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Erika Song

Pilipinas

Erika Song

Pilipinas
Cheongdamdong Alice korean drama review
Completed
Cheongdamdong Alice
0 people found this review helpful
by Erika Song
Sep 20, 2021
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

Contrast: Moon Geun Young's realistic portrayal and Park Shi Hoo's over the top acting

This drama really started great with laying out the story of Han Se Kyung, from her job, her determination, her lover of 6 years portrayed by Nam Goong Min, the break-up, the pain, the discrimination, and her frustration at everything. In the middle, it was funny and kind of cute, though the "over-the-top" acting was being sold by almost everyone, it was still pretty nice and the comedic timing was there. After it hit the climax, we see changing of characters and some heartwarming moments, however, it felt like I was only waiting for the secret to be revealed, and when it was revealed, the reactions and choices of every character was surprising and unprecedented, showing that the writer had a strong idea in her mind. However, closing to the end, though it was wrapped up nicely, I didn't feel like it achieved its selling point of the "social divide" and love, though of course, it was there in the dialogues if we will analyze. Nevertheless, it has a dark story that tried to incorporate both the elements of comedy and melodrama and it was a good watch.

For the acting, I've always thought Park Shi Hoo was "over-the-top", he's not bad, he can deliver emotions and has comedic timing and was funny here, but the delivery of emotions always felt "acting" for me, maybe it was his facial expressions. I've watched him though in My Golden Life and his emotional moments were fairly good though he still had the "over-the-top" acting. For Moon Geun Young, I believe she was the only one who acted naturally in this drama, she bore the sadness and guilt of Han Se Kyung and it showed. Her expressions when we reached half of the drama was depressing and mellow, if we are going to draw comparisons over positive Park Shi Hoo's acting and character, of course, it would felt like she "underperformed", but I watch differently, she acted her character and lived with her misery, it was the scripts and director's fault for not being able to balance the comedy and melodrama elements. Still, it was a good drama with an indeed "dark" message and despite selling it as a rom-com, it was a melodrama.

My favorite parts of the drama were the first three episodes with Nam Goong Min, who I loved his beautiful scenes with Moon Geun Young, the craziness of Park Shi Hoo's character, the sincere events that follow Kim Ji Seok and Moon Geun Young when their characters decided to help one another and lastly, the moment where Moon Geun Young's character despite her guilt and conscience haunting her and people are stopping her to put her in the so-called "right place", accepted Park Shi Hoo's proposal in the middle of the night while snowing and Park Shi Hoo's character lifted her up—smiling, laughing and giggling at their bliss of happiness.

Overall, a good watch.
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