Reviews

Establishing love is like the likelihood of a series satisfying the whole community. Impossible.

The first episode gives the wrong impression and doesn´t represent the quality of the entire show. It put a lot of people off and I understand that too, as that's where the production/plot was implemented most problematically in terms of keeping viewers' attention and where the beautiful aesthetic of the series hasn't yet shown its true colours, portraying the summerly love of three young couples, as various as the LGBTQI+ community themselves.

Viewer description is advised if you are sensitive to gray area issues. One of the couples is critically disputed. But these differences of opinion are nothing new for us either, so from that point of view, just give it a try.


PRODUCTION
Positive:
First, the editing is done mostly very precisely and nicely, carrying some vibes of western youth series productions. The warm colours of the summer are the basic aesthetic that sets the series. They consist of a lot of yellow and orange tones which generate a smooth transition. Everything looks pleasingly fresh and warm, and the upbeat music accentuates the summer vibes. As a viewer, you yourself start to feel very alive and can easily understand the atmosphere of the series. The warm, lively mood is only broken by the cool nights and the inner conflicts of the characters.

Negative:
There was just this scene skipping issue from episode 8 to 9, which resulted in a few more mistakes concerning Torn.
Unsteady pacing and the viewer's confusion about the time spans (mostly in episode 9)


PLOT
It's about the life of Sport Science students facing their true feelings. Friends who have known each other since childhood, the pair seems rather one-sided and the pair that, according to other viewers, should never blossom.

The inner conflicts are overall nothing too overdramatic. However, the approach to reality and the taste of uncertainty runs through the whole story. While love is fresh and vibrant, it brings challenges that the aforementioned controversial couple, in particular, struggles to cope with. Vee and Dome. There is no right answer to love, but there is a lot of criticism.

Nevertheless, the series has a good arc of suspense and the main characters themselves are well presented in their own diverse complexity. I would have just hoped that Tupfah and Torn had more tension in their relationship, feel like they were lacking a bit of chemistry.


ACTORS
All actors had a solid performance, and I really adored the unique harmony of the two pairings.
I had a few little issues with Tae and Suar´s acting, but it could result in the two characters Tupfah and Torn being very calm and shy. However, the fact that it was Porsche´s first role (Vee) and that Kris – who btw turned 18 in February 2022 - is also a new actor, amazed me. He's talented and you could relate and sympathize with his role, which by the way wasn't an easy task. Visually I thought all the pairings were well casted...


OVERALL
Well-made show with satisfying shots, solid acting and overall breathtaking editing. The latter could have been better because the entire series had such a beautiful aesthetic, but skipping an important part of the plot is dragging down some points.

Good story about Sport Science students getting a taste of love and attraction. Relatively realistic. Personally, I would have aired it in early summer to undermine the warm summer vibes. Nonetheless. A show I would recommend to anyone, no matter their taste in LGBTQ+ films/series.

Leia Mais

This drama left me deep in thought even after I finished it. None of the episodes were boring, each one left me wanting to watch the next, it was just so good. The story is on the more mature and serious nature, so I wouldn't recommend watching this drama if you're in the mood for something light and funny. It's not a romance either. The story deals more with abuse, friendship, growing stronger and finding yourself. Each character had their own story, their own problems they were struggling with.



What really got to me in this drama was the realism of it. There are people that go through these types of issues in real life, and they don't always have someone by their side to help them get back on their feet. In the drama you find out more about each person as the story progresses, it made me think a lot about the people in my own life, everyone struggles with something, some people have deep dark secrets their embarrassed to talk about or afraid to talk about.



The acting was done really well! Exceptional! I haven't seen any of the other actors act in anything else, except for Nishikido Ryo, I've seen him in 1 Litre Of Tears. Needless to say, seeing him go from his character there to this one proves how much of a good actor he is. Sosuke was dark, his character was scary in ways because of the things he did. Nagasawa Masami as Michiru did a really good job, you saw her character getting stronger as the drama progressed. Ueno Juri as Ruka did an excellent job, her character had a lot of internal suffering going on as you find out more as each episode ends. I loved Eita's character, Takeru, even with all the things he's gone through he's an upbeat guy, admirable. The rest of the cast was really good, as well.



The music was good, the theme song, "Prisoner Of Love" by Utada Hikaru was perfect for the drama. The lyrics really matched with what the characters felt. The instrumental to it was really nice as well. The rest of the instrumentals fit the drama as well.



Will I rewatch this again? Someday. Serious dramas like this I love and enjoy for their realism, but I'm not sure when I'll rewatch this, if I do it won't be for a while.



Overall: It's a really good drama, I'd recommend it to everyone. It deals with a lot of issues. I found myself needing to watch each episode, like I mentioned above - I wasn't bored with any of this drama. There was always something going on to keep me intrigued and wanting to see what happens next.



The impact of their friendship, how each of them were willing to do anything to protect each other, that's the most important part of this drama I feel.



I wished they'd of gone a little more into detail about a few things, but overall it was done really well, I can't say it enough!

Leia Mais

PLOT: Successful, but it floundered
--------------------------------------------------------------
To say the writers had the story planned out from the beginning might be a lie. I wouldn't be surprised if we learned that they were plotting the story out as they went along because it's far from perfect. Though at the beginning it leaned into melodrama, it found its ground and settled for humor (which was a good call).

That's not to say the transition wasn't entertaining to watch. To simplify it, the show is so much fun you'll ended up willing to overlook some of its glaring flaws. Most of which include entire plot points abandoned halfway without an explanation, only to introduced more plot-points that were later forgotten. If this show could be edited, I would've taken most of those out... especially the one that introduced a pretty dark subject only to brush over it and shelve it...

At any rate, despite its flaws, this is a lighthearted story that's very digestible and, more importantly, enjoyable.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Lovable
--------------------------------------------------------------
The three charismatic main leads were given a good balance of strengths and weaknesses. And though they weren't always held accountable for their actions, they still showed some measure of growth and change as the story progressed.

Seo Poong (male lead): His character was probably the most relatable. His growth comes from falling to his lowest point and having to claw his way back up. He's equal amounts fearful and arrogant, which makes him a refreshing male lead. The fact that he shows moments of vulnerability and self-doubt goes to show that a strong character can be built through struggles. If one takes a look at his character from the first episode and compares him to who he becomes during the last episode, you'll see he was properly developed.

Dan Sae Woo (female lead): Jung Ryeo Won did a wonderful job of portraying Sae Woo's sassy attitude. Every smile and chuckle felt natural and contagious. She was also a well-rounded character, with moments of strengths balanced by moments of vulnerability. As fun as she was, out of the three main leads, I'd argue she had the least growth. As the episodes rolled by, it became increasingly obvious that she lacked self-reflection. This meant that she wasn't always held accountable for her actions. This in turn resulted in little change to her character when comparing the first episode to the last. The opportunities to develop her were there for the taking, but the writers missed every single one.

Doo Chil Seong (second male lead and the character who stole the show): Chil Seong was so charming, kind and lovable, that he out-shined and out-staged the other leads. And I don't mean as in he gave me second lead syndrome (though he did), but more like his character became the heart of the show. And how could he not? Chil Seong existed outside of the love triangle and was developed far more than the rest. He had the most interesting backstory and he was at the center of the most powerful moments of the series. Chil Seong was a magnet who -- through his charisma and selflessness-- ended up pulling the rest of the cast into his orbit. If you were hesitant to watch this because he's not the main lead, perish the thought! I have a feeling that if you watch this series, you won't regret it.

ANTAGONISTS: Unremarkable
--------------------------------------------------------------
There's a number of antagonists, each showing a different degree of hostility towards our leads, but honestly, none of them stood out. Their purpose was to progress the story and support the narrative by adding obstacles to force our protagonists (mostly Poong) to grow. So even if they were rather superficial in their development (or lack thereof), they were a useful addition.

SUPPORT CHARACTERS: shallow
--------------------------------------------------------------
Just like with the antagonists, the support characters served a specific function within the main story and, therefore, didn't get any proper development. However, given their role, I think it was a good call to keep the story focused on the leads. Especially since not all of the support characters were likable.

PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Sweet, nurturing & healthy
--------------------------------------------------------------
The romance between our leads was great. Lee Jun Ho & Jung Ryeo Won had great chemistry on screen, which made the development of the relationship feel organic. The characters' personalities also meshed pretty well, allowing them both to be equally active in the development of their relationship rather than have one character pursuing the other. In a way, it felt like they were both walking towards one another and met right in the middle.

PORTRAYAL OF BROMANCE: Heartfelt & nurturing
--------------------------------------------------------------
The relationship between Poong and Chil Seong was a highlight of the show. Although they started on the wrong foot, Poong and Chil Seong built a strong foundation of understanding, loyalty, devotion, and support that culminated in a familial bond. The fact that Lee Jun Ho and Jang Hyuk also had great chemistry, helped sell how quickly they transitioned from friends to "bros".

OVERALL:
--------------------------------------------------------------
This is a feel-good series. It's not a perfect by far, but it's undoubtedly entertaining and light enough to binge-watch. It's also a series that doesn't ask too much of its audience, which makes it a perfect show to watch after coming home from a hard/stressful day.

Leia Mais

I AM KNOCKED DOWN, HARD

Oddly satisfying and arguably one of the best last episodes in a series, BL or not.

Dont hate me, i will be honest for a little bit. I watched it because all the other BL series (except one or two) being aired at the same time are mostly lackluster. It wasn't as popular as the other series from bigger companies, as a matter of fact there was hardly any mention of this series from any YT BL vloggers. The story is nothing special (on paper) and the initial pacing was a little off for me.

The first episodes, although engaging, are hard to watch. Its the story of a (slightly dumb) high school gang leader trying to bully a senior college student into doing his bidding. I find myself dumbfounded as to why someone would put himself in an awkward position by someone a lot younger than him. I wasnt buying the premise, i hate the bullying.

However, as the episodes go by, i find myself eagerly following their story and waiting for the next episodes to come. There is something about Noey's demeanor, innocense and cluelessness that keeps you hooked. The awkward acting of Thiwa is puzzling - was it because he was an amature actor or was it an intentional choice? In the end, it didnt matter because they blend well together. Auntie Tim, NidNhoi and Thiw are also good addition to the story.

By episode 8 I found myself inlove with the series.

The set and location are amazing. Above average production quality and photography. There was also a few scenes where the actors are allowed to shine, without it being too dramatic. Take note other series creators (ahemmmmmm 12% and Between us) - you dont have to make your actors cry unnecessarily just to showcae their acting skills.

Oh i have to make a special mention of the very unique end credit scenes, cause that is effin genius and I really loved it! It is unique and I specially loved it in episode 11 when Thiwa was dancing alone (after that heartbreaking cliffhanger confession) and in episode 12 when they were dancing together via videocall.

This is arguably one of the best BL series right now. And, yes i loved the last episode and the satisfying way they wrapped things up. I hope there are more projects for Tar and Bom. Definitely a good series to reccomend and rewatch - 9 stars!

Leia Mais

While this drama precedes Chuugakusei Nikki, some people may migrate towards it to find something similar. Other than the ages of the main male character, it is a completely different drama. If you do not want to see explicit sexual scenes, then you may want to skip this one.

Given the short nature of the episodes, this drama can be viewed in one sitting like a movie. It is very much like a movie with the artistic direction, atmosphere and music, and movies play a big role in the drama as well. The age gap in this drama is much larger than Chuugakusei Nikki. The woman is 32, while the boy is only 15. She could very well be his mother. With that in mind, the existence of this drama is morally questionable to say the least. Engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor is a crime in most places. In fact, it is Wako (the woman) who actually feels an attraction towards Iko (the boy) and makes the first move on him. Unlike other dramas with age gap relationships, this one gets explicit rather quickly. It can be quite cringey and disturbing to the viewer to see such an adult woman freely engage in a sexual relationship with teenager despite the appearance and actual ages of the actors. I can say that as someone close in age to Wako, I could not possibly imagine myself doing such a thing with someone so young. The drama does raise the question of morality in regards to the relationship. If two people like each other, should age matter? It certainly leaves you pondering the answer to that question and questioning your own beliefs.

Apart from that, the drama also addresses the same trope we have seen again and again: a woman who is around 30 years old who is under great societal and familiar pressure to get married and have kids. In Japanese culture, this pressure is quite extreme. The drama shows Wako struggling with deciding whether or not she wants to marry her long time live in boyfriend, and why she should even want to do that. In her internal monologue, she continuously tries to convince herself that she should stay with him and marry him because he was the one who chose after she had various failed relationships. I feel like her affair with Iko is her attempt to escape the societal pressures and experience freedom in her romantic and sexual life.

I have seen quite a few dramas that feature "older" women on the crossroads of life being pressured to settle down, and in many of those dramas the women are portrayed as virginal and void of any sexual experience or desires. This drama is quite the opposite, and it was a bit refreshing to see a realistic portrayal of an adult woman who has a varied past with relationships and actually experiences and acts on sexual desires. Many people who watch Asian dramas may scoff at this, but I quite liked this aspect, even if she the morals behind her desires are dubious. Many Japanese dramas tend to gloss over this aspect or pretend like it doesn't exist at all. Instead of an awkward kiss or limited hand holding, there is much more, which a realistic depiction of natural human desires.

This is definitely not a cute, sweet innocent love story. It actually portrays the consequences of such a relationship and the differences in maturity and mindset in the couple. While Iko has many years ahead of him to do as he pleases with his life without having to worry about settling down, Wako's time is limited (at least according to societal standards). The reactions of both when confronted with this reality is quite accurate. Also, movies and film making are a prominent theme and there is even a short movie woven into the episodes.

The only thing I did not like is how the drama sort of glossed over the gravity of the actual crime that Wako is committing. While the couple do face shunning from their peers due to their relationship, there aren't many real consequences. Iko's parents are barely present and their reaction to the relationship is not shown at all. Also, with many people around them knowing of the relationship and it's sexual nature, they seem to disapprove of it but not to the point of taking action. But it's a drama so it doesn't have to completely realistic. I found the ending to be quite decent and *spoiler* it is devoid of any tragedy.

Leia Mais

It has the making to be one of the better, if not the best BL series.

Let's be honest here, this show is not going to win any award anytime soon - the plot is not new, it's another one of those university-themed BL series that is already a little bit of a cliche in itself. An enemy-turned-to-lover slightly diluted Romeo & Juliet story so common in a lot of Thai dramas. However, they have proven that even the simplest story can be great with proper execution. It's like they took note of all the bad comments from all the other series and aspired to make it better - even promised not to fall in the trap of those tiring BL tropes.

There is no "I'm straight but I only like you"; they made fun and tackled the wife and hubby misconceptions; they made the parents (and friends) cool about their preferences; the main couple even fooled the parents (or so they thought) into thinking they did what they wanted them to do but instead they're really just following their hearts. What made me appreciate it, even more, is their positive depiction of a same-sex relationship, and how it is so relatable in real life.

What about the cast? Ohm and Nanon's chemistry is off the charts they set the bar so high it will be difficult to watch any other series without comparing it to their performance. These are actors who genuinely look like they're enjoying doing the show and not just doing it for fan service. GMMTV should be lining up projects for Ohm and Nanon, sooner rather than later, and as partners. This couple deserves to be in the pantheon at the same level as the original BL trinity.

The show isn't perfect - we hated how Pran and Pat were outed by a supposed friend, which thankfully was resolved in one episode and we still ended up forgiving Wai. I also felt like the tension between the parents doesn't justify the family feud. Do I need the mention the product placements? Thankfully the shows' strengths canceled out all the negatives.

I also need to mention that satisfying ending, where they tied everything perfectly, albeit leaving a little chance for a second season.

A special nod should also be given to Backaof Noppharnach's direction and his partnership with his screenwriting team. Although I'm not a big fan of My Dear Loser, he saved the Together series with the much better Still Together, then gave us A Tale of a Thousand Stars, and now this! I am now a bonafide fan, and I'm looking forward to his future works.

Also, I have to mention how great the OST is.

Rewatch value is 10, and yes I've watched each episode a few times. Overall, it's a 9.5.

Leia Mais

Now THIS is a badass Female Lead!

I’ve been waiting for a FL like this for so long but time and time again we get immature, cringy and FLs that are prone to making wacky decisions.

I’m at episode 14 and let me tell you - She is perfect. She is fierce, decisive, skilled, stunning and elegant. Everything she did just made sense. If she keeps this up she’ll be my favorite character of all time.

The leads have amazing chemistry and the team + Princess are SO lovable!! I can’t wait for more episodes.

**UPDATE.
Even with the wonky pacing after episode 34, it is still my favorite Wuxia and Ruyi is STILL is my favorite character of all time. The love story is deep, mature, sexy and romantic. The brotherhood is strong. Character growths were abundant and I fell in love with each of the characters. With this show, it’s definitely about the journey.

Leia Mais

Beautiful True Love Depicted

I’ve seen mixed reviews on this but I just have to say I read the manga before watching the show and I LOVED both the show and the manga very much!!!!

I thought that the actors for the show did a phenomenal job. They conveyed there emotions very well and there was no awkwardness at all. I could feel there love for one another through the screen. I would actually love to see some of the other films/tv shows they have acted in.

They went by the manga for mostly all of the episodes and I appreciated seeing that. They gave more context for certain details that may have been lost while reading the manga and translated it to screen. I think they depicted the age gaps well too. For 4 episodes only, I feel that they did a great job including the most important aspects. Actually now that I think of it, I would have loved to see more of them in their early 20s depicted on screen because that was like one of there honeymoon phases and I’m a hopeless romantic lol but that’s just a personal preference not complaining. Also, the show stopped at age 40 and they could have gone on throughout there entire lives but I understand why they chose not too.

One thing I really want to touch on was the breakup. I felt really bad after watching that episode especially because of how Akira broke up with Yuuki. It’s sad that Akira felt like he had to live normally with a wife but unfortunately that is something that people who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community have to deal with in there everyday lives. It’s a realistic issue. When he called there relationship a “fruitless relationship” I just about jumped at the screen. Imagine being with someone for 10 years or so and that’s what they say when they break up with you. He didn’t have to do all that to poor Yuuki. None of that was called for. I wanted to see him suffer for how he went about that situation and I’m glad we got to see him pining on the last episode tbh lol

Shoutout to Akira’s sister for being a TRUE ally!!! We love to see it!!!

Also, History Make Our Days Count was one of my favorite shows that I watched and I’m glad the two main characters made a cameo. It was an unexpected but lovely surprise!!!

Overall, loved the show!!! Would totally rewatch!!!

Leia Mais

It Was Just Ok... Nothing Special!

**Disclaimer: This is just my opinion, please don't take anything I say personally. We don't have to agree and I'm not here to argue with anyone.***

(I'm so picky so please take this review with a grain of salt.)

Tropes: Workplace Romance, Rich Guy / Poor Girl, guy falls first and harder, grumpy/sunshine, enemies (ish) to lovers, forced proximity.

Idk usually I love rom-com's like this but they had me in the first half and lost me in the second half. It really seemed like Gu Won's character was built around his love for Sa Rang and he didn't have much development outside of that. I feel like they did more telling than actually showing us how hard he fought for the hotel and why he deserved to be president. Idk there could've been more obstacles at work and between the two leads imo. I think I would've loved to see them develop the tourist hotel together and be happy outside of the city. Or imo they could've actually have Sa Rang and Gu Won Break up bc she feels stifled by him his dreams and wants to chase her own dream of managing her own hotel / the tourist one. I also think the arc between his mom and his sisters hatred for him could've been expanded more and their resolution could have been more developed. I feel like the last 8 episodes lacked a lot of depth / actual plot. The last 2 episodes especially seemed rushed and episode 16 specifically seemed unnecessary. I felt her entire desire of owning her own hotel was quite lame... even the name of her hotel, "Amore" (Love in Italian) What were they thinking? As in she could've used her own name (Sarang) LMAO. And the fact that she wasn't able to find any personnel to assist her, and they wanted me to think that the president of King Hotel, Gu Won, had time to assist her (whilst managing King Hotel + all those international branches and trying to expand the franchise to Europe?) – that part was so unbelievable I had to laugh.

It was honestly a struggle for me to finish this drama. The leads chemistry was just "okay" but at times I wasn't feeing it as much. I think I prefer their BTS footage as they seem less in character and more silly and free. I fell in love with the airport couple (Pyeong Hwa and Ro Woon) I thought they were cute and I'm glad they got together. It took forever but they actually made it. I thought her other friend's storyline (Da Eul) with her dirty husband was completely sidelined and her giving her husband a taste of his own medicine was questionable. It's obvious their relationship is toxic and they should get divorced. I can only see the husband not learning anything and then trying to find ways to hurt her back – like cheating on her or something. I feel like the writers didn't have a clue how to wrap up the story or create more obstacles for dramatic effect. They almost got me invested when I thought Gu Won and Sa Rang were gonna break up but they failed and immediately lost me, again.

Overall, the ending of the entire drama was what you would expect, a pathetic male lead who's whole character arc is about him being in love with a woman who does not like him at first. ML falls first and harder. FL starts catching feelings then there's the slight forbidden relationship where people don't want them to be together. Them deciding to be together anyways, dating period, proposal (but not? because the FL wants to achieve her dreams first). ML still supporting her through everything a year later, her finally accepting the proposal. Then finally marriage and them living happily ever after.

This drama was boring and severely overhyped. I don't think I would rewatch. It definitely could have been wayyyy better especially when you compare this to other workplace romances like Business Proposal, Touch Your Heart, Suspicious Partner, Her Private Life, My Secret Romance, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim etc. Like they had so many blueprints and yet... it did not live up to the expectation. It's disappointing because I feel like I wasted my time and then felt like I HAD to finish it for completion sake.

Anyways, what you see is what you get so if you're looking for a lot of romance with barely any plot then this drama is right for you.

After careful consideration, I gave it a 6.25/10 (my real and objective rating) however, I decided to round it up to a 6.5/10 (purely because of how much of an independent girl boss Sa Rang was)


THANKS FOR READING AND HAPPY WATCHING!

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

Leia Mais

THE STORY
First of all, this drama should not be called ‘Legend of Fuyao’ because didn’t focus enough on Fuyao. It should not be called ‘Legend of Wuji’ either because Wuji was willing the risk the safety of all the people in the 5 kingdoms for his love interest. Though his love and devotion to Fuyao was admirable and touching, this is not what a good ruler should be doing. So, no, Wuji does not deserve to be called a legend either.

I think a more appropriate title for this drama would be ‘The story of Fuyao, the woman who changed Wuji’s life’, because Fuyao turned Wuji’s life upside-down and brought his arrogance down a few notches the moment she entered his life. It is also a coming-of-age story of both Fuyao and Wuji as it shows how they change as a result of knowing each other and going through the trials in their lives.

The story takes us through 5 kingdoms (Taiyuan, Tianquan, Tiansha, Xuanji and Qiongcang) and has a lot going for it – court intrigue, action, adventures in strange lands, long lost identities and an epic love story. However, the focus, development and pacing of the script was inconsistent. . The drama’s title and first 8 episodes in Xuanyuan Mt. had us anticipating Fuyao embarking on a quest to find her true identity and remove her 5 seals. However, after she left Xuanyuan Mt, the focus changed all to Wuji and Fuyao became an accidental follower in his schemes instead of leading the story as the main character. Too many episodes were devoted to the court intrigue in Taiyuan which did not move Fuyao’s quest along one bit. The result of this was that everything else had to be squeezed into the remaining half of the drama and so there was no time for proper development of the stories in the remaining kingdoms. The story in Xuanji kingdom - where Fuyao’s childhood story and true identity were revealed - was especially short and rushed (only 6 episodes). Wasn’t this drama supposed to be about Fuyao? I would have loved to see more time devoted to Fuyao’s backstory (because it was just so tragic) and how it shaped her strong character.

ACTING

(1) Yang Mi as Fuyao
I liked Yang Mi since TMOPB, but after Fuyao, I have become a fan. Her performance was simply PHENOMENAL! I love actors who can emote with their eyes and Yang Mi did this superbly here. Her eyes are so gorgeous and expressive, I found myself drawn to them every time she appears on screen. She had a lot of epic scenes that had no dialog – the attempted rape scene, Yao City battle, rain scene, when she regained her memory, when she turned evil). She relied only on her eyes to convey Fuyao’s emotions and slayed every scene. Just a simple change in the expression in her eyes could convey so much, especially when she teared or cried – my heart just went out to Fuyao and I could really feel her pain. I particularly love her scenes with Uncle Zhou as the surrogate father-daughter bond was just so heart-warming and touching. And despite all the heart-break and hardships Fuyao endured, there was always strength and fire in her eyes.

I feel a lot of viewers do not give Yang Mi enough credit. I guess this is because majority of viewers are female and prefer to focus and swoon over the male lead. When a male lead cries, it is hailed as good acting whereas the female lead can cry buckets and no one takes notice. Is it because females are expected to cry, so that no one thinks much of it anymore? I vividly remember 3 scenes - just before Fuyao passed out after her fight with Zhangsun Ping Rong, right after she regained her memory and just before she stabbed herself. In each of these scenes, Yang Mi dropped a tear that totally broke my heart. It’s sad no viewers bother to mention her great acting in these, as well as many other scenes, whereas when the male lead drops a tear, viewers shout about it.

So, I do wish to give special mention to Yang Mi here because her exquisite and excellent performance was one of the main reasons I enjoyed this drama. At the end of the drama, I realise the character I remember most is Fuyao. Yang Mi made Fuyao come alive. She made me care for Fuyao and want to continue watching the drama to find out her fate. I only wish she had more screen time. She lights up the screen every time she appears and stole the show.

(2) Ethan Ruan as Wuji
This is the first time I have ever seen Ethan Ruan acting and so I did not know what to expect from him. His performance as Wuji was both a hit and miss for me. It was a hit because he looks handsome as Wuji, had great chemistry with Yang Mi and was good as the cheeky and flirty prince. But it was also a miss because some of his facial expressions, especially his smiles/smirks, come across as sleazy and goofy instead of suave or endearing. There were several OTP scenes where he suddenly gave a goofy smile that just totally spoiled the tender moment. And he tends to overact, such as crunching his face into an unrecognisable mess to express pain or angst. It made the last few episodes, when Wuji was crying over his parents’ betrayal and when he was chained to the ice on the mountain, very difficult to watch. I cringed more than I felt touched. I just wish he had used more of his eyes to emote (like the senior actors and Yang Mi) instead of such exaggerated acting, because some of his emotional scenes were good.

OTP’S LOVE STORY
Fuyao and Wuji’s love story has got to be one of the most well-written and best developed I have ever seen in a Chinese historical drama. Their epic love story is one of the things that really draws you in to this drama. It was wonderful seeing their relationship grow from the initial fighting and flirting to trust, support and finally self-sacrifice for each other. And Yang Mi and Ethan’s chemistry was simply sizzling! They looked so natural and comfortable around each other and their scenes together were a joy to watch.

MUSIC & CINEMATOGRAPHY
I absolutely love the OST and BGM. Every piece of music suited the mood of every scene so well. I daresay I prefer Fuyao’s OST/BGM to TMOPB’s. Cinematography, sets and costumes were also very good and gave the drama a grandeur more common to movies than a TV drama.

FIGHT SCENES
One of my favourite are the fight scenes. There are more fight scenes here than the average Chinese historical drama and you could tell a lot of effort was put into these as they were all very well-choreographed and visually stunning. Fuyao had the best fight scenes and Yang Mi just looked soooo freaking COOL fighting and flirting!

FINAL THOUGHTS
As someone who read the novel before watching the drama, I was very frustrated over how the drama scriptwriter had changed and butchered Fuyao’s character. Drama Fuyao was a victim of circumstances. In contrast, novel Fuyao was a dictator of events. All the schemes that Wuji planned in the drama were actually plotted by Fuyao. She single-handled plotted and helped put all 5 male leads on the thrones in their own kingdoms. So, I didn’t like the fact that the drama made Wuji more like the lead character and accredited all of novel Fuyao’s achievements to him.

When writing this review, I had to treat the drama as being NOT RELATED to the novel at all. Otherwise, it would not have been fair to all the cast and crew who put up such a fine production. Other than the inconsistent script, everything else about the drama was very good – from acting to music to cinematography and fight sequences. Putting my drama vs novel bias aside, this is still an entertaining drama with lots of action, adventure and intrigue to keep you engaged. If nothing else, Yang Mi’s and Ethan’s superb chemistry and love story will keep you invested and wanting more.

If you are debating whether to read the novel or watch the drama first, do yourself a favour and watch the drama first. You will enjoy the drama a lot more this way. Then go read the novel to understand what a truly awesome character Fuyao is and why she is a legend. The drama totally does not do any justice to Fuyao and the novel.

REWATCH VALUE
I will definitely rewatch this drama for my favourites scenes, action sequences and Yang Mi’s superb acting.

* ENDING SPOILER ALERT *
In case anyone is still confused about the ending, Fuyao and Wuji did not die. In the last scene, they are alive and well on a bridge (probably in Tianquan), not in heaven. The words spoken by Wuji in that scene (ie. follow her to the mortal realm etc. etc.) are actually lines from the novel that novel fans love. The scriptwriter probably put it in thinking that it would please novel fans but instead, it ended up confusing everyone about whether they lived or died.

Leia Mais

This is the drama I was waiting for all spring long. During those 11 weeks, every Friday I was eagerly waiting for the next episode. You, who still haven’t watched it, will have the chance to watch it all in one day (and you will be tempted to). There is a reason why this drama got the Best Drama Award (Television Drama Academy).

Don’t expect a fairy tale. Don’t expect a boring sad story full of fake tears and violins. Don’t expect any average acting. This drama is telling us the story of people you can identify with. This is a story that could easily be true. There isn’t one character that doesn’t fit, not one "black sheep" actor. The dialogues are written as if in a theater play, and each line is perfectly mastered (Sakamoto Yui got the Best Screenwriter Award for this drama). The palpable tension captivate us and makes you hold your breath and wait for the next move, the next line.
(The three directors also got the Best Director Award.)

Eita (who got the Best Actor Award in the Television Drama Academy) and Hikari Mitsushima are simply incredible. Both seems at the end of their tether starting from the very first episode, and this is one more reason why their dialogues are so enjoyable and captivating. But, as I said, even the supporting actors are are talented (especially Otake Shinobu, whose performance got her the Best Supporting Actress Award, and Kazama Shunsuke, who also got an Award)

As for the music, there isn’t much to say aside from it being beautiful and well-balanced. Very different from some sad dramas that need sad music to make the audience cry because the actor aren’t good enough.

6 Television Drama Academy Award are 6 reasons why I gave this drama a Overall 10 and a 9 in Rewatch Value.

In short, it's a must-watch..

Leia Mais

As Kazakh person, this drama passed my vibe check:)

As a Kazakh, it was a must to watch this drama and I really enjoyed it. I’m also from a small village, but more modern / settled type, however some people from my village also go to summer ranches (zhailau/jailau) to herd their cattle. In my village there are many Kazakhs from China and Mongolia, so this drama really showed the vibe of jailau and life of people there. Especially, I was amazed with the actors play and how they delivered real life situations and conversations so naturally. I had a feeling as if I was living with them in that village and observing everything from outside. Also, respect to the male lead actor who is not Kazakh but was trying to pronounce some difficult words in Kazakh, yet other actors’ Kazakh language was authentic. There were many funny moments that maybe only Kazakh person(who speaks Kazakh) could understand, because of course as in any other languages there are some phrases or sayings that you can’t really translate without altering the meaning a bit. Overall, I enjoyed cinematography, music, acting, and plot as well. So, go watch it!!!

Leia Mais

There's a reason why You Who Came from the Stars had fans watching each episode while sitting on the edge of their seats every week and peeking out their windows after the show aired, hoping for their own personal alien invasion. With Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince references woven here and there throughout the story, this drama has everything you could possibly want. It lacks for nothing! Charismatic, believable leads; romantic storyline; and an incredibly evil/creepy villain. ALL the actors brought their A-game to this one. It was one of those rare gems where they must have all just clicked and it translated to the screen. I loved everything about this drama- even the intro scene that shows the passage of time. You can tell that great care went into the making of drama right down to the smallest detail. I loved the flash backs that filled in the backstory. I loved the documentary feel when they interviewed the characters. I loved how the second male lead actually helped move the story forward and wasn't clueless/innocent and certain aspects. That was refreshing. I especially loved the fact that Jun Ji Hyun was secure enough as an actress to really show different aspects of her character and let you see the vulnerability and human-ness while still being egomaniacal and exasperating yet sweet and even goofy! I loved the internal/external monologues she would have with herself. I loved how the male lead's class lectures were tied into that episode's storyline. I loved his wild jealous imaginings. They're the most adorable kdrama couple I've seen to date and the comedic timing on the facial expressions from the two leads was perfection. The clothing/costumes especially the female lead's was perfection. Can you tell I have a lot love for this one yet?

Seriously though, I'm re-watching this show for the 3rd time now and enjoying it immensely! Even though I know what's going to happen I still have nail biting moments and I've noticed very small details that I believe I missed the first two times. It speaks of the universal search for your person or people. The ones who when they're around you, no matter where you are it becomes home. If you watch it you won't regret it.

Leia Mais