A very satisfying reminiscence of Squad 38 and Hello Monster

First of all…
Drilling has never looked so good in Prada.
I can’t get enough of this movie… I want more…
After only 3 episodes of Doom at Your Service, it was already more than enough that I could take.
After 1 hour and 45 minutes of Pipeline, I am not nearly satisfied. I just want more. More of the storyline, more of the great cast and more of a 16 episodes-type drama.
They should have made Pipeline into the drama and Doom at Your Service into the movie.

This is the Seo In Guk with whom we are used to… Reminiscence of Squad 38 and Hello Monster… Charming, endearing and devious with a bit of a dark and wild side.
Full disclosure:
I love the work that he obviously put on this new muscular physique of him. Also that loose hairstyle/haircut is so attractive on him.

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The nerd in me loves this drama in its entirety.
The cast, the directing, the production, the storyline, the screenplay and even the multitude numbers of product placements which at one point simply became amusing...
I guess; it was very expensive to keep up with the Haute Couture fashion for the entire royal crew from the Kingdom of Corea. They needed those product placements.

Although I enjoy watching it to the very end; I feel rather unsatisfied with Lee Gon and Tae Eul‘s ending. Traveling into different parallel universes and time periods are all fun and game; however, I wanted to see a royal wedding, a royal queen coronation and a stable lifestyle... So to speak...
The scientist in me understands that it is against the rules to have both Luna as a detective and Tae Eul as the crowned queen living in the same universe.
Nonetheless, the irrational romantique in me wants Lee Gon and Tae Eul to be the royal couple that rules over the kingdom.

*All in all, both the scientist and the romantique in me adored this drama.

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“Be very careful of whom you mess with”

Wow!!!
That was beautiful.
I have not seen fight choreography sequences like these in Korean films since Six Flying Dragons.
The storyline was clear enough for the limited timeframe and Jang Hyuk, as always, was fantastic.

This was the Joseon version of the film series, Taken.
“Be very careful of whom you mess with”

The English version:
“I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you.”

The Korean (Hangeul) version:
“나는 당신이 누구인지 모릅니다. 당신이 뭘 원하는지 모르겠어요. 몸값을 찾으신다면 저에게 돈이 없지만 제가 가진 것은 매우 특별한 기술입니다. 오랜 경력을 통해 습득 한 기술. 당신과 같은 사람들에게 나를 악몽으로 만드는 기술. 지금 내 딸을 보내 주면 그게 끝입니다. 나는 당신을 찾지 않을 것이며 당신을 추구하지 않을 것입니다. 하지만 그렇지 않으면 내가 당신을 찾고 당신을 찾을 것이고 당신을 죽일 것입니다.”

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Xu Kai’s amber eyes

The storyline felt more like a parody to all that are utterly ridiculous in all Chinese fantasy and modern dramas.
This little morsel of satire gem was just a delight to watch.
I have now a new favorite Taiwanese actress. As for Xu Kai, lately his screen performances have been just exemplary. Never could I expect that from a formerly known “eye candy”...
I Completely regaled myself with this piece of Satire.

I absolutely yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy recommended it.

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Splendid Writing with a Propaganda’s Background

Aside from all of the propagandas and all of the military slogans…
This entire production was much better than I anticipated.
I can not get over on how well this is written.
The storylines were infuriating, they were amusing, they were emotional…
This was a very insightful production.
And the entire cast, from A to Z, did a fantastic job.

The only thing that I did not like was the texture of the images… It looked more like some low-budget, c-rated productions. However, with the well-written quality of the storylines and the great acting skills from the entire cast; that was easily overlooked.
The Glory of Youth has to be one of the most underrated Chinese military drama, released in 2021.

Fyi:
I have not seen Li Yi Feng that relaxed and that natural since Sparrow.
Now, if we could get the English subtitles for Fearless Whispers for which I have only read raved reviews… That would be just perfect.
The next drama with Li Yi Feng, one of the most anticipated upcoming Xianxia this year, is Mirror: Twin Cities.

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Drop any expectation you might have, at the door

Somehow I made it through...
Did I almost drop it? Many times along the way.
Until the end, I really did not feel a strong, deep connection, friendship or bromance between Prince Chong Li Ming and Ayi.
Chong Li Ming was always the one, showing all of his emotions (Ayant le sensibilité à fleur de peau); however, I could never really read Ayi’s attachment toward Chong Li Ming.
I am not sure if was the actor’s lack of skill or it was the way the character was written...
I was prepared for everyone to die, except Wagner. Wagner was an unnecessary casualty.

*All in all, not the worst turn-of-era, Qing to Early Chinese Republic drama.
However, the complete change of concept from the original storyline and the strange adaptation were rather hard to swallow. Although, the choreographed fighting sequences were excellent.
*Also however atrocious the writing of his dramas might be, no viewer or fan of Z. Tao can stay upset at him... With that glorious honey-colored skin of his;)

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Hands down, one of the very few best dramas of 2020

Hands down, one of the very few best dramas of 2020:
- Joy of Life
- Cross Fire
- Love and Redemption

FYI:
I can not believe how good; Crystal Yuan has become.
Her new and improved acting skills are lights away from her days in Ever Night and Listening Snow Tower.
For me, this is her best acting performance yet. She always had difficulty conveying her characters’ emotions. However finally, in this Xianxia drama, she did a damn good job... Ironically, her character is lacking her 6 senses.
As for Cheng Yi, He looks even better now than in his younger years in Noble Aspiration.
The years just didn’t affect him at all.
What the hell is his secret?
The production crew could not have selected a better actor than him for the male lead role of Si Feng.
His whole performance was pure perfection.

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This actor, Xue Hao Wen, plays the character - Gu Tao so well that I am catching myself sympathizing with a drug manufacturer, a drug trafficker, an arms dealer and a murderer...
I am conflicted about Fang Han/Fang Mo helping him with his predicaments or sending him to prison.

Even with all the hypes and the huge budget “The Thunder” got; I find that this drama “Never Say Never” has a much better execution, dynamic and flow.
The storyline, the production and the general acting of the entire cast are really well done.

Qin Jun Jie is really consistent with his character and he is a far much better actor than Johnny Huang (Sorry Johnny).
I watched “The Thunder” because I had enjoyed “When a Snail Falls in Love;” however, “Never Say Never” is by far my favorite.

*On a Side Note:
China hands death penalties like they were handing candies...

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Love from a past era

Before going into this last episode...
A special shout-out to the director, Sam Ho, for this heart-felt and endearing BL drama adaptation.
This tells us that a well produced drama does not technically need a colossal production budget and a cast of famous and acclaimed actors and actresses.
“How do you like them apples... Tencent?”

Now, back to the story:
The last 20 minutes of this drama was extremely stressful. With the psychotic menace still on the loose, I was waiting to hear a shotgun in every scene. I had long foreseen that our handsome little doctor was going to die, at the end. My anxiety was more about when...
Now, Yue Lou gets to raise his Beau’s little sister and Miss Fluffy (Could also be Mr Fluffy), as his immediate family.
Sad ending but fitting.

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A journey of self-discovery... Before the sunset...

My heart just shattered when Teh asked “Would that be ok to have 2 male protagonists?”
The pain in his voice breaks my heart.
Usually, I don’t particularly like high school BL; however just like HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count...
I Told Sunset About You is really really really well made. Teh and Oh-aew’s chaotic emotions and attractions for each other feel like a Russian roulette. And their struggles to learn about themselves and to accept their preferences are palpable.

On top of all those, they gave us that last intimate scene in episode 3...
It was not explicit but the phenomenal emotions these 2 young actors conveyed were enough to set the tv on fire.

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Gia Ge Stole The Show!

Let me be straight.
There is no universe in any of the multiverse out-there where I would be a cat person.
I am a dog person through and through.

With that said… This little white kitty and this rookie actress have stolen my heart.
Gia Ge perfectly portrayed that FL character.
More than often, we get those rookie female leads who make us wonder… “How the hell these girls got those leading roles…?”
Well, Gia Ge is not one of them!
Her acting skills are well-developed and are as expressive as one would expect from a veteran/seasoned actress.
I am excited to follow her with her next projects.

As for the ML…
Let me just say; Gia Ge saved the drama. The writing behind his character was dull. His acting was dull. The actor, himself, was dull. I really did not find any real development with his character; other than, he was reacting to the FL’s charismatic dynamic.
The interesting storyline about him being a legit writer, no longer a ghost writer, and taking his pen-name back from his conniving stepbrother just fell short and underutilized.

All and all, I watched Make a Wish for Gia Ge. One of the very few promising rookie actresses whom I had the pleasure to watch this year.

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Re-discovery of one-self

Exactly like The Ultimate Note, The Journey Across the Night also needs a second season.
Bad-boy/Emo Li Jia was so hot.
It reminded me of Kill Me, Heal Me with Ji Sung.
As a computer-wizard, he should have taken revenge on that sociopath/scumbag of a doctor by destroying him, from the inside-out. I am pretty sure; there must be plenty of evidences in that computer that could completely destroy his reputation, as a doctor in the psychiatric field.
Destroying his office and attacking him on the streets is not revenge but just vandalism and bodily harm.
In conclusion, Li Jia is suffering from DID (Dissociative identity disorder).
It seems that he was kidnapped as a kid. Worst than watching his sick mother loosing her grip on reality; I think he might have been sexually assaulted and physically abused...

*We most definitely need a second season.
Joseph Zeng portrayed these dual characters to perfection.

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An extreme emotional ride

I have some complexed emotions about this drama.
It is not the greatest drama.
Some episodes had questionable directions and bizarre writing; however good grief, it was damn good.
The characters’ complexities were enticing.
The musical selections were on point.

And Darren Wang just blew my mind... and other things...
This actor has virility to sale... to share... to donate...;)
To say that he was ON FIRE; does not quite describe completely the depiction of the Chu You Wen/Lord Bo character.
I, for one, thought Darren Wang’s performance was undeniably stunning.
There were a multitude of intricate facets to the Chu You Wen/Lord Bo character.
Darren Wang knocked it out of the park.
Without saying many words; his pain, his cruelty, his aggressiveness, his viciousness and his profound love resonated and emitted throughout and from his entire person.
And that is an extraordinary feat for an actor to accomplish; while, wearing a perpetual impenetrable stoic face.
It felt if I had blinked just once, I would have missed something...

That was produced 3 years ago; I can not wait to see his more recent projects.

Fyi:
Let us take a moment to acknowledge that the best ancient Chinese man hairstyle of 2020...
Goes to Lord Bo.

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Conflict Between Ideologies and Life-Long Convictions at its best

Jang Hyuk utterly and undeniably stole the show.
His character, counselor Park, was so profoundly well-written that I am having difficulty hating his character, even as a villain. He had layers upon layers… Even his layers had layers. One of the best-written villain’s characters that I have ever watched since the character of Yi Bang Won from “Empire of Lust.”

Kang Han Na was unapologetically superb in her role as Yoo Jung/Lady Park.
Her character personified that old saying…
“If she was a man, what a King she would have made…” She had all of the necessary and all of the sort-after attributes of a great King. Again, one of the best-written Queen’s characters that I have ever watched since the character of Queen Im Hwa Ryung from “Under the Queen's Umbrella.”

Lastly, Lee Joon…
What What can I say about his role as king, Lee Tae…?
I do feel bad for the actor. Any actor placed in a scene next to Jang Hyuk, whether it is a first male lead role or a second male lead role, is going to look unfinished and less skilled. Then, we have the writing behind his character… While his 2 costars’ characters writings were profound, well-written and full of layers, the writing behind his character felt weak, untrustworthy and incomplete. Throughout the entire 16 episodes, I really didn’t see any growth in his character. His character remained abundantly emotional, vengeful and neurotic at times.

All and all…
One of the best Sageuks that I have watched from Jang Hyuk and I am utterly impressed by Kang Han Na‘s acting prowess.

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