This review may contain spoilers
A comforting drama
Didn't bat an eye about this drama when it was airing, but then a month ago, I saw a short clip of Yeong Ok & Yeong Hui episode on facebook page and that gave me an instant interest.But, the episode that got me hook up and completely attached was during Yeong Ju-Hyeon & In Gwon-Hosik's story. Everything about this arc is perfect. The raw emotions of the fathers, the feared of disappointing a hard-working parents, how people learn to accept what has been done.
I also love how this drama emphasized two things; 1) that, no matter how close you are with someone, there is still a line that you shouldn't cross and to always think about other people's feeling because everyone has different ways to interpret things. What we consider as normal or harmless might unintentionally hurt our beloved ones. 2) proper communication is the most important thing in building & maintaining a good relationship. Sometimes you gotta be the big-hearted one and just let it go even though it hurt you. In other occasion, you have to make it clear that you dislike this & that, so there won't be any ill feelings that might ruin everything in the future.
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This review may contain spoilers
Anyone who understands Life's struggles should watch this
My mom raved about this drama and normally we don't have the same tastes, but I think what makes this show so great is that every generation will be able to appreciate the messages. This show doesn't shy away from exposing the ugly truths of human nature, but it also shows the touching side as well. We follow the lives of a close knit community in Jeju as they navigate through the struggles of life and their own emotional baggage.Likes: With a star studded cast, the acting from everyone felt very natural and heartfelt, but it was the less famous character actors such as Lee Jung Eun, Park Ji Hwan, and Choi Young Joon who really stood out in my eyes. They felt like the glue that made the community feel alive and real. What made this show stand out is that it was unapologetic about exposing the flaws of each character. It didn't try to glamorize or label a person as evil or nice. It just showed that no one is perfect and we do what we need to do in order to survive according to our experiences. This show knows how to poke those hidden truths, stir up emotions, and make us feel as if the character's emotions are our own. It was funny, sad, touching, and healing.
I have to mention one scene that made an impact on me. That emotional fight scene between Ji Hwan and his son.....I think anyone who has immigrant parents or parents who struggled to get by financially will be able to relate to the emotions in that scene. Ji Hwan's acting was amazing. He truly made it unforgettable in my mind due to his raw emotion.
Dislikes: Ok so I may have a little bias in this one since I'm not a huge fan of Lee Byung Hun so take it with a grain of salt, but I found his story line with Shin Mina really boring. This was the only storyline where I wanted to skip. I just couldn't connect and wasn't feelin the loveline. Also, I found having Woobin and Shin Mina in the same drama, but with different lovers distracting. It felt weird seeing LBH kiss SM, but then WB being all chummy with LBH in another scene. I know it's acting, but my mind would wander into that whole, dude that man just kissed your pregnant wife, etc...and I couldn't help notice the lack of a kiss in the WB loveline when I felt like there should have been. It's easier to forget someone has a real like significant other when they are not in the same drama, but having them in the same show was like a little reminder that kept distracting me from the story. But all in all, these are very small dislikes compared to the enjoyment overall.
Highly recommend checking this out if you like family dramas and are ready for some emotional ups and downs.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is a story about the people spanning for three generations in a little fishing village in Jeju. This is not about some smart uni graduate living in jeju or some cheobal coming to jeju to get away from the busy life of soul, this is a story about low income families and villagers barely graduating from high school, living in a little fishing village all their lives. Their entire world revolves around this little village and all their pain and happiness is etched within the confines of this village. Their biggest happiness is to earn a good daily wage and then go for a drink at the end of the day.
This is not one story but several story arcs telling the story of several people living in the little fishing village of Jeju.
The first arc is about Jung Eun Hee and her first love coming back to jeju. She thinks it is the right time to rekindle their love only to find that he was here to borrow money from her due to a failed business venture.
The second arc is between Bang Young Joo and Jung Hyun, two high school students. The girl gets pregnant with the guy's child. This is the most intriguing arch out of all for me because this talks about teenage pregnancy. The issue is debate worthy because this couple decides to keep the baby. I personally feel this is is a bad idea because the two are in high school and both of them don't have mothers and only two incompetent fathers as family members. And both their fathers barely make ends meet with their meager daily wages from working in the fish market. The couple have fantasies about doing their further studies after having the baby, but how far will it be possible? A baby needs attention and as they grow up they require more money and the couple are determined to raise the baby while doing further studies and doing a job while still relying on their father's daily wages. But I feel like their future plan is not very realistic considering their economical background. But I also understand why the kids decide to keep the baby. They are both brought up by their incompetent fathers without a mother's love, so both of them want to give the love that they didn't recieve to their baby, which is undestandable. But in the end will it be possible to give a good future to the baby while securing their own future??
The third arc is between Lee Dong Seok , a street stall owner and Min Seon Ah, a woman going through depression and divorce. Lee Dong Seok was her neighborhood oppa when she was little. Lee Dong Seok meets a depressed Min Seon Ah after years and helps her go through the worst period in her life as she struggles with dovorce and child custody lawsuit with her husband while fighting with her severe depression. Later her condition improved with the support of Lee Dong Seok.
The fourth arc is the love story between Lee Young Ok, a harvester and a captain of a ship, Park Jung Joon. Park Jung Joon pursues the beautiful Lee Young Ok, who is famous for being a player in the village. But Lee Young Ok has a lot of misgiving in her life and repeatedly rejects Park Jung Joon. Later they get together and the reason for her misgiving is revealed to be due to her disable twin sister who she has to look after for the rest of her life.
The fifth arc is about friendship. The story revolves around the friendship between Jung Eun Hee and her childhood friend who comes to jeju. This arch reveals the loyalty and talks about the pure friendship that was built over years in this little fishing village. The friendship described is so pure and simple. These people don't have complex minds and their hate and love is expressed in a pure and straightforward way that it's absolutely heartfelting.
The sixth arc is between Hyun Choon Hee and her grandchild who comes to Jeju for a few weeks after her father gets into an accident. The love between grandparent and grandchild is expressed in a raw but sweet way. The arch shows how the entire village get together to fulfill a childish fantasy of a little child which will make you want to cry.
The final arc is between Lee Dong Seok and his mother who is in her late stage of cancer. This story shows how Lee Dong Seok fulfilled his mother's last wishes before she died and how Lee Dong Seok reconciled with his decades long hate towards his mother after she remarried to another man when he was young.
Every arc speaks to the very depth of my heart. The story is absolutely the most heartfelt story I ever watched. Each and every episode makes me want to cry. There is no tragedy, just talks about the most basic human feeling to its very rawest level.
Apart from those arch it is also laced with other stories and pretty much talks about human nature and their feeling and thought to the most primary levels.
Each and every second is worth watching and I'm so glad that I didn’t drop this drama. The first 4 episodes are more or less an introduction to the lives of the people living in the village but things get interesting from the beginning of the second arc.
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A beautifully anthology
Hometown Cha Cha Cha was one of last year’s best K-Dramas depicting the trials and tribulations of a small village and its inhabitants, and Our Blues does the similar kind of thing this year.Our Blues is a 20 episode K-drama that essentially works as an anthological slice of life series. The different episodes are broken up into different two or three parters, following residents on Jeju Island as they go about their day. There are a fair amount of people living on this island, and the 20 episodes certainly help to give this show enough time to introduce everyone and tell their stories.
Aesthetically, Our Blues is just as impressive and part of that comes down to the beauty of Jeju Island. From breathtaking sunsets to sweeping establishing shots, this K-Drama makes the most of its lavish, paradisiac setting, and the series is all the stronger for it.
Although some of the narratives didn't quite hit the emotional highs as others, the bright spots outshone the shades of grey. This is a beautifully written Slice of Life drama, with good storytelling and show-stopping visuals.
My Rating : 8/10
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MANY BEAUTIFUL STORIES WITH GREAT MESSAGES
A beautiful Kdrama. Every story, every character, every little thing about this drama is so special. Their stories broke my heart and filled me with happiness at the same time, they made me feel so many different emotions. I liked the fact they didnt just stick to one story and have the rest as a filler, every character had the amount of screen time they needed, i think is very hard to make a drama like this, to create so many characters and give them different storylines and at the end manage to involve everyone without messing the timeline. I do believe that some characters could have less screen time so others could have more but that doesnt change the fact they did a great job invloving everyone. I cant say that i have a favorite storyline, all of them were very interesting, but i will have to say that the last two episodes were just something else, maybe because they had so many emotions to them, they made you happy and sad at the same time, two people finding each other after many years and then been torn apart again, so painful. This is a drama that could have 100 episodes and i would continue watch it with the same interest. I find so important when a drama give valuble lessons and this one did a great job on that, i got so many lessons for this that i will keep in mind as i live the rest of my life. They talked about depression, down sydrome, deafness, grief, teen pregnency etc. things that kdramas hide (i think this year we got so many kdramas with great representations aka Tomorrow, My Liberation Notes etc).The characters had so much depth, they were so well written and with many layers. I can talk for hours for all of them, i dont really have one favorite, i like almost everyone the same, i really feel bad for Dong Seok, at first i thought he was going to be a rude man with zero respect but i was so wrong, he went through so much and he manage to forgive and move on, i am really happy he got the happiness he deserved, same for my girl Seon Ah she made it, she did everything for her son and she deserved happiness too. All characters deserved happiness. Eun Hee broke every stereotype, her character is one of the best in this drama, she isnt the typical middle age women, i loved her and i really hope she ended up with Ho Shik, i think he was in love with her i wanted to see more of them together, her storyline with Han Soo had like zero impact, actually Han Soo character had zero impact, i think it would have been better if they hadnt include him at all, they could have made a story about Eun Hee and Ho Shik instead. Mi Ran is one of my least favorite characters, i really disliked her at some point, but i am glad her friendship with Eun Hee stayed strong (i do believe Eun Hee deserved better). In the first couple of episodes i thought Young Ok was going to be my favorite but at some point i just couldnt like her enough, but i adored her story with her sister. And exactly because i couldnt really like Young Ok, i didnt care about Jung Joon either, i liked him and i loved his relationship with Dong Seok but other then nothing. Ok Dong pissed me of so much at times, but at the end i understand why she did what she did, i just hope she had tried to reconcile with Dong Seok sooner, they deserved more. Choon Hee had an interesting story with her grand daughter but it wasnt something special, the moon scene though was so beautiful. Ho Shik i think is one of my favorite characters, they way he cared about everyone, i wished he had more screen time. In Kwon made me wanna break his head at first but his character development was so good. Jung Hyun and Young Joo had a very important and interesting storyline, i am so happy a kdrama talked about something like that. All of them were great, their chemistry was so good too. (not only between the couples, between everyone)
Overall, this drama is a must watch. So many great stories and so many feelings.
I am going to end this review with a quote from this drama that i will always keep in my mind and heart
"THERE IS ONE THING WE MUST REMEMBER IN OUT LIFETIME WE WERENT BORN INTO THIS WORLD TO SUFFER OR FEEL MISERABLE, WE WERE BORN TO BE HAPPY!"
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A Very slow start
I don't write many reviews, let alone positive ones.I mostly write this because at first the show might seem confusing or frustrating.
The characters choices are poor. The stubbornness of others almost get annoying.
But don't give up on this early,
It gets so deep and really is , deep down, a really healing show.
You get attached and get to understand most characters and you end up only wanting to know more about more characters.
Also, you'll probably wanna go and visit Jeju.
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There is no shame between Friends- Jang Ingwon
Blue is indeed the warmest color that hugs you perfectly inside out. Just like the blue color of the sea, Our Blues is a multi characterized 20 ep melodrama full of comedy romance and as the title suggests, Blues. Everyone's blues approaches them in their life, which brings the characters to the raw beautiful tranquil settings of Jeju, where they settle their problems with the kind, nosy yet welcoming people.If you're in a mood to watch a drama that's easygoing, simple and ready to watch, our blues should get on your list 💜💜💜
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The drama is slow but feels too short.
I personally don't write reviews. But, man, this drama is just so good.This drama will make you feel like you're part of the community they're in. I laughed when they laughed and cried when they did.
It shows how we strive to be better and happier despite our flaws, regardless of how dark a place we are currently in. I like how they address social issues and how hard it is for both sides.
The array of issues addressed:
- poverty
- depression/suicide
- teenage pregnancy/abortion
- forgiveness
- friendship
- special needs child.
- love
etc ...
"We were born to be happy. We wish everyone happiness."
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Best storyline ever
I enjoyed this drama, from the conflicts between friends and families, mental health issues, awareness to the different abilities, everything are prefect. this show is absolutely perfect with good ending too. strongly recommendedI enjoyed this drama, from the conflicts between friends and families, mental health issues, awareness to the different abilities, everything are prefect. this show is absolutely perfect with good ending too. strongly recommended
I enjoyed this drama, from the conflicts between friends and families, mental health issues, awareness to the different abilities, everything are prefect. this show is absolutely perfect with good ending too. strongly recommended
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A beautiful story about unique characters and all their ups and downs in life
Our Blues reminded me how precious the "Slice of Life" genre is. It showed the viewer how different and unique everyones life is and it drew attention to so many important topics in a beautiful and heartwarming way.I have to admit that the beginning was a bit jolty for me, so I even dropped the drama by ep 8. BUT that didn't prevent me from rating this drama with 9 stars. The only reason why it was difficult to drive into this drama was the big amount of characters that were presented, so I was a bit overwhelmed by which person was related to the other one. And of course some storylines were more relatable then others, yet they were all beautiful written.
What I loved the most about this drama was how well the characters were designed. For every emotion they felt and every action they took or every word they spoke, there were reasons and past events which explained their choices so well. So especially in the beginning of a story I sometimes was a bit angry at some characters because of the way they treated others but while watching their story developing, their actions began to be understandable. I also loved that in every conflict nobody was totally right or wrong, this made their stories so realistic. It showed how important it is to be forgiven and honest to each other.
I also was stunned how well they brought sensible topics like mental illness and disability to the surface which are often presented in a stereotypical way. As a person who doesn't have to handle depression or facing ableism, it gave me an insight which made it a bit more tangible for me.
In general the drama covered so many stories about love, friendship and parenting beautifully and it is for granted that you will feel every emotion. From heartbreaking scenes to heartwarming ones everything is there!
Definitly worth to watch :)
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No joy in life
You know, nothing is perfect, and there is a lot to love about this series. The acting was out of this world, many dialogues were brilliant, the characters were all very well crafted.I'm sure, enough people praised this series to the moon and back. It made me very, very emotional and I cried a lot.
But I can't give 10 stars, because the series made me also angry. Some stories and characters were beautiful, others were rather annoying. At the end, I wasn't annoyed anymore, because everything came together, but throughout watching the drama, I had a lot of rather negative emotions towards this series. Not gonna lie, the teenage pregnancy plot made me almost drop it. I enjoyed the girl with the disabled sister, and I seriously think her story was one of the best, only matched by the dying mother story at the end of the series.
Well, I don't want to spoil, and I know this review is a mess.
I was raised by a very poor family myself. My mother could be one of those old women, working her whole life. She also came from a very poor family. Her mother, my grandmother, had five children, one died. Life was hard back then, but not as hard as portrayed in this series, where we have a woman at a similar age as my mother, who lost her parents when she was only six, her older brother died some years later. Then she married a good guy, had two children. The husband died in the sea, her daughter drowned. Come on! This is against all odds! I would start believing in a revengeful god if this is reality. Maybe I'm ignorant about South Korea's history, but this is too cruel and unbelievable. This is the most extreme example, but almost none of those characters was raised in a healthy and happy family with father and mother. Dead parents, gambling, suicide etc. seems to be normal on the Jeju island. Really? I enjoy realistic series, but when they overdo it with the drama just to have a story to tell - I don't know.
Back to the title I gave this review: No joy in life. There were moments, where I felt exactly that: those characters were all miserable. They said it themselves twice: no joy in life.
The after credits said something like: We are on this world not to suffer, but to be happy.
This series didn't make me happy at all.
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