News 
This review may contain spoilers
Cultivation, Revenge and Sang Sang
This was such a great drama watching experience. Ning Que and Sang Sang are one of my favourite OTPs now. My stingy, poor, ride or die babies. They were always 'the one' for each other even when they didn't know they loved each other romantically. Found family trope went hard in this drama and that's part of the reason why I love it so much. NQ and SS came to the capital with barely anything; just their big umbrella, knives to cut people up with and a hunger for revenge. And by the end, they both had other people who cared for them, protected them, took their hand to teach them how to make it into the Cultivation world, stood by their side no matter what and became their support. It touched my heart how the Tang Academy seniors helped NQ prepare for his big fight with Xia Hou, how First Senior Brother was panicking and thinking how to protect NQ in the final fight and how they trusted NQ to beat Xia Hou against all odds. Yan Se, Fu Zi, General Ma and the Grand Priest of Light all very different characters with complexities but each one a great teacher/guardian.Apart from the found family, I loved Ning Que's journey from being the weakest cultivator in the room to being Ke Haoran's successor and even by the end, he still has a long way to reach the top but for that I have to read the novel because Season 2 is, well... not good. Ning Que's journey to climb up the ladder in the cultivation world was filled with him begging powerful cultivators to teach him, only to be rejected again and again, him not yielding and striving again and again, finally becoming Fu Zi's disciple all while working to bring justice to his murdered family. Everything he achieved was so earned.
My favourite characters in no particular order would be the Tang Academy seniors (they are all so wholesome, it's hard to not love them), Chao Xiaoshu (he didn't appear for much time considering how it's a 60 episodes drama but he stole the show whenever he was on screen. what a man.), the teachers who taught NQ and SS, Tang Xiaotang (she's so full of fire and energy and dreams), and of course the OTP.
I wouldn't say it's a perfect drama but it has so much good about it that I could care less for the flaws. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't watched it.
Was this review helpful to you?
2Winning hearts and minds.
Amidst the economic hardship and political upheaval of 1930s Shanghai, War of Faith explores the financial underpinnings of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) eventual military victory over the Kuomintang. This story unfolds from the perspective of Wei Ruolai, a young financial prodigy who becomes entangled in the ideological struggle that defined that era. The narrative deftly avoids lengthy ideological discourse by framing the struggle as largely an economic one. It was a time of economic hardship for the common working class people from the cities to the countryside. While politically aware, most of them were were not conversant in the finer points of the political and ideological debate. Their needs were basic and winning hearts and minds came down to being responsible fiduciaries of their hard earned savings and livelihoods.Shen Tunan is a savvy central banker with grand plans to reform and strengthen the local banks and loosen the grip of foreign banks to unleash China's economic potential. A true believer in the Kuomintang's Three Principles of the People, he is nonetheless a pragmatist is willing to compromise and look the other way in order to achieve his objectives. The evolving mentee-mentor relationship between Shen Tunan and Wei Ruolai is compellingly articulated by Wang Yang and Wang Yibo and bolstered by good chemistry between the actors. Their mutual respect did not waver even as it became evident that their bottom lines diverge. Wang Yibo surprised and delighted me with his portrayal of a quietly clever young man's coming of age. His Wei Ruolai is idealistic but not naïve, can be ruthless but is not cruel and is loyal but not unquestioning.
All three main protagonists in this drama have a shared vision of the kind of future they want for their country but there are deep divisions between them on how to get there. Shen Tunan understands there is rot in the system but is willing to compromise and work within in; to try to fix it. Shen Jinzhen thinks it is not fixable and wants to tear it all down and start over. She is radical to the point of being almost fanatical and shockingly bold and ruthless in how she executes her vision. I have even greater respect for Li Qin, who also elevates her repertoire as an actor in this role. The relationship between the Shen siblings and their painful conflict is a highlight of this drama. They are both so strong willed and their conviction in their opposing beliefs is as strong as their love and respect for each other. The narrative does a fantastic job illustrating that the country is an extension of the family so when the rubber meets the road, they are first loyal to each other. As the newcomer without any particular ideology, Wei Ruolai is caught between them and ultimately in his choice, becomes the de factor arbiter of the better path forward.
The darkest, most complicated, ultimately despicable and yet oddly empathetic character in this drama is Lin Qiaosong, arrestingly portrayed by Zhang Tianyang. Even though he is not the smartest villain, he has great instincts and a healthy though grudging respect for his enemies He is brutal and incredibly hard to kill yet has a moving and tender side for his lover. I haven't enjoyed a villain so much in a long time. The other notable performance in this all round standout cast is newbie actor Lan Xiya's Niu Chunmiao. This smart, audacious and plucky character added some much needed levity to this story and saves the day a few times as well.
I enjoyed this drama quite a bit but I wouldn't really call it a spy drama. It is more of a business story with some ideology and some action mixed in. The writers do a terrific job making the rather dry financial aspects of banking and finance accessible and movingly relate it to how the lives of the common people are disproportionately impacted by malfeasance and corruption in the financial system. Overall a very interesting and somewhat educational slice of life from an era of profound change that I am happy rate 8/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
Everything about it marks a shift from the usual Korean pattern: plot, lines, direction, editing, photography, ending.
I was hesitant at first because I read too many compare it to Sex & The City - not my cup of tea. But I soon found out that, although the premises are similar - three friends experiencing and openly discussing their love and sexual lives - the general feel of it is completely different. Less stress on glamour and a lot more on internal struggles and doubts, all spiced up with a clever sense of humour and surprisingly GOOD kisses.
I watched the whole show with a big grin on my face. It felt so much like my real friends and I meeting at a bar and talking about ourselves, gossiping about men and their idiosincracy, it was amazing. I love Korean dramas for their exotic touch, situations I would never experience myself because they are culturally too different from my reality; but this drama managed to depict "universal" characters and situations. It felt real, albeit comedic, and as a woman I identified with all of them, on one level or another.
And it's impossible to watch it without talking about it. "What would you do?", "who would you chose?", "did she make the right decision?". All questions one is almost compelled to discuss with someone.
Direction is refreshing too. I thought the use of captures, or episode stills was a very clever choice: expressions are encapsulated in a moment in time and stored away, like a photo album.
The pace is fast and the music soundtracks it with hilarious cohesion.
Overall, a funny, realistic, well characterized drama, which I recommend to every adult. It may not appeal to younger viewers; as for inappropriate scenes, I saw none, but keep in mind I speak as a European.
The final message of this drama is: cherish yourself and your true friends, they won't let you down.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Good Enough
Korean Drama " Kokdu: Season of Deity " is a fantasy drama about a grim ripper god and the girl he is attracted to.The drama has some nice premises, with Kokdu having to adapt to the modern world and learn how to not be, well, that much selfish and his over-the-top self. The doctor theme was another nice touch, as it, theoretically, would have offered some solid subplots. However, neither was used to its fullest.
Hence, the drama ended up being a dated reincarnation love story that had no pace, with random scenes and events happening and the whole story being the two main leads bickering.
The main characters, moreover, were somehow not enjoyable, and, especially, the girl was annoying and inconsistent with what she wanted.
So, overall, three out of ten.
Was this review helpful to you?
Everything from the dialogue to the cinematography was perfectly executed.
The use of silence truly brought out the character's emotions and took it to a whole other level. Sometimes less is more when it comes to dialogues, especially in a movie like this.
Han Ji Min is amazing in this movie and makes Miss Baek feel like a complete and real person. You can really feel her pain. Her character is very believable which is extremely important when dealing with such a dark and hard subject.
The rest of the cast also did a great job, especially the child actress. Your heart will break when watching her. To know that these things actually do happen in real life is sickening, but that's also why books and movies like these are so important! We can't close our eyes when it comes to child abuse.
If you want to watch a great movie that will move you to tears you should definitely watch this!
Was this review helpful to you?
It has the treasure hunt feel to it throughout, which supplies danger and intrigue, it has a romance plot that is realistic and honest, it has political aspects and the far reaching hands of corrupt and powerful businessmen, and it has police investigations. I mean really, what more is there?
The actors and actresses all played their roles really well. Especially Kim Sun Ah as Heo Cho Hwi and Lee Dong Gun as Kim Bum Sang. They were very real characters and their romance was just wonderful to watch. I swear you can feel them fall in love, feel their intensity, and they're very 3D in their personalities. I've seen a lot of romance dramas, and I have to say that even though the romantic plot wasn't the main priority, these two are my absolute favorite couple. That's even taking into account QIHM's couple! They fit so well together, their teasing and one upping each other was hilarious to watch, and their love and comforting of each other was even better. It was a fun ride to see them finally trust one another.
The supporting cast was also very well acted. The crazy and conceited Joo Hyun was hilarious, if not annoying at times. I really enjoyed watching her character develop and strive to be more and think more than just about herself. Officer Kang was also played very well. While he may be considered second male lead, I really loved him. I can't say much more without giving anything about later plots, but he's adorable.
The music in this was pretty good. There were some times where I thought they could have chosen a better song, but it never really detracted from the scenes. Overall, it didn't bother me too much. There is that one song (Can't remember the name) that is the ending theme that I really enjoy and is stuck in my head. XD
I guess my main point is, if you want hilarity, romance, danger, a good plot,intrigue, treasure hunts, and realistic couples, this is a drama you have to watch! I could gush all day and fangirl all over the place about this drama, but I'll force myself to stop and console myself over the fact that there isn't a second season by re-watching it and pretending there is. :P
Was this review helpful to you?
The story - The plot was great and this drama was a great idea! But i have to be honest, that the writer and the director of this drama failed! I think everyone else did their job perfectly. The story itself is very good and i loved it ,but it was going more slowly than i expected ,so when the drama ended i was like "Wait it ended?". The story was more focused on the romance than anyting else which i didn't like. I was more interested in the movie making process.
Acting/Cast - The cast was a 10/10, some of the actors that appreared helped this drama becoming a succsess and not flopping. The main leads were perfect, and so were all the other actors. D.O was the reason i watched this drama because i was interested to see how he will do in a comedy-romance and i'm glad he did well it was funny to see him funny for once XD! I was suprised to see Lee Jong Suk's family in "W" being in this drama i recognized them when i saw who was playing the father lol!
Music- Was it just me or the music for this drama was so calming. I really liked the music but when i listened to it, i couldnt help but ask myself why didnt they make D.O sing some good songs for this drama, were they that short on money that they cant pay a good songwriter. If this drama really is for some kind of commercial for phones i can understand why they didnt invest as much as for a normal drama. So if that's true they did great...
Rewatch Value - I would watch it again of course! Why not! Considering soon i'm gonna be a university student - 8hours a day watching k drama's, like i do now?...impossible... so this drama is perfect for college or university students who cant afford to watch even 1 episode of k drama a day.
I strongly recommend this drama, i know i will watch it again.
Overall- This kind of plot is not for a short web drama. If it was 20 episodes the drama could have been better. But i liked it anyway. Its perfect for people who dont have the time to watch the 60 minute long episodes of regular drama's. I really hope the cast can act together again in some other drama because the chemistry and acting was great! If you are thinking of watching, it you should, because for a short drama its great!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Love is All You Need
Here's another example of Chinese tv series that are 100% light and binge-watch worthy, Lovely Swords Girl. I've completed all episodes in one day without using the fast forward mode, it's that good.Summary:
The story is centered around the love life of Sheng You, only daughter of the leader of a medical sect that possesses a code that can conquer death. She is allowed to choose a husband from three sons of the distinguished Gong family, because her father cured their father, but also to create a strong alliance in the pugilistic world.
The moment the Gong brothers present themselves to her, Sheng You recognizes the eldest as her savior from an accident in the streets. Gong Yuanxiu is a real champion fighter, and beautiful to boot, so she eagerly vows to marry him. At the wedding night however Sheng You discovers she has been tricked into marriage with a total idiot. Gong Yuanxiu seems to have lost his wits due to a strong love potion from a lady suitor.
At first Sheng You wants to annul the marriage that hasn't been consummated by the childish Yuanxiu, but her witty mother-in-law convinces her to try him out for two years. She's confident her eldest son will win his wife over, because he's so different from his arrogant, aloof brothers, and he has only eyes for Sheng You. It's not difficult to appreciate Sheng You as well. Soon the "lovely swords girl" has a lot of fans and two other suitors that are aiming for her heart. Each one of them has his own merits, and a different kind of love. Also there's a difference in their own need of love. Main question is which man will she choose, especially with dangerous times ahead.
The cast:
I appreciated the choice of the cast, all new, unknown actors who did a good job. They made it easy to follow the story. I liked the female lead Jiang Zhen Yu and the actress playing her mother-in-law, Vila Fan. Both played a support role in Hello Debate Opponent (2019) so I've put that series on my Plan To Watch list. Support actor Xu Kai Xin (Mengfei Comes Across) not only played second brother, but also outplayed his first brother here, delivering sound vibes of second lead syndrome. I hope he'll get the chance to play a lead role in future series.
The good and the bad:
Beside the actors I appreciated the well mixed feelings of joy and pain in this series. I could relate to all the characters with all their mistakes and different choices to cope with life, and love. It almost made me forget the bad editing and poor choice of cliches that seem to be chronic in c drama. Really... how many times do I have to see the emphasis on bodyfat, make-overs, memory loss, and evil characters that are wearing a mask.
Overall:
Still this series has some unique qualities. The characters are fleshed out, their dialogues, interactions, and inherent contradictions, make them more real and endearing. The story shows that love has many faces, more than other series I know. Not only is there a love triangle that isn't cliche at all, but also there are love stories of side characters that pulled at my heart strings. So, if you are a sucker for romance and a fan of the harem-in-reverse theme, this is for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
Best Cdrama in a long time, best acting by Seven todate
I was initially skeptical about this sort of costume dramas but as I watched the story line got better. I specially liked the acting capabilities of both the lead actor and actors. I feel that this is probably the best effort by Seven todate. She seem to have matured a lot in her acting abilities.This is a serious and typical drama with not much comedy. I liked the twist and turns of the story line. Many a times the lead actress seemed caught in the many conspiracies but we get surprises at how smart both the leads were able to jointly overcome their enemies.
For once, we get a good and smart leading actress and it is portraited well here. The story just got better with the episodes and it is worth a rewatch.
I must also comment that the English subs were well done, generally good english used. Thanks to this, I was able to follow the story and enjoyed the show.
Was this review helpful to you?
p.s don't expect lovey dovey scenes to be abundant in this after all the age group is ... :[
BUT!!!! if u like comedy and cute yet sudden plot twists this is it u found it !and if u like fantasy suff this is the one !
>>> Oh my ... they said it must be 500 characters in length so if u don't mind me i have to fill up this gap right here XD
Was this review helpful to you?
Don't Forget Me is a film that tackles heavy and sensitive subject matter. It's a story about dealing with grief and struggling to cope with ones reality, and the frustrated dedication of those that love and support the bereaved. The movie is a slow burner. The story takes its time unfolding — you wonder what the intentions of the characters are, what this is really all leading to. Suddenly, the movie comes into its own, and it's like you've been hit by a truck. You were fine, and then you're in tears. You suddenly realise the depth of the movie, that you really were watch a true romance but you didn't know the extent of it til the moment it hit you. Suddenly you see that every character has a purpose, and every character acted the way they did for a reason.
It's a beautiful film, and for those of you, who like me, have tried to be a pillar of strength for someone, this is definitely one you can relate to.
If you're looking for something bright and light, this isn't it. But I urge you to come back again when it suits your mood.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A nice fairy tale with a silly end...
With KBLs we never know if it will be any good, it's mostly a flip of a coin. This series managed to say on the "good" side. While the premise is not unheard of, they did it in a mostly funny way. The most impressive are the MLs switching between their personalities and doing so believable.The only questionable thing was the romantic part... it was not that convincing and of course the silly end which may disappoint some of you. Also there is the open end of the mother/son relationsship. Production quality was good considering this is a low budget effort, but we also get to enjoy the scenery.
I have not much more to say, I did enjoy this little series, with every episode running between 9 and 12 minutes the commitment is also not very time-consuming. If you need a palete cleanser or variety from all the toxic stuff now airing, this series will do it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This movie is really lovely - and definitely brings home the old saying "you never miss someone until they're gone...." We often don't appreciate those we love the most until they're no longer around. The ending is a cliffie so be prepared to hurl abuse, tearfully or otherwise (mine was very tearful but very definitely annoyed too). I hope there's another movie where she perhaps helps another set siblings overcome their differences without ending up as she did or something - so that way we at least know if the end......changed the cliffie (sorry, I don't know how to word that without spoilers....so take what I offer and run with it).
So now to the usual review stuff:
STORY - The story was pretty good; very much along the lines of what I think many siblings wish for when not getting along. The beginning was very funny. I laughed a lot and I thought the female lead would immediately regret her decision, but she didn't. The last ten minutes or so were very bittersweet - unless you have heart of stone, I mean it, you WILL cry though it's not really an unhappy ending......just...open,
ACTING/CAST - the two leads playing the siblings were EXCELLENT. Seriously they were really good; especially Peng Yu Chang who played the older brother Shi Fen. That young man is destined for great things you can see that already. The rest of the cast were pretty good too - the mum was played well, and the actor playing her boyfriend was very goo in his role as the bumbling but earnest stepfather to be. But Chang Peng Yu was the best of the whole lot, with Zhang Wendy as Shi Miao a solid second. The last scene will tear your heart I swear and you'll see why I'm praising these two so highly.
MUSIC - that's a straight 8 all day. Not terrible, but not memorable either; though it did really play well with the final scenes.
RE-WATCH VALUE - ooh that was a tough one to call; for me it was a definite 9 because I would definitely watch this again AND make all my bickering cousins sit down with their siblings and watch it too. But others might feel differently.
OVERALL - for me it was a 9.5 because the message was clear and simple - be grateful for who you have in your life because when they're gone you'll miss them and it's often to late then. It's a simple message and one that too many movies and dramas overdo; really labour the point, thereby making it a lot more complicated than it should (or even needs to) be. This movie however, kept it simple and the more touching because of it. The message remained the same, but more simply told and therefore all the more moving because of it.
I think it's also a movie that parents who leave older siblings as the younger children(s) caretaker/babysitter/entertainer, etc should watch. YOU have kids because YOU want them, so DON'T make the older ones the 'parents' to the younger ones so that you can have a social life/career - you should've thought of that BEFORE producing offspring.
Finally, I would say this - really, give this movie a try........you won't regret it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Story: One of the first romcoms to be labeled as such, it comes with all the laughs and romance one would expect. It did have a nice plot which was an added surprise. The story is mostly about how the main male character changes from a rich douchebag to a poor guy with a purpose. The first half of the drama is the developing romance and the downfall of the male lead. Then in the second half (after a time jump) it kind of turns into an office drama with the bad guys competing with the good guys. The ending was very cute.
Acting/Cast: Jang Hyuk was awesome but his character was crazy! Like he just goes nuts and starts randomly punching things around him or yelling out of nowehere quite often. He was quite interesting though. Jang Nara matched him very well chemistry wise and I loved her character because she was strong and could handle his wild temperament. The only thing I didn’t like about her character is her accent. It was just too much. As for Ryu Soo Young (My Princess, Ojakgyo Brothers) it was so weird seeing him play the villain. But he played a very good one. As for the rest of the cast I didn’t find their characters that important.
Music: Very old school but I guess it went well with this drama because it is very old!
Rewatch: I liked it so I would watch it sometime in the future.
Overall Successful Bright Girl is impressive for an older drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Potential Trigger Warning (explained in first paragraph of review) - Excellent Acting all around
Completed - 2/12/2022Trigger Warning/Spoiler - I didn’t see this mentioned in the reviews/comments and tags, so I figured I’ll mention this. In the last episode of the drama, there was an incident of sexual harassment on the bus. This is a very small part of the show (maybe only 5 minutes), and nothing too explicit (moving close, touching). But just in case, I would like to inform those who could be affected. It made me a little uncomfortable as I experienced something similar many years ago when I was a high schooler. It just brought back some memories. I know many women (and men) experience such atrocity in their daily lives. However, if you are OK, I hope it doesn’t deter you from watching this amazing drama.
Now, moving on to the real review.
Plot - When I first read about this drama, one thing that concerned me was the repetitiveness of the plot due to the time loop. In “Reset”, I feel that it started out with two very strong episodes. However, I do feel some repetitiveness in the subsequent episodes. Luckily, once we learn more of the passengers’ stories and police investigations, the drama’s pace is better and everything becomes more exciting. I think the drama finishes really strong with amazing episodes 12-15 and gives us a very satisfactory ending. I think Ep 12 is the most exciting and my favorite.
Acting/Characters - Great acting all around, from our leads to the minor supporting characters. I’ve seen Bai Jin Ting (ML) in a few other dramas, and am glad to see him branch out to have a different role. Playing the character as Xiao He Yun, a game developer who wasn’t an instant hero. Bai Jin Ting was able to portray some real emotions as someone who was scared to learn of the time loop, and didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Throughout the drama, he slowly grows into the hero that he is. This is my first drama of Zhao Jin Mai (FL) and I like her acting as well. Playing Li Shi Qing, a college student who is caring and innocent, but has a sense of justice. She is more of an instant heroine, compared to Xiao He Yun. With different personalities, our leads complement each other well and each brings something different to the table when solving the mystery of time loop. “Reset” also has an excellent supporting cast of young and veteran actors. I especially enjoy the acting of Liu Yin Jun (as Detective Zhang Cheng), Huang Jue (as bus driver Wang Xing De) and Liu Dang (as Tao Ying Hong). Other passengers or police officers might not have as much screen time but you can still differentiate them from each other as they have such individual charisma and acting. Additionally, I am so glad to see two female police officers who are intelligent and calm, and one of them is the boss!
Production - This has to be the first C-drama that gives me the most realistic color of blood! I know it sounds crazy that I talk about this, but in so many dramas, the color of blood is just not right. It’s either too bright red, too liquidy, too thick or too dark. But in “Reset”, it’s realistic, and especially the realistic injuries of a burn victim. If you look closely at the wounds of one of the major characters after the explosion, you can see smoke coming out of the burnt clothes and wounds. Such details! There is nothing glamorous about this drama, so one can’t judge its production value on nice clothes or nice set design. But you can see the detail in each of the scenes and how real everything is. There’s nothing flimsy or cheap. On the other hand, since it’s a time loop, the production company can save money on a large wardrobe budget. The characters just wear the same clothes everyday!
OST - The background music complemented the scenes very well, and you feel that it’s not forcing you to feel a certain way. There aren’t many songs played in the drama, but when Zhou Shen’s hauntingly beautiful song, “My Only” comes up, you can’t help but feel all the emotions. One of my pet peeves is when music is too loud that it drowns the dialogs. I am glad that it didn’t happen here. The few songs played are nice and I only notice them more towards the last half of the drama.
Other Observations:
1. This is the fanciest Internet Bar/Cafe/Motel I’ve seen in a drama. I think I want to stay in a room like that than in any hotel room!
2. C-dramas really like lovers wearing color-matching outfits. We see that in the last episode - white shirts and blue jeans.
3. No annoying character in this drama! Yay!
4. Slight romance is the correct tag. I would have liked to see a little more glances/hints throughout the drama. I don’t need much, just a little. I feel that either you take out the romance completely, or give it a little more care.
Was this review helpful to you?
