Reviews

A broken pot

This drama didn't deserve to be longer than 10-12 episodes at best for the amount of material it had to offer. Quickly enough, they deviated from pottery making in favor of typical bland drama antics. Pottery making was its selling point but we barely got a slight tiny glimpse of that field. They kept all details and technicalities to minimum, how do they expect the viewer to care? I guess having a love square is more important to them. Looking at the cast it seemed promising but it turned out to be quite disappointing. Nonetheless, did we really need that awful nasty 17-years timeskip before the end credits? Massive yikes!!

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Horsing around

Why the hell do we need a love square in a horse/medical drama?! Really trying to inflate the 50-episodes runtime as much as possible for such a straightforward material. The drama itself was too vanilla and bland. I wish there was more to the drama than that, maybe exploring more interesting medical cases/areas. Speaking of medical, this is another drama with a godlike doctor and a godlike acupuncture skills that can resurrect the dead and create new life with little to no room in having reasonable stakes. Other dramas with godlike acupuncture skills that comes to mind are: Heaven's Order (2013) and Hur Jun (1999)/the Original Story (2013).

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DOA

The late-2000s/early-2010s extreme edgy vibes were too damn strong with this one, from the awful OST and soundfx to the comical acrobatics and the pretentious attitude. Moreover, an obvious poor job from the directing department worth a slap on the wrist for their empty shots, lousy compositions, hasty transitions and un-cinematic pretentious edits with no purpose trying to mimic cinema as if they were following a template. This is not how you create a slow-burn. The leads story, their entangled relationship and their journey to fall in love all were the furthest thing from being natural and smooth. If the edgy writing full of cringe was playing against them then the directing was the cherry on top to cross the point of no return.

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RUN!

The kid was pulling this drama together from the very beginning. While the chase was interesting to follow at first but soon enough it became tiring and boring and a change of scenery was due at that point which took longer than expected to get to. The drama had some nice side characters which didn't become overbearing, namely So Baek and her father which provided a little distraction from the long wait for the story to move. There were a lot of elements I didn't like in this drama but I probably will remember this drama for the kid. However, there was one particular major issue the drama suffered from and that is the godly impervious plot armor eliminating any sense of danger or stakes driving the drama in an extremely predictable bland route.

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I had a dream...

Casually confirming for nth time how unappealing Choi Soo Jong is in historical dramas as always since the start of his career. Just from reading the synopsis you may expect a big historical drama with big sets, big battles and big production, but this drama was embarrassingly scuffed with minimal efforts after the initial batch of episodes. As always with these type of shows, they blow their budget early on on flashy scenes then left wondering how to produce the rest. You may expect inconsistencies along the way, like having two or more camera angles of the same scene with different color grading and quality. I suppose an intern was editing that day. Anyway, the drama itself was underwhelming and almost nothing about it stand out, not even the cast nor their performance. All of their dramatic creative liberties proved to be unsuccessful and dull, as expected. A lot of petty fights that are always annoying to watch and lasting too long. At least the drama served as an example for how not to tell history in an entertainment medium.

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ONE OF THE BEST STORIES I EVER WATCHED

I would divide my reviews in things that came to me after watching it ; one is EXCELLENT STORY. The story is about Love that proves in every time, Khun Yai's love is to make Jom experience it in every time, whether it is in the past, present or future, or even past of pasts ! I would say that this drama has an excellent story ! How good is the mind of the writter of this story ! I would never be able to create a story like this, it is out of this world. When I watch a show, one of the things that I look into is the story, if the story is something that I can get a lessons from, if the story is something that touches my heart and will blow my mind, I would say this show checks all the boxes ! And the execution of the story is DAEBAK ! to be honest, I kinda lost my trust to DeeHup House coz I did not like the Step by Step ( I am sorry to those who liked it ) but here they got back my trust to them. So going back, the story is remarkable, and phenomenal, Like I am obsessed, It is nice that I realized the true message of the show or the story at the end, and that kept me from being curious about like what is it going to be, what's gonna happen? And I was answered, I am satisfied with it as a whole.
Second thing is ROMANTIC. The way Khun Yai and Jom making love is literally EVERYTHING ! about the kiss, it blew my mind ! Nothing awkward about it, it looked so real, it was not dry, it was not too wet, just enough ! And okay I am talking about this right now, usually some of us feels enticed of kissing scene in a BL, I admit I do! But here whenever they make love and kiss I felt their love to each other, it was everything I am obsessed ! This will be one of the reasons why it will be hard for me to move on on this drama! Khun Yai and Jom was like they just love one another so much, it was not about if they were both guys anymore, not about the gender anymore, but the love itself, the romance I am looking for is this one and will definitely be this one. Joms character was not too weak, but I would say he is strong ! and nothing I don't like about his character, and Yai ? OMG the greenest green flag ever, he is literally a prince ! Third is ONE OF THE BEST ACTINGS/ ACTORS. leading by experienced actors completed this show, Nonkul's acting here was phenomenal ! How he did the softy cute guy , and his everything here is literally everything ! Let me just say that Kim Goodburn is my favorite here ! I loved it when they casted him, I hope he would accept one day a BL genre, so yeah I like also his character here, and I liked everyone! I liked Ming ! The acting of good actors here are not wasted because such a promising story and show. Lastly, HEARTFELT. I am someone who looks for a drama that touches my heart, as what I mentioned in every episode reviews I made, I cried most of every episode ! Adding the song ? OMG it is everything ! My favorite part was when Khun Yai showed Jom the fireflies , so so romantic, also the night before Jom will be gone, their making love, I cried so much coz I know the feeling of someone you really miss! Also when Jom pushed Khun to follow his parents when Khun Yai's parents want him to be engaged to a woman, and the scene where Khun Yai and Jom danced outside and it rained ! Well almost everything is my favorite part ! I love the song every time I hear the song it makes me wanna cry too ! I felt everything, the sincerity, the love, the message ! I had a blast with this drama.
Lastly I wanna say that this drama exceeded my expectations, definitely one of the promising dramas of 2023 for me from now on ! , I hope it would be recognized internationally as ATOTS, and yeah this is now my top favorite ! Coz who doesn't ? Unless they did not understood the whole show or not into this kind of genre. Surely will re watch this many times in the future, coz who knows maybe I may also be able to go back to the past coz maybe like Jom there is someone who has been loving me for so so long ! HAHAHA just kidding ! ❤️

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Does not deliver its promising premise and instead digresses into the utmost bonkerness...

When a PD makes a variety show about a cryogenics experiments, Ma Dong Chan and Go Mi Ran, a part-timer struggling with family debts, participates in the "24-Hour Frozen Human Project.", but they are accidentally frozen for 20 years. To survive, they must maintain a body temperature below 33°C, while seeing all of their loved ones aged 20 years!

The premise about two people being the sole survivors of a truly unique traumatic incident, is a creative premise, but I can’t enjoy my drama if I can’t get on board with the story and the characters. To me, Melting Me Softly does not deliver its’ potential and instead digresses into the utmost bonkerness... I got really bored when the show becomes more of an office romcom with a jarring murder mystery in the latter part. Of course, it can make an interesting subplot, but shouldn’t they focuses mainly on the characters and their love developing firsthand?

Ji Chang Wook, being our male lead Dong Chan. Honestly, his character doesn't leave very much of an impression, and my liking for his character is truly driven by the actor. Even though he is so cute, act so well and have good chemistry with Won Jin Ah, their romance feels forced since they both have no relationship outside of colleagues, I am not seeing any buildup towards them as a couple. I feel the true love story would be between Dong Chan and his previous love Na Yeong, rekindling a true love story that transcends age differences and experiences. I would love to see them finding each other again after time apart and forgiving each other. To not end this on a negative note, I got to give a shout-out to one kiss scene, which is pure brilliance–in order to keep their temperatures and heart rates at a safe level–Dong Chan turns on the shower and kisses Mi Ran, with both fully-clothed. Talk about one of the most steamiest kdrama kisses out there.

-Dec 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Power down!

Reminds me of some cheap fantasy anime. Executed as a one and equally as garbage. Terrible writing from the get go. Poor storytelling and structure. Painfully underutilizing the generous long runtime. Filled with irrelevant nonsense that doesn't contribute to anything, not even for a side gag or filler. While the cast may not have been terrible, but they were definitely careless and under-performing. It's not like that had much to work with in the first place. The director doesn't seem to be helping in that regard either. I don't think this drama would have worked even if it was just a 2-hours movie.

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Taxi of Terror : The Unforgettable Ride of A Bloody Lucky Day

A Bloody Lucky Day is an intense thriller that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the minds of its characters. From the get go, its clear that this drama is not your typical crime series. Geum Hyeok soo, the serial killer in this story, is unlike anything we have seen before in the world of dramas. His actions, thoughts and words are more akin to a devil than a mere murderer.

Split into two parts, the story offers a unique perspective in each segment. The first part unveils the unfortunate events leading taxi driver Oh Taek to cross paths with the chilling killer. Geum Hyeok soo's character is not just about body count, it delves into the essence of pure evil.

The second part takes an unexpected turn as Oh Taek embarks on a quest for revenge. This shift adds complexity to the story exploring the thin line between good and evil. While the resolution may not resonate with everyone, the drama keeps everyone engaged with its compelling storytelling.

Yoo Yeon seok and Lee Sung min deliver stellar performances. Yoo Yeon seok's seamless transformation from a soft spoken character to a bone chilling murderer is extraordinary while Lee Sung min's portrayal makes you feel sympathy for his character. The chemistry between these actors elevates the drama's overall impact.

The cinematography, editing and music create a tense atmosphere enhancing the overall viewing experience. The closeups and the confined space of the taxi add a unique touch to the drama.

However second part introduces plot twists that may be interpreted as a fresh perspective by some viewers. The ending while aiming for resolution sparks curiosity rather than neatly tying up loose ends.

Despite its flaws, A Bloody Lucky Day stands out as a exceptional thriller with elements that push the boundaries of the genre. Its a must watch for those who enjoy intense narratives and stellar performances.

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A medical scam

Reminds me of some cheap isekai anime. Executed as a one and equally as garbage. Terrible writing from the get go. Poor storytelling and structure. Painfully underutilizing the generous long runtime. Filled with irrelevant nonsense that doesn't contribute to anything, not even for a side gag or filler. While the cast may not have been terrible, but they were definitely careless and under-performing. It's not like they had much to work with in the first place. The director doesn't seem to be helping in that regard either. I don't think this drama would have worked even if it was just a 2-hours movie.

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Bummer at the end

I have watched many international dating shows and it was my first time watching a Korean dating show . The international dating shows are all about the physical attraction and lust. So what I liked most about the show was how they focused on getting to know each other slowly rather than jumping on each other right away.😂
I liked how it started with expressing the first impression of the person and then matching for dates later. And cooking with each other was the best part as it gives a lot of time to interact with each other in a natural setting rather than going on fancy dates right away.

But what I didn’t liked was that how the new members joined soo late and they didn’t got the chance to built anything with anyone. And the worst part is tht all the couples who left together at the end are not together. Yes, not a single one of them are together. It all starts to look fake like how they shared beautiful moments and never dated in real is just soo weird to me.
Like what’s the purpose of these reality dating shows if no one sticks together or even tries to date after leaving the show. Makes it all pointless. I was hoping better from a Korean dating show.

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wasted potential

what a shame this had so much potential to be amazing, the actors seemed to have great chemistry together it’s a shame they were stuck with such a terrible script. originally I thought the plot was good but they ruined it by adding unnecessary issues.

Anyway I enjoyed Lee Min Ki’s performance it’s was refreshing to see him play a character who’s playful and cute, I’ve only ever seen him play stern, emotionless characters before this. As for Nana she was amazing as ever, she’s the reason I watched this in the first place, ever since I watched her in “into the ring” I fell in awe for her. Since then it’s been my mission to support and watch all her movies/shows.

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ok but not the best version of the show

I have watched the different version of this show and while this version is ok, it's far from being the best one. I liked that they brought some twists to the version of other countries. I liked that they removed the illness of the main character and removed the part of going in the wrong room (doesn't really work anymore) but they also turned Dylan in a forceful creep, killing the show for me. him trying to get Elaine to break up with xinyi was done in a bully's way. And the actor that plays Dylan is not great. I would also add that Elaine's transformation was weaker than in the other version of the show.

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good, but one dumb thing.…

first of all i’d like to say that it was pretty good entertaining and a bit addictive, but there was SEVERAL dumb things that happened in this reality TV show. first why is sihun always going back to jia? like i think it was pretty abvious who she wanted to be with since day one because she wanted to pick only one man…HER PUPPY so why is he still trying…second, why did the 2 girls and 1 boy come SO EXTREMELY LATE?!?! they can’t get to know each other at that rate like you can’t call it a love show where they are getting to know each other?!? that’s absolute bullsh*t. THIRD. WHY ARENT YALL REALISING 2 EPISODES A DAY??? it’s so much better and it’s just killing time so much faster if you did! like i won’t watch one episode then the next day i’ll watch another then NEXT WEEK i’ll repeat? FOURTH and LAST. if season 3 isn’t better than this i’m leaving the WORST review 🤦🏽‍♀️

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