A MEMORABLE MINI MAKJANG!
***DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion. We don’t have to agree and I’m not here to argue with anyone.***I'm gonna keep this brief because I don't have the time to say everything I want to say.
Main Takeaway: "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
IDK IF THEY PUT CRACK IN THIS OR WHAT BUT FROM THE VERY FIRST EPISODE THIS DRAMA HOOKED ME AND I’VE NEVER LOOKED BACK. IT IS SOOOO ADDICTING!
First things first, "What’s better than a contractual time travel romance with mystery, revenge and lots and lots of drama?!" This show legit has it all. They said spicy makjang in 12 episodes and thats exactly what they meant!
When I tell you the pacing feels just right and no episode feels like a filler, just know I’m being so serious. I have never been bored for even one second. This drama starts out confusing in episode one but by the end of the episode and onwards you understand everything perfectly.
I LOVE LOVE LOVED the chemistry between Do Guk and Yi Joo!!!! These two are masterful performers and you can literally feel the tension, angst and passion dripping from them anytime they have a really intense scene together. The chemistry between these two is to die for and I feel like they truly fed us with the development of their relationship. They have definitely made top 5 best kdrama couples of 2023 for me.
AHHHH I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAMA. Even the characters I hated… you must know they’re doing an amazing job for me to want them to die, rot in jail or be hit down by the infamous big white truck. I know I keep saying it but drama is just so so so so good!
Like many others I do believe it is one of the best webtoon to drama adaptations. They kept the major plot points and original webtoon readers seemed to be satisfied with the outcome. So there aren't much complaints here!
One of the main things I disliked about this drama was the 3rd act conflict breakup. It was cliche and unnecessary to say the least. I also feel like Yi Joo struggled and endured so much even when she set out to get her revenge. It was heartbreaking watching her be in constant pain and agony as she uncovered all the secrets as the story unfolded.
Another minor thing I disliked was Do Guk's wardrobe. It was evident the production team went ham and spent all the money on the women's wardrobe leaving very little for the men. They definitely could have budgeted better and put more of an effort into our leading man's fashion. To be honest I just ovelooked it because Sung Hoon's visuals and performance made up for all of that.
Additionally there are some plot holes and aspects that could have been more properly developed but I feel like they did the best they could with the 12 episodes.
In my opinion, more makjang's should take a leaf out of this one. Unlike others it did not need 100+ episodes to make a good and convincing story. I feel like had the drama been any longer then people would have started to lose interest.
Perfect Marriage Revenge is definitely one of the most enjoyable dramas I've watched in 2023 and I would rewatch it in a heartbeat!
If you are on the fence about starting it I suggest you do so immediately! It’s seriously such a treat and you do not want to miss out.
With all of that said I gave this an 8.5 rounded up to a 9/10.
Tysm for reading!
❤️
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This review may contain spoilers
Another Cinderella, all-out, taking her sudden chance for revenge
"Perfect Marriage Revenge" is based on a webtoon and tells the story of a second chance in life, set in the top percentile of society. Another Cinderella story. And as is the case with fairy tales, you can hear them over and over again...This version is particularly enjoyable, being peppered with gratifying moments of retribution. Cinderella wants to get one over on the mean stepmother and her nasty daughter! She doesn't want to be nice and well behaved anymore. Splendid! Of course the others obviously attempt to push back on her new self. This ultimately leads to a lively exchange of blows between two of the country's rich business families.
"Perfect Marriage Revenge" delivers intrigue and makjang, cleverly mixed with emotional complications and well-placed retaliation, which is, however, repeatedly and tirelessly parried. It´s like ping-pong - reckoning here, malice there, self-respect here, nefariousness there. What a delight, if you´re in the mood for just that.
A campaign of revenge with an open visor. With an explicit protagonist who allows herself to act impulsively, intuitively and cleverly at the same time. In her authenticity, she is able to win the hearts of allies as she is fighting her battle not out of greed, but out of self-love for her self-respect.
As I said, with plenty of gratifying moments...
And as a fairy tale it surely delivers...
No more, no less.
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Dramatic in the way that webtoons always are
The premise of this show is interesting: mistreated girl gets a second chance at life and revenge. Even if I hadn’t already found out this was based on a webtoon, I would’ve figured it out eventually. The plot twists and hard to believe coincidences would’ve spelled it out for me.The acting is pretty good. There are a few points where the adoptive mother and daughter dipped into melodrama. There were also a few times where people just behaved strangely like slapping others or throwing drinks which felt more like children throwing tantrums more than adult behavior.
There were a ton of plot points that were just impossible to believe. Also many points where the bad guys used the press to villainize others and I couldn’t understand why the public opinion was so nonsensical. Also, there were some pretty dramatic accusations and a general lack of reaction to them. So, I’m a little confused at the directional choices.
Also, the end of the revenge plot was a little anticlimactic in my opinion. I just wanted it to hit a little bit harder.
Simply put, this is a melodramatic soapy show and if you like revenge shows, you’ll probably get something out of it. If you’re expecting something closer to Penthouse or The Glory where the plot seemed a lot more intricately planned (at least, s1 &2 of Penthouse), you’re going to be a little disappointed. However, it’s the best Viki original I’ve seen thus far.
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So excited about the ML!!
I just happened to find this title on Viki while looking around. The best part is that it's starring my favorite actor Sung Hoon. I did a double take during the opening. So far he looks fabulous!!! Some of the last shows I've watched him in, they really overdid his makeup in my opinion. I think he looks so young and fits this role perfectly. Just watched the first 2 episodes and it's going to be hard to wait for a new one each week. But I'm so excited!! So far the storyline has been done well and the FL shows great chemistry with her ML. can't wait for more.Was this review helpful to you?
Damsel in distress who apparently knows revenge
"My whole life was put in front of me like an album and I did not have even one memory I wanted to hold on to. I am going to change that ! "I am writing this review without watching the end because I wanted it to be about how I enjoyed and not about how it ended.
To me this genre is not one I frequently visit. I just started it because my curiosity got the better of me and then oppa being oppa you just start with one and then - just one more ep and I'll sleep ...just one more and here we are.
Let me first brief you about the not so unique revenge plot - so we have a damsel in distress who gets a chance to turn back into time and redefine who she is to not just herself but the world. She is aided by our prince who apparently is head over heels for her- for no good reason but I guess we'll all just nevermind that. lol
So the plot is pretty simple our FL is the ideal for all the wives who have been cheated on - with a fantasy twist.
(to spoil the fantasy twist is ML's role model ... epitome of goodness "chaebol family" lol)
what I like about this show is that it has a pace and quite bravely answers all the questions it puts forward and a great cast that performs steadily well throughout the journey.
There's a lot this show offers - A FL willing to change. Yes this good girl all her life now wants revenge and she knows what it means.
A chaebol family that you wish to be a part of . - I just love how ML'S mother reacts to the news everytime - watch out if you are yet to visit the show.
A paced revenge with all the answers. And a couple that shine on the screen with no annoying or screen time wasting side characters.!
OVERALL THIS WAS A VERY ENGAGING WATCH !
I love how everything is crafted between small moments and how everything is given a reason. I know that this show is not a new storyline but it has a new execution a great one. The chemistry stands out and so do the dialogues. The relations stand out and so does the drama. I hope you all try it once...to me this was a worth watch even tho the production is small it does not have a lot of runtime but the show does well in terms of what it has to offer. It does not mean to stand apart in terms of bringing something new to dramaland. IT JUST WANTS TO BE A GREAT ORDINARY DRAMA and it did try it's best!
since this was the first time I went through this type of a drama I made notes of how I felt after every ep.
@1 - The FL SUCKS ! - get her a brain!
@2 and @3- I like how this is going! She's been hurt and now she will lead the hunt. THE CHEMISTRYYYY UFFF!
This is a dreamy revenge in all aspects possible lol.
Could the ML be anymore sweet ? omfg they both just ..awww ufff oh yay !
@4 - We know what is going on but do we...this is going predictable is it really just this.
@5- I love how she tries to be an example and in the process gets herself destroyed as i may put due to lack of words... she looks like a brave warrior paving a new way of looking at things !
@6 and @7 - I knew no one dies in dramaland lol ...eps were just sweet and heart warming !
@8 and @9 - At least listen to her ...omfg you all be literally trusting the wrong people blindly ...like wtf !
@10 - it's not time yet ...so we don't have to worry lol ....idk i am just guessing ..the 2 eps won't be ml plotting revenge they can't be right !
@11- She lied as well come on ...but i get it she's been lied all her life I don't want to blame her but she lied as well ...you both just sort it out. A relationship takes two !!!!
oh hello why can't you come ..why call him ....aaaaa not this pls this is too cliche !!!
@12 - They have it too easy. I am happy with how the drama went. But the climax ...I would have preferred more intense!
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER -
I wasn't enraged anytime throughout ...I'd have liked that !
the character development arc for FL could have been better.- she still has a long way to go
the villains could have had brain. it was too one sided!
the ex bf arc....like legit ...the hell .
the romance could have been a side plot, here it seems like the main plot.
IDK why he loves her ....but I hope i did.
MY FAV SECTION - DIALOGUES !!!
This show has some amazing writing - i love a lot of lines ...imma drop a few here -
"I had to go through all of that for no reason ! "
"What kind of home one grows up in determines who they are. "
"This is unlike you .
- you don't get to decide what being myself is."
" you look like this is the last time, like someone trying to get the most out of it. "
"you work hard at everything. When I see you I want to cheer you on. "
"Being normal is the hardest thing for me.
I've never lived like that before. I never will."
"use me as much as you want. coming from you I'll take it all. "
To conclude I loved my time feeling everything around this drama and liked all it had to offer. It does deserve a spot in your watchlist for it is exactly what it claims to be - an extraordinary everyday watch!
thank you for reading !
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Boring
I found this drama really boring and uninspiring. Things keep on happening all the time, new drama and new revelations, but theres no substance to them or the reactions that follow because its so constant that it leaves no breathing room for getting to know the characters. I have seen some people praising this aspect of the drama because it cuts out the fluff, but theres really no reason to root for anyone in this drama without the fluff or buildup.Besides that, the acting is just not good. I would say two people, thankfully including the fl, Jung Yoo Min does a good job acting-wise. Almost everyone else either overacts (Its supposed to be dramatic, I know, but it was too much even then) or underacts and speak like they are just straight up reading off the script with 0 conviction.
Overall, not a good watch, would not recommend it.
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Binge it if you can
I’ve never read the webtoon so this is based off this show as a standalone drama and not as an adaptation. I started watching this 4 episodes were out because I saw that hair-tying scene on my Twitter/X timeline and it completely convinced me. And the show proved me right — I binged all the released and couldn’t wait for next week. The main leads had amazing chemistry, the antagonists felt like actual threats, and I couldn’t wait to see how the revenge would play out.As the weeks came around, I still enjoyed the episodes, but I did feel like the show started losing steam.
First, the main leads’ screentime dwindled and we got more and more scenes of our antagonists (of which there were many). It added good tension to see things from their perspective, but it also added frustration. The leads had so much chemistry and tension and we only got to see a few minutes of that every week.
And as more episodes went on, we ran into a different issue: we did get screentime for our leads, but it didn’t necessarily feel like they were progressing. We’d get the same hugs and conversations where they talked about being there for each other and fighting together against the bad guys. These scenes were cute but it felt got sort of repetitive, especially now that we’d gotten all the tension-filled conversations out of the way earlier and it seemed like the next plot development wasn’t happening anytime soon. I still really enjoyed scenes where they cared for each other, but all the stakes felt a little lower by this point, and I started to feel like the revenge was almost too easy. Sides had been chosen, secrets were already revealed, and most importantly, the main antagonists had stayed quiet or had lost too many battles in a row.
Honestly, I was pretty lukewarm on the entire plot by then. Looking back, I don’t remember a singular satisfying moment where our main female lead got to face off against her mother in a moment where I felt like they were on equal footing, where the stakes were high and I truly didn’t know who was going to win. The revenge plot seemed to delve into smaller moments where they would address this one thing first and then that other thing, and I wasn’t sure there was a climax. Even the build-up to some other reveals and to the ML’s perspective felt overdue and a little underwhelming.
Episode 11 was a turning point. Things that needed to be revealed had been revealed, it felt like the revenge had been finished, and the antagonists had been out of the picture — most of which was off-screen, I might add, which made the story feel somewhat incomplete — long enough for The Time Jump to happen. Yes, the dreaded time jump. I’ve never been a fan of the time jump. It’s fine as an epilogue but I’ve never once enjoyed it done in the middle of the story and this was no different. It just felt kind of…weird. Like they didn’t know what to do after all the villains were put away, so they had to bring them back, but had to wait some time for them to be able to. Story-wise, it was a bit confusing to have it happen after everything was seemingly over, but ultimately I don’t think it was blown out of proportion, which was good.
I think part of the plot simmering down also had to do with the female lead, who was really proactive in the first half and then started being more aimless in the second half. Still, I liked the message the drama left us with — that the best revenge for her was having a happy marriage, a healthy family, and a good life. Despite the slowdown, I think this drama had a really good finale episode.
Overall, it was still a pretty good watch — this was my second favorite watch behind Castaway Diva during its runtime, but if I were to recommend it to someone I would suggest binging it rather than watching it slowly. You might be able to retain more momentum that way.
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The female lead is so good as Yi Joo, she is perfect for the role. I was in awe with her acting her, I don't know if it is her first main role, but applaud, she really did well. The male lead is fine with me, he delivered his role perfectly.
I was a bit sad that it is just 12 episodes, I thought it would be 14 episodes, and I would have liked it more if the male lead's POV was given, but the 12th episode was there, so happy for that. The antagonists of the story especially for the brother was not really given the chance to be explored, which is sad for me since it was deep in the manhwa. It would have been great if it was shown much more but I have no complaints since the main leads were given the priority and I like that.
Overall, really great revenge drama.
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SO UNDERRATED! One of the BEST!
This show is so good I don’t even know where to start. I recommend it to EVERYONE like it’s actually so wholesome and sweet but painful at the same time. The pacing was good and the only thing I wish was for it to be longer. This is unlike the other typical love story revenge shows that you normally watch. Maybe I’m biased because I fell in love with the male lead but I truly came into this show expecting to only enjoy watching it as a side show but it was so captivating I finished it in 2 days. Just watch it!!!Was this review helpful to you?
okay
"Okay, so let's talk about 'Perfect Marriage Revenge' - it's like this high budget soap opera that you stumble upon, you know? The show's kinda hanging in there with an okay storyline, but let's be real, it's not winning any awards for quality. The acting is all over the place, but hey, it's what's keeping this ship from sinking completely. You've got your classic soap opera drama, the kind that's so over-the-top it's almost charming. But here's the kicker - there's this villain that's just, ugh, the worst. Like, you can't help but hate her guts, and her daughter? She's doing her best like she does petty things here and there , but honestly, she's just holding the crazy mom back. It's a wild ride, not gonna lie. If you're into high-budget melodrama and can forgive a bit of acting inconsistency, 'Perfect Marriage Revenge' might for you and i welcome to the teamWas this review helpful to you?
Perfection Achieved.
Are you looking for an intelligent plot? An absorbing story-line? Some intriguing characterization? Gripping emotional roller-coasters? Rewarding conclusions? Award worthy acting performances? No expenses spared production? On point direction? Engaging OSTs? A flawless ending? ...OR maybe a satisfying overall watching experience?Well, what the heck are you waiting for? Tune in! This one has it all. All in one place, And all done exceptionally well.
This starts good, but it doesn't stay just good rather it gets even better and better and better. From start to finish, you won't be leaving your seat, that much I guarantee
I won't review this one, as everyone should go in blind to watch this one and gain an experience of their own.
As I said before in my title, 'Perfection Achieved', Loved it, No Complaints, Easy 9/10.
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The perfect 10
I usually find at least one aspect of a show that detracts from the perfect 10 overall, but not with this show.From the story, to the acting, to the setting, to the music, this show was the perfect 10, and I couldn't have been happier with it.
Our story is about a girl who's adopted into a rich family from an orphanage at a young age. Unfortunately, she grows up being hated by her evil stepmom and evil stepsister. They abuse her while her father is indifferent to her and her suffering.
Desperate to leave her home, she believes she's found love when she meets and marries her husband.
To her continuing misfortune, after marrying him she learns that he's never loved her at all and only married her in order to be closer to the evil stepsister- the woman he really loves.
On the heels of this devastating realization, three things happen in tandem: her evil stepmom frames her for art theft and embezzlement, her husband asks for a divorce, and she gets into a car crash- which ultimately kills her. As she lays in the hospital succumbing to her injuries she realizes that there is not a single moment in her life that she will miss. Overcome with grief, she makes one dying wish, "let me live so I can do it all over again. I want to really live life."
Her wish is granted and she wakes up safe and sound in her bed- one year in the past.
Determined to live, she seeks revenge on those who abused her.
Step one is to dump her awful husband- who's still her fiancee at this point.
Step two is to marry the man whom her evil stepsister wants to marry - he happens to be the rich, powerful and handsome second son of a chaebol family.
She approaches him with an offer of a convenient marriage, and he agrees to her terms.
Little does she know that her lovely new husband has agreed to marry her for reasons of his own- which have nothing to do with financial gain or revenge.
The story then develops as we see her relationship with her new husband blossom- and she blossoms along with it.
She gains strength from him, and takes some on her own, overcoming her long-lived abuse, finding a warm welcome amongst her friends and her husband's family. Eventually, as secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and the evil ones are unmasked, we get to see her perfect marriage, and her revenge- AKA her happily ever after.
I love how everything comes together so well.
Everyone got what they deserved (with maybe the exception of the FL's dad, but I'll forgive that since the FL chose that for herself and I'll respect that choice for her).
I love how the FL went from 0 to 90 when she went back in time. It must have been hard as hell to overcome a lifetime of abuse and conditioning but she did it well and bravely.
I love how the male lead was always, always, there for her, in ways big and small. We love a devoted ML.
The music was wonderful. The setting was wonderful. The acting was terrific.
Overall 10/10.
Highly recommend it. <3
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