This review may contain spoilers
I loved it.
After reading reviews of this drama, it sucks that a lot of people seemed to not enjoy it. But yup I probably won't read reviews anymore. Here's what I thought of it:I can say I loved the drama because of the story, or characters, or any of that stuff. But the truth is I just genuinely enjoyed it, and I connected with it. I can't pinpoint the exact reason why. It's just so interesting, especially in the way they tried to question each character's agency and ethics in the show. Sure, they provided a lot of convenient options for Jae-chan, but still, I understood what they were going for. It got me thinking several times, and I loved it for that. It's definitely a show wherein a lot of characters are forced to react to the plot, as opposed to characters being "active" and doing things to actually get the plot moving. But the story it told and the way it told it was engaging and I really liked it.
I ended up rooting for Hong-joo and Jae-chan to get together, too. They were cute. But I loved Jung Hae-in's character, he was fun and nice, an overall great guy. I didn't care much for Hong-joo and Jae-chan's backstories though, it was too predictable and corny. Especially with Investigator Choi. But it didn't bother me too much, I just learned to let it go. (Which I find impossible in some shows. Here, it was possible.)
I just liked the message that so much shit could be happening in the present but in the future, it'll be a memory you can either forget or laugh at. It's not the best drama ever, but it's one that's definitely worth watching (for me).
I didn't find the show boring at all, but some might find the pacing weird because the show's using a "pod" format. Kind of like Agents of SHIELD, if there are any AoS fans out there. They have stories contained within the overarching plot that eventually get us to where we're supposed to go. I can't explain it very well but that's what they did (I think). I definitely rewatched this, it's still as good as the first time. OST was meh at first but I learned to like it. It doesn't slap, but it's not horrible. It's good. (EDIT: I relistened to the OST and I take it back. It slaps.)
Overall, I'd recommend this drama! It's a fun ride. Give it a try, you'll probably learn by episode one if this is a drama for you. I for one love it.
Was this review helpful to you?
While You Were Sleeping - Just finished this drama late last night. It was good. It closed all the loose ends properly. It was a good drama with good writing and plot. However, for my part, I felt that the romance was somewhat just forced or squeezed in. Just to acknowledge that Suzy and Jong Sok Oppa were a handsome pair in this drama...Or maybe its just me because this was supposed to be a law thriller and I like romantic comedy too much. Either way, just my thoughts...
Was this review helpful to you?
Well-paced story that develops one of the healthiest relationships depicted in a drama
Although I was originally planning on not watching this drama due to the mixed reviews and opinions, I decided to start it due to the curiosity of never seeing a Bae Suzy or Lee Jongsuk drama before.Luckily, I was not disappointed and rather, completely immersed in the experience.
- Storyline -
This drama continuously puts you on the edge of your seat. Even with the slight cliche's within the storyline, you are still given this anxious and nervous emotion, praying that the injustices are fixed and the lead characters are lead to safety in each circumstance. The story is able to avoid any sort of plot-holes by establishing itself and the fantasy-aspects in the first two to four episodes, making it easy to understand and therefore, easier to enjoy. The blend of genres, such as fantasy, romcom and suspense are done in a satisfactory way that doesn't feel back-and-forth or messy, which is a difficult concept that other drama writers have struggled with. This is one of the very few storylines that have captivated me both in the first and second half of its series, never getting boring or falling flat as each episode continues.
- Characters (and Cast) -
Nam Hongjoo and Jung Jaechan have one of the healthiest builds of a relationship I have seen within a Korean drama. They are able to care and understand each other from the beginning, while incorporating slight bickering that help the two build a deeper relationship, and understand one-another. They are both characters that are written on equal-ground, do not take advantage of one-another, and even when disagreeing with each other, they do their best to understand and help each other in different circumstances, due to their built trust. Both Suzy and Jongsuk are able to compliment that simple chemistry and similar humour that aids these characters into both being loveable and relatable.
The supporting characters, as well as second lead Wootak, all have loveable natures that due to non of them being written perfectly or typically, they become relatable and therefore easy to understand as an audience.
Although there is the fantasy theme included through the story, due to the protagonists being able to see aspects of the future in their dreams, the characters are still written to feel like real humans, such as, the antagonist. Some antagonists written in other dramas can feel animated or, inhuman, but 'While You Were Sleeping' antagonist does not feel like that at all. The antagonist is written like a human would be, while evil and morally incorrect, acts and thinks as a human would.
- Conclusion -
'While You Were Sleeping' is a drama that perfectly balances themes of fantasy, suspense and romcom that engages and captivates the audience. The characters are written to represent real people, and although some conflicts and circumstances may be written to be over-the-top or romanticised, the story still has this underlining realism that aids the audience in building emotion for the story and the characters.
While You Were Sleeping is brilliant.
(P.S. this is my first written review)
Was this review helpful to you?
Suzy and Jong-Suk as lovers, why not watch?!
The story centers on Hong-Ju, whose dreams always come true, and Jae-Chan, a grumpy prosecutor. After their initial encounter where they develop a bit of distaste for each other, a dream of the ML is shown in which he sees the FL dying. Flustered by the realism of the dream, Jae-Chan decides to intervene and tries to prevent the miserable future that awaits Hong-Ju. Then, as the show has romance as one of its elements, the relationship between them develops as the ML adapts to his workplace and coworkers and strives to investigate complex cases trying to uncover the real culprits behind from them... But he counts with Hong-Ju assistance, since she can see the future in her dreams!I really loved the acting, although it's no surprise since the cast is replete with amazing professionals, especially the lead roles. As a big fan of Suzy I have to say that "While You Were Sleeping" is a must-watch, notably because Hong-Ju is an spontaneous and authentic character. Plus she looks so cute with short hair <3 <3
Jung-suk is one of, if not the best, actors on the scene and therefore he needs no comments.
About the OST: it isn't the most beautiful and heart touching out there, but it's still pretty good and well used. I'm no direction expert, but it didn't disappoint me in any aspect either.
Additionally, as a law student, it was pretty interesting to see the legal aspects covered in this k-drama. I also flirted with the idea of being a prosecutor thanks to it xD
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best dramas out there but is sadly not recognised much
I just stumbled upon this drama earlier this year while i was still a newbie in watching Kdramas. After i finished watching it, I absolutely loved the drama. It was classic mix of many genres. There was romance but it was a sweet kind of romance, not the cheesy kind. There was some thrill too while watching the drama, as you most probably can't have an idea about who will win or who the main culprit is or how they committed the crimes. A little bit of murder and crime too. The plot was amazing and unique, in which the female lead played by Bae Suzy sees accidents happening to people in the future. The male lead played by Lee Jong Suk also got that power after saving the male lead. The second male lead played by Jung Hae In was also incredibly executed. I also became a fan of Lee Jong Suk's acting after watching this drama. And the chemistry was impeccable between the leads. Also, the side characters play a very big role in making the drama even better, adding humour and drama. It was a very good mix of all the genres, not too cheesy or not too cliche. I will say this again that i absolutely loved the drama and the plot. And the court scenes were nerve wrecking because you can't predict which side will win. But they were very hilarious too. The villain was also very well played. If you are looking for a drama that has a little bit of everything, murder, suspense, romance, humour, and fiction, then this is the perfect drama for you. I recommend it to literally everyone i know that is intered in kdramas.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
while u were sleeping
Overall I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed how the characters were intertwined and how their stories unfolded all the way up till the end. I love how the story had colorblind representation and the struggles of having the career you want with a disability like it. I have many colorblind friends and so I was happy they were being represented. I like how the story was about being able to change your fate and the consequences of it. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and I love the two main actors! I recommend this one to my friends!Was this review helpful to you?
Very interesting story with really nice plots
Great storyline! Very intruguing and really interesting to watch. I loved how the storyline went really smoothly. Although the ending felt quite abrupt and some of the spidoes felt a little too short but overall really good drama. It has interesting law cases and was an entertaining watch. I loved the acting of the cast tho! The cast smashed it! The whole thing just felt realistic. The music was great too! very soothing and fit perfectly into each scene. I wouldn't rewatch this drama but it was a really good one. Very mysteriously interesting characters with unexpected.. links -I must say. Truly truly worth every minute. It was interesting but a little.. boring ig at the same time. I felt like there could have been more details in the episodes but, that's just my opinion and this drama turned out really great and I would love to see a season 2. Overall, Great drama with interesting plots and very intriguing chracters and perfect music. ??️??️???????⚖️????♂️Was this review helpful to you?
Each and every actor in this drama really gave justice to their character. I would like to praise Lee Sang Yeob in particular. He really gave the drama the antagonist that it deserves. Normally, we could pinpoint easily who the antagonists and protagonists are but this drama did it a little differently. Yes, you could easily recognize who the 'bad guy' is however have you ever tried to put yourself in your antagonist's shoes? This drama reflects the inner conflict that the antagonist, Lee Yu Beom is facing. You could see that he despises the cruel things he did but he thinks that he does not have the choice. Sadly, the drama did not go entirely on this route, so I think that it was a wasted opportunity. But even though they did not go through that route, they still did a good job with the plot and ending.
The soundtracks are also good especially the timing when it is played. It really helps connect the viewers to the scene. But not all the songs are memorable and I think that is the problem. Don't get me wrong, they are great songs but they are just not that memorable.
So, would I rewatch this? Of course. This is one of the few series that I would like to rewatch if given the chance. I would also recommend this to the people I know. This is such a good k-drama. So, if you ever have hesitations please throw them out. You won't regret watching this.
Was this review helpful to you?
To not miss.
It's the story of a young woman with bad premonition dreams who meets two people who suddenly develop the same ability, they realize that their lives are now somehow entwined.It was really a pleasure to discover this series. It's a relatively simple story overall. Three people who dream of each other, more particularly of their future/events.
I saw this series because I decided to see the work where Lee Jong Suk starred, and to be honest I'm not a fan of romance but I find myself enjoying his series and roles, be it the action and thriller to romance and melodrama. Up to this point, I believe I haven't seen any series where Lee Jong Suk would be bad. So, I picked up this series hoping to enjoy it but I really liked this one.
Already, I must say that overall although there is drama, it is relatively light-hearted. Lee Jong Suk plays Jung Jae Chan, a young prosecutor who starts his career and who, thanks to circumstances, finds himself dreaming and involved with Suzy, who plays Nam Hong Ju, a fearless young reporter who has premonitory dreams herself. The drama plays relatively well on humor and comedy, with romance and intense moments of suspense. Knowing the future, they find themselves trying to change it when it turns out bad, but the consequences can be worse.
I don't want to say more, but the script is really well written. Each character introduced is intimately linked to others, and especially the story of our three protagonists turns out to be more complicated than one might have thought. They each have their trauma and secrets.
The fact that this drama is light hearted also means that yes, "good" people always win. I'm not going to blame the lack of realism because I know the show wasn't filmed that way, but overall message was more of "do the right thing" to the audience.
It was nice, I also liked to follow the relationship between the characters even if I would have liked even more interactions between Lee Jong Suk and Jung Hae In (who plays Han Woo Tak). I believe it would have been a good opportunity to embellish a male friendship.
To continue on the series, the flow is really good, we go from one event and cases to another. The past, present and future intertwine and give us an intriguing web of mystery surrounding our characters.
Honestly, this series was really a pleasure to discover, not once did I get bored, the series made me feel joy but also sadness, it made my heart beat with fear and anguish for our protagonists. It's was really a good K-drama and I don't say this often in my reviews, specially when romance is involved. The series was human and relatable.
So, I recommend without hesitation.
Was this review helpful to you?
Great Use of Star Power Blended Together with a Unique Premise
Because I am late to the game in watching older, beloved Kdramas, I am always a little skeptical when considering watching a so-called "Idol drama," where two mega-popular celebrities are cast in the starring roles. In my opinion, some of these dramas are a little overrated because of how beloved the real life actors/actresses are, so that their ratings are always just a little inflated. However, my experience with this show is that it deserves all the hype that it received: take Suzy and Lee Jong Suk, two of the most popular, contemporary Kdrama performers, mesh them together with a skilled production crew, including the screenwriter of the popular Dream High and Pinocchio, as well as the director from Hotel Del Luna, add a pretty unique story and backdrop, and you've got an intensely enjoyable Kdrama.Don't let the title fool you: the plotline has little to do with the similarly named American movie, other than the fact that at some point, the characters do fall asleep. The show explores the fantasy of people involved with the justice system who happen to have the power of precognition. The series blends together the feeling of a thriller, a comedy, and a romance in a coherent way. I found myself enjoying the often-silly humor, invested in hoping that the bad guys get caught and punished, while rooting for the sweet romance between the characters. For me, these contrasting feelings never really felt out of place and the transitions between these moods were well done. My one gripe is that this show suffers from the often-seen, rushed Kdrama ending phenomenon, where I felt some plot contrivances, due solely to the fact that they had to wrap everything up. Still, it wasn't the worst ending I've seen, and everything did make sense.
Acting-wise, I got the sense that the characters were tailor-made for Suzy and Lee Jong Suk - for better or worse, each of them tends to play characters with a certain persona, and I thought they matched really well in this story. Suzy is often the prototypical, quirky but competent, strong-willed, attractive girl-next-door character and I feel that is Nam Hong Ju to a capital T. Lee Jong Suk is often the suave, kinda-seems-arrogant-but-actually-kind-hearted, attractive, and earnest lead and I also feel that that perfectly describes Jung Jae Chan. The rest of the cast is equally excellent in playing the roles they need to: Jung Hae In is very earnest in being the third peg of the precognitive trio. Lee Sang Yeob did his job well as the laughably evil, maniacal bad lawyer. Solid performances for all.
The OST is what I would expect from a Kdrama: well-produced, full of recognizable songs.
Overall, this has sort of become my go-to "background drama": I can turn it on for a casual rewatch and feel good about it. Every element of it just falls into place so effectively that I find it to be a great watch: it's got enough levity that you can laugh. It's got enough romance to live vicariously through the butterfly and warm feelings. It's got enough thriller elements to make you feel indignant, as well as having a sense of justice. Give this drama a shot: I don't think you'll regret it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Actors Lee Jong Suk & Suzy actually have great chemistry together. It's the first time I really enjoyed Suzy's acting, she seems so natural and emotes well here. And I can now understand why Lee Jong Suk is so popular, he's great in this role.
Lee Sang Yeob is so good as our main antagonist too. His character is such a sleaze bucket.
The first few episodes are thrilling and a great start to the storytelling. It's a unique premise: to be able to see the future and then try to stop the crime from happening. Each individual case was intriguing. My only complaint is I wish we learned the rules of Hong Ju's gifts/powers more clearly. I really didn't understand it's origin or how it worked until much later on in the drama. And of coarse they had the usual trope of our main leads having met as kids, but in this instance I can forgive it, as it really does propel the story forward with their connection and the shared dreams.
The other great thing about this drama is the amazing OST. So many wonderful songs & ballads starting off with Eddy Kim to Henry. They all kind of have a dreamy quality that fits the drama! I could listen to it all day! Highly recommended!
Was this review helpful to you?
Story - 6/10:
The story is not really that unique it has its charms and its flaws, but its charm is its love story.
Acting/Cast - 8/10:
The acting was good, it was convincing that the main characters are in love. The chemistry between the main characters and also with their supporting characters was really there.
Music - 6/10:
The soundtrack for this show is alright. I liked at least three tracks from it, especially Bae Suzy's I Love You Boy, and shout out to Roy Rim, HENRY, Edward Kim too.
Rewatch Value - 8/10:
I watched this twice already, and I can say that I enjoyed the second viewing like it was the first.
As plain and predictable it was I did actually enjoy this. Although cheesy (like rom com of western countries) at times Koreans know how to make their viewers fell in love in its simple and straightforward plot. Yes, I did feel the love.
Was this review helpful to you?
