An inspirational watch that reminds you to dream big

The first episode set up the plot beautifully. The stunning cinematography and the poetic lines from Dal Mi's letters were very much heartfelt and gave you a good reason to root for her. What was even sweeter were the scenes between our good boy Ji-pyeong and the grandma. It was after their meeting when a simple favor turned into an eternal debt that brought all the characters together. I think what I learned in the pilot was that everyone needs somebody to lean on, even the strongest and surest of people. You have no idea what you can mean to a person, and that is what makes human connection special.

The first few episodes were pretty engaging, and you'll find yourself wanting everyone to find their path of success. I'm not a fan of the tired "withhold the truth from the protagonist to protect them" cliche, and I feel like this show stretched it out way too far. The minute Dal Mi figured out Ji-pyeong and Do San had the same handwriting, the truth should have been revealed. Also I'm not the biggest fan of Ji-pyeong but I do think he's the best actor out of the entire cast. My heart is owned by Nam Joo Hyuk's character. He really waltzed into the show like a dream and I'll always remember him that way. I love the way he's written. He's so cute and awkward and unsure but I find it realistic and endearing. He IS the smart guy everyone thinks he is, he just lacks confidence and doesn't trust himself to follow through. I think he relied on Ji-pyeong a little too much, and his character has flaws, of course, but he is a good character, at least to me. I'm rooting for Dal-Mi and Do San. Idk why but I just can't picture the FL with a good boy. The side characters are cute and add the lightheartedness the show needs at times.

Overall good show. There's nothing mind-blowing about this drama but it's a good watch if you're looking for something light-hearted and engaging enough to keep your interests. 9/10

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Feeds your craving for chaebol drama and mess!

This show most definitely will not fail to intrigue it's viewers. I've already watched Sky Castle, The World Of The Married, and I'm waiting on Penthouse 3 to premiere, so you already have an idea of my taste in kdramas. I was waiting for another's drama like the ones mentioned above to come and my prayers were answered. This one is just as fascinating and with fleshed out characters to match. And a murder isn't a bad way to start off a show either. 


One thing I want to talk about is the overall feel of the show. It has an aura of mystery but one that affects how you view the characters and their actions. It's hard to articulate but it's like you know what's going on but at the same time you don't. Even if you think you grasp the characters and their motivations, there's this invisible fog that's clouding your judgement. That might've been purposeful on the writer's part but it only draws you in so you can find out more. 

Each family member has secrets of their own and a storyline to go with them. The character I found most intriguing is Seo-hyun. She is the composed member of the family yet she is concealing the most damaging secret! Kang Ja Gyeong's backstory is crazy but the journey to finding out what led her to going up her son was really good. Hisoo is very likeable, which is good for dramas like this. In a world full of sinister characters you need someone to root for. My favorite storyline is that of Suhyeok and Yoo Yeon. They were quite minor but I'm a sucker for forbidden love and I just really found their dynamic interesting.

I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of the previously mentioned shows or if you just want to satisfy your craving for backstabbing rich families and dangerous secrets. 9/10

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SEVERELEY OVERRATED

I don’t think anything is wrong with me when i say that this drama was not the tear jerker everyone said it would be. I’m not saying there weren’t any impactful moments but the emotional parts didn't do as much for me as I thought they would. Although the last two episodes were terribly sad, my opinion of this show is that it wasn’t memorable. I do find the historical story behind it fascinating.

The situation in which Deok Im found herself in wasn’t necessarily the fault of others. I do think that as a young girl she was advised to grow up into a woman that would someday catch the eyes of the prince and basically be a glorified concubine. And given the time period, doing so wouldn’t be a bad idea from a financial standpoint. However, nobody forced Deok Im to make the decision to give up her will, leave her home, and become the property of the King. As an adult she was obviously too adventurous and free-spirited to be kept behind the walls of a Palace, and for a good chunk of the show she was very reluctant to succumb to the wishes of Yi San. I do see that her new life in the Palace was a major adjustment but even after that she was almost in a way blaming Yi San for imprisoning her when she chose this? And what's more, my Yi San got very controlling and possessive once his feelings for Deok Im deepened. A little bit toxic if you ask me but most people took it as being romantic but there were instances where he was practically threatening her life. The bath scene was steamy but nonsensical at the same time. The way Deok Im fell into the bath was unbelievable.

My attention span was wavering because of how slow and repetitive things got. The first 3 eps and the last 2 eps are easily the best of the show. Everything in between is filler and palace intrigue that wasn’t interesting enough; I didn’t care about any of the side characters or sub-plots except for the one with Deok Im’s friend being put to death. Ngl that was pretty sad.

I think the strongest part of the show was Yi San’s love for Deok Im. At times I did question her affections for him but not once did I have to wonder if Yi San loved Deok Im. Not sure if the real Deok Im loved him as much as the drama entails but eh. I usually avoid historical dramas and this one still had much of the bore I associate with the genre, but the last 3 eps were written so well that I can’t entirely dismiss this show. When their son died it was truly heartbreaking, and the last scene with His Majesty and Deok Im in the afterlife made me teary eyed for sure.

Was this show terrible? No. Was it some work of art? No, although there was a poetic script, great acting from LJ, LDH, and bits from LSY. The King’s Affection was airing around the same time as this and I ended up enjoying that one way more. I got more invested in the story, the mains, the side characters, and the palace drama. TKA had 20 eps and def dragged too, but I think that show was able to do a better job of balancing the fun stuff and the depressing stuff. Each to their own. If you ask me tho, watch The King’s Affection instead.

`” If you see me in the next life please just pass by…as if you do not know me. I do not blame you. I do not hate you. I just want to live the way I want in my next life.” ~ most memorable quote

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It's bad but I'm still watching lol

I happen to be a sucker for the CEO-enters-fake-marriage-with-stranger trope, so I was gonna get to this one eventually. Yes the plot is unoriginal, the acting range is either average or cringe, and the story is hella rushed, but there's no point in getting mad over it because this show isn't aiming to be taken seriously (I hope not anyway lol).

This is my second drama with AHS(my first was Abyss). He's okay in this. He's definitely believable as a CEO but I won't praise him too much since it isn't that hard to look good in suits. The grandpa was funny. Kim Sejeong's character is very much giving second hand embarrassment but I like her despite her obvious flaws. The scene of her first date was so laughable to me. SMA and KMG are so cute together. At this point I'm just watching for them. They're giving what the main leads aren't. Not too mention KMG is FINE AS HELL. How can he look so good with glasses?!

It's safe to say this show is meh lol but the cast is pretty and the absurdity of it all is stress relieving to watch. If you're looking for a ridiculous lighthearted show that might make you laugh this is for you. If you want something more serious with better acting and more substance than look for something else.

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calming and mellow film!

I might need to watch this again but it was quite a beautiful movie. I love how all the piano pieces played were different and created such vivid scenery each time. I also liked how you–the viewer–got to see how much intricate work goes into tuning and fixing pianos. The subject matter should've bored me but it was actually very interesting. You could feel the passion from all the characters, especially the girls whenever they played. It was inspiring in a way.

Although the script was poetic at times, what I took away was more of the nature scenes that accompanied the piano scenes. This isn't really plot-driven at all and not much happens, just a lot of pianos. I'd recommend this if you just wanna get swept up in the pretty music and lovely scenery of the lush green forest.

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The best acting from Kento Yamazaki so far

Just finished and I must say, the probability of me watching this again is pretty high.

The story follows two individuals, Nagata and Saki, from their weird first encounter to their ill-fated relationship that changes one another for the worse. Both individuals have big dreams. Nagata is a struggling theater director who's awkward and standoffish to everyone around him but dreams of making it big and coming into a lot of money through his plays. Saki is a kind and considerate girl who wants to be an actress in the great city of Tokyo, but life has other plans in store for her.

In the beginning it seems like this will be a cute little love story where the good-natured girl falls for the quiet boy but things take a quick turn as Saki comes to terms with the person Nagata really is. She did state that she knew what kind of person he was from the beginning, but a person can only put up with so much for so long. Though the movie never elaborates, I thought perhaps she stayed with Nagata so long because there was a certain comfort in being with him and it's hard to let go of the people you grow accustomed to. The highs were really high and the lows were so very low. I do however like how this movie didn't shy away from the toxicity that many people face in relationships and the strain it causes on the partners involved. This demonstrates perfectly that just because you love and deeply care about someone doesn't mean they are good for you and they should be in your life. Although it was unclear and never voiced by either of the two I personally believe that Saki and Nagata loved each other. It wasn't the bike scene that had me crying but the convo they had that turned into the play. It was so well done and the dialogue was great. The script for this movie was really good.

I came for Kento Yamazaki and heard he had some good acting chops in this. I wasn't disappointed. This is hands down the best acting I've seen from him so far. He looked unkempt and messy for the part but it was the instigative attitude and seemingly nonchalant front he portrayed that kept me enthralled. I would love for him to do more projects like this. Matsuoko Mayu was just as good.

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VIBE OVER SUBSTANCE

The plot was interesting enough for me to try it out but ultimately, despite the hype, this show didn’t really do anything for me. I think for me the first 7 episodes were superior to the other half of the drama, from the vibe to the story building. The cinematography and the beautiful OSTs couldn’t save this or make it a favorite that I will revisit. It’s not the breakup that made this dull(I’ll get to that later). I think it has more so to do with me just losing interest. I really did try to get into this but I just couldn’t. I was engaged within the first few eps but after a while I found myself checking my phone and multitasking while watching.

The characters were ok. I did like Yijin and Heedo’s story, and their interactions were very natural. They were very charming and relatable to the youth of today. Personally I felt their chemistry was good enough to be believable and some of the moments they shared together were heart fluttering. Their characters were well written, but I can’t exactly say the same for Yurim and Jiwoong. Yurim just frustrated me a lot and I found it hard to care about her struggles. She improved in the end. Jiwoong was cute but nothing too special.

Ok so the BREAK-UP. For me I didn’t really think Yijin and Heedo would be the end goal from the way things were headed. Actually I thought it was kinda obvious after a certain point. However I get it when people are mad that they didn’t get that happy ending, but I don’t think the story would have been as authentic if that had happened. Sometimes people just come into your life for a season, whether it be for support, comfort, encouragement, or other things. Those things can’t always last because that’s just how it’s meant to be. Life might take you in a direction that other person can’t follow, and that’s ok. It’s ok to let go of people. Natural even. It’s especially necessary if you and that person don’t serve each other at that point in your life or you’re not maturing/growing. I feel like some viewers needa hear that.

Saying that, I think the strongest attribute of this drama is the vibe. It’s centered around teens but there is this nostalgic undertone in the early episodes that I really liked. The double feeling of possibility and uncertainty young people know so well is really well done. I think what I enjoyed most was the vibe this show exuberated. In the end this wasn’t my cup of tea but the writer really nailed that universal feeling of being young, struggling, and pursuing your dreams despite the difficulties of life.

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I notice that I'm really drawn to dramas that include forbidden love, affairs, or things of that nature. The cover art for this drama looked great and the premise was promising so I checked it out.
The director of a music program at a prestigious school leads a seemingly miserable life. She is always held at the throat by her boss and the higher-up ladies who are total catty bitches. She is constantly under pressure to do everything right because if she doesn't things fall on her. Plus she is married to a pitiful bum who can't do anything for himself and the only reason he achieved such a high status in life is because of her connections. Then suddenly her life seems to take a better turn when she meets a disadvantaged boy who happens to be a classical piano prodigy. He is full of vigor and talent but he doesn't have the resources or connections to make anything of himself. Upon meeting him and setting him up with a scholarship to the school, Hye-Won and Sunjae form a band that blurs the lines between teacher and student.
The most mesmerizing thing about this drama, aside from the dramatic piano pieces that played during some scenes, were the scenes where Hye-Won and Sunjae played together. That. Was. Truly. Something. I can't even describe it. It was more than two people immensely enjoying each other's company. The way they both played to the drum of their hearts in absolute bliss was almost orgasmic. I wish those scenes never ended because they were the best in the show.
The ending was not exactly the way I thought things would go. Hye-Won got a divorce from her husband and ended up going to prison for crimes that she did for one of the families she was associated with. But despite all this, she said that she had never felt freer in life. Once she discovered that she could lead a life full of love and passion with Sunjae she didn't want to go back, so she literally destroyed her own life to rebuild a happier future for herself. Once she got sentenced told Sunjae not to wait for her to be released and go live his life, but of course, he chose to wait for her(while still pursuing his music career). With no husband or careers to think about, they were free at last to fully embrace each other. That is an ending that is beautiful and more satisfying than having them just be together in the end. Realistically relationships between a younger girl/guy and an older man/woman don't play out as smoothly as movies and tv portray them. Love is messy and complicated and sometimes doesn't make sense. But if it feels right, what can you do? 9/10.

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This started out promising but throughout the entire movie I was trying to figure out what the point of everything was.

I didn't get invested in any of the characters except for Ka-Lok. His storyline was the only one I followed and the only one that actually made sense. The other characters weren't interesting at all. I feel like this movie was trying to say something but the point got lost in the mess. The main events felt so erratic and all over the place and things were just happening to happen. The ending had me like WTF! I legit started laughing at the movie towards the end because I was so lost. Considering this was my first Chinese movie, I was disappointed at how bad this was. I don't recommend anyone watching this. 3/10

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THE SHOW DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO BE

THE PLOT was good. It's definitely original cause I've seen nothing like it. I feel like the show kept going back and forth on what genre it wanted to be. The crime aspect seemed like a second thought, which is disappointing because it was the most interesting thing about this. Sometimes dramas go out of the way to portray a strong independent woman and this was one of those dramas. I don't know if this will make sense but I think Bong Soon was too "strong." I kinda got tired of seeing her beat up people. What kept me watching was the serial kidnapper and Park Hyung Shik(that man is stupid gorgeous). The love triangle between Bong Soon and the two leads was funny to watch but I think the romance aspect could have been a bit stronger. I did feel second lead syndrome and thought In Gook Doo should’ve ended up with the female lead. Min Hyuk was very cute, but I felt like the SML was more sincere. On another note, Bong Soon's nosy ass mother managed to get some laughs out of me.

THE ACTING was ok. The best actor imo was Ji Soo. At times things got too cheesy for me, and I couldn't stand that group of guys that got beat up by Bong Soon. They got WAY too much screentime and they only existed for some cheap laughs, and not ONCE did I ever find them funny. I just ended up skipping any scenes with them. Park Hyung Shik is literally so handsome I found it hard to pay attention judge his acting in any scene he was in, but he gave a pretty solid performance. He was such eye candy that I had to finish this.

REWATCH VALUE is non existent for me. I won't ever come back to this drama. This was cute and light-hearted but you can never take this too seriously when watching. Wish they had focused on the serial kidnapper more. 7/10

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Great premise and thought-provoking convrsations

Boy does this show know how to keep you watching! I'm gonna be honest, after finishing Devil Judge I didn't think any other drama this year would impress me but someone recommended this show to me and I decided to give it a watch. Great decision really. I had so many questions and the main ones weren't really answered until towards the end of the series. The format for the show is not new, but for Korea's take on "The Hunger Games," this show did not disappoint. Actually I will say this show is better than The Hunger Games. There.

The premise is enough to make you watch the first episode but the great performances from the actors and the intriguing feel of the show is what pushed you to finish-and all the unanswered questions.This show had a lot to say and I feel it touched on a few interesting themes. It was really interesting to me how the show was full of characters that are deemed dirty in Korean society. It was quite refreshing since the kdrama landscape is always full of chaebol type shows that tell the stories of Korea’s top 1%. Not to mention all the subtle comments about people and society that are scattered throughout the conversations of the characters and scenarios of the games. Some scenes just really make you think.

The characters were really great. Sure there were more compelling characters than others, but everyone was so fleshed out you actually ended up liking everyone, including the less favorable characters like Mi-Nyeo or Deok-Su.

Overall I think this was an amazing show. Sure it’s not perfect. and some things were left unknown purposefully perhaps. However this show was just really well made, from the actors to the art design to the script. Truly a phenomenal show. I strongly believe that this show lives up to every ounce of hype it is getting and it deserves all the attention it’s getting. Especially the actors. I hope that in season two there are still so many mysteries regarding The Front Man and his past. I wouldn’t be mad if a prequel regarding his time in the games was a thing. I also wanna know more about The VIPs and how they come to work for the leader. Not to mention the ambiguous ending. Given the way things went towards the end I definitely think there will be a next season. 10/10.

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good core story but a bit dragged out

I wasn't sold on the title but PEB’s acting in recent projects(TKA & EAW) influenced me to start this. She is that good.

The plot was pretty original. At its core this is just a story about a girl with a dream and an unexpected friend who helps her achieve that dream. You could say some aspects were unrealistic but the whole “I survived on an island alone for 15 years” thing was done rather well imo. I felt that specifically the plot with Kiho’s dad and LRJ dragged out a bit longer than they should have. Ideally this show could've been 8 eps with far less filler but then it might've run the risk of having a rushed finale. The writer did her best to subvert expectations about which brother was Kiho but it was obvious early on. I did second guess myself a bit as I'm sure others did too.

The characters were good.

The acting was good from everyone. PEB really immerses herself into her characters. Shout out to those kid actors. They really set the emotional tone and brought so much weight to the story with their heavy performances. N surprised me with the few emotional scenes he got. He had a bit more to work with than in Mine. As much as I dislike their characters, the actors depicting Kiho and MH’s dads played their roles really well. I don't like how they ended Bong Wan’s arc. I get that he was never gonna be with his family but his last major actions felt like too much.

The finale was ok but I couldn't help but feel that the longer the show dragged down the worse it became. This was 12 eps and yet I felt even that was too long. I felt similar with Start up. Doesn't mean this wasn't good but waaaaay too much filler. I also didn't care for the progression of RJ’s character. At least at the end we got to see Mokha stand on stage and make it as a big star and that was a bit emotional. PEB did a phenomenal job with the singing. She's in her idol era here and I love to see it.

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a lot of inconsistencies toward the end

I like the vibe of the show. There's something unsettling about each main character and the dark gritty undertones add to the atmosphere of the watch. The cinematography style was also well done. The parasite vibes were strong in this.

I read another review that said this would’ve been better as a movie and I absolutely agree, especially after the finale. Even with 8 eps this had a lot of stalling and unnecessary scenes that didn’t serve any point besides being creepy.

The cast was very good. Kim Tae Hee’s performance was so good. She didn’t do much but the way she channeled that timid, reserved person who is easily startled was so great to watch. 2023 really was Im Ji Yeon’s year. I like her performance in the glory better but she’s pretty good here too. Looking forward to her future projects! Kim Sung Oh as the husband was an intimidating performance, but his character wasn’t as much of a standout as the FLs. I also have to give props to the actor who played the son because he was also good. Wish I got to see more of the son. His situation was kinda depressing.

The finale was quite satisfactory but didn’t go the way I thought. I def did not expect the twist with the wife and Sang Eun, but I thought it was a bit out of character for the wife specifically. I would’ve preferred if the husband managed to kill himself but idk how that would’ve happened. Apparently the teacher was responsible for Joo Ran’s sister’s death but what were her motivations? I would’ve liked to know, even if it had nothing to do with the main characters. The fight between Sang Eun, Joo Ran, and the husband was so wild but at the same time dragged out and got nonsensical. How did that baby survive?! That’s the real question. I’m glad that Joo Ran and Sang Eun got a somewhat happy ending. I hope the son got some help for his depression. Still, for some reason I feel that this wasn’t supposed to end as happily as it did. The writing for the second half of this wasn’t as strong and started to show inconsistencies toward the end.

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Entertaining but went downhill quick

Came for Yeri and stayed cause this seemed like an ok watch. First few episodes were entertaining but went downhill pretty quickly. I should've known they wouldn't be able to create a satisfactory finale within 10 eps. I think this drama's theme shoulda purely focused on class and got rid of all the half baked mystery stuff.

Also why were the writers tryna make Baek Jena likeable when she's been so nasty from the beginning?I didn't find the FL annoying but I did grow tired of her antics as well as the rest of Jena's clique. Do Eon had potential but he just wasn't giving what he needed to give.

Class of lies is a murder mystery school drama with way better writing and more intrigue. Watch that instead.

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