Blue Storm
This review may contain spoilers
A really good, carefree and funny e-sport drama!
The drama is really good!As a LOL player, I loved the novel which helped me understood a few champions in terms of role and gameplay (ex; of Diana). Loving the universe of Riots, I loved the allusions to the game in it, and it really helped me get better in the game. Here's the novel for those who want to read it: (http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com/p/youre-beautiful-when-you-smile.html).
I'm not gonna lie, I was attracted by the fact that it was about League of Legends and was a bit taken aback when I saw that they used another game in it.
However, Onmyoji Arena was so well presented that I wanted to download it either on my phone or my computer (however it was too heavy). As I don't know the game, I couldn't understand the champions and their roles but it wasn't that important. I've tried to check out the champions on the game website; its pretty cool how they explain you how to use the abilities and combos which seems basics like that but can help you understand the gameplays in the drama.
A lot of people think TY is immature and doesn't really grow. I disagree with that! TY is a 22 years old graduate student in the drama (19 in the novel) and I'm the same and I perfectly understand her. She's straightforward and doesn't have the best temper so it makes her impulsive... however, she has a dream and she works hard for it no matter the difficulties. She stays true to herself and doesn't try to please everyone and anyone... she deals with her teammates issues like a real adult... she's not the kid you have to protect... she's a team member that got your back knowing you'll her back too. She's loyal to her friends and I like the way she intelligently helps them. Then if you look at the people she knew before being a professional player: Yang God, JinYang and Ai Jia... the 3 of them are even more childish than her but here again that's part of their age... they're at the beginning of their 20s.
Chen Xiao is cute, it's my first drama of her and tbh she's good for the role: she got the girly part when she cares about her appearance and stuff, and the childish part, when she plays and interacts with her team, but the way she matures through the drama is pretty good, u feel like growing with her.
I read some people thought that Shen Yue (Meteor Garden / A love so Beautiful) or Fair Xing (Master devil do not kiss me/ Put your head on my shoulder) would have been a better choice as lead actress... but tbh I disagree... If someone had said Wan Peng (My girlfriend is an alien), I would have say why not cause she often plays a girly-tom boyish character which could have fit with Smiling. However Shen Yue and Fair Xing? nah
For those who have an issue with Chen Xiao's acting, I admit, saying she's perfect would be lying, however TY is supposed to have a poker face quite often (according to the novel) and maybe the lack of expression of the actress does fit this aspect of her character. Honestly, like I said in a comment on the drama, do you remember Bella in Twilight? She's what I would call the perfect definition of lack of expression, the woman looked like she was constipated from beginning to end (of 4 movies)!
Xu Kai... I watched the Legends, I started to watch Court lady, and I'm currently watching Ancient Love Poetry (this drama is soooo confusing)... and by far Falling Into Your Smile is the best! I heard it's his first modern drama and tbh the role fits him.
The story is predictable in a way where it's a drama and like most drama we can determine the whole story by watching the trailer and the videos at the end lol. But it's also a bowl of fresh air as it's not stressing; the usual toxic moments are properly managed I think and there's a real reflection behind the use of negatives stuffs (gossips/critics)... I honestly hope that some fans could watch this drama, understand it and change their attitude after to be more supportive and less toxic...
The side characters are good and simple, Xiao Pang is excellent, his innocence and reactions make the whole comedic part. Lao K (Old K) is cool with calm and observing attitude. Ming Sheng, Rui Ge and Lao Mao (Old Cat) are funny too. Especially Old Cat, who's slow at understanding things!
Lu Yue and Kun are a bit awkard tho... too exaggerated? Idk there's something off with them... however they fit the drama too, Lu Yue by always appearing in the cute moments between the lead and Kun by being the childish but stubborn character he is.
S/o to the second characters (the bestie and her bf/ex-bf), but coming at it... I don't really know what social class Tong Yao is supposed to be but her Miu Miu and Balenciaga items makes it pretty clear she's far from poor... in the book they explain it as most of her branded clothes are from her bestie... but somehow she always seems to be wearing branded stuff in the drama which makes it less believable (I know it's surely the sponsoring of the drama but still). That's a minor detail...
I hope it helps you decide whether or not should or definitely should watch it! :*
I'll edit it later but for the moment here you go:
- Trailer of Episode 17 --> Chapter 64 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 18 --> Chapter 69 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 19 --> Chapter 72 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 20 --> Chapter 78 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 21 --> Chapter 87 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 22 --> Chapter 93 part 3-part 4
- Trailer of Episode 23 --> Chapter 105 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 24--> Chapter 113 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 25
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The story is really nice and even tho I've read the manhwa I really liked how they adapted it.
I really like the dynamics of the parents towards the children. Episode after episode you end up understanding each of them better.
Finally, I really love the main couple; really sweet. the chemistry between Sung Hoon and Jung Yoo Min was really present from Episode 1 to episode 12.
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A sweet
In this drama , I fell in love with Park Eun Bin. I know a lot of you did in her previous drama as a lawyer, but I didn't watch it so it's not my case. Her acting here is so sweet that you get attached to her from beginning to end.The story is really interesting, every main characters has their secrets and their skeletons in their family closet and it's really interesting to watch them grow with it.
Mokha is so attaching, I love her loyalty. She stays true to her own values (she doesn't let people take advantage of her) and she's mature. She shows that you can achieve your goals without stepping on others. I love how she's not fake, simply good. She's not the traditional "innocent" female lead we meet in dramas: the one who's life is terrible but she's such a saint that you wonder why it happens to her. No she's someone like us, you can relate to her. But she's what everyone will call a realistically "GOOD" person.
Park Eun Bin has an amazing voice and her singing was a blessing to my ears, my phone and my laptops. The drama reminds me of Imitation because of the theme, but Mokha is more attaching than Maha.
I came across the videos of PEB singing "Someday" on Instagram and her voice was so pure that I decided to watch the whole drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
That's the best Japanese content I've ever watched
I honestly love this movie. I've rewatched it soooo many times I can't count it.1. The story is straightforward with a small number of important people. By that I mean, no irrelevant people slow down the plot. The main antagonists make you understand the worth of the female lead.
2. The romance is light but so heartwarming. There are no kiss but you can feel the romance blossoming from beginning to end.
3. I usually don't like Japanese content because of the overly "Kawai" or some weird stuff that could make foreigners (by that I mean those who are not used to Japanese culture) uncomfortable. But in this movie, there weren't any, like the abuse was reduced to necessary without making it overly uncomfortable. [I don't want to offend anyone, but JP content is really special]. There's not too much overacting.
4. Did I say I've watched a thousand times?
5. The story keeps so captivated from beginning to end. Tho there are a few questions left unanswered no matter how many times I watch it.
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This review may contain spoilers
A MUST WATCH
I don't know how many times I've watched this series. But I absolutely love it.1. The personal growth of each of the characters, from their youth to their adulthood, especially our MFL, SJR. The way she turned into an innocent young girl to a strong woman is really interesting. Most important aspect I really liked is how she doesn't turn greedy and keeps this innocence and loyalty she had when she was younger. I like how the MML, XYQ pushes her to become stronger while doing everything to protect and preserve her.
2. I like the political dynamic of the drama. You see the power struggles of each main sects and you even end up pitying the antagonist characters.
3. Like a lot of drama, some characters were frustrating, but surprisingly, I could understand the attitude of the major characters towards them.
This drama is really entertaining, from the constant romance throughout the story to the intense political struggles
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Come closer to their stage but stay further from their life
This drama was good. At first I thought it was really cliche and I wasnt much into it. However when they started to talk about the relations between trainees their resentment towards each other, their dreams and how far some could go to carry that dream I got interested. Its not just a romance between the main leads... maybe at first it is but I felt like it was simply a trigger. Like the key to the pandora box.I really like the character development:
- La Rima is surely one of the sweetest character in there, she's supportive smart and strong.
- It feels like Tea Party is the link between all groups involved however you realise that they already had so.e connections out of Tea Party...
- the last song was so beautiful..
I got so surprised because I may listen to SF9 and Ateez sometimes, but not the others or i may have one of 2 songs of them... i got so impressed by the main leads voices... especially Jeong Jiso. I'd never though this girl could sing and honestly she has for me the best voice out of all girl singers in that drama.
I feel like this drama isnt all about what's wrong behind the kpop industry but more about this is what trainees want to achieve... it's a long and difficult road... they could lose everything with a single "mistake" (like a dating scandal) however their solidarity and strength among the team members and their will to succeed can make them stronger. I hope fans could see the real message behind that drama: the stars they're idolizing are humans with feelings and not just commercial products. They have a life, a dream and they worked hard to achieve it. Like Lu Sicheng said in Falling Into Your Smile: "Come closer to their stage but stay further from their life"
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This review may contain spoilers
A cute fluffy romance
Just 10 episodes out for the moment however, the story is lights and so sweet. The chemistry between the leads is so cute since the beginning. I really like the relationships surrounding the leads, wether its GS and her family, or her roommates or bandmates or MQC with his friends or colleagues.I'll update after a few more episodes, however for the moment this drama only add a little bit of sweetness in your life.
There hasn't been any moments of stress nor any moments where you want to punch a character or erase it. All of them are really cute and nice.
I also find it interesting to see the world behind the dubbings of dramas.
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