Reviews

So hi...

Moving was a drama with amazing cast, acting and storyline. I watched it all, but for me it didn't deserve that 10. Don't hate me for that - taste shouldn't be discussed!!! I only stayed for the kids storyline, the parents' one didn't captivate me. Call me boring, sorry. So my opinions are mostly based on the kids storyline.
Acting was amazing. They were extremely cute and Heesoo and Bongseok were such a pleasure to watch. Show stealer KangHoon ( Kim DoHoon) showed me once again why he is one of my favs.
I am honestly sorry I couldn't like this show as much as the people on tiktok and so. The hype was mindblowing tbh. Everyone was and still is so obsessed with it - it wasn't like that for me ... sadly.

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Watching this I thought I was frozen in time

For me, this was so slow. I felt like I'd been watching it forever, imagine my surprise when I was only on episode 5! I stuck it out, hoping it would improve, again, I'm only speaking for myself, it didn't.

There were a couple of positives:
1) Chae Jong Hyeop. He had the great ability to go from nerdy to "spy" in a moment. He did a lot of switching back and forth. One minute he's someone that has no drive, just wants money, then the next he is standing up for the underdog.
2) I loved Im Chul Soo's scene in the last episode when the police asked him what other jobs he's had, and he referenced his characters from other dramas. That was so funny!

Otherwise, too many bad guys, a wasted and useless romance (romance is my favorite genre, but don't try to fit it in where it doesn't belong), lots of repetition, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending.

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ONE OF THE CUTEST ROM - COM OF ALL TIME ...

A very wholesome drama that's filled with teamwork, friendship, romance and comedy! It is An eSports story yet sweet and not boring to watch ...
i started this because ML looks really iconic in this one and after completing the drama there are many butterflies left in my stomach and i do not even know how many times i have rewatched this drama ...

I love the chemistry between the main leads both on the drama and behind the scenes. The acting is flawless, ChengXiao improved a lot. This drama is really full of visuals.Lastly, the support roles, such as ZGDX members, God Ming, their manager, fl's best friend and bf all really made this drama very sweet not only in between the main leads but also in friendship. There is a spark of comedy in each episode.

THE MUSIC FOR THIS DRAMA IS TOP TIER. I loved every song. Seventeen made a song for the show, and I was so happy when I found out.

This drama is far from perfect and definitely has flaws, but for me, it was enjoyable and entertaining Chinese drama ...

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Staying a bit too true to the source material, failing to make a enjoyable TV adaptation

Zheng Shuyi (played by Bai Lu) is an ambitious reporter for a financial newspaper. In order to write another cover story, she wants to interview well-known entrepreneur Shi Yan (played by Dylan Wang). The only distraction from her ambition comes from her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, who is cheating on her with another woman. Zheng Shuyi vows revenge by focusing even more on her career - and seducing the rich uncle of her ex's new girlfriend. A series of misunderstandings leads her to accidentally mistake Shi Yan for him. And then there's Shi Yan's real niece Qin Shi Yue (played by Shen Yu Jie), who soon starts working as an intern at the Zheng Shuyi newspaper under a secret identity. Follow their tangled love story through 36 episodes of misunderstandings, awkward car rides and boring business talks.

I never have high expectations of modern dramas, but the combination of Bai Lu and Dylan Wang got me excited. There were quite a few scenes that made me giggle like a teenage girl, and some of the suspense kept me coming back to the show every day. However, there are a lot of things wrong with this show.

The main problem is the failed attempt to transfer the charm and humor of the web novel directly to the drama, without making an adaptation based on the different type of media. There were many scenes that had the typical web novel/manga elements - frozen characters, puppy eyes, awkward silences. As drawings, these are usually expressed with additional text or symbols. Since this kind of editing is only done in variety shows, all we got was the characters staring at each other or making awkward facial expressions. The show also failed to use music to convey the meaning of these scenes. This left us with a drama that lacked chemistry between the leads and made the acting seem wooden and boring - and this in a drama with the queen of chemistry!

On top of that, the show lacked an interesting subplot. Almost all the exciting scenes and anticipated revelations were related to the niece, who became my favorite character. The business scenes were incredibly badly written. At times, it felt like they had just used placeholder lines instead of writing actual dialogue.

This all contributed to a disappointing drama with some of my favorite actors. If you are a fan, the drama is still is partly enjoyable, but ultimately the weakest work in both Bai Lu's and Dylan Wang's filmography.

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BEST WUXIA DRAMA WITH DETECTIVE THEME ...

i started this drama when it is airing and i have low expectations with this drama but as it passes 2-3 episode , i knows that it will break many records ..because it is perfect in cast , action scenes and dialouges and the best part of this drama that it does not have unnecessary love theme because it does not suit at all ...

MLC is not the typical fast-paced drama, as it mainly focuses on solving individual mysteries that all contribute to the main storyline. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for viewers who like non-stop action and romantic entanglements, it presents a story and character-driven approach that is worth exploring.

i love to see more of cheng yi work like this and immortal samsara ...

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In its monstrosity hardly dealt with war crime pulled off the dusty shelf in vividly stylized mode

The Netflix production “Gyeongseong Creature” turns out to be quite an idiosyncratic mix. Studio Dragon had the opportunity to experiment and make full use of an illustrious cast. Despite some clichés, "Gyeongseong Creature" is not a banal K-drama that you quickly forget.

Basically it's another hero´s quest of some hero against his will, discovering unexpected sides of himself. It´s another ´mission impossible´ right into the lion's den - in this case: the military hospital of the Japanese colonial army base in the middle of the capital of the Chōsen colony in 1945. It is not the fair maiden who is to be saved, but the kidnapped, impregnated courtesan of the chief of the Japanese police. It turns out that a 'dragon' - in this case an artificially created monster - also has to be overcome along the way. The hero is flanked by a motley crew of long-standing and spontaneous companions...

Now this old wine comes in a freshly spiced-up Korean-style bottle. The personal touch of "Gyeongseong Creature" is precisely that Gyeongseong in those final months of the Pacific War, when Seoul bore that name. The historical setting as well as the historically and socially significant issues of Japanese colonial rule give the plot its selectivity and a quite serious foundation, so that "Gyeongseong Creature" does not simply offer interchangeable run-of-the-mill entertainment. Here, a painful chapter of South Korean suffering is intertwined with personal fates in the form of loosely interspersed critical events during colonial rule that is officially (by Japan) to this day preferable neglected, not to mention rehabilitated. With this Netflix production it has been nonchalantly thrown onto the World Channel to be proclaimed and acknowledged in HD.
This involves in general: the arbitrary racist violence and oppression against the Koreans as well as the systematic torture and execution of suspected resistance fighters in Sodaemun Prison; the forced military conscription and bullying of Korean soldiers within Japanese units; the forced recruitment or abduction of comfort women for (mass rape for the pleasure of) frontline soldiers... And specifically in the case of this story: the monstrous machinations of Unit 731 as part of the Imperial Japanese Army, which went down in history for its inhumane experiments on human subjects. Although these experiments actually took place mainly in Harbin in Manchuria (see side note below), they were for this KDrama also imported to Gyeongseong for a compact narrative stringency.

Against this background, "Gyeongseong Creature" tells its fictional story with artistic license. In some scenes you may get the impression that you have lost your way in a parody. Despite of such incomprehensible human menace and distress, the story presents itself at times completely unimpressed by any seriousness. There is room for humor and coolness, (which sometimes made me think of a parody of 'James Bond' or alike production). There is this reluctant hero who sometimes appears naive, sometimes quite cheeky and self-confident. He´s someone who has learned to achieve his goals, but who prefers to stay out of any trouble, wearing a stylish suit. And then, out of nowhere, he can withstand torture and injuries as if it were nothing at all. You can't really take this seriously. And yet...
In contrast, there is plenty of objective seriousness and expertise from the two foreign travelers on their detective mission. Pleasant extra: a clever, self-confident FL who is quick-witted in every respect.
In contrast, there is also the extremely dark world of medical experiments (and their artistic documentation) – underground on the military site.
In contrast, there are also the monsters, the army and the imprisoned test subjects.
And in the middle of the perfidious chase, the great feelings of humanity shine through: familial bonds and solidarity as well as wounded pride and jealousy act as driving forces, flanked by patriotic resistance and questionable scientific ambition. It's hardly surprising that Cupid also shoots his arrow in passing.

Not only do the individual characters at times feel like caricatures of themselves, Gyeongseong's production, choreographed in light and colors, also seems to come from an unreal fairytale world. While the pawnshop shimmers in all colors, the Japanese research laboratory is stylized as a dark dungeon beneath the military prison. And then there is the Moonlight Bar on the one hand and the police chief's property on the other - each of them control centers with a certain (political) impact. All of this is impressively aestheticized again and again in hand-picked scenes and settings. Sometimes you can feel like you're in the theater and then again like you're in the high-resolution digital world of a computer game.

So is the KDrama worth watching? On the one hand, "Gyeongseong Creature" takes itself very seriously with regard to its historical contemporary themes, but on the other hand, in the clichéd exaggeration of the individual characters, it apparently doesn't. This KDrama mix chosen for "Gyeongseong Creature" is, in my opinion, quite daring. However, I mean this in a benevolently positive way, in the sense of 'feeling free to experiment'. You might have to get used to it - but easily so. The (let´s say) rather 'banal' entertainment element - the Mission Impossible in view of the numerically superior Japanese military and the monster creation - is effectively intertwined with painful historical reality in a strikingly piquant and catchy manner. During the action-packed and visually stunning ride through the episodes, the KDrama subtly but consequently throws its barbs of memory at the audience.

The KDrama surely is offering cinematically solid entertainment with a star cast, but at the same time, based on the different personal backgrounds of the main and supporting characters, it demands acknowledgement of how the Japanese dealt with Koreans at that time. By stylizing the manifestation of Unit 731's monstrous experiments and research in the form of a concrete monster with superpowers, "Gyeongseong Creature" symbolically brings the unsatisfactorily dealt with war crime off the dusty history shelves in an unmistakable monstrosity.


...
Well, a second season has already been announced.
This will obviously be set in contemporary Seoul, though. We´ll see...























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SIDE NOTE: --- Unit 731 of the Kwantung Army of the Imperial Japanese Army ---

From 1932 onwards, Unit 731 of the Kwantung Army of the Imperial Japanese Army under the leadership of Ishii Shirō was stationed in Harbin, the largest city of the puppet state of Manchukuo in northern Manchuria. Around 3,000 mostly bacteriologists carried out experiments on living people there. The test subjects imprisoned and tortured there were predominantly Korean and Chinese civilians as well as Soviet prisoners of war. Later, including American prisoners of war, too.
Unit 731 of the Kwantung Army of the Imperial Japanese Army was disguised as the “Main Branch of the Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department.” In fact, Unit 731 in Harbin is responsible for the most cruel experiments on living humans. Later, field research was also carried out using the biological weapons developed in Harbin. The victims based on this research alone were mostly civilians - tens of thousands came together over the course of the war years.
I would like to ad that the main perpetrators of these war crimes by Unit 731, who had the full support of the later Japanese prime ministers and the Japanese imperial family, remained unpunished in exchange for the research results that they handed over to the USA...


PS:
There was no offshoot of Unit 731 in the fictional Onseong Hospital in Geyeongseong. That's fictional.
There was no Onseong Hospital in Gyeongseong either.
However...


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SIDE NOTE: --- Gyeongseong Japanese Military Hospital ---

The main KDrama setting is a colorful look and feel of Gyeongsong (Seoul at that time). The focus is on the architecture of the Republic's former Defense Security Command Center. On the area between the palace and the old town of Bukcho a military hospital was built by the Japanese in 1928. The Onseong named Hospital in "Gyeongseong Creature" is fictional, but the architecture that takes center stage is in fact related to a real Japanese military hospital before later actually becoming part of the Republic's Defense Security Command Center.
Until about two decades ago, this area was an urban area closed to the public and with bad memories for the people - not only of the activities of the colonial rulers, but also of their own military, which staged a coup against the people here in the 1970s. Furthermore, many South Koreans were tortured and mistreated there (by the security officers of South Korea's dictatorial regime). Until recently, human rights was an unknown concept behind those walls.
The ensemble could have been demolished, but the people decided to preserve the building as a memorial. The historical witness is now part of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The bloody past is thus being countered with something positive: the imagination and emotional power of modern art.

Here, with the KDrama "Gyeongsong Creature", the dark past of this military area bearing a bloody and painful past, which began with Japanese colonial rule and was later continued by South Korean government officials, comes to life again with artistic license, too - as representative contemporary witness in HD.

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For me this series deserves a perfect rate of 10. Why? Because this series is a complete package. It brought us to a rollercoaster ride. We saw their fun and humorous sides. We saw a great comraderie with them. They are badass, but we saw how soft they are with each other. We saw a great friendship and great brotherhood. The funny Yu Shisan, the animal lover Sun Lang, the quiet/cold but a caring brother Qian Zhao, the sickly but their baby brother Yuan Lu who is really a cute one. Their best boss/leader Ning Yuan Zhou. On the other hand, we also saw the same on Ren Ruyi. She is also a best leader among the Scarlet Guards. There's also Princess Aying, which from an immature princess was nortured to a strong and decisive woman. Li Tongguang who was so obsessed with his master. Chu Yue who was seemed a brat the time she was seen on the series but she's also a good hearted one. The beginning of the series gave us so much fun and laughter, makes us fall in love on how Ruyi and Yuanzhou loves and respect each other. We can see how badass they are. And they have each other's back. The series is so great that I really like that it made me smile. But when everything was in chaos,I thought I would never cry. I've read a lot of spoilers in fb.. But when I was already in the sad episodes, I really cried so much that I couldn't stop my tears from falling. Some people don't like the series because of the ending. But for me, it's already enough. Why? Because all of them died heroically and majestically. Especially Ning Yuan Zhou. The way he handled himself to keep standing until his last breath. The series made me realize, there is no always a happy ending in a chaotic world. But only a heroic ending like what happened to them. I honestly can't get over it. I cried so much. The best year ender series for me. Kudos to all the cast. They did great!




P.S.
It wasn't showed that Yuazhou,Ruyi and Shishan died. It's prolly cut because of the limit but we assumed that they are really gone coz in reality, no one can withstand that kind of battle alone. Or if ever they are still alive, and Yuanzhou and Ruyi have kids, I hope the sequel is about their kids( Son can be played ny LYN again )Just wishful thinking

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A perfect choice for a light-hearted, enjoyable watch.

"Our Secret Diary" is a delightful and heartwarming journey into the realm of teenage romance, a film that effortlessly captures the essence of youth, innocence, and the beauty of simple, unspoken emotions.

The story involves around Nozomi, a second-year high school student, who finds herself in the middle of a love confession mix-up. A twist of fate leads to an enchanting exchange diary with Setoyama, the school's heartthrob. While the premise sounds familiar, the film unfolds as a unique story, capturing the magic of high school romance with an authentic touch.

Much like the tentative steps of a first dance, the movie takes a moment to find its rhythm. The initial 15 minutes may feel a bit awkward, but it's a necessary stumble that eventually leads to a graceful flow through the lives of its characters. The beauty lies not just in what is said, but in the unspoken language of glances and expressions.

"Our Secret Diary" stands out in its commitment to simplicity—a rarity in a world obsessed with dramatic twists. The story stays true to its core theme, exploring teenage love and the delicate threads of relationships. This deliberate choice allows the narrative to breathe, creating a genuine and immersive experience.

The characters, portrayed with sincerity and charm, invite you into their world. Nozomi, despite an initial awkwardness, grows into a character with depth and relatability, unfolding like the pages of a cherished diary. The chemistry between the leads is evident, their interactions echoing with the sweet notes of first love.

The film extends beyond the realm of romance, delving into the often-overlooked things of teenage friendships. It becomes a canvas for lessons in understanding and forgiveness, underscored by the simple yet powerful act of apologizing. This touch of authenticity adds layers to the narrative, making it more than just a love story.

At the heart of the movie is a lie that serves as a catalyst for both angst and revelation. The storytelling skillfully navigates the complexities of unrequited love, leaving the audience with a satisfying emotional payoff. It's a reminder of the bittersweet nature of untruths and the joy that comes with resolution.

"Our Secret Diary" is, in essence, a symphony of emotions. Heartwarming moments are scattered like musical notes throughout the film, creating a lingering resonance that stays with you. The movie isn't aiming to redefine the romance genre; instead, it makes you to embrace the simplicity and beauty of young love.

*Don't miss the post-credit scene for an extra dose of charm.*

In a cinematic landscape often clouded with complexities, "Our Secret Diary" is a cozy and sweet retreat. It invites you to revisit the excitement of teenage crushes, the thrill of unexpected connections, and the warmth of genuine friendships. Like a familiar melody, it promises comfort—a movie to be revisited whenever you yearn for the simple and beautiful cadence of youth.

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Story of sacrifice for love

one of the best Chinese drama that i have watched..
the first 15 episodes are my favourite... it tells the love story of shanguu and bai jue... really loved the character of tianqi and yuemi ..
but after 15 episodes every emotions in my heart reaches their peaks ...
this drama deserves the line ..''IT IS A COMPLETE ROLLERCOASTER OF EVERY EMOTIONS '' ....

casting and production all are top notch ...even the costumes suites every character and their weapons are looking almighty ...and after all of this this drama has best CGI , i have seen in any c -drama ...

OSTs are main reason which left audience crying ...this drama has all Heart touching OSTs ..
i really love that our couple has a happy ending...

for future viewers - DO NOT HESITATE TO START THIS MASTERPIECE .....

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Stunning!

This was such a nice show? I watched it in exactly one week, which is insane for me, but this show just pulled me in immediately. So heartwarming and cozy, comfortable and sweet. The traditional elements were incorporated flawlessly: the OST was stunning and so beautiful, the female lead
s wardrobe one of the prettiest ever, and the musical performances we got to see were actually so good! Sometimes, when they talk about projects within a drama, the result ends up being super underwhelming, but not here. Nice voice acting and singing, beautiful sets and costumes: No disappointment whatsoever. I loved all the characters and the friend group was so funny and sweet?
Only criticism: I wish the female lead was a little more outspoken. I don’t mind that she was shy, but the male lead had to do most of the talking sometimes, so her speaking up a little more would have been nice! Also, my man made some big decisions in the end, I would have been so overwhelmed lmao. But overall, a really nice show with no drama, no toxicity; just warmth, music, food, fun, and love!! ??

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Bad

This randomly appeared in my netflix suggestions today. The movie is totally new, it has no reviews, only one comment, and almost no genres and tags defined. So, I was pretty much going in blind.

The story begins with a body of a woman being found. Then it follows two storylines: that of a troubled detective with suicidal thoughts and her incompetent sidekick, and of ex boyfriend and sister of murdered woman. Both sides are working independently at first to find the killer, but eventually their paths cross and they start working together.

Doesn't sound particularly original, right?
However, merely being unoriginal isn't this movie's greatest vice. After all, if you're a fan of detective noir and thrillers, you might enjoy it even if you've seen something like this many times before. But....

-Every character is a dumbass, making baffling, irrational and suicidal choices over and over again. Also, they have severe communication issues.
-The police is incompetent.
-In reality, the story wouldn't even happen. Fl, who tried to commit suicide with a police gun in the beginning of the movie, would have been involuntarily locked in mental hospital, not assigned a murder case.
-The acting from everyone except the main leads is bad, to the point that some scenes that were meant to be serious look like a parody.
-The representation of Thai people is bad, they are all short, brown and ugly. For a movie that's trying to put them in a sympathetic light, it isn't working.
-What could have been a good soundtrack is masked by constant screaming. You don't know how to build drama? Make them SCREAM.
-The pace is slow, the narrative is trying to use vague flashbacks and prolonged slow slice of life scenes to give these characters more depth then they actually have.

Overall I don't recommend it, there are many better thrillers out there.

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MY fav drama of all time ...

This is my first xianxia drama and after watching this i fall in love with this genre ..I’m probably not lying if I call the Xianxia genre my soulmate. I am a sucker for this beautiful genre, and Ancient Love Poetry is a must-watch if you enjoyed/loved the previous famous Xianxias. The drama brings you into a world of magic and beauty that makes it terribly hard for you to take your eyes offscreen.
The whole cast are really great in showing their emotions , i can 't even tell how much i cry while watching this ...after this drama Xu kai become my fav actor ...and zhou dong yu really played her role very elegantly , from cute and carefree to a mature chief god who sacrifices herself , then again from helpless character to most powerful character shanggu ...

OSTs of this drama are like a strawberry on a big cake ...every ost is literally pleasant to hear .

Ancient Love Poetry’s production is such a gem . The production is simply gorgeous, and the drama’s high budget certainly paid off and was used to its full potential. The costumes look simple with its light pastel colors, but with its simplicity comes a wave of freshness and slight joy. The drama’s CGI is not a joke, either. Each strand of magic and spell is carefully produced to the most believable extent, providing a most magical experience for the audience. Each realm in the drama also gives off special vibes.
i wish i can see more of xianxia like this ...
Overall-
It is still quite hard to believe that Ancient Love Poetry might have just become my favorite Cdrama of all time. The title of Xianxia of 2021 is most fitting for this drama, if not enough.

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cute but cringe at the same time

I was really looking forward for this because I really liked TutorYim in Cutie Pie and this is their first Main Role but sadly the series disappointed in many aspects: Jade is way more over the top as he was in Bedfriend. most of the time I have 2nd Hand embarrassment because of him and the soundeffects are making this worse. I totally adore Mai and he ist really sweet with Jade but we never really got to know why he liked him so much from the get go. I liked the second lead couple and their story wichkept me watching every week. And of course I wanted to see more of King and Uea but sadly there reduced to just comedic moments and maybe one or to more romantic ones.
It wasn't as bad as some series and I still wanted to know, how their story would end but it sadly didn't meet my expectations.

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nice and quick piece to watch

Invincible Stepmother (2023) -8/10 cdrama

short minidrama 24eps/10 min +- 3hours watchtime

drama is nice to watch, but its main perk is its watchtime.
Story aint very original its just about actress of historical dramas which sees kids as anoyance. Being transported to past as single stepmother of 3 kids with vile family wanting to get rid of them.
Story goes mostly about how modern woman tries protect herself and kids from all kind of bullying + tries to make money to pay off debt and to live better.
For romance even though they got there some guy to :love: female lead. There just wasnt enough time to do anything with it.

genre - historical, fantasy, comedy, romance

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Who am I to judge

A crime thriller centered on a serial killer during the Wan Li Period and trying to figure out why the murderer did what they did in relation to the crime that occurred 20 years prior.

What I love;
1. The cinematography and costume is meticulously crafted and makes you feel the common life in the Wan Li Period. The portrayal of being a commoner, bailiff and official is close to realistic which is not common now in the drama.
2. Each episode is important to solve the crime so you need to be attentive in every scene and every character in the drama.
3. Wonderful performance of every character.

Lastly: LU ZHI

I fell in love with Sangeng in the first episode because of his morals and exquisite face expression. And now Lu Zhi appears, a beggar who was taken in by Lu and raised in his home. He was presented as a good-natured, capable household manager who may have a better future if commoners in the current Dynasty were given more opportunities to advance. You will be able to relate to his character, who is willing to serve everyone around him and simply wants to establish a stable family. However, I believe that he is pushing his luck and running the risk of harm due to all the secrets he possesses when he "accidentally" or by pure coincidence discovers the secrets of others. However, he stayed devoted and compassionate, even trying to mediate their differences, but life is unjust.
He was driven to the brink in some way, and like the other reviewer noted, he would be a wonderful person if he could just have a guardian who could refer to him as a father figure. I was greatly impacted by his nuanced character, and I doubt I will forget him for a very long time.

Overall, it was a fascinating journey of investigating crimes in a subdued setting. This is not an action-packed drama, so I'm not sure if it's for everyone, but its strongest feature is understanding each character and how their actions lead to the tragic conclusion of a horrific serial killing.
Try it guys!

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