Acting/Cast: Excellent acting from the casts. The reason why I gave a 9/10 was because I thought a couple of the casts were not as experienced in acting and it showed, though the fault is not too serious that it ruined the enjoyment of the drama. For newbies, they did very well.
Music: Only two OSTs stood out for me. The rest are forgettable (that's just my opinion!). The OSTs served their purpose well though and went well with the situations in the drama. Conclusion: OSTs are not the strength of this drama. The story and characters are.
Rewatch value: I would buy the originals and keep them under my collections of good dramas. I will definitely re-watch it one day but not in the near future. This drama gives you a happy, relaxed feeling - high entertainment value, but at the same time, it is not SOOOOO good that you'll be going back to the episodes again and again. Keep this for when you want to re-visit good memories from the kdrama land,,,, someday in the future.....
Overall: Excellent entertainment value. Solid ending. Enjoyable characters. One for keeps but not THAT outstanding to form a following or trend that'll get people talking for years to come.
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This review may contain spoilers
A fun and enjoyable ride ~ It's worth spending your time on!
It's been a while since I last watched a xianxia drama, and The Starry Love was on my watchlist mainly because of Chen Xing Xu. However, when it started airing, I was hooked on another drama, and watched 2 more dramas after that, before coming back to it. I finished it a few weeks ago, and I must say, I really like and thoroughly enjoyed this drama ! :)In the midst of the fantasy set-up, I love the drama's focus on comedy, romance, action, family relationships and friendship. Of course, there is angst woven into the story, but not too much that it becomes dragging and annoying. The story of the main couple, You Qin and Ye Tan, developed slowly in the first few episodes, as they seemed to be getting on each other's nerves more. In comparison, the romance of the second couple, Chao Feng and Qing Kui, developed faster. But You Qin and Ye Tan's relationship and the overall plot development gets better and better as the story progresses. I like the episodes when Ye Tan went to the mortal realm to find the 3 soul shards and the different antics, heartwarming acts and comedic moments that she (with help from her "cohorts") did to make them fall in love with her. And how, in the process, she fell for the 3 soul shards, and eventually realized her feelings for You Qin. And of course, I love the parts with You Qin version 2.0! He became more expressive and in tune with his emotions when the 3 soul shards merged. There are many swoon-worthy and heartwarming moments, as well as light-hearted scenes between You Qin and Ye Tan. Their chemistry is palpable! I also like how the drama portrayed the sisterly love and bond between Ye Tan and Qing Kui; there were no jealousy and hate, just love and support for each other. The strong friendships and family dynamics are also a joy to watch.
The cast's acting, as a whole, was very good! They gave an overall great performance to drive the story. I will mention some of them:
• Chen Xing Xu certainly delivered in this role as Shao Dian You Qin (plus the 3 soul shards). His portrayal of the 5 personalities is spot on and convincing! He proved his versatility again as an actor. I love the 3 soul shards, because each of them represents a different facet of You Qin, which makes him a more well-rounded, complete and likable character. My personal favorite is Mei You Qing. He's so funny and smart! :)
• Li Lan Di is excellent as Li Guang Ye Tan; she truly fits the role. She has great comedic timing, and was able to portray the funny, mischievous and serious sides of Ye Tan. And in the heavier scenes, she was able to convey the depth of her emotions.
• He Xuan Lin as Li Guang Qing Kui was able to exude gentleness and kindness, but showed her inner strength and wits when faced with different challenges.
• Chen Mu Chi's Chao Feng, although he started out as a cunning and deceptive 3rd prince of the Void, gradually grew and matured as a character. I think CMC was able to show this development.
• And let's not forget the besties, Man Man (Wang Li Na), Di Lan Jue (Qin Tian Yu) and Hai Chao (Cao Bo)! I love these three. They are the kind of friends we need - loyal, supportive, gives encouragement, and unafraid to say what needs to be said, even if it hurts sometimes. Not to mention they have a good sense of humor.
• I also like Zi Wu (Dai Ya Qi), Qing Heng (Zhou Zhan), and the Heavenly Empress (Kong Song Jin) – family members who were fiercely loving, loyal and supportive of You Qin.
The rest of the cast did very well too, thus giving this drama its overall quality and making it a memorable one.
The OST is fitting for this drama and adds to my enjoyment of the show. I like both the opening and ending theme songs. As for the CGI and fight scenes, they were aesthetically done and didn't look fake. The production – costumes, locations, sets, props – are on point.
Regarding the ending, I went into this with a general idea of how the story would end, so I wasn't too caught off guard. Although the ending could have been better and more definite, I think it is still good because it gives a sense of hope - it's not a sad ending.
I have rewatched a number of episodes already, and I plan to rewatch the rest in the future.
Final verdict: I highly recommend this one. It is a fun and enjoyable ride, and worth spending your time on!
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The film's compelling storyline, well-developed characters, and seamless special effects create a captivating spectacle and a gentle touch that nuances every character so that you see that everyone is trapped in an intertwined set of dynamic forces, nobody is purely good or evil, just human. Director Yeon Sang-ho brilliantly explores the emotional journey of an ordinary man who gains extraordinary telekinetic abilities. The action sequences are exhilarating, and the humor adds a delightful dimension to the narrative.
Why I give it 5.5 Star?
1) There were lots of scenes that I think unnecessary and the story itself seems to be lacking.
2) There were some characters that were pretty useless. For example: What was the point of Director Hong? She brought nothing to the movie. They could have simply kept it vague.
3) There are so many plot holes that you stop caring about them entirely. Who cares if we switch between throwing bombs at our enemies to saving them from falling off a building?
4) If you're into superhero movies, yes watch it, and be entertained. Just don't look for realism, a message, or anything profound.
5) who the big bad guy/girl is? I mean Who is the Villain?
6) It causes disappointment because it was less exciting than was expected in the end, it felt a bit flat with an extremely anticlimactic ending.
Overall, I don't love the movie much but I don't hate it either. It's more of a so-so.
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Just Amazing! One of the Best Historical Dramas I've Ever Watched
I've seen a few lakorns before but this is the first one I've ever finished. It took me only 4 days to watch this drama because of its captivating story and fantastic acting by the cast. The show has a perfect mix of romance, comedy, and historical content.STORY - Definitely not something that has never been done before but there's something about Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat that's different and made me continue to invest my time in it. The romance was slow burning but that just made you long for the scenes even more. I do appreciate the constant new Thai history facts I was receiving while watching this and I feel somewhat more educated by the time I finished the drama. What made me want to watch this drama was that Por Date HATED Karakade in the beginning, but you can see how their love develops over time. It's just so sweet.
CAST - Superb acting by everyone. Now when I see the actors or actresses, I refer to them as their character's name instead of their real name. They pulled me in and connected me with their character and story. Pope's smiles every time he looks at Bella makes me want to cry because of how cute and pure it is. Bella duality is amazing, being able to play the evil Karakade and the cutiepie Kadesurang. I also love PJ's take on his character, bringing out a gentleman who liked to see his friend (Pope) riled up once in a while. Susie and Prang did not irritate me one bit, despite being the "second female leads". Louis Scott, goddamn, I've seen him play the supporting character in a few dramas and so I've always liked him but man, I despised him in here. I think he played his role really well, but that wig needed to go (or at least groom it better because LMAO, half of the time I was staring at it more than paying attention to his lines). The actresses and actor that played the servants made my heart warm because of their incredible loyalty to the family. They also played the comic relief role very well.
MUSIC - Y'all, I've never thought I would actually get into Thai music but here I am. I'm addicted to the OST and I'm upset that I can't find my favourite ones online. If anyone know how I can listen to the whole album, please send me a message. The tracks that played every time Pope or Bella did/say something romantic made me squeal. It gave me all the feels!!!!!
REWATCH VALUE - 100% will watch again because it has made a permanent record on my list, being the only Thai lakorn I've finished. As someone who is extremely picky when it comes to dramas, the fact that I finished this, loved everything about it, and watched it within 4 days (even though I was meant to be studying for my exam), just shows how awesome it is. I'll definitely watch the romantic scenes again and also just to re-listen to the alluring music.
BONUS!!! - Can you believe this lakorn has no evil female character, no love triangle, no slap/kiss, yet still managed to be one of the best released this year? It just shows that you don't need the typical clichés for a drama to be a hit.
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This drama accurately portrays the life of doctors. Seriously have to stay awake all day. They have to go from school to intern n more training before becoming a true doctor. It shows how newbies have to face many challenges n how they live together in dorms n all. It shows how experienced doctors still have issues in dealin with patients. It is quite meaningful w a lot of quotes about life!! We gotta cherish our lives n we gotta help others w our true hearts.
The romance in this one was outstanding as well!! They compete w each other n fell in love w each other n they had to overcome so many obstacles yet they still can't be together n they still fight to save others. It's so beautiful. They surely were good actors in order to convey such strong emotions. They've got it!!
They pushed our limits n we feel the feelllllssssss!! We watch it as if we were doctors suffering n experiencing their doctor lives. It went from a serious drama to a sad drama that almost killed us all!! This was probably one of the best hk drama out there that helped Kenneth ma skyrocket his career. The chemistry between Fishy n yat kin was seriously amazing as there were a lot of shippers out there.
This drama deserved it's high ratings n they decided to make a sequel but I never wanted to watch the second part cuz I'm afraid they would destroy the amazing drama. It seems like the continuation of the drama was not so well so I'm glad I did not watch the second part. I liked how this ended n I would like it this way.
I suggest that everyone should watch this even if u don't plan on becoming a doctor. Give it a try!!
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Most of the time, it made me cry, because I felt for the characters so much, their pain made my heart hurt. This is a very important thing about this drama. It makes you FEEL for the characters, it makes you truly care about them! It will make you angry and frustrated at time, it will make you question so many things, but it will never bore you! Everything will make sense in the end and you will appreciate every second of it. I really cannot express my feelings enough about this drama. It needs to be said: THIS DRAMA IS THE BEST DRAMA OF 2020 I'VE SEEN SO FAR!
I just loved everything about it, but mostly GO EUN HO! Eunho is really the BEST boy ever! Believe me, you will LOVE HIM! I never loved a middle schooler as much as i love Eunho.. He's just so good.. If I will ever have a son, I wish he was like Eunho. And let's not forget, Cha Youngjin! What a strong woman! She's the strongest and GREATEST person ever. Youngjin's and Eunho's friendship is THE SWEETEST, BEST THING EVER! Their friendship is so pure and lovely and so utterly genuine... They really made each other stronger and helped each other heal and grow! I know for sure, if Youngjin never would've met Eunho.. a lot of things would've ended differently. It was truly meant to be for those 2 to meet and become friends! I'm so thankful that I could witness such a friendship...
Baek Sangho was a fuckin impressive character too, you just really can't get into his head.. you have to watch it till the end to understand! Just like Jang Kiho! Damn that old man, he really gave me headaches for WAY TOO LONG! Lee Sunwoo was not as strong any of the other characters. but we still appreciate everything he did, because there really isn't a single character that was useless to the plot! He grew a lot and it was so nice to watch his character development. And the boys that I love endlessly.. my lost 2 boys.. I won't name them, but if you know you know ~ They are so precious to me and their bravery to stand up for each other was amazing! I was so touched by them.. They did not let adults make them into bad people. They showed everyone that YOU have a choice to be a decent person, even if the circumstances you grew up in was bad...
Just like in Eunho's case.. Eunho grew up in a bad household with an ignorant mother, BUT HE NEVER, blamed adults, he never blamed his mom and loved her despite everything. That in my humble opinion is the purest and most beautiful thing ever.
The story was honestly amazing, I thought it will be another super cultist drama plotline, but it was really different than I expected. Even tho there wasn't a bunch of "new cases" it kept my interest till the end and never let go. The writer clearly knew what they were doing and didn't slack off! Honestly the writing was VERY important and it was truly great!
The acting is SUPERB! The cast is fuckin STRONG!! Their performance was so impressive especially Kim Seohyung, Park Hoon & AHN JIHO! I knew Kim Seohyung is amazing so I did not expect less, but wow Ahn Jiho! My new fave kid actor!! SUCH A TALENTED YOUNG BOY! I really hope to see him in more stuff from now on! He has a bright future ahead of him ~ And Park Hoon, wow just wow! What a performance this man delivered! Just GOOSEBUMPS everywhere.
The ost is FLAWLESS too! Every song just match the drama and overall atmosphere so well! SunwooJungah's and SAAY's osts were my fave.. Such beautiful songs, they truly engraved in my mind!
What else can I say? If you like mystery and investigations, if you like amazing characters with heartwarming friendships, if you like complex stories that keeps you guessing, not exactly about WHO done it, but instead WHY, then YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS DRAMA!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!
I would recommend it to everyone honestly, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea (sadly) but srsly.. just for GO EUN HO! I would watch it if I were you c:
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a well-made drama
This is the type of drama that I like. Truly enjoy the interactions between the characters as well as their developments throughout the story. The casting in my opinion is excellent. My favorite couple is the ML and FL, but the other couples' stories are equally interesting to watch with the right amount of screen time for the romance part. Towards the last arc (the end), the story is a bit loosened and I don't quite grasp all that is going on, and the ending leaves me with questions too, but overall, each episode is well made and captivating, with music accompaniment at the right amount. This is a superb, enjoyable drama that I don't mind to rewatch again and again.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A more mature story on school bullying, albeit a bit green and cliche around the edges.
My curiosity was peaked by the mention of a male student enduring school bullying as I'm used to seeing more of a damsel in distress-type situation play out in Korean television with the male savior trope a little too played out. It was refreshing to see the roles switched, and I was interested to see it unfold onscreen. I'm not familiar with GOT7 excluding Jinyoung from The Devil Judge, and only because I saw the "IDOL" hashtag and realized he was a band member after the fact. I think he's a fantastic actor and has a beautiful cry face (lol). That said, I only realized Youngjae was a member because of the other reviews here exalting his performance as "perfect" and "amazing." I expected him to blow me away based on their reviews and honestly, had I just watched the show without first seeing their comments, I probably would have had a much higher rating for him. Be that as it may, I came out of the mini-drama fully understanding that he is very green still and thought he did well considering.The show itself threw me off quite a bit in the first few episodes. It starts off very silly and like a cliche-rom-com with the FL a bit too bubbly and smiley and the music too simplistic and designed for comedic effect. As the series goes on and we're introduced to the antagonists, the tone of the show becomes a bit more serious, and the music shifts into mostly calm and melodic piano. The leader of the bullies was a little over the top and felt more like an evil caricature, and I was more scared by the unhinged ex-girlfriend because of her instability and reactionary anger. The climax of the series was definitely dark (with her slicing at Youngjae's neck) and I thought that scene was excellently done. It caused the hair on my arms to stand on end, and my jaw dropped. I wish the resolution had been given more breathing room, and I thought the time-skip at the end was an overused cop-out. Overall, I wouldn't watch this series again, but I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy it. While Youngjae is certainly green around the edges (and not quite ready for heavy emotional scenes as was evidenced by his pleading scene at the end of Episode 9), I do think he has a bright future in acting ahead of him and will only improve with time and experience with his peers.
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If you haven't watched this, you're missing out.
This is my first cdrama, and it did not disappoint at all. I had stopped watching any series because I struggled to finish them, but this one pulled me right back into binge-watching. I even subscribed and got VIP access just to watch the latest episodes!The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers trope is perfectly portrayed by Liu Yuning and Song Zuer. Their insane chemistry will have you blushing during their scenes. We love a strong man who can fight, but we love even more a woman who's brilliant with strategy.
Great pairing and an engaging storyline. The ending felt a bit rushed, probably due to some scenes being cut, but overall, it's definitely worth a rewatch.
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This drama picks up at the conclusion of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Those that survived the war are trying their best to get on with their lives and hoping for a bit of normalcy to return to their lives. Anyone with even a cursory bit of knowledge in regards to China and Japan's relations, knows that their relationship was extremely tense/strained during this time period and that's probably putting it lightly. So you can imagine the scenario when a Chinese family rescues a Japanese and welcomes her into their family. Duohe and the Chinese family have both lost family members as a direct result of the war and it would be understandable if they held onto deep resentment towards one another because of that. Instead, everyone acknowledges that even though it was Japan that invaded China, innocent civilians from both countries suffered greatly because of the war. With that in mind, the involved parties, try their best to coexist peacefully with another. I liked that even though China and Japan have their own distinct cultures, customs and traditions, the drama never portrayed the differences as being bad and Duohe only needed to appear more "Chinese" in order to blend in so that other people would't find out.
Without spoiling anything, Duohe's arrival into the family and her place in the family brings its own set of baggage. Baggage that entails a lot of complex, contradicting and conflicting emotions. Her presence in the family is certainly a complicated one but over the course of the drama we gradually see their relationship and bond grow as they endure and persevere through many hardships. The overwhelming amount of understanding, empathy and compassion shown throughout this drama was really touching to me.
The acting was amazing by the entire cast but I have to single out Sun Li's performance. This was the first drama I had watched with Sun Li and she certainly made a huge impression on me solely with her eyes. When she first enters the family, Duohe's eyes look on with curiosity and horror as she sees Erhe's father hitting him, wondering why a parent would hit their own child. Later on, her eyes express great sorrow as she recounts how she lost her family members. Despite everything she has gone though, there is also kindness in her eyes. Duohe believes in the goodness of humanity because Erhe's family saves her and sees her as part of the family despite the fact that she is Japanese/not related by blood. She also witnesses countless amount of people offering help and support even if the situation is risky or they won't receive any benefits from doing so. They do so because they are helping out a member of their community, a fellow countrymen, a fellow human being. A little bit of kindness goes a long way.
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Solo is very much a character driven drama. The story itself takes second seat to the characters we get to know as the drama progresses. Bit by bit, episode by episode, layer by layer, each person's lives and secret selves are exposed. No one is who you think they are, or they become more than you think they are in the beginning. These people are friends, relatives, neighbors, all the everyday people that surround the central cast of characters. However, who is central changes constantly and that is part of the joy of this drama.
There are favorites in the cast that you will grow attached to. But there isn't a wasted one and who you like best will change too. Everyone has a purpose for being there and the story wouldn't be what it is without them. My favorite is absolutely Bae Chong-Ok. I've seen her in so many things, (most recently the mom in Bubblegum, the mom in Spy, the mom in Wonderful Mama, etc) but here she is remarkable. Kim Min Hee as Mi Ri and Lee Jae-Ryong as her gangster boyfriend Ho-Chul almost steal the show. Na Moon Hee barely speaks a word but conveys her unconditional love with ease using just her face and body movements. There is also Lee Han (who later changed his name to Kim Nam Gil) For the first half of the show you would think he's just there to be the third point on the triangle, but much of the story is actually centered around him.
I loved this drama. A Lot! By the time the 9th or 10th episode came around I was clicking on the next episode as fast as I could get to it. If I'd had to stay up all night to finish I would have! The drama is not well known nor did it get good ratings. But it is as cliche free as a drama can be and that probably accounts for a lot of that. This is not a drama for everyone. It proceeds much like an indie film, but with enough passion and angst that it should satisfy that appetite too. For me, the weakest part of this drama was the romance. I could not get invested in it. It was an interference in the lives of these people, a painful experience that created angst and separation for people I had grown to care about and whom I did not want to have hurt any more than they were already. The resolution was forgone, but not satisfying...FOR ME. You may totally disagree!
I give it an 8.5 for brilliant writing, terrific acting, wonderful chemistry and, most of all, innovative and unique presentation. What a cast! I hope you love it too. ( I would have given it a 9...but that romance thing.....)
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This review may contain spoilers
A Masterpiece and A Game-Changer in Thai BL Industry
-- Story --The story is closely-adapted from a novel, thus I cannot really criticise the story in the series. It is closely-tied to Thai culture with many symbolisms that may look weird or even rude in other culture's perspective. For example, Phupha pushing Tian away for Tian's own greater good. It can be perceived as a good and a bad thing; depends on the perspective. You can find many discussions about this in the comment section on both YouTube and MDL.
I must say that the series has a better ending than the novel. In the novel, Tian cancelled his plan to study in US to return to the village. In the series, Tian still went to US and came back to the village two years after that. It made the scene when Phupha got to see Tian again more romantic.
But the ending in the series (Ep 10) was too fast-paced. It is predictable though since the climax (Tian's confession and/or Phupha's getting shot) happened in Ep 8-9. The ending was crammed in just one episode and I think that is not enough.
My only complain is Phupha's appearance in the cliff in the last episode. He came alone to there after getting a RED ALERT notice. That was basically suicide.
Oh, and the scene when Phupha and Tian returned to the village from the hospital in Ep 9. Phupha drived the car using one hand. I am still finding the reasoning behind his ability to do that.
-- Acting/Cast --
Near perfect.
Earth is the right actor to perform Phupha. His micro-expression was out of the world. I really like how Phupha sighed before talking to Tian. It really showed the struggle of an old man when talking to a young man. And the beard, it's legendary lol.
Mix did an excellent job in his first time as an actor. There was something in his eyes that could make me feel what Tian felt. Some of the crying scenes looks too forced though. Compared to Gun ATP's crying scenes in Theory of Love, Mix's crying scenes are still behind. But that is actually a compliment because I compare him to Gun ATP. Nobody beats that man in the crying department.
The thing that amazes me the most is how Earth and Mix shows the love Phupha and Tian had towards each other without even saying "I love you" and "Will you be my boyfriend?" at all. Their actions alone were powerful enough to convey the message. This is the first time I see this in my 20 years watching gay-themed films/series. Truly a game-changer.
The selfie scene in Ep 10 could have been done better though. No way Tian could take a selfie with +30 people. When I watched it, my eyes were focused on the three girls behind. I am so sorry for them.
-- Music --
I fall in love with the main soundtrack Ni Taan Pan Dao. I am going to listen to it everyday.
The music suits the theme and the setting of the series. It is a perfect match. The khlui (Thai flute) sound made me feel like I was really there, in the village, experiencing the story unfolds. The lyrics is perfect for the story. And the timing of its appearance throughout the series is impeccable.
-- Rewatch Value --
This series is highly recommended even for non-BL-enthusiasts. This series is not perfect, but it is no doubt one of the best (if not the best) gay-themed films/series I have ever watched.
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A sweet preview
This little short two episode series/short ilm feels like a great preview ro what could have been a decent drama, short sweet a series that offers lovely chemistry and probably one of the best kissing schenes I have seen in a long time.Yes I wish this had a bigger budget, more episodes and just more of everything but considering how short this is they did a pretty impressive job. So hats off, and if you have about 20 minutes that you are not sure what to do with, watching this would be a pretty good use of that time.
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This drama is definitely a must see drama. I really enjoyed the whole story. Its crazy what people would do for money, power, and vengeance.
The four leads play amazing roles. Jung Ryeo Won and Lee Bum Soo, my two favorite were hilarious and acted well together. Jung Ryeo Won (Baek Yeo Chi)has a serious cursing problem (beware it might me contagious lol).
Music OMG this drama has diversity!!! From Guns n Roses to Beyonce to Super Junior....just love it!!!
Really recommend anyone to watch this awesome drama. It will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even want to slap or kill someone lol jk :P
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