[MOVIE] Project Hail Mary (2026)

You really can't hype it all.

I always heard that the book had some special "twist" in it, I heard it so many times that I couldn't help my expectations to be at least present.

But I didn't see it as that big of a twist, maybe books and movies are different, but honestly I thought that was the pretty obvious path that it might take?

So I watched the movie. The technical side of it sucked, not going to lie about that. But the alien was the best part. Oops, is it a spoiler? The poster says it all though. I think everyone knows by now.

SPOILERS:

Technical part: he won't be able to move or think normally after a coma, but the way movie starts.. oof. If not for cinema sins, but for science sins it'll be leading. That vodka after just waking up? Do you know what happens to muscles and the stomach after a coma that lasted this long? And this is just first few minutes.

In what fever dream that setting would be possible I don't know. What? Some organisms threaten the sun? Really? Okay~ as you say~.

It's also very Hollywood like they take a random teacher, who weren't random in his past but who cares (again, very Hollywood-like) to join the Project Hail Mary or a project to save the planet.

I will stop repeating that it's very Hollywood-like because there were too many scenes that are so classic for Hollywood. For example, they only prepare three people for the mission.. Are you kidding me? Shouldn't this be an important mission? Anyway. Why this reminded me of Armageddon while I was typing this..?

A whole bunch of scientists and Grace, who is very good with tape, try to figure things out. What it is, how can we fix it. because this unknown but very potent thing that appeared for unknown reason is killing all stars / planets.

Except for one and this is where our team will be going.

Back to Hail Mary. Grace wakes up from a coma, we remember, and finds out that he's the only one alive. Didn't catch if they ever explained why other two died.

Grace can't remember shit (something that others surely did not take into consideration), but tries to piece any information together. So we follow two timelines, on Hail Mary and memories on Earth.

Honestly, things get more interesting with unexpected contact and that is alien later known as Rocky. Honestly, best character of this movie. Too human for his own good. Rocky's planet faces the same predicament as Earth, so the two try to connect and communicate and later solve things together.

Pretty cute team. Again, skip all the technical stuff.

Technical stuff is replaced with visuals. A lot of cool visuals tbh.

And this is where the shit's about to go down. Of course it would, any part that involves some sort of big thing will always go out of hand, pretty normal if you ask me, no plan is a perfect plan. The only thing I question is how they survived that "taking the sample" part. But it's a movie and they do.

Tbh at this point Rocky is the hero of this movie.

From here everything seemed easy, like returning to the same point, each now getting ready to travel back, because thanks to Rocky, who is a champ, Grace can travel back. And everything went good before there was a leak, the substance they were looking for and sampled "escaped" the container, something that our Earth plastic and tape could fix, but here's the problem, Rocky doesn't know the danger and he has not plastic and tapes. So Grace decides to be a champ too and save his buddy.

Sending samples back to Earth (tbh was not surprised tha they just knocked him off and sent him to the ship, I thought it was obvious, considering one of the team members died in an accident), Grace changes course to Rocky.

Again very American style that everyone survives and everything is solved etc. Rocky and everyone on his planet even created a special place for Grace to live in (how, don't ask) they even fixed his ship. He even teaches small stone spider-like aliens Earth physics class.

Actually the bonding part was really the best part.

The visual part was quite stunning. 

The technical side used a lot of conveniences, obviously.

I don't know what I expected. A lot of people hyped it, especially because it became quite a popular pick. Everyone was so secretive about the plot of this novel when I first came across that I thought it had some dark secret, but no. Especially mentioning the twist. At least in the movie the twist was coming way before it happened, so can it be called a twist then?

All in all it was okay. Maybe I unknowingly had high expectations, could have watched it with more leisure if not for the tech part.

RATE: 7/10.

[ANIMATION] The SUMMIT of the GODS (2021)

It is called animated adventure drama.

Based on the Japanese manga. 'Le Sommet des Dieux' follows a story of journalist Fukamachi makoto who accidentally comes across a camera that might've belonged to George Mallory, who was rumored to be the first to climb mount Everest, but there is no solid proof, yet it is a known fact that he had a camera with him. The one who walks away with the camera Fukamachi believes to be Habu Joji, a mountain climber who once had a name, but Habu disappears right before his eyes and he does not know how to contact him or find him. The idea of seeing the film becomes his obsession, but he also follows the path of Habu Joji to figure out if he could find him through old contacts. This is how we see Habu Joji who was always obsessed with climbing and only saw a new goal after standing at the top of the mountain.

Fukamachi realises that Habu still climbs and not only, he might want to do the impossible solo climb of mount Everest and he wants to be there for that moment.

The story mainly follows the two timelines, one of Fukamachi investigating and following the path of Habu through reports and newspapers, while the other timeline shows the path of Habu Joji from his young age, to the way he was always more of a loner and strived to climb higher and higher among people who did not share the same passion. The drama of losing someone during climbing or being stranded himself. Which still did not stop him.

Fukamachi finds Habu in a village closes to his target place and finds out that Habu has been there for years and tried to achieve his goal few times, but without success.

Now Fukamachi follows his path and this climb is the final part of the movie.

It is very atmospheric. There is a sense of awe and also dread, the danger is always there, no matter how silent the mountains can be. The magnitude of mountains and the insignificance of a human being.

I'm not surprised by that ending. It brings the story to its' conclusion. But does the path end here?

The only thing I kinda want to nitpick about and not at the same time is color palette. The animation is amazing, so don't get me wrong, but the color palette is pretty much the same for everything, with slight difference (like before and during the climb). I'm not talking about that. My only wish was to make the scenes of reaching the summit more special? Because they looked like any other view in the movie. Though at the same time I think that maybe this was the point in a way? I'm pulling excuses out of thin air maybe, but that's what Habu meant when he said he can't give answer in what they see at the top of the mountain and what is so special and why they want to risk for it.

RATE: 8/10.

[Chinese BG novel] 妖妃女配穿为真千金后杀疯了[古穿今] by 挠时光 / Demonic concubine who was a supporting character transmigrated as true heiress and went on a killing spree

I know that title is mouthful.

Summary: Xu Qianling was a high rank concubine, but a supporting character in a sweet ancient romance novel. She turned the tables against two main character and won. Becoming the Empress Dowager she ruled the country to prosperity, but when she was quite old she suddenly transmigrated and became a "true heiress". Girl who was swapped by a jealous nanny and lived her life for 18 years in a countryside, but after returning for six years she was still a marginalized person, not loved and not cared for. But unlike kind and sensitive girl Xu Qianling is on a whole different level and it became her pastime to pay back everyone what they deserved.

# strong female character, wealthy families, fake / true heiress plot, secret plot

Partially okay, partially I thought - author, you're going out of bounds, this is too much.

But to exlain the dissatisfaction part I need to explain the plot a bit.

The short version of this explanation would be - author includes an important character at the very beginning, forgets about this character for a very long time and then suddenly remmbers about it, so the novel feels disjointed, as if the theme of the novel changed altogether, this character brings absolutey new plotline, which is partially important and partially doesn't matter. And the ending is just too much.

Now the longer version.

At the beginning we find out that Qianling can see comments under the novel, they appeared years before the finale of the book, she, being smart as she is, figured things out and realized that the Emperor who showers her with gifts but actually doesn't touch her loves her half-sister - Xu Yao, to protect her he sent her to a cold palace where she gave birth. With this she wanted to rise to prominence but Qianling was ready and killed them both. She adopted the little prince and raised him, she became the Empress Dowager and ruled the country fairly.

Then she transmigrated and was surrounded by a lot of braindead people (actually important, kinda).

There is an important note to make. Original Qianglin actually created our FMC, because it was her way to express her desire to be stronger or to make at least someone stronger. After that she disappeared, this is why FMC knows she cannot return to her own place and will live here. 

Her initial idea of revenge stemmed from the desire to let herself become powerful so when OG returns she will have those things and to punish the evil.

Another important note - Xu Yao returned to the real world. She was a transmigrator who arrived in Qianling's world. But we don't hear from Xu Yao for the most of the novel, this is why I say that this important character and plotline that will become relevant later are not mentioned for the majority of the text and the feeling of the story becomes disjointed.

The first half of the book was actually okay at first, but then you can only hear how Qianling swindled all her relatives from money for this or that. He asked her eldest brother for money because it was either her or fake heiress Xu Mingyue who would stay at the house. Xu Mingyue fucked up big time at that moment (she insisted that after the change of personality Qianling went mad, so everyone agreed to send her to mental hospital for few days, but nobody knew Mingyue hired those people and they will be relevant later. Unlucky for them Qianling was live when it happened so everyone scrambled together to help) and Qianling got permission from their grandma who was in charge to let Mingyue leave the family tree and also the house. But because Mingyue acted pitifully like a green tea would and everyone went along Qianling asked for money to buy a house. She swindled her second brother who is an actor for money to play the script on the show, because at that time the trending topics about her family were all over the place and netizens couldn't believe he would treat his biological sister so bad. Her dad was swindled of money because he believed she has a master who is knowledgable about antiques behind her, but it was Qianling all along.

Maybe at first it was funny, but the joke went on for too long. But the four family members were notorious on the internet for the longest of times and that's it.

Character info (i'll try to be short, I promise):

Grandma Xu (matriarch) could relinquich her power because all of her three sons and a daughter were bad at business, so she eyed the grandchildren who were also not promising until Qianling appeared.

1st Xu son (not important)

2nd Xu son (not important)

3rd Xu son - Xu Chengren (FMC's biol. father) believes he's a big deal because he's more successful among the three, but actually also bad at business. His first wife died. Later he remarried, but this younger wife is irrelevant until the very last part, otherwise she is in the background and not mentioned almost all the time.

- 1st son - Xu Wangyun (I may fuck up their names because I already forgot them). Wants to be an heir, but is horrible at investments. Secrely in love with Mingyue. Wanted to plot against Qianling in the last part by colluding with Mingyue's bf at that time, Fu Cheng, but was too preoccupied with love and failed.

- 2nd son - Xu Wansheng, actor (talentless), cared for Mingyue as a brother, thus never gave his real sister an ounce of care. Because of Mingyue's actions though his reputation went down the drain (the whole sending to mental hospital by unknown thugs thing) and it never recovered since he has such a low IQ and EQ.

- Xu Qianling - returned at 18, now 24. Was almost sold off to old man by her adoptive parents. Was never loved at her true home. No one was on her side.

- Xu Mingyue - not really smart, her actions go unnoticed only among family (for a reason), otherwise she always acts like a green tea and a pitiful person gaining attention. Very insecure thus she always plots against Qianling. Her goal is a wealthy family marriage and living a life of luxury and power.

Qianling's adoptive parents (classic version of preferring boys over girls):

Wang Dajian, father, was involved with crimina gangs (relevant for the case of Qianling's kidnapping to mental hospital, she also reported him and police figured he was dealing with drugs and the last part of the novel also involves someone from this side).

Wang Zu just irrelevant character, used as a plot tool to make Mingyue feel his is so useless when she needed him for schemes and such. But he was a link to connect to those who were dealing with drugs.

Niu..smth, she exited early on because once she asked to come over to Qianling's place the very next moment the two triggered a trap and she was doused with hot boiling water, a payback for Qianling's burns on her back and her burns were so severe. Later because her husband was arrested she was apprehended too.

Fu family (ML):

Old man Fu

His grandson Fu Yi (ML) he was in the military and now retired and returned to the company. He met Qianling the very first night since the girl was intoxicated, later she encountered him when she was kidnapped during mental hospital incident and this is how they got to know each other, later became neighbors and thus the close proximity began. He got to know her more, found her interesting but also dangerous, eventually fell for her.

Note: He and his wheelchair. He actually did not hurt himself but he always used wheelchair, but actually in some scenes it was evident he didn't, so it was hard to tell when he was in it or not, author just doesn't emphasize on it at all. But if he didn't at times he was too nonchalant about it. He also said he was not afraid to be seen, but what was the point anyway.. I saw no point in him doing it except for lowering vigilance of Fu Cheng. But that dude was always on a look-out anyway.

Adopted Fu Cheng. The backstory is as follows (this is full of spoilers). His parents died due to accident, he was adopted into Fu family, they were not responsible for the accident but he always thought like that because he was instigated by his uncle Li Shu, who was actually behind the accident. He wanted to seize the power of the Fu family (actually could have lived a peaceful life, but nah). For this he started dating Xu Mingyue as the person of interest, thinking she was so loved in her family it will be useful. Colluded with Xu Wanyun. Colluded with everyone actually. So he kinda plays the villain role of this story among some other thugs. He connected to the criminal gang behind Wang Dajian. This is why it went from 0 to a 100 in the last part with them kidnapping Fu Yi, strapping him with bombs, then asking Qianling to come with ransom and she was the one who stepped on a mine (don't ask questions about the details, even typing it makes me feel my IQ dropping) and the last scene is how they managed to survive.

I'll be honest, I skipped a bit at the ending, but I don't feel I'll need to know the details because by the end of it it became evident that it's going off the rails with all this stuff of plotting.

Secret plot. Should have involved a system. So to explain shortly, in this modern world a system appeared, to grant a wish the person had to write stories (one of them is a version Qianling lived in, sweet romance story). But the gist is the system plagiarized from different sources (one of which is Qianling's original story where she is a strong character with no sweet romance, but it was a draft document on her device which no one saw). If the person does not follow the path they get a backlash.

Xu Mingyue also has a system apparently, this is included in the part I skipped, but I was not surprised and didn't care. In the end Mingyue had a backlash, by that time she wanted to escape since she realized Fu Cheng knew those criminals behind her back and also was feeding her something and plotting.. really whatever.

This should have mattered but if you think about it.. it doesn't, it really doesn't matter. This plotline appeared suddenly and a good chunk of the story passed. This is where Xu Yao reappeared, forgotten for most of the story.

And the conclusion is - unsatisfactory. Many of the characters kinda got what was coming to them, but they were left hanging just like that. Because the story ends abruptly after the scene where they survived diffusing the b***.

Mingyue asked for help to save her from Fu Cheng. Criminals behind Fu Cheng - unknown. Fu Cheng himself, forgot, did he escape? He killed his uncle though. The Xu family now have Qianling as the head. Her father was paralyzed after the accident. Mingyue wanted to swindle their company of everything through her clueless brother, but was stopped in time. So this proud former pretend CEO was chased out of the company by their grandma. Have no idea about Wansheng and don't care. Qianling helped her stepmom get the money for shares she got through Xu Chengren. Such a mumbojumbo plot.

I'm laying out the most of it because I don't see a point of anyone reading it. Sorry for the harsh words, but if I forget parts of it right after reading it to me it speaks volumes.

It tried too hard with too much.

RATE: 2/5.

[MUSIC] Billlie - Work

This song grew up on me, I'm a big sucker for deep sounds.

Although sometimes it sounds a bit chaotic, but~ it's actually quite good for the big sound system.

A lot of tracks I heard lately have a club / fest feeling. Like everyone decided to go for techno or other genres popular for raves etc., which actually makes calling it kpop strange, but it became a collective name after all, so what do I know.

[Chinese BG novel] 假千金她只爱钱[万人迷恋综] by 夹心饼干123 / Fake heiress only loves money

I saw this and inexplicably thought of author who created "All Villains show" an dthe whole "Three rebellious brothers" drama.

But I must warn anyone that they should not expect the same level of entertainment or drama or depth. It has some good parts, you can feel the author trying to do better, but there are many parts that are lacking. So in the end I have such conflicting feeling about it, I liked parts that I liked and I can criticque parts that I find flawed.

I will skip the summary and explain the premise as shortly as possible: Yu Qingzhi is the "fake" heiress of the story who is thrown out at 24, because she's not needed anymore. Very dramatic. Then to make money she is offered to play a foil in a dating show with the original heiress where she promised to get all the hate.

But things didn't turn out the way she planned.

#reverse harem, true/fake heiresses, melodrama, open ending

With such an overly melodramatic settings we start the story.

But the part that made me feel of that author is the feeling of some conflict and deeper drama that hides behind the initial impression we get. Like tehre is definitely a trauma of Qingzhi's childhood, there is definitely some trust issues and still a feeling of yearning for love that she still has in her heart, not towards her own family (she's quite disappointed with that bunch of idiots), but towards other people, otherwise she would be completely devoid of any emotions towards men. She's not ready to jump on anyone that shows her any sign of goodwill, it's just that she's not completely shut off herself from a possibility.

I wish her relationship within a family got earlier reveal and more depth, because I felt like I was threading shallow waters instead of having a good dive. And I must say her situation sounded interesting. Because her parents are purely performers, especially her mother, you can hear from time to time that they paraded her and made her almost become what they'd call a sea king, charming any valuable man that would help her family.

The beginning is very tame, everyone gets to know each other and before you know it almost every male guest at this show in one way or another expressed an interest in Qingzhi, even if they did not, they will later.

Yu Qingzhi may be beautiful and her face is imeccable, so she gets a lot of questions about that. The early marketing to help Zhu Yuqian is to emphasize how elegant she and how what she does is valuable unlike just having looks. But those male guests know that she has more depth to her character than what she tries to show.

This is how she starts by trying to act like a douch, but eventually becomes a heartthrob. 

Her reputation at first positive is slowly erroded by none other than bad marketing and the face behind it is none other but her adoptive mother. What kind of grudge do they have for her to almost seethe with the desire to destroy her adoptive daughter?

The true heiress starts from the bad start, good thing is that this story is not a cliche type where they continue to oppose each other, eventually they learn more, especially the true heiress who still doesn't know what kind of fire pit is the Yu family.

With the errosion of her reputation thanks to marketing campaigns she is now known more as vain, Yu Qingzhi herself openly claims that she loves money, but while netizens claim her as a gold digger the men who now know her more refuse to believe she is so shallow.

Because it's a true reverse harem, these men do vie for her attention. Author really balances between different pairings and I had the impression that I'm getting into it. Like why a girl should make a rash decision, everyone is so good, it's so hard to decide. because everyone goes through different accidents, which showcases different sides of these characters. They may not start from the point of liking her, but some go through the process of seeing her good side. The bad part is how it felt unreal.

Eventually, even with women she builds a good relationship, except the true heiress no one had ill feelings towards her, also women came with their own agenda instead of falling in love, though I say there was not enough of female friendship, it was changed for more content about interactions between Qingzhi and the male guests. This is how it's not only a reverse harem, but they developed a friendship after this show.

Good points: developing relationships takes a lot of space, but eventually you feel for the characters. there is no obvious male lead and this is done for the open ending, because she doesn't choose anyone. although it does feel like they're ready to give her anything, she may not reciprocate feelings, but she can do other things for them. her teasing and playful parts have reasoning behind them, same as her reluctance. I didn't have the nasty feelings as if she was playing with the human hearts when I was reading it. at times it was more her giving in, because male guests knew she has a kind heart.

Bad points: all come from technical level of the world, I suppose. Like what is the time and level we're living in, because they included some VR technology and they presented it as if they were in full virtual reality. Technical stuff like the bungy jump of three people or a dance of several people. The accident at the amusement park is one of those, not to mention conclusion to it (there is a part that many people like to include is hwo someone is prosecuted in a short period of time, unreal, unless you pay for someone to be sent in, otherwise many cases, even involving human life can take months). And by everything I mean the description, I stumbled because of descriptions many times, like who is acting how, that type of technicality. Story-wise the build-up for the past or any sort of explanation behind Qingzhi's unhappy time with Yus took too long. there is a lot of small stuff I think author did not think through. Like the true heiress almost instantly mentions how Qingzhi "stole from her" but no one dug that family drama or dragged it to light, though it was a juicy gossip, the internet articles were too one-sided most of the time, which felt too convenient. The part before ending is truly insane. The melodrama was turned to the max.

SPOILERS:

Lin Yanhan. He is the CEO of his own company. Because of his status he must ve very rigorous when chosing a wife. But from his assertive nature he slowly develops feelings for Qingzhi. She talks back to him few times because he acts quite arbitrarily, while she doesn't like him imposing his own ideas on her. Only later he realized that she's not really vain. He is like a representative of logic and reason (before they fail).

Zhou Chengyu. The youngest of the bunch, but actually not just a student. He represents the vigor of youth and passionate feelings. He is attracted to Qingzhi instantly and plays the role of green tea puppy, in front of her he is like a pitiful cub, but when others try to take her attention away he starts digging holes for others.

Chu Youze. Known photographer, but also not a simple personality. he is more frivolous and a playboy, but something in Qingzhi attracted him. His initial interest might have been shallow and later when he found her more and more inetersting this is how he got hooked. Also they had that accident together. While Lin Yanhan thought he had the suspended bridge effect Youze did not hesitate with his feelings.

Ju Jingchuan. Might sound like a simple lawyer, but he's not. He has an interesting arc because he has a talent for seeing visions of future (sudden, I know) where he saw himself being madly in love with Qingzhi, but he didn't like the aspect of it, since he saw her interest in money and shallow attitude and he didn't want to be manipulated. Those visions sent him into a panic mode, so he tried to stay away from her. Worst first impression along with Lin Yanhan. It's only later visions and reality mixed together.

He Yanqiu. He is a forensic. Actually a half-brother of Lin Yanhan and they share some past together involving Yanqiu's biological mother, who left him and his father for the wealthy Lin family (both hate her). Because of his mother he developed a severe trauma that grew with time, he tried to see psychologist but it didn't help, so he decided to do something drastic. He never planned to fall in love, but Qingzhi was there for him when she noticed his condition, she never asked questions or acted disgusted, instead she made a lot of small moves that made him feel better and eventually he realized she's the one.

Zhu Yuqian / true heiress. If only she knew she lived with the lie of her parents. Because of her conviction and belief in those words she was partially manipulated to hate Qingzhi, only with getting into contact she realized that the image she sees and the one she was told to have a strong dissonance.

Mother Yu is actually a pretty abusive and hateful woman, you can sympathize with her, but she is vile. From childhood she brainwashed Qingzhi, before later they basically paraded her like a prized pony waiting for the highest bid to win. When Yuqian appeared they saw a better opportunity.

But there is a catch about these two sisters, because they're actually indeed sisters (sh** I noticed I typed half-sisters before, I was confused, corrected it, they're sisters, both adopted ones). I know, very dramatic.

This is where the last part comes in, from dating show to almost a suspence.

That's why I am very 50-50 about it. Like I realize all its' flaws, but still kinda felt the potential?

RATE: 3/5. Despite my enjoynment I had a ot to criticize when it came to connecting glue of the story that happened in the background. A lot of it was simply unreal (like stuff that was dangerous). But the relationships, despite the lack of real depth were balanced to make a reverse harem work.

[SHORT REVIEWS] #29 (with a bit of ranting)

Well, I feel a bit off and must emphasize that my opinions this time around, if identified as such, should not be taken too seriously. After all the characters I discuss did not do anything substantial, but this won't stop me.

Also, random, I have no idea what exactly creates the noise upstares, it feels like a high-pitched screech (I hope it's a door), I can't help myself I am gossipy, I am nosy and I don't like my neighbors for dropping a lot of heavy shit on the floor, that's in case if they're not falling themselves (I guess they have a kid and like to do martial arts.. or in other words wiping the floor with their bodies), since I hear everything. I want to give them a carpet tbh.

NOVELS

CHN

[BL] 绿茶男配只想咸鱼[穿书] by 第五熙 *JJ

(mtl: Scheming supporting male character just wants to be lazy)

Status: Completed

#ch: 90+4

Year: 2024

Progress: 1-25 (DNF)

Summary: Gu Zhen transmigrates into a world of a novel where everything is revolving around a young man Ye Cheng, the shou of this story, he is handsome, has good grades and a great personality, his smile attracts the people surrounding him (protagonist halo buff). But Gu Zhen is not in the picture, since he will be ruined by another protagonist gong, for some underhanded moves he did. So Gu Zhen tried really hard to stay away from both protagonists, which proved to be really impossible and tried to not spread any negativity or make any moves, he really wanted to survive.

WHY I DON'T LIKE SUCH CHARACTERS OR DEVELOPMENTS all caps yeah

My new pet peeve is how MCs in such stories overdramatize their own situation. Gu Zhen should be young, but not dumb not to even consider a possibility that his fears are baseless. It's teh OG Gu Zhen who will be retaliated against, not him. He didn't do anything remotely deserving such harsh retaliation, not to mention he should know better than anyone that the future is dynamic and not static, he is not forced by the plot or some outside forces. Ye Cheng is a really good guy, he doesn't have a system or anything, he's just a protag with halo buff. Gu Zhen did not continue pester him or anyone else and started to change. But weeks and weeks later he is still afraid of ML because he figured he is original gong of this story. This wuss annoyed the hell out of me. He has no qualities to him to be honest, some may find his actions funny, but I don't. Another side of him that annoyed me is how devotedly he believes that both gong and shou are meant together and they are "taken" because story told him so, he sometimes thinks so patronizing, sounding like a jerk really. Don't these characters proved they have their own free will? 

The ML of this story is Ji Tingyu, the OG gong of the supposed perfect match, handsome and super accomplished senior that lives next to Gu Zhen and his roommate Chen Qi. This circumstance allowed Gu Zhen plotwise get closer to Tingyu without knowing his real identity at first. OG Gu Zhen is described as a bit of a sleazy person, which I instantly don't like because it puts down the OG character so much and elevates Gu Zhen who arrived without him doing much.

Gu Zhen realized he knows nothing about his major and decided to concentrate on his studies, very motiovated young man, thus he meets with Tingyu who helps him, thus the connection. We feel the attraction that Tingyu feels, though he doesn't say anything, but tbh.. what did Gu Zhen actually do? Was hardworking? Who is not? He is handsome? Others are too. It felt like Gu Zhen got the attention out of nowhere and for no particular reason.

I bet this feeds into the idea of - you know, you don't have to do anything, your other perfect half will feel for you even if you do nothing.

The plot, which actually doesn't exist (since it's all daily life and interactions) moves at a slug pace. I just looked back and thought to myself - wow, I read 20 chapters and nothing substantially happened, wow. Why am I here?

Anyway I will read a bit more and then I'll decide. I know such romance books should not be anything more, but I want them at least do something for me than be average. And this feels okay at all times (can't judge the overall story), but it also feels like many other stories too.

[BG] 这个男人能谈吗 by 东风吹来 *JJ

(mtl: Can I really date this man?)

Status: Completed

#ch: 81 + extras

Year: 2025

Progress: DNF

Summary: Tang Zhaojing received a message from her mother with a profie of a man who is too good to be true. As an "expert" in this (after watching someone's else analytical video of blind date market) she deducted that this man probably lied at least about something or everything.

This was before Tang Zhaojing met with Xie Yanzhou, all those specs of of age, height and muscles seem to be true, graduate who returned home from abroad and started a business.

There definitely must be something wrong.

I'll be honest, this Tang Zhaojing can go fuck herself. 

I am aware that the fraud marriage that involves gay marrying heterosexual women because of many issues like parental and social pressure, the need to produce a heir etc. But this is the first thing she thought when meeting this man and knowing he has no dating history is that he's actually gay and she repeats it several times as if she is so sure about it. And it's the first date. The number of women who were swindled into this type of marriage is approximately in millions (compared to billion population indeed feels like not much, but it is a lot), but I think the modern problem of loneliness and no dating history is pretty spread phenomena too. 

Yanzhou did nothing for me to criticize him, from the summary he had a crush on Zhaojing since school (me wants to ask - why?)

Zhaojing is also described as a humorous girl, but the only humorous part before she turned nymphomanic in front of a handsome guy but still thought he was a fraud is how she was lying on a couch and scrolling videos and laughing. had no idea such a criteria existed of judging humorousness..

Yeah I know I'm nitpicking, but I opened it and closed it. I don't care since nothing hooked me up.

Honestly, I feel like these authors could do better than writing an average, forgettable story, at least make the old story interesting.

[BG] 大佬拒绝恋爱脑[快穿] by 蓝海i *JJ

(mtl: The boss rejects romance)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: arc 1-5 (DNF)

Summary: Well, aren't we surprised? I am not. Also, false advertisement for romance, because girl, what romance? This is like no CP

I honestly wonder why authors tag it in romance category whenever it has such anti-romance sentiment. I understand that romance is more popular than no-CP tag, but this honestly feels like fraud. FMC doesn't understand love and helps those whose life were destroyed by love to salvage their fates, but despite her saying love is possible, you should not lose yourself in it, we never see her in a relationship, she will be girlbossing.

This story has nothing bad for me to say about it. I just have nothing to say at all. It's unfortunately plain with too many things that were done before and a lot of nonsense that is not even funny.

This is a basic transmigration novel, but there is a part that left me question the intention.. Luo Yi (FMC) is a transmigrator with excellent score, she also doesn't understand love, at least losing yourself in loving someone, before she receives a task of saving someone who regretted being too in love and losing the best opportunities their life gave them. So in her hightened state she accepted the task instead of having a leisurely retirement.

One good point is how some OGs tried to salvage the situation, but unfortunately it was futile.

The bad part to me is how to elevate the main character of Luo Yi there is always subtle comparison in the text, it's not that vivid, but it's everywhere. I love when women are women, but this comes at the expense of someone else.

Luo Yi starts to work out, having a regular schedule and sleep, routines and healthy lifestyle and in between it's a dig at the OG of this body to me for dieting, staying up late etc. Even visually. You know the gist, like she's so OP, even if OG is pretty with her aura she is a fairy that makes even women bend into mosquito coils.

Author, I get it, she's so good. Please stop.

But also your story is THIS boring, author. I just couldn't get hooked on it and I opened it for the sake of reading some senseless stuff, since I have such a lousy mood these days. But no. The writing style lacks soul, it's more like an explanatory rampage and has this reiteration of the same information over and over which drives you nuts. There is nothing to lament about, everything is pretty basic. Even beyond basic, if it's even possible.

One good thing is this novel is free. 

At least at the moment of me typing this it has free access. I know some may post free novels, but others post free for a while and then lock under vip access.

[BG] 我没想捧红他们[娱乐圈] by 柯四六 *JJ

(mtl: It wasn't my intention to make them popular)

Status: Ongoing

#ch: 

Year: 2025

Progress: 19

Summary: Jian Yao is a Transmigration Bureau worker, she has only one world left before her retirement and only one point away from her goal, The next world is D-level entertainment / showbiz, she is a CEO of a company on the verge of bankruptcy, while her bdy was in a coma, the vice president took away the core staff and jumped the ship. With only few employees left for one or another reason.

Achieve the goal and become the legend in the entretainment world - reward 100 points.

Failing mission - Bankruptcy within a certain period - rewarded 1 point.

Seeing this Jian Yao of course decided to... bankrupt the company, it's the retirement on the line.

But who knew that all her plans to sabotage the projects will turn into great successes.

 Well, I noticed the plot and decided to try and so far it's good and deservedly fun, though a bit silly. The plot reminds me of that novel where a wife wanted to bankrupt her husband and spent so much money on everything, but she achieved unprecedented success. This is why I thought I might like it, the idea is similar (of course it's not a copy-paste story).

我都要死了，打你怎么了！ by 千萌

(mtl: I'm about to die, so what if I hit you?!)

Status: Ongoing (should be, this novel is free btw)

#ch: ~39

Year: 2026

Progress: 39

Summary: Qi Qingzhu walked out of the hospital with a diagnosis of liver cancer, she doesn't have much to live, so she looks back at her life and it's not like she is oblivious to why it got to this point, because for the sake of future she always was forebearing. In her weird family where her father is a complete selfish scumbag, submissive mother who for some reason favors adopted daughter over her biological, a brother who protects the adoptive daughter and all four are oblivious to white lotus / green tea adoptive daughter whom she really wanted to beat up for a long time, who always stole her things, not to mention the affection of her entire family. Even thinking of this made her blood boil and her liver ache.

Not to mention her always problematic best friend who became a love-struck fool for abusive man and her philandering fiance with whom she thought she had a deal and used him as a shield, but still it came with a price.

All of it can go to hell, she doesn't care anymore.

  I actually liked this one a lot. It is melodramatic in a sense, but it also is more layered than average tropey book.

SPOILERS: 

The ML of this book is Tang Jingyun, step-brother of her best friend Tang Ya, he comes into the picture early on and we see his love and care for her, even if no one knows her diagnosis, but with him she feels at home, loved and needed. Even if she says she doesn't care, she strives for a good environment for herself because she doesn't really want to spend all of her time on the hypocritical family at home.

Her best friend Tang Ya gave her a lot of headache but despite not much description you can feel the relationship and the feeling of helplessness when Qingzhu finally realizes that despite the help and trying to free Tang Ya from her toxic relationship Tang Ya chooses her abusive boyfriend because she is so starved for love, that she almost has a perverted feeling of satisfaction when this man cries and calls for her to come back.

As for her family it is even more melodramatic. The adoptive daughter Qi Shilin is actually an illegitimate daughter of her father and his first love, but she has no idea about her origins, so she misinterprets the actions of both parents and thinks she is not worthy to marry into wealth in their eyes. Her half-brother is actually in love with her (yes orthopedics) and has no idea she is his half-sister. He only knows that both parents treat him as scrudge when it comes to Shilin. What no one knows is that all kids have to step back when it comes to Shilin, their father will choose to side with her above anyone else. While their mother is a submissive wife who listens to her husbands, since she has nothing to herself apparently. She treat his illegitimate daughter better than her own, knowingly forgives everything including obvious cheating etc. All beacuse her lifeblood is her husband.

These details is what Qingzhu figured out but stayed silent about it. But now she doesn't care to reveal it, she wants Shilin who obviously aims for a place as a young mistress of some wealthy family to seduce her own half-brother unknowingly and let the situation become messier.

This is, you may expect that she wil go crazy, but I don't think it's the right course of action. It's not like she continues to endure, but she chooses her steps. Let's not forget she is sick (as she thinks and as we assume), I honestly think author might pull 180 on us with this one.

At first you might think that he situation with her fiance is also on the list of things, but actually it's an open agreement between the two to play the role of meeting up, faking some sort of connection to appease both parents and wait for a better moment to annul the engagement, since both see nothing in this business marriage.

So there are a lot of characters, a lot to unravel. This is why I think it's such a pity that author did not update for some time.

And the last webnovel will get a separate post, it was a nice and weird find, because it is kinda likable from one side, but still has a lot of parts waiting for improvement.

MANHWA

빙의했더니 괴담이 돼 버렸다 / My possession became a ghost story

OMG Have I never mentioned this one? It's insane.

You may find the FMC annoyingly oblivious at times, but the overall story is just crazy.

Basic idea is that FMC wakes up after a funeral, she possessed a body of a young noble woman, sh ehas no idea if it's one of those novels or not and who are protagonists, so she makes up her own mind, especially when staff around her shiver when they see her, so she assumes she was really bad, having absolutely no idea in what everyone around her actually sees.

Fantastic idea, really wins from being a manhwa and has a striking artsy execution, really stands out as a story and visually.

SPOILERS:

But this is actually revealed only with time that how FMC sees the world and how others see FMC is two different points of view and they are very different. This is how we get the idea that FMC is actually not simple, but who is she and what is she doing here is a whole different story we yet to find out (I knwo there is a novel this is based on, not reading, because I loved the visual representation).

(I added both manhwa and novel covers, because look at that cover, damn~)

To the perfeck Duke / 완전무결한 공작님께 

I feel like I mentioned this one, but I will repeat, this is good. I consider it's good so far, it's on-going and relatively new.

I like the idea that FMC is not a transmigrator or a reborn person, she grew up and felt with her body what it feels like to live under a roof with abusive family, where your mother was schemed against and died with bad reputation and now FMC also lives with bad reputation, not a single soul knows what she went through or what her suffering is really like. All they see is her beauty that can't be described.

Until one day she strikes a deal with a Duke, he needs a partner, he is pragmatic, she needs a cover and a person who can protect her from this hell. 

Before she can stand so high and finally unleash her vengeance.

Although some see FMC as "weak", but I don't think so. She is pretty strong to play this game and not turn completely submissive, although she has some inevitable consequences that generated from her trauma, but I'm sure future years with her duke will help her deal with it.

ML (the Duke) is actually such a sassy character at times. He is the epitome of perfection, but he is not dull at all. It's the type of man when you feel like you're about to swoon when he shows his other side under all that prim and proper image. Woohoo. But he is actually reliable and is quite protective and active with FMC, so you can feel his good heart.

TV

KDRAMAS

My Royal Nemesis

I saw this randomly and was attracted to the premise of a famous figure traveling to modern times. The premise is not new overall, but I want to know the KDrama take on it. Good old stuff never gets old to me, it can still be good if it's a good story.

Though I'll be honest I have low expectations. I keep them low so not to be disppointed. I think it will premier in a few days of me typing this.

Had never seen anything with these actors (I think). So I'm intrigued by this aspect too.

Update: Well, watched the first episode and it seems interesting so far. Not something that held me in a grip completely, but interesting. I like their approach of an ancient person being disoriented when seeing the modern world (after all she has nothing to rely on like inherited memories etc), she got completely lucky I think going around the whole day and not getting into trouble (not really))). It just felt short and long at the same time. Short because the way she resolved to live a new life came in the first episode. I have no idea who she is and what she's done, my knowledge is the surface-level fragmented memories of her past where she was obviously discredited for the sake of putting the blame at someone, otherwise why her things were presented as if they belonged to the queen in the present time. Maybe they will have a deeper dive into the past later on to explain, although it feels kind of obvious. And it felt long because it is indeed an hour long episode and it felt like so many things happened and not much happened at the same time.

Sidenote: Why is it always kinda cringe when they show business people having meetings with foreigners and they speak English with a heavy accent. Nothing wrong with an accent, but just became such a cliche scene. Says person who rarely watches KDramas.

Also who did the make-up for the actress, it always felt like her eyes were different, this is why I don't like when they do the eyeliner. She is pretty and it kinda ruined the experience.

The main actor looks quite devilish, very fitting for the role he plays. But I'll be honest I kinda don't feel the chemistry, it's all the director's fault to me, because of those obvious longshots when two main character fatefully meet and stare at each other for who knows how long. Always found those shots weird if they take too long and they act as if they're stuck in place.

Operator's work actually was weird at times, like some shots felt like the shaky camera fits the story, but at other times.. why does it shake so much?

I am surprised I had a lot to say about it, but nothing substantial came out ahaha

But yeah now I know she traveled through time, she has no memories to rely on, genuine antique person. And he is a rich boy. And they clash by accident. And we proceed from then on from episode two.

Typhoon Family

Just from the main actor Lee Jun Ho, just look at him, this is what I call when the charm is on, it's the moment when I feel the connection. 

(just look at him~)

I had no idea what this was about and still mainly don't, it's my plan before watching it, I took a peek at the first episode and I liked it. Surprised it was set in the 90's but the vibes were great.

edit: he was actually a nominee for Baeksang this year for this role, I just saw the results on MDL

Gyeongseong Creature

Well, I really should watch it, for Park Seo Joon. And the premise sounded interesting. The drama with him (abuot Secretary Kim) revived my interest in KDrama, so props to him. 

US

Severance (Season 2)

I really need to get my shit together. I was so impressed by the first season, liked it so much, that I am actually kinda afriad of touching the second season.

I always wanted to write a separate review for season 1, but what's the point except gushing out and repeating what was said so many times - I love the concept, I loved the story, I loved the twists, I loved the visuals.

It's such a good show, that I honestly felt like I am watching the perfect version of backrooms (even before the movie came out, I am pretty sure the movie itself won't beat the feeling I got from this show when I watched all those endless corridors that feel like a maze that will never end and with unknown corners).

Such a fantastic and almost dystopian concept of separating your life into two lives that have no idea about what you do outside and what you do inside. How each part develops a sense of self. What will happen if one side rebels?

There are so many things about this show that make it great.

ANIMATION

The Summit of the Gods

I just saw a post on YT shorts and it looked great and the story felt intriguing.

I think I never watched something about mountains. Except for that manga from Sakamoto Shinichi I guess. But I always had small interest in the topic. Doesn't mean I'm not open to it if the story will happen to be good.

Update: Watched it. Visually, it's a very pretty animation. Story-wise, it's a human story and human path. I think I'll write more in a separate review post.

[CDRAMA] HOW DARE YOU!? / 成何体统 (2026)

This was a great surprise.

(decided to go for lesser known poster, but they look so good together!)

This CDrama has a little of a backstory of how I found it and why i watched it. Before watching I had no idea what the story was about, from the moment I saw the trailer last year, which was the sole reason I was so interested in watching this show (I mean the trailer was edited smartly and attracts your attention with all good parts it has to offer), I only figured they actually had a donghua made from the same story and that was it, no spoilers, no plots, nothing just like I usually like to know only the bare minimum. Only in February when YT again gave me a recommended video I realized they started broadcasting it on their official YT channel (who knew the 32 episodes would be released in the span of the month), so I planned on watching. I was truly apprehensive despite having good first impression, because once again I was afraid it will end up like other dramas I've watched, seemingly interesting at first but I lose the drive to watch.

Go in with low expectations and be surprised is everyday motto I try to repeat.

The story is nothing to marvel about at first, the FMC is transported into a book and becomes a demon concubine who will not survive till the end. She wants to change her fate and thus she plans to at least befriend the one person who could potentially help her - the Emperor. But to her surprise she finds that the Emperor uses modern Chinese when he mumbled something under his nose, exhilirated she asks him a question in English - How are you?!

Imagine my hysterics when I saw this filmed with him being dramatic on the verge of tears and cgi of fireworks in the background when he answers - Fine. Thank you.

This is the best part for me in the story - we have two transmigrated characters who will become allies, besties and lovers. Even if it's not the first story I see where several people are transported from the outside world, but the difference is the take on it. That two are from same place and it bonded them a lot.

This CDrama is such a journey, which is mostly light-hearted and humorous, but not without sad and heart-felt moments.

I think the main male character Xiahou Dan is the most flashed out of them all, his story is the most profound and interesting out of all characters (at least blame the drama for making it so). The way we had no idea about his past and his struggles before the story makes a reveal about how he survived in this place for years made his story arc just heart-wrenching. The two main characters also take most part of your screen time. Which came to me not as a surprise, but I felt it was a pity that many secondary characters did not get more screen time, they were fun to watch. There was some symposium with heads of main channels and there it was said dramas should be more down-to-earth and not rely on looks a lot, although no names were said but the drama whch was overtly criticized is "Pursuit of Jade" (especially the discussion around the "foundation general" with perfect skin for a person who returned from a battle), but I think it's too shallow, because this topic is so extensive not to mention that we do not follow only looks, outside of main cast an entire cast of actors exists and two main don't float in isolation, for example, I liked the character of Physician Xiao, although I felt it was a pity he did not get much of our time, but I think he was truly a great character and was played well, I even shipped him a little with Xie Yong'er. So let's not assume that we all chase only looks. I am pretty picky about looks, although I can admit that this or that guy is handsome or this or that girl is like a doll, but I still will end up with a person I feel a subtle connection, visually and story-wise.

Offtopic: but for start we need to make authors not describe their characters as the most beautiful in the world "handsome, broad shoulders, long legs, square jaw, sharp look" or for women with "small faces, slim figures, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth and their shiny hair", because almost every novel describes their main characters like that, with rare exceptions when the FMC just looks pleasing.

Overall there are some settings that need a beautiful person, for example in this cdrama Yu Wanyin should be a demon concubine, well-known for her beauty, should they have found someone average instead? of course not.

The story itself was nice, when two characters with little to no real power try to struggle in the on-going political struggle between two main faction of Empress Dowager and Prince Duan and try to stay alive. While they also try to move the court and the country away from the never-ending conflicts and let it face the brighter future. Honestly liked how they wrapped it up.

The on-screen chemistry of two main characters is incredible, they were really fun to watch and follow. From how they first came to know each other to how their relationship evolved.

The acting is okay, most of the time it's good, but sometimes I blame the makers for some misses. Because every drama is not without flaws and I think this is one of them. Not saying acting is bad, just some places were too over the top. Maybe because it has a theatrical/staged feel to it instead of a movie? It's not my turn to point fingers, but the best example I have is fake blood and the use of it, because of filters it looks especially bright on screen, but also they use a lot of powder to make lips look "pale" but instead it looks unrealistic. I know it's the point of not being gruesome, but sometimes I think about what if sfx was a bit more real. It's the same as actors never looking bad. You know how they portray wounds as small smudge of red paint. It reminded me of one scene where a character named Wang Zhao was sent as envoy and we see his final scene in the desert, but the actor moved his hands so weirdly as if he was afraid to dig into sand, while in that situation I can imagine the character doing so and he spread his palms as if he was afraid to dirty them. Stuff like that took me out from the scene not once.

The actors ansemble is also nice, a great variety of characters with their own perks. Again, some of them are a bit comical even, but what can you do.

Production is great when it comes to costumes, locations etc. All except fights, those always look silly to me, though I know they did their best, but all those fights on wires with spliced editing to make things look cooler made me giggle. But beauty-wise.. ah those costume were so gorgeous they were a true eye-candy, I know they used a lot of modern materials, but it looked so good, plus this is a fictional world, so it didn't matter to me how accurate it was. Oh forgot to mention some props and that stone.. oh my god that stone made me laugh the hardest. Duing the scene of confrontation during the procession following to lay Empress Dowager to her final resting place on Mount Bei, three main ministers from Emperor's faction and Imperial guards try to push down a huge stone and it looked so fake it couldn't have looked more fake. I was wondering who was in charge, can't you do just a realistic boulder what was the problem? Yeah I have my own places to be picky about.

I mostly described everything, not going for spoilers, though included a lot of those in the text anyway.

I wanted to finish with one point that made me a bit off too, but this is me being nitpicky. The thing is about the soundtrack, there were several scenes where I think emotions could have been shown differently and would have been more impactful instead of using some dialogues, when a person is on the edge of being offed and it is always followed by loud song, this trick was used several times. As if every scene should be so lound and epic. If they used different music and not the same three songs on repeat I'd bawl my eyes out at some scenes, kid you not, but they spoiled the experience for me.

All in all, great and fun time spent. I feel a bit of a loss when typing this because when something is over, something that brought me so much joy I feel like when ever I will feel the same joy again.

RATE: 9,5/10.