Good Enough
Korean Drama 'Doom at your Service' has an intriguing universe that is not properly explored. The romance too had potential but ended up being boring and slow paced.The world built was pretty interesting, first of all. The whole doom-god had plenty to give, especially doom's story and character. Unfortunately, the drama left everything on a superficial level. The romance was pretty great too, with a nice combination of two tragic characters finding salvation through each other, and with an all star cast to boot it all. Sadly, that too, ended up being boring, with many predictable twists and lots of cliches. Also, the female lead's character was annoying at times. The side couple, though interesting at first, was a let down as well.
Finally, the cinematography was on point and the performances from everyone in the cast were great and enjoyable.
So, overall, 6 out of 10.
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I MISS BO YOUNG!!!!!
Short review: this drama taught me that I can talk to Bo Young in English and she can respond in Korean. No language barrier for us! Love will be our language <3Longer review: mostly enjoyable with some really underwhelming elements. The love triangle storyline was unnecessary. Sometimes the details were a bit muddled, but I can overlook the weaknesses to appreciate Park Bo Young's stellar performance. She makes everyone look good, which is why Seo In Guk endeared himself to me. Most importantly, it's a life affirming drama that reminds us to appreciate life in its highs and lows. Might be a tad overdone, but we could always use more slice of life stories that encourage simply living.
I might rewatch this because I miss Bo Young and she really carried this.
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I forgave much of its faults because I loved the central couple
In brief: I enjoyed this drama a lot, it made me care and it made be cry - but this is despite many issues - in short I forgave a lot in this drama (that I’ve not forgiven In others) because it got under my skin and I loved the central characters so much, as well as the wider cast. It never truly delivers on its initial premise or promise - which is a shame as it really had the potential & the right ingredients to be AMAZING. I would still absolutely recommend watching it to form your own views (but I do get the many who have negative opinions on it)
Spoilers ahead -
Things I liked
- The central couple - I love the chemistry between #seoinguk and #parkboyoung - I thought it was crackly and hot - even their handholding would make my heart leap. I really cared and was rooting for them, wanted to watch them fall in love and then get heartbroken and then hopefully get their Happy Ever After
- the premise - sometimes fantasy premises can be confusing, the rules of the world they make opaque but the set up of this premise, the contract they had and the conflict it gave to their predicament was clear & promised to give us the melodrama this drama suggested it had in buckets
- the characters. Tak Dong Gyung is a really relatable heroine. Her backstory and how she came to be someone who masked her real emotions and the different but understandable way she reacts to her predicament - she’s strong & independent and funny - and played by the ever lovable #ParkBoYoung with humour and vulnerability
- Doom is a great fantasy hero, all cynical & arrogant and so ready to be brought to his knees by love. Played with cool, sexy confidence by #seoinguk - I was so ready to fall in love with this hero!
- the character set up of the second leads - writer Na Ji-Na and team leader Cha Joo-Ik - I warmed to and was rooting for them to have a great story
- the OST - the tracks are great and one of them is sung beautifully by #seoinguk
- the ending! So many KDramas don’t land the ending and whilst this drama didn’t knock it out of the park, I didn’t wail over it being ruined
- the black moment before the finale when they’re apart really tore at my heart. When she wakes and thinks he’s there in his lush house reading his book and he gazes at her with such love in his eyes and then… she wakes. Heartbreak!
Things I didn’t love.
- mainly the writing. This is the main thing that stops this drama being great rather than just good. The plot is all over the place. I hated the reset episodes where it felt like we got the same content over again - just to make the point that they were fated. I loved seeing badass cynical Doom again but this could have been a super quick montage. The characters say odd things, the script doesn’t flow.
- the second leads. They are so badly served by both the writing and their storyline. I really was rooting for them. I loved Lee Soo Hyun and his deep voice and ability to carry off a white flare. But ugh. This managed to be simultaneously underpowered as a storyline whilst also taking up a lot of screen time. Just didn’t get why they even liked each other, let alone why this was some huge tragic love triangle.
- development of central couple - much as I loved them - felt patchy. They fell for each other quickly, too quickly for me and when they did get back together felt curiously flat and not passionate enough. It was good but wanted MORE
- the goddess was a wasted opportunity for an interesting character in her own right. Instead she was a method to get plot points.
Ultimately I liked this drama a lot more than it probably deserved when broken down into its individual parts and this was down to a fantastic cast, a central couple I rooted for and loved (despite what happened to them ?), their chemistry, Seo In Guk’s portrayal of Doom (sigh) and a great OST
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What color is his hair?!
Honestly, that is the question that kept going through my mind the whole time I was watching the show. I thought it was a trick of the light at times, and other times it definitely looked like Doom's hair had changed color more than once. Sometimes it looked a mossy green, other times it looked a dark blue, and then would change to an almost black underneath with silver or gray mixed in. I suppose it helps emphasize his non-humanness, but I kept getting distracted by it every time I saw it.Anyway, on to the actual review.
I'll be honest, a little over half way through the series, I took a break from it and then came back to finish it today and I tried to figure out why I needed to do that. Was I having burnout from all the dramas I've been watching? Possibly, but after coming back to it, I realized I was dragging myself to finish because I told myself I was going to watch something else after I did this one first. I think that says a lot.
I want to echo some things I read in other reviews, whereas this series has everything it should: great cast, good story, nice visuals,but a great soundtrack, but it still felt a bit flat. The cast were superb! I loved every one of them, and a special shout out to the guy that played Uncle Kevin, because he is the only foreign actor I have seen in a kdrama that isn't cringy and stiff in both his lines and acting.
I think the biggest problem with the series is the story. The premise is good and the beginning is intriguing, but where it comes up short is in the writing toward the middle to the end. The moments with the characters are good, but the rules about their situation seem unclear at times. Also, I thought the ending was very abrupt, but that's just me.
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Service: Four out of Five Stars
Nothing like a genuine wish to destroy the world to kick start an epic romance between the embodiment of doom and a writing editor. One of the series' strong suits is the romantic/domestic bantering between Dong Kyung and Sa Ram, and also the funny work/life bantering between Dong Kyung and Joo Ik. Her relationship with everyone in her life, from Sa Ram, to her family, friends, and colleagues are nice too. The set design where Dong Kyung cozy apartment splits a wall with Sa Ram's cave vibes mansion is pretty cool.There are a couple scenes that really stood out to me. One is when Dong Kyung wants to get the last bag in stock for her aunt and tells the other customer and the cashier that she only has a few months to live so they let her have it. She does it in a way that sounds like she's using a trick, but it's true. It's like a morbid imposter syndrome. The other scene is when Dong Kyung steps up to block a stab to Sa Ram just by instinct of wanting to protect him from pain, because even if he won't die, he'll still bleed. That's so swoony of Dong Kyung. The amnesia section was pretty well done. They inevitably meet again and I like how the drama plays with the similarity and differences from their initial meeting to now.
Even though he brought doom to the world, he always cared about humans even before he fell in love with one, doing little things like avenging victims by torturing their murderers. When he embraces his own destruction over the end of everything Dong Kyung loves, it's heart wrenching and impactful in the quiet way that he fades away. It's lovely that he became a doctor for real after cosplaying one for so long. I do like how the final episode is spent bringing everyone together and letting Sa Ram settle into his new human life. It's good he has a creator who can set everything all nice for him. He keeps his mansion, car, and is a doctor though he really needs to work for it as emergency services is really demanding. The running gag of him being a ghost doctor and people seeing him in different visages is pretty funny too. He gets to finally end the handsome ghost doctor hauntings by being a real handsome doctor.
The weakest part of the story is how it bisects into two different dramas, like a whole spin off within the same show. It's the same characters, but there wasn't anything about the journey of that second story the reflected or related to the main one. I would rather the screen time have been used to expand more of Sa Ram's psychology, experiences, and worldviews and also once he's become human. They could have even gotten to Sa Ram and Dong Kyung's marriage and Dong Kyung's budding career as a writer instead of the siphoning to screentime off so drastically. I did like Joo Ik and Hyun Gyu brotherly relationship, their genuine rapport with each other. Joo Ik is pretty shady for kissing his bro's girlfriend or at the very least someone he's in a complicated relationship status with at the time and also deserved to be slapped by her for doing so without consent.
The supporting characters are otherwise pretty well used when they aren't in that whole separate storyline. Dong Kyung's new uncle Kevin immediately already loves his new niece and nephew, and nephew in law. He's an English speaking character that's actually played by a actor that really acts rather than some random person that can speak English that kdramas used to hire, so that's already very nice. I was concerned for a while there since Kevin was only speaking in English and everyone else was only speaking Korean to him how he was actually communicating with his wife, but Kevin actually speaks some Korean. You go Kevin. The show should have had him have an actual conversation with his wife at some point to show their connection and to show why he's so excited to have more family.
Overall it's a nice parable about choosing to live while enjoying both the little and the big things in life, to appreciate the people in your life in this very moment. To not give up and to keep trying.
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True Love
My favorite k-drama for sure.From the meaning of every words, to the true love in every single universe. They found each other again even after forgetting them. The true feelings coming out in front of someone destined to die. That's true love.
I was at first a bit skeptical in front of love between a human and an immortal, but the end for sure eased me.
All those parallels made me laugh a lot, their love and care made me melt and healed me, while their hardships made me cry. But overall my heart is at peace. Even if he didn't became human and came back, I would still be at peace because they love each other and they will forever watch over the other.
The support couple is whaou, they are both so beautiful to begin with (just like every single characters in this serie) and I'm glad that they opened up and communicate a bit more every time.
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MELODRAMA, tearjerker watch on your own risk!!
Story aint very original, BUT its well played.STORY:
woman gets to know she got terminal disease. She gets drunk and make wish to falling star for DOOMSDAY, ragnarok etc.
DOOM alas something alas GOD of DEATH hears her wish and want to fullfill it.
Its how these two meet. Next goes romance between them.
Now why I give it such high score?
Simply cause chemistry between main actors made me empathize with them. Root for them.
It made me sad and happy. Actors trully managed get me hooked to this drama and move mine emotions.
overall I rate it 9.5 though as I read others rewievs many wont agree BUT many cant handle emotional roller coaster.
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The first time I watched this drama it was rushed and I found myself moderately enjoying it. I didn't think much of it and moved on. But then I decided to watch it again a year later and paid closed attention, feeling myself glued in to every scene. This is a story about two very depressed and emotionally repressed people who find meaning, love and a want for life because of each other.
Doom is apathetic, disillusioned, bored, depressed and wants the world to end so his role will end. Essentially, he wants to die and he knows he can't. (Which makes me wonder how many times he's tried to be so sure of this.) He finally gets a chance when he meets our FL and you can see the way he changes throughout the show, to feel, to empathise and to love someone more than you hate yourself.
Dong Kyung is someone who lives for others. She works to give her brother an allowance, to let her aunt to live abroad with her husband and in a way her profession allows her to be a sounding board/helper to the writers she edits for. She lost her parents early on in life and buries her emotions deep, always keeping a stiff upper lip and hiding her own depression with practised ease. When she gets the new about her terminal illness, she doesn't react in the way a "perfect victim" would. She laughs it off and goes on about her day as though there is nothing to worry about and that makes sense for her character. Depression takes away your ability to feel things the way you're supposed to, it dampens your emotions and you allow yourself to be swept through every day by hiding it with humour and work and the writer shows this well I think.
Their bond isn't immediate and it initially starts with a mutual curiosity. The other is strange and unique, they don't react like everyone else and it throws the two off balance and their mundane routines.
Doom finally gets his wish and Dong Kyung is stick in an impossible dilemma. Her choices will end with either the person she loves dying or the whole world dying, a real life trolley problem given to someone who has already lost so much.
She figures out a loop hole though and without thinking it through, decides to love Doom so he will be the person she loves the most and take her brother's place. He seems amused by her determination and plays along at first until their feelings spark something in the two.
You can see their stony faces and imaginary walls begin to slowly crumble the more their love grows and although some of their words are dipping into that defensive humour and bravado, they are hesitant and terrified of it. Dong Kyung's breakdown when she finally starts to allow herself to feel the grief over her death was devastating and had me in tears and it was perfect that Doom was the person she let it all out to. In that moment, he could share in that grief and it was such a heartfelt and genuine bond of love between them.
The Deity had seen all of this coming of course, her own little Pinocchio was slowly becoming a real boy but she needed to throw wrenches in there to see if this was truly an enduring love. Even with the stunts she pulled, they couldn't quite forget each other and it seemed to cement the Deity's decision to have him as a new flower in her garden once he fully bloomed.
I think this drama was perfect in showing the grieving process, I would loved to have seen how it would affect the other characters more but that's okay. These two broken people were able to mend each other and their unwavering and selfless love was beautiful to watch grow.
My only dislike of this series was the second leads storyline, it felt empty and disjointed in their lives and with how long it had been between high school and now, a bit stale. I would have loved for Ji Na and Hyun Gu to have maybe met up and discussed their first loves. The immaturity of their relationship and how they are different people now, deciding to move on from the get go. A slow build of Joo Ik and Ji Na could have equally been as beautiful if grown from a place of mutual adoration and respect instead of pity.
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1000000/10
I'm just gonna leave this short review here, because I just finished this kdrama and I really need to express my feelings about this. It's been forever since I started liking TV shows, I like brazilian soap operas, mexican soap operas, american TV shows, japanese anime, kdramas, and movies in general, meaning that in my entire life I've watched a lot of stuff. There was a time when I thought I had seen everything, I felt like everything became a giant cliche, and that nothing could impress me anymore... Until I found this kdrama. It caught my attention on the first episodes already, it was so different, magical, it felt like a dream. The acting, the OSTs, the special effects, the story, everything was perfect. The chemistry between the main couple was something from another world, so intense! I cried, I laughed, and I felt love along with all the characters, my own emotions were as intense as the chemistry between the couple, it was an awesome feeling. I wish I could forget everything so I could have the pleasure of watching it for the first time all over again. From all types of media I've consumed in my entire life, I can easily say this was the best story I've seen, and I don't think anything is gonna top it so easily. It was just perfect. 10000/10.Was this review helpful to you?
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amazing drama but I really wanted a wedding at the end...
Tak Dong-kyung (Park Bo-young), an editor for a web novel company, lives a fairly ordinary life until she stumbles into an unexpected fate. All in a single day, she finds out she is dying from glioblastoma and has only three months to live, learns that her boyfriend is a father-to-be and has a wife, gets scolded by her superior at work, and is spied on by a pervert before the pervert falls into a sinkhole.Drinking her problems away, she happens to see a shooting star from her rooftop apartment and drunkenly wishes for the world to be doomed. Her wish is heard by Myul Mang (Seo In-guk), a messenger between gods and humans. He was born between dark and light: when he breathes, countries disappear; when he walks, the season's collapse; when he smiles, life is extinguished. All he has to do is exist for something to fall into ruin. This is not his intention but simply his fate. On his birthday, he gets to choose a human’s wish to fulfill. Sick of his fate, he chooses to fulfill Dong-kyung’s wish to end the world.
Dong-kyung ends up signing a hundred-day contract with Myul Mang, risking her everything.
Seo In Guk as Myul Mang
There are a lot of actors we need back on our screens and Seo In Guk is one of them.
In “Doom at your Service” Seo In Guk played the role of the male lead and deity of destruction titled Myul Mang. Fun fact; Myul Mang literally means destruction or doom in Korean.
The drama wastes no time in letting us realize how much power Myul Mang has. In the drama's first scenes, we are shown just how powerful he is, with his favorite acts: manipulation, dream control, and our own personal – He being the reason for every destruction that happens and will ever occur.
This character made its way quickly to my most favorite Korean drama character.
Overall, this was my favorite drama of the year. I know that the majority of people didn’t like the second half of the drama but I loved all of it. The final episode could have given us a wedding or something more but still, that doesn’t change the fact that this drama was everything! I also loved some of the parallels with Goblin. Especially the scene where Muyl Mang disappears (I cried my eyes out).
More detailed review here: https://bookswithnatasa.home.blog/2021/08/20/should-watch-24-doom-at-your-service/
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To make it short, the show started very well and as a fan of the fantasy genre, the cinematography was really good. The ML did a good job as the cold and bad, and I liked the first six episodes. And then, little by little it gets boring cause nothing is happening, we loose the death part of the ML's character, the plot relies on pratically nothing and I struggled to continue watching, hopefully there was the second couple to root for. And finally in episode 12 and 13, it gets intersting again. And I finally finished it.The Ost, the potential, the characters, (unless kevin, when koreans use a foreign character it's not well made in general and this is no exception) were incredible to start with, that's why I gave it a 8.5, but it could have been better with a more profound story.
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I loved all the characters chemistry with each other
So many times I wanted to drop it. But I'm a person who never drops a show, even if that show is the worst. I liked the cast chemistry with each other, whether it's a romantic relationship or friendship or sibling relationship.Laughed when Cha Joo Ik connected that scumbag spelling of "manner".
Loved how casually Cha Joo Ik asked Tak Dong Kyung about her scumbag ex.
Kim Sa Ram was sexy with that shock reaction & the smirk he gave after hearing Tak Dong Kyung saying to live together.
Loved how casually Kim Sa Ram called Tak Seon Kyung as brother-in-law & Tak Dong Kyung as honey.
Loved how Kim Sa Ram kept on merging his house with Tak Dong Kyung like it was not a big deal.
Tak Dong Kyung searching on Google for how to love is funny.
Laugh at how Tak Dong Kyung keeps on watching Cha Joo Ik.
Tak Dong Kyung keeps on saying I can love him.
Cha Joo Ik had every answer to everything, had to win every argument.
It was sweet when Kim Sa Ram bought flowers for Tak Dong Kyung.
People around Tak Dong Kyung whether it’s her best friend or brother, are all cry baby. Their reaction was the same when they learned about Tak Dong Kyung illness.
The way Tak Dong Kyung ran from her aunty was hilarious.
Jealous Doom is cute.
Loved the scene where Ji Na said to Cha Joo Ik that he was sexy, then denied it. This scene made me watch the drama & I also thought that he was a demon.
Laughed at the scene when Tak Seon Kyung called brother-in-law & both Kim Sa Ram & Cha Joo Ik saying which one.
I loved Cha Joo Ik & Tak Dong Kyung interaction the most. I want them as a couple in a drama. I also loved the lead chemistry.
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