Reviews

How can a near-masterpiece from 2010 age so badly?

A must-see from 2010 that's become an over-the-top vintage melodrama

PLOT:

[Episode 1: Conception] The father of the main character, CEO of a backing group, couldn't have a son with his wife. He got a maid (Mi-Su) pregnant. When his wife found out, she tried to force Mi-Su to have an abortion, but Mi-Sun ran away. The wife then got pregnant by the manager (her ex-lover) and finally had a son.

[Episodes 2-6: Adolescence] 13 years later, still on the run and threatened by the manager, Mi-Sun decides to entrust her son, Tak Gu, to his father. He will have to face the hostility of the wife, the manager, the son... Finally, Mi Sun disappears, and Tak Gu sets off alone to find her.

[Episodes 7-23] Bakery apprenticeship and sibling rivalry
[ep 23 - 30] Father's stroke and Tak Gu takes over the company

+++ The actors are good and do their everything to make us believe in this silly story

BUT:

### This kind of melodrama (jealous wife, illegitimate child, etc.) isn't watchable anymore. => The narration is VERY outdated (｡ŏ﹏ŏ) The OSTs are (halas) typical from that era :(

### The characters are stupid (they talk and trust just about everybody / things are left unsaid / sentences are unfinished / ...)

- Why is Mi-Sun so afraid of Manager Han? What can he do to her? Isn't there a police force? No law? What era is this? 1980?
- The father character is TERRIBLE: cowardly, incompetent, helpless... Aren't there private detectives in 1990? He still trusts Manager Han? Doesn't he ever have any doubts?
- ML has no brain, just rage and brute force ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ The director wanted to make him someone rough and frustrated, but why is ML always yelling like he's in the army? In the second half of the series, the ML becomes Jesus Christ (the one who forgives everyone, gives a second or third chance, etc.).
- Mi-Sun (the mother) stops thinking when it comes to her son (she did meet the President, but didn't ask where (and how) her son was??).

=> GRRRRR: I'm so tired of these idiotic/stupid/naive characters... just for the sake of melodrama ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ Towards the end of the drama, the characters' behavior becomes unbearable (FF 1.5) ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ

=> What shocks me is that in 2010-2012-2013, viewers considered this series a masterpiece!
Recent reviews are much harsher. This kind of melodrama, overacted, full of shouting, crying, and underhanded dealings, just doesn't fly anymore. In 2021, "Young Lady and Gentleman" tried the formula again, and it didn't work!
My rating isn't too harsh because I know the series is 15 years old and formats have changed. Furthermore, the actors are talented and did what was asked of them.

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Must-see de 2010 devenu an over-the-place vintage melodrama. Série de 2010 très "old fashion" et qui a pris pas mal de rides :(

PLOT:
[ép 1 conception] Le père du ML, CEO d'1 gpe de backering, ne pouvait avoir de fils avec sa femme. Il a mis 1 servante enceinte (Mi-Su). Qd sa femme l'a appris, elle a voulu faire avorter Mi-Sun qui s'est enfuie. La femme se fait mettre enceinte par le manager (son ex lover) et a enfin 1 fils.
[ép 2 - 6 adolescence] 13 ans + tard, tjs en fuite & menacée par le manager, Mi-Sun décide de confier son fils Tak Gu, à son père. Il devra affronter l'hostilité de la femme, du manager, du fils ... Finalement, la mère disparait et Tak Gu part seul à sa recherche.
[ép 7 - 23 ] Apprentissage à la boulangerie et rivalités entre frères
[ép 23 - 30] AVC du père et Tak Gu à la tête de la Cie

+++ Les acteurs sont bons et font tout leur possible pour nous faire vivre cette histoire stupide

MAIS :
### Ce genre de mélodrame (femme jalouse, enfant illégitime, etc.) ne se fait plus aujourd'hui. => La narration est TRES TRES datée (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)
Les OSTs sont d'époque :(

### Les personnages sont stupides (parlent et font confiance à n'importe qui / non-dits / phrases inachevées/ ... )
- Pourquoi Mi-Sun a-t-elle peur du manager Han ? Que peut-il lui faire ? Il n'y a pas de police ? pas de loi ? C'est quelle époque ? 1980 ?
- Le personnage du père est NUL : lâche, incompétent, sans ressource ... Il n'y a pas de détective privé en 1990 ? Il continue à faire confiance au manager Han ? Il n'a jamais de doute ?
- Le ML n'a pas de cerveau, juste de la rage et de la force brute ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ Le réalisateur a voulu en faire qq1 de brut, de frustre, mais pourquoi le ML crie tjs comme s'il était à l'armée ? Dans la 2e moitié de la série, le ML devient Jésus Christ (celui qui pardonne à tus, donne une 2e ou 3e chance, etc.).
- Mi-Sun (la mère) ne réfléchit plus dès qu'il s'agit de son fils (elle a pourtant rencontré le Président, mais n'a pas demandé où était son fils ??).
=> GRRRRR : j'en ai marre des personnages débiles / stupides / naïfs ... juste pour faire du mélo ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ Vers la fin du drama, le comportement des personnages devient insupportable (FF 1.5) ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ

=> Ce qui me choque, c'est qu'en 2010-2012-2013, les viewers considéraient cette série comme un chef d’œuvre ! Les reviews récentes sont bcp plus sévères.
Ce genre de mélodrame, surjoué, plein de cris, de pleurs, de coups tordus, ne passe plus (voir en 2021, "Young Lady and Gentleman") !
Ma note n'est pas trop sévère car je sais que la série a 15 ans et que les formats ont changé. De plus, les acteurs sont talentueux et ont fait ce qu'on leur a demandé.

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Cosmetic Playlover Season 2 – Episode 4

Season 2 is gradually shifting from pure romance to a workplace drama, and Episode 4 highlights that change clearly.

Natsume, now the store manager at Rommy’s Yurakucho branch, faces a new challenge: training a rookie beauty advisor. Hoshina is earnest and motivated, but freezes up in front of customers, struggling to apply what he knows.

Toma’s advice to Natsume is simple but difficult — step back, let him try, and watch over him.
What’s interesting is how Natsume, who once struggled to accept advice from Toma in Season 1, now listens and finds his own way forward.

This episode shows quiet growth: how loving someone can soften pride, and how relationships can positively influence the way we work.

Romance is still there, but it’s the kind that supports personal and professional growth rather than overwhelming it.

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Rare gem

I am always on the look at for a particular drama and this one is just about spot on what i love. The fact that it was also Japanese made my heart melt. I love Jdramas, but they are really messy imo and I rarely find ones I like, let alone love, and I freaking loved this one.

It was so good I couldn't stop watching until I finished it! I loved every second. I'm a huge fan of dead pan anime type humor and this had a lot. They have so much chemistry together its crazy.

I wish they would do more dramas together.

This does have a teacher/student realastionship theme, so if that bothers you I wouldn't suggest it. If done right, I personally love this trope, mostly the older/younger trope. I always want to see how they deal with it and where it goes. This is the first one I've seen that has filled my heart and burst with satisfaction.

I found it extreamly good and funny. The teacher dynamic, plus older/younger doesn't bother me in dramas because its a drama. Its a nice escape, even if it has to do with real world issues because its controlled. Nothing bad is going to to happen in this drama. No ones creepy or gross. No one gets assaulted. No one gets preyed upon or taken advantage of. It didn't feel like an unbalanced power dynamics either. It's a sweet drama, with some a sometimes dark theme of wanting to unalive yourself, but nothing bad happens thankfully.

If you can, forget about the "what happens in real life" thoughts and just enjoy the chemistry, writing, acting, and overall warmth of this drama. Happy watching 🥰

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Masterpiece !!

When I watched the first episode of "Romantic Anonymous," I knew I was in trouble. Just looking at the 8 episodes, I knew it wouldn't be enough, and the nervousness carried me through the whole time I was watching it. Indeed, 8 episodes were not enough for such a great drama.

**Plot**
This captivating story follows Hana, a talented chocolatier dealing with social anxiety, making it incredibly challenging for her to even make eye contact. She works as an anonymous chocolatier for the renowned "Le Sauveur". However, everything changes when the shop’s original creator and her mentor pass away unexpectedly. The business is taken over by a large corporation, and Sosuke is thrust into the role of head of "Le Sauveur". The staff is initially resistant to his arrival, seeing him as a threat to their beloved shop. Yet, unbeknownst to them, Sosuke is also battling his own social anxiety, struggling with germophobia. By a twist of fate, Hana and Sosuke discover they find comfort only in each other's presence.

*May contain spoilers*

I've been thoroughly enjoying the recent wave of Japanese-Korean dramas; they are refreshingly unique and deeply engaging. A huge shoutout goes to Han Hyo Joo! I barely recognised her and was thrilled to discover she’s the same actress I admired in "Happiness." Her portrayal of a Korean girl navigating life in Japan was outstanding, and I was genuinely impressed by her fluency in Japanese. It felt like she truly embodied Japanese culture and manners.

The male lead, played by Shun Oguri, is known for roles in Gokusen and Gintama. What can I say except He's like fine wine, ageing beautifully! Pure eye candy! Dashing and magnetic!!
Trust me, when you see him in this drama, you'll understand what I mean! He is so MANLY! he embodies masculinity in a way that's truly irresistible. I didn't expect to be swept away by his charm, but wow, he is exceptionally handsome. And let’s not overlook Jin Ashina, who is pure "HOT STUFF " in every scene, and was simply captivating. He's a feast for the eyes!


In terms of acting, I can't point out any flaws; these are seasoned actors and actresses who have been doing this work for over 30 years. It's really nice to see them come together in this drama. Props to whoever made the casting decisions because I could never imagine anyone else playing these characters.

The cinematography was probably the first thing I noticed when I started watching this drama, even before I realised it was a mixed Japanese-Korean production. As usual, I never read anything about dramas or movies I watch because I like to keep myself a little surprised. While the settings are distinctly Japanese, the colour palette leans heavily toward the Korean aesthetic, offering a unique visual experience. I don’t know if others would notice the same thing, but it felt unique to me. Maybe it's because I've seen so many Korean dramas that I can recognise the subtle changes in photography and cinematography.

Another interesting aspect is that throughout the drama, we get both his POv and her POv in terms of scene framing. For example, we would see what he sees with his eyes on the screen and at the same time, what she sees with the subtle changes. It's very subtle, but it made the whole drama more purposeful. I think this really did justice to the characters, as both of them suffered from social anxiety, so their perception of the situation was different. It was beautiful to see how each one of them experienced moments through their own eyes. You don’t see that very often in dramas or movies; we usually get a general panoramic view, but in this drama, that attention to detail was quite artistic. It felt like decoding a painting.

I also appreciated how the male characters in this drama were men who respected women and accepted them for who they were, and they were willing to listen to them and not just impose only their needs. Often in dramas, we see long close-ups of the female lead's lips or eyes, showing the male lead's desire toward them, which gets glamorised and romanticised. But in this drama, you can actively see how these two male leads are respectful and attentive to details, but they don't overstep and project their desires. Therefore not looking at them with lustful eyes but the eye of someone who is in love.
Take Hiro, for example. He often finds himself abandoned by Irene due to her fear of love. Yet, he remains patient and tries to understand her. Even when she pushes him away, he notices that her refusal stems from a place of love and fear, not indifference. He could have walked away or imposed his needs on her, but instead, he accepted her feelings and tried to create a safe space for her.
The attention to detail from these male leads was truly refreshing. Sometimes, they caught nuances that even the viewer might overlook. Like when Sosuke takes Hana to see the scene from her phone wallpaper, something that I didn’t even register while watching, yet he picked up on it. This kind of attention to detail is genuinely romantic because it feels natural rather than made up just for a drama. It highlights the importance of recognizing those little things about a person when you really see them. If you know what I mean, it's about truly understanding someone on a deeper level.

And let’s not forget about the soundtrack! The OST is nothing short of mesmerizing. It's been a long time since I heard a soundtrack this captivating, and I can’t seem to shake the song “Confession” from my head. I never thought I would be motivated to rewatch a drama so soon after finishing it, but here I am, longing for more of this enchanting romance.

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Dark, toxic, flawed and wildly entertaining

This unhinged Chinese BL is a real guilty pleasure that made me go through a wild roller-coaster of emotions. Despite its final arc not meeting fully my expections, I had a such a good time watching this series ! The relationship build up was well paced and captivating with even the set up with business talks featuring interesting layers of the personality of the main characters.

Fan Xiao with his obsessive and manipulative behavior might be one of the biggest red flag I have seen in dramaland making it very much impossible to actively root for the romance as you want Shu Lang to escape the trauma inflected on him by his partner and heal. Still, I was completely invested in their relationship and was always looking forward to see what was going to happen. Shu Lang, far for a damsel in distress, was a great character, with a strong backbone, making their story even more fascinating.

Both main actors did a very good job at playing those intense roles with some amazing heartbreaking scenes. Their chemistry was fiery and a big component in my enjoyment of the drama. The remainder of the cast did not really impressed me but it was alright overall, as they were mostly fading in the background of the intense romance.

I would recommend this to people that enjoy angsty and twisted romances. It has a lot of shaddy, muddy stuff and power imbalance, in the most gripping way. I was surprised at how good and intense it was : the traumas felt brutal and raws, characters being hurt so much. It is featuring a very unhealthy relationships with some elements that could be triggering and the last arc could definitely have been handled better, however the wild ride the story takes you on is worth it !

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Episode 1 First Impressions

Storyline 📝:
No comment yet, since Episode 1 only showcases the characters first.

Cinematography 🌇:
Man, this is where the show really stands out. I have never seen a rom-com with this kind of cinematography. The wide shots, especially when they are trying to find the restaurant, are outstanding. The close-up shots are on point, and all the camera work has meaning behind it.
It really goes back to cinematography textbook basics. There are no unnecessary shots, and everything feels calculated. Every scene is prepared precisely, from the rule of thirds to the overall composition. Nothing feels random.

Comedy 🎭:
All I can say is this, you had me laughing hard. Not the usual rom-com kind of laugh, but genuine laughter. The kind of joke where if someone said it in front of me, I would be rolling on the floor laughing 🤣. Comedy-wise, it is really good.

Overall:
Episode 1 does not try to do too much story-wise, but visually, it already sets a very high standard.

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Tepid romance but great friendships and some compelling storylines

Far from a regular rom-com, this cozzy drama is foremost a slice-of-life ensemble series featuring quite tedious legal cases. If the romance felt very underwhelming, I was impressed by how they established and further developed the frienships and professional relationships. I also liked the approach taken regarding the different cases : rather than focusing on big thrills in court, they really showed the hefty background research work and preparation done to defend their clients. I loved the huge amount of time dedicated to watching the 5 lawyers eat delicious meals and speak about very mundane things.

The acting was solid overall but the romantic chemistry felt lacking between Lee Jong Suk and Mun Ka Young. They also hold less interesting roles than Kang You Seok, Ryu Hye Young and Im Sung who each had very interesting and compelling storylines in comparison to them. Their romantic relationship definitely felt more like an afterthought than anything else.

The drama esthetics was also a very strong point and compelling aspect of the series. Like the storytelling, it was quite subdue all in sepia/greyish tones showcasing the dull and tiring office life while still having a lot of mouthwatering foods shoots and enjoyable bits of OST forming a cohesive picture.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a legal slice-of-life series. It never felt boring to me, but it is clearly a series that might not be for everyone given its anticlimactic pacing. If you want ultra dynamic trials or swoony romance, this will likely not be very satisfying and even feel pretty slow because the series takes its time. But if you enjoy relationships build up and characters growth, as well as heartfelt friendships, this could be worth a try.

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Legend of the Female General is a must watch. Seriously.

Gosh, I have to say how wonderful this drama is. It’s an easy 10/10. One might say the story is somewhat cliché because of the tough female general trope, but gah—the acting, the drama, the chemistry—easily earn that 10/10 rating. I love their tandem so much. I haven’t watched their previous dramas, so I can’t possibly be biased. It’s purely, simply beautiful. It’s a must-watch.
My favorite drama to date has been Prisoner of Beauty, and I can say The Legend of the Female General is nearly on par with it.
The scenes where He Yan and her Dudu are together keep me smiling, and I end up hating the villains. 😆
But again, it’s not the story that hooks you—it’s their chemistry and the way they tell the story.
More drama for these two please ~~

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5283...

This is my first time writing reviews. This season was a good one, the ratings were quite strong and it managed to draw viewers back to the screen once again. However, compared to the first two seasons, it had some shortcomings. Especially in the second season, we learned a lot about the characters’ pasts, their traumas, what they went through, and the things that shaped who they are now. This season, on the other hand, felt like it focused only on their enemies. Of course, considering the genre of the series, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I would have liked to see more scenes where the team spent time together, or at least small moments that gave us bits of their backstories. I’m not referring to the last two episodes where we learn things about Kim Do Gi, that’s not what I mean.
Also, since the first season, it felt like something was going to happen between Go Eun and Do Gi, but it never really did. In the second season, their scenes, especially the one on one moments, felt more frequent. For example, Go Eun would grab her beer and go sit next to Do Gi while he was working out on the terrace. Those scenes were enjoyable to watch, I wish we had seen similar moments this season as well.
What they fight against is difficult, exhausting, and dark, so to avoid boring the audience while telling these stories, they included humorous elements, which I personally think was a very good choice. In the last two episodes, there were quite a few illogical things. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but still… Also, the final episode felt like a rollercoaster, and unfortunately I enjoyed it less. Especially the last 10 minutes were really bad.
I think Taxi Driver did what it could and completed its mission. This season, I could feel that the writer struggled a bit. If a fourth season comes, I’ll definitely watch it, even if there are ten seasons, I’ll watch them. But if this truly is the final season, I’d say they did everything they could, and I wouldn’t be upset. It was an enjoyable journey, glad I watched it.
7/10

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The Wildest Ride

This show, while not necessarily my favorite or flawless in any respect, is nevertheless one of the most extraordinary pieces of media I've ever consumed. Some things it does, I would argue, better than any other show. Period. Other things, it simply omits altogether. The experience of watching it is infused with the oddities of chinese dramas and a healthy dose of identity crisis. It repeats itself in many ways but is somehow always riveting. There's so much to unpack it's almost daunting.

The pace is perhaps the greatest defining feature of Wild Ambition Bloom. It is, simply put. break-neck. Absurdly fast. At times, even abrupt. This is a plot that grabs you by shirt and whips you around for 30 hours until you're left in a daze at the end. Do I wish it took its time more in some places? Uh, let me think... No! Absolutely not! Somehow, this show is able to compress multiple seasons worth of plot into the tightest space imaginable and *it works*. Sure, it's a little clunky when it rolls the credits for an episode halfway through a pivotal scene (pretty standard cdrama stuff), or when it fades to black immediately after the climax of one arc, and then fades in on a new one already full steam ahead. And sure, it's easy to get lost in the details and the many characters if you're not paying full attention, but that just makes it all the more engaging! Things are always happening, and it feels continuous throughout the whole thing because there's no breaks, ever.

Of course, none of this would work were it not for the fact that the contents of said lightning fast plot are astounding smart. Here we have, as is so rarely the case, a writer who understands business and is able to concoct cunning and convincing plans for the characters to out-maneuver each other to get ahead. After every reveal, twist, and victory I am left gaping and cheering. And after each of the several complete upheavals in the story I am left in shock and awe by the sheer audacity of the writers. My only gripe in this department is that after a while they do start reusing tricks, but they were able to make it unpredictable enough as to still be enjoying.

If those were the only things of note, this show might rank among my all-time favorites. Unfortunately, when you venture into other departments things get a little weird and a little less positive. The biggest thing missing here is character growth. I noticed very few instances of characters changing, and when they did it was always for the worse. A corruption rather than a redemption (except for *maybe* one exception in a very minor character). Characters deemed bad never improve on themselves, they only (sometimes) receive justice. Good characters either stay the same the whole time and are never rewarded or eventually spiral into evil and are smited for it. Actually, there is a ridiculous amount of smiting. Like absurd. Most of it not even deserved.

When it comes to relationships, again we've got a very mixed bag. On the one hand, there are some very strong and compelling friendships and romances. On the other hand, there are also some very ham-fisted and unearned friendships and romances. They do get resolved, but all but one ends in failure, casting a very negative outlook over the whole plot. Which is not helped by all the smiting. I would say the most egregious relationship is the one with Xia Chu, our "communist hero." This romance is not established at all, and we only learn of its existence through a five second flashback when it starts to have plot relevance. In fact, the whole start of the show is the only place where the pacing was really a detriment to the experience. Things started out moving so fast it was difficult to figure out what was going on.

But, speaking of communism... yeah. Some weird stuff going on here. This show is, at its core, pro-capitalist. The main character runs a business, and runs it well, and the plot is entirely focused on her battling it out in the free market. Love it. But at the same time it tries to get away with a pro-communist viewpoint by shoving in some communist characters (namely Xia Chu) and some very unmotivated sympathies to the communist movement on the part of the main characters. Think about it: why would Shauhua, who was notably very adamant about retaining ownership over her business and assets, support a movement which seeks to end ownership altogether? I'm not buying it. But I suppose it's very emblematic of the current state of China: singing the virtues of communism while reaping the rewards of capitalism.

A very unique aspect of this show is the amount of death. There is a crazy amount. And not even in a way which can be theoretically justified, like Game of Thrones. The amount of death is above-average and exceeds the random chance of death to make our main character absurdly unlucky. I've got mixed feelings here. On the one hand, it is a very effective way for, in a very long show jam-packed with plot, things to basically reset and move us into a new era to start fresh. It allows the show to reinvent itself multiple times and not get bogged down in its own baggage. On the other hand, it is often used as a very lazy resolution to character relationships and conflicts. "Oooh, I wonder how these two characters are going to resolve this heated argument! Oh, never mind, one of them died." Cool.

When I finished this show, I was left with two thoughts: "wow, that was crazy," and "so what was the point?" Despite its lengthy runtime, gluttony of plot, and ensemble of characters, the biggest struggle that Wild Ambition Bloom can't overcome is deciding what it is at its core. It may be a business drama, sure, but that's just the container. What's missing is some human theme, some journey of growth or meditation on the human condition. When it ends, you can't help but think, that after all that happened, has anything really changed?

I do recommend this show. It has its flaws, but it has its gifts too. And it's a wild ride worth taking.

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This is for people who want a deeper understanding of the Human Condition

Don't just blindly trust the bad reviews and judge for yourself. This drama is something that can only be judged once they get to the end. This series is like a food for the soul, makes you ponder about the human condition and moral values. Some people may get bored because they don't understand the long journey, but once you reach the end, everything makes sense and clicks into place, and it makes you want to go back and rewatch it. It is thought provoking. The emotional value it brings is also amazing.

So it is not a popcorn drama for people who want a cliched trope like a domineering CEO and hot scandals. It does try to cater to a wider worldview because it encompasses many characters, and so the world-building feels more complete and not only about 2 people's romance; their actions actually affect the world.

Plus, it has great acting and comedic moments, so it won't be boring. It starts getting meaty around episode 25. But you won't be able to appreciate the second half without the beginning either! Also, because it being 3 iterations, we can also see and analyse what the same people who had different circumstances & spiritual journey would do.

I would like to say that I've been watching both TanSongyun & HouMinghao's dramas, and I think that they are both great seasoned actors, and this work is really top-notch and beautiful. HMH delivers different characters each time, so don't expect this character to be anything like others he has done; just a little hint remains the same. The songs are great, they fit the emotional theme well, the CGI is smooth and beautiful, I heard it's big-budget CGI by the people behind Nazha, the animated movie.

For some people who feel there aren't enough kissing scenes, "Love" is not only about physical touch. There are different love languages and small nuances that make this work elegantly beautiful.

For those people who disagree with the ending, I feel like it's just nature taking its course. I also believe this show delivers on the premise that nobody is perfect and everyone has inherent strengths and weaknesses. If everyone was thinking more wiser & more long term then none of this drama happens hahaha! I agree that even I wanted a different deus ex machina occurrence but this ending makes the lesson that we can learn from this more hard-hitting and like the song in episode 38, "beautiful".

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