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Completed
Secret Love Affair
13 people found this review helpful
Apr 27, 2020
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 4.5
I remember avoiding this drama when it aired because I didn't hear great things about it, but my newfound appreciation for Yoo Ah In made me curious. He did not disappoint, but this drama did.

Yoo Ah In plays Lee Sun Jae, a music prodigy that accidentally catches the attention of a professor at a prestigious music school, and is thrust into a world where his raw talent is in demand, although he comes from a very different world. Sun Jae's story is the only thing I cared about in this drama, and he comes across as so genuine, impulsive, and passionate, that it makes total sense that Kim Hee Ae as Oh Hye Won would fall for him. The problem is that their chemistry is what is supposed to carry this whole drama and it got old for me very quickly. Yoo Ah In is just an amazing actor, so he handles the range of emotions required for the role, even the most melodramatic moments, in a way that still felt real. I cannot say the same about Kim Hee Ae. At times I couldn't tell if I didn't like her performance, or how the character was written, but I think it's both. Oh Hye Won is meant to be cold and business-minded until she awakens her passion with Sun Jae. I think they did that well in the beginning but eventually, she just becomes so wish-washy and whiney and honestly hard to sympathize with. They also didn't seem to have much chemistry beyond physically and musically, which makes such a controversial relationship hard for me to root for. I got more surrogate mom vibes which got very Oedipusy and weird. Eventually, they relied too heavily on flashbacks too, so the romance in the drama felt stale.

As for the supporting cast, the performances were fine but the corrupt school storyline bored me completely. This takes up a lot of the drama, and I guess was meant to show off the strength of the female lead, but she was so overly melodramatic, and they were so stereotypical, that I zoned out during all of those scenes. Many of the corruption scenes felt repetitive anyway, full of frustrating character choices, so I probably could have skipped most of them and I wouldn't have missed much.

The only supporting character that I really liked a lot was Kyung Soo Jin as Park Da Mi. I loved her being the aggressive voice of reason, which is funny since she initially annoyed me. She was also one of the only characters that showed any growth.

Would I watch this again? Definitely not. The only reason I didn't drop it was because I wanted to see how things would turn out for Sun Jae. Even during the lead actress's big speech in the last episode I was ready to finally give up because I felt nothing. It was her moment and I cared more Ah In's reaction shots. His longing puppy eyes kept me watching, but they couldn't make up for scenes that dragged, musical interludes that felt way too long, and way too many flashbacks. To me, it felt like 4 episodes worth of story stretched out to be 16.

Overall I was ready to like this drama way more than I did. I know many people were more into the music and forbidden romance than I was, so I would say that if you aren't excited about this couple in the beginning, don't expect it to get any better. It wasn't even the extreme age difference that bothered me or their physical chemistry, but they seemed to focus more on mood than developing their relationship. They actually listened to a whole Billy Joel song which took up more time than any real character or story development. That's what this drama felt like to me... a mood that you have to be into more than a story with anything to offer beyond the synopsis. I think that maybe you have to be in a sip wine and listen to classical music mood to watch this drama and enjoy it, otherwise, there are better things to watch than this not even very secret love affair.

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Completed
Time
13 people found this review helpful
Sep 27, 2018
32 of 32 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 5.5
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
Do you enjoy being depressed? Then watch this drama. Do you feel like there's no hope for humanity? Then watch this drama. Maybe that's a bit harsh, but that's how I felt watching "Time", a drama that pretends to be a romance but is actually a series of non-stop frustrating sads. If you are looking for something extremely "Emo" to add to your watchlist, you've found it! Normally I am a fan of melodrama, but the unrelenting bad mood feeling this drama gave me seemed unnecessarily bleak. I only kept watching because the beginning seemed kinda promising. Initially, I expected a beautifully tragic romance, but I got a disheartening revenge plot instead.

This drama revolved around the quintessential jerk of a chaebol Cheon Soo Ho, played by Kim Jung Hyun, and the optimistic but always struggling Seol Ji Hyun played by Seo Hyun. I thought Kim Jung Hyun was great and initially liked Seo Hyun, but eventually, their chemistry got traded in for a convoluted revenge story that I just didn't like. I felt like the story wasted the development of a great character, Cheon Soo Ho, and instead focused on turning Seol Ji Hyun into an unconvincing mastermind who kept giving everyone the side eye so much that I forgot I initially liked her character. Maybe a better actress could have pulled off Seol Ji Hyun's transformation but as the star of this story she was pretty boring, and unimpressive.

The side characters were fine. Hwang Seung Eon and her super purse and Kim Joon Han as the worst ex ever were really good, with a relationship that became even more interesting than the main couple, but because of the overload of melodrama, many of the characters became too two dimensional. By the end, I had no real interest in any of them.

I suspect that the last few episodes were not what was originally intended because they seemed so thrown together and tried to overcompensate with the drama. Soo Ho made me sympathize and even boo hoo cry the more I learned about him, but once Soo Ho was no longer the focus I lost any lingering interest in this show. I just finished it to see how it would finally end, and to see if the ending would justify the depressing tone. Maybe some people found the end inspiring, but I did not. I felt like all the suspense lead to a pretty boring conclusion. There were a few themes about classism and trust that could have been interesting, but the story was just too cliché for me to invest any real feelings into it.

Overall if evil CEOs, terminal illness, rich people behaving badly, betrayal & revenge sound like the makings of a great drama, I'd say there are other dramas that do those things much better than this. But if you feel like brooding over how unfair the world is then maybe this is the perfect drama for you. As for me, I'd recommend just waiting for whatever drama Kim Jung Hyun has coming up next.

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Completed
It's Okay, That's Love
11 people found this review helpful
May 17, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 3
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
Ever get drama amnesia? For some reason, I could not remember ever watching this drama. I didn't rate it, or review it, and I couldn't remember any of the plot... I just had this vague familiar feeling about it. Normally that's a bad sign, but not in this case. I finally decided to watch it, or rewatch it, and I don't know how I could've forgotten something so good. As I started to watch each episode, I could feel certain plot points coming back to me, but not completely... slowly, withe each episode. Knowing what would happen didn't stop me at all from becoming addicted to this show, and eager to watch what happened next. The writing, direction, and cast were all THAT good,

Gong Hyo Jin and Jo In Sung are romcom MVPs. Hyo Jin is one of my favorites, and has had the good fortune of starring with some truly amazing male leads (including my kdrama baes So Ji Sub & Gong Yoo), but this match manages to rank high even on that list. In the beginning their banter went over my head, but I instantly loved watching them together. The way Jo In Sung would look and smile at her, to their tit for tat moments, made me swoon and cheer them on! Their chemistry was palpable, and their love story felt so real. Their flirting, their irrational fights, their struggle with their personal demons, their struggle to figure out how they fit in each other's lives... This drama manages to take a situation that would probably be a true mess in real life, and turn it into one of my favorite KDrama couples. It's also a mature adult relationship, which gave it an intimacy that many other KDrama romances lack. Yes, this story is primarily a love story, but there's also some suspense, a little melodrama, and a hilarious supporting cast.

Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo, at least to me, should be considered main characters. That's how important they are to the story. Watching the four of them in that house was awesome. I love the idea of friends who are like family, and who choose to live supporting each other. It's probably not ethical, but you have to throw all ethics away to enjoy this kind of drama... Hey, "It's ok, it's kdrama".

All of the minor characters are also multidimensional, no one is completely good or bad, which makes them feel more realistic and interesting.

I also have to mention Do Kyung Soo, who was so good that he broke my heart a few times as Kang Woo. He had his own great chemistry with Jo In Sung, which really made the character work well.

Even though I thought the main story was excellent, there were a few things that I didn't love, which stopped me from giving it a perfect score.

First, I understood the purpose of the patient stories, and introducing different disorders, but I didn't find them all that interesting. I think some of that is cultural. Some of what triggers the minor (and main) characters just didn't seem like a big deal to me. I could empathize, because the acting was good, but the story line itself still wasn't interesting to me. I did like the overall idea of introducing the disorders specifically, normalizing them like any sickness, and removing the stigma associated with them. It was also not done heavy handedly, which makes it more effective.

The other weak spot for me was Soo Kwang and Oh So Nyeo's relationship. They were great in their roles, but I just didn't like their relationship at all. Even though he was adorkable, he kept giving me dirty older dude vibes. Eventually they grew on me enough for me not to not be annoyed by their scenes, but I still never quite rooted for them. Part of the beauty of the show is that all the love relationships are messy, so it still worked, and that is a large part of the shows appeal.

The direction, I think, was perfect. There are certain scenes that are so well done visually that they were haunting. It's the same writer director team as "Padam Padam..." , and the "That Winter, the Wind Blows", so I am definitely a fan.

The music was great, and not your normal kdrama ost, but worked really well to enhance the story telling.

So would I watch this again? Duh! I knew what would happen, but I was still just as excited watching. Watching this again, like it was the first time, was like knowing a joke's punchline and still finding it completely hilarious. There are psychological elements, and a some twists, but knowing them doesn't ruin the show. I also totally missed the characters at the end, so that's enough of a reason alone to rewatch.

Overall, I think this is a must see drama. It's about how beautiful love can be in spite of major complications, and I loved it from the intriguing first episode to the awesome last episode. If you are in a difficult relationship, it may trigger some feelings, which may trigger some Dramnesia... (which I now suspect was what caused mine lol), but in the end, it's a really inspiring and entertaining story about trying to make relationships with each other work (whether romantic or platonic). If you normally find KDrama romance too cheesy, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you love to squeel at cutesy KDrama romcom moments, I think this drama is perfect for you. If you don't like romance at all, I think this may not be the perfect drama for you, but you should totally watch it anyway. There's a reason why the reviews are so high.

I will be adding it to my favorites list now, so I won't be able to forget it again.

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Completed
Money Flower
9 people found this review helpful
Feb 5, 2018
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
Money Flower is one of the most intense dramas I have ever watched. It felt like watching someone trying defuse a bomb while I was in the room. This is a slow burning revenge makjang, but I was hooked from start to finish. Don't let the seemingly slow pace fool you, because this drama is filled with suspenseful cliffhangers that will leave you sleepless from needing to know what will happen next. The cast is what really sells this drama, with so many brilliant performances. At the center of it all is Jang Hyuk, in a role that I think is him at his best.

Jang Hyuk first won me over in Fated to Love but this role is completely different. There's no infectious laughter, in fact he rarely cracks a smile, but as Pil Joo he shows so much emotion behind what on the surface seems like a permanent poker face.  From the beginning I was fascinated with, and rooting for, Pil Joo.  Seeing the constant torment on his face at each betrayal, then watching him always be a step ahead, was an addictive combination. Even though he is insanely manipulative, he's also extremely sympathetic, and it's impressive watching this master strategist implement his ultimate plan for revenge. Whatever praise he gets for this role is well deserved.

The majority of the rest of the cast is just as praise worthy, and help create the perfect atmosphere. With a character like Pil Joo, you need characters just as compelling to make the story work, and although everyone was really good, Jang Seung Jo, Lee Mi Sook, and Lee Soon Jae were perfection.  I loved Lee Soon Jae's matter of fact callousness as the head of the Jang family, Jang Gook Hwan (aka Grandpa from HELL).  He was so nonchalant about being so unbelievably evil that I almost had to laugh at times. I adored Seung Jo's manic charm as Boo Cheon (the ultimate frenemy). Boo Cheon was so complicated that he's the kind of character you sympathize with and want to see destroyed. I loved him, and loved to hate him. He was also really good at saying more with his expression than words could. He had one scene where just him closing the hotel door was one of the most gripping episode endings.

Then there is Mi Sook's Jung Mal Ran (aka Psycho Mommy Dearest). Mal Ran is the kind of villain that I love. She somehow made being completely unmerciful attractive. Without giving away too much, she is the main target for Pil Joo's revenge, and their scenes together are many of my favorite moments in the show. It seems weird to call what they had chemistry, but that's what it felt like... intense rivalry, constant suspicion for sure, but also a little sexual tension. Even her outfits were amazing.  I already liked her as one of the dueling mom's in Jealousy Incarnate, but I had no idea she was capable of this kind of performance. She is the worst mother possible, but in the best way!

The only character who was good but not as great as the others in my opinion is Park Se Young.  As Na Mo Hyun she did a good enough job, but with such an epic cast it's easy for her to look mediocre in comparison. It could also be the way her character was written, being the least duplicitous of the bunch. She does hold her own in many scenes, but always in a way that still seems to leave her out-shined by her costar.  I guess being the only goodie two shoes among the vicious can have that effect.

Betrayal, greed, and revenge is what drives this drama from start to finish, so don't get fooled by the genre tags or the synopsis. This is about THE WORST family you could ever imagine, and the fight to see who will be the next to lead the company once grandpa dies. Even though I've seen way too many dramas with this kind of plot, I don't ever remember one doing ruthless so well. Don't expect laughs, or anything even slightly resembling comic relief. Expect lots of people not trusting each other, and for good reason. Still it doesn't go overboard with melodramatic sadness, so its more engrossing than depressing. Instead of romance, I would say there is intense longing and deception. Instead of law, I would say that these characters take extreme liberties with the law in ways that are very entertaining. This is a drama where you wonder how far each character will go for their goal, and then stand back and watch them probably go way beyond what you would imagine they would do... at least that was the case with me. I had many jaw dropping moments at their actions.

Another thing worth mentioning is the music. It's less about songs and more about how much music is used to drive the intensity in the story. I especially loved the cliff hanger music at the end of each episode. Once I heard that music play I knew something unbelievable was about to happen. Even in the last episode, when I thought they couldn't possibly fit in another twist, that music always told me otherwise.

Would I watch this again? Absolutely, but I couldn't give it a perfect rewatch score, because knowing what will happen does lessen the intensity. The performances themselves are mesmerizing enough to keep me watching, but cliff hangers lose some of their charm when you know what will come next.

Overall I highly recommend this drama. The writing, directing, and acting were all too good to miss. If you want something light to watch, this is definitely not for you, but I'd still say add it to your queue for when you may be more in the mood. If you start watching and feel like it's too slow, this is one of those dramas that just gets more and more exciting as it goes on. If the idea of a makjang scares you away, think of it more as a revenge drama, and if revenge dramas aren't your thing, maybe think of it as a character driven melodrama. I say this because Money Flower is missing some of the elements I normally love in a drama, but I didn't really miss anything at all. I started watching with no expectations, and an open mind, and I knew early on that this would end up on my favorites list. It was so fun being shocked every week, and wanting to curse at my screen.  I was satisfied with the end, and liked that it still left me wanting more, but with enough closure to not feel cheated. After 24 episodes I am sad that it's over. I'm not sure there's another drama that can fill the intensity void this one will leave.

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Completed
Empress Ki
9 people found this review helpful
May 22, 2017
51 of 51 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers
I'm kinda in shock over how good this drama turned out to be considering how long I've been avoiding watching it. I knew the ratings were high, but because there were 51 episodes (which is enough to scare me away) it lived forever on my planning to watch cue. My advice is to not let episode-count-a-phobia stop you from watching this AMAZING drama. The impressive cast and the intriguing story make every episode worth watching, and before I knew it I was finished. By the end I even found myself oddly craving more, because I'd grown so attached to the world of "Empress Ki".

First, this is definitely one of the best cast ensembles I have ever seen in drama. I admit that I didn't check the cast list at all before watching, so there were so many pleasant surprises as far as actors I've loved in other dramas. Ha Ji Won is one of my favorites ("Secret Garden" being my actual favorite drama of all time). She's the ultimate sweet but bad@ss leading lady, and this character is perfect for even her. The story follows her journey from gender-bending youth to Empress (not a spoiler, so don't worry). She goes through such a range in this story that I was impressed with her from beginning to end. She is matched with Joo Jin Mo, who charmed me in the mediocre drama "Woman with a Suitcase", and super impressive Ji Chang Wook from "Healer" (another favorite of mine). I think each of their performances, and the chemistry between these three characters, were flawless. Jin Mo is perfectly cast as charming and heroic. Chang Wook's character is so emotionally complicated that his performance was one of my favorites of all, and so different than his acting in "Healer". This is the kind of dramatic love story that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster... Flirtation, Mistrust, Passion, Betrayal, Obsession, Loyalty... and they made me believe every moment of it. What I love about all of the characters is that they were so developed, with flaws and vulnerabilities, that it all felt real, even when the plot got outrageous.

I get overwhelmed when I think of everyone in the cast who deserves to be mentioned for giving such excellent performances, but I will only mention a few. Jung Woong is so good at playing complicated villains, like the one I loved so much in "I Hear Your Voice". Sometimes he gave me chills he's so good in this. Jun Gook Hwan is also an impressive villain, the kind you sometimes secretly root for just so you can keep watching them be evil. His sons were hotties, but Kim Jung Hyun deserves a special shout out for being the Duracell Bunny of evil... (he kept going and going and going). Baek Jin Hee was so slapable she was perfect. The Empress Dowager frustrated me the most because she was so good at being duplicitous. Kim Ji Han, with his sexy Alan Richman-esque voice, was also a standout for me. But honestly, I could just run down the entire cast list and praise everyone, from the servants, to the soldiers, to the royals. I love the bromances between the heroes, the catty smirks between the ladies, the nail biting fight scenes between almost everyone, even the kids... This is a cast with not only no weak links, but so many memorable performances.

As far as the story, it is really hard to keep a drama with so many long episodes interesting, but this drama absolutely does. This is a shakespearean level saeguk, with so many twists it's impossible to see them all coming. I also loved that the the drama starts near the end point, so you see where everything will lead first and then are glued to the screen watching how everything will finally get to that point. It also covers a lot of genres. There's romance, and action, and of course revenge, with even a few supernatural moments. There are also comedic moments, but know that this drama is definitely more tragedy than comedy, and often times frustrating and depressing (in an entertaining way) the further along the story gets. I also like that after being less enthusiastic about some of the middle episodes, the pace starts to pick up again near the end so much that I literally could not stop watching.

My critiques of this drama are very few. One is that the circumstances are so unbelievable at times that I almost wanted to laugh inappropriately, but the actors always made the story work no matter how crazy the plot got. Another issue for me was that I was bored by certain parts of the story, towards the middle, although they added to the character development, and made sense to the story as a whole, I was just personally less interested in some of the political rivalries and wars (especially in Wang Yoo's storyline). There are also tropes you find in a lot of dramas, but the storytelling is so engaging that it never feels cliché.

As for the ending, I thought it was simple and perfect. The last 2 episodes pack so much in that it was a little overwhelming, but I felt like there were no loose ends at all, and the very last moment kinda ends with a haunting question... at least that's how I interpreted it, which made the whole story complete.

Would I watch this again? DEFINITELY! It's now tied for my favorite Saeguk with "The Princess' Man". I'd probably take my time with a rewatch, and enjoy the performances, instead of rushing to finish in order to know what happens.

Overall, The characters will haunt me for a while. Every villain was sympathetic, and every hero/heroine pissed me off, which made the power struggles so much more compelling. I love stories like these that make me actually curious about the real people that inspired them. I know very little about the actual history, so I can't reference what is real vs what was made up. I can only assume that there's only a small amount of this story that's based actual events. However, like every good makjang drama, the more unrealistic the better.

I definitely recommend this one as a must watch! I was addicted by episode one. It's certainly not a lighthearted drama, so arm yourself with enough tissues, and be ready to curse at the screen, and clutch at your broken heart. Trust the ratings and reviews on this one, it really is THAT good. If you're a big fan of anyone in the cast, you don't want to miss them in this. 51+ hours later I don't think you will regret it.

Wow, This drama may have finally cured my episode-count-a-phobia!

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Completed
Nine: Nine Times Time Travel
14 people found this review helpful
Apr 19, 2014
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 8.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This is one of those dramas that has a lot of fans yet isn't necessarily popular, so I was really intrigued. I was actually ready to drop it after the first episode, but I'm glad I stuck to my '5 episodes before dropping' rule this time. The Episodes went from being boring to keeping me on the edge of my seat really fast. The combination of Time Travel and Mystery got me hooked, even though the characters and romance weren't as impressive to me. This drama definitely left me with mixed feelings, but no regrets after completing it.

I'll start with the romance, which is really the heart of the story, but was my least favorite part. Although the romance was written well, I just never really connected with the main couple the way I usually do when sucked into a K-drama. Jo Yoon Hee is super perky, and Lee Jin Wook knows how to look aloof & hot, but the chemistry between the two of them was lacking in my opinion. Jo Yoon Hee's cuteness was not enough to carry her through emotional scenes, and Lee Jin Wook (although a stronger actor than his co-star) too often seemed emotionless, even with all that his character goes through in the story. I wanted to fall in love with the love story much more than I did. Towards the end I cared a little more, but that's due to the great writing, not their performances.

In general, I think the acting in the entire show was ok, but not stellar. Some of the supporting cast had more personality than the main characters. Still, I can't say that anyone in the cast was really bad... well, except for Jeong Dong Hwan. The stupid faces he made as Choi Jin Cheol were so cartoonishly bad that it was starting to piss me off. He started to remind me of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.

I think the true star of this drama is the story. Once I got through the set up episodes, the story was non stop surprise revelations & plot twists, which I love. This is the kind of story that will leave you sleepless, as you marathon it, just so you can see what happens next. The story doesn't lose steam towards the end like most dramas do either, which is impressive. It also had the kind of ending that made me want to immediately re-watch the whole story from the beginning, although there weren't any real 'stand out' moments that I wanted to necessarily watch again. I'd re-watch just to see if knowing the ending would change how I see the rest of the drama.

If you're not a fan of open endings, consider this a warning. Still I loved the ending, which made me think, and I don't think was that ambiguous. I believe it was way better than if everything was spelled out clearly or tied up with a corny happily ever after bow. There also weren't any glaring loose ends, which considering how complicated the story gets, was enough closure for me.

I had no idea, based on the premise, that this would be one of the best written, and surprisingly believable, time travel k-dramas that I've seen. (and there are A LOT of time travel K-dramas!) With a different cast my score would have been much higher, which is the only reason why Nine: Nine Times Time Travel didn't quite make an "9" overall score from me.

My review may not be as high as everyone else's, but I understand why there are so many fans, and would definitely recommend it, because who needs sleep? lol!

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Completed
The Princess's Man
12 people found this review helpful
May 16, 2012
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
If I could only use one word to describe this drama, I would definitely use EPIC. This is my 3rd historical drama. The first was Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which unexpectedly became one of my favorites. The 2nd was The Moon that Embraces the Sun, which didn't quite live up to all the good reviews in my opinion. I decided to ignore the great reviews this time, and watch this with no expectations. I became instantly hooked. This is a truly ambitious story that combines romance, tragedy, and action seamlessly.

Most reviews compare the story to Romeo & Juliet, but I think that is an understatement. Though the story does revolve around two "star-crossed lovers" from opposing families, it's also about ruthless political ambition, best friends becoming archenemies, family betrayal, unlikely heroes, and revenge. Like many Shakespearean plays, the story embellishes some historical events, & figures, which helps to make it feel authentic. Every character is expertly played, and written. The end of every episode had me anxious to watch the next one. I was sometimes frustrated by characters, and situations, but never bored. I was a little disappointed, and frustrated, by the ending, but I was also impressed that it didn't take the expected route. I was tempted to give this drama a 9 because of the ending, but I decided it was just too good for that.

The cast was definitely outstanding. The characters really had great depth, and real character arcs. The heroes were flawed, and the villains showed vulnerability. You can actually see the characters change (for better or worse) as the show progresses. Kim Yeong Cheol made me actually empathize with his merciless, and unbearably stubborn, portrayal of Prince Suyang/King Sejo. There are too many great characters to name them all individually, but I have to mention Lee Min Woo who had such an unexpected effect on me as Jung Jong, with his goofy smile. He was the first character to bring me to boo-hoo tears. The friendship between Seung Yoo, Jong, and Officer Shin was just as heartbreakingly tragic as the main romance.

The multiple stories were balanced perfectly, and never made the plot drag, or feel like mere filler. The romance is, however, the heart of the story, and Park Shi Hoo's awesome performance is what ultimately holds the show together - I mean, he is the Princess' Man after all.

I can't say enough good things about Park Shi Hoo. Whether a scene called for romance, action, comedy, or tender emotion, he handled it all flawlessly. As for Moon Chae Won, I didn't even realize that she was the obsessed girl in Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy, which I think says a lot about her ability to lose herself in a distinct role. I also appreciated that she was a just as strong as the male lead, in her own way. I think they had great chemistry, and worked very well together, especially when considering the grand scope of their romance in this drama, and the range of their feelings for each other.

The direction, the cinematography, and the music made every episode feel like a movie to me. I did initially think the opening theme sounded a bit too much like a korean "carol of the bells", but it soon added to my excitement for the coming episode.

I highly recommend this drama as having something for everyone, but this is definitely a tragic one. If you're looking for a cute/feel good drama, look elsewhere. For fans of historical drama, this is a must. For non fans of historical drama, this one is worth giving a try. I would love to watch this again, even knowing the kinda frustrating conclusion. It's such a good story, that knowing what will happen doesn't ruin it, and in some ways may make it better.

The Princess' Man is one of my new favorites for sure. The 24+ hours spent watching it were so worth it!

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Completed
My Holo Love
7 people found this review helpful
Feb 17, 2020
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
I feel like "My Holo Love" showed up completely out of nowhere in my Netflix recommendations, and I honestly wasn't going to watch it, but I'm so glad it did. I have watched so many Human falls for AI dramas before (like I'm Not a Robot and Are You Human Too?) and I just expected this to be more of the same. Even though this drama is definitely full of clichés (car crashes, facial blindness, repressed memories, convenient coincidences, narrow escapes) this story is definitely unique and so easy to binge-watch. 12 episodes felt like the perfect length, and I easily and eagerly finished this entire drama in a weekend. I think it really is a great story, with a not too heavyhanded message about human connections that I really appreciate. This theme also isn't unique, but these characters and their journey certainly are.

Obviously, the person in this cast deserving of the most praise is Yoon Hyun Min in the dual role of the lone tech genius Nan Do and the ultimate supportive ai hologram Holo. He really made them feel like two completely different characters and I completely sympathized with both of them. Sometimes scenes with actors talking to themselves can feel cheesy but Nan Do and Holo's scenes always felt very realistic. He is matched with Go Sung Hee as the socially awkward Han So Yun who was also so good and easy to sympathize with. They definitely have great chemistry, and this drama certainly centers around romance, but I like that there are also themes about self-acceptance and supportive friendships that are just as strong. This certainly isn't the first drama about a robot/ai/hologram that directly or indirectly teaches humans how to connect with each other but that doesn't stop this from being a memorable story with great characters.

The supporting cast is great, and I loved that some of the bad guys were sympathetic and some of the good guys weren't always likable. The duality of some of the main supporting characters made them way more interesting and realistic and helped to make the story less predictable. However, there is one character who stayed pretty much one-note, Nam Myung Ryul as the ruthless and moralless Baek Nam Gyu, but he was just so good at being evil that it worked well. The story is definitely over the top in some ways and melodramatic at some points but I still think that it all comes across as completely plausible because the cast is so good.

Would I watch this again? Yup. I'm glad all of the episodes were released at once because it was fun just watching them without interruption. It's also the kind of story that I would enjoy watching again even if I already know how the story ends, especially because of So Yun, Holo, and Nan Do. It also is well told, and concise without much filler, so the episodes feel like they breeze by, while still providing the right amount of action, butterflies, and feels, and a very satisfying ending.

Overall, It kinda reminded me of a long Korean "Black Mirror" episode, but I felt much more emotionally invested. In many ways it's a look at how disconnected we have become due to the convenience of technology and the value of true human connections. I laughed, I cried, I got frustrated, I felt inspired. If you ever felt shy, insecure, emotionally guarded, or distrusting of humans in general, I think these characters will resonate at least a little. From the beginning to the very end (and I really loved the ending) this story is well told and had me hooked, which made me forgive any flaws in the logic, possible plot holes, or extra cheesy moments. This is a great sci-fi romance, and although it doesn't quite match some of my current favorites, it comes very close because it's so much fun to watch. It's certainly worth watching just to see Yoon Hyun Min be a second lead ina triangle with himself (impressive), and the pretty imaginative special effects. If you're looking for a drama that's binge-tastic you found one! I think if you give it a chance you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was. This drama has a more than meets the eye quality that I appreciated, and that's not necessarily a Holo glasses nod, but if the glasses fit... watch it ; )

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Completed
No Mercy
7 people found this review helpful
May 5, 2013
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
No Mercy is as Intense revenge thriller, that certainly lives up to it's name. The story is well told from start to finish. The ending is unexpected, but doesn't feel gimmicky like some twist endings I've seen. As revenge thrillers go, this one is near perfect.

The story itself has a lot of familiar thriller elements. There's a murder mystery, a kidnapping, a race against time, and a cunning criminal behind it all. Ryoo Seung Bum is great as the subtle, and unsuspecting, mastermind Lee Seong Hyo. I liked that he wasn't a crazy over the top villain. It made him seem more sinister. He is matched against forensic expert Kang played by Sol Kyung Gu, and tenacious rookie detective Min Seo-yeong played by Han Hye Jin. Sol Kyung Gu was great, but I was a little less impressed with Min Seo-yeong. There was nothing wrong with how she played the character, but she just seemed a little timid and forgettable for my taste. There was also an obnoxious cop, who seemed too much like comic relief to me. Still, the entire cast was pretty solid, although the real star of this movie is the script.

In the beginning the plot is pretty slow, but trust me when I say that you'll want to pay attention to all that's going on. I was reminded of other thrillers that I love (Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, Primal Fear) but I think No Mercy is still an original. I had no idea how it would all end until the very end. Now that I know the whole story, I am curious to watch it again from that perspective, but I admit that some of the suspense will be gone. I also want to warn viewers that there are some very graphic moments, but nothing explicit without a reason.

I know it gets compared to Old Boy a lot, even by the friend who recommended it to me, but unlike Old Boy's over the top revenge ending, this ending was just brutally haunting.

I think this is a must see for any fan of revenge thrillers, or if you just want to be told a great story (even if it's not a happy one).

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Completed
Shining Inheritance
7 people found this review helpful
Nov 30, 2011
28 of 28 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
I have such mixed feeling about this drama. It definitely earns some high drama marks for being addictive. The main character goes through so much betrayal, and the step mother is one of the most ruthless characters I have ever seen. There's also a great love "rectangle", which includes some awesome chemistry between the main characters. What stopped me from loving this drama is the fact that it's 28 episodes long, and what fills up that time is sometimes boring, annoying, & repetitive.

Way too much time is spent on characters whining about money. They whine about not having enough, who's getting it, and how to get more of it. I was tempted to fast forward through some scenes with particular characters, but I was afraid I'd miss too many key plot points. I would have preferred it if Lee Seung Ki, and Han Hyo Joo had more screen time together instead.

Though I loved watching Lee Seung Ki's character's transformation the most, the entire cast impressed me. Of course Kim Mi Sook stands out as the epitome of a wicked stepmother, but she could have had less screen time in my opinion. Quite a few of the characters have really good epic crying scenes, though I personally was never moved to tears by the story. Still, the actor that impressed me the most overall was actually Yun Joon Suk, who was so believable that I initially thought he was autistic.

I am glad that I decided to stick with it, and watched the whole thing. There are definitely a few moments that I already want to watch again, but I don't know if I could ever watch all 28 episodes again.

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Completed
Heart to Heart
10 people found this review helpful
Mar 11, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
Heart to Heart is a refreshingly unique RomCom that I didn't expect to like as much as I did. It was after completing it that I found out it is from the same director and writer who made "Coffee Prince", one of my favorite dramas EVER, which makes total sense. Like "Coffee Prince", this drama deals with mature relationships, and I love how they both show how complicated, messy, unpredictable, and unclear relationships can be. I think most of us can relate to that! So don't expect 16 episodes of attraction and awkwardness building up to a backhug, it's not that type of romance. However, there are plenty of cute moments thanks to Chun Jung Myung and Choi Kang Hee.

Cha Hong Do and Ko Yi Seok’s chemistry was so unexpected that my jaw literally dropped. I started watching assuming I knew how the story would go… Awkward “unattractive” girl with issues and obnoxious rich guy with family drama… so many KDramas follow this storyline, but this one deviates from what’s expected. I hated their dynamic in the beginning, but by episode 4 everything completely changed! Chun Jung Myung and Choi Kang Hee were so good together that their relationship felt real, and I couldn’t stop myself from watching them. I remember liking Choi Kang Hee in “Protect the Boss”, and some of that no nonsense attitude showed up sometimes in this drama too. I remember Chun Jung Myung from “What’s up Fox”, and even though that was made almost 10 years ago, he had the same unexpected sexiness mixed with cuteness which makes him a perfect KDrama romantic lead. They may not look the part of an epic kdramaland couple, but his babyface adorableness, and her uniqueness, completely won me over, and was seriously steamy. If you’re still looking for eye candy, Lee Jae Yoon fills that role very well, even with the dumb hair. I’m still missing his character from “I Have a Lover”, so I was happy to see him in something else, with a much more significant role (I will be stalking… I mean watching his other dramas for sure). He’s equally charming too, which makes for an awesomely complicated love triangle… which turns into an odd love pentagon at one point, but that speaks to the uniqueness of this drama.

I give a definite 10 rating for the main actors, and for all of the supporting actors, except one. Yi Seok’s father is bad, like really bad. So bad I have to write it in the review, even though he is barely in any scenes. So bad I had to take half a point away. I really liked Detective Yang, and thought Chairman Grandpa was great. The person who I literally thought was useless until the later episodes was So Hee. I know she’s an idol, and I think she did a good job, but she was still annoying. She kept behaving in a way that I guess was supposed to be cute, and I didn’t find her, or it, cute at all. She also seemed extremely childish, so it was hard for me to take her in a relationship seriously, especially not a real relationship with Detective Eye Candy. The show is written so well that even she started to grow on me, and I eventually stopped thinking of her character as useless. That’s another thing I loved about this drama. There were really no throwaway/filler moments or characters.

I really do have to applaud the writer and director. I loved that each episode starts with what will happen later in the episode, which instantly won my automatic interest from the very beginning. I loved sometimes seeing things from the character’s point of view. They were able to incorporate a lot of cool storytelling styles without being too gimmicky. I also loved how they approached the theme of Love, what it is, what it can endure, and with characters really being honest about how they feel (which isn’t always good). I can’t really say anything bad about the story, only that it switches genres, almost completely, about halfway through. Suddenly it goes from RomCom to Family Melodrama, and although it makes sense to the story, it is still a different tone than the beginning, which some viewers may not like. The family drama was not my favorite part, but it did bring depth to the characters that I liked a lot.

About the music, the soundtrack is as quirky as the show. I liked some songs, and hated others, but every song matched the story well, even the ringtones!

Is “Heart to Heart” rewatchable? Definitely! I finished the last episode and immediately started to rewatch episodes 4 & 5. I know I will watch this all again at some point, and I can even endure the less interesting parts, because they still add to the overall story.

This drama definitely won my heart over completely. Whenever I thought I could predict which drama cliché would be used next, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s also refreshing to see unconditional love stories, where flaws aren’t deal breakers (I’ll give just one spoiler - There is no amazing make over, which also made me happy). I definitely recommend this drama, and I recommend watching it with an open mind. You have to ignore things like therapist ethics violations, police brutality, identity fraud, and of course stalking, and just embrace the knowledge that some things are ok in Kdramaland. I also recommend waiting until episode 4 before deciding to drop it, because the first few episodes are not a good gauge for how the rest of the show will be. It’s also binge-watch friendly (It took me 3 days to complete). By the end of the last episode I was completely satisfied, and inspired by love and all it’s possibilities.

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Completed
Ho Goo's Love
10 people found this review helpful
Feb 11, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
I was so pleasantly surprised by Ho Goo's Love. At first I wasn't impressed at all, and It definitely took a while for me to warm up to the characters. A naive character falling in love with a cold hearted character is a standard K Drama formula, so I couldn't imagine how this could cause so many reviewers to describe it as "original". Wild imaginings... frustrating misunderstandings... high school flashbacks... secret crushes... All of this has been done in so many other dramas, so why is this one special? Well, for me, there was a moment that took me so by surprise that I just had to watch the next episode immediately. From that point on I was hooked.

In a lot of ways this is a conventional rom-com, but the love stories themselves are definitely unconventional. Sure there is a love triangle, that turns into a rectangle, but it's a refreshing approach that got me more invested with each episode. There's also one main character, who doesn't say a word, who was the true star of this love story, at least to me.

The cast is really awesome, though I will admit that my least favorite was Uee. She did a good job, but I just didn't like her as much as the other main characters. I admit that her "revised" look was distracting. I can't really say anything bad about her performance, but I was only interested in seeing her on screen with Choi Woo Shik, who she did have great chemistry with.

Choi Woo Shik, on the other hand, totally won me over. I thought he would be too silly to take seriously, at first, but he was the perfect balance of sweetness, and seriousness, to make me fall for Hoo Goo's charm. Im Seul Ong won me over too, when I swore I would hate him. Kang Cheol flips conventional arrogance on it's head, which makes him an awesome character. My favorite cast member turned out to be Lee Soo Kyung, who I was surprised to see was so much younger than the rest of the cast. She was so good as Ho Gyeong, also the only character that I liked from the very beginning, and I am looking forward to seeing much more from her.

I should also give an honorable mention to Ho Goo's parents, who I thought were really great too! The cast, as a whole, really had great chemistry too!

Even though I loved the cast, and the love stories, I could not give the story a super high score. To me, even with all it's originality, there were a few too many clichés, and preachy moments. Though I would consider this a light drama, it does touch on some very serious topics, though only lightly. I'm sure certain topics are more serious when considering Korean culture. I wonder if any controversial moments went over my head because of cultural differences. I am sure being American is what made some of the moments feel so preachy to me.

The music? Well, it didn't really stand out to me, which makes it neither good, nor bad.

Would I watch it again? Sure! Some of the charm will be lost, now that I know what's happening, but there are so many moments that I could watch again. Immediately after the last episode, I had the urge to flash back to my favorite scenes (I'm still laughing about one kiss reaction in particular).

Overall, I would recommend this drama, especially to those looking for a good love story. It's also a much funnier, and lighter drama than the subject matter suggests. They don't take certain topics as far as they could have gone, but I applaud them for going there at all. I also liked the ending, and what it had to say about relationships in general.

I say, give it a chance, and wait until at least episode 5, if you're not convinced that you will like it. It took me about that long to really get into it, and now that it's over, I really miss it. Add me among those who consider this an underrated drama. I'm so glad I found out about it.

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Completed
Healer
10 people found this review helpful
Apr 14, 2015
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 10

It's a beautiful feeling...

I really loved "Healer"! It's definitely one of the best drama's I've seen recently, even though my rating may be a little lower than the all 10 reviews left by most viewers. It's the kind of drama that is multi-genre and appeals to a wide audience. It's also the kind of drama that makes 20 episodes seem like not enough time! The romance, suspense, relationships, action, and great characters make every episode fun to watch. I'm definitely going through withdrawal now that it's over.

Ji Chang Wook as the "Healer" is so good! I immediately developed a crush on his Superman/Clark Kent routine. He went from dorky/awkward to action hero with such ease. I was definitely impressed by his performance, and hope to see him in another drama soon. Park Min Young was the perfect match for him. I liked that she was brave in spite of her fears and comfortable being herself. My favorite part of this drama was the romance between these two. The chemistry between Park Min Young and Ji Chang Wook is addictive to watch! The romance wasn't too cheesy either (so nonromance fans shouldn't get turned off). I felt like I was really watching two people fall in love.

The entire cast gets a 10 from me, but Hacker Ajumma was probably my favorite of the rest of the cast. Still, my second favorite part of the entire drama was Reporter Yeo's outfits. Every single outfit was so amazing that I just had to mention it. Also, I'm a fan of the red glasses!

I made the story score much lower than most, even though I loved almost every episode, and was totally into the action, and suspense. My issue with the story was that it was complicated to follow because of how it was told. The backstory was such a large part of the main story, and details were revealed so slowly, that I got confused and would sometimes lose interest. There were so many characters, and relationships, and flashbacks, that it was just hard to keep track. Eventually, it does get explained, and I was still entertained by comedic, and action scenes in the meantime. It also makes my rewatch score pretty high. Now that I know what the story is, I think that it would be awesome to watch it all again.

Overall "Healer" was an awesome superhero kind of story, that is exciting without relying on all the usual KDrama clichés. The ending leaves some loose ends, but it also leaves you wanting more. I'm so glad I decided to watch this drama while not knowing much about it. It a great vehicle for Ji Chang Wook, and Healer is such a great character, that I would be happy to see a "Healer 2"!

This is definitely a great drama to add to your must-watch list!

*Update* After a second viewing I just bumped up all of my original scores because years later this drama still holds up and I think loved it, even more, the 2nd time!

And as for the soundtrack... as much as "Eternal Love" is still kinda annoying, "You" is still my jam!

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Completed
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
10 people found this review helpful
Mar 24, 2012
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
I can't believe I've fallen in love with yet another drama about a girl disguised as a boy. I saw all the good reviews, but still expected it to be another wannabe coffee prince, or the korean version of Yentl. I also expected to be bored by a historical drama with a predictable/cliché storyline, but instead I was hooked from the very first episode.

What makes this drama so great, from the very beginning, is the four lead characters. As much as i loved the romance in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (including what's now one of my favorite k-drama kiss scenes), I still loved the bromance between all four main characters more. Yoo Ah In as the impetuous rebel Moon Jae Shin, Micky Yoochun as the logic driven bookworm Lee Sun Joon, Park Min Young as the inspiringly ambitious "Kim Yoon Shik", and (my favorite) Song Jung Ki as the playfully manipulative Goo Yong Ha, are each outstanding in their role, and have amazing chemistry with each other. There were even times when the chemistry between Moon Jae Shin & Goo Yong Ha rivaled the main couple.

I also have to give a special mention to Kim Min Seo as Cho Sun, who was my favorite supporting character, and played her part expertly. It was really refreshing to see two strong female characters, especially since the story revolves around an all boys school. This is now among my favorite all time dramas, mainly because of the cast. I loved them so much, I was tempted to rewatch the entire drama right after I finished it.

One small criticism I have is that the political part of the plot was sometimes hard for me to follow, since korean history is completely (and literally) foreign to me. This is not really a fault of the drama, but it did stop me from personally seeing this as a perfect 10. It became much easier for me to follow the noron/soron conflicts after a while, but I could still enjoy the drama without being 100% clear. There's a good amount of action, and mystery, which keeps the political plot entertaining.

Another criticism is, as much as I liked the endings for the 4 main characters, there were still unanswered questions, and some supporting characters that deserved better endings.

Overall, there was much more to praise than criticize. I can definitely see myself rewatching this multiple times, even if it's just to see Goo Yong Ha spin. I know there are many dramas with similar plots, but a drama that's entertaining from the 1st to the last episode is rare. I recommend Sungkyunkwan Scandal as one of those rare dramas.

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Completed
Bride of the Century
24 people found this review helpful
Apr 20, 2014
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
To me, watching Bride of the Century was like watching two completely different shows. One show was a typical K-drama romance, which I enjoyed, and the other was a revenge ghost mystery, which I hated.

I'll start with the romance, which is what stopped me from dropping the show. It's another basic arrogant chaebol meets quirky girl cinderella story. If you're a fan of this type of drama, you know exactly what to expect (jealous 2nd leads, family feuds, evil moms, hilariously cute fights, love triangles/squares/pentagons...), but what makes this drama different is that the main love triangle is between two girls pretending to be the same person. This part of the story only works, and works well, because of the lead actress Yang Jin Sung. She plays both characters so distinctively well, that I could tell who was who just based on their expression. Not many actors could pull this kind of role off, and she definitely does.

Then of course there's the leading man, Lee Hong Ki, who made me cry in "You're Beautiful", this time cast in a more mature role. I think he was great, and looked completely different without the bleached hair. He's strong in emotional scenes, as well and likable in lighthearted funny scenes, and together they made a perfect match. I loved their chemistry, and although predictable, I liked their story. If this was strictly a romance, my overall score would be higher.

What I didn't like about this drama was the ghost story. To be blunt, I thought it was poorly written, dragged out way too long, and then was rushed at the end. I was initially intrigued by the mystery, but I soon grew bored with it. Then, out of nowhere, in the last few episodes, they rush through explaining everything in the story with epic flashbacks. I honestly wasn't interested in the backstory at all, which seemed thrown together. They did their best to explain everything by the end, but a lot of the explanations were uninteresting, and even silly, to me. There are also a lot of 'time filler' scenes at the end. Again, it was the great cast that stopped me from skipping through these scenes. I thought the story was bad, but the actors who played the characters made me want to care more than I did.

Another issue I had with the writing was how some characters seem to have complete changes in personality without reason, or explanation. I loved Na Doo Rim's fighting spirit, that allowed her to even fight grown men, but all of a sudden she couldn't even take on a middle aged woman, or run without tripping. She made some choices toward the end that made absolutely no sense to me, and became a weaker, less interesting character as the show progressed.

Speaking of badly written characters, I see that I am not alone in thinking that Jang Yi Hyun's feelings for Doo Rim were a little creepy. I also had a huge problem believing that so many women were so desperate for love that they would sacrifice their life for it. Really? That idea seemed a little too one-sided, and sexist, but maybe that's just me. Giving up your lifestyle, sure, but actually giving up your life? That just seems a little too over-dramatic, even for K-Drama.

Overall, I am torn between the good acting, and bad writing. If this was Kang Joo & Doo Rim's love story, and about 4 or 5 episodes shorter, I would recommend it. If you are a vengeful ghost mystery fan, which I am, I think you will be very disappointed. I liked a lot of moments in this drama, but I couldn't see myself watching the entire thing again. There were times I couldn't wait for the next episode, but by the end I was forcing myself to complete it, because each hour felt like a century.

I guess, if you're between dramas, and lower your expectations, there is enough in Bride of the Century to probably keep you entertained.

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