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Digging so deep into the humanity hell
The script was able to dissect multiple levels of depth regarding humanity, when there's competition to limited resources, how would humans handle a fair distribution of the wealth, while some are just hoarding resources due to psychological needs just because they can, or those fighting for scattered leftovers who are struggling to survive. When humanity is put into the test, human beings will have to choose between action with conscience, or survival at the cost of moral values. We can't deny that this is the raw human nature no matter how we try to conceal it or constraint it, because we were once a beast that scavenges everything we could to survive this shitty world. The movie has paid an incredible amount of attention to details into this concern, and the post disaster survival theme setting fits right into the situation it needed to achieve such a chilling effect. The cinematography and acting are of course top notch, pacing also helps a lot to hold the storyline together, this is really one of the most ironic dark humor Korean movies ever made.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
War leads to misery
So I'm gonna review the first 10 episodes first. They were not so emotional or sad like song ran misunderstood li zan as shen bei's boyfriend that was not so serious . ML and FL first meet was kinda cute and unserious.Afterwards their second meet was also good but we could expect it easily. Whenever they both meets talks it was kinda fine also the supporting cast was great benjamin's entry was so cool sasin was so thoughtful he was also great Shen bei portrayed her character as enemy well even though she got less screen time but not less than dr pei like why they could have shown pei xiaonan and ben's interaction more anyways her character was also admirable.Then come episode 11 and it's trust out of nowhere and then trauma starts for ep 12 and the rest like OK li zan had PTSD he portrayed it very well. I guess it was a good plot though but what was the use of family shown there that was so random and confusing
When li zan and his friend luo zhan their interactions were also good but the screenwriter could do something more better
Their dating era i loved the most as that was only the part made me happy they could show it more afterwards the mother's illness it made the mother-daughter interaction to be loved. But after that when song ran told li zan not to talk to him anymore is she crazy or what she should understand him also he should tell her everything if not then why are they couples.
He ignores her totally can't she just apologise to him for her harsh words she knows he has PTSD still.
Their reunion was OK like I thought at this moment everything will be fine but no.
It's great cast like if you can cry while watching the scene it means the characters did great job benjamin and saxins interaction in ep 35 was heartfull and made me imagine them in the future.
IDK why but the character we loved the most got killed unnecessaryly like in ep 36-38 Ben died although he was only shot by gun he was also firing why the enemies didn't died and if li zan was alive even though he was covered in blood and was tortured mentally and physically can't ben survive.
the cutted fingers were also so extra and was not needed. the ending was good as they both know they were mentally dead they were just surviving for each other and for their illness they'd be criticized like in last ep the hospital scene they ended up peacefully together which was good.
Plus point for this drama was it's out which was so good like not only one or two songs but all the songs were good.
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Power couple is BACK!!!!
Without any doubt this is going to be one of my favourites of this year. All the wait and anticipation was worth it. It is a treat for you if are a Princess Agent fan and has been waiting for this pair to return to screens and do their magic. The chemistry is obviously breathtaking. Nothing forced. Everything feels natural when they are together in a scene. Am I the only one who thinks that they are giving little sneak peak here and there in the show to surprise Princess Agent fans and satisfy their hunger for season 2. (you all will remember that cliff hanger water scene if you are ardent fan like me in one of the episodes).Special mention for sound track it is really very good and amplifies the moment's intensity. (Little loud sometimes but you will get used to it) I am super happy that instead of bending the story to their whims and pleasure, they decided to follow the original novel. Another special mention for all the side characters. They are really doing their job. CGI , cinematography, costume, set design everything just looks pretty. I do have some problem with their makeup/ filter but one can ignore it I guess...I mean who cares when actors are doing splendid job. I am loving all the banter of our main lead so far. I love how they make fun of all the cliche scenes. Plus who doesn't love a strong but caring female character who knows how to deal with people around her. ( It is a slowburn romance, so if you are not a fan of such dramas or haven't read the novel or not an avid fan of Princess Agent or the actors, I would suggest you to ignore it because you won't be able to connect to the drama. Plus you might have watched many dramas of this kind and might feel bored.) For the rest however,this is going to be an epic journey with lots of laughter and tears...so brace yourself you are all in for a treat.
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Convoluted plots and too many side characters take away from the plot.
This is a show that to preface my review could have easily been great, but was bogged down by too many characters and subplots and a pretty bland main story line with mediocre revelations and underwhelming scheming.The story centers around Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing. The story is unapologetic about the relationship between these two leads who have a deep and profound connection. It does not make attempts to stray from trying to show their connection which surprised me as I watched the show.
Unfortunately, other than the relationship between the two leads, they don’t particularly captivate me. The story introduces multiple different characters, and different subplots that really make the plot not as cohesive. They don’t particularly drive the story and ultimately just make it unnecessarily convoluted. As different subplots fought for my attention, I found myself caring less and less about the leads. There are different people fighting for power and this leads to some glaring plot holes and just underwhelming revelations. The main plot line never really captures my interest as it’s got too many elements involved that on deeper reflection just don’t make sense.
If you’re not accustomed to wuxia/xianxia dramas, the bad CGI and mediocre fight scenes are glaring. The sets are not particularly good, and a lot of the scenes are not set in a way that immerses you into them. I’m accustomed to the genre in terms of both dramas and the novels, so I know what to expect, but for those who don’t, the mediocre production does stick out. The fight scenes for me are also bizarre in that the canon fodder characters have better choreographed fight scenes than the leads. There’s genuinely so much slow motion fighting one can take. To this day, the most memorable fight scene in this drama for me does not involve the leads.
Where this drama shines is in its power to strangely tug at your heart strings. It could have easily gotten a far better grade if I’d cared about the characters a little more, but because there were too many convoluted subplots, I felt strangely apathetic towards the main characters. However, even if you can predict the emotional scenes, they do a great job at biting at your heart. There were many times I was tempted to drop this but I hang on due to some stellar emotional scenes. The problem of course is the memorable scenes for me do not involve the leads who are what should be driving the story.
Overall, a drama that could have shined if it had ironed out the main plot better, focused on the leads more and erased some of the complicated subplots that don’t add anything to the actual storyline.
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This review may contain spoilers
Just Routine, Avoid unless have a urge to finish S2
1. There are too many characters, no one receives enough depth to make us care. The villains are written like caricatures instead of serious threats. Their exaggerated performances and cheesy dialogue become unintentionally funny. Furthermore, the portrayal of the Japanese characters feels stereotypical and borderline mocking.2. Absolutely not required to kill the characters for any reason. (The boy in the island, J, Pasin, Other team members)
****** Despite these major narrative flaws, the acting was commendable. ****
3. Mainly, the actors were weighed down by an extremely depressive and relentlessly gloomy tone throughout.
Pasin is gradually reduced to a pathetic and weak figure, making his betrayal feel forced rather than earned, while his death lacks the impact it deserved.
The FL choosing to live alone under constant surveillance is also difficult to understand—it is obviously never a life of peace, and at times she behaves almost like she has a split personality.
Q’s character initially looks interesting, but it is hard to comprehend how she could fall for Jin’s extremely obvious lies.
The ML, meanwhile, has many choices and opportunities to protect his niece, yet repeatedly makes questionable decisions. When all of this is combined with the relentless gloom surrounding the main characters, the character dynamics become exhausting rather than engaging.
4. The plotting and technical elements also falter. Most of the twists are predictable, and several interesting plot developments go nowhere. The action sequences lack excitement, while inconsistent abilities muddy the stakes. Additionally, the subpar CGI and visual choices occasionally make the show feel like a parody rather than a gritty thriller.
Overall, the season is just average, unless you have a desire to complete the Season 2.
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My shalala is back = Not addicted just in love
I didn’t even think I needed this until I watched the first few episodes.I was ignoring many famous BL series because I didn’t want to get addicted again. But our OGs were pulling me in so hard that I couldn’t ignore them. I knew that if I started this series, I’d end up rewatching Addicted Heroin for the nth time—and still, I couldn’t ignore how much I missed them. So yes, I went back… again.
Coming to the series… how was it?
For me, it felt like coming back home. I was giggling, kicking the air, and pausing a hundred times just to process certain scenes—not in a bad way, but in a very spicy way.
I don’t know how new BL watchers will feel about it, but for me, I’ve waited 10 years because this is a continuation of Addicted Heroin (side couples story). Literally, 10 years. So even if they’re just sitting together, I still get butterflies.
Their acting is so good, and honestly, our leads have become insanely hot and sexy. Just watching them on screen feels refreshing for the eyes.
I also loved the topic they touched on—false accusations and fake allegations against actors regarding relationships and cheating. It felt very real. We judge so many actors just because they’re famous, forgetting that they’re humans first.
The music is calm and soothing, and there’s one Korean OST that I absolutely loved—it just flows straight into your heart.
There were a few instances where I felt some miscommunication between the writer and the editor. At times, I also felt that Chinese humor is hard to translate accurately into English, so as viewers we end up feeling a bit confused—like, what exactly is happening here?
Disclaimer: my high rating is purely based on my long-awaited love for lead actors. So don’t judge me even if I rate this a 10 after saying all this.
And please, don’t let me meet that idiot director—how dare he do such things to our pookie?!
Now… the romance.
Oh. My. God. Who is even saying they don’t have chemistry?! That finger-in-the-mouth scene… AAAAAHHHHHH.
Just go watch it, idiots. No need to waste time reading my review. Like me, I’m sure you’ll end up watching it in one go.
-Ahhhh the ending.. How can you rush it like that. Give justice to my pookies!!!!!
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Dark, toxic love with obsessive & abusive male lead
What the hell did I just finish watching, was my first thought as the end credits rolled. This is the darkest and most disturbing cdrama I’ve ever seen. You are not only getting an angsty, toxic love story but a full on psychological thriller.The drama is about the female lead who pretends to be a Princess to avenge her family and the male lead, a Prince who is mysteriously scheming behind the scenes.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Love-hate relationship. In fact it’s more of a lovers to enemies trope.
- Beautiful aesthetics and cinematography.
- Strong-willed female lead.
- The epitome of red flag, toxic, obsessive, abusive and pretty much psychotic male lead.
- 1000% angst. Check the trigger warnings below. Nothing is sugar coated here and not many can stomach it.
- Republican era cdrama vibes but in historical style.
- Fantastic acting from the main leads. I watched this for He Xuan Lin and she didn’t disappoint with her fantastic aura on screen.
- Hot kisses (only those that were consensual). The male actor looks like a great kisser.
- Sped up politics/revenge. The focus is on the love story so the actual plot stuff is kind of glossed over.
- A very fitting ending that brought me to tears.
- A big contrast between the first and second half of the drama. After ep 12 the plot turns 180.
OVERALL:
Horrible things happen in this drama and yet it’s written well for the most part. Only the last few episodes felt quite draggy. I loved the aesthetics and the female lead as a character. My big complaint is that I didn’t truly understand why the male lead became so deeply obsessed and toxic with her but who knows, I might have missed that detail. Anyway, to be honest if I knew how dark the story would get, I probably wouldn’t have even started it.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Disturbing scenes of abuse, r*pe and forced kisses.
FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“I hope you never meet someone like me again” by the male lead.
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This review may contain spoilers
Letting Go, Not Letting Go, Hope, Love, and Loss
"Snowy Night Timeless Love" is a poignant and heart-wrenching Chinese drama that blends romance with themes of duty, sacrifice, and the bittersweet reality of missed opportunities. The story follows HZB, a swordsman, and XZY, a calm and compassionate doctor, who meet by chance when HZB seeks medicine for a friend's child. What begins as a simple encounter gradually blossoms into a deep, unspoken connection over the course of eight years. However, their love remains just out of reach due to the burdens they each carry.The drama shines in its subtle approach to romance. Rather than relying on grand gestures or dramatic confessions, the drama focuses on the quiet moments shared between two people who grow to understand each other deeply. HZB rough exterior softens as he spends more time with XZY while her composed, steady nature is shaken by the bond they form. Their relationship is a slow burn, and the passage of time is felt in every glance, every word unspoken, and every moment of silent companionship.
What makes this story so powerful is the tension between their love and their sense of responsibility. Both characters are bound by duty—HZB to finding every way to save Mo'er, and XZY to finding every way to save her brother and everyone else but her. Despite their growing feelings for each other, neither feels free to truly pursue a life together. Their promise to meet under the plum tree the following year symbolizes their shared hope, yet there's a sense that they both know their love might never come to fruition.
The emotional weight of the drama lies in its exploration of MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. The snowy night setting adds to the atmosphere of longing and melancholy, as the falling snow becomes a metaphor for time slipping away. The visual beauty of the drama, with its serene winter landscapes and quiet moments of reflection, only heightens the emotional impact.
When the inevitable separation arrives, it feels all the more heartbreaking because of how deeply I have come to understand these two characters. Their farewell, marked by a thousand miles of distance and the unspoken understanding that they will never truly be together, is haunting.
The drama did very well in its visual storytelling. The snowy nights, quiet scenes by the plum tree, and the soft glow of lanterns create a world that feels timeless and emotionally charged. These images, combined with restrained performances, allow the drama to convey a depth of emotion that lingers long after the final episode.
I think that what this drama did the very best was how it explores the theme of hope, particularly through the characters' personal struggles. XZY, as a doctor, holds onto the hope of reviving her dead brother, tirelessly searching for ways to undo the irreversible. Her deep grief and unwillingness to let go of the past reflect the emotional weight of this hope. On the other hand, HZB spends years searching for the ingredients to create a cure for his friend’s dying son. Both characters are driven by their desire to change fate, which underscores how hope can sustain a person, even when the odds are impossible. However, the drama also shows the darker side of this hope—how it can blind someone to the present, causing them to lose what is right in front of them.
Li Qin was perfectly cast, embodying a sense of calm intelligence without ever crossing into arrogance. Her character is compassionate and protective, but never naive. She brings a quiet strength to Xue Zi Yue, making her both relatable and admirable. And then there is Joseph Zeng who played Huo Zhan Bai with equal depth. JZ portrayal of the renowned swordsman is filled with charm—he’s handsome and carries an aura of experience and quiet confidence that feels true to the character's background.
Their chemistry is a slow burn—it takes time to truly feel it, but once you do, it really is captivating. Just as their connection deepens, they are bound by duty and force to part, making their separation even more heartbreaking. The gradual build-up of their bond makes the inevitable ending all the more emotional.
Ultimately, this is a story of love that could have been—a bittersweet tale of two people who, despite their feelings for each other, prioritize their responsibilities over their own happiness. For people who appreciate slow-burn romances and emotionally complex narratives, "Snowy Night Timeless Love" offers a deeply moving experience that explores the quiet pain of unspoken love. It’s a story that stays with you, not because of dramatic twists or high-stakes conflict, but because of its tender, aching portrayal of love and loss.
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I am really a good fan of the God’s Quiz series; it’s one of rarest medical dramas that I can handle with full joy. It also focuses on forensic medicine which is my real life field of study. Although they can dramatize it but centring the investigation procedural on finding criminals and the blowing mystery for each season were definitely my favourite parts of the whole series.
At some point, I began to wonder if it’s the same writer who delivered the previous thrilling mysteries. Did he lost his touch or something? Maybe stretching the story to four seasons’ length can actually affect his writing style and ideas. For starters, the rare diseases weren’t exactly that complicated but I can be lenient with that side because I am medicine major so I could’ve figured most of them in one glimpse and they didn’t write this for people who know about the field. However, what I could not forgive was the main plot; it was plain boring and predictable that you can’t call it a mystery any longer. It’s unlike the previous seasons where the two (or three) last episodes were too exciting and suspenseful. God’s Quiz 4 was unsuccessful in building the thriller suspenseful part.
The individual cases were pretty much acceptable, many of them managed to reach the satisfying level and even went further above it. I believe that what gives this season a good slack but it’s a fact that some of them weren’t even that interesting. Something else bothered me on a personal level: Romance. I know that many people like to insert that part everywhere but I always thought that OCN crime thrillers don’t need that, because most of the people who come to watch are here for the thrills not for the lovey-dovey part. That’s one of the reason why the 3 rd season is my favourite.
The acting was fine; Ryu Deok Hwan and Yoon Joo Hee were good as usual. Even their characters witnessed some pretty good developments such as Dr. Han’s background and Detective Kang’s feminine side. I can’t say the same about the two idol additions; I really don’t see why they were casted for this type of drama. Idol acting don’t suit this sort of drama at all even if their characters were well-written. That super Junior dude was so awkward throughout the whole drama and the girl next to him wasn’t any better.
The cinematography played a very good part in this drama even of it wasn’t different from the previous seasons. I can’t exactly remember the music note so you can guess the rest.
Watch if:
-You liked the previous season but don’t expect a lot from this.
-You like Medical/Forensic/Mystery dramas.
Do not watch if:
-Just don’t watch this unless you saw all the previous seasons.
God’s Quiz Season 4 wasn’t exactly that captivating but it wasn’t a total bore either. Now, I would like OCN to make an end for this series; stretching it more than this will be over-doing in a very bad way. It was a good run; I hope this will be my last goodbye with the God’s Quiz series.
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Not the ‘Perfect’ Drama
The reason I am watching this is because Yang Mi is so pretty. Other than that the drama just delivers a fake relationship storyline that is honestly pretty easy to read. It’s going to go exactly how I think it is, but that doesn’t make it horrible. Yang Mi is so pretty and beautiful here I can’t ignore the drama, I have to watch.So far it’s not offending me. Yang Mi looks incredible in every scene… she is so gorgeous and as a lawyer she gets to wear the best outfits.
That’s really all I can say. It’s predictable, but it’s pretty fun. Although the whole domestic violence being acted as comedy isn’t, so the drama really looses out there. I hate that China likes to act like because a woman does it it’s fine and funny. It’s not funny, it’s so not funny. Very unfunny.
I’ll end it saying Yang Mi is gorgeous and two gorgeous people together sells. That’s why the reviews are high. But for me I’m being honest and I’m going to say it’s really not amazing, it’s alright.
I really am enjoying the nature of this series being all fluffy with the romance scenes. The two leads are very cute together and I like the pace that things are going at.
For the drama as a whole I must say, I really like the relationship between the leads. Anything outside of that is not good or interesting to me. Although Tao Jun Hui is an interesting character. He is Qin Shi's ex, and isn't your typical evil ex. He is honestly a good person and cares for her.. so that made Yuang Hua have some competition. Neither of them were petty though. Adults acted like adults for the most part.. outside of Qin' Shi's brother and sister in-law, those two were the worst and were so dumb and immature. I did not care for them and they made this drama worse ok.
What I did watch was good though. Not spectacular. Just good. I really ate up anything between our two leads though, so that's how this drama became just a little better than average for me. Maybe I am just a simp for Yang Mi.. or maybe Xu Kai did play the perfect husband roll and it got to me....
either way I don't think I wasted my time. I liked it, pretty harmless. For a Chinese drama that is a lot for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're thinking about starting on this drama now that it's done, let me just share with you on what I thought about it. First of all, reading the plot summary got me real interested in the drama. I mean it involves demon hunting so if you like action, this one is for you. If you want romance, then give this one a skip. There's no romance at all. Instead, there's more of a growing family & friends relationship.
Story: It's a slow beginning but picks up pretty quickly afterwards, especially when the counter's backstories come into play. I think only two counters backstories played a main role to the plot. The other two is more for a viewer to understand how they became a counter, which is unfortunate as the spotlight for these two seemed limited. For the first half of the drama, the plot moved at a good pace, numerous demon hunting scenes which is great because this is what the drama is about, and mysteries and unanswered questions were revealed.
But after the halfway mark is where a drama either make it or break it. I say more of break it because right around ep 9 or 10, plot holes began to occur.
* What a surprised (sarcastically)............... this involves political corruption. Figures.... since everything happened because of this. This is nothing new when it comes to figuring out the villain.
* A lot of questions came to play that seemed like the writers didn't focus on, which would've made scenes more understandable. I'm not sure what happen with the writer here because I found a lot of episodes a drag or stalling after ep 8. A lot of those episodes (especially ep 10) should've been handled differently, as you really could've just skipped some episodes and you wouldn't even know you missed out on something. I knew they changed the writer at Ep 13, which at least showed plot progressing a little bit, but even then, there were too many random things thrown in and only one or two sentences (if any) to describe what happened for the final half. You could also blame the announcement of season 2 for this mess that occurred after ep 8.
* We went from the counters hunting for demonic spirits in order to protect humans to just focusing on 1 for the rest of the drama. If this 1 demonic spirit was the head leader and the other evil spirits they hunted were under him, then this would've been okay but since this wasn't the case, this seems like the writer or director lost direction in the second half, like he was the only demonic spirit left, no one else in their area was demon possessed.
* Useless spirit partners. I mean I guess they lend them their powers (and wands) but all they do is sit at the table and discuss things. They only worry about their world partner if something happens to them physically. I just didn't see an importance to them, besides getting the counters (except for So Mun) out of a coma.
* The most evilest villain in this drama never had a demonic spirit in him until the last few episodes, even though he has committed murder and has thoughts of murder. According to the spirit partner's statement, anybody who has committed murder or desire to murder attracts a demonic spirit. So why wasn't he possessed a long time ago? That doesn't make sense.
But even after all of that, I still enjoyed this drama. I love the action, the closeness of a family the counters had for each other, the dramatic scenes of the demonic spirits being cast out, and the comedy this drama showed (more in the first half of the drama, fewer in the second half). Though they may have thrown some random stuff in and missed out some important details for us viewers to understand, at least I can say that the ending is satisfying and that there's closure.
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This review may contain spoilers
So just as a starter: If you liked season 1 of Love Sick for it's story and music and the cute and sweet moments as well as the comedy scenes, then season 2 will definitely be a good choice to watch.Story: The story of season 2 finally resolves some of the issues and problems which came up in season 1. How exactly...that would be a spoiler ;D For me, season 2 seemed a little bit more mature and detailed than season 1. Also the producers finally decided to concentrate on the main couples and only show some scenes (for fun and entertainment) of other couples and storylines (still if you only like one couple or so, you're gonna end up skipping a lot).
Season 2, It goes a little bit away from the 'just romance' feeling and connects different elements of life with the romantic and friendship relationships between the characters. Nevertheless, season 2 is just as sweet as season 1.
Acting/Cast: The casting choice, I think, is perfect. The acting...maybe not so much. It is definitely better than season 1, especially in later half of season 2. You can see how the actors and actresses learned and became better at acting. So compliments to the cast :D
Music: I've never seen a show or real life, where the songs are sooo accurate to what someone is feeling...I love the music in Love Sick but sometimes I just have to laugh when I think about how they always seem to find a song which resembles their feelings exactly to the point o.O XD Still the music itself is great, catchy and suitable for the show.
Rewatch: Oh, I'm soooo gonna rewatch this!!! XD
So overall, if you get over a little bit of awkwardness and some annoying characters (I think there is no one who watched the show and didn't find at least one character they don't like) then I definitely recommend watching this. The story itself is definitely worth it!!!
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Acting/Cast: Overall, I love the four main leads. Yes, it’s a shame but this is the first drama I’ve seen Lee Jun Ki as a main lead and he did an awesome job not only on the action-scenes but as well as a mature actor portraying a father. Kim So Yeon, Park Ha Sun and Ryu Soo Young played their respective roles in a great and convincing way also. I love the daughter, cute, adorable and has a simply irresistible presence!
Music: I only remembered the song Run from Nell and I had already downloaded it for I really love it. It fits as beginning and the cliffhanger’s song. It is actually a great OST for a thriller drama because it enhances the tone of each episode.
Rewatch Value: Repetitive as I may say on every review, but I don’t rewatch as possible.
Overall: Great drama that will keep you on edge from beginning to end. If you’re currently selecting drama to marathon, this one’s for you. The drama is very enjoyable, engaging at the same time touching as our hero, once having a direction-less living overcomes everything for the sake of something significant in his life.
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Best CBL of all time
This could be easily the best BL i've seen so far.What i loved :
- Addictive storyline
- No plothole so far
- Top notch acting
- Excellent cinematography
- Wonderful memorable lines
- No unnecessary scenes. No boring moments.
- No unnecessary side couple
- Visual : pretty faces
- Power bottom
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This review may contain spoilers
Life may not be what it looks like - Masterpiece
This is by far the best Cdrama ever. Starting from one accident and gradually everything gets out of control, the feeling of depression and hopelessness in this drama is real, not even because the plot is dark but also because there are so many things shown in this drama might've happened to many of us in childhood. And I'm thrilled how they make the children to act so on spot for these highly gloomy and creepy scenes. The eyes of both the main adult leader Zhang Dongsheng and the child lead Zhu Chaoyang speak a ton of their malice. I got constantly scared by Zhu Chaoyang's expression even if he's just 13 yo in the drama. But when you come to think about it, if you were him, would you ever stop yourself from making that expression? Rated it 10/10 not because I'm psychotic person liking creepy plots but the sympathy I felt when watching the drama.Instead of putting this drama into "thrill" or "psychology"or "crime" genre, I'm more inclined to describe it as a "family" one. Simply because every event happened in this drama resulted from tragedy inside each one's own family. Zhang Dongsheng killed his wife's parents and wife later because of their betrayal; Zhu Chaoyang's tragedy was a direct result of a divorced family and his sister's death; Yan Liang and Pupu came to this city in order to seek help for their long parted family members.
This drama depicts how the social and familial pressure could affect a child who has already developed a fracture of darkness inside his heart due to family issue, and with lack of care from parents side, it eventually turning his character to one he himself doesn't even want to be. It's heartbreaking to watch some of the scenes, especially episode 6 and 10 when Chaoyang confronting his divorced parents. It's so resonant to those who are raised by a single parent. Those kind of parents are already stressed out enough by the parental responsibility, and, what's more, every single piece of misfortune in their daily adult life converts into domestic abuse towards their child at night. But for the kids, in order to be recognized as a "good kid", they are forced to endure all the negativity their parents threw at them and behave so forth. The occasional "I'm proud of you" "you are such a good kid"phrases can be everything to children with innocent minds, but in the meantime, it's also a curse for children to shackle themselves from letting out their true childish characters only in exchange for that "praises". They think as long as they act according to the what they are told, they will get loved more; however in reality, parents did the opposite to what they told their kids, when kids realize all their parents care is themselves, the feeling of betrayal starts brewing inside them. If parents are the ones that break your illusion, how are they possibly going to repair your mind after that? The drama shows one of the possible answers to this question in the hidden storyline.
It's very mind-boggling to find out that all of the adults in this drama are extremely unreliable and selfish. Chaoyang's father's preference for his new family made him suspect his own son, and he also made Chaoyang lie to the police in order to protect his new wife, even though he's been teaching his son never should he tell lies; Chaoyang's mother is a control freak, she made his son to charge his own father in front of the police out of her personal grudge, only to be protested by Chaoyang about the truth of their divorce which his mother had lied to him over the years thinking he was too young to remember the detail. All his parents do is to blame the fault on the other; they never cared about what Chaoyang wants them to do. Yan Liang came to the city to seek help from that old guy with a fan, but was immediately reported to the police, even if he's YL's father's most reliable friend; when he wondered how severe a charge of blackmailing could be, he turned to Old Chen for help but was questioned his innocence without even letting him explain the situation. This adds to the gloomy tone of the drama, making it more reasonable of the motivation of what these children had done.
Having that Descartes's fairytale hinting here and there throughout the drama, it leaves an open ending to the audience quite resonating to the fairytale, asking yourself to decide if it's a good end or a bad end. After I watched for the first time I was about to believe in the fairytale although some of the obvious hints suggest otherwise, but still not strong enough to convince me with an alternative ending. But then after another couple of times of rewatching, sorting out all the hidden clues, I'm finally reaching the cruel truth, however, a cruel truth that makes so much sense. I really enjoyed the whole rewatching experience, but I guess mostly people stop after the first finish and proceed to find clues in other people's reviews to see the true ending. Or simply forget about it and agree with the fairytale ending. It's all up to your choice because it IS an open ending without many conclusive clues and you decide how far you want to go for the interpretation.
Music is elegant and one of a kind. A perfect match to a heavy story like this. Cinematography is so beautiful I'm capturing screen all the time.
Watched 4 times now and each time I found new details that enrich my view of the characters. Last time I focused on the leading child character Zhu Chaoyang, I was surprised to find so many underlying details even starting at episode 1 that point to his later change. Truly a masterpiece. I dare to say it's even much better than most of the crime dramas (eastern or western)I've watched so far. Please give it a check! Totally worth the time!
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