Reviews

"If I understood him I’d lose him”

Stolen Life starring Zhao Xun showed how being brought up without real affection and acceptance can lead a young woman to settle for whatever crumbs she can glean from a man who is the very definition of a red flag. People can perform all sorts of mental gymnastics to avoid facing the truth and in this tale, Yan Ni paid a heavy price for ignoring the glaring warning signs.

Wu Yan Ni lives with her grandmother and aunt in Beijing. Her mother was an “intellectual” sent to the countryside where she met Yan Ni’s father. Quiet Yan Ni rarely sees her mother and meets her father for the first time when she’s fourteen. The women think she should learn a trade and marry. Her father declares she should go to college (university) so that her future would hold more opportunities than theirs. On her first day at the university, she meets a handsome delivery driver named Mu Yu. He showers her with attention and small gifts which causes Yan Ni to lose her heart…and her common sense.

This film highlighted the problems that can arise from not communicating. Yan Ni’s mom never told her why she was living with her grandmother leaving Yan Ni to believe she’d been abandoned. For fourteen years her father never made contact. Yan Ni was so afraid of being alone that she never asked Mu Yu any personal questions for fear of the answers or upsetting him. She knew instinctively and empirically when he was lying to her yet chose to ignore the facts in order to stay with him. It was like watching a person continually swerve into oncoming traffic and expecting to not get hit. The costs to her physical and mental health continued to grow.

Stolen Life was frustrating to watch, especially with most of Yan Ni’s feelings being explained by a voiceover, not shown through her actions and reactions. Whatever the artistic reason for the scene-by-scene narration, it cost the story emotional integrity and distanced this viewer from the characters due to the near constant interruptions. It really was a shame because the film discussed a couple of issues not normally seen in Chinese films and the actors were more than capable of handling the sensitive subjects. Aside from the lessons in communication and self-worth, the film also emphasized the old saying, “It takes a mighty good man to be better than no man at all.”*

15 September 2025
*Dixie Carter

Spoilery comments below:











Can a baby’s father and grandmother determine a baby will be put up for adoption without the birth mother’s consent in China?

Female students forced to leave school for being pregnant is ridiculous. It’s not catching! Plus, the mother will need the better opportunities higher education will give her in the job market to help her raise the baby.

Mu Yu was playing a ridiculously long con on the women he scammed. His doormat detector was honed to perfection. He could spot a woman desperately alone and without any self-esteem. This is why women without supportive families desperately need good girlfriends.

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A Commentary on Society-Destroying Meritocracy

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

It became clear by the end of this series, that this is a social thriller depicting the damaging effects of living in a meritocracy. I wish I knew from the beginning...maybe then I wouldn’t have been so pissed off by the ending.
By the way, this review encompasses both parts.

Acting/Cast: There were certain characters that over-acted pretty consistently. I also didn’t like the acting style of the main student (the one in charge of filming interviews). Other than that, it was alright and for the most part the acting improves throughout the course of the drama. 5/10

Writing: The purpose of this drama is to criticize meritocracy by using the backdrop of an alien invasion. A meritocracy is “a political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth or social class. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement.” In short, it’s a system where a person’s performance in school is really the only thing that matters. This drama depicts the consequences of that type of society. This is a huge problem in South Korea in particular. It has created a society where a student’s peers are seen as competition, creating a lack of comradery between them. It also results in a divide between child and parent—with the parent’s love being conditional to their child’s academic achievement. In a metaphorical sense, citizens are thrown into warfare to fight within a brutal system at a very young age far before they are able to mentally handle it, which is something the drama did in a literal sense with these students. Such an extreme focus on grades results in a blindness to all other valuable aspects of life—fun, love, friendship, truth—which prevents one from truly experiencing a full life and finding happiness. They are seen as expendable soldiers, as illustrated in the drama, and are easily used as pawns due to this hyper fixation on grades to the point where common sense has gone out the window. These aspects of a meritocracy cause mental illness in those who are forced to participate—depression, suicide, psychopathy, low self-esteem, insecurity. The drama shows all of this and it’s inevitable conclusion: death.

With that being said, is this drama written well? Even though I understand what the writers are trying to convey, there are obvious issues throughout the drama. There are scenes that are so infuriatingly frustrating and there are scenes that don’t make much sense. For instance, all of the students have guns, but conveniently they suddenly don’t have them when they actually need to use them. We see one student kill an alien using a blunt object and brute force, but later, when it’s ten kids versus one alien, they can’t kill it because they don’t have guns. At one point, an important key falls behind a cabinet and they spend five minutes trying to stretch their arm to reach it and none of them thinks to grab something to make their reach longer. So, the kids are either really dumb or really smart depending on how the writers need them to be in order to make the scene work, but that doesn’t work for me. Because of these issues, I actually preferred part 2; the kids were more consistently intelligent in part 2 (except for the end). I liked the opening sequence for part 2. It really showed the change and positive growth of the students and how they’ve learned to work together. I also really liked the prison sequence in part 2. Even though it was frustrating as like other scenes, it was really powerful in showing character relationships and character growth. This sequence also serves to further reveal the darkness and corruption of humans and that the humans have caused the downfall of their own society (by implementing a maritocratic system); it was not the aliens who were responsible. The aliens were simply there as a sort of judgment day or ‘a reckoning’.

From this point on in the drama, the aliens are less of a focus. Instead, the psychology of the students becomes the focus. Now we are seeing the lasting effects of the maritocratic system come into play—corruption, manipulation, distrust between peers, and mental disorders. I read that viewers really didn’t like this part of the drama, but it was inevitable. The ultimate ending was also a problem for viewers, but that too was inevitable because of the meaning behind the script. I still didn’t like it. The gruesomeness of the ending was so far removed from the lightness, fun, and feelings of hopefulness of part one and half of part 2. In other words, the ending sequences of part 2 were disturbingly dark compared to the rest of the drama...traumatically dark. It was hard to watch. It was also frustrating because the students were all trained marksmen by this point, with guns in hand, and they still were unable to subdue the threat. This is why viewers were so angry, I think. This is why I was angry. Another reason is because endings like this one tend to make the entire drama feel like a waste of time. 4/10
       
Direction/SFX/Music: Hot take...I actually don’t like the alien design. I think they look very nonthreatening and it’s kind of ridiculous watching so many people be terrified of them. They are also killed very easily, which is something discovered pretty early on, but not really utilized. The first alien they encountered was really a tease because we never see anything as threatening as that alien for the rest of the drama. There were some minor things with the scene editing that I had an issue with in part 1. The editing and flow seemed better in part 2. I like the OST; it’s energetic and fun. 4.5/10       

Entertainment Value: This was a pretty entertaining drama despite it being so frustrating. I was always worried for everyone because the writers were obviously fine with killing off important characters. Also, I had no idea where they were taking the plot, so that kept it interesting. The ending pretty much ruined this drama. It almost felt like they didn’t know what else to do with the plot so they just set it on fire. But, looking at it as a condemnation of maritocracy, it seems like this was the intention from the beginning. Even though I didn’t like the ending, I can say that I probably won’t forget it. By the way, there isn’t really any romance in this drama, so that made it a little less entertaining to me as well. 5/10

Combining both parts into one, I gave this drama a 4.5/10 (4 stars and up are ‘enjoyable enough for a watch’). This drama is similar to Happiness in that it is also a social thriller that uses the metaphor of a sci-fi infestation to commentate on destructive aspects of South Korean society. Understanding that this drama is depicting a judgment on maritocracy and its long term effects will provide viewers with perspective on why the writers chose to have the plot play out in the way that it did. However, there are still a lot of issues with the writing that make this drama an aggravating watch and the ultimate ending may still make you feel like you’ve wasted your time. I do like the thought-provoking nature of the story through allegory, but the script isn’t written well enough for it to have as much as an impact that it could have had.

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Disappointing Despite the Hype

This drama came highly recommended by a friend who's a big fan of Cheng Yi. She mentioned it was an S+ production and that Cheng Yi’s dramas never go wrong. However, after a few episodes, I honestly began to question the standard of what’s considered S+ these days.

My personal opinions from the episodes I picked up so far:

1. Production Quality. The overall production falls short of what I expect from a top-tier drama. The CGI looks unsophisticated and at times even distracting. The cinematography feels flat and lacks visual depth, making the scenes appear two-dimensional. Some of the fight scenes are so chaotic that they’re difficult to follow.

2. Costume Design. The costume design, particularly for the ML, is quite underwhelming. Some outfits are overly plain . There is a set in particular, a simple white and pink ensemble with a matching sash, appeared to lack any styling effort. While a few other costumes lean too heavily into a feminine aesthetic, which feels out of sync with the ML’s character and presence. Furthermore his hairstyle looks unkempt in some non-action scenes.

3. ML's Acting & Line Delivery. Given that this is a time-travel drama, I expected more comedic or confused reactions from the ML as he adjusts to an unfamiliar world. Unfortunately, his performance feels flat, lacking the emotional range or expression the situation demands. It was so flat that both his character and the overall tone of the scenes come across as dull and even exhausting to watch. Even more frustrating is his line delivery where his enunciation is so unclear that I often have to rely on subtitles and even rewind to catch the details I missed from reading the subtitles. This makes it impossible to watch at 1.5x speed or multitask, which is quite a drawback. Instead, I’m forced to focus entirely on the screen, which only draws more attention to the flaws in his delivery and acting.

4. Storyline & Logic. The plot has quite a few logical inconsistencies. For example, the ML’s mother shows a baffling level of bias towards him, despite his older brother being clearly more sensible and responsible. The time-travel aspect is also poorly executed that I feel it was added to tap on the AI hype. And no one seems to notice or question the ML’s odd behaviour, which feels lacking from a writing standpoint.

Final Thoughts:

Personally, this drama feels like a letdown, especially considering the S+ label and the high expectations surrounding Cheng Yi’s performance. Ironically, it’s the weight of these labels and glowing fan reviews that set the bar so high, only for the drama to fall short in several key areas.

Without all the surrounding hype, I feel it still a watchable show. My friend mentions the story picks up after episode 8, but honestly, I think I’ve seen enough. Perhaps this series will still appeal to devoted fans. For me, it just didn’t deliver.

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Too woke for me had potential but not my cup of tea

I recently watched Her Story, a Chinese comedy-drama (genres: comedy, drama) that runs about 120 minutes, and while I had high hopes for its heartfelt premise, it left me with mixed feelings. Directed by Shao Yihui, the film follows Wang Tiemei (Song Jia), a resilient single mother who suddenly loses her job and has to relocate with her young daughter, Nini (Zeng Mumei). In their new neighborhood, Wang Tiemei strikes up an unlikely friendship with her quirky neighbor, Xiaoye (Zhong Chuxi), who seems bubbly on the surface but is quietly battling depression. As these two women lean on each other, they form a makeshift family that includes Nini, navigating life's curveballs like meddlesome ex-husbands—Wang Tiemei's former spouse (Zhang Yu) keeps stirring up trouble—and budding romantic entanglements, all while rediscovering joy in the everyday chaos. What drew me in right away was the sweet core of a single mom building her own circle of support, turning strangers into something like family. Nini (Zeng Mumei) is an absolute standout—she's this wise-beyond-her-years little girl who's incredibly perceptive and grounded, clearly a testament to how well Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) has raised her despite the hardships. Their bond feels genuine and touching, and scenes of the trio hanging out brought some real warmth to the screen, highlighting themes of chosen family and quiet strength. That said, I was completely shocked by how "woke" the movie wound up being, which clashed with my expectations for an international film. I watch Chinese cinema hoping to escape those elements that dominate American shows, but Her Story dives headfirst into them. There's this awkward subplot where people assume Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) and Xiaoye (Zhong Chuxi) are gay just because of their close friendship, which felt out of place and forced—especially in a Chinese context where the culture isn't exactly open to alternative sexualities. It came across as shoehorned in for progressive points rather than organic to the characters. Then there's the heavy "I don't need a man" vibe permeating everything, with Wang Tiemei (Song Jia) portrayed as this ultra-strong, independent woman who's bossy and unapologetic. Her casual fling with a younger guy (Mark Chao) is explicit and promiscuous, emphasizing her sexual freedom in a way that screamed modern feminism, which I found jarring and unnecessary. The low point for me was that cringe-worthy dinner table scene where Wang Tiemei's ex-husband (Zhang Yu) and her new boyfriend (Mark Chao) get into this absurd challenge, arguing over who’s read more "woke" books and who believes men are inherently worse—it's like a parody of feminist talking points, but played straight, and it pulled me right out of the story. All these elements—promiscuous behavior, overt feminist agendas, and gay undertones—ruined what could have been a charming tale about a single mother and her adorable daughter forging real connections. Instead, it mirrors the very American tropes I try to avoid, proving that you can't always assume Asian films will steer clear of that stuff. Overall, Her Story had so much potential with its relatable setup and lovable characters like Nini (Zeng Mumei), but the heavy-handed social messaging overshadowed the heart. If you're into light-hearted stories about female friendships, it might still be worth a watch for the early charm, but brace for the ideological detours. If you like that sort of content, then you may really like this. But, if that is not your jam, then you might, like me not care for this one.

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the best drama I’ve watched this year.

this drama was amazing. it really pulled at my heart strings. their interactions were so cute and heartfelt. I thought the story line/plot were well thought out. sometimes things didn’t make sense but then it was explained later on. I love that they didn’t really have any misunderstandings and worked together to solve the problems they faced. Sima Jiao experienced so much pain and heartbreak during this life and he finally found the one that would Change all of that. Tian Yan was amazing. her character was so cute and you could see her grow through out the series. she just wanted to take a vacation from life and wound up being with the most powerful immortal of all time and saving everyone. both actors did a wonderful job and I hope they get to work together again.

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The fighting scenes are superb!

As an old wuxia reader from Gu Long, Jin Yong, etc, I feel so happy when I watch this drama, didn't expect too much at the beginning, but turns out it really delivers so many action fighting scenes in quick pace. Humour, family matters, friendship, revenge complete the whole pack Jianghu story with its ups and downs, very entertaining! Ah the OSTs also very good, I favorite three songs. I watched until ep 14 yesterday, and I am still engaged to this drama, watching clips from upcoming eps, they keep dragging me to invest more! I always craving for good fight scenes, this drama delivers very well! And now I am investing more to the angst as well, hopefully the upcoming eps are as well entertaining until the final eps!

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Raw, rare look behind the not so glamorous side of the Kpop curtain

I absolutely loved Time to Be Strong, a poignant South Korean drama that had a run time of 102 minutes. Even though I'm not usually a fan of sad movies, this one pulled me in with its unflinching honesty about the K-pop world, especially for those idols who chase the spotlight but end up in the shadows. It's not based on a single true story but draws heavily from real-life experiences in the industry—director Namkoong Sun interviewed former trainees and idols to craft these characters, and the film was commissioned by Korea's National Human Rights Commission to highlight the human cost of fame.

That grounding in reality makes it feel like a truthful exposé, not just fiction, and it's a rare film that dives deep into the unglamorous side of South Korean pop culture.
The story follows three retired K-pop idols—Sumin (Choi Sung-eun), Sarang (Ha Seo-yoon), and Tae-hee (Hyun Woo-seok)—as they finally take that long-overdue school trip to Jeju Island, a chance to reclaim the childhoods they sacrificed for their dreams. But things unravel quickly, forcing them to confront the scars they've carried from their failed careers.
Sumin, the former leader of her girl group, is a total mess; she's developed bulimia from years of brutal weigh-ins and constant pressure to stay thin, to the point where she can't even keep food down anymore. It's heartbreaking watching her throw up repeatedly, a stark reminder of how the industry chews up young women and spits them out.

Then there's Sarang (Ha Seo-yoon), so emotionally shattered from it all that she's suicidal, popping handfuls of pills and lashing out irrationally at anyone who even glances her way—her anger feels like a shield against the world that broke her. The group is still reeling from the suicide of one of their former bandmates, which adds this heavy layer of grief and unspoken guilt to their journey. When she finally turns the corner and decides she wants to live, realizing her death would further shatter the friends she cares about she is the one that says the iconic line "time to be strong."

Tae-hee stands out as the most "normal" of the bunch, still flashing his old idol charm to strangers, but even he's drowning in debt from those exploitative trainee contracts that promised stardom but delivered chains.

I caught subtle hints of chemistry between him and Sumin—maybe a crush on his side—and part of me wished for some romance to lighten the mood, but the film's commitment to realism keeps it grounded; in this world, survival trumps sparks. It also cleverly weaves in the group's dynamics with a super fan they encounter, who starts off irritating and intrusive but turns out to be genuinely kind, flipping the script on those obsessive followers who can be so insensitive and boundary-pushing.

What really struck me is how the Jeju trip exposes just how much these idols give up: no school memories, no normal teenage milestones, all traded for grueling training that often prioritizes "looks" over talent. Tae-hee can't even sing properly, which underscores the industry's shallow obsession with visuals—Tae-hee himself drops the bombshell that agencies used to physically beat idols, a dark nod to the "slave contracts" of the past that trapped them in debt and abuse, even if things have supposedly improved.

The film doesn't shy away from the mental health toll, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, or the financial black hole that keeps many in poverty long after the lights dim. It's a truth-telling story: you might not make it big, but you'll still bear all the scars—from toxic fan interactions to a lifetime of therapy-worthy trauma.

For fellow fans of South Korean cinema and K-content, this is a must-watch. It's not your typical glossy idol drama; it's a deep, empathetic look at the human side of the hustle, reminding us that behind the shiny stages are real people paying a steep price. If you've ever wondered about the "what ifs" for those who don't become the next BTS, Time to Be Strong will intrigue and linger with you long after the credits roll. Highly recommend—grab some tissues and dive in.

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unimpressed

shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better
shit from a butt. firstkhao deserved better

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Girls be Ambitious

The Kdrama gods have been neglecting me when it comes to youth dramas. I am a sucker for them, as I'm also in my youth around the same time the characters go through lives in these dramas I'm just the same. I can relate to them, cheer for them, hate them, compare to them, you name it. What I'm looking for from these is a mix of nostalgia, hope, romance, and harships.

A Hundred Memories is tagged with a lot of genres, so this seems like its a good fit for now. I'm watching a handful of dramas, and I figured why not? If I'm curious-- why not watch? So here I am, and after the premeire I am seeing a lot of things I like. Short story, this drama is at least a high 8 rating. For some, it might not have the 'it' factor, for me- it's does.. let me explain.

I am in love with the setting. The 80s backdrop is already pretty unique, and gives off a warm sense of nostalgia. Underneath that, with it being the good year of 2025-- I am wondering if the setting of this drama reflects a future for these characters that is sad.. happy... the curiostiy I have alone is intrigue.. and that is something you want the viewer to feel to say the least.

I don't know why this drama isn't more 'hyped'. Being hyped is a double edged sword though, as people look for the wrong things and get underwhelmed. I don't really care for hype and take things for what they are. This drama follows Yeong Rye, played by Kim Da Mi. I've seen Da Mi play a lot of snappy characters, and here she proves herself as a versatile actress. Yeong Rye is a humble youth, a rule-follower, and a genuine spirit. Shin Ye Eun plays Seo Jong Hui, someone who is more confident and is new to the job. The both of them are a perfect duo to watch, and I'm rooting for either side. Their personalities balance eachother out, and besides the romance I see this relationship as the focal point of the story.

So the romance.... I am going into this knowing its a love triangle. Hopefully it is more like 25-21, with the female relationship as the center, and the romance a 'love-triangle' but sort of done right if that makes sense. I'm not here for the romance, but I sort of am in a way? Ja Pil is the ML, and I've seen Heo Nam Jun in a handful of dramas. The only complaint I have is that he is supposed to be a senior in highschool, and compared to the visuals of his best friend Cheol, played by Lee Won Jung.. its sort of night and day. One I buy into the highschooler, the other I sincerely do not. He's a good actor, and is handsome and young, just not super youthful. Not a bad thing probably, his character is more mature, and I believe he is a year older than his senior class? That's not a super big deal to me honestly.. I'm just mentioning it. Nam Jun is 32, and Lee Wong Jun is 24, so I'm a little nervous about their chemistry as best friends. For what it's worth it may be more of an 'I look up to you' thing, which is more buyable than a rivalry as friends, fighters, lovers, etc...

With the best friend to the ML in the mix I hope that fixes the love triangle. I see Cheol giving a love interest role that is a sort of 'puppy love' type. I'm excited for that, and I'm excited for the sub plots with the ML. Boxing is always going to reel me in, and the ML is a boxer so what can I say.

There's a lot to like here. I'm wary of the love rivalry, but see the solutions here for this to be a good.. maybe great watch. We might have ourselves a gem here.

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