Reviews

Hate all the office politics and second lead stories in your romance dramas?

Then this is drama for you. People in the comments are always like, where can I find the whole drama, the episodes are so short.
This drama is pure fluff, this is cotton candy and nothing else.
The episodes are short like some of those "summary of a drama" videos on Youtube. It feels like meeting your divorced friend and asking her what's up lately, and she is like, "Sooo I have this hot younger co-worker..." and you sit there like :flushed: . It is detailed enough, and delivers the dopamine on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

The acting is okay, it's clearly low budget, but supercute.

P.S.: I used this to practice my Mandarin, and it's good for that. Pronounciation is clear and you don't miss much of the story if you don't understand something.

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This drama was a total chore to finish. There are several flaws, main one being the writing. The different aspects of the story/plot do not mesh well at all too many different genres are thrown into the mix (thriller/detective/gangsters/comedy/romance/drama).

The thriller aspect with kidnapper storyline just becomes tiresome halfway through, with the usual moronic police investigation/constant mistakes in capturing the uninspired villain.

I found the comedy scenes totally unfunny and embarrassing.

The romance was ruined for me by the coy and overly cutesy acting by Park Bo Young. I am not a fan of ayego.

My biggest problem with this drama was the main female lead Do Bong Soon. I disliked her thoroughly and cannot understand how others found her likable and described her as an admirable strong woman. For me she is nothing but a two-faced, passive aggressive bully. She casually assaults people and then acts all sweet and innocent as if butter wouldn't melt. I found her hypocrisy a total turn off. She is smug and rude to her superiors at work. She bullied and assaulted people everywhere she went, if it had been a man doing these things everyone would have been up in arms . By the end of the drama I started to dislike the actress as well - as it is her portrayal not just the writing that i found so unpleasant.

Other things I did not like:-
- the contrived love triangle which went nowhere and made me question why it was introduced it in the first place.
- the way DBS mother treated her husband was totally unacceptable. If I were him I would have divorced that useless harridan in an instant.
- the main male lead's besotted act went rapidly from cute to cringe.
- the cliched depiction of the gay character.

All in all an utter disappointment I had looked forward to this drama as the 3 main leads were all on my like list but after this debacle I will have to rethink my stance.

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It's 3am at the time of writing this. Should I be sleeping? Probably, yes. What am I doing? Writing a review for one of the greatest Asian dramas I have ever personally seen throughout the whole of my drama watching history. I never write reviews, honestly, but this drama has been on my mind non-stop since the day I started it and probably will continue to be for some time yet.

Initially I was on the fence about starting this; there was a lot of hype around it and I've never (successfully) watched a Chinese Drama before. But what drew me in was the promise of a beautifully great cast, an exciting story, and some wonderfully superb acting. So you'll know without even reading ahead that The Untamed very well lived up to it's expectations, but why did it?

Let's rewind a little and summarize what it is that makes The Untamed such a rare gem among a multiplicity of other dramas in the same vein. The Untamed is the live action retelling of the Chinese novel The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi), a popular sensation that's only gaining more reader fans as we speak. Though a BL in nature, it's also so much more than that, and though censorship also plays a part where the live action is concerned, the producers of the drama made sure that none of the magic that made the novel so special was lost.

At its helm are two marvellous lead actors, both who manage to bring the characters alive in a way that made them their own. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo display perfect synergy, in an undeniable chemistry that goes beyond the characters on-screen. It's obvious the series had a lot of thought put into when it came to the casting, as it goes without saying there's nobody else who would be such a perfect fit for these roles.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't struggle to summarize the plot of this epic series, especially without giving away too much context. It's simple on the surface but at the same time possesses a great scale of hidden layers that will continue to surprise and shock you as you progress throughout the series.

The Untamed follows two male characters from two different clans, both with very contrasting personalities; Wei Wuxian, outspoken and playful, and Lan Wang Ji, serious and virtuous. Though different in nature, through Wei Wuxian's persistence, the two slowly start to develop a friendship, one that transcends boundaries. When a new evil arises and threatens the peace of their world, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wang Ji both find themselves at the center of what essentially becomes an all-out war between clans.

Though this may be a theme that remains a central point, the series also manages to explore the consequences of heartache, love and loss, as well as the grey areas of villainy and an exploration in what is considered moral and the catalysts that cause us to sin. It's a compelling story that will grip you from beginning to end and doubtlessly inspire endless discussion and debate for months to come.

I cannot stress how much the plot summary doesn't really do it justice, as The Untamed is certainly an experience you have to be a part of to really get swept away. Because spoilers would make it a hell of a lot less fun to watch, all I can say is that you absolutely won't be disappointed.

I definitely recommend this for people who love cdramas, wuxia, supernatural fantasies, handsome men and beautiful women, epically choreographed battles and fans of Wang Yibo haha.

I also cannot end this without mentioning that the soundtrack is beautifully glorious and is just one of the many reasons I felt emotionally drained by the end of every episode.

Honestly, do yourself a favor and watch 2019's (and possibly of all time's) best drama.

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My review will be short and sweet with a link to my very extend review at the bottom if you wish to do some extra curricular reading!

The Good:
1) Reaper and Goblin's Bromance
2) Soni and Reaper's Relationship
3) The theme song
4) The cinematography
5) The locations shot in

And that is ALL!

The UGLY:

1) 60% of the episodes are completely plotless.
2) The last 5 or so episodes are completely rushed with about 6 major plot points in each of them
3) The cringey, over-obvious product placement
4) EunDak is the worst character ever. She's so selfish and so stupid and she gets so lazy once the boys take her in.
5) Eun Dak and Goblin's relationship should NOT be romantic. It would've been much better as a Father/Daughter realtionship
6) The editing was rough in a lot of parts
7) Deok Hwa's character was so undeveloped and so underused. he deserved better!
8) The lack of relationship and character development for all of them actually
9) The ending is an absolute mess. Why did the not all die so they could start over again?!
10) So many scenes felt half done. I feel like so much was either not filmed or just simply edited out and I feel like I was missing whole chunks of scenes that were needed.
11) The over the top ridiculousness such as the SnowBoard accident, and the Goblin pushing EunDak and causing massive problems in the car park scene. Those scenes were so stupid. Those scenes were far beyond being able to suspend disbelief.
12) Completely ruining Soni and Reaper's personality and all their charm in their new life in the final episode.
13) Rushing through the final. Those last 15 or so minutes DESERVED and entire episode. Not the rush through that it got.

The excessive overhype this show gets. It's really not that good.
If you really want my Essay-long review of this show, check it out here: http://sambart93.tumblr.com/post/179925136539/dokkaebi-goblin-its-not-bad-but-its-not-good

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Sorry but this sequel just doesn’t cut it for me

What’s with all these s2 breakup plots!?

One moment they’re in a disgustingly sweet romance, and then suddenly, Jiwoo moves to the countryside after leaving Seojoon a note declaring the end of their relationship.

In TMS’ first season, Seojoon’s unpredictably exuberant personality contrasted nicely with Jiwoo’s quiet, awkward behaviour, making for an endearing watch. Things turn ugly in the sequel as their strengths morphed into their flaws. Seriously, the whole breakup tirade was unnecessarily painful to watch.

Jiwoo, whose quiet behaviour was previously seen as awkwardly adorable– comes off as selfish and unlikeable in the sequel because he’s so infuriatingly awful at communicating. Seojoon is ceaselessly giving in his attempts to make Jiwoo happy, like a puppy begging for its owner’s attention. But nothing is ever enough.

It’s a real shame that the story had to take such an ugly turn with a breakup. Let alone a breakup that made little sense to me. It would have been better off focusing on Seojoon and Jiwoo working through their relationship, given how Seojoon’s celebrity status is bound to take a toll on their private lives.

Sequels should be about the deepening of relationships, as a couple matures together. I would have liked to see more of that instead of whatever this was.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/07/03/to-my-star-season-2-2022-bl-review/

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Extraordinary Story & Characters - Finished Ordinarily

One of the most anticipated and talked about drama of mid-2022 which started on a high - with heartwarming story and characters, while showing the harsh reality of society but ended a bit-weakly. Overall, an enjoyable ride and it will definitely remain an iconic drama and in must-watch lists for time to come. Sharing my short & detailed reviews below:

✧❅✦ QUICK REVIEW ✦❅✧

Why You Should Watch It:
♥ Refreshing concept - great portrayal of person suffering from ASD
♥ Superb Acting by ALL characters
♥ Cute main-lead love story - will induce giddiness, make you curl your toes and smile ear-to-ear!
♥ Loveable and Hate-worthy Side Characters (the latter, cause we need a reminder that all in not rosy even in dramas)
♥ Good Reflection of society's good, bad and the in-between
♥ Beautiful, Addicting Soundtrack
♥ Funny and comedic relief to break-through the seriousness in storyline

What Might Bother You:
✘ No hard-core, well explained baddie/villain
✘ Some side-characters have weak character development
✘ Law cases are not as gritty and thrilling
✘ Ending is rushed (can be managed, but might leave some frustrated)

Summary:
This drama is for you if you are looking for a cute romance story, set in the backdrop of attorneys navigating their way in the society - shown through the eyes of a genius woman suffering from ASD. You get preview of her friendships and family, initial inhibition of people on accepting people with ASD, how they try to understand and sympathize, while others choose not to - and both sides are valid and real.

Watch it for - Woo Young Woo's acting, Jeon-Ho's charms, cute moments, some brilliantly executed cases, comedy from our loveable side characters and portrayal of those who suffer from ASD - so that we can learn and be kind in our real life!

........................................ || not spoiler, but some hints are there at storyline - read with caution || ..............................................

✧❅✦ DETAILED REVIEW ✦❅✧

❤ Lesson From This Drama: Celebrate the Extra-Ordinary in all of us! ❤

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What Works ✦✧ ----------------------------------------------------------

✦ The Concept:
Refreshing story of how a genius young woman suffering from Autism deals with her work, friends, work and other social interaction. We get to see from her lenses - the good, bad and the in-between we deal with in society. Somethings that might just seem natural to us in our every-day life, might be a task for people suffering from ASD. While the cases and characters propel how our main lead actress navigates through it all, my takeaway from it is that we need to more observant, understanding, sympathetic to people and our surroundings, cause not everyone is same, we are all different and that is okay and something to be celebrate!

✦ The Acting:
While our main lead actress is phenomenon and it is what draws audience to start watching this drama, stay and fall in love with her - it is also the other characters around her. How they in their respective roles are either supportive, begin to understand her, or are completely against her. Which is a good and solid representation in real life - some will hate thee, some will love thee. Right from characters shown in the positive or negative role - I believe if a character makes you love them or hate them, that is a job and portrayal well done. So kudos to the entire star cast, minus the glitch in certain character development, with the limelight on this show, everyone stayed true to their acting!

✦ The Cases (some of them - at the start)
This is not a courtroom drama, but more of how it is approached by a person suffering from ASD. What maybe missed by the ordinary attorneys is captured beautifully by our Extraordinary Attorney Woo. The cases in the first half are somewhat thought-provoking, nothing that that will give you sleepless nights or keep you guessing till the end, but more on the lines of breaking it to the audience that society evils persist and sometimes our perception creates or manifests evil or wrong. But seen from the lens of the innocent (like Attorney Woo) you can see past the pre-conceived notions/prejudice and see a person or situation for what it really is and make a judgement or form opinions accordingly.

This was a double-edged sword - some cases worked while some did not. But in all cased - we see our lead making some good/bad and confusing decisions in her own battle to love the law and abide by it.

-------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What Could Be Better ✦✧ ---------------------------------------------------

✦ The love-story (or stories)
Now in a great romance - you have a build-up, the cute moments, a tragedy or hurdle that tests them and then happily-ever-after, right?

I personally fawned, curled my toes in the romantic scenes, cause it was cute, mushy and our lead pair were devastatingly good looking and convincing. But I was saddened by how the writers wrote their hurdles and ending phrase. The relationship graph went super high only to nose-dive in the end. Though some would like it and appreciate how it was tied up, but I would have preferred more explanation or some romantic/dramatic declaration of love - because we are focusing on a character who is socially meek, so more words were needed to explain those emotions.

Another weak area - the love stories of the side-characters was just done for namesake, only cause they are on screen so let's show a backstory or put 1+1 characters just cause side characters also need some love - did not work for me, sadly. Had they omitted the love angle and shown it more as a supportive friendship or hinted at a camaraderie, would make more sense.

✦ The Negative Characters' Development
Everyone loves a good villain - you may love, admire or hate them but you just cannot ignore them.
In Woo Young Woo's life too, we see such characters pop-in but with not much preamble as to why the dislike our main lead, what is their backstory and main motive to cause disruption. It is all too mellow and not sharp, vengeful or even justified. They are just there - and you would expect that the next episode would drop some insight, but are just left waiting. Talent, in this case, got wasted as well as the story arch.

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Summary ✦✧ --------------------------------------------------------

It definitely is a tale that is worth-a-watch only for the portrayal of ASD, some great acting and beautiful soundtrack.
But like me, many could be saddened at how it all tied up in the end. Because the drama was so highly anticipated and the first half really sets the bar high, to have such a mellow ending was not expected.

Usually I give a drama a rating of 10, deducting 0.5 or 1 as story progresses and characters develop. Therefore, I gave this drama a 9 at the start only to bring it down to 8 now, which can possibly share some perspective to whoever is reading this.

It is a cinematic treat - the acting, scenes and music make it easy on the eyes and ears and the story is a heartwarming tale that is worth taking a note of, at least once.

-------------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ ✦✧ ------------------------------------------------------------

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Disappointed by the evolution of the FL

Three Chapters – HUGE SPOILERS

Chapter 1 : the birth of a psychopath

The origin of the FL as a psychopath who grew up being self-centered. After witnessing the attempted murder of her mother, she let her die because it was advantageous for her. Then she kept manipulating people, good ones, bad ones, anyone she can to obtain the results she wants. Very well told. I enjoyed this part where she is savage and has no empathy. Especially how she schemed and achieved the assassination of her own father and still walked freely after twists and turns.

Chapter 2 : The romance of a psychopath girl and a lost boy

FL is harassed by a female colleague. She manipulates people and gets rid of her. She decides to date her rival’s ex-bf lost in drinks and drugs. Another great load of cold manipulation. She is so good at that. She sneakily approaches him using someone dear to him of course. She clears his guilty conscience, makes him fall in love with her, gives him nice moments then tosses him aside like an old sock. She refuses to tell him the whole truth of her lies. Feeling guilty and desperate, lost boy meets his demise. She finds him and tells him “you were weak” and she lets him to rot. Her move on him was a bit nonsense and out of character for me. Plus at times, writers wanted to make her look like a nice person. Like she is the poor victim of bad people.

Chapter 3: Psycho wife VS Psycho husband

FL weds a rich handsome perfect man just to be trapped and tortured until minion 2 sacrifices himself to give her a solution but minion 1 is pissed off so he decides to reveal everything and put an end to a situation that he himself contributed to. For me that part had plot holes. Especially regarding the origin of the husband, the reasons of his actions against her and how he blends in her story. FL's new rise and downfall is rushed too.

Overall, it starts good and violent then quality drops because the characterization of the FL weakens. The end is questionable as the writer chooses an immoral ending. I do not mind revenge plots where grey characters wins but when it is a cold scheming manipulative murderer who wins… It’s not so nice. 7/10.

Thanks to the actors and crew for this drama.

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Is It A ‘Bad And Crazy’ Decision To Watch This Drama?

Crime and action dramas can often a tricky to tackle for screenwriters. Nevertheless screenwriter Kim Sae Bom ( ‘ Uncanny Counter’) and director Yoo Seon Dong ( ‘Uncanny Counter’, ‘ Vampire Prosecutor 2’ ) are able to turn a passé “ buddy cop” premise into an adrenal-kicking ride with Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon taking front seats.

The storyline focuses upon the titled ‘ Bad’ guy of the series Detective Su-yeol (Lee Dong-wook). Su-Yeol’s original passion and drive to deliver justice has been lost over the years as a consequence of trying to climb up the social ladder. However Su-Yeol is soon hit with some home-truths when he is incessantly haunted by the ‘ Crazy’ and self-proclaimed helmet-wielding " hero" K ( Wi Ha Joon). As the main lead begins to struggle with battling against the mysterious hero fanatic in his daily life, he soon becomes involved in uncovering a greater web of lies and corruption at the heart of justice. Reluctantly he enlists the help of quirky hero K, his ex-girlfriend and witty detective Lee Hee Kyum ( Han Ji Eun) as well as good-natured rookie cop Oh Kyung Tae ( N) in order to bring down a greater threat from the shadows.

It should be clarified that the initial plot setup of “ corrupt cop becomes good again” isn’t an inherently new or exciting concept to K-dramas. Nevertheless, Kim Sae Bom was willing to add a retro flare to the narrative through the action escapades of K and Su-Yeol facing against bumbling and brutish thugs, convicts and adversaries in weekly episodes.

There’s a fairly comical undertone during many early exchanges between K and Su-Yeol ( without spoilers). Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon’s onscreen bromance chemistry could admittedly come off as slightly strained under the weight of loose threads in the plot at times, but the jovial bickering between their onscreen counterparts will certainly generate a chuckle or two for audiences. However despite the drama’s coverage of some lighthearted comedy sequences and interactions , Kim Sae Bom was not afraid to delve into darker subject areas also.

Naturally this brings up the discussion of the cast lineup. Venerable actor Kim Dong Wook starred as one of the main star-attractions of the production as Su-Yeol. The veteran actor admittedly did feel slightly typecast to the role of the “stoic and mysterious” archetype once more. However whilst goofy initial charm seemed to define Dong Wook’s character, later complexity surrounding Su-Yeol, truly gave his onscreen persona a definitive edge .

Yet whilst later episodes did present some heartfelt moments to explore vulnerability within the tougher character-build of Su-Yeol, the main lead’s earlier interactions with his family rarely foreshadowed or hinted a buildup towards Su-Yeol’s feelings. Of course , it is important to establish that although screenwriter Sae Bom did slowly develop Su-Yeol from the outset, it could often feel as though elements of his character were rarely fleshed-out with more depth .

Then of course there’s the discussion surrounding “ K”. Played with a daring boyish charm by Wi Ha Joon, “ K” acts as the second mysterious main lead of the series.


Without definitive plot spoilers, it is important for viewers to note that “ K” seemingly embodies everything that Su-Yeol strives not to be ; anarchic, comical, unpredictable and possessing a great hero complex also. Understandably “ K”’s greatest character-drive comes through his developed bond with Su-Yeol. Yet whilst comical ( and often fractious ) interactions between the main leads could be entertaining and sometimes complicated , it often felt as though “K” was rarely given a more serious presence in the storyline . ( Until later events when Kim Sae Bom deemed his character as a necessary plot-device; mysterious but often being used merely to expedite plot.)

Costarring alongside the two main leads was Han Ji Eun as female lead and love interest Lee Hee Kyum. Hee Kyum is an intriguing character with her own reasons and problems and especially due to her “ complicated” relationship with her ex and main male lead Su-Yeol. ( Especially with consideration to her somewhat acrimonious and unexplained breakup.)

On the other hand, whilst Hee Kyum was a necessary asset for the events of the narrative , there was a notable flaw at times with the main female lead; she lacked a definitive edge. Arguably it is noteworthy that Hee-Kyum is fairly resilient in the face of adversity and is quick to stand her ground also. Yet sadly Hee-Kyum rarely had opportunities to be explored outside of necessary plot-line . It was fairly sweet and engaging to witness the unfolding and potentially rekindled flame between the former-lovers onscreen. However, there were many notable aspects of Hee-Kyum’s intriguing backstory ( mentioned only several times as passing references), dreams, familial relationships and reasons for becoming a detective which were often left disregarded throughout the narrative .

Admittedly Lee Hee Kyum wasn’t the only victim of absent character backstory . Second male lead Oh Kyung Tae, a necessary character from the beginning, is dismissed through a “ necessary plot point” from being actively involved in the series. Whist this was arguably crucial to allow the events to unfold, Kim Sae Bom rarely measured opportunities through screen time to “ get to know” a key player in the drama; he’s altruistic, clever and observant but that’s also the problem. Oh Kyung Tae never truly felt as though he was a realistically flawed character.

Other side characters of the storyline included detective Yang Jae-Sun( Cha Si-Won)- Su-Yeol’s loyal work colleague and slight sycophant , shady but knowledgable psychiatrist Yum Geun-Soo( Choi Kwang Je) and the mysterious and unnerving professional psychiatrist Shin Joo-Hyuk( Jung Sung-Il). Whilst these side characters played important roles in various parts of the drama, predictability soon arose ( in parts) for the roles due to the evident writing-setups for these characters .

On this note it is important to bring up the nature of the opposing forces of the narrative. Admittedly ‘ Bad And Crazy’ never truly established an “ overarching” antagonist per say until later events of the storyline . Whilst the series did gradually veer towards having a final “ threat” during end events, the storyline instead placed multiple adversaries for the main lead such as corrupt politician Assemblyman Do Yu Gon ( Lim Ki Hong), the big kahuna of a drug gang Boss Yong ( Kim Hieora)and her right-hand man Andrei Kang ( Won Hye Joon) as potential “ red herrings”. Whilst these side characters did play their necessary role within the events of the narrative and help to buildup to the finale, the ending admittedly felt somewhat anticlimactic as a result of rarely presenting these antagonists with more profound character-qualities.

Admittedly ‘ Bad And Crazy’ was a slight anomaly when it boiled down to pacing . Whilst some dramas can notably suffer from the classic problem of possessing strong beginnings and weak endings, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ presented the opposite: a weaker beginning notably gave rise to a lighthearted introduction to characters, whilst the second-half focused heavily upon crucial details of plot and heavier topics.

Whilst this wasn’t necessarily bad per say and did allow for audiences to establish the key players of the drama, tedious pacing during early conflicted dilemmas for the characters contrasted by quick-paced action scenes during fights, often rarely allowed golden-opportunities to delve deeper into the ins and outs of the storyline. As a consequence, the ending is admittedly dependent upon expectations; some may enjoy the final events of the series with satisfaction , whilst others may feel disappointed and letdown by the final result.

Then of course there’s the discussion surrounding Yoo Seon Dong’s filming. Whilst Seon Dong could captivate a certain ineffable charm under his directing reigns with fast-paced action sequences and chases, Seong Dong’s camera work could often be amateurish at times also. Admittedly this isn’t entirely the fault of the director per say. The addition of pacy editing and cut scenes in order to make up for the usage of sloppy fight scene choreography and punches highlighted mixed-results throughout the camera work. On the other hand, the OST did often help to draw attention away from these scenes through an eclectic mix of generic instrumentals and unpredictable tempos - in particular ‘ Bad and Crazy’’s EDM opening song helped to capture the adrenal-infused mania and atmosphere for anyone willing to stay along for the ride.


Overall, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ is a series which felt somewhat shoehorned at times by plot, characters and pacing. Nevertheless whilst predictable and niche at times , the twelve-episode series was surprisingly delightful in parts with a pacy narrative allowing opportunities for viewers to become intrigued within some of the drama’s touching depictions of its main characters. Fast, thrilling and not without its rougher edges, ‘ Bad And Crazy’ will perhaps not serve as one of Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon’s best performances to date for some watchers , but it certainly can offer an adrenal-infused binge-watch for those intrigued from beginning to end.

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The Movie is about 2 Married Women who aren't satisfied with their marriage and have an affair with other men. The story itself goes back and forth from one couple to the other. The actors do a great job displaying affection towards each other. Steamy scenes were very realistic, which isn't too common in Korean Movies/Dramas.

Overall I thought it was an OK movie, wouldn't exactly say it was a great movie. Only reason I gave this movie a try in the first place was because of Lee Min Ki. So if you want to watch a more a mature movie that will make you laugh, then give it a try and enjoy ^^

WARNING to the younger viewers the sex scenes aren't very explicit (no major nude scenes) but I would mostly recommended to the more mature audience.

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"If I love you, what business is it of yours?" (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

“Luo Zhi loves Sheng Huainan. And no one knows about it.”

You’ve been warned. This is a long review.

Within the first few episodes, you’ll notice that the show’s stylist didn’t particularly love Luo Zhi enough to give her a memorable style. She’s a brilliant character - committed to her ambition, clever, meticulous, sincere, composed, and yet full of secrecy, shame, longing, and regrets, but she is dressed so...poorly and forgettably. And honestly, I could care less, if I weren’t using this bit to make my own little clever joke, because the juxtaposition of Luo Zhi’s beautiful depth and terrible fashion is exactly how I feel about this adaptation of 八月长安’s (Ba Yue Chang An) web novel, 暗恋橘生淮南 (Unrequited Love.) It has so much potential, gets certain things right that 99% of dramas miss, and yet...suffers from so many flaws. The team behind this show had the right intentions and chose the right story, but dressed it inadequately.

My relationship to this drama is quite mixed. There are elements that I absolutely adore, and yet, elements that frustrate me. But because it gets certain pieces of romantic storytelling right that most Chinese dramas (Asian dramas in general) completely miss, I also keep it close to my heart. The best I can do is to give a sincere review of what I love & hate about Unrequited Love (2021). This review is full of spoilers btw. Beware :)

Elements I Adore:

I. Sheng Huainan & Luo Zhi.
For the first time in Dramaland, I am fully aboard this ship. I am genuinely convinced that if there were a Sheng Huainan and Luo Zhi in our reality, that they would fall for one another. This element is the sole redeeming factor of this drama for me. I’ve found myself watching drama after drama, wondering how both characters fell for the other, and why the story needed to contrive reasons for the couple to come together (cue the usual person falling and the other main character catching them and then...they’re in love! How? We don’t know! But they are…)

In the beginning, we’re told the story of this romance framed by Luo Zhi’s shame and regret. She feels like a ghost beside Huainan, forever chasing after his shadow, but is unwilling to make herself visible unless he sees her first. This pining follows her from high school into her college career. In Luo Zhi’s heart, her yearning for Huainan’s attention isn’t just rooted in the affirmation of a childhood promise, but also in her self-actualization. She’s convinced herself that the best version of herself will undoubtedly catch Huainan’s eye. It’s cringy for us as the audience, because we know this narrative is self-defeating and reeks of shame. But the story’s unwillingness to hide this narrative of Luo Zhi humanizes her. Beside this secretive yearning for Huainan to fulfill his childhood promise, Luo Zhi is an individual who will work as hard as she must in order to achieve the goals she has set for herself. Sure, she’s a softie for Huainan, but she is as tough as it gets outside of her secret yearning. And I love that about her.

Huainan, on the other hand, is both thoughtful and simplistic. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that he’s idealistic to a fault. This man is exactly the albatross that he and Luo Zhi talk about. In terms of academic performance and popularity, he soars in the sky, full of ambition and potential, but his only aim for landing is to find a soulmate. He pines for someone who can share a telepathy with him. Yet when he lands on ground level, he becomes the Big Clumsy Bird he describes the Albatross as. These ideals he crafts in his mind are incomprehensible to most people and highkey irrelevant to most people’s lives. People see him for his looks, his family’s wealth, and his popularity, but he sees himself differently. It makes him feel isolated, invisible, and wary of others.

When you bring the two together, their shared fascination for one another is what makes this drama shine. Their conversations are endless, and I loved seeing that portrayed on screen. Luo Zhi’s shyness and Huainan’s persistence feel natural and painfully realistic. And I adore their initial dates. The surprise gift of Gibran’s poetry? Has my whole heart. Huainan saving the leaf they serendipitously grabbed at the same time, and Luo Zhi finding it as she peeks into his journal -- and Huainan SEEING her find it? I was embarrassed AND blushing for them.

II. Reframing “Missed” Love

I think we can agree that this show isn’t truly portraying “Unrequited Love” when it comes to Huainan & Luo Zhi. It’s portraying missed love. We’re shown this from the very beginning in terms of Luo Zhi’s self-inflicted pain of an “unrequited” love. The truth is, Luo Zhi’s suffering came directly from her own shame. She planted that seed of rejection all on her own and ironically created the distance between her and Huainan, because she never opened any opportunities for their meeting.

I love that the show sets up expectations for us, and then shamefully misses it. Because it’s this same shame that has kept Luo Zhi both resenting and perpetuating the 0.6cm distance between her and Huainan. The drama reveals to us that this distance between her and Huainan is self-forged. Luo Zhi herself has yet to let go of all the shame and self-hatred she developed in her secretive admiration for Huainan, and because of that, she sabotages most of their initial interactions.

The whole merry-go-round of the show is an unwinding of Luo Zhi’s shame. There’s an incredible scene in the movie Saving Face where one character confronts her lover in an airport and says, “You're too scared to look the world in the eye...and let it watch you fall in love.” Which fits perfectly with what Luo Zhi heartbreakingly inscribed on the rooftop wall: “Luo Zhi loves Sheng Huainan. And no one knows about it.” At this point, Huainan doesn’t even know of Luo Zhi’s existence. Her heartbreak is a whole narrative she has spun all on her own. And I think some of us might relate to that - the feeling of ending something before it even has the chance to begin, because we’re scared of the risks involved in putting ourselves out there. And she sets up these conditional requirements Huainan has to meet in order for her to finally reveal their childhood history, but those conditions are deceptive. The truth is that Luo Zhi is not ready to meet Huainan in her fullest vulnerability. Her ambivalence is fueled by her shame and fear.

When Huainan meets Luo Zhi, it’s as if his lonely lil Albatross self has finally found a place to land. It’s lowkey unfair to him that Luo Zhi comes in with so much reservation and secrecy, but we’ll save that conversation for another day. A part of me loves that though, because it’s painfully human. How many of us aren’t secretive and wary when it comes to love? I’ve been a partial Luo Zhi before, and I’ve also been a partial Huainan. I’ve been an admirer, and I’ve also been an overly cautious person. I’ve been the person full of shame, and I’ve also been the person who wants to risk losing my societal mask(s) in order to grow closer to someone.

I dislike the way they framed the eventual 5-year wedge between Luo Zhi & Huainan, but I respect the reasoning for it. The romantic in me loves and is in tune with how Luo Zhi describes their love: It is rooted in mutual, shared belief. Both of these clumsy Albatrosses believe that they will land in the same place, but for now, their ambitions are diverging. Their love is a commitment to the belief that they will come together without reservations, without shame, without secrecy standing between them. If I were to call myself a believer of love, I’d be in agreement with Luo Zhi. I think my truest belief in love is where choosing myself is already choosing the other person, because becoming who I am will naturally lead me to someone who is most compatible with me (granted that they too feel as if they are becoming closer to their ideal self).

And the irony is that even during this period where they are far apart in both time and distance, they are the closest they've ever been to each other at heart. They’re often in the same places, by coincidence, and even peruse the same book. And yet, when they were closest in terms of distance and time in college, they were farthest at heart, because they were clothed in shame and secrecy, which bred miscommunication after miscommunication. I guess the winding of this drama is meant to show us that Huainan & Luo Zhi had to come so close and yet spend so much time apart because they were the ones closing the door on one another. They were rejecting each other, or rather, rejecting themselves from fully accepting the other. And thus, as Huainan says, “isn’t it the absence of a thereafter that makes something romantic?” Now that they’re in agreement of a shared belief in love, there really is no “Aha!” moment the show owes us. They are in sync, and time and distance no longer reduce what is already shared between them. A true meeting of heart and mind.

“Sheng Huainan loves Luo Zhi. And the whole world knows about it.”

III. Zhang Mingrui
I loved this character & the actor's portrayal of him. His bond with Huainan was both believable & heartwarming. I also appreciate how his relationship with Riqing unraveled -- and how he was honest about not having any lingering feelings for her. I honestly think Luo Zhi & Mingrui were compatible all on their own, and wouldn't have minded if the show-writers decided to give us a "Luo Zhi's first love is Huainan, but her second love is Mingrui" kind of ordeal. My all-time favorite moment of Mingrui in this show was the scene where the uncomfortable classmate takes Huainan's bag of chips, and Mingrui says, so candidly, "Excuse me?" It was one of those scenes that felt so natural -- as if these characters really were just college students in a library, completely caught off-guard & bewildered by the actions of a *strange* classmate.


What Fell Short:

The. Side. Characters.
I’m going to be brutally honest and tell you that I skipped past most of the side character storylines. The dynamic between Bai Li and Ge Bi? That’s a big ~nope~ for me. I pretty much only watched Bai Li when she was with Luo Zhi. I will say one character that I passionately abhor in this show is that one boundary-breaking, fear-inducing, unreasonable stalker of Huainan. And I don’t abhor her, I abhor the characterization of her. She was so contrived. I won’t spend my words on it further than that. If they took out the side characters and focused more on Huainan & Luo Zhi's period of separation, I would give this series a higher rating. But these unnecessary & pathetic villains are not it.

The Misunderstandings
Scrap the entire feud between Luo Zhi and Huainan’s families. It was unnecessary and barely fleshed out. While we’re there, scrap Huainan’s family downfall too. And that bit about Huainan giving Luo Zhi the raincoat as a test? It was weird and off putting. It felt like tacky story writing. It’s what I mean when I say the show had heart, but was poorly dressed.

I’m definitely going to come back & edit this review, because I’m still contemplating how I feel about the show. But I still treasure the feelings it gave me because it reminded me of my own belief in love.

The Initial Daydreams
I have a strong dislike for any show that uses this technique. Showing the audience a scene and then revealing to us that it was all the character’s imagination is both uncomfortable and unnecessary. We KNOW Luo Zhi is pining after him, and we KNOW he doesn’t know her yet. Please spare us the trickery.

I don’t have much to say about where I feel the show fell short because I feel as if they were problems in the show’s exterior -- that’s not where my heart is at. My heart is in the interior of the show - the crafting of Luo Zhi & Huainan’s love - of which I’ve already penned a gazillion words.

If you’ve gotten this far, I do recommend the show. Just skip the side romances. And give space for Luo Zhi to grow on you, because she will. If you liked this show, I’m recommending you Nana (Japanese Anime), Ao Haru Ride (Japanese Anime), Whisper of the Heart (Japanese Anime), "A Love So Beautiful" (Chinese Drama), and “In Time With You” (Taiwanese Drama).

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Family Fun

I really wanted to like this and decided that this was going to be my festive October near Halloween drama. Instead. It took me two weeks to get through the twelve episodes because, honestly, they were a bit hard for me to get through. Which makes me a little uneasy writing this review as the six previous reviews before this one spoke very highly of the drama. This drama was 100% silly "family fun" which isn't my cup of tea.

I loved how this drama was a unique perspective of a zombie wanting to become a human again and basically trying to blend in, not wanting to be caught. He also harbors a small hatred for humans as all movies and dramas that come out, portray zombies as these creatures from hell that need to be brutally murdered, but he soon starts developing a bond with Sunji and her family. I also loved all the random cameos - all the members of A.C.E., one of my favorite kpop groups (Jun & Chan getting the lines in multiple eps), Sam Hammington (who I know and love from Return of Superman), and last, even though she wasn't a cameo, but I love her anyway, Hwang Bo Ra, who plays Sunji's cooky sister. I also LOVED all the music they picked - either the random references to Hollywood movies or when DPR Live's Martini Blue randomly started playing on Sunji's headphones.

The last thing I loved about this drama was the bits and pieces of darkness with all the crimes (a total of 3 main ones). But this also goes hand in hand with why I didn't like it as well. I feel like this drama didn't really know what it wanted to be or the vibe it was going for - one moment President Le is fighting a bad guy off, but literally getting bashed in the head with a trophy over and over again (in any normal drama, he would be unconscious or dead) but a moment later Wang Wey slams into the glass door trying to escape, much as in a scene from a Saturday morning cartoon with sound effects and all. Cut to the next scene, Prez Le is totally fine and minor blood. It was almost like the show was maybe going for a PG Saturday morning cartoon feel and was over the top too cheesy and dramatic for my taste, personally. Some jokes hit, most didn't. Which is fine and cool, maybe this drama was written for a younger audience, but then you have DARK scenes and situations, that are 100%, not PG, but all of them were my favorites.

I also had a hard time because I wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters. This drama was 100% silly "family fun" which isn't my cup of tea especially when the characters don't sit well. They all had so much potential, such as the main characters, and could have been amazing detectives from the very beginning, but decided they wanted to be clumsy in the beginning so they could come through in ep 12 and complete a very simple operation and pat themselves on the back. And this is all my personal opinion. I thought that catching the Christmas/Santa Clause Killer was a harder task than the one in ep 12. I also wasn't a fan of President Le and his agency, but they did embody what this drama symbolized and they also followed the formula of having potential, but only coming through at the end. I think the only characters that I somewhat enjoyed were Sun Young (she is very consistent in embodying one character in all her dramas), her son (he was so cute and randomly always in the right place at the right time), and Sunji's best friend who owned the tripe shop (who always came through with her contacts at the hospital). The two mains were alright - I loved Moo Young's determination to solving cases and finding answers, but it would get discouraged very easily and then want to give up, and I loved how supportive Sunji was with her friends and family and wanted to do the right thing, but she was very clumsy and impulsive and it was very annoying. She was very good at her job and had the potential and the heart to be a detective, but she lacked a bit of common sense. Both characters got better towards the end, but it made it hard for me to personally watch while waiting.

Overall, if you want to watch a PG drama with some dark themes, but covered up with Saturday morning cartoons jokes, and scenes, this would be a good drama. I personally thought that there was a lot of fluff even though this was already super short. I will not watch this drama again, but I am happy that I did watch this. I wish I could give it a better score because of the music and the cameos and all the good promoting, but this was a miss for me.

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It’s cute, funny and just hits your happy spot!

I enjoyed this show more than I thought I would. It packed a punch for just 12 30 minute episodes. No fillers, no boring parts, it was fantastic on just how simple it is.

This is a good pick up if you are tired of watching really heavy drama with plot twists here and there and want a break.

The story is nothing new, but the actors delivered. The FL is not only pretty but is really funny. Her acting was on point, she was so fun to watch. I am looking forward to seeing her in more dramas. The ML wasn’t too bad either.
Overall, not a bad 6 hours spent, not to mention the ending was satisfying!

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All the Potential, None of the Pay Off

I honestly had high hopes for this one after seeing clips from it on social media platforms. But at the end of it all... I was left severely underwhelmed.

Like the title says... it had a lot of potention to be good... but it didn't pay off in the end. At least not for me anyway. The plot was good... but filled with holes. I think that episodes being only 5-8 (ish) minutes of actual drama hindered it... especially with the last episode which could have some explanations as to how things happened.

Don't get me started on the plot twist... it was unnecessary.

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This was my first Chinese drama. I had been reluctant to watch them mainly because of the dubbing that drives me crazy, but thankfully was not present in this show. I decided to jump in after watching a clip online that intrigued me. I was immediately hooked on the characters, and I thought the cinematography was nicely done, as well as the music. There was a slow burn on the romance that built up steadily until a little over halfway through the show.

Jian Yao started off as a smart, independent female that was in control of her life. Bo Jin Yan was this enigmatic man whose cold exterior was gradually warming up to Jian Yao and drawing closer to her. I enjoyed the episodic cases they solved together and the growth of Jian Yao as Bo Jin Yan's protégé in criminal profiling, not to mention the blossoming of their feelings toward one another. There was some quiet humor in there as well that I enjoyed immensely. But in the end Jian Yao was just a damsel in distress, and Bo Jin Yan was running away to "catch the bad guy" immediately after telling her he'd be with her "24/7" -- more than once. She was left out of the loop completely.

So....why the 6.5 rating you say? Well, that's because the last 1/4 of the show, the story, once it moved from China to America, went downhill in flames for me. I raced to the finish of this show expecting things to get back on track, but they never did. It was almost as if they changed writers because the whole tone of the show changed completely. Jian Yao and Bo Jin Yan were hardly in a scene together afterwards, and their dynamic changed as well. The chemistry and romance was lost as they pursued "one" big bad villain. The plot got too twisted and convoluted. The actors playing the Americans were atrocious. The stilted speech was one thing, but there were several goofs as well. One text was sent out - with a misspelling of "steel" instead of the word "steal" that was meant....but on the receiving end, the text was completely different than what was sent out. The actors playing the Americans had a few flubs in their delivery of lines, as well as changing the names of the other characters a few times. There were a few that also could not hold their American accents. It was horribly distracting. Also, the Americans would speak in English, and the Chinese would reply in Chinese. This seemed very unrealistic, as how many Americans are fluent in Mandarin? And apparently New York police officers really need to wear their bulletproof vests. Yikes!
The 7.5 score for acting goes entirely to the Chinese cast in this case, points deducted for the "Americans". (Edited to add: Although, I do realize that English speakers are NOT the target audience, I hope that this information is helpful for those that it would make a difference to.)

Poor Jian Yao and Bo Jin Yan were almost completely different characters by the end of this show. Not the same one I was captivated by in the beginning. That disappointed me a lot and the only reason this is getting a 6.5 is for all the scenes in China. I feel bad hating on a show that most seemed to really love, but there it is. They could have fleshed out the story and the characters better if they had stayed put and continued in the direction they started. The switchover to New York also had the undesired outcome of not completing the setup they started in China. Many things were dropped and not explained.

Despite my utter letdown in the ending of this show, Huo Wallace has gained a new fan in me. I hope to one day see him act in something that will "wow" me like the start of this did.

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