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A BL with a dog story
I almost didn't watch this, because when I glanced at the reviews I figured this was a horrible drama. I'm glad I didn't listen to when I was reading.This turned out to be a GREAT story. I thought it was very original and inspiring. It had a blend of not just a BL main story line, but so much more. A combination of animal love & loss, the difficulties of being who you really are in the public eye, and just an old fashion blackmail situation thrown in, too, all while a reality show is being filmed.
I do think the title can throw you off a bit, maybe Love Is Like A Dog would have been better??
I think I think Si Woo & Mew were great together. Instant chemistry!
If you haven't seen this yet, don't go by all the negative reviews, I think it's a winner.
The two hour movie version is a better way to watch it instead of the 12 episode format.
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Extremely Cute BL Drama
I wasn't familiar with any of the actors in this or the story when I stumbled across it to watch. I'm definitely glad I found it. This turned out to be such a cute and extremely adorable BL drama. It has all the purity of first love, first date, first crush, whatever you want to call it. It's just pure innocence between high school kids trying to sort out their feelings.I think the way the writers brought the two of these characters together was extremely clever. The story line really worked and it made for a really feel good series to watch.
Watching them deal with the substitute teacher that was a bit prejudice toward their relationship, was kind of interesting. It blended well into the story.
The last episode was very satisfying, especially going full circle and ending it exactly as it started in episode 1.
Great stuff.
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"The moment a person stops learning, their life stops, too"
This series turned into such a fantastic drama, comedy & suspense blended brilliantly. It was difficult not to binge watch these episodes. Each one left you wanting more & more.There were so many great moments throughout, Se Hyeon winning his first fight & Ga Min knocking out all three body guards on the rooftop. Ga Min's mom getting into the cafe brawl, that was awesome.
The entire cast was brilliant, as well. Every one of them fit perfectly together, each carrying their own distinctive personality like superheroes, all with their own talent. Min Hyun & Jong Hyun were especially great together, showing the close on screen friendship they created between them.
Woo Min & Seo Hoo really made you hate their characters, counting the minutes in that final episode until they each got the beatings they deserved. The sign of good actors doing their job as villains.
I'm not sure if there will be a season two, I know it's kind of rare, but they did leave the door open a bit at the end as a possibility. I hope it happens!!!
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Great acting to match a great story
Watching the very beginning, I wasn't sure I was going to stick with it. There are several scenes that are a bit difficult to watch with the school bullying early on, however, once you get into the heart of the story, the major transformation of the characters is unbelievable to watch. You can easily feel yourself go from anger to laughter to sadness in a short period of time.Yoon Chan Young is so fantastic from start to finish in this role or actually duel roles that he plays. It's a very impressive acting performance. Bong Jae Hyun gives a great performance as well.
Without giving a spoiler, the ending can be taking either a positive or negative way, depending how you're feeling at the moment you watch it, but overall I think the ending worked really well.
This series definitely shows the meaning of true friendship and how important a role real friends play in life.
An absolute must watch feel good series!!
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Needs A Better Title ...
I think the title definitely was a negative on this drama. I'm sure it was a turn off for some people to even watch. That being said, the series starts off with such a horrible antagonist, Keiichi, you can't help but get pulled into it to see how retribution toward him will play out. By episode 2, the story seems to be going in a great direction, new characters are getting introduced and it appears to be a great drama forming.....But as each episode headed toward the finale, there just felt like the story lacked interesting content. While there were several good antagonists introduced deeper into the series, nothing seemed to jell with good chemistry. Masahiro Moritsugo was not at fault for this, but Mirei Sasaki's character was such a door mat with everyone she encountered. No matter what happened, she just couldn't give us a good scene in where she stands up to any of these horrible people around her. It became really annoying to watch. You wanted to put your hands through the tv and shake her and say go after them, don't let them get away with it!!! But it never happened.
It does turn out to be a happy ending, but it was definitely rushed in the last half hour. What started out to be a great series truly became a bit of a let down in the end.
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These Kids Definitely Get Schooled!!!
School bullying has definitely become a very popular theme with so many dramas ... but this one has a bit of an original take.It's always difficult to watch kids abusing other kids, but there's a lot more to the story. It's not just physical abuse, but psychological as well. It's also parents going too far, either with their kids or with their kids' teachers. Punishment and retribution play a big role with several sub stories through the series.
Mu Yeol does a great job playing Hwa Jin. He's a great enforcer injustice for the abused kids. I normally don't like the whole scenario of one person walking into a room of a dozen people and being able to beat the hell out of all of them without getting hurt ... but this is really entertaining to watch. Teamed up with Ki Joo, the two really become a one two punch!!!
Besides several teenagers being antagonists, there are several horrible parents to contend with. A few of the stories really pull you in, making you cheer and laugh as the tables get turned toward the abusers.
You kind of see a season two coming, the way things conclude. I'm sure it will be entertaining, because nothing ever got boring throughout these eight episodes.
Really enjoyable series!
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Proof that time changes no one deep down ...
It's a classic set up story early on, showing us how much of our present day life is shaped by our past. Two friends early on, one a bully and one being bullied for various reasons. Thirty years of a duration in this series and nothing really changes between the two of them. Once a bully, always a bully.Hae Soo & Hee Joon are the perfect pair that continually go head to head with each other, unfortunately the antagonist, Si Yeong, always seems to get the best of the situation , over and over and over again. It makes for a decent story, but it started to lose points with me as you get deep into the series. After episode 4, which is truly the pinnacle episode of the drama, you start to think things might go the protagonists' way for a change ... but no such luck. Tae Ju continues to fall on the sword. I realize you need the "bad guys" to win early on, or the story would end pretty quick ... but so many people are genuinely horrible throughout this series, with very few facing retribution by the end. The last two episodes prove this. In fact, it really shows the rewards people received for being wicked & evil people.
The first half of the drama is so strong and entertaining, that even with the last couple of episodes lacking a good story or outcome, the series still maintains high marks. It's just a bit disappointing, cause had I rated it through the first six or so episodes, I would have given it 10's across.
The acting is brilliant throughout. That never changes. A truly great cast. I just wish the writing toward the end would have matched the acting, and given a better conclusion.
Overall, an entertaining series, but it could have been so much better.
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A Remake, But Lots Of Originality
This is suck a dark and disturbing series. I know this is a remake of LeMante from several years earlier, but this actually reminded me more of the 1991 classic Silence Of The Lambs ... the police using one psychopathic killer to catch another. However, this had so many more twists and turns in the story. You think you know who the protagonists and the real antagonists are, but so many things change along the way.The cast is fantastic, Hyun Jung is the perfect cold blooded killer. She has the look, the nature and the sinister smile to match. Dong Yoon fit perfectly in his part, although a bit unusual for him to play this kind of a role, he did it well. I'm always a fan of Seong Ha, he match greatly with the two leads. The rest of the supporting cast each add their own special something to make for a great drama/thriller.
To me, episode 4 is definitely the pinnacle episode. It kind of throws any conclusion you had at that point right out the window on what was going to happen. It creates more questions then answers from that point on ... We're given so many possibilities on who the real antagonists are in this series, the true mystery thriller really takes shape from there.
You're kept guessing on so many things right till the end ........ and even "the end" is in question. With the way the last sixty seconds of the final episode takes shape, could a season two be in the making???
An all around great thriller from start to finish!!!
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So Dark, So Disturbing ...
From the moment this series begins, and I mean literally the first minute, it's so disturbing that you can't help but be captivated by it!! It's gotta be one of the most off the wall psychological stories I've seen.We appear to see such a sick twisted protagonist in this drama, so deranged, with absolutely no remorse what so ever. I wasn't really familiar with most of the cast other than Leo Matsumoto & Jyutaro Yamanaka, who I've enjoyed in the past. Unfortunately, they only played supporting roles in this. Hidetoshi Nishijima gives such a cold and callous performance, it gives you a chill seeing him.
As you're watching this story about using live human beings being used for an art exhibition of butterflies, you'll keep asking yourself "am I really seeing this happen?" ... The only thing I can say without giving away the ending ... Don't completely judge any of the characters as you're watching this play out. There are so many shocking twists as you head into the final two episodes. You'll truly be surprised as to who and how many people are evil and unhinged with reality.
It's definitely a story you'll remember, but want to forget!
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A bit disappointing
Before I go negative on this, I gotta say Jin Young was great as always. This role of Tae Seo was made for him and he did an outstanding job playing it.It seemed like this drama started out strong, giving us a good story that was going to take off ... but it really had trouble getting off the ground. I really couldn't tolerate the two characters of Eun A & Seong Chan for so many reasons. She had a good thing waiting for her in Tae Seo, but for some reason she really had no idea what she wanted in a relationship. I never saw a character keep showing up and then leaving ... and showing up again and leaving. It became so frustrating and exhausting to follow. Why Tae Seo kept trying to make this work without any success, it was just a complete mystery to me.
The character I had so much empathy for was A Sol. She when out of her way so many times for the chance of a relationship with Tae Seo, but he just couldn't give it a try. Instead he kept ending up in front of Eun A saying "goodbye" ... and goodbye, and goodbye. They said goodbye to each other so many times you lose count.
Again, thumbs up to Jin Young. He made a bad script work well enough to keep me watching till the end ... but there was only so much he could do.
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A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You
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Sweet & Dripping with Innocence ...
This is a series you can watch from start to finish and truly enjoy without any major issue. It involves a recently married couple without any basics of married life, whether it be in the bedroom or any other part of the house. It really is an adorable story with the perfect two actors portraying these protagonists. If you're familiar with the work of Kyoya Honda, he once again gives a great performance showing love, shyness and hesitation toward his new wife, perfectly paired with Kyoko Yoshine.Even though it is quite slow to evolve, their relationship builds a strong chemistry by showing such a lack of it early on. It is written brilliantly to give a step by step of their marriage, each walking on egg shells, trying to figure out what to do.
I guess the only part of the story that looms large, is this draama takes place in Japan during pre World War II. You don't need to be a history buff to know what was going on in the mid and late 1930's in that part of the world. However, even with that dark background tone, especially with the main character being a lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy, somehow the story still shines with innocence. You can't allow yourself to get pulled to deep in that part of the story or it will take away from the brilliance of the rest of the drama.
Overall, a great "good feel" series that shows the sweetness and lovable actions of a young married couple.
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One of the better BL's in a long while
After the very first episode, you understand that this will not be your normal BL series. The story is very intriguing and really takes hold of you just a few minutes into it.These two protagonists create a very powerful chemistry between the two of them. A lot of actors in past BL series you can see right through the acting, but these two make this relationship so believable and truly genuine, you can't help but feel how real it is. Having seen Ji Han & Jeong You in past performances, I definitely felt they were both at their best in this drama.
The one negative I walked away with, was at the very end of the final episode. Without giving anything away, It was a bit rushed in the final few minutes. It seemed like it took too long to get to the conclusion, with some wasted reminiscing, using up some valuable minutes. When the peak of the story finally happened, it just seemed a bit empty as the end credits rolled. I think there could have been a little more time given to such a great ending ... I don't want to take away from the series as a whole, because it was high marks all the way, overall making for one of the better BL series to come along in a while.
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Absolutely Enjoyable
This series turned out nothing like I thought it would be. I went into this thinking it would be kind of goofy and unrealistic. I was completely wrong, and for the better, too. It turned out to be so entertaining, and somehow made this crazy story seem possible and believable. There was surprising drama blended with just enough comedy to make it work.Besides the writing, the cast is what made this all come together. Each of the three protagonists added a completely different personality to the mix, proving the phrase "opposites attract" 100 percent! My favorite character was Shinpei, and Taiga Suzuki was great at portraying him. Kodai Asaka & Aki Asakura fit perfectly with their characters as well, making everything balance out.
As you get deeper into the series, you kind of start to question how things could possible turn out for the best. So many obstacles to get over ... but don't give up. Somehow, the final episode really gives us a great finish. It was surprisingly satisfying.
Overall a really enjoyable series!
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Story is good, music is better!
It took awhile for this series to pull me in, but eventually it happened. Somewhere around episode 4 you start to see and feel the depth of the characters come to life. It gives you a better understanding of who they are in the present and what happened to them in the past.The four actors playing the main protagonists are all great to watch, Jun Shison is always a favorite, so his character was the best to follow. They all blended well together and gave a very good feel on this band's chemistry coming together before our eyes. At times, the main role of Naoki is really lost in his obsession with music, and Takeru Satoh really brings that feel to life.
The major plus in this drama is the music! It's really what holds the story together. That is a constant from the very first episode right through to the end. The final episode is really the most enjoyable, and it gives a great ending to a well written and well acted series.
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Much better than season 1
After watching season 1, I was hoping for a big improvement with season 2, that definitely happened. It still was lacking a bit in story line, but the characters seemed to have a bit more depth in this new season. Ren, who I still find boring, had a bit more personality and became a little more likable than in the past. Kyohei Takahashi seemed to open his character up and gave us a better understanding of who he was, making for a better match with Nanako this time around. Riko Fukumoto gave more with her character as well. At least the two showed some chemistry in season 2.My favorite still remained Takumi Ando, just as in season 1. Coki Yamashita gave his role such personality, appearing more realistic than anyone else in this drama. At first, you kind of think things will work out for him, then they appear not to, but then it seems like it will again. It's a good back and forth to see where he ends up, not knowing until the very end. Ando was the only one who appeared strong enough to survive, no matter what the outcome.
Overall, much more enjoyable in this final season!
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