That was something that i was not expecting
So it was like i thought it will be more of romantic part but the story actually is a lik mystery part and thriller plus one. I really lived this drama ! Because i had seen so many drama taking 16 episode and stretching a small plot into that, here it was just 6 episode and they did it so well without any lag, actually i wished to see more??. And jung in sun is one of my favorite actors, she is been my favorite from Welcome to waikiki yuna shi! ??? and so in terrius behind me [ that's the only previous drama i watched of her, rest were movies and small roles, you remember the kid from memories of murder final scene? It's her anyway if you don't knw! ??] and here she did a great job, actually she is that cute parent type person or not, she always get such roles??and she pull off it well too!. I must say go for it. You all can basically complete it within a day! That's how i did ut by the way?.Was this review helpful to you?
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GRAND SHINING ANXIETY
Tbh, I just thought I was signing up to watch another take at W-Two worlds, but this was that but not really. In a GOOD WAY.The drama has a solid OPENing ? that hooks you from the start. This helps set the scene for the mystery element of the show and quickly raises questions when we are barely settled into the drama . But we aren't given time to process it and we are introduced to our leads and the dynamic between them (which happens to be a one sided crush for our Yoo Ah Young on Woo Bin, not that I blame her) and a very troubling work crisis with an MIA writer. People start disappearing and we meet our second FL, Park Hyun Joo or should I say VERONICA PARK!! ??, who isn't a good person hence Woo Bin needs saving. All our leads and other randomly disappeared people are a thrusted into this novel by our MIA writer whose true intentions and connections to everyone, (and disappearance device) are revealed as we watch. We are taken on a journey of trying to unmask our writer and the people behind it all. The plot twist at the end though, ngl low key didn't see it coming. Played a trick on my mind ??!
The acting is especially good because of the star studded cast, and the dash of anxiety from the plot just makes for an excellent binge watch, especially because we are all at the mercy of the MIA writer until the end. I almost wished it was longer, but I don't know what exactly I would want explored (maybe the disappearance device origins and the people behind it all) because this was done just right!!! Only downside is finding a site with decent English subs. The pace of the drama was good and as for the questionable things I guess we can always chuck up to this being a short drama.
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Dorian Gray in Grand Amsterdam Hotel
If you are looking for horror, you are in the wrong place in spite of the genre mentioned on this drama's page. It is a murder mystery, comedy and fantasy but not horror: horror is scary, gives you nightmares. Here, except for a very sexy serial killer, there is nothing to be jumpy about. Unless the sexy serial killers give you nightmares.The plot in this drama is reminiscent of those many c dramas where the FL falls into a novel and has to find a way out. The FL here is an editor in an online publishing company. When her boss, on whom she has a crush, disappears, she goes looking for him and discover the existence of magic laptops: when you write a person's name on it, that person disappears into the novel the laptop writes all by itself. So the FL writes herself into the novel and while trying to save her boss's life, she discovers the truth behind the writer and the laptop.
How far are you willing to go in order to succeed as a writer? Sell your soul to the devil? There are parts of Dr Faustus and Dorian Gray in this drama. There is also a slight criticism of the writers' system ruling the korean entertainment world: when one writer rebelled against the constant harassment by her writer boss, she was immediately blacklisted in the whole community. When you touch the bottom, you either sell your soul or sink deeper but they never realize that by selling their soul they would inevitably sink deeper! The choice is only superficial!
The hotel setting of the novel reminded me very much of Wes Andersons' film Grand Amsterdam Hotel with the exterior aesthetics and with its quirky staff (well here we only get to see the receptionist but he is bizarre enough!).
I found the FL very annoying in the first couple of episodes, with her swooning over her boss who does not notice her, batting eyelashes at him and speaking like a little girl. But she is actually very smart and, with the help from a couple of coworkers, she eventually figures out how to get everyone out of the novel.
This is a well written drama with the plot which survives scrutiny: no major plotholes noticed: every question gets an answer in the last episode. The acting is correct, the music is there. Except for the jazzy bar singer: she was good and the songs steamy!
An exceptionally good short drama, definitely worth your time!
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Exellent thriller with fantastic cast
This drama surprised me so much in the very best way. l thought I was signing up for an isekai type story with some spooky elements and maybe a romantic edge but instead this is a tightly plotted thriller with an amazing lead character that digs into friendship, self worth, and how what we value determines where we end up. After the first ten minutes, I was glued to the screen and couldn't stop until the end!I don't want to go into the story in any detail because the complex, often funny, and well-paced plot is the best part of this drama. The second best part is the excellent cast - all the actors were giving great performances, but Jung In Sun and Seo Ye Hwa were especially stellar.
The rewatch value on this show is only 8 because thrillers don't tend to be stories I revist often, but I absolutely loved watching it this first time.
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Poor Opening
There is a fine line between expressive and over acting and the actress that plays Ah Young has annihilated that line and needs to take it down 5000 notches. The character is also immediately very annoying, turning off the tv that someone's in the middle of watching to hit on them, daydreaming and impeding traffic with her car stopped on the road but of course gets away with it because the cop that stops her knows her and she continues to take a phone call while standing in the middle of the road after he drives off. She literally writes herself in as a y/n character of course under the guise of saving Woo Bin. I feel so bad for this guy getting physically harassed by her. It was nice to see her be separated from him once Rebecca writes the police guy Myung Hwan in as her husband and probably his partner as their kid to distract her. It's weird that he's the only one that didn't get to return to his police officer job and is suddenly running the beachside book store. This drama randomly has the most explicit sex scene in recent non Netflix kdrama years.It was a terrible struggle to get through all of her scenes even with the short half hour plus run time of a mere 6 episodes. This could have been way more enjoyable with a good actor with better acting skills, but this isn't that. It still has an interesting premise that they tease at the end could be expanded upon. I hope if they do it will be better cast with competent actors as the lead.
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WOWWW BRILLIANT STORY AND ACTING
Personally I didn't expect the drama to be this good since it is a special episode (note that the drama have 6 episodes with 30-40 minutes runtime for each episode). BUT WOWW JUST WOWW. This drama is beyond my expectation. The acting delivered by main characters is brilliant although there might be lacking for the side characters. But the storyline is soo good, that makes you want to bingewatch all the series because of the suspense that faced by the female lead. And for the story, you know what they always say, never believe everything you see until you see what underneath them. Well, I won't spoil anything so this is it. Please watch and recommend it to others. You will not regret watching this drama and one more, LEE JIHOON IS SOO HANDSOMEEE♡♡Was this review helpful to you?
