Fleffel
UK
My heart was felt pounding for entirely different reasons:
- The growth of the characters
- The pure and honest depth of the story
- A sense of warming accomplishment communicated by the great acting
With a very easy to follow story that's both believable and motivating, completed by relatable, developing characters whose interactions with each other made me both cry and then grin, Page Turner encapsulates everything a short drama should be.
The story feels mostly predictable but there are certainly twists and surprises! The music is of course fantastic. The acting, I expected no less! And I'd certainly rewatch the whole thing again at some point just to get those butterflies again *cough*andwatchaperkyJiSooagain*cough*. It was a great ride. But be warned, the ending may not be all that you expect it to be.
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The fact that it is all based on gritty, hard fact adds a hefty weight to the already unsettling story. There’s a lot here that reflects upon corruption, in all its forms, ‘gifting’ the viewer with an insight into a darker time in history and the effects of a corrupted government. Despite the general breadth of its theme - that this insanity and moral degradation affects a whole kingdom - it still feels personal and real. No character is without its flaws, nor its scars, and at times I even found myself pitying the mad prince. There’s a lot of emotional intensity to see here, like everyone's just trying to survive.
It’s a well-paced film, as I never found myself bored. Though the acting wasn’t lacking however - especially not with Kim Kang Woo and Joo Ji Hoon! - I do think I could’ve been more emotionally-invested? Where the fault lies with that, I’m not certain, but that’s the main reason why I mark this film down: I didn’t FEEL enough as I believe I could’ve. That, and at times… clarity, I believe, wasn’t always there. Not regarding the major things, but more in the details of the characters and their histories. (A few things felt a bit skimped over and probably could’ve done with a tad more coverage, though overall the impact on the rest of the film isn’t a big deal at all.)
That aside, the costumes are brilliant. As are the sets. The music is above being ‘just good’ and I genuinely enjoyed these past two hours, with all my gasping and marvelling. It’s a dark yet interesting film that kept me watching to the end.
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But this? ...Haha. I actually waited for it. Every now and then I'd think to myself, "Ah. Not long left now!" and wonder when I'd be able to get my hands on some English subtitles.
I read the manga once. A long time ago. I barely remember what actually happened in it, but the warm feeling I got from it I didn't forget, so I gave it chance. I thought that, just maybe, this film could help me get back into Japanese drama. Did it? Let's just say I went from 20% likely to watch one to 70%.
The Story:
Cliche. You know what's going to happen. If you've watched enough RomCom stuff like I have you just know and no matter how many times you wish for something else to happen 9/10 those dreams don't come true. It's not super awesome: no Healer or Peach Girl. But...the twists and turns give it a little of a special sparkle. It did anything but bore me despite knowing how it'd all end up.
Those annoying little effects they do were actually funny this time around, though maybe that's just because I haven't seen any in a long time. There wasn't so much that it just became a slapstick comedy and to be honest, it fitted the whole drama well - really well. With all the talk of heroines and side-characters it was almost - ALMOST - needed.
The Acting:
No major flaws here. Again a bit...dramatic at times, so dramatic it occasionally felt too theatrical to get absorbed in 100% - in true Japanese drama fashion, in my experience anyway. But I cried. And if they make me cry, twice at that, then they did the job well!
The Music:
Hmm...Average? Certainly appropriate but...'samey'. Not that all the tracks were the same, but so familiar that you feel like you've already heard it elsewhere: if that makes sense? Just above standard. Stirs the emotions well but there's a very slim chance I'd ever purchase the OST in comparison to some other competitors. Pretty good though.
The Rewatch Value:
Ah. Now this is one point I wanted to make. Despite not remembering the contents of the manga I purposefully didn't go back and read it. Why? So the film could renew it afresh for me. It's very rare that I rewatch anything from start to finish because guessing where it's all going to end up or play out is half of the fun to me. Yet in saying that the characters are cute. It's the sort of film I'd likely watch again in a year or so on a rainy night with a mouth full of popcorn with a hot chocolate at the ready. True RomCom stuff.
Summary:
I have no regrets. I enjoyed it.
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STORY
A Poem a Day is nothing special. There's no big intense driving plot or any big twists, but it IS incredibly easy to watch and full of sentimental value. A Poem a Day tugged on all my heartstrings in the right places and made me giggle too many times to count. There's a real down-to-earth vibe throughout the whole show that translates seamlessly into even the romance which I found very refreshing - and there were no typical kdrama cliches! (Apart from maybe the love triangle but hey, I'm a sucker for those and this one was wrapped up responsibly and realistically! What a surprise right?) It's a casual watch that entwines the stories of not just our main trio but also that of multiple other employees at the hospital with comfortable ease, without relying on dramatics or glaring over-used character flaws that felt fake. Everyone felt relatable and was easy to connect with. To me A Poem a Day is a shining example of just how well 'less is more' can work and it strayed from typical expectations without seeming like it was trying hard at all.
ACTING
I have no complaints here! Lee Joon Hyuk's acting may perhaps seem a little stiff at first but you'll soon realise that that's simply just how his character is. (And I ADORE our awkward and super sensible Doctor Ye. He is one of the main reasons I laughed so much while watching this show, especially towards the end of the series!) All the emotions even down to the subtler ones were portrayed well and I never once had any problems at all absorbing myself in the show.
MUSIC
So sweet! The music matches the relaxed and sentimental vibe of the show really well. Accompanied with the readings of poems - which make me want to buy a poetry book! - they may not be something I'm likely to remember in the distant future, but I can bet I'll feel all kinds of sentimental when I happen across them again.
REWATCH VALUE
I actually totally would rewatch this show, given enough time has passed. A Poem a Day possesses such a slice-of-life simplicity and sentimental value that a lot of Kdrama shows just do not have. It was honestly a joy to watch and I full appreciated its simplicity. It might not be for everyone, and I can understand that, but for once I was happy to just relax and not have my mind racing to predict any outcomes or groan at overdone cliches. A Poem a Day is a cute, comfortable series with just the right amount of realistic pains and drama. It felt like I peeking into a few chapters of people's lives and learning some valuable life lessons in the process.
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This review may contain spoilers
This type of film requires a specific type of mood to properly enjoy. It's not the type to spoon-feed you the hard facts, and - in my personal experience at least - the lack of any good English subtitles will add to the challenge. Yet, for all of that, it's an odd little, flawed, but incredibly memorable gem. (As this review is rather long, feel free to skip to the last two paragraphs if you're having a tldr moment!)
Story:
WARNING: this is NOT an innocent film. For all its pretty colours and pretty characters, when it gets dark, it gets reeeeaaal dark. Due to spoilers I can't give much else away but just-... this is not a light-hearted story. Be prepared.
That aside you'll likely be confused, a lot, throughout this film: I was. Though the main plot behind it all is actually rather simple, (and unveiled right at the end), the way it's portrayed through a surreal lens made it an intriguing puzzle I found hard to piece together, until it was too late. Several times I thought, "AHA! I know what's going on!" But then there'd always be this one thing, then two, then several which just didn't make sense still. What's real? Was I right? You'll be doing a lot of guessing, I imagine. Even the end of the ending left me with questions.
But exactly because of that I've rated the 'Rewatch Value' rather high. I'll absolutely rewatch this film at some point, now that I know some solid facts. I feel like there's a lot of symbolism and hidden messages that I'll be able to properly appreciate the second time around. And I certainly won't be looking at the characters, and their interactions, in the same light ever again.
Atmosphere:
I don't usually give 'atmosphere' its whole own section but man, is it the main pull of this film! As hard as I had to concentrate and speculate, once I was in I honestly couldn't leave: no matter how awful the subtitles sometimes became. There's a very peculiar and yet captivating beauty to this film, like a surreal and yet dark, twisted fairy-tale. Dreams and nightmares constantly blur lines and even until the end you'll never really know for sure if some things actually happened or not. Prepare to get messed up. (And I say that with entertained but bittersweet love, as I adored it, in its own, quirky little way.)
Acting & Characters:
Oh Hong Jong Hyun! The way he played Hwan, or even just Hwan as a character, is unforgettable. (And so refreshing in comparison to his role in Scarlet Heart Ryeo.) I feel like he really stood out amongst the rest of the cast which, in general, was pretty average. Jung So Min (playing the main female lead, Hye Jung) did her job rather well, but I think I could've felt more for her? While Soo Ryeon's potential feels wasted: there was a lot of intense emotion there that I don't think got enough screen-time.
The other characters...are okay. I still can't decide whether they're entirely necessary however, especially some of their scenes. The actress who was Hye Jung's aunt did a good job in her role though. And it was nice to see a contrast of viewpoints: Hye Jung in the 'dreamworld', and the family in 'real-world', each striving towards the truth.
Music:
Meh. Though certainly not a hindrance I don't actually remember much of it. There's one song in particular that I grew fond of however. You'll know what I mean when you get there.
Overall, this film messed me up. The impression it left on me for the rest of the night - and still does - is actually rather remarkable and deserves some praise. It's peculiar, convoluted, symbolic, and really twisted. One on end I want to rate it badly: as a story I don't think it succeeded in finding the fine balance between clarity and mystery, and the conclusion isn't exactly a proper conclusion either. While on the other hand, emotionally it stirred me up and the atmosphere is so worth it.
So if you're sick and tired of the average straight road with the predictable bends, and are looking for something different - like I was - this is the film for you.
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Though there are the skeletons of a plot there isn't really anything else to this story: not unless you dig real deep. Every now and then it moves a little forwards in abrupt lurches but I found myself not really caring about any of the developments, and those that I DID care about didn't get enough screen time! Yet for 8-10 minutes per episode it is enjoyable in its own little, time-filler way.
I started watching Eating Existence expecting very little and it's a good job I didn't. A lot of my enjoyment came from Yong Tae Won v2 in all his adorable wackiness - though he didn't get anywhere near as much time as he should've! There are quite a few scenes which cracked me up (and it's probably worth watching just for those) and there's a peculiar kind of sweetness to the whole show that saves it. The characters were appealing and unusual enough to keep me watching.
So if you're heartbroken after your latest drama and need a few minutes of respite then this is a good choice. Personally I used it to amuse myself for a little while.
(I gave the music such a low score since I don't even remember any of it. Like...not even a few notes. I'm almost starting to convince myself that there wasn't any but in the end credits.)
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This review may contain spoilers
The King of Dramas is underrated. Sure, it's not a 10/10 flawless drama, but how hard are they to find! Around the middle of the series I did get distracted by other dramas instead, I'll admit that, but I am so grateful that I stuck with it until the end. The King of Dramas is a sweet, moving, and rewarding show. I'll start with what flaws come to mind first, as I'm a 'bad before the good' sort of person:
- First of all, if - like me -, you're often attracted to dramas for the romance you will be in for a wait. I was really surprised to discover that the actual romance in the King of Dramas doesn't actually properly kick off until around...episode 12/13, if I remember right. There was a lot of drama about...well, making dramas haha, which I started to get bored of without any sparks of proper romance in the air. (I'm partly to blame for that though, as I was getting impatient!)
- There are a few shallow characters, not many, but one or two. For example there's your rather stereotypical antagonist, out for revenge and all that. While (without getting into spoilers), there's also an old flame character who comes off as pretty tedious too. At first.
Now for the good stuff! ALL THOSE FLAWS AMEND THEMSELVES!
+ Though a late bloomer, when the romance does properly come to light it's unbearably - in all the right ways - sweet and full of giggles. And so natural too. The connection between the characters is deep, and so so SO worth the wait <3
+ All the characters find their places. The somewhat two-dimensional old flame becomes a delight to see on-screen, and though the straight-forward antagonist doesn't exactly 'amend' himself you see less and less of him. Plus, when he shows up again right near the end he gave me one final laugh. It was a nice way to send him off; as if the writer had reflected upon him, and decided to poke a joke with us.
+ Anthony Kim and Kang Hyun Min are very memorable characters, though drastically different. Hyun Min is an endless source of entertainment, while the brusque, driven Anthony really grew on me with all his admirable passion - and amusing pride.
+ The ending. Yep, it ends well! In my books at least I'm going to count it as a good one. It paid a lot of homage to the start of the series, and held a lot of satisfaction and reminiscence. Though the 'old flame' character felt a tad...rushed? I guess? (The acting there was a little uncomfortable.) It was nonetheless tied up very well. It was very rewarding.
So, at the end of the day, if you're debating whether or not you should watch it, JUST DO IT! The characters are memorable, the story full of determination and passion, while as a whole it was very satisfying. It's not the best drama, to be sure - no Healer! - but by no means should that be reason to not give it a little faith and patience.
I've literally just finished watching it with a big grin on my face and a heart with no regrets.
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At first the only thing that attracted me to it was the extremely refreshing character of Yoo Jung, who unlike any other similar characters in other kdramas was actually the main lead. Next came the familiarity with all the supporting cast and the storylines that developed - all extremely relatable to everyday life as a student. Then came the tugs on my heartstrings with the brilliant second lead.
Honestly, I don't think I could've asked for any more. Like a lot of things I developed a massive soft spot for the second male lead...and seriously, his scenes were always straight up 100% adorable or just heartbreaking in all the right ways. But plots developed. Characters learned. The acting was superb and the music amplified all the emotions and laughter. The ending is...perhaps too open-ended for a lot of people but it's true to life and gives me hope. I'm not left feeling sorry for anything.
Watch it.
Don't just deliberate and at least TRY it for a few episodes! I loved all the characters, even the ones that I loved to hate. Depth is definitely not something which this drama lacks.
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I'm not going to say it's the best drama ever. I'm not going to say that nothing else will ever be able to compare to it. But I will say this: I certainly won't forget it.
A lot of kdramas have this otherworldly feel to them. More often that not they've got these fantastic storylines and plot twists, and though I can easily relate to the characters in those situations it's just...not the same as with It's Okay, That's Love. There's something about this drama which is really REAL. There's no big-short CEOs or vindictive mothers or Cinderella stories. It's just genuine.
The Plot:
- Really develops into something I never realised would happen
- It's believable
- It ropes you in
The Characters:
- Are very easy to relate to
- There's no-one who felt two-dimensional
- Each one of them is interesting in their own unique way making them a joy to watch as the plot unfolds!
- They grow!
The Music:
- Isn't the greatest but it matches the moods very well
- There's quite a range of different songs (I'm pretty sure a few of them were sung completely in English)
Rewatch Value:
- Hm...I probably would rewatch it in a year or two.
- I personally don't often like rewatching things too recently and with this drama in particular what mattered the most to me was knowing where all the characters ended up. I know that now, so I need a bit of time to let it all fade somewhat! I'm sure it'll make me laugh to remember where they all were and what they all were like right at the start though.
So WATCH IT!!!!!!!
Honestly I dragged this drama out far too long and I regret that - I kept getting distracted by newer, sparkly dramas... However I will certainly never forget this little jewel no matter how long it took me to complete it.
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DO NOT WATCH IF YOU CAN'T STAND CONTROLLING GUYS! Other than that though the drama is very sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it . The story is quite cliché and the characters are mostly predictable, but there's something between the acting and the script and the soundtracks (that made me giggle) that surprisingly made me really enjoy the whole thing, no matter how stereotypical it all is!
For a web drama Noble, My Love is short and sweet. I didn't cry but I laughed - a lot - and the chemistry between the leads felt strong too. It was a bit like seeing your favourite, old childhood fairytale adapted onto screen. I don't think there was anything that really stood out to me and made me cringe in all the bad ways.
8/10 would watch again! (Especially when feeling soppy and ill! It'd be perfect.)
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Sure it has its predictability but c'mon, isn't that part of the appeal? The fact that you get to CHOOSE who the main lead ends up with is such a brilliant idea!
The plots of each route were short and sweet, but more than just a satisfying time filler. The acting was surprisingly pretty good, even though I'd read they were idols - or at least idols in the making! The music was cutesy and catchy in true Kpop style and the rewatch value...ok, yes, I admit I probably would rewatch my favourite (or two) routes. The characters themselves were distinguishable without trying too hard and actually interesting to learn about.
So maybe I'm just overhyping this because I just loved how refreshing this drama was in the way it was handled, yet it's definitely worth at least trying. (I decided to 'try' it out...and then ended up doing a marathon.) It's no 10/10 but I really hope it's the first in a new wave of different Kdramas!
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This review may contain spoilers
A lot of people seem to complain about this drama and I can see why. The acting is pretty average, not awful at all but not that great either: just good enough to get across the general emotions. (Though this changes for each actor! In particular I loved Sung ChangMin's acting. When he cried he literally cried: red swollen eyes and all! The main villain is pretty badass too). While the story is...more interesting than usual, but more in the way of a rollercoaster: some bits were very predictable, while other bits had me sat on the edge of my seat in anticipation. I think with some tweaks here and there I would've given this drama a 9/10 instead of a 7.5/10. The general story has great potential, and though I personally wasn't pleased with the 'end of the ending' (for reasons I can't say due to spoilers!) a lot of people were.
So...don't treat it too harshly and you'll be in for a good watch.
I have no regrets at all about starting this drama. In fact, it was this drama which broke my vampire-drama-ickiness! (I don't know why, but I usually find them really...'cringey'.) It isn't the best drama out there but it is certainly worth your time! I know I've definitely got a special place for it in my memory.
Thank you, 'Scholar Who Walks the Night', for breaking my vampire drama prejudice!
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The Story:
I can't say much without spoiling it, but it's not as predictable as you might initially think! The way they blend the two different time periods together works surprisingly well too, and though the story in general is laden with cliches it was enjoyable and rather touching to watch. One of the characters honestly felt...a bit like a dead weight - seriously, what happened to them?! So there are, of course, flaws in the potential that could've been had with a plot like this: other than just that one unfortunately. But that being said, with a good pacing that comes with such short dramas as this one and a well-communicated sentiment, I do recommend giving this one a go.
The Acting:
Aaaaah~ Ah Jae Hyeon! I've been developing a soft spot for him lately what with watching You're All Surrounded and Cinderella and the Four Knights for example, and of course he acts superbly here too. Though I've had little to no experience with the rest of the cast they did a great job too. I can't fault them.
The Music:
Very appropriate. Perhaps a little better than most stereotypical tracks but not really something I'd remember easily. In saying that though it does set the mood very well instead of getting in the way.
Rewatch Value:
...There's only one reason I'd watch this again given being in the right mood, but alas, I cannot say without spoiling my favourite bit! I can't even hint, haha.
Overall:
Set your standards low and you'll be in for a treat. Snow Lotus is a memorable way to pass two hours of your time. I recommend it!
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I enjoyed it. Not loads but it's a memorable one. (Hey, it is a sassy, talking cat we're on about here!) The story has a really sweet and easygoing appeal. It felt a bit like reading someone's blog of a diary with it's slice of life feel. It's a very relaxing little series and a VERY welcome few half-an-hour chunks of relief in between 16 hour long emotional roller-coasters. A necessary time-out in my opinion. The plot has its odds and ends with little questions still niggling at the back of my head, but as a whole it progressed and wrapped up well without feeling rushed.
The acting was good but not really anything that will go down in the history books. The same goes for the music. Both get the job done and well but they're nothing amazing.
Now that I've been there and done that though, I don't think I'll be rewatching it any time soon. It's cute, sure, very cute, dashed here and there with giggles and the occasional sad tear, but I have a feeling it'll become like one of my old books I read four years ago and am only just now feeling like going for it again.
I'd recommend this to anyone just getting into Kdrama or even just looking for a break between more serious series. Don't set your standards too high and you'll have a very refreshing, feel-good time.
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CONS:
- More than just a few of my favourite moments had a tendency to be suddenly cut short. I can't really call them cliffhangers since they reached their peaks but I was left longing for more on more than one occasion only to be fed something else completely different.
- It can drag. Somewhere along the line the length of the episodes bumped right up to an hour and a half. That's a lot when there's 21 episodes and sadly you could really feel them pumping in the filler in the end half of the very last episode. Sometimes they seem to struggle to find the balance between showing me stuff I want to see at that moment, and stuff which I sadly don't really...care about a great deal.
- Circles. I can confidently say that at least once the main love triangle almost completely reset back to square one. While this gave me a fresh sense of hope and excitement it eventually lost its lustre. Every now and then it even got painful.
- The music. This is completely personal. I'm sure quite a lot of you will be watching this to get a feeling of nostalgia but the music isn't to my taste.
PROS:
- I loved all the characters. Though my memory of Reply 1997 is hazy in places I know that I liked a larger amount of characters in 1994 than in 1997. They were what kept me going and they took me through all kinds of feels while they were at it, making you feel really connected to them all. (Sung Na Jung felt a bit too much like Sung Shi Won to become one of those favourites though. I wanted someone a bit different this time around.)
- Nostalgia: if I can call it that having been born in 1994 myself! It was both amusing and educational to watch this series because of its setting.
- Atmosphere. Like 1997, 1994 carries on that lovely, diary-esque feeling that I loved. These all feel like real people living out real lives, and for all its flaws the plot can and does make sense: sometimes that really is just how life is! They have your average conversations and life-changing events, time passes, people drift and sometimes return etc.
- Your patience is rewarded. You know those almost-cliffhanger moments I mentioned in the cons? Yep, I believe ALL of them are eventually continued but you'll likely be waiting until the very last moment of the series to get your fill.
- Fan-service. Kind of. (But not the ab-kind! Though there is some of that early on heheh.) Some characters from 1997 crossover at certain points!
- I personally preferred the college/uni setting to that of a high school, but that's probably just my age showing!
Overall I enjoyed Reply 1994 but am admittedly annoyed as it could've been so much better. Just like 1997 its ending has issues which had me counting down the last minutes with impatient frustration. But the characters are fabulous. And for all its flaws it's still a very memorable drama, which says a lot when there's so many out there.
Better than average with a unique feel, at times you'll get annoyed and tired of it but you'll find yourself coming back anyway: that's 1994 for me.
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