Drama Digest:
Teenagers come across a body hidden under a tarp as they are hiking through a barred-off, forested region. We hope that the other ladies get their own stories, because right now they’re a bit interchangeable. But other shows with big ensembles tend to find their footing as they explore the secondary characters, but it always takes some time. There’s also going to be a mystery to solve, which will affect every relationship on the show. How that gets integrated into the story will be the most intriguing aspect of Light The Night going forward.
The Feel-Good Part:
You have to have the most patience possible, but this new show is terrific with unexpected moments and twists that genuinely pull you in. The acting is at its best in the slow burn, but it’s worth a try.
The Disappointing Factor:
In the hopes that viewers would be able to infer something from it, this series is made up of a variety of random sequences that are pieced together. There isn’t much information given about who the different characters might be or what their functions might be.
In-Depth Analysis:
After a storm blows across Taiwan, Tony Yang’s character, Wen-cheng, uses some unique tactics to persuade a suspect that he sold drugs out of a coffee shop. When he visits the woods to look into the body that was discovered there, he comes across a business card for a club named Light. She decides to follow Jiang-han during the day since she is fed up with him not returning her calls and she realizes she has no idea where she lives. He meets a young author at his publisher’s office and invites her to lunch. He basically informs Rose that he no longer loves her when she confronts him at his apartment. It appears, though, that he has a relationship with Sue that precedes his time with Rose, so things are more convoluted than that. Sue, however, slaps him after he makes a drunken pass at her.
Star Power:
Jiang-portrayer Han’s Rhydian Vaughan is quite good at conveying the mood of his role as a gloomy creative genius. Knowing their past together, he even laughs after Sue slaps him. The two excellent main performances by Ruby Lin as Rose and Cheryl Yang as Sue help it. Their bond is established early on as being quite solid and extending beyond their partnership in business. They watch out for one another, and even after Jiang-han makes that move after splitting up with Rose, Sue is still in a protective mindset. Even though that friendship may be put to the test as the season progresses, it will still be at the center of the show, which provides a strong framework.
Overall Opinion:
The Light’s central friendship Most of the dramatic weight should fall on The Night. It’s a bubbly, soapy watch, though, so it might not be for everyone. There is little doubt that Light The Night has a soap opera vibe to it, with a dash of melodrama thrown in. It is probably going to appeal to viewers who love the interpersonal relationships that are developed in East Asian dramas, but the program is difficult to gauge after the first episode.
