WHAT THE HECK!!! THIS IS PERFECT!!!
Look, this drama was basically everything i like all in one package, in other words, it left me in a emotional mess when it ended. I started watching it on a whim and IT WAS PERFECT! I can't stress how good everyone's acting was, pls the two leads deserve awards for this or ima throw hands. The osts were SO beautiful, i downloaded many of them nd been listening on repeat, it really blended well with the scenes, making them super full of suspense nd excitement. Episode 7 felt like almost last episode material in how hyped it was nd from episode 7 onwards, i had no idea how but it kept getting better and better and the last episode was the pinnacle of perfection. This drama was confusing, exciting, thrilling, sad and heartwarming all at the same time. I kept on guessing coz everyone looked suspicious nd then each reveal, till the very last episode had me screaming 'omggg thats itttt holy shittt'. AND the relationship between the leads was just so adorable ;-; im weak to this kinda relationships, i love them so much. This drama showed how small, seemingly insignificant mistakes nd error in judgement can have devastating consequences and attempts at hiding it can pile up nd go on to ruin ur life nd also that of those around u. Throughout the 16 episodes i felt like i had also become one of the manyang residents nd im missing them like crazy now TT gotta rewatch.Was this review helpful to you?
i watch this drama because the poster look atractive ;) and the actor too :p and then i FALL IN LOVE with this drama, this drama makes me cry, smile, laught, and fall in love..
their acting sooo gooodddd because it can iritate me. the story is good too, unpredicteble,
i watch this drama in 2011
i download the sountrack (its rare for me to download the soundtrack of drama that i watch)
i dont know what i want to share anymore, eventhough i want to express my feeling about this drama.
just watch it, you'll never regret it ^^
>>>>>>>> sorry for my bad english
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What I liked best about this drama was the characters, you could really feel the close friendships they had with each other and it helped to make it a really realistic story.
The second thing I liked the most was they made you fall in love with both of the male leads causing you to be torn with who you want her to end up with and they really throw you for a spin up until the very end. I left watching this feeling completely satisfied with the ending and I would recommend anyone to watch it that likes a good, realistic and mature comedy/romance.
The only negative thing I would have to say about it is, for me, it started out a bit slow and the female lead was really annoying at first, but it got better as it went on.
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This review may contain spoilers
I watched it so you don't have to
My review is basically an essay so the TLDR is: low-quality production with nothing to make up for itI've numbered the paragraphs for my review if you want to just skip to the topic you're interested in.
1. general remarks; 2. plot; 3. cinematography; 4. music; 5. miscellaneous; 6. main actors; 7. bromance.
1. This series (or short film? only 2 episodes) is thoroughly unremarkable and forgettable. The quality is reminiscent of old-school kdramas, with the cliché plots, cheap cinematography, sub-par music etc. - and yet this a 2021 production, and doesn’t have the ‘makjang’ element which at least makes old-school kdramas fun to watch.
2. The plot was completely predictable, as the student at the bottom of the class becomes close to the number one student who is also (of course) a social recluse. And disappointingly, nothing new or innovative was done with this shitty cliché that abounds in hetero high school cdramas, beyond the obvious of transposing it to a bromance story.
3. The cinematography was bad to the point of being jarring, with inappropriate use of slow motion, the hand-held camera often jolting too much etc. The camerawork consequently detracted from the story-telling, rather than enriching it. A real sign of the amateur filming was also revealed by the way the camera framed Chen Zihao and Yang Yuhang with sunlight streaming over them on multiple occasions (sorry, hard to describe). You see this done a lot in Asian dramas to create a romantic/tranquil atmosphere, but the fact that it was done multiple times shows the real dearth of creativity in this production. I suppose at least some pretty scenery was utilised throughout (the forest was beautiful).
4. The music was often jarring and inappropriate, usually drawing attention to itself rather than heightening the atmosphere in any given scene. The tacky piano smashing sound effect is the best example of this. Sidenote - if you don't get what I mean, check out Bad Buddy (Ep. 5, part 4) to see a great example of music heightening the atmosphere.
5. There are various other small signs of the low-effort/low-quality production. For example, when the word ‘OUT’ pops up on the screen and looks like it’s straight out of some 2010 WordArt. Or the shitty acting from supporting actors, which is more often than not a sign of weak directing eg. when all of the students are completely silent while packing up after their class has ended. That's completely unnatural; the director should've told the actors to chat a bit.
6. The main actors aren’t even that good, but are the best part of this series (tells you how good it is…). The guy playing Chen Zihao is charismatic, charming and likeable. The guy playing Yang Yuhang is somewhat cute, charming, and likeable, though possesses basically no charisma. I think the actors also have decent chemistry. This series would’ve been unwatchable had the actors been worse.
7. And the worst bit of all is that I watched this to the end because I thought it was going to be explicitly LGBT, and I want to support explicitly LGBT Chinese content. But it turned out to be just another one of these Chinese bromance productions to get by the censors - FFS! No kiss, no declarations, nothing. A true waste of time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Unique, One of the best 2019 dramas
This drama was really nice and refreshing. A drama about the comic book world? Now that's very interesting. This was definitely one of the stand out dramas of 2019. The acting was really good and it made viewers empathize with them. The only fault that I could think of is that some of the characters' lines were repetitive. The outfits were really beautiful especially in "trumpet creeper."Putting that aside it's a really great drama overall. The character development was really good. A must watch drama if you're into light-hearted stuff.
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I actually can't believe I am now writing a review for the whole drama, this whole time this drama has seemed so real and so close to me, that 'closing the book' is like saying goodbye to a whole world full of very close friends.
The plot of this drama has so many dimensions, which are continuous and meaningful, that I can write separate reviews for every one of them: JaeHa and HangAh's romance, North and South, JaeShin and ShiKyung, BongGu and the power, JaeHa becoming the King, the theory of ShiKyung (the research question being, whether such a person can exist in the world, maybe I should write a thesis on this)...^^
While I definitely view this drama as a romance, I think the main scene here is grabbed by JaeHa's becoming the King we see him in the last episode, from his very first steps as a worthless player (whoever thought of him that way...tsk-tsk-tsk) to a magnificently shining, war stopping King of South and North Koreas.
The drama provides such a rich character development plot it kept me breathless most of the time... The changes through which JaeHa went through with the help of JaeKang, then HangAh, then ShiKyung... aren't they brilliantly thought of?
In my opinion the love story described in this drama is the most beautiful and breath-taking love story...ever, even being not the center story of the drama, the love line didn't fail in JaeHa's every next step, in every HangAh's heroic act... being together or separated, they were perfect and strong...they both took my breath away, and I am hopelessly in love with this couple!
I don't think I possess the right words to describe the acting in this drama, now typing... it seems shallow.
Every character in the drama became a part of me during this weeks, every one of them (except for the foreign 'actors' who just...whatever) made my heart skip a beat, hit the air with fists, jump up and down.
Ha JiWon is one of my favourite actresses, and I was sure in her when I started watching this, she did not disappoint me for a second! Her HangAh had so many layers, so deep, so lovable, so heroic, so strong, she is definitely one of my favourite female characters.
Lee SeungGi... brilliant as a brat, brilliant as a King, brilliant as a lover who want to protect his loved one (suddenly I am seeing the part when he was holding HangAh in China, like she was the last piece of air in his lungs...). I think he has improved very much in his acting, and JaeHa was perfect, he become the King people will believe in, he brought the drama to the(almost) perfect ending...
Jo JungSuk... I think ShiKyung was the most difficult character to portray in the drama. As he was always being called 'boring and not having sense of humor', depending on the actor I think, ShiKyung could definitely be a boring one, maybe an honest and loyal, yes, but not the ShiKyung everybody fell in love with. Jo JungSuk made him perfect. This character will remain in my heart forever, he is one of the main reasons JaeHa made it to the end and the way he made it to the end!
I can't help but mention Yoon JeMoon as Kim BongGu, as he never failed to freak and creep me out with his character. BRAVO!
The cinematography and the music of the drama deserve the BEST award of all awards.
The symbolic value of the scenes played out by the light and shadows and the gorgeous music pieces never failed to put me deep into the world of the drama, I never doubted the reality of the event, I think I never will...
Long live the King and the Queen!
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This review may contain spoilers
I found no continuity in history, I feel like I was watching different dramas
I wait 2 years for this and I really feel that I waste my time, I feel I watched two different dramas.
I was team Sun Oh but watching the drama from a more objective and mature point, I still being unsatisfied.
I think they left a lot of things unfinished like what happened in the update event?
I would have liked to see that Jugko thought when she saw Sun Oh makes sound Jojo's alarm and also I would like to see how Jojo and Hye Yeong start dating.
I don't understand why Dukgu faked his death and it was also unclear to me who was leading the Antilove Alarm movement or what happened to it...
Honestly I feel disappointed, I don't like it and I also think it was really boring.
In the whole drama I saw Jojo running and hiding, she never explain to Sun Oh why she broke up with him and she also can't be honest with Hye Yeong, first the shield and then the spear, both ways to hide and lie.
I felt that the relationship between Jojo and Hye Yeong was forced, I suppose by the fact that I didn't know how it was that she decided to start a relationship with he.
For Sun Oh and Yukjo they both had a very unfair ending, Yukjo deserved someone who really loved her and not someone who only stayed with her because the person he really loves didn't choose him.
Why he would love her overnight if even in four years he didn't do it?
I would have liked to see that Sun Oh will really outperform Jojo, that he will manage to heal his wounds, perhaps fix his problems at home, really fall in love, etc.
For this season his appearances were minimal and in all I saw him suffering.
I only would like to see Jojo being honest and brave, I don't know why people say that she grows in this season because I think she still being very inmature.
I know that the ending is attached to the webtoon but if it were to, I would have preferred that from the beginning they would do it that way. in the first season Sun Oh has so much prominence that even there are those who did not even know Hye Yeong's name and only placed him as "Sun Oh's friend" not really like a main character.
I have nothing against Hye Yeong but I honestly had very high expectations and I expected much more from this season, I also feel that Hye Yeong deserves more.
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.... because I have never experience frustration like this, ever before.
I don't even know where to start, to be honest.......
+ Positives
- Negatives
= Summary
~ I recommend this to...
Let's get this death over with
+++++++ POSITIVES +++++++++
+ The acting was good. I think the whole cast did a good job portraying their roles even though their characters weren't that well made to begin with.
+ The relationships between the characters are amazing. Some supporting characters had a beautiful romance bloom from innocent caring and that's a kind of purity you don't see often in modern day dramas.
+ There were definitely some funny moments in this drama that made me chuckle or smile or sometimes laugh out loud. The comments and the way the characters are interacting with each others, was at times, very entertaining and gave them a very special bond.
+ The story took turns that some other dramas avoid because of the great risk that the audience disapproves. In my opinion, risky moves like killing off characters or confusing the hearth is a good way to capture the audience and make them feel something.
----------------- NEGATIVES -------------------------
- All the characters have a character development except for the, dense, ignorant, clumsy, slow, innocent, annoying, female lead. She doesn't do anything except make things harder for everyone else in this drama and she was the one who needed the development the most. I think the writers got too stuck in victimizing here, there was no space left to make her human.
- The story does not follow it's original so this version has enough plot holes to make cheese with holes in it, feel ashamed of itself.
- The story builds up way too much into something that doesn't even climax. I was severely disappointed with the twists and obstacles that were constantly introduced. I have to admit that some twists were really sweet and really good but for the majority of the time it was dog noise.
- Some of the dialogue didn't make sense.
- The CG was worse than some, early 2000 Japanese horror films, I've seen
- The focus was in the wrong place most of the time. The way the creators proceeded the story made it seem like things were only happening to support their romance, instead of their romance being something that bloomed from the incidents. A bit like those high school movies where something completely illogical happens just to make the main couple share a room and create tension. This drama would have been a lot better if the romance was a part of the story and not the center of it.
- The romance in itself was a never ending tug-of-war which is the result of having it in the spotlight. When you want to focus on something but there isn't enough content, it ends up repeating itself.
okay, enough!
========== SUMMARY ============
For the most part, I was disappointed watching this. Even though it did really well with character interactions and relationships, not to mention the great chemistry provided by the actors, the writers failed at their most crucial points. The plot. Even though this is based on a novel, I think the writers took the opportunity to free style a bit, which was a huge mistake on their part. Their desire for wanting more than they could achieve, resulted in major plot holes and a lot of build up without climax.
~~~~~~~~~ I RECOMMEND THIS TO ~~~~~~~~~~~
People who like romance no matter the quality of the story. Even if this is more of a spicy romance with some action, tragedy and blood, the main focus here is love and it comes in all sorts of varieties. If you're easily scared; there will be some blood but this should not be considered a horror drama. If you've ever seen a bad horror movie and made it through, you'll be fine watching this.
ENJOY!!
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When Sacrifice is the Tie that Binds
This is a very cinematic drama. It has the thrill, romance, comedy and heartache all in one. The ML and FLs chemistry was palpable and enchanting. The second couple was amusing and capable within their roles. The villians almost brought a 'Friday the 13th' vibe to the series. Yet the pace and tension of it all kept you wanting more. It was refreshing to see both of these leads with a good script 'finally' with great delivery. The tenderness within this series was just right. The OST was perfect in capturing key moments. The concept has been done before.... Nevertheless, this was worth the ride and a must watch. Well Done, Song Kang, Kim Yoo Jung, Production, Cast and Crew!Was this review helpful to you?
Good writing, right there!
Ok Taecyeon and So Yi Hyun make a wonderful duo with great chemistry. And I especially enjoyed Taecyeon’s acting performance, he has come a long way since Dream High. Yi Hyun is brilliant as well, I enjoyed seeing her playing a "serious" character and not just the sweet love interest. Although she went a bit over the top with the crazy-eyes, she’s definitely a new favourite. Kim Chang Wan is fantastic, he plays his role with such finess it's scary. His reference to Iljimae was just... flawless. X)
The supporting roles were a bit bleak, but with the time frame they had I guess it was expected. And I'm glad they stayed focus on the main story and characters. This is one of those dramas where the ending is very, very important and I was quite nervous that they would lazy-wrap it, but they didn't. It was a great finish for a great drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Good intensions gone bad
So, I had to quick rewatch 1-7 to be sure of my grading and yes, I can just barely give it a 7, actually I want to give it lower, but I keep it there.Lets brake it down:
The story-flow begins good, then decent and eventually, downhill.
Sure, the story tocuhes some interesting delicate topics such as mental health, self-discovery, infidelity, death, covid-situation, identity crisis and domestical abuse; but perhaps they tried too hard to show too much?
So the characters:
The fact they put Yana and Leo, the exes as the biatches of the story, is just tad cliche. But I like the broken character Leo is. Finally something of the typical in BL-stories.
Olan- Oh Olan, the passive accepting sideline hero that was just there for decoration.
Or icing if some like him.
Yana is the typical rolls-eyes-bitch. No worth the screentime nor the ink..
Ben- Actually, he is quite broken and I like it. Imo, he is the utterly star, from episode 1-7. Acting was totally ok but the character was good.
Jim- Everything was just wrong with Jim. Even in his few heroic moments here and there, he was just an ass, to put it short.
Lets now bake this into a marvelous cake of mush, because it was like just that. It LOOKED wonderful, the idea was good, but excecution was like a cute loved one that cant cook for squat trying to bake.
You eat it anyway with a smile.
A for effort.
The OST was good though and there was plenty of eyecandies.
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oh man i have no idea what to say here
This drama is amazing.before i continue just give me a moment to feel superior to all of you because i read the entire book (yes, all 700 ish chapters) so i know what's gonna happen haha
no dont worry i won't spoil it, i'm not a jerk
STORY
There are so many clever jokes to balance out the seriousness, there's a good love story, excellent characters that aren't transparent at ALL, and amazing arcs. I enjoyed basically every single moment of character interaction, and the plot moved super fast (which is really my thing).
ACTING/CAST
I'm no expert on acting and honestly I could only point out bad acting if it was on purpose :(
The only thing I have to say about the cast is that every character was super talented (at least as far as I could see), especially Fan Xian, Chen Ping Ping, and the emperor.
MUSIC
this music boosts my vibe but also kind of makes me sad
REWATCH VALUE
This has really high rewatch value because every time you watch it you realize something new about the story, and it's quite short honestly
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I absolutely loved it. It was a re-watch for me. I'm not much of a re-watch anything person, but this drama was totally worth it.
The first time I watched this drama I was too new to the Korean Drama world. Even though I liked it, I felt that there were too many things that I did not understand and did not allow me to enjoy it as much as I did this second time. This time, it has moved up to become one of my all time favorite.
I decided to re-watch it mostly because I felt that watching Gong Yoo in "Big" twice a week, was not enough. I needed a higher dose and more exposure to that face and talent and *cough body cough*. It was during this re-watch that I discovered why this drama is so popular, timeless and overall a star making drama.
This is what I would call an "slice of life" drama. Nothing big or major happens. There are no huge plot twists, evil second leads, plotters to set the main couple apart or anything like that. The story is very subtle and deep at times, poignant at others and over all very funny and heart warming. These characters really make you feel like they are so real you might see them walking down the street -or maybe working at their coffee shop.
The acting is SUPERB. Sometimes I wondered if they were adlibbing. The conversations, the reactions seemed so realistic and flowed so well, it gave it an extra layer of believability.
The main couple is of course one of the major reasons to watch this drama. Ah- to be loved that way. The way Gong Yoo portrays it and smiles....(I'm fanning myself already :). That is all great and all, but really, this drama is an ensemble drama. What gets you and sucks you are the interactions these characters have with each other. How they become better persons from when they met, thanks to knowing each other, working together and caring for their job and each other. Even the grandmother and relationship between the main characters and their respective families was awesome. There was character development all around. I liked that.
The music was awesome too. The whole drama and the music itself gave me a very Indie feel. It reminds me of Juno, 500 Days of Summer, or books such as "Whatever Happened to Goodbye" by Sarah Dessen. All of these stories get you so involved in the subtleties of these characters' daily life that you feel a bit of a voyeur, a friend or someone who comes to care so much about them, that you do not wish the story to end.
Lastly, as sweet and romantic, well acted, funny and great music as it had, I do not think that this drama should be taken lightly. As subtle as it was it did feel very adult like in it's themes. They touched upon sex before marriage, gay relationships, cheating and forgiving, etc. I did not know before how many of the topics dealt here are not ones that -at that time specially- were usually touched upon. If you want to, this drama makes you think and analyze it.
I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good story. Like stated before, don't expect a lot of action or plot twists, but this drama is really worth watching. This drama absolutely deserves the title of "all time classic".
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