No Park For Young Men (2021)

Deceptively comical on serious dark theme

At the fringe of society. Forgotten. Uncared for. Alone. Depressed. Hopeless

This is a societal theme that is very real, seldom addressed and rarely depicted in drama. Often cause its a theme that can be suffocating to watch. But here comes a director and script taking it on from a totally unexpected angle. From the opening theme to the nonchalant narration as well as inner monologues comes a dark comedy of two individuals who are "lucky".

When Mi Chong meets Zhi Liao who was fated to disrupt his 'plans', he found an unexpected will to live. While Zhi Liao finally found a sliver of warmth that she she hadnt had since she left home.

The storytelling lulls you into a sense of languid. Its only by mid of ep7 when it suddenly picks up. And for the leads it is good there found and have each other. No man is an island. And together they have a hopeful future.

Highlight is not just the interesting direction but also the impressive acting from the leads especialy Vivienne. While Leon Leong has notched his best work thus far.

Be warn though depressive themes of suicide attempts and references to sexual assault.

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Fast and different plot !

I started watching this drama because of the FanFan couple (from drama Be Yourself) and I was not disappointed.
The story was different from the typical c drama and it was fast pacing but well executed tho. It had flawed and pretty realistic characters and a very different storyline.
A homebody with social anxiety and a rebellious girl find mutual healing and salvation while on the run. Through each other, they find themselves again.
The music and main lead's acting were really good.
The plot has a lil bit of romance, action, dark comedy, bonding and keeps you engaged through out.
This drama is definitely underrated, it deserves more.

So if you're confused about whether to watch this drama, just give it a shot. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Besides it's just 8 episodes and that too 20-22 mins each episode. You could binge watch it in one sit itself.

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Amazing 8 episodes wonderful journey!!!!

8 episodes....8 episodes of joyful bumpy ride with the couple...In just 8 episode the story developed so much beautifully!! I was hooked!!

I loved it...i have no complaints to be honest! The writer made this story putting alot of effort from production to even direction , they showed not too much not less...it is sufficient! You will not be bored at all....all characters are different, smart,unique. Cast were amazing ,they fit their roles so much. Amazing and great acting also the music is soothing!!

Give it a try you wont regret!!! Its worth watching!!! I hope you all like it!!

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not like other cdramas, 10/10 , tws below

i loved this so much, its very short but the pacing was great , i watched it because of the main leads and i wasnt disappointed at all ! if you like dark humour youll like this, the first few mins of ep1 already had me laughing at how some of the lines were written, whoever wrote this script is pretty talented haha

it has an element of romance but not until the final ep which i think balanced out well, the first 7 eps show their friendship and trust growing

altho note some potential trigger warnings (not graphic but still mentioned):
- death
- suicidal thoughts / attempts
- sexual assault / rape
- kidnapping / drugging

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Surprisingly dark, surprisingly approachable.

For a drama that tackles a whole list of triggering topics, it had quite a way to put a smile on my face.

While the first half is quirky in the presentation, the second half loses a bit of that charm, diving deeper into the realistic approach. One has to be extremely careful when presenting a story built on misfortune and struggles to not make the audience feel completely hopeless and drained from all energy, while also making it tactful - what jokes are appropriate and which ones could cross the line and make fun of the issues. Definitely Not Today does quite a good job keeping the balance. Keep in mind though: a lot of triggering elements like assault, attempted suicide are shown in rather straightforward manner.

To be honest, I kept thinking how unhinged the drama truly is. The way it presented Mi Chong’s constant suicide attempts with his peculiar, emotionally detached narration surprised me, but in a positive way. The same story presented in a hyper realistic manner would break me into pieces and I would fall into eternal drama slump buried under mild depressive thoughts. Going wacky and unconventional was the good approach - the message is the same, the heart is the same, but you don’t end up in a gloomy mood when you watch it.

What we get is a heartwarming and at times funny journey of two people with a lot of emotional baggage who learn how to appreciate living, how to trust others and show care for people around them. Who learn how to receive and give help. People who learn how to live.

Performance wise, I fell in love with Leon Leong. His depiction of Mi Chong was so heartbreaking, even in his more lethargic state, you could sense the pain and struggle behind the odd narration. Vivienne Tien did an amazing job presenting both the strong and confrontational, but also vulnerable and scared side of Zhi Liao. Complicated characters presented in a skillful manner.

Undeniably the directing and editing help the story a lot. The silly drawings during some scenes, wacky editing, quick cuts between shots - all added to that bizarre, but weirdly relatable feeling.

Overall, great drama. I only wish they kept more of the lighter tone of the directing and editing in the second half.

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Light, unfiltered, and adventurous love story between two broken souls

The premise didn't intrigue me but the comments about "dark comedy" did.

Was it funny? Well... sometimes. The kind of funny that gets a smile or short "ha!". But nothing too hilarious.
Was it satirical? Most definitely.

The storyline follows cases that were based on the Chinese prosecutor's office (Supreme People's Procuratorate) throughout the adventure of two characters (our ML and FL) that have downtrodden views of life. Their inner narratives are quite unfiltered, and the visuals which remain light in saturation + plucky music finish this theme of a raw, realistic view of the world. It's less romcom funny, more sarcasm+poking light of a situation funny. Overall though, Definitely Not Today is a refreshing drama in a world of cliches, tropes, and cold-hearted CEOs.

PROS
❀ Great acting featuring realistically imperfect characters | The ML has mental illnesses (the synopsis says social anxiety, but translated eps say OCD as well? Might be a mistranslation since he doesn't really exhibit OCD tendencies) while the FL is dealing with trauma from the past and trying to stay alive in a world out to get her. He's indifferent, she's prickly. Together they make a surprising duo and learn to care about the world around them - as well as living in it.
I've seen the ML in another drama (My Love, Enlighten Me) and he plays the indifferent look quite well. In this show though, he really puts the uncaring attitude to another level. The ML basically wants to die by suicide, since he doesn't think there's anything worth living for, and you can tell how much he doesn't care from his messy hair to his barebones apartment. The FL's actress is new to me but she played a brash woman who hides her heart pretty well. Apparently these actors are reunited from a previous drama of theirs, which is fun. The chemistry is pretty tame and the relationship goes from mistrust -> mild friendship -> trust -> something more (romantically). I like that it didn't jump into insta-love and they had an organic relationship progression (with bumbles and fall-outs in-between).
❀ Good production value | From the music to the small-town sets, this show went out of its way to give a realistic storyline while poking fun at the more violent bits. I honestly recommend to watch it in one go like a movie (especially as it has a widescreen ratio on YT, giving it a more professional vibe) and the contents are interesting enough to keep you going. What happens when 2 flawed people find themselves entangled in a mess that brings them closer than ever?

CONS
✕ It's not that deep... or maybe that's a pro? | Despite the show tackling intense subjects such as sexual assault, it doesn't go beyond a surface level of how it affects the main characters, keeping the tone light-hearted. I guess if this is a pro or con depends on the viewer, but I expected... more. I ended the drama with an "eh, that was pretty good" feeling and felt emotionally detached from the events going on.
✕ Misunderstandling level: 0/10 | In this just less than 3 hour drama, the main characters are unabashed and straight-forward, leaving little room for misunderstandings. Ones that do come up are on the antagonists' side lol.

OVERALL
While this Cdrama wasn't as profound as I was expecting, its "at-face-value" plot is welcoming and refreshing. I think all the actors did a great job, and the production in general makes this show unique compared to other contemporary Cdramas. Really recommended if you're looking for a light-hearted adventure that defies the usual drama tropes!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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It's basically a 170 minute long movie.

There is nothing revolutionary about the plot or the narrative, but for a Chinese movie, it's more than just highly unusual. The subject matter & the narrative are both something I would maybe expect from an artsy Korean movie, but never coming from mainland China. This is really a production that is very much like a western indie movie prepared for the festival season..

Anyway, I liked the black comedy & I hugely liked the ending. It's also worth noting how the rather melodramatic events that happen, or get revealed in the drama are presented in a way that makes it very tolerable even for people that hate angsty content. The romance is good & at times borderline magical..

So why is this not 10/10? Well, episode 7's plot with the sister in law is strongly out of place. Black comedy or not, that alone taints the show quite a bit.

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There is hope even if you are at the end of your rope

If you are tired of watching 48 episode CDramas, this show is for you.
The dark humor in this show is related to suicide so if anyone is sensitive to that sort of thing, beware.

Story:
The story is a dark comedy about Mi Chong who is an orphan and alone. One day, he decides to commit suicide and that is where he finds the girl he would soon fall in love with, Zhi Liao. Together, they find themselves on the run from gangsters when Zhi Liao's devious past catches up with her. The story is not extravagant, but it is short and sweet. This show, thankfully, also does not have a nihilistic ending, (which actually surprised me) and is the perfect show to marathon in a couple days. Each episode is about 25 minutes long, and there are only eight episodes.

Acting:
The chemistry between Leon Leong (Mi Chong) and Vivienne Tien (Zhi Liao) is honestly what made the show for me. They are very believable together, and the chaotic duo definitely adds the charm the dark series needed. Zhi Liao is the party girl with the heart of gold, and Mi Chong is the caring tsundere... What's not to love?

Overall: I would definitely recommend it if you need a breather after a long series. Definitely Not Today is well acted, and not cheesy at all. It is a simple love story that I think anyone would enjoy if they can handle the suicide humor.

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Very mixed feeling about this disturbing series

Mini drama (8 ep.) with Connor (who was not afraid of this disturbing role, broadening the palette of his talent).

Strange series, retracing the story of 2 lost people (suicidal ML & delinquent FL on the run).
Healing drama, realization with a "smartphone"effect, uncomfortable. Nice OST.

Felt very mixed, but 2 great CL actors.
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Mini drama (8 ep.) avec Connor (qui n'a pas eu peur de ce rôle dérangeant, élargissant la palette de son talent).

Série étrange, retraçant la story de 2 paumés (ML suicidaire & FL délinquante en fuite).
Healing drama, réalis° "smartphone", inconfortable. TB OST.

Ressenti très mitigé, mais 2 super acteurs dans CL.

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Unique mix of humor and serious topics, but execution may feel uneven.

This drama is a mixed bag of highs and lows. It starts strong, breaking away from cheesy drama tropes, but as the story unfolds, the unique approach falls a bit flat. The attempt to mix humor with serious topics feels awkward at times, making it hard to connect with the intended impact.

The standout feature is the lead actors' performances, bringing relatable and endearing characters to life. The ending is okay but leaves a sense that something more profound could have happened.

It seems like individual expectations heavily influence how the drama is perceived. If you're craving a break from the usual, it might scratch that itch, but for those expecting flawless execution, it might not hit the mark. In the end, it's a mixed experience—ambitious but with room for improvement.

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Truly a Series of Unfortunate Events

Probably my favorite cdrama. It's a fast paced dark-comedy, with some wacky plots that manages to have a lot of comical moments and irony while still maintaining quite solid and touching moments.

The directing and editing ARE AMAZING! The main actors bounce off each other effortlessly, showing the audience their chemistry and why they were choosen to portray such complex characters.

The five first minutes of the show is a master class of how to write a witty, engaging and interesting show. From the start, I was intrigued by the unlucky guy and how he crossed fates with THE problem (aka the female lead).
The maestry of the writer was to create two characters that are pretty much the antithesis of one another and make them depend on each other, which leads to a very funny and hartwarming story about healing and learning how to trust again (in themselves and in other people).

Whenever I think about this show I don't know if I appreciate how short it is or if I hate it. Sometimes I feel like they told a very coherent and good story with only 8 episodes. Other times I wish we could have seen them in the aftermath of everything and how they dealt with their problems, obviously they changed a lot during the show and started learning how to open up and heal but they still have a lot toaddress, like the fact that Mi Chong was suicidal and that Zhi Liao suffered a lot in the hands of people she thought she could trust and was drugged and almost r*p* d but I guess I will just have to let it go.

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Dark humor

Triggers - suicide and rape/assault

This short drama was well-done. The acting was very good, and for a story containing such serious subjects, it was surprisingly humorous. There were times when I laughed out loud. This drama contained a lot of inner dialogue, and it was very effective. The ML voiced, "There is a difference between wanting to die and not wanting to live." You could feel his loneliness, and that loneliness ultimately reached out to the wounded FL.

The acting of the leads was very good. Through most of the drama, the ML was just a shell, going through the day-to-day motions, watching for the perfect opportunity to end his own life. You can't help but like him, there is a sweetness about him. Conversely, the FL is hard and angry, after being betrayed time and time again by people that were supposed to be watching out for her. We have the opportunity to watch him want to live, and to watch her hard edges smooth out.

It has a happy ending.

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