Reviews

Great Watch - wish it could be longer

It's not a perfect story, but I managed to finish the whole series and I look forward to how the story would end. Very entertaining from start to finish. It's a light watch. Lots of great characters except the villains of course and those outside ML's mansion. The cast did a great job. The ML can definitely act. This is the first time I watched any of his drama. Looking forward for more. He's so tall and fit for the role as a general. I'm convinced. ML and FL visuals and chemistry were amazing. I didn't mind the age gap. I just wish they added 2-3 episodes more as the ending felt a little bit rushed and we didn't get a lot of CP time or the wrap some of the fun scenes. I like the character of the sister of ML. It's quite rare to find supporting characters like that. The duo guards of ML were a delight, plus the maid FL.

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This is up there on the peculiar list

This has got to be one of the most peculiar J-Drama I've seen in awhile; It doesn't seem traditionally structured like a normal 4ep drama would be (eg. Friends 2002) but it also isn't avant garde enough for it to get a pass, it just seems like a indie film project that was for some reason split up into 4 episodes instead of just a movie.
The plot itself seems strange. Because I am no where near fluent in Japanese, the more minor nuances of the story were more or less missed at first, but I managed to somewhat get it in the end: ML suspects his girlfriend of cheating, and in typical liberal arts student fashion, he begins something unexpected in response, a documentary of the timeline. Despite it being only 4 episodes long, 23 minutes each, there is a lot of jumping back to the past when they first met and present day, though from all I could tell, most of the past is just his good memories and completely irrelevant to the story (kinda annoying when they could take up 1/3rd+ of the episode). Characters were written in attempt to be deep/thought provoking I feel, but failed. FL just seems manipulative and ML a naive pushover (which was practically pointed out by the tritagonist in ep4).
Technical aspects were good, think I'm gonna stop pointing out how 'good' newer J-Drama are at lighting and all that since that seems uniform in all of them.
Acting I personally think was alright, seemed again like an amateur film project so picking actresses and actors with little experience fit it (not saying they were bad, they all did very well)

Overall I recommend this to people doing Japanese immersion, otherwise don't bother

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Amazing musical performances - a Light and Feel-Good drama

Disclaimer: I enjoy music but won’t say I am a big fan of classical music. I also don’t play any instruments. The rating is purely based on my enjoyment while watching and after watching.

+0.5 because of the beautiful full-length musical performances.

Usually, I would rate a drama like “Reversal Orchestra” an 8.0 rating. The plot is simple and light-hearted. It’s a typical drama about a group of people (musicians here) who work hard to achieve the ultimate goal together. Along the way, you have side stories of different members with a tiny little romance subplot. These side stories are simple enough to give each character a little background, but not long enough to give it depth. There aren't any annoying characters. All the musicians are supportive of each other. There’s no in-group rivalry and they are just TOO nice. This is definitely a feel-good drama. This is not a drama that will spark deep conversations or amaze you in many ways.

But to me, what stands out in this drama compared to other dramas with a music focus, is the amazing performances. If you enjoy classical music, this is the drama for you. Much of the screen time is dedicated to music playing. There are several full-length performances that are amazing to watch and listen to. Oftentimes, I get disappointed when I watch a drama about music, and you get chopped up performances, especially when the characters are supposed to be preparing for this big showdown. The showdown becomes a letdown. But not here! “Reversal Orchestra” not only has a believable orchestra playing the music and we have satisfying performances. It’s quite amazing to see the actors so in sync when playing their instruments. They do make me believe they are true musicians. Each movement is synchronized within the section. It’s beautiful to see. However, what I just described could also be what you dislike most about the drama. You might find it boring because the focus is on music playing and performances. The background music is classical music. There are not songs with lyrics, like a traditional OST.

The actors and actresses deliver good performances as well. It’s a typical J-drama with moments of overdramatic acting. I have been on a Tanaka Kei (ML) binge recently, and am happy to see another side of him. I cannot sing enough praises of his choice of projects. They are so diverse! Kawowaki Mugi plays a likable female lead. So glad she’s not another innocent, naive pushover. She’s kind but could be crazy and feisty.

If you are a classical music lover and want a light and easy watch, “Reversal Orchestra” is definitely the right drama for you. However, if you are looking for something deeper with a stronger message or moral, you might want to look elsewhere.


Completed: 5/1/2024 - Review #436

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Hope just like the title

Watching this drama make me realize how study can actually be fun. This drama taught a lot of lesson of how teacher should guide their student. And how we shouldn't judge other people capability of studying before we know their situation just like the 5 kids in this drama. The thing that I like and agree with is we shouldn't overthinking, donot ever feel regret cause it just make you suffer more, resentment can be your strongest weapon, and etc. Really recommend this drama for those who really like to watch some slice of life and little romance.

For the ending I think it should just cut to 29 ep cause I think it is just unnecessary for it to be 30 ep. Because in the ep 30 it really just feel like it feel weird ending like CY with SY, Li Ran alone, BXX and Jiang divorce. I think they can make it to 29 ep and then in the 4 minute before the ending they can show the past journey how they studied with some good voice over telling the journey we been thought it can be said up and down, from how we start the journey with little hope and trust, from how we were helpless on our situation, to what we become right now with full of hope and trust to keep moving forward, to how we confront with problem and sharing our feeling with other to be better and etc.... Maybe something like that will make the ending better with photo of them graduate from high school with qing bei colledge admitted certification. This is just my opinion

Overall really recommended this drama. It is underated

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More like The Substitute Princess's Suffering

I had to skip a lot of parts due to my weak heart watching an innocent girl suffering from her early life til she was almost dying. I can't deny that there are a lot of cute moments, romantic scenes, and sometimes comedic too. But in the end, this drama is like a torture for me.
I think I will never rewatch it, Im so sorry.
But what I honestly really like is Shen Keyi and Zhou Yu relationship. A friendship with true and genuine feelings, for me at least.
There are a lot of toxic villains that will annoy you, so becareful lol.
But maybe this kinda story indeed exist in ancient china back then idk but it seems so realistic without any fantasies.
No regrets, but still I still had a lot of skips.

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An Entertaining Watch Indeed

At first glance, “We Are” seems like a cliché bubblegum show without much substance, however, as you delve deeper into the show, without any cynicism it is pure swoon worthy romance and presents a genre I quite like which is equivalent to the early 2000s chick flicks. Although it doesn’t have much to say or has no edge, it gives us heartwarming love stories, actual courtship and although there are elements of slow burn romance in some of the couples, the show balances it out by giving us different solid story lines to follow that are all wholesome and you can’t help but root for each single couple. Comfort shows with low stakes, that are written to make the audience feel good are severely underrated and its easy to write them off as bubblegum shows that lose flavor quickly, however, you cannot deny that when they are sweet, they are indeed sweet.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/05/01/we-are-series-first-impressions-ep-1-to-4/

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Brainless Behaviour

This drama was a constant coin toss for me, swinging between great and bad throughout, this included the story, characters, jokes, and, in particular, cases. Every case related to one or multiple subjects around neuroscience for the doctor to talk about, however, some subjects were poorly executed and questionable. These ones were totally forced and stretched thin just for the sake of including them. Other cases were actually interesting. The humor as well was a big hit or miss, especially with the male leads. The drama placed too much focus on the male leads while neglecting the remainder of the cast dynamic. On the other hand, the detective wife didn't fit quite well and it took until the last few episodes for her character to finally blend. The drama had its good moments with its witty humor but it lacked in many areas to be a solid drama.

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An Emotional Rollercoaster

The drama was exceptional, excelling in plot, acting, and music. It stands out particularly for its realistic fighting scenes, a refreshing departure from other dramas with awkward CGI. The music, while great overall, occasionally veered into being overly loud during battle scenes, making it hard to hear dialogue without adjusting the volume frequently. Despite this, the acting was top-notch, which was expected given the talented lineup. Watching the main leads for the first time was a pleasant surprise, especially in how they conveyed emotions that many other dramas fail to capture. Both actors are seasoned professionals, adept at drawing out genuine feelings from their characters.

One minor critique is that at times, Mo Fang's acting felt slightly awkward, particularly towards the end of the series. Nevertheless, it didn't detract significantly from the overall experience. Another highlight was the portrayal of the female lead as a relatable character rather than an all-powerful figure constantly reliant on the male lead. The dynamic between the leads was well-written, showcasing effective communication and mutual reliance.

I highly recommend this drama to fans of epic battle scenes and nuanced performances, as it delivers both with finesse.

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Came for Kim Soo Hyun stayed for Kim Soo Hyun

This is the perfect example of how a mediocre plot/story/screenwriting can become a masterpiece with the right cast.
Queen of Tears is your average storyline, more like the stories of the 2010s, revolving around the traditional plot lines of, a rich girl and poor boy, terminal illness following the ML and FL rekindling their lost love, finding a miraculous cure and finally a happily ever after. Add to that there is the typical villain who is manipulative and makes your teeth itch wanting to beat them to death.

There was character and story development, but in the end, it all was just average. But oh BOY!! didn't the cast do a brilliant job?? Like every actor /actress was amazing, taking out their full potential to bring out the oh-so-average characters. If this drama was acted out by anyone else, it would not have been as successful, so kudos to the cast. It was a Brilliant performance.

This is one of that rare moments where I came for the actors and stayed for them cuz the plot did not engage me as I was hoping it would be.

This 8/10 from me is entirely for the cast and none for the plot/screenwriter.

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Actually Deceitful

The drama fell short of its promising premise, stumbling through a maze of poorly executed plotlines and lackluster character development. It didn't take more than a few episodes, after the first couple of cases, to show its cracks, the narrative was disjointed, as if the writers couldn't decide which direction to take. Once the main case with Kyung Ja & Jay was brought to the front, the story went haywire. The drama failed to maintain a cohesive storyline after that. The main antagonists motivations were a total joke of a writing, let alone, the unhinged obsession of an adult over a little girl. While it's clear the creators aimed for a clever blend of mystery and drama, the execution fell flat, leaving more frustration than entertainment.

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