Good acting, great OST but Average drama

Completed - 11/24/2021 - Rating 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

It's hard not to compare "The Castle in the Sky" Season 2 to Season 1, even though you can watch this as a standalone. Maybe because I watched the first season not too long ago (10/3/2021), so when I am watching Season 2, I have a hard time with not comparing. Here's my review of Season 1 if interested (https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/review/168551). I quite like the Novoland universe, I just wish the dramas are better.

What I Like:

1. Acting - I think the overall acting of all the actors and actresses are pretty good here. It's definitely better than Season 1 where a young Zhang Ruo Yun carried that show on his back . Most of the actors here are quite seasoned and have a few dramas under their belt. This is my first time watching our ML, Jeremy Tsui. At first I thought he was Vengo Gao. Even though for about half of the drama, he has this cool, serious teacher look on this face, he really does have very expressive eyes. When he has to act embarrassed or flirty, you can see how his eyes change. . I just finished "Once We Get Married" with Wang Yu Wen (FL) and Wang Zi Qi (2ML). I enjoy their very different roles in the two dramas. I have to say, Wang Zi Qi has improved and he was better in OWGM than here. I realized I've watched several of Daisy Li's dramas (2FL) but don't recognize her at all. Her acting is among the better of the bunch, as she has a more complicated and interesting character than the other leads. The other supporting cast, both younger ones and veteran actors, all did a decent job.

2. Feng Ru Che (FL) - The character development of Ah Che is a big part of this drama. She started out as a street smart and happy 18-year old girl, to become the Queen. I am glad that she's not annoyingly innocent and doesn't lose her intelligence. From street smart to being able to see through lies and schemes, to gaining the wisdom of war and battle strategies, to finally become the rightful queen - she has come a long way. Most importantly, she didn't lose her wits when she falls in love, even though she does need a lot of saving.

3. OST - The drama does play the theme songs quite often, almost every episode. But personally, I really like all the songs. They all complemented the drama well and they are all lovely. I bumped my rating to 8.0 because I enjoy the songs so much. The ending theme song "風雪嘆" is my favorite and they do play this song quite a bit in the drama.

4. ML Comedic moments - though not often and could be out-of-nowhere, I enjoy the few funny scenes of our ML. Whether he's "exercising" before he first met FL in the palace as her teacher, or the fake cough that he does - these are the rare funny moments that break the icy personality of our ML.

5. Costumes - Compared to Season 1, this season definitely has better costumes and accessories. It's not big budget quality, but for a lower budget production, we see many beautiful dresses and headpieces. Everyone looks beautiful and handsome in their battle gears.


What I Don't Like:

1. The Main romance - Personally, I don't feel a lot of chemistry between the leads. They both acted well, but I am just not feeling it. I am also a sucker for ML who would sacrifice and do anything for FL, but this romance is not giving me the feels. I guess my biggest complaint of this romance or even this drama, is the constant push-and-pull between the leads. ML keeps on wanting to leave FL for her own good and so she won't die. I am fine with this. But then, why keep on showing up in front of her again and keep on saving her in crisis? *SPOILER ALERT* Towards the end, why would you wipe out her memory, and then become her teacher again and stay in the palace? You can tell she's falling in love with you again and you see the flower sign, what's the point? Additionally, our ML is always stalking FL either using his magical mirror or by being invisible.

2. Slow Motion scenes - There are just too many slow motion scenes in this drama, like in a rom-com. You can see slow gazes, slow spinning, slow walking/running and worst of all, slow fight scenes. Although there's fighting in this drama, you can't say that it has great choreography. The sword-fighting scenes are passable but I feel that the actresses were having trouble with the fights.

3. They never die - So many characters got beat up badly. Swords and arrows flying through their bodies, bones broken when hitting cement, but they all managed to survive! Magic! There are also some other illogical scenes here and there.


Other Observations:
1. If you watch this drama on YouTube like me, the sound goes out quite often.
2. What is up with the funny-looking, flying big bad villain? Is it a bug? A bee? It looks like a Pokemon.
3. I miss the steampunk elements in Season 1.
4. I think Season 1 has a better general plot.
5. Do they really not want to tell Ah Che why she's left an orphan?

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Watch for the crime investigation but not the romance

Completed 11/7/2021

The title of this drama is quite misleading. It gives off a romantic comedy vibe, but in actuality, it's a crime investigation drama. The drama revolves several crime and murder investigations and how they are woven intricately together into the big crime by the masterminds. I enjoy this type of crime investigation as it usually takes a few episodes to solve one crime. I watched another show before where the investigation is completed in less than 2 episodes and I feel exhausted from the never-ending episodic investigations (looking at you "My roommate is a detective"). However, I might still be a little confused about how the masterminds are behind all the crimes in this drama. I am not sure if it's me, or it's the drama's fault.

I enjoy the story and the development of our two female leads. They are both new interns in the violent crimes investigation unit and have very different strengths and weaknesses. I breathed a sigh of relief when we get a supportive sismance, instead of jealous and hatred between the ladies.

The romance plot is a very small part of the drama. Do not go into the drama wanting great romance. Both main and secondary romances are slow-burn and almost non-existent. *Spoiler* I am not satisfied with the ending of both romances, as the happy endings seem to come from the left field. They are rushed and illogical in a sense. I don't see how a romance that never really blossoms can end with a casual marriage proposal, esp. right after the ML wakes up from a coma. They should have spent more time developing the slow burn romance, or just not give us this proposal.

On a positive note, the acting is pretty good all around. Wang Kai looks really good in a suit and in his police uniform (though he's a little too skinny). He has quite a few action/fight scenes and they look believable. I watch this drama in 2021, it doesn't feel dated. The makeup looks really natural, esp. for the guys who are not covered with white foundation. I love the natural tanned look.

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Above-Average fight scenes + Good acting by Young Cast (before they're famous!)

10/19/2021 - 8.25 rounding up to 8.5

I have not read the novel so this review is solely my take on the drama itself. I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy this drama more than I thought I would. Being an 55-episode drama, I am prepared to experience a long and draggy storyline. I am actually engaged through about the first 30 or so episodes. At the time of writing this review, I've watched the first 6 episodes of season 2, and I strongly believe that they should have combined both seasons into one, and then cut down an episode or two from each of season 1's arcs. It's quite pointless to split this into 2 seasons, and then have a third season planned.

Acting: It's quite interesting to see all these big stars before they were famous. All of their acting is quite good. This is my first Li Ying Feng drama and he did a pretty good job as the male lead. I really enjoy seeing his character development from a young, innocent, and kind-hearted teenager, to become a loyal, stubborn and noble hero. The only criticism I have is that I don't quite see love in his eyes when he's looking at FL. Other than that, his portrayal of other emotions is good. I've seen quite a couple Zanilia Zhao dramas (Rookie Agent Rouge and Story of Ming Lan). I am not a big fan of hers, but I do think she did a good job in this drama as well. She looked so young and with such a baby face. Similarly, I've also seen a couple Yang Zi's dramas (Ashes of Love and Go Go Squid) and I do not like her characters in these dramas. However, I finally found her likable here and can see why she has so many fans. She looked beautiful and I like her portrayal of this calm, serious and level-headed character, yet still showing her very reserved admiration for ML. For the other two male leads, Cheng Yi and Qin Jun Jie, I am definitely a fan of them and their other works. I already know they can act and they don't disappoint here. Oh, I think Qin Jun Jie ages like fine wine :)

Martial Arts/Fight scenes: A big reason for me wanting to watch this drama is because of the fight scenes. I continue to search for dramas who will give me great fights with no slow-motion, spinning/twirling, and actors who couldn't hold a sword steadily. I would say I am quite satisfied with the fight scenes in the first half of the drama, esp. when the leads are still students. Even though there are quite a few zoomed out fight scenes and you know those were body doubles and stunt(wo)men, the overall visuals and choreography are good. However, in the second half, the use of magic and CGI increases and the actual fight scenes diminish. We got a few more good fighting towards the end of the drama. Overall, I personally think this drama has above-average fight scenes and it's a big reason I bumped my rating from an 8.0 to 8.5.

Plot/Characters: I enjoy the general plot of the drama and the different storylines. I do think that some of the arcs could be shortened. But there are enough action and events going on to keep be engaged through the first 30 episodes. I do feel that the drama slows down around episodes 30-40. I am also happy to see that our male leads, Xiao Fan and Jing Yu, continue to have this great friendship throughout the drama. Often times, you have one brother turns into an evil character. I am relieved to see them both continue to be the persons that they were as kids, and the bromance/friendship continues on when they are adults. I am also happy to see strong female characters who could fight and might be better fighters than the male characters. There's enough self-sacrifice and saving each other in this drama that I wouldn't characterize the female characters as damsels in distress. They do seem to be strong and intelligent throughout the drama.

Romance: Our main leads have a Romeo & Juliet-type romance. Even though I enjoy their scenes together and all the hardships that they go through, I only find their chemistry OK for the majority of the drama. As mentioned earlier, I am not feeling the love from Li Ying Feng. I expect more emotions if you are Romeo. I would say the turning point would be in ep. 52 when Xiao Fan heartbreakingly confesses to Bi Yao. That scene is when I can feel that chemistry. However, in the last 10 episodes, the romance seems to be running in circles - ML not wanting to see FL, FL went to see him and asked him to leave with her, ML said no - repeat a few times. The secondary romance between Jing Yu and Jin Ping Er is even weaker. There aren't enough scenes between them, and they don't have that many alone time together. I don't find it believable that Jin Ping Er would fall in love with Jing Yu. There's not enough buildup and it's not a love at first sight. There are also quite a few unrequited loves in this drama and they are decently portrayed.

CGI/Music - I have very low expectations coming into this drama regarding CGI and special effects. For a 2016 C-drama, it's decent. I laughed out loud at the appearance of a weird and slippery-looking snake though. This also might be the first drama that I've enjoyed the background music more than the songs themselves. The songs aren't that memorable but the BGM complements the different scenes appropriately.

Other observations:
1) The guy with the dice as a magical weapon is quite funny, esp. in fight scenes
2) A grown-up Jackson Yee is more handsome than a teenage Jackson Yee :)
3) What is up with the medicine product placement?!?
4) Weird directing where actors just stand there and stare at each other for 5 seconds before speaking - forcing the viewers to feel the attraction?

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Japanese traditions and beautiful desserts

10/16/2021

I saw that this drama would be leaving Amazon Prime Video in a few days, so I decided to not hesitate anymore and watch it. It's a relatively short drama, even by Japanese standards. Compared to "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru", this drama focuses on romance and choosing your own paths, instead of a thriller/mystery/romance. "Kyoto Love Story" is lighter and also not as good at "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru".

I enjoyed the first half of this drama more than the second half. The pace of the second half got slower and I felt like the plot was going in circles. The banter between the main leads was quite good, and it's a good development of the romance. However, once we approached the second half and FL confessed her feelings, it went downhill. I got annoyed with the ML and his reason for not reciprocating FL's feelings. The second romance is even worse. I want to punch the 2ML in the face. He's such an annoying jerk. I don't feel the chemistry of the secondary couple and I really can't tell if they do truly love each other. I don't know what is up with the male characters being so wishy washy and not straightforward. The female leads are honest about their feelings, but the male counterparts just evade the questions. The little sister's romance seems like an afterthought. It could have been better but screen time was limited.

The main positives of this drama are the beautiful sights of traditional Japanese desserts, the different kimonos worn (though they're not as exquisite as those I've seen in other dramas), and learning about Japanese culture. It's great to see temple and scenery shots in Kyoto. Aside from the 2ML, I enjoy the acting of the main cast.

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Short and Sweet!

10/2/2021

This is a very short and sweet drama. I would recommend this for someone who wants to watch something light-hearted and short. It's also a good palate cleanser after watching something intense or tragic. There are not villains, no jealous ex or love triangle, and no misunderstanding. It's an easy watch.

Since it's an adaptation from a webtoon, you will need to suspend reality and know that this is about the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) Protection Act. A NEET is basically someone unemployed and not contributing to society. Our FL is a NEET and our ML is a government official who is assigned to marry our FL as the first trial subjects of the NEET Protection Act.

Even though our FL is shy and innocent, she is not dumb. She's just not used to socializing. She is not afraid to ask questions or speak up if needed, and is not so naive that she would make stupid decisions. She's sweet and kind. A lovely girl that you want to root for her happiness. The leads look good together and they have many cute and heartwarming scenes. The whole drama revolves around their marriage and how they fall in love with each after getting married. I love the happy and sweet ending.

Because the drama is so short, I feel that there are elements that weren't explained or explored enough. I would like to see more of the struggles and uneasiness in the beginning of marriage. The acceptance from FL and the falling in love seem to happen too fast. ML supposedly doesn't believe in marriage and wasn't really in love when he was in a 4-year relationship with his ex. Yet, he seems to fall in love quite fast with FL. I also feel that the issue with the magazine resolved too quickly.

I personally enjoy the marriage contract trope, so I will give it a solid 8.0 and because it's what I needed at the moment.

p.s. why are Jdoramas ratings always so much lower than K-dramas and C-dramas??

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Hilarious and Heartwarming

9/23/2021 - 8.75 rating - not quite a 9.0.

Hospital Playlist 1 was one of the first K-dramas I watched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because I was so new to K-dramas, I didn't know what to expect from a slice-of-life drama. Maybe that's why my expectations were too high and I was a little disappointed. I did not quite get the hype of this drama, since it's so beloved by all.

Now that I have over 150 K-dramas under my belt, I think I know what I want and like. This drama needs to be reviewed as a slice-of-life drama, but not a plot-driven medical drama like Dr. Romantic. It's not about the medical cases and patients. With that in mind, I am able to enjoy Season 2 a lot more. I also forgot most of what happened in Season 1 ;)

Episode 1 started off great. You see the beloved characters and their tight friendship. Their friendship is the selling point of this drama. This episode was hilarious and heartwarming. The story of the mother who lost her son, and visited the hospital often, touches my heart on a personal level. The drama showcases people and relationships surrounding the patients and the medical cases. It talks about the unsung heroes, e.g. nurses and ER staff. If you have stayed in a hospital before, or accompanied someone, you know it's the nurses who do all the hard work. They are the ones answering your call at all hours. They really need a show dedicated to the hard working nurses. On another note, even though there are show about ER doctors, I appreciate them highlighting the importance of critical care in the ER, before all these hot-shot surgeons get a chance to operate. A side note, the ER in Hospital Playlist 2 is the calmest ER I've seen in drama-land.

There are so many funny interactions and moments. Just seeing two of the male leads sprinkling water on each other cracked me up big time. They acted so silly when all the BFFs are together. Top moments for me: The off-key singing of our FL, the cute son, father-son adorable relationship, siblings love, all BFF moments from our leads to our supporting cast.

However, I think I am most disappointed in the romance storylines. I know it's not a show focused on romance, but they are all not very satisfying. I also think the last episode is anti-climatic and boring.

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Light drama without tackling any serious teenage issues

"Our Secret" is one of the lighter coming-of-age teen dramas that I have watched. It is very romance-focused and doesn't tackle serious issues, and even the pressure of school/studies isn't that bad. The romance is very slow-burn and is nicely paced and done. You can say the relationship has a pretty "realistic" development. The leads do have some pretty sweet moments.

Personally, I don't like FL's character. I don't like loud female leads nor super shy ones either. FL here is the shy, quiet and super introverted type. Comparatively, I like the quiet but strong FL in "My Huckleberry Friends" more. I also don't like FL's voice and the way she speaks. On the other hand, ML has a more normal personality (though he's a genius) and not the typical bad boy or cold-outside/warm-inside type.

I think 24 episodes is more than enough, and it could be one or two episodes shorter. Because the drama is very "slice-of-life", personally I find the pacing OK (not great) but also not too slow. I watched this drama on YouTube and it affects my viewing enjoyment because some songs and music were blocked due to copyright issues.

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Strong male characters but female characters drove me crazy

6/15/2021

I decided to watch this drama because of the male leads. They are definitely good-looking and I like all 4 of them. However, even though I enjoy romance storylines, I feel that the drama should have focused more on crime investigation and fighting, instead of romance. Aside from the main FL, I do not like any of the female characters. They are all annoying, immature and petty. They make the MLs weaker and not as heroic as they could be. It's especially worse with the female deputies who keep on bullying the FL. They are so unprofessional and petty and should never be allowed to continue to be deputies. I do enjoy the slow romance of the main FL and ML and would have loved to see them more. The acting of the 4 MLs are good and they look good in their uniforms and in fight scenes.

I enjoy the fight scenes as they are more of the traditional wuxia fighting than the modern xianxia fighting with slow motion and spinning. The music is fine and I do enjoy the opening and the closing songs, sung by the two cast members. The costumes and CGI were just OK (well, this is an older drama afterall). Not a fault of the drama, but from watching on Viki, it seems like they re-did the color of the drama and everything looks so HDR+ and fake. The drama is decent, but still has many plot holes. If the female characters are less annoying and the romances are more mature, I would have liked this drama more. The drama could be a little shorter by cutting repeated conversations about romance and revenge.

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Mature drama with a good combination of romance and thriller

7/31/2021

Saw a MDL article recommending this show and I thought I would give it a shot. This drama does not seem to have big stars in it, and not being talked about a lot. However, I quite enjoyed it and thought it has a good combination of romance and thriller. This is a very short drama, 16 episodes and about 30 minutes each. I am glad to see more recent modern C-dramas that are shorter. This contributes to a much tighter plot and no dragging. I even felt that the drama should be a little longer to give us more of the story that happened 5 years ago.

What happened 5 years ago was introduced through flashbacks in the beginning of each episode. Though the flashbacks were not in chronological order, I didn't find it confusing. I would have liked to see more and longer flashbacks, to see what really happened and how the love between ML and FL developed. Since they still love each other 5 years later, they must have a pretty amazing past for that to happen.

This is my first time watching any of these actors and actresses in a drama. I felt that the acting is pretty good (not amazing). I enjoy FL's portrayal of a mature and smart woman, who despite being in love with ML, did not make stupid decisions but somewhat rational ones. I always have a soft spot for MLs who are cold on the outside but warm on the inside (but not acting like a jerk). Our ML here is quite handsome with nice abs (LOL). His acting isn't bad but also not amazing. I do enjoy those smiles and loving looks he has for the FL. He looks especially handsome in suits and when he's fighting. Actually, I felt that this drama has many good-looking actors and actresses. 2ML is especially adorable and it's a good contrast to the cool-looking ML.

I enjoyed the romance development of the leads. There's a decent amount of push-and-pull but you can feel the chemistry.
They also have great and realistic kissing scenes. Their love feels mature. However, it took me a little while to get into the secondary romance. I do not like the stalker-ish and persistent behavior of how 2FL is chasing 2ML. I really wish dramas would stop doing that. On the other hand, I understand it takes a character like 2FL to break through the walls of 2ML.

I also enjoy the OST and the background music. I am so glad that the music did not appear at inopportune times, or played extremely loud. I also like the wardrobe selection here. Actors look dashing in suits and actresses look great in the respective outfits. Oh, and the little girl is quite cute and sassy. She is quite a scene-stealer!

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Unique Story , Beautiful Cinematography and Amazing Costumes

7/21/2021

The reason for me picking this drama is mainly because of Zhang Bin Bin (ML). I first saw him in "Ten Miles Peach Blossoms" and had a minor crush on him. I've been trying to look for another drama of his with good reviews and a happy ending. This led me to Rattan.

Plot/Pacing: This is a unique and weird story, that is quite different from other C-Dramas. It's a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I find that you either really like the story or you hate it because it could be confusing. I liked it but I do find certain areas a little confusing without enough explanation. All that happens is probably due to love + obsession + stubbornness + revenge. I found the twists and turns quite un-predictable esp. the revelation of who Bai Ying is. I enjoyed the first half of the drama, when Si Teng (FL) is trying to piece together what happened to her and what happened after her death. The pacing was done well. I got a little bored towards the early 20s episodes but the pace picked up again towards the mid-20s episode. There are some plot holes and illogical parts of the drama. Did ML ever find out the real identity of his best friend? If FL told him about her fight with his best friend, did he not care at all? Never confront him? On another note, he's a successful architect but he never really went to work? Even if he was there, he wasn't really working. When he's hurt and almost dead, did they really transfer him out of the hospital to his home without any lifesaving medical equipment? I know this is not a medical show, but you gotta at least do the bare minimum and give him some IV and an oxygen tank!

Romance: There are several romances in this show and that's where all the hate and revenge started all the drama. First we have Qiu Shan betrayed by his Tribe Yi lover, thus started his hate for all Tribe Yi and Si Teng. We also have the unfortunate romance of Bai Ying and Shao Yan Kuan which ended with the death of Si Teng. But of course, we have the main romance of the leads. I would say FL and ML have decent chemistry. I wouldn't say it was off-the-charts. I personally enjoyed a slow burn romance, and theirs is slow burn. But I feel that it's lacking something to make me believe that they are so in love that they would die fo each other and go through what they did in the last couple episodes. I feel that I need to see a little more passion in that slow-burn romance to believe in it more. I also feel that ML is too perfect of a character. He's good-looking, rich, sweet, caring, attentive and rarely shows his temper. Is he a perfect guy? Probably. But not as multi-layered as I want a male lead to be. FL, on the other hand, is a much better written character with development throughout the show.

Acting: The overall acting is not bad. I enjoyed FL's sassiness and ML's sweetness (gosh, he is such a joy to look at..LOL). The supporting cast's acting is not bad either. I particularly enjoy the two child actors. They are so cute and adorable. Young Si Teng did a great job in showing her sassiness and facial expressions at such a young age.

Cinematography/Setting/Music/CGI: What a beautiful show! I love all the sceneries, the village, the forest and the architecture and set designs. It's refreshing to watch a modern show not set in the glitzy city setting. The majority of the show takes place in the rural part of the country. All the accommodations at the rural areas have their own distinct architecture and design. The sweeping views of mountains, lakes, grasslands and forests are beautiful. I also enjoyed all the songs in this drama. There seems to be quite a number of songs and you don't get that same annoying song played over and over again. However, one BIG negative for is that the music is just way too loud. I watched the show on Viki and also on YouTube, and I found the volume of the actor's voices are drowned by the background music. When music or songs are played, I have to turn down my volume, and then turn it back up when actors start to talk again. I am not sure if it's because of the version that I was watching, of just a problem with editing. I also quite enjoy the special effects of rattan whipping and fighting. It was especially beautiful when FL builds this canopy/umbrella for ML when he was crying. What a beautiful use of her talent in this touching scene.

Costumes: Si Teng's wardrobe deserves its own category. I read that this is not a big budget drama and I think most of the budget is spent on costumes. FL looks amazing in her collection of qi paos, and also her more modern looks. However, towards the second half of the show, I find myself missing seeing her in qi paos. Not that she's not pretty in her other looks, but there's just something special when a gorgeous Chinese lady wears this traditional dress. I even find the cross-dressing June Wu looks great in qi pao. ML's costume changes when he's in the rural area vs when he's in the city. He dresses so young and casual when he's in the village. But when the setting changes to the city, he looks so handsome and dapper in those long coats and dress shirts. Oh, one more thing, why is there so much makeup on ML's face? He look so white and it's not attractive. He looks SO much better with a more natural tan look.

Ending: I have mixed feelings about the ending of this drama. I felt that the show could have ended at Ep. 27 when FL disappears and the show ends on a sad note. Yes, it's sad but I think it's more fitting and more beautiful this way. But then, there are a few more episodes with rebirth and a young Si Teng. In a way, it's also fitting that FL and ML ended up somewhat together and went back to nature. I guess fans were not happy with that ending and we got Ep 31 with a happier ending. As much as I love seeing ML with a happy ending (since that's my main reason of watching the show), I felt that the Ep 31 ending is my least favorite one.

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This is not for me...especially the Main Romance

I don’t usually write a review of a dropped drama, but I figured this could be helpful to others who feel the same way. Is this a horrible drama? No, not really. But it’s not enough to keep me wanting to continue on and there are elements I don’t enjoy that are central to the plot.

Disclaimer:
I am a romance lover. Romance (whether it is a main plot or subplot) can make or break a drama for me. If I love the main romance, I can overlook some flaws.
Not always a fan of noona romance (older woman/younger man). I want to give this drama a chance because of Xiao Zhan. The only other noona romance I can think of that’s similar and I liked is “The Rational Life”. But I watched that years ago, and I might not like it as much if I were to watch it today.

Let’s start with what I Like:

Strong Female Leads - Stories about women in their 30s can be inconsistent. Dramas claim they are independent and mature, but their actions tell a different story. However, Jian Bing (FL) and Liang Shan Shan (2FL) prove to be the minority. Through their actions, thoughts and feelings within the first 18 episodes that I watched, they are truly mature and independent. They don’t rely on men to provide them with happiness. They live for themselves and are professional when at work.

Acting - There’s really nothing for me to pick on in terms of acting. From what I’ve seen so far, the main and supporting cast deliver good performances. I was especially impressed with the veteran performance from ML’s parents when they were having a big argument. I bet that sequence was done in one shot as the way they yell at each other seems so real.

Make-up - It’s lovely to see a drama without white filters, strong backlighting or white thick foundation on the actors' faces. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Xiao Zhao look so ‘real’. Everyone just looks normal and in character.


That’s all I can think of. And now with the negatives and why I can’t continue on.

Main Romance - As I mentioned, the main romance can make or break a drama for me. Unfortunately, this romance is giving me similar vibes as “Go Go Squid 2”, another drama I dropped. Sheng Yan (ML) is a mature 26-year old at work. He was professional and knows enough to keep his mouth shut and to Fake It Till he Makes it (<-- a little plug of another drama who has an excellent romance LOL). However, when it comes to love, he is a little puppy, always following FL around. And because FL is such a mature woman, his puppy eyes stop being cute after the first few episodes. I dropped “Go Go Squid 2” for this same reason. I like an unrequited love, but for that to last so long, when ML is a mature adult at work, seems off to me. I like a slow burn romance, but not when I don’t feel any romantic chemistry between the leads and when they are so different in the stages of their lives. They seem more like sister/brother or mentor/mentee to me. Maybe the romance develops into something beautiful in the second half of the drama, but at ep 18, it is not motivating me to continue on.

Plot - The pace is also quite slow. 36 episodes are way too long. There isn’t much happening in the first 18 episodes, and nothing different. I do appreciate the story of a female (and badass) director. Everything that happened is predictable. I don’t think this is supposed to be a slice-of-life drama, thus, I expect more from the plot. Are there touching moments? Yes. Is it well-acted? Yes. Does it make me hit the “play” button next? No. As a binge watcher, this is a big indicator of when the drama is not for me.


This review is super subjective and I am sure many love this drama. To me, I was expecting more and it didn’t deliver. It’s not a bad drama, just not enough for me to continue on when there are too many other dramas waiting for me.


Completed: 9/30/2023 - Review #360

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Sizzling Chemistry, Amazing Kisses, Beautiful Cinematography

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

Netflix dropped all 9 episodes of “Doona!” and it became a Doona weekend for many, including myself. Maybe because I am in the mood for a melo-healing drama after so many comedies, I really enjoyed this. The initial setup and plot aren’t that unique, but the chemistry makes it worthwhile. Though this is not a perfect drama, it gives me the feels and touches me.

The chemistry between Suzy and Yang Se Jong is sizzling. I LOVE their kisses 😘 and yes, I said it out loud). It’s been a while since I last saw a couple (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Thai) who gave so much emotion into these kiss scenes. We have two actors who are not shy and really participate and give me all the feels. I am not just talking about sexy/sexual kisses, but the sense of uncertainty, the should-I-shouldn’t-I type of emotions, and the love they feel for each other. Aside from the kisses, their scenes together are lovely. I really enjoy how their relationship started from strangers, who don't care for each other, to loving each other so much that they beg for the other’s affection and attention.

It takes a man like Lee Won Joon, gentle, adorable and forgiving, to deal with a selfish, emotional and broken diva like Lee Doo Na. The two of them are an odd pair in a way, yet they complement each other so well. Both are flawed (even the adorable Won Joon) and make flawed decisions. But since this is not a romantic comedy, their questionable decisions make this drama even more intriguing.

The acting is pretty good all-around. It probably wasn’t too difficult for Suzy to play a pop idol. But her emotional scenes are done well. Yang Se Jong reminded me of his character in “Thirty But Seventeen” but in this drama, there are more heartbreaking moments. I mentioned earlier about the kisses and there are a few shots where Yang Se Jong/Won Joon behaved shyly and passionately which totally made me fall for his character. I also enjoyed Ha Young’s portrayal of Kim Jin Joo. Under other circumstances, I would root for her happiness with the male lead. I felt for her and wanted her to find someone special.

The cinematography is beautiful and the songs complement the scenes well. I am actually surprised at the lack of songs played during some romantic moments. Oftentimes you would hear loud music blasted on screen for any hint of a romance. But here, there’s a lot of silence in the scenes between Doo Na and Won Joon, and that adds to the emotional impact of their acting.

On another note, I really cannot stand Choi Yi Ra, Miss Brazil. She is so loud and annoying. I wanted to mute her whenever she comes on screen, and especially when she’s with her two friends. I also find her little side romance unnecessary. I would have liked the drama to focus more on Doo Na’s relationship with her manager. Oh, and Hello Lee Jin Woo, you are looking mighty fine in that suit, acting all arrogant and bossy. 😍 The few flashbacks we got of Doo Na and her manager were not enough to tell me why she was so obsessed with him. It has to be more than liking him and clinging on to him as if he’s her only family. I also would like more scenes of Doo Na and Sweet Dreams’ group members (before and after).

Moreover, I also felt that the anxiety and panic attacks that Doo Na was experiencing were swept under the rug. Aside from being abandoned in a house alone, there was no talk of therapy or help. Did she miraculously heal by being abandoned, sleeping and eating a lot? Did love heal her? It seems too easy for her to set foot on stage again.

As for the ending, I want to believe that it’s a happy ending. I want to believe that after the emotional reconciliation 4 years later (and I love that scene), they came to understand each other again. That the very last scene is a very discreet way for them to meet in Japan for business individually, and having secret dates after work.

I definitely recommend this drama if you are looking for a melo-healing romance with sizzling chemistry. Fans of Suzy and Yang Se Jong should not miss it as well.



Completed: 10/22/2023 - Review #369

Leggi di Più

Turn off your brain and you will enjoy this cute and fluffy ride!

If you can watch this drama without thinking too logically and critically, this will be a fun and cute ride. I was having a hard time in the beginning to just let loose and enjoy, thus I found the first half not as enjoyable. The first two points listed in my dislikes below explain more about my criticism. However, I finally found my groove and enjoyed the second half of the drama a lot more, and felt that the drama finished strong. If you are looking for a fluffy and cute romance without any angst, this is the drama for you.

What I Like (quick bullet point version)

♦︎ Great chemistry. Both couples are different but chemistry is good.
♦︎ Great acting between the main leads - they make me smile when they’re so cute together, and also make me cry when they cry. Chen Zhe Yuan and Shen Yue exceeded my expectations especially with the emotional and conflicted scenes.
♦︎ I like the secondary romance as well. It offers a good contrast to the main romance. I like seeing how the second male lead matures but doesn’t lose his quirky self either.
♦︎ Love strong and independent female leads. Both are go-getters professionally and romantically.
♦︎ FL’s mother is the MVP. We need more mothers like her in C-dramas.
♦︎ No annoying character.
♦︎ Like the two male leads’ outfits - they both look great in suits and long coats.
♦︎ It has one of the best, most heartfelt wedding scene.


What I don’t quite like or have mixed feelings about:

♦︎ My biggest dislike is the characterization of ML as someone who came from 500 years ago and transitions to the modern world without much trouble. He adjusts to the modern world too quickly, just because he’s supposedly smart and can read books at the library. I am not used to characters like that without time to adjust to the real world.
♦︎ Even if this is a fantasy drama, the plot just moves along to the romance and ignores the interesting and fun part about ML’s development.
♦︎ Initially, I had trouble with ML’s evil personality as it seems to have disappeared after a couple episodes. I want him to be the anti-hero for longer. I think the drama tries to explain his personality towards the last few episodes with the “twist”.
♦︎ FL needs a better wardrobe. Her outfits are horrendous and the worst of everyone in the whole drama.
♦︎ Not enough plot wise in the first half of the drama aside from the developing attractions.
♦︎ I forgot all about FL’s best friend and her boy toy until they showed up again in the last episode. Even then, I didn't recognize them until her name was called.


Completed: 10/17/2022

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I can't t urn my brain off to enjoy this. William Chan is not enough to keep me going

Subjective Rating - 7.0
Objective Rating - 7.5-8.0

I tried to like this drama but I don’t think this is for me. I am a fan of William Chan, and especially his modern dramas since who doesn’t like a handsome guy with cute dimples and a hot body. But he’s not enough to keep me going.

Is this the worst drama ever? No, it’s not. Just not for me. From a personal enjoyment level, this would be a 7 but from an objective drama watching experience, I’ll give this an 7.5-8. So, an average of 7.5 will be my final score.

Here are some quick thoughts:
1. I realize I am not a fan of girl-chases-guy plot. This doesn’t warrant a low rating, just a preference.
2. I do not like how stalkerish and clingy Xu Lai (FL), CEO Huo Yan Zong (2ML), Firefighter Lu Fang Qi (3ML) and Actress Yu Shi shi (3FL) all are pursuing their love interests. If you like them, you can say they are persistent in love and are really the perfect match for their spouses. If you don’t like them, they are annoying stalkers. FOUR such characters in the same drama is just way too much.
3. Though I don’t like how stalkerish FL was in the beginning, she actually isn’t so bad later on. I actually think Zhang Ruo Nan did a pretty good job.
4. How could the police let irresponsible reporters into the crime scenes? One too many in this drama.
5. A civilian, no matter how trained they are, cannot put on fire fighter gear and just run into a burning building to save someone. Where are all the other 20 fire fighters on sight?
6. There’s skinship, but it’s a waste of William Chan’s kissing talent. Kisses are meh.
7. I’ve watched 24 episodes and never saw the supposedly playboy best friend with any woman. He seems to be more of a decent guy than all the others (except ML).
8. A mature and responsible fire captain took a day off from work to trespass and do illegal things with his girlfriend. Total love brain fart.
9. I can’t stand a mature, rational, logical male lead totally turning into a love sick puppy. Not that ML stops being a responsible person, but his constant thoughts of his girlfriend has influenced some work decisions and actions.
10. Guys thinking they know what’s best for the ladies and making decisions on their behalf. One too many in this drama as well.

Overall, I have a hard time turning my brain off to enjoy this drama. For the romance, once you get past the first 7-8 episodes of a stalkerish FL, their relationship is quite nice. They act appropriately, have enough fluffy scenes and do communicate for the most part. I also enjoy watching a different side of a firefighter story regarding other non-urgent duties they have to do, and the dog training.


Dropped: 6/25/2023 - Review #322

Leggi di Più

Interesting & Complicated Plot but falls short in Writing/Execution. Could have been better!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (0.25 bump for an interesting plot)

“The Sign” started off really strong with a lot of fun scenes while the characters are in training. The action scenes are fun, and the interaction between the characters are interesting. The flirting and naked men took over the feeds when the drama first started airing.

The biggest selling point should have been the very interesting plot. It’s quite uncommon to find a Thai drama that mixes folklore, action/crime investigation, past lives and romance all in one. This is a very brave attempt. If the writing and execution are done right, this would be a winner. Unfortunately, I feel that the drama falls short. I wonder if the novel is a lot better.

Instead, the best thing about “The Sign” is the chemistry between Phaya and Tharn. Of course, romance takes center stage in the plot, and it’s not a bad idea to have strong chemistry between the leads. Initially, I thought Phaya would be the cool and cold-on-the-outside character. I was quite surprised when he became clingy and totally smitten. Not the direction I anticipated or liked, but it sort of works out since Tharn has been the more cautious one in this relationship. Billy (Phaya) and Babe (Tharn) deliver great scenes together. Their kisses are passionate and believable, while their intimate scenes do feel very intimate and romantic (give me “I Feel You Linger in the Air” vibes).

Acting is average (at times above average) all around. Even for the leads, there are some scenes that call for more subtle acting but I don’t think the actors quite deliver. It’s Babe’s first role and for that, I think he did a really good job. I do think the acting gets better as the drama goes on. I’ve seen some pretty bad acting in Thai dramas but at least no one sticks out like a sore thumb, just a few below average (Doc and Dao). It’s also a nice change to see Akk/Captain not playing an evil character. I’ve seen Akk in other dramas before and his acting is always pretty good. He’s solid here as well and looks mighty fine in uniform.

I was hoping for more action and police work, especially when the drama started off strong with all the training and missions. So, I am a little disappointed in that respect. The middle of the drama has a lot of talking, and not a whole lot of action. It’s probably also because the folklore/past connection takes more of a center stage. It’s interesting to see how Phaya and Tharn are truly connected together and Babe looks quite pretty as a girl/Naga. I am still a little confused about the Naga, and not quite sure what Tharn has done in the past to warrant being ‘cursed’ in the present time with people trying to hurt him. The writing is weaker in the second half. It either glosses over certain things (e.g. why Doc is so obsessed with Tharn, or how someone could be saved so easily), or when the drama decides to tell us instead of show us (e.g. the last episode and what happened between Tharn and the Doc). If the drama is longer, maybe it can really show us and explore the background story all characters in

Overall, I applaud the attempt to create such a drama with an interesting and complicated plot. Although I wish it had been better executed, I still had an enjoyable time watching. Babe/Tharn’s first role and he did quite well. I wish to see more of him in future.


Other Random Observations:
1. There are also many shower scenes of men posing naked with blurred out butts in weird positions.
2. The blurred butts also take away the very romantic feel I get from the intimate scene.
3. Thai dramas have the best grandmas! We have 2 in this drama. Thai dramas have the worst parents, and luckily we see none of them here.
4. The classic music played is a little too much during the art case arc.
5. I like Yai. I thought he would be a useless sidekick, but he ended up being the better cop than the leads. Tharn was so strong at training camp and seems to lose the ability to fight later. Yai beats him big time!
6. In C-dramas, you know to expect your fav supporting character might not survive till the end. With Thai dramas, it’s harder to tell which way it will go.

Completed: 2/24/2024 - Review #407

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