Reviews

Catastrophe on an epic scale

I love love love disaster movies, and D-Day has some of my favorite stars and character actors, so I was popcorn ready for a binge fest. But catastrophe on an epic scale can describe both the plot and the series. There was a master adrenaline punch, some intriguing moral dilemmas, a cast deep with truly talented actors - and some ridiculously cheesy directing with a script that relied on action to cover pedantic dialogue and story flaws. So much going for D-Day, but nothing could save this disaster of a disaster series from being 20 episodes of one-note melodrama, full of one-dimensional characters, and devoid of nuance.

The first half of the series is worth watching for the depth of acting talent, all of whom delivered outstanding performances, and some of whom deserve kudos just for showing up to work every day to slog through this cliche fest. Gold medals to:
- Kim Hye Eun (a stoic and principled character played perfectly),
- Yoon Joo Hee (a subtly strong performance that made her character the backbone of every scene she was in and the voice of conscience for the story's throughline),
- Kim Jung Hwa (I was rooting for her to ride off into the sunset with the ML. Compelling character, but underused here; later notable as the heartbreakingly devoted Suzy Choi from "Mine," and criminally underused in that series also),
- Kim Jae Hwa, & Kim Sang Ho, character actors who each made their role's total into more than the sum of the parts.

Extra special hats off to Jung So Min for playing a witless, silly, giddy, immature, ill trained, and emotionally/intellectually stunted doctor to a T. It had to be painful. We get an early glance at Jung So Min's characters proclivity to threaten low-level violence when things don't go their way, a trait that's almost a signature of her characters (see "Love Next Door" for more examples).

Honorable mention to Kim Young Kwang who played both a Labradoodle and a cardboard caricature of the heroic, wounded, noble savior - a veritable Superman of the operating theatre - and did it well, such as it was. I do wonder if even he tired of his character's many, many self canonizing monologues delivered over the open bowels of his patients.

Neither Jung So Min nor Kim Young Kwang, as talented as they are, could make the romance between their characters feel anything but awkward, forced, and painfully unbalanced.

This is the kind of drama that makes a remote control with fast-forward a handy thing to have. Even so, I almost dropped the series in E9 for gross script stupidity when a critically short-staffed ER Director sent off a single patient escorted by THREE doctors AND a surgical nurse. Later, that same ER Director let another doctor walk out in a fit of petulance without informing him that his career would justifiably end RIGHT THERE if he took another step. Though, tbh, maybe it was because he was a pathetic excuse for a doctor and a ticking time bomb of malpractice.

I figured it would only get more stupid from there and I was right. The only kiss of the series happened in the least romantic setting ever, with no romantic build-up, between the two least well developed characters. Yes, they were the leads, so of course it had to be them, but I still get to whinge that they were one-dimensional and not even especially likeable.

I slogged through until E15 when it was clear the plot had nowhere to go and I, fortunately, did.

Leia Mais

A TRAGIC YET BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED DRAMA

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama, and while the ending was heartbreaking, it was a fitting and inevitable conclusion to the journey we followed. Neo Hou’s performance was truly exceptional, portraying his character’s transformation with profound depth and intensity. He carried the emotional weight of the story effortlessly, making every moment feel genuine and impactful.

Chen Duling, as the female lead, delivered a phenomenal performance. Her portrayal brought an incredible balance of vulnerability and quiet strength to the character. Despite her physical frailty, she conveyed a deep inner resilience and selflessness, making her arc one of the most memorable aspects of the drama. Her nuanced expressions and emotional depth added layers to every scene, ensuring the audience felt every triumph and sacrifice her character endured.

The supporting cast also deserves immense praise, as each actor brought their roles to life with great conviction. From Zhou Yichen’s unexpected growth to Bai Jiu’s unwavering loyalty, and even Ying Lei’s moments of fear turned bravery, every character felt essential to the story’s heart. Their relationships and sacrifices intertwined to create a web of powerful emotions that made this drama unforgettable.

One of the drama’s greatest strengths lies in its exploration of deep and universal themes such as family, friendship, team bonds, loyalty, and sacrifice. These elements formed the core of the story, showcasing how individuals come together in the face of adversity. The dynamics between the characters were rich and compelling, highlighting the importance of trust and unity in overcoming challenges. It impressed me how these relationships evolved naturally, making their triumphs and losses feel personal to the audience.

The flashbacks played a critical role in enriching the narrative. They provided essential context for the characters’ motivations and decisions, allowing the audience to understand the burdens they carried and the sacrifices they made. Rather than simply filling in gaps, these flashbacks added depth to the story, highlighting themes of love, loss, and redemption. They reminded us of the joy and heartbreak of the past, making the present storyline even more impactful. By weaving these moments seamlessly into the main narrative, the drama maintained an emotional rhythm that kept viewers deeply engaged.

Visually, this drama was stunning—whether it was the beautifully shot wilderness scenes or the intricate costumes that captured the historical fantasy essence. Every frame felt like a painting, filled with meticulous attention to detail. The cinematography made the world feel alive and immersive, creating a perfect backdrop for the gripping narrative.

The OST was another highlight, seamlessly weaving into the story’s emotional beats. Its hauntingly beautiful melodies elevated the most poignant scenes, ensuring they linger in the viewer’s mind long after the credits rolled.

Overall, this drama impressed me with its ability to combine a gripping plot, rich character development, and stunning visuals. It was a masterpiece of storytelling that delved into the complexities of human relationships, leaving a lasting impression as both heartbreaking and beautiful.

Leia Mais

If you are looking for a sign to watch this, then this is your sign

This is such a gem. I accidentally stumbled upon this drama while looking for something to watch and this was so worth it. It's healing urban-rural drama as its a mixed of both though both of them were from the urban.

Joseph Zheng is so charming in this drama. Like he would really convince you that he fell in love at first sight but his feelings wasn't a burst of feelings but it slowly developed and progress more a deepen. Liang Jie is amazing in this drama. She portrayed the mature female lead who is not afraid to express her thoughts as the episodes pass by. I especially love their confession scene wherre they share their fears, their thoughts before getting into a relationship and I feel like that's how it should be. They both discuss and accepted their partner, their flaws, fears.
The OST is amazing. I love how the background music changes depensing on the mood of the character especially the male lead. I also love the supporting characters especially Liang Jie's bestfriend here and also Joseph's mother here..

I have rewatched this a couple of times and I can say its totally worth watching.

Leia Mais

"I want to live"

With a little bit of rounding up, this is a rare 10 out of 10 Kdrama, coming late to save this kdrama draught of a year! Funny, romantic, moving but also sad. You will know the show's end at the very beginning but it still hits hard once you reach the end. While I can see the happiness in the sad ending, the sad ending is still very sad so prepare yourself to suffer but be happy about it.
Summary: The show follows unlucky people stumbling through life who just keep getting dealt awful hands by fate. I don't know how to really summarise this, it feels like there's no plot but also, there is definitely a plot and all of it is a spoiler or none of it is...I DON'T KNOW!
I actually decided to watch this because the synopsis made no sense and I wanted to see what the show was actually about. Turns out it's about...life?! I don't know, just watch it. It's such a well-told story. Almost feels like a fable! There's a magical quality to it. You don't need any information before you delve in and everything unravels very clearly. So just go watch it!
The show has some cute cliches but for the most part, avoids plot pitfalls and gives a fresh take on the road trip/journey to find oneself genre. This was just a very lovable show to watch. The characters are flawed, messy, and occasionally very broken. I don't always love the Netflix kdramas but they always have interesting character sketches, which I guess is kind of the point, and here it's no exception. The characters' personalities and trials is the highlight of the show.
Like all Kdramas, I still dislike the over-the-top fight scenes and the pace sort of slowed down between episodes 7 and 8 but it bounced back for a good closing and I like the whole thing very well.
Cast: The actors are such a highlight in this show. Most are very well-known but I didn't know anything about Lee You Mi. Everyone did a good job...I still dislike acting cute in any context so I won't pretend I liked those bits. Woo Do Hwan was very good though and I think he's gonna joining my favorite actors list now. Oh Jung Se is obviously one of the best in SK. For me, the stand out was Lee El. She was so delightful. But really everyone shone in their place.
The production was very well-done. There are a variety of locations and I think they used green screen for some but some others seemed like natural sets but regardless, everything looked equally great. The set design, the technical parts, everything was great, and the music? The music was great! They used great stuff and though they overused them, I will forgive them because the music was at least good.
Rewatch: probably not.
Overall: Watch it, it's good! prepare tissues for the ending.

Leia Mais

A classic tale of emotions in the majestic SNOW!!

This is probably the first time I am really impressed with the snow backdrop in which the drama is presented to us.
Plot-The show is all about Huo Zhanbai,a martial artist from the Sword sect and Xue Ziye,who fall in love after Zhanbai insists the chief of Apothecary valley to treat his martial brother son who suffers from an incurable disease.Their relationship grows stronger over the eight years ,which Zhanbai spend to gather 5 rare herbs for the treatment.
Pros-I would really give a thumbs up to the snow scenery and background.It was serene,calm,impressive,classical,in my opinion.
Probably,if not for the snow backdrop as the main premise,this drama would be a regular watchable one.But,the ice theme has definitely elevated the mood and made it much more beautiful.I really loved the sceneries.They were perfect.I must say the snow scenery is the biggest asset of this drama.Never knew snow could be so beautiful!!!
Action-All the actors were good.Li Qin,Joseph Zeng,Wang Hongyi,Jenny Zeng,Edward Chen and Kim Jin were perfect in their characters.All.the other cast were also good.A special mention of Kim Jin and his acting ability.He was the perfect villain in this beautiful snow.His action was top notch.
Music, costumes, sets, locations,plot, screenplay,pace,everything were good.There were no deviations from the main plot.
I suggest to watch this timeless, emotional,classical love set in a snowy valley and a snowy night!!
A must watch drama if you like dramas withba classical touch!!

Leia Mais

Believe it or not, I loved every single minute of it.

Even though I am a big fan of Shen Yue (to be perfectly honest, she is the only Chinese actress I'm fan of), I'm writing my honest review. My all-time favorite cdramas are A Love So Beautiful and Go Ahead. This drama is now added to the list. Such a wonderful story besides the acting, cinematography, and soundtracks. People think this drama is just a rom-com, but let me tell you it is not just that. It's about healing, loving someone no matter what, family relationships, friendships, and more. This drama made me feel all kinds of emotions. Now, I just don't know how I'm going to move on from this. I'm actually planning on binge-watching it again in a couple of weeks. For those who are asking whether they should watch this or whether this is a good drama, I recommend watching it first, then deciding whether to continue or not.

Leia Mais