New Fav XianXia drama - Pacing/Plot, Acting, Characters

8/31/2021

I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this drama and it has become my favorite xianxia to date after watching "Ashes of Love", "10 Miles Peach Blossoms", "Love and Destiny" and "Love and Redemption". I do not share the opinion with many netizens that FL is not suitable for this role. I think her petite size actually fits her role as a god-in-training for most of the drama, and not THE powerful god yet. The drama is from the same director as "Love and Redemption" so you see some of the same actors in this drama as well.

Things I Like:
1. Pacing/Plot - I was worried that the pacing of the drama would be slow and I would be bored towards the middle. But no, I am entertained and held my attention throughout the 49 episodes. I am also happy to know that this drama differs from others that there are no trials in the mortal realm, like most of them. Yes, it does have similar tropes/plots such as amnesia, evil villains from the Ghost and Heavenly realms, one-sided obsession love. I enjoy the story is kept within the heaven/god realms. However, nothing is over-the-top. The story develops well and continues to get better as the drama goes. The pacing and the plot are what propelled me to give this a 9 rating.

2. Acting/Characters - I enjoy all the characters in this drama, including the supporting cast. We don't have naïve/innocent spoiled brats, or cartoonish villains. All the characters are smart in their own ways and don't make out-of-character dumb decisions. I enjoy seeing contrasting personalities of ML and FL in the two story arcs. Acting is great all around. I watch this mainly for Xu Kai and he doesn't disappoint. He's a little "bland" in the beginning before we see his character's real personality and character development. I love his eyes... those big eyes speak to me when he's in pain and I cry my eyes out for him as Qing Mu. I also love Liu Xue Yi as Tiang Qi as the 2nd ML. He got to have more dramas as ML where he gets the girl (he does in "Qing Luo" but it's not a great drama).

3. CGI/Costumes - This is a beautiful drama. The costumes are beautiful along with the head pieces of the ladies. However, as much as I love these costumes, I wish there are more colors (even pastel colors). They seem a little too "white", but beautiful nonetheless. The CGI is really good. I love the purple power of Jing Yuan and the black evil power.

Things I don't like or am lukewarm about:
1. Chemistry of the leads - I feel that both ML and FL acted well, but when the two of them are put together, I don't feel the romantic chemistry as much as I've seen in other dramas. This is probably a personal taste. They are both great actors.

2. Confusing start of 2nd arc - The transition from the first arc to the second arc is a little too fast and too much. I feel that many characters are introduced in the beginning before I can figure out what happened after 60k years.

3. I want to know more about the relationships/love triangle between Gun Jun, King and Queen. Why did the queen leave Gun Jun? Really because of him traveling too much? Or there's something more to it. I am more interested in this love triangle than the romance between 9-tailed fox and Sen Yu.

Overall, I strongly recommend this drama if you enjoy xianxia dramas and are fans of the actors/actresses. The pacing is better than other xianxia dramas.

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An OK simple watch that is comforting but not unique.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“A Breeze of Love” is a short Korean BL about two students reuniting in college after their friendship was halted and parted ways in high school on an unhappy note. There’s tension when they reunite again in college. The story is simple and easy to follow. Don’t really expect plot twists or anything out of the ordinary. In a way, this is simple and comforting. There are some cute and sweet scenes of longing looks and shy smiles. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good and the acting is decent. There’s a very small supporting cast which doesn’t take away screen time from the leads.

I enjoy finding out their high school days through flashbacks and didn’t think they were too confusing. However, I would have loved to see more depth to the present-day relationship. Do Hyun is obviously upset with Dong Wook when they reunite, and for legit reasons. But he seems to have forgotten all these reasons after the basketball game. Even though Dong Wook tried to barge into his life, Do Hyun didn’t seem to put up much of a fight after the initial episode or two. I wanted a little more resistance. The time they spend together doesn’t involve much talking or conversations of substance. I guess they communicate through 1 vs 1 basketball scrimmages, and being next to each other is enough for them. I am the one that wanted more. And what is the cause of Dong Wook’s insomnia? Why is Do Hyun the sleeping pill? Is it just because Dong Wook likes Do Hyun and feels comfortable and relaxed around him?

It’s weird how I feel that the drama is too short and couldn’t explore more of the relationship, yet most of the last episode also feels like a filler. Why introduce the water boy in the very end and try to pair him up with a supporting character? Is there going to be a spin-off about them?

If you don’t think too much and just go with the flow and the feel of the drama, this is a very lovely watch.


Completed: 9/15/2024 - Review #486

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Unique plot with taboo subjects but with busy and messy storylines.

Subjective Gut Rating: 6.75

Wow… was this drama really a production from the Philippines? I would have never thought such a dark drama with all these taboo topics and red flags would be from a Catholic country. I really applaud the effort in producing a dark BL amidst all the rom-coms out there. It’s dark from start to finish, and maybe with 5 minutes of sweetness and fluffiness. Unfortunately, I couldn’t love it more, so I'm giving it a 6.75-7.0 for its courage and creativity of the plot twist.

The drama features a pretty good-looking cast but some amateur actors. “Cheat” is the inaugural project for the actors. The acting is OK for first-timers. It wasn’t too cringey but there’s definitely overacting.

The drama is really short but it jam packs with soooo many different stories and schemes. It was fine in the beginning, but at mid-way point, I was exhausted. There’s no room for me to breathe before another crazy person stirred up shit again. Witchcraft was not used to its full potential. Instead of a stronger focus of witchcraft, it introduces jealousy, blackmail and evil schemes and lies every step of the way.

This drama is full of hormonal and horny teenagers who don’t know how to love properly. There is only one sane person in the whole drama. Everybody else is insane and twisted. In a way, the ending is satisfying and unpredictable. I was feeling so bad for Vee and I only wanted happiness for him. I was thinking to myself that I just want Vee and Dong to live happily ever after. I wanted more sweet scenes with them, but this is not the type of drama.

In the end, the smirks make sense and I also hope I interpret the lack of a smirk in the last scene correctly.

Would I recommend this drama to you? Mm.. it depends if you are up for something dark with taboo subjects and twisted individuals. If season 2 comes out, I don’t mind checking it out again.


Completed: 9/15/2024 - Review #485

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Interesting concept but Poor execution and super slow pace

Well, this is certainly interesting. “On Cloud Nine” has almost all rave reviews yet the MDL rating is only 7.0. Am I the problem that doesn’t quite connect with the drama and align with the reviewers? Maybe, maybe not.

10 minutes into Episode 1, I wonder why this guy in white is so annoying, creepy and stalkerish. Just leave the tourist alone and let him enjoy his sightseeing! Of course, I know there’s more to it, so I persisted and finished the episode. But the pace is soooooo slow and there are such long pauses in between dialogs that I almost gave up. Since this is such a short drama, I figure I can endure the slow pacing.

The slowness never goes away and I had to speed it up to 1.25x and 1.5x.. But the story did get more interesting and I am a little less confused as the drama goes on. The characters don’t seem to do much, nor are they engaged in meaningful conversations. Is this soothing or boring? Eventually, I realized what it’s all about and did think the concept is quite interesting and unique. Unfortunately, the execution is confusing and poor.

The acting of the two main leads is decent. The chemistry is quite good, and there are a few times I said to myself, “Just kiss already!!”. “On Cloud Nine” does a nice job in showing the beautiful sceneries of Chiang Mai. But at times, the scenic shots also feel slow and edited in a way that takes you out of the story.

Unfortunately for me, I cannot recommend this short drama. it’s too slow and confusing, and I did not enjoy it that much. I want to support small production companies who are putting out work for the masses. Thus, I am rating this a 6.5 and not lower. Sorry, fans! Please don’t come at me!


Completed: 9/12/2024 - Review #484

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Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

It’s nice to have a peek into the beauty advisor world in “Cosmetic Playlover”, since this is not a profession that’s prominently featured in many Asian dramas. I actually would have loved to see a deeper dive but with only 4 hours of playtime, the drama doesn’t have the luxury to have a good business romance. Instead, we get a very shallow look into the industry and the drama focuses more on romance.

I quite like the initial setup of the romance. The leads have good chemistry together and the acting is decent (but not great). I enjoy the straightforwardness of Toma and his brave declaration of love. It’s not surprising that Natsume is taken back by this sudden confession. But Toma’s bravery seems to have subsided after initial episodes. He didn’t really aggressively chase Natsume, but acts more like a lovesick, jealous puppy.

I personally like the development of this short romance and how the leads finally get together. They have some sweet and flirty scenes together, and a couple good kisses (though the camera pans out and you can’t get a closer look). Unfortunately, the lack of a plot with substance affects the second half of the drama. It becomes repetitive when Toma has to constantly fend off guys who he perceives as interested in Natsume. And Natsume constantly displays low self-esteem before and after they get together. I would have liked the drama to have better writing and not dwell on these two issues.

This is a light and short watch. If you need a palette cleanser from a serious watch or want to know a little bit about beauty advisors, this is a good one. But I feel that there are stronger JBLs out there.



Completed: 9/4/2024 - Review #481

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Could have been great with better writing, acting and execution

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I can’t help but compare “Century of Love” a little bit with “I Feel You Linger in the Air”. Even though they have completely different plots, the historical context and the main house give me a very similar feeling. Unfortunately, IFYITA is so much better in every single way - acting, writing, chemistry, production quality and cinematography.

“Century of Love” is unique and a breath of fresh air among the sea of Thai BL’s with a focus on high school or college students. The plot is interesting but unfortunately the writing is not. There are so many plot holes and unexplained storylines. You will have to suspend reality to truly enjoy it. How can a 100-year old man who couldn’t ‘perform’ have grandchildren and a family? How come Vee can help reduce San’s pain when he first moved into the house, yet never ever repeat that again? Who are those villains? What is their background story? How did the sick guy come to know of the stone? Is the reason for the betrayal due to debt and nothing else? How come the other character does not have the same healing aftermath of the stone? I have so many questions and I can’t seem to calm my brain to ignore them.

But I am not surprised there are plot holes. After all, it’s hard to do that with a supernatural/fantasy plot. I might overlook some of these shortcomings if the acting is good. Unfortunately, I find Daou and Offroad’s acting only average and somewhat inconsistent. I think Offroad performed a little better, except for a few crying scenes. He looks great as the fox demon. Daou’s grumpy personality is a little awkward and his acting is not subtle enough. The exaggerated ‘thinking’ is all over his face. However, I do think he got better as the drama went on, especially when he doesn’t have to act like a grumpy old man anymore. Among the cast members, I am most impressed with Pond (Doctor Third) and he gives me a little bit of second-lead syndrome. Pond almost made me want to check out “180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us” just for him. Cookie (as Wat) also did pretty well. Luckily, there aren't any annoying characters. I like San's descendants. The 3 generations are quite fun and provide some pretty comedic and heartwarming moments.

The chemistry between the leads is decent with a few good kisses. I was more interested in the first half of the drama before the leads are officially together. The pace starts to slow in the second half, especially the last few episodes. The plot becomes predictable and there’s more repetitive crying. I think the drama will benefit from a couple episodes shorter.

It’s unfortunate that an interesting general plot was not executed well. The drama seems to be of a lower production value (maybe that’s why there are so few product placements), with poor CGI. Luckily, the fight scenes are decent, even though they are not of good C-drama or K-drama quality, they are better than other Thai dramas.

“Century of Love” is not a horrible watch due to its more mature and interesting plot. If you have time and are fans of the actors, it’s worth checking it out.


Completed: 9/1/2024 - Review #480

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Cute couple with honest communication, yet slow-paced and uneventful

“Kare no Iru Seikatasu” aka “Living with Him” could easily be a movie instead of a short drama. The plot is very simple - childhood friends-turned-lovers + cohabitation + unrequited love. It’s a comforting and predictable watch, but it was too uneventful. Nothing much really happens in this drama, therefore, I feel that the pacing is quite slow, even if there are only 8 short episodes.

The leads are cute together and have good chemistry. Both of them are very likable and they actually communicate openly and honestly. However, I do find Kazuhito’s character too perfect. I guess that’s the whole premise, to find out why such a perfect guy doesn’t have a girlfriend.

There isn’t any annoying character, or over-the-top acting. The supporting characters, friends and family, are actually supportive of the leads.

I want to like this drama more, especially when it has all the tropes that I like. But the pace is slow and there’s not enough pining and longing looks for me to keep me interested and not feel bored,

Completed: 8/28/2024 - Review #478

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Good Moral of the Story but Lacks Good Execution (repetitive and boring)

Although the English title of this drama is “Man Without Love”, this drama is not just about one of the male leads, Kume Masakazu. He might be the narrator, but the drama includes stories of 6 other friends. It talks of perseverance and pursuit of your dreams, knowing and loving oneself, learning to love others, the courage to love and be loved, forgiveness of past mistakes and familial bond. This all sounds really good, right? Unfortunately, the execution for me is lacking.

Each of the main characters has their own challenges, and primarily challenges about love involving the three main couples. I understand each couple’s issues and hesitation. Unfortunately, there’s too much back-and-forth, arguing about the same thing over and over again. This is a character-driven drama with no real central plot. Therefore, the pacing is off and it feels like nothing of substance actually happens in the 9 episodes. It is really rare that I think a Japanese drama is too long.

The acting is OK, except for Maeda Goki’s character of Go Yuma. He’s just way too over-the-top and ‘fake’. He is so much more likable when he acts normal.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama. It’s OK if you are a fan of one of the actors (Fukushi Sota is still very good-looking in a more gruffy look). “Man Without Love” is unable to hold my attention and I was bored.


Completed: 8/18/2024 - Review #473

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As I started watching this short special, I was thinking to myself, what's the point? The drama ended on a beautiful note. It's not like we need an alternate ending, or we are dissatisfied.

Then I thought, maybe this is the drama's way of repaying me for sticking around for the slow burn romance. The drama is compensating me for putting me through the emotional roller coaster of their relationship. It's giving me the cute fluffiness that I didn't get enough in the full-length drama.

In the end, it comes in full circle. The monologue of Han Ting describing his definition of love. The montages in reverse motion on the TV screen as we witness their love story again.

And last but not the least, Han Ting using his very last special boyfriend card. It's the perfect ending to a love story that I love so much.

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Cute and Sweet - a Perfect stress-reliever

“My Little Lover” is the perfect dose of sweetness and cuteness that I needed. There are many different adaptations of this drama, and this is the only one I saw. So, I am unable to compare to see which adaptation is better.

The plot is very simple. Close childhood friends grew apart for unknown reasons (to the girl). Due to some conflicts, the girl woke up and found herself to be only an inch tall. Luckily, she was discovered by the boy, otherwise she would be so lost. The rest of the story is very predictable and you can probably tell how living together means growing feelings.

I am usually not a fan of over dramatic acting, and Japanese dramas are known for them especially when it is an anime or manga adaptation. Luckily, I was not annoyed with the acting. Instead, I found the leads super adorable and likable. The drama started off on a perfect note showcasing a very, very cute version of the leads when they were young. The young actress is cute as a button and reads her lines very well. The adult leads are handsome and pretty. I gotta check out other dramas of the handsome Nakagawa Taishi. They make a good-looking pair and I was really rooting for them. On another note, I don’t find the secondary leads very attractive, so definitely no second-lead syndrome here.

The only thing that annoys me in this drama is the trespassing. No one seems to think barging into someone’s home and bedroom is a problem. Worse than that, they are snooping around and invading people’s privacy. This also makes the side plot of ML’s father a little weak for me. Even though this is a 9-year old drama, it doesn’t feel too dated to me.

I had such an enjoyable time that I binged all 10 episodes in one go. I might be a little more lenient in rating this a high 8.5 because I am in need of a cute and fluffy drama.



Completed: 7/23/2024 - Review #464

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Great women bonding and empowerment; Several anger-inducing characters

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Revenge seems to be a popular theme recently. However, in “Alliance”, it’s not a central plot or at least not the main reason for Lin Shuang (FL) when she started out her journey of re-discovering her former self and becoming independent again. We have two strong women who bonded because of an extramarital affair: the wife and the lover. Throughout the drama, we witness how they break free from the chains of men and families, and grow to be self-reliant and be the best person they could be.

What I Like:

1. Lin Shuang/Jiang Xi Unlikely Friendship - Most of us are probably drawn to this because of their friendship. From enemies to scheming partners, and finally becoming each other’s support system, their unlikely bond is front and center in this drama. It’s lovely to see how they support each other without sugar coating anything. They are there to provide encouragement, constructive criticisms and celebration of big and small accomplishments. They would not have become the person they are in the last episode without each other.

2. Jiang Xi - I especially like the story of Jiang Xi. Midway through the drama, I pray that she will have a VERY happy ending. Not only does she not have a happy childhood and loving parents, she also gave her heart for a man who is evil on all levels. If this is not a women-empowerment drama, I would love to see her be spoiled by a rich sugar daddy who loves her to death. But I will settle and wish her a guy who treats her right. Jenny Zhang plays the character so well. She has this beauty that is alluring and sexy, even if she’s not doing anything intentionally sexual. She has an aura that makes her very attractive just by the way she holds herself. Jenny is perfectly casted for her role as Jiang Xi.

3. Strong Women Cast - Although not all the women are lovely in this drama, there isn’t any weak damsel in distress in this drama. Women portrayed in this drama have a very independent and strong light shown on them, and not only for our leads. We have supporting characters who are opinionated with strong and explosive personalities, and even minor roles as computer engineers and programmers. However, most of the CEOs and executives are still men in the drama, except for Sister Wei (Ark CFO),

4. Acting - Strong acting from the four main leads. They are all experienced, so that does not come as a surprise. “Alliance” also has a very strong supporting cast of other veterans (parents and executives) and the younger cast also does not disappoint. I have no complaints with anyone’s acting performance.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

1. Little Apple (daughter) - This little girl is really cute and she speaks her lines very well. I adore most of the scenes she’s in, especially with her mother and Uncle Gu. But gosh, she screams so much that it hurts my ears. Every time she calls out her grandparents, her high-pitched scream would kill me. There’s an episode when she was crying for her mother at the top of her lungs and I had to fast-forward it. It’s a personal pet peeve. She does act really well and major props for her ice skating and ice hockey skills.

2. Lin Shuang - As the main lead of this drama, I empathize and sympathize with what she is going through. Afterall, she IS the drama. But for some reason, I am not connected with her emotionally. Do I feel bad? Yes. Does her experience move me to tears? No, not really. As mentioned above, I feel for Jiang Xi more, even though I can’t relate to her experience. With Lin Shuang, I can relate to her on a more rational level since I am a mother myself. But emotionally, something is missing. Is it Zhang Xiao Fei’s acting? The writing? Most likely, I am the problem.

3. Wei Ming/Li Ze Feng - I have a love-hate relationship with Wei Ming. I HATE everything he does and he makes my blood boil. But you can’t deny the writers did an amazing job in writing out his lines (or shall I say lies). You have to give him props for being cautious, detailed-oriented with a great memory. Li Ze Feng does such a fantastic job in playing this slimeball and he just spits out these ‘beautiful’ lies so convincingly. I love the acting but I hate the character.

4. Plot/Pacing - In theory, there’s a lot going on in these 36 episodes. We started from the happy family to the discovery of cheating. Oh, by the way, did I miss Lin Shuang feeling heartbroken because her husband cheated? Like she loved this man and now she’s sad because he doesn’t love her anymore? All I get is that she felt betrayed and she regrets her decision to give up her career. Then we have women bonding, fighting and growing. Don’t forget the family drama and child custody. We throw in a slow-burn romance and another side romance. Add to the drama is the business side of things, a start up, and corruption. It took Lin Shuang less than a year to discover the cheating to start her business. That seems really fast for anyone, let alone someone who hasn’t worked in years. All of this is covered in 36 episodes. YET, for some reason, it felt repetitive in the last 5-8 episodes for me. The scheming back-and-forth doesn’t end, the same lies are told and it’s no fun when you know who the villain is, and his tricks from the very beginning. The romance isn’t fun or angsty or fluffy. The drama loses my focus in the last few episodes (maybe the tech and coding talk) and I didn’t like the last episode either (especially the proposal). I like where the female leads end as a person, but I don’t like the writing of the last episode.


What I Don’t Like:

1. Frustrating Characters - One of the main reasons I did not watch this drama initially is because I heard of the frustrating characters. Gosh, there are so many and they make my blood boil. If I am only watching Wei Ming’s lies, I can deal with that. But his parents, Jiang Xi’s mother and the spoiled brat Joyce? They never go away and stay for the whole drama. I want to jump into the TV screen and beat them up so badly. If you do not like these frustrating and anger-inducing characters, don’t watch this drama.

2. Make-up - Who approves the make-up for these male characters? Huang Xiao Ming looks absolutely horrible with the white, cakey thick foundation on his handsome face. Has he aged that much that he needs such makeup to make him presentable? The other one with bad makeup is Zhao Shun Ran (Martin). He’s so handsome but he has uneven makeup on. At times, you see makeup on the face but not the neck. Huang Xiao Ming’s makeup distracts me whenever he comes on screen.

3. Lin Shuang/Gu Xu Romance - I hate to say this, but this slow burn romance is not working for me. I am not moved by Gu Xu’s dedication and I can see why he’s the perfect guy for Lin Shuang in my head. But the writing of the romance plot does not convince me that Lin Shuang feels the same way as Gu Xu. Did she like him when they were in high school? Or did she only see him as a rival this whole time? When did Lin Shuang fall in love with Gu Xu? Was it love or gratitude? Unfortunately, I am not feeling the chemistry between them.


Despite my rants, I do feel that “Alliance” has a lot to offer. I’ll recommend this for those who are looking for a women-centric, empowerment drama. As a working mother, I reflected on my personal experience while watching this. It’s hard to balance career and family, and you do need to give up some. If you are a working mother, you might be interested in this as well. However, if you can’t stand frustrating characters (those you want to punch their faces), it’s best to skip “Alliance”. You might get angry and it wouldn’t be fun, except, of course you are looking to be angry. LOL



Completed: 7/7/2024 - Review #457

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It COULD have been a just simple and cute love story, BUT....

What is up with the ridiculous and over-exaggerated acting by Yim (Jade)???? Why can’t he act normal like all the other characters?? It was so over-the-top that it was unbearable for almost the entirety of the show. Yim looks so handsome and normal in the special interview episode. I would have dropped this drama within the first 5 minutes if I weren’t watching this for a clown watch challenge.

I was confused when the show started. Was I watching the right show or was I watching an anime? Three to four minutes in, I realized I was in for a very bumpy ride. The acting is ROUGH.

The plot is very simple. Mai is adorable and is a super green flag. Thank god for supportive parents and family. It was cute following Mai's attempt to court Jade, who has no idea Mai is in love with him. As a rom-com lover, I love it and it’s my jam. But…. Did I mention I hate Jade (Yim’s overacting)?

The secondary romance between the other two interns is boring. I forgot about them after they left my screen. The writing and the acting are not good. What a waste of time.

The saving grace is Uea and King. They are so pretty to look at, and so fun to watch. They have great chemistry and almost make me want to check out “Bed Friend”. Uea (James) is so pretty and I love his aloof sassiness, and he knows he has King at his fingertips. King (Net) is such a good-looking guy. I love that he’s tall, DARK and handsome, and totally smitten. The two of them are also great friends to Jade. They are supportive yet never cross the lines in exposing Jade’s secrets/feelings/history to Mai.

The second half of the drama drags. There isn’t a lot going on aside from Mai’s internal conflict and indecisiveness. I understand why he feels this way, given his upbringing and failed relationship. But that lasted too long and I became very bored in ep 5-7. There’s a lot of filler in this short drama. Do we really need to spend so much time at the sports day, which has no sports but a bunch of party games like a fraternity party?

Once Mai and Jade finally get together, it’s full-on cringey, sweet, fluffiness. This is a little hard to tolerate, but at least I expected this much. The drama jam packs all the kisses, skinship and sexy scenes all in one episode to make up for lost time. However, I can’t say I did not enjoy Mai’s (Tutor’s) enthusiasm in those kisses. LOL

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this show, unless you REALLY love Yim and can tolerate that exaggerated acting. Don’t waste your time.



Completed: 7/3/2024 - Review #456

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“Gray Shelter” is one of the few darker Korean BL out there. It’s short and dark, and you really need to take the time to understand and feel what’s going on. The premise isn’t difficult. Two step brothers bonded through surviving difficult family lives. Yoon Dae tried to cut off his relationship with his father, and moved away from home. But that doesn’t seem to bring him much happiness or hope. Soo Hyuk, though not living with his parents, is still burdened by duties that he doesn’t seem to be able to shake off.

The two reunited by chance and rekindled a complicated brotherhood bond. It’s a push-and-pull, give-and-take relationship. It’s a never-ending cycle that was finally broken. The ending can be open to interpretation. I want to believe that they both need to work on themselves, before breaking off whatever is preventing them to lead a much happier life together.

I was quite impressed with Lee Jae Bin’s acting as Yoon Dae after seeing him in “Choco Milk Shake”. He’s still new to the industry and already has the opportunity to act in two vastly different roles. This is Jang Woo Young’s first drama, and he did fine. His character, Soo Hyuk, is so solemn that he can’t really deviate too much away and show us if he has any acting range.

This is a small budget production, and it shows. The sets are simple, the transition and editing appear jerky at times. The storytelling and the execution of the plot could be better.

“Gray Shelter” is a quick watch if you are in the mood for something darker and more mature. It’ a breath of fresh air from all the rom-coms out there.


Completed: 4/28/2024 - Review #435

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Deep and thought-provoking conversations & quotes - BUT could be too much and boring to some.

I forgot how I stumbled upon this drama, “Is Love Sustainable?” aka “Jizoku Kanona Koi Desuka: Chichi to Musume no Kekkon Koushinkyoku”. It’s either from the feeds, or as I was browsing through dramas of the male lead, Tanaka Kei, after watching him in Ossan Love. I wanted to see him play a slightly more normal character, not crazy and over-the-top.

I was very impressed with the first episode. It was full of meaningful conversations, great chemistry between daughter and father, and good romantic chemistry between Kyoka and Seita. It has some nice cinematography, and thought-provoking enough for me to be interested in their views of relationships and marriages. But as the story progresses, I realize some of these positives could be negatives for other viewers.

This is a pretty slow-paced slice-of-life drama. The plot is character-driven, and really nothing too exciting happens. There are many wonderful quotes of life and marriages, and a lot of yoga and yoga teachings. I don’t practice yoga, and especially not understanding its deeper meanings and lectures. Dad is a lexicographer and dictionary editor. He loves words! Throughout the drama, you can see him explaining the origin of words and seeing him trying to learn new slangs is quite interesting. All of this could either be very wonderful and interesting, or super boring to the viewers. I was initially impressed but it did get to be a little too much towards the end.

I enjoy watching the romance development of both couples. They are mature, communicative, and have some cute moments. Both couples have great chemistry. The drama also challenges traditional gender roles at home. Not all wives want to be home and are good at doing household chores. It also talks about the difficulty of balancing work, family life and personal time.

Overall, I had a pretty decent time watching “Is Love Sustainable?”. The pace at times is slow and I think 10 episodes are too much, maybe 8 would be better. If you enjoy thought-provoking quotes/teachings and deep conversations, this is the drama for you. But if you like something faster paced and more plot-driven, then I would not recommend this for you.


Other Random Observations:
1. Tanaka Kei is a very normal-looking guy, but there’s something about him that I like. He also looks pretty good in suits.
2. It’s quite interesting seeing a bunch of old guys (dictionary editors) discussing ‘kyun’ and other modern slangs.
3. Who knew match-making services are that involved and comprehensive. They even teach you how to start and carry a conversation.
4. Igawa Haruka (Ortho surgeon) is so beautiful and elegant!
5. Ueno Jury (FL) makes me believe she’s a yoga instructor. Her body type and yoga moves look very legit from my novice eyes.
6. Pleasantly surprised to see a Jdorama (or Asian dramas) to feature a body-positive yoga class.


Completed: 4/27/2024 - Review #434

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Love all the Singing and Dancing!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

Wow… what a pleasant surprise! I can’t believe I had so much fun watching “Dream High” in 2024, and not find it cringey and dated (Ok, it did take me a couple episodes to get past how annoying Suzy’s character was in the beginning). Now that the cast are A-listers, it’s interesting to look back at how they started. As I am writing this review, I am also watching the concert ?

I am quite impressed with everyone’s acting even though it was a first drama for some of the cast members. I think out of the 6 main leads, Kim Soo Hyun did a little better and he’s more experienced than the rest of the cast. His character undergoes tremendous change from the first episodes to the last episode. Towards the second half of the drama, you can see how his character changes just by looking at his eyes. OK Taec Yeon has such a charismatic presence. Out of all the guys, I find him most attractive and can’t take my eyes off him when he’s on my screen. This is Suzy and IU’s first drama and I think they both did quite well. The veteran supporting cast is great, and some provide us with memorable comedic moments.

I love all the singing and dancing. IU has such a beautiful voice and is so talented. Ham Eun Jung has a more powerful but equally beautiful voice. The OST has some amazing songs. The dance choreography is great and I feel like I am really watching idols in the making. Jang Woo Young (Jason) is the best dancer in the drama and also the best out of all the actors. His dancing is cool and stylish. However, I found Taec Yeon dances with more charisma and joy and is infectious. Can't forget Teacher Yang, who is also the drama’s Creative Director and Choreographer. His moves are really sharp and precise. I forgot flash mobs were a thing back in the day, and it really brought back memories, and songs I haven’t heard in a long time.

I really like how the drama gives me a little peep into the idol training world. I’ve seen other dramas which focus a lot more on just singing and dancing, and fighting between students and group members. But “Dream High” shows us more than that. I enjoy watching the songwriting class, learning how to sing with emotions while acting out the lyrics, and even the pitch test. Additionally, I like that they didn’t make it a big deal with the IU’s weight loss. I wasn’t happy with her initial reason to lose weight, but I’m glad she came around. Though the weight loss was brought up in the professional/music/PR world, the issue was not dragged on.

The romance… well, my ship did not sail, but that’s OK. Even though there’s a love triangle/square, it was not bad. Guys are respectful of each other and are both positive influences. Unfortunately, I found the chemistry between the three main leads a little lacking. I like Suzy and Tac Yeong’s chemistry a little better than Suzy and Kim Soo Hyun. The secondary romance is cute and sweet, and provides the drama with limited fluffy moments. I actually wanted to see more of them.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments and very emotional ones. In ep 13, I was very moved by a solo performance with the assist from another member. However, I also found there’s a little too much crying in the second half of the drama, especially from FL/Suzy. I do not like FL’s father and how he just abandons his kids and disappears for a year. The debt collection side plot is quite unrealistic.

Overall, I have a great time watching this. I wouldl recommend this to those who enjoy a lot of singing and dancing, and if you are interested in the idol training world. It’s quite fun to see how young these superstars were back then.


Completed: 4/27/2024 - Review #433

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