Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number and Money Isn't Everything.

This show set out to illustrate how a big age difference should not be a determining factor on whether two people should be together or not as portrayed by Young Gun and Dan Dan; It also set out to show through the actions and experiences of its characters that money is not everything and love, affection and family trump money - this is shown through the characters of Cho Sa Ra and her mother, and also through Dae Bum's story and his struggles while dating a woman richer and older than him.

I would say that all in all the show did succeed in illustrating these points but it was done in an uneven manner, the writer focussed heavily on the negative with only a sprinkling of goodness. This made for a frustrating watch.

Cho Sa Ra ruined this show single handedly, the writer drew out her schemes for way too long that by the time she got her sad
(ish) ending it was too little too late.

Having said that, I enjoyed the family slice of life, the kids and Park Dan Dan, I also really enjoyed the relationship between Dae Bum and Se Ryeon, their unabashed love for each other kept me going when other aspects of the drama were dragging.

By the end of the story the characters had learned the lessons they were supposed to learn but the road walked by some characters to redemption was a bit trite, eg. Yeon Shil, what made her change and decide that money isn't everything? she just changed her mind from one day to the next. A more believable transition is that of Mrs. Wang, I could clearly see her battle to change her mindset and eventually events and life experience changed her and she became sincerely repentant.

I could have easily dropped this around the episode 25 mark but something made me keep watching so I can say that much about it.
Music was repetitive, it would have been nice to hear more songs

One great thing I can say about this drama is that it has made me interested in watching the longer episode weekend dramas which I have never watched before, I enjoyed the up close slice of life vibe of this show and am looking forward to watching more longer form dramas,

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Let's be each other's glory.

I read the book so here I am, I had to watch it to see what they made of it. I've enjoyed this very much, it's a multi faceted story that encompasses gaming, romance, aerospace engineering and the world of celebrity quite coherently. The close lens into the Chinese aerospace industry ended up being very interesting even though I wasn't too keen to see it initially, ditto with the gaming.

Apart from reading the book, I'm here for Dilraba because I find her acting so charming; coming into this Yang Yang was not a favourite of mine because I didn't enjoy his robotic performance in Love O2O, but I was pleasantly surprised here. I think a lot can be said for acting opposite a co-star who ups your acting game and Dilraba certainly appears to have done that here for Mr. Yang - he's actually very charming and endearing in this.

I like how they emphasised the concept of excellence in your career and doing what you love to the best of your ability over making tons of money. Jing Jing and Yu Tu are a very well matched couple who understand and support each other very well. There'a an abundance of cute couple moments and the grown up, responsible and drama free dynamic of their relationship is what kept me watching.

If you've read the book you'll enjoy seeing it brought to life so accurately, If you haven't read it you should watch this anyway, it's quite enjoyable.

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Unforgettable, EPIC!

This is an amazing show, truly outstanding.

The story revolves around the question "what makes a nation?" and explores the relationship between the ruler/s and those that are ruled / the people. The show explores how big ideas and big dreams can change or affect the people who try to enact them.
Ultimately this show illustrates that power should be "rooted" in the people.

I can't do justice to this show with my review, it has a talented and dynamic cast, a beautifully written plot (loosely based on historical events) a moving and heartfelt OST and delicately intricate directing - a true masterpiece.

Just watch it, that's all.

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Lots of very cute OTP moments with liberal lashings of Chinese Fashion.

The more I watch Chinese dramas especially romcoms, the more convinced I am that the Chinese Censorship Board uses dramas as a way of showcasing various aspects of Chinese business, culture and social life, as a form of propaganda if you will.
For instance in Queen of SOP, the business of major corporations was showcased particularly mergers and acquisitions, this drama also emphasised an impressive Chinese work ethic; Similarly in Here to Heart and in Love O2O, the Research and Development aspect of Chinese gaming and tech companies was highlighted.
It came as no surprise when I watched this drama and realised that it was intent on giving us a crash course in Chinese fashion, particularly focussing on traditional elements such as batik and splash ink painting on fabrics. I found this to be quite informative but it often felt preachy and inorganic especially the parts in France at the Design School.

That being said this drama offers one of the best OTP's I've seen in any drama, their interactions, communication, steadfastness and trust in each other is very refreshing; their biggest misunderstanding does not lead to a breakup and they're upset with each other for an episode and a half just about. I enjoyed this aspect of the drama, the maturity of the OTP cannot be over emphasised.
On the flip side I think I encountered the worst second male lead I have ever had the misfortune to see in any show, I mean this guy was not only selfish, delusional and petty, he also came across as downright unpleasant in many instances, he is quite unbearable.
The antagonists ( a bunch of females harbouring pathological envy of the female lead) are also very annoying and unreasonably malicious.
The male lead's mother is also a pill, I personally did not ever warm up to her as she is more concerned with her selfish wishes being adhered to than in ensuring her son's true happiness.

The fashion scene is quite interesting to watch. OST is amazing especially the intro song and OTP song

Overall this drama is watchable, I'm a fan of Zhang Han rom coms so I quite enjoyed it. His acting is actually getting better the older he gets. The female lead's acting is also good although I felt she didn't bring the level of emotional intensity required in some scenes, she skews more comedic than emotional, but it was a good portrayal nonetheless, I appreciate how strong she is and doesn't let people trample all over her.

A decent lighthearted drama, worth a watch if you want to take a break from the heavy stuff ; It's too long though and could have done just as well if not better with 18 -20 episodes.

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Relationships beginning, ongoing and ending...

This drama surprised me with the direction it took, because starting it I thought it would be about a wife getting revenge on her cheating husband, you know that type of vibe; But instead what I got was a very thoughtful take on what happens when a spouse cheats, how this can affect not only the aggrieved spouse but can affect the parents / in laws, friends of the couple and in this instance the professional relationship of the two. I also enjoyed the way the show portrays alls sides of the story. Every character is shown as they are, their backstory and their current actions so the viewer can see that there are a lot of grey areas and everyone is not just black or white.
The characters are thoroughly explored and the ups and downs of the events and resulting emotions are well documented. There's a hint of mystery as the show tantalises the viewer with the possibility of who the mistress is, there's also a fair amount of emotional angst, which is not surprising given the subject matter but this is in no way irritating thanks to the wonderful acting abilities of the cast.

This show portrays romantic relationships in various stages, there's the married couple who both have careers and are grappling with child care and the division of duties within the home; there's a professional single woman who has a somewhat complicated family situation and work history who's dipping her toes into dating life; there's the married couple where the husband cheats on his wife (the main story line); there's the relationship between the cheating husband and his mistress.
I've seen many comments on MDL where viewers say they hate cheating stories etc, but this story is so impactful because it explores the full spectrum of motivation and emotions of everyone involved, so although you may be annoyed with the husband and the mistress, the Show does a very good job of showing where each character is coming from and how they got to this point in their lives.

The story is told against the backdrop of a department store where all these characters work, so there are some work related story lines which add more dimension to our characters.

The resolution of each couple's story is well thought out and exposed. I enjoyed the thoughtfulness of this script, it fully explores each character's emotional landscape.

Jang Na Ra is excellent as always, she lends the character of Jung Sun a steely vulnerability, a sense of flailing helplessness initially and at the end she finds peace and acceptance.
Sung Joon played by Lee Sang Yoon was the most grating character for me because he doesn't show much emotion, he has the same facial expression and says very little throughout the entire show, I suppose this is by design because his backstory is told to us so we have a good idea where his head was at when he made the poor decision to start the affair.

The rest of the cast is great with excellent acting throughout.

Give this one a try because it's story is well told, and every character's motivation is laid out in the open so it's up to the viewer to make their own judgement.

I gave it a 10 out of 10 because it's quite rare to find a drama that explores each character's internal landscape quite so thoroughly and thoughtfully. Very well done.

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Material success versus true happiness?

This show is definitely worth the hype and record breaking ratings. It's tightly scripted, compelling, multi faceted with an ensemble cast of drama veterans who deliver very convincing performances.
The social satire is well portrayed with some excellent acting and dialogue, it may appear high brow on the surface but I found myself watching back to back episodes once I got into the stride of things; this is due to the excellent script which is cleverly written with little to no loose ends.
This show tends to reveal information in an unfolding manner, so every episode peels back a new layer and facet of the story and characters and I think this is what keeps it so entertaining. You don't get the whole story at once, as each event unfolds new tidbits are revealed to keep the viewer fully engaged, so the pacing is tight and consistent. This is where I think the OST was used to maximum positive effect; the song "We All Lie" was so very well applied, every time this song played I knew something was about to go down, this was so exciting to anticipate.

The entire adult cast of this show is amazingly skilled, I enjoyed the fact that they were in the spotlight for a change since these actors usually play supporting roles, they really shine whilst bringing their characters to life and all their skill and experience takes centre stage. Each family was so clearly defined that it didn't take me long to figure out who's who.

The Show's social commentary about the parents' and often children's unhealthy obsession with obtaining top grades in school is delivered in a theatrical and sometimes over the top fashion and this is what gives the show it's special identity and uniqueness, the social satire and dark comedy aspect of it, showcasing the characters' ambition, greed and pretention.
The power plays and stringent adherence to social hierarchies contributes much into how the characters interact with each other.

At the end the Show adequately conveys character growth and plot resolution, I think the last episode went a long way to show us how each character was now living and behaving after mending their ways so to speak.

Overall this Show is bold and I think it achieves what it sets out to do, I thoroughly enjoyed it because it's so polished and very expertly written and acted. Bravo!

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"You need to let everyone know this fishpond is now under your ownership" ( Feng Teng)

This drama is based on the book Come and Eat Shan Shan by Gu Man and is mostly a faithful adaptation of the story of Shan Shan a junior level employee at Feng Teng a large family Corporation headed by Feng Teng the big boss.
The love story between Feng Teng and Shan Shan is conveyed in a witty and entertaining way, with the highlight being Shan Shan's hilarious internal monologue and Feng Teng's dry humour. There's a prodigious amount of eating by our lead couple, showcasing some cute moments and also moments of meaningful conversation between the two. Shan Shan loves to eat, as referenced by the original book title.

This drama appears cutesy on the surface but it deals with realistic relationship issues faced by the lead couple such as the workplace complications of a low level employee dating the big big boss; the social and financial disparities that exist between the two are also highlighted and worked through by the couple. I especially liked the message conveyed by Feng Teng where he says that when he looks at a potential girlfriend he doesn't look at her social status or financial worth or how much education she has, he just considers how he feels and lets things happen naturally, I loved that about Feng Teng, he's mature, very caring, responsible and considerate of the people around him; he's the perfect foil for the bubbly Shan Shan.

The character of Shan Shan also goes through a credible and satisfying growth trajectory, in the sense that by the end of the drama Shan Shan has become the very best version of herself, and this is amazing to watch.

The other cast members are very good with fleshed out stories that round off the main storyline. This is a story that's straightforward with a lot of life lessons and insight into male and female relationships; it's definitely worth a watch.

Music is great and well applied, the opening theme is sung by male lead Zhang Han.
overall 9 out of 10. I've rewatched this a few times as it's so straightforward and cute with a wonderful well earned happy ending.

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An unusual encounter, a love that forms within a crack in time...

This is a very enjoyable drama about a modern woman who's an actress who meets a time travelling Joseon scholar, they fall in love and have to navigate the intricacies of his time travel as well as all the drama that takes place back in the Joseon time period.
This show packs quite an emotional punch, with one of the best on screen couples I've seen in any Kdrama (I've read reports that Yoo In Na and Ji Hyun Woo dated in real life after the show aired) this doesn't surprise me because the chemistry between these two sizzles. In addition to the sizzling chemistry let me also just say the character of Kim Boong Do may be one of the best Kdrama leading men ever written and I mean if there's a handful of best ever heroes then he's definitely on that list. he's genuine, considered, intelligent, dignified, gallant, cute, funny and mature - he's the full package.

The show is well written except for a few niggling leaps of logic which are easily ignored in my opinion. Cinematography is good, the world building is also very vibrant and high quality.
I enjoy this drama and have just watched it a second time after watching it two years ago. The resolution to the conundrum in this story was satisfying and a testament to the overall theme of remembering a true love.

The music is wonderful.
Overall 8.5 out of 10. Definitely give this show a shot, you won't regret it.

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Great concept, poor execution.

This is a drama with an amazing concept that had so many possibilities for success but alas it just never quite delivered on its premise. I could see very clearly what the drama was trying to convey but it rarely hit that mark and there are so many missed emotional beats that are wasted. There are scenes which clearly deserve more weight, but they're delivered without punch or significance.

Another thing show does is to deliver monumental truths way after the viewer has already figured it out, so it doesn't have the necessary impact of a bombshell.

The acting is ok, I've been on a quest to find out the reason for Lee MinHo's massive popularity and I can't say that it's because he's a great actor, he's rather wooden and one dimensional but I will say he has a certain charm which is endearing. In this role he's ok but the role would have had more impact with a more powerful actor. Kim Hee Sun is also ok in this, a bit silly at times where the role lacked the wisdom that a person from the future would have. The men from the Woodalchi are entertaining and cute.
The actor who got my notice in this is Park Se Young who played the Queen, she had the right demeanour and energy that the role required.

The music is ok, well placed.

Overall I wish this show could have lived up to its potential.

5 out of 10.

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politics, love, destiny, patriotic ideals.

This drama got off to a cracking start, with fast action, witty dialogue and intriguing political machinations. Yang's story is immediately captivating and entertaining. The narrative continues at a very fast pace and it never gets boring.
At around the episode 39 mark the story started falling apart in my view, this is a show that has always had life and death scenarios at every turn and each conflict is quickly followed by another leaving no opportunity for reflection or satisfaction. I started to tire of this cycle and at times the show feels like it creates villains and conflict just for the sake of it with no real impact to the overall narrative.
I was especially disappointed with the lack of meaningful resolution to the love story (and it's product) of Yang and Wang Yoo, it felt as if the show was always trying to push the Tae Hwan / Yang loveline even though the very first episode tells us that she ends up with the Emperor, so what was the harm in fully exploring the separation of Yang and Wang Yoo? It was just very sloppily done and I for one was never convinced that Yang loved the Emperor, her relationship with him was a matter of survival and the best way of achieving her goals.

That being said, the acting in this was excellent by some and ok by others. Ji Chang Wook is very good at portraying the weak, childish and selfish Emperor Tae Hwan, whose character is shown to us in the first episode he actually never changed or improved; his portrayal of this character is so well done that even though I never warmed up to this character, I was moved at times by his suffering and his ultimate helplessness, being Emperor means everyone is always trying to use you for whatever they can get.
Wang Yoo portrayed by Joo Jin Mo is the direct foil to the character of the Emperor. Wang Yoo is everything the Emperor is not, brave, strong, selfless with clear political and patriotic ideals. Wang Yoo is a stoic character and he and Yang share the same ideals and aspirations.
I must give special mention to Wang Yoo's band of merry men especially Eunuch Bang, their loyalty to their King is so heartwarming.
Yeoncheol is another character that is portrayed very effectively, he is convincingly evil as is his daughter Tanashili.
Tal Tal also became a firm favourite of mine, I loved his calm assurance and his formidable intelligence.

The last quarter of this show certainly did not do justice to its first three quarters. It ended on a bit of a wimper, and I was especially outraged at the identity of the villain who was exposed in the last few episodes, this was definitely not a credible plot twist.

I was fully prepared to give this show 10 out of 10, but as the show progressed the score lowered because of the many plot holes and the failure to fully explore some emotional aspects of the relationships between characters, and it also seems that at some point the show was determined to kill off as many characters as possible, which in most cases was redundant.

Music is good and well employed.

Final score 8 out of 10.

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A richly colourful depiction of the impressive Zhen Huan's life and times

"There are no sisters in the harem, just weak ones depending on the strong, silly following the smart, sisters today, enemies tomorrow, smile on the face knife in the back" ( Hua Fei)

This sums up the core of the story. Zhen Huan enters such a place, the inner court of the palace, the harem; where she overcomes incredibly treacherous schemes to eventually rise to the top of the imperial court's hierarchy.

The acting in this drama is beyond excellent, it's such an immersive experience watching these talented actors bring their characters to vibrant life. Betty Sun's portrayal of Zhen Huan is amazingly self assured and poised, she brought a quiet yet steely strength and resilience to this character which was captivating at every turn; a truly world class performance.
Hua Fei, was played by Rulu Jiang so perfectly, so delicately, so evocatively that even though she is the villain for the first half of the drama, there are moments of such poignancy that made me shed a tear of sympathy for her situation, odious as her actions usually are.
The competent and confident showing of the Emperor neatly rounds off this truly amazing cast of characters.

The story is harrowing, tragic, sometimes joyful, always dynamic and entertaining; there's an impressive attention to detail in this show.

The character interactions are very detailed, the subs are not always clear as the language is intricate, but I got a more than average understanding of the plot, I love their way of speaking in idioms and poetry, with attention to the smallest detail especially when discussing music and literature.

I think that most people after watching this will be faced with the question of whether the Emperor was good or bad. In my opinion he did most things by the book according to the rules of the palace, so technically he did nothing wrong; however on a personal level, when it came to his relationships within the harem, his actions although by the book, had the effect of being unjust to one or more women in the harem, and it's this constant upheaval that leads to the erosion of love and trust between him and his favourites.

A concubine is like a flower which blooms and withers, and blooms and withers with every turn of the wheel of fortune and never ending palace intrigue.

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You know that feeling when you want to sneeze but nothing happens?......

That's exactly how it felt watching the middle to end episodes of this drama. It has a great promising start with lovely chemistry between the leads (Yoon Eun Hye never disappoints when it comes to chemistry with her co-stars) However, the show loses direction and fails to really take off.

The story is all over the place in the sense that a lot of things appear to be happening but the plot really goes nowhere. Show lacks momentum and some dramatic situations which should propel the show forward are completely not followed up on and just glossed over. The male lead is most times ineffectual who for most of the story is well and truly hamstrung by the very people he vehemently denounces.

The love story is initially developed very nicely albeit haltingly in the earlier episodes. lt fizzles in the middle episodes because the lovers have little to no interaction with each other at a time that their relationship development could have benefitted from experiencing the tough times as a solid and unified pair; in fact as the story plods on the two leads spend little time together so as a viewer there are very few opportunities to actually enjoy the love story.

Episode 12 is particularly frustrating because so much could have happened but didn't.
The drama should have been shorter, then maybe it would have flowed better. The story is portrayed so inefficiently that I even entertained the thought that the main couple should not end up together.

In a nutshell this drama has an excellent cast with an inadequate script and poor directing.

Overall 6 out of 10, and only because the cast is good.

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A cute, fluffy no drama, drama.

This is a pleasant little drama, but only mildly. The beginning is very slow but I think it picked up in the final four episodes or so, in the sense that the acting seemed to improve and the stories became a bit more compelling.

This drama was probably created as a vehicle for the two lead actors to star opposite each other, so it lacked substance somewhat. However the two leads are cute together and I appreciate the fact that they portray a sensible relationship with good communication between them unlike other dramas where couples forget how to talk to each other and ask questions.
The lead relationship is very painstaking in that the couple's interactions are awkward and a bit cringe, there's no natural spontaneity or spark between them; I bemoan the fact that a couple who had such great chemistry and intensity in another drama (Goblin), failed to bring it out in this one, I'll put it down to inadequate directing.

I enjoyed the supporting cast and their relationships and interactions, they were very pleasant to watch.

The OST is very good and fits the drama well, the song "Make it Count" really stuck with me as I found myself singing along whenever it played.

Overall a pleasant drama for when you want to watch something stress free with minimal irritating factors.

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Pure, undiluted audacity!

This show is crazy in a very good way. I was addicted from the first minute. I loved some characters and absolutely detested others. The plot twisted and turned and twisted again until I was dizzy, and I have to give major props to the screenwriter for setting out to write this outrageous story and sticking to her guns the entire way through, I really appreciated the way writer-nim kept all story threads firmly in her grip and kept the story tightly woven from episode to episode, truly an amazing feat.

The cast is what really makes this show (in addition to the writing) What an accomplished group of actors every single one. I must give special mention to Shin Sung Rok; his portrayal of Emperor Lee Hyuk left me hating him one minute and shedding tears of compassion the next, he was in turn villainous and adorable and his is such a masterful feat of acting that my overall impression of him was sympathetic despite his reprehensible behaviour, he literally made the show for me.
Jang Na Ra and Choi Jin Hyuk also brought some excellent acting chops. Jang Na Ra is a firm favourite of mine as she always delivers a well rounded, evocative performance.
The young actress Oh Ah Rin who plays Princess Ah Ri also deserves a mention as she put in an impressive performance, she elicited tears and laughter which is admirable coming from such a young actress.

The music is great, I loved the songs when they played and they were well suited to the action on screen.

This next paragraph is a spoiler for those who haven't watched the show.

The one criticism I have is the way the show handled Choi Jin Hyuk's exit from the show due to a scheduling conflict, he was unable to film the final episodes as the show was extended and he had scheduled other work. His character of Na Wang Shin / Chun Woo Bin is very central to the plot in this show, so I feel like even though they had to scramble to find a solution, they should have had some of the characters (especially Sunny) actively remember him and even visit his grave to reminisce in the final episode. This was a glaring hole in the final resolution of the show and left me feeling disappointed, it's as if he never existed.
Also show tried too hard to force a possible love line between Lee Hyuk and Sunny, it really wasn't necessary; the show didn't need romance in my opinion because there was so much other stuff going on.

Overall this is an excellently crafted roller coaster of a show with an accomplished cast; definitely well worth a watch.

9 out of 10.

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A drama which is true to every character’s motivations.

This drama showcases the spectacular unravelling of what appears to be a picture perfect marriage.
Sun Woo and Tae Oh’s married life begins an irreversible downward spiral when Sun Woo discovers that he has been cheating on her; a game of cat and mouse, revenge and one-upmanship ensues between the devastated Sun Woo and the self - justifying Tae Oh.

The actions of these two eventually led me to not root for them as both are equally flawed and grey characters. Initially Sun Woo has the moral high ground as the wronged wife, but soon enough some of her actions become morally questionable. In her quest to best her ex husband, Sun Woo makes some very questionable decisions and is only concerned with winning the war.

The other characters are very well fleshed out, and I was especially impressed with the skillful handling of the relationship between Ye Rim and Je Hyuk; the ebb, flow and final ebb of their marriage is realistically exposed.
Da Kyung, the mistress who became a wife, had my sympathy sometimes, I suppose that’s a testament to the excellent acting in this show. In fact Da Kyung’s handling of Tae Oh is way more impressive than Sun Woo’s.

This drama also depicts women’s role in society quite well. In the beginning Sun Woo was shunned after the divorce, and even before that her friends kept secrets behind her back. Tae Oh’s secretary is a divorced mother of one and has been relegated to the fringes of society, she is ineligible to mingle with her peers simply because she’s divorced.
Sun Woo is at one point criticized behind her back for standing up for herself and not letting Tae Oh get away with his shameless actions.

The acting in this is brilliant by each and every cast member, for me that’s the biggest draw of this show, the self assured acting ensured that I was always fully engaged and duly impressed while watching the show.

I understand that this is an adaptation of the BBC’s Doctor Foster. The Korean version is less conniving and mean spirited, it has an element of emotional softness if that makes sense.

The two victims of this saga are the two children Joon Young and Je Ni.

What I didn’t like so much was the way the show used dramatic music and sound effects to ratchet up the suspense, ultimately this turned out to be overkill because of the trajectory the show ended up following.

The ambiguous ending was a bit meh for me, show was strong throughout so it would have been great to end on a strong note.

There were some unanswered questions like who killed In Gyu? I didn’t like the way Hyun Seo was discarded abruptly from the storyline, it would have been great to see how she was faring at the conclusion of the story.

The ost is good, I noticed and appreciated the music but it remained unobtrusive.

After watching the first two episodes, I was convinced I’d give this drama a 10, but ultimately it turned out to be a 9, and the majority of this score is for the phenomenal acting.

Definitely worth watching.

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