This review may contain spoilers
This is just my personal opinion.I felt CLOY was very unrealistic but that’s a given in most kdramas and I will admit I loved the first few episodes they really sucked me into the story and had me laughing but as the story progressed I found myself bored out of my mind and honesty I didn’t care much for the main couple,the only reason I continued was for Seo Dan and Gu Seung-Jung and we all know how that turned out... I will admit another thing, though I wasn’t a fan of the show the OST was amazing so was the cinematography and casting. Was this review helpful to you?
Everything about this drama is remarkable!!!
This drama got me hooked since day one, and there are various reasons for it:1) Amazing plot - The plot is completely new,at least for me. The story has developed very well and at also the right pace. It is one of the kinds where you'll probably die out of curiosity trying to imagine what the next episode would be like. I laud the person/people who came with such a story.
2) Remarkable actors - Son Ye Jin was the reason why I started this. But now Hyun Bin has me wrapped around his finger. Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun are also brilliant. Everyone's acting is so good, that it feels the roles were written for them.
3) The chemistry between the characters - This is also one of the reasons why I waited for the drama so patiently every week. The chemistry is so good and it makes me ship them way too much.
4) Supporting Cast - The supporting cast has done a splendid job, in fact the entire cast. The scenes involving them have been written really well, you don't wanna skip any scene. Kudos y'all!!!
5) OSTs -I love each and every one of them and I can't help but listen to them all the time. They're all very good!!
All I have to say is, if you're looking a unique story with amazing actors wrapped up together with soothing OSTs, you should most definitely give this a try. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
Voicing out an unpopular opinion on a popular drama is always risky but I am going to take that risk and do it anyways: CLOY is nice but it's not a masterpiece. The biggest problem I have with this drama is that there are too many unnecessary elements, scenes and I dare to say even characters. It's not that I don't enjoy a good subplot but in this drama we were presented with so many of them that it felt overwhelming:
- the drama within YSR's family
- the drama between YSR and her stepmother
- the drama between GSJ and YSR's family
- the love story between GSJ and SD
- SD's unrequited love to RJH
- the mysterious murder of RJH's brother
- JMB's involvement in the murder and his guilty conscience
- the lives of the ahjummas in the North Korean village
- the North Korean soldiers entering and discovering the luxuries in South Korea
Many of these could almost be material for a new drama but they decided to squeeze it all in CLOY and I am asking myself WHY? Is the main plot not interesting enough? IT IS (at least I think so). Two people from enemy countries crossing paths and falling in love, dealing with the hardships of a harsh political regime that doesn't allow them to be together, breaking national laws in order to protect each other - that sounds enormous to me! I am not saying that I didn't like the supporting cast and their characters. In fact they were amazing and very likeable (hence my highest rating goes to the acting/cast of this drama) but a little bit more compactness would have made CLOY MUCH more enjoyable. Dragging out each episode to almost 1,5 could have been avoided if they had toned it down with the subplot and focused more on the main couple.
Speaking of: RJH and YSR definitely have chemistry. You can see that both actors enjoy working with each other. Nothing feels awkward or forced, it's all very natural. I liked that. However just like with the plot, the producers have great material but don't know what to do with it. RJH and YSR are supposedly very much in love but it takes a bit more for me than deep stares, endless tears and cheesy lines for me to believe that. We have two people who are in their late twenties or thirties but they barely hug, kiss or do anything that makes me believe that they long for each other. They were sweet, yes but where was the fire? The passion? And no, I am not necessarily talking about sex here. When I say "longing" I don't mean it only in the physical sense but the emotional, too. It's only when they say goodbye for the 10th time that we see them acting as real lovers - and they do that well, no doubt! But most of the time they only have this subtle push and pull thing going on, denying things even after they have confessed to each other already like? To put it in a nutshell, they had good chemistry but it didn't go beyond "Aw they are sweet together!" for me. Imo they could have (should have maybe) scratched the whole super cheesy "fated lovers" thing that happened in Switzerland and focused more on creating more moments between them that make us believe that they are established lovers who are past the flirting stage.
What I really liked About CLOY was the cinematography and the way the differences between the North and the South were being portrayed. While watching the episodes set in North Korea (the best ones imo, after that it went kind of downhill) I actually believed that they were filming there. They did a fantastic job and it felt very realistic although I am aware that it's probably not. I was so fascinated that the sudden easiness of Seri getting to South Korea and RJH not facing any consequences after all he did was something I could swallow. The final … was loaded with clichés and overdramatic scenes but it satisfied most viewers I guess. Me not so much but I want to stop here so this review won't get any longer …
To say it briefly: CLOY has a great main plot and catches your attention very quickly in the first episodes but as soon as the setting changes to South Korea, the writers seem lost and lose their focus, only to slightly gain it back in the last two episodes and topping it all with a fairy-tale like ending everyone expected. It is worth watching for the comedic way the differences between NK and SK are being potrayed and the good acting from everyone included in the cast.
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Or rather that it would be nothing special except for one very big issue. That this light vaguely nonsense story was set in North Korea. You know the actual hell on earth, a dictatorship with prison camps, and no regard for human rights. I HATED how it was portrayed. There were many instances where I cringed at how tone-deaf it was . One example would be the opening sequence of a bird flying over the demilitarised zone with almost magical music playing over it. I was so taken aback by this that I showed it to my friend without any context and asked what she thinks. She said: "This is totally like the Harry Potter scene with Hedwig flying over the castle."... IN NO SHAPE OR FORM, NORTH KOREA SHOULD EVER BE FRAMED IN THE SAME WAY AS HOGWARTS.
Framing is powerful. Framing is key. Even if you do all the research right, to get some small details correct it will all crumble if you don't portray it as what it is: a nightmare.
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that the main plot on the North Korean side was about a corrupt evil dude within the system. Which any other time would be great and we've gotten many like that in the Kdrama world. However, the situation changes when the system we are talking about is the North Korean military. In this case, making a story about a corrupt man abusing a system for his evil doing ... helps to maintain a status quo by suggesting the man is evil, not the system. To some extent, I can understand it...South Korea is trying to maintain a good relationship with the North so a drama really digging into the topic could have been an issue for them. Before it aired I was really curious how it will go down on the political scene. Clearly for nothing since this drama refrained from making any meaningful commentary keeping it in the unrealistic Kdrama World.
Sure one can say "it's not that deep" just enjoy a cheesy romcom. And normally I agree with that. It was boring for me but sure was a cute romcom. But the creators really stepped on a minefield choosing to set it in North Korea.
Idk maybe I missed something important since in the later half of the show I just started skipping since I got too board.
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The storyline is great because of course, it is a love story but it is not just about the main couple. They each have their own lives and personalities outside of their romance, which is really interesting to watch. First of all, I am a sucker for star-crossed lovers romances so if you enjoy that kind of thing, then this is right up your alley. The way they showed the differences in the lives of the people living on both sides of the border felt realistic. It made it easier to adapt to watching the characters as the drama switched back and forth between the North and South.
The summary for this drama depicts the female lead as a "South Korean heiress" so I expected her to be spoilt and annoying but that was not the case. Of course, she was spoilt but her character developed with the plot. I liked Yoo Se Ri's character. She showed a lot of depth and emotion, making her feel like a female lead that you could root for. I hadn't really seen much of Son Ye Jin in dramas before, but her performance was amazing! I often found myself crying alongside her. From the beginning, I liked Ri Jung Hyuk as a character. His stoic attitude was entertaining to watch especially in comedic moments. His loyal, quiet, and surprisingly sweet character made me like him even more. I loved the sweet moments between Ri Jung Hyuk and Yoon Se Ri. I am surprised to say that I actually enjoyed watching the scenes with the parents. Watching Yoon Se Ri's mother interact with her throughout the drama was very moving. Their scenes together definitely made me cry. I also liked the stoic character of Ri Jung Hyuk's father. I thought I would hate him since he would probably want to separate the main couple, but I found myself cheering along when he surprised us with his loyalty to his son.
I cannot write a review without mentioning the four soldiers that work alongside Ri Jung Hyuk. They were so entertaining to watch and they provided much needed comedic relief in the most devasting scenes. The women in the village that became friends with Yoo Se Ri were so funny in their interactions. Na Wol Suk was so funny whenever she would come out and try to intimidate newcomers. Her character reminded me of Yang Kyung Won.
The music is very beautiful in this drama. It perfectly portrays the emotions of each scene.
I would definitely rewatch this drama. I enjoyed watching these characters interact with one another. Although there were some characters I hated such as Yoon Se Ri's older brother and her sister in law, it was the kind of hate where you will keep watching because you cannot wait for them to get what they deserve. Crash Landing on You is an amazing drama and I think it is one of the top dramas to come out of 2019.
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Everything is turnt up to 11
Crash Landing on You is absolutely absurd. It has one of the highest cable drama ratings and should be on everyone’s 2020 kdrama watchlist. The drama has you going back and forth from laugh-crying to cry-crying. The cast is flawless. The director comes from Romance is a Bonus Book with the screenwriter of The Legend of the Blue Sea. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin also come from 2018 dramas - Memories of the Alhambra and Something in the Rain, respectively. Loads of quality romcom experience, and it shows.The drawbacks. In an effort to fill major plot holes, conflict escalation and resolution are left vague when convenient, especially for the non-main characters and arc. CLOY also pushes the envelope with its near 90 minute runtime per episode. All-in-all, the drama shoots for the moon but crashes in the stars.
Story:
The premise and story supports the success of Crash Landing on You by spinning a serious current event into an absurd adventure. The North Korea-South Korea conflict immediately adds to the gravitas of the drama, and subverting this expectation results in unforgettable comedy. The over-the-top approach is handled beautifully, and viewer immersion is rarely ruined. Production was even sued for its relatable portrayal of North Korea (It was actually “sued” for glamorizing NK conditions, but I digress).
The drama intertwines the story of four main leads and a large supporting cast, so big that it even has a recap episode. It is entirely understandable why the drama does not fully explain or explore every single plotline. On the other hand, Crash Landing on You has a total runtime equivalent to a 20 episode drama, and it even contains what could be seen as filler scenes. Again, this is being nitpicky with an incredibly entertaining watch.
Acting:
Crash Landing on You actually reunites the two main leads from 2018 movie, The Negotiation, where they are adversaries. In CLOY, their comradery and chemistry is unquestionable. Hyun Bin has received his fair share of criticism in the past, but this character is well suited for his strengths, being good looking and stoic. He earnestly acts each scene with that ridiculous “North Korean” accent, even adding emotions when required (but bloopers, please!). Anyone can appreciate his effort in CLOY, even if it is not winning any acting awards. Son Ye-Jin, on the other hand, I have been a fan of from Something in the Rain. I am most impressed by her expanded comedic role in Crash Landing on You. She is funny in SitR but hilarious in CLOY. Some lines land a little too extra but most hit their timing.
The second leads’ acting also impresses as their roles expand by the end of the drama. Plus, there is too much to say about the large and talented supporting cast. Kim Sun-Young continues to earn her reputation as a talented cast member. The mini-Something in the Rain reunion with Jang So-Yeon is welcome. I give the underrated award to Hwang Woo-Seul-Hye as the lovable/hateable doofus sister-in-law (also, how is she 40 years old!). Even the guest roles amaze, like when my jaws hit the floor seeing Kim Soo-Hyun’s character. Everyone’s buy-in to the premise of CLOY is what creates that special level of immersion that we love about all great kdramas.
Music:
Like many watchers, I am also a fan of kpop, and the musical ensemble for Crash Landing on You delivers on all fronts. IU, one of the hottest kpop stars, sings the final OST, capping off the musical journey of CLOY. Another rising star, Song Ga-In, sings one of the best tracks on the OST. I have also been following Davichi since debut and hearing them in CLOY is a joy. The only knockback is that the music does not push its boundary quite like the story and acting of CLOY.
Rewatch Value:
I plan to rewatch Crash Landing on You as soon as I have the chance. On top of everything said thus far, there are references to other dramas, pop culture, and current events, and I am sure that I have missed many of them. There is so much to enjoy about CLOY for first-time kdrama watchers AND veteran viewers. After my rewatch, I may even revise my final score to a 9 because CLOY sets the bar very high for 2020.
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Obviously the chemistry between Son Ye Jin as Se Ri and Hyun Bin as Ri Jung Hyuk is one thing that this drama gets absolutely right. This is the kind of couple that makes you laugh and cry, and whether they are having cute banter or dodging bullets I was always rooting for them. Yes, their relationship is way over the top and even sappy at times, but it works so well. Captain Ri's straightfaced swag and Se Ri's extreme confidence played well off of each other, and I loved that Se Ri was a strong character and not just a victim passively waiting for a savior. They make a lot of corny moments work because they are just so good. Se Ri is also in the classic "chaebol" role while Jung Hyuk gets the makeover (a definite switch from the Hyun Bin I'm used to seeing in dramas), so even with a strong military theme, the women characters are just as strong.
Then we have the rest of the cast that is filled with great performances. Two surprising favorites were Seo Ji Hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung Hyun as Goo Seung Jun. Seo Dan's bitter arrogance and Seung Jun's playboy charm were great, and I loved watching their characters' growth and their unexpected bond. At first, they just seemed like two annoying villainous characters but they soon became two of my favorites in the show. Then there are Captain Ri's fellow soldiers (#squadgoals) and neighbor wives (frenemies turned bffs) who are not only hilarious but were all characters I genuinely cared about. I also liked Seo Dan's aunt and uncle (who are so different from their roles in Parasite) and Se Ri and Jung Hyuk's moms. These characters had a lot of funny moments but also some touching moments that actually made me tear up quite a few times. The North Korean characters were definitely way more interesting than the South Korean characters, mainly Se Ri's family, who I thought were pretty cliché. Greedy siblings fighting over who will take over the family business is probably the most overused KDrama trope, and they weren't very interesting aside from helping to push that part of the story along. I also wasn't too fond of the main villain, who although he was effective he was very one-note.
The story did have a great pace and that's impressive since each episode is well over an hour. Most of the episodes balanced all the different genres well. The only two episodes that dragged for me were the first one, and the last one. I was honestly disappointed in the ending, even though it did do a good job of not leaving things unresolved. I felt like it took an unnecessary extra melodramatic turn then dragged out the endings with flashbacks and slow scenes that lost the show's momentum. Still, even with the slow ending, I still enjoyed the drama as a whole.
There's also a small musical element in this drama but it wasn't very strong. I honestly can't even remember the melody of Captain Ri's song. The rest of the music was over the top or just ok.
Would I watch this again? Maybe. As entertaining as it was anticipating new episodes each weekend, I'm not sure if the story is the kind I want to binge-watch again any time soon. I also think the plot loses all suspense which would make some parts of the story seem slower, especially with such long episodes. I would rather just rewatch parts that I like, but there aren't even specific scenes that I can think of wanting to see again. The characters would be my main reason for ever watching again.
Overall, this is a great classic-style drama. I was all in for the fish out of water/opposites-attract love story, and I liked the idea of being away from the comforts of the south and ending up finding real support and friendship in the north. If you are willing to embrace the tropes, the melodrama, the abundance of coincidences, obnoxious product placements, the cheap special fx, and silliness you will get to see an epic love story, beautiful scenery, some cool action scenes and cliffhangers, and more than a few moments likely to get you in the feels. This drama won't make my personal favorites list but I understand all of the high ratings. For Hyun Bin fans this is a must-watch. I am also rewatching King 2 Hearts now... don't worry that there's anything similar, there isn't, but I do like how both marry humor, action, and suspense with a great love story. Watching this drama made me want to watch that drama again (one of my old school favorites).
There really is a lot that makes Crash Landing on You worth watching. I related to the drama obsessed soldier big time while watching this. Don't let my lack of perfect 10s or 9s dissuade you, I was bored with a lot of the current on-air dramas I've been watching and this finally took me out of that slump. I'm glad I embraced the expected tropes and enjoyed the unpredictable ride.
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CLOY was one of the most addicting dramas I've watched in a long, long time. I'm not the kind of person who gives a straight 10 to any drama. Also, i'm not the kind of person who watches dramas as they are airing. I like to wait until the whole show is out. But this drama was *very* different.
When i learned about the show, i wasn't too interested in it, even though the plot sounded kinda reminded me of DOTS. But i started watching it after the 4th episode aired, and trust me when i say this: I WAS HOOKED! Every single episode got me on the edge of my seat (literally and figuratively) as i was so eager to watch the next episode (hi Hyun Bin).
I LOVED the plot! The plot was a great mix of melodrama with the perfect amount of romance and comedy. I liked how this wasn't the cliche of the male lead being super rich and cocky and rough, and the girl being poor and soft. I liked how, the guy was innocent and the girl was strong. That's not to say that this was the most perfect and original plot i had heard of, but all the other things totally outdo the minute imperfections. I would've liked it better if the second couple was given a bit more screen time.
Cast and acting wise, i can't think of any actors who could've played the main (and lead) roles better than the original casting. Son Yejin and Hyun Bin had the kind of chemistry that just made your heart pound out of your chest. Let me take a moment to actually talk about how sweet and handsome and sexy and cute Hyun Bin is in this drama! oooohh I just CANNOT take it (but i want it). Moving on, the supporting actors contributed well to the positives of CLOY. Seo Jihye and Kim Jung Hyun made a great couple and i was rooting for them the whole time. But as i mentioned earlier, i really wanted more of them. Seo Dan's mother and uncle were in the Academy Award winning movie "Parasite", (which i realized a bit too late) and i really do commend them on their acting.
I don't really like a ton of OSTs and so, don't usually pay too much attention to them. But the OSTs were actually pretty decent in this show.
All in all, CLOY was EXCELLENT! Although it had those minute imperfections, it only helped the show seem more perfect in my eyes! It has definitely found a way into my list of favorites and it sure ain't leaving anytime soon! i would recommend this show to anybody who's contemplating. You have to watch it right now or you might seriously regret not doing so later! I don't even know why you are even contemplating is the first place! Seriously watch this NOW!!
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STORY
the story was a captivating idea. The love interest was interesting. And I enjoyed the couple, however, I wasn't really emotionally attached to any of the characters. Both leads were amazing, and so was the rest of the characters. But I didn't really get into their chemistry. It was THERE, I wasn't emotionally connected to it if that makes sense. Maybe because this is my first time watching them
THE ABSURD STORYLINE OF DEATH
Both characters have faced death like how many times????? A lottttt..... At one point hey are about to die, then they come back to life, then the same thing happens again, they don't die, they face death again, then they don't ie again.
UNBELIEVABLE ROMANCE
If you really love someone, and you see them after such a long time, are you just gonna stand there? I understand you might be shocked. But are you just gonna give them a hug?It doesn't make sense to me. I wanted so much more from the romance.
RIDICULOUS SECOND CHARACTER LOVE STORY
Everybody seems to be in love with the second leads storyline. And I'm still wondering what people see in those two? I felt nothing from them. Their storyline is ridiculous. The girl is an unlikable character, the boy is not bad, I actually liked him. But I don't really understand how they "fell in love" I actually thought a love story between him and Se-ri was more interesting
THE ENDING
I can't even find the words to describe the ending. Just totally terrible
OVERALL
Disappointing kdrama, started off good, ended up meh! Thank goodness I'm done watching it! Don't think I'll ever watch again.Not sure if i would recommend it, but be prepared! And I don't think anything in this drama will stick with me.
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