Reviews

Please tell me that there's more!!!

I had been waiting for this one for more or less a year, and I did plan to read the manga but kept putting it off and I am so happy I did because I got to enjoy this completely unbiased and without any knowledge of the story.

I was blown away by how good the story is, the gorgeous imagery, the choreography and how sexy, steamy hot it was without being explicitly sexual. The way Suzuki sways his hips is so sexy and then Sugiki with his elegant sharp moves, both men experts in their dance styles come together and become literal fire, I was glued to the screen immersed so intensely in the story that I didn't even realize that 2 whole hours passed, I need more, now!! 😭😭😭😭

Also Suzuki speaking spanish, wow so freaking hot, I don't know if it was dubbed or the actor actually spoke the lines, but his pronunciation is nearly perfect and the tone of this voice... I'll stop here, go watch this movie if you haven't, it is fantastic!!!

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Rayzha Alimjan did the best acting job in this drama. Women always endure so much.

Wild Ambition Bloom is a Republican time Cdrama starring Rayzha Alimjan and Tony Yang, spanning from the 1920s to post-WWII.

The story focused on Chu Shao Hua, the daughter of the Chu family, portrayed by Rayzha Alimjan. She endures the hardship of being married into the wrong family when her first lover is presumed dead. She was loved by her husband Chen Da Shun, who was killed during a business trip. She was raped by her brother-in-law, who also killed her daughter.

She has to start over and build her own business through her wits and charms. This was the best acting that I have seen from Rayzha Alimjan.

Synopsis: The play tells the story of Chu, a member of a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the early years of the Republic of China. During her time there, she met three men: Xia Chu, Chen Da Shun, and Wen Zhi Qiu. They did not succumb to the unfair arrangements of the times and fate, and gradually experienced the ups and downs, becoming a bold, steadfast, and trustworthy female national entrepreneur, and finally set her sights on... The story of the rise and fall of a country.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 9
2. Script: 9
3. Music/OST: 8
4. Production Quality: 7
5. Cinematography: 7
6. Rewatchable: 8
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 8

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It takes the right woman to bring a Narcissist down. A good watch

Why is He Still Single - is a modern RomCom CDrama starring Wallace Huo and Zhu Zhu about a middle-aged successful interior designer who is quirky yet kind-hearted, commitment-phobic, and does not believe in marriage until he meets his match in Dr. Gu Ye Jia.

Zhu Zhu did an excellent job portraying a clueless doctor who is looking for love herself and who becomes entangled in Yu Yu's life. It is cute and funny. The supporting cast is quirky and humorous as well.

Synopsis: A quirky yet kind-hearted man, firmly against marriage, sparks humor and reflection as he navigates life. Despite his eccentricity, he finally meets the woman of his dreams and must decide how to win her heart, proving that no man won't marry, just one who hasn't found the right match yet.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2. Script: 8
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 7
5. Cinematography: 6
6. Rewatchable: 8
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 7.5

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Absolutely beautifully written and acted! We needed this drama!

What a commitment to a topic! The last drama I watched, which had such raw, soul shuttering energy was the Glory. Obviously a lot of research went at the back of this story, kudos!
The protagonist in this drama was clearly not the couple, or even the friend - it was the by standers - her mother, his mother and sister, the neighbours etc. it was all those driven by egocentric reasons, fear, conditioning and culture, who allow this to happen. This is not a drama, that will tell you what is right or wrong, it will let you decide for yourself, it will make you feel. It will show that all touched by violence to from someone close, can try and heal, but it’s a long and painful process, finding who they really are without the aggressor. It’s was masterfully written, acted with commitment and conviction and very well shot! Kudos!!

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2 Hot Men, 10 Dance: A Work of Art

What I felt while watching this movie, I can’t explain it with words, but let me try.

This film is driven by music, movement, and intense emotion. And I felt every bit of it, every single bit of it.

The dancing is both sensual and powerful, not just because of the skill involved, but because of what it represents. They move through many styles; classic professional dances and then Latin dances filled with passion and intensity. And the actors nailed the performance. God, those men!!!!

At the center of this story are two men slowly falling in love. And this love is what will eventually give meaning to the dancing; it’s what turns technique into expression. We’re not just watching them dance, we feel their desire, vulnerability, and longing through every step.

By the end, the film leaves you inspired. It makes you feel like you could dance too, even if you never have before.

It’s emotional, beautifully crafted, and simply a very very good watch.

Can’t wait for the second season! 10/10 for this one!

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Excellent acting from ML & FL and an interesting time-travel modern drama spans 35 years.

Twelve Days is a time-travel modern Cdrama about the love lost that spans 35 years through 12 letters and time travel; along the way, they also solve some mysteries of death.

Excellent acting from Zhou Yi Ran and Wang Ying Lu. It is worthwhile to watch a short drama.

Synopsis: It follows the mysterious and emotional journey of Tang Yi Xun and his lover, Ye Hai Tang. When Hai Tang vanishes without warning, Yi Xun discovers a letter waiting in a mailbox. He writes back and realizes they are not only separated by distance but also by time. Across twelve letters spanning thirty-five years, their connection endures as they search for truth and hope, weaving together love, longing, and the challenges of fate.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 9
2. Script: 8.5
3. Music/OST: 7.5
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 7.5
6. Rewatchable: 8
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 8.5

Overall Rating: 8.5

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I am absolutely loving it.

This is truly a must-watch drama. I am only on the fifth episode, but I already feel confident in saying this. It is not just another revenge drama; it is innovative, intense, and masterfully executed, with outstanding performances and breathtaking scenes that can leave even the most composed viewer speechless.

Do not be misled by negative comments or unsustainable comparisons. Cheng Yi is superb, delivering a performance completely different from his last drama, which does not even need to be mentioned.

In short, it is highly recommended. I am absolutely loving it.

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A good story about family dynamics as Shen Ming Zhu navigated through life unexpected

Those Days is a modern Cdrama starring Tong Yao, Jiang Xun, and Justin Huang. The story centers on Tong Yao's character, Shen Ming Zhu, who was supposed to marry her boyfriend, Feng Jiang Qi (portrayed by Fu Xin Bo). Tragically, he died while rescuing someone who was drowning.

She found out that she was pregnant, her biological parents want to rekindle their relationship with her, and her in-laws are controlling and want her to keep the baby. It was fun watching her navigate all these relationships and dramas in her life without making her adoptive parents feel unloved. At the same time, she still wants to maintain a career.

Synopsis: Shen Ming Zhu lives in the old town of Nanxi, where her adoptive parents run a small restaurant, and her boyfriend, Feng Jian Qi, lives in the affluent new village. The two fall in love and marry, but the Feng family opposes them because they are not in the right family. Jian Qi died unexpectedly, and the Feng family begged Ming Zhu to give birth to a child. Ming Zhu's biological parents came to find her. She met her biological sister, Xu Zhi Xia, her brother, Xu Zhi Dong, and her sister-in-law, Bi Chen. She gained the love of both her biological and adoptive parents. The father-in-law, who supported the Feng family, died suddenly of a heart attack, and the company became insolvent. Ming Zhu's life hit rock bottom again. Everyone advised Ming Zhu to abort the child, but she became firm. Xu Zhi Xia is troubled by her unmotivated husband and the upcoming arrival of her second child; Bi Chen and her husband are almost separated due to wedding preparations; Jian Qi's sister, Mei Qi, is unexpectedly pregnant. Four women ushered in their due date together in a noisy life.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 7.5
2. Script: 8
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 7.5
5. Cinematography: 7
6. Rewatchable: 7
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7.5

Overall Rating: 7.5

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Two men navigating a delicate waltz of feelings and a fierce tango of longing!

When the trailer was out, I was expecting good things like great chemistry, impressive dance moves, clean aesthetics and a lot of tension. What I didn't expect was to come out this emotionally jumped and honestly, it delivered on almost all the fronts.
The movie thrived, flourished and floored me with tasteful slow burn, discomfort that ate, and proximity that had me holding my breath for no reason. They didn't need dialogue and honestly, no dialogue could convey what their eye contact did.

Who was the hero in the movie? The audacity. The audacity to let silence do the flirting. Audacity to assume that the audience will notice the small change in breathing, posture shifts and corrections that feel too personal and the way no man absolutely refused to blink. They assumed and we proved them right. These two grown men who know exactly what they were doing, risking and the awareness of that just every interaction so much heavier and meaningful.

We have our classic opposite attract set up where both the leads have contrasting personalities. And while I would have been happy with the cliche set-up too, they decided to test every ounce of sanity you have when you are watching it by showing the predictability of the characters in the most unpredictable way.

The best thing about this drama for me was THE HOLY CHEMISTRY! It deserves its own warning label. Everything was felt by the leads, and it translated 100% on the screen. It's not loud or trying to be instantly likeable. It builds through resistance, control, lack of it and two people constantly tests each other's boundaries. If you haven't realised, I am blown away by their chemistry.

Performance-wise, both the leads understood the assignment and stayed in the right ballpark. They didn't do too much or too little. Just perfect to make it swoon worthy. Machida Keita as Sugiki Shinya, all suited up with the tie and that domineering gaze was not on 2025 bingo but I am nothing but thankful. I know he is a great actor with a good range but this is not how I imagined him in any multiverse and I am glad we got it.
This was my first introduction to Takeuchi Ryoma and honestly, colour me impressed. He, as Suzuki Shinya, was wild, passionate and beautiful with that subtle vulnerability as he should have been.

Coming to the dance section, I am no professional, so I won't be judging by techniques but visually, I enjoyed everything. I am sure the actors worked very hard and it definitely deserves a special mention. This was about the dance and we see plenty of it.
Visually, it was rich and sleek. The camera work was amazing. Even a little change in hand gesture or posture was captured perfectly. Kudos to that! Money was not a problem for the production, and it reflected from the cast to the costume to the set design.

The supporting cast also did a great job. The women of 10Dance though, weren't in the limelight, but they did shine through whenever the focus was on them. I liked the friendship between Tajima Aki and Suzuki. In fact, the two ladies had such good chemistry with each other.

Now, after all that praise and positive points, if you ask me why it's not a 10, it comes down to a few things that lowkey bothered me. Not major enough to ruin my watching experience, but enough to not ignore.
- Starting with the background music. When you have such a stellar cast looking like Greek gods in such magnificent sets, why play the most generic music? It wasn't bad but compared to everything, it could have been better. Way better.
- Second was the lighting issue in a few scenes. A few scenes were a little too dark for my liking. Maybe it was more of a me problem.
- Third and the major issue, I was left wanting for more. When you build such delicious tension for 2 hours and somehow skip that in the most important final moments, it kind of stings. Narrative-wise, it did make sense and it was very thematic but it did annoy me. It diluted the character impact and skipped few important inner monologues that could have made this a masterpiece. And you know when the overall vibe is, of a lot what felt is unsaid , sometimes it paves way for miscommunication. And If you are familiar with J dramas, it is the most common trope and in few scene it does make an appearance.

Overall, desipte everything, this was an EXPERIENCE. From start to finish, I was entertained with good quality drama, acting and visuals. Will I recommend it? Hell yes! You will definitely not regret it.
Also, this is a Netflix-backed production, and one should ask the question, will it milk its golden goose yet again? Everyone knows the answer. And this time I really want them to.

Thank you for reading my review! <3

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Good scripts about the struggles rural China in 1900s, and Yang Mi best acting job in this drama.

This Thriving Land is a modern Cdrama set in the early 1900s about a daughter of the richest man in the rural Tianniu Village who was kidnapped by bandits and rescued by a farmer's son, Feng Da Jiao.

She cut ties with her father, married Feng Da Jiao, and endured hardships for decades, but their love was genuine and pure. This was the best acting job that I have seen from Yang Mi. She has been criticized for her acting ability; this drama is her redemption.

Synopsis: Ning Xiu Xiu, the daughter of the richest man in Tianniu Temple Village, was kidnapped by bandits on her wedding day. Her father, Ning Xue Xiang, was reluctant to sell his land to redeem her, so he married her sister to her childhood sweetheart, Fei Wen Dian. Xiu Xiu decisively severed ties with her father, married a farmer, learned to do farm work, and gradually came to understand the significance of land to farmers. During the two decades of hardship and legendary events, Xiu Xiu, inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Du Chun Lin and others, uses the knowledge she has gained to help her neighbors and lead the village women to break free from the shackles of feudal ideas.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2. Script: 8.5
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 8
6. Rewatchable: 7.5
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7.5

Overall Rating: 8

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Came for Daou and Offroad, so no regrets

As always, Daou and Offroad have amazing chemistry. This series is quite different from their previous work, with more action involved, and their acting is AMAZING, especially Offroad. I feel like he truly brings Pheem to life; he communicates so much emotion through his eyes alone, to the point where it feels like he’s speaking directly to the audience.

The story sits comfortably in the middle. It’s not overly heavy with dragged out drama, but it’s also not so soft that it becomes boring. The balance works well and keeps the series engaging.

However, the part that breaks my immersion is the action. The fighting and gunfight scenes feel very fake and obvious, and I think even casual viewers can notice it. Unfortunately, those moments pull me out of the story.

Came for Daou and Offroad, so no regrets, and it’s just 10 episodes, so it’s an easy watch.

The behind the scenes are a must watch. There is so much chemistry and it feels like another drama. Sadly, the reaction videos are not subbed yet, so hopefully they will be subbed soon for international fans.

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A decent script but bad acting from Qin Lan, she can't portrayed a mother role.

Second Chance is a modern CDrama about a second chance at love starring Qin Lan and Wallace Chung. The script is good, but the acting is suck, especially from Qin Lan.

She played Tan Si Ting, a renowned ballet dancer who returned home and learned that a son she had given birth to 12 years earlier was alive. She was terrible at portraying a mom who would fight for any cause to win back her son's relationship with her. Sadly, she failed to deliver the character.

Qin Lan is unmarried in real life, and I don't believe she has any children of her own either, so she doesn't know what it is like to play a mom. If it were me, I would go out of my way to fight the controlling mother-in-law and reclaim the rights of her son. The ending was terrible; it looked like a happy ending, but it was abruptly cut off without any honest interaction with her son.

Synopsis: Renowned ballet dancer Tan Si Ting returns home after retirement, hoping to rekindle her romance with her former love, Feng Rui. However, their reunion is complicated by past misunderstandings and the fact that Feng Rui is now a single father. Meanwhile, a long-time secret admirer of Tan Si Ting remains unwavering in his love for her. As Tan Si Ting and Feng Rui struggle with their unresolved feelings, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of love, heartbreak, and fate.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 6
2. Script: 7
3. Music/OST: 6
4. Production Quality: 7
5. Cinematography: 7
6. Rewatchable: 6
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 5

Overall Rating: 6.3

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“i’ll see you at the 10dance.”

oh my gosh. the tension, the passion fro dance, the acting, the chemistry; all of it pulled together is what makes this movie so great. i was worried as the manga was so strong on the sport that it would get done wrong… but i felt that it was so good in my opinion.

i chose to rewatch it twice before reviewing so i got every detail and i want to rewatch it again just for them. the chemistry these to have is INSANE. every single scene felt so perfect.

ive seen so many movies and shows but i dont think ive seen one this good in a long long time, where everything is enjoyable, nothing makes you feel uncomfortable or awkward, its all just perfection squeezed into 2 hours which i feel was a bit rushed but they did what the could and i appreciate that.

anyways… wheres the ACTUAL 10dance?? movie pt.2 …?

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what a messy story with unnecessary drama...

Hmmm... on the one hand for some this was entertainment pure, for others, that series does not make much sense and is frustrating. I lean to the group who thinks, the whole series was unnecessary when Iljo had talked in the first episode. Then maybe the could have expanded on how to bring Iljo's brother down. Iljo wallowing in the victim role was a bit much at times. Of course SeoJeong is not free of fault either. While under pressure from his father he does not know how to express his feelings at all. I think he did not receive any love from his family at all, but I would have prefered also to see some backflashes in his childhood.

Overall this is a mixed bag. You may like it or you may hate it or like me, it's more positive then negative but the story is messy. Production quality was good, but it was not a high polished one. It has raw edges, but what works is the chemistry between the leads. Both did a very good job and together they did even better. So, if you like it toxic, this is a show for you!

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Expectations unfortunately not met

Dance is neither about technique nor stamina. Love is what makes it whole

🕺🏻OK. Let's start with the good🕺🏻
The acting - The guys killed it. I have seen Keita before in Cherry Magic & Alice in Borderland and was excited to see him back in the BL realm. I knew he was good and my man; he did not disappoint. No notes
Ryoma is a new face to me, but he was amazing too. He expresses emotions so freaking well. It just grabs you. I could feel how much he hated Sugiki in the beginning, when he started wanting him; I was there with him—in that desire, denial, and confusion. And when Sugiki broke his heart, I felt that too. When he cried, when he made the choice to go back to competing after the heartbreak, when he struggled to walk away from Sugiki's honor dance, when he finally faced him on that floor. I felt it all. Hat's off to the man

The chemistry - My God!! It was palpable. Everyone has mentioned it, but that scene in the train... *fans self*. And the kiss scene towards the end. Also, I was mesmerised every time they danced together

Their type of dance matched their personalities beautifully - Sugiki does ballroom. Idk much about dance, but from what I saw in this, it's a very controlled type of dancing. Beautiful to look at, but rigid in its execution.
On the other hand, Suzuki is a free spirit. He also walks, breaths, moves like sex, and so is his dance style. It's fun and sexy, while Suguki's is very restrained.
Suzuki wants to have fun in his life, but Sugiki is very controlled and by the book. He knows what he wants, sees the goal, and will stick by it, everything else be damned.
How they dance spills into their personalities. Or is it vice versa?

The cinematography and the grandeur of it all - Are we surprised though? It's a Netflix production. You know the production budget be budgeting

🕺🏻What I didn't like🕺🏻
The title says it all. The movie did not match the expectations set by the trailer
When you watch the trailer, you expect the movie to be very sensual, very sexy. You expect their relationship to be very emotionally charged. A love that stems from hate, passion (for dance and Suzuki's hatred for Sugiki), desire, and an unwitting respect for each other's craft. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for such a story

Unfortunately, when you get to the story, this all kinda... fades away? A lot of the story is told in silence (?). There are a lot of looks to the other person, facial expressions, but very little in the way of actual communication. As the audience, you kinda have to connect the dots and guess what they are feeling and thinking. That removes the 'punch' of what this story could be

Their romance — if you could even call it that — doesn't progress much, and so by the end, everything feels unfinished. They kissed on the train. I thought things would get steamier, but they went their separate ways. Only to meet 2(?) months later in the UK with Suzuki thinking about how he wants Sugiki's eyes on him.... And then they break up

Girl... What?? What happened in the 2 months??? I have read some comments by the Manga readers that allude to what happened after the train, leading up to the breakup, and after, but if you're going to make a movie, shouldn't you include what happens in the source material in the show? I feel like cutting out major details does a disservice not only to the viewers who may not have checked out the book, but also to the readers who may want a better portrayal of a story they love

The ending was also very.... Ugh. It's open-ended. Not a fan of those. I hear it's because the manga isn't complete. Perhaps the manga shall end n we'll get a sequel. Hopefully, a better installation than this one

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