Reviews

This could've been the next Kingdom but never quite lives up to its potential

The comparisons between Gyeongseong Creature and Kingdom will be obvious as both are Netflix originals with impressive casts that blend the supernatural/horror with historical events, and I really really wanted Gyeongseong Creature to be as good as Kingdom (which is one of my favorite kdramas of all time), but sadly, it never quite lives up to its potential. That's not to say this drama is bad and in fact, there's a lot to like about it. The cast is excellent (special shoutout to Choi Young-Joon for his chilling portrayal of Colonel Kato) and many of the characters and their relationships are easy to root for, the way the story weaves fact (the Japanese occupation of Korea and human experimentation) and fiction (the inhuman creature) is incredibly compelling, and its core message about freedom and resistance continue to be relevant, now more than ever. But where Kingdom is elevated by an incredible script with impeccably developed characters, Gyeongseong Creature is unfortunately let down by mediocre writing and lackluster character development.

What makes Kingdom so SO good is that the writing hones in on the themes of hunger and power in Joseon-era Korea and explores it via the supernatural element of zombies. The zombies are not the point of the story, the hunger is, and that core theme is woven into every aspect of the show and explored over the course of 12 episodes, resulting in a tight, cohesive story about how hunger can drive a nation to the brink of destruction. Gyeongseong Creature tries to follow this playbook and tell a story about freedom and resistance and the way war makes monsters of us all, sometimes literally, but the writing isn't strong enough to deliver on that lofty theme.

It was a huge miss for the show not to dive more deeply into Tae-Sang's journey from selfish rogue to reluctant freedom fighter, and even after watching all 10 episodes, I still can't tell if he's supposed to be a charming pawnbroker with a secret heart of gold and patriotic streak or if he's simply a rich man who wants to protect his riches and will only support noble causes if they happen to align with his own interests. The writers tell us he's the former, but end up showing us more of the latter and the fact that the show never truly integrates Tae-Sang (the main character!!) into the resistance storyline is a huge missed opportunity. Park Seo-Joon does his damndest to bring some nuance and depth to Tae-Sang, and the fact that he succeeds at all is a testament to his skill as an actor rather than the quality of the script. The other main character, Chae-Ok, is presented as a righteous character who has seen the horrors of man and the fact that she and her father don't become part of the resistance movement is honestly not really believable to me. The only character we know by name who is actually involved in the resistance movement is Jun-Taek, but he makes no real impact on the story until the end of the season, and that's really only as a plot device to introduce explosives into the narrative in time for the finale (what a waste of Wi Ha Joon). But for me, the most egregious missed opportunity to incorporate the theme of freedom and resistance into the story is with the treatment of the titular creature. I wanted so badly to root for the monster as the physical manifestation of the evils that Japan inflicted on Korea, as the horrifying culmination of the atrocities committed by the oppressed now exacting righteous vengeance on the oppressors, but we never really get to know Seong-Sim as a human and we see so little of her before her transformation that she's never really allowed to become anything more than just a monster.

This review probably seems harsh but it's only because this drama had SO much potential and I really wanted it to be so much better than it was. Don't even get me started on Lady Maeda, who is easily the most intriguing character on this show. She's revealed to be the puppet master behind the whole nefarious plot at the hospital, and for what? I'm sure the show is saving these answers for the next season, but by doing so, it falls into the same trap that Sweet Home season 2 did - they spent more time setting up season 2 than they did actually making a coherent season 1. As an aside, I have to say that Netflix is really ruining the pacing of its originals by splitting them up into parts 1 and 2. This show should've ended season 1 on episode 7 once they escaped the hospital because the remaining 3 episodes felt super rushed and ruined much of the tension and momentum they had built with the previous episodes. Pushing the storyline from episodes 8-10 into season 2 would've given that story more time to develop and it would've made the return back to the hospital and its bombing all the more impactful. I don't know what the hell to make of the time jump at the end but I know it wasn't a satisfying way to end this season.

All that said, I did mostly enjoy this show despite how negative this review is. The history of Japanese occupation in Korea is an important one and I think the writers did a decent job conveying the horrors of the time, both real and imagined. I'll certainly be back for season 2, but if you're like me and were hoping this would fill the Kingdom-sized hole in your heart, you're probably better off lowering your expectations for this one and rewatching Kingdom again once you're done, which is certainly what I plan on doing.

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Annoyingly disappointing

Just finished this today. Extremely disappointed but not surprised. I was easily caught up with the narrative and characters in the beginning, and Han Hyo-joo's performance as a competent special forces soldier had a great unselfconscious swagger of someone with confidence in themseles. and her equally unselfconscious selfcentredness in the beginning when schemng to get the apartment was genuinely amusing. But from about halfway through I was watching more from duty and still some interest in what would happen to Sae-bom than anything else. Perhaps it is because the really strange social setup and peculiar startification of class (?) which comes across as pretty alien even to this British person who has been used to class-consciousness all their life. It just seems *different* and hard to believe that anyone would have put up with it even for a day in such unusual emergency situation. The whole idea that people would be ordered about like that by people with no real authority is genuinely amazing. This seemed MUCH mor emphasised than in any other KDrama I have seen (except maybe THE PENTHOUSE) and I watch a lot. Anyway, tht made it hard to completely empathise with and suspend disbelief. And then the whole coherence of the plot seemed to unravel. Now I completely accept that I may be missing subtleties in the original Korean, but the narrative as supplied by the subtitling started to make no sense at all. I actually put off watching the final ep for several days because I felt it was going to be a let down, and it was worse than I had expected. So, good beginning, gradually declining middle, and totally weak ending. The most disappointing Kdrama I have seen *all the way through*

(I am the sort of person who recently watched and loved 'Hotel del Luna', 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' and 'Sell your Haunted House', 'Attorney Woo' and 'Mad for each Other' and 'Inspector Koo', just in case that explains my reaction!)

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Delulu girl dates a virtual boyfriend but with a twist. Loved Zhang Ling He and everything else.

I started this drama for Zhang Ling He but I stayed for the awesome characters, plot and romance. I initially thought this was going to be a mindless fluff (a cute romance and nothing more). But the drama surprised me with it’s multi-layered plot and emotional depth. We have themes of family, real vs virtual love, friendships and romantic relationships. All characters have depth and a meaningful backstory.

The drama is about the female lead who buys glasses which allows her to have a virtual boyfriend/husband. She can touch him and have imagery talks/scenarios in her head with him. One day her delulu mind gets even crazier when she meets the male lead who looks just like her virtual boyfriend.

The beginning of the drama is pure comedy. You see many delulu girls, walking on the streets and interacting with their invisible (virtual) boyfriends. The middle of the drama is emotional. You see the backstory of the main characters, and the very real struggles they experience in the world. The end of the drama is mystery/suspense with many unexpected plot twists. The romance is a running theme in the drama so if you are a hopeless romantic, you will enjoy this for sure.

This drama is a rare gem in many aspects but especially in the romantic department. The main and secondary couple shared equal screen time and I loved them both equally. The couples are different enough to make the drama interesting but as a group of four friends they compliment each other well.

POSITIVE:
- Many awesome plot twists (one of the best I’ve ever seen!)
- Comedy is top-notch (especially if you love the “girl is delulu” trend).
- Characters are well developed. Even the side characters have a meaningful and realistic story.
- No annoying characters (which is very rare to see).
- Self-aware writers. The characters do something ridiculous and then call themselves out on that.
- Fluffy romance for both couples (I loved both couples equally which is rare).
- Worth to watch this for Zhang Ling He. His character has an important role and if you love the actor you will enjoy this.
- Grumpy and Sunshine romance trope (main leads).
- Female chases male (main couple) vs male chases female (second couple).
- Side characters (like the granny and the famous singer are relevant to the plot, not just fillers).
- No fillers. Every scene that was not about the romance felt meaningful and important for the plot.

NEGATIVE:
- Some episodes felt a little draggy. But that could be because I was binge-watching and eager to see how it all ended.

OVERALL:
Personally, the drama made me FEEL so much. My heart warmed when I was watching the romance. My heart ached when I was watching the sad backstories and struggles of the characters. My heart beat fast with excitement when I was watching the plot twists and suspense! This drama may not be perfect, it may be cliche at times but it made me feel, and that's why it has become one of my all time favourites.

I started this drama only for Zhang Ling He and he ended up being the bonus factor not the main reason to continue to watch as I loved everything!

If you want a fluffy romance with characters that have emotional depth, a meaningful story with cool plot twists and an air of mystery - watch this drama.

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It was offensive. Did not like this drama

The story was mediocre at best. The drama made Death more powerful than God when Death is a mere transition from your physical body at the end of your life. The use of a gun for Choi Yi Jae to die every time he assumes the life of another person is so jarring to the senses and it takes on a violence that I find too extreme. It was painful to watch.

What's up with the different characters he had to take? He made a personal choice to end his life and to make him realize he made a mistake through all those characters is kinda too late. For me, it was just a lazy writer's way of creating a story from a very weak premise.

Death has no control over man because man was created by God and granted free will. As the bible stated, "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God..."

I have watched numerous depictions of death and they were good like "Meet Joe Black" but this drama was just too unreal for my taste.

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Perfect!

This drama has everything, it is funny, romantic, the actors are handsome, the supporting cast is great, the length is just right and it is simply so entertaining! I thoroughly enjoyed this drama and hope to see more from the two leads. While there are only 3 episodes, the total runtime is around 2-3 hours which is similar to the usual 6 episodes of 20 minutes. I don't think they could have added more to increase the length of the drama, but I wouldn't complain if it was longer.

This drama does feel quite anime/manga-like, which makes sense since many dramas are based on mangas. There have been other BLs that were very manga-like in their vibe in a more superficial meaning, but this one is simply enjoyable. I recommend you to watch this right now! Japan's streak on making great BLs is continuing :)

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A classic case of a poor ending...

The story starts off strong with an engaging plot that takes place in a modern and historical time line. That charm is quickly lost though as our female lead adapts to the modern environment too quickly and the story rapidly becomes cliche. That being said, the chemistry between the two leads is really strong, they definitely carry the story and make it worth a watch if you like a good love story. I also really like the score for this drama, especially in the last episode! But the last episode is a complete mess plot wise, it makes zero sense and even makes the fl a bit dislikable. It's a shame because this drama had the potential to be really good but falls a bit flat unfortunately.

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good

Although it was filmed in 2016, the pace of plot development is acceptable, not procrastinating, and does not have the routine of today's idol dramas. The two leading actors have very good acting skills, with conflicts, warmth, and a sense of CP sense. I love the male and female leads Zhang Zhe Han and Park Min Young! They are both eye candies and their acting is very natural! Now only into the 6th episode, expect more and more exciting twists and turns to the storyline! Go watch if you have not yet done so yet! It is now showing onJapan's LaLaTV and will also be showing on SkyPerfect TVand Thailand's Monomax!I will continue to follow the drama❤❤❤

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After first two episodes, DRAMA went on Slow mo....

It most amazing show which is taking 9/10 from me
now leads have become sort of villains, in current timeline both of ji won and her boyfriend are cheating ,,EP10

cheater husband isn't good at acting he look more of cartoon then a cruel man as shown in webtoon
wrong casting this man look like a poor cartoon character against ML

MLs sister isn't casted right, her acting isn't that great i hope she improve in upcoming episodes

Park Min Young is amazing as always,
her dedication and skills are way above all her cast members including ML
Until now this is one woman show carried by amazing performance of PMY

i am investment banker so this stock market touch is great about time travel, but they miss the thing about Her being 10 year from future she should at least know what are current stock price of major business like she can invest in
kakoo and Samsung stocks or her own company she is working,

Ep3
Starting why she is that shocked to see her husband naked when she has been watching him for last 10 years
I get it if she don't want to do it with him anymore but why she is acting like its her FIRST time... ?
(And Random chicken delivery guy come to protect her) our creepy ML was behind it, he knows she don't want his penis
he just knows ...
ML Goes and ask for a love rivel himself because her bf wasn't enough.

It become so slow in ep 3 they wasted whole time for that reunion where ML(CREEPY) Invited a guy to fight him for FL...
I don't like that weird accent that sound like north korean.


I get it he did everything to help PMY
BUT he stalk her, he invaded her privacy
He investigate her background. (I get his reason after ep5)

This first love dude just said he has a Girlfriend ( wearing ring means serious) but want to play with PMY ,?
i am still on ML side because even if all that is still best between her worst suitors
After watching till ep 4 and preview of Ep5, i get it ML isn't Creepy because he is also from past and is a gift object given to FL from her father
whatever he is doing is to protect her because he know she was killed by her husband and bestie

AFTER watching Ep 6 this look like Our FL is main villian of story
Because she is cheating on her boyfriend with two man, while trying to push him and best friend together
They haven't done anything wrong in this timeline so her getting revenge is only justified in her own mind not to others
I am sure sister in middle of couple is Fls half sister and MLs half sister

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Aku benar-benar jatuh cinta dengan drama ini, drama ringan yang sudah lama aku cari. Aku sudah lelah dengan drama dengan alur dan konflik yang berat. Tapi sepertinya aku akan sulit melupakan karakter Mo Qincheng yang begitu sempurna, dia benar-benar tidak mungkin ada di kehidupan nyata. Aku rasa Zhou Ye benar-benar membawakan karakter Gu Sheng dengan baik, aku sampai merasakan bagaimana saat dia merasa kikuk, canggung dan malu. Dia terlihat seperti memiliki karakter seperti itu. Saat aku melihat klip belakang layar mereka, aku sedikit terkejut dengan kelakuan mereka, aku merasa tertipu.

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A very "re-watchable" worthy Romcom Mystery drama

It's the type of drama that reminds you why you love watching kdramas in the first place.

I'm sure most of you have the same concerns when it comes to Song Kang being the main lead in dramas. He wasn't an A-List celebrity and hasn't made a big name for himself in the acting industry yet so his dramas wasn't always a "must watch". I was a little hesitant to start this drama at first but it was always trending #1 on Netflix so I decided to give it a try. I love Kim Yoojung in romance dramas like Lovers of the Red Sky, Backstreet Rookie and Love in the Moonlight, so I was like "why not?" Went in with no expectations but boy was I wrong for doubting the quality of this drama because the ending of the first ep left me breathless and I immediately binge watched 5 episodes after that.

I think the production value, the soundtrack and the chemistry made this a very enjoyable romance drama. The ending for every episode is very pretty and it made you feel "things". The soundtrack and the editing works very well to make you feel like you're really watching a "romance Kdrama". It brings out this very romantic feeling that made you feel like you're in love yourself. Song Kang and Kim Yoojung were dubbed as the 'visual couple' in this drama and their charms definitely brought out the 'rewatchable' value. The two of them also brought out their emotions very well and I was so touched I cried for the first time in a drama.

Their chemistry gets better and better as the episode goes on, it makes you wonder if the actors were attracted to each other in real life. They felt shy in the first few episodes but their chemistry gets better it becomes perfect. You can feel that the actors genuinely enjoyed the kiss scenes in the episodes. Every interaction felt very natural and enjoyable to watch. Curiosity got to me so I watched the behind the scenes for every episode and they seemed to get along very well with each other off screens too. Their behind the scenes became a hot topic on twitter, weibo and tiktok, it's always trending in the searches and everyone seemed to be very invested in this couple's relationship and chemistry off screens? I can guarantee there's definitely some sort of attraction between the two. Don't believe me? Watch it yourself.

Plot-wise it was pretty interesting (imo), some people may think it's very cliche but that's actually the writers setting a trap for you. They tried to make it look like a cliche romance drama but there's actually plot twists in every ending of the episodes. There's like 4 different mysteries going on in this drama and the mysteries slowly reveal themselves. Each one leaves you more shocked than the other. I was pretty hooked on the plot because the drama seemed very uplifting but it's actually pretty dark?

Overall, it's a very uplifting, romantic, sweet and cute romance drama with a hint of mystery and very dark themes. I think Song Kang found his color in acting for this one. This character fits his real life personality very well. Kim Yoojung too, it's refreshing to see her as a mature and headstrong character. It's NOT a cliche drama where the male lead always have to save the damsel in distress to satisfy the audience. The couple balanced each other pretty well in this one, both male and female characters save and mend each other in their ways. It also feel like there's no gender barrier between the two, there's a very satisfying equality in their relationship and it feels very healthy.

Song Kang definitely made himself noticeable in this drama. He's never in my list for good looking Korean male actors but whatever they've done here with him, whether it's the styling or the mullet adjacent hair, i couldn't stop myself from re-watching every close up scene of him making those expressions. He made the best expressions in this drama and I can say he improved a lot in acting. Kim Yoojung is pretty good too, as a more mature and headstrong female lead in this one. It's very refreshing to watch the two of them together.

I couldn't help myself but gave it a 10/10 for this drama. The plot, the soundtrack, the actors, the chemistry, it fits the type of drama I'm looking for and I love it so much I even bought the soundtrack album myself so it's definitely a must watch if you love romantic dramas. Not your cup of tea if you expect a more fast-paced drama. If you're a person that loves romance, this is for you. if not, watch it to relieve some stress.

fyi: i know kpop idols like zhanghao and ricky watched my demon too. possibly because it's so popular in china and they're both c-line idols. you should def give it a watch if you're a die hard romantic

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I don’t get why people are marking this so low?!

I’ve now watched this twice. The enemies to lovers plot is a tad predictable and one could argue that Huang Juan Zhi’s character does forgive Wayne Songs character a little too fast, BUT…. It does explain that he liked him anyway and had been caught out staring at him across the school so maybe he just hadn’t come to terms with what that feeling actually meant until he was persued.
The ending oh the ending. People are complaining it was the worst ending ever and I’m sorry but that’s ridiculous. It’s all in the title make each day count because you don’t know what might happen. The shock factor was brilliant I for one didn’t see it coming. And the TEARS!! ? yes they could have got that point across some other way such as a breakup or an illness or even just an accident but I think they wanted an impact. They wanted to punch you in the gut. I think they succeeded brilliantly.
Wayne songs acting at the end broke my heart. I think if you overlook the small things the overall story is just so sad and beautiful because these things ACTUALLY happen. We don’t want to think about it but it does and sometimes I like a good reality check.
I think if you haven’t watched it then you definitely should.

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Worst outcome in xianxia genre

with starring of zhao lusi in this drama , i am waiting for this one for so long ,but i really continue anymore because the only watchable thing is cuteness of A yin ...
i love the type of dramas where at least one person is mature enough to handle situations but here both A yin and yuan qi are too much immature and because of many annoying characters like peacock , i can t continue anymore ...
Story, CGI, visuals, nothing really measured up to the other big budget xian xia dramas of this year like Till the End of Moon or Lost you Forever.

i have very much expectations for its OST s but they are nothing but disappointing ...
i do not think this drama has anything for viewers ...so do not waste your time ...

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Initial charm fades with clichés, dragged-out plot.

"Watashi no Oyome-kun" kicks off with a promising premise—Hayami Honoka, a corporate ace with a messy secret, and Yamamoto Chihiro, a domestic superhero, forming an unlikely alliance. The initial quirkiness and chemistry between the leads, played by Haru and Mahiro Takasugi, create an engaging start. However, as the story progresses, the charm begins to wear thin.

The plot struggles with a lack of direction, relying heavily on annoying tropes and clichés, making it feel like the narrative is moving without a clear purpose. The attempt to break societal norms and gender roles is overshadowed by frustrating misunderstandings, overused drama, and numerous unnecessary love triangles.

While the lead couple's chemistry remains a highlight, the constant interruptions to their romance and the exaggerated misunderstandings contribute to a sense of irritation. The characters, particularly the side ones like Akamine, often come off as overly comical, destroying the balance between humor and genuine connection.

As the series reaches its later episodes, the pacing falters, with the story feeling dragged out and losing the initial fun that drew me in. It becomes apparent that the show could have wrapped up sooner without sacrificing its essence. Despite the shortcomings, the presence of Haru and Mahiro Takasugi keeps the interest alive, and moments of adlib add a touch of authenticity.

In conclusion, "Watashi no Oyome-kun" has its entertaining and funny moments, but a dull plot progression, irritating clichés, and a waning charm in the later episodes might leave viewers wanting more. It falls short of being a standout romance drama and may test the patience of those looking for a more substantial and well-paced narrative.

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a spotlight

you'll become the spotlight in this kdrama if you've gone through tough times in your life. you'll become knowledgeable about things you never knew before. you'll learn, you'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll realize a lot of things in your life. this kdrama helped me a lot to distinguish the difference between living and having to live. this kdrama made me realize that you have to help yourself in able to help others. you'll never have the start of being a help to other people if you don't know how to help yourself. It all eventually starts with loving yourself. This kdrama already have a special place in my heart and I wil rewatch this a million times!

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