Cute and Unconventional in Some Ways

I decided on the whim to watch this, I was not sure especially after looking at the Kdrama cutesy pink poster if it will end up being too childish. It is a light romantic comedy but I like some of the unconventional direction it has taken so far. It looks like the ML was picked for the mobster role cause well he kinda looks like one, his look is unique and not idol like by far. Doesn't mean he isn't good looking in his own way, he certainly fits the part of what you would think of as a villain bad guy mobster. Even the way he speaks, its like the Korean version of the Marlon Brando of Godfather! LOL! At times its raspy and with a slight menacing tone to it. He is in contrast to the cutesy bubble gum FL who is the typical cherry and kind hearted character in these romantic comedies. He was a former mafia boss who went to jail and is trying to reform by doing legit stuff like running a food company while she's a struggling social influencer/marketer with children. Somehow, through a series of fated encounters they end up meeting each other. While it is light and bubbly and not meant to be realistic, it does gently probe our stereotypes of criminals and mobsters, do our preconceived notions of them mean they are far from ever being reformative much less a romantic lead to a FL who is completely opposite of him? There are some plot holes and would have like to see the romance build up more slowly at least on the ML's part. The ML doesn't seem to carry the inner darkness that we typically see in mobster criminal types but this is a comedy and it is refreshing they are flipping it around with a ML who is anything but conventional.

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Better than I expected in the first half

When I read the summary I wasn't sure if I was going to watch this, the reviews and comments were mixed too but I decided I was going to watch the first episode and decide from there. I have seen the ML in Weak Hero Class and Flower Crew. He is a very talented actor and an unconventional one that doesn't fit into the standard KDrama actor mold. While they are both good looking, I find both the ML and FL don't fit into the conventional mold with their looks in standard Kdrama romance. I appreciate that because its more immersive for me as a viewer because I bought into their love story and felt it more so than if cookie cutter actors and actresses were in those roles.

Is it a perfect story and perfectly executed? Nope. However, I appreciate the uniqueness it bought to the table in Asian dramas that tend to be littered with recycled themes. It was a big risk taken to tell a fantasy story of traumatized individuals in extraordinary circumstances where mental health issues and concepts of split personalities and PTSD are told in a fantasy setting with symbolism of the "evil spirit" representing the darkness in the human condition that resulted from trauma and abuse.

In the first half of the arc of the story, the Ak Hee evil spirit added a complex dimension in the story that showed his greed, seductive manipulation, impulsiveness, and ruthlessness of what he was willing to do because of the intensity of his feelings for the FL whether it be lust or a twisted version of love. The ML did a wonderful job portraying the light and dark sides with the push and pull within himself.

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Fighting for Stupidity

When I read the synopsis I was excited with the premise of a strong female character who excels in war strategies and becomes a female general. The FL is intelligent, devious at times and cross dresses as a man, there's a lot of male brotherhood camaraderie she develops with other male characters which is nice because sometimes its not all just about romantic love. While she is talented, the parts where she goes from commoner to elite fighting soldier with top notch archery and horsemanship skills was unrealistic.

The love story really falls flat in my opinion. The ML is good looking but he's a bumbling idiot supposed playboy. His character is really flat and not bright. Its hard to believe he can last as a general for even a minute. I can't really feel drawn to his character. The love story between them doesn't have any emotional pull, its a bit robotic and forced in the acting. Maybe its me but it might be more interesting to see two robots fall in love than the FL and ML.

The SML and the FL seems to have more chemistry as they are on opposing sides and the SML is smart and bold. I watched it because I wanted to see how their story unfolds even though its pretty clear the FL will not end up with the SML. They should have really developed their story more because it was more compelling and a bit more complex than the FL's love story arc with the ML.

Overall it could have been executed better, the last dozen or so episodes was a bit of fast forwarding. I completed it because I was curious how it works out between the FL and SML and how she breaks through to become a general.

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Married to a Jerk

This story doesn't start off any crueler, the female lead is surrounded by pathological narcissists whose lack of empathy and self serving nature leaves you sick to your stomach. She's meek, trusting, and tries to persevere despite circumstances placed on her by her husband who is cheating on her with her best friend. Of course to add more fuel to the fire of sadness and tragedy, she has cancer with a poor prognosis. With circumstances related to her continued medical treatment that leads her to find out her best friend's betrayal; it is a catalyst for her reincarnation for a do-over and revenge.

I appreciate its storyline so far and its portrayal of narcissism at its cruelest coupled with the manipulative gaslighting of a spouse and best friend who executes their extreme cruelty on the person closest to them. Unfortunately, reality sometimes isn't too far from fiction. More light needs to be shone on pathological narcissistic partners, friends, family, and coworkers and their mask needs to be revealed.

I hope this drama will continue to give hope to anyone out there that has been abused, belittled, gaslighted, and told they were worthless. The tables can be turned and one can move on before they swiftly give their abusers a kick in the rear end.

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Philosophy and Penalties of Death

This drama is dark with a philosophical take on what it means to take your own life and the value of life itself. I felt it took a strong opinionated approach on the value and the meaning of a life despite how trapped, sad, and dire one's circumstances are. In a world that is becoming increasingly hyper competitive with the sociopathy of capitalism , more socially isolating but at the same time hyper socially connected in ways that can be superficial and heightens the loneliness we feel with our comparative social standing to others, the protagonist is a victim of these circumstances. He runs into a series of misfortune and mishaps for years, he seems to be unable to catch a break and feels stuck in a life where he is constantly hustling in several lowly paid and low status jobs while his youth is being sucked away from him. All he wanted was to make a decent living in a real job, marry his girlfriend and have a family but it seems even that "middle class dream" is out of reach. What is a man to do when he is grinded down to the point where he sees no hope, no future worth living for?

The drama seems to take a hard stance or at least Death does when she puts the protagonist through a series of tests in the bodies and lives of different people from all walks of life who are destined to meet their end unless the protagonist can figure a way to avert death. If he averts death, he can have his chance to live again. Death raises the questions: Was it a selfish decision he made to take his life? Did he consider the impact on his loved ones? Did he take his life for granted? While he took his life, there were others who had no free will when their lives abruptly ended.

The acting is good, the ML has taken unconventional roles in the previous dramas and the FL as Death was in Parasite. It also has an unconventional approach where the ML reincarnates into different people, multiple actors take the lead in different storylines.

The storyline is incredibly fast paced, engaging, and at times difficult to stomach with its traumatic dark themes.

Leia Mais

Younger Female Version of Tom Hanks Cast Away?

I will first state I am a big Park Eun Bin fan so there is some bias to the review. She was awesome in King's Affection and Attorney Woo. She gives off Audrey Hepburn vibes and I am sure she will star in many more addictive KDramas in the future.

I will start off with the good parts:

-Park Eun Bin is in this! I don't need to say more.
-The story telling of the tragic back story of the FL and ML's childhood and abusive past is told well and you get a sense that they are holding onto each other as two lonely teenagers in a scary traumatic world.
-Who is the adult Jung Ki Ho? The story tellers keep you guessing. Who should the viewer root for as the love interest? I will take my stand, I am rooting for Kang Bo Geol.

There is room for improvement (there is no bad in Park Eun Bin's dramas haha):

-Her character and behavior is a bit too ditzy, perhaps she didn't get to emotionally develop since she was isolated for 15 years so there's some emotional stunting.
-The aspects of her surviving on the island is unrealistic and how she is still so pale when she is outdoors in the island. Where is the tan or sunburn???
-The two male leads being too helpful too soon to her when they barely know her
-Her relationship and idolization of a faded popular singer who fell from grace.

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Intriguing Reincarnation Storyline So Far.....

Let's be real, the reincarnation with the enmeshment of the historical past and modern present day of the lead characters is not new and seems to be a popular theme in KDramas and CDramas lately. I still find those storylines intriguing and this underrated drama seems to be doing a good job in ensnaring you in the first episode. I find the FL to be good for her role as a tough firefighter with a heart of gold. The ML is good looking but his narcissistic character as the modern day actor is pretty annoying which was the intention of the story,. I'm hopeful he will be less of a self centered character with his transition.

With reincarnation dramas, the ML and the FL's lives and destinies are intertwined, the question is will the deep resentments continue? It's a love hate relationship they had in their previous lives in the Goryeo period?? and will the story makers pull off a compelling doomed love story of revenge that bounces between the past and present?

I don't know what will unfold since its just four episodes in so I may update the rating as I watch future episodes but they have done a decent job so far in keeping the viewers hooked. It's not a perfect drama but it seems to be underrated, worth giving it a chance.

Leia Mais

Puppy Love with Good Looking Leads

I decided to give it a try despite being skeptical. The first episode was ok, I wasn't sure if I should continue but by the third episode I thought it was good enough to keep watching. It is a light romantic comedy so far, the leads are cute and SOOOO good looking. I saw the ML in Rookie Historian and wasn't thrilled with his character or the acting. His character in this KDrama really grows on you, he's not weak or too nice. He's a reserved guy who is cautious with people and more so with dogs which is a disadvantage for our adorable FL. I thought the development of the relationship between the FL and ML felt like a slow burn even though he is clearly smitten by her after four episodes. There's also a hint of their previous fate and destiny in their previous lives which might give more context to why they are drawn to each other in their present lives. Maybe its me but there were moments between them that gives you butterflies such as the umbrella and elevator scenes. I'm rooting for their relationship and can't wait for the FL to realize her feelings for the ML. I wish they didn't delay the episodes as it is has been a bit of a wait between them.

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Turned out to be an addictive watch

I started the first episode and before I knew it I had finished 6 episodes. This was different from what I expected, I thought it would be too cheesy for me. The first episode with the dark supernatural opening hooked me in even though this show so far is not dark, it is a light comedy romance. The storyline is unique and I think the writing is good. This made me laugh so hard in some parts, the ML being "entranced" by the FL is so over the top. She did a good job with her reactions to his professions of love for her, its to a point she's about to pound her head on the wall out of frustration. It seems there's a bit of be careful what you wish for.

Get a Grip Shin Yu!

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Who does she pick?

I planned to watch the first two episodes and hours later I had finished all 15 of the available episodes in one sitting. It is binge worthy. I wasn't a fan of Yang Zi's dramas but this one is a standout drama for her. She doesn't act too immature and the role suits her well. Initially she is a man but her true form is of course all woman :). She is an orphan who is a brassy village physician who can be petty at times in a humorous way. Her true background is a princess who had a deep childhood connection with Cang Xuan, they become separated during childhood. She later encounters the MLs, one she nurses back to health from the torture he endured; the other is a nine tailed demon who drinks her blood to replenish his health, and the other childhood love is her frenemy.

Each ML has a different romantic relationship with her and has a compelling enough personality, you become invested in them . What I thought was unique about this is she doesn't become committed to her one true love. She acknowledges the complexities in attraction and bond to other love interests such as Xiang Liu who was pretty abusive towards her in the beginning but that is the draw of bad boys. At first, I wasn't really feeling it with Xiang Liu with the FL but it really develops later on. The boat scene between them where he poses as a woman so the FL could let her guard down makes your heart flutter a bit. I saw the trailers for future episodes of future interactions between them, Xiang Liu flirts and sucks her into his web.

Cang Xuan is really handsome and the actor does such a good job portraying the longing he had for her. Just looking at him in those scenes is enough to send butterflies everywhere. He is really good in his role with the complexity of his character, you never got the sense he was a straight up good guy but had a combination of self interest, darkness, and thirst for power. He probably isn't good for the FL either, his attraction for her really develops after she transitions back to her original gender and he sees her beauty when she is back to her true form. Why couldn't he love her in that way before? The other two MLs developed their love for her before they saw her true form.

It may of been intentional of the story, as a viewer I found myself drawn all over the place to the different relationships between the FL and the three MLs. You just couldn't commit to one, I guess its good to be a player!

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Formulaic Love Story that Falls Flat

This floated up to the top in the Netflix global rankings so it got my interest, I also have seen the ML in Red Sleeve which he exceled in his role. If you want a light romance comedy that pretty much sticks to the typical tried and true KDrama formula of rich handsome chaebol and commoner but special girl who catches chaebol's attention, then this is it. Nothing about it stood out for me, it was just tried and true recycled themes assembled together in a new KDrama.

The ML is a rich chaebol heir who has a weird competitive relationship with his step mother and he hates fake smiles. Typical cold inaccessible chaebol KDrama male lead. The FL is innocent doe eyed multi-talented girl next door who gets hand picked for her job as a gym equipment butt sweat cleaner until she gets promoted to the hotel desk lobby and eventually by the side of Mr. Rich Hotel Chaebol. Their initial meeting is full of misunderstandings and for some reason she is sooooo NICE to everyone except him who she mixes up as a Pervert. The FL's personality not the actress herself isn't too interesting, she's just Nice.

I started to get bored by the fourth episode, they need to add some color and complexity to the characters and to the story line. Perhaps it might get better but don't think I will continue with this and will sit this out for later episodes.

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Fascinating Study of an Antihero Demon and the Heroic Immortal

Wow, this blew me away with how good it is so far even though I'm not a Xianxia die hard. This is no fluffy youth drama and even the romance is not really emphasized in the initial episodes. It's high budget with big name stars that live up to its expectations of an engaging storyline that is a complex character study of the ML. The relationship between the ML and FL is also complicated as she needs to save him to prevent future calamity even though he had harmed her immortal family and sect. The storyline, plotting, and pacing are done fairly well and my hope is the quality will be maintained for future episodes.

The initial episodes are dedicated to examining how the Antihero ML was bullied, was considered an outcast and a harbinger of bad omens. He is shunned and tossed off by his father who is the king of the Jing Kingdom and becomes a hostage prince in the Sheng Kingdom. I've seen the ML in Love like Ashes and he knocks his role out of the park with this one. He fits the Bryonic antihero character like a glove. His mannerisms and facial expressions reflecting the darkness, moodiness and the numbness from the betrayals and lack of love in his life. The morally grey leanings and his pale physical appearance of being emaciated paves the path for his eventual rise to become the Demon Lord. I've also been impressed with Bai Lu the FL, she seems to have picked some good projects in the last few years (one or two bad ones) with storylines that have depth and are not conventional (Arsenal Military Academy, Beautiful Bones).

A must watch in 2023 for Xianxia Cdrama fans who like dark storylines.

Leia Mais

It takes a while to get into it but I came to like it

Initially I was not impressed when I watched the first five episodes; I'm not a big Xianxia fan. Since then this it has really grown on me. Patience was rewarded. The special effects are cheesy and the acting for some of the characters were so-so. I started this because I've seen the ML in Goodbye My Princess and the FL in Dreaming Back to Qing Dynasty. The realms in this fantasy are between the Immortals, Mortals, Beasts, and Void. The Immortals and Void are enemies.

The ML is an upright and uptight immortal prince destined to save the Immortal Kingdom, he was supposed to marry the FL's sister who is the SFL. The FL is a rebellious princess mortal meant to be married off as a Void bride. The SFL is the proper naive mortal princess who plays by the rules and she was meant to be married off as an Immortal bride. An identity switch happens during the marriage ceremony which leads the sisters to switch identities. The SML is a scheming outcast third prince in the Void royal family; he lies, cheats, and takes big risks to scheme his way with his family members and with the SFL.

I am probably in the minority on this but the SML and SFL's storyline really stood out in the episodes so far, it is a good pairing between the two. In most dramas I don't really get that into the SML and SFL's storyline but for some reason they took the torch in this drama for me. I really slugged it through the first 10 episodes because of that. You will get some slapstick laughs when it comes to the competition for the SFL's affection between the SML and his first brother. One funny scene is when his first brother tries to get the SFL to teach him her special technique to disable an opponent in a fight with her medical skills. It causes the SML to become jealous and the antics to payback his brother ensues. The mortal and beast realm storyline with the ML and FL was good and one of the best between them even though I found myself more drawn to the SML and SFL's story.

It's a light youth fantasy with some comedy, its worth a watch and I plan to finish this one.

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A Woman who Hates Men with A Man who Hates Women

It's a light romantic comedy with a goofy oddball FL lawyer who is a talented vigilante street fighter and a ML who is a famous romance KDrama celebrity actor repulsed by women. At ten episodes, the storytellers kept it long enough to get your fill of RomCom with the build up of the romance but short enough you don't get bored with filler junk. The story isn't complicated and is fairly simple; its main focus is on the antics of the FL, the romance, celebrity culture, and the friendships. It's not groundbreaking but it has a FL who doesn't fit neatly into the conservative Asian female norms. The FL's character is structured in a way that takes a sly swipe at S. Korean gender politics. There's also quite a bit of bromance between the ML and his SML manager with some staged playful situations between the two. The SML manager and the ex-girlfriend of the ML were both in Money Heist.

The FL and ML start off as enemies, she becomes one of his lawyers and they start collaborating in a contractual relationship and of course they have to fall in love. The build up of relationship was done well highlights are the scenes with her "training" him on how to fight for his new role. The FL breaks conventional conservative Asian feminine stereotypes. While she conforms to the East Asian expectations of beauty (she's pale, pretty, and skinny), she doesn't with her actions, thoughts, and behavior. Rather than being symbol of innocent female purity, she takes her revenge on cheating scoundrels by hooking up with some of them and dumping them whether it be one night stands or where she cheats on them while they are in a relationship. She has a mistrust of men and she dumps every man she's been with. She is also a vigilante street fighter who intervenes to help victims by beating the crap out of the perpetrator. The ML is a popular romance KDrama actor who is nothing like the roles he plays. He doesn't like women, has some anger issues with them, and has to take meds in order to quell his repulsion to get through his romantic scenes with kissing the leading ladies.

It's a fun drama to binge watch when you have some down time and want something that isn't serious or too thought provoking.

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