Reviews

Best modern cdrama to date

Simply a beautiful drama. It probably isn't the best beginner drama to watch, as much of the content requires having a decent understanding of Chinese culture/slang to truly enjoy at its full value. However, besides that, it's a perfect show from start to finish. Easily my favorite of 2021. PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS.

Plot:
The 1st episode was jaw-dropping. Stunningly real and heart-wrenching. The characters struggle so realistically as ordinary people in the huge, overwhelming city of Beijing. Seriously, the first 2 episodes are guaranteed to capture your attention. The small details in each human interaction feel so genuine and natural, not at all like the popular idol cdramas. As the episodes progress, they do so logically without losing any sort of tension or excitement. Although it's a slice of life drama, the characters' backstories, problems, relationships, and small victories leave you wanting more and more. Every characters' own plotline and development tie together so well. ALSO, EPISODE 10 and 11 are INCREDIBLE. Don't worry! The ending is absolutely amazing, though I do think the 1st episode is hard to beat.
Characters:
The "main" character is Qiao Xichen. played outstandingly by Zhou Yutong. She is driven, intelligent, and hardworking, but faces the everyday problems of a white-collar worker in Beijing. What makes her so compelling, though? She makes any of the audience watching her want her to succeed. We want her to win because she's so caring, capable, and good-natured. She's incredibly tough, but she has breakdowns like anyone else. And wow, I was blown away by her crying scenes. I could keep rambling but I'll stop here.
Next is Xu Yan, a girl who's a bit vain and superficial, but in reality just wants to spend her days being loved by her doting boyfriend. She spends a lot of money, and it can be really irresponsible at times. The actress who plays her, Sun Qian, does a great job of presenting this bubbly character, and she goes through some deeply compelling character development. She's not a crazy hard worker like Qiao Xichen, but she has her own earnest motivations.
Being the human sunshine of the group, Hu Jing Jing is the one everyone spills their troubles to. She's the one that holds the group together. Underneath all of that selflessness, though, is someone broken and struggling. I won't say too much, because she's a huge spoiler-y part of the story, but her character is very complex and overall just heart-breaking.
Hu Nan Jia is the big sister of the group, being Jing Jing's older cousin. She's basically the richest of the girls, directing her own company and finding success in her Beijing career. Of course, there is more. She's lonely and has a loss of purpose in her personal life. She goes through a journey of self-discovery beyond the workplace. Her actress, Ren Suxi, is absolutely amazing at portraying her character so natural and believable.
Relationships:
It might surprise you, but the romance in this drama is IMPECCABLE. They are the most realistic yet heart-warming portrayals of romance I have ever seen in a cdrama. My absolute favorite couple is Qiao Xichen and Jian Yifan. Their chemistry is so fresh to watch, and my god is it amazing to see some logic in a relationship. They're both smart and sensible; it's a DELIGHT. The confession scenes were so freaking cute (that hospital car scene omg), and their dialogue just bounces off each other so well. Healthy and HIGH CP relationship from start to end. Next, Xu Yan and her boyfriend, Shen Zichang, are a bit of a different story. They've been dating for years, yet they're still a bit immature and act like those cutsey stereotypical couples. However, it's still fun to watch, and when they're together, it's honestly so dang sweet (episode 12 tho, I CRY). As for Nan Jia, she meets a much younger guy, Ou Yang, and while I thought it was awkward at first, it got REAL sweet towards the end. I support the ship<3.
Music:
Amazing. Moving. Haunting at times, but it truly enhances the feels and acting in the show. It WILL make you cry, and I'm not exaggerating at all.
Rewatch:
I'm not one to rewatch shows, but for this one, I will a dozen more times.
Overall:
This show can be uplifting, powerful, yet brutal all at the same time. It's also surprisingly hilarious, and you will grow to love each character so much. There are so many portrayals of people you won't see in other dramas, because most of them are just regular humans, not like the artificial shells I so often see. Even the minor characters are integral, flawed, and understandable people. This drama will teach you that making a living can be really, really hard. However, you'll still be able to experience the simple sweetness of life, like in the random kind acts of others (the nameless, caring grandma makes me tear up). The show's Chinese title references how people might say, "I'm doing fine" when their parents/friends ask them how they are, even though, in reality, they're not fine at all. Some people fake that they're ok just to put others at ease, but the story tells you that it's ok to embrace difficulty. This drama truly digs deep into this concept. It says that life may not feel fine right now, it might even feel impossible, but one day, when you realize how much the world has to offer, this ordinary, troublesome life will feel more than fine.

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Unexpectedly Refreshing—a gem of a drama worthy of anyone's time.

I was totally unprepared for how much this drama touched me. And I am not sure if it was because of the issues it tackled in anger management, paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive, or if it was in how Jung Woo (truly a gem of an actor) and Oh Yeon-Seo each executed their roles. Either way, it worked and worked brilliantly, from the writing to the acting and directing, a pleasant surprise that hooked me from the first three episodes. I quickly both invested and rooted for Noh Hwi Oh and Lee Min Kyung to overcome the pain and heartbreak that appeared to be eating at them. I continually felt time stop when I watched this drama, with my rude awakening coming with each episode's abrupt ending (abrupt in my mind's eye). I never wanted the episodes to end.

When I started Mad For Each Other, I wasn't sure what I was getting, but before the end of the first week, I knew I wanted more, much more than the half-hour snippets three times a week. I like how fluid everything flows, graciously balancing the comedic, crazy, and serious moments. It's light with a somber undertone in how it tells the story of two people scarred by those around them, to the extent that they cannot live their daily lives without coming across something that triggers them emotionally or mentally. There is a lot to like here, but what I found most pleasing is how both Hwi Oh and Min Kyung recognized they weren't okay, be it emotionally or mentally, and seriously seek out and are committed to getting the help they need to better their former selves, and not just pout or play the blaming game. But that they do it in the same doctor's office sometimes brings on the laughs, craziness, and waterworks, as even the visits to the psychiatrists are marred with those moments that make the viewer laugh, cry, and be mesmerized by the fragility of it all.

Getting insight into both of our lead's past traumas was a disheartening experience, especially Min Kyung's. Not that Hwi Oh's is any less, on the contrary. In a way, their situations mirror each other. To be lied to and betrayed by the person (s) you trust the most, but not only that, to be threatened and used for that love is not an easy overcome, if even one can overcome something like that at all. So, Min Kyung's paranoia and traumatic disorders become even that much more understandable, but so does Hwi Oh's anger for being so easily slighted, accused, and shunned by the colleagues he swore an oath to protect and lay his life down for, including his family members and friends. It is easy to see how they and everything around him could readily trigger his anger. Yet, one can't help but empathize and rally behind them. And, boy, do they have chemistry; the moment they finally get together is golden; I love how tender and protective Hwi Oh gets of Min Kyung. I, of course, cannot get over how much I enjoy the association ladies from Hiwi and Ming Kyung's apartment building. I love how expressive they are all and so in tune, but more so that they were not too ashamed to admit their mistakes and take action when needed most.

But as much as I loved Hwi Oh and Min Kyung's bickering, fights, distrust, and even distress when they first met, I couldn't help but love how those fights and distresses enabled them to see each other's truths in each other. And before they even knew it, they were not only rooting for each other, but deeply caring for one another on their road to recovery, as the anger turns to laughter, and the fear and dark sunglasses turn rosy and trustworthy. But the show is also quick to remind us that recovery is a journey; it's not a straight, steady road. And that is the part that stands out the most for me with this drama. It takes its time to show us, the viewers, how fragile recovery is to those afflicted by mental and emotional issues. That there will always be ups and downs, discoveries, and setbacks. And in the case of Hiwi and Ming Kyung, it's the fragility of their trust that quickly crumbled just as quickly as it was developed at the resurfacing of ex-partners. On second thought, it's not even the ex-partners, but the painful memories and helplessness it drudged up. Luckily, despite the halting progress and discouragements, they can look back and see that those painful memories are just pieces of their lives and draw new strength from them, rather than have them be stumbling blocks.

I admire the matter-of-fact tone the drama takes to raise awareness and push acceptance of social taboos, whether it's through Samantha's transsexuality/transgender (Ahn Woo Yeon) or Min Kyung's presumed extramarital affair, physical and sexual abuse/assault, and mental health, and Hiwi's anger issues. But what's even more admirable is how everybody, from the part-time clerk (Lee Soo Hyun) to Hwi Oh, Min Kyung, the apartment association ladies (Baek Ji Won, Lee Hye Eun, Lee Yeon Du), handles and processes these taboos. Despite their initial shock or even disapproval, they can quickly work through whatever misgiving they have to acknowledge. Just because some people are different, it doesn’t mean they are inferior. And I think it's because they realized the crippling effect of fear and pain, giving them the capacity to be compassionate, loving, and understanding. That's the thing about pain; it brings people closer, because one cannot understand how people feel until they've experienced the same or equivalent kind of pain themselves.

As I already noted, there are many reasons why I loved this drama. Still, the biggest is the ease with which it articulates the overwhelmingness of mental and emotional health illnesses and the pain of being ostracized by society. And I cherish the messages it left me with, some of which were that the journey to full recovery takes time, and no matter how steep the road, maybe there is an end if one stays the course. Recovery includes getting better and achieving a full and satisfying life. And that people are often judged because of their differences, but the reality is that people will always be different. This doesn’t mean those who are different are “wrong”; on the contrary, it's those differences that make the world far more interesting.

A gem of a drama that you will not regret watching. As for the cast of the drama, brilliant, Jung Woo excelled at his role, as it was sometimes hard to watch how everything affected him, especially his helplessness in changing the awful ordeal the woman he loves went through. This leads him to resort to his fists, and as much as I am against violence, there comes a time when using one's words is just not enough. Jung Woo was great at making me feel his every being, but so was Oh Yeon-Seo -- I felt her confusion, fear, and stigma of living not only with a mental health illness, but also the accusation of having an extramarital affair. Kudos to the cast and production team for a drama that awakens the sense in every way possible.

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The film which catapulted little known Lee Jun Ki into instant stardom all over Asia. Yes I admit quite candidly that I watched this movie for my recently found Jun Ki mania but I'm going to remember this movie for the masterpiece it is rather than just a random K-movie featuring LJK. The controversy regarding the racy humor used throughout the movie notwithstanding, the movie is a fine portrayal of love, friendship and betrayal. It is heart-warming to see the effeminate Gong Gil and the heroic Jang Seng's relationship, which was most certainly much more than just friendship. At the height of utter despair and chaos in their lives, when they flee from the countryside in the hopes of a better life in Seoul, the way they act out the parts of two blind men in the middle of nowhere is a treat to watch. That is perhaps the most poignant scene from the film barring the one at the very end. There's a puzzle in the title of the movie since it leaves you in doubt about who the real king is. In my opinion it's Jang Seng rather than the tyrannical, literal king since he desires to be a commoner even in his next life and chooses the right to live on his own terms rather than living a life of luxury whose terms will be dictated by others. He is the real king of the movie.
The actors have portrayed their parts to perfection. Jeong Jin Yeong has done especially well in conveying the inner turmoil the King suffered from, his eccentricities and frequent displays of mindless cruelty. Excellent acting by Kam Woo Sung as well. And last but not the least, LJK proves in this movie that he IS after all an actor and not just a great looker. I think it will be hard for even a straight guy to resist his charms after watching this movie.

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An honest review of an underrated series

Hi everyone!
First and FOREMOST the plot summary does no justice to what a beautiful refreshing drama this is.
Lemme explain why,
1. Don’t judge the rating, As a person who enjoyed- it’s okay to not be okay , DOTS, crash landing on you, RIAB book, what’s wrong with Secretary Kim I ENJOYED THIS DRAMA.
2. This is one of the most REFRESHING Korean dramas I’ve seen in a while. I just feel like people aren’t used to this kind of new aspect. The interview format is lovely. Love the different kinds opinions to taboo topics.
3. I LOVE LOVE THE CINEMATOGRAPHY. No words. Just breathtaking.
4. Even though there is a flashback and present- it’s so beautifully and carefully executed so that it’s always refreshing. LOVED THE BEACH SCENES.
5. There is a bit of a mystery to it and the plot slowly develops but I LOVE THE MOMENTS. THE DRUNK GIRL MOMENT , THE COKE MOMENT AND SO MANYYY MOREEE
6. Another thing I loved is how we don’t have to wait for a kiss between the main leads forever.
7. The tribute to some of the best kinda music out there is fabulous! The rock bands.
8. This drama is an entirely different vibe, you might be scared to give it a try but do go ahead and watch the first 3 episodes. It might be your cup of tea.
9. Gotta love my confident side couples as well. That is a Why a 9/10. I’m waiting for more on them as well.
10. I just strongly believe this is not a 7.9/10 kinda drama. I got super sad looking at the rating. THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. And the actors deserve so much credit for going ahead with producing something new. I REALLY LOVE THAT this is one helluva COMFORTING UNIQUE WATCH. (Atleast for me) It’s really got a very nice energy to it! Watch it!!
Hope you enjoyed the review,
Good day pals;) <33

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TL;DR? Just absolutely wonderful. Full of lots of tears and laughter and romance, this drama has something for any romance enthusiast.


I will admit something here. I dropped this drama three times! The first time, I barely lasted 20 seconds, so maybe that doesn't count. The second time I made it a whole 5 minutes, and the third time I made it to 10. I just could not stand the lead actor. He was weird, and that laugh was so awkward, but not quite in a good way like Dokko Jin from The Greatest Love. I thought there was no way I'd watch it.


But then something really awesome happened. One of my drama besties started texting me about how amazing her new drama was, and how much chemistry the lead couple had. I scoffed when she told me it was FTLY. So I decided it would get one more shot from me before being relegated to my growing dropped list.


And thank god for that! I started it up for the fourth time, and this time I made it to when the leads met. And then I was 6 episodes in before I even realized what was happening. This weird, annoying character had somehow managed to work his way into my heart, and I was absolutely hooked. That annoying laugh? I was now looking forward to it. His weird behavior? Suddenly romantic. It was like a switch had flipped, and there was no turning back.


I hope you forgive all of that insane rambling! I swear, I do have a point! Three of my other Kdrama friends had also started and dropped this drama after the first few minutes, thinking it wasn't going to be up their alley. That makes me think there might be even more of you out there who are hesitant about this drama, and I really, really want to encourage to give it a shot!


Lee Gun is a caustic, lovable jerk. He is the quintessential CEO character, a little brash with people outside of his circle and definitely a little self-serving. Kim Mi Young is the exact opposite, known as the post-it girl because she is easy to get rid of and she admittedly has no backbone or ability to say no. They are as different as night and day, and yet when they come together they are the absolute best versions of each other.


In terms of character growth, this show is the absolute best. I don't think a single character made it through this show without maturing and changing. This drama was sad at times, and I will admit to a couple scenes that had me bawling like a baby. But even through all of the tears, it is absolutely worth it.


If you've made it all the way to the end of this inane review, I hope that you will consider giving FTLY a shot. The romance, the story line, the characters, all of it combines to make an absolutely unforgettable story.

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Surprisingly hopeful and at times heartwarming tone for a show full of monsters and death.

The show is more action and the characters/relationships driven compared to my initial assumption of it focusing on the story itself. The plot is quite simple: people turn into monsters, humanity has to survive, but in the midst of it, Sweet Home asks one important question "What does it mean to be human?" and explores it throughout all the episodes. It shows the best and the worst side of humanity - the will to survive that can unite or turn people against each other; the will to be humane as a way of fighting against the circumstances, but also using the horrifying situation as an excuse to abandon empathy.

Despite the show claiming to be in line with thriller, horror and psychological genres, it falls closer to action as a leading one. The plot might seem simple, but it did an amazing job connecting the dots slowly presented. Quite a few times in the 2nd half I recognized the continuation of the plots and hints dropped in the beginning episodes. While the main question might not be answered and the ending could seem disappointing and unsatisfying for some, I found it to be the best possible approach. Any other take would fall short and seem forced. It definitely leaves a lot of room for possible season two, but lack of continuation of the story would not make me angry either.

We are introduced to a brilliant cast of characters, that all have different stories to tell, that will resonate with the audience. In a short period of 10 episodes, I've got to see well built character development not only for Cha Hyun Soo, but also for many side characters. While I strongly disagreed with many of the character's decisions and behaviors, at the same time I could understand their reasoning behind it. If I had to pick my favorite characters (beside the star of the show Hyun Soo) I would pick empathetic Yoon Ji Su, brave Jung Jae Heon, resourceful Han Du Sik and level-headed Lee Eun Hyuk. That said, the chemistry between the whole cast was out of this world and they played off of each other well.

The wise advice I could give to anyone before starting: don't expect dark psychological horror. Even though the show explores quite a few psychological themes, as I mentioned before, it leans more towards action in addition to some dark humor, especially in the beginning episodes. That said, the thing it has to be applauded for - the stakes were real. You know the shows, where you feel close to nothing when characters are in danger because you know they will survive anyway? Not here. Each problem presented to them, each encounter with monsters, each turn made me tense, scared, but also excited for what's to come.

I'm not exactly one to pay attention to music in movies or shows, unless it truly catches my attention. Here, all the songs were extremely fitting and perfectly supported scenes they were played in. At first some choices might feel out of place, but as the drama progresses it starts to feel like a deliberate choice that somehow works.

If I had to complain about anything, I'd say I was not the biggest fan of the CGI monsters at first. Since I was expecting a dark psychological horror like Strangers From Hell, the cartoon-ish like models with questionable motion put me off. The moment I accepted this is not what I signed up for and started to enjoy the action, I started to appreciate the design of the creatures. Some had comical features (we see an a*s once), but it balanced well the dreadful emotional moments happening among the characters.

What's more, in the beginning episode the plot was not presented in a linear way, so it might be confusing. Later on the time jumps are barely happening and it's easier to follow the story.

In conclusion: I cried a lot. I got attached to each and every character. I cared for what's going to happen to them. I was curious about their past stories and how they affect their current decisions and actions. The show simply made me engage in whatever was happening on the screen, to the point of me binge watching it for 10 hours and forgetting to eat.

Warning: there is a lot of blood, some gore, story about child abuse and one for severe bullying. It talks about suicide and self harm. These themes might be too much for some viewers, so feel warned before giving it a shot.

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I want to play this dating sim!

I want to play this dating sim!

Our Dating Sim is an eight-episode with 15 minutes each, so what did they do with it? They made a series about our main couple that literally had almost no scenes without one or the 2 of them in it. They rightfully focused on Ki Tae and Lee Wan and made us fall in love with both of them.

No excessive drama, no filler scenes. It doesnt feel rushed and its just the right pacing.

And, its not like some other concurrently airing drama out there (ahemmmmmm), this one has the right amount of lovey dovey and the star's chemistry is electric.

And the end credit for each episodes is genius!

Easy and quick watch and rewatch. Highly reccommended! 9 out of 10 stars!

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Suffering! It's not a happy story but It doesn't mean it's not a good and important one

So I just watched the movie here in Brazil on 2020 São Paulo International Film Festival and Jeez I don't know what to say, I should paid attention in the plot cuz I spent almost the whole movie thinking that Birdy was straight (it's not a spoiler since it's in the synopsis). I have liked it but this movie is just sadness and pain, I know it's based on a true story and what a drama story. The acting, photography, scenes, screenplay, everything so beautiful and well made. I can tell that I yelled and suffered a lot. Damn it! I was hoping for a kinda happy love story after all but it's okay tho. It's not a BL, It's a LGBTQ+ movie. I think it should win a lot of awards, I gave it 10 stars cuz made me suffer and I like that feeling when I'm watching movies but at the same time I don't hahaha I'm weird. I really like Taiwan, I wish I could go there someday.

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Barely Any Differences Between the Normal Ver. and the Special Edition

What's the difference?

Episode 5's Bing Wei and Zhe Yu's confrontation scene and the locker room is extended. This is probably the most important since they are a featured side couple in the 2nd season.

They also tacked on the Season 1 special episode 6.5 into the last episode, so it eliminates the need to watch the special episode.

Other differences are just extending small scenes here and there worth a minute or two. For example, Zhou Shu Yi staring a few seconds longer at something. Or adding a few seconds of B-roll for a smooth transition. There is also a few extra seconds added into the hugs and kisses between Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi.

Season 2 is where the Special Edition is important because it's drastically different from the normal version.


Should you watch the Special Edition if you've already seen the normal version?

For Season 1 is doesn't make much difference, but I'd just watch the Special Edition for Bing Wei and Zhe Yu's scenes in episode 5. But YOU NEED TO WATCH SEASON 2 SPECIAL EDITION!!


Should you watch the Special Edition first or watch it on the re-watch?

I would just watch the Special Editions. But if you want to watch the normal version and Special Editions then... How do I put this... Watch both normal versions of Season 1 and Season 2 then watch the Special Editions on the rewatch.

YES - Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2 (Skipping the Normal version is okay)
YES - Normal Ver. S1 → Normal Ver. S2 → Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2

NO - Normal Ver. S1 → Special Edition S1 → Normal Ver. S2 → Special Edition S2
(You won't understand why they extended some scenes)
NO - Special Edition S1 → Special Edition S2 → Normal Ver. S1 → Normal Ver. S2
(The rewatch will be boring. Especially Season 2's rewatch. You'll probably claim that you wasted your time watching the normal version since you watched it the Special Editions first.)


~~~~~~~~~~ We Best Love: No 1 For You Review ~~~~~~~~~~

This is the perfect BL. It encompasses everything that is BL. Season 1 has the whole student/university innocent love story while Season 2 has the adult angsty drama. It's the whole package.

Anyways, I'll focus on Season 1 now.


Story:

Gao Shi De has always been a thorn in Zhou Shu Yi's side. He's always excelled in everything and should have been number 1 in everything, if it wasn't for Gao Shi De. When Zhou Shu Yi got into college, he thought that was in end of it. Gao Shi De went to a different university so everything should have been good, but now Gao Shi De has transferred to his university. His life is a mess again. His female friend that Zhou Shu Yi has been crushing on is in love with his best friend and now he has to deal with Gao Shi De. It doesn't help that Gao Shi De saw through his pathetic crush and is trying to help him get over it. Zhou Shu Yi's supposed to hate Gao Shi De right?

This is an amazing story. Enemies to Lovers is not anything new in BL or in Romance, but what is new is that Zhou Shu Yi is half-Japanese and it incorporated it into the story. Zhou Shu Yi often uses Japanese phrases to express himself when he's talking to himself or doesn't want to be understood. His friends also accept that and use Japanese phrases too. It's really realistic to someone who is mutli-ethnic. (I'm half-Japanese, and I also use Japanese phrases when talking to myself or when I don't want to be understood. Sometimes there are words in Japanese that express things better than in English too.) I love how Gao Shi De nor any of this friends address the fact that he's half-Japanese and just accept it. In a usual story the fact that Zhou Shu Yi's half-Japanese would be high-lighted and constantly brought up. There is none of that in this story.

Another thing that's different from the norm is that Gao Shi De isn't seeking to be Zhou Shu Yi's boyfriend. He literally just wants to be friends. Yes, he's in love with Zhou Shu Yi, but he spent so long being hated by him that he just wants to be friends and be able to talk to Zhou Shu Yi normally. It was so heartbreaking when Zhou Shu Yi found out about his crush, yet instead of saying "Yes, I'm in love with you. Please date me." He literally told Zhou Shu Yi, "It's none of your business." He was pushing his feelings to the side because he thought Zhou Shu Yi wouldn't accept his love and he didn't want to break their friendship. Such a selfless love!


Acting:

The chemistry between Gao Shi De and Zhou Shu Yi is amazing. Gao Shi De doesn't even have to speak and we can already see what he's thinking and feeling. Gao Shi De might be stoic, but just look into his eyes and you feel every emotion. Such talent! Zhou Shu Yi has significantly a lot more lines than Gao Shi De, but that doesn't mean he can't express himself either. Zhou Shu Yi is more in touch with his emotions and let's them out. He physically shows all of his emotions be it happiness, anger, or pain. Zhou Shu Yi also has the best teary-eye/emotional scenes in the whole BL industry. I can barely name any actors that can compare with him when is comes to scenes that are so emotional they make you tear up. Anyone can cry when they're sad, but to be so emotional that you have tears forming in your eyes, and you don't know why you're crying? Zhou Shu Yi's actor is amazing.

This BL is so amazing that there really isn't much to criticize. If there is any criticism it would be Zhou Shu Yi's Chinese language skills. I don't speak Chinese, so I can't say too much. That being said, since he is acting right next to other Chinese speaking actors, even I can hear it sometimes. Again, I don't speak Chinese, so it doesn't bother me, but I can understand why it would bother some people. However, I can chalk it up to Zhou Shu Yi being half-Chinese, half-Japanese. Realistically though, if Zhou Shu Yi was born and raised in Taiwan his Chinese would be better than Japanese. But seeing as in Season 2 his dad speaks better Japanese than Chinese, I guess the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Everything can be explained nicely though the storyline, so it works out for me. I do feel bad that the fans are knit-picking at Zhou Shu Yi's actor's Chinese skills (even to the actor's himself) when he was born and raised in Japan, so obviously his Japanese is better than Chinese. If you want to start knit-picking at language, aside from Zhou Shu Yi's actor, when the Chinese actors speak Japanese they have terrible pronunciation. It doesn't bother me though, since they are Chinese and not fluent in Japanese. You can't have everything perfect in life you know. Can all of you criticizing him even speak two languages fluently with perfect pronunciation for both languages? I think most of you can't, so I think it's time we all just sweep this topic under the rug.


Overall:

We Best Love is amazing. One of the best BLs out there. If you haven't watched it, you should.

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I dare to say this drama is perfect. And I was stupid enough to almost not watch it. The hype was just too strong and so off putting.
WARNING: this is NOT a review for someone who has not seen the show. I just need to express all my thoughts somewhere.

So… Are you bored and tired of the “I’m not gay, I only like you” plot lines in BLs? How much do you wish some shows would address the hardship of coming out? The fear and confusion related to it? How much do you wish to see a well written, heartbreaking conflict that is not based on poorly written and ridiculous random jealousy? How much do you wish to see well written supporting female characters, whose whole arc is not just “I ship two cute boys together”? You get all of that and more in Like in the Movies.

The story revolves around the exploration of sexuality and identity. What makes us who we are? How much should we compromise between who we are, want to be and who others want us to be? How to react when you are both pulled back in line and pushed out of it by people you love and care about? How to make a relationship work when one person has already finished the race, but the other is not even on the track yet? Each character represents a different story, different perspective and different point of view. Their actions might make us angry, sad, heartbroken, happy or annoyed, but we see the reasoning behind what they do. We might disagree, but we understand. And this just proves how good of a writing quality Like in the Movies presents. There are no silly villains, nor over the top crazy exes or evil parents. There are just people. Real people with flaws, fears, hopes and dreams.

“Don’t be scared of the word. You can say it. I don’t mind”.

Vlad was an emotional fluff that spoke the truth and gave everyone some real lessons. I cried because of the words he had spoken. He showed how much being an educator can accomplish. Knowing Karl has no bad intentions, he was willing to explain everything to him, was patient, but firm about his views. As someone who would rather sit down and explain things over getting defensive and offended myself, I truly appreciated and loved that about Vlad. Of course, it was not his responsibility to guide Karl, but his understanding approach just impressed me. Communication is the key, not only in romantic relationships, but also any type of social interactions. He didn’t play mind games, spoke what he thought and felt and it was up to others to accept it or not.

His story is also truly heartbreaking. It shows how stigma and homophobia in a society can shape the way we see and interpret situations, especially at a young age. In the past, he associated every negative and bad action of people around him as a result of him being gay, even if it was not true. But the truth is often meaningless. It’s the perception that matters. It’s the perception that guides your thoughts and feelings. And, like in Vlad's case, it takes years to look at the situation from a different perspective. If society did not present being gay as something bad, Vlad would never assume his dad left because of that. He would never assume his mom was against his relationship because she did not want her son to be gay.
Vlad represents someone who fully accepted himself. Who is proud about his identity and does not want to hide it. Who, after facing so much hurt and struggle, does not waver. Who wants to proudly give and receive love. Who just wants to be happy.

“I don’t know if I’m like you. I don’t even know who I am”

Karl never had a chance to explore who he was. He lived for his brother. He lived as his brother. Getting away from the expectations put on him by his family, allowed him to slowly learn about himself. And it was scary. It was unfamiliar. It felt great when he didn’t think about it, but you cannot shut the thoughts out for eternity. You need to face them one day, but if that day comes too fast, if you are not ready… that can break you. Or push you even more into a corner. And that’s what happened with Karl. External circumstances forced him to face it when he was not ready, when he felt emotionally confused and vulnerable.

He was brave enough to tell his parents about his dream, about the goal of switching majors, about his will to chase his dreams. It was a tough decision to make and required a lot of strength. The aftermath of his decision was still unknown to him, and yet others expected him to do it again. To face the expectations of his parents. To rebuild the identity he had so far, to completely reevaluate how he thought about himself. No time to think, no time to accept, just expected to act accordingly. But he deserved that time. He deserved a minute to explore and get accustomed to who he was. Coming out should have been his decision, that he made on his own terms, in the time that he felt comfortable about.

“But I just don’t know how to get to you (...). I’m still navigating through this.”

Judit represents what happens when driven by guilt, you go from one extreme to the other. She is clearly close to being paranoid and definitely overprotective over Vlad. Taking into consideration the pain she caused him in the past with the words she said, now she does everything she can to save Vlad from disappointment and heartbreak. And she definitely crosses the line doing so.

She acts as a fake ally persona, which is closer to fujoshi. Not knowing the full story and observing her behavior in the first two episodes, one could assume she is another crazy female character without depth who just ships all the guys that are in close proximity (flashbacks to Zol and her “shipping my brother and writing stories about it” behavior). But then, with episode six we get a complete shift of the perspective and actual explanation for her action.

While I still didn’t like her overpowering and overbearing presence, I understood where it came from. As Judit said: she is still navigating through it. It’s obvious her and Vlad never seriously talked about the situation, the past and how to move forward. During that episode she faced her mistakes for the first time, she apologized for the first time. Before that she did what she thought was correct, not what actually would be helpful. As always kids, communication is the key. But even after that confrontation, she still does not completely change her ways. And it’s frustrating, but also realistic. You cannot just change who you were for years after one honest conversation. It takes time, it takes others pointing out your mistakes countless times. Talking with Vlad was a great start. But it was just a start. All the hard work is still ahead of her.

“I don’t want to blame her one day for all the time that I have lost for myself”.

One could say that statement and Anna “running away” from her child is selfish, but it’s the opposite of that. She is not giving up on her kid, but she is not willing to give up on herself too. She is a mother, a great one, who raised her child alone for years, but she is also just Anna, a woman that needs time for herself. Need time to chase her dream, to live and have fun. How could she make her child happy and encourage her to work hard if she gave up on herself? Words are not enough, you need to be a true model for your child. And that’s what she is doing. Feelings are not something we can control. She can love her child with all her heart, but still have these small “what ifs” creeping and poisoning the relationship and bond they have. What if I didn't have her? Where would I be? Who would I be? Would I be happier? Would I be more successful? What would my life look like? The thoughts that we have no control over. So yes, Anna is a badass person and an amazing mother. Even though she is just a supporting character, she also tells an important story that brings more value to the series itself.

Moving away from the characters, I have to admit something: this show slapped me across my dumbass face quite a few times and I’m glad it did. I like to think I’m not one to judge and jump to conclusions (especially negative ones) quickly, and this drama showed me I’m not quite there yet.

It started with the opening scene and my “glorious” thought “wow… way to start a BL with a cliche of 2 pretty guys dancing in random pretty location”. Boy, I was wrong, and when we finally got to see the full scene in episode five, I just felt stupid. It was not “just cliche”, it had powerful messages and quite an impact. “Maybe that’s why it’s such a big deal to me because it’s just a small thing and I still got deprived of it” is quite honestly one of my favorite lines, one of the most impactful, and one that represents well how twisted and wrong the world is.

Another moment that hit me hard was the Judit and Vlad’s conversation I already mentioned. I truly thought she was just hyped fujoshi and there is nothing more to it. And yet again, I have been wrong and I felt stupid for jumping to a conclusion when nothing was even presented to me to validate my position. Don’t know if these two moments say more about me or the BLs as part of the entertainment industry. I was fed poorly written female characters and cliche plot lines for so long, sometimes it’s hard to have higher expectations.

Another thing I loved about Like In The Movies: it had big brain energy. It has been just clever and not a second of screen time was wasted. All the small interactions and details were meaningful and I’m legit too dumb to even notice them all. I just loved how scenes, interactions, small behaviors connected and were explained at different parts of the story. Vlad not liking people touching his hair? Far more than “just because he doesn’t like it”. Small details like that, turned out to have such an emotional and deep root for them. Vlad finishing a scary story with the “corpse in the closet” idea, and then he finds a photo of Karl’s brother in the closet, thinking it’s Karl. Truly big brain energy. There were many moments when I went ”damn… that’s why they showed it a few episodes ago”. Everything connects and everything has a meaning and I’m about to cry from happiness overwhelmed by this perfection.

Now, let’s talk about music. I am not an ost person. Unless the soundtrack is truly outstanding or truly bad, I don’t pay that much attention to it. Here we have the case of “truly outstanding”. Each song was beautiful. They were perfectly fitting for the moments and scenes they were playing for. The lyrics were just the cherry on top of this beautiful cake that brought me to tears. This is ALSO the case of big brain energy.

You know what else is big brain energy? The credit scenes! I’m amazed. Truly. You can tell how much care and thought was put into this show when they decided to even use the credits as a way to convey the message, describe the relationship and its progression. As I said, not a second was wasted. There were no fillers. No line wasted. Everything was crafted perfectly to give us this masterpiece, with quotes at the end of the episodes being the dot at the end of the sentence. Tying it all together, leaving us hopeful, emotional and grateful.

Though this will never be seen by anyone involved in the production, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. This was an amazing, emotional and engaging journey that will stay with me forever. I cared for the characters deeply, as if they were truly my friends. I cried, laughed and screamed with anger. Thank you for making me this emotional mess.

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An Endearing, Funny, Sweet, Healing, Uplifting, Beautiful Story with a Bunch of Lovable Characters

I love this show so much for the positive, warm-hearted, funny, quirky vibe it gives every episode. Yet it's not an empty calorie show at all. It manages to balance hilarious comedy with touching, deep moments and inspirational life lessons. This show will make you laugh and cry - sometimes at the same time. Though there are sad, heartbreaking moments, this show always seems to exude a sense of optimism underneath it all. In this stressful world with so much violence and inhumanity; it's nice to be able to have this oasis of a show to turn to where you can watch lovable, quirky, well written and acted characters who warm your heart and tickle your funny bone every week. I am never bored by this show, and the hour always goes by so fast for me. I've re-watched each episode too many times already and still love it.

This is a love story between two emotionally stunted 30-year-olds with the emotional maturity of 17-year-olds who help each to grow and mature into their chronological age of 30. The plot and the heart of this story is the emotional growth that each of the main characters has to go through to become who they were meant to be if not for the traumatic accident that essentially froze them emotionally in time. The life lessons from how to treat others who are struggling to how to overcome your fears, tragedies, and regrets to find the courage to live and love again are beautifully written and acted. I love that this story doesn't show this journey in a maudlin, boring fashion but does it with so much humor and heart.

Though there may seem like a few parts where things are not moving as fast as we the audience would like or then moving too fast because this show was scheduled to be 40 episodes, but SBS inexplicably cut it to 32 at the last minute out of nowhere despite it being the number one rated weekday prime time show and a hit internationally all through its run. Please trust that the writer and actors will make your journey with them worth it if you stick with this heartwarming and beautiful show to the end. Just enjoy the funny heartwarming moments for what they are. I gave this show a 10 not because it's perfect, SBS abruptly cutting the successful show caused some loose ends that would have been tied up if they had the time they were originally promised, but because it's the closest to the most perfect show I have ever watched in terms of all the elements I mention above and below. It's the only show were I have no major complaints about anything and I enjoy watching every character and every episode, even in re-watch. Plus the ending is one of the best and most satisfying endings I have ever seen. There are so few heartwarming, interesting shows where after you watch it, it restores your faith in humanity instead of making you question it.

The OTP's relationships take time to build, but once it "crescendo," their chemistry is in full bloom amazing mode. This will become one of the most beautiful love stories you'll ever see and I'm not just talking about the leads, but the entire cast. Both Shin Hye Sun and Yang Se Jong have amazing comic as well as emotional timing on top of being first rate, award-winning actors. They both have the ability to make the audience feel what their characters feel and elicit great empathy for their characters. Both can make you clutch your stomach in laughter and your heart in tears, and their love story will make you feel like butterflies live in your chest. They're such great actors that they can have an amazing love story with a broom much less with each other. The rest of the cast is also amazing; there isn't one weak link in this cast. Even the dog is a better actor than half of the human actors out there.

Very rarely can I say with certainty that you'll love a show because so rarely is there a magical coming together of great writing, acting, plot, comedic timing, directing, lovable main to supporting characters, location (even their house is full of character), and music in one show. Even if you like nothing else, the dog is worth the watch alone. I've never seen a show where I love each episode and don't forward through any part. The only disappointment I feel is when it ends. Of course we are all human and all will have different opinions on everything, but I think the majority of the people who give this show a try will find that they don't just like it, but will love it and it will become one of their favorite shows of all time or at the very least of 2018. It's one of the best feel good shows I've ever seen. You'll want to tell everyone you know about it and watch this show again and again.

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Have you ever loved someone so much and irrationally so optimistic that someday you will be with him and to be near him every single day, and you really try hard to make it come true? Well this drama is all about it.

I was so much enjoyed watching this drama, the plot is nothing new, it’s about to pursue your first love to become yours.

It’s nice, funny, and you won’t find someone really cunning in this drama.
Every episode ends well, you will excited to watch how the story goes on.
I love watching how good the chemistry between the casts Takeru and Mone.
I am also impressed with the relationship of doctors, nurses and patients in Japan as well as their technology in medic.
You will love to see the cities of Tokyo and Osaka in this drama.

Nurse Sakura is a hopeless romantic.
From the beginning she declares to the whole world that she loves doctor Tendo.
She may looks naive and irrationally in love to him, but her love towards him is pure, strong and sincere.
She works so hard to become a good nurse. She is clumsy, kindhearted to patients, and cheerful. She likes to fantasize dating with doctor Tendo, and like a Warrior - she never gives up on her love to him. She remains optimistic that someday he will love her even he seems ignorant and cold to her.

The two opposite characters of this couple are the main attraction of this romantic drama.
Since a million years he knew that she doesn’t suit him, she is not as smart as him, but still he starts falling for her.
It’s so sweet to see how doctor Tendo's love for nurse Sakura develops slowly and in the end he loves her as much as she loves him.

Believe me, you will not regret watching this drama. Highly recommended!

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Firstly, I have to say if you don't understand Chinese or the culture of the Chinese royalty it would be quite a difficult drama to understand and enjoy by reading the subtitles. The proverbs and 'old Chinese' they use made it slightly difficult for me to understand even as a Chinese speaker. However it is a drama which was worthwhile.

Plot:
The story is based on the historical character Wu Zhetian - the first and only female emperor in Chinese history. From what I have learned about that era, this drama reflects well on major events as well as some minor events. However, this drama focuses more on the romance of the main character. The pace and transition of each saga of her story is well organised.

Characters:
The chemistry between the actors/actresses are really well shown. The actors/actresses casted to portray the characters are well chosen and I cannot ask for better. The acting is well done and there was hardly any cringy acting.

Music:
The opening song really shows the strong Chinese dynasty and goes really well with the clips that are edited with it. After watching her drama, look back at the opening sequence you will feel very emotional as you look at the development of Wu MeiNiang (Wu Zhetian) and her interaction with other characters.

Overall:
This is the longest drama I've ever watched. It went far above my expectations. The makeup, clothing, movement to plot, music and characters are so well put together I don't think anything can be better. I hardly do reviews for dramas but this really worth a recommendation. My favourite part of the drama is the chemistry between Wu MeiNiang and Li ShiMin.
Sadly, the censorship which edited the clothing and scenes which were considered 'inappropriate' slightly ruined the character development and chemistry between some characters.

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I reluctantly fell completely in love with this drama, even though I knew it would break my heart. When a Sageuk is done right it can take me on an emotional roller coaster, and this one did exactly that. On the surface it's everything I expect from an epic historical drama... family rivalries, betrayals and revenge, blinding greed, tragic martyrs, obsessive love, a star-crossed romance... Yet, It also holds it's own among two of my absolute favorite Ancient Joseon Sageuks (The Princess' man, and Empress Ki). Although there are similarities that fans of those dramas can appreciate, I think this drama still stands out on it's own because of it's memorable characters, and touching story.



First, It's not a spoiler to say that this is indeed a Romance-Tragedy. It is inspired by the true story of Queen Dangyeong, who we know from the title, was only Queen for a week. If the title isn't enough to clue you in on what's in store, the show starts by glimpsing into the future, and we see a not so happily ever after moment where she tries to kill her love, the king, but can't. This was the same flash forward method that grabbed my attention in Empress Ki, and I knew that I would need to know exactly what road led them there. That road is not just filled with tragic moments. We actually go all the way back to childhood with the characters, and the journey to the end is more than just tears. There's humor, great friendships, some action, and of course romance, and what I thought was an interesting story of 3 people who's lives are controlled by their fate, in spite of their feelings.



I think Yeon Woo Jin was amazing as future king Yi Yeok. I've liked him in other dramas, but this one is a perfect vehicle for his range. He's matched with Park Min Young as Shin Chae Kyung, who I can say the same about. I think, because their child versions were so good, it gave them a lot to work with as far as backstory, and I truly believed all of their moments together. They may not have the most exciting chemistry, but that didn't stop me from liking them as a couple. The triangle is then made complete by Lee Dong Gun as Yi Yoong. I think his character, and acting, drives this whole drama. He also reminded me A LOT of a young Christopher Walken, and not just because of his big eyes. He has a charm and creepiness about him that made him the kind of villain I not only sympathized with, but sometimes rooted for in spite of myself. Even in his most over the top moments I totally felt for him. I really am a sucker for an actor who's really good at playing evil or crazy or both.



Most of the story revolves around the rivalry between these two brother for the crown, and their love of the same girl, but it still didn't feel too cliché to me. I think it's because every single character in this story, meaning every single supporting character, are so developed and well played, that it gave extra depth to the story and made me care about everyone... EVERYONE... even the Nanny. I would usually give a shout out to awesome supporting characters but there are just too many to name! I also loved that most characters, even if they were minor, had some kind of attention given to their specific part in the story, and some very emotional endings for their characters.



Ok, I will mention just one... Hwang Chan Sung as Seo Noh. *insert my standing ovation here*



As for the story, for me it just kept getting more exciting and addictive as the show progressed. The moments that may have felt slower were more of a build up to more exciting parts. Waiting for new episodes started to feel a little like torture, but sometimes I needed that week to breathe between episodes because the story got so intense. Sometimes characters were frustrating, but I think that's what added to them feeling human. Sometimes the political storyline was upsetting, but because it tied directly to these amazing characters, it kept my interest till the very end. The ending had a lot to live up to, and I think it was well done. I suffered from severe eye rain during the second half of the last episode, but the ending avoided just being completely depressing, which I think is impressive.



The music is beautiful and compliments this drama very well, and Junggigo's song will be on mental loop for a while.



Would I watch it again? Absolutely. I would probably need to watch a few light hearted shows in a row first, but sometimes you need a story that gets you in the feels too. I would just stock pile some tissues.



Overall I would definitely recommend this, BUT if you are not a fan of extreme drama then this may be too much. If you have never liked a sageuk ever, know this is more of the same, so don't expect this one to convert you. If you don't like stubborn characters who make you want to throw things at your screen, you definitely picked the wrong drama. Personally, I think it was beautifully bittersweet, and I I already added it to my favorites list before I even finished it.

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A Good Reflection of Society

This is my first ever review, and there's definitely so much to love about this series.

The female lead (Shen Ruo Xin) is older, intelligent and independent. She knows exactly what she wants and needs, and she doesn't conform to societal's norms and fixed set of beliefs. She pushes her own boundaries and fights towards what she wants and should achieve. In other words, as the title of it suggests, she's rational - up until she meets the male lead (Qi Xiao). She's such a child with him around but definitely not in the oblivious and clueless way. Just really adorable.

When she decided to take the leap of faith and be with him, she goes into it wholeheartedly. Unlike many other scripts we see where the older woman doubts the relationship, and shuns away from friends/family and public eye about being in a may-december relationship, Ruo Xin went into it and believed in it.

Although the age gap in the show is 12 years, here was no awkwardness between the cast and the built up was credible. It wasn't hard to believe that they're in love, and that they needed each other. No "baby fights", unreasonable arguments. They both trusted the process and was always there, breaking so many stereotypes and norms people usually have of such wide age gap relationships, especially when the female is older.

The other cast were great too. Honestly, it was a little tough to watch Ruo Xin's mother's nonsense antics and overreaction to her relationships (She does get on my nerves!!). But it's undeniable that the way she reacts/thinks is possibly what the general sentiment of older generation is, and even what some younger folks may also think. The show provided a good balance showing the many sides of reality — the pressure from family on a woman to get married and have children, having to match with someone of the same "calibre", accepting a wide age gap relationship, having to find a job to feed themselves over being in a relationship, and challenges in the workforce etc.

Putting aside the cuteness and lovey-dovey, the series is such a thought provoking one showing the many aspects of life. Definitely there're areas to improve — I thought the ending felt a lil rushed, I'm not quite a fan of shows that skip timeline with a "6-month later" but overall, I'll still give this a big thumbs up!

UPDATE: ok there were 3 additional short episodes after the main episodes aired and it was an adorable finishing touch to this! please don't skip the 3 extras!

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