Kotori
Singapore
This drama deserves its fame!
I have been keeping this drama until the end of the year as crime/mystery dramas are not my favorite genre. I also heard this drama is quite dark, which discourages me from watching.
But since I heard so many good things about it, I just had to give it a go now that the year has ended. After going through the 12 episodes, I understand why it has been crowned the year's best Chinese drama.
1. "Sleepness Night": 5/5★★★★★
I did not binge this drama though I totally could have done it. It has probably the best storytelling I have seen in any dramas so far. In contrast to traditional mystery stories, the show reveals the main villain, the dark but tragic Zhang Dong Shen, in the first 10 min of the show with a bang. Slowly after that, it introduces to the remaining protagonists, the three kids, Zhu Chao Yang, Yan Liang, and PuPu. The four of them get entangled when the three accidentally recorded Zhang Don Shen performs a murder in action. The drama then tells how this event snowballs into a gigantic non-stoppable monster that alters the fate of all of the involved. Each episode ends at a key event of the story that is perfectly timed. On top, it is accompanied by a dark BGM that sometimes even sounds like acoustics rather than music. There are no big "reveal moments" but rather a slow but steady description of each character's actions that force you to glue your eyes to the screen, desperately wanting to know what the characters will do next.
2. "Emotional Rollercoaster": 5/5 ★★★★★
What this drama perfected is the casting of the roles. The crew auditioned thousands of kids across the country until they found our leads. All of the leads, even our main villain, both light and have dark elements in their personalities, which the actors brought to light perfectly. Nothing is what it seems. The details and clues that the makers hide in the show wanted to give us a much bleak and gloomy story, which was also the original novel's intention. I will be spoiling if I tell more, but Zhu Chao Yang, the three kids' brain, is one of the most interesting roles I have seen in this year's drama. I saw myself, not sure if I wanted to support him or not. When I read more about this series and the original work, I finally understand that this kid, unlike the surface, has a darker side than anyone in this show. There is also Pupu, who I loved as a character. This kid has a pure heart and even showed mercy for our villain. But even if this was the case, you will notice how all the snowball events started with Pupu. Finally, there is Zhang Dong Shen, for whom you develop a strong empathy towards the end. Rather than putting him as an emotionless psychopath, he is a victim of societal and familial pressure. Deep in his heart, he longed for a family and love. One of my top three villains this year.
3. "Natural and intelligent Storytelling." 5/5 ★★★★★
The story is told in a natural flow, leaving out all the unnecessary fillers. What I love the most is that a lot of characters' inner motivation and emotions are exhibited without them uttering any words. Many "still" scenes give the viewer a big room for own interpretation. That reminds me of a lot of Hayao Miyazaki's form of storytelling. This open storytelling does not dictate to the viewer how the director wants the viewer to see and think, but it is up to the viewer to form their own opinion and ideas of the characters. And isn't this what real life is all about? Nothing is absolute, and everything is subjective through our own lenses.
4. "Loveable supporting Roles.": 5/5 ★★★★★
This show has chosen a tremendous supporting cast. Most of them are played by respected veterans from the industry who present deep emotions by a small look, a tear, or a simple gesture. My favorite supporting characters are Zhu Chao Yang's mother, acted by Liu Lin, and his dad, starred by Zhang Song Wen. Hats down to their acting.
5. "Proper Pacing.": 5/5 ★★★★★
The pacing of this drama is perfect. With only 12 episodes, it tells a complex and dramatic story, emphasizing the right occasion, slows down and speeds up adequately, and gives all leading and supporting characters their moments to shine without making them feel redundant in any moment.
6. "Technicalities": 5/5 ★★★★★
The whole show primarily provides a feeling of a movie. This is achieved using long and wide shots and not beautifying the characters. The dirt and wrinkles are seen clearly, which gives a perception of realism. The color and tons of each scene are chosen by professionals. Each shot's camera angle is carefully selected so that it does need to be altered many times that otherwise would disturb the scene. Thus, you can see the results of perfect play between light and shadow. The director is a musician who composed some of the original BGM of this show. You do not notice the BGM; they blend in with the scenes and elevate the audience's emotions.
7. "Solid Finale": 5/5 ★★★★★
The drama has a close ending on the surface, with each character having his/her proper closure. But in reality, it has an open finish. Like many viewers, I immediately started to watch and read all kinds of interpretations of the ending. They give another layer of depth to the show - I cannot help but praise the makers. Without spoiling, I would just say that anyone will find an ending that suits his/her interpretation: those who like tragic ending will get their tears and sorrow; those who believe in fairytales will get their "happy ever after."
All in all, I am proud that today's Chinese drama world can produce a masterpiece with this kind of quality. It is not a story for the fainted hearts. But to everyone else, I would recommend it without any hesitancy. Your time is well spent!
------------------------------
Kotori's drama review seven criteria definition:
After having watched many dramas and also written several reviews. I have detected that I rate dramas based on specific patterns. I formulated those into seven criteria.
1. "Sleepless Nights.": how much I have the urge to binge-watch this drama.
2. "Emotional Rollercoaster": the degree of how much my heart was moving from the acting, scenes, and story development (e.g., in pain, pounding, fluster etc.). The degree on how much I care about the fate of the main leads.
3. "Natural and intelligent Storytelling.": how logically the story was able to proceed and the roles are acting within their characters. I don't have a thousand question marks when watching the drama. The feeling that the makers take us viewers seriously and that we do not always think that this looks fake.
4. "Loveable supporting Roles.": how much I love and care about supporting characters. They are not merely tools to help the main characters but are 3-dimensional and have the proper motivation behind their actions.
5. "Proper Pacing.": how well the drama is pacing and not watered down to fill the number of episodes.
6. "Technicalities": professional camera works and shots, fight scenes, color grading, lighting, editing, music, sets, costumes, use of CGI etc. I try to grade this in relation to the drama budget, so a low-budget drama can equally get a high score when used at the right place
7. "Solid Finale": how properly the drama builds dramatic and finishes with a satisfactory ending. I have just watched too many dramas that start to lose their grip around half or 2/3rd of its way.
But since I heard so many good things about it, I just had to give it a go now that the year has ended. After going through the 12 episodes, I understand why it has been crowned the year's best Chinese drama.
1. "Sleepness Night": 5/5★★★★★
I did not binge this drama though I totally could have done it. It has probably the best storytelling I have seen in any dramas so far. In contrast to traditional mystery stories, the show reveals the main villain, the dark but tragic Zhang Dong Shen, in the first 10 min of the show with a bang. Slowly after that, it introduces to the remaining protagonists, the three kids, Zhu Chao Yang, Yan Liang, and PuPu. The four of them get entangled when the three accidentally recorded Zhang Don Shen performs a murder in action. The drama then tells how this event snowballs into a gigantic non-stoppable monster that alters the fate of all of the involved. Each episode ends at a key event of the story that is perfectly timed. On top, it is accompanied by a dark BGM that sometimes even sounds like acoustics rather than music. There are no big "reveal moments" but rather a slow but steady description of each character's actions that force you to glue your eyes to the screen, desperately wanting to know what the characters will do next.
2. "Emotional Rollercoaster": 5/5 ★★★★★
What this drama perfected is the casting of the roles. The crew auditioned thousands of kids across the country until they found our leads. All of the leads, even our main villain, both light and have dark elements in their personalities, which the actors brought to light perfectly. Nothing is what it seems. The details and clues that the makers hide in the show wanted to give us a much bleak and gloomy story, which was also the original novel's intention. I will be spoiling if I tell more, but Zhu Chao Yang, the three kids' brain, is one of the most interesting roles I have seen in this year's drama. I saw myself, not sure if I wanted to support him or not. When I read more about this series and the original work, I finally understand that this kid, unlike the surface, has a darker side than anyone in this show. There is also Pupu, who I loved as a character. This kid has a pure heart and even showed mercy for our villain. But even if this was the case, you will notice how all the snowball events started with Pupu. Finally, there is Zhang Dong Shen, for whom you develop a strong empathy towards the end. Rather than putting him as an emotionless psychopath, he is a victim of societal and familial pressure. Deep in his heart, he longed for a family and love. One of my top three villains this year.
3. "Natural and intelligent Storytelling." 5/5 ★★★★★
The story is told in a natural flow, leaving out all the unnecessary fillers. What I love the most is that a lot of characters' inner motivation and emotions are exhibited without them uttering any words. Many "still" scenes give the viewer a big room for own interpretation. That reminds me of a lot of Hayao Miyazaki's form of storytelling. This open storytelling does not dictate to the viewer how the director wants the viewer to see and think, but it is up to the viewer to form their own opinion and ideas of the characters. And isn't this what real life is all about? Nothing is absolute, and everything is subjective through our own lenses.
4. "Loveable supporting Roles.": 5/5 ★★★★★
This show has chosen a tremendous supporting cast. Most of them are played by respected veterans from the industry who present deep emotions by a small look, a tear, or a simple gesture. My favorite supporting characters are Zhu Chao Yang's mother, acted by Liu Lin, and his dad, starred by Zhang Song Wen. Hats down to their acting.
5. "Proper Pacing.": 5/5 ★★★★★
The pacing of this drama is perfect. With only 12 episodes, it tells a complex and dramatic story, emphasizing the right occasion, slows down and speeds up adequately, and gives all leading and supporting characters their moments to shine without making them feel redundant in any moment.
6. "Technicalities": 5/5 ★★★★★
The whole show primarily provides a feeling of a movie. This is achieved using long and wide shots and not beautifying the characters. The dirt and wrinkles are seen clearly, which gives a perception of realism. The color and tons of each scene are chosen by professionals. Each shot's camera angle is carefully selected so that it does need to be altered many times that otherwise would disturb the scene. Thus, you can see the results of perfect play between light and shadow. The director is a musician who composed some of the original BGM of this show. You do not notice the BGM; they blend in with the scenes and elevate the audience's emotions.
7. "Solid Finale": 5/5 ★★★★★
The drama has a close ending on the surface, with each character having his/her proper closure. But in reality, it has an open finish. Like many viewers, I immediately started to watch and read all kinds of interpretations of the ending. They give another layer of depth to the show - I cannot help but praise the makers. Without spoiling, I would just say that anyone will find an ending that suits his/her interpretation: those who like tragic ending will get their tears and sorrow; those who believe in fairytales will get their "happy ever after."
All in all, I am proud that today's Chinese drama world can produce a masterpiece with this kind of quality. It is not a story for the fainted hearts. But to everyone else, I would recommend it without any hesitancy. Your time is well spent!
------------------------------
Kotori's drama review seven criteria definition:
After having watched many dramas and also written several reviews. I have detected that I rate dramas based on specific patterns. I formulated those into seven criteria.
1. "Sleepless Nights.": how much I have the urge to binge-watch this drama.
2. "Emotional Rollercoaster": the degree of how much my heart was moving from the acting, scenes, and story development (e.g., in pain, pounding, fluster etc.). The degree on how much I care about the fate of the main leads.
3. "Natural and intelligent Storytelling.": how logically the story was able to proceed and the roles are acting within their characters. I don't have a thousand question marks when watching the drama. The feeling that the makers take us viewers seriously and that we do not always think that this looks fake.
4. "Loveable supporting Roles.": how much I love and care about supporting characters. They are not merely tools to help the main characters but are 3-dimensional and have the proper motivation behind their actions.
5. "Proper Pacing.": how well the drama is pacing and not watered down to fill the number of episodes.
6. "Technicalities": professional camera works and shots, fight scenes, color grading, lighting, editing, music, sets, costumes, use of CGI etc. I try to grade this in relation to the drama budget, so a low-budget drama can equally get a high score when used at the right place
7. "Solid Finale": how properly the drama builds dramatic and finishes with a satisfactory ending. I have just watched too many dramas that start to lose their grip around half or 2/3rd of its way.
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