Elevated by stellar casting
The premise is amazing and solidly executed overall, but ultimately it's Ji-soo and Seo In-guk who make the lead characters more interesting and fun than written. I gave it a high rewatch score largely because of them but also because I really enjoyed a lot of the BOD scenarios (and cameos).Really my only complaint is that the subtitles on Netflix were extremely interpretive, which I found distracting and irritating. To be clear, I don't speak Korean aside from phrases I've picked up from dramas, etc., but when the dialogue is "괜찮아?" and the subtitles aren't some variation of "Are you okay?", the translator is inserting too much of themselves into the show. It happened quite often and usually, in my opinion, detracted much more than it added.
Worth stating that my scores tend to be based on my enjoyment, not an objective evaluation. I go into a series wanting to like it and willing to overlook overused tropes, dull moments, and intrusive product placement as long as I'm hooked on the characters and situations, so nitpicks don't factor into my ratings at all.
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Spooky, not so much, but extremely fun
Obviously the show is ongoing, so my review may change later, but I'm enjoying it so much I wanted to comment in the meantime.There are a lot of great series involving ghosts, and I wouldn't say that Spooky in Love is groundbreaking from the supernatural perspective. But what really makes it work is the chemistry, especially between Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong, but also the excellent supporting cast. You can tell this was a fun show to work on.
I just finished episode 6, and while I guessed how it was going to conclude, that actually made me much happier than if it had gone a different direction. It was perfect.
Highly recommended.
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Quiet, charming short series about finding yourself in the sea
I've seen other films or shows involving free-divers (ama or haenyeo), but Azure Spring features diving more centrally, with plenty of underwater footage where it's clear the main cast are diving.Another selling point for me is that there's also lots of footage of food preparation, including gathering seafood, vegetables from a community garden, etc. and cooking in a traditional pot.
I really like the calm, poetic tone of the series, which has a deep undercurrent of melancholy and darkness but doesn't sink into it. Instead it floats near the surface, hopeful, poignant, and gently funny.
The characters are sufficiently compelling and likable. And I like that it's only 6 30-minute episodes, which felt perfect.
Really my only complaint is a CGI cat inserted needlessly into various shots. It's technically well rendered but the stiff animations are distracting and it really doesn't add anything, so it's hard to understand why they spent money and effort on it.
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Surprisingly poignant comedy series
My score may change as the series goes on, but I'm really in love with what I've seen.The show so far is nicely structured (I love the repeat of the tractor vs car standoffs and the contrast of umbrella moments) as well as creatively and tastefully filmed/edited (the "daily routine" sequence in the first episode is excellently put together).
I'm a fan of "city person in the countryside" themes (e.g. Once Upon a Small Town, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Love Take Two, Summer Strike, When the Weather is Fine, etc.), so I'm naturally biased toward this type of comedy. But what I really love is the way the show swerves between unhinged silliness and melancholic vulnerability.
I've seen some comments from people who find the sleepwalking/talking far-fetched, but my son sometimes has episodes very similar to hers, so I can assert that it's very believably portrayed. The details are great too, like her slow-blinking at Mechoori and bumping her head on doors.
Edit: I bumped up the rewatch score to 10/10 for two reasons: first, I'm having to force myself not to rewatch the first 4 episodes because I'm trying to finish other series; second, I'm presently addicted to YouTube clips of highlights and have watched certain key moments several dozen times.
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My favorite series in a long, long time!
My updated review-in-progress (also posted on Viki):Just finished episode 8 and dang I love this show so much.
First, be sure not to miss the epilogues. Most episodes have one and they always add to the experience.
Now on to the fanboying!
In a way this show feels tailor-made to trigger viewers who are tired of kdrama tropes, but for me the tropes are a key part of the charm. Or, more accurately, it's the way they're tweaked or even subverted. There are so many situations I've seen before, and yet they never play out the way I expect.
The show is obviously centered on a love triangle, which will also be a turn-off to some, but this is a stellar example of how to do one properly: by comparing and contrasting both the suitors themselves as well as the romantic interest's reaction to them.
What I especially like here is that Nam Da-reum's intellectual and visceral responses are also contrasted. Basically, there's one person she thinks she likes but always acts awkwardly and uncomfortably around versus another that she has all kinds of misconceptions about and assumes dislikes her, yet she always acts like herself in his presence.
I really, really like stories centered around characters catching up to their own feelings, so this series is perfect for me.
Structurally, I also love that they revisit the same story beats from different perspectives. For example, there are scenes with each male lead being mobbed by fangirls that clearly show how Nam Da-reum sees herself in those relationships.
Also, her grabbing the ML's arm and running away with him gets mirrored later when he grabs her arm and escorts her out of an even more uncomfortable situation. It's exceptionally well done.
One other thing I love is that whenever something unpleasant happens, it gets resolved quickly. The focus is on entertainment, so even though there's some scheming and backstabbing and the stakes are serious, there's only enough suffering to ensure that you feel giddy when things get resolved. It's impressive.
As I wrote in my original draft, the cast is phenomenal, including the supporting actors. I really can't imagine anyone else in these roles.
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My new favorite film
I'm prone to hyperbole, but this is a fact: I sat down to watch this film hoping for a pleasant diversion but I came away a changed person. I watched it again the next day and was just as charmed.Linda, Linda, Linda is the antithesis of a Hollywood movie. It's calm, naturalistic, nostalgic, and warm. There's no meaningful conflict, no big set pieces, and many scenes play out almost as if rather than a script, there was just a one line description of what happens.
But that's the magic. The key is the cast, and especially Bae Doona as the awkward but charming protagonist, Son, a Korean transfer student in a Japanese high school It's impossible to imagine anyone else in this role. She captures the curiosity, loneliness, courage, and humor of Son so flawlessly.
I could go on and on, but it's better if you just watch it. Though it probably won't be to your taste if my description makes you skeptical rather than intrigued...
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A simple but impactful film
I haven't seen the original Taiwanese film, but I really loved this adaptation. It's a simple premise of a boy falling in love at first sight, but it's executed with charm and poignance. I find that stories about hearing-impaired characters can develop a special resonance from the way they make you think about communication from a different angle, and this film is no exception.It reminds me a bit of Love, Untangled or Linda, Linda, Linda as a warm, comforting film I will probably rewatch multiple times.
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Poignant, funny, healing two-part series
I was misty-eyed but smiling the whole way through. Even at 720p on Bilibili, I didn't mind the low resolution and janky subtitles because the storytelling was so compelling and propulsive. At two episodes (2.5h total), the pacing is surprisingly spot on, neither feeling rushed nor draggy.There were numerous moments where I could guess how a scene was going to unfold, but instead of it feeling predictable, it felt inevitable. Like a perfect punchline after a skillful setup. The payoff of the headphones was especially sublime. And the dual catharsis of the mother and FL was incredibly well conceived and performed.
I also really liked the nuance of the romance, which was so subtle you could miss it if you weren't paying attention (especially if you didn't watch all the way to the end). The show would have worked fine without it, but to me it added a perfect extra sprinkle of sweetness.
I wouldn't have minded have seen a few characters get the karma they deserved, but ultimately it was a good choice to keep the focus on the main cast.
I can't say any more without spoilers, but I really recommend watching this show if you're a fan of melancholy but heart-warming dramas. It's great to find one this affecting that's also so concise but doesn't feel shallow. I definitely want to watch it again at higher resolution.
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Very early review, but really enjoying this series so far
First, I love the premise of a flight attendant deciding to become a pilot. What I like even more is that it's apparently inspired by real stories. Plus, I read that Liu Xie Ning actually learned how to fly a small aircraft for the role, which is impressive.I'm really enjoying the playful tone. I was worried about Fu Ming Yu (the ML) in the first episode, but I warmed up to him quickly once the show transitions to the present timeline. The dynamic between him, Ruan Si Xian (the FL), and his assistant is fun to watch.
I also love the locations. I don't think I've seen Qingdao featured in a show before, but there are plenty of impressive and very distinctive shots of the city. I especially like the view from Fu Ming Yu's office.
My rating may change depending how the series unfolds, but so far I love it.
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Off to a strong start
Really impressed with this show so far. I was a little skeptical about whether Seo In-guk's role might feel a little familiar since he's played a few tsundere types in the past, but my concerns were misplaced. I've rewatched the convenience store encounter at least a dozen times and it still makes me giggle.Park Ji-hyun is also awesome, as expected. I can't get into highlights without spoilers, but suffice to say she handles both the comedic and emotional moments sublimely. And I love everything about her character's back story.
Really excited to see how this series develops based on the first two episodes...
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