Review: When a Snail Falls in Love

Hey all!

I don't usually watch Chinese dramas, but this one seemed a little shorter so I gave it a try when it was new and trending: When a Snail Falls in Love! 

Interesting story because of all the twists and turns, but it definitely felt... lacking.

The romance wasn't all that, sadly! I know that these are the actors in Ode to Joy and have chemistry, which is evident in this show. They seem subtly attracted to each other in a few cute scenes as the show progresses. But the romance isn't the focal point of the show (even though in my opinion it is advertised to be. I mean, A snail falls in love). The characters are all police officers. 

We get to the action pretty soon when someone I thought would be an important character romance-wise gets brutally murdered. 

But my problem was that even the whole murder action plot-line was relatively predictable and not as exciting. The action scenes were alright, but the overall story was not as exciting.

I will say, the story has a lot of twists and turns, and follows one large narrative of the murder plot and all the dirty business that a corporation is trying to cover up in its wake. One thing leads to another, which leads to another, and perhaps that audience is left hoping the whole thing will end.

And at the end it's hinted they want a sequel... On the bright side, watch it while you're bored and doing something else, it's decent if you watch it occasionally as it plays in the background. Harsh? Maybe... :') 

I commend the show for having rather strong female leads. The main character is a tiny cute sociopath who enjoys drawing, played by Wang Ziwen (who really is so small oh my gosh). She is the department's psychological investigator (think Holmes, but not as well played-out).

She acts well! It's a convincing role as XuXu. She's constantly protected by Ji Bai, though, who is this super macho tough "show no emotion" type of bad boy hero with a conscience, the head of that police squad(?). He's a charming guy played by Wang Kai, and I enjoyed looking at his jawline. However, beyond that slope, his character development was left off at high kicks, judo flips, and being the tough guy. 

There are times of the show when the main character and plot really does impress you. Xuxu is the only one who undergoes any character development, from her reserved shell to doing some pretty daring things that end up saving the day. She doesn't whine or cry a lot despite her "cute" archetype, which is a blessing. 

While the female characters are all strong and hold their own, the friendship between them really isn't developed well... I guess this brings me to a vice of this drama. Other than the female lead I didn't see much character development from anyone. The side relationship was a little forced too, even though it was cute as a crush in the beginning of the show. 

The show really advertises the cute drawings aspect of the show (omg it's like a comic book story of a snail falling in love with a lion!) - that's not the case. The romance can get a bit dry and sudden at the end because they don't really build up to a true romantic relationship. It's more of a mentor-mentee relationship, and that wouldn't have been such a bad thing either, but not what was promised, and not what it becomes. 

It's an interesting story, though! All in all, it's a relatively short drama (21 episodes, 30~ minutes each), so it's not a huge waste of time or anything. Can be a been-there-done-that drama. I've never watched Ode to Joy but it seems well-received, so I'd probably rather watch that. 

The action in this show really gets down in the second half, and I almost wish the whole thing was a nicely made movie. Would've been cute! The character relationships could have been better developed, the lead would have still had her spotlight, and the main pairing might have built more momentum and not been so sudden (or one-sided... we had no clue the guy liked her back for a long time there).

To summarize, it's not what it advertises, so you might be disappointed if you're expecting one thing but getting another. But yea! I'd give it a 2.5/5 rating, so watch it if you really just have that much time to spare :') 

Tell me what you thought about it - whether you agree or disagree! All opinions welcome.

Luv and Hugs,

Ritz

Review: Reply 1997/ Answer Me 1997

If you're above a certain age (I mean, old enough to be mature about sex, and understand enough about love and growing up), this drama is a must-watch.

Awesome cast, awesome actors, good fit for their respective roles

Whether you are or aren't into it, this really isn't a school drama (Look for the School kdrama series for that one lol). It deals with growing up, in a nutshell. 
The director skillfully portrayed relationships: romantic, familial, friendships, and the complications that play into it when these relationships get in the way of others, or start blurring. It's about heartache, pangs, frustration, anger, and everything that usually enters the picture when it comes to teenagehood. 

This drama does in fact keep you anticipating, and reveals information little by little through its format of switching between the past and the present. There are many spoilers, so keep watch for the spoiler tags and don't read the spoilers if you seriously want the full experience. 

I loved the job that the actors did. I've never seen anything else in which they were principle actors, but they were such naturals in their roles. Jung Eun-ji played Sung Si-Won and was so natural and relatable and did not try to overdo anything. She was not a delicate flower that needed a man by her side all the time, nor was she fake. Her maturation was well-portrayed and understandable, her emotions raw and believable, and her positivity was contagious. Seo In-Guk played Yoon Yoon-jae, and he basically embodied and defined our inwardly emotional and struggling male lead that has been used in so many dramas and has found few truly capable of the it, and he brought his own twist into it as he portrayed a boy - every schoolgirl's cold but popular crush, and a little in-love, but at the same time awkward and young and naive. Can I live in Busan please?

Our side characters did a great job as well - notably Hoya (from INFINITE), who did such a good, believable and mature job of playing his role as someone with a secret he can't tell the person to whom it matters the most. Beyond this is a spoiler. And the addition of Sechkies leader Eun Ji-Won was plainly hilarious as there is a focus on our two female cast members' favorite bands - H.O.T. and Sechkies throughout the majority of the drama. As someone who deals with my own love for fandoms, I totally related to this fact and enjoyed the ensuing humor from the over-dramatization of fanwars. 

Cutie <3

The romance: amazing. The characters stuck in our strange love triangle had great chemistry and the romantic scenes were truly romantic - hilarious at times, make you blush at other times. And there's a special magic that surrounds the idea of a first-love - almost like a rite of growing up of heartbreak and confusion and butterflies. I think the true charm of the drama was its simplicity. The way in which our characters were portrayed was raw, genuine, earnest, and simple. There is no simple answer to love, whichever form it comes in, and that's the magic that this show shows so well. We truly feel for the characters as an audience, cheering on kisses, crying at heartbreak, anticipating reactions. Simple and sweet. Makes me melt.

The great thing about the side romance plots in the drama is that they are all sweet, heartwarming, believable, and make us love and understand all the characters. This is not true of side-character romances in most cases, and it does not detract from the main story, but feeds to the development of the characters, and the way they handle their relationships with each other. 

Rude asf *sigh*

One of the main themes in the drama is that of maturation, which hits everyone at some point, and it involves moving out of childhood fantasy. And it's a little sad to watch, but a real truth that we will all feel while growing up. It's the kind of thing that you remember suddenly when something sparks a memory in your mind of a time more innocent and genuine, which gives you an insight into who you are. Perhaps that is why the drama is aptly named to ask for a reply from that age of innocence. And growing up, moving beyond that time, it is inevitable, but was still beautiful to experience for our principle characters.

In addition to being a coming-of-age and romance drama, the director did a great job instilling a sense of nostalgia that even I, someone who has never experienced the 90's, especially not through South Korean culture, could relate. If you truly want to immerse yourself in understanding every joke and reference (such as the identity of one of the principle actors), read the entries and try to look up the references on the Special Appearances category of the cast or Google anything suspiciously sounding like an inside joke for 90's teens, because it probably is. 

This drama will not have any fantastical elements, nor any ridiculous unlikely happenings that would render it an unbelievable mess. If you are into a classic sexy cool hunk falling for a delicate princess of beauty and envy, this drama may not be for you. If you are not into realness either (which is understandable), then this drama won't satisfy that for you. This one is meant to hit the feels, make you think, make you cry a little, smile a lot.

Often low-budget translates to low-quality, but this drama is not particularly special in its production. Its story is worth watching, its characters worth falling for and relating to, its plot tied together well. That is what makes Reply 1997 one of my favorite dramas of all time. Watch it. 10/10 in my eyes.

Review: Fight My Way/ Fight for My Way

What can I say? I'm very pleasantly surprised!

Right from the start, I ought to say it's rare that I see a non-main couple with a love story that is engaging enough for me to care (sadly, those in Boys Over Flowers, Coffee Prince, Secret Garden... sometimes got annoying and pulled away from our main pairs). But this drama, while not blowing anything to ridiculous proportions with romance, and keeping the secondary couple down to earth and relatable, did more than any possible romantic rivals/flashy playboys/bitter exes ever did. I'm impressed, and I found myself genuinely rooting for all four of the leads.

Anyway, the actors did a great job. I'll be honest. Hwarang (Seo-Joon's previous drama) bored me, and I thought Ji-Won's role in Descendants of the Sun was a little flat. I also have never seen Song Ha-Yoon before, and never seen Ahn Jae Hong in a serious role, and he was possibly the most serious in the friend group (he was hilarious and lovable in Reply 1988 though). So this group of actors was almost underdog just like their underdog roles in the show.

The beginning of the show made the characters pitiful, relatable to anybody who has had a bad day, and underdogs we definitely want to see winning in the future. What a setup! Ae Ra always dreamed of being an anchorwoman on TV, the mic is her dream. Dong Man was a promising taekwondo artist who quit the sport. Seol-Hee and Joo-Man have dated for 6 years, and now go through a period of turbulence. 

The romance in the show was very cute from all the characters involved, and even though they were a little frustrating at times (why is he so obsessed with his ex and thick-headed? Why does she cry so much?), there were plenty of cute moments for our two lead couples that the story was an exciting one. Potentially sequel-worthy (very few dramas are)!

A pervasive theme in this drama was that of "it's not too late to pursue your dreams", which was pretty striking, and spoiler alert, everybody more or less achieves what they dream of, and in a way mature to have a better understanding of both themselves and their dreams, which do take on new forms. The romance did overwhelm the dream part at times, which I did not like, but was not enough to put a damper on the drama's merits. Dong Man's character valued money, and for good reason. We are exposed to the sacrifices people make for money, not simply because they want to roll in green, but because they always strive for the better - a better life for themselves, their kids, their families. And I completely sympathize with the realness that this aspect of the drama brought out. 

It's a truly refreshing take on a modern world where our opportunities seem more boundless than ever, and yet we are still tied down in a society of dependencies, responsibilities, and fear. One of the lines I really liked was "If growing up means that I have to give up my dreams, then I don't want to grow up!" I relate 😅😆 And yeah - they were 30 year olds who embarked on a journey to be happy in life. 

Don't be timid! Have self-confidence!

My favorite theme in this drama was that surrounding Song Ha-Yoon's character, which was feminist and practical and fresh in its point of view. I, for one, have never "dreamed" of marrying and having kids. My dreams lie more on the "let's never settle and focus only on work" side. Seol-Hee (played by Song Ha-Yoon) was of the former. Her dream was to be part of a family, to be loved, to cherish and be cherished. And what's wrong with that dream? Absolutely nothing. Feminism is the idea that no matter what anybody wants to do, gender of all things shouldn't be a hindrance. But our Seol-Hee does become more independent, which is a necessity in today's world, regardless of how much you love the person you depend on entirely.

This drama had several points of tension and suspense that kept it interesting throughout. There was this one secret regarding the landlady of the four friends, and the journey to finding out the truth was really funny and exciting. However, the actual execution of it (in the very last episode) felt a little rushed (you don't have to tie up all loose ends that neatly, guys). Perhaps that was the greatest flaw of the show. It just progressed towards a situation in which everybody got exactly what they wanted (in a way very obvious for the audience) and there was a distinct lack of loose ends in the show. But if you like happy endings like that, then hey, this drama did damn good.

I would rate it a 7.5/10 because of how refreshing this drama was. Not the sappy type that would include an all-star cast and become crazy successful, but a nice drama telling us more about ourselves. While I feel that the self-discovery idea was a little overshadowed by the romance at times, this drama was still a sweet one to watch - I'd recommend it!

Review: Uncontrollably Fond

Okay, unfortunately... this wasn't a drama I could finish watching. So this review is going to go over exactly why I couldn't finish, and what I got from the few episodes I did watch. After all, with the length of dramas, not every drama is worth watching, even if it is a tearjerker.

To be perfectly honest - this drama should be renamed Uncomfortably Fond. The story started off in a somewhat refreshing way (though, really, is any archetype that refreshing these days? We find out, episode 1, that Kim Woo Bin's character Shin Joon Young, is diagnosed with cancer and won't live for very long. Very heartbreaking, especially when you toss in his relationship with his mother, whom he doesn't tell about the illness (he was so frustrating and pitiful... Woo Bin did such a good job with this. If only it wasn't poorly written). 

Suzy... now she's a renowned actress, and I did enjoy her portrayal of her character, No Eul- sassy, bold. But since this is the only work I've seen her in, I'm not so impressed. 😓 The real problem, then, might have been her character. Erratic and ridiculous at time, she was a representation of a broken human who hides her feelings with a "lol I'm a bad person" persona. Did it make sense? Not really, no. (At least not till she develops and becomes her true self, which does not come in for a while- and for me, was not worth the wait). Did I like it? Not really, no. 

The other principle characters were also a little ridiculous and shocking, and nobody in the show was a stereotypical "good-guy", which I enjoyed. Everybody was forced to face the consequences of their actions, which is not necessarily how real life works. But this is a drama, so to balance the story, of course that's how it works (thank goodness). 

She's so pretty though... wow

The story, long-winded and a little sudden, does not really pull the audience in enough in the beginning for us to watch it all, and the conflict seems stale. Regardless, it weaves in a plethora of pitiful characters with flaws and grudges (though we aren't sure how they all tie in for a bit). And when we are aware of how these grudges tie in, and how people have wronged each other, we're... bored. But also it all just seems like such an unresolved mess that I just didn't have the heart to watch it all play out, not to mention the multitude of factors that complicated and confused the story a little. Simplicity might have done the story some good. 

Character development does indeed take place, especially Woo Bin and his, um, kin. But the stereotypical conflicts still exist in the sphere - and the relationships between family members are as complicated as they are expected. Not much of an element of surprise in the show, mainly because of its slow pace. But I am glad that the characters weren't completely fake and unbelievably good or bad. It set the tone for the drama rather well, since it does deal with a more serious atmosphere that doesn't have a traditional love story and magical happenings. 

If there's another element that's so often used in a way I don't like (except Secret Garden. They did phenomenal), it would be the god damn ties to the past. The show trailers advertised a pair of classmates who meet after growing up. Great. But their past love story was just a little forced. I think the way they did finally get separated, and the way they meet again was super fresh. I really liked it. But, their sudden reawakening of love, and this undying love that has been festering for years? So random. There are flashbacks to the past in other parts of the drama that I think were well executed, as well as our main character's regression in memory (spoiler? But well done). 

The point of the story? Of course, since it's got the terminal illness trope, it's got to do with appreciating life. Our main character decides to set into motion his "bucket list" before he dies so that he can do what he always wanted to do (confess to his old love, make up with his mother, etc.). But at the end he appreciates what he had done in his life, and ended on a peaceful and happy note. It's kind of heartbreaking. But the story does delve into much more than that - which redeems to the extent that at least our characters and their connections were thought out. The drama explores how different characters deal with consequences to their actions, and whether or not people can be truly good or bad. We see themes of family develop, and how small actions can ruin everything. There is a call to a moral being inside us all to do what is right. 

So why didn't I like it? Well... it was boring and slow. Not to mention, the plot seemed all over the place, and while the ideas that were brought out in the drama were deep and fresh, their execution was poor. I could not form a bond with No Eul despite her sad backstory, mainly because of how strangely she was portrayed. Perhaps it was on purpose, to show her as a broken creature. But how this love story persisted despite all that? That's what made me stop. If you can overlook the improbability of their feelings and actions in any situation in the drama, you probably won't dislike the show as much as I did. 

Regardless of whether or not the show pained you (I mean mentally and emotionally - this was one sad show), the soundtrack is worth listening to. If there's one song I fell in love with, it would be A Little Braver by New Empire. Sweet, and well-timed within the drama. Would recommend it.

So in conclusion, watch it if you're desperate for a slow story and a good cry with little catharsis. Or, don't watch it. Appreciate your life and love freely regardless. Be grateful and show it to those around you, and oh, always do what you believe in your heart to be right. Be happy. Haha 😊

Review: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

"By any chance... Do you like Messi?"

  This line managed to capture hearts and smiles across the world as the saga of Kim Bok Joo and Jeong Joon Hyung ended in January this year (I know, I know, I'm late). 

Two Straws One Cup (I'm bad sorry)

And we learned last month that their onscreen chemistry materialized into something more off-screen as well (congrats my lovelies), which is partially what led me to finish this series and realize that yes, their chemistry and relationship was so natural and enviable that this show was bound to be a hit - and not to mention but the portrayal of friendships and families painted Bok Joo's life with vibrancy without neglecting our male lead.

My favorite 13th Prince
and Seohyun as his lover

An antagonist from Doctors

From the start, I was incredibly surprised when I learned that Lee Sung Kyung would be playing such a bubbly character considering her previous roles, and similarly that Nam Joo Hyuk, a previously silent, strong, hot guy would be playing an equally bubbly immature guy role, but I was excited, and not disappointed. If you've watched them in other dramas (Doctors and Scarlet Heart: Ryeo for me), throw any ideas you might have of typecasting away, because these two are convincing and good, fresh upcoming actors. 

First things first, Bok Joo is a 21 year old (in Korean age) weightlifting ace whose main goal in life is to consume chicken, hang out with her friends, and do well at the sports university she attends. Her life gets a little more than a little twisted up when she meets an old classmate at the university, swimmer Jeong Joon Hyung. The pair do not quite get along, as his favorite way to pass time is teasing her publicly (this character coined the nickname Chubs - or Fatty in the Viki translation, amusingly enough). The characters were well-developed, as we watch Bok Joo grow up and see herself as a woman who believes she can and deserves love, as she hilariously falls for someone she can't be with. Her eventual shift in romance is both a little gloomy and pitiful yet also anticipated and supremely cute. On the flip side of this coin, we see Bok Joo's eventual love interest (come on, that's not a spoiler; it's obvious) developed as a childish and immature character who hides part of his truth behind his always happy facade. With Joon Hyung, we begin to see a theme of mental health emerge as well, which I believe was aptly handled by the show's writers. But, more on that later. 

 The friendships between the characters was portrayed very purely and aroused a sense of nostalgia, mainly because of how trusting and loyal they were to each other. Jo Hye Jung stole the show as Nan Hee, in my opinion, as she stood out as the most animated and with the most screen-time among minor characters. Joon Hyung's loyal friend and comic relief, Tae Kwon, did a good job as well despite his low screen time, even though I found his hinted romantic interest a little questionable... (who? You'll find out, but it's not very stressed). That might be another one of my qualms in this drama. The relationships between the main characters' friends felt a little forced and thrown away when the drama went into its second half, which made me a little sad, considering that they played quite a role in the two main characters' development. The development of these minor characters was explored, but perhaps not as deep as it could have been, but there was no sense of incompleteness in their story lines (except perhaps Nan Hee's aspirations), which was a merit in this show that is not often reflected in many dramas.

Bok Chicken: The best hangout

Two other characters that played large roles as supporting and secondary characters, perhaps antagonistic to the plot at times as well, are Joon Hyung's ex-girlfriend, Song Si Ho, played by Kyung Soo-Jin, and Joon Hyung's older brother, Jae Yi, played by Lee Jae-Yoon. Si Ho is a rhythmic gymnast, who was introduced at the height of the comical conflict between the burly and strong weightlifting girls and the delicate and popular rhythmic gymnasts. She is introduced as an antagonist, but is revealed to be suffering from her own problems, once again bringing in the ongoing themes of mental health as well as family and support from one's family. The audience is not meant to hate Si Ho, and honestly, I didn't. Sure she thwarted Bok Joo out of petty jealousy, but was also portrayed as a maturing strong woman who eventually found what she wanted in life. 

Song Si Ho

Jeong Jae Yi

With Jae Yi, I'll discuss the themes of family in the show. Jae Yi represented not only a desire to grow up and be loved by Bok Joo, but also the bond that Joon Hyung held with his family (no spoilers, good luck folks 😜). Joon Hyung has a seemingly sweet relationship with his family, who support him through his hidden traumas that hinder his success. Similarly, Bok Joo overcomes her trials through support from her father and uncle, who hilariously adore her while constantly berating her. On the other hand, the characters with less support from their family, such as Si Ho and Soon Ok (Bok Joo's other friend), have a tougher time finding what they want, and Si Ho serves as Bok Joo's foil as someone who is living their parent's dreams. Except in Bok Joo's case, when it comes down to it, her father is willing to support her in her dreams, rather than viciously living through her vicariously while sacrificing her happiness and health. That is why Si Ho's cathartic moment of self-realization is so impressive in her character development. 

This perhaps leads to a different problem: one of the actual plot and antagonist. Sure, there was no person that served as the conflict during the last few episodes of the show, but to be honest, there was very little. I am sure that only die hard fans interested in seeing more of the two main characters' relationships watched all 16 episodes without skipping the last few, because of how lacking they were in any action: in a word, they were rather boring. With its plot, I believe the show could have been 12 episodes instead of a full 16, but at least fans of the relationship got to see uninterrupted fluff in the last few episodes. 

Now, to the last point I'm going to make: the importance of mental health, and finding yourself. Of course, as an art piece about growing up, our characters are faced with dilemmas that force them to decide who they want to be and what they want to do in life, which sometimes end positively, and other times completely contradictory to others' expectations, but never without hope. In this journey, our characters are met with obstacles that mark the psyche of so many in the real world that ask themselves these questions, such as signs of trauma, depression, and other disorders that are behind the veneer of comedy that Weightlifting Fairy is. The story is one of growing up and struggling in the process to find out what you truly want in life. Bok Joo, Joon Hyung, Si Ho, Jae Yi, and a couple of their friends find out this truth by the end of the show, without any loose ends or neglected characters. This may be a bit of a stylistic choice that I disagree with, since I do believe that the audience ought to stay guessing in some situations. I also perhaps disagree with the execution that ends the show on a note that is so full of sunshine and happiness, that it overshadows (hah, oxymoronic) certain themes developed in the show. 

Cuties <3

Yet, stylistic choices apart, this show was truly funny, and the very definition of feel-good, due to its light treatment of many issues, and the quick resolution of conflicts. The show had me thinking and sighing (with adoration) and nostalgic, and was well-executed. Not to mention, the cameos pleasantly surprised us all and were very anticipated as well (Seohyun, Jisoo, Lee Jong Suk) and are placed very comically. I would rate this show an 8.5/10, and recommend it if you're in the mood for some enviable romance and a belly full of laughs to go with it. 

I look forward to watching Lee Sung Kyung's next drama, as she was proven herself a versatile actress (perhaps in a very different role, to see her shine in a multitude of variety in roles), and am so excited to see Bride of the Water God (a manhwa I did not unfortunately like) with Nam Joo Hyuk in a seemingly much more silent, hot guy role (back to that, eh?). I applaud the show for being so sweet and cute, and recommend it if you're up for some light-hearted romance! Good job, Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk. You've solidified on my list of most liked and anticipated young actors. 

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Any comments? Questions? Concerns? Comment and let us know!

This has been and continues to be,

Ritz 💕