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I truly loved this show. It's a mixture of Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle, Ellery Queen and Philip Marlow, all made into a hilarious parody.
The great "Meitantei", brilliantly portrayed by Matsuda Shota, is a cocktail of silly arrogance, childish mistakes and misgivings, yet he's got brain and you can't help but like him a lot through all his naive traits.
The older policeman is a sort of "deus ex machina", who understands the needs of the dramatic process and explains it to his collegues and, in so doing, to the viewers.
Kashii Yu does a great job in picturing the only clear headed character in the story, who eventually learns to follow the rules, not those of the real investigation but the ones that create a detective story.
This show has to be viewed on different levels: the plot itself and the sub-plot, which is "how is a classic detective story created?".
I enjoyed the music too. Just like the situations portrayed, it mimics the pathos always found in thriller stories and makes it all the funnier.
Not to spoil but to encourage, let me add that the finale is brilliant; it will either leave you completely perplexed or you will laugh out loud and be left with a grin on your face, as I was.
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You should watch this one (YES! )
You would recommend this to others. (YES!)
You could watch this again. (YES)
This is one definite watch. I have enjoyed a Japanese Drama after so long. The story, the characters, the plotline – ALL add to the charm of this one. I love the way that in spite of the romance running as a strong theme, the writers have managed to focus on the medical part of the drama beautifully. The lead pair is enigmatic – amazing chemistry! Her dedicated love for him, her bubbly personality and her ability to connect with the audience and patients are so well acted by Kamishiraishi who plays the energetic Sakura. What do I say about Sato who plays the cold and enigmatic Tendo!!! He is swoon-worthy (Do I need to say any more?) I loved the fast paced-ness of this drama. For the first time, I didn’t want a drama to end so soon. Do watch and enjoy this one.
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Short but doesn't seem cheap - Enough to tell a decent revenge story with good leads chemistry
Director Zhi Zhu, male lead Jin Chao and female lead Qi Xia Xia came together again after their first project, “Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang/长公主在上” for a new short drama called “Dong Lan Xue/东栏雪”. I rated ZGZZ pretty low due to its cheap budget production which affected my viewing pleasure. However, “Dong Lan Xue” does not suffer from the same criticism. This 2-min per episode short drama has a pretty decent production value, on par with other longer web dramas such as “The Killer is Also Romantic”. This drama does not scream ‘cheap’.The pacing of the drama is great and tells a decent story of revenge from start to finish in about an hour. The leads have pretty good chemistry. The acting is not bad, especially for the female lead Qi Xia Xia. She looks gorgeous, just like when she was in ZGZZ. I like her styling, especially her gorgeous costumes.
The action scenes also look surprisingly good. I wasn’t expecting the quality of an excellent wuxia drama, but at least there’s no slow-motion fighting or twirling. The drama doesn’t shy away from bloodshed and torture. I was actually quite surprised they came up with a way to torture FL without letting her run away. They did kind of blur the wounds, as I can understand it could be quite disturbing.
If you don’t have a lot of time and want a quick drama, this is pretty good. Short dramas like these are created for those who commute to work on public transportation and have time to kill or, need a quick drama fix.
Completed: 5/14/2023 - Review #306
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Something fresh, light with a little bit of mystery
Watch this if you are looking for something light with a little bit of intrigue. I was in a drama slump wherein I couldn't get pass first few episodes. I found this drama light, intriguing and entertaining that I was able to binge watch it upon release in the streaming platform. I found the two lead actors quite refreshing, as well as the supporting characters. It was very light and funny. The SML and SFL were so funny. It was your usual troupe but I like the twist in the end which I didn't expect. Although not a perfect story continuity-wise, but it was cute an okay and entertaining drama - enough for me to finish the whole thing. Bonus -- I love their scenes in the farm. I look forward to the future dramas of the leads! Ending was simple but sweet.Was this review helpful to you?
The plot was just like a story, well somewhat. It starts off in a unique showing of events. The current time, then the past, then back to the present, which could be confusing but if you're paying close attention you can see that it was only a way to absorb the main characters feelings more.
Seeing each individual child affected by negativities and the adult-like world they seem to be trapped in was just even more mind-blowing. This movie made me realize that bullying isn't just about stealing lunch money and that bullies have a "story" too.
The acting was really great, they acted out the scenes so realistically and added with the regular "video camera" filmage in some parts of the movie, it makes it seem as if you are really part of the movie, even taking in the young ages these actors were at when this movie was filmed was just more astonishing and made me realize how talented they were.
Summed up - this movie is just heart clenching and a definite must see!
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This Drama has top-notch Witty Chemistry *No Spoilers*
At the heart of this drama, it is about characters that examine their feelings of inadequacy.At first, for me, the start of episode one was not very intriguing but before it was over and how it developed had me HOOKED.
The show checks all the marks of great storytelling, as it weaves through each episode; even most of the small details presented are there for a reason. The writers are not sloppy by just incorporating something random for humor’s sake. Yes, some of the elements in the story are cliche, but it is done in a most tasteful way. The cliches are presented in a way that makes the viewer laugh at the cliched scenes rather than roll our eyes at them. It's not cringy.
That being said, this story isn't always predictable but the show forges its own way as it presents characters that don’t always make the decisions we expect them to make, which makes for an interesting watch. The characters in the show are naturally connected in an authentically comical way. If you like a somewhat over-dramatic taste of comedy, this may be for you.
The chemistry between the leads really comes out in their witty bickering. It is fun to watch and doesn't leave the viewer with a headache. (Just about every scene is meme material.) The casting is spot-on, as they deliver eccentric and quirky characters in a natural manner.
One thing I find myself not caring for is the music. Although a lot of the OSTs fit the work, I find that some of the soundtracks are not my personal preference. But for the casting, the script and production, I can overlook it.
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This is a nice drama. If the viewer is looking for a drama with action and strategy, this one will be satisfying, but the romance was marred with manipulation and the leading lady would constantly fall victim of her own “goodness” and remained separated from the leading man in order to “save” him. This dynamic weaken the romantic storyline that could’ve been nice only if their love hiatus didn’t last all the way to the end of the last episode to give the viewer a nice but insipid ending. The rest of the story is the usual palace antics and some really good supporting actors; worth mentioning is Wayne Lai as the dynamic chameleon personality Lang Kun and his beloved, Cao Xi Wen as Empress Zheng Shu Jun. Was this review helpful to you?
I often have a sneaking suspicion of Korean romantic dramas because I'm always expecting someone to die. As a result I didn't think I'd like this movie, but I did. We have all experienced the story before: boy meets girl, they fall in love ... maybe one more so than the other. Nothing special. What made it good was Yoo Ji Tae. He did a really good job of making me empathize with his character. I felt his struggle, so much so that I wanted to reach into the movie and give him a hug. Haha.
The supporting cast, esp the hero's family, were pretty good too. Grandma gave one of the best piece of advice about women I've heard in a long time.
I also loved the scenery in this movie. Due to the nature of our hero's job Korea's natural beauty was very much emphasized here. The more I watch K-movies the more fascinated I become with its culture, its food and its people. My mind's now made up: the next vacation will be to South Korea.
Finally, the ending of One Fine Spring Day was very appropriate. Life is rife with tough decisions, but we gotta make 'em and rock on.
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When "Youth C-drama" Director and Writer wake up and decide to do something differently good
CLOSE TO YOU (2025) | CN DRAMACast: Liu Xiao Bei, Zhu Lin Yu
Rating: 8.5(Ignore the current 7.4 rating and make your own judgement)
Hear me out...
Yes, I know. I said very loudly and confidently that I wasn’t watching another high school drama again. I’ve seen enough of those rinse-and-repeat arcs, carbon copy characters, where the writers repeat after themselves “we are not trying to be Lighter and Princess (2022) but we low-key are” setup like Forever Love (2020) or When I fly Towards You(Yes I skipped WIFTY,the same way I skipped Lovely Runner) that’s a rant for another review.
Yet here I am. Again. Why? Because I belong to that very niche group of people who can commit to 24 episodes based on a single 1-minute clip floating on the cursed but irresistible streets of social media. I even left a comment on the post: “If this drama flops, I’ll be back kicking and screaming.” Spoiler: I did not kick or scream. In fact, I quietly binged the whole thing.
So what made Close to You different from every other coming-of-age drama we’ve seen?
For starters,it’s not set in high school. (Pause for applause.) The writers actually upped their game and placed the story in a private college. Now, I don't fully understand the Chinese education system,maybe this is the A-Levels equivalent? Who knows. All I know is: we left behind the tired old tracksuits and stressful university entrance exam trope that make you hate every parent in C-dramas and upgraded to blazers, sports festivals, swimming pools, and fancy tuition fees.
Jiang Cai College is the setting of an elite private school where students are handpicked from upper-class families. There are music clubs, sports teams, and yes, a basketball squad that serves as the beating heart of the story. Our ML, Jiang Bo Han, is the team captain. Tall. Calm. Respected. Leadership unlocked.
Enter Yu Ming Xi, our FL. She’s not rich. She didn’t get in because of her bank account, but because of Plot Reasons and a mysterious backstory linked to the school. She’s backed by a bubbly and ride-or-die bestie Wang Chu Nian (SFL),who got plenty of spark but let’s be honest she's mostly in this school for one reason: the basketball boys. And I don’t blame her. At all.
Together, these two form a surprisingly balanced pair in a school full of pressure, privilege, and plot-relevant bullies. It’s like they live in their own little pocket universe inside Jiang Cai’s perfectly landscaped gates.
Our Leads' first meeting? No fireworks. No dreamy background music. Just a street brawl and one girl who refuses to mind her business. She jumps in to help, standing at maybe 5’5” and ready to throw hands. And folks..that’s how Jiang Bo Han met Yu Ming Xi. From that moment on, his world does a full 180 and begins to orbit around her.
He becomes her protector, not that she needs one, because sis can defend herself just fine but he fills in the cracks she can’t always seal up alone. Especially when a certain villain (yes, we have those, obviously) starts stirring the pot.
One thing I really appreciated about this drama: the leads broke out of the usual mold. Jiang Bo Han is not your average rich boy who folds every time his parents show up. No. This one argues back, stands firm, and will absolutely defy his mother for the girl he loves. And Yu Ming Xi? She’s no helpless kitten. She fights, speaks up, and works her tiny frame to the bone to stay afloat.
The side characters? Surprisingly useful. They actually did what they were meant to do: support the main storyline without hijacking it. Even the villains served a purpose and didn’t just exist for chaos points.
And don’t be fooled by the private school aesthetic and ¥1200 blazer(which is a story on its own)—these kids aren’t just walking Hedge Funds spoiled brats. They carry pain, trauma, and secrets. Each of them is fighting their own painful past and as they stand at the messy intersection between adolescence and adulthood, they’re forced to make choices that hurt more than they should.
If I could describe Close to You with one analogy, it’s an onion. The more layers you peel, the more it hits you in the feels. You’ll cry a little, not because it’s sad all the time, but because of how deeply some of their emotions are buried under all that schoolwork and basketball practice. (Also, none of these kids are visiting the school counselor, and it shows.)
OST:
Let me talk about the music. Whew. Someone in production got a blank check and used it wisely. The soundtrack? A banger. I haven’t made a playlist for a drama since… ever. And I’ve watched over a hundred. But this one? Had me in a chokehold. RIP my replay button. I’ll drop the link somewhere below. You’re welcome.
What could’ve been better?
– Each episode is just 18 minutes, which is cute until you realize some scenes were clearly cut short. Like we blink and suddenly we’re in a whole different vibe with zero transition.
– That twist near the end? Blame the writer for giving us a slap that we didn't see coming and also blame me for believing youth equals peace.
– The time skip... kinda flopped. Characters looked the same. Their future selves were just vaguely mentioned in passing. Not a single grown-up makeover or career montage in sight.
– The final 10 minutes? Unhinged. Old characters randomly reappeared for no reason, and the “ending” felt more like a deleted scene they threw in last minute.
Final Thoughts:
I went in expecting fluff, maybe a height difference and a few cute moments from two lesser-known leads. I came out emotionally invested, unexpectedly teary-eyed, and with a whole playlist. This was more than just another youth drama. Think Always Home, sprinkle in Hierarchy, and season with a dash of Weak Hero Class 2 energy.
Highly recommended if you’re stuck in a drama slump, craving something new, or just in the mood for an emotional but sweet ride through growing pains, love, and a whole lotta basketball.
EDIT:
As promised,It took me a second to put the playlist together but here it is.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iKhX935lp2UYb9RNLIWJ1?si=bNC28tq7TMGvy8GjISdK4w&pi=qFbEFqnaTp-N2
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Intense crime case storytelling
I even became Youku membership in order to watch this ahead of time. You just cannot stop once you start.The drama tells a story about a police officer (Luo Jian) and a Law student in his final year (Zhuang Wen Jie) in their effort in catch crime syndicate behind lots of ancient relic theft. Every episode is full of suspense since each case is linked with each other. Everything just come into a circle in the very end.
The character development, especially for Zhuang Wen Jie is very nicely done. He lost his parents early in his childhood and bullied in school because his father was a thief. How he survive until adulthood with a somewhat sane mental is already a very high achievement. Thus, I am very much understand why Wang Jun Kai portrayed this character as someone who seems indifferent and emotionless. With that kind of growing up environment, indifferent will be a kind of defense mechanism. Only, because of Wang Jun Kai inexperience, he failed to give more layers to Zhuang Wen Jie indifference. But, the acting can still be considered good enough.
The main character, Luo Jian, played by Zhang Yi is also very heartwarming. I like seeing how he is so protective toward Zhuang Wen Jie. With more episode going in, we will see his past deeper and deeper. Zhang Yi acting is great here. I will certainly take not of this actor in the future.
The ending is great! That smile in the end by Zhuang Wen Jie .... I don't think he ever smile in all previous episodes, making the last smile somewhat more meaningful. I hope we will get season 2 somehow since the ending just hinting more mystery.
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The Most Amazing Drama I Have Ever Had The Honour of Watching
This is the most amazing drama I have ever seen in my life. The script was so magnificent, intelligent and well written that it totally took my breath away. I really appreciated the bulletproof script where there is no room for plot holes or questionable plotlines. Everything flows smoothly and every single scene happens for a reason. Just when you question one plot, it addresses it in the next episodes and you finally understand all the smiles, smirks, nods, ambiguous conversations, or even focused items -- everything comes together like a perfect puzzle in the end.The last scenes of last episode totally make me bawl like a baby especially the reminiscence scenes of Prince Jing & Princess Nihuang. I mean, we all aware that Lin Shu's death is inevitable since we know he is dying since episode 1 but it still evoke your feelings greatly to the depth of your heart. And I'm actually amazed with the writing as at the end, not only Lin Shu got his dying wish which is to restore the Chiyan's Army name but he also managed to do thing for himself finally! -- not for Chiyan army or his father or Prince Qi but for himself, which is to let him die as Lin Shu, doing things that he most loved and proud of. The writer wants to point out that despite it is a sad ending, it wasn't sad after all since he managed to do what he wants at last and live a fulfilled life despite how short it is. The writer wanted to tell us that its not a matter how long you live your life, but how you wished to live it. Lin Shu was adored by everyone -- even those who is not in his generation or after he has long gone because of the legacy that he left behind.
Hu Ge is probably the best Chinese actor that I have ever has the honour of watching. He mastered the art of subtle acting. His expressions was simple yet very effective that pierced right through your heart. Lin Shu is very charismatic despite being fragile and weak -- a combination that is rare to find.
There's actually an alternate ending that was originally aired in 2015 by the production team where they show Lin Shu survives and spent his days with Lin Chen & Fei Liu at Langya Hall. But they decided to cut that scene in the official ending as it served and suited the drama's theme better. TBH, both endings are fine with me since it shows that Lin Shu is happy and contented. :D
What a great drama! The saddest thing about this whole thing at the end is that I may never found another good drama as extraordinary as this. I learned a lot of manipulation tricks (lol) and the mind games on how to read people. When a drama is both educational and engaging while entertaining at the same time, you know it’s a winner! 10/10 - Perfect all the way through from writing, acting, directing and cinematography! A gem that you may only find once in a lifetime.
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A Heart-Warming & Fun Ride You Shouldn’t Miss
As the film begins, Cha Eun Woo's character did warn us that it will be a sad story. But as it concludes, his character agrees, that maybe it was not that sad. And I couldn't agree more. This is one of the movies that will stay with me for a long time, and I couldn't have asked for a better start to my 2026 viewing experience.I had been wanting to see this movie because of the cast in it. I think anyone who's familiar with Korean entertainment would have seen the cast members in more than one work, and know that individually they are a powerhouse. Together, they were even better. The story is about friendship, how it changes over time and about how friends struggle to find the "next time" to do something together as they grow up. It carefully, cleverly, humorously and tearfully shows us how that "next time" happens for these friends as they plan to go on a trip to Thailand.
I understood the plot twist early on - yet it left me in tears. Yes, it has elements and fun as you'd expect from stories about friendship (think: The Hangover) and at the same time you need to keep tissues handy (think: 20th Century Girl, Way Back Home, Soulmate etc. I don't want to give out spoilers, but a fair warning. Personally, I don't like to watch such movies, cause hits home on a personal level. But then I can't help how beautifully they have addressed heavy topics of loss, with a dash of humour and lots of heart.
Definitely a one-time watch for sure - you'd not be bored, and enjoy the ride. And the message: "next time" it is indeed vague, so value the present and make the most of it. This is definitely my mantra for 2026 - you'll know why when you see the film. I am not giving it a 10 cause while I found no faults, it is a bit low on the rewatch aspect.
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Cute, Romantic and A Relationship completely Bingeworthy
I honestly quite liked this series. The ML is known for his short dramas and I really enjoyed watching him here too. This was my first drama of the FL and I really liked her in this drama. This was a very good mini romance drama I've seen for a while. People might comment on the editing and the chemistry but personally I had no issues with the drama. Nothing out of the ordinary was there in the storyline since I have seen many dramas already but still this one made me feel good watching it. For me, the chemistry was really good between the leads. The start of the drama was a great romcom which gradually progressed where the leads had to solve the problems they faced. What I really enjoyed was the bond shown between the leads and the way the FL kept denying her feelings. Also even after problems arose, the two of them were never apart. They both trusted each other and got through the problems faced. The visuals of both the leads are very attractive and their romantic scenes were worth the watch for me. I would really recommend this drama if you are looking for a mini drama with cute, attractive and understanding leads with good chemistry. I personally like dramas where there is no separation of the leads and they go through everything together. This is the one for you if you are looking for the same.One thing I really felt pointing out would be that I found the antagonist to be pretty dumb and of no use in a way. I know it might be the story but it felt his role didn't matter a lot. He should've been a little more active in the series in doing his job and also being successful in creating proper difficulties for the leads.
All in all I found it to be a good watch and would really recommend it for people looking for sweet contract marriage dramas.
P.S. Feel free to tag me or message me if you want spoilers as I tend to avoid giving spoilers in my reviews.
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Mo Xiang Wan is like the Margaret Thatcher of showbiz, a shrewd agent - talent spotter, talent developer, artist manager, babysitter, problem solver. All in one. A professional with a conduct and no space for love in her life except for her talents. Being considered 'the agent' brings a lot of perks i.e. leading roles offers for her artists, top pick in endorsements... but also a lot of envy in her two arch-rivals: Judy and Zhu He. Judy wants her job and Zhu He, Yu Jiang's wife, shareholder of Qi Li Culture fully backs her, fermenting a volcanic hate for Mo Xiang Wan, her husband's protege.
She raised from the ashes to be successful only to be thrown to the wolves and being forced to rise again amongst them. The thing is people evolve and mature and when the world comes crumbling down, a high conscience means peace of mind and moving on. Qi Li Culture enabled Mo Xiang Wan to succeed, Judy and Zhu He plotted to bring her down but she would not stay down, rising again until the time where Qi Li Culture no longer felt like home and then it was time to part ways and forge a new path.
Although Godfrey Gao & Wang Zi Yi are listed as having main roles in the drama, the only main role belongs to Qin Lan as all other characters are the ones she influences and interacts with and share a similar screen time around Mo Xiang Wan who drives the story - she is the story.
We are all alone portrays love in showbiz; filming scheduling; filming conflict; fan wars; fan reactions and actions and how they make and break an artist; backstabbing; contract disputes; script changes; image management and damage control; love and one of the most contemporary illnesses that exist in the world: depression, here celebrity depression which is often masked with anti-depressions or painkillers taken to ease the mental pain reflected in the body due to sadness or other issues like loss of fans for example, although here in the drama is love sickness. How many young celebrities have suffered from depression? Many but how many have spoken openly about battling it? A smaller number.
Beauty and money do not necessarily equal happiness. They equal the value others attribute to it and that can cause a lot of pressure as beauty fades and money slips through the fingers when artists are no longer popular and have to work three times harder to get a certain level of popularity back. Showbiz is ruthless. We are all alone shows exactly how much.
The story has a regular pace which might appear slow at times but it's well executed and realistic. Here that's more important than speed. The themes it approaches are contemporary and modern, portraying the reality of showbiz, rather than a lovey-dovey romantic story fairy-tale set in Shanghai's entertainment industry which is brilliant and fresh.
For all of the above, we are all alone merits an overall rating of 10 out of 10.
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