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This review may contain spoilers
Some things you need to know about Ugly Alert before you think its too long to watch it!
So, I've already written so so much comments on the site where I watched it. Don't know where to start, its my first time writing review here.Long review ahead. Maybe the longest one.
Also, following are also the things that I loved in the Ugly Alert.
Someone suggested I write a review here and then they'll watch it to see how it is.
This drama broke all the charts of any sort of kdrama I ever liked for me! Its such a beautiful drama, my soul feels purified after watching it. There's just so much to see, to learn and to love here. You won't get bored of any subplots and conflicts, except some repetitive flashbacks.
Story-
Story sounded to me like a typically melodramatic Indian drama for me. But clicking on first episode, I realized never put your judgments forward over a single assumption. Plot folds out slowly but beautifully, you get to see each characters development as their whole.
Acting/Cast-
None of the actors I ever heard of before, except Kang So Ra, in this drama. But after finishing it, now I've a long lost of newcomers who are just as good in acting as other veteran actors are.
Choi Tae Joo, won over my heart with his so realistic and adorable display of Hyeon Seok. I've seen him in a suspicious partner before, along with Ji Chang Wook, but never cared to learn about him more.
Seeing him here though, as main lead's brother, made me so much curious about him, that there were some episodes which I watched just for him!
And that last delivery scene by the sister really looked so original. Can't praise more for their acting, they all did a really good job!
Romance-
Main part of the whole drama that everyone appreciated so much was main couple's stubborn and unmoving romance.
There are three couples story moving simultaneously in the drama.
First one:-
Gong Jun Su and Na Do Hee.
As expected, their romance should really be an inspiration for the epitome of true love. Their story developed slowly and we get to see each and every day of their lives where they slowly get closer and closer to each other.
After serving prison, Jun Sun may be nothing in the eyes of others, but his hard work, kindness and positivity won the heart of chaebol's daughter Na Do Hee.
Their love was mutual, though there were many obstacle to their love. Usually, I don't watch such melodramatic dramas but this one made exception because here main couple didn't break up till the end. They always stuck together as a one to fight any obstacle. That was one out of many things that made them stand out as a inspiring couple out of several other drama couples.
Despite having all that qualities, they weren't my favorite couple for some reasons.
Jun Su was was too selfless, kind and giving in nature that at some point, he seemed very annoying to watch. He even hurt his own love for his brother, all because he didn't want to reveal he isn't a murderer.
Because of him, so many around him suffered so much, mostly Do Hee who was heartbroken everytime her family wouldn't agree to their relationship cause he was a murderer.
Even many started to hate his brother who didn't even know he killed someone that day.
At one point, he did so so much to protect his brother it seemed like Do hee was not his first love, his little brother was lol.
Anyway, he literally seemed so unrelatable to me sometimes, but still, his character was supposed to be sacrificing in nature.
Na Do Hee was okay to watch, sometimes she seemed too clingy for someone who didn't believe in love and never wanted to get married. Also, at starting, she was too annoying to watch also because how she used to behave with her stepmother.
But she was really a good person by heart, and that's why she made Jun Su the person every body is expecting him to be, so that in future, no one can point him for being lacking in abilities to be her husband.
Second one:-
Gong Hyeon Seok and Su Ju Yeong
They were so unexpected couple lol, their surprisingly and undeniably good chemistry won me over.
Guessed right, they are my most favorite one in the whole drama. Though their scenes are very little, but I watched whole episodes just to watch theirs as a treat!
Hyeon Seok was such a refreshing character to watch, when he was little, I wanted to punch him on face, but when he grew up, he was the most mature one in his whole house.
Smart, upright, righteous prosecutor he became, never gave fuck about anything. Just within himself all the times, such an introvert he was. But he was also a gentleman.
In the beginning, he developed liking towards Na Do Hee, he even wanted to make her his life partner, I was afraid imaginning two brothers who are slowly getting closer getting their relationship messed up because of one stranger girl.
But I was glad he came back to his sense.
Enter Su Ju Yeong. Cousin sister of Na Do Hee. She's such a nice breath of air in the middle of a frustrating plot for you. She's such a cute girl, so simple minded, and not holding anything back, just saying anything that comes to the mind.
She's the perfect fit for Hyeon Seok. She came as a surprising angel in his life, as his working assistant reminds him everyday. Only that, he isn't interested a bit in her, still have feelings for her sister and doesn't forget to break her heart everyday by being insensitive to her feelings.
She waits for him everyday outside the prosecutor's office, always appears in front of him when he least expected it, always announces her love for him out of blue, and maybe the only woman besides his sister to make him smile and laugh like that.
But he's too stubborn, rigid and tough to fall in love. Says he'd never fall in love with a rich girl even though he always gives in to many of her requests, even walking with her everyday till she gets a taxi back home.
He's too much of a gentleman to leave her alone but is insensitive to the point to make her cry everyday for him.
Always has a rule with him for everything, that he'll hold the hand of a woman he'll love after a year, a year after they'll kiss and a year after he'll propose to her. Because he doesn't believe in crazy kind of love.
Of course, the time comes when he too begins falling for her. That time, it becomes obvious he likes her too but still keeps on breaking her heart.
He even kisses her suddenly, in front of his office, when he thought she was leaving for somewhere too far for him to reach her, when before he said he'll kiss after two years lol. And when he already made it clear he didn't have feelings for her lol.
The worry and embarrassment in his face after he realized what he did, that he broke his own rule, was such a candy to watch.
At the point, I just wished he too suffer for her as much as she did for him. Which he does, tbh, he misses her when she's not around, he even stops drinking coffee that he liked so much to drink because that reminds him of her.
Seeing him suffer was not a good sight to see tbh, but that made the audience see just how much she grew on his heart over time and he didn't even know it himself.
For me, their story was the best. They get happy ending, and that ending has to be the sweetest ones that I'll ever get to see maybe.
Their relationship development was so realistic while for some, Ju Yeong may seem annoying and a stalker, but she really isn't any of it. So I hope none of you judges her like that.
I was the most happiest woman on earth along with Ju Yeong when-
*He said to his father that if in future if he ever gets married, his bride will be Ju Yeong.
*He did so much to satisfy her money obsessed mom who wanted a rich son-in-law, so that she could agree to their relationship.
*When he suddenly turned her around to say I love you to her.
*When he didn't want to get married to her by running away from home saying she's the most important person to him and he'll never want her to be away from her family.
*When he tried so hard to stop her from getting married to someone else.
*When he kissed her first in front of his office for the first time, with everyone watching, also when he backs her against the wall to kiss her in the stairs in front of his lawyer's office.
*Finally, the way he proposed marriage to her, made me so nostalgic seeing he remembers each and every moment spent with her though he used to show that he isn't a bit interested.
Already gave so much spoilers but those sudden hugs, smiles and kisses after so much of pining after him, and that honeymoon baby when he said he'll marry her after two years, because he need to save enough to give his wife a comfortable apartment, it was so romantic and cute in its own way.
Third Couple:
Gong Jin Ju and Cheol Su
I'll be honest, Cheol Su seemed such a wimp, a child always running away from his problems and such a nobody.
Jin Ju, at the beginning, was too annoying to watch but when she learned about hardships of life herself, she became better and changed for good.
Not much to say, just that during their wedding, Cheol Seo's Mom was literally being a bitch. After marriage also, she even dared to suggest dropping the child cause they won't be able to handle it in financial crisis.
Glad that she changed for better later otherwise I'd have always blamed the writer for making her like that.
I also liked the character development of Ju Yeong's mother because at some point, I was beginning to feel depressed seeing her treating her only daughter like some object of gaining power by marrying her away to the rich bastard.
Gong Na Ri was such a cute girl, she played her part really well. I was even jealous of her for having two unique oppas in her life lol.
Miss Lee and Investigator Cha relationship was just double lol. Like he used to remind prosecutor everyday how the love of his life is in front of him, but he still doesn't care. And when he himself learns about the feelings of Miss Lee, he looked like he's going to faint from joy and melancholy lol.
Also Lawyer Lee, he was such a frustratingly bad character, but somehow I pitied him since my own father is that competitive in nature and wants me to be the same. Towards the end, I was hoping he'd change for better too, because he looked like he wanted to run away from everything, but his father kept pushing him towards the bad road.
I just keep wondering if ever he decided to change, how would everything have been chanhed by now?
Music/Ost
Ost was catchy, fitted well with the scenes. I grew fond of all of them over time and have even downloaded their albums.
Re watch:- I've already been re watching most of the scenes from the second couple and some really funny ones from the first couple, they're all too entertaining to re watch.
Also some fan made videos are really beautiful, I watch and re watch them too.
Overall, it was a nice refreshing surprise addition to my lockdown schedule. Feel too good to complete such a long drama. Also each episode is just half and hour long so don't be afraid of the no of episodes. They really are worth of your time. Watch it if you think you have enough time to watch a long drama.
Also, because its a long drama, characters stay with you for a longer time as compared to weekly short dramas of 16-20 episodes one because you get to see their daily lives and you get to learn and appreciate so much also. All depends on how good the drama is which you're investing your precious time into!
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Simply starting from the child actors to the main cast, everything is flawlessly made and every single episode is unbearably engaging. I always find it very difficult to watch dramas which contain more than 20 episodes but have literally watched this drama twice and could not even stop even through the second round. This is a must watch before you die!
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It requires perseverance but it's amazing
Let's clarify something, the story of the drama begins in episode 7, everything before that sets the back-story of the main character.While 6 episodes is a long introduction the payout is greater since there will be almost no flashbacks in the rest of the show. Maybe this is the biggest issue with the show that the introduction is too long instead of gradually filling the viewer with annoying flashbacks.
While the first 6 episodes are not bad, they have nothing to do with the rest of the kdrama tone. Their only purpose is to set the likeness of the main character.
So if you plan to watch it, try to sit through the opening 6 episodes and evaluate the show after watching the show at least until 12 episode and if you are still not invested in it, then skip it.
Now that the above is clear let me say that I hold this drama with high respect. I don't know how many times I've rewatched it, but I keep turning back to it.
While the show is long it has a great story and the cast is amazing. If I have to point something bad is the last 10-15 episodes that didn't add too much value to the show and were kind of useless for me... it almost felt like the show was too popular and they were trying to extend it as much as possible even though that most of the stories were finalized.
The main cast was great, can't give enough props to Im Joo Hwan, Kang So Ra and Shin So Yool, they played their roles outstandingly and so were the rest of the cast.
You will feel all kind of emotions when you watch this show. Each episode adds something new to the show and it's a real joy to keep watching it.
So I can fully recommend it to anyone who is looking for a show that will keep him invested for a long time.
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Ugly alert's ugly truth
The First 10 or so episodes are done phenomenally, it evokes so much emotion and had me crying a lot.The child actors are fantastic and as hard as it is to pull through i wish the adults carried over the young actor's traits , but i couldn't see that in them.
The lead's story is the one made me stick to the drama around 40 episodes , after that it got down right boring.
I pushed myself to kept watching till episode 60 hoping it turn out good , sadly none of the side stories were interesting which made the drama so skippable.
I was frustrated and started skipping every 10 episodes of the 60th to no surprise i have not felt i missed anything at all when i went from 70 to 80 to 90 to 100 till 132.
As a silver lining the last's episodes last scene got me on emotional tears, where all of them back to their childhood home with kids of their home and playing with spraying water just like in the beginning episodes made me choke a little .
I had high hopes on this drama as it was portrayed one of the best in the long format dramas, But this does not come close to "My only one", "I have a lover", "My golden life" .
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This review may contain spoilers
Noble idiocy at its peak!
Let me start off with the story.Story: it is nothing new. One idiot sibling taking the burdens of others. This being at a peak.
Acting:
Jun su: the eldest of 4 siblings. Him and his dad almost living on the streets meets a pure soul who would be their family later on. His dad marries this angel lady with 2 kids and they all become a family. Of course tragedy happens, they lose their parents. And jun su takes up the mantle. He makes his siblings his dream and always there for them. And another tragedy strikes, his younger brother accidentally kills his schoolmate and doesn’t realize it, so he takes the blame and goes to jail for him. Till then I kind of understand. And it should’ve ended there. He comes out of jail meets his love lady and all good but he has to be more foolish and tries to sacrifice her coz his brother also likes her.
There is no end for his so called sacrifices, I couldn’t interpret if that is his love or his foolishness. He fails to think from others perspective how they would feel if they find out all this. At one point I kind of understood him but going on it felt soo redundant and unbearable.
Don’t get me wrong, the above rant doesn’t mean I’m irritated with him. I love how pure and selfless his character is, it’s very difficult to find such family now a days.
Actor: Im ju hwan, this guy is precious. He can cry soo beautifully. He conveyed the characters emotions soo presicely that I wanted to get into the screen and give him a big hug when he is suffering and pinch his cheeks when he is being cute. All pros to the actor. Even though he is almost 10 yrs older than the FL he looks soo young with a baby face.
Do hee: she provided all the confidence that main guy needs. A very good eg of lady power. Love her, she is so straightforward and goes all in for what she wants, whether it is the guy or in what she believes. Very mature vibe.
Actor: so ra: she is very beautiful. She made the character believable.
Kyung seok: the so called culprit. The silent caring one. I love his character, the righteous guy he people and govt need. His repentance and self punishing arc is one of the best in the series.
Actor: tae joon: he is stiff in his acting. Maybe coz it’s one of his beginning works.
Jin joo: the unni of siblings. Serious character always shouting and making a mess but it is understandable. Having to burden the problems after the elder brother became a supposed murdered can make people so. Highly responsible lady who never backs out from responsibilities and in her liver for her family.
Han byul: she portrayed the character perfectly. I could feel her emotions through.
Joo Kyung: supposedly cute character. At the beginning didn’t like her much coz of her staking ways, but later on kind of understood why the writers had to design her character so. She needs to be so to get a person like kyung Seok open up. She complements his stern personality perfectly, at least for me. It doesn’t necessarily have to the guys who has to pursue the loved ones but girls can too. Both the ladies proved that here.
Actor: so yul: she made the character lively.
Hyun woo and seol hyun did their parts well. No complaints there.
Over all the drama gave what it promised. Makjang, melo, romance, angst, etc.
I would rewatch it after a while.
One of the best long drams I’ve watched.
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A total drama
Awesome drama. Loved it. Surprised i missed it for so long. Especially the story and the main leads. Totally bowled over by Lim ju hwan , Was amazed with Lim ju hwans role in this show. He did great work deserved more recognition than what he has got as earlier mostly seen him in villian roles . Kang sora has been a known good actress. All the other leads did a grt show.Loved the chemistry between the main leads . The scenes of their romance , understanding was displayed very well unlile many shows which go bad on that score
Ofcourse it was a very long show with story being dragged which could have been shorter by few episodes .
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Good...
Pretty good drama, great diverse cast, full of stories and the writing is decent. The drama does a lot right and it will appeal to a lot of people. I think Joo Yeong will be a fan favorite. However, there are few annoyances that bugged me. As good as it may seemed but it got seriously exhausting after a while watching the male lead endlessly taking all the shit, sacrificing to no avail and being the victim. He might as well just be a saint.The drama also rely lazily on that one dimensional antagonist that I'm wondering why the writer didn't put any effort into him? They are clearly able to so judging how they made the other characters. It's also a little problematic how long the antagonist linger around with no real development to the story, I think it would be better if he was only given attention for a certain period.
Another thing bugged me is how both main couples/both brothers' relationship came to an abrupt pause around the last ~30 episodes for an unjustified logical reason just so that the drama could have 1 more conflict before the ending. Which brings me to my next note, the drama needed a little more tension than the massive influx of happy moments, the only factor that was creating tension was the lawyer which himself was lacking a lot as I explained above. Overall, still a good show 7.5/10
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Ugly and sad story
First I must say, i never ever saw a Korean drama this long.I really enjoyed every single episode, it was really watchable. Im Ju hwan is really a reliable actor he copes pretty well with long lines and all the emotions of his role. As for Kang So ra, is the first time I saw her acting, so I'm not sure if I can decide if she is a good actress since her role is very cheerful. I disliked the bromance between the brothers, it was cute but awkward. The second lead couple had had way too many senseless conversation. It is a good choice for a first time watching a 100+ episode tv show.
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This review may contain spoilers
over all a warm story
6.5 is good rating from methis show was great about everything they show
it would be more good if they added a gray side to lawyer lee then making him black villain
if lawyer lee aslo find his love and change into a right person in end it would have nice to see
do hee step mother and her father should have gotten divorce
i feel like it was injustice to do hee father just because he was old he should compromise in his marriage like that
His young wife never wanted to have children with him (so she can leave him anytime she want)
She never tell him about not having children in 8 years, was deceiving him in there whole marriage
she was so fast a deciding to divorce her husband for sake of others happiness which means he doesn't mean to much to her.
it shows that she do not love her husband as a man but only sees him as her family
she is more focused on being a good stepmother to a girl she doesn't even know before
She look bothered when she see her step daughter with her ex-lover, like if i haven't married old man i would have that man for myself.
still support her step daughter to look like a good mother and it was her obsession to be a good step mother more then being a wife to her husband because she never loved him as man
later she tell her husband to have child after she got caught it like she is giving him something not that she want to have child with him but as a Favor to old man
Even in future she will hear her ex lover call her mother in law and how will that old man going to trust them being in same room.
She asked her husband for divorce was so wrong of her, he should have given her divorce and kicked her out.
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