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Panda and Hedgehog korean drama review
Completed
Panda and Hedgehog
3 people found this review helpful
by JessicaMDawn
Mar 10, 2018
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10.0
I loved this show. This is the show that got me into kdramas in the first place.

The entire cast of characters, both main characters and supporting characters, are wonderful (except for Won Il's parents, obvs, and Dong Goo for the first half of the show) and I loved all of them. Won Yi is so fantastic and over the top. I once said that I would take a punch to the face for her, and then she would turn around and beat the daylights out of whomever had dared to hit me. She's such a gem. Beom Bo is another gem. A literal ball of sunshine and fluff that deserves your love and protection. I could go on and on about all of the supporting characters for days!

Our main group is great too. Won Il is a disaster but that's what's so endearing about him. He's awkward and trying too hard but his intentions are good, as is his caring heart. I've seen Jin Hyuk in several dramas and movies now and he's always so good in his roles, even when the roles are so vastly different from each other. Seung Ji is so spindly and defensive but you can see how much he cares, and kudos to Donghae for portraying that so well. I thought his feelings for Da Yang developed too fast, but that's a plot and script problem more than an acting one. Da Yang is actually the main character I had the most issue with. I appreciate that she tries very hard and is very Go Get 'Em and optimistic, but she annoyed me by complaining so much.

I cared more about the love story the longer the show went on, probably because I felt it appeared too suddenly, so I liked it more as I saw more evidence of their love rather than when I was simply told they loved each other. There were two relationships I was more invested in than the love story though, and those are

1) Won Il and Won Yi's brother-sister relationship, how they overcome that barrier in being step-siblings and would do anything for each other, and how realistic their interactions are to actual siblings
2) Seung Ji and Grandpa, who I would die for. This is the best relationship in the entire show, hands down. Grandpa and Seung Ji are precious, beautiful. They love each other so much, even without actual blood relation. They support each other and take care of each other, they know how each other's minds work and their smallest personality quirks. Ugh, I love them so much.

There's nothing astounding or groundbreaking about the plot. Some plot points you can see coming from a mile away or more. However, this show is my 'happy place.' If I've had a bad day, if I'm really stressed out, I can rewatch Panda and Hedgehog and be smiling within minutes. This show is very Feel Good for most of its run, lifting your spirits with the silly antics of its characters. And I liked how the more serious, dramatic aspects of the show presented themselves, never dragging the show down too far. Until the final episode or so at least, but by then you're expecting the shit to hit the fan.

The music gets a 7 because most of it is forgettable. However there were a few songs that were very touching and used very well. The ability to watch Seung Ji creates baking MAGIC every episode gets a 10 because that was absolutely fantastic!

Overall, I recommend this show to anyone looking for something lighthearted and cute, and a little bit nuts.
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