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omo-omo-omo
celebrate the differences we have, even in dramas opinions!
Survival Thriller Show with Wes Anderson direction - Must Watch!
If you like narration as in Wes Anderson's film "The Budapest Hotel" and survival game dramas/movies that showcase human desperation like Squid Games, Alice in Borderland & The Platform - then you must watch this show. Worth the binge watch!PRO:
• Almost everything - good plot, pacing, acting, suspense, moral lesson
• Unique Factor: narration like Wes Anderson film done by the main character (Floor #3), changes in aspect ration. Easter egg in the end where another character (Floor #7) opens floor to Season 2
• Compact format, but does due diligence to cover every character's backstory, changes during the game & after
CON:
• Not exactly a negative point - but the show does not give immense thrill, only cause we know of shows that have come previously like Squid Games and Alice in Borderland. So for some this may blur into the same category & not be unique.
• Personally did not like the sacrifice shown in the end, though it fits well in the story. But just my opinion that the finale episode could have ended differently.
OVERALL:
If this genre is to your liking - give it a watch, else skip. Not a unique-never-seen-before drama, but compact format makes it a good watch if you enjoy such thrilling survival shows that focus on how humans will do anything to survive!
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Love, in its purest form - can create Miracles ❤️
What is a miracle? One of the answers could be: finding love that is selfless and pure, especially in today's world. Which is why movies like this make such a deep impression on you & tugs at your heartstrings!Story-wise: An intellectually-challenged man & his daughter live happily in their own world. However, their lives are disrupted when the father is wrongly accused of a heinous crime & sent to prison. Fellow prisoners & the warden mistreat him, given the gravity of his crimes - but over time, they realize their mistake & conclude that the man is framed. To make amends - they try to unite him with his daughter within the prison cell and in doing so - experience a Miracle that will last them all a lifetime! ❤️
Within this straightforward narrative lies a tapestry of powerful emotions:
• Anger/Frustration: when you witness the injustice.
• Happiness: when you see the love between - father/daughter, fellow prisoners, warden and officers
• Sadness: when you realize that there are somethings beyond you & you give in
• Hope: when you know even when everything seems lost and at the end, that is when miracles happen! ❤️
I know the focus was the above, but I wish they had shown the wrong-doers getting punished & accepting their mistakes in front of the main leads.
Overall: Highly recommend this to ALL. I myself held off watching it since long as I knew it would be a tear-jerker. Late to watch it, but glad that I did not miss this gem - one of the greatest film experience of our times, that has become a classic. In case you have not seen it yet - don't wait, keep a tissue box handy & watch the miracle unfold! ❤️
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Overhyped - Nothing New, Old Plot in New Packaging
Just another K-drama with complicated love-story amidst power-struggling conglomerate family, enemies from past & present, case of terminal illness, amnesia, accidents at the crucial point - finally happy ending with endless promises of everlasting love! The drama is the usual tried & tested K-drama formula that we have known in countless other stories, just executed with fresh casting. The lead pair & marketing efforts make this drama popular, in my humble opinion - which I respect & feel which is what made me take note & watch it. But sadly neither the story nor the characters had any depth for it to remain memorable or call it a drama worth the hype it has created.PROS:
• Pace: Easy to follow storyline, but can be seen as sluggish.
• Good cinematography & OST (especially: Crush's Love You with all My Heart)
CONS:
• Nothing new/memorable/worth rewatching as hyped (Please see below to know what is "memorable" imo)
• Superficial acting:
They have casted such talented artists but they are doing the bare minimum. None of them resonated with me as the character lacked depth, hence did not make me feel the emotions they were out to portray (except for the villain and Hae-In's brother but that was so little). Going around in social media, that everyone's been crying so much seeing the lead pair - it did not work for me. I have seen men crying onscreen, in fact this is one of the best things I applaud K-dramas for - letting the men show emotions. This is one my first drama of the ML - he's good at the whole puppy eyes vibe and cute thing - but his tears really felt fake. The only point where I almost teared up was for the ending of the grandfather (chairman of Queen group).
OVERALL:
This drama has the same old ingredients with different packaging. There is nothing in this drama, that I will quote today or 10 years later. It is a good-to-average drama, if you don't watch it, you are not missing anything in terms of remarkable work in K-drama universe. My rating is still pretty basis the mechanism I have tried building, see it here: https://mydramalist.com/profile/omo-omo-omo)
WHAT I MEAN BY "MEMORABLE" DRAMA:
Read the lines below, as soon as you read it - the visual will pop up in your head, quite vividly. That's what I call the power of a good drama.
1. "Kim Bok Joo is used as shield by Jung Joon Hyeong" - Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
2. "Let's go to the Playstore" - Goblin
3. "Gwenchana Gwenchana" - Welcome to Waikiki
4. "Samantha and Rachel" - Business Proposal
5. "All Handsome Men are my Oppas" - Kill Me, Heal Me
6. "Red Light, Green Light (Mugunghwa kkoci pieot seumnida)" - Squid Games
Then there are some shows that I cannot even say one thing cause the whole drama is iconic and a trendsetter:
Boys over Flowers, Coffee Prince, Signal, Move to Heaven, Mr Queen, Misaeng, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon etc.
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Vengeance can give Justice, but real peace comes from forgiveness!
⭐PROS:The story's main theme is vengeance by a mother who lost a child and a child who lost a parent - who make questionable decisions while blinded by anger & grief, unaware that there is a bigger mastermind behind the injustice they are going through. As the drama progresses & unravels the mystery - it beautifully showcases characters coming to terms with their loss, grief, loneliness & finally peace - in varying degrees.
The latter is a great point shown in the drama - cause while the incident (loss of a dear one) may have been a common point for many characters involved, each of them has their own way of coping with it. And in doing so it shows the growth and strength of that character. Love the ending - I like how realistic they kept it without making it flowery in the end, cause such stories are raw emotions throughout which you cannot tie the ends with a flower and bow. Really likes how each character comes to together in the hour of need - in spite of the bad blood they had before.
⭐CONS:
The story is not new - and while the actors are all great names of the industry and deliver their role well, it was not remarkable/memorable for me. I have seen all the actors in other dramas and know how powerful they can be - here they felt weak in comparison. Not that they are bad - just that they are doing this for the sake of it - they are actors here, they did not live the characters - as per me.
Also, the pacing of this drama was a con for me, and this is a personal opinion. I'm someone who enjoys dramas having breakneck speed, but I believe while this drama maybe tagged as thriller, mystery - it was that but also healing and wholesome, hence for many the pacing would not be an issue but rather a very emotional ride.
⭐OVERALL:
Hence, rating this is a 7 - which in my books is a good drama. Not a masterpiece or something I'll watch again, or recommend greatly to anyone. But rather it is a good watch one time watch if these are the themes that interest you.
⭐ MILD SPOILER - to highlight some great work / small things but went a long way:
- Love how the son-in-law comes to take care of the mother-in-law. And even before that while his mother was earlier a cold character, it is amazing to see how in her heart she actually a warm person and is just looking out for her family - immediate and in-laws too.
- The sisters, tbh, it would not work the way it did in real life; but it was a beautiful relationship and very well done by both the actresses.
- The brother-in-law had a very minimal screentime, but still was so crucial at important change of scenes. Usually in dramas crucial information is lost because main characters "miss" each other and then cause a lot frustrating misunderstandings. I like how here the brother-in-law was the narrator in a way who kept the information flowing from one character to another. Eg: how he tells his sister-in-law about the reality of Cha Eun Woo's character. Also how in the end - he tells his sister-in-law about Eun Woo's mother etc. Also his mother acted as a conduit to relay the information to her elder son about his mother-in-law 's dementia.
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Good Drama, if you go with right expectation (i.e. lower them)
Prepare yourself mentally before starting this drama - that this would be cliched in every sense: characters, situations, romance & mystery. It is one of those dramas that does not need a lot of brain power, and should be taken lightly.Acting: This is my first drama seeing both the FL and ML for the first time in drama (I have seen the FL in some minor role and ofc as part of her girl group). They both do not act that will make you sit up and applaud but are not terrible either. The rest of the cast are also easy on the eyes & brain as the drama progresses, but nothing memorable.
Plot-wise: Too cliche to the core - but then sometimes one is in mood of such plots when you do not want to use much of your brain cells. In that respect this drama delivers, but if you go with high expectation you will be highly disappointed.
Overall - recommended only if you have nothing else to watch. Nothing is memorable about it, but when you watch it somehow it passes time really well.
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Not a nail-biting revenge drama, falling short in the end.
Barring the last few episodes, this is a good drama. Strong start, great cast & acting - the revenge plot dwindled towards the end with some unnecessary elements. Guess, the ending/revenge being satisfactory or not would differ people to people & hence affect the overall liking for this drama. For me, it wasn't the triumphant-fist-pump-the-air kind of revenge in the end that I love so I was unsatisfied. But the writers tied up all the knots- which makes it a decent if not great finish. Main for me the revenge arc was average : 5-6 out of 10. It had great potential but was not suspenseful/unexpected & felt mediocre when delivered in the final episodes.Fav Aspects:
1. The female friendships
2. Men (ML, Chef, U&K Lawyer) being such green flags
3. Decent Antagonists (the FL's friend & boyfriend/fiancé)
What I Did Not Like:
1. Ep 12-16 were rushed, had unnecessary angst & characters (eg: ML's ex-fiancée & greedy parents)
2. Lead Pair Chemistry was Lacking (yes, even with all the hot kisses)
3. Wished Ju Ran & Yoo Hee Yeon (the support FLs) had more time for their stories & not just hints at the end.
Overall: 7/10
Decent one-time watch given the hype & media coverage, but not something I will rate in my top 10 list of revenge dramas.
(see how I rate dramas explanation: https://mydramalist.com/profile/omo-omo-omo )
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Started Out Great - Made Average by Past Life Story & Airing Schedule
This was one of my highly anticipated dramas of 2023 cause of the story & Cha Eun Woo. The downfall of this drama was its airing schedule (frustrating) & the past life storyline in last 4-5 episodes (complete snooze-fest). The drama starts off very well - with the mystery of the FL's dog curse, romance & comedy that plays out as she tries to break the curse with the ML & the supporting characters who add to the crazy, witty and cute storyline. They should have stopped it with the curse breaking & modern love story - cause the historical/past life was just unbearable. It was the same old story of revenge/past lovers/misunderstandings and executed very poorly (I literally 2x speed watched it).❤️ What I Liked:
- Modern Storyline has a good mix romance, comedy & mystery (FL's dog curse, ML's fear of dogs & how they come together)
- FL's Acting is Amazing: even her human personality was dog-like which made it endearing, believable & not over-the-top.
- Main Leads have good chemistry & great visuals (making you scream internally at the cuteness)
- CGI was remarkable, one of the best technology + acting harmony!
- Support Characters are good, not overshadowing the main plot or leads but doing what they should: support & did it well!
? What I Didn't Like:
- Past Life/Historical Storyline: Complete snooze fest, did not even excite or intrigue me
- Past Life Characters: Because of the storyline, their presence seemed not required.
- Airing Schedule: It won't matter for the new watchers, but this was a very big factor cause the continuity was broken. So all the feelings that I felt - excitement, suspense, cute/happy were lost cause the wait was too long, frustrating.
⭐OVERALL:
- Good one-time watch, cause the plot is nice and delivered well (modern > historical)
- My rating is low cause it is not a earth-shattering-never-seen-before story + last episodes & airing schedule made it worse.
- Hence, 6/10 | Above Average Drama for me. Would have been a 7-7.5 had it aired more frequently, or binged it at one-go.
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Average, Over-Hyped Drama: Recycling Fantasy/Makjang Storylines
Being a Netflix production, this drama already had created a buzz even before airing. Now at the end, the only thing that worked for it were the stunning visuals, addicting main OST & chemistry of the main leads. It had created a great build-up of the mystical element but loses it with the lackluster revenge plot, unnecessary past life stories and conclusion that was just there cause happy ending is needed. Had already posted about it but this drama should have just kept with the modern story and wrapped up in 10-12 episodes. But alas - they stretched it so much that what was initially exciting became super boring & you just fast forward to finish it out of frustration than eagerness.What Worked:
• Stunning visuals & chemistry of the main leads
• Initial, good build up of mystery around Demon & FL (power-exchange) and family fighting for power
• Cha Chung Hwa as Noh Sook Nyeo- just because she is a fantastic actress!
What Did Not Work:
• Unnecessary inclusion of past lives (the historical era of the main leads).
• Antagonists were not written well. Felt they cropped up randomly only to be beaten up by an OP character & just lost with no conclusion.
• What was the SML doing? What was his need - unnecessary love triangle to be written off easily?
• Comedic elements that just don't work & were not needed (the office workers, the gangsters, the secretaries & ML/FL's futile attempt at it)
The show borrowed a lot from fantasy and makjang dramas given it was centered around a mystical character & family fighting for power. But rather than taking it to another level or giving its own flavor/twist, it fails to bring anything unique and becomes dragged+ boring. What initially excited me: Love story of Demon & Human amidst Family Feud, gets stretched to a point that it breaks and is not digestible. It would have been better to end in the modern setting with his powers returning & discovering the identity of the antagonist(s). Extremely disappointing - especially since I had high hopes with the premise & this is my first drama of Song Kang.
My verdict to Binge or Skip? SKIP IT!
It is an average drama - so my advice is to skip it and use your time to rewatch your favorite fantasy dramas or something else with a better story.
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Beautiful Tales Celebrating Life & Death with underlying Rom/Mystery
It is a very mature and well-written drama where a heavy mystical element of life/death blends in beautifully with romance & mystery. At end of every track - romance, the stories of the departed, accident/murder mystery - you get absolute closure, and there is a sense of understanding more than any other emotion.Brilliantly narrated the different stories of the 21 souls who have passed away but momentarily resurrected by the FL's gift/curse to share their regret/last wishes. Each story is heart-warming & provides closure not only to the bereaved but at times are the missing pieces of the underlying mystery that impacts the lives of the main & supporting characters of drama.
The romance and mystery element are synced perfectly with these stories and at no point you feel like they are parallel tracks.
Very rarely you get dramas where they are able to seamlessly blend such a heavy subject of life/death with romance. The mystery also was not dragged but done neatly, leaving you with a heavy heart cause in the end you must learn to forgive & move on for the sake of the departed.
Would highly recommend watching it for the following:
• Great storylines - amazing mix of heavy topics of death, romance, mystery, comedy! For this seamless blend it is a 10/10.
• The acting by all but especially - ML,FL, FL's father & uncle. ML's uncle is top-notch.
• I am giving it 8.5: only cause in some instances for the last episodes I felt the pace dipping & [minor spoiler] I wish the ending case could be someone else. Not a masterpiece, but almost perfect!
❤️ Special mention for Lee Jun Young
Hyeri (FL) is already known for her work & as an idol. Many would also know Lee Jun Young but he is still called an upcoming actor. I think in 2024 we should declare him a superstar - cause the man has got it all - the looks, the talent (Acting and Singing), he's a complete package. I have been following him from some time now & the range he has in acting, who'd say he is an idol-actor? Only wishing him more success & can already see he has many projects planned!
❤️ [WILD SPOILER] MAN CAN KISS!
Omo, Omo, Omo! In a land of cardboard and fish kisses, this man make your toes, feet, arms, body curl & tingle in ways I never thought was possible with the way he kisses. Like seriously, he is already panty-dropping hot and handsome but the moment he kissed that was just another level. I literally choked on my spit - Hyeri you lucky woman! ~(˘▾˘~) New watchers you have been warned, LOL!
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Strong Start, Weak Finish | Amazing Rom-Com, Mystery But Failed to Tie the End
I went gaga as this drama began with all the right elements: beautiful romance of main & second leads, right dose of comedy and mystery that piqued interest in past/present timelines. They also maintained focus on women empowerment which was executed well through the FL's work in past/present. But ALL this is maintained and peaked till Ep 10, but the last 2 episodes seem to be written by some other writer/director, cause it was just a chaotic mess that leaves you disappointed especially after the high that initial episodes gave.Best Parts:
- Amazing Cast &Performance in respective roles. Especially of ML, FL, SML, FML, FL Mon, ML's StepMom, Step Bro ❤️
- Great chemistry and Romance of ML/FL & SML/SFL
- Good build of of past/present timeline and mystery
- Pretty dresses, locations!
- Great intro & build up of evil characters
Messy Parts:
- Could not deliver the ending well for romance or the mystery
- Some support characters are just forgotten in end episodes
VERDICT:
Recommended for one time watch, just be cautious of the ending being a mess. So if you can handle it for the sake of concluding the story, watch it.
PERSONAL FAVS:
- Was already a fan of the FL and SFL - but now am also in love with the looks, acting and voices of the ML and SML.
- I really want the actress who plays Step Mom to be cast as a Good Mom role. Have already seen in negative roles here, Extraordinary Attorney Woo and My Lovely Liar. She deserves better although in all 3 she has a redemption arc.
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Nearly Perfect Drama, Reaffirming the message "Life is a Gift. Don't Take it for Granted"
Death's Game on face-value may seem like a thrilling survival game between the human & the supernatural but is in fact a humbling take to address the rising suicide rates, especially among the youth and the impact it has on everyone. It is not an easy topic to address, therefore I must praise & thank everyone involved in this show for their brilliant writing, direction & acting to depict this difficult message. I have not read the webtoon hence my anticipation was exceedingly high with this drama given the premise & talented cast it signed on (The latter delivering more than what they promised). The drama is brilliant start to 2024, my only minor complaint remains with the ending episodes which makes is "Nearly Perfect"❤️ The drama is literally flawless 10/10 for PART 1 & till Ep 6 and half in PART 2:
With its gripping narrative as we see how the ML tries make the best of each new life he is given, banter with Death and tries to beat the game. It slowly takes the shape of a revenge plot, as the ML realizes all these different lives are in fact connected to a single antagonist, who also had an impact to his life & those who he holds dear.
✘ Issue 1:The revenge plan that takes up half of Ep 6-7:
The conclusion is satisfactory cause it is another good vs evil battle. But the execution of it seems over-the-top heroics, illogical explanations & just too basic especially for a plot that had build up the expectation for a grand conclusion, to fall flat at the most important moment.
❤️ Ep 8: Mixed Feels, Predictable & Confusing Ending:
The last life might have been done as a shock-factor, but by now we can see it coming. It is still powerful in driving across the messages of - how our actions in life & death impacts others, how time is never enough to express your love to those you care about, how some people even in the face of adversity keep trying harder while others give in. Again - this is a grey area, but the drama delivers it with a heart so kudos!
✘ Issue 2: The Last Scene
We are at the finale - hoping that the ML finds redemption & has a happy ending. But the way it is executed feels very rushed, with no preamble whatsoever and basically goes against Death's initial words/rules? I know that this drama addresses a social problem, but the ending left me crushed/puzzled than feeling good. Guess I will read the webtoon in case there is an alternative ending, but the drama ending had a meh effect for me.
❤️Overall: 9/10 (Part 1 is 10/10, Part 2 is 8/10)
Personally it is one of the genres that I enjoy along with a cast that I love. The BGM score is too addictive & I hope to discover it soon in a music app. The stories individually are a mystery & when tied together overall and with the ML's life it just takes it to another level. Wish the issues that I had were not there, and it would have been simply flawless. But even that, it is one of the best dramas I have seen for 2023/2024.
If not the whole series, I will definitely rewatch the episodes/scenes where the characters gets their way through wits or action, making you pump your own fist in the air for their wins!
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Brilliantly acted, heart-tugging & transcendent love story of a Beauty & Beast!
An almost-silent film whose beauty lies in simple narration & brilliant acting making it a must-watch classic. The story is of star-crossed lovers overcoming their differences through a common bond with limited/no words exchanged but acts of kindness; helping them grow individually while falling in love. Outside forces threaten their union, forcing them to make hard emotional choices that tests their fates. The film's themes are Beauty meets the Beast, their love transcends time & leaves you with the lingering question of who truly is a monster? (yes, I am looking at us - humans!)Best Parts of the Movie:
+ emotionally gripping love story between two very different people (with elements of supernatural)
+ simple storytelling & pace (even when shifting between 2 timelines)
+ brilliant acting! (a lot is said with almost no/limited words)
+ feel good factors (comedy, good-triumphs-over-evil, nostalgic elements of childhood, warm family & neighbors relations)
Some Minor, Minor Flaws:
- Origin of the male lead/wolf-boy is only hinted, not explained in details
- Background of Antagonist's motives: he does evil stuff, but why?
- What became of a certain support character (Mr. Jeong) in the end?
(Not plot drivers nor do they impact the overall story. But had they been there, it would have made the film perfect)
Overall:
I maybe in the minority of people watching this film in 2023 but I highly recommend all to watch it at least once to experience the beautiful tale & brilliant acting. Just keep some tissues handy. Do not drop it thinking the picture quality would be bad. While it is not the best compared to the present works, I truly believe it is one of the gems of K-movies, deserving all the accolades it got.
SPECIAL NOTE: Acting by the main leads is class-apart!
+ Song Joong Ki's role IMO is his best acting till date as he solely expressed his character with his face & body, only.
+ Kudos to brilliant writing, cause when he finally spoke, the scene is poignant, piercing your heart.
+ Park Bo Young is amazing throughout, but steals the moment specifically in a gut-wrenching scene towards the end.
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Im-Siwan giving another iconic character: Jang Byung Tae, the dogged warrior against bullying!
After the iconic Jang Gu-Rae (Misaeng), Si-wan has given us another legendary character as Jang Byung Tae. Words would not be enough to praise this idol-turned-actor for every diverse role he undertakes. At 35 years of age, he plays a high-school boy with such finesse which I doubt actors of that actual age would be able to deliver. His latest work, Boyhood, deserves to be added into his ever-growing list of amazing works & personally for me it has wrapped up my 2023 Drama-Year beautifully!⭐ STORY SUMMARY:
In first half - we meet Jang Byung Tae, a meek school-boy, oppressed all his life by bullies, no matter how many school he changes. He has been "whooped" so much that he and his family assume it to be his destiny & he has no other meaning/dreams from his life. By a comedic chain of events - in his new school he is mistaken to be renowned bully/fighter than being someone who is bullied. He gets to live life on the other side - but all good things must come to an end, right?
The second half - reveals the truth & once again Byung Tae is miserable as bullies oppress him and his friends. He reaches his breaking point & when his friends/family make Jang Byung Tae realize that his life is meaningful & he is not someone that should just be bullied. He vows to fight the bullies to end this cycle of violence so that one day he and others can wake up to enjoy life as they should. But in face of the oppressor, can Byung Tae emerge victorious as a true Dragon Warrior?
❤️ BEST PARTS OF THIS DRAMA
In short - EVERYTHING! But let me break it into main TOP 3 (rest under detailed review)
1. Hitting the right notes of nostalgia through the music, cinematography, story & acting by all that made me experience 1989!
2. Balancing the serious issue of bullying with apt comedy, action, cute romance & friendship of youth!
3. Im-Siwan: he proves his acting chops again. Dialogue, face expressions, dancing - is there anything this man is not good at?
OVERALL:
Very rarely you come across dramas that remains true to its premise & expectations. Boyhood manages to deliver it through the acting, action, music, story, friendship and romance - making it one of the best dramas of 2023 for me! It wrapped up neatly in 10 episodes, which ensured no dull moments, even pace & satisfactory conclusion. While Si-wan is the highlight for me but the above factors intertwined with his character's journey beautifully making this a delight to watch.
Would highly recommend to watch, it would be worth your time & I am confident land up as a drama high-rated on your individual lists.
Im-Siwan, yet again has all my heart ❤️ what a talent! He already has recognition for his work, cannot wait for it to go to another level/global in his future work (especially counting it for Squid Games 2)
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❤️ DETAILED REVIEW - of parts that I loved in this drama
• The Dogged Spirit: Laughing in the face of bullies
Throughout the series, it delves on bullying & it's effects which we face head-on with Byung Tae & his friends. The gravity of the bullying will make you somber & is more prominent in the second half of the show. The seriousness is cut through with apt comedic situations, dialogues & acting - making it a perfect blend of comedy . The show will give a lump in our throats, misty eyes but loads of laughter!
• Im-Siwan as Jang Byung Tae:
In his role as Jang Byung Tae, Siwan is exemplary right from his dialogue delivery, his stances (as the bullied guy & then the change as he learns to fight), the pouting, the crying, the cute dances. Literally everything this man does is par excellence & a delight to watch. TBH, I would just ask the readers to simply go & watch the show only for Im Si-wan. He is one of those few talents that are rare and needs to be watched, re-watched, recommended at every opportunity we have.
• Soundtracks, Cinematography & Acting:
Without downplaying anyone - I consider Byung Tae as the only main cast & rest support him in his journey. The story of Byung Tae & his youth cannot be told unless sharing about the bullies, families & friends. The actors in these roles all bring in their A Game in execution, making us relive the 1989 rural life of Korea through their adventures. Their unique stories & characteristic quirks blend seamlessly in Byung Tae's personal journey from being bullied to fighting for justice! Aiding the acting is the right location, make-up, fashion, camerawork & props that is sure to hit the nostalgia button - as you watch their school life, places the gang hangs out in and the awesome fights!
The music is diverse: tracks that are plain fun, soulful renditions that define our relations of our youth - friendships & romance, & dance hits of 1980s K-POP. All the tracks may not be memorable, but each of them fits perfectly into the scene that is playing.
DOWNSIDE:
1. I wanted more romance between Byung Tae and Ji-Yeong:
They have a lot of sweet moments which are cute & so wholesome. But since we are used to K-dramas having a confession/kiss scene initiated by the ML, I blame this unconscious bias of mine for finding fault here. Right from the start we know they are tight & even without the drama explicitly showing it - I know where these two are headed in future, in terms of romance. But human me is unable to overlook this minor thing.
2, What is the ending for Jung Gyeong-Tae and Kang Seon-Hwa?
Given the evil forces they are - again I know where they could be headed, but I guess I would have liked it to be shown that being implicit/open-ended.
The above issues are very minor, personal opinions and it does not impact the overall magnificence of this drama. It still remains as one of the best dramas of 2023 for me! This drama had everything - good storyline, great acting, fitting soundtrack, beautiful cinematography - truly a hidden gem of this year & I cannot wait for more people to discover & enjoy it! ❤️
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Sublime Sensuality, Exciting Paced Drama but Mediocre Revenge Arc!
This Drama is for YOU - If You LIKE:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
♥ Sublime Sensuality:
I love when romance is built up without excessive acts of service, nudity/sex scenes. To me this drama also was about second chance at love. The main characters are distrustful of being hurt again; hence their romance is built with less words, but rather care, understanding. The sensuality/sexual tension is palpable but not in your face. The leads did not even have a single kissing scene but their moments together were charming. Areumdaun/Beautiful (아름다운) to the core!
♥ Acting par Excellence:
As expected of actors in their caliber - all the characters irrespective of the script, played their characters to perfection.
Kim Hee Sun needs no words, she is flawless. Cha Ji Yeon, Park Hoon, Lee Hyun Wook - I have literally seen them in just one other drama respectively where even their minor roles they had left quite an impression. This drama was even better as they had more screentime to show their talent. I personally will now look up their other works & watch especially for - Lee Hyun Wook! Jung Eugene - I have seen her in many dramas, but she was not memorable until this antagonist role. She brings life to the character that is truly despicable. You'll want to pull her hair, bitch-slap her & hope karma hits her hard - which is only the result of her embodying the character to perfection. Kudos!
♥ Beautiful Cinematography, Screenplay & OST:
Costumes, locations, make-up - everything was minimalist but luxurious & the music is hauntingly beautiful & hypnotic. Both interweave with the scenes & characters perfectly enhancing the viewing experience. The screenplay/pace of drama - is not neck-breaking, but you cannot help but end up watching just one more episode. Inconspicuously, all these factors aid in making this makjang drama keeping it thrilling & (almost)-unpredictable.
What MIGHT BOTHER You:
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✘ The Revenge Served is Very Cold. Almost Frozen.
Given the initial build-up & despicable antagonist(s), I thought the revenge was average. Not unsatisfactory, but neither leaving me with a triumphant feeling as a viewer. I blame the script for weakening it, even though I appreciate that it was not draggy & the 8-episode format is a satisfactory timeframe for this story to conclude.
P.S. I do not want to detail the ending, cause that will spoil it - but it came quite unannounced with no preamble to the twist they gave. Again it is satisfactory cause everyone is hoping for it but an explanation would have been nicer, even if it had been in form of a flashback between the characters.
✘ Some Support Characters felt unfinished
Not sure if there will be a Season 2, but there were some characters like the SML & the owner of Rex whose stories felt rather unfinished. I say rather, cause you can be contend with their ending, but personally I had questions on what will happen to them now that the main plot is resolved.
OVERALL: almost Perfect, succinct thrilling makjang! 8/10
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✦ The above negatives are not deal breakers, but it would have made it a perfect 10/10 drama had they been there.
✦ I am slowly getting into makjang dramas, this being my 3rd after Penthouse & Perfect Marriage Revenge. I did not know I would enjoy this genre as much as I do, but if the quality/story is anything like this one- I cannot help but keep binging!
✦ Remarriage & Desires is special cause it is short & beautifully executed. I even rewatched some episodes, as soon as I finished the drama for pleasure viewing (Scenes like the masquerade, yacht, initial tension between the main leads)
✦ For those who enjoy this genre, or want to explore it (like I did) you should not miss this one.
✦ Will recommend watching the drama first to like the OST more, but here is YT link. Memorable piece as is the drama!
Seori - Wicked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcKMeqRej1g
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Exhilarating (binged in 6 HRS) but Doesn't Justify the hype/high rating (9)
Debated long before starting this, cause high rated K-dramas in actual had not done it for me, recently. Took a chance, binged it with a few episodes in 1.5x speed & wrapped up in under 6 hours. Have not seen the webtoon, so my review is basis the drama only. Given the high rating this drama has, mine would come across unpopular but this is my humble take on it.10/10 for the acting, but 7/10 for the story/writing.
If the message of the drama was on taking action than talking like mature people; giving in to pure unadulterated rage because you have been a victim too long, then it did not appeal to me. I cannot imagine what are they going to portray in Season 2 differently, other than more rage-fights in a different setting. This season in itself is complete though not satisfactory, with half-hearted character developments & relationships. Honestly, I found the first half to be better, which is what kept me engaged to finish it. But the latter half of the show for me just lost the point or rather could not make a definite point. While the action scenes were good they could not carry the weight of the drama which ultimately made it lose the initial charm & excitement.
We have seen bullying in shows, anime, manga in varying degrees. This drama interprets/portrays it well in terms of:
1. how bullies are (how they get into it sometimes due to situation but in the end by their own choice)
2. how the main characters stand up to it, while forming a bond themselves
3. what are the external factors that affects this evil of our society (role of adults and their interference)
4. Overall the impact of all the above on the lives of the main characters and those around them, which is a message to real society.
Si-Eun is not shown as a conventional hero - while he is gutsy, uses his wits to fight battles but does not always come on the top on his own but has help. The help comes in form of the deuteragonists/his friends, support characters, situations etc. which keeps the story/character (almost) realistic. Expecting the story to continue on this track, with Si-Eun grows individually, enjoying new friendships, courage to stand up to the bullies & the associated evils (gang, unethical adults). Si-Eun, Su-ho & Beom-Seok while had different personalities, family issues etc. I thought the focus would be on their growing bond/bromance even if they face ups & downs, growing into mature adults. I was surprised, but ready to understand when the story takes a different turn (the rift in friendship). But my problem lies with the fact that the writers/directors did not execute this unexpected turn well as below:
1. They did not explain the rift well, cause they did not explore the grey character well.
- We have bits and pieces of their backstory, minimal depiction of their internal debate & anguish.
- It is like the character woke up one day and chose to be evil. The transition & its explanation is missing, which is the fault of writers/directors.
- Neither do other characters make efforts to understand them, but rather take it on face value. So we cannot even understand the gray character from their perspective.
2. Si-Eun being filled with pure, unadulterated rage as he pulverizes everyone in sight. Like why? And why all the time?
- Being the ML, he takes things into own hands to mitigate the above said rift.
- But the focus shifts from communication to just violence/pure rage.
- Si-Eun is essentially a character who uses brains more than brawns.
- Seeing him throughout the drama, especially second half - I am wondering if the focus of the whole story only on taking action & not being calm/practical/ mature about situations?
3. The whole character of Su-ho and Beom-Seok was just messed up in 2nd Half.
- Add in Lee Yeon's character's influence in all of it, it makes it even worse.
The second half lacks proper explanation, characters' choices are more confusing than making me fully sympathize/hate any character. It's like just because they realized that they can fight, so they end up fighting all the time for every situation. Like what happened to calmly talking or discussing, especially given these characters are not inherently prone to action.
Personally, I would say it is a good drama with some great acting, so definitely a one-time watch.
But it is not a great drama that I would recommend (i.e. pester you until you watch it) or be memorable for me.
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