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A Good Watch, but could have been so much better
BL needle score: 6.5 - Moderate but adorable BL-nessI used to look forward to this series with a lot of anticipation...the amazing chemistry and connect between the main leads, good acting, good production values, and the realistic storyline, it had everything going for it...and it successfully created these hooks that made me wait with a lot of anticipation and concern for the the two young boys, Qi Lu and Qin Xiao, who were trying to keep their love alive despite powerful adversaries like that disgusting piece of shit, Qi Lu's Father, and one hurdle after another that came their way....the way they watched out for each other, often quietly, and at the cost of their own selves, the way they were ready to give up everything in their lives just so that the other could go ahead, was heart melting...in other words, I was very invested in the story and the characters.
But with all those positives, one major problem with this show was how it just seemed to focus on the build-up, the challenges and one blow after the other for the leads, till the very last 10-15 minutes of the show...and then it seemed like an underwhelming and abrupt end....like we didn't really get a full closure...as a friend said, it was '12 episodes of pain and build-up, followed by some quick text explaining the next 7 years of their lives, and just 5 minutes of happiness'...leaves you feeling kinda betrayed.
It ended with Qu Li and Qin Xiao being reunited and leading a happy life, but it felt like a lot was left unsaid, particularly in terms of resolving a lot of angst and resentment that the show built for some of the characters like Qu Li's father...there were hardly any payback for that, or even a plausible explanation of how Qi Lu managed to really get past the clutches of his powerful and oppressive father so easily...if he could go on to study Film-making in the US right after he went to Russia, why couldn't he do so even earlier? Also, the storyline of the second couple kinda got diluted towards the end and their scenes started to feel gratuitous to an extent. Maybe they had to censor some scenes out when the series got held up for some months in between (the routine thing that happens to BLs from China I guess)? I would have wanted to rate this as a 'Great Watch', but due to these flaws I'm giving this a 'Good Watch' rating.
Anyway, at least it has a happy ending, and it was comforting to see them be a loving couple, doing everyday nice things that loving couples do ....the lines at the very end were beautiful, when they revealed that Qi Lu and Qin Xiao had wished the exact same thing for each other - 'In the future, you must do what you love'...
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Cold Guys Falls Hard for Heartbroken Guy
This show will not be for everyone. If you want real BDSM, it isn't here. If you don't like animals in entertainment, wave goodbye. If you hate fake tattoos, see ya later. If you want the 2nd couple to have a story, another pass because one of the partners in the source material is still under 18, and they probably didn't want to deal will the complaining.I have a bias for cold man/normal guy would can be a BAMF, when need be. I find both Yoon and Ton attractive, and like their chemistry together. Both Yoon and Ton have emotional baggage - Kamol was raised as an orphan, and Kim is still in love with his ex from high school. That ex has moved on and has a boyfriend he is in love with, causing Ton extra heartache.
Kamol is from the underworld, and his main enemy is Danai. Unlike most mafia dramas where the lead is the godfather, Kamol has a godfather, Evan, a Russian-Thai gangster who primarily lives in Russia. The are fights and shootouts in this series, but it isn't high budget like Kinn Porsche.
This is a simple BL and I enjoyed it very much. Many people on MDL didn't care for it, but I form my own opinions of the shows that I watch. I did walk in with a bias toward this type of couple, so I think each individual viewer will need to decide if they like it or if they don't.
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Acting/ Cast: The best asset of this drama for me was the characters. I love them all. They are so adorable together. Seriously, Soon Bum rocks! He is the light of the show for me. No complaints for the acting, Min is always a standout and I'm glad despite the new looks of Yoo Jung In (which I also prefer) she remained Bad-ass! I have to give credit for the little girl who played Ji-Hye, she's so cute, and she never left my heart at ease, great acting kid! Did I also mention that I also love Soon-Bum-Dong Man bromance?:)
Music: Danger was so fitting in the enhancing action scenes, and yes, I loved it!
Rewatch Value: I had already rewatched some scenes, My faves aside from the ending where episode 4 and 6. Fun scenes between the dark tone of this drama were the best!
Overall: Loved this drama. I think I had an obsession over it. Season 3, chebal! :)
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- It's fun, dark and full of mystery. Plus has an amazing story that twists and turns. Keeps you on the EDGE your seat and wanting answers! So many moments I was like WHAT? WHO?
-It breaks the mold of usual K-dramas, it is definitely mature (adult) and not afraid of doing so! Despite explicit scenes it maintains a high level of quality throughout.
- The acting! I have so much respect for the actresses for taking on such challenging roles. They were phenomenal.
- The cinematography! Wow, the mood lighting, camera angles that draw you in, beautiful sets and locations. All were so wonderfully styled, you can't hep but find yourself immersed in the world of mistress.
- The FASHION. The designers and stylist did an amazing job at giving each actress their own unique style. Personally I loved what the character of Han jung won wore.
- The sound? I know a weird one but the shows maintains this high clarity of sound throughout, like tapping of heels, typing on phones. It all comes together to almost be asmr? I can't really describe why but it just works!
Now the only, ONLY thing I would change..... is the music. While the overall scoring generally goes well with the scenes, there can be moments where it can seem "too much" or out of place. While the soundtrack is great it's just the selection of scenes with certain music that just sometimes is off putting? But this can be unnoticeable and I don't think it affects the overall quality of the show.
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Though sometimes one may see it advertised as such, Saikou no Rikon cannot be called a true "romantic comedy". It watches more like a slice-of-life, centering around two couples (whose respective relationships may or may not be crumbling). The comedic aspect hits as often as it misses, despite passable delivery from involved actors and actresses. Emotionally rich and intense scenes outweigh these in sheer remarkability; in fact, the levity issues are approached with at times (such as the occasion divorce is brought up for one of the couples) actually leaves the whole product feeling a little inconsistent. Am I watching a zany Japanese relationship lark or this heavy treatise? Because some elements did not wholly jive (at least for me), those thoughts popped up frequently over the course of the series.
Where the drama excels must be dialogue, which is razor-sharp and surprisingly natural. These characters speak like real people, even showing pop cultural awareness. An engaging way speech is used is also in the way characters loose their frustrations to others; they tend to tell strangers and service-providers in these long-winded monologues, unable to vent to anyone closer. What it lacks in stunning backdrops and visual candy, Saikou no Rikon makes up for in thoughtful camera work. With a sharp focus on the inner workings of married life in mind, shots often adopt voyeuristic qualities. For instance, we might see an argument from a fly-on-the-wall perspective in the kitchen, overlooking the entirety of a small apartment made for two.
Eita headlines a solid cast, swinging all his powerful versatility behind the (initially) repellent Hamasaki Mitsuo. This is a character that embodies everything wrong in a husband, from his incredible pettiness to the selfish way he views most everything. The first time he tells his wife something between them was her "personal problem," even threw me back into some bad memories of my own. However, Hamasaki exhibits incredible personal growth throughout Saikou no Rikon (with Eita totally inhabiting the role). Ono Machiko, as his polar opposite and somehow wife Yuka, has a fantastic showing also. Whenever Yuka showed weakness or had something big to say, Ono-san knocked it out of the park. Her role, despite early episodes showing her through her husband's perspective, is lovable and sympathetic; women will definitely identify with her best.
Ayano Go and Maki Yoko portray strange duo Ryo and Akari, whose tale most interests at first glance yet slowly is overcome by that of the main couple. Both are fine actors and do beautifully in their scenes. Unfortunately, paired with the "that's just how things are" attitude the characters take to one another and themselves, the too-fast wrap to their story leaves the entire relationship a little hard to watch and slightly unsatisfying to finish (unlike that of the main couple).
If Saikou no Rikon is a hero wielding dialogue as its best weapon, music will be its Achilles Heel. Having just come down from a marathon of the series, I can scarcely remember any specific tracks. There was at least one quirky instrumental number, but the only truly memorable song is ending theme "Yin Yang" provided by the amazing Kuwata Keisuke. Despite not being a song to my taste, it suits the drama exceedingly well. And that wild ending sequence that accompanies it? Positively awesome.
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The female lead is annoying to a point where I stopped feeling any empathy around her at all. A lot of people hate loud and excessive FLs and while that is a thing of taste (not mine, because I love screaming FLs, I even like most of Hwang Jung-eum characters), this is not the reason why the FL here is so annoying. Is mostly because the writing makes her unlikeable, the reasoning behind her every move is motivated by selfish reasons only. She is supposed to be this empowering and admirable woman but in fact she's a lying, unreasonable woman who is never hold responsible for her own mess.
Now, about the (various) male leads... This is tricky, because is more of a "the best of the worst" type of situation. The ML is probably the lesser evil from the three (there's a fourth one, but he's not exactly a candidate and if he were, he would be the best one easily). He is a bit creepy and annoying, but relatable at times and you can feel some empathy towards him considering he really does suffer a lot in this. The other two candidates, one is pure evil and the fact that he does terrible things in the name of "I SAW HER FIRST SO I SHOULD GET HER!!!" is villain-like and yet it's never portrayed as That Bad. The other one is not exactly evil, just a bit bland, and ironically the writers seem to have forgotten about him by the end.
The only joy I found in this came from the two kids and the bar owner and the mom. But that's like 7% of this mess. It's really not worth it.
If you're looking for romance, AVOID THIS ONE.
(It doesn't have even two whole episodes of that)
If you're looking for a strong lead character who is a single hard working mom, AVOID THIS ONE.
(She is really the worst)
If you're looking for a great story about the korean movie industry, AVOID THIS ONE.
(They forget about the movie by episode 6 or something and unfortunately this topic is never touched in any substantial form)
If you're looking for comedy, for the love of GOD, AVOID THIS ONE.
(I don't remember laughing at all in this, there isn't a single hint of comedy)
If you're looking for a frustrating show with frustracting people and poorly written characters and situations, THIS IS YOUR DRAMA.
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A simple, wholesome tale beautifully told
This Show is tropey. There! I said it so let’s move on. :)There is not a great deal of innovation regarding the setting or the narrative but there is an undeniable charm to this tale. The ensemble cast is well populated by the standard clichés. Hard working farmers, nosy neighbours, cute kids roaming free around the village. Of course, there are dramas within the village and without, but they are mostly storm in a teacup just to add a bit of spice to the proceeding and give us a bit of the backstory.
The main focus of the show is the love line between the city vet who was tricked by his grandfather to take over the rural animal hospital for a few weeks and the young policewoman who is super helpful and the focal point of village life. Needless to say, their interactions and chemistry drives the show.
As I mentioned before, the story is quite simple and tropey, so it was fortuitous that show was only 12x30 mins episodes long. With such a short runtime, it motors along and doesn't drag. Nothing is left to fester for long and resolution is always around the corner. All the swoony moments are turbo charged.
Acting wise, it is more than acceptable. The ML is a bit stiff and reserved, it could be due to his storyline and a lack of acting experience. He does warm up a great deal later on. The FL was just so sweet and wholesome. You really want to give her a hug and make sure she has a happy ending because she deserves it. She also have an infectious smile.
All in all, a lovely watch and perfect for binging. It is very sweet and romantic without being overly artificial. It is swoon worthy and uplifting if you are feeling down. This show is not about manufactured angst, high dramas or convoluted plots so don't expect any. It will bring you moments of simple joy and contentment. That is good enough for me. :)
Highly recommended.
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The Best Kdrama I Have Ever Watched!
I have wanted plenty of Kdramas, but none have pulled me in quite so much as this one. I have a thing for fantasy, romance, and historical pieces, so this fit the bill for me right of the get go.I'd never watched a Kdrama that wasn't fully released, so this was a first. I waited with anticipation for the next updates, and I truly cried during the ending.
Shin Hae Sun is the best actress I have ever watched, and that is not just for a South Korean actress. She is my favorite actress overall. I feel like, without her, this Kdrama would've massively flopped. She is now my queen, and I feel like I've fallen in love. Everything she acts in is impeccable.
The music was really fun here, and you immediately recognize the funny, romantic, and tearful scenes.
The story wasn't that easy to follow regarding the politics, during the first watchthrough. But the second and third time I followed it perfectly.
I spent weeks attempting to get over this Kdrama, therefore, I had to write my very first review. Watch it, it is truly amazing.
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enjoyed it more than expected!
This romcom started with every cliché there could possibly be for a cdrama: cold male (traumatized) CEO, dumb, childish, poor girl, contract marriage, accidental kisses .... You might need some time to get into this drama, but since it's always that way for me, I didn't mind too much.The FL doesn't turn out as dumb and annoying as probably expected. At some point, I really started to like her.
I had a harder time adjusting with the ML. No matter how incapable of dealing with other people, their and his own feelings he was supposed to be, this was definitely no way to treat a girl lol.
There were some way too obvious plot holes you just can't miss, even to me, who watches dramas for pure entertainment and always oversees them. But it's okay, the overall story is good, and I especially loved the development of their feelings, so I guess you can just ignore some other things :)
The acting is so good! The ML's amazing, and the FL does so much better than expected. It's her debut drama, she's only 19 (!!), so let's be kind to her!
Also great chemistry between the first couple! Can't wait for further development :))
The FL always gets herself in trouble, and there were some issues that made me feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes, but they were surprisingly solved quite comfortably.
I just finished Ep14, and I'll do an update once I finished the whole thing. By now, it's far better than expected :) (Don't mind the rewatch value, I usually don't rewatch dramas)
EDIT: Okay, finally got to finish it! Sooo there's few things I'd like to add:
- Whoever said a good drama HAS to be non-cliché like, unpredictable and intense, I FUNDAMENTALLY diasagree with that!!
- Regarding my last aspect before the edit, this was definitely one of the things I enjoyed the most about this. Issues didn't take up years to build up and again years to solve, they came and went quickly, making the journey of watching quite comfortable and pleasant. However, the only waaay too consistent thing were the 2 more or less nasty sideleads who lowkey (or better highkey) tried to ruin their relationship. And there was no way you could ignore them because they were there ALL THE TIME :(
- This drama definitely focusses on character development, not business or the ML's phobia or anything else.
- The chemistry was OVER THE TOP. Won't say too much about this because I don't want to spoiler on this, but I don't doubt at all you'll feel it too.
- Second couple got only little screentime, I enjoyed their storyline a lot tho. It's not that I refuse "too much cliché" (lol don't watch this if you do), but I liked that they didn't make the second couple to that "one chasing the other" cliché too.
Last thing (I promise hahaha): It's a very very short drama. And the beginning was by far the worst part. It has 30 Eps of 30 Minutes, so that'd be 20 Eps (!!!) of 45 Minutes. (Not me actually sitting down and calculating that oops.) It's no shame to drop a drama if you don't like it, but here, it's also not that hard to stay through it for the ending :)
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Excellent Acting and Production
This is the true story of the mother of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. How close this story to the real events happened more than 2,000 years ago is anybody's guess. However, many of the main characters in the story were actual people during that time. Since this is a true story, the "real romance" parts are limited. So if you are a romance buff, you may likely be disappointed.This drama depicted the arduous journey Hao Lan had gone to survive the various palace politics, scheming, back stabbing, both in the Zhao palace (where she was from) and Qin palace (where she was married to). She helped her son become the King of Qin, who ultimately became the First Emperor of China, unifying the various kingdoms.
The cinematography of this drama is epic, the acting is excellent, and the story is exciting. One can tell that the director and his crew put in a lot of effort into making this drama. Every detail was taken care of. Everything was done close to perfection.
I love the color palette of the scenes, especially the costumes, the interior designs and decors, and the gardens. I find myself binge watching a lot. However, having said that, I find the palace politics overwhelming, and at times, I could get pretty exhausted.
This is a serious, no nonsense drama. It can get quite dry for some people who are not into history. For me, I love history and I am especially intrigued by Chinese history.
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Ok, when I first watched Kiss, I mainly watched for Pete and Kao, and got nothing. Then I watched Kiss Me Again, cause I wanted Pete and Kao. I could care less for Sandee's sisters and their love stories. And when I found out about this, I put it off until I saw it was almost finished. I watched a few episodes and fell off a bit because of watching too many things at once. However, I went through it thoroughly after binge watching it. If you sit down and watch it all at once, it's great. It's amazing. The only thing I didn't like was how possessive Pete can get with Kao. I get it he's your boyfriend, but like don't make it that obvious. Also, the fact that the gang "didn't know" about Pete and Kao, when Sandee revealed their relationship in Kiss the Series. What? You all knew this.
Non. This little f***er. I get your dad doesn't treat you well, but wtf. Classic teenager, lying about how things happened and someone ends up hurt.
Sun and Mork. MY LOVES. I wish they had the series all to themselves at one point. Nothing between them felt forced whatsoever. It was a gradual love. A hate to love, which in my opinion, is the best kind. Also, all of the little things Sun did for him, trying to not get caught in the process, was too cute for my heart to handle.
My mood needed this after watching HIStory3, so thank you.
And I really want Sun and Mork to get their own series. Blue Sky Love or something like that. Black Forest Kiss. IDK something like that.
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Coming to the cast. I am not particularly fond of Chae Soo Bin, but this drama definitely changed that. She was perfect both as the robot Ah Ji and the street smart Ji Ah. Yoo Seung Ho was ADORABLE! He was the best thing about the show! I've seen plenty of his works and I think by far, this is my favorite character portrayed by him. This character really suited him so much. The supporting cast was really good. Loved Ji Ah's friend and her brother as well as his family. They were all great. Sun Hye's little love triangle was awesome. lol.
The music was great. Perfect amount of chirp and serious.
I would definitely come back and watch it for the adorable character of Kim Min Kyu as well as certain hilarious scenes. Also, someone needs to invent those things Ji Ah made in the show, but sounds a little difficult from science's POV, lol.
Anyways, if you are in a mood for an easy-watch, this is definitely your show!
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I keep thinking about this story....
I’ve been a member for 8 years, and this will be my first review on MDL. That is how much this drama has affected me.I will review base on MDL’s point
1. Story. At first, it seems like a typical xianxia drama. A ruthless demon, and a goddess trying to save the world. But after the first 2 episodes, you will know that this is different. The demon is still a human, a powerless and abused human who’d suffered throughout his entire life. Has no friends, has no family, and because nobody has ever show him love and care before, he also has no feeling. Story buildup and character development are good. Unlike other xianxia, this one has no tribulation, and only one lifetime. Every character has their memory throughout the whole story (I hate memory lost trope). There is a bit of time travel involve, but nothing too complicated. The story flow is smooth and connected. Watch this story with xianxia logic, not our world logic.
2. Acting/Cast. This is my first drama for LYX and BL and I shipped them already. The chemistry is ON FIRE! And I found out that they were in another drama before this (Love is Sweet) and they are already well known for their great chemistry. In this drama, the actors has to emote a lot of different expression, especially anger and despair. I would say the star of the show is LYX, because of how complex his character TTJ is. Is he good? Is he evil? He has to be both. And he played it convincingly. As for BL’s character, thank goodness for a smart FL. I really need a sensible FL that doesn’t think and talk like a child. There is also no annoying side characters, SFL and SML were ok. I know there is a lot of hatre for YBC but a drama has no purpose if there is no good villain. CDL’s acting was passable, not great, not memorable, not bad. I don’t want to dwell too much on side characters, because the limelight is always on the ML and FL. Ohh..but Pianran is very cute.
3. Music. This is an easy score. The OST is so good. I was so happy to hear LYN’s voice in the opening theme. My favourite is 寄长月 by Bu Cai. It’s so sad and beautiful, just like this drama.
4. Rewatch Value. I am really not sure about this one. I might increase the store after I finish watching today’s last episode. If this has a BE, I don’t think I can rewatch TTJ’s suffering over and over again. That will make me a sadist to enjoy watching that.
Edit to change. At first I gave this drama a 6 for rewatch value. I love this drama too much, and I AM going to rewatch.
What I don’t like about this drama
- make up, hair accessories and blood. The make up team really went overboard with LYX’s make up. Go easy on the red lipstick. Go easy on hair accessories on YXW and the blood spitting too.
- Editing. With C-Drama, we are very used with slow burns, but this drama is too fast too furious because they need to fit in so much stories into just 40 episodes. Some scene and storyline were cut out. I need to read the webnovel and discuss in MBL drama page to understand more about the story.
Yes, this is by far the best Xianxia that I’d ever watch. In my book, this even top TMOFPB.
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The art direction, acting and incredible sets are as breathtaking as the massive scope of the series.
The show is good but they left out all the juicy details from the novel,
I love the opening ost, and Qu chu xiao super cute, i am glad to see him main role,
The production is beautiful, the dialog economical and exceptionally well-delivered,
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I AM KNOCKED DOWN, HARD
Oddly satisfying and arguably one of the best last episodes in a series, BL or not.Dont hate me, i will be honest for a little bit. I watched it because all the other BL series (except one or two) being aired at the same time are mostly lackluster. It wasn't as popular as the other series from bigger companies, as a matter of fact there was hardly any mention of this series from any YT BL vloggers. The story is nothing special (on paper) and the initial pacing was a little off for me.
The first episodes, although engaging, are hard to watch. Its the story of a (slightly dumb) high school gang leader trying to bully a senior college student into doing his bidding. I find myself dumbfounded as to why someone would put himself in an awkward position by someone a lot younger than him. I wasnt buying the premise, i hate the bullying.
However, as the episodes go by, i find myself eagerly following their story and waiting for the next episodes to come. There is something about Noey's demeanor, innocense and cluelessness that keeps you hooked. The awkward acting of Thiwa is puzzling - was it because he was an amature actor or was it an intentional choice? In the end, it didnt matter because they blend well together. Auntie Tim, NidNhoi and Thiw are also good addition to the story.
By episode 8 I found myself inlove with the series.
The set and location are amazing. Above average production quality and photography. There was also a few scenes where the actors are allowed to shine, without it being too dramatic. Take note other series creators (ahemmmmmm 12% and Between us) - you dont have to make your actors cry unnecessarily just to showcae their acting skills.
Oh i have to make a special mention of the very unique end credit scenes, cause that is effin genius and I really loved it! It is unique and I specially loved it in episode 11 when Thiwa was dancing alone (after that heartbreaking cliffhanger confession) and in episode 12 when they were dancing together via videocall.
This is arguably one of the best BL series right now. And, yes i loved the last episode and the satisfying way they wrapped things up. I hope there are more projects for Tar and Bom. Definitely a good series to reccomend and rewatch - 9 stars!
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