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.

Hello, My Twenties Season 2

Episode: 14

Synopsis: This drama is a slice-of-life story about a group of five college girls in their early 20s. The drama shows the different struggles one might face such as financial troubles, romance issues, and career goals. It also shows the power of girl friendship and also the need to adapt to others and learn from others when living together.

Review: 

I really enjoyed season 1 so it is definitely hard for this new season to follow up to that. While it did still remind me of season 1, the characters felt a little off at times in comparison to season 1. It was still enjoyable but I found the characters more annoying at times. Also, my favorite character from season 1 also is not featured in this drama (except for like 2 episodes). Sad. 

I definitely did not invest as much into the characters in this season but I still liked it. The new housemate was really cute to watch because she showed that despite not having a feminine style/clothes/appearance, she can still have a feminine personality. It was just nice to see that not all tomboys are hard, "masculine" girls but instead they can be a health mixture of both. All in all, the concept of this drama is still the same and the focus on the relationships, sass, and friendships still is just as beautiful and wholesome. 

I don't have much to say about this drama as it is pretty similar to the previous season (check my review on season 1 to have a better idea of the characters). However, season 1 definitely won my heart more.

Hello, My Twenties Season 1

Episodes: 12
Synopsis: 

This drama is a slice-of-life story about a group of five college girls in their early 20s. The drama shows the different struggles one might face such as financial troubles, romance issues, and career goals. It also shows the power of girl friendship and also the need to adapt to others and learn from others when living together.

Review: 

This was so enjoyable to watch and so relatable. The 5 main characters are also so different that you are bound to relate to at least one of them or see your best friends in one of them. The five characters are:
1) Yoon Jin Myung-- a 28 year old who is working numerous jobs while attending college. She is late to graduate as she has to work so often and help her family financially. She is very cold, quiet, and detached from other people and it is very hard to get close to her. However, outside the cold exterior, she is a strong, caring individual. She is very career-oriented and hardworking. I thought that her manager at the restaurant was ridiculously shady (but there are many people who face workplace superiors who try to take advantage of them). However, she also gets to interact with the chef at the restaurant who truly cares about her and wants to help her out. It's nice to see how strong this character is and how she isn't scared to fight back. Truly refreshing. Also the chef dude is ultimate husband material. However, I'm glad that this girl isn't swayed by another person's kindness easily. She appreciates the kindness and help but she also remains strong and independent.

2) Jung Ye Eun-- a bubbly, girly 22 year old. Her life, outside of being a nutrition major at school, revolves around her good-for-nothing boyfriend and her friendships with her housemates. She is constantly having to deal with a boyfriend who disrespects her, cheats on her, and also tries to hit on her housemate. However, time after time, she forgives him because she loves him. She was a pretty frustrating character to watch and I think a big part of that is because when you're in a toxic relationship, you slowly toxic person toward others as well. She faces a lot of trust and jealousy issues when she is in her relationship. But when she finally learns to love herself and be more independent upon breaking up with her boyfriend, she ends up in a kidnapping and domestic violence case where her obsessed boyfriend tries to force her to get back together with him.

3) Song Ji Won-- a single, male-desperate 22 year old. She is the eccentric one of the group and she constantly dresses uniquely and makes up ghost stories that she claims are true. She is constant rambling about the importance of losing her virginity before looking for careers but has yet to find a man to have sex with. She appears to be male-desperate but she also doesn't really go for anyone. She also isn't sad or depressed about the fact that she is single and not accomplishing her virginity loss goals. She's fairly happy with her life and uses her lack-of-a-love-life as a joking matter with friends.

4) Kang Yi Na-- a seductive, strong-willed 24 year old who has no career or academic aspirations. She is the one person who is not attending college but instead is earning money by being an escort to rich men. She is extremely confident and also feels very comfortable in her own skin and in the decisions she makes for herself. At the same time, she also carries a burden of surviving at the sake of another person's life during an accident. I really liked her personality and I personally related to her confidence and the manner she deals with problems the most. Also, while none of her relationships with wealthy men are real, her friendship with this male escort is endearing. They both work in the same field but he really watches out for her and also even checked in on her when he thought she got hurt.

5) Yoo Eun Jae--a socially awkward 22 year old psychology major. She is extremely quiet and timid. She also has a complicated past as her brother passed away from a peanut allergy and she fears she might have accidentally caused her father's car accident when she was younger. She has trouble voicing out at times but she is extremely sweet natured. Her boyfriend in this drama is pretty dorky but I really liked how he was so head-over-heels in love with her and wanted her to have more of a backbone.

I loved the friendship dynamics between the girls so much and I also loved seeing them develop their own friendships/relationships outside of their house. They're so supportive and realistic of each other. The fights the girls have together resemble sister fights and it was kind of touching when they would make up the next day. The shade they sometimes threw at each other when one was in a bad mood was also absolutely hilarious. It felt so realistic and it just makes you realize girl-on-girl friendships are amazing.
But honestly speaking my friends better be able to differentiate me and another person via messaging the way these girls did when they figured out Ye Eun got kidnapped.
I also really liked the mini interviews at the end of the dramas where the characters talk about what happened in that episode or talk about each other. It gave me The Office vibes but with a more realistic touch. I thought it was so funny when they were asked to rate each other's fashion sense and also the interviews where they talk to the shady characters (like the restaurant manager and the abusive boyfriend). Made this drama feel more like a slice of life. I also like how not everything is explained in this drama and that there are some mini time jumps from drama to drama. But it isn't hard to follow this drama at all. 

Tempted

Episodes: 32 

Synopsis: 

To write a synopsis for this drama is not very easy. For starters, this is a melodrama. There is romance and comedy but there is also tragedy and angst. This drama focuses on four main characters as they fall in love, manipulate love and their loved ones, and emotionally lash out at others. It is a story that is rooted in passion, temptation, and also revenge. When Choi Soo Ji gets humiliated and hurt by a man, she immediately seeks help from her two best friends Kwon Shi Hyun and Lee Se Joo to hurt that man's first love. She manages to convince her friends to work together and have Kwon Shi Hyun seduce the independent, soft-natured Eun Tae Hee. As Shi Hyun begins to seduce Eun Tae Hee, he finds himself falling for her as she begins to fall for him. Thus the drama begins as their fake act of romance turns real and friendships go sour. All in all, it is a great drama and the name "Tempted" is fairly appropriate.

Review:

This drama was thoroughly entertaining to watch as it was a perfect mix of drama, tragedy, comedy, and romance. While this drama does have its flaws, I think I appreciated the drama's pros more.

         I really enjoyed the acting in this drama. A lot of people seemed to dislike Joy's acting as Eun Tae Hee at times but I personally feel like she did a great job. Emotions were conveyed very well between actors and I feel like they all really understood their roles well. I did notice the chemistry between Kwon Shi Hyun and Eun Tae Hee slowly diminish as their love story dragged on but at that point, I was already too emotionally invested in their relationship to turn away. Also, the characters in this drama are so distinct, unique, and brilliant in their own ways. You can hate them but you can also love them; you cannot believe them but you also understand them. I loved this because nobody is truly perfect and this drama shows that. Everyone believes that what they are doing is right but they don't realize the full extent of their situation at times. I also really loved this drama because while there were many toxic friendships and relationships in this drama, the drama did not sugarcoat it or romanticize it. They make it very clear that it is wrong and manipulative...even if you understand why it is the way it is. I think it is healthy to have representations of toxic friendships/relationships and have it blatantly stated as unhealthy. For instance in episode 14, Shi Hyun warns Soo Ji to not push him to his limits and to not "use friendships like weapons." 

         The romance between Eun Tae Hee and Kwon Shi Hyun was actually pretty cute, even when I knew it was all an act at the beginning. I think it was interestingly portrayed in this drama as the lines of the relationship gets blurred as Kwon Shi Hyun begins to fall in love for real. The pool scene in episode 11 was truly a big step for Kwon Shi Hyun as he slowly realizes that he's in too deep in this bet and it might fall apart on him as he's actually catching feelings. It was also an amazing scene to witness Eun Tae Hee's strength when she confronts Choi Soo Ji. Choi Soo Ji acts the way she does due to circumstances, not necessarily because she is a bad person. However, that doesn't excuse her actions. She often puts on a pity party in order to have things go her way and will do anything to get what she wants. (Soo Ji is honestly a Slytherin Queen). So it was so refreshing to see her try to put on a pity party show about how she has this big secret to Eun Tae Hee and have Tae Hee shut her down with: "I don't care if you tell me the secret. The thing about a secret is that it's a big deal for the person who tells the secret but it means nothing to other people. (Ooooo girl!!)

         But I really appreciated Kwon Shi Hyun's relationship with Eun Tae Hee because they sort of become each other's rocks. It also was fascinating to see the character development. Like for instance Shi Hyun used to act cold and suave when he was trying to get her for the bet, but as he fell for her he became more vulnerable (episode 13) and also more willing to open up to her and cry in front of her (like in episode 15 when he didn't have to pretend to be okay in front of her). Tae Hee on the other hand used to not really take the time to open up and be vulnerable as well. But she's finally able to show that cute side with Shi Hyun and she also has someone to watch out for her, motivate her to do well in school and in fitness, and so forth. The other main relationship is between Se Joo and Soo Ji. They had a fairly toxic relationship/friendship but they were supportive of each other's toxic ways. However, they truly grew together as well and they also helped support each other and protect one another. Se Joo probably deserved better but who's to say Soo Ji isn't the one for him...especially since he knew her over the years and knows what kind of person she can be. 

            The plot was pretty solid. There were parts that dragged and the ending felt a bit rushed. But it was still satisfying as everyone ended up with who the audience expected them to end up with (or at least who the audience thought was  healthy for the characters). I also really liked the fashion in this drama. I stan Choi Soo Ji and Eun Tae Hee's fashion sense so much. Pretty good drama, overall. I enjoyed it.

Princess Agents

Episodes: 67

Synopsis: 

The story starts off with our heroine, Chu Qiao, being thrown on to hunting grounds along with other slaves (who were criminals of some sort). Confused and mostly illiterate, the slaves are given clothes with a Chinese character on it. The next thing you know a group of ruthless, wealthy lords begin to play a hunting game in which the Chinese character (representing a character from each lord's name) on the last slave standing's back indicates the winner. As Chu Qiao runs, fends off wolves and arrows, and uses martial art skills to survive, she is saved by the Prince of Northern Yan, Yan Xun and the lord, Yuwen Yue. Her unexplained ability to fight the way she does and her strong-headed personality intrigues the Yan Xun and Yuwen Yue. Soon, she is brought into the powerful family of Yuwen and begins to train under the strict supervision of Yuwen Yue. She then witnesses the ruthlessness of the nobles, the bloody power struggle, deception and lies, and so forth.  

Review:

This is a long drama as most historical fantasy dramas usually are. Did I really watch this with the intention of finishing a drama of 67 episodes? 

No.

Did I finish a drama of 67 episodes? 

Yes. 

The big reason why this drama was appealing despite its obvious lack of romantic scenes and comedic moments was the plot. If you've been reading my unorganized drama review posts, you can see that I definitely am more likely to enjoy a drama with romantic and funny moments. I also do not like it when dramas are too drawn out. This drama lacked both comedy and romance and had scenes that made me want to skip, skip, skip.  But it still held on to my attention. There were some memorable scenes, great characters, and also an intriguing plot. Despite these pros, I did not feel like this drama deserved a place on my favorites list. Just because I enjoyed a few specific scenes did not mean I enjoyed the whole drama with a lot of dragged out plot lines, shady characters, and unexplained loose ends. 

     Now, let's start with the cons. You would think that a drama of 67 episodes would allow me to understand how Chu Qiao is so skilled at martial arts and also what her backstory is that she forgets that she was once the young master of the Feng Yun order. But I did not get that..so...disappointing.  This drama wanted to highlight ruthless young lords who were ready to steal the throne by any means necessary, even if it meant killing off a childhood friend and his entire family. While some scenes were extremely shocking and powerful, other scenes just made me feel a little bit disgusted at how inhumane some of these "bad" characters were. Also this drama makes the two blandest characters the main lead. Chu Qiao is emotionless throughout this entire drama which is disappointing because I wanted to see her grow as a character and as a person. I wanted to see her interact and charm the people around her. I wanted her character to have some weight on this story as she is the main lead. I did not get that. A part of me liked that she was so cold toward others because it was a refreshing look on a character. But as it went on, her personality made it hard for me to understand why the male characters were so obsessed with her and in so much pain over her being gone because she would show no affection or friendship toward anyone whatsoever. Yuwen Yue, our supposed male lead, is not much better. His strict and serious personality and appearance made it hard to understand him or truly appreciate him for his acts of kindness or "romance." I found myself investing more in Yan Xun (as many other people did as well). Yan Xun was probably the most complex character in this entire show and I only looked forward to his scenes as there were so many moments where I was bored senseless. So since we are on the topic of Yan Xun, let's jump into some pros. 

         Yan Xun is a pro, pro, pro and I wish they focused more on him and also made him the main lead. Throughout the beginning of the drama to the end, he has feelings for Chu Qiao and he clearly shows his interest. He accepts her cold, standoffish ways and also doesn't even question her martial arts abilities as much as others did. He never viewed her as a tool. And he sacrificed himself over and over to keep her safe. He was the most cheerful, brightest character throughout the majority of this drama. Then the climax hits and the power struggle affects him greatly as his siblings, parents, and loved ones were all murdered and displayed before his eyes. 

         "Treason" was the reason. Yan Xun was supposedly spared as he was in the city and not acting in on this "rebellion" his father was planning. It was a set up on Yan Xun's family to relinquish the Northern Prince's family's control on their portion of royal power. Yan Xun was supposed to grovel and accept kindness in his pardon while watching his whole family burned before his eyes. Expectedly, he begins to fight back. Hurt, betrayed, and saddened he lashes out at anyone who came toward him. And this was the point that Yan Xun was pushed to the "dark side." This was honestly the most fascinating part of the drama and I felt his character, his story, and his growth was just so interesting and I wanted to know more about him. His kindness toward Chu Qiao despite his need for vengeance against the emperor and his childhood friends would've allowed for a great love story to develop. But the writers did not go down that path. Instead, they contradicted this character by making him solely focus on vengeance, being a ruthless king on his own lands, and also using Chu Qiao as a tool to bring down Yuwen Yue. This could be because the writers wanted Chu Qiao to eventually return to Yuwen Yue and truly understand how much he silently loves her. But honestly it was so stupid. I had invested so much into Yan Xun, the character they made stand out amongst everyone, and now they wanted me to just accept that Yuwen Yue's love is the best kind of love Chu Qiao should be receiving. 

       So as you can see I have many complaints. But I did love some of the characters (such as Yan Xun), I loved the bada** vibes that Chu Qiao portrayed in all her scenes, and I actually also liked the princess in this drama. The princess is not necessarily a good person but she was complex, young, naive, and also faced so many misfortunes in this drama in her quest to receive love from Yan Xun. All in all, I enjoyed this drama but it had its flaws and it isn't one of the dramas I'd recommend you 100% watch (I'd probably just show you some of the intense scenes and call it a day).