DramaloverPanda
avoid this season and just rewatch the first
This is the lowest rating I have given a drama on MDL before. This second season felt like a student film completely written, casted, and shot by students without much experience or a clear grasp on the story they wanted to portray. It is a bit disappointing that this is connected to the first season.In the first season we are introduced to the idea of Mono's who live in a world of grey until they manage to meet someone who's face will allow them to see color, their probe. Geon Yoo never wanted to meet his probe out of fear that he may hurt that person due to obsession so when he meets Yoo Han he tries to run away. Yoo Han however does not want him to run away. Their adorable romance that stems from their connection is simple but sweet to watch. Yoo Han helps Geon Woo overcome his fear by being a stable and unmovable presence in his life. Between this unique plot, the pleasant soundtrack, and the chemistry between the pair I enjoyed the first season far more than I expected to.
The first season introduced the side plot that Geon Yoo's mother had been missing and his Aunt was searching for her while taking care of him. It also emphasizes the connection of a mono and probe, essentially soul mates, but how the colorizing of a mono's world can also feel so addictive that they become obsessed with their probe. This obsession can make the probe uncomfortable or lead to the mono doing unspeakable acts to the people around their probe or even to them. The idea that mono's are dangerous and are outcasts is mentioned often. This second season tries to expand on that notion while running with the mystery of his missing mother. It becomes a story filled with practically nothing but Monos. The previous season made it seem like Monos were there rare while this season is littered with them and they are obsessed with wanting to see color so much that they have a secret 'club' and drugs and surgery to allow them to do that.
Honestly the plot is a bit of a mess. It opens with Yoo Han having been kidnapped but for some reason it is not publicized which makes no sense given the kind of family he has that was so worried about him being kidnapped in season one. It was a convenient excuse to have the character missing as the actor may not have wanted to return. So the shows premise becomes Geon Yoo searching fervently for Yoo Han and his mother and in his search he comes across a new friend whose sister was a mono that was killed trying to get the surgery. The pair try to enter the dangerous world of this secret Mono cult to find the truth behind the missing monos and the death of his friend's sister.
Acting was amateurish in this entire cast. From no real emotion shown for the death of a sister to the creepiness of the Mono cult. Editing is also very patchy with scenes and songs cutting off abruptly. Again this is primarily a student film continuation and I would not suggest you waste your time on it. The first season was a simple watch and I enjoyed it for the chemistry and interesting and unique plot but this continuation was just a mess.
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Avoid this second season and just enjoy rewatching the first
This is the lowest rating I have given a drama on MDL before. This second season felt like a student film completely written, casted, and shot by students without much experience or a clear grasp on the story they wanted to portray. It is a bit disappointing that this is connected to the first season.In the first season we are introduced to the idea of Mono's who live in a world of grey until they manage to meet someone who's face will allow them to see color, their probe. Geon Yoo never wanted to meet his probe out of fear that he may hurt that person due to obsession so when he meets Yoo Han he tries to run away. Yoo Han however does not want him to run away. Their adorable romance that stems from their connection is simple but sweet to watch. Yoo Han helps Geon Woo overcome his fear by being a stable and unmovable presence in his life. Between this unique plot, the pleasant soundtrack, and the chemistry between the pair I enjoyed the first season far more than I expected to.
The first season introduced the side plot that Geon Yoo's mother had been missing and his Aunt was searching for her while taking care of him. It also emphasizes the connection of a mono and probe, essentially soul mates, but how the colorizing of a mono's world can also feel so addictive that they become obsessed with their probe. This obsession can make the probe uncomfortable or lead to the mono doing unspeakable acts to the people around their probe or even to them. The idea that mono's are dangerous and are outcasts is mentioned often. This second season tries to expand on that notion while running with the mystery of his missing mother. It becomes a story filled with practically nothing but Monos. The previous season made it seem like Monos were there rare while this season is littered with them and they are obsessed with wanting to see color so much that they have a secret 'club' and drugs and surgery to allow them to do that.
Honestly the plot is a bit of a mess. It opens with Yoo Han having been kidnapped but for some reason it is not publicized which makes no sense given the kind of family he has that was so worried about him being kidnapped in season one. It was a convenient excuse to have the character missing as the actor may not have wanted to return. So the shows premise becomes Geon Yoo searching fervently for Yoo Han and his mother and in his search he comes across a new friend whose sister was a mono that was killed trying to get the surgery. The pair try to enter the dangerous world of this secret Mono cult to find the truth behind the missing monos and the death of his friend's sister.
Acting was amateurish in this entire cast. From no real emotion shown for the death of a sister to the creepiness of the Mono cult. Editing is also very patchy with scenes and songs cutting off abruptly. Again this is primarily a student film continuation and I would not suggest you waste your time on it. The first season was a simple watch and I enjoyed it for the chemistry and interesting and unique plot but this continuation was just a mess.
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In the first season we meet charismatic and shining Seo Joon who is an actor that needed to hide as a scandal shakes his world a bit. He finds himself cohabitating with the stone faced Ji Woo whom in every way is his opposite. Despite his cold exterior and very high emotional walls Seo Joon finds himself drawn to Ji Woo and wanting to become closer. Each interaction leaves its mark and Seo Joon begins to fall for him. As Seo Joon realizes his feelings he confronts them head on without shying away even in the face of Ji Woo's seeming indifference. Ji Woo who is afraid of being hurt can't resist the magnetic pull of Seo Joon and the pair find couple bliss.
But as in life, this second season explores the complexity of their relationship and differences. A seemingly perfect romance and happy couple that loses their way and courage. In the first episode we see that Ji Woo has left Seo Joon with just a note before he disappears and Seo Joon spends a year trying to find him not understanding what he did wrong. The season then takes you on a journey of their relationship that can feel totally different from each perspective. Ji Woo's fear and avoidance is expressed in his cold and often mean demeanor as he tries to run away while Seo Joon's honest and sincere heart won't allow him to let go just yet. The pair must face what went wrong and will have to be vulnerable in a way they had not been before. This journey of heartbreak and reconciliation will pull at your heart strings and keep you attached to these characters rooting for their happy ending.
The way the team expressed each characters emotive states, the beautiful cinematography, and shear realness in its depiction of relationships truly leaves a lasting impression. There is not some unrealistic villain that tears them apart of some overly dramatized reason for their separation and instead you are left feeling their raw emotions along with them, reflecting on your own past relationships and mistakes.
Well worth the watch. If I had to nitpick reasons for the not perfect rating then I will say that Ji Woo's character/background could have been better fleshed out. His cold and aloof demeanor remains for almost the entirety of the drama but his breakdown and understanding of himself and what he wants fits into the picture they paint of him; it just may irritate you as a viewer while watching.
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Here's to the friends we wish we had!
First this show really needed a better title. My Calorie Boy did not pique my interest at all nor do I feel like it really sums up the drama well. I picked this up on a whim when I was mostly looking to watch something with a good friendships and found this as a recommendation for that. This did indeed fit that bill but also did so much more. It kept me laughing and smiling but also did not shy away from skirting around some very difficult topics such as parental expectation and pressure, body weight and image, teaching differences, and grief. This slice of life drama will keep you interested through the casts chemistry and infectious comedy.The two main leads were exceptional throughout the drama and their chemistry together was top notch. Their friendship was so realistically portrayed and acted as they went from wary strangers, to allies, to best friends. Between their bickering and light-hearted teasing you see as their relationship grows and how they naturally gravitate toward each other without realizing it. I also like that this drama does not shy away from the natural skin ship that is normal in young relationships such as the girls linking arms, holding hands and best friends playfully batting each other or sitting close. The feeling of friendship through their actions is felt through the screen. And as the friendship goes these two are the types of friends you wish you had or were. JingJing's overflowing generosity for her friends and JiaWie's unfaltering support.
But this show did not create perfect characters which I loved. Each one is flawed and real. From the teachers that still have lessons to learn, to the parents that hold on too tight, down to the students that grow and change. Everything is seen through the lens of your 17 year old self experiencing the same life lessons and challenges.
My biggest complaint about this show however is the editing and the time lapse, specifically in the last 5 episodes. The majority of the drama takes place in their second year of high school and then as senior year starts time moves very quickly which feels disjointed from the first half of the show but understandable since they primarily need to study and take tests anyway. There are parts where it feels like scenes were cut out as it seems to set it up for something and then move on to something completely different. And then the last episode happens where there is a complete jump over the college years and it is 4 years later where everyone is now in their career and it felt so unrealistic and unsatisfying. It does have a happy ending in the last 3 minutes which is far from enough for me. Still with these flaws I still really really enjoyed this drama.
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If you go into this story thinking it will be a romance then you won't find that here. Romance it just kind of grazed and only with one of the band members. The romance also did not work for me in two ways. First the only chemistry I saw between the two was the teacher student relationship amd the second is in the age gap which is very unclear and never really said in the series but I assume she is between 6-10 years older than him. Asuka was portrayed very well as the housemother that gave advice and helped to support all the boys and to me I saw the same energy from her with all the members and never got a romantic vibe from her for Dan. On Dan's end I could easily see his crush but it did not feel reciprocated to me.
I did think this had a somewhat realistic portrayal of the pressure and hardships put on pop bands in the industry with these hard to live up to expectations put on them. But I also think that it was glossed over as well. You are exposed to the 'downfall' of the band due to a scandal but then barely given any context or follow through about it. Same with the rise in their success. Maybe it was because it was a miniseries but it felt incomplete.
I did enjoy watching this; loved the acting and performances given by the cast, and enjoyed the music.
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a powerful journey for redemption
I started this show on a complete whim not knowing anything about it but it ended up taking my breath away. I could not stop watching it and ended up binging it for two days with very little sleep. But each episode left me wanting to see what happened next and on more than one occasion it left me in a puddle of my own tears. Such a well thought out drama about transmigration/ going back in time. Every character worked in this drama since they are all developed and multifaceted. Their motives and moves all make sense as the plot plunges forward. The pacing kept me from being able to turn it off with never a dull moment.The two leads did a fantastic job and I could feel the chemistry between them. What really sent these two over the top is their emotive acting in their eyes. The story is by far more about redemption for the main character and the love line takes a side seat as you watch Hua Qian make different choices to change her fate. You see her become a kind and generous woman while remaining strong and stubborn.
The only thing that takes points away from this drama for me is the slower pacing in the last few episodes and the ending. It makes sense and worked in teaching a lesson to the viewer but also in a way it feels like it invalidates your emotions as the viewer having watched and been emotionally involved in storyline. It also fails to give enough explainations to satisy all of the 'whys' I have about it so the ending is not ver satisfactory. I almost feel like it would have ended better at episode 26. Still I will probably talk about this drama for a while for its mere impact it had on me emotionally. I love any drama that can bring out enough emotion in me to make me actually cry. Very well shot, produced, and acted. Two thumbs up. Just start watching it and I promise you wont be able to stop.
One note is on Mu Yua. I do not know if it was the actress or the way the character was written but she was the weakest performance. I never once understood how she could have been so well liked in the previous life nor did I feel any chemistry between her and YeLan. The story tells you that they love each other but is very weak in the reasonings and the lack of chemistry makes it hard to believe so I had a very hard time understanding why in the end her chose her and not Hua Qian.
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This show requires your curiosity over substance
This show takes a little bit of unpacking to really understand and enjoy it. It heavily reminds me of A Time Called You/ Someday or One Day and Extraordinary You in both plot and vibe so if you liked either of those then you will probably get some enjoyment out of this one. The unique part of this one is the mechanism/reason for the time travel here but because it is an alternate universe and does not effect her real life at all it kind of all feels pointless as well. The OST here is hands down one of my all time favorites as well.The first scene in this drama is what will draw you in. At least for me it did. My curiosity over what happened to him is what drove me forward even though the first few episodes were truly difficult to get through. The female lead is not relatable in the beginning at all and I can not understand why she would like this guy (once you meet him as a high school student) and then how that high school relationship even ended up with them being engaged and there is only one very short scene later that tries to explain that to you and still fails to make me understand. His attraction to her after she stops following him makes far more sense and I could understand that plot better than her following/badgering this completely asinine character around until he decides to date her later on but then from his interactions with her during the breakup it seems like he treated her like trash the whole time. So WHY did she ever like him?!
Then you have the best friend that stole her fiance and when the FMC went back in time she immediately cuts the friend off and that friend immediately becomes the mean girl for no real reason. She is then only there to be an annoyance and cause friction for the FMC occasionally. Were these girls ever really friends? Her character is so pointless.
Now the MMC is all kinds of a green flags from start to finish of the series. He is the reason I stuck around to even find out what happened and the reason I found enjoyment in the show. His character and reasoning are all thoroughly explained and the actor does a great job.
Finally the story. The show does do okay in explaining things to you throughout so you do not find yourself confused about the plot or movement which I liked. I would not say that it needed to be as long as it was, however. There were several filler scenes in the middle of the drama that could have easily been removed as they did not add much to the plot or forward motion of the show. That is when I began to fatigue a little with this show as it gets much slower in the middle. The romance is cute once it picks up speed and I do like this couple together. Then you have the big scene that leads you into the final 6 or so episodes that will keep you pretty teary eyed. The emotions shown in those last episodes from the FMC as she looks at him are exceptional and her best performance throughout the show. But since this show pointed out several times that it was an alternate universe and does not effect her timeline at all it leaves the show without any stakes. The last episode I also found unfulfilling as the entire experience could be written off as a dream since nothing at all changed or had any consequence other than her finding out the truth behind his sacrifice.
In conclusion I will say that if you are like me you will find your curiosity is what will carry you through this show. But then as it concludes it just feels pretty mediocre. An okay ride at parts but ultimately leaves you feeling like it could have been so much more.
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Badass but predictable
This show starts with such a strong and tenacious female lead. I have a soft spot for badass female characters and Ji Woo has guts and the grit to propel her forward in her quest for revenge after watching her father get murdered. She pushes back as the police seemingly bury his murder by being taken under the wing of a notorious crime boss that claims to have been like a brother to her father. He helps train her and stoke her fire for revenge sending her into the police academy to catch her father's murdered while also being his eyes from the inside.This show was very predictable. You knew what was happening from the very first episode and just stuck around to wait for her to figure it out. That left no true suspense since almost every confrontation you could see coming. You also have to suspend belief a bit as well because some aspects do not make sense if you think too hard on them. For example how she got into the police academy under a false name and background, which is believable until they mention that she never registered her fingerprints. They also mention a mole that set up all the cameras around the crime boss but then completely dropped that plot after it served its purpose. And then you have the secondary antagonist who was a former member of the gang that got kicked out after attacking Ji Woo; for as brutal as the crime boss is it did not make sense that he would let him live after giving him a reason to want revenge and then not notice that a few years later he was stirring trouble and making a new drug until he was at his doorstep. It is just hard to believe that a top crime boss for over a decade wouldn't notice a competitor emerging until that guy comes and slaughters your well trained thugs.
Mostly what this show delivers on is violence and intensity. There were several scenes that I had to look away from the brutality of it. And the actors did an okay job in my opinion but they also kind of felt one note with no real depth to them. Ji Woo is tough as nails and the first two episodes showcase that well but after the time jump and she joins the police academy she ends up becoming kind of boring. She is quiet and stubborn and that is about all that is left to her. Do Kang Jae wanted to be at the top of the gang but after getting kicked out becomes a murderous druggie and his performance felt over the top. Pildo was a stereotypical arrogant cop. Choi Moo Jin had some more depth to him in his character, especially as you watched him struggle with having grown to care for Ji Woo and the situation he was in. There was also the awkward romance storyline that was thrown in toward the end that for Pildo felt more believable than it did for Ji Woo.
The ending came out feeling rushed and incomplete to me as well. So this is not a bad show but it also was not that great. If you want to watch an intensely violent show that is quick then this will hit the spot but do not expect much from the plot or characters.
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Will leave you laughing
I have rewatched this show several times now because it brings me such joy and entertainment. The first time I turned it on I actually was having a very hard time getting through the beginning and turned it off. But on my second attempt I forced myself to get through the first episode and then found myself hooked. Now I like to rewatch it by fast forwarding to all my favorite parts to get some smiles between other dramas.The two main characters really shine here, especially So Yong that pulls off playing a man in a woman's body so hilariously well. From the way she speaks and the inflection in her tone to the way she moves her body, her acting here is superb. Even Cheol Jong was convincing as the spy hiding behind the spoiled puppet king persona and he grows on you with each passing episode as he grows and changes while interacting with the Queen. You don't take this show seriously at any point but it is just fun. The character development is executed so well and the pacing of the storyline keeps you interested and moving forward.
This is not a show you watch for accuracy, believability, or depth but for pure enjoyment and that is exactly what you will get out of it. You'll laugh and have fun at the interactions between the King and Queen and at the over the top ways the show pokes fun.
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Visually speaking this series is beautiful. From the actors to the sets to the wardrobe. The production and cinematography was very well done. Even the OST was nice and never felt repetitive. The actors also did a very good job and I have no complaints from their performances. This series however fairly lackluster. It is a beautiful story that is wrapped in very neat packaging but for the heavy subject matter it did not move me as much as I wanted. The plot moves in a predictable pace with conveniently placed side characters to fill in gaps of knowledge and a realistic albeit boring ending. There isn't anything that really excites you about this show. It is cute and sweet and the main couple is very healthy for each other, and I do truly appreciate this healthy relationship since toxic ones are more often showcased nowadays.
It is a nice show to watch and I enjoyed it to through till the end but this will fall in the pile of shows that are okay and nice but won't leave an impression on me.
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The actors did a good job with their characters and its acted fairly well with how it is written though the emotional scenes don't carry the weight to make you feel them as the viewer. The story however did not stay consistent throughout the show. It is told very much like an outline of a story that hits all the main plot points without any thought behind the how or why of it all. Business problems that don't seem to make sense, money problems that aren't explained, and the characters almost seem to devolve as time passes. In an early episode there were many comments about how Qingqing was so young and even Mr. Gu made a comment about them having a generational age gap though they never actually tell you his age. But in all the flashback scenes of their childhood, which felt like they were added as an after thought purely to try and give the couple a past connection, the kids looked very close in age. The first half of the drama is fairly fluffy and fun with their bickering and Qing's character was made to be immature and at first it really was not a huge deal and easy to overlook. But when the couple finally get together later in the series it became painfully childish to watch most of their scenes together. The couple set rules that felt like you were watching two high schoolers in love for the first time not two adults and the fights and misunderstandings between them were immature.
I wouldn't recommend you spend your time on this drama. There are far better fluffy romances that deliver much better chemistry and a more coherent story than this. I would have rated this higher before I got to episode 20 but after that I found it difficult to even finish because of the behaviors of the leads.
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Overall I enjoyed this show and would recommend it, especially if you like a mystery or magical aspects. The writers weaved the story well so as to keep you interested in the telling but also put all the pieces together by the end. While the overall experience was good I will say that the first and last two episodes were harder for me to get through. The first episode did not pull me in and make me want to continue watching, it took that second episode to get me interested. And the last two episodes had me skipping sections. While the story was wrapping up well I did feel like it was dragging on and I was just ready for it to get to the point. Those two episodes are the only two where I fast forwarded.
You really have to commend the actors here. While the main leads did not pull off the look of high school students well, they did however do a great job of distinguishing between characters and changed with the story well. They especially carry the emotional moments well. And while this is a highly emotional roller coaster of a show I never connected to the level of crying along with the characters which makes me feel like something was missing.
I do recommend you give this a watch and enjoy the fantastical story as it unfolds.
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Things to note going into this from the first is that the characters all have a dramatic change to them. These will not be the characters you got familiar with previously. The personalities are all very different, again to me it felt so much like watching a fanfiction. In comparison to the last season this season had better cinematography, wardrobe, and story line. It executed the story in a more straight forward way this time and focused a lot on the relationship growth.
That being said it was almost too fluffy for my taste. You can't take any of it serious, including the antagonists as they are so over the top and silly. The romances, this focuses on two romances this time, do progress fairly naturally and have their cute moments throughout. But there isn't anything about this series that makes it great. If you just want something that you can turn your brain off for and will make you smile occasionally then this will be it for you. If you want something that will hit your emotions or leave a lasting impression then you won't find that here.
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As for the production of this series it was really mediocre. The performances felt wooden from the cast, there were some scenes that were so bright it was hard to watch, the sound effects and music weren't incorporated well or were too sparse, and the wardrobe choices felt weird at times. I believe this show was created more for fans of W to reminisce but it just falls very flat.
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