Solid storyline
Recommended to watch. I knew about this drama from advertisement. The trailer looks interesting so i thought i check out a little bit. But never knew i hooked until the end. From the title i thought this is japanese drama, but i was wrong.(actually it from japanese comic from same name).I'm a big fan of dramas mostly chinese drama and korean drama. This is first time for me to find chinese drama that contain solid storyline. Mostly i just going to skipped or fast forward most episode of chinese drama because mostly it contains filler that unnecessary. But not this drama.
The acting was superb. Whoever casting the actors and actress made a good job. Many talented young actor and actress. (watched because of juck zhang but now I'm in love with this drama)
The music good, suitable for growth/competition drama.
I had a little bit knowledge about go, this drama give more knowledge about go and behind the scene.
Things that i don't like. 36 episode not enough for me. I need more. I understand that production want follows closely to the comic storyline but don't ended like that. I hope there's season 2.
Rewatch value 10/10. I definitely will watching this drama again.
I hope there are more like this drama out there. Nowadays, it all about survival, growth and rivalry.
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Absolutely hilarious!
Hands down the most fun I've had watching a comedy series in a long time. I was literally rolling on the floor. It's short, but totally worth the time. The casting was also very good (not great, but decent), and the main character played his role flawlessly.The only criticism I would have is that I'd like for the romantic storyline to be more developed & foreshadowed earlier, as well as for the entire series to be longer. However, if you look at this show purely from the comedic perspective, it's a 10!
And it's super rewatchable :)
The series tackles most cliches in the genre and does it an unexpected, fun way, without offending anybody. It's just so fresh in the sea of BL shows that are similar to each other.
It's an easy recommendation.
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Missing: This Drama
OVERVIEW:1-10 Episodes; Super
11th Episode; Misses Small Spark
12th Episode; Perfect Finish
Likes:
1)Soul Connecting Stories
2)Connecting Characters
3)Acting
4)Writing
5)Atmosphere
6)Cinematography
Dislikes:
1)NONE
OVERALL:
Don't MISS This Drama
*****************************************
OVERVIEW:
1-10 Episodes; Super
11th Episode; Misses Small Spark
12th Episode; Perfect Finish
Likes:
1)Soul Connecting Stories
2)Connecting Characters
3)Acting
4)Writing
5)Atmosphere
6)Cinematography
Dislikes:
1)NONE
OVERALL:
Don't MISS This Drama
*****************************************
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This review may contain spoilers
Compelling, complex vendetta, expressive play, impressive spirit & cunning plot development
KDrama Orbit starts into 2023 just as the year 2022 had been – full of productions with their fingers put right into the sore of wounds of society, savouring its imbalance with relish. "Payback: Money and Power", again, is one of those. It offers an exciting, astute, complex and clever story about revenge against those giants, who can hardly ever successfully be confronted by legal means. Money helps… those... who want to have things turn out the way that they prefer… who can afford to have things turn out the way that they prefer... who have a strong vision, too.The underlying premises are pretty sobering, yet well-known territory in KDrama land:
-The system (democracy and the rule of law) serves the money, not the people, because the people who fill the system with life can be bought.
-Power and money are inseparable.
-Hierarchical class thinking is far from overcome. The value of a person's wealth directly determines their value as a human being.
-Huge fortunes and legality rarely go hand in hand.
-The good news for the wealthy: money can buy you justice (and law).
-The bad news for the ordinary: Life is unfair.
-With legal means (alone) justice is not a given.
"Payback: Money and Power" bluntly takes all of these premises and blends them in a vendetta against Goliath revisited. Therefore, David first becomes a Goliath himself. In this case, David's real name is Eun Yong. He has risen from a penniless, simple young man to become the CEO of a private-equity fund who successfully speculates astronomical sums of money. Together with a team, that for him is family, too, he takes on a financial cartel in which politicians and especially the public prosecutor's office are also involved. Thus, it is not played fairly. On the contrary: it is actually life-threatening.
So, at first glance the plot doesn't seem to promise much that's new. Nevertheless, "Payback: Money and Power" offers a dense, strong story, with expressive play and impressive spirit. The presence of the mimes in front of a rough, gloomy background is haunting. To be honest, I paused for a moment - not sure whether I really want to know and see everything or rather drop. Eventually, I couldn't help it, couldn´t let go of it. I WANTED to know and see. The impression, the KDrama left with each episode, was just too powerful... And I'm thoroughly glad about it. A great story. With a considerably cunning plot development. Despite the underlying bitter seriousness an invigorating (for all the refreshing poetic freedom - e.g. not everyone is as talented, tactically adept, self-confident and yet grounded in a good balance of heart, mind and soul as Eun Yong) and encouragingly optimistic perspective.
Oh, actually, here's another premise I forgot to mention at first...
-But what a relief that the law still exists... and also those few, who stick to it, believe in its value and power, and thus keep fighting for it with wits and passion...
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Also, it had kissing. I haven't really seen Japanese dramas having skin contact much, and that kinda annoys me. This drama didn't have that anime feel to it either, which I like sometimes, but I know alot of people who don't like Jdramas because of that comical way they talk and stuff. Oh yea, I liked the ending ;D
Overall, I would recommend this drama to all. It was nice to watch. Blah... now I want to find a similar drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
'Iljimae' has left me sitting in a puddle of my own (hypothetical) tears. Although the first 6 episodes are a bit slow, the story soon picks up with a quick-fire, rapid pace that will leave your heart feeling as if it had been pulled out and stamped upon. It was truly a beautiful drama.The story is similar to Robin Hood, but it's more sophisticated, powerful, moving and gritty than the traditional English folk tale. It is, without giving anything way, a revenge story. However, unlike most revenge stories, it has a heart. Our hero isn't some morally conflicted guy who can't tell right from wrong - in fact, the drama does well by clearly defining the hero's morals and making sure that he never strays too far away from them. It is beautiful to watch the story unfold and see our hero grow.
The father/son relationship was also incredibly moving. You can tell that Seo Dol has this completely unconditional love for Yong (despite him not being his biological son), and their relationship is so special and beautiful. I haven't seen a father/son relationship, like that, in K-Drama - ever. The impact Seo Dol and Yong have on each other just pulls on my heartstrings, and I am usually a person who remains highly unmoved by fiction.
I also have a lot of admiration for Yong's adoptive mother Dan-ee. She appears to be cold and indifferent towards both Seo Dol and Yong (and even her own biological son, Ja Dol/Shi Hoo), but that's just way of trying to protect herself if anything bad happened to either of them. You can tell that she truly loves them.
Overall, the story was very good; however, the romantic aspect of the plot really did weigh it down. I saw no true purpose, asides from being a romantic tool, for Eun Chae; yes, she was caring, kind and seemingly selfless (well, at least that is what she liked to think) but her character lacked development, depth and heart. Every time she would pop up on screen, the story would end up slowing down. She was an unnecessary character, in my opinion, and her romance with Iljimae was highly unconvincing. The second main girl - who actually had a more significant impact, and had a purpose in the story - had much more convincing chemistry with Yong and I would have preferred her to be his primary love interest. She was a brilliant 3-dimensional character - like Yoong - and she had true depth.
I didn't have a problem with Ja Do/Shi Hoo, though. I thought it was kind of weird how he loved Eun Chae (not a spoiler, this is pretty much obvious from the outset of the drama) because he believed her to be his sister, although she wasn't (again, not a spoiler), so that incest-but-not-incest thing kind of grossed me off him for a while. However, his moral conflicts and his struggles with his identity were quite touching, and although he didn't have the same impact as Yoong, I did sympathise with him a lot.
The drama does not suffer from bad acting at all. The cast fully suited their roles, and although Lee Jun-ki is partial to some overacting, it wasn't anything that detracted away from the drama. The actor who played Seo Dol was amazing - that guy put me through emotional highs and lows, and he had amazing chemistry with Lee Jun-ki. I actually felt like I was watching a father/son team whenever those two were on screen with each other.
The best performances, in my opinion, came from Lee Moon Shik, Lee Yong Ah, Lee Jun Ki and Kim Sung Ryung, Lee Won Jong (who was perfect as the delightfully self-serving and wicked, Byun Shik) and Park Shi Hoo. There wasn't really anything that I could call a 'bad performance' in the drama, and though I didn't like Eun Chae, Han Hyo Joo did what she could with such a bland character.
The only reason why this drama doesn't get a perfect 10 from me is because I felt that the romance did actually weigh things down quite a bit and whilst the ending was good, the slight openness of it did irk me off because I prefer more defined endings. (Especially after watching a drama for 20 hours!) However, it was a beautiful story with beautiful characters (and great action scenes) and I recommend it to all. It has heart, humour and depth and it has really perked an interest in the saeguk genre, for me.
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1Fake it till you make it.
Regeneration is an excellent short suspense thriller. The narrative opens with a reporter He Shan witnessing the kidnapping of her contact Fei Ke. In classic Christie style, five strangers including He Shan are summoned to an island mansion for the reading of Fei Ke's will. They are each asked to share their memories of Fei Ke before the will is read. As implied by the homonym of his name, Fei Ke was not who he appeared to be; he showed a different self to each of them. As they piece together their memories, a complex, disturbing and moving picture of Fei Ke emerges.Jing Boran delivers a compelling portrayal of Fei Ke as a charismatic, amoral "fake it till you make it" kind of character. I don't think any other actor could have evoked such complex and contradictory reactions. At many points in the narrative when I wanted to absolutely despise his Fei Ke, I found myself searching for excuses for him. Yet when I could have and should have empathized with him, I found myself judging him. All of the characters have many layers that peel off like an onion. Like Fei Ke, they all have at least one moment of hesitation before they almost willfully make a fatal, life changing decision that takes them down the path of no return. By the end of this web of lies, the only story that moved me was that of the two lovers star crossed who ended up as collateral damage. Everyone else reaped what they sowed; even Fei Ke who believed his own lies to the point he deceived himself more than anyone else.
The plot pulled me in from the start and kept me wanting more with each reveal. However, at the point of reversal, changes were deliberately made to the original novel plot, likely to avoid book spoilers. I think this was big mistake. As a result, plot holes emerged and the final three episodes did not come together as well as they could have. In the novel, the group gathered because the main antagonist wished to make amends. That is simple, straightforward and easy to understand. In the drama, they gather as a result of a convoluted and rather far fetched revenge plot. Some of the character designs and motives were changed in to make this work. Some of it just didn't make sense as those parties could have achieved their objectives in more direct and effective ways. This is made worse by the melodramatic storm at the end where everyone does silly things for some cheap thrills.
Even though the ending was overly dramatic and could have been more tightly written it was dark and consequential. All things considered, this is a suspenseful and thought provoking watch with many unexpected twists and reversals. And If you need a shallow reason to watch it, Jing Boran looks yummy in every scene. My rating 8.0/10.0.
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An incredibly intense espionage thriller
Before getting into the review, here is some historical background for the film:The film is set during the Second Sino-Japanese War and WWII. There are several powers in play at this time: the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese Nationalist Party or Kuomintang, and Imperial Japan. Imperial Japan invaded Manchuria (located in northeastern China) in the early 1930s and established the puppet state of Manchukuo. It was here where they hoped to establish a base from where they would continue their expansion into Asia.
In 1937, after many years of conflict, Japan occupied Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. The Nanjing Massacre occurred at this time. After the fall of Nanjing, which had been the capital of the Republic of China at that time, the Kuomintang moved the capital west to Chongqing, under Jiang Jieshi's leadership. During this time, the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang formed a temporary alliance, suspending the years of civil conflict between them, although their vie for power continued.
In 1940, Wang Jingwei, who was once a member of the Kuomintang but had always been in opposition against Jiang Jieshi, collaborated with Japan to establish the Wang Jingwei regime. They claimed to be the leadership of the Republic of China, when in fact they were a puppet government of Japan, overseeing the Japanese-occupied territory in eastern China, under Japan's control. They established their capital in Nanjing and used the Kuomintang flag. The Axis powers recognized the Wang Jingwei regime, while the Allied powers still recognized Jiang Jieshi as the leader of the Republic of China.
From 1937-1941, Japan had left a few neighbourhoods in Shanghai unoccupied, because that was where the American-British joint settlement and French Concession were located. Many people fled to this area to live at that time. After Pearl Harbor in 1941, the entirety of Shanghai became occupied by Japan. Many cities were bombed during these years, including Guangzhou, which experienced bombings for 14 months in 1937-1938.
During this era of war, which is also called the War of Resistance in China, espionage networks were established to try to undermine the enemy. Hidden Blade tells a story about these individuals.
---
Even without knowing the historical context, Hidden Blade presents a visual feast of vivid characters and imagery. Cheng Er uses a non-linear narrative approach to reveal the stories of these characters. The main characters, Mr. He (Tony Leung) and Mr. Ye (Wang Yibo), are both enigmatic and morally ambiguous. We meet Mr. He, the charming man who hides intimidation behind a pleasant smile, and Mr. Ye, a rootless man who does not shy away from violence. Tony Leung does not disappoint as the veteran actor that he is, as the man who can tell stories with just his eyes or a slight smile, and he delivers a charismatic performance that reaffirms why he is such a revered actor. Wang Yibo delivers a phenomenal performance to match. Mr. Ye is a compelling character who is mesmerizing, perplexing, suave, and incredibly human at the same time. Wang Yibo does a fantastic job of portraying this complex character with mysterious motives, who seems to hide much more than he lets on behind his cool and composed appearance. He excels at playing a character whose inner turmoil is silently repressed.
The cast of side characters are also worth mentioning, with memorable performances from all of the actors. I take half a star off only because I feel that the female character stories could have been explored further. Zhou Xun makes a special appearance as Ms. Chen, and although her part is brief, she captivates the audience from the moment she walks onto the scene with her package of pastries and she leaves an emotional impact on the audience even in the short time that she has on screen. Jiang Shuying (Ms. Jiang) and Zhang Jingyi (Ms. Fang) are both charming as well, however their opportunity to showcase their strengths is quite limited.
The cinematography is well-executed and the attention to detail is remarkable. In one interview, Cheng Er reveals that even the ties that are worn by the characters are all actual ties from that era that have been collected. The music also compliments the scenes beautifully, adding further to the tension which Cheng Er builds so skillfully throughout the film. The choreography of the fight scenes is also top-tier and will not disappoint.
As a movie depicting times of war, there are several scenes that are difficult to watch and Cheng Er does not shy away from showing the cruelty of what people may have experienced. General content warnings without spoilers include torture, suffocation, death of an animal, implied rape (not depicted), as well as genre-typical violence that one may expect from an espionage war thriller.
Overall, the cast and crew have created a incredibly intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you thinking about many scenes even after finishing the film. There are many parallels drawn throughout the film and it is a film that only gets better with rewatching as one lets the details marinate. At the end you're left with a lingering admiration for the individuals who struggled to free themselves from the oppression that they lived under. In doing so, they have sacrificed their own lives, their relationships, and even their own values in their effort to forge a path forward, towards a future where the nameless ones might once again stand in the sunlight.
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So why'd I rate it highly? Well, because the drama was brilliantly executed.
Story: The plot was unique unlike most dramas that tend to be a total cliche plus the story really had a deep meaning about revenge, hatred, redemption, love, and faith. But since this is a remake of a korean drama, the credit for the story should probably be given to the korean writer. :)
Acting/Cast: I think all of the actors did a really great job at portraying their characters and making the audience understand and sympathize with the characters' struggles especially Ohno Satoshi. Although some say that he was a little stiff, I think how he portrayed Naruse was the best direction for the character because with just his facial expressions, you can understand and feel what Naruse is going through emotionally. His best actor award for this drama was truly deserved by him.
Music: Jdramas usually have only one or two songs for the soundtrack but here, they had a variety of music that went with every scene smoothly adding tension to the drama.
Rewatch value: I only gave it a 6 because it's not something I'd want to watch over and over again. As I've said, it is a sad drama. It would probably take a month or two before I'd want to watch it all over again.
All in all, this drama, in my opinion, was one of the best that I've seen. Watch it so you can see! :)
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This review may contain spoilers
A coming of age & slice-of-life masterpiece that I will never forget
My review will contain spoilers, but I'll warn before spoiling, so you can read the safe parts before watching the show! Also, be ready, this is going to be long, but this drama is so excellent that it's hard to stop myself lolIf you look into my profile, you will know how many korean and chinese dramas I have watched. I rarely write reviews, but I feel like I need to write one for Northward (and also I've been obsessed with this drama since day 1 so I hope writing it all out will help me think of something else lmao).
If you're hesitating to watch this drama : go ahead and try it. This is a masterpiece. But you need to know two things before going : first, this drama was made to be realistic, no character is perfect ; second, while watching, you must analyze the characters yourself through their dialogues and actions and not let characters tell you how A or B is (even when they're talking about themselves). If you're confused about my second advice, here is what I can tell you : in life, you don't necessarily understand your decisions or other people's decisions. You can misinterpret other people, and misinterpret yourself, especially when you're young. So if a character tells you he did this for Y reason, or he thinks X, that doesn't mean it's true. You need to look at what they do and what they say when confronted to the situation to actually know how they feel about something. So, while watching this show, you musn't take everything at face value, you have to analyze their actions and dialogues to actually know the truth If you don't, you're likely to misunderstand them.
This is actually the reason why I loved this drama so much, and why I say it's a masterpiece. Weirdly, my favorite scenes are almost only scenes where characters fight or confront each other, because that's the moments when you actually understand the characters motivations and sufferings. Otherwise, they don't talk about it, just like we don't spend our time talking about what we feel or why motivate us to do X ou Y. We only talk about it in specific contexts.
I know a lot of people hated on Wanghe sometimes, and I get it, but he's definitely my favorite character here. He is so complex and realistic and a mess (just like 4D people are). He was a delight to analyze. I've been supporting him since the beggining and seeing his growth was such a pleasure.
Every character is interesting, very well written and complex, even the less important ones. I admire the screenwriters for how they managed to create such deep and realistic characters.
The cinematography is exceptional ; I was already a big fan of Yao Xiao Feng after seeing Tender Light, and his work here is just as wonderful. I am very peaky regarding the cinematography of the shows that I watch, so when I compliment it, it means it really is great.
I wrote an analysis of the first 28 episodes a few days ago ; you can find it here : https://kisskh.at/740015-bei-shang#comment-21293186 .
--- SPOILERS AHEAD ---
I am SO glad it wasn't a sad ending. I was scared they would end it with Fenghua dying because she deserved so much better, and I felt like Wanghe had gone through enough deads. First Siyi's grandma, then Siyi's little brother, then his employee. And he blames himself for each of them. I can't imagine how much he would have blame himself if Fenghua died. He would've thought he should've made a move on her sooner to enjoy her presence more.
But thanks god : it did not happen. Everyone got the happy ending they deserved.
I am glad the drama didn't push the Siyi/Wanghe agenda too much. As I said in my previous analysis, for me, Wanghe never truly loved Siyi (as a woman). And I don't think Siyi feelings for Wanghe were very deep either. They probably were more linked to her fear of being abandoned, and she may have felt like Wanghe was "abandoning her" everytime she saw him with Fenghua (which made sense, because Wanghe never planned his future with Siyi, outside of his promises to "take care of her", that were, to me, the proof he had a savior syndrome with her). At the end, when they're all watching footages of the younger them and we see Wanghe and Fenghua's interactions, it's so obvious that Wanghe already had romantic feelings for her (even the friends make fun of them and say they're "having a date on the balcony").
I loved LOVED every Wanghe/Xingchi confrontation. As an anti-capitalist myself, I saw my own ideals in Xingchi's, and yet I sided with Wanghe, especially in the fight episode 31. To me, Xingchi thought too high of himself. He thought only his values were important, and that his employees were stupid to put their lives on the line just to get money. It was easy for him to dismiss Wanghe and them by saying they're "evil capitalist". But, in my opinion, it only sounded like a selfish character who imposed his values on other people. I would even say... he sounded like a priviliged character. Just like Wanghe said, it's easy to say money isn't important when you're not hungry ; but when you need money to survive and support your family, money IS (sadly) important. Aknowledging that doesn't make Wanghe the evil capitalist everyone thought he was (including Fenghua). On the opposite, he understood better than anyone that the true problem was political. People shouldn't have to put their life on the line to survive, but the truth is, they sometimes have to, and he could only make sure they would get correctly paid for it. What Xingchi did was foolish and selfish, and not truly for his employee's wellbeing, but he was too immature to understand it. If he wanted to fight for what was right, he either had to climb in a waaay higher position, or make an union with his employees and protest against the politics, or make his own business with his own rules (like Fenghua). Instead of thinking he knew better his employee's needs than themselves, he should have asked himself why they were ready to put their life in danger just for money. And he should have understood their distress, instead of dismissing it and stopping them from making the money the needed. To me, that fight showed that, despite Xingchi's sad background, he was still a boy who knew he had parents and friends who were ready to provide for him if needed. Not even once did he try to understand why people were desperate for money.
Wanghe, on the other side, definitely made mistakes, but he was trying to actually change things in a way higher scale than Xingchi. The scene where Xingchi sees his ex employees eat outside and screams about how unfair it is that the cafetaria got shut down, meanwhile Wanghe actually takes action with his boss to provide correct meals to the employees, shows exactly that - Xingchi was all talk, Wanghe tried to take actions. He's definitely the most misundertsood character in this show : he was not cold-blooded, he just believed he could actually change things from the inside, even if it meant making sacrifices by doing things that did not align with his values and tiring himself out.
One of my favorite scene of the show is when the company refuses to pay compensations for He's death. The way his heart hurts, and he loses balances, and he feels sick, how he throws up in the toilets and curls himself up, all of that filmed as if it was a horror movie : to me, that's when Wanghe realized how much his efforts were in vain, and how evil the world was. He was in so much pain it literally made him sick, but no one knows about that. He doesn't talk about it. And he will forever be seen as the "shark that thrives in Beijing" (to quote Xingchi's lines to describe him).
Wanghe was never thriving in Beijing. He had failures after failures, and a huge pressure on his shoulders. Remember how he was told by his father, as a child, to succeed in life to make him proud? How many promises he made to everyone, that he would succeed and be there for them? And how he thought he needed to be rich to deserve Fenghua? He was not thriving, he was dying inside trying to succeed. In a dialogue with Fenghua, he says himself he can never show his vulnerable side (which shows that he is already suffering) ; later, he says to Haikuo how tired he is in Beijing (and yet he chooses to stay there for the funerals). In Beijing, the easy-going and (apparently) confident Wanghe was so stressed out he had stomach issues (they're mentionned in the beginning of the adult era, as something recurrent for him). But no one aknowledges that because Wanghe just never complains.
Another of my favorite scenes (I think it's my top 1) is the fight between Fenghua and Wanghe in episode 24. That's when Wanghe needed a wake-up call, because he was making ruthless decisions. Xingchi and Haikuo both tried to confront him about it and both only managed to make him angry. The only character who knows how to handle Wanghe is Fenghua : he goes to her already pissed off about his fight with his friends, persuaded he's in the right. Fenghua knows it's useless to scream or attack him. She begins by complimenting him, making him dream of the future he so desperately wants (him being successful). When he takes the bait, and starts seeing himself in this success and tells her he will make her as famous as him, she slaps him with the hard truth : "that day will never come, because I need to stay away from a company who doesn't treat well their employees". BAM. And then she calls him cold-bloooded. DOUBLE BAM. I loooved this scene so much because you can see just how hurt he is. He didn't question himself before that, and if that worked, it's not only because it's Fenghua (of all people) who tells him that, but also because she handled him just right. She's such a smart girl, and the only one who actually gets him and knows how to get to him.
To conclude this (way too long) review, I need to talk about Chen Rui and Haikuo. I loved, loved Haikuo. He was a sensitive lost boy and a certified lover boy. He took so much after his father, and I mean it in the best way, because Yan Lin was the best father of the show (imo). Chen Rui was my second favorite character after Wang He (Fenghua is not in this ranking because she's so much better than the other characters). His crave for his mother's akwnoledgment was so touching. I just love his confrontation with his mother in episode 27 ("the boy who is worthless in the eyes of the world will be recognized by his family. all he needs is just a little trust.").
So, this review is way too long, but hopefully there are people as obsessed by Northward as me who are willing to read all of this. The fact that I have to make myself stop here because I could talk about the details of this drama for hours just shows how good this show is!
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A Decent Sitcom
I have seen the other comments and reviews and I get why people are not that impressed. Yes, it has some outdated jokes but it also has some really hilarious scenes. The story is overall fun and anyone can see that some of the sub plots were not tied up indicating a possible s2.Also, coming to the acting part, Except for Park Se Wan I havent seen any of them in a major role. Plus as I am a kpop fan, I really enjoyed Minnie and Youngjae acting. Even the rest of the cast delivered what they were expected to.
Not to mention there were so many cameos!! If you watch korean variety shows, u will absolutely like the cameos and some references too.
To conclude, It is a really good sitcom.. It is best to binge or to watch ep by ep when u feeling down and need something to lift your mood. I sincerely hope there will be a s2 to this!!
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This review may contain spoilers
In Defense of Together With Me
Normally, I don't like to write reviews until I've completed whatever I'm reviewing, but I feel like all of the negativity being thrown towards TWM: The Next Chapter is incredibly frustrating, unfair, and undeserved. I'm so sad to see it get such a low rating because it pursues a story line we don't typically see in BL dramas, and people apparently can't handle that. No, it isn't lighthearted and easygoing like other series out there; but it's raw and authentic and definitely deserves a higher score than what it's been given on here. I feel like the low score is because people went into this expecting one thing but got something different, and their disappointment has resulted in them closing their minds to what we're given. So now because of that this series is rated lower than dramas with worse script writing, worse acting, and worse production. The actors here are fantastic as always, and the writing is not terrible like some are making it out to be; clearly something's working because it's doing what a good story is supposed to do: it's making people react, it's evoking emotions.So, the primary reason why people are canceling this show is because of the so-called abudance of cheating. Without getting too bogged down, I'll just say that I respectfully disagree with these assessments. People are acting like this season contains nothing but an endless stream of people having affairs, living hedonistic lifestyles with no regrets. But, except for Farm and Bright's story (which is essentially Farm giving Bright a taste of his own medicine), this isn't true. Both Yihwa and Korn (the two "cheaters") are placed in situations that test their feelings and relationships. Korn's is induced by mounting pressure from his conservative, overbearing father to denounce his homosexuality and the strain this puts on his relationship with Knock (which causes them to fight about other little things as well), while Yihwa finds herself being seduced by her senior and boss. They're conflicted and act out of moments of weakness. Korn has ONE sexual encounter with his boss during a night of drinking and commiserating. Yihwa, beginning to feel conflicted and confused about her feelings towards Cho in light of the flirtatious attention from her boss, decides to take a break from both and figure herself out. And that's it! Afterwards, both are torn and devastated and yes, they do suffer tremendously for their conflicted feelings and mistaken actions. Forgiveness from their partners is far from automatic, and it is not coming easily.
Individuals in Yihwa's and Korn's position are not automatically bad people because of what they did or how they feel. Nor do their actions/feelings mean that they don't love their partner. Yes, it's unpleasant watching couples we love go through such hardships, but as a viewer and fan of the show, I have to believe that this will only make them stronger in the end.
That aside, I'm loving Farm and Bright's story so far, but I do wish that their story got a bit more attention, as they are my favorite couple in this universe. I found it odd that Farm's character did a complete 180 in terms of appearance and personality (it's like he was fused with Phu) but I warmed up to it really quickly. And I like that although he has Bright wrapped around his little fingers, he still shows a softer, affectionate side towards the doctor as well. Feelings are still there, and despite what Bright did to Farm in TWM, I'm rooting really hard for them to end up together. Rit, Farm's little boy toy that he's using to make Bright jealous, is cute, but he's rather dull and boring. Not a lot going on. Farm has much better chemistry with Bright, which just radiates off the screen.
Bottom line: People aren't black and white. They are complex, driven by a range of passions and emotions. You can't fit them neatly into precise little boxes. Life isn't always rainbows and sunshine, and the events that happen in this season happen in real life. Of course they don't happen in *every* relationship, but they do happen. The writers chose to explore these themes in this season, and all of the actors are doing an amazing job portraying their roles. Please don't let all of the negative comments, complaining, and undeserved low rating discourage you from watching this season. Go in with an open mind and understanding that humans are complex, especially when it comes to feelings of love and attraction, and this series explores that beautifully.
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1Checkmate, I Win
Stand By Me began airing exactly 12 months after Love and Redemption was released last year, much to the happiness and joy of Cheng Yi fans all around the world (myself included). L&R was the drama that propelled him to stardom, and this production reaffirmed his status as one of the most anticipated drama actors in the C-historical genre. Starring numerous colleagues from his agency, H&R Century Pictures, we get a L&R reunion of sorts. This includes his “sister-in-law” Zhang Yu Xi who plays his significant other this time around.Production details that may interest you
Originally titled Dream Awakening Chang’an, the title was changed to Stand by Me along with the setting of the story as a result of the censorship requirements imposed by China’s NRTA. Initially planned as a romanticised retelling of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Yan aka Wuzong’s reign, the script was changed to a fictional tale of an alternate version of Tang, the Xing Dynasty’s Emperor Qi Yan. That said, the historical account of actual happenings and real life figures such as the Grand Eunuch Qiu Shiliang and Sweet Dew or Morning Dew (Ganlu) incident in the 9th century remain present in the story. The social as well as court conventions are very much Tang in appearance, most obviously the attire being worn by the various characters.
Stand by Me is both a TV drama and a web series, being simultaneously released on Hunan Satellite TV’s Golden Eagle Private Theatre and Mango TV. Filmed entirely at Hengdian, the drama is directed by Liu Guo Nan who helmed the Glory of Tang anthology, and assisted by Zhao Li Jun, who helmed Deep Lurk, another Cheng Yi drama slated for release some time later. The award-winning Shao Chang Yong serves as art director, which adds a touch of class and credibility to the production design.
The screenplay is written by Shi Si Que (十四阙), who is the current editor-in-chief of China’s Dongxi Animation Club. He has written numerous novels and short stories, while this drama represents his first foray into screenwriting.
The Production Values
The overall quality of the production is reasonably high, as can be seen from the art direction and set designs. For the most part, the technical execution is decent in terms of the direction and cinematography. During the first few episodes, there are a few noticeable editing and dubbing issues which I attribute to the change in settings from Tang to Xing Dynasty. The subtitles are generally correct but for those who understand Mandarin, the name “Great Tang” is mentioned in lieu of Great Xing on a few occasions. The buildup of the backstory in the first episode does feel somewhat rushed with the frenetic scene transitions but things begin to settle down not long afterwards.
The action sequences, particularly the synchronised swordplay formations and sword fights in general appear to be reasonably well choreographed. I like that there is no excessive use of fast cuts, slow-motion and close-ups, which makes the flow of the action less contrived. The villainous character of Qiu Shiliang employing the use of the traditional Taoist “horse-tail whisk” (拂尘), typically used in Wudang martial arts, adds a nice touch to the depiction.
The Narrative
Stand By Me is adapted from the novel Sword Weapon (Jian Qi Hang 剑器行) by the writer Feihua (飞花), a talented novelist who had won the Top Ten Novel Award of the Second Online Literature Competition in 1999.
The drama follows the journey of two sisters, descendants of a noble family that have fallen from grace as a result of political machinations and treachery. Due to the tragic events that followed, both sisters went their separate ways only to reunite at the very place that caused the downfall of their family - the royal palace. At either end of the continuing political tug-of-war is the noble Emperor and the wily chief eunuch who seeks to undermine the authority of the throne. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, somehow the sisters end up on opposing sides in this court intrigue.
Palace politics with all its clever schemes and nefarious plots are heavily featured, in addition to themes of romance and love, as well as betrayal and revenge. This is one of the most riveting, thrilling, and suspenseful palace dramas of the year. Unpredictable twists and turns, shocking revelations, and countless exchanges between “multiple sides” merge beautifully into an exciting historical extravaganza. The storytelling is fast paced and action-packed, involving various perspectives and hidden agendas by multiple POV characters. The momentum never lets up and is sustained until the very end. All of this culminates in a profound conclusion that promises to leave a lasting impression on viewers.
It’s worth mentioning that there is more than a subtle hint of Chinese Chess (Xiangqi 象棋) being referenced throughout. Usually Go (Weiqi 围棋) is showcased in historicals as the boardgame of choice for aristocrats but it’s a nice change to see another ancient game being featured. Aside from the Purple Robed Bureau (subtitled as Violet Bureau), a fictional organisation that bears close relation to Xiangqi is the Chess of Generals Bureau, whose members represent the chess pieces such as Left and Right Advisors, Chariots, Ministers and the Chess Overseer. Fascinating stuff indeed.
The Cast Performance
Cheng Yi headlines this drama by portraying the role of Emperor Qi Yan. There isn’t much left to be said about this magnificent actor who brings his A-game every time he puts on a show for us viewers. As in L&R and also The Promise of Chang’an, it’s hard to see other actors surpassing Cheng Yi’s supreme mastery of poignant and emotional scenes of great torment and suffering, including his now trademark “poetically beautiful blood-spitting” moments. Truly the best of the best. In Stand by Me, Cheng Yi provides us with further glimpses of his versatility and range with a vastly different and never-seen-before side to his very multifaceted portrayal - the cold, ruthless and sensual Emperor. Seeing is believing and I truly do believe there is much more to this man than meets the eye that, hopefully, will be showcased in his future projects.
Zhang Yu Xi, who had previously played Chu Ling Long in L&R, appears as the female lead and primary love interest this time, Cheng Ruo Yu. A promising actress who possesses much depth in her moving portrayal of emotional pain and suffering. As it was in L&R when her character had suffered PTSD, the conviction of her expressions certainly reflects her growing maturity in tackling complex characterizations, which is the case in this drama. She manages to infuse her character here with a fusion of kindness and righteousness that are borne of purity, as well as a developing sense of awareness and pragmatism. These are qualities that reflect the tremendous growth her character experiences through the course of the story.
Deserving of equal billing as part of the three leads, the ever charming and elegant Xuan Lu graces this drama with her appearance as one of the estranged sisters. She had previously caught the eye with her memorable depiction of the delicate and kind Jiang Yan Li in The Untamed. This time, she brings an air of sophistication to the cool and calculated character that is perpetually shrouded in mystery, Qiu Yan Zhi. I honestly feel that there are moments where she manages to steal the limelight from Cheng Yi and Zhang Yu Xi, for she has such a presence that lights up the screen whenever she appears.
Notable mentions for other major characters go to Han Dong who plays Prince Guang, and He Cheng Ming as the chief eunuch Qiu Shiliang. Han Dong is an exceptional actor who has appeared in many historicals so there are no surprises to the dimensions he imbues the characters he portrays. His nuanced microexpressions are always expertly delivered and a joy to behold. He Cheng Ming, who previously played Si Feng’s father and Master of Li Ze Palace in L&R, is another experienced hand with a wide repertoire of works in many varied roles. This time around, he is perhaps more subdued and less OTT, but still retains that aura of an expert performer who immerses into the character with such consummate ease. In short, he always looks like he’s having fun and he carries the role with glee. I have to admit, the mannerisms in his depiction remind me at times of Sun Wukong the Monkey King.
Among the familiar faces in supporting roles, look out for Xi Xue (Under the Power, Lin Ling), who has a significant arc as Cheng Xi, Yang Xi Zi (L&R, Xiao Yin Hua) as Princess Misha, He Zhong Hua (L&R, Xuan Ji’s father) as Li Deyun, Li Jun Yi (L&R, Zhong Min Yan) as Yan Xiu, Ethan Yao (L&R, Ting Nu) as Han Yue, Fu Fang Jun (L&R, Wu Zhi Qi) as Han Ding, and of course, the unforgettable Bai Shu (L&R, Tengshe) as Prince An.
The Music
No C-historical would be complete without epic songs from the likes of Zhou Shen and Liu Yuning. Cheng Yi also contributes to the soundtrack with his beautiful rendition of Shou Shou, which is my favourite track of this drama. Along with the BGM, there are a total of 7 tracks:
Yu Yan Shuo 鱼雁说 by Audio Monster/Silver Lin (音频怪物 / 银临)
Chang'an 长安 by Liu Yuning 刘宇宁
In Through Dream若梦 by Zhou Shen 周深
Small Dust 小尘 by Shuang Sheng 双生
High Above in the Sky 当空 by Nana 许艺娜
Shou Shou 相守 by Cheng Yi 成毅
Worrying about the Sky 杞人忧天 by Allen Su Xing 苏醒
Overall
Stand by Me is a drama I had been anticipating from Cheng Yi since last year, and I’m pleased to say I haven’t been disappointed with the plot and overall technical execution of the production as well as the performance of the cast. It is not flawless by any means but I appreciate the nature of the storytelling that eventually culminates in a rather conceptual ending, which somehow seems to be the standard for C-historicals these days. In any case, the entertainment value is high and I have thoroughly enjoyed the intrigue as well as unexpected plot points throughout the 49 episodes of its run.
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Best web drama!
Everything about this drama is superb! Their chemistry is out of this world. The most romantic korean series i ever watched . Every episode in this drama always make me melt. This drama gives a roller coaster of emotions. I love Ji chang wook and Kim ji won. The original soundtrack, cinematography, unique concept, i am in love with this drama. Ji chang wook is very handsome and kim ji won is very beautiful, they both look together. Fighting lovestruck in the city, i hope there’s will be season 2.Was this review helpful to you?
