This review may contain spoilers
It´s comparably less makjang, but more morals – and Schubert's Serenade, again and again
"Summer Scent" is one of those early classical KDramas, marking the emergence of the South Korean TVdrama genre as an export hit with all its quality features. In the early 2000s the Hallyu, the Korean Wave started creating a stir, first in Asia and at last throughout the rest of the world.Typically, the narration is so richly peppered with sometimes malicious, sometimes tragic twists - ´makjang´ at its best - that for some the emotionalism might be almost unbearable, if you are not ready open up for the deepest dramas of heart and soul. KDrama is in that context also a master of nasty, often enough quite malicious twists and turns. However, "Summer Scent" is comparably less makjang, but more morals. Nevertheless, with their decisions the protagonists truely can put a strain on your nerves. You should to be prepared to sympathy, suffering and compassion - even if you might struggle at times. This KDrama, too, with its twists and turns rocks the boat until the very end...
The plot juggles a heart transplant with the idea of cell memory. The whole story is poetically told, memorably filmed in front of a summery backdrop and played with a lot of heart. On top of that, the soundtrack eats its way mercilessly into the hearts of the audience: Schubert's Serenade, sometimes in German, sometimes in Korean, sometimes instrumental, but: the serenade again and again...
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The drama has a good story and the build-up is pretty great. In spite of the simplicity of the plot, I was amazed at the depth it possessed otherwise. The feelings in the drama are very tangible and they left me feeling warm- much like its name. This is the happiest and lightest of all melodramas I have seen in spite of its sad elements. The plot isn't too heavy and is very smooth flowing until the very end. Only emotions drive the drama and keep you invested in them. The characters are likable (minus the 2nd leads) and I loved the chemistry the main characters had.
The otherwise robotic Song Seung Hoon surprisingly did a good job here. I suppose his looks were an added advantage in spite of his terrible hairstyle but he very well managed to put across the emotions his character was going through. Although he doesn't have an impressive range, I forgive him for that. I am not a very big fan of Son Ye Jin but she was downright lovely in this drama and acted with great poise.
Lately I have been a fan of stories having to do with fate and destiny and this one has that majorly. This drama treats love like fate and serendipity. It's about the inevitable and how something will happen if it has to. I loved the tone of the entire drama and it uses summer in an appealing way. You can see the beautiful backdrops and they are always quite in sync with the theme of summer. I love the cinematography and often dreamy, melancholic moments in the drama.
Although it has its sad parts, it isn't heavy or depressing. Another great thing about it is that it is not too majkang-tastic which often ruins most melodramas. I would like to compare it to Love Rain and say they have a lot in common- in a good way except this drama is better. This drama isn't too romantic but the feelings with which it is driven is fantastic. I also love one song from the OST which I will put on repeat till I get bored. I couldn't connect with some parts in the last episode and the ending isn't really satisfying but I liked how they filmed it. It at least didn't leave out the main question unanswered.
I would recommend this drama to hopeless romantics or those who don't mind a slow drama. This now goes down in my favourites list and I can say this is the best Season drama hands down with a memorable cast.
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This was the first Korean drama I'd ever watched, and for the first handful of episodes (perhaps seven or so) it was interesting, and emotional, and worthwhile, and I was convinced Kdramas were the bees knees. But my goodness, did it drag on! After a while, for each step forward the main couple made, they were taking two or three steps back. I got so fed up that I stopped watching before the 14th episode, and didn't start anymore Kdramas until my manager (and friend) recommended some great ones. (You're Beautiful, Protect the Boss, Boys Over Flowers; those are great starter ones.) I finally sat down to watch the last three episodes this afternoon, and I admit, I skipped through them. I just couldn't handle the endless melancholy.
The most aggravating part was Hye Won's ridiculous excuse-making, and her perpetual need to play the victim. At first, it was understandable, but after a while it just got obnoxious. I don't believe she was being fair to her fiance. I don't care how the writers tried to make him seem like a bad guy; he had every right to be upset with her, and the bit where he flies off the handle and attacks her seemed thrown in to try to give us a better reason for her to behave the way she was. I'm not buying it. All she ever does is apologise, and as Jung Jae (her oppa/fiance) said at one point, "Stop apologising. Just don't do things to make me upset." So simple! This girl just couldn't ever make a decision, always playing the fence with her oppa, her love, and even her life, and once she did make a choice, it was always the WRONG one.
Jung Ah (Jung Jae's sister who's in love with the lead Min Woo) is a manipulative brat through most of the show, and I wanted to slap her. Yet, by the end, I was more infuriated with Hye Won, and how stupid she was. She kept insisting that Min Woo only loved her because he saw her as his first lost love, and she wasn't the warm, cheerful person he loved, so he must not love her, but just a memory of another girl. Whaaaat?! When you have a new heart that gives you a fresh start on life, of COURSE you're going to be different! Your quality of life improves. You're able to do things you've never done before. That would turn anyone from glum to cheerful! Your personality didn't change, stupid! You're ability to BE the happy, cheerful person you were meant to be was finally realised! Why do you WANT to insist that you're a miserable human being? She kept saying she did things to prevent Min Woo from suffering, but just like the most horrible of Kdrama leading ladies, she kept making it worse and worse for all parties involved. Get over yourself, girl. Maybe you're right, and you don't deserve to be happy. But stop making everyone around you miserable in the meantime!
So many slow scenes with close-ups of Min Woo's longing, tearful sighs--usually, I wouldn't complain about any close-ups of Song Seung Heon, but when it's totally unnecessary because of an idiot girl, I have a hard time sympathizing.
This had the least satisfying ending of any drama I've seen so far. Nothing to justify putting the audience through so much slowness and depression.
The music was good, until it became repetitive and I got tired of hearing the same depressing version of Schubert's Serenade over and over. I feel like I could have felt for the characters more if the music had been of a better arrangement.
Please, SSH. Find good dramas. You didn't learn your lesson with Summer Scent, and were the only likeable thing about When A Man Loves. Go back to great ones like My Princess. I want to see you in satisfying endings! Kthnx!
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Summer scent is the third installment of Endless Love Series, right next to Winter Sonata. As to why the director chose Song Seung-hun to act as the main lead again since he already acted in Autum Tale (first installment of Endless Love Series), I have no idea but the series was lighter than the preceding installments. Watching the drama was a bit refreshing due to the fact of a new setting, much lighter mood on the actors and an easier plot line.
Main man has a dead girl friend, dead girl friend’s heart was donated to the main woman in which the main man eventually falls for. It’s kind of a far fetched conflict, but whatever suits your taste. We all know that an internal organ has nothing to do with falling in love. If I donate my liver to someone, would my man fall for that someone just because that person had my liver? What if I donated my kidneys, lungs, heart and cornea… would my man fall in love to multiple people because they have a piece of me just because I’m dead and they are living? That’s just plain weird.
Setting my cynical comments aside, I still liked the drama. After bashing it, then I recommend??? WHY???
My reasons are very much quite simple:
Song Seung-heon is hot.
Son Ye-jin’s beauty and acting would take you in.
The story itself (never mind the main conflict) hooks you up with so many thoughts about real life that all you can do about it is relate and continue on watching, regardless if you’ve missed your bed time or not.
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The drama was not able to carry my emotions as the story proceeded. But the emotions I felt was annoyance and disappointment. I should have dropped it. For a melodrama, the story didnt moved me at all. Unlike the first season drama, Autumn In My Heart which gave me tears from the first episode down to the last one.
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If your heart beat don't be stupid
Well, the story could be real good but who wrote the FL role? What a stupid concept. The writer never thought that if her heart beat when she see him and knows that heart recognize is love why don't accept this? Ever the wtriter thgout that she falle in love, or at least was guide to ML because she had the heart of his lost lover?The ML is a great actor, I've also liked him in Autumn Tale and I start seeing this because of him but I fast foward from the 4 episode to the lasts ones.
It's annoying and slow so I'm not gonna rewatched this one as I don't rewatch Winter Sonata also. Now to complete the series I will see Spring Waltz.
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Watch this only if are able to feel the Pain
Well in this fast and happening world where everyone lives, it's a bit slow, or annoying like the comments below says.But when you intend to watch a drama in this zone-re you have to bear the pain.
It's just that i feel, not everyone can feel the pain of loosing in love and not being able to love the person because you love the person. It's so confusing right??
I will say my dear ye ji unni was a bit immature, not bad acting but it felt like she is acting.
Although Heon Aajusshi did an amazing work.
There's no doubt he looks just unbearably handsome in this drama, his looks is the best in this drama, compared to other times. Acting is beautiful. He holds you in this drama till the end.
And i personally think, the end was not hasty or to be criticized.
It was a perfect one, the hearts manages to find each other, what do you need more...........
A few things should be left for your imaginations also......
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Slow and quiet, angsty melodrama.
This drama is so ahead of its time.
The music is really good, the acting is so cool, beautiful cinematography, and has a really good quality in terms of directing given the time it was aired.
Although it was a summer story that I watched in the middle of summer, but it felt like winter (because of the AC lol) but really, winter is my favourite season and it felt like it.
Son Ye Jin and Song Seung Heon. Need more?
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