Interesting Storytelling, Excellent Leads Chemistry & Great Acting all-around

Spoilers only at the end of the review about Ep 38 - also my biggest criticism

Review #300
I don’t remember how I came across this drama and it’s probably because I was browsing through Kenny Lin Geng Xin’s profile page. “To Love” (what a boring, generic English title) seems to be an underrated crime romance drama with 23 reviews and 3234 watchers at the time of this review. I am not a serious and very critical crime drama watcher, so I went in without much expectations. Overall, I really like it and enjoy a few unexpected plot twists.

Romance - I was quite surprised (not complaining) with a strong romance focus in the first few episodes, especially for a crime investigation drama. The romance is needed to set the stage for the rest of the episodes and it’s needed for the plot. Kenny Lin and Cass Gai have really good chemistry. Their relationship is fun yet mature. For the most part, they are honest and communicative (as much as they can given Kenny Li’s character is an undercover cop). They have a trusting relationship and both have a big and forgiving heart. Both characters are smart and perceptive, and you don’t have to worry about misunderstanding or miscommunication. It is very satisfying to follow their romantic journey and all they have to go through.

Main Leads Acting - This is my second drama of Kenny Lin after “Master of My Own” (I refused to watch “Princess Agents” since there’s no sight of a season 2). I found Kenny Lin much more likable and charismatic in “To Love”. There’s more in the script for him to work with. Kenny was able to portray the playboy and fun side of Yan Jin, and also show the more emotional and serious sides when needed. I’ve never seen Cass Gai in anything before and my first impression was that she has a very deep and sexy voice. This is such a refreshing change from all the cute/high-pitched voices I hear in C-drama, no matter how old the female lead is. Cass Gai matches the acting and energy of Kenny Lin, and together they have great chemistry, even when they don’t have too many scenes together in the second half of the drama.

Supporting Cast - “To Love” has a strong supporting cast of actors old and young. There is no weak link and I’ve enjoyed all of them. Each character is nicely written and acted. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, whether they are villains, brothers, sisters, colleagues, or family members. I just finished “Nothing but You” and Li Qing, who played Zhang Yu (genius violinist) is also in. I enjoyed watching Li Qing in this drama so much more. After reading the synopsis, I wasn’t expecting him to have so much screen time. I’ve grown to like him and really missed him in the second half of the drama. My newest discovery is Dun Chun, who played Zhao Ting Hui (cop and FL’s ex-bf). I am surprisingly attracted to him and found him super charismatic. Now I need to check out his other dramas.

Storytelling/Plot/Pacing - I quite enjoy the storytelling in the first 15 episodes done in an interview format from both the male lead and female lead’s perspectives. In a way, the story was told through a series of flashbacks, but the ability to see from both perspectives added a new excitement to discovering the truth. Once the story changes to the present day timeline, the pacing becomes a little slower. I do think if the drama is a few episodes shorter, the result will be better. Since I am not a very smart crime drama watcher, I wasn’t able to guess who the murder might be until 60% into the drama. I enjoy the multiple plot twists with new revelations and details of the crime. However, I never felt that I was on the edge of my seat.
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. I might have liked it more than “Love Me if You Dare” or “When a Snail Falls in Love”. Despite my complaint below about Ep 38 and the slower pacing, I am rating this a solid 8.5.


Other Random Observations:
1. I like how best friends, Ji Xiao Ou and Fang Ni Ya, stood up and advocated for each other in front of their friend’s lover. They ask questions on behalf of their friends, when it could be embarrassing for their friend to ask.
2. I am quite impressed with the fight/action sequence between Yan Jin and Liu Wei.
3. Not a comedy, but we do have a tall and adorable cop who provides comic relief by asking and providing relationship advice to Zhao Ting Hui.
4. I’ve always loved the song 《我愿意》“I am Willing” by Faye Wong. This drama version by Liu Yu Ning is really nice as well. I also like that this song is important to the female lead, but the song was not overplayed. So when it’s played and sung, it’s so much more impactful, esp. In the last episode.
5. I agree with other reviewers, I want 5-10 more minutes of happy moments in the end.
6. As my MDL friend @KellyFlower pointed out, this drama has weird and loud sound effects of foot steps (and phantom foot steps).

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Ep 38 spoiler and critique

My biggest complaint about this drama all happened in this episode and when FL goes to the murderer's home. Ji Xiao Ou (FL) has consistently throughout the drama shows viewers that she’s mature, logical and makes good decisions. She was smart enough to come to the conclusion who the murderer is. Why would she go to the murderer’s home by herself? Even if one cop didn’t pick up the phone in time, how about calling the other cop friend? Why would you endanger yourself and risk it all? On another note, the murderer has been so meticulous with the execution of his plan, why would he keep the murder weapon and Zhao Yu’s cell phone? He burnt all his clothes and other items, why not throw the knife in the ocean? What is the point of keeping Zhao Yu’s cell phone? But without all these illogical decisions, we would not be able to see the showdown and the arrest. I just wish there’s a better way of writing the ending.




Completed: 4/23/2023

Leia Mais

Simple and Mostly Sweet drama

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

“Yugure ni, Te wo Tsunagu'' also known as “Hold My Hand at Twilight”, is a short and mostly very sweet drama about two individuals discovering and working towards their dreams with the support of each other. Of course, they fall in love during this journey, especially when they both end up living in the same house. The drama focuses more of their relationships than the dramatic way of achieving one’s dreams.


What I Like:
1. Cool female lead - Finally someone who is fun, bright, and extroverted. No more submissive, naive, pushover female lead who can’t speak a word in front of the male lead.

2. Smart leads - Though inexperienced because she moves from rural Japan to Tokyo, she’s not dumb at all. Male lead might be on the quiet side, but he is someone who can see through lies and read between the lines. Also, no annoying character.

3. Acting - Hirose Suzu as the female lead is the star of the show. The acting is pretty decent for the remaining of the cast. What I like best is the not over dramatic/anime/manga-type acting.

4. Love the dynamic in the boarding house between the leads and the landlady. The landlady is one cool lady.

5. Love the fun interaction between the leads at the house (throwing bean bags at each other) and also their casual but deep conversations.


What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:
1. Misunderstanding is one thing, but add to that are bad timing and missed chances, seem to be too much in the last few episodes. It somewhat dampens the enjoyment (just a little).

2. Despite one big challenge, the female lead seems to have quite an easy professional journey. Her new career as a designer came too easily and the drama did not spend a lot of time in that respect. The drama might have shown more challenges for the male lead’s professional journey, but still not very realistic. This is not a drama if you want to see the ups and downs of someone trying to reach their dreams.

3. I was expecting more from the mother-daughter storyline.

4. Would like a longer ending, seems rushed.


Completed: 4/4/2023

Leia Mais

Slow-burn romance with Amazing Chemistry; Focus on Family/Business Rivalries

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

I am not a veteran lakorn watcher but from the few dramas that I’ve watched, “Rivalry” has probably the least amount of over-exaggerated acting. We still have actors opening their eyes really big and glare at you, but at least the camera pans away after a couple seconds.

Speaking of acting in this drama, I think the cast overall did a pretty good job. I am most impressed with FL Nychaa (as Milin), and 2FL Donut (as Wianna). I think they gave the best performance out of the bunch. ML Alek (as Anawin) did a decent job for the most part and is most animated when he has scenes with FL. Pop (as Tewis) didn’t impress me until the last episode. For the most part, he acts quite emotionless, though he’s good to look at. No one character really annoys me and as I commented, the acting is restrained to a certain point.

“Rivalry” really focuses on the rivalries between different family members, and different companies. The majority of the plot focuses on family conflicts and relationships, and to a smaller extent the rivalries between the two companies. The drama casually mentioned why both companies hated each other, but did not really delve into it. There are many twists and turns and the drama’s pacing is good and keeps me engaged for the most part. However, the second last ⅓ of the drama becomes quite melodramatic and that’s why I start to lose my attention. I definitely enjoyed the first half of the drama a lot more.

Chemistry between the leads is top notch. Nychaa/Milin and Alek/Anawin have so much fun and chemistry together, before and after they got together. Anwain is quite a bland character in the beginning, if not for his bickering with Nychaa. His personality definitely comes out then. It took me a couple episodes to like Milin, but she definitely has tremendous growth and I have grown to like and root for her. If you are a romance lover, you should be satisfied with the sparks and skinship between them. However, be aware that this is a slow burn romance, and it did take them a while to be officially together. But once they are together, the time they spent on the island is enough to make up for the long wait. Their love continues to be strong with open communication and trust in each other. I LOVE what Milin said to Anawin when she confronted him after the secret of Anawin/Anna’s breakup was exposed.

On the other hand, I don't quite feel the love or obsession that Tewis has for Milin. Instead, he seems to have a lot more chemistry with Lisa. Most of the time, he is constantly flirting with Lisa and getting all up close and personal. His actions are not telling me he’s in love with Milin.

I would have liked to see a little more of the pre-marriage and marital relationship between Phakhin + Jennis, and the love triangle between Sean + Pete + Naorn. The drama is so long that there should be enough time to tell us more.

The ending to me is actually quite surprising and I can’t tell if I like it or not. I knew something’s up with this character and there has to be a reason behind his employment. But the way it ended was somewhat dramatic and tragic.

If you enjoy family business/rivalries and want to take a first pass at a Thai drama, I think this is a good introduction. If the second half is not as melodramatic and slowed down the pace, I would have given this a solid 8.5. For now, I’ll keep this as an 8.0-8.25.


Other Random Observations:
1. So many beautiful women in this drama! Nychaa looks beautiful with less makeup and a fresh face as a high schooler!
2. I am not sure why the farm lady let some strangers go through all the files in the office.
3. A public restroom stall with a lock on the outside? Why would you do that? For the sake of the drama, I guess this has to make sense.
4. The hospital looks like a 5-star hotel. There are chandeliers!


Completed: 3/3/2023

Leia Mais

Finally we have two adorable and sweet teenagers who are BOTH smart and hard-working

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

China churns out these high school dramas so often each year that it is really hard to be different from others. “Time and Him Are Just Right” is almost there, but not quite. There are so many things to like yet also some to complain about especially in the second half. This is a very lighthearted teen drama. You can go into it without worrying about any serious issues, such bullying or annoying and evil parents. The focus is solely on the students without wasting too much time on the parents or teachers.


What I Like:

1. Main Characters - Finally we don’t see a cool/mean, genius male lead who has to help the bubbly, naive female lead with her homework or studies. We have two equally smart and hard-working students. They help each other out with their studies just like any normal student. They are both very likable and adorable. It did take me a little while to get used to FL’s over-assertiveness in trying to be ML’s friend. I understand why, but still a little stalkerish. However, once we get past that, both the leads are caring, smart, has a sense of justice and just really good people.

2. Wu Jun Ting/Ji Jun Xing (ML)- This is my first introduction to Wu Jun Ting (ML). He has such an adorable face and the way he looks at FL melts my heart. He reminded me a little bit of Wang An Yu in “Forever Love”. Not the character, but the loving gazes and how much affection is in his eyes. On another note, Wu Jun Ting has such a deep voice. His voice is not matching his young and adorable face. Each time he speaks, I am taken by surprise that it’s really his voice. For the first drama, he did a pretty good job. On another note, his character, Ji Jun Xing, is one of the nicest, sweetest and most patient boyfriends out there. He doesn’t react irrationally or get mad even when he is being misunderstood or is not at fault.

3. Young Cast - All the actors in this drama are quite green without too many dramas or movies under their belt. I believe the two female leads are the most experienced ones. The acting is actually not too bad, and they are able to make me believe they’re high schoolers and college students. I also appreciate them all using their own voices.

4. Simple high school life - This is one of the few high school dramas that really showcases the simple life of a high schooler. The drama did not tackle any serious issues, but just regular everyday life. Almost every teen drama talks about the stress of the gaokao aka college entrance exam. This drama has that too, but no drama has ever (that I’ve seen or known) talks about the time limitation of taking showers when your schedule is packed with studying. This drama only has one overbearing parent and it’s only a very small side character. We don’t really see much parental pressure on the students regarding the gaokao, and I am so glad.


What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:

1. Misunderstanding - The drama was going so well and they have to throw in the misunderstanding trope Why?? Do all long distance relationships need to do this? The leads have such open and honest communication when they were in high school, so why wouldn’t they talk to each other?? Argh….

2. College days - Not that I don’t like the college portion of the drama, but comparatively, the high school parts are much more interesting. The characters really didn’t do much until the last part of the drama when they entered into the competition. Even that competition is kind of boring and predictable.

3. Time Skips - There are so many time skips in the second half of the drama. A few are fine, but once you have so many, the editing becomes weird and it seems the writers are rushing to finish the drama.

I had an enjoyable time watching this drama. There aren't any annoying or irritating characters. It’s a very easy and chill watch to see a bunch of friends going through high school, college and adult life together. It is nice to see how their friendship remains strong. I love the male lead and the female lead is not too bad either. But if you want something exciting, this is not it. Lastly, I wonder if the writers were trying to sneak in a BL couple in this wholesome drama.


Completed: 2/17/2023

Leia Mais

So much potential, poor writing, decent acting by young actors.

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

The setting of “The Silence of the Monster” is an interesting one. The unique genius duo of He Chu Feng (locksmith extraordinaire) and Luo Bin aka Robin (master appraiser) is the highlight of the drama. With the introduction of Sui Yi (trainee lawyer) added to the mix, their cohabitation shenanigans are fun and interesting. However, I think the drama tries to do too much. If it has focused on the main characters and their experiences, but removed the unimpressive crime investigation, it might be a better one.

What I Like:

1, The three main characters - This trio of He Fu Cheng, Robin and Sui Yi is the real highlight for me. They are three very distinct characters with unique quirks and personalities. Yet when you put them together, they create real chemistry and are really fun to watch. The first half of the drama focuses on how they met, getting to know each other, and living together harmoniously. They are all like-able and lovable, but not perfect.

2. Bi Wen Jun - This is my 4th drama of Bi Wen Jun, and I wish his roles are more diverse. The characters I see him play (“Sweet Tai Chi”, “Sweet Teeth”, “Double Love” and “The Silence of the Monster”) are very similar - cool and smart, not super friendly to begin with but warms up eventually. But I have to say his role as He Chu Feng is a little different in that there are many more emotional scenes. This is not a romantic comedy, and the complicated past of He Chu Feng allows Bi Wen Jun to show a different side of him. His acting has definitely improved since his first role in “Sweet Tai Chi” in 2019. I wish to see him more in challenging roles and I believe he has a lot of potential.

3. Zhu Zheng Ting - My first drama starring Zhu Zheng Ting and he is so pretty. 😍 LOL. What a good-looking guy and he plays a very lovable Robin. Robin brings me a lot of joy when watching this drama. Towards the latter half of the drama, his silliness and optimism do die down a little, and we go into more of the secrets he hides. Zhu Zheng Ting did a good job in switching from an outgoing and lovable boy, to a hurt and confused Robin towards that last few episodes. I look forward to his future projects.

4. Sui Yi (played by Sun Yi Han) - I love to see a go-getter female role such as Sui Yi. Yes, she might be idealistic as a trainee lawyer, but I also appreciate seeing her standing up for herself and not backing down on ideals she believes in. Sui Yi is not perfect but she’s someone I root for. She could be shy when it comes to her relationship with He Chu Feng, but she is also not afraid to initiate physical contact or express her feelings honestly.

5. Main Romance (He Fu Cheng & Sui Yi) - A slow burn romance that I very much enjoy watching. Both are quite inexperienced with love but the chemistry is definitely there. It’s nice to see a healthy relationship where they support each other through hard times, be patient with each other and communicate their honest feelings. Though the kisses aren’t great, they do give off a very cute and fluffy vibe during some of their scenes and I can’t help but smile.

6. OST - There are quite a few songs and they are all pretty good. There are times in the earlier episodes that I think the songs are a little overplayed, but they are good songs.


What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:

1. Investigation/Cases - I see why these investigations are needed to showcase the characters skills and personalities. However, none of them is interesting to me. They seem too simple and did not create enough suspense to make me want to find out the truth. If they are written better, it might add to the drama. In this case, I think they just prolong the drama and drag the pace. This could have been a better drama with one or two expertly written cases, and cut down to 24 episodes.

2. Preachy? - I find the drama a little preachy when talking about safety education during Hu Chu Feng’s classes. I wish the writing was better to educate viewers without it being straight out of a class.

3. Revenge Plot - The revenge is so dragged out. The character was introduced quite early on and you know he’s up to no good. We knew this will be in the big finale but the wait for that to happen is long. I had to fast forward some of the scenes in the last third of the drama because I was bored.

4. Secondary Romance (Robin & Xiao An) - I don’t see much chemistry between the two and it’s hard for me to believe they fall for each other. For Robin, maybe he doesn’t need a reason since he’s chasing after the Love at First Sight romance. For Xiao An, I don’t see her showing much affection. She acts like a big sister and at times annoyed at the little brother.

5. Poor writing in the end - What is up with the kidnapping plots? The first kidnapping incident is just a joke. We have villains busy bull-shitting instead of doing some real damage. Even when they had weapons, they got easily beaten. Where are the bodyguards? I thought the victim had an injection of some sort. What was the consequence? They could still walk around and fight as if nothing happened. I thought the effects would be disclosed in the last episode, but that didn’t happen. The introduction of the boss and villains were confusing. The editing in the last few episodes feels off and incoherent.

6. Minor annoyances - Too much heavy makeup on Robin. He’s too “white”. Characters claimed to be cold but they wear short-sleeves and don’t wear coats or jackets in the winter. Facial scratches/injuries don’t seem to heal even when another character who suffered more serious injuries is discharged from the hospital.

If you are a fan of the leads, then I would recommend this drama. It’s unfortunate that it has so much potential but the writing isn’t solid. I really enjoy the trio and each of their characters and had an enjoyable time watching the first half of the drama. The writing of the angst, tragic past and revenge should be interesting and a focus of the drama, but they are not. At least, we have some decent acting from the three main characters,


Completed: 2/11/2023

Leia Mais

Interesting light watch into the Idol Industry but nothing deep or impactful

I want to first say that I do not follow any K-Pop idols, boy bands or girl bands. My review of this drama is solely based on my thoughts on the drama itself just any other drama reviews I’ve written.

“Imitation” is a simple and uncomplicated drama about the journey of idol trainees striving to debut and become legit idols. This is a pretty light and enjoyable watch, without too much angst or trauma. There is a side plot about an idol trainee and her inability to handle the stress and unprofessional business practices that took away some of the lightheartedness of the show. I was actually expecting a little more trials and tribulations, a little more suffering, scandals, crazy fan clubs, and chaos in the idol industry. The drama touched on some of these issues, but did not do a deep dive. The storytelling of the ending plot in the last 2 episodes is not done convincingly and not impactful enough to make me feel for those suffering.

I enjoyed the first ⅔ of the drama when getting to know each idol group, the dedication they put into their practices and rehearsals, and the introduction of the romance plot. The main romance is enjoyable in the beginning before the leads get together. But once they’re together, there is a lack of cuteness and fluffiness. The kisses are bad fish-kisses and I find the chemistry between the leads just OK. Lee Jung Young is a much better kisser than that! The love square/pentagon seems to have stopped abruptly. For the longest time, I thought Lee Yoo Jin (2ML) could not let go of Lee Ma Ha (FL). But then all of a sudden, he found someone else. The transition from being in love with his best friend for years to falling in love with someone is not done well. I found the third writing-music-together couple a lot cuter but they have very limited screen time. Thus, their romance appears to be half-baked.

I am most impressed with all the dancing. As most of the cast has an idol background, it should not come as a surprise that they can all dance. My eyes can’t help but follow Lee Jung Young around when he’s on stage. He’s so hot and his dance moves are really hard-hitting. He has so much charisma. Unfortunately, I am not as impressed with the music. Maybe they are just not my cup of tea. The only songs I like are the slower ones: FL and 2ML's duet "Like When We First Met" and the last song “Constellation/Your Sign”. I am also not impressed with the outfits that the girls are wearing. Tea Party has the ugliest uniform. The Sparkling boys don’t look good either. I know these two groups are not as popular as ML’s SHAX, but still, the costume department could have dressed these good-looking boys and girls better. SHAX really does look the best on stage with their makeup and black leather outfits.

Acting is decent but I think Lee Jung Young carries the drama on his back. His character is the most layered. He’s adorable when he’s in love, jealous and being petty. But he also portrays a cool and hot superstar really well. I am not as impressed with female lead, Jung Ji So. She’s OK but not as fun as Park Ji Yeon’s portrayal of the sexy and sassy La Li Ma.

Overall, if you want something light that focuses on teammates, friendships and romance, then this is a good watch. But don’t expect anything deep with plot twists.


Other Random Observations:
1. The use of flashbacks could be somewhat confusing.
2. I quite enjoyed the big concert in the last episode.
3. ML has a super ugly historical movie look. How could you turn someone so handsome into a beggar-looking hero.
4. I think FL has hair extensions or a wig on, and they don’t look good on her at all.


Completed: 2/6/2023

Leia Mais

More Legal/Business Talk than Romance - Decent but not Great.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (extra 0.25 for Xu Kai's emotional eyes) - Spoilers about the ending at the end of the review.

Many were expecting the broadcast of this drama, and I wasn’t one of them. I like Xu Kai and Yang Mi, but not a fan of older woman/younger man tropes, so I was waiting for reviews to come in before I decide to watch “She and Her Perfect Husband”. Lowering my expectations did help with me enjoying this drama.


Plot - This drama is a lot more business-focused than I originally thought. The conversations about legal and investment dealings might bore some viewers. I usually am fine with a business drama, but I still find this a little too much talking in a conference room instead of seeing legal/business dealings in action. Romance is folded into the overall business talk, since without the law firm promotion limitations for women, there won’t be a fake relationship between the main leads. This drama tries to talk about workplace inequality and treatment for women, and I appreciate it. But I don’t see why our female lead tries so hard to be a partner to make changes, when the firm’s initial ideals and purpose have changed. All the talk by the CEO about how good the firm is, is not shown through actions by management.

Main Romance - Surprisingly, there aren’t that many scenes of the two main leads together in the first half of the show. That’s when they first met and developed a marriage contract, but somehow the business side of things overshadows the interactions of the leads. Xu Kai and Yang Mi have good chemistry and I enjoy their bantering and conversations about their ideals. This couple for the most part really has honest conversations. The confession scene is a little underwhelming. It’s awkwardly cute but I was expecting more. Once they officially started dating, there are more sweet scenes in the middle part of the drama. I was initially worried that Yang Mi would look a lot older than Xu Kai and the romance would not be to my taste. Fortunately, I enjoy the scenes that they have together.

Secondary Romance - Li Ze Feng looks really good as Tao Jun Hui (2ML), just the hair is a little too ‘tall’ for my taste :D But his lack-of romance with Wu Fei (2FL) is really noticeable, and I guess that’s the whole point to it. Wu Fei calling Tao Juo Hui “Uncle” as a term of endearment every so often doesn’t help with the big age and maturity gap. On the other hand, Tao Jun Hui and Qin Shi (FL) have really good chemistry. I can totally see them together and there’s really no comparison between Qin Shi and Wu Fei.

Other Romance - Most annoying romance ever. I think I skip the majority of the scenes between Ren Mei Mei (FL’s BFF) and Qin Wen Yu (FL’s second brother). If I were Mei Mei, I would have divorce that jerk years ago. Their scenes only serve the purpose to describe Qin Shi’s view on marriage. Other than that, these two characters don’t really need to exist.

Acting - The overall acting of the whole cast is not bad. But the veterans definitely outshine the younger generation.. As a fan of Xu Kai, I am so glad he’s not in another cold-on-the-outside role. Yang Hua is still a more introverted character but at least he’s adorable and sweet. When the drama focuses on his background story, you can see his more emotional acting through his big beautiful eyes. That’s what I have been missing from his dramas lately. I am also glad that he’s not being dubbed. He might need some work but it’s not too bad. Yang Mi is Yang Mi. She’s the queen. She’s sassy and bossy as the hotshot lawyer, yet at home she’s a totally different person. Her real voice bothered me at times since it’s so girly. So when she’s whining, especially to the boss lady, it’s a little irritating. Speaking of the boss lady, that woman is amazing. I can’t tell if I should trust her words or not. Her fake smile (when the drama calls for it) is so fake that I can see her mind churning out schemes after schemes.


*spoilers*

Ending - The last few episodes have been criticized for the leads acting out of character. I can see why people said that as the leads have been honest and open with their feelings throughout the drama. For them not to talk much in the last episodes, it could be frustrating. From my point of view, the breakup is necessary and veteran watchers know that it’s coming. It’s not the first time we see a contract relationship breakup for the exact same reason. I can understand ML’s intention and agree with his action. If you want a real marriage, you need to end the old one to start off fresh. I just think he did not communicate his intention for the breakup clearly enough to FL. As for FL, throughout the whole drama, we’ve been told she doesn’t believe in marriage. The breakup allows her to think clearly about what she really wants. I just wish the writing of this part is a little better. You can do all that, breakup, giving FL time to think, etc, but should have done that a little sooner and not dragged that out. It doesn’t make sense that they were apart for 7 months, and then ML suddenly shows up at the apartment across from FL’s, opens his arms and then all is well?? Why wait 7 months? No communication at all for 7 months? What was the point in leaving her when you came right back to her? I thought he was waiting for her to make the first move?


Other Random Observations:
1. Love the conversations between ML and his dad. Dad gives the best advice.
2. FL’s outfits to work seem to be too flashy for a law firm.
3. A lot of product placements - I guess they need money to pay for FL’s wardrobe.
4. The songs are nice but quite repetitive after a while.
5. A few annoying characters but bearable.
6. I don't think the steamy kiss tag should apply here. Just because they are not fish kisses, it doesn't mean they are steamy kisses. I think Yang Mi needs to exert a little more effort for it to qualify for that tag.




Completed: 1/30/2023

Leia Mais

Turn off your brain and enjoy the Cuteness and the Fluffiness.

I would only recommend “Double Love” if you are looking for some mindless romantic fluff. You can’t use your brain, otherwise you will hate it and question yourself why you wasted your time. I tried to turn my brain off, enjoyed the first half of the drama and then the poor editing finally got to me. Don’t watch this for gameplay, because there are barely any scenes. They do hang out and chat in the game a lot. I’ll try to keep this review short.

What I Like:
1. Siblings relationship - That’s the best part of the show. Love the interaction between FL and her brother. They have more chemistry than any of the romance storylines.
2. Bromance (CEO Lu and Actor Gu Qiao Bei) - The weird bromance and if you look closer you could find BL undertones. But, no, it’s just pure friendship and they are interesting.
3. CP visuals - Our leads look good together.
4. The songs are nice.
5. FL looks pretty inside the game. Love all the outfits in the game.
6. Good or bad, I quite enjoy the friendship inside the game.


What I Don’t Like:
1. Scenes edited out? Where is the confession scene? How did ML discover FL’s true identity to the CEO? Who is the hacker friend? How did FL know of her and contacted her for help? WHERE ARE THESE SCENES?? I am not sure what happened to the second half of the drama but I don’t want to be TOLD what happened after the fact. I want to WATCH all these things happening.
2. Makeup - I find all the female characters makeup a little off.
3. These superstar actors don’t seem to have trouble hanging out in real life. No paparazzi and rumors, not problem living a normal person’s life, until the plot demands them to be exposed on social media. Not very realistic.
4. For only 24 episodes, I still find the pacing to be slow. Not a whole lot happened in the drama.
5. Too many slow motion close ups. Not my personal favorite, but might be yours.
6. Kisses are meh. I’ve seen ML did a better job in “Sweet Teeth”.

*edit* Random Observations:
It's quite weird to see Zhang Xue Ying and Dylan Kuo in such a comedy. I last saw Zhang Xue Ying in "Princess Silver" and Dylan Kuo in "Ever Night". The roles are so different from this rom-com. It's a weird surprise and it makes me like their sibling relationship even more.

Completed: 1/21/2023

Leia Mais

Cute and Fluffy romance, but too much going on for a short drama

"Destined to Meet You" is a short drama with a very complicated plot. With only 20 episodes at 10 mins each (about 3 hrs runtime), it tries to cover too many tropes. - love at first sight, contract relationship, tragic past, amnesia, fight for inheritance and more.

If the drama sticks to 2-3 of these tropes, the story would have developed more coherently and there would be fewer plot holes. But if you don't want to think too much and just want to enjoy a sweet romance, this is a good watch. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good, and the acting is decent. I have always liked Yang Ze and would like to see him in fewer web short dramas like this or "The Killer is also Romantic" but in bigger productions like in "No Boundary".

I have a hard time with the dubbed voices and find the FL's voice slightly annoying in the beginning. Nonetheless, their interaction is cute. It's nice to see a girl taking the initiative in a relationship. I thought she would be a little more experienced in love since she's 5 years older, but she acts like she doesn't know much in the beginning. Their relationship progresses well throughout the drama. The secondary couple is OK to me. A few comedic moments of 2FL's clumsiness but not much depth to their storyline.

Overall, it's a quick and easy watch to kill time, and I like the songs.


Completed: 1/18/2023

Leia Mais

Slice-of-Life Drama - Women Power and the Friendliest and Most supportive female characters ever!

As many have reviewed and commented, “New Life Begins” is a special drama. A drama that is full of positivity, humor, lovely sismance, hilarious bromance and friendships. In fact, the drama has so many cool, independent and friendly female characters that I actually feel slightly weird watching it. I kept on expecting something bad is going to come from the left field and derail this happy choo choo train. This is what happens when I watch too many C-dramas with too many evil and jealous second female leads.

I was skeptical to try this drama out because comedies are a hit-or-miss to me. I am not a fan of over-the-top and slapstick comedy. I am glad I gave it a shot. The comedic moments are funny and not overly dramatic. I really had a great time watching it and laughing with and at the characters. It’s rare to see such a big cast with so many characters that you love. I want to hang out with all of them.

“New Life Begins” is more of a slice-of-life drama than a romance. In fact, the main romance is so slow-burn that I was getting a little bit disappointed. Curb your expectations if you think you will get many sweet and fluffy scenes. Even though the main leads are a couple for a very long time, they act like friends for most of the drama. I wish they would sprinkle some more sweetness throughout the drama, and not wait till the last 5 episodes.

But if you are into female friendships, sismance and strong women, this is the drama for me. There are many female characters with very distinct and interesting personalities. You will surely find someone to root for. This is a drama about girl power. I actually want to see more of the female business owners and not only the restaurant. The drama talks about some sort of Women Chamber of Commerce, a school, postpartum mother’s care and education, martial arts academy teaching self-defense, etc. But these are not shown but only mentioned in passing. I hope they have cut down on some of the palace politics and fight for the crown, and spend more time on the different kingdoms and businesses. The drama changes its lighthearted tone to a more serious tone in the middle and it lasts too long.

The political plot is nothing special, if you’ve seen enough Chinese historical drama. We have princes fighting for the King’s attention and for the crown, the King trying to balance the power of all the princes, and sad childhood and background stories of growing up in the palace. The best part is probably the interesting personalities of the princes and their bromance.

The acting is pretty good. I was worried I might not like the female lead, but she turns out to be smart and very likable. I actually enjoy Bai Jing Ting’s scenes when he is at home and acts all shy and awkward. Unfortunately, I don’t get the princely charisma from him.

This is a perfect drama to watch to relieve stress. Nothing is too serious or angsty, and there’s plenty of humor. You will definitely find someone you like and want to root for. We have a collection of amazing and supportive women in this drama.


Other Random Observations:
1. Did they sneak in a same-sex couple in this drama?
2. 7th Prince and his wife have so few scenes, but their shy and awkward personalities are a scene stealer for me. They are so cute!
3. It’s my personal pet peeve, but I don’t like the way Tian Xi Wei (FL) speaks. Her speech is choppy and sounds like she’s mumbling a few words out instead of complete sentences.
4. I am glad the actors use their own voices, but the post-production dubbing is just OK.
5. Love all the food scenes!


Completed: 12/17/2022 - 500th drama!

Leia Mais

Fantastic piano playing and unexpected plot twist

“Secret” is written and directed by Jay Chou. So, it’s not surprising that the music and the songs of this movie are top notch. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this movie. After reading the synopsis, I thought it’s another teen melodrama about first love and the disappearance is probably due to an illness or parental disapproval. But I am so wrong. I did not see the plot twist coming and I am glad I was wrong.

The acting is not bad and I wasn’t really expecting much from Jay Chou. After all, he’s known for being a singer and songwriter. Female lead, Kwai Lun Mei is fantastic and is the star of the movie. She plays the mysterious and interesting Xiao Yu well, as well as the more melodramatic scenes in the latter half of the movie.

The best part of this movie is the piano playing. If you are a music lover or a piano lover, this is a must-watch. There’s no fake playing and each song feels real. The piano duel is fantastically exciting. Lovers playing music together has such a romantic feel to it. It shows their innocent love and expression of love all through music.

Is this a realistic movie? Not really, especially in the last few minutes of the drama when danger is in his face, yet our main lead continues to play his music. But it makes for a great story and a great ending to this lovely movie.


Completed: 11/26/2022

Leia Mais

Mother-Daughter Duo and their growth through life challenges.

I am very glad I did not let the age gap deter me from watching “My Treasure”. However, I understand how it can be a turn-off. After all, Vicky Chen was 17 and Roy Chiu was 39 when they shot this drama. Though I think in the drama, Vicky is about 22 and Roy is about 35. There are many office scenes, but this drama is not a business drama. The focus of the drama is on the struggles, life challenges and growth of Qiu Dong Na (FL) and her mother, Qiu Xiao Xia (2FL). The supporting cast and their stories are an extension to illustrate their growth.


What I Like:

1. Qiu Dong Na (FL) - It’s very hard not to like Dong Na. She’s brought up by a single mother and has to be careful of each cent that she spends, while sometimes has to act as the only adult in the family.. However, having a tough childhood does not stop her from growing up into an intelligent, optimistic, loyal, caring, and generous adult who doesn’t bow down to setbacks but perseveres to accomplish all she wants. She makes everyone around her to be a better person, especially Gu Fei (ML). I think the proposal speaks to how independent and great a person she is.

2. Mom-Daughter relationship - It’s lovely to see the duo supports, challenges and inspires each other through their unconventional way of life. I enjoy all the witty conversations and banter between them. They are honest with each other and don't hesitate to provide constructive criticisms when needed. We don't see too many dramas showing struggling families in this light - optimistic, opportunistic, annoying and loud at times.

3. Mentor-Mentee relationship - Qiu Dong Na (FL) and Gu Fei (ML) have known each other for years and have a very tight mentor-mentee relationship. They understand each other and are not afraid to show their vulnerabilities and not-so-pleasant sides. I enjoy their conversations and witty banter. Even if we take away the romance, they have great chemistry together just as friends.

4. Mature romance - I like the mature romance between Xiao Xia (mom) and Wang Shi Cheng. A drama about two individuals in their 50s shouldn’t be so entertaining but it is. They complement each other well, and because of their different personalities, they can also support each other in different ways. Their romance is a good contrast to the other two romance storylines.

5. Realistic wardrobe - Oftentimes, we see female leads wearing fancy clothes and accessories even if they come from a poor background. I am happy to notice that Dong Na actually wears the same white shirt and jeans quite often as her business attire. Her clothes fit her personality, background and office setting. The working class dresses like the working class. The richer folks all dress appropriately e.g. Gu Fei (Roy Chiu looks dashing in all suits and in casual wear), Cheng Fan Yang (wears nice tailored pantsuits and exudes independent boss lady vibes) and Li Chu Ning (always wears pretty dresses and purses showing her well-off background).

6. Proposal Speech - I love what Gu Fei said. Period. I don’t want to give out spoilers, but if you watch this, pay attention to his heartfelt speech when they were lying down.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Qiu Xiao Xia (Mom) - I may not always agree with all her decisions and actions, but I can see where she is coming from. She also has a very street-smart side of her, which contrasts and complements her daughter and Gu Fei’s way of thinking. But sometimes her actions seem immature and not due to her lack of education. Personally, I think she screams too much and her high-pitched voice is very irritating. She is probably the most annoying person in the drama for me (and this is a very subjective comment).

2. Frenemies (Dong Na/Chu Ning) - I did not like Chu Ning at first when she tried to sabotage Dong Na at her first job. But their love/hate relationship grew on me as more background information was given as to why Chu Ning disliked Dong Na so much. I actually want to see more of their friendship and feel that the writer is missing an opportunity to elaborate on the character development of Chu Ning.

3. Dong Na/Gu Fei Romance - We all have different opinions about this age gap. I am going to just focus on this romance between a 22 year-old and a 35 year-old. The romance is very minimal in this drama as the story focuses on their mentor-mentee relationship for the most part. I am not sure if it’s because of the age, I find the romance not developed very well. The realization of feelings towards each other does not have enough buildup to it. But when they do get together, this couple is super cute and adorkable (they are already very honest and communicative to begin with). I do question why they both act like teenagers when they have been in past relationships. I actually want to see more scenes of them as a couple. Maybe they are edited out, or the drama just tries to keep it as a bare minimum.

4. Dong Na/Cheng Fan Yang - I have mixed feelings about the supervisor-subordinate/mentor-mentee relationship between Cheng Fan Yang and Dong Na. I like it but I wanted more. It’s hard to pinpoint what is missing. Maybe I wanted more interactions? More heart-to-heart talk? But I am glad to see that Dong Na recognizes Cheng Fan Yang’s voiceless cry for help and is able to support her, and enlighten those around Change Fan Yang.

5. Not making me feel - This is super personal. I like dramas that elicit emotions out of me. Whether it’s to make my laugh or cry. After watching this drama, I don’t recall ‘feeling’ much. I feel like an outsider looking in, but not being there with the characters through their journeys. Yes, I am weird like that. LOL


Completed: 11/5/2022

Leia Mais

Good acting & interesting characters, but low production value & poor romance.

Subjective Rating - 8.0
Objective Rating - 8.5+

Usually, “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty” is not really my go-to type of genre, but due to the rave reviews, and I haven’t seen Yang Xu Wen in a while, I figured I would give this a try. However, I think I picked the wrong time to watch this as my mood changed and I was sick and stressed out. Thus, I was unable to fully be invested in the drama and the investigations.

I was not immediately hooked on the drama. Initially I thought the drama started really slow and took me about 10 episodes to get into the story. But looking back, I actually quite enjoyed the first arc, compared to the next couple stories. Not all the strange tales were interesting to me. I find that I am more interested in the character development, friendships and the politics more than the actual strange tales and investigations. But this is of course a very subjective view and most watchers are probably watching this for the investigations.

The best part about this drama for me is the friendship between the two main leads. Lu Ling Feng is an intelligent, young general who follows and enforces all rules. Su Wu Ming is an experienced investigator and the bright disciple of the famous Detective Di. They clashed when first met as they have very different personalities and styles of investigation. Seeing how their friendship develops and how they complement each other is really fun. I also enjoy the character development of Lu Ling Feng, under the guidance and friendship of Su Wu Ming.

Another bright spot for me is the teacher/student relationship between Lu Ling Feng and Xue Huang. Once a reluctant teacher, Lu Ling Feng has come to care for Xue Huan as a teacher and big brother. Anson Shi, who played Xue Huan, is a promising young actor. I really enjoy all his scenes, including his fight scenes.

Unfortunately, my biggest criticism would be the romance storylines. As much as I love romances and I am not looking for it in this drama, the writers really shouldn’t have included them if they can’t do a great job writing. The romance between Pei Xi Jun and Lu Ling Feng was not developed well. They don’t have any chemistry and I don’t see how all of a sudden they became a couple. Then their romance disappeared like nothing happened until the very last couple episodes when it was mentioned again. The romance between Su Wu Ming and Ying Tao is just as awkwardly developed. Well, at least they have some fun banters. Having said all that, the romances took up very little screen time and can be ignored or fast forwarded.

The production value isn’t very high. The CGI is not good, especially with the animals and the fake-looking magic tricks in the last arc. It gives an even worse impression in the last arc when the story moved back to Chang’an. I can’t help but compare (unfairly, I know) the beautiful cinematography in “The Longest Day in Chang’An” to this drama, especially the night scenes and scenes of the tower. The fight scenes are not that great either. Not horrible, but not great. I know it’s another unfair comparison, but after just finished watching “Side Story of Fox Volant”, seeing these fight scenes is not a good experience. Yang Xu Wen couldn’t convince me that he was a great fighter or an actor that is good with fight scenes. Again, he’s not bad but he’s not Leo Wu or Qin Jun Jie. Although the main characters all use their own voices (thank goodness), the dubbing wasn’t done well. Sometimes, the voices and the mouths don’t match.

To end on a positive note, I do enjoy seeing many smart people in this drama. There isn’t anyone annoying. The main leads, Lu Ling Feng, Su Wu Ming, Pei Xi Jun, Ying Tao, young Xue Huan and funny Fei Ji Shi are all smart people making smart choices. There is no damsel in distress and the female characters contribute in their own ways. The acting is pretty good, even for the guest roles and supporting cast.


Other Random Observations:
1. There’s something about the way Su Wu Ming speaks that bugs me. Not the dubbing, but the rhythm of his speech and the pauses. I know I am weird.
2. The Crown Prince does not look very princely. I can’t picture him being the emperor next. On the other hand, the princess looks like she could be the next empress.
3. I was very impressed by the way Lu Ling Feng stopped the disaster from happening in the last arc. He couldn’t fix the issue, but found a workaround! Smart!
4. FL’s introduction is annoying, but I am glad she got so much better.


Completed: 10/23/2022

Leia Mais

Mature, Serious, Complicated and Thought-Provoking

Disclaimer: I am not a transgender and do not know much about issues faced by transgenders and persons with gender dysphoria. I apologize in advance if I use incorrect or insensitive terms in my review. Please do kindly correct me respectfully in the comments if I make any mistake. Thank you.

“Kataoimoi” aka “Unrequited Love” is definitely not a romance drama about unrequited love (though there are quite a few). At first glance, it’s about a murder and its investigation. But the main theme in this drama are issues faced by transgenders and those suffering from gender dysphoria. According to Mayo Clinic, gender dysphoria is the ‘feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics.’

This drama opens my eyes to these topics and issues. I have a little bit knowledge of those suffering from gender dysphoria and might want to go through with a sex change procedure. However, this drama talks about more than just this procedure. I am particularly impressed with the analogy of the Mobius Strip. A character described that the inside and outside, male and female, co-exist on the same strip and not just one or another. Not everyone wants to have the procedure to change their sex surgically. There are some who want to identify with both genders and are comfortable with it.

It’s not an easy watch but a serious and complicated one. However, the writing and the execution could be better. A lot of information and details regarding the crime investigation and those involved are given to viewers in only 6 hour-long episodes. I have to pay close attention to the conversation and the details unveiled to figure out who’s who. I think this drama could benefit from a few more episodes, and explore some other relationships. Even with this criticism, I still find the drama to be quite slow-paced.

This is not a drama for everyone and you should know what you are getting yourself into. But it’s thought-provoking and I hope it sparks healthy conversation and the desire to learn more. Thanks to commenter @seroonetwothree, I learned of the term gender dysphoria and Googled about it.

Other Random Observations:
1. Excellent acting by the cast, especially Natatani Miki as Mizuki/Mitsuru.
2. I like the use of an American Football team as the backdrop. Quite unique for an Asian drama.
3. The pictures taken of Mitsuru are beautiful!
4. Love the ending song and it fits the drama well.

Ending my review with a quote from the drama: "Nature loves diversity. Society hates it.".

Completed: 10/16/2022

Leia Mais

An enjoyable low budget web drama that doesn't look cheap.

Completed: 10/15/2022

Following the success of "The Killer is also Romantic", director Zeng Qing Jie has another well-directed and produced short drama in "A Familiar Stranger". I am often quite critical with the production of low budget dramas because the fake sets, cheap costumes and questionable acting really affect my viewing pleasure. I am happy to say that I was not bothered by any of these factors when watching "A Familiar Stranger". In fact, it makes me want to check out this director's other works those two dramas are so well-done.

Compared to TKIAR, "A Familiar Stranger" is not as comedic but is more romantic. The plot is interesting and I think the story flows pretty well. Because it's such a short drama, there's no pacing issues. I know I mentioned this before, I am really surprised that the set designs, props and costumes look so good. I've seen mid-size budget productions with big stars that are worse this this drama.

I really enjoy the development of the main romance and I think the actors did a pretty good job. The chemistry between 'real' 17 and the General is good. There are a couple good, 'steamy' kisses but I wanted more (too many teasing almost kisses). We do have the typical accidental falling into your arms, gazing softly into your eyes, etc. But the ending twist was unexpected. There isn't any annoying character and the kid is quite cute. The only part that's a little unrealistic to me is how King Ning became so obsessed with 'real' 17.

It's not an amazing drama but it was an amazingly enjoyable watch for me.

Leia Mais