Halsyeon
United States
This review may contain spoilers
Just When You Think You Know What's Going On, You Don't, Or Do You?
First up I know a lot of people dropped this drama early on and at times I can see why but you're really missing out on the greater part of the drama by doing this. The actual plot line doesn't start up until around the end of episode 4. The first few episodes are building up to the actual plot line and while I do think it's needed I think they could've shortened this prologue of sorts to at least two episodes.I know a lot of people also dropped this drama because there hasn't been any romance...yet I don't get why people came into this drama for romance when the tags clearly don't have that genre listed. Anyways on with my review.
Story/Plot:
Gets off to a slow start but it sets you up for this dark story of Dongbaek, a famous police officer who has the ability to see people's memories through touch. Cool right? Yes and No. There are people who love him and idolize him and then there are people who hate him and don't want him to touch them in fear they'll get arrested for something illegal they did years ago. Despite Dongbaek having the extraordinary ability to see people's memories he himself does not remember his childhood memories past a certain age. The only memory he can remember is someone murdering a woman he assumes is his mother. The plot moves forward to introduce to us our female lead Sunmi, she is the daughter of a man who was murdered by a serial killer who seems to have come back 20 years later.
However, not everything is as it seems. There is actually a serial killer out there dubbed as the Eraser, who like Dongbaek has a special ability in which they can erase/manipulate memories. Throughout the entire series you are left questioning who you can trust and you can't as you try and figure out who exactly the Eraser is. And like I mentioned in the headline just when you think you know, you really don't. (I had so many theories going the entire drama.)
Acting/Cast:
The acting is/was amazing. I am a huge Yoo Seungho fan and I'm really happy he took the role of Dongbaek. He plays him really well. I am also a fan of Lee Seyoung, I really liked her roles in The Best Hit and Vampire Detective. I personally really like her in badass female character roles. I also want to mention Jo Sungha is excellent as always.
Music:
Sometimes the music is not needed but honestly that's something that's typical in k-dramas. I did like the ending theme a lot though.
Rewatch Value:
I already sort of rewatched it. I watched up to episode 12 by myself and then later rewatched episodes 1 through 12 with my mom until she caught up with me. I recommend watching it twice you catch stuff you may have missed the first time through it.
Overall:
I personally think if the prologue part had been shortened 2 episodes it would've kept people more interested. I also think that episode's 13, 14, and 15 could've somehow been consolidated into 2 episodes at the most, it felt drug out. It almost seems to me that they were originally going to go a different route with the plot but changed it last minute, as there is a scene in one of the episodes previews that does not make an actually appearance in an episode. I think this drama could've easily been better off as a 12-14 episode drama. The drama is wrapped up nicely though, definitely worth a watch!
Don't let this get you down though, the drama plot is really fun to follow if you are an avid crime/fantasy watcher.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story: Okay we'll start here, the story-line is very intriguing. I'm all about these smart leads being thrown into games that test their brains. With this movie we also get a character that has had a traumatic past that has caused him to see himself as a clown. The only part of the story that I need more of is this. I see why the Clown scenes happen I just need to know exactly why they are there and why it was important to move the plot-line along. I know the movie is to be continued as the credits scene said so. I really hope we get more of that because the scenes just seemed irrelevant to the plot-line but regardless weren't annoying or anything, they looked visually pleasing. Onto one other thing, I love that the game is simple like rock, paper, and scissors but I wish the entire game wasn't just that. I kind of was wanting more than one round on the ship. I want more to be explained about what happens to those who don't get 3 stars and no cards left rather than just rumors?Acting/Cast: Brilliant! That's all I have to say here. They were brilliant. I really loved how many races and languages were spoken in this movie!
Music: It was perfect when it was needed and not overly used and annoying. Nothing stood out to me though.
Rewatch Value: While I wouldn't watch it again right away, I could see myself watching it again before the next movie comes out. Or if I suddenly wanted to show a friend or family member this movie. (Which is possible.)
Overall: (9/10)
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It had potential to be decent at the beginning but the more it went on it just didn't make any sense. I love Hakyeon too death but starring in these poorly written web-drama's don't suit him. He did such a good job in Sassy Go Go and he did decent in this but the story-line was meh.
To be completely honest I don't remember the soundtrack being all that good, if it didn't make me remember at least one song then usually it's not good.
The female's acting wasn't terrible but again I'm sure all the actors/actresses couldn't act to their full potential with the script they were given.
Overall if you are a VIXX fan or Hakyeon fan in general watch it for him, but don't go in with your expectations too high!
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The story-line was pretty decent. I didn't know what to expect when watching the drama. I went in with high expectations though and wasn't disappointed. I'm going to be honest I watched it for Woo Do Hwan. But once I found out Yoo Ji Tae and Jo Jae Yun were in it I knew it'd be good. The story-line starts out just a bit confusing as you kind of start in the middle of the story but shortly into the series you find out what's going on and plus we get this cute side romance between two of the characters that I just loved! I love the way friendship is shown as family in this series. It's wonderful.
Acting/Cast:
They were beautiful. Woo Do Hwan continues to surprise me, he's already my favorite actor at the moment after Save Me. Psst he speaks German in this, it's just yessss... Yoo Ji Tae was amazing as well, after seeing him in Healer I knew he wouldn't disappoint. Ryu Hwa Young, I loved her character. She wasn't some helpless female like a lot of female's are portrayed in dramas. She was BA. Everyone did an amazing job. I love Hong Soo Hyun, Choi Won Young, and Jung Bo Seok for making me hate their characters as much as Do Hwan and Ji Tae's character's hated them.
Music:
I really loved the ending theme song. Check it out its called "What I Want" by NiiHwa.
Rewatch Value:
I plan on rewatching this drama with my mom! She's seen both Do Hwan and Jae Yun in Save Me, Ji Tae in Healer, and Won Young in I Remember You (Hello Monster.) So I know she'll like it!
Overall:
I recommend this so much. However a lot of people may be confused with the insurance talk. Just pay attention to the conversations had and things will make sense!
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Character wise well...don't hate me but AOA's Chanmi wasn't very good at acting. It may have just been her part or it could just be because this was her first drama. The female lead was alright, she's had more experience as an actress. As for Hongbin and Hakyeon, well they were fine. Hongbin's character confused me the most, I don't even know how to explain how confusing it was. Hakyeon again gets stuck playing the poor character, but he is super smart money wise in this.
The story-line made me so freaking confused. Maybe it would make more sense if I knew something about saving money or any money terms? Maybe that's the point of this drama, to get you to think about saving money? But literally out of nowhere in the last episode they play a game about money terms and everything that happens in that episode was just confusing. I felt like they just threw this plot-line together the day before shooting and was like "let's roll with it."
Music wise I only remember the ending theme song, it was a pretty decent song. However I've only found it available on iTunes.
So far this does not help out my disliking towards web-dramas.
I think the four star could've done much better with a better story-line!
Overall if you are a VIXX or AOA fan watch it for them, but don't go in with your expectations too high!
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This review may contain spoilers
Good But Also Not Good???
This review will contain spoilers so just be aware moving forward.We'll start with Music - way better than S1 due to the fact we didn't have the same song playing almost every episode that sometimes didn't even fit the scene. It was much more minuscule and fitting for this season. 10 out of 10.
Acting/Cast - All were great especially all the returning cast. I mean it's been years since they've last played their characters and all of them seemed to pick back up right where they left off.
Story - Here's where it kind of takes a hit.
For one I know they decided to make their own story away from the web toon which is why the second (and subsequently the third) will feel different but yeah...there are some let downs.
First off there are too many new characters that I really don't give a crap about. Why? Well pretty much the entire remaining main cast returned for this season and the only one to get decent screen time was Eunyu. Moving forward with some spoilers.
The fact that Jisu died so quickly into the season was disappointing. Not to mention the way she died. I know she probably would've died anyway due to what she went through (surgery and post-surgery) but at least make it due to that and not some random kill off. I know this is probably due to Park Gyuyoung receiving more main roles now but it sucks that they couldn't keep her around for another episode or two. It just felt rushed.
I really liked the new army characters (Inhwan & Younghoo) at the beginning but when they focused on them so much alongside Chief Ji I didn't care for them.
I liked Eunyu's story of her looking for Eunhyuk but I was a little disappointed she never commented about looking for Hyunsoo as well. I mean I didn't want a whole ark of that but it would've been nice to know that she didn't just forget about him. Which I know is common sense but come on give us a little easter egg or something that she misses Hyunsoo.
Moving on to Yikyung, her baby becoming a monster makes no sense to me since I thought the monsterization is due to desires. What desires did the baby in her womb have to be born one? Idk maybe I missed some key details I did skip around a bit because you know I came to watch the season 1 characters stories and maybe a few new characters along the way. (I will be re-watching sometime to catch details I missed.) Anyway I feel like they just needed another monster human and felt this was a new unique way to introduce one.
Moving on to Dr. Lim, I didn't mind his character. His character made sense to be added but he also was kinda meh. Also don't ask me what happened near the end during his scenes because I skipped a lot of them to focus on Hyunsoo, Eunyu, and Chanyeong. However, what was unclear to me is is it true that Sangwook/Uimyeong is MH1 or Sangwon? (Again I may have missed some details due to skipping around - it's 4am here and like I need to sleep but I wanted to know what happened.)
Next up, Chanyeong - aka my favorite new addition to the show. I loved every scene with him in it. His character fits right in!
Lastly, Hyunsoo - um...like isn't he the main main character??? Why did it feel like I saw 30 minutes of him in total this entire season??? Disappointing but what little we did get of him, well, after the stone scene was great! I wasn't a fan of his scenes before then because like wtf happened? We get no clear footage of what happened to him when he turned to stone and why he did?
Also back to Sangwook/Uimyeong - what is his problem??? Him and Yikyung's daughter are about to become a force to be reckoned with. And who knows maybe they are father and daughter?
Oh and surprise Lee Dohyun made an appearance as a cliff hanger as Eunhyuk?!? Um, yes...but he low-key seems evil so like...noooo.
Oh and last thing, I don't dislike Yikyung's daughter's storyline and I don't dislike her character. I have a feeling she'll bring a lot to the table in S3 but we'll see.
Long story short - too many new characters that over-shadowed the previous cast. The potential of Jisu's character was cut, Eunyu's shined, Yikyung did all of the just to be killed by her own daughter, dog girl dies off camera granted she wasn't a main-main character but would've liked to see her go, Suyeong dies? it was super sad, Yeongsu becomes an asshole which rightfully so but come on don't take it out on those that care for you, Hyunsoo didn't get near enough screen time, Sangwook's storyline is meh but could get better in S3, the military guys are meh, Chanyeong is *heart eyes*, oh the two randos the one with the crazy girl after Chanyeong and the guy they met early in the season meh, possibly Dohyun/Eunhyuk return/I don't dislike the idea of it. All in all it just felt rushed and all over the place but also I'm too much of a fan of S1 and some of the parts in this season to hate it.
Re-watch value - for now 10/10 because like I skipped some parts. I will have to go back and rewatch.
Overall, I will need to see season 3 and what occurs in it before I accurately say I disliked this season.
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I love that I cried along with the characters. The cast was beautiful and great!
I wouldn't watch if you don't get deep into meanings behind the shows. If you're just watching to watch then skip it. If you actually analyze whats going on you'll see the deeper meaning behind everything that happens.
My only dislike was the ending, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. It was a bit too confusing because it jumps around. Although it is clear what happens, I would prefer if the scenes didn't skip too much during the last 3 minutes. (I'm not talking about the memories part either.)
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This review may contain spoilers
Sweet Home More Like Sad Home!!!
Let me start off by saying that after watching episode 1 and seeing the CGI/animation and how well to say the least underwhelming it was I thought "Eh I may pass on this one." But I gave episode 2 a watch and you know the CGI/animation of the monsters is easily overlookable given that the story is THAT good. I will say though it took me the entirety of the first two episodes to get used to and not shrivel up at the amount of blood that spewed out during their nosebleeds and I'm not usually one to bat an eye at a bloody scene. I also must note that I did not read the webtoon before watching this so this review is solely based off the drama.Make sure you have the tissues everyone, oh and try not to get too attached to well most of the characters because...spoiler earlier...a lot of good people die in it.
Let's start with the Cast, oh my god, each and every one of them were amazing. But we'll talk mostly about the main characters (and not just the ones listed as main's on here because I truly felt there were a lot of main characters in this story.)
Cha Hyun Soo, we literally got to see him grow from being the shy teenager we first seen. Granted he wasn't originally shy, bullying having to do a lot with his more reserved and standoffish self. He became my little baby in this, I hated whenever people looked at him as a monster whenever he was the least monster-like of them all. The only other thing I've seen Song Kang in is Love Alarm, so I couldn't quite tell exactly how he was going to be in a more action-y drama, but he pulled it off well!
Seo Yi Kyung, at first I really liked her. She seemed to have her life together and didn't mind risking her own life for others. Well, after she left to go find the tablet of her deceased (I mean he's either a monster or something like Hyun Soo, we still don't know yet) soon-to-be husband and gets caught by the military she comes back and she starts sketching me out. At first I thought for sure she'd be the one to ruin it for everyone, and don't get me wrong she has a baby to protect but that entire situation of "Do I turn Hyun Soo to be a test subject to save the majority or do I just not do anything and risk more people dying?" Is one that really doesn't have a right answer. I'm glad she was not the one to do it and ended up becoming the Leader of sorts near the end. Lee Shi Young did a wonderful of portraying her, as she always does well.
Pyeon Sang Wook, I truly think he grew the most as a character, or well maybe not the most as I think he was that person all along. He just needed someone to tell him it was okay to be that. I loved him. And I was at first pleasantly surprised by the ending of him with Hyunsoo but I quickly realized that it is probably Ui Myeong and not him. The scene with Yuri though, it broke my heart. Lee Jin Wook did amazing as usual, I will say I like him better in this than in Voice 2.
Lee Eun Hyuk, I honestly did not go into this show thinking I'd dislike a character played by Lee Do Hyun, I was wrong. He was so selfish in the beginning but by the end became a better person and I am so happy for that. Although, it broke my heart to see him stay behind to "stop" Hyun Soo. I hope we get to see him in a second season, but...
Yoon Ji Soo, I loved her as a duo with Jaeheon, they leveled each other out so well. She didn't get as much character development as the other listed mains. I feel though that she will grow more in a second season. I see her taking on the leadership role. Park Gyu Young as a hippie/take no shit character though, I loved it!
Lee Eun Yoo, oh did I hate her at first. She was so bitchy but I mean I level with her, her brother was kind of an asshole at the beginning so...Her bitchiness was her way of hiding that she cared. She grew a lot as a character and by the end I loved her character. Go Min Shi was amazing per usual.
We'll do a rapid fire of the next few because I felt they deserved the Main Character title as well. Jung Jaeheon, I mean he did the ultimate sacrifice. Who didn't love him? Ahn Gil Seop, I feel like his character was robbed, we didn't even really get to see his reaction to Yuri's death. And he bled from the nose once but nothing else occurred to him? I was under the impression he was turning but then he never showed any more signs so I thought maybe not and then he just died, which I think was going to happen anyways but it felt a tad bit rushed. Park Yu Ri, she was pretty self-less, such a good character and god it pissed me off when Ui Myeong did what he did. Han Du Sik, such a lovable old man and he too, like Jaeheon, did the ultimate sacrifice. Lastly Ui Myeong, boy was crazy, I went back and forth on whether I liked him or not and yeah...I don't obviously but I will say his monster power has to be the freaking coolest.
Story:
It's pretty straightforward and gory but amazing! Are the real monsters the humans? We see them constantly at each other's throats in the beginning, later using Hyun Soo as their own personal bitch, forcing him to run and get supplies in the upper floors while simultaneously getting his ass handed to him each time he goes. They look at him like a monster whenever they are the real monsters. The turning isn't an illness, a virus or something curable. It's due to desire? It makes since in a few of the monster's cases, Myung Sook becomes a baby, which is exactly what she desired. Du Sik's feet transformed and he could walk again, he desired to walk again. But um...what exactly did Ui Myeong desire to be able to use his blood the way he does. What does Hyun Soo really desire when he gains the wings/blades on his arm? What does the giant in the one episode desire? The reoccurring tongue-monster from the first half? I felt that should've been explained more but again they are banking on a second season so hopefully all will be explained then.
Music:
It was not overdone like in typically k-dramas but I did have to laugh whenever that Imagine Dragons song plays during some scenes. It was fitting yes but also funny.
Rewatch Value:
100% I'd watch it again. I'm hoping for another season soon!
Overall Rating:
10/10
If you can get past the video-game like animation you're in for a great drama!
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Story:
Like I said before it starts out good, the romance was cute and I liked the relationships all the characters had. Well except I absolutely hated Jo Bo Ah's character for a majority of the drama. She got better by the end but the story started to go to crap as the two male leads went through whatever you call they went through (it was dumb tbh) and then the lead couple (they went through realistic struggles) handled things so dumbly that I legit stopped watching the series for a good month. I did eventually return but only because of Yang Se Jong. So basically I liked the beginning, could've done without the middle crap, and then liked the end again.
Acting/Cast:
I was super excited to see Yang Se Jong in a romance drama but like this just wasn't the drama I was expecting. I did overall like his character though I didn't at times. The female lead was alright, she didn't really do anything note worthy. I did like their kiss scenes though. Kim Jae Wook's character annoyed me, he's not a very good friend whatsoever. I was disappointed since I liked him in Voice a lot. (Also did I mention at times I was more invested in the side character's romances? Well I was...)
Music:
I can't really remember the music so I guess it didn't stick out to me much. There are a few songs I liked though.
Rewatch Value:
I wound't fully rewatch the drama. I may replay some of the kiss scenes though, maybe even the ending.
Overall:
I don't recommend the drama if you aren't patient. Don't watch it with high expectations! Don't watch it because you love Yang Se Jong or Kim Jae Wook because it's highly likely you'll be disappointed.
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I loved this drama. The story-line was so good. It was so good that sometimes it gave me anxiety for being so invested in the characters and the story. I think the length of the drama was perfect and most (if not all) of the plot lines were tied up by the end of the show.
Acting/Cast:
They were so beautiful. Seo Ye Ji was perfect for the lead role, I genuinely felt for her character and was super invested in her. Ok Taec Yeon's character was good, not my favorite but he definitely pulled off the role. I'm glad he wasn't your typical rich guy character. Jo Sung Ha was an amazing villain but in my opinion my favorite of the villains was Jo Jae Yun's character. Jo Jae Yun surprised me this time around, I've seen him a lot in supporting roles but this is one of my favorite of his. Woo Do Hwan stole the show away. In my opinion I liked his character more than Taec Yeon's. Dong Chul (Do Hwan) went through so much and yet still was a good person. Lastly I wanted to talk about Lee David and Park Ji Young. I've only seen him (David) once or twice other than in Save Me and his character was a perfect comic relief but still had a serious side. I'm so glad Ji Young was chosen as one of the cast members, she never fails. She portrayed the character brilliantly.
(Also a shout out to the actors/actresses who played Sang Mi's family, they were amazing!)
Music:
The music was ominous and not annoying like in most dramas. I'm glad the music was like this.
Rewatch Value:
I've already rewatched it once and I'll probably rewatch it again some day. I also got my family to watch it with me and they liked it a lot!
Overall:
I definitely suggest checking this drama out if you haven't already! It's one of the best dramas of 2017. Go watch it!
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