More a cautionary tale
I actually enjoyed watching this series, predictable as the outcome may have been. I find it more a tool for educating parents, HS students, teachers, etc rather than entertainment. Cheesy, but I could not help cheering the ERPB group on. Broken educational system, and those who take advantage or use students, or stand by and do nothing, should be punished, in my humble opinion.Was this review helpful to you?
FL was the weakest link in the triumverate
Kim Ha Neul was the weakest link in the triumvirate. If her acting style is to express emotions only through her eyes, she failed! She couldn't even bring on the tears, or at least one, in sharp contrast to the MLs. Its sad coz the series itself was good: the unusual plot, the storytelling, the non-mushy romance, the action. The series kept me riveted and I would recommend a watch. The two MLs were superb. My Oscar goes to Jang Seung-Jo, though (clap! clap! clap!), though Yeon Woo-Jin was good, too, and my new eye candy!Was this review helpful to you?
Emotional Roller Coaster
Ok. OK. let me start by saying I am NOT one to watch Romances. Once I see romance in the tagline, I stay away, far far away!But....one lazy afternoon after watching Legend of the Kitchen Soldier, saw Hometown Cha-cha-cha thumbnail and (what the H__ll) clicked on it. Yes, I did enjoy watching it, though I zipped thru the mushy love scenes. I though the story was interesting in that it keeps one guessing on what Chief Hong's deal was. What caught me was the scenery and portrayal of small town life and its quirky characters-- the best acting being that of Cha Chung Hwa, the village gossip.
Speaking of acting, it was good overall, though a 35 year-old dentist who grew up in Seoul and loves high end fashion, being all giddy when with her BF?? No! Just No.
Emotion-wise, it was a roller coaster, which I guess adds to the series' value and keeps the viewers hooked. Would recommend you watch it, but only once, and make sure you can fast forward!
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This review may contain spoilers
Better Than 2, Worse Than 1
I really enjoyed watching Squid Game 3. It was a heart-thumping, emotionally gripping, superior piece of storytelling - up until it became all about saving the baby! Yes, I get it. After the failed rebellion and ensuing guilt, it became a treatise in humanity - what it takes to be human. But where did that intense, burning desire to shut down the games that Gi-hun was willing to stake his life on? Didn't the post-rebellion deaths add to his anger? This to me was the downside and disappointing part of the season. The heart thumping was gone. The story had gone downhill.The last third of the series was disappointing. Before then, the twists, like Hyun-Ju's death, was gripping and germane to the story. Not so the bridge scene between Gi-Hun and the baby's father, which seemed forced- just for the sake of a last minute twist. Adding to the disappointment was that whole arc with Detective Hwang. It turned out to just a drab fishing expedition. Even the confrontation between the two brothers was just, in a word, meh!
To end on a positive note, the acting was excellent all around. Kudos to Park Sung-hoon. He's the hero of the piece, in my book!
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