A near perfect drama

I can barely put into words how much I love this drama. It got me hooked from the beginning and I immediately fell in love with the characters. There is an amazing blend of comedy and romance as well as character development. I love how our main protagonists went from enemies to friends to lovers, nothing felt too rushed and viewers can't help but root for them all the way through. Their relationship was so healthy and it was so clear that Sheng Sheng and Jiang Yi are made for each other. The hilarious moments are so random and make me think the two leads have one brain cell split between them haha (walnut cracking scene, doing bizarre physical activity to try to switch back). The side characters were also purposeful and well-developed. Jia Shu and Tong Hua's side story was super interesting yet unexpected, while Shen Qing offered the "I feel bad for him but I don't want him with the girl" character lol. The family storylines were well done and I definitely shed more than a few tears. There is almost nothing to complain about tbh. Except, unfortunately, as with any drama, there are flaws that made this a 9.5 rather than a 10.

Their breakup was justified. 100% I'll give them that. I bawled my eyes out during the whole of episode 24, which I think just showed how attached I became to their relationship. Seeing Sheng Sheng go through so much hurt within such a short period of time, and Jiang Yi feeling helpless tore me apart. They so badly wanted to be there for each other but couldn't figure out a way that would work for them. Also I really didn't expect this but I was also bawling during the whole Little Galaxy disbanding bit. Even though Little Galaxy was never a huge part of the drama, there was something about saying goodbye and all the fans thanking them for their childhood that hit so close to home.

The last episode gave me so many mixed emotions. First off, ONE WHOLE YEAR LATER. bruh. I was expected six months later max but damn okay writers. Anyway, I just felt like everything was so rushed. Jiang Yi coming back, deciding he doesn't wanna hide himself in public, then announcing that the body switching problem has been solved. I completely understood why Sheng Sheng was feeling to overwhelmed and didn't immediately say yes to Jiang Yi's offer. Something just felt off to me idk. Them getting back together was very very cute though, especially the mountain scene. BUT THEN. We realize it's a novel plot that real-life, non-fictional Sheng Sheng is writing and the beginning break up scene at the start of episode 1 suddenly made sense. While I get that having the body switching idea makes sense in a novel, I would rather have it be for real anyday. I know the novel is based off the actual relationship, but they are different from the Jiang Yi and Sheng Sheng all the viewers fell in love with. There was no need for those last 8 minutes and I kinda wished I just paused at that point.

Anyway, I will be re-watching cute scenes and BTS of this drama and missing all the characters v much.

Please, please watch this!! It deserves all the love in the world.

Leia Mais

Do you like cute dramas with... interesting characters, good-looking casts, and a typical yet sweet execution? Well, Heroine Disqualified might just be for you!

JapaneseDrama (over on Tumblr) was raving about this drama a few months ago so I decided to ditch my piles of homework and check it out. I didn't know too much going into it, but i was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I had pretty high expectations, but it was still a cute drama. The story was very very very typical, yet i still found myself on the edge of my seat, anticipating what's to come. The acting and characters are probably what won me over. Our protagonist was perfect! She's relatable, funny (facial expressions on point!) and all too kawaii. The SLS is very very intense in this one as well, and our second female lead was interesting and different. I COULD NOT STAND OUR MALE LEAD THOUGH. He was bland yet somehow super frustrating and confusing. I could go on and on ranting about him but i don't think he's worth the time. Though props on the cinematography.

Leia Mais

I'm going to start off by saying that I don't usually watched dramas while they're airing, but I did with Back to 1989, so I feel as though I might be more bias in my review since I've watched the characters grow each week, which is much different from marathoning and seeing their growth in a few days.

I really fell attached with BT1989 and everything about it. There was a great blend of everything: family, first love, regrets, difficulties.. it was definitely my cup of tea. In my few years of drama watching, I've never heard of a plot like this drama. It's interesting, captivating, though quite confusing the more you think about it. It was so interesting to see how everything played out, and the writers definitely didn't let us down. However, TRIGGER WARNING for anyone uncomfortable with sexual assault. I did feel as though it got draggy near the end with the romance, but it was still an enjoyable watch. Many plot twists occurred that I didn't expect, and it had me on the edge of my seats with the different camera angles and shots. All the characters, as I've mentioned, I've become so attached with. While some were annoying at times, they each bring something important to the story. They made me laugh, cry, and shake my head in disbelief of how insane they were. We got your innocent and clumsy female lead and your smart and cool handsome male lead along with an adorable second couple and the awkward side characters that bring humour to any awkward situation, making it more awkward.

Some people really stood out with their acting, especially our second lead couple, which includes our second female lead Mini Tsai, and our second male lead Yorke Sun, both of whom I now adore their acting. It was nice seeing Ivy Shao play a different character from her cunning one in When I See You Again. However, I had mixed feelings on the main lead, Marcus Chang, though it was his first main role, so I still give him some credit. His crying made me laugh more than feel pity, but i could definitely see his improvement as the episodes progressed. Still not the best crier though, haha.

Besides the main theme song (you'll understand...), i loved the OST! I don't listen to them on a regular basis, but they suited the drama so well. They actually had hit songs from 1989, which was perfect for making it seem more realistic, along with a variety of songs that really scream Back to 1989. Besides Alien Huang, the rest were by more underrated or newer artists, so I was definitely intrigued. Now that I've finished the drama, I suddenly realize how amazing the soundtrack really is.

Overall, it has its flaws; it has a confusing conclusion with many issues still not explained, along with some draggy parts, but i loved this drama. It's what I looked forward to every Friday, and it was well produced, and it brought the feeling back of why i love Asian dramas. I'm so glad I found this, and I hope i persuaded some of you to watch it.

Leia Mais

I usually don't have the patience for longer dramas but boy was I pulled in by Forget You Remember Love. It definitely takes awhile to be fully immersed but each episode is super addicting and it does the amnesia story in a way that's not too annoying. I remember not really liking the Guanmei people but they really grow on you. Tonghao and Qian Yu's goodbye was probably one of the saddest things I've ever seen which goes to show how amazing the chemistry between the leads are. I feel like this drama has something for everyone - be it romance, family dynamics, funny side characters, and mystery. Jun Hao's family and Yun Yi were really really getting on my nerves but they went through great character development. All the characters are a lot deeper than they seem on the surface and got their perfect endings (except for my baby Taichu *cries*). Idk, it was just such an enjoyable ride and the one thing I looked forward to every week after a lot of online classes and dealing with my family members lol. I grew attached to all the characters. This drama had such a comforting and homey feel to it. There were various side stories that kept me entertained and the beautiful cinematography was another plus. The only downside is that I would've liked for Jun Hao to regain his memories of Tong Hao (but I also know that's insignificant because the important thing is HE as Jun Hao loves Qian Yu).

Yun Yi, in particular, had such an amazing wrap up. I love that they explored her depression and feelings of abandonment. They also did a great job with foreshadowing the conflict of Marv at the end!

The love story, while adorable, is also really tragic. The main leads had to go through so much to be together and their love was so touching and impactful as a viewer. Their love is all the more precious because of how much pain and suffering the main leads had to go through to end up happily together.

There were so many cute scenes that always pop up on my Instagram and I think I'll always click it, even if I've already watched it a dozen times. I know that a lot of people said that storyline is a bit outdated, but I feel like they produced the story in this day and age really well. It was comforting and nostalgic to watch something that gave me 2010s vibes.

A lot of the actors are newbies or people I haven't really heard of before, but I really hope to see them in more projects in the future!

I'm really going to miss all the characters and Guanmei and just tuning in every week. Even though it may have not been the most spectacular thing I've watched, it really has my heart and I'm so happy that it wrapped up so nicely. It is so underrated and definitely deserves more love!

Leia Mais

I managed to watch a lot of this drama on the drive to my trip to Montreal, and I'm pretty sure I creeped out my dad and sister sitting in the front with my unstoppable squealing and gasping. It's safe to say that I was very attached to this drama.

Yes, the storyline is very typical, but I found each and every episode to be enjoying to watch, and the writers do a great job of ending off with a cliffhanger, making you click on the next episode. I deleted 3 apps on my phone just so I could have the storage for Good Morning Call. I love the cliches (THE FREAKING LOVE TRIANGLE HAD ME TORN OMG), but also appreciated how some drama stereotypes were broken (the guy, while handsome and smart, isn't rich and you really get to see how hard he has to work). I loved the friendships. Oh my holy goodness, the friendship between the main protagonists with the other characters is so delightful and genuine and I was so happy to see such a tight group of friends.

I absolutely adored the acting and cast. All of the cast did a great job of brining unique aspects to their character and tying the storyline together. They also all had great chemistry with each other, making the story believable.

The music wasn't' a big part of the drama, but there were definitely some tunes I found to be super cute and fitting to the drama.

Leia Mais

Orange follows the story of Naho, a 16 year old girl whose life takes a turn when she finds a letter given to her by herself from ten years into the future. That same day, a new kid turns up in her class named Kakeru. The letter then says to save Kakeru and to prevent her future self's regrets. (Not incredibly detailed, but I think it's best going into Orange knowing as little as possible!)

Orange... is not what I expected it to be. Instead of the typical romantic comedy, it was much more heartfelt and more friendship orientated. It hooks you automatically, and keeps you hooked until the end. It gives off a very homey feel, and while there are many Japanese live action cliches, it was extremely refreshing, specifically our main male lead (ahh Kentoooooo). The concept revolving time travel is only touched on slightly, leaving a more open-ended ending, but I think it works in this case. The filmography was well done and the slightest camera angles made a huge difference in certain scenes.

For the most part, asides from our main male lead, the other characters were alright. They didn't really go into their story in depth (not even the female lead), but they were given enough character to not be bland. The dynamic between the group of friends was great and believable enough, but there were times (and I see this was a concern for a few other people as well) when I thought the main female lead just didn't fit in with the group. She felt more of an individual hanging around the group instead of someone who's part of the group. Her voice was quite timid and she frustrated me at times (what female leads don't though?).

I'm going to admit: I didn't cry, not even close, while watching Orange. Sure, I had a few goosebumps here and there, but it wasn't enough to make me cry. It was definitely touching, but I saw the ending coming ten minutes before it actually happened so it didn't hit me in the heart as hard as it should've. Despite that, Orange was a great watch that's got me excited to try more live action adaptations!

Leia Mais

Aww, this was such a sweet fun watch! Definitely one to pick up if you're into cute romance and different school topics. It was fun and refreshing seeing some of the less popular faces that I like (Bernice Tsai, Dino Lee, Ian Chen...) and getting to see new ones that I've never heard of.

The story was spectacular. It's typical and overused, but it was done well! There wasn't one long draggy story, but multiple ones that led to a strong ending. It focused on different aspects from being insecure to being criticized for being in a certain clique, and it was just amazing. I laughed like crazy, almost teared up, and had a fun time! There were some characters i thought that could've had more character development because they stayed the same practically throughout the entire film. As well, they didn't focus too much on the parents or teachers, which I would've like to see more of.

The main theme is beautiful. Not something I would listen to by itself, but suited different scenes perfectly! I didn't pay much attention to the insert songs, though. I thought that it was clever to leave some scenes without music to make it more touching and really emphasize on those parts.

Leia Mais

This drama was so amazing, and such a delightful watch!! I fell in love with the plot, the characters, and felt so invested into this world of mystery and romance. I picked this up on a whim, but I'm so glad i did!

Story:
The story was extremely captivating, right from the start! Not only does it get me thinking about someone's memory resetting every night, but I was always in love with the mysteries. Unlike other mystery shows I've watched, there were deeper meanings behind the ones here; all heartwarming and amazingly done. Everytime I was SURE my logic made sense, the writers go and blow my mind. *mind blown*. The humour was always a great touch, and i fell in love with all the characters, especially the supporting ones.

Acting/Cast:
I was extremely happy with the casting. Not only did the main leads have undeniable chemistry, but their individual characters were quirky, loveable, and believable.. despite how weird they are. I'm not extremely into J-dramas, but I hope these guys are famous actors, 'cause they blew my mind with every task and challenge.

Music:
The opening and theme song were both really, really, REALLY catchy (I'm singing it in my head as i write this!), which is always a nice addition, haha. I didn't pay attention to the insert songs or the instrumental tracks at first, but I started noticing how delicately it was placed for specific scenes at specific times. The editing was done really well, and the music was just overall a nice touch!

Rewatch Value:
I think that this is a type of drama to re-watch on a nice fall day when you're feeling like a detective. Episode 7, in particular, was one of my favourites, so I would watch that, but I don't think I would re-watch the entire drama.

Overall, i had a blast watching this, and I'm missing it already. I wish it was longer, though!!!

Leia Mais

A perfect blend of OG Taiwanese Dramas and new Chinese Dramas

Having heard a lot of frustration and mixed reviews about the last 10 episodes or so of this drama, I was honestly preparing myself for it to be pretty bad, but I honestly really enjoyed it, and asides from maybe the ending being rushed, I agree with the majority of the writing choices.

Being already a fan of Liang Jie and Xing Zhao Lin, I was super excited to see their chemistry here, and they definitely don't disappoint. They're so natural around each other, and it was very touching to see their characters' relationship develop over time. The beginning was fast paced, comedic, and super enjoyable to watch. The various mishaps, while sometimes cringey, were super fun to watch nonetheless. Honestly, compared with many other modern day romantic cdramas, Jia Xin and Xi Yi are both more complex than what appears on the surface, and I think the situations these characters went through really shows their development and growth. While I was definitely frustrated with both at times, you really can't help but still love them, root for them, and ultimately understand where they're coming from/why they do what they do.

The relationship b/w Jia Xin and her mom was beautiful, and same goes for her relationship with Xi Yi's grandma. The supporting characters (namely Anson + Siqi) were fun to watch, but definitely didn't go through as much development. Some characters were pretty much forgotten about completely (Xiyi's aunt + brother). Some characters didn't really develop at all lol (Dylan, Anna). But nonetheless, I still enjoyed watching them all.

I think what hits me the most is the storyline between Ximi and the 3 year time jump. It definitely gave me My Lucky Star feels, and made me cry like a baby. I was so so impressed by the main leads' acting, and despite never experiencing something like what they did, I was so touched. It brought the dramatic writing of mid-2000s Taiwanese dramas and updated it to appeal to the modern-day cdrama watcher. It gave me both a sense of nostalgia without being as over the top/cringey as older dramas haha.

Like others have mentioned, the last episode was definitely rushed, and the leads only got back together within like the last 5 minutes. I feel like a lot of cdramas nowadays have the tendency to do this. I would've loved for them to go visit Ximi's room together, or just spend more time together rather than rushing straight into their wedding.

I already miss their chemistry, so even though I don't like historical dramas, I might actually watch The Eternal Love now!

Leia Mais

A beautiful slice of life that hits you in all the feels

It's been about a week since I finished watching this drama and I still think about it a lot. The plot synopsis didn't seem like the most promising thing to me but the amazing cast caught my attention, especially since I could already imagine the chemistry between Ben and Ivy. Right off the bat, this drama hooked me on. The dynamic and friendships of the main friend group was really well established and I love the idea of moving into a big city and discovering yourself. It gave off major In a Good Way vibes, which I absolutely adored. The several time jumps allowed us to really become attached to the characters, who are all flawed but still lovable in their own ways. This drama perfectly captures the struggles of growing up, establishing a career and relationships and hardships, such as lost of friends. Yuanman and Wuxian completely won my heart and while I was annoyed at them for their poor communication at times, I loved their development and how they helped each other grow. I admit, at the start, I didn't really like Houzi, especially the storyline of him committing crimes, but my heart absolutely tore apart seeing him being looked down after serving his time and then getting sick. Yuanman and her mom's storyline was also so well written and I loved her development at the end where she chose family over work, which was her main struggle throughout the drama. My only complaint was that Director Bai deserved better. They made a big ordeal about how much Wuxian loves designing toys, and even though I understand why he became a doctor, I would've loved to see him decide to pursue his dream of designing toys instead. All in all, this drama has completely won my heart and made me cry way too many times.

Leia Mais

this is legit more of a rant where i spew out all my thoughts right after watching. probably not a very informative or helpful review lol.

i started watching WIL2 after attempting WIL and finding out about the horrible plot twist that ruined the drama. after learning WIL2 is set in an alternate universe, i decided to give it a try because i really liked the cast from WIL. i also kept seeing clips of the main couple being adorable on my ig explore page. this drama is full so many drama tropes, from engagement contracts to amnesia to rich CEO boss guy. but! i'm trash for those things so i had a really enjoyable time watching WIL2. the first few episodes caught me in right away with how cute everything was, but like all dramas, there was a slow middle part. i found that the villians' storylines didn't make much sense and just wanted to kick them in the face the whole time. other than them and yi zhou's mom, i LOVED all the characters. the main couple is so freaking adorable, and for the most part, were able to communicate how they felt and had AMAZING chemistry. i thought it was a tad rushed that they just decided to get married for real, but i can't complain. even though i usually hate amnesia storylines, xia lin recalling their memories made me tear up. jia fei and wen li are also cute but tbh deserved more attention. same goes for ruan meng and chu yan. i thought the last episode was really rushed and didn't answer all my questions (what happened to yao liang?) and the wedding seemed so rushed and low budget like what was going on ????? but again, still a fun and quick watch :) songs were also very very cute.

Leia Mais

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S OVER. I WAS SO ATTACHED TO THIS SHOW AND I WISHED IT WAS LONGER!

The story is very simple, yet unique. It holds many typical aspects of a rom-com, like cute romance, a dreadful love triangle, amazing side characters. an adorable main couple, and some great eye-candies. I found that the pacing (up until the last two episodes) were done amazingly. While each episode felt like it took a long time to end, I was never bored or tired of watched. It was fun and made me laugh and fangirl to my heart's delight. The ending was a bit rushed to me, especially since I felt so annoyed with the main characters!!

I loved all the characters and their development! The casting was done fairly well, and though some people didn't like Joo's acting, I thought she did a pretty good job. You could definitely see her improvement throughout the drama, which was a nice touch. All the characters brought some light into the drama and made it even more adducing.

At first, I didn't really care for the music. Nothing stood out and I didn't feel the need to buy them on iTunes or to download them. However, after 2 days of watching, I found myself humming the songs at school and realized how much i loved the soundtrack. The background music was always a nice touch, BUT MAN I LOVE JOO'S AND BEE'S RINGTONE! Excuse me while I go hunt these songs down on YouTube now, haha.

Again, I don't typically rewatch dramas, but i might go back and watch my favourite scenes again.

Yah, I had a fun time watching it, so I would definitely recommend checking it out. :)

Leia Mais

OMG WOW! With 53 episodes, you think this would be draggy, but it went by way too quickly. I really fell in love with it, I think more than I did with the Gold Dimension instalments. I fell in love with the storyline, most of the characters (cuz dong zhuo, lu bu and their stupid sidekicks really aren't my thing) and all the relationships formed. I literally just finished the last episode, and I'm missing them already.

While the storyline was "school" based politics, which I'm not really into, i found myself constantly enjoying it. Of course, there's also the ridiculous yet surprisingly pleasant zhongji humour thrown in there. The addition of wuxia and fighting powers always add a nice touch, and there were so many aspects that kept me on the edge of my seat. While the acting wasn't the best, it's so nice to see such famous stars today collar together for this as this was during the time when most of them just started acting.

THE MUSIC IS INCREDIBLE. I have all the songs downloaded and constantly listen to them. There's such a variety, and it's perfect for every scene. The music is very dear to my heart, and I think this has the best soundtrack among all the zhongji instalments so far.

Like i said, it's 53 episodes, which took me a while to finish, so i be re-watching it, but trust me, i'll be watching and crying over fan mvs on youtube for the next few weeks (months, really).

Leia Mais

Awww, this was adorable! It was a cute, fun, light-hearted drama that was perfect for me, who was in a major drama watching slump. It reminded me a lot of Mischievious Kiss, but... you know... with the whole shrinking aspect.

The story... isn't all too realistic, but that's what made it fun. It was really all down to the writers on how to play around with the idea of someone shrinking to 1 inch, and I think they did a great job. Although the cinematography isn't too good, i really liked the idea of wishing to be small again... and literally doing so. Within 10 episodes, different and a variety of events happened that didn't feel rush, nor draggy, which is perfect!

I love love LOVE that the actors are actual their real ages. The two main roles are actually portrayed by high schoolers, which made it all more realistic... no offence kdramas. The supporting roles were all done well and hilarious, and i'm glad they got screen time but not too much since they're all pretty weird. Riku.. well, he was a bit creepy, but his love for Chiyomi was cute. The grandma was just wonderful, as well.

The two main themes were just beautiful and super kawaii, but i didn't care much for the insert songs.

Ahh, that was such an exciting 3 days!! I'll definitely remember this drama for a long time. So long, Minami-kun and Chiyomi-san!

Leia Mais

So... I feel as though I'm among the only one here that didn't bawl my eyes out?? Of course, it was sad, and i teared up a few times, but it wasn't enough to really have me crying... maybe because it was too predictable, or too common of a storyline in dramas.

The Story: It starts off weak. The acting wasn't so good at first, and the storyline was just weird and rushed. The characters were all annoying and weak, and they seem like the typical "teenagers." However, throughout the drama, the storyline improves and becomes more organized and touching. If you look at if from the surface, it may seem really dumb and sappy, but if you really dig into the events, there's so much more to it. It really requires a lot of thinking. There were some things that were touched upon but never mentioned again, which I kind of wanted them to do.

Acting/Cast: Like I mentioned before, the acting starts off weak, but it gradually gets better as the story goes on. I particularly like the character development and growth: the mean ones learn their lessons, the weak protagonist grows to be strong, etc. As well, the characters were actually played by people that are the same age as them, which is something you don't see too often. It gives the school environment a much more realistic feel.

Music: Asides from the main theme, i don't think there were any other songs, though the instrumental tracks played at nice time. I didn't find any of them memorable, but, my goodness, the main theme is heart wrenching, from the lyrics to the melody and aching voice of the singer.

Overall, it was a crazy ride! I had moments where I just wanted to drop this drama, but after digging more deeper, I found that it was pretty well written. I though it would've been nicer if it had been longer, but I'm glad the storyline didn't drag on. I probably wouldn't watch it due to its predictability and how sad it is, but this is one any romance lover should check out!

Leia Mais