Nyy010

unexpectedly great!

I started this thinking this would be a typical high school story, nerdy kid getting bullied, getting involved with the girlfriend of the kid that was doing the bullying ...
It was a mouth dropping moment when you realize the actually story you're watching. Nothing like you expected to happen. This drama is so fantastic, because as you try to guess the direction everything is heading, you guessed wrong, right to the very last episode ... actually, to the very last couple of minutes in the series.
Dong Hee does a great job at making his character mysterious in many way. Ji Soo , although not to likable for many reasons early on, you can understand his family history as to what made him the way he is. You do feel for him and really root for him as the series continues on.
Ju Hyun also gives a great performance playing another unlikable character, I mean, truly unlikable after the first two episodes, but that changes as you get deeper into the drama. She goes from villain to hero in a short period of time.
There's also several antagonists throughout the story ... but the one that tops the list for me would be Ki Tae, portrayed by Yoon Su. Since I have seen him play good guys in other roles, he really gave us a great "bad guy" performance. Definitely someone to hate in this drama.
As everything begins to come to an explosive conclusion in the final episode, we're still lead in different directions then what's actually going to happen. It's written beautifully, so you really are caught by surprise with the last few minutes.
I think the only thing that I found annoying was the ending. There were several pieces of the story left up to us to decide the final conclusion. I think I would have preferred a more solid ending, letting us see what actually happened to our protagonists. However, overall a fantastic series ... one that you can watch in a binge without hesitation!

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Comedy, Drama, Mystery ... all rolled into one

This was truly a great series from the very beginning right to the end. It was really a multi layered series, much more comedy early on, gradually taking a much more serious, dramatic tone as you get deeper into the episodes. The fact they were able to blend a touch of comedy, even at the darker moments of the series, made it really enjoyable to watch.
There are scenes so hilarious, sitting down and eating with the King or doing shots of alcohol ... stuff you normally don't see involving the Joseon period. It was very original. Sort of bringing a touch of the 21st century into the 19th century.
The story itself was about a great trio of people, involving love, best friends & fate. The chemistry of the cast equally matched the writing. Young Dae, although at times a bit too nice for a King, made a great leader and was a perfect match for romance with Ju Hyun and a deep friendship with Woo Seok. Together, the three supplied great entertainment, giving you a feel that somehow they would make everything work out to a happy ending.
It was around episode 5 when the series shifts into a more serious, darker tone. From that point on, the show definitely becomes a solid drama with a great story plot, giving you questionable hope that everything really was going to turn out the way you wanted. The stunning events of episode 8 takes a major direction change in the story, making you hold on tight, knowing it's going to be a bumpy ride for our three protagonists from that point on.
I think if I can find one complaint, it would be the final episode. While everything worked out fantastically in the end, I hate when things are a bit rushed to completion. There could have been more scenes showing us how things played out instead of leaving it to our imagination. I think it would have been enjoyable to watch that happen. Other than that, a really enjoyable series all around. A great watch!!!

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A difficult watch

It seemed like it was going to be an interesting BL at first glance, but I found myself totally lost after episode 1. Trying not to give up on it, because it seemed like a really original story, I stuck with it, which I was kind of glad I did. You need to put some time and effort into this series for things to begin to make sense. By the middle of the series there is somewhat of a turn around in the quality of the story. It really wasn't until episode 7 when I found things finally become interesting. We started to see several twists in the plot and the actors started to gel together.
Nothing against the cast, each added something to the drama, but I think there couldn't have been more depth with the past lives they shared. Jae Wook & Cha Min didn't seem to have the chemistry needed to hold things together early on, but eventually found something on screen toward the end, unfortunately for me, it took a bit too long for that to happen. I found Taek Jun and his character of Gwi to be the most interesting. I kind of wish he had a larger role in the series. I think it would have added a lot more to the drama.
Overall, it was a good watch, especially the second half, I just think it had the potential to be so much more.

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A True Love Story

This is definitely a bizarre series in the way the premise is set up, giving up her five senses one by one to save the person she loves. Naturally, you expect that the two most important senses for her to lose last would be sight & sound ... but this drama shows how important the remaining three are as well. Mei Nagano does a great job at showing us just that.
For me, this series gets to be extremely frustrating to watch by episode 4. The direction the story takes becomes quite annoying. It was to a point that I almost stopped watching it. Ame rejects Taiyo because of her love for him, not wanting him to see her in such pain. That's very admirable of her, but it's taken a bit too far when she pretends to be in love with Tsukasa, a mutual friend. It really devastates Tayio, making him endure her with someone else.
HOWEVER, if you can get through those few middle episodes, stick it out, you'll be glad you did. The story indeed turns into a true love story, and the sacrifices one makes for another in the name of love.
At times this drama is very depressing and extremely emotional. The two protagonists give such an outstanding performance, especially Yuki Yamada. He is amazing to watch in the last few episodes, showing an outstanding acting ability. It's what kept me tuned in to the very end. The way the story ends up, it truly makes you think about the power of fate, and how some things are out of our control.
Keep tissues nearby when watching!!!

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Enjoyable to watch

This was the kind of series that grabbed me from the very beginning. The characters main characters were mostly likable, and if they were not, you got to like them as the series continued. Hyo Seop and Se Jeong have a great blend of chemistry in watching their strange relationship develop and become strong in the second half of the drama.
The supporting cast fits rather well, but I did find some annoyance in the character of Yeong Seo. No criticism of In Ah, she plays her part well and is a perfect fit with Min Gue. In fact, their relationship is even more believable than the main characters.
The overall story is rather good, surrounded by a little mystery. As usual, there are a few antagonists they do their best to keep everyone apart.
Deok Hwa always plays a part you hate, but also enjoy at the same time. He never disappoints at being the thorn in the side of a happy story. Thankfully, even he isn't as bad as he could have been.
I think my only complaint is the series is that it was rushed at the end. The last episode you kind of get whiplash with them skipping ahead two years and not really showing the stories come together. You kind of wanted to see Da Gu give his blessing to his grandson's marriage, as well as showing his respect toward Ha Ri, but you never see him again after he goes to the United States for medical treatment. It just seems it could have been a bit more with everyone together, even showing them actually get married ... but it doesn't happen.
Other than that, it still is extremely enjoyable and gives a happy ending to all who deserves it. Great acting with a great story to match.

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Don't over think the series, just enjoy it

This series has so many different stages to it, with lots of different emotions throughout. It's a comedy to a drama to real sadness all blended together.
That being said, I have to give so much credit to Jung Hoo. He was so fantastic being Ji Hun, showing us what a female would look like in a man's body. He had every mannerism down to perfection as a girl (Ji Eun). Just a great job!!
The rest of the cast had its ups & downs. I don't think I've seen a more annoying character is quite some time as Min Ju. Chuu was really good at making herself so irritating in every single scene she was in. It just became so bothersome to watch her character drag Jun Jae around by the nose, it gave me a headache. I think it might have been a bit better to have Jun Jae be a bit more in charge of his life. So many moments I was waiting for him to speak up to his parents, sister, Min Ju, even Ji Hun. You just wanted to to yell at the tv "say something, speak up" ... but it never happened.
The one character that always put laughter in the scene was Min Hyeok. Hyun Jun fit in at just the right moment when you needed a smile. He definitely balanced out the story to keep the comedy strong.
Toward the end of the series, you kind of start to wonder how on earth is this going to work out to a happy ending. They walked a fine line of being a male/female relationship to a BL appearance at times ... but surprisingly, they did a great job at making happy endings all around. I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did, but thumbs up to the writing. They gave a satisfying and enjoyable ending!!

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Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

If ever the motto wrong place wrong time can be used, it would be here!
This was a movie that unexpectedly caught me off guard. I had no idea what the movie was about when I stumbled across it, but one I started watching it I couldn't stop.
This is a very dark and extremely unhappy ending of not just the movie, but the lives of four best friends completely destroyed because of deception and misunderstanding.
The four protagonists in this drama go through such a transformation in such a short period of time. innocent teenagers to criminals in a few short minutes.
The acting is fantastic from the all the main players in this drama. Ji Soo is exceptional with his performance. You wish you could step into the tv to help him and his friends out, but no such luck.
I think the only negative I found was the way it ended. It is true in life that sometimes the bad guys get away and the good guys take the fall ... but you really don't like to see it happen, especially the way it did in this story.
Nevertheless, it is an extremely powerful movie, but definitely not one to watch if you're looking for something to make you feel good or cheer you up. It's dark and extremely depressing and eventually you pass a point of no return.

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Better than expected ...

After the incredible season one, it was always difficult for the continuing seasons to get high marks. I do think that season three proves itself worthy for a high score. In my opinion it was definitely better than season 2. The kids games used as sadistic weapons with the players were a good choice this time around, from Hide & Seek to Jump Rope. I think the most bizarre twist was the addition of a baby added during the game. That proved to be a bit twisted and problematic, especially for the surviving players.
I think the VIP group left a lot to be desired. I didn't care too much for them this time around. I thought the VIP's from season one were a much better fit for the series. That was definitely a negative for season three.
Reading some of the reviews, I see people were really a bit harsh, particularly toward the ending. I'm not sure what a better ending would have been. I was a bit disappointed in the way the two protagonists, #333 & #456 met their ending, but I thought Si Wan and Jung Jae did a great job with their characters. You knew it couldn't end happy ever after, so it was not so shocking that everyone dies. I was just hoping for the best for the two of them, which unfortunately didn't happen. The usual antagonists met their fate with some wicked death scenes, which of course they deserved. You were counting the minutes for #100 & #203 to get "eliminated".
Jun Ho seemed to be the one character with the happy ending, and why not ... after all, Ha Joon has been dragging his character through hell and back for three season, trying to get back to the island. That was the one bright spot at the conclusion. He even brought out the best in his brother, with his decision for the baby and the baby's winnings. Good for him!!!
I guess the final scene with In Ho (Brung Hun) leaves the window open a crack for a season four in the United States???
I guess we'll wait and see.

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How Misunderstandings Can Change Someone's Life Forever

After the first episode I really had a strong dislike for Jin Hwan, but I have to say, watching the next few episodes, I was never so wrong about a protagonist like I was about this character. Without giving too much away, don't judge the early relationship of Jin Hwan & Min Jun without seeing all the facts play out in later episodes. It shows how misunderstandings can lead to so much unnecessary despair.
Having a complete change of heart toward Seung Ha's character, I honestly felt he was the best thing to ever happen to Min Jun. He truly had a deep love toward him. Jong Hyeok does a great job at being miserable, but it does get a bit tedious watching him in agony episode after episode. His reasoning for not allowing Jin Hwan back into his life becomes annoying. Thankfully, the persistence of Jin Hwan proves beneficial to make a happy ending. The special episode 7 wasn't too necessary, considering how episode 6 ended, but it does cement a satisfying relationship with these two characters.

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Very Underrated Series

This starts out as a classic story of boy loves best friend and best friend has no clue, but everyone else does. I wasn't expecting too much out of this series ... I came away completely surprised how entertaining this turned out. Through the first few episodes the story kept improving. It did take a few twists and a little far fetched plots in the middle of the drama, but overall it was much better than expected.
All the protagonists in this story are great, fitting a perfect puzzle to each other. The acting, especially by Ryusei Fukada is excellent. The final episode started to lose points with me a bit, BUT ... what saved this series as far as I'm concerned was the extremely POWERFUL & REALISTIC last five or so minutes at the end. I think the final scene between Ryo & Hikaru is absolutely amazing. You should watch that one scene maybe three times over to get the complete explanation and feel of the total understanding these two characters have toward each other. Hikaru shows us he's not as clueless as you think, and Ryo gives us the insight of how their friendship will go forward. Definitely a must watch.

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Surprisingly Great

When I was about 10 minutes into episode one I asked myself why I was watching such a stupid series ... but that quickly changed for the better. This really turned out to be a well written & acted drama. I actually wish is was more than six episodes, because by the last episode it was really so enjoyable watching things play out between these to characters.
I must admit, it becomes extremely dark with the story line about half way through the series, bringing out some good acting by Shuhei & Takuya. Although very unlikely in the beginning, these two actors blended well together on screen, making for an unusual but believable bromance.
In the final episode, it is a bit heartbreaking with what transpires, but the very last minute of the series gives a brilliant & satisfying ending. It definitely leaves a smile on your face!

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Adorable coming of age ...

You can see immediately the two protagonists Akari & Izumi are perfect together from the first minute they meet. Jyutaro does a great job at showing his character with such innocents. It's really adorable how these two start off together. Naturally, like any of these stories, other people are going to change things along the way. What makes this story a bit awkward is the fact Akari's past boyfriend turns out to be Yamato, the brother of Izumi. It's an interesting concept. What you can't do while watching the early episodes is jump to any conclusions towards good guy bad guy. Right away you definitely despise Yamato, at least I did, and for good reason. He shows several bad judgement moves throughout this drama, but toward the end he isn't as horrible as first thought. The title may be a bit deceiving, because nothing was done with bad intentions at the onset ... everything was pure coincidence.
When all is send and done, there is a happy ending just the way you hoped for. All in all, it was enjoyable to watch. A few bumps a long the way, but that's life, especially when it's a coming of age drama.

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Great humor with a touch of sadness

It's rare when a sequel turns out better than the original, but that's definitely the case here. While the original Ossan's Love in 2018 was really good, this continuation is great!
Never expecting it to bee so good, I just kept getting surprised with each episode. The comedy mixed with a little drama and sadness worked perfectly together, as did the amazing cast. Tanaka Kei & Hayashi Kento were a great blend, but without a doubt, Yoshida Kotaro as Musashi was just perfection in every scene. I'm so glad episode 9 changed the complete story line of how episode 8 ended, because no one wanted to see something happen to Musashi. The final episode really sealed the series up making it a great ending to go with a great series.

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How the love of a woman set everything in motion

It's nothing new how the love of a woman could come between two best friends, but this story takes it to another level. It's unbelievable the path this threesome of friends take throughout this drama, for the good, but most definitely for the bad.
I wasn't sure to stick with this, but I've become a big fan of Choo Young Woo, so I decided to keep watching. I'm really glad I did.
The way episode 1 ends so shockingly, you're kind of glued to this series without stopping.
Young Woo is amazing, along with Dong Yoon & In Ah. Perfectly matched up to make a great trio throughout this drama.
It's a bit disturbing how you could allow your best friend to go to prison for something you did, but as the series goes on, you realize not just what a special friendship they have, but how Du Hak will do anything & everything to protect Cheol Ung.
It does get kind of ugly to watch the hated surface with this two best friends later in the series, but it was to be expected.
I was worried how this would end, because you kind of know that it can only end up badly, ... but the writers were pretty good at keeping this story satisfying, particularly at the end. It actually does end in a sort of happy way with a bit confusing but laughable ending. It kind of puts a shiny bow on the entire story and brings in around in one complete circle to make for a great series! Thumbs up. Great job

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