ColourMePurple

Lost me in the second half

Season 1 was honestly great but season 2 didn't live up to the mark. There were many times where I felt the show was trying too hard to be perfect that it lost the natural feel to it.

As a summary/recap, Deib was a popular high school kid who had a popular group of friends. He used to bully Max, a poor but strong girl and eventually they fell in love. Deib had an older brother, Dale, who was shot and left for dead for which Deib blames himself for being inebriated at the time. His parents also blamed him for a while. His father continues to be harsh with him and nothing Deib does to make up for it seems to be good enough for his father. Deib had hired a private investigator who then went missing at a crucial point. When it is revealed that Max's uncle Boyet is at the center of Dale's shooting incident, it puts a strain on Max and Deib's relationship.

There is nothing wrong with the story as such. In fact, up until the mid point it was pretty interesting. But after a while, you start to feel bored and wish the story could move faster. Or something new would happen. And when it does, you feel like this just doesn't make any sense. There are some interesting side characters - Niah, Ysay and Lee, but even their plot appears to move in circles. The sudden disappearance of a character also felt strange and unresolved. There's a death that felt like it was added for the shock value as it serves no purpose.

Acting wise, I felt the cast did a really good job though I did feel like there were more crying scenes than required. Sympathetic crying happened a bit too often. Also some of the characters feel more like cheering squads in this season and don't have a life of their own even when they could have had their own stories that were initiated in season 1.

By the end of season 2, I felt a bit tired to continue. It is mostly filled with cliches. That is why it took me 3 days just to finish watching the finale.

There are some good moments and positive messages like loving yourself, doing what is good for you, sisterhood, etc. It's just the presentation that feels unfamiliar.

One thing that does stand out is the exceptional OST. There are some beautiful tracks that I fell in love with while watching this show like Kahit Na Kahit Pa, Did You Let Me Go, I Just Miss You and the title track He's Into Her are some of the most memorable ones.

The show couldn't live up to the first season's performance but it is good for a one time watch so that the story is tied up.

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A very long vacation aka a slow burn

The first episode was not great as I was watching and I wondered if it was a good pick but the ending of the episode touched my heart and that is when I began to enjoy the story.

The acting and characters are wonderful and the story is sweet but there are times when you wish they had gotten together already. Then again the show is titled 'Long Vacation'. You're in it for a long ride.

The piano and OST are beautiful and catchy but there are times when the music overlaps on the piano playing which is a possible drawback. I would have liked to listen to Sena play more.

Sena and Minami make a good pair with her outgoing and overly positive and peppy nature and his introverted, shy, and hesitant nature which she brings out the best in while he provides her with the dependable sweetness that she longs for.

I would have loved to see some moments of them as an official couple where they know where they stand with each other.

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A mix of a strong plot, characters and acting.

When I watched the trailer, all I could think of was this is another Boys Over Flowers and Meteor Garden with the Male lead being a member of a group (Alpha 3 instead of F4) and he ends up bullying the poor but brave female lead eventually falling for her. But it's not quite the same. And that's probably why I liked it.

Although both shows do have their similarities, this male lead, Deib, does have his humane side which they reveal early on. That's why it was easier to believe he was not a bad guy. His first intro was more normal. There are definitely clashes between the pair leading up to the bullying that are again insights into the type of person the male lead is. He is not an angry spoilt brat even though he can be. But you find yourself understanding where he's coming from pretty quickly.

The female lead, Maxpein, doesn't just stand up for herself but also others. Her family situation is dire but they are not over the top characters desperate to push her onto a rich guy like in F4:Thailand or BOF. Her family inspires her to show vulnerability but keep going despite hardships. "The brave cry but don't give up" is her motto during her weakest moments. At no point is she forced to overwork herself. Though I do wonder when she and the other students studied.

It's easy to see why the leads can connect and relate to each other. Even though the bullying is pretty nasty, it felt less intense except at one point when it gets serious and this is where the story takes a turn. Luckily it does not involve sexual harassment of any sort.

For 10 episodes and 45 min episodes, the story is conveyed well and there are many different aspects to the story that you don't see coming. Season 1 ends on a cliff hanger but even as a standalone season, it does well to take you on an emotional and fairly relatable journey. This is the first Filipino drama that I have watched and I am quite impressed by it. As far as the support cast is concerned, I quite liked Maxpien's father, Elle, and the headmaster did a wonderful job portraying their characters.

The show is not heavy on the romance which is nice but may not be everyone's cup of tea. I recommend giving this a go for the story and the acting/cast.

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I am not one to watch horror shows generally but I was curious because it only has 8 ten minute episodes. That is great for binge watching. If you scare easily like me then let me just say that the show is watchable and probably won't give you nightmares. But it does have a major jump (or in my case scream) scare. There is some amount of gore but it's not that bad. Or at least it didn't bother me and I can't stand gore.

Getting to the story, I liked the setting of the call center and the concept of the show. It not new in the least but it is interesting enough to make you want to watch and find out what is going to happen and why things are happening the way they are. So that mystery element is a good driving point. I won't claim it to be the best show but for 10 min episodes, it's a fun watch. It's the length of a movie.

If you are a huge horror fan, then you might not enjoy the series as the scary parts are mild. Then again it might be worth giving a shot.

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Wasted potential

This could have been one amazing thriller/horror series but it was truly disappointing after a great start!

The story revolves around an archaeologist who is requested by monks to translate the inscriptions on a seal. This seal was placed on a Buddha statue that contained an evil spirit and buried by a powerful monk a long time ago. There was so much to explore in terms of who this evil spirit belonged to. How did it come to possess the Buddha statue? Why was the only option to seal and bury the statue and not destroy such a dangerous thing?

The first two episodes were really good but the 3rd episode made it all about people getting possessed and killing each other. I understand that it was important to explain why the statue was so dangerous but it would have helped to understand why the evil spirit works in this way. This episode just reminded me of zombies. Also, there was no consistency. Some people were affected very quickly while others were delayed in getting affected. What was the importance of having a strong heart? It seemed like there was no one strong enough to resist the statue.

I thought the scene with the crows was quite incredible visually. I just felt like it was pointless to the story. Why were they attacking people? Would they cross towns eventually and attack everyone?

Finally, why did the archaeologists go there unprepared? Dipping his magazines in the muddy water and hoping it sticks to the statue is a terrible plan to save people. Also, the cop mother was infuriating. She had no idea her son is being bullied. She had no trust in him and there is no explanation why. It felt like something was missing since her son was making amends. Also, she was acting foolishly several times which added to my frustration with her. As a cop, you expect her to be more sensible.

Finally, the show moves on to a new mystery without exploring what happened after everything was done. What happened to the villagers who survived and if anyone who was possessed managed to survive besides the main characters? The ending was a bit too abrupt. There was so many ways of making this an incredible short series. I wish they would have taken 2 more episodes in order complete the story and explain a lot of the events instead of rushing through things and hinting at a second season. I just hope they read these reviews and work on their story for next season.

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Ate It Up!

Celebrity was an excellent binge.

Seo Ari was a rich girl who became a door to door cosmetics salesperson after her father went bankrupt. One day she ends up tangled in the world of instagram celebrities and finds herself gaining attention and lets her curiosity of the world get the better of her.

What I enjoyed:
- Every episode had a lot happening. Very fast paced which I love.
- The characters which may seem over the top but not unbelievable because I have actually come across such people.
- The production was clearly top notch on this.
- The intro (theme) is gorgeous.
- The story-telling is certainly intriguing and I am a sucker for mysterious hidden characters and trying to figure out who dun it.
- Having heard of a few friends turn into rivalries among celebs and youtubers, the plot was quite believable. The way people end up exposing each other. The following unfollowing drama. The rumours and the fans defending and trolling and the public reactions. It's all well known facts about these celebs. The plot was a good run-down of how some of these people act on and off-screen.
- Though there is no proper romance, there is some really fascinating chemistry between Seo Ari and Jun Kyung that made for a fun experience.
- I love me a bit of a revenge plot so this show was right up my alley!

What could have been better:
Although I have already rated this a 10, the one thing that was distracting was that a lot of the online comments and DMs were not being translated and so I would occasionally translate them myself since some of it was a huge part of the story. Obviously, this isn't an issue of the plot itself. Rather, for whatever reason, the subbing was lacking.

I would definitely recommend watching this show even if you are not fascinated by celebrities and influencers as it has a lot going for it.

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Amazing until you get to the end...

I have been let down so severely by what was a fantastic drama. Let's highlight the reasons why this drama is a 9 first.

The story is about a dedicated wife-mother-daughter-daughter-in-law who is encouraged to find more meaning to her existence beyond living for her family by once again working as a doctor. When she discovers that she needs a liver transplant, her husband of 20 years, further discouraged by his mother, is unwilling to save her life by giving her a part of his liver. Luckily she finds a donor just in time and becomes determined to live her life for herself for once.

Through the plot is quite serious, especially considering the fact that the wife is unaware that her husband is in fact cheating on her, the show managed to evoke a lot of laughter. The comedy is fantastic and I am never getting over the line, "My husband is dead".

The cast are incredible. You completely empathise with Doctor Cha and are made to root for her through each of her troubles. She has a good head on her shoulders. Her husband Doctor Seo is as pathetic as a cheating man could possibly be and the actor has not only managed to get you mad at him but is also much of the butt of the jokes in the show. His expressions add to the hilarity. Doctor Roy Kim is Doctor Cha's friend in need. He supports her exactly when she needs it. He cares for her and was the ray of light she needed during her dark times. Without him, her husband would never have realised what he was discarding. Doctor Roy is also the complete opposite of what the husband is. An upright man and a gentleman. The mistress and her daughter added the much needed drama for a proper cheating scandal and the entanglement that required Doctor Cha to wake up from what she thought was a perfect life. Doctor Cha's children had their own stories going and even though the daughter was annoying at first, both her kids were sympathetic to their mother's situation which also added to her courage.

Now coming to the let down.
Throughout the show, they teased a possibility of Doctor Cha leaving her cheating husband and moving on with Doctor Roy. If the writers wanted to show her happy on her own, this angle for this character was not at all needed. He could have just been a friend from the beginning. Yes, it's true that she never showed interest in Doctor Roy because she was still in love with her husband and reeling from the shock of his affair. Yet the writers continued to tease this love triangle that never would be. It feels like the writers are telling the audience that it is not appropriate for a woman in her 40s who is divorced with two kids and health issues to have a chance at real love. She should continue her life in service of others but this time as a doctor. At least that is what much of the audience has taken away from this decision where people are writing - "yes, she had too much BAGGAGE". Only men are allowed "baggage" even today and be considered worthy of a second, third, xth chance at love. Not women. And despite being a cheater and an incompetent partner in general, the husband gets to stay friends with his wife and his ex. It was unclear if he got back with his ex. Furthermore, they practically removed traces of Doctor Roy from her life. Thus my disappointment is in what the writers inadvertently ended up pushing.

For the finale alone, I wanted to give this show an 8.5 (it was also quite dull compared to the rest of the episodes) which otherwise was a 10 but I have decided to leave it at a 9 because at least the writers didn't force her to forgive her husband and allowed her to get divorced and live for herself for a change. Coz that would have been the absolute worst.

I wanted to remember this show fondly. It's sad this finale won't let me do that.

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Enjoyable

The story might feel a little confusing at first but you catch up quite quickly. It was a fun ride! I had 0 expectations before starting this so it was a completely positive experience. It's not too scary either.

I almost didn't recognise Kim Nam Gil from Through The Darkness so that discovery was exciting.

I was a little doubtful that the pretty boy idol portraying Priest Yohan would make a good character but he added some humour to the show that is otherwise a bit dark. He emoted better than I expected.

The CGI is nice. One particular scene reminded me of a scene from Harry Potter as well.

I do wish they hadn't split up the season unnecessarily. Not happy about this trend but it was an interesting ending. Looking forward to part 2.

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Suddenly went downhill

When the series started initially, it looked like a good concept. A lawyer helping people solve cases for only 1 dollar (1000 won) but as the story progressed it seemed like there was nothing unique and special about this lawyer. Rather some things were plain luck. Still the highs were compensating for the lows.

I'll lightly touch upon some points without giving away major spoilers.

When we dove into the backstory, I enjoyed the slightly serious mood as well. When we returned to the current timeline, that's when things took a nose dive. The episode seemed so pointless and a waste of time. Ironically, the episode number was cut down to improve quality. It just makes me wonder how much worse and insignificant things had to be chopped out to still make the episode and story feel so stagnant.

I'm a little tired of shows with excessively long build-ups and then quick and easy take downs of the bad guys. But I am willing to understand the show wants to end on a dramatic finish IF it is done well. But when you lose all steam towards the end, the finale feels very flat. At least this is my perspective. I genuinely enjoyed the show initially and up until episode 10 gave it an 8.5 rating. I have to drop that to a 6 because I was bored beyond belief by the last 2 episodes.

As far as acting is concerned, I enjoyed Namkoong Min as Cheon Ji Hun. The female lead as Baek Mari's character isn't very notable or important and because of that her acting is not something I enjoyed much. In contrast, the other prosecutors Seo Min Hyeok and Na Ye Jin are the more interesting characters. The second female lead also has a very subdued personality and doesn't get much of an opportunity to shine.

If you're looking for romance then there isn't really much to speak of in this series so you might be disappointed on that front. The show's comedy is a bit lame overall. I wish I could say otherwise. Maybe if the editing/story-telling was improved and pacing were faster, it would be a fantastic show. It's a shame because the cast seems to have given their best. To watch or not to watch is solely at your discretion.

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An Easy Watch

It's a kind of coming of age youth romance. There's nothing spectacular about it but it's light-hearted, cute, and maybe a bit cringe at times. I was also rooting for the SML with the FL coz he seemed more mature and level-headed though the ML had his own charm. Problem was certain humour by his character that made me dislike him like joking about wanting to touch the FL's chest because she accidentally placed his hand on his. It put me off him till the end so I couldn't care much for them getting together.

The other thing I disliked was that the mother was made the bad guy because of the father not being present and making everyone walk on egg shells but in the end, magically everyone becomes nicer and happier. It's just not realistic but it's dramaland so I decided to let it go.

The friendships were cute. The child actor playing FL's younger brother was amazing! He made the ML look even more childish. 😂 The ML's friend also didn't get a love plot and was mainly shown hanging out at his home. Waste of talent.

The cafe rooms were amazing designs which makes me wonder how the cafe owner could afford such a place and why it didn't have any business? I expected to see some revelation there but we glossed over it.

Overall it's nice and easy to binge.

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The Human Condition

For fans of Hellbound season 1, season 2 may or may not impress depending on what you are looking for. If your aim is to find answers, then you might get some but it will leave you with more questions searching for the meaning of all the events. The point is that this is exactly what is happening in this dystopian world of Hellbound. Every person is either looking for an answer or trying to control the narrative in the form of religion or politics.

There are 3 main groups. The New Truth, whose new chairman is not religious but simply seeking power. The arrowheads that are an extreme fanatical group that resorts to violence and extreme displays to prove they are the true believers. The third being Sodo. A group that lost loved ones to demonstrations and are now trying to protect others from public demonstrations. The third group is what HyeJin, the lawyer, is working with.

Season 1 left us with the return of Park Junja, the mother of two who had a public demonstration at her home in exchange for money and safety of her children. What season 2 highlights is the chaos that ensues in the world and every group vying for power over the people by trying to be the one that gives people the answer behind the greusome phenomenon of their new reality. And Junja ends up becoming an unwitting participant. Season 2 also depicts what the original chairman of the New Truth - Jung Jinsu, went through during his time in "hell". It is followed by his eventual return to the chaotic world. Though I truly miss Yoo Ah In (especially in scenes that were reshot), Kim Sung Cheol does an admirable job thereafter. From depicting confusion and panic to taking over control and manipulatinb others, we get a real insight into what made him a leader to begin with.

The director's aim is the viewers to try to imagine what we would do if that was our reality and this is where many viewers might end up feeling disappointed considering the long wait between the seasons. However, if you try to enjoy the show with the director's mindset, you might enjoy the journey more. The CGI is as good, if not better in season 2. The characters are interesting and quite realistic if you understand cults and how politicians work. There are some elements of horror and it did freak me out at times. I managed to binge watch it in a day but I needed to recap season 1 just because so much time had passed.

I am sure if we will get a third season but if we do, I hope we will get an explanation of the phenomenon and the new information that this season revealed.

If I had to compare both seasons, I would definitely prefer season 1 because it was something completely new and a treat to watch. Season 2 is a good watch as well but I am still looking to make sense of the series. I can't fault it on not being entertaining because it was despite it not giving me the answers I had hoped for.

Those looking to decide whether to watch or not, I hope this review helps. I would urge you to give it a chance to see some wonderful performances.

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Enthralled

I loved how fast paced the show really is. I also LOVE strong female leads and not only is Queen Woo depicted as a good warrior but also great strategically. She is a true leader and she learnt from the best. If you like such characters, you would definitely enjoy this show. However, it is not for the weak-hearted. There is nudity, sex scenes (even assault) and gore. Some have even compared this to Game Of Thrones. However, I would classify this series as mild in that context.

The cinematography is good but like GOT, there are some scenes that need one to adjust their screen brightness. I wish directors figured out the right balance for such scenarios. However, it still doesn't affect our enjoyment too much.

The characters are definitely interesting and everyone did a fantastic job. There is some criticism regarding the female lead not having a wider range of emotions. The show is actually set in a very critical time frame where she doesn't have time to emote. She knows what her position as a leader is and the urgency of the situation. But we do get flashbacks of happy times. The actors portraying the king and his brothers performed exceptionally to depict the complex situation and era.

Although, I genuinely enjoyed every aspect of the show, there is one question that doesn't really get answered. I am not sure why. Perhaps it doesn't affect the situation so it wasn't addressed. So this and the assault scene are the only reasons why I am not giving this a perfect 10. This series can have a second season but I don't believe there will be one.

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Two cute couples for the price of 1!

Perhaps this show is not for everyone but I loved the concept. The couple was already established but now the FL is being asked to break up with her boyfriend. It was funny from the first episode. I was very curious how they will work through their issues. The FL has a strong head on her shoulders due to her background and can overrationalise things at times but she is a kind and caring person. The ML can be clingy but he is sweet and kind and who wouldn't love that. I also loved the second leads in the story. Maybe slightly more than the leads because their relationship didn't deal with too much workplace distractions.

Though thers ard a few serious moments, the show also makes you laugh and smile. And both couples have cute moments together. Though I wish there were more romance, a little less angst, and if the comedy was even better then I would have rated it a 9 at least.

In a way I am glad the writers didn't drag the background storylines too much. They were not ths point of the story. It was about the couples and some of the problems they dealt with are quife realistic. Even the nicest people have trouble in relationships because you aren't completely sure how to handle the situation.

The one good thing about the breakup trope was also that they didn't show both living separate lives. They continued to work together as they dealt with their emotions. I don't like when they completely remove the leads from each other's lives. So that was a plus for me.

The OST is also quite calming. I hope everyone gives the series a chance.

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Lacking compared to part1

My review is for the second half of the drama rather than the entire drama. I quite loved the first half (part 1) but this second half (part 2) was so much more weaker.

The first 3 episodes are decent, there are light moments (when you compare to the tragedies of the first part) and hope. But episodes 4 - 9 were such a drag to watch. You get brief moments of happiness and then problems. To the point that it seemed like a never-ending mess. I was prepared for a tragic ending. Apart from that, the story was really moving slowly with not much happening. You can easily watch these episodes on 2x because everyone talks so slowly.

Some of the characters really annoyed me. One being the king. He was so hell bent on retaining power and his position that he lost trust in everyone including his ministers, his son, and his people. To target his own people who already faced so much was simply unforgiveable according to me. What does loyalty mean if the other party unreasonably wants to sentence you to death in order to feel "peace"?

The other character was the scholar who acted all noble and could see that the king's fears are driving him to cruelty and he made the same exact choices by giving into his unreasonable fears. Though it just proved that he was always a cruel man and he never regretted his part mistakes. He would repeat them again without much hesitation.

Finally, it was Officer Gu, who we all knew was not worthy of marrying Gil Chae.

It's easy to blame the "barbarians" for the sufferings of the people of Joseon but this part highlighted that the people of Joseon were far more cruel to their own. They abandoned their own family and wives and sisters and daughters if they deemed them to be "tainted" and were obsessed with keeping Joseon "clean". They were willing to kill their own by labelling them as traitors without proof. They forced women to kill themselves. They humiliated anyone who survived. They truly disgusted me because instead of easing each others suffering and giving each other comfort after all the hardships and sorrows, they rejected and ridiculed them instead. They didn't allow their own people to heal. So the real traitors were the ones who escaped "unscathed". Problem is, I don't know if majority of the audience will understand this because of the way it was presented. Unless you can relate to being "othered" in your own country, it's unlikely that most of the audience will understand this aspect of the story because of the way it is presented. It will probably get sidelined as an aspect of war.

The last two episodes were the best compared to the rest of this part. Though there are again unnecessary hurdles and part of me wanted to know what happened to all the politics that we were forced to suffer through, I am glad we were not forced to suffer more on the leads' story front. If not for the last 2 episodes, I would have certainly scored this part lower just for those middle episodes. The male lead also said and did all the right things and he truly was a blessing for everyone. The growth of the female lead was also nice to see and a good contrast between part 1 and 2.

One aspect they glossed over is what exactly happened to Ryang Eum.

The OST of this show continues to be enjoyable.

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