2
PENTHESILEA
Greece
Not really live up to its name!
I was so excited to watch this.I had really high expectations.It is not bad.It is a good one.What really saves it is the fact that it is only 8 episodes,so it worths 8 hours of your life.For me personally,if it was 16 episodes i would have dropped it for sure.Music: Nice and catchy songs with a beat to suit especially the fighting scenes.But it is better to add them in your playlist and listen to them any other time because in the drama the music is more absent than present.I don't know why but during every episode i had the feeling they use it into minimum.Most scenes are lacking.
Production/Direction/Cinematography:All in a good level made with much professionalism but nothing really awed me.As this is mostly an action drama they could and should have used the camera in better ways than they did.Ofc iam not a director but iam an avid watcher and i have definetely watched better dramas than this, regarding the use/angles etc of the camera.Anyhow i was expecting something more than this.
Cast:Familiar with many of the male actors.Never saw the main actress before.Already thought 2 or 3 alternatives for her role!
Acting: I gave a 9 mostly for Park Hee Soon (Choi Moo Jin char)because he was just amazing!I liked all the others as well.
But..I know there is always a but...
About the FL.Her acting was just good until episode 5.Flawless and natural.But it lacked the fire this char suppose to have.It was like a good student gets an A but you expected he must get an A+++You cannot give a B but still A seems too little.
But in episode 6...BOOM!The shining star has risen.She had to deliver a variety of emotions and she did GREAT!
And i started to change my opinion about her acting BUT!...In episode 7 the star has fallen back to be just good!Like she had an ON/OFF switch and i was like WTF is going on here!And then another flip.Episode 8,last one,she was AGAIN amazing!
Everyone praises her acting mostly about the fighting scenes.That wasn't the case to me.Took me some time to realize why this switch happened.Is is because she is a bad actress?Because she is a good one??No, it was because when the script given to her was demanding and based on emotions and feelings,her acting was superb!When she had to perform physically she was just good!Yes i know she was trained too hard for all the fighting scenes but for me her strong point was the emotional part of her role.
Story/Plot:And here we enter the Twilight Zone! i gave story a 7,5.Pretty low for this "masterpiece".I can't folow the hype over this.Definetely NOT a masterpiece.A good drama but that's all.Don't shoot me but the 8,7 overall rate is too much.One of the most overrated dramas out there.There are many good Revenge dramas easily surpass this one.
Revenge trope is always a tricky one.Is a hit or miss.To create a story,a world and characters and tie them all smoothly is not easy.I get this.And the Revenge Dramas audience,is hard to please.Including myself.
The big miss of My Name is that was too predictable,too early.And i cant help but mention the many plot holes,the unanswered questions and a bad plot-line leaving us more confused than satisfied.I won't get into details because if i would i give many spoilers away.But you will find yourself while watching.It was better to be a 12 eps Drama with a more detailed story and a more satisfactory closure.
There are 2hrs(or less)movies with more substantial plot and character's development.My Name has NONE!Is an action packed series with a very plain revenge story.Neither plot nor characters have any depth!Within 8 hours they could do so many things to enrich this Drama...
Unfortunately the FL is not the heroine for me.I never saw her like this.She was drown into her own revenge.She lost herself in the process.Well she was a lost soul to begin with.She followed blindly Choi Moo Jin,she was manipulated.She should have know better.After all she had a cop's training.Never once sits back to think,search and analyze all the facts.
Side notes: The ending -unlike many-didn't affect me or my overall rating/feelings about this Drama.Made no difference to me,as i wasn't attached to any of the characters.Obviously this isn't good for a Drama.It simply means the viewer was not touched/related and/or sympathized the chars.
As for the romance.Totally unnecessary.Unrealistic.Out of the blue.With no ground at all.I guess the writer already knew herself so she added it only in the last episode!She thought she would add more drama to the Drama!Didn't work for me.
Revenge based on mind games intrigues me more than those based on beating!
Is not the worst.Is not the best.It is only 8 hours.Squeeze it in your schedule or watch it to take a break from your regular dramas/genres.Or don't!!Up to you!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How a messy script can turn into an enjoyable Drama!
-------------------Review from the Heart------------------This was the 4th in a row Drama i watched with Vincent Wong and the 3rd with Owen Cheung!Yes they both have now a new fan!
Oh Gosh!DId i enjoy this??Yes!To the fullest!It was silly good.I got silly addicted.And i had a silly crush on it!
And ofc i use the word silly here with the most adorable way.This it could easily be a "serious" drama with gangs,mafia bosses and undercover cops.But iam glad they chose to make it a great comedy with serious parts instead of the opposite.
From the really inspiring title(a reference obviously to the great actor Al Pacino)to the famous Quotes from different movies,theatrical plays.actors and writes,everything was well chosen.It was the little touch which added alot to this drama.
Music:I was realy confused how to rate this part.Vincent Wong sings the OSTs, as he usually does in almost every drama he stars.The intro song was "cartoonish" silly and funny.It makes you laugh before the episode even starts!(though i couldn't understand a word!)So i thought "ok.Hands down!This is Vincent!"
The chemistry between the 2 Mls was GREAT!That ofc wasn't their first Drama together so you can easily feel this.The Bromance was AMAZING!I will never get tired of watching those two on screen.I will endlessly follow their work!
Their acting was flawless,natural and..bold!--tiny spoiler.they share a kiss scene!---shhhh you didn't hear this from me!
As for the female characters i really liked the Gangster female leader and the older sister of the Chiang Family.
Both well written chars,this is the right way female mafia/gang members should act.Must be cold and make hard and cruel decisionsThe actresses portrayed their chars the best possible way.These 2 chars were the most believable gangsters!Lol.
Rate from the Heart :9,5!
----------------Review from the Head------------------
Be prepared:Bitch mode is now ON
Music: What Music?Well is Vincent but..i didn't like it much,except one song which was really good and emotional.All the rest was just "noise"in my ears.So i gave a generous 7,5!
Production/Direction/Cinematography:Was good at its best.Mostly average.This is just a 2 years old Drama.The Cinematic techniques seemed old-fashioned.The indoors scenes were poorly made.I had the feeling i was watching a telenovela back from 90's!(well i never watched any but anyhow!)Outdoor scenes were much better.Direction gave me awkward vibes.
Acting:Only the above 4 actors stood out for their acting skills.Personally i didn't like any other.
Characters:As i didn't like any other character too.Actually all the rest really got into my nerves!
_The head of the Police and the male detective were okish.Played the bad guys.End of their roles.
_Madame Koo,the female cop.Ughhhh yeah what to say about this char.Stupid,superficial,throwing millions of dollars(daddy's money )like peanuts for the sake of her operation(!!??)No Ma'am!This is NOT the way you do it!The char lacked depth as almost all the female characters in this Drama.(Mr Writer,why???)
_Angel,the actress!Ok one of the most dislikable female chars i have ever watched in a drama.And i will explain why.
This char is an insult to all modern women.Or at least this is how i see it.
Her pursuing towards the ML.Her dirty tricks.Insisting chasing and even blackmailing him to be with her.Not taking a NO for an answer.No is always a No despite the gender.There is always a limit when a woman chases a man.And Angel did everything the wrong way.
I know this is a comedy so i didn't take it too seriously but as a woman i was annoyed.
Story/plot:
This is a comedy drama.Period.You should take it as it is.Do not take it too seriously.After all the drama itself,doesnt so why you should?
Story has many flaws and plot holes.This is one of the most unrealistic scenarios ever!I chose to overlook all of them and that is the reason i really-really liked it and enjoyed it so much!
All the time i was wondering how on earth they were going to wrap all the mess up at the end.Chaos and more chaos episode after episode.I was in a stressful situation!Lol.
Ko Bun was an undercover for 7 freakin years!Seriously what great intell he provided all these years to the Police to have him at this position for so long?And lets say he actually did.We don't see it.Are we suppose to use our imagination here?Again,Mr Writer,why?
Also the main concept of the story lacks depth.Having a civilian as an undercover without any training at all wasn't just risky but too stupid as well.And all this for what?Just solving 3 gang's murders?If that was the case Police should orchestrate undercover operations for every single murder case.I mean c'mon cut us some slack here!
Rate from the Head:7!
All in All.This is not a "watch at your own risk"Drama.Is a "Go watch it.Feel free to have a good laugh with our silly characters doing silly things and taking irrational decisions."
Enjoy it with your heart,not with your head.
At the end the choice is yours and only yours!
Was this review helpful to you?
An Equally good Season 2.Just Loved It!
If you are here reading this then most likely you have already watched Season 1 so you want to know what S2 has to offer!This review and my comments is mostly a comparison to S1, as S2 can't really stand alone.So you better watch the series in the right order.
Let's start!
Music:Intro/Outro.Songs and Visuals.Nothing new.Intro theme is the same(!!)as in S1!I was surprised and impressed in a bad way!Lacked inspiration to compose a new one??I didn't like outro song and any theme in-between.Anyhow as i started S2 right after i finished S1 the intro song was too familiar and i ended to really like it so i wasn't annoyed much.
Production/Direction/Cinematography:In a whole new level compared to S1.Classes higher,aesthetically beautiful visuals.Everything impressed me greatly.Once again the -cliché much?-dancing in the rain scene was beautifully choreographed and i rewatched it several times.
Cast/Acting.Great and natural.The new additions were excellent in their roles too.
Characters:Not much to say about the 3 Musketeers.The "iron triangle"Loved them even more.
In this Season we've been introduced to 2 new characters.Our Ml's old Mentor(Shifu) and his new pupil, trainee.(Eva)
Mainly the 2 rivals of the Team especially in the first part of the Drama.
Both chars are way too controversial.Having their hidden agenda and seems they came to make Team's life harder!Lol.
In every episode both made me have different feelings about them.I strongly loved them.And then i hated them.And then i sympathized them.They had me in cold/hot all the time!
Few more words about Eva:From the moment she first appeared on screen,i didn't like her.I guess i missed the naughty Never,the Judge and i saw Eva as her replacement.Well its hard to let go a lovable character.
She was arrogant,strong-headed and way too competitive.Also i found the flirting approach towards Ml too aggressive.
But ofc this was only her outer layer.Once again the Team has found a valuable friend worthy to replace Never!
Story/Plot: Season 2 follows the exact same pattern as S1.So for someone -like me-who loved Season 1,this wasn't a bad thing.It was a cosy feeling cause i was too familiar.The Team works for the rights of "minorities",taking over difficult cases.In early episodes mostly the 2 new chars are always the opponents in Court.And it was really interesting to see them fight against them.In latter episodes cases became more personal.Intrigues,plots,traps and a few nice turns and twists was the detail which kept me overhooked this Season too!
I didn't expect the way the series ended..It was what we say "an open ending"But after all an open ending is not necessarily a bad ending.
Iam not ready to leave this team.Seriously im gonna miss them so much.Whenever they decide to release another Season(s)...
COUNT ME IN!
Was this review helpful to you?
This Drama deserves more recognition!
Iam very glad lately i find series which end to be little gems.At least to me.Murder Diary is one of them.It is a combination of "Bad and Crazy" + " Two Cops"(Kdramas),with a bit of "Bones"(USA Drama) and a hint of "Danger Zone"(Taiwanese Drama).
Or at least those Dramas came across my mind while watching this.So if you watched any of those too,you could have an idea about Murder Diary as well.
Music:I liked the main OSTs.Both songs has beautiful melodies and lyrics.But thats all about music.Definetely i wanted more themes.
About intro & Outro:
The Intro as visuals was really good although nothing special or new.It is based on the old and good recipe of gathering scenes from the whole drama.
But there is a tiny detail which was an extra bonus to me regarding the professionalism of this production.After the first few episodes the intro has a small change pointing a huge plot twist and revealing a clue.Of course we-viewers-already know the twist by watching the episodes but i liked they changed the intro to match the given clue.I found it really smart and i love this kind of details.
As for the Outro i never paid any attention to it as i always was in a hurry to press the "Next episode" button.I only checked and fully watched it at the last episode for the sake of this review.So the closing music score as well as the visual is equally good to the intro.I pick the virtual library of the outro as one of my bests so far.
Production/Direction:Everything was just fine and smooth.Cinematography is one click better and there are somes scenes which are absolutely amazing.(The dancing scene in library was FA-NTA-STIC!)
Cast:I don't know any of the actors.Actually this was my first Hong Kong Drama so i can't tell .
Acting: But judging from acting all actors were really good indeed.Some roles were very demanding in terms of acting and the actors did a great job!
Characters:All i can say is that this drama has so many and different kinds of chars.The Great Manipulator.The Annoying Type.
Strong and Weak chars.Smart and not so very smart!Brave and Cowards.Psychopaths & Serial Killers.
Choose your type!My favorite was the ML!(There is a bizarre but so sweet and cute quartet too!!)
Story/plot:
I cannot go into a deep analysis without spoiling things.It can't be a full review because i really do not want to give away even the smallest detail.I don't want to ruin the whole fun for you.So i suggest you go fully blind.Slowly learn and explore each and every character.Let the story unfold.Give it time.Sometimes you may feel the story is way too complicated and messy,but actually is not.As in every Drama there are side-stories revolving the main one.All it needs is a bit of patience.It will definitely pay you off eventually!
Everything here has to do with Mental illnesses.What i really liked about this Drama is the fact that they approached the issue with much caution and care.They never overused or abused this sensitive topic.
And although the story is all about mental disorders the Drama itself is not heavy to leave you broken and sad.So we learn things about mental diseases but we can handle it.
Murder Diary is not a Masterpiece with absolute terms but is really close to it.Is a very good Drama with an interesting story and more interesting characters and side chars too.
It really sads me when such dramas stay hidden.Really worth your time.
And iam very greedy.I wish for S2!
Was this review helpful to you?
The Mixed-up Genres here works just fine!
This one has a bit of everything.A sweet love story,good action scenes,crime and investigation and a dose of a melo.Music:Sweet and emotional mostly in the "sensitive" scenes.Good but nothing special!
Production/Direction/cinematography:Good, nothing extraordinary.I wasn't impressed with anything in particular but i wasn't annoyed either.Nothing bad to distruct you.
Cast/acting:Lee Seung Gi & Cha Seung Won never disappoint.This was the first drama i saw both of them in something different.Rest of the cast was good too.Acting on point sometimes a bit stretched but noone was "off" their role.
This is an interesting world because all of us have different opinions.Ive read alot bad comments about this and alot criticism.
I guess many expected this drama to be just comedy or just crime or just romance.I know.Iam this type too.Iam always sceptical with mix-up genres.But with this one i wasn't fooled or deceived.First scene was hilarious.It screamed"Beware,comedy and funny moments ahead!"And indeed was a fun ride.
Iam not the kind of viewer who starts a drama expecting to be perfect.And this one is far from perfection.
The characters have flaws and weaknesses and make irrational decisions in the heat of the moment.
The story is not perfect either.Many flaws.Few unanswered questions.20 hourly episodes was too much.Yes the story was dragged.But surprisingly i wasn't bored.The melo part was sometimes too much for my taste.The amount of crying too!The romance and flirting scenes were teenage-liked and not between 2 adults in their 30's.But i didn't care much!Why?Because this was a drama that made me feel good.I had fun.I enjoyed it.No need to complicate things when something feels right and nice without a reason.
P.s: The cheesy scenes type "you fall,i catch you" always looks better in Bls!
Was this review helpful to you?
A Dark & Beautiful Fairytale for grown-up kids.
I have read the Korean myth about Gumiho/nine tailed fox and i also know there are similar Chinese legends but i have never watched any related drama.This was my first one.At first i hesitated to start this because i thought it has a very heavy romance.
But i finally decided to start it because i missed like crazy my beloved Lee Dong Wook.Extra bonus was ofc Kim Bum!
As always i will start with the technicalities.
Music:Beautiful songs and melodies but way too "soft".I wanted more dramatic and darker themes.I found it rather flat. Even in the suspenseful scenes music was light.
Production/Direction/Editing/Lighting:Nothing to worry you here.Everything was made with the most professionalism.Extra credits to Cinematography.Was absolutely stunning.My eyes were pleased with lively and vivid colors,the blue of the sea,the green of the forest,amazing sceneries,smart use of light and shadows.Everything was out of a fairytale indeed!
Cast: Lee Dong Wook and Kim Bum is always a guarantee for choosing a drama.Of course all the other actors were great at their roles too.I wouldn't change anyone!(slight exception the FL.i will talk later about her)
Acting:Well it gets a 10 for a reason.I rarely cry in Dramas.In this one i did.Alot!Iam biased to Lee Dong,but the shining star here is Kim Bum.
As for Jo Bo Ah i know she is a good actress(i enjoyed her performance in Doberman)but in this one she couldn't deliver the right emotions.I cannot tell what exactly was wrong about her performance,i just felt something was lacking.
Characters:
And i will start with our FL.Nam Ji Ah is a conflicted character to me.The weakest among all.I don't know how the writer decided to write this one. She is the main lead.The whole story was written based on her.She is supposed to be the most interesting character in this drama.But no,she wasn't.Many times she was annyoing and dislikable,too.
And i think the main problem was the character and not the actress or her acting skills.Obviously she just followed the script.
ML,Lee Yeon / Gumiho: He endured all the struggles.He suffered all the pain.He was a-fox-inlove and showed this with his expressions,his body language and all!Waiting for your love for 600 years is a big deal after all!
Lee Rang:I bet everyone's favorite character as he was mine as well!A villain with a bad past.A bad guy.Interesting,emotional and a character with depth.I loved him from start to end.I never blamed him for anything and i always justified all his decisions.I want more characters like this one,please.
Our secondary couple was just amazing too.Their on screen time was more than enjoyable and their chemistry was real.And what i liked the most about them was their loyalty to their "better halves"- the 2 brothers(not in a romantic way ofc.)
Granny:Another interesting character.Many disliked her.I didn't.She was the voice of logic,all the time.Cold and heartless outside.Caring and protective inside.I liked her soft and sensitive side.I also liked her fashion choices!
Grandpa:The poor hubby!He was funny most of the time.He was serious when needed too.A well supporting char.
Imoogi / "Terry":Ohhh!I mean c'mon!Such a sweet and cute kid with a gorgeous face!Why you made him evil?How we suppose to hate him here?Apart the fun and the fact that i was drooling every time he was on screen,i wanted this evil char(as iam a sucker to all evil characters)to be more evilish than that.It lacked depth, his background was more than enough to develop a better char.Wasted potential.
Story/Plot:
Funny moments.Scary moments.Sweet and emotional moments too.The story has it all.But above all has the most amazing brotherhood.
i will start by saying that the two brothers and their relationship carried the whole drama.Stole all the fame.
Followed by the secondary couple and the elders.
The most emotional scenes were always those between the brothers.Their chemistry was insane.I felt they were real blood related.I couldn't stop loving every second they both were on screen.And all the times i cried was because of them and only them!I wish the whole drama was between them!
Story has flaws(especially the Fl's parents part)but i wont stay in these details.Everyone has his own share of tolerance.
I wasn't bothered much to ruin my overall feeling about this drama.
And now is time to talk about the main love story of the series.
I always thought that anyone who co-stars with Lee Dong Wook,would have a great on-screen chemistry with him,by default, just because he is so talented and charismatic!Same applies here.Great chemisry with everyone BUT the FL.
This is a Love Story at its core.But the love part seemed forced and one-sided to me. The FL couldn't follow.I not even once felt she was a woman inlove.The lack of chemistry between them was frustrating.Lee Dong did his very best to deliver all the emotions and to show all the love.As i mentioned before the female char was problematical so the way the writer wanted to express and show her feelings.I cannot find another explanation.
At some point i wasn't interested at all about their love story.It ended to be a sub-part of the main story.Just a necessary wheel for the car to move on.But not the engine.
The intimate and kiss scenes were beautiful aesthetically.But i wanted MORE passion!
Overall it was a geat series with exceptional actors and performances,a nice and a bittersweet story and with amazing visuals(including the outstanding beauty mostly of the male actors,lol)
Is an excellent choice for those who are not famiiar with the Gumiho legend too(as i was before this one)
So,yes,i recommend it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is a 10 but i gave a 9 !
If after finishing a drama you feel the need to share your thoughts and write a review,this means the drama was really good or really bad.So you want either to encourage people watch it or prevent them and save their time.Koreans never fail to surprise me.Once again i didn't say i wasted my time.
I didn't pay too much attention when this released. I had seen the title but wasn't interested enough to search it further.My bad!Big mistake.I started this right after i finished "Insider" Two revenge dramas back-to-back.I thought it would be too much but i was wrong.
I will summirize the basics briefly.
Music:i was hooked by all OSTs(i think there are 5 songs in total)Beautiful songs,catchy, perfect both intro & outro.In the future when ill listen any of the main Osts i will definitely remember it was from Military Prosecutor Doberman.I also liked that half of the lyrics are in English so finally i could understand what i was listening!
Production/Direction /Cinematography:A+++.Excellent.I didn't expect less to be honest.Especially i liked some direction tricks.I found very smart the presentation of the flash-backs as "live" scenes,passing infront of characters eyes.
Nothing was cheap,all at top level.
Cast:Judging by the result, everyone was chosen perfectly.Especially the Villains.
Acting: Superb!Natural.Dynamic.Passionate.Every performance was great.The one who really stood out for me though was Kim Woo Seok with his stellar acting.(because his character was really outstanding here,ill talk later about this)
Characters :
Do Bae Man,our ML: A dis-likeable character.Yes this is not a typo.In early episodes he is despicable,greedy,with no ethics.No respect to his job(he is a Military Prosecutor)He does all for money.He crosses all the -moral-lines.Actually i almost hated him.
BUT..here we have one of the most interesting and substantial character's development.From a total asshole,cocky and arrogant man to a kind,compassionate and righteous human being.An 180 degree turn.
Cha Woo In,our FL:A badass,strong,cold, smart, determined to take her revenge at any cost.Finally a well-written female char who doesn't play the sweet and innocent Dame.She is a badass with a cause!She is not just a beautiful face.The minus is there is no depth in this char.What you see is what you get!
Noh Hwa Young,our Female Villain:A psychopath.A true monster.A career woman who stepped over bodies to climb the hierarchy.A "mother" who doesn't deserve this sacred title.Cold as steel.Manipuative.Abusive.Murderer.A nightmare character,one of the most interesting villains ive ever seen in a Kdrama.And the actress deliverd all!
Noh Tae Nam,our Main Male Villain:What words should i find to praise the writer for this char!As i mentioned above,an outstanding character.In this drama i chose him as my favorite one.Yes i know he is the bad guy.He is evil,more than bad.But i loved him the most.
A rich-spoiled brat who thinks he can buy everything with money,including people.You can't help but hate him.Curse him.Wish him to die an agony death!Want him to pay for all his sins.But as the story goes,i ended from hating this char to loving him more and more.It wasn't forced or rushed.It was a smooth ride.The second best character development ever and what a treat!In the same drama!Thank you Mr writer!
His road to Redemption wasn't easy.Noone is born good or evil,Circumstances,environment and life itself drives us to make right or wrong choices.What matters is to acknowledge all the wrongs we did and try not to make the same mistakes.
He is such a sad and broken soul.His past is dark full of pain.His whole life is under his mother's manipulation.He was mentally and physically abused by her.This of course does not justify his evil deeds.But he worked with his inner self and tried to be a better person.Iam sorry for the mild spoilers here but i really loved this char so i want you at least not to hate him!
Closing with characters i have to mention the 4th Infantry Div. law Officers.The supporting chars who works with our main leads.One of the reasons i gave a 9 and not a 10.I didn't like any of them.(and i loved them all at the same time!i will explain in story)Simple because i found them just caricatures.And i was annoyed.A lot!
Story/plot: the second reason Doberman didn't get my perfect 10.No,let me say.I loved the story.I did.But i will be completely honest here.With this drama i felt i have a split personality!My half self wanted to give this an 8.My other half was shouting this is a perfect 10.Well thats why i gave a 9,somewhere in the middle!Why?Because....
This is a very heavy Revenge drama.To be more accurate the reasons behind our Ml's revenge are heavy and strong.The drama is also dealing with some really heavy issues like rape,abuse,bullying, Ptsd etc.So what i didn't like or what i really wanted was the story to has a more clean line.What i mean by this?It was like i was watching 2 different dramas in 2 different screens at the same time.The comedy element plus the comical characters-the caricatures i mentioned-was too much.Found all this out of place.Ruined the "serious" part of the story.Of course some funny and cute moments are always necessary in a drama.Can't be all the time in a dark mode.But the use of comedy wasn't suitable here.Is different to have some funny moments now and then so for the story not to be so heavy but still this mix-up was annoying to me and for my taste.
Ofc i laughed alot with the funny scenes and the "caricatures"were all excellent but i felt "guilty" Like the fun part was my "guilty pleasure"You know what i mean,right?
Continue with the story,there is a flair between our Mls since they first met.But both were focused on their revenge.They have some sweet and cute moments and all the time story immplies there is going to be a future romance.And yes indeed will be.But we don't see it.This side note is for the romance lovers.Don't have your hopes high.No kisses here!
Oh dont forget to say another thing i loved.Extra bonus:I had my fair dose of Kang Young Seok! ("blondie" from Insider.Yayyyy!)
So this is a Revenge drama with many funny moments.If you don't mind this,go watch it.Is really good!
Was this review helpful to you?
Oldie but Goodie!
I loved and hated this one at the same time.So let's see the pros and cons.
Music: A perfect 10!A variety of music themes and songs.You never get bored.From the sweetest melody 🎶 in the romantic scenes to the beating tunes in kick-ass scenes, reflected every emotion so perfectly.
Production:
I started this not having my hopes high regarding the whole production,because i knew it was an old one.
So yes,this is old.And it looks old.But definitely is not bad.Their budget was pretty high considering alot of scenes were filmed abroad,Hungury and Japan.
I cannot judge /rate based on today's standards.But anyhow i find it in a very good level.I guess back then was excellent.
Cinematography:I liked it.Loved the sceneries.The hot springs/snowy scenery was absolutely beautiful.Also all scenes in Hungury.
Direction; One of the biggest issues here.Though iam not sure if it is 100% director's fault, as i don't have the right knowledge.
So my problem was the alteration /swapping of the camera.It was way too fast,made me really dizzy.Jumping from one scene to another faster than normal was annoying and tiring.But i had to suck it and eventually get used to it as the whole show goes this way!Maybe was under director's guidance,or it was cinematographer's fetish or just editor's fault!I don't care!I have to blame someone here,Lol!
Cast:I loved Lee Byung Hun.He was perfect for the role.I liked the rest of the cast except Kim Tae Hee.That was my first time see her in a drama but i have my reservations if i will watch any other with her starring in.
Acting: Again same as cast i liked everyone's acting except our MFL's.
The second issue for me in this drama.
In my humble opinion what makes an actor good, is his ability to use his body,facial expressions,moves and gestures to deliver emotions to the viewers.
I found no flexibility in her acting.She was rather stiff.But what annoyed me the most was her facial expressions.Or better say the non-existence of any facial expression!All the time no matter what scene she plays,her face has the exact same look.
She laughs..she cries..she loves..she hates..she is mad..she is happy..I don't know!I can't tell!I can't see any difference.
This character had all the potentials to express so many feelings but Alas!
Characters:
I will not analyze that much the chars as i usually do in my reviews.I didn't see any depth to give me many reasons to dip in the characters.
Good written but way too simple and plain.If i had to choose my favorite char tho,it would be definetely the second FL.The North Korean Agent.
She is the only character that we can see both sides of her-in depth, not just superficial -As an Agent she is strong,cold,lethal and a badass.But shes also a woman inlove.There is a sensitive side too.The actress managed to balance these 2 sides perfectly.
This char is the most complex one among all the others.Or maybe the only one.
She falls for the ML and although she knows she has no chance.alhough she is a scorned woman,she kept her dignity and pride.
She never pulled any cheap tricks on him.
Story/Plot :
I will start with the easy and light stuff and will continue with the most complicated parts.
My 2 favorite scenes/moments of the entire drama was 2nd Fl's confession to ML-a very powerful scene-and their good-bye scene.This one got me really hard.Damn brought tears in my eyes(and i asure you im not the sensitive type!)Of course no need to mention that i was rooting for then so hard but oh well Love is always Blind!
And here is a question to all the writers.Why the heck you are not more bold?You-writers-are thinking and writing the biggest and most wow plot twists,but when it comes to love,the romantic part of the story,you are cowards!!!
Just for a change,once surprise 😲 us and give the "bad" girl to the "good" guy and the opposite.
Villains deserves their Happy Endings too!(Stolen from O.U.A.T.wink 😉 wink 😜 )
Another question:Why on earth back then Kdramas had nice and real kissing scenes and today they barely touch their lips?Why????Grrrrrr!
Let's move on with the serious parts now:
This is a full packed action drama.It could easily be a scenario for the next MI movie...
Spies,conspiracies,politics,good guys chasing the bad guys and a romance to tie all.
The main frame is EXCELLENT!(for the genre of course)
It would be a perfect 10 if it was a 2hrs movie.But is a series with 20 episodesx1 hour each.So it can't be a perfect 10 because there are issues.It has flaws--alot!-It has plot-holes(Many!!!)
The most exciting part was that every single episode always ended with a cliffhanger!Good thing this is an old drama so you can binge-watch it.
The pace is fast.You have to catch up with everything, fast too!The story is speeding like a race so you have to follow.
My mistake,especially in the early episodes,was that i paid too much attention to the details.Another issue of the drama.The details are problematical.You have to pass and take it as it is,otherwise it could be really confusing and you will miss the whole fun.An example:Our main lead many times is on the edge of been killed,captured,revealed..Deus ex machina save him all the time!But ok!Iam sure just can't apply in real life,but oh well who cares?This is fictional.I just mention this for those who are really bothered from some unrealistic scenarios.Iam telling you to skip or overlook some details.Thats why i said this was my mistake.Because mostly at the beginning,i didn't pass them.I was pausing the episodes to google for historical events and facts and other infos too, because the plot(the little details)bothered me.(I even remember me searching for Muzzle velocity!!Seriously how f**up i was?Lmao!there is a scene the bad guy shoots inside a running car to another running car..Yeah don't mind!just suck it!)So this way i kept distructing myself overanalyzing things.In latter episodes i decided to stop doing this and just sit and enjoy the show.
I gave a total 8 because i really enjoyed it but i wanted to be as much objective as i could too.
There is a S2 and i will definetely watch it as the story in S1 is actually incomplete and i want to know the end of it!
Was this review helpful to you?
So many reasons to watch this!
Production Characters Chemistry Story Actors...I don't know where to start!Ok let's put things in order.
Music:You will fall for all the music themes.OSTs and every piece is just beautiful.I loved how they used different outros/closing music scores depending on the mood and ending of each episode.I have never seen that in any other drama.If the episode ended with a funny tone, the music was playful and funny.If the last scene was sad and dramatic,music followed the same mood.Smart!Bravo!
Production/Cinematography/Directing:High class!You can see and feel the quality here.From props to costumes and not forget to mention the fancy luxury cars(Mercedes-Benz was one of the sponsors)everything screamed they didn't spare the budget!
Cast/Acting:One word.EXCELLENT!Not one single misfit here.Tailor-made roles for all the actors.Main and supporting.
Joo Ji Hoon & Kim Hye Soo!Producers couldn't find a better match!
I read somewhere that the age gap between the 2 actors was shameful!Seriously?Just ridiculous.I couldn't stop laughing!If there are any other actors out there who can deliver passion-at any form-as those two did,i wouldn't give a F*** if their age difference was over 20 years or so!This is Act and Art.Sorry for the kinda irrelative comment but i had to get it out of my chest.
I want to make a special reference to Lee Kyung Young.He is my ultimate Villain(at least in every drama ive seen him he is always the bad guy)
He is so experienced.A true Veteran.This man CAN act.No shit here.And i think he must be the most busy actor in Korea.He is starring in almost every drama ive watched!
Of course the rest fo the cast did an amazing job so Cudos to all.
Story/Plot: This is not a heavy Law Drama.There are not many court scenes and the law cases our lawyers dealing with,are simple and easy to follow.So if you are looking for a serious Law & Crime Drama,this is not the case.Without this meaning the story is not interesting.Is all about the dirty world of Big Law Firms but above all the story is mostly centered in to our two main leads and their entourage.
It is not the typical rom-com either(yeahhh to this,i can't stand cheesy stories)Is a Cat-Mouse game especially in early episodes.Or better say a Hyena-Mouse game.The plots..the traps..whos gonna have the upper hand.Whos gonna win the case.
As i said the story is not something new but our main leads clicked so perfectly and they both brought freshness to this drama.You can't help it but continue watching.
Characters:The main reason this series is a super hit to me(combined with the actors who played those chars ofc!)
The FL.The Hyena:She devours everyone near her.She is manipulative,opportunist,smart,cold-hearted,competitive,stubborn,strong and a badass.In one word she is a total Bitch!Bingo!
What?You don't like this kind of woman?Too bad.She ain't get any better but i kept loving her episode after episode.She never claimed to be a Saint either way.
In the strict lines of ethics and morals our FL is a villain.She is evil too.But life is never black and white.And here we have way more than 50 shades of grey.This is a harsh world and if anyone thinks that everyone walks with a cross in his hands..Sorry to burst the bubble..
What iam saying here is that the writer didn't create a "Barbie" character,soft and sweet.Our FL doesn't wear a crown a gown and her hair is not a doll's style!Well talking about hair and clothes..Ehmmm.Her fashion choices least to say are weird!
She has her own unique style.Love it or hate it!As for the hair many will disagree with me but i loved it.That short haircut just made her look more badass and dynamic.Suited her personality!(i have my hair that short for the last 20 years!)
I can continue and praise this char forever so lets go to..
The ML:A true gentleman.The softy one.He seems cocky and arrogant and he is too,sometimes.He is also smart.witty,kind-hearted funny and super sexy!
Although the first impression is that he does all for power and money,deep down he has ethics and conscience.He rights all the wrongs he had to do.
Our Hyena hurts him constantly,she uses harsh words on him,she raises her walls higher and higher.
And he is always there by her side.A man inlove,ready to comfort her.To be her warm blanket at any time.He just needs to give him a chance.He falls for her so hard.He threw himself in the deepest pit.Totally bewitched by her.
"My heart is mine to handle.If you need to,use me"His words.The ultimate love-line.How on earth you can't fall for this man?Lol!
Hyena's Assistant:Funny loyal quirky low profile and too talkative!The best supplemental character to our Hyena.
Ml's Assistant:Funny and sweet, a good friend too.Another supportive char who fits great in the story.
Mr Song:As i mentioned the ultimate Villain.His schemes are at another level.Equally smart to our main leads,the best opponent to match them.
And last but surely not least, i must talk about...
THE CHEMISTRY!
If wasn't rude id love to use caps to describe how i felt about our couple's chemistry.
To say that their chemistry is off the charts is just an understatement!The tension between them is unbelievable.Out of this world!Not only the sexual tension,but there is fire every time they argue,fight or just talk to each other.Not sparks.FIRE!
I don't think i have ever experienced this in any other drama(Im not talking about partners/colleagues and/ or teams but between lovers!)
My only complain abut this drama is that i really wanted more intimacy scenes and ofc moreeeeeeeee kisses!I mean i felt the electricity with just one kiss.I can't imagine how hotter this show could be if Koreans are not that stingy!Lol!
(seriously that kiss scene is for seminars.The most passionate kiss,turns your face red!)
Was this review helpful to you?
I want more!
Choose this one for 12 hours full of funny moments,good kick-ass fighting scenes,great chemistry among all the characters and the most appealing crime cases.I started this right after i finished "Cheat on me if you can"I guess i was in the same mood to watch something similar and Bulldog gave me the exact same vibes.
Let's start with what i didn't like so much.
Music:Was catchy and good especially in the fight scenes but too "loud" for my taste.I didn't like the OST too.
Production/direction/cinematography:
This drama is from 2020 but to be honest the whole production looked older.Of course 2 years is not an issue but felt like it was made back in 2010.I don't know if it was the use of the camera or the direction.The cinematography ruined it alot to me(lately i pay too much attention at this part while watching series)
There was something wrong with the color palette.Too...brownish maybe?Colors were dull no vivid at alI.I don't know but it wasn't pleasant to the eye.Also most of the time scenes were too dark i used more eye drops than the FL!Visuals weren't that good and felt boring.
The neutrals:
Cast/acting:My only objection was the choice of the FL.I liked all the other actors,they fitted their roles the best.
Acting was good but not crazy good.I felt something was missing.Like they all could give a little more but were holding back.(if this makes sense)
Characters:
The Producer:I was annoyed by this char.Her obsession with her show rates was too much and i find she lacked professionalism.She was loud and noisy too.She made wrong and irrational decisions.(to capture a serial killer and hid him from police just to have footage for her show just wasn't right)
The Detective:Dedicated and "With a passion for solving the unsolvable cases" as the synopsis says.Good character but not super wow!
All those i really loved!
Characters:
The ex profiler/scheme guy.Smart and funny i enjoyed every scene he was on.
The ex NFS/mortician:ok i love this actor what more to say.Any character he plays he nails it.He gives life even to the most boring char.hands-down.
Teddy,the ex gangster and his Red zone team!
I absolute loved those 2 crazy dudes and the crazier gal!They were the highlight of the entire show.
Story:The story was a typical collaboration of different and contrary characters on solving cases.
BUT!what really makes the story extraordinary is that the crime cases were freakin good and so much more.
Unique,interesting,with twists,with depth.I haven't watched for a while so good written crime cases,seriously.And i watch a lot of this genre!
I want a full series with 50 episodes having such incredible cases to be solved!Writers out there please write similar scripts for an addict to mysteries like me!
The only thing i didn't like about the story was the unanswered questions about the Detective's dad and his past.
Go watch this is just 12 hours,you will have fun,trust me!
Was this review helpful to you?
Is all about the journey,not the destination.
Alternative title:a hot mess that i loved!Yes sometimes the story was all over the place.But please don't be discouraged and continue reading!The basics.
Production/direction:Nothing bad to say here.I think that in a Kdrama no matter how high or low the budget is,the final outcome most of the times is at top level just because of Korean's professionalism.And no,this is not a low budget.
Direction and cinematography follows the basic rules to give a pleasant outcome.No funny and awkward camera use.Nothing extraordinary either!
Cast/acting: I loved Go Jun in The Fiery Priest and he didn't disappointed me here too.
I always like Jung Sang Hoon & Lee Si Eon's acting so i guess i played safe.
As for Cho Yeo Jung,this is my first time see her acting and she did a great job!
Music:Playful and funny.Suspenseful and dramatic.Just on spot when needed.The music carpet was such a delight in my ears.From the second i heard the main OST i got addicted.I paused the episode and searched it in youtube.Since then O.V.E.R-i'm never gonna love again-is my latest obsession!
Story/plot:I chose this drama because the first tag was Thriller and the 2nd Mystery.I had no idea what to expect though.The story although is sprinkled all over with the comedy element and i was surprised.Usually i do not like the mixed genres so much.When i want to watch a crime thriler i want this and nothing else.But here those genres combined so beautifully,it was delightful.And to be honest i found myself looking forward for the funny moments instead of the serious mystery parts.Normally i would have been upseted,lol,but i enjoyed this, way more than i expected.Story itself is about a murder and an affair.Is definetely a very slow-burn mystery drama without this meaning the pace was slow.Don't expect clues,investigation,suspects and all the things a good crime has, to be unfolded and revealed here easily and fast.No.For me the story focuses on characters mostly rather than the storyline.And that is the reason i gave story an 8.Its not complicated nor deep.Is a common and not so intriguing story but yet i had so much fun waching it.The reason we watch dramas is mostly to entertain ourselves and yes those 16 hours i spent worth it from the begining til the end.Dive into this withought having high hopes about the plot.There are holes as some boring parts too.I told you.Is all about the journey not the destination.
Characters:
The Wife: As an old joke goes "there is Father in-law.Mother in-law.Son in-law.But there is no wife in-law.Why?Because wife IS THE LAW!"
She is:Manipulative.Genius.Psychotic.Jealous.Scary.Crazy.Suspicious.Cold-hearted.
All of the above.None of the above.Judge by yourself!
Kang Yeo Joo is like an onion.She has so many layers.She can easily make you cry and shit your pants too because most of the time she is scary!The scenes that she is searching her husband's briefcase,smelling his clothes and his stuff was funny-as visual-annoying-as morals-and essential to understand and go deeper to her personality and her life experiences.
I was laughing every time she could sense every smell and give a precise description.I have a sensitive nose too so i could relate.Her char is not as superficial as it may seems.Just a jealous wife searching her cheater husband.No is more than this at the end.Most of all i loved her poker face!She smiles for a split of a second and then she freezes!And she is a woman inlove!
Wife's Assistant:Well to be honest even now after finishing the drama still i do not fully comprehend his part in the development of the story..But he is sooooooo yummy and hot so definetely iam not complaining here.Even if his role was a muted gardener i wouldn't mind!(and that umbrella scene!Oh!!!)
The Husband:He is a cheater.That is a given.He is the most adorable cheater ever.I wanted to hate him but i couldn't.A piece of advice.Don't judge him too soon.
Cheating is a bad bad thing.And this character will always be remembered as a cheater.
But he is always thinking about his wife.All day every day.Out of fear?Out of love?Anyhow for any reason still he doesn't want to hurt her.Unfortunately we don't get to know any other aspect of him.I loved his inner monologues.Were hilarious!He is sweet and funny and totally under his wife's manipulation.He is like a scared puppy,his reactions are priceless!Poor him he is living in a constant fear.Every day she threatens him that if he cheats on her she will poison shoot stab and murder him with so many different methods!And all these in a funny yet serious tone!He laughs at her threats but deep down he is scared to death!
Husband's Assistant:Ok he is my total Bias here.He is hilarious.His facial expressions,the way he talks,how he covers all up for his friend!Precious!He carries the half fun of this show.
The uni student.The most annoying and unnecessary character in this drama(to me at least).Yes she has a troubled and dark past.She has some character development too.But i guess she was the writer's niece so he wrote a role for her(bad joke,sorry!)
The dedective Duo:Great chemistry and funny moments when both were on screen.Played their role for the story to go on.Loved both.
The fact that iam writing and analyzing almost every character i guess means a lot.So after finishing this drama iam telling you if you decide to watch it go open-minded.Do not stick to the crime/mystery genre.Dive in thinking is a good comedy with a twist of mystery and enjoy it for as it is!
Was this review helpful to you?
A thrilling watch for its genre.
I had this on hold for over 3 months.I decided to continue and finish it and it was a really nice choice.So my thoughts about it.
Music: Good but not that good to stay inside my head.
Cast/acting :Except Yoo Jae Myung(the detective) and Yoon Gyung Ho(the psycho prison guard) i haven't watched the rest of the cast in any other drama.But i think the director or whoever chose them for their roles made the right choice.
The acting as expected was flawless,real and natural.Everything was smooth and in the right dose.
Characters:Usually in dramas i pick my favorite character and after finish it i think about him/her over and over again.What made me choose him,which criteria etc etc.But in this one i have no favorite character.Or to put it right i wasn't excited at any char in particular.Noone stood out to make me say "wow,this is a really interesing character" Iam not saying chars were bad written.But they lack that little something to make them really exciting and memorable.The spark to ignite the absolute fav char wasn't there. I will explain it better when i talk about the plot.
Story/plot :Touches the perfect 10.So very close.9,5 is not bad after all!
So the story is based on-what else!-Corruption!Always here as in most Kdramas.But in this one although is the unifying element,lays in the background supporting the main story and gives depth and essence to it.
So this series is all about a story to be told.All characters combined to tell us the story.They just serve the storyline itself.Their chemistry was there all the time.What i liked the most was the dynamic of the team.Everyone's fate was connected to each other's.Characters connection and involvement is given in a very clever way keeping our interest high.So many tangled threads.So many random dots waiting to be connected episode after episode.The story is interesting,painful and thrilling.Every episode give us a little something,keep feeding our heads with crumbs just enough to keep us busy thinking ,until the next one.
This is called "a job done right" to me.
The writer really loved to torture our main lead by giving him so much pain he had to go through!The pace is really nice.I wasn't bored at all and this is always a plus to me.Of course the drama has few flaws too.Sometimes too obvious and some others a bit annoying..Like the ML touches everything in a crime scene without gloves!Or forgets his phone at the most crucial and important moments!Lol.But this is just minor!
As a whole the story is captivating and you easily pass those little mistakes because the drama is really enjoyable.
I loved how the puzzle pieces fell on the table slowly forming the bigger picture.They didn't rush revealing clues,they gave us the time to do our own thinking about the plot.I really appreciated this.
If i could combine Stranger and this one(i mention stranger cause is in the same category with similar plot)it would be a perfect 10!What i didn't like there,liked here and Vice Versa.Obviously i recommend both dramas if you are into the genre.
And finally i give the rewatch value a 5 because usually i do not watch dramas for a second time unless is light and fluffy(like BLs for example)
P.s i dont spoil things in my reviews or at least i try not to.So if you like corruprion.crime investigation.law themes etc this drama is a really nice choice for you too.
Good night all!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I Tried Really Hard To Like It!
First of all.I put the Spoiler Tag but don't be afraid.Iam not giving away any important detail.Just my thoughts about some scenes,which were way too absurd and nonsensical,in a very vague way.Do i recommend this Drama?
Short answer is NO.Absolutely NOT!
As for the long answer..Well keep reading.
What i liked:
Good Production quality,nice Cinematography and beautiful Osts.I really loved both intro & outro songs(hence my 9 stars)
Yes,iam done with the good part.
Let's move on.
After watching the first episode i was already conflicted about the drama.I should have known better.The first impression is always important!
Cast/Acting:
Oh my!Where do i start..
Half of the actors were seriously miscasted.And few of them really do not deserve so bad written roles.
I made a short comment in the feeds, few days ago,after watching the 1st ep.I copy/paste :
"Iam not familiar with the 2 male leads but the rest of the cast is Top so i guess it won't be any issue regarding Acting."
Iam taking all back...Better chew than talk,maybe?lol
When i saw Jung Sang-hoon was one of the mains i was so happy because he is one of my biases.And to be honest he was one of the reasons i started it in first place.
I loved every role he played.Ive enjoyed his acting every single time.Here ,it was a pain to watch.
I don't know if the actors had full liberty to act as they pleased or were under director's full and strict guidelines.
Either way,acting was mediocre at best and bad most of the times.
The Drama is full of(wannabe)emotional moments and the actors were supposed to convey all those emotions through their lines,their expressions,body language etc.This is what an actor does,right?Well i assure you i can show more genuine emotions and shed some real tears better than them.Harsh comment but true.
And i do know they are good actors as ive seen them in other dramas.I know they have talent.Here i cannot put my finger on what was wrong.I guess is a combination of bad direction and bad writing.
Characters:
Half of the characters were portrayed like clowns.Too many annoying and silly chars,most of them added nothing to the story.Like seriously,apart the 6 mains who were the base of the story,the rest were decorative.
Also towards the end a new character was thrown out of the blue.I wish i could open writers heads to see what the heck they were thinking.
The only mature and really likeable was the little brother.And guess what!He had the least screen time!Go figure!
Story:
The main idea was excellent.The story was interesting.And yes,the cliché conclusion is that the execution was bad.Bad,, bad REALLY BAD!
The story is like scattered pieces picked periodically by the leads during the drama and then they acted like had no idea about what to do with these pieces or totally forgot them.
And here is the main reason iam too bitchy and nagging so much about this series!
Genres: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Drama..
A crime/mystery drama having more silly moments than a verified Comedy,is too much to take.Its something i can't easily digest.Iam not talking about the necessary scenes with a comical touch to relief any tension.Iam talking about those over the top ridiculous moments to make you shake your head and pull your hair too.
I had so many "WTF" while watching..
Please tell me who nowadays finds a fart scene funny??Seriously is there anyone?
Also the amount of stupid decisions made by almost every character,is ridiculously high.
Not to mention the usual incompetence of the police force,including our main detective lead.
Who,under certain circumstances was in a bad shape,but still after finding a very important physical evidence,he just safekeeping it for a year and after he has a delayed... epiphany and thought to search it further.My poor walls had to put up with me and my screams!
I hate(well, not like)Romance but most of all i hate forced romance.No chemistry whatsoever between the leads.And also be careful who you ship with whom..
Again one of those unnecessary romantic plots for the sake of having a non-tagged romance.I can't.
A mild and so-called spoiler:
One of the biggest "WTF" was the scene where inside the interrogation room,a prosecutor gives to a murderer a knife and a fork to enjoy his steak.Oh!the murderer is without handcuffs too!Bravo!Such a smart move!
I can continue and write so much more but i don't want to spoil the fun for you.Lol!
Iam sorry i may sound bitchy and rude but this is not inspiring or creative writing.Its just..sloppy.
When the writers themselves dont have a clear path about their story how do they expect the viewers to like and support it?
I couldn't.
Suggested overall: 5.5 Iam a big heart!Im giving this a 6!
Seriously i must find the courage and start dropping dramas because i can't continue like this!
Was this review helpful to you?
Excellent choice for the Zombie Lovers!
When i woke up today i didn't expect to spend my Sunday watching a zombie drama.Let's start by saying i HATE zombies!I rarely watch this kind of movies and i have never ever watched a zombie related series in my entire life!This was my very first attempt and i started it out of pure curiosity,as the hype of this drama is skyrocketing.
As you can see i dropped it after episode 4 but still i wanted to write a review about it and ill explain why.
First i have to say that Koreans know how to create really good dramas.It doesn't matter whether you are into the genre or not.You have to appreciate the good work and thats why iam here writing this.
Music:The biggest flaw of this drama.They put so much effort to everything,every single detail,so why they had to mess up with music?Such an important factor!Music theme was just a very poor choice.I expected to be more thrilling and powerful as many scenes carried "big" emotions.Anyways a generous 5 from me.Such a pity,though.
Cast/acting:Not familiar with Joo Ji Hoon.(i will start Hyena after i finish this review so i will form a better opinion about his acting) but still i didn't find him bad here.
I already knew more or less the rest of the cast so overall the acting was good from everyone.
Production/direction/cinematography:Iam speachless!Visual & Sound effects. Those cracks when the zombies awakes!Creepy!Cudos to the make-up artists too.Those corpses/zombies!Just wow really nice work there.
What stole my heart was the scenery.Brilliant!I wanted to enter the screen and be there!Everything was so beautiful.
Story:I will not stay here as obviously i wasn't interested in it.All has to do with zombies so at the end i pass.
Epilogue:Ok,i fed my curiosity.Zombie series is not for me.Definetely NOT!
But if you like the genre this drama is an excellent choice for you.
Is just me not into this.That simple.For you may be a perfect 10.
I gave a total 8 though,because it would be unfair to rate this lower.From the begining i knew i don't like the genre i guess i was just testing myself to see how far i could go with this.But this is my personal taste and it doesn't mean this drama itself is bad.On the contrary!
So my 8 goes mostly for the cinematography and because i didn't want to drop the overall rating.(i mean rating from all the other users)
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Everything,almost,in the right dose.
We all know the majority of the BLs has the curse of same old clichés & tropes.Bed Friend is not the exception.No originality or uniqueness.As a whole is nothing extraordinary,special or memorable.But if you break it into smaller parts you will find heartwarming and sweet moments,raw feelings and emotions and great messages.The trope "friends with benefits"is done so right here,unlike some others(cough -Fahlanruk-cough!)
Production is good.Cinematography is beautiful,with some really artistic scenes which added alot.
I really liked the Osts and all music scores,and this was a plus to me as iam not a fan of Thai soundtracks.
Direction was almost perfect.I give extra credits to it because masterfully managed to cover the average/rookie acting,giving the impression of more solid performances.
I know many complained about the long stares and pauses.At first i was annoyed too.But i thought this might be one of the director's tricks to allow his actors to focus more and build their emotions easily.I mean if i was a rookie actor this definitely would work for me.Ofc iam not an actor and i just say BS!
So in terms of acting,Net(King char)was way better than his co-starJames(Uea char)
His performance was natural,his body language conveyed his emotions in many scenes too.
On the other hand,James was perfect for this role mostly because of his physiques.Cute,fragile and let me add feminine too.
(The only alternative i could think was Saint.)
But as the character of Uea was more demanding than King's,James couldn't really support this role as his performance was weak.
He had to portray the victim of sexual assault,domestic violence and harassment in work place.The role was too heavy for his shoulders.
But iam not really complaining and i gave 7,5 stars(above my average rating)because i felt all their hard work and dedication.I do believe those 2 actors have great potentials and and if they pair them in future projects,will definitely improve their acting skills.
And although here,acting is not the best,the chemistry between them is really good.Many-many sparks and iam waiting for the future fire!
The story touches many topics.As i mentioned above the main lead (Uea)has to deal with his many traumas.The one which scarred him the most was ofc the sexual assault by his step-dad.I liked the "talk" about it and how he asked help from a professional psychiatrist to deal with all his issues,the medication he had to take etc.I liked the fact that they didn't present it as a taboo.
The story doesn't really go deep into those issues(to make the drama more melodramatic)neither was superficial (to take those issues in a light or funny way)
As i wrote in the title everything was in the right dose.
Special mention to the educational speech King gave to Uea about health-check,safe sex,condoms and protection.
In my opinion,in every BL or any Drama related to sex,has to have such mentions,openly.
Another plus was the rules setting about their FWB relationship.This is the healthy way to play this kind of games.
Though the rule Uea established (you are not allowed to see anyone else but me)cannot really apply to FWB,Lmao.
But it was a nice detail to show us the "real"King and his true colors and feeling towards Uea.He agreed to it simply because he had already fallen for him and he was heads over heels.
King is such a sweetheart and too softie for a player/casanova.Lol.Sweet caring and protective.
Uea when he is not acting bitchy,he is such a tease!
Their little cosplay (mewao!)was adorable!I know it meant to be sexy,and actually it was for many(not me but still i liked it!)
And here i have to comment about the amount of the hot/sexy/spicy moments this series gave us.It was a pleasant surprise because in every single episode they gave us some juicy scenes,and lets admit it,they are never enough.
In many BLs we have to wait for many episodes to have a kiss or a sex scene.In bed Friend we have in every episode BUT all those scenes always left us craving for more.We have a saying here in Greece.They gave us those scenes with a dropper!
All seemed short and incomplete but i never complained about.
I gave a total 8 because of the small details which made this drama interesting,because of the smart direction and mostly because of the effort behind this project.
Do not judge it harshly,give it a chance and iam sure you are gonna like it!
Was this review helpful to you?
