Sometimes its good to read the story behind the true story if you have a weak heart

I recently convinced myself that i was missing out on historical dramas(I have dreaded them for years) but KDRAMA has sold me and am hooked.
Lee JunHo brought me to Red Sleeve and OMG this was good that i almost watched it in one seating but had to break it to avoid looking like i have no life.
I was originally not planning to say anything,this is one of those drama that stick in your brain weeks after you finish them but i need to get it out of my system,let me leave it here.
1.The cinematography,the OST,the still picture and everything Jeoson palaces were on point.
2.The acting was out of this world,few actors can pull of a heavy drama full of all types of emotions but everyone in the entire cast pulled off Oscar worth acting.
3.I have no words for Lee Junho portraying Prince Yi San/ King JeongJo,I dont think there is any language that can discribe this man's acting so i recommend to go and watch
Overall this was one of the best historical drama of 2021 and now i know why,It has left me with a very heavy feeling and made me want to understand more about this era in the Korean history.I will not talk about the FL wanting to drive all of us crazy but she was portraying a real historical figure so we pumped our hate breaks whenever.
Many people warned us future views not to trade in the waters of Ep 17 but we are too curious for that and curiosity killed a cat so you can imaine how dead i am now,but I will not spoil it for anyone. i have learnt my lessons, before embarking into the territory of an historical drama that is real story of real people, I should probably read the story first and see if there is and sad ending

Leia Mais

THE HEALER WE ALL NEED

In the world full of uncertenity,stress,depression,hard life,unplanned messes and noises,Someone thought of "Meet yourself" I read somewhere in the comment section,someone said that when life gets hard nd unbearaable,they just think of moving to a chinese village in the middle of nowhere and i feel the same lol.
This has been my healing drama of all the times,It introduced me to the rural most authentic and amaizingly beautiful China.What a fresh of breath air,what an amzing scenery,Every scene felt like a holiday in a care free country, where there is no worries.I remember the horde scenes a long the vast rivers, the farm with cows and two seat on th verandah where the leads would seat and watch the sunset or the sunrise,Gosh who thought of this idea?
There is so mujch goodness in this drama that words are not enough,I think you have to experience it on your own.THe sense of community around this drama was out of this world,every character was running from something but the moment they arrive in this village,it seemed like all their worries flew by in front of our eyes.THe show lietrally is so good that you feel like you are a part of grandma's circle.
The two seasoned actors Li XIan and Liu Yifei put on a show to remember.
If you are looking for a quiet,slow paced holiday destination to meet your self..tHis is a show for you

Leia Mais

GREAT NOONA STORY DONE WRITE AND DIFFERENTLY WITH LOTS OF BUTTERFLIES

I wanted this drama to marinate in my subconscious before i wrote a short review.I have less complaints so this will be quick.
If this ended up in your recommendation while you were looking for a noona story,dont even finish reading reviews,Go ahead and watch it,just have a warm blanket and extra pillow near you because the ML will make you feel very single if you are single or question your choices if you are married.
Typical noona romance trope that was done EXTREMELY RIGHT and with a FRESH touch.The writer knew what he/she was doing,not your typical go back in time of our childhood storyline, unfortunately if i tried to explain it,it would spoil the whole thing so I only encourage the future viewers to watch and see how well the story was coordinated between the past and present.
For the first time i want to give flowers to the Editing team,whoever came up with the editing ideas is a genius..It added comedy to the show and it was well done with the music and the sounds that were used.
I love love a constistent ML,from day 1(probably the day he met the FL when he was 0 day old) He knew what he wanted and that was to be with her,simple and clear, he never waved or blinked..and this man gave all the viewers butterflies,oh No Zoo in our stomach..I ended up hunting all his work,young and talented.
As for the FL,chinese writers have something against FLs in general,so i wont even start to talk about how difficult her character was,since childhood,she loved and protected the ML but she did more than that..And how i wish her character developed at least in the ast 6 episodes.She surrendered her will to control and fight her emotions very late and this drove me mad..Because the moment she did,the flow of the drama went really light.
The side characters,especially both parents were made in heaven,who had been friends before even their children were born.All the side characters and their personal stories were well executed and added to the beauty of this drama.
I would have rated this 10/10 but the FL character development that took forever left me bitter and I wish there was more music performance seing that the ML chose music as a career because of the FL and he had a super star status.

Leia Mais

THE NAME SHOULD BE "FAST AND FURIOUS IN KAIROUTEI"

I picked this for Steven Zhang but the FL convinced me to stay because she was really good.
Steve Zhang will deliver no matter how bad the plot is.I call him the male version of Zhao Lusi.
Sometimes you dont even know if he is acting because its just too accurate and his mannerism
and body movements feel like you are seing him in real life.

Am not familiar with the FL but from what I gathered she is a veteran,this explains why her acting
was really good and thanks to the write she was a strong character who didnt let the
bullies have their way.Should i mention she is the first FL in chinese drama to initiate intense kissing scene?

We always complain about chinese drama having long episodes filled with unnecessary scenes
but what happens when they have to fit a whole trope into 12 episodes? You will find the answer
when you watch,thats why I said they should have named it "Fast and Furious in KAIROUTEI
Thats how fast your brain will be moving from scene to scene,saved but beautiful cinematic shots.

Leia Mais

OLD IS GOLD

Every now and then I go back in times(so far have gone 12 years back) and watch a masterpiece like Healer when Ji Chang Wook,Park Min Young,Yoo Ji Tae and the mervelous Lady Kim Mi Kyung were still young and before they went to make numerous hits like Welcome to Samdarli,Whats wrong with Secretary Kim,Money heist-Korea and Its okay not to be Okay.
The actors combined have been in more hit projects that can make up a whole movie Studio in itself, so seing them together in one drama back in 2014 must have been a thrill.
I felt the power that they brought to this serie 10 years later..No scene is boring or a filler, Everything suits together like a puzzle.Even if you were a critic,Its hard to find bits to pick on.Considering this was a decade ago, and how the film industry has grown with the use of CGIs and advanced tech,Back then thngs were still being done manually, streets were closed to shoot scenes,actors did their own stunts off the buildings,I understand that JCW does most of his own stunts and how can i forget the veteran who never ages Ms Kim Min Kyung, She is is been in more dramas than my neighbors'cats..how about Ms Park Min Young, I see her on my screen more than CNN Breaking news.
Overall as they say Old is Gold,indeed Healer is gold that will stay in our reserve mental bank for generations to come.

Leia Mais

GO AHEAD And watch what the film school wants directors,screenwriters and editors to put out

Am giving the Screen writer Wang Xiaong Cheng his flowers, the man has managed to write hits after hits,Go Ahead,Meet yourself,Find yourself and many great projects.
YOu can have A list star cast but if the script sucks or is full of holes, the drama wil tank like a house with a weak foundation.
I have never wished there was an option to raate a drama more than 10/10 like this drama.I have been seeing it flying around in the the comments and edits but i kept thinking this is another childhod,highschool romance so i shelved it mentally,boy oh boy was I wrong..
In short,
No scene shall be skipped unless you have low tolerance of bad mothers,
You will laugh,cry,kick and scream whenever it applies,
In the end you will be part of the story,you will be the neighbour accross the hall,eat diner at Dad Li house or restaurant
You will hear Dad Ling famous line "Am going to work" often than you predictated
you will wait with Li Jian Jian as she waits for her brothers to come back
You will cry with He Zi Qiu as he fight his hainting past
LIng Xiao's silent deminure that carries a heavy load will keep you wanting to join karate classes so you can fight for him
Who said two dads cant be brothers and raise 3 great brats together? Welcome to GO AHEAD.
There is so much to talk about but whenever a project is mind-blowing,its better for people to watch for themselves

Leia Mais

A CHAOTIC START THAT BECOMES SOLID BUT ENDS IN CHAOS AGAIN

**The below review is based on personal views and preferences.Dont let them influance your choice to pick or pass this drama.

THE STORY:
The usual childhood silent crushes that are separated with time and reunited by "fate/destiny" when one is trying to save one of
her grandfather companies and the other trying not to sink with the same company..Not only they try as much possible to stay away
from eachother,they later realise they are both fighting in the same direction, and so on and forth,i really dont put importance on the side stories.

THE CAST:
This drama might not have been on my top 30 but it sure introduced me to a new actor that has entered on the list of my all time favorite actors.
Not only he is really talented but the visuals are from another world.This is not a professional review so am going to be as mondaine as possible
while talking about this man..He is absolutely beautiful man and he deserves to pick romantic projects and he is allowed to showacase his chemistry.

The most memorable character in this drama is the FL's Grandfather who is chairman,He made this drama enjoyable and he gave us the comedy we needed
when the chaos was chaoting.He was charming,witty,slick and he didnt take nothing serious,he must be a veteran in the industry because he was the really MVP.
I love FL that is strong with a can do attitude and is not afraid to face hardship and she serves this,of cause writers didnt miss the usual angst and annoying
lines but at least she had a good relation with the grandpa and she was fearless with him and you can see how much he loved her very much.

OVERALL:
The story would have been good if it had met sober writers,but this bunch of men or women were all over the place,the cam around in the middle and the story
became enjoyable but in the end they went off course and I cant count how many times i rolled my eyes..It became the worse version of "You are my glory"
And the CP never ending monologue made an entrance and the whole drama went south.

Leia Mais

How an actor who has signed a"no physical contact" clause manages a Romance drama..

There is just something that puts me off from watching dramas of actors/actresses who are married.
This has been one of those,no matter how much i wanted to watch Bai Lu doing her things,but
Ren Allen being married doesnt help my delulu..so i kept passsing this one.When the dramaland well
dried up and there was nothing captivating to watch,I broke my own promise and pressed play.

I never saw the prequel One and only so i had no back story to fall on to but the FL's flashback memories
helped to understand that she was a "reincarnation" from the past and from what i red this prequel had a sad
ending that broke people's souls so it was good that the characters were given a second chance to live.

That aside,It is just a good drama,the creators did a good job to bridge both project without washing off the
historical setting.Its a modern drama with a histirical twist in terms of the storyline and the Set/architecture
The viewers who had wathed the prequel,could identiffy who is who from old to new.

Now here comes my pain,I and a thousand others.Ren Allen. a solid actor and to be honest I would watch him
again but not in drama with romantic tags.I though the "no physical contact" clause was a roumour but watching
him and the directors playing hide and seedk with anything that would bring him an inch closer to the FL,went from
anger to what in the name of all saints is this to now this is comedy.

It could have been ok if he was paired with a cold FL who has no personality but common,we are talking about Bai Lu
here,even her smile and facial grimace tell you that she is down to whatever..
Anyway I will going to go on and on,I have already recovered from this so lets just say that its ok to have these types
of boundaries on paper but it is also ok to send your manager a memo that says dont acccept romantic dramas.

Overall,It was a good drama my grievances are just from personal opinions.If you dont mind wathing a frustrated wife
with a clueless but smart nerd husband with green flag qualities,You will enjoy the SLOOOOOOWWWW BURN

Leia Mais

THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WITH SECRETARY KIM..SHE IS SECRETARY KIM AND WE WANT HER TO BE MORE

THE FOLOWING IS ENTIRELY MY OWN OPINION AND INPUT

NOTE: THE KISS SCENE THAT HAS 350 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE CAME FROM HERE

I watched this long time ago but back then MDL didnt exist and I have already had it of the list of my top 30
all time favorites so I had to rewatch it so that I can review it and am glad i did cos it felt like am watching it
for the first time.There was an Era in K-drama industry that produced really mind blowing projects(2011-2021)
And Whats wrong with Sec Kim belongs to that Era..I have found myself avoiding anything that came after that.

Lee Young Joon is a typical Chaebol boy with charm and confidence the size of Mt Everest,and he knows it
tHis is the character that makes those peoplle who like to throw big words like "narcissist" "misogyny" will have
a field day with.Did I mention he is also the King of 2018 Rizz and as his favorite quote goes,He oozes an "Aura"
That makes everyone around him bow as he passes.He is a character you can choose to hate or love depending
on which side of the highway you are standing on.but he has a certain weakness that has gone unnoticed for long.
He has a twisted past,entertwined with his brother and he has a dependency desorder to his Secretary who happened
to be part of the past he would wsish to forget but internally resolved by keeping her close to him and to his heart.

Secretary Kim Mi Soo is Lee Young Joon's lifeline,She is the engine that circulate his oil but his world comes crumbling
down the day she decided that she has had enough after 9 years together,not that he treated her wrongly but she has held
this position long enough that she has forgotten who she is other than Sec Kim.This anouncement mark the beggining of
a very long drama of 16 episodes which i think could habeen 12 but ok.

What I liked about LYJ was his intelligence and his confidence that If you are sensitive you might mistake is as arrogancy.
His monologues that made this drama really enjoyable.It is not a bad thing to actually complliment yourself and Sec Kim
has gotten used to his self proclamations that she let him have his way.I kept laughing how he would turn something as simple
as "Am calling you because I miss you," to "Am calling because I dont want you to miss me"

What I can critises is the mismatch or imbalance in the chemistry formular .LYJ knew from day one when he was 8 and Sec Kim
that he would love her forever and when that time came while they were adults,he gave his all to her but because she had been
in this position for long,it became hard to separate the carrer and love.She was so immersed in being his secretary that when it came
to their relationship,it was impossible for her to shift emotions,something that they mentioned often,when he wanted to serve her or
do something for her..This issue came through in the screen case i felt like she had this same posture and manerism even during their
intimate scenes.I kinda low-key wished she actually resigned so that her character can grow and bloom into something else.

Overall it was an engoyable watch.This is probably my 4th drama by the FL,she is one of the best in the industry for a reason

Leia Mais

IF YOU CAN WATCH IN A PLATFORM W/LIVE COMENTS,ITS LIKE A FOOTBALL MATCH ?

In search of J-drama that will not leave me buried in in tissue box,I contacted my man Sakaguchi Kentaro,
Before I deep my feet in his just finished to air "What comes after love" I want to prepare myself for the angst
that is coming in that drama.And I made the righ choice because this was one of those dramas that keep you
on a life line..You want to punch the wall but at the same time you want to keep going so you can see how much
character developement can one human go through in 10 episodes.

Japanese script writers are known to walk on a very thin line between normalcy and insanity and this project topped
the list of "what are they smoking".The story was actually normal contract marriage trope,rich and stable ML with
struggling FL,add a dose of an ML with extreme OCD,who is an entrovert with questionable social awkwardeness
combined with a handsome face supported by an ethereal jawline wich is a dream of overy cameraman.

If you are triggered by cultures that you do not understand maybe this is not a plot for you,or you can just seat
for 10 episodes watching Sakaguchi Kentaro being absolutely breathtaking,hiding behind the Tokyo haircut.
This is is to say that,even though marriage tropes are not realistic in our world of the 99%.The writers just
decided to put two people of the opposite worlds under one roof,and it was comic to see the struggle.

Watching on a platform with live comment section made it double awsome,it was life watching a football match
Some hated it,then loved it as episodes progressed,then hated it again and finally there was nothing to say only
blame the referees who are the ever enduring japanese writers.
8.5/10 I will recomend,cos at least for once no one dies and Kentaro is enough to glue me at the screen
even though they made him the "slowest" brain frozen,probably virgin ML I have ever seen.Oh and be prepared to be
diagnosed with 2MLS

Leia Mais

I CAN'T SEE BUT I SEE EVERYTHING..I CAN'T HEAR BUT I HEAR EVERYTHING...

Am not a Manga reader so whenever I give any manga insprired drama,I have no expections to meet.
And when it comes to japanese melodrama I go in looking for winter on a summer day,life lessons
or tears.Either way I always get what am looking for..mostly tears,for Japanese writers are gifted at that.

I read reviews and many were positive with a "But" neverthless I saved this for my PWL and I did like it,
somehow it kept me on edge because i had a weird feeling that something bad was going to happen,
even though many had spoiled the end but who can trust Japanese writers?

Tomohisa Yamashita is a veteran actor and he never does wrong in my eyes and I was thinking he could
play Steve Wonder so easly.Its the first time watching any Yuko Araki work but I think she did a stellar job.

Japanese cinematography and production are never up for discussion,they know what they are doing.
The story was beautiful,I learnt permenant lifetime lessons on disability,love and the fact that giving up
should never be an option.It makes you appreciate the gift of sight,hearing and ability to speak.
There was some plots holes which I wished were filled butI dont want to mention
them to avoid spoiling it.But In a two hour movie,its not easy to close all the gaps.

Leia Mais

CUTE,FLUFFY,CHILDHOOD TO ADULT WITH A HOT SURPRISE AT THE END

This is going to be short and short so here we go.
Everytime i get traumatized by a drama,I try to find something
that will cleanse my brain palate and will warm my heart no matter
how cute and childish it is.And this was the best candite.
Nothing original here,same old highschool,childhood to adulthood.
where the leads grow up together,its like a lighter version of Go Ahead
And When i fly towards you.
What I really liked was the ML.He had a commanding chemistry even though
It was met by FL natural butterfly character that had a personality of a 12 yr
But he kept it grounded and loved her as she was and protected and cared for
her alot.
He gave us a surprise of very hot scenes,we didnt know we needed.
For those who knew the actor from the k-pop idol group SEVENTEEN were
shocked to see how he managed these scenes ,even though he is know to be
of a quiet nature so I would really wish he can do more acting.

You could see how he helped the FL to be comfortable in her own skin.

Leia Mais

A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY WITH AN OVERDOSE OF FRUSTRATION

I cant believe that this is my first review of a japanese drama so I will do my best not to scream.
I honestly believe if there was a K-drama adaptation of this,it would be a bit.And I have few leads in mind
Zo In Sung and Song Hye Kyo would slay it..Remember "The winter the wind blows?

Japanese writers live on sadness,they pay their bills with our tears,there is no J drama that i have watched
that didnt leave me bitter and angst.The only thing I enjoy is how they make the pain short and wrapped in 10 episodes

But for the first time I cried only once and this is a record breaker.
I dont know why the title is Perfect world but there is nothing perfect about the story, it should have been called
Resilient world because that what the characters went through.Resilience.

Its a beautiful love story of a woman Kawana Tsugumi who falls in love with her high school crush and when they meet years later
even though life hasnt been good to him,she is still in love with him regardless what her surrounding says.
Unfortunetly things dont turn out as she hoped for,it seems her fighting spirit can't save the love of her life Ayukawa Itsuki
He has already decided that love to him was not something he should try due to his disabilities and no matter how genuine it feels.
They had a mixture of good and extremily annoying characters that made you want to pull them out of the screen and slap them.

Japanese writers are generally wierd and fear nothing in terms of walking on thin ice,they tend to lean toward abnormal storylines
that would make editors in other film industries scratch the floors with nails.
I won't spoil the rest but be ready to roll your eyes in anger and lots of WTF moments.

I won't talk about the technical and cinematography stuff,we all know Japan does it best.
But I will talk about the FL wardrobe.Thank you wardrobe team for ignoring those manga style,
And giving our FL a proper,chic and beautiful outfits,she was looking like spring in all the shots.

Overall,I liked it for it was more on an educational spectrum about disabilities.
But I wish there was some good romance in there..Just dose of it would have been perfect
although the powerful vows at the end made up for my yearn for these two to be lovey dovey..

Leia Mais

A WORKPLACE NOONA STORYLINE DONE INTELLIGENTLY

Let's get something out of the way first;

The following review is from the POV of a millenial.So it will only be based on my own opinion.

And please dont listen to the comments who judged the whole drama based on the episodes between 35-40
The ML made the right decision to allow the FL to separate herself from an emotional fortress and reality.
He wanted to start over without all the complication of their "fabricated marriage" because He really had fallen in love with her
But she couldn't differiante feelings and ambitions

Am unashamed to say that I enjoy noona romance(older FL younger ML) and personally age is just 1234, a numeral number and I dont get triggered as long as it's within the legal bracket.With great luck,writers didn't put it in our faces repetitively and in the end it was never an issue that was visible.
Am a sucker for a FL who is strong with a badass attitude and the creators picked one of the best in the industry Ms Yang Mi,not only she came with beauty and determination but with her,she showed up on the scene with a brain and a glorious wardrobe.

In the field where the glass ceiling is higher than the Eiffel tower and decisions of who advances or who stays at the cubicle desk are made in the boardroom and in the bedroom.So you better be playing chess not checkers,and if you are a woman the game is even worse.

So the whole drama is based on a “tiny” white lie told by her mentor during her hiring process after she was rejected by everyone because of her status and this became a premise of her rise or downfall.

Enters our ML played by Xu Kai,Just your normal introvert but genius with a touch of OCD.who fell from grace and is hiding in his parent house who have decided that 4500 RBM per month is all he needs to survive,without knowing that for the last 2 years he is been someone’s perfect husband in a couple’s picture somewhere in a lawyer’s office and as fate would decide they meet at a party where he is giving in to his mom constant request to go on a blind date and our FL is trying to get her foot in the door by socializing and networking with the same people who don't want you to even come to the door.

From the time they bump into each other to contracts being signed and sharing the same space,their intellectual banter is what really kept me hooked,no matter how much the crybabies in the comment section kept on being impatient.
The two characters had the most memorable communication I have ever seen in the C-drama world.They really completed each other without even noticing that they are yin and yan.
She brings home all her frustration of the day and he picks her shoes which without malice she tends to leave at the door and he cooks,cleans and soaks her feet in the bucket to release her stress.As the drama is called, He is the perfect husband.But there is more….
How will they continue to survive as the truth of the lie keeps getting in the gossip circles closer to the office and their families who came with their baggage?
I was immersed in the topic and the character development that I don't think talking about production,Set,OST or cinematography is necessary because it was a top tier production and thank you to whoever designed all the sets and houses..Should i mention the wardrobe team? Yes they slayed all the looks,You could feel the Shanghai soul in all the looks and the location that were used..It felt like 1920 has incarnated into 2022.

OVERALL;This is a beautiful drama that requires the viewer to love the subject and patiently look forward to how Yang Hua will solve Qin Shi’s puzzle in any of her cases that has fiances in them.

WHAT I DISLIKED: The last episode.The jump of a whole 7 months from the airport scene where the FL thinks the ML has left the country..I won't say where he was to avoid spoilers but that last episode could have gone a lot better.

Yang Hua’s famous line in my books,He had many philosophical and poetic ones whenever he was drunk but this one was epic while he was sober.

“I have never been wrong about money and numbers”

Leia Mais

IF ALL HOSPICES IN THE WORLD WERE THESE GOOD..

Ji Chang Wook would play a snaill and he would do it well,Its hard to pick holes in a drama with two of the most seasons actors.My man Sung Dong IL been aroung for some moons.
I went into this drama ecpecting rivers to flow and box of tissues to be overly used but shockngly It wasnt so...I dont know why but every death seemed like ok,at leat this person will not suffer anymore,It might be maybe because they chose characters that are advanced in age,the only character that made me shade a tear was a younger lady who had a dream to become a musical actress..this explains the phenomen that it never a good feeling when young people die.
Personally I loved the calmness and the quietness of the show,in scenes where someone was not being beaten by a baseball bat(this was really excessively used by the way)I dont know why the bad guys just found bats and golf sticks more appealing as weapons
The show was going well until midway when some story lines started taking centre stage more than necessary.Yes they have to connect to the ML past but a sidestory should not take more than 3 episodes especially in a 16 episodes drama..The gangstar stuff took more airtime than necessary,this time should have been used to grant more people their last wishes..Am not fun of funerals but the drama would have done its sad purpose if they did show us the Captain Kang Tae Sik's funeral,it would have been really sad,imagine all the characters coming together to bid fairwell to the legend,and how broken would Yun Gyeo-Rye(Ji Chang Wook)would have been watching his adoptive father/savior leave this world.
I would have wanted to see Jang Seok Jun and Ha Joon Kyung meet in the outside world,their character development was one of the highlight of the show for sure.
Overall I call this a light drama with a heavy subject that makes you question alot about end of life

Leia Mais