HipposandLasers
Story: The story was cliche, but I live for cliches, especially mob-related so basically I adored it. Due to the length, certain very small scenes were a tad confusing if only because the cut into them seemed random, but they soon became clear. By the end of each chapter (which are usually ~15 min. segments), I had a very clear understanding of what was going on, so the confusion wasn’t long-lasting.
Acting/Cast: I’m not gonna lie, for a small studio film, I wasn’t expecting much re: the acting, but I was absolutely blown away. The actors are incredible and create such dynamic characters through facial expressions alone. They were an amazing cast that I would love to see in future dramas.
Music: So cute! The reoccurring song that played every time Gitae and Chisoo had a moment was sweet, gentle, and just downright adorable. It encapsulated that fuzzy feeling of butterflies in your stomach. The music for the action scenes were perfect for creating a high intensity environment, as well.
Rewatch Value: The only reason I am not immediately rewatching this movie is because I have to go to class in the morning. Needless to say, I will be watching this movie many more times in the future.
TL;DR: If you’re looking for a good LGBT movie with great acting, a fun plot, and a happy ending, then Long Time, No See is the choice for you. Please support this movie and the studio STRONGBERRY by buying the chapters ($12) so we can hopefully see more wonderful content like this in the future!
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Story: So, so fun. I’ve always been a fan of historical shows, but add in the extra fantasy and folktale aspects and I’m hooked immediately. The pacing is so well done; I was never bored, and I never skipped any sections. Each and every storyline is engaging in some way, and you find yourself deeply affected by the characters. Which brings me to…
Characters: I. Loved. These. Characters. First and foremost, I love stories that are led by the characters and that focus on character development. Stagnant characters lead to a dull story, especially one like Rebel as it runs for 30, one hour-long episodes. Yet never once did I feel like the characters were flat. Ga Ryung was my personal favorite, so much so that she’s my favorite drama character of all time. It’s not common to see female characters as dynamic as Ga Ryung in dramas that focus on male-led stories, yet Rebel did not forget about her. Again, I could gush all day, so let’s head to the acting.
Cast: Phenomenal. I’ve liked Yoon Gyun Sang since I saw him as my baby Moo Hyul in Six Flying Dragons, and his acting in Rebel is also no joke. What I really loved was the way you could feel Ahmogae’s influence on Gil Dong by the way that he spoke; both Yoon Gyun Sang and Kim Sang Joong were incredible. And Chae Soo Bin as Ga Ryung! So amazing, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for her next dramas. I could gush about the entire cast because they were all incredible, truly.
Music: Again, incredible. Like Six Flying Dragons, Rebel has a soundtrack that will stick with you. It’s inspirational and emotional, and it truly sets the stage for the story. The soundtrack gives me goosebumps just hearing it!
Rewatch Value: Since it is a longer drama, I may not be watching it again any time soon. However, the characters were so wonderful that I could definitely see myself coming back for a rewatch or two. (Also those scenes between Ga Ryung and Gil Dong will definitely be getting watched again because they are perfect and I love them).
TL;DR this show left a huge impression on me and is very close to my heart. Definitely worth a watch for anyone that likes historical dramas, a fast-paced and well-written plot, and dynamic characters. Also Ga Ryung. Just watch for my baby, you’ll see. I love her.
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Story: Super fun and intriguing. I liked the idea of Satoru not being able to time travel of his own volition but instead being forced back. However, I felt like the story was lacking in certain areas. While the suspense was incredible, the killer was (pretty) predictable. It took me longer than I would have liked to admit to suss them out, but I did figure it out before the big reveal. However, the show is still super fun to watch past that. My other issue was in the treatment of the children's friendships with each other. At times they would feel incredibly close, and at other times I would forget that some of them were even friends with each other or even existed. I was also so invested in Kayo that I wanted more from her story, which made the resulting scenes fall a little flat for me.
Acting/Cast: So good! The kids in the past especially were phenomenal--those were my favorite parts to watch! There are bits of the show where the acting lacks, but only a little bit.
Music: I didn't really notice it, to be honest, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I was always entranced in the episodes, so that means that they were playing all the right songs! So I'd say it was average, nothing too note-worthy.
Rewatch Value: Gonna have to rate this low as half the fun is unraveling the mystery along with Satoru.
TL;DR: A suspenseful, entertaining show with a unique twist on time traveling. If you like mysteries, you'd love this one!
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Story: All over the place. Too many interweaving character storylines and relationships fighting for center stage, too many repeating scenes, and truly atrocious pacing. I couldn't stand how slowly this moved, honestly. It felt like it started out strongly, but then characters would spend episodes doing nothing. They would talk, they would be cute, they would be unsure, but nothing really happened for so. Many. Episodes. And then when something finally did happen that brought the characters into conflict, it was too quick to feel at all developed. In particular, an antagonist popped up later in the series and when they dealt with them, I was left thinking, "...that's it? That's how they're gonna do this?"
The characters were okay, but Eun Tak was just... not very well-developed, in my opinion. She's a bubbly, optimistic girl who can see ghosts and wants to help people. Okay, why? Why does she cling to Shin strongly at the beginning, and am I supposed to be charmed by the fact that an immature teenager is flirting with a 1,000 year old man? There wasn't much depth to her or their romance, and I felt disconnected from her character as a whole. Which further made the romance less engaging to me. Furthermore, so many of these characters had the potential to be amazing, with just a little more focus and development, which I think was sacrificed in order to fit so many of the other elements into the show.
Acting: I do like the cast, especially Gong Yoo. I was also incredibly impressed with Lee Dong Wook as I've thought he was a bad actor in the past, yet his work here definitely made me second guess my opinion of him. Kim Go Eun is a really good actress, yet seeing her play an immature teenager for so much of the show really grated on my nerves. But, boy, can she cry. Both she and Gong Yoo can make your heart ache, I'll give them that. Never been a huge fan of Yoo In Na, but she did well here, so I didn't mind her.
Music: Cute, fitting. I don't remember most of it, but I'm going to attribute that to the fact that I was consistently frustrated with the show. I can tell you that this is an OST that will definitely stay with the people who loved the show, though.
TL;DR: I'm glad that this show has brought such joy to so many people, but it disappointed me. I should have known better considering how I've fared with Kim Eun Sook's other dramas, but I was hoping this one was different. However, if you like her other dramas and are a fan of fantasy, fated lovers, a little bit of sadness, a little bit of comedy, and a whole lot of romance, then definitely give this one a shot.
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