A historical drama

If you’re looking for a historical drama with court politics and war then this is that and more. The thing that makes this drama interesting is the focus on one man, General Gye Baek, a powerful general that never loses a battle. He is bigger than life but unfortunately he makes decisions, as do most of the other characters, that just don’t make sense. The storyline has twists and turns that take characters in directions that a sane person would never take. However I must say, the story does have a certain draw that kept me watching.

The main problem with this one was the twisted and sometimes creepy relationships between the King, Gye Baek and the women in their lives. There was no real romance like the genre says, it was just strange interactions between two people of the opposite sex, with zero chemistry. Just when you think things have a least shown some normality the General does the unthinkable to his family in the end. Did the writer think that would bring some realism into the story? I didn’t care what happen to Gye Baek after that and it lessened the value of the entire drama to me. But, that’s just me.

A convoluted story with a strange appeal and a terrible ending. Very few, if any, happy moments.

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An unbreakable romance and a well written story. Love at it’s best.

One of the best romantic comedies I’ve ever experienced. It had drama that will move your senses and romance that will warm your heart. They threw in a sneaky ending to give you a little romantic suspense and it made the drama perfect. The mix of Park Gyu Young as Kim Da Li, the Curator of an art gallery, with Kim Min Jae as Jin Mo Hak, the managing director of a restaurant chain, was priceless. People from two different worlds falling into a love that held together and shined like all the stars in the sky. They shared a romantic chemistry and an unbreakable love. You don’t see that often in dramas and when you do it’s beautiful.

The acting was what made this story great. The comedy was funny and didn’t interfere with the beauty of what was unfolding in the drama. The side stories were interesting and brought meaning to the main plot.

I could step through what I liked but the problem is, I liked everything. If you like romance, this is a gem. This is a fantastic and well written drama that is worth your time.

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Melancholy romance, Parental control/abuse

A strange drama from start to finish. I can understand why it might get bad reviews because if you skip any of it you will definitely get lost. It feels like someone had a book of parables and wrote a script from it. Overall it wasn’t so bad although it had plenty of holes in the plot. There wasn’t a good ending which I don’t like. In fact, I didn’t understand the ending even after watching it twice. It was just horrible. The romance was morose and unrewarding. Needless parental control and abuse was front and center. However, above all that the acting was good, keeping in mind they don’t write the script.

The concept that breaking up is a necessity of life is ridiculous. Breaking up is a choice you make and live with the consequences or somebody else makes and you live with the aftermath. In this drama she did the breaking up and could care less about the consequences. He lived with the aftermath because he had no choice.

Most of the drama was spent talking about breaking up.

In the story she meets him at the airport and he looks hopeful, but she doesn’t go with him to Paris even though he asked her many times. They are officially broken up. She professes her love for him and thanks him for all his wasted effort. Then leaves to do her thing. When she gets home she comes up with this thought (parable): “Sadness comes by for a short while and loneliness brushes by like the wind in your life.” (Who comes up with this stuff?) I guess breaking up didn’t make her feel too bad.

She goes back and completes her resignation from The One. As she leaves she has these final thoughts: “I met someone, I loved someone, but we just can’t be together. That love has made a path and I walk down that path with love. The love that will come true. The love that will last forever. This is what those are.”
Omg, Really? That’s the way you feel after breaking up with someone you love?

I truly believe in the choices we make in life and the path that faces us because of those choices. However, you have to be smart enough to realize that each choice you make may lead you down a path that you really didn’t have to take to begin with.

The parental control issue, which by nature manifests itself into parental abuse was a little over the top. Young Eun is a 38 year old professional with a career and a good income. Her mother is a controlling, psychotic person that could care less about her daughter’s happiness and hates her husband. What right does she have to tell her daughter anything. Giving birth doesn’t give ownership. I realize the Korean society is different than what I’m used to, but it is 2021 in this drama. Young Eun was able to help everyone in the drama with her great insight on life but she can’t help herself by telling her mother to mind her own business? Jae Gook’s mother was every bit as bad. She’s not even Jae Gook’s biological mother but that doesn’t stop her from being a hateful controlling woman. Forgive me, but parental control/abuse has always been one of my least favorite aspects of KDramas, although I’m doing my best to get used to it.

The romance was awkward most of the time. The facial expressions were there but something was missing from the one on one chemistry. Maybe it was because she couldn’t think about anything other than breaking up. It’s really not their fault, the script was as strange as it gets. For example you love someone you have to leave them? What kind of creativity is that? The last time I heard that was in Record of Youth which was another strange drama.

In closing, I followed every word in this drama. If I misunderstood anything forgive me. My opinions are just that, mine and mine alone. I want to say that I liked the story concept which is the reason I didn’t rate it lower. Why couldn’t they come up with a better ending? Who even starts a script that has that kind of closure? Did they think it was thought provoking and insightful? Who knows, give it a try and tell me what you think.

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A tremendous romantic fantasy of good vs. evil

Step into this fantasy world, and you won’t be disappointed. The most challenging task a drama producer has is making fantasy look real. A fantasy reader creates the visuals in their mind as they read. On-screen is much more difficult because the mind now interprets what it sees. This drama was so well done it surprised me.

Enjoy a historical drama that incorporates political infighting into the fantasy battle of good vs. evil. Humans are struggling against an evil demon that can possess and dominate. However, good deities are ever-present to protect and guide the souls of two people joined by destiny. Two lovers meet in childhood and never forget each other even though they were separated for 19 years. Fate brings them back together, bringing out suppressed emotions and memories of love and friendship.

The acting was fantastic. The FL and the ML complimented each other with just the right amount of on-screen chemistry. The villains were ever-present, and sometimes you weren’t sure who they were. The drama flows from episode to episode and keeps you immersed in this beautiful story.

The music was great, blending into an exploding fantasy world that I couldn’t stop watching.

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A Compelling Story of Love and Family

If you’re looking for a romance, then look no further. This story will twist your heartstrings and make you hold on to the one you love. It’s a story of love, family, and the possibilities of faith in a promise. It was a beautiful fantasy of love.

The acting was fantastic, with So Ji Sub as Woo Jin, the father, and Kim Ji Hwan as Ji Ho, his son. The two of them brought life to the concept of a single father struggling to raise his son while having issues of his own. Ji Hwan is a great young actor with a bright future. The wife and mother, Im Soo Ah, was portrayed by the amazing Son Ye Jin. She brings light into every drama she’s in, and in this one, she was especially bright.

This is a compelling drama and worth your time to watch.

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A Touching Story of a Unique man.

A beautiful real-life story of a man who lived his life to the fullest despite all obstacles. It will make you feel good, it may even make you want to be a better person. I was pulled into the story, and it felt like an honor watching it.

Both Hwang Jung Min and Jun Ji Hyun were outstanding in this drama. I’m always amazed watching the growth of Ji Hyun as she demonstrates , once again, her ability as an actress. I am on a movie marathon of Ji Hyun movies and this one didn’t disappoint me. She plays a woman following and recording the story of a unique man in the final year of his life. A simple plot for a touching story that has to be done with respect. It’s well worth your time to give this a watch.

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Nice story that will keep you involved.

If you think medical dramas are all the same, you need to watch this one. A unique twist on doctors who manage pain with an overriding theme of euthanasia. Throw in a little romance and you have something exciting to watch. Don’t let the 32 episodes discourage you, the 30 minute episodes will fly by.

The storyline concentrates on pain management and does a good job of bringing excitement to an otherwise boring topic. Each doctor in the group has their own personality making it that much more interesting. Ji Sung was amazing as Dr. John (Cha). He fit the part and made it believable.

The love interest between Dr. Cha and Dr. Kang started slowly and peaked briefly at an airport farewell. It was a nice scene with love confessions on both sides. Other than a few minutes later in the story, there was no more real romance, and there definitely wasn’t much chemistry between the two leads. I don’t know if it was the story or the actor, but Ji Sung just didn’t seem to warm up to the romance concept. Lee Se Young, on the other hand, had much better chemistry and gave you a warm feeling that she was really in love. They tried to bring them back together in the last few minutes of the drama but that never really works to anybody’s satisfaction. But this drama really wasn’t about romance, it was about pain management.

In summary it has a good storyline and a strong supporting cast. I liked this drama. The music was fantastic, some of the best I’ve ever heard.

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Would you pick this man after all that abuse?

I found this to be an interesting series but a little awkward to watch. The acting was superb. Song Hye Kyo can light up a screen just by being there. She played the part well, as did the other main characters. This familiar story of two people who are not in love, living under a contract marriage is not new, and the effort to make it unique is what I found awkward. The two outside influences, one male and one female, were well placed and fit the part well. The cooking and cleaning arguments were repetitive and started wearing on my nerves. Who thinks screaming about cleaning the house contributes to the quality of a personal relationship? The amount of domestic abuse delivered reached way up on the misery index and frankly wasn’t funny. This show did have some funny moments, like Ji Eun carrying grandmother on her back, but domestic bullying wasn’t one of them. I wanted them to get divorced so bad, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
Can a woman who receives that much abuse fall for this repulsive character? In my opinion, Lee Yeong Jae had very few redeeming qualities. After he looked like a raving idiot for so many episodes trying to make him look even partially normal in the end was a far stretch. I found myself rooting for Min Hyuk. Setting up Ji Eun to be a doormat for this guy was just way over the top. Taking all that verbal abuse and coming back for more felt like a battered woman going to the man who abuses her. For some reason, the writers think calling somebody dense, stupid, and other names is endearing or normal. I’ll accept the unique twist of two friends selling your house, emptying your bank account, and opening credit cards in your name, but remaining friends?
I’m not trying to tear this series apart, although it may seem like it. I watched every minute and rooted for Ji Eun the whole way. I wish I could have felt good about them at the end. I somehow thought they were with the wrong partners as the car drove away. Please watch and decide for yourself.

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Unforgetable Memory of Love and Passion

A story of love and passion. Two souls that meet and share a day together. One a broke mystery Guy and the other a Girl about to get married to a different man she doesn’t love. I don’t think this is an everyday occurrence, but they made you feel the raw emotions of it all. Sung Hyun Ah is as sexy as they come and she played the part of Girl perfectly with passion that will make your heart pound. Jo Dong Hyuk also did a great job portraying Guy the mystery heart throb.

You almost feel you shouldn’t be watching these two as they love each other and share their one and only day together. Their chemistry was through the roof. As with most one night (day) stands, things come to and end. But every once in a while you touch something special that will leave a memory forever.

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A poignant drama disguised as a comedy.

I watch dramas for the romance. This movie had a romance that made me think. Blending an American Pie type show into a poignant drama with the dark side of abortion was something I never expected. The comedy, which was often weird, help emphasize the impact of what one young woman was going through. I think it was intended to show that while some are playing and having fun there are women out there who have just made a life decision and are in physical and emotional pain.

Contrary to other reviews, I thought the acting was great. It was supposed to be slapstick comedy and it was. I laughed and I got angry. Not many movies can bring out those two emotions. It was thought provoking.

Ha Ji Won did a fantastic job with her portrayal of Lee Eun Hyo. She was just starting her acting career and it must have taken guts to accept this role. She play it with style and grace. I got, what I felt, was the true meaning of this movie and I enjoyed every moment. She made it feel real.

And one final comment about romance. Don’t ever think the person who is whispering sweet things in your ear is better than the devoted one in front of you without giving it a lot of thought. The grass is rarely greener on the other side of the fence.

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Family issues and dueling chefs.

A touching story about family, food and the spirit of an ancestor. It’s also the story of good over evil and the meaning of never giving up. It will take you through an intense food competition between two rivals with a long history. The prize, an ancestral knife, the pride of a nation. You will feel the pressure of the competition but most of it is predictable. The story fails to pull the characters together in an organized manner leaving you a little confused at times. The entire movie feels a little strange as the scenes switch from one to another. I think this is due to the production of the film.

I found the drama to be less about food and more about the faults in the past generations of each family. It wasn’t a bad film it just wasn’t great.

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A great medical drama

I like doctor and hospital shows, so this one was perfect for me. It also had romance, which made it even better. As a bonus, Park Shin Hye was the female lead. She was excellent as usual. I watched this because I searched for dramas with strong female leads. This one had a strong female lead from start to finish. I’m glad I took the time to watch, and it kept me entertained for the entire series. The operating scenes were realistic, and there was enough drama and suspense to satisfy everybody.

If I were to find a fault, it would be the flow of the story. The focus was on the medical drama, sometimes leaving the romance and character development aside. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the medical stories. Some were suspenseful, and some were heart-wrenching. I think they followed Yoo Hye Jung’s life very well, which was the main focus of the entire drama. Again, Park Shin Hye played this part beautifully. She captures the screen with every move she makes.

The four residents were more like first-year med students. With a drama focused on brain surgery, you would think the residents would have a little more professionalism. I think this was supposed to be funny, but it didn’t come across very well. Punching, smacking on the head, and kicking the shins, isn’t funny. It was a weak attempt at humor.

Now let’s talk about romance. The storyline tried to force a love triangle with Yoo Hye Jung as the focal point. Unfortunately, they overplayed it so much I expected massive changes in the love interests. Jung Yoon Do knew her for just a short time. Hong Ji Hong had a history with her. It might have worked if it was an ex-boyfriend or something, but it just didn’t fit in this case. Yoon Kyun Sang didn’t seem to be the right fit in this drama for romance. As a doctor, he was great. Why push the love stuff on him? It was not romantic or funny, and it was awkward to the end. Do all writers think it’s required to have a love triangle?

Almost every episode interjected Yoon Do’s feelings about Hye Jung. As a result, it diminished the romantic relationship that was growing between Ji Hong and Hye Jung. I kept wondering why they kept focusing on Yoon Do’s feelings. After she rejected him several times, why didn’t they just let it go? On the other hand, it was nice to watch the relationship between Hye Jung and Ji Hong grow from start to finish. I didn’t see great chemistry between the two, but I did see love blossom into a sweet and romantic ending. There were four kisses which helped with the lack of chemistry.

This series gave me precisely what I was looking for, a strong female lead. Park Shin Hye was so good at displaying martial arts and the toughness of spirit. I would highly recommend this drama to everybody.

Subtitles: 7.5
There were numerous missing lines and some strange translations. Never using contractions in the entire drama was also cumbersome, but I’m getting used to seeing that in subtitles. Also, I’m getting used to common differences. Using “why?” in places that “what?” should be used or “get off the car” instead of “get out of the car.”

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Lost Potential

When I saw the genres Romance and Medical together, I was all-in. The drama started out fairly strong. The idea of a married woman (FL) being treated like a slave by her husband (ML), children and mother-in-law was a little hard to swallow, but I knew eventually she would fight back. When I found out her husband had a second family and cheated on her for 17 years, I felt certain he would pay the price. So, we waited, and we waited. Eventually she did fight back, and I tried to feel better, but the creepy husband was still around trying to keep his wife a slave.

Finally, the handsome doctor that treated her liver arrives on the scene and you would think. Here comes the romance. So, we waited, and we waited. But alas, no romance. I probably could have overlooked the awkward attempt at romance if there was any. Two women, two men all interacting with each other, you would expect something to happen. But the story takes a couple bizarre turns and fizzles out into the middle of nowhere. It took 15 and a half episodes for the FL lead to say she never really saw herself with the liver doctor. You could have fooled me. After 15 episodes of the ML being a monster (even if it was an attempt at comedy), the story, as predicted, tried to redeem him. It didn’t work.

Have you ever watched a drama and the last two or three episodes just don’t make any sense? Well sadly Doctor Cha is one of those dramas. The only sliver of romance was between Doctor Cha’s son and his female boss. There was no romance between the leads, and the terrible ending ruined the entire potential of the story.

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A journey of two souls driven by fate who find true love.

If you believe in fate and true love that will always find it’s soul mate, then this drama is for you. Start with an unlikely event that brings the two destined souls together. Mix that in with suspense, explosive turmoil and family love, no matter how good or bad, and you have the makings of a fantastic drama.

The acting was amazing. Son Ye Jin’s portrayal of CEO Yoon Se Ri was perfect. Her on screen chemistry with Hyun Bin who played Captain Ri Jung Hyuk was beautiful. You get to watch a relationship grow from mutual concern to full blown over the top love. It was fun and heart warming to watch. Ye Jin is so good at showing emotions with her facial expressions. She will pull you into the drama and immerse you with feelings you didn’t realize you were sharing with her.

The story was captivating and I had a hard time turning it off at the end of the day. It was too long to binge watch in one day but I made it in three. The music was great and the scenes from both North and South Korea made me feel like I was there.

If you want to witness love as you have never seen it before, then watch this funny, sweet, emotional, suspenseful journey of two people as they navigate the difficult road to find each other.

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My opinion of this passionate, romantic drama

The Man:
Do you think this drama is unrealistic? I don’t think so. Haven’t you ever seen a man who only wants one thing from a woman? Haven’t you ever seen a man that doesn’t want any commitment in the process? They call them players in the social world or users in the not-so-nice world. Sometimes they just called them creeps. Some people will watch this drama and think he was honest with his feelings and worthy of praise. Sure he was. For all ten episodes, he never said a word or looked at her without a manipulative meaning behind it. There was no chemistry, just a man working on his mark—a butterfly for his collection. Guess what? Do you think he changed in the end? Releasing his butterflies was comical. Please make no mistake about it; in the end, he captured the butterfly.

The Woman:
This woman was oblivious to everything around her except him. Her artwork and communication skills suffered, and her entire personality changed the second she met him. I don’t think she realized that she had no chance to escape the butterfly net. She was naïve enough, or weak enough after a breakup, to fall for his cheesy approach. She wasn’t looking for a relationship in the beginning; she was looking for the same thing he was, uncommitted passion. She couldn’t even look at him without getting weak in the knees, and he was well aware of her feelings. Hanging with him after he made himself clear was her problem. She tried to turn herself into the victim, but in reality, she was just there for him to use, and that’s exactly what he did. I saw no redeeming value in her character other than the passion she had for him. Everything else, everybody else suffered in the wake.

Conclusion:
It gives credence to the saying, ‘nice guys finish last.’ She made a point of crushing her childhood friend so many times, but she would come back to use him to make herself feel better. He dodged the bullet. He should consider himself lucky. She was not the kind of woman that would coexist with a nice guy. Or at least she would only be there until the next bad boy cast his net.

Plot:
The plot was not too involved. Girl falls for the player, the girl thinks she can change the player, girl rejects the nice guy, and finally, the girl surrenders to the player. There is nothing unrealistic about this plot, I’ve seen it dozens of times in real life. It might have been better if they spent a little time building up the destroyed character of the player. It would have made her look better. In the end I just saw two users walking hand in hand.

My ratings:
I will probably rate this better than my words show because I like any dramas with romance and passion. This drama had both so I enjoyed it.

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