Reviews

confused by negative reviews..

Beginning this review is somewhat challenging, but I started watching the first season out of mild curiosity. While I didn't feel as emotionally connected to it as some of my favorite shows, I found it enjoyable and would often tune in during my free time. When I embarked on the second season, I was delighted to see one of my favorite actors, Insoo, which played a significant role in my decision to continue. The initial episodes felt a bit slow and somewhat obligatory to watch, but not necessarily in a bad way. However, as I progressed through the season, I unexpectedly became deeply engrossed.

In my opinion, the second season marked a substantial improvement. Around the halfway point, I became so emotionally invested that I developed an almost obsessive urge to keep watching. Now that I've finished, I'm feeling a sense of sadness that it's over, but I truly loved the ending. The character development throughout the many episodes was exceptional, and I have grown fond of the cast. I hold this season in high regard and have a great affection for the show. It's a remarkable watch, and I wish I had taken more time to delve into each episode.

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Refreshing like a watermelon on a hot day

Here is a drama that is about youth, coming of age, with hints of romance. Overall the whole feel to this drama is nostalgic and friendly, tragic sometimes, happy sometimes, it gives a lot with just the first two episodes alone.


The first twenty minutes of this drama is really good. The chronology of events are easy to follow, and I personally love how they had the childhood backstory at the beginning. It is a smart way to get you to know your characters upbringing, and you will understand them better because of this. The child actors are amazing and for the most part none of the actors I have a problem with.

Ryeon gives an amazing performance, and his parents and brother have hearing loss so the communication between all of them is nice to see. I like to see how they adapt to their circumstances, and how it holds them back, etc. Ryeon's character Eun Gyeol has a lot of depth to him, and it is a hard character to fill. He acts as a bridge between hearing and silence, a communicator and a 'trophy' for his family. He is a very good son and doesn't put himself first other than his music. So that right there is a well written character/family.

The pairings and relationships between characters are where this drama shines. I loved all of them and was looking forward to each episode to see how the characters grew. I can tell they had fun filming and everyone really cared for the roles they were in, so when watching it didn’t feel like roles, everything felt natural.


For Seol in Ah and Ryeon The chemistry between the two is so fun and credit to Seol In Ah, she really is good at differentiating her roles here. It’s really fun to see her character develop. She seems at first to be arrogant and not caring about how she affects others around her, but she is actually very perceptive and has tragedies that shape her to who she was, and she also grows as a person through the drama and her journey. I am finding her to be one of my favorites if not my favorite character.
These plot lines of time travel are tricky but very interesting. Because in the end it is about growing and learning about characters, rather than them shaping their own fates. Maybe Gyeol's future will change because of this. The logic is confusing with this, that is ok thought because it is a drama and its just fun.

As the plot developed those stories and characters become more clear, personally I am rooting for the parents to get together (as I’m sure we all are). I love how this drama just gets better and better with each episode.

This drama really was a gem out of all the dramas I have seen this year. The amount of care and learning that went behind the roles particularly amaze me. I enjoyed this a lot and it is one of those I would recommend to anyone honestly.

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very confusing plot line

Starting this review for the show is quite a challenge because it was incredibly intriguing. It managed to captivate me right from the beginning, which is a rarity for me when I start new shows. I particularly loved the initial storyline involving the office worker and her secret streaming hobby; it reminded me of the movie "Cam" that was released a while ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, the aspect that left me somewhat perplexed was the feeling of a complete 180-degree shift in the story's plot. If I were to skip ahead a few episodes, I wouldn't have thought it was the same show. Towards the end, it felt like an entirely different narrative. It's not that the new storyline was bad; it remained intriguing. Still, I couldn't help but feel that I missed out on numerous elements, leaving me rather bewildered about how it transitioned from point A to point B. I do believe the show had great potential, but I wish it had delved more deeply into the initial plot because it felt like we rushed through so much in so little time.

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not as good as i expected rrom reading reviews

I find it challenging to express my thoughts on this drama in this review. It's a good show, and I'm a devoted fan of romance K-dramas. However, despite my fondness for slow-burn narratives, I felt that this one was excessively prolonged. I might be biased, but I struggled to connect with the main character, who came across as overly uptight, which was quite frustrating for me. I didn't have any major issues with her, but it became difficult to stay engaged in the story as she maintained the same demeanor throughout most of the series. I want to clarify that I don't consider it a bad show at all. I truly enjoyed the storyline and the sweet romance in the ending. However, when I see all the 10 out of 10 reviews, I feel they might be a bit exaggerated, as I wouldn't label it as the absolute best. I understand that everyone has different opinions, but I wanted to share mine.

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fail

it's really hard these days to find good dramas with an action score. I was looking forward to this as Ji Chang-wook is a long time favourite (although I prefer his non-action roles), and Wi Ha-joon was promising in several roles, I really liked his mysterious criminal vibe in 'little women'

That said, after having watched the three first episodes: what a disappointment. I think the first 25 minutes of the first episode was just really bad fight and brawl scenes. And not much else actually.
I'm afraid it didn't really help that I recently rewatched 'my name' with Park Hee-soon as the most charismatic, evil and attractive drug kingpin EVER, with such authenticity it sent shivers down my spine constantly... so, seeing Wi Ha-joon now trying really hard to be an equal character? No chance. I can see him acting while acting here, maybe even trying to copy several things from 'my name'.

The storyline didn't really grip me, lots of fights, flat characters. Young guy wants to take over the area of the old boss guy, so far, so non-exciting.
Ji Chang-wook... I don't know, he is trying hard too here, but I don't buy his character either. All the cursing seems fake, all the smoking too, just everything.
I also don't like the whole atmosphere and vibe this show has.

If you want to watch a brainy, actually deep, and psychologically interesting and multifacetted story, see amazing aesthetic visuals and brilliant, authentic characters, main and side roles with intelligent action included? Watch 'my name'. If you want 30 minutes non-stop bad blood-spatter action and actually good actors trying really hard to fit roles they are not (yet) up to? Watch 'the worst of evil'.

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super unique and hilarious drama

I notice that many people express negativity toward this, but I genuinely adore it. The humor is fantastic, and the storyline captivates me. Unlike other repetitive dramas, I hold a deep affection for this show and its cast. The criticism it receives in reviews seems unjustified. Additionally, I appreciate the infusion of various genres, including comedy, suspense, and occasional romance. I came across a review that criticized the female main lead having a the buttocks power role, but in a show as unrealistic as this, it shouldn't be a significant concern by any means... In my view, the show is fantastic. It boasts an excellent storyline, compelling characters, and a great sense of humor. I eagerly anticipate watching it every day, and I've already encouraged many of my friends to give it a chance. Please don't judge it before giving it a try!

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It's so beautiful the lowratings are a scam.

Sep 27, 2023

HOLY SHIT. I have been putting this bl in the back burner because the ratings were saying about how boring this show and not great. However, I decided to finally pick it up after months and months of postponing it. First episode hits so damn good.

I already felt hooked to this drama right from the pilot. Every episode was pretty good in my opinion. I have some few critiques with the plot. But damn, I personally think that this drama was critiqued way too harshly. Maybe because it is more on the melodrama side and it is not the typical fluffy BLs out there.

Also, I just want to shout out Fumiya's character because he is such a green flag. He literally climbed by bl green flags list so fast, I need him in my life.

As of today's date, this show has a rating of 7.7 which I believe is too low. This deserves an 8.0 rating at the very least. Jack o frost bl is literally so much better in terms of many aspect in comparison to the highly rated bls for this year js.

I hope you give this show a chance like I did. Cause it definitely deserves a much better recognition !

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Song of Bandits; Ending felt unsatisfying

I was not happy with the ending of the drama. I know there will be a season 2, but I still wanted Nam Hee-shin to end up with Lee Yoon. They had such a great chemistry and they went through so much together. I did not like that Nam Hee-shin had to marry Lee Gwang-il, the Japanese soldier who was Lee Yoon’s enemy. I felt sorry for him, but I did not think he deserved Nam Hee-shin’s love. I hope that in season 2, Nam Hee-shin and Lee Yoon will reunite and be happy.

Overall, I enjoyed Song of the Bandits and I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical dramas with action and romance. It is a well-made and well-acted drama that shows the struggle and courage of the Korean people during a dark time in history. I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

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The producers of this movie seemed to have lost their touch when it came to crafting a captivating storyline. It was almost as if they were solely relying on the hype surrounding the drama, neglecting the crucial elements that make a story truly engaging. While the original drama and novel were both exceptional, this movie left much to be desired. The abundance of plot lines and inconsistencies throughout the film made it feel rushed and ultimately unsatisfying. The emotions that were once evoked within me, such as happiness, jealousy, and envy towards the love shared between Hira and Kiyoi, were replaced with a sense of confusion and disappointment.

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"So many people have died, even hell is packed."

The Flowers of War was released shortly after the 74th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre. A drunk Westerner with no political alliance, a dozen church school girls, and a dozen prostitutes take refuge in a cathedral compound as the rest of the city lies in ruins. Surrounded by Japanese soldiers, the unlikely group of people will have to work hard to find a way to survive.

This film is not for the faint of heart. Dead bodies line the streets and civilians are shot whenever found. Children are raped and adult women are gang raped, tortured, and murdered. Where this film did not work for me, and I say this as an ardent Zhang Yi Mou fan, there was too much sexual flirting and beautiful images in such a stark and unsavory story. The film was based on a novella inspired by an American missionary's diary. The missionary, Minnie Vautrin, fought to protect students and refugees at Ginling College where she was president. Instead of someone like Minnie, we were given John Miller, a drunken reprobate. He transformed into a heroic knight willing to do whatever was necessary to save the girls overnight. His character growth was shockingly unbelievable. The prostitutes had the same saintly transformations just as quickly. We never learned the names of most of the school girls or prostitutes. It ended up being simple. Virgins must be saved. Prostitutes are expendable. I thought John's makeover time came across too lighthearted when the mortician was basically working his magic on women who were going to a terrible death. The Japanese were almost uniformly categorized as evil. It's not surprising. With a national trauma of 200,000-300,000 killed and countless women raped, that's a wound that does not heal easily.

Christian Bale was serviceable as John. Though a big name, his acting style doesn't appeal to me. John wasn't a very sympathetic set of western eyes to view the atrocities through. Ni Ni in her first role showed she had acting chops, even more impressive in a role that called for her to speak English much of the time. Her Yu Mo was seductive, strong, and sorrowful. I hated that they had Yu Mo fall for the uncouth John, it was more relatable when she used him for his western face to help save her and her friends. Huang Tian Yuan as sweet George made the most of his pivotal and heroic role.

Every action in this film was designed to elicit an emotional reaction and get the viewer's tear ducts flowing. It felt too contrived most of the time. It was hard to emotionally bond with female characters, both young and older, who had no names. The time was catastrophically devastating and those who survived the murderous onslaught faced horror after horror, there's no easy way to put that on film. Had there been more believable character growth and fewer flirty moments, I could have gotten on board with this film better.

9/27/28

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I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer beauty that was displayed on screen in this series, especially considering the limited budget that was allocated for its production. It was not just the actors who impressed me, but the overall cinematography, the clever use of color schemes, the dance-like fight sequences, and the flowy vibrant clothing that added to the visual appeal of the show, this series was a true masterpiece that exceeded my expectations. The attention to detail, the intricate plot, and the stunning visuals all came together to create a truly unforgettable viewing experience. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who appreciates great storytelling.

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It was an excruciatingly slow-paced endeavor that seemed to be excessively self-indulgent. It appeared as though the mere presence of the film on the screen was meant to assert its own significance, leaving no room for the audience to grasp the essence of the storyline. Moreover, the film heavily relied on long, drawn-out scenes of characters walking at an agonizingly slow pace, accompanied by complete silence. This repetitive technique failed to effectively substitute for meaningful dialogue or a compelling plot. Instead, it only served to exacerbate the tediousness of the viewing experience.

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Warm and feel good over realistic

Sep 2023
I thought this was a touching, often amusing, positive and unusual drama.

Dementia is not often featured, to any extent, in S.Korean dramas, in the same way 'natural' gay, disabled or ASD characters are not either. Their industry, seemingly like many within their population, still appear to be more uncomfortable with such things, than not.

Anyone who cares for, or is close to, someone that suffers from dementia or Alzheimers in a far more negative and aggressive way, may find the representation in this a little too saccharin.

However, it is still quite a moving story. How the family of the elderly central character, who is determined to realise a dream he wasn't allowed to in his youth, learn from him, overcome their prejudices and grow, has a very feel good factor.

Deok-chul's family's characters are all quite different from one another and well portrayed by a cast I liked, but I honestly didn't get the father of Chae-rok (Song Kang's character) at all. I found that aspect of the story quite weak; as was the story around Ho-beom (Chae-rok's ex-friend). I didn't really feel like either lent anything extra to the story at all. That's certainly no reflection on the actors though, who were not the issue.

I read that Song Kang took ballet lessons for 6 months prior to filming and it shows. Apart from the very complex moves (where the camera focuses on purely legs, feet etc), which used a professional stand-in, he danced himself. I thought he looked beautiful, strong, graceful and convincing.

If you can put aside the fact that several aspects of the story are terribly unlikely and just watch it for the satisfaction of characters overcoming adversity, pushing their limits, taking responsibility, realising dreams and many becoming better people for it, then you will surely enjoy this, as I did.

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