Delusional and Crazy Scientists are Terrifying to Mankind!

Completed - 4/11/2022 - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0

I am late to the party watching this drama in 2022 instead of 2017. I can understand why the high rating (currently at 8.5) remains for an "old" drama. I rarely watch sci-fi dramas, esp. those without a romance subplot. But I am glad I finally dug this up from my PTW list and watch it.

The general plot is nothing super special that you haven't seen in similar sci-fi dramas and movies. Aliens coming to Earth, and human beings using their technology to "improve" life on earth. Of course, we have to throw in a few greedy, delusional and unethical scientists in the mix. But don't worry, someone righteous will save the day.

Having said that, "Circle" excels in excellent pacing, tight storylines and great acting performances. Because it's only 12 episodes long, no time was wasted in useless side stories. Viewers are very clear what the main plot is, and the motivation or goal of each character. I was invested throughout the drama. It captured my full attention so much that I didn't pause to write down notes for this review. I also really enjoy the parallel storytelling - first half of the episode in 2017 and second half in 2037. I feel myself looking forward to the 2037 storyline just a tad more.

I've always been a fan of Yeo Jin Goo, especially his performances in "Moon Embracing the Sun" and "The Crowned Clown". So, I totally expect him to be great here. I've seen Gong Seung Yeon in four (wow!) other dramas, but I think I am most impressed with her in this one. She has a more complicated character to play and was able to display a variety of emotions. Besides, she looks badass in her 2037 cool outfits and makeup. This is my first time seeing Kim Kang Woo and Lee Ki Kwan, and I also really like their acting. "Circle" also has a very strong supporting cast of child actors and veteran actors. There is no weak link here.

The last few episodes of the drama are really exciting. It kept me on my toes and also increases my hatred for our villain. Each time I see him in the 2017 storyline being his scheming, evil self, I want to punch him in the face. LOL. I think we got a very satisfying ending that ties up most of the loose ends nicely.

If I have to criticize this drama, or pin point something I want more, it would be the background story of our alien. The drama really didn't tell us anything about Byul's background. What planet is she from? Why does she look like a human? What is this technology? No one tries to make contact with her for 30 years? I wonder if they plan to do a season 2 to address all that.

Overall, I really enjoy this drama. I can't say how good it is compared to others in the same genres, but I like it!

*edit* One more loose end, who are the Human B investors??? How did the police get involved?? We never found out.

Leia Mais

A short and sweet web drama

Completed - 4/2/2022

"Emperor or Boss" is a cute, light-hearted and short romance web drama. This is a great stress-reliever if you want to just enjoy the ride and not think too much. As long as you lower your expectations and not expecting a big budget production, it's an easy and binge-able watch.

It has:
1) Good-looking leads
2) Decent chemistry
3) Decent acting + expected a little over-the-top acting
4) No angst, no misunderstanding, no annoying characters (maybe annoying FL dubbing/voice)
5) Love triangle that is somewhat funny and not annoying
6) Plenty of decent kisses after the leads got together

I watched the drama on MangoTV YouTube Channel with Chinese subs. I do not recommend watching the drama there. MangoTV YouTube channel is notorious for blocking out music and sounds. I should have known better. Instead, try the Idol & Romance or Fresh Drama YouTube Channels with English subs instead.

Leia Mais

Light-hearted and Cute, but Unrealistic and Illogical

Completed - 2/18/2022 - 7.75 rating

If you are not watching this aired weekly, it's best to watch the movie version than the drama version. The story flows better and it's not as fragmented. This is a cute and light-hearted BL drama/movie, with decent chemistry and somewhat good-looking actors. Also, something is wrong with the synopsis here, "After a serious row, he is thrown out of the family home and is left with an emotional wound. " <--- I didn't see that happening!! Serious row? Thrown out??

What I enjoy:
1. I like the bus scene with their pinkies in the air. Really cute!
2. Cute interactions between the leads.
3. Great songs - Korean BL dramas never disappoint me with their songs.
4. Production value seems decent enough for a low-budget web drama.

What I don't enjoy (spoilers):
1. The acting of Won Hyung Hoon (Creditor) is not very good. I know his character is supposed to be quiet, but he comes off as bland and emotionless.
2. Unrealistic and illogical plot lines (stop reading if you don't want my cynicism to spoil your happy bubble):
= Will a debt collector really trust you enough to extend your loan payment for a month after a dance that's not even that good?
= The whole debt collector profession in this drama is unrealistic.
= If a debt collector moves in with you, you should kick him out immediately (DANGER!), no matter how nice he seems.
= Just because Shi On got the audition to play the lead role, doesn't mean he automatically has money. He actually has to work first to get paid. Why does it seem like the loan is totally forgiven all of a sudden?
= If they assume the loan is forgiven, then why did Hong Seok leave Shi On in the end? As Shi On said, the previous relationship ended and they can start anew. Why leave? I still don't get it.

Though it seems like I dislike this drama/movie, I did have an enjoyable time. I needed something light and short, and it suits my needs. I just can't give it a higher rating, as it doesn't seem fair to the other dramas that I rated a 8.0 and above.

Leia Mais

A different kind of Kenshin Movie - A Melodrama

Completed - 2/12/2022 - Rating 8.25

Even though this is the last movie of the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, this movie is actually the beginning of Himura Kenshin's story. If you haven't watched any of the movies, I would recommend watching "The Beginning" first, or at least before "The Final". The story will flow a little better as you follow his journey when he first became Battosai the Killer.

All other Kenshin movies are fast-paced and action-packed. It is without a doubt that they all have amazing sword fighting scenes and are full of violence and gore. Though "The Beginning" has a very different vibe and fewer fight scenes, they are still as amazing as ever. Another commonality that these movies share is the amazing soundtrack. We have beautiful instrumental pieces that complement the scenes so well, no matter if they are having quiet moments, or violent fight scenes. When I heard the Rurouni Kenshin theme song at the end of this movie, it feels like home.

However, "The Beginning" is actually a slow-burn, melodrama of Himura and Tomoe's love story. We got a glimpse of it in "The Final" and we get the full story here. It's very slow-paced (actually a little too slow for my taste) and the movie has many quiet moments. I actually enjoyed the quiet moments that they had in "The Final" more, as they helped to slow down the pace of a fast movie. Because our main leads are so reserved and introverted, there aren't that many dialogs in this movie. I also find it a little difficult to see how Himura is initially attracted to Tomoe. I guess a 2 hour-long movie really doesn't have that much time to develop the initial attraction in more detail.

Satoh Takeru is without a doubt amazing in this drama. Satoh Takeru = Himura Kenshin. I cannot picture anyone else play this role. He's as quiet and as stoic as ever, but I see a glimpse of youthfulness and a cute little smile when he's looking at his homegrown radish :) Arimura Kasumi is so graceful as Tomoe. There's this quiet strength in her. Eguchi Yosuke reprises his role as Saito Hajime, but I don't think the makeup artist can make him as youthful-looking as Satoh Takeru.

It's hard to say goodbye to Satoh Takeru as Himura Kenshin. I've loved him in all these movies. I am so glad that the Kenshin franchise gave me the opportunity to know him.

Leia Mais

Cute and Fluffy (slightly cringey) drama about Love, Teamwork, Perseverance and Mommy issues.

Completed - 1/21/2022

A big reason why I want to watch "To Fly with you" is because of Wang An Yu (ML). I fell in love with him when watching "Forever Love", my favorite young adult drama. I could still imagine his loving gazes and I am glad to see them in this drama as well. However, his character here is very different than in "Forever Love".

This drama is quite similar to "Skate into Love". We have our leads struggling to succeed or to maintain their reputation in their respective sports. We see issues with initial team chemistry, rivalries, sportsmanship, love triangles, etc. However, this drama feels a lot "younger". The characters are all college students, but I feel like I was watching a high school drama, based on the way they talk and act. And because of this, I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I thought I would. It's probably because I am older and I am not the target audience. I don't recall feeling that way when I was watching "Skate into Love".

This drama is probably made to promote Beijing's Winter Olympics in February 2022. I would think the government might have provided a little funding. But the number of product placements in this drama is quite amazing. We have the usual drinks, snacks, skin care, face masks.... but also apps on phone for cleaning service and job searches. I guess the government didn't pay much or at all, and it costs a lot of money for the actors to be trained.

One aspect I enjoy about this drama is the skating. Of course we know that the difficult jumps are not done by the actors, and they probably speed up the skating (esp. ML's final skate when executing difficult jumps). However, I rarely feel like I am watching bad/fake skating. I applaud the actors' ability to skate and act like they know what they are doing. FL is the only person that looks a little off to me when there's a close-up shot of her face when speed skating. I also enjoy the way the drama tries to educate the audience on the more technical aspects of speed skating and figure skating. I never knew the importance of having a teammate supporting and coordinating with you in speed skating (I thought it's a loner sport).

As a romance junkie, I have to talk about the romance here. The first half of the drama was quite fun for the main romance, though a little cringey at times. However, I am most annoyed with the confession miscommunication because it's so easy to just speak up instead of stuttering and holding back. Wang An Yu (ML) and Song Zu Er (FL) look good together and have good chemistry. Both of them are able to get down and dirty to act silly and embarrassing. Once the leads got together, it's quite smooth-sailing, less cringey but more sugary. On the other hand, the secondary romance took up too much screen time, and I find the character, Zhu Le Le (2FL) quite annoying. I wish the drama has lessened this romance and kept the drama at 30 episode-long.

Another weird thing I like about this drama is how sweaty and normal the athletes look. We don't have girls in full make-up trying to exercise. The girls really look like they're training hard and exhausted every day. My favorite character in this drama is Coach Zhuang, played by Pu Miao. She's such a good actress, esp. among all these young actors. She was tough as nails when coaching and screaming at the girls, but on the other hand, she was so vulnerable and hesitant when she saw her son.

I would recommend "To Fly With You" to those who enjoy a cute and fluffy sports drama.

Leia Mais

Sweet and Innocent teen drama - No GaoKao (college admission exam) for once!!!

Completed - 1/4/2022

"Summer Again" might not be a perfect drama, but to me, I really like it and I can't stop smiling while watching it. This is my second teen drama that I rated a 9.0, after my other favorite, "Forever Love". I finally found a Chinese high school drama that is not focused on the evil GaoKao (College admission exam). There are so many other teen dramas, but you can't escape the plot of students stressing over the exam and parents being mean about it.

"Summer Again" is a breath of fresh air. The setting is at a small seaside town. The drama is about our young cast finding and loving their true selves, and discovering and working towards their dreams. Romance is present in the name of friendship. It's sweet and innocent, and there's no cheesy love lines or fluffy and intimate skinship. It's just pure innocent, caring and supportive friendships.

What I like:
1. Plot/No GaoKao - As mentioned, the focus of the drama is not about studying hard for the exam. I have watched a good number of teen C-Dramas, and this might be the only one that I can remember that has nothing to do with the exam. It's just normal high school life in a small town. Our young cast grow and learn about themselves. Of course, they encounter similar challenges in other teen dramas, but I think it's a refreshing take as it all happened in a small town.

2. Realistic teenagers - We have normal teenagers doing what normal teenagers do. They hang out, dress, talk and act like teenagers. Our male lead is not cold-on-the-outside and mean to FL, nor was he a genius or a failing student. He's just a normal kid who happens to be a famous comic book author. Our female lead is not naive or shy or a pushover. She's an above-average student, not particularly smart or dumb. Even if ballet takes center stage, she's not a superstar ballerina. All characters act like their age. I also like that none of them is dumb or naive

3. Romance/Friendship - We don't have outright romances here. There's no lovey-dovey fluffiness. Not even a kiss. or the confession of "I Like You". Once in a while, a romance like this is refreshing. Our leads are caring and supportive friends. They have open and honest conversations. They listen and support each other, and don't try to change each other. They help each other think things through in order to come to their own decisions. They show affection through actions. It's simple, sweet, and innocent.

4. Ballet - I appreciate our FL performing all her dances. And no, don't expect expert ballet dancing. Her dance is simple and amateurish, and definitely not showcasing someone who has been dancing for years. I can't say for sure, but there are enough shots to show her head /body/legs to know that FL does her own dancing. On the other hand, I can also tell that her teacher is a ballet dancer (I looked him up and he is). You can tell by the way he presents himself and the few dance steps he did - very light on the feet!

5. Gift Giving - What a creative way for ML to give the farewell present to FL when they are under the tree.

What I don't quite like as much:
1. Love triangle - ML only has eyes for FL and he makes that very clear. I still think that the jealous 3FL storyline lasted a little too long. Even though I pity her circumstances, her mean actions get repetitive and annoying after a while.

2. Acting - The overall acting of the main cast is not bad. However, the other minor characters' acting is not quite up to standards. For example, I am not sure if the ballet teacher is supposed to act so stoic and wooden because of his role, or his acting is not that great.

Leia Mais

Cute and Fluffy - Cotton Candy has a whole new meaning!

Completed - 11/4/2021 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

"My Dear Brothers" is a simple, cute and lower budget web historical drama. It suits my needs that I needed to watch something light as a palate cleanser. The beginning time-travel element reminded me of the Korean web drama "Splash Splash Love" (it's a short and cute drama as well).

What I enjoy:
1) The general plot of how the romance is developed. It's nothing too out-of-the ordinary or surprising. In fact, it's actually quite predictable for the most part. However, I enjoy the awkwardness of our ML and the cuteness of our FL. I appreciate the fact that even though our ML is innocent and naive, he's not dumb. He actually learns fast through observations and is quite perceptive. Our FL is not over-the-top with corny cuteness, but just enough for me to enjoy their sweet romance.

2) Cotton Candy *spoiler* - I love it when our ML keeps on calling kisses as cotton candy. It's just too adorable, especially when he said it with such an innocent yet matter-of-fact expression on his face. I don't blame him for treating cotton candy as the second most important thing in his life (aside from FL, of course).

3) Wedding - this is my first time seeing a fusion wedding in the cultivation world. I enjoy how they incorporated the traditional red and the modern white in the wedding. The vows written by Shi Dong are so sweet and funny at the same time. I sort of wish the wedding scenes last longer.

4) The Holy Tree - I did not see the plot twist coming regarding ML's real identity. No wonder they put so much emphasis of the holy tree throughout the series. I love everything about this holy tree - the lantern scene, the effort to revive the tree, ML's childhood memories, wedding night under the tree, and most importantly, how love gives meaning to ML's life and how love revives the tree to its former glory.

What I don't quite enjoy:
1) Makeup - I know this is a low budget drama and I know it's petty of me, but it really bothers me quite a bit with the makeup in this drama. You don't really need a big budget to do decent makeup. But for some reason, it's not done right and I can see through all the blemishes and imperfections. The worst is the chapped lips that our actors have, esp. for our ML/Hou Chi and 2FL/Qiu Li. Qiu Li has the worst lipstick application and chapped lips. Or maybe I am not up-to-speed on the new lipstick trend? I don't see our FL/Shi Xia having the same lipstick problem.

2) Holy Palace - in order to fully enjoy this drama, you do need to suspend belief and dive into this fantasy world. However, one thing that bugs me is how easy it is to enter the Holy Palace in the last few episodes. I thought you have to go through this scary forest that get you stuck in illusions and take the most important thing away from you. Isn't that why Shi Xia loses her taste and Bi Hong loses his eyesight? Apparently, none of this matters when the Devil Sect can easily go in and out of the Holy Palace.

3) Ending - I am confused about how they're supposed to save the world. What was it that flew out of Qiu Li's body when she died and into the formation? Her spiritual root? If it's her spiritual root, how did it affect the formation? How did our ML survive and was able to send FL and her brother back to the modern world, and transport himself as well? There isn't a whole lot of explanation.

4) Kisses - for a historical drama, there are quite a few kisses in this series. Unfortunately, they are all fish kisses with no passion. I can understand the first couple of fish kisses, since ML is still new to all this. But after that, I wish to see a little more passion and lip action. These kisses are not living up to the Cotton Candy reputation.

Other observations:
1) Overall acting is decent but not exceptional. I find FL's acting a lot better than ML.
2) First half is better than the second half - a lot funnier with sound effects, but could be cringey for some.
3) How did Shi Dong learn how to build everything in the Devil Sect? Just because he comes from the modern world, doesn't mean he can create and build shuttles, magical instruments, etc.
4) Family drama between Yuan Zhao, Bi Hong and Qiu Li lasted a little too long for my taste in the last few episodes
5) A few common tropes that you might not like - noble idiocy, fake amnesia, spinning hugs, falling into your arms, 2FL turns evil for the most part.
6) There's an extra episode 36 - life in the modern world - short and cute

Leia Mais

Not a comedy but an emotional healing drama

When I first read the synopsis and watched the trailer, I thought this would be a romantic comedy. Well, I was wrong. This is actually a very emotional healing drama of the journey our ML has to go through to get out of his funk and to heal his trauma, low self-esteem and anxiety. It's very un-Korean to have a drama about erectile dysfunction and have a proud transvestite/transgendered character, but I am loving it.

Our male lead, Yoon Shi Yoon was amazing in the drama. He portrays his character so well, from a low-self esteem traumatized "loser", to someone who found himself and grew into a better version of himself. I cried with him but also fall in love with his adorable, shy self. This is my first Yoon Shi Yoon drama and I'm glad I found out about him. He's not your typical good-looking actor, but he has his charms and the drama is right, he has great body proportion (nice broad shoulder and muscular torso..LOL). On another note, who doesn't love Jennifer! He/She is the best friend that anyone could ask for. Is there a reason why cool characters have "Jennifer" as an English name? I also love Jennifer in "Thirty but Seventeen". Yoon Shi Yoon and Jennifer are the reason why I bumped my rating to a 8.0 instead of a 7.5.

What I dislike the most in this drama are all the medical professionals. They are all unethical and unprofessional. It really makes it difficult for me to suspend belief and just roll with it for the sake of the drama. I don't think our FL deserves our ML. She did redeem herself a little in the last episode, but overall, this is so unrealistic to have ML continue treatment with FL after finding out the real reason for her assistance.

Leia Mais

Low budget production with an interesting plot + steam punk, but poor execution

10/3/2021

In order to write this review, I need to remind myself that I just watched a low budget 2016 drama in late 2021. C-dramas have evolved and changed a lot in 5 years, and certain things I didn't like were popular and acceptable back then. If this is a 2021 drama, I might be a harsher critic. Aside from Zhang Ruo Yun (ML) and Gabriela Guan (FL) who are child/teen actors and have more experienced, the rest of the cast is pretty young and new. I've seen ZRY in "Joy of Life" and Gabriela in "A Girl Like Me", so it's interesting to see how far they have come.

What I Like:

1. General Plot - I like the overarching plot of this drama. It's very interested to watch a fantasy drama with steam punk elements. At first I thought it would be a more traditional wuxia drama, but is pleasantly surprised.

2. Zhang Ruo Yun/Feng Tian Yi (ML) - ZRY carries the drama on his back and runs with it. His acting is the best out of everyone, even the more veteran actors. His character is more multi-dimensional than others, thus, giving him the chance to show off his acting chops. I miss him when he's not on my screen.

What I Don't Like:

1. Tropes - This drama has the usual C-drama tropes: jealous 2FL and 2ML who won't take no for an answer, love turns to hate, good 2ML turns evil, noble idiocy, misunderstanding and miscommunication over and over again. I think I dislike the most is the misunderstanding trope. Our FL appears to be smart enough in the beginning of the show, but towards the end, she believes what the villainous 2FL said instead of ML (again and again).

2. Low budget shows - I think money is spent on the costumes for just our leads. ML and FL and have the nicest clothes, though you can see that the quality isn't that great either. The costumes for others and the set designs all look very cheap. The palaces don't look grand and the decorations/sets look somewhat cheap. Even though I wasn't expecting fancy fight scenes, the ones that are in the drama (not that many) are not done well. I personally dislike slow-motion fighting. The CGI is obviously very 2016 as well.

3. Inconsistent and illogical incidents - One scene FL hurt her ankle, another scene she ran off. People can go in and out of palaces at will and unannounced. ML hiding something so important under a table (?!?!) that could be stolen very easily. There are many more examples of inconsistent and illogical writing.

4. Ending theme song - What is up with the ending theme song? The upbeat song from those 3 teen boys feel so out of place and totally not giving out the same vibe as the drama or the beautiful opening theme song.

Other:
*spoiler* Endings - I am usually someone who seeks out dramas with happy endings. Once in a while, I would watch a tragic drama. Coming into this drama, I knew there are two versions of the ending and I've watched both of them. Personally, I am fine with the first, sadder ending. I think sometimes it makes sense and it is a tragic beauty. It reminds me of the other drama "Rattan" where it also has two endings. I think most fans preferred the second, happier ending, esp. when the leads have gone through so much and never really had any happy times.

Leia Mais

Good mix of Romance, Fantasy, Adventure - but could be confusing

9/18/2021

I was attracted to the unique plot of this drama, even though I haven't read or heard much about "Serendipity". This short drama doesn't really have a big budget, nor does it have a superstar cast. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was concerned when I saw the MDL rating of it at 7.8. This drama is by no means a high quality, big production. But for my personal enjoyment, I quite like it. It has a good mix of romance, fantasy, comedy and adventure.

This 12-episode drama tells the story of 3 different worlds. The first one is a little confusing to start and the acting wasn't at its best. It might take 1-3 episodes to get you interested. The second world (historical) is my favorite out of the three. I am less confused and there are quite a few funny moments. Romance is also more developed here with some cute moments. The last arc is the most confusing to me, and it's the most serious world. I still don't quite understand the general story of how this all started and ended. How did Yan Sui and Wan Wan get into this situation? What really need to happen to get everything back to normal? I am still not sure. Hence, I only gave this a 8.0 instead of 8.5.

I wish China would produce more short dramas, as the pacing is perfect and the story is tight. There is no unnecessary filler or misunderstandings over and over again. This is a good quick, light break from watching a serious drama.

Leia Mais

Fight scenes continue to impress

8/22/2021

The fight scenes in Kenshin movies never fail to impress me. They are fast and exciting, compared to the Chinese irritating slow-motion fight scenes that I dislike so much (esp. in wuxia dramas). The fight choreography is amazing. This movie has more group fighting than 1:1 fights. I personally enjoy the previous movies 1:1 fights and this movie only has one in the final half hour of the movie. The fight scene background music continues to bring excitement to the scenes and if you have watched previous movies, you are no stranger to that amazing musical score.

Unfortunately, I don't think the plot of this movie is as amazing as the previous movies. I feel that they really don't need a "final" movie to the existing trilogy. As much as I love the Rurouni Kenshin movies and Satoh Takeru, this feels like an independent movie to gather most of the previous characters together. There are two characters from the previous movie that are brought back, but it didn't really provide much information or background story to their roles in this movie.

This 2-hour movie goes by fast. I enjoy how Kenshin's former love story was told, without too many words but you get all the feelings. There's a lot of quietness to slow down the exciting fight scenes and let you really feel the emotions of the story. Then the pace picks back up with fight scenes and explosions.

I still enjoy this movie but I don't think it's as good as the last couple ones.

Leia Mais

Suspend reality and enjoy a roller coaster ride of emotions

8/2/2021

First of all, one needs to get over the 977-year age gap. If you have a problem with a thousand-year guy/fox dating a 22-year woman, this is not the drama for you. Well, at least our female lead is not a high school student (aka Goblin).

I enjoy the general plot of the drama, though there are some plot holes. Others might have problems with the age gap or the professor/student relationship. These don't bother me much but I understand why others are OK with it. I am fine with the professor/student relationship since they started their relationship before this happened and it's the reason how ML can see FL everyday. I also like that the story didn't end when the bead is given back to ML or when they got back together. I enjoy the relationship development, how they maintain their relationship, and going through extraordinary struggles. I do feel that there are some plot lines that were dropped or forgotten. What happened to the discovery that the evil spirit transform into ML to kill people? I thought the police was going to investigate and ask ML questions? I guess once the evil spirit is disintegrated, we can forget about that plot. I also don't understand the double-standard of how ML and 2FL's requirements to turn human. Does the mountain spirit just make up his own rules and it's not standard practice for all gumiho? I also would like to learn more about 2FL's background story of her failed romances and how she achieved humanity. There are parts that are a little slow and I felt that there's not enough material for 16 hour-long episodes. Maybe 12 episodes would be enough.

Romance takes center page in this drama. I love ML's smiles and FL's personality. FL's role here is very similar to her role in "Reply 1988". It's great to see a FL who is straightforward, honest about her feelings, communicates (for the most part) and loyal to her friends. I am also a fan of ML and enjoyed his role in "Search WWW" , "Come and Hug Me", and "My Mister". I do find his acting here a little weaker than this other dramas that I watched. I don't feel that his eyes are conveying enough emotions, but when he smiles shyly, it brightens the screen and melts my heart. Our third wheel could probably cause some second-lead syndrome. But I do find his persistent confession and chasing after FL a little too much and clingy. He's cute though :) The secondary romance is cute and fun. The secondary leads are both a little clumsy in their own ways and they make quite a lovable pair.

This drama is a lot funnier than I thought it would be. There are many comedic moments by our female lead (FL)and the supporting cast. It's no doubt that the funniest is our fox-turned-human second female lead (2FL). She is so lovable and clueless and sexy that you can't help but love her. Our 2FL and 2ML are an odd pairing but it worked.

I love the friendships between the two gumihos and FL's friendship with her besties. ML and 2FL form a funny pair with their banter, yet deep down they care of each other. They are both old yet childish in their petty little ways. I also love the friendship between FL and her male BFF. It's great to see a pure platonic friendship that is full of laughter and tears. I do find FL's female BFF a little hard to tolerate at times, as she's very loud and her comedy is very in-your-face.

Leia Mais

Great acting, beautiful cinematography, great OST but with plot holes and inconsistent pacing

10/26/2021 - 7.75 rounding up to 8.0

This is a very interesting drama to write a review about. The expectations were so high when it's first announced but it might not have lived up to the expectations. I was happy to watch a fantasy, sageuk as we don't see them often. It has a great cast and a lovely OST. Maybe because I've been watching many long, historical/fantasy C-dramas, I am fine with the pacing of the show.

Plot: The general plot is interesting with different elements of Korean folklore, fantasy, good vs evil, and of course, romance. However, the drama seems to have forgotten some of the side storylines that they introduced and never go back to tell us more. For example, how did ML become the richest man as an astrologer with no family support? It doesn't quite make sense. I would like to know how ML's bodyguard came to follow him, and what's the backstory of the gisaeng who wanted the king and the royal family dead. Although I like the happy ending for the leads, it does seem a little anti-climatic. Do we really need to end it with the palace power struggle and give us an open ending? Why waste the last few minutes on those bad guys still hunting down FL?

Art/Painting: I thoroughly enjoy learning and watching the painting contests. The paintings are all beautiful and it's interesting to see how each painter interprets the poems. Even with FL painting the royal portrait, it's amazing to see the amount of details needed - each stroke needed to paint the hair, beard, wrinkles, and patterns on the robe. Big props to the artists who were hired to do all the work.

Romance: We all know that our main leads are the destined pair, so 2ML doesn't stand a chance. I do enjoy the chemistry between the leads. However, I would love to see the romance focused more of their initial attraction and romance as adults before they realized their childhood connection. They had such great chemistry then when they're still getting to know each other. I don't believe that one-time childhood encounter is strong enough to be the foundation of their romance, even if they're destined to be together. There's also quite a bit of back-and-forth from ML whether he should leave FL alone or not. I guess love is hard and it's easy to sway. I also don't quite appreciate the many slow mo romantic scenes, or slow mo scenes in general. I think that's why the pacing seems somewhat off.

Acting: The biggest strengths of this drama is the cast and their great acting. It's no surprise that the veteran actors are great. Our young leads also did a very respectable job and I believe in their joy and heartaches. I am a fan of Kim Yoo Jung when she played the younger FL in "Moon Embracing the Sun". I am happy to see that she's grown up to be such a fine actress and I've enjoyed her acting here. I haven't seen any of her modern dramas though. I've seen Ahn Hyo Seop in "13 but 17" and also "Dr. Romantic 2". He has definitely grown as an actor as well, and this might be his best performance I've seen him. I've seen Gong Mjung in "Be Melodramatic" and honestly, I don't remember him at all. I also like his acting here, though he's not used well in the second half of the drama. However, I am especially impressed with our villain second prince, Kwak Shi Yang. What a great performance by him that I feel bad for his suffering because of Ma Wang.

Leia Mais

Completed - 7/27/2022 - 8.25 rating (my gut is not telling to round it up to 8.5)

"Love like the Galaxy" is a highly anticipated historical drama in 2022 (my second most anticipated after "Who Rules the World") since we have two very popular young actors, Wu Lei and Zhao LuSi. Personally, I think Wu Lei and Zhao LuSi are a much better match than Zhao LuSi + Yang Yang or Wu Lei + Dilraba. Probably because they are of similar age and give off a young love vibe (instead of siblings). This family drama also reminded me a little of "The Story of Ming Lan" but a less serious version. I like the fact that the drama focuses on different relationships and not just romantic relationships.

However, as a romance lover, I was looking forward to the main couple's romantic journey. I am a little disappointed as it took them a very long time to meet and for us to see any sort of romantic development. In Part 1, our female lead, Cheng Shao Shang (CSS) attracted the attention of three young men. We see the sweet, young, puppy love between CSS and Lou Yao. Lou Yao is cute and all, but really just seems like a good buddy to hang out with. He will never be on equal footing with CSS. CSS picks him probably because she can walk all over him and can do whatever she wants (aka freedom!). Yuan Shen is the petty high school kid who likes to pester the girl that he likes. I also don't feel any real chemistry between CSS and Yuan Shen. I usually enjoy bickering between leads but not much here (well, he's technically not the male lead). We finally see CSS and Ling Bu Yi (LBY) together after about 10 episodes. That is one sloooww start of a romance. Unfortunately, scenes with the two of them together are far and between. For me, there isn't enough to justify LBY's love for CSS and the pacing of their story seems off. However, I expect to feel very differently in Part 2 and I am anticipating a lot of heartaches, longing and chemistry *fingers crossed*

A big part of the drama focuses on CSS's relationship with her mother. Although I understand where her mother is coming from, and the guilt she's feeling inside, it's really hard to see CSS not getting the affection from her mother. Mom is supposedly very smart. Why can't she see that the way she's treating CSS is not the right way to go? She's seen the relationship between CSS and her aunt, and should know that CSS is smart and sweet. Why is mom being so dumb here? I think we all know that being constantly compared to someone else hurts ones pride and self-confidence, esp. when your mother is the culprit. There are a few other annoying characters in this drama. Luckily, to me, they have not reached my boiling point yet, and I still find them to be tolerable since they also provide comedic relief, e.g. all those bitchy women and princesses.

My favorite character is Qi Qi, played by Zhang Yue. Qi Qi is so fun and cool, and I like her style. She doesn't care what you think of her nor take BS from anyone. She's the perfect BFF for CSS. I love it whenever she's there for CSS and protecting her from the other petty and bitchy ladies. There are many comedic moments throughout the drama. They are funny and yet not over-the-top. The humor doesn't distract from the main story or the feel of the drama. I hope this type of humor continues in Part 2 and it doesn't turn into a melodrama.

Zhao Lu Si does shine in "Love like the Galaxy", and she looks beautiful. Her character is smart and scheming and provided enough material to showcase her acting skills. On the other hand, Wu Lei has a little less to work with in Part 1. He looks great as the general but I wanted to see more of him, not just the stoic side. I do see glimpses of a different LBY towards the end. I love the awkward adorableness in the last couple episodes and look forward to seeing more in Part 2. One of my favorite parts of this drama is the confrontation between the leads in ep 27. I've been waiting for this. I want them to talk, to argue, to openly tell each other how they feel.

The production value seems pretty good. I believe this is a S+ production from Tencent. I don't remember any of the songs. That could mean they are not memorable or they are not overplayed, or both. Although the cinematography did not "wow" me, I do like the costumes, hairstyles, accessories, sets and props. Nothing looks flimsy or cheap, except for those big rocks they used for training in the Shang household. Those rocks look fake!

Part 1 is a good start to setup for the rest of the drama. I look forward to Part 2 and expect to like it even more.

Leia Mais

Strong focus on romance with likable characters; Underrated because ML is not handsome.

It’s quite unfortunate/unfair that “Once and Forever” is rated so low and mainly due to viewers not liking the male lead, Zhang Yi Shan, and think he’s ugly. He might be miscast but it’s only because I think he looks too old for the part, not because he’s not handsome enough. Having said that, his acting is great and has great chemistry with Guan Xiao Tong. They are so fun as best friends (love their bickering), while also super adorable when they finally become a couple. I never wanted Xie Qiao (FL) to be with Yang Cheng. Yang Cheng is such a bland character and Fan Cheng Cheng’s acting is not good either. I have rooted for Qin Chuan (ML) since the first episode. It hurts me when I see him hurting.

I also like all the characters. There’s only one annoying girl in the earlier episodes where her obsessive pursuit of ML annoys me. Other than that, there are many likable and layered characters. The 4 roomies are different yet get along so well. It’s rare to see a college drama where there's no jealousy or argument between them. I enjoy seeing them grow from innocent 18-year-olds, to independent strong women. Their journeys are different but each is given just enough time for me to care about. Let’s not forget the sassy sister, Qin Qian. She’s so badass! She loves so passionately.

This drama has a very strong focus on romance, especially during the college days. If you are not a romance lover, this might not be as fun. There are multiple couples and their romantic journeys are all very different. I wish the kisses were better though. I enjoy each of them and really hope they all have their happy-ever-after. But alas, this is not a fairytale and I can’t say more without spoiling it. But we have two Mr. Green Flags in this drama. Qin Chuan might not be perfect, but he’s the perfect boyfriend. His love for Xie Qiao never wavers and is always there for her. His love is demonstrated through actions. He Xiao Zhou is more of a fairytale prince. He’s gentle and kind, studious and hardworking, considerate and never complains about life's hardships. He’s too good to be true. Additionally, I’ve seen Ye Xiao Wei in other dramas before but this is the one I find most attractive. Maybe because he’s a walking green flag.

The acting is pretty good in this drama, except for Fang Cheng Cheng who is less experienced than others. I really enjoy the acting of Zhang Yi Shan (as ML), Guan Xiao Tong (as FL), Li Xi Rui (as sassy big sis) and Jiang Pei Yao (as rich girl). I am also glad to see all actors use their own voices and there’s live recording. The Beijing accent (I think) is quite pronounced especially for Zhang Yi Shan and Guan Xiao Tong, but this all just adds more flavor to the drama as it’s set in Beijing.

But this drama is not without its fault. I think it’s just a little too long at 35 episodes. Not much really happened during the college days aside from romances. The plot dragged a little in the middle but the pace is picked back up in the last 5-8 episodes. There’s quite a lot of English spoken in this drama. I give props to the actors for practicing their lines and their pronunciation is actually better than I expected. However, when the drama was set in England and no British accent was to be heard, I thought everything happened in New York. Others have also commented that US bills were used when the characters were supposed to be in Canada. There are a lot of inconsistencies when it comes to what happened outside of China. There’s also a surprising amount of subtle and non-subtle Chinese pride/propaganda in this drama. It’s not as much as other military or rescue dramas, but more than I expected in a retro, slice-of-life drama. I also find it hard to tell time. During college days, the drama will show us the year and month. But mid-way through the drama, it becomes harder to tell if months or years have passed. I really need to pay attention to the dialogs.

Overall, this is not a bad drama. It really deserves a much higher rating than 7.0. If you like the friends-to-lovers trope, or are a romance lover, this is a decent watch. But nothing really too exciting happens and there isn’t any plot twist. Though the male lead is not handsome, the ladies are all pretty and the other guys aren’t bad! Lastly, I didn’t watch the prequel nor read the novel.



Completed: 12/22/2023 - Review #384

Leia Mais