Reviews

Peak Emotional Damage, 10/10 Would Suffer Again

I absolutely loved Only You from CH3 with LingOrm. This is easily one of my favorite series and honestly one I know I’m going to think about for a long time. I’ve already rewatched it 4 times, and it still hits just as hard every time.

The story completely pulled me in from the beginning. It’s emotional, engaging, and just really well-paced in a way that makes it easy to stay invested the whole time. Nothing ever felt boring or unnecessary—every scene felt like it had purpose, whether it was building the romance, developing the tension, or deepening the emotional weight of the characters.

Orm’s acting is genuinely incredible in this. The amount of times she cries in this series is insane, but what makes it so good is that every single moment feels real. It never feels repetitive or forced—each emotional scene hits differently and adds something meaningful to her character’s journey. She really delivers some of the most impactful emotional performances in the series.

And Ling as the hot bodyguard is absolutely peak casting. Everything about her role just works perfectly—the presence, the energy, the protectiveness, and the subtle emotional softness she shows as the story goes on. She has that strong, composed exterior but still manages to make the character feel warm and human underneath it all, which makes her even more compelling to watch.

And together, LingOrm are just incredible. Their chemistry is natural, intense, and really addictive to watch. Every interaction between them feels meaningful, whether it’s something soft and quiet or more emotionally charged. They just fit together in a way that makes the romance feel very believable and satisfying.

Overall, everything about this series just works for me—the story, the acting, the emotional depth, and especially the main couple. It’s the kind of show that completely takes over your mind while you’re watching it and then leaves you thinking about it long after. Rewatching it 4 times honestly says everything.

Easily a top-tier favorite for me.

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Loves ambition one of best cdrama

Love’s Ambition is a refreshing blend of romance and personal growth.
The story beautifully balances emotional depth with career-driven struggles.
Each character feels realistic, making their journeys easy to connect with.
The lead couple shares natural chemistry that keeps viewers invested.
It highlights how ambition can both challenge and strengthen relationships.
The pacing keeps the story engaging without feeling rushed or dragged.
Emotional scenes are handled with subtlety rather than exaggeration.
It also inspires viewers to chase dreams without losing love.
The cinematography and music add extra charm to the narrative.
Overall, it’s a meaningful drama that leaves a lasting impression.

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Messy Storytelling, Weak Direction, Wasted Potential

I had genuinely high hopes for Frozen Valentine, especially with new pairings I was excited to see, but this series turned out to be a complete disappointment.

From the very first episode, the storytelling is a mess. The plot is all over the place, scenes are either cut so short that nothing has time to breathe or dragged out so long that they become awkward and uncomfortable to sit through. There’s no sense of balance. On top of that, the show constantly jumps from one moment to another, skipping important developments entirely, so you’re left confused instead of engaged. At several points, episodes don’t even pick up where the last one ended—they just drop you into random situations like you’re supposed to already understand what’s going on.

The actors are not the issue here. Natt has shown in previous roles that she’s capable, and even the newer actors clearly have potential. But the direction completely drags everything down. Performances feel flat and lifeless because of how poorly scenes are handled. Charm, in particular, comes across as incredibly bland, with almost no emotional variation, making it impossible to connect with the character.

As a fan of PairInthira, this was especially frustrating. I was excited to see them, but the show sidelines them along with the other side couples, giving them barely any screen time or meaningful development. It feels like wasted potential across the board.

Honestly, this series is hard to sit through. Between the chaotic pacing, weak direction, and lack of coherent storytelling, it fails to deliver on almost every level. What could have been something great ended up being a confusing and poorly executed mess.

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Strong Chemistry, Mediocre Drama, Rushed Side Stories

I was really excited going into I Wanna Be Sup’tar because I loved LillyBelle and their chemistry in Harmony Secret—and thankfully, this series did not disappoint.

Wannueng and Win’s dynamic is easily the highlight. Their chemistry feels natural, and the rom-com tone suits them really well. It might come off as a bit corny to some people, but I personally really enjoyed it—especially watching Win slowly fall in love over time. I also really liked the music—it added a lot to the overall vibe of the show.

That said, the side characters felt more odd than anything else. Meedee seemed strangely attached, but we’re never really given enough background to understand her history with Wannueng, so it just feels confusing. May, on the other hand, comes off as straight-up toxic and honestly goes to extreme lengths just to get with Win—it ends up feeling over the top. I do like FayGene as a pairing and think they’re cute, but their storyline felt rushed—they go from being heartbroken in the same room to suddenly hooking up, which made the progression feel unearned.

The drama itself also felt very mediocre at times, with conflicts that were pretty avoidable, which made parts of the story frustrating to sit through.

One thing that really stood out in a negative way was the inclusion of a few non-consensual scenes, which was pretty concerning. I do appreciate that the production listened to feedback and removed one of the scenes, but that kind of issue shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Overall, despite its flaws, I enjoyed the series for what it was. It’s fun and entertaining on a first watch, but not something I’d personally go back and rewatch. Still, the strong chemistry and rom-com vibe carry it enough for me to give it a solid 7.5/10.

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A Girlboss Bold and a Prince of Gold, Two Trapped Souls, One Story Told!

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: Major spoilers ahead for the first two episodes. Proceed with caution if you haven't watched yet.

I’ve just finished the first two episodes of "The Perfect Crown" and I’m already hooked! If you’re a fan of that "Modern Monarchy" vibe—think Princess Hours or The King: Eternal Monarch—this is definitely the one to watch for 2026.

IU is absolutely killing it as Seong Hui-ju. She’s giving me major Son Ye-jin/Yoon Se-ri (Crash Landing on You) vibes—a total girlboss, bold, and definitely not a pushover🤣! As the CEO of "Castle Beauty," she’s wealthy and powerful, but she carries that heavy stigma of being born out of wedlock.

Then we have Byeon Woo-seok as Prince I-an. Can we talk about his visuals? He has the perfect "prince face." BWS always disappears into his roles, and here he perfectly captures that trapped, regal energy. The chemistry is already solid, and since it’s only the first week, I’m totally fine with the slow-burn pace.

Two Trapped Souls
What I love most so far the initial episodes , already showcased the similarity of their situations--- they are mirrors of each other. Both are living in the shadows. Hui-ju wants a noble, dignified marriage to step out of her brother’s shadow and finally be "honored" by a family that treats her like a secret. Meanwhile, I-an is suffocated by his duties as regent to his nephew. He’s tired of the constant publicity and the "2nd rank" life—he just wants to get lost and be free.

It’s a cold-blooded business deal, she wants his title for legitimacy, and in return, my impression he will uses her to rattle the palace’s rigid reputation. Marrying a wealthy heiress and yet with a "scandalous" background is his way of irritating the monarchy.

The Queen or Sister-in-Law "randomly" visited the ML while he was sick? The tension was definitely there! It feels like to me like she might harbor some hidden feelings (or a need for power) that go way beyond family ties. Seeing him, his top half-dressed definitely seemed to rattle her "regal" composure!

What about the FL's " Oppa" best friend. There is no way his feelings are just platonic. He’s the classic "protective pillar," but you can see it in his eyes—he loves her. He’s likely stayed in the "friend zone" to avoid losing her, and watching her marry a Prince is going to absolutely break him. 💔

Overall Perspective (Eps 1-2)

To me, The Perfect Crown based in the first 2 episodes is "all glitter, but the gold is still being refined" as it just only started . The story is captivating with the aesthetic and seems like a high production , the FL's character's " Girlboss Energy" and the ML's cold but a
" lonely boy"look which seems like carrying so much emotional pain but also has such charming prince aesthetic —I am fully invested. Let’s see how this marriage of convenience turns into real chaos... and maybe, eventually, a real love story. 🥀

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This was just amazingly beautiful

I loved the first ep, it made me tear up when they met .. the ending was just so sad, I cried for 5 days with this and moreso thru the whole story but the end was just so sad and beautiful... And make sure to watch the "together forever" 7 min special. It's a happy ending, I still cried with that one too. But I'm so happy they followed the novel it was so beautiful and I give this a 10. All the characters were great, even the jerk Yan Ke, he was even an awesome villain.

I'm very, very pleased with this and I love both lead actors and I have gained new ones that I now love and hope to see them more in. It's funny and romantic, heartbreaking to where your chest will hurt but you most definitely get a happy ending. It followed the novel so well. Please always give dramas a chance, you'll be surprised how much emotion you'll feel and I haven't ever been a huge fan of the FL, I def like her in some dramas and this one, she has made me appreciate her so much more. This is wonderful, thank you to the cast, the director, screenwriter and producer and production staff .. y'all ALL served this drama to the max.

Such a BEAUTIFUL story. I haven't cried so much in a good min and got a happy ending that made me cry. WELL DONE, 10/10 ❤️❤️❤️

Keep up the amazing work! And always, can't wait for Arthur to have a new drama. I've always loved him. And to the new actors / some I'm familiar with, keep it up and hope to see y'all again in the screen!
Always remember how much you guys touched the audiences heart here. Great work! ❤️❤️❤️

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Realistic, creative, and poignant.

Damn. You can really tell the director knows what he is doing. The entire show from costumes to editing is perfectly stylized. Also everything is shot so artistically.

The characters felt so realistic and this was further pushed with subtlety in the acting. Lines between friendship and love stay blurry witch lead to raw emotional turbulence, perfectly captured by this show's amazing cast.

Gel boys is a comedic and tragic look at the lives and loves of teens in this day and age. I have never seen characters on TV use their phones more than in this show. (If anything these characters were bigger phone addicts than the average teen.) But every time a character was on their phone it felt so natural and I loved the ongoing incorporation of text exchanges and social media use. Like this is how real teens are using their phones people! (Also blocking someone on Spotify was so real.)

Overall this show is a beautifully made look at modern teen culture including relevant topics such as idol worship, TikTok, Insta stalking, fashion, music, spending money on useless things, melodramatics, situationships, and most importantly nail polish.

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Lackluster romance

Dilraba effortlessly embodies the role of He Simu, a sovereign spirit. Her visuals are truly stunning.

However, I ended up dropping the drama. I went in expecting a darker, more serious storyline, largely because the trailers felt very intense and heavy. It feels misleading when the actual show turns out to be overly cute and lighthearted. While her character is meant to be ignorant of 5 senses, portraying her as excessively childish—reacting to basic things like a child given a grand toy when she is given some senses in a period of time—doesn't quite fit the narrative.

There was potential for powerful scenes, such as the moment she is repeatedly stabbed by puppets. It could have been a raw, painful experience, especially since it was her first time feeling pain. Instead, she handled it too easily, which felt very underwhelming. It seems the production focused too much on aesthetics and looking pretty, to the point where the emotional impact was lost. Being visually beautiful means nothing if the scenes don't make you feel what you are supposed to feel.

And let us not even mention the romance—it is easily the laziest and most boring I have ever encountered in a C-drama. Their feelings seemed to develop simply because they are the main leads, not because of any genuine connection. It felt rushed and shallow, lacking any real depth. Furthermore, the scene where the male lead kisses the drunk He simu without consent, when they aren't even in a relationship, was the final straw for me. That was unacceptable and the reason I had to stop watching.

In conclusion, the visuals, cinematography, and OST are excellent. But the execution and the romance leave much to be desired. I cannot speak much for the overall plot since I dropped it early on.

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I had gone through all negative reviews, and was expecting the worst

Chinese dramas usually have the same issue- unrealistic storylines, with over exaggeration and rushed romance at the end.

Which means...
We are used to it, do not really take it as a negative, but more of a "we cannot change it". That's the Chinese style.

Saying that, the reviews that said the plot is crazy and that the FLs actions and past doesn't make sense, THEY DO.
From episode 1 we say the FL isa "bad" woman, however she does help a man, saves his kid (twice) and makes him happy with "magic tricks". That's her. Supposed to be mean, but knows wrong from right. It only gets better from there.

One negative issue I have is the ML doesn't suit the role, great as an actor but not as the ML here (personal opinion, does anyone else agree?)

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Always Rising, Never Ending: Heading to the Climax

Climax felt like a road trip. You're eagerly awaiting the final destination, but there's some stops along the way that you need to go through first. That is the most concise way I can describe it. There were some highs and lows, but we (at least, I did) made to the final destination: the climax.

The Highs:
The acting - The strongest part of the series to me. Especially with the 2 protagonists, Bang Tae-Seop (Ju Ji-Hoon) and Chu Sang-Ah (Ha Ji-Won.) This drama actually made me a Ha Ji-Won fan! And it also changed my perspective of Ju Ji-Hoon (then again, Five Fingers isn't the best example of his acting in the first place.) Cha Ju-Young was good but she overacted often. Nana was great- understated, distant, but observant. Definitely checking out more of her dramas! Oh Jung-Se did well with what he was given. The supporting cast was good enough, too.
The directing - BEAUTIFUL. Some of the best directing I've seen in a k-drama. The camera work, angles, lighting, and symbolism (like the stairs scenes in the final episode, plus the recurring motifs of things like hotel rooms and toilets, representing characters at their lowest points) worked incredible together. All to create the mood and atmosphere of a neo-noir political thriller.
The music - I liked the soundtrack. The BGM is very good too. Not too repetitive, and again, there's not much to use within a 10-episode series.
The sheer audacity - Yes. Lee Ji-Won's audacity to write a political thriller exploring the dark side of humanity and how far people will go to achieve their own desires, and her audacity to do it with a lesbian female protagonist, AND actually showing her sexuality on live television. Kudos to her and kudos to Ha Ji-Won for portraying Chu Sang-Ah so well.
The ending - As I said in my comment, I liked the ending. It changed my perspective on the drama a little bit. Despite its clear flaws, it was thematically brilliant. Even after Sang-Ah and Tae-Seop get those ambitions they crave so badly, the fight never stops. They've both reached their respective climaxes and the only way to go now is further up. A very unconventional, but truly realistic ending. It's not happy. It's not sad either. It just... is.
The themes - There are several major ones. The biggest one that stood out to me was greed vs. morality, and this one worked VERY well. All of the main characters were greedy for something: Sang-Ah - Status. Tae-Seop - Political Power. Jung-Won - Fame. Yang-Mi - Control. Jong-Wook - Recognition. And they all went about their own ways of getting these things. We saw Sang-Ah and Tae-Seop go to the depths of ABSOLUTE hell to get what they wanted. It was almost sadistic, in a way. But they did win. And it was a pyrrhic victory... because even at the end, they were in hell: trapped in the cycle of power. It'll never end for them now they've reached their climax. Another major theme that stood out was the patriarchy and its hold on power. There's something about femininity/masculinity (in terms of power and its portrayal) that was used in this drama that I genuinely loved. Yang-Mi pursues power and runs WR Group like how she thinks a man would. Jong-Wook was flashy and sought to prove himself worthy of owning WR Group, just like an entitled man would. Tae-Seop was methodical and cunning, but still intimidating, Jung-Won was cold and distant, and lived a quiet life away from the political & business machinations. Only used like an attack dog when Tae-Seop needed her. Sang-Ah, in contrast, was femininity. Desirable, beautiful, famous. Perfection. Everyone wanted a piece of her and what she *represented.* And this was what everyone saw on the surface. Sang-Ah masterfully used her femininity and beauty as a weapon: to manipulate others and to use them. Brilliant writing decision. Again, I wish we'd seen this villainous side of her more. There wasn't enough of it for me!

The Lows:
Character development - My BIGGEST problem. I'm not expecting character studies in a 10-episode mini-series, but some of the character decisions and arcs were weird. Jung-Won's arc in the last 2 episodes fell apart, especially with how things ended for her. I understand that she was a pawn trapped in the game of power, but... I just feel like she was done so dirty. 💀 Sang-Ah, too. I wish they'd leaned into her villainy more. I don't need her to be over-the-top (like Lee Yang-Mi was), but she mostly just got dragged through hell a LOT. It was only in the last parts of the drama that we really saw her fight back (and not by very much.) So, to me, the female characters could've used better character development. They could've also gotten rid of Kwon Jong-Wook... he ended up playing no major role in the series. Lol what a waste of Oh Jung-Se. I hope he got paid well for doing nothing.
Writing - In several areas, there was a lot that could've been improved. The overreliance on shock value was disappointing to me. Seeing the 2 protagonists humiliated almost constantly brought down the quality of an otherwise nicely written series. I blame this on network restrictions, but partially the writer as well. Sang-Ah and Jung-Won's relationship (while I wasn't expecting a perfectly happy ending for them) could've been handled much better. Tae-Seop's ending? I guess I could say that he got what he wanted, but gaining power cost him his soul. That does not excuse some of his actions, however. Sang-Ah's ending, did I like it? No. Did it make sense? Debatable. Also, the last episode mostly left me with questions- and quite a few plotholes. 🤨
Lee Yang-Mi - Yeah, I included her in a separate section. She was so 1-dimensional and over-the-top that it ended up feeling extremely out of place. Sometimes it was funny (like her villainous breakdown at the end), but most of the time it made me roll my eyes and skip her scenes (occasionally.) Also, her "big motive" SUCKED. Lousy writing. For a drama with such an unconventional, villainous, and complex female lead, you'd think the antagonist would match that energy. But she did not. Yang-Mi was a fucking clown at best. Cha Ju-Young's overacting didn't help, but I think she did her best with what she was given.

Should You Watch It? - If you like thriller dramas with morally complex to flat-out villainous central characters who are willing to do ANYTHING to achieve their ambitions, watch it. If you like political thrillers centering on a morally grey/villainous ML, watch it. If you like morally grey characters, watch it. If you're looking for something refreshing, watch this (or at least give it a try.) If you like slow-burn thrillers, watch this drama. But if you're looking for a nice romance drama? Skip it. And if you're looking for a makjang, skip it. THIS IS NOT A MAKJANG DRAMA!!!!

As for whether I'd rewatch it? Maybe. I don't usually rewatch shows, but it might get a 2nd chance from me in the future. Oh, and a bonus 0.5 points for the outfits and styling (for the protagonists & Jung-Won.)

My overall rating: 9/10. Not perfect, but a great drama. Glad I went on this weird road trip with other lovely passengers (and a few mean ones along the way. Haha!) Still loved it!

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A severely misjudged Drama

Firstly, I find it hilarious how people on this platform rate dramas because they hype up the most mediocre stuff ever.

However, this is not one of them but it is highly misjudged in my opinion and deserves a higher rating. The biggest issue this drama has, is the fact that people drop it after 5 episodes.

I’ve watched Chinese dramas for years and this one is pretty good and a lot of fun. I admit, the beginning is a bit confusing because things are not explained properly, like certain relationships between characters or even the way the martial arts system works exactly. If you’ve watched enough Wuxia dramas, you’ll catch on but for newcomers, it can be a bit rough. There is a lot of people and names to remember in this show, so you have to pay attention.

There is some choppy editing as well but it gets better as the show goes on.

Now the good parts:

The plot might seem complicated to follow but I like the fact that everything is connected. There are plot points that are layed out from the beginning, that come back later and for the most part, this show makes sense. I find the story genuinely interesting because it directly affects most, if not all the characters involved. It has an effect on the entire world they live in, so the stakes feel high. A lot of historical or fantasy dramas use politics and power struggles as a plot device for the leads but it gets boring after a while because they just solve cases for people or about people nobody cares about. While you’re probably not gonna care about every single character that shows up in this show, a lot of them are at least there for a reason and they don’t bore me.

Most character’s actions and behavior is understandable for who they are and I like that a lot of characters actually become bigger than who they were in the beginning, especially the second male lead and so on. I like that they have ambitions and goals beyond the title or duty that was bestowed upon them or that they were born into. A lot of side characters don’t just get thrown to the side but they have a purpose in the story, even if it is a small purpose.

In the beginning, it seems like a lot of them have a certain part to play, there are supposedly good people and bad people but it’s never as simple as that. This story makes characters question their morales and rethink their entire lives, it challenges them and their believe system.

One of the best aspects of this show is the chemistry between the cast, especially the male and female lead.

The male lead is a morally gray character with a mysterious past that gets revealed step by step as the show goes on. He manipulates everyone around him to reach his goal and get what he wants, including the female lead.

The female lead is kind of the opposite of him. She is outgoing, a free spirit, bright and righteous and has very strong morales.

Both characters come from different backgrounds and should not get along.

While the male lead might put people off because he is a “red flag", I think in this drama it was done in a better way because he is actually redeemable. His actions, while manipulative and morally gray, stem from complex psychological trauma and intense devotion rather than simple, unprovoked misogyny or abusive entitlement, like a lot of other male leads. He is more like an antihero. He is defined as a broken young man with a painful childhood and he was abused. He never really felt love or trust, besides from people in his life who died.

His red flag behaviors—manipulation and obsession—are driven by his need for the only light in his life, the female lead. He uses manipulation to be able to stay close to her (and for his other plot goals), even if it means he has to lie. He feels keeping her close to him at all times is love, because he is so afraid of losing the only person that matters to him now. He learns about what actual love is like, throughout the show. Because she sees underneath all of that and sees the broken side of him that feels hurt and vulnerable, he feels drawn to her. She accepts him for who he really is, but she struggles with the fact he manipulates her, even if his feelings for her are true. That’s why she does not back down and she tells him off when he did something wrong. She does not excuse his behavior but helps him learn from it. His intense, often desperate, devotion is viewed more as romantic obsession that turns into love, rather than malice. They have this push and pull and he knows she is drawn to him too, so he keeps pushing but once she is serious, he does not force her to stay with him.

The FL is not a weak, trapped damsel, which makes the "red flag" aspect less irritating. She is strong, intelligent, and often matches his wits, enabling her to deal with his machinations. The relationship is a slow-burn battle of wits. She recognizes his manipulative nature, sometimes uses him back, and trusts his competence even when she wants to keep her distance. The male lead is aware of his flaws—his obsessiveness, pettiness, and willingness to use dirty tricks. He doesn't act as though he is a "good guy," which makes his behavior more tolerable to viewers compared to manipulative characters who believe they are innocent.

Despite his ruthlessness, he is shown as insecure and needing to be trusted, which makes him more relatable than a purely abusive antagonist. He also doesn’t show ruthlessness to people who don’t deserve it, unless he feels like he has no choice but to use them. He showed that he is capable of personal growth and becomes more open about his intentions, aiming to be a better person for his partner. He really changes throughout the show and there is a line he never crosses so in a way, I could empathize with him.

Lastly, it makes me sad that a lot of people had issues with the costumes and so on, because this is actually quite a realistic costume for Wuxia dramas. The overly bright colors and so on that y’all see in other dramas is just to make it look flashy and good and gain attention. This is what it’s supposed to look like. I think it looks more realistic and better this way. it looks less cheap this way.

I also highly respect that the team filmed a lot, if not all of it on a real location instead of green screen. They went to the mountains and even learned a lot of fighting choreography which the actors performed themselves and looked quite good. They also used their own voices instead of dubbing.

I can see, they worked hard and tried to actually create a good story beyond your stereotypical idol drama where even the main plot is just a side plot to the romance. This drama teaches you about so much more, like where do you belong? what is right and wrong? who am I? what does it mean to forgive? why do I compare myself to others? true friendship and what it means to support each other no matter what.

I don’t want to give the plot away but there was never an episode that felt boring to me and I never knew what to believe, because I didn’t know if I could trust certain characters. It’s almost like a puzzle that you’re trying to put together along with the leads.

Sure, this drama is not perfect but if you care about a decent Wuxia, please don’t judge it based on other’s opinions who dropped it so soon. Because it’s not the easiest plot, I get why this is not for everyone but I’d still recommend it and frankly speaking, this drama is a lot better than most period idol dramas these days that get a lot more hype. I rated it so high because of my enjoyment but the rewatch value is lower because it’s simply not everyone’s cup of tea and there might be some flaws that bother others too much too overlook them.

PS: there are some tropy scenes in there but they are not cringe compared to a lot of other dramas. I thought the sweet scenes were enjoyable because it was not exaggerated. The acting in general felt quite natural to me. Sometimes when cgi was used, for example on animals, it didn’t look good but I can look past that.

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