Anna Vu
I can't even begin to express how much I appreciated and enjoyed this drama.
Story:
It is nothing I have ever seen. As seen in the description, it revolves around two people still experiencing the trauma and after effects of a shopping mall collapse. Not only that, it is precisely just that. First of all, I must thank the scriptwriter because he or she did an amazing job planning how the characters and plot line would be portrayed. Instead of making the collapse an absolute tragedy for the characters, they also made it so the characters would grow and connect more with other characters in the story. From all the dramas I've watched, it has been so long since I've seen such character development.
Not only that, instead of the characters moving on from the tragedy and forgetting it, they moved on while remembering the event and who was affected. They healed while keeping the event in heart because, in a way, remembering healed them. The romance story, which is the main focus of the drama, is definitely not to be missed. There was so much support from both sides that it was such a true and trusting relationship. There was so much chemistry between Ha Moon Soo and Lee Gang Doo that it pushed the two leads forward and matured them. That is not something that happens often between two people.
Throughout the drama I was so captured and stunned by the storyline, that I thought, "Wow, this is one of a kind."
Acting/Cast:
To start off with, round of applause to the actors. The acting is absolutely something that cannot be described. It's phenomenon. The characters and the intentions of the characters have never been so successfully played by actors. Often, when I watch a drama, I often think of what the actor must be thinking or how the actor was portraying the character being played. However, when watching Just Between Lovers, nothing related to the actor came to mind. I was too focused on the characters themselves that they blended into the actors. The characters just seemed so real that I didn't think about who the actors were.
This especially happened with Lee Gang Doo. Never has this happened to me, where I was sincerely thinking and trying to understand what the character was going through. As a teenager and adult, he had gone through so much that I couldn't even begin to explain, that I really wanted him to finally find his happiness with Ha Moon Soo; which was obtained with her love and support for him.
Music:
Let me just start with saying, I hated the music. Just when I thought things were bad with how sad the storyline was, the music suddenly flips on and makes it so sad, to the point I didn't even have the heart to cry. Compared to other dramas, Just Between Lovers didn't have that many songs. However, the songs went so well with the drama's scenes that I believed it didn't need anymore. But, still, the music broke my heart numerous times. That's the only reason why I'm not giving a full on 10 stars. I want to, but every time I listen to the music my heart just immediately shatters. It was so good, yet so sad.
Rewatch Value:
1 word: ABSOLUTELY. This is my first drama that I'm actually willingly watching again, without hesitation. Take my word for it. This drama had taught me so much and reminded a lot of things that strayed from my mind. Support is the key. Your past is something that shaped you, use it to grow even more. Etc. I do not regret spending multiple hours on this drama and will definitely watch it again (when I'm ready to have my heart shattered again with this drama's vibes).
Overall:
Standing audience ovation for this drama's plot line, music, acting and characters, and its rewatch value. When I was on the episode 16 and its last scene, I was sobbing. However, I wasn't sobbing because I was sad, I was crying from relief. After everything that had happened, I was worn out FOR the characters. They had gone through so much, only to be faced with more tragedy, that I was lost as to how they were going to get through it. Then, when I saw how it was beginning to move behind them, I was overjoyed and finally at ease.
It's definitely not something to be missed in your drama watching career!
Was this review helpful to you?
I really enjoyed the idea of the storyline and how unique it was. It's not everyday one comes across a story where a girl can travel into a Webtoon and meet the main character of it. Not only that, the main character is the man of almost everyone's dreams. I also loved the music that went with the drama and played during certain scenes. It definitely made the scenes more dramatic and made me more empathetic to the characters' feelings and thoughts.
Once again, Lee Jong Suk has struck me with his acting skills. I just came out of Pinocchio and While You Were Sleeping, which I absolutely loved. I also loved his role in this drama. However, I don't blame him and how he delivered his character for my dislike of W. I also don't blame Han Hyo Joo either.
What I do blame, however, is the storyline and how everything played out. The idea of the drama was, without a doubt, great. I loved it. It was unique and would catch anybody's attention, mostly because it was an idea that hasn't been yet introduced. However, how the drama was planned and how certain characters were portrayed left me dissatisfied.
Let's start with Oh Yeon Joo. Maybe because it was the scriptwriter, screenwriter, director or whoever it was, but I did not enjoy Oh Yeon Joo's part in the story. Nevertheless, I did enjoy how she was portrayed in the beginning. A normal woman that was still in her residence years was suddenly pulled into an unknown world, and a cartoon at that. She meets Kang Chul and saves him. Obviously, she falls for him too. And that was when I noticed things going a little bit downhill. Since Oh Yeon Joo is the lead female character, I assumed she would play more important factors in the story. Besides revealing to Kang Chul something he wasn't supposed to know, starting the story itself and kind of pushing the plot line along, that was all I got from her.
She may have fell in love with Kang Chul and gotten together with him, but I didn't see much of a romance build. I saw what sparked their romance, but I didn't really see or feel the initiation of it. It was as if part of the romance story was meant to be another Webtoon, a spin-off almost. The failure of such romance build, I look to the script writer to answer my questions.
Eventually, from what I saw, Oh Yeon Joo slowly regressed into becoming more of a side character. Other than multiple events happening to her and driving Kang Chul into a determined state, she soon became a damsel in distress that only helped out in certain parts. Instead of acting, she reacted instead. To simplify it, she didn't have much character build and held Kang Chul back at certain points. She certainly did become the source of Kang Chul's ambition but, then again, it was as if her character was only made to support him. A supporting character. To some degree, as a lead character, I expected her to build herself and not only support Kang Chul but also herself. I wanted her to face off the villain and think, "Don't hurt the people I love," or at least something to that similarity.
However, often times, I saw her cower in the darkness when the villain came after her and waited for Kang Chul to rush to her rescue. In the end, she resulted into being a passive character instead of a more active one. Kang Chul did most of the fighting, quite literally, while she did a lot of crying while watching on the side lines. Don't get me wrong. There were many times where Oh Yeon Joo took the initiative and I am very proud of her for doing so, however, the actions should've been more driven into her character.
Not only that, focusing more into the plot line, it was a roller coaster ride. However, the roller coaster was on fire and the ride was more than just "rough". Often times, the events were a repeat of what had already happened, just in a different form. Problems sprouted and it was left for Kang Chul to solve them, however it was mostly just him. It was him running around and getting things together, while the other characters just cried and reacted to whatever was thrown at them. They were flowing with the river while Kang Chul fought against the river's current. From what I saw, it was a lone battle for Kang Chul, with characters on the side that had no idea what was going on or what to do.
To be honest, I have no problems with the acting or cast. I just have problems with how the story and characters were delivered for the audience. What I was most dissatisfied with the most was how such a great story idea was slopingly broadcasted to the viewers. Like the diamond was cleaned but not polished throughly. That's why you can see scratches that aren't meant to be there.
So, in summary, that's why I dropped the drama at episode 14 and gave it 6 stars.
Was this review helpful to you?
