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Also let me get this out of the way at the top: never have I ever suffered so much from second male lead syndrome. Honestly if I could find me a Jun se I'd be one happy girl. It was so refreshing to see a male character that did not have to change to be acceptable for the girl. You knew he wasn't gonna win out, but as he said in one scene, it wasn't because Eun Sung didn't like him, she just allowed someone else into her heart. So classy all through out to be honest. Even when he was hurt by Eun Sung he didn't cling to her or try to persuade her, he didn't bad mouth Hwan, he didn't say some ridiculous line about it being OK that she didn't return his affections because he can love her enough for the both of them (makes my blood boil). He expressed his disappoint in a non malicious way (and he definitely had a right to because Eun Sung definitely lead him on even after her feelings for Hwan started. She knew how he felt and waited so long to shut down any expectations he had about their relationship) and still stayed by her side even after it, with no intention of winning her affections.
Now when it comes to Hwan I have to say that I wasn't charmed by him or really all that impressed. That's not to say that he was a horrible guy or anything, but this drama did such a disservice to his character by having him act like a petulant child for 9 straight episodes. I was incredibly bored and over his attitude that by the time he started to "change" it was a little too late for me to actually start investing in his character. Now had this show been a seasonal show and they could actually take time to flesh his character out more, then maybe I could've rooted for his character more (individually, not as a subset of his relationship with Eun Sung). But 9 of 28 episodes with absolutely no change (and actually getting progressively worse)? Wasn't here for it. It also didn't help that his change was so superficial in that all that happened was him doing what he should've been doing in the first place. You're 27 and you don't wanna work? You're 27 and you treat people like crap? You're 27 and you throw tantrums worse than a child? There was nothing hard about his grandmothers' conditions and yet you would've believed she was asking for the world. And yet I'm supposed to be impressed that he became a decent human being? No, everybody should have a level of decency in them unless they're a sociopath. Now having said that, I didn't hate him. He didn't really illicit any reaction from me save for a few eye-rolls and some rare smiles (yes I smiled a couple of times because as I said he wasn't horrible).
Now 2 characters who did illicit reactions from me where Seung Mi and Seung Hee! OMGosh did they ever. I started out absolutely loathing Seung Hee because never had I ever come across such a vile character before who wasn't a sociopath. However that loathing quickly turned into respect because as much as a snake as she was, she knew she was a snake and didn't mind slithering. Her daughter on the other hand drove me up an effing wall with all her self-righteousness. She wanted to pretend she wasn't in the grass slithering right along with her mother. Truthfully Seung Mi needed psychological help because no one should be as dependent on another human being as much as she was with Hwan. Shit is unhealthy as hell.
Eun Woo was adorable as ever and the actor that portrayed him was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every time he was on the screen.
Eun Sung was OK. She was like a strong weak girl. I could tell how much she wanted to be strong and how determined she was, but there were far too many times where she was so naive and gullible that I found myself yelling at my computer screen. Her ability to smile through most situations though was really admirable.
As far as the relationship between Eun Sung and Hwan, it wasn't my cup of tea. There was banter, but very weak imo. I like playful relationships and theirs was more childish. It was a whole lot of meh to me tbh.
I definitely could've gotten behind a Hyeri/Jun Se pairing though. That girl was such a Jun Se fangirl. May I join the club Hyeri?
As far as recommendations go it's definitely not something that hasn't been done before and probably better and at 28 episodes it is a bit long and quite frankly could've been shorter, but if you don't mind getting frustrated and a few non-sensical things here and there, you could definitely do worse.
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1 - Grandma/Chairman's values and principles - I've always dreamed of having position and wealth to make a difference in my own way - the drama showed me how it's like when you build something out of genuine dream which can touch people's lives - how meaningful it is to be in a position where your voice can be heard and trusted - and that you use this opportunity to influence and inspire people. It shows how powerful gratitude is an how every single thing done for someone in need regardless of how big or small it is can make a difference. I love how grandma knows how valuable and useless money is at the same time. Coming from rags to riches - money did not overpower her- rather she used and viewed money properly. Her story is a proof that the path to greatness does not have to be lonely nor greedy - she took the path where she helps people to climb so when she reached the top she was not alone. I too would love to reach the top not for people to look up or bow to me - but to be able to pull someone up whenever I can.
2- Love story - Being married for years now - when I recall love stages my favorite is always the initial stage where you notice changes from your whole system and it naturally manifest without your control - which Hwan has shown effectively in the drama. I'm not a fan of instant crazily in love plots - this drama sure did satisfy me on showing how the love story started and progressed. I agree with the qualities of Eun Sung being attractive - I love how she expressed her intentions especially she knows when to speak and keep quite which is an important aspect every woman should know. I love how genuine the process the have undergone to in getting to know each other - the circumstances have given them both to see clearly how they complement each other and how trust is built between them without the need for words.
3 -Eun Sung up bringing. Coming from a rich family she managed to build a sense of responsibility and gave importance to family and relationships. She cries when she has to - smile when she can - stand up no matter what and never ever entertained the though that she is pityful - she never pitied herself after losing both her parents and brother on top of that being broke. I think this is the result of knowing that you are loved. 100 people may hate you but this can not erase the love you get from a single person - and this single truth alone can keep you going and keep you away from all insecurities.
4. Eun Eu (Piano) adding his character in this drama makes it extra special - he makes anyone next to him shine even brighter - his honesty and innocence brings out the softness from the people he mingles with. He had instant chemistry with his 2 noonas, step mom, hwan and so on. The piano piece "longing for Noona" perfectly blends with all of this.
5. The plot and script are just how I wanted to see and hear- met all my expectation. Brought me satisfying emotions.All dots connected and consistent. Each characters did how they are supposed to based on the story and said the exact lines at the right time every time with brilliant acting and great OST in the background.
6. Secondary casts - they all did a great job in each of their roles. Seun Mi and her mom both are gorgeous and acted well.
7. The choice of setting : 1. That main leads stayed in the same house and 2. in the same company - without overdoing the plot and not overly cheesy encounters.
8. That Lee Seun Gi starred in it :) this is such a HUGE bonus to this already beautiful drama.
(I have watched this drama twice - 2nd just recently in netflix and everytime I finish 28 episodes in 2 days )
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There's a certain type of show that, for all its crazy Makjang flaws, you just CAN'T. STOP. WATCHING.
Yes, there's a Candy and a crazy second female lead and a perfect second male lead for you to have SML syndrome over. Chaebol scheming and a company to fight over like it's still the Joseon era.
Every trope under the sun and then a few more to tide you over: Amnesia, Trucks of Doom, Noble Idiocy, Evil Stepmothers, Asshole Male Lead cured by the Power of Love.
But, but, but... it's just so cracktastic you can't stop watching. Even when the show is extended and it's a good 8 episodes too long, you keep pressing play on the next episode. Even when whole episodes go by with people having the same conversations over and over and endlessly crying for no good reason, you don't drop it. You can't.
THE PLOT
When Ko Eun Sung (Han Hyo Joo) is thrown into the street with her autistic brother, she is taken in by self-made businesswoman Jang Sook Ja (Ban Hyo Jung). The Chairwoman sees herself in the younger woman and eventually throws her entitled family for a loop when she leaves the younger woman all her assets, including her company.
Yes, it's a standard Cinderella plotline with her and the Prince, Seon Woo Hwan (played by Lee Seung Gi, apparently a perpetually geriatric toddler) having the requisite number of misunderstandings and near misses before settling into the inevitable pining, sexless true love.
THE ENDING
The Shining Inheritance mentioned in the title is not just the money everyone starts fighting over once Grandma changes her will. What the older woman is bequeathing is not her money but her vision for the company she founded. It's this lesson about what's important in life that underpins the show's overly-strong moral message.
The show's moralising, especially in the back half, is definitely its weakest part. And it doesn't help that far too long is spent on a second female lead who needed to stop crying and monologuing and just get a damn life. But there's no need to spend too much time thinking about deeper messages when you can't stop watching because of how addictive the whole guilty pleasure is.
Crack is crack.
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An inspiring tale of ambition, love, family and affection
This is definitely one of the longest dramas I've watched, and my first with more than 20 episodes. However I gotta say, boy was it worth it.The chemistry between Han Hyo Joo and Lee Seung Gi was really amazing. I've previously only heard of Lee Seung Gi but wasn't really into his works but he was really good here.
Han Hyo Joo is one of my favourite actress so naturally I'll be biased towards her. However it is undeniable that she's one of the best if not the best female Korean actress. She just carries her role so well. The range of emotions she displayed were awesome.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest stars of the show has got to be the grandma. All the actors and actresses in this drama played the role really well, be it the protagonist or antagonist.
This show is simply one which tells the importance of perseverance, dreams and family.
This is definitely one of the best Korean drama, if not the best of all time.
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I wanted to give this a higher rating because it is a good drama but I couldn't due to certain flaws.
- I found the heroine too stupid (even for drama land!); normally in these Asian dramas a lot of the female leads are depicted as naive and innocent. Eun Sung IS a likable heroine- she's cheerful, hardworking and resilient. But I have a personal limit as to how ignorant I am willing for my leads to be and unfortunately, Eun Sung went beyond it. Not only did she make the same mistake once or even twice (my limit) she made it around three or four times. It was frustrating for her to make the same mistakes, for these mistakes to blow up in her face, and for her not to learn a thing from the experience and just do it all over again. I wasn't sure what was wrong with her. Even the most naive person would not have made the same error. It made her mentally handicapped brother seem even more intelligent than her at times. I liked her overall, but her characterization was disappointing. If she had at least learned from her first few mistakes and shown some improvement, I would have forgiven her initial stupidity- I have a pretty high tolerance for erring characters who take awhile to grow into better people. I can be patient enough when these characters get better as the show goes on. But in most cases, Eun Sung was saved by plot armor or the characters around her were there to save her from her mistakes. I wasn't even expecting her to be this badass heroine (although I have my favorites for this type as well) just someone who got better after being exposed to harsh realities.
-Her dad was just as dumb as she was. I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree. It's funny how similar these characters are. Well meaning and kind but with no common sense or foresight.
-Her kid brother had only one purpose in the story. To get lost. I guess I can't consider this as a flaw since this is typical makjang. The actor playing the mentally handicapped Eun Woo does a very good job.
- Moon Chae Won is a much better actress than Hyo Joo IMHO, but the way her second female lead was written was a letdown. Since her character was one of the more interesting ones (being the daughter of a wicked witch isn't easy) I had higher expectations for her...I spent most of the drama wishing that Seung Mi would go from merely feeling guilty about what was happening to Eun Sung/Eun Woo, to taking an actual step in doing the right thing. But she never did. In fact, she takes a turn for the worse.. Seung Mi's characterization makes me think of how unfairly female characters are written at times. Often, when a story shows two men fighting for the affections of one woman, the man who loses out is still depicted as noble, good hearted and even willing to help out. But more often than not, a different approach is taken when it comes to two women fighting for one man. Back stabbing, dishonorable behavior (especially on the part of the second female lead/other woman)...while I am aware of the sexism in writing that brings about these differences...the fact that this sexism exists DOES NOT justify any of the resulting actions anyway. Knowing that Seung Mi was depicted unfairly DID NOT make her likeable all of a sudden for me. Nor did I excuse her behavior. True to form- second male lead Jun Se does not get the girl (as expected) but comparatively speaking, he still makes very different decisions at some point in the drama.
- racist comment in the very first episode. I wish they could remove this.
Despite all that, there were a lot of good things I loved about Brilliant Legacy. I normally don't like to watch dramas with more than 20 episodes but this one was enjoyable and fast paced. No boring or dragging moments. No slowing down of the plot midway. It's not everyday I am able to finish a 20 something drama in just a couple of days.
I think what I really loved about this was the relationship of the Grandmother character with the rest of the other characters. I just loved Granny. She was the boss and at the same time, she was what tied everything and everyone together. Brilliant Legacy, Shining Inheritance isn't just about the romance that develops between the leads- it's about how something (in this case, Granny's will/inheritance) brings people together and makes them better. Hwan (the male lead) becomes a much better person -not just because he falls in love with Eun Sung, but because he wants to prove to his grandmother that he is capable of caring for her legacy. He starts out as the most frustrating character at first (I wanted to strangle him) but later on, he goes through one of the most believable character developments I've seen. I wondered at first how on earth Eun Sung could choose him over Jun Se (played very well by Bae Soo Bin, who I know does a fantastic villain in Secret- it was wonderful to see him so good at playing good for once!) but by the end of the show I thought it all made sense. Hwan was probably my second favorite character, after Granny. The growth and realizations he went through were truly inspiring. They were not abrupt in that they did not seem like they came out of nowhere. The way he fell in love with Eun Sung and the good effect she had on his character was a natural progression of that.
The side characters were enjoyable to watch. The butler, Hwan's airheaded mother and sister and even the restaurant staff and manager were all endearing. As for the main villainess...Kim Mi Sook is really good playing the evil stepmother. She is caricature like but this is the norm for a lot of kdramas with villainesses OR villains. No double standards there. They are truly despicable and you love to hate them.
Overall, this was a fun watch with a lot of life lessons. I wouldn't watch it again, but I'm really glad I took the chance to get into something longer than I am used to.
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A cute simple drama with all the cliques
I really only wanted to watch this drama for lee seungi since I find myself loving all the dramas he's in. This one however felt a bit flat for me. I really enjoy the classic kdramas and even usually don't mind the cliques but this one never brought me any sort of excitement. I do think if you want an easy drama to watch where you can skip through the scenes to watch the main couple this one is for you. I do think this is one of the older kdramas that have the bad troops where the main lead is arrogant mean and abusive and the girl is nice and changes him. A story told many times that I haven't enjoyed. There are moments where I enjoyed watching the show but overall I found myself skipping basically the whole episode only parts where the main leads are together.Was this review helpful to you?
A Classic...
This is not the first kdrama I've seen but this got me hooked to the kdrama world. The characters have their flaws. They are not perfect BUT despite all the annoying characters, I still love each of them.I don't know how many times I've watched this drama but I never get tired of it.
This is always in my top list.
1. Brilliant Legacy
2. Rooftop Prince
3. W
4. Backstreet Rookie
5. Sungkyunkwan Scandal
They are my faves. And would always be in my to watch list whenever I feel down..
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This review may contain spoilers
Wrong Choice
This review does include spoilers, so don’t read any further if you don’t want to know one of the major plot twists.Having watched k-dramas and movies since the early 2000’s , Han Hyo Joo is one of my favorite actresses and was the main reason for watching all 28 episodes. However, from the perspective of a man, I was not happy with her character choosing Hwan instead of Joon Se. For me, in the end it just made her otherwise amazing character seem less genuine and less likable. If she had chosen the “right” guy, then I would have rated this a 9+ instead of a 6.5.
Otherwise, it was entertaining, fun, very much a soap opera, and probably only worth watching now (2023 or later) if you’re a big fan of any of the actors.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the most interesting intriguing and heartwarming dramas I have seen. It starts out very slowly, takes too long to introduce the characters so hang it there it worth it. This is a story that you just can't believe is happening. It keeps you engaged and interested throughout. Only one flaw in the ( a bit of a spoiler), it would have been more logical if the father was given a case of amnesia, within the story. Other than that the story is full of interest and is very engaging. I just can't believe that someone could be that unscrupulous. Although it a bit dated it is worth watching as one of the best dramas, you won't be disappointed.
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