1
manicmuse
NYC!
The cast does an amazing job, especially believably playing their characters in the past and the present. The bond between the 6 main friends felt very realistic. I was really impressed when I learned how young some of the lead cast members were, and how new they were to dramas. There were no weak links in the cast, although I definitely had my favorites (Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk, and Ho Ya in particular).
Most of the story revolves around the relationship between Shi Won, and Yoon Jae, which sucked me in from the start. A little too much focus was put on the "will they end up together or not" part of the story, but I was completely drawn in by their chemistry, and loved watching how unbelievably close they were.
The effect Joon Hee had on me was the biggest surprise. His character was so subtle in a lot of ways, but he definitely got to me emotionally. I also thought his story line was tastefully done, and not over sensationalized.
I also really loved Shi Won's parents, and thought they had some of the strongest moments in the show. I never expected that they would make me laugh & cry so much.
The only character I didn't care for was Tae Woong. I don't blame the actor, I blame his storyline. By the end I hated him less, but his character's actions just didn't sit well with me. I honestly thought he was a little creepy.
I think the writers did an excellent job of juggling the past vs the present, writing strong characters, and balancing humorous and emotional scenes. The main love triangle was a little heavy handed, but it was kinda fun having them constantly add a little doubt, making it at least feel a little less predictable.
I know many of the pop culture references were lost on me since I am not Korean (like completely missing the fact that Eun Ji Won was a member of Sechs kies - now THATS funny), but I could still relate, especially to technology (or lackthereof) in the 90's.
I know the music was also meant to give a nostalgic feel to viewers, but I thought too much time was spent on the whole k-pop obsession/rivalry. Maybe if I knew the bands I would have been more into it. The show does a good job of recreating the hype, so It was still entertaining.
I really felt like I got to know all of the characters so well, and I know I will miss them. I could see myself rewatching my favorite episodes more than rewatching it again from start to finish because of it's sitcom style. I really do hope talks about a sequel are true. I'm not sure where else the story could go, but with characters this strong, anything is possible.
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I came for Kim Se Jeong, and stayed for the amazing unlikely hero cast.
Honestly, I ignored this drama for a while. I didn't even bother to check reviews about it even after it repeatedly showed up as a Netflix suggestion. It was only when I started to obsessively watch "A Business Proposal", that I decided to watch this to fill the time in between those episodes. I figured I liked Kim Se Jeong so much in that cute rom-com that maybe I'd like her in this too. I was right about that, but I had no idea I would instantly love this odd group of unlikely heroes just as much. This drama started off grabbing my attention from the very first moments and the pace never slowed down for me. I was intrigued by the mysterious story, impressed with the cheesy but exciting and well-choreographed superhero action scenes, and loved super cute Cho Byeong Kyu as So Moon."The Uncanny Counter" in many ways is So Moon's coming-of-age/superhero origin story, so Cho Byeong Kyu being so likable is a huge reason why it works so well. I won't say too much about his journey and how it starts but I will say the permed hair element was a really nice touch. The character is so super sweet and easy to root for, and he's the perfect, believable, choice for this role. The rest of the team is just as perfectly cast. Kim Se Jeong plays the tough and guarded Do Ha Na. Yoo Joon Sang plays tough guy Ga Mo Tak. Yeom Hye Ran plays nurturing mother figure Chu Mae Ok. Their team seems completely mismatched and I think that's what makes this show so good as we learn about "counters" and what they are called to do. I also loved that each counter has their own story and reason for joining the team, their own unique strengths, and none of them really outshine the other. Teamwork is the major theme in this plot, in spite of the focus on So Moon specifically, so it's great that all of the leads shine.
The supporting cast is filled with great characters and performances too. Kim Eun Soo & Lee Ji Won were so great as So Moon's protective BFFs, which is amazing considering the real-life age gap between them. They are definitely #friendshipgoals. Ahn Suk Hwan is funny as the fifth-wheel member of the team and flamboyantly rich Choi Jang Mool. I loved the wholesome grandparents, the equally mismatched "Yung" beings, especially the motherly yet disturbingly creepy Wi Gen. The villains are pretty campy and over the top, but work well with the style of the drama. The real evil MVP, however, is Lee Hong Nae who is so good at being bad, and dare I say he made evil a little too sexy. He is the perfect match for the main team of heroes with a great evil grin and those eyes... I love a good villain and although this show is full of evil types he definitely out-evils them well.
I don't want to say too much about the plot itself because part of the fun of this drama is discovering everything as the main character does. There's a lot of violence, and many bullying scenes, but nothing that I would call gory or scary. The story is pretty dark and often sad, but I would still say it is more of a lighter feel-good drama. The story also has a great pace, with thriller elements and many moments that I didn't quite expect. There are many tropes that you would expect in a show like this, beginning with the infamous white truck of doom, but I applaud the writer for keeping the story exciting from beginning to end. I LOLed, I cried, I cheered, and embraced the blatant messages about the power of having support and alliances and letting go of trauma and guilt.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely. Even though there is a suspenseful element to this story there's so much more than that that makes this drama so enjoyable. It's also inspiring to watch So Moon's determination despite all obstacles, that's a whole mood all by itself. I also think some of the early scenes will hit different knowing how the story unfolds and who the characters are. I'm sure there were a lot of small details I missed.
Overall, I'm so glad I decided to watch this drama. I definitely consider it a new favorite and I am excited about the thought of a Season 2. I would definitely recommend it to fans of superhero stories, movies like the Matrix, or people who love to root for the underdog. This drama is great as a complete story, but I can easily see all the possibilities of continuing the story of this whole "counter" universe and I'd love to see more of this specific team.
This drama is equal parts familiar and original. It makes the unbelievable relatable. It also, like So Moon, surprised me by exceeding my expectations. I can't compare it to the webtoon, since I obviously never read it, but I am almost tempted to, although I would never want to ruin whatever ends up inspiring season 2. Next Season Count me in!lol
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A haunted house real estate expert is pretty genius.
"Sell Your Haunted House" is a supernatural thriller with a strong female lead, which for me is the perfect setup for a new drama favorite, but even though I did enjoy watching every episode of this drama I was also slightly disappointed. I loved the whole exorcism world and Jang Na Ra's character being like an angsty superhero. What I didn't love was the anti-climactic relationship between the leads. This drama definitely tells a great and emotional story while still leaving room for humor, but when it comes to the leads this drama seemed to play with my emotions. It does make some sense according to the lore of the show to not have an actual romance fully develop, but I would have enjoyed it more if it did, since it was constantly implied. This is one of the main reasons why, for me, "Sell Your Haunted House" felt like a season one drama. Like an origin story.Jang Na Ra as bad@ss Hong Ji Ah and Jung Yong Hwa as psychic fraud Oh In Beom definitely work well together in a dynamic duo way. Ji Ah is a psychic Batman, and In Beom is her Robin, and although there is some flirting chemistry, mainly they are there to balance each other out. I did really like the non-traditional gender dynamic with Ji Ah taking the kind of role usually reserved for male leads. She's strong, she's intimidating, she's guarded, but also vulnerable, and as usual Jang Na Ra gives an amazing performance. She rarely disappoints, and I think this is my favorite role I've seen her play. On the other hand, Jung Yong Hwa is an actor I've been pretty indifferent to in spite of liking many dramas he's in. Matching him with such an established older lead could have easily faded him into the background but he holds his own in the story. He also has some fun scenes where he gets to play with variety. I won't overlook him again after this.
For me, the true star of this drama is the story. Yes, It's part melodrama, so there is a haunted by the past element (literally lol) that could have been very cliché but I thought it was extremely suspenseful and interesting. If you've ever lost someone in an unexpected death it'll be hard not to empathize with the storylines, especially the main one, and the themes of guilt and wanting to hold on. The realty angle is also a nice twist on the whole lady ghostbuster theme. The writers really do a good job of marrying suspense with some over-the-top campy moments and characters. The main villian was a little too extreme sometimes but it was also fun to have a character you could absolutely despise 100 percent. It helps that the entire cast is great, although some of the sillier characters made me lower my cast rating. I do have to mention Kang Hong Suk and Kang Mal Geum who help complete the main team, and I really liked them both.
The director was also exceptional and really made this ghost world feel fun like a comic book but still realistic and extremely cool. I'm curious to see what drama he does next.
Would I watch this again? Sure. It would be a little less exciting the second time around, knowing the full story, but it was fun, visually exciting, and touching enough to still be entertaining. I'm more curious about whether or not there will be a season two, which seems very possible by the ending, but I was very satisfied with the ending as is too... aside from the platonic leads.
Overall this is a great supernatural drama that isn't too scary or too silly. It stars such a clever and unique main character and that's enough for me to recommend this drama! Romance fans will probably feel a little disappointed but there are a few cute moments so it's not totally romance-free. It also got me a few times in the feels without being too heavy, although some parts of the story really broke my heart. I can see this show's format having so many possibilities for continuing the story, so if there is a "Sell Your Haunted House: Season 2" I'm Sold!
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I'll start with my favorite part of this drama, and that is Eric Mun as Kang Woo. I don't know much about his boyband days, but he stars in one of my favorite dramas ever, "Another Oh Hae Young", so he is the main reason I wanted to give this drama a shot. He plays the quintessential arrogant male lead, a Hallyu idol, and he's perfect in the role. He manages to make some of his character's worst flaws "cute" instead of annoying, and his charm is undeniable. He is matched Han Ye Seul as the title spy Myung Wol, and although she is not as strong of an actor as Eric, I really liked her portrayal of the sweet and innocent but impetuous and bad@ss female spy. From the very beginning, I loved their banter and I knew they would be a fun couple to watch. No matter how cheesy the dialogue or how predictable the plot became they made me want to keep watching and rooting for them. Is a lot of that because of Eric, maybe, but I thought they worked very well together.
I liked the rest of the cast as well. You really need a great cast to make a drama so "tropey" work, and make the silliest dialogue and most logic-defying scenes work, which they do. The supporting cast is pretty one-note but effective. The main villain is great at being very villainy, and the fellow spy characters who are comic relief are actually funny. Jang Hee Jin as spoiled and obnoxious Joo In Ah was really good at being equal parts hateable and likable, and Lee Jin Wook as spy Choi Ryu comes through as the kind of 2nd lead to give you that second lead syndrome so many viewers crave (his quirky ear movements were a bonus). In fact, I liked them both so much I wasn't even bothered by the love triangle/square. Yes, the acting is often overdone in moments, and too cheesy even for me during some scenes, but that worked for this drama's style which is kinda campy, even seeming to make fun of itself in moments. This may not fit everyone's taste but I think that just added to the fun of this crazy plot.
As for the plot, this drama isn't afraid to be as absurd as possible, which is clear from the very first episode. Don't bother asking questions like 'How can Myung Wol possibly beat up all those men and not break a sweat?', or 'Is it really that easy for a stranger to move in with a celebrity?'. Just embrace the farfetched fight scenes and all the other outlandish parts of the story. This drama isn't meant to be taken seriously, it's meant to be entertaining, and I was certainly entertained. My main complaint with the story is that some things got to be too repetitive after a while. It was almost like they decided to literally repeat some scenes almost verbatim. I mean, how many times do we need to see Choi Ryu ask Myung Wol the same exact question with the same exact expression? Still, I was actually entertained by how "bad" the writing was at some points, especially the last episode, which made me laugh inappropriately, and made me oddly happy to see clichés that usually annoy me. I think in the name of telling a fun story all was forgiven, but I still can't give this a higher story score based on that. Even the soundtrack, with it's take on the mission impossible theme, lets you know that the more serious parts are still comical.
Would I watch this again? Yup. It wouldn't be high on my rewatch list, but I can definitely see myself being in the mood too see all of the antics and chemistry again. Maybe some of the fun would be lost since I know what happens, but I can still enjoy just watching it all happen again, especially for Eric's acting, although I'd be tempted to skip quite a few scenes.
Overall, I am really glad I randomly came across this drama. I felt nostalgic watching it. It reminded me of the kind of dramas I loved when I first got into watching KDramas. It's not quite "favorites list" worthy, probably because the lighthearted silliness made it hard for me to emotionally connect at all to this drama, but that's not the kind of drama this is. If you don't like melodrama, you probably should pass on this one, even though it's definitely melodrama-lite. If you like answers to questions and logical conclusions to situations then you should definitely pass on this. If you like Eric Mun, then grab an extra-large popcorn and enjoy (yes there's a shower scene). If you like to pine over second leads, then Jin Wook is your man! This definitely isn't my first North & South Korea centered romance drama, or my favorite (this is no "The King 2 Hearts"), but I'm a fan of "Myung Wol the Spy". If their goal was to keep me excited about watching each episode, and happy I did watch by the end, well... mission accomplished.
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The best part of the show, by far, is Jung Ryeo Won as Ma Yi Deum. She is perfectly cast as the shows anti-hero prosecutor, and who the title refers too. Never has the implied "B" when the term "Witch" is used felt more appropriate. She is ruthless, and clever, and messy, and self serving, and stubborn, and amazing! I fell in love with her arrogant smirk and red lipstick. Even when she was at her worst, I was compelled to cheer her on. If there is any reason to recommend this drama, it is her. She is the best female lead character I've seen in a long time. I just wish the rest of the drama was as solid as she was.
She is matched with Yoo Hyun Min, as prosecutor Jin Wook. Honestly, I found him adorkable. He is the antithesis of her... an extremely empathetic and considerate character, and certainly much more passive and bland. I liked their chemistry too, even if their relationship seemed forced at times. He's definitely more like a sidekick than an equally strong lead. The romance isn't a major focus in this drama anyway, and I think that was a missed opportunity, especially considering the way the plot unfolds for both of them. I think it should have been played up much more, or not added at all, but instead it feels more like it's forgotten until it becomes convenient. Still, I was happy for the lighter comedic moments since the other parts of the plot are more melodramatic
Much of the story focuses on one evil duplicitous character, Gab Soo, which is another wasted opportunity. He is meant to be an utterly ruthless character, but his storyline started to bore me after a while, and unfortunately later episodes revolve mostly around him. I think Jun Kwan Ryul played his character pretty well, making him a more subdued kind of evil, but he just wasn't memorable enough. His story line also went from intriguing to predictable really quickly. I kept waiting for an interesting plot twist, or an unexpected moment, but it never came. He just wasn't a worthy enough rival for such a strong lead.
The rest of the plot revolves around the CAGU prosecutors office and their focus on these seemingly impossible to win sex crime cases. I was impressed to see such taboo subjects explored in these cases, and I did love watching to see what Ma Yi Deum would do to solve them, but even those stories started to follow too much of a predictable formula. Unlike other dramas with similar themes, some airing at the same time, this one often took the safest and most convenient routes in resolving each case. This could be a good thing for viewers who don't want to watch something that's too dark, but for me it made many of these stories, even the worst of them, pretty forgettable. The ensemble CAGU cast of characters are pretty forgettable too.
By the last few episodes I was barely holding on to what little interest I had left, so the ending felt oddly like it came too quickly and not soon enough. I'd say the ending was adequate, but they spent time showing me what happened with characters I long forgot about, and glossed over some pretty unbelievable plot points.
So, would I watch this again? Probably not. The story isn't good enough for a second viewing, but because Jung Ryeo Won is so good, it may be worth it just to watch her in action. As for the OST, it's mostly what I would consider her "theme song" being played to cue when she's in full "witch mode". I'd be much more intrigued by a better written second season, than watching this again.
Overall, this felt like a mediocre introduction to an awesome character, almost like an origin story. If they decided on a season 2, I would definitely watch, because that's how much I liked the lead. They would need a whole new writers team, and cast (except for her Jin Wook sidekick). On it's own, this is an entertaining, but pretty mediocre law show. Even so, I'm kinda sad to see it end.
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Yoon Doo Joon is the only returning cast member, which I had mixed emotions about at first, but since Dae Yeong's food appreciation is still what drives the show, I didn't miss the old cast for long. He's just as weird and quirky as he was in the original, with his signature food rants, and charming knowing smile. This time he is matched with Seo Hyun Jin, who immediately made me forget about the previous leading lady (sorry Soo Kyung but it was time to move on lol). My bias may come from how much I loved her in Another Miss Oh, but with her own stand out quirkiness, her portrayal of Soo Ji is the ideal match for Dae Yeong. So with these two leads, I felt like the romance in this version was much stronger. Of course they also share a true love of food... duh, but their chemistry, even away from a plate of food, was super strong. I was a fan of their food banter, and their friendship.
Like the first one, there is also a new strong ensemble cast, including a new dog. The major difference is that the theme of loneliness and depression in this town is much darker, so the characters aren't as fun. There are still a lot of funny moments, and this is still mainly a comedy, it just has less of a feeling of optimism and discovery than the first one did. These ensemble characters are also much messier. They are petty, they curse, they're self destructive, they're manipulative, they drink too much, they lash out... this also makes them a little more realistic. Watching them bond and create friendship is also similar to the original, but don't expect the same light heartedness.
The only character that I didn't like very much was Kwon Yool as Lee Sang Woo. It's not that he's bad in the role, just... well... kinda boring. I know kdrama romance usually thrives on a love triangle, and in theory this one brings up some interesting dilemmas and dynamics, but he's such a bland choice that it was too easy to not care about or root for him. Even his friendship with Dae Yeong seemed a bit forced, but his social awkwardness also added to the character so I'm torn. I did like that the love triangle seemed less about who would get the girl, and more about each character's self discovery. There's a lot of self reflection in this drama that I appreciated.
Another formula that the show sticks to is an unnecessary thriller element. The mystery in this version worked better than in the first version, but that's not saying much. It still felt very contrived, and like just an excuse to add drama to the characters' lives. Don't even get me started on the older woman neighbor... who had me yelling "mind your own damn business" at the screen multiple times. I don't want to mention any of the details at all, to avoid any spoilers, but it's definitely a weak point for the drama, with a lazy resolution.
Let's eat 2 still absolutely lives up to the title, with gluttonous food scenes, expanding beyond Korean food more often, and inspiring food appreciation.
I think I started to get used to the extreme eating close ups, because they started to feel normal, and it felt like there were less food scenes, but those waiting for these moments won't be disappointed.
Overall, the formula may not be perfect, but it kept me interested enough to binge watch 2 seasons back to back. That says a lot! Would I watch this again? Maybe. In some ways I enjoyed this one more, but I don't feel compelled to watch it again. I would probably only watch this again as part of a set with Season 1, to get my Dae Yeong fix.
While I still can't claim to be a fan of food-centered shows, I would recommend this one, and will definitely be one of the first people at the table to check out Let's Eat season 3.
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This review may contain spoilers
I think "Circle: Two Connected Worlds" is the perfect sci-fi binge drama I was hoping it would be. With only 12 episodes, and such a compelling story, I easily finished this in two days. The most interesting thing about this drama is how it's literally split into two different stories, so it almost feel like you are watching the original and the sequel at the same time, and you're basically waiting for the stories to eventually connect. The first part is set in 2017 (which is actually the past and called “Beta Project"), and it has more of a sci-fi thriller feel. This story centers around a disturbing trend of suicides at a school that are more than they seem to be. The second half is set in 2037 and has more of a sci-fi fantasy feel with a detective edge (called "Brave New World") which took a little more time to grow on me. I do think the fantasy world was imaginative, yet realistic, for just 20 years into the future (I want those phones), but I still was more into the the story set in 2017 involving the 2 brothers, the suicides, and this mysterious "being". The Brave New World part of the story has more of a dystopian society feel, that is equal parts "ideal" and creepy. I guess which you prefer may depend on what genre you prefer. Those looking for a romantic drama should know that this falls more in the category of bromance. The story centers around the relationship between twin brothers played by Yeo Jin Goo and Ahn Woo Yeon in the Beta Project episodes, and Gong Seung Yeon rounds out the trio as the mysterious Han Jung Yeon. There are so many twists in the story that I am hesitant to talk about any of the characters too much, but it's fun to figure out who's crazy, who can be trusted, and who the heroes will be. Yeo Jin Goo as Kim Woo Jin definitely has star quality that I remember from "The Moon that Embraces the Sun", and "Missing You", where I think he was better than his "older" counterparts. He is the deserving star of this drama and I think he did a great job. I was initially less impressed by Gong Seung Yeon and her blank face stare, but I really started to like her as well, and I'm impressed by how beautifully she cries.
In the 2037 cast the stand out is Kim Kang Woo as Kim Joon Hyuk. It's initially very hard to figure him out which I think is a good thing for this kind of story. This is the first drama I have seen him in, so I had no expectations for him, and by the end he made me tear up. I also really loved Lee Ki Kwang as Lee Ho Soo, his reluctant side kick. This was another character that really grew on me as the show progressed.
The rest of the cast, in both worlds, were really good, even when some were, almost comically, acting in an over the top manor. The villains in particular were definitely extra wide eyed crazy. But all the characters were played well, and those who had a matching future counterpart were matched pretty well. Even the kids were super cute, so I have no cast complaints.
Now, the story is definitely full of complicated and confusing twists, and some of the logic may not work if you pay too much attention, but in general I thought they did a good job of keeping the story constantly interesting, especially when the two stories started to merge more. There may be some holes in the science that I'm sure you could find, but what I liked about the story was that it was more about the moral questions that the science brought up, than the scientific details. I think they hit on some really thought provoking questions like "What makes us who we are?", or "What creates inner peace?", or "Can science go to far?", or even "Should happiness trump all else?". Those are just a few of the things this drama touched on in this story that I thought were very interesting. There are some other thoughts and themes that would fall too close to the spoiler zone to mention here, so I will just sayI enjoyed the philosophical aspects of this drama as much as the story.
I will say that I have mixed feelings about the end. I think the goal was to leave it open for possibilities of a sequel, or just to keep people thinking. Not every question is answered either, but I think everything that needed to be resolved was resolved, and the rest is just open for interpretation, or a season 2. I could see myself watching this again, because it's not drawn out, and it would be interesting to watch the story knowing how all the pieces fit. I admit that the fact that it's not very predictable is what kept me watching initially, but the story and characters are entertaining, and the surprise element isn't it's only appeal.
Overall this is not the kind of KDrama I would usually watch, but I'm glad I expanded my horizons a bit. I do like sci-fi in general, and love Thrillers, and both of those elements were done well here. This may not be full of rom com antics, but it is not totally without some romantic elements. If you like endearing cops cracking the case, there's some of that too. It's also the perfect length, so there is absolutely no dragging storylines, or rushed endings. I know this personally opened me up to watching more dramas like this one. "Circle" didn't give me the obsessive feels that my favorite dramas give me, but sometimes a really good story told well is all you need!
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Flower Boy Next Door is all about unrequited love triangles, and stalkers. Almost every character harbors a one-sided crush for another character. At the center is Go Dok Mi. She is a super emo recluse, who I had a very hard time rooting for, or liking. Eventually we learn about the event that traumatized her, and made her so distrusting of people, but it never quite excused her selfish behavior for me.
For some reason, in spite of her personality, she has two men fighting to win her affection. One is the equally emo Oh Jin Rak, who has been obsessed with her for years. The other is the extremely hyper, über cute, and sometimes annoying Enrique played by Yoon Shi Yoon. Yoon Shi Yoon is the main reason I watched this drama, and he was the highlight for me. He is the glue that holds this KDrama together.
The supporting cast was also pretty entertaining, particularly the the web-toon director and Dong Hoon (my favorite couple), though I am not sure what purpose Chef Watanabe actually served. The character Cha Do Hwi was extremely annoying, so she did a great job. I gave the cast a 7, because I could not find any fault with the acting. They did their best with what they had, which was not much.
The main downfall of this drama is the story, or lack thereof. The love triangles initially were interesting but became predictable, and boring, quickly. Even the big reveal about Dok Mi's past started to annoy me after a while. I wanted to yell "get over it" at the screen so many times. I get that it was a really bad thing for her, but they relied on flashing back to that story a bit too much. Then they tried to throw in a pitiful storyline about video game obsessed fans, but it was too ridiculous to be believed.
Although this is mainly a romance, the main couple was less interesting as time went on. It seemed like such a one-sided relationship. Watching Enrique try to cheer up Dok Mi every episode was really frustrating, and they didn't have an exciting chemistry either. It was a struggle to watch the final episodes. They just seemed to stretch out what was already going to be the obvious conclusion. The cheesy expressions of love didn't help either. At the end they tried to tie up the love lives of each character, and even that was super cheesy and predictable. Again, what was the point of Watanabe?
Overall, I did not like this drama enough to recommend it to anyone. I guess huge fans of the actors will be entertained enough to justify the bad plot. It really was a great start in my opinion, but once the couples became clear, the writer apparently had no clue what to do next. If you think you'll like seeing Park Shin Hye and Kim Ji Hoon play two emotionally detached characters who wax poetic about love, then maybe you'll like this more than I did. If Yoon Shi Yoon's smile is all the entertainment you need, then by all means watch this. I barely made it through the first time, so rewatching this is not an option. Maybe I'd youtube a cute Enrique moment, but that's about it.
For everyone else, don't believe the hype. I'll just pass the advice that I should have heeded myself "don't waste 16 hours of your life".
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I liked the idea of the main character being a good natured con-woman, but I often found Joo Yoo Rin's actions to be really annoying. Lee Da Hae did a great job, even though sometimes she was a bit over the top. She was a good match for calm, and by the book, Lee Dong Wook. I already loved him in 'Scent of a Woman', so I was glad to see him in something else. What I loved most about this drama was their chemistry, and how they began to rub off on each other. I can't say the same about the two supporting leads.
Fans may disagree, but I didn't like Park Si Yeon's performance at all. Not only did her character's actions piss me off, but she just kept making the same expressions over & over again. It wasn't even fun to hate her. She's the main reason my acting score is so low.
Lee Jun Ki's acting was decent, but his character made no sense. He goes from being a mischievous womanizer (though he was a little too girly to make me believe that), to being pathetically obsessed with one girl. It was as if liking Yoo Rin was the equivalent of a lobotomy. I initially liked his character, but by the end his character was no fun at all.
I did like many of the minor characters, and it's always fun to see Ahn Suk Hwan in yet another drama. He & Choi Ran are also in the Hong Sister's latest drama "Big", which I was watching at the same time as this. I liked their romantic storyline, it was cheesy, but cute.
I would call myself a Hong Sisters fan, but I am not a real fan of their first two dramas. This drama relied on so many rom-com clichés, and contrived plot devices. There were some cute funny moments (the accidental kiss), but I didn't find it hilarious, and I think they sometimes relied on too many parodies. Watching all the character "near misses" was starting to drive me crazy, and not in an exciting way. Eventually, almost every character annoyed me, or pissed me off, towards the end. I don't mind a predictable story, but the conflicts became too repetitive, and the characters were too frustratingly stubborn for my taste. I also didn't cry once, I just scowled at the screen. I did like the end scene though. It was a cute surprise.
Perhaps if this were my first drama, my experience would have been different. I think there are so many better rom-com dramas out now, plus this one feels a little too dated (The clothes, the music, the obvious product placements...). The Hong sisters have also gotten much better since then. Overall It was an acceptable rom-com, but I wouldn't recommend it, or rewatch it.
* Sorry fans, I'm just being honest : ) *
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A comedy-thriller with Seo In Guk? Count me in!
"Café Minamdang" is a kdrama that does double duty. It's a super silly comedy and a revenge thriller centered around the extremely versatile and talented Seo In Guk. He plays an ex-criminal profiler turned conman shaman on a quest to solve his best friend's murder. I am a huge Seo In Guk fan and I love how easily he can go from dark and serious to over-the-top humor. He is perfectly cast as Nam Han Joon and his antics got me hooked from the very beginning. I think the concept is pretty clever too, since most "psychics" are master profilers, but just know that this drama never takes itself too seriously and takes the humor to ridiculous levels.The cast is full of fun characters, but I was biased towards the main trio. Kwak Shi Yang & Kang Mi Na are great as Han Joon's Café Minamdang ride-or-die team and they match his craziness well. Baek Seo Hoo is pretty funny too, or at least cute. I really liked all of the main characters except for one, and sadly that was the FL Oh Yeon Seo as Han Jae Hee. It's not that I disliked her completely. I loved that she was strong and determined, but I hated how frustratingly stubborn she was. It just started to feel one-note for too long. I also didn't feel like she was an even match for Seo In Guk when it came to romance or comedy. There was no chemistry, so even in scenes played up for laughs their romance felt forced. They were decent rivals but any attempt at butterflies fell flat to me. I also couldn't take their character's supposed age difference seriously. She looked older than him to be honest.
Seo In Guk had better chemistry with Kwon Soo Hyun who was great as straight laced and awkward Cha Do Won. I enjoyed their rivalry more than the romance. One thing that everyone did well was balancing the funny moments and the genuine crime-solving moments. The jokes didn't distract from the intrigue, it just kept the story from ever getting too heavy, even during sad moments.
Would I watch this again? I'm not sure. I did enjoy watching it week to week but didn't have the same kind of excitement I had for other on-air dramas I was watching. The story was pretty predictable, but the twists were well written and didn't feel thrown together. If the main romance was stronger I would probably feel differently about rewatching this drama but knowing how each mystery gets solved would take away most of the fun I had watching. I could also watch other dramas to get my Seo In Guk fix, but I admit just watching him outsmart everyone may be entertaining enough if I'm in a certain mood. Knowing certain twists ahead of time may make earlier scenes more interesting duringa second viewing too.
Overall, this is good but not great drama. The crimeand corruption stories get a little convoluted and hard to follow at times but it all makes sense and comes together by the end. The revenge story is less "old boy" vibes and more "scooby doo", but know the subjects touched on are not childish at all... including murder, abuse, & rape. Still, I found this drama to be lite and equally corny and hilarious, so if you're not laughing at the cast's hijinx it will be hard to enjoy this drama. As for me, this drama wouldn't make my favorites list but if there is a season 2 (which is totally possible based on the last episode) I would definitely watch.
I will miss Han Joon's knowing smirk, fan waving, and thinking man pose, at the very least.
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The cast is this movie's saving grace, although the supporting cast is pretty forgettable. Jo Jung Suk
as Jung Jae Chul is unexpected but as arrogantly charming as always. Gong Hyo Jin as Eun Shi Yeon is a good strong female lead, although not as interesting as the male leads overall even though she is the center of the story in some ways. Ryu Joon Yeol as Seo Min Jae to me is the best part of this whole film. I am a fan of his weird quirky charm, which made me love him in the first place, but I liked seeing the action star sides of him too. I can't imagine any other actor playing that role as well.
I watched knowing nothing about the plot, which was a good thing, so I won't give much of it away. I liked not knowing who was good or bad, which was one good thing about the story overall but as a police action thriller it was pretty tame with some cool car chases but not much excitement overall. I honestly didn't care about the story at all until maybe halfway through, and even then it was more about loving Ryu Joon Yeol than it was about the plot.
Overall this movie didn't live up to my expectations, but it didn't quite disappoint either. It was pretty light as far as thrillers go, but not funny or romantic, so it was too tame for my taste. Maybe I'm just not as big of a fan of this type of genre in Korean Cinema, but there were hints at a sequel did leave me a little bit curious about the possibilities. Maybe if I lower my expectations for the next one I will like it more.
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Im Soo Hyang plays Kang Mi Rae, a girl who's "Gangnam Beauty" looks contradict with her shy and insecure personality. I thought she did a good job making Mi Rae sympathetic, and a character I wanted to root for. Sometimes I think she played up the shyness a little too much, and at times her wide-eyed stares felt less sincere and were more annoying. She is matched with Cha Eun Woo as Do Kyung Suk, who plays the emo-est emo rich kid that ever did emo in the history of "Emodom". I thought he played his anti-social hottie role quite well, but he had some wide-eyed extra robotic moments that bordered between cute and laughably bad. Their relationship was pretty sweet, but anyone expecting romance should lower that expectation. Their chemistry is much more awkward than anything. Still cute, but very VERY awkward. Maybe the age gap had a little to do with how tentative they seemed around each other at times, but they still looked pretty good together.
The rest of the cast was good, even if some of them were typical for this kind of drama. I really loved Mi Rae's parents, and liked Do Kyung Suk's family drama. I liked the students, although some were definitely more memorable than others.
Oddly my favorite performance in this drama was Jo Woo Ri as Soo Ah. She definitely helped to keep the show interesting, even though her actions would feel a little repetitive at times. I thought she had the best role and performance.
I know my perspective is different, as an outsider to Korea, but the themes were generally universal and often relatable. I will say their ideas of who was supposed to be attractive vs who wasn't were very odd to me, but the way Mi Rae broke everyone's' looks down was a nice touch. I doubt I will ever really understand the pressure to be attractive in Korea, or how normalized plastic surgery seems to be there, but I think we all can relate to wanting to fit in, and struggling to become comfortable in your own skin when society implies you aren't good enough.
Meanwhile, I am also a person who was distracted by Im Soo Hyang's plastic appearance, but that's probably because the show brings so much attention to her looks, when I would normally just overlook it. At the same time, I loved the way they handled how she used to look, and thought that was a smart choice by the director.
Overall this is a drama that actually tries to say something important, which I appreciate, even if sometimes it was as subtle as a hammer to the brain. It may not get high marks for romance, but they do make a cute unlikely duo, and as a coming of age story I was definitely entertained. This drama also touches on topics like bullying, harassment, sexism, abandonment, image pressure, suicide, domestic violence, eating disorders... without making the episodes depressing. Just consider this a feel-good drama about becoming confident in who you are, and not letting the past dictate your future. I may not have loved it as much as others, but I certainly loved the point it makes.
Oh, and the use of PSY's "New Face" was a cheesy but nice touch!
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The cast is outstanding, and the reason why the complicated story works so well. Park Bo Young is the most impressive in a lot of ways. She switches from timid to bold believably, which is what makes the love triangle work. She has great chemistry with Jo Jung Suk, which is a huge plus, although I was often annoyed by Seon Woo. The scenes when she aggressively propositions him are hilarious, and a nice change from how these romances usually develop. Those scenes are what convinced me to keep watching.
Many of the supporting cast members are as engaging as the main characters. The bromantical team of Chefs, Bing Go the ghost hunter, Sun Ae's father, Seon Woo's mom, Im Joo Hwan's smile... Still, Kim Seul Gi is my favorite of the main cast. I was rooting for her from the beginning, and she is the show's star in my opinion. She made me laugh out loud, and cry buckets, and I looked forward to her scenes the most.
I had to give this show a high rewatch score, because I am already watching it again. Since I know the story now, there are moments in the beginning that I see differently, and it's making me like the drama even more (Especially the first episode). I became so invested in the characters that I enjoy watching the story again from that perspective.
Overall this drama was a happy surprise. It had elements of two dramas I love ("Pasta" and "Master's Sun") while still being original enough to stand on it's own. There are definitely predictable moments, and filler comedy moments, lots of coincidences, and some over used K Drama standards towards the end, but I was still never bored. The thriller element wasn't the strongest storyline, but it was still good, and certainly entertaining. I was happy with how it all ended too, which is important when you have so many characters that you suddenly care about. I definitely recommend watching this one with an open mind. You may not be into it in the beginning, but if you're like me, you soon won't be able to stop watching it, as if you're... wait for it... possessed.
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The rest of the cast was pretty good, but not particularly impressive, except for Park Ye Jin. I loathed Oh Yoon Joo, so I have to credit the actress for bringing out so much hate in me. Clearly a sociopath, Oh Yoon Joo definitely was a perfect villain. The other characters weren't really written with much depth in my opinion. I guess this isn't exactly a drama you should expect much depth from anyway.
I think this drama's weakest area is in the writing. I didn't mind the recycled poor-girl-turned-princess story, and I liked that there was, initially, a legitimate dilemma keeping the two main stars apart. My biggest problem was that eventually the story started to go nowhere for too long. The first episodes set the bar high for cute, funny, rewatchable, and romantic moments. The last episodes felt like complete time wasters, and even the cute romantic moments lost some of their spark. The overall ending was fine, but it felt to me like too little too late. I wish that they'd just quit while they were ahead, then my numbers would have been much higher.
I would still recommend My Princess, but if the chemistry in the first few episodes doesn't appeal to you, I would suggest moving on to something else.
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The drama within the royal family was entertaining, but many of the palace scenes seemed to drag on way too long. Some of the conversations almost seemed as if they were being spoken in slow-motion. Seeing royal tradition juxtaposed to modern life was interesting, but I would have rather seen more romance, or scheming. I guess I expected more romance, and less time spent on a depressing Cinderella story. It wasn't until episode 13 (my favorite episode) that anything really romantic happened. After a while, watching constant fighting was starting to bore me.
I think I would have liked Goong more if it were shorter, and had a little more romance. I also thought the ending could have been much better, especially yul's ending. I now see how much influence Goong has probably had on other kdrama's that I like, since I kept being reminded of them. Though i'm glad I finally got a chance to watch Goong, I am not sure I will watch this one again.
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