Melakward
Florida, USA
Was it worth it: Yes
What I liked the most: The actors did an excellent job.
What I disliked the most: Lee Jung Jin’s character. Ugh.
Moment Meter: 2/10 – Pretty tame, particularly for an action drama.
Other thoughts: As I sit here thinking about it, I’m just now realizing what an interesting story line this drama had. Usually I hate politics in dramas, but this one was interesting from beginning to end. There were a lot of characters that I loved to hate and only a few that I really sided with. The pacing was great, and there was just the right amount of action in it. I’m always grateful for the omission of constant shaky cam. It wasn’t non-stop action the entire time and it wasn’t endlessly long with nothing happening either. I’m pretty sure Ji Chang Wook had a wound on his body at any given time throughout the entire thing. The acting was solid, and I really like the choreography for the first fight, but every fight after that seemed a bit weak (especially because I can’t help but compare to Healer). The ending was good and satisfying.
Conclusion: I would classify this as a melodrama with a hint of action. It wasn’t a favorite, but it was very solid.
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Was it worth it: Not as much as I thought it would
What I liked the most: The fact that it addressed breast cancer in males.
What I disliked the most: The story line involving the older characters. Slowed it down for me.
Moment Meter: 3/10 – There were some here and there, but not many that I can recall.
Other thoughts: It was very hard to get into this drama. They drop you in the middle of it and you’re forced to figure it out as it goes along. Everyone acted a bit too “eccentric” to be truly believable, but towards the end I understood how the characters worked and it wasn’t too bad. The beginning is awkward and doesn’t move smoothly at all. The drama became a lot better towards the middle and end. Everything was little more charged and exciting and made a lot more sense. It didn’t feel like a tremendous waste of time, but it’s not my favorite.
Conclusion: You really need to hang in there for the first half of the drama before it picks up. I’m not sorry I watched it, but all of the leading actors have way better dramas out there.
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Was it worth it: Absolutely.
What I liked the most: The pacing was spectacular.
What I disliked the most: The 10th price annoyed the crap out of me 85% of the time he was on screen.
Moment Meter: 6/10 – I’m torn on this one. A moment to me may not seem like one to others.
Other thoughts: This drama flew by for me. I was astounded to find I had less than a handful of episodes left when it felt like there should have been more. This is an achievement for a Sageuk. I swooned for Joon Gi as I do every time I watch a drama of his. IU also did an excellent job. The female characters had very active roles and remained vocal to the end; again, something that’s hard to find in a Sageuk and something that I value highly. I had a hard time finding the reason why IU’s character had to be a time-traveler, but it was made very clear at the end. There are a lot of characters, but not as many as you think, so try not to get too overwhelmed. All of the casting was spot on, and I actually downloaded a song from the show to put on my phone (Im Seon Hye – Will be Back). The ending was left wide open for a continuation, though I’m scared that it may not be as good and drag this one down.
Conclusion: The story moved along well and there was a little bit of something for everyone. Pro Tip: Don’t get emotionally attached to any of the characters. You will regret it.
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Was it worth it: Yeah.
What I liked the most: I knew nothing going in, so I appreciated the unique plot gimmick.
What I disliked the most: The story got a little hairy towards the end and I checked out for a bit.
Moment Meter: 6/10 – Lots of good ones, especially at the beginning.
Other thoughts: My jury is always out about Jong Suk’s acting ability. Is he really a good actor? Or am I subconsciously forgiving of it because of his very appealing face? I don’t trust myself there. That aside, I really liked the premise of the story. It was unique and I’m a sucker for suspended belief. At times the technicality of things slowed the story down a bit, but it was also somewhat necessary too due to the unusual story. Han Hyo Joo did an awesome job and I found her to be very likable. This is another one where you really have to pay attention or you will quickly find yourself lost.
Conclusion: The story line was unique and the actors were gorgeous. A little better than your run-of-the-mill drama, but not a chart-topper for me.
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Was it worth it: Is there a word stronger than “absolutely?”
What I liked the most: For a Sageuk (period drama), it was very “loose.” You know how that type of drama tends to be very deathly serious? Not so much for this one. I loved the relaxed atmosphere.
What I disliked the most: Though it tried to fight it, the politics creeped their way in towards the end.
Moment Meter: 8/10 – Wholly satisfying.
Other thoughts: I’ve had my eye on Bo Gum for a while and he’s officially on “the list” now, so I will officially be watching every drama he’s in (past and present). Jinyoung is also a big bias-wrecker for me and I was torn between the fact that he did very well (which will probably result in more fans) and the fact that I am very selfish and want him all to myself (meaning I don't want him to have any more fans). :-\
Note: Certain actors will automatically make the drama better (for me), so the rest of the review will be biased. It can’t be helped. Consider yourself warned.
The beginning was extremely satisfying. All of the situations and the cavalier atmosphere made it incredibly watchable. The politics that ALWAYS afflict Sageuks kicked in a bit toward the end, but they did well to have the politics fuel the personal story rather than the personal story fueling the politics. Jinyoung got to play the cool guy, much to my delight. Bo Gum did an amazing job. Kim Yoo Jung also did a great job, though (as typical for this type of female role) as time progressed, her somewhat outspoken character had very few words to say when things ramped up. It helps to have a little experience with Korean period dramas to get into the flow right away. The pacing was consistent and kept my attention.
Conclusion: A very easy to watch Sageuk. It was a bit overshadowed by all of the other dramas out at this time, which is a shame because I thought this drama was above average; bordering on excellent. I loved it.
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Was it worth it: Absolutely.
What I liked the most: “The kisses,” she said unapologetically.
What I disliked the most: The music during the “tense” moments got cheesy. I rolled my eyes a few times.
Moment Meter: 6/10 – Lots of moments. The quality of the moments, however, ranges from straight cheese to heart attack.
Other thoughts: I’m a Jung Il Woo fan, because even though he isn’t drop dead gorgeous, he has some flattering angles and a knack for intense acting. Combine that with the fact that he had the tsundere character (like usual), and this was a hit for me. (He’s also a phenomenal on-screen kisser)
Note: Certain actors will automatically make the drama better (for me), so the rest of the review will be biased. Consider yourself warned.
It watched a lot like a reverse-harem anime, which I enjoy from time to time. Park So Dam nailed this role, and has good control over the tones in her voice. I’m not too crazy about Ahn Jae Hyun’s acting. He didn’t do poorly, but I didn’t get as much feeling from him as I did the others, and one of them is a musician before they’re an actor. I liked the story and it moved along well without stagnating too often.
Conclusion: Actor bias boosted this one up for me, so I would have enjoyed it even if it were complete garbage. Was it unpredictable and fresh? Not entirely, but it hit all of those juicy KDrama notes that keep me coming back for more.
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Was it worth it: As worth it as it could have been.
What I liked the most: It didn’t pull any punches, especially towards the end. Have tissues ready.
What I disliked the most: Maybe it was just the character, but Suzy was extremely annoying. Especially when crying.
Moment Meter: 4/10 – There were a couple of good ones in there.
Other thoughts: I wasn’t expecting too much from this drama so I was pleasantly surprised. I’m a fan of the male tsundere character type so Woo Bin’s character grew on me fast. The immediate plot kept me entertained to the point where I kept forgetting the main underlying issue and needed the reminders that they squeezed in there every now and then. It was very engaging and rarely lulled. About 60% of the time, Suzy’s character annoyed the crap out of me. Especially when she was whining. I lost grasp of the story for a bit when they jumped from past to present but not enough to faze me completely. Woo Bin is an actor I look out for but he’s not on “the list,” so if you’re a die-hard Woo Bin fan you’ll probably really enjoy it. The star power wasn’t enough to take it up another level for me.
Conclusion: It watched like a generic drama to me. It was entertaining, but didn’t really stand out in an extraordinary way.
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Was it worth it: I’d say yes.
What I liked the most: The bad guys weren’t overly evil and all characters were reasonable to a fault.
What I disliked the most: The trait that made the main character cool was gone by the middle of the drama.
Moment Meter: 4/10 – I seem to recall a few heart pumpers.
Other thoughts: For the first quarter of the show I was in denial about who the male lead was, probably due to the huge age gap. I liked that the main female was a scrapper (tough), and that the female antagonist wasn’t overly evil. I’m always pleased to spot Kim Min Suk in a drama and hope to see him in more. Park Shin Hye looked sickly in the beginning, but rounded out later on. The individual medical cases were interesting. The story was told well enough to get you to invest feels in the characters. It’s not an instant classic, but it was pretty entertaining nonetheless.
Conclusion: It was consistently entertaining, but shows with “cases” (like medical or detective shows) are naturally more engaging because of the micro stories that are built in.
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Was it worth it: Eh.
What I liked the most: The constant presence of ghost. Typically they drop the thing that makes the drama interesting when the feels start up, but they kept them around to the bitter end.
What I disliked the most: The suspension of belief in regard to the fighting. They could have toned it down a bit.
Moment Meter: 4/10 – There were a good amount of moments in there.
Other thoughts: The ghosts were spooky! Gave me the creeps. Lots of people died in this drama for multiple reasons. No pulled punches there. The “comic relief” duo did their jobs well without being too obnoxious. The story slowed down towards the end, but the finale was pretty exciting. The overall pacing was kind of strange; quick at times, and then really slow in other places. Maybe I was just impatient for the exciting parts.
Conclusion: Not something I’d rewatch, but I’m not asking the heavens for that chunk of my life back either.
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Was it worth it: Nope.
What I liked the most: The story/concept was pretty interesting. Or, at least, it should have been.
What I disliked the most: There were WAY too many characters, and most you don’t even see.
Moment Meter: 0/10 – -_-
Other thoughts: I had absolutely no feels invested in any characters. The subject matter was interesting, but the entire thing felt so boring. The avalanche of characters had me lost more often than not. The acting was pretty good. There were a few twists that were somewhat interesting. The main detective (Ji Hyun Woo) was OP and the only one I had even mild interest in. He was practically invincible, and the only one capable of kicking butt. The ending lacked impact. It wasn’t bad, but there are far more interesting dramas out there. The expectations I have for dramas are much higher these days and this one didn’t meet them.
Conclusion: I didn’t hate it, but I could have skipped it and I wouldn’t have missed much.
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Was it worth it: Probably?
What I liked the most: The cons. It’s fun to see the guys you’re rooting for get the upper hand.
What I disliked the most: There was a lot of content overlap and it got a bit muddled towards the end.
Moment Meter: 2/10 – Not too many romantic moments, but there were a few feel good “gotcha” moments in there.
Other thoughts: There are a lot of characters, so you have to pay attention, especially to names. The constant cons can also break your brain if you’re not paying attention. After a while you just start second guessing everything. There were some cute parts. It had a bit of an Ocean’s 11 feel to it at the beginning. The ending was pretty solid, but again, you have to pay attention. I would have liked to see more between Yang Jeong Do and Cheon Seong Hee, but then again I’m a sucker for romance. Rewatchable only if you were lost the first time you saw it.
Conclusion: A solid drama. It could have been cooler given the subject matter, but not bad all together.
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Was it worth it: Yes.
What I liked the most: Ryu Joon Yeol’s character. I share a few of the same traits as him. Also his hands.
What I disliked the most: The best friend characters were a bit much at times.
Moment Meter: 8/10 – Lots of great moments. After a recent drought, this was the storm I was looking for.
Other thoughts: The beginning was great. I loved the situation that expired during the full moon and the story in general. Some moments were a bit too slow and lost some steam towards the end. Lee Soo Hyuk went for a softer role this time, which I enjoyed. A good amount of romance. Ryu Joon Yeol’s looks have their moments of good looking, and not-so-good-looking. Generally I like him. It was a very easy drama to watch. Would I watch it again? Not anytime soon, but maybe after a good amount of time has passed.
Conclusion: A very good light romantic comedy. There aren’t enough of these coming out these days. :\
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Was it worth it: For me, yes. For others, probably not.
What I liked the most: Yoon Shi Yoon. He beat out every other good aspect the drama had.
What I disliked the most: The directing was HORRIBLE. Also, I tend to find traditional Korean music more akin to “noise” than “music.”
Moment Meter: 1/10 – Only because the director didn’t know how to build tension. A lot of moments fell flat because of it.
Other thoughts: All visuals (effects, make up, sets) were done extremely well. Everything visual was top notch. The acting was great (mostly. Didn't care for Kim Sae Ron's acting). I hated Jo Dal Hwan’s character, so good job there. Some scenes were downright gross. The music could have been better. The story was also pretty good though the ending was unsatisfying. The directing sucked. Scenes dragged on longer than they should have. The writing and acting were there, but the PD was terrible at building tension. The story line moved along at a pretty good pace, but the individual scenes dragged if that makes any sense.
Conclusion: Probably wouldn’t have liked it too much if not for Yoon Shi Yoon. It had all of the potential in the world, but someone dropped the ball and the end result is a drama that feels slow, watered down and generally annoying.
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Was it worth it: Just barely.
What I liked the most: It had a romantic element to it, and I’ve been starved for that lately. Also bloopers!
What I disliked the most: The romance in it didn’t amount to much. Also Kang Min Hyuk’s acting.
Moment Meter: 2/10 – The seedlings were there, but nothing bloomed. I guess the age gap was too daunting.
Other thoughts: Kang Min Hyuk is not built for melo roles. His acting made me really uncomfortable most of the time. Ji Sung was phenomenal. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Hyeri in the future. The story moved well and didn’t get too gritty for something that revolves around a band. The focus was more on the band than the music, which I appreciated. There were a few emotional moments that got to me and I teared up a bit. It was consistently entertaining and rarely lulled.
Conclusion: Not bad, but not amazing either. I probably wouldn’t re-watch it but I don’t regret seeing it the one time. Watch past final episodes credits for bloopers!
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Was it worth it: Eventually.
What I liked the most: The acting by everyone, with maybe one exception, even the times it made me uncomfortable. Yeo Jin Goo was amazing.
What I disliked the most: Everything that happened between the pre-story and the main character evolving into his final form. Jang Geun Suk is not built to play the naive fool.
Moment Meter: 0.5/10 – There was just enough to make me crave more without actually delivering. Frustrating.
Other thoughts: This drama felt really long and at times all over the place. I’d say that it bit off more than it could chew. There were good characters that sadly had no time to be developed. I know they had to loosely stick to the history, but that also dragged things out a bit. The beginning was great. The middle was bad (and disgusting). The ending was entertaining but lacked solid closure. I can’t wait to see Yeo Jin Goo in more, though Jang Geun Suk would have to pick the right roles for me to appreciate him. Not sure why Im Ji Yeon (Dam Seo) is listed as a main role.
Conclusion: Nothing outstanding, but not the worst drama either. Try toughing it out until after the main character gets trained before giving up on it. It gets a lot better from there.
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