K-lover61
UK
Princess Hours
In many respects this 2006 drama has aged well (some funny bedroom scenes and a welcome lack of childish reactions to physical contact), but in others it's a little dated.I liked the plot and characters, but the story became a bit laboured at times and pretty far fetched.
It's another case of what could be clever /sharp / witty dialogue between characters, being sacrificed to move the scenes into the scheming and under hand plans of those with their eyes on the throne.
The character of Chae Kyung was initially quite feisty, bright and no-nonsense, and whilst young, as the story progressed, she made some pretty dumb decisions, ignoring advice and what to most rational people, would be obviously bad choices. That was a shame, as she could have been so much more.
The Crown Prince was the usual aloof, cold and misunderstood character, with the third member of the love triangle being sensitive, romantic and warm. I see where many of the ideas for Boys Over Flowers might have came from.
Emotionally, between the leads, there was too much to-ing and fro-ing for me, which is what made the series a bit laboured.
I'd like to have seen less of the same falling out, getting back together and behaviour leading to misunderstandings and chaos, when it really needn't have; and more of their later relationship that was terribly condensed into the final scene.
The scheming that played such a large part of the story, was also wrapped up very quickly and didn't fit with the amount of time and scenes spent unfolding it.
I did like the cast and honestly would never have recognised Joo Ji-hoon's almost 15-year younger self. He is still a very attractive actor, but really has changed (not in a better or bad way, just very different).
I'm glad I watched it and if, like me, you enjoy seeing older dramas, it is a mostly fun watch overall.
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Captivating
Feb 2024I watched this in one sitting and my goodness, what a watch it was.
It has a real-life feel in terms of Lee Tang's (Choi Woo-shik) day to day routines, plus his lack of both direction and motivation. Consequently, there are slower paced episodes, but these still manage to both captivate and unnerve.
Detective Son Suk Ku (Jang Nan Gam), is weary, somewhat arrogant in attitude at times and fixated on a happening in the past.
The cat & mouse interactions between these 2 is often tense and occasionally amusing.
Supporting characters veer from weird and unsettling, to just unsettling.
LT's family are supportive, but at the same time wrapped up in their own lives. The mother seems to talk at, not to him, quite often. His relationship with 2 friends felt to me to be more one of convenience than care, even though long-term.
SSK's police partner is a rookie and lacks judgement. Others in their department are a mix of older and jaded, with one showing a more investigative mind, but at the same time lazy, not wanting to lead on his thoughts. Overall, as is so often the case in K-dramas, the police are portrayed overall as inept, cutting corners, lazy and corrupt.
LT's luck in evading proven involvement in murders is pretty funny. The overall effect of his lifestyle on his personality, especially after meeting another character, is noticeable.
There are adult themes/scenes, violence (of course) and clever dialogue.
A further key character is strangely charismatic, but completely irrational and very formidable. Seemed to have a head made of steel too.
I really enjoyed this and it kept me entertained from start to finish. I laughed out loud and at one point, felt terrible for doing so, because it was inappropriate for the scene, but it was hilarious.
I really enjoy watching CWS act and he has the ability to keep me invested in a drama, even if it's not as good as this one was. Would happily watch again.
There are scenes of/references to, sexual assault/rape, suicide and bullying, for those who find these a trigger.
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Too drawn out
November 2023I know this has been really popular and just about everyone loves Rowoon (including me), with Jo Bo-ah having lots of fans too, but... I really struggled with it. Sorry for the negtive review, to those who loved it and perhaps read this.
Unusually for me, a big bugbear was the irritating incidental/background music. Once it irked me, I couldn't zone it out.
The main characters around Hong-jo and Shin-yu, were mostly horrible....
From just awful work colleagues (apart from HJ's team Manager, Eun-young), to Shin-yu's father (so unkind about his mother's intelligence), and a delusional girlfriend; all very unlikeable.
I was also not keen on either lead character. One never took control, strung people along and was frankly, weak. The other was mouthy with one character and yet almost weak around all others.
A few tropes I really don't like, such as the father disliking their off-spring's chosen partner, just because they have no parents and are a 'nobody'; and the usual delusional girlfriend. Done. To. Death.
Apart from that, so many scenes were waaaaay too drawn out and slow, full of long stares and bizarre silent phone calls (where one calls other and then says NOTHING... what is all that about!)
HJ's female co-workers are completely bat poop and also delusional... I didn't find them funny at all ~ really not good writing. One in particular was thoroughly unlikeable.
I often found scenes childish and ridiculous; I mean, a Parks worker with no vehicle, no appropriate equipment/clothing, yet often expected to deal with situations for which they are totally unprepared. Like having to wipe up blood, but not having anything to do so with! Or someone with a suspected stalker, going to remote places alone. Eye rolling.
The story also didn't flow. Scenes felt jerky and disjointed, almost like segments stuck together, at times. The MC can regularly be found randomly standing on a beach, for no apparent reason, just gazing into one another's eyes.
Utterly ridiculous plot lines. Especially around the worst example of promiscuity ever, which just because someone is dating, is apparently openly talking with a man, even though there's a space between them (ie, not cuddled up).
There's also an appalling scene with an octopus, too, that really upset me. Totally unacceptable to me, I'm afraid (and 'culture' doesn't cut it, in a developed country that should know better by now). It wasn't even necessary. Hope to God it wasn't real ~ I'm honestly not sure.
There were scenes filmed in the same location as See You In My 19th Life (Mujinjeong Pavilion, with 'falling petal' fireworks), that actually felt like they almost mirrored that part of the other drama. It felt too similar and really distracted me.
So disappointing and I'd looked forward to this drama, too.
The cast weren't a problem, but actually the drama's saving grace. However, apart from some of the historical scenes, the story was just not for me.
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Dark, depressing and uncomfortable
Aug 2023First off, apart from graphic violence, there are scenes containing rape, domestic abuse and suggested self-harm, so be warned ahead of viewing.
It starts off fairly evenly, lulling us into a very false sense of security, before escalating and that escalation never stops until the very end.
The way in which those perceived to be less attractive, are overlooked, spoken to, and at worst, not even loved by their own parents, is horrible. School is one thing (teachers woefully absent as usual), but the workplace is reminiscent of the UK in the 70s/80s.
The main character's dreams, held from being an infant, were quickly slashed, as she grew older and her looks hsd diminished by the time she was a teen. Although a talented and confident dancer, she was never accepted, getting verbally abused, and soon gave up. Her mother was cold and unsupportive.
As an adult, she vents her craving for the adoration and attention of an audience, by performing often exotic dance routines online, wearing a mask and various wigs.
The story follows her double life, which due to several interactions with a co-worker, culminate in her having something of a melt down.
From there on, her luck goes from not great, to catastrophically awful.
The story does a FFWD (which I know annoys some, but it does fit in this instance) and the hatred and vengeance from the past wreaks havoc in the present.
One character in particular is amazingly portrayed; blind to their complicity, failings and own twisting of reality, because facing up to all that, would be even more painful and leave no one to lash out at. An honestly hateful person who wants to be the victim.
I found the story and mix of characters, frankly depressing. It gets quite ridiculous at times too, which spoilt any realism built up in scenes.
I can't say I enjoyed it, but I can't say it was bad. It was horrible really. How people can drive others to lose who they are, features strongly, and is sickening, as is the obsession with looks, that is very prevalent, not only in S.Korea, although they do seem particularly obsessed with it.
The cast are excellent. It has a docu-drama feel at times, even though, as said, the plot in terms of what's believable or possible, goes off the rails quite often.
The ending was quite something, but lacked in one major aspect, which I can't say in this, but will add a spoiler comment.
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Never a dull moment
I loved way more about this than I didn't.The very few gripes are honestly not worth mentioning.
Fabulous cast, many actors/tresses I love, all of whom played their characters so well.
It is quirky at times; the character of
Young-rak's wife is totally off the wall. I loved her! Her outspokenness made for some really funny scenes and, at times, not low level discomfort too.
I so felt for Kang-ho and as his story was revealed, thought him so brave. Lee Do-hyun portrayed him excellently.
There were many scenes that made for a tough watch. How cold, heartless and thoroughly evil some of the characters were.
Those were tempered by opposites, however, and that prevented this drama from becoming overly melodramatic and depressing.
I completely disagreed with the methods of the Mother in question. Yet I still liked her character; she was forced to toughen up, make sacrifices, cope alone, keep going and work her arse off. However, for me that didn't excuse her dictatorial approach toward her son as a child, or actions that bordered on abuse. Nothing can excuse some of the things she did. Yet I still couldn't dislike her.
Her character seemed to mellow through the story and her capacity for forgiveness, on several occasions, I found a bit unbelievable, but given her circumstances at that point, I did get it. She also repeated one of her previous mistakes regarding another character, which disappointed me, but she came through in the end.
Kang-ho's behaviour, I thought was out of synch at times, with what his character's age was supposed to have reverted to, but, I could care less. He had me in bits on numerous occasions.
I also loved Mi-joo. What a great young woman, with real strength of character. She never played the victim and was so tenacious. I really liked the relationship she had with her twins, too.
In fact, all the village women in this drama were tough in their own ways really.
Life wasn't particularly easy or a bed of roses, for any of them.
The men were funny, capable, but rarely the bosses ;)
Sam-sik was a conundrum for me... I loathed, liked, was amused and shocked by him, in turns. Drove me nuts.
The foreign character, Andrea, was weirdly likeable. I wasn't sure at first. The way he spoke was odd at times (and not when he was practicing his Korean), but then I find many of the foreign characters represented in K-dramas to be a bit odd in general. He helped out a lot though and wasn't insignificant. How they interacted together was lovely.
Plenty of suspense and a terrific watch. I never got bored, was pleased with the ending and so enjoyed the actors, who really made the story shine.
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S1-3 combined on Viki app. An OK watch to pass the time.
aka: The Night I Became An AnimalGreat variety of characters and differing relationship scenarios, with some really selfish ones in the mix, who had no regard for the feelings of others.
My favourite couple were the country girl and tattoo artist.
At the other end of the spectrum, was the guy who didn't want kids with his wife; and the last couple, were just... "what the hell?"!
Sometimes it did feel like the individual story was built around the very samey bed scene they almost all ended up with.
I found myself rolling my eyes once too often.
I did like the entire cast, though.
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Classic
The synopsis here on MDL is not really accurate for the female lead character at all. There is more to her than that. Anywho....This is what I consider a classic all-round, entertaining sageuk. There is plenty of humour, action, intrigue, tragedy, drama, villains, simple folk and good people that fight for justice.
The plot isn't completely new, with disguise as the opposite sex being needed to clear the FL's name, having been framed for murder. However, the portrayal of an intelligent woman, actually supported by their family and a benevolent Crown Prince not afraid to wield as much influence as he's able, is nicely done and feels different.
PHS must be a go-to for such roles, with his flair for natural humour and good looks, as the righteous Crown Prince.
Type casting, however, is also the bane of any drama and once you see some actors, you know the evil character is them the minute they show up. Directors and casting, please take note! Some, though, were far less obvious... round of applause for that.
I loved the characters though, including those I wanted publicly flailed for being so vile!
There are a smattering of clichés, but not to the point it annoyed me... balled fists and catching the falling FL being the main ones.
I thought the mystery that needed solving, which drew together many characters throughout the story, was very well done and kept me glued. I watched this drama over quite a short period and never got bored or lost concentration.
There were a couple of times when the comedy was too obvious and didn't fit... There were no microphones in the 1400s, so pretending to use one in 'interviewing' the Crown Prince, for example, just stood out as totally inappropriate, even though very brief. That is real shame, as there were laugh out loud moments much more natural. It was not needed.
The romance aspect is very light, which for me fit with the story perfectly, but if you are looking for lots of deep snogs etc, you will be very disappointed. However the affection shown between several characters with just a look, is lovely.
I so enjoyed this drama and would really recommend it. The ending was very nicely done and the soundtrack complimented what was being watched too.
The core friendships and trust between characters, even when tested, was also so nice, with no accepting allegations at face value, when a person's true personality should tell those nearest, differently.
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Not what it seems
I am not sure what was being aimed at when making this: quirky? comedy? statement on mental health? social politics?I was kept engaged throughout, but really didn't like a number of the characters.
I did like the aspect that poor communication and perspectives of childhood, can really screw us up!
A child's imagination can be an escape, a hiding place, a better place, or a nightmare; but what if imagination and reality become blurred?
There are very unsettling aspects to this drama. A dangerous and manipulative cult; dysfunctional relationships; loss; threat; confusion and self-doubt. Quite a bit of very unpleasant violence and horrible manipulation by the cult.
I found the ending bizarre, as what I imagined the premise to be, was turned on its head.
I am not against seeing smoking in dramas, as people still do and I see the effects of alcohol and hallucinogenic drug abuse as being far worst. However, the amount of characters that chain smoked, I found off-putting.
To be honest, I didn't get it at all and so just felt blank about it. Not even sure if I actually liked it or not!
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Visually stunning
A wonderful bit of escapism, with some really touching moments, humour and action (of a martial arts/supernatural kind).The acting was fine and the cast beautiful, with lovely sets and costumes.
The story is entertaining, but it did drag in several places for me. If it hadn't gone off on unnecessary tangents at times (for example some of the focussing on Jie Li, which lent nothing to the story) and stretching out of scenes, the pace would have been improved. I felt the end stories were wrapped up in a somewhat rushed manner, when compared to aspects of the rest of the story.
The opening episode grabbed me and the final episodes were quite gripping (and sad in some cases), but my attention drifted quite often in between.
Dylan Wang was a delight, as were the majority of the cast. However, as is too often the case, the childish way in which Orchid spoke, drove me nuts. It is not necessary to speak like a kid to convey sweetness or naivety.
I would have liked to see a bit more of the dragon in his true form too.
Some of the more modern guitar music I didn't feel was appropriate either and that distracted me.
Overall a decent watch, and if I watched again, certain bits I'd definitely FF.
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Mountain, mystery, suspense
Excellent cast, acting and writing. A crime drama with a stunning setting, Mountain Rangers as the central characters and even a bit of the supernatural thrown in. The latter actually has a sad feel to it.I loved both Jun Ji Hyun and Joo Ji Hoon in this; her character was strong, capable and assertive, if a little headstrong. It was so enjoyable to see JJH playing a softer character, whose more placid, thoughtful and probing nature, balanced hers.
Oh Jung Se was on fine form as usual, too.
The story twists and turns, moving with the seasons on the mountain, as it is revealed there's a killer on the loose.
The culprit isn't unveiled until the final episodes and so many fit the bill at some point, that guessing was impossible!
I loved the production, location, filming and a soundtrack that suited it so well.
I actually found the ending quite emotional.
What let it down a little were the sudden jumps (from the outset), in the timeline. I didn't get what was going on initially, but once I realised, it was fine; the story is told before and after the events of the deaths, leading up to the capture of the killer.
There were also a couple of characters whose stories and reactions were a bit OTT, but in a drama that had so many good ones, they were bearable.
A couple of episodes were a little slow, but overall this was a great watch.
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Didn't raise me up
I personally felt the issue of erectile dysfunction was used for cheap jokes and as a way to grab attention. It belittled the problem, if anything.The problems the main character had around feeling like a failure were different and tackled better though.
Why does Yoon Shi-yoon take these kind of roles, I wonder? He's played a couple where the character is the under dog; bullied, humiliated, the butt of jokes and with low self esteem and lacking in confidence.
I did like how this character didn't radically change though, in terms of his basic personality. Instead of transforming into a polar opposite, he accepted who he now is, what makes him happy and that those things should not be diminished or affected by the goals, aspirations and achievements of others.
Nowhere near my kind of drama though, sadly.
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Sweet
Short, sweet, nice story.Quite a low budget feel though and not great sound quality. Small, young cast, who worked well together and seemed to enjoy themselves.
I actually think this would make a decent full length drama.
It is difficult, to my mind, for any decent story to be conveyed in such short and so few, episodes. The cast don't really get a chance to build on their characters either.
I thought they did well, considering that.
I still feel it's a shame that S.Korea only partially commits to the BL genre. I haven't seen anything yet, which gives us full length episodes. A real shame.
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Nice cast, with Nam Da-reum and Kim Sae-ron working so well together in their lead roles. Their chemistry was just right for these characters.
Supporting cast were very watchable too and the show is a great platform for its young actors to shine, as they have the majority of roles and screen time.
Should carry a trigger warning for references to suicide really, I feel though.
The stresses of high school exams and grades are taken to a whole new level in this.
I found some of the adults scarier than any ghosts or demons!
Nicely done and an enjoyable watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Ridiculous ending spoiled it
I absolutely loved this drama, up to the point where Joon left Ra Ra. Things then proceeded to get ridiculously out of hand. What on earth were the writers thinking?!The bulk of this strangely inviting drama's episodes, were quirky, amusing, wonderfully cheesy and entertaining. The kind of silly-in-a-good-way drama that many of us crave at times.
I'm not a huge fan of Go Ara's work; not because she isn't a good actress, but because many of her roles put her in either frumpy, gaumless, or just plain irritating characters.
For me, this was one of her best roles, besides Ms Hammurabi, which I LOVED! (although she seemed to live in her coat in it).
Totally cosseted by her father and piano teacher, it's like she grew up in a bubble. When that bubble is burst, we are left with a character that has a child-like innocence and outlook ~ though by no means stupid, she is naive, coupled with amazing determination and an incredibly optimistic outlook. Although she is more ga-ga than Ra-Ra, I found her very likeable through her outlook and how she said what she thought, without filtering it.
Supporting characters were mixed ~ wealthy, controlling parents; an idyllic community with gossipy, good hearted middle-aged women; childhood love/hate friends; a villain; inept though menacing private investigators; suave doctor; slow police; and a sweetie of a grandpa figure.
There was lots of comedy, some very touching scenes, romance, lots of cheesy bike rides, piggy backs etc. and a mysterious element of threat for good measure.
It was also a welcome change to have a younger male, older female couple that weren't unnatural. Lee Jae Wook and Go Ara worked well together.
However, the last few episodes descended into the worst kind of melodramatic chaos, which left me feeling so disappointed in the script writing and, to a certain extent, the direction.
First there's the very nasty breakup... why? Then that's simply brushed to one side as Jun apologises via his excuse for it, of leaving the country to 'study'!
We soon find out why, whilst Ra-Ra is kept in the dark. Yet she seems to forgive him, as he leaves, even though she's told his going abroad to 'study' may lead to him settling there. What?!
Eventually, he's due back, only for Ra-Ra to be told he's passed away. Very moving and sad.
The writers should have had him cured instead, or left it at that, but no....
A whopping 5 YEARS later, he turns up fully cured, out of the blue.
What woman, after having her heart broken twice already (3 times if his departure is included), could forgive that?! Yet she welcomes him and comically punches him multiple times on the arms for deceiving her.
I'd have punched his lights out. Yes, I'd be so happy he was alive, but that would quickly be replaced by sheer anger at being allowed to suffer in grief. What if she'd married someone else?
There was also the bizarre giving of couples rings ~ Jun gifted matching rings, which for all intense and purposes were made to look like couples or wedding rings. Then Ra-Ra buys wedding rings with the intention of proposing to him, but that never happens. Bizarre.
Jun's overbearing father simply disappears from the entire story and his mother has a change of heart.
I am SO disappointed in this terribly lazy, badly written conclusion. What could have been a witty, charming rom-com, got mashed up with a dreadful melodramatic climax that ruined it.
I still think that apart from the latter episodes, it's an otherwise enjoyable watch, hence my rating not being 2/10.
However the end of it was its ruin. The writers should be fined and made to apologise for treating the viewing public like idiots!!!
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Thought provoking
A very unsettling drama, as one can imagine that if something like this ever became possible, there would be power crazy dictatorships and wealthy countries happy to abuse and use engineered humans as weapons.After all, with cloning, growing a human ear on a mouse and even working on growing human organs in pigs, this drama is not total fiction.
There are many very unlikable characters and the usual abuse of and arrogance towards, ordinary people, by those with power and money, is a key part of the story.
Ji Oh reminds me of Frankenstein's monster; lonely, naive and innocent. Sadly that also makes him vulnerable and easy to manipulate by those he mistakenly thinks know best. It's people's abuse and cruelty that leads to the monster emerging. Kim Rae-won was so good in portraying the role.
The character of Gu Reum was really well acted by Lee Da-hee; tough, principled, but ultimately, I found her to be fickle. Ji Oh never hurt her, but loved her and only ever wanted to protect her; yet, at crucial times she listens to those very people that cause all their problems and no end of pain.
To think that she could protect something precious alone and that Ji Oh would be OK with that, was crazy. There were so many things she could have said to him to compromise his mistaken beliefs, but she didn't even attempt it. There are ways around memory loss.
I found every episode gripping and the story well thought out, but the final one was bizarre. That Gu Reum would rather leave something hidden, risking it not surviving, than to tell Ji Oh where it was, I found unbelievable.
L.U.C.A. is the beginning of something altogether quite horrifying ~ not the super humans themselves, but what most likely would happen to them and ultimately, us.
Well worth watching and very thought provoking.
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