This was a delight. An action-drama-medical romantic comedy. I don't know how they made it so intense at times. I still haven't watched the entire bus scene at the end! Too much for me! 9/10 for sure!
Sorry QoT or Goblin, this is still the Greatest Kdrama made, IMO. The perfect blend of comedy, romance, drama, and action. Perfect casting, tremendous acting, and the production team could do no wrong. In quiet moments, I still find myself drifting back to certain scenes in this drama. Thank you, Netflix for keeping it in your collection for viewing.
It was good, but 8.6? No, it was not as good as HCCC which is currently 8.7. It could have been, I guess? I wish, like others suggested, they did't have the SML role, as that brought nothing to the story. I'd have preferred either sister's story being expanded, especially Hae-dal's , as I found her character more compelling. Since it's a "There's no place like home" theme here, and since ALL sisters found solace back home, not just the FL, I would have appreciated more from them. For me, this was an 8.0 series.
On the 3rd ep now, and what an amazing cast. So pleased to see DongMi in this, as she's one of my favorite actresses. I'm watching because I'd read of the Hometown Cha Cha Cha vibes, and so far, it's pretty good.
I have to agree with all the posters below...the highschool versions of the leads are so much better than the adult ones. I tried but after 4 eps, I give up, the leads do nothing for me.
My biggest takeaway from the finale was the "Mrs Kim" reference from OkBun.....I was surprised they'd mention a minor character from so many episodes back. And I had no issue with the BS/Seri kiss scene (finally) although it looked like they were at some French vineyard????
Otherwise, I guess this show's hallmark was consistency. It's sat at 7.7 here for what seems forever (I'd give it a 7.5, so pretty close), plus its ratings have been pretty steady at about 19% +/- 2% for quite a while. So they found a loyal domestic audience to follow the show.
As usual the best part of these weekenders are the commenters here in the MDL forum, so we can see how differently (and similarly) we view these shows. Thanks to all for your insightful, interesting and funny comments.
I analyzed a lot and I think now I can summarize in one sentence why the drama flopped and became boring after…
I haven't seen the final episode yet, but I can't disagree with any of your analysis. I found great insight from the actor's comments mentioned below regarding how the direction of the show changed and their chagrin at what happened vis-a-vis the writer's disconnect from the characters.
I kind of liked the original vision that the leads would be separated for a long period only to be eventually rejoined. To ME, that makes a ton of sense: bring them back together in the last 4 episodes, for instance....it would give the FL time to figure out just WHAT she wants from life and to see if she can break free of her feelings for her dead husband and her obligations to his family. to ME, that was the real point of the show: the reluctant bride.
I wouldnt give up on family dramas bc that is about the only place where we watch extended families, kids, elderly,…
3Bold Siblings had only one amnesia arc, but multiple/multiple DNA testing scenes...that was the most memorable & forgettable part of that series.
I honestly think, in retrospect that Iron Family, was a good series, because it was consistent from beginning to end. Of course being a shorter series, there was less chance for the writers to screw things up. Plus they had one of the most solid supporting casts I've ever seen, especially the elders.
The most frustrating thing for me with the weekenders was that 3BS & it's Beautiful Now, with some clever editing could be re-presented as a REALLY GOOD series.
I think the last of the great weekenders was "Once Again" which IIRC was filmed back during the pandemic! So it's been a while, eh?
I've never seen a better case (since The Real has Come) for keeping weekenders to 36 episodes since this mess. I'll admit: Iron Family was much more enjoyable.
As this series limps to its finale, I thought I'd post a few thoughts, sorry for being away for so long, health issues have interfered. As far as the last few weeks go....
THE GOOD - I'm grasping for nice things to say. I think the Dongo Tak storyline has been done well, and the actor is superb (how come he gets better writing and direction than the FL?). He was terrific as the hitman in "Are You Human Too?" and every time I see him I cringe. Anyways, his scenes in the jail cell have been really well done.
THE BAD - I'm not even sure where to start. What made me maddest was that they had the FL spend the night before her wedding in her safe space where she communes with her dead husband and got drunk there. One can only imagine her intentions. I almost shut off the TV at that point, I HATE how her character is written. Second point - the whole OkBun vs. MiSun arc was purposely written to show how without GS there, they house falls apart. So of course the Matron of the House had to come and iron everything out. What is the point....they are trying to show us how indispensable she is to the family? And finally, his driving her to the fertility center without her knowledge was reprehensible. He would KNOW BETTER!!!! Why are they writing his character this way? This is infuriating! I didn't blame the FL (for once) for her storming out on him.
THE UGLY - Can someone explain why OkBun and the dancer are living there when she had a fine apartment and money of her own??? This obsession to have all the brothers living together is nonsensical. I can sort of accept that MiSun (who had a TWO BEDROOM apartment) is staying there because she wanted to live with a big family (but as newlyweds that makes NO sense). This series tries too hard to make a point and it shows.
Finally, weeks ago, when user LUNKERA revealed the series would be extended by 4 episodes I was excited because it seemed the writers must have had a plan to add more to the series. Unfortunately it became obvious that the series was being padded out with unnecessarily filler like the whole MIL's first love arc. And yet they STILL refused to use the opportunity to invest in the KS/Bom story. I firmly believe there was a change in writers at some point, because the character development seems to have been handed off to writer(s) who are not invested in the story.
In prior k-dramas I've seen, the transfer of shares is usually a legal matter attended to by the attorneys for…
Agreed, but I think the better thing to do was to give the shares to SeRi, as her birthright, but whatever. She should have just given cash to the Oh family.
CS and MS are a senior couple in a friend zone for a senior home, there is nothing vibrant romantic erotic about…
I get that they are both accomplished veteran actors so my issues aren't with them.
We hear only the words written for them by the writers and see their actions via the director. For whatever reason, they wrote the FL this way. This is how they want them to act. For me, they just have no chemistry together, which is a shame. Even if they were written as lovey-dovey, for me it would be hard to accept, as they just don't 'click'. (And FWIW, there's little chemistry on this show, except for KS/Bom).
I agree with the poster above: if they wanted the FL to be this way, just have her fated to be the Matriarch of the Brewery and remain single, stirring her pots in privacy, satisfied with having given marriage a shot (albeit for 10 days) and happy in her life meddling in her in-laws affairs and every woebegone soul she encounters in life.
Otherwise, I guess this show's hallmark was consistency. It's sat at 7.7 here for what seems forever (I'd give it a 7.5, so pretty close), plus its ratings have been pretty steady at about 19% +/- 2% for quite a while. So they found a loyal domestic audience to follow the show.
As usual the best part of these weekenders are the commenters here in the MDL forum, so we can see how differently (and similarly) we view these shows. Thanks to all for your insightful, interesting and funny comments.
I kind of liked the original vision that the leads would be separated for a long period only to be eventually rejoined. To ME, that makes a ton of sense: bring them back together in the last 4 episodes, for instance....it would give the FL time to figure out just WHAT she wants from life and to see if she can break free of her feelings for her dead husband and her obligations to his family. to ME, that was the real point of the show: the reluctant bride.
I honestly think, in retrospect that Iron Family, was a good series, because it was consistent from beginning to end. Of course being a shorter series, there was less chance for the writers to screw things up. Plus they had one of the most solid supporting casts I've ever seen, especially the elders.
The most frustrating thing for me with the weekenders was that 3BS & it's Beautiful Now, with some clever editing could be re-presented as a REALLY GOOD series.
I think the last of the great weekenders was "Once Again" which IIRC was filmed back during the pandemic! So it's been a while, eh?
As this series limps to its finale, I thought I'd post a few thoughts, sorry for being away for so long, health issues have interfered. As far as the last few weeks go....
THE GOOD - I'm grasping for nice things to say. I think the Dongo Tak storyline has been done well, and the actor is superb (how come he gets better writing and direction than the FL?). He was terrific as the hitman in "Are You Human Too?" and every time I see him I cringe. Anyways, his scenes in the jail cell have been really well done.
THE BAD - I'm not even sure where to start. What made me maddest was that they had the FL spend the night before her wedding in her safe space where she communes with her dead husband and got drunk there. One can only imagine her intentions. I almost shut off the TV at that point, I HATE how her character is written. Second point - the whole OkBun vs. MiSun arc was purposely written to show how without GS there, they house falls apart. So of course the Matron of the House had to come and iron everything out. What is the point....they are trying to show us how indispensable she is to the family? And finally, his driving her to the fertility center without her knowledge was reprehensible. He would KNOW BETTER!!!! Why are they writing his character this way? This is infuriating! I didn't blame the FL (for once) for her storming out on him.
THE UGLY - Can someone explain why OkBun and the dancer are living there when she had a fine apartment and money of her own??? This obsession to have all the brothers living together is nonsensical. I can sort of accept that MiSun (who had a TWO BEDROOM apartment) is staying there because she wanted to live with a big family (but as newlyweds that makes NO sense). This series tries too hard to make a point and it shows.
Finally, weeks ago, when user LUNKERA revealed the series would be extended by 4 episodes I was excited because it seemed the writers must have had a plan to add more to the series. Unfortunately it became obvious that the series was being padded out with unnecessarily filler like the whole MIL's first love arc. And yet they STILL refused to use the opportunity to invest in the KS/Bom story. I firmly believe there was a change in writers at some point, because the character development seems to have been handed off to writer(s) who are not invested in the story.
We hear only the words written for them by the writers and see their actions via the director. For whatever reason, they wrote the FL this way. This is how they want them to act. For me, they just have no chemistry together, which is a shame. Even if they were written as lovey-dovey, for me it would be hard to accept, as they just don't 'click'. (And FWIW, there's little chemistry on this show, except for KS/Bom).
I agree with the poster above: if they wanted the FL to be this way, just have her fated to be the Matriarch of the Brewery and remain single, stirring her pots in privacy, satisfied with having given marriage a shot (albeit for 10 days) and happy in her life meddling in her in-laws affairs and every woebegone soul she encounters in life.