This is no overstatement when I say that this is my favorite drama to date (gotta change my profile now). There is little comedy or romance, but it is satisfying and the ending is like nothing another drama has ever done before. I don't like baseball but I still think that this is the most worth-your-while drama ever.
For those that prefer comedy to destress this may not be great but whenever the Dreams achieve a goal you feel like you have achieved one too. The greatest underdog story in a while.
Please give it a try Nam Goong Min never disappoints and this screenwriter is a gem (one to keep for the ages)! Lots of Love (just finished watching on V-Day).
DramamaRamama 35/35 on the MC scale.

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Tragic on so many levels

If you are not ready for indiscriminate mass murder, torture, and suggested prostitution, then this really might make you uncomfortable. To be honest I watched this with family, which made the journey a little bit more bearable. This director is a master at crafting realistic stories and showing every facet of human beings.

Set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Chinese have controlled Ho Chi Mihn era Vietnam, and the poor non-Communist families suffer many brutalities. Unable to eat and unable to speak with foreigners, the tragedies of Vietnam post-war are illustrated here through the lens of a Japanese reporter.

The Plot: centers the reporter and his interactions with an impoverished family specifically a young girl and her brothers. He witnesses their everyday life and the brutalities the Chinese Army visited upon innocent men, women, and children in Vietnam. The movie is not gorey nor does it show sexual promicuousness (no sex scenes) but these are heavily implied.
The Pacing: It is a relatively slow movie, but it is not boring in any way. The brutality and tragedies we see on the screen are gripping, and the relationships we see are heart-wrenching.
The Acting: Easily some of the best child-actors in the world.

This movie cannot be missed if you enjoy Hong Kong films. It's dark, gritty, sad, and not for the faint of heart.

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A typical High school Drama in an Web-drama

I really was not a huge fan of web-dramas (low budget not Netflix) until I watched this show.
--Story--
I mean I usually am really against youth dramas that over-dramatize and romanticized versions of the high school experience, but this one did a good job at portraying the struggles of finding yourself in HS. The bitchy nature of girls is also well portrayed here. The individual stories of each character is cute, and the side characters (not the main leads) are really cute as well.

--Acting--
The acting is okay, though I am not a fan of April. I don't think their acting will disappoint especially the side characters.

--Pacing--
The episodes are fairly short (with a really catchy OST by Seventeen) so it was enjoyable. There was never a really dull moment in the drama.

I hope you try it out, especially if you haven't watched web-dramas before.

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I really liked this light rom-com there was little lul in the story and I watched it pretty regularly because it was so cute and fun. I do have to say that the plot got a little lost during the romantic "courting" scenes.
I love the cast they were great the rom-com story was average but the jobs that the two leads had were unique!
There was on loose end that I never got to find out (whether Jung Eum was the child hanging from the tree branch or not--they kinda suggested it but never confirmed it :()
Just so you don't get deceived by the plot summary the actual characters are not undateable the people Jung Wum works with are considered "undateable" at her marriage place.
I honestly don't understand why other reviews think so harshly about this rom-com. It is great for when you are sad and looking for something fluffy. It does have classic tropes of rom-coms, but it is not boring to the extent that other reviewers have stated. Give it a try (especially if you are a NGM fan)

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I might have been too harsh, but the writing did not give this drama justice

This is one of those Comedy-Romance-Mystery Thrillers with a Supernatural element, and if you are an avid South Korean drama watcher you might liken this to Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. In terms of its writing quality though ... it is just written poorly and acted poorly.

Concept and Execution---
While the concept of the story is very, very interesting the execution was poor. The supernatural element and the thriller element were so gripping that I enjoyed the ride. Unfortunately, the ending had little explanation or intrigue; it was vague and indeterminate as if the writer and director were having a quarrel. There were so many unanswered questions that made me angry. Overall, there was a lot of potential that was wasted in the slow repetitive pacing of the drama.

Pacing---
As a drama watcher, a drama has to keep me hooked and invested for the 16 hours I am investing to watch it. Unfortunately, this drama did not meet that bar. The poor pacing left the story stagnant in the end. There were so many questions that were left unanswered that could have easily been answered with the amount of time wasted

Romance and Comedy---
This was at best average. The romance was a little lacking in my opinion. I could tell that there was shyness in the romance which did not match the characters. But the friendship between the actors was what kept this drama going. The friendship that turned into love was fun to watch as well, but the concept of the show was the most interesting bit. The friendship to romance bit is the only reason I feel inclined to watch this drama again.

Thriller---
Yes! Yes! YES! I loved the thriller in this drama even though it was just a side show.

Acting---
The lack of chemistry between the main leads makes me less inclined to say that this drama had good acting. Their height difference was cute though.

Ending---
I hated the ending (period). This contributed to my lower rating. See Concept and Execution for more info

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Your typical rom-com, but with a few new jokes for your books

When I say typical, I mean that it has a lot of the common tropes from romantic comedy dramas that we see normally. The rich man, poor woman; the unhappy parents; the contract relationships; misunderstandings; and secret dating... so if you like something predictable and heart-warming this is, truly, for you!

Story
A common story but the comedy is pretty good. Some of the jokes in this drama are just iconic and must be seen! The story doesn't dwell on unnecessary plot points, which makes the pacing good. Thankfully, it does explore the second lead relationships, which is a big bonus towards the end of the drama.

Comedy
Have you met Rachel and Samantha yet? That will answer your questions about the comedy in this drama. The comedy does ebb throughout the series, but they keep a few tropes and jokes for you to enjoy in the end. It is mainly slap-stick comedy.

Romance
If you hate love triangles between the leads, you are in for a surprise...this one doesn't really have one. The sismance and bromance are strong and you would definitely appreciate them if you are a fan of strong friendships. Because this is only a 12 episode drama, misunderstandings are short-lived, so you don't have to suffer too long!

Pacing
The 12-episode format, and the developed second-lead storylines make this drama fly by. Though I can't say whether it will be good to binge, it is worth a watch for those that love to feel their hearts flutter.

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This was below my expectations

I love action-comedies for the most part. I really enjoyed Midnight Runners a quintessential Korean action-comedy, but this movie is not an action-comedy. It was a mess (period). If you saw someone recommend this movie to you please don't have high expectations

The story itself was cliched, but that doesn't mean that I will give it a low rating. It was beyond the story it was the characters, the execution, and the messy plotline.

The beginning was quite entertaining but after seeing the plot circle back and loop around onto itself bringing me back to the same place, I realized that the writer did not understand how to push the plot forward.

The story essentially had no development for the first 105 minutes. The ending was the only revelation in the entire story. The characters did not enrich the story; there was 0, I mean ZERO, character or intellectual development. Sometimes I wonder what the writer was thinking. How can the background of these 2 characters create the 2 individuals I saw on the screen?

The one SAVING GRACE: Choi Daniel. Choi Daniel's portrayal and follow-through of his character in the plot was flawless (this might be relative) but it was truly so good. I think that his acting was the one thing that made this movie gel and feel, somewhat, complete.

I truly don't know why I completed this movie, but if you enjoy childish comedies where errors are abundant, please enjoy!

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The side characters are to die for

I am gonna be upfront, my rating for this show is severly inflated because it was one of the first supernatural rom-coms that I watched. I am a sucker for supernatural, and this kinda just fit my mood. There is so much sentimental value around this that I never changed the score I gave it, but the following is as honest as I can be about this drama.

>Beginning--I thought it took too long<
When I first watched this drama I had this severe itch to get it over with. I thought that the beginning and subsequently the rest of the drama was taking too long.

>Story--the side characters did a hell of a lot of heavy lifting<
The ghosts and the side characters were my favorite part of this drama. They went through a lot of character development, provided all of the comedy, and really outshined the main cast. (Ma Wang was probably the best)
The stories of the side characters were endearing and thoughtful--something you might expect from the Hong Sisters (this is my favorite drama of their's). Zombie was by far my favorite character and made me a fan of the actress Lee Se Young.
The character of the Male lead was entertaining and similar to many cold/childish male leads.
The monsters stories and threats were interesting and they brought the Male lead and Femal lead together. I was disappointed that the female lead has so little character development. She did have some, but not as much as I was hoping.
The bromance was fantastic! If I could have a clip of all the bromance in one place, I would probably rewatch it over and over again.

>Pacing--too slow<
I find this so common for the Hong Sister dramas that I have watched, they are too slow, and make me watched at 1.5-2X speed.

>Ending--acceptable, but no explanation<
I was most confused about the ending because they didn't show anything, it just kinda cut to it. It made a weak attempt at giving us a second season teaser.

If you are a supernatural, rom-com fan then you should definitely check this out. It would be up your alley. The side characters are the best, so you might get annoyed with the leads. The middle-end was the best part of the drama.

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The hottest men in K-drama world right now

This is in part a promo for the Lotte Stores but also a very quick overview of who the most desired Korean Actors/Artists are in the industry. They focus on the younger ones, so if you are looking for Ji Sung or Gong Yoo they aint here.

But putting aside the actual content, this is the most laid back and brainless mini-series you will ever watch. If you just want pretty faces this is for you!

I definitely watched this when I was feeling like distracting myself from work, and this did the job.

It's like the writers took a little dive into the day dream of avid drama fans and created this story and scenario for us. Of course there is product placement everywhere! XD But if you love the pretty people it hits the spot.

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The Characters and Plot Twists

I really enjoyed this show, one of my favorites! The characters were all amazing and that is what made the whole drama click together. Definitely advise you to check this out <3

>Story--Character driven with a corruption thriller<
If you like corruption thrillers (that aren't too blood or dark) this is the exact drama for you. It is about tax evasion and the sweet fantasy of getting back at those rich suckers.
The character development--another of my favorite tags--is great as are the characters themselves. Their intricacies and bromance really shine through.
You might get annoyed from time to time about where the story is headed, why the people are acting this way, etc. ... , but trust this writer (he wrote Bad Guys). Trust that the story won't fall on it's head.
The plot twists are to die for :))). Enjoy them while you are on your first watch.
There are a lot of people in this drama--so keeping them straight is a problem, but not as bad as a Chinese Wuxia.

>Acting---Average<
What do you expect from this group of actors? That is exactly what they delivered in this drama. A lot of characters to go around.

>Beginning--Phenomenal<
I love the beginning of this drama, just beyond perfect.

>Ending --- good<
Though the ending is 100% worth watching, I felt it was a bit lacking (though I can't put my finger on it).

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Acting is Good, Story is Average

I thought it was a generally enjoyable drama on the whole.
>Acting--the best part<
This was the first drama where I really appreciated D.O.'s acting skills--he is legit no joke. Nam Ji Hyun always has a strong headed female lead character so her acting was good too! Kim Seon Ho gave us a bit of Second Lead Syndrome and his smile is killer.

>Story--average<
I love a good character development drama and this one was good at that--very good. I enjoyed it mainly because of the character developmen and mild thriller that played in the background of the historical comedy. The main catalyst for the character development is the Strong Female Lead.
I usually hate historicals, but I love comedies and this was one of the first dramas I watched that got me into the 'historical-comedy' genre.
If you hate the cold ML trope this drama (probably) is not for you. If you don't mind that, this should be a fairly typical journey for you. The Second Lead Syndrome wasn't too overwhelming--at least for me, and I usually have SLS allegies--because the character of the Male Lead was understandably annoying.
This is not an overly political historical drama. This is probably one of the least politically motivated historicals but without a little bit of politics the slight thriller in the background would not exist. I personally enjoy thrillers but I am sure there are someof you that don't
DISCLAIMER: *not a spoiler*: If you aren't a fan of amnesia plots (even as the premise of a story) this is also not for you.

>Romance--Chemistry check<
Definitely some chemistry between the ML and FL and I enjoyed that spark immensely! If you are looking for a good Rom-Com this fits the bill too well (all the tropes you always/never wanted).

>Ending--below average<
It gets draggy. This is part of the reason that this drama did not get an 8 in my books. The draggy ending was really unnecessary and could be a let down for those that want a more decisive and climactic ending. I find that this trait is common for historical comedies.

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It’s a cute and simple

This drama is not an amazing story but it is cute and has a lot of animals. It shows how to prioritize humanity over profit and features a close knit community of people dedicated to animals welfare.

It starts off with Shima Yuka a very clumsy kinda pushover Female Lead but with some character development she turns into a lovable character with a great personality.

There is some presence of family in the drama as well as friendship and love. But the Romance is lacking at best. The cold ML has almost no character development, but he isn’t totally hateable. If you contextualize his words and actions you’ll see that he has his own reasons.

For the most part misunderstandings are less prevalent and the characters often talk heart to heart.

If nothing else the Dolphins we adorable??????

Life: 4/5
Drama/Romance: 2/5
Story: 3/5
Beginning: 4/5
Ending: 2/5
Pacing: 3/5
Acting: 4/5
23/35

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What you don't expect from a political drama--Comedy and Character Development

I loved this show, but definitely hated the first 5 episodes (in reality the first 10 episodes were slow, but the first 5 were EXTRA slow). I am all about the pacing and story of a drama and this one did pretty well. Although it's more like an 8.5/10, drama the ending was so great I gave it an honorary 9.

Where to begin, the Male Lead #Mr. KingofSmiles, is a great conman and an even better actor! His storyline is so funny and unique you find yourself loathing him but rooting for him as he goes through immense character development (rare in politicians). P.S. his sister is a funnier character than him. The Female lead I wasn't so enamored with in reality she looks like the meek cornered character (just her face) but she definitely tried to make herself look like a tough cop. The villainess has an attitude like Veronica Park, if you get me, she is definitely full of herself. But her character can be annoying (but I guess that is the type of villain the writer chose for this comedy).

The story is en pointe after episode 10 and after you pass that milestone you are not going back. The drama well deserves your time and your eyes. Enjoy! Let me know what you think of it!

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A Mystery Worth Watching

I think the drama as a whole is a great experience, I acknowledge that slow dramas can be hard to watch, and this is on the slower side. The beginning is really intense and intriguing. The story goes back and forth from the current state of the investigation to the flashbacks from potential suspects. The length of this drama is thankfully on the shorter side, for Chinese dramas.
>Acting ---is pretty good<
I have no complaints, there are many actors and they did a great job. There are a lot of moving pieces in the story, so I wish you luck when keeping things straight.

>Story--the actual mystery was interesting, but I might have changed the way it was told<
The actual mystery and story behind it was fun to unravel with the detectives, they aren't dumb detective thank god. But the fact that we have to keep switching from one setting to another can be confusing if not annoying. There were definitely several episodes in which there were just endless flashbacks, which I felt diluted the mystery further, but I promise some of the flashbacks are pretty interesting, so pay attention. The story can drag at points, so persevere!
Side Note: I don't know why they added the side story about the detectives themselves, but I don't think it added to the plot, I think it detracted from it

>Ending--most good thrillers leave the answers to the last episode but...<
Unfortunately, they did not leave the final answer to the last episode, and the last episode ended up being a little too long, which detracted from my rating.

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Are you a foodie? Yes? Then this is for you!

It's pretty amazing to think this was my first real drama, but back then I was really into food (videos, manga, anime, dramas) everything was up for grabs.

This drama is so much fun to watch because of all the food. There is almost no plot otherwise, which is what makes this show extra special! It's like popcorn; you can have it whenever you want without feeling guilty that it is too long. It's a great choice to relax and enjoy with a cup-of-noodles. Watching people make and eat good food is one of my basic pleasures in life
Also you get a look into Japanese cooking and eating and Izakaya style dining (bar food). The acting and character might not be your favorite, but if you like food you will definitely relate with her.

Every time I watch this show I get so hungry and feel like I need to go to Japan and enjoy all the food Right NOW!

Enjoy the epicurean journey! Pshhuuuu :)

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