JhovLovesYou
Angeles City, Philippines
This review may contain spoilers
Promising Beginning but Don't Expect so High
IC got a promising start but went downhill later on. That's one of the flaws of most kdramas, they give you a very good start then mess it up in the later parts.The things that I personally find that ruined the drama are these:
1. nonsense love triangle
2. Saeroyi achieving his goal through luck and connections
3. ridiculous characterization for Geun Soo (I feel bad for him, his initial character got so much potential but there's not quality development)
4. time skips
5. lack of chemistry between Saeroyi and Yiseo, I like them better as just business partners and friends
6. Soo Ah, Ho Jin, Hyun Yi and Toni's grandma are the key characters to actually destroy Jangga (especially Soo Ah), not Saeroyi
7. the nonsense kidnapping and fighting scene on the last two episodes
The things that I like:
1. strong and motivating beginning
2. versatility and inclusivity of issues
3. marketing strat (in the first half)
4. Dae Hee's kneeling
5. actor's acting
6. Saeroyi's consistency with his beliefs and attitude (except w/ the romance part)
7. APPEARANCE OF PARK BO GUM (LOL)
How I wish it happened this way:
1. Saeroyi learned business and marketing while reading books in the prison (I was expecting that at least he learned something after going out of the prison, it turned out that he just read Dae Hee's book. He just turned out to be a clueless businessman with a high dream but didn't even know the "basics" if not because of Yiseo).
2. Soo Ah being front to her feelings (I can't blame Saeroyi why he fell for Yiseo in the end, bcoz Soo Ah did nothing for Saeroyi).
3. No love triangle (or at least just subtle, but the drama gave emphasis to this).
4. Geun Soo's drive to be better so that Yiseo will see him, not an evil kid that he become like his dad (his character is so lame, I had so much hope for him at first bcoz he's different from his family, but he turned out to be one of them still).
5. Saeroyi destroyed Jangga bcoz of his beliefs that he learned from his father and from his life, his hard work, his knowledge, and most importantly, HIS COOKING SKILLS. He's given the potential to be a good cook and make signatured dishes. Unfortunately, it is Hyun Yi who made IC get its first investor.
6. Romance would work out better if they stick out with the initial expectations.
- Saeroyi being faithful to his promise to Soo Ah
- Soo Ah being transparent even a bit to her real feelings and helped Saeroyi behind still
- Geun Soo not being so blinded to his feelings toward Yiseo, and
- Yiseo respecting Saeroyi's space and appreciating Geun Soo
7. If not the number 6, at least they should have developed Saeroyi and Yiseo's relationship better. It felt forced and sudden. It didn't feel so natural for me.
I enjoyed a lot of Park Seo Jun's dramas, and Itaewon Class is pretty decent. But it's memorability and impact are not that much for me. I expected too much after enjoying watching Fight for My Way and Hwarang T^T
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The plot/story is great. It might be cliche but still unique because of its sudden twist and turns. It's somewhat like you don't want to miss any of the scenes. Moreover, the story has used car racing, fraud acts, handcuff and jewelries which aren't usually used in most of the dramas.
The characters are pretty good. ^^ Jimmy Lin (Tian Qi) and Hana Yoo (Xia Zhi Xing) has the chemistry and they are suitable. Jimmy's acting is pretty cool. Hana's acting is natural. The actress portraying Ya Ruo is amazing, too. Her action suits the character, a sophisticated yet a liar woman. It's like viewers wants to kill her because of her good acting. XD Of course for the other casts, too like the ones who acted Tian Jun and Zhi Yin. And oh!! At such young age, Nini has the potential in acting. She's great and yeah, CUTE! ^_^ Hana Yoo is the best in acting. Amazing. :D
For music, well I didn't give perfect rating but 9 is high so its okay haha. I love the closing song (I don't know the title but it's sung by Jimmy) and also the Our Memories (it usually moves me to tears). T^T
It was 5 years ago when the first time I watched it. In that five years, I watched this drama many times (I think 3 or 4 times already?) and it feels like it's new. I laughed, quivered and cried because of this. I had watched many Asian dramas and this is really the best! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE!
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At first I was a little bored since historical drama and politics aren't my cup of tea but I already got adjusted in it and understand the concept of kingdom and it's pretty amazing! Another thing is, the two main characters portrayed their role very well. Kim Hee Sun is such an impressive actress especially with the last episodes. Her acting is full of emotion and it's like for real. Lee Min Ho is a talented actor. From Jeo Gol Dae's cheerful youngest head, to stoic, serious Wu Dal Chi's captain and finally, to a warrior who came back to life (not literally since he's been like dead for the past seven years) who falls in love with a girl from the future and is even willing to risk his life to protect her and the palace as well.
Music? Well, one of this drama assets are their original soundtrack. I love the music played in here. My feels~
I was kept thinking why is it entitled "Faith" XD But good thing it was answered as I finished watching it.
Anyway, totally recommended especially for those viewers who like action, fantasy and romance! ^_^
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This review may contain spoilers
This is about the message behind, not the demand ship
The turn off about this season is the execution of events (everything is way complicated, rushed and flat) and how everything made it so unclear for two guys especially for Sun Oh who waited for a proper explanation so that he could move forward. I thought he just got stuck with his first love and can't love Yuk Jo back bcoz he had lots of questions for four years, thus making him unable to move on for real. Jojo didn't explain her side clearly to him. In the first season, I didn't like Sun Oh's character, but in this season, can't help to feel so bad for him and my hatred towards Jojo grew more.Above all, I felt so so so bad for Yuk Jo among the characters here (but hey, even though she did not deserve it still Sun Oh still tries for her. I think Sun Oh likes her, but the disadvantage of Love Alarm is that maths can't actually measure accurately someone's soul (feelings), adding also that Sun Oh has a set of feelings towards Jojo that's why it's hard for him to like Yuk Jo completely) T^T
What's more is that Jojo didn't understand herself why she desparately used the spear feature just to ring Hyeyeong's love alarm, which made Hyeyeong get confused and made him question her sincerity to him. She said herself that she wants to get rid of the shield bcoz of Hyeyeong so she should understand better and let Hyeyeong understand her real motive. Jojo wasn't able to come up with her inner conflicts until Duk Gu came just to give a good and sensible explanation to her and Hyeyeong ?♀ And what lacks about this season is the character behind Duk Gu and his story with Gul Mi. End game aside, everybody is curious about Duk Gu but the film didn't show him that much.
Though genre and message wise, this isn't a typical love story and I like it. This drama is all about overcoming anxiety and the impact of social media and technology to everyone's life.
Without looking at the actors and just focus on the characters, the season 2 delivered what it is to love without the reliability of the Love Alarm app (since the girl can't ring either of the two guys' love alarm bcoz of the shield). The girl ending with the fine and understanding man who respected her, didn't touch (kiss) her, and courted her until she could finally say that she loves him, is much better.
If you guys can't appreciate Jung Ga Ram (Hye Yeong), just appreciate the maturity of his character in the film and also the beautiful message behind this series. It's not just bcoz Song Kang (Sun Oh) has better chemistry with the girl and is more handsome (and he suffered "more", they said), he would be the one. Remember, it takes a good foundation and maturity for a relationship to become pure and strong and that's what Hyeyeong x Jojo portrayed in this season. It's not all about the sudden feelings and "kilig", it's all about patience and understanding each other's feelings which both Sun Oh and Jojo failed to do when they were together. Jojo felt so inferior and Sun Oh failed to see that. Sun Oh just hated Jojo and didn't patiently work out his feelings and waited when Jojo did not ring his love alarm anymore (which Hyeyeong did even though he did not receive even a single ring from the beginning). Their relationship started as just selfish feelings of lust and infatuation.
For music, I love it. For me it feels so nostalgic and beautiful and they really suit the scenes in the film. For acting, well, I love Sun Oh's acting best. You can see how he portrays a broken man.
To be honest, this season is not highly recommendable to watch given the plot made. If they just made it more detailed and time-oriented as how it's made in the webtoon, maybe people would understand and accept more why it should be Hyeyeong, not Sun Oh. Or if it would have shown more of Hyeyeong in the first season, not only focused on Sun Oh and Jojo, maybe they may have considered Hyeyeong as a better choice. As for me, regardless the acting and chemistry between the actors, I've always been rooting for Hyeyeong. I write short novels too and I understand why the author of the original story made it this way. Good thing also that the director and staff considered the original and did not follow fans' demands and bandwagon or else, this series would have been a more turn off for me.
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