It makes no sense this show happened…
Since it seems like a miracle to get all these people in one place for 3 days filming. We were blessed and we should be grateful.There were so many things done well in this variety show. Allowing the actors and actresses to relax a little bit among cast members they know during the opening. Later, implementing mixed groups, so the viewers will get to see interaction between different people. Games that allow them to get closer and relax, which is also something that viewers would like to see, since there are not many situations when we can see these actors just doing normal things, outside of interviews and promotions.
I laughed so much watching this show. Hwang In Youp has such an unintentional comedic timing he should be invited to variety shows more often. We all know the industry can be exhausting and these actors and actresses need to deal with a lot. It’s great to see them have fun among themselves. Yes, technically speaking it’s still work, but I honestly would not mind a job like that.
Then we have the amazing cast. Funny enough, in many cases, my favorite interactions came from people who were not part of the same show:
Bo Gum and In Youp, Dong Yeon and Kyung Soo, Yoo Jung and Bo Yun, Soo Bin and Dong Yeon.
The only thing I wish they changed, was the length of the episodes. This should have been one hour and 30 minutes long. I’m sure they had enough content to maybe even make the whole show twice the length it was. One hour episodes just seem like such a waste of this cast. What are the chances we will ever get a variety show with such a cast again?
Overall, except for the fact I wanted more, I had no complaints. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes even just one of the cast members.
Also, as an Atiny, I have to say the opening song was amazing ;)
Was this review helpful to you?
The lust becomes respect and love and the enlightenment becomes the basis of collapse of this couple's plans.
The drama is extremely addictive with a maturer theme and filming - the story was well written and the actors were excellent throughout. Total investment in their outcomes. A good analysis of the uncertainties of what would or could be considered a certainty. A good analysis of obsession and its eventual outcomes. Without writing a spoiler - the ending was perfect - more of a reality (especially after understanding WeiWei's character).
I am really glad that I never watch the prologue "clips" and always fast forward to the story because it was apparently depicted in the finale. (don't like to know parts of the ending in advance).
The music was so good and set the tone for most scene changes or encounters. This drama is not for everyone and I would give parental guiding warnings if you have young viewers interested in checking it out.
Infidelity or cheating issues are not adulterous issues. All characters are single and dating.
Was this review helpful to you?
First, our 2 main leads stay in line character throughout the drama. Their character grow, but in a more subtle way which is what I love most about them. Their coming back together is convincing because we get see little by little what made them separate in the first place, and we see how each one of them resolve the issues they had, and how it brings them back, only to be there for each other, and for no other reason. It feels organic and you're with them all the way, and they stay true to their character that you have come to love. In the end, you feel that it's a healthy relationship where both are equal and working together to make it work this time
Second, the comedy stays throughout the drama, up until the last episode. Each episode has a few funny scenes involving our male lead who can be adorably petty. He might be petty, but it was never done in a dramatic or serious way, but mostly in a comedic way. It's actually amazing for a korean drama since most rom-com turn melo half way through which annoys me in a way that I'm like "I didn't sign up for this". So basically this drama gives you what it promises in that sense.
If you are looking to watch a drama for those 2 reasons, then I'd recommend it. Its totally for you!
IF you are looking for a story about how a man turned millionaire overnight, or about details on smart business decisions, if you are looking for interesting 2nd leads that don't turn cliché and show growth and dignity, if you are looking for camaraderie or even bromance, well you won't be finding any of those things here. The bromance was sorta a let down but that wasn't the focus of the story ;)
Overall I really enjoyed the drama for the 2 reasons mentioned above even when everything else went crazy at one point (those are what FFW button is made for :P).
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This was a real surprise
When I first watched Ep 1, I could barely get through it - it just seemed so ridiculous, slapstick, and annoying. But a friend urged me to go back to it, and I'm so glad I did.When you first watch, the laugh track and sound effects will be annoying. If you're not Thai, some of the laughs appear to be in the wrong places, but remember, a lot of wordplay is missed in translation. But soon you stop noticing the track, and it is toned down after the first episode.
This is a classic enemies to lovers trope, but there are some original spins on it. The series appears at first glance to be episodic and without progress in the relationship, but it's there. It moves at a different pace for Diao than it does for Rak, whose feelings are fairly clear by the middle of the series, overtly revealed in a powerful moment - you'll know it when you see it. And by the end things start moving so fast that it's quite surprising, but never feels rushed or unearned. There are many, many moments that you'll really feel. Yes, there are the way-too-long stares (a LOT of these), but somehow they work (and when you're watching the full-episode version, you're getting both ends of a segment break, so that makes these even longer). But by the last quarter of the series, the way Rak looks at Diao could make a block of ice burst into flame.
I've seen commentary and reviews deriding the seme/uke dynamic between Rak and Diao, but there's a point being missed. First, Rak holds "power" at work because he's the boss, but Diao does at home because he's Rak's landlord. Rak is older and much more mature than Diao, but Diao isn't a classic uke at all - this is highlighted by the opening scene, with him showering and showing off his ripped body, usually the preserve of a seme. He's smart and capable, strong-willed, and can walk without tripping and chop vegetables without cutting himself. In fact, it's Rak that ends up having the physical mishaps and Diao has to take care of him.
This is highlighted in contrast by the fujoshi, who throughout the series is writing a BL about Rak and Diao - and in her story, the guys are an extremly classic seme-uke duo, and their interaction in her scenes, which are adapted from observing the "real" Rak & Diao are far more overtly romantic and tropey. And as such, they lack the electricity of the real interaction, and the power struggle and heavy ribbing are smelted down into stock BL cliches. This is a critique of the seme-uke duality, and underscores how pigeonholing characters into these boxes removes a dynamism in their interaction which has so much more heat when there's an equal give-and-take. Normally all the teasing is done by the seme, which makes the uke sulk. When Rak teases Diao, Diao hits back just as hard, and occassionally even wins the exchange.
As an example, there's a scene where Diao is going on a date, and he wants Rak to stop him. The fujoshi sees it, and in her version Diao wants Rak to give him a reason to not go, and Rak says "because I love you." and Diao responds "that's all I wanted to hear" and they embrace. The "real" scene is wrenching and the desolation and longing are visceral.
The main pair are the usual heteronormative types that are ubiquitous in almost all BL - but neither show any interest in women at all. Diao expresses an interest in the idea of finding a woman, but is never interested in any actual women, and when he realizes who he loves, he accepts it without any of the common "but we're both guys!" And their chemistry is insane.
The two leads are excellent. They both have great comic timing, but are also capable of subtle emotion and speaking without saying anything - Diao is especially good at a glance that is not OTT, but clearly says "f&*% you." Both of them are easy to look at, espcially Rak, who is absolutely gorgeous, and the wardrobe is outstanding - their outfits are often wow moments, although there are a couple that won't age well, like Rak's fluorescent blue plaid suit. Rak tends toward a masculine wardrobe, and Diao is high fashion, with beautiful color combination.
I would never have expected it, but this is one of my all-time favorite series, and I can't recommend it highly enough - but give it time if you decide to watch it. You may not like it much at first, but I guarantee it's not as silly as it first seems.
Story: 9 - the episodes are tightly written and almost all of them are self-contained, and yet part of an overall arc. Things that happen don't disappear never to be referred to again - in fact, there are things that happen in the first episode that are very important towards the end. The balance between the characters is handled with great skill, and nobody behaves like an idiot just for the sake of the plot (although there is immaturity, but that's not the same thing).
Acting : 9 - excellent with surprising range, especially Win as Diao, which is a tough role. He's impulsive and immature, often almost obnoxious and often ridiculous, but fundamentally sweet, and when he's sad it hits you, and his drunkenness is the most realistic I've seen in a BL.
Music: 9 - some of the best I've encountered in BL. It doens't just support the story, it elevates scenes and gives them quite a bit of extra power.
Rewatch: 10 - I've seen each ep three times - once raw, once with fan subs, and again with the offical subs. There are scenes I've watched a dozen times.
Overall: 9.5 - I'd have to put this in my top handful of BLs. It's not the most profound thing you'll see, but it's a real pleasure to watch, and it's a lot smarter than it first appears.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Most of the die-hard fans of this drama will hate me for this, but "Nice Guy" honestly isn't anything new in the world of revenge dramas. You have your typical hodgepodge of birth secrets, revenge stories, murders and amnesia- not just once, but twice. There are gaping plot holes, crazy scenarios and messed up character motivations, but if you abandon all reasoning and logical thinking, this drama can be one of the best you've seen.Story: I liked the idea that Ma-Ru at the beginning was a much darker character than we've seen in other revenge dramas. He wasn't afraid to use people and was okay with being used himself. What made him interesting was watching his transition from a shell of a human to someone who had something to lose. I also loved Eun-Gi's character in the beginning, she was passionate yet cold, bitchy but kind, and was an amazing mix of all these opposite traits. I didn't particularly like her personality transformation in the second half of the drama because I felt like the writers only changed her to fit the plot and she became a puppet to the rest of the show's whims, but she swung back in my favor later.
Actors: Let's face it. "Nice Guy" would not have been as popular if Song Joong-Ki hadn't played the main lead. Because he is an A-list actor, it drew in a crowd, since he is a good actor, this drama kept its crowd. That being said, Joong-Ki is the actor that holds this drama together. I'm not saying that Moon Chae-won and Park Si-Yeon were bad- they were actually surprisingly good in their roles- it's just that Joong-Ki stole the show.
Music: Nice and dramatic, it was used well to tie together certain scenes in the show.
Rewatch Value: Since this show was one of the more unpredictable ones, the second time around will not be as good, but it will be alright.
Overall: I feel like "Nice Guy" should come with a big neon sign that says: "All ye who enter, abandon all logic here". Because honestly, the only way you will enjoy this drama is if you don't think about it too much and just go with it.
Was this review helpful to you?
It follows four main couples, whose relationships are considered... "questionable..." I suppose by Korean standards: Living together without being married, a huge age difference, homosexuality, and (?) deciding to be married after only dating a few months.
The amount of screen time goes mainly to the first couple, who live together and yet aren't married. The conversations between this couple is realistic and relatable, with laugh-out-loud scenarios or serious and loving relationships that the actors have no trouble in showing the viewer. It was real, it was lovable, it was raw, it was sexual... it was beautiful.
The second couple I found the most entertaining; a thirty-three year old woman is dating a twenty-one year old starving artist who lounges around all day eating ramen obnoxiously. Of course, there's going to be some crazy moments with pillow fights and petty jealousy, but it also showcased some amazing character growth, especially in Young Joon. The couple works together in a sort of symbiotic way, and you can see how much they care for each other. Plus is just hilarious watching Young Joon. That guy's a riot. I image the actors are thinking: "Sigh, the things I do for my career." Because they nailed it.
Dear authors: do you want to get your reader shipping like crazy? Follow this screenwriter's lead when it comes to Takuya, the Japanese traveller, and Joon Jae, the hermit. These two had the sexual tension from the moment Takuya put a single foot in the threshold of Joon Jae's home. Hilarious angles lead to misunderstandings I didn't mind all that much, feeling that second hand embarrassment. This couple probably had it the worst in this series, with only two minutes or so per episode of screen time, but the relationship is developed, and by far my favorite couple. These boys... watching Takuya made me listen to some of Cross Gene's music, and it's really very good. Both of the guys playing these roommates may not be gay themselves, but they made me believe it, with a full course of Awwws and sexual tension.
The fourth couple had next to no screen time through the entire series, and are easily the most underdeveloped couple living in this apartment. I will admit, the competitions between the girl and Man Goo over who was more feminine (who had bigger boobs, longer legs, more successful boyfriend...) were absolutely hilarious, but the relationship between the engaged couple themselves was a rare thing. Which I didn't really mind... I wasn't paying much attention to them, anyway. What little time these actors had to develop their characters, I'll give them some credit there.
The music was very beautiful, and connected in lyrics or tune to the mood of the drama. And luckily, the name and artists of the songs are put on screen for you, so you don't have to look it up!
Overall, this is a wonderful, hilarious, real, and emotional drama that tackles almost any kind of relationship hurdle it comes across, from jobs and careers to confused sexuality and identity. Its a real, relatable drama with relatable characters, and the moments that each of the couples spent interacting with the other couples... (I love Joon Jae and Takuya being so much taller than Oh Do... HEHE) It's a must-watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
STORY
PCBM's story is completely unique and one of a kind. It centers two men who die wrongfully but are sent back to life in different bodies to conclude any unfinished business they might have. Help their loved ones with their problems, give them closure and help them move on, but most importantly they are sent back to get to know theirselves better, understand their mistakes, and try to right them. This is exactly the show's main premise. We need to look at our lives in a not one-dimensional way. Life isn't about just working, no matter how pure our intentions are, people might get hurt because of our ignorance. Life isn't about being in the background because we believe our loved ones don't deserve us. We are perfect the way we are. PCBM gives several messages about life decisions, family, friendship, work place attidute and problems, marriage and more.
This drama was literally a gem, not because of its uncommon story, not because it blends several genres together in the best way possible, but because superficially is the funniest show ever, but if someone decides to scratch the surface and dig deeper the show assesses life itself and sends tons of messages and meanings that were all truly wonderful and heartwarming. Beware that this is not your average romcom -thank god-, this is deep, it is serious, it is emotional, it is heartbreaking but still it is safe to say that the comedy is executed perfectly.
Furthrermore, another thing that deserves mentioning is the fact that this drama broke the 16-episode drama usual plan. You know how everything is amazing in the beginning, and slowly everything falls into place around episode 10 and the last 4-5 episodes are just filler ones, pulling and dragging the story around. PCBM, not only broke this stupid rule, not only it was the only 'comedy' that had actual plot twists but it managed to never be boring, always have a purpose and be interesting until the very last minute.
ACTING
It was widely argued that the acting here was bad, either i missed something, or .... 'people' missed something, or were just dead set on hating. The acting here was impeccable, coming from an amazing ensemble cast. I have learned from my stay in kdramaland that it is unrealistic to ask the actors to have great chemistry when the dramas are so small in lenght. They don't have the time to develop a chemistry and when it is there (rarely) i am thankful and grateful. The actors here not only managed to have great chemistry in their possible romantic connections, but literally EVERYONE had excellent chemistry with everyone in their respective relationships. This is possibly the most unique thing about this drama. The cast clicked so perfectly together, it was completely unrealistic!
I'll start with my favourite, Oh Yeon Seo. Her character was difficult to pull off, and very fundemental for the show to make sense. She needed to act manly, tough, and still stay femine, not look stupid, look badass and emotional. The woman was IMPECCABLE, a standing ovation from me, she was shivering in everything she did. No words are enough. In many ways she was the show.
And when i thought she was going to overshadow everyone, Rain came to the picture. His quixotic talent to slip through different emotions in a matter of seconds shocked me. He could go from crying to laughing in a split second without ever looking fake or his emotions forced. First actor in kdramaland that pulled that off, and he was completely up there with OYS for what -if i may- could call THE BEST DUO EVER in kdramaland.
Lee Min Jung, Lee Ha Nui, Lee Tae Hwan, literally everyone was exquisite in their role, no words are enough to describe this awesomeness, that nobody should overlook.
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
Overall, this show might not be for everyone, since it is completely different from your usual kdrama. The humor is different, the romance is present but not the way people want it, the plot is completely innovative and might not be accepted by everyone. In my book innovation=win, but from what i've gathered from my stay in kdramaland, kdrama fans like their chiche stories. So, if you are ready for something completely different than what you are used to, ready to laugh and cry at the same time (i'm not exaggerating), you should definately give this a chance. This is a marvelous show not to be missed. Definately rewatch-worthy, first show ever that triggered so many emotions simultaneously.
Was this review helpful to you?
Acting/Cast: Mostly new faces but boy did they acted well! Kudos to the female lead and male leads of this drama, including the supporting characters of female servants, eunuchs and princes. They can act serious at one point and turn to quirky and funny at another then to a touching and tear-inducing, heart-jerking scenes the next! Amazing! I hope they will all go on to bigger and better roles! And the costumes were scandalous to say the least! Scandalous and unthinkable for the period in question but they added to the fun of the drama! Big pat on the back to everyone- from cast to production and directing teams! A job well done!
Music: Love the haunting OSTs and how it's played throughout in 3 different variations depending on the mood of the drama. I am looking around to download it now.
Rewatch vaue: High rewatch value. I do not mind rewatching this drama again very soon. Each episode's only 30 minutes since it's made for web viewing. I enjoyed all of the weird antics and the more serious parts of this drama. Very entertaining!
Overall: Highly recommended! You'll laugh, fall in love and cry. This is chinese quirky humor mixed with romance in the ancient times at its best!
Was this review helpful to you?
EP 10-12 were painfully slow, they could have been cut and pasted into 1.5 episodes.
13 was ehhhh.... This isn't a masterpiece, the writing is loosely constructed and poorly executed. The story has little depth or substance to hold it together for 13 hours. I can't connect with the female lead's choices (especially in the later half) or her pitiful deer lost in headlights expression...I was hoping it would be a drama somewhat like 1% of Something since the director is the same, but it doesn't even come close in comparison. I Liked Ep. 1-9 but Ep. 10-13.5 are a hard sell.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I struggle to contain my anger at the monumental disappointment this drama turned into because it could have been a huge hit. I am so irritated I need to get it off my chest with a spoiler heavy review, something I really dislike doing. I think I figured out the confusing ending that I explain below. Do not read this if you don't want to be spoiled.The story is a very simple, poignant enchanted fairy tale. Fu Jiuyun (Zheng Yecheng) is an immortal who falls for a mortal with an indomitable spirit in a magical painting his shifu left him and stalks her across ten incarnations over a thousand years. In her incarnation as Yanyan, a Li princess, she is destined to marry her childhood sweetheart and live a happy life. Jiuyun cannot stay away from her and in the guise of a dissipated genius artist Gongziqi gifts her a magical painting of a peach blossom tree and a magical song that she performs for her mother's birthday celebration. Note that the painting and song are key in the ending interpretation. The dance is truly captivating and if nothing else, just watch that. At this point I was addicted and fully invested in both leads.
An ambitious neighboring prince makes a deal with demon forces, invades her kingdom, massacres her family and enslaves her people. A devastated Yanyan vows vengeance and embarks on a quest to obtain a magical lamp that can absorb the demon forces and free her people. She assumes the appearance of her maid Ah Man (note the name) and calls herself Qinchuan. This is where they replace the actress Jiang Yiyi with the more well known Zhao Lusi. First mistake - it was not just confusing throughout but I had to get over the first actress whom I liked and get invested in the female lead all over again. The switch worked at first because Lusi is a really funny actress and her antics with Jiuyun, Xiao Bai and Er Meng were entertaining. However, the couple's interactions fell short of the seamless transition from humor to intimacy that was so well done in Under the Power. As a result, Jiuyun initially comes across one of those oily old dudes that misbehaves with young girls. While their chemistry eventually "clicked", Lusi's initial indifference made Jiuyun's overtures seem unwelcome to the point of harassment.
Just when their romance takes off, the show separates them and shifts into the revenge plot. This is where Qinchuan becomes all bravado and no brain - she has no credible plan and has to be rescued multiple times. She works with Er Meng and Xiao Bai; Jiuyun only bails her out from afar. The show peaks too early with the take-down of most of the bad guys and then digresses further into the super boring second couple. I suggest skipping all of their scenes in the middle. They could have easily cut 6-10 episodes to avoid the fatal loss of momentum in the storytelling. Then Jiuyun decides to help Qinchuan fulfill her mission even though it means a certain end for him. He is the wick of the lamp that once lit, eventually burns out.
Once the tone shifts away from largely comedic, Lusi struggles to get into the moment in action and emotional scenes. She is not versatile and is mostly just excellent at comedy. Her performance was flat through most of the second part of the show and only saved by some of the steamier romantic scenes with Jiuyun. By then, I had enough and just wanted it to end. Zheng Yecheng's performance on the other hand was consistently stellar - he really carried the show. Apart from being smoking hot (I can watch him all day), his interpretation of the hard core romantic good guy that disguises himself as a world weary, cynical, indifferent and dissipated immortal was spot on. His eyes shine with unshed tears at all the right moments and as he protects Qin Chuan from the truth of what she asks of him.
The ending is confusing and to me it is quite sad in a Butterfly Lovers kind of way (major spoiler):
Qinchuan realizes that Jiuyun is not coming back ; even Meishan admits that his soul has scattered. She completes her ritual with the lamp - she had already bonded with it earlier on. She wakes up as child Yanyan who dreams an old man (her shifu?) tells her that she gets a fresh start. I think the lamp takes them all back in time for a do over. She grows up and intuitively makes way for Zichen to fall in love with Xuanzhu. Her maid is no longer Ah Man but a Xiao Cui. She has more sad dreams where Jiuyun tells her that she will soon forget him. As the time loop starts to replay her mother's birthday she forgets how to play the song Jiuyun/Gongziqi wrote for her and the pipa disappears into the painting. In this new life, Yanyan will marry Er Meng and their kingdoms will be at peace. She never becomes Qinchuan so eventually Qinchuan and Jiuyun's relationship also gets erased or never happens. Jiuyun snatches the last bits of her memory of Qinchuan and escapes into the magic painting with Qinchuan and the pipa. It is the only place where they can be together but they may be just shadows or memories of who they were. I initially thought she was sucked into the lamp where Jiuyun creates an alternative world for her but if that were the case, he wouldn't have to put her into the painting. This is where they should have used both actresses to make it more clear by leaving Yanyan behind while Qinchuan goes into the painting with Jiuyun. It makes me feel a bit better to imagine that Qinchuan and Jiuyun cultivate together in the painting and after thousands of years both become immortals that live happily ever after. The novel ending is different, more straightforward and much happier - essentially Jiuyun eventually reappears and they are together.
Despite the poor execution and confusing ending, it is still a beautiful fairy tale with some gorgeous scenes and amazing moments that is worth watching. Best be liberal with the fast forward button through the middle parts. My low rating reflects the poor execution that prevented this from being an unforgettable and addictive love story.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My favourite BL of this year
When the series has yet to come to an end, I said it's my favourite BL of 2021, and now that it's actually ended, I'm STILL saying that 'We Best Love: No.1 For You' is my all-time NUMBER ONE BL of 2021! I don't think I can move on from this series anytime soon...STORY
The two main leads, Shu Yi and Shi De, are in an unrequited love - SY is in love with one of his close lady friend who's in love with one of SY's close guy friend... and SD is in love with SY. Talk about tragic love. SY and SD knew each other for over 10 years since they were kids, but they aren't friends, oh no no, god forbid they become friends. They are rivals. Competitive rivals, at least according to SY. SD, on the other hand, does not really care. The only reason he competes is just so he could get SY's attention. Cliché af, but cute af. SY is frustrated and upset that he's always No.2 to SD. He never gets to win over SD. The only reason SD tried as hard to be No.1 is cause he wants all of SY's focus on him, even if it makes SY angry. Unrequited love is tough, ok? SD's gotta do what he gotta do with what he's got. So of course, when SD finds the opportunity to keep him close, he goes and makes SY his page-boy, in exchange for keeping SY's secret. At first, SY hates it, but as the episodes progress, SY begins to soften to SD. He even calls SD his friend!! At some point in time, over the 10+ years that SD has loved SY, SD thought that if he couldn't get SY to love him back, at the very least, he wanted SY to be his friend. And it was heart-breaking, to watch SD try to hide and bottle his feelings just so they can be friends... It's just, man, SD is so selfless with his love for SY. He only gives and doesn't ask for anything in return except, well, only for that they could become friends until graduation. Which is in itself bringing me to tears!!!
Unrequited love is a theme that's really popular in any love story, but in 'WBL: No.1 For You', it's just so captivating, to watch these two men side-by-side as one watches the other with love-sick expressions while the other figures out his emotions and come to terms with his newfound feelings. You cannot ever forget the way they bared their hearts and souls to each at that bridge... I've never seen anything so beautiful and heart-wrenching. You can say, even though SD loved SY longer, I feel like SY is the one that loves harder. Nobody can stop him now!
Also, the fact that we got an underwater kiss in the first episode itself, not to say in the first minute of the series... oof bravo! And that kisses in the last two eps omg people, it was everything I could've ever asked for and more!
CAST/ACTORS
The chemistry between SY and SD is hot and boiling, but at the same time, soft and sweet. I could watch them all day even if they were to do nothing but sleep. Their good looks are enough of an eye-candy to last me a good few months. Before officially watching this series, I looked up the actors that played SY and SD. The chemistry between Sam Lin and Yu is also as heated as SY and SD. The two actors looked so comfortable with each other, it all seemed so natural. I've watched their IG lives too, and they're always in their own little world, being so flirty and giggly all the time. According to Evan, who acts in this series as Bing Wei, he said the following to express how much Sam and Yu are always acting like they're the only ones in the room, "We're just air in the room. Don't mind us." Agreed. I feel like a third-wheel whenever I watch them.
Yu is actually half-Japanese and half-Taiwanese, and if you watch the series, you'll notice how SY incorporates Japanese words here and there, and I absolutely LOVE it! It's just so adorable. Also, it's supposedly Yu's first time acting, which blew my mind cause he acts so well in the series I couldn't tell he was a rookie. And then we have Sam, the man with the sexiest voice. I absolutely fell in love with his voice. The dynamic between these two is out of this world, you wouldn't have known that this series was the first time they've met. They behave like freaking long-lost soulmates omg. The 'WBL: No.1 For You' team couldn't have done a better job casting them to play the main lead roles. Forever grateful to the staffs responsible for bringing them into the world of 'WBL: No.1 For You', and making us fall in love with them.
MUSIC
The OSTs in the series are beautiful and I love them all~ I hope they keep giving us their music.
Kelly Cheng - 《Will You Be My Love》
YU - 《Aqua Blue》
Alex Chou - 《Hard To Let Go》
--------------------------------------------
Watch it, guys. To those who still haven't, I don't know what you're doing, but you're missing on a real treasure. Every part of this drama was everything I hoped for and more! We got a simple yet interesting plot, an amazing cast, mind-blowing chemistry with jaw-dropping kisses, and would you look at that, we're even having a second season! What's not to love?
Season 1 ended with a happy-ending (i love it here), but to those who haven't watched last ep to the end, hot dang, would never have expected that post-credit scene ;-; but all the same, here's hoping for a better Season 2!! I'm mad excited about it, and I just love seeing Sam and Yu acting together~ There's something about the both of them....
Fighting to WBL all the casts, staffs and fans! Let's cheer for an amazing Season 2!
FYI, WBL reached a new record on MDL scoring a whooping rating of 67. 1! Never happened before and I was proud of WBL for breaking MDL~
Was this review helpful to you?
1Checkmate, I Win
Stand By Me began airing exactly 12 months after Love and Redemption was released last year, much to the happiness and joy of Cheng Yi fans all around the world (myself included). L&R was the drama that propelled him to stardom, and this production reaffirmed his status as one of the most anticipated drama actors in the C-historical genre. Starring numerous colleagues from his agency, H&R Century Pictures, we get a L&R reunion of sorts. This includes his “sister-in-law” Zhang Yu Xi who plays his significant other this time around.Production details that may interest you
Originally titled Dream Awakening Chang’an, the title was changed to Stand by Me along with the setting of the story as a result of the censorship requirements imposed by China’s NRTA. Initially planned as a romanticised retelling of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Yan aka Wuzong’s reign, the script was changed to a fictional tale of an alternate version of Tang, the Xing Dynasty’s Emperor Qi Yan. That said, the historical account of actual happenings and real life figures such as the Grand Eunuch Qiu Shiliang and Sweet Dew or Morning Dew (Ganlu) incident in the 9th century remain present in the story. The social as well as court conventions are very much Tang in appearance, most obviously the attire being worn by the various characters.
Stand by Me is both a TV drama and a web series, being simultaneously released on Hunan Satellite TV’s Golden Eagle Private Theatre and Mango TV. Filmed entirely at Hengdian, the drama is directed by Liu Guo Nan who helmed the Glory of Tang anthology, and assisted by Zhao Li Jun, who helmed Deep Lurk, another Cheng Yi drama slated for release some time later. The award-winning Shao Chang Yong serves as art director, which adds a touch of class and credibility to the production design.
The screenplay is written by Shi Si Que (十四阙), who is the current editor-in-chief of China’s Dongxi Animation Club. He has written numerous novels and short stories, while this drama represents his first foray into screenwriting.
The Production Values
The overall quality of the production is reasonably high, as can be seen from the art direction and set designs. For the most part, the technical execution is decent in terms of the direction and cinematography. During the first few episodes, there are a few noticeable editing and dubbing issues which I attribute to the change in settings from Tang to Xing Dynasty. The subtitles are generally correct but for those who understand Mandarin, the name “Great Tang” is mentioned in lieu of Great Xing on a few occasions. The buildup of the backstory in the first episode does feel somewhat rushed with the frenetic scene transitions but things begin to settle down not long afterwards.
The action sequences, particularly the synchronised swordplay formations and sword fights in general appear to be reasonably well choreographed. I like that there is no excessive use of fast cuts, slow-motion and close-ups, which makes the flow of the action less contrived. The villainous character of Qiu Shiliang employing the use of the traditional Taoist “horse-tail whisk” (拂尘), typically used in Wudang martial arts, adds a nice touch to the depiction.
The Narrative
Stand By Me is adapted from the novel Sword Weapon (Jian Qi Hang 剑器行) by the writer Feihua (飞花), a talented novelist who had won the Top Ten Novel Award of the Second Online Literature Competition in 1999.
The drama follows the journey of two sisters, descendants of a noble family that have fallen from grace as a result of political machinations and treachery. Due to the tragic events that followed, both sisters went their separate ways only to reunite at the very place that caused the downfall of their family - the royal palace. At either end of the continuing political tug-of-war is the noble Emperor and the wily chief eunuch who seeks to undermine the authority of the throne. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, somehow the sisters end up on opposing sides in this court intrigue.
Palace politics with all its clever schemes and nefarious plots are heavily featured, in addition to themes of romance and love, as well as betrayal and revenge. This is one of the most riveting, thrilling, and suspenseful palace dramas of the year. Unpredictable twists and turns, shocking revelations, and countless exchanges between “multiple sides” merge beautifully into an exciting historical extravaganza. The storytelling is fast paced and action-packed, involving various perspectives and hidden agendas by multiple POV characters. The momentum never lets up and is sustained until the very end. All of this culminates in a profound conclusion that promises to leave a lasting impression on viewers.
It’s worth mentioning that there is more than a subtle hint of Chinese Chess (Xiangqi 象棋) being referenced throughout. Usually Go (Weiqi 围棋) is showcased in historicals as the boardgame of choice for aristocrats but it’s a nice change to see another ancient game being featured. Aside from the Purple Robed Bureau (subtitled as Violet Bureau), a fictional organisation that bears close relation to Xiangqi is the Chess of Generals Bureau, whose members represent the chess pieces such as Left and Right Advisors, Chariots, Ministers and the Chess Overseer. Fascinating stuff indeed.
The Cast Performance
Cheng Yi headlines this drama by portraying the role of Emperor Qi Yan. There isn’t much left to be said about this magnificent actor who brings his A-game every time he puts on a show for us viewers. As in L&R and also The Promise of Chang’an, it’s hard to see other actors surpassing Cheng Yi’s supreme mastery of poignant and emotional scenes of great torment and suffering, including his now trademark “poetically beautiful blood-spitting” moments. Truly the best of the best. In Stand by Me, Cheng Yi provides us with further glimpses of his versatility and range with a vastly different and never-seen-before side to his very multifaceted portrayal - the cold, ruthless and sensual Emperor. Seeing is believing and I truly do believe there is much more to this man than meets the eye that, hopefully, will be showcased in his future projects.
Zhang Yu Xi, who had previously played Chu Ling Long in L&R, appears as the female lead and primary love interest this time, Cheng Ruo Yu. A promising actress who possesses much depth in her moving portrayal of emotional pain and suffering. As it was in L&R when her character had suffered PTSD, the conviction of her expressions certainly reflects her growing maturity in tackling complex characterizations, which is the case in this drama. She manages to infuse her character here with a fusion of kindness and righteousness that are borne of purity, as well as a developing sense of awareness and pragmatism. These are qualities that reflect the tremendous growth her character experiences through the course of the story.
Deserving of equal billing as part of the three leads, the ever charming and elegant Xuan Lu graces this drama with her appearance as one of the estranged sisters. She had previously caught the eye with her memorable depiction of the delicate and kind Jiang Yan Li in The Untamed. This time, she brings an air of sophistication to the cool and calculated character that is perpetually shrouded in mystery, Qiu Yan Zhi. I honestly feel that there are moments where she manages to steal the limelight from Cheng Yi and Zhang Yu Xi, for she has such a presence that lights up the screen whenever she appears.
Notable mentions for other major characters go to Han Dong who plays Prince Guang, and He Cheng Ming as the chief eunuch Qiu Shiliang. Han Dong is an exceptional actor who has appeared in many historicals so there are no surprises to the dimensions he imbues the characters he portrays. His nuanced microexpressions are always expertly delivered and a joy to behold. He Cheng Ming, who previously played Si Feng’s father and Master of Li Ze Palace in L&R, is another experienced hand with a wide repertoire of works in many varied roles. This time around, he is perhaps more subdued and less OTT, but still retains that aura of an expert performer who immerses into the character with such consummate ease. In short, he always looks like he’s having fun and he carries the role with glee. I have to admit, the mannerisms in his depiction remind me at times of Sun Wukong the Monkey King.
Among the familiar faces in supporting roles, look out for Xi Xue (Under the Power, Lin Ling), who has a significant arc as Cheng Xi, Yang Xi Zi (L&R, Xiao Yin Hua) as Princess Misha, He Zhong Hua (L&R, Xuan Ji’s father) as Li Deyun, Li Jun Yi (L&R, Zhong Min Yan) as Yan Xiu, Ethan Yao (L&R, Ting Nu) as Han Yue, Fu Fang Jun (L&R, Wu Zhi Qi) as Han Ding, and of course, the unforgettable Bai Shu (L&R, Tengshe) as Prince An.
The Music
No C-historical would be complete without epic songs from the likes of Zhou Shen and Liu Yuning. Cheng Yi also contributes to the soundtrack with his beautiful rendition of Shou Shou, which is my favourite track of this drama. Along with the BGM, there are a total of 7 tracks:
Yu Yan Shuo 鱼雁说 by Audio Monster/Silver Lin (音频怪物 / 银临)
Chang'an 长安 by Liu Yuning 刘宇宁
In Through Dream若梦 by Zhou Shen 周深
Small Dust 小尘 by Shuang Sheng 双生
High Above in the Sky 当空 by Nana 许艺娜
Shou Shou 相守 by Cheng Yi 成毅
Worrying about the Sky 杞人忧天 by Allen Su Xing 苏醒
Overall
Stand by Me is a drama I had been anticipating from Cheng Yi since last year, and I’m pleased to say I haven’t been disappointed with the plot and overall technical execution of the production as well as the performance of the cast. It is not flawless by any means but I appreciate the nature of the storytelling that eventually culminates in a rather conceptual ending, which somehow seems to be the standard for C-historicals these days. In any case, the entertainment value is high and I have thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue as well as unexpected plot points throughout the 49 episodes of its run.
Was this review helpful to you?
Excellent Acting and Production
This is the true story of the mother of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. How close this story to the real events happened more than 2,000 years ago is anybody's guess. However, many of the main characters in the story were actual people during that time. Since this is a true story, the "real romance" parts are limited. So if you are a romance buff, you may likely be disappointed.This drama depicted the arduous journey Hao Lan had gone to survive the various palace politics, scheming, back stabbing, both in the Zhao palace (where she was from) and Qin palace (where she was married to). She helped her son become the King of Qin, who ultimately became the First Emperor of China, unifying the various kingdoms.
The cinematography of this drama is epic, the acting is excellent, and the story is exciting. One can tell that the director and his crew put in a lot of effort into making this drama. Every detail was taken care of. Everything was done close to perfection.
I love the color palette of the scenes, especially the costumes, the interior designs and decors, and the gardens. I find myself binge watching a lot. However, having said that, I find the palace politics overwhelming, and at times, I could get pretty exhausted.
This is a serious, no nonsense drama. It can get quite dry for some people who are not into history. For me, I love history and I am especially intrigued by Chinese history.
Was this review helpful to you?
Revenge of Others
88 people found this review helpful
2A sad & highly topical social issue, dealt with in a palpable, exciting, sensitive, touching way
"Revenge of Others" is set in the world of South Korean high school students. No teenage squabble, but a story with substance and depth. With flexibly intertwined subplots, it offers a sad and highly topical social issue, dealing with it in a palpable, exciting, sensitive and touching way. Should you watch? Yes!"Revenge of Others" (like "Weak Hero Class 1" in 2022) deals with the topic of mobbing /bullying. In Korean, the slang term 'wang-ta' is quite common, and for me helped for a better understanding of the special and increasingly dramatic situation surrounding bullying at South Korean schools, which can even lead to suicide. (See side note below.)
This KDrama spotlights a Seoul high school where there appears to have happened a suicide. Everyone is shocked. Some know more. But if the sister of the victim, who has been living separated from her brother for many years, would not try to get to the bottom of it, then this would be a sad case of suicide without a murmur. It probably happens all too often in one way or another that fundamental questions in an apparently obvious case are left unanswered. However, this KDrama bravely wants to get to the bottom of the matter and its circumstances - here in the person of Ok Chang-mi.
As so often in the context of bullying, the adults don't look too good and don´t offer anything promising for making a difference regarding those fatal peer group dynamics. They are left outside. The high school students have to find a way for themselves to get along with their classmates - if possible highly adjusted underneath the social wang-ta radar (or at least with a solid network).
"Revenge of Others" is a production for the international streaming market. Things rarely get too brutal at Disney, though. The amount of violence is therefore limited (compared to e.g. "Weak Hero Class 1") and instead there is more room for relationship dynamics in side plots, causal connections and shades of gray.
By the way, in connection with "Revenge of Others" there is also a whole series of promising actors to admire!
---------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: --- Wang-ta in South Korea ----
With Wang-ta, the focus is not so much on the 'act' - bullying or harassment - but rather on the entire context of active and violent marginalizatin of an outsider. For example, it can be used as a swear word for the excluded person or as a description of the bullying activity. In a collectivist society like South Korea, group affiliation and group interest is paramount. This applies not only to the family, but also to the school class and also to the peer groups within the class or school. Unfortunately, this value system results in a fatal situation when it comes to actual bullying: bringing shame on the group, the outsiders are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Whether it's because of school performance, family background, origin, belonging to an undesirable minority, looks, dress, a handicap, an unusual belief or an abnormal inclination: Wang-ta is a label that no one wants to personally be confronted with. Everyone agrees on that. At the same time, Wang-ta becomes a free pass for more or less cruel mobbing/bullying. Worryingly, perpetrators, victims, and witnesses alike accept the premise: all forms of bullying, almost anything related to Wang-ta, is permissible. The perpetrators take advantage of this, the victims immediately feel even more inferior in terms of their shortcomings (of whatever kind), and the bystanders silently nod the action as justified - or even actively join in. There is no moral barrier against this specifically cultural, collectivist background. It can even get out of hand. There are cases where the entire school has ended up participating in one person's wang-ta. From a Western, individualistic point of view, this is perhaps difficult to understand, because apart from group norms there are other socially recognized ethical principles that could be introduced as a serious confrontation of wang-ta behavior. Unfortunately, this hardly is the case at South Korean schools with a collectivistic social culture.
--------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: In connection with this KDRama also an additional side note on
--- Punishment vs. Suffering of Victims ---
The psychological trauma for the bullying victims are with long-lasting effect. Unfortunately, the punishment of perpetrators is not proportionate to this day. Punishment is rather harmless - it may be annoying to the perpetrators, but not really a deterrent. Far too much must have happened before expulsion actually occurs. A corresponding entry in the files is actually completely deleted two years after graduation. In fact, nothing is left behind on the perpetrators' side. On the other hand, from the memory of the victims the experience cannot be so easily erased ...
The documented cases of wang-ta in South Korean schools (yet many are not officially reported) have steadily increased over the past three decades. According to a study by the Ministry of Education, between 2013 and 2017 the cases have more than doubled from 11.749 to 31.130. There are also increasing numbers of victims who saw suicide as their only way out. It has now been empirically documented that South Korean pupils with a personal Wang-ta experience are more suicidal than those without. Suicide is by far the most common cause of death among 10 to 24 year olds. Almost 1.000 young people took their own lives in 2020 alone.
In respect of the lack of serious consequences for the perpetrators in Wang-ta cases and their comparatively unsatisfactory punishment, a kind of vigilante justice has been established among the families of the victims concerned. "Revenge of Others" picks up on this (similar to "Angry Mom" a few years earlier) as a theme in variation.
In fact, facing a lack of serious alternative punitive measures it seems not uncommon for relatives of victims to pay someone of the same school age to take care of an appropriate 'punishment' - i.e. 'undercover'. Clearing up violence with violence is of course a dubious solution. Sadly, this seems to be the only way to show real consequences to the perpetrators and give the victims at least minimum size satisfaction. ...Although it should be probably considered more of a satisfaction for the relatives of the victims, because the victims themselves still have to deal with their psychological wounds and scars for a long time. Revenge does not undo the painful experience of mentally and physically harassing exclusion...
Was this review helpful to you?
Once in a year healing warm pure romance Korean drama that we all wait for.
YES! YES! YES! You read it right. "You Are My Spring" comes under the category of slow-paced, pure romance dramas, that the Korean Drama Industry makes sure to present us with, every year at least once. And, it's not just warm, it contains plenty of healing factors which are necessary in a relationship because opening up to each other and growing up while tending to each other's wounds, is the most important thing.As a drama, I feel, it has done a very amazing job in justifying the genre, giving off the warm romance vibes and making me cry a loads and healing my heart. Only disappointing thing about this drama is how miserably the writer failed while attempting to blend a secondary murder mystery storyline to such pure romance genre. But since the 2 storylines went seprate ways for most of the later parts, I am gonna ignore it while reviewing the drama. Although 2 different storylines with the least relevance is a major drawback for any story, I think it's fine in this case because, the thriller part is only 10-15% of the entire story, hence avoidable. This is definitely going to my top 10 romance drama list.
STORY & PLOT:
The drama majorly involves 2 people, Kang Da Jung (Seo Hyun Jin), a manager at a 5 star hotel and Joo Young Do (Kim Dong Wook), a reputed psychiatrist doing multiple jobs. They meet each other as neighbours in the Gugu Building after renting different floors (3rd and 2nd respectively). Shortly after it, both of them find themselves connected to a criminal who supposedly has had encounters with both the lead characters in a shelter home when all 3 were children.
Both Kang Da Jung and Joo Young Do have their own stories of traumatic childhood. Kang Da Jung, a witness of her alcoholic abusive father beating her mother every other night, has the scars from the past days when she had to live under a scary roof protecting her younger brother. It's been long she feld with her mother and brother silently over the night but she still has that knief stuck in her neck. Joo Young Do, the second child and a potential donor to his terminally ill older brother, was always made to feel responsible about his brother's well-being even as a kid. Upon the older's demise he was left out from his mother's love and later developed a bad heart for which he got transplanted.
Kang Da Jung, who inherits her mother's trait of picking up wrong men to date, has failed in relationship several times where as Joo Young Do, who got married to an actress to help her get better, still avoids dating in the fear of ruining someone's life bcs of his heart conditions. They keep bumping into each other after moving to the Gugu Building and also encounter each other at unusual places because of the murder case. Young Do as a psychiatrist can see through Da Jung and secretly wishes to help her out. Da Jung on the other hand finds Young Do interesting but recent events make her avoid bonding with strangers. So the drama is all about them becoming closer, helping each other to sort out their pasts, healing each other's scar and most importantly, falling in love with each other in the mean time.
The plot development of the primary story, i. e. the romance is very niceeeeee. I am soooo very happy with the story. The slow-paced, quite and gradual progression of the romance in an adult relationship is like once in hundred moment in Korean Drama World and we must realize, You are My Spring is one of them. Not just the lead couple, there are several several short yet detailed storylines for the side characters, be it about their dating life or families or work places. And I am happy those side storylines also have great relevance with the major storyline because all of the side characters revolve around each other as in live close or work together or are deeply bonded.
The primary plot of romance between the leads is accompanied by a secondary murder mystery plot where one of the main characters with connection only with the 2 protagonists is drawn. This part and this character is very unnecessary, I feel. This secondary plot could have been easily wrapped up within 6 or 7 episodes so that the story would have continued only with the romance part because all we saw about the thriller parts were hardly 10 mins per episode. Anyways, I am not gonna talk much about this part since it's totally essence less in the story.
CAST & ACTING:
I can't help but give the production 10 out of 10 because of this amazing cast. There are few unfamiliar faces here as well along with some moderately popular actors but all of them did a very good job at their respective roles assigned to them. Given that the characters are fairly drawn, all of them have succeeded in justifying whatever they were provided with and what could be more satisfying than that?
Seo Hyun Jin as Kang Da Jung is one of the most suitable choice as she has done similar files in "Another Miss Oh" and "Temperature of Love". Her expressions are always on point, no matter what the situation is, and I have always loved her acting. Seeing Kim Dong Wook in his post 2015 dramas has been a lil kinda feeling for me because of the way he's changed from a cute lil kid in Coffee Prince (2009) to a well grown adult now T T. He never fails to mesmerize with his cuteness and acting.
I have loved Yoon Park all along but here his character and the secondary plot provided to it are really unnecessary, so I am not gonna say much. Anyways, he looked extra handsome in this, I must admit. Nam Gyu Ri as Ahn Ga Young, a depressed actress, did justify her role. I have loved her dialogue delivery style and her character is lovable. Kim Ye Won as Park Eun Ha, Da Jung's friend and the owner of the ground floor coffee shop is straightforward and cares a lot for Da Jung. Ga Young, Eun Ha and Da Jung's trio friendship chemistry is worth falling for. The other trio was of Young Do and his 2 best friends, Seo Ha Neul (1st floor Vet), Chunk Seung Won (variety show PD). These guys were so cute together and loved the way they have been maintaining this long-term friendship.
Another character is Moon Mi Ran, Da Jung's mother played by one of my fav ahjumma Oh Hyun Kyung, which I loved so much. Whatever she went through in the past and how she overcame that plus raised her 2 kids and also how she's living her life in the drama, everything is very well portrayed.
Among others, Park Chul Do (Eun Ha's twin brother), Kang Tae Jung (Da Jung's younger brother), Oh Mi Kyung (Young Do's assistant), Park Ho (the asst. Detective), Heo Yu Kyung (Da Jung's colleague), Min Ah Ri (cafe part-timer), Ko Jin Bok (chief Detective), Patrick (Kpop idol and Ga Young's boyfriend) and Han Jin Ho (Ga Young's trainer) are some notable characters. Even with small screentimes, these characters bloomed very well in their own ways.
DIRECTION & SCREENWRITING:
Direction is very good as well. Given the story is extensively relevant to the past events of the 3 main characters, the production had a lot to do on their plate and I feel that's been well executed. The sound editing of first 5 or 6 episodes kind of gave off the feelings of this drama being a thriller genre. It was dark and intense enough to make the audience anxious about what might happen next.
The writer with less experience has done a good job in drawing the plotline of the entire drama which is possible when you are aware of numerous shades of relationships and the most important thing in the process of love. The intensive romance by the means of healing the other's heart is the best kind of romance which has been very beautifully written in the story. Also, it's quite rare for Kdramas to draw subtle yet meaningful storylines for the side or supporting characters but if you see, this drama delivers them very well. Not just one or two, all the slide storylines were cute and made me feel good.
The only DRAWBACK of this drama is the secondary thriller plot. I think to make the story extra interesting as well as to fill the quota of 16 episode drama trend, the writer added the character of Yoon Park as well as it's storyline. There's no definite second lead syndrome here anyways so that way, they should have limited the thriller part to first few episodes and tried to wrap that up asap. But they dragged it till the end which could have been i interesting if it were related to the lead couples to a great extent. It rather was a whole different story with the 2 lead having nothing to do with. Yoon Park was seen with the 2 leads separately only in few scenes and also the mystery part is given hardly 10 mins in each episode following the 4th. So in my opinion, this secondary plot could have been easily avoided even so the drama had to end with 14 episodes. May be the writer wanted to make it lile "When The Camellia Blooms" but it became a waste.
OSTs:
There are plenty of OSTs along with more than one versions of few tracks. "In Ruin" by Raiden is an slow yet intense track. "Because its You" by SURL is a beautiful softcore healing track that's been well used in the drama. "Still Wonder" by Ha Hyun Sang is a jolly song that makes your heart flutter.
"A Butterfly Flew Away" is a feel good song with beautiful lyrics sung by Kim Min Seok and gives off the oldschool Kdrama OST vibes. Another OST of the same vibes is "Dear My Spring" which is both healing and sad at the same time. Our dear Onew has sung this.
"Falling Flowers" by Yang Da Il is a heart-wrenching sad track that was used while showing the childhood stories of the 3 leads which made me cry every time I listened to it. In fact, the drama starts with this song. "Cliché" by Kwon Soon Kwan and "Me So Bad" by YOARI are 2 happy-go-lucky tracks. Notably, "Falling Flower" has a Da Jung Version sung by uri yepoo noona Seo Hyun Jin.
The instrumentals of the above mentioned OSTs plus the background scores are all well utilized. First few episodes were a bit confusing because they used thriller sound devices which later shifted to warm romance vibes.
DESCRIPTION:
Well, you might think I am overreacting by saying the same thing again and again but this drama is actually very good. It's totally my type of healing romance Kdrama, something that I always wait for. The way Da Jung and Young Do went from becoming strangers to acquaintance neighbours to friends to finally lovers is such a beautiful course events to witness throughout the journey. Their way of accompanying each other, extending hands to each other, listening to each other, trying their best to understand each other, tending to each other's wounds as well as healing every lil corner of each other's heart, are very warm and a wholesome feeling. They gave their 100% in building trust between them by means of hit & trial method. They did crazy things together in a snow evening. They believed each other during the times of odd. All these things are parts of a warm and healing love story which seemingly disinterests a huge no of audience but that's their fault of having no taste, ngl.
The relationship of a mother and daughter between Mi Ran and Da Jung are notable. They didn't only look like friends by looks, they actually lived their lives as friends. Da Jung relied a lot on her mother as a kid even when they were poor and had to go through domestic abuse. Now that she's a grown lady, her mother has become a companion in her life, giving shoulder to all her pains and celebrating on her even days. In fact, Kang Tae Jung is also close with her mother and sister and them as family grew stronger given they had a shared past of darkness which they have overcome and been living together.
Friendship is another device that's nicely utilized in the drama. Starting from the all guys trio of Young Do, Ha Neul and Seung Won that showed the essence of long term friendship, then Da Jung, Eun Ha and Ga Young, the all girl trio that showed how people befriend strangers at different stages and various situations.
Brother-sister relationship, idol/actor dating life, after effects of long-term dating and breakup, professional life in Police Station, Hotels and Hospitals, bonding between employee and employer, etc are some other notable relationships portrayed in the drama. And, as I have already mentioned, the arcs of all the side characters are very well done. That's what also wins points for this drama.
The thriller plot ended right before the finale so it was kinda relieved and I love the ending as well, just like a warm pure romance drama should end. I was actually afraid things between Da Jung, Young Do and Da Jung's mother will turn somewhat typical family drama in the last 2 episode but thankfully it didn't happen. The level to which my heart has been healed by this drama, by crying, laughing and smiling wide is unexplainable. I am very happy about that.
Last thing I would like to add is how some people are complaining that there is no chemistry between the leads at all. Let me tell you that, the kind of romance and chemistry we see in pure romance are all almost the same whereas this drama seem to have tried a different approach. In real, every other relationship is different, in fact the definition of love, dating and romance are different for different couples. Nobody needs to kiss, hug and be clingy all the times or even to keep saying cheesy stuffs to express love and prove chemistry. Morever, friendship between a couple should be the most important factor in a relationship so even if they act more like friends than couples, it's totally fine. Let's go beyond norms. Let's not set boundary for a beautiful thing like by forcing our own definition on others. Let's be open-minded and let people live their lives however they wish to.
CONCLUSION:
Overally this drama is a very nice. I already said I am not gonna judge or even think about the thriller secondary storyline but it anyways a part of the story that'll forever remain a demerit for the drama. Iwould have given 9.0/10 if it weren't for that particular thing but since it's already there I am going with 8.5/10.
I feel a lot of people, like literally a huge no of people are missing out by not watching this. I wonder why this ain't popular but again, thw answer is clear that it's not everyone's cup of tea. However, I wish more and more people start recognizing and appreciating such genre of warm pure romance, even so it's a gradual process.
I am definitely coming back to this drama again, whenever I feel like and I am the setting the rewatch value at 8/10. This drama truly is healing and warm. GO WATCH THIS PLEASE.
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance9 minutes ago -
Character Relationship Chart19 minutes ago -
Which song by the next artist is your favorite? (Kpop)49 minutes ago -
The last Japanese Dorama you watched & rate51 minutes ago -
Who Do You Prefer? (Kpop Ver.)2 hours ago
