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Amazing Chemistry With Character & Relationship Growth
Grabbed and held my attention. The acting by the leads is very good and the sexual tension is electric. There are many moments of tension and intimacy, and multiple passionate kisses throughout the story (there is both consentual and dubious-consent intimacy). Fyi, the lead characters are non-blood related step siblings. The FL is 24 and the ML is a little older.This is a vertically filmed mini series, which usually have small budgets, so I grade these on a sliding scale within their category.
General spoilers below.
A rare story where the meek FL becomes stronger by the end (and is pushed/encouraged to be so by the ML). The ML seems really callous but there is obviously great internal conflict. He could have chosen to tell the FL more and sooner of course, but there are reasons for his actions revealed near the end and his character IS redeemable. The dynamic between the leads is quite unhealthy for most of the show, but there is obvious love and yearning there from both characters (obvious to the viewer anyway). There is a nice extended happy ending that shows the lead couple with a healthy relationship dynamic once they are free of the external circumstances affecting them, which I loved.
Other things I liked: The SML is an admirable friend to the FL, all the antagonists get their justice (and the police are actually utilized! So rare, lol), and there are 3rd wheels but they are only one part of the plot and not the main focus. Also rare is that filial respect and obedience is not blind and morals are ultimately given more importance by the main characters.
A few more general spoilers on possible trigger warnings (beyond the common non-consentual kisses, dubious-consent kisses and intimacy, and characters getting drugged):
- Multiple women get slapped in the face, hard!, by both men and other women. (I don't think the ML ever slapped the FL though, just grabbed her chin/neck).
- A spot of blood on the sheets from sex (twice; one from the hymen the other not).
- Abortion is discussed.
- Self inflicted razor cuts on an arm (Not in a suicidal way though, and not that bloody).
- A character, that we never meet alive, falls to their death (brief, non-graphic, and not that realistic).
The video on YouTube, with all the episodes together as a "movie", with the best of the mediocre English subtitles that I was able to find:
https://youtu.be/xaG9d124yw0?si=eH3GeuDpXyD1uWtW
The second best:
https://youtu.be/xaG9d124yw0?si=fuWIbUu42LpsQmMy
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give it a chance
Don’t let the overall low score and bad reviews keep you from trying this. It is so good. The chemistry is off the charts. And while the story feels familiar, there were several moments where plot twists had me gasping. I laughed, I swooned, I cried rivers. We’re there bad effects and things left unexplained? Yeah. Do I care? No. Because I was entertained. Did it take way too long (almost the whole series) to explain the significance of Tong turning 21, after mentioning that they just had to wait for him to turn 21 every 5 seconds? Just for them to not wait til he turned 21? YES! Do I care? maybe a little. BUT those ending plot twists man! Didn’t see them coming. maybe I should have. But I didn’t. And I’m glad.Was this review helpful to you?
STORY (No spoilers)
The script/ plot for this show can be pretty loose and sloppy, unlike BBJX's strongly and tightly woven one. While you do have a lot of time skips which you will need to figure out by yourself, this is nothing compared to quite a few incidents of script illogic peppered throughout the show which got worse towards the end. There were quite a few incidents where I found myself wondering what was going on with a certain situation and never really got an answer so I had to make up my own in order to just move on with the show. Some people might not find this to be bothersome but I personally found it off-putting and I couldn't really immerse myself in the story because of it. It somewhat spoiled the watch experience for me.
Also, aside from our main leads, other key supporting characters were left hanging without closure by the end of the show. It's a bit strange how the show kept introducing new characters as it progresses but never really brought many of them to completion. Again, this might not be too bothersome for some people but I personally was a little dissatisfied with how they got shafted, especially for characters which the show starts introducing and giving quite a bit of screen-time towards the last 5 episodes or so. They were brought out into the limelight at the last minute but at the end I was left wondering why and for what purpose. I get the uncomfortable impression that they were toddled out to either introduce new actors/ actresses or to pad out drama episodes.
The politics and throne-fight were interspersed throughout the show but, in my opinion, it really took a backseat to the romance so for viewers who like shows with deep and complex political machinations, you will be disappointed. However, for viewers who are uninterested in this aspect of a show, you'll likely enjoy it more because this show comes across quite heavily romance-weighted.
And that's the drama's major strength, really - the strong emphasis on Romance in this show. For romance-junkies (like me), this will be a huge draw and can offset a lot of the drama's weaknesses. Our female lead, having the title of 'most beautiful woman' among the Jurchens, will inevitably attract a lot of suitors, some of them creepy and some of them swoony. The show spends quite a generous amount of time focusing on her romances and as the main couple eventually get established, the drama gives us quite a bit of sweet-cute couple time and goosebump-inducing love declarations or love actions which would delight any shippers' heart. This is actually quite a delightful surprise, considering that this is a historical C-drama where romantic gestures and skinship tend to be extremely limited and constrained due to the cultural and historical setting. So, viewers will be pleasantly surprised with this drama's romance offerings.
Our main couple are also left in a very good place when the drama ends so for those viewers who dislike the way historical C-dramas tend to have tragic or open endings, well, you don't have to be worried about that for this drama.
ACTING/ CAST
I found the acting here to be more than serviceable across the board - a pleasant surprise considering the youth of some of the cast. I didn't think any particular actor or actress stood out from the rest and the characters felt that they had equal weight in their screen presence.
Our main leads and key supporting characters did well in bringing their characters to life but if you're looking for handsome flower-boys as eye candy, you will likely be disappointed. I do like my pretty/ good-looking male leads, but the broad masculinity and bulky manliness of our male characters on show here, couple with their authoritative air of walking, standing and moving, is very attractive to me.
One also needs to get over the Qing hairstyle shaved-head look for the males, but I hope such an aesthetic won't deter new viewers from watching because it would be a shame to miss out a potentially interesting show just because of hairstyles. I'd like to encourage fence-sitters to consider overcoming their misgivings and to give this show a try.
MUSIC
Limited soundtrack which can come across rather repetitive towards the end. Background music is serviceable.
RE-WATCH VALUE
For me, the romance scenes are the only ones worth re-watching. There are several nice ones!
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Intriguing, Sensual, Fascinating, Flawed: VERY Worth A Watch
The intensity of the chemistry between the leads is scorching. Kim Young Kwang as Seong Yun-O is scorching and whether he is alone on-screen or in a scene with someone else, his understated but forceful performance is shiver-inducing. Kang Hae Lim portrays one of the most complex characters we’ve had in kdrama for a while, and part of that complexity comes from the fact that she is sophisticated enough to present different sides of herself to different people, even though people assume she is too innocent and pure to be manipulative.This drama is definitely flawed. There are some plot holes that never get properly filled or explained. The worst flaw, in my opinion, is the clumsy over-reliance on the main character’s supposed Asperger’s diagnosis as a way of signaling different moral and cognitive dimensions of her thinking.
That said, when I was trying to think of how to rate and review this drama, I tried to consider how I experienced it ~overall~, not piecemeal. And overall, it was a fascinating experience that made me want to keep pursuing every drop, every moment, to the very end.
Kim Yong Ji as Im Mok Won and Kim Soo Yeon as Yeong Gi Eun also deserve special mention as Sum’s friends. KYJ’s performance is especially electric—her final scene with KYK (Yun-O) is blisteringly intense.
This is not a standard romance drama. Up to the very end, you may well be wondering what the leads really think and feel for and about each other. I suggest thinking of it instead as a thriller and not trying to view it as a romance.
As a thriller, you’re taken on a fairly wild ride, and one of my favorite kinds of ride: what happens when the dangerous killer gets a little too close to someone vulnerable, someone ill-equipped to fight back properly, and to her friends? What will he do to defend himself in that situation? It’s a really delicious scenario—for a thriller. Not so much for a romance. Or is it?? Only you can decide that for yourself.
I highly recommend this drama and I hope it gets all the attention it deserves, despite its serious flaws.
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This is the first time, I have seen the second leads get their show going and then the mains come in after the fact. interesting in a good way. The second leads are the life of the drama, crackling with good-natured energy and enthusiasm. The second lead male is like a boy who never grew up, you want to scold him but smile instead, in that way the actor fit the character to a T. The main leads are GORGEOUS to look at. WOW his smile! and she is very charming too. The supporting cast is well-built up too. The main parents and Aunt are hilarious, so many meta references to their real-life accomplishments was a sneaky humor. The Main's Dad was so lovable, Best Dad Ever!.
The reasons why some act as they do is all made obvious to the viewer. No screechy females, no over the top villains, no deathly melodrama either, which is good. The music sits well with the situations. Every thing was going sooooo well, then why did I suddenly began to skip......... for the simple reason it...began...to.....draaag. So many good points and then so many let downs. Oh my disappointment! But I still watched it to the end hoping for it to pick up tempo and thankfully it did, towards then end.Not a lot, but enough to make me feel my time wasn't all lost.
So watch it with a smile, my advice: when progress becomes slow, reach for the forward button but don't miss out on the ending.
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I almost didn’t watch it after reading bad reviews but I’m really glad I did
There are too many bad reviews for this series…Look, if you’re expecting a BL unlike anyone you’ve seen before then you’ll be disappointed. Although this is yet another story set at a university where the main character competes for the campus moon title - it’s still a super sweet drama with a more romantic and adorable love story than can be found in most BL’s.
A lot of the bad reviews I’ve read say they dislike the acting, I for one didn’t have an issue with it though but to each their own.
I enjoy watching BL’s that are like this one cause they’re quite simple and make me feel good.
If you’re looking for something simple but sweet to pass the time with then this is the perfect drama for you.
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1
1Lighthearted fun with a well-casted ML to cast a spell on you
First of all, I just have to say Matsumoto Leo is so well-casted as the male lead, Hikaru. He’s so beautiful with long hair and make up, and all the stylish outfits. Yet, also so handsome with his short and slightly gelled up hair. This drama would not be the same without him. He carries the show on his shoulders!It did take me a little bit to get used to Haruka as our female lead. This is totally a ‘me’ problem because I always have this problem with Japanese bubbly and innocent characters. But she grew on me and I like her more and more, especially when her overdramatic antics died down a little.
“Cinderella Closet” is primarily about Haruka’s character development. With the help of Hikaru’s magic, Haruka learns to love herself more and build self-confidence. Of course, she also looks prettier and prettier as the drama goes. Despite this, I still feel that her change is jumpstarted by the desire to look good for a guy. First, it’s to go on a date with Kurotaki. Towards the end, it’s wanting to stand alongside Hikaru, to work as hard as he does, and not be left behind. There was a quick moment of finding her passion but that was only boiled down to a quick conversation with Kurotaki. Yes, Hikaru grew from a girl who has no friends and doesn’t look ‘pretty’, to someone who has become more confident and found love and friends. I just wish the journey relies on guys a little less.
Having said all that, this is a lovely drama with very sweet and supportive characters. The leads have great chemistry and I loved the scenes of them together especially in the early episodes. Hikaru is straightforward and honest with his comments. His honesty contrasts Hikaru’s nervous energy but nonetheless, she’s a very honest person herself. It was also interesting to see the contrast in how parents deal with Hikaru’s cross-dressing. I wish the drama had explored that a little bit more as well.
“Cinderella Closet” is a light-hearted and sweet drama of exploration and loving oneself. It’s also about accepting those who are different from you, and to look past what’s on the outside. I initially thought the cross-dressing bit might create a little more tension but this drama is way too positive to dive deep into that.
Completed: 10/4/2025 Review #631
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How could you not fall for a smart brave dog who sideline for a cupid?
Khun Pathavee's struggle for his feelings for Ood is done playfully.
Technically editing issues can be point out but all in all it is a good show.
having View, Bie and Toey is a plus factor the pulled me in the show
it may have many episodes but i can say it is worth watching you might even find yourself joining the cast in calling out "Hangtu..."
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It deserves to be full length drama
Firstly, I just love all the concepts of the production company that produced this, most of them are really unique. This is the second utopian themed web drama from them, and I truly enjoyed this. The plot and its message nicely executed. I really hope this gets a second season.The plot is really what makes this an amazing web drama, it is something I have never seen before, especially in a web drama scale. It is well developed, that it are compare to larger scale drama with longer episodes. The story isn't at all a stereotypical, all fluff high school concept, but you can still see the chemistry of the two main leads. They don't sacrifice the actors' good looks over good acting either.
The only thing that I think will make will this drama better is if it had longer and more episodes. The plot is quite complex in itself, with only 8 episodes, it isn't able expand on more aspects of the plot. Nonetheless, it is a great drama that is well produced and deserves to be watched.
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This review may contain spoilers
An effort not wasted
I debated on whether to write this review or not. Mostly because I've been going through some emotional rollercosters in the past few weeks. That aside, I realized that this little drama should have a review so others can understand why some of us liked it despite some flaws.The mini-drama is the brain-child of Rabbit & Wolf (a real life lesbian couple who also participated in this drama as extras/actors...and their name couple really shows their personalities)
Their play on words is apropos if the title of the drama is anything to go by "Dear URANUS...Dear YOUR ANUS" like what more can you ask for?!! LOL Already the tone is set by the name itself.
This mini is obviously a low-budget project, but that doesn't take away from the care that the crew and cast put into it. Seeing videos of their acting class or the different ways that each actor helped each other to convey the story is one of the reasons I overlooked a lot of the flaws and plotholes. It made the drama charming.
The lack of a coherent plot wasn't too much of an issue for me because I could see where they were trying to go with it, but given how short this is, it makes sense that a lot of the story/plot telling was left off. The ending with a cliffhanger may signal to a possible future project.
Erol is such a cool actress. I like the way she portrayed the main lead.
Script...Gosh I loved so many dialogues and actions here and there. My favorite would have to be when Erol's character put the pushy pursuing girl in her place. I don't want to give too much away, but if you decide to watch the drama, you'll like this. This trope that has been overly done in BLs and often romanticized is handled really really well here.
I find that this mini worked because the people behind it are part of the LGBTQAI+ community and understand a lot of the issues plagued by not just real life, but how the entertainment business can either exploit it or gloss over it. With more money I'm sure these ladies will be able to give us a better story in the future.
So in conclusion, give it a shot if you want to. It might just make you laugh with some of the tropes or it might make you appreciate the way it was told. Either way, I can't say no to more GL content. We are seriously lacking in that and if more GL dramas get more fans, then we might get more stories that are yet to be told.
End of my rant/review :)
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The trio's friendship makes it really fun to watch, but I have my complaints!
The head chef in modern-day Seoul fell into a pool, hit his head and went into a comma. He wakes up in the body of a soon-to-be Joseon Queen right in the middle of the palace scheming dangerous plots and meets a king who hides dark secret.Mr. Queen is poking fun at sageuks with good intentions, it's clearly coming from the love for the genre. Production-wise, everything looks nice, the costumes look nice. Fans of palace politics will find this to be refreshing as they'll probably get a kick out of many moments, while viewers like me who shy away from the heavy-politics will find this to be fun. The palace intrigue is not innovative in general, it deals with two powerful clans fighting over throne, but the pacing is fast, so it sets up its stage very well.
Mr. Queen is portrayed by the magnificent Shin Hye Sun. She's an actress but she's man spreading really well so I'll use 'He'. Even if he looks like a playboy, he's so kind towards his female servants. Their friendships are wholesome and provide a lot of comedy. The trio plays off of one another so well that both the parodies and serious plot real good.
I think the first 6 episodes have nailed the sweet spot. The comedy is landing for me, it's rare for me to appreciate funnies from a k drama that is intending to be funny since I'm leaning much more toward the comedy from quiet and situational moments. Also, the infusion of modern music is adding to the comedy as it fits our male lead's background as a modern-day man, so there is one scene where he's dancing to a Black Pink song and I thought that was just hilarious.
While the comedy really worked in the first 6 episodes when the stakes hadn't developed very much, as those stakes get higher and higher, the comedy starts to feel really misplaced. It feels like an intense story is being told and then it breaks into a funny scene suddenly, so it wasn't as natural for me who prefers fewer funnies that suit the situation. The way it's presented feels very rhythmic like they switch back to back between an intense scene and the next comedy. Well, this show is supposed to be a comedy so I can give it a pass, that's not that big of a deal.
(Spoiler part) The biggest issue that I had was the subliminal problematic messages in the drama.
I would have preferred Mr. Queen and the King to develop a friendship and mutual respect. As this is a story about a woman being possessed by a man's spirit, I didn't expect Mr. Queen to have romantic feelings towards the King because he isn't perceived as gay. My problem is that this show is showing that hormonal arousal determines your sexual orientation. It's jarring to see a man who never had any gay thoughts would be so influenced by female hormones to switch his sexual orientation.
I think the romance plot does not benefit the plot at all, it has very little consequence on the story, in a way if it is excluded, things would end up the same with our characters. When Mr. Queen goes back to his male body, he's happy that the King is fine and safe. But there's no indication that he's heartbroken or romantically lost something, pointing to the fact that the romance was really unnecessary. Although back in the past, the King mentions that he felt something is lost but he's still with his queen, he does not notice at all that the queen's personality has changed! It's like downplaying characters' personalities and identities over the body that they're born with being the most important thing in a romance and relationship. It kind of derailed the show for me and hence the ending left a sour aftertaste.
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Who Am I?
Sakra is an overly ambitious attempt to adapt Qiao Feng's arc from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部), my favorite Jin Yong novel. This is a tall task and inevitably has resulted in an overly condensed adaptation that misses the spirit of the original works. It is carried by the fact that it is such a beloved story that most viewers can fill in the gaps.Qiao Feng, the magnetic chief of the Beggar Sect is accused of dastardly crimes and outed as being of Khitan descent at a time of conflict between Song and Liao (Khitan). He is evicted from his sect and the entire wulin (martial world) turns against him. As he seeks to clear his name, he encounters Ahzu, a minion in the powerful Murong household. He risks his life to save hers and discovers that like himself, she is also on a Who Am I? quest to figure out her origins. The narrative takes on too much between the rushed and unconvincing romance, solving murders and disentangling both their back stories. The ending is confusing with hurried character introductions to pave the way for a sequel that deals with the mastermind reveal and final arcs of Qiao Feng's story. This hurried rendition makes Qiao Feng little more than a one dimensional, lean mean fighting machine. It is a pity because Qiao Feng is Jin Yong's most powerful, complex and misunderstood male character.
Qiao Feng is the ultimate master of Jin Yong's epic 18 Dragons Subduing Palm martial arts technique, which employs inner energy and is used in most of Qiao Feng's fight scenes. The action scenes are almost ridiculously bombastic - Qiao Feng pulverising an entire horde of martial arts with his amazing energy blasts; gravity defying roof leaping and up close and lethal hand-to-hand combat or swordplay. Qiao Feng's showdown with the entire wulin is the most thrilling action sequence but it comes a bit too early in the movie. It is both incredulous and stupendous to see one man take on so many. I truly feared for Qiao Feng's life but what was more terrifying was the hypocrisy and cowardice of wulin. They basically cancelled a brother-in-arms who stared down death alongside them multiple times and ganged-up on him to try to kill him! I didn't enjoy the final fight scene as much - while splendidly choreographed and thrilling, it veered too far into the territory of wildly exaggerated almost superpower like flying leaps and from a distance qi energy strikes.
I watched the Cantonese dubbed version because to me, Qiao Feng will always be Kiu Fung and Jin Yong's famous lines always sound so diminished and lacking in vehemence and intensity in Mandarin. I think this is a great watch for the action scenes alone. I rate it 7/10.
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Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
13 people found this review helpful
The story is completely beautiful. Yes, it's very sad, but it's a fantastic story. Many people say this film is too slow, but I didn´t think so. In my opinion, the pace was perfect for this story.
The acting was great. Mirai Moriyama and Masami Nagasawa were fantastic, especially Masami. Ko Shibasaki was very good too, but she has a rather small role in the film. Takao Osawa was the weakest one, but he was very good too.
The music was quite simple, but it fitted the story and the tone of the film perfectly. The song at the end credits was beautiful.
I also have to mention the cinematography. It was gorgeous.
To sum up, ''Crying Out Love, In The Center of the World'' is a beautiful but sad film about first loves and how those have in an influence in our lives, even when we grow up. I'll definitely watch it again soon.
P.S. The book the film is based on, which is titled ''Socrates in Love'', is even better. I really recommend it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Will these words even be enough?
What collection of carefully-picked written words do I need to use to justify the profound soul-wrenching beauty of this film? Will words even be enough?A Sun is one of those films where a mere retell of its plot would simply not be enough to capture its profound and soul-wrenching story. It’s one of those films that you have to witness and experience to fully appreciate and understand the story it is trying to tell its audience.
There are only a few films that rendered me at a loss for words after watching them and this is certainly one of those films. Honestly, I’m afraid of writing a review for this film because I do know that this time my written words would not be able to give the justice this film certainly deserves.
In simple words, this film is an intimate story about a family in the aftermath of a tragedy after a previous misfortune. If you read that simple summary, you will probably think this is one of those ordinary tales about families and tragedies. In a way, you’re right-- it is indeed ordinary, but also in a number of other ways, you’re greatly mistaken to assume that this is just another ordinary tale of a family.
What is so remarkable about this film is its ability to tell a multitude of things in too little of everything. The relationship between the two brothers was shown in just two separate brief scenes, one of which is just a narrated story of the elder brother’s visit to the youngest. Yet despite their little interactions in this film, both scenes already provided enough to paint a picture in your head of what could have been the dynamics between the two brothers.
On the other hand, the relationship between the husband and wife was marked with only dialogues about their sons and very little of what could have hinted their relationship was like outside of being parents to their children. The gap between them created by the lack of any details about their personal relationship was remedied by the actors' stellar portrayal of their characters. It was their silent moments, the quiet comfort between them, and their distant yet intimate connection with each other that bridge this gap.
Overall, A Sun is a painful, yet beautiful and still hopeful story of an ordinary family with very complex characters that you would end up caring for as you go along with the film. All the actors nailed their respective roles. They were simply perfect. The original score is perfect too. It was deeply moving and impactful without being too overpowering. It was simply a great mix of everything.
Watch it, it’s totally worth your time. Your 2 and a half hours will surely not be put to waste.
[SPOILER AHEAD! Do not read after this if you don’t want to be spoiled. Take my word, if ever you plan to watch this movie, stop reading at this point because you will appreciate the story more without knowing what is written below.]
I have read a number of people asking why the elder brother did what he did and how they could not simply understand his reasons. This questioning alone is a good example of how often signs and causes of depression are often missed by even the closest person to the one depressed. It tells how a person’s facade is not everything and how one carry oneself in front of the others can be very deceiving and is not in any way a good indicator of what lies beneath one’s exterior.
I was also very shocked with what happened to A-Hao. It was only after what he did that I was able to fully understand his story of the kids playing hide-and-seek.
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