I guess you can say that I'm thrilled and charmed by the simplicity of the drama. There isn't much new to the plot, in general, but you see a lot of freshness in how they approach the subject. Either Jin Hyuk found a drama that appears to ideally fit to his own character, or they changed it a bit to fit him, because he is superb in it.
Jin Hyuk has an ability to play characters, that seems simple and lighthearted, at the same time, being incredibly deep and sophisticated. I think this is the main charm in this drama. He plays his role perfectly and at the same time gives depth to the plot, writers have given him to play.
I do believe that either people see this drama and can't get enough of it, or they will dismiss it for being too simple and easy. But at a closer look, you love it more than (almost) any other.
Also have to give production crew a thumbs up. The choice of actors is pretty darn good and as I am usually pretty negative in my reviews about female leads, which usually appears in me not posting about them at all.. :) But this time I have to say.. I'm impressed.
Ha Yoon is at her strongest in here. In 'Fight for my way', she made an impression as a great actress, who could really play a part I'd enjoy, in an emotional drama. I was right, she's perfect for this, in this. She makes me smile and she frustrates me.. and she makes me feel her emotions, and relate to her life..
Everyone, the writers, producers, the actors. Have done a great job on this project(will do). Can't wait to watch it until to the end. Hope to feel surprised a bit, but whichever way the plot goes, I'm sure I'm gonna love it until it ends.
(BTW) Not sure about this remark.. But I really do like Hoya only, when he's dancing.. I've seen some, or a lot of his acting. But somehow.. his character, wherever he plays.. has not gotten a lot of recognition from me. He plays well, but I don't like him as an actor. As a dancer, sure.. I could watch him for a long time :D
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I’m not saying it was a bad drama—at least, not in the sense that I did not enjoy it because I feel like it was worth my time. However, enjoyment aside, the writing and directing were really a mess. At its heart, Devilish Joy had some great characters and I think that’s what ultimately made it so watchable but the story line itself felt…immature. It was seasoned with a plethora of cliché (CLICHÉ!!!) mishaps and coincidences. My favorite phrase to mutter while watching this was “How~ convenient~.” To be honest I think it ultimately did not accomplish what its premise set it out to do (ie answer the question: “Could you fall in love with someone you forget every morning?”). They did not play on the amnesia plot device quite like I expected them to and that was a little disappointing because it was too unrealistic and kind of defeated the purpose (at least until the last episode, where it was played out much more how I expected the whole drama to have been).
It is cute and it is sweet. There are so…many…kisses (yey)! However, while I’ve seen some people raving about the chemistry in this, I just didn’t feel it. It’s not that Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ha Yoon had no chemistry at all, I just didn’t think it was anything special (apart from the first episode, they never really made my heart race or anything). I’m not going to lie though and say I did not fully enjoy every second we got to see Choi Jin Hyuk in all his tall, deep-voiced glory (swooning a little).
Overall this was a relatively easy watch and surprisingly “breezy” given the topic at hand. I would recommend it if you’re in the mood for a little melodrama and a lot of romance.
Warning: the gum-smacking courtesy of our resident baddie is rage-inducing and capable of awakening dark thoughts you did not know you were capable of. Keep the sound on during his scenes with caution.
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Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ha Yoon have amazing chemistry, whether their circumstances are ridiculously silly, or more serious. I admit that Song Ha Yoon as Joo Ki Beum had to grow on me, but Choi Jin Hyuk as Gong Ma Sung is super sexy from the start. It's not just his obvious physical appeal, which is more than enough, but everything from his mischievous smile to his more heartbreaking scenes pretty much solidified any crush I already had on him. Together they made this hot mess of a story HOT, and work much better than it should have.
I think the story tried to be too many things with too many conflicting genre elements (comedy, tragedy, mystery, rivalries...). Amnesia is probably one of the most cliché drama plots already, but this one overcomplicates the story with a cheesy but shocking first episode that reeled me in, but not enough substance in the plot to keep the story interesting for 16 episodes.
I don't think it was the casts' fault at all. The villains were extra villainy, I liked the whole supporting cast (especially cute bromance with Hoya, Joy's poetic alcoholic dad, Ma Sung's sarcastic assistant, and Jun Soo Kyung who was pretty epic in her 2-dimensional evil ajumma role), also Ma Sung is sufficiently shirtless... but about halfway through, the extreme silliness and heartbreaking moments felt too repetitive to hold my attention. It was only my curiosity about how it would end, and my addiction to the main couples chemistry, that kept me watching. The story could have easily been told in 10 episodes or less so there's A LOT of filler. I would have given it a higher rating if it were shorter.
Would I watch this again? Only if I could skip through most of it. Seeing Choi Jin Hyuk is definitely a good motivator to at least revisit certain scenes, but even his self-assured smirk and shower scenes aren't always enough.
I did think the ending was cute, so I am happy I didn't drop it, although I didn't appreciate some of the filler tropes in the final episodes.
Overall, like the cheesy "Goodbye" song in the OST I couldn't help singing along to, I know this show is more of a guilty pleasure than a great drama. There was still enough about it that I liked to say you might like it too. Many romcom fans would probably be willing to sacrifice logic for a romance that makes them smile, and that's definitely what it takes to be a fan of "Devilish Joy".
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The actors did a fabulous job and the chemistry between the leads was sizzling!
The storyline was beautiful and heart-wrenching all at the same time. The writers did a wonderful job.
As usual, I do feel the "bad guys" got off lighter than they should have, but, I've come to almost expect that in Asian dramas, especially "romcoms" and dramas that include romantic elements.
Devilish Joy is definitely one of my favorite shows I've watched recently. I ADORE Choi Jin Hyuk! :)
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Unlike most of the reviews presented, i really love every minute of this drama i don't know why. I was sold from episode 1 until the end. And its been a long time since i enjoyed a korean drama this way.
The Plot isn't that great. But the memory thing has especial place in my heart.
Acting. Choi Jin Hyuk has once again showed me how underrated actor he is. I cried along with him. Song Ha Yoon i know she is pretty but her visual was emphasize by the great cinematography. The leads chemistry is oozing. Hoya and Ju Yeon are the cutest couple. Especially Hoya, never knew him until this drama.
Music. Good bye bye bye bye my love ?
RV. 10/10 because i want to watch it again and again. I want to fall in love because of this drama.
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If you are willing to put aside your logic caps, this can be quite an easy watch. In fact, I imagine that the only reason why anyone would persevere through this drama's incorrigible plot inconsistencies and the obvious clichés is for a) the obvious cliches and b)the romance. There's nothing wrong with finding enjoyment in clichés when one isn't feeling too adventurous and would just like to lay back and relive them. For this one, they feature the sappy, sweet and affectatious romance that is either a hit or miss for drama watchers. It's a bit of a push and pull game at the beginning but afterward the romance can be felt as if radiating from my screen and it can be easy to fall for the loveline of the couple. The first episode sets the tone and mood for the entire drama and we can see exactly what type of dynamic the leads have--the romance associated with love at first sight. Cheesy and corny, but comfortably cliché. There's also the memory loss factor that becomes more prevalent as the drama unfolds which instills the melodramatic romance factor whereby the leads anticipate heartbreak making their every moment precious.
Enjoyability wise, I was quite satisfied in the beginning--their first meeting, the soft music, their chemistry, their height difference--and I was looking for that predictability and cliché factor. I indulged in it for the romance. I'm a huge romance junkie and hopeless romantic. As a whole, I found it enjoyable and cute.
But as I progressed to the last two episodes it became too much sweetness to handle. For some reason, they lost their (devilish) charm on me soon when they started getting very serious and the memory loss aspect of the drama progressed. Perhaps its because they exhausted all their love with such magnitude in the earlier episodes that by the end they felt dry, lacking and overdependent on each other and not at all realistic. While I did enjoy the earlier episodes because it was fun and playful, things became too overbearing in the end when the scriptwriters decided to use tropes such as the "shared childhood past" randomly pieced into the drama when it was not at all necessary. The ending is a happy and satisfying but I feel as though this drama could have been shorted into 12 episodes rather than 16 by getting rid of unnecessary plot details and the extra fluff that drained the drama of its initial charm. The romance becomes is especially overplayed because of the lack of other elements in this drama that are noteworthy since side characters are mediocre and plot is lacking. There's not too much comedy going on, partially because of the memory loss tragedy, but because the building up their emotional attachments is central and I think the lack of balance between a carefully crafted plot, comedy, and romance is what was ultimately the downfall of this drama towards the end.
As for casting, I do think that the leads suit their roles perfectly with the demands of the drama to create the lovey couple. They are both mature, understanding, and strong yet vulnerable in their own ways. Their kissing scenes are very sweet and quite good; their chemistry can clearly be seen through their scenes together. Because their relationship is so intense and emotionally invested, I am glad they did try to counterbalance it with the playful relationship of Lee Ha Im and Sung Ki Joon as comic relief. Hoya fit his role as Sung Ki Joon quite nicely as an idol-actor playing a naive rich heir and his emotional scenes were quite good. But I do prefer him as an idol, soley because he has the aura of one rather than a sophisticated actor.
I liked the OSTs though. They are dreamy and sweet and they reflect the mood of the drama perfectly with the use of the acoustic guitar. Season and Took-Took were on my playlist and I listened to them while waiting for episodes.
It's a good drama if for those looking for something not too out of the ordinary with a predictable storyline, characters, and romance, but not something I would binge or rewatch. Despite my criticisms, I still had a good time with this drama. Try the first episode and see if its the kind of romance you're looking for!
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This review may contain spoilers
I started watching Devilish Joy because of Choi Jin Hyuk. I watched him for the first time in 'Fated to Love You' and suffered the second lead syndrome so badly that I wanted to watch him in a show where he gets the girl. This drama captured my interest from the get-go, with an endearing story that started with the two leads falling in love at first meet. The show has all the key elements - great acting, a good mix of romance, comedy and melodrama, gorgeous cinematography, and good-looking actors. However, I have to warn you; it is also a bag of cliches! If you can get past the kdrama tropes, the show may pleasantly surprise you and exceed your expectations.
Choi Jin Hyuk as Gong Ma Sung looked really fine in his suits as the chaebol heir who was also a genius neurosurgeon. However, his character was not the typical cold and arrogant jerk. Instead, Gong Ma Seung was a warm-hearted, generous, and romantic man, who not surprisingly captured the female lead's heart immediately in the first episode. Choi Jin Hyuk did not disappoint, and he was able to convey so much through his expressions and body language. I was really into his character, and if I allow myself some fangirling - I love how his smile reaches his eyes and his voice...oh his voice!
It took me a little longer to warm up to the female lead, Joo Gi Bbeum. She seemed too silly for a 30-year-old top star, but she developed more depth soon after the first couple of episodes. Soon Ha Yoon was very believable as the unfortunate singer, who struggled against all sorts of challenges but managed to maintain her dignity. Her petite loveliness was a great match for Gong Ma Sung, and the chemistry between the two leads was palpable. This is a couple I can imagine as truly dating - their kisses (and there were many compared to other dramas) were so natural.
I also came to like Hoya's character, Sung Ki Joon - uncle/nephew bromance was fun to watch and their reunion scene was perfect!
Besides the leads, I did enjoy watching the other characters like Woo Jin and Nan Joo (the leads' sidekicks), and Gi Bbeum's family. They all had flaws that made them more relatable. However, I found the villains rather one dimensional and there was no character development. They are just shown as evil people with no other motives aside from greed. I found their backstories rather lacking, and not certainly not enough to explain why they hated Ma Sung or Gi Bbeum so much to inflict such terrible pain on them.
The music was good - the songs fit the moods accordingly but nothing memorable. I did not hear any that tugged at my heart strings and made me want to save it to a playlist.
As for the ending, I was very satisfied. Not going to lie, I almost didn't want to watch the final episode. The show went into full throttle drama towards the end and I was an emotional mess thinking that only a miracle can give me the happy ending that the characters deserve. Luckily, it is kdrama land after all, and one can toss all reasoning and logic aside. That said, I like that the show did not wrap up everything too neatly and the happy ending was not overly done with Gong Ma Sung recovering completely from his illness. With that, I ended the show with a feeling of hope, and thinking that there's potential for a season 2.
Overall, this drama is pretty entertaining. Yes, there were plenty of cliches but the story was well developed. The romance, focused on unconditional and timeless love was heartwarming and there were enough subplots to beef up the drama.
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(SN: I was close to crying on this one but held back the tears cause I was accustomed to the angst of dramas. Just a warning if you're a little softhearted.)
Boy oh boy did I love this cast. First of all, I have seen a numerous amount of dramas starring Song Ha Yoon, but never really one where the entire drama was focused on her in a way (You can bet I will now). I also found it cute that she ended up working on another drama with Kim Ji Young, who was with her in My Daughter Geum Sa Wol (Another banging drama). Somehow, I hadn't really seen Choi Jin Hyuk's acting much, as I've found myself missing out on the dramas that he's been in. I do admit, their chemistry was really nice to see in this drama as their kissing scenes were also quite impressive too if I do say so myself.
Music wise, I usually don't pay much attention to the songs that play in a drama such as OSTs unless they're really good, but I did like Ha Yoon's song that she sang in this drama. Overall, it's a pretty average OST pack for me on this drama.
Would I re-watch this drama? Only the juicy episodes. For me, not all episodes are needed in my opinion to refresh my mind on the story, nor did they have much interesting content in my opinion.
This has been Devilish Joy.
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This review may contain spoilers
endlessly rewatchable because of Choi Jin-Hyuk, LOL
i was taken aback by that ending, haha. i was really preparing to ugly cry like a b*tch, pheww.i watched this in skips and forwards because i got so curious about the story, and his character in it.
this was meant to be the last drama that i was gonna catch up on him (because i am a huge romanticist, and i am very picky about my romance dramas), but because of the genre, i cannot wait anymore LOL.
in terms of story, it has managed to keep itself light despite being surrounded by pain and hurt all over which is an interesting balance.
but the scene in Hainan, China when they first met, and his accident was repeated way too many times in the drama. i feel like over-repetition of a scene like that only convinced me that the story lacked some kind of depth or complexity to fill in the episodes.
i almost wished that his character was deeply more involved in some investigation of sorts into his illness, or his sad fate. or there was some other great plot twist or revelation about his tragedy, which would have made the storyline a lot more attractive, complete and intriguing to me.
also, i jumped into this drama because a saw a comment saying CJH will make my heart flutter in every second in this drama (since i am huge stan of his, lol). but honestly he did not.
his character early in the drama was a bit like a jerk, so i actually had to make an effort to try to like his character (after ep. 1). but he definitely became a lot more likeable middle-way through.
but the pay-off is really great. i truly love some camera shots from the side where he's smiling, and you can see how gentle, soft and sweet his face looked, at the same his sharp manly features are so breathtaking (i.e. his sharp jawline and high nose).
goshh, because of him and the lead couple's chemistry, this drama can be rewatched endlessly. CJH fans, say thanks to director-nim! LOL.endless
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They were pretty much the only thing I liked about this drama. The supporting cast members weren't strong enough in my opinion. (Although I'll give a shout out to the adorable and supportive family dynamic Gi Beum's family had). And don't get me started on the story. Starting from episode 12, I just fast forwarded to the couple scenes.
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