DramaLister
USA
Lives in Your Mind Rent Free
Honestly, this show was so pure and fun! The cast was amazing, and it was so great to see them interact with each other and approach each other with purer and more innocent intentions compared to dating shows that feature adults.The structure itself was very well planned and written. You could see the stark transition from when they were at the 19 school and when they arrived at the 20 house. It made you want to do that with your friends, or wish you had done it when you were that age. It made you immerse yourself in the cast's stories and lives. The whole show was really well edited and seemed to portray their lives pretty naturally and mostly as it were (although I wish I could've seen more of the unreleased moments of the couples and Seo Yeong because she seemed really fun at the end and in the interviews).
Each of the cast members was charming in their own way and seemed genuinely nice. They obviously made mistakes, but most of them quickly owned up to it and even the rejections were handled very maturely. My personal favorites were Jungyun, who was very clumsy and awkward but seemed very genuine and innocent, and Heeji, who was so bright, cheerful, and fun while always supporting all her friends. Pyeongseok's surprising rizz, Jiwoo's unexpected maturity, Yerin's funniness, Sangwon's kindness, and the other members' personalities also definitely carried the show.
Also, shout out to the panel who would voice my thoughts and bring up things I hadn't thought of each episode. They added something meaningful, even if it was just excited squeals, every single episode, which isn't an easy feat.
After every single episode, I was thinking about the show and looked forward to the next episode—literally lives in your mind rent free. I'll definitely be looking forward to, hopefully, a season 2 and more news from the cast! It was my favorite dating show ever, and would definitely be willing to rewatch it. Also, SPOILER WARNING BELOW!
Love how Jungyun Jiwoo and Heeji Pyeongseok are still dating! Hope that both relationships go well (hopefully forever?).
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This review may contain spoilers
Near Perfection
Nothing in this world is perfect. However, some things are nearly perfect, and While You Were Sleeping is one of them. From a great storyline and plot to a great cast and amazing characters along with one of the best OSTs ever, While You Were Sleeping is a must-watch.Story:
The story of this drama revolves around the special ability of a group of friends to be able to see into the future through their dreams. Throughout this drama, this group of friends and the people around get to see the ways their dreams affect the world of law, their love lives, and their day-to-day lives as well.
These characters realize that knowing the future, seeing it in their dreams, doesn't mean that it can't be changed. They face decisions at every stop, just like we do, except for them their decisions carry much more weight and can deal heavy consequences, good and bad.
All these key components are intricately woven together to create a plot that is not only interesting but also logical. The plot also shows how much each decision, no matter how small, affects everyone and everything around them. All this works together to create one of the best plots in kdrama history.
Acting/Cast (Spoilers Below!!!):
The characters and the cast that played them were spectacular. Unlike many kdramas where the characters are unlogical and do things for no apparent reason, the characters in WYWS make their decisions logically.
Yoon Moon Sun (Hong Joo's mom) has only one condition when she makes her decisions, her daughter, and that makes sense. She is a mother devoted to making her daughter happy especially after all the hard things Hong Joo is going through. All she strives for is to keep her daughter happy and safe. Her decisions and actions portray that mindset perfectly.
Lee Yoo Beom is the main antagonist of WYWS. He is driven by his greed for power to the point that he does many things morally wrong, and he knows it. Throughout the drama he is wracked with guilt and tries to make excuses for himself, driving himself deeper and deeper into the hole he has dug until he goes as far to murder someone.
Han Woo Tak is a fan-favorite. Loyal, kind, and even through many hardships maintains outstanding morals while always thinking of others first. Even though his unrequited love for Hong Joo was never returned with even a glance. Woo Tak valued his friendships with Jae Chan and Hong Joo so much more that instead of being jealous of Jae Chan and trying to hurt him, Woo Tak helped their relationship to move forward. Through Woo Tak, I saw what a real friend was. Someone who can sacrifice everything, even his love, for his friends.
Jung Jae Chan is far from your perfect protagonist. Instead, he is full of resentment, hate, and regret from his past. He struggles to keep his morals intact as he faces hard decision after hard decision in the world of law. However, Jae Chan is also a kind person and a great friend. Although he is aware that Woo Tak likes Hong Joo, he doesn't attack him or try to break their relationship apart. Instead he hides the fact that he knows it and shows the amount of trust and faith he puts in his friends.
Finally, Nam Hong Joo is a quirky girl, to say the least. She is always smiling and laughing, hiding the insecurites and fears she has. Hong Joo showed just how much fear can control a life. From her short hair to quitting her job, she lives in fear all the while trying to hide it. However, as the story progresses, she retakes control over he life, returning to her job, actively trying to change the futures she sees in her dreams, and facing her fears.
Music:
The OST of While You Were Sleeping perfectly fit the drama and also produced some amazing songs, including "It's You" by Henry (My favorite song), along with great songs: "When Night Falls" by Eddy Kim, "You Belong to My World" by Roy Kim, and "I Love You Boy" by Suzy and many more. Overall, one of my favorite OSTs ever.
Rewatch Value:
I don't really ever rewatch dramas, but if I were to choose one drama to rewatch While You Were Sleeping would be one of my top choices. Even though watching it a second time might reduce the thrill, it would allow me to catch some smaller details I missed the first time around.
Overall:
My favorite drama I have watched thus far. An amazing plot, logical and beautiful characters, and a magical OST makes While You Were Sleeping a must-watch drama.
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Fun but Slightly Disappointing Compered to Season 1
As the title explains, Busted Season 2 essentially continued the previous season's unique premise and continued teasing out the storyline with a slightly modified cast and format.After episode 1, it seemed like Season 2 was going to be even better than the first. However, the show had more bumps in between than expected.
First of all, the bickering and pure variety moments of the show still prevailed, providing numerous funny moments. However, it struggled to create a solid overarching story. While Season 1's story was by no means perfect, it managed to make each episode feel like a piece of a cohesive puzzle; however, Season 2's story felt disjointed.
One particular episode was the Iz*one episode, which felt unnatural and insignificant. While the writers did succeed in tying everything together in the final episodes, the episodes just didn't feel satisfyingly connected. So, while there were some more scenes and the cast was much more immersed in their characters, none of it added anything.
Therefore, Busted 2 was fun and definitely interesting, but didn't have the same satisfaction and allure throughout the series. as Season 1.
Also, shout out to Kim Min Jae. His character was probably one of the best and I constantly looked forward to seeing him throughout the series.
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A Refreshing Take on the Regular Historical Drama
From excellent acting, a refreshing story, perfectly fitting music, and more, the Forbidden Marriage was a great drama, packed full of comedy, chemistry, and dramaStory:
Throughout the drama, the writers put a splendid spin on a somewhat obvious story. Though the story itself wasn't anything special, taking all the obvious turns and using many cliches. However, the writers managed to put refreshing snippets into the show, ranging from period-style TikToks and quirky sound effects, somehow giving the drama a modern relevancy through relevant topics and modern dialogue.
In addition, because the Forbidden Marriage was only 12 episodes long, there wasn't much unnecessary dragging out of relationships. The shorter length allowed for a more brisk pace and quicker character development. Plus, it also had a very satisfying ending that didn't feel too rushed.
Acting/Cast:
Because this was such a different and new perspective, the Forbidden Marriage needed some great actors to pull the scenes off. And pull the scenes off they did. Park Ju Hyun and Kim Yong Dae's comedic delivery, emotional depth, and chemistry with the other cast members (especially with each other) shined. Additionally, though it is hard to showcase without spoilers, Kim Woo Seok, Yang Dong Guen, Choi Deok Moon, and every single supporting actor provided some solid performances enhancing the drama.
Each of the characters they played was lovable and real while the villains were also aptly portrayed (*spoiler* shout out to the nice Queen Dowager, one of the rarest breeds there is in the Kdrama world).
Music:
Finally, the music was fun and really reflected the mood in many of the scenes very well. It provided some unique OSTs into a more uniform industry. There were also plenty of sound effects that enhanced the viewing experience.
Overall, the Forbidden Marriage was a very enjoyable watch that I will rewatch at least a couple of scenes of. It was fun, quirky, and refreshing, jam-packed full of excellent acting performances and memorable scenes.
I definitely recommend everyone to check it out!
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Lacking but Definitely Enjoyable.
Backstreet Rookie was a fun drama that did have much lacking but was entertaining. It was good, not great, but good enough that I don't regret taking the time to watch this drama.Story
First of all, the story wasn't anything special. The love story in particular was quite confusing. I really don't see why there was a need for so many twists and turns. However, the writers did manage to entertain me, putting in perfect comic relief every episode. Also, because the writers tried to cover so much in such little time, there were way too many subplots for one drama, and was messy. On the other hand, I did find myself rooting for the main couple and all the other minor characters and couples to do well. Overall, the story wasn't amazing, but it was entertaining.
Acting/Cast
The acting and cast were amazing. The chemistry between the couples was amazing. All the actors and actresses, from Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung to Han Sun Hwa, Solbin, and Kim Min Kyu acted well at least as far as I could tell. :) Anyways the cast's acting and chemistry were amazing.
Music/Rewatch Value
The music was good. There wasn't any song particularly memorable, all the songs fit well with the mood and were used well. I don't think I would rewatch Backstreet Rookie in full, but I'll definitely look up clips and rewatch bits of the drama.
Backstreet Rookie didn't have the best storyline as messy and confusing as it was, however, the comic relief and the chemistry and acting skills of the cast really managed to make this ride enjoyable. As you watch this drama, you'll find yourself rooting for everyone, from the main couple to all the supporting characters to get a happy ending. I recommend watching this drama though it won't wow you, it will most definitely be enjoyable and you won't regret it.
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Refreshing Rom-Com
Having found the drama by accident, I started watching Marriage, Not Dating without any expectations. Maybe it was because of those low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the drama.Story: The story was chock-full of cliches, yet the writers managed to make it so refreshing. In most rom-com dramas 90% of the story is so predictable, but in this one, even with all the cliches, the drama was full of twists and turns and managed to write the cliche storyline with surprising plot twists. Marriage, Not Dating was a refreshing story full of all the kdrama cliches we're used to.
Characters/Acting: The acting in this drama was just amazing. I've never cheered and rooted for the main couple this so much. Han Groo managed to perfectly portray the funny, quirky, and cute sides of her character. Yeon Woo Jin beautifully acted his character who had a painful life. And together they were one of the cutest couples I've ever seen. Even though Jung Jin Woon and Han Sun Hwa didn't really appeal to me, I don't think the writers meant for them to do so. I think they were made to be unappealing so we viewers would root so much more for the main couple. Not only that, Heo Jung Min and Yoon So Hee were so great that they made me forget the less than appealing second leads.
Music: Though there wasn't a very memorable song, the reason I gave it a 9 was because of the amazing sound effects that enhanced every scene, making every funny scene so much funnier. Overall, every song and every sound effect match each scene perfectly.
Rewatch Value: I don't know if I'll rewatch this drama, but it was funny and cute enough to maybe rewatch it so I gave it an 8.
Overall: If you like rom-com and easy-to-watch dramas that make you laugh at one moment and cry at another or dramas that have refreshing plots, you will love Marriage, Not Dating.
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A Fun and Unique Blend of Variety and Drama
If there was a way to perfectly blend a compelling K-drama plot with variety show stars and unscripted fun, it would look something similar to this.Busted! managed to combine the natural wit and chemistry of the cast with a very interesting and compelling plot. While there are a couple of plot holes and the scenes are sometimes ridiculous (which makes them kind of cringy but that can also be their charm).
The cast is also wonderful, showing off their chemistry, banter, and bickering while they solve cases.
The whole show is just a boatload of fun and as long as you don't nitpick too much, the story is also solid and interesting. Busted promised a unique and interesting premise and it managed to deliver!
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This review may contain spoilers
Inspiring and Uplifting, the Great Outweighs the Stumbles
Start-Up is an inspiring story that's a realistic, fun story that is very enjoyable to watch with a few shortcomings.Story:
The storyline about Sandbox and the main casts' journey of starting a business and expanding is very inspiring and enjoyable to watch. Everything was done so well, but one thing I wish could've been done better was the romance. By the time Nam Do San's charm was revealed, Han Ji Pyeong had managed to take over until he sometimes seemed more like the main lead, but otherwise, Start-Up's story was uplifting and enjoyable to watch.
Acting/Cast:
The acting was great. At times, Nam Joo Hyuk's acting wasn't as up to par compared to Kim Seon Ho's, all the actors did really well. Nam Joo Huk and Suzy had amazing chemistry and so did all of Samsan Tech. Suzy and Kang Han Na also had really great chemistry as sisters. Seo Dal Mi's family also had such great chemistry.
Overall, the chemistry of this cast was out of the roof with superb acting.
Music:
The OST for Start-Up was one of the best OSTs I've ever heard. "Future" by Red Velvet is definitely one of my favorite songs ever and while there are too many to list, the rest of the OST's songs are amazing as well.
All in all, Start-Up had some shortcomings, mainly how the romance was written out, but the cast's superb chemistry and acting and the rest of the well-written story outweighed it. Start-Up shows the story of three friends running a start-up. They realize they need help as they try to make the most of the scarce opportunities in front of them. This story shows them finally succeeding, through many hardships. I recommend you watch this very uplifting and inspiring story. You won't regret it :)
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Story: As I stated above, the story and plot is relatively simple, but that simple and lighthearted plot tells some very important messages. 1) It's important to have dreams 2) With enough hard work, those dreams can come true, regardless of circumstance. Overall, Dream High is a feel-good story with an innocent and attention-grabbing romance.
Acting/Cast: Other than Kim Soo Hyun as Song Sam Dong, no one was particularly amazing, but everyone ranged from good to great. They all fit their roles really well, so that by the end of the drama, I had become a huge fan of them.
Music: From the intro to the performances and even just the background music, each and every song on the OST was amazing. The music, like the characters they portrayed, fit both the actors/actresses and drama itself so well. More than a year after watching this drama, I still find myself humming along to the songs.
Rewatch Value: Although I haven't been able to rewatch it yet, I plan and hope to do so whenever I get the time to because I would love to see those performances again and the story is done well enough to keep me interested even if I know most of the plot.
Overall: The first drama I ever watched, Dream High sure the standards high. From the feel-good story to the amazing cast and music, Dream High is a drama you should not miss! It's a classic every kdrama fan should know.
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