RPX

Suspenseful, never boring and...great cinematography

Overall: I loved this one. It's visual quality and production is superb, with the gory and the scary, on par with Strangers From Hell. OST contributed so well to the overall atmosphere and is def worth your playlist. Which reminds me of myriads of emotions this drama made me go through. I was freaking scared (and I watch horrors w no problems), but also I connected to the characters so much that I found myself getting emotional at certain points. This drama does not get boring or monotonous from 1st to last episode, which says a lot on a drama that is based on a single, repeatable purpose, of catching a spirit. This makes it definitely is a worth watch. However, I do not find it rewatchable; while entertaining I did not take the message of the drama, which arguably could be familial love and loyalty as motivation for difficult steps (or revenge?), I did not find drama's message as something clear or meaningful enough for a rewatch. Just meh in that portion.

Detailed Breakdown:
Actors: 8/10
Actors were great, especially main lead, the taxi driver. I forgot their names already but that does not take away from overall exceptional performance. This drama really stretched the characters across spectra of morality, preoccupation, emotions and relationships and I have to say that I trusted the characters 100%, they comfortably switched between one extreme to another.

Storyline: 7/10
The storyline was very refreshing. I thought that three main leads coming together against the spirit, that has ruined their families (and lives), was executed superbly. I did believe each character in their actions which means, for me, that characters were developed well, and they make the storyline.

Entertainment:9/10
I don't know why for so many people mention this drama was not scary. I was freaked out throughout. I find myself recently not finishing most of the dramas I start, I wane off around ep. 12. However, the writers of the Guest knew how to build up tension and make it every time feel different. It definitely kept me in my seat.

Graphic and Aesthetic Quality: 9/10
This show did not hold back on presenting murders in the most graphic way possible. Also the whole demonic-exorcist procedures going on were in intense, and they really used the names of real figures in Catholicism while performing exorcism. This is 2018, but it's gory quality reminded me a bit of Strangers From Hell.

OST: 10/10
The main OST really contributed to the experience of the drama. I absolutely loved how they used their music.

Rewatch: 5/10I am certain that I will go back to the OST, but while it is entertaining and a great experience, I don't feel the need to rewatch it.
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Thanks for reading!
Have a good one,

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Weak script inflated x 10 by superb acting

Well, first of all, they are not blood related brothers, so it does not get as weird as the premise suggests.

Secondly, I thought the acting was one of the best I have seen in a while. That being said the script and storyline is disappointing.

The actor who did Wei Qian did an amazing job in the first leg of episodes. His reactions made everything realistic and more punchy. And for Yuan, again the actor did well, but his character was thin as paper. Plot meh. The understanding as to why his feeling emerge were, well, obvious but then not really justified, iykwim -- then every adopted child would turn out with the same decisions.

Well, as we get to the breakthrough, they funnily enough lose rationale (why Wei Qian changed his mind?) but the chemistry between the actors was good if not amazing. More realistic hookup I yet have to see.

I would say the story is disappointing and rather weak, acting and chemistry is great, truly. Give it a chance.

Thanks for reading.
RP

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...shows you that genuine chemistry and decent casting can carry it all

This is a quick one and definitely not a pass. It was intended as my evening chill binge and it perfectly met the expectation.

I cannot say that they have not done well for seven episodes. The relationship was believable and genuine. The contrast between the mains was subtle but powerful. The premise with the sexual frustration and rain did work for the most part.

On the other side, the girlfriend did not have layered rationale for her acts, although she could have been written worse (I have seen way worse). The artist friend got better treatment than her (also his acting was bomb) albeit incomplete. Also it felt like the drama could be stretched to a few more episodes.

I loved Hagiwara's stability and consistency as a character with straight-up morale (I do see evident irony in that sentence ok?). He is quite simple but efficient. Casting was amazing. I did not see one second of poor acting.

Nothing disappointed me and nothing blew me away.

A recommend!

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Is there pain that is at the same time unbearable and subtle?

Oh what can I tell about this drama except that it is fully exhausting the meaning of the word "subtle". It is almost as if its purpose is to establish tempo of dull pain with each episode maintaining the intensity just right... And by the end of the drama you do not feel easier or burden lifting. You still feel pressure that makes you realize you have been holding your breath. And after you release it... You still feel something inside you ache.

Everything in this drama feels heavy with meaning but all is said in little words.

Han Dong Jin on one hand seems predictable and flat, but on the other so thick and comforting. A partner we should choose but do not choose. False expectation of masculinity. The actor did a marvelous job.

As for Sim U Ju, I love Biblee, anyone knows it. She seemed so different here. She almost has not smiled at all. I did not relate to her character and thought the chemistry with the lead was not as strong as it could have been. But perhaps her intensity was lowered due to demands of overall vibe of the drama, which was never dramatic or too much.

The OST absolutely shattered my heart into pieces. Roy Kim, do I say thank you, you bastard? Absolute stand out and perfect accompaniment.

If you liked the melancholy and "background noise" grey vibe of My Mister, you will definitely love this one.

Ahh, I hate how much I can feel it still.

Thanks, for reading.

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Seems heavy but thin as a paper

This mini drama left me quite unmoved.

Soo Hyuk and Yoon Dae -- I thought the two leads had zero chemistry. The whole plot exposes the themes of abandonment and love for people that exploit us and how that generally disables you from growing in life. Okay, and? It only left those themes on the table and you soon question what are you even watching and is it gonna go anywhere.

That being said Yoon Dae was a leech and I have no other thoughts about him. Soo Hyuk is a sad boy with repressed emotions. Both leads are unlikeable and show zero development throughout drama. The ending is not significant at all.

Not a single theme in this drama was treated with care and respect. They seemed there just to justify (albeit ineffectively) actions of the characters.

Unfortunately not a recommend from me.

Thanks for reading

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A loved premise but feeding nothing than toxic fetish... for those with an inkling for it

A well loved premise on how the least popular boy (1st lead) becomes the love interest of the most beautiful and popular student in school (2nd lead). But this premise gone wrong wrong.

The depiction of the popular guy as the god and the king in the eyes of the muttering mess of a first lead... like why god?

First of all, how could anyone fall in love with the 1sr lead? I mean the guy has zero interest in anything except the 2nd lead. What is the appeal? And he goes into servitude (I am not exaggerating) mode after being called disgusting so many times, willingly. Socially inept, stuttering, depressed, quasi autistic. Is he supposed to be disabled without knowing? if this is how a person with disabilities depicted, bish I am offended. What in the weird fetish is all of this? And not really entertained cos everything boiled down to the damn 2nd lead, so if the 2nd lead is causing all of those characteristics above, I find my watching time even more pointless. Cos that is really not it.

Which brings me to the 2nd lead, Kiyoi. I mean dude you may be beautiful or whatever but his behavior is absolute shit. Excuse my muse. Like I can see a glimpse of an attempt at portraying him as abandoned child and therefore having his inner child calmed by an obsessive 1st lead.

I love a bit of push and pull between characters in a drama and the fact there is a person behind every "untouchable" character but I have seen none here. I know it is entertainment and does not have to serve meaning but I do feel it serves

propaganda for toxic relationship based in each of them feeding their traumas by using that relationship as a coping mechanism.

And that is me interpreting. Not like the drama said anything of depth.

Ah.

I've said what I said.

Not gonna entertain S2.

Unfortunately I did not see the brilliance other reviewers have. Myb it is something in the air over here.

Thanks for reading.

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Quick watch with interesting premise

I came into this one from Secret Love Affair, hoping to find something similar. I have watched quite a few dramas but none with this premise that Kenja no Ai had. Really interesting ideas and use of literature in the plot, also interesting psychological profile of different characters with ambiguous lives and motives. I was not disappointed with the way this was executed.

I was shocked at times and there were loopholes in the story, despite so many flashbacks. Also, Ryu was flat as heck as a character, and I still do not understand where Mayu's loyalty lies. It's all just, one big sad story.
After watching it, the departing is the feeling of being unsettled by it. Mostly because I am still uncertain of Naomi. I do not think that that young man, no matter how functional he seems, is mentally well.

The drama is four episodes long, and I think it is a worthy watch because of beautiful cinematography, decent acting and interesting storyline.

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Give prosecutor Do his own drama

Well, based on how first review went you can guess how this one will go.

First, let's get rid of the missteps of this season -- Stella and Suho are gone and so is any source of side entertainment. The actress they brought to replace Stella was charming but her English was atrocious, and for the role of an English speaking quirky girl? Ridiculous, and obviously ripping off Abby of Navy CIS.

Now for the goods, I would say that the overall cast did a decent job in this season, of course all supporting characters. Prosecutor Eun and NFS' Baek were underwhelming as main characters. We get more introduction to prosecutor Do and the doctor Jang Chul. Both did a great job with their roles. I was especially impressed with Do as his expressions made his intentions so ambiguous that they could have given him any plot twist and it would've worked. Also for the antagonists and unlikeable characters, OMG they did a great job I hated them all -- although sometimes comedy here was too much.

They also keep going this ridiculous pattern of crime happening to their own teammates which ...cmon...what is the likelihood. It seems like really "the recognisable" thing of this drama.

The ending really shook me -- and I need to know what happens next, so kind of unsatisfying that S3 has not been discussed. Altho for me is questionable that this show even has S2.

But ok.

Would actually skip altogether this drama. I think other original dramas which inspired this one do much better job.

Thank you for reading,
RXP

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Get them an award for the most undeserving protagonist duo in K-drama

This drama is so stupid that I cannot believe my eyes that have watched it. I know, I feel bad saying it. But it is true. It is also so sad cos the supporting roles did an amazing job really, and then those two were hired as protagonists.

Eun Sol, the main prosecutor in this drama was so flat and uninteresting. There was nothing and I mean nothing where she showed her quirk. You know, a quirk which shows you to be deserving to be a protagonist of whole drama. Why was she a protagonist? Ok, so you said that she can remember all things indiscriminately well...so why didn't you make use of that to build her character? But everyone was more interesting than her and

the second protagonist, Baek Beom. I mean I understand he is even named Grumpy, but the lack of appeal this guy has. They were trying to make him memorable with 'don't write fiction' or yelling 'leave' or whatever. But this demeanor without any crack is rather off-putting? cos his lack of sentiment extends to guys who are with him every single day. So it translates as somewhat one layered acting, I have to say. Such a bad cast of leads.

Even the main point of this season was so underwhelming. Shocking at first and then it dissipated crazy quickly for everyone. The reasons they make up for cases or for creating drama are so dumb and unnecessary that it loses me in all aspects.

I would say any interesting points were supplied by the supporting leads: Stella and Suho did a great job and then Seong Ju was so good. Dr. Ma was great in his limited role, and so was Su Yeon, so smart. It is overwhelming how well supporting cast did.

But as I was in exam period, I also was wanting to watch something familiar and non intense. So I have been going through the episodes.

All I can say that Season 2, and I am now on episode 6, did not do much better job. They gained a great new prosecutor who took over the acting... but then we lost both Stella and Suho and gained someone who was supposed to do Stella's job but was not there in any capacity.

Oh well.

Maybe check another criminal drama?

Thank you for reading,
RPX

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Not the best portrayal of bullying, but perhaps the most sincere one

It was a very touching movie. I have to say that it was simple in narrative. There were not any wildly unexpected moments. The message of the movie somewhat confused itself, but it was clear that this was not your typical portrayal of bullying in cinema.

In this movie, the role of emotional anchor was at the forefront. The honest, innocent, pure connection between two people. There was no exploitation of the love, sexuality or the dramatics. The portrayal of connection was dispersed everywhere, in every second of this movie, and so real and so flawed -- that it worked perfectly.

As for the acting, the side characters were average because no one’s story was particularly developed. But both leads did a phenomenal job. Absolutely convincing and punching performances that save the script. Every and any success of this movie goes to the two leads. I could see this movie being less interesting or captivating, genuinely lost, under different cast.

All that did induce the waterfall from my eyes on multiple occasions (I cannot deal well with injustice). It was a pure, emotional movie, with easily digestible story.

Satisfying ending. A good watch.

A recommend.

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Who would think: Somewhat of a fresh take on relationships in dramas?

To address your concerns: if the whole concept freaks you out, you could also take this drama as some form of a fantasy drama with humanoid creatures with special effects....Rather than ABO and desire and whatever fanfiction worlds have invented...

Cos... I believe you should watch this one. I genuinely think it is a decent watch. The story introduced alpha beta and enigma plot in more of (d)evolution of human species rather than 'we are warewolves and we are horny all the time' trope. I thought they tackled that super well to not be weird or awkward about the genre. The pregnancy plot became only relevant in the last few episodes and it was non graphic and more a topic of discussion than anything.

There was some uncertainty and excitement as the leads float throughout the drama from dominant to submissive and so on. Their roles are not clearly defined, so I found that refreshing than the usual trope of dominant vs submissive. They played that beautifully in the whole ABO dynamic.

But to keep it real, it is easier to find a diamond on the street than a non-toxic character in this drama. Characterization was present, but not great or multilayered. Chemistry between Hua Yong and Shao Yu did feel natural and exciting. But it was obviously toxic and obsessive and insane. And while entertaining and exciting in a setting of a drama, it is indeed not a portrayal of anything that is admirable or some takeaway message about true love. May this one never find you (or me).

As for characters, Wen Lang, was my fave because he was hillarious; he spoke outloud whatever the audience was thinking. But then he could have been developed better as his behavior toward Gao Tu was truly not in the character. Then I thought Hua Yong's actor was the perfect casting for the duality in the drama, even though at times his acting felt one layered with same expressions over and over again. The drop in Gao Tu storyline was abrupt and loose. Kinda ruined the ending for me.

Strong beginning, relatively good acting, and strangely engaging despite cringe moments, and more random useless dramatic plot points. A decent watch and a recommendation.

thanks for reading!

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Trying to see a point, any point...but it is escaping me

Well, let me write this while I am waiting for the last 4 minutes to finish. They better be the best last 4 minutes of any movie ever made..for this review to take another turn.

I am also wondering why have I wasted other 157 min.

What was entertaining here?

Plot, where?

I truly have no idea what I have watched.

Absolute waste of time. I cannot even call it pointless violence or glorification of torture/fetish or psychological consequence of trauma... because there was no thread connecting on any level.

A skip.

Thanks for reading.

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Plain shock value to delude the viewer into thinking they saw sth of substance -- not impressed

Can I say I expected the ending? Yes. I had a feeling from the very beginning.

Great performances from all the actors.

A heart-wrenching story.

Albeit very confusing. The last 30 minutes tied some ends, but everything before that, I was wondering what is happening. who is who and how they relate. so many unnecessary characters just overwhelmed my cognitive space. Also it seems they used graphic scenes to manipulate you into believing it is a good story because it is "in your face" story. But really it is not -- the script is weak, and we don't get to know the characters well. None of them. And there is too many characters. And so many painful scenes that you should feel pity for. But you feel like intruding. Because you have no sense of heaviness to seeing gruesome scenes, except for the emotions left as the consequence of blatant surprise effect and feeling sorry for the brother who was handicaped and murdered. Cmon, please, you can also give viewer emotions through your story, cinema and script without fully exploiting our pre-existing bias towards the premise.

On the other hand, the main antagonist had quite an intriguing characterisation. I don't wanna give out spoilers so I will say they seemed to have such layering to them that could have been expanded on. By the end you get a bit into their mind and see how being a sociopath is complex condition for a reason. I thought it should have been explored in more depth because they gave them an interesting twist.

As for our main man, Park Jin Young, he did a great job in playing two roles. As the victim, he had the less screentime and he utilized it well, as for the brother role and revenge plot, it could have been more polished. All of it. i think his script was quite plain and boring; and the role could have been more substantial.

Surprisingly, a pass from me.

I do not think you are missing anything by skipping this one. If you wanna watch something with similar flavour, go for drama called Blind or the Children of Nobody. Both explore similar themes in more meaningful manner.

Thank you for reading.

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Bland with a nice wrap-up

Well, I am just hitting it off with all worst Japanese cinematic choices. To be honest, this one probably was not as bad as all the other ones I watched... but the trope is still as clear as water: we have an obsessed second lead and untouchable first lead. Reasons for both do not become clearer as the movie progresses.

Why was Imagase so obsessed with Kyoichi? Well, he said -for no reason. Why was Kyoichi impacted by Imagase? Well we don't know that either. Is it pity is it love is it transformation.

Then we have intense and steamy scenes, imo, do not serve the plot efficiently. Too empty to mean anything. Then the ending was somewhat hopeful and shows change in characters but it leaves you wanting more. Because why would he change so drastically? It makes no sense in the context of plot.

I am surprised my output was so high but I can say that I was entertained and enjoyed the watch.

You will not miss much if you skip it. Will not be impressed if you watch it. But it is likely to be a decent watch if you opt for it.

Thank you for reading.

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