Reviews

Chilling is one of those movies that incorporate many genres. It has comedy, drama, horror, and romance. This may seem like a lot. You might, also, think that just because of that (and possibly previous experiences) the movie might be chaotic and just have a bunch of random scenes thrown in together and call it a day, but that is not the case. Everyone who took part in this movie did a great job. The scenes do not feel disconnected at all; they flow together and very nicely tell a story.

Story: It's not an original story, even the synopsis tells it so, but it was very enjoyable.

Acting/ Casting: Lee Minki, who I have recently seen in his cameo on the drama "Shut Up: Flower Boy Band", has captured my heart with his acting once again. He is truly a magnificent actor who just gives to his characters a life of their own. I have to mention that both characters he played have a very distinctive feel to them and I just want to see him in more and more things.

I had only seen Son Ye Jin in "Personal Taste", and although I did like the drama, I wasn't that impressed with her in that particular role. But she was just perfect as Yeo Ri. Both of them made the characters likable and believable and that just made me sympathize with them and the things which were happening to, and around, them.

They have really good chemistry together.

I also liked the supporting actors. The movie had a great cast all around.

Music: It felt like it belonged at all times and complemented the scenes nicely.

Rewatch: I will definitely re-watch this movie more than a few times.

Overall: The movie is almost two hours long, but it felt less than that because I was totally immersed in the movie (I did stop it once just to post on the discussion thread. But that had nothing to do with the movie and all with the subs I found). I think this a very well done movie.

Read More

If I'd written this review three months ago my verdict on '2gether' would have been very different. I was super hyped for this series. Before it even started, the two trailers on YouTube got me so excited that for the first time I badgered my friends into watching it too. As a BL series nothing seemed lacking. The two leads were knockouts, the premise was cute, and the production values were top-notch. To keep up with the series I followed whatever I could on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. At one point I even incorporated the word '2gether' into my computer password.

The first few episodes seemed to deliver on the promise. In my rush to judgement on MDL I even posted an early rating of 9.5, in part because I wanted other BL fans to know that this was worth a look.

The series started out by exclusively taking Tine's POV, allowing Sarawat to develop as a character who was at times funny, charming, prickly, seductive, and above all, unpredictable. It was mainly because of Sarawat's interactions with Tine that the first few episodes of '2gether' were so enjoyable.

Then, about halfway through, '2gether' took a wrong turn and never found its way back. Around this time in the series Sarawat and Tine finally became boyfriends, and along with that the two boys took the momentous step of moving in together -- sharing an apartment, a bedroom, and (of course) a bed.

Now, the definition of 'boyfriend' can vary from person to person and even across different cultures, but for most of modern civilization, when two people are romantically involved to the point of living together, certain assumptions apply. One of those is that the relationship has evolved to the point of physical intimacy.

Once Sarawat and Tine had advanced past the flirting stage and become a couple, this became '2gether's' biggest problem. From that point on, one detail after another clashed with the everyday experiences of everyday people. While cohabitating, the boys would share the bed, but they slept fully clothed and never cuddled. They would stand together romantically under a starry night sky and not put their arms around each other or hold hands. They would comfort each other with words but not with a warm embrace. And a kiss, even a quick peck on the lips? Not happening.

The bottom line was that despite being two college-age guys in a m/m relationship, Sarawat and Tine showed no signs of sexual attraction. In fact any physical contact between them came off as awkward and uncomfortable. Somehow, whether at the behest of GMMTV, the director, the actors, or some element unknown, the decision had been made that despite Sarawat and Tine's boyfriend status and shared living arrangement, there would be virtually no displays of affection on-screen.

It was a wacky decision, and it showed in the final product. Time and again, a scene between the two guys would work its way to a point where the mood was clearly set for a moment of physical affection (whether it be an arm around the waist, a held hand, a tender hug, or a kiss), and '2gether' would veer away at the last second, often resorting to a substitute gesture that was more suited to best buds or actual sibling brothers. The substitute most frequently used was a pat on the head from Sarawat to Tine (which with each occurrence looked more and more condescending), but sometimes they didn't bother with any substitute at all. A scene would just end.

This is simply not how real boyfriends interact, and I think it's safe to say that everyone knows it, even adamant supporters of the series who have defended it for its 'purity' (as though the purpose of '2gether' was to depict a divine love unblemished by anything as sordid as hand-holding.) When a work of fiction deviates from commonly perceived reality without first establishing a believable reason for doing so, viewers get confused. When it happens over and over without explanation, viewers get frustrated.

What bothered me personally was that I sensed an agenda at play. I grew disillusioned, and found I was now watching each episode mainly to see how they'd keep screwing with reality. Along the way I noticed that Sarawat wasn't so endearing anymore, and Tine had become a paranoid bundle of nerves who forgot how to smile. The joy I found in their relationship -- and in the series -- was in ashes. When the final episode approached and the script deployed the trusty "ex-girlfriend who's still in love" trope to stir up some drama, the result just lay there like the stupid and insulting tactic that it was. You can't revive a patient who's already dead in the ICU.

By this time I'd finished mourning the loss of what '2gether' had started out to be, moved past my anger and resentment, and settled into amusement. I looked back on how much I'd anticipated the series and laughed at how I'd been fooled. This was a production presumably written and directed by experienced professionals who are familiar with the BL genre. It was mind-boggling how they'd squandered the fantastic beginning and ended up with something so phony and awkward. For me the plot had gone completely off the rails, so whatever story the series was trying to tell didn't matter anymore. What I became most curious about each week was how they'd finally pull this mess into the station, and what kind of shape it would be in when they did it.

And the way they ended it, of course, was with the high-five between Sarawat and Tine that has already gained near-legend status. I must admit that this was where the series, which had already established itself as a mockery of BL, proved it could still surprise me. It was as though the production team had gotten together to brainstorm and find a way for '2gether' to deliver a final, unmistakable "F U" to fans of the BL genre -- a gesture guaranteed to become the ultimate meme.

In this I think they succeeded, but it makes me fearful over what GMMTV will do with their future BL productions.

ACTING

In general I think the actors did a fine job with the script and the direction they were given.

Win's work as Tine deserves a lot of praise since he had no prior acting experience, whereas almost all of the rest of the cast did. His first foray into a series was a tremendous success for him personally and promises great things for his future career.

Regarding Bright, it's hard to tell if Sarawat's detachment and wooden affect was a result of Bright's inability to act or the fault of the director. Given the way the entire second half of the series was botched by the director, it wouldn't be a stretch to blame him for Bright's performance, at least in part.

That said, I get the sense that Bright did not enjoy being in a BL series. He was smart to agree to it because it provided the perfect target audience to rocket him to fame. (His previous acting gigs didn't result in anything close to this fanbase.) From here I'll be surprised if we ever see him play any other role other than a heterosexual male. And honestly, that's fine with me.

MUSIC

Scrubb! Awesome band, great songs. You don't even have to understand Thai to feel what the lyrics are saying.

I suspect that Scrubb might have also written the song that plays over the end credits of each episode, sung by Bright. It has their vibe and Bright does a nice job with it.

I'm not a fan of the song sung by Bright that was released as the series ended, but this opinion is probably tarnished by my disappointment over everything else.

REWATCH VALUE

I will never rewatch this series. While the beginning episodes are wonderful, there'd be no way to enjoy them knowing what comes later. In fact I'd probably start to pick apart the good episodes too, looking for hints of the lameness to come.

THE 'PORN' DEFENSE

A lot of diehard fans of the series have defended it by saying that anyone who criticizes the lack of physical affection between the leads is looking for a series that depicts explicit sex.

All I can say is: if this is your best argument then you have already lost. Nobody in their right mind wants explicit sex or porn in a BL series. When you have to misrepresent an opponent's argument in order to counter it, you're only saying that you don't have an intelligent response to what they are actually saying. You are admitting defeat. You are admitting that '2gether' is a failure.

Read More

I hadn’t planned to start watching this yet.. Really, I hadn’t.. But somehow, I fell straight into its trap... I thought I would just take a quick peek at the first ep and before I knew it, it was six in the morning five episodes down and no way to stop.. It’s that good, no wonder the ratings are so high..

Whenever I watch an enemies to lovers kind of story, I never get tired of that slow shift when they slowly grow into each other.. They begin to learn things about one another.. Their deepest secrets, the softest parts that were never spoken about, the little facts and even their weaknesses.. The enemies to lovers trope here is done exceptionally well.. It’s neither rushed nor slow.. I would say it’s perfectly executed.. After what happened in the first two episodes, I was curious to see how they would ever go from enemies to lovers.. Seriously, they hated each other so much and he really did torture her pretty badly..

FYX and FSG’s love feels incredibly strong and almost beyond ordinary, something that truly left me amazed.. There are so many small, subtle moments that quietly scream how deeply they love each other.. Their love is the anchor that holds the story together through all the tumbles it takes.. Fu Yi Xiao’s emotional and moral journey, from someone bound by loyalty to a woman willing to risk her place, her safety and even her heart for the truth and for her supposed enemy is deeply compelling.. Her transformation mirrors that of our ML Feng Sui Ge, the prince shaped by vengeance and duty who slowly learns that power without compassion is just another kind of cage.. Their love is forged through loss and courage and through the painful realization that sometimes, love itself is the most defiant act of all..

Something that really stood out for me in this drama is the couple and their relationship.. I know I am writing too much about them, but bear with me.. Their relationship isn’t like the cliche ones you see in most dramas.. Their relationship is completely and sensibly balanced.. They respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses.. Both are capable, confident and competent individuals who don’t lose sight of who they are just because they are in love.. This is what I love about the writing, they are intentionally kept as equals.. Neither is portrayed as weak or dependent and she never becomes someone who needs the ML to protect her.. Even the ML understands her strength and intelligence, he lets her take risks when she has to, never forcing her to hide behind him or stop her out of overprotectiveness.. That’s what I hate in most dramas, when they fall in love and suddenly all that ruthlessness or individuality disappears and they just turn into fools in love.. But here it’s not like that at all, and I absolutely loved it..

Visually, this drama is undeniably beautiful.. They have done wonders with the cinematography, framing and color work.. The direction isn’t flamboyant, it’s careful and deliberate as if the story itself is afraid of revealing too much too soon.. I do agree, though, at times, the pacing falters as if the director momentarily loses sight of which emotion to frame, grief or resolve, tenderness or deceit..

The supporting characters were good as well.. I really liked the ML's team.. They were utterly loyal till the end.. But I feel the show spent too much time on the other side characters who didn’t really deserve that focus.. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but personally I didn’t enjoy it.. Nothing about those parts felt worth the time and none of the characters made me want to keep watching.. There was hardly any real character development, maybe with the exception of the Emperor of Jinxia.. But again, that’s just my opinion..

Talking about character development, one character was a complete disaster from start to finish, the Princess of Susha.. She was frustrating to watch, constantly making poor choices and falling for the wrong man.. What she needed was a knock on the head, not sympathy.. In the end, she literally got a sword to her stomach from the very man she loved and sacrificed everything for.. She never had any clear motive and kept walking straight into her own downfall.. Even her revenge felt so shallow, what was she even avenging?? The story tried to frame it as if the SML wronged her, but he was honest from the beginning that he would never love her.. Then she went on to team up with another terrible man in the name of revenge.. The Emperor and the princess were just two broken people making things worse for each other.. He was an awful person, much like the SML.. His last minute redemption does count as character development, but it doesn’t make him a good person nor does it turn their story into some tragic love worth mourning..

The ML at least had one sibling who had some sense and did the right thing, the Second Prince of Susha.. Despite being raised on lies and manipulation, despite having every reason to protect his mother and hold on to power, he still chose what was right.. He stood by his brother when it mattered most.. He has my absolute respect..

All the other characters had fitting endings and every arc was wrapped up really well.. Feng Sui Ge got his revenge on everyone who wronged him and his family, every backstabber met their fate and it was incredibly satisfying to watch.. And through it all, Fu Yi Xiao stood by him, protecting and fighting alongside him, just as she promised she would..

I wanted to mention a few other things..

There was one thing I think they overdid, the face filter.. It was just a bit too much.. They really could have eased up on it.. At some points, CZH looked like he might melt if the sun hit him..

These Chinese historical weddings are just so beautiful.. The attire, the colors, the whole aesthetic, it’s pure bliss to watch..

I have to mention the torture scene, when she tortured him, he seemed to enjoy it a bit too much for it to be called torture.. The man was out there thriving in pain..

There have been quite a few female general characters this year and a lot of talk about who did it best.. But now, we finally have a clear winner.. Hands down, the title goes to Li Qin and her character Fu Yi Xiao.. She was absolutely perfect, fierce, graceful and beautiful.. The way she carried herself was simply sublime..

Overall, this drama was an absolute feast to watch.. I would have rated it a solid 9.5 but all that beautiful buildup led to what felt like a small firework.. Don’t get me wrong, I still liked that firework and thought it was beautiful but deep down, I was hoping for a grand finale of explosions, a huge, epic scale war to end it all.. And also, putting a character who didn’t do a single right thing throughout the entire drama in charge of a country was just plain ridiculous.. She never once showed intelligence, responsibility or even basic morality.. There was no real character development that could justify giving her the responsibility of ruling Susha, that was a huge misstep on Feng Sui Ge’s part.. Chengyang on the other hand, showed far more potential and leadership qualities.. For these two major reasons, I couldn’t bring myself to rate it any higher than a nine.. As much as I wish I could give it a perfect score, these two glaring flaws held it back for me..

Read More

Should You Become An “ Anti-Fan” Of This Drama?

Have you ever watched a drama which starts off with cataclysmic screenwriting and then surprisingly grows on you in the second-half ? Well, most watchers can probably agree that this ideology epitomises ‘So, I Married An Anti-Fan’ with its surprising turn from certain cliches to an endearing relationship between our leads.

However those expecting ‘So I Married An Anti-Fan’ to be a “masterpiece” should probably be told outright that this drama isn’t without its flaws either.

Taking nearly three years to air ( after finishing production in 2018) and sparking an eruption of mixed criticism by viewers afterwards , “ So, I Married An Anti-Fan” is a drama which has greatly divided the audience demographic . Some viewers take the stance that it is " too reminiscent of the tacky 2000s abusive relationships" and " poorly-written", whilst others on this platform defend this as " sweet" and a " comfort drama". However, this raises the bigger question for those wanting to watch the show for the first time; is it actually worth watching?

Well, there are some undeniable strengths which may have an alluring charm for certain watchers. The main cast (consisting of Choi Soo Young, Choi Tae Joon, Hwang Chan Sung and Han Ji An) were an absolute delight, the plot was " romantic and fluffy with a twist of melodrama", and it was straightforward enough to follow ( in an " unplug your brain" sort of way ). Refreshingly, the second-half took a slightly more serious stance to our main leads’ relationship by delving into the main leads’ interactions, whilst also addressing more profound insights into the idol industry’s sociocultural issues in South-Korea. However, this is also where we must address the opposite side of the coin; the problems.

One of the biggest dilemmas of ‘ So, I Married An Anti-Fan’ came through character development. Let’s start off this example with our female lead Lee Geun Young. Geun Young was a female lead who you desperately tried to like as a viewer as Choi Soo Young is a good actress. Undeniably as a character, she isn’t "naive" or the " sweet girl next door" and will happily stand her ground at times when the male lead kicks off. However, ultimately this is where our biggest problem occurs with Geun Young; she exists( for a major proportion of the series) as a component of an enforced pairing for the “ sake of plot” .

There is nothing wrong per say with a female lead being in a relationship in a drama. ( In fact it can allow god-tier character development . ) However whilst we did get to see Geun Young come round to accepting her feelings in the second-half, this first part felt more like a carte blanche for Geun Young’s character development by screenwriters Kim Eun Jung and Nam Ji Yeon in order to forcefully pair-off Geun Young with our male lead Hoo Joon. Consequently Geun Young was rarely given time to understand exactly why she was attracted to the " jerk who ruined her life" ( the motiveless goal aside from her obsessive desire to " ruin his life"). Sadly further interactions with her mother and friends provided little insight into her actual personality (beside the romantic pairing).

Then there’s the male lead Hoo Joon. Similar to Soo Young, Tae Joon is a dynamic actor and there were certainly intriguing issues tackled with his character; a popular star who is getting fed up of being used by his company and his tiresome lifestyle. However typical of cliches, he was often glorified by his role throughout the drama as the " stoic, jerk male lead” ; getting away with assault, bribery and blackmail (including towards the female lead). The show attempted to play an uno reverse card by introducing the " tragic backstory" which may evidently cause mixed-feelings for viewers.

Of course the issue of our main leads also remains a source of mixed-criticism for the drama. On one side, there is the undeniable problem that the male lead Hoo Joon constantly found ways to emotionally gaslight the female lead ; grabbing Geun Young’s wrist , then giving her the cold shoulder over the most trivial of matters and refusing at times to hear her side of the story (or just talk to her like a decent human being). However, there is an alternate stance that ‘ So I Married An Anti-Fan’ isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s a romantic-comedy which attempts to reflect the real-life reality that actual relationships are messy and problematic. The focalised writing decision to focus more on our main leads’ relationship in the second-half did seem to prove that this was the intention of the drama.

Although this review would not be complete without talking about one of the biggest elephants in the room; our supporting characters JJ ( Hwang Chan Sung) and Oh In Hyung ( Han Ji An)’s overly problematic relationship.

Hwang Chan Sung is a really good actor, however, you could imagine if there was an “ Encyclopaedia Of The Most Obsessive Second Male Leads Of All Time”, his character JJ would have been on the first page. It was evident that the drama desperately tried for us (as viewers) to root for JJ as the “ pining lover”. However , this appeared difficult when his behaviour reflected an otherwise dysfunctional and oppressive figure in In Hyung’s life by rifling around In Hyung’s room ( without her permission), screaming at her manager down the phone in public ( and thus purposefully embarrassing In Hyung in front of people) and then even attempting to manipulate Geun Young ( without considering In Hyung or Geun Young’s feelings) early on in the series in order to get back at Hoo Joon.

Yet whilst it would be easy to pin all the blame on JJ, Oh In Hyung had her own fair share of problems also . Similar to her costars Han Ji An is a good actress. In terms of her character In Hyung, the drama works incredibly hard to make us feel pity for her being a a victim of the malicious industry of idols and JJ’s obsessive infatuations. ( For the most part as viewers we certainly do.) However as we delve more into the show ( without spoilers), it soon becomes apparent that In Hyung is manipulated by the screenwriting into becoming a tiresome plot mechanism in order to trigger catalytic events in the later storyline.

Oh boy, then there’s the additional problem of the producers. Admittedly they do not have such a prominent role in the second-half, however, most viewers will probably agree that they were incredibly irksome characters. Yes they were supposed to add a touch of comedy during more angst-ridden moments of the show, however, secretly filming the leads without their permission, screaming at the camera crew, forcing, guilt-tripping and then humiliating Geun Young on multiple occasions just grew fairly irksome for viewers .

Nevertheless the ending was a left on a sweet note for viewers. Although admittedly there could have been some plot points wrapped up, it was entertaining to have some closure with our finale.

So, is“ So I Married An Anti-Fan" actually worth watching? Whilst the show has a fairly good cast and is easygoing for viewers looking for an escape from darker romance storylines, this depends entirely on personal taste. For fans of "cutesy" romance with a " slice of 2000s K-drama relationship abuse angst" or just looking for a show to unplug your brain with,then this drama is right up your street. However, drama watchers looking for a more profound storyline then look elsewhere as " So, I Married An Anti-Fan" isn’t it.

Read More

A refreshing and original story.

This was a surprise - it went places I couldn't have predicted, and that's a pretty big plus in a genre where everyone can plot out the entire series with 95% accuracy after watching the opening credits. This also has a stronger LGBTQ+ sensibility than usual without leaving the BL genre.

The main character, Le, is a sincere and unselfconscious nerd (a very handsome one), who doesn't waste a lot of time agonizing over his sexuality, only his mother's feelings. In fact, there's a twist to the story that reveals he loves someone because of their gender, not despite it, which is a nice reversal of the norm.

The acting overall is good. There are a few times where it was a bit much, but not often, and it's made up for in some very moving scenes which all of the main cast pull off well.

There is a standout side character played by Lin Wei Jie, who is so cute I can't stand it. I really hope we see more him.

This is well worth your time. There are a couple of eps in the middle that lag and where the series appears to abandon its originality and uniqueness, but it gets it back in a major way, so don't give up.

Read More

More than a remake. Delicate timbre. Powerful. Reckoning with the void of a luxury-branded world

"Pale Moon" develops a particularly delicate timbre. Fine personality portraits, none of them smooth and pore-deep clean, but rather inwardly crumpled people with dreams and weaknesses, people who sometimes make questionable decisions, who don't stick to the rules, who succumb to the temptation to take the chance to realize their dreams.

A little 'noir' here and there. In any case, emotionally dense. Unexcitedly emotional. Quiet and yet powerful.

The KDrama is based on a Japanese Original (Mitsuyo Kakuta), which was successful as a series and movie, too. This is now a South Korean remake. Apparently, Kim Seo-hyung was immediately (after she saw the original in 2015) determined to play the female lead in any potential South Korean remake. You can tell, she is breathing her role.

The original novel is about the embezzlement of bank funds as actually happened in Japan. In South Korea, the list of embezzlement in billions is also long and the remake is accordingly well placed.
However, the South Korean remake is about more than misappropriation of wealth on a large scale. This is generally about lies, deceit and deception - even on a smaller, manageable, interpersonal level. However, it is also about human vulnerability, the cracks in the facade.

The story unfolds against the background of unstoppable consumption - a veritable frenzy of consumption that has long since left any connection or grounding behind. A life-style in a parallel world, that only a few can really afford. This world of luxury, which initially seems appealing, develops an intoxicating, addictive character and ultimately catapults itself into the void. What remains when the lover equips the lover with the designer goods from head to toe, from the car to the house including the interior and the laptop, too? Alert, alert: the luxurious world of matter - initially well camouflaged as the lifestyle of your dreams - becomes an ugly parasite that feeds on substantial emotions, liveliness and passion, but in the end leaves nothing behind...
In the field of tension between the dreary normality of a boring everyday life that is perhaps pimped out on the outside, but emotionally rather empty, almost everyone here is willing to deviate from the path of virtue in order to get a piece of the promisingly dazzling consumer cake.

Nevertheless, the story also tells of the sincere moments of perception and recognition of unsightly vulnerability. These are the moments when sincere encounter happens to become possible. On the outside, these are not the nice, shiny TaDa moments, but on the inside they provide light and warmth, they nourish the soul, like water making flowers bloom. Moments that cannot be bought with money. Moments that are among the most worthless in the dazzling world of consumption, shunned, despised, marginalized, excluded.

In this way, "Paper Moon" is an intelligent approach of reckoning with the consumer-driven social reality in which 'appearance' takes the place of 'being'. Quietly and constantly the KDrama is reminiscent of the basic in human, which has nothing to do with staged perfection, but rather with irrational impulses and irreconcilable paradox. At most, beauty in ´being human´ unfolds when weaknesses become strengths, when ruptures make the whole, when betrayal opens the door to freedom, when loss becomes the gate to abundance, when I find myself by losing myself, etc.

Since we are all human, we can remember (that we are like that too) and empathize and accept ourselves (and others!) even in our (their) 'ugliness', 'despair' and 'failure'. That makes life truly valuable and remains as a valuable experience, even if any material value has long since disappeared.





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: -------- 'Paper Moon' vs. 'Pale Moon' ----------

The original title "Paper Moon" was for the international title particularly changed from "Paper Moon" to "Pale Moon" in order to create a certain degree of selectivity from the Japanese original. The story may be remade, but it's retold in characteristic korean-style. Successfully so. And if you like, the changed nuance in the title already testifies to a finely nuanced, additional facet within the KDrama production.

The term "PAPER MOON" refers to a fake, oversized crescent made of cardboard, which became fashionable at the time, with the advent of photography, as a specific variant of (cheap but effective) portrait background. At fairs, etc., photographers as a special gag offered the cheerful visitors unforgettable portrait photography in front of an artificial crescent moon made of cardboard. The happy couples (but also everyone else who had their picture taken) floated optically above the clouds, removed from everyday life, yet oh so close to the (artificially fake) sky... A reMINDer, documenting a very special moment.

Since then, the meaning of the ´paper moon´ generally refers to an object with the help of which a void is filled with fictitious, purely optically reality – a make believe. However, the emptiness is still there. The symbol, enriched with meaning, inspired many a great work. One of them is the piece of music "It's only a Paper Moon" (originally "If you believed in me"), which summarizes the basic idea or the basic feeling in a striking way - as a tightrope walk between hope and hopelessness...

"Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Without your love
It's a honky tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world (=circus attraction)
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believe in me"

...The unreal reality, the deception, the lie, all of this could be true if only one can convince the others that it is so.


"PALE MOON" on the other hand refers more to the real, pale (full) moon in the night sky, which is repeatedly staged in this KDrama. It's not dazzling like the radiant, all-illuminating, blinding sun, and not loud and spectacular like fireworks, (and not as big and dominant next to me as a paper crescent moon). The pale (full) moon only shimmers in the dark hours of the day. It may light the way and also cast shadows, yet from my perspective it is just tiny and far away.
Nevertheless, despite appearing almost fragile and delicate, is solidly stands there like a vague, quiet, soothing reminder of something truly beautiful and valuable. Something that is there repeatedly, with beautiful regularity - remaining, just being, no matter what. Something to relate to. Far away it may be, yet emotionally quite substantial - and thus close to the HEART.

Read More

The Funniest Narcissistic Idiotic Moron Ever

This is one of the funniest dramas I’ve ever watched. At the beginning, I found it comedic and thought I wouldn’t like it. After the first episode, I couldn’t stop watching and laughing because it’s so hilarious. The narcissism is idiotic but at the same time so so cute.

Mu Jue Chen (Fiction Guo) is a narcissistic youth who is so absorbed into himself that whatever negatives would become positives in his mind. Everyone around him brushes his ego but rolls their eyes and curses him behind his back. All his actions and demeanor are bombastic and egregious. This drama has the most eye rolls and the Mu Jue Chen character is the most egoistic person that I’ve ever come across and it’s super funny. I must applaud Fiction Guo for his amazing acting as Mu Jue Chen. I have almost believed that Mu Jue Chen is Fiction Guo because the actor has really immersed himself into the character totally.

Qian Yu (Li Nuo) is the only person who knows Mu Jue Chen inside out; she knows all his strengths and weaknesses, and knows how to capitalize on this knowledge to her advantage. Though seemingly a lord and servant relationship, there is more to the relationship that is not revealed at the beginning. Li Nuo plays her character well as a submissive servant and then later as a powerful head of the valley.

By Episode 10, the plot thickens. There are hidden mysteries. Who is Qian Yu? What has happened in their childhood? Why is Mu Jue Chen so protective of her? All these questions drive the plot. The tone turns serious at times (only when Mu Jue Chen is not around - it's almost impossible to be serious with him around) with beautiful sword fighting and “qing qong”.

Everything is exaggerated out of proportion and the CGI is really bad, but together, the whole thing is simply hilarious and adorable. A lot of the dialogues are unexpected and many scenes are out of expectation. I almost choked when they start to play the tune of The Flight of the Bumble Bee. They have also used EDM (electronic dance music) as background music extensively, so much so that I have to roll my eyes too. There are a few dark humors here and there. Though they banter and fight all the time, the lead characters’ chemistry is wonderful.

I love the use of oxymoron phrases here, such as, “Don’t let my face lose face”. There is also frequent play with pronunciation of Chinese words, e.g. the character 恶 (e). Depending how one says it, it can mean different things - fierce or loathsome. Therefore, non-native Mandarin speakers may not appreciate such humors.

There are of course the typical tropes such as falling off cliff and memory loss stuff. Overall, if you want a drama to laugh and take away some stress, this is the one. I’m loving it!

Read More

Honestly I just finished to watch this movie, and I hurry to write this review cause I have so many thought about this movie and can't wait to share !

1. Inteeeeeense, If you want a lovey dovey story or a simple robbery movie it's not the case ! Violent, Brutality and Cruelty are word to describe this movie. SO if you are too young, or live in a cute world, or still are innocent, this movie isn't for you.

2. It's not the common movies with beautiful scene and happy end. I love the work of the director: from the very first second of the movie you can feel the dystopia of the world. I really don't want to spoil just to know, you can feel the reality of the hard life they have (or had) and the parallel world of dramaland without any censorship with Tattoo, Smoking, and Insult in every single scene.

3. The cast: I don't need to speak about Choi Woo Shik I think he totally suit to movie more than drama, he's a skilled actor. I was glad surprise with Lee Je Hoon (I didn't even recognize with his evolution since Fashion King) and with Ahh Jae Hong, we can plainly see a new face of him totally different from Be Melodramatic or Fight for my Way. Last but not least Park Hae Soo is so so so impressive, this expressionless face and psychopath idea are just stunning

4. The family meaning in this movie make us reflect a lot about it. Is family only blood member ? Is it more important than our own life ? Is friend able to remplace a mother place ?

So I hardly recommend this movie if you want to live intense moment and stressful scene. If you have a fragile and delicate heart it's not for you ehehe

Read More

Dude , this started with a bang! in the first ep there is already a kissing scene.... But then it kindy went downhill from there... Honestly kinda on the fence as to liking or hating the drama. It's not a bad watch but the story felt kind of choppy.

Background/story; Female lead is Mi qi qi, she is from the witch tribe/clan. They are in danger so she gets sent away and her spirit gets into the main lead's empress body ( Chou Qing li ). She is know as the ugly empress. The main lead Lu Ao is the king or the Lord in the story. The male lead was poisoned when he was young as when he moon gets round her becomes a werewolf. He accidentally bits and slashed the chou qing li . After she falls in the water , that is when Mi Qi Qi comes in.

The female lead loses all her witch power so she basically is a normal person. She has a red jade with her. She somehow always ends up getting healed from major injuries. The first 10 episodes is a repeat of the evil people and the male lead trying to put her to the grave. It's kind of painful to watch over and over again , and so sad she gets tortured.
( she later finds. out that those incidents were caused by the male lead, he didnt want her to find out his wolf secret, but gradually he falls in love with her.

then comes ep 10- 20 - basic summary of she finds out that he was behind it all. She gets extremely mad at him and doesn't want to see him, no matter what he does being soft or being hard/harsh. She doesn't cave it. ( lol 10 episode of that is too much)

Chemistry- definitely some chemistry but at the same time I felt it was more of the male lead liking the female. Hence when they were kissing the female lead was kinda lacking emotions ... ( it might just be the portrayal of her character? )

ep 20- 36 revolved around trying to the second male trying to be the king. The evil second female lead trying her ways to get the power from the red jade and the sword. Other characters are introduced too. There is the female lead's brother( not blood related who she grew up with . A princess from some tribe , that the male lead knew when he was young. Female's lead brother and tribe princess also has a romantic development

Towards the end they reveal the female lead actually has another identity and through that identity she regains her with power back. And then you know what happens they get the throne back., and some other stuff . most important happy ending. If you are still ready kudos to you :)

Read More

this drama has everything a kdrama should have...definitely my favorite out there. Its like they took every great thing about kdramas and put it all in a neat package for us.

non-boring story line? check

great OST? check (one of the best)

chemistry between actors? check (sizzling in some cases)

hilarious and embarrassing events? check

a beautiful love formation? check

actors acting their butts off? check (especially Shin Dong Wook's butt...um I mean acting butt...um I mean acting chops)

angst but not jump-off-the-cliff angst? check

a totally different way to tell a story (editing etc)? check (I haven't seen a drama do what it does to the story and not make it confusing but actually add to the awesome-ness)



man I love this drama!! definitely a must watch!!

Read More

I expected I would like this drama, because I'm in a "family drama" mood and it was great. I really loved it!
The story is not a typical kdrama story with a lot of twists, birth-secrets, evil characters etc. It's more like I was following the life events of a normal family, whit ups and downs, remaining always with the feeling that something like that could happen in real life. That's the reason why I really enjoyed the show. It is different.
The characters are very well written, all of them had theirs own story, with funny events, sad events, love stories, friendship, breakups and reconciliations, marriage, birth and death. The chemistry between all of the characters was very good, giving the feeling they're a real family.
Of course the strongest plus point is the love story of Tae Sub and Kyung Soo. I loved the way it was presented, it was not too much for a kdrama, sometimes I even had the feeling the kiss is missing (but , in the end, I think it was better without it). The other love stories were also good, but not like that one.
The acting was brilliant, everyone portrayed his character very good. After this drama i'm loving Lee Sang Woo more and I noticed Song Chang Ui. It's the first time I see him playing a main role.
If you wanna watch a family drama that's not very complicated, with a plot that flows smoothly, with strong characters, full of family-love, with good love-stories I recommend this one!

Read More

A wonderful "slice of life" drama that isn't for everyone's taste

I rarely write reviews for dramas since I consider that everyone's taste is different and we don't have to and can't like the same things.

However, this drama made me write my first review here.

I'll start by saying that this (as I've seen in the comments) is a "love it" or "hate it" drama, with no in-between.

I, for one, adored it.

It's rare to see such true depiction of real relationships and real human emotions with all their pettiness, frustration, sadness, joy and all that comes when loving another.

It's such a fresh drama that shows the viewer what happens in all stages of a relationship and isn't stopping just at "they lived happily ever after" or "they broke up and that's it".

In my opinion, the viewer has to be in a proper state of mind to watch this drama. Also, a certain amount of life experience might be of help in order to understand it, maybe.

A well made "slice is life" drama with good, bad, funny and sad moments that was really well acted and made me admire Seo Kang Joon even more (his portrayal of Junyoung was amazing) and love and understand Esom's Youngjae and all the other characters.

Life doesn't have a liniar flow. There's always something that will shake us to our core and either make us or breake us and this drama shows this in a very human way.

Read More

An epic historic love story, playing with time and space. Waggish. Affecting. Wonderful acting.

A special dramaturgical drive given by time travel and parallel worlds are quite common in KDrama. Thus contrasting perspectives from different backgrounds quite regulararly add unconventional fun and extra thrill to story dynamics.
Additionally, KDramas like to chose a historically exotic context for its intriguing and romantic stories, while still giving them an epic scope. Even if not always historically exact, these plots offer plenty of material for drama and at the same time convey historical facts and heroes in a colorful dress. Epochal personalities and their impact come to life again. As Korean history goes far back in time, there are yet many more heroic stories to be told...

"Faith or the Great Doctor" combines both, the historical approach as well as playing with time and space in one story. In fact, history is thus presented even more funny and colourfully. On the historic side, this KDrama revolves around the legendary General Choe Yeong (1316-1388) who went down in history as the protector of the Goryeo Empire and its royal family. Incidentally, this is not the only KDrama that has been dedicated to him to date... As early as 1983, a series monument was erected for him in "Gyegook" and "Chu Dong Mama". He is also featured in "Tears of the Dragon" (1998), "Shin Don" (2006), "The Great Seer" (2012), "Jung Dojeon" (2014), and "Six Flying Dragons" (2016). You guessed it, he´s a real hero for the Korean Peninsula.

-------------------- SIDE NOTE: --- General Choe Yeong ---
Known for his strength from an early age, the son of a civil servant learned martial arts and studied books on military strategy. Over the centuries he had finally achieved the status of legendary protector of the Goryeo dynasty. Although he was also exiled for 6 years due to intrigues, in the course of his life this did not prevent him from fighting around 80 more battles in the service of the king. He lost his last battle against his former brother-in-arms, General Yi Seonggye, when he seized power in a coup d'etat in 1388 during the Battle of Liaodong. This was also the birth of the Joseon Dynasty.
-----------------------------------------------------------

"Faith or the Great Doctor" traces the path and integer character of Choe Yeong, whose motto has been handed down as "consider gold as if it were a stone". It´s obviously not pure poetic freedom when he is portrayed as sincere, stylish and gallant. And also does his combative superiority not seem exaggerated - his skills are historically documented. The focus of this KDrama is rather on the young general. He is not only presented as a strong leader, but as a young man who falls in love with a woman who is almost 10 years older. This (fictional) constellation offers some extra driving dynamics to the romance - as well as a comparably pleasant maturity at times as well.

The title plays with the different language styles in Korean - the old Hanja, which was written in Chinese characters until 1443, and the Hangul writing, which was newly created during the Joseon dynasty (and in which many Hanja terms have been preserved to this day.) So the original title "Sin-ui" may be understood both as 'trust in law and order' or as 'gifted healer'. In this sense, the title not only values Choe Yeong, the protector of law and order in the Goyeo Empire (refering to the Hanja translation), but also the gifted female healer (refering to the meaning in Hangul) - Eun Soo, a cosmetic surgeon from Seoul in 2012.

In the midst of waggish and heartbeat, this epic love story with all sorts of dramatic twists and turns absorbs within an eventful chapter of Korean history. The contrasts between modern and traditional medicine, somehow clashing in the middle of the 14th century, as well as between the almost rebellious, outrageous self-confidence of the by modern Seoul life spoiled doctor Eun Hoo and the ancient court of the Goryeo royal family guarantee 24 episodes of evocative entertainment.

"Faith or the Great Doctor" is an epic historic drama and at the same time playing with time and space. With two wonderful leading actors and more. The perfect mix for an epic Rom+/-Com.

Read More

Probably best historical drama in 2022

After enjoying Who Rules The World ( first / only Cdrama to enter Netflix Top 100), I searched similar costume dramas with the same leads, and this is how I stumbled upon Love Like The Galaxy.
I believe from all I've seen, this is the best wuxia of 2022 - in a galaxy of dramas, this one shines the brightest !
Story - epic, based on the novel Splendid Stars
Cinematography - spectacular, and note that some of the images you will think are CGI are actually real ! For instance, the fire at the Lantern festival - they built the restaurant frame and burned it..
Director Fei's attention ti details of the era, from costume, to different hair style girls/ ladies, up to the small pieces placed on the floor to hold the mats - it's amazing !
Casting - perfect ! I can not say there is any actor evrn lowest support role, that does not fit the character described in the novel.
OST matching the atmosphere of the drama, has just been released on youtubd fir your listening pleasure..add ti it the flute songs played by the FL.
Acting - best performance award goes to Wu Lei and Zhao Lusi, who succeeded in portraying very complex characters. From microexressions to grand fighting scenes, from stunts performed by themselves to riding horses, they did it without fail - and they are in their early 20's !
Their characters are totally original for Cdrama - both are " damaged" from tgeir childhood and had to rely on themselves, ehich made them smart, cunning, secretive, untrustfull and revengefull. Kindness from others is always viewed with suspicion in the beginning, but their heart is in the right place, discerning right from wrong, irrespective of being family or strangers, they don't condone injustice and betrayal from anyone.
In the midst of rebellion, war, palace fights, family disasters, these two learn to trust and love each oth - their romance is slow burn, but it sets the screen on fire !
The side characters are well developed, bringing both comic relief ( in good taste) like her village grandmother and his sidekicks, tragedy and even misstreatement from her mother ( tough love?!), the array of emotions in each episode range from tears to angst, hate, frustration, pity, laugh until you tear again.
Rewatching value - 10 ! I already rewatched the first season, even changed the setting fir lower speed, because are so many magic moments I might miss while reading the subtitles.

Read More

And just like that, you stole my heart away.

This is the first ongoing Kdrama in 7 years that I watched in real time. I think words will fall short if I try writing a review for this drama, regardless of it's seasons. I didn't watch the season1 ongoing bcs I never do that for any drama as I'm very impatient aand anxious to wait and think about what's the next. But sure, I was intrigued by the response it was getting during the s1 and even so I took 3 months to start it.

Anyways, I decided to watch the season 2 ongoing without a 2nd thought before a month and the reasons are obvious. Morever, slice of life Kdramas without solid plots can be watched ongoing easily. I am very glad for my decison and grateful for each and every moment.

Again, this ain't a review because this dramaa is excellent in all the aspects and don't need evaluations to be judged. The writer Lee Woo Jung jakka-nim and director Shin Won Ho PDnim are my most favourites, both individually and as a PD-Jakka pair, I can blindly trust on whatever they do.

Script, story progression, twists, character development, revelations, realizations, and all other realistic elements of life are very well placed and utilized in the drama and directon work is like adding feather to a cap.

I will be pointing out the highlights of this season and I think I might spill spoilers for those who have not watched it but let me mention them anyways because you know it's a slice of life story plus apparently the concluding season. So here I go:

# The season 2 started exactly where it had ended in the season 1.

# The story continues to be aas simple as the 1st season with no solid plot development rather showing the day to day life of YULJE.

# The most important thing of Hospital Playlist is the ordinary days of the extraordinary group of 5 friends who continued to inspire, motivate and teach us various different things even in this season.

# The definite character development of Suk Hyung, becoming open and clear from being shy and introverted person.

# Ik Jun is still that lame person who loves throwing PJs despite the seriousness of the situation and I think I can relate haha.

# After few months, SongHwa returns to Yulje but also gets busier with the management of VIP ward meant for "Daddy Long Legs Funds", surgeries, lectures and helping her fellows with their thesis.

#Jun Wan is still that serious yet silly guy who gets annoyed at anything. He had to go through misery but he managed to pull off his life better.

# Jung Won, still a kid by heart, continues to learn every other day from experience and despite his indecisiveness, can stay calm.

# Jun Wan and Song Hwa are still those maad foodie pairs who eat more than half of the food and even fight w/ each other for it.

# Ik Jun and Jun Wan still get into fight out of nowhere at their 40s over silly things, pulling hairs and punching each other.

#Jung Won continues to intrigue the kids for his love for them and somehow makes them to fall for him.

# The surgery scenes are not detailed for a fact but the OT scenes with variety of shades given the situations and severity were wonderful.

# Uri best boy Uju has visibly grown up by looks and by brain. He is in fact more quick-witted now and interacts like an adult with others.

# The kumo-chukha bonding between Uju Iksun and Uju is another adorable thing to witness.

# Just like previous season, Hospital and Playlist also focuses on the life of interns, residents, staff nurses and other staffs of the institutions.

# Uri twin interns Hong Do and Yun Bok continue to win our hearts by their cuteness. Yun Bok is loved by everone.

# Hong Do is still troubled by Jun Wan who asks him critical questions every other day and bothers him even after he changes dept.

# The Winter Garden Couple tries their very best to keep their relationship a secret from the hospital except for their dearest ones.

# Just like last time, we get to see different shades of gynecology dept, few of birth givings, life of their nurses, interns and residents.

# The Band continues to come up with very good songs and acing those with their skills. Song Hwa had a contract to sing once in 2 years. I always looked forward to discover a new track evey week.

# The bonding between 2 mothers whose babies were both on VAD waiting for a heart donation was very well shown. They were the marathoners who at some point were able to reach the goal.

# Min Ah was finally able to change Suk Hyung's heart through her determination and that was the best thing about this season.

# The life of caregiver nurses of the pediatrics was beautifully portrayed and that indeed was heart-touching.

# Undoubtedly, this season also showed us the bittersweet relationship between doctors and their patients. The way the doctors and handle the patients plus their curiosity and anxiety is very realistic along with the patient's way of respecting the doctors.

# Winter Garden Couple: The foregoing romance between Jungwon and Gyeo-ul that matures with time and they learn how to open up to each other. It felt good seeeing how their bonding was becoming closer.

# Kom-Kom Couple: The development and progress in the relationship status between Min Ah and Suk Hyung that journeys from Professor-Resident to couples and this is the best thing about the this season and in fact it took the entire season to happen.

# Ik-Song: Our most favourite, IkSong who are best known for their slow-burn romance finally ended up together which was sudden bit definitely happened at the most appropriate pace. Both of them needed their time and that's completely understandable.

# Bidulgi (Dove): Jun Wan and Ik Sun had the most difficult time. The couple went through a very rough patch and had to put an end to the LDR but after years crossed paths and realized their undying feelings for for each other.

# Silver Dragon: Suk Min and Sun Bin, uri lovey-dovey residents were away for a while and had some problems in the relationship but thankfully sorted them out and continued to make us feel cute

# The friendship between Rosa and Jong Su continued to bloom even in this season and in fact they became closer buddies who hung out and had meals almost everyday.

#The bromance between Jun Wan and Do Jae Hak, Cardio- thoracic chief resident, is another best thing. The way Jae Hak adored and respected Jun Wan even when Jun Wan was his professor and also the reason behind it was so very mesmerizing.

( Idk what else but I know for a reason that I got many more things left to talk about so I shall edit this review whenever I recall something important to add)

THE OSTs.
A majority of 90% tracks, like the last season, are the covers of old songs from 1970-2000 or after that and in fact 80% were also sung by Mido and Falasol, our fav band in their band practice.

My most favourite track of this season was is "SUPERSTAR" sung by Mido & Falasol. This is very inspiring and such a mood booster I swear. I both cry and then jump outta joy listening to it.

"Rain & You" sung by Lee Mu Jin, "In front of the post office in Autumn" sung by uri Suk Hyung (Kim Dae Myung), "Is it Still Beautiful" by Seventeen, "To You" by uri Ahn Jung Won (Yoo Yeon Suk) were some slow heart touching tracks.

Similarly, "Reminisce" by uri Kim Jun Wan (Jung Kyung Ho) and "Let's Forget it" by the band sad and heartbreaking tracks. "I Like You" by Jo Yong Pil and "I Like You" by Jo Jung Suk are both jolly ones. "Already One Year" is also a favourite.

I am glad they released 5 drama version band songs for this season

I really didn't knew whether to be happy about the 2h40m finale or be sad about the end of this season but to my unfortunate, they announced the end of the entire series that made me upset. I have always trusted ShinLee pair, their work and their decisions but this came as a shocking news and I don't think I am gonna accept it any soon.

All I can do is cry my heart out. I am grateful to the entire team, the cast, the crew aand each and every single person involved with Hospital Playlist for this amazing seasons and the fabulous season that brought out all kinda emotions out of me; made me smile, laugh crazy , cry mad, be heartbroken, etc etc.

I think it's unfair that we don't get to have another season when it's them who said it themselves but I am thankful for the almost 2hours episodes that we were gifted with in this season. Hospital Playlist is definitely my most favourite after REPLY 1988 and Imma flex about it for the rest of my life.

THANK YOU UNIVERSE FOR HOSPITAL PLAYLIST

Read More