Reviews

Aired in 1996, this lakorn reminds me so much of the old-school HK dramas I grew up with, which adds a tinge of sentimental nostalgia to my watch experience. As quite a few viewers have observed in the comments section, this lakorn is a lovely, sweet, sweeping fairytale romance which is also nicely spiced with some kingdom politics and royal court shenanigans. A captivating, quaint and charming lakorn worth watching.

STORY (No spoilers)
Set in a fictional time with three fictional kingdoms just barely maintaining a fine balance amongst each other, this lakorn nicely sets the scene by immediately introducing a key circumstance which threatens to throw this fine balance off-course. The King of Kasik has engaged himself to the Princess of Danta in what looks to be a win-win situation for both countries. Bandurath, stuck in the middle between these two countries, nervously observes in anxious anticipation. On the day when Kasik was to receive the Princess of Danta at the tri-point - the place where all three of the countries were connected - things took an exciting turn when said Princess fled into Bandurath soil to escape from the marriage. Clearly a diplomatic faux pas on epic proportions, this event sets off a whole series of future events and circumstance which would impact all three royal families like never before.

Does this premise sound intriguing? If it does, then you should really consider watching this lakorn despite its 1996-age tag. Yes, the video quality is not as sharp nor as bright and pleasing to the eyes as the newer HD lakorns these days, but I have to admit that considering its over-20 year age tag, it was not a completely fuzzy blur either. The outdoor open-air scenes were more than serviceable in quality with the indoor and night-time scenes being a little more patchy. It was still a decent watch, so if this is a sticking point, be encouraged to give this show a try because it is the story that will pull you in.

Being a romance-junkie, I am naturally a sucker for fairytale romances, especially of fairytale romances done right. This one charmed me off my feet with its delightful characters and simple but nicely-developed story. The romance between our main leads was this slow simmering bubbling burn with the intensity ratcheting up a little more episode by episode, and I don't know about you but I found myself getting goosebumps from it despite its restrained and conservative nature. So delicious!
Our main leads weren't the only ones to have a love story too - there are two other secondary couples also slowly being created alongside our main one. Each couple has its own very different dynamic from the others which can make for a refreshing change to the tempo, if you like that sort of thing. I, for one, was heartily absorbed in our main leads' romance, but I did appreciate the change of scene and intensity whenever it was these couples' turn on-screen. I think I might have slowly self-combusted under the main male lead's smouldering gazes if there was not a change of scene, lol.

And on that note, it is worth mentioning that the pacing in this lakorn is one that is measured and sedate - there are quite a few scenes where the camera takes its time to pan on the scenery or on the characters, which allows the scene to sink in and sit with you. This heightens and draws out the emotional scenes but some people might also find it to be too slow and too draggy. It is definitely a directorial style and dramatic license employed by the production team but I personally think that it adds and builds on the fairytale nature of the show, and therefore appropriate.

The kingdom politics does feature itself fairly regularly in between - inevitable considering the whole setup and premise of the show. It is not too over-powering though, and not too complicated to have lost you either. While some may be tempted to fast-forward through these scenes, I would like to encourage you to try and sit through them because they're not too heavily political but it does lend the show a more weighty and rounded dimension and it gives you added insights into the internal motivations of our characters too. And some of the banter between the ministers of each of the three countries can be rather amusing too.

Which brings me to one of the best parts of the show, in my opinion: the dialogue. I love the dialogue. It's not face-value words but, like your old classic literature, there are implied things and under-tones hidden amongst what is being said, and the repartee between our main leads, or those between the King of Kasik and his two loyal bodyguards (Benli and Rajik), are full of humour and hidden, implied statements. Such witty and clever banter is such a rarity in shows these days that I particularly appreciated and enjoyed it here. And the King of Kasik's romantic lines? Goosebumps-inducing stuff.

Final word on the production value. Not very high but I personally think it was decent considering its time and the scale of the story's setting. I surprisingly liked the unpretentious nature of this show but I also acknowledge that there are weaknesses in some of its sets. Minor issue for me, but I know this is a subjective opinion.  


ACTING/ CAST
While the show does provide generous amounts of screen-time for our main leads, it didn't forget to also allow its supporting and side characters to shine by giving them space to grow too. There are plenty of different personalities in this show, which is one of the things which make it charming for me because they add a lot of variety and spice. No real cardboard cut-out characters or crazy antagonists here. Another refreshing change from your modern-day lakorns. Each character down to the ministers, the bodyguards and the ladies-in-waiting were nicely and humanly portrayed, which helps to make this show come alive.

Spotlight on the main leads:
NAT MYRIA BENEDETTI as Darshika, Princess of Bandurath, was a good casting choice. She was beautiful and carried herself regally throughout the show, befitting her character as the intelligent, noble and strong-willed princess who captured the heart of a King. I loved her character in this show, and I loved how Nat portrayed her throughout. She was entirely believable as someone born into royalty from birth and given all the education and teaching in kingdom politics and operations so that she would be an able support and helper to her brother, the Crown Prince of Bandurath. She had the haughty dignity of her station, but could also be warm and kind to those serving around and under her. In short, she was royalty personified. Well done to Nat here.

NUM SORNRAM TAPPITUK  as Rangsimant, King of Kasik, was also great casting choice. His complexion, his hair and his looks which gave him a tribal, warrior-type vibe was very appropriate for the savage reputation of Kasikans. Especially when you contrast him with the Crown Prince of Bandurath who had a very european look (the Bandurathian royal family have very european looks in this show - nice consistent casting call here).
I liked how Num was able to show so many sides to this initially enigmatic and mysterious King. There were so many rumours about him, and his reputation as a savage had definitely preceded him, so it was interesting to see whether he would live up to them or not. Num did have this aura of command, and his serious, stern facade added weight to his kingly character. But it was his ability to show how differently Rangsimant's approach to Darshika was (which was very sweet) that sold his character for me. You could see his passionate, tender and caring side through his interactions with her. The soulful, smouldering looks he gives her, coupled with his romantic lines, can genuinely incur goosebumps. His King of Kasik was my favourite character in this lakorn - many thanks to Num for bringing him to life here!


MUSIC
I liked the music in this show. The background score reminds me very much of the old epic HK dramas I used to watch - very much a product of its time but one which I enjoyed. I also liked the songs in this show - those with vocals or their instrumental versions. I thought the background music and score were generally very well-employed throughout the show and there were some scenes which were made a lot more impactful because of them. Nicely done.


RE-WATCH VALUE
I don't have many Asian fairytale romance dramas in my database to enjoy so this show has entered my store of shows with a very high re-watch value as a result. Dated production value aside, this show has been enthralling, captivating and charming. I wished I had more episodes of it to watch, gah.

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Short... but so sweet!

Story: Back story and world building was mostly through narration, but for a period drama and with such short time frame, it was good enough. And the back story was interspersed with scenes that made the plot move.

Acting/Cast: The two mains were really good. I don't know if they are veteran actors, but the way their eyes and voice projects their character's emotions and inner struggle. They are really good, even on par to those Cdrama actors in a Cdrama with a lot of funding.

Music: The ending ost is ok. Maybe because the film is short that is why there is no time for the OST to hit on me like other c-period drama had done.

Rewatch Value: Because it is short and has complete story, I will surely re-watch this in the future.

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Bittersweet

This movie although having many erotic scenes has some pretty deep meanings in it. The lack of love and attention from parents results in many issues among women and men alike. This is very true for Sawako because she's trying to fill that void she feels from the lack of attention she gets from her father. The dialogue and acting is very nice and sometimes it's funny, and sometimes it's kinda philosphical. Then you throw in a little bit of those steamy romance novels in it and viola you have Te. There is romance in it but it's not a fluffy and sweet movie. It contains many taboo subjects such as infidelity and our main characters have a sense of realism in them as they are far from perfect. The main takeaway from this movie is how the main character Sawako discovers her inner self and grows as a person, and how she tackles her issues. And lastly....wow! This movie is steamy steamy!

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Well I would have given a slightly higher review if the ending was less messier. IT felt rushed? I won't actually say rushed but for me it just ended slightly abruptly. I mean it was supposed to be like that I guess from the story but still.

Also at the beginning I really didn't like the second male lead he was almost not there and suddenly he formed feelings for our FL? How did that happen? And the worse part? By the last episode I was actually rooting for him, mainly cuz our ML was literally missing for 3-4 eps!!!!

Before all of that I was highly rooting for the OTP and shipping them hard. She brought a really cute side of him out.

For people who are discouraged by the reviews, don't be. This drama is actually good. The whole story has a very realistic edge to it and the FL is relate-able and the way our OTP falls in love is very natural. This is one of the only dramas I've watched where the falling in love part is very natural. You could totally imagine it happening to you too (it's just that we're not that lucky enough). Their relationship is very healthy. Their breakup is also because of natural terms which makes you wonder that it can happen to anyone. It is not cause by nonsensical matters. Except for the last few eps I totally totally loved the story. I also loved how the side characters matured on their own too. Senior Li was by far my favorite side character. He was such a cutie. There are no character you hate in this story. Just real human beings who have real flaws. Which makes it more realistic.

Another main factor, the acting of the FL. You are gonna love her. She's one of those characters that you cannot help but actually love. There are no cliche acting in here at all. Everyone acts out their parts perfectly adn the ML's smile *swoon*

Finally don't feel discouraged by the teacher-student tag. They are not exactly teacher and student. For those who like me hate those kind of stories, he's actually someone like a teacher's assistant and PhD student in the university who's covering classes for the main lecturer. Though they do have a tiny bit of an age gap. It doesn't sound exactly scandalous as the synopsis says XD

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Friends in Low Places

To Chang'an, Season 3 of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, opens with Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming's perilous return to the capital, transporting golden peaches for the emperor from the Kang kingdom. The ensemble team brims with lively, familiar chemistry amid even bigger stakes as they arrive at the peak of the power struggle between Princess Taiping and Emperor Xuanzong. The tension in the air is palpable, and Lu Lingfeng finds himself once again caught between being the Princess's son and a loyal subject of the throne. Su Wuming shamelessly lies and grovels as his survival instincts kick in, helping Lu Lingfeng and his team walk a precarious tightrope as they find themselves in the crosshairs of both sides of the political divide.

This franchise continues to fire the imagination with exotic mythical creatures, vivid visuals, eerie illusions, and strange anomalies. Superstition and folklore surround eight eerie cases driven by ultimately human factors: political intrigue, greed and corruption, distorted love and hate, social injustice, and revenge. The "drop-bys" of popular characters from past seasons adds to the sense of continuity and nostalgia. This season's cases are intriguing, well-written, and tightly plotted with rigorous detail, featuring enough reversals to keep viewers on their toes—albeit dialed down a notch or two in intricacy. This shift widens the narrative focus onto the complex social and power dynamics of Chang'an during a time of transition.

Where Season 2 held the team's personal developments in abeyance, Season 3 explores them fully. This is Strange Tales' most romantic season to date, with romance featuring heavily in many cases. But it is Lu Lingfeng and Pei Xijun's meltingly romantic courtship that steals the show. It is high time they take their relationship to the next level and the frank passion in the way they express their feelings by via famous Tang love poems made my toes curl! Master Fei also seems to hilariously discover a new calling as ice cream/sushan (酥山) proprietor by day and spymaster by night!

In a departure from its travelogue format, this season immerses itself in the diversity and divisiveness of Chang'an—an ancient melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, social classes, and political factions. As if being embroiled in the power struggle weren't enough, Lu Lingfeng also finds himself at the center of the class conflict between merchants and nobility. The tension boils over in a case that threatens to rip apart the social fabric of the city. In a fiery ideological debate, Su Wuming compellingly articulates the grievances of the "everybody-nobody" against Lu Lingfeng's proud and impassioned defense of the aristocratic "somebody." Yang Xuwen impresses with his layered portrayal of a deeply conflicted Lu Lingfeng—torn between loyalty and affection for his friends in low places and his ingrained belief in the social order and the cultural and moral superiority of the educated elite.

While I thoroughly enjoyed their showdown, the stakes become very real for the battling sheriffs: Sheriff Wei of Chang'an County and Sheriff Du of Wannian County. For me, the sixth case, with its deeper messages and social commentary, was the most moving and memorable. The final case, focused on diplomatic affairs, is also superb—high-octane and action-packed. It brings the season to a close on a high, more positive note, though it lacks the emotional resonance of the sixth.

I am both relieved and impressed that this wonderful series continues to deliver. The production continues to invest in high-quality writing and visuals that stay true to authentic Tang aesthetics. The only hint that this season was helmed by a different director is the subtlest shift in camera language and visual storytelling. I won't lie: Season 3 is not as good as Season 2. But the richer fleshing out of the team puts it on par with Season 1.

I enthusiastically rate this 9.0/10.

(This season was followed by a "mini" Season 4 comprising two cases, which I will review separately.)

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this was just a weird and captivating movie. just from the beginning you are like wot is going on. every crazy goon has their own weirdness. one walks backwards, one eats alot, one is obsessessed, one steals emotions and one is a cyborg. i mean all this crazys in one spot. i love rain generally but in this show i loved the cyborg most. the two were the best but this girl is talented. i also loved her in a tale of two sisters she's awsome. and to think that shes 32 two years older than rain is incredible. she looks young. rain did a great job being a loon himself he cared for her and wanted to help her eat. the door scene on her back was so creative. the kiss scene gave me chills i had to replay only coz its rain. anyways this movie is weird, crazy and confusing but ul get hooked.

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A Lesson About Love In Tokyo...

It’s a romance formula that has been seen and done countless times before ; the naive and eccentric country girl arrives in the “ big city” ( in this case Tokyo), develops a crush on someone older than her / out of her league, makes a frenemy and is totally oblivious to the second male lead’s evident feelings for her in every way possible.

Taken frown the eponymous and popular Japanese manga series,Daytime Shooting Star is the epitome of the typical high school romance formula - binding cliches , romantic triangles and a fairly good cast together in hope of making a profitable production . Yet it will probably come to your attention both through the synopsis and previous comments, where the more ethical issue issue lies within the plot and certainly if it will ruin your experience of the overall movie.

Before coming to that point, it’s important to say that our main cast did bring the movie to life through a mixture of comedy and angst on the big screen; Mei Nagano was brilliant as our main female lead, Suzume Yasano- a country girl with a big heart desperate to make friends in the city, whilst costars Alan Shirahama ( playing taciturn high schooler Mimura) , Shohei Miura ( as teacher and Suzume’s crush Satsuki Shishio) and Maika Yamamoto ( who plays Suzume’s frenemy - turned best friend Yuyuka Nekota) were all fairly good within their performances.

What still remains prominent in terms of storyline for viewers, however, is Suzume’s relationship with her teacher Satsuki. Teacher- Student / older lead and younger lead have long been a popular trope in romance dramas ( note Chugakusei Nikki and Hello My Teacher for examples) , however, determining if they’re “ right” for a piece or not should really depend on several significant factors; the age difference between the characters, the purpose of this relationship and what the intended message by the director or screenwriter is for this relationship. ( For example, in Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta, this isn’t sugarcoated and is used to deliver a lesson about life.)

As far as Daytime Shooting Star is concerned, the age difference between Suzume and Satsuki is officially never brought up, however, the implications are strong that he is a lot older . The way the storyline goes, Suzume’s crush on Satsuki and Satsuki’s actions are both questionable and interesting, as Suzume. begins to understand more about Mimura’s feelings - the ending is perhaps not the one many viewers saw at the beginning, however, Suzume’s ending is fittingly sweet and happy.

Overall, not an original concept but certainly sugary sweet and a guilty watch - the element of Suzume’s growth as an individual is quite inspiring, however, there are some issues which are nonetheless raised by parings.

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This is now one of my favourite mini-dramas/web series, it was only 3 episodes long (around 11 mins per ep.) so it is perfect to watch in between longer dramas or if your in a drama slump, and cannot find anything to watch, or if you simply don't have enough time to commit to watching a 16+ episode drama. It is really sweet and was really pleasant to watch, I do wish it was a little longer, I hope they make a season 2. Overall I thought the main leads were really cute together and I will definitely watch this again! Also I rated it a 10, not because I thought it was the most amazing drama I have ever watched, because obviously there is only so much you can fit into a 3 episode series, however if I measure it against other web dramas I have watched, I rated it 10 since I enjoyed it so much!

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Walk, Eat, Wander and don't miss out on this delightful drama!

One Day Off was a soothing, tranquil drama which showed that all who wander are not lost. Served up in eight small bites of travel and food, the drama was easy to digest. It was also gently inspiring without overstepping into preachiness.

Teacher Park Ha Kyung dealt with life's stressors and monotony by using one of her weekly days off to travel. She explored new and old places meeting a variety of people along the way. Sunsets, bakeries, and butterflies led her to some of life's small and grand adventures.

By escaping her daily rut physically and mentally she stretched her mind and heart. "Life is about messing up!" Reflecting on how she was the same age her parents were when they had children, she also found ways to accept the inevitable effects of time and aging. She faced generational conflicts, "Democracy is always loud by nature" and learned to "Dance, even if you trip!" Her traveling also helped her to come to terms with grief and loss as she reminisced.

The drama was beautifully shot and helped the viewer briefly travel to new and interesting places as well. Lee Na Young made for a perfectly lovely traveling companion on these simple but enlightening journeys. Showing how Ha Kyung was slightly awkward at times, but more often than not accepting of where she was in life, I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She gave just the right balance of maturity and youthful inquisitiveness.

Each episode encompassed a new idea as well as place and touched on various emotions. The drama offered up laughter, sorrow, and new relationship possibilities. Every place on her travel itinerary featured delightful food offerings. One Day Off highlighted how the moments of clarity, joy, and human connections make the efforts worthwhile. It also showed how those same wanderings can deepen the pathway into knowing ourselves, sparking new curiosity for adventures of the mind, regardless of age. Walk, eat, wander---One Day Off shows the journey is truly more important than the destination.

6/2/23

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Infinitely relatable even if you're not 30

What a well-written, powerful, and fully satisfying show. I am the target demographic of this drama, and I relate so strongly to all of these characters despite not having gone through their exact experiences. Even if you're not the main target demo, I'd hope the main message of, "Know yourself, and do what you think is best for you, whatever that is, whenever that is" still resonate. and 30 really is just a convenient milestone used to discuss this idea. If these women were 35, 40, 45, I could still see the message resonate the same way.

What I love most is the character growth in this show, for almost everyone. Well, for XHS you can say it's reverse growth? Some dramas hook you by the plot, some by the OTP, and some, like this one, with its characters and their journey. I've never been this invested in characters' life since Ming Lan. They grow like real people - as in, they don't change 180. They're still themselves, just more/less [something], as the consequence of the journey that they went through. It's the journey that got me invested as a viewer, and it's the growth that made me feel rewarded for my investment. Even the supposed "perfect" character, Gu Jia, had her growth, even though she paid dearly for it. I love how her existing capabilities helped her through her crisis, but she also realized it was her focus on her capabilities that made her blind to the troubling change in her husband (not an excuse for him in any way; I just agree with her own reflection about her part in the end of her marriage: with or without LYY, they would have suffered conflict, and what she learned was she cannot and shouldn't solve problems for everyone).

What I really appreciate is how all the men in the show are extremely, extremely flawed - some redeemable, some not. There's no prince charming on a white horse anywhere, no "overbearing CEO" hot guy who's actually really perfect inside. Just men, with their personal and socialized burdens they put on women :)

What I wanted more of was how they becamethis ride-of-die trio. I know we had all those crossed paths that brought Manni together with XiaoQin and Gu Jia, and I LOVE their friendship chemistry. But if we think about their personalities, lifestyle, and hobbies, there's not a lot of overlap. Maybe that's the point - they just like one another for who they are :) I do find it hard to believe though that someone as kind as Manni didn't make any other close friends in her 8 years in Shanghai.

My favorite quote (among many), was, "Our marriage didn't fail. It just ended." (Gu Jia)

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I have been a watcher of Chinese Dramas for a while now, I started during the school holidays just to relieve myself from the horrors of the outside world, when I was feeling most down basically. The first one I watched was "Put Your Head on my Shoulder" (致我们暖暖的小时光). I honestly have to give credit to that drama for actually making me continue with this drama watching spree.

I watched this drama "Lucky's First Love" (世界欠你一个初恋) because I really liked the cover image and the name of it. I know that we should know never judge a book by its cover - or in this case a drama, but I felt that because of that I was going to love it and I was right! My favourite genre and storyline of dramas are those warm, fluffy, exciting ones (of course romance!) and after watching them I can crawl into my hole and start questioning my life existence basically (haha why am I single). I also read the blurb of the drama but it didn't make sense to me so I thought, why don't I give it a try. I watched it on Duboku because Youtube didn't have it, unfortunately for non-chinese speakers, Duboku doesn't include captions.

Story:

I really love the storyline, most of it it wasn't too long or draggy, and things developed the way they should've - in a steady pace. One part of the story that I really wished wasn't the way it was is the ending. The ending wasn't too bad, but I wished they would slow it down a bit. One moment they're kissing and exchanging their vows and the next its months later where they are planning to have kids. I really wished the director had decided to slow down it a bit, like I would be really interested in watching Xing Yun move over to Xia Ke's house and the families of both meeting each other. I understand that sometimes the number of episodes in a drama can't be controlled and that is really unfortunate.
Another part of the story that I wish could've been different was during the tragic times, when every just when down - the investment funds, and ex-girlfriend coming back wanting to take the place of current girlfriend etc. Those bits were necessary to the development of the drama, but they went on a bit too long, should've left more space for the happy stuff! I also think that the main characters should've gotten more screen time, not that the other 2 couples shouldn't be noticed of course.

Acting/Cast:

The 2 main leads were really amazing, and I got to discover two new actors that I can watch out for in the future! I have never watched them and they were great. Bai Lu and Xing Zhaolin acted so well that as an audience I feel like I was apart of their world and the emotion and passion that went into portraying the two characters made me cry and feel jealous many times. The kiss scenes between them were hot and fiery and it shows the passion that the characters have for each other (ahhh).
The supporting actors for other characters also did so well. They blended into the storyline very well and there weren't any obvious problems that made them different to what we expect.
I also really want to mention that I am fangirling over Xing Zhaolin so much, he's one beautiful being. So is Bai Lu. :)

Music:

In the drama there weren't actually a lot of obvious music, it was mainly background tracks to work with the scene. I've only heard the starting theme song once because Duboku cuts off the intros and moves straight to the drama, but the theme song is really lively and I like it. The theme song is also sang by Xing Zhaolin. <3

Rewatch Value:

I gave this a 9/10 because I haven't actually rewatched any dramas and I don't think I have a habit of rewatching dramas, maybe one day I will, but when I do this is definitely a should!

Overall I give this drama a 10 because I won't let the score be affected with the music or the rewatch value. :)

If you like warm, fluffy, sweet and dramas that make you question why you're still single, here's the one! Hope you enjoy my review and I hope you watch the drama for yourself.

<3

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I couldn't wait for this drama to come out after watching KO One Re-act. I was expecting Xia Tian and Ai Xiang or their counterparts to be in this drama since the trailer had Gui Long, Xia Tian and Ai Xiang in it. But I was sadly disappointed that only Gui Long made a cameo.

I was also kind of disappointed in this drama, compared to X Family and KO Re-act, but it was better than KO One Return. That was the worst out of the whole KO series. There is barely any Yi Neng shown in the drama, which made it disappointing. I personally do like when they add Yi Neng or Zhan Li Zhi Su in the KO series because the stories are mostly based off of it and it does make it more entertaining.

Some of the characters in this drama claim to be Yi Neng Xing Zhe, but they barely show it. It made me think their no different from Ma Gua.They also have love interests in this drama, but never fully commit to the relationship, just like Re-act, which bugged me.

But the comedy never fails to make me laugh. I gave a higher score to the music because it was placed correctly to convey the important moments, which made the story more bearable. I also feel that they jammed everything interesting in the plot in the last episode, which made me think the characters in the drama were waiting for something to happen for most of the drama's running time.

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Definitely worth watching!

The plot is truly impressive, with everything meticulously planned. The actors deliver outstanding performances, bringing the story to life with such depth and emotion. The flow of the plot is seamless, and the cleverly placed hidden details for the next episode always leave you eagerly anticipating what’s next. It’s an absolute must-watch! This drama deserves all the praise, and hopefully, it gets the recognition and awards it truly deserves. This drama was so incredible that I even went ahead and subscribed to WeTV just to watch it! That’s how captivating and well-crafted it is.

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