Great Friendships and Bromance and Character Development

Completed - 1/27/2022 - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0

It's rare to see a C-drama with basically no romance, idols, or big name actors to have such a high MDL rating (8.8 at the time of this review). I have gone back-and-forth many times whether I want to watch this, since it's not really my type of drama. But the overwhelming positive reviews convinced me and I am glad I gave in. This is an excellent teen drama and not just about the game of Go, but of strong friendships, bromances and most importantly, our main lead's growth as a person.

Shi Guang (ML)'s character development is what I like best in this drama. We were first introduced to a 9-year old who is quite cute and smart. That little young actor is such a smartass that I can't help but laugh at and with him. He is actually quite mature of his age, when he sees through what Chu Ying wants from him, and that it might not be the road that he wants or is ready for. Throughout the drama, our ML has gone through enormous ups and downs. I actually find him quite annoying in the beginning as a teenager. The drama does a really good job in helping us see Shi Guang's thoughts and feelings, and the way he reacts to different situations, with the guidance of Chu Ying and his many friends. After finishing this drama and looking back at how annoying Shi Guang used to be, it's amazing how much I have grown to like him and the person he has become.

Shi Guang & Chu Ying have a great mentor/mentee relationship, in addition to being very close friends. Sometimes, it feels like Chu Ying is the father figure we never saw. It's fascinating when Chu Ying is teaching Shi Guang about chess playing, but it's also hilarious seeing how Chu Ying adapts to modern world technology and slangs so well. On the other hand, Shi Guang and Yu Liang have an 8-year rivalry. I really enjoy seeing the respective journeys of these frenemies. They have such an interesting dynamic throughout the drama. Shi Guang is really one lucky guy. He has some REALLY good friends in this drama, in addition to Chu Ying and Yu Liang. He has many supportive and caring friends in high school and in the chess club. These friends stick with him throughout his career as an amateur chess player to become a pro chess player. It's also quite amazing that I did not find any of his friends irritating or annoying.

The pacing of this drama is done well. I actually wanted more episodes to follow ML's professional career and international competitions. I don't think I've ever said that about a C-drama. I really enjoy the portrayal of the challenges in each step of ML's career. He's growing and achieving successes, and then, reality brings him back down to earth, and he has to face a new set of challenges. This makes the drama more believable, as we know even though ML could be a genius, he can't be an international champion just like that. The ups and downs in his career contribute to his personal growth. However, I do feel that the last couple episodes were a little slower and a little too much moping around. I understand why, but I don't think the drama ended strongly. Maybe that's why I wanted more episodes as it seems unfinished.

Another aspect I like about this drama is how all the actors look like real teenagers and young adults. Especially during the high school scenes, I feel like the kids are really teenagers and not actors pretending to be teenagers. They look like 'normal' people. They are not full of make-up or wearing fashionable clothing. Additionally, I like Chu Ying's transparent look. It gives a very fantasy-like feel to his existence, and that he's not just another person hanging out with ML. He is just so funny. He looks so much more handsome in ancient times without makeup though.

As someone who doesn't know anything about the game of Go. I have to say that the drama does not intend to teach me about the game. I am often lost and confused with all the moves, though they seem fascinating.

Overall, I really enjoy this drama. My gut might tell me that this is not a slam dunk 9-10 rating, but it's really quite good.

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Lighter version of "Remembrance of Things Past"

Completed - 1/7/2022

"Delicious Romance" is a pretty underrated drama, and probably because the cast members are not idols and not as famous. However, it's a heartwarming drama about friendship, love, career and dreams. I feel that it's a lighter and happier version of "Remembrance of Things Past" (which I strongly recommend).

I enjoy the close friendship between the three main leads. They have funny and witty banter, are open and honest with each other, even if they are criticizing each other's decisions. I believe the friendship is what attracted most people to this drama. These ladies are 30 years old and are facing life's challenges as 30-year-old women in China. It's not surprising the following topics/challenges are covered in this drama:

1. Family and Society Prejudice against single, unmarried women.
2. Prejudice of divorced women
3. Sexual harassment and inequality treatment at work
4. Boss and Subordinate vs. romantic partner relationship
5. Stable and steady job vs. following your dream to unchartered territory
6. Income and Status inequality

This is a very short drama, only 20 episodes long at about 30 minutes each. The pace is fast and I was not bored at all. I quite enjoy the comedy inserted in the drama to deal with some of the heavier topics. I feel that the drama does a good job in introducing all three leads and show us their stories and personalities. I like them all and feel for them when they are faced with challenges. They each have their own flaws, but I root for them.

On the other hand, I feel the romance storylines are under-developed. I'd like to see more between Liu Jing and Jiang Shan Mu and how they fall in love, esp. from JSM. I also want to see a little more about the resolution between Xia Meng and Lu Bin at the end. As for Fang Xin and Zhang Ting, I want to see more of them after they get together. Because the drama is quite short, there isn't enough time for all, in addition to the other plots.

I also like:
- Xia Meng critiquing all the tropes and cliches in rom-coms.
- Jiang Shan Mu and his daughter's relationship - she is one smart cookie
- the funny drama shooting scene with the concubines
- first drag show I've seen in C-dramaland

Overall, I enjoy this very binge-able drama. It might not be as good as "Remembrance of Things Past", but it's an easy and enjoyable watch. I recommend this to those who like dramas of women-centric friendship and their life's challenges/decisions.

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Slow start, Excellent middle, Good finish

Completed - 1/6/2022

A sponsored, big production, "Luoyang" opens with beautiful cinematography and set designs. It introduces many characters and multiple plot lines all at once and took me a while to find my bearings. I personally find the first 10 episodes a little slow, but once the leads interact with each other more and the plot lines intersect, the pace is fast and exciting. It did slow down a little towards the end.

What I Like:

1. Plot - I am not much of a thriller/mystery watcher, so I can't compare this to other amazing shows. However, I am very invested in the mysteries and the investigations. There are a few twists that I have an inkling of what might happen, but for the most part, I went along with this thrilling ride and was quite surprised.

2. Acting - It's my first drama of Huang Xuan, and no wonder I hear lots of praises He was amazing as Gao Bing Zhu, a multi-layered and complicated grey character (to start). I've seen clips of Victoria Song in "Find Yourself" and didn't quite like her there (or I just don't like the drama). However, I am glad that I get to see her in LuoYang again. She surprises me as I wasn't expecting her to perform so well in emotional scenes. I am no stranger to Wang Yi Bo, and his acting is on par to what I expect. I also feel that his character doesn't provide him with enough range to show off his (maybe there) potential acting skills. The person that surprises me the most is Yong Mei, who played the Empress. What a presence she has! She doesn't speak loud, doesn't do much, but when she's on my screen, I feel her presence.

3. Production - The lighting! After watching so many historical C-dramas, I have come to expect certain big S+ dramas to satisfy my hunger for natural lighting. I am glad to see that Luoyang does not disappoint. The amazing use of candles and lanterns in Er lang's room and the Joint Corps pleases me the most. Aside from the lighting, the set designs and ornaments are beautiful. No CGI was used to have fake people. The drama employs many real people in this drama to act as regular citizens, and there are many scenes with crowds. There are any beautiful shots of Luoyang and realistic shots in Unwelcome Well.

4. Gao Bing Zhu + 16 Night - The last scene between the two of them is so amazingly acted by both actors. It's so heartbreakingly beautiful when we finally learn of the backstory between the two of them.

What I Don't Quite Like or want Improvements:

1. Flashbacks/Black screen/Camera work - My number one complaint of this show is the blurry flashback scenes. Why are they always so blurry? They are giving me motion sickness and making me dizzy. There are also many black screens that pop up to show a different camera angle. I've seen black screen used in other dramas, but mostly for scene transitions. But for the black screen to show up so many times just to change a camera angle, gets really annoying. The blurry flashbacks really affected my enjoyment of the drama. I also don't like the bright light behind the actors. I think they use this camerawork a little too often. Of course, this is all very personal.

2. Voices/Sound - I believe the actors are using their own voices, and I greatly appreciate that. However, I found Wang Yi Bo's line delivery very unclear in the first couple episodes. It sounds like he's mumbling. However, he definitely improves later on. I would love to hear live recording, but unfortunately, they are studio recorded. But overall, I found the dubbing for this S+ drama to be lacking. There are times when the mouths and sounds are not matching.

3. Not enough leads together - I hope to see more scenes of the three leads together. They are oftentimes working independently or only in pairs. I think the three of them have pretty good chemistry when arguing or investigating.

4. Liu Ran - As a character, she doesn't seem to provide much use. Her sole purpose to "humanize" Erlang. If they are going to do that, they could have developed the romance a little more. Yes, Liu Ran does call out "Erlang...Erlang... Erlang" quite a bit in this drama. But maybe I knew of it and have low expectations, I wasn't as bothered. I've seen enough annoying characters that I don't even find Liu Ran and her brother that bad. I've built up my annoying-character tolerance.

Other Observations/Thoughts:
1. Saw a different kind of wedding ceremony. Don't think I've seen a tent for the bride and groom to greet guests in any other historical dramas.
2. At times, the BGM is a little loud and I can't hear the dialogs.
3. Erlang is so multi-talented. He's a foodie and an architect. But he's also a chemist and a coroner as well.
4. Slow motion fighting again. Why???????
5. *SPOILER* Ending - Gao Bing Zhu and Wu Si Yue have gone through so much and have lost so many people in their lives. Why can't you let them live happily ever after???

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Excellent Slice-of-Life Drama but very painful to watch

Completed - 11/24/2021

Objective rating: 9.0
Subjective rating: 8.75

It is very difficult to review and rate "The Bond". Objectively speaking, this is an excellent drama. The acting is top notch - from the youngest actors to the most veteran actors. I have nothing to pick on. And because of the excellent acting of everyone, I come to hate so many of the supporting characters. I don't think I've ever hated characters from a drama this much, most notably Father Qiao. This piece of Sxxx of a father is the worst I've seen. The novel writer and the screenwriter are the same person, and I wonder if he has such a hard life that he would write something that gives me so much pain.

The drama revolves around the life of the Qiao family. The Qiao siblings grew up without a mother and their father emotionally and physically abused/neglected them. Big Brother Qiao YiCheng had to grow up fast to take care of his younger siblings. Throughout the drama, you see the hardships that each sibling has gone through from their childhood to their adult life. But the BOND between them is unbreakable. No matter how much they argue and fight with each other, they immediately drop everything to come to their sibling's rescue. And because they all suffer so much that I wish the best for each of them.

I thought of writing a little bit about each sibling's journey, but then my review will be super long and possibly very boring. Let's just say each has a very distinct personality and has amazing character growth in this drama. All of their marriages go through ups and downs. This is no fairytale, as happily-ever-after does not come easy to the Qiao family. When watching this drama, I have to pause and only watch a couple episodes a day. I cry and suffer with them, and it became intolerable to binge watch. I endured all this suffering because I pray that it has a happy ending. I wish there are more light and comedic moments in this drama, to balance out the tough moments.

Other Notes:
1. I am glad to watch another Bai Yu (Brother #1) drama after The Guardian. His acting is no joke. He's excellent in this drama.
2. This is my first drama of Zhang Wan Yi (Brother #2). I became a fan and look forward to seeing more of his dramas in the future. He's quite handsome :)
3. So glad to see Rachel Momo (Sister #3) in this very likable role. I really disliked her in "Princess Wei Young". But then, it also speaks to her great acting ability.
4. Song Zu Er (Sister #4) grew on me. I didn't like her and her character that much in the beginning, but she has the best character development in the drama. I look forward to her upcoming dramas.
5. I am so glad that the actors are using their own voices and it also sounded like live recording.

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Most Romantic + Amazing Chemistry without much Physical Affection/Touching

9/19/2021

I've wanted to watch this drama when it first aired, but hold off until I can binge watch it. I was afraid the drama might not live up to my expectations or all the glowing reviews I've read. I am happy to say that, it deserves all the praise. It's so beautiful and heartbreaking that you can only recover knowing "Forever and Ever" is coming right up! I love Bai Lu and really liked Allen Ren in "Under the Power". They have so much chemistry; you love them so much and cry with them every step of the way. I can't wait to watch when they can live happily ever after thousands of years later.

What I like:

1. Bai Lu/Allen Ren - They ARE the show. Their chemistry is amazing. All the loving looks, torturous looks, longing gazes, side glances... all of them. As my headline stated, there isn't much touching or physical affection. There is no kiss. But I never feel the need for them to kiss (and I LOVE kisses, esp. Bai Lu's kisses). If there's a kiss, I think it might destroy the pure, innocent romance. I am happy with a few touches, and a few hugs (though they are all sad hugs). When I see tears welling up in their eyes, my tears start to fall with theirs. Bai Lu has to be the most beautiful actress when crying. She has such a natural, beautiful, heartbreaking look when she is crying. I've seen quite a few of Bai Lu's dramas, and I love her the best here. Allen Ren has equally expressive eyes and he has even less to say in words, but more with his actions and his eyes. Oh, I feel his regret for swearing not to get married. When you watch the BTS of them, you realize how great their acting is. They had so much fun and laugh so much, yet their characters are totally opposite.

2. Acting - Aside from our main leads, the supporting cast is quite good as well. Everyone acted naturally, even the villains. Over-the-top and cartoonish villains are one of my pet peeves, and I am glad we don't find that in this drama. The veterans actors are of course great, but the younger cast is quite good as well. I quite like Wang Xing Yue/Liu Zi Xing, even though he doesn't have too many scenes.

3. Cui Shi Yi (FL) - I really like Shi Yi's character, our female lead. She is shy and reserved, but smart and brave. She is not a pushover and will speak up (or sign) for what's right and just. She is not afraid to show her affection for ML and is often the one that initiates any physical affection. She might be shy, but she's straightforward and honest about her feelings and communicates well with ML. I really like her as our female lead.

4. Allen Ren in Uniform - I know this is vain, but Allen Ren looks like a prince in white and dashing/fearless when he's in black. Just looking at his face, I don't find him super attractive, but when he's in a historical drama and wearing a uniform, he just oozes charisma and charm. I felt the same way watching in "Under the Power".

5. Fight Scenes - I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy the fight choreography and scenes in this drama. There is no slow-mo spinning or close-up of the actors' faces. No useless posing in front of the camera in the middle of the fight. The fights scenes are better than some I've seen in wuxia dramas.

6. *SPOILER* Episode 16 - this is my favorite episode. It's one of the more heartbreaking but super romantic episode. We have the death of a teacher/father figure. Our leads just spent a little couple time together to heal each other and then we got the announcement of FL's marriage again. The scene when FL tried to touch ML's nose, and he leaned forward and let her touch him.... my heart. That's one of the most romantic scenes ever esp. because we know what will happen to them in the future.

What I don't Like (nitpicking here):
1. BGM - The background music is a little tad loud for my taste. However, when the dialog resumes, the music is toned down and I can listen to what the actors are saying.

2. Sign Language - it seems like even some people who don't know FL well or long can understand her sign language?

3. *SPOILER* FL's ending - It's a little unrealistic that she was so heavily guarded for so long, yet when she walked off by herself to go up the tower, no one followed her? Only that one general who knows what's happening. But what about the other guards, maids, etc.? Literally no one until the King comes?

Other observations:
1. OST - There are a few songs in this drama and they all sounded beautiful. I'm happy that they are not played all the time but only as needed. The BGM also complements the scenes well.

2. It seems like no one is getting a happy ending in the romance department, not even the supporting cast. This has got to be the only drama I've seen that no one ends up happy. I wish they all live happily ever happy in "Forever and Ever".

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The Guessing Game

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.

I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.

J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.

I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.

Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.


Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.



Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362

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Too long for an uneven pacing SLOW healing drama.

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

“Meet Yourself” is a beloved drama here on MDL and I can see why so many people are in love with it. I was hoping to love it too, but unfortunately, I only like it. I hesitated to watch this due to its rave reviews and I need time to ensure I am in the right mood to watch this drama. Objectively, this is a great drama but for my subjective rating of my personal satisfaction and enjoyment, I can only give it an. 8.25. I have two main criticisms only but they are enough to prevent me from truly enjoying the drama.


What I Like:

1. Grandma Xie - Who doesn’t love grandma??? She’s witty and funny, and it’s a ray of beautiful sunshine. I love how she defends her loved ones both verbally, physically and emotionally. I love her intelligent way of pulling strings behind the scenes to get what she wants. We need more grandmas like her!

2. Sceneries - Can’t really argue with the picturesque landscapes and relaxing sceneries in this drama. I want to visit this little village and take a long vacation as well. I really like the boarding house with the courtyard, even if it doesn’t have good soundproofing and I might fall on my face when walking down those cobblestones.

3. Acting - Great acting all around… from the youngest to the oldest. Those four child actors are amazing and I believe they use their own voices and speak the lines themselves. The main cast did not disappoint, nor the supporting cast.

4. No annoying characters -Oftentimes, dramas set in the rural areas or countryside will have annoying side characters or villagers. I actually like all the aunties and grannies in this drama. They are loud, but they are not annoying and each of them has their own personalities.

5. Chemistry - Though I think the romance is a little too slow burn, I do think once Xu Hong Dou and Xie Zhi Yao get together, they have really good chemistry. Their display of affection and skin feel natural and mature.


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Slow Pacing - My biggest criticism is the pacing of the drama. I understand this is a healing, relaxing slice-of-life drama. I’ve seen my share of them as well. But the first 20 episodes really are slow with nothing much happening. 40 episodes for a healing drama is too much. I feel that the drama could have spent some time on the stories of the supporting cast in the first half, instead of jamming them all in the second half. There are so many interesting stories that could have been explored more instead of doing so half-heartedly.. The romance can be slow-burn, but when everything is slow, the slow burn romance feels even slower. I am a binge-watcher and I keep on falling asleep (I am also tired from work). Even though I stopped binge-watching and watched only a couple episodes a day, the drama still doesn’t hold my attention throughout. I find myself not tempted to hit the “play” button for the next episode. If I wasn’t persistent in continuing, I could have easily dropped it within the first 20 episodes.

2. Music - I actually quite like the songs in the soundtrack. BUT, they play the songs waaaay too often and too loud, and often the same songs repeatedly for many episodes.. For a healing drama in the countryside, I would have liked to have fewer songs with lyrics blasting when the actors are speaking their lines. Maybe some relaxing instrumental background music to complement the tranquility of the drama (but will I fall asleep more? Mmm….). I was quite annoyed with all the singing.


I would definitely recommend this drama if you are in the mood for a slow, healing, slice-of-life drama. It has beautiful scenery, excellent acting and a very fun supporting cast. The drama is just too slow for me. Additionally, this drama should not be compared to the Korean drama “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. HCCC is a rom-com with annoying characters. “Meet Yourself” is totally different. Two very different genres and feel to them.


Other Random Observations:
1. FL has so many pairs of sunglasses.
2. There’s a lot of cooking and eating.
3. There are some pretty funny moments, and lovely conversations.
4. Those 4 kids warm and break my heart.
5. Ep 19 is one of my favorite episodes - the mushroom episode brought out so many different emotions.
6. Reminds me of the Taiwanese drama “A Thousand Goodnights”. Both dramas are like promotions from the local Tourism Board.



Completed: 9/12/2023 - Review #353

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Well-acted, Mature and Dark drama with a controversial Female Lead

At the writing of this review, its MDL rating is at 8.5. I am actually a little surprised that it’s so high. Not that I don’t like the drama, in fact, I really like it. But for the fact that with quite a controversial and flawed female lead, who has made some questionable decisions and said some mean words, I think some watchers might really be put off by her.

“Will Love in Spring” is definitely not a romantic comedy. Death is a central theme, and if this is one of your taboo subjects, do not watch this drama. There are some funny and sweet/fluffy moments. But for the most part, this is a mature, dark, healing drama. It’s a character-driven drama that focuses on our main leads' development and their relationships with family members and each other. This is a mature drama that makes you think.

Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong have excellent chemistry from start to finish. Their romance is nicely developed from when they first met in high school, to reconnecting again as adults. They had a long and bumpy ride before they hit the final destination in the very last episode. Zhang Jie (FL) is an independent, feisty, outgoing professional woman who still struggles with low-esteem due to her disability. However, at one point, I do find her shenanigans a little repetitive. I also believe many viewers are mad at her during the New Year’s Eve episode (ep 15?). Her actions and words towards Chen Mai Dong (ML) were uncalled for and downright mean. But given what happened that night at home, her past trauma and what she’s gone through in life, I can understand her and choose to have faith in her. What was most disappointing to me is her decision in the last couple episodes. Not being honest with ML about her decision and plans until the very end is more unforgiving to me. They have always had an honest and open relationship from bickering to comforting each other. Why can’t she be honest now? But, I give props to the drama for not crashing and burning in the end. The final episode wraps out everything nicely and gives me closure to Chen Main Dong and Zhang Jie’s story. The conversation they had at the NanPing train station: FL’s realization of her actions and ML’s clear understanding of FL’s personality, strengths and weaknesses, and his explanation and forgiveness, brought me so much comfort and joy. In the end, they found love and learned to love. For romance lovers, let’s not forget to include the fact that this couple is very affectionate and not afraid to display their affections through kisses and hugs. Lastly, Chen Mai Dong is another green flag and only he can balance out Zhang Jie’s energy.

There are so many lovely side characters in this drama. I love the relationship of the siblings. Niao Niao (little sis) is played by the talented child actress, Zhang Xi Wei. What a little firecracker and smartass she is. She brings so much color to the drama. Wu Jun Ting plays the quirky and sweet younger brother, Zhuang Yan. Who has a pet goose and walks it like a dog?? Zhuang Yan! I haven’t seen Wu Jun Ting since “Time and Her are Just Right”. I loved him in that drama and remembered his nice deep voice. I also envy the friendship between Grandma Chen and Grandma Lin. They are the poster children for best-friend-forever friendship. I enjoy the sisterhood between FL and Wang Xi Xia. Wang Peng looks so pretty as the best friend. She looks so much more mature and sexy than in her previous roles. Last but not the least, FL’s mother. I bet she’s another character that many hate. She’s the typical loud Chinese mother, who can’t stop criticizing her children. She’s tolerable but at one point I also want to strangle her. Glad she got a lot better towards the last few episodes. I am not sure if it’s the actress or the character, but she always seems to talk and laugh with a fake smile.

I would love to see more of the funny romance between BFF Wang Xi Xia and the Doc. The Doc is so quirky and adorable at the same time. Their scenes give the drama a more light-hearted touch, as they are hilarious together. I just want more of them.

I am not familiar with the funeral industry or the role of an embalmer. So, I can’t comment on how realistic “Will Love in Spring” is portraying that. It’s not a profession that we see in dramas often, so I am glad to get a peek into ML’s job.

I would recommend this drama to those that love a realistic portrayal of life, struggles, and relationships. The characters in this drama are all flawed and they make decisions that we don’t always agree with. But life is not rosy and we are not perfect. If you don’t mind the topic of death, this is an excellently acted drama. I had a great time watching this, even if I had a roller coaster ride of emotions.



Completed: 5/4/2024 - Review #437

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Watch this for Liu Xue Yi but not for a tightly-written mystery plot.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I went into “In Blossom” blind without reading the synopsis or watching the trailer. All I knew is that Liu Xue Yi is the male lead and that’s the only reason I need. LXY did not disappoint, though I think his voice acting could be better. This is not a big complaint because aside from him, the main cast and most of the supporting cast used voice actors. I always appreciate actors dubbing themselves, even though they are not perfect. If you don’t practice, how can you get better, right?

“In Blossom” has a little bit of everything - slow-burn romance, crime investigation/mysteries, action/martial arts and some comedic moments. I do think the drama balances all these elements pretty well. More on romance and mystery in a little bit. I want to comment on the action scenes. I know this is not a wuxia drama, but I feel that the fight scenes are below-average to average. There aren’t too many, but enough for me to wish they are better choreographed and actors fight a little harder and faster. It’s not going to ruin your enjoyment of the drama, but I am a little picky in this area. Comedy is enough to be sprinkled throughout the drama. I enjoy the little comedic moments by the supporting cast, or just a sarcastic remark here and there. Humor brings some light-heartedness to this somewhat serious drama without going over-the-top.

The romance is slow-burn but is developed nicely. ML falls in love with FL again, not because of her looks and wealth, but because of the person inside. They started out as enemies, then frenemies, then partners-in-investigation and eventually partners-in-love. Even though I like the writing of how the relationship is developed and written, I found the chemistry lacking. Liu Xue Yi is only 4 years older than Ju Jing Yi in real life, but when they stand next to each other, LXY looks so much more mature and older. In fact, he seems better matched with the original Yang Cai Wei in the first few episodes and have much better chemistry. LXY and JJY seem more like siblings or best friends when they are bickering. I wonder if it’s because there also seems to be a personality change between the original and the new Yang Cai Wei. The original YCW appears older and more mature, after all she had a really tough life carrying corpses everywhere. The new YCW seems younger and more outgoing and friendly.

That brings me to mystery and crime investigation. There are MANY small investigations in these 32 episodes that tie back to the main plot and mystery. I am usually a fan of how these mini stories, that are not episodic, integrate to the main storyline. But in this drama, there are just way too many, and eventually I lose focus and don’t care anymore. There are also some plot holes and illogical inconsistencies. I do not think the mystery part is tightly written. I feel that if I want to fully enjoy this drama, I need to turn off my brain and not think critically. If you are a big fan and a veteran of crime investigation and mysteries, you might not be satisfied.

The acting as a whole is pretty solid. Liu Xue Yi lives up to my expectations. Ju Jing Yi has a bad rep, but I think she did fine. Not exceptional but also not horrible. 2ML Li Ge Yang might be the weaker of the younger cast.

Lastly, I want to comment on Liu Xue Yi’s wardrobe. He has some beautiful costumes that do not look cheap! You can see the quality of the cloth and the beautiful designs and patterns. Even though Ju Jing Yi’s costumes aren’t bad, I can’t keep my eyes on how handsome and dashing Liu Xue Yi looks. And he looks great both with his down and up in a bun.

I would only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the leads, especially if you are like me, watching this solely for Liu Xue Yi. It’s also not bad if you want a drama that has a good mix of romance and mystery. But if you are picky about tightly written plots, intricate and sensible crime investigation, then you might not find this drama enjoyable.



Completed: 4/8/2024 - Review #425

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Don't miss the scenes during and after the ending credits in the last episode!

Rating - 8.25

I remember back when Hikaru Utada’s song “First Love'' came out in 1999, many were obsessed with it, and I was one of them. I played this song many, many times. So when I heard a drama is coming out based on this song and starring the amazing Satoh Takeru, I have to watch it. The expectations were high and did the drama meet them? I am afraid not quite.

“First Love:Hatsukoi” is a beautifully made drama. Most of the drama was set in snowy Hokkaido and the cinematography was great. Even when it switches to Tokyo, the color palette fits the tone of the drama, especially when telling the story of our hard-working female lead. Because the drama was based on two songs, I was initially concerned that those songs would be overplayed. I am glad that wasn’t the case. It didn’t make me hate “First Love” (the song) but made me love it again. There are quite a few English songs in the drama, which I have hoped are Japanese instead. Maybe Netflix has something to do with it. It does give some sort of American feel to a supposedly very Japanese drama.

Acting is top notch. I am already a big fan of Satoh Takeru and his micro-expressions are no joke. It’s so nice to see him play a regular guy going through tough times. It’s fun to see him displaying a fun side when he’s a security guard joking with his co-worker. It’s a nice change from seeing him as a hotshot doctor, an over-the-top baker or a cold-blooded swordsman. I am glad to be introduced to Mitsushima Hikari. When she was first introduced in the drama, she was a hard-working but tired-looking taxi driver. But throughout the drama, you see different sides of Noguchi Yae, and Mitsushima Hikari does a beautiful job in portraying a young and naive wife, a young mother, a downtrodden divorcee and then a supportive mother to her teenage son. As amazing as these veteran actors are, the two young leads might have stolen their thunder a little bit. Yagi Rikako playing the younger Yae, and Kido Taisei as the younger Harumichi light up the screen. Their infectious smiles and bright sunny personalities make the drama so much fun to watch. Their story is more enjoyable and makes a bigger impression on me than the adult leads.

Not that the adult version of the love story is not memorable, it just lacks a certain gut punching feel. I was hoping for more angst, more heartbreaking moments between the adult Yae and Harumichi. I wanted more scenes between the two, more longing looks from Harumichi and more touching moments. I think the side story between Tsuzuru and Uta might have taken too much time from the main storyline. I don’t find this young romance too interesting, though the purpose of their romance is to remind the adults to pursue their dreams and loved ones. The pacing of the story is quite slow and I can certainly feel it when I am binge-watching this in a day.

I also have conflicting feelings in the use of flashbacks in the storytelling. I like how the different timelines are interwoven together, and how one timeline picks up the story of another timeline. But it did take me a quick second to get used to the transition. Viewers do need to pay close attention especially in the first episode to get used to the switches, especially when young Harumichi and Tsuzuru have very similar build and hairstyle. I think my biggest issue is how short these flashbacks could be, thus making the back-and-forth switches very abrupt.


Other Random Observations:
1. I love the wedding and the speech with sign language. I also love the blue color theme.
2. I remember those Titanic moments and it’s fun to see the young lovers re-enacting the famous scene.
3. I wonder how Harumichi becomes a security guard. Did I miss the explanation?
4. I like the bonding between Harumichi and Tsuzuru.
5. Don’t miss out on the scenes during and after the ending credits in the last episode!


Completed: 11/26/2022

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They died, they didn't die... they died, they didn't die. Did they die or not??

Completed - 5/5/2022

In Part 1, I praised the drama for its beautiful and colorful cinematography and costumes. Part 2 made a 180-degree turn due to its primary setting in the wintery North. We see snowy trees and mountains, frozen lakes and a beautiful house with unique blue lanterns. The wintery scenes are definitely beautiful. However, after a while, I crave colors instead of bright, shining, white backgrounds and black costumes. How I miss the colors in Part 1!

If I base my review solely on the first ⅓ of the drama, I might have given it a 7 or 7.5 rating. The pacing is so slow. After 4 episodes of seeing our FL being so sickly, and talking like she’s half-dead, I became very bored. This lasted for about 8 episodes (too long). I did not like Dilraba’s acting and/or her character in these episodes at all, and I also became annoyed with the voice actress. Of course, this is all very subjective and you might think this is Dilraba’s best acting, as she’s not cute and innocent, like her usual roles.

If Part 1 is all about misunderstandings, then Part 2 is about who can die sacrificing themselves the most. Let’s take turns doing that! Also, did they die or not? How many times did a character die and then not die?

Our leads are not that interesting in Part 2 and I am not really feeling their chemistry. This might be due to the fact that most of the romance happened towards the end of the drama. I am actually liking the other romances. I like the weird and adorable odd couple, and the opposite-attracts couple. I think both couples are more fun to watch and have better chemistry than our main leads. Additionally, there really aren't any annoying characters. There are no evil second leads due to unrequited love not returned! How rare is that in a xianxia drama! I think my favorite character is Shunde Fairy. She’s an interesting and complicated character, and I enjoy Cristy Guo’s acting.

Costumes and accessories continue to shine. Allen Ren and Dilraba continue to look handsome and stunning. Actually, every single actress looks beautiful in this drama. Props to the make-up artists and costume designers. I love the wedding gowns with the ocean theme - scales designs and mermaid tails. Also love the sea animal sky lanterns.

The songs are the same ones as in Part 1. The more I listen to the songs, the more I like them. I think my favorite song in Part 2 is Mao Buyi’s version of 如你所想 (As you thought). The male version, to me, sounds better than the female version.

The CGI in Part 2 seems inconsistent. There are scenes when the graphics are good. But others, such as the fight in the desert between the Head Immortal Master and the Jade Phoenix was very bad. It seems like they run out of money towards the end of the drama for special effects.

Lastly, without going into spoilers, the editing on the ending could have been a lot better. At first glance, the director seems to want viewers to come up with their own explanation. However, are scenes cut due to censorship? Is that intentional? Something seems to be missing. Thanks to MDLers in the comment section, I read the article with the explanation.

It is a pity that English subtitles are not readily available yet. Although this is not my favorite xianxia drama, I think many would enjoy it.

Other Observations:
1. For someone who until recently hasn’t had that many kiss scenes in dramas, Allen Ren surely has many fish kisses here. He's a fish afterall. ?
2. The secret room with the painting doesn’t seem to be that secretive, since so many got in.
3. Leaders in this drama like to keep plans hidden from others, and then others keep on messing up their plans.
4. Tian Jun (Heavenly Emperor) only has 2 gods to keep him company? Where are the others?

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Awful over dramatic acting and boisterous characters that assault your senses.

First things first, is this drama worth watching? NO!!!!!!

If you are not in a hurry, continue reading to find out why. I was ‘gifted’ this drama as a challenge watch from a MDLer’s least favorite dramas collection. And there’s a reason why “Ohlala Couple” receives a MDL rating of 6.5 and my friends’ average rating of 3.0 at the time of this writing.

If it wasn’t for the challenge, I would have dropped this drama within the first 5 minutes (within 2 minutes of the introduction of the present-day ML). I am not sure if it’s the screenwriter or the two directors to be blamed for this disaster.

Soo Nam (ML) has my most hated male lead introduction ever in all 800+ dramas I’ve seen so far. Not only did he cheat on his wife, he is a narcissistic, sexist, self-centered, chauvinistic pig. Since he’s the male lead, it’s to be expected that there will be a redemption arc for him throughout the drama. Unfortunately, I am not sure how many watchers made it past the first episode to want to see him redeem himself.

Compounded with the worst male lead introduction ever, is the over dramatic acting of the WHOLE cast. Not just the male lead, but the female lead, their family members and hotel employees. When the annoyance level is exponentially multiplied, this becomes harassment and assault to my senses. There’s so much screaming and yelling, physical hitting and verbal insults. Is it because this is produced in 2012 and watching this in 2024 causes this intolerance of mine? I was never a fan of the overdramatic acting or boisterous characters, but “Ohlala Couple” wins the gold medal right here.

Luckily, the craziness and the annoyance settled down a bit once the body switch was over. I am so glad I didn’t have to wait till the end of the drama for that to happen. But at this point, I already lost interest in the drama and there’s no way in hell for me to love it.

The drama is also way too long with many illogical inconsistencies. You can just walk into the hospital or doctor’s office and expect to have a medical procedure done right there. Who in their right mind (even if you have never worked at a hotel) tells a VVIP customer off and calls her husband a cheating rapist? Who drives an ambulance so recklessly for just a liver transplant?

Let’s end on a positive note. It’s lovely and nostalgic to listen to some old English songs played in the background. I’m so glad we actually have two lovely secondary leads. The only thing you could fault about the 2FL is that she fell in love with someone’s husband. But as a person, she is kind and sweet, and really deserves to be loved by a great man. Her obsession with the male lead might have caused her clinginess and stalkerish behavior, and a few poor choices, but she was just craving love. And our secondary male lead definitely deserves someone better. He’s smart and just, kind and considerate. Aside from making a noble idiocy choice when he was young, he’s a perfect guy. I shed some tears for him in the last episode. Despite how I hated the acting of everyone, I have to give the actors props and salute their dedication to the craft. The amount of cringe and secondhand embarrassment is off the chart. Yet, the actors did what they were asked to do and performed. It’s all the directors and screewriter’s fault!

I am going to rate this as low as my least favorite, Love Syndrome III, with a grand rating of 2.5. I disliked these two dramas for very different reasons. Objectively, “Ohlala Couple” isn’t worse. But subjectively, it was a torture to watch, even when I was watching it at 1.3x speed the whole way. I can’t even laugh at the mediocrity like when I was watching LSIII.


Completed: 7/28/2024 - Review #467

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A Drama that sticks its landing and has one of the Best Last Episodes.

When a Japanese drama obtains an 8+ MDL rating, you know it’s a good one. “Unmet: A Neurosurgeon’s Diary” is a beautiful drama telling the story and the struggles of Miyabi, as she learns to be a neurosurgeon again after her accident. This is a feel good drama that heals your soul. Miyabi is surrounded by kind people who support her, encourage her and pick her up when she’s down.

There are many meaningful conversations, thoughtful silences but also laughter and delicious-looking food!. If you are looking for a true medical drama, this might not be for you. The medical cases all have to do with the brain, afterall, Miyabi is a neurosurgeon. Each case is completed within the episode, and they are ‘common’ enough that you feel like it can happen to your, your family or your friend. Personally, episodic cases like these are a hit-or-miss. Although I don’t find the medical cases especially fascinating, I do enjoy the storytelling of the patients and how the hospital staff approach each case and collaborate.

The acting performance of Sugisaki Hana (Miyabi) and Wakaba Ryuya (Sanpei) is top notch. They are not big talkers, but you understand what they want to convey through their expressive eyes and facial expressions. The supporting cast also did a pretty good job, and really gives us more color to the drama.

Plot wise, I feel that the drama can give us more info on the car accident. The ‘villain’ part of the story is resolved rather quickly and quite anti-climatically. The ‘redemption’ story of the doctor is also taken care of swiftly. Additionally, I would love to see more of Miyabi and Sanpei’s past.

The best part of this drama is in its last episode. I was crying my eyes out as I prayed for the leads to live happily ever after. Episode 11 cemented the score of 8.5. This is one of the few dramas that actually sticks its landing and ends on a very high note.


Completed: 7/9/2024 - Review #459

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Cute Main Romance but with Many half-baked and messy side stories

If I were to rate “Love by Chance” solely on the main romantic story between Pete and Ae, this would have a higher rating. Unfortunately, this drama as a whole is messy and half-baked. There are too many side storylines that were introduced but not properly developed. I call this suffering from having a second season syndrome. These half-baked plotlines might continue in the next season, but this makes the first season full of plot holes.

But I do really enjoy Pete and Ae. They are really adorable together and have great chemistry. Yes, some of their lines are quite cringey, but I can look past that. Pete and Ae are just such good guys that it’s hard not to root for them. Ae is so sweet and kind, and seeing him slowly developing feelings for Pete and trying to understand himself is the most honest way, is a breath of fresh air. Pete is shy and I was worried that I would get annoyed with him in the beginning. I am not a fan of dismissive and passive characters. Thank goodness Pete surprises in a way that, though shy, he’s honest and will speak up and communicate his feelings. Pete and Ae really have one of the healthiest BL teen romantic relationships. They are honest and communicative. They are sweet and innocent in a way, yet the drama does not shy away from showing us that they are hormonal teenagers with desires. I think in that sense, the drama did a pretty good job, BUT only with Pete an Ae.

Unfortunately, the rest of the pairings are so much more problematic. Tin and Can have the second most screen time in their enemies-to-friends/lovers romance. It has a bullying and mean start but in the end, it touches my heart and I was saddened by Tin’s experience and how their story ended at the end of season 1. But I have to sit through their repetitive and annoying banter for a long time. Then we have these half-baked stories - Pond and Chaaim, Type and his never-seen boyfriend/girlfriend, annoying Chompoo, and Pete's ex and money stolen. But the two worst storylines are Tar and Tum. Tar has gone through something horrific but their storyline is an afterthought that has nothing to do with the main plot. It’s very unfortunate that a serious plot is thrown into the drama without proper writing/execution. The other horrible storyline is Good’s experience with the teenager. What the hell is that? Came from left field and was set up so horribly with another ‘toxic’ romance.

Additionally, the acting for the whole cast is pretty below-average. I know most of them are young actors and it’s their first drama. But I can’t just ignore the fact that I cringe at their acting quite often throughout the drama. I like Perth’s portrayal of Ae the best, and he’s my favorite in the drama. Saint’s Pete was hard to watch in the first few episodes, but he got better as the drama goes on. There are also quite a few loud and annoying characters. Ae’s roommate, Pond, is loud and obnoxious. He’s a good guy, but I can only take him with small doses. The annoying high school teenage girl, Choompoo, also gets on my nerves. I can’t stand her character and her high-pitched whiny voice. Luckily, she doesn’t have that much screen time.

If you are a fan of Saint and Perth, then I would recommend this drama for you since this is their first drama. They are really cute and their story is written in a very positive way. Otherwise, I will skip this drama. I also don’t think the introduction of the other characters' story is attractive enough for me to watch season 2 to find out their ending. If I do watch it, it’s because I see Perth looking quite handsome in this supporting role in season 2.


Completed: 6/1/2024 - Review #447

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Non-judgmental storytelling about casual sex - unique but not great

Completed - 6/9/2022

Japan really has its own unique style in telling stories. This drama not only focuses on our female lead's sex life with her 5 friends with benefits, but also touched upon subjects such as prostitution, asexuality, and transvestism.

This drama is not preachy or judgmental, but casually tells us stories of 5 working adults at a video production company. In order to enjoy this drama, one should be open to the above-mentioned subjects and the culture of having very casual sex. Each character is quite unique in their own way. I don't find any of them particularly lovable, and actually quite annoyed with the female lead. I am still trying to get used to Japanese humor and its uniqueness/weirdness.

It might seem like our female lead is enjoying her sex life just as much as all the male characters in this drama. However, she is not as liberated and carefree as it seems. Deep down, she is just like every other typical drama female character who longs for love and marriage, and is in love with someone who doesn't care for her. She's really no different than the women that her male colleague sleeps with. Maybe that's why, I don't particularly like her or her style of acting. I actually find the stories of her colleagues more interesting than her 5 sexual partners. Well, at least A-kun is quite handsome.

With such a strong focus on sex, this drama is surprisingly PG-13. There's not a whole lot of skin shown during all the intimate scenes and they are not sexy or sensual at all. I am actually quite disappointed (no, I am not expecting p0rn either). Towards the end, it does show some chemistry between two co-workers, but nothing much really happened. Maybe their story will continue in Season 2.

Overall, this is a quick and easy watch. It could be fun if you are open to the topic. It's not a drama I highly recommend, but watch it if you want something different. Oh, and I really dislike the opening theme song.

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