Are You Human is such a nail-biting, unpredictable journey which plays philosophically with the meaning of what it means to be human, with the writer's intent being that robots could be more human than people.This show embraced so many sides of humans using the perfectly good and humanistic robot Nam Shin 3 and juxtaposing him with the despicably portrayed human Nam Shin, who endured emotional suffering which scarred his sense of being a decent human. In the developmental stage of AI, it shows how a robot can carry many virtuous qualities and be a benefit to mankind while even surpassing its human counterpart. It shows how being human isn't limited to being externally biologically human, but being intrinsically humanistic as Nam Shin 3 was programmed to be and develop into. (Although my personal philosophy is that human beings are complex and no matter how advanced technology is, it can never replicate the central part of being human--having and feeling emotions and struggling to achieve their goals. The human Nam Shin portrays this perfectly.)
What I loved is how this message is so powerful with the development of the characters in order to show human growth. The character growth here is so well done and it is impressive in midst of all the action, drama and suspense, through the kind robot who acts as a model of humanity and restores goodness in the lives of others. Especially So Bong. She went under phenomenal character development as I went from hating her immoral actions in the beginning to loving her passionate and stubborn character at the end. Gong Seung Yeon is so beautiful and talented, it was amazing how smoothly her character transitioned from the beginning to the end. She came so far in her character development that old Kang So Bong felt like years ago. I almost wanted to drop the drama because I hated her in the beginning, but boy I'm so glad I continued because it got so much better! Human Nam Shin was someone everyone wanted him to be hit by a truck with and Ye Na was an annoying obsessive girl over human Nam Shin--both which transformed by the end.
The superb character development couldn't have been without the phenomenal acting. I was already a fangirl of Seo Kang Joon since the first drama (and the only one of his before I had watched this one) of his I had watched which was Cheese in the Trap and it was the first time I had experienced Second Lead Syndrome LOL! But his acting in this drama intensified my already flourishing love for him as an actor. The stark contrast between the evil jerk human Nam Shin and the soft and cute boyish Nam Shin 3 was amazing. I could instantly tell which one was which just by the expressions.The fact that I could feel such contrasting emotions for the same actor playing the same role just shows how talented Seo Kang Joon is. And those visuals...I swear he looks like a walking robot doll! (pun intended) I also fell in love with how charming Young Hoon is always keeping his cool with his expressions, with an attractive sense of responsibility, dedication and strong morals throughout the entire show. If Nam Shin 3 is already taken..please give me Young Hoon! The one thing I found lacking was the writing of the antagonist. Seo Jong Gil, was your typical antagonist though and was nothing special, but somehow the show still had such a purpose even without it. The grandfather, however, was fun to watch!
Apart from the main antagonist, everyone became more human, empathetic, and righteous at their own pace, all because of Nam Shin 3. We get to see what inherent evil vs neglect/abuse induced evil, and the good, showing all the shades of humanity as a result. Every character has their own drive and motivation except for Nam Shin 3 and it was interesting to see everything interplayed around him from company politics, family drama, and the romance. The CGI here is notable as well and it is so well done!
The plot was unpredictable for me at every turn, and I was never disappointed. Although there are some plotholes with the fact that they didn't delve deep into the tech parts and his relationship with Kang So Bong, I'm willing to overlook it because at the end, it is part of the fantasy/supernatural genre. I wish they prolonged this drama partly because they wrapped things up quite quickly and it did feel quite rushed, but mostly because I am itching for more. The romance portion was well done and it wasn't too overpowering and cheesy. The drama has the right amount of balance between all the political/philosophical/suspense/drama/romance aspects and I never felt as though there was too much of one aspect. To be honest, it wasn't very romantic until the end and I found the ending realistic but satisfying. Though some people get iffy about a romance between a human and a real robot (not something like "I am not a robot"), it really isn't that bad. It is great that the relationship develops on the basis of strong friendship and fierce loyalty, and the robot is made to be so advanced and develops to become very human-like that at times I forgot Nam Shin 3 was just a machine. (The characters also toy around with this fact a lot, leading to a lot of philosophical questioning).
I loved the OSTs, and the music fit perfectly with the premise of this show. It felt magical and had a kind of modern/aesthetic feel with my favourite song from the drama, "The Longing Dance" while at other parts it had the kind of nonchalant but pleasant drama music that was always there but didn't get annoying.
Overall, I personally love this drama despite its flaws. I had such a good time with this show because I wasn't sure what to expect from it and didn't have many expectations. It has such a high rewatch value for me. I really recommend that you check it out!!
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Story
A sci fi, fantasy, romance, and thriller drama. It is a roller-coaster mood. The tempo of the drama is fast. The story also has a lot of plot twists. And I love it. What makes this drama even better is that it almost doesn't have any particular plot-holes. The romance story was attached to it, and most people will agree that it is part of the story.
Acting/Cast
Seo Kang Joon arguably has the hardest roles in K-drama ever. Not only he acted as Human and Robot, he also needed to act as robot pretending to be a human, human pretending to be himself, human pretending to be a robot, which are really hard. He has done a fantastic job. Hats off for him!
Gong Seung Yeon on the other hand, played as Kang So Bong. She also did a great job. Her acting to show Kang So Bong's reaction and emotion is totally amazing. I'm becoming her fan. Her part is also hard. She needs to build chemistry and also she also needs to build hatred feeling to the same person. Everytimes she cried, I also cried. I feel like I'm in love in her and Kang So Bong.
Other casts were doing a great job as well.
The dynamics of relationship between Nam Shin 3 and Kang So Bong is also the best. Kang So Bong has the most complex emotion, followed by Nam Shin (people will argue that it is otherwise, I would still stand on my opinion). Kang So Bong had felt hate, disgust, pity, joy, sadness, anger, and love to Nam Shin 3. I love their romance scenes.
Music
The music were great, but their osts wouldn't beat the likes of Goblin and WYWS. Some of them were misplaced. But they are still good as standalones.
Rewatch Values
I would love to rewatch it again and again and again. I hope there will be a second season. Painfully it won't happen
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? The story line overall is good. Some small plot holes, and some of the romance is a bit draggy...
The plot will keep you hooked, and at the end of every episode there's always a cliff hanger
? The cast is perfect for each other. The main couple looks so good with each other, I loved how Shin, Shin mum and So Bong has light brown eyes, it's so pretty! xd. The acting is overall good, Gong Seung Yeon crying scenes has improved a lot, but some times she doesn't express sadness that well... Kudos to Kang Joon, his acting is spot on, he manages to convey feelings of two different characters well!
? Music is good, I cry every time "Love" and "Is it love" plays. Their whole OST is awesome! Always brings out the perfect vibe to suit each scene. One of my favorite Kdrama OST!
? I would definitely re watch!! I hope to see Seung Yeon and Kang joon together in another drama or real life! XD
This is definitely one of my favorite K drama in 2018, I hope this drama wins many rewards!!!
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Even before I started to watch the drama I knew that it would include the romance between human and AI robot, so I knew what I was getting myself into and honestly, I don't regret my decision in starting this drama at all.
A quick advice for those who want to watch the drama but aren't sure is = Don't start this drama if u can't accept fantasy relationships such as vampire/human, werewolf/human, alien/human, witch/human and other fantasy creatures. If you don't consider these relationship as real, then I think it's your turn to step back and find a different drama, because you might get bored or annoyed with this one.
Okay, back to the story which I am starting with.
I try to be always objective and that's what I will do here as well. The plot is NOT perfect and has plotholes but I don't think it's such a big issue to stop watching it. Even tho I am big fan of this project, I can say what I liked and disliked about the show and it's very simple. This show is not only abour romance but mostly about action and economical issues around the company. I am a person which does not like such talks so I found them boring and I personally think that they could cut on some issues which were not really needed. That's the biggest problem I had with the show but overall it was not lacking anything for me. I applaud the scriptwriter for keeping us on our toes with the episodes and oh, those cliffhangers almost ruined us which I loved even more! I was excited for Mondays and Tuesdays to come.
Romance is very sweet and innocent but also in some point heartbreaking? But in a very good way. I cried, laughed and screamed and I don't do such things with other dramas much.
At first I started even a topic how the drama should end and my first idea was that human Nam Shin would get into accident and get brain death and AI Nam Shin will replace him. The idea came not because I hated the fact of a robot being with a human, no, not at all. I just for a moment thought like Nam Shin III a bit.
''I want to feel like a human, I want to feel pain and cry like a human'' this is exactly what I thought and I was right. NS III wanted in later episodes all this and u can say it's a bit of a greed? But in a good way. That's why my theory was like that. But then later I realized along with NSIII that you HAVE TO accept who you are even tho you are a robot. He can't change who he is but it doesn't mean that he can't feel and love in his very own unique way.
ACTING:
Okay, I wanna know who said that Seo Kang Joon can't act! Like, I followed his path from his debut till now and I fell in love with him from the first drama he had and was mesmerized by his way of acting. It's not only pretty face but he has a real talent. U can definetly see the difference between human NS and AI NS which not anyone can do. I also knew the female lead before so I knew what to expet and I got it! Very happy that they got together in this drama ~
MUSIC:
Okay, I would give this a full 10/10 but I simply can't because of the VIXX. I am their fan but not with this OST as it just did not fit right with this drama for me, but I can forget about it if I listen to ''Longing dance'' which is my absolute favourite OST and whenever I hear it I get goosebumps and picture NS III walking baddass to me to save me.
REWATCH VALUE:
Yesterday I finished the drama but today I'm starting to watch it with my mom so...it's a rewatch for me? I can't get enough of it and just wanna see the masterpiece once again ~
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A beautiful love story,trust and understanding between a robot (Namshin3 ) and human (Kang so bong ).
1st episode was a bit slow as it just showing the introduction of each character and their work,status and relationship
But from the second epsiode ,the way story was started with the entrance of robot and then when actual Namshin and robot Namshin come in front of each other and those expressions looking to each other was just perfect . Starting to end all the episodes were amazing and viewers curiosity increase with each episode why director is in hurry to complete the drama ,we really don't have problem to see more two episode even we happy to connect with the drama two more days .It's a incomplete ending ,something is missing.
In the last part I like her mother dreaming about both them playing in front of her ,I really want such ending . They should show us ,How they got robot from ocean at the last scene , how he got tears in his eyes ,kang so bong match up with human shin after meet with robot shin .What about Ye ha na ...She always been devotee to shin ,so why Shin left her ..Atleast he can make her friend....What it is the secret behind his father's death ,what is human Son's grandfather is hidding from shin about his father's death . Ending of criminal story also seen incomplete what he had done with his father's not expose . Then what happened to his grand father ,I am actually not understand he is good person or bad person..They should show Shin's aunt and his son story at last part. don't know . Even I don't understand why there is need to kill his mother.But anyways it was a Happy ending with incomplete ending.
Some dialogues in this drama ,I like the most are 1 .It is rule to hug someone who is crying. 2. Hold the hand and blink the eye and saying Khojima.
3. when robot shin said to her tha she become his top priority and background music start
4.That woman who see me as me...I love this dialogue and the way he grab her hand and those expressions and then background music start.amazing.
5. the way he grab her hand from human shin and told her that I have to protect you from him ,this you called jealously right .
My favourite scenes are 1.when Mr Jin giving him (robot)training how to behave as a human shin 2.when he closed her eye and saying chakma and the way he on all the lights.
3 .The way he stop the car which system get hacked.
4.the way he save her from the man and stop the car.
5. When kang so bong's father comes to know that he is robot the way he show his reaction that were amazing.
6.i like the conversation between Kang so bong 's father and her reporter friend they were so funny and their dialogues too ,such scenes also help a lot to make drama interesting.
About acting each and every member dis a great job too good ,love their acting especially Namshin this acting totally justified and his acting really appear two different but My factor character Robot shin and his smile whenever he look his close ones. Too cute and too innocent ...
Mr. Ji also looking handsome and his acting and the way he support shin ,I like this true character .He totally justified his role amazing too good.
At last Happy ending but not satisfied .Something is missing.
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The cast was absolutely flawless. They managed to express everything perfectly and that made this drama 100x better. I have huge admiration for Seo Kang Joon,playing two different characters is truly hard but he did it effortlessly.
The plot was interesting and unique. It wasn't a typical robot "turn into human/is actually a human" story and that surprised me. The drama was equal parts lovable, action packed,hilarious, and touching.
Also,the OST was one of my fav so far. I would definitely listen to it on my free time.
Things i disliked:
The last 2-3 episodes. Some plot scenes were dragged a little bit and the ending felt rushed and left me with a lot of questions. I feel like 15 minutes were missing. The writers could've explored more and present us a more detailed and extended ending.
Overall,it was a really enjoyable drama,it had a great balance of light and heavy moments, intriguing storyline and amazing acting. I would recommend watching this.
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I love how the story began as a mother-son relationship which then shows how it loses its footing as she had to deal with the consequences of creating a robot replacement of her only child. It's the complete opposite of MAB (robots created for business purposes) and I obviously liked this thematic approach so much better. I loved the romance and I thought it was built up nicely though there are obvious ethical discussions that the writer avoids under the pretext of true love. I'm not necessarily judgy in that department because I treat this genre more as a fantasy sci-fi instead of real sci-fi. Although the drama concluded with the relationship of the male and female lead, the climax was actually the change in the relationship of the mother-son relationship itself. This was truly what makes this drama so memorable and special to me.
The BGM are fantastic, and I particularly loved The Longing Dance played when Nam Sin III was saving Kang So Bong from the fire scene. I could never forget that scene precisely because of that BGM!
Rewatch value is a perfect 10 for me, and I really believe I could re-watch this drama a hundred times more. It's that captivating.
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The story is something that hasn't really been seen in Asian dramas (that I know of at least), and while there were quite a few clichés throughout the show, the writer always made sure the story stayed unpredictable, avoiding basically every single thing fans and casual viewers thought would happen. Sure, there were parts of the story that were messy (the first few and last episodes, mostly), the writer makes up for that with great doses of (very cute) humor and two fantastic leads. Nam Shin III certainly goes down as one my favourite characters EVER and I don't think I will ever find someone like him in any other drama. As for So Bong, we all know she was a controversial character at the beginning. However, I always appreciated how realistic she was, because I've met lots of people whose ultimate goal in life is earning money in any way the can. By the time the show ended and she had gone through great development I ended up caring about her a lot.
But, let's be honest, the biggest reason why the drama works so well is simple: the superb cast. Seo Kang Joon gives the best performance of his entire career, and I really hope he gets tons of awards because he's just too good no to get them. I also hope people stop treating him as if he is just a pretty face, because I've always thought he was a great actor and after this drama he might even be one of the best young Korean actors working today. As for Gong Seung Yeon, I became a really big fan after watching Circle, and she didn't disappoint at all here. I can't wait to see her next projects, because she has great taste when picking scripts. Also, their chemistry was just through the roof. The rest of the cast were also very very good, but SKJ and GSY steal the show.
As for the music, I really liked many of the songs and I think they fit the show very well. The production values were pretty high and the cinematography looks really great, even if the CGI was rather uneven throughout the show.
In conclusion, this drama has ended up being one of my favourites of the year and probably all time, and I will really miss Nam Shin III and So Bong, our Tin Can couple. I also miss the drama overall, how it made laugh very often and how it made spend the rest of the week waiting for the next episodes. I will certainly look forward to SKJ's and GSY's future projects even more than I would have before.
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This review may contain spoilers
Perfect for my inner science fiction nerd that also likes a little romance
10/10 is my rating. I really liked both the male (Seo Kang-jun) and female (Gong Seung-yeon) leads in this drama. This 2018 South Korean drama spans 36 episodes (although most places you watch it the episodes are combined with 18 episodes with a "split" in the middle and they wind up being about an hour so equivalent to most that would just run 18 episodes). It explores the very complex issue of when robots become so complex that they are virtually indistinguishable from humans can humans develop feelings and relationships with them. Dr. Oh (Oh Laura) is a mother and a robot scientist well ahead of her time. When her husband dies/commits suicide/is murdered (that is part of the mystery) the grandfather takes her young son who will be heir to the family business and fortune. He puts mother and son (Nam Shim) in a position where neither feel they can subvert the grandfather's wishes without harm coming to the other. Still grieving over the loss of her husband and her separation from her young son, Dr. Oh develops robots to mirror the image of her son as he grows. When tragedy strikes she has the robot stand in for the real Nam Shim to hold his place in the line of succession.spoiler 🚨 Nam Shim's female body guard (Kang So-bong) and many of Nam Shim's co-workers try to figure out why the son seems to undergo a dramatic change in character (for the better). Slowly the body guard begins to develop feelings for the robot thinking, at first, he is human. When she discovers his secret you wonder if her feelings will change. The male lead plays both the human and the robot so masterfully they really seem like two distinct characters. There is not so much a chemistry between the male and female leads (that would be a bit weird) as there is just this sense of two that perfectly complement each other. There is a villain, of course, who tried to kill Nam Shim once (which is the reason he is in a coma) and threatens to kill and/or remove anyone who gets in his way. I really liked this one because it is like a window to the future and questions what it means to be human. It was not hard to understand So-bong's feelings as many of us develop some emotional attachment to objects in our life such as our car or maybe our electronic vacuum. And those are simple and cannot respond back to us. I liked this drama the entire way through and was sorry when it ended as I so enjoyed my time with these characters. I thought it ended nicely and all of the major plot points were wrapped up. This is up with my all time favorites and I highly recommend it.
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BEST DRAMA 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finnaly 2018 have best drama sci-fi after my favorite drama Goblin But there is something lacking in the effects like a car when it collides and blood wounds like fake. Still the story is amazing, unpredictable.
BEST DRAMA 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finnaly 2018 have best drama sci-fi after my favorite drama Goblin But there is something lacking in the effects like a car when it collides and blood wounds like fake. Still the story is amazing, unpredictable.
BEST DRAMA 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finnaly 2018 have best drama sci-fi after my favorite drama Goblin But there is something lacking in the effects like a car when it collides and blood wounds like fake. Still the story is amazing, unpredictable.
BEST DRAMA 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finnaly 2018 have best drama sci-fi after my favorite drama Goblin But there is something lacking in the effects like a car when it collides and blood wounds like fake. Still the story is amazing, unpredictable.
BEST DRAMA 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finnaly 2018 have best drama sci-fi after my favorite drama Goblin But there is something lacking in the effects like a car when it collides and blood wounds like fake. Still the story is amazing, unpredictable.
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the female lead, Gong Seung Yeon is so lovable and natural as well.
I usually dont watch drams that are still on aire because that means i have to wait for the next ep but this particular drama makes me got so hooked up i cant wait to watch! Even on replay mode.
Gambatte Seo Kang Joon, You are awesome!
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