You're confusing two distinct concepts:- The complexity of the plot.- The quality of the narrative.
Only thing I agree is about subtitles. Yes, and additionnaly auto-translated one in my langage was very bad ones. I could also add it's better to watch this drama out of broadcast (so, binge watch it). It will not solve problems, but will help a bit. I don't argue about others points. Battle is over, reviews are enough. It's waste of time.
this post reeks of racism. Geez, it's 2020, get with the times, stop the ignorance. All koreans look alike? Who…
The difficulty in differentiating individuals from another ethnic group is a natural phenomenon. One thing should be noted, however, having seen a lot of Korean dramas, I can better differentiate the actors now. The only time it's difficult is when a drama uses actors who look a bit too similar (this happens in TKEM, or in the drama Train, which you might be interested in).
On the other hand, I've rarely encountered this problem in historical dramas. I'm a big fan of this type of drama, and I can only advise you to see it. At the beginning, there is a blockage before starting the drama. And even after I finished the first historical drama, and even though the drama is great, the blockage at the beginning stayed with me until I saw two or three more. Then I now find it easier to get into a historical drama than a contemporary drama. It's a real pleasure, and above all a sure thing. This kind of drama is based on a more classic narrative that never disappoints. I have 50% less chance of dropping a historical drama than another drama.
Right now I've just finished a new masterpiece in this area: Six Flying Dragons. However, I don't recommend this drama to start watching historical dramas. It's very precise about the history and the real characters, and the difficulty is rather to remember the names of the characters. Although subtitling helps and often gives the names of the characters.
Your opinion is understandable. For me, it worked the other way around. I even think that it is very difficult to like TKEM after seeing W. But of course, this is not systematic, you are proof of that. Because TKEM copies a lot of things about W (and even Nine time travel), without being able to succeed. As it would be too long to explain, it would be better to refer to my reviews of these dramas.
During the first part, TKEM has indeed much more logic than it seems, but it's hard to see it, because the narration is bad. I'll just give an example, showing that there's one thing I would never accuse the writer of not working. There's a lot of work behind this drama. You see Maximus when is a pony. If you calculate the age difference with Lee Gon as an adult and you know about horses, Maximus is a very old horse at that time. However, the script takes this into account, and it's told in an episode! This is not put under the carpet. A lot of details are treated that way.
On the other hand, it spoils towards the second part. It becomes difficult to say whether or not it remains coherent because it is subject to too much speculation. Moreover, the main problem is not the actual consistency, but rather the public perception. Too much is hidden, in frightening proportions. For some people, W was already not easy, but in TKEM there is 90% more imprecision.
There is not only a problem of narration, but also of timing in the drama. If I could imagine it differently, I would condense episodes 1 to 10 more, while explaining things better. I'll eliminate 50% of the characters (which is what W did from the start!). And the remaining ones would have exciting plot lines (a hidden spy has to act and cause real problems). I would certainly get rid of the fantastic theme about dooplegangers as well. Or use it differently (far less dooplegangers, for logic reasons related to butterfly effect).
With the time saved, I would better develop the following episodes, especially everything related to supernatural phenomena, such as time travel. There is far too much missing at this point for the viewer to still believe in what they see.
''Why look for something else, when that's what's being presented? ''Because he's the type of villains I DON'T…
You think there's no right or wrong? Regarding the antagonist of Remember, for example. Your preference is not to like that kind of antagonist. Certainly that's your opinion. It's too bad, because if you were more open-minded, you might like drama more. Your own prejudices deprive you of more pleasure, but after all, it's all about you.
On the other hand, what about the writing of the character? What about the actor's performance? So it's a wrong opinion for me. Of course, things are not always so obvious.
For the rest, you talk about things that have nothing to do with it, I chose my nickname this way for other reasons.
I'm sorry, but your attitude is damaging. I take the time to answer your article with courtesy, and you go straight to swear words like "bullshit". No, really, I don't know what's going through your head. But for people who pretend to confront different opinions, that's a doozy! That won't stop me from spending the rest of the morning in a good mood, since I woke up in a good mood. Just relax a little.
For some unexplained reason, the other answers have been erased. ?!?
Lmao I was wondering when you'll come here with your toxic negativity. I can't be bothered to read all of your…
I know your way too. It's often highly subjective, on-the-spot criticism with the objective of creating a buzz and shocking people. And suddenly it's supposed to become something tolerant of "everyone's opinion"? However, having believed in your good faith, I responded to this article with a well-argued and peaceful commentary. Maybe you didn't appreciate me using your reverse-opinions to choose dramas? This is not insulting. Everybody does that, people know that they are more likely to find good dramas by using the opinion of people who have a similar taste, and vice versa.
Lmao I was wondering when you'll come here with your toxic negativity. I can't be bothered to read all of your…
Only section I commented recently was Train. Not only I'm attacking no-one, but I also provided lot of usefull information about the drama. So, you say anything, anyhow... it's defamation. I give my opinion about Remember, while I show how or why you have differents opinions than your co-writer, and vice-versa. What I think is interesting. It's exactly the thematic of the article. I even don't understand why you get upset like that and attacking me, about a kind comment. It's a bit crazy.
I can't trust any of your opinions on drama, either Jeana or Minarii. It's far too unstable. For example, I would like to be able to trust Jeana's opinions by using the reverse method. If she liked something, I definitely wouldn't like it. And if she didn't like it, chances are I'll like it. Unfortunately, there are exceptions, and we still have some dramas in common (both liked and disliked).
The arguments here, on both sides, are not objective and are often biased. Or rather, they focus on some points rather than others. This shows what someone found embarrassing in a drama, but which satisfies another person.
So I have to take an example. On Remember War Of the Son, your two critics have both right and wrong opinions.
Jeana is embarrassed by the excess of tragedy, whereas Minarri describes the drama as a good example of melodrama. - Before seeing drama, you have to accept what you're going to watch. A melodrama, or a makjang. There will probably be plot-holes. What's the point of focusing on that in this context? I didn't even pay attention to those plot-holes when I was watching the drama because I knew what I was watching. And if I find them, it amuses me more than anything else. I knew that the acting would be excessive, but I also knew that the actors would give it their all. It's taking a step back. I was rather pleased when I wondered how the script would make the main character suffer. What will be the incredible twists and turns and betrayals? How far will the script push the line? The kind of thing you taste gastronomically when you know the logic of a makjang. And I was interested in the performance of the actors in the crying scenes. Really very effective.
Minarri doesn't particularly like Nam Goong Min, while Jeana describes the character as one of the best antagonists ever. - Indeed! He's one of those villains who have an arrogant and horribly annoying style. I don't know many of that caliber. He's the kind of villain that makes you want to get up from your chair, scream, wave your fist. With such a role, the actor is likely to be assaulted in the street! The only equivalent I know of (for now) is the antagonist of Love In Sadness.
- By missing the first step, Jeana ruined the drama all by herself, without anyone's help, and prevented herself from having fun. Wasn't it worth seeing and enjoying? To appreciate the antagonist even more? Maybe some experience with the classics is missing. The melodramas of the 2000 period such as Starway to Heaven, the most famous makjang like Temptation of Wife. - Minarri missed the other step. That of the antagonist, which she describes well for what he is! A selfish and arrogant character, a little crazy. Yes! Why look for something else, when that's what's being presented? He's not at all an antagonist in the manner of El Temur or Lady Mishill. There's a reading problem here.
For this drama, I add an element that works in its favour: the end. One of the best endings I've ever seen. Funny thing is, my rating was between the two of you. In my grading system, I can't give a higher grade, as Minarri did. While I may have enjoyed the drama more than you two. It's not a masterpiece, but it's not disappointing. It helps to know the limit of what a drama can give, the genre it's about. It is in this context that you can compare different dramas of the same style with each other.
PPL isn't the main problem here, problem is mostly the script.One of the worst script I ever seen.There is also…
That's great!!! I guess I have some sort of telepathic superpower for being able to control your mind remotely? I'm gonna try that on my banker, get him to give me $10,000 without signing anything.
I started to listen your songs, but there is too much, I have to take a break now. I forgot to congratulate you about the quality of your article, as I did on your previous articles. Thanks for your work! About the songs, it's quite crazy until now, I like almost nothing. Each time you take a song from a drama, it's among the song I don't like. And you don't spot the best songs of the drama ! Damn it ! Just to give an example, on "While you were sleeping", my favorite song are these ones... Come To Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQruVt5evY I'll Tell You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zgTSe7EldA
It's the kind of song even a jazz musican could like. It's not basic harmony or phoned chord progression/melody. There is too much drama Songs I like to make a whole list here.
I don't have time to listen all and answer now. Just to say on MOTA, there is much better, both BGM, but also songs. I listened many time the full record. But I would probably need to make a full review on the forum topic about BGM. I did it on Signal and Save Me, I need to do same with W. (same team of musicians for these 4 dramas).
I'm the opposite. While Shi Mok might be emotionless, Jo Seung Woo made this character so enigmatic that I feel…
I am very happy to meet a real drama fan like you who shares my feeling about the main character! And I agree, the actor is gifted in his role, he must make you feel subtleties while remaining emotionless, not easy! I have the same opinion (as I already said), he is incorruptible, and living without emotion does not prevent him from having good morality. It is intelligence. However, what disappointed me was the general lack of emotion in the drama, which could have been brought by the other characters more. I felt like I was seeing an American series rather than a Korean drama at times.
PPL isn't the main problem here, problem is mostly the script.One of the worst script I ever seen.There is also…
I haven't been able to ignore some of the negative points that jump out at me. But certainly, if one manages to do so, the drama possesses a mysterious and magical aura that is sure to please. Still, there are good iconic scenes, and comedy scenes are good, unlike Goblin's comedy scenes. TKEM as a whole is less boring than Goblin, and more interesting to criticize even when you don't like it. By the way, I don't regret the time I took to create comedy memes about the drama. I remember that there was someone in the comments who had fallen in love with drama! I can't criticize that because it has happened to me, very rarely, in other works as well.
1 
I don't argue about others points. Battle is over, reviews are enough.
It's waste of time.
- The complexity of the plot.
- The quality of the narrative.
On the other hand, I've rarely encountered this problem in historical dramas. I'm a big fan of this type of drama, and I can only advise you to see it. At the beginning, there is a blockage before starting the drama. And even after I finished the first historical drama, and even though the drama is great, the blockage at the beginning stayed with me until I saw two or three more. Then I now find it easier to get into a historical drama than a contemporary drama. It's a real pleasure, and above all a sure thing. This kind of drama is based on a more classic narrative that never disappoints. I have 50% less chance of dropping a historical drama than another drama.
Right now I've just finished a new masterpiece in this area: Six Flying Dragons. However, I don't recommend this drama to start watching historical dramas. It's very precise about the history and the real characters, and the difficulty is rather to remember the names of the characters. Although subtitling helps and often gives the names of the characters.
I even think that it is very difficult to like TKEM after seeing W.
But of course, this is not systematic, you are proof of that.
Because TKEM copies a lot of things about W (and even Nine time travel), without being able to succeed. As it would be too long to explain, it would be better to refer to my reviews of these dramas.
During the first part, TKEM has indeed much more logic than it seems, but it's hard to see it, because the narration is bad. I'll just give an example, showing that there's one thing I would never accuse the writer of not working. There's a lot of work behind this drama.
You see Maximus when is a pony. If you calculate the age difference with Lee Gon as an adult and you know about horses, Maximus is a very old horse at that time. However, the script takes this into account, and it's told in an episode! This is not put under the carpet. A lot of details are treated that way.
On the other hand, it spoils towards the second part. It becomes difficult to say whether or not it remains coherent because it is subject to too much speculation. Moreover, the main problem is not the actual consistency, but rather the public perception. Too much is hidden, in frightening proportions. For some people, W was already not easy, but in TKEM there is 90% more imprecision.
There is not only a problem of narration, but also of timing in the drama. If I could imagine it differently, I would condense episodes 1 to 10 more, while explaining things better. I'll eliminate 50% of the characters (which is what W did from the start!). And the remaining ones would have exciting plot lines (a hidden spy has to act and cause real problems). I would certainly get rid of the fantastic theme about dooplegangers as well. Or use it differently (far less dooplegangers, for logic reasons related to butterfly effect).
With the time saved, I would better develop the following episodes, especially everything related to supernatural phenomena, such as time travel. There is far too much missing at this point for the viewer to still believe in what they see.
Regarding the antagonist of Remember, for example.
Your preference is not to like that kind of antagonist. Certainly that's your opinion. It's too bad, because if you were more open-minded, you might like drama more. Your own prejudices deprive you of more pleasure, but after all, it's all about you.
On the other hand, what about the writing of the character?
What about the actor's performance?
So it's a wrong opinion for me. Of course, things are not always so obvious.
For the rest, you talk about things that have nothing to do with it, I chose my nickname this way for other reasons.
I'm sorry, but your attitude is damaging.
I take the time to answer your article with courtesy, and you go straight to swear words like "bullshit". No, really, I don't know what's going through your head. But for people who pretend to confront different opinions, that's a doozy!
That won't stop me from spending the rest of the morning in a good mood, since I woke up in a good mood. Just relax a little.
For some unexplained reason, the other answers have been erased. ?!?
However, having believed in your good faith, I responded to this article with a well-argued and peaceful commentary.
Maybe you didn't appreciate me using your reverse-opinions to choose dramas? This is not insulting. Everybody does that, people know that they are more likely to find good dramas by using the opinion of people who have a similar taste, and vice versa.
I give my opinion about Remember, while I show how or why you have differents opinions than your co-writer, and vice-versa. What I think is interesting. It's exactly the thematic of the article.
I even don't understand why you get upset like that and attacking me, about a kind comment. It's a bit crazy.
I've you readed my text wall ? Obviously not.
And giving my opinion, it's exactly what I do here...
For example, I would like to be able to trust Jeana's opinions by using the reverse method. If she liked something, I definitely wouldn't like it. And if she didn't like it, chances are I'll like it.
Unfortunately, there are exceptions, and we still have some dramas in common (both liked and disliked).
The arguments here, on both sides, are not objective and are often biased. Or rather, they focus on some points rather than others. This shows what someone found embarrassing in a drama, but which satisfies another person.
So I have to take an example.
On Remember War Of the Son, your two critics have both right and wrong opinions.
Jeana is embarrassed by the excess of tragedy, whereas Minarri describes the drama as a good example of melodrama.
- Before seeing drama, you have to accept what you're going to watch. A melodrama, or a makjang. There will probably be plot-holes. What's the point of focusing on that in this context? I didn't even pay attention to those plot-holes when I was watching the drama because I knew what I was watching. And if I find them, it amuses me more than anything else. I knew that the acting would be excessive, but I also knew that the actors would give it their all. It's taking a step back. I was rather pleased when I wondered how the script would make the main character suffer. What will be the incredible twists and turns and betrayals? How far will the script push the line? The kind of thing you taste gastronomically when you know the logic of a makjang. And I was interested in the performance of the actors in the crying scenes. Really very effective.
Minarri doesn't particularly like Nam Goong Min, while Jeana describes the character as one of the best antagonists ever.
- Indeed! He's one of those villains who have an arrogant and horribly annoying style. I don't know many of that caliber. He's the kind of villain that makes you want to get up from your chair, scream, wave your fist. With such a role, the actor is likely to be assaulted in the street! The only equivalent I know of (for now) is the antagonist of Love In Sadness.
- By missing the first step, Jeana ruined the drama all by herself, without anyone's help, and prevented herself from having fun. Wasn't it worth seeing and enjoying? To appreciate the antagonist even more? Maybe some experience with the classics is missing. The melodramas of the 2000 period such as Starway to Heaven, the most famous makjang like Temptation of Wife.
- Minarri missed the other step. That of the antagonist, which she describes well for what he is! A selfish and arrogant character, a little crazy. Yes! Why look for something else, when that's what's being presented? He's not at all an antagonist in the manner of El Temur or Lady Mishill. There's a reading problem here.
For this drama, I add an element that works in its favour: the end. One of the best endings I've ever seen.
Funny thing is, my rating was between the two of you. In my grading system, I can't give a higher grade, as Minarri did. While I may have enjoyed the drama more than you two. It's not a masterpiece, but it's not disappointing. It helps to know the limit of what a drama can give, the genre it's about. It is in this context that you can compare different dramas of the same style with each other.
I know, it's your favorit list. ;-)
I don't have time to write articles.
You know how many time and work it take, I guess. ^^
When I have time I post here about BGM :
https://mydramalist.com/discussions/korean-music/48257-favourite-background-instrumental-music-from-k-dramas
I forgot to congratulate you about the quality of your article, as I did on your previous articles. Thanks for your work!
About the songs, it's quite crazy until now, I like almost nothing.
Each time you take a song from a drama, it's among the song I don't like.
And you don't spot the best songs of the drama ! Damn it !
Just to give an example, on "While you were sleeping", my favorite song are these ones...
Come To Me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQruVt5evY
I'll Tell You:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zgTSe7EldA
Healing love (kill me heal me) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-xqK8KxP7Y
The farewell (My country the new age) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67lngSwJL5w
I add Endless Tears (Save Me), a drama I like a bit much :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlfh-Y9Y3NU
It's the kind of song even a jazz musican could like.
It's not basic harmony or phoned chord progression/melody.
There is too much drama Songs I like to make a whole list here.
Just because I like these dramas, I post this...
I'm Here (Memory from the Alhambra) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxycDM5omck
Without You (W) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9ZuigTfwJQ
Mute (Jang Ok Jung) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IHMM1P86dI
Just to say on MOTA, there is much better, both BGM, but also songs.
I listened many time the full record.
But I would probably need to make a full review on the forum topic about BGM.
I did it on Signal and Save Me, I need to do same with W.
(same team of musicians for these 4 dramas).
Anyway, what the point ?
If I feel like I want to write here, I write here, ok ?
I have the same opinion (as I already said), he is incorruptible, and living without emotion does not prevent him from having good morality. It is intelligence.
However, what disappointed me was the general lack of emotion in the drama, which could have been brought by the other characters more. I felt like I was seeing an American series rather than a Korean drama at times.
Still, there are good iconic scenes, and comedy scenes are good, unlike Goblin's comedy scenes. TKEM as a whole is less boring than Goblin, and more interesting to criticize even when you don't like it. By the way, I don't regret the time I took to create comedy memes about the drama.
I remember that there was someone in the comments who had fallen in love with drama! I can't criticize that because it has happened to me, very rarely, in other works as well.