This review may contain spoilers
i will be the odd one out... this much ado about nothing
will start off with a basic fact, i think ballroom dancing is repetitive & boring. when u 1st see a competition it's glamorous cause of how they r dressed (especially the women) & the moves r cool, but the more u watch - it's basically the same moves in each dance, performed the same by all the couples on the floor. yeah others might enjoy this, to me this not entertaing after the novelty wears off.& ironically or not, i found this BL to be much the same. i aint faulting the actors (that brought their A game) - but the plot - where did it take us?!? the culmination wasn't even the 10 dance competition - which this freakin movies is titled after & the illusion of an open end, was a farce.
1st off my favorite character here was Tajima Aki (Suzuki Shinya's dance partner) i liked her personality & even though she & Yagami Fusako were treated like a prop - like marionette's to use when needed & then tossed aside, cause they weren't the mains, Tajima was still very visible to me. Yagami just made me feel sad.
the mains, was this even a love story?!? & NO i don't need sex or even a kiss (mentioning the kisses OMG but it felt like they weren't insync even there) for it to indicate this a romance. yeah Suzuki fell hard & fast, even showed signs of jealously, frustration & yearning. while Sugiki had eyes only for the dance, even if he ran after Suzuki, kissed him & then offered him the last dance. what he really offer of himself?!?
when Suzuki wanted to get closer he pushed him, saying they were enemies. after every woman Sugiki encountered, told him that the one thing he lacked was 'love'. so when he finally had a chance to open up & give of himself - he put up a wall & pushed Suzuki away.
so the end, where he came to Suzuki & requested he accompany him on the dance floor, to me that was his way of getting Suzuki back into the 10 dance competition (which he had no intention of being a part off) after the way Sugiki rejected him. the fact Suzuki smiled, means he is as deluded as some of the comments i read - thinking Sugiki is now ready for them to be together. heck from what we had in this movie, was there even a grand anything or just intense psychical attraction that could amount to nothing more, then a one night stand?!??? the writer's gave us nothing to draw from IMO.
2 plus hrs & i didn't see any growth in Sugiki, not one that would indicate he is ready to put another human above his ambition's to win or above the dance. maybe i am being to harsh, but i don't get the hype, yeah great looking guys & they had good chemistry, but does that amount to a great movie? meeh - this was just ok...
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full of romantic situations ✨
this is one of the most romantic dramas with huge romantic tension and many romantic/sexy scenes!it seems perfectly cast, and strong fast paced start getting the leads together to create the dynamic we are all looking forward to see developing!
these actors arent among the best at their craft but when perfectly cast that becomes undetectable and i think this is such a case. the female lead ive not seen in a lead performance before so im pleased she’s balancing the aspects of her character so well. shes a good actress overall having seen her before in Blossom In Adversity.
Now thats its over i can say its a great series, but with some minor flaws. its still fave of 2025!
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This review may contain spoilers
An insult to women and men at the same time
This is surely the worst drama that I have ever watched and it's not because of the production value (which is very impressive sometimes), it's because of its awful writing. This drama is an instant drop in the first two episodes. I dropped it when it came out in 2017, but I made myself a promise to finish it one day, so here we go.Let's start with the bad (there's a lot – I should have made notes while watching):
- Do Bong Soon's character is the typical fake strong female character. We start with Do Bong Soon helping an elderly man and saving a bus, which are very heroic feats, but the character goes downhill very quickly. Do Bong Soon eventually becomes CEO Ahn Min Hyuk's bodyguard. She completely fails at being a bodyguard. She lets the CEO get hurt because of her, she lets a cop get hurt and she also lets the villain escape multiple times. The writers completely failed to recognize that she heard the main villain's voice at a pharmacy. When girls start getting kidnapped in her neighbourhood, she does nothing. When her friend almost gets kidnapped, she lets the kidnapper go even though she could knock him down in one hit. Why? After some time, Do Bong Soon is an intern at her own personal Planning & Development department with the CEO. Once again, we see her doing nothing all day. If she is shown doing anything, it's working on the same character model and drag and dropping things into a presentation. This was a missed opportunity to show women working in game engines and programming, but instead they showed us a pathetic character who thinks she deserves to be in the actual Planning & Development department without any actual skills... After Kyung Shim gets kidnapped, she goes to beg Min Hyuk for help and then completely invalidates his feelings. After Do Bong Soon rescues kidnapped women (at a location which only took everyone ages to figure out), she goes on to confront the main villain in a dramatic way that makes her lose her strength (even though she basically abused her power all throughout the drama and even hurt innocent people). After losing her strength, she is absolutely useless. She goes unconscious from two blows to the chest and she doesn't even try to free herself from her restrains at the brink of death. She does nothing but cry even though she received training in combat from the CEO. After escaping from her death, the three leads formulate a plan to catch the killer by exposing her out in the open to a sniper rifle while only she wears a bulletproof vest. I suppose headshots don't exist in her universe because that was so stupid.
- Do Bong Soon is not a strong character. She couldn't even tell the man she liked that she liked him. She is very childish and doesn't have much personality outside her powers.
- Na Kyung Shim (Do Bong Soon's friend) only cares about her face and looking pretty after being beaten up by the serial kidnapper / killer.
-Do Bong Soon's grandmother enters the scene at some point and beats up some goons. Which is fine and all, but the first thing she does when she visits her grandchild's home? She verbally abuses Do Bong Soon's father.
-It's inconsistent powers-wise. Do Bong Soon can't run, but she can jump high and basically fly as shown in the last episodes?
-Bomb designed to kill Do Bong Soon explodes into fireworks... What??
-Domestic violence. Do Bong Soon's mother is seen regularly abusing her husband, both verbally and physically. This abuse is sweeped under the rug with comical music played in the background. Even though the writers seemingly tried to redeem the mother in the last episode as having pushed him only once, it's just not believable. She was also physically and verbally abusive towards Bong Soon.
-Extreme homophobia, awful representation of LGBT community and queer-baiting in almost all of the episodes. It's so toxic that it took every ounce of my willpower to get through the scenes.
- Bong Soon and her mother and basically all the female characters are obsessed with Do Bong Soon snatching away Min Hyuk and having sex with him and basically raping him. These are not strong women.
-Min Hyuk goes to convince Do Bong Soo's father Do Chil Goo to return to his abusive wife because he cannot marry Do Bong Soon in such a situation. What a sad moment.
- All three leads are very misogynistic in some scenes. Do Bong Soon's character is misogynistic in itself. She is the opposite of strong and actually serves as a bad example for women.
-It has Kim Ji Soo, who is a known bully, but that's not really the drama's fault, so I would be willing to let that pass.
-Do Bong Soon has her own gang of high school kids.
-The characters are absolutely brain dead most of the time with no logical sense.
-Poop jokes.
-Racist representation of Indians with random Buddhist monk a.k.a. the scammer.
-There is no natural comedy in the situations, only poor writing. The romance was just pure fluff, nothing more.
-Min Hyuk and Bong Soon were extremely possesive.
-Useless police as always.
The good:
-Hee Ji's character was the only normal female character in the entire drama. I wanted to see more of her, but we got very little of her.
-Excellent villain who deserved so much better. He was the only consistent character and the reason I kept watching, but sadly writers didn't allow him more time to shine. The actor's performance was absolutely amazing.
-Some scenes were shot in a beautiful manner, but this got overshadowed by how despicable the characters were.
I need to cleanse my brain from this drama.
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1
1Give it a Chance.. it's worth
Writing this after watching 8 episodes...I found this drama accidentally while watching some YT videos. So I just watched.. literally binged watched.
I don't know why some people have given low rating to this drama. Normally its happen after 20+ episodes because of fillers. But this one so far interesting. Maybe because they don't like genre. Anyway usually I don't write reviews but I am writing this because I don't want some drama enthusiastic to miss this drama because of a bad reviews. So give this a chance.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning. The creators took great care in introducing each character through well-choreographed fight scenes. These scenes aren't just background noise – they're beautifully filmed and truly set the stage for each character. The fight choreography itself is top-notch, and the CGI seamlessly blends into the action.
The acting is on point as well, and the plot has me hooked so far.
If you're looking for a drama with impressive visuals, engaging characters, and a captivating story, don't be discouraged by the bad reviews. Give this one a try – you might be surprised!
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This review may contain spoilers
How this has more than 7 is beyond me
I am not sure how this drama has over 7.0 and that would be a very generous rating. I had high hopes for this drama as people around me praised how good it was and the production value seemed high, so I decided to give it a chance.At the start the drama had potential. The relationship between the male lead and his sister, and the mystery around his traceless mother. The female leads friends even had their own conflicts and I found that they were more interesting than the actual leads. The friends carried the entire comedy angle. The romance is mundane and nothing new. There are so many overused scenes like the male catching the falling female lead kind of bs. There's a lot of unnecessary and long awkward kissing scenes that could have been removed. I find that the male lead is often stupid and simply simping over the female, completely disregarding his goals to chase her around. The female lead doesn't seem all that special or unique either and I am unsure of her appeal.
The only interesting bits of the drama were rushed and haphazardly written in. The sibling rivarly was barely touched and basically unresolved. The missing mother was dangled like a carrot on a stick and then the male lead suddenly says he is no longer interested in pursuing her. The heck? Those who watched knows what happens after. There are so many reasons that this drama is mediocre at best.
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Story- To be honest, the summary really caught my attention since it was somehow similar to the anime, Fushigi Yuugi. Wherein the female lead will journey to find her apprentices that would help her battle the bad guys and she will fall in love with one of them. But I think it was much more different and interesting than that. I think that the CGI was not overly done and it was really pretty decent. I loved the parts when they were fighting and the red and blue effects were there. It really made every action sequence very cool. The costumes were great! Especially the wardrobe of Xin Yue Hu. He carried it so well. I binged watch this for 2 days and every episode got me hooked. I usually fast forward some scenes when it comes to Wuxia dramas but in my surprise, I did not fast forward at all. This shows that this drama really succeeded in making every scene worth a watch.
Some may think that the story started to roll downhill as the end is becoming near but I actually oppose that. Every decision that the characters made was understandable and the ending was actually one of the best part of the series. It made my heartache and at the same time it made me very happy and I fell in love. The ending was the perfect ending and there's nothing that can change that. It was really really good to be honest. It will give you a lot of feels, I promise you.
Acting/Cast- Oh man, where will I start? Zhang Han was flawless. He was able to convince me that Chi Yu and Xin Yue Hu has a total different personality. Every actors portrayed their characters very well and they really gave justice to them. It really fits them perfectly. The main leads chemistry was just so great. They became one of my favorite pairs. Even though they are just doing simple gestures, they will still make me blush and feel butterflies in my stomach. Cheesy right? They are just that great. The connection between all the characters are superb. I hated the villains but at some point I fell in love with them. You will really feel the connection with the characters. It was a roller coaster ride for me, sometimes I hate them but sometimes I love them. You will really understand how their mind works and why they did that kinds of things. Every character was interesting for me. As in, every single one of them. I loved how the characters developed a lot through out the whole series. You will really see them grow and become mature, and this is why this drama is one of my absolute favorites.
Music- I only gave this a 8 since there was not really anything special about the music but it was pretty decent. This is not like Korean Dramas where the OSTs are spectacular. But, the music really did fit in the drama but there's really nothing more to it.
Rewatch Value- In my personal opinion, I would like to only re-watch the sweet moments of the main leads and some of the funny scenes of the lead characters. My absolute favorite scene was when all of them was gathered together, all complete, and they are just having genuine fun. I might have said this already but the ending was my favorite. It will hit you right in the feels.
Overall- As I've said, this drama will truly be one of my favorite wuxia dramas. There may be some ups and downs about this drama but overall watching this is really worth it. You will grow to love every single characters and understand how they think. I was not able to watch some of the drama's episode for a whole day and I actually missed them. Yes, I missed the fictional characters. This shows the strong effect of the characters to me.
I would recommend this to all the wuxia lovers since I believe that this drama will grow to you as well. This is actually just a light drama compared to all the other wuxia dramas out there. This is definitely a must watch. But if you are not a wuxia lover, then just don't watch this at all.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Marvellous masterpiece: 3 lifetimes 3 magnificent stories of main leads
It's one of my most anticipated fantasy and romance drama, I couldn’t be more happier when it was released. Ever since it has been released, I have been deeply engrossed and always excitedly waiting for next highly spell- bindind, gripping and mesmerising episodes.💫The story of the drama is extremely refreshing and highly unpredictable yet it successfully enthrals, fascinates, engages, entrances and enchants the audiences with its extraordinary and unique top-class and out of this world plot💥💯. One of the noticable features of this storyline is time cycle encounters (where she learns about past lives). It's neither simple straight timeline nor just a circle. The main characters are influenced by irregular timelines, their identities and circumstances change in each life time. These encounters allows them to meet and confront each other. At certain points, the main leads loose their original memories in past lives. However, very importantly, XY's final time jump to place where she met HY in the demon valley, is completely different from previous time. In the last encounter, both of them have the knowledge of their previous lives ✨️.
💫Hong ye is highly complex and intricate character portrayed brilliantly, magnificently and impeccable by phenomenal actor HMH. Although, Hong ye at present is very morally good, just, kind, smart and responsible demon lord, he doesn't have the commanding aura of a formidable demon king, showing self-blame, repentance, and a deep internal struggle as he has yet to rediscover his true self. Fortunately over time, particularly after meeting Xiao Yao, he gradually reconnects with the bold, trusting, fearless, extremely formidable and unrestrained version of himself that existed centuries ago. I absolutely adore Hong Ye, I love his extremely sweet, protective, romantic, mischievous (influenced by Xiao yao), strategic, playful, kind, bold, reflective and righteous sides. He is extremely precious demon, who is XY's treasure. He has stolen my heart ✨️❤️🔥.
💫Xiao Yao is also very complicate and sophisticate character, portrayed flawlessly and effortlessly by versatile actress TSY. Xiao Yao (half demon and half human) in her original third lifetime is very special person, who has very pure and incorruptable heart despite being of very explorative, mischievous, jolly, and tricky nature. She always stays true to her heart and sticks to her moral principles. Always be kind, friendly, playful, just and protective of all beings around her whether they are humans or demons. Although she likes money, she always uses it for proper needs and is never blinded by greed or desire of extreme power or immortality. Xioa Yao with her untarnished beautiful heart molds and influences the opinions and principles of many demons, spirits and humans during her exciting journey together with Hong Ye in 3 lifetimes. I absolutely love her cute, adorable, bubbly, flirty, calculative, tactical, prudent, combative, witty, romantic, wise and thoughtful sides. She is very lovable and unforgettable character, she has won my heart 🥰🔥.
💫Hong Ye and Xiao Yao, through the 3 lifetimes encounters, always triggers long standing conflicts between humans and demons. We are shown through many stories, how desires, trust and moral choices effects the fates of both races. However, Xiao Yao's pure heart becomes a crucial power that drives the story toward reconciliation and redemption. Thus, making this drama different from conventional romance yet the 3 life time romance we experience between Hong Ye and Xiao Yao is extremely remarkable and heart-warming. Their chemistry feels incrediblly natural and romantic. Hong Ye is always extremely accommodating, malleable, attentive, soft, tender and protective to Xiao yao. Same goes for Xiao yao she is extremely observant of Hong yes's hidden feelings and worries, does anything to protect and help him and is always concerned for him. Their romance is extremely sweet, intimate, synchronized and natural, sending viewers hearts into total frenzy✨️💖.
💫Not forgetting to mention, whenever, they have misunderstanding or disagreement they very quickly, effectively and proactively resolve it in best way possible, which very beautifully brings them even closer. Every trial or event bonds them together more firmly then ever. They trust, rely, and protect each other no matter what. Through out the 3 life times ardous journey, these two have created really powerful feelings and overwhelming emotions, which have greatly moved me. Both of them are striving towards establishing peace for humans and demons by employing their responsible, righteous, courageous and selfless hearts to attain this dream/goal.
I have completely melted 💘🫠 for this breath-taking, very compatible and beautiful unforgettable couple. They are totally made for each other.
💫All the others actors have also enchanted me with their brilliant, dynamic, dedicated, committed, creative and powerful acting. They have displayed their deep emotions, passion, feelings flawlessly and their stories unfolded magnificently and seamlessly well with good pacing. Their dynamic and smooth chemistry with each other and the main characters brought this masterpiece to life. The short stories were very touching and engaging endorsing the hearts with meaningful messages about making the right choice under various circumstances while always rememberering that demons and humans have good and bad people amongst them.
BZ's character development started out well, with him and his sister standing up for their principles while learning to distinguish between good and bad demons. But sadly he seems to have lost his way along the way for quite some time due to PP's predicamen. Thankfully, he got his sister back and redeemed himself. Now, for the other characters: my personal favorite are XM the cat demon, LL the pig demon, the little herbs and Bamboo demon. They are very adorable and funny, there is never a dull moment with them around. The 3 great demons, were at times very adorable, chaotic, intriguing and funny. However, they made HY and humans suffer a lot, they got chance to change their ways and later they paid for their mistakes with their lives.
💫The CGI, FX and cenimatrography of this drama is incredibly beautiful and stunning💞🔥!The attention to detail, photorealism, seamless integrations, lighting and texturing makes geographical lands in the story enchanting and magical. The CGI in this drama not only gave us compelling visual experience in the action scenes but it effectively communicated the stories and emotions of the characters too. It successfully engages the viewers and leaving an everlasting impression. The gorgeous costumes, stunning hairstyles and mesmerising make up for the casts is breathtaking making the drama very enticing and inviting visual feast. But it's not just the visuals that stand out, all the OSTs especially the opening OST 'desire and calamity' and 'afraid it's only a dream' are extremely beautiful. They have emotional resonance, clear production, and originality. All OSTs give emotional and atmosphereic depth to the scenes and and events.
💫I absolutely fell in love with this most magical, sweetest, beautiful, adorable and naturally romantic couple. With their superb acting, they have manifested one of the top-class heart warming, touching, emotional, magical, romantic and unforgettable Xuanhuan ever for me. Looking forward to next episodes very eagerly. Only downside is that the episodes are coming to an end and I absolutely don't want it to finish because I just can't get enough of this enchanting unique magical story.
ENDING:
It seems that the main leads have achieved their major goal of bringing lasting peace to both races. Everyone, who has made bad moral choices either got retribution and paid for their sins some way or repented and redeemed themselves. Eventually, the vicious cycle of voilence and revenge between demons and humans was broken. Ofcourse, 10,000 years of chaos and feud came to an end with price of selfless acts of bravery.
Even though the end was little ambiguous, I find it totally worth the watch beacause there is really nothing HY and XY didn’t do together as a couple in 3 lifetimes.
✨️With XY (having special body) mastering the art of time travelling, I guess she can relive the numerous happiest times with HY in 3 lifetimes while correcting the mistakes made before or possibly find another way to seal the kunlun mirror! Possiblities are endless when she can travel any point into past and can change anything and this time she knows everything!✨️💞
☆⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝☆
✨️Any point she jumps to is a new beginning!!
"Everything has started anew"
"Everything is just a beginning"
✨️Thus, this timeline is not a never-changing cycle, nowhere it says that everything repeated the way it was.
🌈Looking at the last seen: both XY's and HY's aura was different from the original scene because both of them know and remember everything this time around and are about to start a new. It's already a chance to change everything. 🎊
🌟So, it's Not a repeat But a Reset!!!💕💯⭐️
Overall, I thorougly enjoyed every second of this masterpiece 😍 ✨️ 👌 I highly recommend it to people who love fantasy and romance.
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The Story of Park's Marriage Contract
88 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
Started out strong, ended up being BAD!
I have loved the first 6 episodes and every week I used to rave about this drama and how nearly perfect it was and then, what happens in drama land happened. The curse of the second half, where a perfectly good drama just takes a nose dive and end up ruining all the set up it had worked so hard initially to charm and engage the drama viewer flying out of the window.To begin with the sweet grandpa turning to be a mid villain or how his character took a 180 turn for me was one instance but then as it continued the drama couldn't explain the loophole of how the same Kang Tae Ha in the past and present is one with all the characteristics but couldn't be a reincarnation but different people at the same time! Huh? Like, if Yeon Woo could time travel and be in the modern world, why couldn't Tae Ha be an reincarnation of himself but two different identity and why did the Joseon Tae Ha have to suffer and see his wife fall for someone else, (more like his future self) but not him. How was that fair? How did it make sense? I mean do I make sense? Why couldn't it had been the same person with the same memories and just have lived in both worlds?
I hated the ending. I hated how past Tae Ha just died not knowing why his wife suddenly was with in love with someone who looked like him but not him but him and on and on...grr
This drama was just confusing with confusing characters with loophole like land mines every corner with no escape. The chemistry between the leads was amazing and I swooned in the initial episodes at how great they were together and also the secondary characters were worth the screen time they got. This drama had all the ingredients but then the second half just had to go and blow it all up.
I wish the writer took some time to flourish out the ideas and explained more about the connection of the past and present world and its inhabitants.
I would recommend the first 6 episodes since it was just too sweet and cute. The rest? Naaa...
Rating 2/10
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The Hidden Gem Smile Code
The NEW CDrama of 2024, "Smile Code" has awakened Fans from around the world to watch this upcoming story about a young man played by Lin Yi who suffers from Alexithymia. What is Alexithymia? It is a condition where a person is unable to express emotion, and 1 in 10 people suffer from it and their unable to "LAUGH". It is common condition with people that suffer from depression and Autism (ASD).Next, comes the witty, clumsy, and humorous Shen Yue who makes everyone laugh except Lin Yi. They develop a friendship based on coincidences and it sparks a new relationship about Love while still dealing with the aftermath of their past family trauma and circumstances. This is another beautiful love story with 34 episodes and is a must Watch series. This is a drama that is unlike any other drama because it deals with a condition that is not talked about and the only cure is finding another person who has the opposite personality.
What I Love about this Drama? Both Lin Yi and Shen Yue are the 2 Most Popular International Chinese Stars that are underrated in China, but around the World they're "Loved" by their fans across continents from: Thailand, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Brazil, Venezuela, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and the USA etc. All the promotion from this Drama is "Fan" based because platforms only provide advertisements for the well-known actors in China. Fans from around the world have come together to watch this CDrama for their favorite two stars, Shen Yue and Lin Yi. The chemistry and friendship of these two actors is displayed on the screen.
The amazing Director, Randy Che his experience in Cinematography displays some of the Best Screen shots and even with less resources when you watch this drama it is a Top-rated Film production. The English music, "Yes" you heard me right International fans, the songs are in English so we can sing along including singer-songwriter Lily Allen.
International Fans subscribe with Viki to watch Smile Code. They have better English Translations and the drama is easy to find on their Website: https://www.viki.com/ and for more information here's an Article, you can read about the Storyline: https://kisskh.at/article/shen-yue-returns-to-the-small-screen-with-smile-code.
Congratulations Smile Code on providing audiences with a sincere Story and a heartfelt drama that will be watched by millions of fans. Hopefully soon Netflix will pick this drama to showcase to all countries. The dynamic duo is really a must watch drama that will leave you laughing and entertained.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story was not bad, but lack of couple chemistry I guess?
The whole vibe of the story is a bit like vampire/dracula as the main character travels fast, strong and have some sort of power. But I really fancy this kind of story so it is definitely a go-go for me no matter what the rating was.To summarise what I like and dislike about the show for people who are contemplating whether you should go ahead watching!
Things I liked about the drama:
- Handsome male leads with charming characteristics, I meant both Lee Dong Wook and Kim Beom! (Extremely hopeless 2nd lead syndrome here, Kim Beom SO COOL AND CUTE HERE!!!!)
- Unusual warm-hearted brotherhood
- Exciting fighting scenes with effects (More in the first half of the drama)
- Genre (if you enjoyed fantasy you will like this drama)
- Cute second fox couple too (I prefer them than the main ones)
Things I disliked about the drama:
- Female lead (Honestly she had a pretty good acting but I don't know why I felt she is not so suitable for this role)
- Chemistry between the couple (LDW had a pretty good chemistry with Yoo Inna in previous show but not this one), I don't feel the love between the two hence unable to feel the sadness when they broke apart, which it is actually a huge part in this show.
- Although it is a HE, but some parts of the ending are quite speechless and not well explained. Personally I think they should have just cut short the lovey dovey scenes for the couple and do more explanations on the ending (Please don't read below if you do not want spoiler)
***SPOILER***
I don't understand why they made it so deliberately to kill the 2nd male lead just to save the male lead (when all the bad things have already settled down and back to a peaceful life, yet adding in such scene just because 2nd lead is alive). I understand how they wanted to bring out the brotherhood between the two but it was so unfair that they can sacrifice 2nd male lead life but not the male lead ones, duh. So who is the hero here anyway? Also, no explanation on how male lead return, what happened to him and why he became a fox etc.
Lastly, one word to conclude my review: Overall a nice piece and good story that is worth watching but I don't enjoy the couple that much!
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Lot's of people said they didn't like it and there are those who did like it.
I can understand both.
If you like romance genre, then try it WITHOUT expectations. You can enjoy the main couple's lovey-dovey, the two immortals' fight with each other( a childish one and a repenter one), the childish one's more and more immature acts to get her 'loved' one and beautiful views of places.
If you don't really like anyone in the cast or if you are picky about dramas, then FORGET it. Believe in your hunch! Don't believe in the teasers! (I did and regret it now...)
If you have time then listen to OSTs of it. They are likable.
Rewatching it? NO, I would never do that. NEVER.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Thrilling Descent into Chaos
*Hellbound* Season 2 wastes no time plunging viewers back into its dark, morally complex universe where divine judgment and human corruption intertwine. This season raises the stakes, delving deeper into the mysteries surrounding the resurrection phenomenon while expanding its character dynamics in ways both shocking and exhilarating.The return of Jinsu (Kim Sung-cheol): His visions and ultimate transformation into one of the very monsters that once terrified humanity underscore the show’s central theme: no one is above judgment, not even the messiah-like figures they create.
Kim Jeongchil’s political machinations, in alliance with the government, form another key pillar of the season. His desperate attempt to maintain control over the New Truth by using Park Jungja (Kim Shin-rok) as a pawn adds a layer of intrigue and treachery.
Thematically, this season explores the devastating consequences of blind faith and power-hungry institutions. The New Truth’s “Resurrected One” plan, though initially grand in its ambition, becomes a symbol of their crumbling control. The demonic monsters serve as an ever-present reminder that divine retribution, though wielded by men like tools, remains uncontrollable and terrifying.
Meanwhile, Hyejin (Kim Hyun-joo) continues to act as the moral center of the show, pushing against the tide of corruption and madness. Her rescue mission for Park Jungja is one of the season's most thrilling arcs, showcasing her resilience and determination to protect the innocent, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The poignant moment of Jungja reuniting with her son provides a much-needed emotional reprieve amidst the chaos.
Director Yeon Sang-ho masterfully balances action, horror, and character-driven drama, creating a tense, chaotic atmosphere that builds relentlessly toward the finale. The introduction of new power players like Senior Secretary Lee, who manipulates events from the sidelines, adds political intrigue that complements the show’s exploration of spiritual fanaticism.
While the season provides plenty of answers, it also raises new questions, particularly about the resurrection and the true nature of divine judgment. The ending leave the future wide open for another chapter, rife with potential.
In short, *Hellbound* Season 2 intensifies its exploration of morality, faith, and the consequences of power, delivering a season that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. It masterfully intertwines human emotion with its dark, supernatural premise, making it a must-watch for fans of psychological and religious horror.
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Theories I found good:
While Jin-su taunts Se-hyeong for wasting his last chance by trusting Jin-su, it is ultimately proven to be Jin-su who wastes his resurrection. He spends his second chance the same way he did most of his first life: selfishly, seeking a salve for his emotional pain without care for the pain he knowingly inflicts on others. Jung-ja’s declaration is its own kind of decree, as Jin-su realizes they are not the same.
Jae-hyeon may have a latent power, just as Jung-ja does.
What we do in this life, and how we care for each other, does matter. Even when Jin-su came back from hell, he feared he might still be in it. We create our own hell, individually and collectively, and even when there is a supernatural power also getting in on the game.
Stories have power, and Hye-jin is giving Jae-hyeon a good and true one. It is the kind of story that Jin-su was never told when he was little and alone. The kind of story Secretary Lee, the New Truth Society, or the Arrowhead would never bother telling because it doesn’t feed the kind of fast, uncaring power they are looking to grow. The kind of story Detective Jin Kyung-hun (Yang Ik-june) tells his daughter, Hee-jung (Lee Re), as she dies from cancer in his arms. Hee-jung lived most of her life under the thrall of Jung Jin-su and his empty promises, but it’s a family picture, a story of love, that gives her comfort in her final moments.
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A HEARTBREAKING YET BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED FILM
*Uprising* is a heartbreaking yet beautifully crafted film that takes us on an emotional journey through the friendship of Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Yeong, set in a time of brutal class divisions in historical Korea. The plot centers on how the rigid social hierarchy affects their lives, particularly Cheon-Yeong, a slave who is forced to endure countless hardships in place of Jong-Ryeo.What starts as a cruel situation, Cheon-Yeong being beaten in Jong-Ryeo’s stead, evolves into a deep bond. Despite the fact that Cheon-Yeong isn’t born a slave, his family’s downfall forces him into this role, and it's his strength and refusal to accept the established hierarchy that makes him stand out. When he begins secretly teaching Jong-Ryeo how to fight, the dynamics between the two change, leading to a friendship that feels genuine despite the social disparity.
However, the film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of their world. Even after helping Jong-Ryeo win a prestigious sword-fighting competition, Cheon-Yeong is denied his freedom by Jong-Ryeo’s father, who breaks the promise of releasing him from slavery. This betrayal deeply scars Cheon-Yeong, though Jong-Ryeo still tries to protect him by sending him off to fight the Japanese invaders, hoping this will finally earn him his freedom. The film is filled with these moments of hope and crushing disappointment.
After years of fighting, Cheon-Yeong returns home only to find the world he left behind in ruins. Jong-Ryeo’s family home has been burned down by the people who suffered under the oppressive rule of his father. In one of the film’s most gut-wrenching moments, Cheon-Yeong tries to save Jong-Ryeo’s wife and son from the flames, but she refuses his help out of pride, seeing him as a slave rather than a person who might save her life. Her death serves as a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained social prejudice was, even to the point of self-destruction.
The climax of *Uprising* sees a tragic reunion between Jong-Ryeo and Cheon-Yeong after seven years of separation. Jong-Ryeo, unaware of the full story, initially believes Cheon-Yeong is responsible for his wife and son's deaths. Their final confrontation is tense, but as the truth is revealed, the film shifts focus from their conflict to a bittersweet reconciliation. Just when they finally resolve their long-standing misunderstanding, Jong-Ryeo is mortally wounded in battle against the Japanese. Cheon-Yeong kills the Japanese leader, Genshin, in a satisfying act of revenge, but it’s too late to save Jong-Ryeo.
In Jong-Ryeo’s final moments, he asks Cheon-Yeong if they’re still friends, referencing an earlier lighthearted exchange from their youth. It’s a poignant moment that captures both the tragedy and beauty of their relationship. Despite everything that has happened, the film shows that love and loyalty can persist, even in death. This scene is devastating, but it offers closure, showing that their bond was real despite the cruel world they lived in.
On a larger scale, *Uprising* also critiques the corruption of the ruling class, embodied by King Seonjo, whose greed and cowardice lead to the suffering of the common people. His alliance with the Japanese and subsequent desertion of his own throne during the invasion sparks the uprising that defines the film. The subplot involving Seonjo and the infamous Japanese leader Genshin, known as the “nose-snatcher,” adds layers of historical context and brutality to the narrative. In a symbolic twist, Seonjo’s greed is punished when the treasure he’s promised turns out to be boxes of human body parts, noses, to be precise, reflecting the horrors of war and the consequences of his betrayal.
In the end, Cheon-Yeong and a few of his fellow survivors form a new community, symbolically named “Beom Dong,” meaning “A world together.” It’s a hopeful note to close the film on, but *Uprising* doesn’t let the audience forget the price paid for such unity. The film leaves you with a lingering sense that although there’s hope for change, the struggle against social inequality is far from over.
*Uprising* masterfully balances personal and political themes, offering a powerful meditation on friendship, loyalty, and the fight for justice. It’s a tearjerker that hits hard, especially as it reveals the lasting impact of societal divisions, even as it tries to inspire hope for a better future.
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One of Jun Ho's Best!
This is definitely Jun Ho like you've never seen before ...Some reviews were so brutal here, I'm not sure we were watching the same series. I found this drama to be so fantastic in every way. Jun Ho is masterful as always. For anyone who lost a parent and had to pick up the pieces of their lives and go on, this series shows us exactly that. In the beginning, you can't imagine Tae Pung taking over the family business for his recently departed dad, but not only does he transform himself, but everyone around him changes for the better as we get deeper into each episode.
Watching the two lead protagonists fight the evil and dishonest practices of the main antagonists, Hyeon Jun & Bak Ho (Pyo's Owners), it's exhausting to say the least. At times it gets a bit too overwhelming, watching the evil father and son get the best of Tae Jung over and over again ... but you know eventually things will change. It does take forever for this to happen, but don't give up hope. It really does happen!
Early on I couldn't see or feel the magic of Tae Jung & Mi Seon becoming a couple, but somehow it happens and becomes quite believable about halfway through the drama. They become perfectly matched, making for a one two punch tag team to keep Typhoon Trading alive. I think episode 8, the Thailand trip, is when it begins to show us anything is possible, especially seeing Jun Ho sing in English. That was definitely the pinnacle episode of the series. That's where everything started to gel with all the characters, and you could see and feel an unofficial family starting to bond.
Toward the end, I must admit I was hoping for a better demise of the wicked Hyeon Jun. Even though he gets what he deserves, it would have been nice to see the full retribution that was coming his way. The writers seem to leave that up to our imagination.
Throughout each episode, as things kept appearing to be so bleak for Typhoon Trading, one line used earlier on, seems to apply many times over... ... "stars still exist even when they can't be seen"
Don't give up hope!
Extremely enjoyable series with great performances to match!!
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