An Underrated Realistic Love Story.

I first came across this movie in the MDL article, Underrated Movies with Low number of Watchers. Honestly, it deserves to be on that list. I decided to give this a try because I'm watching an airing drama of the FL and wanted to see her other works. Her acting in the drama is very convincing, but in this movie, she was wonderful! And not just her, the ML too was just as wonderful! Their acting, cinematography, and direction are all really good.
The storyline might be something very usual but what makes the movie unusual is its realistic approach to the love story. While I'm not really fond of works that don't end on a happy note, this is an exception. What really caught my eye was the title. I've always heard others say, Love brings people together but here, it's the opposite.
Life isn't a bed of roses and despite the harsh work circumstances, Lu Qin Yang stays true to his values and Ling Yi Yao waits patiently for him. They love each other to the point that she is ready to leave her house for him after her mom is not quite happy about their relationship and he goes to great lengths to earn enough money just so he can give her a comfortable life. Eventually, it's the same love that drives them apart.
Although it made me bawl my eyes out, I'm not really pleased with the ending. From the comments, it seems like an open ending and that relieved me a teeny tiny bit.
But I recommend watching this if you don't mind such endings because the movie, in general, was satisfying.

Citeste mai mult

Everything about this drama is remarkable!!!

This drama got me hooked since day one, and there are various reasons for it:
1) Amazing plot - The plot is completely new,at least for me. The story has developed very well and at also the right pace. It is one of the kinds where you'll probably die out of curiosity trying to imagine what the next episode would be like. I laud the person/people who came with such a story.
2) Remarkable actors - Son Ye Jin was the reason why I started this. But now Hyun Bin has me wrapped around his finger. Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun are also brilliant. Everyone's acting is so good, that it feels the roles were written for them.
3) The chemistry between the characters - This is also one of the reasons why I waited for the drama so patiently every week. The chemistry is so good and it makes me ship them way too much.
4) Supporting Cast - The supporting cast has done a splendid job, in fact the entire cast. The scenes involving them have been written really well, you don't wanna skip any scene. Kudos y'all!!!
5) OSTs -I love each and every one of them and I can't help but listen to them all the time. They're all very good!!

All I have to say is, if you're looking a unique story with amazing actors wrapped up together with soothing OSTs, you should most definitely give this a try. :)

Citeste mai mult

Surprisingly Enjoyable!

This drama absolutely caught me by surprise. I’ve never watched Chinese Republican-era-themed projects but I’m so glad I tried this one. Not once did I think I'd be patiently waiting for new episodes, simping over men in military uniforms and getting a YOUKU membership, but I did 'em all! So, here’s why you should give it a try:
(I tried to keep the review short and spoiler-free)

We have an anti-hero who, by the way, is one of the best anti-hero characters I've seen. Xuanlin stops at nothing to get what he wants. He's got the smarts and the looks that will trap anyone.
Wanqing is not the usual damsel in distress which is one of the many reasons why I love her. She is just as quick-witted and knows how to stand up for herself against anyone.
Their first meeting is definitely not a pleasant one but the story/makers brought out the smooth transition of these two very clever people from enemies to lovers. I love how his character develops from an absolute jerk to someone that deeply cares

This is one impressive cast! Both the MLs have notable projects while the FL’s latest movie was gripping. I've watched the behind-the-scenes & it seems like all of them enjoyed very much on set. I guess it’s safe to say that it was those off-screen friendships that resulted in the good rapport on the show.
All their interactions are so fun to watch. Apart from the main couple, my favorite interactions are between
Xuan Lin and Guang Yao
Xuan Lin and Sung Yu (Tan Siblings)
Xuan Lin and Tan Si
(It may look like I'm biased towards Xuan Lin. You're right, I am! )

Men in Uniforms erm Visuals!!!
The show offers such great visuals. Whether it's the direction or the cinematography, the show has some great shots!
And of course, the men in military uniforms! Can I say how great they look? Okay, I'm sorry if I sound superficial but, I can't help it! They serve exceptional visuals! Check for yourself!

The soundtracks are so well-fit! I liked them all but the intro song got me playing it on loop.

Now that it's one of my favorite dramas, I’ve re-watched the episodes more than a couple of times. This should tell you just how much of an impression this show has made on me. If you’re like me and have never tried such dramas, let this be your first! I’m very sure you’ll like it!

Happy Viewing!! :)

Citeste mai mult

A Must Watch!

This has to be one of my best k-dramas. An Absolute Masterpiece! Everything about this drama is so remarkably wonderful. The characters, music, direction, literally Everything!! As someone who hated Mondays, never did I wait for them as much as I did for the 8 weeks the drama aired. And I don't regret dying of curiosity over and over again every week.

Plot - The story is deep. It's philosophical and hella beautiful. Some of the dialogues were so well written. The plotline might seem complicated at times but it'll eventually make sense. Although, some people did say the first half was interesting and that the plot went down in the later episodes *spoiler alert* especially about how the couple got together, separated, and again got back together, etc., and in my opinion, it was to show that no matter what happened they were destined to be together. Also, about the episodes which apparently were 'draggy' and 'boring', I admit the plot went downhill after the 8th episode but I'd prefer to see it as just another flaw for this almost perfect drama.
So if you think of dropping the show halfway through, Don't! Give it some time and I'm sure you'll enjoy and love it as much as I do.

Characters - I think the crew did an amazing job with the casting because I can't imagine anyone else playing the characters. Especially Seo In Guk. Honestly, he was Amazing! Nobody could have probably pulled off the character of Doom/Myul Mang better than him. Everybody was perfectly cast. They really played their parts so well. And the visuals, *chef's kiss*. Literally! Shoutout to the entire cast. Kudos to 'em all!
The chemistry between Myul Mang and Dong Kyung is so powerful!! I seriously need more of Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk. Maybe another drama, movie, or even a commercial, just anything. I could feel their chemistry oozing out from the screen. Both have had very good chemistry with their previous co-stars but these two together were literally something else.
Psst... If you can't seem to get enough of the two, you should definitely check out the behind-the-scenes posted on tvN's official YouTube channel. It's not sufficient, but it should satisfy the need a little. ; )

Music - Ah! The OSTs. I'm in love with every single of them. This is one of those dramas where all the soundtracks are sweet and melodious. The lyrics are heartfelt and deep, and the vocals beautiful but intense.

The graphics especially blew my mind. *Minor spoiler alert* Some scenes take place in Myul Mang's garden. These scenes were particularly fascinating because of the impressive graphics.
To wrap it up, if you're looking for something interesting to watch, don't let this one go. I already said it before but if you're on the verge of dropping it, please don't. Give it a second thought and continue watching it. Trust me, you're gonna enjoy it and you probably won't regret giving this a shot.
Happy Viewing!

Citeste mai mult

A Love So Beautiful is one of the best Chinese dramas I've watched. It has the right amount of everything. The story is simple yet intriguing. The characters are well fitted, even the supporting actors. The chemistry between the lead pair is Amazing ! I'm not much of a person who reviews dramas,but this one is so great that it makes me want to. I don't usually watch a drama more than once but this is definitely an exception and I can't believe that I actually watched it thrice. If you're looking for something new and coming of age, then this is definitely a must watch.

Citeste mai mult

Pretty good...

I accidentally came across this and decided to give it a try because of its plot and I was impressed. Although the first episode was okay, the story picked up from the second episode. For someone who has a crazy sweet tooth, I literally wanted to try all of the sweets they showed on the show. I had no idea that Japanese sweets could be so visually pleasing. Coming to the actors, I didn't see any of their previous works so I guess it's safe to say they've done a pretty good job. Although I must admit I hated Tsubaki's mother to the core, at some point in the last episode I actually felt a tad bit sorry for her considering how she became, the person she became. The actress who played the mother's role did a splendid job because she actually made me hate the character.
The plot is quite engrossing. I'm not sure if it's worthy to be called a spoiler but up until the end I was suspecting so many people but the actual culprit. And I liked the way they ended the show, it was a good ending, I'm kinda satisfied. It's a happy ending(for most part). And I really wanted it to be longer, in terms of the number of episodes. If you're thinking to watch it, I suggest you give the first two episodes a try and then decide. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed if you do watch it till the end. It's only 8 episodes, so not too many episodes to watch :)

Citeste mai mult

A TRUE MASTERPIECE !

(I'm a year late in writing this review but, I had to do it. So bear with me)
It's Okay To Not Be Okay is a drama that will stick with you for a long time even after you've finished watching it. Sure it's not our typical boy meets girl, fall in love, etc. kinda story. It is more than that, and there lies its beauty. It involves themes we often don't come across in many dramas and mainly focuses on the development of the main characters. They are people that have been through hell. (So much that we wish nobody goes through.) But that's what makes them what they are. The best part? They're all in it together as a team.
A very special shout-out to my most favorite character, Sang Tae, played by Oh Jung Se- he was outstanding. Kim Soo Hyun was wonderful as always and nailed his role. The only other drama I watched of Seo Ye Ji was Hwarang but, I don't remember her so well from it. Here, I can't think of a better actress to play Ko Mun Young. She slayed it. The way she brought out the many shades in her character was impressive. The rest were just as great.
My most favorite part of the drama was the stories written by Mun Young. They may come off as just normal fairy tales but the morals behind each of them were so touching and, they were in some way related to the characters.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay is one of its kind but, there is a teeny tiny possibility that not everyone will appreciate it because it is not a light-hearted drama that everybody can enjoy. But that shouldn't stop you from exploring it. If you're hesitating to watch it, go for it. I'm sure you'll be hooked in no time.

P.S. - Initially, I started watching this drama when it was airing but got invested in another that I failed to keep up with this and eventually put it on hold for more than a year. I feel so guilty for doing that because this gem was right under my nose and, I failed to see it. (Don't be like me)

Happy Viewing! :)

Citeste mai mult

Just watch it already!!!!

Hometown Cha Cha Cha... the mere feeling of having watched this drama finally makes me feel two things: Happiness & Regret.
Happiness because it's such a beautiful drama with equally beautiful characters portrayed by some of the best actors.
Regret because I left it in my plan to watch list from 2021 until last week, when I realised that my list was getting longer and that I had to start somewhere.
But the fact that I decided to start with HCCC and not another drama makes me happier.

This was without a doubt one of Kim Seon Ho's best portrayals.
Sure, I knew he was good but after watching him play Hong Du Shik, I see him in a different light altogether. (I'm actually scared to watch Start Up now and get my heart broken over Han Ji Pyeong's story. But will that stop from watching it, No, absolutely not!)
Shin Min Ah is great, as always. I haven't watched her previous projects properly but I like her way too much now to not binge watch them.
Hong Du Shik and Yoon Hye Jin are such couple goals (*insert crying face*)
And all the other characters, were wonderful. (I wish I could specifically praise each character, but I don't want this to get longer and vaguer). I cried, laughed and felt all sorts of things with them.

If I were to describe this drama in a word, it would be 'Heart-Warming'.
Like a cup of hot coffee on an icy cold morning. That's what Hometown Cha Cha Cha makes you feel. It makes you happy and satisfied when you're watching it. But that's not the only thing. It leaves you longing for more each time and when you realise all the episodes are over, it leaves you feeling empty.
I mean it when I say re-watching a drama is not my thing but I also mean it genuinely when I say, I will definitely be re-watching this multiple times in the future. This drama is the true meaning of a healing drama. It healed me of my K-drama slump.
(If you've also had it in your PTW list for a long time, it's time you put it under currently watching and eventually under completed. )

To put it briefly, watch Hometown Cha Cha Cha. I promise you it's most definitely worth the time.
Happy Watching! :)

Citeste mai mult

One of the Best Rom-Coms ever!!

A Business Proposal, if not the best, is one of the best romantic comedies you can ever watch. Its romance and comedy are on point. And no matter how many clichés we've watched, they'll probably never be enough. ABP has all our beloved clichés. You name it, ABP has it.
One of the reasons why this was great is the fact that it was never unnecessarily dragged. The story went in the right pace and we didn't have to wait a lot of episodes to see things get in line. Mondays were never as enjoyable as they were the 6 weeks this aired. Its only flaw was that it was just 12 episodes long and maybe for the same reason, *minor spoiler* the ending seemed to have been rushed a little.
The acting was fantastic. Whether it was Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Se Jeong, Kim Min Gue or Seol In Ah, everyone was perfect in their roles. There's lots of chemistry between the couples and also bromance and sismance that shouldn't be missed. The rest of the cast was amazing too. The soundtracks were all good but Love, Maybe is addictive. The direction, cinematography etc. were all very nicely done.
I'd recommend this a 100% !!!
If you're looking for a light-hearted show with not too much drama, A Business Proposal is what you need.
Happy Viewing :)

Citeste mai mult

Surely one of the best dramas of 2022!

This drama shows a different side of Grim Reapers and that is what got me hooked. When I started it, I literally had no idea what I was getting myself into and honestly I'm so glad I watched it. Every episode had a story to tell and an issue which was dealt with, wonderfully. This isn't like our regular dramas and that is what makes it special. Almost every episode had me bawling in a corner and I don't regret it one bit.
The cast... So well done!!! Rowoon literally nailed his role and I don't think could've pulled it off that well. This was my first time seeing Kim Hee Seon and Yoon Ji On and they were brilliant! Also whoever came up with the idea of casting Lee Soo Hyuk needs to be applauded!! The man may have had only a few minutes of screentime in some episodes but he owned every single of them...
Like I mentioned earlier, this is a drama that's one of its kind. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I put it on hold for a few days because of my exams. If you're not sure, watch the first episode and that should pretty much get you interested.

Happy Viewing! :)

Note: The main topic and some others that they dealt with, may be triggering for some viewers so proceed with caution in case you wanna watch the drama.

Citeste mai mult