Love Alarm

Episodes: 8 

Synopsis:

This short drama is about a world/society where you can no longer hide your feelings for someone. There is an app that has become the center of everyone's lives called "Love Alarm." It syncs with your heart and will notify the person you like that they have an admirer within a 10-meter radius around them. It changed the way people confess, date, get married, and so forth. This story follows around three characters that become very disenchanted with the idea of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. 

Review: 

       I saw a lot of hype on Youtube and the internet about this drama. I think a big part of that hype is that this drama is available on Netflix, which makes it easier for many populations to watch this drama or come across. Likewise, it is very short and quick to get through--targetting some of the main things that cliche Korean dramas go for: the poor female lead, the rich and arrogant male lead, the unselfish and loving second lead, and a lot of love drama. I really wanted to get into this drama and enjoy the fanmade videos online, and I wanted to also just relax and enjoy a standard/stereotypical Korean drama with the added twist of the "Love Alarm." 

         Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this drama. I feel that 8 episodes were too short to allow the audience to really get into it. It didn't even build the world and society very well considering it kind of reflected a Black Mirror-Esque dystopia. I wasn't sure how this love alarm really synced with your heart (did technology get that advanced by this time that feelings can be converted digitally? How was the app created? Why do people make a big deal about it if it is an app you can choose to download/not download?)

           I also did not enjoy any of the characters. I thought Kim Jojo was pretty shady for leading people on (even if their love alarm doesn't sound--that is still playing with a person's emotions). She consistently led her ex-boyfriend on from the first two episodes despite actively knowing she wasn't interested in him, was avoiding him, and was even kissing Sun Oh when she was still in a relationship. It just made her character seem kind of sleazy. It did mention in the first episode that the kiss between her and Sun Oh didn't mean anything because it was a "kiss without feelings." However, it really doesn't matter as much whether there were feelings present or not. It's just hard to watch when it was only the first episode and I wasn't attached to her or empathetic towards her. It also made me despise Sun Oh's character. Everyone is so caught up on the fact that the actor is a beautiful man...but the character he's playing, I'm sorry I cannot. He just seemed like he wasn't approaching Kim Jojo with the right intentions. It seemed that he was trying to keep his hyung to himself and that he was being selfish above all else. He seemed to be playing around with everyone around him. So it was really hard for me to see them act awkward around each other and flirt with one another after that incident. Like...I thought it was a kiss with no feelings? Then move on with your life? 

          But of course not.

          This is a Kdrama, and they end up dating. 

           I could not take their relationship seriously. I did not like the dynamics they had. I couldn't feel the chemistry very well. I have watched Kim So Hyun act in numerous dramas since she was a child actress--but her role in this drama was a huge disservice to her acting abilities. Everything felt stunted and a little too dramatic for my liking. And none of the characters were that likable! And I hated the way their society stressed so much on how the Love Alarm was harming people and hurting people who weren't getting liked. It just seemed so extreme with so little context about the world that they live in, how this app took hold, and then the context and influence it holds. 

             The second lead Hye Yeong aka Sun Oh's Hyung was probably the best character in this drama. He was genuine and the ultimate perfect package in that he is willing to wait for Kim Jojo, he takes his time to truly understand her, supports her decision when she decides to be with Sun Oh, and doesn't judge her through all the low points in her life. I think he honestly deserved better than to be pining for a girl that can't get over arrogant/narcissistic Sun Oh. 

All in all, this drama has shady characters with shady morals and a bad plotline/poor world-building. I do not recommend this drama to anyone...unless you're just curious.  

Parasite (Movie)

This movie was absolutely insane. If you haven't watched it, I would highly recommend it. I think it is best to go in blind (which was what I did), and so if you haven't watched it yet please do not read further!

          I am still not sure how I feel about this movie but I did enjoy it. The beginning started off feeling one type of way only to end on a fairly disturbing note. The entire movie had dark undertones throughout but it wasn't toward the end that this unsettling feeling started to take over. This movie is kind of a social commentary on class and class discrimination. The parallels and contrasts between a low socioeconomic family and a high socioeconomic family were hauntingly apparent, and it really made you question a lot of the things that were happening. I really enjoyed the metaphorical and symbolic aspects of this movie, and how they really played into the movie title of Parasite.

This is the one movie where I don't want to go in-depth as I believe it will spoil the experience for many. At the same time, I am still having trouble putting into words how I feel about this movie or what parts struck me greatly.
All in all, this was an intense watch. I enjoyed it. This definitely is living up to the hype.

Goodbye My Princess aka Dong Gong 东宫

                                              

TW: toxic/abusive relationship 

Episodes: 52 

Synopsis:

       This drama follows the beloved ninth princess of the Western Liang Kingdom, Qu Xiao Feng. She is an extremely happy, free-spirited girl growing up in the plains and without the rules and regulations many other noblewomen are faced with. She starts off with a crush on her mentor, Gu Jian, and attempts to rebel against the arranged political marriage she is to have with the Crown Prince of Li Dynasty. However, little did she know that this attempt to break free from this marriage, she would meet the "love of her life" and enter a tumultuous relationship with him.
         The man she meets unexpectedly is the fifth prince of the Li Dynasty, Li Cheng Yin. With a personal agenda of seeking revenge on the clan that killed his brother and gaining political footage in the power struggle for the title of the crown prince, he seeks help from his cousin (who happens to be Gu Jian--Xiao Feng's mentor!). He disguises himself as an ordinary tea merchant called Gu Xiao Wu and begins to work on winning Xiao Feng's trust. Xiao Feng is naive and extremely genuine in her friendship with Li Cheng Yin and it moves him greatly. He feels extremely guilty about tricking her along the way to seek revenge against her grandfather and grandfather's clan but continues to follow through with his political aspirations. The two fall in love with one another, and Li Cheng Yin manages to infiltrate Dan Chi, the kingdom ruled by Xiao Feng's grandfather, and even wins the trust and respect of her family. On the day of their wedding, Li Cheng Yin attacks and Xiao Feng is left to witness the death and downfall of her Grandfather and his kingdom.
         Betrayed and hurt, she is unable to recover from the betrayal and hurt. She discovers the mythical River of Oblivion and jumps into it in hopes of forgetting all that happened. Li Cheng Yin jumps in after her and the two end up forgetting these memories together. However, their fate continues as everyone around them continues to lie to them to allow for the arranged marriage Xiao Feng has originally planned to go smoothly. Li Cheng Yin becomes the crown prince and she is married to him. As the two completely forgot their past, the two butt heads, bicker, and face many other difficulties in their relationship. With time, the two slowly begin to fall in love but the memories of the past begin to resurface and catch up to the present. What happens then? 

Review:

Look at how beautiful the costume attire is!!

         I have a lot of thoughts in regard to this drama as I have found myself rewatching this time and time again. Each time I experience a spectrum of emotions and I often have conflicting feelings about the way this plotline is structured, how unhealthy the relationships are, and also what situation is best for all the characters. I do have to say that I really enjoyed this drama though. I loved the tragedy, the aesthetics, the dynamics between the characters, and so forth. I often characterize a drama as good or bad depending on their ability to make me emotional/make me cry/make me think. This series had so many tragic scenes that I was constantly in my feels; and with such strange character relationships and plotlines, it also made me think from a more objective, feminist standpoint. Regardless, from an objective standpoint, I want to talk about why I enjoyed this drama and also highlight why this show is so complicated and unhealthy to the characters and ways in which we can recognize it in our own personal relationships. With a critical eye into looking at this drama, I do question why I love it so much...but I guess you can say it's kind of a guilty pleasure!
           I was first drawn to this drama after listening to the OST playlist. The music is extremely fitting as it invokes sadness through the beauty and softness of the song. The lyrics are also often tied to the plot which made it more beautiful with every listen. Every time I listen to the OST I can't help but want to rewatch some of my favorite scenes in the drama. I don't know how anyone listens to "Casualty of Love" or "First Encounter" without wanting to cry. Not to mention, the aesthetics of this drama were amazing and it pulled on all my heartstrings! My ultimate decision to watch this drama, however, was after I watched a fanmade video that highlighted the entire plot of the drama. (I don't really mind getting spoiled, to be honest--often times such things make it easier to decide if I want to watch a drama or not, especially with limited time to do anything). I was intrigued by why there seemed to be so many deaths, sorrow, and intense emotions in this drama fanmade video. I came into this drama with expectations to cry, and it did not disappoint.
          Some of my favorite scenes are the most intense ones--filled with betrayal, grief, and anger. For instance, the scene at the beginning of the drama where he basically kills off her entire clan for his personal political reasons was so intense. The grief and betrayal that was felt by the female lead were so palpable through the screen. The acting is amazing because she didn't react immediately to him being the reason her family was killed off. She started off worrying about him, slowly piecing it together, and then freezing up at the realization before lashing out at him. The small details like this make the scenes so much more intense and the music was often haunting and chilling when paired with those crying scenes. Then there were those many scenes at the end where beloved characters are dying off and truths were unraveling.

            I do want to point out that this drama is based on an internet novel, and it is important to note that the male lead is actually written to be even colder and ruthless in the novel than how he was portrayed in the drama. In the drama, it appears as though he doesn't really want to hurt her despite continuing with his own political ambitions. However, in the book, he actively decides to ambush her Grandfather's clan on the day of their wedding and very clearly prioritizes his political ambitions over her. Regardless of the drama trying to paint him in a better light, this was the first drama that I watched where there was so much hatred toward the male lead character from the fans. Many comments talked about how men ain't sh*t, how Xiao Feng (the female lead character) can find someone better, and also why Gu Xiao Wu/Li Cheng Yin (the male lead character)  is the way he is.   

The casting for the female lead was very well-done as her appearance and child-like gestures at times draw the crowd in with her innocence. Her eyes, always filled with emotion and with how clear and sharp they were, also conveyed so much to the audience that made it easy for many fans to empathize with her and feel protective of her. While it was an impressive cast, I definitely felt like the female lead greatly out-performed her fellow castmates. Her acting, in comparison to the male lead, was significantly better and her crying scenes always hit me where it hurts. Li Cheng Yin/Gu Xiao Wu's crying, on the other hand, often felt a bit monotone as his expressions are always the same pained look. Even at the ending scene, his crying just felt strained and lacked emotion. It's hard to explain because he's crying and putting it all into it, but I believe acting is often portrayed in subtle gestures and through the eyes...and something was just a little lacking in those scenes. And I feel really bad for saying this because I have watched the BTS of this drama and he nearly passed out filming this crying scene. It's not to say that I didn't feel anything from his performance. Like it still made me feel things because of the storyline but I wasn't particularly moved by his performance. His acting in the intense jealousy scenes toward the end of the drama and his expressions during their cute, loving moments were on point though!

Now for the plot! From my personal experience and perspective, I struggle to understand why this romance and this love was so hard for Xiao Feng to let go of. Like it was so easy for her to move on from Gu Jian who has consistently treated her well throughout the drama but yet she couldn't move on from this toxic relationship with Li Cheng Yin--even after he kills her family and the people she cares about, even after he constantly subjects her to emotional pain and loneliness, and even after he has proven his selfishness over and over again. I think this drama did a great job in showing what an abusive relationship looks like where the girl keeps staying for the "good memories" and for the possibility it'll be better when all signs are pointing otherwise. At the same time, with the setting this drama takes place...she is in an arranged political marriage with him which means she actually CANNOT get out of this situation. It really makes you wonder about the struggles women in such arrangements endured back in history.

       Likewise, the intense jealousy Li Cheng Yin felt and the extremes he was willing to go to keep her by her side felt extremely abusive as well. He shows abusive characteristics in the way he isolates her from those she loves--and it's harder to see this than if we were watching a modern-day drama because in this drama he has reasons for killing off her family and her mentor, even if the reasons are self-serving and selfish.

But by him doing so, he doesn't just break her trust and betray her, he leaves her with no one but him, isolating her from a life she used to know. In a way, I agree with the general public that the ending is sad but that it is the only way this story could've ended. Knowing that this is a romantic drama and a CHINESE HISTORICAL FANTASY drama, there was no way these two would part ways and move on with their lives. Their fate would forever be intertwined, and so Xiao Feng had to die for this story to end. And I feel it is also the best form of punishment for Li Cheng Yin to live with that on his consciousness and reflect on the ways he's mistreated her both intentionally and unintentionally. I think it was also a really good sign that the audience enjoyed this drama but HATED THE RELATIONSHIP XIAO FENG HAD WITH LI CHENG YIN!! It shows that the audience is viewing this with a critical eye--where they enjoy it because it is an addicting drama but are able to recognize toxic patterns in the relationships. I love these changes, especially because a lot of us easily ignored toxic signs in dramas like Boys Over Flowers (which took place in modern times). This just shows that we are understanding what's for our entertainment enjoyment and what is okay/not okay in real life. I also really appreciated the mini epilogue episodes this cast made showing how their love life continues in their modern-day incarnations. In these mini-scenes, it shows a loving and healthy relationship between the two characters in modern-day--not reflecting anything like the relationship we saw in the actual drama.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed this drama! It definitely made it on to my favorites list of 2019.

However, I highly suggest that viewers pay attention to the trigger warning I have listed above and to view this drama with a critical eye! Just because a drama is well-made and has a compelling plot doesn't mean that certain aspects of abuse should be ignored! I wanted to acknowledge this aspect to provide some depth to this review as well as educate certain features of abusive relationships. I believe it is through dramas we can live multiple lives but we can also learn from dramas what we want in a significant other and what we do not!

Most of the audience have expressed negative opinions on the male character and on the relationship while still loving this drama! It is 100% okay to like this drama as long as we are aware of these relationship dynamics! This is still an addicting drama with many common drama components as seen in many historical dramas/Chinese dramas, and it is interesting that I'm pointing out these issues in this relationship dynamic when there have been many other unhealthy relationships portrayed in dramas. I wanted to highlight this as I do not condone this sort of abusive behavior in any of these dramas and especially so as this was taken to a more extreme level. At the same time, it also allows us to look back on other dramas where such features of toxic masculinity and abuse can be seen! It shows the growth I have had from watching dramas as pre-adolescent to watching dramas today as an adult. There are a lot more things I pay attention to, and I hope this gives this review an interesting take!

Fall in Love at First Kiss (Movie)

Movie

         I recently found out that there was a movie that was recently made based on the "It Started With A Kiss" plot. Now, I have watched as many versions of this story as possible. I've seen the Taiwanese drama, the Korean drama, the Japanese drama and all of their sequels. So when I heard that a movie was made based on this plot--best believe I was going to go and relive my middle school memories by watching it. This movie was so cute and it covered the main parts of the story. However, as it is a movie, it couldn't include everything. I think it is such a pity that this was a movie instead of a drama because the actors in this movie would've done amazingly in a series. Not to mention, their chemistry and romance was addicting and felt fresh (which is amazing considering that this plotline has been used numerous times in dramas across all countries). 

         As it is well-known the girl character is supposed to be "dumb" and below-average in many ways. While Xiang Qin still played that foolish girl who only focused on pursuing Jiang Zhi Shu, she also had more of a backbone in this movie version. It was really nice to watch her be able to say "I'm walking away from this" because she recognizes it is what she needs rather than focusing on what she wants. I think that was a great touch to this movie even though the ending clearly ends with the two of them together. In numerous other studies, Xiang Qin never really walks away on her own with that kind of strength and I really appreciated seeing that side of her character. I think it also allowed me to see her more as an equal and recognize the ways in which Zhi Shu respects her and learns from her rather than forcing the idea that he should be respecting her and learning from her. 

Super cute movie. The music was great. 

And I love that one quote where they ask: "what is the probability that the person you like also likes you?" because this was even portrayed in the OST lyrics that stated "I like you and I like my probability with you."

Another quote was her talking about how in her world, he will always shine bright but his world moves on even without her presence. The way she talks about him so full of pure love and respect allowed me to see her love for him as more genuine instead of infatuation (which I've suspected in previous dramas before). 

My ID is Gangnam Beauty

Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
Kang Mi Rae is a timid girl who grew up being bullied for being unattractive. After getting plastic surgery to become more beautiful, Mi Rae is trying to find her place in the world without being self-conscious of her face and plastic surgery and is still extremely timid in fear of being found out/bullied again. She starts her first year of university and people are very intrigued by her beauty at first and engage in friendly interactions with her to be her friend or romantic interest. However, the truth eventually starts coming out and people find out that she is not a "natural beauty." Immediately, she is called a Gangnam Beauty (a beauty who is only beautiful because of plastic surgery) and is bullied in numerous ways by students. While Mi Rae struggles to love herself as she wasn't accepted before or after surgery, she is able to find support and solace in her fellow classmate Do Kyung Seok. Do Kyung Seok remembers Mi Rae from his childhood and has always been drawn to her personality. He shows her that there is more to someone than appearance and is unwavering in his love and devotion to her as he supports her in her journey to find herself and love herself.

Review:

         I think this drama was a very cute, light-hearted watch. It definitely touched on a social issue that is faced in South Korea about the push for plastic surgery but also desiring the idea of natural beauty over "artificial beauty." The main character, Kang Mi Rae, is someone who has gotten plastic surgery to become beautiful and to escape her past demons of being bullied for being ugly. However, despite becoming beautiful, the past horrors still haunt her in college as people find out that she got plastic surgery and she gets called out for being a fake, a monster, and so forth. I really enjoyed the message that it was putting out and focusing a lot on being a good person, not being superficial, and finding acceptance and confidence within yourself. It was also interesting to see an actress get cast who has also gotten plastic surgery (and is very obvious that she has gotten plastic surgery) to play this role because it made it more real in many ways. 

            However, I did question the actress's acting here and there as I felt like there were other people who could've conveyed those feelings better than she did. At the same time, I also felt the "timid" character she had was confusing as it would shift weirdly from confident to being extremely timid to friendly. It wasn't just the actress's acting that I questioned as I also thought the male character's acting wasn't the best. Understandably, he wasn't an actor to start and is actually an idol. However, I think being an extremely attractive hero isn't enough to be considered a good actor. He had so little facial expressions it didn't seem to match the character he portrayed. It also didn't show the moral compass he held that well either. The character of Do Kyung Seok isn't what I'd want out of a K-drama boyfriend because he's so cold, emotionless, and yet acts out in ways that show how great he is. It just doesn't seem realistic and makes the character seem really one-sided. 

            The romance between the two was very cute though. I really enjoyed their dynamic and his unwavering support and acceptance toward her as she discovers how to love herself. The biggest driving factor of forcing the main character to come face to face with learning to love herself was the school bully, Hyun Soo Ah. Soo Ah is an extremely beautiful and likable girl who also suffered from insecurities that she kept hidden away. However, it was very clear that her insecurities were definitely manifesting in ugly ways and being released on to someone like Mi Rae. She also thrived off of the romantic attention males have toward her and wanted the girls to be her friend but never better than her. I wish they handled Soo Ah's character and situation a bit better. Did I like her in this drama? No. I would have definitely butt heads with this girl and attempted to put her in her place. However, do I empathize with why she lashes out the way she does? Yes. The girl has insecurities that are slowly shown and explained in this drama. However, she ended up getting scorned at in a similar bullying fashion when those insecurities/problems/unhealthy coping mechanisms came to life. They also never fully addressed her eating disorder which I feel like is also a big social issue that should be targeted--especially since Asian countries rarely talk about things of that sort in media. 

              All in all, this was a cute drama and I had a good time watching it. However, I do wish it could be better and I wouldn't go into this with high expectations for the acting, plot, and so forth. It is a very standard Korean drama following a very standard Korean drama formula. The social issues it targeted about superficiality and finding beauty within is always nice to see though. But do prepare to have your blood pressure raised when you recognize how childish these college students are for bullying Mi Rae and how they handle these issues. It's just frustrating with how incompetent and unempathetic they are when handling these situations.  

               

Ashes of Love aka Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost 香蜜沉沉烬如霜

Episodes: 63

Synopsis: 
        This historical-fantasy series is based on the novel called Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost by Dian Xian. The story starts off with the birth of our main character, Jinmi. Her mother, the Flower Deity, predicts that Jinmi would suffer a great love trial in the future and will die from it. Thus, before the Flower Deity passes away, she gives Jinmi an "unfeeling pill" to prevent her daughter from feeling and expressing romantic love. At the same time, she also requests the head leaders of the Flower World to hide Jinmi's identity as the Flower Deity and raise her instead as a little Grape spirit. 

         As a result, Jinmi grows up happily and naively. Unaware of her true identity, she believes that she is a little grape spirit with limited powers. She constantly wants to improve her powers so that she could bring her childhood friend, who died in an accident, back to life. Her constant search for prowess from stronger deities leads her to become entangled in a love triangle with the Fire Deity Xufeng and the Night Deity Runyu. Xufeng (aka phoenix) and Runyu (aka dragon/ or as Jinmi likes to call him: "xiao yu xian guan/little fish fairy) are both the sons of the Heavenly Emperor and both treat Jinmi exceptionally well. As Jinmi matures, learns about her identity, and also begins to learn to love as the unfeeling pill's effects fade, she finds herself stuck in difficult situations and making hard decisions in the name of love. 

Review: 

          This drama is absolutely beautiful and it definitely became one of my favorite historical fantasy dramas very quickly. I love dramas that spin-off of mythical stories, fantasy characters, superpowers, and so forth--as long as it is not done in a cheesy way. While some parts of this drama can feel a bit corny, the cinematography, acting, and character developments made it very pleasurable to watch. I watched this back in the winter but to this day I still listen to the official soundtrack on repeat and feel some type of way. I've also gone back and rewatched some of the emotional, aesthetic scenes to relive the feelings I had when I watched this drama initially. This is one of those dramas that has very intense, memorable scenes that stick with you long after the drama has finished. While I really enjoyed this drama, I still want to put out there that this drama may not be for everyone. It is a long series filled with multiple plots, characters with magical powers, and numerous worlds and realms (human world, demon realm, heavens, etc). If you enjoy dramas like Three Lives Three Worlds, this would fit your taste.
             The one thing that I really loved about this drama was that the casting for all the characters was so perfect and the acting was top-notch. I didn't expect anything less from Deng Lun and Yang Zi, but I was very surprised at the male second lead actor, Luo Yun Xi. Luo Yun Xi plays the role of Runyu, who is the first son of the heavenly emperor. His incarnation is a dragon and he has a gruesomely depressing backstory. His character is soft-spoken but with an ambition to rise higher and achieve more than what fate determined for him. The way Luo Yun Xi played this character--with softness and sadness in his eyes, confused brows from not understanding love, and eagerness and desire that consumed his spirit to take what should be his--it was absolutely stunning. He really showed how multi-layered Runyu is as a character and instead of antagonizing him, the audience learned to empathize and understand him while not fully agreeing with the decisions he was making.
              I also thought Deng Lun was an appropriate cast for the role of Phoenix (the second son of the heavenly emperor). The way Deng Lun's eyes are shaped give off the soft, sad look that one would imagine a phoenix would have, and his facial expressions and mannerisms give off the fire of one that would be able to rise from death. His acting was also extremely enjoyable and he made it so easy to love his character and root for him throughout the drama. He does play a more headstrong and impulsive character compared to the character of Runyu. However, it is that contrast that makes you recognize the pros and cons of each character and who is more compatible with Jin Mi. Now for Yang Zi playing Jin Mi: Yang Zi looked absolutely stunning with her long hair and costume attire. I think this was the drama where her outfit and aesthetic matched her beauty the best. Jin Mi is a very complex character that shows a lot of growth emotionally in the drama and Yang Zi did amazing portraying that. I have to say that she has to be the queen of crying scenes because every time she cried my heart would hurt.
              The chemistry between the characters was also all-around amazing. Friendships felt genuine and the romance felt passionate.  There are a lot of side characters so I won't dive deep into that, but they did an amazing job as well. I really enjoyed the side romances and friendships that developed throughout the drama. It was also interesting to see how good the chemistry was in the beginning of the drama because Jin Mi cannot feel romantic love because of this "unfeeling pill" inside her. However, that chemistry was undeniable and as the pill's effects wore off, that chemistry and passion only grew. I also loved to see the romance take on different stories such as the first meeting in the flower world/heavenly world, then experiencing a human trial in the mortal world, and then coming back to the heavenly world. It was just funny how many twists and turns there were, and they kept coming back to each other. At the same time, I really enjoyed the ending of both characters individually working to save the other one as fate forces them apart in the cruelest ways possible. This drama definitely gets sadder as it goes but it's so addicting!
             It is a very complex drama so this review could go on and on. Instead, I'll just list some favorite scenes and see if it matches any of your favorite scenes from this drama. This drama definitely has a special place in my heart, and I highly recommend this for anyone who wants their imagination to run wild. Also, it is currently up on Netflix under the title: Ashes of Love -- and you can find it on Youtube and other drama streaming sites as well. Check it out! 

Some of my favorite scenes: 
Episode 11: Drunk bed kiss scene

Starting from Episode 20-21: the mortal realm scenes are so cute such as:
- when she finds out the emperor is YaYa
- When she sees Runyu and says the exact same thing she said when she first met him in the heavens
- Ep 25: Phoneix pretending to be sick
- Ep 26: Asking her to be his queen
- Ep 28: The phoenix lanterns he set up for her; when Pu Chi and the Moon God uses the puppet curse on Sui He so that she would stop ruining things
- Ep 31: The puppet show and kiss -- so aesthetic!
- Ep 33: JinMi's mortal death
-Ep 34: The mortal realm wedding

Ep 32: The demon princess and Mu Ci's scenes
Ep 36: Phoenix and Jin Mi falling in love
Ep 38: "Are you not scared of going to hell?"
            "I am a god. I am not scared of hell. Just what you think." --- Phoenix, you have my heart!
Ep 57: Mu Ci and demon princess scenes are so cute and sad
Ep 58: Run Yu and Jin Mi's argument
Ep 59:  "你何必为了一只鸟，放弃天下所有的蛇，而投入一只龙的怀抱呢？"LOLOL Yan You (snake god) got me weak! [Translation: Why would you give up on the snakes for a bird and then go into a dragon's embrace?]
Also when Yun Xi acts as Yan You, very good and on-point acting
Ep 60: Wedding... FINALLY
Ep 61: Epic war

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传

Episodes: 87

Synopsis:
       Ruyi is from the Ula Nara clan and related to the previous Empress Yixiu. When Empress Yixiu falls out of favor and is locked away in the cold palace, Ruyi is thrown into harem politics. This caused problems with how she would climb to power, how she was supposed to continue loving her childhood love (the emperor Qian Long), and how she was to accustom to her new role as a concubine. Over the years, she survives many conspiracies that other concubines set up to drag her down. She remained steadfast to the role she was supposed to play while quietly supporting the emperor from behind. Time after time, she took on these trials and tribulations with grace and she worked to prove her innocence through sincerity and intelligence. Eventually, she climbs up the ranks to become Empress.
        During this process, her relationship with Qian Long slowly becomes irreparable as the two slowly lost trust in one another. Ruyi, despite remaining loyal and loving, became disillusioned and disappointed with the man she fell in love with as a young teenager. She also was becoming disenchanted with the harsh reality of life in the Forbidden City. This is the story of the life of an empress who rose to the ranks but yet left quietly. 

Review: 

      Every time I watch a drama about the loves and trials in the imperial harem, I end up becoming extremely invested in the relationships, the power struggle, and the manipulations/calculations. Powerful women are so addicting to watch--especially when every woman in the drama try to play to their own strengths and weaknesses. Harem dramas are often rooted heavily in self-preservation, power, and romance. To a certain extent, the imperial harem is a survival game. Who survives till the end? Who makes it through unscathed? Who has the power to live on in the living's memory? 

        So with that alone, I enjoyed this drama because it fulfilled what I was looking for at the time. But this drama is very unique in the way it was made and in the way it tied to the actual history in that our main character is one who does not fight for power or affection--but lives on the virtue of being a loving wife and being responsible. It is an interesting take on an empress who is historically recorded to have cut her own hair during an argument with the emperor, be treated coldly after, and not have a name/place in the burial grounds despite being an empress. It was also nice to see a  drama that portrays a woman of her virtue and calm demeanor. It made the viewers empathize with her struggles through subtle details. This drama was a very good example of how a drama can show and not tell.
        Let me start off with the pros. The acting in this drama was phenomenal. Every actor and actress brought their own charm to their characters. The emotional struggles that they went through often could be seen without dialogue. The acting with eyes in this drama was beautiful. Admittedly, the women in this drama (especially the main lead) did a significantly better job in acting compared to some of the male roles. There were times I was slightly disappointed with the blandness of Wallace Huo's acting as emperor. It wasn't necessarily that he's a bad actor but when he was paired up with such amazing actresses, the chemistry often felt lacking on his part. The cinematography was also beautiful in the way it captured the essence of living in the forbidden city. The costumes that the actors and actresses wore also often held a regal air to it. It was a very beautifully executed drama and you can definitely see that this drama had funding through the little details of the clothing, cinematography, food, objects, and so forth.
        It was also interesting how they painted another concubine in such a negative light--often scheming and power-hungry. It was interesting because this drama was broadcasted at the same time as Story of Yan Xi Palace. Story of Yan Xi tells a completely different story where the virtuous main lead was actually the concubine painted in such a negative light in this one. It also makes the character of Ruyi more evil, power-hungry, and so forth. It was two interesting takes on the same history and the same two people. It definitely provided a lot of food for thought. This drama definitely showed the ending of Ruyi as one that was rooted in disappointment toward the emperor. I thought it was a beautiful touch to show how Ruyi and the emperor grew up as childhood lovers, only to reach the end and find that they have become strangers to one another. That underlying love despite the growing disappointment and resentment toward each other was beautifully portrayed. There was a lot of nuance. 

          As for the cons, the drama did drag toward the middle as it focused a lot on how the emperor's children were often dying either from sickness or due to the power struggles within the palace. It felt like every two episodes was a repeat of previous situations where children died, mothers cried, and life moved on. Understandably this drama tried to capture the whole time. However, it got a bit tiring to watch as it felt very slow and uncomfortable. I also didn't like how they used the actors/actresses in the beginning episodes when they're supposed to be playing 15-16 year olds. The main leads are a bit older and more experienced in acting, so as the drama went on they fit their roles better with much more ease. However, when they had to play 15-16 year olds, it made me very uncomfortable because it just didn't seem to fit for those scenes.

All in all, this was executed very well. I would recommend this drama if you're looking for an imperial harem/historical drama. However, do prepared to watch it for a while as it has many episodes and it can drag here and there. 

Accidentally in Love

Episodes: 30 

Synopsis:  

Chen Qing Qing grew up with her wealthy grandfather in a privileged household. She desperately wants to avoid an arranged marriage and find love the way her deceased parents did when they were young. On the day of her wedding, she runs away from her hometown and heads out to enroll in the same college her parents studied at hoping to find out more about herself, about life and love, and also about their death. She changes her appearance and name in an effort to hide her true identity and to blend in with her classmates. However, blending seems to be out of the question when her deskmate in school happens to be the arrogant famous singer Si Tu Feng. She has numerous run-ins with Si Tu Feng and they often butted heads with one another. However, as the two get along and learn more about each other and each other's situations, they begin to fall in love with one another. 

Review: 

         This is everything a drama should NOT be. I watched this in a time where I just wanted to watch something that was light and did not require me to give much thought to the plot/characters. Thankfully this drama did fulfill that aspect in the sense that everything was predictable and the plot wasn't unique. The characters were also one-sided and lacked depth and growth. At times I even found inconsistencies in how the characters behaved or viewed things. It started to feel more like a guilty pleasure watch for me than an actual drama watch. I was only able to get through it by ignoring the cliche plot and exaggerated acting. 

           This drama basically used all of the tropes a romance drama would have had back in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This drama could have had a lot more potential to be better than it was. Unfortunately, it ended up being too cliche for my taste. I felt that if certain storylines and themes were developed more, such as the plot where the side characters were falling for each other (good girl falls for bad guy), this drama could actually have something to offer. I enjoyed seeing the inner turmoil and conflict between the side characters in their relationship but it never reached it's full potential and instead plateaued to end up as filler scenes. 

           The main couple also didn't have much to offer either as it felt as though they were very different from each other. They were always bickering and hiding things from one another. As it went on it didn't seem as though they were supportive of one another's life decisions. It was just hard to really invest in their love story when the characters felt so one-dimensional and flat. 

Definitely not something I would recommend to people. Not when there are healthier relationships being portrayed in dramas with better acting and better plots. 

A Love so Beautiful

Episodes: 23 (+1 special episode)

Synopsis:

The story follows a group of friends as they take on high school, college, and adulthood together. The main character, Chen Xiao Xi, is a warm and bubbly girl who doesn't like to study but has a passion for drawing and for chasing after her childhood friend and neighbor Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen is cold, intelligent, and structured and is often there for Chen Xiao Xi while appearing uninterested in her advances. As the two develop their relationship from friendship to love, they also make bonds with their friends who include competitive swimmer Wu Bo Song who actively pursues Chen Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi's best friend Lin Jing Xiao who is a beautiful, intelligent tomboy, and Lu Yang who is known for his boisterous personality and his undying love for Lin Jing Xiao. 

Review:

     This is a coming-of-age drama that reminds me a lot of It Started With A Kiss/Playful Kiss/Itazura Na Kiss as it revolves around an average girl who chases after a smart and highly popular boy. However, this drama was better in the sense that it was more realistic in how Chen Xiao Xi is more than just the standard "plain, below-average" girl and how Jiang Chen does have and can show emotions. Jiang Chen is definitely still distant and reserved but he shows his care, affection, and concern in a fairly noticeable way and it is often picked up on by the main character and their friends throughout the drama. Chen Xiao Xi does actively pursue after Jiang Chen but there were many scenes in this drama where she stands up to him if she feels upset, chases after her own dreams of being a cartoonist, and also maintains strong connections with her friends throughout the drama. This drama showed the importance of communication between lovers and friends regardless of how similar and different they are with each other. It also showed how it is okay to show emotions and to wear your heart on your sleeve. Showing emotions and being open about one's feelings is anything but a weakness. As a matter of fact, it was what allowed the story to progress and for the characters to grow individually and together. 

       I loved the simplicity in this drama. There are times I want to watch dramas that are intense and making me feel ten shades of emotions from happy to angry. However, there are also many times I come to watch dramas to destress, to remember simple times, and to also feel a bit hopeful about things working out and about life working out. This was the perfect drama to help me destress and also look at mundane experiences through a new lens. This drama world was basically a story of high school students growing up, taking exams, becoming better people, and falling in love. It is very standard in our day-to-day lives but this drama brings out the perfect blend of humor, nostalgia, and innocence.  

        Other than outstanding main leads that show both depth and character, the side characters also offer diversity to the cast and also help push the story along in positive ways. For starters, I want to talk about our second male lead, Wu Bo Song. He is genuinely a good person and a good friend and his complex character makes it easy to empathize and understand him. His love and support for Chen Xiao Xi is so wholesome and genuine. Likewise, he also shows how despite being in the same friend group as Chen Xiao Xi, the levels of friendship within the group differ and that they all work fairly hard to overcome individual differences. Her friends Lu Yang and Lin Jing Xiao also offered an interesting contrast in the way their relationships are, personality, and academic level. They were also genuinely good friends.
        Highly recommend if you want a drama that is positive, warm and breezy, lighthearted, and cute.

Meteor Garden

Episodes: 49

Synopsis: 

This is a remake of the classic Meteor Garden/Boys Over Flowers/Hana Yori Dango drama. It is the classic story of a poor, hardworking individual being placed in an academic environment dominated by wealthy students. She fights against the bullying and oppression enforced by the four wealthiest, most attractive students in the school--called the F4. And as she gets to know them, change them for the better, and grow with them, she befriends them and even falls in love with the leader of the group. 

Review:

I do not know if my taste has changed but this drama was horrible. Normally, I watch dramas that I want to watch and I enjoy them for the most part. Why watch something you don't want to watch? Right? So when I saw that a remake of the original Meteor Garden was coming out on Netflix, I was excited. That drama was a part of my childhood--with the bad hairstyles, the feisty interactions, the rags to riches plotline, and so forth. So I was excited to relive those memories but it was such a letdown. For starters, the plot for Meteor Garden/Boys over Flowers/Hana Yori Dango is extremely outdated and not keeping up with times. It portrays an unhealthy relationship that lacked trust and communication, and also constantly romanticizes abusive behavior such as harassing, physical violence at times, verbal abuse, stalking, and so forth. It is problematic in many ways and it is easy to hide those characteristics behind the mask of it "being romantic," of the girl "being clueless and naive," and of the guy "caring a lot about her and this is the only way he knows how to show it." 

           Back in the day, when the previous versions of this story were made, it was more acceptable. Many people were not as educated about abusive behaviors, manipulative tendencies, what makes a healthy versus an unhealthy relationship, and so forth. Times have changed. Those dramas were a thing of the past, and dramas have been changing for the better. There are now more strong female friendships, strong female leads, supportive male leads, numerous healthy relationships, and so forth being produced. So I hoped that this remake (especially since it is on Netflix) would not be a carbon copy of the original. I wanted the general gist of what made that drama so popular and addicting -- fancy elite boys and the idea of someone outside of that socioeconomic circle becoming a part of that world and the funny, feisty antics of two people from two different worlds falling in love...(also cute guys). But despite those, I also wanted to see a healthier relationship, strong friendships, growth with the times, and so forth. I wanted it to be unique instead of just the "newer version of the previous versions." But it did not provide me that satisfaction. Sure, some scenes were altered and there isn't much they can do when they're falling a manga plotline. But I'm sure there could have been changes to the script, to the way the characters are, or even to the way the characters grow. Let's just say it was a big fail starting from the fact that it did not keep up with the times and instead even further highlighted abusive behavior (more than the original dramas did). 

           In the other versions, the male lead has been seen to bully, throw things at the female lead (in the beginning), take the female lead's personal objects, hire people to scare her in all the wrong ways, and so forth. (All bad stuff!). But in this version, despite those things (as they're a part of the story), there was also that one scene on the roof where he corners her and displays violent behavior before trying to comfort her. It made me so uncomfortable. She was frightened and his behavior was inexcusable for the situation at hand. It is not sexy for a man to punch the wall right by the female lead's head, corner her, drag her around, push her around, throw things at her, and verbally abuse her. And I'm not even saying it was just the male characters in the drama that I found flawed and unhealthy. The female lead was no better as her character constantly caused misunderstandings due to her inability to communicate (despite being so outspoken about all the wrong things), failing to read situations (you can call it naive, I call it on purpose), and so forth. 

           Not only that, the acting wasn't even great. I have seen the actress for the female lead act in another role where I really liked her in (A Love so Beautiful) but this was not a good look for her. I found her annoying in this role. Dylan Wang (the male lead) is cute and I was enamored at first when I saw the trailer for Meteor Garden...but this role also did not necessarily put him in the most positive light from my perspective. The attractiveness of an actor should not excuse character roles that perpetuate messages of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation. I know they have the potential to do well and make it big from some scenes here and there, and also from other dramas I have seen them in. But this drama had overly cheesy acting, awkward dialogue, and affection that didn't flow well from all the bickering and abusive behavior the main leads would subject the other to. 

All in all, I did not like this drama and would not be recommending it to people. 

Feel free to watch it. But keep this review in mind so you can recognize the toxic behaviors early on as well. 

You are the Apple of My Eye (Movie)

Synopsis: 

This 2011 movie is a coming of age movie. The story began in 1994. Shen Chia Yi is a hardworking, intelligent student whereas Ko Ching Teng is a mischevious student. The two begin to interact when Ching Teng is caught masturbating during class and is reseated next to Shen Chia Yi. The two help each other in different ways, and Chia Yi eventually helps tutor him for exams and encourages him to study. The two experience many changes as they grow up, fall in love, get into college, fall out of love, and so forth. It was charming and wholesome in its own way, and it is a movie that definitely brings out a lot of nostalgia as you see how much the characters grow as people and the good memories that still follow them throughout life. 

Review:

I really enjoyed this movie. It was a perfect blend of comedy and seriousness. It demonstrated the lifeline of young love and the continuity of friendships that last into adulthood. It was both beautiful and wholesome, and it made me very nostalgic about how I would feel about my current friends when I am much older and moving on to a new stage in life. I did find the scene when they were "shooting handguns" [masturbating]pretty exaggerated and I was sitting there like "oh my god, what am I watching?" but I'm pretty glad that this was recommended to me. 

        It illustrated very realistic struggles that students in Asian countries often face. Their academics and college entrance exams are essential and many students are very stressed out. Shen Chia Yi is a fantastic student and extremely hardworking, but she did not do well on her admissions examinations because she felt ill (due to her period) and it affected what school she got into. It shows that tests are not necessarily a clear indicator of success or hard work; and likewise, it also showed how prioritizing on standardized examinations can lead to extreme stress and tying self-worth to their academic results. 

        It was also lovely to see how the relationship between Chia Yi and Ching Teng developed, and how they both learned a lot from each other in different ways. Ching Teng learned how to study and improve as a student while Chia Yi learned to enjoy life a bit more and loosen up. Even though their love story [spoiler alert] didn't have the standard happily ever after where they end up together, I think the fact that they separated for a while to come back to one another as friends who will always love and support one another is even more beautiful. To see the support her friends had for her in her future success and future relationship although they were all crushing on her in high school was incredibly heartwarming and an excellent example of how a healthy relationship-to-friendship transition is done. 

      I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to watch something that is light-hearted, and that pulls on your heartstrings.