A kiss is never just a kiss

Once again, j-drama delivers a short, sweet, heartfelt romance with conviction. Our leads share great visuals, and you can sense the attraction between the two which translated to oodles of chemistry. Of course, it would not be a drama if everything is smooth sailing, but we are fully onboard for the ride.

Consider the short run-time of this drama, I am pleasantly surprised by the depth in the leads portrayals. They feel well nuanced and fleshed out. The vocalising of their inner thoughts allow us a great deal of insights into their psyches. It is an effective and impactful tool. The pacing is spot on. There is never a dull moment, but the show doesn’t feel rushed either.
The writer-san played the SML and SFL card intelligently. They are not used as the token antagonists to create tension and angst. Their intrusion into their bubble reality forced the leads to examine their true feelings and confront some uncomfortable truths.

There are three particular aspects that I really liked. Firstly, the FL is not the usual bubbly, giddy stereotype. She is a well-respected professional in her own right, but she is naïve in love. This vulnerability endears her to us and this extends to the ML when we find out more about him later in the show. This brings us to the second point; I think it is very clever of the writer-san to flip the perspective between the leads. We get a chance to feel his confusion, excitement and pain which is usually hidden behind the professional demeanours. Finally, while their meet-cute sets them up as friends with benefits, their skinship is not egregious. It is an integral part of their relationship and eventual growth. It is handled thoughtfully and delicately. There are some seriously swoon worthy moments.

The acting from our leads is on point and with a lot of heart and deft touches. There are good performances from the support cast as well and I’m definitely getting second lead syndrome vibes.

The ending is poetic and perfect. I love the kiss motif being used at both ends of the show to signify the final breakthrough in their relationship.

I have no problem recommending this show. It will lift your spirit and restore your faith in love.
Production value is good. OST is well integrated.

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An ode to the place where you can breath, heal and belong

This show is so much more than the typical healing drama.

Initially, I have my doubts about its raison d'etre. I’m happy to report that after completing the show, it has exceeded my expectations.

I’m getting ahead of myself, let's do the usual caveats. This show is not for everyone. It is slow, almost meditative in parts. There are only low level angsts and the show avoids high dramas and convoluted plots.

It is set in a village somewhere in Yunnan. The setting is beautiful as well as bucolic, but the village is dying as more and more young people move to the cities to seek their fame and fortunes. However, not everyone is accepting this as a fait accompli.
To see why this show works so well we need to examine three key areas, writing, acting and setting.

It sounds like a broken record doesn't it? In this case, we are presented with a master class in script writing. Do you remember the k-drama Thirty-nine? Top stars, tearjerker, rings a bell? It took that show many episodes to tell roughly the same story that this show managed to do in about 30 minutes. It was no less impactful and, in some ways, more poignant.

Moving forward, we have an eclectic collection of locals and transients. Most are friendly but with varying degree of eccentricities and foibles. The writer doesn't bother to hide the various problems but allow them to play out naturally. It doesn't judge the protagonists nor hand them free passes. Instead, they are allowed to find a place where they can feel connected, supported, while they confront their inner demons and heal. The healing motif is used again and again.

Is the show idealistic? Absolutely. There is a silver lining in everything related to our beloved village and its inhabitants. We are never left feeling hopeless or despondent. The location is unique but people who lived in rural villages will see shades of their old house just past the next alleyway. The backdrop is a living canvas that has been painted over for generations.

While our eyes might be drawn to the lively village scenes, our ears are filled with some of the best dialogues in a contemporary c-drama. They have been carefully written and honed. We are not talking about empty flowery phases, but simple yet insightful words uttered by people who have lived storied lives. There are wisdom and wistfulness in equal parts. It has added importance here because communication of all forms is a pillar for this drama. I shall never forget the few short voice messages the FL's BFF left on her phone. It is gut retching and life changing.

In terms of acting, the leads are just wonderful. Their characters are expertly crafted and brought to life. It is impossible not to like them and ship them. There are plenty of swoon worthy moments and a decent amount of skinship. The ensemble cast are full of good-looking young actors and seasoned senior members. They feel real and relatable. All the main characters have detailed backstories and carries a number of interesting subplots. The village elders are the soul of the village and the ML’s grandmother is a national treasure.

The OST is a surprise highlight. The soundtrack is very well done. It ranges from catchy ditties to soulful songs that pairs so well with the show’s changing mood.

While the show is superior in many ways, it is not perfect. It is low key jingoistic. There is too much emphasis on the local government doing right by everyone. It doesn't really explore some of the more hard hitting social issues confronted by rural China. The pacing also got a little inconsistent towards the end as well.

There are some fan services in the last two episodes. The show concludes on an uplifting note and a moment of reflection. We are affirmed that lives in our favourite village will go on after the final credit rolls. For that, we give thanks.
In my mind, this show is not a celebration of a home or even a village but a place more nebulous. A place where you know you belong.

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A sweet, uplifting youth drama with a BIG heart

I'm surprised that there is no review of this drama. It was based on a 2017 film of the same name. It has been available to view for over 1 year. I suppose it is a sleeper for most people. That is a shame as it is surprising good.
However, there is a couple of caveats. It is a idealistic youth drama and there is a lot of music and most of it traditional Chinese "folk" music. If you are not into this genre then you might want to skip this.
The drama was set in a school but not a typical high school, it was a music conservatory. The school was roughly divided into western classical music and traditional Chinese music streams. It was this division that formed the central plot.
The writer really went out of her way to give the standard school romance a twist. Everything were a little left of centre. With it being a "special" school, the characters were also more quirky. Most were nerdy and had strong personalities that departed from the typical mould. It made the show more interesting and unpredictable.
For example, where the FL and her roommate usually formed a clique, she was the odd one out here and she ended up forming a much stronger bond with four girls that were much quirkier. Those girls all had their unique personalities and solid backstories so that they are not the usual one dimensional BFF trope. If anything, they stole the show half the time.
Another curve ball the writer threw at us was the OTP pairing. At the start of the show we were introduced to the FL and her crush which was the handsome piano prodigy in her year. It sounded like the standard unrequited love plot, right? Well, you will be wrong. Her male BFF, who had a crush on the FL but still enabled her to chase after the piano god, became the ML and it was their budding romance that formed the basis of the OTP. Their relationship was very innocent and there was not a bit of skinship here. That was where the 2OTP came in.
The 2OTP was a more mature pairing and there were some nice skinship as their romance blossomed. This romance line was strong enough to be the main plot for most c-dramas but it was a little tropey. At least the angsty bits were handled with maturity. The 2ML was a popular c-drama star and his (the writer's) observations of the industry was quite insightful.
Of course, being a school drama, there was a lot of teenage angst and schoolyard shenanigans but nothing was over the top and even the darkest situation had a light at the end, there were also a good deal of humour and slapstick to keep things light most of the time. There were lots of positive messages, some might find it a bit preachy but I think it was ok within the drama's youth/school setting.
The writer did not leave everything in the land of the unicorns though. There were dark themes like bullying, parental pressures, self image, ageism and even death but they were all there for a reason and she used them to push forward more positive plot developments. I think it was a fair call to highlight the marginalisation of traditional Chinese music in the face of c/k/j-pop and western classical music.
As most of the actors were young, their performance can be a bit patchy but it was not a big issue. Some of the minor plots were a bit weak and cliché but they are just ripples in the overall dramascape. As someone who knew a little bit about music education, some of the plot device used were a little unrealistic but hey, it is dramaland so just keep the rose tinted glasses on a little longer.
The OST was great if you like Chinese music or even music in general. The band battle in episode 23 was definitely a highlight.
Kudos to the writer for giving us the feels but without making it too sugary. Words like heartfelt, warm, sweet, uplifting, cute, touching came to mind when watching this show. Was it realistic, no, I wish it was and the world would be a better place but when you watched it and maybe even rewatch it, you will feel these feelings again and again which is a shelter from our trying times. Highly recommended.
P.S. I finally watched the original movie (fast paced, fun and entertaining, BTW) and I have to say that this drama series was actually better. This should not be taken for granted as a lot of movie spin-off becomes a draggy mess. The writer kept most of the key scenes and the central theme but fleshed it out really well. The 2OTP love line was completely new. In fact, all the teacher roles were added. Several other supporting roles were new and, in hindsight, how wonderful they were. The old lady living across the practice room was a gem. Very nuanced and bridged the generations . The food delivery guy with a strong Cantonese accent was another. It is rare to hear any type of accent in a c-drama as they try to make everyone speak standard mandarin (it is understandable, a Ming dynasty assassin speaking with a Taiwanese accent will break any immersion) hence dubbing is everywhere and can be a bit of hit and miss. To hear someone who is different is refreshing but more importantly, it wasn't a wallflower role. His interaction with them was so sincere. The farewell scene was very touching and I bought it 100%. Where the movie was a great idea and well executed, the drama fleshed it out and gave it a heart. Yes, it might be padded with sentimental tosh but so is a hug from your grandma.

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Even good things can become bad if they went on for too long

This show is fundamentally a love story with a slow start. The OTP's romance is sweet and innocent when started in high school but gets complicated as their path diverged. The inevitable breakup during a long distance relationship was painful and left both scarred. Nevertheless, the show has a laser focus on them and everything else that happens are distractions. This is a double edged sword which I'll discuss later.

There are also some police SWAT and EOD actions but they are secondary. There is certainly a strong Band of Brothers vibe. A light propaganda element is present and accounted for.

Let's start with the good bits.

1) Once they reconnected after years apart, their love is unshakeable. No one can come between them. This is a nice touch in a sea of antsy melodramas. Their chemistry is very strong and there are many swoon worthy moments and lots of skinship which felt natural. They are literally making up for lost time!

2) All the characters are well defined. Everyone behaves predictably with no surprise personality disorders. There are plenty of flawed characters but they are predictable and a bit cliche.

3) Northern China is harsh but beautiful. The snowy mountain scenes and lunar landscapes are captivating. Hats off to the actors and production crew who has to brave the extreme elements.

4) Acting is solid if uninspired. There is a lot of young male actors involved and they certainly did their best with the physical challenge side. The leads are in their elements, and they delivered. This is especially true for the FL who literally glows whenever she is with the ML. For once, she is not playing a feisty FL who has to prove her worth repeatedly.

Unfortunately, this is where I have to insert the dreaded BUT.

They need to trim a few episodes off the run. It would be near perfect if that happens. The problem is not the love story per se nor the acting in general but rather the show became an Ouroboros and began to feed on itself once the show lost focus.

The last 1/3 of the show feels voyeuristic to me. A lot of their interactions are quite mundane. They are always whispering sweet nothing to each other while in bed, on the phone or just doing chores. It is as if we are eavesdropping on them. It is very lovey-dovey but repetitive. There is not a lot of depth to their conversations which leads us to the next point.

Most of the characters are one dimensional, including the leads. I’m not saying that they are not interesting but they are set in their ways. The ML is a SWAT officer and even though he tries to relax and be a good BF/husband when he is with her, he is always on call and his time with her is measured in hours. He is stoic, loving and protective (to a fault) towards the FL. On the other hand, the FL is very accepting and accommodating so she will not try to change him but rather work to fit in with his punishing schedule. She adores him but she is in his shadow.

The personalities and behaviours of the support cast are largely on rails. Friends and colleagues are loyal and supportive. Antagonists are ineffective and learn their lesson sooner or later.

On top of that, most subplots are skin deep and just eat up screen time. It was nice that the 2CP's “romance” is cute and not attention grabbing, but its progress is vague and stilted.

I’m not sure if it is a direction or writer(s) issue but it is obvious to me that the Show is fraying around the edges and lost narrative focus towards the end. Some plots became disjointed, others stretched, and loose ends are handled awkwardly. One of the worse examples is when the ML was severely injured in ep.26 but there is no details about how and why it happened. We just jumped from the train station to the hospital operating room. As a police drama, this is very untidy. Could it be a censor issue?

The 2.5 years’ time skip felt abrupt and the whole wedding felt undercooked. You just don't feel that much time has passed. Everyone looks (other than the daughter) and behaves exactly the same. You can almost feel the plot fraying.

Ep.30 is a waste of time (apologies to die-hard fans). It is basically a retelling of their high school romance and a few minutes of new footage and voiceover. Why now? We knew what happened. There is a hint about their future at the end but it feels tacked on. I would have preferred a honeymoon travelogue with a bit of flashback for some awesome fan service. I won't call it a rotten tail, but it doesn't feel right either and loses points with me.

It could have avoid all this and ends on a high if it has a shorter run. I was really enjoying the first 3/4 of the Show and to end it this way is disappointing.

I'd be happy to rewatch a good chunk of this show but not the whole series.

As Mickey finds out in the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, be careful what you wish for. Even good things can become bad if they went on for too long.

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It captured the meh

As with many sageuk dramas, the setting, pageantry and historical references hook us in. The plot and characters sustain it. Unfortunately, this series is patchy in the last two and its quality suffers.

The first few episodes are nicely done. The idea of the FL being a baduk master is novel, but it has its own narrative issues. Regardless, it set up the meet-cute of the OTP. We are left with no doubt that the romance of our leads is the corner stone of this drama. This is problem #1.

As with many Korean court dramas, the FL ended up having to cross-dress just to get access to the ML. The FL is just not convincing as a man. It also hamstrings her performance. There are moments of animation but it mostly feels wooden.

Unsurprisingly, the main theme is standard issue palace intrigue. There are the odd twists, but they are mere ripples in a mill pond. All the classic courtly characters are there. Both good and evil. The veteran actors turn in solid performances but this is bread and butter for them.

The run-of-the-mill political shenanigans is problem #2. We run through several backstabbing plots as expected. Each time we arrive at a flashpoint we’d get our hopes up. Is this the turning point? Will we see some major realignment? Alas, after each bump, the show would settle back to a long period of doldrum.

Other than the romance and political maneuvers, we must contend with a simmering revenge plot. Unfortunately, this has issues as well. So much time and energy have been devoted to this but at the 11th hour, the protagonist found out that it is all a misunderstanding. We knew this all along so . . . Doh.

Obviously, the evil characters are going to get their comeuppance. However, just like the muddled revenge plots, the righting of such wrongs took its sweet time. Everyone knows who they are but other than much gnashing of teeth, not a great deal happens and then everything happened. By then, I'm past caring.

As I mentioned before, romance of the leads is key. However, their chemistry is questionable. Their skinship mostly leaves me cold. Their first kiss is good but I challenge anyone to feel excited after watching their last kiss in the finale. Go on, watch it and tell me I'm wrong. I double dare you!

Thankfully, the acting of the ML steadied the ship. He was 10 times more animated than the FL and his acting is next level. However, he can't compensate for every shortcomings of this drama.

In the end, the series is watchable but there is nothing new. There are the odd highlights. The ending is a bit ponderous. You’d think an HEA ending is a given. Not so fast, chingu. It is as if the writer is having a bet each way. I have no idea why you'd do that at this late stage. It does reflect on the drama as a whole.

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Love is a many-splendored thing. This show is not.

Our OTP first worked together in Once We Get Married and it is a very good pairing. The romance was sweet, and their chemistry was undeniable. I was really looking forward to this show to see if we can recapture some of that magic.

Let’s be frank, the plot of this show is paper thin. Our OTP met and fell in love 5 years ago and broke up due to some misunderstanding. She was pregnant, but she kept it a secret from him. They met up in the present and things develops from there. The obvious question is whether they will get back together. The writer has the same idea and within the first dozen episodes the show already has the HEA ending in sight. However, the writer threw a curve ball and the relationship hit the rocks in ep.13. The plot then went around the mulberry bush several times before hitting another roadblock a few episodes later. This reset all the relationships including the 2CP’s. We then moped around some unproductive side plots that padded out the episode count.

The OTP are back on track by ep.23 but we have gone through many silly dating tropes that would have been amusing if it was done at the start of the show. It just feels tiresome when it pops up at ep.20. It goes to show that they added so many fillers between ep.13-22.

Stretching a thin plot is nothing new to c-drama when episode count can reach 40+ but you still need a solid foundation to support the flimsy subplots. Unfortunately, this show is structured somewhat back to front. The initial spark of a new romance happened 5 years ago. We only see glimpses of it in flashbacks at the end of each episode. Otherwise, the OTP behaves more like bickering parents that is stuck in limbo between reconciliation and divorce. There are precious few resolutions but repeated setbacks.

In terms of characterisations, the ML is supposed to be some kind of investment wunderkind, but we hardly ever see him do a day’s work and he ended up being an immature proto-dad and a pest to the FL. On the other hand, the FL is hardworking and pulls double duty as a tech visionary and a super mum. However, she is one confused lady when it comes to the ML. She alternates between pushing him away (unconvincingly) and pulling him in (irresistibly). I hate to say this but the plots involving the leads are insipid and their characters are tropey and beige.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that the role of providing titillations falls on the shoulders of the 2CP. They certainly give that a good go but the pairing of a beautiful sexy noona with a naïve inexperience hunk is a no-brainer. If the 2nd side couple lacks originality, the third is definitely the odd couple but not in a good way. The young 3FL is all gung-ho with the love at first sight trope but then she decided to be a martyr to his unrequited love of the FL. It was not helped by the 3ML being totally insensitive to her feelings until it is too late. Of course, this means their relationship bounces around with all kinds of exaggerated set pieces and tropey dating mishaps. Honestly, it is as if the show is overcompensating for the lack lustre central plot and double down on the side couples so that they can generate the heat and craziness that is MIA from the OTP for the first 2/3 of the show.

BTW, I don’t get to say this often, but this show is redeemed by the young child actor. He is so cute, and wise beyond his age. Time and again, he is voicing our thoughts/frustrations about the futile antics of his parents. For this, we give thanks. He does get in the way of their romantic pursuits once in a while but that’s a small price to pay.

As I mentioned before, the last few episodes are pure fan service and lead us directly to the HEA ending we have to have. The strong chemistry of our leads made this watchable. The show knows this and dials up the skinship and swoon-y moments. I can’t complain even if they are shoehorned in at every opportunity. While this is going on, the screen time of the child actor is greatly reduced. No siree, none of that mood killing third wheel, tyvm. This is a shame.

The show also tries to build up some tension with shenanigans from the antagonists. Unfortunately, most of this is quite transparent and are used to set up the eventual downfall of the antagonists rather than to threaten the leads.

I still ship our OTP unreservedly but this is also why I'm disappointed with the show. It has the right actors and it ticked all the boxes, but it also feels insipid and lazy. The extra fan service and sugar hits towards the end, while appreciated, is not a substitute for quality. Dare I call it a cynical exercise to milk the popular pairing of the leads and maximise return on investment? Peace out.

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‘Tis the season where Yu Mi discovers Yu ME

This season starts where S1 left off. In S1, Yumi was a supportive girlfriend and a good mid-tier manager, but she has hit the doldrum on both fronts.

It was no surprise that Yumi was once again looking for love and it seemed to be going swimmingly until the tropes took over. The big plot development in this season is how Yumi discovered self-love and becomes more assertive, a risk taker and is more focused. While this leads to some positive character growth, it also meant that she became more obstinate and, to a degree, self-sabotaging.

This change in focus also altered the feel of the Show. Yes, when the love line is in full swing, it was sweet and swoon worthy but that didn’t last. What replaced it was an air of melancholy. There are ripples of heightened emotions along the way, but it never reached the same heights as in S1. Everything felt muted and there is a strong sense of role playing when it comes to the romance. There seems to be a lack of passion.

Of course, the cells are the glue that held the show together and allow the writer-nim a chance to go off piste with the action. They are cute as ever and have loads of personalities. However, if you remove the animations, what is left is a fairly tropey plot and to be honest, a bit meh. It ticked all the boxes but there is little we haven’t seen before.

On top of the OTP, there are two other pairings. They are cute and provided some distraction while Yumi is beavering away at work. They were almost more fun to watch than our main CP. Acting is fine and felt comfortable with a bit of quirkiness when needed.

Now the elephant in the room. The ending is a total teaser. It left the plot dangling mid scene. There have been persistent rumours that there will be NO season 3 but this ending is shouting the exact opposite. There have been a lot of early chatter about possible endings as followers of the webtoon knew who is the chosen one. So what is going on? It also begs the question why is the Show only 14 episodes long when a normal 16 eps would have given the Show enough time to wrap things up if there is no S3. There will be a huge uproar and backlash if the Show ends like this. There is no news regarding S3 at the time of writing.

In the end, Yumi 2 was enjoyable and watchable but not as good as S1. The cell animations patched over a fairly ho-hum script and carries it over the line. As my friend @Love movies famously said, “I wish it were more yummy!!”. Peace out.

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Love it or hate it but you cannot unsee this show!

Quirky rom-com is a staple of j-drama nowadays. Throw fetish into the mix and you will feel right at home. Of course, that formula is not going to appeal to everyone, so consider this your standard disclaimer.
Still reading . . . Good! Let's get on with the review. :)

The synopsis summarised the basic background information succinctly so I’m not going to waste bandwidth. I will say that at first glance, the FL seemed very stereotypical for this type of drama. Young, naïve, timid and inexperience. The ML is handsome, suave and most likely a player. Now hold these thoughts while you read on.

This show is short. Just 9 episodes running twenty odd minutes each. It wasted no time and never slows down. Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes for this show because of the initial presentation and the subject matter. Shows like this can go dark or degrading in a heartbeat. How wrong was I!

Not only was the ML super nice and sweet, he is also totally devoted to the FL and support her in every way. Can we just clone him now, please?

The FL did start off timid and all that but she is nurtured by the relationship and grows to be stronger and managed to come to terms with her condition. It wasn’t like a 180 turnaround, but her development was nice to watch.

Of course, we can’t ignore the “fetish” angle, but the show handled it well. It was never degrading or nasty. The ML is so earnest that it is hard to see it as exploitive or manipulative. The attraction is mutual and their chemistry is undeniable (cue heavy breathing).

The pacing is good (it has to be!) and the Show is totally focused on their love story. This brings us to the best part of the show. While it would be foolish to assume the OTP will live happily ever after, the show went out of its way to provide positive case studies on how to handle CP problems. Every episode tackles an issue, such as jealousy, insecurity, etc. It was gratifying to see a lot of the time the solution comes down to plain old talking and a good dose of trust. Communicate openly and honestly. Tell your partner what is bothering you and the other party acknowledging it and change for the better. It is not rocket science, but it is refreshing in how well this approach served the OTP. Where shows would pile on the angst, this Show just say, we have a problem, let’s fix it and now it is Sexy Time!

Ah yes, there is no shortage of skinship and sexy time. Nothing R rated but the FL is prone to display her "assets" at every opportunity. The ML wasn’t shy either. The way the show approach the raunchy bits is....interesting. It is very stylised, a bit cartoon-y (because of its manga roots?) but it is consistent, like a signature move. After awhile, you knew what is coming and just roll with it. It is too cheesy to get worked up about.

There is no point in comparing this little show to a big budget drama series. It is fluffy and a bit cringy at times but within its little niche, it is a good show. So give it a go. A few hours of your time is no big investment and it can bring a smile to your dial. I certainly had more fun watching this than some longer and bigger budget shows.

Finally, a shout out to @Ariel. I so agree with your review. It convinced me to watch the show. Cheers!

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Goldfish have layers, onions have layers, but this donkey doesn’t

The premise of show is simple. Wives are like goldfish. They live in fish bowl like environment and they need care, attention and love to thrive and stay healthy. Of course, any accredited relationship experts are going to roll their eyes and ask what century this rubbish came from. Sadly, there is an ounce of truth in the modern Japanese society, so it is a valid starting point. However, this can only be a starting point, when you construct a whole show based on this line of reasoning then it quickly shows how shallow and one dimensional it is. It can’t sustain a decent dialogue for long. The Show filled the narrative gaps with sex. A lot of it and quite explicit for a j-drama.

On the surface, this show seems to be pushing a lot of boundaries. However, once you have watched it, you realised that it is only pushing one boundary, but it kept pushing and pushing until you grow tired of it.

I’m not going to do a blow-by-blow description of every extramarital affair. Needless to say, there are many dalliances and that they are presented as the only way unhappy, dissatisfied wives can find love and fulfilment. There is not even a hint of other options or a deep dive into their lives. What we see is what we get. I am all for including appropriate intimate scenes in Asian dramas and we can do with more realistic portrayal of sexual liaison in a relationship. The usual euphemism of a couple lying in bed (sometimes fully clothed) with a pan to their intertwining fingers and then fade to black is so overused and quaint in this day and age.

Thankfully, titillation is not the only game in town. Fate played a key role in pushing our OTP together. Our CP is an odd couple, a young handsome aquarium owner and an older woman suffering from domestic violence and psychological torment. Their story is better constructed and has more depth, but it is still done in bold strokes and quite tropey. What got my goat is not so much their love line but the ending of it.

The writer expended a lot of energy setting up their burgeoning relationship and they had to overcome a lot of opposition to be together. Just when they are happy and free to love each other, it ended. Why? Was it family opposition? Health issues? Money? Even now I’m not sure why. When you look at them after their separation, the ML continued to run his aquarium, the FL started her own salon business after rescuing her ex’s. They are still in the same city. No one is bothering them. There are no other love interests. The FL is single and divorced. So why did they have to break up? It might have satisfied some internal logic only the writer knows but that is hardly satisfying for us. I do find that j-drama like this type of ambiguous endings where it is neither sad nor happy. It is unfulfilling and despondent, so this is real life? Is that really what we want after investing our time and emotions? With the minimal change to the script, our CP could have stay together and still manage their own affairs. Heck, that’s what modern couples do on a daily basis. We don't need a HEA ending every time but at least make it reasonable and satisfying.

On top of that, the show throws in a 2 years’ time skip and while some relationship improved, several affairs are still ongoing after two years. This is done behind the backs of the husbands even though they are not all horrible. There is no effort to resolve their marital problems and the affairs become the panacea. This sends a confusing message. We are shown some deplorable behaviours but we are also shown some that are deemed to be just naughty and good for the soul. Is this meant to be satire? The show is inconsistent in this regard and ends up trivialising important messages.

Acting was ok. Some characters are one dimensional and there are some overacting but where it counted the key actors delivered. OST is inoffensive.

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One for the fans or a new c-drama watchers

Let me start by saying that there is nothing wrong with this drama. The cast is good, and the production value is decent. However, there is nothing original nor unique about it. This is a little surprising because it is supposed to be an adaption from a novel. To be honest, it feels like just another tropey c-drama. Awkward.

As such, it is entertaining in a "paint by numbers" kind of way. It is like watching an amalgam of similar shows. The ML's role will be familiar to his fans and viewers of his recent dramas. The FL basically reprised her role of a sassy professional. They all look the part and everything slots into place. Easy peasy.

BTW, there are 3 side couples by the 1/3 mark (the final total will be 5). This means while the OTP are dancing around each other and sorting out their feelings, the other CP's are racing ahead and showing up the OTP. It is distracting and makes the romantic journey of our leads seems more fraught than necessary.

The business plot is all smokes and mirrors plus some mandatory flag waving. The FL struggles to start her own business which is not helped by her inept business partner. Hey, who needs enemies when he pretty much scores all his own goals.

The role of the ML is very cliché. He is the classic knight in shiny armour. He is always there to help the FL in every way imaginable. I'm getting flashbacks of Best Choice Ever. She tries to push back but we know how this will go down.

The relationship between the FL and her long-suffering ex-BF feels cumbersome. He is the nicest guy but he has to make way for the ML. His story arc feels muted and contrived.

In a sense, that's how I feel about this show in general. Yes, there are angsty moments, and the odd act of violence but it is never convincing. They are there because the playbook demands it.

Furthermore, there is insufficient original material to sustain 40 eps so there is a fair bit of padding with cliché business maneuverings and meandering side couples shenanigans.

Of course, once our OTP is official, the herd of unicorns is let loose. The last few eps are total fan service and super sweet. Not complaining because they are a nice CP and I enjoyed their swoon worthy moments, but it also feels like the show is overcompensating because it wasted so much time earlier on. It was not helped by the ubiquitous late show break-up which dragged on for too long. So many pensive looks and thousand-mile stares from our leads. I don't know if it was painful to watch or I'm sharing their pain.

As it stands, it is a solid production. It goes out of its way to tick all the boxes and stay true to the genre. Fans of our leads will rejoice. It is also a safe intro for any new c-drama watchers. Trust me, you can do worse. I don't regret watching it, but I kept seeing ghosts of shows past. I just wish it would do something original, anything.

BTW, there is a short bonus "epilogue". It is sweet but inconsequential. There is a bittersweet scene with the Sorry Card. It is mostly harmless, like the rest of the series.

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Sex is good but this show is better

Let’s start with the standard caveats. If you are uncomfortable with open discussions about sex or graphical contents then stop reading now. This show is not for you.

If you are still reading, then you’d better be sitting comfortably because this is a long review.

This show is a rare find. It is a superior show in many ways. It will surprise you with its subject matters. It will shock you with its openness and directness. It will make you re-evaluate your viewpoint about intimacy and gender stereotypes. This being a k-drama is certainly an eye opener for me.

If any viewer has doubts about its main topic, the opening minutes will certainly dispel them. While it might start like a show aim to shock and awe with titillations and sexploitation, it is much more than that. It is very thought provoking and surprisingly earnest. It is particularly relatable for female audiences. Certainly in a Korean context but also in a broader application.

This is because the show is very open about female sexuality and the tightrope they must walk at times. While men are part of the equation, they are often seen as selfish and ignorant. This is very refreshing compared to most romantic c/k-dramas. Typically, what passes as intimacy is reduced to cliche motifs like the intertwining of fingers while lying down and then fade to black.

The sex talk podcast plot allows the writer-nim to explore the full gambit of misconceptions and misinformation surround female sexuality. The lack of frank discussions and societal pressures in eastern societies cloud the issues and perpetuate many myths. Not only does the show lay them bare, but it also presents them in relatable scenarios. Yes, it is much more racy than your typical k-dramas but the sex scenes are not egregious nor are they exploitative. (See later discussion)

Nevertheless, being a rom-com, it can’t discard the venerable playbook completely. While the show started with an almost anti-romance stance, it turns the table in the last third of its run and it becomes quite romantic. It is tropey, but nicely done.

Speaking of exploitation, there are some online comments suggesting that the FL is a user/abuser who manipulated the ML and used him for her gratifications. I understand that POV as she was quite eager to turn him into a friend with benefits but once he confessed his love for her, she backs away and left him high and dry. It is not a good look.

However, I have a different take on this. Looking at the whole picture, we can see that she wasted 5 years of her prime in an unfulfilling relationship. She is uncertain about her self-worth and the role of love, sex and fulfillment after the breakup. Their typical monogamous relationship is strait-laced. Masturbation, casual sex and friends with benefit are exciting and liberating ideas but they are also fraught and alien to her.

Into this maelstrom enters the ML who is suave, handsome and most importantly, available. It is hardly surprising that she zeroes in on him. However, I don't believe that the FL is toying with him. She is naive and eager to experiment. She wants to copy the 2FL but she can't help falling in love with her soulmate. She knows this but she is not ready to commit. Her recent breakup is still raw. She needs more time and went on a journey of self discovery. Please note that she didn't play around as soon as the ML is out of the picture. This is not the behaviour of a cunning vixen. Maybe she could have handled it better but she is in a brave new world without a google map.

We know she has sort herself out at the NYE party. She is happy to see the ML and didn't appear surprised. Did she arrange the meeting? She wore his parting gift and happily show it off to him to signal acceptance. This will do for me.

Similarly, it took a lot of courage for the 2FL to start a new relationship when she swore that she will never be hurt by a lover again. Even someone who is quite self centred about sex still wants to be loved.

Acting is solid from all concerned. Pacing is spot on. There are a lot of energies from the ensemble cast and the OTP’s have oodles of chemistry. It is a joy to see relationships, love and intimacy being portrayed realistically. Yes, warts and all and amen to that! It does makes it hard to go back to the vanilla c/k romance dramas where 9/10 of the show is about NOT getting together and then we are “rewarded” with token PDA.

The show is not about being liberal nor lording over someone. What they are saying is, sex should not be taboo or an obligation. It should be fun and mutually satisfying. Masturbation is liberating. Sex with a compatible sex partner is better but sex with your soulmate is the best.

This show surprised me in a good way and engaged me like few others. I’d happily binge watch this again and so should you.

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It is better than I expected but missteps kept it from being great

I liked this show. It was entertaining and made me chuckled on occasions. If only the show knew when to stop and finish on a high and it would have been a surprise hit. As it stands, it is good but not great, funny and cringey in equal measure. A celebration of inconsistency that can be good, bad and meh.

The premise of the show is our leads soul swapped and have to live in each other’s bodies for a period of time. This brings about the usual sex change gags and innuendos. More importantly, they now realise challenges faced by each other. This understanding leads to mutual appreciation, and romance ensues. If all that sounds familiar that’s because it is a popular trope for contemporary as well as costume dramas. To top that off, the show has one of the messiest beginnings of any shows. It is quite possible for some confused viewer to drop the show after the first episode.

So I think it is best that we get the backstory straight now. The show is actually based on a graphic novel and the artist behind it is going through a sad divorce with her husband who is the publisher of the said novel. To mess with him, she deliberately introduced the soul swap plot, fully expecting the novel to crash and burn but the readers end up loving the plot twist. It is that novel we are watching as a live action show. To complicate things, we are dumped in the middle of the ongoing story without much preamble. There is little explanation of people’s behaviour nor their motivations upfront. However, the show does provide some background information later on. This means that for a casual viewer, the first couple of episodes can be bewildering and its overuse of zany sound effects and comedic devices only muddy the water even more. Let me assure you that it is not a farce even though it might appear so initially.

Once the dust settles, the show is actually better than expected. From my perspective, that is due to three key factors. Firstly, the script is quite clever. We have the usual tropes and there are plenty of them but the show work the tropes in such a way that it shows how the leads truly complements each other. They both have their shortcomings but by switching roles, they actually helped each other to overcome some sticky problems that have been festering. It also shows how their lives are more complicated than they thought. This allows a lot of character growth and breaking down the barriers between them.

Secondly, the acting of the FL is great. She truly played two roles. Her female role is quite stereotypical. Not bad but largely cliché for a costume drama. It is when she is playing as the king then she truly shines. She extrudes the gravitas and behaves regally.

Thirdly, the OTP's chemistry is good and their romance is swoon worthy. It is lovely to watch them grow closer together over time and find true love in an organic way. The path is not easy but it is a rewarding one both for them and for us.

This brings us to the not-so-good bits. The soul swapping part went on for too long. While I appreciate how well it set up the eventual growth of the leads, there are missteps so the longer it went, the weaker the overall show becomes. The show also relies heavily on tropes which is more obvious in the middle stretch. It doesn’t suffer from mid show drag per se but the pacing is patchy. The plot is mostly on rails.

The palace intrigue subplot runs the full length of the show. It was mostly predictable with standard antagonists filling the cliche roles. It is not particularly engaging. It was just there. Its conclusion is fairly predictable.

Another weakness is the ML’s acting. The ML is handsome in costume, and he does a decent job while playing the king. His behaviour while soul swapped is like a caricature of a girl and can be quite cringey. It makes the “FL” looks dumb and silly. I accept that she is not the sharpest knife in the kitchen but when she is in her own body, she does not behave like an airhead, so his portrayal seems unnatural and a bit off.

The link back to the contemporary storyline is a waste of time. In the span of 30 episodes, I think those scenes added up to around 20minutes. They are just snippets with a foregone conclusion to round things out. Other than making sense of the messy start to the costume drama and act as a postscript, it serves little real purpose.

The ending of the show is as sweet as you can expect but it is also contrived. It was the ending we have to have but you can feel that they took some serious liberties with the plot to get us there.

All in all, I enjoyed this show. The OTP's romance is swoon worthy. It can be funny and insightful. It did breathe some new life into the genre, but it is not consistent enough to be a breakout drama. It still have one foot firmly mired in tropes and it did the show few favours.

OST is not bad, but it does become repetitive.

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A healing journey disguises as a noona romance while masquerading as a sports drama

I am in two minds about this show. I keep swaying between the pros and cons.

On the one hand, it is very well written for the majority of the show. The plot keeps moving at pace and there is always something new happening on multiple fronts. There are mini cliff-hangers which keeps you wanting to see a little bit more. Misunderstandings are not allowed to fester and generally speaking, there is good communication between the leads.

Unfortunately, like many c-dramas that runs to 30+ episodes, it does flag towards the end. It is not quite a mid-show drag but you can feel the momentum draining away. The last few episodes mostly coast along rather than being propelled by some unstoppable plot. We got there at the end, and it is an ending that fans would appreciate but it is not a grand finale and feels more like a collection of footnotes.

It is clever of the writer to distribute the fan service fairly evenly once the couples are confirmed. In fact, some of the best CP moments are found around the 2/3 mark. From then on, we get dollops of skinship here and there to spice things up. It is nice and sweet but there is a lack of intensity.

In terms of acting, the ML is great and he carries the show. He is all singing and all dancing. He trained hard for the role and he is very good both as the impulsive young man as well as the maturing sports star by the end. His acting is animated as well as nuanced. On the other hand, the FL turns in a measured performance which is par for her. To be honest, I feel that she is often cast as the super competent professional who is hyper-focused on her work and her private life suffers. She has more or less given up on romance once she turned 30. Of course, her well ordered world is turned upside down when a handsome young suitor enters our noona’s life. The problem is that she can sleepwalk through such roles by now and it shows. We are also familiar with how a noona romance flows so we need more from her to lift this above the rest. Unfortunately, the show pushes too hard on the business side so she appears more often as the cool and calculating club manager and less of a romantic lead. We get a scattering of swoon worthy moments which rarely feels truly passionate.

On the other hand, the healing journeys undertaken by several of the casts, while low key are well written and rewarding to watch. They are nice character studies. There are no instant redeemption but a steady growth of the characters throughout the show. In time, they learn to deal with historical wrongs with maturity. This is gratifying to watch.

To the show's credit, the bulk of the support casts is actually quite good. The ML’s dad, Coach Zhang, Jiaojiao and Luo Nian are interesting characters in their own right. There are still the odd one dimensional characters such as the FL’s boss and her mum who are mostly there as naysayers. In the end, they did little damage, but it is distracting and repetitive.

This goes for the secondary couples as well. The Jiaojiao and Liang Tao couple is cute and has good chemistry. However, I have to wince a little when I realised that the coach has been passive/aggressive chasing Luo Nian for well over 2 years before she shows him a hint of acceptance. That’s playing the long game!

Finally, the sports aspect is very good in the beginning and engages us with the ML’s struggles. It showcases the ML’s dedication, intensity and physicality. It kept our interest for good part of the show but once again, that aspect becomes little more than window dressing later on. We get montages of “random” match play and then the final results. It moves the plot along, but you don’t sense the earlier "fight to survive" urgency anymore.

Is the show any good? Yes, it is. It is well written and well-acted on the whole but the show does peters out towards the end. The story is engaging and the noona romance is sweet. We have a decent amount of fan service and a HEA ending that will satisfy the fans. It would have been an even better show if it sprints to the finish rather than just jog past the line.

The OST is nice and I wouldn’t mind a casual rewatch.

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My cup of romance overflowth

You know the old saying, you don’t know what you missed until it’s gone. Well, this show is my corroboration.

When I first started to watch this drama, I wasn’t hooked. The meet-cute was functional but kooky. The leads are good looking people, and the setting is bucolic. It was not until the halfway mark when it dawns on me how enjoyable this show truly is.
The premise of the Show is fairly typical. Boy meets girl under some trying circumstances and leads to misunderstandings and mistrust. Nothing new there, all been done before. What the show was good at is to put the OTP’s relationship front and centre and show how a healthy relationship can form realistically. How I miss such a simple and straightforward premise.
While the ML is her boss, there is no power tripping nor maltreatment from the ML.

There are teasing and meaningful glances, but there are a lot of communication as well. Quite a lot of the dialogue are musings about relationships in general. There are no hidden agenda nor unhealthy intentions. The ML did have to work hard to break through FL’s shield, but he did it with patience and forbearance.

There is a bit of angst, but it is not directly related to the OTP but rather business related. The strength of their relationship is strong enough so that they can stand shoulder to shoulder when confronted with challenges. Even the parents are lovely and understanding. They are so supportive of our leads.

It is true that the Show is lacking in high dramas but it is a blessing when you consider shows which are willing to derail a perfectly fine love line in the name of overwrought theatrics and angst filled subplots. I’m looking at you, Flight To You.
Acting is good from all involved. I like the fact that the FL is not the classic beauty, but she is so good in this role. The ML is handsome and sweet, a true gentleman. My surprise find is Assistant Lin. He is not idol grade handsome but his is very charismatic.

There is an appropriate amount of skinship and so many swoon worthy moments. I have no problem shipping the CPs at all. The romance is sweet, but it is a steady, organic growth and not the usual 9 tens push-pulls and then the last minute magical confession. This is how it should be. It is not rocket science. I can relate to this which seems to be a point missed by so many writers.

If there is one fault with this show it would be its overuse of "funny" sound effects. This is particularly egregious early on when every humourous moment is accompanied by a cacophony of barnyard sounds or loud zany music track. It got toned down a bit towards the end but it is overused and fairly pointless.

I can highly recommend this Show if you are a romantic at heart and are sick of shows that portray romance as military grade obstacle course that takes no prisoners. This Show will restore your faith in love. It is on my rewatch list.

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Court ladies united will never be defeated!

Let’s get 2 fundamental points clear first. The FL is the heart and soul of this Show. When she smiles, the sun shines brighter and the birds sing sweeter. She is the focal point of many subplots. Interestingly, instead of all the wives and concubines scheming and at each other’s throat, the FL gathers a circle of friends from various royal households which grows to becomes a band of sisters who supported each other through thick or thin. It is definitely refreshing and entertaining to watch them work through and around daily challenges. The second point is the push for gender equality. Even though there are regions in this ancient mythical world where women are considered superior, most of the divided realms are patriarchal. A lot of male characters are portrayed as entitled, patronising or outright despicable. The one exception is the ML who is as sweet, gentle and loyal as they come.

With this in mind, the Show can be boiled down to a series of vignettes that challenge the leads, their friends and the steady rise of the ML in the imperial court. Some tasks are trivial and domestic while others are more serious and involve palace intrigues and affairs of the state. In all cases, it leads to the growth of our leads, their relationship as well as those who are near and dear to them.

Of course, 40 episodes of this is a stretch and this is where the FL’s presence really anchor the show. She is such a lovely and grounded character that you just can’t help but liking her and cheering her on. More importantly, makes you invested in the show and want to keep watching. Nevertheless, not every subplot involves our OTP and some do drag on for too long.
Draggy plots aside, there are other issues. Part of the problem is that most of the trials and tribulations are contrived. It is quite obvious what the writer wants as the outcome and it follows a well-trodden path.

On top of that, the Show is first and foremost a rom-com so its tone is fundamentally light. There are some serious issues presented mostly regarding mental health, the treatment of women and their place in society. While shows like A Dream of Splendor hit it harder and deeper. This Show vacillate between light and dark and settled on a shade of off white which avoided the really tough questions. We are constantly reminded of the inequality, but the solution arrived at are mostly simplistic, jingoistic and misaligned with its historical context. It is more about sending the message than its content and a contemporary message at that.

Acting is generally good, with the OTP outshining the rest of the cast. Of course, with such a big ensemble, there are some inconsistencies but it is not a big issue. Production is generally good but more care can be taken to give lighting a more natural look. Also, the styling and makeup of FL changed significantly towards the end to try to signify her important status and growing maturity but it doesn't work for me. She lost her characteristic sparkle. It felt like she has put on a mask.

The last few episodes are pure fan service with bonus skinship (about time!). The bulk of the plots have run their courses and the Show took its time to wrap things up and ties off each thread with a huge pink bow.

Overall, the Show is sweet without too much artificial sweeteners. The progress of the OTP’s love line is slow, but quite organic and swoon worthy. The writers stuck to their guns and the storyline is very consistent and enjoyable. It is fluffy and light but in a charming way. I can recommend this show if that is what you are looking for.

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