This review may contain spoilers
WARNING! This review will contain spoilers." The value of one's life is determined by how much love one gives, not by how much love one has received." by Epictetus
Let me be honest. At first, I did not want to start this drama because it sounded too emotional for me when I first heard about the story. Now I have to tell you that I do not regret starting watching it. It was worth to spend time on each episode even when my exams were near.
I wasn't so interested in the story, but after I started watching it I've realized there was so much more behind it. It wasn't just one story. In a frame story, there were so many other stories. Every single one was meaningful and touching. ( I was crying a lot while watching this drama.) I've found this k-drama very detailed and well-written. I think the writer did a great job. So I give 9.5 for this, that -0,5 point is for a scene at the end which I don't understand but I hope after watching it over I will.
Being honest I am not a fan of Ha Ji Won but I think her acting skill is not a joke. She has shown us the character development of Moon Chae Young. She portrayed an innocent, kind, cheerful, helpful and thankful for her life's saver grown-up woman who has a deep wound in her heart. She did an excellent job. Let give her a big applause!
I've seen Yoon Kye Sang in a drama before but I didn't remember him ( I still do not remember his acting in that drama, I'm so sorry Ahjussi). I think Lee Kang's character was made for him. That nice end lively boy was growing up in an environment that was just not for him. I have to tell you that I am very happy about the fact that k-drama world shows up that kind of main leads who are much more loveable like Ko Ji Seok ( Kim Seon Ho) from Catch the Ghost or Hwang Yong Sik ( Kang Ha Neul) from When the Camellia Blooms. Even though Lee Kang was not so likable sometimes but still we could understand him.
There are two more people I have to mention for you who deserves it. First is Lee Jun (Jang Seung Jo) who had the biggest character development in the whole story. I think we all can agree. At first, I thought: Oh my, here is another spoiled kid, but he is NOT at all! He did not want to be that kind of person, he wanted to do something different, he just wanted to be the same as others. This is what makes him a person. Jang Seung Jo is a great actor who has excellent skills for acting.
The second person who deserves a few words is Moon Tae Hyun ( Min Jin Woong), brother of Chae Young. I think a lot's watcher hated him because he was annoying, always causing problems for his sister. I've found him annoying too, but I'm happy because the writer didn't put him aside. They showed us what made him be like that. He loves his sister but how could he become a decent person when he just saw a bad example from his mother?
I give 9.0 for the acting/cast. Let's give them (not just the main leads but every supporting actor, actress) applause because they deserve it.
I give 10 for the OSTs because every single one of them is beautiful and meaningful.
Rewatch value is 10. I want to watch it again, even if it is just for the small stories. I think I can learn a lot from this.
Everyone, let's stop for a moment every day and value what you have.
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It started with the main characters in unusual backgrounds. With busy career lines, health issues, cold and dull emotions, no one can expect how to make their ends meet. But the storyline gradually develops at a constant pace by becoming humane and more lovely towards the end. No pressures to love and they just allowed fate to draw them together. And this is what made it beautiful.
The supporting characters added majority of the weave in the story. I unexpectedly realize that they are the ones that made a huge impact to my tears in almost every episode. The OST and visuals are also excellent!
I wish there would be more happy details in the ending, like Kang proposing to Cha Young, or Cha Young managing the seaside restaurant. Their chemistry was really good!!
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This review may contain spoilers
If I'm being completely honest I was bored when I started watching it. I found the plot slow-paced and boring. I expected romance throughout it. I stopped watching the drama for a while and went back again because I didn't have anything else to watch. I didn't expect to be hooked. I started to understand the meaning of the drama and enjoyed it. It was incredibly emotional. It centered around a hospice and you grew to love characters. It was upsetting to see people's lives coming to an end and how it affected everyone. It had an impact on the way I thought about life and death. The romance aspect was good and realistic. When Cha-Young realized that she needed time alone I felt happy for her. I thought it was brave of her to be alone and I think that she needed the time alone. It showed a different side to romance. It showed that they don't have to depend on each other. It was refreshing. I also liked seeing character development. I think that many characters grew but seeing Kang's views and opinions change was particularly nice.The acting was great and I think that the characters were portrayed well. I also loved the soundtrack as it was fitting. I listen to the soundtrack a lot. Personally, I think I'd struggle to rewatch it but I would be able to. The only thing stopping me is the first impression I had.
Overall, I recommend this drama to anyone that's looking for something a little different, refreshing, and emotional. However, if you're looking for something lighthearted and bubbly this isn't it.
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This review may contain spoilers
this drama is mediocre at best. with so much focus in the synopsis on the main couple, you'd assume we'd be presented with some development by the main leads that would make you feel warmth when they eventually ended up together; the side stories became a focal point, so much so that i had lost interest in the main couple by the time they were together, and found myself bored by their constant teetering, and moon cha young's apparent inability to speak.starting off strong in the first episode, i was intrigued and saw potential in the story. by episode two, i was confused and questioning whether i should even continue. with kang nearly dying in libya to min sung and cha young becoming a couple, only for her to leave and for min sung to becoming ill, i didn't know what to focus on when it came to the plot. too much happened, with unnoticeable time skips that made me wonder what exactly was going on.
i continued on...
the drama was filled with heartwarming and heartbreaking stories about lives within a hospice and i could appreciate the characters and tales of each patient, and we saw some sweet moments between main and side characters that caused my eyes to well up (though i found that i probably only cried twice, to my surprise considering how much others had been mentioning a box of tissues should be ready before watching this drama). eventually, this became tiresome and i found myself skipping through the scenes of other characters, hoping for some development with the main characters. the stories took away from my focus on the leads which eventually caused me to lose interest in them completely and led me to become more interested in lee joon's character as a whole (which fell short, as we can only assume he goes back to the hospital, but no satisfactory finale).
by the end of it, the relationship between kang and cha young felt unnatural, and what could have been sweet romance felt awkward, as they had lost the spark they had at the beginning. i found myself just waiting for it to end, i had watched so much of it, i couldn't just drop it at the last few episodes. the ultimate episode ended with them once again meeting in greece after she had run away but left me with no satisfaction nor a warm feeling inside.
a positive is that i paid much more attention to the OST of this drama than any other drama i've watched, i'd say, and found myself enjoying the sweet melodies of the show.
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Another average entrant into the sea of Korean dramas on Netflix
Korean dramas are reaching wider audiences thanks to Netflix’s foray, but Netflix’s flawed “Match” ratings system obfuscates true kdrama gems. Luckily, the backlog of dramas are mostly well-received ones from trusted cable networks, like jtbc and tvN. The same is not true for the new dramas. (On a tangent, Netflix produced dramas are pretty mediocre less Kingdom, which is still incomplete).Even the jtbc and tvN dramas from 2019 have been slightly worse than previous years. Albeit, my 2019 favorites, Be Melodramatic/Her Private Life/Search: WWW were not available on Netflix (US region). In this context, Chocolate is just another average show. I will skip straight to recommendations! One Spring Night and Romance is a Bonus Book are both available on Netflix. Dr. John is a more makjang medical drama, and Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim (season 1) is a better character driven medical drama.
Story:
As average as Chocolate is, it covers many typical Korean drama tropes that might be beneficial to experience for new viewers. The main leads are tangled from childhood to present, both have traumatic pasts to overcome, and their relationship develops slowly. The only “different” wrinkle is mixing cooking and medical genres, and as good as the food looked, it adds surprisingly little to the plot (a.k.a. Medicine cannot cure these people so give them a yummy last meal…). If this is one of your first Korean dramas, look forward to all the amazing ways this format can stretch tired tropes, just not in Chocolate.
Acting:
The two main leads, Yoon Kye-Sang and Ha Ji-Won, have a strong, subtle chemistry and deliver adequately, but the support/guest roles are the highlight. Major props to Kim Won-Hae who owns a much more serious role than his usual. I also enjoyed Yeom Hye-Ran’s part (especially coming off of a strong performance in When the Camellia Blooms). Even the guests are fun, like Yubin with the guest role AND OST credit.
Music:
Segueing into music, Chocolate relies on a surprising amount of k-pop idols, from Yubin to Seventeen to Hui (from Pentagon). There is also a solid presence of k-ballad/ost veterans. The backing sounds of Chocolate remained strong throughout, and the high production value of Chocolate shines through its beautiful settings and its credentialed musical cast.
Rewatch Value:
I already gave recommendations upfront and stand by them here. Chocolate is a totally acceptable watch (contrary to its 6.5 rating) but leaves little impact afterwards. Personally, taking more risks in storytelling would have been appreciated, even if it were to land a bit flat. In that regard, Doctor John is a great example of turning the stereotypical korean drama tropes up one notch.
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1-if your looking for your beautiful romance in this drama then you in the wrong place, it dose not have any romance what so ever.
2-the story flows in a very slow rhythm creating useless filing scenes that are not relevant to the story.
3-The story time line skips alot with nothing being solved.
I finished the last 4 episode in less than 10 min by jumping trying to find any important scenes bit had no luck. Over all I will never recommend this drama to anyone its just a waste of time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Lee Kyung Hee is not the best writer out there, and her narrative is always problematic (collection of out-of-this-world narrative tropes, the questionable logic of it all and too many loose ends), but her dramas always have strong core and if she takes time and give the spotlight to that core, it works. I think that this is one of her weakest work. But the thematic consciousness of this drama still resonant, not as powerful as her other works though. Problematic but still worth it if you're looking for well-meaning drama. Was this review helpful to you?
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It was coooking show that was sponsored by Quiznos
This drama had a lot of potential but instead ended up as a waste of time. After putting up with missed story lines and focusing on the side plot, instead of focusing on the primary couple (OPC), I had to simply fast forward to focus on the main plot.For me, It was after Episode 13-14, the main story started to unfold and became somewhat enjoyable.
I liked the theme of the story.. Find compassion through other those people who are witnessing their final moments on this planet.
I liked how tragedy made the person facing the difficult situation stronger.
From Episodes 3-14, I was simply frustrated. There were countless scenes of cooking, after cooking..Meaningless scenes with a car pulling up to a parking lot with nothing to follow!!
I wish this story could have been told differently or a shorter version.
I do not recommend this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
You know how we all hold out hope for that last episode? I am there. I have had some very clear realizations while watching the final 16th episode. It starts out terribly in my opinion, with the ML lying, which has been a problem with the FL the entire season. This drama has been full of secrecy in the name of protecting other people or denying their own feelings from the get go. It has also been full of false guilt, followed by apologies for things that were not actually their fault. I know that in some Asian cultures this is considered a virtue, but I despise it. Clearly it is the writer's theme for this drama. I appreciate when a cast gets to be adults and actually discuss their emotions, deal with facts and work things out. No one in this entire drama does that. It has been frustrating for me, but the main story line has been compelling enough to hold my attention. The recently (like 2 episodes ago) paired main couple did not build a truly romantic relationship early enough to support their intimacy in this last episode in my opinion as well. The ML lead feels more like a friend or a pal than a boyfriend honestly. The side stories took up a lot of air time and were well developed, but that actually took away from the core romantic aspect of the drama. The backstory and flashbacks were well done and intriguing leading the viewer to believe that the final result would be emotionally comparable, but the ML has hardly cracked a smile the entire drama, so now that he is relaxed and smiling at the end it seems contrite and unnatural honestly, out of character. In this entire last episode, his denial that his mother was the person who gave the FL chocolate when a mall collapsed trapping them both, loomed over the joy of their relationship in my mind. He surely can not keep that a secret forever and when the FL finds out he lied what then? But, that was not revealed before the drama ended. I haven't mentioned that the drama was set in a hospice and patients do die in every single episode, which was ok emotionally, since that was the theme, and it was never overly dramatized. The ending was understated and sweet, and did get more believable in the last few minutes. I would still recommend this to be watched, but it is not one I personally will re-watch later. I enjoyed Kim Won-Hae's role in this as he is an eternal treat for me anytime he is in a drama, but even his character speaks of death and has false guilt. I give this an 8 which is low for me. I believe the true moral of this story is, do not take life for granted and appreciate what life you do have. A worthy message. Was this review helpful to you?
They started so well! Anyway...i cheered for the characters till the end. Good effort everyone, i still enjoyed watching it :)
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