A drama that deserves more respect and love.

This drama was full of fantastic stories and great actors, but the romance was not the focus here and that's probably why some viewers felt disappointed - they were expecting a light medical romance. Instead, they got some heart warming family dramas, gritty medical dilemmas and a surprisingly sharp critical insight into the highs and lows of the Chinese medical system.
Everything here was expertly done. All the guest actors did an excellent job and the medical cases kept me glued to the screen. The romance wasn't the focus but it was good and left me with a smile on my face. I loved how we got to see the lives of the medical staff, but not to the point that it became a medical soap opera.
If you are looking for a good drama that is full of strong storytelling, this drama is for you.

Leggi di Più

Very good, could have been perfect if shorter.

The greatness of this drama is in its main characters. They are mature, thinking people with none of the usual simpering of the ganre. They are all complex and rounded and aren't so easily put into the usual boxes of good or bad.
The music and costumes were good, but as usual the white skin filtering was too much. Wish the Chinese industry would stop with this nonsense, since they already have such good looking actors without the filters.
The downside of the drama was the number of episodes. Forty episodes were too much for the story and the last five episodes I was mostly skipping and skimming. It was a good drama but it could have been excellent if it was shorter.

Leggi di Più

Started out entertaining but dumb and ended up just being dumb.

This wasn't anything like the Chinese original version but I was willing to forgive this version because it was so much fun. I liked that there was more humour and that the romance was less of a slow burn and was more sexy, though I missed the little animal drawings.
But then in the last few episodes everything went wrong somehow: the writing and acting got so sloppy, it was like the police and the criminals were competing on who's less competent...
This could have been (and was for a while) a nice, lighthearted take. It's a pity that they didn't follow through and let their standard slip.

Leggi di Più

Just WOW!

Didn't expect the best program I've seen all year to be a bl from Thailand. It took me over a month to write this because writing a review meant the show was over.
First, a lot of those points come from just the music and scenery that are not just an accompaniment but an integral part of the story almost like another main character. I dont think Mountains have been made to look this good since The Sound Of Music...
And then there is the story. How could they make something so clichéd feel so fresh and new? I cried and laughed and made all sorts of weird noises at my tablet and it was just wonderful!
Witch brings me to the main actors Earth and Mix. I know the bl public is out there shipping them as a couple in real life and I hate this aspect of thai productions, but their on screen chemistry is amazing and I would like to see them do more projects together.

Leggi di Più

Deserves a higher rating.

There aren't many dramas where I totally and instantly fall in love with the female lead, and this was one of the few. Her inner thoughts were so funny, even though her life is rather harsh. And I love a male lead with a hard exterior and a soft gooey heart.
I didn't really mind the age difference because it didn't feel exploitative, rather it felt like a gentle Chinese version of Daddy Long Legs.
The ending was the point I took off, it was a cliffhanger, with no confirmed second season yet. But even with this ending, you do get a sense of closure, because of the personal growth the fl has.
All in all it was a short little web masterpiece, very entertaining and perfect for quick binge watching. It deserves more people watching and more people giving it better ratings.

Leggi di Più

Strange but worth it.

This drama asked me to suspend my disbelief, and in return, it gave me characters that I came to love and an emotional life lesson about love, anger, loneliness and grief. I appreciate the underlying message that we can destroy each other but also save each other. The acting was superb, and the script was the perfect balance between comedy, action, and an emotional wild ride.
And of course there is the child actress. She was so spectacular and a lot of my high rating is because of her. At such a young age she can switch between a carefree girl and an old soul in the body of a child. Her whole body language changes and the look in her eyes as well. It makes me really hopeful for what she'll do in the future.

Leggi di Più

The first half was nice but then it became so boring.

They had such good materials and it could and SHOULD have been another Tale Of A Thousand Stars, but it fell short.
The views were there, the story had potential so I think what let this one down was mainly a bad script and one of the main actors. The lines the actors were given sounded a bit juvenile and one of the episodes focused mostly on kids playing. REALLY? Why would I watch a BL if I want to spend almost an hour watching kids play??? And I'm very sorry, but the actor playing the doctor can't act.
This drama wasn't really bad but it was very disappointing because it never became good. It would have been OK if we were in 2019, but after two years of ATOTS and Triage, this kind of mediocre is no longer acceptable.

Leggi di Più

Dazed and confused.

This had two parts for me: the end and all the rest.
The first six episodes were so lovely, the definition of short and sweet. It's the tried and true trope of the rich boss not realising he loves his assistant. Like in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim... except you laugh more because - hey! of course he's clueless, he's a cat! I loved all his little Felin behaviours and the way his K9 friend was such a tail wagging dog even as a human. I loved the FL, she was so loving and cute.
The story was great, all the cats on set were adorable, the guys were all good looking and everything was moving nicely towards a happy ending... untill the last episode.
Suddenly out of nowhere there's a complication and I don't even know if it wasn't a happy ending, after all. It was a very confusing end, almost like they are wanting to make another season, but with no mention of one yet.
All in all, it was a very nice filler between longer dramas and I recommend it to anyone that can live without the Classic Holywood Happy Ever After. And to all cat lovers!

Leggi di Più

Storytelling mess that's saved by an actor. Gourmet garbage at its best.

This had so many good points: music, acting, good CGI and beautiful cinematography. The story was compelling and everything was great for the first half - until it wasn't.
I don't know if it was the script or the fact that the drama was cut by almost half and maybe too many things got lost in the editing room, but the result is a storyline that feels clunky and disjointed. I didn't really follow the reasoning of some characters for their actions and the things I needed to remember from one timeline to the next were lost on me.

On the plus side, this was very entertaining even without logic and Luo Yun Xi was a mesmerising glue that kept me avidly gazing at my screen.

Leggi di Più

One of the most refreshing Kdramas!

It starts straight away with the looks. Everything is a visual masterpiece, from the sets to the crazy smart retro outfits everyone is wearing. It all feels like the art it's honouring.
Then there are the two leads that are as unique as the clothes they wear, both looking like the best of the 50s, but with the most modern relationship of balance and mutual respect. And that same respect carries through to the support cast as well. This drama treats almost everyone kindly, showing a grace and sense of hope even towards the moraly gray characters.
It's rare that a drama that is so visually spectacular has something meaningful to convey, or has such a good script and storyline. Dali has everything, and it was very hard to find faults in it. Like most dramas it could have been an episode shorter, but otherwise it was as good as it gets. And then some, wrapped in a vintage package...

Leggi di Più

Pure Adrenaline to the heart!

First off, if your heart is fragile don't try this one. It's one of the best dramas I've seen, but it has a lot in common with Game Of Thrones and a certain wedding...
With that out of the way for the people who don't like nasty surprises, lets start.
Everything in this drama may have been low budget, but the love and professionalism that went into this are undeniable. In so many Chinese action dramas the plot is messy because of censorship editing, but in this one everything made sense.
And the characters, so expertly written, even the side characters had a distinct and rounded personality, especially the FL - a rare treat when it comes to BLs. But the stars of this were definitely the two couples and they all grabbed my heart with their stories and the superb acting.
That is the bottom line for me: If you want a gripping, gritty story with gifted actors, fine music and you don't mind the aches and pains, you have to try it.
(And then go and watch the Happy Ending Version on YouTube...)

Leggi di Più

What a wild ride!

The bottom line first, I loved everything about it: the vintage feel, the great characters, the story that kept me on the edge of my seat. And of course the romance - what a great romance!
I know this drama had a very low budget, but the scope of the story was truly epic, especially the war scenes. There weren't many of those, thank god, but the little there was very high impact. I am a viewer who usually prefers a light rom-com, but in this drama I wasn't bothered about the heavier themes, because they balanced with the beautiful love story and were done well.
As with most Asian dramas it could have been shorter, the usual two episodes overflow, and that was the one point I took off the overall rating, but it was still one of the best dramas of 2021 for me.

Leggi di Più

OTT on speed, such fun!

Try this series only if you are willing to give yourself over to trying a modern Thai Cinderella story with deliberately exaggerated everything, from acting to gestures. There are two evil other women. Two brothers (aka Beavis and Butthead, my favourites) that aren't evil but still try to break up the H&h. And of course family drama and a prince charming.
So why did I like it so much? Because it's all done with a bit of a wink and doesn't take itself too seriously. And its good old slapstick at its best. If there was a category for choreography I'd give this one a 10, because every time the h falls and the H caches her the cinematography of it keeps getting better. Yes, it's that kind of a show...
They did an excellent job with the wardrobe, you can know the characters just from how they dress: good Cinderella with her pastels and lace vs. The wicked Witch with her harsh power suits, mostly in black. Plus the cute music is great.
My only complaint, and maybe it's a given in Thai shows, is that it drags a bit in the middle and could have been two episodes shorter.

Leggi di Più