I was actually pleasantly surprised in the beginning that this show was almost like an episodic paranormal procedural. Every episode, they try to help a ghost and uncover a little bit of the overarching mystery, and I really enjoyed that. But then I guess they decided to blow it all to hell two thirds of the way, and the plot just became a convoluted mess.

Some people might disagree, but I also had a serious case of Second Lead Syndrome all throughout.

*Main Lead:* Treating her like unwanted trash and always telling her to get lost, that she's not even attractive, and she should wash her hair
*Second Lead:* Tells her to call out for him if she gets scared and actually follows her around just so he can be ready if she does call out. When he says that she never did, that actually broke me.

I wonder if there are any dramas out there where the female lead subverts expectations and says, "You know what? I'm done taking crap. I'm going to go with the nice guy that looks like Seo In Guk and actually cares for me." This ain't it.

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First drama I've given full marks to. Really, if I have any complaints, it's that there isn't a sequel yet.

You may have already heard of the famous bromance, and it is as great as you'd imagine and more. What I found most admirable about the show, though, is how it's actually a redemption story not just for the main lead, but even for other characters. The message seems to be that it's never too late to walk the right path, and it's never a bad idea to.

That said, except for one moment of true sincerity from the main character, the message is very well-masked underneath the hilarious plot and characters. I don't think I've laughed aloud so much watching any other drama. The level of inanity Chief Kim could get up to can only be seen to be believed, but no one could ever say he was stupid. When they coined the term 'crazy like a fox,' they must have had him in mind.

Putting it in D&D terms: Watching Chief Kim transform from a Neutral Evil to a Chaotic Good and dragging along his Neutral Good officemates to become Lawful and even Chaotic Good like him was such an enjoyable ride.

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Shockingly Well-Written

By now, I've gotten used to tropes and forgettable writing in dramas. I actually even avoided this one because the premise sounds so hokey.

Fortunately, the Pinocchio gimmick is rarely used and isn't the focus of the show at all. Instead, you have the story of young journalists trying to make it in the industry, as well as a well-paced overarching plot. The story doesn't break down in shambles after the main couple get together like in other dramas because the main point isn't about the romance between them. Actually, I think this drama will still be as good (if not better) without the love story, which felt unnecessary. At times, you wanted the couple to get the twenty seconds of longing stares over with so you could get back to the investigation. That said, not all ships are a loss. I'm a fan of the pairing of the feisty and resourceful ex-sasaeng reporter Yoon Yoo-rae and the most unlikely character (I won't say any more apart from he's yummy).

For the most part, Pinocchio tells an aspirational story about reporters wanting to do their jobs and serve the people the right way. It's so unabashedly idealistic and hopeful it reminds me a lot of Aaron Sorkin shows like The West Wing and The Newsroom. Of course, as I'm only reading translated subtitles, most of the beauty of the language is lost on me. That said, the writing still managed to be moving and highly quotable (to the point of characters actually quoting each other, lol). Granted, it still employs most k-drama tropes, but it doesn't fail in leaving you with the desire to be a better person.

Can we get a Season 2 of more dramatic news stories and life in the press room?

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There was such a stark difference in the expressions on my face pre- and post-getting-together for the main characters. In the beginning, I absolutely loved the premise of a fangirl trying to live as a normal muggle, as if unaware of idols, to not be looked at as a freak. At one level or another, who can't relate to wanting to talk about your undying love for something or someone, but doing so is basically social and career suicide?

What I noticed, though, was when the main romance was basically resolved, it just became about the romance. I was disappointed with the number of original plot lines that never paid off, mainly related to her secret identity as a fan site manager, who would find out, and how that would affect her relationship with the idol she's obsessed with. Instead, we delved into some really unnecessary alleyways to look through the plot dumpster, so unnecessary they resolved themselves within the same episode.

Probably to kill time? They should have made better use of it.

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