Reviews

Too much and not enough.

Oh boy, this might end up being more of a long rant than a review. I’ve had a lot of thoughts over the run of the series, and most of them aren’t very favorable.

Some background: I started watching this drama without reading the source material first. I read the manhwa between epsiode 6 and epsiode 7 airing because I was really curious about what everyone was saying about changes made to the plot and characters. I really enjoyed the first 3 episodes, but hated episode 4, and for me that was where the problems started that tanked the whole series for me.

So I’ll start with the few things I did like.

I liked the overall production value of the series. It was clear that it had a decent budget, the sets - like the characters bedrooms - were well done, the cinematography was generally nice, and the animated title sequence was lovely. I wasn’t crazy about the way the drama was edited, but other than that, the production value was quite high.

I liked the casting of Heesu. I think that Ahn Ji Ho portrayed the character very well. I had some minor issues with acting from other characters, but overall the acting was better than average.

I liked Heesu’s noonas. They were funny and they all had a fun family dynamic.

I liked Ji Yu and Seung Won’s friendship. And I liked that Seung Won’s moms were kept in the adaptation, even if I also felt that their family story was underutilized.

As previously mentioned, I liked the first few episodes and had high hopes for the series as a whole up until it became clear that it wouldn’t be what I expected.

Now for the many things I didn’t like.

First of all, I felt like this drama was way too long for what they did with the extra time. A KBL drama with 10 45-minute episodes is a rarity, which was an exciting prospect at first. But the writers did not use that time well.

There were far too many extraneous subplots that had little substance to them.

I counted 7 side storylines:

Chan young and his tennis playing
Ji Yu secretly releasing music as “Summer”
Chan Young and Ji Yu’s relationship
Heesu’s sisters and their various relationship drama
Ho Sik and his knitter crush
“Carrot” and the counseling message board
The text blackmailer

Here’s the problem: almost all of these storylines were underdeveloped and unsatisfying as written on the show. Overall, the writing for the subplots on this series was inconsistent and poorly integrated into the main plot.

Either they were given outsized importance and then ended abruptly (the blackmailer and “carrot”). Or they were entirely composed of disjointed scenes seemingly randomly placed throughout the run of the series (Heesu’s sisters’ relationships, Ho Sik and his crush). Or they were completely written as plot devices to impel action from other characters but never given any intrinsic emotional resonance (“Summer”). Or they were simply written in a way that was cliche and simplistic, giving viewers no real reason to care (Ji Yu/Chan Young and the tennis plot).

There was just way too much going on and no reason that it had to be that way. If they had just expanded on a couple of these storylines instead of trying to do all of them, the pacing could have been much better and the project as a whole would have felt more successful. But instead they just kept throwing things at us without giving us any reason to care, which in turn made all of these scenes feel like draggy bits of filler instead of important pieces of the story.

So in the end, we get all of these unsatisfying threads of storylines pulling us in 7 different directions away from what should have been the main plot of the drama - Heesu and Seung Won’s developing attraction and relationship.

Which, for me, caused issues with that main relationship plot too. Because it dragged on and on with very little progress to the point that I was no longer feeling the chemistry between Heesu and Seung Won in the last few episodes. That chemistry only started to re-emerge at the very end of the series. Overall it didn’t feel like a “slow burn” to me. More like a sad fizzle.

In a “slow burn” I expect the romantic tension to build as the characters get to know each other. In episode 5, we got a good taste of what a good slow burn *could have* felt like. Heesu and Seung Won genuinely became closer and learned more about each other in ways that were unrelated to Heesu trying to hook Seung Won and Ji Yu up. They should have been consistently be having scenes like that where they share more about themselves and their lives. Ideally, they should be talking about their passions, goals and worries with each other. They should be shown taking care of each other in small ways and should be experiencing moments of intensity that show that they’re passionate about each other - whether those are heart fluttering moments or moments of pure frustration or anger.

I’m not saying that there was none of that in this drama, but it wasn’t at all consistent. Instead we got a collection of stilted scenes between them that were frequently cut off to switch gears to one of the many random, unsatisfying subplots.

I think the worst of these subplots were Chan Young and Ji Yu’s relationship, Chan Young’s tennis story, as Ji Yu’s “Summer” story.

The problem with the Chan Young/Ji Yu pairing is that it’s completely superficial. We don’t dive into what they like about each other and they aren’t shown having any meaningful conversations.

Chan Young is shown to be passionate about tennis despite his dad not wanting him to pursue it. But the problem is that we never actually hear him talk about it except in short scenes with coaches. It feels poorly integrated into the drama because despite the fact that Ji Yu is the only other important character who knows and supports what he’s doing, he doesn’t even have deep conversations with her about what drives his passion, what his goals are, or about the difficulties with his family. That kind of depth would bring so much more intrigue to the story and would also support the romantic development between him and Ji Yu.

Similarly, Ji Yu never talks at all about what’s driving her to make music. How did she get started singing and songwriting? How does she feel about it? When and why did she start her YouTube channel? What are her goals? We barely ever touch any of this. She goes to the audition in episode 8, but we aren’t really told anything about it. What is it for? Why does she want to do it? What is she hoping to accomplish? She doesn’t discuss these things with anyone, and again, Chan Young is seemingly the primary person in her life who knows and supports her, but they never talk about these things at all except through short texts.

That’s why these storylines feel so bland, superficial, and poorly integrated. Because we’re being told that these are the things these characters are passionate about, but the way it’s shown simply isn’t convincing.

And yet Chan Young’s dull tennis playing is treated as one of the main storylines of the show that appears in almost every episode. Ji Yu’s “Summer” storyline is also given inflated importance despite it feeling like a pure plot device that only exists to compel action from other characters.

Even worse is the way Chan Young’s character was written in general. He’s just *so selfish.* He admits that he knows nothing about his best friend of several years, but then blames Heesu for that? He publicly shames his friends for silly reasons (Heesu not telling him who he likes, Seung Won “liking” Ji Yu) but doesn’t even seem to care enough to ask questions about their lives. And then his reaction to Heesu’s confession is to run away, then blame Heesu for the fact that he ran away? And Heesu is forced into apologizing while Chan Young never apologized?? Infuriating.

They completely ruined his characterization from the manhwa. But frankly, you don’t even need to read the manhwa to see that he’s a bad friend in this series.

It was how his character behaved (and how the writers seemed to give him an inflated sense of importance despite never giving us a good reason to care about him) that brought his drama down from a mediocre 5.5 to an abysmal 3.5 for me.

I was also just generally unhappy with how many creative decisions seemed to be made with the goal of appeasing straight viewers. From the addition of the straight couple that didn’t exist in the manhwa, to the way Heesu and Chan Young’s friendship was changed, to the way that Heesu’s coming out was treated in general. It just didn’t connect for me, and I feel like that’s because I, as a queer person, was not the intended audience.

So yeah…I’ll leave it there. I kept watching this drama to the end because I still had hopes of it improving, but those hopes gradually shrunk from episodes 7 through 10. At this point I’m just glad it’s over and now I’m going to rewatch a decent KBL to cleanse my brain of this.

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It is very rare that I watch a Chinese movie that's not a historical and even more rare that I watch a Chinese BL. Why? Well, they always wound up ripping my heart out and leaving me angry I'd fallen for that mess again. I mean, it's been a couple of years (I think) and I'm still salty about ADVANCE BRAVELY.

Anyway, this movie came across my feed on youtube and I wasn't going to watch because of the above reason but they got me with Li Quing Ke. He was adorable and I was clicking on it before I even knew what was happening.

I'm so glad I did. This was an amazing premise which I got behind quickly. The storyline can get a little confusing in some parts but I watched this more than once and it gets easier with each view.

I adore Bai and fell so hard for Song, I don't even know what to do with myself.

There was a softness about this movie, a purity in the love between the characters that surprised me. I mean, Chinese BL movies and dramas tend to lean toward the heartbreaking side--the kind of heartbreak a person could never recover from. Usually, these would lead to everyone dying or someone denying their homosexuality to marry a woman--the endings are usually harsh enough to ruin you.

This ending was peaceful and beautiful and loving - and I cried for an entire different reason. This movie deserves more love that it has gotten.

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I was fully immersed in drama from the start, as I was impressed by the introduction. Although wuxia elements were very typical but sufficient to keep me engaged, and the extremely likable female lead from the very start... mysterious male lead, action-packed sequences... everything sold it out. Then episode by episode I started to love all interactions between leads, development in their relationship, sizzling chemistry, cuteness overload moments, and before I knew romance was the only thing that kept me around... as apart from it everything become quite a lot of mess in the end.

Drama can be categorized into three parts politics, the martial arts world, and war. A huge ounce of the drama revolves around politics (of course its title has 'rule' in it) that shouldn't be a problem but it's not clever or even smart, kinda illogical at some points over the top, and repetitive. I was bored by schemes circling one after another with the most annoying, bratty characters with a lot of screentime. My most beloved part in the martial arts world (expect the tianshuang sect *if you know*), it has thrill, excitement, and interesting enough concepts to keep one stick but to the disappointment, it's too brief, I would prefer it over boring politics 100 times... then comes the war part: most condensed one, with choppy editing, dizzy camerawork, inconsistent transitions, and not bad CGI. Everything is rushed here, many things don't have proper closure... no explanation at all, we just have to imagine many things in our head to reach the conclusion given the situation.

Apart from terrible CG at some places, it's high budget production.. aesthetics, costumes were beautiful, and sets were extravagant. Keeping spinning fight scenes... cinematography was impressive, love the grandness... yet simplicity whenever needed.

Have to say Bai Feng Hei Xi has become my most beloved couple in c-dramaland... firstly they both are extremely likable as individual characters, they compliment very well, they are very well aware of each other's needs, and they have 'conversation' (damn isn't it very unlikely when leads talk with each other in dramas)... though their story has some stereotypical elements it stayed a mile away from stupid misunderstandings, noble idiocy, greater good... blah blah blad, thus romance brightens everything.

Nonetheless, drama is the victim of crappy writing in some arcs, screentime distribution doesn't give justice to everyone except Yang Yang, there's less Zhou Lusi in some parts, where annoying, spoiled characters get loads of time to annoy us to death but interesting characters whose arc should have been way more interesting with good setup given a pinch of screentime that they don't get flushed up. Some characters appear and vanish as per the convenience of the storyline and it is so bothering.

After a long time, I can really say that BFX is an example of a strong female lead, whose intellectual doesn't come and go as the story needs.. who is consistent throughout the drama. Lovable, carefree, bright as the sun, smart... and I love she's a foodie. Literally, there wasn't a single moment where I didn't like her.

I hoped they should have kept little darkness in HFX's character from the book... firstly it confuses as hell viewers BFH's attitude towards him in the beginning, secondly he's just too perfect, fitting in that 'I don't have any cons' mold accurately, which brings us two nothing but perfect leads which don't really lead to any character development in them.

And damn that identity reveal was so underwhelming considering I waited for it a long time, it was bland as water.

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This drama was fun, interesting, a bit different but it lacked in some ways.

I will start with what I liked about this drama. The beginning isn't dragged out. The main characters are quickly introduced and the time travel “reset” begins within the first 30 minutes. While the pacing is fast, the story never feels rushed. It is good with the mystery, suspense, and kept you at the edge of your seat, guessing and wondering about what comes next. Ji Hyung Joo is easy to empathize with and brings moments of playfulness to an otherwise intense story. Lee Joon Hyuk portrayed him perfectly. I can't imagine another actor playing his role. What really intrigued/surprised me was that the female lead isn't stupid and can sacrifice herself. She played a huge role to find the killer and helped the Ml. Both of the leads are intelligent and work great together. Every action has a reason. All of the supporting cast has a background and we get to see their story. They have a role and aren't there just to be there.

What I didn't like about this drama: Their way too many plot twists. Due to the plot twists, it became hard to focus and the climax didn't feel that surprising anymore. The impact kinda disappeared and I just wanted it to end so i could figure everything out. The sci-fi element has no explanations-can't say I was surprised. The villain's reasons for doing what they did didn't cut it for me. The villains lacked motive and felt bland. Same old, same old. Both of the villains needed a better backstory, explanation, and development. The only explanation was literally: boredom. I didn't like how they introduced the romance but did something with it in the last episodes. It would've been better with no romance at all or at least developed it a bit more in the earlier episodes. I just felt that something about their romance was missing and I didn't feel satisfied with the ending. Moreover, making only one of them remember the past was a cliche move. I wondered what happened to the rest of the characters in the end, but that wasn't shown. There wasn't a lot of OST in this drama so I missed music.

Overall, it was an interesting watch and this drama is by no means bad. It has a great pace, despite being only 12 episodes. I recommend this drama to people who like suspense, thriller, plot twists, and arent that focused on explanations and convincing villains.

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The most beautiful Xianxia drama

Yes I am not refraining from giving that title despite it's minimum flaws. Because when I watch other Xianxia dramas each has it's own flaws, but I am always turned off by acting especially by main leads, but Ancient Love Poetry for the first time a xianxia drama that don't have this flaws.

Acting
Haters said Zhou Dongyu is not pretty enough for Xianxia, well I don't care if she is pretty or not but she is one of the best actress out there, very natural and raw in her emotions. She carried her character to the fullest potential and I cannot see any other actress who can pull off what she did in Ancient Love Poetry. Her portrayal left a deep impression on me in every progress of the plot, that no weird costume design or make up could take me away from understanding her character's growth and the twist and turn of emotions. Sometimes in the plot the concept appeared simple but she acted it out so delicately and convincingly that the scene became impactful.

Another actor being targeted by haters by calling him fat and paralyzed face acting. An obvious sign that those who said this did not watch the drama at all. Xu Kai played the three character Bai Jue, Qing Mu and Bo Xuan so distinctively that you felt like this are different actors but at the same time as the plot progress there is a need for the combination of some traits from different character he made it possible. His gift is his eyes expression, he can emote so well with eyes to differentiate between the three character. He blew me away in the last scene, solidified that he is a young actor that I would be closely watching from now on.

Storyline
I always long for a storyline that did not create crisis for the sake of settling it as soon as it appeared. No background no reason why it happened. But Ancient Love Poetry storyline intertwined it's plot so well connecting the early episodes plot to the later plot and they string this together using character growth, significance weapon and supporting character's involvement. I appreciate that they included in some nostalgia in some scenes, it makes this drama more unique compared to other dramas.

I really recommend everyone to check this drama out. It brings out a different presentation of Xianxia drama on the table.

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Don't let the title of the drama fool you - I thought it was going to be just another tawdry Grey's Anatomy-esque romantic-melodrama-with-hospital-backdrop and the first two episodes kind of leave you with that impression. In the beginning, it feels like they're trying a little bit too hard to be sexy and scandalous, but that soon takes a backseat as the real plots begin to unravel.

I ended up falling love with every main and supporting character, and becoming invested in every subplot running throughout the show. Every storyline is strong without convoluting the overarching story or making it clunky. The interwoven relationships in this story take precedence but the eventual main conflict is career-based with a dash of social commentary; the fact that their work also takes part of the centre focus is exactly what made it more than just a romantic melodrama.

Most of all, the conclusions that are drawn in the end are both realistic and satisfying, which is normally such a hard balance to strike. Every character, even the main antagonist, is done justly without oversimplifying the end of their respective arcs.

Ishitachi no Renai Jijou is by no means a flawless drama - it has its own tendencies to fall into the regular Japanese drama tropes at times - but overall it's clever, modern, presents us with complex characters and a refreshing outlook on love and work without being too preachy.

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What Does Life Truly Mean?

In this compelling story of "Fake It Till You Make It ", we embark on a profound journey to unravel the essence of life itself. Is it akin to a meticulously scripted movie where every piece effortlessly falls into place? Or do we navigate its twists and turns while relentlessly pursuing our desires? Our story delves into the myriad relationships and perspectives of a group of industrious young individuals from diverse professions. Even within the cocoon of love, there exist two distinct vantage points, each held by the parties involved.

In the pursuit of dreams and desires within the relentless rat race of our world, we often wear masks of pretense. We mold ourselves into someone we believe will garner admiration from others, for we reside in a world where pretense is the norm. We toil relentlessly, pushing our boundaries, sometimes sacrificing relationships, health, and happiness along the way. And then, at the culmination of it all, we find ourselves asking the ultimate question: Is it all worth it? Does it carry meaning?

Our story explores the very essence of falling in love, the significance of marriage, and the enigmatic nature of attraction between people. Should we surrender to the whims of fate, letting life take its course, or should we seize control and fight for our desires?

Throughout the story, we witness multiple examples that illuminate the diverse relationships and perspectives of our characters. Tang Ying, haunted by past heartache, yearns for a new relationship but fears rejection. Xu Ziquan, a flamboyant individual, shies away from committing to a lasting relationship. When their paths cross, burdened by their respective baggage and consumed by their careers, they struggle to prioritize their love. Eventually, they come to a realization: they must take a leap of faith, committing to each other wholeheartedly, regardless of the outcome, as long as they give it their all.

Lin Xinzi has always sought the perfect love, envisioning it with a man who embodies ideal looks, status, and wealth. Yet, when she believes she's found the one, she discovers herself suffocating in the suffocating embrace of Xu Jiabai's obsessiveness. After parting ways with Xu Jiabai and meeting Xia Tian, she learns that relationships need not adhere to a script, and life rarely unfolds as planned.

Every character depicted here exudes a striking realism. Encounters with individuals akin to Xu Ziquan, who shy away from commitment, are a common occurrence in our lives. Simultaneously, we often encounter characters like Tang Ying who crave reassurance and commitment at the same time also keeping an eye out for potentially better partners. While the Xu Jiabai character may be toxic, it undeniably mirrors a prevalent archetype in society. This dynamic is a familiar facet of the human experience. The value of this drama lies in its effort to delineate the characteristics of such individuals, enabling viewers to recognize them in real-life scenarios and make informed choices when navigating such relationships.

All the characters are meticulously crafted and portrayed, evolving authentically throughout their journeys. Elvis Han portrays Xu Ziquan's character with a familiarity that resonates with many viewers, while Elvira Cai's Tang Ying is captivating and utterly believable.

As the author poetically observes, "The city never stops; it won't pause for anyone, just like our lives. When we reflect upon the people we encounter, we realize that from the outset, we all strive to move forward and upward. Between pretense and reality, let's offer ourselves some soulful nourishment. Superiors, subordinates, rivals, friends - we often find ourselves trapped in various roles. We say what must be said and do what must be done, staunchly believing that this is life. However, as if scripted, just as pretense reaches its zenith, we stumble upon a universal truth -- prosperity, success, and happiness - these elements are never meticulously planned but are derived from our actual experiences."

"The city has introduced us to countless souls, each revealing the vastness of the world, beyond our wildest imagination. The path we choose should be uniquely ours; discard the well-crafted script. Through struggle and determination, seek a life that truly belongs to us. It's alright if we falter, and it's perfectly fine if we lose our way. What matters most is living in accordance with our heart's desires, for that is the essence of true freedom."

My Verdict

In our relentless pursuit of life's ambitions, there often comes a price. Tang Ying pays with her health, Xu Ziquan carries the weight of a broken relationship. As viewers, we too navigate life's labyrinth, occasionally finding ourselves adrift, much like Tang Ying and Xu Ziquan. However, if we view the lowest moments as transformative phases, we may eventually find our way, just as they do. Above all, let us approach life with expectations, appreciating the occasional moments of reaping its rewards, for therein lies the true essence of our existence, as the author puts it, "常常期待 有時收獲"

This captivating drama unfolds as a rich tapestry of life's profound lessons. It comes highly recommended for those seeking inspiration and introspection.

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Whelp this is gonna be long, but I like to express my thoughts and I have a lot to say about this. I think this is the first lakorn I've watched mainly for the story and curiosity of how it all ends. That doesn’t mean the romance is not a big factor here, and there were lots of cute OTP moments that kept me going on and accumulating into their well deserved HEA, though not without some bumps along the way.
This lakorn is divided into three timelines, with the second being the main storyline. I'd like to review each timeline as a means for better organizing my thoughts.

Timeline 1: This was a weird one for me because it felt kind of rushed, with the love story between Tan Chai and Maan Kaew not developed properly. I felt like I missed out on the development of their relationship (mainly on Maan Kaew's part) and was caught off guard by the sudden devotion both had for each other. This was a love at first sight thing for Tan Chai, which I suppose explains his passion but also feels like a cop-out (tho I admired him for fighting for his love, breaking off his engagement and never yielding to his mom's demands). Maan Kaew was kinda boring and I felt she didn't really offer anything in the relationship. What I liked about this timeline was how the hate/misinformation you give people creates this negative domino effect (think Tupac's THUG LIFE). This is apparent in the mom engaging her son to some girl he never met; because of her selfish actions, she lost everything and unwittingly unleashed two lifetimes worth of misery. I'd say all the terrible things that occur in this lakorn started because of her, tho she couldn't have imagined that the girl she thought was ideal for her son would turn out to be a total monster.

Timeline 2: Tan Chai is still here tho he is a ghost, while Maan Kaew is reborn as Rachawadee (R). Honestly I love R's character so much; she is assertive but still sweet, and for the most part is smart about what's going on around her (don't even talk about the part where she got sick, I was really disappointed there). I especially love that she stood up for herself in front of Tan Ying and told her off for being such a b****. Ghost/human love stories tend to be doomed from the start, but here that added to how precious and sweet the two lead's relationship was. Every moment between them was lovely and were the breadcrumbs that kept me watching. However, him being a ghost meant that he couldn’t do much so it was mainly R that was carrying this timeline.
What surprised me about this timeline was how the characters were straightforward with their thoughts and actions eg Tan Chai commenting on Chai Yuths indecisiveness, R not immediately going to serve Tan Ying because she knew she hated her, and Tan Ying telling Ying Wan to be patient in getting Chai Yuth or she’ll lose everything (in front of Chai Yuth). Like I’m surprised the characters aren’t too dumb? This made the episodes easier to zip through and engaging, the story not losing its momentum or being boring (for the most part). Having said that tho, there was way too much time spent in this timeline; I felt like everything could’ve been resolved in less episodes and more should have been spent on developing the third timeline instead of the draggy “who dunnit” parts. I felt like it would've been more interesting to see how the leads find each other and their past in the third timeline since the male lead is a ghost and not much can be done. Also Tan Chai wasn’t as great here as he was in the first timeline; granted he’s a ghost but seriously, he asked for forgiveness way too much for someone who doesn’t deserve it.
I also have to talk about Tan Ying. Honestly, I felt sorry for her at first since her honor and rep was basically destroyed because of Tan Chai’s mom and no one would want to marry her because of that. But instead of moving on with her life, she obsessively tried to make everyone around her miserable and is driven to crazy revenge. She’s incredibly short-sighted and self-absorbed and it boggles my mind that Tan Chai, his descendant and R’s descendant all beg her for forgiveness. I mean she killed you all! Granted she didn’t live a good life and didn’t reincarnate when she died, but even till the end, she only saw her suffering couldn’t look past it to see how it was making others suffer.

Timeline 3: I really wish more time was spent here, and tbh I wasn’t into these reincarnations as I was with Tan Chai and R. What pissed me off the most was that they still begged for forgiveness from Tan Ying’s ghost, saying they’ll do merit and all but she killed your previous life forms!!! I don’t think they owe her anything, but I guess it all had to come full circle here. I do like that the Tan Chai and R of this timeline were finally able to be together and certainly didn’t disappoint with the chemistry and affection. Like dang, I really want another lakorn with these two leads.

Overall I liked the story and the two leads. The music was pretty good here and although there wasn’t much OTP moments as I would’ve liked, I felt like the story made up for it. I don’t think I’d rewatch this except for some moments. Would recommend to watch.

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Excuse me while I go all soft and mushy. Lol I loved this movie! Don't get me wrong, I stayed stressed out the whole time. Did I need to be? Not a bit! This is probably the first time a movie has started out happy and ended happy. Lol
I kept waiting for some hellacious stuff to happen -- and while it did have it's up and down moments I'm so happy things worked out in the end! Also, I had no idea this was technically the second movie. >__< I'll have to find and watch the first one soon.

Not happy how his cousin and brother shit talked her most of the time. Like you see how happy they both are and you see how healthy their relationship is, yet because she doesn't fit YOUR standards, she's not good enough? Are you kidding me? While I wish he had popped off on them, I get why he didn't. I'm glad she blew up on Reon. I freaking swear I wanted to hit him. Lol His character is such.... well.... the more I think about it, his character really is American. Holy hell I'm shocked it took me this long to realize it. Lol the actor definitely played him well.

I feel like this movie is a rare gem not enough people know about. I mean, how often do you get love triangles.... that aren't even love triangles? Lol So many times we see one person get swayed. But not here. Main characters had eyes only for each other. My heart freaking shattered when he told her he was thinking about going to America.

The ending was super cute but I was still stressed out the teachers would find out the big secret and hell would break lose. X_X It's weird how the movie is over and I'm still stressing over this. Like they aren't even real!! LOL good grief! smh

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"Are they Squid Gaming us?"

Culinary Class Wars managed to highlight the Korean culinary world’s hierarchy without being mean spirited even with layers of ambition and main courses of egos served piled high. Chefs and judges Baek Jong Won and Anh Sung Jae were the ring masters who declared who stayed and who went home in this high stakes cooking competition.

Eighty chefs, many self-taught or working as street vendors or in average restaurants came to take on 20 professional fine dining chefs for a prize worth 3 million won/215,000 (USD). The chefs on the lower rung of the hierarchy were titled Black Spoons and only given nicknames. The professional chefs were given the title of White Spoons and their real names were used. Only 20 Black Spoons would move on to the next level after the first challenge. After the winnowing, Black Spoons went head-to-head against the White Spoons in ever demanding challenges.

My favorite challenge was the Blindfolded Challenge. I’ve seen too many cooking shows where the established chef is treated deferentially and preferentially. The Pros freaked out when their advantage diminished. With only their senses and not their sight, Baek and Anh had to determine which dish tasted best. For this alone, I gave the show a .5 bump. The Infinite Cooking Hell mission would be my second favorite as the chefs had to utilize the blandest ingredient I can think of in numerous dishes. Honestly, I would have preferred for this to have been the semi-final with ALL of the remaining chefs participating to see what they were truly made of. The final by comparison was a limp noodle and anti-climactic. At least have them make a three-course meal to demonstrate a range of skills.

If I have any other quibbles, it would be with the editing. The class wars took place there as well. The Black Spoons also had a hierarchy. Two of the female contestants I was invested in, had much shorter screen time than most of the male BSs. It wasn’t difficult to determine who would be the finalists due to the editing as some chefs were barely shown.* There were also a couple of conflict of interests, including using Baek’s products in one challenge. The Professional Chinese chef’s protégé was given several second chances which wasn’t a good look. The maneuvering to keep some contestants and the ratio of White Spoons vs Black Spoons even was over obvious. Also, thirty minutes to do the introductions in the first episode was overkill. I’d rather watch them cook.

The culinary social statuses were clearly delineated. Early on the White Spoons may have admired some of the cooking techniques they observed by the Black Spoons, but often acted superior as if their skills were untouchable. After all, many of them were award winning, well established, famous, and far removed from prepping the highest quality ingredients for the meals served in their restaurants. The Black Spoons were mostly chefs fighting for recognition and validation, true hustlers innovating with the ingredients available to them. I will nearly always root for the underdog, and cheered each time a BS took down a WS, even more so when the WS had a shocked look as they tried to process losing. My heart broke for one Black Spoon who beat a White Spoon and was so overcome he pulled a peasant in a Sageuk and kneeled head to the floor in respect and was never acknowledged by the old dude.

The White Spoons had only their egos on the line. At first, they didn’t seem too worried about the rookies. As the WSs began to hit the floor it became obvious the BSs had nothing to lose and were playing for keeps. They weren’t just fighting for prize money, they were fighting for recognition and to show they were worthy of respect. The biggest exception I had to the White Spoons was Edward Lee. He embodied not only a competitive spirit but also a humility unusual for someone skilled in discovering unique and clever flavors and presentations. I’m still a little salty that one of his dishes was significantly downgraded over his name for the dish and not the flavor. Now that is culinary elitism at its best.

Many of the Black Spoons knew their chances of winning were slim, but they still persevered to prove themselves to others and to themselves. Despite working in what would appear to be basic places with whatever ingredients they could afford, they took pride in their food and desired recognition. Often judged for their lack of fine dining skills, they still prepared delicious food. I’m okay with the winner though the result felt too scripted, a common drawback in most cooking competitions. I was just relieved they didn’t turn it into a Game of Thrones or Squid Games to make the show more dramatic. Watching chefs work to create delicious and memorable dishes was thrilling and entertaining enough.

"Once you start walking you have to go all the way through to the end." Edward Lee

16 November 2024
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#JusticeforTheLunchLady! I hated that her head-to-head competition with a White Spoon was barely shown. This was the biggest upset of that challenge for me! She survived several rounds and had very little screen time. She and Hanbok Auntie punched above their weight throughout the competition.

I did love the Italian chef's response when he lost, "Fabri always stays positive" while holding up finger hearts. And classy! I knew he was screwed when their ingredient to work with was skate.

While her attitude could sometimes grate, I had to admire Jung Ji Seon for her tenacity to become a famous chef in a profession often ruled by men.

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Naughty Princess is historical rom-com and that's about it. The whole drama is full of funny adventure of the main leads fall in love, some palace intrigue, and little bit fantasy parts.

This is not a high budget serious historical drama. It's full of overacting, absurdity, there's many elements that made no sense, almost like a parody. If you are looking for a drama with a bigger and more complicated plot, this is not for you. When you watch this just get along with the flow and don't take anything seriously.




!! SPOILER !!
The reason i rate so low is because of the ending. It supposed to be silly unserious drama. I didn't mind the overacting, plot holes, and the whole parody thing. But the stupid twist at the end ruined the whole thing. I should've stopped watching from 10:41 :(

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Amazing acting and excellent storyline

Just finished it today. Amazing acting and excellent storyline. It gives you good moral value about life. I love how nice the dialogue is well written for every characters. it's an excellent masterpiece! This is such a great series as you inspire not only us who works in healthcare field but also all the human in this world on how to act morally. Everyone deserves both local and international awards! I salute every cast in this series especially the creators, directors and the whole staff. After watching this show up until episode 9, I totally love this drama. I cannot stop binge watching this drama since episode 1, it's very addictive.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, including political intrigue and personal vendettas, which keep the audience invested. The dramatic tension between the characters, along with the complex, multi-layered storylines, contributes to its gripping narrative.

Acting:-
The performances by the lead actors are commendable, bringing depth to their characters and making their emotional journey relatable. The chemistry between them is palpable, which adds a layer of authenticity to their romance. The supporting cast also shines, contributing to the richness of the narrative and providing various perspectives on love and ambition.

Overall, Doctor Stranger is an entertaining and emotionally charged drama that successfully combines medical themes with political and personal intrigue. Its strong lead performances and engaging plot make it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre, despite a few narrative missteps along the way.

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“A very small country is about to become a civilized nation.”

Each episode of Saka no Ue no Kumo (“Clouds Above the Slope”) opens with these optimistic words. An NHK special, this high-budget historical spans a period during the Meiji era which includes the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars. But despite a clear aim to educate and remind viewers such events ever took place, imparting the spirit of the times to viewers holds chief importance. One learns what the Japanese people felt at the time: a reluctant deference to western knowledge and shame at requiring it, national pride and burgeoning hope, the excitement and fear which accompanies the dawn of a new era.

We follow the stories of three historical figures, brothers Akiyama Yoshifuru (cavalry legend) and Akiyama Saneyuki (maritime hero), as well as their childhood friend Masaoka Shiki (writer and pioneer of the haiku). The three grew up together in the same small town of Matsuyama, yet matured into men whose unique talents would help raise their country in the eyes of the world. Saka no Ue no Kumo utilizes their unique perspectives to tell the story of Japan in its infancy as a modernizing country, while also touching on these incredible lives. Most of the political and military history comes to us via the brothers and their contemporaries, while art and culture channel through the eyes of the writer alone. Viewers may be surprised to see how many international figures and events influenced Japan at this time. An important name includes Czar Nicholas II (the last Romanov and father to that poor Anastasia so many of us have been acquainted with thanks to apocryphal relations).

What an ambitious objective! Unfortunately, it is an objective that goes unmet in some areas—despite valiant effort. One issue is that this drama attempts to tell too many individual stories at once; so much focus ought to be put on the Akiyama brothers (and is), and as a result other plotlines seem to interrupt the narrative flow. One major example is that of Masaoka Shiki. Despite his status as a literary legend and particular childhood friend of Akiyama Saneyuki, I felt there was very little the writers could tell us through him. He may have been better served as a supporting character, especially since his presence so rarely had an impact on the others past a certain point. When humor was injected into the series, it was often done in an almost awkwardly goofy way which did not suit the somewhat austere tone. Otherwise the plot is as strong as to be expected from any mile-stone celebrating special from the NHK. The fascinating subject matter often speaks for itself, with little pressing need for overt embellishment. Please be warned, however, that there is a definite pro-Japanese spin to most depictions.

Military buffs ought to be pleased with the major battle sequences. Despite occasionally being a touch short, choreography and quality CG are used in concert to create a realistic effect. It surprised me how well done this aspect was, especially for television.

When names like Abe Hiroshi, Kagawa Teruyuki, and Kanno Miho grace a cast listing, one instantly expects quality performances. For the most part, viewers shall not be disappointed in such expectations. Abe Hiroshi meets his usual standard with masterful poise, emerging as the ramrod strict (though oddly warm) Akiyama Yoshifuru. I was particularly impressed with his portrayal during war-time and wondered how much equestrian training he might have acquired. Motoki Masahiro is a name not immediately mentioned above, but perhaps my absolute favorite actor in Saka no Ue no Kumo. Naval history has always been a personal favorite topic of mine, so naturally I gravitated more toward Akiyama Saneyuki. Despite this early bias, I also luckily met an actor with natural charisma and an almost chameleon skin. In early scenes, Motoki-san portrays a wild and strong-willed youth whose intelligence is being wasted in Matsuyama; as the drama continues, we witness changes responsibility, command, and war effect in this boisterous personality.

On the other hand, we have the ever-talented Kagawa Teruyuki—who seems to have been miscast as Masaoka Shiki. The younger years were hard on Kagawa-san, who neither looked especially young nor performed as such without a great deal of exaggeration. In the second half of the series, once the character settles, viewers are finally treated to the acting skills Kagawa-san is so beloved for. A minor note: much of the western cast were dreadfully hammy, or wield their “native languages” less than fluently. This can be quite distracting at times, considering how important many of the international figures are to the story.

Saka no Ue no Kumo can pride itself on the strength of its soundtrack. Legendary composer Joe Hisashi contributed his talents to this portion of the drama, and it shows. The main theme of the series overflows with the kind of hope and strength this series tries so hard to capture. A personal favorite track must be Stand Alone, vocalized in angelic tones by Sarah Brightman (of The Phantom of the Opera fame).

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I wasn't sure how interesting a drama about prison life would be...or at the very least I thought it would be gritty and dark. That sort of drama isn't typically up my alley. But coming from the writers of the Reply series, I thought maybe there was a chance for it. And then, after hearing glowing comments about it on my feed for weeks, I got more and more curious. (And after a slight doofus move on my part - I finally found the correct show to watch. :P)
I was drawn in from the beginning, and if it were not for responsibilities and work....well, I may have been glued to my tv day and night until I was finished. At around an hour and a half long per episode, this was NOT an easy show to binge on. I wanted to, but it was practically impossible for me to do. This show ended up being a warm, full of heart, slice of (prison) life 'dramedy' that is almost entirely character driven rather than plot driven. If that type of show is something you enjoy, please give this a chance, I don't think you'll regret it.

The writing for this show was first class. I hesitated to give it a 10 just because I tend to get 'post show glow' as we MDL'ers like to call it. But I settled for an overall 10 with just a fraction knocked off for storyline and rewatch values (this show is LONG, did I mention that??) This story flowed so well, with proper use of flashbacks to fill in the missing pieces. There were some things I didn't think would be realistic in a prison, but some things which were too heartbreakingly realistic. I loved the relationships that the writer created and getting to know the motivations of the characters. Overall, I think the writing was VERY well done. I audibly laughed many times and then mopped up my tears through the last two episodes - both happy and sad tears. Prepare your tissues for those, folks! Although we didn't get a firm ending for everyone, I felt that, in a way, that was realistic too (and maybe, there's a chance for a second season down the road??) and I wasn't overly upset with that lack of closure as I normally would be. It made sense to me in this story, and it was enough for me right now.

The acting from the cast was worth every minute. Who would have thought they could draw this much sympathy from me for criminals? I loved how Je Hyuk, who was quite lacking in common sense, was so shrewd at reading people and knowing whether they were really a good person or a bad person and how to deal with them accordingly. I've only ever seen Park Hae Soo in one other show and that was a supporting role that I didn't remember. But I will definitely be looking forward to seeing him in more after this. I thought the chemistry between Park Hae Soo (Je Hyuk) and Krystal (Ji Ho) was excellent. I absolutely would have watched them do a straight up romance drama with these actors playing these two characters. And I always think that I'm not really fond of Jung Kyung Ho, but then I always end up liking him when I watch him. He was very likable in his role as Lee Joon Ho, and I liked his bromance with Je Hyuk and his romance with Je Hee. I loved all Je Hyuk's cellmates as well - I can't even choose a favorite. I liked them all for varying reasons, Min Chul, Han Yang, Captain Yoo, KAIST, and Crony. Then there was Lt. Paeng, the best corrections officer in the whole pen - and his protegé, Song Gi Doong. Wonderful performances from all the actors of these characters. I really have no complaints for the acting at all. Sometimes, even down to just facial expressions was perfect.

The music was very fitting and fit just the right emotions for the scenes, and I feel like I need to go back and listen to some of the songs again.

The re-watch was knocked off a bit just for those long episodes (did I mention those yet? LOL) but, time permitting, one day I really do want to go back and rewatch this again.

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I like it.
This drama tells a story of an extra who gets transported into the body of a princess who's about to be married to a prince, who, apparently was dead by the time she gets there. Whenever the male lead dies, she will be killed too because she's his wife, and the time loops back days before the wedding. The more she died, the further she gets transported back in time, so she tried to prevent his death from happening and find out how to get back to her world.
It has 25 episodes but it's so short with only 8 minutes per episode, so I'd say it's pretty packed with almost zero filler scenes (!!).

The actors who play ML and FL, Hao Fushen has a mouse-kind of face that I like, and although the prince he plays are supposed to be unruly (frequent brothels) but it doesn't really show. Instead he looks pretty gentle and sweet. Jin Zixuan is also good, she plays a time traveller so well, she's fun and not afraid to look silly, and her silliness is not annoying me. No one is a stone faced NPC, and I like that too.

Story wise it's not new, but the execution is done well and makes it look enjoyable. The prince mansion setting is beautiful, and they use a soft color palette that doesn't glare into my eyes. They're also pretty generous with the trinkets and decorations, and if it's a budget drama it certainly doesn't look like it. What irked me is that in some parts it looks like I'm expecting a jump scare(?). There are some plot twists in here, some of it frustrating but not disappointing. Also the ending?? It is honestly predictable but so random I'm torn between laughing and crying.

This is good, simple and easy to watch, fun enough to keep you engaged and guessing. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a short drama.

p.s. I never found out the real name of the FL until I read the synopsis, like?? There is really no narrative intros nothing whatsoever we're just thrusted into this time travel thing and expected to find out ourselves. It's kind of fun though.

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