TO THE POINT!!
This drama is so To The Point. This is what dramas should be like. where can i find more dramas like this? T-T also., why does this not have any reviews?? (guess im the lucky one to be writing the first, lol) So going back to the drama, The drama ooof, ...Its so good that I cant find out any single flaws here. well, maybe there ArE but idk they were unnoticable to me. Soooo, You should watch this drama cuz it has:No complicated storyline
No love triangles
No jealous SFL/SML
No sad ending
No useless quarrels between ML FL & misunderstandings
No complicated court shit
A SuPeR hawt, badass, attractive & sometimes cute looking ML (he made me a simp bro)
cute FL
Excellent visuals, settings, costumes, makeup & camera quality
& Finally, No reason for you to not watch :DD
By any chance if you stumbled upon this drama, DONT SKIP. Its actually VERY GOOD for a short drama. It takes like 2hr or so to finish this & i would totally love to rewatch this anytime soon. The rewatch value is 8/10 for me. The story is repetitive & not that unheard of so. i would give it a 7. As for the acting/casting, im not the one to judge but for me its a 10. & the music too, i really liked it. Its so sweet and calming to my ears..
moving furtherr, I believe that the ML here has a lot of potential in the entertainment industry and should be recognized more. In my opinion, he is perfect for playing ''cool & badass'' roles. Even though he is not portrayed as a baddie in this drama, he gives off such a bad guy vibe. I would love to see him play a badass character in the future." & coming to fl now.. The fl did a good job with her role. She should get more opportunities to roam in different genres and characters in future. Also not neglecting the side characters & other guest roles, they also performed their roles to their fullest aswell.
Sooo, in short, The drama is very nice. The characters execute their roles perfectly & the storyline and eps are very simple to follow. Its good to watch when you are free and have nothing else to do. Basically, VERY MUCH RECOMMENDED FOR YALL to watch when you feel like you have nothing to watch. If not for anything, just watch for ML bro lmao.
signing offf,
yours Angel
Thanks for reading the review <33
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This review may contain spoilers
A Historic Milestone in BL Drama - China’s Mastery of Historical BL
After waiting so long for our first uncensored historical BL drama, I can confidently say it did not disappoint. Across a vast land torn by war, you’re the only freedom for me! perfectly captures the heart of this story.The plot is gripping, following a prince and an assassin who fall in love as their kingdom collapses. To secure Xiao Shu He’s rise, Duan Ziang kills the crown prince, shattering their bond, only to return years later as emperor.
The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking,, and the snow scene paired with its moving score was simply unforgettable. The costumes, along with the stunning and handsome cast, were all top notch. The acting shines in every moment, and the music and OST heighten every emotion. The fight choreography and martial arts are executed beautifully, keeping me hooked from start to finish.
And can we talk about that flying scene? The two leads soaring through the air, clinging to each other with such intensity, it completely took my breath away. After watching over 350 BLs, this is the very first time I’ve seen two male leads in such a classic wuxia-style moment, protecting and hiding each other with eyes full of unspoken emotion. We’ve seen it countless times in straight dramas, but to finally witness it in a BL felt groundbreaking. I was literally screaming, because flying scenes like this only ever happen in historical dramas.
Duan ZiAng’s love for ShuHe is so consuming, so absolute, that he would rather drink poison than cause a single wound to the man he loves. For five long years he carried this weight, sacrificing everything, even killing his own father, all so he could fight for a future with ShuHe.
He created an entire identity, the Six Prince residence, not for ambition, not for glory, but as a gift, a sanctuary built with his own blood and sweat, solely for his lover. Two kingdoms waged endless war, millions of soldiers were sacrificed, and yet at the heart of it all was not conquest, but love, one man’s unshakable devotion to another.
If this is not love, then what is? A love that defies reason, a love that bends morality, a love so fierce it chooses the beloved over the world itself.
My heart tells me Duan ZiAng will die from the poison. And that thought crushes me, because what could be more tragic than a love between two emperors, eternal in devotion but doomed by destiny.
Their story is not just romance. It is sacrifice. It is pain. It is love written in blood, carved into history, and drowned in tears.
I truly hope China 🇨🇳 lifts its BL ban one day, because when it comes to potential, Thailand 🇹🇭, South Korea 🇰🇷, Japan 🇯🇵 and Taiwan 🇹🇼 cannot compare. China dominates in so many areas: cinematography, acting, storytelling, chemistry. And when we talk about historical costume dramas, horseback riding sequences, and martial arts fight scenes, China operates on another level entirely. The scale, elegance, precision, and sheer intensity are unmatched. Kill To You proves once again that no one does it like China.
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This review may contain spoilers
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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“If it's something only a few people can have, it's not happiness."
Monster (2023) directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda who's very famous both in Japan and internationally for his heart-warming and humane stories. I watched this in theaters and it was one of the best experiences of my life. To think I'd be able to watch Sakura Ando and Nagayama Eita on the big screen is a dream come true for me as I'm a big fan of both of the actors. The screenwriter is again, a famous screenwriter in Japan called Sakamato Yuji . The music composer for this movie was Ryuichi Sakamato and he was an Oscar winner. This is his last work. So you can see how this is a collab of the year and can guess how excited Japanese people were for this, including me as I too am a big fan of these people. The movie actually lives up to the hype.
It's hard to talk about the movie without giving spoilers because it's best to experience the movie without knowing anything about it. But as it's my job to tell you, so I'll try to talk about it in vague terms. The movie is essentially about a single mother who noticed that her son, Minato , who's in middle school has started acting strange suddenly, when asked, it seems to be because of harassment from his homeroom teacher, Mr. Hori . The movie is about her trying to get to the truth to protect her child. But in actuality it's more than that. The story is told from different perspectives and how the truth gets lost because humans always try to protect themselves as their survival instinct so they try to believe in the truth that suits them the most unconsciously. There's no good or bad character in the movie, they are all very flawed, complex and humane . In the end of the day, the movie was about being human, not a monster ( In which all of the characters believe themselves to be the Monster) .
It was just so beautiful, I felt deeply touched by it. It's just a masterpiece. No more words. The only flaw is I felt the ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted a bit more closure but it’s forgivable. You should watch it if you've loved other Koreeda movies! If you're new to his or Japanese movies in general, I suggest this movie is for people who enjoyed character driven stories and portrayal of human emotions. The fan inside me wants to say that everyone should watch this movie at least once as it's essentially about being a human but if you can't digest some disturbing themes like bullying and parental neglect, I'd suggest to not watch, but otherwise I feel it's worth a try for everyone.
My rating: 9.5/10
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Here it is spectacular not to be spectacular - yet touching and powerful in all simplicity
"The Spring Day of My Life" fulfills the Rom+/-Com concept in a very balanced mix. The humor is not exaggerated, but has an effective, calm charm with its sometimes true-to-life, sometimes intelligent wit. The equipment does NOT want to present the latest from the high-end in terms of fashion & beauty, and the styling is also reserved. Since the KDrama comes along more on the authentic side, the 'Melo' in 'Drama' is also moderate - it doesn't come across as intentionally pathetic, but it goes straight to the heart with all its consequences. This KDrama offers a love story that has a light-hearted side and is giving pleasure while it doesn't strain any fairytale happiness. Yet it rather chooses authentic dramaturgical paths for the development of the story. Optional use for the handkerchief included."The Spring Day of My Life" presents itself as a grounded love story about a single widower with two children and a young woman who, after a heart transplant, carries the heart of his deceased wife. The New Heart with Cell Memory theme is not new to KDrama Orbit. In my opinion, however, there is nothing wrong with picking up on it and telling it anew.
In short: the spectacular is nothing spectacular here, but rather the art of telling a touching love story in all simplicity, yet surprisingly vividly. The two leads marvelous performance makes it work, too. For many, they may not be so well known, but they effortlessly take the audience by the hand. This is Cho Soo-young's first lead role (as far as I know). Kam Woo-sung, on the other hand, has been on screen since the early 1990s - his series partner was still in diapers then... He's an unorthodox, pleasantly idiosyncratic figure on the hero/antihero front. His playing comes without perfected beauty, well-placed chocolate sides and enchanting smiles, but he primarily inspires with his presence, intensity and in places minimalistic efficiency. He always embodies his roles forcefully, authentically and to touch. He doesn't have to collect sympathy points, on the contrary - he likes to show his grumpy, nagging, nasty side.
Obviously the producers were quite generous with flashbacks, but other than that, I don't think there's much to complain. If you're not looking for overly superficial, yet not overly sophisticated entertainment - this KDrama offers comforting heart-ache-smile-and-sigh.
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The writing is superb in every aspect. I love how they handled this delicate subject. It's also very detailed as it tackles "Postpatrum Depression (PPD)" way too deep. We saw character experiencing PPD symtoms, like excessive crying, mother having difficulty bonding with her baby, Hopelessness, feeling not being a good mom, and having thoughts of harming the baby. We also see how other characters reflects to this case, their marriage life, their struggles, it gives so many different perspective on child caring. I can't think of any drama or movies that explored this theme to this extent, but not only the theme, it's the execution that makes this drama a riveting experience. They executed it really well, those flashbacks that were told in different perspective, the thought provoking quotes, the interviews and especially the breaking the fourth wall element. It won't tell you who's right or wrong, but rather it will make you form your own opinion as our world, in general, is not black and white.
It's also a social commentary on people's lack of awareness on PPD, and due to lack of awareness, as a result they inadvertently bring pain and misery to their love ones. It just reminds you that in life, more than love, empathy in really important.
On the technical side the drama is still impressive. The acting is solid, not just Kou Shibasaki, but all the supporting cast. My favorite is the judge who is struggling choosing between her career and family, the actress really played the character brilliantly that I ended up sympathizing with her. The editing makes this drama very compelling, several scenes cleverly woven together, and those transitions are very neat. Those brilliantly edited scenes are just enhanced by its music. It conveys a sad melancholy mood which shows character's feelings and evokes certain atmosphere. Ending song in every episode give you that final kick, as that song's lyrics supports the plot.
This is what I love about Japanese Dramas, they are not afraid to tackle sensitive issues, and when they nailed it, they nailed it really hard. I tried to be nitpicky but everything they did in this drama was just perfect, story, themes, execution, acting, music, editing, even camera work, it deserves a perfect 10. This is what they called a true emotional roller coaster. It will change the way you think as this drama gives you so many perspectives. It's an early but very strong candidate for my Japanese Drama of 2019.
Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/
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Let me begin that what I really like about this series is that it is fantasy, science fiction based story that didn't used Computer Generated Images or Computer graphics with blue/green screen behind. They utilizes editing, lighting and cinematography that can rival any sci-fi/fantasy series/movies out there. Even with a better with some movies/series in the same category.
What I also like about this is that the series was able to showcase a student's potential dedicating an episode for each, except of course ... I don't want to spoil, and culminates towards the end of the series. It gave depth and richness to each and every character.
The symbolism in each character's background and potential that you can relate to real life situation. Like Wave, being smart doesn't always make you to be on the top. One way or the other, you will need someone's help. Namtarn, no matter how hard to try to forget something in your past, there will still be a way to catch up with you in the present. Ohm, when the world seems to be against you, it doesn't hurt so smile and be happy. Punn, there's a demon in every one of us that we battle every day to keep it at bay and the strive to be the best in whatever field we want to. Claire, that we can not please everyone and people will drag you down on your way to the top. Korn, for some, it can be consider a gift but for others, a curse; and the risk of trusting someone too much that that person could actually hurt in you the most unimaginable ways. Mon, sacrifices are need to be made for other's sake.
It makes you wonder, given a potential, what are you going to do with it? Will you use it to better the system, the society? Or make use of it for your own gains and advantage. I will end this part for I will borrow Spiderman's line, "With great powers, come with great responsibility."
ACTING/CAST
I will review them on how they progress/mature by giving what series I HAVE WATCHED before and how did they do in this series.
Sing (Ohm) - Love Sick, Slam Dance, My Dear Loser.
For me is the most versatile actor among the cast but under-rated. I saw him in Love Sick how he potrayed a confused boy, unsure of himself. In Slam Dance, he is more of a serious, headstorng character. In My Dear Loser, showed his jovial, goofy and happy-go-lucky side. In this series, he took his acting on a different and upgraded level in the episode where his potential was focused. Still the joyful, happy-go-lucky, serious, angry and cried. His character in this series is not stereotype of being goofy, which by the way I like about him, but showed a serious side too.
Fiat (Korn) - Slam Dance, SOTUS S.
It feels like that he is being stereotype as being a longer, anti-social character as evident in the previous 2 series that I watched and as well as in this. But no way that he is less effective in portraying that character.
Chimon (Wave) - My Dear Loser.
One of the versatile actor of the series. In My Dear Loser, he was able to show how docile, vulnerable and gentle he can be. But in this series, his played a character that is way different. A laser focused, goal-oriented and confident character. And given these two series, I am definitely looking forward as he renew his role as Sun.
Jane (Claire) - My Dear Loser.
As I watched My Dear Loser, right there and then I knew that I can see her in a queen bee role. Admire by many, envy by many too. And I was not disappointed with her acting in this series as it confirms my suspicion.
Plumek (Mon) - My Dear Loser, SOTUS.
In her role as Ainam in My Dear Loser and in SOTUS are can be easily forgotten, perhaps she was not given enough airtime to showcase her acting skill. What I like her about in this series is how she looks. A boyish type of girl especially in her action and looks. After all, given the club she is in, it is a must. She was able to give justice with her role.
Victor (Pom) - Water Boyy the series.
When he appeared in the very first episode, I was really surprised and made me excited. Comparing his role as Min in Water Boyy where his role appears to be just chasing after girls. He was able to showcase a more matured role and was able to live up to it. Guiding the Gifted students to be the best in what they can be.
Lilly (Namtarn) - None.
I haven't seen any series she appeared before so I can only based her acting in this series alone. She played the role of Namtarn pretty darn good. A nerd, weak girl that is loyal to her friends that is willing to do antying for them.
Nanon (Pang) - My Dear Loser.
In his role as the dorky Oh that has the potential to be cool, ravishing and handsome guy in My Dear Loser. I am not surprise that he was able to carry the lead of the series. Charming, adorable and serious type of role suits his face and acting too. And his cry is credible enough for me to believe that he is actually hurting. An acting that "acts" like a glue for the Gifted class and that of a true leader.
What I am really looking for acting is not just how they deliver their own lines, but with the corresponding facial expression that gives you what their are really feeling that time. And every one of the cast was able to send those emotions across.
Lastly, all of them brought their acting skill in a new, higher and better level.
MUSIC
The opening score will definitely set your mood into something that you need to focus on. Every detail, every line they speak. I get this vibe that this is about mystery and not so much of suspense. The sound effects too is spot on, especially when Wave is using his potential.
REWATCH VALUE
Unfortunately, once you gone through the series, from start to finish, there is really little need to rewatch it, not unless you know that there will be a season 2 for this. Since by the end, you know all of the gifted's potential, and you can already anticipate the "surprise".
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I love that the movie fells so relaxing, is hard to explain but you feel light (and maybe you will feel a need to plant everything)
The characters were so natural, the three of them, and realistic, very good acting.
Another thing was the story, simple and perfect, and the way that talk about harvest season, it was very poetic, and very good incluing the food that she makes with the memories and the season.
The music was fine, but I prefer the sounds of nature.. perfect!
Omg was very good movie.
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This movie has a nice solid plot and story trajectory all the way through. It's real charm for me lay in all the atypical things about it. It is not standard rom/com fare. There is a serious and slightly gray quality to it that I actually found refreshing. This gray cast was in the set direction and writing but it was more to shape their circumstances. Let me assure you this is not a darkly written movie in a dramatic or depressing sense.
There were lots of moments I laughed out loud. Especially at some of the antics of Ji Woong. The scenes between Hong Sil and Ji Woong aren't overly cutesy but they are interesting and they make a great team as, unbeknownst to both of them, their feelings start to grow. Both actors sold their characters for me. Their chemistry together was good. The payoff at the end for both characters was worth 2 hours of my time.
Song Joong Ki is a 'characters' actor. Even if he has the looks to play a leading man, I hope he chooses wisely in the future because he's better playing a part with quirks and charisma. He has excellent comedic timing and a face made for acting through expression.
Han Ye Seul sells serious characters to me more than comedy so this part was perfect for her. I felt her emotion and I connected with the reasons why she was cut off emotionally and relied so completely on monetary security rather than the human kind.
I liked this movie. I would re-watch it again and I recommend watching if you are hesitating.
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This review may contain spoilers
Overall, I have mixed impressions of the drama. Weirdly enough I enjoyed watching it (in terms of entertainment factors), but I will definitely say that this drama had a LOT of issues and weirdness about it, but a few good points to almost balance it out.STORY:
The plot line for this drama was honestly all over the place. I know it was based off of an IP novel, so maybe it made more sense in writing? IDK. I also know that it's supposed to be an "Odyssey" which I guess it really was, it was just such a convoluted path to get there.
The story began easily enough. Rich, young, beautiful daughter of a court official buys an amnesiac boy from a market. Girl also meets a city detective and together they solve crimes around the city with some help. Ok, cool. There's a bit of fantasy involved (obviously), but for the most part, it's relatively logical (for a Chinese drama at least xD)
Fast track to the middle of the drama, the slave boy remembers his true identity, has stolen a precious treasure, and returned to his original homeland. The female lead (IMO) has been getting more and more immature as time passes and is just downright whiney most of the time (I still love Janice Wu though). The second male lead is weirdly one of my favorites at this point in time (he's mature and brave, but still has a bit of a playful personality behind him). The fantasy aspects pick up more, and things start taking a weird turn.
By the end of the drama, we have people turning into dragons, bats, and moths. There's "soul splitting" occurring (Hey, Harry Potter), time travel (multiple times), and magical spells running amok. Relationships are fully formed by this point, and just overall there's honestly a lot going on that you somewhat get lost in the mix.
The romance is super slow burning, which isn't a problem (there are still a lot of cute moments that happen throughout), BUT my biggest issues are how they played out the various romances.
*** SPOILER *****
*** SPOILER ****
The writers spend basically the first half of the drama with Yuan'an having a crush on Lan Zhi, (which honestly I kind of preferred because he was matured and balanced out her somewhat stubborn and child like tendencies). And at the same time, she showed that she cared for Mu Le, but wasn't really in love with him (even though other people just kept saying it to her as the writers way of making people care about Yuan' an and Mu Le's relationship). They keep this going for more than halfway through the story, up until the point that Lan Zhi is no longer an option. So basically this way, whether it's true or not, it feels like Yuan'an is only going to end up with Mu Le because she couldn't have Lan Zhi anymore. Not because she actually chose him.
And to make matters worse, it's not until after Mu Le remembers who he really is that Yuan'an and him get together (so now she not only chooses him because she doesn't have another option, but she only realizes her feelings when he's not her slave boy anymore. Cool.)
Obviously this isn't how the writers want their relationship to be portrayed - probably aiming more for a "she didn't realize until he wasn't her slave boy anymore that she was in love with him and loved him no matter what his real identity was." But honestly, I personally feel like it backfired for them because it undermined her credibility for falling for him.
Also I really disliked Ming Hui as a character for the fact that she spent the majority of the drama being an adversary to the characters and never REALLY redeemed herself (to anyone but Lan Zhi), but gets to have a happy ending by the end. Bleh.
Overall, the story made sense (I guess), but it just wasn't well paced and fluid like I would hope. You're taking your audience on this epic journey, so making things make sense and fit together is a big part of that.
ACTING:
Overall I think the actors were all pretty good.
Janice is very good at the cutesy and stubborn personality types, though there were a lot of times I couldn't take her seriously when she got angry and what not. (I do think it was refreshing that her character was so blunt and somewhat sarcastic. It's not super common in Chinese dramas).
Zheng Ye Cheng - very believable as the loyal and loving Mu Le. Had a very innocent charm to him. As Ah Ying, (and it might have been his age playing into it for me) but I certain times couldn't take him seriously as a powerful prince. But he was very good IMO.
Zhang Yu Jian - it might have been more of his character (kind of my type lol), but I honestly really liked him as an actor. As I mentioned, he was a very matured character with a strong sense of justice and loyalty, but he had his moments of being romantic and also being playful/flirty which balanced him out well. I personally think he was the most well rounded of characters because you saw his strengths and faults more clearly and ZYJ did a good job portraying those different parts.
OVERALL:
Again, I didn't severely dislike this drama. I honestly think it was relatively captivating and fun to watch, BUT there were just a lot of plot issues and character problems that I wasn't a fan of, hence my lower score. It seemed to be a fairly popular drama while it aired, which I can see why, but looking at it overall, there were too many core problems I had with it for me to give it a higher score.
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Her Dream was her Best Investment!
First of all, why is this drama so underrated? Like it deserves more!! She was told that "you cannot do this" but she made the same person say "you did it well". Master of my own is not your simple business drama with blah-blah-blah about stocks, that up and down graph, office deals etc. It's a story about growth, huge character developments and a slow burn mature romance you would cheer for.Master of my own is adapted from the novel "Please Call Me The Director" (请叫我总监) written by Hong Jiu. Directed by Yao Ting Ting, it's a very unique storyline in it's genre.
Let me list what this drama is worth checking out for —
The female lead – she gets kicked, looked down upon and left completely devastated until she gears herself up to fight for her dream to be an Investment Director. What I love about her is she sticks to her principles no matter what. She is especially cool and beautiful at some points. Can't help but shout like a proud mama "You go girl!"
The story – surprising that this is the best Business genre Cdrama I've ever seen. Most of the business themed dramas do upper talk and group meetings in the name of business but this actually goes into little detail. It's not boring and embedded with the character's story. I love how they mentioned all the projects and what an investor thinks before giving money to them. "All" investors aren't emotionless machines who want profit, some do care for a new startup and are willing to take risks. And who doesn't have ups and downs but motivation, hard work, passion shines through this drama.
The male lead – okay. I agree he is just a big jerk in starting and I felt the urge to punch him hard so often but still let me say this to the upcoming viewers, give him some time. He won't disappoint you much in future. He becomes likable slowly.
The Acting – not a big fan of any of the cast but they were so satisfying. Ning Meng by Tan Song Yun is the definite highlight of this drama. The way she looks cute and bubbly and then she transforms with suits and dresses, you can see through her aura. Lin Geng Xin as Lu Ji Ming is suitable for this unique CEO role. The rest of the cast, special mentions to Su Xin and Gong Bei Bi who were great as Ceng Yu Hang and Shi Ying respectively.
The slow burn – slow burn romance lovers like me who enjoy a beautiful friendship and companionship turning to love would enjoy this drama. They don't have those cliche moments at all. It's just a basic understanding and magic between them where enemies turned lovers is like icing on the cake.
Now what still takes away 1 star from it —
It's probably because it became slow in the middle or maybe because I have no intention to rewatch this drama. Okay it was special for Tang Song Yun and her role Ning Meng but rewatching won't happen…
So I am going to remember this drama for the motivation, character developments and the little Ning Meng who does big tasks.
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This review may contain spoilers
Please bear with me as this is the first review that I have ever written. I usually see no need to let my personal thoughts on a series be known to the public, but this show was just exceptional.THE STORY
I binged the first 4 episodes with english subtitles, and by that point I was completely captivated by the story that I spent days searching for the rest of the show. The story explored issues in a way that I have never encountered before, and I found the drama and character settings to be awfully real. I fell in love with Mr Fahrenheit, I smiled every time I saw Ryouhei, and I really felt for Jun. I cried my eyes out at the end of the 4th episode. I cried for a second time when I rewatched it.
The first 4 episodes in itself got me dying to watch more, and once I finally watched the rest, it gave me a rollercoaster of emotions. I loved how everything felt genuine, and real. There were no stupid misunderstandings because of miscommunication. There were no convenient coincidences to move the story forward. There were no glitter and fluff to cover up the harsh nature of our world. Like this could be happening to someone right now.
The story made sure to explore everything in detail. There were no half-assed plot points that were thrown in and forgotten about. Jun and Makoto-san's relationship, the story of Mr Fahrenheit, Jun's mother, Ryouhei and Jun's backstory, and Miura-san, all were explored deeply, dynamically, and tied up neatly at the end. Even the smaller characters went through noticeable developments.
I felt very satisfied at the end of the show. I felt that everything was cleared up, and no questions went unanswered. Although, that abrupt ending made me want to punch the screen just a little bit.
ACTING/CAST
I found the acting to be really good. I'm not very good at telling apart good and bad acting, but I find a lot of Japanese acting to be cringey, but this definitely wasn't.
MUSIC
How could I not give this a 10? It was bloody QUEEN! The way that the show incorporated the queen songs and titles were so creative, and it really hit the mood of the scene perfectly every time. I didn't really notice the other music until I went back to search specifically for the music, and I guess that's a good sign, as the music didn't distract from the scenes, and instead enhanced the intended emotions.
REWATCH VALUE
I already rewatched the first 4 episodes while looking for the rest of the series, and I would definitely rewatch the entire thing again. Knowing the outcome of the story doesn't change the emotions it can make me feel. Oh god, I cried an unhealthy amount watching this (It's a happy ending tho, if that matters).
OVERALL
I loved this series so much, and I'm so glad I went back and found the un-subbed videos. It may be tough waiting for the english subtitles to come out, but I assure you, it will be worth the wait. Just make sure to see it through to the end, and you will not be disappointed.
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Looking at the ratings made me feel like this drama is seriously underrated. Currently at episode 10, and I'm loving it to bits! Episode 1 started a bit slow, but it was crucial to understand the different personalities of the tourists. By the way, I loved the ahjummas! Wish they were part of the tourists also, which would have made it more interesting and funny to watch.
The supporting characters' relationships seemed cliche at first glance, but as they delve deeper into their background stories, it made me realise that this drama is all about "Don't judge a book by its cover" and the different kind of relationships between the tourists.
I found the pace to be good. I loved how they focused on each pair for each episode. I loved the back stories and the progress of relationships so much! I loved the male lead's character here. It was so unique. I'm glad he wasn't a typical CEO or this good looking handsome guy with a narcissistic personality. His character was hilarious and so were his interactions with people in France. There were so many misunderstandings about him from the very start which I found to be funny. I loved his character so much!
And for the elderly couple, at first I really despised the ahjussi. He kept yelling at everyone and complaining about everything. I felt really sad for his wife. But once I saw the backstory, I kind of understood why he behaved in that manner. I could also tell that he changed slowly throughout the course of this drama, though not to a drastic extent, which seemed realistic enough for me.
For the young couple, I thought they would have a happy "honeymoon" dating period in France. But man was I not expecting a deep relationship with misunderstandings and communication problems. Their relationship changed a lot throughout this drama as well.
And for the main couple... I loved the progress of their relationship. The misunderstandings between the two of them were hilarious. And man, Jung Yong Hwa's kisses have gotten A LOT BETTER. I hated the fish kisses in "The heartstrings".
There were so many unexpected twists which I really loved. Overall, it was an awesome drama to watch!
For those ONLY looking for romance, don't start this drama because the main focus is not the romance but the growth of the characters and their relationships. It was a really good refreshing drama for me.
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Enemies at the Beginning, Lovers at the End.
I started Lie to Love on a whim. It basically went like this, “Ooh, Cheng Xiao and Luo Yunxi? Cool, I’ll watch.” I wasn’t looking for much, I admit I went into this drama for the visuals. I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. I’m going to get this out of the way, if you’re looking for Cdramas similar to A Love So Beautiful or My Little Happiness, don’t dilly-dally here because Lie to Love isn’t your best option for Next Fluffy Cdrama Rom-Com. BUT of course, the audience is provided with plenty of sweet scenes that makes you yearn for more.The story begins with an amazing scene of ‘bad-ass’ Su Xieyi (Cheng Xiao) on some under-cover mission…and she has amnesia? The drama isn’t as tropey as it seems to be in the beginning. It does have amnesia, the concept of Enemies to Lovers, but instead, the flower blooms into a drama full of secrets and investigation, with a huge shocking moment that either makes you want to hate the story or feel even more compelled. In my case, these twists and turns caught my attention, and like the characters in the drama, I was always on my toes for the next scenes and episodes. Again, side characters do pose some problems in the leads getting their Happily Ever After, however, the difficulty is more directed towards power struggle rather than the leads losing their trust towards one another. Like many dramas, Lie to Love is like a story in a fantasy world, the details in this drama are not going to happen in real life. This is what makes the plot intriguing. The investigation aspect is the bright cherry on top of an ice cream scoop.
Acting/Cast - 9.0
The actors’ eyes say everything, they paint love, worry, desperation, shock. This was especially evident in Luo Yunxi. Li Zeliang (ML) could be standing on the concrete sidewalk, and you would still be able to see the emotion pouring from his eyes. As for the character himself, he has his setbacks, but he proved himself worthy of standing amongst the top leaders of the hotel business industry. His moves weren’t unpredictable, but rather deserving of applause. Luo Yunxi brought a new aura into any room or scene he was in. Besides his refined looks and dazzling smile, his confident and intelligent image enhanced his character.
On the other hand, while Cheng Xiao can still be a newbie in the drama industry, she had been improving endlessly. As opposed to her character in the popular drama Falling Into Your Smile, Su Xieyi (FL) carries a stronger air of dominance. She, unfortunately, wove some disappointment into my intrigued soul, however, this feeling was quickly wiped away. The small loss in her Strong FL spark was replenished as Su Xieyi made her solid decisions. This was more of a small bump in the plot roller coaster rather than Cheng Xiao’s acting, which she did wonderfully in fulfilling. Su Xieyi isn’t a very complex character, however, the audience received a mixture of determination and care from her.
Luo Yunxi and Cheng Xiao’s pairing was satisfying. Their chemistry was not ‘The Bomb’, however, it was powerful but also cute. (The eye candy as well!) The sweet scenes were especially fun to watch, as Zeliang and Xieyi is such a lovable couple. Of course, I think it’s safe to say that a big portion of the audience was demanding more fluffy sides to the story.
With only a few important side characters, it was fun watching character progressions, whether it be the playful musician Oscar or the talented and poised Shi Chuchu. As much as side characters are often disregarded under the spotlight of the main leads, these supporting characters play a major role in the progression of the plot. Of course, some of their actions were in the wrong, but these were the steps to achieving a rolling plot. In the end, I was more than satisfied with many of the characters’ endings, especially with those who ‘grew up’, who became better people than before.
Music - 9.0
It’s not rare to see me vibing to fun and cute Cdrama songs, and even more so with the addition of Lie to Love’s OST. Nothing much to say about the soundtrack besides the fact that I love it. Another surprise? Luo Yunxi sings a song! (It’s beautiful.)
~
Overall, Lie to Love was a fun and enthralling watch with a blend of both sweet romance and captivating mystery. Characters had secretive pasts and unspeakable confessions, however, they were all given the endings they deserved. Production was high-budget, which was clearly evident in costumes and props. Lie to Love was a breath of fresh air among the cutesy rom-coms that I’ve watched.
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