The story was unique in the way that the drama looked at media and how corrupted it can be to sway the tides of millions. That was the true highlight of the show where Dal Po (main protagonist) had a mission for revenge against the reporters that ruined his and his family life.
The romance part of the show did feel forced out (kiss scenes felt random to me). Also the love square (one character falls for In-ha and another for Dal-Po) did not need to happen as it was more distracting then adding to the story. The funny moments were cute and In-Ha's Pinocchio syndrome does not allow her to lie so it gets her in more trouble than good.
Another problem I had was that In-ha started out as a strong willed female character but by the end even if that was still there, I felt she became too emotional over everything. Dal Po's character was the typical k-drama male protagonist (I'll protect you, the anguish, i want you) so I was like eh.
Acting was A+ and it was cool pointing out the actors and actresses from other dramas in this. I really loved the women who acted as the mothers in this because they were so MEAN. Even I was like someone hold the fire extinguisher because that was a hard burn.
Music was alright, wasn't that memorable except the title song Non-Fiction
I wouldn't rewatch it because it took until episode 5 to get into the story and I preferred the story of the revenge plot over the romance since it was more interesting.
Overall it was nice drama but suffered as to what it really wanted to be. A melodrama with suspense? or suspense with melodrama elements?
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Well the story is not completely unique, it's actually the typical revenge story. BUT, there's so much more than just the gist of the story. The screenwriting, the script, editing and the feelings are well conveyed in the story that you would not find it so typical at all. PLUS, it doesn't get boring. It's quite the opposite actually, the farther you go, the more interesting it gets.
I LOVE THE KISSING SCENES. I abused the replay button so many times that it almost yelled to make me stop!
Cast: Shin Hye and Jong Suk are 2 are better actors in this drama than The Heirs and I Hear your voice. Maybe because the chemistry is almost too real that you would think they are a real couple in real life. I also love the kindhearted grandfather, I wish I had a granny like him! :) This is a feel good drama and all the characters were able to show their good sides. Something that you would really be inspired of doing. of course, the actors really pulled it off!
Music: Hmm, honestly I can't remember the OST. Maybe it is not as catchy, but the fact that I did not complain about means its good *wink*
Rewatch Value: I really don't rewatch BUT I can't get over Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk. So I will definitely watch this in the future (or maybe just the kissing scenes).
OVERALL: I recommend this to EVERYONE! I actually tried to convince my freends and relatives to watch it. WHY? Because if you're a Kdrama fan, this is something that you should not miss.
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This review may contain spoilers
At least I discovered the amazing Lee Jong Suk so all is not lost
In a drama where the writers undermine their own characters and the characters are forced to conform to a stereotype, the viewer will either willfully ignore such machinations or they’ll nitpick it to death. Sadly, I’m in the latter.Firstly, I had to suspend disbelief that Choi In Ha wasn’t a perpetual teenager because no 27-year-old fully grown adult acts or reasons as she was portrayed which perhaps could be attributed to the actress being 22 at the time of filming. Admittedly actors act so it’s not farfetched to have such disparate ages between the character and the actor, however, that would require a fully immersive portrayal which is a skill not easily attained as evinced by Park Shin Hye's overacting.
Ultimately, and because In Ha lacked her own agency, the character became a convenient joystick utilized to create opportunities for the other characters to advance while she herself languished in the background, playing an eager daughter who craved her mother’s elusive attention and love, a path that only led to a curious lack of self-respect. Gradually, In Ha’s screen presence became irrelevant and at times even bothersome, particularly in episode 11 where she fell asleep in a public place after getting flat-out drunk then the next morning she tells her father that other kids her age were doing worse things. I mean, in what world is a 27 yr old a kid? On a separate note, can I just say that I find Korean women insufferable and unlikeable just based on how they're depicted in their dramas.
Meanwhile, Dal Po was perched on a pedestal of arrogance and self-importance with his annoying monochromatic perspective. His biggest flaw was in making assumptions based on nothing. Also, the writers gaffed when the brothers eventually met after a 13-year separation. Am I to believe that Dal Po actually chose to not tell his brother who he was? I beg your pardon but that’s a whole lot of Bollocks.
Similarly, the supposed romantic relationship between In Ha and Dal Po was ill-conceived and unbearable. How did two 27 yr old adults cohabit for years without either expressing their feelings or even having significant relationships with other people? Did they exist in stasis? Am I to believe In Ha didn’t have a boyfriend in college or that DP had no male or female friends? These seemingly good-looking adults just existed without external relationships other than the father and fake grandfather? I call bollocks.
Having said all these, commendations must be made to Lee Jung Suk and Yoon Kyun Sang who played the Ki brothers as well as Jin Kyung who played In Ha’s mother. They at least knew their assignment and were the ones who commanded my attention the most.
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Our main characters, Cho In Ha (Park Shin Hye) and Ki Ha Myung/ Choi Dal Po (Lee Jong Suk) find themselves in an overwhelming situation but overcome it in the end with love and perseverance. Their acting was amazing and they are on my favorite couple list.
I just adore their family! Yes, they are dysfunctional, but the minute you see them together, you forget about the norms and wish you had a grandfather like o' lovable, Choi Chong Pil (Byun Hee Bong).
Revenge is a huge theme for this drama. "How far are you willing to go to get revenge?" is a question explored with the character Ki Jae Myung (Yoon Gyun Sang) and I like how he becomes reflective and calmer as the drama progresses. He also looks very good with glasses.
Song Cha Ok (Jin Kyung), Cho In Ha's mother, really impressed me with her ability to hold her composure and icy-cold demeanour, especially after she and Cho In Ha are reunited. My gut also tells me is that 14 years of dealing with Park Ro Sa numbed her emotionally. I don't know if I am disappointed about finding out that she was more of a puppet to Park Ro Sa.
Which brings me to the main baddie. Nice and seemingly harmless, only to discover that she is a calculating and manipulative woman. However, the only thing constant about her is that she loves her son, Seo Bum Jo, and I feel that motherly love is best performed in the last episode.
Seo Bum Jo, our typical rich kid who got excited over convenience store kimpap. I adore the fact that he isn't your typical rich kid who has to get everything he wants. He handled rejection as a proper person should, and his character evolves into a supportive character that you can't help but love.
If I had to work for either MSC or YGN, It would be YGN! Firstly, all the superiors are so funny and chill guys. Hwang Gyo Dong is (Lee Pil Mo) didn't really step out of his usual "older role model, cool, collected character" (though he was a bit shameless) in this drama but I appreciate him here. The pairing hints between him and Yoon Yoo Rae( Lee Yu Bi) were uncalled for. It's like the production team had mixed feelings about it to.
Yoon Yoo Rae, our ambitious hard-worker and comic relief. I honestly dislike how they spent so much time on her believing that Ki Ha Myung had feelings for her. It dragged on. And then towards the end, hint on her with her Captain. The one scene that pissed me off was when the "Santa Clause" escaped, and her and Cho In Ha are in danger, our two main men only show concern for Cho In Ha. Having feelings for Cho In Ha is not an excuse for neither of them to be a decent human and ask if Yoon Yoo Rae is okay.
There were so many touching scenes that brought me on the verge of tears. Overall, superb acting and an awesome plot! I highly recommend this drama.
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I am undoubtedly in love with Park Shin Hye so I was looking for more shows of hers to watch after finishing 'The Heirs' and 'Flower Boy Next Door', and that's when I stumbled upon this show.
A downfall to this show would be that (not spoiling) the backstory of Choi Dal Po is explained in a sort of complex and confusing way throughout the show, but at the same time I wouldn't really even call it a downfall because the way it was executed really left me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going on before the episodes revealed it.
I'm a sucker for soundtracks so I was pretty bummed when the one for this drama wasn't memorable, but none the less the show is pretty spectacular.
I would also like to touch on Choi Dal Po's haircut for the entire beginning of the show because what the hell was that? Seriously it was funny, but why... just why.
I know I've just commented on all of the things wrong with this show, but as you can see from my ratings I'm pretty much in love with this show and I still think that the mains have pretty much perfect chemistry. Each character has their own backstory drama, so it was really fun to watch the back stories unfold and to begin to understand each character more and more as the show progressed. There were definitely a lot of revelations that left me gasping and pausing the episodes to rethink my life. The acting overall great as well, I definitely searched for most of the actors in this show after finishing it.
I recommend this show to literally everyone- especially those who like dramatic and suspenseful dramas.
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First , one of the things that attracted me to this show was the cast . All of them were actual actors . Sorry if i offend anyone , but i liked that there was no idols-turned-into-actor . I aint saying that idols can't act , there are really great ones such as Yoochun or I.U . Well , let's not get out of the subject . A great cast , although i was worried about Park Shin Hye's performance . But this girl improved a lot and this drama made me like her a lot .
Second , here comes the plot and the storyline . God bless the writers . This drama didn't get boring at any point ! The relationships between the actors where mastered , we had the suspens , the thrilling scenes , well this drama gave us the feels . It was original , we didnt have the casual kind of romance , neither the usual drama . The events were original and the concept too .We had family love , mother care for her child , bromance , our darling couple , great kisses . We had everything we wanted .
Last but not least , The characters !!!!!!! I loved all of them , i swear all of them even the one who looked as the bad ones of the story . I melted for Dal Po's mature and lovely side , Yoo rae's cuteness ; In Ha's obligated honesty and Bum Jo's softness , without forgetting the MSC nd YGN Caps and the reporters , all the characters were beautifully structured. I can also garantie that the mai couple had such an amazing chemistry , one of the best i've ever seen ( and i watched over 150 dramas sooo.. ) .
So if you didn't watch this drama yet , i highly recommend it to you !!
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"Back then, there were no good reporters. This time there is.” ~ Dal Po
The first episodes starts with a rollercoaster of feels. I like that this drama isn't the standard love square with scheming elders. While I was watching it, it kind of overtook my life. Although it was pretty stressful for me I couldn't stop watching it. I was also watching an action Kdrama at the same time as this one and Pinocchio made my heart beat so much faster and the plot and relationships really had me on the edge of my seat. I don't like foreshadowing though! Don't tell me something bad is going to happen, Dal Po! There are no dull parts in this drama, which, makes it really special in my opinion. And there are no useless side characters. Everyone is interesting and unique and screen-worthy. I actually loved every single secondary character even the ones that were just comic or even bordering on slapstick. They were all really good.
I liked that there are sub-plots and crises that arise and get dealt with as different news incidents happen. So there are a lot of small victories along the way and it's not just about one long-drawn overarching plot. It keeps the storyline fresh and exciting. I also appreciate how they portray the older generation of reporters influencing and mentoring the next generation but sometimes their words of wisdom come back to bite them in the butt. It's funny how a moment of fierce lecturing gets imprinted on a trainee's brain and informs their professional development.
It's also great that it's not just about fighting against the news industry. Sometimes the news drama took a backseat to the characters' personal development. I also like that it's not all an uphill battle. There are some higher up people rooting for In Ha and Dal Po too. There are humorous parts as the two competing news stations try and one up each other.
I thought the set up of the drama, was really thoughtful. Having the main characters be in a legally awkward position is great. And the whole uncle thing? Never gets old. It's so funny the way they got used to it. Although how they can stand to be in a relationship and still go back to “uncle” terms without batting an eye is beyond me.
I love how Korean dramas know how to uniquely demonstrate the relationships in the family in such a meaningful, but cutesy way. Actually, a surprising theme that emerged is the betrayal of family for the sake of justice.
Random note: In Ha wears heels to her first interview and then later on in the show she claims she doesn't have any heels.
Gyo Dong
I loved him. He seems really serious and upright and a good mentor to Dal Po but he gets caught up in the news rivalry shenanigans too. I love the way he'd be so mature and then encourage his subordinates to insult the other team. And he's easy on the eyes too. His little flirtation was so awkward but cute.
Mothers
In Ha's mother was not as evil as I thought she'd be. She was sensible and thought about her actions. Sure she was selfish but at least she was clever and cunning and made sense. I also liked seeing her loosen up and joke around. I like that even though she tries her best to make people feel like shit, Dal Po and In Ha are strong enough in themselves to continue to be professional towards her. Although, there is one point that In Ha confronts her and she does it in a way I thought I'd never see. It was good to see the icy Manager Sung pissed off. I was annoyed by the repetitive cycling of her arguments though. When she told lies she demanded other people prove them false. When others did the same, she disregarded them as assumptions.
Towards the end of the drama, I really liked her acting.
For Bum Jo's mother, I liked that she was more concerned about Bum Jo's happiness than status.
Romance
I really do not understand why Koreans think applying bandages to the opposite gender is so romantic.
Anyway, this is my first childhood friends/frenemies romance. I like seeing their casual relationship that sometimes sizzles. The chemistry between In Ha and Dal Po...it's good.
Also the toast kiss was more memorable for me because of what happened after...hahaha.
The way Kdramas dream up these convoluted obstacles...it's so sneaky and tricky. I kind of like the twist that Dal Po feels he's not good enough for her but In Ha's father actually thinks it's the other way around.
Dal Po, on the romance front, is strong and not afraid of rivals. He's so freakin' calm about it. I just like the way he doesn't dramatise things. He makes a lot of mistakes in his relationship with In Ha but I like his imperfections. Also, can we just have a shout out for Lee Jong Suk and his epic back hugs? The way he affectionately caresses In Ha's face is always so satisfying and sweet.
I like that Dal Po trusts In Ha and doesn't think he needs to be the big man and protect her from things. I like the way she trusts him back so there's little pointless arguing or her needing to prove herself. I do like that they have real arguments about their values.
In Ha is really thoughtful of everything that Dal Po has gone through. And when it comes to standing up for him, she's a tiger.
The crisis of the romance was stupid and yet tricky at the same time. There are no right answers. Is it a case of illogical noble martyrdom? I don't know. I really don't.
Jae Myung
I really loved this actor/character. His smile is perpetually sad and he just conveys this broken, and lonely persona so well.
Every time he was on the screen, my heart was in my mouth just being so achey. And he's so kind and so bitter and aghhhh.
He honestly, stole the show for me. He, out of everyone, is so strong. His powerful character is so intensely portrayed. I wanted to hug him and hi-five him and everything.
In Ha
I like seeing her expressions come alive. She has some great attitude and sass that I enjoyed.
My first drama with her was Flower Boy Next Door. I thought the hicupping thing would be overdone, but she owns it well. Her hiccups' concept stretches to scenarios as well. So it's not so much about lying but keeping quiet about the truth. And so she can't act either because her “body knows she's lying”. I wish they kept true to that, but they started to expand it so that her hiccups was basically her moral compass, which kind of made it preachy. Although I did like it when she'd say something like, “I do believe you *hiccup, oh, I guess not.”
I like her confidence. When she and Dal Po get into the reporting industry, In Ha is professional and not clingy. Yay! Dal Po has the smarts but In Ha has good instincts. She's level-headed and she does it in a way that's calm and not showy.
She also stands up for what she believes is right even if it means standing against Dal Po. It's always good to see a woman able to separate herself and her opinion from her boyfriend. She really whips Dal Po into shape. I was really surprised to see that kind of backbone coming from a Kdrama/Park Shin Hye. As the drama goes on, it becomes clear that you do not want to mess with In Ha.
In Ha is also really good around the second male lead. He's nothing to write home about, but she showed decisiveness when it came to him and didn't string him along.
Also, I love that she initiates kissing. And how many times have you seen a heroine cut off a hero's rambling with a kiss? In Ha is awesome.
Dal Po
I'm starting to see a trend with Lee Jong Suk characters being underestimated and looked down upon but possessing inner strength and confidence. I love the way he portrays his characters as arrogant and intelligent, yet vulnerable and with such a selfless and big heart.
Lee Jong Suk and his feelings. It's so easy to get caught up in them. Gah! Even with his ridiculous hairstyle my heart was beating for him. And seeing him as a sad little orphan again...oh, Lee Jong Suk...The way he lived his life...just to spare a poor old man's heart...*sigh. Such a sad little kid.
Dal Po gets caught up in the chase of the news too. The drama portrays a very cutthroat, unprofessional and dirty world of journalism. It was interesting how Dal Po, despite his hatred for the culture fell trap to it when he started in on the race to get that exclusive. The self-reflection was really spot on. He's a really mature character and even the elders respect him for it. He's also really clever with catching people out when he interviews/interrogates them.
As the drama builds, I hated to see him go through his crisis alone.
“I hate myself to a point where I can't even breathe.”
Lee Jong Suk knows how to act. I also really like his blank face when Yu Rae tries to flirt with him. Also, his disgruntled face makes me laugh every time. Seeing his range of emotions is impressive. I thought I'd seen all of his facial expressions. But then there was his tipsy scene. His drunk face...Oh gosh. Lee Jong Suk is epic. EPIC.
Bum Jo (that's such an unfortunate name!) Second Male Lead
I'm not sure if I've ever disliked a secondary male lead off the bat like I did this guy. He's all “In Ha is my destinyyy”.
He's also a spoiled mama's boy. This guy is so creepy. He's the kind of “nice” stalker that is fooling nobody. He's freakishly tall as well. How can someone be taller than Lee Jong Suk?
I did kind of appreciate that after In Ha draws the line, he takes the hint and stops chasing her. But of course, I did feel that he was being somewhat petty.
Actually, he probably has the least character development out of anyone I've seen in a Kdrama.
He's all kinds of ridiculous. But my favourite line of his was, “Did I just swear out loud?”
Jae Hwan
I love these competent and capable women in the media industry.
Dal Po - “We have to barge in there, so it might get ugly.”
Jae Hwan - “That's my speciality.”
I loved her relationship with the silly Hyun Gyu.
Yu Rae is pretty silly. “It's not easy to make copying paper look sexy.”
On an end note, I really loved the music and how emotional it was. It matched the story well and I just thought it was used really effectively.
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I almost did not watch this drama because it sounded really boring. Frankly, reporters reporting on stories does big sound like it will be that good but, I loved it. The ending is a real surprise, I loved the ending.
This drama also introduced to me new actors who should become lead actors in other dramas, hopefully really soon. I want to thank the writers so much for doing this drama. As far as I could tell, there are no really boring parts in this drama and flashbacks are really important and no huge fillers. I want to see everything these writers write.
The bromance and romance in this drama is awesome! There are no huge misunderstanding between the main couple because the main lead girl cannot lie. That made this story a lot more enjoyable to watch.
Also, if anyone was worried about Park Shin Hye and how she would act, do not worry anymore this is a great drama and she acts and kisses well in this drama. I think this drama shows off how well she can act. To anyone who wanted to know, there is also a lot of eye candy in this drama. If you only want to watch because of the eye candy I recommend you do just that.
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p.s. note that this is a marathon drama, impossible to watch ep by ep
Great music!
Great casting!
Epic story line!
... need I say more?
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I found the first half of the show fresh on its own merit. The conflict of the first arc got me hooked that I even found myself thinking about it before I sleep. I ask myself questions how, why, what will happen next? It was a thrilling ride for me because of its fast pace. Until the second half/arc comes in. I could care less about the evil moms lurking around than the poor tragic brother Dal Po has. I nearly dropped the show because of the plot and the constant "i must tell the evil truth about this some because i care". It slowed down on the second half. Good thing the cute was still there, but it was less angst. I love the family's bonding and love for each other. That's the best thing.
ACTING/CAST
The actors in this drama should be given a standing ovation. The drama's execution kind of cured some of the plot holes and "not so incidental" information gathering.
Park Shin Hye's character was refreshing. A heroine who was honest (because she has no other choice that is), and understanding is a nice project for PSH.
Lee Jong Seok's acting was superb as always. An acting which gets you right through your heart. Kim Hae Sook is another notable actress though her character here undermines her acting ability. She could have done more in the earlier episodes.
Beom Joo's character was a little inconsistent. Though it was a nice resolution for him.
Yoo Rae! All she did was pout. That's kinda sad.
REWATCH VALUE
With the story laden at hand, the twists would give a lesser effect already. But maybe I'll rewatch it. If I miss Dal Po's finger guns. HA.
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The story really pulls you in at the beginning. In the first half it did a good job of executing very emotional scenes in a believable way and the plot line was both consistent and to a certain extent not unbelievable. The characters were developing nicely and the music was excellent. I liked that they were trying to be a bit different in terms of camera angles and character growth. It made me laugh a few times
What I disliked
At the halfway mark, it really began to drag. It felt like it really lost the momentum of the previous ten episodes and, in my opinion, what could have been a fairly straight forward romance with the subplot of revenge/family issues all of a sudden turned into the kind of teen angst you see in high school with breaking up multiple times because 'I just want you to be happy' yadayada. I also believe that restorative justice is a great idea in real life but in a drama difficult to execute in an interesting way. In many ways it was too idealistic, but I don't judge it on that, just on its pacing. I half watched it because it became boring to me. I also did not like that it hastily ended with a wedding when they could have just, you know, continued dating.
What I loved:
The music. There was not a lot of out of place kpop songs, and the songs they did include (for the most part) were fitting in terms of mood. I disliked the ending song.
Rewatch Value:
Zero for me.
Would I recommend?
Yes. I think it is a solid investment of time. The value of the acting and overall script is enough that you won't regret it.
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