Reviews

It is really impossible to write a review for this drama without getting my blood pressure up. The people that waited week after week for this drama will truly understand my pain.

All the writers of this drama need to be under some kind of witness protection program because they have succeeded in angering so many people including myself that had to sit through 20 eps of this BS. This drama was written under the influence of some serious narcotics.

The acting gets a 9 because they did a good job of conveying the foolishness the writers were spilling out.

Trying not to give away any spoilers, I'm a strong believer of the saying "don't bite the hand that feeds you". Well in this drama there's a lot of biting and chewing and an attempt to amputate the hand that was doing the feeding.

In this drama you get to witness ungratefulness at it's max and decisions that make you question the way some men think.

The drama was good and cute up until about episode 10 when the writers decided to play "how far can we piss off the viewers". In all honesty, the drama could have been done in 16 episodes or better still 10 episodes.

We could have done without all the crap from ep 11 to 19 and 20.
The only take a way is the OST. There are some really good songs in this drama....The drama had some good potential that was played with.

If you want to sit through this be my guest but make sure to drop by for an "I TOLD YOU SO".

Writing this without spoilers was seriously challenging....off to take my blood pressure meds

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I have not been this obsessed over a drama in a while, and I rarely give any drama perfect 10s, but I believe this drama is the perfect melodrama. The plot is a mix of suspense, ill-fated romance, psychological thriller, and tragedy. Every single episode is engaging from the very beginning to the last moment. I love interesting characters and here Seo In Guk shines as the enigmatic Kim Moo Young, who's every expression captivated me in a way that few Kdrama leads have. I had no idea what this drama would be like when I started it (having never heard of the original Japanese version), but from Moo Young's first judgmental side eye and confident and slightly dangerous smirk, I knew I was hooked.

This definitely isn't my first time liking either of the leads in a drama, but I feel like this is both of them at their absolute best. Seo In Guk and Jung So Min also have legendary chemistry here, ranging from entertaining banter, to intimate and genuine, to emotional rollercoaster. They both really get to showcase their range in these roles and create truly memorable characters who I couldn't help but care about and root for, even if their relationship was extremely complicated and messy. That's what I loved most about this drama and its characters, nothing is all good or bad, and nothing is as predictable as it may initially seem. These characters make frustrating decisions and take scream at the screen inducing actions, and instead of that making me mad it just made them all feel more human.

It also helps that the entire cast is impressive. Park Sung Woong big brother role and Jang Young Nam also have amazing chemistry and give really great performances. I loved Moo Young rivalries with various characters. I especially loved the moments when Jin Kang and Jin Gook hid darkness and depth behind their smiles and teasing. The whole cast really played well off of each other. Some roles end up being more significant than others but there's not a single weak link in the cast, which helped to make some of the more melodramatic moments feel more realistic and made me more invested in everything that was going on, even during moments when I was confused. Eventually, all the elements of the story do come together, so any confusion I had was always temporary, and just kept me more interested in what was going to happen next.

Would I watch this drama again? Without hesitation. Although the suspense of not knowing what's going on would be gone, just watching how all the pieces fit is entertaining to me. I also feel like this is the kind of drama where I might pick up on something during a second viewing that I missed the first time. I really wasn't ready for this drama to be over, even though it ended in a way that seemed inevitable and was well done. I still miss the characters enough to want to see them again, especially the sensitive yet slightly sexy and sociopathy Moo Young. I crushed so hard on Seo In Guk watching this it was almost shameful. That's another automatic reason to want to watch this again. I will probably watch the original version too, but I can't imagine me liking this version any less after viewing it... it's too good.

I should also mention the music which to me fit the show perfectly. There was even a moment when I was holding back tears but as soon as "Star" played, Seo In Guk and Jung So Min's duet, the floodgates opened and I couldn't hold the tears back any longer. The harmonies got me right in the feels and now it's among my KDrama OST favorites. I had no idea it was even them singing the song at first so that's just another reason to love them together.

Overall this is easily one of my new favorite dramas ever, so of course, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. The story is a pretty dark one, but it's not without light moments and scenes that made me smile and swoon. This isn't exactly a sweet romance, but there are plenty of moments to satisfy romance fans. There may not be much action for crime thriller fans, but I think the suspense around characters and the story makes up for that. If you are the type of person who prefers stories about happy people living happily ever after, then you may want to skip this one, but I think you're missing out.

Now that there are no more episodes left, I feel the smile leaving my eyes : ( but since it is Thanksgiving I will just be thankful that I got to watch what I'd easily call the best drama of the year!

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Humorous & Witty

OK, I admit, I came to watch this drama because of XiaoZhan. After the drama Chenqing Ling (The Untamed), I started to search for dramas by Xiao Zhan, and this drama is one of them. (By the way, if you haven’t watched The Untamed yet, you might want to check it out.)

Initially, at episode 1, I almost gave it up because it started off as a modern-day drama, so I thought; I had expected a historical wuxia drama. But very quickly within the first episode, it moves into historical settings and I was totally hooked since then.

Accordingly, this drama is adapted from a novel whose popular author has also written many other works including Ever Night. I have not read this particular novel (Joy of Life), but I understand that it is a super long novel, and the drama adaptation is planning for a five-year 3-season run, and we are currently in season 1. Whether the following seasons would run into any unforeseeable issues is anybody’s guess (such as the change of actors etc).

In the actual novel, it is supposedly a time travel story. But because such stories (time travel) are banned in China film production (I don’t understand why China wants to stymie such creativity), the production team has cleverly adapted the story by cutting out the time travel part hence passing censorship.

I must say, unexpectedly, this drama is so good! The story is interesting. The dialogues are funny and unexpected. The play of words and homophones, puns and use of chenyu (idioms) are hilarious, and yet witty, deep, meaningful and cultured. Too bad many of these wonderful characters (Chinese words) are lost in the translation and non-Chinese native speakers may not find the dialogues as wonderful as the native speakers do. Seemingly a light-hearted drama, but when it comes to emotional moments, the director has successfully squeezed out a tear or two from me. The acting is immaculate! I love the relationship Fan Xian has with his siblings and with others whom he considers as friends; it’s deep and genuine. Unlike most actors who act in historical dramas, Zhang Ruoyun has a presence day physique making him a perfect Fan Xian as he is supposed to be a modern man; his etiquettes are simply hilarious and Zhang delivers 100%. The supporting cast is equally good, in particular Guo Qilin who plays Fan Xian’s little brother; he is adorable and amazing. I hope to see more of him. I love the opening and ending OSTs, with the ending song being sung by Xiao Zhan, another talented actor and singer.

33 episodes in, I still haven’t seen a whiff of Xiao Zhan. Nonetheless, this hasn’t reduced the enjoyment I have got out from this delightful drama. Xiao Zhan plays a supporting role and for marketing purposes, his name is being displayed or used prominently to attract attention. I can understand why the team is doing this (Xiao Zhan is currently the hottest Chinese actor in China), but I find it deceiving and I can't say I appreciate it. This drama should receive the attention it duly deserves if being marketed properly, because it is indeed a great drama.

Updates:

Finally Xiao Zhan appears at the end of episode 38. His screen time is so little that I haven't had enough time to make out of his character, and hence provide a correct assessment of his acting. Nonetheless, at the end of season 1 (episode 46), as expected, there are still tons of unsolved mysteries, new twists, plots within plots -- getting the viewers all hooked up for the next season.

If you are checking this drama out, do watch it. It’s amazingly wonderful. This is truly a wuxia story and the fighting choreography and qing gong are done beautifully. I can’t emphasize enough: it’s a MUST-WATCH!

Two thumbs up!!

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I literally made an account just to give this a bad review. The first ten episodes are pretty standard, but there is a plot twist in episode 11 that is so freaking disturbing that it ruins the show. The male lead is literally a textbook abusive husband except that he never actually hits her (though he does physically restrain her and drag her around to the point that she is crying and bites him to try to make him let go because he won't listen to her). He financial controls her, manipulates and lies to her about huge life events with no concern for her feelings, he stalks her, and even locks her in their house and won't let her leave. All the while he is professing his love and saying its for her own good and that he wouldn't change his behavior because it brought them together. Even after she makes her feelings perfectly clear, that she needs space and respect and doesn't want him to interfere with her life, he continues his behavior behind her back! He's literally insane. I cheered when she left him because she was escaping an abusive relationship, yet for some unknown reason the writers make her forgive him and they end up together. I'm actually disgusted. For a second I thought it was going to tun into a thriller where she has to escape him and try to put her life together while he stalks her and gets crazier and crazier. It's just horrible. I wish I could give it 0 stars.

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I'm gonna say it write up, this drama was so much fun. It can be quite funny and that's what I really liked about this drama. It was a perfect way to cool down after work. I can't say I loved every bit of it and it wasn't perfect, but the humor and cast really kept this show going for me and I didn't get bored watching it.

Story (7.5):
So yeah, I have an issue where I constantly drop dramas if they get the slightest bit boring or do something I don't like. But I came back to this one religiously and watched it every day a new episode came out. I know it's not perfect, but it was just good enough and fun enough I can't fault its faults (if that makes any sense).
Primary issues for me are in this section of rating (the story) but I won't spoil anything (hopefully) so read on.

First off, don't worry; fat shaming isn't really an issue in this drama. The first episode might feel a bit wonky, but things get better and it's essential to the whole rest of the plot. This story has got comedic romance, potential love triangles, hidden identities, and crazy exes. It's got the whole gambit, but it seems to take most of them and add its own spin on them so they don't feel crazy. Case in point the main storyline "hidden identity". Sure it's not the first of its kind, but it certainly didn't feel like an overused trope (plus hidden identity tag is one of my favorites).

I think the flaws that detract from the story for me are mostly some underwhelming resolution (mostly in character developments) and throughout there were a few character actions that didn't feel inline with the characters. Also, the number of times the main character faints or is somehow in terrible danger might be a record...

Acting/Cast (9.5):
Let me just say that this drama wouldn't be the same without Shin Sung Rok. There are few other actors I can imagine playing this role. He's hilarious and literally the best part of the drama.
At first I was hesitant about Go Won Hee but she showed me wrong and this pairing was a lot of fun to watch.
I can't point at a bad actor in this drama really. I'll never look at Jo Han Chul the same (I didn't think he had it in him to be that crazy), and was pleasantly surprised with Kim Jin Kyung (as the daughter).
Oh, and you can't forget about Kim Min Kyu. Literal puppy dog. That's the only way I can describe him.

Music (9.0):
Lots of fun tracks in this one and some might go onto some of my playlists. That perfume melody will always cause me to listen for thunder lol.

Rewatch Value (8.0):
Never a fan of rewatching much, I've already rewatched parts of this drama. Lots of fun to be had.

Overall (8.5):
While I can't say it was groundbreaking, a top favorite, or something I'll remember nostalgically, Perfume will be one of those dramas I remember as generating a lot of laughs watching and one that didn't give me much of a headache or worry that it would go horribly wrong. Perfect drama to sit back and relax to.

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So before you think "OMG she gave this show a 10 even though it's so short" there is a real reason behind it. I promise.

The story of ReminderS is nothing overly interesting or dramatic but that was clear from the beginning since it a) only has three episodes, b) is called Reminders c) is mainly to promote the actors and the upcoming third season of Love Sick.
I don't have a problem with that. Since it was clear from the beginning there were no empty promises but they delivered what they said. So don't expect real big drama or a major storyline going on. There is a direction but that's pretty much it.

The cast and the characters were amazing. The LBC cast played different characters this time but they added character traits that made the roles even better and seemed more natural for the actors, so it seemed more convincing. For the Love Sick cast - we came a long way especially with their acting. It improved a lot and I love that the actors still have the same chemistry as before and it did not suffer over the years. The Love Sick characters also took something like an advisor role in this show. It was nice to see them as a mostly stable couple trying to help others and finally getting a break from all the drama we are used to from the usual shows. They probably kept the drama for the upcoming season.
Also we have a few cameos, some expected from the trailer, some totally unexpected and a wonderful surprise.

The music is pretty much the same over all the three episodes but if you watched Love Sick with all your heart, beware of fainting and grinning like a fool ^.^

Rewatch, depends on when the future shows are coming out.

Overall this show deserves a 7 if you are a LBC fan, 5 if you are a general BL fan and a 10 if you are a Love Sick fan. Not because the story is that good or it is that interesting but because this show stays so true to its name, it's scary. This show is a reminder of LBC and LS and brings back all those memories. I watched LS as long ago as it can be and I really enjoyed seeing the characters I haven't seen so long, also LBC is not getting another season so we don't have many chances to see them together again.
ReminderS is a show to remind us of those great shows, couples, actors and music and to remember watching them and getting into BL and that's what makes it as amazing as it is.

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There and Back Again... A Lawyer's Hopeful Journey of Life, Family, Friendship and Love.

What would you do if you were given a chance to erase your regrets and cherish the ones whom you missed out on? Does life really give you second chances?

Well, 28-year-old Qian Wei successfully managed to get this golden opportunity and from here starts our journey.

First and foremost, this is no regular rom-com if you are seeking pure fluff. It is a moving and heartfelt tale of life, family, justice, perseverance, love and about finding yourself.

It has elements of slice-of-life and sometimes deals with heavy emotional themes such as grief and loss. And I request you to forget about the hedgehog hair for a while, if you happened to stumble across it. In short, it is one of those rare gems that gets overlooked for various reasons.

As someone who stayed away from CDramas this year, thanks to the disappointing storylines and pacing, Legally Romance was the unexpected 'it' drama for me. This is a CDrama, so my hopes were low, but for a regular drama, this has exceeded itself in several departments and is definitely much better than the deluge of fluffy rom-coms that are released every day or so.

Despite having had her future planned ahead since college, 28-year-old Qian Wei never got to fulfill her wishes. Stuck as a paralegal assistant to her former classmate and valedictorian Lu Xun for the past ten years, she bears a grudge against her draconian boss for having stolen her 1st position during their youth. (And now stealing her leisure time by overworking her.) When her boyfriend is revealed to be working for the opposite party and she accidentally misplaced evidence, her life reaches a bleak point. However, an unexpected tumble down a manhole while has her waking up as her 18-year-old self. Taking a leaf out of Lu Xun's book (or a whole new book out of his dreams) Qian Wei decides to change her fate through the years of experience she had acquired for the better... or is it for the worse?

The drama isn't an original work and is based on a web novel with a tacky title "Don't Want To Fall in Love With The Boss". I've not read the novel, but from hearsay, the changes made to the script so far have been more advantageous to the story. After browsing through several chapters, I have to say, the scriptwriters managed to inject a lively and fresh ambience to the drama.

I was admittedly a bit sceptical while beginning this as the trope of redoing life has been repeated multiple times and has almost nothing new to be explored. The flowery poster did not help (the Youtube thumbnail is much more enticing), neither did any earlier information about the drama, which gave me the impression of a regular idol romance with a fantasy twist. Keeping aside the latter half, I'll get to what makes me feel that this drama is worth a chance.

☆ Legally Romance is not a complete romantic comedy. Yes, romance plays a major role. But, it focuses more on Qian Wei's growth. Or rather how much life has tested Qian Wei and explores her regrets and mistakes. When she is given an opportunity to experience her youth, even if it isn't real, she discovers herself once again through this. She rebuilds her vision from scratch (almost) an attempts to vanquish the possibility of any terrible event that she knew she would experience. Including major oned such as saving her father from death...

Qian Wei is no idiot -- she ranked 2nd for a reason. Trenchant about her dream to be a lawyer, we see how dedicated she is to her job further along her journey. I loved her resilience and passion.

What's more? She is definitely a flawed character. She helped her twin Qian Chuan steal Lu Xun's supposed girlfriend after she realized that they had trouble going on their side. She makes a plan to outsmart Lu Xun with her prior knowledge and foresight about what was going to happen. Frankly, I did not understand why she loathed Lu Xun in college when all he seemed to have done was study well. Yes, he was her study rival, but her past self was very deluded with the idea that his sole purpose was to defeat her that she failed to see that he was a good friend and boss, something that her own friend Shi Yun tells her in the second episode.
I loved seeing the events through Qian Wei's eyes. But, this also piqued my curiosity about how things turned out the way it did for her. What we see is her manipulated version of the past. So, what exactly happened during the times that Lu Xun did not intervene in the past?

☆ Another aspect? ALL the characters are well written. I can't find a single annoying character. This includes the second male lead, Li Chong Wen, whose backstory is well fleshed out. I couldn't blame him for his actions; it was completely realistic.
Nobody is good or bad. No one is 100% the ace of the club. The little imperfections in this drama is what makes it perfect. And the life lessons that we are given on the journey along with Qian Wei were heartfelt. I could feel that the writers really sat down and spent their energy into making sure that no character is pushed aside in their pursuit of goals.

☆ Now, the romance... the highlight of the drama. The very wacky title that screamed at the audience to run the other way doesn't do justice. This is literally a story of how the invisible second lead finally managed to get the girl.

Lu Xun is definitely not hailed as the all perfect star hero student of the college. He is known for his talent. The ideal male lead would've been someone like Li Chong Wen —- everyone has their eyes on him at campus. I loved how they didn't overdo or glorify Lu Xun as unbeatable. The 18-year-old never held a grudge towards anyone, even Qian Wei for stealing his 1st position.
What's admirable about his character was how he gave Qian Wei space when she needed it. He was a villainous shadow in Qian Wei's past.
Seeing the tables get turned unintentionally by Qian Wei after she attempts to change her past and instead gets further entwined with Lu Xun was funny, yet heartwarming to watch.
Also, yes, he has a roastworthy hair that he himself is aware of. (I laughed both during EP3 and EP5 when he is described.) Do Not let that detter you from observing the story. Lu Xun is really innocent and worth your time!

Both Song Zuer and Z. Tao had a natural chemistry. The relationship between Lu Xun and Qian Wei was innocent and romantic without ever being cringey. Yes, there were cringey moments, but it was humorous at the same time. This was one romance that is worth your time and there is none who knows this better than Qian Wei.



☆ The show is effortlessly comic without even trying hard. All the characters have a sense of humour, including Qian Wei and even Li Chong Wen (her ex-boyfriend).
Qian Wei and Lu Xun's colleagues at work were particularly funny. I loved that despite the heavy issues that the drama deals with, the touch of humour is never lost even once.

☆ The side characters have distinct personalities. Mo Zi Xin, the quiet-almost-rival to Qian Wei was a highlight. Their best friend Liu Shi Yun; her bickering with Qian Chuan, their talks and care for each other were well portrayed. Everyone has unique or different dreams and passions they pursue. Including Qian Wei and Lu Xun.
Qian Chuan and Shi Yun, the second leads, grew on me episode by episode. I usually do not care about side characters, but this one is an exception. Even Li Chong Wen is a character completely worth your time.

The parental relationships are well portrayed. I adord every scene between Qian Wei and her dad. By the episodes after 20, it really hit the nail right on the head.

☆ I'm now convinced that being a lawyer is more dangerous and risky than people realize.

I'm not a fan of prosecution dramas. (The very reason I've not watched Miss Hammurabi. ) Legally Romance has "Law" as its very backbone, if you are curious. Despite all that, I'm happy as it gave me an insight of how lawyers and cases work though I do not know how close to the truth the drama is. (Watching thrillers helped me get accustomed to it too.)
There are plenty of legal jargons and rules thrown around casually as all the characters are Law School students who are actively involved in the field. It did pique my curiosity, though. The show begins to focus on certain legal cases and have them discussed in depth.

☆ The cast and the production team might be the reason why this drama stood out for me. Song Zu Er and Z.Tao nailed their roles to tee. ( I began this as I was already familiar with Tao's Brightest Star in the Sky.) Song Zuer is a seasoned and lauded actress from what I've heard. I can see why after watching a few clips of her other works. I can distinguish her mature 28-year-old self from her younger version during pivotal moments in the drama. (Particularly EP11 for me.)

Huang Zitao, despite being a certified idol, seems to choose characters whom he thinks he might be able to act comfortably as without forcing himself. A wise choice since I can feel that he put in effort to portray both the resilient workaholic and naughty side of Lu Xun.

I can not detect anything off about their performances, even the supporting cast. [I hope that the entire cast stays safe and alert during these times.]

☆ The pacing is for once, completely suitable for the drama and the themes portrayed. We do not spend a huge amount of time dwelling in Qian Wei's dream, neither do we spend time on useless romance. Both Qian Wei and Lu Xun were intelligent enough to know the value of time.

☆ The soundtrack is beautiful. I have had Destiny by HAPPY and You Are The Rest of My Life by Z. Tao on repeat since the first time I heard them. No particular BGMs have struck me as memorable yet, as many of them are meant to have a comic effect. But, there were various instrumental renditions of all the songs that were so memorable. Honestly, each track that played were so appropriate for the scene and invoked emotions.

☆ This also happens to be my first contemporary Chinese drama that I've followed while on air. Completely unnecessary, but it made me happy to see that there were no VIP schedules and that we international fans could enjoy it at the same time as Mainland fans. And that too for free! (Atleast on Youtube.)

☆ The ENDING ... was perfect in every sense and no loose ends were left untied. It was as if the writers racked their brains about how to give everyone what they deserved and simultaneously give us viewers who stayed with the characters a truly satisfying conclusion. (There is a post credits scene that completes the wheel of time.)
My only complaint was that I did not get to see a certain character onscreen.

I'll wrap this up with a 9 on 10. Yes, the basic storyline is overused and might be cliché, but it held on long enough with a solid storyline that is not injected with unnecessary emotional drama and has a talented cast with a unique charm. (I am also aware that it's getting roasted on Douban for the same reasons I praised it for, unfortunately.)

Ultimately, Legally Romance is more of a didactic comfort show that not only gives us the butterflies, but instills a spark of hope. There are many of us out there who can relate to Qian Wei's regrets, but seeing her really start to live her life even if it was ten years late was heartwarming and hopeful. Following this journey along with Qian Wei was absolutely fantastic and an experience that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. And I wish her, Lu Xun and their loved ones the very best for the future.

Dated - March 22, 2022. (Updated - 5th, April.)

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STORY: The story addresses Karoshi, a Japanese term literally meaning "overwork death," or "death by overwork." It's a big problem in Japan and this movie portrays an overworked guy who attempts suicide and the guy who tries to save him. It's a redemption story with a lot of suspense, also mystery surrounding the identity of "Yamamoto." It has a great ending. NOTE: This is not Boy's Love or Bromance or anything like that.

ACTING/CAST: It's literally an All-Star cast! All of the actors, and the one actress, were superb. You just can't get too much better than these people!

MUSIC: It was good for a show like this, certainly. That ending song is quite good, check the comment section for a link to it English Subbed.

REWATCH VALUE: I will watch it again down the road.

OVERALL: Absolutely fantastic and heartwarming movie about a very powerful subject (Kar?shi) and two guys just trying to save each other.

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After having seen all the versions of Itazura na kiss existing (including the 1996 Japanese version), and particularly loved the “Love in Tokyo” version, saying I was waiting for this special would be an understatement. Though, I wouldn’t say my thirst was completely quenched. Let me explain.

STORY (8). I won’t talk about the initial story here as I find it almost perfect. Still I want to comment some aspects of the special episode, and one in particular...
Until now, only the Taiwanese version has dealt with the honey moon (as I don’t recognize the Korean 7 minutes episode as a real adaptation), and as I thought the honey moon story was deserving a long episode (just like in TKA), I was really happy to see on the details the episode would last 3 hours… and here comes the trouble. I really found this special was too short, and most of all too HURRIED! I know announcing days is part of the “joke” with Mari-chan, but when the week ends up only being a list of days and short episodes, I only can be disappointed. I know the manga was like this too, but I found the liberties taken by TKA interesting, I wish love in Okinawa had taken some too!
(A detail that always annoys me in dramas… No one in the world kisses like that, please stahp…)
Bonus: As spoilers are forbidden, I won’t say too much, but I just LOVED the cross over, it made me laugh out loud, for real! (+1 for the music and the japanese by the way ~ !) [you’ll get it when you’ll see it].

ACTING/CAST (9.5). Miki is still a perfect Kotoko, cute, sweet, and… so in love! I discovered her in the first season, and couldn’t imagine a better actress to play this role. As for Naoki, I was a little disappointed as Yuki Furukawa acted the same way he did before Naoki and Kotoko’s wedding. I haven’t been able to see the love in his eyes for like ¾ of the episode. Sure Naoki Irie has to be Naoki Irie, but I was expecting at least a smile from time to time (Finally I’m just like Kotoko, I want him to love her so hard I can’t stand such a distant behavior, hihi).

MUSIC (7). The music is neither wonderful nor awful, I would say it was average. It was light, and perfect for the story. Though I didn’t appreciate the fact that there was music during all the episode, to my mind, the ost is here to improve the story, to accompany it and make it more alive. I had the feeling it was always trying to catch the attention. Seriously, some moments and some dialogue need their silence.
On the other hand, I HAVE to put a stress on the opening, because I just found it really cute, colorful, and loved the music. I’m listening to it again right now!

*43 minutes of re-watching, please wait…*

REWATCHING (8.5). After watching it again, I feel split between my first feelings, for some stronger than ever, and the joy of discovering things I had missed or misunderstood the first time (subtitles didn’t work and my Japanese isn’t that perfect).
Though I have to correct some things I wrote before. There ARE moments when Naoki smiles, even if they are discreet and short (watch out!). As for the music, it’s well and truly omnipresent, BUT it’s not that bad, as it stays behind the story, and it’s not that bothering finally.

OVERALL (8.5). I had a great time watching this, without any doubt, even the second time. The Itakiss series are parts of my favorite dramas ever, which explains the high score I gave (after all) and… why I was so critical :p. Though, as explained, my disappointment is real… maybe I was expecting too much from it? I have to admit I spent all the summer waiting for it to air, while expecting the Japanese version to go further than the Taiwanese (and obviously the Korean)… Well, after all, I still love it! To conclude, I would even say, hmmm…. WHEN IS THE SEASON 2 COMING OUT?? (pliz ;_;)

P.S. Sorry for the length of the review, I think I was inspired. It’s my first review here, so don’t hesitate, and comment !

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Sometimes, It's Just Not a Happily Ever After

Well, this is not the “married” you probably were thinking of when you read the synopsis. It is more to me of a woman who finds her place and voice in a marriage that was crushed by her drowning from being controlled by her husband.

We are happily introduced to the married couple of Hu Cheng (Feng Shao Feng) and Ning Yue (Elvira Cai) and their beautiful son, Hu Zi Yuan (Andy).

Ning Yu was an award-winning employee on the Wall of Honor, a senior lawyer, a courtroom champion who rarely lost, and a rising star with a bright future in law. Her life was one written for a powerful career woman. But that was four years ago. Her home life was her new battlefield. She now stayed at home and took care of her husband, Hu Cheng, so he could focus on his work – Yaofeng Technology which he established.

Ning Yu gave up her career at the peak for her family. Did she regret. Not in the least. Not at the time. She felt that this was just a temporary retreat. She now felt she was taking her first steps to returning back to work. Over the past six months she had been offered consultation work with her husband’s support, working as a pro bono lawyer at a nonprofit service center. Her income was not that much, and the cases were trivial matters, but helping so many people in need made her realized she was valued.

Hu Cheng with his partner and confidante Zhou Wei (Victor Huang) were best friends who from college had gone through so much with making Yaofeng Technology a fortune 500 company. Zhou Wei knew all of Hu Cheng’s shortcomings and secrets. He always tried to balance him and counsel him to make sure he understood there is a difference between his family life versus his work life. Nothing or no one should come between that, if only he would have listened.

Cracks Being to Show…
Ning Yu loved her husband and was always easy going towards his every need, but somethings were a bit too much. She was not allowed to drink, focus on just getting pregnant again, because he felt Chinese woman looked good in a cheongsam dress that was all that she was pretty much allowed to wear at any event--so much so, when she had gotten her outfit wet when they were camping out, he brought her one of those dresses instead of jeans and lastly stopping at all cost her having a career again.

This was a poignant moment for Ning Yu when she told Hu Cheng that she was going to take a job offer to leave the pro-bono, nonprofit service center. Oh, that did not sit well with him. He tried various ways to convince her not to take the job until he relented. Or did he.

But as she was closing the deal to leave within a month, Ning Yu was given a case for a wife who wanted to divorce her husband. Her son found out and came to the center and blamed Ning Yu for trying to separate his parents. Not listening to anyone, he went to the second floor of the building and jumps.

This was the downfall of Ning Yu’s restart of her career. Hu Cheng took the opportunity to not only pay off the mother, the hospital bills but to also besmirch her name on the intranet to make sure that she would not get any job. He wanted to put her back in her “place” of being at home.

Meanwhile, Hu Cheng meets Tian Qiu Zi (Jia Nai) who becomes his mistress.

Lies…Lies…Caught
After the incident, Hu Cheng decides Ning Yu needs to get pills for depression. Again, another controlling way to keep her at home. Ning Yu believed that she didn't need any medication, but again to appease her husband she did. Still bothered by the incident at the center, Ning Yu went to confront Hu Cheng after seeing Zhu paying the woman at the hospital whose son jumped from the building, she wanted answers. Her answer was in the form of seeing him walking out of the building and putting Tian Qiu Zi in his car. This was a gut-wrenching moment for her. To see the man, she loves putting another woman in his car, her heart sank, and so did her believing him.

She did talk to him at home, but everything she felt was just more twisted way of him lying.

Knowing now that there is more than meets the eye with everything that Hu Cheng was saying she met up with Mu Xiao (Xing Yu Jing) her lawyer friend who now would become the ally she needed to start the process for a divorce. Ning Yu finds out everything with regards to Hu Cheng’s affair with Tian Qiu Zi and begins putting her plan into motion.

Mu Xiao does hire a man who follows Hu Cheng and gets damaging evidence to solidify Ning Yu's case to divorce him. The catalyst for her reconsidering is their son Hu Zi Yuan. They both love their son but at what cost could she leave her son in the environment with a husband who acted as he did. She did not want him to be this way. Divorce was the answer or would she give him another chance.

Trust One More Time...Short-Lived
After two incidences which we have Hu Zi Yuan being in the hospital for suspected leukemia and Hu Cheng being in a car accident. The car accident, I feel was the turning point for Ning Yu. She truly realized how much she still loved Hu Cheng. He in turned saw the look of desperation and anguish so he felt that he too needed to readjust his attitude and ways. So, with a serious talk, Ning Yu and Hu Cheng put everything out. All transgression, doubts, fears, everything to start fresh once again.

This was a good point of love for them both until we had Hu Cheng bring in his parents, as well as his man. he sent to investigate who had been following him. Only to find out that he worked for Mu Xiao who was a divorce lawyer and friend of Ning Yu. All bets were off. Hu Cheng was now out for revenge. He felt everything she said was betrayal and she really did not want to reconcile.

We get an opportunity to see how Hu Cheng was raised and why in some respects he was the way he was. His father treated his wife not like a wife at all. More like a slave to wait on him hand and foot, literally. The man would just hold out his cup to her and she would go and get the tea. Always washing the dishes instead of using the dishwasher. Cooking, I mean, you get to the point where enough already.

But Ning Yu sees what is happening and quickly puts a stop to this. With the help of her mother, they empower Hu Cheng’s mother to being painting and doing things for herself. Ning Yu hires help in the house to which this young woman sets Hu Cheng’s father straight. So much so that you will see the complete turnaround when you see the expression on Hu Cheng’s face when his father literally puts tea in his mother’s cup. This is where you see the perplex look on his face, not once but twice. When his father actually cooks dinner with the help of his mother.

His father talks to him and explains to him his faults and how he needed to let his mother teach him thinks and trust her in knowing that they will grow better as a couple if he would just treat the relationship as equals. Explaining further to him, that there is nothing wrong with a woman working. All this as you will see is a surprise to Hu Cheng.

During the time Hu Cheng's parents are there, you will feel your blood boiling when you see how the father is. It is so unnerving that you just want to cheer for Ning Yu and how she handles the situation to bring this closure about for everyone. I was happy to see it because I was hot to say the least.

Good Friends Lost...Deception Everywhere
Zhou Wei was always in the corner of Hu Cheng. No matter what his misdeeds, he was always there, never wavering in his dedication to him. But things finally took a turn when he just disappeared. This was where you see the true cracks in the armor of Hu Cheng. He is a man that likes to control every situation but, in this case, it was not meant to be. Zhou Wei had gone into the hospital -- liver cancer advanced stage. Finally, going to see his friend he was so apologetic and crushed to see him like this. He felt loss, remorse, anger, and wanted to help him only to have Zhou Wei blame him for everything that befell him. These were his last heartfelt words that he said to him before he finally passed away.

Zibo his nephew justified to his uncle, Hu Cheng his attempt to take out Mu Xiao. He thought that is what he wanted him to do.

And lastly, the woman that he deceived in his hometown who he stashed his money and property, took everything from him and fled. The day of Zhou Wei wake, the police came and arrested him for embezzlement.

Breaking Free
Ning Yu created an elaborate way to once and for all to break free from the grasp of Hu Chang. Her friend Qin Can (Xing Zhao Lin) who worked with her previously was an advocate who helped her as well as Luo Ya Ting (Sophia Hu) ex-wife of Hu Cheng. She made a clause in her contract, once she was able to work, for the company to sue her and mortgage her house should she choose to leave before her contract. Hu Cheng made her leave. Once Ning Yu showed him the contract, she knew he would fight her. This caused an all-out fight in the conference room. Knowing how to push his buttons, Ning Yu forced Hu Cheng to shove her putting her through the glass. This caused him to be arrested and put into detention. Allowing Ning Yu to file for divorce.

Freedom
Ning Yu planned well. She had her home established along with her mother. Hu Zi Yuan was becoming adjust to his new surroundings and loss of his father, since he was charged with embezzlement. Ning Yu took over Yaofeng Technology. Rises it from the ashes.

After serving his time, you will see a changed Hu Cheng. No longer is he a driven man for profit but a self-reflecting man on the loss of his family. You feel and see that he is a man that doesn't know which way to go. But you still have Tian Qiu Zu still pushing him to go back to his former self of running Yaofeng Technology. She feels that she has won her battle with Ning Yu only to have Hu Cheng come to the shareholders meeting and give over all his shares to Ning Yu, crushing Tian Qiu Zu. He gives his final blow to separate once and for all for Tian Qiu Zu by giving her all of his savings and breaking free from her,

I have to digress and say Hu Zi Yuan is such an outstanding young talent. His scene when Ning Yu takes him from Hu Cheng is the most heartbreaking moment to hear him cry. Hearing the words to Ning Yu asking why his father doesn't come to see him anymore, will make you feel like you just want to hug this boy. He is amazing throughout this drama.

New Beginnings....
We finally see that Hu Cheng gets his life together and begins working at another company once again. There is a good relationship with his son and Ning Yu. And it looks like there will be a budding relationship between her and Qin Can.

I have to say this was a drama that makes you go through so many emotions and makes you think about marriage. You see how it starts out so well but just falters because of several reasons because there is not just one. Not all marriages are like this, if only...well, one can only hope that all are not this way.

I definitely did enjoy this and the performances by the leads was exceptional as was all the cast.

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It may seem like I gave this one a low review number but the fact is I really enjoyed this show. I started to watch it because the story sounded interesting. Than I recognized the main guy from the ever so popular part of Jeremy(YaB). So I watched it.



It wasn't extremely well done or flashy or a "you must watch this" kind of film. In fact I was hesitant because someone had suggested it looked like the young guy falls for older woman scenario. But that wasn't it at all.



It was simple, sweet, and about a woman trying to live the principles she was struggling to teach her daughter. In fact from the the male character's point of view I would describe this film as 'appreciate your mother because you don't know how long your going to have her' or as a 'your lucky to have a mother - if your not going to appreciate her than I'll take her'.



I loved how the story unfolded. I truly could feel him slowly growing attached to her - as a son, with every moment she spent with his family. You could feel how much he needed her influence in his life and than suddenly you saw him have an influence on hers. "Break down the door," he said and I cheered (because I completely agreed with him).



It is an all around a good story. Easy to watch. Easy to enjoy. And something I will watch again when I am in the mood for something slow pace.



Hope that helps.

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Well come to the Bom~

An absolute gem. One that flew under everyone's radar, and it would have flown under mine as well if it wasn't recommended to me by another Avengers Social Club fan.

Spring Turns to Spring is a very lighthearted comedy revolving around body swapping of two women and all the hilarity that ensues. The plot never takes itself too seriously, while also tackling issues such as corruption, infidelity, misogyny in a comedic fashion. We're also given an abundance of hilarious revenge schemes, quirky office humor and interactions, endearing sismance and mother-daughter bonding, and more. If you've seen Avengers Social Club and enjoyed it, I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy this drama as well.

The cast and acting were amazing, especially our two leads, Lee Yoo Ri and Uhm Ji Won.
What I never saw in this drama were the actresses Lee Yoo Ri and Uhm Ji Won--only the characters Kim Bomi and Lee Bom. The way both actresses portrayed characters was so breathtakingly convincing, I couldn't help but think to myself every episode as they changed personalities, "wow, these two are incredible at acting!" You could instantly recognize the change in character by the shift in facial expressions, voice, and body mannerisms. How each character was portrayed so seemingly accurate and similar by two different actresses was stunning, especially when you consider how contrasting Bomi and Bom's personalities were.

The rest of the cast were no slouch either.
Lee Jong Hyuk's interactions with Lee Yoo Ri were godsend regardless of which character she was currently in. Choi Byung Mo never fails to perfect the role of a world class douche of a husband and human. The Bom brothers by Kim Nam Hee and Ahn Se Ha were golden. I have to admit the broken English by Bom Il was disconcerting at first, but eventually grew on me as a comedy factor. Heck, even the foreign actors were a joy to watch, as the scenes were always pretty self aware that they were mostly to serve as comedy.

The OST was fitting and catchy; the songs never felt unnatural to their respective scenes. I also eventually found myself singing along to the intro of every episode with its "Yeh, yeh, yeh, yeh~". The main theme "Well come to the Bom" slowly grew on me throughout the show with it's upbeat, catchy tune and how it was always inserted at the perfect moments--I could always expect a welcome shift in mood whenever the song played.

Just an overall very feel good drama. A great watch if you're feeling a bit down, looking for nonsense comedy, or just want to turn your brain off and enjoy a K-drama.

And so, as Winter turns to Spring, I encourage those who haven't seen Spring Turns to Spring to give this gem a chance; you won't regret it!

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