Onto the bad stuff:
One of the biggest problems with this drama is that they've extended it to 20 episodes, all the filler stories that were used to fill up the additional 4 episodes were related to things I usually don't enjoy watching in a kdrama, namely Confucianism crap and an incredible amount of melo. I'm fine with watching melodramatic scenes in general, but this was just way too much, for way too long. There is also a shift in writing after XYZ's death, it's like all my favorite things in the show got dialed down to the bare minimum. Some characters got some personality & intelligence adjustments mid way and then in the finale everyone suddenly changed their world views for a super fast ending that was quite underwhelming. To sum it up the pacing is just off. The disadvantages of live filming were on a honking display here. Oh I almost forgot, the 30 million won thing, I have no words for how stupid that was..
So why do I still rate the show at 7.5?
Well, I enjoyed the first half (more like 2/3rds), there was quite a lot of "Monogatari style" dark moody, but funny dialog. The romance was great up to the point when Yongsik's mother started interfering with them. The balance was perfect between romance,comedy and mystery too up until XYZ died. Even though I'm not happy with the last 6~ episodes, I would feel bad to give a show this memorable a score any less than this.
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Do miracles happen? "Miracles don't exist. It's just the little heroes inside us working together."
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For me this film was overhyped
Sorry I don’t mean to offend anyone, we have our own taste when it comes to dramas but this just wasn’t my type. I felt like the story was dragged for too long that 12 or 16 episode would suffice instead of 20 episodes. The story is too long and very draggy, but overall if you enjoy up and down dramas, this would be great for you! :) The story line was indeed very realistic which i guess why a lot of people liked it, I liked the story too but it’s too draggy. Every episode makes you think who the Joker is but you just can’t guess it. I only enjoyed watching the last episode in this 20 episode drama :( Totally not worth watching again.Was this review helpful to you?
Definitely not another Gong Hyo-jin Rom-Com
Comedy is not what will be remembered about When the Camellia Blooms. Although that seems obvious based on the plot synopsis (single mother, serial killer, etc.), I expected something similar to Gong Hyo-jin’s previous works, and I was glad that WtCB was not. I am not a huge fan of GHJ, especially her comedic timing, and seeing her in this drama is a pleasant surprise. Funny moments still dot this drama, but its main draws are the looming mystery thriller and its emotional punches.With a veteran cast & crew and solid production quality, the drama executes its plot cleanly, mostly. The beginning exposition is a little messy with the introduction of the mystery plotline and the romance plotline, but WtCB finds its footing. However, I find the messy beginning more captivating than the polished execution of the middle and ending. The tension in the drama dissipates a little too quickly given its long buildup, and I am left wanting more.
Story:
There are 2 main stories in When the Camellia Blooms, the mystery and the “drama”, and the romance and comedy both take a back seat. The 20-episode format gives the mystery and drama ample time to develop, but due to their poor integration, it results in an uneven pace. Throughout it all, romance and comedy still peak their heads, like a familiar, friendly reminder.
The characters in the drama are much better written than the plot, and they remain relatable even as a serial killer lurks in their town. In particular, the development of minor characters stands out, especially Noh Gyu Tae and Jessica. The way these two characters are made endearing throughout WtCB shows its excellent character drama.
Acting:
Furthermore, Gong Hyo-Jin has said in an interview that Dong Baek is a character who she could not pass on to another actress. The role really challenges GHJ to portray a vulnerable person putting herself out there. It relies less on comedic timing and more on emotional delivery, and GHJ shows she does not need comedy to create relatable characters.
The supporting cast is also stellar, and the trio of GHJ with the 2 male leads bring all the different plotlines together. Kang Ha-Neul excels as he bounces from the different plotlines, all while bringing his comedy chops (even while solving a murder!). And as mentioned earlier, even the minor characters get their moments to shine throughout, and the interaction between all the characters had me tuning in week by week.
Music:
The music also consistently delivers week by week. It trends towards the typical kballad genre but employs a group of talented singers. I look forward to giving the OST and soundtrack a re-listen. Shoutout to Punch who has killed it with drama OSTs in 2019 (plus she has a popular OST in another GHJ drama, “It's Okay, That’s Love”). And, I will never say no to more songs by Heize.
Rewatch Value:
As much as I love the lesser known hits in kdramaland, credit is due to the major networks and their products. They bring in starpower and have the capacity to cover all the facets of drama making. It results in 10+% ratings rarely achieved by the smaller cable networks, but it can be difficult to determine whether that was because of quality or mass-marketing/appeal. As far as WtCB is concerned, it is an enjoyable watch and better than most other 2019 major network productions (like “Angel’s Last Mission: Love”).
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Is there any hope for a better life?
While watching I felt myself gripped with this sad melancholic feeling as there were just so many instances that are just too unfortunate and hopeless for Dongbaek (the main female lead Gong Hyo Jin) to withstand. She encounters seemingly endless obstacles and is beaten up and dragged down by all the people in her life that take advantage of her. Many of the supporting characters in this drama are quite unlikable at first. They either take advantage of Dongbaek’s kindness and soft-spoken nature or verbally abuse her and judge her for circumstances she has been placed in that have been out of her control. To have no one on your side, that is what loneliness is. The triumphs in this drama are few and far between but when they arise they are intensely strong and rejuvenating for the characters as well as us, the viewers. These triumphs are almost always related to Yong-Sik (Kang Ha Neul).This drama is a slow burn. It takes 3 episodes to really commit to it but everything picks up speed around that point. I remember browsing through the comments after having watched the first couple episodes looking for some confirmation that I should continue watching, and that was the comment many made. I also noticed comments saying how great of a character Yong Sik was and that he would turn the whole drama around. AND HE DOES! Yong Sik is the sweetest, most caring, thoughtful, endearing, precious character ever!! He is the sunshine of Ongsan and the only one who consistently stands by Dongbaek’s side. He defends her, encourages her, and instills in her self worth. He reassures her that she does matter and that she deserves to be loved and to love herself. Dongbaek’s character could frustrate some as she is on the more timid side, but once you come to understand her story and see the multitude of little ways that she persists and conquers her own life you see that she is much stronger than she appears.
In this drama there were slow moments, there were weak moments, but there were also intensely powerful moments, lessons about self worth and perseverance, and real struggles and stories that show what life can really be like sometimes. Life is unfair. It’s hard. It’s full of judgment from others and pain. But to have someone, even one person, to be there for you along the way can give you so much strength. One person can give you the strength to not only triumph over life’s obstacles, but to be happy while you’re enduring them.
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This review may contain spoilers
“miracles don’t exist. it’s the little heroes inside us working together. The donations that quietly pile up. The small acts of kindness done by kind people. It’s just the result of all the good deeds you’ve done. You just think it’s a miracle”Finally a drama that succeeded to keep my attention constantly through all of it. This drama is very unique in its own way, without using some over the top or incredibly original tropes (that means that even simple plots can be interesting if well written and well executed!). I love the concept of the single mom having to deal with her bills, her past and also her neighborhood (and the fact it's not even set in Seul for once xD )
At first what hooked me was the mystery, then I fell in love with almost every character in the drama (I didn't liked the bully ajummas because they remained bully ajummas till the end and they caused a lot of problems for that poor girl for no reason. Tho, I liked how the whole block was some sort of a family and they finally got close but they stepped over the line several times to me D: )
Most of all, Hyang Mi. She is some sort of dark character, she blackmails more than one character, giving them a motive to be the killer, but ultimately you can see how this character is three-dimensional and deep, even if she may be not a GOOD character (I really liked this "grey zone" she felt like a real character! That said: I didn't liked a lot of her choices). She had reasons for being as she was and her habits where forged by the environment she grew up. I especially liked when she told Jessica "you and me are the same: if you get lucky you'll become a Jessica, if not a Hyang Mi".
Her relationship with Dong Baek was also a cool surprise (usually the trope "we knew each other from childhood" is boring, but this time gave emphasis to how people in the same situation can take different roads) - and I felt really sad when she was waiting for her in the bar.
Yong Shik was a pure gem. I loved him, even if in the beginning was a little pushy (?) but he meant really no harm. It was a refreshing male lead (and not a ceo!! Incredible!), supporting and patient. In many other dramas there would have been a LOT of stupid misunderstandings.
Both Dong Baek and Yong Shik are flawed characters but I liked them with those - I understood when Dong Baek came from, why she was the way she was (as I said before I could feel a connection to her, that's why I probably understand better some choices she made)
Jong Ryul was also a complex character, but his trying to be the father actually got me on his side: he didn't know she was pregnant and he didn't just turn the car and went back to the city. It's just that he didn't know how to approach him. I felt his pain and I think he had the right to know it or a better chance to be a father. (I appreciated they didn't drag the love triangle for more than 2 eps because it was unnecessary xD)
In the end the drama gave me a satisfying mystery in the first part (because they insinuated a lot of possible suspects beside the killer, a 3D characterization, a fluffy romance and finally a warm overall sensation.
The only things that left me "meh" where:
- Dong Baek's mom: from someone who suffered the same condition as Dong Baek and Hyang Mi it was a bit overcoating (?) She abandoned her because she was running away from an abusive husband and had no means to let the both survive. Just that some people don't have such noble soul, they just throw away their children like that. Probably there's a bit of a subject matter because I felt really connected to Dong Baek.
Also the fact that they miraculously saved her from kidney failure was idk, it was a bit given? At some point I thought "oh maybe the mom knows about the killer / is related to, or there some reason she was in danger, like she's the daughter of a married man (?) something like that xD
- Yong Shik's mom: I understand that she felt scared for the son but eventually the neighborhood accepted the two. There's nothing wrong in taking care of "someone else's son" - but I think this concept includes also the culture factor, divorcees and single parents are demonized as I saw in many other dramas (emergency couple treated pretty well this issue)
- Gyu Tae and Ja Young: I would have shipped them if the only reason to divorce was the alleged affair, but they just couldn't stand each other so having them back together got me a bit like the writer just wanted to give them all an happy ending (Gyu Tae wasn't happy at all, not that happy ending means everyone paired xD)
- Why tf Dong Baek should go alone in an abandoned mall, knowing that some psycho killer is watching her??? mmh I would have used idk, Hyang Mi's phone to lure her
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What every woman wants
This kind of love is what every woman wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This kind of respect is what every woman wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This kind of happiness is what everybody wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Great choice of actors. Interesting storyline. Great script! Colorful characters
and setting. Intrigue, love, hate, compassion, forgiveness.
Must see! ................. ....................................................................................
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The one I’ll always think about
Every once in a while, one of those really great kdramas come around leaving you feeling empty after giving you so much. When The Camellia Blooms did everything so right. From the topics of childhood abandonment to fear of being loved to breaking generational trauma.Dong-Baek’s character and childhood spoke to me so deeply, to the point I saw myself in her and at moments, I wanted to become more like her.
Yong-Shik quickly became one of my favourite characters, the amount of times I would just wish I had someone love me as much as he loves Dong-Baek, the constant reassurance to literally worshipping the ground she walks on. Yong-Shik and Dong-Baek relationship reassured me that I will not settle for less. There is someone out there that would do anything and everything for you.
A major props to the writers for such a compelling way of telling this beautiful story filled with so many life lessons. The cinematographers for such wonderful shots (the opening is my favourite, the colour grading makes me drool). The directors being able to create an incredible sense of community, I especially loved how they all came together by the end. Sometimes you could only wish to live in one of the small town places with such a distinct feeling of a community. I also want to praise Gong Hyo-Jin and Kang Ha-Neul, for a performance that left me feeling something so deeply that’ll probably never get to know and for that I am so thankful.
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This review may contain spoilers
The camellia blooms from late December through March
A well written, well executed drama that is both a romantic comedy and a thriller.The cast is amazing and it's a perfect watch for k-drama neophytes (despite the 20 episodes) and families.
The male protagonist is interpreted by Kang Ha-neul, whom I've met in Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Back then I fell for his coward, mediocre bad prince with outrageous hair, how could I possibly resist the sweet and loyal goofball that is Yong-sik?
I couldn't.
He is so very precious that it is clear he was written by a woman.
Mind you that I also developed a soft spot for Jong-Ryul, but he is a bit problematic so I'll just lust after him without giving him all my heart.
The female lead is played by Gong Hyo-jin, a new entry for me (but I plan on watching Master's Sun soon) and in my opinion a terrific choice. She managed a surprising balance between fragile and strong and, moreover, between pitiful and endearing. There are good dramas where the unlucky backstory of the protagonist is so heavy handed in its tragedy that it feels absurdly comic to me.
Now, Dong-baek is one of those incredibly unlucky characters, yet her lighthearted kindness and her honest smile make her real. She is not bravely enduring her catastrophic fate with the tenacity of a superwoman, but rather she is trying her best while being scared, insecure, regretful and lost.
There are the glorious moments when she stands up for herself and finds her inner strength and there are the moments when she is meek and timid and this duality brings her character to life.
Go Doo-shim and Lee Jung-eun are the epic grandmas we needed. Honorable mention for Jeon Bae-soo, Kim Sun-young, Yeom hye-ran and even Jang Hye-jin (in a cameo). All my favorites in one place!
The plot is engaging and well paced, easy to follow.
Maternal love and life in a small community are the main themes, but the writer (Im Sang-choon) also includes a commentary on social stigmas (Moms can't be single nor open a bar in Korea, apparently), mental health and the hardships of finding one's self-worth and social identity.
Our relationships and the people surrounding us shape our view of the world and can make a heaven out of hell or vice versa. As our experiences mold our identity, we are also capable of making a conscious choice on how to react to uncontrollable events. Hyang-mi and Jessica are a sort of Dong-baek alter ego in that sense. They all cope with their childhood trauma in different ways.
I liked the speech about miracles and the one about happiness.
Everyone gets their closure in the end.
I laughed and also cried a little and it felt good.
It felt organic.
Female Empowerment Score 5/5: from the kickass grandmas, to the feisty neighborhood gang of ajhummas, no female in this drama is on the sideline. Wheter they decide to drag each other down, or build each other up, these women are the main characters in their story.
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It's All Good In The Hood❕️ °Excellent°
Is this a romance, or an exploration of parent child relationships?It's both. It's actually more the latter. There's loss, longing, loneliness, laughter and love, with scary tension mixed in for good measure. The neighborhood is a character on its own. The place to which they've taken us is so charming. Good directing, good acting, good writing and a good soundtrack all come together beautifully, like Donbaek's pork stir-fry. The romance between the two leads is sweet. The mystery surrounding the murders is also handled very well. Most of the character arcs are satisfying.
Dongbaek is uncomfortably passive and within herself in the first few episodes. Watching her develop... and bloom... is a treat. I've become a big fan of Lee Jeong Eun, Dongbaek's mom. She's a stellar talent and currently my favorite actress. I first saw her in Oh My Ghost which is a romcom that's cooked up to perfection. She, along with the other 3 leads deliver magnificent performances in that show and I have had a love affair with all of them ever since. (The other three are Kim Seul-Gi, Jo Jung-Seok, and Park Bo-Young).
This show is 95% excellent. Here's a complimentary sample of unimportant nitpicks:
It doesn't quite make sense to open a restaurant/bar because you can make one good dish.... .
It would have been fun to see policeman Young Shik catch a few more criminals, but it is understandable that one case started to consume all of his time.
I wasn't pleased with the treatment of Jong Ryul, Pil-Gu's father. It seemed more severe than he deserved. He truly cares for Dongbaek. He never had a chance to know his son. He made mistakes when he was immature, and has since grown up. The reason for the break-up and her attitude toward him is less in focus than other plot lines. I'm glad they didn't make him a cartoonish bad guy, at least. That's a played out stereotype; he has more complexity.
The efforts to catch the Joker had some holes, or flaws. Obvious things that should have been done were not, mostly to maintain the plot.
Any criticisms are easily overlooked due to the overall excellence of the show. Hwang Yong-Sik's energy alone is worth the time spent. Kang Ha-Neul is really terrific as the ML. So grab the peanuts and Soju and enjoy your stay in Ongsan.
QUOTE〰
"I scratched on cement that hasn't hardened." (Meaning that since he's a kid it will mark him, hurt him, and stay with him for life).
〰IMHO
Directing 8
Acting 8
Romance 7
Flutters 5
Thought provocation 6
Suggested Age 14& up.
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A whiny, annoying drama with unlikable characters...
This drama has a good plot in theory but it wasn't executed well at all. The romance between the main characters was slow and so was the crime solving, so the overall pacing was snail pace which isn't always bad thing but in this case it was just boring.The characters were the main let down of this drama, every single character was annoying apart from Yongsik, he was the saving grace. Dongbaek whined and cried and pitied herself so much that when a scene came along that should've made me sad I just rolled my eyes because she was crying AGAIN. Yongsik's mother was particularly annoying, she was so horrible throughout the drama and then just magically changed her opinion in the last couple of episodes!
The music was nothing special, just your typical k drama osts.
I think giving this a 6.5 is highly generous and purely because Yongsik's character was so refreshing.
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definitely a good watch but I feel it's a bit overrated
there's no doubt that it's a good drama but I've mixed opinions abt it. I had some big expectations from it because how successful it was & how everyone was praising but once I was done watching it I didn't know what to feel. Ofcourse enjoyed it & didn't hate it but I also didn't loved it the way some people I knew did.Maybe it's cos of my high expectations or maybe I was not in the right mood for it when I watched it.
So the first half was more or less entertaining but later the plot became a bit repetitive in my opinion & everything was all over the place. I really feel I would've enjoyed it more if it had lesser episodes.
It's definitely a good drama & deserves a watch but just don't expect too much.
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