Reviews

this is not a review, it’s a rant because i’m angry

this is my first review and i am doing this because i am angry. i notice that a lot of people enjoy cheating tropes because they enjoy the angst but that’s just not my cup of tea. i enjoy angst too but i can’t tolerate cheating at all and the fact that ohaew forgave teh truly ruined the show for me. i genuinely enjoyed season one but this just ruins it for me :’) i feel like they ruined teh’s character just to make the story more dramatic and angsty which is disappointing. i don’t see the love that the couple shared during ITSAY in this season anymore and teh just doesn’t deserve oh-aew at all here. the fact that the cheating was not an accident but teh was actually falling for another person just ruins everything. in short, i’m pissed that they ruined teh’s character and that oh-aew forgave him like wtf HE CHEATED ON YOU BROOOO. sorry if this was harsh im just angry, if u enjoyed the show, good for you.

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? The Romance Was On But Went Off In The Middle ?

Question: are you here for pure romance and justice? Then you can watch from EP 1 to 28 and exit as soon as possible, but if you are not bent on the pure romance and justice then this review is not for you.. And you will have no problem watching to the end.

The series is masterful from ep 1 to 28, the chemistry is second to none and the FL was on a different level that you can't help forgetting the existence of time when watching her on the screen. Those episodes are the ones I saved on my device which I can rewach many times without getting bored...

#Importance notice 🔔

I gave any reviews with no bias and under this review, you get the most honest answer to whatever your curiosity on the romance Arc. And how the writer wants to manipulate and fed the audience with Lies while showing the opposite. You can check my bio to get a clear picture on how I write critiques on fiction with my standards and respect in relationship...

NOTE: this review is solely on the Romance Arc and the injustice done to the ML which is helpful to those who came for pure romance and justice. Other than that and the dramatic illogical ending, every other Aspect of the show are super good which you can judge from my star rating 🌟

#Quick info:

。First half of the show ::: FL and ML got more screen time (With A decisive FL)

。Sec. half of the show ::: FL and SML got more screen time (With An Indecisive FL)

。Throughout the show ::: Obsessive, Manipulative, Simpin, Stalker and Annorying Evil SML (With a manipulated Love Triangle)

。Marriage ::: SML and FL got married in Ep 30 in a forced marriage by the Evil SML which the FL shows no resistance to it.

。Star crossed and Fated Love Arc ::: The writer claimed this is a star crossed lovers and fated lovers Arc between the ML and FL. But is a lie, this is about the Evil SML and FL. They have been companions for generations of years in ambiguity.

。Injustice ::: The biggest injustice was done to the ML in this drama, all his heroic work and credit was given to the Evil-SML who was suddenly whitewashed from all his evil.. He was a last minute made up Artificial-Hero. An evil villain that is above consequences and retribution.... The writers force-feeded manipulated lies towards the audience...

。Ending EP 39 40 is not a Plot-Twist but Lies ::: A Dramatic ending with no existence of logics. What happened with the sudden Artificial-Hero (Evil SML) is not a plot Twist, is an utterly force-feeded manipulated lies against the audience, making us look stupid....... Waited for his deadly punishments for his evil, but the writer sudden made him a "misunderstood hero and misguided lover" in the last minutes.... Story for the kids 👎


⚠️____ EP 29 to 40 reviews specifically____⚠️

#Any Love Triangle?:

. FL's only realistic Feelings are only when she is with SML and her sympathy and care for him (she is comfortable with all intimate and ambiguous interactions with SML).... But Her interactions with ML seems fake and unrealistically forced,. No matter how they forced it on the screen, It looks absolutely Fake.
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. Even though the writer want to deceive us with no love triangle, but in reality this drama is a love triangle and the Relationship with FL and ML feels cheated due to FL's ambiguous interactions with SML... The atmospheric tension for romance became different whenever she's with SML

. This show is a good definition of (say the opposite and does the opposite)
On the way, Every thing the writer want to prove to the audience on the screen was totally lies... (force-feeding us with "white" when the real intension is "black") the illicit action and ambiguous interactions of the FL and SML says otherwise.
Especially in how the show portrayed the Evil-SML toxic behavior. Here's a clearer and more straightforward review:

#The Second Male Lead’s Dangerous Psycho Obsession:

. The SML wasn’t just a psycho jerk; his actions were dangerous and toxic. He committed terrible crimes including many evil deeds against the male lead (ML), who was a true Hero and supposed to be the true love interest of the female lead (FL).
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He does every stupid things out of jealousy and his obsessive love for FL, even though the serie wants to prove otherwise while whitewashing him, but his actions and emotions proved the opposite. And only kids will fall for those manipulated fed lies by the Writer.

. Instead of showing all his evil actions as unacceptable, the series tried to frame them as "Misunderstood Hero and misguided lover," in the guise of doing his Benevolent duty which was very misleading and contradicting from his evil actions.
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By doing this, the show made it seem like stalking, manipulation, lies, deception, framing and obsession could somehow be excused as Heroism and misguided love or Some made up last minute Artificial-Hero.

#The Female Lead’s Poor Boundaries:

. From Ep 1 to 28: The FL was able to set a clear boundaries with the obsessive psycho by not sending any wrong signals to him. Making the first half of the serie outstanding and super fantastic with the leads-focus and electrifying chemistry ⚡

. From EP 29 to EP-40: The FL fell from the ladder and character inconsistency. Her response to the SML’s actions made things worse. Instead of setting clear boundaries or condemning his actions, she often sympathized with him and even supported him.
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For example, in episode 36, she allowed the SML to romance her face while she seems to be enjoying his romance. She also transferred half of her powers to him only just to heal his injuries (she can't afford to see him hurt), even when he had killed and hurt the ML and caused his immense suffering multiple times throughout 10,000 years.
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Her every decisions to help and care for the Evil SML, despite his terrible actions, felt unrealistic for some one who keep advocating how much she love the ML in her speech but does the opposite in her emotions and actions. Which begs the authencitic of her commitment in a relationship with ML

. Her grief and deep emotional cry-out in EP 40, when the Evil-SML dies in his Hypocritical Noble-Sacrifice, she showed a deep emotional connection to him, even though he had caused so much harm to ML who she claimed she love. This portrayal made her look indecisive and even confused about what she truly wanted, she didn't grieve this way when SML killed ML, in fact, she didn't grieve at all but still help SML and even married him.
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I don't want to talk about EP 29 30 where she shows no resistance against the forced marriage with SML after the ML died, they even had the audacity to call it "Marriage Funeral"... Oh yes! They are Officially married couple for completing the last bow in the Chinese marriage culture.

# Redemption Without Accountability and Injustice towards the ML

. One of the biggest flaws on the drama was how it handled the SML’s redemption. Throughout the serie, he was clearly the most veil evil villain, but at the last minutes, the story suddenly later tried to whitewash and present him as a "Noble misunderstood hero and misguided lover".
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He then Suddenly became An undercover hero sacrificing everyone including ML to save the world Oh! that's normal isn't? Yet another manipulated fed lies by the Writer while portraying the opposite.

. Instead of giving real consequences or regret for his evil actions, the SML’s redemption came from one dramatic, sacrificial Hypocritical Noble-Act that was supposed to make up for every evil things he had done.
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Such a Hypocritical Noble-Act of dying to save the FL and the world despite all his evil actions is an utterly nonsense and garbage move by the Writer. Logics was no where to be found...

. This ignored all the pain he have caused to the world, especially to the ML, who had suffered for 10,000 years because of him . The show failed to hold him accountable for his actions, making it seem like forgiveness didn’t require any real change or apology, just so he is a last minutes made up "Artificial Hero" and so be it. Every reason is justified.
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The injustice done to ML who is the real example of "Hero" was defeating and there was no retribution towards the master evil who have killed him multiple times through different reincarnational circles, only for the purpose of jealousy and his obsession towards the FL which the writer wants to blush to fool everyone by proving the otherwise.

#Confusing Love and Relationship Loyalty

The FL’s feelings were inconsistent and confusing throughout the 2nd half of series and At the same time, her affection for the ML only seemed clear when he was still "Xie Xue Chen(XXC)", making her love feel conditional and selective, debunking any true-meaning of reincarnated and fated love Arc. This left me unsure of who she truly loved, creating frustration instead of emotional depth.
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Ironically but the FL couldn't accept all the versions of the ML but she can accept SML in every form. Which is enough to prove she didn't truely love ML deeply the way she advocate it, is just the writer forcing things the opposite way.
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The biggest plot mess at the End and the dramatic illogical Ending will be highly remembered, the writer is the most laziest of all time.
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Overall FL's only realistic feelings on the screen are her sympathy with SML and the ambiguous Intimate interactions between them which she enjoys.. At this point who cares if she ended up together with ML, which is almost none because there was only 5 minutes happy ending after all this nonsense..

# Problematic Messaging and Conclusion

To sum up things, The 2nd half of the serie couldn't tell a satisfying or meaningful love storytelling. It did not provide justice for the characters, especially the ML, and sent troubling messages about love and forgiveness.
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By excusing harmful behavior and justifying all the evil actions of the SML and his unhealthy manipulated-relationships while at the same time misleading and denying the true-meaning of what is showing to the audience, the show missed the chance to tell a powerful and positive love storytelling.
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In the end, the series did not only just failed in romance Arc but also damaging in its portrayal of relationships and personal accountability. Which left me frustrating with psychological disorder. Justice for the ML!!! ⚖️ ⚖️

Tips ::: you might want to read the extended spoilers...
Direct-Links to important extended (spoilers) under this review comment area 🤗🤗
1) https://kisskh.at/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20419488
2) https://kisskh.at/profile/Jenny.park/review/422832#comment-20412406

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The ship didn't just sink, it imploded under the weight of its own melodrama and bad writing!

The central plot of the drama revolves around trauma and its handling, set against the backdrop of a war zone in Eastern countries. However, it failed to evoke any emotions in me and just felt bland and boring.
The only saving grace, which is why it even gets a 6, is thanks to Benjamin and Saxin, who helped me sail through all 38 episodes of this aesthetically pleasing mess!

For a drama where trauma is the main plot, there was no real sense of warmth, depth or emotional resonance.
At first, it gave off the impression of aiming for something deep and thoughtful, but it quickly lost its way. The plot meandered aimlessly, leaving what should have been powerful moments feeling strangely flat and forgettable.

FL Song Ran was supposed to be a reporter, but she spent more time doing everything except her actual job. It was hard to believe how she was just wandering around and taking pictures in a war zone army base, it just felt completely out of place. Most of the time, all I saw was her trailing behind the male lead.

ML Li Zan's character left me with mixed feelings. I appreciated how the show portrayed his trauma and the denial he was stuck in, it felt raw, real and authentic. However, as time went on, it seemed like his reluctance to open up was more about convenience than anything else. The constant addition of trauma without any real growth or resolution made it feel like there was no light at the end of his tunnel.

I am a fan of both the actors, but I just couldn’t feel any chemistry between them. Maybe it was because their romance developed in so many illogical situations like having a heart to heart conversations on the bomb site before even getting medical aid , that it felt hard to buy into.

Most of the drama was set in a war zone, but the seriousness , urgency and consequences of it were largely missing throughout especially in the first half. The logic was often flawed and there were many instances that could have been fixed if they paid a little attention to detail. For example, why were people moving so freely in the war zone? Why were people just lying down and hugging when there had been a bomb blast only minutes before and why couldn't they do that in hospital to make more sense ?

When it comes to handling PTSD, don’t get me wrong - they did attempt to show the real vulnerabilities, denial and the struggles people face after being in such a traumatic environment. However, the portrayal became a repetitive cycle, with no significant character growth. It doesn’t make sense to me that after 8 episodes of dealing with the issue, there was still no real development.
You would expect them to be open and communicate with each other, especially after everything they’ve been through together. But no, we are still stuck in that non-communicative phase, where life-threatening and life-changing decisions are made without even informing the other person.
In real life, while PTSD can have long-lasting effects, people do tend to make progress over time, whether in small steps or through moments of realization. The drama's absolute refusal to allow characters to experience this type of growth feels unrealistic, as it disregards the possibility of healing and moving forward.

At one point, the hero complex from both of them actually diminished the impact of those serious scenes!

Acting wise both the leads did a good job with what was given to them. Chen Zhe Yuan can act and time and again, he shows that! Liang Jie did a great job too but CZY stole the stage when vulnerable scenes were on the screen!
The emotional scenes were executed well ( the man cries so pretty) but the problem wasn't the acting but the writing!

Now coming to the good part, Benjamin and Saxin ! This was a perfect enemies to lovers trope! The constant bickering , the eye contacts , the jealousy, the unwavering trust and support for each other was just the chef's kiss.If the drama had focused more on them or given them even half the screen time, I would have rated it much higher.
Censorship wants you to think it is brotherhood, but they ain't fooling us. Initially I thought it was me who was on team delusion, but they kept hinting us that we weren't wrong. They know what they are doing ! They know we know what they are doing ! Everything is out there yet still between the lines. We need a masterclass so that we can have those shelved dramas out !

I want to keep this review spoiler free but let's just say the ending was just bizzare and lazy writing. It was as if they ran out of ideas to how to make this mess right which they made, grabbed the nearest piece of paper, scribbled something random, and called it a day.

Overall, this drama was incredibly disappointing and fell flat despite its ambitious premise. It seemed to aim for something grand, but ultimately, it failed to deliver. The plot lacked depth and the pacing dragged, making it hard to stay engaged. It was a slow burn with little payoff, leaving much to be desired and leaving me feeling bored.

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Feels like this drama is going to be universally cherished, an instant 10!

I have rarely rated k-dramas as 10 because those kinds are truly top-tier and close to my heart. This one feels like one of them. The character is a lawyer and on the autism spectrum which the drama takes utmost care in addressing. As a psychology student myself, I can tell that its neurodiverse representation is done right in many ways, exploring many facets of ableism. (Also, it's got amazing LGBTQIAP+ rep!)

The drama portrays how her co-workers are more or less 'accepting' of her but you may observe some forms of microaggressions towards the character even from their end. She receives pity and judgement in plenitude. Hence, it would be nice to see this show explore how people around her take efforts to address and overcome their prejudices in future episodes. The series even touches upon the capitalization of women's bodies in episode 2, so look forward to that because it highlights a great narrative on intellectual and body autonomy.

Love how each episode is dedicated to a new case. This format is crucial for addressing a wide range of social aspects and the show sets out to do exactly that. It leaves you to think about a lot of its themes, about the nuances and perspectives one can use to interpret certain scenes which are all equally valid.

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Soft, dreamy, and full of high school sapphic vibes.

Let’s start with the good stuff. This show is such a beautiful experience, especially for women who love women and can see themselves in Ongsa or Sun. It was so much fun to watch. The focus on communication and having a support system was really meaningful, the high school moments were adorable, and the overall vibe was soft and dreamy.

This is such an important sapphic show because it’s set entirely in high school, making it a safe and sweet space for viewers. It was pure cuteness overload, and honestly, my early high school self would’ve been obsessed.

Now for the downside: it felt kind of empty. I get that it’s a simple high school love story, but simplicity shouldn’t mean the show feels like it’s missing something. It just didn’t hit me with enough feels, and I found myself struggling to finish it.

On the bright side, 23.5 has the best soundtrack of any GL ever. Seriously, go listen to it.


2024 GL Ranking: https://kisskh.at/list/Ln8MOBO4
My Top 10 GLs of All Time: https://kisskh.at/list/4vGQqnb1

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Very draggy

"Nabi" is my first lakorn. The first few episodes start off well. My only complaint in the beginning was the ML constantly grabbing the FL and dragging her everywhere. A few times would be okay, but I could've started a drinking game with the amount of times he did it. Towards the middle, the show quickly became draggy. The cause, I think, is likely the writing. They obviously had to stretch a simple storyline to 22 episodes and it was tiring at times. I didn't help that what happened to Nabi's sister and Kawin's mother was revealed so early on...

So why did I stick around? Two reasons, really. Fah and Joss had great chemistry and I genuinely like the cast. They were all doing the best with the script they were given. Nat, especially, was able to carry most of the show. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to carry it through that terrible ending. I mean, are you kidding me? Half the characters took stupid pills towards the end and you cannot change my mind on that.

To improve "Nabi," I think the writers should've incorporated more flashback scenes. I really enjoyed the ones they did show and thought it added more depth to the characters. Nabi and Kawin's were particularly touching. Also, more time should've been given to Luke and Jan's characters who ended up being glorified extras. I guess that also goes for Wa and Sirin, who were basically forgotten, despite them being the mystery of the show.

I was entertained for the most part but I was not satisfied with the ending. I will likely never watch "Nabi" again, though I look forward to the cast's other projects.

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"Everything will be fine when the sun rises"

From the moment you see four white circles dancing over frosted tree tops you know you are watching a master at work. Director Zhang Yi Mou takes on the spy genre with the grace and flare he has refined over the decades.

Four Chinese spies trained in the USSR drop into Japanese controlled Manchuria to rescue an escaped prisoner of the dreaded Beiyinhe camp, where prisoners were tortured, experimented on and killed. They want him to tell his story so that the world will know what is going on in those devilish camps. Unfortunately, from the moment they hit the snow covered ground and split up they find themselves in even greater danger because a traitor has revealed their mission to the enemy.

Xiang Chen partners with Lan as Team 1, while his wife, Yu, and Lan's lover Chu Liang form Team 2. Both teams run into subterfuge and lies dipped in murderous intent. The pace of the film moves ever forward with enough chases through the snow on foot, in trains, and in automobiles to keep things exciting. It's often a cat and mouse and cat and mole frantic affair. The script took a sentimental turn at the end, which frankly, I enjoyed because I'm a big softie at heart, even when watching a spy film. That's not to say there wasn't violence, fair warning for the squeamish, there were some utterly brutal torture scenes and deaths.

Zhang Yi Mou took a flawed script and made it gripping as each of the team members had to get by on their wits as well as their training. His trademark stunning shots and framing were in effect in every scene. This truly looked like a frigid world, emotionally and physically. The Republican Era costumes were sharp and spy approved black with plenty of Fedoras and fur-lined coats. Cho Young Wuk's music perfectly fit the scenes regardless of the mood. The closing song's melody was hauntingly beautiful. As a whole the film was stunningly put together.

Zhang Yi as the team leader did an admirable job playing the skilled and stoic spy. Yu He Wei as Zhou, the man dangerously straddling two worlds had me rooting for him and hoping I wasn't wrong. Unlike many Zhang Yi Mou films, the women's roles seemed less well defined though the two female spies held their own as they struggled to find a way out of the traps they were in.

Cliff Walkers wasn't a perfect film but I found it engaging nonetheless and a treat for the eyes and ears. Zhang Yi Mou has run afoul of the censors before so hopefully, this more patriotic film will give him more room to work in future endeavors. Having said that, he kept the political propaganda to a minimum focusing more on the individuals, their strategies to overcome the terrible odds and sacrifices that had to be made. I found it to be a well made spy thriller and worth checking out, especially if you enjoy this director's works.

9/24/22

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This was hot hot hot!

Revenge of Begonia did catch my eye while it aired but i decided to wait til summer to watch it. Its not for everyone`s taste, especially being a web short drama, and the cliche trope (though so deliciously done) and the very dark turn of events where the mainleads get so destructive in their relationship. I loved the mainleads so much. The Male Lead was this ruthless but neverthless good hearted warrior and our female lead totally ensnared him with her pure seduction and charm...and eventually stole his heart. I love romance so much and the romance between them was so very gawd hot and passionate!

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Heartbreaking and Beautiful

A film about heartbreak and loss . Serve the People, gets to the heart of relationships we can't see through. The couple is in love, but society and Communism take away any hope of a lasting relationship. Soo-ryeon is in a marriage of convenience, and leaving would likely lead to debt or death. Mu-gwang is a poor man who has never known the depths of respect until Soo-ryeon. He too is tied down by society's expectations. Their intense relationship is very short lived,. It is heartbreaking knowing the couple can never be together again and must endure their circumstances in order to survive in a harsh society. They both move forward, but there is forever a longing in their hearts and a question of "what if?" In the end, Mu-gwang seeks out Soo-ryeon, but she will not face him. Overcoming longing again would only cause more pain. If you can't relate to this drama, then you might one day. There is nothing like love lost and forever longing, and this film paints it beautifully.

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MC needs BTS to tell her to "Love Yourself"

Okay, where do I even begin.

I've read like 10 chapters of the webtoon itself, so I'm not sure how that ends, but I must say the drama itself is very confusing.

STORY:
It started off really strong as I've always been interested in "beauty" type dramas. Also, I love seeing transformation. However, DO NOT go into this drama w/ a True Beauty mindset because it is nothing like it (except MCs hiding under a fake persona??) I feel the progression of the drama got super messy because certain characters were thrown in without explanation. I felt viewers needed more background on the MC and her family but I guess you can't do that w/ such a short web drama. It's a very cliche story and a lot of the characters weren't even necessary but okay, director.

ACTING:
Okay, this is good. HOWEVER, some of the characters must've done a REAL good job because they pissed me off so much and I wanted to either a.) scream or b.) punch them through the screen. The MC is super super super super stubborn and she really needs to learn to speak up for herself... but of course, we can't expect much from a low self-esteem character. All the actors did a good job, especially the villian because they were annoying.

There are no special/specific OSTs so like... rip. But color toning of each episode was super aesthetic and I loved binging this drama because of the 25min per episode. Go into this drama w/ a clear mindset and just relax without thinking of anything. This is not a heavy drama, with just sprinkles of mystery and thriller. Do not count on romance to be the center of this drama.

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“That fence led you to the middle of nowhere, made you suffer, pushed you out.”

Kim Nak Su has followed “The Plan” regarding his business and family life, supremely confident he has taken all the right steps. When his life starts crumbling apart, The Dream Life of Mr. Kim begins to resemble a nightmare.

Manager Kim Nak Su is up for an executive position at ACT and has no doubt his dream is about to come true. He knows very little about his team and hasn’t kept up on the newest developments but he covers his boss’ behind and does what needs to be done, even if it means skipping his own son’s graduation. He treats his wife and son more like employees than beloved family members and always has a critical word ready. When the company needs a scapegoat, the 55-year-old employee who has never worked anywhere else, makes the perfect patsy.

If there is a reason to watch this drama it is for Ryu Seung Ryong. He gave an amazing performance as the complicated and flawed Mr. Kim. He utilized his body, face, and voice for an optimal portrayal of a man brought low who must finally face himself and be brutally honest with what he wants and why he has been so driven.

Full disclosure, redemption and reconciliation dramas/films are my favorite genre. This drama should have been perfect for me, but I struggled with every episode of it. For eleven episodes, Mr. Kim was prideful and made bad (sometimes horrible) decisions one after the other. His treatment of his wife, leaving her out of key moments was frustrating. As she said, “Do you even consider me a part of this family?” He claimed to have worked to protect his family, yet everything came down to what made him look good and his reputation. Just past the midway in the drama, he committed a selfless act which seemed completely out of character and unearned. For the most part, Kim failed to take responsibility, was vain, refused good advice, showed little respect for family members and friends, and was completely ego driven.

The Dream Life of Mr. Kim showed the perilous nature of corporate work, especially for aging workers who become expendable. Companies were reluctant to hire older people for a variety of reasons which made starting over difficult to impossible. Middle management men found themselves to not be as valuable as they believed themselves to be. Nearly everyone in the family fell victim to a scam at one time or the other. For me, it was difficult to root for a character who was largely insufferable through most of the drama. When the ultimate cathartic moment came, it was still unsatisfying.*

"You don't know how to be grateful. You think you got this far on your own."

4 July 2026

Not Buying It Note: In a flashback from 25 years earlier, they merely painted on more makeup, but the actors went from looking 55 to 52. Just have younger actors play the characters in flashbacks.

With Family Like These, Who Needs Enemies Note: Ha Jin’s sister and brother-in-law were awful.

Good Son Award Note: Su Gyeom made a mistake but worked like crazy to make up for it, never blaming anyone else. He showed his father more grace than what he'd earned.




*Spoiler Comment Below






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*******Spoiler coming





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*******Spoiler directly below







* While the carwash business was “hard on the body, easy on the mind”, Kim was already getting older. For whatever reason Koreans always say they’ll live to 100 but the average life span for men is closer to 80. After 60, the body is not always so compliant to manual labor. I hope he was a brilliant businessman and could figure out how to expand the business with younger labor. If he died of a heart attack or became sick/injured, he’d saddled his wife with enormous debt unless the sale of their apartment helped pay it off. Ha Jin was also struggling to find work. I still can’t believe he used every penny they had saved and also borrowed a small fortune while unemployed WITHOUT consulting his wife who was in real estate and ignoring the advice of a friend who was in real estate. The sheer lack of respect for his wife’s opinion and not including her in major life decisions made me dislike him all the more. I’m always thrilled when a character turns their life around but 11 episodes of his selfish behavior were hard to wade through. I normally binge dramas, but it took me two weeks to finish this one.

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An adventure to find yourself

Her Fantastic Adventures is a drama that finally aired after finishing production, four years ago. This drama is an adaptation of the novel entitled The Crazy Adventures of Wu Gate by Ying Zhao. The main characters is played by Song Yiren as Qi Chun Jiao, Gu Qing Qiao and Guo Jun Chen as Duan Yu.

Synopsis: This drama tells the story of a female athlete who accidentally travels to the past, when she was at the lowest point in her life.

Note: this is not the first Song Yiren's drama about time travel, although of the year it was produced, it is the first. The other one is Different Princess which has been broadcast first.

Plot:
The drama is set almost entirely in ancient times with occasional flashbacks to modern life. In ancient life, Qi Chun Jiao reunites with four men she knows in modern life, namely the man she likes, Duan Yu and his younger brother, Shaoyi, her best friend, Lu ZiZheng, and her team doctor, Ruan. With them, she underwent great challenges and adventures.

My opinion:
Even though recently there have been many dramas in this genre, it seems like The director was trying to take a different approach. If you don't mind spoilers, please keep reading.

The adventures she went through are like an escape from her heartache, disappointment, fear and despair. But is everything running smoothly? No, she must fight to survive and quickly return to real life.
When she finally comeback, they didn't go into more detail about what happened to Qi Chun Jiao's athlete career, but when she woke up from a coma, mother embraced her with love. And life goes on, as the story moves forward to five years later. It turned out that the five of them were still in close relationships with each other. And in my opinion, the main female character has moved on from all the feelings that shackled her and has become an independent businesswoman. However, it cannot be denied that this time Duan Yu and she have to face their unresolved feelings in the past.
In conclusion, everything that happened in ancient times was part of a dream that had no direct impact on real life because the people she met in ancient times did not experience or remember these dreams. It's just part of her inner struggle and personal growth process.

Closing:
This is definitely not Song Yiren's best drama but her acting never disappoints me. The main couple's chemistry isn't the best either, but their chemistry is better in modern life. Song Yiren, Guo Jun Chen and Li Jiu Lin show good acting, especially towards the end of the drama. The background music and songs are good and pleasant to listen to.
This drama could be an option for those of you who are fans of time travel, as well as a drama filler. Don't think too hard and don't expect too much.

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Very enjoyable drama about average people pursuing their dreams and finding happiness.

Park Seo Joon and Kim Ji Won play average late-20s friends who have given up on pursuing their dreams because of the cost of living and the need for money. After a number of false starts and embarrassing failure, they finally find the strength to choose passion and happiness over drudgery. These two are fun and loveable leads whose strong friendship and love helps support each other through life. They're a delight to watch.

Kim Ji Won, in particular, gives Ae Ra a perfect mix of vulnerability and badass; combining hilarious aegyo and no-nonsense protectiveness to create one of the most compelling kdrama leads to date. Park Seo Joon is always a nuanced actor to watch and his brainless, hot-tempered but warm-hearted Dong Man will make you fall in love with him.

The second couple in this story are less interesting and, while their plotlines are no-less thematically important, I often lost interest when the attention switched to them. The plotting isn't perfect: there are number of disappearing characters, dropped plot lines and narrative digressions. And the show briefly falls flat when the couple first get together because of the dictates of the kdrama OTP tropes.

But none of this detracts from the enjoyment of the show. More importantly, this show ends well and doesn't suffer from the episode 14 kdrama slump. It maintains its pace to the end.

I could give this a lower rating for a number of reasons but it's such a satisfying watch that it deserves the 9/10.

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A dose of reality: It takes hard work to maintain a Happy Marriage

I finished watching this drama, and I still don’t know why it’s called “1122 Ii Fuufu”. So I went to my best friend Google and they told me “11-22” can be read phonetically as “ii fuufu” which means “good married couple”. Mystery solved! I also asked my best friend the meaning/flower language of Cape Jasmine and it is Purity and Love.

I had this drama on my PTW for a while but I had to wait to be in the right mood to watch, as the topic of infidelity is quite prevalent in Japanese dramas, and watching too many will overload my brain. After a little fasting on infidelity drama, I finally watched it.

What I like:
It’s really hard to not hate flawed characters sometimes who make decisions that you don’t agree with. In “1122 Ii Fuufu”, all the characters are flawed and they made questionable choices given their circumstances. Surprisingly, I empathize with all of them and actually like the characters to a certain extent. I do not agree or condone their actions, but I can see why. Well, even if one of them is a piece of shit (well, they call themselves that in the drama, not me…LOL), or one is irresponsible and refuses to face reality. No matter what your reasoning is, cheating is never the right thing to do. I appreciate this drama showing how complicated these relationships could be. Real life marriage takes a lot of effort, especially when you have been married for a while, or put in a difficult situation because of your family members. The stress, the disappointment and the lack of energy and time, can all contribute to an unhappy marriage.

What I have mixed feelings:
For one, I was quite surprised at the ending. I thought the opposite would be the end game. But given how the main leads are somewhat uncertain on how they feel or a little wishy-washy throughout the drama, I can understand the ending. I’m just surprised and thought it was somewhat unrealistic. Another unrealistic part is the tiny little development on Rei, the cute, handsome boy. I don’t want to spoil it, but he should remain professional. Lastly, my main criticism is on the execution. The drama is very dialog-heavy and slow paced, especially in the last 3 episodes. I don’t know how, but I wish there’s a way to tell the same story but in a more interesting way. All the conversations between the couples are meaningful and are important, but requires a lot of attention to not feel bored.

Would I recommend “1122 Ii Fuufu”? Yes but only to those who are mature enough to deal with the harsh realities and the not-so-pretty side of marriage. This is not a fluffy romance. This is about flawed characters who make decisions you don’t agree with. If you are up for a dose of reality, the acting is excellent and the complicated feelings and mess are interesting. This drama definitely deserves a higher rating than the current 7.3.


Completed: 3/10/2025 - Review #553

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