I wanted this to feel electric and full of chemistry and sweetness, but it just felt hollow. Most of the scenes of the main couple were... sweet, but they were missing something. I don't know if it was the script, direction or actors themselves, but I kept looking for some kind of real rawness and never got it. Felt overwritten and overdramatic without the heart or realism to ground it in a meaningful way. If I had encountered this when I was new to dramas I think I would like it a lot more, but I've seen too many at this point to be impressed by this.

Greatest Weakness: the romance that just never clicked
Greatest Strength: the female lead

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Classic Drama that did not live up to expectations

This is one of those classic historical dramas that gets brought up a lot. It's known for being romantic and emotional, maybe a little tragic. It's also packed with plenty of tropes -- not inherently a bad thing! -- such as amnesia, secret identity, lost love, childhood love, two men in love with the same woman, prophecy?, etc. On top of that, I really enjoy Kim Soo Hyun as an actor, so I was really looking forward to seeing him in this.

Unfortunately, I just really do not feel that this drama lives up to all those expectations. Watching it with no nostalgia attached, I just felt like it rang very hollow. There were a myriad of problems, from repetitive and dull pacing devoid of much tension, to flat cliches, boring side characters, and worst of all a female lead whose screen presence resembles a wet mop. I do think that Kim Soo Hyun is acting his ass off, but he isn't given much to work with. His character spends most of the drama wrestling over the same conundrum -- could this shaman be his lost love? -- and doesn't get a chance to demonstrate other traits besides introspective, hostile, pining and confused. There are moments where his cheekiness, intelligence and charm comes through a bit more as the King, but those moments are rare in a sea of melodrama.

I know that Han Ga In is widely admired for her role in this drama, but I cannot understand why. Her character is dutiful, calm and pure, which is dull. But she also has this very stunned, awestruck and frightened expression through most of the drama. She is like a deer about to be hit by a car. This is one of those examples where I just cannot fathom why so many people fall in love with her. The child actress who played her had a little more spunk, but Han Ga In brings a blankness to the role that is disconcerting. Yes, she can't remember her past, but she isn't a robot! Yes, she has feelings and cries for the King, but you never get the sense that she has an inner world at all. She seems like a shell. This is the biggest barrier for me into the show.

Besides that, I feel like the pacing of the drama is not very good. It spends too much time resolving the initial issue -- who is the female lead?? -- without much tension, and then poorly sets up some other villains. All in all, just not handled well. You can look to tons of other dramas to see a better handling of secret identities and amnesia in historical dramas. It's practically the trope holding the genre together.

My advice would be to skip this. Or, maybe watch it so that you've watched it if you're a completist. If you are looking for deep romance look elsewhere. If you want to see Kim Soo Hyun cry, this may be the right drama for you.

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Worth the hype, but not a masterpiece

Every once in a while you encounter a show that is riddled with issues, but has a core that is so strong that it keeps the whole thing afloat. In the case of The Untamed that core is of course the two leads, Wei Ying (Sean Xiao) and Lan Wan Ji (Wang Yi Bo). These two characters are the heart and soul of the drama and the reason for its incredible popularity. They are compelling as these opposites attract, intensely moral people who endure tragedy and grief together, and their connection is immediately palpable on screen. Both actors do a great job of showing the journey these characters go on over the course of the show, and the layers they inhabit. They nail the comic and tragic moments beautifully.

The rest of the cast varies dramatically in acting ability. Paul Yu is solid as Wei Ying's friend and bodyguard Wen Ying, while Marius Wang struggles to give three dimensionality and depth to Jiang Chen, Wei Ying's adopted brother and a pivotal character in the show. This doesn't necessarily detract hugely from the drama as a whole, but it does mean that there are scenes in the drama that don't really resonate with me, are boring, or where the emotional intensity and complexity just doesn't come across they way it should.

Another issue with the show is its plot. The Untamed basically follows the life and growth of Wei Ying from young disciple to the infamous Yiling Patriarch, and although that works from a character standpoint (I care about Wei Ying and want to follow his journey) it can make the plot feel all over the place. There is no single, solid villain in the show, which I think weakens the second half substantially. There are some themes introduced about the danger of a herd mentality in regards to the cultivators turning on Wei Ying, but it isn't properly developed as it should have been. I understand that probably a lot of this is to do with existing issues in the source material, but it could have been reworked in the adaptation. Additionally, the plot is not chronological, which I think actual takes away from the impact of Wei Ying's downfall and makes the show feel even more disjointed.

My final big issues with the show are problems that I have with a lot of Chinese fantasy dramas: the magic and creatures look cheap, the villains are laughably uninteresting and not even slightly intimidating, and the action is dull and void of impact. I understand that the budget of the Untamed was low, so I can excuse the poor CGI, but when it comes to compelling villains and action sequences they have no excuses. Weak writing means they lean too heavily on effects and costume design to try demonstrate that THIS guy is EVIL, when really they should just write a good character. When was the last time I was scared or invested in a villain in a Chinese fantasy series? I feel like they depend too heavily on their villains being archetypes of evil (he's a demon! Evil spirit!) rather than actually having any kind of depth. As for the action, I'm not asking for it to be bloody and visceral. I understand and appreciate an action style that is more elegant than that, and I actually like that their magic means they do less stabbing and decapitating, etc. BUT. The problem is that the action as a whole has no weight or impact. There are no stakes established by the writing/directing, there is no intentionality from the camera, and no believability from the actors. As a result, I can't take the big battles or anything else seriously at all. I don't feel invested in any of it whatsoever. During big tragic scenes, or supposedly stressful and intense battle sequences I feel this deep boredom instead.

This was adapted from a web novel in which the relationship between Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji is explicitly romantic, but in the show this was censored. There are no kiss scenes, no overt romantic declarations (technically) and they are never officially considered by the show as being more than 'very good friends'. This was off-putting to me before I actually watched the show because I thought it wouldn't be enjoyable. I was wrong. Although the censorship itself is gross for homophobia reasons, I actually think the writers and director did a great job of making it clear that this IS a love story. The intensity of Wei Ying and Lan Wan Ji's relationship is still there, as well as their position in each other's lives. They are each other's most important person, and other characters see them as such. They protect and defend each other, fight for each other, care for each other when they're sick or wounded, and are all around soulmates. I think the drama manages to convey this in a profound and beautiful way, despite the censorship.

On the whole I would recommend this show to people who love romance, fantasy, and don't mind if it's rough around the edges. If you're looking for great acting across the board, or a tight plot, or a good villain, look elsewhere.

Greatest Weakness: Lack of a solid villain and satisfying plot structure
Greatest Strength: The two leads

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An enjoyable drama, if you can ignore the plot

This is a solid drama in many ways. The pacing is good, the cast is impressive and the romance is enjoyable. However, I did feel that this time around (my second time watching through, after several years of having not seen it) the actual mechanics of the plot became more frustrating to me. The depiction of the legal system is tenuous and lacking in realism, which made it hard to enjoy large portions of this drama.

I think part of the reason I enjoyed this drama so much (and still do) is due to the cast and the writing of the main characters. Lee Bo Young is excellent as the materialistic, brave and petty Jang Hye Sung. She is well-rounded, compelling and enjoyable to watch. Her emotional journey in the show feels organic and the ending is satisfying. She is wonderful in the more over-the-top comedic moments, as well as the more serious dramatic ones. Her chemistry with Lee Jong Suk also feels very natural. Lee Jong Suk is also very good as Park Soo Ha, who is a young and tortured soul. I am not much of a fan of Lee Jong Suk but I think this is one of his best roles. He plays all the facets of the character very well.

However, the more dramas I watch the more I enjoy intelligent plot, not just pretty faces and romance. That's what keeps me from ranking this drama higher. It has too many dumb court cases that don't make any logical sense from a legal standpoint and which in turn make it harder to care about what's actually going on. Although I like the villain and enjoy the tension from that standpoint, it gets tiring to watch him when everything else feels so idiotic.
Ultimately this is a drama that I WOULD recommend if you're looking for romance, some action, and some fun moments. If you're looking for a realistic legal thriller, look elsewhere. With the current popularity of legal dramas, there are plenty of excellent ones to choose from.

High point: Death of Jang Hye Sung's mother -- Hong Yeo Jin is the queen of my heart
Low point: Park Soo Ha being tried for MURDER when all they found was a guy's cut-off hand. Thanks, modern forensics.

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A whole lot of nothing

This is like cotton candy -- too sweet and dissolves instantly. There is nothing of depth, substance or real interest in this drama. The characters are one-dimensional cardboard cutouts. The acting is subpar. They are going through the motions of pining, cuteness, jealousy, protectiveness, sacrifice, all without any real tangible grounding in anything. Why is anyone doing anything? Why do they love each other? What is the plot? The only reason it has a rating higher than 2 stars is that it is not toxic/disgusting. So it technically is rewatchable if you want your brain to melt out your ears.

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Nothing special

This is a very "by the numbers drama". It uses a lot of the storytelling devices, plot points and cliches that are typical of the genre, and does them fairly well, but it never exceeds them. I have seen all the individual components of this drama done better elsewhere. I think the appeal of Weiyoung is that it is consistently decent throughout and in all aspects, so it doesn't have the sharp drop-off in the second half you often see with Chinese dramas.

Of course it's not perfect. There are sketchy plot holes, some weak acting, and a repetitive and bland perfection from our leading lady. I also think the makeup is weird (the male lead looks like a corpse sometimes, lol) and the costuming as well, but that's a fairly minor quibble. Overall, it's simply not very memorable, but perfectly fine.

I would recommend this to new drama watchers and people that are trying their hand at historical Chinese dramas. Big, tragic, exceptional, dense dramas may be overwhelming or disappointing. Something like Weiyoung, which is straightforward, simple, uses classic tropes and does it well, is a good choice. Because of it solidness it's also good for a rewatch down the road!

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Flawed, but one of the most impactful dramas of it's kind

Despite the dated clothes, hair, slang and technology of this 2001 drama, you can feel the star power of the main cast and can believe that this was a drama that took Asia by storm when it originally aired. It stars Barbie Hsu, Jerry Yan and Vic Chou as the main leads and has a fairly good supporting cast.

It's a classic soapy story: a poor girl stands up to a group of rich and powerful boys at her school and they become enemies. Over time, it turns to love. There's a prominent love triangle, dramatic basketball, kidnapping, attempted rape, a rich and evil mother, the female lead works multiple jobs and at one point becomes homeless, and there's even several dramatic makeover scenes. All in all, it's basically a bunch of tropes in a trench coat calling itself a drama. BUT there is some magic to Meteor Garden, because beneath all of it there is some actual raw emotion. I think that's mostly thanks to the leads (particularly Jerry Yan, who has some truly excellent scenes), but the drama isn't hindered by any of the rest of the cast.

I think that the drama is elevated by the way the female lead is written. Her inner monologues and dilemmas are so relatable, and her inner thoughts are a lot of softer than her outer actions, which I think makes her more compelling as a character. In other versions we just see the outer actions of the female lead, but in Meteor Garden we can watch her start to fall in love with Daoming Si and struggle with those feelings. Jerry Yan also does great work as Daoming Si, managing to convey the sweetness and childlike quality of the character as well as the angry and foolish parts. At the end of the day there's just something so lovable about him that you can sympathize with him even when he's being an idiot, and you can actually understand why Shancai comes to care about him.

Jerry Yan and Barbie Hsu have great chemistry. Their kiss scenes are great, as well as their fighting and teasing conversations. Despite the high drama of the script, there's a natural warmth between them, which I think helps to ground (or at least centre) the drama emotionally.

Obviously, the drama has problems. The first issue is Doaming Si's violent action toward Shancai on two occasions: the forced kiss in the stairwell and the slap later on in the show. Both of these are inexcusable, and it's a great example of the way that violence toward women is depicted as just a 'rough patch' in a romantic relationship, rather than an unacceptable action. The double standard here is clear: if another man forcibly kissed or slapped Shancai, there would be outrage that he was a bastard, but because it's Daoming Si that does it, it's just an emotional low and dramatic high. It becomes more representative of the work they both need to put in to the relationship, rather than demonstrative of an intrinsic problem in Daoming Si's personality (which is what it should be). In no way do I condone or enjoy these scenes, and they do detract from the show for me.

There are other problems: the plot can feel repetitive, the dramatic tensions contrived, Lei is fairly flat and bland as the second male lead, but we're not really watching for any of that, are we? If you wanted a tightly paced and logical drama you have come to the wrong place. The plot is vehicle for romantic character moments and nothing more. If there are gaps or repetitions... well, you can look forward to another kiss scene or dramatic monologue in the rain, can't you?

I've rated this drama higher than it probably deserves, but I can't bear to make it any lower. As an example of a classic soapy drama, there's nothing better, and the sheer power and scope of the romance can be felt even twenty years later. It may be dated and flawed, but it has an earnestly emotional heart that makes many of the other adaptations feel bland and lifeless.

Greatest Weakness: The dated attitude toward violence in relationships
Greatest Strength: The ultra high drama romance between Doaming Si and Shancai

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A truly GREAT classic drama

This drama from the very beginning evokes a feeling that I've never really encountered in anything else. It makes me think of summer, of idleness, of bad air conditioning in your apartment, of beer, of riding the bus in circles because you're bored and listless, of summer sunsets that seem to last for hours. Not to get too poetic, but this is a drama that is dripping with atmosphere.
The best word I've found to describe Long Vacation is 'liminal', which is a word that is used in anthropology to mean: "the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage, when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but have not yet begun the transition to the status they will hold when the rite is complete". In can also be used in a more... location-based context. 'Liminal spaces' are transitional places, or waiting places like airports, bus stops and school hallways. When you are there for extended periods of time it can feel like you are in an alternate reality.
A good description of liminal spaces and the concept of liminality in psychology and anthropology is this: "You could land [in the liminal space] for any number of reasons. Perhaps a particular event or circumstance has interrupted the life you were living and now everything is up in the air. [...] The liminal space can bring us face-to-face with our inner fears about who we are, how we show up in the world, our strengths and vulnerabilities, and our successes and disappointments. It can cause us to question the very core of our beliefs, practices, and identities".
All of this is a very long way to say that my enjoyment, nostalgia, and textual reading of Long Vacation has always been based upon this idea of liminality. In my opinion it is one of the ultimate liminal texts.

While liminal spaces can sometimes be described as eerie, creepy, or unsettling, Long Vacation imparts none of these feelings. The liminality of the show is warm but somewhat listless. The apartment where the two main characters live is cramped but homey, the building itself is bland but features a huge billboard of a beach on top of it. It doesn't really rain. The sky is blue. The city is busy but feels empty at the same time. The main characters spend time on their roof (where they're probably not really supposed to go), sitting on stone walls, walking the streets, on the highway -- there's this feeling that they're inhabiting the most banal fringes of their society.
Both Minami and Sena are great examples of people who are in transitional periods in their lives and feeling lost. Minami is a model who is slowly getting less and less work, and at the very beginning of the show she is jilted at the alter. Minami is not a married woman, but she feels out of step with younger, single people. She is caught in a liminal space. Sena is a former classical pianist who is now working teaching piano lessons to children. He no longer believes in his ability to be a great piano player, and yet he is unhappy with his life and occupation. On some level he knows what he wants, but he can't take the steps to make it happen.
Both the lead actors are excellent, bringing a charisma and vivacity to their characters. They also have such great chemistry that even their very subtle scenes (and there are a lot of those -- along with plenty of quiet, pensive gazes at one another) feel electric.
At just 11 episodes, this drama zips along very quickly, which I think makes the sluggish and hazy feeling of the show actually enjoyable rather than tiresome. We are boldly introduced to our characters and get a chance to see them in action and the show doesn't waste time with long introductions.
I don't know if it was the intention of the show creators to give Long Vacation such an intense aesthetic, but it definitely worked. In my opinion this is one of the best 'older dramas' that I could recommend to people who haven't watched very many of them. Although it is dated, it avoids many of the tropes that you find throughout older asian dramas (at least the ones I've seen). The story, characters and concept are more original and the execution is more intentional. Overall, this is one of my favourite dramas ever. It's one of the few dramas that I watched when I was younger that still hold up.

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Cold remake that lacks the magic of the original

Meteor Garden, like its source material, is full of tropes. The male lead is rich, entitled, rude and aggressive. The female lead is poor, well-meaning, hard-working, and the only person who will stand up to the male lead's antics. There is a cruel mother-in-law, bumbling and poor parents of the female lead, and a love triangle. She is rescued from thugs who've kidnapped her, he gets amnesia at one point, she gets lost in a storm and he has to save her, there's a forced marriage proposal that temporarily halts their relationship, and it goes on and on. Sometimes while watching it feels like Meteor Garden (or Hana Yori Dango) invented tropes.

The thing that made the original Meteor Garden so good – or at least so fun to watch – was that within all these ridiculous tropes there was genuinely powerful and sweet human connection. The leads had real chemistry and their relationship felt on some level to be real, despite the overly dramatic and cliched plot. Because they are so great together I can forgive the original of many of its sins (and it has a lot!). There are things that didn't age well, repetitive story structures, poor pacing and gaps of logic. I can forgive it all.

The Meteor Garden remake, on the other hand, has none of that chemistry. The characters feel flat, their emotional connection does not feel genuine, and the plot feels sterilized for modern audiences and yet still somehow carries many of the issues of the original. Overall it just doesn't feel like a drama that's worth your time. Perhaps I would be a little easier on it if I'd never seen the 2001 Meteor Garden, but I think I would still find it to be a rather flat, dull and cold drama.

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Why is this considered a classic?

Lee Min Ho is flat and uninspiring yet again, and Park Min Young is dragged down by a bad script and bad character. The plot is somewhat interesting initially, but it quickly falls apart once Lee Min Ho starts meting out justice. The whole framework of the show is a joke, really, and a weak vehicle for the lacklustre romance between the leads. They have no chemistry, are constantly making annoying and illogical decisions and just get worse as the story goes on. Worst of all, it takes itself seriously! This show believes itself to be the most badass thing, and I can't even stand to watch it ironically.

This drama gives me a headache. If you loved Healer and want something from a similar era, give it a go. But it is not good. Lee Min Ho, how did you get so famous?

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Gripping, solid, a little rough around the edges

I loved the pace, length, a visceral quality of this series. At just eight episodes, the story starts at a sprint and never really slows down. The weakest section is definitely the middle, but it doesn't last long, and I think the ending is solid. What a joy to watch something completely engrossing over eight episodes and then be DONE.

Yoon Ji Woo is well played, although a bit challenging to connect with at times. She is so broken and inhuman sometimes that you're not sure if you're watching a human or an animal. I know that this is a major part of the plot (what price would you pay for revenge?) but it does create some barriers between her and me as an audience member. I do think that her intense emotional lows and her pain are really viscerally acted here, every grunt of pain and scream of horror and sob comes across so realistically. I think that her fighting was also believable.

I really enjoyed the rest of the cast. Park Hee Soon was magnetic as the powerful crime ring leader Choi Moo Jin, and I enjoyed the solid presence of Ahn Bo Hyun as Jeon Pil Do. I felt like the cast overall had really strong chemistry and played off each other really well.

The production quality is high and the cinematography is very good. There were some really memorable still shots, as well as very kinetic fight sequences. The direction and production really sold me on the world, but the opulence and griminess of it.

Overall, would definitely recommend. It's a little more fast and loose than some other trillers I've seen recently, but it's energetic, nasty, propulsive and QUICK. A real gut punch of a show. I binged the whole thing in a day because I just couldn't stop watching, I was so in suspense and invested.

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This is one of those deeply problematic, guilty-pleasure shows that I keep coming back to even though it is riddled with problems. The pacing is poor, the plot sometimes goes in circles, character behaviour is wildly manipulated for plot purposes and it has some troubling scenes (especially toward the beginning) depicting aggressive behaviour from the male lead that is shown as romantic.

The relationship between the leads is toxic in the beginning -- the male lead displays stalkerish behaviour, intimidates the female lead into kissing him, frightens her (the, uh, balcony scene anyone??) and forces himself on her. This behaviour doesn't continue throughout the show, but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth. The idea that that is an okay place to start a romance from, and that the man wouldn't eventually go back to using those tactics if he didn't get his way, is really damaging. Even if later in the drama their relationship actually feels very positive and honestly, healthy, that still doesn't excuse the beginning.

HOWEVER. The acting from the leads is mostly excellent and their chemistry is insane. Do you ever just want to watch two very good looking people have sizzling hot romantic scenes for 13 episodes? Then this is really the show you need. They just meld together really well. They simultaneously hit the 'comfortable' notes and the 'palpable sexual tension' notes, which is rare and very enjoyable to watch. Besides, Jasper Liu is one of the prettiest people in the world, so you have that to look forward to.

I also just love the lead actress. Yes, the writing does make her do repetitive circles at times, but I think she brings this rawness to the role that really elevates her from the usual female leads. She actually feels like a person, with goals and feelings and a personal philosophy (really think about it - how many female leads actually feel like a standalone person?). I love her delivery in the really emotional or angry scenes, but also in the more comedic ones. She has a very natural acting style that I think is part of why I keep rewatching it. There's so much bullshit, but at its heart is someone who I can actually relate to and empathize with.

The other issues with the show are very common. I have seen them all before too many times to name (maybe that's part of the reason that I'm forgiving of them and can still rewatch the show - because I'm used to this shit). The plot starts meandering and going in circles, with the same issues seemingly being brought up every single episode. The parts of the plot relating to the workplace are dull and uninteresting. Characters that were relatively normal at the beginning of the show become out-and-out psychopaths to up the drama in later episodes. Finally, the ending is not great. It just sort of... ends.

Overall, not a stellar show. It has a lot of problems and I completely understand why some people don't enjoy it. If you turned away as soon as you saw the balcony scene, you have good taste and are probably right. I do not condone that portrayal of romance on television. But if you manage to adjust your expectations and want to watch something for the hot and heavy scenes and attractive people, I would give this one a shot! Just be warned, there's a lot of bad with the good.

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Sweet, but tired

How many times have I seen high school dramas exactly like this? A love triangle exactly like this? Even the female lead, who initially seemed somewhat interesting, has become flat and lifeless as she's tugged around between these two men. I'm frustrated by her apparent lack of development in her self-image issues. I'm also exhausted by the manufactured chemistry between the leads and cliched romantic tropes. The acting isn't that great either. There are sweet moments and some unique and emotional themes, but overall it's just not fresh or interesting enough for me to continue watching.

Greatest weakness: unimaginative use of tropes
Greatest strength: the comedic scenes between the male leads

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