Now finished this and enjoyed it very much watching an episode every day. I wondered if 50 episodes would make me give up but it had me hooked. I feel the production values were quite poor -〜you had to imagine 20 people ＝ a riot of 20,000 or an army of 50 people ＝ an army of 50,000 and the sets were all the same. However I found the twists and turns of the tale consistently gripping, they managed the development of the story over a long period from childhood friends to adults involved in the dangers and reversals of politics very well. Also the clashes of romance between a love triangle. The good characters were not boring or lacking in character. The villains were suave and convincing and it was always intriguing to see just how they would manage politics and conflict and come out on top. The show broke down into two main political periods and the characters of the kings and their political ministers, wives, mistresses did get me emotionally involved - loving or admiring some, loathing others - to see how they would develop and what would happen to them. It was interesting how my views of them changed as they changed. The idea of showing where Joseon stood in relation to the great power China and how their kings tried to challenge China was interesting and convincing. The story around developing gunpowder as part of the power game and the involvement of the main characters in this was also a compelling storyline. I especially liked the part of the story with the heroine cross-dressing and the brief parts in Japan. In conclusion , well recommended, do not be put off by the large number of episodes like I initially was. I liked the theme tune, though the other music became repetitive, this was not a major annoyance and no worse than most drama. I am not likely to re-watch it [or not soon anyway] but I am not letting this bring my score down. I cannot understand the low rating or some of the comments about this but as we say 十人十色 10 men 10 colors. If you like this kind of historical Korean drama, it is well worth staying the course…….I found almost no parts that were really boring enough to make me miss my daily viewing of this saga and that is highly unusual for this mentally hyperactive guy. 11/10

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You have to look beyond the title which has more layers of meaning than it superficially suggests. Sounded quite heavy but the beginning was very funny and well done with two (later three) characters but got heavy again later. It's a weird tale but sucks you in (if you see what I mine). The rushed ending I find rather too "neat" and unsatisfying. Further comment under spoiler. "Cuts" in film are an easy option to jump time. They are risky and don't always work. One positive message suggested to me is that you do not have to "do" or perform a job, activity, vocation or whatever to "prove" your value as a person. Music - less is sometimes more and imo it would have been more effective to leave it out at some intimate points. Not one I'm likely to re-watch. It made its point first time round. Overall I'd go with the majority opinion of 8/10.

Not important but the younger guy did not look Japanese - OK I know I should not "stereotype". Avoid if you object strongly to cigarettes.

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Very charming and "tasteful". Setting is nice. I would not say Shiina Kippei is exactly "very handsome" whatever his other talents. Takizawa Hideaki gives a whole new dimension to the English slang expression "stuffing your face". Can be quite funny, especially the caption "comments" on what's going on inside their heads. As I've watched I really like this series and it has been worthwhile sitting though some very poor filming but ep 8 just ceased half way through. It's such a pity a decent recording does not seem to be available but it was virtually impossible to watch from half way through until the last three episodes. Still, I'm glad I did persist. .Very neatly wrapped up. Lovely story. The "cake mix" of the characters was just right. Even the supporting characters - especially the grandma and Eiji's boxing manager/parent figure (they apparently had their own romance going towards the end) and the journalist lady, the mystery man, who turned out to be a police officer etc. The only negative was the way they copped out of the gay issue - at VERY great pains to assure the audience it was not a factor. Oh, dear. But if you like things a bit sentimental, you'll like this. Ten out of ten for the series itself and the actors.

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Very sensitively directed, with fun bits between the serious ones. Also a beautifully directed and produced example of movie art. I can't write more about the story or how it developed without making a spoiler. On homophobic prejudice, I thought Thailand was accepting of gays and gay lifestyle. From this movie it seems not. Is there anywhere a minority can really feel accepted? I don't say tolerated, any loving relationship deserves to be accepted on an equal basis. The two lead boys score top marks for acting as well as looks in my opinion. But the supporting cast was great too - even the camp gay teacher! One thing I don't get though is that one of the actors on the cover photo (see to the side) looks nothing like the actor in the movie?? I'll be looking out for more by these actors and director. Highly recommended to watch. Finally thanks to My Reading Manga for making this available, the only source I could find for a fault-free link.

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Very extracurricular! Not your usual school story

This is great drama brilliantly crafted all parts of the plot came together and worked out with surprise outcomes to the end〜 I binge watched last 3 episodes　〜but do not expect the usual school story of romance, bullying social and domestic problems、 this is tough unforgiving bloody and violent and shows the sordid underside of society with these not- yet -adult school students plunged into the adult storm of reality。 Some characaters〜 not the main leads〜 I found difficult to have any empathy with - these were just childish and caused all the trouble because they were the most confident they knew it all but actually least able to handle the dangerous world they trod into but I accept the actors played the part well to create those feelings in me. I do not think there was a single person not playing their part well. Knowing the plot I will not rewatch 〜only need one watch for message to hit through but highly recommend if you have strong stomach and strong mind to deal with this drama.

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Love

not an easy watch but an illuminating aesthetic and feeling experience〜 not as I expected really a depiction of social attitudes in a homophobic society but an exploration of one man working out his psychological, emotional survival in that society, the fine line between love and hurt 、self-realization and self-disgust、 acceptance and rejection ：who was it who said　”beauty can come out of a dunghill” ? beautiful imagery of nature and the eponymous palace in cinematography and sound ( Chinese opera ) 〜Si Han acted sensitively and convincingly
it is interesting to note that gay love was an accepted part of civilization in China (as in Japan) for hundreds of years ironically persecuted in current supposedly humanitarian times is it really a decaying palace or a decaying society where love is driven into the night and memorials of a past cultured civilization ?

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original mystery treatment of the exam pressure trope

nearly dropped it after slow confusing episode 1 but after that it became EXTREMELY good mystery plot around the pressurised exam system but looked at very much from the teacher's viewpoint and examining their interactions, characters and motivations as well as how the students handle it 〜good example of Japanese drama taking an overused trope and seeing it from a new angle it has the best qualities of a mystery story in making you want to know what comes next and how the characters develop so I finished it very quickly〜you need to like following plot details and reading character, there is not so much action, but if you like a drama of this type the effort is worthwhile〜 🔆

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5＊すげ〜〜〜〜

It is difficult to add to the other good reviews except to say this is one of best dramas of its type I have seen. I saw first episode and left aside for some time as it seemed not so different from similar stories、now I wonder why did I wait？ comedy, mystery, suspense to the end。good fun zany, a lot going on that almost becomes confusion but just avoids it。great characters and character development、 all were wonderful、 highs and lows。goes straight into my top ten K-dramas〜 hairstyles, clothes look really dated although the show is only 13 years ago。 LMK I hardly recognise compared with other shows [even「 Really Really Like You」 which is from the year before this] maybe it’s the hair。 music very catchy though sometimes too repetitive。definitely a re-watch１１／１０＊

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sato〜 suzuki

this is an excellent but difficult filmー yes, it is about unconventional lifestyles, gender issues and these are especially problematic in Japan as until really recently this was not accepted as even human、 however after watching was this even the main point of the film I wondered? yes it is alright for adults to have choices however unconventional to their society, but also they must be honest with their children。for me this was perhaps the real point of the film。 my only criticism is the ending which for me was just too neatly tied together and especially the cute fade at the very end to suggest something like：” even after all this weird stuff you can still have a normal life” ~ for me that undermines the seriousness of the whole rest of the film, I know it is fiction but it does not have to be an unhappy ending to be a convincing ending。this is not intended to depreciate the merits of the film I just feel it was too easy option to leave this as the final take away〜
？music

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maybe not to everyone's "taste"

This drama started quite interesting and I admit I was hooked and the end was well done and surprising at end and I also liked the manga drawings over characaters at the end but for me finally it crossed the line from scary with flaky characaters to just sick〜 I do not really like these stories with psychopaths and seral killing [ it is scary how people like them so much it must be some primitive instinct buried deep in us all] so I take off 1 point perhaps unfairly considering how good it was as a drama〜but 十人十色 depends on your” taste” as you will see when you watchwww

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Really liked this. I like magic, supernatural and special effects although the political background story is unoriginal. In the middle it seemed to have too much "slapstick" comedy interfering with the plot but became more interesting when they allowed the story to develop. Yes there were many plot holes and as usual with these sageuk stories dragged out the ending over three episodes and it is giving nothing away to say everything ended all sweetness and light except for the big villain, however you have to go with the flow I think and just enjoy it as escapist drama if you like this kind of drama. I thought the chemistry of the characters was good and I was especially impressed U-Know acted well and looked good. One I enjoyed and looked forward to watching every evening but would not re-watch after knowing the story.

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Powerful Greek tragedy in Korea

Intelligent, powerful drama of revenge posing the question: is the act of revenge morally better than the bad act causing the revenge in the first place? with the added twist of two supposed upholders of the law (or justice? they are not necessarily the same) - a detective and a lawyer - set against each other. Both the male leads are excellent in their very contrasting characters. Joo Ji Hoon is masterly. Also the female leads (Haein and Seungha's supposed sister)and the love element play a crucial role in the story. Can't say more, would be a spoiler.Jung Dong Hwan was also notable as a menacing, machiavellian character in the background. After slowing down in the middle, which had me thinking of dropping it, this really picked up in the last third of the series and became terrifically gripping. Comparing it with the Japanese version, this is twice as long, which led to loss of dramatic tension in the middle, but giving it more space for character development and to explore the morality. Even so, it could imo still have been shorter and done so equally well. Still the quality of Greek tragedy comes across in both versions as events come full circle (watch where it ends). This drama gets really HEAVY, so be prepared for some real catharsis. For once the word drama has its real meaning.

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I thought it got off to a slow start, but developed into I feel the best Chinese BL drama. Just 0.5 off for that and wondering where it's going which nearly made me stop watching. It's very sweet and natural, as others have said, though Chinese productions tend to be raw at the edges and unsophisticated by Korean and Japanese standards. But they are handsome lads and the story keeps you watching, especially towards the end and the acting has a lot of passion. But where did the (brief) love triangle come from, I think I missed something at the beginning. ? and it's just getting interesting and with stories more than just a school drama when……….? Last episodes great BL romance but the ending…………eh?? eh??!! what happened??? ban for what??

PS Oh I should just say I hope they wore warm clothes beneath those track suit uniforms because I've been to Beijing and it gets d*** cold.

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This is a great drama judging from the first two episodes (which are the only ones I can find available). The settings are dated but none the worse for that, as the main drama works despite being 20 years old, as all good dramas transcend their period. The story is not original.But the main characters and actors are great, showing very well the attraction yet tension between two students of polar opposite, poor and advantaged, backgrounds within the local snobby elite high school - the pride and anger of the poor kid with a one-parent family, alcoholic father, determined to forge an identity without denying the reality of his background but pushing away friendship in the process; the bewilderment of the rich kid in rejecting the values of his father but also unable to cast off the burden due to lack of acceptance of his genuine search for friendship based on the person, not the social and material position. Main back music is the only negative from my viewpoint - an old British pop song dating I think from years before the series itself, not my style, too sentimental and gets on my nerves frankly and detracts from the drama which is definitely not sentimental but very realistic. I would re-watch the two episodes I've seen, but obviously this whole review is limited by unavailability of the remaining episodes. (I have to put all episodes seen or I apparently can't post the review!!) Would really like to see how this works out but the series is way back and there don't seem to be any other sources.

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