The Starry Love (2023)

A Must Watch if You Love Xianxia

Let me get straight to the point, The Starry Love is nothing like other dramas in its category, and for that reason alone it deserves to be given a chance by anyone who likes xianxia. I have never laughed so much while watching a C-drama in my life, not just a xianxia, any C-drama. It has an incredibly addictive narrative style (every moment counts, you won't be compelled to fast forward or skip) and a very strong cast of supporting characters. It all makes for an unforgettable experience that will make you want to binge as fast as possible.

Typically, xianxias waste a lot of time belaboring the angst, having characters make decisions that frustrate the viewer and adding way too much filler just to pad each episode. Not this drama. The competently written script treats the audience with the respect it deserves, and to my incredible surprise, almost every single joke somehow manages to land.

The cast itself and the chemistry / acting deserves a special mention. This is a tour de force for Chen Xing Xu, who seemingly effortlessly plays a total of 5 roles giving each and every one its own mannerisms and body language, further establishing him as one of the most brilliant actors in China at just the age of 26 (25 when he shot the drama). Li Landi more than holds her weight against his performance.

Other dramas have supporting characters you care nothing about, here the secondary couple is more than compelling. They shine so bright you will actually look forward to switching to their storyline. Both main couples are lovely, though I definitely prefer the main leads.

Major props to the beautiful relationship between the twin sisters, who far from being annoying and childish, have the strongest, most heartwarming bond...and that bond is the cornerstone of the entire story.

If you like a nice balance of comedy, angst and action, and you wants a cast that's charming as all hell, give this drama a try. Every single character has a strong motivation for their actions and a relatable storyline. I particularly loved Yetan's (FL) strong, cunning and mischievous nature and how bold she was despite her traumatized upbringing. Qingkui, her twin sister, was kind and elegant, yet resourceful, strong and resilient. Shaodian Youqin has set a very high bar for xianxia MLs as someone who will definitely go EVERY length for the woman he loves.

As for the ending...it definitely could have been better had it been more extended, but it still doesn't take away from the strength of the rest of the story, and just how much fun this drama is overall. I hadn't enjoyed myself so much in a very long time and was addicted to the point of obsession waiting for every single episode to drop. Check this drama out, the odds are you won't be dissappointed, you'll fall in love.

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Suspend Disbelief and Enjoy the Magical Ride

I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I embarked on this drama. But, the first episode blew me away and got me hooked. I'd divide this drama into 3 parts for my discussion.

The first 1/3 of the drama was absolutely cute with the twin girls marrying the wrong men who turned out to be the right men for them. There were lies and plenty of deception but everything worked out well. Qing Kui said: I believe your feelings for me are real and that's all that matters. With that, she swept all the lies and deception away and her relationship with Chao Feng as well as Ye Tan's relationship with You Qin made total sense from there. I truly loved that the sisters loved each other and weren't trying to backstab each other. I truly loved that the male leads were also devoted to their female leads and vice versa. The first 1/3 of the drama was all about getting to know the characters and such. Honeymoon period!

The second 1/3 of the drama was about finding three fragments of You Qin to combine him back into one whole again. This part of the drama was full of shenanigans and I laughed so much. I must applaud the actor who played You Qin and all the other men. He did such a good job. I think he deserves an acting award for portraying all the men differently. He was totally adorable as Wen Ren. In this part of the drama, the female leads and male leads also fall more in love with each other.

The third and last 1/3 of the drama was full of angst and frustration. It was very hard to see Man Man die. It was tragic to see how Qing Kui sacrificed herself for her sister and for everyone else. The ending was full of exacting revenge and people dying which was hard to watch.

What I loved:
- The beautiful and sincere relationships between Man Man and Ye Tan + Qing Kui and Ye Tan + Di Lan Jue and Ye Tan etc. They looked out for each other and were true to each other.
- The male lead, You Qin, and good-looking Di Lan Jue really charmed the pants off me.
- The acting of the young stars and everyone else (in general) was superb.
- The music was stellar and I listened on repeat-mode.
- The drama was dramatic for sure. I was kept riveted. I was invested in the show and the characters.
- The CG was done pretty well.

What I didn't like:
- The very ratty heavenly king who was timid and power hungry. He didn't have as much power as his son but wanted his son to obey him like a little puppy. It was painful to watch him. I hated him and his unreasonable actions and crazy thoughts.
- The very strange queen of the void realm seemed to have a sort of incestuous relationship with her son, Ding Yun. It was very odd watching mother and son because the son looked so much older than his mother and their relationship seemed rather weird.
- Hu Sui was extremely hateful. She was a very dark grey cloud just looming over Ye Tan and the rest. Once I spied her, I knew that she would be up to no good. I didn't expect her to have such heinous thoughts and to behave so despicably. How could she ill-treat those who have truly treated her well? She was a devil. Because of her, everything took a turn for the worse.

All in all, the conclusion was still slightly happy because those who lived tried to make the most of things and there was promise that the two female leads would eventually re-appear. I'd rate this drama as a must-watch because of the stellar acting, captivating songs and the engaging plot. This is not to say that the drama does not have loopholes. But, as I said: Suspend Disbelief and Enjoy the Magical Ride called Starry Love! :)

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Beware: If This Is Your Cup Of Tea, It Can Make Other Xianxia Dramas Pale In Comparison

This is the first time I'm writing a review here, so I'm just going to write down what I like about this based on years of being a drama watcher. For me, this is the BEST (comedy) xianxia I've ever seen.

The greatest things about this drama:

1. Perfect cast. Not just the four main leads, but the chemistry with the side characters are also excellent.
2. Great pacing. No skipping, no fast forwarding (like what usually happens with other xianxia dramas I've seen).
3. The writing gets me so hooked that I can forgive any plot holes.
4. Great OST songs.
5. The acting!!!!!
6. The way it enables me to root for SO many characters and couples. There are so many loveable characters, even the smaller side characters. I've never seen a drama where I'm missing these many smaller side characters when they haven't appeared in a while.
7. The comedy aspect in this drama is A LOOOOOTTTTT and the timing of the comedy is always perfect.
8. Tropes/cliches done right with lots of hint of comedy and very minimal repetitions. Even one of the most annoying tropes for me (spoiler: amnesia) is done in such a clever way that made me realize the importance of it for the story.
9. CGI is great, too.
10. Despite the many comedic scenes in this drama, it's peppered with beautiful life lessons, such as:

- Embracing your inner child or inner feelings instead of repressing them (this one is portrayed so beautifully that I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life)
- Sisterly love/bond that is just so beautiful and heartwarming
- Loyalty in love/friendship
- Setting boundaries: even parents can be wrong and they should be reminded about it (whether they accept the reminder or not is another thing, but I like the fact that the main characters don't act like doormats)
- That putting out fire is easier than putting out hatred

I was watching this drama ongoing with some other airing dramas and I must admit, the other dramas felt bland or less cohesive or the pacing felt unstable or slow. It will probably take me a while before I can let go of this high standard after watching this drama.

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Good story, good pace, and good chemistry between ML and FL

This is my first wuxia drama and I did not have much expectations since I am not really into fantasy type dramas. However, I was hooked after the first two episodes.
Positives:
ML and FL had good chemistry and I enjoyed watching them.
The story is also somewhat funny and entertaining. The plot was entertaining and fairly lighthearted. Good love-thread between the different characters.
ML played 5 different characters and played them well. Overall cast was good but not too keen on the SML and SFL.
Really liked CXY and started following his dramas.
Negative:
Not really impressed with some of the CG effects when ML is flying through space.
Ending was not not ideal - was not the happy ending.

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An unexpected pleasure

I’m not usually a fan of historical fantasy, particularly when the series lasts 40 episode, so this wasn’t really on my radar. But the synopsis intrigued me so I started watching and I couldn’t stop.

It is generally hilarious but often incredibly heart wrenching too (a game of ‘never have I ever’ was particularly heartbreaking).
I liked that they didn’t drag any stories out over too many episodes but they introduced new plots and challenges which helped the pacing. The relationship between the sisters was lovely and it’s great to have two strong independent female lead characters.

I enjoyed the acting, particularly the main male lead. The actor who plays the Third Prince has great comedic skills - avoiding slapstick.

I think it was visually impressive. The music could have been stronger but it wasn’t too bad.

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A Familiar Yet Unfamiliar XianXia Drama

When comedy is injected into a xianxia drama appropriately and smartly, a very unique and fresh drama is born. “The Starry Love” seems familiar, yet unfamiliar at the same time. The general plot is nothing out of the ordinary. We’ve seen this before: brides switch, someone needs to be a hero to save the world, the Heavenly King as a hypocrite, and everyone from the Demon World is a bad guy.

But what sets this drama apart, and why so many viewers are watching “The Starry Love” is the humor in all this. The drama doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at some common tropes, and have the characters act silly here and there. Because of the overwhelming praise of the comedy, I was initially worried that it might be a little too over-the-top for my taste. Rest assured, it’s not. Funny moments hit you at the right place, at the right time, and unexpectedly. Then it switches gears to other more romantic or serious moments seamlessly. It’s a good mix to keep you hooked right from the first episode. Comedic moments did die down towards the last quarter of the drama when the more serious plot and angst took center stage, and it really wouldn’t be appropriate to be funny here.

I’ve been a fan of Landy Li since I first saw her in “My Huckleberry Friends” and she has improved so much. She along with her co-star and sister He Xuan Lin are the stars of the show. The two female characters, though seem different at first glance, are both smart, caring, loyal and stubborn. I am so glad we have an awesome sisterhood in a xianxia drama, and especially happy to NOT see another naive/innocent girl. The two male actors also did a fabulous job. Chen Xing Xu basically plays 5 different characters. This is my first Luke Chen drama, and though he’s the least experienced out of the main leads, he was able to keep up with the other three. The supporting cast was fine. Although the veterans stood out a little more than the younger cast, I wouldn’t say they’re extraordinary.

For 40 episodes, the pacing is pretty good. There’s enough going on to keep me interested. I like all the strong friendships, bromance and sismance. I don’t think I dislike any character in this drama, and that’s rare as I usually hate one or two annoying supporting characters in a xianxia drama. Even the minor female character who won’t stop annoying ML didn’t irritate me that much. As unique as the first ¾ of the drama is, the last ¼ seems quite predictable. Many are disappointed with the ending. I am not overly disappointed, I am just not surprised as I’ve seen enough dramas to know this could be how it ends. But I understand after witnessing the hardships our leads have gone through, the ending could be dissatisfactory. Because the drama was so unique for the most part, I wish there was a more creative ending.

The pretty CGI sceneries are hard to miss. It evokes a similar reaction from me when I was watching “Love Between Fairy and Devil” back then. There are many scenes that are gorgeous, but the more I see them, the more I think they look fake to me. However, I really enjoy the starry nights and the CGI use of magic and fight scenes. The fight scenes themself are just average to me. Despite the inconsistent CGI, I really like all the costumes, hairstyles, and makeup. The two female leads look beautiful in their colorful costumes. Luke Chen (Chao Feng) looks absolutely handsome and smoking hot in his black attire. I personally think Chen Xing Xu looks better in a modern drama such as “Fall in Love” but I appreciate the different looks he’s in as You Qin, La Mu, Mei You Qing and Wen Ren. I am not sure if this is a big budget production or not, but I find the post-production dubbing to be below-average to average at best. Most of the actors/actresses use their own voices and I appreciate it, but the syncing is off sometimes when the lips are not matching the lips. There’s no live recording at all. On the other hand, the OST is great, despite being too repetitive for most of the drama (maybe a few more songs can help). It might not beat the OST of "Ashes of Love" but each song complements the mood and scenes of the drama appropriately.

This is a really fun drama with good pacing. It’s light-hearted and very romance-focused. I don’t think there’s anything I REALLY dislike about this drama (just mixed feelings). That’s always a good thing in my book. For that, I am giving this a solid 8.5.


Completed: 3/12/2022

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Everything on the drama is the best. After watching it, I cannot really move on. I'm still finding their clips in youtube, watching them in tiktok and even searching them in google. " The Starry love" really suits what I want on drama so it is hard for me to watch another drama again😭 This is really the best, the OST also got me, I always listen to it. So to anyone who is planning to watch it, give it a try. You won't regret it but I am hoping you will love it. The characters, the plot, OST and everything on the drama is really top tier. I'm just hoping that they will have season 2 or not, the main lead will have drama again. I missed them😭💜

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The New Standard for Xianxia

What a wonderful drama! If you're like me and LOVE xianxia dramas but tire of all the old tropes and angst, this one won't disappoint!

The Story:
The story itself is truly nothing new but while it has the standard formula for a xianxia drama, this one stands out in how it tweaks the usual old tropes and makes it comedic or resolves it almost immediately. I don't think I've ever seen a xianxia where I'm laughing my butt off in one scene and bawling my eyes out the next. As with all dramas of this genre, it's not the goal but the journey that matters.

The Characters:
I honestly cannot sing enough praises for all the characters in the drama! They were all magnificent!

Obviously, let's start with the two lead couples. At the start, it's portrayed as if these twin sisters; one kind and demure while the other is brass and boisterous, have met their match in their complete opposites once their sedans are switched. It seems as if You Qin's firm, no-nonsense self will balance out Ye Tan's free-spirited and mischievous energy while Qing Kui's kind, empathetic personality will taper down Chao Feng's cunning behavior. While this does seem to be the case as paths intercross and feelings are created, viewers can actually see how similar each sister is to their respective "wrong" grooms.

I find that a fault in xianxia dramas is how the free-spirited female lead often refuses to change herself and the male lead, being so in love with the female lead, indulges in her reckless behavior. I love how that isn't the case in this drama. As we get to know the characters, we soon see that the mistaken couples aren't opposites at all. Like Ye Tan, You Qin is rebellious, mischievous, and more harsh in his punishments. He's never just the willing participants to Ye Tan's chaos, he's actually the instigator which makes for hilarious scenes where they can't get reprimanded because of his status. Likewise, though devious, Chao Feng is as empathetic, sentimental, kind, and loyal as Qing Kui is. It's not their differences that drew them to their respective mates, it's their similarities. The only similarity You Qin and Qing Kui have in their optimism in giving others the benefit of the doubt while Chao Feng and Ye Tan are more jaded by life and therefore are more antagonistic.
Another exception to the xianxia trope is how there's no unnecessary drama. You Qin/Ye Tan's relationship follows the cute banter, slow burn romance while Chao Feng/Qing Kui have the more standard outline but what each have in common is the sincerity present in both. Both couples declare their feelings immediately and rush to clear all misunderstandings which allows for so many lovely moments rather than angst. There's also the way the couples are around each other. They are constantly touching whether it's embracing, holding hands, or just standing so close as if they can't get enough of each other. They are also always rushing to get back to the other. It's how you would expect real couples to react to each other and I adore their obsessions with their significant others.

Let's not forget all the side characters too! I've never seen a drama filled with devotion and understanding like this drama. Whether they are on the same or opposing sides, the level of loyalty between characters is awe-inspiring. It makes for a lot of scene-stealing, tear-jerking moments scattered throughout the entire drama. I'd give a special shout out to the Chao Feng-Hai Chao and Ye Tan-Man Man friendship. Both were done differently, but so exceptionally well. I don't think I've ever mourned a side character before Man Man and that speaks to how big of an impact she had on Ye Tan's life. I really can't recall a scene where she wasn't by Ye Tan's side (unless Ye Tan was with another character).
And it's definitely not just the friendships but also the familial relationships as well. The only other sisterly bond I've praised was Li Chang Ge and Li Le Yan of The Long Ballad, but now Ye Tan and Qing Kui have pushed them down to #2. Their loyalty and love for each other is so incredibly beautiful!! I can't get over how wonderful their relationship was and ironically, it was because of this wonderful relationship that served as the rock which caused the ripple effect that created this entire drama in the first place.

The Background:
If there's one thing I'll continuously praise, it's how You Qin is deserving of being the crown prince of Heaven. Normally celestials rule heaven because it's just told that they do. Here, I find You Qin to actually be worthy of his status. He's quite literally the Prince of the Stars. One of his major duties is creating star formations and releasing constellations into the night sky. His very birth is tied to falling stars and his magical powers manifests as strings of constellations. Whoever thought of that detail was a genius! It's so aesthetically beautiful to watch!

I can't sing enough praises for this drama and all it's actors/actresses. Chen Xing Xu and Li Landi have said in an interview that they believe their acting styles to be the same and I feel like viewers can actually see that onscreen. Both actors play off each other extremely well and it makes their characters so much more pleasing to watch when their bickering turns to respect and eventually to love. Li Landi is such an expressive actress and I find myself rewatching scenes to see which of her reactions I could've missed in my first viewing of this drama. I honestly can't wait to see what future projects this cast has in the future!

At only 40 episodes, this drama has no time to waste in its storytelling but thankfully, it isn't to the detriment of the drama as a whole. This drama was definitely a wonderful surprise and a sure re-watch for me for times to come!

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Much better than expected.

I am not sure what to expect when I started watching this drama. Next thing I know, I am binge watch the whole series in about 3 days. Here is my review:

1. Production Value: The costumes feel just right. The OST by Sa Ding Ding is very catchy. For me, the action/fighting sequence is well done and feel very crisp. CGI effects are also very well done.
2. Acting/Chemistry: I don't keep track with Chinese drama scene. However, the Male Lead is an excellent actor. I can feel the chemistry with both Male Lead (ML) and Female Lead (FL). The 2nd ML and FL are also well done. I think the actors/actresses did a good job with their roles.
3. Plot: The story progressed with a very good pace. There is a bit of a drag during the late 20s and early 30s episode to provide more romantic scenes for both couples; but it is not too bad. The story is a wild ride during the last 5 episodes. Overall, I enjoyed the series as a whole. However, I rated the plot as a 9 because of a few plotholes:

a. The conflict between Heaven and Void really never explain beside one is good and one is bad. During the whole series, Void Army never really sack the two weaker kingdoms.
b. Male Lead is super OP. The series depict the Male Lead as a super powerful being and can literally destroy the opposite army if he wants to, yet Void Army still wants to fight him. It is like fighting a nuclear bomb with rock and stick.
c. The Immortal is known for a very long lifespan and recorded many things about their life. Yet, no one gives doubt when a heresy rumor that the tree is a calamity (especially when the tree is seeded by previous Heaven Emperors). Another thing is Guixu (Chaotic Portal) happened and needed to sealed. It seems like the Guixu happened after the tree's destruction and no one thought they made a mistake?

Summary: This is a very well produced fantasy Chinese Drama with a good story. I nitpicked on a few plotholes after I finished drama; but I do enjoy the Starry Love.

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Romantic Comedy-Fillings, Logically Cooked & Baked to Near Perfection

Discover the first and only Xianxia drama of its kind within the genre. As we know, xianxia drama are basically mythical fantasy ties in with chinese gods, immortals and demons or multiple realms of different species and races where almost anyone can cultivate themselves to attain magic power. Writer can make anything possible happen in such a story setting and for this particular drama, they went for the most unexpected and crazy route that none before them had ever attempted - logical character interrelationships and comedy.

For longtime drama watchers, its not uncommon to expect the usual cliches like jealous siblings, backstabbing, misunderstandings, miscommunications between leads/ friends, annoying evil bitches lurking behind every corner, leads that fall prey to their own stupidity/naivety, long angsty arcs, heck or even lives of doom reincarnated romance. In fact whether you're new or old to the xianxia genre, throw those kind of expectations out the window. Those usual draggy tropes don't exist here because this drama handle those problems like a pro, cool and mature; adult-style wisdom with clarity and rationality.

There are reasons behind every characters' behaviors and motivations. Very logical character developments and morally driven interactions that doesn't make you pulled your hair out in frustration. The main circle of relationships are built on unconditional love, trust and hope. They form an unbreakable bond and used their intellect to overcome the many challenges the universe or fate throws their way. Perfect example of human quality done right even when we're talking world altering godly powers or voids devil curse magic.

While this drama is filled with comedy, that doesn't make it light-hearted. Underneath it all, this drama make fun of all the mind-boggling issues we see so often time in a typical xianxia. They turn it into child's play to draw many beautiful and inspirational life lessons from, that keep on giving long after its finale.

Above it, the actors and actresses acting skills deserve high praise with their naturally level microexpressions that are both funny and complex. Every touching, emotional and heartwrenching scenes were carry out so immersively - you can't help but to shed tears along with them. With an undeniable chemistry between not only the main leads but every support characters and casts, this drama has forge a strong and unforgettable foothold in the heart of its audience.

The OSTs are another lovable addition to this wonderful drama. Every song match breathtakingly well and every single one tugged at your heartstrings at the right moment. And when you pair western instrumentals to scenes in xianxia, it produce a surprisingly comedic masterpiece, ensuring impeccable strings of laughter.

There are no perfect dramas but whether its story, characters, music, SXFs, CGIs to costumes and props; the feeling when everything in a drama was done to near perfection, it truly felt good and exhilarating. So good that you can't get enough and had to give it another taste to fathom how truly rich it really is.

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Wow!

I just finished this TSL and I don't know for how long I've cried. My eyes hurts and are super puffy, my nose is so swollen and I have a headache because of my crying. I just have positive things to say about this drama. From the story, to the acting and music. It was amazing and absolutely one of the best cdramas I've seen in my life (and I've seen a lot).

The only negative thing or something I wished they included was when they the sisters regained their human form again. I wanted them to reunite with their lover and live a happy life. It just felt strange how they turned into a sacred tree again - how do you go from a tree to a human?

Otherwise, I literally have nothing bad to say about this drama. I really recommend this drama, but I have to warn you to have a lot of tissues by your side ;)

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I don't understand the hype to this drama tbh

This drama was airing around the same time as The Journey of Chongzi, and people were going to MDL in The Journey of Chongzi and was saying how great this drama was and recommending this drama was better than The Journey of Chongzi...

I wanted to not leave a review about this drama, until I fully watched it.

I did tried the first episode back then to "The Starry Love", and I couldn't get into it... So I left it on hold and then waited until this drama finished airing before giving this another chance.

After finishing this drama, I honestly don't get the hype to this drama to be honest, like to me, it's just "Okay...." at best, and I felt like I am just watching it for the sake of passing time, since I have nothing to watch at this stage.

The story and characters is okay, but it wasn't memorable to me.

The Male Lead Actor, Chen Xing Xu, I have seen him before as Yang Kang in "Legend of the Condor Heroes", and he's my favourite character in there.

This is my first time seeing the Female Lead actress.

I have to say that I didn't like the time when she have to collect the "Soul Shards" (the three different version of him) to revive Shao Dian You, because after he successfully got one, he left him at this place, and moving onto the next one.... And during that time, I felt bad for "La Mu" because he thought that his "Wife" Ye Tan was out chasing the other 2 more Soul Shards of him to revive Shao Dian You, and during that time, it is really off-putting because it really did felt like she was jumping between one guy to the next, even when they are all the same soul (person) in the end, but I cannot rub off that feeling that it gives off in the end for me... Since they each is their individual person.

Anyways, for me, the main pairing is okay, it wasn't enough for me to fangirl for them like I do for some other pairings I fell in love with in the drama.

Music was okay too, but it reminded me to the music in The Blue Whisper.

Overall Drama was OKAY (LOL)

But if I have to say something here, while this drama (The Starry Love) is airing around the same time as "The Journey of Chongzi", for me, I love and enjoyed "The Journey of Chongzi" >>>>>>>>> The Starry Love. The Starry Love, didn't make me love it like it did for some people in here... I guess this really goes to say something, i.e. every one is different.

Like I said, for me personally, this drama was OKAY at best. It wasn't enough to keep me motivated, or absorbed into the story/characters. Most of the time I was like "When is this episode going to end?" So yeah, I am not really a fan to this drama, only watched it to see why people keep comparing it, and what's the hype about, I don't get the hype on this drama....


Well, not a memorable drama for me to want to watch again, I can move on to watch the next one ~~~

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