Completed
My Liberation Notes
40 people found this review helpful
by Kate Flower Award2
May 29, 2022
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 19
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.5

Each new person we meet is a new chapter in our life.

I want to be completely honest - this is my subjective take on the show. I feel like My Liberation Notes is a drama one either vibes with, or they don’t. I don’t. It’s not like I hated it, but I was not as moved, touched, absorbed by it as other people. It had a fair number of elements I enjoyed, but overall, I was not invested.

I think my biggest reason for disconnecting was the fact I did not relate to any of the characters and, at the end of the day, it is a character driven show. Yeom Mi Jung? Extremely unlikable for the majority of the episodes. I completely gave up on trying to like her when on one hand, she complained how no one ever made her feel alive and whole, but at the same time said she herself never really liked anyone.

I understand that all the depression (probably more specifically dysthymia) symptoms she presented must have been something many people related to. I am not a stranger to these feelings myself, and yet, I could not be on board with what they tried to present with her. Admitting on the side though, the last episode changed my perception of her character quite a bit, and I liked that a lot. They hammered a specific picture of her, and then gave me a 180 change with a new perspective delivered with just one line. Whatever I did not like about how she was written became less valid at that moment.

That said, putting aside whenever she was likable for me or not, I do appreciate some aspects of her personality. The fact they broke away from the “shy introvert” portrayal many dramas have. She was not shy, she was simply not interested in people. Sometimes people who don’t engage in every social interaction are not shy, they just don’t care. At times her inner dialogue and conversations with people made me think she might even be asocial, one step further than introversion. If we truly listen to what she was saying, I still have to appreciate that it’s just who she is - there is no trauma, no social phobia. She just does not like people that much and prefers solitude.

Then we have Mr. Gu. I liked him a lot at first. The mystery around his character in that rural area made me curious about his story, but they dragged it for too long. When I finally found out more about who he is, I was not that interested. It was a well done suspense, since me and many people wondered about his identity, but I feel like keeping the viewers in the dark for so long took away from him as a character. On the other hand, one could say he serves as a good contrast to Mi Jung’s journey, and the different pace they both took in figuring themselves out.

While Yeom Ki Jung was entertaining to watch and one of the reasons I pushed forward and finished the drama, I found her arc a bit one dimensional. At some point I started to feel like her obsession with finding a man was overshadowing the underlying issues she has. It felt like a comedic bit, that is not quite funny when you truly think about it. That said, her romantic endeavors were enjoyable and endearing and for me, she was easily the most likable of all the siblings.

I don’t really have much to say about Yeom Chang Hee, except for the fact he was underused. His interactions with Mr. Gu were amazing and I would love to see more of them - that friendship could have been an interesting addition to the story. I am honestly not sure what his purpose in the drama was. I get the vague idea, but for me his characterization lacks focus? He shined the most in the last (around) four episodes, and I probably enjoyed him the most at the time, out of all the characters.

One of the aspects about the drama that can be either viewed as a positive or negative thing depending on the preferences, is how the main characters were not that well defined. A lot of aspects were left for interpretation. I was discussing the show with many people as I was watching, I also read many comments and takes on the plot progression and characterization, and I have to say - many people had quite different takes on who the characters were.

As far as I see it, it’s a good thing. It’s not a “play in the background” type of a show. The true value comes from wondering about it as the episodes end. Trying to understand the characters. And since everyone looks at them from the lens of their own private experience and personalities, it’s given that they will see different things in them. It’s the viewers who add depth to them, their interactions and plot development. So for me, who was not engaged enough to feel motivated to do that, the drama lost one of the most important aspects.

I know a lot of people love the dialogues and inner monologues in this show. I completely agree they were well written, but they were also repetitive. A lot of them were talking about exactly the same thing, just with different words. So at the end of the day, we end with exactly the same issue - you either relate to the lines and love them, or you don’t and you find them boring.

While they went into detail about Mi Jung’s inner struggles which led to many people appreciating the show, I also feel like a lot of aspects suffer because of it. The relationship between the parents being one of them. Literally all the supporting characters. The biggest let down? Underuse of Liberation Club. I wish there was more focus on this rather than Mi Jung and Mr. Gu together. Using the writing note as a way to deliver the inner monologues was used just a few times, overshadowed by emo train rides that took the spot for the narration time.

That said, with all the complaints I had, they are all subjective. The same things I complain about, other people name as the reasons for loving the show - depending on the perspective. As I said, you either vibe with it or you don’t. It’s really consistent with how they deliver the mood and message, creating a well composed picture. The acting, writing, directing, editing, soundtrack - everything fits well together.

Overall, would for sure recommend to anyone who likes slow paced, character driven shows that focus on daily lives and struggles of normal people. There is no reason not to check it out. It's a good drama, it just does not try to cater to every viewer, and as a result, it might not resonate with everyone. But you won't know if it's something you will see as a true gem, unless you check it out yourself ;)

Ps. Refrain from telling me maybe the genre is not for me. It’s not the genre, it’s this specific show.

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Completed
Duty after School: Part 2
40 people found this review helpful
by mmsv
Apr 22, 2023
4 of 4 episodes seen
Completed 8
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

The perfect ending

I see so many people angry with the ending and i get it is not the cup of tea for everybody, but to be honest i don't agree. I agree with the fact that a few more episodes would have been great for a better build up of the finale, but i get why they chose to end it like that: as the criminal said, the spheres are not the real villains, humanity is.

All the episodes have been pointing out how children should not have to worry about adults problems. About how adults put excesive presure on them, helding them responsible for things they are not. In the first season it was quite clear it was the war or getting into college because that it's what they are told to do, not because they want. In season two they are also held responsible about family situations being geting out of poverty one of the main themes. The thing is that even if the social and political narrative is that if you work hard enough you'll be able to get out of there and acomplish what you want, the truth is that there are many obstacles that are out of your hands and you won't be able to go though them by yourself.

With the ending we see the consecuences of that. We see how society makes kids compete with each other for a grade, makes them believe they have to be the best among their peers so they can have a bright future. They make them sabotage each other to the point where school violence is a norm in nowadays society as we reinforce it by valuing someone because of their results and not because of the process. All that because society says that you should get into college if you want to be valued later on, if you don't want to be an outcast. As youngsoo starts to deviate and do whatever it is in his hands to acumulate benefits and not die, even if that means betrying his friends, he strats to feel that the loss of letting go that goal that society asigned to him is too much to handle. That's why he can't put up with the fact that they have cancelled the CSAT, he has already done so much so it can't be true. That's why in a world were violence between peers has been normalized he chooses it as a way to get rid of those between him and his precious goal.

Despite the social narrative the truth is that after a few years, the college entrance exam becomes insignificant, maybe you study someting and end up working on something totally unrelated because even if you are a top student society can't secure you the job you want not even a job wit the minimum requires. That means that the people who suffered because of those years, including the ones who end up with mental health problems, those who killed themeselves, the victims of school violence or the perpetrators become insignificant. The same thing happens with war, at first people get engaged, but as it gets longer people forget about it. They only remember the result, the winners and the losers , while they forget all those from both parties that have lost their lifes. With time, even if those lost lifes are crucial to history's course and to modern civilication as we konow it, they become insignificant and are quickly forgoten.

Therefore the ending is cruel but the consecuences of how the modern world works are cruel and raw too. When you put too much presure into someone and even after all their hard work they fail the mental damage is devastating. That's why they said that they should have enjoyed their time together, go to the amusement park with all the class, not to participate in war because of the benefits and not to worry that much about the CSAT. We saw in a few scenes that when you go through something difficult to overcome it you can not solely rely on the results because they might not meet with your expectations, you have to see the things you earn in the process. I think that's why in this season we see so many scenes between them, hanging out and goofing around despite the gravity of the situation. As they said if it was not because of the war some of them would have not even talked to each other, they would not have felt the confort of telling somebody about their personal difficulties and feel the warmth of feeling that somebody understands them as in the current world we only know superficial things about each other believing that everybody is doing amazing and you're the only one that's in a bad place.

So I think the ending is the cherry on the top of the cake, closing the social critique they have developed all throught the series. Even after all they have sacrificed, even after all their damage and loss, the thing is that nobody will remember it, nobody will value it, it will just be as if nothing ever happened as society will move on. Only those to whom we are really close to will be the ones that remember, that's why the writer said that the hole class where the main characters because at the end, the thing we should value above all are the people around us, because when things get hard they will be the only ones that won't give us their back.

At the end, they just sign a paper where it says only 4 of the unit class have survived, that's all society cares, a paper with a few lines and a signature, they move on and that's it. Even after their esencial contribution, the kids only remain as memories to their friends but to nobody else.

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Completed
Mask Girl
21 people found this review helpful
Aug 19, 2023
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.5
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 2.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

A Slow, Aimless Traumafest

Trailers and marketing lie to us all the time, and such is the case with Mask Girl. What was pitched as a mystery and a psychological thriller is little more than a pretentious, too-episodic meander through the shallowest meditation on a theme--if it's even a theme and not a coincidence.

There is no real story to speak of, though the series of events does come around to neat, connected conclusion. (And whether that conclusion needed the six episodes it took to get there is a debate unto itself.) Yes, the characters are the same and, yes, there is a steady stream of cause and effect, but, just as no one would ascribe narrative to a literal set of toppling dominoes, there is no real through-line for the show.

The episodes progress as a snail's pace, fill time with needless character backstory as a way to justify their actions that tie directly to the cause-and-effect events, and take you nowhere.

The lone saving grace to the series is the acting, with every actor--and particularly the different actresses playing the same character over time--giving a solid performance, regardless of how well or poorly written their characters are. (And, really, there is maybe one interesting character and maybe two or three specifically likeable ones. That the cast can outshine this issue is a real compliment to them.)

Ponderous, dull, and (assuming it was trying to say something) pretentious, this one is a miss in nearly every way. So miss it, if you can.

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Completed
A Business Proposal
21 people found this review helpful
by Luffy
Mar 15, 2022
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

A fluffy rom- com drama to blow off your stress

So there are dramas that pulls you in and leaves you craving for more. A Business Proposal is one of those drama. It is a cliche rom - com drama you might have seen before but that doesn't makes the drama any less mesmerizing. Maybe it is the cliche scenes in the drama that binds you to your seats. The cast of this drama was spot on to the characters they had to portray.

The characters in this drama are the types of character one would expect in rom - com drama. A perfectionist ML(Male Lead) and a bubbly but hardworking FL(Female Lead) and there brother/sister like best-friend SML(Second Male Lead) and SFL(Second Female Lead). So you might be like why should I watch this drama then. Let me give you the reasons why you should watch this drama.

First, the chemistry between the ML (Kang Tae Mu) and FL (Shin Ha Ri) is off the charts. They lit up the scene just by being in it together. Their first encounter had me rolling down with laughter. They have very well acted their parts and the visuals were insanely good too. Kang Tae Mu's jealousy was also a thing to watch.

Secondly was probably the chemistry between the SFL(Jin Young Seo) and the SML(Cha Sung Hoon). Jin Young Seo's aegyo( cuteness) just melted my heart. I never would have thought that Seol In Ah could pull such scenes off. As I have never seen her acting cute in other dramas. She definitely stole my heart with her aegyo. She was definitely a scene stealer in this drama.

Third is the brotherhood between Kang Tae Mu & Cha Sung Hoon and the sisterhood between Shin Ha Ri & Jin Young Seo. Their bond was quite special as they were always there for their friend.

Also the supporting actors in this drama. They were fun to watch. Be it the ML's grandfather or the FL's family members or coworkers. They all were a joy to watch on the screen. Especially the women of this drama were just too cute. A special shout out to Seo Hye Won and Im Ki Hong's characters. They both were just too good.

There are many other reasons to watch the drama which you would only know if you start this drama. So don't give a second thought and start this drama. As I assure you won't be wasting your time.

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Completed
Full House
21 people found this review helpful
by jenna
Jan 18, 2012
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.0
I don't think this is really considered as review...or it might be. Not sure. Anyhow here's my personal experience with this drama.

I started to watch this in 2010. So it took me more than one year to finish this one.

I think the drama started out great and it was really cute. But then guess what happened? I didn't find any working mirrors. When I found working mirrors the drama started to repeat things over and over again. Which lead me to get annoyed since in my opinion things between main leads took so long to evolve.

Then this week I decided that I'm gonna finish this drama finally. So on Monday I started from episode 9 and just finished watching episode 16.

I'm glad I finished it because last episode was totally worth all that struggling. I really recommend it to everyone as long as you can get through that the drama repeats the same things a lot and the fact that the clothes are horrible. Especially when it comes to male actors' clothing.

Thanks for reading this so called review :D

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Ongoing 30/36
Only for Love
28 people found this review helpful
Nov 22, 2023
30 of 36 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 10
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Great actors and narrative with some unfortunate flaws

Great story idea and the actors did a great job with the script they were given, but there’s a lot of repetition of things like the phone interruptions. The show gets frustrating at times because of this, and how I feel some things are out of character for the main FL like her constant lying when she is so hardcore about honesty in her articles. I think this show is def best watched when everything is out though imo. I am looking forward to the last 6 episodes, and I’m hoping they get a good ending.
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Ongoing 15/16
Introverted Boss
7 people found this review helpful
Dec 31, 2020
15 of 16 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 5.5
Story 4.5
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 1.5
Despite all the flaws that people have mentioned in other reviews , I don't mind some cheesy melodrama and tbh I did cry at some parts ... this series lost me right in the middle of episode 15. There is a such an unnecessary plot twist that it kinda ruined the rest of the series for me .... I'm going to finish it because I already got this far with almost 16 hours watched so far. I really like the premise of an introverted boss being brought out of his shell due to a subordinate/love interest but Jesus this drama went completely left....

And again........... if you're going to include something as serious as suicide in your series please do not make the underlying reason someone commits the act because of an unrequited love..... In this series specifically the person is totally fine and going along through life relatively happy no underlying issues that are found (compared to another character in this series who is completely insufferable) until this (1) series of events and decides to end it... and while that does happen for some people the way it was portrayed in this series is completely unrealistic and almost a slap in the face imo.

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Dropped 15/16
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
7 people found this review helpful
Nov 28, 2020
15 of 16 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 7.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 3.5
This review may contain spoilers

not even bothering to finish this.

IF YOU WATCH... only watch up until episode 12-13.

i have loved this drama from episode 1 to 12 and some of 13. the story was refreshing, quirky, and cute. emotional at times, but for the most part this was just such a feel-good drama! it was a nice break from some of the heavier dramas i've watched recently. HOWEVER...

the writer has completely RUINED this drama. in the last three to four episodes, they started to lean into super dramatized and ridiculous plot twists. seriously, it felt like watching american soaps like one tree hill or gossip girl or worse, actual daytime soap operas... the plot became far-fetched and became a rollercoaster of both plotlines and emotions. and on top of that, these plotlines were out-of-character.

this drama should have ended with the beach scene, after jun stole her from her fake wedding to dr. cha.

i didn't even watch the finale, but i saw the preview and knew right away they were going to either kill off jun or have it seem like he died... so i googled. if he died, i didn't wanna finish. but even worse than him dying, i learned they made him FAKE HIS DEATH. that is extremely out of character for him. bad enough they threw in A LEUKEMIA PLOTLINE in the very end, but they have him do the MOST out of character thing and have him lead his friends and rara to believe he DIED for five years? no. absolutely not.

what was a nice, feel-good escape became a nightmare.

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Ongoing 5/6
Future
10 people found this review helpful
by p_s
Apr 29, 2023
5 of 6 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

I have no idea what is going on.

And neither do any of the characters.

The actors are awkward and not at all believable. Maybe they should have been support roles for a few months/years. Ana is pretty and Fuse is cute tho. Why keep referencing Mark and Vee?

I don't mind the recast of Gun & Bar, but to be honest I absolutely ADORE Folk as an actor - he was pretty much the only reason I kept watching TOSSARA, so that makes me super sad.

Plot? What Plot?

This was just a BL for the sake of being a BL. there is no story and no realism. The love story was contrived. It had no romance or cuteness. It was so meh. 90% of the time I just wanted to fast forward through the episode. I'm at 5/6 episodes. Might as well finish the show. ??‍♀️??‍♀️

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Ongoing 50/51
Live Your Own Life
12 people found this review helpful
Jan 18, 2024
50 of 51 episodes seen
Ongoing 1
Overall 4.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 5.0
Music 5.5
Rewatch Value 2.5

Main leads carry this show

Insanely outdated story with an outdated film style and Im watching solely for Uee and Hajoon as every other character is INSANELY annoying.
Award for most annoying character and actress has to be given to Hyo Sim’s mother whos entire personality is 1) to care for his sons 2) spend money that isnt hers senselessly 3) be phenomenally dramatic and emotional

Cannot believe this drama was given the thumbs up for 50 episodes

Only watch this drama if you enjoy Uee and Hajoon’s acting and need background noise
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Completed
Mouse
48 people found this review helpful
by Aditi
May 24, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 30
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

MASTERPIECE? MY ASS

Mouse is absolute Flop for me! I finished this drama without dropping so where's my award? I deserve it, there's no reason other than Yohan's justice for me to continue watching this never ending drama, finally it ended ✋? those stupid special Episodes were so annoying. I loved the drama till ep 6-8? Well before they did brain transplant and killed my love. Istg I even re watched ep 1-4 while it was airing because I was so into the theories but they had to ruin the whole thing. My main problem is that I couldn't love main leads at all, I loved Yohan only because his character was the best thing they did ? he was the only one who used his brain while others are just plain dumb and I couldn't like at all. I wouldn't even mind killing them all here lmaoo I just don't care. And the "love story" between the main leads was not a good move, from beginning I was like bitch foucs on your studies you are still high schooler and stop being so annoying.

The whole oz makes no sense to me, like wtf they passed the law? Are they high or what and still no one complaining and giving this 10/10? This drama has way too many plot holes and they just dragged it too much. Also the plot twist are just so boring and no surprise. We predicted so much of it already. I was just so bored. All I can say is I expected so much from this drama but it went downhill so fast. Also if I told anyone to watch this drama when I was at ep 1-4, please forgive me and if you wanna watch then just don't. It's waste of your time

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Completed
Defendant
25 people found this review helpful
Mar 6, 2017
18 of 18 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Great actors, excellent plot. This is a must-watch. I did not expect it to turn out this great. Never underestimate Ji-sung's skills in expressing emotions. Cannot skip 1 episode!!!
This drama grabs your attention right in first episode you cannot turn around and escape from it.
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Ongoing 123/124
Want a Taste?
6 people found this review helpful
by Sora__
Apr 30, 2020
123 of 124 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 6.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 3.0
If you are into family drama you will like it, at-least to an extent. As described in the summary of the show, story is based on a middle aged woman. The script written is a story that actually happens in reality in many homes. When the woman is married, she gets occupied with all the household work at the in-laws home. All she do is work all day for the whole family and she is not treated well or no one thinks that she too can get tired of working for family, taking care of the family. Woman should always embrace herself even though she is married but, all with all the work whole day she doesn't get any time for herself. When both Han Jung Won and Kang Hae Jin found their husband cheating on they both tries their best to hold onto their husband but Jung Joon Hoo and Lee Jin sang don't care for their wife at all.
Finally Hae Jin give-up up on Jin Sang and divorces him. After some time she settles herself well with support of her family. And now she is all famous and dating Oh Dae Gu who is a scriptwriter. Same scriptwriter whose wife Bae Yu Ran was cheating on him with Joon Hoo. The story seems quite complicated from the listener's point of view but it is quite good while watching. Not all the episodes aree amazing but it's okay.
This drama also tells you that when you realize you have made a huge mistake and all you want now is a second chance. But, time has gone by which makes it difficult to have you second chance. That is why when things are still in your hand you should think carefully about it rather than regretting it later. It is true that person learns from his mistakes and needs another chance to prove himself. But life is not that fair always.
At the end it is shown that even if you realized your mistake and need a chance again but the best way to see that person happy is to let him go. At the end, the story of the three couples viz.. Hae Jin-Jin Sang, Dae Gu- Yu Ran, Joon Hoo-Jung Won takes different mode. Jin Sang has realized his mistake and is supporting Hae Jin and Dae Gu's relationship. Joon Hoo who refused to get on knees and beg to his wife before, has lost his position in the company. Bae Yu Ran who once again tried to gain her goal which was by wrong means has backfired on her and it has also revealed her affair with Joon Hoo due to which Joon Hoo's image is broken totally.
I think the story will get happy ending as Hae Jin has asked Dae Gu to make it. Well it be happy ending just for the couple and to an extent she is deserving for that happy ending. Since it is a drama it will ofcourse have a happy ending which doesn't happen in real life always. But nothing the less this drama tells that being a middle aged woman is okay. She can still get up and stand independently. When you are a house wife you are the support to your family and when you stand independently you are not just their support but a role model, strength to many women out their too stand independently.

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Completed
Lovers of the Red Sky
56 people found this review helpful
Oct 26, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 6
Overall 5.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

Glad I wasn't very hyped about it :3

Alike any avid Kdrama fan, I was surely looking forward to a decent drama when the final cast was announced. I didn't have high expectations from it, ngl, but U wanted it at least to be a decent drama with average ratings. However, I found it difficult to keep myself up for this after the interval, i. e. 8 episodes. I was praying hard for them to improve the quality but then, I had to fast forward from the 11th since I am bad at dropping anything; so I just finished it for my mind's closure. So I'm gonna write the minimum for this saeguk supernatural.

The saeguk is set-up in the Joseon Dynasty, during the rule of the 3rd monarch Taejong. Hong Chun Ki (Kim Yoo Jung) is the only known woman painter and has divine powers inherited from his father who was a Royal painter involved in the demon sealing ceremony that took place 28 years ago. Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo Seop) is the son of the head shaman Ha Sung Jin, who led the same ritual. Both of them have a ill-fated yet intimate relationship, established during the childhood. They're a fated pair, meant for sealing Ma Wang, the demon in a portrait that will act like a vessel and hold the evil power within. When both of them meet again as adults, their lives become complicated as they're get involved with the King, the royal family & it's power struggle and the royal court affairs; everything leading to one single event, i. e. To seal the absconding demon again in the royal portrait.

Grand Prince Yangmyung (later Moarch Sejong, the great) is played by Gong Myung and Grand Prince Joohyang is played by Kwak Si Yang, both of whom are the 2 major characters having great influence on the plot. There's a very good line up of old & seasoned actors casted for other major characters who indeed did well in their respective roles. Also, the new and less familiar ones were able to deliver a decent job with the limited screentime they're provided with. However, I am disappointed with the acting element of the drama as a whole, particularly from the main cast, who are actually experienced enough to serve appropriately but couldn't do so for most parts, and rather offered an underwhelming performance.

UTTER DISGUSTING thing about this drama was the kise between the 2 kids who played the younger version of Ha Ram and Chun Gi, the ML and FL. I mean it is a saeguk that runs in the medieval world and irl, such things could have been a thing but brooooo, this is a fu*king TV show, how dare you make 2 kids kiss. I mean it could have been fine if you had shown in subtly, indicating they were kissing but what's with directly showing it? Are you even sane? I wonder why no one is talking about it.

Plot development is something that's unworthy of mentioning for this drama. Except for the basic plotline for the lead couple involving the demon, the gods and the entire thing about sealing demon, I couldn't count on the script screeplay accompanying it. That was just very stupid; in fact very interesting to make someone give up without any second thought. Sometimes it becomes slow and sometimes becomes rushed. The writing is awfully inconsistent throughout the series though manageable till the 6th or 7th episode, just because of the emphasis put on art, painting and artists through the competition held to choose skillful painters for Gohwan. There are not 1 or 2 but uncountable number of plot holes in the drama, which makes the viewer confused and the way many things were left unanswered and some other popped out of nowhere, I don't know how to describe that without spoiling.

Not sure about the original novel and it's play but the screenwriter for the drama has made obvious about her lack of experience very thoroughly. Can't help but rant about how shoddy the entire script has, despite a decent basic plotline.

Even that wasn't enough, the script was unreasonably dragged post the interval with the addition of many unnecessary side plotlines and use of needless elements like dates, romance, love triangle, toxic relationship practises. The way they were represented was even very unrealistic for a saeguk. The lead couples childhood connection was revealed as soon as in the 4th episode and from the next episode they start dating wtf. It could have been a 12 episode drama but for that one forthcoming goal, the way did they drag really seemed pathetic to me. It goes smooth till the 6th episode, then 7th & 8th becomes super slow and again 9th & 10th are suddenly rushed, as if they want to end the drama in next 10mins, lmao. That's where I lost whatever lil interest I had left abd started fast forwarding at 2x.

The characters, both main & supporting, and their nature are another problem of this drama, which again is a fault of the jakka. Firstlyz they were inappropriately shaped, even for a supernatural fantasy and medieval historical. And then there was no improvement and development for them, which could have at least compensated in the later half. Both Ha Ram and Chun Gi, couldn't become the potential lead duo who could carry the show; the inconsistency is the major issue here. Grand Prince Yangmyung as the 2nd ML didn't seem to have an essence and major contribution for the entire event. The minor characters casting good actors went into waste because of unsuitable and little screentime they got. The character arcs are simply not prominently drawn for a drama of such genre with lame development, leaving no door open for any improvement.

What else could have made up for the poor writing? Direction! Yes, but look at them failing at that too. Surprisingly Jang Tae Yoo PDnim is not a rookie with less experience, rather has a record of directing a number of good script in years but I wonder what went wrong. He could have directed scenarios well at least to yield satisfactory outcomes but it felt like he was entirely inattentive. The main cast is good but still youngsters who could have done decent jobs upon appropriate guidance, which the PD failed to provide. Again, the screenplay management is of low-grade quality, the pacing is either very slow or very fast, with plenty of plotholes. Editing is kinda fine I guess; since OSTs are pretty good, their use plus the sound production with background scores were good enough to give off the suitable vibes at respective events.

2 thing that intrigued me when I had started the drama and made me go on with it were the emphasis on medieval Korean painting and the supernatural plotline. As someone attracted towards different forms of art, I thought this is a unique approach in a Korean saeguk, which was true to some extent. Then, the supernatural plot based on Korean folk beliefs was a pretty interesting investment. The portrayal of Sam Shin and Ma Wang fight over years, the fate decided for the leads and the editings meant for showcase was actually nice for first few episodes and also in the last 3 episodes (only the ritual parts I repeat haha). I liked how Sam Shin was intervening at necessary places and guiding them to their purposes of life. But well, I am disappointed the drama went down hill just like that.

I think I have ranted enough so now let me sum up everything. Overally, "Lovers of the Red Sky" isn't even par the average quality drama. It's a trash which can also be described as ridiculous, boring, uninteresting, exaggerated, shoddy, etc. etc. It's completely shitted on unanimously by the cast & the crew. It's not even worth the one time watch so if you're planning to start it, please drop it in your 'use me' box and move ahead with something else.

OKAY BYE

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Completed
My Golden Life
29 people found this review helpful
Mar 11, 2018
52 of 52 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.5
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers
THIS DRAMA DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE COMPARED FATHER IS STRANGE

My Review contains spoilers

I want to start of nice and say the character introduction was done so well. In fact I would say the first quarter of the drama was soo good I looked forward to it each weekend.

Then they ruined it, either they ran out of their creative juices or the switched writers or the first part of the story was stolen from a different writer before it was finished. I have tried to come up with so many reasons why a perfectly good drama was ruined.

I am completely fine with the male lead giving the female lead her space to grow professionally and emotionally that part is fine. HOWEVER there are SOOO many plot holes.

The relationship between the 2 youngest siblings was such a disappointment. The Cinderella youngest daughter's character deserved a better story line than she was given.
Woo Hyun Deserved a stronger characterization that he was given. In this drama he is basically just a crush boy and a good friend. His own character has no depth.

I also have many questions

Who was the man that rich mom was seeing? where did he end up with his life?
Where does the relationship with DK and grandpa stand at the end?
Does poor mom remain financially dependent on her kids?
Why were we introduced to their home sharing roommates if there was no story to tell?
How did Jisoo come to forgive her rich family after all they did to her poor Dad? Why did we never get that confrontation?

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