Passionate romance that heteros don't get
Most heterosexual plots simply don't get an exclusive passionate romantic plots like this one. They usually have a bunch of other things going on and a bit of romance thrown in. Not here. The focus is on the ML and his journey to discovering love and himself. And it does make me a tad envious because they really don't beat around the bush in Love in the Big City. They explore friendships which are mostly wholesome and endearing.The show is not all roses and sunshine though. There are some dark topics explored. However, most of the show tries to be positive because the male lead is a cheerful individual making the best of difficult circumstances. Maybe even a little toxic positivity that can be frustrating or concerning for others around him at times.
The beginning few episodes were funny and enjoyable but somewhere towards the end, the show started to feel slow and dull. Not sure if that was intentional. Overall the characters and situations are mostly realistic.
I wasn't too happy about the way the series ended especially since the last 2 or 3 episodes weren't as interesting.
The opening theme is nice but the OST in particular did not stand out to me.
For the most part it is an easy binge watch with good cinematography, interesting characters, good acting and a job well done by Nam Yoon Su.
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I have no words to describe how problematic this was, from the relationship itself, to the way gender and racial stereotypes were portrayed.
Let me start with the quickest: there was a scene where the characters are in the UK, having fun with a lot of white people. Suddenly, they run into some gangsters, who just happen to be the only black people in the show so far. The racism couldn't be more obvious.
Second of all, the way that traditional roles are reinforced in this are subtle, but alarming. There's so much talk about how a woman is still worth marrying if she's infertile, and to me this topic was never addressed sufficiently. There's also a lot of romanticizing of "woman sacrifices career to be a wife." I'm overall really unhappy about the way women are portrayed in this drama—they're either gold-diggers, gossipers, dependent and overthinking, obsessed with a boy, or obsessed with fulfilling the perfect child-bearing wife role. There was honestly not one strong woman role I was happy with.
I hated the main male character. Aside from my superficially saying that he visually does nothing for me, I just thought his personality was one of the most boring and bland I've ever watched. Firstly, he has some creepy and stalkerish tendencies, and I'm sure a lot of things he did as a boss to his employee could be seen as an abuse of power. As the show went on, he honestly got worse (as a boyfriend)—he never seemed to try and see things from Shan Shan's perspective, and he became increasingly controlling. He kept trying to use his money to get her things without her knowing—as if he didn't trust her to make her own life decisions. He kept so many secrets and justified them saying it was for her own good. And worst of all, he completely disregarded her career and kept saying things like "that's my decision" and "it's not up for discussion" when it was supposed to be HER DECISION in the first place,
Add to that the fact that C-Dramas do this weird thing where they make the main characters initiate skinship and pair it with slow-mo and romantic music BEFORE I even had any reason to ship them, and all I got was a boss doing weird physical things to his employee when the extent of their relationship was him watching her eat through his office window.
I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Shan Shan either. This has something to do with the way the drama was filmed, but half of the entire show is her whining in internal monologues. So much of this show is advanced by Shan Shan "accidentally overhearing something," then overthinking it in a lengthy internal monologue while she pouts externally. As cute as she is at some points, I got SO tired of hearing her voice. MOST of the sub-plots are brought about because she needs validation from Feng Teng about their relationship, or that she needs to do something to "be good enough for him." And nobody ever tried to convince her otherwise, or argue that she was good enough. As the show went on, she also started standing up for herself less and less, and I almost ripped my hair out hoping that she'd say something about making her own life decisions, but she never did.
Overall, this was a tiring and dragging plot, filled with lots and lots of problems. The only character I never got TOO annoyed with might be Zheng Qi, who seems thirty times more fun to be around than the boring male lead.
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This review may contain spoilers
A must watch!!
Words are not enough to express how much I love this drama. It is one of my favorites. The story is beautifully sad and I cry like a baby every single time. The bromance between Lee Dong Wook and Gong Yoo is everything!!! They always make me laugh! Lee Dong Wook as the grim reaper was a perfect casting choice! (every time he is casted, it's a perfect choice). This gorgeous man can be awkward, funny, crazy, sad, angry, etc. And I love how he looks so young when he is clean shaven but so mature with facial hair. He is just so beautiful, and HOT 🥵❤️🔥🥰♥️. His portrayal of older Wang Yeo was superb; as usual, he gives it his all. And of course Gong Yoo was amazing as the goblin, too. He is an amazing actor and I love his friendship with Dong Wook so much! They have amazing chemistry!Was this review helpful to you?
hua yong obsessed
people who are hesitating to watch this....DONT start this right away because its that awesome...i found the end a little incomplete but its common in chinese bl. the end was good but they can do better. and actors omg they can make a room hot with just by their eyecontact and smirks of hua yong. omegaverse is not common in the dramas especially in bls but it was worth it. when it comes to second lead i hated that they are gonna end up together. i hated shen wen lang so much and he didnt deserve gao tu at all.i just didnt like that wen lang regeted it that much i wanted to see him regret so much. but overall it was a roller coaster ride.Was this review helpful to you?
one of my best and favorit chinese drama
Hidden love, one of the best Chinese dramas I have ever watched, the story is light and sweet, the chemistry of the actors is very good, especially Zhao Lusi and Chen Zhe Yuan, the plot is also very good, easy to follow, there are no bad characters, and there are many good examples, such as how warm and loving family relationships can shape a person's character to be good, full of attention and affection, friendship, hard work, everything is good, I have watched Hidden Love 12 times and am not bored at all, because their acting looks real, I really like this drama, this drama brings a lot of happiness to me, thank you to the writer, screenwriter, director and actors and actresses as well as all those who have made this drama a good drama, many people underestimate this drama, but it turns out this drama got so much support. I'm not very good at putting words together, I'm also not an expert at judging dramas, but in my eyes and heart Hidden Love is one of the best Chinese dramas I've ever watched, I really enjoyed and was very happy when I watched it 😁 Hopefully this drama can also bring happiness to others and I also hope that Zhao Lusi and Chen zhe Yuan have a happy life like Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu 😁Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Overall, it's not an astounding drama, however, it's one of the best online dramas i can find these days. Love the drama, many thanks to the director, actors and actresses as well as the whole production crew, who work with devotion and expertise.Alert: don't expect too much on the first half, this serial gets better as it progresses.
First half:
Plot:7,5
Actors: 9
Production: 8,5 ( great cinematography )
Second half
Plot: 8,75 ( getting better as the drama progresses)
Actors: 9 ( both on talent and appearance)
Production: 9( great angle, some tasteful cinematographically scenes that worth gif-making, good after effect, lovely and aesthetic background)
A special detail i want to add is that the loveline between XM and LF. It's not developed much but enough. It's cute and it adds different feelings along with the excitement of the film pace.
Some people complain about the OE , yet i love it, i don't want it to end so soon:(((.
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I actually enjoyed this more than the drama!
I LOVED the drama and gave it an overall rating of 9/10, but this movie is a straight-up 10/10. Something in this movie just felt RIGHT! I very much enjoyed the removal of the inner dialogue, letting me feel my own feelings rather than hearing the characters' thoughts. The scenes just seemed so much more beautiful! The music was also changed and gave it such a more (for lack of a better word) "mature" feel.This movie made me BUY a Viki Standard Pass so I could watch it (I have no regrets, now I can also watch so many more dramas). Please enjoy this movie, as it is the director's cut! They didn't just make a movie to make a movie.
If you're thinking of watching, please do! This show was wonderful in so many ways. Both Han Gi Chan and Jang Eui Soo did a fantastic job acting. Especially for Gi Chan, I can imagine it must've been hard to debut as an actor in a BL drama, not long after trying to debut as an idol. He was so good at expressing his emotions, I really couldn't tell that it was his first time acting. Every actor did a fantastic job portraying their characters! Without spoiling too much, the story is very sweet and had my emotions on a roller coaster, even though it was so short. The development between Tae Joo and Gook was amazing, and I am a sucker for romances like these.
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came for Cherry Magic actors, stayed for everything else
I'm truly loving this series so much!As in the title, I had originally started watching this for Eiji and Keita. However, I ended up staying for the many other great qualities of this series. Not only have the characters, acting, and plot continued to surprise me non-stop, but the romantic interests are also lovable.
The biggest aspect of this show that keeps me hooked is the main character Mamoru. As a woman CEO, she is a very refreshing representation of what all CEOs should strive to be: a hardworking, strong, and honest boss who sincerely cares about their employees.
Overall, I would recommend this drama to anyone who loves a funny, romantic, and surprising workplace series to enjoy!
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That was until the last couple of episodes happened. It felt like the writer of this show just had a sudden idea at the end of making this story and they wanted to insert it no matter what, or just had the idea all along and couldn't mix it well with the rest of the plot. Either way, it is didn't work out and they were a lot of plot holes and unanswered questions. Also, the relationship between the princess and the other man bothered me.
But I'm going to look over all that since I'd enjoyed almost everything about this drama and don't want to ruin the experience. Besides, episode 20 went back to original funny vibes of the show and it was really entertaining. I'd love to see more about Ji Man and Da Xi.
Recommended if you want to watch a (mostly) lighthearted drama with a lot of funny moments.
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Right, now I got that off my chest...
Season 2 really stepped it up from season 1. Beginning exactly where the first one leaves up, you'll easily binge all six episodes as the energy, intrigue and zombie guts do not let up. The special effects are believable, the 18 rating means they are not shy when it comes to blood and guts. The scope of the show is huge and some of shots are just breathtaking to look at.
Each cast member is amazing, especially the core cast. My love for Seo Bi only grew this seasons, but our Crown Prince and his band of heroes, along with the Evil Queen and her villainous enterouge all continue to be so much fun to watch. My one wish was that we had more time to flesh out the relationships between the cast.
If you loved the first, you'll love this! And as long as you aren't too squeamish, I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys sageuks, fantasy, horror, thriller, action & politics!
PS. This is my first ever review on MDL, so please be gentle/forgiving of any faux pas made here!
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Most perfect drama I have ever watched
LOVED IT!!!!Loved everything about this drama
Both the leads were perfectly casted and their chemistry was off the charts. I have never rewatched a drama this many times but this gave me butterflies in my whole body.
Story was simple and sweet with no overcomplicated drama which was breath of fresh air. Both the ML and FL were the greenest flags ever and perfect for each other.
This drama was just pure LOVE ❤️
Should definitely watch this
I couldn't stop watching it was just amazing
I fell in love with Yuan especially his smile
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Perfection
The drama,the twists Nd turn ....like wooooowThe addition this drama is giving yoh it's massive
Nd bruh the plot twist of the top Nd the bottom...that was craaaaaaaaaaazy
Wish they cold do more like this alpha,omega,beta bl Nd anime ....Nd the couples are spot on Nd the actors are spectacular
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2
1Just watch Young Blood 2 instead.
Imperial Coroner 2 is a sequel that should not have been made. It is missing the charm and narrative focus of Season 1, which was a cool, largely plot-driven "how-did-it" kind of ancient crime-solving story. Season 2 attempts to better flesh out the beloved investigative team but fails to do so in a way that resonates. This character-driven digression comes at the cost of the cases, which lack tension and suspense and skimp on Season 1's stylish, visually impactful illustrations of forensic clues. The sloppy and juvenile writing is a rude shock after Season 1's narrative consistency and meticulous attention to detail.This season picks up three years later, with Chu Chu now married to Xiao Jinyu—an unconventional commandery princess in name and a hardworking imperial coroner in fact. While I appreciate the attempt to flesh out and age the titular character, it is not done well. Chu Chu's mature styling is nice, but her lips turn down in a discontented expression that suggests she did not find marital bliss. She whines bafflingly about her unfulfilled aspirations to be a coroner—when that is actually what she does, with the full understanding and support of her husband. Her petty grievances ("oh poor me, I have to be a commandery princess when all I want to do is prod corpses and bask in the odor of rotting flesh all day") and pity party are not just boring; they are tone-deaf and at odds with the genuine suffering of the truly powerless women of low societal status featured in the early female-themed cases.
After three years of marriage, the romance is still stuck in the tiresome courtship and repeated misunderstanding phase. Just divorce already, please! As for Jing Yi and Leng Yue, if their henpecked husband/abusive wife routine is supposed to be funny, the misguided attempt at humor comes off as banal, and borderline offensive. While the full cast from Season 1 reunites, their dynamic and rapport are just not the same.
As for the cases, there is one overarching plot that ties together all the subplots. Of these, the only case that really stuck with me was the young monk's story. That child actor, Shi Hengyi, moved me to tears. The main Nanzhou arc is the biggest disappointment—it is much more spy vs spy than ancient CSI. There is no real mystery, as the identity of the allegedly hidden master spy is not hidden. And anyone who watched Young Blood 2 would immediately recognize this as a dumbed-down knockoff of that drama's main plot—down to the styling, culture and internal and external political conflict of the enemy kingdom. Minus the exciting action scenes, humorous dialogue, and top-notch ensemble rapport, of course. The finale is anti-climatic and unsatisfying.
So do yourself a favor and just watch Young Blood 2 instead. You can thank me for watching this so that you don't have to.
I rate this 6/10 for daring to so blatantly knock off something pretty good only to make it a lot worse.
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