The intensity of the love, however, is what makes the drama so worth watching. The tree and cross symbols of steadfast love are really beautiful. The snow scenery is reminiscent of scenes in Winter Sonata. (The WS sites became so famous that they erected statues for tourists to visit!)
The acting by the main characters is over the top! You really get drawn into the story and their love for each other. The music is haunting, as well.
My only criticism is with the writing of the ending. I can handle sad, but no stupid. I hate medical impossibilities. There were so many other possible ways to write this. But I'm glad there was a clear ending because in some dramas they keep you hanging with an uncertain ending. Everyone hates those endings.
It's odd how much of ones opinion can be dependent on the ending. I often rewatch a drama that I enjoy before I ever see the ending for that reason. So, this would be a perfect 10 if that medical improbability was not there. I was emotionally drained, but I prefer that over not being attached to the characters and feeling bored nothingness.
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This review may contain spoilers
When I tried to watch this drama first time, I dropped after two episodes. I'll tell why later... But this time I was captivated and ended it all in one day. That's why I gave 9, almost 10 to overall.! LIttle spoilers warning !
*I cried in the end. Though I almost never shed tears over movie.
*I realized how stupidity can ruin life and kill people. Being too much brain-washed, masochistic, stupid or broken ruined life of our beloved lovers. And I and almost every person do that to themselves everyday. It made me think what I personally do with my own life. This is the impact of this drama on me.
*Lee Wan and PSH 's acting was exellent, it felt so real. I was 'breathtaken' by their chemistry and feeling they've shown. Lee Wan's eye expressions were wooow.
*Although I don't agree with many of aspects of this drama and often don't like the main couple behaviors, - but they made me want to understand them and feel sympathy and compassion. They made me love them the way they are...
*I wasn't impressed with others in this drama. I don't feel that any other actors were good. I just didn't even noticed them behind my beloved main couple. That's why I'll give only 5 point to acting - because only the main two were great.
*The school time episodes in this drama are the best for me.
*In 1-3 eps I loved Hana much more than YunSo. But after that I think Hana became less real and deep. I think it's because the actress was only 16 yo, so she might not know how to feel and express the kind of hardship that Hana suffers.
But YunSo in 4-10 eps became more human-like, more kind, strong, loving and deep.
Also I feel that our couple got lack of chemistry in last 2 episodes.
*What I was annoyed with and why I dropped it first time is...
1) YunSo often seems too rude and abusive to the girl he 'loves'. I uderstand his painfull fate of past, but his behavior is only one of many other options of how to behave after a big tragedy. A I personally hate the behavior he's chosen.
2) PSH (Hana) cries tooooo much. It was annoying when she cried in almost every scene. I feel that situations she cried in weren't so much tearfull. She becomes more hysteric as drama were going. And I don't like it how weak and stupid she is aspeially after 2 years. She almost never tries to fight and protect herself while being abused.
3) Awkward jerks whose all thoughts and purpose of life is to hurt and ruin our main characters life. I scrolled that scenes with that kind of people, hate them.
4) I personally don't agree with that not-blood-related-siblings can't love each other. What a nonesense! Stupid society.
5) PSH somehow has babyface that doesn't suit her role of Hana 2 year later.
*But the story, so real acting and chemistry of main couple was so touching, emotional and powerfull that I'd rather give positive wow to this drama. It became one of my favorite.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the greatest surprises ever
I can understand why many people may dislike or even feel uncomfortable watching Tree of Heaven. However, for me, I found everything to complement each other perfectly, especially by making characters with totally different personalities and ideals to be mixed with one another, and the situations that resulted in this creation. I love this sort of 'slow burn/is it romance/what is this' type of romance, and the combination of this and the unpredictability of other events in this drama made Tree of Heaven something I didn't want to finish (because I wanted to savour every little moment), but was too brilliant not to binge by the end.Park Shin Hye (FL) deserves an individual shout out for her phenomenal performance here - and this is even when the acting by all of the casted members was a great sight to see. This compliment is coming from someone who thought she was just a 'good' actress. Now I know she's definitely more than good! This character helped her performance shine so bright, a perfect casting choice.
OST was absolutely perfect too, there's even a 'song' that contains whistling only, and still manages to fit into the story perfectly and is so catchy that I kept humming or whistling during the times I wasn't watching Tree of Heaven. Also, I'm not much of a 're-watcher' but even I was replying scenes in my first watch through as I just loved watching the repeating moments.
Like I said before, I understand why people may not like this. But I definitely recommend people to give Tree of Heaven a try, and find out for yourself.
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I actually never planned to watch this until i stumbled upon a Mv in Youtube.Thinking how good Lee Wan looks (i was not particularly a Fan of Shin-hye) i just HAD to watch this Drama,despite guessing this is a tragedy.
Already from the first moment there is a hint of sadness...of how it all will end.But for the imagination of it you try to hope,and that hope grows greater when the main-leads first glance at each other.
Park Shin-hye deeply expressed the purity and innocense of Hana,and her optimism for life.Reuniting with her "Stairway to Heaven" co-star Lee Wan who plays the introverted step-brother Yoon Suh.Lee Wan is captivating in the role,and you just Can't take your eyes off him when his piercing eyes shows pain and love from his deepest soul.Hana and Yoon Suh are star-crossed lovers,and in life all they ever wanted was to be together."Tree of Heaven" is a heavenly tear-jerker about life,sacrifice and love.Its so raw and meaning-ful, and brings unforgettable songs to the whole melodrama and romance.This is a classic that will stay true to my heart forever...!
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This review may contain spoilers
Little critic, because here is only praise reviews (what wasn't likable in this drama)
It's very emotional drama, from the beginning it pulls you in emotional hurricane. first few series have that pure emotional vibe, but after it, after time skip emotional love story continues, though drama becomes more primitive/cliche, like one more "rich boy/poor girl" and "weak, crybaybe FL" drama. No, it's not really "one more" and same romantic melodrama as many others, but also not as great as you expect after so unic 3-4 episodes.I wont write much about good things, because here are so many reviews describing it ( overall this is good and very emotional drama), I'll say what was bad:
* there are many plot holes, not consistent illogical things in story and characters actions, sometimes I thought it's bad translation, but I think not every hole could be blamed on it.
* FL is sweet girl but after some time watching this character becomes annoying, I mean she is always miserable and cries alllll the time, even in happy moments, everyone abuses her (even ML) and she never rejects it, she is really weak :( though I loved her, wanted to love her but it's fact...
* 80% of the drama FL is running after ML screaming "oppa" and crying... if she isn't running, she still cries and screams "oppa"...
* ML is dominant guy which is sexy, but like FL's sweetness, it also becomes to much, I mean towards her, asides that he is often rude, he also kind of plays to her: comes and goes when he wants, disappears so often and she cries and cries again...he says to her "love you/doesn't love you" he can change 3-4 times in one episode... she should live like he wants: he says that she should be his - she becomes his, then he just takes her to other guy and says you should be with him... and like that so many times. he really often changed his decisions how they should be to each other/what can be their future, one thing is these mind changes and other that he is the only one who should decide, he never asked what she wants... even SML tells him, what matters is her wish and decision (though it's not that kind SML when you root for him more, he really is side character)
*there are many primitive story lines, but most cringe worthy was mafia members as cupidons, they do so silly things as ML's assistances in his love life, it's not funny or sweet, it's just crazy unrealistic and stupid.
p.s. this drama has phenomenal soundtracks!!!
acting from main couple is great, chemistry is great (people who think there was chemistry is "Heirs" you should watch it, how 16 years old Park Shinhe has mindblowing chemistry with ML)
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This review may contain spoilers
One of my favorites..
I really don't know what happened but I suddenly had the urge to watch this drama again. Now, with mixed emotions, I'll try to write a review, so here we go!Let's start with the story. The drama is one of the older ones, we would call it a classic drama. Evil characters, many plottwists and the typical main leads were what we got. Very cliche, but still, this drama had something special. The storyline wasn't extraordinary and the turn of events were nothing new, so what made us actually love it so much?
For me it was the chemistry between the leads. I mean seriously, I still can't get over PSH and LW as partners. Loved them so much together... PSH was 16 when she filmed this. ONLY 16!! I don't care what everyone else says, this woman has talent and it shows. Her potraying HN was perfect. LW as YS did also a very good job. Especially at the beginning of the drama. Wish he would have more dramas where he is the main lead.
The OST was very good and fitted this type of drama.
Like I said before, I rewatched this drama. So yeah, for me the rewatch value is very high. I'll probably watch it again when I need to cry a little bit haha.
If you are asking yourself whether to watch this drama or not, I would tell you to go and watch it now! You should not miss this one out. But don't forget, this drama is a tragedy. Not everyone will like the ending...
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Great acting of Lee Wan! Amazing change after the jump in time. Still wonder whether it was recorded later as he looked really more mature.
Also in general great acting of Park Shin Hye, although at one point I was a bit annoyed about the - to my opinion - too many tears.
Before having registered at MDL, I had my own grading system. These are the grades which I applied and which have contributed to the overall score I gave to this drama.
acting M: 9
acting F: 9
couple match: 8,5
romance: 8,5
emotions: 8,5
story line: 9
watch back: yes
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Well executed weepy
Sometimes I love being shamelessly emotionally manipulated. This show has its flaws for sure (such as the ML's improbable transformation from random angsty teen to powerful gangster that is never required to actually do on screen gangster business, paper thin secondary characters with inscrutable motivations) but I was so swept up in the central romance that I could forgive these things. I loved how the show juxtaposed the brutality of the characters' circumstances and the forbidden nature of their love (they're briefly step siblings) with the sweet wholesome innocence of many of their interactions. Park Shin Hye and Lee Wan gave such raw, powerful performances and they have a naturalistic yet potent chemistry with each other that gave the narrative a feeling of authenticity no matter how overwrought some of the story beats were. Even when their relationship was dysfunctional, I yearned so badly for them to be able to be together despite all the obstacles put up against them. Also, the 10 episode length ensures this is all killer, no filler. I was really moved by this.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
28/01/2024
A re-make of this would be AWESOME with some distinct changes!!!
Maybe less angst and more gangster material with a bit of love thrown in for good measure - like 1%.
The changes I would make personally:
a: A lot less crying whether male or female.
b: A bit more humour in each episode.
c: A different hotel manager than the one they had for this series.
d: A better stronger female character for the female lead to play out.
e: Improvement on the OST and music choices - Malmsteen would remain.
f: More action, drama, gangster scenes and fighting.
g: More native Japanese actors perhaps or bilingual/multi-lingual.
h: A totally different ending!
Not a big fan of romance, unfortunately, but am all for gangsters, fighting, revenge and action. I will say I've liked a few that had romance in them, but maybe because they were more on the mature side or didn't have so much angst or weak characters. Not many, however.
In regards to this drama series I have to say one thing - there should have been a one night stand at least between Oppa and Hana or a weekend away together as a "couple."
That is one major change I would make if this was ever made a second time and I'm no romantic.
Have to say, Park Shin Hye, is always the same in every drama I've seen her in - the same hair style, facial expressions, always rom com/rom genres and even the same type of character.
I've tolerated her until this one maybe which is either the 3rd or 4th drama I have seen her in, and despite it actually being her first, I found she got on my nerves quite easily.
This series has proven to me that she has no range or diversity.
Actually, in this she was too much of a cry baby plus too weak and needy for my liking. Made no sense as it was her choice to keep "Oppa" at arm's length not to mention she was going to leave for Tokyo without him to be with her senior (male). So, being clingy with her unrealistic expectations and behaviour two years after being apart seemed a bit over the top for me (cringe worthy) - had to stop myself from throwing up.
Am in it for "Oppa aka Yuki" and his new life which seems to be with the Yakuza or similar and also because of Malsteen's Icarus piece throughout Episode 5 and on.
I am now on...
The whistling tune thing is a bit creepy as well, by him (Oppa), and that seems to be throughout each episode.
What has been good about Park Shin Hye in Tree of Heaven is when speaking Japanese she wasn't too bad at all and she was able to pull off being a young adult despite being 16 years old when she acted in it. Unfortunately, she is the same in everything I've seen her in after this series. Furthermore, in Episode 5, it would have been better had her character not overreacted to seeing "Yuki" as that was overboard. It would have been better had she just kept cool.
The nausea pills I have aren't enough!
What else? Some of the music in parts wasn't right for the scene at all and I wish the OST was better overall.
Malsteen's Icarus in Episode 5 (and on) suited each scene although they should have just had his version only.
This should be re-made with a few changes I reckon as this could be right up there with some of the best!
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Quem gosta de drama estará bem servido.
Aquele dramalhão clássico da coreia do inicio dos anos 2000. Se você já assistiu aquela quadrilogia das "estações" formada por autumn tale, winter sonata, summer scent e spring waltz, é basicamente a mesma coisa no quesito drama. Inclusive esse drama foi feito para alimentar os fãs do famoso ship que foi sem ter sido de stairway to heaven, já que os dois atores faziam a versão mirim da protagonista e do segundo protagonista masculino. Eu não vou dizer que amei porque esse tipo de drama nunca funcionou pra mim mas pra quem procura algo como os citados logo acima esse é um prato cheio, cheio de drama e lágrimas. É tudo bem dramático e quando você acha que as coisas vão melhorar, é só um prelúdio pro pior hahaha.Dito isso, a química dos dois é bonitinha como já havia dado pra notar em stairway to heaven. Incrível que Pak Shin Hye ainda era de menor aqui, até talvez por isso não tenha nenhuma cena mais intima entre os dois, não que faça falta, já que o romance deles é algo mais forte e puro mesmo. Os dois lindos, atuações ok, músicas que grudam, nada a reclamar a não ser a forma invasiva que ele trata ela quando ela não quer admitir que gosta dele, mas talvez isso seja algo dos dramas dessa época mesmo, e tento justificar por ele ser um adolescente. ou talvez seja só uma repetição do que aconteceu no outro drama deles, afinal é um drama fanservice praticamente como já falei antes. Enfim, não amei porque não é meu copo de chá mas quem gosta de drama, estará muito bem servido.
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