Tajo Mahcts
A Pineapple Under the Sea
Criticism of Sexual Harassment at Work - But Only for Women???
There are a lot of issues with the writing/story of this show. The biggest problem is that sexual harassment against women in the workplace is attacked as a major issue in Korean society, but at the same time sexual harassment against men in the workplace is treated as completely fine, normal, and is even praised by this drama.Specifically, the second female lead attempts to seduce the second male lead at work by making a big show of taking off her glasses, letting down her hair, HIKING UP HER SKIRT AND UNBUTTONING HER SHIRT - all while biting her lips and making suggestive poses, faces and gestures all to seemingly "prove" that the second male lead is "just like all men", and "all men are dogs". When she walks out of the room she is depicted as cool and justified. Do not allow yourself to brush this off as something done "all in good fun". THIS IS WRONG. This character continues her charade the entire series and is never once reprimanded or shown in a negative light - in fact, she is constantly praised for her so-called coolness and lewd behavior. IF WE NORMALIZE LEWD BEHAVIOR, SEXUAL HARASSMENT WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE NORMALIZED.
Clearly this drama was meant to be a criticism of Korean social issues, but ironically it supports an agenda normalizing a social issue it was supposedly fighting. If this drama is an illustration of what South Korea truly deems a social issue, then they need to get some sense knocked into them.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS WRONG, PERIOD. THE GENDER OF THE VICTIM DOES NOT DETERMINE THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME. THE SAME CRIME IS NOT WORSE WHEN IT IS COMMITTED AGAINST A WOMAN. A CRIME IS A CRIME.
This needs to be talked about. This needs to be shared.
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Say no more.
Watch this drama.
Let's be honest tho, this plot is kinda weird and a bit messy at times but never less than enjoyable.
LOTS OF DRAMA. ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE MIDDLE AND END. LOTS OF IT. THIS IS YOUR WARNING.
I also seriously believed that Lee Hong Ki couldn't be sexy (or flower boys in general for that matter) because he was tooo cute. I stand corrected. I could not be more happy that I was wrong. DANNNNNGGGGGG THAT BOI IS FINNE
Jung Hae In.
Kinda is a bit trope-y, especially toward the end, but a very worth-it investment.
Some good Jung Hae In quotes (i.e. "All men are animals"). He just gets it.
Lots of cute awkward/hilarious and just simply cute moments.
Jung Hae In.
Sadly, this is also one of those where the frickin' sassy middle aged women have to ruin everything. But that's literally the only bad part.
ITS SOOOO SWEEET. Lee Hong Ki just fills my heart. That boy is too talented at these kind of roles for his own good.
Also, Jung Hae In. (warning, he has like 2 lines. But they were the best 2 lines) (not true) (but they were a really good 2 lines)
Very original concept as well, (edit) I'm excited that almost 2 years later, I've never come across anything like it.
9 outta 10 recommend to e'rrybody (especially fans of Lee Hong Ki [and Jung Hae In])
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-Amazing friendships (seriously the best part-even if you're not into friendship dramas) - There is no shortage of dynamic, complex characters that make you fall in love with each and every one of them (I personally love shows with a lot of characters-especially agreeable, lovable, complex ones) and when you're finished your heart just feels so full
-ISSEI IS MY FAVORITE HUMAN BEING
-Amazing romance (another one that will make your heart feel all the feelings and go on a romance roller coaster- After I finished, I felt like I went on an adventure and grew alongside the characters because there is SOO much development in this)
-Just in general a fantastic story... Good Morning Call takes you on this group of students contemporary adventures and travels, trials and heartbreaks and it's adorablelelelelelele
-SOOOOO CUTTTEEEE ANDD FUNNNYY
-The cast to suuper good, like I said before, they really make you feel all the feels (happy, sad/heartbreak-y, angry [in a good way], second-hand cringe, hysterical, proud of your little grown up fetuses, jealous, and any other emotion you could ever think of)
-Lots of giggly moments
-Low key might be re-watching it while writing this review right now (speaking of which, if anyone knows where I can find/buy a hard copy of this (DVD), please let me know!)
-9.5 RECOMMEND to anyone, EsPeCiAlLy noobs, and lovers of romance and friendship dramas, and people who enjoy following many characters
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If every man were like he was in this drama.
The world would have overpopulated with babies a million years ago.
SRSLY the THINGS he does for his WOMAN. Its glorious. Its original. Its heart warming and laughter filling.
You read that right. I said things plural. There are lots of them. Also notice I said ORIGINAL. I have never seen/heard/read ANYTHING like this before. 100% originality, ESPeCIALlY in the romance department.
(I have several listed in my head without even thinking about it [DM me if you wanna know/talk about it], but ever since watching this drama, I have had the most unrealistic expectations when it comes to guys, you have been warned)
Take my advice, and go into this without knowing anything else.
Maybe lower your expectations a bit for the overall plot, but you'll probably get along really well with the hilarious antics of the side characters and their romances and friendships. However, if you're looking for a really cute romance between leads, PICK THIS ONEEEEEEEEEEE PLeSSSSSSSSS
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-Plot is sorta forgettable (as soon as I finished, I already had a hard time remembering the things that laced the bigger plot points together)
-I'm also not entirely sure what I remember of the music, other than it wasn't bad
-From what I do remember of the plot, I do enjoy it as a drama, even, admittedly, a short one. This is a drama that does not fall short of all the classic kdrama tropes, and one that fulfills them fairly well
-At times the acting and plot did seem childish, but of all the issues I could have had with it, that is not a prominent one
-The chemistry between actors/characters was surprisingly good. Not amazing. But still good.
-I would say it's also worth rewatching, but I'm going to give it a couple years before that happens
-If you're looking for anything other than lighthearted romance, you won't find it here. Romance is the only plot line here. That's it. It doesn't do much of anything in terms of any other genre
-I would recommend this drama for absolute beginners, but maybe not beginners who have their entire opinion of kdrama resting on this one. Anyone other than newcomers may find Noble, My Love as a cute, quick, lighthearted break from some of the more detailed, time-consuming and heavy plots of many other modern dramas
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-The plot was all over the place
-SUPERRR short which did not do the drama any favors in this case (there wasn't any room for character, plot or world development
-The acting was cute (in that cringey awkward newcomer sort of way)
-The music was just ok, ASTRO is one of those groups that has grown exponentially in their music, and this showcases a bit of their very (trainee-esc) beginning
-I'd recommend if you are a die hard fan of ASTRO and/or really want to see them in their early fetus years, but if not, it's definitely worth skipping
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-While playful kiss cannot necessarily be confined to the category of "family drama", the family aspects in it were amazing, maybe even my favorite part.
-The friendships were double plus amazing, this is the part that will seriously have you walking away with your heart so full. So, coming from someone with Synesthesia, the friendships in this drama and the word warm just fit together like two perfect puzzle pieces in my mind.
-The humor probably was my favorite part, Playful Kiss is full of the awkward, cringe-inducing humor that has you screaming inside "ERMAGERSH, THAT IS SO ME!" (Wait, nobody else did that? That was just me? Oh. Well it made me cry of laughter anyway.)
-WARNING: The story will make you hurt though. Personally, it made my heart turn over so many times, not because it's tragic or anything like that, but because of the decisions of the main characters. You just wanna go in there and grab 'em by the shoulders and wholup them around a bit sometimes.
-Great plot though, always full of ridiculous antics, always had you playing the next episode before the preview of it at the end of the last episode began. Thinking back, I might have finished it in a day
-9.5 outta 10 Recommend
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-The concept intrigued me (Nun crossdresses in a kpop band- I mean what's not to love?) and it turned out just as hilarious as it sounded
-It did surprise me with a lot of, well... drama. There's quite a bit of crying and "I can't be with you because of this reason" but that reason is totally stupid and also makes zero sense
-The side characters are the best part. Especially Jeremy. Lee Hong Ki will forever be my Kdrama first love.
-The awkward antics are also tied for the best part. Its 10 outta 10 worth it just for those
-The romance is just ok in my opinion, I'm not a fan of the actor for the male lead, because, yes I do believe there's such a thing as TOO broody-emo-mysterious-hot-boy, I feel like this is the part where I get disconnected with the drama. It is quite literally TOO dramatic. (+ I 100% believe she should have ended up with someone else)
-Also this is the only drama I've actually liked Park Shin Hye in
-OST is good, seems like they play the same exact parts of a couple of the songs a bit too much tho (my favorite track is Lee Hong Ki's version of "Still" - Still (lol) makes me feel the feels
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I mean, dang that boy can play the player or the flower boy in typical contemporary dramas but this role feels like it was just build for him.
The whole rookie-detective-with-a-dark-past-and-so-I-tend-to-beat-people-and-get-beaten-bloody-and-let-my-emotions-strongly-affect-my-judgement role just fits him so well.
The side characters are all so complex with interlacing story lines all tied around these criminal cases revolving around a mysterious figure named "the Ghost" and the other crimes the team sets out to solve along the way. The acting is brilliant. The fight scenes look real. And gorey.
Which brings me to my point that this drama does not shy away from killing off leads/people you love, violence, extremely dark plot lines, and gore SO PREPARE YOURSELVES YEE OF YOUNG INNOCENT MINDS
Back to the side characters, you will fall in love with every single one of them, no matter how big or small their role. They are all lovely innocent beautiful fetuses and by that I mean badass lowkey-brutal morally ambiguous crime/crime-fighting machines but they're still innocent fetuses to me and I will protect my children
Yoon So Yi's character is unbelievably badass and complex (mysterious, dark past that's revealed slowly throughout the series, and affects her judgement [although less so than the male lead]). She does this role outstandingly well which I am allowed to say with conviction because she plays a somewhat-similar role in Iris 2 (similar personality/character, although her role in Iris is not complex at all. She's just a bad guy. That's pretty much all there is to her in that one.), and she was terrible in that. This one is done SOOoooOOOoooOoOOO much better. I'm specifically pointing out this character because I feel that we all need/are looking for that supa badass independent female I-don't-need-nobody character in our lives. You gotther right here
(also makes you REEEEEEEALLy hope for a romance... which is all part of the fun... but honestly, you don't need one, it is soooooo great without one, but just in case, I'm not going to tell you what happens in that department...Hehe)
If you love plot twists, watch this drama. It always gives off that "there's something else going on here" vibe, and when you think u got it, u don't got it
It will hurt. The plot, the characters, the acting, the twists, the everything. If you cry, multiple times, even, empathizing for those poor innocent fetuses, know that you are not alone. But also, those are my fetuses so back off. JK. But seriously, the hurt is amazing, because the story is amazing.
Kinda at some points makes you wonder, "what kind of sick, twisted, brilliant, talented person could come up with/write this plot??" Spectacular.
I should use words like spectacular more often.
Also, completely random side note, this is the best intro song-credits thinger I have ever seen in my life. From the music choice to the editing OMGGG THE EDITINGGGG to the images and miniature cuts from scenes they use, even to the lighting- it's perfect. I'm pretty sure I've rewatched just that intro about 450,938,862.41999 times
10/10 recommend just for that
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-For someone who's not the biggest choose-your-own-adventure fan, it was really enjoyable and surprisingly had me gripping the edge of my seat (mainly because they waited to show ma boy's ending until the VERY END, and it stressed me out. I'm still salty. But like kinda good salty. I STILL can't believe I didn't see that coming)
-The actors were good for noobs, but super cute and kinda awkward, which I personally love seeing
-The music is a bit forgettable, I honestly can't even remember if there was any
-The fact that it's literally no time commitment makes it that much better
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-I will credit the makers of that theory with the idea that the plot/story is entirely funky/ messed up (in reality I might use another word for "messed" that starts with an f), but with that, IT IS SOOoOoOOOooOoOOoO GOOD, it's one of those that takes you on a complete adventurous thrill ride from beginning to end, one that makes you nostalgic when looking back at previous phases of your journey, one that has you looking back at it as a whole after it's over thinking "wtf did I just watch ... I think I want to watch it again" (although, that's NOTHING in comparison to its predecessors Hana Yori Dango the Japanese live action seasons 1 & 2, and ESPECIALLY Hana Yori Dango the Japanese anime.).
(Sidenote, a huge problem I have with kdramas [particularly of this similar style and that came out around the same time] is that they're TOO dramatic. I know. Kdrama/dramatic. It's in the title, but still. This one did a PERFECT STUPENDOUS WONDERFUL job at balancing the types of feels [primarily the dramatic/heart feels with the laughter comedy feels])
-The acting is STELLAR. If you don't fall in love with a single one of the sides, I will give you my firstborn. Because that's impossible. To name names, Kim Bum is a large fan favorite in this drama (He's the clay player dude guy) (and also my favorite actor period) (this was the first drama I saw him in) (he is spectacular), but surprisingly not my favorite side (I know, "Srsly?? How can he be your favorite actor and not your favorite character??"). Well, that's because of good ol' Kim Joon (He's the mafia boss son) (and also the member of the F4 [or maybe any side character] with the littlest air time) (but boiiiiii does he make it count). Same goes for Kim Hyun Joong. Low key a proven terrible person in real life (more info on that in my "Least Favorite Actors" list, check it out!), but he plays that role perfectly, I believe there are very few that would have played it better (as proven by the fact that in every other Boys over Flowers adaptation I've seen, I've rooted for the other guy, in this one, Kim Hyun Joong was the OTP). Personally, I can't stand Lee Min Ho as an actor, but this was one role I was ok with his work. Also the lead and her best friend were outstanding!
-I'm pretty sure I'm classically conditioned to start crying of all the feels everytime I hear that cheesy music. Seriously, no one turn it on. Not because its bad, but because I will seriously start having an emotional heart attack. No joke. Or exaggeration. It has happened.
-I would rewatch it in a second if I didn't have so many darned adaptations of it to watch, or just dramas in general to watch, or a life. That to.
-9.5 outta 10 recommend (to anyone... at any stage in their drama-ing life)
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Where the story was the same I wanted it to be different, and where the story was different, I wanted it to be the same.
I'm not exactly sure why, but this drama really just made it clear to me that there IS a wrong way to do an adaptation/remake.
The acting was not stellar, it was just ok and even a little amateur.
From what I remember of the music (I've already forgotten a lot of it), the better versions can simply be found in the soundtrack to the Korean version.
I believe the thing I was most upset about was the adaptation of the character Jeremy. He just was not up to par AT ALL with any of the other Jeremys I've seen. And it'll sound really harsh (supa sorry) but he should be ashamed try and compare himself to Lee Hong Ki's Jeremy. It just feels like the Great Value version of an attempt at the originally complex, beautiful role.
Anyway, nothing really to see here. Very average, slightly less so. I would only recommend if you were a SUPER MEGA DIE HARD FAN of the general story of You're Beautiful/Ikemen Desu Ne, already knowing that each adaptation is an entirely new drama on it's own. And if you weren't as in love with Lee Hong Ki's Jeremy as I.
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