Reviews

Just meh...

I am a fanatic for cheesy romances so I truly thought I would like this but ended up wasting my time. I tried watching this drama two times before I actually finished it the third time. I was bored the first couple of times but because of the high praises I decided to stick to it cause maybe it will pick up, unfortunately it never did for me. I don't care too much for drama and conflict so personally I didn't need it to be entertained but it was just plain boring. There are many dramas where the cp is together throughout the series without any conflict, however, they still managed to make the drama entertaining. I'm all for easy to watch dramas but this was just boring, nothing ever picked up, the couple were sweet but it was just that. I didn't necessary enjoy watching them tbh, I became more interested in the side couples but we barely got anything from them. I just personally feel that it didn't deserve over 30 episodes, should've been 24 maximum. The fl's family were more interesting, wish we got more of them, it was just way too much screentime of the main couple which sounds like a ridiculous complaint but that's how much I was bored of them despite the fluff (which I absolutely adore). Overall, the drama just wasn't it, it didn't move me at any point and main couple didn't do anything for me (lowkey didn't feel the chem between them), it was a cute setup but ended up being nothing.

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ONLY WATCH THIS IF YOU LOVE THE VISUALS

I originally highly anticipated watching this drama due to the visuals (Roh Jeong-eui, Lee Chae-min) plus even knowing that it would be a high school drama with revenge played in, something like Elite. I maintained this impression of this drama throughout the first episode, not knowing that frankly it was the best episode, and everything would be going downhill from then. (first three episodes were ok)

Messy plot
The main reason that I despise this drama is because of its messy plot and characters, which left me angry and VERY CONFUSED. The writer was too greedy and wanted to add too many elements to this drama, and in the end, didn’t even manage to execute one perfectly. The main plot of the story revolved around Kang Ha (main lead) avenging the death of his brother who died from a car crash, then for the whole drama, it was hinting that his death was caused by Ri-an indirectly as his friends bullied him. However, the end revealed that his death was caused by the teacher who crashed into him. There, I started to wonder, then why did they blame Ri-an and Jae I for the whole drama, painting them as the antagonists of the show who caused his death????? And to be honest, they weren’t even the one bullying him, they were just onlookers, and I understand that onlookers are at fault too, but are they really the ones to blame???? I really couldn’t understand this part (or could someone explain to me), and I felt that the writer just wanted to tie these two issues together (mystery/ death + bullying), but it was done terribly. Another one of the many things I couldn't understand is why are there so many people blackmailing Jae I and Ri-an with the making-out clip, like why does everyone have the clip including Jae I’s brother who took the clip, principal’s son, and Ri-an’s mother. I don’t even understand what’s wrong with them being together, I mean they are both from wealthy families, and I know they mentioned that their parent’s company are in conflict or whatever, but it’s not like they are transcending the status quo to be together. The story also covers controversial issues such as Jae I’s unintended pregnancy, teacher student in a romantic relationship, but truthfully, it just didn’t work out that well.

Messy characters and relationships
Going into the drama, I was fully prepared to ship Kang Ha and Jae I as their visuals were LIT and they had great chemistry in episode 1. However, after finishing the drama, I couldn’t even tell what their relationship was. Jae I has a fluctuating attitude towards Kang Ha, sometimes acting friendly, then other times acting cold to Kang Ha. For instance, she was acting cold to Kang Ha in the first episode, then suddenly in the second episode, they acted like friends and she even invited him to her room, and let him sleep on her shoulder. I was like what????, she was still acting like she didn’t care about his existence at all, then suddenly they developed this intimate relationship?? Then in episode 3, Jae I becomes cold again, but then in later episodes Jae I confesses to Kang Ha about the death of the scholarship kid (which is like her deepest secret??) and even tells Kang Ha at some point that he is her most trusted person. I really couldn’t comprehend their relationship, and I think it was due to poor writing that failed to depict the development of their connection. Despite all these, I couldn’t resist crying in the scene where Jae I and Ri-an ride the bicycle and eat the strawberry toast. To me, those were moments that belonged to and were dedicated to Kang Ha and Jae I, it was when they started to develop a romantic interest towards each other. But then, Jae I decided to do all these with Ri-an?! This really just shows that Jae I doesn’t even care or had any romantic interest in Kang Ha. That was the scene that hurt me the most.

There were many more poorly written relationships, but here I will talk about Jae I and He Ra. To be honest, I still don’t understand why Jae I was being so mean to He Ra in the first few episodes, it even seemed to me that she was being mean on purpose. She just ordered her friend around like she was her subject (eg. telling her to search the anonymous instagram user). Then Jae I continues to be mean by giving off vibes that she doesn't care whether He Ra likes Ri-ah or not, and even hints that He Ra wouldn’t have a chance. Then, she decides not to help He Ra by not letting their fathers meet. I really didn’t understand why Jae I had to do all these. Then, at last, they become friends again because Jae I asks her father to help He Ra. Like what????? So essentially, their friendship is resolved because of money!!. She didn’t even try to show any personal and nice gestures for her friend, and instead just asks her father whom she despises to help????

Execution → show not tell, the writer did TERRIBLE
The lines were written terribly in this drama. It reached the intention of telling us what characters feel or what happened, but it didn’t SHOW. For example Jae I says “Ri-an is my everything”. Since they suddenly got back together, Jae I just keeps saying or expressing something like that. But frankly, I really couldn’t see that she was still madly in love with him in all the previous episodes. Kang Ha also expresses his love for Jae I later through the lines of the principal's son, but similarly I couldn’t see how and when he fell in love with Jae I. The other even worst part of this drama is that mysteries are not revealed gradually, instead the characters just suddenly know the answers. For example, Jae I just suddenly knows that U Jin and the teacher have a relationship. The murderer of the drama is also just suddenly uncovered, Kang Ha didn’t even take part in investigating the death, and U Jin just decides to hand in the video evidence because of his guilt. The writer did such a terrible job in the mystery part of uncovering the crime. The last few episodes were the worst, as every time the characters met up, they were either saying sorry or asking someone to say sorry, or saying how wrong they were. (especially Jae I, Kang Ha, and Ri-an). They could have just depicted better scenes of them that showcased the character’s relationship.

Huge plot holes that the writer didn’t even bother to fill in
For instance, they didn’t explain why Kang Ha’s brother had the pen with the camera in his pocket. I know that it acted as a great tool for recording the evidence of the teacher crashing into him, but they didn't even explain why Kang Ha’s brother had that pen all along. Secondly, why didn’t they destroy this important evidence, like why would the teacher even leave the pen in the car, she would have immediately destroyed it if she really didn’t want people to find out that she killed someone and also had an inappropriate relationship with her student. This also leads me to ask: so what was Jae I and Kang Ha’s brother actually discussing in the scene where they were talking and Jae I found out his camera pen. Were they talking about the pregnancy? And why was Kang Ha’s brother recording her? (as it seems)

As a side note, I also want to ask what did Jae I’s mother do that made Jae I’ father despise her that much. Her dad keep saying you're becoming the type of woman your mother was, but what did her mother actually do?

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Journey of Atypical Family to A typical Family !

A lot of you enjoyed the show only to be disappointed by the ending ...most of you loved the romance and the equations that developed by the end ...but here's me who needs a S2 so that I can witness possibly the best use of all their powers ....I wish for a money heist with these characters ...i mean just think about it we have the best swindlers in town under the roof --

A perfect plan by do da hee and her mother , researched by her uncle and sister, all the possible combinations of past present and future studied carefully by gwi jo and his mother and in case something goes wrong ...just jump off the building and fly away ! the perfect escape but alas the kdrama writers lack so much in terms of creativity that now I don't even end up disappointed -- i am only surprised if they don't disappoint which rarely happens !

Story -- bok gwi ju who belongs to a family of supernatural beings falls for a seemingly ordinary girl and chaos follow !
is this girl the end to their misery (due to lost powers) or is she going to add in the lot ... watch to unravel !

The first half of the drama promises a lot more suspense than the second half pretty much of which focuses on already built equations between characters and caters to the romantic aspect of drama-- by the end things get wrapped up rather quickly adding to the shitty-ness of already written mediocre script !

that being said I liked the drama a lot even tho i sounded otherwise till now - I love the character development for every character and the over all setting i love everything about gwi jo's family ....
every person is so unique and so is their story line -- i loved the dynamics of I-na and do da hee , of her sister and ML's sister , between do da hee and her mother , between do daa hee and ml's sister ! -- all of which i'll cherish despite the ending !
I also love the aspect of gwi joo going to past it is well thought of ! -- even tho a lot of questions still remain I think it is a pretty great watch even then !

ps. i also ship do daa hee's sister and gwi jo's sister !

I do not have a lot to say about it but it was definitely a pleasant surprise !

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The drama starts to pick up at around episode 12. The first 10 episodes were slow with Fan Xian and Waner trying to find each other and cancel their engagement until they found out that they were actually engaged to each other. Then, the story starts to pick up with never-ending political intrigue mixed with comedy and drama.

Fan Xian was a complicated character. He comes off as goofy and happy-go-lucky. In reality, he was calculating, manipulative, loyal, and has a strong sense of justice. His goal was to build a better world but outsmarting and getting ahead of the powerhouse that is trying to kill him proved to be harder than he thought. The story did a great job at building up the intrigue and political drama in a very interesting and clever way without being draggy. However, the plot didn't quite explain Fan Xian's visions, where they came from, and his origins. At the beginning it was a rebirth backwards story. But it seemed to be more of a time travel story with Xian's mother traveling back in time bringing future technology, but the writers never truly explained it.

The romance needed work. The first 10 episodes were spent on ML and FL trying to find each other. After they finally figured out that they were actually engaged to each other, the romance fizzled out and FL gradually disappeared. Honestly, Fan Xian had a lot more chemistry with every other woman he interacted with than Waner. The fighting "dance" with the saintress made me question where the writers were going with this and why Fan Xian was even in love with Waner.

One of the best things about this drama was the goofy soundtrack with silly background music during fighting sequences.

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Time travel done right

This is not your ordinary K-drama.

I'll tell you what it's also not. The Atypical Family is not a tiresome rom-com that shambles zombie-like into a melodrama morass by episode 8. Instead it rather delicately shifts through various shades of crime caper and dark comedy with clever little twists before it hits the romance that it promises to be. Considering some of the dull, meandering garbage that we've been served lately I was almost surprised to find romance where it was promised. It's self-aware and addresses obvious tropes with almost fourth-wall, existential humour. It manages to use time travel coherently and does not insult the viewer with unnecessary time gaps and pointless makjang.

The casting was very good at all levels and the actors delivered. I thought that the marriage fraud gang were the best of the bunch. I did not find the leads truly exceptional but they were good and played off each other well. All of them were helped by the fact that the writers respected all characters and allowed them to develop their own stories so nobody was acting in a void.

The Atypical Family does many things very, very well. Above all, it does not outstay its welcome and doesn't try to scrape four more episodes off the cutting room floor.

This is what it feels like when a show's producers and writers respect their work and their audience. For that, this tough audience will rate it a solid 9/10 and will recommend it to pretty much anyone with time on their hands.

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my first impression

I started watching this for their chemistryy cuz they have insane chemistry but everything they do is so natural especially forts acting is so natural like he suits mahasamuts character i cant imagine anyone else doing that character he's just so perfectt peats doing greatt too I'm very happy with how its going I'm slightly disappointed there isn't anything surprising cuz there's a lot in the trailer so it makes u feel like u already know whats going to happen when ur watching but its just the first episode so its impossible to judge and its not the type of series that requires u to use ur brain and be invested in it its very cute, fun and easy going especially bcoz there's a lot bl dramas with intense storyline and action scenes these days so this is smtg to bring u some positive energy to. Eveyone thinking to watch this i would suggest u do and even if u don't like the plot or smtg their chemistry will just pull u in to watch.

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Watch this drama if you want a fun and easy watch

I thoroughly enjoyed this short Cdrama. ML was a bit cute despite acting childish, FL was very pretty while being straightforward, and they had some good chemistry together.

I applaud their effort to make some scenes less cliche, especially the scene where ML falls on the glass instead of FL kissing ML when she falls down (that got me laughing). However, some scenes were just cringey like where the actress’ admirer attacks FL and ML and acts like a bloody sociopath just because he is so in love. Luckily, the actress didn’t turn out to be the usual evil 2nd lead that ruins ML and FL’s relationship, and instead turns the perpetrator in and decides that she doesn’t like ML anymore. This made her much more likeable than just a whiney character.

But frankly, I was a bit disappointed in the ending, as it could have much more potential than just a rush ending. Firstly, it showcased ML taking over the company and acting more maturely. Secondly, it linked ML’s background (son of preserved vegetables’ company) and FL’s career (professor of biology I guess) together. However, the drama just showed FL helping ML and ended abruptly. I would be so interested in watching more ep of ML and FL supporting each other in their career, and ML acting as a more mature person in his office role.

(Ps: it was a shame that they didn’t film much of ML actually cooking food like a legit chef although I know it’s probably cuz production team was poor as I see ML and FL always wearing the same clothes?)

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story

The story has lots of interesting plot twists, the storyline is not like most dramas in general. but I felt interested in episode 11, before that episode this drama was boring. In episode 11, question marks started to emerge, who is Sung Shi Won's husband really, and I was also surprised when Kang Jun Hee liked Yoon Jae, I thought it was just a joke, but basically this drama is just like reminiscing about the easy times of Sung Si Woon and Yoon Jae
As for acting, I like everyone except Yoon Jae, when he cries, his tears are really fake. The music is also boring, I think this is suitable for a boring drama plot like this

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The OG kdrama

Oh god where to start from, my excitement as I write this review is at peak. Loved the story and it was executed brilliantly. I completed the show in 3 days and I didn’t wanted it to end. The story progressed through the episodes and wasn’t stuck in the same loop as an issue with many kdramas.
I like how half of the story covered North Korea and the rest covered South Korea. We got to see characters in both situations.
I fell in love with captain Ri and Seri is such a boss lady. Their scenes together melted my heart. The way he come to find her with scented candle. Oh My God ❤️. The train journey scene was soo beautiful. The way she put her head on his shoulder.
The 2nd lead couple was cool . They deserved a happy ending too. Dan didn’t seem that interesting in the beginning but I ended up liking her and felt bad for her.
Overall I have nothing bad to say about the show because there wasn’t anything that lacked.

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do you.. believe... IN ✨MAGIC✨ ?

read this review in parts, read it as you watch each episode because I will be probably screaming the exact same things y'all are so let's be happy together.

episode 1:

I just finished the first episode and I can safely say I fell in love with Ji Chang Wook all over again. how does this man do it?! i would never in my life believe this man was 35 when he shot this show because he is the most beautiful, adorkable person I have ever seen on television.

that said, the first episode was the most beautiful pilot episode I have seen in- possibly ever. i fell in love with the show just by that one episode. i swear it's been a very long time since I felt this interested in a show.

i started this show, obviously, because Ji Chang Wook and Hwang In Yeop eop were acting in it and I was so far not disappointed at all they are both there, they both look ✨ gorgeous ✨ and I am so wonderfully wonderfully impressed by the whole thing, the whole aesthetic of the show just leaves so much room for magic and wonder and- ohmygod look I'm rambling about just watching one episode, I'll update y'all on how it goes but I'm telling you now it looks amazing and you should definitely watch it without a doubt

episode 2:
can someone explain to me wtf just happened??? i mean i- Hwang In Yeop!! i was honestly really happy that Hwang In Yeop was in the cast, like when I first heard of the show i didn't know it was him but then when I started the show i found out it was MY DEARLY BELOVED SEOJUN who was acting in it I was really really happy. BUT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT CLIFFHANGER IN THE END WTF WAS THAT BRUAH!!!!! NOO WHY YOU DO THAT!!! I LIKED YOU!!! YOU STOOD UP FOR HER! WHY WOULD YOU-


episode 3:
okay so I said this in the first episode and I say it again, Ji Chang Wook is the best person ever to play this character, I mean he is able to do this so well, on moment he is this adorkable person and the next he has that wicked gleam in his eyes that is a 100% necessity with these type of ringmaster/magician type of roles and like, Hwang In Yeop is the cutest little, itty-bitty thing and we love him to bits, he is a little shi, but we can fix him, he's golden at heart so we keep hope in him, I love them all so so so much.


episode 4:
umm... wow. like, one moment he's the cutest most wonderful thing we have ever seen and then one second he's raving mad and possibly a murderer, but like the music is to die for, the music is absolutely splediferous and I can't get enough of it so shout out to the composer because the music is ✨ amazing ✨ and I love how wonderfully Hwang in Yeop is able to portray the conflict he feels between the dream his parents have for him and his own dream that he wants to follow. I have to say, that scene where Ah-yi goes to see her past self really made me tear up, it was just so wonderfully written I don't want to believe the magician is a bad guy

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