This review may contain spoilers
No No No No La La No
WTF!!!!!!!!!If someone I loved pretended to be dead for 5 yrs and suddenly appeared in front of me, I wouldn't even want to look at their face.
The grief from death isn't the same as the grief from a breakup.
The writer had been playing with this since the beginning by giving the doctor a case of pills to carry everywhere. Writers should stop trying to make the audience cry. At this point they just seem like the bad teacher that hits you so you become better. This is not a healthy way of creating emotions in people.
The last few 4 or so episodes seemed like fillers with lots of throwbacks and nonsensical plot lines.
It's ok to make dramas shorter. If a story can be told better in fewer episodes, do it! It's better than spoiling a story that was good to begin with.
This idea of going through hard times alone even if you have loved ones is an Asian ideal that I can't really understand and I believe it's so damaging considering the mental health and suicide issues that are so prevalent there. Especially in South Korea. We've seen so many idols die to suicide. Pushing this idea that you have to endure hardships alone and come back to your loved ones when you're "not broken anymore" and not cause them "trouble" is something that might make this issue worse.
I can't stand by this drama anymore. The ending message is very damaging to those suffering from any sort of illness.
I'm not even going to speculate about the ending. It doesn't matter. It is what it is. And it doesn't do it for me.
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1A New Classic!
Alchemy of Souls is pure entertainment from start to finish! Sure, you'll see intense reactions of people complaining about plot holes, pacing and directing choices, etc. But name one beloved classic that doesn't have those (both plot issues and harsh critics). I'll wait. Edward Abbey was right: great art is never perfect; perfect art is never great.We need to keep in mind this is an avant-garde project. It is a multi-genre High fantasy show. Which sounds expensive, and it is. The production is mesmerizing. It drives me crazy to think about all the hard work put into this show. The show serves romance, action, comedy, and mystery with impeccable visuals complemented with a gorgeous OST.
Story-wise, it is essentially a classic fairy tale with some twists. A very familiar tale about love, friendship, and the perils of human greed. A character-driven story penned by the controversial Hong sisters. The writers spend a lot of time showing the characters' motivations, bonding moments, and cute quirks. You can always count on them to create the most memorable and charismatic characters, and Alchemy of Souls has plenty of them. The storyline is not that complex, so the writers opt for omitting things to keep us guessing what happens next. And when they unfold the events, they do it in a concise way, which might not be palatable to particular audiences. They also provide tons of comic relief. Even in the darkest episodes, you'll surely laugh. Especially when it comes to romance, the sisters are too unserious. The Love web (geometrical shapes were insufficient) is there, but there's no obnoxious rivalry.
The unusual nature of this project can make people feel weirded out. Alchemy of Souls is not just quirky; it introduces new/paradoxical experiences to the audience. You might think it's a Sageuk, but you'll see modern-looking styles and pop-culture references. The plot might seem cliché, but you can't predict it. You think you have reached the end but face a new beginning instead. Not everyone is comfortable around such new concepts, so I understand the rage.
Last but not least, this show beautifully displays some relevant messages. I'll focus on one message because this review is already too long. Throughout the series, you'll see the writers emphasizing that everyone can turn into a "monster"; either by choice (bad decisions) or by force (conceptions imposed by others). Then you see the male lead saying we can protect said monsters, keep them in check to achieve peace. It is a powerful statement, especially when getting rid of freaks and problematic people is the norm. Are we achieving peace by doing so? That's some food for thought.
Those are the reasons I think Alchemy of Souls should be considered a new classic. It excels at moving people with beauty and disturbing the conformed minds. It offers wholesome entertainment and also instigates passionate discussions. It is a light-hearted show, but it has its dark moments. Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow comes out in December 2022!
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This review may contain spoilers
What a waste of time.
These are seven stories of seven best friends whose personalities are based on the Thai description of characters associated with a particular day of the week. Reviewing each installment individually~~~═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 1,2
TUESDAY
• Chap as Tue
• Tae as Ake
ALSO SEE THEM IN: Tae will be starting in “You're my skyy”. Chap can be seen in a side role in Lovely Writer, and in the upcoming series, “The Tuxedo”.
RATING: 4.5/10
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: – If you're looking for a sports themed bl with coaching and all that, then I'd suggest Mr. Heart. If you're looking for enemies to lovers then I'd suggest My Gear and your gown, Love by chance (Tincan), Love by chance 2, Why RU?
STORY: Tue is an aspiring Muay Thai coach. On his very first day as an assistant coach he meets an old enemy and they have a faceoff. During their sports camp trio, the coach makes Tue and Ake room together to teach Tue patience so that he can be a better coach and to keep Ake in line
REVIEW: Script issues. In my honest opinion, the actors did the best they could with the storyline they were provided. There wasn't lack of chemistry and both the actors convinced me that they hated each other and were simultaneously attracted to each other. Given that two episodes of 1 hour each is not enough to deal with an entire relationship, the story could've been less of a mess if they hadn't tried to incorporate so many tropes into it.
*Spoiler alert*
They used a gazillion tropes in here: a single interaction wherein Ake cuts into line makes Tue hate him with such gusto. Sickness and the subsequent requisite white towel treatment (because it's a bl). Parental issues to bring the mcs closer to each other. Roommate drama.
Regarding the romance, you can if you're want to, justify every assholish thing done by Ake on the basis of 'attraction'. Ake even goes so far as to tell Tue that he was responsible for arousing him and henceforth must take care of his needs. Furthermore, for someone who vehemently begged the coach to allow him into the team (and also because Ake wants to fulfil his father's dreams), Ake’s behavior of purposefully skipping practice and investing leaves just to look like he has a fever do not comply with the story. Needless to say I couldn't get into their story. Sad because the actors were really trying.
Major plot hole: So Tue gets the chicken pox. Granting that I am not a Thai citizen but an Indian one, I believe that's one disease south east Asian countries are vaccinated against? Even if we allow room for the fact that the hadn't been vaccinated, it doesn't make sense that the entire team isn't down with the disease. Logic #101.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 3,4
SUNDAY
• Max as Sun
• Nat as Nuea
ALSO SEE THEM IN: MaxNat are a side couple in “Why RU?” the series and in the upcoming projects by Mandee (nameless, “Cutie Pie” the series). They're also the main couple in episode 3 of “Close Friend”.
RATING: 4.5/10
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: Why RU?
REVIEW: Can we appreciate Nuea’s style in this? I don't like MaxNat per se, and I don't see the hype around them but their acting was pretty decent and considering that they were given a pretty average story, they carried the episodes well. Notable point, this is a healthy relationship. Not taking advantage of your drunk bf marks the beginnings of a healthy relationship.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 5,6
MONDAY
• Korn as Mon
• Gung as Team
ALSO SEE THEM IN: Korn has a really funny supporting role in YYY the series. They haven't starred together in any other dramas.
RATING: 3.5/10
I have no idea what happened here, it hasn't been many weeks I suppose but that's exactly how forgettable it was. I just remember that there was a confession scene on stage and I could feel the second hand embarrassment through the screen and in my head I was like: somebody end my pain. Yet again, I feel the actors delivered pretty good (like a 6.5/10 for the acting), but the storyline was ridiculous. I also remember being irritated as hell with Team.
Notable mention: awkward pauses. Like longer than the one in kdrama confession scenes. The drawn out soulmate gazing and pauses were just lowering the score at 127 km/s.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 7,8
THURSDAY
• Pi as Thurs
• Au as Pao/Pae
ALSO SEE THEM IN: Pi is part of the secondary couple in YYY the series. They haven't starred together in any other dramas.
RATING: 5.5/10
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: He’s coming to me, Hidden love as these are both bl dramas involving a ghost-seeing boy story ark.
No spoilers for these episodes because you have to watch this at least once. I have only seen Pee Peerawich Ploynumpol in his funny role in YYY and I wasn't sure what he was going to deliver here but he was really vibin’ with his role here! In some places he conveyed his reverence for his art and his feelings quite nicely. Also Pao is the cutest ghost I have ever seen. If you're deciding on which episodes to skip then DON'T SKIP EPISODE 7 & 8, it was probably the most wholesome episode here in terms of their relationship.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 9,10
• Takizawa as Puth
• First as Kaeng
ALSO SEE THEM IN: Tae will be starting in “You're my skyy”. Chap can be seen in a side role in Lovely Writer, and in the upcoming series, “The Tuxedo”.
RATING: 6/10
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: En of Love: Love Mechanics, Side couple in My Gear and your Gown
This is where I pour out my feelings about these two. First of all, First playing Kaeng is impressive. He has a vast expression range: that suggestive smirk directed at Puth, that look of pure adoration when he's studying Puth, the joyous expression when he's around Puth, that kicked-in-the-gut sad puppy eyes he does to move Puth, that death glare he specifically reserves for Payo and lastly the crying scenes. This actor can go from 0 to 100 real quick. Same for Takizawa. He is cute at the right moments but he can be flirty and asshole and hot mean jerk just as well.
Secondly, the nc scenes. I let out a bleh when I saw how effusive fans were being about their nc scenes but they jumped the gun saying that the romance wasn't well developed. Well I beg to disagree. The actors had great chemistry, that's true, but the nc scenes weren't just that—it was the trust Puth had in Kaeng, the way he was letting himself be free with him. Kudos to them for bringing a proper friends-with-benefits relationship to the screen and turning it to something more.
When twenty minutes were left for episode 10 to end I was beginning to wonder how they were going to wrap up these threads at the very end. But it was ended well too! Turns out it wasn't just the audience who noticed how Kaeng was whipped for Puth, Puth isn't one of those typical oblivious characters. It took him time to understand his feelings but he did notice Kaeng’s gestures! The ending really touched me. *SPOILER* When Kaeng told Puth to stay with him for one last time, it was obvious that Puth wasn't sure about it but he cared enough for Kaeng as a friend to not leave him alone. And so he does grant his request which eventually lead him to realize his feelings.
Also, can we appreciate how perfect these two are for each other? Both are flirtatious jerks who are whipped for each other. When Kaeng starts shouting that he has a boyfriend Puth just laughs and urges him to say his name and then proceeds to shout that he has a boyfriend too. Like I cannot with these two—
This was so far my favorite in terms of acting, pacing and character development.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 11,12
• Jaab as Sat
• Ton as Choke
ALSO SEE THEM IN: —
RATING: 5.0/10
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: I have no idea what bl drama to recommend which has similar fantasy-time travel-friendship themes as this one does.
STORY: Sat and Choke have been friends since childhood. Unlike Choke who was satisfied with his status and his chubby figure, Sat wants to be included into Top’s gang. Top is a older than them, plays football and is considered cool in the school. Prior to this, Choke had gifted Sat with a Gundam, a giant robot, which was supposedly magical and it proves its powers when Choke unknowingly presses the button which activates it and it fulfils his wish but this comes with a side effect: he can't be friends with Choke anymore because that's what it takes to be cool, he must cut off his connection from the 'fat' boy. Encouraged by Top, Sat punches him effectively severing their friendship.
Not only do, since Sat wished to be all grown up and part of Top’s gang, he wakes up in the future—mind you his memories are still of the past, the years in between are a gap in his head—and is surprised to find his head in Top’s lap. They are best friends now but Sat wonders why he isn't best friends with Choke, he has no idea that they aren't friends anymore and turns up at Choke’s house to remember his memories. Things spiral from there.
REVIEW: As I scrolled through the comments, I realized that this couple got overlooked a lot as people commented their opinions on the series. For me they were cute. Kind of forgettable maybe but cute.
I think the strongest message here was how our experiences shape us. Whatever choices Sat had or hadn't made had changed him from his innocent naive mentality to a person who played with others’ feelings and was uncaring.
This was quite obviously a rip-off (an adaptation, if you will), of the popular rom-com “13 Going on 30,” which delivered a lot more than this story did and in shorter time.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 13, 14
I am honestly underwhelmed guys. I got some messages here AND a personal dm to complete this review. And here goes: underwhelmed with Yoon, Lay and Perth. Serious injustice to some of my favorite actors (in bl series I mean).
Rating: 6.5/10. See Perthlay in My Engineer and the hypothetical My Engineer 2. Also, Perth go taken out of Kinnporsche so yeah. Seen Yoonlay in YYY (one of my favorites), YYY special and Close friend (episode 4).
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ Ep. 15
Shhitty ending. Everybody gets together. Hugs. Kisses. And they all live happily ever after except of course... you know if you know.
═ ∘♡༉∘ ═══════ OVERALL
Ranking episodes: [13, 14], [9&10], [7&8], [11&12], [3&4], [1&2], [5&6], [15]
These are some points I need to stress about this series.
AWESOME. COSTUMES. Like damn was I tired of the standard issue bl drama uniforms with the stark white shirts and black pants. Everybody here had a distinctive colourful style. Tue was pink, Ake was sporty and casual, Sun was a bit formal, Nuea was rocking the effeminate style (we need more such rep), Mon was sunflower, Team was masculine hot, Pi was a ghost summoner need, Pao was cute (too cute to be a ghost), Puth was sweater and Kaeng went all out with his striking red shirts and earrings.
The director seems to have his signature style. Music was pretty much on point. The actors mostly managed really well.
Overall rating 4.0/10 for an awesome waste of time.
Are you thinking of watching this series?
If you're looking for something mindless and pulpy to watch then go for it. Select the episodes you think you'd like best and watch those first, the stories are not interconnected. Happy watching!
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Really sweet fluff!!!
If you want some relatively-short, happy romance fluff, this is for you!It's actually quite rare to see a male-chase-female rom com nowadays without evil/scheming secondary leads, but here is one to satisfy your sugar craving.
Also, if you're into smart leads (with very clever romantic dialogue), you'll enjoy this show.
Yes, people do fight, but they are resolved relatively early and maturely; so get your chocolate ready for a big binge journey that will help you forget the Gu Wei Yi in Put Your Head on my Shoulder LOL
Extra points to the poetic nature of the lines and the cultural references -- I honestly had to look up some of the more sophisticated things they said, but I think the whole "well-educated main characters with great literature background" setting really makes this drama unique -- as in only the Chinese can produce something like this without seeming cringey.
The last few episodes do transition a bit weirdly though -- at one point I thought I was watching Code Blue instead of a rom com, but I guess it was a plot device to help the main characters reaffirm their love for each other so I'll take it.
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!!!!! Wow
Story: AMAZING. There were so many twists and turns in the storyline that just came out of nowhere (in a good way) I was constantly on my toes and never knew who was good or bad and who was in the right or wrong. Are they on the good team? Have they now switched to the bad team or were they there all along? Who knows. (Well me, because I’ve seen it ;) )It made me feel ALL the emotions, even the ones I didn’t want to feel, I was on edge one minute, then swooning at Joon Hwi the next and then crying about something afterwards.
Acting/Cast: For me, the acting never felt stiff or forced, obviously I can’t speak for others. Everyone played their role well and I think the perfect people were cast for each role. I loved that we got backstories and plots for a lot of the characters as well, it helped immerse me in the story because I felt like I knew everyone I was seeing on screen, I could understand their actions and motives better.
Music: Gosh that one song was catchy “it’s pulling me undeeeerrrrr, it’s driving me CRAAAAZYYYY”. The music was dark and sinister when it needed to be which made me feel in danger at the right moments and help keep the pacing of the show.
I would definitely watch again, if not for Ye Seul’s storyline and Joon Hwi’s heart eyes then for the rush I felt during the high intensity scenes.
If you like investigation/law (kind of detectivy I guess) dramas, then this is a good watch for you. Enjoy!
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This review may contain spoilers
LORD KNOWS THE AMOUNT OF HOURS I SPENT LOVING THIS SERIES. IT HAS TAKEN SUCH A BIG ROLE IN MY LIFE THAT I'M CLUELESS OF WHAT TO DO NOW THAT IT'S FINALLY COME TO AN END. I WAS INTRODUCED TO THIS 2 WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS AIRED AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT I CAME ACROSS THIS BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE. While others found Shaofei's character to be annoying in the first part of the series, I actually adored him to no end. He's so courageous and that's admirable. The fact that he doesn't hide his love for Tangyi is also truly amazing. This isn't no damn i-like-you-but-i-won't-say-anything-at-all. NO! This is the complete opposite. He's so loud about loving Tangyi and we seriously need more dramas like this. SHAOFEI FTW.
Tangyi is such an amazing, flawed character. Good gracious, he's the whole package. Tangyi's my favorite character out of everyone although he can be impulsive. He's such a good lover too.
Now moving onto their romance. THE LITTLE MOVEMENTS ARE JUST AS PRECIOUS AS THE KISS SCENES! I love the scenes where Tangyi is just caring for Shaofei and his little baby is just holding his hand, stating that he's God and nothing can kill him except for a canon ball. Like okay, Shaofei.
I really had no interest in the other two couples to be very honest so I have no opinion on them.
BUT, everyone has to watch this drama. It's packed with so much shit that you're swimming in your feels and yall don't even know it. Sure we were clowned most of the time but it's worth it.
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Outstanding comedy performance by the female lead!
I'll be honest, it took me a few passes to even want to give this drama a try...I'm not big on period pieces. I'm SO GLAD I eventually watched this. The female lead is outstanding at playing a man trying to behave like a woman. Her facial expressions and body language make for some really satisfying comedy. The other actors were fine, the male lead was fine, but the female lead is where this show really really shines. She carries the entire drama and I was super impressed by her performance.The storyline itself is pretty good, the comedy is spot-on, but it's not like it's a new or innovative story, so the acting and set really made this show stand out as exceptional. The music selections were also very memorable and they did a great job fitting the music to the activities in the drama. As soon as you hear Bong Hwan's theme song (easy to identify cause it shouts his name several times at the start) you instantly know the Queen is about to get up to some badass mischief. The costumes were gorgeous, everything is bright and colorful and clean which really helped to avoid distractions from the comedy performances.
This drama is in my top10 K-Dramas list for sure! I'd watch it again 100%.
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This review may contain spoilers
This review is intended to be a personal opinion. I do not encourage or discourage people from watching what they like. It is intended to give you an idea of what to expect, but I always say, "watch and make your own judgement."IF you like a series that has drama and gives you a heartache as well as headache, this is the one for you. Be warned, you will find yourself wanting to go through the tv or computer screen (what ever device you are watching this from) and shake all of the characters and yell "snap out of it" (thank you Cher!) I for one enjoyed the story.
Why the warning? Because...
This series it's frustrating, it's not fluffy, it can be annoying at times, but it's also funny, it's engaging, it tears at your most basic needs when it comes to love and unrequited love. The characters are so flawed that most times we either cheer for them or boo them. While some may find the premise of the story annoying, I'm actually happy that we got to see a different side of relationships. Not all relationships are stable, not all relationships are rainbows and unicorns, sometimes they are a bit toxic or imbalance in the sense that someone gives more than 50% while the other takes more from it. It was a well acted drama nonetheless.
Khai is an unlikable character in the beginning of the story. He is narcissistic, arrogant, self-centered and a man-who*re. But he is a college student who lives his life as he sees fit, regardless of who he hurts so long as he gets what he wants. Those attributes are a turn off for many viewers, but Khai is a character that does exist in real life. By the middle of the series, we still don't see what's so great about him other than his looks, but we are told to believe that he has some great redeeming qualities. It is why Third is in love with him. Which brings me to another point, WHY IS HE in love with Khai? We never really get to know this. However, Khai does start to show some good qualities, such as when he tried to not interfere between Third and An when he believed them to be together.
Third in the beginning of the series was a character many people empathize with and wanted to protect, but from my point of view, he was equally to blame for his own misery. He had plenty of reason to move on from his love from Khai (specially when Khai treated him like crap) yet didn't. But, this type of character again, does exist in the real world and some people have a hard time learning to love themselves enough to say "I'm better than this and I can find someone better than him."
CAST:
Gun as always takes on the character's story and gives it life. He is able to portray the flaws of the character excellently and you believe him 100%.
Off's acting has improved quite a lot from his previous works, While many may be used to his comedic side, it's nice to see that he can have range in acting. He portrayed an unlikable character quite well, evident by how many viewers did not cheer for him.
White: His character was a great supportive friend to Third. At times I actually said, "Third go for Two"
The rest of the cast did really well in driving the story along and while I would have loved to see more of the side BL couple of Earth and White, it's typical of Thai BLs to never truly develop secondary couples.
onto the Technical stuff
Cinematography: Amazing use of color, wide-shots, close shots, Etc. The team took great care in the way they filmed this .Music: Amazing music and great use of it in the drama. Did not seem out of place at all.
Inspiration: I really enjoyed that the drama was centered around classic romc-coms and that each episode was titled after those movies.
Cons: I didn't like the trope of the teacher and student relationship. It wasn't organic and just belittled both characters in my opinion.
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Boku no Ita Jikan (“The Time I Was In,” internationally titled “The Hours of my Life,”) acquaints viewers with ALS, while painting an intimate portrait of a certain afflicted young man. This drama exults in the ordinary, from sets to characters and even plot points. Yet the propensity toward simplicity is exactly what produces any brilliance it might find. Main character Sawada Takuto could be any 20-something in Japan, but he could just as easily represent any young person anywhere. His goals appear unremarkable, his relationships familiar, his hobbies commonplace. But because they are also realistic, the generated reliability helps to connect viewers to the show. If nothing else, it will leave one questioning themselves. "How have I lived until now? Have I taken my time for granted?"
I would categorize this drama as inspirational, though also quite tragic. Many uplifting moments occur, yet these can be just as painful as the tearjerker scenes. For those wondering, a rather good love story does exist (and with surprising maturity, despite at least one "fish kiss"). There are a few cliches, unfortunately, including the most dreaded irritant: noble idiocy. Veterans of the genre might not enjoy Boku no Ita Jikan as much as others, either; there have been stronger, similar forays, though it brings a youthful flair to the table.
Miura Haruma starred in one of my first experiences with Japanese cinema about a thousand years ago, coincidentally another disease-oriented tale (Koizora). Though I've barely seen him after, I never forgot the effect that initial performance had on me. Meeting Miura-san again in Boku no Ita Jikan, I’m pleasantly surprised at his immense growth from then. His turn as Takuto is delightfully ordinary, yet powerful in its modesty. Most memorable will be his optimistic smile, though there were times I was floored in how deeply I felt Takuto’s fears. An actor with potential indeed.
I found leading lady Tabe Mikako only decent, though she performs well for the most part. Her Megumi takes the longest to “settle” and characterization seems somewhat fluid until around the mid-point. Chemistry with Miura Haruma is consistent, if more strongly felt in later episodes. Saito Takumi looks his best, though character Mukai Shigeyuki possesses a selfish streak. Due to subtle writing and this actor’s innate charm, Shige nevertheless remains painfully human. He might be a flawed jerk in many contexts, but he also has the potential to be genuinely friendly, observant, and likable in others. Nomura Shuhei is also notable, as he develops Rikuto into an surprisingly adorable and complete supporting character.
Pretty music accompanies Boku no Ita Jikan. Of particular note are vocals from Rihwa (“Harukaze/Spring Wind”) and Yuzu (“Yorokobi no Uta/A Song of Joy”). Sound effects are also utilized to a heart-rending degree, including the sound of a ticking clock bridging between scenes.
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No good deed goes unpunished.
This is a melodramatic story about a badass assassin Shen Lige and Liu Yikang, titled Prince Pengcheng who was best known for reforms that heralded a golden age for the short lived Liu Song dynasty (420-479). In real life, Liu Yikang was probably a dull and dusty fellow who promulgated legislation and ably shouldered the burden of tedious administrative tasks artfully dodged by his brother the allegedly sickly emperor Wen. In this romanticized account, Pengcheng falls in love with the beautiful and deadly Lige, who helps him drain the swamp and weed out a bunch of corrupt and rebellious aristrocrats who are disenfranchised by his reforms.Shen Lige (Li Qin) must be one of the strongest, most badass, most lethal and most gorgeous female leads of c-drama. She makes a grand entrance and her character is awesome up until the bitter end and is the strongest selling point of this drama. Li Qin's acting is so superb her Lige is powerful, engaging, fierce yet still feminine and her expressions are nuanced and emotionally on point. Initially I was not convinced on her pairing with Qin Hao - he is obviously quite a bit older and her "lao tou"/old dude jokes did not help. But Qin Hao is a very compelling actor and in no time, I was rooting for Lige and Pengcheng. While their chemistry is not sizzling or deeply passionate, they are both smart characters that are clearly on the same wavelength and make a formidable team. That said, I feel an actor of Qin Hao's caliber was somewhat wasted on a role such as Pengcheng - he would have made a far more compelling villlain. I also did not like the noticeable skin smoothing they did on him which obscured his micro expressions.
All of the characters in this drama are just simply fantastic. How can you not love Prince Jingling who has the best, most subtly comical facial expressions? Or the completely adorable, wholesome loving, humble devoted goodness that is Shen family? Or the mischevious Zijin and Lige's loyal assassin fraternity? There are so many wonderful, well written characters that are charismatically portrayed and interact with so much chemistry and rapport that you can't help falling in love with them. Guard your hearts carefully though because one of the key takeaways of this drama is that no good deed goes unpunished and compassion and mercy is repaid with treachery and murder. Of course we can't expect all of the characters to survive but there have to be enough survivors to keep us invested in the drama and this one barely makes it. The deaths also have to be "good deaths" at the hands of a worthy opponent and not at the hands of say a puny mutant ninja flying cockroach.
Very much like its predecessor Weiyoung, the villains in this drama are quite enjoyable almost cartoonlike caricatures with very dramatic, somewhat comical facial expressions. Lu Yuan is an excellent, overpowering villian. And Consort Sun relishes hamming it up so much at many points she appears on the verge of cracking up with laughter. However, there are also too many repetitive petty villains with cliché motives and too many lives. The main villains and in particular the mastermind in black (whose identity was obvious quite early on) are interesting characters that should have been better developed instead of digressing into sibling rivalry, green eyed monster and excessive bitch slapping tropes. Unfortunately, the villain spotlight was hijacked by the very pretty Shen Leqing, a well acted but two dimensional character with pedestrian motives. I guess in life and in art, men can see better than they can think.
The story writing is where this exhausting melodrama falls down hard. The plot is predictable and smacks of Weiyoung. Heavy suspension of disbelief is needed because from the get go, a lot of things that don't make sense happen. I rolled my eyes so often that I can no longer tell if my right and left eyeballs have exchanged sockets! But the acting is so delightful and there are so many thrilling moments that for the first 20+ episodes I went with it. At some point however, the excessive plotting and the rollercoaster ride of emotional ups and downs as beloved characters are mowed down with reckless impunity while petty villains survive against improbable odds becomes simply too much. The drama peaks in the mid-30s after the most well developed villain is felled and it further loses momentum after some of my best loved characters are gratuitously killed off. It limps through some repetitive sub-plots towards an unexpectedly good ending which I almost missed because I wasn't that motivated to finish. I find the writers of this drama guilty of writing under the influence of alcohol. They tortured my eyeballs with cruel and reckless depravity and are hereby sentenced to writing commercials for the next 15 years. The surprisingly fitting ending qualifies them for probation after 8.0 years, which is also my rating for this drama.
There seems to be some confusion over the ending so I am copying my a spoiler tagged explanation of what happened from the threads to the comment section of this review.
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This review may contain spoilers
A little too much chemistry and a little too much of my obsession towards this!!
Set against the backdrop of racecars, winding racetracks, and high-stakes competitions, this series gripped me from the first rev of the engine. I personally liked this premises and the way it's presented, even the whole Alpha X Alpha set up. The drama cranked up quite a bit in the later half of the series plus the stakes were really high and I won't say everything was executed perfectly but regardless I enjoyed watching this. I ain't an avid Omegaverse reader and I don't even know if this can be called Omegaverse but trust me even if you don't know a thing about Omegaverse you can just dive in, it's still interesting because even I just know a thing or two about it.Starting with Babe, I absolutely love him. Pavel nailed his role as Babe. Whether he's delivering a cutting remark or revealing a softer side, Pavel keeps you invested in Babe's journey. Babe is savage but the good kind of savage- if you know what I mean. He seems cold and rude but that's not all there is to him. There's a depth to his character and he is really charismatic. He is impulsive and he's been manipulated his whole life which describes why he can't trust other easily and he is one hell of a jealous type.
Then, we have Charlie, his cuteness blinds me. He is so freaking cute and it makes me want to protect him but then again it seemed like he had a hidden motive and I was scared. I was torn between wanting to trust Charlie and the nagging fear of a potential betrayal. Pooh did a really great job in portraying Charlie. And every time he was treated wrong I felt so freaking bad. I really really love him.
And then there's the chemistry between Charlie and Babe, which is nothing short of electric. They are all over each other. Their chemistry is seriously insane and what makes it more intriguing is their contrast personalities. I absolutely love them. Their papa mama talks were so cliche but damn they are absolutely adorable.
Then we have Alan, the garage and Hunter X owner, I like him so much especially his scenes with Jeff. Jeff is a cold on the outside but soft in the inside kind of genius kid and I absolutely adore his bond with Charlie. Also him and Alan are seriously adorable. Their interactions, subtle moves and glances towards each other, damn I love how their story was portrayed. I loved Charlie and Babe but I was dying to see Alan Jeff's scenes. They had really captured my mind as well as heart. From their very first scene, I found myself rooting for them and I was the happiest seeing their scenes.
Moving on to Way, he is Babe's best friend but he is in love with Babe and Babe doesn't know. All he is ever thinking is about Babe Babe and Babe. He might come off as nosy and sometimes annoying too but no doubt he is a good friend and I just wanted him to move on. I was genuinely rooting for Way and Pete and- urghh I don't want to spoil this. Watch it yourself to know. Also, North and Sonic, they are those likeable support leads who no one can hate and they are best friends but their equation didn't seem like that of just friends. I enjoyed their bond and them too.
A little bumpy ride but I would definitely recommend this!!!
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QUEEN OF IDIOCY AND HER BIGGEST SIMP.
A show that looked quite interesting and engaging from its trailer and previews only to end up as a total dud. The episodes get boring with each case and rarely are moments of anything exciting. It is draggy and even gets annoying sometimes especially the entire relationshit arc between the leads.One of the most dumbest female leads to ever exist. I still don't know how she even managed to become a lawyer. From the previews it looked like she will be one strong willed and badass lady but all you get is an idiotic damsel in distress who just keeps putting herself into dangerous situations, only to be rescued by ML. In almost very ep, she just keep crying and lamenting.
Kang Ki Young finally getting a lead role but just the wrong show. His character is a huge doormat of a simp who just cannot move on from a lady who dumped him to marry someone richer and influential. The entire past love arc was pure crap and would have been better if not kept in the show. Dude keeps on getting hurt by FL's decisions and keeps coming back wiggling his tail.
There is no chemistry between the leads and neither is any character progression. I would say the relation arc between Sara and her ex husband was way better than the ex boyfriend turned coworker dude.
I would say the antagonists were way better than the leads and at some parts I even wanted them to win be it the ex husband or his mother. They did really well with their part.
If you are looking for some exciting law and thriller stuff, this show ain't worth your time.
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This review may contain spoilers
As A Webtoon Reader
My review for the most part is going to be coming from someone who read the webtoon and LOVED it.STORY: I know they finished this before the webtoon ended, I know they couldn't add everything because it would make the budget too high. That being said, some of the changes felt pointless. They missed the timing for some characters' deaths and then gave them pointless deaths that did not live up to their deaths in the webtoon. They added the female character and basically stripped Wook of everything that made him a good character. For Eun, they made her mean and it really ruined the sibling dynamic between her and Hyuk. For Hyuk, they rid of his "funniness." My main problem with the story is the damages they caused to the character's relationships with each other. Hyuk and Hyun's friendship was nonexistent, instead, Hyuk just used Hyun as a dog. Hyun and Jisu's relationship was switched out for Hyun and Eun. Eun and Wook did not have their friendship. Wook and Yuri's relationship was barely there. I am just disappointed with how they handled the webtoon relationships.
The monsters were watered down. In the webtoon, they were hard to kill are were always a threat. In the drama, they were easier to kill and kinda just disappeared in the last two episodes... I kinda wished the "Do I Look Good?" monster was here, they teased us with lines relating to him, but he never came :( The CGI was pretty good, the best has to be the "I Can't See" monster, he looked VERY real. Protein, the running monster, and the spider monster were goofy-looking sometimes XD
If I were to not have read the webtoon, it would not have been bad. BUT, I would have been confused on some parts because you need webtoon knowledge to understand somethings.
ACTING/CAST: they all did their parts perfectly. They all acted so well. Kudos to everyone because wow.
MUSIC: I am not gonna lie, some times the music just did not fit. I wish they would've had more intense songs instead of always using Imagine Dragon's "Warriors."
REWATCH VALUE: I could rewatch it, but I probably won't. I do not rewatch things often
OVERALL: As a webtoon reader, I am disappointed and would give it a 7.5/10. As a drama watcher, I am satisfied and would give it a 9/10. UPDATE: after rethinking it, I changed by overall to an 8/10
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This review may contain spoilers
To the Marriage of True Minds....and the Comedy of Wits
The tone of Perfect Match is a mix of comedy with heartwarming moments. Its use of exaggerated humor is typical of satire that aims to make a statement about social problems. From the first day of its release, the labels of "misogynistic" male leads and words such as "sociopath" as in one review were tagged on Perfect Match. The negative comments were to the extreme that either these viewers misunderstood the satirical tone of the drama or were too quick to judge without watching more than a few episodes. Be aware that there are negative reviews that were posted after only 4 episodes were released and deceptively marked as 36 episodes watched. Allow me to clear up some incorrect information in the reviews:None of the ML cheated on their wives
None of the ML deliberately did anything to hurt his wife or any of the sisters.
Perfect Match tells the story of a widow, Madam Li, who desires perfect matches for her five daughters. The overall tone of the drama makes it interesting so even if one couple might not be as great for you, the drama will still hold your interest. Each couple has its time as the main couple in the drama. The drama has great pacing as it moves its focus from one daugther to the next.
The drama begins with the sisters and Madam Li moving into Bianjing. The second sister, Fuhui is already married at the start of the drama. Her match appears as an immature character, Fan Lianghan, who she describes as too soft-hearted to the point he gives away his money to women who cry to him about their woes. At first, he appears to be ridiculously immature, but his character gains some maturity in a manner he retains his role as comic relief while showing some maturity and wisdom...in rare times :) After the first few episodes, I came to find him adorable, to be honest. I like him!
The focus of the first 10 episodes is on the third sister Kang Ning and her perfect match Chai An. This match is my favorite! Both Chai An and Kang Ning are brilliant strategists and it was entertaining to see them outsmart each other. I was disappointed when I saw less of them after ep 10 when the other stories became the focus. However, I was happy to see them in each sister's story.
Others prefer the next couple. The eldest daughter, Shouhua, is matched with a top-ranking scholar, Du Yang Xi. I didn't enjoy the eldest sister's CP much because the chemistry was bland. However, some have stated it was their favorite, so it is a matter of preference. Du Yang Xi's backstory was interesting, and the introduction of Shen Huishao as magistrate in the court scenes made for a nice transition into the fourth sister's CP.
By the 20th episode, the drama switches its focus to the fourth sister, Haode, and her perfect match, Shen Huishao. Her character growth is interesting as she becomes educated in the laws to help her husband solve cases. But what makes it even more interesting, is the way Haode melts the barriers Shen Huishao set up against falling in love and taking a wife.
The drama's next focus is the youngest and 5th daughter, Leshan, around ep 28. Her "perfect match" is Yang Xian. I have mixed feelings about her story. With her personality, it was not surprising to see Leshan fight back against the bullies in the Yang family. I admire her spirit and courage but her aggressive behavior toward Yang Xian made me uncomfortable in the early part of their story. I knew it was temporary as this drama tends to exaggerate for humor. But it was too much and I didn't find it funny after a while. I found myself feeling bad for Yang Xian. I appreciated her intelligence in standing up to the Yang family for both herself and her husband. It was for this reason, Yang Xian fell in love with her more every day. But even more lovely, was watching Madam Li give Yang Xian the motherly love he lacked in his own home.
Perfect Match is entertaining. I enjoyed the lively family dynamics of Madam Li and her daughters. Their devotion and love for each other is heartwarming. Each of the sisters has unique strengths and characteristics. Madam Li as the mother is depicted as an ambitious mother exaggeratedly at times but at other times there is no doubt that her deepest desire is not for the wealth and status she wants for her daughters but rather for their happiness. The perfect match for her daughters would be a man who would cherish them.
But Perfect Match is not only about the marriages of Madam Li's five daughters. There is an underlying theme of gender and societal expectations. It portrays the treatment of women in the Song Dynasty. Madame Li as a widow lost property and status when her husband died. The court cases address some of the prejudices against women at the time. Each daughter's story depicts the challenges of defying predestined futures. The romance endures misunderstandings and conflicting circumstances. The use of humor and the battle of wits makes this drama a warm bundle of charm.
Perfect Match has a happy ending. However, the final episode would have been better if they had not added more problems to Leshan and Yang Xian's reunion that dragged into episode 36. I hoped they would have given us more of the couples' married life. I especially wanted to see more of Chai An and Kang Ning. I wanted much more than just flashbacks of each couple. But even with my disappointments, I will rewatch Perfect Match. It is still a 10 for me because I came to love the characters and found myself rewatching episodes while I waited for more to air. The plot was interesting and the family dynamic and tone of the drama is unique. The overall feel to Perfect Match will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. I will miss watching these characters daily.
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