As with many superhero stories, you go in knowing it will be more entertainment than realism. The concept is great, especially since I have a soft spot for vigilantes but the execution in this one wasn't done well. Because it revolves heavily around the taxi, it does have a hint of resemblance to Batman (which they reference themselves in the series).

The first couple of stories were satisfying and the exaggerations went well with that dab of comedic undertone. However, it just felt more and more lame as they entered heavily into the cloud-based firm revenge. While the script being overly basic can be overlooked, when the characters themselves began to lose their flavor, that's when there's really not much else to look forward to.

- The prosecutor was irritating from the beginning and she could have been written out completely with minimal impact.
- They try to humanize your mains by incorporating some type of trigger that causes them to relive their traumas but the way it was executed just made them again, lame. For a team that is supposed to be superior and calmly collected, and who's been doing this for a while, a whistle from some traffic cop is going to cause your main dude to pass out? Then your female main who's seen that online video over and over again in the past, is suddenly so traumatized by coming across it again during a job that she just abandons ship and locks herself up? While trauma does impact someone for a lifetime, this was incredibly excessive.
- The sister's suicide. They paint her out to be a sweet, loving person. But anyone who has enough right mind to make a last meal for a loved one, tuck a blanket over them, and then decides to publicly jump off a building and plop herself horrifically in front of the same loved one, is just a selfish ass.
- Oh, how the flashbacks were misused much too often. Instead of adding anything to the plot, they were just fillers to prolong the minutes. I also didn't buy into the dramatic music that tried to convince the audience into thinking the scene was eventful.

If they had maintained the same pacing as with the first couple of stories or didn't reduce character developments, it would have been much more entertaining. Unfortunate.

Leia Mais

Even though I completed the series, it would have been dropped mid-way if I didn't end up getting distracted with other tasks and ended up watching this casually instead.

The narrative starts off pretty well but the overall plot declines steadily thereafter. The crime-solving aspect of the series is subpar and there's pretty much no character development. Based off the camera work, it has a low budget feel, which wouldn't matter as much if all else was done well. But it's as if they tried to take all the ingredients that are successful in other crime series and mashed it all together hoping for a well-done dish. All the characters remained one-noted and you don't get attached to any of them. I thought the concept of helping the dead would have been one of the highlights but they also don't have much value. Unfortunately, it didn't cut it in the entertainment or emotional triggering areas.

Leia Mais

Somehow Captivating

This review comes from a re-watch a couple of years after the first run. As with many of the newer historical dramas, it isn't without its common flaws. So why the higher score despite some shortcomings? Because it was fun to watch the first time and was still fun to watch the second time.

- Even if the acting is slightly cringe at times, the chemistry still manages to work and you'll still laugh out loud, then shed a few tears, and go back to laughing again. Xiao Zhan also does a good job in keeping the momentum going.
- Even if there are some plot holes and inconsistencies, the story and twists were well-paced and interesting enough to keep you wanting to get to the next episode even when it's already past midnight.
- Even if the action scenes are flimsy at times, it's too late to care because you're already drawn in to the plot.
- Even if the dramatizations can get a bit much as usual, it actually works well here for the comedy relief which balances out the grimmer undertones.

Despite having dropped other series for less, this one just manages to blend itself well. For a fairly long drama, it surprisingly had minimal draggy moments because the plot usually shifts when it threatens to reach that point. The underlying morals Asian films usually try to incorporate, is actually much more realistically done in this one. And although I don't agree with the romantic censorship, it works out well for me personally because romantic subtleties are usually much more meaningful.

Overall, it is a memorable one and it makes me think the novel must really be great.

Leia Mais

Underrated

Whenever I come across a lengthier series that keeps my interest from beginning to end, it's always difficult to summarize without giving away spoilers. But dare I say that this series is (almost) better than one of my highest rated series so far, The Story of Minglan.

Foremost, the ML and FL were pretty much a perfect cast and all the supporting actors did a fantastic job. As a viewer who favors watching women in truly independent roles and surpassing adversity, the FL and her character did not disappoint. The ML who is meant to be mostly expressionless for his character somehow managed to still be very convincing with his soft and hard roles switches. And while the romance in the series isn't quite as passionate as the couple on Minglan, it is equally as strong in a gentle and steady way.

For a 40-episode series, there is very minimal lag in the plot and it takes the time to really draw you in to many of the characters. There is also that added extra special layer of humor injections along the way that really balances out many of the events.

The only two minor nits I have is that the relationships and interactions with the imperial court felt a bit muddled but this really wasn't the main focus for the series anyway. The ending also felt slightly rushed but it didn't prevent the smiling on my end as they still managed to do pretty well with wrapping it all up.

Leia Mais

Long-winded but sweet

Foremost, it took a few initial episodes to get a bit more drawn in to the plot. Then while the interactions between the realms, families, and friendships developed pretty well, it became too long-winded and I spent a significant amount of time speeding it up. There are some sections that were binge-worthy and other sections that felt unnecessary. But it should be said that it was at least overall good enough to spend that fast-forwarding effort to complete the series.

Some additional words of description in addition to the title would be humorous, touching, and corny. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that the ML/FL development was nowhere as interesting as the secondary ML/FL. While I usually prefer the stronger female personalities, the feisty FL fell short of her gentle but tough sister in this one. If you're looking for a casual watch that doesn't require your full attention, this is a good one to try.

Leia Mais

Stockholm syndrome

*Minor Disclosures*

The series felt like watching a storyteller telling the story in a monotone voice. It doesn't trigger much emotions but it's still interesting enough to listen to. While the basis of women kidnapping for wives was very intriguing for me (as it still happens in our current world), unfortunately the plot was a bit all over the place and repetitive at that. The dialogue wasn't done very well and the life transitioning of our ML and FL also wasn't very natural. There are scattering plot holes and scenes that didn't make common sense.

However, the romance between the ML and FL was very sweet and there is an interesting plot twist that you sort of see coming. The character with the most growth is Lee Dae Yeop who became my favorite over time. The most annoying character was the ML's mother. For someone who's that thick and ignorant, she definitely was one who wouldn't have been able to help her family when they were wrongfully accused. But unfortunately, her character is terribly realistic as some people who've suffered tend to only see themselves as victims and are hypocritical with their own actions.

Overall, it was one I watched very casually while doing chores. If you're looking for a series that you don't need to take too seriously, this is one of them.

Leia Mais

Great Season

This review is based on a re-watch after a long hiatus. I didn't want to review it at the time due to the first season ending on a heavy cliffhanger and was waiting for season 2 to complete. As I'm about to drop season 2, this review will solely be on season 1.

This season is deserving of its fame and there's no need to really go into too much details for the review because of it. The plot flow was great as there are multiple sub-plots that keep the series interesting. This is also one where you'll find yourself having multiple favorite characters. The humorous layer attached to some very serious and intense underlying situations really makes the series shine.

My only qualm is our main ML's love interest. There isn't great chemistry between the two, their romance doesn't feel natural, and the FL is pretty useless. Even during my first watch, I had skipped through most of their interactions as it was quite boring. Fortunately, the romantic scenes between them aren't heavy-handed. If it weren't for this, would have given the series a higher score.

Leia Mais

Straightforward

With only 12 episodes, the series does a good job with its pacing and overall wrap-up. It's one with a relatively serious undertone that is lightened with comedic interactions. So this isn't a plot that is super intricate and isn't meant to be taken apart by plot holes or analytical rhetoric. It is a fun comedy-drama with equal parts of both that is an easy watch.

The cast is great with many recognizable faces but I was mainly interested in Lee Ha Nee, won me over from Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People and The Fiery Priest. She does not disappoint here and I'm looking forward to seeing her in many more future series. There is also good chemistry between all of the characters.

If you need a break from overly political and very dramatized scenes from historical pieces, highly recommend this one.

Leia Mais

Memorable

This a great casual watch with a unique take in the historical genre with a focus on how clothing impacts the palace dynamics. It's likely deserving of a higher score but unfortunately it's a story that really requires far more than movie-length time to blossom. This is the only reason for the lower score.

It's definitely one I'd recommend for those who enjoy this genre as the acting was great, the plot was straightforward but also not predictable, and of course, the costumes were gorgeous. It hits all the spots for minimal investment and I do hope they one day decide to create a series with a similar feel around royal tailors.

Leia Mais

Ditto to the title

A heart-warming series that revolve around four young police officers with varying personalities being trained by the old-school. The slice of life genre is usually never my initial go-to but I do appreciate ones like this. An overall great cast of actors and a nicely paced character development of the four fledglings. Though idealistic, it offers a nice insight to the every day work of officers in smaller towns and how it impacts their humanity and home life.

The setting is based around a smaller town but they still encounter some heavier crimes which levels up the plot a bit. The realistic "Karens" they encounter will have you appreciating what officers need to deal with. My favorite character in the series is the police chief or the "king of face-changing" lol. He is the type of leader every organization out there needs.

Despite this being 38 episodes, it was an easy and fun watch without too much lag time surprisingly. The only minor areas of criticism on my end is the dramatization of the people in the town exploding into applause unrealistically and how the pacing toward the latter half felt just slightly prolonged with certain scenes which caused the ending to feel rushed. Nevertheless, they could have made another 38 episodes and I would have gladly continued to watch.

Leia Mais

Alas, the binge

*Minor spoilers*

Being a big fan of The Story of Ming Lan, this series definitely gave off a similar vibe when it comes to the complexity of a multiple-wives household and being blanketed by a strong romance. And as I always tend to mention, not a big fan of the romance genre but this was another one that I couldn't help but to fall for.

While the romance here was just as fun and idealistic as TSML, I love that they wrote in a "realistic" rift that occurred between the couple in this one- one that had me in steady tears for quite a few scenes and episodes. The FL/ML had great chemistry and both were strong characters, though not as savvy and cunning as the two in TSML. The schemes between the women were pretty standard form but were still more interesting than the ones you come across in some palace dramas. The series also does a good job tastefully highlighting the perspectives of each woman, reminding us how difficult it was for women to live through an era where the only available weapon of survival really was through the art of manipulation, forcing women to have to work against one another.

The series has minimal actions scenes and mainly focuses on the couple's romantic evolution and the dealings within the different households. There is an underlying political conspiracy to work through which helped keep the overall plot together. And although the plot itself wasn't the strongest with some holes and some repetitiveness, it was still one that had me binging episodes in an unhealthy way.

If you are a fan of TSML, I'm pretty sure you'd find this one enjoyable. And in an era where monogamy is morally preferred, who knew I'd be rooting for a ML who already had a wife and multiple concubines in-place prior to meeting the FL?

Leia Mais

Average

Foremost, I love the concept of the plot particularly because of women who were deemed to die just because of their husbands (due to dumb traditions) banning together into a formidable group. The ML dressing as a female to infiltrate them was also quite fun. But a few negatives brought the score down for me:

- While the romance between the FL/ML was sweet, there was just too much focus on it at the most inappropriate times. When there's a serious situation occurring that involves life and death or when a loved one is in a dire situation, it's hard to stomach a relatively quick scene switch to the two of them lightheartedly flirting or the amount of times the FL needs saving.
- The plot started becoming increasingly muddled toward the middle of the series and the plot holes are real. And various situations (as with many other series) were "conveniently" coincidental which takes away from the realism.
- A light nit is the amount of time that has passed through the course of the series but apparently, the FL's hair that was cut off early on never seemed to grow.

However, most of the actors were fantastic so it helped with balancing out some of the flaws. And despite some plot flow issues, they were still able to tug at the audience's heart strings. The twist at the end was great but the final scene felt like a forced joyful ending.

Leia Mais

Very Fun

It's hard to believe how a historical drama with the incorporation of outlandish aliens would be this entertaining to watch (this isn't Gintama after all). But after many starts and drops of other higher rated historical dramas, I'm really glad I gave this one a try.

This series is a unique mix of corny comedy with an underlying serious plot. Don't get discouraged by the initial alien scenes or whether any of it is actually "logical" as this is one to watch when you need a refreshing break from other historical dramas with very serious undertones. It also has a fantastic cast all around who each have lots of character and individual charm. There are scenes that has made me literally laugh out loud and one in particular that jerked out some tears.

I normally can't stand the "cutesy" FLs but Ah Bu Cha Cha is absolutely adorable and has great chemistry with the ML. My only minor qualm with them is that the constant rescuing of one another starts feeling slightly repetitive in the latter episodes.

While this isn't masterpiece level with the most intricate plot, it is definitely quite memorable. The pacing is also well done (with some slightly drawn-out scenes) and due to its unique genre blend, it's actually not very predictable and maintains a layer of intrigue. Highly recommend for those who just wants to kick back without heavy analysis, laugh a little, and just enjoy the wave of good drama wrapped with silliness.

Note: Made the attempt to watch Season 2 but dropped it a couple of episodes in. It wasn't worth ruining the experience of the first season.

Leia Mais

Could have been great...

Foremost, having only seen Kim Nam Gil in The Fiery Priest, I love how he shows his versatility here and hoping he actually does more of the historical genre. It is his scenes in the historical setting that were the most interesting in this particular case.

Still not the greatest fan of time travel themes but this one was hilarious in the beginning. The plot had so many good things going for it along with a great cast but there was too much drag with the modern era politics (fast-forwarded most of it). They tried to portray how despite the dichotomy in era, the medical field still undergoes similar political and class issues. But they really tried to do too much in the series with the complex base of constant time travel. The series felt like it didn't know what genre it wanted to be and just mashed together a little bit of everything including the excess "cuteness" of the ML/FL romance. There's modern day politics which flips back and forth to the historical politics, prolonged scenes with patients that really didn't add much to the drama, predictable trigger events, and then add in a war with some random foreigners thrown in. If there was more focus on the main basis of the plot, it could have really been a great series. It also didn't help that they forced in a happy ending that really made no sense.

Overall, it's one of those series that's difficult to hate on but of the cast and the potential but unfortunately it's also one that's forgettable with no re-watch value.

Leia Mais

Good cast, unfortunate plot development

Foremost, the series started off really well with a good cast and great characters. I was very much looking forward to how it plot evolved and unfolded. However, it started to falter hard in the middle of the series for multiple reasons.

- When a dramatic incident occurred, before you can take a breather, another immediately begins. It may not have been as difficult to digest if the all the incidents and resolutions also didn't feel horribly repetitive.
- The character introductions were great in the beginning but there was almost no character development in latter episodes. It would have helped if more time was spent on their backgrounds and history.
- The main ML prince/king is likeable but also unrealistically idealistic. His character was far more interesting outside of the palace and it slowly devolved into a one-note. Other than being born into half-royalty and recruiting others to help his righteous fight, he didn't really have any particular skills that would lead you to believe he was a step above others. He mostly did what he wanted and let those around him save him.
- The romance between the ML and FL was awkward and really unnecessary. She was also initially an interesting character who just faded into the background.

Around episode 13 (or 26), was when I started fast-forwarding hard which is why I technically did not properly complete the series. It's quite unfortunate as the cast was great and there was a really good base for the plot.

Leia Mais