One and Only , Forever and Ever

I am late into the game, but I glad I gave this drama a shot. I have not watched Allen's and Bai Lu's past work. I am more aware of Allen as it seems to be crowned as the god of historical works. Tried watching Under the Power previously but it just didnt attract me after the first few episodes to continue. After watching this drama, I can't agree more to the statement that Allen is made for historical pieces. As for Bai Lu, while I am aware of her works, but it never struck me to start on them. Once again, I hardly have any criteria to watch any dramas, I mainly just watch randomly. For One and Only, it was widely debated but I only decided to watch halfway into the broadcast.

STORY
Story-wise, yes a adaption of a novel which was widely anticipated. I had not read the novel but the basic gist based on the trailer was teacher-student relationship, and political involvements. All in all, it was forbidden love. I was fully aware of the ending before I started on this drama, but because I wasn't familiar with the entire story and cast, I didn't have much expectations when I started watching. Overall, it was rather unique and interesting and whilst there were boring portions starting from the middle of the series, I still managed to complete it :)

Overall, the romance aspects were very subtle, but enough to make you smile and quiver. The main couple of course makes you all smiles, but you do realize with their minimal skinship portrayed in this series (since they are teacher & student) it's still enough to make you drawn to them. That's a well-executed and directed production I would say. I just really love how Allen's character is well-respected by his disciples and that there's balance ! No gender discrimination ! There are also female warriors and everyone gets along like a family!! Maybe more could be explained on the teaching? Because while Sheng Chen was Shiyi's teacher, I don't really see much of him teaching?

ACTING
Allen's Zhou Sheng Chen - No words for his character. He is willing to sacrifice for the nation's peace, to the extent of vowing not to have wives or children his entire life. Sometimes it just made you wish he was a little more selfish, because ultimately the nation didn't deserved him and he was awfully excuted in the most cruel way. He was a great warrior and a great teacher, is ending will be the most memorable to me, albeit a sad one. It's also provoking because his last words was "I had not let anyone down in this lifetime, but only Shi Yi". That's so bittersweet, because he had let Shi Yi go, for the sake of his promise and protecting "his people". But these are the same people, who ultimately drove him till his end. :(

Bai Lu's Shi Yi - I had no idea she was gonna be a mute character at the start, but it thoroughly impressed me because she can convey so much with such little lines! I was so happy when she regain her ability to talk again because of Sheng Chen, but it just breaks my heart again when she is unable to speak again at the last few episodes :( her crying scenes are really tear-jerking. She really conveyed the emotions with her eyes and expressions. While she wasn't trained to be a warrior, but she definitely had the spirit of one. She chose her own ending, for the sake of her family and for she know, she and Sheng Chen will reunite in their next lives.

As a couple, they are so bitter-sweet. He vowed to not marry, but he definitely moved for Shi Yi. While Shi Yi was initially a to be crown princess, she was willing to give up all she got, not for any name or title, but just to be by his side. The bad ending breaks my heart. but it was destined to be right from the start. I am glad there's a continuation (Forever & Ever) where there will be a happy ending in another lifetime. To me however, it just feels different maybe because the timelines are different, it will never be the same. They all say bad endings are long lasting, and I believe it will be true for this drama.

MUSIC
Soundtracks were awesome! Allen sang one of the OSTs ~

REWATCH VALUE
I would recommend because as a whole, it was still well-produced and executed. Acting was great, directing and music was awesome. Just got bored out by the political parts here and there and also cried my balls out for the ending :| anyway, this is also a slowburn drama, so might not be anyone as well

OVERALL
It was a good watch, I just can't wait for the sequel now. The acting was really great. Kudos to Allen & Bai Lu!!!

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Love or Leashes?

i am writing this opinion as a webtoon reader of the original... and i honestly would have preferred if this was readapted into a mini-series instead of a movie.. and here's why i felt so..

STORY
I may be biased since I am comparing it to the webtoon, but honestly if this was a drama, there would have been more time to understand each character's backstory,...

Jiwoo: I really love her character in the webtoon, and I think the adaption here is 80% synchronized. But the Jiwoo in the webtoon is more cold-headed, but there were some parts (e.g her showing her anger, the scene of her cursing) that made me felt disjoined from the character portrated in the webtoon. Also, I honestly would have preferred if there was some development regarding Jiwoo BDSM's tendencies. In the film, her finding out Jihoo's fetish, and coming to accept it all came too fast... and the confession scene felt un-Jiwoo for me. In the webtoon, the confession was more like after she sorted out her boundaries etc. Here was more like an order, and Jihoo just adamantly rejected ..
Jihoo: I actually wanted to see some flashback scenes of why he became a male-sub. It was only briefly explained through voiceover dialogue but I felt that it was an important one. There were quite a build up and explanation in the webtoon. I also wished there was more conflicts of Jihoo with himself? In webtoon, there was the vandalism plot (Hana stalker ex-bf) and Ivan (i think they made him into Lee Han here) which had him in stress over his preferences. There was also Jihoo's ex-bf + blind date in the webtoon that were development scenes for Jihoo to question the boundaries between wanting Jiwoo as his master, girlfriend or both. I think since this is a movie, there wasn't time to build on this, so everything felt rush. But of course, there may be a different perspective for watchers whom had not read the webtoon.
-In the webtoon i really liked Hanna & the cafe owner whom was Jihoo's best friend! Their interaction was so cute!! but i think they integrated Hanna's character into Lee El's character, so :( and they removed Jihoo's best friend, whom i actually really like in the webtoon (HE IS SUPER TSUNDERE)
-Also, the confrontation scene between Jihoo's ex and Jiwoo was actually more interesting in the webtoon.. i can't believe they only just brushed by each other in the film :(
-Also Ivan, was one pivotal character i feel in the webtoon because he actually likes Jiwoo (which makes Jihoo nervous) but then also finds out his secret fetish.. but there wasn't much utilization of his character here other than ousting the two's BDSM voice recording...

Acting
I have nothing to pick on about the acting! For Seohyun i am really seeing her in a new light?? Because let's be frank, i think even some SONES would not have expected her to choose such a production!!! But then she nailed it?? it was completely natural for me :D For Junhyoung, i have no comparisons since its the first time i am watching him act, but i would say he really gave me that puppy vibe HAHHA which i think was what the director was going for :)

Overall, as a fan of the webtoon, i will obviously pick the webtoon over the film. But one good thing of this film is, i really liked how they handled the part on gender discrimination at workplace because this is what actually happens irl??? this also justifies why people like Jihoo wants to hide their preferences. I also preferred the film's ending because i did see sides of Jihoo as a man, and not as a sub to Jiwoo after they established their dating + sub & dom r/s in the film but i didnt see much of it in the webtoon... the webtoon was almost likely an open ending. I would say, it's a good watch still. I am curious of opinions of non-readers to be honest since I think my review was very biased since i kept comparing to the webtoon :|

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Unrequited Love

To start off, i came to this drama without reading the novel/ watching the web drama version. I came mainly for the leads, and the interesting storyline.

Story aside, I really loved the characters, especially Luo Zhi. She is very calm, and composed. However, she does have a temper and backbone. She is willing to stand up for what she feel is right / wrong., even so towards Huai Nan, whom she harbours feelings for. She is true to herself, and does not carry a façade, like most of the other characters in the show. She doesn't mind the fact that she's alone by doing so, but at least she stick to her morals and values. In most girl likeing the guy trope, it's almost always a cutesy character/damsel in distress kinda? But Luo Zhi proves to be independent and clear in what she truly wants. I liked how while she liked Huai Nan, she remained cool headed in their dealings. She clearly demands she won't be in a fling/some but will only want to know if they are official or not. She is sincere towards everyone, which at time may come across hostile/ insenstive, but she is really the most true being i guess not many can achieve in our current society?? While she secretly harbour a crush, it was heartbreaking to see it from the POV and the fact that she conceal it so well?

For Huai Nan, honestly i am not sure if i liked his character. While knowing Luo Zhi likes him, he did alot of so-called tests / push and pulls or sending wrong signals. He gives her hope, and let her down again and again, right til the end. I understand it's because of the limelight he is under and the influence of his reknown familial ties, but I wish he had been more true to himself, instead of hiding behind his inferiority complex. Much misunderstandings could have been avoided, if he had gone less with the tests/ felt less inferior.

The character i feel the most will be Bai Li. Her love life had never been smooth right til the end, and it was upset for her to question whether she is worthy of love because of unworthy men she met. I am glad she managed to find herself at the end. Honestly served Ge Bi right for missing out a lovely lady like her. I am so glad she did not return to him when he wanted a rebound.

Another character i really liked was Zhang Ming Rui. He was always there as a bridge, as a true friend towards Luo Zhi and Huai Nan. I wonder if he had feelings for Luo Zhi in the original novel? His concern and love for his friends is truly remarkable and he definitely earned my tears during the rooftop scene with Huai Nan and the other bunkmates.

Ending wise, i honestly was disappointed? After the countless misunderstandings, our lead couple finally stood together at the end, like around ep 34? But after barely having a few dates, Huai Nan just ghosts on Luo Zhi because of his family issues？Mind you this ghosting took 5 years, before he re-appear in front of Luo Zhi in an open ending. Honestly, i admire Luo Zhi for her unwavering love towards Huai Nan, but i actually hoped the author showed how Luo Zhi came to like Huai Nan this much? Because sometimes i feel Huai Nan seems to be unworthy of Luo Zhi though they belong together spiritually? To be brutally honest, if my bf ghosted me over his family or whatever issues i will feel very upset?? Because I will feel like I am not included in his plans/ future, and he does not trust me enough to face challenges together. Let alone expecting me to wait 5 years??

All in all, the unrealistic and rare romance we witness here i guess will only be visible in dramas? but still kudos to the actors and their acting. While it wasn't a truly satisfying watch, I will say the acting are on point :)

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unexpectedly better than i expected

wasn't intending to start on this at first, but the online responses for the first 8 eps was great and hence i decided to give it a try. i had watched some past works of jeremy (legend of dugu) & qiao xin (ode to joy 1-3). i rmb really liking jeremy's villian role in legend of dugu ?? anyway, long story short i would say overall it's kinda an underdog drama. The productions isn't very extensive for this production, and it's also evident from the props and overall script and writing. So being able to gain some attention for it (and milking the popularity after) says alot.

STORY
As in many cdramas historical works, it always portray a female lead that's smart, or at least more opinionated, and then being bounded by familial responsibilities /gender discrimination kinda set up. and of course most of the times, there's gonna be male lead falling for this "different" kind of lady they have ever met.

I would say the overall gist is similar but also different. Qiu Yan here, as a concubine's daughter (similar to Legend of Minglan) we are expecting much difficulties, being female + unfavoured (since not Di). Despite that, its a refreshing twist that Qiu Yan is favored by her non-biological mum (aka the Di Mother) but despised by her own biological mother.. i think it's the first time i seen this in a cdrama female centric plot drama. Really touched her mum provided her with what she needs and allowed her to be expressive of her ideas. Unlike other female concubine daughter characters, Qiu Yan is very vocal, opinionated and has a goal of her own - to explore the world. Of course a series of things happened, from jinxing her husband to be to death, passing of Di Mother, downfall of Qiu manor, becoming an escapee, becoming an artisan to Liang Yi's concubine everntually etc.

So in all this there's also our male lead, Liang Yi i would say quite a typical male lead set up, cold, ruthless, capable with also family revenge agenda on his back. He meets a woman like no other aka Qiu Yan, and it doesn't help they become loggerheads and his best friend is in love with her. For political purposes he also proposes to marry QY's sister, Qiu Min. but alot the way through the various cases they somehow get entangled in together, LY grows a liking to her. He also belatedly finds out that they had a connection when they were young,

Overall it's a refreshin plot, but honestly, i am disappointed in the development of the second half of the story, which is the problem for many cdramas, especiall those with more episodes...i will just list some points/ loopholes i feel iffy about:

Characters:
- QY character: don't get me wrong, i like her in general, but in some instances i really didnt like her. Like especially how she treats her sister, QM. I mean her intentions were valid, but i still feel it was harsh...
- LY character: i would say it's typical, was hoping more development or story for him.
-QX charactrer: i would say he is the most pitiful one...
-QM: feel bad for her, but sometimes she just needs to tough up bcs she's annoying for me..

Plot
- the whole su yi wan subplot. like right til the end there was no clear up or explanation for this fake identity?
- song jin's death: he honestly didnt have to die??
- qiu min& qin xuan: so after QM saves QY from an arrow, he starts to accept her? idk but am i missing out something?
- truth behind liang yi's dad death: seriously the ending was liek too rushed wtf? like qiu yan lying that she killed her mum what not. i honestly felt that was so inconsistent with qiu yan's character lol... what noble idiocy is this... thats very out of her character LOL

I liked the show probably up to the halfway mark? but the whole story just drags out with not much development / sweet scenes actually. but given it being an original production, i would say it's not bad.

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A Solid Female-centric Historical Piece

The main reason I started on this show was for Reba & Lusi because they both are pretty good when it comes to acting. I have seen Leo in some of his past works, mostly as child counterpart, so I was curious to see how his transition would be here as well. For Yuning, I had never watched any of his works. I had only followed his songs closely as he is one of the household names when it comes to OST. Hence, it was a pleasant surprise watch him act.

Story
I guess most of the reviews had gave a summary of the entire story. I came in with not much knowledge about the history, but from the portrayal, it was evident that Li Shi Min was a great King. The story revolves around Changge's ambitions for revenge at the start when her family was killed in the Xuan Wu Men troupe. Li Shi Min then ascended the throne and while he adored Changge as one of his own, his people are concerned of Changge's existence as a potential threat to the Tang Dynasty. We can see how Changge grew through her adventures from her ordeals in the different states and how she comes to a conclusion herself that her so-called revenge isn't the best option. While she did not fully reconciled with Li Shi Min, she acknowledged his abilities as a King and eventually gave up on her assassination for the greater good of Tang. Her pairing with Leo was cute, but I was hoping there was more deeper scenes between their interactions. I do understand this is a female centric drama revolving around history and fighting for a peaceful era, hence there were lesser background development for some of the male leads in this drama I feel. Overall, the main lead portrayed their roles really well, I will just think that it's the lack of episodes that is limiting their romantic development (though they of course ended up with e/o in the end).

I personally felt the most wholesome developed character will be Leyan. From an innocent and timid Sheriff, to Tang's Princess overnight. I really enjoyed her scenes with Changge and their sisterly bond really touched me. I am glad they didn't let their family fued get in the way of their relationship in the end. Leyan was timid but brave and her transition was evident from the experiences and ordeals she faced as a refugee. She came to realize the importance of her title and vowed to become a great princess for the people of Tang. I personally felt her loveline was the most wholesome and complete one out of the 3 CPs in this drama. She started of having a crush for Shuyu and ended up realizing the one she truly love was Haodou. I guess it's the contrast in their personalities that made them such a good couple despite their limited screentime in the series. Haodou also had his growth from an emotionless, unopinionated imperial guard to someone who can make decisions for himself and eventually able to be with the one he loves. His inferior complex and of course Shuyu had gotten in the way of his feelings for Leyan, otherwise I believed they would have ended up earlier together. Overall, i think Yuning acted out his role on point despite being relatively new in this industry and I really enjoyed his scenes with his father & Leyan. Having watch a few of Lusi's drama, I enjoyed her character portrayal as I have never seen her in a character like this. I really liked Leyan's character as she was an extra character that wasn't included in the novel, but enjoyed the one of the most wholeseome development from all aspects.

Probably the only awkward part I felt for the show will be the use of animations. I fully understand that the rational behind this was to pay tribute to the manhwa author and of course because filming took place during trying times. but i felt, they could have lessen these as it was pretty anti-climatic. Also, i did felt a tad awkward for the 3rd CP whom was the only one that had a "real" kiss scene. somehow i am thankful that the other 2 CP had not had a "real" kiss scene since the 3rd CP ended up being the only one with bad ending lol.

Overall, I would say it's a good watch. It is really a classic female centric story and all the characters are written for a purpose for Changge's growth and development. I personally hope the 2 main couples will have another chance for collaboration in a less historically heavy series because their chemistry is simply over the roof!

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my two cents

honestly i have not been so active in dropping my reviews on MDL but i had to pen down my thoughts on this one. I did a short review in my X account but i will elaborate here on my objective thoughts of this production

disclaimer though, as a haoyan fan, i had been waiting for this collab since 2021. altho the drama production was surrounded by many skeptical comments and slanders, it still came out as a drama that was worth it and even rising to be global sensation with the international results it has achieved.

i shall not elaborate on the synopsis but i will pen what i liked and disliked about the drama:

- character development. i love that while this was a female centric drama, the development was parallel for both the male lead and female lead.
> For Zijing, no doubt he was a tragic character, carrying the burden of his family's massacre and tainted reputation and also traumatic childhood being imprisoned by his enemy for 8 years!!! suffering an incurable poison at that. his ending was bound to be a tragic one from the get go but it didnt matter to him until duanwu appeared. he lived only for revenge and was determined to die for it too. but duanwu made him rethink his decision ... from having no longing in this world, to having a reason to live... but by the time he realizes this his days were numbered. however, the ending while they didnt show him explicity dying, it was a realistic one. we all know he died in the end... but its just tragic he chooses to die away from his loved ones and perhaps no one will know where he was buried.
> For Duanwu, she was a consistent character. her spirit is to never give in to fate because she believed that everything is possible with one's will and she proved it from escaping the pearl farm, working her way up the yan trade convoy, becoming su muzhe and making a name of her own in yangzhou. she has a painful childhood, and witness time and again her loved ones leaving her ... but she didnt made revenge her only purpose in life. instead, she used it as a driving force to become better and stronger because as i said, she isnt one to surrender to fate. but what really crushed me was, despite her successes in the end, she lost everyone that were dear to her. especially losing zijing... their love enough wasnt enough to withstand the tragic fate that beholds them. like she said, their ending would have been very much different if they werent born into their respective families.
> as a couple: no doubt the chemistry was perfect! second collaboration always work for me because there's already tacit understanding between the two. also no doubts lusi has chemistry with every male lead she had worked with. plus despite the negative comments on the cnet, she recommended yuning to be her costar for this production. and they are serving both visuals, and chemistry way more than my expectations. i love that their love also grew to withstand time, from puppy love at the start, their fateful separation and getting back together where they live a simple life together... it was SOOO GOOD.
> bonus shoutout to jinran because he was such a good second male lead! he was quite forward with his feelings. but i did felt he confessed at the wrong time. he confessed at the time when he didnt understand duanwu like zijing did and perhaps like how duanwu felt, his affections perhaps to duanwu was only a form of protection, which isnt what she wants. she craves for freedom in her way. but jinran does grow to understand that, and was supportive of her and zijing till the end. rendering help to them as a couple and as individuals and telling duanwu he will remain a brother to her. then wanting to release a prisoner so that zijing can get the antidote.... PLUS PLUS POINTS TO THIS SML!!!
- acting wise : for leads acting were stunning. comparing to their previous works, both acting have improved! especially the microexpressions and using eyes to express their emotions. also, thankful they allow lusi and yuning to use their original voices here. it made their emotional scenes 100000x more relatable. the best & most memorable scene for me was their last scene together. even with the minimal dialogue it worked because they the drama allowed us to see their growth, and how their love went through hardships but they still they could not fulfil a simple promise of being with each other everyday in the end. the part where duanwu was drinking the longevity porridge and fed the first mouth to zijing because that was her wish to him. she fulfilled everything she wanted to but she knows she is losing him and he know his departure will mean forever ... she was begging and my heart was breaking. and for zijing, you could tell he really want to said yes to staying by her side, it was just a simple "ok" but... he knew he could not say it because he was about to die. and that hug was so painful because he achieved his lifelong dream and completed his revenge but he wasnt as fearless as before. he has a reason to live now but its all too late.....
- story wise: i liked that the story was rich and they set a strong foundation right from the start. all the choices made were logical given the circumstances the characters were in that we cant even blame them for it. we are moving with the plot as they moved to different cities. it was a good mixture of comedy, tragedy, familial, scheming, i think the emotions were also well balanced throughout the plot.

on the negatives which i could mostly overlooked but i had to point out:
- i felt the pacing in first 20 eps were better. it seems that the writing & pacing had changed after ep 20. i felt more detached. ..perhaps it was also because they killed off the yan's caravan people which we had grown to like in the first 20 eps. it was quite detaching for me as i couldnt had the same intensity of affections to the new family at Clear Mind.
- i couldnt vibe with the second couple (shijiu and zheng zhiheng), their romance didn't seem necessary to the plot. but the scene where zhiheng sacrificed for shijiu did made me tear a little. but still i think we didnt needed their sub love plot here
- too idealistic successes: this is very apparent if you compared the guangzhou and yangzhou days. when still in the caravan, duanwu had so much setbacks in making it to the business troop. but when she just stepped foot into yangzhou, she was almost able to succeed in opening clear mind immediately by making a bet on huanlang... although she did face problems after opening the business but the way she founded clear mind seem to idealistic to me
- duanwu's relationship with shijiu: i really hoped they remained as frenemies. the whole plot of them becoming besties at the end seems too forced...and awkward for me. but perhaps thats the whole intention of a female centric drama...

all in love, the second collab didnt fail me and exceeded my expectations in terms of the storyline and execution. even though the ending was regrettable, it was the most reasonable and realistic ending given the circumstances and situation that we cant even blame the writer for making this ending! that's very satisfactory for me as there are so many bad endings in cdramas that are uncalled for nowadays. it almost seems like they write BE for the sake of it.

my only wish is for yuning to take on happier roles like haodu, he has been dying too much in his dramas (7/9 of his main character dramas that are not cameos ends up dead) that him acting in pain/ poisoned felt so real. also if possible (chances are slim) i wish lusi and yuning can have a third collab in romcom modern please...........I AM WILLING TO INVEST

p.s i rated lower for the rewatch because the pain was too much for me yet i cant blame anyone for it

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Can you survive?

I begin watching this series at the recommendation of my friends. I wasn't a reader of the manga, hence i actually entered with zero expectations but this short series proved to be worth it? It's sort of like a mixture of hunger games x death games? It's set in a dystopian community where individuals clear games to buy time for their survival. These games are split into different types and difficulty based on a set of cards. Clubs represent team work/interpersonal, diamonds represent wits/mental, spades involve physical strength while hearts represents psychological games. Difficulties are ranked according to card numbers. Through these games, we see how far humans can go for survival. At the end, the real question is whether these are justifiable? We see the dark side of nature, and Darwin's evolution sorta because it's like the survival of the fittest. At the end of S1, we identified the game master (supposedly), so i guess the next season will revolve around games based on the picture cards and maybe the leads + more characters coming together and discovering the HQ of the game masters (like hunger games)

While there were parts you felt disgusted by how humans can behave this way but really. If i were in their shoes, what will i not do to survive? Never underestimate the willpower of humans. They are all fighting an endless battle with themselves, for a future they aren't even certain will exist. While we see the horrific and gruesome side of humans, we also see many noble sacrifices? Especially in the heart games? Arisu's friends were so noble with pure intentions of just wanting Arisu to live his life to the fullest. That's some true sacrifice there. Also the plot twist with Aguni?? He was always portrayed to be evil, but turns out he just wanted the best for his friend. While he lives with the regret of killing his best friend, he did had his redemption when he saved the rest of the survivors from the other psycho at the last episode. Also, it's touching to see Arisu and Usagi forming a bond while they were completely strangers Also together with the other players, whom are more rationale rather than focusing on only sacrificing other people for their own benefit.

While it's unsure when Season 2 will be released, i am just thankful there are such awesome shows to watch at the comfort of our homes with the ongoing pandemic! Let's hope the sequel can be released this year!!

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The moment became eternity...

Honestly it has been ages since i sat down and complete a pure historical drama (without time travel etc or whatsoever). Moreover, it was more endearing and heartbreaking that the drama was based of true characters that existed in history.

Story
As with history, the story follows a strong willed court lady, whom wishes to live life her way and a well knowned king, who puts his nation before love. In history, and also in this series, San spent 15 years before finally being together with Deokim. However, their happiness was shortlived. Their time apart was more than the happy moments they had together, and eventually death made them part... even their children had died. San really loved deokim down to the bones. She was the only wife he chose willingly, against all odds, and against his own nature. Deokim, whom cherishes herself the most, gave up everything to be with the one she loves though she truly understands San will never truly belong to her fully... she know what's in store for her, and she still chose this sorrowful love. However, she wanted to kept her pride, and her love towards the king was never made known, even til her death ...

Acting/Cast
CHEF'S KISS. All actors were excellent, but i will commend on our main leads.
- Seyoung as Deokim: definitely not the first work i watced her in. Fun fact was, Dae Jang Geum was the first kdrama i watched!! I felt endearing because she was playing a court maid here again. Her acting was on point and i felt sad she lacked recognition and appreciation despite her long running career. This drama really propelled her to light, and i am glad to witness this moment with her, because it's truly well-deserved! She really conveyed the emotions clearly, through her body expressions and especially her eyes. Her pronunciation and tone was perfect for every scene, be it a happy or a sad one. She clearly portrayed the conflicted strong willed lady, who wishes to stay true to herself but also unable to hide her yearning heart for San. She ultimately gave up her everything, to be with a man, that belonged to the nation. The process of rejection was sad, but it hurts me more after she became concubine...she would have definitely become a happier woman if she lived in the 21st century
- 2PM Junho as Lee San: honestly, one of the cream of the crop when it comes to idol actors and it is definitely not easy. There;s always prejudice against idol actors, and I am sure many can see why. However, Junho i can say is one of the few idols that i acknowledge both for his music and acting career. Junho was made for San. A troubled crown prince at first, he acted all the fear and resentful and of course love towards a woman so endearingly and painfully. It took several rejections before Deokim accepted his grace, and the process was so painful to watch. But is was remarkable how San could stay loyal to deokim, and waiting 15 years for her. The fact this happened in history just made me even sadder such pure and heartbreaking love exists. It's sadder he never knew if deokim truly loved him, only until his death :( the part hurts me the most was he just wanted to be deokim's everything, but as King, he had so much to do :( after deokim's death, it seems like everyone has forgotten her, except San. It pains me to see him forcing himself to be strong for the nation, when he was already dead inside. But atlas, he became a well-reputable king, which he had promised Deokim. I think this was Junho's best character to date , and i cant wait to see him again in future productions.

Music
Not only the OSTs, the BGMs are well executed. Cry fest in the last episode, just get your tissues ready. I might not have take it if Junho had sang an OST TT

Rewatch Value
I will probably rewatch the happy moments because the sad scenes (ep 17) are just too painful to watch. And also, the pacing was way too fast at the back. They shoud had made this a 20 episode series because the first 10 episodes were spent during crown prince era, and the last 7 episodes were choo train to become king, having deokim reject him again, finally becoming concubine, his family and then witness the death of their kids and finally the death of deokim...

Overall
I stepped into the series expecting a sad love story, and it was well delivered. The pain was felt to the bone. The ending was perfect for me. The part when San chose the afterlife over reality just to be with Deokim touched me. That moment, they were finally each other's everything, and that moment became eternity. It so cruel how fate is, and the social status during the past. If San and Deokim existed in modern times, they will be happy. This love story is famous, and Jeongjo is one of the most romantic king in history for his unwavering love towards deokim. And for seyoung and junho to deliver these characters, i was so happy TT i really just hope their chemistry continues and they have a chance for a happier production:)

til then!!

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Marriage before Love

first off, I came to this show with completely no expectations or whatso ever so what I am about to write is really an objective POV from a seasoned drama viewer. The reason I started this show was only based on the teaser I saw. Previously, I had not watched any of Wallace's / Seven's works, though I am aware that they are known for their acting skills. There's nothing to say much about Wallace since his acting/ singing has been remarkable since years ago when I became aware of him, but had never watched any of his shows. For Seven, I tried watching Under the Power but it didn't tick the desire in me to go beyond Ep 1. I was aware of Go Ahead too, but I didn't really had time to watch when it aired and didn't had the desire to start since the hype was already down (I am more of the kind that chases ongoing series).

Moving on, many had placed comparison with Story of Minglan which I actually managed to watched at least 50% of the series. It was great but, it was just a tad too lengthy for me. Though I had not watched the series, I could see the differences, but as they are 2 different stories, it might not be as fair to compare both.

Story & Characters
What I liked:
- Shiyi's character: For a concubine daughter, she is calm but gutsy. Opinionated but reasonable. She isn't selfish, though she has dreams of her own in a setting that doesn't support strong female characters. She doesnt curry favors, but proves herself through her actions and sincerity.
-Lingyi's uprightness and loyalty: I saw several comments at the start of the series whom find his character disturbing because he alr had a few wives and some kids. As an Asian myself and my understanding towards Chinese culture, this setting was fine to me especially in the dynasty this series was set in. It was pretty obvious most of his marriages are out of responsibility/ political agendas. Considering how Xu household faced downfall, and his sense of belonging and determination to reinstate Xu's glory, it makes sense for him to use political ties to grow his forces? While he did not have feelings for his wives, at least he made them his responsibility to ensure they are well-taken care of, which I think was already remarkable on its own if you compare him with the Wang guy... moreoever, once Lingyi fell for Shiyi you could really see his goofy and childish sides & all he is willing to do to earn her trust and smiles :) which was really what all matters to be honest
-I think while the show portrays the frustrations of women in the era, it also equally portrayed the burdens of a man as well ? Children in the past, men / women alike are bounded by legtimacy (di & shu), that kinda determines the life they gonna live for the rest of their lives. Woman have to mostly scheme to secure their spots & children's future, at the expanse of sacrificing their own dreams (maybe they aren't even allowed to have one). Men shoulders the responsibility in growing and protecting the family, often or not they have to give in to requests they are unwilling to (aka marriages)
- I really like the props and outfits?? They are so pretty?
-The side characters are quite cute in tryna pull Shiyi & Lingyi together? And Linbo + Dongqing's loveline, though i felt more scenes could be added for them lol
- Unpopular opinion but Concubine Qin lol. Her story was the one i emphasized the most? The other concubines were really just selfish and harbour ill intentions for own reasons but Qin's story was kinda sad? She was deprived the right to bear her children & didn't receive love. All she wanted was a simple love & a child of her own. Sigh

What I dislike
- honesty speaking, the story was not a strong one. Plot was predictable and excessive use of the 'divorce trope'? Draggy right til the end :( kinda wasted chemistry of the main leads?
- they could have given more lovely moments between the main leads? It felt like the second half of the series was rushed? Like just when we are about to see some light to the slowburn romance, there has to be some sort of misunderstanding (aka my husband killed my mum trope) that cause some sort of conflict and separation. This almost appear in most of the historical cdramas I watch, so was hoping for some creativity lol
- Madame Xu. Sigh, using her authority and biasness that puts her own son and Shiyi in difficult positions. It seems like every concubine she chose for Lingyi has problems and Shiyi whom was the only 'unchosen' one proves to be the right fit. I guess i shall not elaborate why else I disliked her character, you can read the comments
- SML. Don't get me wrong, his character was likable and he did the right thing til the end, at the expanse of sacrificing his household to do the right things. But I felt that Daddi Tang was kinda under utilized in this show? His character didn't even have much appearance or valuadd to the story other than him being part of Ou's & creating conflict for Xu household & Shiyi?
- Hupo. I believed she was smart and loyal but sigh, she proves to be gullible and helpless when it comes to her sister
-The villians, period. Though i thot Concubine Qiao was kinda cute because she obvious failed as a villian haha

All in all, this drama proves to be enjoyable though there were frustrating parts. It was nice seeing two people who each have their own set of problems and trust issues towards people open up to each other and devoting in their real feelings to each other. From being bounded by marriage to being bounded by each other and becoming inseparable. I was glad both had found sollace and each other in their respective journeys. They truly deserved each other. It was a great drama for the first quarter of the year though there are many areas that can be improved on. However, the great cinematography effects, amazing acting & OSTs had made me looked past. I will probably rewatch the happy parts of this drama because Shiyi & Lingyi was once in a lifetime :)

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R E S E T

this is hands down one of the top few dramas I have watched so far, and probably the highest rating I have given on MDL? Maybe it helps that I did not had much expectations for this in the first place, but it's a totally reset outlook for me! especially for a cdrama! I knew i had to watch it when it's only 15 episodes. Mind you cdramas are typically almost more than 40 episodes, which means storyline tend to get dragged out at the back.

Story
It's a simple story, but i won't say an easy to execute plot. But the production nailed it~
Shiqing (Zhao Jin Mai) wakes up finding herself stuck in a timeloops. In a desperate attempt to return, she accidentally pulls fellow passenger, Heyun (Bai Jing Ting) into the loop. Together, they learn that they will die, and must find a way to stop an explosion aboard to return to where they belong. Along the way, there are several touching backstories to some of the passengers and also subtle romance between the 2 leads. Btw, the two acted really well and i enjoyed thoroughly. I do wish maybe there had been more development for the romance portion, but then again the experience might have been different if that happened. Also, there's veterans Liu Yi Jun & Liu Tao whom i will say delivered as expected as Detective and Du Ju. It really gets better, and more thrilling & suspenseful at the back, and also touches on some of the social and mental issues faced in the societies today. And I found it clever how this production only made use of limited spaces, props and clothing (the leads were always in the same clothes since they keep repeating the timelooops) but it still kept be glued to my seat!

Music
Honestly, the only music I remember now was the canon ringtone and opening music ? Which imo is smart directing because they didnt really had much OSTs, and maybe there was some bgm along the way but i was too focused on the plot to even notice it!!

Rewatch
Honestly, it's a short series that is good for a rewatch. But I am pretty sure the experience will be different during my second watch, so I will leave it as it. But i think it's definitely worth a rewatch once in awhile though for suspense/ thrill lovers.

Overall, this production delivered beyond my expectations?? and goes to show that less might be more. You do not need many episodes, to deliver a good story, and this is an evident example of it. You do not need flashy props, venues to attract viewers, because it's the story and experience that keeps the audience. I look forward to cdrama having more of such short stints rather than draggy long plots. Honestly, I believe this production should be placed on NETFLIX because the amount delivered should be exposed to a larger audience!!

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Let's go Season 3!

To give my honest opinions, story wise I had preferred Season 1. Maybe it was because there were more episodes & more story/character building to be done in S1, it felt more thrilling and suspenseful. For S2, there's nothing for me to pick on for the acting wise. All actors did a great job? The OSTS were great + the BGM they used was great too. I will say the story itself wasn't as wow as S1...

Maybe i will list down some of the points I liked:
- Shim Suryeon's ploy + brains. That plan to reinstate her role (switching back her identities) was awesome
- Yoonhee committing to revenging for Suryeon. Even when Rona "died", she still kept her promise. While she did killed Seola, I pretty much have forgiven given the amount of things she has been through in S2. She definitely earned my tears this season. Hoping she will be back in S3 alongside Suryeon!!
- Dantae breaking down in prison. At least he sincerely loved Aegyo.
- Hera Palace Prison Squad. Totally loved the scene in court and them in their prisoner outfits HAHAHHAA
- Logan. Nothing much to say about his character but i felt he was kinda under utilized in this season. Can't deny his chemistry with Suryeon but it still feels kinda weird given the relationship they have? Like Logan is in love with her step-sister's mum?

Some points i did not like:
- Plot twists were predictable (I guess as much Aegyo died in S1 & Rona's Dad was Yoonchul)
- Inconsistency in Seojin's character. She suddenly became kinda weak, though i know it was for the sake of Eunbyeol. But i do enjoy the part when the 3 of them worked together and her acting surprised with DT's actions LOL. Then at the last few eps she's sudden kinda evil again
- Yoonchul. He really earned my trust right there and down the drain in few episodes. But at least he did something right in the last episode so it's fine
- Jenny + Minhyuk? Like wtf I thought Jenny had some character development and became best friends with Rona. But that last episode? It seems like her EQ/IQ has gone down the drains. Minhyuk seriously had no development throughout 2 seasons sigh

What I would hope to see in S3:
Well, it's unlikely that Logan gonna survive in S3, since almost everyone who died in front of SR never made it back? Unless the writer uses that revive trope again (but it was already used twice in this season?). New villian will most likely be Jenny's Dad & of course Dantae. He seem to be able to sneak out of prison freely? Joowan's character is mysterious, and him leaving the car right before Logan d*ed seems sus. But there's also a possibility he is Suryeon's ex-husband (i know it was a different actor before but they looked similar)?

- Suryeon + Yoonhee reunion. Sigh i loved the both of them, so I hope S3 has more of their interactions
- Eunbyeol coming to her senses. Girl only gets crazier in S2 + that creepy nanny ?? She might be part of the villian trope?
- Rona & Seokhoon. These 2 cuties, I think S3 will show some development between them?

All in all, S2 was still enjoyable. Still in awe that Suryeon is really damn smart. She's really the Queen of Hera Palace. I hope she keeps her spot and sanity. Her loved ones kept dying in front of her. See you guys in S3!

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Save Yourself

First off, i am a fan of all 3 actors. The story right from the start was intriguing, a detective and his lover, and a serial killer that falls in love with the detective's lover. Tragic entails, and all 3 figures are reincarnated into present lives with new identities, but i still bound together by ill-fate. The gist of the story sounds promising, and the visual effects of the highlight reel was enough to draw me in ...

The story starts of painting the detective (LSH) & his lover (JSY) as one of eternal love and JKY as the "serial killer". Series of misunderstanding causes all 3 to die at the episode 2, and reincarnate into their new forms. For the first 10 episodes, the story was going for JSY x LSH's character as the main pairing, and JKY being a psychopath with murderous intentions, especially towards LSH's character because of his love for JSY's character (in both lives). Somehow, their production team had an internal dispute/ feud and the writers had changed. And lol they decided to switch the pairing to JSY X JKY right at the last episode. I am not sure if it's the directing and writing, but it made JSY drew alot of hate because she was being seen as a two timer because he was obviously attrached to LSH's character, but is unable to ignore JKY's pitiful character. And sorry, the mystery part and revenge sublines were kinda underdeveloped and seems like the writer suddenly woke up and rmb there were these subplots only in the second half of the show.

All in all, other than the disappointing loveline and direction of the entire plot (which had so much potential), i don't see any motivation for anyone to pick up this drama. Probably the only saving grace was LSH face + abs (LOL) and his acting, same goes with JKY. Oh the OST is good by the way, just stick to listening to it and never start on this drama. Save you 16 hours of your life. Still confused with this drama til date and i am sure alot of you here can relate with me :)

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my honest opinion...

Had been a fan of PHR since Dream High with I Hear Your Voice being my all time favourite drama?? Honestly, i felt disappointed that this story fails to deliver what it had promised.

Story, Casts & Acting
As the title suggests, i was expecting more focus to be on the business aspect in the Start Up world but honestly everything seems oversimplified in this show. Arguments and ideologies doesnt seem to fit the real world mechanisms. Of course, this is just a drama and i am no expert in Start Up but i just did not feel the woah aspect of this whole start up picture they were trying to paint? It just felt like their success just happened because they were the leads /pure luck? Instead of developing the business aspect, they dragged out whole 16 episodes of the show on a stupid love triangle which made no sense to me.

FL was single all her life because of JP's letters (which imo Ep 1 was well executed when they painted JP's background story + meeting Halmeoni & eventually being DM's penpal) but this whole point was seemingly disregarded after she realised JP was her true first love instead of the male lead DS. I am fine with the closure (in ep 16 when JP, being best boy said that the 'DS' in the letters was just a fictional character and that he did not look for year in all of the 15 years). I accept this but was hoping they had not dragged this closure all the way til the end. I felt injustice for JP's character not because he did not end up with DM, but because he was so selfless all this time, always giving without expecting anything in return. And right til the end, he remains lonely. It almost seems liek the entire purpose of his existence is to save the stupid leads, and become their punching bags / sacrificial lamb. But thank you for giving Yeongsil (Yeo Jin Gu cameo) cameo at the last ep (at least we saw him smile at the end) and Halmeoni to JP. At the end of the day, i know JP is too perfect to even exist in the current world.

While the whole plot was messy, i would say the most of the cast acted well in the given script, even though the entire story felt unrelatable in the current era... For the main leads, i could not relate to the loveline, it somehow felt forced and unrelatable. Perhaps because there were just too little scenes that showed how their r/s had progressed enough to convince the viewers. To me, i just felt like DM would not have ended up with DS if she knew right from the start he wasn't the one that wrote those letters. It just felt like DS was riding on JP's letter to get the FL. I still can't figure out why they fell in love with each other (seriously they used hand size as a reason). For IJ, her screen time was so pathetic it almost felt like she was a cameo for this drama? Considering they took 8 months to film this drama...

While i would not recommend watching this show (unless you are a diehard fan of the leads), i am thankful for PHR for writing HJP and casting KSH. While it wasn't the first drama i watched KSH in, i must said he really executed his role perfectly, together with how his character was written. It is definitely this show that made KSH gained more recognition and attention. PHR better do him justice and cast him as a lead in her next drama (ok maybe not if it's gonna be poorly written like Start Up)> I am sorry, but the main leads' character of this drama are one of PHR's worst compared to the past dramas & characters she created. I am surprised since this production took almost 3 years to materialize.

Music
The OST? I love it! Only downside? Their covers do not match the theme songs? Not to be biased but they should have given JP some justice and at least used his cover for the songs that mirrors his feelings ?? Maybe it's just me but the lyrics of a few songs seems to be relating to JP's character.

Rewatch
Will not rewatch this show, because at the end of the day i can't relate to this show and the story it's trying to tell? But of course this is just my personal preference. I hope to see all the leads in a better production next time. Til then :D

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the regretful i like you.. is an end, to a beginning :(

one of the top trending series, and I see why. It reminds me of Someday or One Day, but the story and mechanisms here are different. I would say this was more heartbreaking for me :(

The story revolves around Beixing, who just got dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years, Zhan Yu 2 weeks before their wedding. Turns out he had been cheating on her with her best friend... coincidentally, she realizes that deleting a texts from her old mobile sends her back to 2010 but a boy, named Wansen, who died in 2010 seems to be the key to her time travels. Beixing decides to start anew, far from Zhanyu and also sticks close to Wansen to prevent his death.

She soon finds out, there was more to Wansen. They had met since young, and he was once her savior. Turns out, she had mistaken Zhan Yu for him, leading to her falling for Zhanyu instead. As Beixing canvass through her new timeline, she and Wansen falls for each other. There, she slowly unravels the mysteries behind Wansen's inevitable death.. and everything links to her. For 12 years, Wansen had harbour a crush for Beixing, unbeknownst to her. He was always right behind her to protect her, and a step ahead of her when danger is imminent. We later find out that Wansen died, trying to protect Beixing from loan shark gangsters who were after her brother...unfortunately, all was too late and history repeats, in a different way when all was known.

Back in 2021, Wansen is gone. Beixing belatedly notices every moment she had returned to 2010, was a regretable moment of Wansen's and that his unspoken confession, "i like you" will be the end of the time travel. In a final attempt back in 2007, Beixing painfully pushes Wansen away...if that can keep him alive. Despite so, he still hovers around protecting her...this time he survived, but they part with a final "i like you"... back in reality, Beixing can only continue living with memories of Wansen, that did not happen in the current universe. Its and end, before there was any beginning... it was regretful but at least Wansen's unrequited, unconditional love was eventually made know to Beixing..

While i am not familiar with Chu Xiao, i had watched the past works of Karlina, Caesar & Jinna. But boy, Wansen is the undeafeatable wall for unrequited love. His love for Beixing was so pure, and unconditional. Staking even his life to protect her, just for her to be happy... even if she doesnt knows him... fate was cruel to Wansen... for 12 years, he worked so hard to appear in her life, but they got separated / missed the chance again and again.. even til his death Beixing never knew the sacrifices he made for her. He was always just a step behind, but that distance seems like eternity. If only Beixing had turned around, and understood all this earlier... it's equally heartbreaking for Beixing, loving the wrong person... and falling in love with Wansen all too late... and eventually, she can only carry memories, which only belongs to her in reality. WS never had those moments before his death :( the ending feels like an open one to me. I feel that there is a possibility Wansen is alive/ comatose, but reappears later because his death was never really confirmed..but more of like a consensus. I hope this becomes a S2 :( but we can rejoice since there is a movie for this with the same cast! Not sure whether it's a sequel or not!

Eitherway, it was a good watch for me. Not sure if I can rewatch this after crying so much for Wansen.....

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No one can escape from fate

Honestly speaking, this is the second Thai drama that I had finished? My perception of Thai dramas are like more towards noisy quarrels or crazy slapping etc, so this fantasy-thriller genre is very new to me and something I like. Definitely, for those looking for heavy romance drama, this might not be for you since the romance just serves as a subplot to the entire storyline. However, it fits fine to my palette because I never liked stories that were purely romance. I like elements of suspense, crime and thrill, just like this on.

Story
So FL (Rose) inherited the ability to see one's future through the touch of a rose after a deadly accident she faced. She has this mission to use this ability to guide people to doing the right things. She crosses path with ML (Theerut) whom happens to be an actor and started off on the wrong footing when her prophecy suggests him with a playboy nature , a big no no for a person under limelight. While her predictions eventually came true ML still carries ill feelings and irksome feeling because of his own misconceptions towards Rose. They reunite again 6 years later at a community event, where she predicted the fates of 6 celebrities/reknown figures, with Theerut included. She eventually saw her and Theerut ended up as a couple and reels in shock. However, this drew the paranoia of the participants, whom each has their own secret they are afraid of exposing. Rose then starts to encounter life-threatening situations with the assailants being one of the prophesized. While Rose initial suspect was Theerut, he happens to save Rose from death several times and they eventually form an alliance to capture the culprit. Of course, along the way they resolve their initial misunderstandings of each other and fall in love.

It's nice you can guess the suspects and to see who get eliminated along the way, but each story was heartwarming and has a story to tell. Like Lyla being fixated on a fake personality, but eventually finding solace with her family and coming true to herself; Khun Ying coming clean to her sins, and atoning herself & reconciling with her Dad. Rin being conned by Thanapol for love but she definitely redeemed herself when she exposed his crimes! No words for Wuttikorn & Thanapol who died in the ends because of their own sins and wrongdoings. All in all , the drama just tells you you cannot escape from your fate, but you can decide how you face it. Can't escape from karma if you do the wrong things, it's just a matter of time.

Acting
With my limited exposure to thai dramas, its really my first time seeing the dramas of these actors. I would say I am loving the dynamics and acting so far? Ice has such a pretty smile & James is good looking as ever (heard about him before) ~ really love the personalities of the 2 leads. The secondary leads are nice as well, especially Paul and Kratai whom liked the main leads but they did not do crazy things for their love of whatsoever which is a plus. I liked that most of the characters are cool headed and with the intelligence I expect. Especially the mothers of Rose & Theerut. Rawee is also such a darling and I really loved her acting. Overall there are some parts of the drama that's predictable, but I really liked how the prophecies from before and pieces of evidences from before eventually plays a part later in solving mysteries and deducing the crimes and suspects.

All in all, I think it's a good watch? I previously watched Roy Leh Marnya but couldnt finish it because I just couldnt comprehend the logic and personalities of the leads despite the good acting and chemistry. This drama was a good watch to me, thought i felt that there could me more romance elements to justify how the leads/ secondary couples fell in love (e.g Paul & Kratai? like they just moved on almost immediately lol and got together in the end). There's a tinge lack of development. Otherwise, it was fine ~ anw the music was good love it :)

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