Reviews

give it a chance

Don’t let the overall low score and bad reviews keep you from trying this. It is so good. The chemistry is off the charts. And while the story feels familiar, there were several moments where plot twists had me gasping. I laughed, I swooned, I cried rivers. We’re there bad effects and things left unexplained? Yeah. Do I care? No. Because I was entertained. Did it take way too long (almost the whole series) to explain the significance of Tong turning 21, after mentioning that they just had to wait for him to turn 21 every 5 seconds? Just for them to not wait til he turned 21? YES! Do I care? maybe a little. BUT those ending plot twists man! Didn’t see them coming. maybe I should have. But I didn’t. And I’m glad.

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Passion takes flight and soars

This movie is overflowing with heart, passion, and dedication. The unsung people known as test pilots are so under appreciated. Born to Fly highlights their spirit and determination in their chosen profession, taking on risks to ensure their air force have the best possible equipment to go about their duties.

I love how the director tried to keep it as real as possible (from what I heard in interviews), incorporating anecdotes from real test pilots, showing us glimpses and sacrifices of their lives.

The aerial scenes are breathtaking, so vivid and mesmerizing. I also love how the story takes us through the conditioning and training one would go through to even be considered for a test pilot position in China.

Lei Yu is an eager beaver, going through life fueled by his love of the air. He can be spontaneous to a fault however he more than makes up for it with his intelligence, love of problem solving and drive to succeed. Wang Yibo plays Lei Yu to perfection, injecting his brand of 100% dedication to his chosen craft.

I love the camaraderie between the team and personnel, everyone understood their assignment, gave their all.

This movie is well casted, I especially loved Hu Jun’s role as Zhang Ting, he inspires such loyalty.

You will laugh, cry, cheer but most of all, overflow with admiration for a team of dedicated people at the end of this movie.

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Story: The premise of this movie is about a young adult becoming a masseuse in order to pay for his grandmother's medical bills. In the beginning, the MC refused to do more than legit massage, even though his boss and male customers occasionally ask him to perform "extra" services. MC kept insisting he wasn't gay and even called a female friend to engage in a make-out session that went south quickly.

MC was fond of one frequent client in particular, who seemed to share his feelings, so MC finally relented in one of these sessions, which culminated in them having sex. Little did he know that it would be the last time MC would see him again. The boss found out and figured that if MC was open to sex with men, that he would also provide the same sexual service to other clients and started booking him for such. Unfortunately for the MC, the clients were lacklustre at best, and greasy or even violent at worst, that he decided to quit after there was no longer a reason for him to keep making money.

Which brings us to the crux of the movie: I find this movie is less about MC accepting his sexual orientation and more about his relationship with his grandmother. I had to commend the MC for being so young and yet understand the concept of filial obligation even when his parents abandoned him when he's a child. The gentle attitude and caring he showed towards his grandmother, even though she mistook him for his useless father, brought me to tears.

MC's genuine concern for his grandmother is a rare sight among youth. Even though she hid all the medicine that he bought specifically for her with his hard-earned money, he stuck by his grandmother. Sometimes even adults would have just left their ailing parents in a nursing home somewhere.

Acting: Very good considering MC and grandmother are amateur actors. Their characters are believable because of their acting.

Music: Average.

Rewatch value: You don't really need to watch this more than once. Especially when it's such a sad story.

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An ode to motherhood

When the Camellia Blooms is a romantic comedy and crime/thriller drama but at its very core it’s a love letter to motherhoods—every form of motherhood actually. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I’m not a mother but that does mean the messages that was conveyed didn’t hit me hard. It made me sit back and reflect on my own relationship with my mother and for that I’m thankful.

That being said my high rating kind will mostly be based on my own personal feelings rather than the logistics of the plot. I felt that it really delivered on the crime/thriller part but I know people had issues for me. However, the mystery of the killer was not something that had me anxiously awaiting each episode, no it was waiting to see if Dongbaek will stand up for herself or what the rest of residents of Ongsan are up to. That being said it’s obvious that while I personally liked how the mystery unfold it only played a small factor into my high score.

My high score, as I stated before, relied heavily on my personal emotions and oh boy did I feel strongly about this show. It’s true that I didn’t care about the crime/thriller plot-line but I’m a romance enthusiast so even if I found the focus on motherhood fascinating I needed a pairing to root for. And trust me I was rooting for Dongbaek and Yong Shik early on. It’s no surprise that the cast gained recognition and awards for their roles because you can tell how much attention went into crafting these uniquely human characters. Dongbaek as our protagonist really did grow although some would debate on that fact since there was so much flip flop going on. Yet I was not bothered because in those twenty episodes I was really able understand the core of her character and I know realistically that people don’t change over night.

Yong Shik is hands down my favorite male lead in a kdrama I’ve ever seen yet. Sure he’s incredibly persistent and in your face but he’s such a genuinely nice person that I can’t help but adore him. He’s very an all or nothing kind of guy which I admire and if you are looking for a puppy ML whose feelings for the FL does not waver one bit Yong Shik is the guy for you. Without giving away spoilers I want to shine light on this gentle giant who whole heartedly loves Dongbaek, her son, and the rest of the residents in Ongsan with all he got.

The side characters were all very interesting and I found myself rooting for even the ones I labeled as “the worst.” I thought there was a good balance between the leads and side characters too. By the end I felt almost as if I was apart of that little town because the audience was able to get to know them so well. Kudos to the child actors/actresses for giving it all they got. I thought that Dongbaek’s son, Pil Gu, was a very likable character who unfortunately felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulder.

Finally I want to address the running themes of motherhood. When The Camellia Bloom shows how difficult it is being a mother. Since there are so many different characters and stories you are able to get different perspectives. There’s a high chance that you’ll be able to relate to one of the stories involving mothers. I thought it was interesting to show how beautiful and ugly motherhood is; how mothers can be selfless and selfish. I was hesitant at the beginning but by the time I reached the final episode I was sold on the idea.

Anyways, When The Camellia Bloom made me feel so many different emotions whether it’s happiness, anguish, anger, amusement, frustration, etc. I’m someone who rates according to what it made me feel and since this drama really had an impact I had no choice but to give it 10 out of 10. I’m sad that it’s over but I’m happy I stumbled across this gem. I’m aware it’s not for everyone but it ended up hitting every little check on my “perfect drama list” so obviously I’m going to praise it. The OST also enhanced the scenes rather than distracted me. This drama will definitely go on my list of favorite dramas of the year.

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''Strongest Deliveryman'' was a big surprise to me. I started watching it with super low expectations. You may ask why did you start it when your expectations were low? Well, I sometimes do this - try watching a drama that doesn't look good enough in my eyes and, once in a while, this drama becomes one of the greatest shows I've ever watched. Gladly, that was the case with ''Strongest Deliveryman''.

First of all, I want to say that I really appreciate the idea of drama focusing on deliverymen’s life and struggles. It was a breath of fresh air to see something different. I’m not sure how realistic the whole drama is though – the four main characters’ life struggles really seemed too real, but other stories were very exaggerated. Which is not necessarily a bad thing of course, since everything in the drama was handled almost perfectly. The pacing was fine – it’s very slow at first but honestly, I was hooked since the first episode and I’m sure you’ll be, too. In case you are not, you’ll have to wait a bit, because the story picks up after episode 4. Well, the ‘’strongest deliveryman’’ part starts a bit later. It got a little boring though, around episode 12-13. But even during these boring episodes I always found something entertaining and the last two episodes were also good and satisfying.

One thing I have noticed while watching is that the show almost has no clichés. I mean, there were so many times when the writer could have go with the usual tropes and annoy the viewers, but she didn’t do it. I’m very thankful, because I’m so tired of same clichés and tropes. ‘’Strongest Deliveryman’’ has its own rules and that’s what differs it from other rom-coms. Despite being a very light and sweet drama overall, it doesn’t fail to bring depth and emotion to the narrative. It makes you think and feel. Don’t dig too deep though, the drama doesn’t take itself that seriously. It’s actually very simple but that’s why I love it so much.

Choi Kang Soo, our main lead, was a dream come true for me! He is sweet, lovable, kind-hearted, caring and sometimes playful. He is the definition of ''a good person'', but he didn't allow his good heart to turn into his weakness. He is always honest and doesn't like deceiving others. And Go Kyung Pyo's sweet acting made his character even more easy to love. He was just like a puppy, I loved him. Yeah, sorry for my bias lol.
Oh Jin Gyu completely stole the show. He is the character who developed the most throughout the show. He appeared as a spoiled, arrogant boy who didn't appreciate his life enough and relied only on his parents' money. But inside, he was just cute teddy bear and he was slowly showing this side of him. He learnt to cherrish his own life as well as to respect others' lives, too. Kim Sun Ho's acting was more that brilliant! He is one of the most underrated actors I've ever seen. He has so much talent and he showed it in ''Strongest Deliveryman''. He made me like Oh Jin Gyu even when he was acting like a complete jerk. Definitely my favourite character!
Our leading ladies are not so easy to like, at least at first. They are this type of characters that 90% of the drama community finds annoying. Lee Dan Ah is a person who detest her own country and since she doesn't like her life, she often acts too rude and she also hits people without a reason. I think I'm used to this kind of characters and maybe that's why she didn't bother me that much. Actually, I loved her sharp tongue and her passion for working. I loved that when someone looked down on her she didn't stay calm and responded immediately. Chae Soo Bin was good as always, I think this role really suited her.
Lee Ji Yoon is even more spoiled than Oh Jin Gyu and she is the most annoying character in this drama. She was sometimes very cute and innocent though and a lot of scenes with her were exceptionally funny. I was very pround of her at the end, so she definitely develops in a good way.

Overall, ''Strongest Deliveryman''is a drama with an entertaining story, good characters, fairly decent acting and pretty nice OST. It has romance, bromance and an unexpected plot twist in the middle which noone could have predicted. It has its own charm and is very easy to watch. I recommend it if you are not in a mood for a serious watch but you still want something gripping. I think if you only pay attention to the positive aspects and not search for the negative, you'll definitely enjoy it!

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Outstanding under-rated C-drama Of 2025: What It Means to Protect

How does one summarise a powerful litany of experiences and ideas, well-paced and masterfully conveyed by gripping performances in an espionage thriller of skilfully engaging camerawork, enabling you to feel as if you must navigate and survive a maze of threats, risks and circumstances? 17 episodes flew by. Suspense, intrigue, humour, tenderness… The simplest interactions and occasions can rouse your heart, shove your heart in your mouth, keep you riveted! I include vital history in my review, as to why 35 episodes of narrative excellence and strong plot-points are bolstered through award-worthy performances anchored by three leads and a fine ensemble cast. I heartily recommend this for literary discourse and/or anyone wanting to learn/refine the nuances of acting.

You do not need to know the background and settings of this Republican-era drama focused on espionage and the lives of spies intertwined with ordinary citizens, to enjoy this. Wars can be fought and lost or won with pen and numbers, moreso than guns and bombs. If you want to truly grasp the realism of this drama, here is the fundamental picture which affects how our characters make decisions throughout the drama:

In 1939, Shanghai’s International Settlement was an espionage hub for many powers such as the Japanese, Americans, British, Soviets, etc. The national government of China was the ruling party of Nationalist Kuo Min Tang (KMT) under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek, recognised by Western powers. The KMT had an intelligence arm named Bureau of Intelligence and Statistics (BIS). In 1939, Wang Jingwei chose to establish a Japanese-backed KMT government in Nanking, deliberately splitting from Chiang Kai-shek’s government.

During this time, the second Sino-Japanese War was ongoing. The Second United Front was a fragile alliance of necessity formed between the Chinese Communist Party (led by Mao Zedong) and KMT to resist the Japanese, a collaboration marked by mistrust and conflict. Japan participated in World War II from 1939 to 1945, as a member of the Axis which also included Italy and Hitler's Germany. In the mid-1940s against the Japanese, the war of resistance was not going well. KMT armies could only hold them at bay for a period of time before being ordered to retreat, or they would be crushed. Due to Chiang Kai-shek ordering KMT forces to retreat from the frontline, Communists who typically engaged primarily in guerilla warfare had to step in and mobilise the population behind Japanese lines, becoming the only power to fight the Japanese invasion and thereby growing exponentially with influence and power amongst fellow citizens.

During World War II, many Japanese soldiers were cruel and condescending towards citizens of many of those countries they invaded, including countries of South-east Asia and also within East Asia. Being brutalised, humiliated, and enduring the likes of starvation was the norm. Entire families were ruined. Being strongly anti-Japanese to the point of calling Japanese people all sorts of names and hating anything Japanese during those times was unsurprising and understandable, in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore and South Korea. The trauma is so bad that some survivors today cannot bring themselves to eat Japanese food or enjoy anything Japanese:

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/i-still-can-t-bring-myself-to-eat-japanese-food-how-wwii-shaped-the-eating-habits-of-a-generation

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/ghosts-japan-s-occupation-malaysia

Not understanding how reviled the Japanese were amongst many countries suffering under Japanese occupation during World War II is to ignore a vital major portion of history which affects how people make choices in any country, including China. Repelling the Japanese and driving them out was a key desire of ordinary people. KMT's history of mistakes during this time included the New Fourth Army incident, KMT forces blockading areas run by the Communists and making skirmishes against Communist guerillas instead of fully coordinating against the Japanese invaders. This understandably drove people of multiple areas and countries to choose the faction(s) which they viewed as willing and able to protect them and stand up for them and get rid of the Japanese invaders.

It is against this backdrop that Gu Yangshan of BIS seeks Joseph Lee (a fellow mathematician who graduated from Oxford with him) aiding the Japanese in a special cipher system and codes creating ongoing consequences affecting certain warfronts. Ding Yi lives with a theatre troupe and as someone who isn’t part of the primary cast nor given the roles he seeks, decides to do more for himself outside the troupe by agreeing to a certain role that has him interacting with the Japanese while earning extra money on the side.

Ignorance and Intelligence clash and mingle in the first episode, with unavoidable consequences. Gu Yangshan and Ding Yi have very different personalities. Their interactions are never boring. Elvis Han Dongjun and Zhang Yishan are electrifying onscreen as individuals or together, be it restraint or anguish or wittiness or a myriad of moods shifting so quickly and naturally that Ding Yi’s awakening, growth and changes for the sake of self and country are organically charismatic. When the leader of the theatre troupe Xian Biyun is forced to step in, the dynamic duo’s realistically bumpy path of co-operation and disagreements is further enhanced by Zhang Tian Ai’s commanding participation as a capable female actress hiding a lot more than she appears to be.

The BGM is a feast for the senses when employed, such as Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor ie "Summer" from Vivaldi to start episode 3, where Gu Yangshan steals the opening scenes of the situation. Music does not overwhelm or interrupt vital moments of this drama, allowing performances to be vividly entrenched within your senses. The supporting cast splendidly rises to the occasion whenever they come on-screen.

In episode 9, Kenichi Miura as Takeda-san is a terrific nuanced villain creating tension that truly catches you off-guard. In episode 10, an award-winning performance of subtlety deftly segueing into emotions and rawness between Zhang Tian Ai and Roy Wang is etched into my memory: https://kisskh.at/753455-shou-hu-zhe-men#comment-23624462

In episode 11, Li Bo Yao as Tian Hao caught me for multiple reasons: https://kisskh.at/753455-shou-hu-zhe-men#comment-23625206

In episode 12, the mood changes. Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan’s brotherhood is wonderfully endearing: https://kisskh.at/753455-shou-hu-zhe-men#comment-23674228

Hongyu. Old Gu. Luo Han. Long'er. You won’t forget their names. There are so many moments and incidents throughout this adventure across the episodes I want to highlight, but must restrain myself. All I can say is that I have never been so touched and emotionally manoeuvred into feeling for all the three leads and supporting cast characters. A birthday celebration. Taking a photograph together. A hug. A promise. Honouring sacrifices.

“Beloved” was an enthralling crime-thriller cemented with vital psychological issues. “This Thriving Land” carved an indelible mark into my consciousness. “The Guardians” will rob you of words and haunt you into seeking language for your story experiencing its depths of beauty and pain and joy. You may find yourself wanting to adapt traits or mannerisms of Charlie, Ding Yi’s evolving Li Yue Se, Xian Biyun’s careful blend of strengths utilising feminine finesse and flirtation and firmness, and more.

Directors Yang Wenjun, Shi Luan, Yuan Yuchen and the main screenwriter Zhang Ji deserve to be toasted with the finest wines. They should win at least one award from one of three prestigious award ceremonies, due to their skilful surgical precision and balance in script and directing to reel you in, hook your emotions and arrest your mind. Themes are revealed with precision, lessons nailed without mercy. Internal foes and external enemies are deadly. Underestimation is costly.

Zhang Yishan is an outstanding actor who sets the bar, Elvis Han Dongjun tops it, Zhang Tian Ai matches Elvis Han, and then Zhang Yishan surprises you again (and not just because he plays more than one character). All of them deserve more lead roles and exposure in other genres of C-dramas. These main leads complement each other very well, undeniably captivating when solo yet able to further elevate each other in shared scenes. Whether together or apart, you can feel their bonds. You will live, laugh and cry with them. You will not expect the ending.

I promise your heart will get a workout like no other, discovering an extensive vocabulary of emotions for many unexpected situations and people. A smile. A bullet fired. Amidst debris and joy, the bittersweetness of survival and winning while losing, and vice versa. Humbled. Aching. Relieved. Gut-wrenching. Uplifting. Negotiate and navigate, to survive. Impossible to let go.

This is a masterpiece comprising twists, turns and dialogue further augmenting the character portrayals prepared to unexpectedly stun you. Selected music used throughout this drama and not part of the OST are sadly not collected into an album. OP is excellent. ED embodies the setting and spirit of all who exist in this drama. Sterling efforts of cast and crew solidly ensure the three Cs of laudable camerawork, cinematography and chemistry are timelessly preserved.

As to thoughts of fellow MDL viewers, I’d like to share Alien’s feelings and observations: https://kisskh.at/753455-shou-hu-zhe-men#comment-23908494

Each lead carries growing burdens and responsibilities. They can make mistakes which others pay for. Each of them desires to make everything work, for those they value and those they want to keep safe. They do not want to lose themselves. And yet… Duty. Country. Circumstances shape choices and convictions. And sometimes, you choose because you must, not because you want to. You don't have to agree with their choices. You are here to understand how and why things start and end.

The historical backdrop I highlighted plays a significant part of this story realistically influencing decisions, especially if you watch this not understanding anything about the KMT and CCP and World War II, and hence ignorantly label this drama as "propaganda" when people wanted to live and save their loved ones and get rid of the Japanese invaders starving and humiliating them, and would naturally be affected by changing circumstances to choose the faction(s) that could achieve all those.

I usually do not like Republican-era dramas. When I finished episode 35, all I could think was: I'll have to figure out how to retrieve my heart another day. That song which plays at 13:56, the camerawork for Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan and flashbacks until 17:15.... Perfection. Then flowing again into the tension and flow of this drama... The acting of Zhang Yishan, Elvis Han and Zhang Tian Ai is fantastic. The dialogues in this episode are amazingly maintained, even with the supporting cast. And at the end... I'm not even sure how I'm going to write a review for what I have watched. What an experience. At this point, still my C-Drama of 2025.

The incredible unforgettable《無數》(Countless) by 薛之謙 (Joker Xue) is perfect for 13:56 to look back at everything (the translation matches the sentiment, and this is a great song) pertaining to the life of spies and/or patriots:

“There’s a place that’s real
With colours only some eyes can see
Where nobody has any pockets
No need to carry anger or sorrow
Please tell me you really exist
Crossing mountains and rivers to restart everything
Please grant me a life of freedom and ease
and end this goddamned trading game!

During countless times of sinking lives
Why does a ship still arrive from distant tides
Carrying a truth as simple as a child
Showing justice wrought with bare hands
In the countless times I have sunk
willing to bear the criminal names of courage
In all my countless failures
Why do you still journey through storms with me
In a parallel story I will never let you down
What can I use to prove I exist?”

You make a choice, you live your convictions, you save lives, and you change history.
Others will not know you exist.
But we will remember.

This is the story of such men and women: The Guardians.

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Shirato is really funny! Yudai Chiba is really cute acting, being a character I love even when is troubled. In other words, we like to see him suffering a bit... =^^= It's nice to see how he improves while the story goes on, it's pretty funny to see "Delusional Detective Osamu-chan" part in every episode: and I'm not talking just because of the "Thieving Bunny"! The show follow a routine sometimes, which is easily to figure out. But it's not boring at all. Not only because of the comedy... Somehow we can sympathize with Shirato. The entire show can be a little silly, but you'll love it quickly. The end is pretty amazing and closes the story in a really good way. We could even have a second season with the same routine, added to some new elements. They're good on what they propose: making us laugh.

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Gripping and intense

This drama really dished out the gritty police world as they try to wipe out drug trafficking in Yunhe (and subsequently to other parts of the country).

Beautiful cinematography that leaves everything to be desired, makes it seem like one long movie spanning 32 episodes. So well-done as it really adds to the mystique of the story and sublime plots.

I love the blend of young blood and veterans in the acting cast, I came for Wang Yibo and stayed for everyone. I had already seen Chen Xiao in A Dream of Splendor so I know he has the acting chops.

The trio of Chen Yu, An Ran and Yang Yi are bold, fearless and eager to perform their duties. Wang Yibo especially is always passionate in everything he takes on, he was already excellent in Chen Qing Ling and he was also excellent in this drama. His transformation from an eager beaver police officer to a passionate person trying to uphold law and order is wonderful to watch.

I especially love all the bits of Yibo’s screen time with Chen Xiao, the push and pull in their relationship is interesting.

The world can be ugly out there especially in Yunhe but you can trust the police force to try their utmost best.

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Lesson in Love ... plot twists and karmic connections ... don't be fooled by face value

This series is a wild water ride of tragedy, plot twists, karmic connections and misdirection. It starts slow but keep watching as it will take you on a ride that you least expected.

For me, this was 🌟 EPIC 🌟 storytelling. Don't be mistaken thinking this was a story of a sordid little affair between teacher and student ... there is far more to the story than the description lets on ... the plot is a complex one, the psychology runs deep across multiple characters and yet it flows seamlessly ... it takes you very slowly at first and then before you know it, around half-way, you hit dramatic 'white water' and then things get really rough ... there are twists and turns and hidden rocks below ... what you thought the story was about ... is not what the story is about.

Your emotions are going to get a beating, but at the very end of that intense 'white water' ride of a drama ... the waters suddenly slowed to a gently flow ... at last you could 'float'. I had tears at the end as well, but these tears were of a different kind.

"Lesson in Love" ... yes it was ... and it was a lesson for many of the main characters in this series ... including the viewer watching it. It is a series about people, their pain, their loves, their hidden stories and drivers ... it is a story about unexpected degrees of separation between everyone ... it is the story about the 'face' value of someone's life and actions and the fact that people are definitely not always what they seem to be and because of their hidden lives and/or because of their failure to communicate, it is all too easy to jump to conclusions and 'see' someone's life and what they do to be something that it is not and "kill" them for it.

I have two MVPs in this series. The first is the ML Zhang Yi Xiang ... he is a character that runs deep and is far more that his public face value ... he is so he is 'pure' even when the whole world is against him. I admire that kind of integrity and tenaciousness ... age is not necessarily an indicator for these attributes. Edward Chen did a stellar job with that character.
My next MVP is Yi Xiang's Pa ... not only was he a hot Daddy, but he was just gold in how he respected his son's self determination and saw through the game plays of people around him. I so agreed with him when he said: "if you are not hurting anyone, why would I oppose it." ۹(^ᴗ^)۶

AWESOME series ... I am glad I watched to the end ... I am glad it was not what I thought it would be when I started watching it. It was brilliantly acted, the script was amazing ... nothing was irrelevant at all ... the art of misdirection was superb ... WOW what a ride ... and best of all a HE ...۹(♡´◡`♡)۶

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A Force of Nature

She and Her Girls is a biographical account of Zhang Guimei’s tireless quest to educate impoverished young women in Huaping County. It opens with a gut-wrenching portrayal of how Teacher Guimei rescues her fourteen-year-old student, Gu Yu (yes, that is still the age of consent in China), from being sold into marriage to fund her father’s drinking habits. Guimei is a force of nature, sweeping through Huaping County to save one girl at a time—even before she has the means to support their continued education. Through sheer stubbornness, tenacity, and desperate resourcefulness, she secures land for her school, strong-arms provincial authorities, recruits promising teachers, and badgers private entrepreneurs to get her girls’ school off the ground.

I was pleasantly surprised by the humor that lightens what could have been an overwhelmingly heavy story about rural China’s marginalized girls. The narrative doesn’t shy away from mocking Guimei’s more grating traits—from her deafening early-morning bullhorn to her judgmental, unforgiving demeanor. This humanizes her, preventing her from becoming a one-dimensional saint. Beyond Guimei, there’s no shortage of personal sacrifice: Chen Sihai and the teachers put their lives on hold to build the school. The sheer volume of altruism is almost suffocating, but given the obstacles, perhaps that’s what it took to succeed.

While most praise has gone to Song Jia’s award-winning, unflinching portrayal of Guimei, Gu Yu’s story moved me the most and anchored the drama. Though overlooked by awards, I found Lan Xiya (Gu Yu) and Zhang Tianyang (Chen Sihai) even more compelling than Song Jia and Nie Yuan.

The narrative peaks with Gu Yu’s academic journey. Unfortunately, none of the other girls stand out—their stories are neither well-written nor distinct from countless other coming-of-age tales. There were several natural stopping points, but like Guimei herself, the story soldiers on doggedly, trudging through forgettable generations and trite subplots. I enjoyed the drama up until the midpoint; afterward, it became a slog, further weighed down by heavy-handed propaganda.

Despite the strong script, fantastic cast, and standout moments, this is an overrated drama—nowhere near a masterpiece. There’s no segment I’d feel compelled to rewatch. The first half earns an 8.5/10, but overall, 8.0/10 is more than fair.

(To my knowledge, Gu Yu is a fictional character.)

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This one's getting filed away under "What Happened?"

Another one with a superb start that made me think I was going to have a new favourite but went off the rails. First five episodes were pretty stellar and then it gets messy. The pacing is off, it drags a lot, there are inconsistencies in the characters as well as from one scene to the next, the plot is okay but for added drama and angst, some of the characters' reactions are unreasonable and disproportionate. Don't have characters break down crying just to make it seem like it's sad when it's just... not that big of a deal?

In terms of talking about the BL industry, yes, it's great. You've got multiple talks of consent and a lot more which I think vastly explains the high ratings despite the fact that it's kind of a mess.

However, I really did love Gene and Nubsib. Up and Kao's chemistry is pretty unreal. I had very different expectations of Nubsib, turns out he's the cutest of the cuties! Gene is the type of characters that I love and he's also super cute so there's that. Out of all the couples I discovered this year, they're easily nearing the top.

With Tum and Tiffy, I thought, finally a straight side couple I adore! But then their first drama is fairly silly (although I will admit I understand they're trying to break stereotypes and that's great, however it was way too long) and then the second one, once again, I just straight up didn't understand the big deal... and suddenly everything's better but literally nothing happened or changed?

In terms of acting, it's pretty good. I really loved Up, Ken, and Kao; Bruce not so much.

The ending? Too long. The first of the three scenes is very cute but it should have stopped there. At some point I was like ok is this ending today or...?

Overall, I'm pretty sad. I was super excited about that one but after the first five episodes, they lost me a bit. Anyway, I hope to see more of Up, he's a highlight of the series for sure.

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I'll keep this simple.

STORY. Superb storyline. Having badminton as supposed to be the central plot, the writers explored beyond the sport. For me, it's not about badminton. It's not about autism. It's about sibling rivalry. That's the very core of the story and it was presented magnificently. There is no antagonist, only the products of mistakes from people who caused the problems and conflicts of the main characters.

ACTING. Stellar performance. I expected a lot from Tor and Sky but they have still delivered more than what I have expected. I adore their chemistry as brothers here. Tor deserves awards for portraying his role. I can't think of other actors of his generation who can do what he did.

MUSIC. I'm a Thai series fan but I can't read and write in Thai. Despite that, the soundtrack used in the series is truly remarkable. The matches became more intense because of the musical score. The nursery rhyme used in the emotional and sensitive scenes moved me. The way Dong calms Gym down is marvelous. It gives me chills up until now. That's my favorite scene ever! Whoever thought of that is genius.

REWATCH VALUE. This is the weakest spot of the story. The editing of the series is a bit scattered. The story has become predictable because of the sequencing of events. The building up of some scenes takes a bit long. There are elements that are repetitive and unnecessary. It's not as tight as I hoped it would be.

Nonetheless, it's an incredible ride. You'll get to appreciate and love your family more after watching Side By Side. For me, its pilot episode is the best Project S episode so far. It will be just difficult to top that.

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Well, that was weird!!

I'm being hella optimistic here, but what in them product placements was this?! You know how sometimes, there's a movie scene which just has to be a dream sequence? Too ill-fitting? Too plot-breaking? Damn right. It's what Work From Heart is made of, and they never say sike.

Let's get to the positives:

1. I like the songs! Not enough to look them up, but they were nice distractions from the boring semi-plot.

2. The preachy parts didn't feel as preachy as they usually do. Maybe because everything was just so ridiculous, I could see it fit quite well. Might even catch feels once or twice.

3. Song-Ve. They were cute together. And even had some development.

Point 4 could be something like "good visuals" or "attractive actors", but really. This is a BL. Thai BL. If anything, they always manage to bring in pretty faces.

As for the notable negatives...phew. Do we even want to go there? Let's just say it's boring. Cringe. Occasionally uncomfortable. Not much makes sense. We see blatant discrimination, homophobia, sexual harassment... They even had a 'pretend gay' subplot! I could be actually pissed, if only it wasn't all so ridiculous. Taking this seriously would be an insulting waste of your time, so don't. If you're here for the weird, ride with the weird.

In the end, there's no sane reason to pick WfH over any other boring, no-plot thai BL of late. But I would still gladly watch a GuyFries spin-off of this, so it couldn't have been that bad!! Right?

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Probably 1 of the best Asian dramas in 2020

Japanese filmmakers are really good at using small, simple moments to tell a story. No exaggeration (unless it is a comedy) and no over-abundance of subplots. This is minimalist filmmaking. Matsumoto Hana's recent works are really good, an actress-director to keep an eye on :)

Honestly, I have picked Neko to watch on a whim. I love cats and well, there is cat in the title ^^ But oh, do not be mistaken, this drama is not about cats. Rather, it is about how 2 lonely people met over a cat, how they became companions and fell in love with each other.....

The script is very honest. Right in ep 1, FL tells ML that she has brain tumor and is expected to die from it soon. He is homeless so she offered him to stay at her home, on condition that he does what a family member would-- FL is living alone and craves for companionship. Of course, they fell in love. You would watch them struggle with the love, she wasn't sure if to accept him as he would eventually be heartbroken, but he convinced her. Better to have loved and lost, than not love at all. But life is unpredictable.....

Neko is an excellent mini drama that is a role model for how with good script and cinematography, you can present loneliness, love, companionship, loss, sadness and recovery in a few short scenes. This drama is 6 episodes of 20 mins each, the length of a movie. But the production is right to make this into a drama, to present the different arcs and emotions, and give viewers time to absorb in what was shown. By the end of this drama, it would make you rethink about life and death.

I know the story seems too heavy (I suspect that is why the title is "Neko", to trick us into watching it, lol) but trust me, you would be very glad to spend 2 hours on this drama. We all love those lighthearted, idol romcoms or gritty mysteries dramas, but when such a good slice-of-life drama comes along, it deserves your time.

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