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the good this is that it was short coz girl i dont think i could take anymore of the ridiculous journal. the other is that song jae rim mostly and the rest were a hot cast so kudos. one major thing that gave it a 5 instead of 2 is unlike other kdramas this has alot of kissing scenes so i liked it. there really was also some cute moments seriously. thunder actually did a good job for his first role, he was cute and funny but sometimes i could feel his nervousness.
the bad thing oh gosh its like 99 problems. park gyu ri, how did this girl get chosen for this role coz its definately not her acting. one of the baddest gender bender. this girl couldnt pretend to be a boy for the life of her. i watch shows for the actual acting and not the cuteness. she supposedly was writing a journal by pretending to be a boy and find out about this guy she fancied. everytime they re-enacted her stories is when i would want to throw this laptop. it was fake beyond fake including her fake wig, fake gumihos, fake hunters, fake guns and gunshots......i could go on to 99. some story lines were really great like the grandma/grandpa fiasco. its just the story lines kept getting plugged in where they shouldnt.
give it a try, u gonna like kay as he starts getting feelings for her/him and seeing the different styles of nail art.
how do u tell about someone by looking at their nails **smh**
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The story is based off of her trying to making a name for herself after years of settling into her party girl life style, but the story is not as shallow as it may seem. The drama tackled issues of peer pressure, self worth, and self esteem.
There were memorable cute scenes from the main couples and just when it got too serious there was comedy relief from the side characters. Also there are strong women all through this drama. Some are accomplished and teach others or they have ambition to do great things; such a girl power feel to it.
The OST was amazing, Onew has a magical voice that made the main couple's song come to life. There was always good music playing in the bg; it helped with the story telling in each scene, i felt more in love, more nervous or mad because of the music. I loved the OST so much its going on a playlist.
Overall I would recommend this drama when you need a break from crying or being frustrated with the other hundreds of dramas we watch. If we had to label this drama it would be a "slice-of-life". There was comedy, romance, and a bit of angst but not enough to be the central theme.
Rewatch value went down just because i would go back only for specific scenes that i loved, and not the whole drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
A sweet, uplifting youth drama with a BIG heart
I'm surprised that there is no review of this drama. It was based on a 2017 film of the same name. It has been available to view for over 1 year. I suppose it is a sleeper for most people. That is a shame as it is surprising good.However, there is a couple of caveats. It is a idealistic youth drama and there is a lot of music and most of it traditional Chinese "folk" music. If you are not into this genre then you might want to skip this.
The drama was set in a school but not a typical high school, it was a music conservatory. The school was roughly divided into western classical music and traditional Chinese music streams. It was this division that formed the central plot.
The writer really went out of her way to give the standard school romance a twist. Everything were a little left of centre. With it being a "special" school, the characters were also more quirky. Most were nerdy and had strong personalities that departed from the typical mould. It made the show more interesting and unpredictable.
For example, where the FL and her roommate usually formed a clique, she was the odd one out here and she ended up forming a much stronger bond with four girls that were much quirkier. Those girls all had their unique personalities and solid backstories so that they are not the usual one dimensional BFF trope. If anything, they stole the show half the time.
Another curve ball the writer threw at us was the OTP pairing. At the start of the show we were introduced to the FL and her crush which was the handsome piano prodigy in her year. It sounded like the standard unrequited love plot, right? Well, you will be wrong. Her male BFF, who had a crush on the FL but still enabled her to chase after the piano god, became the ML and it was their budding romance that formed the basis of the OTP. Their relationship was very innocent and there was not a bit of skinship here. That was where the 2OTP came in.
The 2OTP was a more mature pairing and there were some nice skinship as their romance blossomed. This romance line was strong enough to be the main plot for most c-dramas but it was a little tropey. At least the angsty bits were handled with maturity. The 2ML was a popular c-drama star and his (the writer's) observations of the industry was quite insightful.
Of course, being a school drama, there was a lot of teenage angst and schoolyard shenanigans but nothing was over the top and even the darkest situation had a light at the end, there were also a good deal of humour and slapstick to keep things light most of the time. There were lots of positive messages, some might find it a bit preachy but I think it was ok within the drama's youth/school setting.
The writer did not leave everything in the land of the unicorns though. There were dark themes like bullying, parental pressures, self image, ageism and even death but they were all there for a reason and she used them to push forward more positive plot developments. I think it was a fair call to highlight the marginalisation of traditional Chinese music in the face of c/k/j-pop and western classical music.
As most of the actors were young, their performance can be a bit patchy but it was not a big issue. Some of the minor plots were a bit weak and cliché but they are just ripples in the overall dramascape. As someone who knew a little bit about music education, some of the plot device used were a little unrealistic but hey, it is dramaland so just keep the rose tinted glasses on a little longer.
The OST was great if you like Chinese music or even music in general. The band battle in episode 23 was definitely a highlight.
Kudos to the writer for giving us the feels but without making it too sugary. Words like heartfelt, warm, sweet, uplifting, cute, touching came to mind when watching this show. Was it realistic, no, I wish it was and the world would be a better place but when you watched it and maybe even rewatch it, you will feel these feelings again and again which is a shelter from our trying times. Highly recommended.
P.S. I finally watched the original movie (fast paced, fun and entertaining, BTW) and I have to say that this drama series was actually better. This should not be taken for granted as a lot of movie spin-off becomes a draggy mess. The writer kept most of the key scenes and the central theme but fleshed it out really well. The 2OTP love line was completely new. In fact, all the teacher roles were added. Several other supporting roles were new and, in hindsight, how wonderful they were. The old lady living across the practice room was a gem. Very nuanced and bridged the generations . The food delivery guy with a strong Cantonese accent was another. It is rare to hear any type of accent in a c-drama as they try to make everyone speak standard mandarin (it is understandable, a Ming dynasty assassin speaking with a Taiwanese accent will break any immersion) hence dubbing is everywhere and can be a bit of hit and miss. To hear someone who is different is refreshing but more importantly, it wasn't a wallflower role. His interaction with them was so sincere. The farewell scene was very touching and I bought it 100%. Where the movie was a great idea and well executed, the drama fleshed it out and gave it a heart. Yes, it might be padded with sentimental tosh but so is a hug from your grandma.
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The perfect tragic villain
First off: this series isn’t your “normal” villain story. Baek A Jin is portrayed in a way that makes you, at times, want to pity her.Careful though, they are not trying to make her the hero of this story. It is simply presented in a way that makes you occasionally find yourself rooting for her, because she is almost put into the role of a victim. That is very fitting, because in her world, she is the victim. She sees herself as the loser. At the same time, it is clearly shown that she is the villain , that she is evil and incapable of feeling compassion for anyone but herself. The series never excuses her actions, but it forces the viewer to sit with an uncomfortable question: how much empathy is too much when it comes to someone who causes real harm?
This is what I personally found most fascinating. The story is truly well written and executed. At times, you see her true self and can’t help but pity her: at other times, you are confronted with her completely psychopathic side, which sends shivers down your spine and makes you hate her. The series does an excellent job of playing with your emotions and actively evoking them. These conflicting feelings accompany you throughout the entire series. The pacing supports this emotional tension perfectly, allowing the story to breathe when it needs to and tightening when her true nature comes to the surface.
I can see how, for some people, this might feel too contradictory and therefore off-putting or even repellent. Personally, I really liked this aspect - it’s actually what made me like the series so much. What makes this series so compelling is not the question of whether Baek A Jin is evil, but how the story makes you emotionally engage with that evil.
These two clashing emotions, induced by the same character, are truly captivating. They show how complex human emotions are and that one feeling does not exclude the other. I also enjoyed this because it gave Baek A Jin real depth. Through this, she isn’t just a one-dimensional villain (though those can be fun as well), she is portrayed as a genuinely human character.
All the other aspects of the series were amazing too.
The acting was remarkable, all the actors did an outstanding job. The OST?! The sound design, loved it . The camerawork was superb as well.
Finally, I can only recommend this series to anyone who might be interested. Even after finishing the series, Baek A Jin stayed with me. Not because I sympathized with her, but because the story refuses to let you simplify her into something easy to forget. This is not a comfortable series, but it is a powerful one... it truly is one of the best series I have watched so far.
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This review may contain spoilers
this wasn't sweet at all. hella salty.
the title sounds cutesy so why? what was the point of this drama? why would you make me want to eject myself into the sun? i'm a masochist but gosh darn it this was so frustrating to watch.this is just another straight drama with frustrating main leads.
i don't see anything extraordinary about the fl and it honestly makes me question why she's the fl.... the scene of her not being able to back herself up when facing those homophobes demanding her program to be cancelled..... for once i wanted her to have some courage to stand up and tell them why she made her program and that there's absolutely no reason for her program to be cancelled
when things were going haywire with her program and her boss quit, she was asking "who will help me with this?" like ????
the ml was so annoying ohmygod... i get that at the beginning he was desperate for money because of his dad needing surgery but then he continued burying himself with lies after another which made him a very selfish character
a straight dude pretending to be gay then leading a gay dude???? and y'know who he thinks about? the fl !!!
this guy straight up talks to kang tae wan about how he might hurt ah jin if he told the truth but hasn't he thought about how it hurts kang tae wan? how he misled everyone to believe he's gay? how there are actual gay people having difficult time to come out???? he was receiving all sorts of support but he didn't do anything.... he waited for shit to hit the fan.... how irresponsible can one be???
kang tae wan is the only character that was decently written
it's honestly a shame that this character has limited screen time because i could care less about anyone else lol
in conclusion, i'm in the process of lowering my expectations
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FRESH AND BUBBLY ROM-COM
It is a drama that I would recommend for when you want to have a good laugh and have a good time. The characters are very fresh, and although it seems like a cliché story, there are several elements that make it quite unique. I think the adaptation of the novel was done wonderfully, from the cast to the details in the production. It took a little over two years to be published but it was well worth the effort. Jun, congratulations on getting back to work as an actor! You still have the professionalism of your 15 years of acting career ~ im proud, Even if you don't like Lingchao that much, you worked hard! Hopefully you can fulfill your dream of being a villain another time. Miaoyi, good job, you've been busy with so many projects, I'm glad you could bring XiaoTu to life~ Little bunny.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best School Life to Adulting China drama I've watched.
I really loved the 2 main leads together, their chemistry is really good.One thing I really like about this drama is that both ML and FL are mature and there wasn't any misunderstandings caused by communication problems like in many dramas. They say what they needed to say and cleared up any unhappiness immediately when something happens. They stick together through thick and thin and never let anyone get between them.
The character development for the leads was also great. The FL comes from a well-off family and started off making a few snub comments regarding the ML spending all his time earning money instead of studying like what a student should be doing. But over time she came to understand ML's actions and also encouraged him to change him for the better. Great and natural interactions between them.
Its a pity they did not put much effort into the 2nd couple. Gu Xiao Man blindlessly continues to love Chen Yi Chuan without any reason, and even after being treated badly by him continuously until he finally realises his own feelings. They did not justify the reason behind their feelings and also there was no growth.
There is however growth in Chen Yi Chuan's character himself than his love line.
Overall I'm head over heels for the main leads and would definitely rewatch this again.
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A light hearted romance
I had no intention of watching this drama at first because I thought it would be the usual cold male silly female troupe,etc,but this drama caught me by surprise . I became addicted to this drama without realising it. This is a feel good drama with not much serious or dramatic plot. If you want to watch something to relax your mind and soul , yes then this drama is for you.
It's a story of two people falling in love. First they were strangers, they became friends, then eventually lovers. The story is about how they understand and discover each other as they spend time together. They have a lot of meaningful conversations here and they find themselves in some situations which make them understand better .
The male lead Lu Zhao Xi is an easy and outgoing person with a positive mindset whereas the female lead Ye Shi Lan is a timid, introverted person. But yet they compliment and understand each other well. Communication is the key for a relationship .
Male lead is the most likeable character you can ever see in a drama , trust me. He is not the usual cliche CEO you can see in many dramas. He has friends, and his relationship with parents is great. He is very humble . There is no reason to not like ML . He has many positive sides. He is what every girl needs in their partner. There is a scene where Ye Shi Lan was asked by Lu Zhao Xi what are the bad qualities of him and she couldn’t answer. He was brought up by his parents well.
In the confession scene, we can see our female lead, Ye Shi Lan, was worried that what our male lead, Lu Zhao Xi , was feeling towards her was pity or sympathy because they became friends and he knows a lot of things about her past and been there with her in her most embarrassing moments. Male lead explained his feelings so clearly that it made me appreciate the screenwriter.
I feel like there are some little life lessons that we can get from this drama . If a person goes through a toxic relationship and sees this drama, they would rethink their relationship. They would thrive to have this kind of relationship.
The OST is good , the setup of the drama is good, the feel is good.
Overall a good drama which gives a warm feeling and makes you happy till the end.
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Great Series!
Perfect! This story is inspired by the true story of the first unicorn in Thailand. It can inspire viewers to do business or start up. All the actors played their roles well, not just the main actors, the supporting actors or guest actors, they played well, the picture and sound were very good. Ice, Janeyeh and Palangr are very talented and great actors. They should receive awards. All the staff, the director should also receive awards too. It's a very great series. There is no boring part. Everything is perfect. I would like to recommend everyone to watch it. It is definitely not a waste of time.Was this review helpful to you?
Ps: did I mention it took me 2 months to sludge through this drama?
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Heartwarming Encouragement
I'm sure the synopsis will explain the romantic plot and the struggles/growth the characters go through, but I think it's really important to highlight just how heartwarming this show is. It felt like a big 10 episode hug.It's been a while since I watched a drama that is an original script and not adapted from book/manga. Not to say adaptations are bad (not at all!), but I really liked how the actors got to actively collaborate on creating their characters. It made it feel real for me.
Also, there isn't a bad person in this story! The support they provide to each other throughout it is such a lovely reminder to be kind to others. Nothing is a burden and characters are quick to consider adapting things or situations for their friends, family and loved ones.
While it seems like a lighthearted romcom on the surface, I think there's much to be learnt from this drama.
Happy viewing! And keep your spirits up! Fight!!
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Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
13 people found this review helpful
A bittersweet love story that will have you both smiling and crying by the end of the drama.
We start off with a 17 year old Sakutaro Matsumoto AKA Saku crying his heart out and then we switch to a 34 year old Saku who is searching for a place in the past where he can finally let go of his beloved Aki's ashes and the pain of his memories. Ultimately, he does all of this to move on seventeen years after her death. He is trying to escape a meaningless life filled with emptiness.
As he searches for that place he recalls the events of his past and it's like we are able to watch two drama's. One about his past and another where the present catches up to him.
The pace is perfect, nothing was rushed or is too slow, this is an important factor which I feel makes a drama the all the more enjoyable. Leading on from that, the time of the past and the future is perfectly interwoven together making a perfect crossover by the end of the drama. You really feel a whole drama instead of two parts... The past and the present become one and it's like the two pieces complete and merge together.
But don't get me wrong. It's a happy drama. It's a sad drama. Just like the present and the past is merged, so are these feelings of happiness and sadness.
The rewatch value is a six because some are brave enough to go through this roller coaster of feelings however others cannot... I belong to the latter group...
The acting in this drama is phenomenal, you can really feel the emotions, the characters, the essence of the past and the hope for the future. This is aided by the soundtrack which enhances the feelings experienced through this drama... And whilst some may dismiss this drama as a simple terminal disease love story designed to make you cry. It's a lot deeper than that. This is a story of acceptance, moving on and questions how to get over the death of a loved one.
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Suspense
The multiple timelines really brings everything together, and this is the first CDrama I watched that wasn't some happy and chill romantic comedy related to divorce or high school. Very dark, thrilling story, with everything coming together at the end, making it pretty hard to rewatch but amazing the first time around. The suspense is real, with amazing music and cinematography and actors that make the characters feel so realistic. I don't usually write reviews, but this piece of art really stuck to me and I rank it among the same tier as TV Shows such as Game of Thrones (earlier seasons), and it truly felt like an adventure watching it with my native chinese parents who understood it better than me most likely. Of course, there were some tiny plot points not explained in the end but they were not too important, and everything truly tied together and made the story bittersweet, as it truly was dark and sad with some hidden and obvious messages towards the end. WATCH IT 10/10Was this review helpful to you?
THE GOOD: The characters (all except for one), the relationships, and the general plot and pacing.
The characters are all really likable, realistic, and not annoying, with the exception of one romantic rival who has a long plot arc I could have done without. You Yan is probably one of my favorite female drama protagonists because she's so reasonable. The plotting and pacing of the show is excellent. The drama never gets dragged out (with the exception of the aforementioned plot arc, but even that one kept things interesting) and all the episodes move along quickly. You Yan and Ye Bai have a lot of trust in each other, which is always nice to see in a drama relationship, and though their relationship isn't perfect, the struggles they go through feel very real and they respond in real ways.
One thing I really liked about this show was how meta it was about the drama genre. Sometimes an episode would end with a cliffhanger that in any other drama would spiral down into some cliche mess, but the next episode would show that the cliffhanger is hardly a cliffhanger. Instead of prolonging the drama, the characters would act in a reasonable manner.
There were also a few meta moments in which the characters would say, "this is how things would be if we were in a drama," which was ironic because that's exactly what would happen. At one point, Su Shan tells You Yan that if she were in a drama, she'd totally be a Mary Sue, which I found hilarious because You Yan totally IS a Mary Sue-type character, but she's such a likable one.
THE BAD: The acting, one ridiculous plot arc, and incongruities in the feel of the show.
The acting wasn't terrible, but I thought Chen Ruo Xuan's performance as Ye Bai was particularly stiff and the rest of the cast was just okay. Ye Bai had a cute relationship with You Yan, but as an individual, I didn't find his character convincing. The ridiculous romantic rival plot arc really dragged the show down. The first few episodes were great and then BAM we get hit with this drama. I didn't like it because the show was doing so well with avoiding cliches, and then this character came in and was a romantic rival stereotype.
Another thing that turned me off was how the show hovered between being an idol drama and a school/youth drama. There were moments when it tried to be realistic and meaningful in the way that it treated the characters' realistic struggles with the transition between college life and adulthood, but then sometimes there would be ridiculous and unrealistic gestures that remind you that this is an idol drama. I like both genres in different ways, but I didn't like the way that this show hovered between the two genres. I wish it would have chosen to be grand and idealistic and unrealistic, or stuck with being realistic and true to life.
OVERALL: I don't regret watching this drama, but I probably wouldn't rewatch it. It has a lot of feel-good moments, but overall I didn't feel invested in it. The characters and relationships have a lot of similarities to Love O2O, but The Endless Love has a lot more drama.
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The cast was absolutely beautiful. The characters were all portrayed well and the best thing was it wasn't just believable, but it actually felt real. I've laughed with these characters, cried with these characters, and even got pissed with these characters. It's an instant connection - Honestly I haven't met/talked to ONE person who isn't head over heels in love with this drama. What the actual heck are you doing with your life if you haven't watched this drama yet?
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