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GREAT DRAMA , HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.ALLEN REN & SEVEN TAN DID BEAUTIFUL IN THIS DRAMA
i just finished this drama two days ago, and this drama really gave me a very deep impression. AN AMAZING AND VERY BEAUTIFUL AND DEEP DRAMA FOR A LOVE STORY BETWEEN LUYI AND JINXIA. The perfect storytelling has brought this drama to be so exciting to watch and I spent it in just over a week.This drama has a very good story development from action, stories about how they work together to solve cases that have involved one of the sons of royal officials, to the deep feelings of love that are built between the Luyi royal guard and Jinxia as an assistant to the Liushanmen government office. Their struggles touched my heart and I cried very sadly in the episode towards the end, and I was very satisfied and happy that they were finally able to meet again and have a happy ending, even though I actually wanted the director to add a little more to the end by letting the enthusiastic audience like I can see that finally Luyi and Jinxia can get married and have children ... but well I am quite satisfied with the end of the story ....This drama has a lot of spices from sweet, funny, action, mystery case solving and there is also a very sad side that can make you cry deeply when enjoying this drama.
and ... of course this perfect drama does not escape the good acting of our main cast "ALLEN REN and SEVEN TAN" who brought their characters as "LUYI and JINXIA".
this was the first time I watched a drama that Allen Ren played, and to be honest the first time I was a little hesitant to watch it, but luckily I started, otherwise I would be very sorry for having missed such a good drama, and I have to admit Allen Ren is an actor who has very good acting skills, he portrays the figure of luyi very perfectly.
I was not a fan of Allen Ren at first but after this drama ... I really liked him, and became one of his big fans ..
I decided to start this drama because of Seven Tan at first, because I really like this actress, she is very clever, sweet and always successful in bringing her character very well in every drama that she carries. I also really like her acting which is very natural in every drama that she brings ... she is a very funny, cheerful and sweet artist.
Allen Ren as Luyi looks very handsome and dignified in this drama .. I am really fascinated and captivated by his character who is very cool here. especially when he wore his royal guard uniform, really very dignified and handsome ..
Besides that, the chant that is inserted into this drama is also very beautiful. I almost like the whole soundtrack in this drama, especially the one entitled "wish / yuan" the lyrics and rhythm of the song are very touching and it seems that it fits perfectly with the scene at that time. The soundtrack by Allen Ren "Heart Wall" is also very good.
the whole of this drama is very perfect and beautiful, and of course for the rewatch value and overall I also give 10/10 points.
for those who are about to start or are thinking about starting this drama .. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA ..
At the end of the review I would like to thank all the producers, directors, writers, actors and actresses who have perfected this drama, and of course the crew too ....
excited for Allen Ren and Seven Tan, hope to see them play another drama. because their chemistry is very good and strong in this drama ...
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This review may contain spoilers
Love of a distant past
One and Only has the distinction of being the first production in 2021 that I’m rating a perfect 10 overall. Personally for me, it is the best C-drama historical of the year and quite possibly one of the best of all time, within the sub-genre of historical romance (non-comedy). To put it simply, and I don’t often use this term, this drama is a MASTERPIECE.The Story
Based on the celebrated novel, One Life, One Incarnation – Beautiful Bones" (一生一世美人骨) by multiple award-winning novelist and screenwriter Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝), who also wrote the screenplay for this drama. As a brief summary, the story revolves around the love between Cui Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen that spans a period of two lifetimes, namely during the ancient era of the fictional Beizhen Empire and contemporary China of the present day. One and Only follows the star-crossed lovers journey during the earlier lifetime, while a sequel that takes place in the modern time period, Forever and Ever, is slated for back-to-back release.
As I understand from readers of the source material, both parts of the story convey vastly contrasting outcomes, notably the earlier backstory ends in tragedy while the sequel, which forms the main component of the novel, has a much happier conclusion.
Although primarily a slow-burn sweeping epic love story, One and Only does explore the sociopolitics and values of a deeply-ingrained Confucian setting which I suspect is modelled on the Northern and Southern Dynasties era, if not earlier, that includes filial piety, obeisance to King and country. Besides the political maneuverings and warfare, relationship dynamics in the form of master and disciples, as well as “sibling camaraderie” is heavily featured.
Production Details
This iQiyi production is helmed by the critically acclaimed Guo Hu, who had previously directed well known productions including The Journey of Flower, Eternal Love (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms), Lost Love in Times, and Love and Destiny. The original score and one of the OSTs is composed by the prolific and highly regarded Tan Xuan, who had served as music producer for numerous productions including Love and Redemption, Princess Agents, The Glory of Tang Dynasty and Eternal Love, among many others. For only a 24-episode serial, principal photography took entirely two months at Hengdian World Studios, the meticulous process of which is magnificently depicted in the end product itself.
Why do I consider this production a masterpiece that deserves a “10” rating?
The Technical Execution
I’m hugely impressed with the technical aspects of direction, art direction, cinematography, and choreography. The post-production editing and overdub, in terms of the voice dubbing process, the voice actors utilised and sound mixing, as well as the visual and special effects employed are exceptionally well rendered. The appropriate levels of colour grading along with countless immersive, overhead and tracking shots amidst the backdrop of grand pastoral views, while even parallax angles are applied to great effect especially during scenes of battles and massed congregations.
The seamless transitions between the various sequences, scenes and shifts in atmospherics are testament to the experience and capabilities of the director as well as the entire production crew. All these components seek to ensure that this production becomes a well crafted aesthetic and cinematic treat indeed.
The Production Values
One and Only is made of big money and it truly shows. Nothing at all looks cheap or out of place. From the wigs, costumes, accessories, set designs, props, horses, snow… the list just goes on. This is a top-tier production through and through. The big names in the production crew and the quality of the casting certainly reflect the overall production values.
In comparison with other C-historicals and despite the fact that Hengdian is a popular and convenient filming venue for many similar productions, it is extremely apparent that extra care and attention to the finer details have been taken for every production stage and its related aspects. I do believe that it could also be partially attributed to the fact that the drama format is shorter, at 24 episodes, thus affording the production more time to perfect the principal photography and post production processes, as opposed to 40 or 50-episode dramas with the same filming schedule, thus resulting in shorter duration for fine-tuning or filming additional takes of each shot. Having fewer episodes also contributes to compact plotlines and significantly reduces the amount of fillers, with the end result of a more engaging and compelling storytelling.
The Cast and Acting
I do think that the narrative for the first part of the novel is rather straightforward while the interweaving sub-plots relating to certain side characters are not overly convoluted. Because of this and also how strongly written the main characters are, I feel that One and Only is largely character-driven. For this type of drama to succeed, the leads would have to give one hell of a performance to breathe life into their characters. Fortunately, this is where the cast well and truly delivers.
I’ve been a fan of both Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun ever since I first saw them in The Legends and Detective Dee respectively. Although some of their roles or choices in certain projects have led to questions in the past, I’ve never doubted their broad potential and talents. I honestly think their performances here are the best that I have ever seen from them and are worthy of wider recognition for their efforts.
Bai Lu imbues her character of Cui Shi Yi with such grace, elegance, nuance and emotional depth that absolutely defines the term masterclass in acting. She portrays a character who is mute and having to use sign language, albeit temporarily, that slowly but surely undergoes immense character growth to mature from being a shy and timid young girl to a confident, independent and resolute woman. There is a massive intensity in her convincing depiction of the sheer torment, anguish and sadness that genuinely touches viewers' hearts (or mine, at least). And that poignant scene in the final episode, where she is dressed in all red, truly is poetry in motion…
Ren Jia Lun plays the noble and warm-hearted Zhousheng Chen, royal Prince of Beizhen, General of the West State and Master of his eleven disciples. I’ve always believed that Ren Jia Lun is at his best when he is cast in profound roles because very few actors are able to genuinely portray stoic and solemn characters as well as he does. There is a powerfully understated quality to his performance in this drama that makes you believe he is completely immersed in the character. Intelligent, calm and heroic, all the traits of a capable leader are put on full display in his depiction right to the bitter end.
Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun, as Cui Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen, share some of the most convincing, irresistible, organic and downright heartbreaking chemistry and emotional connection that deeply touches the soul. No aspect of their relationship development feels rushed, irrational, undercooked or over-the-top. Their love is subtle, meaningful and simply perfect. They are meant for each other.
As far as the supporting cast is concerned, suffice to say everyone delivers a commendable effort in their respective portrayals. The veterans in Fu Jun and Liu Wei Wei, depicting Advisor Xie and Shi Yi’s mother respectively inject a measure of class and finesse to the production. No drama would be complete without the antagonist, Liu Zi Xing who is played by the relative newcomer, Wang Xing Yue. I’m quite surprised he is only 19 years old, but he does give a decent account of himself and succeeds in making me hate his guts. Among the many familiar faces in the production, look out for memorable appearances by Daisy Dai, Yao Yi Chen and the ever amusing Han Cheng Yu.
The Music
Alongside the fittingly sombre and introspective compositions of the original score, there are four OSTs in the soundtrack. Zhang Bichen has established herself as one of the premier soundtrack contributors in recent years and her rendition of the theme song, along with Ren Jia Lun’s character theme, are my personal favourites of the compilation.
张碧晨 Zhang Bichen - 如故 As It Is
任嘉伦 Ren Jialun - 如一 Like One
郑云龙 Zheng Yunlong - 定心 Tranquil
李紫婷 (Mimi Lee), 井胧 (Jing Long) - 无虞 (Unworried)
Final Thoughts
I do not usually favour sad stories, particularly those with tragic outcomes, and almost always avoid such dramas. However, I’m glad I did not because One and Only is indeed a very special production that has been made with such care, effort and passion that it would be remiss of me not to have given this a shot and appreciate the fine work of the entire production crew and the cast. And, I keep telling myself, at least there’s consolation in the form of the upcoming sequel’s more promising narrative and ultimate closure to look forward to.
“Beauty bones are rare in the world.
Those with bones do not have skin, and those with skins do not have bones.
Most people in the world have superficial eyes, only the skin, but no bone.
If in this society, there is someone who has the memory of two lives and loves you deeply. How happy.
Shi Yi was like this to Zhousheng Chen.
And he has forgotten her a long time ago”.
(excerpt from the novel’s introduction)
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1The show is more action and the characters/relationships driven compared to my initial assumption of it focusing on the story itself. The plot is quite simple: people turn into monsters, humanity has to survive, but in the midst of it, Sweet Home asks one important question "What does it mean to be human?" and explores it throughout all the episodes. It shows the best and the worst side of humanity - the will to survive that can unite or turn people against each other; the will to be humane as a way of fighting against the circumstances, but also using the horrifying situation as an excuse to abandon empathy.
Despite the show claiming to be in line with thriller, horror and psychological genres, it falls closer to action as a leading one. The plot might seem simple, but it did an amazing job connecting the dots slowly presented. Quite a few times in the 2nd half I recognized the continuation of the plots and hints dropped in the beginning episodes. While the main question might not be answered and the ending could seem disappointing and unsatisfying for some, I found it to be the best possible approach. Any other take would fall short and seem forced. It definitely leaves a lot of room for possible season two, but lack of continuation of the story would not make me angry either.
We are introduced to a brilliant cast of characters, that all have different stories to tell, that will resonate with the audience. In a short period of 10 episodes, I've got to see well built character development not only for Cha Hyun Soo, but also for many side characters. While I strongly disagreed with many of the character's decisions and behaviors, at the same time I could understand their reasoning behind it. If I had to pick my favorite characters (beside the star of the show Hyun Soo) I would pick empathetic Yoon Ji Su, brave Jung Jae Heon, resourceful Han Du Sik and level-headed Lee Eun Hyuk. That said, the chemistry between the whole cast was out of this world and they played off of each other well.
The wise advice I could give to anyone before starting: don't expect dark psychological horror. Even though the show explores quite a few psychological themes, as I mentioned before, it leans more towards action in addition to some dark humor, especially in the beginning episodes. That said, the thing it has to be applauded for - the stakes were real. You know the shows, where you feel close to nothing when characters are in danger because you know they will survive anyway? Not here. Each problem presented to them, each encounter with monsters, each turn made me tense, scared, but also excited for what's to come.
I'm not exactly one to pay attention to music in movies or shows, unless it truly catches my attention. Here, all the songs were extremely fitting and perfectly supported scenes they were played in. At first some choices might feel out of place, but as the drama progresses it starts to feel like a deliberate choice that somehow works.
If I had to complain about anything, I'd say I was not the biggest fan of the CGI monsters at first. Since I was expecting a dark psychological horror like Strangers From Hell, the cartoon-ish like models with questionable motion put me off. The moment I accepted this is not what I signed up for and started to enjoy the action, I started to appreciate the design of the creatures. Some had comical features (we see an a*s once), but it balanced well the dreadful emotional moments happening among the characters.
What's more, in the beginning episode the plot was not presented in a linear way, so it might be confusing. Later on the time jumps are barely happening and it's easier to follow the story.
In conclusion: I cried a lot. I got attached to each and every character. I cared for what's going to happen to them. I was curious about their past stories and how they affect their current decisions and actions. The show simply made me engage in whatever was happening on the screen, to the point of me binge watching it for 10 hours and forgetting to eat.
Warning: there is a lot of blood, some gore, story about child abuse and one for severe bullying. It talks about suicide and self harm. These themes might be too much for some viewers, so feel warned before giving it a shot.
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SOS: I'm in love with Hyun Bin (again) T-T
This drama was just addictive! The plot had the right dose of rom-com, heartwarming gestures, witty dialogues and action. Every episode ended on such a cliffhanger that kept you restless for the rest of the week until Saturday came to take the edge off ;)Hyun Bin was just adorable and sexy and honest and honorable and kind and perfect (so, so perfect). I could go on for70,000 years. It was so refreshing to see Son Ye Jin step out of her usual Melodrama set-ups (well, most of the time anyway, haha) and play a badass, funny heiress. She nailed this role. I loved what she was wearing in North Korea (anyone remember the sunflower-print dress? It was so lovely). I also loved the fact that she did not wear any make-up in her North Korea scenes.
In fact, one of the biggest charms of this drama lie in the fact that the writer tried to subvert the usual norms. Son Ye Jin played a heiress (not the typical, poor, melo damsel-in-distress, possibly dying) and Hyun Bin played a sweet guy (unlike his usual jerk characters). Also, love the fact that the girl was from South and the guy from North (usually it is the other way around, engendering the North as the poor, weak female and the South as the strong, dominating male)(king2heart, blow breeze). Also the fact that the woman was the one who had the played the field and had experiences with relationships, while the guy was innocent and sweet. All this breathed life and freshness into the drama.
The second leads were great. So happy to see Seo Ji Hye landing a lead role. She is so deserving. Seo Dan was not a nasty second lead. She was so nice beneath all that hard exterior. Hyun Bin's subordinates were so awesome. My favorite was the one who loved Choi Ji Woo and Korean dramas but I loved all of them really. The maknae was so adorable! The cameos were great. The rest of the supporting cast was awesome. I loved North Korean ahjummas. They remind me of Reply 1988. Seo Dan's mother and uncle were awesome (I realized so belated they worked in Parasite, lol. "RESPECT" xD).
The OST was perfect! I already want to watch it again. The chemistry was so, so good.
If I had to summarize this drama in one scene/phrase, I would say: HYUN BIN'S POUT!!!!!!!!!!!
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1This review may contain spoilers
Please forgive me if this review's going to be a little unconventional, I'm in no mood for serious considerations on a drama that doesn't take itself too seriously. The followings are random conversations between me and my watching partner, aka my husband (H). Try to imagine us as the two old men at the end of The Muppet Show.H: Why the heck is he (Seung Gi) pining for that almost sister of his when he can have the prettier and much nicer one (Suzy)?
Me: He thinks she's a boy.
H: Rrrrrright. And the winner of Genius of the Year is…
[Kang Chi finds out Yeo Wol's a girl in a slightly unorthodox way]
H: Ok, I take back everything I've said before: the guy IS a genius!!!!
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
[scene: Kang Chi and Yeo Wol are staring into each other's eyes]
H: Whoa, he's finally going to kiss the girl
Me: Hmm, I wouldn't be that optimistic.
H: Trust me, he has that glint in his eyes. He's going to kiss her, I tell you!
Music: "Saranghaee, saranghaeeeeeeeeee, SARANGHAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…"
[more staring followed by sudden wrist grabbing]
H: Finally…
[off they go eating]
*collective and colourful grunts from the audience*
Me: He clearly hasn't taken after his father
H: Yeah, daddy knew his business. Save the girl, hide the girl, kiss the girl, ta-da… a BABY!
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
[the monk urges Kang Chi to flee for the nth time]
Me: Is that monk ever going to give a valuable advice? Nobody listens to him anyway.
H: Ikr? That monk is as useful as a concrete parachute (he used a different simile, but it can't be repeated here)
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
H: His eyes turned green! What do you think, is he going to morph into Perry Parky now?
Me: Sure, Perry Park would bomb them all, but if you want him to kiss the girl, Shin Se Gi's definitely the one to morph into.
H: Shin Se Gi had red eyes and eyeliner.
Me: True. Like daddy gumiho, now that I think of it.
H: Daddy again. Are we sure Kang Chi's not the monk's child?
(references to Kill Me, Heal Me are sort of involuntary. I hereby decline every responsibility)
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Me: What do you think is that Gu Book about?
H: A kissing manual?
Me: A recipe for Kimchi, more likely.
"Saranghaee, saranghaeeeeeeeeee, SARANGHAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…"
°°°°°°°°°°°°
[Kang Chi, his face half covered with a scarf, is surrounded by his comrades, all demanding to know who he is]
Me: Are we the only ones who would recognize him from a 10-km distance? I mean, the clothes, the hairdo, the bracelet…
H: I know. Perhaps they think it's the head Gisaeng incognito. After all, they share 1 neuron among the 20 of them.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Me: LOL, now that thug thinks his dongsaeng Kang Chi's gay. A gay gumiho is an interesting take of the trope
H: So he too thinks Yeo Wol is a boy? This drama should be called "The Goofy Family Book"
°°°°°°°°°°°°°
H: Ha, now he's really going to kiss the girl!
Me: You may be right this time. The moment is perfect and the song is clearly suggesting romance.
[7 and a half minutes later, the scene is still frozen like it was 7 and a half minutes before]
Me [making coffee]: Are their heads a little closer now?
H: Hmmm, I'm not sure. 2 cm closer, maybe?
Me: All right, I'm making sandwiches. And please mute that misleading Saranghae song before I explode.
°°°°°°°°°°°
To give this review some semblance of usefulness, let me conclude by saying this is a highly entertaining drama, with a good, rounded-up plot, lots of fun – although laughter is often involuntarily induced - a Seung Gi who never fails to put me in a good mood by simply existing, a lovable Suzy, a despicable villain with a certain, almost compelling elegance, good romance and a fairy-tale feel that won't let you down. Recommended to everyone looking for a light watch with glints of unexpected depth and an awesome finale . If you have a watching partner to frolic with, so much the better.
P.S. Allow me a tiny spoiler: the kiss does come, after all, much to the joy of the two Muppet Old Men.
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A mature, no-nonsense love story, where the leads are real adults.
I had avoided this show for a while, because from the posters and synopsis I felt it would be a cheesy rom-com involving three guys and a woman wanting a baby. I was not interested to see a love square with 3 guys and a girl, even if it boasted the casting of Jang Nara, no thank you.Yet, I was curious nevertheless and decided to just give two episodes a try (you'all know how this usually ends)
You will love Oh My Baby, if you can relate to any of the following elements in a show:-
1. Adults (leads, second leads) actually having proper conversations. They talk things out, having meaningful conversations.
2. If you love FL with a no-nonsense approach but not crass and rude, bravely taking a lead in love but pulling back too, feeling hurt but recovering, a FL that does not resort to whining, screaming or shouting, not being pitiful even in a worst scenario.
3. If you had bad trauma from the mother in Something in the Rain, then Oh My Baby will restore faith in good mothers. She is similar to, but much better than the cool mom in Witch's Romance. This mom gets angry yes, but tells her daughter immediately that she should not lose her sense of self or feel guilty just because her mom is being angry with her. She stands by her daughter through all decisions, even those involving public ridicule. She doesn't care two hoots about societal response and family comments. This is a mom that does mountaineering and dancing, while also constantly looking for a match for her daughter. This is a mom that made friends with ML even even before she knew of her daughters interest in him and vice versa. Not just acquaintances in friendly terms, I mean real buddies.
I usually skip mom scenes in kdramas, and if you are like me, don't skip this mom's dialogues. She is sassy and open minded, and her scenes are worth listening to. This is a mom to end all kdrama moms.
4. There are no jealous female second leads, (but jealous male lead yes ) not everyone around the male lead is pining for his love, and they are all actually shipping them together, yes even the gals. No one bitchy and manipulative. Second male lead gets angsty a bit but that doesn't last more than a couple of episodes. He never stood a chance, it was clear from the beginning.
5. A romance that is gentle, but cracking with chemistry all the same.
6. Its not fluffy, silly rom-com but at the same time retains elements of fun throughout. The topics they deal with are emotional but handled with directness and spirit.
7. This is even better than Search WWW in terms of female portrayal because this is more realistic and honest. The women are not out-of-the-world sassy and bold, but rather as much real as anyone in that society would be. The only unreal element is that the FL is too pretty to be actually someone who never had proper romance for her age, but they also show why this is so,. its convincing.
If you liked Because this is my First Life, then you will definitely love this. I guarantee. Come back and trash me here if I am wrong.
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This review may contain spoilers
Bite Me? Save yourself and just dont.
The trailer is captivating, the shots are fantastic, the food is mouthwatering, and that OST is just lovely - however, the story and its script are both so bland it failed to pull it all together.Good things. The cinematography (and the sets) is amazing. The focus on Thai food is exceptional although I would have wanted even more. Also, I enjoyed seeing Mark in some of his older series, and yes, here he has proven that he is indeed one of the few who can act. Zung was also very good as Chef Aue, and they jive well when they are together. Between the two of them (and I love Aek's mother) I would have given them at least a 9 for acting.
There were lots of things to potentially make this great that's why I am so frustrated with the half-baked story. First - I don't understand why Aek's mother would be against him becoming a chef - after all, cooking was clearly his passion and talent. Being a chef is a lucrative profession and they already own a restaurant so capitalizing on that talent should be a no-brainer, so why the hesitation mama?
Then, there were the confusing eighth and ninth episodes. It was obvious from the start that Aue liked Aek, so why did Aek act all surprised (and rude) when Aue confessed his feelings for him. What is with that unnecessary overreaction of running in the rain? Was Aek in denial? Was Aek disgusted for he is the straightest guy on earth and how dare this older guy try to kiss him so he decided to run in the rain crying to wash away the muck and because he is so straight and macho, he fell and broke his arms, again while crying in the rain (and with the accompanying thunder effect)? Then, lo and behold, the strange guy appeared and he came with him, and it's okay because this guy is obviously not a predator. Does he not have any other friends?
Okay, okay let's pretend we get that logic. So, he later came home to his mama, and to nobody's surprise, his mama ain't even angry that his son is you know, not gay, but probably likes men. And then next thing we knew Aek showed up in Aue's restaurant like nothing happened and he just opened his arms and they embraced, and everythings is rainbow and unicorns again.
And let's also talk about this - the series was painfully too slow. For most of the first 7 episodes, people were just looking at each other, speaking so slowly with awkward pauses in between. And no, I disagree that this is artistic liberty, if it was, then it obviously didn't work. I came to the point I was suspecting the producers have forced the director and writers to extend each episode to fill the required time so they ended up playing what they shot in 0.8 speed. Try watching the series at 1.25 speed and you'd still feel that it is slow.
And what's with all the gazillion unimportant characters - Chef Eve, Chef Mu, Chef Wiphob - they gave them little backstory but it never really contributed to the overall story, at least not in the way they intended. Even Prem and Vich who were supposed to be the breath of fresh air left a sour note instead because of their amateur acting and that weird way they speak.
Let's avoid the finale episode cause that was just rough.
In conclusion, I think what this series need is a little bit more time in the editing room. Cut chunks and pieces, focus on the main actors, and add more food and cooking. Sprinkle it with more cuteness, and top it with a pinch of adult lovemaking (or for the sake of my sanity just a little bit of adult kissing, they're not kids, after all, you titled the show friggin BITE ME, so where is the biting?). This series could have been great, but sadly it's one you can just ignore and pass. I've watched it so you don't have to waste your time. At least, they got an amazing soundtrack.
PS. I feel bad about giving it a 6, cause I've given other series more stars, which are actually way worse than this. So from now on, I promise to give my reviews a more thorough thought and go back to those old reviews and update their ratings. I encourage other reviewers to slap a higher standard when it comes to this genre so the producers can give us better series and not more of the same. 2021 has been good for BL and has provided us with quite a lot of content, unfortunately, a lot of them are lackluster and I think its because we let them get away with good ratings even if the show is garbage.
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I really like both Jasper Liu and Eugenie Liu and the premise of this series sounded like fun - gangster's daughter meets and falls in love with the actor she's always fangirled over! The action scenes in the show are purely comedic, cheesy and just for fun. Sometimes it's over the top, but I can accept that. Eugenie does a great job portraying Angie, a fierce, bubbly young woman who tries to forge an independent path for herself. On the other hand, Jasper's character Yi Hang felt underdeveloped. He's a cute, charming, popular actor who loves elephants. That's all I got really. Their relationship developed UNBELIEVABLY quickly. Emphasis on unbelievable as in "I absolutely did not believe it." In comparison, I found myself liking Eddie Kim much more and thought the actor who plays him, Tsao Yu Ning, was excellent.
A lot of interesting side stories are introduced - Ding Ding, Ling Yun, Sophia, etc - but none of them are developed nearly enough. If Netflix releases more episodes (I mean, they'd BETTER!), then I will definitely continue watching. There's so much potential.
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This review may contain spoilers
you will fall for Shin Hye Sun,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, very less spoilers
STORY IS PERFECTACTING IS PERFECT
OMG CASTING IS AMAZING
EVERY CHARACTER AND THEIR STORY IS RELEVENT TO THE THE MAIN STORY AND ITS IMPROVE THE MAIN LEADS CHARACTERS
I HAVE WATCH ALMOST 9 TIMES
COMEDY IS ALSO SO FRESH
YOU WILL NOT FEEL BL SERIES VIBES BECAUSE ITS CLEARLY EXPLAIN THAT QUEEN LOVES KING NOT MALE SOUL WHO INSIDE THE QUEEN MALE SOUL ENHANCE THE QUEEN CHARACTER YOU WILL WATCH IN QUEEN THE BAMBOO FOREST THAT KING FALL FOR QUEEN IN FIRST SIGHT BUT KNOWING THAT HE BELONGS TO HIS ENEMY'S FAMILY HE STARTS HATING HER BUT MALE SOUL WHICH INSIDE THE QUEEN HELPS TO PROVE THAT QUEEN IS NOT LIKE THAT AS KING THOUGHT AND THERE IS ALSO A OLD CONNECTION B/W KING AND QUEEN THATS A INTRESTING PART
OMG ACTINGS ARE AMAZING SHIN HYE SUN IS DAM GOOD SHE MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE IS NOT MISS QUEEN INSTEAD OF MR QUEEN
COMEDY B/W QUEEN AND COOK WAS ALSO AMAZING
AND THERE IS HAPPY ENDING
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I have actually read the novel and so far the first 5 episodes have been following the novel which is a good sign. The scriptwriter Au Koon Ying is a highly celebrated Hong Kong screenwriter renowned for writing iconic TVB workplace dramas, most notably the classic aviation series Triumph in the Skies.
Initial thoughts: fresh modern day aviation theme, ambitious FL, fast paced, Liu Xiening and Wei Zheming play off each other well, establishing a sharp chemistry. It is delivering exactly what it says: a high-flying, delightfully unhinged rom-com that leans beautifully into the classic "enemies-to-lovers" and "workplace misunderstanding" tropes. Excellent cinematography. Beautiful OST. Good main and supporting cast.
Some viewers are calling out what they perceive as "plot holes." However, looking closer at the writing, these narrative shifts are actual deliberate, character-driven mechanics rather than writing mistakes. They are actually intentional, layered narrative choices.
-The misunderstanding- As a powerful, wealthy, and highly disciplined corporate executive, Fu Mingyu is constantly surrounded by people trying to curry favor or use underhanded means to get close to him. As a vice president navigating a brutal corporate reform at Hengshi Airlines, he is constantly targeted by corporate spies. Because she approaches him outside of standard professional channels right during a period of corporate transition, his immediate bias is to view her as another opportunistic flight attendant trying to use her looks to seduce him for a promotion. Moreover did he not hear the crew gossiping before they boarded?
-Timing- It transpires that Ruan Sixian had already sent a dozen emails to him regarding the internal training program but had no response. She really had no choice but to hand-deliver the letter. Also, she did mention "Feiyang" while trying to explain on the plane. It's just that right when she said those words, they hit some turbulence and ended up in that awkward lap situation. Since Fu Mingyu was already misunderstanding things, when they met again in the yacht later that night, he just cut her off straight away.
-Viewers argue that Ruan Sixian going from a flight attendant to a top-tier commercial airline pilot in just three years is completely unrealistic. This timeline is actually well-aligned with intensive, closed-loop military and civilian cadet programs. Ruan Sixian didn't just study part-time, she went through an exhausting, hyper-focused immersion program at a dedicated flight academy. She was already deeply familiar with aviation operations, crew resource management, and in-flight dynamics from her years as a flight attendant. This transformation is not a magical shortcut, but a grueling, high-pressure crucible meant to highlight her resilience in a male-dominated field. More importantly, this rapid progression highlights her exceptional drive.
- Some argue it makes no sense for Fu Mingyu, a highly calculative corporate vice president, to abruptly drop his pride and personally recruit a woman he previously belittled and forced into resigning. This is a classic misinterpretation of professional pragmatism vs personal bias. Fu Mingyu's original cancellation of the internal training program wasn't a personal attack on Ruan Sixian, it was a corporate restructuring move for Hengshi Airlines.Their initial clash was fueled entirely by a professional misunderstanding. When he visits the academy three years later, he is introducing a brand-new fleet of advanced passenger aircraft. As a pragmatic businessman, he needs the best talent available to ensure the fleet’s safety and success. Finding out that the academy's top graduate is highly sought after by rival companies triggers his competitive drive and introduces a brilliant layer of corporate accountability. He actually doesn't recognise her instantly although he did have some Déjà vu moments haha
- Fu Mingyu's sudden shift from arrogant executive to someone captivated by Ruan Sixian isn't actually a sudden burst of love, but rather a complete shattering of his own ego and assumptions. While it might feel "too soon" on screen, his psychological shift is triggered by several key layers. Because his tongue was so "savage" during their initial meeting, his immediate instinct upon realizing the truth is to fix his mistake. Realizing he crushed a woman’s genuine career aspirations based on a petty misunderstanding delivers a massive blow to his ego, instantly turning his contempt into guilt.He didn't just get a detail wrong; he misjudged her entire character, drive, and capability. Another blow to someone who prides himself on logic, efficiency, and his ability to read people. Working
together in the extreme proximity of the aviation industry forces him to constantly watch her excellence. His sudden hyper-fixation on her is a mix of trying to right his past wrong, professional desperation, and a growing fascination with a woman who completely defies his expectations. Its a case of overcompensation as Defensiveness.
-Potential turbulence ahead!- Mutual tension?? Sparks? Romance??, well, she isn't going to give in easily! If they have followed the novel, the road for Fu Mingyu is long and bumpy!
-The plot is already foreshadowing severe corporate pushback, rumors, and strict flight assessments.
And yes we see all of the above! The turbulence of the early episodes sets the perfect trajectory for the sparkling momentum in the middle episodes.
The second half:
Career: Ruan Sixian faces grueling, hyper-strict workplace assessments and unexpected inflight incidents that briefly result in her being grounded. She successfully clears the elite F7 aviation exam, officially earning her four stripes to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming an airline captain.
Fu Mingyu faces heavy pushback from traditional board members and internal corporate politics. He leads massive, high-risk strategic reforms and orchestrates the complex integration of a brand-new passenger aircraft fleet into the airline. Rather than abusing his position as CEO to simply shelter Sixian, he shifts his corporate strategy to ensure a strictly fair, unbiased environment. This allows her to earn her promotions legitimately, which simultaneously silences his board critics and validates his internal reforms.
Romance- second half softens them up. Miles Wei continues to deliver his classic dreamy-yet-comical male lead charm deeply in love with Ruan Sixian, and his chemistry with her remains a highlight. They share a healthy, mature, wholesome dynamic.
Family reconciliation- Ruan Sixian making peace with her mother feels like a standard checklist item to pass broadcasting guidelines
Late-stage breakup- The writers introduce a frustrating, last-minute breakup trope. The female lead's motivations are somewhat justifiable, but the sudden narrative timing feels jarring
Unlike many romance dramas that lose momentum towards the end, this series becomes more emotional and philosophical. The final stretch slows down to deeply explore human growth, resilience, and the true cost of ambition.
Grand finale- The final episode see Ruan Sixian progress to a captain and Fu Mingyu to CEO of Hengshi. With their professional goals achieved and romance stabilising into a mature partnership, the series wraps up with a beautiful and unique aviation theme wedding giving viewers the sweet, stable ending they hoped for.
The series balances its professional and philosophical themes with its central romance by using the characters' career ambitions as the foundation for their relationship. While it is inspiring and uplifting in many ways, it also offers a low stress, light, funny, and incredibly fast-moving comfort watch!
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A story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.
Story: I’m writing this as a lesbian who experienced the same events as Cairo within this drama as I can understand and appreciate the plot in a different way because of this. I also struggled with my sexuality the same as Cairo, and was outed when I was still not ready. I (like Cairo) was outed by my now ex best friend who I thought would accept me, but turned completely against me. Being outed by the person you thought was your best friend completely breaks your trust which explains why Cairo is so closed off. Dealing with the burden of such a huge secret weighs you down and having friends by your side is the most important thing you can have when you’re struggling with your own identity. The way Cai also handled it, when she apologised he accepted her apology but did not forgive her yet, made me happy. When someone hurts you that much, especially a close friend, it’s almost impossible for your friendship to go back to the way things were before, so I love that they didn’t make what his best friend did as a minor issue and showed the consequences of her actions both for him and her. The slow but quick progression of their relationship was fast but also felt quite natural in some ways. When they finally met you could see so much love in their eyes I actually teared up when I saw them crying. This was not just a story about a simple internet romance during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.Cast: Elijah Canlas as Cairo- At first I did think Elijah’s acting was a little awkward but as the series progressed we saw an actor who took on a role giving it his own interpretation and completely taking on the role of Cairo. It wasn’t even the big things, but the most subtle actions made his role so believable. When I first realised I was interested in woman the term ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ felt so foreign, so when I finally confronted my sexual preference I remember getting choked up and it took me a few seconds to even say the word ‘gay’. When Cairo did the same when talking to his mum I had to pause the episode and breathe because of how emotional I felt. I can officially say that Elijah as Cairo is the best actor to have played such a role in order to represent the fear those of the LGBT community still face even to this day. When he portrayed his father dying, it wasn’t the case of quickly moving on, but it also wasn’t portrayed as him being constantly depressed, it was more he was sad but wanted to continue living his life and carrying on his father’s memory which I loved.
—Kokoy de Santos as Gavreel- Kokoy created a character for Gavreel that was more than just the simple playboy he may seem on the outside. He created a confident but secretly insecure character who always wanted the people around him to be happy. He was a character that was pushy in some ways, but also understood when Cairo needed space and would back off but still show and send his love and support throughout all the tough times he faced. Gavreel was also just as prone to jealousy as anyone would be, and although he clearly struggles to communicate he does try and we watch him grow through the series.I really loved the character of Gavreel and I think describing him as “boyfriend goals” would be especially fitting.
—Adrianna So as Pearl- Wow, Pearl was literally my favourite female character not just in this series, but possibly ever. She was the shipper female friend that was there for the couple, defended them, but also knew when not to interfere with their love lives. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and would even argue with her best friend on Cairo’s behalf if she thought he did something wrong. My favourite quote of hers is “if you did something stupid don’t use mental health as an excuse, own up to your mistakes make up for it and don’t do it again”. She even drove all the way out to help Gav and Cai meet for the first time, and left as soon as they were together so they had chance to be alone as if she knew how important this meeting was. She’s someone that seems like she would be easy to make friends with and talk to when you go through tough times. I can’t wait to watch her own series when it comes out.
Music: It was pretty enjoyable with some good backtracks and sound effects, but nothing I thought was incredibly memorable.
Rewatch value: I can definitely say as soon as this series ends I’ll straight away be rewatching it, and I can imagine that I’ll go back to this series many times.
Overall: I’m so grateful for this series and I believe this series alone will help so many people in Cairo’s position. This is more than just a simple BL series and I can’t thank The IdeaFirst company enough for creating this. This will definitely be a game changer, not only for Filipino BL’s, but the representation of gay characters as a whole. I’m so glad I was able to watch this series when it first began.
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From A Webtoon Reader’s Perspective
Please take note that I have read and I am a huge fan of the webtoon, but for the sake of your watching experience, I suggest you don’t compare this to the webtoon at all.THE STORY: The director only took some elements of the story and plopped it into a whole different scenario. Right off the bat, you’ll see a bunch of difference and from episode 5 and up, there’s almost little to nothing that’s similar to the story. However, if you’ve read the webtoon this should not scare you away from watching. Just keep in mind that you should try your best not to think of the webtoon, because I did that and over time it just ate me up. The show in itself is not bad at all. It is a good drama, but I think it failed to adapt the webtoon successfully. The main issue that I had with the show is that they made the characters more “distant” to each other and none of them had the relationship like in the webtoon. The chemistry each character had is what made it so special, and the fact that they cut this element out is so disappointing. Eunhyuk and Hyunsu’s friendship was my favorite. Their interactions was one of the best parts of the story and I’m mad they took out Eunhyuk’s nerdy side. I also didn’t like how you couldn’t see the thought process whenever they transformed into monsters. By that, I mean Dusik and the husband. Seeing how Dusik wanted his legs just so he can see his wife and son made it so much more meaningful and made his death a lot more sadder. The same goes for the husband. He is self centered and that ate him up in the end, so even if he annoyed you, you still kind of sympathized with him in the end. Now, like I said you shouldn’t compare the show to much to the webtoon (like what I just did now) because there are so much more things I can point out about the show that the webtoon did better. But I don’t want to be unfair because the show is good. The story is a bit more on the action side and had some focus on the outside world instead of just the residents of Green Home. The ending is also open, so it gives room for a second season. In my opinion, the CGI isn’t bad as people make it out to be, and is actually a lot better than you’d see in most shows. I really loved how the Protein Monster looked like and I don’t think they butchered any designs of the monsters at all. Overall, the story itself is good and you shouldn’t shy away from this if you’ve read the webtoon.
ACTING: The entire cast did a phenomenal job with this. Song Kang never disappoints and I don’t think anybody could’ve pulled Hyunsu as well as he did. The rest of the cast also did amazing so I have no complaints on this end.
SOUNDTRACK: The soundtrack is a bit weird ??Every time they played Warriors by Imagine Dragons I would try to tune it out of my ears because it felt so out of place.
REWATCH VALUE: I’m not the type to rewatch types of shows like these, but it is pretty short and you could rewatch it again.
OVERALL: Compared to the webtoon, this show isn’t that much. But it is a good watch as it is pretty short and the story itself isn’t bad.
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Loved this ...and hated this
I had no expectations going into this drama except "Oh great another 8 episode K-BL.". Usually these 8 episode stories feel rushed and incomplete. I did not get that feeling about this one. Would more episodes have been better? Maybe but just to get a fuller picture or it may have felt drawn out needlessly. There was enough in this series to give you the information you needed to fully understand the story without feeling rushed or confused.The story was so bittersweet but I loved every minute of it even when I was balling my eyes out (which is also why I "hated" it). The chemistry of the two leads is charming and sweet. It couldn't end any other way than it does. If it did I think it would almost have been dissappointing.
I gave it an 8 for rewatch value only because it is one I'll have to set aside for a good while or be in the mood for tears to watch again.
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Cute fluff with a twist
Destined to meet you is adapted from the web novel "Ba Hun, Xu Mo Yi Jiu" (霸婚,蓄谋已久) (literal translation – Domineering marriage, long-planned), written by Yu Ge (鱼歌).The story starts quite like the usual way of "contract marriage" dramas. She had to marry someone urgently and he is one of the good candidates out there, so she marries him. But the twist is that it may look like she forced him into this marriage but he actually came on his own.
Soon as they live and know each other, they like each other and you know a lot of fluffy moments coming up. But since this is the "Older woman/younger man" trope, she had to be the one taking steps and this is when the comedy comes into play. It gets so funny with all kinds of embarrassing and awkward, silly comedy. Her trials, his denial and etc etc…
The fact that this is so short like 20 episodes of 10 minutes which is equal to 3 hour 20 minutes, almost like a movie that can be watched in one go. Since I picked it while airing, I had to wait though.
What I loved is the female lead… a famous successful lady need not always be cold and bossy… she's rather cute yet strong. And the portrayal of the role by Lu Yan Qi is an advantage. I saw her last time in Under the Skin where she is in a supportive role but after watching this I really wonder why she isn't she a main lead actress. She deserves some good main roles.
The male lead is Yang Ze who is famous for his recent short drama "The killer is also romantic" and a bunch of supporting roles, yet another actor I think can do better. He should be moving to more main roles too. In addition we also have Ni Han Jin ( as Jin Xi Chen ) and Guo Jia Yu (as Liang Jingjing) in important roles.
What took away 1.5 stars —
— The story is good but the editing is bad… as i was confused in between because of the way next scenes come into frame…
To sum up, this is a cute drama that is short and binge-watchable, worth your time if you're looking for something fluffy with little twists, a total romance focused drama with silly comedy.
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