Let's get one thing out of the way first. If, like me, you had seen the trailer of Murder in Karoutei and expected something out of the ordinary, to be executed wonderfully, I hate to break it you but you've got to lower your expectations a bit. More than a bit, actually. You know what, just forget whatever expectations you have for the drama and watch with an open mind along with a bucket full of patience.

Another thing. Besides the mystery aspect of the drama, which I must say was all over the place but not too bad, I wanted to watch the drama because of the skinship scenes I'd seen in the trailer. The scenes weren't as thrilling as I'd been promised. They didn't live up to the trailer. Once it was out of the way, though, I still continued with the drama.

Murder in Karoutei opens with a chaotic scene. Karoutei is a hotel that belongs to the Gao family business enterprise. While gathering there to spend the night, a room had caught on fire and someone happened to be in the room. From episodes one to ten, we're taken along months before the fire outbreak and given clues to figure out who the victim and culprit is.

If you're used to watching mystery themed shows or movies, it'd be easy for you to tell right away who the victim and culprit of the incident is. If you're not though, it's going to be a fun cat and mouse game for you to play. There's Gao Guanyi who founded the Honye group and isn't related by blood to the Gao family but through of one of their daughters, who happens to have an illegitmate son.

With the help of his employee, Jaun Janxing, he tracks down his son and tries to bond with him. The bonding never happened but finding his son made his family (the Gaos) more scheming and conniving. Gao Guanyi is about to meet God and now he has an illegitmate son who he plans to give his inheritance to? No way was that going to happen. What ensues is a series of plots to get the dying man to change his mind, without knowing he's changed his mind. Everyone is a suspect, if you're not used to working your brain in this kind of thing.

While the family tries to bring down Gao Guanyi, Cheng Cheng and, Juan Jangxing, Cheng Cheng and Jaun Jangxing form a likely bond. They get along well and while they seem to have some chemistry, it isn't electrifying. There seemed to be a disconnect and I'd say it was on the FL's part as she has some unresolved issues from her past.

Given how slightly messy and wanna be suspenseful and mysterious the plot tried to be, the drama was entertaining, minimally. I for one enjoy the family feud trope so it's was enough to compel me to finish the drama.

The actors did their best to give this drama substance. If the plot or romance of the main leads doesn't appeal you, the portrayal of their characters will.

The sound production of the drama was pleasant. I like the BGM and random organic noises in the background. Cinematography was wonderfully eye worthy as well. If nothing about the drama appeals to you, the cinematography and sound effects should.

Pacing is slow and it wasn't until the 9th episode did everything start to come together. Murder in Kairoutei isn't thrilling but it isn't entirely flat either. It's a 12 episode drama I think anyone who's just trying to fill time on a rainy/cloudy day should watch. While the ending was rushed, it wasn't disappointing.

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When someone asks me what is it like to be passionate about something?

I'll tell them, "You have to watch You're My Glory." I cannot believe it's been a month since I watched this excellent drama. Before watching it, I felt that it wouldn't live up to its hype. I've never been so happy to have been proved wrong.

It didn't only live up to its hype but for me, I'd say it surpassed it. I was kind of in a rough patch when I decided to watch You're My Glory.

When it began, it grabbed me by my arms and said, "Look, I'm going to be your blanket. It will be warm and cozy. You'll be safe but most of all, you'll be fine. I promise you."

I'm glad it didn't fail to keep its promise because boy, was I warm and cozy when watching it all. I felt safe and yes, I turned out fine. Still in a rough patch but You're my Glory loaded me with a few ammunitions to navigate it.

So, why would I show this to someone when they ask me what it's like to be passionate about something?

If there's anything You're my Glory delivered aside from all its sweetness and reassurance, it's that it's aware how tough life could be for some of us who are trying to realize their dreams. Especially when we don't have the connections, money, loved ones to blindly believe in us and, overall good luck to get started and keep going.

But, that's not enough. You may get started in realizing your dream but what happens when it gets all monotonous and stressful? You have to remember what got you into it in the first place! Your passion did. And you have to hold on tight onto it, no matter what happens.

Passion isn't something that's borne out of pure love for things or people. It's the little friend in the corner that will be the last one standing when everyone is tired of waiting to see you win or keep winning. It's going to hold your hands and tell you to keep moving. You deserve to win and even if you don't, you deserve to keep going or even get started.

Weirdly, this doesn't seem to be the only highlight of the drama. Yang Yang and Riba deserve flowers for showing us what it's like to be in love. The bicker, the dirty talk, the trust, the respect, the forgiving and happiness.

I'm searching my memory to find if I've seen anybody portray a charismatic character like Riba did in YAMG but I can't find anything, at the moment.

I could not find it in me to hate her character. She is mischievous, lovely but God, so beautiful. Her heart is beautiful, her mind is beautiful, her soul is beautiful. Yang Yang must have felt the same way whenever they had to get into character and had to match her, which he didn't fail at.

Yang Yang was perfectly imperfect. It's not everyday you see flawed MLs. I don't mean the ones with weird medical disabilities or temporal memory loss but flaws like anxiety and self doubt.

Maybe I haven't watched enough Chinese dramas to make this statement but I have seen a handful so I'll make this statement. Not one character felt off on the screen as opposed to what I've seen in most C-dramas that I've graced my eyes with.

Every actor/actress, in YAMG, gave their all and best into their specific roles. There wasn't any cringe acting and every emotion delivered by this talented bunch seemed to resonate with me, the viewer.

Coming back to passion, I'd say that everyone involved, on screen and off screen seemed to be passionate about this project. Because they were, You're My Glory got to be the masterpiece that it is.

If you're in a sour mood, watch it. It'll make you feel better. I do have to warn you though, it gets too sweet at some point and if you're allergic to sweetness, you have to be strong. If you're in a happy mood, watch it. There's nothing wrong in feeling even happier.

As someone who's in a STEM field like Yang Yang's character in YAMG, the days get too hard sometimes. But after YAMG, I'll be sure to remember that passion is in a little corner, waiting to hold my hands when I can barely stand up. I hope that I'll have someone to be there for me as well, I think everyone deserves that.

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Really fun movie

The first scene got me thinking that this movie was made by a man for men. You know, bikini clad women in some action, guns, blood, the usual.

I wanted to change the channel but then, the fight scenes started and I was hooked. I decided to stay and let's say I had a great time!

I don't care if this was made for men or not but I enjoyed this movie. Badass girls sticking together, and will literally die for each other is one of my favorites. It might not be Hollywood but the fight scenes were okay!

It's got some dry humor deliveries I love and the girls are really so sweet. I was just watching totally spies yesterday so I was kind of getting that vibe.

Overall, it's a fun movie. There's a bitter part but you'll get over it before you know. Definitely going to rewatch when I have the time.

If you're fond of women centric movies then this is for you.

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Can you separate sex and love?

For this generation, it could be a simple or complicated question. It's a question that requires a yes or no answer and yet, there would be a lot of people stumbling over themselves to answer it or find the answers to it, just like Chu Ai.

I have no experience in the sex department but I like how open this drama carries the topic especially when it's treated "lightly" online and a taboo offline, in this year of our Lord, 2024.

The way they portrayed hook-up culture, the friends-with-benefits trope and intimacy in monogamous marriages is eye-opening and entertaining. I wish they could have spent more time on the monogamous marriage story especially on Chu Wei and her husband's story. Married couples who don't want children are not often portrayed in media (or maybe I haven't seen enough of them.)

Pay attention to all characters and their stories and maybe you will realize that the answer to that question is not so complicated after all when you're in love or love someone.

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