Reviews

light entertainment -scrolled forward from episode 17 onwards.

Martial Art World. The Plot ist not deep, it's focusing on comedy romance. From episode 17 onwards I scrolled forwards because I want to know the "origin" of the female lead.

Unfortunately, the ending is open and it's unclear what its origin is. She opens a box, looks inside, smiles, and that's it. At the end, she says a sentence indicating that she is from another world. That's all. If you are watching the series because you really want to know what makes her special and where she comes from, there's no need to finish it, as this is not revealed. There are only hints.

But it was funny, at least in the beginning, and there are some nice fighting scenes.

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A Masterpiece of 2024

"The Story of Pearl Girl" is a drama that will pull you in from the start! It’s a brilliantly crafted tale where every moment feels meaningful and visually stunning.

Set against a rich historical backdrop, this is more than just a love story—it’s a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and personal growth. From the opening scene where Zhao Lusi’s character, Duan Wu, dives into the sea for pearls, the breathtaking cinematography transports you into her world with unforgettable visuals.

Zhao Lusi shines as Duan Wu, bringing incredible emotional depth and expression to her role. Her eye acting alone speaks volumes, making her character’s ups and downs feel real and raw. Every tear she sheds pulls you in; you’ll feel her joy and heartbreak as if they were your own. Zhao beautifully captures both the inner strength and vulnerability of Duan Wu, making her journey powerful and inspiring.

Liu Yuning’s portrayal of Yan Zi Jing is equally captivating, bringing a layered intensity to his role. His chemistry with Zhao Lusi feels genuine, making their characters’ growth and struggles deeply relatable and real. Together, they create on-screen magic!

With unforgettable acting, mesmerizing visuals, a fast-paced and heartwarming storyline, "The Story of Pearl Girl" is a drama you won’t want to miss. It captures the beauty of life’s highs and lows, delivering a tale that’s as uplifting as it is heartfelt. This is a must-watch for anyone looking for a story about strength, purpose, and the courage to grow.

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Great Chemistry and an adorable kitten, however...

The chemistry between the leads was great. I wouldn't be against them in another series together. Just hope it is better written.

I was not a big fan of the plot or writing in quite a bit of the show. I honestly would not have gotten through episodes 4-14 if not for the lead's chemistry. Those episodes where ML was chasing her and she was treating him like he'd kicked her kitten in front of her were not exactly easy to get through.

Don't get me wrong, I understand her hurt from being rejected. It stings. But for her to act like it was all on him and he was fully in the wrong for rejecting her... it got annoying quick. She confessed to him and he asked her how long she liked him and why. Her answers were recently and because he was rich and handsome... did she really think he'd be like yeah, me too? Instead of telling the truth, which were great answers, she lied. Seriously, no one wants to hear those as answers for why someone likes them.

Also, the forced kiss.. if ML did that to FL, everyone would've thrown a fit.

That said, here are some pros.

- adorable kitten
- real kisses
- a cute 2nd couple (ep 10 and on tho)
- no triangles or break ups
- both leads had supportive parents

If you can overlook my little rant, I'd recommend at least checking out the first 5 episodes to decide if this is for you or not.

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Enjoyed The Novelty But Can’t Recommend

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I was immediately excited to watch this because it’s a Park Shin Hye (박신혜) drama. Also, she’d be playing a completely different type of character than I’m used to seeing. I was so interested in this idea because I think Park Shin Hye is a pretty bad actress (not the worst, but she’s down there) and I really want to see her improve. She was the lead female in the first K-drama I’ve ever watched (The Heirs), so there’s a sense of nostalgia when I watch her.

Acting/Cast: I am happy to say Park Shin Hye killed it (pun intended). Her character was by far the most entertaining aspect of this drama. I already knew she could do action, which is a huge thing for me. So, I figured that was a big reason why she got this role. She did great with the action as well as the acting. Her sidekick was also a well-acted character. I liked who they cast to play Bael. That was a nice surprise. My biggest issue in this category is the male lead. I don’t remember ever seeing him in anything else, so, unfortunately, I can only gauge his acting off this drama alone. It was terrible. I could not tell at all how he was feeling by looking at his face except for when he was literally crying. He looked like he was daydreaming, honestly. He had zero chemistry with Park Shin Hye’s character. It was a bit cringey. He wasn’t half-bad in the beginning though…what went wrong? 5/10

Writing: It’s all over the place. I feel like this drama switches the plot on us multiple times. Characters are introduced and done away with quickly. Things happen that don’t make any sense. The lore doesn’t even make sense. Characters change their minds suddenly to suit the direction in which the writers decide to take the plot. I think what people like about this drama is the revenge aspect. It’s brutal revenge, as well. Park Shin Hye’s character doesn’t do things by the books (unlike most K-dramas), but instead tortures and kills the murderers. In K-drama world, she’s only allowed to get away with this as a female lead because she is already evil and it’s her job as a demon. Loop holes… Anyway, the male lead is a cop and a human, so he can’t take revenge in this way because it would make him “evil”. So basically he just ends up taking a backseat for the duration of the drama. If he doesn’t physically do it, even though he’s not stopping someone else from doing it, he’s still good. What a cop out… (I’m usually not this punny. I swear.) He’s just there to watch along with us I guess. I usually like revenge type plots, but I didn’t feel this one was very satisfying. Especially, the judgments on the murderers who weren’t part of the main storyline. I don’t know these people. I haven’t had enough time to emotionally connect with their victims. I don’t want to see them get tortured. Honestly, even if I was able to emotionally connect…I still don’t like seeing that stuff. I think the revenge in The Glory was really satisfying because she outsmarted them and got them to destroy themselves and each other. And in Revenge of Others (another satisfying revenge drama), the vigilante tortured perpetrators because the law was letting them get away scot-free. He also wasn’t killing them afterward, so they had a chance to repent or be punished by the law as well. Plus, the drama allowed us to fully connect with the victims before enacting revenge. In The Judge From Hell, I also really didn’t like something that happened near the end. I can’t say too much but… we watch revenge dramas because we want a feeling of justice being carried out, wrongs being righted, and we root for the victims and underdogs. There was a victim in this story (this person wasn’t “good”, but still a victim) that was robbed of that and there was really no reason for it. It’s like they just threw it in there because the writers wanted as much death as possible or something. I was a little perturbed during the last couple episodes because of this. 1.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: Scene cuts felt jarring at times, but I realized it was just the style. They would jump ahead and then backtrack to show the events leading up. The special effects are well done and the soundtrack, although it wasn't quite my style, is distinct and adds personality to the drama. 8/10

Entertainment Value: Now that I’m thinking about it, this drama really has Tale of the Nine-Tailed vibes. The plot is all over the place, it has interesting characters that bring a sort of charm to the drama, one lead is great while the other is terrible, and there is no chemistry between the leads. For me, this drama was a lot more fun to watch though. I never felt like dropping it. Although, I did get annoyed toward the end.
6/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 5/10. It felt like going to an amusement park and buying an overpriced, not-so-great souvenir. It was a fun time and the souvenir’s purpose, although underwhelming, is just to help us remember the good memories we had that day. I definitely would not recommend this if you want to watch a good romance and/or you dislike violence and gore. However, I would recommend it if you like watching Park Shin Hye. It’s the best acting I’ve seen from her.

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almost on par with LLTG

This review contains not only spoilers, but also huge ranting over the romance aspect of the show. I need to get it off my chest otherwise I wil combust. This couple has driven me insane. I am a really really picky viewer when it comes to chemistry - and they managed to nail it in every. single. way.

I almost dropped it during the first 4-5 EPs. Mystery/detective work/politics are not so much my cup of tea BUT the chemistry kept me going (+ the soundtracks also did). So glad I decided to continue. What a ride.. i laughed, cried, smiled, flipped the table, bit the couch and so on.

My most favorite part would be around EP6-7 until EP25. Yes - the slow burn. The perfect wonderful genuine top form slow burn. This is how it's done. I never went so this nuts since LLTG. Whoever is in charge of casting Yuxi and Enxi, i hope you are having a very very good day always.

The story is not flawless. Some editings are weird. Some plot lines dont make sense (or i might be too dumb to understand). Minor things here and there in this show might make me feel like hmm its not so good BUT once the soundtrack starts playing and the couple are on screen - nothing matters. This show is very good and they are so beautiful. They make me genuinely happy.

The supporting characters also have great effect on me. Esp Jing Lin.. my poor poor man. Bro wakes up and works hard every day. Madam Xu also works really hard while looking graceful and superior all the time. Idk why exactly did the 3rd couple have to die.. i got quite sad. Cant mention them all but each role really did a great job.

Yuxi and Enxi must reunite in a modern rom-com / melodrama / or just ANYTHING PLEASE. Do these two even know how much power they hold!?!

If you read until here, and you are a big fan of romance (esp slowburn), and you want a sign to start/continue this show, DO IT OTHERWISE YOU WILL REGRET. One of the best I've seen so far in terms of romance. I'll now end the review and go rewatch it.

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Good onscreen chemistry between main CP, but nothing special with the plot.

You Are My Lover Friend is a RomCom drama that starts with Zhang Xin Cheng as Jiang Shi Yan and Wang Yu Wen as Tang Yang. The main CPs were friends and buddies in high school who lasted through their university days, as well as working professionals.

No one believes they would turn into lovers, not even their besties and mothers.

Synopsis: Tang Yang and Jiang Shi Yan were high school classmates and have been close friends for ten years. After finishing school, they passionately pursued careers in bank credit review and new media communication. Tang Yang helped the families of military martyrs start businesses in her small loan job. Inspired by their perseverance, Jiang Shi Yan made a documentary about their stories, which gained widespread attention. Throughout this journey, the trust and understanding they developed during their teenage years endured various challenges. They blossomed into a sincere and beautiful love. They went from being classmates and friends to becoming partners, building a family, and facing life together.

My Reviews:
1. Nothing special in the story. It has been done so many times in Cdrama land.
2. I like the main CP because they are talented actors.
2nd CP is most adorable and funny, especially the 2nd ML
3. The third CP should not have been part of the story. There is no chemistry, and the actress must be younger than the guy.
4. The moms are funny, too.
5. Overall, it is okay. It took too long for the main CP to get together until the last 3 to 4 episodes. It was draggy, and I was annoyed to see it take so long.
6. It would be better with 24 episodes instead of 30, but their onscreen chemistry was good.

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I wish I could give this 100/10

My only complaint about this show is that 12 episodes is too few ? บ้านหลอน is a MASTERPIECE. EVERYTHING about it was well executed. Casting and acting, script, music, sets, colorgrading, camera angles, pacing of storytelling... EVERYTHING. Everyone from those who've been around from beginning to end, to those who joined the chaos for only one episode, did an incredible job of assembling what imo is the best non-romance series that GMMTV has ever released. This show is a masterclass in doing it *right*. PERFECTION.

And those who say this is "queerbaiting" have been inflating the meaning of the word. Even as a Polca I was able to watch this without attaching any romantic context to Home and Peach. Tay and New were given the challenge to act opposite each other in a non-romantic context, and they truly delivered. (Pang and her ??-ing notwithstanding ???) Like P'Dome himself said, their chemistry is just /insane/ ("through the ROOF!"), and so it becomes easy to read non-platonic insinuations between their characters, but I personally was able to put aside PeteKao (despite, yknow, Pete พีท and Peach พีช sounding almost the same when pronounced in Thai) and KaranAchi to see Home and Peach. Tay and New are talented actors on their own and they shine so brilliantly when put together.

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It is a good coming to age melodrama about friendship and community.

Wind Direction is a melodrama about growing up between Cheng Miao Miao and Li Si and their families in a small town where everyone knows each other. It starts with Sun Qian as Miao Miao, Zhai Zi Lu as Li Si, Liu Lin as Jia Dai Yu, and Tian Yu as Cheng Peng Fei.

The entire ensemble's acting was exceptional. At times, it was quite draggy as the plot unfolded, but overall, it was a great story about growing up as they learned how to maneuver over life's unexpected events.

Synopsis: 17-year-old Cheng Miao Miao and her brother, 16-year-old Cheng Ya Ya, were born in the No. 1 Oil production plant of Linqi Oilfield. Three generations of their family are oilfield workers. Their father, Cheng Peng Fei, is an otolaryngologist, and their mother, Jia Dai Yu, is a team logistics. The family moved from the northwest to the seaside base, Heping Town, in the late 1990s. Miao Miao, with a yearning for the outside world, pulled her childhood sweetheart Li Si and her best friend Hu Qiu Min, intending to use the summer vacation of her first year in high school to start the adventure of "going to Hong Kong to welcome the city's return to the motherland," but failed.
On the other hand, her brother Cheng Ya Ya went to the back mountain for archaeology. He was almost mistaken for a tomb robber. Mother Jia Dai Yu often felt worried, and the siblings began their high school life full of chaotic moments. Cheng Miao Miao fell into a friendship crisis with Li Si. In Cheng Ya Ya's class, a newly transferred student named Yuan Shan Qing is the daughter of a wanted criminal. Ya-Ya was the first to stand up and resist the hostility from all sides against Yuan Shan Qing. The children ushered in growth in the changes.

My Reviews:
1. Great acting from the entire cast and a good storyline.
2. It has so many twists that it was unexpected.
3. It also shows how Miao Miao, her brother, and Li Si dealt with life's difficult situations.
4. The community supported each other in bad times and good times.
5. It is a good tears jerker as well.
6. I give it a 7.5 rating.

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Same old story with wives, concubines, and offspring bickering at each other. Overly done

The Rise of Ning is a custom drama about wives, concubines, and their offspring bickering at each other. It has been done so many times with other Cdramas. It starts with Zhang Wan Yi as Luo Shen Yuan and Ren Mi as Lou Yi Ning.

I watched about 17 episodes, hoping the storyline would improve as it progressed, but it didn't. I am dropping it for the following reasons:

My Reviews:
1. The same old story that has been done with many other Cdramas.
2. I like Zhang Wan Yi; he is a good actor, but his character could be stronger in this drama, and his onscreen chemistry with Ren Mi could be better.
3. I don't like Ren Mi's acting ability. She has the same expression with many emotions.
4. It is draggy and slow. One cannot repeatedly take 40 episodes of the same type of bickering and jealousy.
5. I give it a 5.0 rating.

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A good action crime drama with many twists. Acting is okay not great but plot is good.

The First Shot starts with Johnny Huang and Wang Zi Qi as policemen in a Narcotics Control Bureau as they investigate, solve, and arrest the drug lords.

The plot is good, with many twists, but it is a typical role that Johnny Huang is good at. He has no range as an actor, and this type of genre best suits him. The bad guy was unexpected until the end.

Synopsis: Tells the story of Halan in the Northeast in 1997, before the establishment of the Narcotics Control Bureau. Faced with a sudden drug crisis, a makeshift elite team is assembled, each with their own strengths but clueless about the new drug... As they confront the ruthless drug trafficking syndicate and unravel their devious and bizarre drug trafficking schemes, they must also navigate the moral dilemmas of love and law and the tests of justice and humanity. They stand by each other and overcome all obstacles and challenges, forging a heroic legend of fighting evil and upholding justice.

My Reviews:
1. Good acting from the supporting cast; the two MLs did an okay job.
2. The story is good but needs to be clearer, and it takes too long to get to the bad guy.
3. There is good action and a storyline, but it would be better to do it in 24 episodes instead of 32. I watched in 1.5 speed
4. I give it a 7.5 rating.

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Inside the lives of female actors...

I am a massive Taiwanese Drama fan because I find them to be particularly naturalistic. By that I mean that the ACTING is rarely visible. The characters are played as true to life, rather that as tropey stereotypes or parodies of real people. There is an interest in telling true to life stories, regardless of the chaotic settings. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a whole lot of over the top stuff coming out of Taiwan - I’m looking at you Trick or Love! But even the OTT shows tend towards realism in the supporting characters. And this show, Born For the Spotlight, is a great example of the more naturalistic style, that I have come to love Taiwan for.
The gist of this is the real lives of female actors, be it washed up wunderkind or newbie wannabe. The story is set around the production of a couple of a tv shows and finally a movie, starring all of the female actors we follow. But the shows and the movie are background to the day-to-day interactions and relationships of these women.
Each episode manages to balance the perfect mix of comedy and pathos, in the typically realistic way, that I find TW-Dramas deliver. I personally, found no particular overall message or moral, for me, in this drama. But, despite the fact that their lives are completely removed from my reality, I found each of the characters VERY relatable. Angst, fear, despair, triumph, joy, and all of the day to day moments that each of us experience in whatever we are pursuing, are all laid bare, with each of these women. It is a satisfying watch from start to end.


*** Spoiler ahead***
My one irksome point is the undertone of portraying the youngest of the group as a kind of Lolita type. She uses her seemingly innocent sexuality to gain position and power. I do find this quite problematic. AS with any proper reading of Lolita as a character, we should be very aware of the power differences between Shih Ai-Ma (Emma) and those she interacts with. The power imbalance could have been more openly acknowledged, to make the portrayal more fair, BUT the positive here is that the assumption is; the audience is smart enough to figure this out for themselves.
Definitely worth a view! Highly recommended.

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Kill me, love me, just don't bore me

I knew nothing about Kill Me Love Me when I started it. The beginning intrigued me with a black-hearted prince and a tough as nails female assassin. It didn’t take long to figure out that they were both working on the same side in the first episode. If you are a fan of red flag male leads, you’ll be disappointed. If you are a fan of badass assassin female leads you’ll be even more disappointed. Honestly, this is the type of drama that I normally wouldn’t write a review for, but I promised myself this year I’d review everything I watched, so here goes.

What I liked/disliked:

I’ve liked Liu Xue Yi since Ancient Love Poetry and Wu Jin Yan since The Story of Yanxi Palace. The two had a nice chemistry whether adversaries or lovers. I’m not a fan of red flag leads, but have seen that most of the time they are a bait and switch and rarely stay villainous so I expected him to lose his fangs. I’m also used to badass female leads being defanged but was still disappointed when Mei Lin became pretty window dressing.

Baron Chen is a fave and even with his chocolate cupcake frosting hair, he was still handsome. The Crown Prince came across more whiny than menacing though.

I’m a sucker for bodyguards and Qing Yan was the pretty, loyal bodyguard I’ve come to expect. He proved his loyalty in an explosive manner moving him closer to the front of the line of dutiful bodyguards. No notes on him.

Speaking of baddass females, I had high hopes for General Yin, but found her to lack the gravitas and stage presence such a role required. Her one facial expression regardless of the situation began to wear thin. Also, her 180 on her love interest defied logic as well as her devotion to him. Apparently, getting laid made her lose not only her sense of independence but also her reason-at least for a time.

I didn’t mind the romping through the countryside for Jing He and Mei Lin but when the badly dubbed side characters later started taking center stage, my fast forward button or mute button came into frequent use.

The Xiyan characters were mostly useless. Prince Yue Qin could not have been more bland. The kooky Xiyan royal family and retainers were mind numbingly boring to me. Zi Gu looked and acted very, very young which made her relationship with grandpa Yan Emperor creepier than sweetly romantic.

The story went off the rails with the detour through Xiyan when the characters became bogged down in border trade talks after the natural ending to the drama. The writers vastly overestimated my attention span for ancient economics.

In the end, I did find around two-thirds of this drama entertaining, mainly because I enjoyed the performances of LXY and WJY. Despite the red flag transforming into a white flag and the assassin turning into a baker. 7.25 rounded up to 7.50

14 November 2024
SPOILER NOTES:



The most disappointing part to me was Mei Lin. She suffered and trained for 10 years to have her revenge. When the time came, she was shuttled off screen. This happens too many times in dramas. If anyone deserved to deal the final blow, it was her. Also, “If this is the price I have to pay for meeting you, I have no regrets.” Really?? Jing He poisoned Mei Lin with a poison that had no antidote. Who does that? Everyone knows the Puppet Master for assassins holds the antidote for compliancy. Especially a guy trying to prove he’s not a monster. So, she’s dying, suffered brutality for 10 years, didn’t get to take part in bringing down the Big Bad, and she has no regrets. Girl, no matter how rich or good looking he is, I’d have a list of regrets. When they took away her martial arts ability, I just rolled my eyes. Why can’t badass female leads stay badass to the end? And apply their lipstick only to their lips and not in the dip above them? If she was reduced to baking cakes and offering moral support she should have had time to check her lipstick in a mirror. But I’m not bitter. lol

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