News 
Ultimate JieJie/GreenFlag, "Blended Family" Romance
In a sea of shows featuring Red Flag MLs and Innocent FLs, this show stands different.Overwhelmingly, the show is positive and should be watched, but there are absolutely a few glaring flaws.
Biggest Negatives:
😖 The male make-up and wig glue was criminal - multiple times it broke my immersion simply because I could not stop staring at the glue and white powdery face wondering if it was hot and literally melting off?
😖 Plot holes/inconsistencies before the end were mild but within the last episodes there was one period of time where the scene KEPT switching between day and night; and the events of the last episode specifically both appear to be days AND months apart simultaneously.
Biggest Positives:
❤️ Intricate balance of family values between old and new love ESPECIALLY with a child in the equation
❤️ A ML who isn't just a green FLAG but rather an entire FORREST
❤️ There is an episode dealing with how he deals with the the situation after he believes the FL's been assaulted and it is now probably THE best and loving scene(s) of a ML ever (*yes the scene before it could be triggering as it's definitely on the REAL end of the spectrum versus many shows doing over exaggerated "cartoonish" versions).
❤️ The conversations, arguments, and pleas characters have regarding their hopes for the future including the ending dialog (all nitpick flaws aside)
🙃So, what is the show about?🙃
Our main character is the FL; an "unacknowledged" Concubine of the Lu household, held there by her lack of status in society, her previous gratitude and devotion to her partner (2ML), and the daughter she shares with him.
The show demonstrates family politics in a realistic manner regarding the feelings of people who are in various forms of relationships with other people. It focuses on maintaining a level of distance between unmarried and unentangled individuals which means there is VERY little "true" physical intimacy between the leads. Perhaps as a bit of a bait, the show inserts two "dreams" of the MLs into first part of the show, but they are always clearly stated as "dreams".
It features a Love "Square" which includes: The 2ML in love with FL but unable to acknowledge her and often forced to humiliate her. A 2FL who is married to him but feels trapped in HER marriage. She imagines herself in love with a man she never saw the face of and so resents her husband and being forced to marry him. Our ML who is the calming and protecting force for the FL which stirs the jealousies of the 2ML. And the FL who has to let go of all her childhood devotion in order to break free of the torment his family subjects her to and embrace the new chance at life with the ML.
Within the story, there are two simultaneous plots weaving back and forth. The first is the family dynamics of the Lu family and the FL's struggle to remove herself and her daughter from their grasp and regain her independence. The second is the bringing to justice of the Lu and Xia families regarding their corruption in the present and their past deeds around the death of the Princess which saw the FL's father die as a result.
A core component within both sides of the show is family and it's role in making one step up with courage or back down in cowardice. Because of this, while all of the characters are multidimensional, the one I found the most fascinating was the one that was LEAST striking of all; the 2ML.
Chen Ming Hao had the job in this show of being unassuming, hunched, timid, someone who would fade into the background. His character calls himself a coward. Every other character has the job of being forceful and being given an actual presence to work with. Whether it's Kay Song as 2FL with her signature almost-crazy then sympathetic aura; Eddy Geng as the ML who has the "easy" time of being given the flashy "I'll protect you" and "I'm a big shot so you have to fear me" scenes; or Zhu Li Lan who's character is written with the forceful resolve to make her situation for her and her daughter better by any means... CMH had to make the audience not necessarily "hate" him... but be sad and disgusted with him. In this he excelled. He also proved, which is why the character itself is so fascinating, that when given the chance by the script, that he TOO could have stand-out scenes during which he is either confirming or denying his character archetype.
Overall this show is highly recommended with the expectation set that there ARE issues regarding timeline (especially towards the end), that the makeup/wig department with the males could be a lot better, and that there is VERY minimal physical intimacy scenes.
Final Rating wavered between 8.5 and 9 due to negatives because for ME they drastically affected my ability to enjoy an otherwise AMAZING show.
Was this review helpful to you?
The continuation and deepening of both Chiaki's and Nodame's talents and relationship are the focus. And they both have to decide what they want and what is important. The story is told in the same funny, silly and charming way the whole series has been told. This movie is the best of them and usually with sequels, you can't say that.
More of my thoughts are expressed in the other review and I'd only be repeating myself too much.
The music is a 10. I can't give it any lower. I think I am more of a classical fan now.
I give the re-watch a 10 because I just got done watching a 2nd time.
I recommend the whole series highly.
Was this review helpful to you?
From a person who only watching this, not the original not the novel
I was scrolling on my Twitter when this pop up on my tl and a decided to give a try, I didn't expect much and didn't know nothing about it, just started because the actors look cute. But for me It was a pleasant surprise, the actors are very young and I believe this is the first series for the majority of them, but that doesn't mean they lack any acting skill, the series is very light, the acting feels fresh, the comedy it's on point. The two main leads have extremely good chemistry and make me very happy seem them together, the soundtrack is also really good. When I righting this it's only two episodes out and to be honest I can't wait to see the rest of the series, they had me sit for the first episode. I didn't watch the original or read the novel to compare, but what I can say is that this one really deserves a chance, it's a really sweet story until now.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
also, the characters are good looking too so thats really great thooo ;))
Was this review helpful to you?
The Most Entertaining Headache You'll Ever Have
Never has a show more made me stop and go: "I have absolutely NO idea what's happening right now, but I am INVESTED."Things that will put some people off regardless of anything else...
1. Some of the costumes and set pieces look like they came from Wish. I personally don't care as much about these things and even I noticed how low budget they looked.
2. The camera shakes in some scenes and may cause motion sickness or headaches.
3. CGI is standard very low budget effects.
This said, the show has an interesting premise of having the FL needing to face off against her past self, this time in the body of the "good" sister. There ends up being a LOT more to the story than just this initial set-up and for the most part everything is rather detailed without any dropped threads... but where it becomes a test of comprehension skills is that there are a LOT of flashbacks. Indeed, some flashbacks look so much like the current scene and last for so long it becomes easy to forget if you're watching something in the past or present.
Another issue becomes the storyline of the ML and his love for the sister and the FL in the past. With overlapping time lines there were multiple instances when I wished they would have made past it's own portion and THEN moved the show into the present instead of doing all the flashbacks.
Was this review helpful to you?
What an incredible performance
I'll start this off by saying I am a big Jackson Yee fan, so there may be some bias, but he performed so well, especially given how new he is to acting. This is also my first review, but I had to for my fave.The silent strength of both the leads never fails to impress me. The topic is very serious, and really quite heartbreaking at times. This shows some of the people who are outsiders in their social circles, but find each other and power through. The ending could be a bit confusing, but the emotions throughout the film really make it worth the entire watch. It's pretty sad, but still worth rewatching to see how well everyone does and see the happier moments.
I'm utterly impressed by how well the leads perform in this movie. Zhou Dongyu has incredible films, and this is no exception. I want to note that Jackson was not even 18 yet when he filmed this movie, and his mature aura is really incredible. It's totally different than his regular personality and its incredible to see how well he does.
Overall, this is an amazing movie, that makes me tear up even when I am watching the trailer. "You protect the world, I'll protect you".
Was this review helpful to you?
Finally a normal gorgeous FL in a j drama
The FL is gorgeous............but more importantly she's portrayed as a smart, talented, professional woman. Well dressed for a change. Not wearing skimpy sexist shorts and Showing scrawny legs.Normal intelligent voice - not squeaky cutie pie babyish nonsense.
Story is predictable and so clichéd but she carries her role flawlessly. ML is okay....maybe a star regionally. The SML is cuter.
Please continue giving us smart adult young women and not treat them like you think is appealing to a sexist audience.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Oh, My Goodness, Liu Yuning!
I had to give this drama high marks, but not a perfect score because I felt cheated out of happy endings that some of the characters deserved. I know, I know, life isn't all happy endings, but this one should have and could have been all around (except for the bad guys, of course!)That being said, Liu Yuning! His expressions! His fierce persona, his gentle persona. The battle to let his feelings grow and come to fruition. His performance in this one was masterful! And it helped that he had such great chemistry with his FL. I don't know why some haters get on him so much. He is drop dead gorgeous and looks smoking hot in historical army gear, and he is a good actor!
This one definitely deserves rewatch, for me, if only to stare at Liu Yuning and watch him fall in love with his leading lady.
I think Prisoner of Beauty merits all the high ratings and accolades it has gotten. The story was well written; the characters were well-casted and very well played. I loved the 4 Wei generals. Loved Bai Zhi. Loved Qiao Ci and Qiao Ping. Absolutely loved Wei Shao's military advisor Gongsun Yang - his expressions were delightful! Even the villains deserved to be despised. Great acting from the entire ensemble!
(Did I mention how sizzling hot and gorgeous Liu Yuning is in this one?) 😉
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun to Watch and Even More Fun to Listen To
This is the perfect gateway introduction to K-pop/K-dramas for the uninitiated. I'm not a devotee of animation, but I had a watching party for KPDH, and the viewers were enthusiastic, especially about the OST.As an avid K-drama fan, I laughed when "Love, Maybe" played when Jinu met Rumi, knowing that Jinu was voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop, who played the ML in Business Proposal, where the song featured heavily. What a lovely Easter egg for fans!
I awarded an extra star for the soundtrack. "Free" has beautiful lyrics; "Takedown" and "How It's Done" are great for working out; and "Golden" is powerful. "Soda Pop" may be pure sugar, but if I'm dragging on my daily walk, I play it and get instant energy.
I'm looking forward to a sequel, as the story felt rushed and unfinished at the end.
Was this review helpful to you?
I love movies that inform
What is the true power of the internet, even in the hands of youth? An action a youth started years ago in Korea employing the Internet got 16 million people to respond and take to the streets. Based on true events and witness accounts, Troll Factory explores how the media and social media outlets manipulate and drive public opinion, even if it is fake news. The movie has smoking music and a great point of view. The acting dream team delivers big time. Viewing is worth your time manipulation. You can rent this movie on ViKi.Quote: “There is no truth in the perfect lie, but if the truth is mixed with the lie, a lie is mixed with the truth, and if it is not a perfect lie, it is not all lies. Truth mixed with lies feels more real than the real truth”, Journalist.
If one is not familiar with Trolling Factories and public opinion manipulation using the Internet, or one does not know all the street terms, Trolls Factory may be a learning experience or one may get lost in the fray. For me, it was a learning experience and I totally loved this movie. While the movie is rated PG 13, the movie had more cursing then I would have expected.
Sun Suk-ku (My Liberation Botes, Killer Paradox)
Kim Sung-cheol (Do You Like Brahms?, Our Beloved Summer)
Hong Kyung (Weak Hero Class 1, DP)
Kim Dong-hwi (The Deal, In Our Prime)
A Troll Farm or troll factory is an institutionalized group of internet trolls that seeks to interfere in political opinions and decision-making. Wikipedia
Products of troll factories include, among others: • fake social media profiles; harassment and bullying• entire websites created to support trolling operations.
Dictionary Definitions
Trolling—posting or commenting online to 'bait' people, which means deliberately provoking an argument or emotional reaction.
Doxing—search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the internet, typically with malicious intent.
Phubbing— the practice of ignoring one's companion or companions in order to pay attention to one's phone or other mobile device.
Was this review helpful to you?
Insight With Stimulus To New Perspectives On "BL" shows
Y this series surprised me: bravery in displaying what many want to be left unseen.While the portrayal of real issues isn´t something I´d necessarily "enjoy" watching, because it stirs guilt and doubts in me, the entire show should be considered a gift of insight to us. By making me question the industries, I also focus more on what I want to support in my feature, which is definitely not this type of working environment, hence, I will inform myself more of what I support with my views as a consumer. It is also nothing that should be left unspoken that is why I give the ...
--------------------
Story >> 8.5
... however, I still have some trouble looking past some coincidences and plot twists. Do they make sense? Definitely. Are they too much sometimes? Yes, but just a little. Portraying fates, that are close to what must have been happening behind the scenes of some shows, is a real challenge and I´m honest with you when I say they did an outstanding job. The excellency would have been if they kept their feet of realism firmly on the ground but they slipped into a more melodramatic direction, which is perfectly fine because it's a drama and not a documentary, I am just being a bit picky about that.
New Ship >> 9.0
The tragedy and dilemma of this story are not easy to bear but it´s definitely worth watching. It gives different POVs into the controversy behind the scenes of some Thai "BL" shows. And the truth hurts. A LOT.
The War of Manager>> 8.0
Similar to the first story, obviously because of the same environment, but also different in the base of the main characters and their significant differences in personality and behaviour compared to "New Ship". At some point, I was in denial that those kinds of greedy people exist in our world, but unfortunately for some actors/humans, they do.
--------------------
Acting / Cast >> 9.0
I really hope that Seng gets the credits he deserves for his acting, which was one of the best performances I have ever seen in my time as an Asian drama geek. His portrayal of Pan really hit me on many levels and I really can´t think of anything to criticise. Billy´s performance was also praiseworthy and I won´t forget about those two for some time. It´s just that all actor's performances combined I found some things I found somewhat irritating, thus giving Acting a 9.0.
--------------------
Music >> 7.0
I´ll leave it like this for now, because I am not really tempted by the music yet but I also don't find it disturbing or incorrectly matched/selected.
--------------------
Rewatch Value >> 4.5
This may not be easy to follow up after I highlighted how good I find the actors and most parts of the plot but because it is tough, me rewatching it will be unlikely. HOWEVER, this doesn´t change the fact that it is an incredibly executed series that I didn´t expect from a Y series, to be very honest.
--------------------
Overall >> 8.0
Was this review helpful to you?
it's a heartwarming movie that centres around a girl in her 20's and a child that she is forced to take care of while her sister(the mother of the child) goes on a business trip. I liked this movie because it centers around these two characters and their growth together, rather than wasting screen time on unnecessary love lines, although there still is a minor one. Their relationship builds throughout the film and you could really feel the chemistry with the two. the child is also extremely cute so beware of that. The movie builds the viewers emotions towards the two characters throughout the film, so you may need a tissue box. Overall, there is definitely a really great message that is sent with this movie that will touch anybody's hearts.
Was this review helpful to you?
I enjoyed this drama from the first episode and was a complete fan by the 6th or 7th. This is a must watch for people who enjoy family dramas. If you are more interested in romance and idols, then you may not enjoy it.
Was this review helpful to you?
I am Team Yumi because let us all choose ourselves
The drama continues from the previous season with a new ML- Babi (GOT7's Jinyoung) who was introduced in the previous season. The conflict of choice between Woong (ML from Season 1) and Babi really keeps you on the edge. You absolutely cannot predict who Yumi is going to end up with because both are equal rivals with their own strengths and flaws. As a viewer, I was torn between the two and both Jinyoung and Ahn Bo Hyun played their roles to perfection. Although, Yumi as a character has her own flaws, Kim Go Eun's portrayal of Yumi was sublime. The drama is filled with fluffy moments, funny situations and excellent chemistry.The story is interesting because of the cell village which is yet again, adorable. I really like that there were some aspects in grey area and left to the viewer to decide. Online forums are a testament to this which kept buzzing with speculations, observations and stans. The side characters make a bigger impact than previous season but yet again, cells take the center stage which works for the show. The show has it's moments of laughter, wholesomeness of being in love and the vulnerabilities that relationships bring to the table. It is also about Yumi's journey of taking a chance and finding herself in the process. Irrespective of whether she ends up with Woong or Babi, her choosing herself is what I always wanted. To some extent, that was fulfilled.
The production quality is excellent, the OST is delightful. I am truly waiting for another season and I will lose my mind if there is not a season 3 because there is enough material and sufficient potential.
Was this review helpful to you?
