White Christmas Korean Drama

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May 13, 2011 8 of 8 episodes seen

Melwill28
41 of 44 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
I loved this drama. It had everything; love, hate, fear, death. I was extrememly interested in the psychology aspect of the drama as I am a psych major. I gave it all 10's b/c the story was amazing, the acting was perfect, the music was awesome (had a lot of songs that I listen to), and it overall messed so well that I will watch this over and over. I have recomended this drama to my friends at work and will to any1 else that I know. I loved the concept that was born and how it all played out. A wounderful question that I have myself been trying to answer since I work in behavioral mental health. Whomever thought this up has a very analytical mind and knows how to go beyond the boundries set for experiments in the psych field. It is a very fine line that can be crossed at anytime. I probably like this more because it is based on a topic that I am interested in anyway. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. read more
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Mar 25, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

Heenim382
31 of 32 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 5
If you're looking for an action-filled drama of hide-and-seek with a murderer, then this is not the drama for you.

But if you're looking for a thought provoking drama where you can spend half the time guessing whom the murderer is, and the rest of the time studying the abilities of the human mind; then this is the one for you.

This drama is based on the question "Are monsters born or made?" and focuses on the psychologic part the story. Now before you back away (I know I usually back farfar away from movies that have a psychologic theme) this one is really worth the watch!

There were frustrating parts and questions that weren't fully answered. I also wish that there had been more shown about each characters background. I rated the rewatch value low only because of the fact that once you have watched it, you will already know how it will end and who the murderer is.

Over all, a very interesting and thought provoking story that pulls you in and allows you to ponder about one of life's greatest questions; "Are monsters born or made?" read more
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Feb 27, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

saka_xd
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 8
This drama was very unpredictable which is what got me continuing to watch it in a 3 day span. I liked it because there aren't a lot of episodes, so they packed everything into the 8 episodes they had, making use of all their time wisely. So there were no stupid scenes or useless side stories in play. When I first started watching, it was sort of slow because everyone is trying to find the sender of this letter, but once you get into it, it is no longer about a mere prank but life and death with the serial killer. I must say though that after they discover the killer, that's when the psychological games begin.
Another side note, it helps that the people are very attractive, so that kept me watching as well ;) read more
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Jan 17, 2013 8 of 8 episodes seen

browncoat_78
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
I finished this drama special last night (this morning) at around 1:00 am. There was so much adrenaline pumping through me that I wanted to write my review right then, but at the same time I had to digest this masterpiece for a while first. Because this is a masterpiece, and here's why.

First, I will say that if you like Kdramas, this one is absolutely unique in the entire genre. I've seen over 100 and nothing even seems to have been made on the same planet as this. So it definitely has the uniqueness factor - check.

Secondly, because it was a special rather than a full drama, it has a nice short run time of only 8 episodes, so it is great for those with ADHD or who like Kdramas but not the fact that they tend to be so long. Actually, my only real complaint about this drama is that there isn't more of it!

Of course, the first two positive things I've said about this drama are just shallow fluff and not really the reasons I called it a masterpiece. But they are good reasons that I think this is the ultimate drama for introducing noobs to Kdramas (particularly American noobs as those are the kind I know best).

But now on to the real meat of the matter -- why is this a masterpiece, and not just a Korean masterpiece, but possibly a masterpiece of television, period?

1. VISUALS! Did I say visuals? Oh, and visuals. This is one of the most singularly beautiful (and eerie) things I've ever watched. The PD is Kim Yong Soo and going foward I will watch anything he directs (he directed Equator Man, which while it has its plot flaws, no one can deny its cinematography is stunning). Every camera shot is perfectly framed for maximum visual and emotional impact. At times it felt more like watching a series of paintings or artistic photographs pass by rather than film. The visual harmony between the stark modern architecture, the snow, the shadows and even the physical characteristics of the actors themselves and how they are framed in each and every shot demonstrates tremendous forethought and superior aesthetic awareness. I could have watched this drama with the sound and subs off and still enjoyed it; that's how beautiful it is.

2. Acting. Considering the youth of this cast, the acting was quite good, and this drama could not have been pulled off without their sublime efforts because the claustrophobic, character-driven nature of this drama requires great acting. I read on Dramabeans that when the kids were cast that the writer cared more about physical type (because the visuals and theme were that important to her) than acting ability and that most of the actors were considered relatively inexperienced at the time; although, we know most of them very well now (Woo Bin and Sung Joon, for example). I found this revelation startling in light of the brilliance of their acting in White Christmas.

3. Music. Much like the visuals, the music was also all perfectly thought out at every moment to achieve maximum emotional effect. And for we English speakers, there is deft use of some popular tunes like AC/DC's Back in Black, Arcade Fire's Wake Up and Massive Attack's Teardrop (aka the theme song from House), just to name a few. This actually is my favorite soundtrack of any Kdrama I've seen because much of the music was recognizable and that just added to the overall impact of how well it was used to increase the emotional impact of the scenes and theme, rather than just as background music like so many soundtracks. The soundtrack in this drama practically takes on a life of its own and White Christmas would not be the same without it.

4. Theme & Writing. No bones about it, this is a DARK drama and not for the faint of heart. But once again, what makes it great is that it is not dark in the usual twisted crazy parent, birth secret, killing for money, insane makjang way of most dark Kdramas. This is dark because of the theme and the theme is a very simple and universal one relatable to anyone anywhere (that I am not going to go into here because I don't want to give anything away). Much like with the visuals and the music, the writing was also very focused in this drama, without any of the meandering, unfocused, repetitiveness that plagues the live shoot portion of so many Kdramas. Sure it was only 8 episodes, but every scene, every word, of those 8 episodes was perfectly thought out to elucidate the main theme with nothing extraneous and nothing left out either. EXCEPT....

There was one flaw in this otherwise perfect drama and it's a pretty major plot hole that occurs in the last episode that sent my bulls*** radar pinging. And despite my great love of this drama I refuse to let the writer off. If you've seen it, you probably know what I mean. However, I understand why the writer had to do what she did for the overall structure and theme of the drama, and, therefore, I forgive her. Because, in the wake of this glorious tour de force, I am willing to let a little final-hour-what-the-f**ckery slide.

In summation, watch this drama! You will NOT be disappointed. And if by same crazy miracle you are, there is a scene in episode 6 where all the guys take their shirts off, so hold on until there at least! read more
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Aug 13, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

MusicROSE
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 8
This was a very interesting drama. It kept me on my toes, meaning, I kept wondering what was going on. And when a hunch of mine seemed to be right, I found another point that kept me interested.
It's definitely one of those dramas you complete easily because it makes you want to know what's going to happen next.
Definitely for people who like twists and turns.
However good it may have been, the ending did however leave me quite puzzled and some questions.
I guess, people who'll be watching this will definitely see what I mean. It's recommended to everyone who likes a good mystery, and for those who try to figure out what's going on as the story progresses.
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May 27, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

Lovegood
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 8
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 6
A drama of TWISTS and TURNS! Definitely for those who love mind-boggling dramas and those who love to take guesses. While watching, you can't help but contemplate about this: "Are monsters created, or are humans born monsters?"

This drama has a really unique plot. This would make you realize a lot of things about humans' real nature. It depicts how past events can greatly affect one's thinking and behavior. There are lot of unpredictable scenes. But on the later part, it might be kind of very confusing but it was sort of cleared up before the ending. It's very very unpredictable til the end. Brace for it!

The cast were great. Their acting was sort of convincing. Each of them were suitable for their roles. Well, I must admit, there are lot of eye candies (kekeke) but they have REALLY performed a great job. *claps*

Music suited the scenes, it added an extra effect to the thrill. Hmmm, rewatch value, I think, I wouldn't want to rewatch this (maybe after some years, I'll try) since the excitement and thrill would be lessened since I would know how everything would turn out...

Definitely this is worth the watch... Must-see! read more
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Dec 29, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

Ezmeralde
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 7
This drama is one of the best written dramas I have seen, and the proformances from the actors involved was incredible.
If you like simple dramas where you always know what's going to happen then this might not be the drama for you. I found it deeply thought-provoking and exciting for the point of veiw of somebody intressed in how the mind works. If you're intrested in psychology then watch this, it really makes you think about criminality and why people become criminals.
On top of that, this story isn't just about murder, each character has a backstory which makes them more realistic as characters. Which is why I think that the writing is wonderful. If you like to connect with characters and care when something bad happens to them, then this is a good drama for you. As I fell in love with all the characters and I was almost shouting at the screen at points because of it.
The background music fits perfectly, and I found myself wanting to buy the soundtrack straight after watching it.
The only negative points about the drama, is that a) it's too short, only 8 episodes is not enough, so it's all over too quickly. And b) Once you've seen it the suspense is ruined because you know what happens. However I feel like rewatching it because of the acting and characters.
On a bonus point there is also great cinematography in this drama, it's shot in a beautiful location! read more
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Oct 21, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

purplenette
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 7
- Story 7
- Acting/Cast 7
- Music 7
- Rewatch Value 7
Although this drama is about a school, it is not typical. I like this kind of psychological thriller. It is fun to try to figure out what is going on before the end.

The story is really well done. I figured out what was going on by the 2nd episode, but it didn't stop me from enjoying it. I think the only reason why I figured it out is because I like dramas like this and watch a lot of them and I read a lot of crime books. I also watch a lot of CSI (US tv series) which has a lot of this type of story. Anyway, it is well written and the ending did take me a little by surprise. The ending was the best part of the whole drama.

The acting has a lot of young eye candy stars, but they deliver. I am weary of the younger stars (the guys in this range from 22-27) that sometimes make their way into a drama because of their looks. A lot of these actors are models. However, each actor in this drama did an outstanding job portraying their characters.

The music is really well done in this drama and flows nicely with the action.

I probably won't rewatch this.

Overall I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone that likes mystery, or psychological drama. read more
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Jul 8, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

zu_ai_grusz
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 9
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 7
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 4
My first ever drama review… Why I chose this series? It just happened that way, as it’s also the first drama where I decided to try my hand at reviewing each episode as I finished watching. Therefore, this feels more like summarizing all my episodic reviews in a manner hopefully representing an overall general impression.

Yes, this falls under a psychological thriller genre and it impresses those points on several occasions. It is divided into two story arcs. The first half involve mysteries and conflicts, but they weren’t too complicated, at least for me when 90% of my guesses where spot-on before each revelation. I realized why they weren’t presented in a complicated manner when the story reaches the second arc of its narrative. The second part elaborates and drives the central theme of the drama. From thereon it presents a study in human psychology. What triggers can you push to let the little monster hibernating inside every person’s heart? How thin is the line bordering between trust and betrayal? How quickly can you switch to make life-altering decisions? When do you take the plunge into the point of no return? There was no lack of actions, small thrills, and adrenaline to boost the characters, and you as you follow their progress. Some may find the slow-paced after it concludes the first part to be a deterrent, and only the avid on this genre might maintain an interest to continue till the end. I was satisfied myself with the culmination and final showdown. I say it’s worth your time to give this one a chance.

The cast did enough justice to the characters, except when high-strung emotion is called for we get either an over-the-top or bland execution from some though I wouldn’t go into details. If you get curious, I might have elaborated a little on my episode reviews.

The musical score is definitely note-worthy and nicely intertwined with the beautiful cinematography. The colour, tone, vibe, and pacing were cohesive to deliver a satisfactory experience.

I don’t consider this re-watchable as is usual with this genre. You just absorb the experience in one sitting and conclude whether it had improved your analytical skills or broken any ideologies.

I debated whether to give this an overall of 8 or 9 as when I trudge back to my episode reviews, it averaged at 8.6, therefore I ended with a 9, as well I give it to the fact that it didn’t leave me with a negative feeling ^;^ read more
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Dec 11, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen

goldenseal50
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 7
- Story 7
- Acting/Cast 8
- Music 5
- Rewatch Value 5
White Christmas is a psychological thriller, I guess. I have to say I really enjoyed the first 4 episodes where we got to know the kids and try to figure out who sent the black letter...it was fun!

The second half of the drama was not as much fun and may be interesting to people under the age of 25 or those who are still interested in philosophy. I found the second half pretty predictable plot wise, but did enjoy the struggles these young people went through.

The end was very satisfying.
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