So I rated this movie so high because I really wasn't expecting to like it, but by the end I was bawling like a baby, and any film that can do that is a good one in my books.
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This review may contain spoilers
First and Last May With You
처음과 마지막 5 월 당신과 함께This is a sweet love story, with no cringe and an unnecessary love triangle. I was waiting for this kind of drama that shows life in 1980. I love the 80's and 90's and I would have liked to live in that period.
The set, clothes, cars and even old buses, every scenery and the camera filter they used gave me the '80s vibe. Even if I am not girly, I am a tomboy like Soo Ryeon, I liked all of Myung Hee's outfits and Soo Ryeon dress at the Engagement Ceremony. Ah and because I am a tomboy I loved Hee Tae and Soo Chan outfit too.
And all 31 instrumental soundtracks and those 10 songs with their touching lyrics fit Perfect the story.
Some of them made you smile when was sweet moments, some made you laugh when were funny moments, some made you feel scared and anxious and not forget about the songs that made you cry.
I LOVE the main characters. And Go Min Si and Lee Do Hyun are my favourite actors, actually i have many favourite actors but they are one of them.
First, let's start with HeeTae and MyungHee. Well, this is what I call An Outstanding Chemistry.
They are the definition of Good Chemistry.
They are just perfect on screen. I love their relationship development, it wasn't rushed and everything had its time.
Little by little they got to know each other and fell in love.
Now let's pay attention to their little brothers.
Myung Soo and Jung Tae their relationship weren't that great at the beginning but eventually, they got closer.
I liked the moment when the other kids were making fun of Myung Soo's father because he was limping and Jung Tae punched that guy. I felt so bad for Myung Soo is not easy to watch other kids making fun of your own parents. I guess that is where they started a friendship. And Jung Tae in the present day because of the unexpected incident in the past he was limping too. They didn't show it but I guess that they remained friends. Cause Jung Tae was the first to find out that Myung Hee was found.
I have another 2 more characters that I love
Soo Ryeon even if she is a bit selfish, I liked that she wasn't bothered that HeeTae and MyungHee loved each other. The only reason she wanted to get married to him is because of her father's company.
Soo Chan - he is the definition of a loyal friend that despite liking MyungHee he gave up and wasn't the villain that we all hate. He understood that MyungHee does not belong to him. Even if he was at first a bit disappointed that she wasn't wearing the shoes that he bought for her. But after seeing her happy with HeeTae he just let his feelings to cool down and remain friends.
To be frank, I thought that he will be a villain, but seeing him next to the hurt people and trying to help them changed my opinion about him to 180° from -100 to +100.
Kyung Soo is HeeTae's friend and the soldier that helped Myung Soo to run away. I loved the moment when he shot in the air and told MyungSoo to run away. Pretending that he shot him.
And also he is the last person that saw MyungHee and he is the old person at the train station.
There is a lot to say about the characters but all character shines when the plot is Strong and Interesting.
I loved the love story with strong and touching words in their dialogues. The dialogues made you smile laugh and cry.
Even if it's not the ending that I wanted, I still love the ending.
Even if this love story is not based on a real one, but I think that MyungHee and HeeTae's love story portrayed the love story of many people that had the same tragic final.
Their first and last May together was May 1980.
One thing that hit me hard is when in the present days HeeTae said
"The 41st May when you finally returned"
That just broke my heart, i burst into tears.
Youth Of May sounds beautiful, romantic, sweet, lovely and very sad.
MyungHee died but HeeTae suffered in their YOUTH OF MAY
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Story:
The story is simply stunning, exceptionally well written, well-constructed characters with very human and powerful conflicts. It's different from other kdramas because, although there is a forbidden romance, what is really striking is how it shows the strength of family ties through many souls who can't find happiness because they are tormented by the past (and here, the past is represented by the piano).
To recapitulate. An incompetent former mobster, who has just found out that he has a son, marries a single mother. A few years later when the woman dies in an accident, the stepchildren hate as much the stepfather as one of them ignores him and the other is given to low life almost like revenge.
Thus in this story no one is willing to forgive: the stepchildren don't forgive the stepfather, the stepfather not forgive himself and the stepfather's son can't forgive himself for loving his stepsister. The only one who seems to be happy is the last daughter, who while filled with light the family, at the same time turns out to be the guilty to make the lovers' romance impossible.
Acting:
Absolutely outstanding performances. If I had never seen this drama, I would never have known that Korea also has its Al Pacino and it's called Jo Jae Hyeon. I take my hat off to his talent. On the other hand, I had never seen any work of Jo In Sung, but surely if you see this drama you will never see him in the same way. Most of the time he is covered with wounds and blood, hating his life and his stepfather. His performance is just extraordinary.
OST:
I started watching this show because I listened "Spring days of my life" by CAN, one of the most memorable songs in Korea. In the videoclip they showed scenes of the drama and so I decided to see it. Apart from this popular song, the OST is really very original.
To end. This drama is full of homesickness and teaches us that we never reach happiness without forgiveness. The stepson never understand the love and good intentions of his clumsy stepfather until he discovers how much he can love a child that is not his. Beautiful reflection and sample of how life turns on a dime. Deep message that leaves you thinking how ironic we are as human beings. Furthermore, most likely you'll end up with a fervent desire to learn to play piano.
1000% recommended!
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-Story
i thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It has a good plot line (i know the synopsis told a lot but when you watch it, it's really not much) that also sets its pacing well.
We're introduced to YunXi, the daughter of the Imperial Doctor and FeiYe, Duke of Qin and the King's younger brother. The King and his mother does not believe him to be his actual brother because of an event. To help the King, the Queen Dowager ends up arranging him to be married to YunXi, who also harbors a secret. Their story then develops from there.
Apart from this, there is also the politic side of it, FeiYe's hidden secret, the secret plans from different Kingdoms, the King's own plots, and also those of his sons.
-Acting
Super well done! They really played out their parts. I especially fell in love with our main girl. For most light hearted historical dramas like this, i find it hard to continue watching the main girl but for this one, i really ended up enjoying all her expressions, her scenes, and her emotions. FeiYe is your typical stone faced male lead at first but quickly ends up warming up. Their little romance is adorable to watch! and honestly, despite the amount of troubles that come between the two, they never really end up having bad blood or angsty scenes (even with that slight betrayal tag).
Another reason i stayed till the end of this drama was because of Qishao ;_; developed major second lead sydrome thanks to him. He played his part out sooooo well, i absolutely loved all his scenes!
and the side characters in this did not lose out too, they were well focused and planned out.
Opening and ending theme song for this was great and the music that played during sad scenes matched well.
Rewatch? i'll come back to this when i miss the second lead and the chemistry between all the characters here.
One thing- THE ENDING- its a really open ending (Eps49/50 are both different endings). I love this drama, not intense love but happy love. I'm really sensitive and it was only at the last episode that i cried my heart out.
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Story: This is by the best story line I have ever seen. All the actors are perfect. I felt their pain, their happiness, their frustrations, everything. This drama made me smile, laugh, and cry. Nothing can explain the feelings I had while waiting every week for new episodes.
The writer did such a good job at keeping the suspense always there. The fact that the story has many questions left to answer and is kept for the audience to decipher on what they want to happen is so breathtakingly beautiful. Its just so amazing that the writer and director was able to mesh all that and bring this wonderful work. This drama is definitely by far one of the best detective dramas, or drama overall.
Actors: I love the actors. Every one of them meshed into their character so well, I couldn't even tell they were acting. The child actors just hit my heart so so bad, especially the famous omelet scene. Gotta give it to the boy, I cried so much watching that scene. After this drama, I am definitely having an ahjussi-crush on Jo Jin Woong. The mains of this drama was just the best ones the directors could have gotten. I can't even imagine any one else playing their characters. Kim Hye-soo was also superb. Her acting during the shock scene was just...no words possible. Last but not least, Le Je Hoon was not just eye candy. The emotions he showed touched my heart soo much. I fell for him even more after this drama. Overall, the actors and actresses were TERRIFIC. I wished this drama never ends.
Music: Love the OST. Been jamming with it every day. It's definitely going to be on repeat to relinquish my withdrawals from this drama.
So many questions are left after I finished this drama... Despite that fact, this is still a must watch drama!
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1
1This review may contain spoilers
The Ten Commandments of TBL
These are the commandments that have been handed down to us by the gods of Taiwanese BLs. They shall be the commandments by which any present and all future TBLs may be judged.1. Thou shalt violate an apparent taboo. So it is that a stepbrother may lie in the Biblical sense with another stepbrother, or a stepfather with a stepson, or a teacher with a student. But a real taboo, thou shalt violate not. For it is a sin. Our purpose here is titillation, not transgression.
2. Thou shalt not utter the word ‘gay’. For it is a sin. Thou mayst love another man, but if anyone shall ask of thee if thou dost, thou mayst answer, “I like not men, I like only you.”
3. Thou shalt always include more than one same-sex couple. For it is the law. The number assigned to thee is two. One is too little, for it adheres too close to the earthly realm; three too much, for it adheres too close to the realm of Thai BL.
4. Employ thou a verily bright colour saturation in thy film, to mask the limitations of thy capital and thy cinematographer.
5. Apply thou, always, a verily thick, sweet, intrusive, and insistent music over thy graven images, to mask the limitations of thy talent and thy words. Drown out all the tender and vital moments of thy show with melodies made by AutoTune Pro, and lyrics conjured by Google Translate.
6. Remember thou that there exist only three acceptable settings for a TBL: a school, a university, and a criminal enterprise (the Lord doth favour the mafia). For these do encompass all of life. Thou mayst aim for complexity by leavening one of the first two settings with the third. Leviticus doth indeed condemn leavening, but it is not prohibited by the gods of BL.
7. Thou shalt have no balance. Remember thou that men must fall over and into each other at every step, puddle, path, street, game, instrument, opportunity, or obstacle in existence. This, and this alone, shall be the occasion for their first kiss. The said kiss may be accidental, forced, or incite a wide-eyed surprise. But a loving nor sensual kiss it may not be.
8. Thou shalt depict at least one instance of fornication in thy tale. Or two, if thou hast taken care enough to inscribe a story for the second(ary) couple. But the act shall not unfold until the penultimate chapter. Thou shalt tease thy viewers for ten long hours, and grant them gratification for ten short seconds, which to most shall be proof positive that Moses was heterosexual. Thou mayst inflict additional torture upon thy viewers by interrupting the said gratification with deafening music and wanton cuts.
9. Thou shalt choose from the following any number of ornaments to embellish thy tale: gentle wiping of the lips (for there is a general want of raiment in our kingdom), gentle forehead kiss, gentle lock-of-hair restoration, gentle somnolent confession, a gentle fever, a gentle towel bath for said fever, a gentle pour-over coffee, a gentle post-modern coffee-shop to house that coffee, and forget not thou, a not-so-gentle last-minute conflict, a forced separation, or a wandering to parts abroad wherein shall cease all modern communication. If imagination thou lackst, thou mayst construct a story from these elements alone.
10. Thou shalt by no means indicate homophobia in thy tale, unless it furthereth thy plot and our cynical purpose. Friends and family shall be universally supportive, unless it force a separation between thy characters. (Parents and spouses shall be left otherwise dead, be it from accident or ailment, to anoint the show with cheap sentiment.) Remember thou, always, that this is a world of pandering fantasy, not reality.
Biblical Proportions:
Commandments Broken: 8 (partly).
Commandments Obeyed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (again and again and again), 9, 10.
Observations:
Well, this one is for the books. Every TBL commandment was kept to the letter, except, in small part, for the 8th, and that too only because the love scene between the teacher and student came so early. But then, that scene was so badly done that I wonder if the commandment was broken after all.
There is no writing in this show to speak of, no script, no real story-telling, no serious attempt at characterisation. Nothing. Just the loose outlines of an imaginary BL... The experience of watching this show is something akin to ordering a small package on Amazon. You order a simple toothbrush, and are shocked to find, the next day, a huge cardboard box sitting at your door step, only to realise that, when you open it, there are 7 smaller boxes inside, each stuffed with shredded paper and bubblewrap. By the time you get to the final box, you forget what you ordered, what has arrived, and what you were looking for. You just know there is a huge mess to clean up, and that a lot of trees have given up their lives for it.
The men are beautiful, two of them quite sexy, and for that reason, I gave 'casting' a 5. If any of the actors start *acting*, someone please let me know. I'll be sleeping in the back.
There will be, I imagine, a lot of hand-wringing and pearl-clutching about the teacher-student relationship. But, as the first commandment states, this is just an apparent taboo. No trust has been broken, no consent violated. The age gap is dimunitive, the "teaching" is more like tutoring (lasting a mere few weeks), and both men are above the age of consent. There are no interesting or troubling power dynamics at play here. Nothing to be outraged about. It's just dull.
Finally, for fucks' sake, just say it. It's not the fucking plague. And we are not in Florida.. So say it. Yu Xing is gay. Come, say it with me: "gay". See? The world didn't fall apart.
Verdict:
This is a dreadful show. It might even be one of the worst BLs to come out of Taiwan. Avoid it. Avoid it like radioactive waste.
Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Blessed Art Thou, O Lord
DON'T SAY: That Don't Impress Me Much
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Now I’ve always loved the HIStory series, and there’s no different with this one. I must say, this one is my favourite of them all simply because of the realism of it all, it’s a simple storyline of enemies to lovers set in a high school surrounding, but, it’s also so much more than that.
I didn’t really care for the side couple as much as I did whilst watching Trapped but I’m honestly very tired of the age gaps in BLs. However, despite this, their story was beautiful and you get to see a realistic couple and their struggles. However, in this review, I will mostly talk about the main couple, Haoting and Xigu. (or xianggu lmao)
Without spoiling anything, the story has a very nice pace, it never felt too rushed nor too slow, and you could really tell how the characters were evolving throughout the series. Haoting being really aggressive in the beginning as he thought Xigu was flirting with his girlfriend to later realise he has feelings for him might be cheesy but I also think that it’s charming, not every LGBTQ series has to go deep about social norms, the gays also deserve a cheesy romance like this one. Just a big guy being head over heels a boy who is the polar opposite of himself and doing everything to get him to like him back. This premise is often a very grey area as consent often is forgotten in BLs and with an aggressive main lead I was very worried he might overstep his boundaries but the way Haoting tries to get Xigu to like him is so different from what I first thought and I was surprised by him many times. We get to see how love can change a person and I think that’s beautiful and although Haoting is aggressive he is always respectful and always wanting the best for the people around him. He makes mistakes but you can really tell that he knows when he’s in the wrong and does everything to make up for it even though he even might hurt himself in the process. (Also wanna talk about how much I love their entire friend group!! Precious!)
I keep seeing people complain about this series focusing too much on sex but remember that they’re in high school so it’s completely normal to think about that sort of stuff when you’re that age + I wouldn’t say it’s focused on sex all that much. The scenes that DO focus on it are so well thought out, meaning the cinematography is amazing, passion, intensity, build-up and climax, it all just made me sit in awe and I really want to applaud everyone who created it. They never fetishize gay people like BLs tend to do as they want to appeal to fujoshis and I appreciate that, they make it all feel so realistic and that might not be super interesting to some but it’s perfect for me.
Now the acting, one word. Amazing. You could feel every single emotion of the characters, despite most of the actors being inexperienced in acting. You could feel the love, the confusion, the sadness, happiness, everything. When the character was in pain my heart hurt too because the way it all was displayed really just made me feel as if I was right there with them, experiencing the struggles myself and that is very powerful.
Although not a lot of songs, the ones that you hear fit perfectly, it never felt out of place or awkward to watch any scenes as the music fit very nicely. The intro is also probably my favourite HIStory intro of all time and the outro is also very very nice to listen to after you sit and stare into the void after finishing every episode lmao.
I have so much to say about this incredible drama but I will never be able to put those feelings into words I just hope you watch it and get to experience it by yourself.
Onto the only negative with this drama, the ending… Don’t worry there aren’t any spoilers here!!
Well going from the best drama ever to a horrible ending, uh I truly do not know what to say about this ending. It felt so out of place and with all the characters so different it just didn’t sit right with me, I truly feel like this ending could be from an entirely different show. It was so sudden and just felt like they didn’t know how to end it which is very disappointing. Watching the preview for the last episode I never would’ve imagined it would end like this and despite the characters not feeling like they used to I cried like a baby, I probably cried throughout the entire 55-minute episode… I can myself think of at least 10 different endings that would fit better with the characters and tie the plot up nicely, it just feels like they threw away all of the work they put into the series right in the last moment which is just so sad.
I will definitely rewatch this but I’ll probably skip the last episode…
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Q10 is surreal, poetic, highly amusing, thought-provoking and surprising . It's brilliantly acted too, which adds to its delicious oddity. It doesn't have even one unpleasant character: they are all very weird and very human, at times histerically hilarious and at others wonderfully deep.
I'm not sure whom I would recommend this drama to; however, I'm certain it won't do for those looking for a rom-com, for an uncomplicated plot, for simple entertainment, for shine or for glamour. The one and only requisite to approach it, is to do so with an open mind. If you believe that people have each their own sound, that calling for help loud enough will make somebody come to the rescue, that death is just a way of thinking and that you achieve a goal because you want and not because you can, then "kiuto" is for you.
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Soulful & Healing
This drama is probably not for everyone. It's more than just a kdrama that's why it doesn't apply to a global audience. But it gives heart to those who can relate to having had mental health issues, to those having someone close to them suffering from it or those who're interested in the subject from a scientific point of view. More than just stories about the patients, we also get to see the healing process; even simple anger management exercises feels like they could be easily implemented by anyone else. Those scenes are rather long at times and that's why I suspect they are there for that purpose, for that second purpose which might not be applied to everyone but could possibly help someone in need.It's a beautiful series.
There has been a few dramas that broach the topic but compared to some extraordinary or rare diseases I feel like the way this drama is approaching the subject is hitting closer to home. Anxiety, delusion, anger issues, depression, eating disorders; fighting to stay clear minded despite facing challenges in a society that expects us to always be ready and on their feet is a common issue that isn't talked about enough. Compared to other dramas where mental health issue is either the main focus on the story or is a background feature of a character, something that the character can make use of or hide, here we see ordinary, working people that can't hide away from it because it shows in their daily life. We get to see how they struggle to overcome, frankly, themselves, and how hard it is to do so when society doesn't take you or your mental health seriously.
If that didn't convince you to give this drama a chance... let me ask you this then. Have you ever felt burdened by the things happening in your life? Have you ever felt it was unfair how many bad things kept happening around you? Well, this drama not only answers from the perspective of those that are lost and deeply wounded by this but also from those that keep fighting through it. And unlike the usual kdrama trope where the main leads are suffering from painful memories and keep on a straight face, here we see main characters that are suffering, who are not okay, but they keep searching for that light with all their might.
"Whatever your illness may be, don't struggle alone. If you can overcome it on your own, it's not an illness."
This drama is giving me so many emotions. I love how Han Woo Joo can see right through the ML. She just 'gets' him. It's an entertaining dynamic. They're a pair of dorks, and at their best, they just work together. It's interesting to watch them because we're not only being told that they like each other, but ultimately we can see it and judge for ourselves. They are two wounded souls, and sometimes it can be rather scary to see their vulnerable sides so out in the open but ultimately they're people that need each other and are able to help each other heal. As long as one doesn't give up, we can continue to move forward. An additional bonus is that this drama skipped on a lot (if not all) the usual, annoying, repetitive kdrama cliches regarding romance while staying true to the main storyline and keept us entertained with continuous character development.
Jung So Min is an extraordinary actress. The variety of emotions she portrays is incredible. It's both feels-inducing and also fascinating to watch, seeing how one actress can play so many raw emotions on screen. And Shin Ha Kyun...how can he be so pure and adorable? He's precious. Sophisticated but also a real dork at heart.
Before anyone says our male lead is too old let me redirect you to Ji Sung's profile page. Ji Sung might look like a baby duckling but he's still a mature man in his forties. Also our couple has 14 years gap, but that's not a new thing in a kdrama world now, is it? Furthermore...female lead being 31, she's a mature woman herself.
Other issues? There are a few. I know of a patient-doctor contraversary issue, dubious psychiatric methods used in the series...but that's just not it, not what this drama ever was supposed to be about.
What this drama truly teaches and the message it is trying to portray throughout the various stories and lessons is that - You Can Heal. And that each person is unique on their own so the healing method is also something unique for you. It might even be something only those deeply invested in you or you yourself can truly find. But that's okay. Because each of us has that answer in our hearts. We only need the will to move forward.
I can't praise this drama enough. It's a true gem. It truly met all (and more) of my expectations. It's a soul healing drama.
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My heart was felt pounding for entirely different reasons:
- The growth of the characters
- The pure and honest depth of the story
- A sense of warming accomplishment communicated by the great acting
With a very easy to follow story that's both believable and motivating, completed by relatable, developing characters whose interactions with each other made me both cry and then grin, Page Turner encapsulates everything a short drama should be.
The story feels mostly predictable but there are certainly twists and surprises! The music is of course fantastic. The acting, I expected no less! And I'd certainly rewatch the whole thing again at some point just to get those butterflies again *cough*andwatchaperkyJiSooagain*cough*. It was a great ride. But be warned, the ending may not be all that you expect it to be.
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1This review may contain spoilers
All aboard the angst train. This is going to be a bumpy ride!
This show started light-heartedly. A bit of awkward meet-cute sets up the love line between our OTP. I have to give credit to the FL for her portrayal of a 16 year old even though she is 30 in RL. In fact, most of her roles tends to be in that late teens to early 20's range.While the romance is a slow burn, it is engaging and quite cute. It did turn dark when the FL "accidentally" poisoned the ML. He fell into a coma for a long time and when he woke up, he has the mind of a child. That is a shock for all concerned because he was an intellectual giant before the accident.
This brought about the second phase of their relationship. In his dim-witted state, he latched onto the FL like a chick onto a mother hen, In turn, she dedicated all her efforts to cure him and be with him. Around this time, the show really went to the dark side. The melodrama dial is turned up to the MAX when the FL's whole family was killed. It is excessive, but not 100% shocking when you consider the historical setting. It was designed to hit us with the feels, and it works.
I'm shipping the OTP at this point because they both suffered so much and yet they are trying their best to be happy in their little world. However, the show starts making questionable decisions from this point onwards. They piled on the angst and dragged out the ML’s plot. While his childlike innocence was a novelty at first. It went on largely unchanged for 1/3 of the entire run. What was cute earlier is now wearing.
If that is not enough, the moment the ML recovers his memory and mental capacities, he plays the noble idiot card. As expected, the OTP suffered even more. I still don't quite understand his logic. At first, he thought she has feelings for her senior. However, after she clarified the misunderstanding and declares her undying love for him, he continues with the charade even though he is in pain and pining for her. The brakes are off the angst train by now.
There are a number of opportunities to reunite the leads. The show could have profited from their love and longing. Hit an emotional high and gift us some much-needed fan service. Alas, it was not to be. I'm not going to spoil the last few eps, but let's just say the writer doubled down and went all-in on their sufferings.
Before we all reach for the Suicide Help Line, the writer parachute in a happy ending but it was literally in the dying seconds of the show. There is no preamble nor extra fan service. The scene is so contrived, I'm speechless. I can only imagine the writer being told by the upper echelon to cough up a happy ending or else. In hindsight, maybe it'd have been better if the writer decide to die on that hill and insists on delivering a torture porn unto the bitter end. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Acting wise, the cast did ok. The FL was in her element. The ML is handsome and not too wooden. I like his earlier portrayal of the man-child. However, the same-y role becomes boring to watch eventually. The ensemble cast is standard issue for a costume drama of this ilk.
I was ok with the angst . . up to a point. It is that type of show after all. However, the last few episodes really throw everything at the OTP including a weaponized kitchen sink. We have all manners of weird plot twists inserted solely to pull the leads apart even though they more than earned their rights to be together. That was too much for me. I am posting a lower score as a warning to others. Peace out.
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A Delightful Sweet Fluffy Romance
If you want a romance that is sweet from the beginning till the end, this is it. Since their first meeting in episode 1, our main couple holds hands, sleeps together and hardly gets separated. There’re hardly any moments they are not together, and when they are not, they miss each other dearly and cannot wait to get back into each other’s arms again. This drama is easy to watch with very little angst though the last few episodes become rather tensed. All the characters are lovable, an antagonist that is revealed from the beginning, and an ending everyone loves.Ji Dinglan (Wang Xingyue) is a prince born with no taste buds nor emotions. He cannot feel pain, happiness nor sadness. No one knows about his condition because if exposed, he is deemed a demon and would be persecuted. He becomes a hermit, changes his name to Mo Qingchen (meaning strange light dust), and lives far away from the palace and everyone else. When he accidentally touches Lin Chi (Bu Guanjin), all his senses come back temporarily. For the first time in his life, he experiences a new world which he has never known before. Since then, he attaches himself to Lin Chi and they quickly fall in love and inseparable from each other. They also realize they can transfer their power to and fro via each other’s tears. Lurking under this romance is Ji Dinglan’s ambitious and vindictive half-brother, Ji Dingyue (Nie Zihao). Time and time again he tries to expose Mo Qingchen’s secret, and he tries to hurt the couple to achieve his goal. Again and again he fails because of the unyielding love and devotion Mo Qingchen has for Lin Chi and she him; both do not hesitate to sacrifice for the other.
I have watched some of Wang Xingyue's previous dramas and find him an excellent actor. This drama is his first drama as a main lead, and his acting here is believable and again outstanding. At the tender age of 19, Wang Xingyue has a chisel good look and mature in his demeanor. He has a great potential ahead of him. Bu Guanjin on the other hand is a lot older than Wang Xingyue, but the pairing doesn’t look awkward because the couple has great chemistry together. Her acting is natural without trying too hard making the Lin Chi character very lovable. As with most young actors, Wang Xingyue is not stingy with his kisses. Nie Zihao has been acting as antagonists for several dramas I have watched. He has a very good-looking face with a sliver of hideousness in it and he is perfect for this tormented role as Ji Dingyue whom I’ve come to empathize. His acting here is applaudable.
I like the second couple and all the side characters. The acting by the whole cast is solid with an intact script and commendable editing. The background props look authentic and the costumes are carefully designed and made. The official soundtracks are some of the most impressive ballads in recent historical dramas.
My Verdict
This is such a delightful drama that has a very clear plot with very few visible plot holes or flaws. The flow is good and the pace is on spot. Despite the couple spending a lot of time conveying their love and admiration for each other, this doesn’t feel draggy because there are other things happening simultaneously. The acting is solid by the whole cast. The comedy is light and dialogues are humorous. Though rather predictable, I find this drama a great de-stressor that gives us a make-believe world that perhaps such love and devotion do exist. If you’re a romance buff and want something easy to watch with no angst, this is it. This is a story well told and deserves a bravo!
Don't miss it!
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but i promise you if you love watching flawed like characters grow, if you love touching music, if you are bored with the stock dramas in dramaland and want to try something new and if you are ready to be shocked episode after episode then this drama is for you.
This drama is not for the fainthearted or for the casual viewer. It took me whole of 17 episodes for me to decide if i love this drama or i hate it with a vengeance. This one lies somewhere in the middle.
None of the 4 protagonists are your stereotypical characters from dramaland. All of them are flawed and selfish enough to self destruct themselves and everything around them.
Eric Mun as Kang Tae Joo is forever etched in my mind as the bastard with the human heart. Don't expect to love him but he is the type of man who we love to hate. Eric did a fantastic job portraying his character and brought such range of emotions that i am shocked that this drama is so under appreciated and received low ratings in its time.
I stand conflicted if i love the heroine or not. She is something for sure. She is the most unique heroine you will meet in dramaland. She looks naive and stupid but you will get to know her slowly and understand the things that she does. If you get past that horrible hairstyle that Jung Yoo Mi portrays throughout then you will see that her acting is pretty darn good.
Their is quite a good chemistry between Tae Joo and Eun Soo. When I saw them together on screen i felt everything what they were feeling. Those simple touches, those hugs, those kisses. The chemistry is well done and their is no tight lipped kissing here. The Romance has a mature tone so no fluffy stuff here.
Lee Kyu Han continues to get supporting roles but this man seriously needs his own drama to bring out the acting that i know he is capable of. He is quite good as Shin Joon Hyuk and as the man who is utterly cold and lonely in his life.
Cha Hye Rin is the type of woman who is easy to understand and someone who is just as lonely as anything or anyone.
The protagonists live in the hell of their own making and that is why this drama is full of so much angst. Their is lot of crying and moping and emotions flying around but it is not driven by external factors. This drama shows that we as humans are selfish and base. It is twisted and dark but oh so lovely to watch. It is told with raw realism and something akin to as if the writer can read our mind. Some shots, some quotes will forever remain in my memories. This was an intense drama that slowed down and kept on picking itself up at the same time. Don't expect a plot here.There is a plot though and it is quite good but not much happens in the way we viewers are used to. All the 17 episodes were about these 4 lives and their entangling and their character growth.
The music is downright phenomenal from Gotan Project to "Moonrise"
this is too intense a drama to be rewatched again.
Give this one a chance..this starts a little slow but will be up and running in no time. Que Sera Sera will bring you a little closer to understanding the human nature and much closer to life's realities as well. But as Peter Bishop says "behind every cynic their is a romantic".
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It has one of the most intelligently written plots that one can ever come across. It's psychologically heavy and demands a mature audience. The drama chooses to look at its theme in a very philosophical manner; it chooses to take its audience to the core of a damaged human soul, and then slowly analyzes its each and every layers. As each layer unfolds, the audience learns more and more of the truth.
To put it simply, this drama is about mistakes. However, what it focuses on is not the act of making a mistake itself, but rather its effects on both the person who's made the mistake, and the people who've been hurt by it. This might seem very simple, but in actuality it is profoundly complex.
We watch the characters suffer as they fight their inner battles, the battles between love and hate, good and evil, right and wrong. We watch them as they crumble and still try to find their footing. Even though at times it seems futile, we still hope as hard as we can that they will survive this, that somehow everything would turn out to be ok. And I have to add this: what was very impressive was how in the midst of all this, the most humane feeling started to shine ... love; not necessary a romantic love, but the love that one can have for oneself, for the people around him/her, and for the life itself.
The music was simply AMAZING, I cannot think of a better choice of music. Moreover, the acting was outstanding, specially the leads. Before this drama I didn't know any of the male leads, so their breathtaking acting took me off guard. There were times that the slightest change in their expression would make my tears drop or my heart to skip a beat.
I recommend this drama to people who like to dwell in psychological mysteries. People who enjoy brilliantly written stories with meat to chew on, the ones that will leave you thinking not only for hours, but for days and months to come.
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The Nokdu Flower
51 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Fight for human rights. A story written with the blood of latest Joseon history. Highly valuable.
Definitely worthwile! "Nokdu Flower" offers a historically remarkable epic with a strong performance. The KDrama excels sort of. It almost seems as if the entire team was all too aware of the ambitious challenge to adequately capturing this short but crucial sequence of Korean history.In the second half of the 19th century, exploitation, famine, a corrupt, incompetent government and weak kings had eroded almost all belief in the existing system, in aristocracy and administration. Then there was the opening of the country to world politics and trades, for which the corrupt Joseon also proved to be profitable. In this historical KDrama it's not so much about the political intrigues around the palace, but about the landowners, administrative offices and Yangban in the provinces as well as the rebellion of the desperate rural people, who simply can't take it anymore.
The struggle for democracy in Korean history, like elsewhere in the world, has been quite bloody. That was last in May 1980 in Gwangju, when the democratic aspirations of the people were brutally crushed by the military. This was so during the student independence movement in 1929 in the fight against Japanese oppression. And that happened in connection with the Donghak movement, too, which had caused quite a stir throughout the country between 1860 and 1894. "Nokdu Flower" is deliberately very close to the front lines of those uprisings for democratic reforms, which then had been for the first time organized on this scale. This forms the perfect background for dramatically intertwined relationship dynamics of two half-brothers, (whose father is one of the particularly exploitative provincial officials who bleed the people dry), as well as the daughter of a merchant, who is used to deal with anybody, even the Japanese, for high profit.
The road to democracy on the Korean Peninsula is definitely rocky. To this day, the reactionary forces are still strong. "Nokdu Flower", however, represents a powerful, unforgettable symbol for the spirited struggle for freedom. The Donghak movement is often seen as the first patriotic Korean movement, since it was also about counteracting the increasing e. g. Japanese influence. But more than a patriotic struggle, initially the Donghak movement was actually about an idea that is bigger than family of origin or nation: It's about basic human rights. (An idea that, not too long before that, had also stirred up the European continent)
Matter follows spirit. And this spirit was shaken up in the rural population of Joseon by a new religious movement: Choe Je-u (1824–1864) created a new faith in 1860: Donghak, which roughly means "Eastern Wisdom". Drawing from Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Shamanism, it sees the divine spirit at work in human beings - in ALL human beings, without distinguishing between class or gender. Additionally, it sees the world as moving in cycles - with a whole new world just waiting ahead.
Nevertheless, it is blood that paves the path to a new era. Eventually, the results of the first Donghak peasant rebellion included a treaty. The "Gabo Reform" recognized the new religion, and among other things, the lowest classes were freed, widows were granted the right to remarry, and penalties for corruption and abuse of office were introduced. Unfortunately, there followed a second peasant rebellion...
This is a story written with the blood of latest Joseon history, sort of.
Overall, a highly valuable production.
--------------- BY THE WAY... ----------------------
...the traditional Korean national dish BIBIMBAP is closely linked to Jeonju and to the Donghak uprising. The heart of the rebellion was in Jeolla province with Joenju being the provincial capital. Among farmers who did not have the time to prepare countless side dishes, it was common to simply mix whatever there was with rice and spices. This food proved its worth, especially when it came to feeding the rebels in their brave fight for new values and a more just future.
... the TITLE TRACK is actually a popular folk song that goes straight back to the peasant uprising. "Nokdu Flower" actually means 'blossom of the mung beans', but here it refers to the nickname of Jeon Bong-jun, leader of the peasant rebellion.
"Bird, bird, blue bird,
bird, bird, blue bird,
Don't sit in the mung bean fields.
When the blossom falls
the farmer goes to cry.
Bird, bird, blue bird,
Jeonju Gobu Nokdu bird,
why don't you fly away
The pines and bamboos are green.
We thought it was summer
yet it's bitterly cold and snowy."
The blue bird refers to the Japanese - they shouldn´t have any business in Joseon and should go away. Joenju and Gobu are legendary places of the uprising. Nokdu refers to Jeon Bong-jun´s nickname and the riot. However, Nokdu, the mung bean, also refers to an important agricultural product and food. Falling blossoms indicate a bad harvest. The 'summer' stands for the first uprising, the 'cold winter' for the second. The song was probably born during the execution of the leader Jeon Bong-jun and has since become a nationwide folk song in several different versions.
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