The Last Immortal (2023)

Episodes: 40

Synopsis:

This drama follows Ah Yin, a divine water beast, and Gu Jin, the son of the true gods, who meet by chance and set out to find the immortal essence of Feng Yin, the next Phoenix Queen. The two are joined by Hongyi, the Fox prince of Demon Realms, and Princess Yan Shuang of the Eagle clan. They work together to maintain peace in the world and overcome obstacles along the way as the characters fall for each other. 

However, the little water beast is more than what her identity is believed to be.

Review:

I will watch any drama with Zhao Lusi in it, and “The Last Immortal” was no exception. The first scene with Ah Yin talking about her trials in the human world instantly hooked me because I sensed the angst was coming, and I’m all about that. The idea that she doesn’t remember her past but keeps hearing her own life story while stuck in a loop experiencing different human lives was enough to get me excited. I knew there was going to be angst, and I LOVE ANGST!

However, as I continued watching, I found myself a bit let down. The overall production felt low-budget, from the cinematography to the costumes. While it’s understandable not to break the bank on sets, there are certainly ways to create a captivating atmosphere without overspending—just look at “Yanxi Palace.” Unfortunately, “The Last Immortal” felt somewhat tacky, which detracted from the performances. I did love their OSTs - but if the drama isn't emotionally impactful, the songs don't hold as much weight. 

As for the casting, I’ll always be a fan of Zhao Lusi. However, this role seemed like a downgrade compared to her previous performances. I know many love her in cute, bubbly roles, but I prefer her angsty side as seen in “Love Like the Galaxy.” Even her innocent character in “A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College” had enough depth and ambition to keep me engaged. In contrast, I found this “innocent” character hard to connect with.

Wang Anyu's performance also left me wanting more; I've never been particularly drawn to his acting in past dramas, and the set design didn’t help. Li Yunrui was slightly better, but I couldn’t get past the tacky red and white furs they dressed him in. It’s tough to take the characters seriously when the visuals feel off. At least Zhao Lusi looked great in her outfits!

Speaking of which, those ridiculous furs on Li Yunrui were a choice—if they’d just dressed him in a sleek red fit, I could almost believe he was a red fox! I also look forward to the day he lands a lead role—he’s been the second lead opposite Zhao Lusi twice now!

Love like The Galaxy

Episodes: 56

Synopsis: Cheng Shaoshang (nicknamed Niao Niao) is a lively, strong-spirited girl who was left behind by her parents when they went to war. Growing up under the malice and ignorance of her aunt and grandmother, Shaoshang leaned into her strengths to fight back in secretive ways and also learned to build herself up to be independent. The story begins with Shaoshang living in a rural village with limited resources as a form of punishment from her relatives for misbehavior. With her parents returning home from war, Shaoshang is brought back to the manor with high hopes her parents will avenge her mistreatment and that her life will improve upon reunion. However, years apart from her parents made it difficult for her to bond and she soon found that her parents were not reliable sources of security when it came to getting her justice. In fact, she is chided for her tit-for-tat behavior; and her resistance to open up to others further pushes Shaoshang to rely on herself. As the story progresses, she becomes entangled with the emperor's adopted son, Ling Buyi (with varying names like Zisheng, eleventh prince, etc), whom she views as a cold individual and often butts heads with him in the process. As she continues to interact with Ling Buyi and open up to love and vulnerability, she becomes involved with the mystery surrounding his family and identity - and eventually experiences the pain revenge-seeking brings.

Review:

This drama changed my brain chemistry for the better. 

I was going through a transitional period in my life and needed an escape and "Love Like the Galaxy" aired at the perfect time. The chemistry was overflowing and I am a big fan of Zhao Lusi's acting and her ability to create compatibility with all her male co-stars. After watching her in "The Long Ballad" and "Who Rules the World", I recognize it is a strong skill she possesses because I root for her with every male lead she is associated with. Wu Lei is also impressive as well. He fit into the General/Warrior role with ease and his dedication to acting really shows. There are many clips that show how much he has trained over the years to perform his own martial arts stunts in the dramas he acts in. 

As Shaoshang and Ling Buyi's relationship blossomed, I couldn't help falling for the protective general and siding with the hard-headed, independent young girl. The two were very similar in how fiercely loyal they were to those they cared about and how vengeful they could get when people did them wrong. Their desire for revenge or to be tit-for-tat is what leads to the ultimate angst and tragedy this couple has to endure. While you can argue that a lot of the angst makes for a fairly unhealthy relationship between the two, I found their honeymoon period to be so beautiful. They gave each other the space to be independent and taught each other how to lean on the other - it's very refreshing to know that the two leads trust each other to handle themselves in trying times. For instance, toward the end, the two split up to ensure they can cover all their bases when fighting against the enemy. 

The cinematography and OST of this drama is also amazing. The festival, the massacre, etc were all shot with beautiful aesthetics and flairs. I will say the one thing I wish was different was how they brought the couple back together toward the end - the plot felt a little messy in how they brought them back together when in reality they both needed to let down their pride and communicate. I don't like how they relied on a fake death trope to truly bring out the real feelings when we knew they were there. 

Nothing but Thirty

 Episodes: 43

Synopsis: This drama follows the perspectives of three 30-year-old women and tells the story of urban women who encounter multiple pressures at the age of 30. 

Review: 
This is such a realistic yet comforting watch. All three women in this drama experience life very uniquely, with different priorities, life and career goals, and personalities. However, their friendship is built on a common understanding - womanhood. I felt very comforted watching these characters fight and struggle for the things they desire and for the life they want to build for themselves. It reminds me that part of life's journey is constantly pushing oneself to be stronger and better - and yet, somehow, it may not be enough. 

To really express my thoughts on this drama, I will go through each of the three characters and their experiences - highlighting what their stories represented to me. 

Gu Jia: Gu Jia is a stay-at-home mom and uses her analytical thinking and strong relationship-building skills to help support her family and her husband's business. Despite being stay-at-home, her life is far from relaxing. She is either working to build connections to get her son into prestigious schools or she is at her husband's company to help manage any concerns that come up. Her labor is often invisible as her husband takes the credit as the CEO & all her hard work toward maintaining perfection in her family life and in their family business ultimately did not bear fruit. Her husband has an affair and she has to find herself again - cleaning up his mess, dealing with his mishandling of their firework company, and finding her own voice instead of lending it to another. Her strength, resilience, and self-awareness were so refreshing to see, and watching her pursue her own dream of operating a tea business provided me the motivation that women do need to have a world that belongs to them no matter how small. 

Wang Man Ni: Man Ni took a risk in her early twenties by leaving her small town to try to make it in the big city of Shanghai. She strives for perfection in both her career and her love life yet struggles to maintain both as the story progresses. She essentially goes through a mid-life crisis as she wonders what it was all for and as she fights to overcome her depression/burn-out from struggling for so long in the city. Man Ni is the representation of ambition - and she's the character that sacrifices the most for her place in the city & for her dreams. She works tirelessly in luxury sales, often unable to use the bathroom for hours and constantly working around the clock to earn commission from VIP clients. She wants romance with someone who is ambitious and well-established to help ease the day-to-day struggles of the lonely city life she experiences. 
      However, things don't go her way. Instead of a charming prince, she finds herself dating a man who doesn't believe in marriage, has multiple serious relationships ongoing at the same time, and who questions why she wants more when he's given her so many materialistic things/money. Instead of progressing in her career, she faces backstabbing, romance rivals coming to disrupt her day-to-day job, and her ultimate burnout with the job/city. One of my favorite lines from her was when she said goodbye to her workplace of many years - she said this was the place where she invested with her youth, passion, and time & that it was a difficult goodbye in itself. I saw myself in that scene - as someone who really invests in her career with little to no reward at times, the job is in a way a storage of memories of one's youth, time, and energy. And yet to the business, you are just a fleeting individual - easily replaced.
     Wang Man Ni's journey to rediscover herself and to find her ambition/drive again at the end was an inspiring story. I love that she could've taken the easy way out in a lot of scenarios - going back to her hometown and marrying someone there, marrying her college sweetheart, etc - but she didn't. And it was a really satisfying storyline to follow. 

Zhong Xiao Qin: Zhong Xiao Qin is not a perfectionist like Gu Jia and is not as ambitious as Man Ni. However, her goal of living a happy, simple life with a decent job and a caring husband is just as important. Xiao Qin starts off being content with the ordinary, typically going with the flow despite her career and love life not being super extraordinary. Her husband has been distant and the two lack communication in how to ensure the relationship is successful & what their goals in life are. Eventually, when Zhong Xiao Qin finds that their difference in perspective truly impacted what she valued, she decided to put herself first and separate from her husband. This is pivotal for a character who still wants a relatively calm and quiet life - she learns to be independent, learns what she wants in life, and experiences new things that add layers of understanding to her previous relationship. To see her grow and to bring that growth back into her previous relationship & to see him reflect and change/grow on his own and come back a better husband to Xiao Qin was lovely. This was a great, wholesome love storyline amidst the many romance failures throughout the drama. 

I really enjoyed this drama and felt so comforted and validated that the struggles of being a woman in the modern woman are exhibited in so many different facets in this drama. 

Hometown Cha-cha-cha

Episodes: 16

Synopsis: Yoon Hye-Jin, an accomplished dentist from Seoul, goes to the seaside village of Gongjin after her life/career goes awry. She decides to open up a dental clinic and gets to know the village jack-of-all-trades Hong Du-Sik aka Chief Hong. The journey follows Hye Jin's self-discovery journey through the relationships she builds with those living in the village, including the romantic relationship that develops with Hong Du-Sik

Review: 
This was such a feel-good drama, and I looked forward to each episode. The male lead was so emotionally healthy and charismatic, and I loved how it balanced the female lead out so well. Both characters were learning and growing with each other and it was so light-hearted. I found myself "la la la" -ing every day to the OST. It was also lovely to see Shin Min-A act in this role and it made me so emotional that I grew up watching her - from her gumiho days to now. 

However, when Hong Du-Sik starts sharing his deep-rooted traumas and his reason for why he moved back to the town, I got whiplash. It felt so out-of-the-blue for a character that has always been mature, and communicative in his relationship & who has taught the female lead so much about having a positive outlook and investing in others. It seemed almost forced into the storyline to provide conflict and tension - but it was done a bit too heavy-handed. 

I wish the "conflict" the couple experienced in this drama was developed differently because Hong Du Sik's trauma was brought up so late into the drama and so out of the blue, it just felt frustrating to watch. It instantly turned the character into a stranger the viewer hasn't been able to truly glimpse at in earlier episodes & it felt like a pretty significant barrier/red flag to pose in a relationship dynamic that is just starting out. 

Would I watch this again though? Yes.
Overall, it is a positive and healthy drama & is a very relaxing/feel-good watch. 

Squid Games

Episodes: 9 

Synopsis: A Netflix show that tells the story of a group of 456 people who are invited to risk their lives for 45.6 billion won (38.7 million USD) in a series of childhood games. 

Review: 
This was so entertaining because it took childhood games + survival shows + dystopian tropes and combined them. Squid Games had amazing marketing leading up to its release and had a cast of big-name actors such as Lee Jung Jae and Gong Yoo. I found this series to be sinister and hard to watch because of how graphic and brutal the scenes can be, but I was entranced just the same. 

When childhood games come with such high stakes & when the characters are not necessarily cookie-cutter individuals where you feel openly good about rooting for them, it forces you to confront why you want these players to make it. They were all fighting for money due to circumstances beyond their personal control - with influences of society, life, and misfortune leading them to many of the decisions made. However, these players signing up for games for rich people's entertainment, begs the question of how much of their downfall serves the system/serves the rich? 

While the societal discourse surrounding Squid Games is fascinating, I did think the portrayal of the wealthy watching them for sport was a bit shallow. The acting was hard to watch and it felt too in-your-face. Also, what was the point of the undercover cop & what he figured out? I know it's to set up Season 2 -- but I worry Season 2 may be repetitive of the chaos and dilute the story behind how the Squid Games were built to use the "lowlife/poor" individuals as game pieces and there is little to fight against a system that works against them in real-life and in the games. 

Be Yourself

Episodes: 24

Synopsis: 

Four young women begin life at university. This drama follows their experiences and friendships. 

A slice of life drama. 

Review:

    This is my new comfort show, and I am very sad it is only 24 episodes long. The story follows four college roommates with very different personalities, backgrounds, and dreams. As they go through their own series of academic and career challenges, friendships, and romances, we watch these young girls blossom into mature, well-rounded women. 

      There are so many life lessons packed into this feel-good, youthful drama. I laughed and cried with these girls for 24 episodes straight. Everything is wholesome and motivating, and it forces you to reflect on your own growth/behaviors. I loved how empowering this drama is & the amazing opening soundtrack. 

    Also, all four girls are unique and lovable in their own ways. There are episodes where you feel frustrated toward some of them but you also learn to love these characters unconditionally and support their growth as they move forward. It's hard to fully explain what this drama is about without simply saying: "it's a slice of life."

All in all,  I highly recommend this drama. 

It's Okay to Not Be Okay

Episodes: 16
Synopsis: 

Moon Gang Tae is a psychiatric ward caretaker and lives with his older brother Moon Sang-tae who has autism. While working at the hospital, he meets his brother's favorite children's book writer, Ko Moon Young who is rumored to have an antisocial personality disorder. As the two bond with one another, they discover secrets of their traumatic paths and struggle as they realize their fates are more intertwined than they originally thought.  

Review: 

I really enjoyed this drama despite Ko Moon Young's prickly personality and Moon Gang Tae's slow-to-warm attitude. I think the star of the show is definitely Moon Sang Tae (the actor portrayed his character so well, showed character development, and fun fact: he also connected with a fan who saw himself in Sang Tae's character.) 

This drama touches on mental health but definitely still fits in the mold of what makes a kdrama work. There is romance, comedy, and even dark elements to this drama. It felt like a thriller at some points and a romantic comedy at others. While it touches on elements that are relatable, mental health stigma and reconciling with past traumas, this isn't the most believable drama (I mean...makes sense, it's still a drama lol) 

I would recommend this drama to people though. 

The chemistry between characters was great and the varying storylines and plot twists were very entertaining and kept me on my toes. I flew through the episodes. 

Mr. Queen

Episodes: 20 

Synopsis: This drama is a gender-bending, time-traveling series. 

In the modern-day, Jang Bong Hwan is a chef who is confident and raunchy. One day, after an accident, he finds himself in the body of Queen Cheorin in the Joseon period and married to King Cheoljong. As Jang Bong Hwan learns to navigate the Joseon dynasty, the queen status, and also his female body, he tries to think of ways he can go back to the present day. During this time, his abnormal behavior begins to intrigue not only the king but also many other political figures. Then, as his identity becomes connected to Queen Cheorin's identity (memories, feelings, etc), things begin to become spicy between King Cheoljong as well. 

Review: 

I love time-travel dramas but I do think the story got a bit weird when we couldn't really differentiate between Jang Bong Hwan's mentality and Queen Cheorin's. It was such a strange contrast from the beginning when Jang Bong Hwan is hitting on girls despite being the Queen to suddenly becoming obsessed with the king (and having sex with the king!) The only sign that they maintained the original character dynamic was that after having sex, Jang Bong Hwan would have a mental breakdown and question his own sexuality. 

Very interesting take for sure. However, the loopholes in that plot aside, this drama was so funny. I loved the crazy behaviors that resulted from not only time-traveling back in time but also gender-swapping. It's a comedic drama and I think the actors really brought the characters to life. 

Enjoyed this! 

      

True Beauty

                                                   

Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
Based on the webtoon, True Beauty follows Lim Ju Kyung, a high school student who is often bullied and teased due to being perceived as "ugly." After Lim Ju Kyung discovers the power of make-up, she transforms herself into a "goddess" and attempts to hide her true appearance from all her new friends. Unfortunately, Ju Kyung's worst fear came true when Lee Suho runs into her when she is bare-faced. 

Suho, not realizing it was Ju Kyung at first, is interested in the girl who loves horror comic books and treats him like a normal human being. Soon, he realizes that the beautiful, popular girl at school is the same girl he sees bare-faced in the comic book store. As he deals with his own inner demons, he finds solace in Ju Kyung's company and attempts to keep her close while dangling the fact he knew her secret. 

As the two get closer, Suho's former best friend Han Seo Jun comes back to school. Han Seo Jun is the classic bad boy, and he has distanced from Suho after blaming him for not picking up their friend's phone call prior to their friend's suicide. As the two both become entranced by Ju Kyung's personality, the two learn to heal their relationship as well as themselves. 

Review:
What a cute, light-hearted drama! 
I am currently reading the webtoon right now which is fairly different in several scenes when compared to the drama. The casting is pretty well-done though I find it difficult to fully understand why Moon Ga Young made Lim Ju Kyung appear so childish. In the webtoon series, Lim Ju Kyung is a high schooler and has her funny moments (yes) but she also wasn't socially unaware to the point the drama made her out to be. Likewise, I have a hard time fully understanding Cha Eun Woo's acting role since he's often cast as the ice-cold prince, which fits Suho. However, in the webtoon series, I felt as though Suho's personality and charisma spilled through the pages and the drama just made Suho seem cold and block-ish for most of it. The actor for Han Seo Jun, on the other hand, brought a new side to the character making everyone suffer from second-lead syndrome. I'm not sure if this is a director's choice or if it was an attempt to highlight the contrast between the male leads but it was just something I wish could have been improved upon. 

This drama isn't very deep and I probably won't rewatch it again. However, it was cute and light-hearted. It was perfect for a simple and mindless watch. It made me laugh, it made me blush, and I loved the character growth throughout the show. It also had an amazing soundtrack, and it doesn't hurt that this entire cast is EYE CANDY :) 

Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures

Episodes: 6
Synopsis:

A hard-headed Qing dynasty princess navigates the palace life and love in this short series (spin-off with beloved characters from Yan Xi) 

Review:

This was an interesting spin-off of Yan Xi Palac,  and it was nice to see familiar cast members from the original drama here as well. This series follows one of the princesses and her love life over the course of 6 episodes. As we all know, historical dramas usually go up to 60+ episodes and they go in-depth with world-building and story-telling. Hence, I wasn't expecting a lot of depth or fully connected story-telling in the span of 6 episodes. 

 It started off really strong. Our character is feisty and unlikable, and she butts heads with everyone despite having good intentions. She's the standard "spoiled and disliked" archetype of a princess. She also had very clear love interests in this series and also an opponent that was her exact opposite. While she was rude and wild, her opponent was soft-spoken and obedient. It was very easy to understand why our character disliked the other girl so much very quickly, and it was easy to empathize with her behavior and her attempts to be a better person. 

However, our main character got a bit weird as the story went on. I couldn't tell if she was actually mature and was playing this long game or if something clicked mid-series for her. Her character was not consistent and it was confusing where her true intentions lie. The ending was a nice twist, but it was just hard to fully follow due to the series being so short and the abrupt change in character/plot.

 I still enjoyed watching it and found it amusing. I wish that this drama could have been developed more though because it could have been really strong (especially with that twist at the end).

The Wolf

Episodes: 49

Synopsis: A young boy was raised by wolves and befriends the kindhearted daughter of the city general/lord, Ma Zhai Xing. Every few days Ma Zhai Xing would come up to the mountains to spend time with her beloved Wolfie. They shared memories of watching butterflies and sharing treats with one another. As rumors spiraled of a wolf demon living in the woods, Wolfie is blamed for being the murderer of the emperor's godbrother. Wolfie was hunted down and eventually driven off a cliff where he is later found by the warlord Chu Kui. 

Chu Kui recognizes the young boy's amazing strength, speed, and skill. He decides to adopt Wolfie and renames him Chu You Wen. Wolfie, feeling hurt and furious as he believed Ma Zhai Xing betrayed his trust and blamed him as a murderer, gladly went along with Chu Kui to start his new life. Using Wolfie as a military tool, Chu Kui successfully launches a coup and usurps the monarchy. He names Wolfie as Prince Bo of his kingdom. 

Eight years later, Prince Bo finds himself face-to-face with Ma Zhai Xing as he leads a massacre, killing her father and everyone else in her manor. From there on out, Ma Zhai Xing is brought to his kingdom to maintain the family's reputation and to strengthen city ties. Refusing to acknowledge his past identity, he purposely butts heads with her and makes her life harder as he lashes out past grudges. However, he cannot run away from his feelings and he finds himself falling in love with her again, learning of her situation 8 years ago, and forgiving her. The two are able to rekindle their romance and friendship. 

Things go wrong as a war breaks out between the empire and Wolfie is forced to be cold to the love of his life to protect her. At the same time, Ma Zhai Xing finds herself being pushed closer to Ji Chong and build new alliances. 

Review: 

We all waited so long for this drama to come out...and it was so disappointing. While I felt as though Wolfie/Lord Bo's casting was very well done, the lack of chemistry and all-over-the-place plot ended up ruining the show. 

To start, I wasn't really into the idea of a wolf-boy who had no understanding of civilization yet was so human and childlike around Ma Zhai Xing. I know that a lot of Chinese dramas play into characters being abnormally strong or having unrealistic martial art skills. However, the whole concept of him being a wolf-boy and surviving cliff falls because of his wolf instincts felt lame. Just because you were raised with wolves doesn't mean your physical capabilities match them (not to mention, wolves wouldn't even be able to survive a cliff fall like the ones shown in this drama). But considering many dramas of this sort are not the most realistic, I looked past it thinking it was probably a matter of personal preference. 

I got through the first few episodes and when things started to pick up (romance, action), I was like "okay, I can get into this. This is what I was here for...the entertainment." But that didn't last long. :(
Here is where I had the biggest issue with this drama: inconsistency and abuse. 

1. INCONSISTENCY: After the supposed loss of Wolfie, Ma Zhai Xing grows up to be more stubborn and strong-headed. She's not the same naive girl as she was in the first few episodes. Great! I love that. Character development. 
But then she begins to oscillate as she gets to know Lord Bo, recognizes he is Wolfie, and as things continue to happen to her. She's constantly asking why they can't go back to the past when both her and Lord Bo have grown to be fairly different from what they were like in their youth. She's whining and she tries to push Lord Bo to be her wolf-boy without any grasp of reality. Her strong-headedness and character growth that they attempted to show in the beginning got lost in these scenes, and she felt more naive than she did as a young girl. She often felt weak, defenseless, and in need of someone to rescue her which didn't seem like what the directors wanted her to be portrayed as in the drama. She did not feel like a strong and consistent character. 

2. ABUSE: Lord Bo is abusive as hell. Physically, there are scenes that resemble sexual assault. Emotionally, he stonewalls her, gaslight her, and manipulates the environment and situations to make her lose her mind. And every time she has an emotional breakdown due to his betrayals or actions, he's like "I had to do that to make you stronger." 
BOIIII BYEEEE 
This relationship dynamic combined with Ma Zhai Xing's weak protagonist vibe was just so draining to watch and it was pitiful watching her constantly go back to him the moment he lets his "kindness" show. 

There are definitely other sins this drama committed, and I hated so many aspects of this drama despite watching the whole thing. I can't remember them well enough though since I have blocked out these scenes from my memory. I do feel sad about the drama turning out like this since I was waiting on this drama for so long and was fairly excited about the casting. The screenwriters did the actors dirty, and the lack of chemistry is probably more due to the script than the acting ability of the cast. 

Start Up

                                                    
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Set in a fictional Silicon Valley called Sandbox, Start-Up follows the story of young adults as they attempt to achieve their entrepreneurship dream and launch start-up companies that help others. Seo Dal Mi, an ambitious young woman finds herself partaking in competitions and building a company despite never attending college. She finds a team of young software engineers who have not been fortunate with their personal start-up visions. Together, they push forward to reach their dreams. 

Review:

This drama started strong in my opinion. It had great actors and a good background story with Han Ji Pyeong and Seo Dal Mi beginning an unconventional pen pal relationship. I loved the family dynamic and the history that they experienced with failed start-ups. This was a great element to have when creating a strong female role who is passionate about launching her business. We needed the: "why is she like this?" and the writers delivered.

I also loved how selfish In Jae was with choosing a comfortable life with her mother rather than staying with her entrepreneur father. For me, the moment the two sisters chose different paths and priorities, I viewed it as the turning point for how these women will turn out. It was all unraveling pretty well in the beginning and reminded me a lot of the old classic Korean dramas such as "Stairway to my Heart" and "Autumn's Concerto" with the clear storyline, depressing backstory (spoiler: why did the writers have to do that to the father?? I get it....but man that was just painful right off the bat), and clear "good vs bad" dynamics. However, as this drama went on, I became very disappointed. 

While the name of Nam Do San was used in the pen pal letters, the person Seo Dal Mi fell for was Han Ji Pyeong. I thought he was a great balance to her idealistic entrepreneur character. He was an investor so he looked at the logical side of things and had business acumen that she did not. He also had a distinct voice in how he viewed the world and himself, and that definitely showed in his penpal relationship back in his childhood and how he behaves in the present day. He also remembers her from their childhood past and appears to hold her best interests at heart due to his connection with her grandmother. His interest in her as an adult was renewed upon connecting the past to the present, and it wasn't tied to a frivolous crush or unhealthy obsession from his youth. He would have made a charming protagonist. But no, the writers made her fall for Nam Do San who stepped up to the penpal role in order to not crush Seo Dal Mi's dreams of her ideal man. This relationship is rooted in lies. You fell for him because of who you believed him to be and then you accepted the rest. He also was very similar to her. It was a big reason why they were making the same big business mistakes and why they were overreacting and jeopardizing their futures in this small start-up space in many episodes. Eventually their relationship made more sense as we had more memories and as we saw the characters' growth. However, I believe that was the work of the writers. 

Han Ji Pyeong was made the unattractive option as the drama went. They showed his inability to connect with Seo Dal Mi (when the real issue is because they already wrote it out to have Seo Dal Mi set on Nam Do San) as well as his jealousy issues when Nam Do San came back after 3 years. This was also the unreasonable part to me. Why are you going to break up with Nam Do San and just be single for 3 years? You guys aren't moving on with life? Han Ji Pyeong just chilling for 3 years straight not making a move UNTIL NAM DO SAN GETS BACK? Goodbye. That just felt lazy in my opinion. 

As for In Jae: I mentioned I liked how selfish she was in her decision back when she was a child. She seemed confident in her decision when we first meet her again as an adult as well. However, In Jae and her mom suddenly had a change in heart toward entrepreneurship and living the hardworking life...something they scorned their father for back in the day. This sudden turn was too extreme and made no sense. If you didn't like the start-up life back then, then why would you suddenly be okay with it now? The idealization that all people will eventually come around and be good was tiring and I did not enjoy it. Likewise, suddenly In Jae had a mission because she didn't want to be a figurehead and not invested in (and I get it??? But they made her and her mom out to be so materialistic in the beginning and so I didn't understand why it got to that point). 

This could have been a really good drama. The ending just did not do it for me. 

Office Girls

Episodes: 40 
Synopsis:
Sheng Xin Ren is a simple office worker in the Operations Department of Jing Shi Department Store. She is hard-working and extremely thrifty as she attempts to save up to buy a house for her mom. She is given the task of training and mentoring Qin Zi Qi, a new entry-level member of the Sales Department. He is extremely hard-headed, outspoken, and financially struggling. Hence, the two instantly clash with their differences in worldview and life habits. However, unbeknownst to Sheng Xin Ren and everyone there, Qin Zi Qi is actually the son of the Chairman of Jing Shi Department Store. He is working from the bottom and climbing his way up as he has been challenged by his father to prove that he has what it takes to be a leader of the department store and that he can work with teams/pitch ideas successfully. While Qin Zi Qi hides his identity and struggles to live on his entry-level salary, he begins to get close to Sheng Xin Ren and learns how to be more thrifty and less superficial. 

Review:
This is a fairly old drama so my perspective may be different now as I have seen more complex plots (that don't necessarily follow the same old-same old plot styles). This drama has a pretty standard formula -- poor, hardworking girl meets the CEO's son (who she falls in love with not because of superficial reasons but because he is a great person) while dealing with antagonists throughout the story. It was definitely a pretty simple drama to play in the background while running errands or eating meals but it was not the best quality drama. The acting was subpar and the chemistry between our main leads SUCKED. Sheng Xin Ren had little to no emotion, and Qin Zi Qi often had times where his vibes came off as really sleazy/douche-baggy. Not to mention, Zheng Kai Er, the antagonist, was so freaking annoying. She also had little to no emotion, and every time she "cried" while telling her sob story, it felt so fake. In general, all of them were bad at crying and the acting was awful. 

There are definitely better dramas that were made during this time period and even before. This would definitely not be one that I will rewatch in the future. 

Also, all the characters just felt so lame. Like the fashion designer was annoying too, and I had no idea why he was even relevant to the plot since he was definitely not pursuing Sheng Xin Ren (despite the drama setting it up to make us think he is). The only people who got me through were the comedic relief things with the operations staff (but even that got old at times too) 

Was it cute in some scenes and pretty entertaining? Yeah, because I knew what was going to happen. 
Did I necessarily enjoy this drama? Not really...pretty bland. 

Story of Yanxi Palace

Episodes: 70
Synopsis:

Wei Ying Luo enters the court of Qianlong Emperor, Aisin Gioro Hongli, as a palace embroiderer. As she seeks to investigate her sister's death, she begins to scheme to get close to certain political figures within the palace such as the imperial guard Fucha Fuheng and Empress Fucha Rongyin. Using her embroidery skills and wit, she gets close to these two siblings and finds that not only were they not involved with her sister's death but they were going to be those who protected her the most within the palace. As Wei Ying Luo develops romantic affection toward Fucha Fuheng and a sisterly bond with Fucha Rongyin, she learns how to read and write under the kindhearted Empress Fucha. However, her wit and skill that earned her such powerful allies also bring attention to her from enemies within the harem. Wei Ying Luo learns how to use proper etiquette, mannerisms, and fast-thinking to her advantage as she maneuvers around political agendas and rivals within the court. Over time as she experiences new hardships and loses people she loves, she begins to get close with Qianlong and begins her climb to the top of the harem. 

Review: 

This was such a long drama so there were definitely parts where it DRAGGED. 

I also was watching this after Ruyi and so it was interesting to see the story be told from another perspective when Wei Ying Luo was the antagonist in the other drama. However, I loved the cinematography and the attention to detail in the outfits and scenery. I loved the contrast in new cast versus old cast when compared with Ruyi. 

I loved how smart and bold our main character was. However, I question if this was even possible being a maid in the palace. How did she not get offed early on?  

I did get a little hesitant as this drama continued because they made Ruyi's character a murderer. This was too far-fetched and didn't seem reasonable (considering the other woman was an imperial concubine as well). I feel like servants and investigators would've been on that immediately. Hence, I enjoyed the story of how Ruyi was portrayed in the other drama more where her decision to not be an empress anymore was targeted at her dissatisfaction with how the emperor was handling affairs rather than over some petty shit. 

Also, Fucha Fuheng---my heart is with you, homie. You deserved better. 

The Romance of Tiger and Rose

Episodes: 24 

Synopsis: 

Chen Xiao Qian is a screenwriter that has been getting more attention and traction as her work is being turned into a drama series. She has created a world where the female lead comes from a kingdom that is extremely matriarchal while the male lead comes from a kingdom that is extremely patriarchal. The clashing of mindsets and having to adapt to one another in an enemies-to-lovers story would allow for an epic tale that has never been seen before. However, when her work is criticized by the starring actor for having an illogical relationship jump out of nowhere and for not being able to see the independence/uniqueness of the female lead, Chen Xiao Qian returns home to feverishly rewrite. 

      After overworking herself for hours, Chen Xiao Qian ends up falling asleep and wakes up as a side character in her own story. She has become the Third Princess, Chen Qian Qian, an insignificant side character with a horrible reputation and a short lifespan. Chen Xiao Qian begins to try to do everything in her power to change her fate within the story while also trying to maintain the original plot. However, in her attempts to change the story, she catches the attention and affection of the main lead over time. 

Review: 

This drama had a fairly strong start in the way they highlighted a matriarchal society in Chen Qian Qian's universe. It was so strange yet interesting to see the roles reversed in a traditional time period. Men were not allowed to apply for government positions and had to rely on marrying into a good family to have a good fate. Men were also viewed as inferior and unable to carry down the family name. Some men had to be kept in brothels and viewed as even more inferior to the average man. I thought this was an interesting premise to show why the female lead is so bossy and so dominant. At the same time, it still appealed to our societal understandings of the past as the male lead comes from a kingdom that is traditionally patriarchal. It was such a good set-up for a fantasy romance drama, and it was very cute and comedic. The acting quality wasn't always the best but it was amusing. 

        However, I feel like it started to lose the initial appeal as it went. For instance, I was really annoyed when they kept dragging the storyline where Chen Qian Qian is constantly saying things like: "Oh this isn't supposed to happen because she's the main lead" without even realizing her story has completely shifted to her being the main lead. It was frustrating because we had to sit through so many episodes where the guy is chasing after her and she's pushing him to her sister. Then the drama started to get messy as well with the sister starts becoming evil and twisted over the male lead (ironic since her character was so steadfast throughout her original storyline), when the relationship between Chen Qian Qian and Han Shuo was on and off, and so much more. 

I find these comedic fantasy-based dramas really cute to watch. I feel like our female lead is very pretty and fits her role very well. However, I found that I never really rate these dramas that well because I prefer dramas that are a bit more focused on story/character development and world-building. I feel like this drama had the potentiality to feel less like a Wattpad fantasy world and that it would be able to have more story/world-building that would feel more serious at times, especially over the span of 24 episodes. Unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations--BUT IT WAS A CUTE WATCH!  

You Are My Destiny

                                                                                  

Episodes: 36 

Synopsis: This is a Chinese recent remake of "Fated to Love You." 

           Chen Jia Xin is an unassertive and easily overlooked woman. She is plain, simple, and easily fooled. In an attempt to cheer up her toxic boyfriend, she books a cruise ship bound for the Bahamas in hopes of rekindling fond feelings for one another. Unfortunately, her boyfriend had other plans such as ditching her throughout the vacation and cheating on her behind her back. Unknowingly, Chen Jia Xin is enjoying her vacation and meets Wang Xi Yi (the heir to a large toiletries conglomerate). One night, the two both were drowsy and under the influence. Jia Xin mistakenly enters Wang Xi Yi's bedroom (which was just across from her room), and the two have an accidental one night stand due to mistaken identities. They woke up in shock realizing that they did not spend the night with their significant other as they had thought they did. The two of them move on from this incident but become tangled even further as Jia Xin discovers she is pregnant after the cruise. 

          Thankfully, Wang Xi Yi is a fairly responsible man. Upon discovering Jia Xin's pregnancy, he realizes he cannot just be irresponsible and he also begins to face his grandmother's pressure to have a grandchild. Wang Xi Yi and Chen Jia Xin both recognize that this was not an ideal outcome, and agreed on having a contract marriage with a divorce clause. Once the child was born, the child will remain with Xi Yi and his side of the family. Wang Xi Yi is hoping that this works out smoothly as he has a long-term girlfriend named Anna. He's been waiting for her for years as she pursues her ballet career, and has been constantly stood up by her (including the cruise trip). In fear of how Anna would react, Xi Yi tries to keep the situation under wraps. 

            Chen Jia Xin and Wang Xi Yi have a tumultuous relationship/co-parentship. Wang Xi Yi would often be hot and cold, and with anger issues at times as well. As the two get closer over time, more problems arise as Anna comes back home from her ballet tour and the divorce clause is looming in the background. 

Review: 

            I was excited to watch this drama because this drama plot holds a special place in my heart. I decided to go down nostalgia lane with this drama, and I also rewatched 'Fated to Love you." (Fated to Love you is now on Netflix but it is called "You're my Destiny"). 

           This remake did follow the original storyline with a few tweaks to some details such as character names, situations, and so forth. Unfortunately, I felt as though the acting was subpar and there were many things that this drama cut out--making me less connected to the storyline as a viewer. I think the original Taiwanese version did a better job encapsulating the character identities, storyline, and also the character development. Not to mention, the acting was incredible in "Fated to Love You" but felt so shallow in this drama. The actors also didn't embody the character type they were given either. 

             I did appreciate that Wang Xi Yi was written to be a bit softer in comparison to "Fated to Love You" where Ji Cun Xi was constantly having anger management issues. However, I feel like the actor for Wang Xi Yi did not make me feel certain emotions or empathy the way the actor for Ji Cun Xi was able to make me feel. Hence, when the BIG SCENE happened in this remake, I wasn't as sad as I was in the original. (This says a lot because I still cry at that scene in the "Fated to Love You" every time.) I think the acting and some of the storyline changes really made the BIG SCENE lose its impact on me as a viewer and it failed to encapsulate how truly traumatic this entire experience was for our female lead. 

              It was refreshing to see Anna appear more despicable and get sh*t on more by the characters in this version though. The older version definitely went too easy on Anna, and gave her so many opportunities despite some of the really bad things she did to the main characters. 

All in all, I would recommend this if you're trying to go down memory lane (after watching Fated to Love You). However, if this is a drama you are just starting on with no previous comparison, I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't a particularly well-acted, well-made drama. 

Definitely recommend the Taiwanese version from 2008.