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Sweet Silly Fantasy Special Episodes with Plotholes
I have to say that the transition from a bodyguard/boss story into a fantasy-themed one with reverse reincarnation is shocking! Maybe because they only have 2 episodes or about 100 minutes to make up the rule of the fantasy, give explanations on how it could happens, and not to mention the actual story in the past itself, the overall plot seems to be full of holes and there are some questions as well. But considering this is a special and the fact that I have bias for BL series, I'll just try to enjoy the overall theme and story without thinking much about the plot holes.I could enjoy the historical theme more, if they explain or give rough descriptions on what time period they were reverse reincarnated to. Love the role reversal where Palm becomes the lord while Nueng is the servant and how the power dynamic is shifted according to their new roles. Love the moments where they talk about their plans for the future and when they have differing opinions, they can talk it out (although I think you would need to talk more than that especially discussing important matters like that). Also loves it that both Palm and Nueng shows they have each their own good and bad quality but they still stick to each other despite of that. Last but not least, loves that Palm seems to make decision at the end because it's what he wants as well and not because it's what he thought would be the best for them
Side couples come as a surprise to me! Even though they only have a few minutes of screentime, apparently I was too invested in their story. I unexpectedly shed some tears when in the current era, Phum (Petch) and Kan (Kla) are boyfriends too. It feels like they got what they deserves, even when they couldn't be together in the past era.
P.S. love the eye refreshments scene *wink
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If you like novels like 1984, Lord Of The Flies, The Giver or Hunger Games...You may like watching Ikigami, The Ultimate Limit. Set in an unknown but familiar looking future time; the population is contained and controlled by random selection. Children are inoculated when they enter school and sometime during their young adulthood; the 'chosen to sacrifice for prosperity' are given 24 hours notice of their death. The story begins here for the viewer. We get to follow one man (Shota Matsuda) who's job it is to inform the chosen that their death is nigh.
I found it incredibly interesting; the different reactions people had to this news. This story is more about the human condition, human reactions in the face of death with nothing left to lose. It is not a rousing tale of the populous rising up to over throw the oppression. It is dark, sad and really touching.
The color pallet of the film lends itself to this feeling. Dark blue lighting, cloudy days, windowless rooms and dank underground work places. There are glimpses of light just as their are glimpses of hope in the lives of those lived and those left behind.
I've never read the manga but I am curious now. I recommend this film highly and not just because I am a rabid fan of Matsuda Shota. But I am a fan for a reason besides the superficial. He is a great actor, with a rubber face, fearless emoting and the ability to go very dark. He can turn it on a dime and be comedic too but for that you will have to watch some of his other films and dramas.
The whole cast was stellar. I particularly loved Yuta Kanai and Yamada Takayuki. Their acting was amazing and their stories touched my heart.
This is a cool movie. Give it a try if you are in the mood for darker fare.
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I saw this movie when I was in early stage of exploration Korean movies. I didn't know what to expect from this. I watched this movie when my taste of movie was changing and it contributed very much in changing my movie taste. This is my favorite love story.
Failan has a very solid story. It’s a new kind of romance/drama story. At first glance it doesn’t look like a story which can grab you next to screen for 115 minutes and sometimes it is slow but believe me it has ability to grab you for almost 2 hours. It is a realistic story and after watching this movie many people will have a question about characters’ love.
The acting and cast is excellent. This movie is equipped with super talented Choi Min-Shik and Cecilia Cheung. Both are great and gave amazing performance.
And about ending…..I won’t say whether it is sad or happy but it’s one of the best endings I’ve seen so far. It is the most beautiful ending.
I’ve to say that this movie is not for everyone because it is really slow. But if you want to see a movie that truly touches your heart then this is the movie for you. This is really a great movie and any movie lover should watch this movie at-least once. This is highly recommended movie for those who seeks a different kind of story and new type of love story.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my first time writing this kind of review. Im so desperate because this drama is underrated even though its such a great drama. I didnt watch it because some famous girl groups are the actors/actresses but rather the plot it has. *spoiler alert* At first, you would actually think its just a normal drama and I predicted that the teacher and the student has an affair or anything but ive been flipped off by my hypothesis, because I was wrong. The drama is great, the actors and actresses are great even though they are still young that time, the music was great you can almost feel their emotions because of its great ost. The main actor was handsome so as his girlfriend in the drama. Hope you'll watch it. There's no dull moment. It shows how cruel the society are and i dont even know if this is what really happens in Korea's society. :) Was this review helpful to you?
A slow burn thriller filled with beautiful cinematography
After a few months of dropping dramas midway, this was the first one I completed. While the story has it's plot holes, it is extremely gripping and addictive. After every episode I was compelled to find time to watch another one. I actually liked that the airing schedule only had two episodes per week. The time in between helped to make me more invested in the drama rather than lose interest. This is a slow burn that you need to take slow.A wife is faced with her husband's death and left with a debt of 40 million yuan. Her signature was forged in the documents making her the underwriter (I have serious doubts about the legalities of this but let's not get into it). There are boat loads of people invested in finding out where the money is at. And there we have our thriller.
Is the husband dead? Does the widow have the money? Who is the lawyer that suddenly popped up from nowhere? What is the husband's assistant looking for? What's the best friend keeping from the widow?.......are only a few of the mysteries that surround us. And thankfully they all get answered over the course of 38 episodes.
There is a natural progression of mysteries as the show unfolds and the acting was at par with the intensity of the thrill. Both ML and FL are new actors for me and did a great job bringing their characters to life. I really liked the FL's character, though she is the main protagonist we never get to really understand what she is actually thinking inside. She is a very strong character and doesn't let the circumstances she has been dealt with get to her. While we see her breaking down multiple times as is natural but we also see her getting back up without depending on someone else to help her. She has a reason to doubt everyone around her as no one is telling the truth and everyone is interested in the money she supposedly has hidden. And also, I found her drop dead gorgeous. Her stills were just too beautiful.
The ML starts off as yet another despicable fellow who is trying to take advantage of the widow but gets better down the road. His motives remain shady for a while and we don't get to know him until quite later but whatever his personality, he did a great job bringing his questionable character to life.
The supporting characters are also fleshed out well and we get to know more about them as the story progresses. I appreciated that there were all kinds of characters in this drama. The good ones, the selfish ones, the silly ones and the bad ones. Many characters were grey and not fully evil which brought a very realistic element to the people side of things in this show. While there are two protagonists, the rest of the characters also got their time in the limelight so this felt more like a mature drama thriller with an added element of family relations.
The cinematography is just beautiful. I loved everything from the colour palette that was used to the artistic stills and soft touch ups. This show was a mood I wanted to immerse myself in and the melancholic music softly crept into my heart sprouting delicate leaves of naive expectation. I hoped for a satisfactory ending that would answer all the mysteries that kept piling up as the episodes went into double digits.
This is a slow burn that I unexpectedly enjoyed just like the grammatically incorrect but apt title. A 8.5/10, if only because it kept me engaged and stopped my dropping spree.
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It's aesthetically pleasing to watch, but that's it.
Unfortunately, A Breeze of Love was a let down.The theme of this drama is pretty much about misunderstandings, and I don't know about you guys but I am so tired of this cliché. As a drama lover though, I've come to accept —not welcome— but just accept misunderstandings because I know it's unavoidable and we need it to build the drama. But I'd just like for the misunderstandings to actually play out in a way that makes sense, not just for the sake of creating angst.
The drama I can draw the closest comparison to, in terms of overall plot, is probably Bon Appetit and Our Dating Sim. These three dramas depict the story of two people who start to form a relationship in highschool/university, get separated suddenly but then they meet again years later and start to rekindle their relationship. ODS was also an 8-episode series of roughly the same 15-minute runtime per episode, but it was able to deliver more than ABOL. Bon Appetit also had more depth to the story but would be unfair to use as a direct comparison since it had a larger runtime. What ODS and BA did much better compared to ABOL is that there was world building, depth to the story and communication. ABOL lacked all of these imo. What we got instead was a short series that was really pretty to watch but didn't offer anything in terms of storyline. It's truly unfortunate because of the good acting from the main leads.
On the note of 'world building' and 'communication', ABOL of course had scenes showing the lives of the main leads at university or with their friends but those scenes were short and still primarily centred around the main couple. And then interestingly enough, because we had less world building, we naturally had a lot more scenes of the main couple, which I would normally be enthusiastic about. However, in this case, those scenes were underutilized. What I mean is, we would have scenes of the main couple together, looking at each other and talking, but it just felt like not much was actually being said. I guess all the slow-mos, voiceovers, and repeated flasbacks didn’t help but even in moments where the couple were together in the present world, I just felt like, for the most part, we weren't getting much information out of them. I would have liked to see the main couple communicate more, especially when they were rekindling their relationship after they reunited, but nope, they didn't dissect what had happened in highschool and why they got separated, instead we just got another misunderstanding that got blown out of proportion yet again. It just felt like there wasn't much character development. There was one scene with a big fight between the couple where their acting skills are truly at their highest form and I really loved it. They were communicating, still not saying exactly what is is that they were angry about, but it was at least something more and I wish we got more of those kind of deep moments.
Although the acting was really good, the chemistry between the leads wasn't really good or bad. It was just there...Definitely not on the same scale as Bon Appetit or ODS. The couple were cute together and mainly because they're such a handsome duo, but that's it.
Honestly I'm sad. I was so stoked for this because the trailer looked so good in terms of production and acting [which I think it did deliver on in these two areas]. The trailer also seemed to give off a serious vibe — like we were going to witness the love story of two people and this big falling out they must have had for one of them to hate the other so much, and the eventual rekindling of their relationship years after their separation. Instead what we got was a basic misunderstanding plot.
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Story: It was like I was watching three different dramas because the plot changed so much and there were many time jumps. The first part is about Ji Sang growing up meeting both his loves and discovering he is a Seer. The second part is romance, political war, and the journey of Lee Sung Gye to be come King. The last part is tragedy central and the eventual crowning of Lee Sung Gye. The ending is bittersweet so expect both sad and happy endings for our main characters.
Acting: I'm going to start with our 3 male leads since they got the most screen time compared to the gals. Ji Jin Hee mostly has played stiff characters from the dramas I’ve seen but I got to say you haven’t seen him play a character like Lee Sung Gye. His character development was so awesome as he starts off as what seems like a crazy lunatic eventually becoming what you’d expect from the King of Joseon. I’ve only seen Ji Sung in Protect the Boss but he plays a different character in this. He did a great job portraying his character that experiences different personality changes from playful to serious/dramatic due to circumstances. Song Chang Ui played the villain well and his chemistry with Lee Yoon Ji was so great that I was rooting for their characters to get together and find their own happiness. As for the 2 female leads, they were perfect, as I would expect from them. There were MANY supporting characters and they all were able to make their characters stand out because a lot of them came and went as the plot kept changing, I found myself wondering what happened to them or I felt bad when their character was killed off.
Music: What you would expect from a historical drama but nothing particularly memorable.
Rewatch: I wouldn’t mind watching this again cause the plot was fresh but not for a while cause the drama is long and it was kind of sad.
Overall whether you like historicals or not the Great Seer will not waste your time and it’s a very intriguing ride.
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Y, Y, Y Should you watch this?
Why not?!.... Before we start,WARNING: if you suffer from epilepsy or from chronic migraine. like me, skip 46 sec to start each episode. You won’t miss anything important from the intro, I’ll quote what they say at the end so you can save yourself.
The second thing I want to point out is that this series is not for everyone. This show is pure chaotic energy. It is not your normal rom-com, this is a sitcom, so don’t go in there with the mindset of a regular show and the bl tag because you will be disappointed. Even when it comes to comedy you’d also need to consider things like cultural context and personal taste. I have noticed that in Thai, they do a lot of play on word that Thai’s find hilarious while for the rest of us it may fall flat or even not make sense. I personally do not like Jim Carey type comedy and I’d never go for those kinds of shows but I seem to like this one. My point is - keep any open mind :)
The plot follows the lives and interactions of people that live in an apartment building owned by a yaoi obsessed transgender woman. Right off I’m going to tell you that some of the scenes in this drama are a product of someone’s lucid dream so like the warning in the intro said – don’t expect things to make sense. A true crackheads fever dream I’m telling you. Besides the crazy, you also have fake relationships (duh it’s a bl), love triangles (hello Asian drama), over-the-top-extra characters, they repeatedly bring up scenes from other bl’s and make parody of it and yet there are real, truly meaningful, moments and a few nugget of wisdom in there.
Nott (Yoon) – Frankly speaking, this is one of the most well-rounded, well written character I have seen. In this wack-a-do-doodle of a drama I did not expect to see such a mature character. The actor really did well, he comes off as both adorable and somehow serious at the same time. His character is a great communicator and his every interaction either with Pun, or his other two close friends (Arm & Ohm) will truly leave an impression.
Pun (Talay) – Pun is the cute new tenant that moved in with Nott. In all honesty, more than the character I am impressed with the actor. I watched Talay both here in YYY and in My Engineer so I got to see him play two different characters at the same time so I was able to see how well he did in his two roles with two different partners. I mean, I was rooting for his character with one person on Tuesdays and with another on Saturdays. This shows how well he worked with both his partners. My man oozes charisma on top of his ability to act. I really think people should keep an eye on him (and also bless his stylist because Pun’s outfits were good!)
Propla (Poppy) – okay anyone who has seen Poppy knows how buff and masculine he is but he put on a wig and a dress and he looks so feminine and his acting just sells it. I’m truly impressed. Poppy plays the yaoi obsessed, transgender apartment owner and provides most of the levity in the show.
The Bl part of this show is so endearing. Yoon and Talay have good chemistry and the characters Nott and Pun are just perfect!
Most of the music for this is from Why R U, but they have two OST and they are good! One you can dance to and the other one actually has really cute lyrics XD
The directing and editing is not that great (same director as WHY R U so no surprise there) but I found it hasn’t stopped me from enjoying the show. I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised with this show and I don't regret watching it.
Much like the show my rating also defies logic. A rational rating considering all aspects of the drama should have put it between 6 - 7 but I'm basing my scores on how good this drama makes me feel.
**If you decide to give this show a try, please support the show by using the official links. Aphys has kindly posted all official links as well as those for the official MV in the discussion forum.
For those who will be skipping the intro, here is the quote as promised;
“This Yaoi sit-com show is made for pure entertainment. This show contains strong language and inappropriate contents. And useful knowledge? Meh. Zero. Only drama. And I mean LOTS. Guidance should be suggested for children 18 and under. Do not ask for any rationality. Seriously. Do I look like I’m rational? No. Give me a break. If you want to laugh, laugh your heart out. Things are stressful. Give yourself a break. Without further ado, let the show begin”
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This review may contain spoilers
Season 1 was far better
Why I liked the drama?- THE FEMALE CHARACTERS! Usagi, Kuina, and Ann. Honestly, they carried the whole show. Their relationships were interesting and each was independent and badass. They didn't need men to survive the games, in fact the men needed them. It's not everyday that you can find a survival story where the female characters took major controls.
- Chishiya! He's so interesting, more than the MC himself. His laid back personality was the opposite of his brain capabilities. Honestly, I'm glad he had his own screen times to finish two games. And he did it perfectly alone. Chishiya be like: Me, myself, and I.
Why I disliked the drama?
- Arisu's characterization. Suddenly, his characters got weaker than previous season. All of the time, he needed Usagi to take care of his ass because his mentality dropped down drastically. It's like he lost his confidence and never got it back lmao -.-
- Aguni and Heiya's relationship. It's disturbing that Heiya, a girl in high school (definitely underage, no?!), was head over heels to Aguni. Their age difference made me fume with madness. On the other hand, Aguni didn't seem to take it seriously, but who knows what the writers had in minds.
- Plot armor too visible. During the King of Spades', the main characters should've died multiple times, but no. They're invincible to the bullets, except the extras. Others got killed by ONE shot, our main characters could survive from ten thousands shoots to their bodies. Hooray to the armor!
- The ending. Such a shitty ending -,- people can make theories about the 'borderland' but I personally think the ending was not satisfying. On the Queen of Hearts' game, Arisu and Usagi made a whole speech to each other, but in the end, I was left with disappointment. This season's storyline was definitely too rushed.
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After having her son kidnapped, top actress Jung Hye In (Kim Ah Joong) starts filming a reality show on the kidnapper's demands to save him. Every episode starts with a mission which she has to complete. As the story unfolds you, like Jung Hye In, will learn how everything is connected to each other. It's fair to say that every episode keeps you on the edge of the seat. As the search for Hyun Woo continues, you want to know what the kidnapper's motives are.
The cast is made up of a lot of familiar faces. You might know some of the actors/actresses from their previous work as they have acted in well received drama's. Kim Ah Joong plays Jung Hye In, a retiring top actress whose son get kidnapped. As someone with a public image, she has to go through ordeals to secure the safety of her child. It's not easy to put up a front as she's a top actress & worrying mother as well. The amount of emotions are portrayed very well by her. She acted out her character pretty good. Uhm Tae Woong does a good job playing Shin Dong Wook, a PD who is fired before he gets the chance to make an influential show. He gives off a stern & cold vibe that goes well with the character Shin Dong Wook. Ji Hyun Woo takes on the role of detective Cha Seung In. He surprised me with his acting. In 'Angry Mom' he played a righteous but somewhat pushover teacher. Didn't expect him to play a determined, righteous & kick ass detective but he pulls it of very well. Every character (even the support roles) has his/her background story that fits in with the development of the plot.
It's not very uncommon for thrillers to use anything beside ambiance background music. That being said, Wanted has a total of 4 OST's and the songs aren't that bad. It's a shame they couldn't be implemented someway (e.g, ending credits) so be sure to give them a listen. You don't want to miss out on a song like Yezi & Jung Chaeyeon's - Shadow.
Wanted is a thriller with a great cast, a steady pace and intriguing story. There are things that could have been done better to live up to it's "promising" plot. It's a pity but not too disturbing. The drama is somewhat thought provoking and the suspense only leaves you wanting more.
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Refreshing school drama
This drama seems like a much lighter and refreshing version of Go Ahead - Ling Xiao's mom is also FL's mom. ML, who is an introvert, was also abandoned as a child, and ML and FL grow up together as siblings. Love triangle (sort of) is also present.The original book where this drama was based on has three parts - their high school life, college life, and adulthood. Fluorish in Time covers only their High School life. Main leads are good looking and very cute.
Also, quite opposite to other Chinese dramas, some few episodes in the first half can be sonewhat dragging (especially the Supporting leads), but the second half becomes faster paced and very interesting.
All in all, a cute and enjoyable drama about Chinese high school life. Would recommend to Go Ahead fans.
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Recommended for Romance Slice-of-Life Lovers and Fans of the Leads (Amazing Chemistry)
Overall - 8.25Subjective Romance-lover Rating - 8.5 (9.0 for first 10 episodes)
Objective Overall Rating - 8.0
“Road Home” is a true romance drama that focuses on the main leads’ romantic journey from when they were teenagers, separated for over 10 years and reunited again as adults. This is a slow-paced slice-of-life drama where nothing dramatic really happens. The side plots are all there to illustrate how Lu Chen (ML) and Gui Xiao (FL) manage their relationship. Although we see scenes of SWAT training, you will be disappointed if you are looking for a drama similar to “You Are My Hero”.
Recommended for:
1. Hopeless Romantics
2. Those who are in the mood to watch something romantic
3. Slice-of-Life romance lovers, who are fine with a slower pace and no dramatic plot twists.
4. Fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan
What I Like and Enjoy:
1. Acting (Jing Bo Ran and Seven Tan) - Without these two’s amazing acting, this drama would not be successful at all. There isn’t a lot of talking between the leads, because JBR’s character is very quiet and only answers in a word or two most of the time. But when you have experienced actors who can convey emotions with their eyes and subtle facial expressions, that makes the drama worth watching. It’s not a surprise to see Seven Tan play a high schooler and make it believable. I am more surprised to see the innocent look on JBR’s face as a teenager. Granted, he does look older than 18, but his expressions show a different side of him when he was younger. The white filter helps distinguish his younger and innocent days from the mature, battle-tested adult days.
2. Romance - This is the bread and butter of the drama. You have to love this genre to fully appreciate this drama. The chemistry is amazing and sizzling. To me, the best part of this drama is the first 8-10 episodes, before the leads officially got back together. The yearning, longing and hurt, the gazes of the desperate need to reconnect, sucked me right into their love story. Viewers need to watch the subtle facial expressions and read between the lines for all the indirect hidden meaning of what’s going on. Yes, the pace might be slow for some, but I love these initial meetings when they meet each other after 10 years. And to reward us for enduring the pain with the leads, viewers are rewarded with many romantic kisses, hand-holding, hugs and back hugs, and fluffiness in the second half of the drama.
3. Jin Bo Ran - I have never considered JBR as my type of handsome. However, there is nothing that prevents me from falling in love with him and his character. Who wouldn’t love a sexy man in uniform who cooks, cleans, pampers, and is considerate and thoughtful and never raises his voice at you? Jin Bo Ran has never been so sexy to me and I appreciate the drama showing us his nicely toned upper body, whether if he’s topless or wearing a wife beater and showing off his arms. I do wish he had a nicer wardrobe.
4. OST - Lovely songs in this original soundtrack. A few of the songs’ lyrics match the scenes perfectly. Seven Tan’s version of 《青春无恙》(Healthy Youth) puts me right in the mood in the first ⅓ of the drama. The upbeat song《恋爱在流行》(Love is Popular) made me happy and immediately brought back memories of the sweet and fluffy scenes between the leads.
5. Production Quality - Nice wintery sceneries, introduced me to the Chinese Grand Canyon (never knew it existed), making sandy/desert areas romantic (not pretty though). Lucky to see that the women have a nice wardrobe, which doesn’t always happen in a Chinese drama. All the men look good in uniform. Nothing seems cheap, with a few nice sets such as FL’s apartment and office.
What I don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:
Most of my critiques are due to the fact this is a 30-episode drama. If there are only 24 episodes, I might not be as ‘harsh’. I feel that there’s so much time that the drama can afford to better develop some of the side plots. The side stories could have been more impactful, and not just a forgettable mess in the presence of the main romance.
1. ML’s dad/family - Without getting too spoilery, I just want to say that the redemption arc is not well done at all. It’s laughable that everything is swept under the carpet after the conversation and agreement between ML’s mother and father. The drama made a big deal initially, but in the end, nothing really happened. FL wasn’t really put in a particularly difficult position once she officially met the father.
2. Secondary Romance - I would have loved to see some phone conversations to make me believe that those two can fall for each other. Viewers were told that they have gotten a lot closer, but never really showed us any meaningful scenes. This seems like a convenient and quickly put-together side romance, and not well-thought out.
3. Poor Kid - We got such an adorable young actor, but he’s being wasted. This child got passed around like a ball to stay at different houses. I understand the reason behind that, but I wish we had seen more scenes with him in it. Most of the time, he just gets sent to a different room because the leads or the adults have things to talk about or need to have some alone time. I wish there are more meaningful conversations, like the one he had with Seven Tan about growing up with divorced parents. What a wasted potential.
4. Bright backlighting - I am very annoyed with the strong white light behind the leads every single time they are trying to kiss or have a romantic scene. I want to see the facial expression, not be blinded by the light. The chemistry is interrupted constantly because of this light.
5. Flashbacks - For the most part, I like the drama’s use of flashbacks to tell the story of the leads younger days. However, I wish they had incorporated the days when they first broke up and were having a tough time. We hear that ML was living like a zombie, but I want to see. I want to see how hurt and depressed they were, so that I can feel even more when they’re reunited at the gas station. The drama practically ended in ep 29. I am glad that we got to see the male lead’s perspectives during their younger days. I am conflicted whether they should have left those scenes in the last episode, or if they should be introduced throughout the drama. But I guess in a way, the story came back in full circle. The first time he fell in love with her was at the same place where he saw her before the wedding. It’s fate. They are meant to be together.
6. Too fluffy? - I can’t believe I am typing this in the critique section (maybe more of a mixed feeling). I feel that the last 10 episodes have too many cute and sweet scenes of the leads not doing much. Do I love how they gaze lovingly at each other with sweet kisses and hugs? Of course! But I also felt that it’s a little repetitive when the plot is not really moving.
I do recommend this drama for those who are in the mood for something romantic. However, it’s not an amazing all-around drama. If you are fans of Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan, do not miss this! I haven’t read the book and if you did and watched the drama, do you mind leaving a comment and telling me if the drama follows novelty closely? Do my criticisms of the side plots also happen in the novel?
Other Random Observations:
1. I think a wheelchair should be used for Seven Tan a LOT sooner when she’s at the hospital.
2. Jin Bo Ran and Seven Tan look handsome/beautiful in ep. 29.
3. No real annoying character.
Completed: 4/2/2023
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THE EMOTIONS ??
I don't know how to explain this but I cried a lot during this series and I loved it! The actors are fantastic and we have drama until the end!!! 💗💗💗 I know one day I'll watch it again! 💗💗💗For me, the "icing on the cake" was the main protagonist. She knows exactly how to convey the emotions she's feeling and we feel the same with her. You laugh when she laughs and cry when she cries. I won't give any spoilers, but there is such a distressing moment and the actress conveys that emotion perfectly. I was constantly wiping my glasses with the cloth because of the tears. The title is a bit misleading and gives the impression that it won't be a very good series (at least that's what I felt) but it surprised me in a positive way!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
I Survived All 35 Episodes of Love and Crown.
I don't usually write reviews for dramas but I had to get this out of my chest.Before I even sat down to write this, I came across a review that said this show should've been called "Love and Clowns" - and honestly, I couldn't agree more.
First of all, if I could get my hands on the screenwriter, I would torture them by making them rewatch all 35 episodes of their own creation. The show started out fine, actually. The opening episodes with the flashbacks were fun. Then it fell off a cliff - and unlike the characters in this show, it did not survive.
The story has too many characters, too many plotlines, and each one has more holes than a fishing net. I haven't seen many C-dramas where the male lead is already the emperor in episode one, so I was genuinely excited to follow Xiao Huan's journey. That excitement didn't last long. Nothing this man does makes sense. He talks about protecting the people and the country - noble, great - but the moment anything goes wrong, he starts pushing everyone around him away under the grand delusion that he's protecting them. The person who suffers most for this is his love interest, Ling Cangcang. If she's the screenwriter's idea of a headstrong female lead, they urgently need to do some reading - historical or otherwise. She's supposed to be the leader of an entire sect, but all I actually saw was someone jumping into situations with zero plan and being a liability every single time. And the male lead? Exactly two facial expressions: sad when he's hurt someone he pushed away, or stone-faced. That's it. That's the range.
The moral of this show, if it has one, seems to be that villains will always be forgiven no matter what they've done. The clearest example is Ling Cangcang's father, Ling Xue Feng. I genuinely thought he'd be the main antagonist - his character had real potential. Instead, all the plot did with him was one failed rebellion, repeatedly hurting his own daughter under the excuse of protecting the Ling clan, and then... getting locked up in a temple with everything he wanted anyway. That's the punishment. A cosy temple. They completely wasted him.
The romance I actually liked was Li Hong Qing and Xiao Ying. And I knew, I knew - the moment he had that long, dramatic, half-episode-long goodbye scene to go save his friends that one of them was going to die. Sure enough, a few episodes later, Xiao Ying dies. (Li Hong Qing technically jumped off a cliff, but at this point, we all know nobody in a C-drama ever actually dies from jumping off a cliff.) I have more to say about them, but I'd rather not.
Now, the wildest plot twist in the whole show: Du Tingxin becoming the main villain. The last ten episodes were genuinely unwatchable because of her - the unhinged acting, the theatrical evil laughs, the whole thing. In what world does an imperial preceptor kill someone and face zero real consequences? And Xiao Huan, who supposedly can read schemes from miles away, kept trusting her like she hadn't given him every reason not to. She's one of the most useless villains I've ever seen in a drama, and her "punishment" at the end - being allowed to live out her days in the palace - was the final insult.
I won't even get into all the other plot holes: the lunar eclipse poison, Xiao Qian Qing surviving despite being poisoned, Xiao Huan's mother randomly showing up in the second-to-last episode, or the Empress Dowager Liu killing the emperor like it was an afterthought. And then there's Zhong Lin dying right beside Ling Cangcang for no clearly explained reason whatsoever. This isn't even a complete list - there's so much more, and I've already spent more energy on this show than it deserved.
I could rant about this for hours. But since I have a bad habit of finishing shows I start, I sat through all 35 episodes. I deserve an award for that. And compensation money. The OST is genuinely good. I'll give it that. But even that gets buried under the weight of a plot that fell apart, acting choices that didn't help it, and cinematography that couldn't save either. A generous 4/10.
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