The Beloved (2015)

Acting of Kim Bum & Joe Cheng make this worth watching!

Here's my review of this pretty good drama.

STORY - The ending is really what's less this whole drama down; sadly, the writers didn't only slap the face of the viewers, they spit in them too. The ending is a tragedy on so many levels. If you don't like sad endings, DON'T watch this - it's not sob worthy sad, but it is scream and throw things sad purely because the whole damn final couple of scenes were so rage inducing. The ending could've easily been better written, could've easily had a better outcome too. I cannot find the words for how angry that pointless ending made me. Yes, I watched it raw and yes, my mandarin is limited to yes, no, sorry, what and I love you - but the ending is seriously self explanatory on what happens.

ACTING - The main male leads, Kim Bum and Joe Cheng, are brilliant in this - they really are underused in the industry these days; especially Kim Bum and their acting skills are really shown well in this drama. Claudia Wang also does give it her best shot; she can't help it that her character was so pointless and uninspiring that you're left wondering HOW she would have two men in love with her and one of them willing to go insane trying to keep her.

MUSIC - okay, nothing too memorable.

REWATCH VALUE - usually these intense dramas are worth a rewatch; but this one's ending is terrible. However, if you watch to just BEFORE those final few scenes, and imagine a change in who's with the Claudia Wang's character near the door, then just stop watching (leaving yourself with the more satisfying imaginary ending).....it makes it a WHOLE better drama!

OVERALL - 8.0 - JUST because of the ending....those final scenes are just rage inducing. EXCELLENT drama, BRILLIANT acting all let down by a boring Female Lead Character and the last 4-6 mins of the film.

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