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Completed
City of Streamer
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Feb 26, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

So good until ep 30, okay afterwards

OVERALL
Honestly, this drama is THE one to the go on a binge. Watch it if 1) you're looking for sizzling chemistry, 2) you want some thrilling suspense, 3) you like a bit of action and the Republican setting. Think twice if 1) bad special effects bother you, 2) you're sensitive to small plot holes and inconsistencies, 3) you don't like aloof female leads. I would still give it a shot though!

THE STORY
Maybe I had low expectations, but this drama TOTALLY blew me away until about episode 30. TOTALLY blew me away. I think watched all 30 episodes in about 3 days haha

I am a huge fan of revenge stories so this was right up my alley, but the pacing is also just right, from almost episode 1 there's enough risk to worry about Female lead cover's getting blown. Female lead is another huge positive point in this drama because she's calm, poised and smart. And then there's the intense chemistry between her and Male lead, which you can see from the first episode. And then there're the few (but amazing) couple scenes. And then there's the bit of mystery regarding Female lead's past. There's really a lot to like about this drama, and by episode 30 I was ready to rate it a 9/10...but the last episodes happened, and they just made clearer all the flaws of the series.

On the top of the list, there are very questionable choices in the production of this drama. For some weird reason, we are almost never given the perspective of Female lead (or her thoughts) and she's very aloof, so it's not always clear why she does what she does or how she really feels. That becomes problematic because Male lead is the complete opposite, he's very expressive, so she kind of feels...not as loving as he is (and not as deserving of his love). I liked her and understood her until episode 30, but it was really hard to understand her towards the end. Another thing that I really don't like in this drama is the excessive, bad CGI. I'm already not a fan of CGI, but in some scenes it's so bad it almost made be pull the plug on the show haha And then there are a few things that the drama hints on then never goes back to, things that don't really make sense, and moments (just for 2-3 episodes) when things feel really repetitive.

So the final verdict is, it's not the best drama, but it's definitely a good drama, if not better than average. I recommend to try it, 100%!

THE ACTING
Good! I don't know that was super impressed by anything, but for sure above average, especially for the secondary characters (which is where the acting often fails). Like I said, OTP was FIRE! They do get smexy scenes, although not many, but even when they're just staring at each other *swoon*

THE MUSIC
I LOOOOVED the instrumental OST of this drama. It felt so fitting for the show too. The actual songs weren't that great but still okay. Honestly though, I want to Spotify the instrumental OST so bad!

REWATCH VALUE
I already rewatched the first half as I was waiting for the last few episodes. I don't doubt I will rewatch the drama again (and again!)...but I might just stop at around episode 30.

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Completed
Luoyang
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jan 6, 2022
39 of 39 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Amazing cinematography, not so amazing screenplay

OVERALL
This drama may be imperfect, but it's still a very well-produced historical mystery series, which we just don't get enough off. Watch if 1) you're looking for several fighting scenes and well-made mystery, 2) you don't need much else. Think twice if 1) you're craving a good love story, 2) you need likable characters, 3) you can't stand flaws.

THE STORY
I started this drama, dropped it, picked it up again, dropped it, picked it up again and finally ended it, after weeks. It's definitely not binge material; in my opinion, the drama has ups but also lots of downs that make you want to give it up. That being said, it was worth watching.

The Good
- The cinematography is top of the game. Luoyang was produced like a movie, which is just beau-ti-ful!
- This is essentially an action/mystery drama, and it does the genre justice. It kind of has an episodic feel to it (as in, there are small mysteries lasting a few episodes), but every case is part of a bigger one, so the action/mystery plot feels coherent and every smaller mystery has a purpose. I don't have much to complain about in this department, except that some plot twists towards the end were kind of predictable and not all that believable.

The Bad
- None of the main characters are really likable. Baili Erlang feels a bit too aloof. When he's in trouble there's always someone to help, but when others are in trouble he's always out there doing his own thing. The way Gao Bingzhu treats Wu Sijue for most of the drama is infuriating, he also feels inconsiderate and obviously doesn't know what communication is. Sijue is a huge disappointment; she's one of those fake strong female leads that are in vogue in C-dramas (you know, girls who are technically capable but really are useless, because everything is always done by the boys and they always need saving). And the second female lead is absolutely unbearable; one of those silly, childish female characters C-dramas just don't want to let go.
- The love stories also leave much to be desired in this drama. Granted, Luoyang isn't really about romance so you can always just skip them, but it's crazy how a drama that does a very decent job with the mystery plots can do so poorly with the love lines. Feelings start out of nowhere, couples can't seem to make any progress unless someone is about to die...
- The ending is rushed and cliché.

THE ACTING
Great. It's what impressed me the most after the production. Maybe because I had low expectations, I was surprised by Victoria's acting (Siyue), which in a couple of scenes actually got me (even though in general, I wasn't emotionally invested in the drama). However, the boys also did quite a good job, and even 2nd female lead (the role sucked, but she did it the best she could).

THE MUSIC
Very good use of sound in this drama, but that's not surprising, because it has a film aesthetic. The songs were also quite good!

REWATCH VALUE
Honestly, not very high. When I rewatch a drama, it's because I'm dying to relive it. I don't think I'll ever be dying to re-experience Luoyang. It was fun though, while it lasted!

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Completed
The Princess Wei Young
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Aug 8, 2021
54 of 54 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 6.5

Frustrating...but weirdly addictive?

OVERALL
This drama has action in excess, enough to make you (and the FL) gasp for air. Watch it if 1) you like fast-paced plots where the villains make the protagonists sweat buckets, 2) you like strong, mature female leads. Maybe reconsider if 1) you have no patience for clichés, repetitive plot devices and 2D characters, 2) you like dramas where the romance is central to the plot, 3) you prefer happy endings.

THE STORY
I've heard good things about this series, and since I was looking for a new historical drama with a super intelligent FL, like Yanxi Palace or Long Ballad, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, Princess Weiyoung doesn't come close to these two dramas (in my opinion). On the positive side, it is definitely watchable until the end. I easily drop dramas when I feel they're not worth it and it wasn't the case. The fact that there's always a new round of problems for the FL to overcome keeps you on the edge of your seat most of the time. Weiyoung is also a likeable character. She's mature and strong (unlike the childish FLs so common in C-dramas), and you definitely want to root for her. The main romance is nothing stellar but it's believeable and a little cute...at least in its beginning stages. But that's it.

The biggest issue with Princess Weiyoung is that it fails to deliver what it's promising. The drama is supposed to be about the quest for revenge of Weiyoung. She's hyped up as this extremely smart girl who can find her way out of any situation and can succeed in anything she wants to. However, Weiyoung doesn't accomplish much herself. Circumstances (or other people) take the lives of those she wants to punish, and whenever she's in trouble, 7/10 times she is saved by someone else. Then there's the plot. FL gets framed AGAIN and AGAIN, as if there's nothing else that can happen to her but getting framed. And not only does she never learn from her previous experience and manage to predict future attempts or protect herself, other characters also fail to learn from previous attempts to frame her and constantly fall into traps (including ML at some point!!!!). Another major issue with the drama is the overuse of the SAME clichés, not once but several times. Couple trouble caused by misunderstanding? Check. Disguise to frame FL? Check. Trying to kill FL by fire? Check. Overall, it just looks like the drama was written carelessly; like people combined common tropes and underdeveloped characters in one day to come up with the series. If all you need is lots of action in full speed though, you might not notice!

THE ACTING
It was fine, especially from the main leads. There isn't much chemistry between them, but it's more due to the plot than to the actors. I must say I'm growing a bit tired of the female villains in historical C-dramas though. I wasn't sure at first, but I'm starting to suspect that there is a kind of acting "cliché" for these characters that is very extra and cartoon-like. Villains don't have to be surreal, they can act like normal people. I hope I can see less obvious villains, with reasonable backstories and some depth, in future shows.

THE MUSIC
It was okay, though not memorable. I have a pet peeve with dramas that put instrumental/songs over characters who are supposed to be playing an instrument but are obviously not playing whatever music we hear. It just breaks your immersion in the show - reminds you that it's all fake.

REWATCH VALUE
Not high. It's not a bad drama, but I honestly don't think I would ever feel like watching it again. There're tons of better dramas to rewatch when I need to.

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Completed
The Romance of Tiger and Rose
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jul 23, 2021
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

Unapologetically a comedy, but a good one!

OVERALL
Although clearly targeted at a relatively young audience, this drama has fresh elements and a nice buildup that will keep you wanting more, whether you consider yourself young or not! Watch it if 1) extra comical dramas are what you live for, 2) you prefer your dramas short (24 episodes is short in Cdramaland!), and 3) you like it when the ML likes the FL first. If 1) you are looking for lots of (or smexy) couple scenes, 2) you hate discussions of gender, or 3) plot holes drive you crazy, then maybe skip.

THE STORY
I started this drama sometime ago and dropped it 15 minutes into the first episode because I thought it had everything I hate in a drama, especially blatant incoherence (eg. main girl dresses inappropriately for the setting at first) and bad humor (I absolutely feel too old for slapstick, in-your-face jokes). But I decided to give it another go last week and guess what? Binged it all in 2 days!

The Strengths: The best thing about this drama is the setting - the FL lands in a city ruled by women, but the city where the ML comes from is ruled by men. At first, you don't think much of it, but the idea is absolute genius. It allows for a whole commentary on gender relations and the meaning of equality that is efficient but also fun because the drama can play around with the usual clichés. Another positive point is that the romance, which is pretty central to the story, starts quite fast and doesn't stagnate. A final but important strength is that although this is definitely meant to be a fluff comedy, the drama has several scenes that truly get you emotional; the love triangle isn't all that bad and the political intrigue, while not deep, is still gripping.

The Weaknesses: Strangely, they're all linked to the strengths. First, the drama leaves the setting hanging. There is no conclusion to the discussion on gender or to anything happening in the fictional world, actually - which is a HUGE plot hole (unless a season 2 is confirmed, but not sure it is). Also, while teasing some deeper themes like character agency (versus writer's decision), the drama never really dives into them and FL can be a bit incoherent at times. It feels like the writing could have been a bit tighter. Secondly, while the romance has a nice pace, there isn't much that happens between the leads; I'm not just talking skinship, even just normal "spending time as a couple in love" scenes barely take place. It almost feels like Romeo & Juliet: the ML and FL are ready to die for one another but barely do anything together. The last thing is the comedy. I'm not a fan of the recent "youthful" comedies that kind of feel a bit...immature? And this drama has LOADS of it (especially at the beginning, it settles down a bit later). It does have fun scenes though, and the comedy being extra didn't stop me from watching until the end, so it's not THAT bad, but still. The drama would have been 100 times better without it, in my opinion.

THE ACTING
In general, I would say it was fine. I first saw Zhao Lusi in The Long Ballad, and I found that I liked her more in this one (probably because her character has more spark). It was my first time seeing the ML so can't say much about him. I particularly liked the 2nd ML's acting. Although I loved the OTP he made me feel bad for him 85% of the time. About chemistry... It's hard for me to feel sizzles in the OTP when the overall mood of the drama is kind of childish, but there are a few scenes in which I felt that the lead actors had good chemistry. The only downside is that some characters felt too much like cartoon characters - not sure if it's acting or directorial choice.

THE MUSIC
Oh My General vibes, 100%. Too much background music, all the time. The actual songs weren't bad though.

REWATCH VALUE
I think I might rewatch this, because it was a fun ride overall. Definitely a good way to pass time. But with some dramas I get the urge as soon as they end, it was not the case with this one.

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Completed
Boysitter
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
May 8, 2015
15 of 15 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 4.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
OVERALL
Save yourself the trouble, don't watch.

THE STORY
A. Mess. Characters and a plot. A complete mess. Do not let the beginning fool you. Except for the first 2-3 episodes, there’s no passion. There’s not even romance per say, characters just play push-and-pull and get involved in relationships without love. Plus, though it seems like it might have been intended to confuse us as to who the female lead will end up with, there’s no doubt whatsoever who she ends up with from episode 1. The comedy also leaves much to be desired. Not sure what got me to finish this drama. Other than Annie Chen, that is.

THE ACTING
Nothing stellar, but I’m still a fan of Annie.

THE MUSIC
No good.

REWATCH VALUE
Low, quite low.

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Completed
Heartbeat Love
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jan 16, 2015
5 of 5 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
OVERALL
Surprisingly good short story. It's only 50-min long, so come on, watch it.

THE STORY
Cute, fun and just a tad suspenseful, like every romantic drama (or film, because all episodes considered this is not even as long as the usual movie) should be. Granted, the male lead has no defined personality and the female lead is not a character everyone can like. Granted, the little mystery surrounding the girl's past is not completely unpredictable and the love kind of drops out of nowhere. But these are things that the short length of Heartbeat love is to blame for. The interactions between the guy and the girl are fun, the mystery keeps you alert, the landscape is beautiful, the script is well-written, so that by the end, all I could think of was, couldn't they have made it a regular drama? *Sigh* Why do the good things never last?

THE ACTING
Definitely did the trick. There was some decent chemistry between the leads too.

THE MUSIC
...yeah...

REWATCHABLE VALUE
Pretty high, but since I already know the conclusion of the little intrigue, I'm not sure I would enjoy rewatching it as much unless it's with someone else.

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Completed
Love Keeps Going
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Aug 11, 2014
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
OVERALL
Good show, that would have been even better without the unnecessary drama added up in the end. Watch if 1) You're looking for a coherent love story, 2) You want to see sparks between the actors and something more than kisses, 3) You can handle uninteresting peripheral plots (by watching or skipping, up to you) for the sake of the main couple. Don't watch if 1) You can't stand cliched dramatic elements, 2) You like strong female leads (even though she's not that bad), 3) You're looking for romantic comedy more than comic romance, since there's not that much comedy in here.

THE STORY
There's sort of a pattern I've been noticing in some Taiwanese romcoms. Even if 90% of the show is light, fun and sweet, they just have to go and put some drama at the very last couple of episodes, which they don't resolve in a reasonable time to provide a good, rounded-up ending, but they drag on to the last few minutes, resulting in a rushed, often dissatisfying ending. In some cases, it's still okay, but in this one, probably because the dramas so short, I feel like the ending pretty much brought down the show. Also, there's just too many characters to hate or not care about. If you forget these two factors though, Love keeps going is quite good. The main characters are a bit more developed than the protagonists of the usual romcom, which means that they're more understandable and real. Their relationship gradually evolves from nothing to something, and they have several cute, sweet and sexy scenes together.

THE ACTING
Pretty good. Mike He had not convinced me in Sunny Happiness, but here he was great. Cindy Wang I saw for the first time in here and she's probably in my list of Taiwanese actors to follow now. They had good chemistry too. Supportive actors did a good job, even though their characters were not the most likable.

THE MUSIC
Only for Cindy Wang's song, Don't Cry (Bu ku), I give it a 7. The other songs didn't leave much of an impression on me.

REWATCH VALUE
Until episode 10, definitely rewatchable. I would just stop it before all the drama.

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Completed
Fated to Love You
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Aug 8, 2014
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
OVERALL
Entertaining drama. Watch if 1) You want a light romcom, 2) You like it when the guy is mean to the girl about half of the show, 3) You want to watch one of the most popular shows in Taiwan (was for a long time the drama with the most views while airing). Don't watch if 1) You're vulnerable to the 2nd-lead syndrome, 2) You like strong female leads, 3) You're picky when it comes to humor.

THE STORY
From the beginning, the story is flawed. It's flawed because of the first encounter between the main leads and the incident that will provoke their ensuing romance. It's definitely, completely and undeniably surreal, making the show lose credibility. However, if you stick to the drama regardless of that flaw and refuse to give up, you'll find yourself entertained. The main leads are not as likeable as other protagonists are, and you might not understand just what attracts them to one another. There's a few loopholes here and there and at times the humor is a bit over the top. But if you're looking for some laughs and a few moving scenes, this drama does the trick.

THE ACTING
I wasn't amazed by acting in this show, but it wasn't bad. Some supporting actors were quite good (Mei Xiu Lin in the role of the mother and Baron Chen as Dylan, for example).

THE MUSIC
I don't care about the rest of the OST, there's My Happiness by Jin Xiu Duets, one of my favorite drama songs to date, so I'll just say the music is awsome.

REWATCH VALUE
I'll watch it again, for sure, but I don't feel an urge to do it right now.

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Completed
Flight to You
3 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jan 12, 2023
39 of 39 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Meh...

OVERALL
Watch if you're into LOADS of work drama. Skip if you're not. This drama doesn't have much more to offer.

THE STORY
These days Chinese romance dramas are NOT romance dramas haha This one in particular was essentially a work drama. On the good side, it really manages to get your attention. I kind of liked seeing all the issues pilots and flight attendants go through - which is a first, I usually don't care for work drama. The series makes the ordeals they go through realistic and gripping. Another thing I like with Flight to You is that Female lead is the one that does the chasing for a while (and openly too), which is refreshing, while Male lead is the one that is shy and awkward. Male lead also has a bit of depth, with a backstory that makes him a complex character, and he's into gender equality, which is nice.

On the bad side, that's basically all there is to Flight to You. The romance is subpar, the typical twenty episodes of veeeryyy slow burn followed by 10+ episodes of utter and complete stagnation, and ending with 2-3 episodes of rushed resolution, topped with the most archaic of all tropes: miscommunication between the leads, who don't know how to TALK and seem to compete for worst bad decision of the year. Also, the secondary characters are not too annoying, but I couldn't really care about them or their storylines. Female lead is not unbearable, but she's still ditsy and borderline childish at times. The villain is a villain for NO reason, which is just bad writing. And then there's the mom, the typical devil that magically is redeemed by the end of the drama (even though she clearly does not deserve it). And then the drama gifts you with an unnecessary, hateful cliche in the last episode too.

Bottom Line: I don't recommend...unless you're into the secret lives of pilots and flight attendants.

THE ACTING
Cool. I like both Wang Kai and Tan Songyun, especially him. No chemistry though.

THE MUSIC
What music?

REWATCH VALUE.
Low.

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Completed
Love the Way You Are
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jul 9, 2022
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

It has it all, except chemistry haha

OVERALL
This drama is an adaptation of the Korean drama "Something in the Rain". I can't say it's better than the original, but it works! Watch if you are looking for 1) lots of cute and sweet lovey-dovey scenes, 2) an interesting secondary couples, 3) many funny scenes. Think twice if you 1) want to see sizzling chemistry, 2) want to see ANY chemistry, 3) can't stand lazy writing.

THE STORY
"Something in the Rain" put the "Melo" in "drama". It was WAY too melodramatic for no reason. That being said, I rewatched that drama twice because the chemistry between the leads was EVERYTHING haha This drama is the opposite. The leads literally have ZERO chemistry, but the drama found the perfect ratio between rom-com and drama (60/40, sometimes even 70/30) and is super generous in "happy together" scenes. Also, this drama does a better job of giving substance to characters and conflicts. The obstacle to the OTP is not only their age gap but also the fact that they're step-siblings, Female Lead's previous relationship ended for an interesting reason and not just because her ex got bored of her so there's more character development, and Female Lead has a bit of a growth arc. No need to skip the secondary couple too (but maybe it's just because a kid is involved and I'm a sucker for single-parent romance haha). So the drama is technically fine, I would even say as good as the original...if it wasn't for a few things.

First, the drama has a weak beginning and a weak ending. Female Lead looks ditsy at first even though later she turns out to be a mature and nice character, and her encounters with Male Lead are so forced. The ending feels rushed and abrupt, with lots of unnecessary flashbacks (they clearly did not know how to end the drama well). Secondly, I'm not a fan of the dynamic between the leads. Except for one time, Male Lead is always the savior, Female Lead always the damsel in distress. It's just too old-fashioned, too unoriginal, too lazy writing. Finally, this is a rare case in which I feel like the drama did NOT give enough screentime to the secondary couple. Towards the end, their storyline was SO rushed, literally everything happened out of screen, which is ridiculous! Ultimately, these are bearable flaws, I would say. The biggest issue, the REAL issue, is that the leads have no chemistry (they look like somebody forced them to act like a couple or else haha) and their scenes together are cute but also cringe, and not in a good way.

THE ACTING
Yeah...The veteran actors did their thing, they were great, but I got to say, most of the main cast did not impress me. To be fair, this is the second drama of Angela Baby I watched (first one was General and I) and I did like her better in this one, so maybe she improved?

THE MUSIC
Meh.

REWATCH VALUE
I'll rewatch it, I know, but it's not top of my list.

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Completed
Now, We Are Breaking Up
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jan 10, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 4.0

Such.a.mess.

OVERALL
This drama is the biggest false advertisement I've ever seen in a Kdrama, and the worst thing is, I'm pretty sure it wasn't intentional. Watch it if you're very bored and very desperate, with no better alternative in sight. In any other case, skip.

THE STORY
I wasn't particularly into this drama based on the synopsis so I waited a long time to give it a try. When I finally did, the first episode intrigued me. It looked like it was going to be a serious, mature romance story, following two people who don't believe in long-term relationships. That's totally NOT what the drama turned out to be about. It ended up being a very classic, very tedious melodrama about two people with a bad kind of past connection who fall in love but face a whole bunch of opposition. And even then, I give it more credit than I should, because the drama tends to forget what it's about, especially in the few last episodes. Basically, it's a hot mess.

Besides an unclear plot, the problem of this drama is that there's really not much to make you care about it. After 4-5 episodes the show stops trying to sell the romance so it just falls flat. There's no cuteness, no deep emotions, no skinship, NOTHING. In the melodrama department, you're served every single cliché melodrama trope, but most of them end up not really resolved properly so it all feels like a waste of time. And the characters are poorly written, with zero development, so you don't care much about them either. And towards the end, they start making decisions that don't make sense at all, especially Yeong Eun. Like I said, a hot mess. Do yourself a favor, skip.

THE ACTING
Good, but that's not enough to save this drama. No chemistry between the leads though.

THE MUSIC
Ok, so here I have to give the drama props just because of the song "Stay" by Car, The Garden, which I fell in love with. But now that you know about it, you can just go ahead and Spotify it, and save yourself the trouble of watching the drama. You're welcome!

REWATCH VALUE
Null.

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Completed
Love Designer
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jul 9, 2021
45 of 45 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 6.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

Heaven & Hell in One Drama

OVERALL
This drama manages the impossible! Somehow, it has the ultimate best AND the ultimate worst. Definitely watch it if 1) you are looking for an OTP with great chemistry and lots of smexy scenes, 2) you're a fan of good humor (there're some priceless scenes in this drama, and when I say priceless, I mean it), 3) you like a female lead that's mature and outspoken. Maybe pass if 1) the guy putting the girl down isn't your thing, 2) annoying mothers aren't your thing, 3) never-ending business drama isn't your thing.

THE STORY
So here's the thing. To be honest, about 60% of this drama is bad. First, for half of the drama, the interactions between ML and FL are very problematic. He keeps on putting her down all the time, but it's supposed to be cute? Then there's the issue of the work drama that never ends. There's always something bad around the corner, which...gets tiring and repetitive. Then there's FL's mom that is the most annoying character ever (even if she does redeem herself). And I'm not even getting into ML and FL's communication issues or the antics of the second leads. So many negative points with this drama.

So why watch it? Because the remaining 40% is GOLD. Once things start moving between ML and FL, their dynamics, chemistry, their skinship, everything has got to be some of the best I've ever seen in a drama. A-MA-ZING. And it comes with some pretty epically funny scenes. I really liked the FL's character too. She's not manly and she's not necessarily the smartest, but she still comes off strong because of how frank and straightforward she is. So this is a case of the 40% being well worth the trouble of watching (or skipping) the remaining 60%.

THE ACTING
Pretty good! I first saw Dilraba in The Long Ballad and became a fan. She makes each of her characters different, but we still feel like it's her; she's a natural. I really liked ML too, of course, and ADORED their chemistry. Second leads were fine too, but the guy more than the girl - she sometimes felt too much. This isn't the kind of drama in which characters make you feel really emotional, though, and I feel like that's a minus.

THE MUSIC
It's okay, but nothing I feel like downloading and listening to by myself.

REWATCH VALUE
Not gonna lie, I'm 200% going to watch this again, and more than once...but with lots of skipping!

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Completed
Fabulous 30
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
May 8, 2015
76 of 76 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
OVERALL
Nothing special. Watch it if you're desperate to watch something light.

THE STORY
The impression I had while watching Fabulous 30 was that it was made by people who didn’t take the story seriously. The characters had some depth, but they chose not to dive deeper into them. The relationships had the potential to be complex and real, but they chose to leave them at a superficial level. And, to top it all, they had to make a 76-episode drama 80% about every random possible thing BUT the main couples, keeping us from really seeing any romantic scenes between the characters. A waste, no matter how I see it. I must also say that the main girl’s (I think Xu Wan Ting was the main out of the three best friends) story was quite boring. Her friends had way better love lines, but these were not explored as much.

THE ACTING
Meh. I always thought Jennifer Hong was good and Vivi Lee was not bad, but the others did not impress me. Chemistry-wise too, didn’t feel much.

THE MUSIC
Mm…there was a duet I liked. I’d say it’s okay.

REWATCH VALUE
Not watching 76 episodes again for just a few episodes that really were worthwhile, no. Unless I get desperate.

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Ho Goo's Love
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Apr 2, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.5
OVERALL
A great drama, which only flaw is that the romance lacks a bit of passion. Watch! Just watch!

THE STORY
In my opinion, all good dramas are character-driven, which is why Ho Goo’s Love is good. There’s no storyline per say in the show. Sure, we can say it’s the story of a loser who meets with his first love and tries to win her over. But that’s not it. It’s the story of a guy who thinks he’s a loser and consciously plays the part, and the story of a girl who thinks she’s a loser but chooses to pretend she’s not, and how they come to trust in themselves and go for what really matters to them in life. Their personalities, their issues and their attempts to deal with these problems drive their relationship and the entire drama forward. That's character development at its best. That's a great drama.

All characters are fab and remain coherent from beginning to end (hence the drama also is coherent from start to finish), but what’s also great about this show is the script. Among so many great things, I thought it was amazing how everyone in the show ends up realizing, at some point, that they’re Ho Goo (fools). We’re all fools, especially in love. It’s fresh, it’s light (even when a serious, dark matter’s in play), it’s fun and relatively realistic. It's complete.

The downside to this drama is that the writers put out innovative plot possibilities, but by the end decided to play safe and give the type of closure that’s more conventional to Kdramaland. Also, I’m going to say it as it is, there could have been more skinship between Do Hee and Ho Goo, or more intensity (aka “passion”) in the relationship. While the show’s great, it’s not emotionally gripping, and I think that’s one of the reasons, especially since they put a lot of emphasis in the premise on the fact that Ho Goo had never been romantically involved. It’s a shame, but hey, the drama’s so good, I’m not even going to complain.

THE ACTING
I want Choi Woo Shik! Can’t I have him? He’s cute ok, but he’s also such a great actor! Uee’s acting has me conflicted, because I don’t think it’s bad, but it doesn’t always convince me. Anyway, it wasn’t an impediment to the show, I still loved her character the most out of all, so I’d say she did well. Seulong was awesome! But all the cast did well.

THE MUSIC
Funny, I just ended the show and I can’t think of what the OST was like…well, it wasn’t bad at least! I’d remember that!

REWATCHABLE VALUE
High. Very high.

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Completed
Channel-X
2 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Aug 18, 2014
30 of 19 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
OVERALL
Average show that's enough to pass time but not enough to make it to any top list. Watch if 1) You want a show with some action/suspense, 2) You have nothing better to watch. Don't watch if 1) You like strong/mature female leads, 2) You have low tolerance for cliched evil girls who cling onto main leads with their lives and all the bad tricks they can come up with.

THE STORY
Let me warn you, the synopsis is not at all what the show is about. Or yes, it is, until around episode 5. If the entire show had centered around that plot, it probably would have been way better. But unfortunately, the writer(s) decided not to do things that way. Instead, the show centers around the struggle of the two main characters to expose the wrongdoings of a big company. At least, in theory, that's what the show is about. In reality, the show is about the main guy getting fooled, again and again, by the bad girl of the series, and the main girl running after him until she ends up getting fooled too. They sort of work to find the truth and ruin the bad guy, but then, they spend a lot more time having no idea what to do and naively falling into traps.The ending is absolutely surreal, almost cartoony. On the good side, the beginning of the show manages to suck you in; half-way through the drama you get some pretty cute scenes between the main leads, and every now and then there's a good plot element to keep you hanging.

THE ACTING
Well, so far I'm not super convinced with Joe Cheng's acting. Sometimes, yes, a lot more times, no. Amber Guo left a better impression on me, but I wasn't feeling much chemistry between him and her, even though there might have been sparks in two-three scenes.

THE MUSIC
Kind of good. I liked the main theme, and some other tracks seemed alright. I will google the soundtrack.

REWATCH VALUE
Mmmm....I don't think so. Maybe for the few couple scenes that made the show, but I was just too frustrated while watching to think of going through it again.

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