Sweet and Fluffy - Good Chemistry of Main Romance

Completed - 12/4/2021

As part of the Sweet On series, it is to be expected that this is a light and fluffy romantic comedy. If you are not into rom-coms, it's best to not watch it, or at least don't have too high an expectation. Sweet Teeth has three main romance plots. Our three main leads all have very different professions and I am glad that we are not confined to the traditional C-drama occupations. They also have three very different romances.

The romance between Ai JinChu, a dentist (or should I say an orthopedic surgeon) and Zeng Li, a librarian/coffee shop owner, takes center stage in this drama. And their romance is really what kept me entertained throughout the drama. Their journey, from misunderstanding to being doctor/patient, to being friends and finally lovers, was satisfying and sweet. We have two pretty likable characters with similar personalities. The chemistry between them is good, and their visual is good as well. I didn't really recognize Wu Xuan Yi (FL) as the FL in Duoluo Continent. She seems way younger in DC, and she looks like the Korean actress, Jo Ba Ah, in this drama. This is my first time watching Bi WenJun (ML) and I didn't find him that handsome in the first few episodes. But then, maybe his character's personality slowly opens up and I find him quite attractive later on and at certain angles, he looks like Neo Hou. Both of their acting is decent and they make me want to root for them. I am a fan of slow burn romance, so I didn't mind they officially got together quite late in the series (at least late for a traditional rom-com).

The noona romance between Wu Ying and Lui Yu Cheng was adorable in the beginning. I am a lukewarm towards any older woman/younger male storyline. For this one, I do think YuCheng is a little too young (age 21) to be with Wu Ying (age 27). It's not the 6-year difference that is the problem, it's that YuCheng is only 21. However, both of them do have similar interests and YuCheng did appear and act very mature for his age. So, I was rooting for their romance. But personally, I feel that it loses some steam and I lost interest of their stories in the last 5 episodes or so.

I was the least interested in Ma YiYi and Deng Hao Ran's romance. I was annoyed with YiYi's personality in the beginning. She doesn't act like a 26 year-old but a teenager. However, I have to say she has the most character development and towards the end, she matures and becomes true to herself. As much as I enjoy her banter with Hao Ran, I felt that everything happened too late.

Other observations:
1) You learn quite a bit about dental hygiene and care in this drama
2) I love stories with libraries and books - I wish there's a more romantic use of books in this drama
3) I wonder if Wu Xuan Yi really did wear braces throughout the drama.
4) Why are they using so many English songs - they sound OK but the lyrics are a little weird.

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Short and Average BL drama

10/16/2021

This is a very short BL drama, eight 10-min long episodes. I would be pretty annoyed if I have to wait each week for just a 10-min episode. They should just make a movie. The drama is a low-budget production, which is not surprising. However, it's pretty average comparing to other BL dramas.

Considering this is the first acting gig for the whole cast, they did a decent job. I would say Kim Yoon Hwan, who plays the main lead, Euen Gyu, might be the better of the bunch. His chemistry with Cha Woon Min wasn't bad. However, the plot is too simple and not much happened. It's just many glances/staring between the two. The love triangle isn't done well.

I would only recommend this drama to those who think the actors are cute and good-looking to watch. I don't find them that attractive, except maybe Kim Yoon Hwan, so I didn't enjoy it as much. Of course, this is all subjective. I am not the target audience, esp. when I am an old woman. LOL.

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Neither a Great Thriller, nor a Great Romance drama.

Completed - 3/17/2022

I was hoping to watch a more mature BL drama, that’s not just a rom-com of high school or college students. Thus, “Manner of Death” became my choice. A crime/thriller romance drama sounds exactly what I am looking for.

Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed. I am not sure if I am not used to Thai acting, or the acting of the cast doesn’t live up to my expectations. I do not find the acting of Max and Tul, the two lead male characters, to be convincing. If I have to pick, I think Tul as Dr. Bun did a better job than Max as Tan. The drama likes to have close-up shots of the actors' faces for viewers to focus on their facial expressions. Unfortunately, the camera stays with the actors for a little too long (5-10 seconds, maybe) and their inability to convey emotions is more observable and makes me feel uncomfortable. At times, the music accompanied these close up shots made feel like I'm watching an American daytime soap opera. Of the cast members, I would say the actress, Meiko, who played Jane, is the best of the bunch, followed by maybe Great, who played Inspector M.

The chemistry of the two leads was pretty good in the first half of the drama, before they officially got together.. But when the second half focuses more on the crime investigation, the chemistry took a dip. The transition from crime investigation to the leads being flirty with each other appears out-of-place with a very sudden tone change. There aren’t enough sweet or sexy moments to satisfy the romance-at-heart, and the longing and tension from the first half of the drama are gone.

I like the general plot of the drama, a medical doctor who wants to uncover the truth of his friend’s murder. But I don’t think the execution is quite there. Our leads seem to have 9 lives, as they get hurt all the time, recover quickly, but they never die. There is a mix of predictable and unpredictable plot twists. I don’t know much about Thailand’s forensic/medical work, so I don’t want to say they are wrong. However, it does seem somewhat minimal and easy when Dr. Bun does his autopsy work. Overall, this is neither a great thriller, nor a great romance drama. It’s just OK.

Other Observations:
1. Inspector M’s uniform is really tight, showing his fabulous body. He’s the hottest guy in the drama.
2. The actress who played Jane is really pretty, both in casual wear and when she’s all dolled out.
3. Bad CPR alert!
4. Seems like a low-budget production.
5. do enjoy scenes of the small town.
6. Music is not bad. I like the theme song.

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Average typical Republican low-budget web drama. It's OK. Nothing special.

The Republican era seems to be a really popular time period for these low-budget short web dramas. How does “Miss Mystery” stack up against the likes of “Provoke”, “Maid’s Revenge” and “Everlasting Bride”? Well, I think it’s in the middle of the pack.

The story is straightforward - hidden identity, secrets, revenge, and falling in love. Since this is a short drama, I’m glad it didn’t have too complicated a plot. That was my biggest complaint about “Everlasting Bride”. Cinematography, acting and chemistry are not as good as “Provoke”, and the ML is not as handsome as Mr. Abs, Dai Gao Zheng, but he does have some nice abs. LOL. I also don’t think the FL is as pretty as the female leads in other dramas.

Acting is not impressive in the earlier episodes, especially for the female lead. Her portrayal of the calm and smart FL is a little bland and emotionless. ML is a little better. However, I did notice some improvement towards the second half of the drama. For some reason, I found the dubbed voices ‘acted’ better than the actors themself. ML’s voice sounds so much more mature than the actor’s face.

The plot is nothing special and we’ve seen this many times. At least we have a male lead that’s not mean or abusive to the female lead (except for one drunken, frustrated scene). I would have loved to see the push-and-pull between the leads last a little longer, and the ML not falling in love and be so smitten that quickly. It doesn’t have the sexy tension that “Provoke” has. However, I do applaud them for some pretty good kisses from both leads. Female lead is also too smart. Everything goes her way and she’s the mastermind of everything.

Given this is a lower budget production, the quality is decent. Nothing seems too cheap. I like the mysterious opening theme song. I do dislike the use of slow motion in romantic scenes and especially in non-romantic regular scenes. Why would you do that?

It’s an OK drama and I probably won’t recommend it unless you are a fan of the actors or this type of genre. These are short 15-minute episodes, so if you want something quick and easy, it’s OK.


Completed: 3/14/2024 - Review #417

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The Guessing Game

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

“The Date of Marriage” is a very typical Japanese rom-com. It’s comforting, cute and also very predictable. It’s great for stress relief, but don’t expect it to blow your mind.

I had a pretty enjoyable time watching this. But I think my enjoyment stems from me being a fan of the trope - “Does he/she like me? Nah.. probably not and it’s all in my head. There’s no way he/she will like me”. If you like this trope, you will have a very fun time watching “The Date of Marriage” because the leads are adorable, good-looking and have good chemistry. But if you don’t, you will be super annoyed as they spend more than half of this drama guessing each other’s feelings. The back-and-forth can be very annoying and frustrating.

J-dramas are known for their fast pacing and this drama jumps right to it. In supersonic speed, our female lead was dumped by her boyfriend in the beginning of the first episode and she fell for another guy by mid-second episode. You might also want to suspend realism and common sense. You know, a guy probably won’t promise to marry you if he doesn’t like you, no matter how kind he is. There’s no question to it and no guessing needed. But you have to go with the flow because this guessing game is a big part of the show. Our leads had other long-term relationships in the past but they acted like it’s their first relationship and forgot how to communicate and act, once they got together.

I do like how the stories are told in both the male and female lead’s perspectives (for part of the drama). You can hear their inner thoughts and their own narration. This storytelling seems to be most common with J-dramas, compared to other Asian countries. We also get a few good kisses and not just shy fish kisses.

Overall, this is not the best Japanese rom-coms out there, but it’s passable if you want to watch something short and easy. If you don’t like the trope I mentioned, then don’t watch it.


Other Random Observations:
1. Matsuda Genta is really handsome! LOL He looks older than his real age of 24.
2. Did our female lead wear the same nail polish for a whole year?
3. The comedic inner monologues/daydream confuse me a little in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if they were speaking to the camera/viewers, or to each other.



Completed: 10/3/2023 - Review #362

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A Character-Driven drama for those in the mood of some sweetness and cuteness!

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

A 9.1 MDL rating for a romantic drama is no joke as there are many other critically acclaimed ones that don’t reach this milestone. In order to give “Hidden Love” a fair chance to maximize the enjoyment of watching this, I prepared myself and will share my recommendations for those who hesitated. As an ‘older’ and veteran drama watcher, fluffy and cute romances don’t always work on me anymore.

Recommendations/Tips to prepare myself:
1. I am a romance junkie
2. I am in the right mood for a cute, sweet and fluffy romance.
3. I like the main leads.
4. I am OK with and am prepared for a character-driven drama.
5. I am OK with an age-gap that could seem big.

I know if I watch “Hidden Love” when it’s airing or when it just finished airing, I will be extremely critical in finding faults since the hype is real and positive reviews are everywhere. Therefore, I waited until I was ready. And I am ready now.


What I Like:

Acting - I am quite familiar with Zhao Lu Si’s acting and know that she has no problem acting shy or cute. She did not disappoint me. On the other hand, Chen Zhe Yuan surprised me in a positive way. I’ve seen a few of his dramas but don’t recall him having the ability to subtly control his emotions (happy and sad) and his big, beautiful eyes speak volumes in this drama. It’s only been a few years’ time and Chen Zhe Yuan has improved so much since his “Handsome Siblings” days, the first drama I saw him in. The rest of the supporting cast also did a great job. But this drama is about Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu. If Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan can’t act, this drama will be a disaster.

Siblings - Many have pointed out the amazing chemistry between Zhao Lu Si and Victor Ma. I echoed the praises that they are so fun to watch. Their banter, argument, and horseplay brought so much color to this otherwise quite mellow drama. Their conversations are fun and witty, and you can still see how much they care and love each other.

Sang Zhi (FL) - At first, I thought I would be very irritated with Sang Zhi. I’ve seen clips of her acting all shy with that baby voice. However, I enjoy seeing her character grow from a spunky 14-year old girl, to an independent strong woman who can think on her own, make her own choices and protects the man she loves. We’ve seen female leads who are supportive of male leads. But Sang Zhi took it to a different level. She not only supports her man, but she’s there to protect him (physically, verbally and emotionally), to dispel any prejudice and stereotypes against him, and stand up for him. In a way, she was more emotionally mature when she’s 22 than when Duan Jia Xu was 22 or 27.

Duan Jia Xu (ML) - How can I not love a walking green flag like him? Yes, he’s too perfect and that could be a criticism. But I am also not going to deny the fact that he’s going to my Hall of Fame for Best Boyfriend/Partner. He is gentle, kind, considerate, understanding, and thoughtful. A unicorn that you can’t find in real life but I can indulge myself in this drama and pretend he does exist.

Main Romance - Chemistry is great. I was actually waiting for the college days to come so that I can finally see them interact as adults. I love the secret confessions in folded stars, the shy-but-in love glances/looks, the courting, the heartfelt yet somewhat awkward conversations by two inexperienced lovers, and of course, the hugs and kisses. This drama is made for romance lovers. I can’t help but smile throughout the drama.

Sang Family - I am so glad to see Zhao Lu Si and Zeng Li act as daughter/mother again. After the traumatic experience of “Love Like the Galaxy”, I am so glad to see them in a much different dynamic. The Sang parents are so lovely as well. Even though they disapprove of Sang Zhi’s rebellious trip, they never yelled at her, but just tried to talk some sense into her. They might have disapproved of the leads’ relationship, but the conversations are mature, reasonable and all come from the heart and love for their daughter. It’s so rare to find such amazing parents in a C-drama. Adding the fun Sang Yan to the mix, it’s no wonder Sang Zhi is able to grow up to be someone worthy of love and can protect her love.


What I have Mixed Feelings:

Sang Zhi’s baby voice - I can understand Zhao Lu Si using a somewhat younger voice when she’s 17, but when she’s a college student, that voice has got to go. She can speak normally with her roommate, so I know she can speak normally to her boyfriend. Towards the end of the drama, she has grown to be a mature young lady, and that baby voice really doesn’t match her. Is that Zhao Lu Si’s over-acting, or the director wanted her to act that way? I would never know.

Sang Zhi (14 years old) - No matter how short Sang Zhi is supposed to be at 14, the amazing young actress can’t convince me she’s 14 years old. She’s 12 in real life but she looks like she’s 10. If you are going to use such a young actress, maybe they should have a different younger actor to play the male lead.

Stalker girl - The side plot about the stalker girl lasted a little too long. I also think her presence changes the overall tone of this drama. I understand the reason for her existence in telling ML’s back story, but I wish that side plot was written better. Luckily, she’s the only annoying character and she’s still tolerable.

Supporting Cast stories - Because this drama focuses on the leads’ story so much that the rest of the side characters are forgotten in the back burner. This can be a good or a bad thing. If you just want to focus on Sang Zhi and Duan Jia Xu, then this is not a criticism at all. But I wanted a more well-rounded approach and wanted to know more about other characters. What happened to Sang Yan’s personal life? Did he really have a girlfriend? What is up with his knowledge of childbirth? I thought he got someone pregnant! What about the romance of the dorm mates? If you don’t plan to give them time, then let’s not start to begin with. Not every single character needs to have a love interest, but don’t start and forget.

Age gap - I don’t know if they have to keep on talking about how much older Duan Ji Xu is. 5 years isn’t really that big of a gap. It is central to the storyline, but it doesn’t need to be repeated and reminded so many times.


Overall, this is a great romance drama if you are looking for something easy, sweet and fluffy. The leads’ acting and chemistry are great and it’s a drama full of love, care and personal growth. If you are like me and like my tips above, that will increase your chance of enjoying this drama.


Completed: 8/27/2023 - Review #346

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Excellent development of the Brotherhood and Interesting Mysterious Cases. Love Cheng Yi!

Amidst a sea of not-so-good romantic xianxias and period dramas, “Mysterious Lotus Casebook '' is a breath of fresh air. Despite being a romance junkie, the brotherhood between our three main characters reminded me that I don’t always need romance in a drama. This drama has excellent casting, acting, pacing, storytelling with interesting mysterious cases and some pretty good action scenes.


Casting/Acting
Isn’t it nice to cast actors who play characters their age and act their age? In the drama, Li Lian Hua and Di Fei Sheng are both in their early 30s, and they are played by Cheng Yi (33) and Xiao Shu Yao (35). Joseph Zeng (25) plays a younger Fan Duo Bing who is in his 20s. Just because of this, the drama gets a big thumbs up from me. The three male leads act their age and exudes the necessary aura of either someone wise or inexperienced. They are really well-casted and I can’t imagine other actors playing these roles. I have to say I am very impressed with Chen Yi. We have all seen him spitting blood (he does that in this drama as well) and playing the angsty romantic male lead. Who knew he could play a sly and sarcastic fallen hero so well! Xiao Shun Yao’s tall frame and broad shoulders exude that cold brutalness and reminded me a little of his gray character in “The Blue Whispers”. Joseph Zeng’s big eyes brought out the youthfulness and inexperience of Fang Duo Bing. “Mysterious Lotus Casebook” has a large supporting cast of veterans and younger actors. No one stands out like a sore thumb and no character irritates or annoys me. I quite like the female villain and found her beautiful and manic!

Mysterious Cases
There are several mysterious cases and they all contribute to the bigger plot/mystery of the drama. I like that they are not episodic and are allowed enough time to develop and to be solved. The cases are interesting to me, more so than those in “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty”. Although I was never anxious enough to be at the edge of my seat, they generally keep me engaged. There are so many details that I can’t really not pay attention. I was dozing off (not the drama’s fault, I was just tired) and had to rewind the scenes as I realized I was missing pieces of information to follow along. I also enjoy the mid-episode graphics and follow along the Lotus Tower to different locations. I realized I didn’t even take that many notes for my reviews while watching, because I was following along.

The Brotherhood
Excellent! It was so much fun seeing how the friendship develops between the three male characters. Their scenes are sprinkled with humor (and not second-hand embarrassment humor), thoughtful/caring conversations and understanding of each other’s words and actions. It is quite beautiful to see how each relationship continues to build throughout the drama - from strangers, idol, enemies to friends, frenemies, and soulmates.

Romance
Don’t watch this drama for romance because you will be sorely disappointed. I am actually fine with the small romantic plot of Li Xiang Yi and his ex-girlfriend, Di Fei Sheng and the obsessed villain, and even the very small one of Fan Duo Bing and the princess. But having Su Xiao Yong’s affection for Li Lian Hua is unnecessary. She has such a small role that it seems like her sole existence is to do household chores, be an interpreter and grandfather’s messenger, and act as a medical assistant to get help from a doctor. There are no lovey-dovey cute scenes and no skinship at all. But you know what, you really don’t need any big romance plot because there’s enough to keep you engaged.

Action Scenes
There are enough action scenes scattered throughout the drama to keep us wuxia fans satiated. I am glad the drama does not skim out on the big fight with the villains in the end. The action scenes are pretty good, but not to the traditional wuxia standards like in “Side Story of Fox Volant”. I wanted more close combat sword fighting scenes, instead of people getting thrown across the room, with a palm push or a sword swing. I want to especially commend Chen Yi. I never realized what a beautiful fighter he is. There are actors who fight hard and have the physique to do so. There are others who fight like they are dancing or not know what to do with a sword. But Chen Yi’s fight scenes are beautiful to watch. He has a skinnier frame and fights like he’s floating in the air (great wire work from him!) yet he doesn’t fight weakly. It’s a very nice combination of elegance and quiet strength.

Production Quality
It’s so great that the three main male leads are dubbing themselves. Though not often, I do think there are some live recordings from Chen Yi. But the supporting cast seems to all be dubbed by voice actors. The production quality is pretty decent. The costumes, sets, props and ornaments all look decent (not exquisite). CGI and music/songs are minimal. I don’t actually remember any songs played. There’s a dance performed by a male dancer/actor during one of the cases, and that performance is unique and beautifully danced.


Overall, I strongly recommend this drama, especially if you enjoy mysterious cases and are fans of the three male leads. I really don’t have any major criticism of the drama. I liked Chen Yi when he was in “Love and Redemption” but I think I became a fan after his role here in “Mysterious Lotus Casebook”.


Completed: 8/13/2023 - Review #339

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Well-acted, Mature and Dark drama with a controversial Female Lead

At the writing of this review, its MDL rating is at 8.5. I am actually a little surprised that it’s so high. Not that I don’t like the drama, in fact, I really like it. But for the fact that with quite a controversial and flawed female lead, who has made some questionable decisions and said some mean words, I think some watchers might really be put off by her.

“Will Love in Spring” is definitely not a romantic comedy. Death is a central theme, and if this is one of your taboo subjects, do not watch this drama. There are some funny and sweet/fluffy moments. But for the most part, this is a mature, dark, healing drama. It’s a character-driven drama that focuses on our main leads' development and their relationships with family members and each other. This is a mature drama that makes you think.

Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong have excellent chemistry from start to finish. Their romance is nicely developed from when they first met in high school, to reconnecting again as adults. They had a long and bumpy ride before they hit the final destination in the very last episode. Zhang Jie (FL) is an independent, feisty, outgoing professional woman who still struggles with low-esteem due to her disability. However, at one point, I do find her shenanigans a little repetitive. I also believe many viewers are mad at her during the New Year’s Eve episode (ep 15?). Her actions and words towards Chen Mai Dong (ML) were uncalled for and downright mean. But given what happened that night at home, her past trauma and what she’s gone through in life, I can understand her and choose to have faith in her. What was most disappointing to me is her decision in the last couple episodes. Not being honest with ML about her decision and plans until the very end is more unforgiving to me. They have always had an honest and open relationship from bickering to comforting each other. Why can’t she be honest now? But, I give props to the drama for not crashing and burning in the end. The final episode wraps out everything nicely and gives me closure to Chen Main Dong and Zhang Jie’s story. The conversation they had at the NanPing train station: FL’s realization of her actions and ML’s clear understanding of FL’s personality, strengths and weaknesses, and his explanation and forgiveness, brought me so much comfort and joy. In the end, they found love and learned to love. For romance lovers, let’s not forget to include the fact that this couple is very affectionate and not afraid to display their affections through kisses and hugs. Lastly, Chen Mai Dong is another green flag and only he can balance out Zhang Jie’s energy.

There are so many lovely side characters in this drama. I love the relationship of the siblings. Niao Niao (little sis) is played by the talented child actress, Zhang Xi Wei. What a little firecracker and smartass she is. She brings so much color to the drama. Wu Jun Ting plays the quirky and sweet younger brother, Zhuang Yan. Who has a pet goose and walks it like a dog?? Zhuang Yan! I haven’t seen Wu Jun Ting since “Time and Her are Just Right”. I loved him in that drama and remembered his nice deep voice. I also envy the friendship between Grandma Chen and Grandma Lin. They are the poster children for best-friend-forever friendship. I enjoy the sisterhood between FL and Wang Xi Xia. Wang Peng looks so pretty as the best friend. She looks so much more mature and sexy than in her previous roles. Last but not the least, FL’s mother. I bet she’s another character that many hate. She’s the typical loud Chinese mother, who can’t stop criticizing her children. She’s tolerable but at one point I also want to strangle her. Glad she got a lot better towards the last few episodes. I am not sure if it’s the actress or the character, but she always seems to talk and laugh with a fake smile.

I would love to see more of the funny romance between BFF Wang Xi Xia and the Doc. The Doc is so quirky and adorable at the same time. Their scenes give the drama a more light-hearted touch, as they are hilarious together. I just want more of them.

I am not familiar with the funeral industry or the role of an embalmer. So, I can’t comment on how realistic “Will Love in Spring” is portraying that. It’s not a profession that we see in dramas often, so I am glad to get a peek into ML’s job.

I would recommend this drama to those that love a realistic portrayal of life, struggles, and relationships. The characters in this drama are all flawed and they make decisions that we don’t always agree with. But life is not rosy and we are not perfect. If you don’t mind the topic of death, this is an excellently acted drama. I had a great time watching this, even if I had a roller coaster ride of emotions.



Completed: 5/4/2024 - Review #437

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The Manipulators: Sizzling Chemistry between walking red flag ML & walking red Flag FL

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75

After finishing “Scent of Time” not too long ago, I was worried that I might find this drama repetitive. Both dramas have a similar premise of being given the chance to go back in time to correct past mistakes. “Scent of Time” focuses on family relationships more, and this one focuses on revenge and politics more. I like both dramas but like “Story of Kunning Palace” a little better overall.

What I Like:

1. Pacing - I am pleasantly surprised that I am kept entertained throughout the 38 episodes. I did not lose my focus or feel that the drama dragged in the middle episodes. In fact, there’s so much going on that I enjoy all the side plots and characters. It’s not perfect, as I want more episodes of the romance between Jiang Xue Ning (FL) and Zhang Zhe (2ML) in the present timeline, and less of the evil girl causing drama. Overall, I am quite satisfied.

2. Xie Wei (ML) and Zhang Ling He - I always love a good gray character, especially for the male character. After the success of Dylan Wang’s character in “Love Between Fairy and Devil”, I am happy to see another deliciously evil and cunning male lead. Oftentimes, he would be a second male lead. This is possibly Zhang Ling He’s best acting to date. This intriguing character provides ZLH an opportunity to showcase a side of him that we haven’t seen. He is so much better in this drama than in “My Journey to You”. Many fans (myself included) love seeing Xie Wei’s side-eyed glare, petty jealousy and cunning ruthlessness. Xie Wei is such a madman and I wish to see more characters like him in the future.

3. Acting - the overall acting of the cast is pretty good (but not exceptional) - both the younger and veteran cast. Bai Lu is Bai Lu. You know what to expect from her, though I wouldn’t say she exceeded my expectations. I just saw Wang Xing Yue in “Scent of Time” and felt that his acting is much improved and better here. Even though his character is quiet, he’s speaking with his eyes more. I want more of him.

4. Main Romance - Even though it took a very long while for us to see Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei’s romance to develop, it is worth it. They have so much chemistry together. I enjoy the development of their relationship from enemies to working together, then trusting each other and falling in love. Xie Wei is a walking red flag, and Jiang Xue Ning is not that much better deep inside of her. They really are a match made in heaven as they understand and accept each other’s strengths and flaws. The kisses are exploding with chemistry though not gentle or sweet (unless you watch the extra special). But no matter if they were in the past or present, scenes of them together are sizzling hot and you yearn to see them on the screen together more.

5. Sisterhood - I am pleasantly surprised at the relationship between the Zhang sisters. Oftentimes, we either see sisters hate or love each other. But true to the plot and because of the history between the two, their sisterhood develops organically and realistically. They are not forced to be super close.

6. No annoying character - sure there are villains and a girl here and there that are jealous of the female lead. But for the most part, they are not super annoying and are not frustrating to watch. I like many of the characters - the three male leads (all lovely in their own ways), the princess, the best friend, the guards, the sidekicks, and even those girls in the palace. No one really makes dumb decisions that make me want to shake some sense into them.


What I have Mixed Feelings About:

1. Jiang Xue Ning (FL) + Zhang Zhe (2ML) Romance - I was deeply moved by the flashback scenes of them together. Zhang Zhe’s internal struggle of doing the right thing vs. doing the wrong thing for the woman he loves. These flashback scenes are minimal, but they gave us such great emotions and just enough to tell us their story. However, their romance in the present time is not given enough opportunity to develop and move me as an audience. It’s such a waste as both Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue also have great chemistry together. The way they steal glances, try to express their feelings through their eyes, but struggle internally - all could have contributed to a great romance and a big contrast to the main romance.

2. Xie Wei + Sidekicks/Guards - I would like to know the backstory between Xie Wei and his guards and friends. How did they all work together in support of Xie Wei? What else did they go through back in the day? Why are they following him and not the rebellious group?

3. Forced rom-com directing/editing - For a serious historical drama, we should never have so many forced romantic slow-motion scenes and music blasting to tell me how to feel. We have good actors who can convey feelings through their acting and subtle facial expressions, we don’t need these cheap and cheesy shots. I am also so irritated by the bright white backlighting that the director seems to like so much.

4. Dubbing - While I appreciate actors dubbing their own voices, not all are great at reading their lines yet. Bai Lu almost always dubs her own and does it well, and I think Zhang Ling He can learn from her. Some of his lines are spoken in monotone, or he screams and growls a little too overdramatically. Having said that, I am glad Bai Lu, Zhang Ling He and Wang Xing Yue all dubbed themselves. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the cast didn't.

5. Production Quality - “Story of Kunning Palace” does not seem to be a big budget production. The sets are on the small-to-medium scale. The costumes and accessories are average. As I said earlier, I don’t like the lighting and they did not use natural light. Bai Lu’s makeup is uneven and she could have been much more beautiful. I also dislike the use of BGM playing over the music instruments. The OST is OK. Compared to “My Journey to You”, this drama pales in comparison.

6. Fight Scenes - Except for the big fight in the last couple episodes, I am not impressed with the fight scenes. I feel that they are over dramatic and not enough good close-combat battle scenes. Since this is not a wuxia or xianxia drama, seeing someone being punched once and then fly over to the other side is quite hilariously unrealistic. Some guys got slashed multiple times and survived. Others die with one stab.


Overall, I had a fabulous time watching this drama. I enjoy the plot, the pace of the drama (though the ending is a tiny rushed), the development of the main leads’ relationship and romance, and of course the anti-hero male lead. It’s a good mix of romance, friendship and politics.


Completed: 11/27/2023 - Review #381

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It's not perfect and frustrating at times, but still very enjoyable with good pacing.

“Silent” is a very difficult drama for me to rate and review. There are some very frustrating moments and decisions made by the male characters, thus decreasing my personal enjoyment. At one point, I was so mad at the male leads that I didn’t want Aoba to end up with either one of them. On the other hand, stepping in their shoes, I can also see why they would feel that way and make frustrating decisions. So, do I really like this drama or not?

As a melodrama, I really like the pacing. It was not too slow or too fast. I enjoy the use of silence and soft music to set the tone. I appreciate the actors' effort and dedication to learn sign language. It’s not easy, and sign language is not used sparingly but a lot throughout the whole series. There are a lot of emotions going through when watching “Silent”. I definitely cried with them. However, because the story was told using flashbacks throughout the drama, it lessens the gut-punch of heartbreaking emotions in the first episode when the leads are reunited. The drama hasn’t shown us enough scenes from their high school days for me to feel emotionally connected to their love story. So, when they meet again 8 years later and discover that So has been suffering alone, the impact is not as strong.

The overall acting of the cast is good, especially Kawaguchi Haruna as our female lead, Aoba. When her big eyes look straight into the camera, they display so many emotions, and sparkle as well. Meguro Ren’s portrayal as So is a little inconsistent to my eyes. There are times when I can totally feel his sadness, but other times it felt forced. Maybe it’s just me. On the other hand, Suzuka Ouji as our second male lead looks too young. I can’t forget his high school drama “Horimya” and as a real life 22-year old, he does not look like his character’s age of 26. As sweet as the character is, Suzuka Ouji looks like a kid wearing his dad’s outfit and hanging out with his sister.

I’m trying to write about the frustrating decisions the male characters made without going into spoilers. Even though So and Minato both have good (but could be selfish) intentions, their disregard of Aoba’s feelings and ability to make choices pisses me off. Decisions were made without discussion and she was left with consequences of their decisions. Towards the end of the drama, I felt that So was just leading Aoba on. It’s unfair and disrespectful to her. As much as I feel for So and Minato, I can’t help but wish Aoba will dump them both. LOL.

We are made to believe that Aoba was really in love and was ‘glowing” and living in happiness and contentment. But after the breakup, she moved on pretty quickly to start meeting up with the other guy, even if it’s only as friends. She was heartbroken for a split second, and then the plot just moved on. Is it too much to see her wallow in her sorrows for a little longer?

So’s transition from someone who can hear to someone who lost his hearing is the main plot in this drama. We learn about the prejudices against those who are hearing impaired from birth and those who are not. Through So’s story, we see the emotional toll and impact his illness has on himself, his loved ones, and his feelings towards his future and the world. I enjoy seeing the different points of view from Nana and Masaki’s standpoints. I am happy that So reconnected with his friends and continues to maintain a close friendship with Minato. That is really touching and nice to see.

Overall, I enjoy watching this drama. It’s a rare binge-worthy melodrama for me with good pacing. I might be frustrated at times, but that also speaks to the drama’s success in playing with my emotions. My gut reaction is to rate this as a generous 8.5, and after thinking about it some more, I am going to keep this rating. “Silent” is not perfect, but it moves me (aka me crying) more than “First Love”.


Completed: 1/6/2023

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Only watch this for Xu Kai's handsomeness and Wang Yang's charisma

Completed - 8/22/2022

If you are not a fan of any of the actors, this might not be worth your time. For me it takes Xu Kai’s handsome face to get me through the first half of the drama, and then add on Wang Yang’s charisma to finish it.

I was quite excited about this drama in the first 1-2 episodes. I was pleasantly surprised that there were some decent fight scenes and creative fight choreography. I’ve already heard that the CGI and green scenes were horrible, and yes, they were indeed not good (running on rooftop and flying around with statues). The production value of this drama is quite low. Even so, a handsome Xu Kai + charismatic Wang Yang + Cool fight scenes = What I like. Unfortunately, my interest and excitement died in the next 10 episodes. All they did was talk talk talk about that stupid bone, with no action. No wonder so many people dropped the drama after the initial episodes. But if you are able to tolerate such boredom and poor plot with the help of Xu Kai’s handsomeness, the plot did get better in the second half of the drama with more action. But such a positive trajectory did not last until the very end. The last episode was rushed and we also have a poor redemption plot that was quite abrupt. The ending was a mystery. What the heck happened? Did we lose a full episode and jump right to the last 2 minutes? Is this due to censorship? (very likely).

Let’s talk about romance since it’s my favorite topic. The short review is: BLAND. Our leads started off as good friends and they are supposed to slowly develop feelings for each other. Well, I didn’t quite see this development. What I see is our FL suddenly really wants to marry ML not because of the bone, but because she is in love with him. I then see our ML never really showed much romantic interest in our FL, and then all of a sudden he is in love. If the friends-to-lovers trope is not done right in the beginning, then the latter part of the romance will become friends-to-lovers-with-no-chemistry. In the second half of the drama, the romance has gotten better once they are together. There’s enough decent skinship and I’ve always loved Xu Kai’s expressive beautiful eyes. But overall, the romance is lacking.

Our male lead, Ding Yun Qi, is a genius. He’s never wrong and is always steps ahead of others. He may not be the warmest person initially, but he’s not a cold tsundere either. He’s smart, loyal, caring, has the best martial arts skills, is a doctor, and also knows everything that the Heaven Official should know even though he left home for 6 years and really didn’t have a lot of time to learn. Well, basically he is perfect. Our female lead, Wu Shuang, is the opposite. She’s outgoing and friendly, curious and likes to fight. Luckily, she’s not dumb and can be quite smart in her own ways. Many dislike Wu Shuang, but I am ok with her. She is usually on the sidelines until the latter part of the drama.

The acting is decent and I don’t see anyone especially bad or cringey.. As much as I love Xu Kai (I bet by now you know I really like him), this is not his best acting. I think the acting all around is OK by the younger cast. The better acting is done by our veterans, Wang Yang as Luo Yun Song, and Morni Chang as Zhou Qiu Hai. These two never disappoint, no matter how bad the script is, you can trust their acting abilities. I also like that they use their own voices. I think I can recognize Wang Yang’s voice by now as he always dubs his own voice. Props to him! There are a couple interesting supporting characters that I quite enjoy - Meng A Sai as Sun San Xuan and Bao Bei Er as Luo Jiu Tian.

I don’t think I can wholeheartedly recommend this drama, UNLESS you just want to look at Xu Kai’s handsome face and Xu Kai looking dashing in a variety of nice suits. There are too many other good dramas out there.

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Simple, Predictable but Sweet and Heartwarming Contract Relationship

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“The Best Day of My Life” is a short, simple, predictable but heartwarming and cute drama. The premise is simple - high school seatmates reunited due to work, and entered into a contract relationship as a consequence of a drunken social media post. Of course, we know how the story ends.

This is a stress-free watch for me. The drama has what I like in a romance drama - a contract relationship, unrequited long-term crush and the guessing game. There is no plot twist and you have probably seen the same plot many times. But what sets this drama apart is the Miss Green Flag, who is not a goody-two-shoes or Mary Sue. We often rave about Mr. Green Flags in dramas, and we have that here as well. But the female lead, Xu Mu, is likable, mature, smart, quick-witted, caring, sweet and generous. It’s no wonder the male lead falls in love with her at first sight, and for 12 years.

This green flag couple is easy to root for and I really enjoy their interaction and cohabitation, especially in the first half of the drama. Watching them put a smile on my face. But I do have to say it loses its momentum in the last few episodes. The lovey dovey scenes in the end are great, and the kisses are satisfying. But it doesn’t leave me the same happy feeling as in the first half of the drama. I love ML’s secret glances and smirks when he’s enjoying the fake relationship. I was also a little disappointed with the big confession scene and how FL found out about ML's long-term crush. The story of starting point/destination is great, I just felt the execution/writing could be better.

The secondary romance is a good contrast. I am not in love with the secondary couple, but they are not too bad either. I like the unique groom suit during the photoshoot on the beach. That has to be a first in a drama and it’s fun!

Overall, this is the perfect stress-relief for me at the moment. I would not say this is a must-watch. But fans of contract relationships and long-term crushes could check this out, especially since it's such a short drama.


Completed: 8/20/2024 - Review #474

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Predictable but Comforting. Adorable Leads with Great Chemistry!

Subjective Gut Rating; 8.5
Objective Rating: 7.5-8.0

Why am I rating this quite high? Well, because this is my cup of tea! I love when main leads are in love with each other, yet thinking the other doesn’t like them. I LOVE the guessing game. That’s my jam! If you are like me, then you will enjoy this drama. If this is not your thing, then “Goodbye’s Love Begins With Betting” is a predictable, easy and light watch. You have seen everything. There is no surprise, but a comfort watch.

Nao (FL) and Koichi (ML) are both very likable characters. Nao is known as the Ice Iron lady, and Koichi is known as the handsome, but indecisive guy who will say yes to everyone. Both of them started dating due to a bet. And you probably can guess that they ended up liking each other and are worried about how this bet is going to ruin their relationship. The leads have great chemistry and I enjoy all their scenes together.

There are a lot of internal monologues to show Nao’s internal conflict and how she is so different outwardly than her true self. She is adorable and it’s quite interesting to hear the internal turmoil while watching her with an emotionless face. Yamazaki Hirona played Nao really well. I was rooting for her the whole time. But what I adore even more is Koseki Yuta’s beautiful and sunshine smile. It’s no wonder our female lead is so in love with him. Koichi might be indecisive but I don’t find him frustrating because he presents himself so well and because Yuta plays his role so well.

The best friends are the rational and sensible support system that our leads need. I’m glad the drama doesn’t force-feed us a secondary romance, but really centers all attention to our leads. The two best friends play an important supporting role in the story and not just wallflowers. I also adore FL’s co-worker as the cute cheerleader. The ‘villain’ isn’t too irritating either.

If you are looking for a fun, easy and light watch, this is it for you. Don’t expect anything unique or groundbreaking, but sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!



Completed: 6/8/2024 - Review #450

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Cute...Interesting....Weird... and Creepy

What attracted me to watch “Memory in the Letter” is the interesting plot. What’s going to happen when you move into a new apartment and find someone living inside the mirror in your room? What’s even more weird is that a novel is detailing your experience with the guy in the mirror and you have no idea how that happens and who the author is.

The two leads, Parky and Beck, are pretty new to dramaland. I think their acting is decent for newbies. This is Parky’s first ever acting gig, and he’s done a lot better than others. Beck is adorable and is able to shoulder his first drama as a main lead pretty well. Can Atirut is quite a handsome guy, but he seems to always have a fake smile on his face with too much makeup.

There’s enough story to make this short drama into a full length one. Because there are only 6 short episodes, everything happens very quickly. In the first episode, not only have the leads met but they also fell in love right away. The first four episodes show us the quick romantic development, and they are really a cute and adorable pair. When a handsome stranger approaches you at a coffee shop and is super kind and helpful, one starts to wonder what his motive is. The mystery of the novel is interesting and is solved rather quickly.

Episode 5 tells us Songjam’s side of the story. Even though it’s important to learn of his experience, I miss Aksorn here. I think the best part of this drama is when Aksorn and Songjam are together and doing little romantic things. With Aksorn’s absence, I lost a little interest.

Spoiler……Episode 6
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This is when the creepy part comes in. It’s an interesting twist that we finally find out the identity of this mysterious kind stranger. But if I do the math right, he’s at least 40-45 years older than Aksorn. I cannot for the life of me see him acting all smitten and lovey dovey with Aksorn. This age gap is quite hard to accept when he’s the one who helps bring Aksorn into this world, literally. The romantic feelings I have in the first 4 episodes are all gone. What’s left is a creepy old guy (who looks the same for the past 20 years with a fake smile) trying to rekindle old flames and flirt/court a 20 year old.



I am not sure if the drama follows the web novel well and if it also feels creepy in the end. It’s unfortunate as I really enjoyed the first four episodes despite everything happening at lightning speed. But this is a low budget Thai drama, so I am willing to overlook that because Songjam and Aksorn are adorable with good chemistry, and it has a couple nice songs. With that positive note, I am not rate this lower than 7.5.


Completed: 5/21/2024 - Review #441

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A worthy Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor

Enough praises have been showered for this amazing thriller, and no wonder it’s a Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor. I feel that it’s even more amazing when this drama has an original script and not an adaptation of a novel or webtoon. Adaptations seem to be so common these days that original ideas from screenwriters have run dry. This genre is not usually my cup-of-tea and I was hesitant to watch even though I know it’s a masterpiece. I’m so glad this was assigned to me during a challenge and ‘forces’ me to witness the amazing acting of the whole cast.

Shin Ha Kyun’s award for Best Actor is so deserving. As a veteran, and mostly a movie veteran, he was perfectly casted as the “crazy” cop who was desperate to find his murdered sister’s missing body for over 20 years. Being accused of killing his sister and living a really hard life, Shin Ha Kyun was able to portray all the emotions of grief, guilt, regret, hate, and being loved by his found family. I was haunted by the evil grin and eyes he showed from time to time, but also cried for him when he’s been hurt so deeply by people close to him.

On another note, Yeo Jin Goo held his own playing opposite the amazing Shin Ha Kyun. He has grown so much as an actor and continues to amaze me whenever he’s in a serious drama. I first loved him as the young crown prince in “Moon Embracing the Sun” but really acknowledged his acting in “The Crowned Clown”. Although he is probably best known for his role in “Hotel del Luna”, I think with him being in “Beyond Evil” and playing with so many great veteran actors must be a very enjoyable process. Yeo Jin Goo’s character, Han Joo Won, might not be as multi-layered as Shin Ha Kyun’s character, Lee Dong Shik. Joo Won could be a little more emotionless but Yeo Jin Goo’s micro expressions and subtle yet emotional acting shines through. I might be more impressed by this young fella than the veterans.

But honestly, the whole cast from the found family of friends, to the villains who cause troubles, they are all amazing. The group of friends who hung out at the restaurant after work each night brings warmth to my heart. They care for and love each other, yet each harbors a secret that you will discover one by one. The villains are not cartoonish. They are so well-written that you don’t feel like you can hate them outright.

The friendship/partnership between the leads is fun to witness. Do they really trust each other as partners? Are they just using each other for their own purposes? Do they really care for each other? Is their next move to protect the partner? This drama keeps me guessing and I love both of them. I really want them to want to die and sacrifice for each other, even though you will never hear them say that out loud.

Lastly, the drama keeps me interested and engaged throughout. From my novice eyes, I love the plot and twists. I thought initially why they let me know the murderer so early on and then I realized, there’s so much more to the story. Different side plots seem to all intertwine into the main plot. It keeps me guessing but not guessing. It’s like you know who the big bad wolf is, but you wonder how the drama is going to show you. I enjoy the showing and not telling approach. There are some pretty intense scenes and a few pretty grueling visuals (after all this is about murders).

If I am going to be nick picky, there are a few minor questions I have about the storyline. Why would Ha Joo Won pick that certain someone for the sting operation? Why her? How did he know she would be chosen? What's the commonality of all the murder victims? Is there a reason to the madness? I would have loved to know more about the backstory of the murderer and what drove him into this madness.

I am really glad I watched this, even though I might have fallen asleep watching it because I was too tired from work. It’s not the fault of the drama, but it does require my focus and attention 100% because each scene and each facial expression is important. I strongly recommend this if you are a lover of this drama, or if you are a novice like me and want to start with something amazing.


Completed: 3/1/2024 - Review #412

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