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Completed
Oh My Venus
60 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Jan 6, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
I can't believe it's already over! Now I don't have any more new episodes to be looking forward to each week! I absolutely loved Oh My Venus! While the plot may seem typical, the whole drama is handled in a way that we rarely see and it was great.

The story is fairly simple but was executed wonderfully. One of the things that made Oh My Venus stand out to me compared to other dramas was the lack of cliches. I loved how the show could still be dramatic and intense at times but it avoided nearly all of the typical K-drama cliches. Even when they used cliches they were handled differently and didn't go down the path that they usually do. It was so wonderful! The story was super cute and had a really good message about health and beauty.

The acting was superb. So Ji Sub and Shin Min Ah had wonderful chemistry and I loved their characters' personalities. I loved that there was no drama between the main couple. It was really nice to see a k-drama couple being straightforward and honest with each other. They worked through their problems together rather than creating more. It was a pleasure to watch a drama with such a healthy (both mentally and physically) romantic relationship in it. Drama between couples can get old really fast and this was really refreshing.

I loved the side characters as well! Henry and Sung Hoon were the perfect side characters and I loved the chemistry they had with So Ji Sub. They're probably my favorite drama trio! The other cast members played their parts very well too. For once I didn't absolutely despise the 2nd female and male leads. They made mistakes, yes. But it was nice that they didn't constantly try to interfere with the main couple's relationship. Instead we got to see them work through their own problems and I grew to kind of like them.

The music in Oh My Venus was super catchy and cute. I already have some of the songs in my iPod and they're so fun to listen to. I liked the use of upbeat and catchy songs. There were fewer dramatic songs and more fun and happy songs. All of the songs on the OST balance each other out and come together to make a wonderful soundtrack.

Overall I absolutely adored Oh My Venus. I was very pleased with the final episode as well (though I didn't think there needed to be as many flashbacks as there were). This is one of the best dramas I've watched in a while. The whole message of the show is just so positive and everything was so unproblematic. It was a really nice change of pace.

My video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaVFl_Bq6c

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Completed
Noble, My Love
14 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Oct 9, 2015
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
As far as originality goes, Noble, My Love is nothing new. Yet again, we have a rich CEO that falls for a stubborn poor girl and... well, you know the rest. Yet the story had an intriguing premise and all of the typical k-drama cliches were used to the show's advantage.

For the most part, the plot was fairly typical, but it was also different in several ways. For one, there is no 2nd female lead or evil mom trying to break our couple up (for the most part). Because of this, much more focus was put on the main couple and we got to see them work through problems that weren't caused by an outside source.

From my past experience, I've found web dramas to be slightly more anime-esque (is that even a thing?) than a regular drama. But Noble, My Love was very similar to a normal drama with the only difference being episode length. Because the episodes were so short it never dragged and everything kept moving forward. The plot pacing was nice and consistent throughout nearly the whole show, though it did feel slightly rushed at the end.

But I think what really sold me on this drama was the chemistry between the two leads. Now, they had their awkward moments, but for the most part they fit together perfectly. I fell in love with their interactions and lived to see the cute little things they would do. It was probably my favorite part of the drama. I actually ended up marathoning the whole thing in one day because I was on a cuteness overload!

While Noble, My Love was just as cliche as any other drama it was concise and to the point. But it was wonderfully cheesy and very fun to watch. It's definitely a great one you'll want to check out if you're short on time or just want to have a mini drama marathon on a rainy day.

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Completed
Kiss Me
9 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Feb 7, 2016
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
I don't even know where to start with Kiss Me. I guess I could start by saying that it's the first Thai drama that I've watched and I most certainly will be watching more in the future. Kiss Me is based off of the manga, Itazura na Kiss. There have been countless adaptations of the story, but this version really stands out from the others.

While Kiss Me does follow the story and premise of Itazura na Kiss, this version had its own twist to the tale. While I don't dislike the other versions, I didn't need another perfectly accurate-to-the-manga adaptation (I already got that with Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo). Instead, Kiss Me provided a new and interesting take on the classic story, without completely changing the plot. While there were some changes to the story itself, I thought that they were well thought out and made sense. Of course, there were a couple scenes omitted from this version that I wish I could have seen, but I'm not too bothered by it. One of the biggest surprises was when they changed one of my favorite scenes (the rain scene for those who've seen it). It's one of my favorite scenes in all of the adaptations, yet they totally changed it in this version. But I actually liked the change and really liked what they did instead. While I love that scene, this version did something unexpected and it was refreshing, since I've already seen the other versions.

The acting was fantastic. I loved the whole cast and everyone had great chemistry. While I love the characters in the other versions, I'll admit that the male lead is a jerk and the female lead is over the top and annoying. Yet in this version, we got to see a nicer (not always nice) male lead and softer portrayal of the female lead. I was able to relate to both of their characters more and thought it was a nice change from the personalities that I'm used to. Plus the two leads had absolutely amazing chemistry. I haven't seen Full House Thai yet, but that will probably be the next Thai drama I watch. I was extremely impressed with Aom and Mike and can't wait to see them again in different roles. Another character that really surprised me was the 2nd male lead, King. In the other versions, while he loves and cares for the female lead, he's a little bit of an idiot. In this version he was more calm and collected, and extremely sweet. This is probably the worst case of 2nd-male-lead-syndrome I've gotten out of all the adaptations.

I really liked the music as well! I especially love the song that Aom and Mike sing together. I'm amazed how I can even feel and see their chemistry while they're singing. Plus I'm a sucker for OSTs where the actors actually sing. The soundtrack was a wonderful combination of instrumental and vocal pieces, none of them iconic, but all enjoyable.

Overall I was really impressed and pleased with Kiss Me. It's not the most accurate adaptation, but it is in my top 3 favorite adaptations. I've very excited for season two especially since I don't know what to expect. I'm assuming that it will also follow the basic plot of the manga, but due to the changes in season one, I'm sure that season 2 will also be a refreshing take on the story. I would highly recommend watching Kiss Me. Whether you're a fan of ItaKiss, or are looking for a good 1st Thai drama to watch, it's definitely one to check out.

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Completed
1 Litre no Namida
13 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Oct 28, 2015
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I've never been so moved by a drama. I'm so emotionally touched by Aya's story. Though I went through many tears while watching it, I appreciated every second of this drama.

To be honest, despite the outstanding reviews, I was nervous to watch 1 Litre of Tears. While I was slightly afraid that it wouldn't live up to the hype, I was more afraid that I'd end up perpetually sad after watching it. Luckily my qualms were shattered within the first episode. Everything about this drama was so well done. As far as dramas go, this is definitely one of the best I've watched. The story, the plot pacing, the acting, the music, everything was wonderful.

I think the best part of this drama though, was how it managed to be sad without being depressing. While I do realize that it was based on a true story, dramatic liberties were obviously taken. Therefore, the writers did an outstanding job of balancing the devastation of the story with hope and inspiration. If this hadn't been done as well as it was, the drama could have been just flat out too depressing to watch. Yet, as it was, it managed to make me cry during every episode, while still maintaining a smile (for the most part. I totally lost it during episodes 8 and 11).

The plot itself never felt forced. Again, I know this was based on a true story. So while the drama obviously wasn't flawlessly accurate, it never felt scripted or planned. It felt like I was really watching a young girl's life slowly fall apart. The story unfolded beautifully all on its own.

While everything in the drama was well done, I think the music especially contributed to the whole vibe that the drama gave off. There were no purposely dramatic overplayed vocal songs (thank goodness!). The drama took advantage of simple instrumental pieces and the music fit the story beautifully. Let's just say that I'm going to cry whenever I hear Only Human and Sangatsu Kokonoka.

Honestly, I could go on forever about how much I loved 1 Litre of Tears, but that would be tedious. All I can say is, give it a chance. It won't let you down! But make sure to have some tissues on hand!

My video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybuVbKoPn8U

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Completed
Healer
17 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Oct 12, 2015
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.5
At first, I was quite hesitant to watch Healer. Everyone seems to absolutely adore it and I was a bit afraid that it was being overhyped and I wouldn't enjoy it as much. Yet, here I am, trying to figure out what to do with my life now that I'm done with Healer.

If I were to compare Healer to any other dramas I would say it's a combination of City Hunter and Pinocchio, with it's own spin, of course. Healer was just so well balanced between action, politics (and flashbacks), romance, comedy, etc. It had everything. It made me laugh, it made me cry, basically, it made me feel all of the emotions.

Usually when I watch dramas there's one aspect of the show that bothers me or lowers my opinion of the drama. But this wasn't the case with Healer! While it took a couple of episodes to fully understand everything that was going on, the story was wonderfully developed and stayed entertaining throughout the whole show. I will say that there were a couple of things I was wondering about that never got closure, but you can really only fit in so much before it becomes overwhelming.

The acting in this show was really great as well! Park Min Young has yet to disappoint me and Ji Chang Wook was fabulous. Together they were perfect. Their chemistry was wonderful! All the other actors were perfect for their roles and held up their ends of the plot. All of the characters were great (even the antagonists)!

I really loved the Healer soundtrack as well. I think "Eternal Love" captures the essence of the show and I've been listening to it on repeat. Healer evokes such a sense of nostalgia in you. I can't quite explain it. I think all of the flashbacks in the show contribute to this.

Speaking of which, I loved the flashbacks! Of course, there were some typical K-drama flashbacks to romantic moments in the show, but for the most part they were all crucial to the plot. I found that I was just as interested in what happened in the past as what was happening in the present. I don't know if I've watched a drama that has utilized the flashback cliche as well as Healer.

Overall, I really loved Healer. It wasn't perfect. But in my book, it's pretty darn close. Normally I would make a big deal of how the ending wasn't satisfying enough, but somehow I think the ending of Healer really fits the show. While a little part of my fangirl heart wishes we were shown more, I'm still happy with what we got. Healer is definitely one that I'd like to rewatch someday!

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Completed
Marriage Contract
9 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Apr 25, 2016
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
I was slightly hesitant to start watching Marriage Contract back when it first started airing. While I've watched some very good dramas that center around a main character with a terminal illness, if they aren't done well the show ends up being flat out depressing. Marriage Contract, I am pleased to say, ended up being one of the best illness-centered dramas I've watched. It reminds me a lot of Scent of a Woman, but I actually think I prefer it over SoaW.

The story of Marriage Contract certainly isn't anything new. I'm sure we've all seen plenty of contract marriage and illness dramas. But I think that this was a strength for Marriage Contract. The whole drama had a very nostalgic and classic feel to it. It was very cliche, but still somehow felt fresh. It feels like it could be an older drama. The writers brilliantly used a simple plot and made mundane things into something special. The drama as a whole is very simple and doesn't have any crazy plot twists. We got many scenes of our characters enjoying the simple things in life (like singing, or kitties, or riding a bike). I think show did a very good job of making things that are normally taken for granted feel special. With a simple plot and no overly dramatic twists, the show was very relaxing, yet still engaging. We got to focus a lot on the characters instead of the typical tropes that show up in most dramas.

I was very impressed with the acting in Marriage Contract. I've seen bits and pieces of Uee's acting before, but was never extremely impressed. And while I haven't seen her as a main character in a drama before this (besides Birdie Buddy, which I never finished), I must say that she put everything into this role. I've noticed that many people have complained about her acting in the past, but looking purely at this role, I have nothing to complain about.

This is the first time I've seen Lee Seo Jin in a drama as well, but I thought he did a wonderful job. While he was a very rough and typical male lead at the beginning, I never truly hated his character. I loved seeing his growth throughout the drama. And while Uee undoubtedly played the main character, the show focused on Lee Seo Jin's character just as much. Together, Uee and Lee Seo Jin had surprisingly good chemistry. I questioned the pairing at first since we don't usually see such a large age gap between actors, but I think that somehow they really worked well together. The chemistry was very good and I really loved the progression of their relationship.

Shin Rin Ah was a very nice surprise as well. I think this is the first drama I've watched that has focused so much on a child character, but she played a crucial role. I was very impressed with Shin Rin Ah and was even more impressed to find out that she is only 6 years old (about the same age as her character in the drama). I could see her having a promising future in the industry if she chooses to pursue acting.

I really enjoyed the music and think it added to the classic feeling of the drama. The OST really set the mood and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Overall Marriage Contract was a very nice surprise. I went in expecting to watch a typical drama, but ended up with something that was somehow new and refreshing despite all of the cliches. I really enjoyed the ending as well. While it could have ended very differently, I don't really have any complaints about how it did end. They did a nice job of making a somewhat ambiguous ending feel final. While normally I would have maybe would have liked to see some ending for other characters in the show, I truly don't think it was needed. The focus was the main couple and I think trying to catch up with other characters would have thrown things off. Overall this was a very enjoyable show. It was solid and consistent and left me feeling more calm and happy than depressed.

Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B12PR5zlUk8

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Completed
Splash Splash LOVE
6 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Jan 7, 2016
2 of 2 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
I've been hearing people talking about Splash Splash LOVE ever since it aired, but I didn't pay much attention to the hype. I didn't have time to watch a full-length historical drama and didn't know when I would get to it. For some reason I decided to check out the drama page and realized it was only 2 episodes, plus Kim Seul Gi was starring in it! Of course, I had to watch it. I may not have time to watch a full drama right now, but I certainly have 2 hours to spare. Every second of this drama was worth it.

Oddly enough, Splash Splash LOVE is the first time travel drama that I've watched and I absolutely adored it. The plot was so clever! Since I have no previous experience with time travel plots, I have nothing to compare it to so I don't know if this was and especially unique time travel drama, but I certainly enjoyed it. I loved the plot pacing and thought it was very well done for such a short drama. Plus everything tied together! The writers did an awesome job of including little details that ended up playing a part in the plot. The ending was really satisfying as well. I definitely wish that we could have more episodes, but at the same time I think that this length somehow worked.

The acting was awesome. The only cast member that I'm really familiar with is Kim Seul Gi and she did not disappoint. The rest of the cast was great as well. There wasn't a large cast of characters, but each person felt like they were fleshed out enough that we could get to know them to some extent within the 2 episodes.

I really liked the Splash Splash LOVE OST. It was refreshing compared to the other historical drama OSTs I've heard. I have nothing against the classic historical drama instrumental pieces, but this OST was just so new. It was quirky, but so was the drama and I really really liked it! The use of modern and upbeat songs added to the whole vibe of the show. Plus all of the songs are super catchy!

Overall I really liked Splash Splash LOVE. It's a drama I'd recommend to a friend I'm trying to get into dramas. I'd also watch it if you're in a drama slump. It's short and sweet but still lets you experience a range of emotions. It's a well rounded drama that took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did and I certainly wasn't expecting to get this attached to the characters. It was a pleasure to watch and I am so glad that I gave it a chance!

My Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SNSqkCCS8Y

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Completed
Marriage, Not Dating
6 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Oct 17, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5
Marriage, Not Dating had a very different style from the dramas I usually watch. But I can see why it's been considered to be one of the best dramas of 2014.

One of the most unique things in this drama was the episode format. I found that starting each episode with the end of the episode, kept me wondering what the heck was going on and made me want to keep watching. Plus, since it was out of context, what we were shown at the beginning of episodes always ended up being way funnier than it first appeared to be.

I loved the comedy in this show. Everything was just so wacky! The drama was never too serious. But it definitely wasn't all fun and games. There were some parts of this show that actually made me tear up (I have a soft spot for child/parent relationships). I appreciated how the tone of the show stayed consistent all the way to the end. It was a nice balance of humor, cuteness, and seriousness.

This is probably the first drama I've watched where I liked both of the leads' moms! I thought that the show focused on the parents' relationships just as much as it focused on the main characters. I loved how all of the characters were given dimension and we were able to see the reasoning behind the actions that were taken (like Gi Tae's mom).

While I didn't love the 2nd leads (both male and female), I didn't hate them. There were parts where I really appreciated some of the things they did, but there were other parts where I just wanted them to disappear. I really loved the other side characters. Especially Hoon Dong, who I wasn't expecting to like as much as I did. He was definitely a comedic relief character and he did his job well. I don't think there was a single scene with him that didn't make me laugh.

Marriage, Not Dating didn't have what I'd call one of those amazingly perfect soundtracks. But the music was really catchy and I enjoyed it!

Overall, this was a really fun drama to watch and I'd definitely recommend it to someone who wants to watch a drama with a slightly different style that what you'd usually see.

My video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kOW0LcLUrY

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Completed
Hana Yori Dango
5 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Dec 31, 2015
9 of 9 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
I was sucked into the world of dramas when I watched Boys Over Flowers. Now, after many dramas, and a little over a year later, I've finally gotten around to watching the original J-drama version of the story. It brought back all the wonderful feelings that I experienced when I watched Boys Over Flowers and I think I may even like this version a little more.

Hana Yori Dango is a timeless story with all of the classic cliches. While the story is slightly unbelievable, and can be frustrating at times, I still love it. I actually liked the story line in Hana Yori Dango better than that of Boys Over Flowers. I liked the fact that they spent less time on the love triangle between Tsukushi, Domyouji, and Rui and focused on other things. It got a little tedious in Boys Over Flowers and I was very pleased to see that Hana Yori Dango handled it differently. Basically I really liked the story, though it was, for the most part, predictable (simply because I already know the plot), the pacing was nice, and I liked the vibe.

I loved the acting. As much as I love Lee Min Ho as Jun Pyo, I completely fell for Matsumoto Jun as Domyouji. His character felt a little more appealing in Hana Yori Dango. MatsuJun can pull of spoiled-rich-boy like no other and I loved seeing his internal conflict and development. He was such an angry, funny, and occasionally charming character. I also really liked Oguri Shun's portrayal of Rui! Kim Hyun Joong's performance as Ji Hoo can't quite compare. Oguri Shun made the character more likable. Though Sojiro and Akira were both more minor characters I liked them as well. I felt more of a connection to them in Hana Yori Dango than in Boys Over Flowers. Overall, I felt as if the cast really pulled off the whole high-schooler vibe, which is sometimes hard to do in dramas.

As for Makino, Inoue Mao was fabulous. She was pretty without being too pretty, smart without being a genius, and awkward without being to awkward. Basically she was a nice balanced character. I remember getting a lot of 2nd hand embarrassment while watching Gu Hye Seon as Jan Di in Boys Over Flowers. This wasn't so much the case in Hana Yori Dango. There were certainly embarrassing moments, but I wasn't constantly cringing. Basically I think I really prefer Inoue Mao over Gu Hye Seon. I just liked her in the role so much more.

The music was really catchy, but not overplayed. I loved Arashi's contributions to the soundtrack as well as the other songs. The OST fit the drama really well.

When it comes to comparing Hana Yori Dango and Boys Over Flowers, I can't really do it. Hana Yori Dango is probably the better drama, and I think I like it more than BOF, but they're both their own pieces of work with their own styles. BOF was my first drama ever, so I owe a lot to it. It will always have a special place in my heart. But I adored Hana Yori Dango. It had such a different feeling to it and I loved it. But honestly, I love both dramas in their own ways.

Overall, I immensely enjoyed Hana Yori Dango and will be starting season two immediately. The finale of season one was definitely satisfying, but a perfect set up for a second season. I can't wait to see what it brings!

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Completed
Mulan
5 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Dec 23, 2015
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Mulan is one of my favorite Disney movies so you could imagine how enthusiastic I was to find a Chinese live adaptation of the story. I went into this movie knowing it would be different, but excited to see how the story would be told in a live format. After finishing it I can say that I was rather blown away by this movie.

This version of Mulan is not based off of the Disney movie and stays closer to the original 'Ballad of Mulan' (yes, Mulan is a real historical figure). Of course, this is still a movie, so dramatic liberties were taken, but I loved how the story was handled. This is one of, if not the, best war movies I've watched. Honestly after finishing it I just wanted to cry. The ending was rather sad, but stayed true to the vibe of the movie, and fit very well. It definitely gave you a "Life isn't fair" feeling.

The acting in Mulan was phenomenal. Vicki Zhao was a wonderful Mulan. She gave the character many layers and you could see all of her struggle and pain. While the movie focused primarily on Mulan and her development, the supporting characters all held up their ends of the story and everything came together to create a beautiful masterpiece.

I loved the music in Mulan. It was absolutely gorgeous and truly added to the whole experience. I'm very glad that it wasn't overly dramatic and overdone. As a matter of fact, there are some scenes within the movie that would not have made the impact they did if the music wasn't present.

Overall this was a stunning movie. In a way, it kind of broke my heart. But I can guarantee that I'll be watching it again in the future. It's the type of movie that you rewatch so you can catch all of the little details that you missed the first time. I definitely recommend watching Mulan, just don't go in with the expectations that it will follow the plot of the Disney movie!

Here's my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWX_pF6D9j4

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Completed
The Master's Sun
4 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Oct 21, 2015
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
Where do I even start with The Master's Sun? Well, I went into this show only knowing that it was about a girl who could see ghosts and a rich guy. Honestly, by looking at the poster, The Master's Sun looks like some kind of dramatic gothic romance. But it had been recommended to me by several people, so I was waiting until I was in the perfect mood to watch it. After waiting and waiting, I finally gave it a shot and was hooked within the first 5 minutes of episode 1.

The plot was so unique! We've all seen rich guy falls for poor girl dramas before, but The Master's Sun takes everything to a new level! It didn't feel at all like other dramas. The pacing throughout the whole show was really good, though towards the end there was definitely a push-pull feeling. But aside from that, the plot and pacing were great! Things were revealed at the perfect time and the mystery aspect of the show made it really interesting.

The acting, of course was phenomenal. I've seen both So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin in several other shows/movies, but seeing them act together was wonderful! They had great chemistry and were a very quirky couple. All of the other actors were great too! I actually think that I liked all of the characters in this show (except for the antagonist that shows up). The side characters were just as entertaining as the main characters! I found that by the end of the show I wanted to see the other characters get a good ending as well as our main leads.

I really liked the soundtrack as well! It was a beautiful combination of instrumental and vocal pieces. I appreciated that the songs weren't over used. I could barely tell when there was background music, because it blended so well into what was happening.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Master's Sun. Though it dragged a little bit after episode 12/13 the show was still great. It was funny, mysterious, creepy, sad, etc. It even made me cry at a point or two! I'm really glad that I finally got around to The Master's Sun and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for something fresh!

If you're interested, I also made a video review on my YouTube Channel! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HeyLETLLU4

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Completed
She Was Pretty
4 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Nov 13, 2015
16 of 16 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
I can't even describe how much I enjoyed watching She Was Pretty. I was completely hooked from the very first episode. Though the story was simple, the characters were unique and intriguing. I fell in love with all of them. Though I must say that Siwon, especially stood out to me. Shin Hyeok was by far my favorite character. Every time he came on screen I was laughing, yet I sympathized with him SO MUCH. To me, he was the real star of this show. He was the peeping girl and may be one of my all-time favorite drama characters.

The music in She Was Pretty was wonderful and fit the show perfectly. The OST is so catchy. Every time I listen to THUMPING I feel as if I can't help but have a good day. I was completely thrilled that Close to You by The Carpenters appeared in the show. It's such a lovely song, and though slightly overplayed at times, was a wonderful addition to the OST.

I think the show's main problem lies with the plot. By no means was it terrible. I was definitely satisfied with the conclusion, and the message of the show was wonderful. It definitely didn't stray from the point of the story. But I felt as if there could have been so much more. Things were mentioned throughout the show, yet they always seemed to be forgotten and were never brought up again. All of these little details could have completely changed the plot, yet they were treated as if they had no importance. I, personally, would have liked to see all of these things explored and probably would have far more invested in the show if they had been.

Having said that, though things could have gone in a completely different direction, I am very happy with what we got. Overall, She Was Pretty was a light, fluffy, and funny show with a good message. The characters had wonderful chemistry (can we just talk about the amazing friendship between Ha Ri and Hye Jin?) and were all likable in their own ways. I very much enjoyed She Was Pretty and am very glad to have watched it.

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Kimi wa Petto
2 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Dec 29, 2015
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 7.0
I remember discovering and watching the Korean movie You're My Pet back when I first started watching dramas. Since then, I have watched many shows and have only just gotten around to watching the original Kimi Wa Petto.

I liked this drama, I really did. The concept is slightly odd, and can be uncomfortable at times, but still enjoyable to watch. I think my only problem with it, besides slight discomfort at times, was that it occasionally felt a little slow. Putting this aside, I really liked the exploration of what is considered socially acceptable and gender roles. These in-depth explorations were a nice addition to the show.

I enjoyed the acting quite a bit. Matsumoto Jun was fabulous! Though I've enjoyed watching Jang Guen Suk in various dramas, he can't quite pull of the role of Momo like Matsumoto Jun. I think that Momo was definitely my favorite character.

The music in Kimi Wa Petto didn't stand out to me too much, but I did like the ending theme as well as several of the piano pieces that played in the background throughout the drama.

Overall I really liked Kimi Wa Petto. I think that the main problem I had with it was the fact that I couldn't always tell what it was aiming to be. Sometimes it felt as if it was a comedy, but then would take a 90 degree turn and give off melodrama vibes. At times I just felt as if the drama was missing something. Despite this, I still enjoyed the show and liked the message of it. The chemistry between the leads was good as well.

When it comes to comparing Kimi Wa Petto and You're My Pet, I would recommend watching Kimi Wa Petto first. I wouldn't say that You're My Pet is a terrible movie, but it's definitely not the same as the original drama. Kimi Wa Petto definitely has more character depth and delves deeper into the characters' relationships.

Kimi Wa Petto wasn't the best drama that I've ever watched, but it was solid and enjoyable and I'm glad to have finally watched the original drama adaptation.

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Completed
High School King of Savvy
2 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Jan 22, 2016
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
I've heard a lot of varying opinions when it comes to High School King of Savvy, so when I started it I didn't have many expectations. I went into it without any preconceived notions and I'm very glad that I did. It certainly had it's problems, but I also found it to be really entertaining and am very glad that I watched it.

Firstly, I'd like to address several of the aspects of the show that (from what I've seen) are fairly controversial; starting with the female lead. I've noticed that many people dislike the female lead because, to put it bluntly, she's spineless and a pushover. I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about her, but I will say that I've seen worse. She was definitely (for the most part) a weak character, but she had her merits and I wasn't bothered too much by her. I don't think that Lee Ha Na's acting was bad either. I think it was just the way the character was written. She wasn't my favorite character, but she had her good points and she definitely didn't ruin the drama for me.

Secondly, High School King of Savvy is known for its noona romance theme. This is actually the first noona romance that I've been able to complete and I was pleased to find that it didn't make me too uncomfortable. If I really think about it, it's a little odd, but this is dramaland and anything can happen. There are definitely situations in this show that are unrealistic and maybe not socially acceptable, but aside from that, it's pretty ok. I think it helped that both members of the main couple were fairly childish and naive in their own ways.

Anyway, aside from that I really enjoyed the show. If I could give you one reason to watch High School King of Savvy it would be Seo in Guk. He was the star of the show (literally and figuratively). This is my first time seeing him play the male lead, and he did a fantastic job. He was so expressive and put on a wonderful performance! I adored him in this role.

Lee Soo Hyuk was a great second male lead as well. He was probably one of the most complex characters in the show and I actually really liked him. Sure, he was a terrible person sometimes, but I didn't want to strangle him (most of the time). I loved that he was interesting and had the classic second-male-lead-sob-backstory/family problems, but these things didn't take over the main plot. His character had a lot of depth and I have mixed feelings about him in the best way. I really like Lee Soo Hyuk as an actor and he did a great job in this role.

The music wasn't especially memorable for me. But I did enjoy it. The songs were catchy and fit the show, they just won't leave a lasting impression in my mind.

Overall I really enjoyed High School King of Savvy. If anything, it was very entertaining and fun to watch. It's not a show to analyze, but it's a perfect easy watch. It's dramatic without being overwhelming and it's lots of fun. Despite it's flaws, I really enjoyed it and thought that it was worth watching!

My Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0N6a7iabPA

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Completed
Hana Yori Dango 2
2 people found this review helpful
by Katie
Jan 1, 2016
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
I've ended the year just like I started it: watching drama. At this time last year I was watching My Love From Another Star, and now, a year later, I'm finishing up the 2nd season of Hana Yori Dango: a drama that I immensely enjoyed.

Much like the first season, the story line of season 2 wasn't anything new. It was quite similar to that of Boys Over Flowers, but there were some differences that I really really liked. The storyline picks up about a year after the ending of season one and we're immediately hit with a wall of angst. The conflicts in this season never stop, but it was entertaining to watch. I think my favorite part of the season was the ending. Everything came together so well. I know there's still a movie to complete the series, but the ending to this was pretty darn good. It was very fulfilling and felt complete.

The acting was as good as ever. I've already talked about all of the actors in my review for the first season so basically all I have to say is that I have no complaints. We got to meet some new characters in this season and they all played their parts well. The main cast was solid throughout the whole season.

I don't think I liked the OST for this season quite as much as season one's OST, but I really liked the opening song. I also liked the inclusion of Utada Hikaru's Flavor of Life. I love her voice and she always sounds great.

Overall I'm very satisfied with Hana Yori Dango 2. This season is full of angst and not quite as light hearted as season one, but still very enjoyable. I liked it enough that I watched it in just under 24 hours. It made all of my fangirl dreams come true. I'm looking forward to watching the final movie right away.

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