This review may contain spoilers
Watch Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun Shine!
The two leads (Jun Ji Hyun) and (Kim Soo Hyun) really keep this series afloat with their dynamic performances. There are a number of flaws and inconsistencies in the series, especially with the depictions of Do Min Joon as the alien who has been living in Korea for 400 years.Do Min Joon seems to be a cross between E.T. and Superman in the sense that he seems to have been left behind and won’t be able to return home until our current time. He’s used a number of different identities, systematically “killing off” previous ones so as to not arouse suspicion that he’s an ageless alien living among humans. He’s also a bit like Superman in the sense that he has enhanced strength, speed, and hearing as well as the ability to stop time. With only three months left, he finds his abilities are becoming more unpredictable.
What is interesting about Do Min Joon, is that he appears to be a rather primitive alien in the sense that he’s not very long on wisdom. For a species that has mastered space travel as well as time manipulation, he doesn’t have much wisdom to share in how to live, thus demonstrating that his species is not very evolved. Do Min Joon is a bit temperamental, doesn’t like to be touched, and has some serious trust issues. In other words, he doesn’t trust anyone or find the need to do so.
Enter Cheon Song Yi, arguably the most popular actress in Korea, and she knows it. I lost count how many times she says to someone, “I’m Cheon Song Yi!” as if her very name demands attention, respect, and immediate capitulation to any request that she makes. She’s spoiled, conceited, immature, a bit dimwitted, and yet, she is also incredibly captivating and loves with all of her heart. It cannot be understated how well Jun Ji Hyun plays this part. To take a character with so many unappealing characteristics and to make that character so appealing and likable demonstrates Jun Ji Hyun’s mastery. Cheon Song Yi is also a horrendous tease! Lee Hui Kyung is the son of a powerfully rich family and a long childhood friend who’s had eyes for nobody by Cheon Song Yi. And yet, despite not having any feelings for him, she strings him along because she simply loves the attention. She also has a gold digger for a mother who mooches off her wealth, believing that her daughter owes her everything. I can’t imagine a worse person for a parent. Parents who treat their children like property and commodities aren’t parents at all. They’re parasites.
Most of the series is spent with Cheon Song Yi and Do Min Joon teasing and dancing around each other, obvious that they like each other. Do Min Joon acts as though he could care less and finds Cheon Song Yi annoying. They end up neighbors, each living in massive penthouses. Cheon Song Yi finds Do Min Joon cold and aloof, but as someone who demands and commands attention from everyone, she initially sets out to find a way to get Do Min Joon’s.
Now, Do Min Joon does have a viable reason for not getting romantically involved. Well, he has a couple of reasons. First, he’s leaving in three months, so what’s the point of getting into a relationship? And second, his body chemistry prevents him from prolonged physical touching, especially kissing which incapacitates him to the point of a high fever and requires long periods of time to recover. In that sense, they are incompatible.
The charm of the series is watching these two beloved characters figure out a way to acquire the courage to simply confess their feelings for each other before it’s too late. And the chemistry between Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun is undeniable as well as being the central reason why the series works.
On a less effective side story, we have the brother of Lee Hui Kyung as a very bland and uninteresting sociopath who has a long history of murdering anyone who stands in his way. Actor Shin Sung Rok was the least impressive to me of the mostly talented cast. His portrayal just as no flavor or uniqueness to it. He’s almost robotic and wooden that it nearly ruins the character. Seeing him and Do Min Joon has an ironic similarity to Superman and Lex Luthor. In fact, I wondered if they were the inspiration for this rivalry.
The series is heartwarming and has some very humorous moments. As with so many K-Dramas, it also has some tender moments that might tug at your heartstrings. Actress Jun Ji Hyun really sells us the last couple of episodes when Cheon Song Yi realizes that she’s likely to lose the love of her life, and how devastating that blow is to her, even when she knows it’s coming.
Overall, this is actually a very good series that rests upon the strength of its two lead actors. The story, especially when Do Min Joon is suddenly “found out” borders on the ludicrous. Scientists from around the world would have converged on Korea in a heartbeat to find out more about him. Sometimes, the writers fail to fully consider the ramifications of such a ploy rather than simply find an easier out. But fortunately, this doesn’t do too much damage to the story. Sometimes, charm and sweetness can outweigh the rational and the obvious, which isn’t always a bad thing.
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Hoping to catch his upcoming dramas too and will definitely re-watch this again in future! :D
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This series aged badly
I have sadly come to realise that some Korean women simply do not have an inside voice. They speak so loudly and for no good reason. Why? Even when whichever friend they're talking to is right in front of them, that's when they crank up the decibels. Is this supposed to make them seem lively? More fun? Or did the actress, Jun Ji Hyn, not know how to interpret Cheon Song Yi since all she did was scream-speak, simper or smirk? There was a lack of subtlety and authenticity in her acting. It could also just be the writers sucked and decided they'd compensate the viewers by casting attractive leads hoping we'll overlook their crappy plot. Despite being annoyed by the FL, I was really looking forward to sizzling chemistry between her and the ML, however, that never materialised. I dislike stupid scriptwriting and this one was a dud.Was this review helpful to you?
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Aquele tipo de Dorama que te chama atenção, e que você acha que vai de um jeito e muda aos poucos. Meu coração ficou na mão a cada segundo!
Super recomendo, porque eles são maravilhosos juntos <3
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This review may contain spoilers
They did this for all the loserwomen of the world
Chun Songyi is THE kdrama loserwoman of all time. Jun Jihyun does an incredible job at playing into the hammier aspects of Songyi's character while also making the audience root and sympathize with her despite her literally being a nightmare like she's got the range. Honestly Jun Jihyun is the best part of the show like her presence is the best on the show. And yeah, this is not the greatest show of all time. The second male and female leads are pretty weak characters and the villain is a very one dimensional run of the mill kdrama serial killer villain cause every kdrama needs one of those apparently. I still don't know how I feel about Do Minjoon but him laugh/sobbing while watching Songyi's video of her dancing to 'Marry Me' is perhaps one of my favorite scenes in any kdrama like it's absolutely hilarious while still being so poignant and it makes me feel for both of their characters. And honestly yeah if I was an alien who had been living for centuries I would also do anything to stay with Chun Songyi she's INSANE and gorgeous and its Jun Jihyun. Also I just think the leads are pretty cute together and there was a DalShabet cameo in one of the episodes so I kinda won. I am kind of biased as this was one of my first kdramas, but it was just such a 'turn your brain off and have a good time watching Songyi's antics' kind of watch and I do adore most of the humor.Was this review helpful to you?
One of my all time favorites
I watched this series as it was airing and immediately fell in love! This was my first Korean drama and the first time I saw this actors performance. When I saw Jun Ji-hyun it was love at first sight. Her performance was completely captivating, playing a character who is a bit of a bully and giving her heart and making the audience like her and root for her is difficult, but she did it effortlessly. Kim Soo-hyun's charisma is magnetizing, this was one of the best couples I've seen, and in a way, two of the actors with the most chemistry on screen. The story was very beautiful but also realistic at the time. The entire supporting cast is exceptional, so much so that they have all become renowned actors since these roles.Was this review helpful to you?
100% Rewatch Worthy
I found this Kdrama back in 2018 and oh my god I am so glad I did! It was my first kdrama and since now it has always stuck with me and been my all time favourite no matter how many I’ve watched..I literally have a yearly tradition where I rewatch my love from the star again and it seriously never gets old.
And trust me when I say this, I normally can never stand old kdramas and this is my only exception.
Yes it’s cringy at times, yes there might be small loopholes and things that literally cannot make sense but I honestly think the acting and story make up for this and how story is carried out
(The slight unrealistic/ cringy acting especially from the Fl becomes endearing after some time haha, also considering the style of kdramas back then it’s not so bad)
I found the background storyline somewhat boring at times but it doesn’t take away from the chemistry of the main two leads
You literally find yourself rooting for them later on.
I highly recommend it
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