Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 11
August 11, 2025
Revenged Love Episodes 22-23 Review: Wei Wei Goes All In for Chi Cheng
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Now that the Chinese drama ‘Revenged Love’ is close to its finale, things go from playful highs to crushing lows for lead protagonists Wei Wei (Zi Yu) and his boyfriend Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning). After a fun camping trip and some comedic kidnapping drama with Chi Cheng’s father, the couple find their firm entangled in serious legal trouble. They are framed for embezzlement they didn’t commit.
Recap of Revenged Love Episodes 19-21: Wei Wei’s mother, Li Ya (Qin Yue), passes away, leaving him devastated. Unable to watch his sweetheart grieve alone, Chi Cheng sets aside his ego and reconciles with him. They break up, make up, take a trip together, and free of other worries for the moment, start meddling in Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) and Dr. Xiao Shuai’s (Liu Xuan Cheng) relationship. While Xiao Shuai is initially upset with Wei Wei, he soon takes things to the next level with boyfriend Cheng Yu, and the two couples head out for a fun camping trip.
Episode 21 of ‘Revenged Love’ is mostly light-hearted, reviving the show’s earlier comedic tone. It ends on a humorous twist, with Chi Cheng’s father, Chi Yuan Duan (Cheng Shi Yu), kidnapping Wei Wei, only to treat him kindly and advising him to “save himself” from Chi Cheng’s bad influence.
Revenged Love Episodes 22-23Titled “I Want to Bring You Home”, episode 22 kicks off with Wei Wei breaking free from his would-be father-in-law and finding his way back to Chi Cheng. What follows is a light, romantic stretch, with Chi Cheng eager to introduce Wei Wei to his mother and sister. But with Chi Yuan Duan’s disapproval looming large, Wei Wei believes Chi Cheng should first repair his relationship with his family before adding him to the mix.
It’s adorable how Chi Cheng hangs on to every word Wei Wei says, so off he goes to visit his family. Left to his own devices, Wei Wei slips into third-wheel mode with Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) and Dr. Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng), now blissfully stuck in their honeymoon phase. The whole setup hilariously mirrors Chi Cheng’s own habit of barging in to annoy the couple whenever Wei Wei isn’t around.
The episode ends with the couple’s art company in hot water over embezzled funds, and Chi Cheng taking the fall to keep Wei Wei out of trouble. Episode 23 of ‘Revenged Love’ (titled “I Only Want You”) takes on a sombre tone, centering on Wei Wei’s desperate attempts to clear Chi Cheng’s name in the embezzlement case.
Episode 23, the penultimate chapter of ‘Revenged Love’, is particularly frustrating due to its lack of clarity around the embezzlement case, especially the legal timeline. In one scene, Wei Wei laments that “two years have already flown by” since he first came to Xiao Shuai’s clinic with nothing. Yet this does little to clarify how long Chi Cheng has actually been incarcerated; we’re left to assume it’s somewhere between six months and a year.
The prison twist ends up feeling both underwhelming and unconvincing, partly because the show had mostly leaned into a comedic tone, and partly because Chi Cheng’s influential family background made a forgery charge seem like something they could easily quash. Then again, as a foreign viewer, I can’t speak to how strict Chinese laws might be, and the creators do little to clarify the legal nuances.
Well, despite the flaws, the episodes were entertaining, testing Chi Cheng and Wei Wei’s severely, but also proving their love can withstand the test of time. Zi Yu carries episode 23 with his soft charm as Wei Wei, while Tian Xu Ning remains a standout as the fiercely magnetic Chi Cheng, despite limited scenes. One glance into his eyes is enough to believe he’d move mountains for Wei Wei, or even walk to the gallows without hesitation. The usually stingy Wei Wei puts everything he has on stake to ensure justice is served and he has his love back.
Both characters do a lot of growing up, and going by the last few minutes, ‘Revenged Love’ is headed to a cinematic finish, nothing less than a much deserved happy ending.
You can watch ‘Revenged Love’ on YouTube or Viki.
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The Dragon Republic (Poppy War #2) Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
It’s time for a brutally prolonged civil far in ‘The Dragon Republic’, the second book in R. F. Kuang’s war fantasy trilogy, set in the fictional Nikara empire, ruled by a Shamanic Empress.
You remember how ‘The Poppy War’ ended right? With protagonist Rin channeling the Phoenix God and destroying the enemy Island-nation of Mugen, putting an end to the war in Nikara. Basically instant genocide. And as a reader, I am thinking: How is author R. F. Kuang going to continue this story in two more books – ‘The Dragon Republic’ and ‘The Burning God’ – if the lead is a ridiculously powerful shaman who can simply burn entire nations and ‘rip the fabric of the world’ in seconds? Well, apparently, getting genocidal-level angry isn’t simple, so Rin can’t always char her enemies, and getting vengeance against the Empress (or the ‘Vipress’), also a dangerous shaman herself, won’t be easy.
The basic plot in the second book focuses on Rin joining forces with the ambitious Dragon Warlord Yin Vaisra, who wants to overthrow the Empress Su Daji and bring democracy to the Nikara Empire. Fresh from victory against Mugen, Nikara is battered, scattered, and weakened, and Vaisra thinks it’s the perfect time to lead a coup against Daji. Vaisra hopes to channel Rin’s shamanic powers against the Empress, and thus recruits the Cike (the small shamanic wing of the empire led by Rin) for his cause. Oh, and Vaisra is also Nezha’s dad, you know, Rin’s enemy-turned-friend, with the promise of romance in the future. And best-friend Kitay becomes a key strategist for the Dragon Republic.
Also Read: The Poppy War Synopsis & Ending Recapped
There are so many storytelling elements that works better in this book, while some of the flaws from the first ‘Poppy War’ novel remain, the most grating being the lack of character development for the supporting cast. It’s all Rin, Rin, and more Rin, but she is no longer the likable underdog, instead a doped up egocentric power-hungry war-dog. She becomes an opium addict, in case you forgot. But yes, R F Kuang’s narrating skills are sharper in ‘The Dragon Republic’, and almost 70% of the text dedicated to war action, atrocities, and strategies, which will thrill fans looking forward to more blood, death, vengeance, and violence.
R F Kuang of course introduces a twist that temporarily locks out Rin from channeling the fire, so she is forced to fight as any ordinary soldier and also faces a demotion in the army. And well, if her powers weren’t restrained with a plot twist, ‘The Dragon Republic’ would be over in a few pages. Readers would remember the handsome, arrogant Nezha was hinted to possess shamanic abilities too, so that sub-plot is explored further in book 2.
Empress Su Daji continues to be one of the primary antagonists, while a delegation of Hesperians arrives in Vaisra’s kingdom, but only as observers, claiming they will provide their superior military assistance only if they deem his army worthy. The Hesperians are foreigners from another land, with a monotheistic religion, so they look down upon the Nikara empire’s Gods and beliefs. Through them, RF Kuang explores some discomforting racism, religious bigotry, and cultural tensions. Shamans are thus the equivalent of witches to them.
One of the more intriguing elements in the story this time around was the introduction of the Naimad clan, to which twins Chagan and Qara belong to. Rin and Kitay have an unexpected encounter with them, leading to some big revelations and an unexpected ritual that changes their life.
I was really hoping to see some significant character development for Kitay, Nezha, and the members of the Cike in ‘The Dragon Republic’, but once again, Rin’s inner rants, angst, and contradictory thoughts dominate the pages. On one hand, she says she doesn’t want to be somebody’s war dog; on the other, she expresses smug relief at serving as Vaisra’s “weapon” and not having to take on the responsibilities of a leader. While her contradictory thoughts are fine, her inflated sense of self becomes increasingly tiring to read.
Well, despite its flaws, The Dragon Republic is a fast-paced, blood-laden saga of war, politics, vengeance, violence, and fresh betrayals. R. F. Kuang delivers a sequel that’s arguably better than The Poppy War, with the climactic chapter dealing a new gut punch to Rin and leaving her at the floodgates of a new, perhaps even bloodier, war.
Rating: 3.5 stars on 5.
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The Next Prince Review: Gorgeously Grand, Equally Bland
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘The Next Prince’ is all about larger-than life palaces, elaborate stunning costumes, ornate jewellery, royal rivalries, and forbidden romances. Or at least it seemed so in the first two-three episodes, before spiraling into a simpler, formulaic ‘clingy rich boy smitten with his bodyguard’, kinda like ‘KinnPorsche’, but make it a lot more bland, chaotic, rushed, and boring. Although, this Thai series is surprisingly a lot steamier scenes than ‘KinnPorsche’.
Directed by Aoftion Kittipat Jampa, Den Panuwat Inthawat, ‘The Next Prince’ stars NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong as Khanin, a pro fencer living abroad with no idea that he is actually the grandson of the King of Emmaly, a wealthy nation divided into five regions and clans. Zee Pruk Panich plays Charan Phithakthewa, who is sent to bring Khanin back to the kingdom to participate in a prestigious competition where the heirs of the five royal clans compete, and the winner’s father will be crowned the new king.
Episode one opens in the UK, where Khanin is thriving in his fencing career, living happily with his beloved father Thatdanai Keerakul (Saksit Tangthong). His life changes when handsome stranger Charan arrives, revealing Khanin’s royal lineage and that Thatdanai is not his real father but a servant to the Emmaly crown. Shocked, Khanin refuses to return to Emmaly, until armed goons attempt to assassinate him. He reluctantly agrees to play the role of “The Next Prince,” driven by a need to uncover what really happened to Thatdanai, presumed killed in the ambush.
Lead actors Zee and NuNew already established their onscreen chemistry in ‘Cutie Pie’, a much simpler, modern romance, also directed by Aoftion, so they continue to look great in this show too. However, while the first few episodes are entertaining, it’s hilarious how Khanin nearly forgets about Thatdanai, and quickly becomes a smitten brat, spending most of his time being needy, clingy and seeking Charan’s attention at the palace.
Prince Khanin’s main rivals are Prince Ramil (Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan) and Princess Ava (Kris Charintip Rungthanakiat). While both start out as intriguing opponents, they quickly lose steam due to underdeveloped subplots. Ramil, for instance, has a potentially compelling arc through his romance with his striking aide Paytai (Ohm Thanakrit Chiamchunya), but it’s reduced t o a handful of tame, supposed “risqué” scenes. Their dynamic hints at a consensual dom-sub relationship, with Ramil asserting power only in the bedroom, everywhere else, he’s constantly belittled and bullied by his father, Rachata (Bie Teerapong Leowrakwong). Jimmy and Ohm have great onscreen chemistry, but their their sub-plot isn’t handled with the complexity it deserved.
Interestingly, there’s lots of potential chemistry between Prince Ramil and protagonist Khanin in some of their earlier scenes in ‘The Next Prince’. And with Khanin’s romance with Charan turning dull, I found myself wishing the writers would shake things up by exploring some sparks between the two rival princes. Now that could’ve been fun. Who knows! And an entire tiring sub-plot involving Prince Calvin (Net Siraphop Manithikhun) should’ve been cut out altogether, to give other characters more screen space.
The cinematography for ‘The Next Prince’ is stunning, all the royal characters, especially Khanin, Ramil, Ava, look gorgeous through the show. However, with half-a-dozen sub-plots squished into a 14-episode runtime, with the primary romance losing steam quickly, the show becomes a snooze-fest. After about episode 7, I had a hard time keeping up my interest in the show, which is such a pity, because this started out with grand promise.
Rating: 4 on 10. You can watch ‘The Next Prince’ in on iQIYI
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August 10, 2025
Alienated #5 Review: Alien Gets Candid About His Kind
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Plot overview of ‘Alienated’: Earth is deluged with the bodies of dead aliens, but one family finds a survivor and attempts to understand what happened to his species.
The last issue ended with a daring rescue mission by TJ and his grandchildren, as they manage to locate and free their alien friend from Frank, a nutter trying to get some media fame. Despite the victory, the chapter closes with TJ collapsing at Rose’s house. Issue #5 of ‘Alienated’ by Taki Soma and John Broglia starts with teens Lily and Winter comically dressing up Alien (yes, his name is basically just Alien now, no one’s interested in giving him a proper moniker) like a rapper and taking him to visit TJ at the hospital.
Some parts of the chapter feel a bit repetitive, but it finally delivers a major revelation: Alien explains to TJ and the teens what makes his species unique, and why the others perished after landing on Earth. From broken phrases, the grey being has advanced to speaking proper sentences, making communication easier. Turns out, Alien is super sentimental, and has grown quite attached to TJ and the kids.
‘Alienated’ is supposed to be six issues long, and given that this is the penultimate chapter, the content isn’t all that exciting. How the creators are going to wrap up the story is anybody’s guess, because at this stage, it feels like a silly, simple, sentimental tale about an alien becoming friends with humans. Not much else.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, the artwork remains colorfully engaging.
Rating: 2.5 on 5. Alienated is also on Kindle Unlimited.
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‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51’ Review: From Shitpost to Showdown, a ‘WTH?’ Saga
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Netflix documentary ‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51’ is all about a “shit post” by a bored mall worker named Matty Roberts, who created a fake event called Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us on Facebook as a joke, only to have over a million people express interest in attending. The post went viral, gathered media coverage, and had the U.S. government seriously worried that over a million people might actually turn up to storm Area 51, the highly secretive United States Air Force (USAF) military facility in Nevada. Most were nerds or online eccentrics, some of whom strongly believed the government was hiding aliens or UFOs.
‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51’ is a two-episode documentary, and until I saw it on Netflix, I had no idea this about this viral story. It even made national news in America and grabbed way more headlines than one would imagine a “shit post” could. “What the hell?!” I kept laughing at some of the developments in the story. For instance, Matty Roberts did a follow-up post about how atendees should do a ‘Naruto run’ as a way to dodge bullets by security, as a way to ensure people understood the event was a joke and it only made the post more popular.
The event was scheduled for September 20th, while Matty had created the post on June 27th, so there was plenty of time for it to spread, morph, and capture the internet’s wildest imaginations. The documentary features interviews with Matty Roberts, several people who did show up to “Storm Area 51,” U.S. government employees who had no choice but to give the bizarre case their attention, and a business owner who owned property near the area and became involved in the chaos that followed.
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The creators interweave real-life footage, Facebook posts, TikTok clips, and some funny animated sequences to keep things visually engaging. Both episodes are under one hour long, and if you know nothing about this story, definitely check out ‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51’ for some madness. From Matty creating the fake event to the date when over a million people were actually expected to show up near the facility, this entire story is comic-book-level crazy.
Watch ‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51’ on Netflix.
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‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 6 Review: Identity Doubts & Danger
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
More ghosts, shadows, and dangers lurk in The Summer Hikaru Died, where the growing friendship between Yoshiki and the entity inhabiting his childhood best friend’s body is evidently starting to potentially put more lives at risk. The sleepy Kubitachi village is now restless, haunted, and brimming with secrets….
Quick Recap of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 5: Yoshiki’s sister claims a “Wig Ghost” is haunting the Tsujinaka household, prompting Hikaru to investigate. In the bathroom, the boys search for the spirit as flashbacks reveal a childhood fight over the death of a pet bird they had agreed to raise together. A young Yoshiki is unfazed, telling little Hikaru that every living being is meant to die, it’s nothing to fuss about. The memory is striking, as present-day Yoshiki, once the more practical of the two, now struggles to cope with loss. The episode closes with a hint that Tanaka is drawing closer to uncovering the truth behind Kubitachi village’s supernatural events.
Episode 6 of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’This edition of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ wasn’t even that emotional, even though it gets some spook factor in, and yet, I felt like I might’ve cried. I didn’t. But you know that uncomfortable swelling of emotions in your chest? That happened.
Yoshiki’s confusion, angst, grief, should’ve become familiar, maybe even a little boring by now in the anime, but it still feels raw, relatable, and heart-breaking. And it seems, Yoshiki isn’t the only one who noticed almost immediately that something was amiss about the Hikaru that came back after going missing in the mountains for days.
Titled “Asako”, the episode opens at school, where Yoshiki and his classmates discuss a story assigned to them for reading, one that, to Yoshiki, eerily resonates with Hikaru’s situation. Even though he constantly spends time with the entity, his inner emotional turmoil persists over how to feel about someone who looks like Hikaru, talks like Hikaru, and even possesses his memories.
Most of the focus is on a sleepover a group of friends agree to have at Hikaru’s house. While it’s a fun night out, that’s where Asako, a classmate with heightened sensitivity to the supernatural world, voices her doubts about Hikaru’s identity. Her awareness of the world of the dead is briefly highlighted in an earlier episode of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’, and now viewers get an interesting childhood flashback to shed more light on her abilities. But her sharp sense also puts her in harm’s way.
The episode explores youth, friendship, and the essence of being human. While the entity posing as Hikaru may appear harmless, Yoshiki is starting to grasp its darker, more malevolent side. Their fragile bond is tested once again, and it’s becoming clear that the entity is facing an identity crisis of its own.
Watch ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ on Netflix.
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August 9, 2025
Revenged Love Episodes 19-21 Review: Tragedy, Tears, Trips, and Tricks
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Too much unfolds between Episodes 19–21 of ‘Revenged Love‘, from gut-wrenching tragedy to unexpected trips, Wei Wei (Zi Yu) goes on an emotional roller coaster. And thankfully, Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning) is soon back by his side.
Recap of ‘Revenged Love’ Episodes 17-18: Misunderstandings grow between Chi Cheng and Wei Wei thanks to ex-boyfriend Wang Shuo and Wei Wei’s mother, Li Ya. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Li Ya allows Chi Cheng to accompany her to hospital visits and be her primary guardian, but forbids him from telling Wei Wei. With Chi Cheng spending much time with Li Ya and lying about his whereabouts, Wei Wei assumes he’s been with Wang Shuo.
Yue Yue meets Li Ya in secret, claiming he’s still in touch with Wei Wei and they plan to reconcile. Li Ya confides into Chi Cheng, who is shocked to learn Yue Yue is Wei Wei’s ex. But when the lead pair confront each other, Chi Cheng says he’ll move past it if Wei Wei confirms Yue Yue is lying, but Wei Wei, convinced Chi Cheng no longer loves him, falsely claims he only wanted revenge and that their relationship is a sham. Episode 18 of ‘Revenged Love’ ends with their breakup, and Wei Wei getting a call from the hospital about his mother being critical. They also tell him that her emergency contact (Chi Cheng) wasn’t picking up.
Revenged Love Episodes 19-21Titled “This Path Might Be Very Difficult”, episode 19 of the series focuses on the immediate aftermath of Chi Cheng and Wei Wei’s break-up. Although the bulk of the focus is on Wei Wei coming to terms with his mother’s worsening condition and the fact that she chose to hide it from him. It’s a slow-paced, emotional edition, where some scenes focusing on Wang Shuo (Liu Jun) and his brother felt unnecessary. The subtle hints that Wang Shuo’s brother might have a crush on Wei Wei didn’t mesh well with the overall tone of the show.
While Wei Wei’s scenes are sad, Chi Cheng copes with the break-up by practically moving into Guo Cheng Yu’s (Zhan Xuan) house. Which of-course doesn’t go down to well will Yu’s boyfriend Dr. Xiao Shuai (Liu Xuan Cheng), since he suspects they might have been more than friends in the past. So the scenes of this unlikely trio offer some comic-relief in an otherwise sombre chapter.
Episode 20 of ‘Revenged Love’ is hilariously titled “Men Are Like Menstruation: You Think About It When It Doesn’t Arrive on Time, but It’s Annoying When It’s Here.” Although, the edition opens on a tragic tone, with Wei Wei devastated by Li Ya’s death. Chi Cheng finally drops his ego to stand by a broken Wei Wei, unable to watch him grieve alone.
Zi Yu portrays Wei Wei as a lost child, utterly shattered by his mother’s death, bawling his big eyes out like a little boy – a performance that tugs hard at the viewer’s heartstrings. Tian Xu Ning as Chi Cheng is dashing as Wei Wei’s knight in shining armor, there to pick him up, hold him, hug him, and drive all his insecurities away. Unfortunately, ‘Revenged Love’ no longer capitalizes on their chemistry the way the earlier episodes did, it’s the actors carrying the show at this point. Because, despite the promising plot points at this juncture, these two episodes lack the tension they should have had.
Since Chi Cheng and Wei Wei resolve their problems by early half of episode 20, they return to scheming, this time together, to help Guo Cheng Yu get laid. The lead pair plans to deceive Dr. Xiao Shuai, however, their meddling into the secondary couple’s relationship is more awful than chuckle-worthy. Their manipulative tricks aimed at the unsuspecting Xiao Shuai could have been hilarious, but given the doctor’s past baggage, some of their tactics felt unnecessarily cruel and in poor taste. Luckily for them, the soft-hearted Xiao Shuai forgives them rather quickly.
Titled ‘Father-in-Law’, episode 21 of ‘Revenged Love’ sees Wei Wei land in hot water with Chi Cheng’s mercurial father, Chi Yuan Duan (Cheng Shi Yu). Remember when the man stole all of Chi Cheng’s beloved pet snakes, sending the playboy brat into a frenzy? This time, Dad ups the ante by stealing his son’s boyfriend! Yep, Chi Yuan Duan has Wei Wei kidnapped by his henchmen, once again pushing Chi Cheng to the brink.
But before all the ‘Father-in-Law’ drama begins, the episode sees both couples go on a fun camping trip and share some light moments of romance. It’s kinda cute and brings back the comedic tone that made the half of ‘Revenged Love’ such an entertaining watch. In-fact, even the kidnapping part of the chapter is mostly light in tone, packing in some comedic little twists.
Well, overall, these three episode were all right, wavering in pace, mood, but the lead actors continue to keep viewers engaged with their onscreen charm.
You can watch ‘Revenged Love’ on YouTube or Viki.
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Inked Review: When Grief Gets Under Your Skin, Literally
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Everybody has their own way of coping with grief and honoring the dead, so in ‘Inked’, Dylan decides to get a tattoo with her dad’s ashes mixed in the ink. The experience takes a terrifying turn when something sinister awakens in her skin right after she gets inked!
Written and directed by Kelsey Bollig, the short horror film stars Kaikane as Dylan, a young woman mourning her father, who died in prison.
At under 15 minutes, ‘Inked’ opens with a chilling news broadcast about a serial killer before cutting to Dylan, and of course, you can’t help but wonder if the killer was her father. The clues, however, suggest otherwise.
Soon, we see Dylan downing swigs of alcohol while her tattooist friend Bruno (Chris Cortez) fulfills her unusual request: blending the ink with ashes. Bathed in eerie red-toned lighting, her home radiates a creeping unease even before the paranormal activity begins.
Eerie shadows, ghostly entities, body horror, creepy crawlies… director Kelsey Bollig packs a variety of horror elements into this short film, engagingly shouldered by the stunning Kaikane as the tormented Dylan.
‘Inked’ might not spine-chilling horrifying or disturbingly scary, but delivers some disturbing moments, with an interesting climactic twist. Haunted by her own body, under her own roof, Dylan begins to understand what goes wrong, but a little too late!
If you are a horror fan with 15 minutes to spare, check this indie film out on your next break
‘Inked’ is available on Alter’s YouTube. It’s also embedded below.
The Bad Guys Review: Over-the-Top and Super Fun!
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Damn, my throat practically went hoarse from laughing out loud while watching ‘The Bad Guys’, what a hoot this film is! I really have nothing negative to say about it, except that the animation could’ve been a little better, but that’s about it.
Directed by Pierre Perifel (he has worked on the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ movies), the story centers on a crew of notorious criminals who choose to reform, or at least fake it, to avoid prison time. The titular “Bad Guys” include the cunning Wolf (voiced by Sam Rockwell), grumpy loner Snake (Marc Maron), goofy troublemaker Piranha (Anthony Ramos), master of disguise Shark (Craig Robinson), and tech-savvy hacker Tarantula (Awkwafina).
This film is pure, exaggerated fun, packed with quirky characters voiced to perfection. It kicks off with the crew robbing a bank in broad daylight, followed by a wild chase with an army of cops, during which most of the stolen cash ends up flying into the air. The whole thing feels less like a serious heist and more like a thrill-seeking joyride. The ‘Bad Guys’ crew is all about having a laugh, and their friendship is adorable.
The new mayor in town, a fox named Diane Foxington (Zazie Beetz), downplays their infamy in a TV interview, bruising Wolf’s ego. Determined to prove her wrong, he hatches a plan to pull off a heist no one has ever succeeded at. But when “The Bad Guys” fail and face serious jail time, they launch a sham transformation into “good guys” to save themselves. But what if these villains find out that being heroes is its own kind of thrill? Wolf might be game to change for real, but best friend Snake isn’t buying it.
The animation is colorful and cutesy, though not as glossy or detailed as animation enthusiasts might hope, but for a kids’ film, it’s more than engaging enough. Add to that, the background music is great! I especially enjoyed the over-the-top, nonsensical moments, like the snake regurgitating a clock to check the time or a character whipping out a bike from their pocket to join a chase. They make absolutely no sense, but they’re hilarious. That’s how whimsically fun animated films for kids should be.
Besides, ‘The Bad Guys’ does pack a message: that being a criminal might be fun, but helping people out and being the ‘good guy’ feels better!
Rating: 9 on 10!
‘The Bad Guys’ is on JioHotstar/Zee5 or rent it on Prime.
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August 8, 2025
Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 6 Review: A Bangin’ Excorcism!
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Ahahahaha…. ‘Dan Da Dan’ continues to surprise fans in the wackiest ways. when granny Seiko said they needed something called the ‘Hayashi’ performers for the excorcism of Jiji, I thought she meant some traditional musicians dabbling in the supernatural arts. But instead, we’re served a headbanging rock-show exorcism!
Quick recap of ‘Dan Da Dan’ Episode 5: After failing to exorcise Jiji by herself, Seiko starts looking at other alternatives. Meanwhile, they realize that throwing warm water on Jiji subdues the ‘Evil Eye’ Yokai, but if he comes in contact with cold water, he quickly changes into the menacingly muscle-y destructive demon. So Seiko instructs all the teens to always carry a hot thermos with them, as a precautionary measure. Unfortunately the episode ends with Jiji turning into the Yokai, going berserk and destroying Seiko’s house!
Titled ‘We Became A Family’, episode 6 of ‘Dan Da Dan‘ sees the Hayashi musicians arrive at Seiko’s house for the exorcism performance aimed at driving the ‘Evil Eye’ out of Jiji. While Granny Seiko leads the intense ritual; Momo, Okarun, and Aira hilariously watch and cheer the Hayashi performers, who electrify the scene with their “kick the devil out” music. The performance is hilariously entertaining! But Jiji makes a surprising request that complicates everything.
Both the animation style and music are in top form in this edition of ‘Dan Da Dan’. The character designs of the ‘Hayashi’ is amusing to say the least. They looks like a slightly tame Japanese version of ‘Kiss’, you know, the American Rock band.
The creators offer a mix of both worlds: while the first half tackles the exorcism tension, the second half shifts gear to focus on some school fun. Momo decides to get a part-time job to help rebuild the house, while everybody else also sticks around to help out with the ‘Evil Eye’ mess: hence the title ‘We Became A Family’.
The ridiculous sparring between Momo and Aira, set against the heartwarming friendship developing between Okarun and Jiji, are easily some of Dan Da Dan’s strongest threads right now. The last few minutes may have been pure filler, but I loved every second of it.
Stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix or Crunchyroll.
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