The extended shots and continuous takes evoke strong vibes reminiscent of Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien, which might make some viewers find the material a bit monotonous. But if you're a fan of Edward Yang or Hou Hsiao-hsien's films, this is a treat. I would even go so far as to say this is the best thing I've seen from iQIYI and Chinese contemporary film/television in a long time.
The direction, production, and the actors' performances (there are some seriously impressive performances here) are genuinely excellent and ensure there's always something captivating happening within the frame.
The atmosphere and mood of the show stayed with me long after the credits rolled in the final episode. If nothing else, the final half-hour or so will linger in your memory long after the screen goes dark.
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"We're moving forward albeit slowly. We're standing side by side."
When I found out I was getting a Season 2 of Utsukushi Kare S2 I was over the moon. Seriously, I literally squeeled! I missed my boys so much and it was a joy watching these 4 extra episodes although I wish we had more. But, I digress.I love how the writers kept this realistic in both story and characters. Both Kiyoi and Hira are still pretty much the same but have also changed quite a bit. Kiyoi is more confident in himself. He's also more content & secure in showing his feelings for Hira. He's even mastered a way to get Hira to listen to him when he wants him to love himself more. It's a cute method, pretty much old "nasty" Kiyoi but with good intensions. Hira, although his character development is not as obvious it is there. He can see that he needs to get better and that he's stuck in the same place. While before, he refused to even acknowledge those problems. Let's face it the type of self-worth and mental health issues he has are not going to go away overnight. He needs help, I wish it came in a professional way, but he gets the second-best way: in a mentor that's been there and can be the light he needs to get better. With Kiyoi's love being the guiding force, I have no doubt that with hard work and hopefully therapy his issues will be able to go away. And there is where the title of my review comes in.
To be honest, I'm glad the writers didn't give Hira a magical cure because that is just not realistic, it's gonna take time. Sure, I would have liked more happiness and intimacy but that's not who Hira and Kiyoi are. Their love is strong and getting stronger every day, no matter the issues. I can't wait to see what the next chapter brings for Hira and Kiyoi in Eternal.
Hagiwara and Yagi brought their a game especially in the big confrontation scene in ep 3. They are so good at what they do. And it was obvious how happy they were to be working together again. There was this sense of happiness in all their scenes together. Made this even more of a joy to watch. Chemistry? 10+
I'm giving this a 10 because I loved everything about it. Even when the story may have seemed repetitive, it was important to be told that way. I'm gonna be rewatching this and S1 over and over until I can watch the movie. Highly recommended of course.
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Story - It is quite a typical revenge and fate between main lead plot line. I wouldn't say it was particularly special. Despite this it was paced well, the relationship between the characters did not feel forced and you can tell the progression in their relationship. The ending though was not very clear - i didn't read the novel but apparently was quite different to the reference. Cast - As usual Zhao Lu Shi is really well suited to these comedic historical roles as she makes it seem so natural. It was great to see the improvement in her acting and slightly more serious role compared to her previous works. Zheng Ye Cheng was a surprise, I've seen his works in Love O2O, An Oriental Odyssey and most recently Royal Nirvana - his acting is very diverse and he really executed the 'male god' character/aura very well. Definitely one of those dramas that make you fall in love with the male lead. There is a second male/female lead romance line, but that didn't gauge my interest much.
Voice - I really enjoyed that they used original voices for the dubbing instead of voice actors. It makes everything flow so much better.
Overall i think the drama is highly recommended if you are looking for a historical romance with touch of comedy. Whilst there is some political elements, it is not the main plot but supports the progression of the main characters' story.
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this drama may as well be the definition of Han.
(i dont rate rewatch value, neutral 5)- a uniquely korean concept (emotion) that is generally defined along the lines of a deeprooted unresolved pain relating to historical injustice, universally felt by koreans. it goes an extra layer deep, and pretty much explains a large part of what makes korean media as good as it is. (and why my ass be cryin during all these damn kdramas.. they literally feel more.)
Heung would be the counter, explosive and contagious joy, which this show also delivers in spades. Go Soo for one literally makes me smile just being on screen. damn near laugh even. he's so funny and kinda wacky that he almost seemed out of place at first, till quickly he became the only person fit for the role. my girl Ahn Sohee in here bossin (i say my girl but this is also the first time i saw her lol), Ha-Joon goin truh his things, Heo Junho on Go's side. and THOMAS. it's the most charming freakin cast ever, and they bounce off each other so well.
but yeah, what's more of an injustice (Han) than being killed, not even knowing why, and existing in limbo because your body hasnt been discovered? but.. then.. whats more of Heung than that limbo being a colorful, warm little village of people in the same position as you, all loving and caring for one another. on the one hand, developing all those relationships, youd wanna stay.. but on the other, you probably want someone to find you, for your loved ones to get closure.
without going any deeper into the plot, that's where Han and Heung meet. that's why the final ep was a waterpark on my face. nothing hits like kdramas hit. these mfers just whip out masterpieces like its nothing.
if you like the show Pushing Daisies i think that'd be the closest western comparison i could make, tho i was a kid when that was on and barely recall it. it has the same kinda blend of dark subject matter with a whimsically light scifi twist.
at 12 eps i cant give it anything but a perfect score. this is just everything. i'll miss you thomas 😭 and i aint even mention the puppies
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The story is well-written and progresses naturally though their growth.
I liked how they were telling the story through the interviews, and that they went back to the train station scene.
The music is nice, i'm a big fan of lofi music anyway.
The actors did a great job, I had a hard time finding their name since there's very little info about this on the internet, but when I did, I started following all their other projects.
This is something I want to rewatch many times because it just makes me feel good afterwards, I hope it does the same for you too.
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The time travel plot was pretty solid and unique (and no, I don't get tired of this genre unless executed poorly) and the story moved along at a great pace where I never felt the need to hit the skip button. I loved that there was minimal court politics and instead they focused more on the cute romance between the leads.
The main male lead was perfect, like I would marry him right now hands down no objections. The main female lead was a little ehhh in the beginning, but she grew on me. She went from "you're slightly annoying?" to "you are funny, i like you" in a few episodes.
The OST is amazing- fits the mood of the drama. I can listen to it for hours.
Overall, great story, great chem, great costumes, great scenery, great music, i would def rewatch the scenes with the main couples.
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Nothing is stronger than family. Absolutely beautiful. As an elder sibling I loved the older brother's mature approach to the behavior of the confused younger siblings. The acting was realistic, no high school fake glamor. All actors looked natural, no make-up. God *siiiigh* I'm so tired of crying.
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With that being said, Anna felt like an afterthought. She barely showed up in the first few episodes and never really had an active role in the plot (No, K2 watching her cook ramen badly through the CCTV doesn't count). All that fashion show stuff and the Barcelona Angel stuff...it felt unnecessary.
A lot of the political terminology went over my head (STONKS?) and I honestly felt like the reason for "revenge" really wasn't strong enough. I never felt connected or cared about the girlfriend that was killed, and I think all the Kumar-gate talk was confusing. It probably could've been stronger it had been connected with CYJ/Anna's backstory.
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Loved. Recommend.
"How to Be a Perfect Dad" is a comedy that begins with a little girl, and her non-custodial playboy father learning to become a dad, when the child's single mom is hospitalized. Maddeningly beautiful, and warmhearted. Frustrating, and saddening, even angering at times. All the emotions that such a story can invoke, the supernaturally-based "How to Be a Perfect Dad" does.It is a family tale, with layers of ghostly hauntings and mysterious figures. The underlying currents of love, throughout, are worth it. A modern tale without baggage, and a production team confident in the story they were creating. Highly recommended.
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So sweet~ QWQ Underrated, must-watch C-drama!
This drama's really good!! Oh my goddd!! Wish more people can know about it.Synopsis: A year after the prestigious QingMeng University basketball team was dissolved after the passing of its head coach, the coach's daughter takes on the challenge of reviving the team to carry on her dad's legacy and fulfill her ultimate dream as basketball is one of her biggest passions. In the process of re-assembling this team, she encounters many struggles with the recruited players and ends up meeting one mysterious, godly guy named Jun Ye. At first reluctant to join, she ends up successfully convincing Jun ye to join and as a team, she coaches the players, training them to defeat their biggest rival, ShenHua, through team-building activities. Eventually, she starts to spend more time with Jun Ye and he develops feelings for her and together they tackle the challenges that come their way.
The best thing in my viewing experience was seeing the characters' friendship and teamwork blossom into something powerful. I really loved each and every single relationship in this show, both romantic and platonic. The care and love they have for each other were genuine and heart-warming. The actors and actresses must have had such a fun time filming this drama because the cast's chemistry was amazing! I just can't get enough of them. Furthermore, I especially loved how every member of the basketball team had their own personalities and quirks, which allows you to connect to every character as a unique individual rather than forgettable, supporting characters of the main characters. The female lead, Su Nuanxia, has a great personality and is the person I want to be. Being a female head of a team of guys, it's easy for people to look down on her yet she remains independent, self-aware , and stands her ground. Among the players, we also have the handsome star player, his rambunctious roommate, the hard-working part timer, the intelligent doctor, and the shy brawny romantic. It's easy to envision how this was based on a manga/manhwa. The most exciting scenes of this drama were the basketball games, where we see the team work together and compete against their rival, their friendly competition. The actions shots during the games were so cool, intense and kept me on the edge of my seat as I root for Qingmeng's victory.
The story had a solid number of side characters with interesting enough back stories to not make me bored too. Oftentimes, the story in dramas would revolve too much around the romance of the male and female lead that I get bored of their romance. In this drama, I have never once gotten tired of watching the main couple interact. The teasing in conversations flow so fluidly and the way Jun Ye looks at Nuan Xia makes my heart melt every time. Their relationship dynamic is so wholesome and sweet. I think Aaron Deng's eyes are so attractive that I am starting to fall head over heels for him too. ;~;
At the end of every episode, there would always be a bonus scene that presents a hypothetical scenario targeted for the viewers' enjoyment. The corner on dating advice for straight men has got to be my favorite since it makes me laugh myself stupid. The main show was also hilarious bc at some points I laughed so hard my stomach started to hurt. This drama is comedic gold, I'm telling you. It's a lot funnier than most other Chinese dramas I've watched of the same archetype.
This drama is a really light, fluffy watch and the only bad part I can think is it might be too "sweet" for some viewer's taste, perhaps. I can say this show is intended for a younger audience for sure. but I'm in my early 20s and can still relate to it a lot perhaps bc I've had experience leading a club and love sports shows that promote healthy teamwork, motivation and spirit (like Haikyuu!!). The only other rather annoying thing is it's difficult to find English subtitles. I started watching it on YouTube, but it's barely translated on there so I transitioned to streaming it on the MangoTV app because it had more episodes subbed. The subtitles on the app, however, are atrociously broken and inaccurate, but my proficiency in Chinese came through an helped me tons in getting through untranslated parts. Episodes 21-24 aren't available for regular members, so I have yet to watch them, but will likely add an edit once I complete the entire drama!
Edit: Just finished watching the whole thing. Although the resolution was more focused on basketball than the couple's love life, I was pretty satisfied!
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The drama was action packed, focusing on two main characters who were trying to solve the mystery of the serial killer who was trying to kill them all. There were enough twists to keep things interesting, and tiring at times, as, at some point, the twist over twist was a bit too much. The mystery, however, was not easy to predict, or to guess who was the culprit, as, in each episode, another character seemed suspicious. The drama didn't add romance to the mix, at least not too obvious, which was really a relief. However, the main plot with the going back in time and the whole organization was not properly explained. The ending, in addition, was simply perfect. Finally, the performances were great from all the actors and actresses of the cast.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
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Light hearted fun
personally Joong kinda reminds me of Archie in Riverdale so my expectations where not that high , but I was pleasantly surprised. I really like drama so honestly I found the conflicts really fun. I also really liked Joongs character.The most annoying thing about this is the fact that they always get called in the middle of the most important conversations and they always pick up the phone
The production is really good I love how Gmmtvs shows alwus feels like the color the title graphic is in and the repetitive use of the Sunflower is really cute
I would say if you don't mind a bit of stupid conflict definitely give it a watch.
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A sea of subplots
If this drama is a plate of food, it had the best ingredients and beef but the chef is panicking so he added all the spices available in the kitchen, then overcooked it because he's afraid the meat will be rare. Because they have to make a 16 episode drama, they give you a lot of side stories forcefully crammed in the storyline. To be fair, sometimes I complained because the supporting characters are not given enough story depth, but 18 Again was too much in doing that. Most of the latter half of the drama is filled with all these stories and they successfully reduced my interest. I also admit that I loved the comedic parts of these stories but no, we don't need the stalker, we don't need Ye Ji Hoon's brother and his story, probably Choi Il-gwon is not necessary too. There are already enough flashbacks and more important side stories to focus on.The casts are doing good job in their roles, especially Lee Do Hyun who successfully portrayed the 18-year old and 37-year old parts. There is no awkwardness when he is in romantic scenes with Kim Ha Neul. Yoon Sang Hyun on the other hand also managed to express frustrations and regrets to the viewers very well.
Music is generally nice, but not that super memorable. Why? Blame "Hello" for that. The song is a bit overused and in the end your mind just randomly playing "hello... hello...". So yes it managed to stick on me, but as a nuisance.
Overall this drama is quite enjoyable because the story is actually nice and full of life lessons, just skip the unfunny side stories.
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