A masterpiece on wheels.
Japanese have proven time and again how to make us emotional with their dramas. It's not that this drama is overly dramatic or anything, but you feel that the characters could be anyone you might know or even relate to you in a certain way.Madoromi Barmaid was a very pleasant surprise, because I wasn't expecting a drama about cocktails to be so heartwarming and have so much meaning. You can see some resemblance with Midnight Diner, as the story was more about people and their lives than it was about food. It's the same here. The cocktails just provide a backdrop for the stories to come alive, as people experience the joy that it is to drink a cocktail specially made for them.
Each episode features a unique character and their story. Most of the time, they have to overcome some problems that they might be facing in their lives, and by having a cocktail at Yuki's bar on wheels they will face their issues and feel better afterwards. The special cocktails made by Yuki are like therapy for these troubled souls. Episode 9, for instance, is one of my favorites and the perfect example of this cocktail therapy.
The girls are absolutely lovely, especially Yuki. Mai Kiryuu was perfectly cast for that role. She has this gentle aura that makes people feel at ease at her bar and talk to her. And who could forget their adorable pet piglet, Bamboo.
I also loved the music, especially the opening (SHE IS SUMMER - Bloom in the city). It's a warm and mellow song, which is a perfect match for the whole drama and what is about.
Finally, I just want to say that this is the first time I felt compelled to write a review for a Japanese drama after having watched about 400 of them. It's one of the loveliest dramas I've ever watched, and despite its name and premise, I hope more people who are on the fence about watching it to just don't hesitate and experience this wonderful drama.
I'm only rating it as a 10, because that's as high as it goes here.
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Mature show ... Love it
When i say "mature" i mean that the characters didnt act like children, arguing without listening and crying every minute. That can get old quick. There wasnt any of the normal "misunderstandings" that isnt cleared up until the end. There wasn't a rabbit chick after him, using every underhanded trick to get him. No mental breakdowns that caused a year(s) break up.The only complaint is that there shouldn't have been a second male lead. Poor thing was domed from the start.
This show is about a woman that meets a man. Man and woman has prior disagreement and dislikes each other. Their get together isnt realistic, but when they do, you can see that they can last. They are easy going and flows with it.
My favorite part of the show are the characters and how much they grow to trust one another. I especially like thst he isnt the greatest at everything. She laughs at him a lot and poke fun at him just like a real person would. Even the supporting roles were mature and realistic (maybe not the owner of the museum)
He doent save her from a robbery or a knife fight but he helps her to be able to join her two worlds and live comfortably. He comes with his own issues but i love how she show concerns without juding him. Her asking him to draw her is such a romantic part.
This show was better than expected. To think, I actually jumped it like 10xs. Im glad i finally watched it.
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A journey to become a better person.
A Fresh Start!I untangled the twisted knot.
I also took out the thorn.
Without lingering attachment or regret...
I straightened out my passion.
I let the twisted relationship go.
With a lighthearted feeling and a confident mindset...
I erased yesterday with the hope of tomorrow.
One of the strengths of this drama as it's name 'Poems' which also makes it different and unique from other dramas. It's a journey to become a better person which is represented and executed with touch of poems in very realistic way. This drama teaches us many things. 'Never judge book by it's cover' although you won't like many characters in the start but when you explore them and there backstories every character is realistic and likable. If you are finding just a typical rom com then it's not the place cause it's more than just romance...it's a warm hearting and feel good drama.
There isn't anything extraordinary or amazing in it but still it's definitely worth watching. Every episode every story has it's lesson, lesson of life sometimes even bitter truth. It was good, slow paced but I really enjoyed...
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The effects and graphics are very good which makes the movie more scary for some people. Also the storyline was very organized and it really takes the audience into everything. Even the exorcist scenes we're very well executed and believable. Also the story had some interesting turns which suprised me. Also I think the best part was the acting. I enjoyed the acting of the cast members (both of the main and the support) really really much.
There was too much blood and gore for a 15+ movie. Also the movie tried to scare the audience with a little too much jumpscares. The whole exorcist theme can be very unrealistic.
But all in one I think it's worth watching.
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It's a real movie.
It's not a movie where people get lucky or found true love in a blink of an eye or are very nice people without any flaws that get good things in the end. This is a real movie, about real life. About people who get lucky and unlucky, about people who are judged by society and about people who build love with love.
The story may sound cliche but it has a really unique point of view. It has a nice pace and it keeps you glued to the screen wondering what will happen next and how it will happen.
The acting is amazing! The way the characters are built, the way they interact with each other, with themselves and with society is really astonishing. Erika Sawajiri and Takayuki Yamada are really amazing.
The music is also good and touching. And I have to give 10 to the re-watch value because I have already re-watched it several times.
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Guinea Pig 3: Shudder! The Man Who Doesn't Die
7 people found this review helpful
Shudder! He Never Dies is one heck of a hilarious gory film. You didn’t read that wrong, gore films can also be penetrated by important amounts of humour especially if they’re Japanese. They always manage to insert dark humour into the bloodiest productions.
Unlike the previous two Guinea Pig’s films that skipped any attempt to create a plot and jumped to the gore itself. This one tried to build a little plot, okay maybe a tiny bit but it was somewhat meaningful. He Never Dies differentiate itself from all the other films of the Guinea Pig’s series because the main character was the one inducting pain to his own body. He realized that he’s an immortal so he can’t actually die no matter how hard he cuts his wrists, throat or any vital spot.
Having a funny take wasn’t meant to reduce the amount of gore in this film; it was actually reinforcing it with several brutal acts to one’s body. The depiction of gore was plain realistic even while showing the insides or the beheading. The special effects used for this part were pretty much convincing except some little details here and there.
As usual, the lack of a subtle plot forbids me from rating this any higher. As I said before, gore for the sake of gore don’t deserve any high appreciation from me even if this part and Flower of Flesh and Bones pleased me the most out of the whole series.
Watch if:
-You like extreme gore films.
-You like the Guinea Pig’s series.
-You like gore films mixed with dark humour.
Do not watch if:
-You can’t handle bloody sadist gore films.
Shudder! He Never Dies was absolutely the funniest part of the whole Guinea Pig’s series. But being humorous doesn’t mean it was light, the usual elements of sick gore films are still there.
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Shockingly good and well worth the time-link
I first wrote the review after watching 13 translated episodes (many thanks to SOONSETRA for delivering!!!) of this short drama (max 20 minutes long each) and here was my original impression:incredible plot with the "gotcha" villain
amazing characters
awesome dialogues
fantastic acting of leads and secondary
skillful directing
flawless editing
beautiful and fitting OST incl. bgm but in YT version, unfortunately I recognized music from other minidramas (incl. Li Fei's The Tale of Love and Loyalty jig) which dropped the rating half a point.
tacky decor
eye candy outfits
grateful for tactful combining of serious with comedy, thought provoking with slow burn romance and consistent characterization of FL (thanks heavens).
And after finishing al episodes I am sticking to the 9/10 because the story (of poisoned babies, their moms and people dear to the leads) gives depth to this slow romance and tale of friendships and blood ties. Plus we get to see a rare sadness that comes with watching what happens when you live knowing that life is ending before you even started enjoying it. I loved the romance: the actors were very well paired and delivered excellent performance. Majority of production was cohesive and even if there were goofy parts of the script/story that could have been better developed/delivered, this was almost on par with my favorite mini drama A Familiar Stranger.
Who should not watch this: lovers of simplistic plot and usual tropes (I honestly did not see that much of troping here). People who cannot take ambivalence in the ending (don't worry it's good, but not "juicy kiss followed by carrying her princess style to the alcove"-very fitting for what we had seen in 24 episodes). Anybody who needs a villain all throughout the drama.
Is it spectacular? No. But it has nice visuals, even though a bit tacky for my taste.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orJVihzImyk&list=PLZHWNFciVYEN4-BtQFe_TJC2wj9TwnSPb
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Ultimate JieJie/GreenFlag, "Blended Family" Romance
In a sea of shows featuring Red Flag MLs and Innocent FLs, this show stands different.Overwhelmingly, the show is positive and should be watched, but there are absolutely a few glaring flaws.
Biggest Negatives:
😖 The male make-up and wig glue was criminal - multiple times it broke my immersion simply because I could not stop staring at the glue and white powdery face wondering if it was hot and literally melting off?
😖 Plot holes/inconsistencies before the end were mild but within the last episodes there was one period of time where the scene KEPT switching between day and night; and the events of the last episode specifically both appear to be days AND months apart simultaneously.
Biggest Positives:
❤️ Intricate balance of family values between old and new love ESPECIALLY with a child in the equation
❤️ A ML who isn't just a green FLAG but rather an entire FORREST
❤️ There is an episode dealing with how he deals with the the situation after he believes the FL's been assaulted and it is now probably THE best and loving scene(s) of a ML ever (*yes the scene before it could be triggering as it's definitely on the REAL end of the spectrum versus many shows doing over exaggerated "cartoonish" versions).
❤️ The conversations, arguments, and pleas characters have regarding their hopes for the future including the ending dialog (all nitpick flaws aside)
🙃So, what is the show about?🙃
Our main character is the FL; an "unacknowledged" Concubine of the Lu household, held there by her lack of status in society, her previous gratitude and devotion to her partner (2ML), and the daughter she shares with him.
The show demonstrates family politics in a realistic manner regarding the feelings of people who are in various forms of relationships with other people. It focuses on maintaining a level of distance between unmarried and unentangled individuals which means there is VERY little "true" physical intimacy between the leads. Perhaps as a bit of a bait, the show inserts two "dreams" of the MLs into first part of the show, but they are always clearly stated as "dreams".
It features a Love "Square" which includes: The 2ML in love with FL but unable to acknowledge her and often forced to humiliate her. A 2FL who is married to him but feels trapped in HER marriage. She imagines herself in love with a man she never saw the face of and so resents her husband and being forced to marry him. Our ML who is the calming and protecting force for the FL which stirs the jealousies of the 2ML. And the FL who has to let go of all her childhood devotion in order to break free of the torment his family subjects her to and embrace the new chance at life with the ML.
Within the story, there are two simultaneous plots weaving back and forth. The first is the family dynamics of the Lu family and the FL's struggle to remove herself and her daughter from their grasp and regain her independence. The second is the bringing to justice of the Lu and Xia families regarding their corruption in the present and their past deeds around the death of the Princess which saw the FL's father die as a result.
A core component within both sides of the show is family and it's role in making one step up with courage or back down in cowardice. Because of this, while all of the characters are multidimensional, the one I found the most fascinating was the one that was LEAST striking of all; the 2ML.
Chen Ming Hao had the job in this show of being unassuming, hunched, timid, someone who would fade into the background. His character calls himself a coward. Every other character has the job of being forceful and being given an actual presence to work with. Whether it's Kay Song as 2FL with her signature almost-crazy then sympathetic aura; Eddy Geng as the ML who has the "easy" time of being given the flashy "I'll protect you" and "I'm a big shot so you have to fear me" scenes; or Zhu Li Lan who's character is written with the forceful resolve to make her situation for her and her daughter better by any means... CMH had to make the audience not necessarily "hate" him... but be sad and disgusted with him. In this he excelled. He also proved, which is why the character itself is so fascinating, that when given the chance by the script, that he TOO could have stand-out scenes during which he is either confirming or denying his character archetype.
Overall this show is highly recommended with the expectation set that there ARE issues regarding timeline (especially towards the end), that the makeup/wig department with the males could be a lot better, and that there is VERY minimal physical intimacy scenes.
Final Rating wavered between 8.5 and 9 due to negatives because for ME they drastically affected my ability to enjoy an otherwise AMAZING show.
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The show was originally slated for 80 or 85 episodes but ultimately ended with 73. This show is very funny and enjoyable and you get that each episode there is something to learn from it. And you feel like apart of the family, even though you are on the outside looking in. You get to know more about each character and watch as they better themselves. There is moments when you are so used to seeing a particular character, that when you don't see them you wonder where they are ad when you will see them again.
You will laugh, worry, gasp, smile, cry and wonder. As this drama takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. A kind of drama that will want you asking for more and wondering why not? Depending on how you take drama's in, you will either watch more then one a day, or end up going on a marathon then going omg it felt like yesterday i watched this episode when you are farther off from the beginning, and closer to the ending
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Flight 1980 to Honolulu
Everything that you’ve ever wanted to know about the technical and operational aspects of the aviation industry can be found in this movie. But don’t worry about getting confused or overwhelmed because the whole concept is conveyed in layman terms and in a very entertaining manner. The running time of about 100 minutes will quickly fly by without you noticing it.Based on the original screenplay by Yaguchi Shinobu, who also directed the film. Tokusho Kikumura (Ju-on film series) serves as cinematographer while Japanese musician Mickie Yoshino composed and arranged the music, which features Frank Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me as the theme song. Tokusatsu productions’ special effects director Hiroshi Butsuda and VFX specialist Koichi Noguchi (Tokusatsu Research Institute) are involved in the production.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) collaborated substantially on the project through the use of their commercial airliner (Boeing 747-400), equipment, personnel uniforms and hangar at Haneda airport (aka Tokyo International Airport). ANA even contributed their technical expertise to the screenplay and assembled a team to oversee the filming. The director himself researched extensively by travelling to the home of Boeing in Seattle in a bid to ensure the key elements of the story stay true to factual accuracy as much as possible.
This film was heavily promoted where 25 cities and airports all over Japan hosted the marketing campaign in 2008. Additionally the US premiere screening was held at Boeing headquarters in Seattle, Washington and attended by Joseph F. Sutter, the developer of the Boeing 747. The success of this film helped spawn 5 side stories as well as a number of TV programs and books.
What I Loved
I absolutely adore the story and the storytelling approach. I would consider this production as semi-comedic, cheerful with lighthearted undertones, highly educational and definitely moving with a lot of heart and soul. Initially coming across somewhat as a parody of aviation-themed shows, the film gradually settles into a fast-paced and action packed docudrama that consistently holds my attention. I find myself quickly immersed into the multiple perspectives of the myriad colourful characters throughout what has been a truly riveting rollercoaster ride indeed.
The attention to detail in terms of the authenticity of the technicalities involved is quite astounding. In addition to the numerous events that take place at the airport as well as in the airliner en route to Honolulu from Tokyo, viewers are also taken behind the scenes to witness the frenetic activities that go on at the control tower, radar centre and hangar. Real life people are convincingly depicted through smartly-written characterizations that include the pilots, cabin and ground crews, mechanics, air traffic controllers, radar room controllers, operations personnel and even the variety of passengers themselves. Thanks to this movie, I’ve been exposed to new jargon such as purser, pitot tube, birdstrike, and birdman, among others. I’ve even discovered that crows and pigeons are smarter than seagulls which are more likely to crash onto a plane.
Production-wise, the film has aged very well for one that was made in 2008. Neither the visual quality nor the cinematography technique appear dated. The visual effects are generally well rendered, particularly in scenes of mid-air flight. As far as the set designs are concerned, obviously the principal photography took place in an actual plane and the airport, so I have absolutely no complaints on that front.
The film features a large ensemble cast with many familiar faces and each of the portrayals are afforded almost equal screen time. For the most part, the extended focus is on Ayase Haruka and Tanabe Seiichi, who are credited as the leads in their respective roles of the inexperienced flight attendant Saito Etsuko and the young pilot, Suzuki Kazuhiro. I’m a fan of Ayase Haruko who projects a refreshing take with an upbeat and sunny disposition while Tanabe Seiichi delivers a charming and humorous depiction of the Captain-in-training.
Of the supporting cast that caught my attention, the experienced Terajima Shinobu commands the screen with her portrayal of Chief Purser, Yamazaki Reiko. Tabata Tomoko’s Kimura Natsumi is a blur of motion with her lively enthusiasm, and Eguchi Noriko catches the eye with her intriguing air traffic controller, Mizuno Yuriko, despite her limited appearance. Additionally, Ito Aiko mesmerises as Miyamoto Rie, the radar room controller.
Final Thoughts
Do not be fooled by the “fluffy and romcom-esque” poster. Happy Flight is so much more than meets the eye. I was intrigued from the get-go and enthralled all the way to the rousing conclusion of the story. In my humble opinion, this is one of the best-produced, most expansive and detailed contemporary Japanese films I’ve ever had the opportunity to savour. Kudos to the entire production team for a job well done!
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This review may contain spoilers
Although originally not expecting much from it, I liked this series from the very beginning and have even become somewhat obsessed with it towards the end. Therefore I believe it deserves an in-depth review.Story
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It seems important to me to look at the two main aspects of the story separately. On the one hand, there is the story of Lin and Somchai, who happen to meet and develop feelings for each other. On the other hand, there is the story of Lin being courted by an angel and by the devil, thus a human torn between good and evil. From the trailers, I expected to see mainly the first aspect, with the angel concept having only little impact. However, the second aspect has (at least for me) quickly become the dominating part of the story.
First some thoughts about Lin and Somchai. I must confess that I have not been much invested in their story at the beginning. It already sounds very cliche: two strangers meet by accident, need to spend time together and at some point start to develop feelings, even though they have never really thought about love before. Very predictable, not very original, and at odds with the second aspect of the story, that is very much based on the defining difference of angels and humans. However, Somchai and Lin were undoubtedly very sweet together. I still wasn’t convinced by their affection for each other, until the final episode hit me really hard. Never expected such a tearjerker, but here we are. Everything about Michael’s struggles when discussing with Gabriel and his final talk with the Lord was so nicely done, emotional and wise at the same time. Thus, although the ending was ultimately predictable, I must admit that they managed to create the ideal happy ending for this aspect of the story. Love is indeed stronger than anything.
Moving on to the second aspect. I was seriously blown away by how well they handled the eternal battle of good vs. evil and by how seriously they took the angels theme. It’s hard to tell what angel mythology the authors have based the story on, with Christianity being anything but mainstream in Thailand (in any case, they mixed in some clear Buddhist elements, making it even more interesting). I have looked at it from a Catholic background (plus I’m named after an archangel, so I’m really invested in the topic) and was amazed how well they actually depicted the angels’ hierarchy and even tried to enact the mythical fight between Michael and Satan. There have been a few theologically questionable elements which I will point out later, but overall they managed to not only use the angels as a funny supernatural gimmick, but as a serious framework for discussing problems of good and evil in our daily life and beyond.
Lin was shown as a weak character, not surprisingly so with all her terrible experiences as an unloved child and her permanent daily struggles, and therefore she was a perfect prey for the devil. I don’t think she was ever supposed to be a likable character, but she seems very relatable. Michael’s strict principles and his initial naivety in looking at mundane problems contrasted very strongly with her negative views on life. Throughout the series, both of them went through important learning processes: Lin learned to believe in good again, made real friends and reunited with her mother; Michael learned that principles can only be a guideline, so by simply evaluating people’s merit points and granting wishes solely on that basis, Heaven misses out on the concrete circumstances of individuals’ lives. Along the way, under Michael’s influence also several side characters underwent very positive developments: Lin’s mother, her landlady, her co-worker (and modeling agent) and of course Punpun. All of this provided for many memorable heartfelt moments, raising important moral questions.
Now, for this second aspect to fully work, I feel like the series could have ended with ep. 11; it is hard to imagine the Great Michael taking the kind of radical decision he took in the finale (if they had used just any angel instead, it would probably be more fitting). Alas, I think we should weigh both aspects of the story evenly, and therefore I can certainly overlook such little problems.
Theological problems
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I will now briefly address three of the theological “problems” I encountered.
First, Lin’s suicide attempt. Since it was basically the beginning of the story we didn’t get much information about that particular moment of Lin’s life; however, Satan admits that he pushed her to commit suicide in order to drag her to hell. Now, it is imaginable that the act of suicide could be the final step in a series of developments that Lin underwent under the influence of the devil, and having Michael doing everything to save her displays how her “good side” is unwilling to let her end her life. But throwing in the suicide without a deeper reflection on it leaves us with the brutal suggestion that committing suicide is necessarily an act of evil and an automatic ticket to hell, which is a very old-fashioned teaching not broadly supported by modern theology. The repetition of it in the finale made it even worse, since Satan didn’t even seem to be present anymore (but she still emphasises that she wouldn’t go to Heaven if she had died).
Then, the final confrontation between Michael and Satan. I was looking forward to that moment, but it was acted out somewhat strangely. There is a basic problem in this case (besides the controversy over the very existence of Satan, obviously): true, Michael ultimately defeats Satan in the bible, but only at the end of times, the Apocalypse. The devil cannot be defeated (neither by Michael nor by anyone above him) before the Apocalypse, because only his presence guarantees individual freedom of humans (to choose good or evil). Therefore, the outcome of the confrontation is very realistic: Michael can very well send the devil away, but it is clear that he might come back whenever Lin allows him to (he knowingly says “see you soon”). The part with Michael threatening to destroy Satan and Lin asking to spare him consequently doesn’t make sense, also because destroying the personification of evil cannot itself be an act of evil; the scene serves its purpose as displaying the positive developments both Michael and Lin have undergone, but undermines the good/evil question (not severely though, as one could also interpret it as a test knowingly posed to Lin by Michael).
Finally, it was never properly explained whether Serena’s weird “temptation” of Michael was actually Satan’s initial plan or just part of his effort to confuse Lin. It would have been interesting to see what the devil could possibly gain from such an arrangement.
Besides these “problems”, it is worth pointing out that the depiction of Michael and his incarnation is clearly modelled upon Jesus (filling in the blank they left with not clearly identifying the Lord of Heaven). Making him walk on water in ep. 11 was a nice hint at that. In that sense, Serena’s temptation could be taken from the bible, only that Jesus in contrast always knows the identity of his tempter.
Technical aspects
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All actors did a decent job, only a few were a bit overacting (Police Angel, talking about you!). Of the three mains, JJ was obviously the shining star, I can’t criticise him in any way; what a wonderful performance! Mek was incredibly cool in his role and only got better towards the end. Jane … I don’t know, she was certainly weaker than her co-stars, but I guess that fits with her role.
The way the story was told was pretty conventional; no special camera or editing techniques were used, the storyline was very linear. I wish they had tried to hide Luke’s identity better, that could have provided for more surprises along the way. The overall production value was okay; the special effects in ep. 11 were visibly cheap, but I think they did the best they could.
Conclusion
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Long story short, this series has it all: good message, relatable characters, humour, romance, plot twists and drama. It takes its guiding themes very seriously and embeds the story into an incredibly well thought-out concept. Sure, it is not perfect. The middle part could have been accelerated a bit (10 episodes would overall probably have been enough), some silly humour could have been toned down, the depiction of the devil could still have been improved and the two aspects of the story could have been interwoven more neatly. But let’s face it: for an all-ages GMMTV show this is really outstanding! And why am I not surprised that once again the director is a woman?
I can only recommend this hidden gem to everyone, particularly to those of you looking for “simple but catchy storylines” (as pointed out by another fan of the show) with relatable characters and a good message. I loved it!
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Oh, My Goodness, Liu Yuning!
I had to give this drama high marks, but not a perfect score because I felt cheated out of happy endings that some of the characters deserved. I know, I know, life isn't all happy endings, but this one should have and could have been all around (except for the bad guys, of course!)That being said, Liu Yuning! His expressions! His fierce persona, his gentle persona. The battle to let his feelings grow and come to fruition. His performance in this one was masterful! And it helped that he had such great chemistry with his FL. I don't know why some haters get on him so much. He is drop dead gorgeous and looks smoking hot in historical army gear, and he is a good actor!
This one definitely deserves rewatch, for me, if only to stare at Liu Yuning and watch him fall in love with his leading lady.
I think Prisoner of Beauty merits all the high ratings and accolades it has gotten. The story was well written; the characters were well-casted and very well played. I loved the 4 Wei generals. Loved Bai Zhi. Loved Qiao Ci and Qiao Ping. Absolutely loved Wei Shao's military advisor Gongsun Yang - his expressions were delightful! Even the villains deserved to be despised. Great acting from the entire ensemble!
(Did I mention how sizzling hot and gorgeous Liu Yuning is in this one?) 😉
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I must say- I had high expectations for this movie since it included three of my favorite Taiwanese actors, and two were the leads of one of my favorite dramas, In Time With You. While watching this movie, I kept thinking of other dramas/movie scenes that were just so similar to the scenes in this movie. Similarity isn't always a bad thing, as long as it is well executed- which in this case, wasn't. I was severely disappointed because I really wanted to love this movie. The story was lacking, with choppy execution and just didn't flow. It's basically a modern twist on Cinderella, but has nothing new. I must say that there were some cute OTP scenes between the leads definitely worth watching, which were the pros of this movie.
The character development was mediocre. There was no substance to Chen Bo Lin's character, a huge let down for me. Ariel's character had the most character growth from being insecure to a confident woman, the transformation was fun to see but nothing new. Vic's character was endearing but again, not much development either. The supporting characters just sprung out of nowhere, and felt disjointed as well. The acting itself was superb. Ariel Lin always does a fantastic job in portraying her emotions, along with Vic and Chen Bo Lin. NaNa was both cute and annoying, which was the point of her role so she was pretty good too. On a superficial note, Ariel looked gorgeous in this movie. The main problem with this movie was the story. So much star power in this movie, and yet it still couldn't shine.
Music was alright, nothing out of the ordinary.
So do I recommend it? If you're a big Ariel Lin, Vic Chou, and Chen Bo Lin fan like me, then yes go for it! I mean, when will we ever get to see the three of them together in a drama/movie again? Re-watch? I'm good, thanks. Overall, it was worth watching one time just to see the three of them together. (7/8)
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This Drama Is Overhated, Honestly
No, it’s not anything groundbreaking or super original, and yeah, it leans into clichés and familiar conflicts here and there, but that doesn’t make it bad. It’s actually a decent romcom with sweet moments and genuinely likable characters. Not a masterpiece, and I might not remember every detail a few months from now, but I liked it. It’s good enough, tbh.The story follows Zo, a university student who has a crush on Nita. With some encouragement from his friends, he decides to ask Joke (Nita’s ex) for help getting closer to her. Of course, we as the audience already see what’s going on: Joke is clearly using this as an excuse to get closer to Zo, and it works. The two of them end up getting together, and it’s full of sweet energy that I enjoyed.
There were so many genuinely soft moments throughout, and they made the whole thing feel warm and worth watching.
I also really liked Jeng and Pok as the side couple. Their dynamic had a little more emotional tension. Jeng didn’t want to go public about their relationship, and Pok was dealing with some insecurity. That “Sorry that I’m a man” line? Yeah. That hit.
Pat and Kot, Zo’s friends, were fun and added some lightness to balance things out. Great side characters.
And Nita! She was honestly great, pretty, smart, kind, and just good at everything she did. Totally understandable why Zo admired and liked her so much. I really appreciated that the story let Zo acknowledge his feelings for Nita and have that clarity before he moved on to Joke. That part felt really thoughtful and well done.
Also, I liked the cousin/friendship between Jeng and Joke. A small touch, but it added some warmth and extra layers to their characters.
Not gonna lie, Zo and Joke are both so pretty. I couldn’t stop looking. They were just serving all the time. Especially Zo that hairstyle is his!
Oh, and just a random thought, but I honestly feel like Zo, Joke, and Nita had throuple potential. Not even kidding, the chemistry was there. Not taking anything away from Zo and Joke’s relationship (because that worked well on its own), but that trio had a vibe.
So yeah. It’s not a flawless show, but it’s not trying to be. It’s sweet, it’s fun, and it had more emotional depth than I expected. Overhated for sure.
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