Through this story, I have realized what separates Asian movies from Western ones. While Western ones are built upon conflict, Asian ones are focused on relations and interaction. The difference is glaring. How one takes out the enemy versus how one changes because of the enemy. This story is the latter.
This story is one that I watched every week, enduring the cliffhangers and thirst for the truth. One where I would go on this site after ever episode, checking other people's comments and opinions. One where I checked dramabean after every update to see minds at work and passionate discussions. Besides anime, I have never done this in my life and I did not regret it. With these types of mysteries, it is hard to move the story along or make a good ending but this did just that. Even when you think the story isn't moving, it is and with every seemingly unimportant shot can be the answer to the mystery.
The cinematography took my breath away, sank my eyes deep into that world as it showed me a story. The attention to detail, the beautiful transitions between episodes and the episode numbers!! (If you have watched, you know what I'm talking about. ) The attention and work put into something most viewers wouldn't even catch, my respects to all that worked on this project.
The music was not an independent variable in this production but was an element that enhanced the story. It was the natural background that fits with every scene. It was never placed incorrectly or never stole the spotlight. It simply did its part. I could listen to this drama OST for the rest of my life and not be tired. I went to look for the 1-hour version right after release.
The actors, Oh my. I have been keeping a watchful eye on Kim Seo Hyung since Sky Castle and her role as Young-Jin really left a mark on me. I forgot she even played that role after watching this. I now can only see her as Young Jin. You kind of have to watch for yourself to believe it but everyone's acting was amazing. From someone's eye, the change in emotion can be traced. Not one of these actors made me think of their roles beyond this drama. Their character, persona sunk deep. Their ability to bring a written character to life like that amazes me.
I know the mystery killer kinda plot isn't everyone's cup of tea, and it doesn't have to be. BUT if you are even a little bit interested in witnessing the growth and relationship of these people, I say give it a watch. I think for all those who have watched, it wasn't a disappointment or a waste of time. The lessons and takeaways being told through an adult and child stick and kind of mess you up. It slaps the problems of the world in your face and forces you to acknowledge their existence. AND so, I implore you, give it a chance. Maybe, it will change you too.
To avoid making this longer...I will leave this with that. I hope it enlightens your soul :)
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The story seemed rushed for the most part and there were a lot of plot holes that could have been easily answered if this series had been a bit longer, but overall it was a good story. I liked the way the director/writer played with the color blue to show that these characters were not your typical "innocent/naive/nice/arrogant/villain" typecast. HQ's depression, his indecisiveness, his vulnerability, his happy moments all came through thanks to the actor playing him (Aric). I felt sorry for all characters and I liked that this drama didn't shy away from showing realities of love and relationships. The color blue also played a big role in the way the main characters interacted; whenever HQ and YF were in the same scene, it always seemed to have "lightness and blues" to show that they were truly in love with each other. While, YF and Jimmy's scenes were often "dark" as well as HQ and PJ.
Music wise, I LOVED IT. I downloaded the main song by MaxLin. It is such a great song and it fit the story well. Overall, if you aren't into the messy love hurts and you don't want to see the "nice guy" be hurt, then don't watch this. But, I suggest you give it a shot and see things from a different perspective. Love hurts, love isn't always kind and sometimes people don't get their happy endings, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be exposed to that. Also, if you want to see some hot men kissing and touching, it doesn't hurt to watch this (come on most people are watching this for that anyways, don't lie)I for one loved this story, but then again I love messy complicated stories more than sweet ones. So, I hope my review helped some of you in some way.
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Where to start? Hum at the beginning i thought it was just a random family Drama that i started to watch because of Im Joo Hwan and Kang So Ra.
After just the first episode i was really interested in the story and then became to love it after some more episodes.
The Cast:I love it all. The child actors were totally amazing in my opinion and i will follow them in the future.
I think every actor has portayed his/her character really well and so i could enjoy the Drama till the end.
There will be characters who will annoy you to the bones but they will make you proud in the end changing themself for the better.You will be there to see how someone can change for the people he/she loves.
I'm not Korean but i could understand what they were saying and doing without subs. The acting is really good and it will make you enjoy this Drama.
Story:
The story tells how different people become a family and have to accept each other.
They will go through dispair,pain to finally find happiness as a family.
They will come to undertsand each other and love each other like a real family should.
They will fight for love and to protect the most loved people in their lives.
Music: I really liked the music finding myself singing without realizing it.
I cried a lot and the sad music was a stab in the back making me cry more XD
One of my favourite was No Matter What They Say by Yang Mi Jin.
Why watch this Drama? It will make you feel all the emotions the characters feel,it will make you understand people more,it will teach you a lot of things you'll need in life..
If you start watching it you won't stop.
It's TOTALLY WORTH IT.
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Beautiful and emotional BL. Synopsis is misleading.
As a BL it is a beautiful romance. BOTH ARE ALIVE and human. Don't let the poor synopsis throw you. Think of it as a BL set against the backdrop of here being ghosts. The boys set out to help unravel a mystery about a ghost house in the town. And in the process, fall in love.It doesn't have a lot of the dumb forced dramatic conflict you see in some shows. No pointless trouble for the sake of trouble. There is plenty of drama but it is a lot more grounded and real.
The main actors have chemistry and there is plenty of good skinship. Not a single dead fish kiss! Their handholding alone is more emotional and sexy than most stuff you find in a lot of BLs. (And you get a lot more than handholding - don't worry!)
The side characters are all enjoyable. If anything I am left wanting more of them! I wish the series were longer than 8 episodes.
The supernatural element has a little bit of scare/horror, but it isn't a dark show. If you scare easily, don't worry! Yes, you see ghosts. He's a ghost hunter. But he isn't going around vanquishing evil ghosts. He is hoping to meet then and communicate with them.
The pacing of the show is slow and steady. Some reviewers are frustrated by it. But it isn't constantly hitting you in the face with cheese and cliche. It allows the emotions to breathe. Some viewers just want brainless smut and comedy. Fine. that isn't this.
My only criticism is that it is too short. There are so many things (mysteries, side character relationships, and so on) that are hinted at or touched on that could each have been expanded to a full episode. The show could easily have been double in length. That isn't to say that it is missing something. Just that like with any really truly good story, it leaves you wanting more.
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The characters feel like real people that actually have impacts on everyone around them. This is awesome because many times writers of dramas tend to forget characters that aren't in the main couple/triangle. I love that this drama shows actions and reactions of so many people, all while being able to keep the viewers absolutely in love with the main characters. No one felt overshadowed or forgotten, and you can feel how everyone involved really cared about telling this story.
The cast is filled with some of my favorite actors of all time, so of course the acting is superb. The mark of a great actor is that you completely forget that they aren't their characters while onscreen, and the entire cast pulls this off perfectly.
As for the OST...probably the best I've ever heard. This is the first time I've purchased music from an OST, and I bought not one, but two songs from this drama. One particular song is used to drive the plot further emotionally, and in the two biggest scenes it's used, it works perfectly to really capture the viewers' entire being into that scene. Those scenes hurt so much, yet I found myself watching them over and over because of how heartbreaking they were and beautifully they were put together.
I already want to watch it again, and I've just finished! This has definitely become one of my favorite shows (not just kdramas!) of all time.
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I heard so many things about I REMEMBER YOU but I was quite hesitant to watch it because it's a crime-based story. No, I don't hate crime series. On the contrary, I love it so much that my expectations are quite high when it comes to this genre. I watched this drama without expecting anything. What I did not know was I was in for a big surprise...
STORY - This reminds me a lot of the American crime drama "The Mentalist". The plot is quite similar but the details are very different.
Being a sucker for stories with genius characters, the first episode had me hooked. I had this strange hunger that was only satiated by watching the next episode, then the next and the next until I reached the end... I tried to look for major holes but the writers had really done a great job in connecting every piece of the puzzle and covering up the tiny mistakes.
This drama really stands out because despite of having Crime as it's main core, the showcasing of violence was a lot less compared to other TV series. In fact, the drama is so rich in morals, brotherly love (oh, you cannot miss this), and friendship. I never thought that a crime drama like this is possible.
If there's anything that I feel somewhat lacking is the ending. I am not saying that it's not good, but rather, I was expecting a closure. After all what the characters have been through, I think they deserved a better ending.
ACTING/ CAST - Korean actors are really good, especially in conveying their emotions through their eyes. The actors in this drama are so 'in character' that you would feel their pain, agony, fear and even happiness. Needless to say Jang Na Ra (Cha Ji An) and Seo In Guk (Lee Hyun) did a wonderful job. A special shout out is not enough for Choi Won Young (Lee Jun Ho) who's acting is so superb that I find him really scary now and Park Bo Gum (Jung Seon Ho) who was hands-down amazing. They both deserved an award.
MUSIC - I enjoyed the music very much especially the intro/title music. It gives you the mysterious detective vibe. I actually find it quite similar with the manga series "Detective Conan's" intro.
REWATCH VALUE - I think this one deserves a rewatch. It's one of the dramas that you think you want to watch from the beginning again because you want to know if you missed any details.
OVERALL: This one deserves a standing ovation.
*SLOW CLAP FADING*
I ended this drama with a heavy heart. Not because it was bad, but because it's so good that I am sure I am going to miss it.
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Kim Sam Soon is the driving force behind my love for this drama. While the other characters are also well portrayed, Kim Sun Ah essentially steals the show with her sassy and pugnacious, yet thoughtful, talented and sensitive portrayal of a broken-hearted patissier.
Although she can be fierce and unrelenting, at her core, Sam Soon is simply a woman who yearns for true love--as most people do. Does it really exist? And if we find it, can it stand the test of time? Where does the love go when we fall out of it? These doubts and questions are the driving force of this drama, and the characters of Kim Sam Soon boldly charge forward looking for the answers--despite knowing there might be consequences and pain along the way. Sam Soon in particular is truly someone who loves while leaving no room for regret. Something I find refreshing and admirable in a drama heroine.
The storyline of this drama isn’t particularly original, but what makes it sparkle are the subtleties in the writing and acting. Hyun Bin holds his own as the leading man against Sun Ah (not an easy task), and they often go toe-to-toe during heated arguments. Some of my favorite scenes involve the two of them going back and forth with killer timing. Hyun Bin also has a knack in this drama for saying much without saying anything at all.
I have a pet peeve for female antagonists in Korean dramas, as I feel they are usually the exact same girl, only played by different actresses. In this drama, however, she’s quite different... I’m not sure I can even label her “the antagonist.” Like Sam Soon, Hee Jin is also bold and unrelenting, stopping at nothing for love. Her approach is very different from Sam Soon’s and I personally don’t respect her rationale. But she’s an interesting character analysis, nonetheless.
Last point, the soundtrack to this drama is stellar! Clazziquai provides the two main themes, alternating between with the sultry "She Is" and quirky, upbeat "Be My Love." As if that's not awesome enough, the series flirts with fun French pop tunes and other melodic grooves to set various moods.
Bottom line, this drama is so well acted, mature, funny, thoughtful and witty that you’ll potentially see the same old drama clichés as something new and fresh! Each episode always left me hungry for more... and sometimes for a piece of cake or cookie, too! :)
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It has proved my expectation completely wrong. Apparently many viewers would guess everything wrong from the very beginning and could base their judgement on mere heinous homicides committed by some callous serial murderers; however, it is beyond some grotesque serial murder cases.
The psychological aspect of the drama would hit anyone harder though there will be many questions which would be left unanswered as there are considerable number of loopholes in the story. Chill ran down my spine when the last scene was shown. Many things became clear like crystal.
This drama to my view is loosely based on the insecurity or complexities of a human mind depicted on the novel, The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka. After I studied a little about the psychoanalysis of it many things got even clearer.
Firstly, a human behavior is largely dependent on their surroundings. Everyone has both sides - good and evil. Depending on the situation and the outside elements of the surrounding environment where a person constantly comes in contact, provokes him/her to act in a certain way which might lead to cognitive dissonance if being exposed to too much negativity for a longer time. In many cases they fail to understand why they are acting in a certain way they are acting or it ignites certain personalities in a human which was always hidden or his/her consciousness doesn’t allow them to express or reveal it. They cannot keep it hidden when faced with certain circumstances.
Secondly, different neurotic aspects such as anxiety, paranoia, schizophrenia which all sprouted from poverty, low income, low social status, unemployment and dissatisfactory life would also result a person become gradually hysteric or cynical. They would create a nuisance with simple issue which in the first place was never a grave issue to begin with. We all go through many phases in life where we think diabolically and imagine some gruesome thing to happen to the thing or person we abominate the most. Nevertheless we refrain from conducting such behavior due to our conscience. But what if we lose our self control or conscientiousness? Are we going to change into a devil then? “Strangers from Hell” is the literal portrayal of our intense inner negative thoughts.
The story might be unrealistic yet the caliginous psychological aspect is the reality within us which mostly goes unspoken. Human beings are the scariest – that was the main theme. Our mind always get stuck in the fact that some invisible being would scare the soul out of us but how dangerous human can be we forget many a times. No wonder the insanely eerie expressions and feeling every character of the studio exuded was utterly frightening.
The casts are in one word P H E N O M E N A L. Im Si Wan has done a tremendous job as if he has a Phd on acting. The way he walked, eat, breathe, his facial expression in every incident, in every encounter with his costars, his spooky laughter, each and every little act was beyond perfection. He deserves a best actor award in this year. His performance was above effortless and natural.
The OSTs are also excellent. All of them displayed the right mood set by the story.
I wanted to rate it 9.5 but I won’t because there are few terrible loopholes which weakens the story in certain part.
All in all it is spectacular. Watch till the end. You would not regret.
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Cinematographic Political Military Drama — But Beware Love Triangles and Second Half!
I honestly cannot stop thinking about and watching this show - not only because of the great production value, but also because of the themes, the dynamics amongst the cast members, and also because of the great chemistry between the main leads!I'd highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
♡ Lead Falls for Girl First: Xu Kai + Bai Lu are well known for their romance in The Legends, but interestingly Xu Kai's character Gu Yanzheng has a lot of traits that we usually associate with second leads in dramas. Gu Yanzheng clearly falls for Xie Xiang first and constantly tries to pursue her while also protecting her - even if Xie Xiang is always annoyed by him and bickers with him. Gu Yanzheng also has a troublemaking, playboy, childish personality, but deep inside he has not yet experienced his first love yet and is still very inexperienced, which makes their relationship much cuter!
♡ Great Cast Chemistry: You will feel deeply for all the students of the military academy, and all of their interesting stories and backgrounds. The drama really emphasizes the role of brotherhood, friendship, loyalty, and patriotism.
♡ Interesting Political Context: The drama is set during WWI, and takes place in a period when Japanese victories & their growing sphere of influence resulted in ambitious desires to encroach upon Chinese sovereignty. How the students face this and the actions they take, especially after having suffered from Japanese attacks, is a central part of this drama.
♡ Slow Burn Romance: In terms of actual romance, romantic fluffy scenes are interspersed between serious military training and events. The first half is very fluffy and adorable in terms of romance, while the second half almost eliminates most of the romantic parts. However, I personally feel that this makes the romance even stronger because of how deeply you can see the characters care for each other, and also because of how the life or death situations make them stronger together. The romance comes as a result of their strong brotherhood, friendship, and camaraderie, and continues to develop as they work together in turbulent political times.
♡ Crossdressing Well Done: Xie Xiang really knows how to fight, and works really hard to not only meet the expectations that people have of her but even surpass the skills of her peers. I also like how Bai Lu did a great job acting as an actual boy (even if skinnier or smaller) and how her reasons for doing so were meaningful. You can also see her physical capabilities improve as well, and she is very smart - when situations go wrong, she is out there holding a gun and fighting, not just passively sitting there or waiting to be protected.
♡ Loveable Side Characters and Interesting Villains: You will love a lot of the side characters, such as Xie Xiang's friends, and you will get invested into love rivals and their stories as well. In addition, the relationship between the teachers and students is also very endearing. I won't go into spoilers, but the main villain is also interesting and has very complex motivations that I think adds to the suspense and intensity of the drama.
♡ Little Filler: There's not a lot of filler in the drama - every episode I had to continue and keep watching because it was so intense, and there's something happening that's important in every episode (as well as cute moments every episode too!)
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
♥ It is a Military/Patriotic Drama: There is a lot of patriotism and nationalism in this drama. I've heard that scenes also had to be cut from the drama and filled with more "patriotic" scenes because of the current ban on Chinese dramas due to the 70th anniversary of the PRC. I personally liked this aspect because it was integrated in a way that showed just how deeply the characters loved their country, and how they were willing to risk their lives for this, but some people might be thrown off by this and also see it as veering on propaganda.
♥ Angst-Heavy Last 10 Episodes: As a shift from the lighthearted, even almost fluffy beginning and middle of the drama, all the angst seems to culminate and intensify in the last stretch of the drama. Some characters also suddenly lose a lot of screen time without explanation, while others suddenly gain a lot more (I think this is partly due to pacing issues, with the director even mentioning feeling sorry that there was a lot of content cut out in the final edits.) You can really tell that the drama attempted to shift from almost romantic comedy to intense patriotic wartime drama, which is something that might seem jarring and unsatisfying. I will also warn - there are NO KISS SCENES in this drama between our main couple, and so while it is a "happy ending" it may not be what everyone is wanting or expecting.
♥ Love Triangles: There are a lot of love triangles and love relationships in this drama. Without spoiling anything, I will say that this is one of the dramas where if the posters didn't really advertise our main ship, I would be really confused about who exactly Xie Xiang will get together with in the first half of the drama. There are also some cinematographic and script choices that seemed to put emphasis towards one couple, but then switch to focus on the other part of the love triangle in the next episode. If you are interested in what the love triangles are (please be warned of some spoilers here) the main one is #1) Gu Yanzheng ~ Xie Xiang ~ Shen Junshan. However, there is also #2) Shen Tingbai ~ Qu Manting ~ Gu Yanzheng and #3) Xianrong ~ Shen Junshan ~ Xie Xiang. I will warn beforehand about this because Shen Junshan also plays quite big of a role, and this can lead to a lot of confusions or dissatisfaction with the romance. What I will say is that Gu Yanzheng only loves Xie Xiang and never loves anyone else for those who are really looking to see more Xu Kai and Bai Lu moments.
I'd recommend you watch this if you liked dramas that have romance BUT also have social/political tension in them. The drama is also very high quality and the sets, clothing design, and general atmosphere of the drama are very well done and true to the Republican era of that period. If you really want something with a great romance, interesting plot line, but also delves into some of the history and social themes of that period, I'd highly recommend you pick this up to binge watch. You definitely won't be able to put it down!
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THE BEST INTIMACY shown in a BL series with the most realistic portray of sex
I have never written a review before, but I had to do so after seeing how unreasonably harsh people were with this show. Yes, it is based on Mame's novels, but it actually brings out the best in them and improves upon them. She’s also not a screenwriter for LITA, so the series has a different feeling from her previous works. It's a rare gem with a beautiful cinematography and great acting and it's sad to see people skipping it because of the other reviews.First of all, let me get something straight. This series is not an all green flags show. There are definitely some questionable moments, so if you're looking for a fluffy series with a perfectly healthy relashionship, this series is not for you. HOWEVER, both of the relationships portrayed in LITA only start out questionably, later on they develop into quite healthy and well communicated ones. Many people even call Pai as a walking green flag. There is also a speculated hidden dynamic in Payu’s and Rain’s relationship that would explain most of ther “toxic” moments.
Now, when reading OTHER REVIEWS and seeing this:
"TW: (non-consensual touching, homophobia, manipulation, mind games, s*a*, torture)", you’d really think LITA is some kind of twisted show. But this is where the overreaction, too harsh of a criticism and Mame's hatewagon come in play, because:
IN REALITY:
- (mind games, s*a*, torture) refer to Sky’s past. There are some flashbacks and difficult scenes in ep 13, but that’s it.
- (homophobia) refers to a comment / question made by Rain in the first episode, it happened just this once and Rain regrets saying it instantly
- (non-consensual touching) yes, this one is valid.
Still, let’s clarify it a bit - it obviously refers to Sky's past (as most of the brutal and horrible tags do). It also refers to some actions attemted by Payu to Rain, but he never actually does anything in the end. It refers to a scene where he's sniffing / butterfly kissing Rain's neck (not really touching him) and also a scene where he tries to sleep with Rain (so non consensual kissing of his neck), but doesn't after Rain refuses him (though Rain has to say it like 4 times).
Compared to what is normalized and shown in the BL industry today though, it’s laughable that it's LITA that got tagged as 'The toxic show' out of all of them. Yes, there is an obvious dose of toxicity there, but the biggest shows have all done so much worse in terms of consent, like Cutie Pie - taking advantage of a drunk person, Tharn Type - forcing yourself on somebody, Kinn Porsche - taking advantage of a drugged person, torture and so much more. Even shows that have aired recently have done much more, like Big Dragon - taking advantage of a drugged person, Ai Long Nhai - taking advantage of a drunk person, etc. And people don’t say nearly as much about them.
I would actually argue, that apart from the scenes mentioned above and some problematic tropes, this show does a solid job at showing us healthy relationships. We can see it the clear communication, mutual respect and also in the way they interact with each others, which brings me to:
WHY I ADORE THIS SHOW SO MUCH
This series really portrays the most realistic intimacy and sex between partners. And I’m not only talking about the NC scenes, I’m talking about the CASUALITY OF KISSES AND TOUCHES. There is no slow motion and ten different angles for a little peck. There are hugs, pecks, kisses and butt slaps, all given casually, as it should be between partners in a relationship. And when it comes to the NC scenes, they not only portray lust, but also the intimacy and love that real couples have. We can see that both parties want it - there is no 'bottom who endures sex', both people want it and enjoy it equally.
In an interview, Boss (who plays Payu) explained that he had asked Neoul (who plays Rain) how deep (when portraying emotions) can they go in the intimate scenes, to which Neoul responded with “as deep as possible”. Boss also mentioned that they wanted to portay LOVE THROUGH SEX , and that’s exactly what they did. Pai and Sky did an amazing job too. And yes, their scenes didn’t have the same kind of loving and a bit kinky intimacy as Payu and Rain, but their realshionship was also based on completly different emotions which were portrayed very well during their intimate scenes (which were wild at times).
THE PLOT
Some people say that there is no clear plot in this series, but that couldn't be more wrong. It's just that the plot is focused mostly on the development of the relationships, the plot is the relationships. Another storyline throughout this whole show is the student life. I really love that it’s taken seriously and there are actual reprocussions for failing an exam / doing badly at school for the characters. All students know that going to uni is sometimes more taxing than a full time job, especially when studying something like architecture. For Payu and Rain there is also the subplot of bike racing, for Pai and Sky there is the subplot of mental healing and trauma. But the main plot is the couples' relationship developmnet, which may not be everybody's cup of tea.
THE STORY OF PAYU AND RAIN (ep 1-7) starts out kinda questionably like I already explained, but progresses into something amazing and sweet. I especially love the character development of Rain, who gets progressively more serious and responsible about his schoolwork and confident in his relationship and needs. I love how he strats teasing Payu back and expresses his own needs for intimacy (he’s not afraid to initiate the touches / kisses) and I love how patient Payu is with him. And can we talk about how this show lets Rain discover his kink and actually acknowledges it (especially in the special episode)? It's done so casually and there is no weirdness about it, it just becomes a part of their relationship. The characters can feel a bit unreal sometimes (Rain is sweet, but kinda cartoonish at times and Payu is a bit too perfect), but it doesn't take away from the rawness and realness of their relationship.
There is a suggestion that Payu and Rain have a Dom / Sub dynamic. It was brought to light by people from the scene, who said that it’s very easy to recognize once you are in the know. To me it makes a perfect sense and adds a lot more depth to their relationship. It’s shown in some obvious and many subtle ways (like Payu saying things like “Answer me”, “Sit still”, the constant conversation around rewards and punishment, etc.) and it shows their early “toxic moments” from a different perspective. If you are interested to know more, please read my reply to Meca’s comment under this review, it’s explained in details (it contains spoilers, so beware).
THE STORY OF SKY AND PAI (ep 7 - 13) is a story of healing. We've got a flamboyant CEO Pai and a sassy but traumatised Sky, which creates an interesting dynamic. Although their first meeting is questionable and Pai turns into a lowkey stalker for a bit, when he sees Sky for who he truly is later on, he turns into the biggest walking green flag ever. The way Pai's always there for Sky, being patient with him and honestly just being happy seeing him and being with him is beautiful - as is seeing him, the playboy he is, putting Sky's need for intimacy (or lack of) before his own. We can also see how Sky slowly opens up and doesn’t see sex (or himself for that matter) as dirty anymore. I appreciate the clear communication after a misunderstanding and how Pai always double checks before doing anything with Sky, just to be super sure.
Both couples turned out to be different in the end, in a good way. Rain and Payu are the sweet, loving, but kinky daddy / baby dynamic couple, who have the most scorchingly intimate but also sweet sex. Sky and Pai are the couple who are careful to double check consent and communicate things through, but also have a high sex drive and thus end up having the wildest sex with Sky being an obvious power bottom.
OTHER THINGS I LOVED:
- The show is fast paced (because it squeezes 2 books into 1 series), but that makes it perfect. There are no unnecesary conflicts just to drag it out. It’s a fairly straightforward and nice watch.
- The ACTING. Although sometimes there were shortcomings, you would never have know that all of the 4 main actors are rookies. They did a truly fantasctic job portraying the characters.
- The cinematography is simply BEAUTIFUL.
- The SPECIAL EPISODE is a cheffs kiss, please watch it if you haven’t yet.
- The breaking of the stereotypes when it comes to sex and portray of intimacy.
- The comedic duo that Sky and Rain are, their dynamic is super cute and funny as best friends.
THINGS THAT COULD USE IMPROVEMENT:
- The sound editing, it just wasn’t right sometimes. The loudness of the music was weird at places.
- The last episode felt a bit rushed, though the special episode definitely makes up for it.
- The problems with consent (like mentioned). Payu’s and Rain’s realtionship started a bit doubtiously and it was on a very thin line from being a non-con. Though if you count in the Dom / Sub explanation of their relationship, it may not have been as non-con as it seemed, but that’s up to you to decide. And Pai’s stalkishness at the beginning also felt very abuse of power-y.
- The series has a slight unrealistic / wattpady feel to it, it’s a clear fiction.
- Some undeveloped plot lines. I really want to know more about P'Pakin and the bike races, like who is he? Does he have connections to the mafia? How did he get to know Payu?
IN CONCLUSION, if you want a clean show where everybody is a walking green flag and there is 100% consent with everything, then LITA is not for you. But if don’t mind some toxicity and can bear to see Sky’s flashbacks of his difficult and abusive past in ep. 13, then PLEASE, WATCH THE SHOW. It has so much to offer, so much sweetness, cuteness and sexiness, it would be a shame not to give it a try. The intimacy, chemisty, cinematography and acting are all excellent. It also comes with a delicious special episode as a cherry on top.
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STORY:
The synopsis of this drama honestly seems fairly bland - a young slave girl enters the palace and soon moves her way up the ranks of the inner harem to become the most powerful woman. It's a story that's been done and told before. There is the little twist of the young girl seeking revenge for the death of her sister, but overall it just doesn't seem like anything that out of the box or extraordinary. Nonetheless, being an avid fan of Chinese imperial dramas, I took on this 70 episode beast, and I'm so glad I did.
The story itself is honestly nothing very new. Inner harem fighting for the emperor's affections, trying to get their child to be favored in order to become the new emperor, etc. But the pacing of this drama was very well done and it really is the characters that bring this story to life.
Beginning with the main female lead - Wei Ying Luo. I'll definitely admit/agree that if this was more true to reality, she would've died a long time ago. The amount of things she gets away with is ridiculous and it's all just because someone (the Queen, the queen's brother, the emperor - unknowingly) cares for her and just helps her out of situations. Putting that aside, Ying Luo's character is really what made the drama for me (in combination with her relationship with the other main characters). She is not just strong and loyal, but she is ridiculously cunning and quick witted. She is caring and loving, but doesn't let that get in the way of achieving her goals (which is revenge more than it is just to win someone's affections, like these types of dramas often feature). She also has that playful side to her (whether or not it is an act or if it's really just who she is). Other people had issues with her characterization, but honestly I think it was someone somewhat new and noteworthy.
Moving past Ying Luo's actual character, her relationships with the empress, the emperor, and with the other side characters again really made this drama different and special. There was a complete and true sense of loyalty and love between Ying Luo and the empress. They both completed something for the other person that they were lacking. Ying Luo lost her older sister and mother figure and the Empress become that for her. The Empress felt that she lost her freedom and innocence to the rules and regulations of being the empress and Ying Luo was that figure of freedom that she needed.
Ying Luo's romantic relationships were both enjoyable to watch as well. With Fu Heng (the empress' brother) it was a first love that was just full of understanding and wanting what was the best for the other person. With the emperor it developed from him somewhat hating her and wanting to have her killed many times to the playful and caring relationship (with many misunderstandings along the way of course). Particularly with the emperor, this relationship she had with him was refreshing and new. They weren't just playful with each other but really played pranks on one another and were not afraid to express their real intentions for the most part.
ACTING:
The main four actors - Wu Jin Yan (Wei Ying Luo), Qin Lan (Empress), Nie Yuan (Emperor), and Charmaine Sheh (Consort Xian/Step Empress) - were all impressive and breathtaking. They all excelled at portraying their characters and bringing them all to life. There were emotional moments, angry moments, funny moments, playful moments, etc. Honestly they were all really great with their interactions with one another and really made this drama come to life.
REWATCH VALUE:
Probably because I was watching this as it aired, so the drama never felt very long or draggy to me. It flowed very well and it was always very captivating. I will admit that while watching it there were times that I felt like the events of the drama felt a bit downplayed and could have had a bigger impact (on the characters and the audience), but then I realized that this drama wasn't meant to be this huge over dramatic production and that really worked for this drama. It was supposed to resonate with people internally more than it just made people go "omg" while watching (though there were those moments as well). It was definitely worthwhile and will definitely be on my list to rewatch (especially when there are english subs available because I missed out on a lot of the political talk and the idioms and whatnot).
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This drama was so refreshing and comforting, a complete year-end surprise. Never two friends became lovers so naturally. Never friendship, family and love were portrayed as adorably well as here. I didn't expect it to be so addictive and beautiful, I'm speechless.
STORY
The story itself seemed very attractive, but after seeing the first ep I felt somewhat disappointed. But thank God I didn't dropped it! From the fourth episode the quality increased a lot, the story took shape and the characters looked better defined. No doubt they took full advantage of this beautiful plot that only took the sport as an excuse to show how two friends fall in love as they struggle to achieve their dreams. No weak characters, no idiots and abusive male leads. I love the way this portrays the youth and its warmth.
ACTING
Applause for everyone! If I was already surprised by the drastic change of character Sung Kyung ventured into when she accepted this role, I was more surprised when I saw Joo Hyuk's adorable performance, which translated into the couple's insuperable chemistry. Seriously, I can never accept that they don't act side by side.
The secondary performances were also more than charming.
OVERALL
I finished this drama full of hope, as if suddenly I had injected a great dose of energy to get ahead. All of it reminds you how beautiful life can be. Give yourself the pleasure of watching this drama! Impossible to repent later. Oh and I almost forgot: SWAAAAAG!
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This review may contain spoilers
There was a little doubt in my spirit when it was announced that there would be a HIStory 3. I said to myself "there is no way they're gonna top HIStory 2 Crossing the Line, absolutely NO WAY!" and I was quite adamant about it, but that one fateful day when I sat down and pressed play on my computer was the best day EVER. First, let's talk about the actors. This cast is amazing. Their chemistry is beyond what I thought it would be. The way they interacted. Watching the behind the scenes I could see how they embodied the characters but at the same time had a genuine like for one another. They each brought something different to the show.
Now to get into the nitty-gritty. The hate turn love relationship between Shao Fei and Tang Yi was just as a relationship should develop. Don't just smash two characters together and tell me they love each other. Give me the backstory. Give me reasons why the other is hesitant, what happened to them that caused them to be this way, etc. Build it up and then let me see the results, and THAT is what HIStory 3 Trapped did. It was amazing how well they worked together, and the story always kept you guessing on what would happen next. As you found things out you were either pleasantly surprised or shocked to be right about a theory. That's what this show did, it gave you a chance to theorize what would happen next. Unlike other dramas in which you know what's going to happen, in this one you didn't. Every step of the way you were wondering, captivated, too far in to just drop it and too committed to the character to not watch it.
On to Zhao and Jack. Beautifully done. I wished there was more time with them, but I have an imagination, I feel things happened behind the main story between these two and I'm appreciative of it. The way they care for each other, it's beautiful.
The story. What can I say I haven't already? WATCH IT! Watch all 20 episodes and you tell me what you think of the story. I honestly feel like I've been on a rollercoaster ride and honestly, I want to ride it again, and perhaps even a third time. Now I can only hope that they do for this one as they did for Crossing the Line and make it into a full-length movie. I mean I can hope, right? I'll just say this. The only thing I wished was different was the scenes between Jack and Zhao. I wanted them to have more time onscreen. Show us their development as you showed Shao Fei and Tang Yi. That's really the only thing I have.
BEST. BL DRAMA. EVER! and believe me when I say I have seen quite a few and will continue to watch them, but this one will forever be etched into my memory.
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2Machiavelli in love.
The first thing that comes up in any discussion of the Rise of the Phoenixes is that it has a bad ending. I put this in cold storage because I didn't want to be punched in the face after 70 episodes. After watching, l can confirm that it does indeed have the worst ending ever: 5 bad minutes that make little sense. The rest of it is so engaging that I loved almost every moment, plot flaws and all. It is one of my top 3 dramas. There is a spoiler discussion of the ending at the bottom if you scroll down.This was adapted from a popular novel (which I did not read) that had tragic elements but did not end in tragedy. Most of the flaws can be traced back to a fatal decision to change the book ending. That resulted in plot inconsistencies and several main characters making odd and uncharacteristic decisions in order to force this outcome. This begins from about episode 50. The last arc (~10 episodes) are the least convincing and closes the drama at its weakest moments. There are excellent reviews here that analyze the plot holes and flaws with this drama so I won't deep dive any of that. I will focus on what makes this hidden gem irresistible and unforgettable in spite of the negatives.
This is a political drama about the ascent of Ning Yi, the 6th prince of Tiansheng. Raised amidst palace intrigue, betrayal and murder, Ning Yi is a somewhat dark character who is an ultimate survivor. He is the quintessential Machiavelli; a ruthless manipulator and a consummate Go player both literally and figuratively. Wrongfully banished for eight years, he claws his way back to favor, methodically eviscerating his scheming brothers along the way. Initially his purpose is uncover the mystery behind his mother's disappearance and avenge his third brother's deposal. As he gains power, the goal posts change as he aspires to unite the kingdom and make it a place where all are equal in the eyes of the law. Like all characters destined for political greatness, Ning Yi believes that the ends justify the means and ruthlessly and deftly eliminates anyone in his way. He is a guarded character that conceals his true self behind a mockingly care-free and cynical façade. Shards of radiant light emerges when his core convictions are tested and when the people he cares for are threatened. Chen Kun's deliciously portrayed Ning Yi is brilliant, dramatic, wicked, ferocious, daring, charismatic, mischievous, sentimental and utterly unforgettable. I could not get enough of his wandering eyebrow, the wicked gleam in his eyes, his vehemence and his diabolical sense of humor. Ning Yi is an endlessly fascinating, one of a kind character that is by far my all-time favorite c-drama protagonist.
Fang Zhiwei for the first ~50 episodes is the rare strong female lead character we don't see enough of. She is the lowly niece of a powerful minister that is raised in his household on sufferance. She is highly educated, clever, idealistic and audacious enough to take charge of her own destiny. She encounters Ning Yi for the first time in a bold attempt to foil her uncle's plot to marry her off to this powerless prince in her cousin's place. He is intrigued by her and recognizes her resourcefulness could be useful to him. But she has a mind of her own and does not fall in with his plans that easily; as often as not they end up on different (though not necessarily opposing) sides. With Ning Yi's help, she disguises herself as a male scholar Weizhi and enrolls in the most prestigious school in the capital. She gains recognition as the Ultimate Scholar and becomes an influential member of the court and trusted confidante of the emperor. I love strong female characters like this and Ni Ni really shines in this role, especially when she goes toe to toe with Ning Yi. She is as persuasive as the boyish, accomplished and cunning Weizhi as she is the exquisite, vulnerable and overly idealistic Zhiwei. Zhiwei/Weizhi is a consistently awesome character until she sheds her identity as Weizhi and becomes Zhiwei again. At that point, in all the moments that matter she loses her common sense and regresses into a naïve, overly emotional and easily manipulated Zhiwei who no longer knows what she wants. Unfortunately this remarkable character was thrown under the bus to facilitate the dreadful ending.
Ning Yi and Fang Zhiwei were just made for each other. Only actors of Chen Kun and Ni Ni's caliber can express intense passion and longing while barely touching and the wordless communication of two soul mates who just know each other. All of their interactions are mesmerizing - their spirited and witty banter, the way Ning Yi chokes with unholy mirth every time he teases her and of course the biting scenes that I couldn't stop re-watching. Every time they part ways, I am devastated by how dejected Ning Yi is; how their body language conveys the true feeling behind the false bravado of their words. Ning Yi is proud of, not threatened by Zhiwei's abilities and independence, even when she challenges him. Thus Zhiwei bails out Ning Yi as often as he saves her. They are the ultimate power couple, a force to be reckoned with when they are united against some rather formidable villains. By no means invincible, they suffer crushing personal losses and setbacks that among other things forces Ning Yi to make the hardest sacrifice to keep Zhiwei safe.
The romance is so consuming it sucks you into rooting for them through many obstacles; blithely ignoring the blatant warnings throughout that it doesn't end well. This overshadows the fact that this drama is actually about political strife both internal and external. Together our main protagonists deal with internal conspiracies, ambitious princes and politicians, rebellious fiefdoms, remnants of the former kingdom, encroaching neighbors and a devious and paranoid emperor. The emperor is a distant father with too many sons that he treats as little more than pawns and potential usurpers. He is the one person that Ning Yi cannot protect Zhiwei from once her origins are revealed. Their worst enemy however is misplaced fiduciary to an older generation that can not let go of the past so that the younger generation can follow their hearts and dreams.
While the plot is complex with multi-faceted main characters, the overall narrative is clear, well paced and easy to follow. Despite some messy transitions and plot holes (likely due to censorship), the meaning and general thrust of the storyline is intact. The dialogue is witty and sprinkled with light humor that balances politically heavy tone of the drama. The characters are colorful and many have lovable quirks: Nanyi's odd eating habits, Ning Sheng's priceless facial expressions and Helian Zhang's parody of a lovesick fool. Both main protagonists have meaningful and independent relationships with the other core characters; they are not just defined by each other. Ning Yi's key friend, ally and confidante is headmaster Xin Zhiyan, an ambitious and wily strategist. He is protected by the fiercely loyal Ning Cheng, who is the couple's greatest champion. Zhiwei is aided by the dependable Yan Huaishi and protected by the devoted and silently lethal Gu Nanyi. The characters are well written, with their own priorities and agendas and have free will. Ning Yi and Zhiwei's relationship and their actions create uncertainly and friction in some of these surrounding relationships that sets in motion a number of unexpected and exciting plot twists with some heartbreaking consequences.
Though the last ten episodes are the weakest with pathetic and unconvincing villains, I still wanted to see the last main villain go down. Although I was warned, I won't lie: the last 5 minutes were still despicable and unforgivable. It was also completely out of character for Fang Zhiwei and thus not convincing. It was so bad I didn't even feel sad, I just kept shaking my fist at the TV. That said, this drama must be judged in its entirety and remains emphatically one where the journey is much more important than the destination. What a thrilling and riveting journey! I started to re-watch it almost immediately, something I haven't done since TMOPB. I really want to give this a 10 because I love it so much I just don't care about the flaws. But I knocked off 0.5 anyway as my petty and impotent vengeance for the ending.
On re-watch I realized that the ending can be interpreted as open which I discuss below (MAJOR SPOILER).
Warning: Major Ending Spoiler
In Zhiwei's last conversation with Nanyi at their base in the capital, he reiterates that he goes where she goes. He asks her if she is really going to marry Ning Yi and be his empress. She asks if that would be such a terrible thing? We may not have been shown the whole conversation which ends with Nanyi saying that he will wait there for her, implying she is coming back (and not marrying Ning Yi). The ending jump scene had a very surreal quality to it, almost as if it were a dream and not real. It can be argued that she fakes her death and disappears with Nanyi. This would be much more in character for Zhiwei. It would also be closer to the book ending which has her faking her death and eventually reuniting with Ning Yi who gives up the throne for her (credit to @Skibbies who shared the book ending with me). I think most viewers (including myself) were so shocked and dismayed they missed this subtlety. Though less obvious, it is the ending interpretation I prefer. I understand why Zhiwei wouldn't want to be empress when their path to the throne is littered with bodies but she is also smart enough to know that their cause was never her cause and that would be too unfair to Ning Yi. Ning Yi and Zhiwei have done enough for king and country and deserve a chance to enjoy their uncommon love as common people.
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1) The Characters and primarily their core relationships made this story extraordinary. Cha Dong Ju and Bong Woo Ri and their love story; once it began there was no wavering. It was a solid loving relationship that had the perfect mix of sweetnes, spark and friendship. Bong Woo Ri and her father and grandmother; when you watch, you will realize why this family is so special. Cha Dong Ju and Bong Ma Ru; their brotherhood, their bromance and the way they loved and looked out for each other. There were countless ways in which these core relationships and the love that sustained them, helped them overcome the trials they went through. Now that this show is over I feel like the message at the core of this drama is sometimes, in spite of blood ties or the lack of, your family is made up of the people you choose and those who have chosen you. It is sacrifice, loyalty and never giving up on or hoping for, the person you love with all your heart.
2) The writing was very solid. It felt like there was a real story line trajectory rather than on the fly, off the cuff script writing that sometimes takes place to appease the masses/ratings. I got the feeling this story was planned from the start and stayed on course. There were beautiful words brought to life on screen by the actors. My above raving about the characters and friendships wouldn't exist without this writer's insight and story telling ability. The themes of family, loyalty and love rose above the necessary story/drama propulsion of revenge, hate and hardships.
There were other things to love as well. The cinematography was great. It was a pretty sweeping story as 30 episode dramas tend to be, so the sweeping views and pretty color palette fit the story and scope.
I loved the way they handled Cha Dong Ju's deafness. He was such a strong character all throughout the story. He had moments of fear and uncertainty but mostly he was brave and wonderful. The "writing" always treated the physically or mentally challenged characters with dignity...even if some of the characters within the story didn't always do the same. Does that make sense?
It is a testament to good story telling the 30 episodes went by pretty quick. The angst wasn't so constant and prolonged that you felt wrung dry emotionally. Lots of light moments in between! There was never I time I felt I wanted to drop this show or give up. Actually, I'm kind of sad it is over. It is a wonderful Drama! Give it a try if you are hesitating.
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