Reviews

A drama with great potential ruined by controversy…

Story:

Snowdrop’s story revolves around Lim Sooho, a North Korean spy who was used, manipulated, and betrayed by his own country. The story follows his journey to accomplish his mission and return home that had been intercepted by fate, causing his red string to intertwine with that of ANSP’s director’s daughter Eun Youngro, a lively and compassionate college student at Hosu University. Due to a series of unfortunate coincidences that unravels into a much more twisted scheme of the South and North Korean government, Sooho and Youngro face tribulation after tribulation both together and alone. Two people who face an incredible amount of suffering that is too much for any one person to bear. Despite being marketed as a romance, Snowdrop is predominantly an action/thriller drama with splashes of satire and black comedy interwoven with a tragical romance. Opposite of the tragedy that is depicted in Shakespeare’s original screenplay, however, Snowdrop’s twist of Romeo and Juliet veers away from the tragical epic love story and shows its audience a love story that had bloomed through innocence and purity against storms of hardships and suffering.

Snowdrop is a drama that promises a multitude of themes that draw in viewers from every genre, which unfortunately falls short as the drama’s multiple plot lines and characters offsets the balance of the drama as a whole. Snowdrop had convoluted plot lines that ensure plot twists through every episode, but at the same time leads to many other underdeveloped stories. Amidst a satirical black comedy, a tragical romance seems out of place and at times appear unnecessary. Besides Sooho, every other main character within the plot although start off with promise and depth, end up in disappointment due to underdevelopment.

Acting/Cast:

Snowdrop’s cast is a stellar cast with actors and actresses who bring the characters they play to life, allowing its audience to connect with their characters on a much deeper level than what we were given.

Lim Sooho is the only character that is properly developed which allows the audience to emphasize with his actions, inner turmoils, and tragic back story. Jung Haein was the perfect fit for the role and had incredible control and nuance in his micro expressions that tugs at the viewer’s heartstrings. His unmatched presence and charisma is exuded whenever he was on screen which brought to life a dynamic and tortured male lead. My heart ached for Sooho as I watched him through Jung Haein's eyes. He had too much that he wanted to protect. He carries so much pressure and guilt to not only save his comrades, but also to protect Youngro and his beloved sister. Haein left no room for criticism as he executed his role flawlessly. I am not kidding when I say that this is his best performance to date, and I will be disappointed if he doesn't win a Baeksang for this role.

The essence of Snowdrop's title is in the character of Eun Youngro herself, a flower that bloomed through hardship. Eun Youngro starts off as a character with great potential, equipped with an interesting back story that unfortunately was left undeveloped as her character is shifted towards the background in the later episodes in order to make room for the development of Sooho’s character and his redemption arc. Contrary to many people’s thoughts on Youngro’s one dimensional character, I thought that her character did have depth and multidimensional aspects that just weren’t explored enough to fully capture the audience’s attention. However, thanks to Jisoo’s acting, I personally was able to feel connected with Youngro’s character and was able to emphasize with her actions and thoughts. For a rookie, Jisoo had indeed proven herself in this drama with what she was given and showed great promise for a more successful acting career somewhere down the line. She definitely needs improvement, but for a rookie, I think that she has definitely set the standard for rookie idols actresses/actors. As her fan, I had been completely in awe and proud of her performance as well as grateful that she had the chance to work together with such a talented team for her first drama.

Lee Kang Moo originally was a character that I had despised for his self-righteousness and arrogance. However, as the drama moved forward, I began to like him more and more as his character came to accept the corruption of the ANSP and was no longer blinded by his obsession to capture Sooho. One of the reasons that Kang Moo was able to become one of my favorite characters by the end of this drama was because of the incredible performance of Jang Seungjo. The actor had great chemistry with literally every person he interacted with. He was able to portray the frustrations and resentment the character had for his higher ups as he eventually swallowed his own pride to work with the person he had dedicated his entire career to capture in order to do what he believed was right in the end. Kang Moo and Sooho’s bromance dynamic was definitely one of my favorite things to come from this drama.

Jang Hanna initially portrayed as a reckless, hot-tempered, and confident agent was what drew me to her character from the beginning. However, after the first few episodes, I grew disappointed by her character who lost her cool and rationality whenever Kang Moo’s safety was involved. I blame this on the writing which could’ve given us more background on their love story which would help explain her strong feelings for him and help us emphasize with her. It was such relief to see the shift in her character towards the end when she finally put her sense of duty over her love for Kang Moo. Jung Eugene did the best with her role, and it was unfortunate that her character was yet another character that suffered from being underdeveloped.

Pi Seunghee, better know as Ms. Pi and Kang Chungya are my two favorite characters by the end of this drama. Ms. Pi’s character is one tortured with guilt and self-resentment due to the tragedy of her past that had turned her into the person that she was now. Despite not knowing where her loyalties lie for the first half of the drama, it was clear that she had a strong sense of protectiveness over the students in the dorm and never hesitates to protect them in her own way. Her dynamic with Boon Ok’s character was intriguing to watch unfold as you try to guess the underlying relationship they had with each other. Yoon Se Ah portrayed this character with class and elegance, but never failing to influence the audience to feel for her character. Yoo In Ah also did not disappoint in her role, portraying multiple layers of a character who was first only seen as a mistress to the main antagonist of the drama. Chungya was a character you would hate but also feel for as you see her emotional side peak through when she is in the presence of the man she loves. Her character's ending was one of the very few had left me satisfied.

Gye Boon Ok is the antiheroine of the story and starts off with great promise to be one of the best and most complex characters on the show. Unfortunately, her character’s arc later on suffers as the writer turned her character down a path that I personally thought made her iredeemable. Boon Ok was initially portrayed as a selfish opportunist who is willing to do anything to ensure her survival. I emphasized with her character knowing that she was only doing what she could in order to survive given the unfortunate cards she was dealt with in life. However, there was a point where her character took a drastic turn and lost all sense of morality and rationality which made her impossible to root for. Kim Hye Yoon’s performance of Boon Ok though, was phenomenal and proves that she is one of the best new actresses of her generation.

Soundtrack:

If there was one thing the drama did right, it would be the soundtrack and scoring. Every episode ended with a cliffhanger that was accompanied by powerful and moving OSTs that had me at the edge of my seat. There were also heartfelt OSTs that convey Sooho and Youngro’s doomed romance and that pulled at my heartstrings. Every single OST and bgm was beautifully weaved into the scenes that made the drama much more enjoyable.

Overall/Rewatch Value:

What I wish could've been explored more:
- Dorm/college life set during the 80's
- Jang Hanna's back story
- Eun Youngro's back story
- Kang Moo's backstory
- Room 207's friendship dynamics
- Sooho and Youngro's love story (I was quite satisfied with what was shown, but since they marketed it as a romance, I was hoping for a much more epic tale)
- Hanna and Kang Moo's love story
- Kang Chungya's back story

Snowdrop is far from being a masterpiece, but it is not the worst drama out there. The ending although left me emotionally scarred, also left me incredibly unsatisfied. There was no closure and many characters' endings didn't feel right. There were questions left unanswered and so much wasted potential. However, If one were to ignore the flaws and plot holes, it is an enjoyable watch with interesting characters that help push the story through. The symbolism, cinematography, and plot twists within the drama were enough to pull me in and keep me engaged with the drama. Snowdrop could’ve been great if there wasn’t such an offset of balance in the number of characters and plot lines. The writer was too ambitious and tried to fit too many themes into one drama that didn’t didn’t quite convey what kind of tone the drama had. I came into this drama expecting far too much. My expectations were too high knowing that the drama was helmed by Sky Castle's writer and director. I had ended the drama with disappointment. Had I walked into this drama with no expectations in place, I would've had a less underwhelming experience. Overall though, I had enjoyed it and would watch it again.

Revised:

After having thought about the drama for a bit longer now, as well as engaging in some thoughtful discussions with other viewers, I’ve decided to come back and sort of take back my harsh criticisms for the drama and writer. Although my criticisms still hold true, I also understand that this was the best that the team could do amidst the controversy. Although the plot and characters were underdeveloped, one cannot deny that there was some clever dialogue and symbolism throughout the drama that I now feel like could’ve been very prominent had it not been for the controversy. The writer and director probably had to revise the script several times in order to be able to put the drama in air. They made sacrifices in order to make sure that everyone’s hard work did not go to waste.

It just didn’t make sense how the characters all started off with such great promise but ended up being underdeveloped despite the depth that each character had. One of my complaints for the drama was Youngro’s relationship with her grandma not being explored. But someone had pointed out that the sponsors of the rice cakes seen from Youngro’s grandma in episode 2 had pulled out of the drama which is probably why we got no substance from Youngro’s grandma and she hence why she was never shown throughout the drama.

With these thoughts in mind, all that I feel for the Snowdrop and its team now is gratitude. Despite the hardships and unfair criticism they received, they were able to stay strong until the end and blessed us with such a great drama considering the multiple rewrites. Like I had stated previously, this is not a masterpiece but it is not a bad drama. The fact that Snowdrop is still a much better drama than so many others out there despite the multiple revisions of the script really says how truly amazing and dedicated the Snowdrop team is. Like the flower and Youngro’s character, Snowdrop and its team was able to bloom through the hardships and tribulations. Here’s to the hope that they will one day get the recognition and good karma they deserve. Thank you to the Snowdrop team for not giving up on this beautiful story.

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Predictable But Entertaining for 4 Hours and 20 Minutes or Less

With 4 hours and 20 minutes or less, you can enjoy this short-length series between two long dramas or when you're spare time is limited. One of the better short-length series of many China has produced nowadays. I will review not with the usual format to highlight the positive and negative aspects in a bullet point.

• Predictable but still entertaining
This is just my opinion since I am also a mystery-genre fan, so I watched too many similar setups. I could guess the plot just by watching Episode 1 only. But the drama is highly entertaining nonetheless because of the suspense and the chemistry between the main couple Yan Zhen and Chu Ze Jia/Chu Ze An.

• Great chemistry but not many smoochies and skinship
In short-length dramas, which usually are not censored heavily, we can expect real kisses and/or skinship. Especially for the husband-and-wife scenes, aren't they married? Not in this drama. We can feel the sexual tension between the two, but because of the in-law circumstance in the current plot, we don't see the intensity of the romance. Regardless he is her husband Chu Ze Jia or her brother-in-law Chu Ze An, in the current situation (not flashbacks), he is a family member, not a romantic partner.

• Good acting but underutilized the twin roles
Overall good acting by the leading actress Meng Xi, whom I've never seen before, and Li Zhuo Yang, seen in the mini-drama "Mutual Redemption Love". However, I think the production team underutilized the twin brothers Chu Ze Jia and Chu Ze An roles. They have strikingly different personalities with the older Chu Ze Jia being more reserved and mannered because he is a company CEO, in comparison to the younger Chu Ze An, who is more outgoing and free-spirited being a globe adventurer and photographer. But I'm not sure if the actor was not directed to act differently, or if he couldn't act differently, sometimes I couldn't really tell the difference between the two. I got it that the actor is somewhat new, so he probably did not have much acting experience. But a good director can make the best of a rookie.

• Nice mother-in-law but annoying sister-in-law
In short-length dramas, it's common for them to follow a soap opera-ish trope with mean MILs. Luckily, in this drama, Mrs Chu is a very nice MIL. Not the sister-in-law Chu Ze Xin. Although she doesn't oppose Yan Zhen, her character is the same ol' trope of SILs in rich families: annoying, immature, and bratty. You can skip the scenes with Chu Ze Xin because it's a filler, IMO.

Before the last bullet point regarding the ending, here are the two nice OSTs of this drama:
1. Ending theme "Rose Graffiti" by Fei Zhen Hua
2. Insert song "Waiting for Love to Return" by Guo Gai Ya

Scroll down to find out about the ending spoiler.














• Happy ending but with disappointing trope
A lot of viewers are disappointed with this typical Chinese drama ending style, including that I docked 0.5 points of my final rating. After the showdown with the villain, the drama ends with Yan Zhen leaving Chu Ze Jia and he couldn't find her. Viewers might think this is a retaliation against him leaving her in the past. However, I think that this is normal since Yan Zhen is pretty much exhausted mentally from all the hard work she did, investigating the mystery (the initial mystery and the mystery of her husband) and managing the company for years. Including the mourning and heartbreak because of the deaths. That girl needs a break. So she went vacationing by herself.

The drama ends with Chu Ze Jia visiting the place where they first met and a woman comes to take a Polaroid picture of him. We can't see the woman's face, but it's Yan Zhen for sure. because the scene is similar to when they met for the first time. So it's not an open ending. But I'm disappointed nonetheless since Chinese dramas like using this kind of ending, a mysterious reunion in which we can't see the other person's face, a similar voice calls the protagonist, or the protagonist looking up to the other person with a surprising look.

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Peak Slice of Life drama!

When it's good, it's good, BUT sadly, there were some problems with the show, as usual with most Kdrama.

The overall message of the story, the characters, even the side characters are great, especially The Dolphin trio with Mina, Doein and Minchul. I love their mother-daughter dynamic, and this little 8 year old kid stole the show, to be honest. I would watch a drama with them.

The oldest sister's story was interesting too, but I'm a bit disappointed they didn't do much with their story. I mean, it's not like there weren't enough time, because they stretched the main story too long anyway.

So, now let's talk about the main couple. The whole drama between the two family was well done, even tho I can't understand why did it take like a decade or even more to finally talk about their issues. To be fair, it's a fair representation of people. What I can't understand is why Samdal and Yongpil just accepted everything broke up. It's not like it's the Joseon era where parents can control their kids, and they were teens. They were adults! And when they finally resolved every problem, and started dating again, Yongpil decides to leave for 2 years? I mean, sure, let's say he has to fulfill his dreams as well, but for me, it doesn't make sense at all. They suffered for 8 years, and now they're basically in a long-distance relationship? At least give us some info about how they managed their relationship.

Anyway, my biggest problem with the show is that I HATE what they did with the bullying scandal. I mean, it represents well how toxic the Korean society, but the whole was about how strong woman Samdal is, yet, she never did a single thing to defend herself. She should've told everyone that her boyfriend cheated on her with her employee. It's not like she didn't have proof, it was on her on phone! Also, later she traveled back to Seoul, and I thought, FINALLY, she's gonna do something, but no. All she did is asking that crazy woman if she wanted to commit suicide because of her. What the heck?

Without her friends, this problem NEVER would've been solved, and that's ridiculous! How on Earth she can be a boss if she doesn't realize that her employee promoting products from fashion brands for money? How can someone be a real photographer is she can't see what her employee does? The whole scandal plot was a MESS!

Lastly: the story with their mothers was messed up in the finale, too. She has heart problems, yet they let her work again? Makes zero sense, again!

Thankfully, I could forget it, because the rest of the show was really good. It's a feelgood drama with a good and important message, but Welcome to Samdalri could've been perfect with better writing.

The soundtrack, the directing and the acting were all great, even tho, sometimes the acting was a bit over the top. The REAL drama was top-notch!

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missing romantic connection from female lead

A nice story with a historical basis, which went into the future and again into the theme of past/future lives. The theme of being cursed and turning into a dog after a kiss was funny and there were a lot of funny moments related to it. I take it as a minus that after 200 or so years, the God of the mountain did not overcome the loss of a loved one and started playing his ugly game there... I would have expected a slightly more mature character. The reincarnated young woman was more intelligent than him. Besides that, the chemistry between the main actors somehow did not suit me. Cha Eun Woo was cool... I trusted him with everything. Maybe it was the script ... The writers really shouldn't be afraid to go into little bolder scenes. Or not to play it on lovers like they were 15, but they are adults.

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Not the Chinese version remake, light hearted, watchablele

Finished all the episodes today. It was a feel good, light, rom com. Touches thai culture as well, but it feels rushed.
Things are rushed at the end, honestly they could have cancelled on the other unnecessary stuff like the time angle or the ta angle.
Also in ep 19-20 it suddenly feels that Dr. Gu Wei Yi became so important that the ending also didn't have the leads alone.
It could have been better but nevertheless it is a good watch

The show is light hearted, has no breakups, no problematic leads, also touches on thai aspects. Overall you can watch, BUT
Don't compare to the Chinese version, because it is different and new, also the leads are good, especially the FL.

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Fall in love with each other online and offline

If you are looking for a cute and refreshing drama with touch of comedy and dream, then this drama is very recommended!

From the beginning, the story is focus on 2 couple, that entangled with each other’s fate.
The main couple bring the story in very cute, sweet and fun romance, and the second couple bring you a bit more mature about love and hate relationship.

Zhou Chuan (Ryan Ding Yuxi) is a popular book author who is known by his fans as warm and gentle as the Jade. He insisted that the role of editors in the internet era is dead, but then he encounters a newby editor who captures his time and attention because of her perseverance: Chu Li (Esther Yu), from Yuan Yue Publishing company.
Both always meet coincidentally in bad timing at first, but as one of fans who admire Zhou Chuan’s book, Chu Li discover that there are two sides of him. He can maintain his cool image, confident and stubborn mind as an author in the public, but actually a cute, childish and indirect person in front of Chu Li and his friend.

Zhou Chuan discovers soon that Chu Li is actually the online netizen “Monkey” who has supported him as L. Jun (Mr. Fox) for many years.
We can see intense chats conversation between the Monkey and Fox who love to quarrel but still maintain their close relationship and sharing many things about every detail in their life like a couple who hide their love towards each other.

I’m still watching this drama now.. but so far I feel excited with the development of the story, especially when a positive, cute & energetic young editor girl is living under 1 roof with the famous author, and slowly fall in love with each other online and offline. Their cute dog Er Gou is a good extras as well.

It’s very sweet to see both leads are chasing their own dream in the same page.. like write a book together, care and support each other in the cutest way. It becomes more interesting with some naughty and cute jealousy scenes and secretly care between author - editor to be landlord - tenant and later.. between boyfriend - girlfriend till husband - wife relationship.

I think the story will teach us about how the male and female lead can grow together while pursue their dream and love.
I’m not really into books, or finish read any book in my life, except comics... But then I feel this drama teach me to respect more about the books production, and I think we really need to appreciate every book author’s hardwork in the world, especially nowadays when people tend to read it online, or even for free. I really wish many people will visit library or book store to buy it and support the authors! :)

The another reason I watch this drama is because I love Actor Ryan Ding and Actress Esther Yu as the main couple!! They are perfectly match to potray the characters that described in the original novel. Love the sweet drama ost (main song) entitled "Here's Chu Li" by The 9 Esther Yu as well.

I wish this drama can be very successful and make their 2nd season! ;)

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Ahhh man, I really loved this storyline. I love all of Novoland drama's and can hardly wait for the next one with Yang Mi. The visuals in this drama were absolutely great. I also loved the storyline and want to see it again. I don't understand how anyone can compare this to "Goblin". There was nothing about the storyline that reminded me of the "Goblin". Well, there is one thing, but not a "thing" but an actress! That's it. I'm so in love with the actor
Jeremy Jones Xu not him per sé but his acting and will be looking for more dramas with him in it. Uvin Wang did an excellent job just like she did in the "Goblin". Wang Zi Qi was also good but his personality changed as the General. The set, the graphics, and the music... "Excellent"!

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A Classy Little Historical BL

I honestly thought Park Jun Hee (Jun of A.C.E.) did a great job with this show. He’s a very fun likable screen presence which you need to hold down a fish out of water portal fantasy. I thought the subs on a Viki were a little difficult to follow (which might have had to do with the flashbacks and tenses of sentences). There is the usual suspension of disbelief required to cope with a time travel fantasy, mainly in the form of anachronisms around materials, props, set dressing, and communication abound. Also, I found the appeal of the prince character difficult to comprehend, we were told regularly how wonderful he was and that everyone adores him but we were never shown this on screen. But these are two minor quibbles in what ended up being a fun, pretty, and stylish BL. Am I more forgiving because I LOVE historical romances? Probubly.

It’s nice to see boys in pastel flowing robes actually kiss and get a happy ending for a change. And not just one but two whole kisses! In a historical Kdrama, let alone a KBL. I am all amazement. Plus one of them was the classic through the hat shot. Korea owns this visual, see Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding for the very first BL iteration of a gat kiss on screen.

(That hat is a 갓 AKA a gat, henceforth this shall be known as a gat kiss. I appoint myself its chronicler. )

HOW MUCH DO I WANT A COMEDIC ITERATION WHERE BOTH MEN ARE IN GATS TRYING TO KISS? The great clashing of the gats!

I am well aware that I am ridiculous. But also there are more historicals coming in 2022. That means... more gats!

Anygat, in conclusion, Tinted With You is a fun watch, you should watch it... through your gat, if so inclined.

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Prepare yourself for a ridiculously young Takizawa Hideaki - 17 at this time playing a high school student who falls in love with his 26 yr old homeroom teacher. Is the love returned? Would it be a drama if it wasn’t? Japan spares no details apparently with this tricky genre. Majo no Jouken, or Forbidden Love, is a fully fledged love story that jumps right into the story, the romance, and all the icky taboos and consequences of the younger man/older woman relationship.

In some ways, Majo no Jouken was a predictable roller-coaster ride as the ‘forbidden’ couple struggle to find acceptance in a society that doesn’t legally forbid their love, but certainly doesn’t know how to handle it. However, a variety of side characters add to the battle, including Hirose-sensei’s one time fiancé and Hikaru’s young and possessive single mother. And between these two, we get the feeling that there are some things even sicker and twisted than the relatively innocuous age difference of our show’s main lovers.

On a Technical Note:
This drama had me asking questions I never thought I'd worry about. The amount of time I spent surfing the internet studying Japanese legal age of consent; wondering if Japan really does consider it a psychological disorder for a woman to love a high school age boy; curiosity if Japan would really go to such lengths to depict one of the creepiest mothers ever before hinted at; confusion as to why I could care so much about a couple that seems so destined to suffer one crisis after another...

All fruitless efforts, really. Half mushy, half gritty, Majo's romance was a hot whirlwind of a mess, and not afraid of delving into serious life questions. What does a woman do when her boyfriend is uneducated and unemployed, and how does said boyfriend take care of a woman 9 years his senior? There is no instant maturity, no immediate solutions, and not every expectation will be fulfilled as first it was conceived. Kind of like... life.

I almost find it hard to recommend this, because unless you’re in the mood for a torturous road of almost Kdrama level proportions (though at least not in length), Majo no Jouken is a painful drama to watch. Even the initial sweetness of the romance is very nearly spoiled by a traumatic second half. However, if you love seeing actors portraying their characters well, and those characters being well-handled over the course of the drama, or if you just want to see Tackey back when he was young and adorable (as opposed to the older version which is just plain hot), then I guess you should watch it sometime. ;) And hardships aside, the characters really do make a sweet couple. I say that even remembering just how young he is here. At least that much is quite believable.

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Quality nuanced content

Listen, I'm not a fan of mini-series shows. They're usually underfinanced, undercasted and don't have enough runtime to properly explore their themes and leave an impression on the audience, I personally view it as a tool utlilised in the industry to make fast, easily consumed content similar to fast food. Nothing wrong with enjoying, fast, consumable and compromised- quality content ( I'm not one to look down on a sixteen hour c-drama where the CEO gets the gal). But it still doesn't make them into "a good memorable drama".

"Shall we have a cup of coffee?" has been my favourite mini-series in my eight years of watching and enjoying various types and styles of dramas across five different countries. Each episode goes off on a tangent, with just a hint of conflict and climax near the end ( patiently spoon fed to the audience). It's beautifully filmed and scripted with a very limited but tasteful OST. The actors weren't perfect but they knew what they were doing. They understood what the drama warranted, which made their performances so deeply enjoyable. Each episode was just a like a warm calming cup of coffee or any other drink the reader thinks to be comforting and delicious. Like a small break to take within the fast pace of life to slow down but not drouse, to savour and think. I've learned so much about coffee and I came to care about the characters. Mostly, I fell into awe of how a show can have such little going but still manage to have so much substance. I'll watch this show again, no doubt.

I also wanted to mention how I found the show. The trailer ended up in my youtube algorithm. I clicked it, thinking it was a BL a minute in. Uh. It was not. The company clarified this in the comments as well ( which was very funny to me). Actually there wasn't any romance in it at all. Which is why I didn't wanna watch it. How immersive can another cafe show be? I constantly look for immersive, dopamine boosted shows that'll distract me from my problems ( this usually ends up being romance). I'm so glad I took a chance and watched this. I also know Korea is not forgiving to mainstream actors doing LGBTQ content, so I'm glad netizens can't shit on this show. The chemistry between the actor of the cafe owner and Go-Bi was so insanely good in its inintensity, I'm sure a lot people will think it's a shame. I personally don't mind the father/son relationship they chose on. I enjoyed the amazing one on one chemistry nonetheless.

I spent a lot of time trying to think of a fault this show might have. I tried. I really did.

It's not squid games, it won't give you goose bumps and it won't put you on the edge of your seat. It's supposed to be a dreamy and sweet show, as clearly intended by the creators. It's pretty easy to gage what the show wants you to feel, and it's not trying to be like mainstream, story oriented dramas. The only thing I could think of, is that it must be niche type of content targeted to a specific audience. I don't understand the low ratings for this show, probably because I am exactly the type of viewer this show was made for. Which is why I hope more people learn about this show, and more of these niche viewers can cherish and enjoy this show.

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Don't fret over the beginning

Before even starting this review, let me tell you: Do not judge this series by its beginning. The start of it is pretty horrific and I admit it does not get better until like episode 8 or 9. Also, this review is especially for people who watched other adaptations of the Daomubiji series of dramas.

Story:
+ the story works well in itself and there are almost no plot-holes
- the story does not work well regarding its continuity to its prequel and sequel
Overall I have to say, I enjoyed the story, especially the later half of the drama. The story pace is quite steady, fast enough to not get bored, slow enough to enjoy scenes. There were some story parts (side story mainly) which I just could not enjoy though.

Some characters were re-casted, while others weren't and it is noticeable. The chemistry in the beginning is way off and you will feel like some of the actors first have to grow into their roles. Will they be your favorite casting of all the adaptations? Probably not. Are they doing a good job? Yes.
This drama also makes it one of its main missions to show you new perspectives to characters you might already know. If you expect your usual main protagonists, forget it. It is interesting though how some relationships are displayed in the drama, some totally new from what we have seen before, some just a new perspective. This goes from Wu Xie and his uncle to how Wu Xie deals with betrayals from his closest friends.

The music is actually really really good and I caught myself enjoying the intro and outro a lot. Regarding the special effects and CGI, I am quite sure all the money went into the last two episodes. You will notice green screen but if you blink your eyes a few times, it is not that bad.

Overall: I will probably end up re-watching some of it over time, as I did really enjoy the new character relationships and some of the scenes are really a small treasure. I will probably avoid re-watching all of it though. I totally recommend watching the show after some time has passed since watching the other adaptations, as what makes this series so hard to watch is mainly the comparison, and less the series itself.

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– A Gripping Tale of Fate, Power, and Redemption

Fangs of Fortune”

“Fangs of Fortune” is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue that keeps you hooked from the very first episode. With a well-crafted storyline and compelling character arcs, the drama offers more than just surface-level entertainment — it dives deep into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between destiny and free will.

The performances are truly commendable. The lead actors bring emotional depth and intensity to their roles, making their journeys feel authentic and moving. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, evolving beautifully as the story progresses.

Visually, the drama is stunning. The cinematography, costume design, and CGI are top-notch, creating an immersive world that feels both magical and grounded. The background score adds to the atmosphere, perfectly enhancing the emotional beats and action sequences.

One of the standout elements of Fangs of Fortune is its writing. The plot twists are clever and unpredictable, yet they make sense within the universe the show builds. Each episode ends with just the right amount of suspense, making it impossible not to binge.

Overall, Fangs of Fortune is a must-watch for fans of xianxia and historical fantasy. It’s a rare gem that combines rich storytelling with strong performances and breathtaking visuals — a drama that stays with you long after the final credits roll.

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Solid Execution, Gaseous Villain: A Refreshing Sci-Fi Thriller

The concept was too good and the topic was interesting too, which made me binge-watch it in one day itself. Even though the "White Center" part is repetitive—as I have seen secret government organizations making poor people do all sorts of things in Stranger Things and even recently in The Wonderfools—it is just the same genre, but I still love the scenes between human Ren and the small girl, Kyoko. Seriously, their chemistry is too good, and I felt so bad for Ren throughout this entire series; it was heartbreaking to see him go through everything.

Damn, when I found out he is a new actor and, on top of that, a model, I was in shock because he acted so maturely in this series that it made me tear apart. Personally, he is the heart of this show, even more so than the main lead and Kyoko. I hope he does more projects in the future because I would love to see him more. The cast and crew, the cinematographer, and especially the casting director did a very nice job casting Ren, as he suited the role perfectly. The story is nice, but the ending was a little bit disappointing for me.

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It was NOT the cast that made this bad

I have to say up front that it was NOT the cast that made this whole drama tank - the cast was amazing and they are the only reason I stayed until the last episode. It was the WORST storyline I have ever seen and I have made note of these writers and will not watch anything by them again.

Where do I even start? The storyline started out good but what you read in the synopsis is nothing like the drama ended up being. The ML loses his male lead status for at least 70+ episodes as the drama focuses on the supporting character of Ju Hyuk - and at some point his status as supporting character changes to Main Character. Why? I have no idea who allowed that change to be made. but the story dragged on and on and on, ad nauseum, about the FL, Mi Rae, being in love with the cheating, gaslighting, abusive Ju Hyuk, who happened to be her first love. We rarely had any interactions between the two leads that were suppose to end up falling in love and having to fight for their love. The two "leads" - Kang San and Mi Rae - do not even get together as a couple until episode 91 - and the drama is only 121 episodes. The two actors did not have much chemistry - maybe due to the fact that the writers and director didn't have them interact much with each other for over half the drama. The characters that needed background stories for us to understand them more, never had them. The writers clearly hated Kang-San - the character they CREATED. They made him passive, meek, a doormat, and a pushover from ep 1 all the way through ep 121. The synopsis states he would have to fight for his love but we never truly saw that. The only time he came close is when Ju Hyuk was revealed to be the cheater that he was. That lasted about 2-3 episodes., then it was back to being the same Kang-San that had no self esteem and really came across as a loser.

Seo Joon Young tried his best with the terrible script he was given. He did pull out some really great emotional moments that you felt his pain so much as his character struggled day in and day out. SJY really is a great actor and I hope to see him get a ML role that he can sink his teeth into and show us more of his acting ability and ML status. I think he definitely could pull off a better romance drama. Give this guy a passionate, romantic role, please!

Kim Si Eun - I cant say enough good things about this young woman. She honestly stole the show and this girl has an awesome career ahead of her is she chooses to stick to acting. You loved her character Jan-Di and you hated her. From episode 1 - 121 this girl showed a wide range of talent and emotions. I cried, I yelled, and laughed with her. I look forward to seeing her in many more dramas.

I have made note of the Director as well - there were many scenes where I was left scratching my head as to what the director was trying to say in his scenes. So many scenes looked as if it was missing parts - it was jumping from one scene to the next with no continuity at all. There were some scenes that is obvious parts were cut and melded together - again, making no sense. At one point the ML saves Mi Rae from a motorcyclist and ends up unconscious in the hospital and it is said he would be in there for a while and have to wear the neck brace for a while then the next scene appears to be the next morning where he is sitting at the breakfast table with no neck brace and no cast on his arm. There was no indication there was a bit of a time skip or that it could have been a week or two later - it seemed like it was the next morning. Lots of us were like "what happened here?" This happened on several occasions. a lot of the time the video previews at the end of the episodes - scenes from those were never aired.

So I gave the cast and actors a 9.0, but I didn't want to even rate the story because I felt even any rating was too much, but it wouldn't let me leave it blank so I gave the story a 1.0 - If I could give it a negative number I would - that is just how bad the story was. Save yourself the trouble of watching.

**edited to add that Seo Joon Young won an Excellence Award -Actor in a Daily Drama for his role as Kang San, and Kim Si Eun won Best Young Actress Award for her role as Jan Di, at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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A very refined cat and mouse chase.

If you like watching enemy spy dramas, you can watch Peng Xiaoran and Liu Xueyi's #TV series, Unshakable Faith#. The CVB peak of this drama has broken 3. In more than ten episodes, the plot is still quite engaging, and the enemy is so dense that it keeps challenging you, which makes people try to guess endlessly. Let's talk about it briefly.

The background is the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, GJ was involved in the major secret project of water fall (submarine construction), and the plot revolves around the protection of experts, anti-security projects and sabotage, and the enemy.

Peng Xiaoran plays the female public security officer Pang Hongmei, who was not very calm at first, a little irrational, and a little underestimated the enemy's cunning, but she was good, vigilant, intuitive, and highly observant, and willing to make up for her shortcomings.

Liu Xueyi is a returned mathematician Ji Danyang, a computer man, mature in appearance but a bit simple like a genius child inside, has not been defeated by the enemy, likes to be free and unrestrained, and has a rebellious psychology against Pang Hongmei's step-by-step attention. However, his mathematical ability has also helped Pang Hongmei solve some cases.
In the special enemy line, the identity of the father and daughter Bai is the core, Kan Suzi plays the second female lead Bai Hui and Ding Yongdai plays Bai Hui's adoptive father Bai Minghan. The father and daughter are constantly involved in various sabotage incidents and are invited for interrogation by the special team from time to time. Bai Hui looks like an innocent little white flower, but as soon as she comes out, some people suspect her. The father, Bai Minghan, the audience in the comments will think he is bad for a while and think he is a good person for a while. In more than a dozen episodes, the identities of the two, father and daughter, are reversed. The change of perspective of the characters that incite us is quite strong.
Pang Hongmei, Bai Hui, and Ji Danyang all have emotional lines, but the emotional lines appear after a dozen episodes, because their focus is mainly on chasing spies or taking care of the development of the submarine.
The plot is not the kind of high-energy brain-burning, nor is it strong logic, but the narrative and pacing are very well controlled, and it always keeps the audience's appetite, and it is quite delicious. If you are interested, you can check it out.
Source:
Medium shade small water
7 hours ago from Rescue Drama Super Talk
https://m.weibo.cn/status/4982818952446762

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