this is not a crime series but a character study. No guessing remains to be done; viewers are meant to witness the desperate battle of a man against fate. Who is Waga Eiryo and why? I loved how the two story aspects were tied together, often serving to create parallels between pianist and detective. One example may be seen in the counterpoint between interrogation sessions and those featuring musical composition/performance sequences. Please also note the tremendous ending undertaken over two episodes. The result left me trembling with so much emotion it was difficult to properly compile this review.

An idol was asked to play Waga Eiryo: SMAP’s Nakai Masahiro. Could anyone have better portrayed this extremely complex figure? Not on your life. Nakai-san’s excellence begins with the eyes; his are large and dark with suspicion, the sort which might remind one of a hunted animal. For the most part Waga sinks beneath an icy facade, a disdainful and haughty mask. But as Suna no Utsuwa continues, this mask chips away piece by piece. We are made confidants of his vulnerability and fear, tenderness and anguish. Undoubtedly the role of a lifetime, Nakai strikes every chord without stumbling. Next is incomparable Ken Watanabe, an utter gift to the small screen. He presents Imanishi with gentle normalcy, a believable brilliance stemming from hard work and consideration rather than trumped up genius. If only we could see such effortless acting in dramas more often! Let us not forget the wonderful Matsuyuki Yasuko either. Her Naruse is the clinch-pin of fate for Waga Eiryo, and few actresses could sell it as well as she did. No matter what the role, Matsuyuki-san’s passionate beauty and exquisite expressions must always be appreciated.

But above all else, music is where Suna no Utsuwa most excels. Just as it offers visual delights, this drama must be nothing if not pure auditory bliss. Not one track has been left awkward or misplaced by the passage of years. Some masterful touch seems laid on the compositions, which are so crucial in elevating scenes and construction of emotional atmosphere. Most memorable must be what is represented as Waga Eiryo’s devastating magnum opus, “Shukumei,” an embodiment of the fate he longs to escape. Also exceptional is the romantic vocal theme in “Yasashii Kisu no Shite (Kiss Me Gently)” provided by Dreams Come True. The first to catch my ear, however, is the choral piece played only at pivotal moments; if you want goose bumps, this one should do the trick.

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Why were they even friends?

There was exactly one normal person in this whole show and I hope no one is surprised it was a woman - Chueam. It was a mess, everyone needs individual therapy and couple therapy to barely exist, but damn it was also extremely entertaining. On paper none of the characters was exaggerated or unrealistic, but to put them all together is just a circus no one would survive long term.

Starting from the most boring pairing - Top and Mew. Playboy tamed by a virgin is such a cliche story I don’t even think it’s possible to make it refreshing. No matter how you tweak it, it has been done, and probably done better. Top was basically an idiot and Mew was painfully immature. His confidence backed up by zero experience was at times fun to watch, but more often than not just frustrating. The acting was also not it. Force truly needs to stop using smirk as a comma.

Then we have Boston and Nick - the ship that opens the hell gates. Filled with pain and annoyance, but also a surprisingly good conclusion. Personally I believe Boston needs therapy the most, because he does not even truly know there is something wrong with him. I do not believe he is just this playboy who would have sex with a wall if he could. Dude is self-sabotaging without knowing while obviously craving actual connection. Nick was just a pure child who got himself into a mess, but came out of it so much wiser and stronger. Good for him.

And then we have fans favorites - Sand and Ray. Sand pretended to be normal and almost fooled me - that did make it a bit more fun. Ray though, as cute as he was, he also had the most serious internal issues that led him to more bad choices in one show than I did in my whole life. The guilt, abandonment issues, constant need for acceptance. Amazing performance from Khaotung, which should not surprise anyone, but I actually liked First’s performance more. Whichever someone preferred, they were both great.

Except for the “established” BL couples we had some mixes and mashups here and there, that felt like unsatisfying tease. Now I want drama with First and Force, which will never happen. Why show me the possibility when you will never deliver?

Truth to be told, I think I expected something even more crazy? I think the lack of any consequences washed down the story a lot. There was a lot of “what you did could lead to that”, but then it never did. I mean, the way they were literally doing crack (or some other hard drug), but no one was actually shown to be addicted. How lucky they must be?

Overall, it was fun and brainless entertainment. All the characters were awful, I would never want any of them as my friend, and I’m surprised they stayed as friends after all that happened. They don’t even have that much in common. Will I watch season 2? Definitely not lol

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So firstly i apologize for my bad english. :)

I really waited so long for this movie and my expectations were really high. I watched some mature movies so far but this one is really awesome I like how it doesn't revolve all about sex but there is a romance involved and you see how the main roles are upset about their partners and both are heartbroken.

The Main roles Ji Seung and Kim Ah Joong are really great(I don't know if it because i love Ji Seung :P but the acting was really good haha ) and the chemsitry between them is really good and Kim Sung Oh is just way too funny seriously.. :D :D

I don't want to spoil so if you're looking for a movie who bursts you out into laughs and is romantic the same time with some more mature scenes than this movie is just perfect for you.

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Better Sorry Than Safe

First of all, this season is a standalone without the need to watch the first one. The cast is completely different and any past references don't really affect the storyline in any way.

As for the series itself, it actually started on the right foot with an interesting setup. The writing was careful and the characters promising, but after a point the narrative wasn't handled well and felt inconsistent. Storylines were introduced to either not commit to them or get overlooked in favour of cute or hot moments between the established pairings, instead of exploring the inner conflicts of each character that would build the drama and flesh them out both individually and as couples, resulting to incomplete characterization and a lukewarm payoff. The sole exception was Dean, who was the most multilayered and authentic character. The show delved deep into both his good and bad traits, making him feel more human and ultimately the easiest to connect with.

Acting-wise, the series was very good. The cast was consisted of talented actors that delivered their roles as best as they could, but I will give a little more credit to Mix, who managed to shine in so many ways with his performance and delivered some really beautiful and demanding scenes throughout the series.

Musically, I generally liked the song choices, but they were either a hit or miss and that affected the vibe of some scenes in a negative way.

Overall, I recommend this series to those who weren't fans of the stressful aspect of the first season, since this one is much milder in comparison. I'd also recommend it to fans of the first season if they are interested in watching something different. This season follows a different writing logic and has its own style, but it's still enjoyable enough to be worth giving a chance.

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I love stories with Sign Language. I think it is a beautiful form of communication. I tried to find books to learn it, but there are so many  (American, British, Spanish, Mexican) so I am not sure which one to  get. Anyway, I strongly recommend this dorama to people who watched/read "Koe no Katachi" and loved it. The big difference is that this story is not in school, but the adult life of a deaf girl. How she starts to be part of the society (by working), how she meets her future husband, how other people who meet her starts to learn Sign Language. How hard for her is to become a mother, to be married, etc. The story is  simple, yet beautiful. I shed many tears while watching it, and it is not because it is a sad story. No, it is simply because there are certain scenes that were too emotional. Like when her future-mother-in-law comes to Mieko's house to ask her to please not marry her son. Like the speech Mieko's daughter gives at school, both  out loud and with signs. And all the times someone talks to her (thru  signs) for the first time: Hirofumi, his mother, the doctor, etc. It was so poignant every time someone tried their best to talk to her.Kanno Miho is the sweetest girl and best fit for this role. She cries many times throughout the 5 episodes, but they all were understandable. Since she is deaf, she has little confidence in herself, and for every mistake or hardship that brings her deafness to the people she loves, she blames  herself. Thank Godness she marries the most patient and sweetest guy on  Earth. Besides her, I loved, LOVED the mothers: her mother and  her mother-in-law. Strong women who loved Mieko, and some time later,  their granddaughter. My favorite episodes were 1, 2 and 3. I have watched Episode 1 twice (I finished this a couple of days ago, and  rewatched Ep. 1 yesterday). There are only 5 episodes, 1 hour and 30  minutes long. First episode is from 1997, 2nd from 1998, 3rd from 1999,  4th from 2000 and the last one from 2001. Like most people, I prefer to watch recent dorama, but it is for the quality of the video only. In regards to story, oldies are better: they are simpler, they are sweeter.  Romance is much better without cellphones and other technologies. For  example, in this dorama, there are no cellphones, so Mieko and Hirofumi  send each other faxes to talk at night. Isn't that cute? The song "I just called to say I love you" fit the dorama perfectly. Beautiful story, totally recommended!

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an indie mini series done right

Overall: I enjoyed how this was centered on the main leads (no love triangles/cliche female characters/random side plots). 7 episodes about 10 minutes each. Aired on GND Studio YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UjFgW8TJEcVMXRV63uoHXg7rXv7mwll&si=9uCOLI4bRiXQRyBd

Content Warning: non con touching

What I Liked
- centered on the 2 leads
- made me chuckle a few times
- good way to show time passing
- realistic way to show a character was queer
- protagonists apologized
- good kissing (that last kiss was awesome)
- production value

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward
- with such short episodes, they should have released at least 2 per week
- a continuity error with hand placement when the one guy was reading the comic
- the not respecting boundaries/acting a little too carefree (it made a little more sense with the revelation in the final episode but the other character didn't know that earlier)
- odd that they camera blocked the cheek kiss
- episode 6 could have been better spent instead of the jealousy stuff
- cliche end of episode 4 plot point (had plenty of time to explain)

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Today is a good day to die.

Xu Tian, the young scion of a wealthy Southeast Asian family, is on his way to Shanghai to meet his fiancee for the first time. Set in 1930, his journey takes him from Guangdong through Jiangxi and Zhejiang; lawless territory controlled by local warlords. This is a road drama where the journey is an analogy for Xu Tian's personal growth and how this perilous trip makes a man of him. He is aided and inspired by five eccentric jianghu characters - a hot-blooded revolutionary, an idealistic warlord in a gilded cage, a romantic gambler, a passive aggressive doctor and a bourgeois wheeler and dealer. As they cut a bloody path to Shanghai, Xu Tian learns that actions have consequences; to live in the moment; that luck can change; that family must be protected and that money can buy access to all sorts of people and things.

This is the fist time I have seen a Chinese drama attempt this kind of bizarre, absurd and violent black comedy where a small event, in this case a purloined wallet spirals out of control and snowballs into a series of violent, unpredictible and bloody encounters. All of Xu Tian's companions along the way have distinctive personalities and temperaments that make them the main character in their own stories. They are wierd, flawed, obssessive characters that are at surface triggered by bizzare and seemingly trivial events that are actually profound and hopelessly romantic upon deeper reflection. When triggered, they become raging bloodthirsty lunatics with a "today is a good day to die" kind of reckless fearlessness and determination. The ethos and irony is captured and diffused by the crisp, darkly comedic dialogue that builds both anticipation and fear as the story careens down a volatile and unpredictible path.

This cast list is like the who's who of top Chinese actors, starting with Liao Fan as Lao Sun. His opening arc is the one that made me experience shock, awe, rage and sorrow at man's reckless, absurd, obstinacy and obsessiveness. This was a tough act to follow and Zhang Luyi fumbles a bit in his portrayal of Yu Yixiu, who is by design a fascinating paradoxically powerful and helpless character. Thus the second arc sags somewhat but gets shored up somewhat by Wu Xiaoliang's short and moving portrayal of the lovestruck gambling addict. The drama gallops on to a thrilling finish when Zhang Yi's obsequious, passive aggresive doctor teams up with Tian Yu's explosive, trigger happy capitalist for the final showdown. I also have much praise for Zhang Jingwei's fanatically dogged Ma Tianfang, Song Hanhuan's mercilessly ambitious Wu Da and Qiu Tian's passionately misguided Jia Ruo Lan.

Unfortunately the cast's impeccable performances all around is weighed down by the leading role, Dong Zijian's Xu Tian. He is an excellent actor but this was a big step down from his other works. Maybe he was simply out classed by the stellar cast but I think more likely, he was just mis-cast in this role. I didn't like his Xu Tian at all and was not moved by and did not empathize with the character. If the journey made him smarter or stronger, it did not come across; he just seemed just as belligerent, more vicious and just as obdurate. I frankly didn't care whether or not he made it to Shanghai and couldn't believe so many risked all to help him along the way. I even cared more for the petty villains and the poor bystanders that were collateral damage than I did for Xu Tian. This drama made me laugh as hard as I cried and I was unbecomingly thrilled by every dark, sick, ironic twist the narrative took. But when I can barely root for the main character over the villain, I must only rate this an 8.5/10.0. That said, it is still a mind-blowing and incredible adventure, especially if you like dark comedy.

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