The story is basically about lovers who are from different times. The writers did an excellent job presenting the time-slip theme in a simple but persuasive way. It was indeed very different from other recent dramas which deal with the same time-slip plot. The efforts and attention put into the little details of the story was admirable. This drama can be an ideal pick for a romance drama fan. The lead characters fall for each other pretty quickly and as a result we get see a lot of affectionate moments through all 16 episodes. However, I personally wished they spent more time on showing us "how they fell in love" than "How much they were in love".
As the main idea is to establish the divine message of ‘love transcending time’, naturally we get to see two different eras-the Joseon time and the modern time. The love story takes place at the modern time so it was pleasant to watch. However, though I love watching Korean historical dramas, I found the Joseon part of the story utterly boring. The ever confused annoying King and the usual negative characters, whose only job is to sit and conspire, failed to add anything surprising to the typical historical premise. And as a result I was tempted to fast forward the Joseon period again and again.
The rest of the characters were pretty well-written. The ones I loved the most were the supporting characters. The naggy manager who is also a sincere friend, the worthless but charming ex-boyfriend who makes a fool of himself all the time, the devoted girl who is ready to sacrifice everything even though her love is unrequited-all were refreshingly likeable. There was good humor and I smiled a lot at the harmless childishness of the characters. When I did finish the drama, however, I felt that something was missing. Although I did enjoy the most part of the drama, it somehow left me unsatisfied. Apart from occasional boring episodes and side-stories, the reason of my discontent was probably the acting.
Yoo In Na did an excellent job as a carefree, lively, cheerful girl. But her acting wasn’t perfect when the she had to act solemn. I’m a girl who cries very easily while watching a drama, but she couldn’t make me cry along with her. I wish Boong Do expressed his love for Hee Jin more through his words, eyes and facial expression than through his lips. There was an alternative reality where Hee Jin and Dong Min gets back together and to be honest (the fans are going to kill me!!) I felt those two had better chemistry. I adored watching their lovely bickering and actually preferred Hee Jin- Dong Min pairing to Hee Jin- Boong Do. The main couple had to endure many supposedly heartbreaking separation but my heart didn’t quite ache for them neither I felt the longing to see them back together. If this was one of my earliest dramas I’m sure I’d have loved it but the problem is I’ve already seen much better ones. I do feel that the main two actors tried their best but their lack of experience was just too visible for me to ignore.
Overall I liked this drama. It made me laugh a lot and I always appreciate decent humor. But for me it lacked the depth which I consider essential to turn a nice story into a great one.
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Writers suck
I'm not going to lie I loved this show at the beginning, everything was good in my opinion, but I started noticing how bland the main leads love was and how bland their characters were and found myself skipping a lot, there was no chemistry between them however nam soon had more chemistry with the villain, and in my opinion ryu shio had a better backstory, character, etc than everyone else, that was the only thing getting me through the episodes, but no ending has ever upset me more than this, I'm super disappointed.Was this review helpful to you?
How to suffer successfully.
This is a truly epic fantasy xianxia romance spanning three realms that is heavily imbued with characters, cosmic rules and hierarchies, black and white magic and other elements from Chinese mythology and legend. Even though many of the themes are familiar, they are brilliantly woven into a riveting and memorable fantasy fairy-tale of how all beings - deities, demons and humans are capable of good and evil; no one is immune from love and hate and all the emotions in between. We are all different and yet still the same.After an devastating war, both the demon lord and god of war disappear and peace returns to the realms. A thousand years later, Chu Xuanji is born into the Chaoyang Sect; one of the righteous cultivating sects. At an elite martial arts tournament, she meets Yu Sifeng, the rising star and heir apparent of the mysterious Lize Palace. A strong bond of friendship is formed between the younger generation that leads them on many adventures as they pledge to help Xuanji recover shards of a magical artifact that can restore her six senses. In doing so, they set in motion a chain of events that can lead to the return of both the god of war and the demon lord and once again bring chaos to the realms. They also uncover secrets of their past incarnations and conspiracies that follow them to the present.
Where this xianxia stands out from the other huge xianxia hits of past years is that there is a very well written external plot that is not just there to facilitate the love story. Both the internal and external plot are very well woven together and are mostly evenly paced so that both plot lines converge into a very satisfying and climatic ending. In fact, the external plot is much more intriguing and balanced than the love story so I urge you to resist spoilers and just enjoy the gradual reveal of the backstory and the way it impacts many of the main characters. Although this director still cannot seem to restrain his excessive love of angst, at least in this drama the internal plot did not manage to destroy the external plot as it did in Under the Power. Indeed I personally enjoyed the external plot and colorful surrounding characters much more than the love story notwithstanding the sparkle between the leads.
As for the love story, well it has all the hallmarks of a xianxia hit - it is an extreme and obsessive love story that transcends many lifetimes and thousands of years and is undaunted in the face of challenges by more powerful beings from the three realms. Phew! Exhausting! The chemistry between the OTP is undeniably both sizzling and moving. It does not hurt at all that both actors smooch with an enthusiasm rarely seen in these kinds of shows. But the way the relationship is written is too unbalanced with Sifeng taking way too many hits for Xuanji. Most of the angst takes place in episodes ~40s+ which is late in the game and after the couple already goes through many experiences that should cement their mutual trust. So for Xuanji to be so easily swayed and manipulated makes her character regress and seem just not smart (as opposed to heartless). To deal with her so shabbily just so that Sifeng (who had already gone through so much), can spit blood a few more times is unnecessary and excessive. Within the most angsty arc, the drama indulges in flashbacks and digresses into boring one dimensional characters (e.g. Yanran) with little plot advancement. Everything comes together again in the final 6 episodes that culminates in one of the most engaging and strongest finishes I have seen in a long time. It would have been much better had they explored some of the threads in the last 6 episodes earlier and in greater depth.
As the backstory is revealed, it is evident that Xuanji is an old soul that experienced a lot of trauma that still echoes from her past incarnations and restrains her emotional development. This doesn't really come out until the end because while the main cast is really quite exceptional, Yuan Bingyan is the weak link. She did an amazing job as the young and artless Xuanji and as Xuanji in love with Sifeng but was not able to mature the character or convey some of the rage, torment from her past incarnations that haunts her character nor can she fully convey the inner conflict Xuanji experiences when forced into heart wrenching choices. This becomes most apparent at the end when stacked up against the more nuanced and compelling portrayals by Cheng Yi, Li Xinze and of course Liu Xueyi as the drama draws to an emotionally epic climax at the end.
I know Cheng Yi is by far the fan favorite and is in a completely different league in terms of his acting skills and his unforgettable portrayal of Sifeng's indomitable love and the unthinkable suffering he goes through for Xuanji. This character and this actor is a true example of how to suffer successfully, spitting blood so painfully beautifully time after time that it never fails to fan the flames of rabid fandom to new heights. While he is a truly amazing actor, I think it is actually Liu Xueyi's Haochen that is the anchor of the entire production. I know this is an unpopular and uncommon view but the truth is this drama begins and ends with this character. He must be one of the most manipulative, duplicitous, hypocritical and universally hated villains out there that I still can't help feeling pity for. Liu Xueyi's acting is truly phenomenal from his portrayal of an arrogant high deity who can't even see that he has fallen in love to his conscious acknowledgement that he has strayed from the right path but keeps on going nonetheless. The complexity of his emotions, the suppressed fury when he is thwarted and the inner conflicts he experiences is effortlessly and subtly conveyed with the twitch of a facial muscle, a flicker of an eyelid or a tiny tightening of the lips. In his own way, he suffers as much as Sifeng but obviously not as successfully - probably because he swallows and bottles up all that venom and suffering instead of spitting it right out like our Sifeng. I will leave you with one final thought - love him or hate him, we must thank Haochen. Because if he did the right thing to begin with, there would be no love story.
While for me this falls short of a masterpiece, there is so much more to it than a smoking hot love story and it is so rare to get such a good villain that is complemented by such an outstanding cast. The production value is very high and they did a fabulous job with the CGI. When I finished watching it, I felt like it was a 9.0 but unfortunately a year later, I was never even tempted to re-watch any part of it so I downgraded this to an 8.5/10.0.
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Living for Tomorrow
Tomorrow tells the story of a select band of Grim Reapers who perform the exact opposite of the Angels of Death’s conventional job description as we know it. They don’t accompany the souls of the dead to the afterlife but instead seek to ensure that the souls remain very much intact in their current lives. In other words, their sole purpose is to prevent folks (who are intent on dying) from dying.Presented in an episodic format with a series of standalone cases - each story that comes complete with its own unique themes and ambience - against the backdrop of an overarching mystery that spans several centuries in the making. This tale of urban fantasy masterfully blends light comedic undertones with extremely sensitive and serious subject matters, such as the prevailing issue of suicide as well as potential triggers like sexual assaults and violence.
It is not all doom and gloom however as it provides the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” by instilling a hopeful and inspiring closure to each featured case that this supernatural team attempts to resolve, at times with adorably hilarious consequences but for the most part, are stirringly emotive.
Based on the 2017 Naver webtoon of the same name by Llama (her nom de plume), this MBC production is helmed by Kim Tae Yoon (his first drama) and Seong Chi Wook (Kairos). The screenplay adaptation is written by Park Ran (What’s Mama) as well as Park Ja Kyung and Kim Yu Jin in what is their first ever drama script. Jo Seong Woo and Won Ho Kyung serve as music directors. Principal photography took place at several iconic locations, amongst others that include Seoul’s Dongjak Bridge, MBC Global Media Center, Yongin Daejanggeum Park, and Jung-gu Freedom Hall.
A total of 5 songs are released as part of the drama’s OST, as follows:
Seunghyup Lee ( N.Flying ) - Red Light
Ahn Da-eun - Don't Leave My Side
Suran (SURAN) - When My Loneliness Calls You
Yoo Hoe-seung ( N.Flying ) - Still love you
Ben - My Only One
What I Liked
Without delving too much into the psychological and mental illness aspects, and having not read the source material, I’m just going to comment on the drama based on its own merits and also the entertainment value that it brings as a webtoon adaptation.
To be honest, this drama is deceptively more profound than I initially expected. It starts off comical and lighthearted before steadily tugging at the heartstrings with the emotions and finally evolving into a full fledged sob story (or stories, for that matter). I usually avoid sad and depressing content, which this drama has plenty of, but I appreciate the way that these elements are conveyed and the overall narrative is one that is ultimately positive even if the viewer has to experience the whole gamut of negativity along the way, if that makes sense. The presentation is powerfully captivating and inducive of no small amount of tears.
Among all the individual cases presented, my personal favourites would have to be the earlier ones involving the singer-songwriter and the old army veteran. That is not to say the others are not as good but rather they are compelling in a somewhat more sobering and gut-wrenching manner. I don’t want to scare people off watching this show but you have to be emotionally and mentally prepared for what is to come.
In terms of the production values, Tomorrow is a high quality offering that utilises many special effects, for obvious reasons and which are decently rendered. I love the aesthetic intro which is accompanied by the stylish opening theme. The costuming aspect is nicely done with a range of contemporary, futuristic and traditional (Joseon) outfits. I particularly like the FL’s styling as well as the overall set-up of the Grim Reapers’ appearances. The classy touch to the design and set-up of their headquarters alongside the more unsophisticated workplace of the Risk Management team provides an interestingly vivid juxtaposition to the roles of the various factions of Grim Reapers in the story.
The extensive cast for this show provides some memorable performances indeed. Kim Hee Sun’s Goo Ryun is a character that possesses more layers than meets the eye at the beginning. There is a remarkable duality in her evolution from being the cold and inexpressive leader of the team to one who is emotionally vulnerable yet enduringly resilient. Rowoon is the biggest surprise for me by showing that since his recent appearance in The King’s Affection, he has grown by leaps and bounds in this show as the ML, Choi Joon Woong. I still think comedy would suit him best but there is certainly potential for versatility and further improvements.
Perhaps the most intriguing portrayal of all is provided by Lee Soo Hyuk as the antagonistic Park Joong Gil. This man would make an excellent villain in any production but he is convincing as an extremely grey character with anti-hero vibes as well. Yun Ji On rounds off the main cast with his depiction of the stoic and deadpan Im Ryung Goo.
Certain supporting and guest cast members are worth mentioning for their unforgettable appearances, including veteran Jeon Moo Sung as the ex-soldier Lee Young Chun, the adorable child actress Noh Ha Yeon, Min Ji Ah who plays Ryung Gu’s mother, and Kim Young Ok as Lee Jeong Mun, just to name a few.
Final Thoughts
I was left breathless at the end of it all. Tomorrow doesn’t really warrant major criticism, in my humble opinion. Perhaps the slight comedic tone might come across as subtly jarring, at least at the start, but that general sense of levity eventually evaporates into something intensely complex and deeply heartfelt, if not agonisingly heart-wrenching. A drama worthy of recommendation but not without due preparation and ample supply of tissues.
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Short review:
If you're looking for something serious with an amazing plot and thorough story telling then you should look somewhere else, BUT if you're looking for something sweet, funny, relaxing etc. then I'd say this is the drama for you!
A lot of people say you have to push past the first few episodes (a bit cringey) and I would agree, most people say that around ep 5/6 things start to get less cringey and more enjoyable. I personally found it hilarious at times and some of the eventual scenes between the main leads are super cute!! The key is to not take it too seriously, it ruins the fun~
Longer review:
Story -- for the most part the story/plot was interesting but nothing new besides the Dream aspect of the story, which was unique and also one of the funnier parts of the drama and I enjoyed them a lot. However, later in the story the writers seem to forget about the dreams altogether which was a bit disappointing. The conflicts started to get repetitive and I felt like their resolutions were a bit lacking as well. All that being said I think the story still did it's job of putting the characters in situations to be expected in a 40+ episode drama: meaning that if the main couple got together early on, conflict would happen to pull them apart etc. (typical drama stuff that we all both love and hate)
There are also occasionally these little animations/graphics on the screen that add to the hilarity or fluff which I quite enjoyed!
Characters/Cast -- the characters themselves took a bit of getting used to and the dubbed voices didn't help, but soon I found the characters and their interactions with each other cute/funny and the main cast did a good job in acting both the comedic bits as well as the more serious scenes. I wasn't completely invested in EVERY character but I did care about the main 6. For the most part each character was pretty consistent in their personality and the decisions that they made but while QiQi is definitely a bit childish early on, she (slowly) matures as the story progresses, and Bohai slowly opens his heart and we get SO MANY adorable scenes (and behind the scenes) between the two! They also did a good job portraying the different friendships between the characters which I always appreciate. I also liked that all of the characters were flawed in their own ways and they struggled to overcome these flaws and become better versions of themselves (at least the main 6).
Music -- opening song always had me dancing and the ending song by Deng lun was good too :)
Overall -- writing could have been better but it's still an enjoyable watch, funny and cute, and the actors/actresses deliver!
Rewatch value - as a rom/com drama it's definitely rewatchable, there are so many fluffy or funny scenes that I have already rewatched and will probably come back to watch again and again but in all honesty I'd probably skip through some of the villain scenes, but I do that with almost everything :D
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This review may contain spoilers
Not a 10/10 for me
If you’re wondering whether to start this drama, just know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. And just because I expressed my different opinion about this drama, I received hate from those who loved it. But that’s ok, it’s contrary to popular opinion and I guess some just cannot have an open mind.The pace and the storyline is quite fast and interesting. I did not really fancy the first 25 episodes. The general storyline of starting university, facing its ups and downs was fine. However I could not like the ML and the way he treated the people around him. And the way the FL just followed him like a puppy just didn’t sit right w me. Episodes 26-36 was much better as it showed more maturity and development in most of the characters.
The one I felt most sorry for was Lao Gao. Yes, what he did was terrible, very malicious and downright horrible. BUT… I do believe Li Xun had a part to play in how he turned out to be. And the fact that till the very end- Li Xun was not even a little bit remorseful of how he treated Lao Gao during the early days was truly sad.
Li Xun was the most disappointing character of all. At the start of uni, he was arrogant, tactless, self-absorbed and narcissistic. After going to prison for 3 years, you would have thought that he would change, be more humble, learn a tough lesson in life no? Truly.. no. He comes out of prison, he’s still the same incorrigible stubborn a**hole. He even admitted it himself. There were many many things he could have done better:
1) Treated his teammates in his IT club with more respect, more courtesy and be less condescending. That is a mark of a good leader.
2) He should have treated Zhu Yun with more dignity and respect. Instead of doing things his own way, he shld have been open and honest and letting her decide and make her own choices. Not manipulate the situation “for her own good”.
3) Zhu yun- in a way I respect her for sticking by his side. She could get past all his flaws and “help” him become a better man. But in that manner, I felt she lost her own self respect and what could have been a different future.
4) make more effort in trying to convince ZY parents. At least show them how much he loves her, that he will take care of her etc.. after all, that’s what most parents want for their children anyway. That assurance. nope nothing… didn’t even try. Or try harder. Ok the mum was over board and pretty much condescending (just like LX) and prejudiced towards him as well. But I did not agree with them getting married just like that behind the parents back.
The ML had a god-like complex, where he thinks he is the best and he is superior. If he had changed towards the end of the drama (which had some hints of it around Epi 30-34) but come 35/36 again he showed his superiority, I may have liked him more ;)
Anyhow, in conclusion: the drama itself is quite good. I just won’t glorify the ML’s character and behaviour or agree with his actions. So it’s not your typical hero/ fantastic/ romantic/ “perfect” ML, FL.. just watch with an open mind:)
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This review may contain spoilers
Tiring and Frustating
I watched Happiness coz I believe both main characters, Park Hyun Shik and Han Hyo Joo..., I was wrong.The drama premise is about a zombie-like virus, firstly spread by pills then infected people distributed by bite and scratch, but it has its own uniqueness. People who got infected are still able to get back to their human form, as long as they don't smell blood. Kinda like Sweet Home, but the virus is curable in the end. Apocalypse's setting is not my favorite but I still can watch it.
What frustrated me the most is the characters. In Sweet Home, all residents work together to face the situation. The older brother and his ballerina sister, the priest, the firefighter, the gangster, etc... all characters are strong and have special contributions to the drama. Antagonist residents exist but it still makes sense. And they're still willing to join other residents when cooperation is needed.
While this one has nothing but a compilation of useless evil and trashy characters. The one that useful are only both main characters whom the other characters trying to get rid of throughout the drama...., as if all of those characters have no common sense to UNDERSTAND, how much they need these cops in this critical situation
To make it clear, these disturbing behaviors happen throughout the drama, literally from the start till the end. The word "useless" I use refers to their contribution to the story. And these weird characters keep doing their disturbing behaviors, as is they forget that they are in a very critical situation.
Start from a very trashy useless YouTuber wannabe boy who is very rebellious and disregards his mother. He has no job but to play games and live streaming. He humiliates his mother, even mean enough to steal all of their food stock and leave their parents after his mother got infected.
The apartment-representative wanna-be woman, who wanted to get rid of the main characters for no clear reason and I can't even mention which one of her acts is the most disturbing.
A doctor who killed his wife, for the whole drama trying so hard to kill Hyunsik, .... the reason is by killing him, none will come to catch him....??? As if Hyunshik is the only cop who will chase him for his crime. I can't find the logic in which killing the police in charge is the best way to get away with your crime.
The doctor's mistress who only cares to chase for the doctor's money.
The cleaner couple who is very money-oriented.
The cleaner employee, Andrew, who mysteriously wears goggles and masks but then happens to be a serial killer.
A money-oriented lawyer with his useless protagonist wife.
A writer, the other useless protagonist with her useless brother who keeps pestering his sister to give away her apartment because he lost him and he needs a place for him and his family to stay.
Hyunsik's partner who can easily betray him for no reason, and gets easily forgiven.
A girl who has to stay at home coz of her sickness... but never shows her symptoms. She has no contribution but stays at home and be Han Hyo Joo's playing mate.
Seriously, if you delete one of those characters, it will have no impact at all.
To make it, even more, weirder, for the whole drama all characters keep believing and follow the doctor and the representative's words, even though the cop couple has already proven that they are not only can handle the situation, they also can communicate with authorities outside, which make them know what they should do. Such as how long the quarantine will last, how the food will be delivered, etc...
But, these residents, instead of believing the cops, they sided with the antagonist duo and conspired to kill the cops, even using Andrew's service to get rid of all the cops... as if living with Andrew, a murderer is way better than the cops. I can't accept the logic.
This antagonist duo is even able to convince the whole residents to kill resident 1501 for his food stock... People can turn their survival animalistic if they are in extreme condition, but they're not even that starved yet!!
Until the last episode, those whole antagonists really did not pay enough for torturing me for 12 eps. The trashy YouTuber can come back to his parents with no consequences; the doctor and the representative are jailed, but unclear for how many years; the brother becomes a test subject for the vaccine; the cleaner, the lawyer, the mistress etc status also unclear
I kinda regret investing my time to watch this drama. All characters, besides the main character, are very frustrating and just contribute to my stress and anger level.
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Riddled With Stereotypes & Misrepresentations
Before I delve into this super long diatribe about Extraordinary Attorney Woo, it’s important to note that I myself am not autistic. Also, I normally hesitate to watch media portrayals depicting the autistic experience because most of my family members are autistic. While I don't have an insider perspective as an autistic individual, I am tangentially familiar enough that the inaccuracies either exhaust me with how potentially damaging they are or I just cannot relate to the characters and the experiences they portray.TV has so much power in shaping worldviews and perspectives. It's easy to brush a drama off and say it's just a fantasy, but television is instrumental for visualizing/introducing things that are unfamiliar to us—there's a ton of potential power and responsibility residing within that fact. You could read about a topic or examine a picture, but a video (i.e. movies/tv) will always be the most immersive way to be introduced to unfamiliar concepts you haven't experienced or personally witnessed. Just throwing out a small example: it is now on my bucket-list to visit Slovenia. Why? ...Dear My Friends (one of my all-time favorite dramas) was partially filmed there and it looked absolutely stunning. I live nearly 6,000 miles (about 9,500 km) away from Slovenia and no one in my social circle has ever mentioned wanting to go—watching a drama changed that for me.
The same concept of visualization/understanding can be applied to communities of people. Watching a lot of kdramas has made me more aware of certain aspects of Korean culture than the average person in my country—from birthday customs to drinking etiquette, to even recognizing the language being spoken around me. I'm more aware and my worldview has expanded because I regularly watch dramas. A broader example of introductions to a community (or shifts in perspective) is the greater influx in the past couple decades of media portrayals depicting LGBTQ+ people. It's easier to empathize and understand a community's experiences when you can either relate to or visualize their life—TV has the power to reel you in with all of your emotions and world-build something completely different from what you experience in your everyday life.
This is why misrepresentations in media depictions of a community can potentially be harmful, or at the very least, exhausting/not fun to watch for people belonging to or people familiar with that community. If we don't have ongoing experiences with that community in our real life, there's a lot of flexibility in what we might think is accurate/realistic—whereas if we're extremely familiar with or if we belong to that community, each misrepresentation/inaccuracy is like a blaring horn. Depending on the severity of the misrepresentation, sometimes it's possible to ignore those horn blasts and enjoy all the other aspects of the drama. I unfortunately cannot do that with Extraordinary Attorney Woo—it was too damn exhausting to sit happily through.
Media portrayals always seem to limit the autistic experience to either oscillating between a portrayal of nonverbal/uncommunicative isolation, or they're an amazing genius-like savant that is used as a problem-solving tool. These two archetypes of the autistic experience are not reflective of the community at large. My entire family speaks and expresses their thoughts; they're also nowhere close to qualifying as savant geniuses. I understand why these minority autistic experiences are used in TV shows—it can propel plot (i.e. be a unique problem-solving tool) and/or tug on the emotions of viewers (a parent failing to get their child to speak to them). It's just exhausting when NONE of the portrayals reflect reality back at you, and then out in the real world people are surprised if an autistic individual speaks or lives independently, can't quickly calculate math, and/or doesn't memorize entire books in their free time. Even worse, they might try to deny the autistic individual disability services/accommodations or question the legitimacy of their diagnosis because their disability doesn't match common media portrayals of autistic life.
Woo Young Woo is an amalgamation of every autistic stereotype, but the actress (and likely the directing team behind her) chose to cutesify her voice, mannerisms, and her colleagues’ and clients' reactions to her autistic traits—she was infantilized to the max and always had an 'innocent' outward expression attached to the character. This is an inaccurate and harmful misrepresentation of autism, and my suspicion is it was done for a 'heartwarming' effect and to sanitize the autistic experience (without rocking the boat too much). There was no growth in WYW learning her limitations and implementing strategies/coping mechanisms (aside from I guess that rhythm can be hard for her with revolving doors). There was a brief interlude about independence and living on her own, but it was quickly shut down and not explored. There was no philosophizing about how much she might have to rely on neurotypicals to exist in a neurotypical world and how exhausting/frustrating that can be. Instead, everyone encircled her and coddled her as if she was the office mascot or pet. It’s worth emphasizing that the infantilization with this portrayal of autism was STRONG. There were no discussions about masking or coping mechanisms, and her only feelings of overwhelm seemed to come from loud noises. There's bits and pieces of her characterization that you could attach to a large portion of autistic people: a tendency to over-explain, an inability to stray too far from literal meanings, and failing to accurately navigate social situations. But again, none of it was too disruptive or alarming to the neurotypical people around her. The drama stayed in its super cutesy and unrealistic realm. The assertion seemed to be that WYW’s sheer presence (full of stereotypes and what can only be described as cutesy quirks) was their ‘we’ve arrived’ moment deserving of heaps of praise. Which I guess they got, this is a super popular drama.
I like that the drama utilized a female character—autistic stories are usually limited solely to men. But a more accurate characterization might have been showing how difficult it is for women to even receive an autism diagnosis, or the unfortunate likelihood of a woman not receiving one until much later in her life (compared to young boys). Also, I don’t have any set opinions about WYW’s love interest. Though it is quite rare to see an autistic character get a love story, so perhaps that’s something I can place in the positive column? I really struggled with this drama; I understand why it’s popular, but I honestly think its overall impact will be harmful.
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China ONLY shut down the sex on the drama and kissing, but they didn't shut down ANYTHING else and that's what we were given by the writers en masse. This drama was brilliant. I truly loved it. All the boys in this drama are extraordinarily gorgeous. I have no clue in what pits of hell they found them, but dear lord all mighty. I have always said...on the level of hotness when it comes to East Asian guys---Koreans are on the bottom. The ranking is Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, and then Korean. The Chinese guys all looked like hot vampires with abs and shit and moved in slow motion.
Anyway, all the pairings made sense. Xia Yao and Yuan Zong came together because YZ's sister, Yuan Ru, has a thing for Xiao Yao. As a note, Xiao Yao, rolls with a bunch of his co-wealthy rich kids Xuan Da Yu and Peng Ze. All three of them are of a long line of royalty. XDY has a thing for XY---of course. PZ has a thing for a girl but rolls with a guy to get a girl---irony. Anyway YR asks YZ to get involve to help her with XY---you usually get your friend not your bro (who then seems to be rather psychotically obsessive over XY)...makes no sense---irony again.
However, the greatest irony of it all is that rather than being irritating, nonsensical in some respects; it's truly romantic and you connect with the romantic end of the story). You then understand the story. You want all of the male characters to advance bravely towards their respective partners in their respective relationships; and you want their respective relationships to advance bravely in society.
The drama's title gives way to the ultimate meaning the character's relationships progress go through in the story. I do feel that Peng Ze's relationship was the one that was forsaken in the story. It could have been because his partner was not only the youngest but also the one that looked the most feminine of the group. That would have been a dangerous one to portray on screen too much. I think TPTB could have sold it...but I can see why they kept it at the minimum, but at least they put it in there. PZ's kid is like 21 to everyone else's 27 or so and YZ is 31.
Of course, I'm going to love the second pairing---just like I did with 2 Moons, Xuan Da Yu and Wang Zhi Shui. Slow build up...not enough air time when they did get together. They fulfilled the need both of them were seeking. I liked that Wang Zhi Shui was the most persistent. I don't know why I see them as such a long term couple that I would watch for eternity. I would love to see them with their own short series. I'd like to see Wang Zhi Shui interact with Xuan Da Yu's family if they do show up---his continuous bouts of fear of rejection. Ditto for Da Yu dealing with Zhi Shui's possible nightmares and fears and his backstory which we REALLY don't know all that much about.
AB is great and I recommend it to all.
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2
1A Recipe for Gastronomic JBLs
Or: How to trap a man in 9 easy episodes.Ingredients:
For the series:
10-15 year age-gap
6-10 inch height gap
2-4 side characters with no depth or individuality
1 astonishingly small kitchen
1 knife and 1 pair of ryouribashi (cooking chopsticks)
1 serving (at least) of onigiri
1 serving (at least) of a Western dessert (preferably cake, preferably for a birthday)
2-4 instances (at least) of misunderstanding & miscommunication
1 episode of illness or indisposition
1 wet white towel, to tend to that indisposition
(Story or plot optional)
For each episode:
10 mins. of food porn, of which:
2 mins. for broth-based dishes
2 mins. for rice-based dishes
2 mins. for curry
2 min. for lingering shots of chopping
1 min. for serving
1 min. for presentation
2 min. (at most) of interaction with the side characters
1 exclamation (at least) of "oishii" or "umai"
(Plot and character development optional)
For serving:
2-4 shots of chopstick choreography per episode
3-5 near-kisses per series
1 fish-eye or camera-angle non-kiss per series (optional)
(Payoff optional)
Preparation:
1. Toss the ingredients together in a medium-sized show
2. Be careful to keep the right proportions for each episode
3. Simmer slowly to break down all chemistry and tension
4. Gently stir the camera around the top of the pans and apply suitable filters
5. Decant the bland broth into clean 25-minute containers
6. Garnish with the non-kiss
7. Serve lukewarm immediately, or tomorrow, or five years from now. It doesn’t matter.
Special Notes for Sugar Dog Life:
1. I-su-mi-kun! I-su-mi-kun!
2. Do people really check for fever by huddling their heads together?
3. Kyosuke is coded as the husband and Isumi as the wife, right? Look at the poster.
4. What on earth is a sugar dog life? Is it a Japanese idiom? Can someone enlighten me?
Note: This review also appears under Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke, but with a different set of notes.
Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Itadakimasu.
DON’T SAY: Ittakimasu.
See Also: Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke, Bokura no Shokutaku, Kinou Nani Tabeta, Perfect Propose.
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The story could have been really well done if on a larger time scale (therefore why I suggest it should be a drama). It is very sweet but I think should have been more in depth. The story line is something that cannot and should not be rushed, but was. For that reason the characters weren't very strong, which then meant that you didn't have a strong connection to them.
For that reason, the actors, I don't think, could have done much better then they did. I think the main selling point for this film was the fact that they are attractive. That probably adds a lot more to the film then you would get otherwise. The music wasn't too memorable.
Just to note, make sure it is a good subtitled version because I found the version I watched (which to be fair was on a Cathay Pacific flight, so I would have expected more from paid translators) didn't have very good wording with it, and didn't translate what was written down, which seemed to be quite essential (I can't tell though).
Also make note that the ending is the most frustrating thing you will ever see and brings more questions then answers. However if you google it, you find out what the final plot was meant to be and you feel a bit more satisfied. Also look {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E-qugSxZLA} as it has the deleted scene at the end. The director was an idiot for cutting out the ending because it kind of ruins the film - or at least it ruined a good 7 hours of my flight as I got frustrated for not seeing the ending.
Overall, I would get too frustrated to watch this again. At points I enjoyed the film, but I think it just wasn't well done. I enjoyed the theoretical story line, but wish that it was done better (preferably as a drama).
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What if I said Medical Top Team had a split personality? Several weeks ago, panicking network MBC announced a change in scriptwriters; whether or not a switch actually occurred is dubious. In any case, the focus and tone of the drama seemed to shift rapidly around the same time. What we began with was a somber medical offering, complete with meticulous operations and multitudes of jargon. Cases felt realistically engaging and hospital politics well-written and relevant. Character interaction possessed an understated, slow-burn potential, though most attention was paid to the overall workplace atmosphere. Viewers searching for something more technically sound, like me, would have enjoyed this to the end.
However, around midway, much more focus was placed on individual characters (including romances and personal drama). The result was a marked shift away from the surgical team element, which was sort of the entire point. Other stumblings include muddied simplification in hospital politics, plot-lines hastily handled, and character trajectory which sometimes felt pandering or out of line. Relationship evolution of and between certain characters became the worst offenders of this, especially within the last five episodes. Overall development was incredibly rushed, right up to the ending; little to no focus on romance suddenly becomes episodes without scalpels, but stuffed full of sudden hugs and almost-kisses.
Performances suffer inconsistencies as well, stemming from both issues with the script and fizzling chemistry between actors. This comes from a person with many favorites present in the cast.
For instance, Jung Ryeo Won plays a role lacking in everything from settled back story to likability; her presence can only be called wooden, which is *not* the standard for this talented actress. What worsens the effect is how little spark exists between her and either male lead, though particularly Joo Ji Hoon. Zero chemistry, there, platonic and otherwise. But on that note, Joo Ji Hoon manages to have the best portrayal and most consistent character in the series. Late episodes allowed him to show more range and were very kind to him, though the styling department never was. His work with Kwon Sang Woo (whom I found likable) and Jun Noh Min (twice now, after Five Fingers) was strangely fun to watch. Favorable mentions go to Alex Chu and Park Won Sang, while the huge amount of airtime enjoyed by Oh Yeon Seo will forever have me scratching my head. Her acting wasn't great though she very nearly eclipsed Jung Ryeo Won as female lead, a disappointment of itself: Dr. Seo needed the extra time.
Fine music stands tall as the best element throughout Medical Top Team. Most instrumentals are memorable and suit each situation well. There are also two very nice vocal pieces including the stirring "Firelight," (John Park) and catchy number "Can You Feel Me?" (Melody Day). Other positive highlights include an actual, modern hospital used in filming, deliciously bright color palettes used for sets and clothing, and sharp cinematography.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Cellphones Do Not Have Silence Options in the Only for Love World
Okay…I started this despite not being a fan of modern/contemporary Chinese romance dramas because these usually feature nonsensically convoluted plots and too many misunderstandings. However, I like both main leads and wanted to watch something with Dylan since I will not be watching his other dramas from this year. I thought that having other cast members, like Bai Lu, Wei Zheng Ming, and Lui Dong Qin, all of whom I also liked even if I didn’t fully enjoy the shows they were in, would make it more bearable. It did not. I never expected a masterpiece, but had hoped for a decent story with relatable characters or at least characters who would allow me to live vicariously through them. This, also, did not happen.
The premise of the show was all based on a misunderstanding which dragged on for too long. On top of this, there were other couples whose dynamics were fun at first, but later entered the realm of toxic and stalkerish. As if having already three dysfunctional couples wasn’t enough, at around the 20th episode yet another couple was added.
Another part that bothered me was the romance between the main leads. I usually like slow burn romances, it gets me excited for when the fire finally consumes them and they cannot “fight that feeling anymore”, but for the love of all sacred monkeys, this wasn’t even a slowburn, it was almost no burn and the damned cell phone ringing was the main character, as one of the watchers so aptly commented. Someone wanted to clarify something, the phone rang. Someone wanted to confess, the damned phone rang again. Someone was about to kiss, you guessed it, the phone rang. It’s as if they didn’t know phones have silence options.
On top of this, some scenes that looked like they were finally going to get things rolling ended too abruptly. For the first kiss scene, I blinked and almost missed the kiss. There were too many filler-like scenes which featured their workplaces, business dealings, conferences, introduction of new antagonists, and talking about things I had no desire to listen to, or more specifically read about since I read the subs, especially in Shi Yan’s case. So I fast-forwarded these scenes or, in later episodes, just watched the drama as background noise. This leads me to another issue, this is a romcom. This drama is 36 episodes and personally, I believe romcoms should not be this long. This drama would have probably been a lot more tolerable to watch than it was if they had focused on less, because sometimes less is more. The addition of all those unnecessary subplots made it draggy and boring.
I don’t remember the OST and I do not plan on rewatching or recommending this to anyone. I added .5 because despite the drama being terrible, I still like Dylan Wang , Miles Wei, Lui Dong Qin, and Bai Lu.
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Everyone did a fantastic job! From Lee Jin Wook as Sun Woo to Jeong Dong Hwan as Choi Jin Cheul! I loved the way everyone played their parts and held your attention whenever they were on the screen. Jo Yoon Hee as Min Young was simply charming. I have to point out that my favorite was Sun Woo's buddy played by Lee Seung Jun was amazing! His portrayal of Han Young Hoon was STELLAR! He amazed me with his expressions, his tears, his joy, just about everything.
Music: I loved how you had a blend of every type of music from the 90's, whether it was western or korean; just about everyone was featured. I loved how the music fit the scene and helped, you the viewer feel what was going on in the scene.
Action: AMAZING!! That's all I need to say!!
Direction and Writing: This team of Director: Kim Byung-Soo and Writers: Song Jae-Jung, Kim Yoon-Joo; they must continue to work together. Studios? Just keep them together!! With this being their second work together (Queen InHyun's Man being the first), this is a team that no other can match!!
Romance: We got real kisses, folks!! Big smack-a-roos and deep soul kisses! I have no complaints on the romance! No deer in the headlights for this drama.
So is it worth 20 hours? Damn right!! Will you be bored? Most definitely not! The ending kind of left you open but what do you expect for time-travel where the cause and effects are definitely shown here brilliantly!! This is now my #1 favorite Fantasy drama!!
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Prewritten as the story went along.
--
Story: So, this is a story that has been done before well.. in a way. The school element has been done, which isn't a bad thing when you add new elements. Eun Bi is a twin to Eun Byul and there is a bunch of mysteries surrounding their lives as they start to become one. ( Mini plot summary sorry :0) But yeah, the fact that I haven't seen something like this makes me even more excited to watch. Although I don't particularly like suspense, once I watch I get so captivated into the story that I don't even mind my interests because It is indeed interesting to the VERY end.
OST/Music: Amazing. I even added some of the music to my iphone, I love when I can find good songs out of dramas that fit the mood perfectly. Trust me, the music doesn't mess up the vibe of the story or scenes.
Characters: Kim so hyun.. wow. She has made me a serious fan, I seriously enjoy her acting! While watching this I didn't realize how young she was, but that doesn't even matter because she has the maturity and the skills to act the part she needs to, I look forward to more of her work. I also love both her characters Eun Bi and Eun Byul, there is more to their story that meets the eye and I enjoyed trying to figure it out myself and finding the answers to my questions. I also loved the male leads. I didn't have second male syndrome or any of that, I couldn't choose any shipping to be honest.( Edit, after episode 14 had second male syndrome)( Edit 2: Then.. when i got to episode 15 i Couldnt choose anymore xD) That's how perfect both the characters were to me. I was also happy when there wasn't even any romance in certain scenes because the chemistry in this drama is on point, ( this comment says something because I normally can't watch a drama that doesn't have alot of romance). I do wish that there were parrings.. you will understand when you watch.
Overall: Should you watch? yes. Yes. omg I can't get enough of how much I loved this drama, you even have people reviewing the drama before It was even over that shows that this drama was really good and anyone should be able to enjoy It doesn't have alot of drama but it does have important life messages with a bit of romance and more drama to top it off to make it interesting. You wont regret watching the drama, it may make you pull your hair out and the ending may not be what everyone was expecting, but overall i can say its a worth watching drama.
~Ari
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