Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 18

‘My Oxford Year’ Review: Majors in Beautiful Bores

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

What is it with writers never tiring of serving the same ‘bad boy’ cliché, where the romantic male lead is introduced as a wealthy jerk who hides behind tables to escape confrontation from his latest ‘exploit,’ but then redeems himself as, ‘Oh no, I’m not so immature, I just have profound daddy issues and a health condition that only makes me seem like an prick. But if I find the right girl, I’ll die for her.’ Zzzzzzzzzz. ‘My Oxford Year’ has the exact same kind of lead, just that since it’s Oxford, he knows literature, poetry, and wants us to believe his character isn’t boring us to tears.

Directed by Iain Morris, the film stars Sofia Carson as the primary protagonist, Anna De La Vega, an ambitious American girl with a lucrative job offer from Goldman Sachs in hand, which she defers for a year to pursue a dreamy academic life filled with poetry at Oxford. There, she meets the handsome Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest) and begins an intense love affair that’s supposed to be only “casual” at first. But then things get heavy, predictable, and snooze-worthy.

It’s not even like I have very high standards when it comes to romance, I rated Sofia Carson’s ‘The Life List’ a 7 out of 10, even though it was a sappy, predictable film too. But at least Sofia had great on-screen chemistry with Kyle Allen, who played her romantic interest. In ‘My Oxford Year’, the sparks between Anna and Jamie are more like damp firecrackers that won’t light.

Even the few friends Anna makes at Oxford aren’t interesting. Many of the character interactions have a pretentious, high-school-drama feel, especially in the first-half. The only reason I was able to power through the nearly 2 hour runtime was the picturesque cinematography. The Oxford campus is a sight to behold, and well, visually, the leads look good too, even though their chemistry is lack-luster. So, yeah, this is a beautifully bland romance.

I remember calling Netflix’s ‘One Day’ exhausting, and that show explores similar romantic themes, but compared to ‘My Oxford Year’, ‘One Day‘ feels like a masterpiece. Unless you’re someone who rarely watches romance films, this one will likely feel painfully recycled, with nothing fresh to offer.

Rating: 3 on 10. ‘My Oxford Year’ in on Netflix.

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Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 5 Review: The Group Chaos Is Back!

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The entire gang of ‘Dan Da Dan’ is back under one roof – Momo, Okarun, Jiji, Aira, Granny Seiko and Turbo Granny in her cute cat form – which can only mean one thing: utter comedic chaos!

Quick Recap of Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 4

A volcano erupts in Jiji’s hometown, and protagonist Momo gets creative, using the corpse of the Mongolian Death Worm as a giant hose to stop the magma from spreading. The crazed cultist Kito family fights her, and soon, the evil Yokai-Jiji arrives to kill everyone. Thankfully, Momo finds support from the Bootuber priest, and in one of the zaniest twists of ‘Dan da Dan’, the alien Mantis shows up to help, complete with a giant spaceship and Momo’s granny, Seiko Ayase, as backup. Together, they contain the volcanic disaster, subdue the deranged Kito family, and seal the evil Yokai-Jiji inside Taro’s body (the creepy anatomical model). The episode ends with an emotional reunion between Momo and Okarun.

Dan Da Dan Season 2 Episode 5

Titled “We Can All Stay There Together,” Episode 5 begins with an intense ritual to exorcise the ‘Evil Eye’ Yokai from Jiji’s body, which is currently sealed inside Taro. Unfortunately (and comically), the ritual fails, but Seiko discovers that water can temporarily subdue the muscular, out-of-control Yokai and allow the goofy Jiji to regain control of his body, at least for a while.

After missing in action for the first four episodes of ‘Dan Da Dan’ Season 2, the vain Aira Shiratori joins Momo’s squad for an elaborate group meal. In fact, even Manjiro, the Bootuber priest, and the Alien Mantis with his tiny alien son gather at the Ayase house for food. But Aira steals the spotlight by throwing a tantrum over not being invited to Jiji’s hometown to help him with his haunted house problem, after which everybody’s attention shifts to handling the ‘Evil Eye’ Yokai situation.

This edition doesn’t feature any crazy violent face-offs, so the animation style shifts back to a regular colorful palette, which entertainingly matches the spirit of this largely light-hearted chapter. And after the over-the-top madness of the last episode, you’d think things would get slightly boring, but that’s far from what happens.

Fiery rituals, awkward little romantic exchanges, back-to-school fun… episode 5 of ‘Dan Da Dan’ is fast-paced, comically-chaotic, and thoroughly entertaining.

Stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix or Crunchyroll.

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Head Over Heels Series Review: Cho Yi-hyun Lights Up Shamanic-Rom-Com

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Teen rom-com fluff and dark supernatural forces find an unusually entertaining balance in the 2025 drama ‘Head Over Heels’, which is all about a teen’s quest to save her ‘first love’ from deadly ghosts. Park Seong-ah is a teenage shaman, busy juggling ghosts, demons, whiny customers in need of talismans, and high school exams. And just when she resolves to study harder, she falls head over heels in love with the handsome Bae Gyeon-woo, a client dragged by his grandmother to see the shaman because he is almost always in mortal danger.

Directed by Kim Yong-wan, the Korean series spans 12 episodes and is adapted from the webtoon Gyeonuwa Seonnyeo (견우와 선녀) by An Su Min. Actor Cho Yi-hyun plays lead protagonist Park Seong-ah, known as the ‘Heaven and Earth Fairy’ to her shamanic clientele, to whom she appears in a veil. International viewers might recognize Cho Yi-hyun from the hit Zombie series ‘All of Us Are Dead’, where she played a pretty annoying character, but is absolutely cute and endearing in ‘Head Over Heels’.

Choo Young-woo is the broody, aloof new student Bae Gyeon-woo, who despises shamans, unaware his classmate Seong-ah is one. With death looming and spirits chasing him, she does everything to protect him, even if she seems like a clingy, unhinged girl. This also sparks a comedic love triangle, as Seong-ah’s only friend at school, the charming Ji-ho (Cha Kang-yoon), is in love with her.

In a refreshing change, instead of acting like a typical jealous love rival, Ji-ho selflessly helps her protect Gyeon-woo from deadly spirits and malevolent forces. Their mission gets complicated when a wicked older shaman called Yeom Hwa (Chu Ja-hyeon) seems intent on making Gyeon-woo a scapegoat in her plans to serve a dangerously evil deity.

Creepy haunted houses, wailing baby ghosts, mischievous spirits, and vivid shamanic rituals: ‘Head Over Heels’ draws viewers into a richly imagined world governed by its own rules of demons, ghosts, Gods, and the underworld. On the sides, we get some high-school comedy, featuring teens haunted by creepy campus ghosts, which quickly begin to target misfortune-magnet Gyeon-woo. Unfortunately, the ghostly stuff rarely gets spooky enough to scare viewers, but it complements the largely light, entertaining tone of this supernatural teen romance.

From episode one to until the finale, Cho Yi-hyun powers ‘Head Over Heels’ as the spirited teen protagonist living a double life. At school, Seong-ah is always tired, sleepy, and quite clueless about what teens her age do, and post school, she is the hardworking, famous ‘Heave and Earth Fairy’, catering to long lines of clients, all under the watchful eye of her mentor Dongcheon (Kim Mi-kyung), a powerful senior shaman. Her crush on the gorgeous Gyeon-woo is hilariously superficial at first, but as slowly learns more about his hard life and talents as an archer, she only falls deeper in love.

Choo Young-woo becomes much more entertaining to watch in the second half of ‘Head Over Heels’, when his character is possessed by a mischievous young ghost. He shifts from a cold, brooding heartbreaker to a fun-loving troublemaker with a dangerous streak. His on-screen chemistry with Cho Yi-hyun is adorable, even though their romantic moments are lightly scattered across the 12 episodes.

Actor Cha Kang-yoon as Ji-ho, however, won me over faster than Gyeon-woo, as he is easily the most likable character in the series. Not only does Ji-ho support Seong-ah in all her shamanic chaos, but he also becomes a pillar of strength for Gyeon-woo during his darkest moments. So, alongside the sweet slow-burn romance between Seong-ah and Gyeon-woo, ‘Head Over Heels’ also delivers a comically heartwarming bromance between Gyeon-woo and Ji-ho.

A significant portion of ‘Head Over Heels’ explores antagonist Yeom Hwa’s complex ties to both Gyeon-woo and Seong-ah. Chu Ja-hyeon is electrifying in the role, delivering just the right dose of wickedness. But Yeom Hwa isn’t your typical one-note villain, her descent into darkness stems from a tragic past. Unfortunately, her backstory feels a bit repetitive, as a similar version of the same trauma is also assigned to a minor character in the series.

Yoon Byung-hee is fabulous in his portrayal of Do Ryeong, a flamboyant Shaman who often helps Seong-ah in her missions, and provides additional comic-relief in the series. Park Jung Pyo who plays Gyeon-woo’s new Archery coach is also very likable in his small role, acting as a much-needed mentor to the new student.

The final episodes of ‘Head Over Heels’ deliver a flurry of twists, including the arrival of an ‘evil deity’ that becomes a constant thorn in the side of the main characters. The spirit is wildly unpredictable and nearly impossible to exorcise, raising the stakes significantly. Some of the shamanic elements don’t always make much sense, it feels like the writers made up rules on the fly, but with supernatural stories, you just have to go along with it, as long as things don’t get too outlandish.

Overall, ‘Head Over Heels’ is a well-paced, consistently entertaining series, supported by engaging visuals and memorable performances. It’s a great pick for anyone looking for a genre-bending romance where dark supernatural forces collide with lighthearted, comedic teen love.

Rating: 8 on 10. Watch ‘Head Over Heels’ on Prime Video.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram for more pop culture chatter.

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My Girlfriend Is The Man! Episodes 3-4 Review: Sleepovers and New Rivals

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The gender-bender confusion, chaos, and comedy continue in the Korean romantic comedy ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man!’ starring Yoon San-Ha as Park Yun Jae, whose girlfriend Kim Ji-Eun (Arin) wakes up as a handsome young man (Yoo Jung-hoo), turning their dating life upside down.

Recap of ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’ Episodes 1-2:

College student Kim Ji-Eun is horrified to find herself transformed into a man, while her older sister Kim Ji-hye (Choi Yoon Ra) initially mistakes her for an intruder. However, thanks to matching tattoos and flashbacks revealing that their mother had warned them about a generational curse, one that temporarily turns the women in their family into men, Ji-hye soon accepts that the man before her is her younger sister. Park Yun Jae, on the other hand, struggles to come to terms with the change, so the couple decide to remain friends until she turns back.

To avoid confusion, Ji-Eun names her male version Ji-Hoon and confides her secret in best friend Choi Yu-ri (Park Joo Won). Comedic complications arise when Yun Jae’s sister Yun-a (Lee So Won) develops a massive crush on Ji-Hoon and asks her brother to play cupid. Meanwhile, Yun Jae’s friend from work, a playboy called Min Hyeok (Hur Hyun Jun) also begins to get too friendly with Ji-Hoon. Episode 2 ends with Ji-Hoon joining Park Yun Jae and Min Hyeok for a boys’ sleepover, only to wake up the next morning in her female form once again.

Episode 3-4 of ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’

Okay, this series isn’t generating the kind of laugh-out-loud comedy its plot is capable of. Although, Episode 3 does start on a hilarious note: with Yun Jae punching the living daylights out of Min Hyeok to keep him from realizing that Ji-Hoon oppa has turned back into a woman. This quick transformation helps erase any doubts Yun Jae might’ve had about his beloved Ji-Eun turning into a dude, but unfortunately, she soon goes back to being the taller, stronger, hotter Ji-Hoon.

The new episodes also introduce actor Chuu as Kang Min-Ju, a junior who has just returned from abroad and wants Yun Jae to be her boyfriend. This sparks jealousy in Ji-Eun, who can’t really stake her claim on Yun Jae while stuck in her male form. While Chuu is undeniably cute, the character comes off as quite annoying, bordering on vamp territory, even though the creators use light, playful music to frame Min-Ju as an adorable, funny addition.

Park Joo Won as Ji-Eun’s nerdy writer BFF Yu-ri had the funniest scenes in these episodes of ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’. She turns bright red every time she’s around Ji-Hoon, unable to handle her bestie’s unexpected hotness as a man, with her heart practically leaping out of her chest whenever they get close. Joo Won nails the role with spot-on comedic instincts. And much to Yoon Jae’s annoyance, his friend Min Hyeok is suspiciously clingy with Ji-Hoon. Basically, a lot of comedy hinges on jealousy, envy and insecure moments of the lead pair.

A subplot involving Yun-a’s crush on an old classmate isn’t particularly engaging and only slows down the pace of ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’. Yun-a’s antics are more entertaining when her sister is involved in the chaos. Interestingly, the sisters finally come clean to their parents about what’s happening, but not before a mildly funny scene where the parents mistakenly assume Ji-Hoon is Yun-a’s new boyfriend.

Yoon San-Ha is super endearing as the confused Park Yun Jae, and Yoo Jung-hoo plays the part of a woman stuck in a man’s body with casual flair. That said, it does sometimes feel like they should’ve just switched roles, since San-Ha has the soft, cutesy vibe down, while Jung-hoo has this naturally manly edge. But well, that’s kind of the whole point, right? Ji-Eun’s supposed to be too dashing and awkwardly masculine in her male form in ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’.

Overall, these two episodes of show are quite entertaining, but the writers aren’t maximizing the comic potential of the plot.

Watch ‘My Girlfriend Is The Man’ on Viki.

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Groupies Comic-Book Series Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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“Wow, we’ve really made it. We’re with the band. And not just any band. The up-and-coming, everybody wants a piece, we’re gonna be bigger than The Beatles, achingly hip, band of the moment.”

The five-issue comic-book series ‘Groupies’ by Helen Mullane and Tula Lotay is a dreamily drawn, glossy-yet-dark tale of beautiful girls being brutally murdered while touring with ‘The Moon Show’, the hottest band in town. Is there a serial killer on the loose, or is the devil demanding its price for the band’s meteoric rise to fame?

Every issue follows a different young woman, two of whom are caught up in a seductive tug-of-war over Si, a grungy heartthrob from ‘The Moon Show‘, who might remind some readers of a young Kurt Cobain. Almost all chapters of ‘Groupies’ are soaked in sex, drugs, and messy egos, balancing rockstar glamour with gruesome, possibly demonic killings.

However, since each chapter is less than 30 pages long, the moment you get familiar with one character, the narrative moves on to someone else. None of the characters are particularly memorable, even though their designs are mesmerizing. Needless to say, the beautiful artwork by Tula Lotay is the highlight of Groupies, with her illustrations smoothing over some of the plot’s weak points. Tula Lotay draws the women like seductive sirens and Greek goddesses wrapped in hip clothes from the 1960s and ’70s.

There’s considerable suspense around the mysterious violence unfolding throughout the issues, but unfortunately, Groupies ends with a randomly abrupt climax that makes little sense. If you’re the kind of comic-book reader who reads for the art, this series is worth checking out.

Rating: 3 on 5. ‘Groupies’ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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Sakamoto Days Episode 14 Review: The Boss is Back, But Sidekicks Steal the Show

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‘I’ll work harder! I’ll become stronger!!!’

Episode 14 of ‘Sakamoto Days’ with Shin comically screaming his head off as he finds himself in unfamiliar circumstances. I won’t write about what actually happens, both to keep the review spoiler-free and to preserve the impact of the opening scene. But just like before, the anime’s focus remains on the various serial killers out to eliminate Sakamoto and his crew.

Also Read: Sakamoto Days Season One Part One Review

Titled “Strong Assault”, this episode introduces an intriguing new character, Granny Miya, from Sakamoto’s golden days as a top-tier assassin. Meanwhile, the story also picks up the tense cliffhanger from Episode 13, with a deranged assassin approaching Sakamoto’s wife, Aoi, at the store. Will he hurt Aoi? Or will the Sakamoto squad arrive just in time to avert tragedy? Something quite unexpected happens!

In the last two episodes, Taro Sakamoto, despite being the titular protagonist, had minimal screen time. And honestly, that worked just fine, with the hilariously entertaining duo of Shin and Lu taking center stage to battle the bad guys. But in “Strong Assault,” the boss is back. Sakamoto steps into combat mode, facing off against one of the death-row convicts who escaped with Slur’s help. In an interesting but weird scene, the creators address Sakamoto’s weight issues, and how he tries to temporarily (and magically) lose weight to fight better, before bouncing back to his chubby self.

This episode, however, wasn’t as theatrically violent as the last two, and I’m starting to think it’s actually more fun to watch the supporting characters than Taro himself. And whenever the pacing dips even slightly, your attention shifts to the animation quality… which, yeah, as most of the ‘Sakamoto Days‘ fandom agrees, isn’t great, especially if you compare it to ongoing anime like ‘Dan Da Dan’.

The episode’s final moments follow ORDER members Osaragi and Shishiba as they pursue their next target, but not before indulging in a comical binge-eating spree.

Watch Sakamoto Days on Netflix.

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Lord of Mysteries Review: Beyonders and a ‘Beyond-My-Brain’ Pace

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

From an animation enthusiast POV: the dark-fantasy series ‘Lord of Mysteries’ was more exhausting than entertaining to watch. There’s just an overdose of visual stuff happening in the series, and while some of the frames do look great, a lot of them also either feel AI-generated, or like playing a video game.

While discussing the show with my brother, who watches more animated content than I do, he pointed out that viewers unfamiliar with Chinese animation styles might struggle to connect with ‘Lord of Mysteries’, much like how younger audiences today might not like the simple Cartoon Network-style designs of the shows we grew up with. If I have to give post 2024 examples of animated shows I enjoyed streaming, they would be ‘Blood of Zeus’, ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’, ‘Dan Da Dan’, ‘Leviathan’, ‘Love, Sex, Robots’, or even the ongoing ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’, and ‘Gachiakuta’…!

From the opening episode of ‘Lord of Mysteries‘, this is the basic plot I pieced together: Protagonist Klein Moretti is a ‘transmigrator’, someone who can travel to a different place and era. So he is from the future, where computers and cellphones exist, but he finds himself in a steam-punk, medieval alternate reality in 1352 AD. Klein needs to figure out a way to go back home in the future, so he decides to take the help of Dunn Smith, the captain of a secretive group called the Night-Hawks, that operates under the guise of a security company. Dunn Smith is also a ‘Beyonder’, beings that have supernatural powers and can rise to the level of Gods.

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The series dives deep into lore, rules, and drama surrounding the Beyonders, with Klein eventually becoming one himself. After joining Smith’s secret order, he begins working alongside them to solve cases that often involve dangerous entities. His first mission deals with a kidnapping, followed by a case involving a disturbingly powerful puppet that might remind some viewers of the creepy clown from Stephen King’s IT. While the plot of ‘Lord of Mysteries’ sounds fantastic on paper, the execution just didn’t work for me.

The animation of ‘Lord of Mysteries’ is a blend of steampunk aesthetics with weirdly Victorian-era styles and moods. The animation movements feel choppy, like you’re watching someone else play a mystery fantasy game online. The character designs mirror the style of Japanese anime, making the characters cat-like cute, but the episodes lack the energy, and emotional highs that make anime so gripping. Unfortunately, the voice acting doesn’t help either, as it fails to elevate the experience.

From the four episodes that I saw, the tone of the series was largely bleak, serious, dark, packing in a generous amount of demonic activities and bloodied violence. And even though I am a huge fan of mystery and horror series, each time an episode of ‘Lord of Mysteries’ got over, I didn’t feel any excitement over what would happen next. The creators jam in too much, both plot-wise, and visually, and maybe I am too simple-minded, but this show gave me a headache. It features too many characters, too many fictional places, weird fictional historical personalities, and too much name-dropping.

Give ‘Lord of Mysteries’ a chance if the idea of a guy from the future time-traveling to an alternate past, where powerful secret orders with supernatural beings thrive, sounds exciting. As long as you are a patient viewer who doesn’t mind a crazy mix of visual styles and an overload of information.

Watch Lord of Mysteries on CrunchyRoll or WeTV.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram for more pop culture chatter.

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Head Over Heels Episode 12 Review: Sealed With Shamanic Spells and Kisses!

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Actor Cho Yi-hyun is adorable as teen shaman protagonist Park Seong-ah in ‘Head Over Heels’, but she is even more entertaining as the troublemaker ghost Bong-su, now an evil deity residing in Seong-ah’s body. And if Yeom-hwa (Chu Ja-hyeon) is to be believed, the only way to get rid off Bong-su is by death of its host. The finale of the series is an entertaining mix of comedic antics, friendly banter, emotional upheaval, and dangerous shamanic activities.

Quick Recap of ‘Head Over Heels’ Episode 13

Seong-ah performs a ritual to expel the spirit of Bong-su from her beloved first love, Gyeon-woo (Choo Young-woo). However, things take a dark turn when Bong-su ends up possessing Seong-ah’s body instead, now transformed into an evil deity, having claimed his 100th victim with the death of senior shaman Dongcheon. Or at least, that’s what Yeom-hwa claims. Seong-ah disappears from the town, even missing her graduation ceremony, leaving both Gyeon-woo and Ji-ho (Cha Kang-yoon) devastated. Seong-ah is gone for almost three years, but her friends keep looking for her, without much success. Episode 11 ends with Gyeon-woo finally finding her at the Flower Fairy Do Ryeong’s (Yoon Byung-hee) shrine, but then he realizes it is actually Bong-su!

Episode 12 of ‘Head Over Heels’

The finale of this supernatural romance centers on Gyeon-woo’s attempt to resolve the Bong-su crisis, who’s now taken over Seong-ah’s body. Let’s call her Bong-Seong-ah, since she’s no longer the sweet, floral-dress-wearing teen with signature bangs, but an evil deity strutting around in bold, spunky animal-print outfits.

Gyeon-woo brings Bong-Seong-ah home, where Ji-ho, who is perpetually crashing at his place, is stunned to see her after all these years. His shock only deepens as he begins to grasp what’s really going on. The first few minutes of Episode 12 lean into comedy, with hilarious exchanges between the trio. When an old school friend unexpectedly drops by, word spreads fast: Seong-ah is back. This sparks an impromptu beer-fueled reunion party to celebrate her return, and Bong-su, now inhabiting Seong-ah, begins to realize the weight of stealing someone else’s life.

Just as actor Choo Young-woo was fun to watch when his broody character was possessed by Bong-su, Cho Yi-hyun also portrays the possessed teen shaman with endearing, playful charm. Of course, she’s equally adorable as the lovestruck, generous, golden-hearted Seong-ah. Although actor Cha Kang-yoon as Ji-ho is also a scene-stealer, with his fluffy portrayal of Ji-ho, loyally standing by his friend’s side.

The last few minutes of ‘Head Over Heels’ take a tense, dramatic turn as Gyeon-woo reluctantly teams up with Yeom-hwa to exorcise Bong-su. However, the older shaman’s proposed solution is dark, painful, and potentially fatal. The finale delivers a colorful and theatrical display of shamanic rituals, with both Yeom-hwa and Do-ryeong (Yoon Byung-hee) performing elaborate ceremonies.

While I was definitely expecting more romance and spooky elements from ‘Head Over Heels’, the show turns out to be an intriguing blend of both. Of course, some of the shamanic plot points defy logic, but if you just go with the flow, it’s an enjoyable ride. In the end, Cho Yi-hyun’s Seong-ah gets a victorious, emotional “happy ending,” and the final moments feature the lead couple sealing their love with a few sweet kisses. Give it a watch if you’re in the mood for a genre-bending teen romance.

Watch ‘Head Over Heels’ on Prime Video.

Find the writer on Twitter and Instagram for more pop culture chatter.

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Revenged Love Episodes 15-16 Review: Jealousy? Activated. Scheming? Unleashed.

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Now that the infamous ex-boyfriend Wang Shuo (Liu Jun) has finally made his appearance in ‘Revenged Love’, it’s clear Chi Cheng (Tian Xu Ning) has a ‘type’: gorgeous little schemers!

Recap of ‘Revenged Love’ Episodes 13-14: Wei Wei (Zi Yu) and Chi Cheng start to date each other seriously, going on fun dates, while also working together in their new art company. Meanwhile, Guo Cheng Yu (Zhan Xuan) tracks down Dr. Xiao Shuai’s (Liu Xuan Cheng) predatory ex-boyfriend Meng Tao (Birgit) and forces him to come clean. Meng Tao admits he had Xiao Shuai drugged and photographed to make it look like he cheated, so they would break up. This confrontation gives Xiao Shuai closure and also brings him closer to Cheng Yu.

While Episode 13 features cutesy romantic moments between Wei Wei and Chi Cheng, trouble brews in the next chapter when Chi Cheng’s ex-boyfriend, Wang Shuo (Liu Jun), returns to town. Interestingly, Wei Wei isn’t insecure; instead, he encourages his boyfriend to sort things out with the ex so they can move forward with their lives. Episode 14 ends with a tense meeting between Chi Cheng, Wang Shuo, and Cheng Yu over drinks at their usual hangout spot.

Episodes 15-16 of ‘Revenged Love’

After a fun, comedic 14-episode run, the series has now entered its cliched era, filled with a few frustrating misunderstandings that don’t make a lot of sense. For instance, a coincidence leads Wei Wei to believe Chi Cheng might’ve spent the night with Wang Shuo, when in reality, Wang Shuo unexpectedly crashes at Dr. Xiao Shuai’s flat. And come on, we all know how chatty and gossipy Xiao Shuai is, so when he runs into Wei Wei the very next day, it’s completely implausible that he wouldn’t mention Wang Shuo had stayed over. In-fact, if Wang Shuo had cleared up the matter, it could’ve led to more insecurity and cause for concern and confusion for Wei Wei!

Titled “Who Can Resist the One You Love, But Cannot Have?”, Episode 15 of ‘Revenged Love’ begins with Chi Cheng confronting Wang Shuo about his sudden return, and why he’d been hiding it for six months. It’s clear Chi Cheng still needs closure over what happened between them in the past. New entrant Liu Jun is entertaining as the sly, bratty Wang Shuo, whose ultimate agenda seems shady, but it’s evident he wants to stir up trouble between the lovers.

Meanwhile, things get more complicated when Chi Cheng takes Wei Wei’s mother, Li Ya (Qin Yue), to the doctor and learns she has pancreatic cancer. In a cliched twist, she makes him swear to keep it a secret, forcing poor Chi Cheng to lie to his boyfriend about his whereabouts during the hospital visits, leaving Wei Wei confused, insecure, and heartbroken. Actor Zi Yu shoulders these emotional scenes with nuance and sincerity, tugging at the heartstrings of viewers.

While Episode 15 might be the weakest installment of ‘Revenged Love‘, dragging slightly in pace, Episode 16 is more entertaining, reintroducing some of the show’s comedic tone. One of the funnier surprises (especially for those who haven’t read Chai Ji Dan’s novel Counter-Attack) is when the bratty Wang Shuo shows up at Wei Wei’s art installation company, as a client.

Jealous yet curious to learn more about the ex, Wei Wei slips into scheming mode and agrees to visit Wang Shuo’s home, where he ends up befriending Wang’s older brother. But not just that, Wei Wei also discovers some old videos which lead to new revelations about Chi Cheng’s messed up equation with Wang Shuo and Guo Cheng Yu. So we get some comedic scenes between Wei Wei and Xiao Shuai wondering what really went down between the three men.

Fans who’ve been patiently waiting for the romance between Guo Cheng Yu and Dr. Xiao Shuai to progress might feel rewarded: they’re finally officially a couple in the series. Some credit goes to the mischievous Wang Shuo for escalating things between the pair. I am not sure how much space this secondary couple had in the novel, but they could’ve definitely used some more scenes in ‘Revenged Love’, since the chemistry between Zhan Xuan and Liu Xuan Cheng is pretty cute.

Although, damn, I said in my review for the first four episodes of ‘Revenged Love’ – Xuan Cheng and Tian Xu Ning have great onscreen chemistry too, which is making all characters curious about the exact nature of their ‘friendship’. Because not just Dr. Xiao Shuai, but it seems Wang Shuo was also insecure about the proximity between the childhood friends.

The climactic moments of Episode 16 indicate that Wang Shuo might not be as evil as everybody assumes him to be. Overall, these two episodes of ‘Revenged Love’ were engaging, even if not as chaotically entertaining as the earlier editions.

You can watch ‘Revenged Love’ on YouTube or Viki.

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The Poppy War Book Review: Rin Rips The Fabric of the World

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

It took me three days to finish the first 400 odd pages of ‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Kuang, and another 3 to finish the last 100 pages. And that’s really one way to review the book: absolutely riveting and gripping for the first 75%, after which the plot gets slow, repetitive, bland and slightly disappointing. And if readers made a game out of drinking a shot every time the author wrote a variant of ‘it would rip the fabric of the world’, you’d be reasonably hammered by the end.

Set in a fictional empire called ‘Nikara’, ‘The Poppy War’ is about teen protagonist Fang Runin AKA Rin, a war orphan who burns the midnight oil to clear the Keju exam, her ticket to the prestigious Sinegard academy, an elite military school which trains future war generals. Life at the academy, however, isn’t a dream. Rin is mocked for her peasant background, ridiculed for her accent, and dismissed by masters who can’t look past her origins. But she’s determined to prove her worth, no matter how high the cost.

A stroke of luck (or destiny?) brings her under the wing of Jiang Ziya, a reclusive lore master who, despite being perpetually absent from his classes, decides to personally mentor her. Jiang prepares Rin for combat and is easily one of the most entertaining characters in ‘The Poppy War’. He’s a rebellious outlier, the classic “misunderstood genius” who refuses to play by the rules and is constantly underestimated by those around him. So when war comes knocking far too soon, Jiang’s unorthodox training gives Rin her chance to shape history… or burn it all down. Or, as the book puts it, “rip the fabric of the world.” (Feel free to try the drinking game while reading this review.)

R.F. Kuang builds a rich, imaginative world filled with lore, history, powerful deities, superhuman shamans, cultural divides, and racial tensions. The Nikara Empire comprises of 12 provinces, each ruled by a warlord, who are under an empress known for her hypnotic powers and part of a legendary trio with shamanic powers. But peace is fragile in Nikara, with the island nation of Mugen, led by merciless commanders, constantly threatening invasion.

The first half of ‘The Poppy War’ is absolutely unputdownable. It’s not overly intense and delivers a familiar but entertaining story of the underdog (Rin) trying to make it big despite all the odds. The only real friend Rin makes at the Sinegard Academy is the nerdy Kitay, essentially the ‘Hermione’ of the novel, but from a powerful family: the son of Nikara’s defense minister, no less. Of course, there’s a mortal enemy too: Nezha, the arrogant, handsome heir to a powerful warlord, who brawls with Rin on day one. And the there is Altan Trengsin, a revered senior warrior who becomes Rin’s idol and eventual partner in chaos.

Rin gets a very ‘Karate Kid’ style strength training, unlocks her ‘chakras’ (yeah, no, R.F. Kuang doesn’t say that, but still), channels her inner shaman, and rips the fabric of the world. Sort of. The spiritual mechanics are vague at best, but they’re serviceable: shamans typically enter a drug-induced trance, call upon a God, and if the God responds, either their enemies are doomed… or the shaman is. “With great power comes great insanity” could easily be the story’s tagline. It’s fantasy, after all.

As Rin’s power grows through the climactic chapters, so does the reader’s fatigue with ‘The Poppy War’. What started as a compelling journey turns into a slightly bloated saga of destruction. Rin goes from being a relatable fighter to a near-invincible weapon of mass destruction, and it’s not always convincing.

For instance, there are things the author just doesn’t convincingly convey, like Rin’s anger at the world. In the second half of ‘The Poppy War’, Rin is grief-stricken over the loss of her “friends” in the war, devastated by having to watch them die before her eyes. And I’m thinking: girl, you had one friend, and he’s very much alive. R.F. Kuang needed to establish stronger friendships for Rin to make her “ripping the fabric of the world”-level vengeful rage believable. Or, better yet, just be honest about Rin’s simple, understandable thirst for power, blood, and destruction.

The final act of ‘The Poppy War’ dives deep into graphic territory. From brutal war crimes to chilling body horror and sexual violence, the book doesn’t flinch. These depictions are deliberate, meant to show the horrors of war, but they will be too much for some readers. But you cannot rip the fabric of the world without grotesquely butchering humans, can you?

Overall, the novel is an intriguing fantasy-fiction novel steeped in legend and lore, which ends on the promise of more bloodshed. I might’ve felt disappointed by the last few chapters, but this was worth a read.

Rating: 3.5 stars on 5.

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