#cw:kdramashii

[dramashii]

A blessing in disguised; CW: Destined

I wasn't really planning on watching this. I saw it in my homepage while scrolling for dramas to watch. I didn't even read the synopsis nor did I see any trailers prior to watching the 1st ep. I simply clicked on it because I saw it was starring Bai Jing Ting and that is enough of a reason. 12 eps later and I am really enjoying this. You can say I was destined to watch this.

God-Sent Marriage

Destined is 40-ep historical romance Cdrama starring Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi. It's about two unlikely people who got married because of a misunderstanding. Now, they have to embark this crazy journey together called marriage while also solving family, business, and political issues. I've actually only seen this trailer first and I thought this was simply going to be a light-hearted drama. However, this exists, so angst will also be involved in this series.

Bai Jing Ting's character Gu Jiu Si and Song Yi's character Liu Yu Ru are polar opposites. Gu Jiu Si is so chaotic and childish, and doesn't really have many worries as he is the only son of wealthy merchants. Liu Yu Ru, on the other hand, has endured many hardships since she was young because of this she has developed a calm and level-headed personality. Together, they are a match-made in heaven.

This drama is a feast to the eyes. The cinematography is great.

I am a sucker for dramas were the leads get married first and then they fall in love much later on. The first 12 eps are literally an embodiment of this trope. You get to see how their dynamics change from being strangers, to friends, and then to sworn brothers (iykyk). I like how they compromise and at least try to make their marriage work. Liu Yu Ru was supposed to marry her first love, but because of a misunderstanding, she married Gu Jiu Si. She lamented over the what ifs with her first love for one episode and then moved on because she knows there's nothing that could be done, and it's better to try to get along with her husband (which is fair and logical).

The romance is great as leads are both nice to each other. I also enjoy that for the first time in a long time, I actually see a family in a drama that enjoys each other's company. Gu Jiu Si's parents have a great relationship with each other, they love their son, and dotes on their daughter-in-law. It's refreshing to see this.

Another aspect of this show which I enjoy is the different views on marriage. Historically, marriage is a life sentence. At a time when women were mostly at a disadvantage this could be a death sentence. This is exactly what Liu Yu Ru's mother is facing. She has no choice but to be under her husband's whims. But Liu Yu Ru is different because she married into a family that respects the women's contribution in the household. Her mother-in-law holds an influential position in their family business, and even takes Liu Yu Ru under her wing. She guides her and introduces her to the world of trade. Gu Jiu Su is also supportive and encourages her to have her own dreams and ambitions, and not to be shackled in their marriage.

The biggest criticism I have towards this show is the villain. He's your typical villain with a sad backstory who hates the male lead because he wishes to have the life he has. I spoiled myself as to what his motivations are and I am simply annoyed. I wish he would go away but alas, this is not a drama without annoying characters.

But overall, this drama is everything I want in a romance drama. I've seen the trailers for the upcoming episodes and the angst fest will begin. Hopefully, it will still be as good as the 1st 12 eps.

[dramashii]

A Haunting Tale; CW: Revenant

There are 3 things that usually makes me want to watch a drama: 1. The actors. I have a list of actors and actresses whose dramas I will watch regardless of the genre they're in. 2. The writer. If I liked a writer's previous work, I'll probably check out their next one. 3. The plot. If the synopsis catches my attention, I'll probably check out the drama.

It's not often for me to see a drama which has those 3 things together. But the kdrama, Revenant does. It's starring actors I admire and is written by Kim Eun Hee, the writer behind Signal and Kingdom. When I came to know about this, I knew I needed to see it. I have watched the 1st 12 eps and this is interesting.

Revenant is a 12-episode thriller, horror kdrama starring Kim Tae Ri, Oh Jung Se and Hong Kyung. It is about an evil spirit possessing Kim Tae Ri's character, Ku San Young. This leads to mysterious deaths surrounding her. The trio will try to make sense as to why these deaths occur.

There's a trigger warning before each episode begins because the death scenes are pretty graphic.

I don't normally watch shows of the horror genre because tbh I easily get frightened, but I actually didn't get scared that much with this. To my surprise, I watched this show without pausing that much which I often do when I watch anything of the horror genre. But then again, I made sure to watch the eps when the sun was already out (I'll probably never watch this at night lol) There were moments that have an eerie and creepy feeling to them. There were jump scares and scenes that made my heartbeat go a little fast. The first scene of the first episode was already pretty intense (to me) and I think definitely set the tone of the drama. To me, the second episode was creepier than the first.

The show is pretty fast-paced which makes total sense as this will be only 12 episodes. A lot has happened already. The first 2 eps have revealed most of the motivations of the main characters. There's even a little snippet of how the demon have come into existence. Curious to know more about the story of the demon tbh.

The actors and actresses are good in their respective characters. I also enjoy how the plot has cultural relevance to it. Oh Jung Se's character, Yeom Hae Sang is a folklore professor and so, there are mentions of folklores.

Overall, this drama is okay. I'm really curious about how the story is going to go. I just hope this doesn't drag and stay as interesting as it is. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope this gets even creepier.

[dramashii]

This is Enemies to Lovers; CW: Till the End of the Moon

Youku is on a roll with its fantasy dramas. Earlier this year, The Starry Love aired and that was a hit. This time, I have watched the first 10 episodes of the recently premiered Till the End of the Moon and this is really exciting so far.  

Till the end of the moon is a 40 episode drama starring Bai Lu and Luo Yun Xi. The pair have starred previously together in a modern drama called Love is Sweet and I found them great together there. In here, they play star-crossed lovers. Bai Lu's character, Susu is tasked to go 500 years back in time to kill Tantai Jin, the Devil God/Lord played by Luo Yun Xi to prevent him from annihilating the world. Because of this, a 3-lifetime love story starts.

Everything about this drama just screams budget. The costumes, the CGI, the set designs, the styling, all have been invested on which makes this show visually stunning.

The plot has been moving really quickly, but not to the point that it confuses its viewers. The first episode, itself was jam-packed. The show has been utilizing the constraint of 40 eps. There won't be a part 2 anymore, rather the watching time has been increased from 40 minutes to 55 minutes. I do not know yet if this is going to benefit the drama in the long run. To me, there are dramas that are better suited to have more episodes because of the complexities of their plot lines. I haven't read the original novel which this drama is based on, but I know it was long. Hopefully, they chose the best parts for this adaptation. This is going to be really angsty based on the trailers released. There is an enemy-to-lover situation going on which I'm definitely here for.

There are no boring moments when the main leads are on the screen. There are 2 other couples whose love stories are told in this drama. I will admit though, I do not care about them. For me personally, they're not interesting enough. When these other couples have screentime, usually I'm just counting down to the next moment when Bai Lu and Luo Yun Xi appears, because they're both literally the best part of the show.

This drama is a feast to the eyes, but the main highlight for me is definitely the portrayal of the main characters. Luo Yun Xi especially is a scene-stealer. He just fits playing Tantai Jin so much.

The eyes. That menacing look.

Tantai Jin is such an interesting being. The first few eps have really built the motivations of this character and viewers get to see a glimpse of understanding as to why he acts the way he does. He kind of reminds me of Dongfang Qingcang; he's the villain you want to root for. I do think Tantai Jin is more evil. He was literally born with an evil bone. Just when you think he can be redeemed, he does something absolutely sinister and he's not even sorry about it (unless of course if it's with the female lead lol). I've always believed that villains are the more fascinating love interests because they always do the extremes. Love for them is synonymous to obsession. I cannot wait to see how Tantai Jin go crazy for love.

Bai Lu's character is okay. Personally, I find her too cheerful sometimes for someone who literally had to go back in time to murder the perpetrator of the world’s destruction. I think she's not suspicious enough, but then again who can resist a villain with a tragic backstory (I can't.). So, can't really blame her. Bai Lu's portrayal of her is also fine. I really like how they style her. The headpieces are so pretty. I have read comments criticizing her use of a dubber. This is not really off-putting for me.

This drama isn't perfect, but overall, this drama definitely has potential. If this drama stays consistent as it is now, with it’s great CGI, styling, promise of an epic romance, and acting, this is going to be a fun and angsty ride. Can't wait!

[dramashii]

A Journey to Finding Yourself; CW: Meet Yourself

One of my biggest fantasies in life is to live in a town far away from the city, surrounded by fresh air, beautiful scenery, and people that do not know me. Meet Yourself, a Chinese contemporary drama starring Liu Yifei and Li Xian is helping me live out that dream. I have watched the first 12 episodes and I am really enjoying it. 

This drama is about a woman who has just experienced a tragedy which makes her evaluate her choices. She quits her job and decides to go on a 3-month trip to an agricultural village to find peace and quiet. In there, she meets all sorts of people and learns some lessons along the way. As this is a drama from the minds who wrote Find Yourself (2020) and Go Ahead (2020), you’ll find familiar themes of family, friendship, work, love, and finding one’s self.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the drama will cause an increase in tourism in the area because the cinematography of this drama shows the best views of the town. Not only that, the story also features the rich culture and history of the community.

The pacing is really good. Although Liu Yi Fei and Li Xian are the main casts, their story is not necessarily the focus all the time. The side characters are interesting and feel so real. Their respective stories tie really well with the main plot.

If you're watching this for the romance, it’s very slow burn, but I personally like it. Unlike most dramas with similar set ups of a city girl and province boy falling in love, Liu Yifei’s and Li Xian’s characters do not start off in the wrong foot. This isn’t hate at first sight which I find really refreshing. They’re both really nice and kind to everyone.

The only downside I can think of is that the subtitles don’t get release the same day as the episode airs. I wished I would have waited until more episodes aired. I’m not a binge-watcher but I can really see myself watch this in one go. I really like the relaxing and comforting vibe of the drama. 

Overall, right now this is a really solid drama: beautiful cinematography, great soundtrack, great story, and good acting. Hopefully this stays as fun as it is. 

[dramashii]

CW: Time and Him are Just Right

I'm always down for a youth drama. So, when I saw the poster of this drama in my iQiyi home page, I decided to check it out.

Time and Him are Just Right is a 25-episode Chinese drama. It follows the typical formula of youth dramas where we have two unlikely people: the male lead being cold, and straight-forward while the female lead is bright and enthusiastic, fall in love. This show follows their adventures as they go through their youth together.

Not going to lie, I disliked the first 4 episodes a lot. The antics of the female lead to befriend the male lead gave me secondhand embarrassment.

It made me cringe.

But I persevered and it paid off in the long run. 19 eps later, I learned to enjoy the chemistry between the leads.

Who could when they give us scenes like this.

Unlike a lot of youth dramas, the main couple here are actually both smart. There's no academic rivals tension going on between them, rather they help each other prosper in their own respective paths. I really like that.

This show doesn't really bring anything new to this genre, but it has everything I love in it: the friendships, finding your own directions, making mistakes and learning from them, the sweetness of first love. It literally takes me back to memory lane. It also portrays common problems young people often encounter which makes it very relatable. There are life lessons, and although shallow, I think any age group can appreciate it.

[dramashii]

The Way Back to Love; CW: Road Home

The truth is I love second-chance romance stories. I’m there for the angst and the pinning; the long stares full of unspoken words; and the inevitable reconnection. As they said, love is sweeter the second time around. And so, when I heard that Jing Bo Ran and Tan Song Yun are starring in a Cdrama as ex-lovers that gets a second chance in love called Road Home, I knew that I needed to see it. I have watched the first 15 eps, and I have mix thoughts.

For me personally, the best part of these second chance love stories is the angst. I’m definitely on board for that slow-burn romance development. But in the case of Road Home, I actually prefer the parts where they’re being cutesy.  The angsty part didn’t even last that long (to my disappointment), and it felt like their initial issues was just swept under. 

I have read a lot of praises about how the leads capture the look of longing. I get it.

I just find it really awkward when this sort of scenes is always done in slow motion, in 5 different angles for at least 20 seconds with a melancholic background music. I understand the creative reason behind it, to let the viewers know that they miss each other, but it gets tedious watching it once in a while.  The production team must like to drag out scenes because there are even some cutesy scenes that are like this too. There is some editing done in the show that is definitely not my favorite. 

I do love their scenes in Xining. The snowy setting is absolutely beautiful and I wish they filmed more scenes there. 

Another best part of the show is Jing Bo Ran’s character. He just looks and play the part so well. I can’t imagine anyone to play Lu Yan Chen other than him. Tang Song Yun’s character is also a girl boss. Together, they make me feel so single. 

In essence, I think this is an okay drama. I understand where the criticisms are coming from: the drama being too slow and boring. In my opinion, I do think the first 4 eps were a drag, but naturally dramas like this are supposed to be slow. This isn’t a makjang drama with twists left and right. This is a story about two people finding each other again. There are obviously barriers in their love story: their pasts, their families, their respective backgrounds, work etc which I supposed adds flavor to the story. You can say it can be unrealistic sometimes but it’s not really over the top.

Overall, the acting is good, the chemistry between the leads is there, and if you’re watching this for the romance, you will get served. 

[dramashii]

The road of being a lawyer is not an easy path; CW: Joseon Attorney: A Morality

There are more than one historical Korean Dramas airing right now. This is like the third one I know. I haven’t seen Woo Do Hwan in anything for quite some time and I’m curious about Bona, so this has always been something under my radar. I have watched the first 2 eps and I think this has potential. 

Joseon Attorney: A morality is a historical Kdrama slated for 16 eps. It’s about a lawyer in Joseon as he tries to navigate and unravel the mystery of an event that changed his life forever, and a woman with an interesting past. It’s heavily hinted that by the next episodes, they will be working together to solve cases. 

The first 2 episodes are fast paced. Viewers will know exactly what the motivations of Woo Do Hwan’s character are. Unlike dramas that drag on this mystery, by the end of ep 2, viewers will know exactly why he acts the way he does (non-spoiler first impression post, so you’ll have to watch it yourself).

Bona’s character on the other hand as I mentioned has an interesting past. It’s not really a spoiler anymore when there are teaser videos and pictures showing that she came from a noble lineage. Honestly, she looks the part so well. Watching her, I kept whispering. “Wow, she’s so pretty”. 

To a certain degree, this is built like your typical Historical Korean Drama. It adds nothing new however, I personally think this is better than the others which are airing right now. There are some serious themes like politics which is a major player in the plot. However, there are also some comedic scenes headed by Woo Do Hwan’s character and his side kick which is quite refreshing. He balances his different personas really well. He can be intimidating when he needs to, but he can also be funny. 

I kind of find the two main leads cute together. I’d say they have the opposites attract kind of trope going on where the main female lead is kind while the main male lead is manipulative. Typical, I know. But looking at them together on-screen is a feast to the eyes. I should mention that this is going to have a love triangle. 2 men will be fighting for her heart. 

It’s still too early to tell whether this drama will be good. But if the pacing stays the way it is, the romance develops well, and the everything gets tied in by the end, I think this will be a good drama. 

[dramashii]

CW: Unchained Love

I’m always craving to watch a costume drama. So, when I heard Unchained Love, a historical Cdrama was going to air before this year ends, I knew I needed to check it out. 

I have watched the first 10 episodes and so far, I can say that this is built like a typical historical romance Chinese drama.

We have a male lead with a broken past and his entire existence revolved on getting revenge. Then he meets a woman that completely changes his world. This said lady is happy-go-lucky, a contrast to his dark and brooding personality. They will fall in love against both their better judgments, and will probably go through many trials because of it. This is a show we’ve seen before. 

Typically, watching shows like this requires a person to turn off the logical part of his/her brain because of its many irrational scenes. This drama is no different. There were times where I had to scratch my head because of the actions of some characters. There were also some inconsistencies.

I will be honest, I didn’t expect that there would be this much comedic undertone in the drama. When I watched the trailer a few months ago, I thought this was going to be more serious. Definitely was caught off-guard since my expectations going in the drama were different.

Production wise, it isn't bad.

Regardless of my criticisms of the show especially with the writing, I will say that Dylan Wang matches playing mean and audacious characters. He plays another anti-hero here, but I don’t care. He does these heinous things so well. This is probably the saving grace for me of the show. 

I don’t really like the main female lead’s character. She’s portrayed as this smart woman but really, she’s nothing special.  The acting doesn't help my opinion with the character either.

I don’t like it when the main couple falls in love for no reason. Usually, I don’t think too hard about it, but when there’s not much that’s entertaining in the show, I will start to nitpick on everything. I don’t feel the chemistry between the leads. I’m still in episode 10 so maybe they will be able to make me change my mind. 

Since this show is going to air for 17 days straight (not much waiting time for me); I just recently renewed my subscription for iQiyi, and I’m in a month-long vacation from school, I’ll probably stick around to see how this goes. Hopefully, the writing won’t go to a point where clicking the next episode will be torture. 

[dramashii]

Love blooms at the most unexpected places; CW: Our Blooming Youth

Honestly, I went into this drama blind. I didn’t watch any teasers, nor did I read the synopsis until I finished seeing the first episode. I simply chose to initially see this because it was Park Hyungsik in a costume drama. That in itself was enough to get me on-board. I watched the first 4 episodes and I have mixed feelings.

Our Blooming Youth is a 20-episode historical drama starring Park Hyungsik and Jeon So Nee. It follows Jeon So Nee’s character, Min Jae Yi as she tries to clear her name and unravel the mystery of her family’s death, at the same time solve the “curse” that has been plaguing the crown prince, Yi Hwan, Park Hyung Sik’s character.

This feels like a typical historical Korean drama in a sense that it’s messy and political. But it’s not too serious (at least the first 4 eps are). It actually gives me sort of Love in the Moonlight vibes (maybe it’s the cross-dressing) which kind of threw me off because it wasn’t what I expected it to be. Through a little Google search about this drama, I found out that this is actually an adaptation of The Golden Hairpin, which is a Chinese novel. There is actually a Cdrama of the same name which haven’t aired because of some problems surrounding the production (you’ll know when you search it). I remember watching the trailer for the Cdrama, and thought it was going to be dark and epic. The Korean adaptation seems to focus more on the romance, which honestly I don’t have an opinion about yet. There’s not much development in that department so far. I get that creative choices have to made since this is only going to be 20 eps, in comparison to the Chinese one which is slated for 60 eps. I like how they kept the mystery aspect; the crime-solving through the use of autopsies is also a nice touch. I will say that the beginning of their love story is messy so I wouldn’t be surprised if later on, when everything is revealed, this will become even messier. Trust seems to be a fundamental theme in this drama, so that will be interesting to see when all hell will break loose.

Individually, I really like the main characters. Jae Yi is smart and strong. She’s also very persistent and I like how she treats her servant (yes to crime-solving female duos!!!). I actually haven’t seen any of the dramas by Jeon So Nee, but seeing her in Our Blooming Youth, she’s okay. Park Hyung Sik, on the other hand, I’ve seen every drama of his since High Society. I personally think he’s one of the few idol-turned-actors that are actually good at what they do. His character is okay so far. 

There are things that always get lost in translation. I genuinely do not know why they decided Our Blooming Youth to be the English title. I feel like to a certain degree, titles have the responsibility of setting the tone for the whole drama, “Our Blooming Youth” feels too tame imo. In this drama, there are talks about murders and curses and they’re nowhere near anything blooming or youth.

Production wise, it kind of feels cheap sometimes. It’s not off putting to the point that it’s a deal breaker. But I wish they edited it better.

Overall, the drama is okay. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table. But since I haven't seen Park Hyung Sik in a costume drama in a while, will definitely see how this goes.

[dramashii]

Love does not grow at a fixed rate; CW: The Interest of Love

I couldn't fall asleep so I decided to try and catch up with all the latest eps.

I initially attempted to see this on its premier week, but my friend called me in the middle of watching the second episode, and so I just lost focus. Now that I no longer have any currently watching Korean drama in my list, I decided to get back on this. I watched the first 8 episodes, and if I can describe my experience so far with one word, it would be frustrating. 

The Interest of Love is a Kdrama starring Yoo Yeon Seok and Moon Ga Young. It follows a messy love affair between 4 people in a workplace. 

When I first heard the drama was set in a bank and the title was The Interest of Love, I thought to myself: “That actually makes perfect sense”. Interests and banks are often hand in hand with each other. We put money in banks, and the price of putting them there (or lending it) is called interest. It might seem corny or on the nose, but I think it’s a great nod to the setting and it perfectly summarizes the drama: the payment of love.

For me it’s actually the recurring question in the drama: “How much are you willing to pay for love?” The drama shows the attempts of 4 people in a messy love square answering it. 

The drama is actually interesting to me. There’s so much symbolism involved which makes me analyze everything in different angles (maybe I’m just overthinking this whole drama lol). The main characters have a lot of layers in them which makes watching them intriguing. The drama largely talks about classism which is very prevalent in society. A lot of times, how people treat you depends on how much money you have. The drama portrays many different situations where this is the case. The characters involved in that love square depicts different social classes, and so you get to see how differently they react to common situations. 

I do understand where the criticisms are coming from. Like I said in my first paragraph, this drama is frustrating. A lot of the problems in here could be solved if people would just sit down and talk. There are so many hesitations and assumptions between characters that as a viewer, just exasperates me. If the characters spent less time looking at each other from a far, and more at being honest they wouldn’t be in this knot in the first place. Not to mention that the drama also brushes on toxic working environments, there are a lot of characters to dislike here.

I also don’t really see that much chemistry between the main leads for some reason, neither do I like their characters individually. I find myself rooting for the second male lead a lot. 

I’ll probably just continue to watch this just to see how far all of them will go. 

[dramashii]

CW: Love like the Galaxy

There’s something about Tencent S+ dramas this year because they’re serving visuals.

The production value is amazing.

I binged watch the first 12 episodes and honestly, I’m quite conflicted. Not going to lie, this is one of my most anticipated dramas this year. I was a big Wu Lei fan, and I had seen almost all of the dramas Zhao Lusi starred in and so this was in my radar ever since it was announced.

I enjoyed the first 8 episodes. I liked the comedy aspect of the show especially the antics of Zhao Lusi’s character, Cheng Shao Shang. Zhao Lusi just feels so natural with her comedic timing.

I saw that there were many criticisms with the pacing, but honestly, I didn’t mind it. It showed the backstory of the characters especially Cheng Shao Shang, and why she behaved the way she does. No spoiler, but she had a rough life. I understood where she was coming from. Her family was a mess, and there were many annoying people there but I didn’t mind the focus on the drama. There was one particular family member I was bothered the most though.

I think my biggest criticism of the show, which doesn’t really hamper my viewing experience ( I don’t mind it that much) is how the drama is plagued with so much tropes especially with the scenes where the main leads are the focus.

It’s cliche. It just felt like every other historical dramas with better production which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it’s done well.

Nonetheless, I’m going to continue watching this to see what more it has to offer. I did the wrong thing by watching the spoilers for the upcoming episodes next week. Needless to say, this is going to be angsty.

[dramashii]

CW: Seishun Cinderella

I don’t usually make a “currently watching” post for every drama I watch, but since I don’t usually watch on-going Japanese dramas, I decided to make a post about this.

Seishun Cinderella is a 10 episode miniseries. As of writing, there are 3 episodes out. Each ep is less than 25 minutes long, so it won’t take up so much of your time. The drama is about a 29 year old beauty consultant that got traumatized so bad by the rejection of her high school crush that it still haunts her years after. Because of an event that triggered this trauma, she travels back in time and becomes a 17-year-old high school student again, but this time she lives a different life. 

In the beginning, I did have some reservations starting this. I have a rule where I don’t pick up an on-going Japanese drama unless there have been at least 6 eps out already. I’m just not patient enough for their 1 ep per week format. (I can handle two eps per week but I draw a line with one ep per week. LOL) But since I am not watching that many currently airing dramas, I decided to go for it and watched the first two episodes during my short school break last week.

 I find the drama okay. I try to make this a non-spoiler review or first impression post, so I’ll just say that based on the episodes so far, I think her HS crush is either really a jerk, superficial, misunderstood, or just plainly oblivious. There are some scenes that make me cringe especially with how much of a doormat the main female lead can be sometimes. I get second-hand embarrassment when I see her being like that. 

There are a lot of pretty people in this drama. I will be honest, I first clicked this because I found the main male lead really handsome. I first came across him in the Jdrama, Animals, and I just felt like I needed to see more of him. The main female lead, for some reason, also reminds me of Tzuyu from Twice.

There’s probably a moral lesson here somewhere about beauty, friendship, finding one’s worth etc. This is based on a manga. I haven’t read it yet though, but I think I know where this is going. In short, this feels cliche. But then again, I live for things that are cliche. K

[dramashii]

An Extraordinary Drama about an Extraordinary Person

I started a drama on a whim last night and it was pleasantly surprising. That drama is Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

It’s about an autistic lawyer and her efforts to find a place in the corporate world. I have found Woo Young Woo incredibly endearing. The moment she first appears on screen in her whale-themed room, I knew I was going to enjoy getting to know her character. 

The show is funny and incredibly heart-warming. I was smiling so much throughout the first 2 episodes. What I love most about it is that it sheds light about autism in a sensitive manner. It gives the viewers a rough understanding on how an autistic may behave and how their everyday lives may go about. The show also portrays the many prejudices against autism which leads them to get treated differently. Some people often forget that those who have autism are people too. They just process things differently. 

But then there are also people who are incredibly understanding and doesn’t discriminate; who gives opportunities to people like Woo Young Woo. 

I also appreciate how the show tries to be very inclusive. Not only does it have an autistic lawyer as the main character, the individual stories which is tied in to the cases she handles are also timely in today’s social context. In the first 2 eps, the show has touched on the topic of domestic violence and the treatment towards lgbtq+. 

I’m actually looking forward as to how the show will go from here. My Wednesdays and Thursdays will be interesting. 

[dramashii]

CW: Immortal Samsara

I’ve been watching Cdramas as they air for a while now. One thing I’m still not used to is how unpredictable their scheduling can be. Announcements for air dates sometimes happen 3 days before the actual date. Sometimes they don’t even make announcements at all and automatically drop the first few episodes without any warning. In the case if Immortal Samsara, Youku announced it hours before airing the 1st episode.

I wasn’t exactly expecting to watch this so soon. But life is full of surprises, this is an example of one of those.

I have watched the first 13 episodes and I can say that so far this is built like a typical xianxia drama. It follows the same premise. We have a bubbly female lead who has no care for rules, and we have a rigid male lead who has the greater good of the world in mind always.

Then, because of circumstances, they fall in love against their better judgment, and they go through hell because of it. Most of the time, hell is composed of many lives. So far, we’re still seeing which I believe is their first one.

It’s a variation of a story I’ve seen multiple of times, but I don’t care. I haven’t seen any xianxia dramas this year, so by default, I was always going to check this out. The drought made me thirsty. 

I don’t really have that much major criticisms about the show. The first few eps didn’t draw me in. I didn’t really like the initial set up and found it corny sometimes. But as the story progressed, especially the part after the war, it got interesting. It’s still cliche, but I don’t mind. Truthfully, I didn’t like Yang Dan, Yang Zi’s character in the beginning, but she grew on me later on. I still find her annoying sometimes but it’s tolerable now.

Also, in this drama is a trope I dislike the most: the scheming, jealous, girls that constantly sabotages the main couple. I hate them so much, and the fact that one of them is Yang Dan’s sister, annoys me even more. 

I like the ost that’s released so far. The costumes are just okay for me. Visually, it’s not my favorite production. There are some beautiful scenes and I love how it’s colorful and bright. 

Just look at it.

Beautiful.

But there are some scenes where the CGI effects are so obvious where you know that the actors and the actresses are just standing there behind a green screen. I think if we’re talking about strengths based on effects, the drama does better when they’re doing full-on CGI.

The most surprising for my experience so far, is how much I enjoy Cheng Yi’s character, Ying Yuan. He’s the typical cold main male character you often find in almost all xianxia dramas but I think what attracts me to him is Cheng Yi’s interpretation of the character. I initially kept track of this drama because of Yang Zi, but this made me want to check out more dramas of Cheng Yi. 

The eyes. He looks so good.

I actually have only seen him in one drama prior to this, in Love and Redemption. He looks so good in costume dramas.

Overall, I found it okay. Nothing revolutionary for its genre, but still watchable and enjoyable for me.

I don’t really know much about the original story this is based on, but from what I read, the drama writers have kind of deviated from it. Based on the drama trailer, and from the episodes I’ve watched so far, I think I will need to prepare my heart and my mind for the angst and the constant heartbreak. 

I’m pretty sure at least 2 of those 3 lives won’t have a happy ending.