Hayley
Netherlands
The story is a nice feel good Romance without too many dramatics like Romances often tend to have. What I really liked about this, is the fact it feels very slice-of-life without having the drag that slice-of-life sometimes tends to get (in my opinion). Characters communicated and because of that, the plot was allowed to move forward easily.
I like how the plot mostly focused on the development of the characters. Though at first it tends to focus on the romance aspect, slowly it begins to focus more on in-depth. Kinda like how you begin to know another person while being in a relationship. So though the plot wasn't super intense, the tension (or better put excitement) was mostly to find in the way the romance and friendships developed. How common life struggles can be overcome quite easily, if only you communicate. Honestly - I loved the communication message in here. Along with the message about family and friendship. How together you can overcome struggles.
To make this drama more unique, it's about a mature woman who is still a fangirl. Being a fan of a boyband myself, I could relate to this. For humor's sake, of course some things were exaggerated (though that doesn't mean it doesn't actually happen in real life) , but it was amusing cause it was just SO relateable for me. Definitely amused me well.
Also - the main couple is just relationship goals honestly.
Acting/Cast
I think the cast did a great job portraying their characters. Everyone was unique in their own ways. The characters were pretty diverse making for interesting interactions and each actor did well on their part. And I think the development their characters went through was shown well too. Honestly, I can't say much more other than I enjoyed the acting. (The only cringe worthy part for me was the obvious commercial scenes. But those hardly ever feel natural.)
Music
I can't say this was anything super special, but the music was catchy and overall suited the drama well. Oftentimes on the background you could hear other well known Kpop groups/artists and I loved when I recognized for example Ha Sungwoon's song. So the diversity of artists/music chosen on the background was REALLY nice for me.
The OST specially created for the drama was pretty average, but not bad. Catchy and enjoyable but I don't feel like listening it outside of the drama. (But I rarely do anyway haha.)
I have to admit though, 'Precious Little Girl' is still echoing inside my head. And I did love the pingle-tune that re-occurs a lot throughout the drama.
Rewatch Value
It was a really nice, feel good ride. It was nice not to have complicated plots. I personally probably won't rewatch it for a good while to come, but maybe in the future I will. I can definitely understand others would want to rewatch this though! But since the plot isn't very exciting, you won't be left with much new things to explore. But if you're in for some good fangirling over the relationshipgoals - then it's a very pleasant rewatch.
Next time though, I would definitely try to spot more mistakes. It's amusing to see the director or editors didn't notice some recording flails. But those weren't too distracting. I just couldn't help from noticing though.
Overall
I don't regret watching this drama. I really enjoyed my time, though I do admit I -sometimes- missed a little more action. But honestly, it was just too much of a feel good not to keep watching. I also shed plenty of tears because you just start to feel for the characters.
I can't say it's a favorite of mine (I'm too picky for that), but I can definitely advice anyone who enjoys Romance to give this a try!
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Story:
From the beginning to the end, it held me in its grip. There was never a boring moment. You get thrown right into the action and it keeps on building. Mysteries accumulate and just when you think there's a solution, a new problem appears. The genres in this story were well-balanced too. I didn't feel like there was too much or too little of anything. To me, it feels all were given equal attention.
Acting/Cast:
All the actors, from main to guest appearance were strong in their acting. They were convincing. They were real. No over-acting where it wasn't needed. I was even surprised to see how real they reacted in certain situation. They made me feel for them, even the bad guys I could love (in a way) because of how real they felt.
The lead male, Healer... I'm really happy with his acting. When he was a cool guy, he was just that. When he needed to be a more normal guy, he was just that. And can I just mention how adorable that character is?
The lead female I really loved as well. I don't usually love the female main in a romance, at most like. She was strong, but with her flaws. She was real and that made her very likeable. Whatever came across her path, she dealt with it with human emotions. When she was courageous, she was so with fear.
Music:
On point. The OST fits the story and moods perfectly. The main instrumental which you hear through the first 10sec of episode 1 already convinced me I was in for a great ride. It sure made true of it! Eternal Love, another song you hear often, is now permanently stuck in my mind. Through-out the story, the music added to the emotions displayed on the screen. And having had the lyrics translated on screen as well - the meaning behind the songs played were clearly kept in mind as they played. It really gave a second layer to the scenes because of it.
Rewatch Value:
High. Definitely. I'm not someone who can easily rewatch things I've seen, because I remember too well and will end up growing bored. However! I don't feel the same about this drama. I really enjoy the acting and interaction between the characters/actors on screen. I could watch it for many hours more. The music as well, I just cannot stop listening to it.
Negatives?
I don't have any. But if you would really force me to name one? It's the hacking. Sometimes it was maybe a bit exaggerated the way Ahjumma was typing away on her keyboard, but hey - it's a drama. It wasn't anywhere near bad enough to make me annoyed by it. like I've seen in many movies before and what not. It was not annoying, just something I noticed once or twice at most. That being my only negative.. I guess that shows how great a drama it truly is.
This nit picker couldn't find anything else to nit pick about. I'm sure the drama's that are to follow this one will have a hard time reaching the bar that's been raised by this beauty. <3
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When I first watched this, I was absolutely hooked and convinced that Kdrama was so much more than I had ever thought it to be. It was great to have this as my introduction to this new world.
Story:
Well, I don't have much to say here. Genderswap is amusing and difficult. I think the actors did an amazing job at portraying one another after a swap. Besides this swap, it's really a pretty average story of a rich family versus a poor family. Is this bad? No, absolutely not. I really liked how it all developed. But is it really special? That, I guess not. It never bored me though!
Actors and Acting:
As stated above, the leads did amazing. This drama also introduced me to Lee Jong Suk and man, he got my attention from the get go for sure! Just like Yoon Sang Hyun (whom later surprised me in I Can Hear Your Voice). I thought the acting in general was really well done by everyone. There were a few scenes where I felt things were a bit over the top.. but not to the point where it got annoying. It fitted the story.
Overall:
It used to be a 10 for me, but now I rated it a 9 because another drama took its spot, showing me the bar could be raised even higher. Still - this is a drama I advice everyone whenever I can.
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I couldn't help but rate it 10 out of 10. Because even though there are a few things that I thought weren't entirely perfect/realistic.. scoring it any less than a 10 made me feel like I was being very unfair towards the drama as a whole.
Story and acting:
Multiple personality disorder and 7 personalities. It sounds crazy and I was very curious to how it was going to be acted out. I'm speechless. The male lead (JS) did amazing! He was more than just convincing; he became 7 different people. I don't think I have ever been as impressed by an actor as I have by him. Not only was he very real, he made me love each and every personality, even those I found highly annoying or boring at first glance. The way the story develops allows you to get steadily introduced to the many issues that are going on. So it doesn't feel cluttered at all. The story has the perfect balance between scenes where you can't stop laughing, and those that make you bawl your eyes out. It's true - the male lead even manages to make you shift through emotions faster than you can blink your eyes and prepare your heart. Because the acting was so very well done, it became only all the more heartfelt.
And then the siblings. Their chemistry was sky high! I love Oh Ri On so very much. If I imagine myself the perfect brother; it would definitely be someone like him. I love how real things were in their sibling relationship.
As for negatives:
There were only a few minor, minor inconsistencies I couldn't help but notice. (Which I won't mention, because other people might not even notice it, so very minor.) And because aside from that - I was often very annoyed by the female lead her screaming. I had read a warning about it, and I was glad I knew beforehand. But that screaming could have been a bit less.
There were a few things I choose to ignore because I understood it was mostly done for the viewer so they won't get confused. (Like Shin Se Gi's tattoo appearing and disappearing.) It was mostly a visual aid I guess, but for me it was obvious enough just by the male lead's acting so it felt redundant.
Music:
I have fallen so totally in love with the rap song you hear in all the episodes. It really sets the mood well, between the rap and the soft singing. I know I heard many other BGM as well, but it's only this one that I can name. And it's stuck in my head along with all the feels it's given me.
Rewatch Value:
A definite high one. Even if I already know the story, the great acting work alone is enough to make rewatching it another great journey. And if not for the story or the acting, I'm sure the music alone would keep dragging me back in. I'm very sad it's come to an end. And I can't wait until the day I'll feel ready to watch this again.
Last word:
This drama has made me feel many emotions. It has made me think a lot and I respect the hell out of it for making a heavy subject like this so very personal and touching. It has inspired me on many levels, too. I've been taken on a journey through pain, acceptance, grieve, regret, longing and loneliness by a handful of amazing actors.
I'm really grateful a drama like this exists.
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This review may contain spoilers
To the doubters:I can see there are many reviews complimenting this drama, but also plenty who are more critical. Personally I really liked this drama, but when I read the reviews who criticize the drama, I can't disagree entirely with them. However, the issues they mention, I have not been bothered by myself/have not noticed and even looking back I often feel it's not that bad. So my advise to doubters is to give the drama a try and if you're not into it after 2 or maybe 3 episodes? Maybe it's not for you. Because of its fast pace, you'll know soon enough if it is your kind of drama or not. :)
Let me just add - I'm glad I avoided the hype and waited with watching until the hype had simmered down a bit. I think if I had allowed myself to get hyped up about this drama, I might have ended up being disappointed. But having started watching it with the idea of it being simply a 'good' drama, rather than an amazing one, I feel like I have been allowed to enjoy it all the more.
Story
The first thing I have to compliment this drama's story on is the pacing. There is not a dull moment for even a second. Things progress/happen all the time, pulling you through the episodes easily. During the first episode I forgot all about my cup of tea for a full hour. I didn't notice time passing at all because I didn't feel like it was an hour!
There are a lot of plot twists. Just when you think you have something figured out, you will learn a new bit of detail that throws it all around. I have been told this drama could be confusing at times, but personally I didn't experience any confusion at all. Maybe because I binge watched it?
I'm someone who usually gets really irritated by plot-holes or unrealistic situations/reactions. I've seen reviews about there being plot-holes and non-realism, but I personally didn't notice or experience annoyance over things.
Also; I really enjoyed to see the comparison between the real world and the comic world. How time passes by. The point of view of characters. And because I can't mention it elsewhere: I LOVE(!!) the artwork you see. It was so gorgeous, I couldn't get enough of it. Luckily, you get to see it often.
My only criticism here would be that I feel the ending had a few minor things in which I felt it was lacking. Let me start by saying I love the ending. It's an open ending and depending on your own experience of the drama, you could consider it to be a happy ending or a sad happy ending. For me, it was the latter. I remember Lee Jong Suk saying that he feels a sad ending would have been for the best. And though I agree with his vision on it, emotionally I'm glad that the writer didn't go for a sad ending entirely. That aside - I felt it was a bit lacking because I have a few question marks left about a few supporting roles. I wish I could have seen those wrapped up a little better. For spoiler's sake, I won't mention names. However - I'm glad the drama was only 16 episodes.
In conclusion - I love the pacing. I love the plot twists. I love the originality of the plot. I love the art.
But I do have a few small mentions on the side.
Acting/Cast
Like many - I'm a fan of Lee Jong Suk. And I don't think I have to get in-depth in how great his acting was. How good he brought the emotions in his eyes and all that. He was a dream to be watching. Compliments aside - I do have a bit of criticism here. I don't think it's Lee Jong Suk's fault, but rather the character he played. Though I loved him and his character to death and he had me squeal and cry regularly, I did feel like I could have been more emotionally attached. So I'm a bit disappointed I didn't feel stronger? Having read through some more critical reviews, I think maybe it's because there isn't much development within the character. Looking back, I don't feel Kang Chul has changed much between episode 1 and 16.
The same goes for Han Hyo Joo who plays Oh Yeon Joo. I didn't know her, but grew to love her instantly. I have nothing but love for her acting. But as much as I loved it, here as well - I felt there was still something lacking. And I guess it's the character development that is to blame here yet again. Very little difference between episode 1 and 16.
But don't let this scare you! The story and acting really still pulled me in a lot. And as I mentioned - I /did/ squeal and cry and laugh. It's just that when I compare it to other Drama's I rated 10/10; I feel like I didn't feel as overwhelming emotion, making me unable to rate it 10/10 as well.
Also - The chemistry between the leads is amazing. I had seen it in behind the scenes, but I definitely also saw it on screen. They were so adorable at the best of times. I like how there was a lot of romance in between the action.
The rest of the casting did very well on their characters as well. I have nothing but good things to say about them really, so I won't go in-depth about them.
Music
Perfect.
Often, I don't really notice the background music during drama's, so when a song stands out and catches my attention, it's often a sign that it's really good. I had that feeling during this drama. Often the music would catch my attention, making me want to look it up.
I shouldn't have looked it up mid-watch though. Because I found out who sang one of the songs.. I started paying more attention to the song when it played than the scene, making me lose my emotional connection. |D But this was my own fault, haha.
In short - The music was just perfect and I think it fit the drama very well.
Rewatch Value
High. Definitely. If not for the story, then for the beautiful work of art and acting.
Personally, I would wait a while until I'd have forgotten a few things, so I would be able to experience the plot twists again.
Conclusion:
After rating everything separately and thinking things through, the end-score is a 9.5/10. I think I'm content about this, because I would have loved to give it a 10, but felt like that wouldn't be true to my personal experience. There are a few minor things that just don't make it perfect. And scoring it a 9 would have felt like I would be rating it too low, especially when I compare it to other drama's I've rated 9/10.
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Personally, it took me a few episodes to get into this drama. But by the time I was at episode 4, I felt like I had accidentally skipped an episode. But no, I really had already watched 3! So by then, I was already losing track of time. By the time I was finishing episode 7, the cast had me on the edge of my seat.
Negatives?
Not that I can come up with. I couldn’t find any flaws in the plot or in anyone’s acting. The only thing that may be a negative for some people is that it’s a very serious drama without any comedy. So if you are not in the mood for it or not the type, than maybe this drama won't grab your attention. (Though, despite me not being in the mood, it still made me finish it within 2 days.)
Story:
The plot is interesting each episode again. There isn’t ever a slow moment and everything you see builds up another piece of the puzzle to show you the episode as a whole. The main characters are all very diverse in their motivations/actions, which makes for varying situations again and again. The plot keeps on thickening by the minute. Just when a new piece of the puzzle is formed, another one seems missing. There is a lot of action, no shortage of that! Never a dull moment.
Extra mention:
I absolutely LOVE how they filmed this. The contrast between dark and light in most of the shots really give this drama its own feel. It adds to the mood a lot and to me makes everything come across much stronger than it might have otherwise done.
Actors:
The actors are brilliant in their roles and have done a great job portraying their characters. The acting was real time and time again. I believed what I was seeing. The slow developments taking place within the characters were beautifully brought! I was slowly starting to feel for each character individually, learning to understand them and their motives. Some villains even gave me the creeps the way villains should do.
Music:
The music added to the general feel of the episodes. Dark, action, suspense. Not generally songs that stick into your mind, but are a great asset to pull you even more into the screen and story. Especially one with a very heavy sound, it made me feel impending doom whenever I heard it. (To be honest, it made me feel the same way I always feel when I hear the alarms in Silent Hill.) I love the song Break Up by Yoon Hyung Ryul.
Rewatch Value:
If this is your kind of thing; no doubt you will enjoy watching it again. I’m not sure if I’ll do so myself, because it’s not a light watch, but who knows – maybe in the future I might again!
Would I watch a second season? Now that I finished it: Without a doubt. Yes. I definitely would. I'm actually kind of hoping for one now.
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Story
From the first episode on, I knew this drama was going to be exactly what that episode was promising it to be. A story about crimes, but with a well-balanced amount of humor and a diverse set of characters. The promise made in the first episode was made true until the very last. The story slowly developed through the episode and I didn’t feel like it wavered even once. If there were mistakes, I didn’t notice them. You start with a puzzle and missing pieces and as the events unfold, steadily more pieces start to fall together.
And let’s not forget about the many morals this drama allows to come to discussion. It invites you to look at things from another perspective and to think differently. What is right and what is wrong? What makes wrong, wrong?
I loved how the story slowly connected all the dots to create a picture. The end of this drama is relatively open. I was asked once if I preferred a happy or sad ending. This drama has a bit of both and I think.. that I really like this. There are two sides to the ending, which to me feels most realistic.
You are given enough closure to know how things are likely to go from here, but at the same time it’s not the picture perfect ending you might be hoping for. And isn’t that just like real life? There can’t always be a happy ending. I love that and it gives this drama that extra touch for me to appreciate it.
Acting/cast
The cast was perhaps my favorite part of the drama. The actors that were casted were perfect for the roles they played. I was curious about seeing more of Seo In Guk after The Master’s Sun and man, am I glad I got to see him in the main lead!
And let’s not forget about Park Bo Gum. I didn’t know him before this drama, but I sure do know him now. He may not have been the main, but he sure know how to steal a spotlight with his performance. I loved the interaction between Park Bo Gum and Seo In Guk.
The overall chemistry between everyone was just so lovely to see. From the two brothers to the investigation team to the romance between the leads. Everything felt so touching and real, it touched me deeply.
I was looking forward to the romance when I was just a few episodes in. But after having finished it, I find myself wishing so much I had seen more about the brotherhood. Still – the story balanced it well and I think every character and every actor has had their moment to shine. They made me laugh, smile, frown and cry.
A special mention goes to D.O/Do Kyung Soo who plays the young Lee Jun Yeon. Had a friend not told me it was D.O from EXO, I would have never known. I did not recognize him at all! His performance was so strong and convincing. I didn’t really have a deep impression of him before, but after this drama I got to admit my view on him changed quite a bit. He definitely has great acting skills in him and I absolutely grew to love the character he played because of it!
Music
The music was just fine. Compared to the rest of my review I may not sound as enthusiastic, but that’s because if I am honest – I can’t really remember the music. What I remember is that it fitted the moods just right and it was always a good add to the scenes at hand. But there is not a song that jumped out and made me want to listen to it more than once.
So though it was a good selection, I can’t say it caught my attention specifically. My attention was solely on the story and cast.
Rewatch Value
Oh yes, absolutely! The story may not have many surprising things left, but it was never once boring. And the sheer acting of the cast was such a joy that I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. No doubt, I’d find myself laughing about the same subtle jokes all over again. <3
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The story is quite simple. A girl ends up in the past and is stuck there until the next rain comes. This doesn't come without a few issues here and there, of course. The plot doesn't entail much more but considering the drama is only a little over 2 hours, it is just perfect. It's a story where you don't have to expect a lot of twists and turns and drama in order to enjoy the ride.
Romance and comedy were the main focus, next to the historical part and I think the drama did well on balancing it out. The only bit of supernatural that occurs is the time travel though.
The story allowed for a few good laughs and the romance had a nice pace in build-up throughout the two hours. It was touching and cute, allowing for a few tears along the second half of the story because I had gotten so wrapped up in it.
And I like the moral/lesson that's hidden inside it. That you can do far more when you really put your mind into it. It definitely gives a bit of a boost there.
Acting/Cast
They delivered a great job for sure! I think the plot/jokes wouldn't have been half as amusing had it not been for the actors. Thumbs up, because I don't often find myself laughing so hard about comedy. So for me, that is always a tell-tale sign.
The only issues I had with the acting was the female lead. Sometimes she annoyed me, but compared to some other drama's I've seen.. I guess she wasn't half as bad. The actress did well on delivering her role regardless. It were only a handful of scenes I didn't enjoy the character she played.
Music
This was actually the part where I feel most critical. The instrumental OST I enjoyed well along with the scenes, but half of the songs that had vocal weren't quite to my taste. I can understand why they were chosen, but it just didn't help me get a feel. But considering this drama is so short, I couldn't really feel upset about it. I did really love one of the final songs, sung by Ahn Hyo Seop.
Rewatch value
Absolutely! It's a simple drama without too many surprises and once you've seen it, you've seen it. But would I enjoy it again? Yes, I definitely would! No doubt it would make me laugh and smile again when I do. But it would not have anything new to offer a second round.
Overall, I'm very happy to have seen this drama. It was short and perfect to fill my need for Romance! It was everything I expected of it. Better even - because it proved to be far more amusing than I had thought. (I really don't often laugh out loud when it comes to comedy.)
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Story
The story is not a very original plot to begin with, but I don’t think that has to be considered a bad thing. More importantly to me is the pace, which felt good. Not too slow, not too ridiculously fast. It’s very obviously Romance with a touch of comedy, so obviously there’s going to be a lot of that in the plot. The first 7 episodes didn’t really grab me empathetically (might be my personal problem so don’t weigh this comment too heavily), but around episode 8 I started getting more into it.
There were scenes that really got to me, especially one during episode 12, 15 and 16. I think the writers and cast did wonderful in getting the feel of it right. I got to admit that during the second half of this drama, I laughed and cried a lot. Much of that thanks to the amazing acting.
The only real critics I have, is that I would have liked to see more development in the female lead’s character. Comparing her from where she began to where she ended.. I feel like her development was very small. So when it comes to connection – I don’t really feel connected to her. But hey, that’s fine. All the more attention for Jung Kyung! ;)
And next to that I felt the last episode was a little lacking in explaining a thing or two. Yes, it gives closure, but I feel like I'm left with a few unsolved questions regarding a matter I won't spoil.
As a final note - the story really sets you thinking. So despite it being pretty simple a story, there is definitely lots of emotion going on. For me - it made me think a lot about living life and what it can mean. It gives you a new perspective.
Acting/Cast
The cast did a good job and I have no critics on their acting. The only thing I personally wasn’t sure of was the chemistry between the male lead and the female lead but that can be subjective. I loved Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Min Ho. But I’m not sure if I liked Kim so Yeon as Kim Sun Jeong as much. She felt a bit flat to me, especially compared to Kang Min Ho who I felt had many more layers. Though looking back at the story, I think that’s not her fault. She played the role she was given fine, but her character didn’t have half as much development as some others.
Either way – Their acting was good. The characters all had their flaws and strengths and like every human had to deal, reflect and develop accordingly. (But Kang Min Ho far more than Kim Sun Jeong.)
As for the character Kang Min Ho. I did at times find him too abusive in his behavior. This was mainly at the very beginning. And how Kim Sun Jeong kept swallowing this… I don’t know – I would have been more put off by it maybe? But I do see the loveable sides of Kang Min Ho, so eventually that started to make up for it for me. This feeling was forgotten during the second half of the drama.
Can I just say how amazing Jung Kyung’s acting is? He made me fall in love with his character so totally. He was the perfect mix between a man and a boy at the best of times. The comedy scenes he did were so natural! He often had me laugh with him and having a boyfriend doing such cute things in such a natural way like he did here – that’s many a girl’s dream, no doubt.
Music & sound
I can’t say the music popped out for me personally. It suited the mood just fine, but there was no song that got stuck in my head as I watched it.
As for sound – I was constantly annoyed by the squeaking of chairs. I think the mics picked up on that sound a little too well for my taste. But maybe that’s nitpicking.
Rewatch Value
If you want a romantic ride without too many twists and thoughts, this is definitely a good one to watch it again. As for me? Right now I’m not too sure I will. There is nothing new to find for a second watch. The only thing I might watch it for a second time would be Jung Kyung Ho’s acting. Especially the moments where he jokes around.
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Story:
Every episode has a small side story which supports the main story as it develops. When I learned this through reviews, I was a bit hesitant because I didn't like the idea of small short stories. But I was pleasantly surprised when each story managed to touch me in a certain way. Some more than others, but the stories were all very well thought out so that it didn't become a drag.
The main story kept me interested as well, though it started to lose its grip on me along the final episodes. More background was being pushed into the last episodes that felt a bit redundant to me. And the push-and-pull between the two main leads became annoying at this point. There is a lot of push-and-pull going on throughout the whole series, but other than the last episodes, I really liked how it worked on their chemistry. I was often very amused by the 'Go/Leave!' scenes.
Acting/Cast:
A job well done. Even the smaller roles felt very real to me. I love how the male lead spoke and acted, often making me laugh or smirk. The female lead was a bit annoying for my personal tastes at first, but she soon enough became likeable. Though at the end it wore down a bit. But that's mostly the plot's fault. I also really enjoyed Seo In Guk! I felt along with him every time again. He made me root for him on many occasions.
Music:
Enjoyable for sure. I still have some songs stuck in my head even as I write now. The only thing I didn't quite like was how they tended to cut the music off when a scene changed to the next. I would have much rather had it fade out than the abrupt silences. But at least they were consistent on this part, so after a few episodes I felt it was more characteristic than annoying.
Rewatch Value:
I'm not sure if I'll ever rewatch this one again. personally. Probably not. But would I be able to enjoy it again if I did? Sure, though I probably would be less excited about events than I've been this round. So for me it is a no, but I could definitely understand why someone else would watch this again. There's enough humor to make you laugh again and again and the acting alone is a joy to watch.
Overall score:
I was really doubting about giving this drama a 7,5 but I felt it was unfair with how well executed it was. I think it's mostly my disappointment in the last two or three episodes that make me feel this way, cause when I think back to the first half, I'd definitely score it an 8/8.5
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Story
The story is quite simple: A rich guy falls in love with a regular girl. Nothing special there and the plot twists were in a way pretty predictable. However - I don't think this is a negative point. The twists felt realistic enough and they weren't overly annoying to me. Things didn't feel like they became too dragged out too much.
The ending felt a bit lacking. It's a happy end, but not every lose end has been tied. Some themes have been left open. In a way it feels just fine, because it allows for us to fantasize about it any way we like. On the other hand.. I'm curious. So I'm both happy/content and disappointed by the end. But not too badly disappointed. (And from what I understood, these matters you can find within the original book.)
Acting/Cast
I think the cast did well on their acting. I just feel sometimes the characters they acted were a bit lacking. Shan Shan felt a bit too ditzy to me, though she did improve gradually. And Feng Teng could have been a bit less stoic in some scenes. He does change though and I really liked to see how he was during the last episodes. The chemistry between the characters (Main, secondary and support) all felt just fine/good.
Music
Though not overly special, I did find myself humming along at some point, haha! So I guess it was more catchy than I thought. It fitted the mood well, but there's nothing that left a lasting impression for long to me personally.
Rewatch Value
I think it is a drama I could watch again at some point in time, but not anytime soon. There is nothing new I could discover in it, but there were a lot of sweet moments. I'm just not sure I'm ready to go through the first episodes of ditzy Shan Shan again.
Negatives?
If there is one thing that REALLY bothered me, then it's got to be the make-up/filming. I hope I'm not going to spoil anyone's fun here, but I absolutely hated how pink their lips/hands were most of the time. It was ridiculous. (The eyebrows too, at times.) Just wth was up with that? o_O
It was distracting at best, haha.
Overall
I liked this drama. I really did and I watched it with a smile. Though I did take a break from it at some point (mostly because of an interest shift and not because the drama bored me), I easily found myself continuing it and enjoying it just fine. I'm glad I watched it. Romance was what I was looking for when I put it on and romance was what I got. :)
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The story is about Bo Nui who is highly supersticious and will do everything possible to avoid getting bac luck for her, but especially others. It doesn't matter how far she has to go to achieve a sense of security. Then there is Soo Ho who believes only in truths and facts. Two world that couldn't be more apart, but slowly entertwine in a way that (in my opinion) couldn't have been any more perfect.
The pacing of the story is done well. The emotions and jokes, I felt, were well-balanced. They also didn't always show things in full, revealing a small thing later that would give certain situations a small twist. I really, really liked these little twists and extra information that they gave you.
There was only a small moment somewhere between eps 10-15 that I started to feel a bit of a drag. I'm not sure if the plot is to blame, or just my own attention shifting as happens more often with me. However, when I went back to finish the last 2 episodes I had absolutely no trouble getting straight back into the story, even though more than a month had already passed! (If not already 2.)
I feel like all the most prominent characters were giving plenty of story and screen time. I don't feel like there are unfinished stories left, which is often the case in dramas. It's a story with a happy ending and I feel this fits the plot well, considering all the bad luck that's been going on through-out it. It's a feel-good romance for sure with plenty of laughs and tears.
Let me also add that the ending didn't feel rushed as is also often the case!
Acting/Cast
I think the characters were well casted. I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of Jung Eum who played the lead female Bo Nui. But the things that usually annoy me about her, I couldn't find in this drama. (I can't quite put into words what annoys me either.) So that, for me personally, was quite a relief.
I really, really enjoyed Ryu Joon Yeol as Je Soo Ho. If you ask me, he was just perfect. He was cute and awkward one moment and another he was cool and reliable. The way he showed his characters development felt really smooth to me and I just cannot praise this man enough. I really fell in love with his acting and his character thanks to that.
The other casts, as said, are also well chosen. The characters that were meant to be funny actually felt funny to me. And that's not always the case for me. So a job well done! :)
Music
Junsu.
The moment I heard his voice, I was sold. I absolutely loved the song he sang for this drama. It fit the mood so well. Fangirling aside - overall I really did enjoy all of the OST. Though Junsu jumped out for me personally, being a real fan of his sound, I found myself enjoying the music more often. It made me notice it in a positive way and it really held my hand - allowing me to feel the scenes and emotions all the better through-out the story. And man - did it help make me cry here and there.
Rewatch Value
High! I didn't expect it when I first read about this drama, but man - I was pulled in so easily. Though the plot isn't going to be a whole big surprise anymore, I feel like the acting totally makes up for that. I'm sad I no longer get to enjoy Joon Yeol's acting, but it is comforting to know I can always rewatch it. To me, he really is the star of this drama.
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Story
It's obvious that this drama's target is the EXO-L's/fans. Looking at it from that angle - the concept is not a bad one. Which fangirl would not want their idols next door? A dream come true! But at the same time it doesn't go much deeper than that. So I wouldn't expect too much out of this plot. They did add a bit of a history to make things a little more exciting and I have to admit - I did like the sweetness of it. Simple as the story is, with the episodes being so short, it was just fine and enjoyable enough.
Acting/Cast
The boys did well! I started watching this because I was curious about EXO and wanted to 'get to know them' a little better. I doubt that the characters I saw in the drama were reflections of their real selves entirely, but all the same it gave me a bit of a feel about them. I liked their acting well enough - especially Sehun! As ridiculous as his role was.
I have to admit I didn't much like D.O in here but I think that has more to do with personal taste than his acting. I've seen him act in 'I Remember You' and boy - that guy can act!
Overall - the boys did well.
The only thing I really didn't enjoy about the acting was the female lead. Too over the top and just not the acting-style I enjoy.
Music
I can't remember well what music was played but I'll assume it was EXO's work. And I love EXO's music, haha!
Rewatch value
5,5/10 because I personally won't ever want to watch this again. But I can imagine fangirls watching this over and over again. So I decided to go for mid-way. (And if I were forced to watch it again, I wouldn't hate it. I just wouldn't watch it again on my own terms.)
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I was a little unsure if the humor was up my alley at first, but in the end I really found myself cracking up over all the sometimes subtle, often not, sound-effects and edits.
I have nothing bad to say about any of the actors. Yes - one of the co-workers was annoying (to me), but I know this was how her character was supposed to be and in acting, the actress did amazing. The male lead and female lead were both, in my view, perfect in the way they portrayed their characters.
The timeline in which this story takes place isn't long, so the fact that there weren't HUGE character developments wasn't a big deal to me. Because there were plenty of small ones, there where the couple was finding their way around one another. And it was adorable and amusing.
And I am glad that every other storyline was given a form of closure in some way! There are people saying the last episodes were getting draggy/boring. Yes, it was less exciting in a way, but not so much that they weren't enjoyable. I've seen drama's lose all sense of plot but at least here the plot allowed for side stories to wrap up too. I rather see that than a lousy end, honestly.
The OST was, although nothing that stuck with me, very enjoyable for setting the moods and I really liked it.
Oh! And I absolutely loved the cinematics and colors. It was a non-stop pleasure just watching how things had been recorded.
The only thing that I would critisize is what I noticed only /after/ reading other people's comments. The bromance between the male lead and his best friend. It was a lot of one-way and people complained about a missed chance for bromance. To me, the fact they are friends despite the cold demeanor the male lead tends to show, tells me how close their friendship has had to be. And.. honestly - I just didn't take things too seriously. Why overanalyze when it's clear that their complete oppositeness was the humor they intended to bring. I just wish I would have seen a bit more about how they became so befriended. But it's not that big of a deal I guess.
All in all - this drama was very enjoyable. Park Seo Joon's and Park Min Young's acting was superb and I enjoyed them together a lot. It's a perfect drama for some romance and humor, with a bit of mystery when it comes to the past. No evil family-in-law or big-ass drama to try spark things up. Just some basics.
A drama to watch when you want fluff and cute without things being too serious. Nice and light-hearted.
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Story
When you get really simple about it, the story is nothing really original. Two rich families and one poor family. Their lives become entangled and the usual cliches happen where the rich people try to outsmart each other. Add a bit of supernatural to give one family a darker past and there you have it.
However - I liked the story a lot. It may not be an original plot, but it doesn't always have to be. I think the drama was well written when it comes to pacing. I was never annoyed by the plot. I was expecting a chaebol story and I got it. I couldn't have asked for more. :)
But this was the first time I suffered Second-lead-syndrome. My heart was hurting so much for the second lead (Sung Hyuk/Jang Yi Hyun). I have never felt it this strongly before and to be honest - I was rooting more for the second lead then the main lead (Hongki/Kang).
Acting/Cast
The actors were great in their respective rolls. They felt real and I believed the characters they acted out. When I at first started watching, I have to admit I kept seeing Hongki instead of Kang Joo, but at some point I realised I had completely forgotten about Hongki and was seeing only the character he played. This is a compliment to him, as I normally don't easily manage to let go of an image I already have. I really enjoyed his acting. (Though I'm still rooting for his co-lead Sung Hyuk/Jang Yi Hyun.)
Most of my praise has to go to Yang Jin Sung (Na Doo Rim / Jang Yi Kyung) as she had to play two totally opposite roles. She did amazingly well. Despite knowing it was the same actress, she managed to make the two characters feel absolutely different. I hardly could believe she was truly the same person! I'm really impressed by her acting as that surely couldn't have been an easy feat.
The only thing that annoyed me a bit was the screaming during the last episodes. So if you have sensitive ears, you've been warned ahead. (Luckily, it's not a crazy amount. But it was enough to annoy me at times.)
OH! And can I just add how much I loved Na Doo Rim's grandmother?! Amazing woman and she made me miss my own grandmother so very much. I really enjoyed Nam Jeong Hui's acting.
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