Let me start by saying that I haven’t read the novel/watched the donghua before watching this live adaptation so I had nothing to compare it to. Seeing how I had no expectations it was hard for me to be disappointed by certain things and changes that fans of the original story didn’t like.

Watching this as a standalone drama I enjoyed it quite a lot. It was far from perfect and there were things that really bugged me but I still think it’s a good drama. What I did like were the story and pacing, characters and their relationships, acting (for the most part) and CGI. I didn’t like most of the music choices and most of the fighting scenes.

When it comes to the story I like the overall premise. The world in which the story is set is interesting and the concept of soul powers, spirit beasts and soul rings was something fresh and new for me so it piqued my interest from the first episode. I like how they slowly introduced all characters one by one and how they all got decent backstories which made them more likable. They weren’t there as a decoration and as someone who is meant to make the main character look strong by being useless and weak. All 7 members of Shi Lan Ke were involved and capable, they worked as a team and actively helped each other to grow stronger together. That team spirit is something I liked a lot. It was interesting to watch how their relationship evolved and how over time they became real teammates and friends. The mystery involving Tang San and his parents was also well executed.

When it comes to the acting Xiao Zhan did a good job as Tang San and for me the emotional scenes were the highlight of his performance. I’m still not sure what I think about Betty Wu and her portrayal of Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu is the perfect example of the character I would usually hate and find annoying, but since she wasn’t weak and useless, and since she actively helped Tang San throughout the story, I didn’t find her annoying (for the most part). Her childish traits and mannerisms were overemphasized but I can’t really say it’s the actress’ fault. There is only one actor whose acting I found wooden, but everyone else did a good job.

The music. I think the BGM ruined a lot of scenes that could’ve been more impactful. Every time something exciting or emotional was happening it drew away my attention and instead of emphasizing the scene it ruined it. It was really frustrating. There are only few compositions that I actually liked, everything else was meeh.

The fighting scenes were saved by the amazing CGI. I hate when they show fighting in slow motion or when they show close ups of the characters’ faces or other body parts while fighting (JUST WHY?) and there was a lot of that. However, CGI looked really good and most characters used special powers while fighting so it was still interesting to watch and some of it looked really amazing. CGI in general looks very good, and I also like sound effects they used for those special powers. It was really satisfying to watch and hear.

All in all, is it worth watching? Yes. I already rewatched it with a friend and may watch it again in the future. If you’re a fan of Xiao Zhan it’s a must.

Read More

I decided to watch The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful because of Woo Do Hwan who is my favorite actor and when it comes to his acting he definitely didn't disappoint. The cast as a whole is one thing I liked about this movie. They all did mostly a good job and I have nothing to complain about when it comes to that.

The storyline, however, is another thing. It's not bad per se, it just lacks depth. It's a simple, straightforward, revenge story that follows our main character, genius Go player Gwi Soo (played by Kwon Sang Woo). First we see him as a child who loses everyone he loves and then we follow him as an adult who seeks revenge in the world of Go. Through his journey we meet other Go players like Busan weeds (played by Heo Sung Tae), Loner (played by Woo Do Hwan) and shaman (played by Won Hyun Joon). They're all interesting characters, but something about their stories felt rushed and incomplete (especially Loner who has a revenge story of his own). As a whole it's an okay storyline but nothing more than that.

Another thing I liked were action scenes. Fist fights are well choreographed and they were interesting to watch. Production was also great with some interesting special effects.

I would recommend it if you like some of these actors or action movies in general. For me it was an interesting watch but it didn't leave any lasting impact.

Read More

Dark and gritty, not your usual k-drama.

Prior to watching Connect I never watched any of Takashi Miike's previous works so I didn't know what to expect going into it. The premise looked interesting and I am a fan of Jung Haein so I knew at least the acting would be good even if everything else fails. After all, the first batch of MDL comments was not encouraging. However, I was positively surprised.

Connect follows the story of Ha Dong Soo (played by Jung Haein) who is a "connect", member of the new superhuman race. His body can heal itself from any type of injury and reconnect with any severed parts. One day he gets abducted by the illegal organ traffickers and during the surgery both of his eyes get removed. His body, however, starts healing and reattaching itself and he manages to run away before he's caught by the traffickers. One of his eyes stays behind and later ends up with Oh Jin Seop (played by Go Kyung Pyo) who turns out to be the infamous serial killer. His new eye somehow establishes connection with Ha Dong Soo who starts having painful visions of the things Jin Seop is seeing. As if being chased by the organ traffickers isn't enough, Ha Dong Soo decides to find the serial killer, stop him from killing any more people, and retrieve his eye.

The story itself looks really interesting, it has intriguing characters and enough dark elements to make a good thriller. But, although it was entertaining and easy to watch because it has only six 40 minutes long episodes, sometimes it lacked suspense and some (supporting) characters made unfathomably stupid decisions. The visual aspects, sound effects and the acting were amazing. Jung Hae In was really good at playing the traumatized but somewhat brave superhuman who only wants to live normal life and be left in peace but gets entangled in human trafficking, kidnapping and serial killing cases. Go Kyung Pyo was compelling in the role of a cold and unhinged killer.
The drama is violent and gory, but compared to some other works famous for violence and goriness it wasn't that notable. I think. I wasn't grossed out while watching it but that could be me. Aside from the two MLs, there was also an interesting FL who had great chemistry with Ha Dong Soo.

The ending was open and left many things unexplained, but if they ever make another season I'll definitely watch it. If you're open to darker and more violent content give this one a chance.

Read More

Is My Country: The New Age perfect drama? No, it isn’t & it most definitely has its own flaws like every other show. However, it’s closest to something I want to see in more dramas & it was able to make me feel so many different emotions while watching it. It has a good pacing, I never felt bored while watching it & never wished to skip any parts.

It’s character driven with complex and well portrayed characters and compelling relationships between them, amazing actors, lots of angst, good fighting scenes and interesting political game set in the past. Even though I could feel what’s going to happen in the end because so many things throughout the whole show led to it, I still went into every episode feeling anxious and excited.

What I loved the most about this drama were its characters: Nam Sun Ho, Seo Hwi and Bang Won. I felt their pain throughout the whole show, and even when they did horrible things I couldn’t hate or fault them for it because I could understand their reasoning. This drama does a great job at showing how things are never black and white but always grey, how people tend to do bad things with good intentions, how good deeds aren’t always followed with gratitude, and how circumstances and environment change good people into someone we view as monsters.
I strongly believe these three characters were inherently good people who were forced to do bad things in the turbulent times by the environment that allowed only the strongest to survive. I could write a whole essay about them, but I’ll only say that you’ll see a lot of conflicting emotions, bad decisions, pain, regrets and great displays of strong friendship and loyalty. Sun Ho and Seo Hwi’s friendship (bromance) is probably my favourite relationship ever. The drama started and ended with it. They faced impossible odds and tried to break their bond numerous times but were always pulled back together. They hurt and backstabbed each other as much as they risked their own lives to save each other. Watching them was heartbreaking, but seeing the good sides of their friendship was so satisfying.

Woo Do Hwan, Yang Se Jong and Jang Hyuk were incredible. They brought these characters to life with their acting and I can’t imagine anyone else in these roles. Woo Do Hwan was especially good and his portrayal of Sun Ho made him one of my favourite actors.
Kim Seol Hyun as Han Hee Jae & Ahn Nae Sang as Nam Jun (Sun Ho’s father and villain of this story) were also good. I liked Nam Jun as a character, but hated him as a person.

One thing I didn’t like about this drama was romance between Hee Jae and Seo Hwi. Hee Jae on her own wasn’t a bad character, but their relationship felt rushed and I couldn’t feel it at all. It felt like they knew each other only for a few days before they were separated, but somehow their love lasted for years and they were ready to die for each other despite them barely knowing each other. I couldn’t buy it. However, their relationship isn’t the focus of this drama and there weren’t many dramatic, over the top, scenes so it didn’t really affect my score.

Other thing I didn’t like is how the plot in the beginning felt convoluted (?). I couldn’t really understand what was happening with the king (who is never shown but only talked about) and his generals, who fought whom, why and where, but to someone who is more familiar with the end of the Goryeo period it probably wasn’t that confusing.

OST was, in my opinion, amazing (even though I’ve seen people saying they didn’t like it). Different genres fit different types of scenes and I really can’t complain about the song choices. Many of them are part of my regular playlist now (Wild Road and River Flower deserve to be mentioned separately).

Camera work and fighting sequences were exceptional. Can’t complain about that either.

This review is already too long so I’ll stop here. I recommend My Country: The New Age to everyone who likes period dramas & doesn’t mind angst. If you’re like me and you like angst, morally grey characters and character driven plots this drama is definitely for you.

Read More

“In tragedy they found their life’s purpose…”

The Longest Promise is a love story between the exiled crown prince Shi Ying and princess Zhu Yan of the Crimson Clan. It’s a slow-burn, master-disciple romance that begins when they meet as children in the court. Shi Ying, then crown prince, saves Zhu Yan from an undeserved punishment, which forces him to fake his own death and leave the capital. He goes into hiding in Jiuyi Mountain, where he later becomes a distinguished cultivator and priest. Zhu Yan never forgets what the crown prince did for her that day, and feeling both grateful and responsible for his death, she decides to find a way to bring him back to life. Years later, her quest leads her to Jiuyi Mountain, renowned for its magical prowess, where she meets a young and skilled “immortal official” (essentially a priest in training) whom she believes can help her. Despite initial hiccups in their relationship—stemming from a prophecy that Zhu Yan will bring doom to Shi Ying and the fact that Shi Ying wants to keep his true identity a secret—Zhu Yan ultimately becomes his first disciple, and their relationship starts to develop and blossom over time.

When people say this is a slow-burn romance, they mean it. You can see both characters developing feelings for each other gradually, but the real confession doesn’t come until the last few episodes. As a priest, Shi Ying tries to push Zhu Yan away and suppress his own budding feelings, while Zhu Yan, devoted to her master, believes that nothing romantic can come of their relationship due to Shi Ying’s status and upright demeanor. This dynamic is one reason their romance, despite the imbalance of power between master and disciple, feels healthy and natural. Shi Ying never flaunts his power over Zhu Yan; instead, he guides her to become her own person while trying to protect himself from the love that goes against his status.

Aside from the beautifully depicted love story and ML and FL of integrity, this drama has beautiful visuals. The CGI is one of the best (with some small exceptions) when it comes to xianxias, and flowy costumes (really fitting for the whole “holy mountain” concept) and landscapes are stunning. Another strong point of this drama is the acting, especially when it comes to main leads.

Xiao Zhan as Shi Ying was exceptional. With the way he acts with his eyes he really stands apart from others. The sad scenes in which he cried or tried to be strong and hold back his tears were heart-wrenching. The dignity with which he carried out the role of a crown prince and prominent cultivator/priest was impeccable. His microexpressions conveyed all of Shi Ying’s internal struggles, and despite Shi Ying being quite aloof and withdrawn as a character, there was no blank face acting.

Ren Min as Zhu Yan was also really good. Whether as a cheerful and optimistic student, defiant and stubborn disciple or heartbroken woman in love she carried it all gracefully. There was a lot of criticism when it comes to her character. People found her annoying, meddlesome and stubborn, but in my opinion she was exactly as she should be. She was someone who was always left in the dark by other characters. She didn’t know about the curse, she didn’t know Shi Ying loved her, she didn’t know her best friend lied to her about his identity, so she made mistakes. However, as soon as she would find out what’s actually happening around her she would become clear-headed and reasonable. All of her actions had logic and sound motivation behind them. She was wiling to sacrifice herself for her loved ones, she was wiling to admit her own mistakes and she was willing to understand others and forgive them for hurting her.

Now, the thing that I found lacking when it comes to this drama is the plotty part that connects with the romantic storyline. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty mid. The palace intrigue and power struggle over who’s going to emerge as the crown prince was pretty simple. The emperor, Shi Ying’s father, is said to be a bad ruler who can’t save the decaying empire, but we’re never really shown how bad the situation in the empire is. There was a conflict (and later war) between Merfolk and the rest of the population (in which Merfolks were treated as subhumans) which was a major plot-line that defined relationship between Shi Ying and Zhu Yan, but it was kinda whatever. Aside from the personal tragedy that it brought to SY and ZY I didn’t feel anything towards either side. And then the whole time there was a villainous shadowy figure (with distorted voice, which made it kinda childish) behind the scene that pulled the strings and turned out to be THE villain, but until the last 2-3 episodes it didn’t really make me feel anything. It was just whatever.

All of these things had the great impact on the love story, but viewed separately they were just mediocre. The main issue I have with all of that is that (MAJOR SPOILER) Shi Ying and Zhu Yan in the end decided to sacrifice their ‘happy ever after’ (for which they suffered and fought SO HARD!) to save the kingdom, but the drama didn’t make me care about the kingdom and the people in it at all. Intellectually, I can understand their decisions and actions, but emotionally it feels like everything they did in the previous 40 episodes was pointless. The ending is open tho, so I just consider it HE.

When it comes to the music, the opening song and one of the songs/melodies used in the drama were beautiful, the rest was alright. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t memorable either.

All in all, it’s a good love story, visually stunning and well acted. The MDL rating doesn’t do it justice.

Read More

The tragedy of a hero lies not in their own downfall but in the impact it has on those who love them

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is a drama that I didn't expect to like as much as I did, and it's not because I expected the story not to be good, but because I haven't watched something as captivating as this in a long time. I finished 40 episodes in 3-4 days (and it would've been sooner had I not had other responsibilities). The story is not perfect. It follows Li Lian Hua and Fang Duo Bing, who in search of answers for something that happened 10 years ago and caused two biggest sects of martial arts world to collapse, become detectives and solve a myriad of cases. Now, the cases could've been better, I'm not gonna lie. Both the investigation part and the crime part. Many of them were kinda far-fetched and hard to believe and the investigation consisted mostly of characters just looking around the crime scene and miraculously figuring everything out. There was no real suspense. However, what I did like were bits and pieces of the overarching story that could be found in these individual cases. The answers to the question of what happened 10 years ago that caused Li Lian Hua's world to collapse around him.

Other thing I loved were the characters, especially the 3 MLs. Their stories were complex and their relationship was so interesting.
Li Xiang Yi, the young genius and prodigy who stood at the top of martial arts world before he even turned 20, eager to prove himself, arrogant and stubborn, but also incredibly kind and righteous, turned into Li Lian Hua, a sickly wandering doctor who pretends not to know how to fight, who is sly and incredibly intelligent, but also aloof and distant. What I really enjoyed the most was the contrast between the two, and his attempts to hide his identity from the people from his past, from his girlfriend, his friends and his enemies. His attempts to hide his identity from Fang Duo Bing, who idolizes Li Xiang Yi and sees him as his master and doesn't believe he died 10 years ago. Even though in Li Lian Hua's mind, Li Xiang Yi was responsible for everything bad that happened 10 years ago, even though he blamed himself for all the deaths and the downfall of his own sect and he wanted to forget about Li Xiang Yi existence and let go of his past life, he couldn't completely distance himself from his old life. Every time we got a glimpse of old Li Xiang Yi my heart fluttered.

Cheng Yi who played Li Xiang Yi/Li Lian Hua was perfect for this role. He really managed to portray all sides of this complex character. His youthful arrogance, incredible martial arts skills, later jadedness, sorrow and sickness. The peace with which he accepted his own fate. He really knows how to play tragic characters.
I won't go too deep into other two characters, but I'll say that I loved their relationship with ML. Even Di Fei Sheng who at first shows up as an antagonist turns out to be very likable and his friendship with other two is so fun and full of ups and downs.
Fang Duo Bing's care for Li Lian Hua, who is battling with the poison for 10 years and seems like he doesn't care about his own life, was touching. Their confrontation after he finds out Li Lian Hua's real identity was also touching. The antagonism between him and Di Fei Sheng was fun, as was the rivalry between Di Fei Sheng and Li Xiang Yi. If nothing else, this drama is worth watching just for the relationship/bromance between these 3.

Another thing that this drama did well were action scenes. Fighting and sword dancing (really, can't use any other word for what Li Xiang Yi did with his sword) were amazing. All 3 MLs are incredible fighters and seeing them in action was amazing.

The music was good. It wasn't as memorable as in some other dramas, but it was adequate.

ENDING SPOILER:

The ending was also satisfying. All the bad guys got what they deserved, MLs managed to solve the mystery and save the world, and Li Lian Hua's fate was left open. Did he die or not? I don't know. They gave me just enough to feed my delusions so I believe he survived and managed to cure himself.

Read More

There are no gains without pains, but if you continue fighting sooner or later you'll be rewarded.

I never expected to have a drama of this genre in the list of my all-time favorite dramas, but here we are - after 36 episodes and bad English subs that occasionally made my brain bleed, I can say that I don't regret watching it. Since I rate dramas based on my personal enjoyment, Cross Fire easily deserves the highest rating I can give. It's a beautiful and wholesome story about youth, chasing dreams, friendship and love, set in the world of gaming and professional e-sports, but combined with some sci-fi elements that make it all the more interesting.

The story is set in two timelines and follows two main characters and their teammates, Xiao Feng, who lives in 2008, and Lu Xiao Bei, who lives in 2019. Due to an unexplained glitch in the game they're both playing, they manage to meet, start communicating and slowly form friendship with each other. Their storylines later converge in real life, but saying anything more would be a spoiler so I'll leave it at that.

What I love the most about this drama is the story, the way it flowed perfectly, the way they portrayed friendships, character developments and betrayals. There was a healthy balance of humor and emotional scenes. After all, life consists of both tragedies and happy moments. Humor was on point, it made me laugh out lout, and the emotional scenes managed to make me cry. It was not all about gaming. Yes, the frame in which they operated was mostly centered around the world of e-sports, but they managed to naturally squeeze in the stories about families and friendships & they managed to make all the characters likable. They weren't perfect but none of them were annoying & most of them had good backstories which made it easier to understand their actions.

Another thing I liked was the portrayal of the game itself. It's a shooting game, and they mixed the scenes of characters playing on their computers and characters being IN the game. The whole 'in the game' segment was really well choreographed and interesting to watch, and the parts in which they competed against other teams were actually suspenseful and exciting to watch.

I would also like to praise the MLs. I'm familiar with Wu Lei's works and he was the reason why I started watching this in the first place. I never watched Lu Han tho. I knew of him, but this was the first time I saw him acting and all I can say is - the man can act! Both of them were really good, their characters were likable and their bromance and friendship was really heartwarming. Wu Lei's emotional scenes were some of my favourite moments of the drama. They all just felt very natural & were heartbreaking. The show doesn't let you linger on heartbreak too much tho. After every loss comes the gain, and in the end it becomes a beautiful story about life.

The unexplained sci-fi part may be something that bothered some watchers, but I didn't really need to know how the 2008-2019 communication worked to be able to enjoy the main point of the story. There was also another sci-fi subplot that wasn't that well explained (it happens in 2008 and is completely unrealistic in regards to the rest of the story) but again, I didn't care about the explanation. It worked as a good plot device that moved the story forward and that's all that I really cared about. Other than those points, I really have no other complaints. It's a really well thought out and executed drama.

10/10 from me and it goes straight to the list of my favorite dramas.

[Fun fact: I watched it together with my 60+ years old aunt who doesn't like sci-fi or any type of unrealistic plots and she loved it as much as I did. We watched dozens of dramas together and this is the only one she openly praised. I was dumbfounded but extremely pleased. If she could like it, anyone can 😌]

Read More

| military themed slice of life, kind of |

Ace Troops really had a great potential and while it didn't live up to it completely, due to various reasons, it did manage to successfully portray the life of military personnel. What in the beginning looked like the start of a great friendship between two MLs and FL, soon went downhill and turned into a love triangle that was in many cases extremely annoying to watch, but was satisfyingly resolved in the end. Watching them grow from new recruits to senior colonels throughout the span of 40 years was gratifying. Their different personalities and backgrounds affected their interactions with other characters and their decisions and choices in life; and while they all built their own lives and careers they were always circling and staying close to each other.

One of the bigger issues I had with this drama was the relationship between Gao Liang and Gu Yiye. They were supposed to be best friends and rivals. However, while they successfully showed their rivalry, their friendship left much to be desired. Most of the time it looked like they couldn't stand each other while drama makers tried to forcefully make us see them as best friends.
Character development was another issue I had and it's mostly related to Gao Liang. His development wasn't consistent. In the beginning he looked like a big oafish troublemaker, thoughtless but kind-hearted. In later episodes he became this super soldier-tactician who was capable of doing everything and anything. The transition between those two extremes wasn't smooth. Other characters were more consistent in this regard. What I like is how all of them were human, they made mistakes, did stupid things, but weren't painted as villains. Instead, they were given chances to redeem themselves in our eyes and for the most characters my feeling oscillated throughout the span of these 40 episodes.

As for the acting, I think all actors did more or less a good job. My personal favourite is Xiao Zhan as Gu Yiye. His acting in more dramatic/emotional scenes was heart-wrenching and I had been moved to tears several times. Two other leads were also good. I was especially impressed by Elaine Zhong. I didn't like Jiang Nan Zheng as a character, but Elaine's portrayal was in my opinion spot on.

Other things I love about this drama are: subtle humour, visually beautiful sceneries, action scenes (fighting, war and drills were done really well) and lack of CCP propaganda (I honestly expected more of it but what we got is the right amount of patriotsm that follows all military-themed shows, IMO)

I think they could've done a better job with time skips, especially towards the ending, but I guess cutting a lot of scenes affected the final product.

All in all, while it did have some flaws I think Ace Troops is a good drama that successfully showed the evolution of Chinese army through the life of three main leads. It has a slower pace and a lot of episodes where there's isn't much action so many people may find it boring, BUT if you're a fan of any of these actors it's a must watch.

Read More

Not perfect, but underrated all the same.

STORY: 9/10

I admit that I am biased in this regard because stories about tortured and pitiful princes/kings/emperors are something that I enjoy watching and reading about. Stand By Me falls right into that category so it didn’t take much to get me invested. It’s a story about Qi Yan, a young, pitiful and misunderstood emperor who, despite having no power, is desperately trying to gain control over imperial court which is controlled by Qiu Ziliang, a eunuch and the most powerful figure in the empire. It’s also a story about the relationship between Qi Yan and his Sword Bearer Cheng Ruoyu and how they fight together against the odds that are stacked against him. Qi Yan’s trust in Ruoyu and her unwavering loyalty to him stayed consistent throughout the show and there were no annoying misunderstandings between them. They understood and respected each other but that didn’t stop them from acknowledging each other’s flaws. I personally found that type of relationship quite refreshing. Their relationship (and thus the romance aspect of this otherwise political drama) was nicely incorporated and instead of feeling unnecessary and forced it felt essential to the story.

ACTING/CAST: 7/10

Well. Some were good, some were terrible.

Cheng Yi did an amazing job. His portrayal of Qi Yan wasn’t lacking in any way, but that was to be expected. He’s really good at playing tragic characters and he makes their suffering look poetic and beautiful. He made it easy for me to empathize and root for Qi Yan.

Zhang Yu Xi was okay. I’m not sure what I think about her acting myself. She wasn’t bad per se, but I feel like this wasn’t the best role for her. Cheng Ruoyu was supposed to be someone naive (compared to the powerful and extremely intelligent court schemers) and cheerful, but she was also supposed to be a great martial artist and powerful swordsman. Her physical appearance made it hard for me to take her as a serious martial artist. She’s too skinny and she looked too weak. She did a good job with emotional scenes tho. Her crying was believable and chemistry between her and Cheng Yi was unquestionably there.

Lulu Xuan as Qiu Yanzhi & Han Dong as Prince Guang were also good. Han Dong’s portrayal was especially impressive. I couldn’t decide where he stood until the end. Was he a good guy? Or a bad guy pretending to be good? His ambivalence made the whole drama more interesting to watch.

Mickey He as Qiu Ziliang was laughably bad. He pretty much ruined every scene he showed up in and turned a character with so much potential into a caricature. If there is a reason why at times I couldn’t take this drama seriously it’s him.

Supporting cast was so-so. They weren’t the worst but their acting could’ve been better.

MUSIC: 9/10

It was good and fitting. BGM was there to elevate certain scenes and it never felt out of place & the original songs were lovely. I especially liked their lyrics.

All in all, it was a good drama. Interesting storyline, Qi Yan's character, his and Ruoyu's beautiful relationship and Cheng Yi's amazing portrayal were things I enjoyed the most.

Read More

Falling in love with this drama is the easiest thing in the world.

Let me start by saying that this is the only TV show I ever rewatched just because I felt like it. It's interesting seeing how I kept it in my "plan to watch" list for months because 50 episodes seemed too much at the time. After finishing it I wouldn't mind if it had 50 more.

I love pretty much everything about The Untamed, but if I had to pick something that could be better it would be [some] CGI and [some] fighting scenes. Objectively speaking they're not the best and at first it was hard to watch some of the first few episodes, but later I didn't even pay attention to it because everything else that is good about this show overshadowed those negative points. And speaking about CGI, I actually liked how some of it looked [f.ex. talismans, resentful energy, some spells], the only issue were big 'monsters'.

Now, things I LOVED:

1. Story & characters - I love how complex and well thought out everything was. We had enough time to get to know the characters before the story picked up momentum. It stayed consistent throughout the show and every episode was interesting and exciting. There were many story arcs and all of them had their own charms. Thinking about it now I cannot possibly choose my favorite. I love how everything that happened throughout the show affected characters in a visible way. Their development was done masterfully. Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng and everyone else went through so much and differences in their characters at the beginning of this story and at the end are so stark but also completely understandable and natural. Seeing them going through these phases of development was heartbreaking but gratifying. Relationships between different characters are probably my favorite thing about this show. Wei Wuxian/Lan Wangji, Yunmeng Siblings (my heart still aches when I think about them), Lan Xichen/Jin Guangyao etc. all of them were layered and well portrayed. I’m not a big fan of romance in TV shows so I absolutely loved how they depicted love between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. It’s something between bromance and romance and it’s done flawlessly. There was so much tragedy and angst throughout these 50 episodes, but the ending was happy, and that’s also something that I appreciate a lot. Give me angst and anguish but make the characters happy after all those tribulations.

2. Music/OST – Music in this show is something out of this world. Let’s just say that months after watching it for the first time I still listen to this OST almost every day. I also used to listen to instrumental OST every day before going to bed. It’s the best lullaby you could wish for. I love how every character [the more important ones] has the theme song with lyrics that do such a great job at portraying them. WuJi, Qu Jin Chen Qing, Bu Wang, Hen Bie, Huang Cheng Du etc. are beautiful songs with beautiful lyrics that will make your heart ache once you know the full story behind them. Really, the person responsible for music in this show deserves nothing but praise.

3. Costumes and sets – First of all, costumes were beautiful and they didn’t look cheap or fake which is case in some dramas. Locations and sets were also really pretty. I loved the whole aesthetic behind different sect/clan residences and how all of them portrayed these clans and their characteristics in a visual way. Visual aspects of Cloud Recesses, Lotus Pier, Unclean Realm, Nightless City and Carp Tower really contribute to the clan (and character) characterization. Also, I really like those names!

4. Acting – When it comes to acting I’m a bit torn. I really love how some actors portrayed their characters, but in some scenes acting wasn’t the best. It wasn’t unwatchable, but it could’ve been better. Many of these actors didn’t have much experience in acting so it’s understandable and to be honest I didn’t mind that much. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo as main leads did a fantastic job tho. When it comes to supporting cast I really like Liu Hai Kuan’s (Lan Xichen) and He Peng’s (Wen Chao) acting. Their facial expressions were really interesting to watch.

There is something addictive about this drama. If you decide to give it a try there is a good chance that you’ll absolutely love it. When it comes to me personally, deciding to watch it was one of my better decisions this year. It introduced me to the world of Chinese TV shows and it gave me motivation to start learning Chinese. Falling in love with these characters and actors was the easiest thing in the world.

Read More

A Feast for the Eyes: Visually Gorgeous Drama That Leaves a Lasting Impression

After several days of pondering, I finally decided to give my final rating and write a review of this drama. I have to admit that I was torn between giving it an 8.5 or a 9. At first, I gave it an 8.5, but after a day or two, when I realized that the series had left a deep impact on me and I couldn't stop listening to the OST and thinking about the characters, I bumped it up to a 9. There are many aspects of this series that I liked: the cast and interesting characters, the OST, special effects, well-choreographed fight scenes, and overall high production value and beautiful aesthetics. On the other hand, the main criticism is about the plot itself. I'm not even sure what was missing, but the fact remains that the story didn’t manage to intrigue me to a great extent. Here and there, there were certain interesting elements of the plot, twists and turns, but the main storyline didn’t offer anything revolutionary. What the plot lacked, the interesting characters, their relationships, and interactions made up for. The bond between Zhu Yan and Zhou Yichen, Bai Jiu and Yichen, Bai Jiu and Ying Lei, Zhu Yan and Li Lun, the Pei siblings, and their group friendship altogether, is what truly elevates this drama (along with its visual perfection).

Speaking about the characters and their relationships (which I liked), one would expect that their tragic fates would emotionally hit me. However, that didn’t happen. This is the main reason why I can't rate this drama higher than 9. On the surface, it seemed like it had all the elements for success, but in the end, during the actual viewing of the series, I didn't feel any emotional impact. I believe that part of the reason for this is the way many parts were slow (filmed in slow motion?) which caused me to become frustrated with the drawn-out scenes instead of immersing myself in the events and the tragedy. However, I think this was a personal issue of mine, as I see that most people didn’t have this problem. Only later, while listening to the OST, did I begin to reflect more on the characters and their tragic lives, and only then did I fall even more in love with the story.

When it comes to the OST, I have to say that, alongside the visual elements, it is one of the best aspects of this series. I would personally compare it to the OST of The Untamed, which I was obsessed with for months and listened to wherever I could. The fact that many of the songs are sung by the actors themselves further impressed me. In the end, I must also praise the actors. Chen Du Ling, Lester Lin, and Tian Jia Rui were familiar to me from before, and I considered them good actors even before this drama, but I’m glad I discovered Neo Hou, who beautifully portrayed the character of Zhu Yan. I personally LOVE characters like him—formidable and powerful, yet at the same time pitiful and tormented. All the supporting actors did a great job in their roles as well, and I’m happy to see that there were no "weak links" in the cast that could have ruined the overall impression with their bad acting , which occasionally happens in some of these dramas :')

In the end, would I recommend this drama? BIG YES. Despite some 'personal issues' I had with it, I still think it's one of those dramas that you shouldn't miss, because the hype is definitely justified.

Read More

It’s not a masterpiece some people expected it to be, but it’s a great drama nevertheless.

[This review may contain some minor spoilers concerning characters but there won’t be any major plot related spoilers]

I enjoyed watching this one quite a lot; and what stood out to me the most was acting. The story was good [nothing spectacular in terms of political plot/scheming but it was engaging enough to make me interested and excited to see what happens next], the music was fitting and it managed to successfully enhance many scenes throughout the drama, landscapes were gorgeous [it’s really something that captures your attention while watching], costumes were hit or miss [I mostly liked them but some were a bit iffy], CGI was good enough [compared to some other dramas it’s actually really good] and fighting/action scenes were interesting to watch even though they were sparse. But like I said, the real highlight of this drama are its actors, characters and their relationships.

Darren Wang as Wolfie/Prince Bo captured my attention from the first episode. The way he could seamlessly alter between the kindness and innocence of Wolfie, and strictness and viciousness of Prince Bo is really commendable. Prince Bo is the epitome of the cold male lead [for the most part], but in rare occasions when he smiled his eyes would soften and you couldn’t help but like him or feel sorry for him. I wish they showed more of his backstory and what happened to him during the time he was away from Ma Zhai Xing tho. Seeing that process and his inner struggles would’ve made this drama even better. We see some flashbacks but they hardly tell us anything about this transformation. Darren was definitely the best fit for this role, both for his acting skills and for his physical appearance. He has that masculine beauty this role required.

Li Qin as Ma Zhai Xing was also amazing. Her character went through many hardships and tragedies and her portrayal of those distressing moments was striking. Her crying felt natural and not forced. Ma Zhai Xing went through several phases. But whether she was a naive, lovestruck girl or a serious and determined princess, Li Qin managed to make it believable. Many people complained that as a female lead she was annoying and too weak, and while I do agree that she was annoying [not always!] I also think her behavior wasn’t that far from the reality of how lovestruck girls act in real life. Yes, it’s not wise or helpful and it’s actually quite toxic but it is how it is. Once she got over Prince Bo [or did she?] she turned into a dignified princess that understood what needed to be done in order to achieve her goals.

Xiao Zhan as Ji Chong was also exceptional. This was Xiao Zhan’s first serious role and I was a bit worried that the lack of experience will affect his acting but it turned out that I had nothing to worry about. Ji Chong is an interesting character. When he first showed up as a bounty hunter he was mysterious, arrogant and devious but also charming. Later in the story after he revealed his true identity he turned into a kind, sensible and responsible person whose main goal was to protect and help Ma Zhai Xing. He’s one of the most likable characters I’ve ever seen. Xiao Zhan did a good job showing both of his sides - cocky and free spirited & empathetic and responsible. The ending he got warmed my heart!

When it comes to other characters I have to say that I loved their development. Bao Na and Yao Ji were in my opinion even better characters than Ma Zhai Xing [at least they were less annoying]. I couldn’t stand Bao Na and her attitude when she first showed up but in the end she matured and turned out to be extremely likable. Yao Ji was a great example of how strong female characters should act and I also liked her complicated relationship with Prince Bo. Both actresses did a good job. Members of the Night Fury were also very likable as characters. The ending gave us beautiful conclusion of their storylines.

What I also love in this drama is the romance. Now, in most cases I’m not a huge fan of romance and I try to avoid dramas that are heavily romance oriented. However, in this case it really worked out for me. I like the dark undertones of their relationship. It’s not fluffy or light [even though there are some really heartwarming moments, especially in the beginning and towards the end]. Lord Bo and Ma Zhai Xing start off as childhood friends, get separated for years, and once they find each other again they start off as strangers and reluctant allies but soon enough become lovers. Then everything falls apart and they become enemies. In order to make her hate him Lord Bo verbally abuses her and in general acts like a jerk. Their relationship does get better over time and through all this Lord Bo actually loves Ma Zhai Xing and is trying to protect her in his own twisted way but for some people this may be triggering. I’ve seen people complaining how this type of relationship isn’t trendy anymore in C-Dramas and how they don’t like it, but like I said - it worked for me. I won't spoil the ending but I do have to say that it was beautiful and fitting in its own way.

I’ll end it here. The Wolf is far from perfect and if you’re expecting a masterpiece you’ll probably end up disappointed. I also wouldn’t recommend it to people who like fluffy, light and conflict-free romance relationships or intricate political plots. However, if you like a bit darker historical shows focused more on the characters and their relationships, with the touch of fantasy [those parts from the trailer where Lord Bo transforms into a wolf were cut so don’t expect nothing like that, he’s just stronger and more capable than normal people] I think you may enjoy this. I went in with no expectations and came out more than satisfied.

Read More

"Survival is both an exalted privilege and a painful burden."

Begins Youth is a drama inspired by BU (BTS universe), a fictional storyline that spans through one webtoon and several music videos, short films and books created by BTS. To watch it you don’t have to be familiar with BU, though. The drama version can stand on its own.

STORY – 9.5/10

It’s a compelling story of 7 boys who live miserable lives, but find comfort in each other after becoming friends. It’s a story full of pain, pain and more pain. Saying their lives are hard would be an understatement. They all suffer either because of their abusive/controlling/uncaring families, harsh living conditions or past traumas and mental health issues caused by those traumas. They’re victims of adults who control their lives and their struggle to survive in that bleak environment is painful to watch. When they get together, however, they can forget about their worries and act like teenagers that they are. Those moments of beautiful friendship in between constant suffering and pain are what makes watching this drama worth it. The conflicts they get into with each other are also gripping because nothing about the bond they share is ever bland. If you’re a sucker for angst, found family tropes and plots centered on strong friendships without unnecessary romantic interferences, there’s a good chance that you’ll love this. One of the important aspects of this story is also time travelling. It doesn’t happen in the beginning, but certain elements of the story, and the last two episodes in particular, cannot be understood without the knowledge of it. The ending leaves space for another season, but we don’t know if there are any official plans for it.

ACTING – 10/10

Aside from Seo Ji Hoon, whom I watched in several other dramas, I wouldn’t say any of these actors are famous. They certainly are underrated though, because they can ACT! This story is challenging and playing characters who have so many issues and who carry so much emotional baggage can’t be easy. Despite that, all 7 of them shine. They did justice to every emotion and their portrayal of emotional breakdowns was painfully realistic. It felt like watching veteran actors in action! Their comedic timing and delivery were also impeccable.
ALSO, there is another aspect of their acting that makes people like me, who are ARMYs, so enthusiastic about the drama. Their portrayal of BTS members’ mannerisms were flawless. It’s actually quite creepy (in a good way) how much Haru, Cein and Hosu (in particular) remind me of Jimin, Yoongi and Hoseok. They really did their homework!

MUSIC – 10/10

Most of the music used in this drama is by BTS. Two other OST songs are also good. “Take it all” by JEMMA is beautifully haunting and it’s probably one of the most beautiful OSTs I’ve ever listened to.

REWATCH VALUE – 10/10
Considering the source material (BU) famous for its fan theories, this drama blends in perfectly. I see myself watching it multiple times in an effort to find more clues about the time travelling. Also, I can never get tired of the bond these 7 share.

Read More

Painfully underrated!

So, it's a story with three main characters who are the driving force behind the plot.

Park Gye Won
- is a powerful prime minister who overthrew one king, installed another, and is currently trying to make the newest king his puppet

Lee Tae
- is a young king
- after realizing how powerless kings are compared to the ministers, he's trying to strengthen royal authority and solidify his own power
- is in love with Yoo Jung

Yoo Jung
- is a daughter of a scholar
- as a teenager she was selected to be the crown princess but her family got accused of treason and annihilated
- she, however, was saved by Lee Tae (then crown prince) and they continued seeing each other for years without her being aware of his real identity
-years later she involuntarily got involved with Park Gye Won and came to court where she became one of Lee Tae's concubines

What this drama has:

1. Impeccable cinematography.
2. Beautiful soundtrack & gorgeous costumes.
3. Good story that combines politics and romance and nicely incorporates romance into the political plot which adds to its significance even though it's not the main focus of the drama.
4. Interesting and well-developed characters that can't be painted as good or evil. They all have their own ambitions and ideologies that are justified and completely reasonable when you look at things from their perspective. It's one of the things I love the most about this drama. In the power struggle between the young and powerless king who just inherited throne from his father, who was basically a puppet king, and the experienced and influential minister who controls the court, the king is cunning and the minister is not power-hungry for the sake of his own ambition. Add a strong and smart female lead, who has connections to both male characters and who is not overbearing but acts within her social confines, and you'll get a really interesting story. Characters who are enemies but can form compromises, change their allegiances and go against their loved ones to achieve higher goals.
6. Amazing acting from all leads. Jang Hyuk who plays the minister was expectedly good, but Lee Joon who plays the king was a revelation for me. The way he balanced between the cunning, ice cold/ruthless king and the king who is worried about his loved one was really good. His often teary eyes were a nice bonus and they showed how constantly anxious, worried and angry he was. Kang Han Na who plays the concubine also managed to successfully portray all the complexities of this character. She exuded such dignity!
7. Good pacing. Every episode is gripping and keeps you wondering about what's going to happen next and how are characters going to react in given situations.
8. Satisfying ending.

What it doesn't have:

1. Action/fighting scenes. I guess it's one thing that people who love historical dramas may find lacking. There are some fighting scenes but they are few and far between. This drama is heavily focused on court politics so it's not something unexpected.
2. The political plot gets a bit convoluted towards the ending and some thing don't make much sense (to me) but I don't know much about the real historical context (what was possible and what wasn't possible at Joseon court) so I tried not to let it affect my overall score.

I honestly don't understand the reason for the relatively low MDL rating. I would recommend this to everyone who loves sageuks, especially more serious ones.

Read More