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I took away some points because the sound quality is really quite terrible. I stopped watching 5 episodes in for a while because I was too used to higher production sound and stuff. But it got better later on (or I got used to it?) and then I was so hooked I didn't care!
All the characters were represented brilliantly, and even the side plots are interesting and engaging. The acting is brilliant!
If you have reservations, just watch it. You have to be patient because it seems like Zhi Shu is so mean and heartless, but you come to realize that it's a huge challenge for him to show a lot of emotion. But the heroine changes him for the better, and by the very last episode of season two, you will fully appreciate all the nuances that make them the perfect couple!
I usually like protective heroes who would go out of their way for the heroine. But even with that preference, this is STILL one of my favorite stories of all time. It's so different from most romances, and the main characters have unique challenges to overcome.
I also adore how it follows their married life as well as their "dating" (a loose term considering how unique their love is). As a married woman, I've always thought that romance in marriage is just as intricate and heart-fluttering as before it, and I wish it got more attention!
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I HATE sad endings. Hate them. If I catch a whiff of an unhappy or uncertain ending, I drop a drama or movie like a hot potato.
With this one, I didn't even care. No, it's not a "happy ending," but it's not totally depressing, either.
This is the best zombie movie I've ever seen, and I watch a lot of Walking Dead and have loved World War Z for a long time. This tops it.
Watch it.
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Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Feels Factor: 7/10
Wait, before we start we all need to take a second to appreciate how funny it was when they said "City Hunter." In the Korean language, they have a hard time getting that hard "s" out there, so the "s" in "city" came out sounding like a "sh" sound. Say it to yourself. Okay, good, I got that out of my system. It was funny.
Moving past that, this drama was great, everyone! Action, suspense, romance, facemasks...
Where do Korean up-to-no-good-ers find these things? Anyway, besides Lee Min Ho looking great in a mask, this drama had a lot of high points for me. Here's the good and the bad.
The Bad: I am a sappy romance kind of person, and while this drama did have a fair amount of romance in it (enough to appease even me), it wasn't as focused as I would have liked it to be. There was only one kiss in this drama, and at the very end they weren't exactly running into each other's arms. Granted, a lot of sad and heavy things happened, so I'd imagine neither of them were exactly feeling it. But a *touch* more would have made me happier.
The other negative thing I might say about this drama was that it was kind of slow to start. For me, anyway, having an entire first episode of set up was a bit draggy. It took me a while to get into it. And although the plot is very gripping, I actually left this one to watch other things in between. So it wasn't a "can't put it down" kind of drama for me.
The Good: Pretty much everything else you can think of, this drama nailed it. Music? Gripping. Plot? Entrancing. Chemistry? Totally hot. It's an action drama with a great romance weaved into it, and I think it would appeal to a wide audience. This is the drama where I fell in love with Lee Min Ho, because his performance was just spot on. Kim Na Na, the main girl, was very cute, and she played her role perfectly. I already loved her from the first drama I had watched ("Sungkyunkwan Scandal"), and her feminine but capable character in this drama suited her well. Lee Min Ho's character Lee Yoon Sung also fit him nicely, and the acting all around was--from my limited knowledge--pretty flawless.
The whole drama was just different enough to feel a bit refreshing, but still familiar enough that you know you're watching a classic Kdrama. To make it even better, there's a satisfying ending, and the bad people end up where they ought to, and the good people come out on top. But they throw you enough curve balls that you don't feel like its too predictable or stagnant. And that's why I had to give this an 8, even if its not up there in my "grand romances" list, it's up there in my high production value, high rewatch value list.
Your ahjumma friend's verdict: Watch this when you're in the mood for a thriller.
Read this and other drama reviews at http://theahjummas.blogspot.com
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So, for story I gave this a 9.5. I loved the pace, I loved the progression, and I really enjoyed the growth of the characters. Our OTP were super cute, although I will say that their chemistry wasn't exactly sizzling. Maybe that's why people didn't give it higher ratings? No, they weren't ready to claw each other's clothes off with their steamy gazes, but their love was just as satisfying and intense--just in a different way. Because they are different characters than the usual drama, and so of course their love would be unique.
The cast was my favorite part about this drama, so I gave that a 10. Every character is fun to watch. Even the "bad guys" were hilarious in their comedy of errors storyline, and the way that they sort of accepted their karma when it came calling. Almost like they rather expected it all to crash down on their heads. The OTP had so many moments worth remembering and re-watching, and I think my cheeks started to hurt from smiling. Our side characters were hysterical, and even though a lot of time was spent on them towards the end, I didn't mind. Actually, I loved it. They were a joy to watch. And I usually hate side character stories!
As far as "fun to watch" dramas go, this one was dang near perfect. There were sad and emotional parts sprinkled in there, but for the most part, it is a positive drama with a GREAT ending. Incredibly satisfying, with all loose ends tied up, and questions answered.
I watched this during a handful of "sick days" and "snow days," and it cheered me right up!
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This review may contain spoilers
Overall: 8/10Characters: 9/10
Plot: 7/10
Feels Factor: 9/10
Let's make one thing pretty clear: I love Lee Min Ho. Seriously, he's gorgeous, he picks awesome dramas, and overall he's just a Korean heartthrob. I will admit, however, that this drama is not what made me fall in love with him. Especially because of that hair. Guys, that hair though.
Not my favorite. That said, this was inexplicably one of those dramas I just could not put down. Even the second time around when I showed it to my mom, I couldn't look away. It actually defies logic because really, the plot wasn't that great, the leading girl was pretty annoying a good 80% of the drama, the kisses were stiff and awkward, and their relationship was downright strange at the best of times. Was it the gorgeous F4? Was it the fast pace? Was it the fact that the characters just REFUSED to quit despite every impossible challenge?
It's hard to say.
What I can say is that overall I actually enjoyed this drama. If you're wondering whether or not its worth a try, I'll tell you that this drama is kind of the gateway drama you have to watch at some point. Like a rollercoaster you have to ride before you officially enter Kdrama Land.
The Good: This drama starts at a fast pace, and pretty much keeps that pace through the whole thing. And right off the bat we get sparks flying between the two main leads, and some simmering feels between the main girl and the second lead. And speaking of second lead WOW. If ever there was a painful second lead, Ji Hoo is it. There are few dramas where the second lead has metaphorically stabbed me in the heart like Ji Hoo did. I actually had to go and watch "Playful Kiss" right after this one because I needed to see him "get the girl" so desperately.
Also, if you love the damsel in distress thing, there is plenty of that in this drama. (Too much? No, what am I saying--there's no such thing.) The F4 has to save the leading lady a lot, and that's my kind of my thing, so I enjoyed it immensely.
And without giving you spoilers, there's a feel good ending, so that gets two thumbs up from me. That's another thing I look for in my dramas, personally. The tone was equal parts light and fluffy, and dramatic and heavy at all the right parts, and the "villian" so to speak, was appropriately treacherous. All great things.
Also, Lee Min Ho. What a dream boat.
The Bad: I almost dropped this drama after the first episode because Geum Jan Di, the main girl, was too painful to watch. The overacting, the ridiculous...whatever it is that she is...I couldn't...
Yeah, I almost dropped it. But I persevered! I got used to Geum Jan Di eating like a camel and wearing her hair like a four-year-old. She lacked a lot of...everything. But the F4 are so perfect, they completely make up for anything this drama might be missing. They are the real reason you'll watch this drama.
Another thing I wasn't so happy about was the fact that this is what I like to call a "misunderstanding plot." I really rather detest that usually. This is when a plot is based almost entirely on the main characters misunderstanding one anothers intentions. They say one thing, but think something entirely different, and thus fight over...well...nothing. Things that don't exist. For example, Geum Jan Di doesn't think she deserves Goo Joon Pyo, so she runs away. But he thinks its because she doesn't like him, so he decides to be cold toward her. This, apparently, passes for tension. I don't know. I got over it because like I said above--there's just *something* about this drama that pulls you in.
So there you have it. Overall, does your Ahjumma friend think you should watch this? YES. Go watch it.
(See this and other drama reviews at http://theahjummas.blogspot.com)
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I think if I average out my scores, this drama should get less than 7.5, but my overall feeling after finishing it really was 7.5-8. They need a section for "feels." This was a 9 for "feels."
"Just You" is a familiar plot device in the beginning, but you will find as the drama goes on, there are layers of real heart and feeling to be peeled back if you can stick with it. So because it was cliche, I would have given it a lower score, but the story got significantly more developed as we neared the end of the drama, and I actually FELT the emotions of the characters after all was said and done. That bumped it up to a 7 for story.
Acting was really not good. But hey, it's a T-Drama. They have different acting styles than Western viewers are used to, and I am able to acclimate to it after a few episodes. I really like Aaron Yan. He's sexy as SIN, and his acting is really quite good. He's a big 10 for me! The girl was eh. She got better as the drama went on! Her character fleshed out and she got a bit more chill.
The OST of this drama was actually quite nice, and I liked most of their song choices. But their sound production was way off, so the music was sometimes too loud over their talking. Also sometimes the music choice was bizarre. They need to step away from Garage Band and hire an orchestra.
Rewatch value is low because it was so bogged down by side plots I didn't care about. I skipped a lot! Also, I recommend watching it on Netflix. They split the episodes into 20 minute chunks that were easier for me to "digest." I was about to give up on it, and then it popped up on Netflix, and suddenly skipping ahead became easier, and I didn't feel like giving up because I couldn't get through 1 1/2 hours per episode.
Overall, I have to admit that I got ALL the feels from this drama. Aaron Yan, as I said, was marvelous to look at. And the kisses are worth hanging in there for! Their relationship was super cute at the end, and all in all, I am really glad I watched it. It was just the right cheese I needed in my life right now!
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