Acting
While most of the Korean actors are fantastic (and wonderful eye candy), the American actors are terrible. I've seen a lot of community theatre, and even most first time volunteer actors are better than the American actors this show hired. Maybe it is a problem of direction or that I am an English speaker, so the cruddy delivery jumps out at me more, but the American actors' performances were just bad. As I said, the Korean actors have great timing and bring a lot of spark to their characters. Even when the writing and dialogue flags (and it does a lot) the actors make it somehow watchable.
Characters
By-and-large each character sticks to their archtype and rarely deviates. Despite this, the characters are fully realized with more nuanced and detailed backstories and developments. While the bloated cast provided lots of beauty, a lot of characters felt unnecessary and their side plots were too seperate from the overarching story. I wish that the side plots were treated like spin offs, instead of being included in the main drama's story.
Story
Standard Kdrama plot #5. There is little deviation and almost no suprises. Rich, second son, bastard (in the technical sense) falls for his family's maid. The classist, distant, tyranical father - along with snobby family members, a rich fiancee, a rich male rival, and rich schoolmates - make it difficult for them to get together.
Music
While the music quality was good for a Kdrama, it was painfully repetative.
Direction and Editing
Overall, inoffensive, but nothing great. Holy flashback montages, Batman! I know this is a Kdrama trope/common technique, but it was glaring and obnoxious in this series.
Conclusion
If you just want a light, glossy, cute, fun, romantic drama with lots of eyecandy and you do not mind lots of filler and predictability, this is for you. The characters and quality acting from the Korean actors keep it watchable. However, if you want something less expected and without filler, then this is not for you. I doubt I would rewatch it again, but I don't regret watching it.
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The story line was probably the weak point for this drama. Saying this, I still think it was an interesting story! As I watched the drama as it aired, I was waiting week after week for the new episodes to come out. The story may have been so interesting for me because of the strong cast and their great acting skills.
Acting/Cast:
Of course this drama gained so much 'popularity' because of the cast being well-known. I will admit that Lee Min Ho was what pulled me into the drama, and as soon as I realised Park Shin Hye was playing the female lead, I was completely caught! Two of my favourite actors... together... in a drama... both as the leads! Couldn't be any better. However with such an impressing cast, I was worried that the drama would be a let down, and that I would be disappointed especially with so many 'idols' being casted. Boy was I wrong to even think this. The idols all acted really well! Krystal (f(x)) was veryyyy interesting with Minhyuk (from CN Blue), and Hyungshik (ZE:A) was hilarious to watch. Of course the 2nd male lead Kim Won Bin was also great to watch. He will definitely do great in the future. AND of courseeeee, the main leads lived up to my expectations, hands down. Every character in this drama was interesting, not one annoyed me. Even the evil characters were good.
As you can see... too many great cast to speak about, so little space. Soooo, if you are curious (and haven't watched the drama), go watchhhhhh!
Music:
The music is really nice. It will definitely become one of my top favourite soundtracks in the future. It goes well with the scenes helping to support the emotions.
Rewatch?
YES! Even though the drama finished quite a while ago, I haven't been game to watch it again, as I was sad when the drama finished (I was probably in denial...). Howeverrrrr, in the future when I stop feeling sad, I will definitely watch it again!
Overall:
Overall, I understand that with this drama there are either people who absolutely love it, or people who dislike it. I believe the reasons for people either liking or disliking this drama is because they are either drawn to the cast OR they are had too high of expectations for the cast and were let down.
Honestly, don't believe what people are saying about it either being the best or worth drama in the history of dramas, and just give it a try! Then you can have your own opinion. You never know... you could end up completely loving the drama. Or even disliking it. I definitely recommend it!
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Yes, the story is cliche - but it's done so well that I can't give anything but a ten.
The acting is superb throughout - it's funny at times, gripping at others.
The only thing I really disliked was the music ...
This is a hit or miss, if you're not into it after two episodes, skip it - personally, I still recommend it and never heard a complaint from friends.
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Good? No. Iconic? Yes.
"The Heirs" is objectively terrible: the relationships are toxic and dysfunctional, the storylines don't make much sense, and the production is not great. However, what makes this show so beloved is its ability to go against your expectations. No other show can compare to the out-of-pocket dialogue, insane characters, and ridiculous plot points that "The Heirs" has to offer. "The Heirs" dares to subvert expectations whenever possible. Within the first episode, Kim Tan's Californian roommate robs Cha Eun Sang, thinking that her bag of rice (?) is cocaine. Right off the bat, it shows you that this is a world not like our own, one where people have no concept of logic or common sense. This is a show that pairs excellently with intoxication.Was this review helpful to you?
The Tropiest of Tropiest KDramas
I'm writing this review in 2021, but I watched this show back when it aired in 2013, and I can safely say that there is something truly unique about this Kdrama and I doubt it can ever be replicated ever again. To truly appreciate what this show is like, you have to imagine yourself as a Kdrama viewer from 2013: in the international scene, everyone used this little old site called Dramafever (in reality: mega popular free-to-use drama watching site) who actually had a hand in co-producing this show. It features cinematic, lesser known American venues such as Balboa Park in San Diego or the Terranea Rancho Palos Verdes resort near Los Angeles. Apparently, the scriptwriter intentionally designed the show to be a meme: she was no rookie at the time of penning the story and just slammed all the fun elements she could think of into it.This memeness is both this show's greatest strength and its biggest downfall. On the one hand, in 2021, you may recognize the ridiculous star-studded cast: we've got the mega popular Park Shin Hye and Lee Min Hos as the leads. For side characters, they are all recognizable names: we have Choi Jin Hyuk who I swear is in everything, and most recently in a minor role in Mr Queen. We have Kim Ji Won of Descendants of the Sun fame (and more recently Arthdal Chronicles/Fight My Way). Even the even-more-minor characters have reached great notoriety: Kang Ha Neul would go on to star in the Baeksang-winning drama Where the Camellia Blooms. So what's the problem? Well, because it's so tropy, all the characters are one-dimensional, barely tapping into the skill of each actor. Kim Tan is a lovesick, rich teen with daddy issues. Cha Eun Sang is a pitiful, poor girl who cries a lot. Choi Young Do is your misunderstood second lead. Yoo Rachel is a bully. None of these characters have depth: they exist to fulfill their one plot role. It's hard to say it's "well acted" because...what is there to act? Personally, I love Kim Ji Won -- I think she expresses great depth as an actress in her other roles. But in Heirs? Her character exists to scowl or hurt Cha Eun Sang, either physically or mentally. And pretty much every single character can be described this way.
The story is of the same flavor: a wonderful exercise in "how cliche can you make a plot". We've got the tragic, teen romance. We've got Chaebols. We've got honoring your family vs pursuing romantic love. It's all there.
Ultimately, Heirs succeeds in doing what it set out to do. It's a beautiful show "about nothing", featuring gorgeous, sunny locales, beautiful actors and actresses, with a plot that invokes a lot of designer costumes and kisses. Back in 2013, I had a lot of fun watching it and I still do on re-watch. But there's "nothing there". Heirs is a weird show.
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Why do those rich kids and families really underestimate others like that? It does not make sense. Is it still a saeguk era? with kings and concubines? hahahahah. I really dislike how the chairman tried to control his maid's daughter life. LIKE HE IS SO POWERFUL AND ALL!! Ask her to cut ties with his son, blackmailing her, if i were her i will just report it to the police. I will just study hard to become successful, get scholarship, don't need his support. Dun need to study at the awful school like that. Cheee!!!
I just hate everything about this drama and i just realized that the writer of this drama is the same with secret garden, DOTS, no wonder i hate the storyline so much, i could not bring myself to watch this rubbish. I dropped it.
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All the side characters are impressive. Especially the second male lead, Young do (Kim woo bin) who not only created Interest in the story, but also won million of Hearts at the end.
If you haven't watched this one, you're aren't a Kdrama lover. ??
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Ehhh... And those kisses... Lee Min Ho showed what he can ;D
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THIS WAS AMAZING!!! Don't waste your time reading reviews on mdl out of all places lol
Finally watched this show after almost 2-3 years of postponing it and i have to say:i literally can't understand any single one of the criticism towards the fl and lee minho especially, and the story and whatever bullshit that is being over analyzed in the review and comment sections. All these long paragraphs dont make any sense when the biased and envious vibes are pouring from them.. idk but maybe it can be the fandoms since i have noticed this show and the cast still has a strong fanbase and maybe that's why this hate and unnecessary overcriticizm for one or the other actor or character. This drama was good. even if you don't like it, it was decent. the plot was GREAT. the story was great, fl was maybe just decent but not bad at all. Lee minho was on point with his acting but absolutely nailed some of the scenes. kim woo bin was also amazing, choi yeong do was an asshole, alright but his character development was so good. ofcourse he, as the second lead wasnt liked back by the fl but their scsnes were so beautiful.. but one thing, i must say as my own, personallll opinion which might not be accepted from most people, kimtan was way better than choi yeaong do so i didnt feel that bad for yeong do. i feel like yeong do wasnt capable of doing things that kimtan did and was ready to do for eun sang. and also, i see many people say kim woo bin stole the show. But i felt that this drama was the-lee-minho-show. anyways. both were good.
now about the "cringe" and "cliche".. yes there was cliche but i was waiting for cringe... it never happened. this drama turned out to be better than most of new dramas. so much less cringe or embarrassing scenes. even humour and sarcasm felt fresh surprisingly, since this drama is a decade old now.
don't listen to the long paragraphs or unreasonable people here.. just go and watch this drama you might probably find many things you'll love and enjoy.
ps: these hate comments and reviews really don't make any sense to me.. like?? so i wont revisit this page cuz mdl reviews and rating system is anyway trash. r
go enjoy the show. 10/10!!!!!
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